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
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A Glimpse of Eden
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Chapter - 11
~
Carefully balancing a tray, Meryl wearily made her way toward Locke's room. He had come down with a high fever and a bad cough a week ago and Meryl had been running herself ragged trying to care for him. Then, two days after Locke came down with it, Knives had begun to show signs of the same symptoms and had disapeared into his room. She hadn't seen him since.
Lifting the tray, she managed to hit the door button to Locke's room with her elbow. Stepping inside, she found her patient awake and waiting for her. "Good morning, Locke. How are you feeling today?" She smiled and placed the tray on the nightstand before gently laying her hand against his forehead. "Your fever is gone, that's good. Do you think you'll be able to eat something today?"
Locke frowned and shook his head. "I'm not hungry, Meryl."
"I know... but you really should eat something." She helped him sit up and piled his pillows behind his back for support. He hadn't been able to keep down solid food so she had been giving him liquids to keep him from getting dehydrated. "I made you some scrambled eggs and dry toast. I want you to eat as much as possible."
He bit his lip. "But... what if it makes me throw up again?"
"I don't think this will make you throw up, Locke," she assured him as she placed the tray over his lap. "I also made you some hot tea with cinnamon and honey. My mother used to make it for me when I was sick, and it always made me feel better."
"Yeah?" he eyed the drink suspiciously.
"Would I lie to you?" She bent down and picked up the blankets she had used to make herself a makeshift bed on the floor. He had been having rough nights because of his cough so she had moved into his room so she could be near him. Folding the blankets, she placed them neatly on the desk and then seated herself in the chair next to his bed.
He picked up the glass and cautiously took a small sip. Swallowing, he gave Meryl a weak smile. "It dosen't taste... that bad."
Laughing, she leaned forward and fondly patted his blonde head. "That's a good boy."
Giving her a small grin, he picked up a piece of toast. "Is Knives still sick, too?"
"I guess..." she said a bit uncertainly, "He hasn't come out of his room, yet."
He glanced at her, a look of concern on his face. "I'm worried about him." He started to cough, and Meryl went to hold him until it passed. With a sigh, he leaned against her. "Do you think you should check on him?"
"Maybe." She brushed his hair away from his forehead. "Do you want me to rub your back?" At his slight nod, she went to retrieve the medicine rub from off the desk. Moving the tray from the bed back to the nightstand, she unbuttoned Locke's pajama top and began to gently rub the medicine into his back and chest. The medicine would help his cough and the massage would relax him.
Redoing Locke's top, she rearranged his pillows and tried to make him as comfortable as possible. "Is there anything else I can do?" He shook his head, so Meryl picked up the tray again. "You should try and get some rest now. I'll be back as soon as I return this to the kitchen."
"Meryl?" She stopped at the door and turned back to Locke, the tray resting against her hip.
"Yes, Locke?"
Rolling over on his side, he gave her a slight smile. "I think Knives would like some of your tea."
She returned his smile. "I think you're right."
Leaving the room, she headed for the kitchen. She would bring Knives some tea, and hopefully, the gesture would make up for the fact that she would be intruding into another room that was off limits to her... his bedroom.
That, or he would be too sick and weak to care.
~
Steadying the tray, Meryl took a deep breath and knocked on the door to Knives' room. Hearing a muffled sound in response to her knock, she pressed the button and stepped inside.
The room was huge, easily three times the size of her's or Locke's. A long row of bookcases, filled with more books than she had ever seen together in one place, lined one wall. On the opposite wall, there were two large dressers, an armoire, and a desk with a computer on it. Aside from a single book laying open on the desk next to the bed, the room was spotless and well-organized. A reflection of the man who lived there.
Striding over to the desk, she carefully set the tray down. "Good morning, Knives. Locke asked me to check on you." She turned to study the bed's occupant and tried to surpress a grin. "How are you feeling?"
A low, muffled grunt was her answer. The sheet was pulled up tight around him and his head was buried under a pillow. All she could see of him was a bare arm that was clutching the pillow to his head. He must be miserable.
Turning back to the tray, she began fixing him a cup of tea. "I bought you something to drink. It'll make you feel better."
The pillow shifted slightly and a blue eye glared out at her. "What is it?"
"Hot tea with cinnamin and honey."
He disappeared under the pillow again. "It sounds dreadful."
Putting a fist against her hip, she glared at him, even though she knew he couldn't see her. "Look, do you want it or not!?"
He sat up, the sheet falling down around his waist, exposing his bare chest. "Then give it to me already."
Trying to control her blush, she handed him the glass, taking note of how he carefully avoided contact with her fingers.
He took a drink, his blue eyes focusing on her over the rim. Finally... "It's not that bad. I've had worse." Ignoring her look of indignation at what she took to be an insult, he quickly downed the rest of the drink and held the glass out to her. "More."
Surprised, she took the glass from his hand and stared at him. With a short sigh, he added, "Please."
Setting the glass back on the tray, she began preparing him another drink. "I thought you didn't like it."
"I didn't say I didn't like it," he grunted in annoyance, "I only said that I'd had worse."
She finished with the drink and handed it to him without another word. Lifting the glass to his mouth, he glanced up at her. "How is Locke?"
Grinning, she turned back to the tray. "Much better. His fever broke yesterday and he seems more alert." She smiled at him. "I think in another day or two he'll be well enough to get out of bed."
He didn't reply, only took another long sip of the tea. She continued, half to fill the silence and half to cover her nervousness over his state of undress. "Little boys just have a way of getting over these things so quickly. I remember the last time I had the flu, I was in bed for over two weeks." She laughed. "Milly had to cover for me at the Insurance Society so I wouldn't lose my job."
She chanced a look at Knives. He was staring at her with that empty, bored look that only he possessed. She coughed, deciding to get back to the subject at hand. "Still, I'm surprised Locke's doing so well already. The flu can be rough."
He finally spoke, sounding amused. "That's because he's not human." He idly examined the contents of his glass. "Beings like myself, Locke, and my brother, have a faster healing rate than humans."
She already knew they weren't human, but the healing thing was news to her. A sudden thought occured to her and she spoke without thinking, "So then why did it take you a year to recover from your fight with Vash?"
He glanced sharply at her, a look of pain crossing his face before quickly smoothing out into one of disinterest. "That was... different."
"Oh..." She but her lip, annoyed at herself for making him retreat behind his mask again. She cleared her throat and forced herself to sound cheerful. "Oh, but you never answered me before. How are you feeling?" She tilted her head and studied him. "You don't look that sick."
And he didn't. A little tired maybe, and his hair was mussed, but otherwise he looked fine. Almost as if sensing her thoughts, he reached up and ran fingers through his hair, straightening the short blonde strands into place.
He gave her a wry look. "I'm feeling much better, thank you," he answered, irritably stressing the words 'thank you'. He emptied the cup and handed it back to her. "A little sore, but I should be fine by tomorrow." He gaze fell upon the tray when something happened to catch his eye. "What is that?"
"Hm?" She looked for whatever had his attention. "Oh, that... it's the medicine rub I've been using on Locke." She must have left it on the tray when she had left his room.
Raising an eyebrow, he looked at it curiously. "What does it do?"
Picking up the jar, she held it in front of her and struck a pose, imitating an ad from the store. "This amazing rub is magic for clearing up chest or head congestion. Just rub in on your chest or back, and instant relief is yours." She held it out to him, giggling at her own foolishness. Knives was right, she had been hanging around Vash too long.
"And does it work?" he asked after a moment, apparently having decided to ignore her uncharacteristic outburst.
"Well..." she frowned, thinking. "I've been using it to give Locke massages and it seems to help him."
"Is that so?" He shifted his position on the bed, turning his back toward her. "That dosen't sound like such a bad idea."
"Wha... what doesn't!?" she blushed, feining confusion.
Glancing over his shoulder, he threw her an irritated glare. "A massage."
"You... you want me to give you a massage!?" she squeaked, her face crimson.
A slight smirk. "Well, I could hardly give myself one," he replied logically.
"But I thought you didn't like people touching you!" she said, trying to find any excuse that might get herself out of the embarassing predicament.
"Usually I don't," he sighed and turned away from her, "but I'm making an exception today."
She stood silently for a few moments, trying to decide if this was another one of his warped jokes or if he was serious. Finally, she stepped forward and lightly perched on the edge of the bed. Knives adjusted the sheet more securely around his waist and leaned forward, allowing her full access to his back.
Her hands shook and she almost dropped the jar, but after a few calming breaths she managed to get some of the medicine out and into her palm. Lightly rubbing her hands together to spread the medicine, she took another deep breath before gingerly placing her hands at the top of his shoulder blades. He automatically tensed in reaction to her touch, but began to relax as she massaged his shoulders. After a minute, she moved her hands down to his lower back, determined to get the massage done with as soon as possible. Her hands moved lower until they were just above the sheet and she had a sudden thought. Did Knives sleep naked?
He chuckled lightly, and she felt her whole body grow warm in embarassment. He couldn't... read her mind, could he?
"What's so funny?" she asked, struggling to keep her voice calm.
With a sly gleam in his icy blue eyes, he glanced back at her from over his shoulder. "You seem nervous. Is something wrong?"
"Not at all." She ignored his mocking smirk and hurriedly finished rubbing the medicine on his back. Standing and moving away from the bed, she wiped her hands on her skirt, trying to remove the remaining traces of medicine and the memory of his warm, smooth skin. Catching his amused smile, she sent him a look that would have sent his brother running in fear. "What is it now, Knives?"
He leaned back against his pillows, enjoying her irritation. "Absolutely nothing."
He stretched lazily, well-toned muscles flexing slightly in response, and noticed how quickly the girl adverted her attention elsewhere. Oh, but not fast enough. He had seen the admiring look she had given him just before turning away. And why shouldn't he be admired? His body was perfect. Over 130 years of intense training and physical discipline had given him a body of unmatched strength and beauty.
His gaze narrowed, his thoughts shifting. His brother would have had a body as perfect as this, had the humans not scared it like they had. A sudden rage filled him, so intense that it almost choked him. The human garbage were responsible for the vast array of scars and metal that adorned his brother's body. Wounds that had been so deep and violent that they could never be regenerated. He clenched his jaw, his hatred for the humans so strong he could taste it. He'd kill them all. He'd make them suffer like his brother had.
A sudden movement drew his attention away from his dark thoughts and back to the girl, watching as she moved toward one of the bookcases, her head thoughtfully tilted to one side as she scanned the titles. He doubled his fist in anger. She was one of those vermin, her mere existence was an abomination to his kind, so why did he allow her to live? Why not kill her now and be done with it.
He released his breath in a low hiss, nearly overwhelmed by the sudden desire to leap up and snap the girl's neck. Her slender hand reached for a book and he studied the girl's slight form. She was so small and delicate, it would hardly take any effort at all to kill her. So why did he hesitate?
She turned to him, her smile warm and her eyes bright, and Knives felt his heart tighten in response. The anger, which only moments before had been so intense, abruptly left him, leaving him feeling emotionally drained and confused.
"I can't believe you have this! I haven't read this since I was a child." Excitement tinged her voice and she lightly ran her fingertips across the book's cover. "My father dosen't even have this book." When he didn't reply she frowned, a look of concern on her face. He was pale and staring at her like he'd never seen her before. "Are you alright, Knives? You don't look so well."
"I'm fine!" he snapped, and was rewarded with a hurt look from Meryl.
He shut his eyes tightly, trying to gain control over his emotions again. He didn't like it when they were exposed and out in the open. Emotions made people vulnerable. And he, perhaps more than anyone, knew how dangerous and powerful emotions could be when manipulated. Hadn't he himself employed that very tactic against his own brother over the years? Even the Gung Ho Guns had been controlled by a combination of careful manipulation and fear.
He felt a cool, gentle hand press against his forehead and he opened his eyes in surprise. Meryl was leaning down in front of him, the look of concern back in place. Her hand moved from his forehead down to his cheek and the side of her mouth dipped into a thoughtful frown. "You don't feel feverish. Did drinking all that tea upset your stomach?"
"No," he pushed her hand away, annoyed at how her touch affected him, "I feel fine."
She straightened, looking as though she didn't quite believe him. "You look tired. Maybe you should get some rest."
"Maybe I should." He settled back against his pillows again, tugging at the sheet. Surprising him again, Meryl stepped forward and pulled the blanket from the bottom of his bed up and over him, then began straightening his pillows. "Just what do you think you're doing!?"
She froze, then stepped back from his bed with a small giggle. "I'm sorry, Knives. But after this week, it's become somewhat of a habit."
He studied her, noticing for the first time how tired she looked. "You look like you could use some rest as well." When her eyes widened in surprise at his words, he hurriedly added, "I mean, if you collapse from exhaustion you'll be of no value to me."
She lowered her head, and Knives thought he heard her mumble something under her breath before she glanced back up at him.
"I suppose you're right. I am feeling a bit tired. Maybe after I check in on Locke and let him know how you're doing I'll take a little nap." She picked up the book from off the desk. "Would you mind if I borrowed this for awhile?"
Glancing at the book briefly, he gave a shrug of indifference. "I suppose not."
Hugging it to her chest, she grinned happily. "Thanks. I'll take good care of it."
"See that you do. I don't like having my things treated carelessly."
Tucking the book under her arm, she carefully lifted the tray and headed for the door. As the door slid open she turned back to Knives. The way he was watching her made her nervous. "Um, is there anything I can get for you? You must be hungry."
Not really, but her concern for him was almost touching. When was the last time someone had truly cared about his needs? He couldn't remember. "I'm fine right now, but I will be at breakfast tomorrow and I'll expect something other than eggs and toast."
Smiling, she made a mental note to herself not to make eggs for breakfast anymore. At least not for awhile anyway. "How about french toast?" He nodded, so she turned to leave.
"Meryl?"
With a small sigh, she adjusted the tray against her hip and turned back to him again. "Yes, Knives?"
He dropped his eyes to his lap, a look of uncertainty softening his features, making his face appear less harsh and strained. After a minute of silence he frowned, shaking his head slightly. "Nevermind. It was nothing." He glanced back up at her, his face expressionless once again. "You may leave now."
Giving him one last smile, she turned and left, the door sliding shut behind her. Knives stared at the door silently, listening to the sound of her retreating footsteps. Finally, he laid back down and studied the ceiling, making plans. As soon as Locke was better he would begin the boy's training. It was time the boy learned how to handle a gun.
He reached up and absently brushed the back of his fingers at the spot on his cheek where the girl had touched. The touch had been disconcerting in itself, but what really bothered him the most was the comfort and enjoyment he had derived from it.
With an exasperated grunt, he jerked the blanket over his head and curled up under it, trying to sort out his thoughts. Why did the girl have such an affect on him? No other human had ever made him feel like this before. Of course, he hadn't really had much personal contact with humans in his 130 years of life, with the exception of the Seeds crew and his servant Legato. When he wasn't slaughtering them enmasse, he had spent much of his time avoiding contact with humans whenever possible. But this girl was different. He actually found pleasure in her company.
Another loan moan escaped his throat at the revelation. The thought that he, Millions Knives, freeborn Plant, and killer of men, women, and children indiscriminately, could find pleasure in the company of a lowly human girl was... disturbing.
Hopefully, when the time came for the girl to leave he would have these feelings under control. He wasn't sure how much more of this he could take.
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End chapter 11
~
Magnet-Rose: YES!!! But V/M is awesome, too. ^_^
Slate Grey: Wow, a K/M fan has been drawn out. *lol* Thank you! And I'm in complete agreement with the 'Knives is kinda a jerk' thing. But that's one of the reasons we love him, right? ^_^
Arika*: Thank you! And I'll keep an eye out for your update!
Yma: Thanks again! Yep, I update frequently, but that also means the end of this fic is fast approaching. I'm kinda working on an extra chapter to insert into this fic, so hopefully I'll get it done soon so that my updating isn't thrown off.
Malster: Woot! I'm so happy to hear that! Now I just have to worry about Milly. *lol*
Beckira: Thanks!!! I'm glad you're enjoying my fic. ^_^v
angelarms: My friend was upset at Vash leaving so soon, too, because he said I can write Vash the best of all the Trigun characters. Well... no worries, Vash isn't gone forever. ^_^
WW: Thank you! And yeah, I'm having the same problem. Vash and Meryl are so sweet together...but then there's something about Knives and Meryl that makes them such a great couple, too.
LazyCat9: Yep! That's partly why I'm writing this, because as a Knives' fan myself, there just can't be too much Knives oriented fanfiction. ^_^
EvilChibiRuler: Thank you!
Ana: Glad you liked that scene! Heh, poor Knives... ^_^v
trapt-tears: Thank you for your review! Sometimes I worry if Knives and Meryl are going OOC, so it's nice to know that they're not. ^_^
panny-chan98: And another K/M fan. Thank you, and I certainly will!
Knives_Lady: Thank you for reviewing!
~
Next time: It's training time for Locke! And unless I get enough time to finish typing an upcoming bonus chapter, it might be my last update for at least a week. _
"..." is talking
'...' is thinking
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A Glimpse of Eden
-----------------
Chapter - 11
~
Carefully balancing a tray, Meryl wearily made her way toward Locke's room. He had come down with a high fever and a bad cough a week ago and Meryl had been running herself ragged trying to care for him. Then, two days after Locke came down with it, Knives had begun to show signs of the same symptoms and had disapeared into his room. She hadn't seen him since.
Lifting the tray, she managed to hit the door button to Locke's room with her elbow. Stepping inside, she found her patient awake and waiting for her. "Good morning, Locke. How are you feeling today?" She smiled and placed the tray on the nightstand before gently laying her hand against his forehead. "Your fever is gone, that's good. Do you think you'll be able to eat something today?"
Locke frowned and shook his head. "I'm not hungry, Meryl."
"I know... but you really should eat something." She helped him sit up and piled his pillows behind his back for support. He hadn't been able to keep down solid food so she had been giving him liquids to keep him from getting dehydrated. "I made you some scrambled eggs and dry toast. I want you to eat as much as possible."
He bit his lip. "But... what if it makes me throw up again?"
"I don't think this will make you throw up, Locke," she assured him as she placed the tray over his lap. "I also made you some hot tea with cinnamon and honey. My mother used to make it for me when I was sick, and it always made me feel better."
"Yeah?" he eyed the drink suspiciously.
"Would I lie to you?" She bent down and picked up the blankets she had used to make herself a makeshift bed on the floor. He had been having rough nights because of his cough so she had moved into his room so she could be near him. Folding the blankets, she placed them neatly on the desk and then seated herself in the chair next to his bed.
He picked up the glass and cautiously took a small sip. Swallowing, he gave Meryl a weak smile. "It dosen't taste... that bad."
Laughing, she leaned forward and fondly patted his blonde head. "That's a good boy."
Giving her a small grin, he picked up a piece of toast. "Is Knives still sick, too?"
"I guess..." she said a bit uncertainly, "He hasn't come out of his room, yet."
He glanced at her, a look of concern on his face. "I'm worried about him." He started to cough, and Meryl went to hold him until it passed. With a sigh, he leaned against her. "Do you think you should check on him?"
"Maybe." She brushed his hair away from his forehead. "Do you want me to rub your back?" At his slight nod, she went to retrieve the medicine rub from off the desk. Moving the tray from the bed back to the nightstand, she unbuttoned Locke's pajama top and began to gently rub the medicine into his back and chest. The medicine would help his cough and the massage would relax him.
Redoing Locke's top, she rearranged his pillows and tried to make him as comfortable as possible. "Is there anything else I can do?" He shook his head, so Meryl picked up the tray again. "You should try and get some rest now. I'll be back as soon as I return this to the kitchen."
"Meryl?" She stopped at the door and turned back to Locke, the tray resting against her hip.
"Yes, Locke?"
Rolling over on his side, he gave her a slight smile. "I think Knives would like some of your tea."
She returned his smile. "I think you're right."
Leaving the room, she headed for the kitchen. She would bring Knives some tea, and hopefully, the gesture would make up for the fact that she would be intruding into another room that was off limits to her... his bedroom.
That, or he would be too sick and weak to care.
~
Steadying the tray, Meryl took a deep breath and knocked on the door to Knives' room. Hearing a muffled sound in response to her knock, she pressed the button and stepped inside.
The room was huge, easily three times the size of her's or Locke's. A long row of bookcases, filled with more books than she had ever seen together in one place, lined one wall. On the opposite wall, there were two large dressers, an armoire, and a desk with a computer on it. Aside from a single book laying open on the desk next to the bed, the room was spotless and well-organized. A reflection of the man who lived there.
Striding over to the desk, she carefully set the tray down. "Good morning, Knives. Locke asked me to check on you." She turned to study the bed's occupant and tried to surpress a grin. "How are you feeling?"
A low, muffled grunt was her answer. The sheet was pulled up tight around him and his head was buried under a pillow. All she could see of him was a bare arm that was clutching the pillow to his head. He must be miserable.
Turning back to the tray, she began fixing him a cup of tea. "I bought you something to drink. It'll make you feel better."
The pillow shifted slightly and a blue eye glared out at her. "What is it?"
"Hot tea with cinnamin and honey."
He disappeared under the pillow again. "It sounds dreadful."
Putting a fist against her hip, she glared at him, even though she knew he couldn't see her. "Look, do you want it or not!?"
He sat up, the sheet falling down around his waist, exposing his bare chest. "Then give it to me already."
Trying to control her blush, she handed him the glass, taking note of how he carefully avoided contact with her fingers.
He took a drink, his blue eyes focusing on her over the rim. Finally... "It's not that bad. I've had worse." Ignoring her look of indignation at what she took to be an insult, he quickly downed the rest of the drink and held the glass out to her. "More."
Surprised, she took the glass from his hand and stared at him. With a short sigh, he added, "Please."
Setting the glass back on the tray, she began preparing him another drink. "I thought you didn't like it."
"I didn't say I didn't like it," he grunted in annoyance, "I only said that I'd had worse."
She finished with the drink and handed it to him without another word. Lifting the glass to his mouth, he glanced up at her. "How is Locke?"
Grinning, she turned back to the tray. "Much better. His fever broke yesterday and he seems more alert." She smiled at him. "I think in another day or two he'll be well enough to get out of bed."
He didn't reply, only took another long sip of the tea. She continued, half to fill the silence and half to cover her nervousness over his state of undress. "Little boys just have a way of getting over these things so quickly. I remember the last time I had the flu, I was in bed for over two weeks." She laughed. "Milly had to cover for me at the Insurance Society so I wouldn't lose my job."
She chanced a look at Knives. He was staring at her with that empty, bored look that only he possessed. She coughed, deciding to get back to the subject at hand. "Still, I'm surprised Locke's doing so well already. The flu can be rough."
He finally spoke, sounding amused. "That's because he's not human." He idly examined the contents of his glass. "Beings like myself, Locke, and my brother, have a faster healing rate than humans."
She already knew they weren't human, but the healing thing was news to her. A sudden thought occured to her and she spoke without thinking, "So then why did it take you a year to recover from your fight with Vash?"
He glanced sharply at her, a look of pain crossing his face before quickly smoothing out into one of disinterest. "That was... different."
"Oh..." She but her lip, annoyed at herself for making him retreat behind his mask again. She cleared her throat and forced herself to sound cheerful. "Oh, but you never answered me before. How are you feeling?" She tilted her head and studied him. "You don't look that sick."
And he didn't. A little tired maybe, and his hair was mussed, but otherwise he looked fine. Almost as if sensing her thoughts, he reached up and ran fingers through his hair, straightening the short blonde strands into place.
He gave her a wry look. "I'm feeling much better, thank you," he answered, irritably stressing the words 'thank you'. He emptied the cup and handed it back to her. "A little sore, but I should be fine by tomorrow." He gaze fell upon the tray when something happened to catch his eye. "What is that?"
"Hm?" She looked for whatever had his attention. "Oh, that... it's the medicine rub I've been using on Locke." She must have left it on the tray when she had left his room.
Raising an eyebrow, he looked at it curiously. "What does it do?"
Picking up the jar, she held it in front of her and struck a pose, imitating an ad from the store. "This amazing rub is magic for clearing up chest or head congestion. Just rub in on your chest or back, and instant relief is yours." She held it out to him, giggling at her own foolishness. Knives was right, she had been hanging around Vash too long.
"And does it work?" he asked after a moment, apparently having decided to ignore her uncharacteristic outburst.
"Well..." she frowned, thinking. "I've been using it to give Locke massages and it seems to help him."
"Is that so?" He shifted his position on the bed, turning his back toward her. "That dosen't sound like such a bad idea."
"Wha... what doesn't!?" she blushed, feining confusion.
Glancing over his shoulder, he threw her an irritated glare. "A massage."
"You... you want me to give you a massage!?" she squeaked, her face crimson.
A slight smirk. "Well, I could hardly give myself one," he replied logically.
"But I thought you didn't like people touching you!" she said, trying to find any excuse that might get herself out of the embarassing predicament.
"Usually I don't," he sighed and turned away from her, "but I'm making an exception today."
She stood silently for a few moments, trying to decide if this was another one of his warped jokes or if he was serious. Finally, she stepped forward and lightly perched on the edge of the bed. Knives adjusted the sheet more securely around his waist and leaned forward, allowing her full access to his back.
Her hands shook and she almost dropped the jar, but after a few calming breaths she managed to get some of the medicine out and into her palm. Lightly rubbing her hands together to spread the medicine, she took another deep breath before gingerly placing her hands at the top of his shoulder blades. He automatically tensed in reaction to her touch, but began to relax as she massaged his shoulders. After a minute, she moved her hands down to his lower back, determined to get the massage done with as soon as possible. Her hands moved lower until they were just above the sheet and she had a sudden thought. Did Knives sleep naked?
He chuckled lightly, and she felt her whole body grow warm in embarassment. He couldn't... read her mind, could he?
"What's so funny?" she asked, struggling to keep her voice calm.
With a sly gleam in his icy blue eyes, he glanced back at her from over his shoulder. "You seem nervous. Is something wrong?"
"Not at all." She ignored his mocking smirk and hurriedly finished rubbing the medicine on his back. Standing and moving away from the bed, she wiped her hands on her skirt, trying to remove the remaining traces of medicine and the memory of his warm, smooth skin. Catching his amused smile, she sent him a look that would have sent his brother running in fear. "What is it now, Knives?"
He leaned back against his pillows, enjoying her irritation. "Absolutely nothing."
He stretched lazily, well-toned muscles flexing slightly in response, and noticed how quickly the girl adverted her attention elsewhere. Oh, but not fast enough. He had seen the admiring look she had given him just before turning away. And why shouldn't he be admired? His body was perfect. Over 130 years of intense training and physical discipline had given him a body of unmatched strength and beauty.
His gaze narrowed, his thoughts shifting. His brother would have had a body as perfect as this, had the humans not scared it like they had. A sudden rage filled him, so intense that it almost choked him. The human garbage were responsible for the vast array of scars and metal that adorned his brother's body. Wounds that had been so deep and violent that they could never be regenerated. He clenched his jaw, his hatred for the humans so strong he could taste it. He'd kill them all. He'd make them suffer like his brother had.
A sudden movement drew his attention away from his dark thoughts and back to the girl, watching as she moved toward one of the bookcases, her head thoughtfully tilted to one side as she scanned the titles. He doubled his fist in anger. She was one of those vermin, her mere existence was an abomination to his kind, so why did he allow her to live? Why not kill her now and be done with it.
He released his breath in a low hiss, nearly overwhelmed by the sudden desire to leap up and snap the girl's neck. Her slender hand reached for a book and he studied the girl's slight form. She was so small and delicate, it would hardly take any effort at all to kill her. So why did he hesitate?
She turned to him, her smile warm and her eyes bright, and Knives felt his heart tighten in response. The anger, which only moments before had been so intense, abruptly left him, leaving him feeling emotionally drained and confused.
"I can't believe you have this! I haven't read this since I was a child." Excitement tinged her voice and she lightly ran her fingertips across the book's cover. "My father dosen't even have this book." When he didn't reply she frowned, a look of concern on her face. He was pale and staring at her like he'd never seen her before. "Are you alright, Knives? You don't look so well."
"I'm fine!" he snapped, and was rewarded with a hurt look from Meryl.
He shut his eyes tightly, trying to gain control over his emotions again. He didn't like it when they were exposed and out in the open. Emotions made people vulnerable. And he, perhaps more than anyone, knew how dangerous and powerful emotions could be when manipulated. Hadn't he himself employed that very tactic against his own brother over the years? Even the Gung Ho Guns had been controlled by a combination of careful manipulation and fear.
He felt a cool, gentle hand press against his forehead and he opened his eyes in surprise. Meryl was leaning down in front of him, the look of concern back in place. Her hand moved from his forehead down to his cheek and the side of her mouth dipped into a thoughtful frown. "You don't feel feverish. Did drinking all that tea upset your stomach?"
"No," he pushed her hand away, annoyed at how her touch affected him, "I feel fine."
She straightened, looking as though she didn't quite believe him. "You look tired. Maybe you should get some rest."
"Maybe I should." He settled back against his pillows again, tugging at the sheet. Surprising him again, Meryl stepped forward and pulled the blanket from the bottom of his bed up and over him, then began straightening his pillows. "Just what do you think you're doing!?"
She froze, then stepped back from his bed with a small giggle. "I'm sorry, Knives. But after this week, it's become somewhat of a habit."
He studied her, noticing for the first time how tired she looked. "You look like you could use some rest as well." When her eyes widened in surprise at his words, he hurriedly added, "I mean, if you collapse from exhaustion you'll be of no value to me."
She lowered her head, and Knives thought he heard her mumble something under her breath before she glanced back up at him.
"I suppose you're right. I am feeling a bit tired. Maybe after I check in on Locke and let him know how you're doing I'll take a little nap." She picked up the book from off the desk. "Would you mind if I borrowed this for awhile?"
Glancing at the book briefly, he gave a shrug of indifference. "I suppose not."
Hugging it to her chest, she grinned happily. "Thanks. I'll take good care of it."
"See that you do. I don't like having my things treated carelessly."
Tucking the book under her arm, she carefully lifted the tray and headed for the door. As the door slid open she turned back to Knives. The way he was watching her made her nervous. "Um, is there anything I can get for you? You must be hungry."
Not really, but her concern for him was almost touching. When was the last time someone had truly cared about his needs? He couldn't remember. "I'm fine right now, but I will be at breakfast tomorrow and I'll expect something other than eggs and toast."
Smiling, she made a mental note to herself not to make eggs for breakfast anymore. At least not for awhile anyway. "How about french toast?" He nodded, so she turned to leave.
"Meryl?"
With a small sigh, she adjusted the tray against her hip and turned back to him again. "Yes, Knives?"
He dropped his eyes to his lap, a look of uncertainty softening his features, making his face appear less harsh and strained. After a minute of silence he frowned, shaking his head slightly. "Nevermind. It was nothing." He glanced back up at her, his face expressionless once again. "You may leave now."
Giving him one last smile, she turned and left, the door sliding shut behind her. Knives stared at the door silently, listening to the sound of her retreating footsteps. Finally, he laid back down and studied the ceiling, making plans. As soon as Locke was better he would begin the boy's training. It was time the boy learned how to handle a gun.
He reached up and absently brushed the back of his fingers at the spot on his cheek where the girl had touched. The touch had been disconcerting in itself, but what really bothered him the most was the comfort and enjoyment he had derived from it.
With an exasperated grunt, he jerked the blanket over his head and curled up under it, trying to sort out his thoughts. Why did the girl have such an affect on him? No other human had ever made him feel like this before. Of course, he hadn't really had much personal contact with humans in his 130 years of life, with the exception of the Seeds crew and his servant Legato. When he wasn't slaughtering them enmasse, he had spent much of his time avoiding contact with humans whenever possible. But this girl was different. He actually found pleasure in her company.
Another loan moan escaped his throat at the revelation. The thought that he, Millions Knives, freeborn Plant, and killer of men, women, and children indiscriminately, could find pleasure in the company of a lowly human girl was... disturbing.
Hopefully, when the time came for the girl to leave he would have these feelings under control. He wasn't sure how much more of this he could take.
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End chapter 11
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Magnet-Rose: YES!!! But V/M is awesome, too. ^_^
Slate Grey: Wow, a K/M fan has been drawn out. *lol* Thank you! And I'm in complete agreement with the 'Knives is kinda a jerk' thing. But that's one of the reasons we love him, right? ^_^
Arika*: Thank you! And I'll keep an eye out for your update!
Yma: Thanks again! Yep, I update frequently, but that also means the end of this fic is fast approaching. I'm kinda working on an extra chapter to insert into this fic, so hopefully I'll get it done soon so that my updating isn't thrown off.
Malster: Woot! I'm so happy to hear that! Now I just have to worry about Milly. *lol*
Beckira: Thanks!!! I'm glad you're enjoying my fic. ^_^v
angelarms: My friend was upset at Vash leaving so soon, too, because he said I can write Vash the best of all the Trigun characters. Well... no worries, Vash isn't gone forever. ^_^
WW: Thank you! And yeah, I'm having the same problem. Vash and Meryl are so sweet together...but then there's something about Knives and Meryl that makes them such a great couple, too.
LazyCat9: Yep! That's partly why I'm writing this, because as a Knives' fan myself, there just can't be too much Knives oriented fanfiction. ^_^
EvilChibiRuler: Thank you!
Ana: Glad you liked that scene! Heh, poor Knives... ^_^v
trapt-tears: Thank you for your review! Sometimes I worry if Knives and Meryl are going OOC, so it's nice to know that they're not. ^_^
panny-chan98: And another K/M fan. Thank you, and I certainly will!
Knives_Lady: Thank you for reviewing!
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Next time: It's training time for Locke! And unless I get enough time to finish typing an upcoming bonus chapter, it might be my last update for at least a week. _