AN: I hope you're all happy! This chapter was a bitch to write! I don't want to rush things, however things are rushing by. So I had to work really hard to find a good medium.

Ok first off :) BWWHAHAH (very evil laugh) I am announcing that I won't update again until I have 265 reviews. This is just a crude and extremly sad way of squeezing my readers of every thought and feeling they have over my story. I would feel bad but…well, I don't really care.

Also I finally have posted some fan Art on this story. Just go to…    to find some pics of Knives and Millie. Worth your time. I have one of Knives in the outfit Millie gave him. One of Millie looking pissed at Knives, and another Millie and Kid Knives from one of Millie's dream.

That's all I have to say for now.

R/R Please

"Vash? What do you think?"

Meryl glanced behind her to make sure that Knives was still sleeping. He was, and the creepy thing about it was that a tiny smile was touching his lips.

Is he dreaming? If so what about? Probably the destruction of human kind most likely. Or at least that's my guess. Who knows with that man?

"I mean Vash. What should we do? We can't let him kill again! Remember Wolfwood, remember Legato. We can't…"
"OF COURSE I REMEMBER THEM!!"

Meryl blinked stunned at Vash's outburst. It was so unlike him. But then on the other hand, it was a touchy subject.

"I just don't know Meryl. He's planning something, but then again what can he do? I have his gun. He can't cause to much damage without it."

Meryl shook her head unable to believe that Vash could be so naive.

"Knives cleared out whole towns Vash. Granted Legato technically did it, but that proves that Knives is more resourceful that you give him credit for."

Vash frowned not liking where this conversation was going. Of course with Meryl being right made it doubly hard to swallow.

"What do you want me to do Meryl? Tie him to the bed, shoot him again?"

"If need be! You heard him last night Vash. He's going to kill again!"

"MERYL he's my brother! The only other one of my kind!"

Meryl sucked in her breath. That was what this was about. That was what it always was about. It was the line between plant and human. With Vash hung in the balance between the two worlds. With Meryl pushing one way and Knives pushing the other.

Closing her eyes Meryl stiffened her back and said clearly so that Vash wouldn't ask her to repeat what she was going to say.

"I hate him Vash."

"You don't Meryl."

"No Vash, I do. That monster is going to force a choice out of you someday Vash. You know this. That's why you tried to stop him. Knives is going to make you chose between him and humanity!"

Vash's eyebrows drew together, but he didn't take his eyes off the road ahead of him. They would be coming up on the spot of land that Millie supposedly fell out of the truck in. He couldn't miss it. It was their only lead to the missing woman.

"A long time ago someone once called us monsters."

Meryl snorted loudly. She could hear the pain in his voice. But she wasn't going to back down. Something had to be done. They had to talk about this before Knives got the chance to move.

We've already lost Wolfwood. I'm not going to lose Millie, or you. I don't care if you don't like this. We will talk!

"I don't know who you're talking about, but I'm assuming he called you that because your plants. I'm calling Knives that because he's a mass murderer! How can a man that believes in not killing so much stand to even look at him!?"

"Meryl Please…"

"NO!"

Meryl slammed both fists against the dashboard startling Vash.

"I will not be caught unaware again. I will not be used again as a pawn in this mans sick games!"

Vash opened his mouth for a resort…but stopped cold. He knew what Meryl was talking about. She was talking about when Legato had used her and Millie to force him to kill. Both Knives and Legato knew Vash would rather die than kill, but would he let two innocent humans, one of which he cared for deeply die. That question had been answered, and it nearly cost him his sanity.

"Vash, I love you. And because I love you I don't want to see you hurt again."

"I know Meryl."

"Then why won't you listen to me? He is going to try and kill everyone! Maybe even starting with Millie and me."

"I already told you I won't let him."

"And if he makes you chose between his life and mine like Legato did?"

Vash looked over at Meryl in surprise.

"What? Knives would never do that. That would be like playing Russian Rollet? A play at suicide. Knives is not suicidal."

Meryl shook her head. She didn't know what Russian Rollet was but she had a pretty good idea what it might mean.

Vash isn't listening to me. He isn't seeing what he has to. He's turning a goddamn blind eye toward his brother!!

"Do you remember what he said last night? 'Death would be a blessing I think', I consider that more than a hint of suicidal thoughts!"

Meryl watched as Vash opened his mouth to argue the point, however nothing came out at the moment. He was no doubt thinking over her words and trying like hell to find a loophole that he could slither through and thus disregard them.

"I won't let it go that far Meryl."

Vash finally said after finding no fault in Meryl's logic. How could he? He had heard the same thing last night, and had even thought the same as Meryl. Those words had sounded damn depressing. They actually sounded like Knives had given up almost…like he wanted to die. Those words had scared him last night.

"But Vash…"

"Not now. I don't want to talk about it!"

Vash snapped suddenly!

Meryl fumed as she readied herself for another attack to try and get Vash to understand. However she was interrupted before she even started as Vash put on his sunglasses. She sighed. She knew what that meant. Those damn sunglasses meant that Vash was officially out to lunch! He wouldn't talk to her and most likely wasn't even going to listen. It was his 'do not disturb' sign.

Just wait Vash. I'll break those damn things the next chance I get! You can't hide from the truth! You tried that with Legato and look what happened. Wolfwood dead…and blood on your hands!

Meryl shook her head and sat back, swallowing the bitter words she was going to say to him. He wouldn't listen to anything she said now. Oh well the words, she knew would come out someday. But maybe right now was to soon. Well, she had given him something to think about at least.

Hopefully she wouldn't have to say 'I told you so' to Vash.

They both remained silent at the miles flew by under the wheels of their jeep. After about 20 minutes Vash finally spoke.

"I think this is it."

Meryl stood up as Vash brought the car to a stop.

"How can you tell?"

Meryl looked around the terrain. It looked to her exactly like any other part of the desert. She defiantly couldn't see anything special about it that set it apart.

"Knives."

Vash turned in his seat and gently shook his brother. Knives mumbled in his sleep and rolled around away from the disturbance.

Vash sighed and shook him a little harder.

"Knives, I need you to read the sand."

Vash felt bad for waking his brother. Especially when the guy needed sleep so badly.

Finally Knives rolled back around. He blinked sleepily at his brother.

"I had a good dream."

He said without the roughness or malice that Vash had grown accustom to. It sounded nothing like his brother, yet was so familiar. The very sound caused his heart to ache. Vash swallowed hard as he realized what his brother sounded like.

He sounds like before…before he started to hate humans.

Vash didn't say anything at first for fear that his brother would again change again on him. He knew it would happen. As soon as Knives woke up fully and realized he hated humans. Then his brother would be lost again.

"I'm glad brother."

Vash reached forward and poked his brother in the forehead with his index finger. It was a gesture of affection. Something he hadn't used since way before even Rem died.

Knives blinked remembering the gesture and wondering at it. However he was too tired to think about, no matter how important the question seemed. He yawned and slipped back to sleep.

Vash didn't have the heart to wake him back up.

"Meryl…"

Vash started the car again and drove over to some rocks that provided shade.

"I'll look around. Let him sleep a bit more. I'm not so bad at reading tracks myself."

Vash jumped out of the car and started toward where he remember Knives reading that Millie had fallen out. Meryl looked at Knives once…then climbed out herself and followed her husband. She wouldn't stay alone with Knives for any amount of money.

"What the hell?"
Meryl walked up beside her husband with the curse on her lips. Even she could make out the disturbances in the sand.

"Vash?"

"Um well…I don't really know. Ummm"

Vash looked around carefully study the sand.

"Two people walked…uh something, something, one fell down."

Vash frowned as he looked at the strange set of car tracks he had ever seen.

"And we have a car the size of a Steam wagon appear out of thin air and head back toward Cola."

Vash's frown deepened as he tracked his own steps back.

"And the same goes for the footprints…they just appeared out of thin air."

Meryl shrugged, she couldn't really see much. She could tell something or someone walked around, but beyond that she was clueless.

"Maybe the wind took out the other tracks?"

"No…I don't think so."

Meryl sighed heavily and sat down on a rock.

"Well what else could it be?"

"That robber man Charley did say the sand swallowed her, maybes something's under our feet?"

Meryl snorted.

"Like what? Besides that guy was obviously coked up on something. Did you see how red his eyes were?"

Vash smirked at Meryl.

"Ya I noticed. Hey what's this?"

Bending over Vash picked up a small shining object. It was right beside the tracks that told him some people (two actually) had gotten in the large vehicle.

"Oh my Gosh Vash!"

Meryl gasped as she took the object from him. Vash pouted as he tried to take it back to see better.

"Hey I found it! What is it? Come on Meryl, let me see!"

Meryl squeaked as Vash wrapped his arms around her waist to 'capture' her.

"Stop it Baka!"

"I wanna see!"

Meryl bonked Vash over the head. That got him to let her go. However he hadn't given up on seeing the object.
"Do you know what this is?"

"No…you won't let me see it!"

Vash pouted again. Meryl shook her head as she wondered how a man Vash's age could act like such a child.

"It's a cross from a necklace stupid."

Meryl showed Vash the silver cross. His mouth went into an 'O' shape.

"It's Millie's I'm sure of it. She once showed it to me. Said that Wolfwood gave it to her."

Meryl became silent as her thoughts traveled to the dead priest.

Wolfwood and Millie would have been happy together.

Suddenly remembering where she was Meryl pocketed the cross to give back to her friend when they found her. Meryl smiled widely.

"We now know this much. Millie's alive."

"Not only that we know she got into a vehicle. Um…that is if was her that dropped the necklace."

Meryl frowned.

"Maybe we should wake Knives and ask him. He does seem better at this than you."

Vash thought a moment. The baddie had said that Millie had been swallowed by the sand. But that was rubbish, wasn't it? What could possible be beneath them. There were no sinkholes he could see. Nor was there the classic signs that something was buried here. Then on the other hand, they had found something of Millie's AND a car was heading back toward Cola. It was possible that it was a trap of some sort. That whoever was helping Millie was using her as bait, or that they set this entire thing up to make them follow a decoy.

But who would bother with that. Hardly anyone knows that I even know Millie. Besides what are the odds that someone like that would show up to find Millie in the first place.

"No, I think we should follow the tracks. It's the most logical choice."

"I agree. Wow Vash are you actually using that spiky haired head of yours?"

"Hey."

Meryl stood on her tippy toes and gave Vash a quick kiss to sooth over the sting of her rib.

"Lets go."

Meryl followed Vash back to the car. A quick check showed that Knives hadn't moved at all in the time they looked at the tracks. The guy was really zonked out. Dead to the world. Meryl looked closer at him, without seeming to (mostly for Vash's sake). Knives wasn't smiling anymore. That was good, because frankly Meryl found Knives smiles to be somewhat creepy. She hadn't seen him smile unless some sort of bodily harm to someone was involved. Also, it could just be her, but there was a decidedly spark of insanity in those same smiles. Knives wasn't quite playing with a full deck. Or at least that what she thought. Vash, no doubt would argue the case. Knives was after all his only brother.

He's to overprotective of you Knives. I just don't understand how Vash can still love you despite all the terrible things you have done to him. Ones thing for sure. After this is done, I promise that you will know how much you hurt him! I don't know how but you will play for every tear and every scream of pain I've witnessed from Vash!

*****

"When everything else dies…Live for me."

Millie jerked awake a little more than freaked out by that statement. Breathing hard she looked around confused.

Now where was she again?

Oh ya…the Tank.

Sitting up in the bunk that she had claimed for a nap, she rubbed the back of her neck.

She was still feeling slightly disturbed by her dream.

It had felt so real. I just…I can't really explain it.

Granted having dreams about a certain blonde plant was nothing new to her. Ever since he had taken off that stormy day he had haunted her dreams. But that one…that one really took the cake.

I could feel his lips. I still can.

Millie touched her lips. They were still tingling. With a groan she fell back heavily onto the bunk bed.

"That proves it. I am officially obsessed! This just isn't normal."

Millie smiled blushing slightly as she thought the kisses. They were so sweet and innocent, much like their first kiss had been.

Now that had taken me for a loop. At the time I was confused as hell over what I was feeling toward Knives. And then suddenly…Bam…he kisses me.

Another more passionate kiss had followed. And she wouldn't even get into the kisses in the cave. Those had been…well they had been naughty.

Millie blushed deeper.

If Knives hadn't come to his senses…I wonder how far we would have gone. I really hadn't wanted to stop until we did. It was like I was in another world.

"I'm just an naïve kid. I really am."

Standing up Millie took a moment to gain her balance in the bouncing Tank. It wasn't to bad especially since they were traveling off road. But it was enough to make her watch how she stepped. One wrong move, or jolt and she would go tumbling.

In the brief time they had been together. Everything had seemed perfect. Knives had been perfect. Granted he was a little strange at times. But what would you expect from a non-human life form that was over a hundred years old.

One could just expect Knives to act like a human. He wasn't human and he took his plant hood very seriously.

I think that's the biggest problem Vash has with Knives. Vash is human in mind, if not in body. They just can't see eye to eye because of that. A huge rift is between them and unless they see this there is no way they can get along.

Millie let her eyes drifted toward the two black boxes than Akako Hana had given her.

I wonder what's in them. Not that I will look. Those are for Mr. Vash and Knives. A mother's gift to her sons.

Millie frowned slightly as she thought about the plant.

She must be so lonely. What would I have done if my sons had been taken from me? She didn't even know their names.

Millie wondered to herself if maybe she should have told Akako Hana a little about her sons. About the only thing that she had mentions was Vash's love for life.

Would she have been sad about Knives? He's hurt so many people in his life.

It was obvious that the plant had taken everything Rem said to heart. She had even gone as far as creating life because of Rem. It was Rems wish to be a mother that made Akako Hana want to be a mother herself.

So what would the plant say if she knew one of her sons was a mass murderer? Not just a mass murderer, but also the sole reason that Rem died when she did.

I'm glad I didn't tell her. Its not really my place to cause problems before the three of them even met. Let them sort out their own problems. That's probably best.

Yawning wide Millie made her way to the front of the 'Tank' or Sand Crawler as Fred called it. She didn't know how long she had been asleep, but they should be at least close by now.

"Are we there yet?"

"We are here now."

Millie looked out the window startled that she hadn't noticed this little fact to begin with. They were in town driving down the main road. Grinning sheepishly Millie rubbed the back of her head.

"I guess I'm not quite awake yet. Um ya, just head for that building over there."

Fred nodded and drove the large Sand crawler toward the building Millie pointed at. In the passenger's seat she couldn't help but notice all the looks the 'Tank' was getting. Millie didn't blame them. This was something right out of a science fiction novel or something.

Well it did come out of a spaceship. So I guess that's about right.

Millie smirked to herself as she waited for Fred to park. Once he did she opened the door and swung out. She had to be careful getting out of this thing. The ground looked a long ways away, and it would probably hurt if she fell.

Coughing lightly from all the dust the huge vehicle kicked up Millie jumped down.

"Millie Thomas?"

Millie smiled happily as she recognized her boss. He was halfway out the door to Burnedili and was looking at her with the most shell-shocked face she had ever seen.

She walked/jogged up to him and handed him a small envelope. Over the last two days she had worked very hard to keep said envelope safe.
 "I'm sorry Sir. I wasn't able to drop this off. Umm…I got distracted."

Mr. Nickels started to chuckle lightly.

"Well I must say I can see why. Come on in Millie, your friend to. Corre and the others are worried to death."

An hour later Millie finally made it out of the offices. She had been forced to basically explain what had happened. However she had given them what she liked to call an edited version of her story. Much like the letters Millie sent Meryl this edited version made things simple and made sure no one got upset. So in other words there was no Akako Hana, no robots, and no space ship under the sands. Fred was just a quiet weirdo with a cool car that happened by to pick her up after she got away from the robbers.

She didn't like to lie but some things just needed to be changed.

"Humans are stranger than I remember."

Fred mentioned softly as they started toward the 'Tank'. Millie chuckled softly feeling a little sorry for the robot. The moment he had sat down inside Buredeili both Matt and Corre had started to hit on him.

Granted she could see what they did. Fred's human form while not exactly handsome did have a certain quality that made his seem unique. He had short brown hair, brown eyes with some small round glasses. His skin was dark and his voice deep.

Fred however was quite flustered by the attention. He wasn't sure what to make of it. Robots Millie was sure, even ones programmed with emotions didn't have the first idea about flirting and human courtship.

"Millie wait!"

Millie moaned as Corre came running out.

"And we were so close to getting away."

Fred seemingly not getting the joke just stared at her.

"I forgot to tell you! Meryl Strife showed up yesterday. Her and Vash the Stampede are looking for you!"

Millie blinked clearly surprised by this tid bit of news.

"Vash? Tall blonde…red coat?"

"Ya…I didn't get to actually meet him, but Meryl came into the office looking for you."

Millie nodded.

"Thanks Corre."

Millie and Fred climbed into the Sand Crawler. As Fred climbed into the drivers seat he asked.

"What do you want to do Miss. Thomson?"

Millie frowned as she thought. She had to find the children of Akako Hana.

If Vash was close by it would probably be best to look for him first. This saddened her a little. Not that she didn't want to see Vash. But she had been looking forward to seeing Knives again. She had wanted to look for him first.

"What I don't understand is why they were here? They were in Rotle last I heard."

Fred shrugged as he started the engine.

"Why ask why? The important this is that we have a lead on one of the targets."

Millie settled herself into the passenger seat. She was feeling uncomfortable the way that Fred was looking at her. He was patiently waiting for her to make a decision.

When she and Meryl were working together, Meryl was always the one to decide things. Now the tables had turned, sort of, and Fred was looking toward her. The thing was she had no idea what to do. She just wasn't the leader type. She preferred to follow and lend support when needed.

She didn't know what to do.

Well I guess one step at a time. I need to go back home and settle some things. Poor Mr. KeroNeko is probably hungry, and no doubt mad at me for not feeding him.

"Lets stay the night at my house. I needed to take care of some things before we leave."

Fred nodded as he put the sand crawler into gear and started forward.

Millie sighed to herself as she watched the town slowly roll by. Fred was being extra careful driving since some idiots didn't seem to realize that walking out in front of big moving piece of metal might not be the brightest idea out there.

Her thoughts however were not on Fred, or Corre, or even Akako Hana. Her thoughts rested on Millions Knives.

I wonder where you are?

Despite everything she had done, or tried to forget, she just couldn't deny anymore that she missed him terribly. The last two months had been hell for her. She cried herself to sleep at night, and buried herself in work during the day. She had been extremly cranky at her co-workers, and had been just in a foul mood for seemingly no reason.

She had never done that before, or at least not to this extent.

It had taken awhile but with all this stuff about Vash and Knives, she finally realized why she was in such a funk.

I love Knives.

Millie jerked upright in her seat unable to believe the words in her head. The breath caught in her throat making it hard to catch her breath. Her heart fluttered her in chest, which went perfectly with the sudden sensations of butterflies in her stomach.

This can't be. I hardly know the guy. I can't be…in love.

But even as she denied it…she knew it was true.

Millie Thomson of the Bernideli Insurance agency was in love with Millions Knives, mass murderer Plant.

"Is something the matter?"

"No, I'm fine.

That was probably the biggest piece of Thomas shit that she had ever said. It was a lie so blatant that she wouldn't have blamed God if he decided to strike her down with lightning right then and there.

No one could be fine after what she had just realized.

I knew that I liked him. But I thought it was just a silly little crush. We kissed and it was nice. I had no idea…

"Stop here Fred. That's my house there."

Millie pointed to the little one bedroom hut that she had been living in for a little under two months. The place looked worse than she remembered it. But it was still like a home away from home to her.

Forcing all thoughts of Knives and her newly discovered feelings aside Millie crawled out of the Tank. She didn't want to think right now. She was still in shell shock over the sudden revelation about how she felt toward Knives.

She didn't want to think about it, or to think about how more than likely she was going to get hurt.

"MEOW!!!!"

Millie jumped slightly in surprise as Mr. KeroNeko glared up at her and meowed his displeasure. Talking in a voice reserved for small children and of course animals Millie bent over and picked him up.

"Oh I'm so sorry Mr. KeroNeko. I bet you're so hungry. Lets get you something yummy to eat ok."

Millie gestured for Fred to follow her and went into her home. In no time at all Mr. KeroNeko was purring happily as he ate from a large can of Tuna. A special treat since Millie had been (not by her own design of course) neglecting him.

"Um Fred? Do you want anything? I don't know what Robots in human…uh, ish bodies need?"

"Some water is all I require. This particular body has a power battery that should 'keep me going' as you humans would say, for longer than the average human duration. I am not sure why it has this particular model of cell? In their time the Lithium sulfate carbon batteries were expensive and impractical. A rechargeable battery with less life would have been more efficient."

Millie blinked trying to take in everything he said.

"Maybe it was for someone that wouldn't be able to find a gas station?"

Fred looked genuinely surprised at Millie's answer. He then smiled. It was the first really friendly gesture at she had gotten from him. Millie returned the smile as she gave him a glass of water. Fred studied the water a moment before raising the glass in a half toast and said.

"Out of the mouths of humans."

He downed the water in one gulp. Which was really impressive. She could see him winning some major drinking contests, if he ever wanted to try. He had the 'guzzling' part down pat.

"Fred, can I ask you something?"

Fred nodded as he helped himself to some more water, and downed it just like the first.

"Some of the things Akako Hana said. Well she didn't answer some of my questions?"

"Something's she doesn't want you to know."
Fred was once again sounding rather reserved. He sipped from his third glass of water.

"Like what?"

"Like what really happened to the passengers in Cryo Sleep Section A through C."

Millie fell silent a moment. That had been one of the questions she had asked Fred before. However Fred had snapped at her for asking it. Was he saying he was willing to tell her now? 

"You wouldn't tell me before?"

Fred snorted. For a robot he sure did have humans gestures and sounds down pat.

"I will now if you ask."

Millie hesitated. Something was telling her that she wasn't going to like this one bit. However curiosity finally won out, and despite the warning in her gut she asked.

"What happened to the Cryo Sleep Section?"

Fred went to the sink and washed his glass, dried it and placed it back were Millie had taken it from before finally turning around.

"Akako Hana happened."