Disclaimer: Don't own stuff. Random word of the day: Food.

A/N: Yeah, yeah, it's been a while but I DID post again, right? I'm just in a mild slump right now. Give me some time and I'll pick everything right back up. Of course, that depends on all of you too. So if you've been reading this and HAVEN'T reviewed it (only if you've liked the story of course. If you absolutely hate it then...wait a minute...if you hate it, why are you reading it!?) please do so. I've gotten some support from people who really do like the story and I thank those people because, hey, here's the next chapter right? Anyway, hope you enjoy it. It's kinda boring in this one too, but we're nearing Roklen so, stay on your toes. :)

Gott Weiss Ich Will Kein Engel Sein

Chapter Twenty-Two

Hallucinations Or Reality?

'Take me back to the rivers of belief

Take me back to the rivers of belief

My friend

I look inside my heart

I look inside my soul

I promise you

I will return

And when the Lamb opened the seventh seal

Silence covered the sky

Take me back to the rivers of belief

Take me back to the rivers of belief

My friend

I look inside my heart

I look inside my soul

I'm reaching out for you

Lets hope one day

We'll rest in peace

On my rivers of belief'

-Enigma (Lyrics from 'The Rivers Of Belief')

Who knew that heaven could exist on such a planet? Tall, sturdy, green trees with leaves filling in any kind of space between each other, and grass that stretched for iles, lined with flowers. It was all too familiar, he had told himself, like from another life, far, far away.

The trees from back then clearly weren't as plump and filling as they were here, and the grass was much softer here than from where the boy thought that he had remembered seeing it.

He turned, hearing the sound of those familiar padded slip-ons that the old woman would wear. A smile tugged at his lips as he watched the chubby woman step down from the porch, her arms straining from all the food she was carrying.

She was a brunette, with streaks of gray slowing creeping into her hair. Her glasses had fallen from her eyes and dangled just the slightest from the tip of her nose. The boy offered to take the food from her hands and she greatly obliged. Wiping the crumbs from her hands and onto her white apron, she pulled down on her light blue dress, her bosom bouncing lightly as he turned away from her, searching for a spot to set down her groceries.

"What's the occasion?" The boy had asked her.

"I thought that you and your Grandfather might enjoy a picnic outdoors. Do be a darling and set the food down at the table there by the garden."

He walked obediently over to the table, careful not to spill anything. But he was very muscular for his age, so the old woman was sure he could handle it.

"We'll have a splendid time," She said, twirling the ends of her dress around in the air. "Oh, just wait until your Grandfather gets home, Demonte…"

Demonte was awoken by the blaring snores coming from the hefty man on the floor. Demonte sighed and turned over, holding a pillow over his face. "BDN…" He shook his head. He pulled his hood over his head as he held the pillow with the other hand. "Of all the dreams for you to wreck, I sure wish it wasn't the one I was just having."

He remained there, unmoving, trying to recollect what the dream had been about. He couldn't remember much, only the old woman and the green acres of Geo Plants. He strained his brain for more about the memory, the woman, and the Geo Plants, but his thoughts were at a standstill.

"Forget it," He grumbled and sat up. 'It probably wasn't anything important anyway.' He turned his head from the wall in front of him to the floor where BDN slept, mouth hanging open as he continued to snore.

Demonte pondered about sticking a sock in his mouth as punishment for ruining his dream, but he decided against it. For the moment there were more considerable matters to be dealt with.

For example, Demonte had caught sight of the other figure in the bed next to his. Demonte cringed at last night's argument between Vash and Meryl and pushed the thought from his mind immediately.

He had also tried to keep Celestia's leaving out of his focus for the moment as well. He stepped around BDN and edged for the door, succeeding, and twisting the knob open. Closing it shut behind him, he padded down the hall until he entered the small lobby. The stairs to the upper level was immediately to his right, but he told himself that staying as far away from the girls' room as possible was the best decision he could make for the moment.

But a silhouette caught his attention from the window leading outside and his feet were thinking before he was.

"Good morning, Sir. I trust you slept well?" The Innkeeper greeted as Demonte rushed by.

"Yes, thank you," Demonte said hurriedly and stepped outside.

The morning air ate away at him, leaving him cold and shivering. But he did not ignore the fact that the figure he had just saw was looking for him.

"You don't miss a beat, do you?" Demonte jumped, startled at the voice. "Are you always this suspicious?"

Demonte turned his head slowly, wrapping his arms around his body, and saw Neil sitting in the bench outside the Inn. Neil, however, did not return the glance. He was too busy staring out into the open road, desolate and empty.

"Neil," Demonte looked at the teenager, who was dressed in a brown trenchcoat, which hung open and revealed his tan shirt underneath. Neil rubbed the bridge of his nose with his brown gloved hand and acknowledged Demonte's presence.

Neil's hair was unkempt, sticking up everywhere and tied back in a short little ponytail. Demonte had hardly recognized him through the mess of hair.

'He looks like Vash when he first wakes up.' Demonte smiled at the thought and began to walk down the small steps until he was footed on the gravel road. Neil swung himself up from the bench and jumped off the porch, landing at Demonte's side.

"What are you now? 21? 22?" Demonte asked.

"Late teens," Was all Neil said. "But I might as well be 20, huh?"

"Stan said you'd already be gone. What are you doing here?" Demonte and Neil began to walk down the road, away from the Inn.

"I came to talk with you," Neil responded. "Boss's orders."

"To talk to me?"

"Yeah. It's business."

Demonte chewed on his bottom lip. "All right, shoot."

"He said to hold off meeting the night you get there. The morning of the plan is when he wants you to bring Vash the Stampede at coordinates 00,34."

"00,34?" Demonte shook the puzzlement from his mind. "Wait, isn't that OUTSIDE of Roklen City?"

"Yeah, that's where the base is being set up. That spy bird thing of Cliff's is keeping the guard out for the Alchemists and the I.T.F. so you'll be able to make it there without interference."

"All right, 00,34. What time?"

"Early. We're talking before sunrise. Or something close to that."

"Why is he changing the plans all of a sudden?" Demonte turned his head to Neil, who was just a head shorter than him.

Neil scuffed his boot against the ground. "He said it was for preparation. Surely the moment you arrive into town, you're not going to be rushing to Rohgsworn's humble abode, are you?" Demonte said nothing. "Your friends would certainly get suspicious."

Demonte thought Neil's words over before he finally agreed. "Preparation, huh? Yeah, I guess that preparation is good."

"You guess?" Neil laughed. "Guessing is what gets you killed, Demonte. Even I know THAT!"

Demonte turned, looking the boy over from head to toe. "You're pretty wise for your years, Neil, but don't get too hot-headed. You do know that Vash the Stampede is running the show, right?"

Neil stopped walking. "Do you mean in Roklen or your own fancy little tea party?"

"Both I suppose you could say. Didn't Rohgsworn tell you that he was alive?"

Neil paused. "…No." He said after a moment. "I was too busy taking orders from Stan."

"Yeah, he told me." Demonte caught the spark of fire in Neil's eyes. "Listen, if this is about your parents…"

"Isn't is always?" Neil cut him off. "Yes, my parents were murdered a few years ago. Yes I know that Bandits killed them, and YES I blame Vash the Stampede."

"Don't we all?" Demonte sighed. "While I disagree with your input…"

"You what?" Neil turned sharply, grabbing Demonte's shoulders. "You disagree with what?"

Demonte was not intimidated. "I've heard the same thing from Tonis. You know just as well as I do that Vash the Stampede didn't murder your parents."

"Oh really?" Neil mocked. "And just how the HELL can you be so sure?"

Demonte pried Neil's fingers from his cloak. "Don't be stupid. That guy cries over the death of his ENEMIES, Neil. Do you REALLY think that he'd actually have the guts to slaughter your mother and father?" Demonte pushed Neil's hands away from him and waited for the boy's response. "Your parents were killed," Demonte continued when he saw that Neil had no intention of speaking up. "However, you're looking for fault, not the source. Try a little harder next time you try to pin the blame on someone."

"He's an outlaw!" Neil argued. "What makes you so sure of yourself?"

Demonte looked down at him in disbelief. "Have you just not heard what I got through telling you? The Hell's Mafia isn't about who started it. It's about who is man enough to FINISH it."

Neil looked away from Demonte, his mind already made up.

"Whatever," Demonte said. "I can't get through to you anymore. So for the whole part of it, we've had our discussion about Roklen and business. I think it's time we go our own ways."

"Yeah, I think so too," Neil turned, his trenchcoat rippling behind him. "Sorry about raising my tone with you. I just get edgy when my parents are involved."

"I'm surprised you have any feelings whatsoever," Demonte called after him. "Most of Hell's Mafia is comprised of demons anyway."

Demonte hurried up the steps and was readying himself to step back inside the Inn when the front door snapped open and an enraged Meryl stood there, her cheeks flared and enlarged. Her scarlet face and raging eyes were the first things that Demonte had caught sight of, and turning his body, he allowed her to pass by him, storming down the steps and continuing along the road.

"Oh Lord, not again Vash," Demonte muttered as he fled inside, daring to know what had happened NOW. "Vash," Demonte called out to the outlaw as he entered the men's room, only to find it empty.

"Everyone's in the front room," BDN's voice boomed from behind him. "I was just about to go out and look for you. Where were you?"

"Out for a morning walk." Demonte lied. "What happened now? Why is Meryl so upset?"

"Why else?" BDN sighed. "I swear, I'm so close to sending one of them back to Mahogany, it's not even funny. Hell, if they were going to fight like this, they should at LEAST be a bit more flashy about it."

"I hope not in the way I'm thinking." Demonte said.

BDN's body stiffened, his face disgusted. "There you went and ruined my catch phrase, Dem. NO, NOT in the way that you are THINKING." BDN shook his head. "Geez…" BDN sighed. "Anyway, I'm thinking that Meryl is prepping the sand steamer for us, now that she's all steamed at Vash. So we'll be leaving anytime now."

Demonte tensed. "Yeah…I guess you're right."

BDN slapped Demonte's back and led him down the hall. "I'm leaving it up to you to sort out this problem between Mer and Vash, you hear?"

"Ha! I tried that last night. It didn't go so well, BDN, so I think you'll have to find another cadet for the job."

"No, no, you're perfect." BDN assured. "Really, you are."

"Demonte!" Demonte and BDN looked up. The squeal belonged to Jessica, who had latched herself to Vash's arm.

Everyone (Except for Celestia, whom he noted was missing) was sitting around a wooden table in the front room, waiting for Demonte. Milly smiled and handed him a plate full of biscuits and a saucer of butter. Demonte hesitantly took it from her, blinking.

"Sorry it's not really breakfast," She apologized. "But it should be enough for now until we reach Roklen."

"It's fine," Demonte said hastily. "I probably won't even eat very much until we get there anyway." Demonte turned and pointed to Vash. "You. I need to speak with you…in private."

Vash blinked, giving that 'what-did-I-do-this-time?' look, but unlatched himself from Jessica.

"Hey don't take too long, okay!?" BDN hollered after them. "We're leaving right after breakfast!"

"Don't worry," Demonte said over his shoulder. "I won't keep him for too long."

The door slammed shut behind Demonte and Vash in the other room and Demonte jerked suddenly, stopping Vash in his tracks.

"Just what the hell is the matter with you two?" Demonte started, yet his voice remained low and settle. For some reason, Vash would've preferred him to yell. "You fight, you bicker, you can't, for the LIFE of you, get along…" Demonte shook his head. "I can't get Meryl to tell me anything, and now I realize WHY it's none of anyone else's business but your own, but for God's sake Vash, couldn't you at least TRY to avoid confrontation with each other?"

Vash stood there, a blank look on his face.

"You told me you don't have any feelings for her, Vash. I'm assuming that goes for bitter rivalry or enemy behavior as well."

"I don't," Vash remarked. "it's just that whenever she's around, she always causes all these problems…"

"Bullcrap," Demonte interrupted. "Last night that was YOU who started that fight."

Vash's mouth was left agape. He wasn't used to being reprimanded like this, especially by someone who was over a century younger than him.

"You had no business being up there last night and ABSOLUTELY no reason to put in your two cents. If you guys can't handle it, then I'll make sure someone gets sent back to Mahogany. Or Sanction, or even Mordeh. Either way if you both can't work together like a team, then someone's going to wind up dead." Demonte paused. Had he just said all that? 'What the hell am I doing even caring what these morons do with their lives anyway? I should be worrying more about Roklen, not trying to take control of such a stupid matter.'

"This isn't all just me, you know. You don't know the half of it." Vash's words brought him back to reality.

"I never said that it was all just you and, no, that's true, I don't know the half of your problems. NOR do I care to hear them. I just ask that a resolution be set to this or else I WILL step in." Demonte turned away from him, opening the door. "Since when has Meryl been such a drinker? She didn't appear that way when I first met her." Demonte stopped and turned his head slightly. "Are you sure that this isn't all about you?"

"She what?" Vash choked.

"You mean you didn't know?" Demonte appeared as though he were going to shut the door and step back into the room, but he merely shifted his weight to his back foot and did nothing more.

"Meryl doesn't drink," Vash argued. "That much I do know as long as I've been in contact with her."

"Then you've got a lot to learn buddy," Demonte finally succumbed to shutting the front door, but unexpectedly began to head for the exit. "She's obviously not that old down-to-earth girl you knew from before." Vash followed Demonte outside. "For example, in case you hadn't noticed, she was drunk last night."

Demonte heard the footsteps behind him cease abruptly.

"You're in shock," Demonte told him. "I understand how you feel. That's why you need to get your act together, Vash, because I'll be damned if you're not the source of all her problems."

"I don't know why I would be," Vash said, somewhat sourly. "We've never been good friends."

"People always have ulterior motives," Demonte was working his way down the street now, Vash still frozen on the Inn steps. "There's a lot that you don't know about her."

"And nor do I care to find out about." Vash called out to Demonte. "And just what makes you think that you know all there is to about Meryl anyway? If anything, that should be the opposite in all your best traits."

Demonte halted in the streets. "That's true, I'm not very social. However, that doesn't mean I'm oblivious to everyone's problems either."

And by that time, Demonte was back to walking.

"Everyone will be here soon," Demonte told Meryl, who was busy checking over the sand steamer.

"That's good." She spoke, not facing him.

She had her black sunglasses on, Demonte noted. 'She must've been crying.'

"Well everything seems to be in order," Meryl said, her voice refusing to hide the slight breaking in it. "We can leave at anytime. Hopefully sometime soon as well."

She turned, brushing past Demonte. "I'll go and get the others."

"Meryl," Demonte followed her out of the sand steamer. "About last night…I owe you an apology. It was wrong of me to pressure you into speaking about such hard matters."

"Don't worry about it," Meryl jumped from the top of the sand steamer, landing neatly on the ground. Demonte mimicked her movements. "You're about the only person who DOES care about what happened. I appreciate your concern."

Meryl was heading back to the Inn.

"But this morning, you stormed out of the Inn so fast, I was certain that it was about last night…"

"No, no," Meryl interrupted. "That moron was just being his usual pitiful self. I was coming down the stairs and he started making these snide comments about me and it sort of escalated from there."

"I guess that's the generalization of everything then," Demonte said. "But that just doesn't seem like Vash, picking fights like that…"

"He doesn't usually, it's just whenever I'm around," The Inn was approaching on the horizon quickly now. "But anyway, I'm going to run along ahead and gather everyone together now. You should probably see Celestia off since she's going to be staying here after all."

Demonte froze. 'That's right isn't it? I haven't even seen her this morning…'

Half an hour later, the crew had gathered around the sand steamer, double-checking for any errors before the takeoff. Celestia was still nowhere in sight.

"Hey Dem, we can't wait around all day ya know." BDN was hanging off the end of the ladder leading to the front hatch of the engine. "I told you already, I haven't even seen the gal since last night. I'll give it five more minutes and if she doesn't make her flashy 'good-bye' scenario, then I'm calling it quits, all right?"

"Why is it that you aren't somewhat saddened by her departure, BDN?" Demonte asked, a bit disturbed by BDN's gauche remarks. "Surely I thought that you would've been touched at seeing her go. She HAS helped us more than once you know."

"Personally lad, I'm very sad to see the lass go. However, you're talking to Brilliant Dynamites Neon, and Brilliant Dynamites Neon ain't so good with teary good-byes, understand?"

Demonte turned away, leaning against the side of the sand steamer.

"I'll be inside Dem," He heard the hefty man say before the hatch closed shut.

'Come on Celestia, where are you?' Demonte chewed the inside of his cheek. The engine was beginning to vibrate within the steel walls of the small automotive. "After all this, she doesn't even come to see us off," Demonte turned, aiming to head inside. "Typical."

Footsteps beating in rhythm to the vibration of the sand steamer began to reverberate in Demonte's ears. As the pounding steps grew, so did Demonte's hopes.

"Waaaaaaait!" Came the girlish cry from someone Demonte knew very well.

"You little bitch," Demonte glared as he hopped down from the ladder. "We were waiting for you all this time and then you decide to stand us up. You honestly don't think I'm going to forgive you for this, do you?"

Celestia stopped, her face flushed as her goldenrod hair lay mattered about her shoulders. Her chest was rising frantically against her crushed black velvet dress as she breathed in deeply.

"I-I was worried I had missed you guys…" She started. "I've been gone all morning…" Her head lowered. "…thinking…"

"Thinking?" Demonte cocked his head to one side. "About what?"

"I…"

"I brought you here just as promised; you should be happy that you're finally getting away from all this turmoil." Then an idea struck Demonte. "Or is this because you know the war that is soon to be?"

"At first it was," Celestia admitted. "But then I realized that I DO trust you."

"Trust me? How can you trust me? I'm working for Hell's Mafia for crying out loud."

"I know you know what you're doing is wrong," Celestia found the strength to lift her head. "You'll fix all of this, right?"

"Maybe."

Celestia lurched forward, pounding a clenched fist against Demonte's chest. "Now you're being an ass. You're probably happy to see me go."

"On the contrary, you couldn't be further from the truth."

Celestia's eyes lit up. "Are you serious?"

"Well, I might miss the way you prance your optimistic self around everyone, singing about what a beautiful day it is, even though everyday always looks the same."

"Is that all? Is that ALL you'd miss about me?"

Demonte paused. "Of course not."

Celestia's face brightened as she pulled Demonte into a rib-crushing hug. "Then I'll stay," She whispered.

Demonte was in too much pain to hear what Celestia had just said. His face was turning blue.

"Damn you're strong…Now if you wouldn't mind, before I pass out, could you ease up on the stranglehold a bit?"

Celestia stepped back. "You didn't even hear a WORD I just said, did you?"

"I was in too much pain to notice much of anything else."

"Fine then. I guess I wasn't important enough for you to hear what I just said."

"Did you just not hear me either?"

"You started it," Celestia accused as she stuck her tongue out at Demonte.

"Well if you want to try again under less painful circumstances where I DON'T have to give up a few body parts, then I'm willing to listen."

"That's better then," Celestia stretched her arms wide and embraced Demonte in a less life threatening hug. "I said I'll stay."

Demonte was stunned. "Are you…serious?"

"Why? You don't want me to stay?" Celestia looked up at Demonte.

He slowly and hesitantly returned the hug. "Of course I do…"

"We'll have a splendid time," She said, twirling the ends of her dress around in the air. "Oh, just wait until your Grandfather gets home, Demonte…"

That old woman's words pained him, and Demonte automatically began to wrap his arms tighter around Celestia.

"We'll have a splendid time…" Demonte repeated in a deep, low, whisper. "Indeed."

****************************************

BLD: Mushy, mushy, huh? Waaaaay out of character for Demonte

Demonte: -_-

BLD: ...Are you mad?

Demonte: Oh no, it looks like I was HOGGING most of the ATTENTION...AGAIN.

BLD: Demonte, aren't you over that YET?

Demonte: ::Shoots a nasty glare at BLD:: You expect me to be OVER it!? You hag!

BLD: ::Facefault::

Demonte: Yeah, that's it! We're not friends anymore!

BLD: Dear Lord, what a loudmouth. Anyway, hope you enjoyed this ::Stares at Demonte:: ...slightly not-so-action-packed-and-boring-chapter. Please R&R so...Demonte thinks that you care.

Demonte: :: Slamming his fist down upon a table...breaking it in half:: I KNOW they don't care! It's all a conspiracy! All against the guy who hogs ALL the attention!

BLD: ...As I was saying before I was so RUDELY interrupted...Please R&R and tell me if you liked it or if it could be better...However I didn't ask for you to tell me that I should die and that my stories suck...even though they probably do lol.

Demonte: ::To himself:: Popsicles! How did that drunken cur know what I was going to write...? Oh well, I know... :)

BLD: So I'll see you all again...with HOPEFULLY a sooner update. Until then, my friends.

BLD

...And Demonte.

Demonte: ^_^