AN: Sorry for taking so very long to post this. I've had it forever, but I was being lazy.

Not only that I wasn't sure if I wanted to continue it like this.

 Well, to make a long story short. I'm ready now for what I've been thinking about doing.

I'm ready to write and I'm ready to get my website back up.

 Meryl slowly sat up. Her head pounded in her skull, feeling like a thousand hammers were going off all at once. She blinked, trying to clear the blurriness out of her sight. It hurt to open her eyes…the bright light of the hallway hurt.

She hurt…and she was so very cold.

Shivering she looked around, trying to remember where she was.

Metal…hallway…

Leaning heavily against the wall Meryl tried to stand up. She slipped and fell, banging against the metal of the wall. Gritting her teeth she tried again, and this time was able to get a foothold. Shakily she stood up.

I remember now. I was going to the plant room. Knives, Millie Vash. Then something happened.

She could hardly think. Her head hurt so much.

Something happened and I passed out. It hurt so much. I screamed…and I remember. I had heard someone else scream as well.

Leaning over Meryl tried to catch her breath. She stared at the ground, and at the huge pool of blood staining it.

I'm bleeding.

However that didn't seem important for some reason. Her hand felt cold and numb, but she could still shoot her gun. That was all that mattered. She had to…

I have to…kill Knives. For Vash, I can't let Knives hurt Vash again.

She only hoped she had enough in her to make it.

There was too much blood, by far to much blood.

I didn't know a human body held so much.

Meryl made her way down the hallway. She could hear the tiny drip drops of her blood hitting the floor like explosions in her ears. They sounded so loud to her, yet the sound couldn't have been more than a pin dropping.

Trying to get her mind off the blood, she tried to think. Think of anything and everything.

I remember the first time I saw Vash totally naked.

That thought caused a slightly crooked grin to spread across her face.

He was so beautiful. Yet he had been so shy. Afraid I would reject him because of the scars. Afraid I would hate him because he wasn't human.

"Do you love me Meryl?"

Meryl closed her eyes, forcing one foot in front of the other.

How could you even ask me that Vash? I love you so much it hurts. An ache inside of me that no matter what I do it's never healed. The only thing that helps even the littlest bit is being with you, talking to you, holding you, loving you.

Her body was shivering, legs quivering strangely in such a way it was beginning to make it hard to walk. She focused more on moving. She was close. Just a few more hallways.

I remember when you first woke up after killing Legato. Oh god Vash. I should have stayed with you. But…

Meryl staggered, half falling but just managing to keep her self-upright. She remained still for a moment, before moving on.

"I'm still bleeding…hm surely I can't for much longer?"

Her voice sounded weak and pitiful. And although she felt she should be terrified at all the blood dripping out of her, for some reason she wasn't. She was past caring.

She only had one thing on her mind. She had to save Vash. No matter what. She wouldn't let Vash suffer.

I heard you scream and cry. I stood outside the door listening as you tore my soul apart. Yet I didn't go in. I didn't try to console you. I just cried silently with you just outside of reach. I'm so sorry Vash.

***********

Knives shakily climbed to his feet. Leaning heavily against the wall he managed to get up. His head hurt so much. All his body wanted to do was sleep this hangover from hell off. However he knew better than to relax now. He had to make sure Millie was all right. And after that he had to hide from Vash for a while.

He won't understand. I'll wait until he cools down a little. That's my best chance. I don't think he'll try to kill me. But then again he might go mad with lose for a little while.

The ground swayed dangerously as he finally stood to his full height.

He felt light, and sick. But something was defiantly different.

I did it. The humans are gone. All but the two…

Knives smiled softly, as he closed his eyes.

It has come full circle, all my plans all my hopes…and all my dreams.

Something tickled his face. Surprised he reached up and touched his cheek. Looking at his fingers he saw wetness.

I'm crying?

Rubbing his fingers together lightly he then brought them up to taste the saltiness.

It was real.

His victory…this was his victory.

Looking around he noticed Millie.

She's alive.

Walking over to her he dropped to his knees and gather her up in his arms.

Are you in pain Millie? Did I cause your soul to ache?

Carefully he checked her for wounds.

She seems all right, will probably wake up soon.

Shivering slightly he drew her closer to his chest. He felt so cold and empty for some reason. Not like he imagined he should.

He didn't regret his decision to kill the humans. He wasn't sad over it.

But he felt so terrible.

Must be because I almost killed myself killing them.

"Millie, wake up. Millie?"

Gently he shook her and when that didn't seem to help he gently kissed her forehead.

"What did you do to her?!"

Knives felt his heart literally slam into his chest as he jerked his head up.

His eyes got very wide as he looked at something that couldn't be real.

Vash's pet…no this can't be real. I'm dreaming.

And not only that…but she was pointing a tiny gun at him.

"Get away from her you monster."

Her voice was soft, and very weak sounding. Confused Knives did as she said, slowing rising to his feet.

His eyes flickered downward, and narrowed at the not so tiny splatters of blood behind her. Looking back up he studied her for a moment.

Not good, she's so white. Lost too much blood. Jesus what did she do to herself?

"Meryl…"
He said softly using her name for the first time.

"Put the gun down. Its over…you two are the last left."

He didn't think it was possible, but Meryl got paler. However her gun did not tremble, she held it steady, pointed straight at his heart.

Can I dodge it? I'm exhausted, not only that, there's to many things she could hit that would cause the plant to explode.

Trying his best to sooth the obviously distressed Meryl he continued to speak softly. She couldn't die, not now. She had been chosen to live in Eden with them. She was important.

"If you don't put the gun down now….you will die. You've lost to much blood."

A tear dropped from Meryl's eyes as for the first time the gun wavered.

"No…it's not to late. You're lying."

Knives shook his head, and took a small step toward her. Meryl reacted slightly but didn't pull the trigger.

"I won't let you hurt Vash again. He was coming here to kill you."

Pulling back the hammer she cocked the gun. Knives froze.

"I won't listen to his soul breaking again."

Knives swallowed hard, his eyes not leaving the gun. If she shot that gun, would he be able to dodge it? Or would she gun him down. From the reports Legato had sent him, he knew she was a crack shot. The only way she'd miss was if he got out of the way.

"And you bleeding to death right here and now will help him how? I'm not lying Meryl. You and Millie are the only two left."

"No…"

She breathed softly; the tears were now streaming down her face.

"NOOOO!"

The crack of the gun was the only warning he got as she fired it at him point blank range.

He moved, and what seemed like in slow motion he watched the bullet tearing at him.

"AHHHHH"

He screamed as it hit him in the shoulder. Actually it wasn't far from where his brother had hit him not long ago.

Knives fell to the ground hard. His hand instantly went to where he felt this terrible sharp burning tearing pain. Pain that threatened to make him pass out. Blood swelled, wetting his fingers and his shirt.

Footsteps, soft and uneven slowly made their way to him.

His face grimaced and he forced his eyes to open as a shadow fell over his face. He saw Meryl's boots. She was standing in front of him.

Looking up he stared at her. She had another gun out and was aiming it at his head.

She's going to kill me.

"Meryl don't!"

Both Knives and Meryl suddenly startled as Millie's soft voice broke the deadly silence that had fallen.

"Millie…"

Meryl said uncertainly, the gun lowered slightly, although by no means put away.

"What he said is true. We are the last…killing him now won't do anything."

"NO! Its not true!"

Meryl screamed out, pointing the gun at him again. Grunting Knives slowly rose to his knees.

She weak, I might be fast enough…even with my shoulder like this, to be able to wrestle the gun away from her. We got to get her to the med lab. Might be to late as it is.

"Mom, Father….my family…your family. It's not TRUE!! He's a monster! A FUCKIN MONSTER!"

Meryl cocked the gun and started to depress the trigger again.

Knives sprung, grabbing at her wrist forcing the gun away, it went off…making Millie scream as she ducked the ricochet.

"BITCH!"

Knives yelled out as Meryl kneed him rather hard in between his legs. He grunted in pain but didn't let go of her wrist. He was stronger than her, but she was small and limber, and she could use both hands, even if one was injured. His own left arm, felt numb and heavy. He couldn't seem to make his fingers moved.

"MERYL, Knives stop it please!"

Millie was suddenly in-between them, grabbing at them both trying to pull them apart.

"FUCK Millie!"

He screamed as he was now forced to fight them both. With a savage growl he PUSHED her away…

BANG!!!!!

Knives jerked his eyes getting wide. He stared at Meryl, his face unbelieving as she stared at him.

Time seemed to halt…or at least it did in his mind. He stared at her for an eternity as she stared right back at him.

"I'm sorry Vash."

She whispered softly as a tiny dribble of blood dripped from the corner of her mouth.

Knives opened his mouth, but no words came out as Meryl slumped against him…a smoking gun clattered to the floor.

She didn't utter any sounds as she died. Didn't cry, didn't seem the least bit afraid of death. The only emotion he could see as what little life had been in her drained away was sadness. A terrible sadness, that hung around her like a cloud, and even as her last breath rattled out of her lungs that black hazy cloud of emotion did not leave.

Slowly he dropped to his knee's carefully holding his brothers wife.

She was dead.

She must have…or I…accidentally pressed the trigger fighting for the gun.

Gently he set her down on the ground, and then with his good hand closed her eyelids.

"I'm sorry too Vash."

For a moment he stared at the corpse, wondering what he should do. It didn't seem right to just leave her here.

"Millie? What…what should I do?"

He asked softly, and waited for her to answer.

"Millie?"

Turning around Knives heart stopped as the world stopped. For an instant he couldn't comprehend what he was seeing. Couldn't understand how or when.

But it was there, and it wasn't going away.

And as the bloodstain on Millie's gown got wider, his face got whiter.

"No…"

His voice cracked as Knives got to his feet and scrambled over to her. His eyes flickered widely taking in every detail of the horror in front of him.

Gently he touched the 3 feet of piping sticking out of his Millie's chest.

These…are the pipes I took out…to make the…oh god Millie…I took these out and left them here. I didn't think!!

His body shuddered as he pressed it against Millie hugging her to him. Tears flowing freely and without care stained his cheeks.

"Millie! Please…no open your eyes. OPEN YOUR EYES!!"

Knives gently touched her cheek, rubbing his thumb against her lower lip.

She wasn't dead. He could hear her heart still, and feel her breathe.

Her eyes fluttered a moment, and then slowly opened.

Knives stared at her…he wanted to believe she would be ok. She wasn't dead yet, she was conscious.

But…looking into her eyes. Those dazed pain filled eyes…he knew it wasn't true.

"Millie…"

Millie's eyes focused on him, and for a moment they cleared.

She smiled at him…and took his hand into hers.

Her mouth moved, she was trying to speak. Trying to tell him something.

Knives listened as hard as he could, looked at her as hard as he could. But he couldn't understand her.

Not even through their link could he make out what she wanted to say.

Knives opened his mouth to say something back. Some sort of ending words that would ease his pain and make everything better somehow.

That's how it worked right? That's what was supposed to happen. No matter how bad it got, nothing is ever left totally open and unfinished.

Right?

Knives opened his mouth…

And it was over.

Knives shook violently closing his mouth, as her heart stopped beating.

Millie didn't close her eyes, but he could literally see the life drain out of them.

I didn't even…I could even say goodbye to her.

As gently as he could Knives took Millie into his arms. He didn't care that he blood was getting all over him. He didn't care that he was crying over a dead corpse.

All he knew was that it hurt. It hurt so bad.

Nothing, not even his arm compared to the searing pain in his soul.

GOD NO Millie wake up. Please just wake up. NO!!! Millie…you're more than a game, you're more than lust. Please just wake up!!

He brushed her hair out of her eyes, looking into the dead orbs.

Still blue…but not the same. They are so dark now.

He tried to brush the tears off her face, but only managed to smear blood all over her cheek.

"No no no…please. This can't be happening. You can't leave me now! MILLIE!!!"

Knives buried his face into her neck. Already he could feel her body cooling. Her body turning stiff and cold. Soon it would be just a corpse. Just another corpse among the thousand of humans he had killed today.

"Knives…what did you do."

Knives turned slightly still not letting go of Millie. Vash was standing in the door. His face torn and bleeding. Whatever had cut Meryl up must have done the same to him. The cuts looked about the same. He was staring at Meryl, looking at her and the blood on the ground.

Knives turned away from his brother. He couldn't stand to look at him.

"I tried so hard Vash. Did my best…but in the end. It fell apart. I killed the humans…and in return, fate killed Millie and Meryl.

For a long moment, nothing but the sound of their breathing could be heard.

He didn't see it, but he heard the thump as Vash fell to the ground.

Knives flinched as he brother started to scream.

He screamed, Screamed so hard. A ragged harsh sound, from the depth of his soul.

"WHAT DID YOU DO!! OH GOD KNIVES, MERYL WHAT DID YOU DO!!!!"

Vash's screams turned into a pathetic whimper as he fell down beside his wife.

He drew her close, not feeling the blood of the cold stiffness of her body.

"I…"
Knives pauses, unable to speak for a moment.

"I destroy everything I touch…just like she said."