The End
By Alicia Maxwell
"So, what's your name, Wolfwood?" Vash asked. "Not entirely fair to leave me with no name and still have mine."
"Wolfwood is more than you need to know," Iris replied.
"Don't like calling girls by their last names, Wolfwood. Might I know your first?"
"Fine. My name is Iris Wolfwood… Iris Dokonokuminomonjawaresumakinishiteshizumekakora Wolfwood," she sighed.
"Hm… well… now I finally know what the D stands for. So… why'd you start trying to find him, Iris?" Vash looked up, over the upper rim of his gold sunglasses.
"I never liked the way things were with that Chapel of Evergreen guy and one day I just got so worried and shipped out. Guess I was right to worry. I should have left sooner."
"Not much you could have done," Vash shook his head.
"Knives once wished to exterminate me because I was a better and quicker shot than each and every Gun-Ho Gun," Iris said crossly.
"Oh… in that case you woulda made a hell of a lot of difference. I'm… sorry things turned out the way they did," he said before gulping down another glass of alcohol.
"Don't be. It's the way the world works. Humans… we're a disgusting bunch. The cockroaches we smash with the soles of our shoes are nobler than us. Worthless, the whole lot of us," Iris said coldly.
"You seem rather down."
"An iris looks most lovely in the rain," she sighed. "That's what I was told long ago."
"I've never seen an iris. It's a flower right?" he asked.
"Yes, a very lovely flower, though very plain."
"Closing time! Everybody out!" the bartender called out. "You too, Vash! Don't need your wife comin' in here again bitching about how she has to drag your stupid ass out of here at least three times every god damn week!"
"Ok, ok, I'm leaving," Vash grabbed his coat and tossed it over his left shoulder. "Iris, you got a place to stay?"
"No," she answered. Her voice was rather cold and solemn.
"Come with me then," Vash extended a hand. He led Iris out of the bar and down the street to his house. Little did he know what he was in for when he brought her inside.
It was about half an hour later and Millie was locked in her room. She was sobbing uncontrollably, shoulders heaving, with glass shards of drunken liquor bottles all over the floor. She threw her head back and gulped down another half a bottle of vodka. Finding it empty the next time she went to take a drink, she cast it aside like all the others. It shattered against the floorboards. Wiping the tears from her eyes she cried out, "WOLFWOOD!"
Everyone else was gathered outside Millie's door. Meryl sat directly beside the door. She had Morgan tightly tucked against her chest in a protective fashion. Iris leaned against the wall in silent depression. Knives sat across the hall from Meryl, a perplexed unknowing frown on his face. Vash stood beside him, terribly upset over the trouble he had caused.