Disclaimer: I don't own Trigun, I'm just borrowing it for awhile. Trigun is property of Yasuhiro Nightow, Mad House, Pioneer, and whoever else was smart enough to get a piece of the action. I just know I wasn't. T_T
"..." is talking
'...' is thinking
This chapter is really short, but it gets the job done. ^_^
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A Glimpse of Eden
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Chapter - 8
~
Vash's eyes narrowed as he tightened his grip on his gun. "Knives! You gave me your word!"
Knives smiled and turned his head slightly to observe his brother better. "And what if I did?"
Vash tensed at the disturbed glint in his brother's eyes. Knives was close to completely losing it, if he hadn't already. Knives turned his full attention back to the man cowering under him.
"Look at him, Vash! A complete waste of life. He's pathetic, even for a human."
Vash's eyes narrowed even more. "Back down, Knives! Or I promise you..." he trailed off and his face hardened with quiet determination.
A tense moment passed, as each brother tried to figure out which one had the advantage. Vash had the drop on Knives, but he wouldn't endanger the townspeople and Knives had one directly at the end of his gun. The crowd began to stir slightly, convinced that the tense standoff would soon end in bloodshed. Another moment passed, and then Knives tightened his grip on his gun, his mind made up, and then--
"Knives..." His eyes widened slightly, the softly spoken words somehow managing to cut through his rage-filled thoughts. "Please, put the gun down. Don't... don't do this!" His eyes flickered to his right and he saw Meryl, tears in her eyes, standing beside him.
"Don't... don't waste your tears on this fool," he rasped, his boot pressing down harder on the man's throat, effectively cutting off his air.
Vash's whole body tensed, he had to do something now! 'Meryl... get out of the way...'
Meryl placed her small hand on Knives' arm and felt his muscles tense at her touch, but he didn't pull away. "I'm not crying for him, Knives... I'm crying for you."
Her words seemed to remove the fight from of his body and Knives lowered his gun completely and allowed the man to scurry away. He turned toward Meryl, his shocked eyes searching her face.
Vash lowered his own gun and breathed a sigh of relief. Holstering his weapon he cautiously made his way toward his brother. His eyes focused on Meryl, relieved to see her safe and well. His eyes then shifted to his brother and he watched as Knives holstered his weapon and glared down at Meryl.
"I thought I told you not to interfere." His voice was calm and controlled, his rage from a moment earlier seemingly forgotten.
Meryl raised an arm and wiped her face on her sleeve. "You jerk! Did you just think I was gonna stand by and...," her voice cracked from the strain and she finished brokenly, "... watch you kill someone?"
His eyes softened and he sighed, "You've been around my brother too long."
"I guess I'll have to take that as a compliment," spoke up an all too-familiar voice that caused Meryl's heart to flutter.
Looking past Knives, she caught sight of Vash standing a few feet away. Her eyes widening, she took a few hesitant steps toward him. "Vash? Is that... really you?"
Holding back tears, all Vash could manage was a small nod. With a small cry, she launched herself at him and wrapped her arms around his waist, hugging him tightly. He put his arms around her and hugged her back, relieved that she was alright. When Milly had told him that Meryl had disapeared he had assumed the worst and then seeing her with Knives had only added to his fears. Now that he knew she was fine...
His eyes filled with tears and he held her closer. 'I'm sorry, Meryl. I'll never let anything happen to you ever again! I swear...'
She pulled out of his tight embrace and smiled up at him. His heart lurched at the sight of her, she was so beautiful and so very precious to him.
"Are you okay, Vash? You aren't hurt are you?" she asked, sounding concerned.
"No, no. I'm fine, Meryl." He smiled down at her, happy that she was worried about him.
"Good..." She reached up and smacked him on the back of the head, knocking him to the ground."... then what in the hell took you so long!?" she glared at him, her hands on her hips.
Vash groaned and pulled himself up on one elbow. Yep, Meryl was just fine. "Aww, Meryl. Don't be that way." he whined. "Don't you know what I went through to find you?"
A dismissive snort. "Yeah, I'm sure you scoured all the donut shops and saloons from here to Spring looking for me, right?"
Pretending not to have heard her, he got to his feet, brushing the sand from his clothes. "Y'know, most girls would be thrilled that a handsome and dashing hero had come to their rescue."
She scoffed. "'Handsome and dashing'? More like bumbling and idiotic! And I'll ask again, what took you so long?"
"We don't have time for this!" Knives interupted. "We should get back to the ship before it gets dark."
They both turned their attention to Knives. Meeting his gaze, Vash nodded in agreement.
"Locke!" Meryl yelled suddenly, her hands flying to her face. In all the excitement she had forgotten about him. He was still standing where she had left him, a puzzled expression on his face. She went and put her arms around him. "I'm sorry," she whispered into his hair, "that I left you alone."
Putting his arms around her waist he hugged her back. "It's okay, Meryl." He peered around her to look curiously at Vash. "Who's that?"
She smiled. "Come here." Taking his hand, she lead him over to where Vash stood. Vash's eyes widened when he saw the boy. He glanced quickly at Knives who slowly nodded in response to his unspoken question.
"Locke, this is Vash. Vash is Knives' brother and," she added more softly, "he's my friend."
Locke studied Vash silently for a few moments before finally smiling. "Hello..." he looked down shyly and pressed back against Meryl.
Vash knelt in front of the boy and smiled back gently. "Hello, Locke. It's... nice to meet you." He glanced up at Meryl, suddenly understanding why Knives had kidnapped her. He turned to look at Knives, who had been studying the interaction between him and the boy with quiet interest.
"Save your questions for later, Vash." He started walking to the car. "I think it's best we go before that human I so generously spared comes back with re-enforcements."
Vash stood and watched Locke hurry after Knives, the boy trying to keep pace with the older Plant's quick stride. He sighed and glanced down at Meryl's smiling face. "Well, at least you're glad to see me."
Interlocking her arm with Vash's, she smiled happily up at him as they walked toward the car together.
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End chapter 8
~
Dragger: Was this soon enough? ^_^
Neptune Butterfly: Heh, I'm glad Vash's presence made you so happy. And I hope you're headache is gone now that I've updated. Hmmm... Meryl and Knives... well, you'll just have to stick around and find out what I meant. The next chapter might give you a clue, though. And yes, I'll certainly try to keep you on your toes!
Yma: Thank you very much! I'm glad you like Locke so much! I'm sure that Locke is kinda used to Knives and Meryl's arguments by now, but I think that if Knives ever goes too far with one of his comments... *See next chapter*
Alexa: Thank you, and thank you for reviewing. Yep, and Meryl just might be growing on Knives as well.
Beckira: Meryl's hair isn't as long as Rem's was, her hair is just long enough to frame her face and brush her shoulders. I don't think Meryl looks much like Rem at all, but maybe there's a slight passing resemblance. Thanks for reviewing!
Ana: You are my loyal reviewer (you've been with me since the beginning) and I do love you for that, but you have to admit that was a good spot for a cliffhanger. Actually, the last chapter originally didn't end where it did, but since everyone was waiting for Vash to show up, I cut into this chapter *points up* to give him to them. Which also helps to explain why this chapter was so short.
Yay! My reviews have finally hit the 50 mark! Thanks everyone!!!
~
Next time: Vash and Meryl fluff. Well... as close to fluff as my writing gets anyway. Plus, can Knives possibly be... jealous!? *gasp* And what happens when Knives says something he ought not have in front of Locke?
~
"..." is talking
'...' is thinking
This chapter is really short, but it gets the job done. ^_^
-----------------
A Glimpse of Eden
-----------------
Chapter - 8
~
Vash's eyes narrowed as he tightened his grip on his gun. "Knives! You gave me your word!"
Knives smiled and turned his head slightly to observe his brother better. "And what if I did?"
Vash tensed at the disturbed glint in his brother's eyes. Knives was close to completely losing it, if he hadn't already. Knives turned his full attention back to the man cowering under him.
"Look at him, Vash! A complete waste of life. He's pathetic, even for a human."
Vash's eyes narrowed even more. "Back down, Knives! Or I promise you..." he trailed off and his face hardened with quiet determination.
A tense moment passed, as each brother tried to figure out which one had the advantage. Vash had the drop on Knives, but he wouldn't endanger the townspeople and Knives had one directly at the end of his gun. The crowd began to stir slightly, convinced that the tense standoff would soon end in bloodshed. Another moment passed, and then Knives tightened his grip on his gun, his mind made up, and then--
"Knives..." His eyes widened slightly, the softly spoken words somehow managing to cut through his rage-filled thoughts. "Please, put the gun down. Don't... don't do this!" His eyes flickered to his right and he saw Meryl, tears in her eyes, standing beside him.
"Don't... don't waste your tears on this fool," he rasped, his boot pressing down harder on the man's throat, effectively cutting off his air.
Vash's whole body tensed, he had to do something now! 'Meryl... get out of the way...'
Meryl placed her small hand on Knives' arm and felt his muscles tense at her touch, but he didn't pull away. "I'm not crying for him, Knives... I'm crying for you."
Her words seemed to remove the fight from of his body and Knives lowered his gun completely and allowed the man to scurry away. He turned toward Meryl, his shocked eyes searching her face.
Vash lowered his own gun and breathed a sigh of relief. Holstering his weapon he cautiously made his way toward his brother. His eyes focused on Meryl, relieved to see her safe and well. His eyes then shifted to his brother and he watched as Knives holstered his weapon and glared down at Meryl.
"I thought I told you not to interfere." His voice was calm and controlled, his rage from a moment earlier seemingly forgotten.
Meryl raised an arm and wiped her face on her sleeve. "You jerk! Did you just think I was gonna stand by and...," her voice cracked from the strain and she finished brokenly, "... watch you kill someone?"
His eyes softened and he sighed, "You've been around my brother too long."
"I guess I'll have to take that as a compliment," spoke up an all too-familiar voice that caused Meryl's heart to flutter.
Looking past Knives, she caught sight of Vash standing a few feet away. Her eyes widening, she took a few hesitant steps toward him. "Vash? Is that... really you?"
Holding back tears, all Vash could manage was a small nod. With a small cry, she launched herself at him and wrapped her arms around his waist, hugging him tightly. He put his arms around her and hugged her back, relieved that she was alright. When Milly had told him that Meryl had disapeared he had assumed the worst and then seeing her with Knives had only added to his fears. Now that he knew she was fine...
His eyes filled with tears and he held her closer. 'I'm sorry, Meryl. I'll never let anything happen to you ever again! I swear...'
She pulled out of his tight embrace and smiled up at him. His heart lurched at the sight of her, she was so beautiful and so very precious to him.
"Are you okay, Vash? You aren't hurt are you?" she asked, sounding concerned.
"No, no. I'm fine, Meryl." He smiled down at her, happy that she was worried about him.
"Good..." She reached up and smacked him on the back of the head, knocking him to the ground."... then what in the hell took you so long!?" she glared at him, her hands on her hips.
Vash groaned and pulled himself up on one elbow. Yep, Meryl was just fine. "Aww, Meryl. Don't be that way." he whined. "Don't you know what I went through to find you?"
A dismissive snort. "Yeah, I'm sure you scoured all the donut shops and saloons from here to Spring looking for me, right?"
Pretending not to have heard her, he got to his feet, brushing the sand from his clothes. "Y'know, most girls would be thrilled that a handsome and dashing hero had come to their rescue."
She scoffed. "'Handsome and dashing'? More like bumbling and idiotic! And I'll ask again, what took you so long?"
"We don't have time for this!" Knives interupted. "We should get back to the ship before it gets dark."
They both turned their attention to Knives. Meeting his gaze, Vash nodded in agreement.
"Locke!" Meryl yelled suddenly, her hands flying to her face. In all the excitement she had forgotten about him. He was still standing where she had left him, a puzzled expression on his face. She went and put her arms around him. "I'm sorry," she whispered into his hair, "that I left you alone."
Putting his arms around her waist he hugged her back. "It's okay, Meryl." He peered around her to look curiously at Vash. "Who's that?"
She smiled. "Come here." Taking his hand, she lead him over to where Vash stood. Vash's eyes widened when he saw the boy. He glanced quickly at Knives who slowly nodded in response to his unspoken question.
"Locke, this is Vash. Vash is Knives' brother and," she added more softly, "he's my friend."
Locke studied Vash silently for a few moments before finally smiling. "Hello..." he looked down shyly and pressed back against Meryl.
Vash knelt in front of the boy and smiled back gently. "Hello, Locke. It's... nice to meet you." He glanced up at Meryl, suddenly understanding why Knives had kidnapped her. He turned to look at Knives, who had been studying the interaction between him and the boy with quiet interest.
"Save your questions for later, Vash." He started walking to the car. "I think it's best we go before that human I so generously spared comes back with re-enforcements."
Vash stood and watched Locke hurry after Knives, the boy trying to keep pace with the older Plant's quick stride. He sighed and glanced down at Meryl's smiling face. "Well, at least you're glad to see me."
Interlocking her arm with Vash's, she smiled happily up at him as they walked toward the car together.
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End chapter 8
~
Dragger: Was this soon enough? ^_^
Neptune Butterfly: Heh, I'm glad Vash's presence made you so happy. And I hope you're headache is gone now that I've updated. Hmmm... Meryl and Knives... well, you'll just have to stick around and find out what I meant. The next chapter might give you a clue, though. And yes, I'll certainly try to keep you on your toes!
Yma: Thank you very much! I'm glad you like Locke so much! I'm sure that Locke is kinda used to Knives and Meryl's arguments by now, but I think that if Knives ever goes too far with one of his comments... *See next chapter*
Alexa: Thank you, and thank you for reviewing. Yep, and Meryl just might be growing on Knives as well.
Beckira: Meryl's hair isn't as long as Rem's was, her hair is just long enough to frame her face and brush her shoulders. I don't think Meryl looks much like Rem at all, but maybe there's a slight passing resemblance. Thanks for reviewing!
Ana: You are my loyal reviewer (you've been with me since the beginning) and I do love you for that, but you have to admit that was a good spot for a cliffhanger. Actually, the last chapter originally didn't end where it did, but since everyone was waiting for Vash to show up, I cut into this chapter *points up* to give him to them. Which also helps to explain why this chapter was so short.
Yay! My reviews have finally hit the 50 mark! Thanks everyone!!!
~
Next time: Vash and Meryl fluff. Well... as close to fluff as my writing gets anyway. Plus, can Knives possibly be... jealous!? *gasp* And what happens when Knives says something he ought not have in front of Locke?
~