Disclaimer: For the love of Wolfwood, is this really necessary every chapter? I don't own Trigun. PERIOD. Rolls eyes
A/N: Sorry about the lack of updates, everyone. School just started back for me (How fun) so that's been taking up a lot of time. Hopefully things will get easier after the first couple of weeks. ^_^
Engel: Sacrifice
Chapter Seventeen
Change Of Heart
"Hello darkness my old friend
I've come to talk with you again
Because a vision softly creeping
Left its seed while I was sleeping
And the vision that was planted in my brain
Still remains
Within the sound of silence…"
-Simon and Garfunkel ( Lyrics from The Sound of Silence)
Vash sat in the other room of the cathedral, anticipating the results on his friend. He removed his black cloak and set it beside him. Resting his hands in his lap, he lowered his head.
"Are you coming back?"
"Why Vash? Are you scared of being alone?"
"Knives…" He whispered. "Where are you? Why are you doing this?"
"Hello," Vash looked up and Demonte seated himself next to Vash. "How are you feeling?"
"You seem awfully cheery today," Vash said suspiciously. "What's up?"
Vash was unable to see Demonte's expression under his hood, which he kept on his head constantly.
"Cheery?" Demonte asked. "When am I ever cheery?"
"I don't know, that's why I'm asking."
Demonte turned his head. "I don't know. Maybe I'm changing." He chuckled softly.
"Changing?" Vash rose an eyebrow. "Okay now you're scaring me. Who are you and what have you done with Demonte?"
"Huh?" Demonte glanced back at Vash. "What are you talking about?"
"You're way too talkative. And you never initiate conversations. Not that that's a bad thing, but I was just wondering what has you elated today?"
"I don't know. I was doing some thinking and…" Demonte shook his head. "Nevermind. So, how's Jessica?"
"So far, so good. Doc says that she should be up and about here in the next few hours. That should give us plenty of time to round things up and get to Roklen."
"You've already explained everything to Doc?"
"Huh? Oh yeah. I told him about the bandits over by the ruins and our mission to get to Roklen so we can stop my megalomaniac brother."
"Hmmm…" Demonte smiled. Then a sudden guilt overtook him. "Vash…about your brother…I…"
"Actually," Demonte said, leaning down to pick up something that Celestia couldn't see. "It should be me thanking you."
Celestia was taken aback at his words. "Oh…um…you're welcome."
"Yeah?" Vash asked.
"So…why did you put yourself in danger for me?" Demonte asked suddenly.
"Why?" Celestia looked surprised. "Well, DUH, Dem, you're my friend." Demonte grew puzzled. "What? Are you telling me that you've never had anyone risk their life for you before?"
"On the contrary, no."
"Are you serious?"
"Yeah," He said as they walked down the mountain path.
"Well…" She tilted her head. "You're supposed to do that."
"Do what?"
"Protect the people you care about. When your friends are in trouble, you should do whatever you can to protect them…even if it means giving up your own life as well…That's the true meaning of strength, I believe."
"Protecting? So you were…protecting me?"
"Demonte, you're always an emotionless guy. And now I see why. Don't you know how to love or how to express yourself?"
"Well…"
"We're all friends, Dem, and we all have to stick together."
"All I remember in my childhood was agonizing pain and suffering. There wasn't anything such as love…only hatred."
"Demonte…the past is the past. If you live in the past, you'll never learn. Vash, Meryl, Milly, BDN, me…we all care about you…"
"Friendship…"
"With friendship comes trust. Whatever you do, you must always protect them and stop their hurt. Never hurt your friends, Demonte, never betray them."
'Betrayal…
Perhaps that is why I want to tell him.
Friendship…
Perhaps that is why I saved Meryl.'
"Demonte?" Vash asked. "Don't zone out on me, what did you want to say?"
"Oh, I'm sorry." Demonte said. "Well…I wanted to say…"
"Vash!" Another voice interrupted and the two glanced up.
Vash's view was suddenly blurred as he was tackled by a bundle of blue. "Vash!" The voice repeated. "I missed you! I can't believe you're alive…"
Vash gently pushed the girl back to look at her softly. "Jessica…you're better now I take it?"
Jessica nodded and reached for another hug. "Vash you moron…Why did you leave?"
"First you say that you're happy to see me, and now you're calling me names," Vash chuckled.
"You KNOW what I mean," She rolled her eyes as she sat on his lap. "Where were you?" She straightened her dress; the same one Vash had remembered her wearing the day of Brad's death. He cringed at the memory.
"I had some business I had to take care of," He said.
"And what happened to your hair!?" She fingered the dark strands. "It's turning black."
"Oh, that," Vash shrugged.
"Is it because you're a plant?"
"Sort of."
Jessica saw that she could not pry further because of Vash's vague answers and she found her reason not to ask anymore.
"That was a quick recovery, Doc," Vash turned to the old man as he entered the room. "I thought that you said that it would take hours for her to recover."
"Yes, I was quite amazed myself at how fast the recovery was. I suppose that it's because she has such a strong will." Doc smiled. "Isn't that right, Jessica?"
"That's right!" Jessica squealed as she clung to Vash.
From around the corner, Meryl watched with animosity at the two. She clenched her fist. How dare that little…!
Of course Meryl knew her, never liked her, and now…
"Grrr! This just makes me sick to watch!"
"Eavesdropping? That's not very ladylike."
Meryl snapped back into reality and whirled around to meet the eyes of Demonte. "What…? How…? You were just in there!"
"I slipped out," Demonte said, pulling her back into the opposite room of where Doc and the others were. "I knew I could sense unhappy vibes around here." Demonte smiled. "You wouldn't be jealous now, would you?"
"Jealous!? Me!? HA! I WOULDN'T BE JEALOUS OF THAT—"
"They're going to hear you." Demonte said, clamping his hand over her mouth. "I'm certain that you wouldn't want that…"
"Shut up!" Meryl said, throwing his hand away. "It's not like that at all!"
Demonte only laughed and shook his head. "Damn you're a stubborn one. I know that you and Vash have had a long history of run-ins with each other, but…"
"Are you implying that I actually LIKE that moron!?"
"Well, LIKE wasn't exactly the word I was looking for…"
With that remark, Meryl's face darkened and Demonte braced himself for the next explosion of words.
"LOVE!? YOU'RE SAYING THAT I 'LOVE'—"
"What seems to be the ruckus in here!?" Doc rushed into the room with Vash and Jessica behind him. "Henai!" He said sternly, his eyebrows furrowing.
Meryl lowered her head. "I'm sorry Keahnu. I shall take my leave now…" Meryl turned and shuffled out of the room and Doc sighed.
"This is supposed to be a holy sanctuary. We can't have her shooting off her mouth like that." Glancing up, Doc's eyes rested upon Demonte. "Just what were you two talking about anyway?"
"Nothing," Demonte quickly said. "Nothing at all. If you don't mind, I think that I shall take my leave as well."
"Wait Demonte," Doc said, stopping him with his hand. "First we must decide our next plan. I have heard about your reasoning to go to Roklen and I suggest that now is a good time to rethink your strategy on how you are going to approach the matter."
"What?" Demonte asked.
"Who will accompany you? What means of transportation do you intend to use? Food? Supplies?"
"Well, I hadn't actually thought of that. I usually just let the wind carry me, if you know what I mean."
"That's not the way things work around here, kid." BDN descended the stairs and nodded towards the Doc. "Doc's right. You were the only one who heard exactly what those ruffians said that night, so you should be the one to make the decisions."
"Um…I…" Demonte glanced up at the hefty man. "Who plans on staying behind?"
"Well," Doc rubbed his chin. "I know that Ingway will be staying in Mordeh with us for a fact, but everyone else should be positioned to join you."
"I'm definitely going," BDN spoke, "I can't leave this kid to do everything for himself. And I'm sure that Meryl and her friend, Milly, are coming."
"And I'm coming," Vash interrupted. "And Celestia is sure to tag along."
"Yeah, I had no doubt of that…" Demonte muttered.
"I'm coming too!" Jessica imposed as she looked at Vash with determined eyes. "I'm not going to leave Vash alone."
"But, Jessica," Doc protested, "You've only just recovered and what if you get injured or—"
"Relax Doc," Demonte said, crossing his arms over his chest. "We'll take care of her."
"Well…all right…" Doc said, defeated.
"Excellent. Then when should we get going?" Demonte asked.
"Keahnu," Algernon entered the room. "Azayla has arrived with the others."
"Wonderful!" Doc clapped his hands together. "Surely they'll know what to do…"
"About what, Doctor?" Demonte glanced up to see a familiar face—the woman from Sanction.
"Miss Stefany!" Doc exclaimed as he motioned them to come closer. Vash was surprised to recognize all three of the guests.
"I know you…" He pointed to Stefany. "And you…" He slowly directed his finger to a woman with silky green hair and then turned to a man with black hair. "And you too."
"Vash, you know Miss Elizabeth and Miss Stefany?"
"And Mister Badwick," Stefany stepped forward. "He is the newcomer, Doctor."
"The one that you spoke of?"
"Indeed."
"Spoke of?" Demonte asked, diverting his attention back and forth between Stefany and Doc. "Just what is going on here? First you confuse me with your war gibberish and now you're confusing me with this idle talk of newcomers."
"And who is this loud mouthed individual with apparently no manners?" Elizabeth advanced towards Demonte, her high heels clicking against the marble of the floor. "Obviously an untrustworthy man due to his lack of respect. He can't even lower his hood to beautiful women."
"Hey!" Demonte leaned forward, ready to strike this woman.
"Okay, enough of that!" Vash stepped in between them. He turned his head to Elizabeth. His eyes narrowed upon her delicate face. "I remember you from the plant emergency back in Inepril, am I right?"
There was a pause between the two as Elizabeth struggled to regain her bearings.
"Vash the Stampede?" Elizabeth's eyes widened in horror, as she perceived the man in front of her to be the same man she had met almost seven years ago in Inepril. The man who had turned her hometown into rubble. "You lying bastard…" Her eyes narrowed.
"It's no lie, Azayla," Doc said as he turned to Stefany and Badwick, their reactions mimicking Elizabeth's. "Honest, it's the solemn truth."
"How can you say that!?" Elizabeth shouted as she pointed an accusing finger at Vash. "He died four years ago at the ruins! EVERYONE knows that!"
"Ruins?" Demonte asked. "How come I don't know about that?"
"Azayla, please calm yourself. I know that it sounds absurd…" The Doc was cut off.
"Might I add unrealistic," Stefany crossed her arms. "This man claims to be Vash the Stampede?"
"I know that the same man was involved with the deed to my parents' land," Badwick agreed. "But that was so long ago. Besides, if this was really Vash the Stampede…"
"It is…" A new voice echoed throughout the room. Everyone turned to Meryl, who had darkened the doorway. "I know this."
"Meryl!" Elizabeth began to protest. "How can you believe…"
"Senchu, koraka eh tansu mie keeza!" Meryl screamed in a foreign tongue.
"Henai! Cease!" Doc bellowed. "Not another word from you!"
"What…?" Vash and Demonte asked in unison.
Elizabeth stared at Meryl, and simply nodded. "Very well, if you say so, Henai." She turned to Vash. "If you say that he is really the one."
"Then it's true?" Stefany asked as she glanced at Vash with hope shining in her eyes. "You are really…Vash the Stampede?"
Vash merely nodded.
"That's unbelievable…" Badwick said breathlessly.
"It's the truth," Doc said. "Whether you believe it or not. Now," Doc diverted his attention to Elizabeth. "There is great evil afoot. You must listen to what we have to say."
"If you desire us to so." Stefany said. "What might you have to tell us?"
"We're going to Roklen," BDN said. "Seems that there's some baddies waiting for us to kick their asses."
"We were attacked at the Ruins of Enora Precipice by some familiar faces," Vash explained. "We have reason to believe that they're hiding out at Roklen."
"Roklen!?" Stefany suddenly became alarmed. "But that's…"
"We know," Doc interrupted. "Civilians will be injured. We must prevent this from occurring."
"How?" Badwick asked.
"We're going," Demonte stepped in and pointed to himself. "We'll stop them."
"My brother is behind this," Vash said and Demonte grimaced. Guilt overtook him even more than ever. "That's why it's so important that he's stopped."
"Brother?" Elizabeth asked.
"Don't worry about the small details." Doc said. "I'll explain later. But as a precaution, I have built devices that will allow us to communicate with one another from different cities. They are being installed as we speak."
"And where exactly are they being installed?" Stefany inquired.
"Our sister cities of course."
"Sanction and Mahogany?" Stefany pried.
"Yes them too. They require the use of lost technology to operate, such as radio waves and plasma screens." Doc said and he turned to Elizabeth. "It will be your duty to designate orders and to assign people to operate the transmission devices."
"Yes, of course." Elizabeth bowed her head. "Then do you require the three of us to stay here in Mordeh for the time being?"
"Absolutely," Meryl said. "It's going to be very dangerous and you would just get in the way since you have no experience with guns." Meryl pursed her lips together. "And besides…you know the drill."
"Yes, yes, I'm well aware of that." Elizabeth turned back to Stefany. "You heard her. We must assist them in any way possible. Doctor…" Elizabeth turned her head slightly. "'We shall be waiting upstairs."
"Your Holiness," Stefany motioned the Head Priest closer. "Will you escort us to our rooms, please?"
"Absolutely, Madam," Algernon smiled and gestured the trio to follow after him.
Doc waited until the three were gone to continue. He turned to Vash. "You must round everyone up to leave now. We haven't much time and you must hurry to Roklen."
"How many more iles is it away from here, Doc?" Jessica spoke up.
"Almost 2,000," Doc answered plainly.
"But we'll never make it in time!" Jessica cried. "If what you say is true, then we only have two and a half weeks until whatever those men are planning on doing is going to happen!"
"Calm down," Demonte said, rolling his eyes. "We'll make it on time, don't worry." He glued his eyes on Doc. "Just as Doc said, we have to leave now…while it's still early."
"I'm all for it," BDN sneered. "I enjoy a good adventure."
"Then I will go and find Milly and Celestia." Meryl offered. "Doc, tell Ingway to stay out of trouble and that we will meet again soon."
"Meryl, it is more you that I am concerned with about staying out of trouble."
Meryl flushed and hurried from the room. Doc shook his head and sighed.
"That girl. She means well, but she's too hot-tempered. If only she would stop to think once in a while…"
"Yeah, I agree," Vash said.
"Don't worry Vash," Jessica clung to Vash's arm. "I'll help you keep things in order. I'll stay by your side."
Vash smiled as he looked down at Jessica. "It's hard to believe that it's been four years, right Jess? You still look as cute as ever."
From somewhere in Demonte's mind, he thought that he could feel a pain in his heart. But it wasn't his feelings…so whose were they?
Everyone gathered outside of the cathedral, and Doc waved the party off. "Ingway and the others would love to see you off, but at the moment they are in my personal laboratory installing the transmission devices."
"Don't worry, Doc," Celestia giggled. "We'll be sure not to take it personally."
The Doc smiled softly and nodded. "Hmmm…"
"Remember we're heading east." Demonte reminded his team.
"What's the next town that we will be arriving at?" Jessica asked.
"Senica should be a few iles from here," Meryl said. "From there, we should be able to hitch a ride to the next town…"
"IF we're lucky," BDN remarked. "You know that transportation by automobiles isn't as popular as it used to be, Meryl."
"I'm aware of that," Meryl gritted her teeth. "But it never hurts to try…unless YOU have a better way of getting to Roklen."
BDN shrugged.
"That's better," Meryl said and headed for the town's exit. "Now let's get going. It's almost noon."
"Really? You can't tell with all this fog." Milly said. "Gee Meryl, I sure do miss those blue skies."
"Now is not the time to be thinking of old times, Milly." Meryl said. "Let's just get to Roklen as soon as possible."
Meryl watched out of the corner of her eye as Jessica latched herself to Vash's arm. She struggled to keep her temper, and try as she might, she couldn't help but let out a few stifled growls from time to time.
Demonte soon began to notice this and slowed his pace down, expanding the space between Meryl and himself.
"She's just irked about that new girl," Celestia whispered. "That's all."
"Yeah, I figured that much," Demonte agreed. "And I think I know why too."
Celestia smiled. "It's pretty funny, actually. Mr. Vash is a lucky man to have so many women falling for him."
"Really?" Demonte turned to her. "You think that Meryl has feelings for Vash?"
"Demonte," Celestia sighed and patted Demonte's shoulder. "If you were a girl like me, you'd be able to tell that much right away…and that's withOUT psychic powers."
"Hmmm," Demonte turned his attention back to the angered Meryl. "That's what humans do when they're jealous? They act all jittery like that?"
"Demonte?" Celestia's eyes widened. "Are you telling me that you've never been in love before!?"
"Well…" Demonte closed his eyes. "Maybe once…a long time ago. But that might have only been love…not really IN love, as you put it."
Celestia looked at him, almost sadly. "You've missed out on so much, Dem. I really feel for you."
"Are you pitying me?"
"No, of course not," Celestia said hastily. "I didn't mean it that way…"
Demonte stared at her blankly, as though he were trying to find something within her that couldn't be seen by the naked eye. Just what was it that made this girl so kind, so compassionate, so…
"Dem? What's the matter?"
Demonte was snapped back into reality. "Oh," He replied. "Nothing."
Lol I've never liked Jessica. I'm sorry but I just never have. But I DID like the scene where she turns Brad down. …All right I'll have SOME compassion for the dead, but he was an ass up until he sacrificed his life for Vash. Am I right? Anyway, Hunting will be posted up soon (For those of you who have read both stories) etc, etc…
BLD