Wrote this one while watching an animal documentary... gaw, I'm weird! Anyhow, this chapter is slightly longer than the others. My newest reviewer, DragonLady4, declares that: "Staccato is a frightening creature..." and I love that remark! All for her, I updated! Ya'll better kneel down and kiss her feet! See what good comments do? They move me to write! I might do that- put in quotes from my reviewers... maybe you'll see your name up here if'n you reveiw! (no, I don't always say if'n... only when I'm trying to emphasise a point).

Child's Play

I'm too young to understand, so mommy please take my hand. Guide me, daddy, through the day. Help me, friends, to grow and play. I'm just a child, keep me safe and in the light. Keep me from my darkest frights and help me grow to be like thee... The world is a scary thing, filled with monsters, big and mean. They want to harm me, take me away. But you won't let them do that, no how, no way. Hold me, mommy, love me, daddy, cause existing is hard, and life is not child's play.... (written by: TheCat me!)

"Some one looks tired," Meryl mused as she sat on the edge of the couch cushion.

"Huh? Oh, yeah... long day..." Vash blinked from his nap. He stretched and yawned.

"Where is... he?" she asked.

"Upstairs sleeping, I guess..." he shrugged.

"You refrained from putting an end to a ruthless killer, and you don't even know where he is?" Meryl asked.

"I said I guess he's upstairs! I have an idea of where he is. Does that count?" Vash put his hands up in defeat.

"Fine... but he'd better not be destroying anything!" She said, standing up.

"Iffe goh our sthuff facked uf, mim!" Milly said, walking out with several bags under her arms, in her mouth, and on her back. Meryl took one bag and held it over her shoulder.

"Well... we'll see you when we see you... so long, Vash the Stampede," Meryl said, walking towards the door.

"Wha- where you going?" he asked, jumping up.

"Our company recalled us to go investigate an explosion near December. We should be back soon enough, but you never know," Meryl explained, then opened the door and the two walked out.

"Um... bye?" Vash blinked. He rushed to the door, an idea suddenly striking him.

"Maybe Knives and I should come with you!" he called. "You know, for your own safety..." he said when he saw Meryl turn on her heels and glare.

"Faf's a hooa I-e-a, iffin't it, mim?" Milly asked Meryl, the suit case handle still in her mouth. "Ifidf, id ould onee ve one more herfon hoo harry dese pags!"

"Don't talk with your mouth full, Milly!" Meryl scolded. Milly spit the bag out of her mouth.

"I said it would only be one more person to carry these bags!" Milly repeated and smiled.

"Yep! She's right! See?" Vash said, picking up the bag and taking a few others. Meryl growled. Vash could have sworn he saw smoke rising from her head.

"Rrr! Fine! Go get your brother and we'll go!" She yelled. Vash smiled and ran up stairs.

"Knives! Knives, come on, let's go!" Vash shouted, opening the door and walking in. He was half expecting his brother not to be there, but to his surprise, the shorter haired one was laying on the bed, idly looking up at the ceiling. Knives turned his head to the door and raised it slightly.

"Go where?" he asked.

"Off near December. Come on! It will be fun!" Vash said, tossing his head towards the stairs.

"No thanks. I'll pass," Knives laid his head back down.

"You might get to shoot something..." Vash mused, a cat-like grin on his face. He heard Knives sigh and chuckle.

"You insist on thinking I'm a trigger happy killer, don't you?" he asked.

"Are ye not?" Vash asked, surprised.

"If I prove to you that I'm not, can I have my gun back?" Knives questioned.

"Why are you so intent on getting it back?"

"Because it's just as much a part of me as yours is of you..." Knives answered, swinging his legs over the edge of his bed to sit up.

"Hurry up, Mr. Vash! We might leave you behind!" Milly's childish voice called.

"Coming!" Vash called out the window. He pulled out the darker metal gun and tossed it at Knives.

"So, how long is it going to take to get there?" Knives asked.

"Hopefully not too long. Thanks to you, I've been traveling almost for decades on end!" Vash said accusingly.

The group headed out of town. Milly and Meryl rambled on about their work and started to imagine all the reasons for the explosion. The boys, however, hiked behind the girls, ever watchful, looking for even the slightest show of danger.

"Kind of peaceful out there, huh..." Vash mumbled uselessly.

"Yeah... almost too peaceful..." Knives glared out to the horizon.

"Of course it's peaceful..." a voice spoke softly behind them. The twins twirled around and aimed their guns at the speaker.

"Elizabeth..." Vash blinked, putting up his weapon. Knives did the same. The red haired 'girl' dismounted her Thomas and stood next to him. She patted the animal's halter less head.

"It's a desert..." she finished her sentence.

"What are you doing here?" Knives asked. He hadn't called her to follow!

"I... didn't want to be left in the town... alone..." she explained.

"Alone?" Milly asked, stopping and turning back. Meryl rolled her eyes and sighed deeply. Her head dropped and her eyes closed in frustration.

"We are in a hurry, here people... we don't... have time... for distractions!" she practically roared.

"What do you mean by alone?" Vash asked, concerned.

"My... teacher... that I was traveling with... he was killed while I was out with you and the boys..." Staccato explained.

'Nice, child... If I wasn't the one who commissioned you, I would have figured you were telling the truth,' Knives chuckled to himself.

"Oh, you poor thing... do you want to come with us?" Milly asked.

"No, she doesn't! She wants to go bother some one who's not trying to get somewhere!" Meryl shouted. Yet again, she stood unheeded.

"If it's not a problem..." Staccato nodded.

"Well, it is!" Meryl said, stepping up to the red head, pushing her co-worker and the boys aside. Finally, she was noticed.

"No, it's not. Come on, Elizabeth!" Knives said. She mounted her Thomas again and it followed the boys and Milly as they turned and left a stunned Meryl gaping at the empty scene of yellow sand.

"Come on, Ma'am! We're in a hurry!" Milly called. Meryl shook her head back to reality. She clenched her fists and growled, finally giving up and stomping off back to the head of the group. Knives slowed his pace to be side by side with Staccato.

'What are you doing here?' he asked.

'Simply following you. Is that a problem?' she wondered, looking at her hands that held to the Thomas' fur.

'Yes... considering that you have yet again disobeyed me!'

'Wow. Twice in one day. I'm on a role.' She thought in monotone, tilting her head in his direction.

'Watch your attitude, dear. I've got a small silver stopper that you seem to dislike...' he glared. He walked off ahead of her.

'Yes, sire, what ever you say...' she replied. 'Whatever you say...'

"Elizabeth, you're kinda quiet. Is something bothering you?" Vash asked. They had been traveling for over five hours, getting a start around nine A.M.

"No, sir..." she said softly.

"I think... we should take a break..." Meryl panted, sitting down on the hot sand.

"Good idea..." Milly was soon to follow. Vash sat on a near by rock while Knives sat on the ground. Staccato stood next to her Thomas as it rested beside her. It mooed agitatedly and moved to the side.

"What's wrong with him?" Vash asked.

"...that..." Staccato turned her head to the left as a giant sand worm reared its self out of the ground. It roared and shook its massive head.

'I didn't order you to do anything!' Knives mind-shouted at Staccato.

'You scream at me as if I did anything...' She turned her head to him, her features unmoving in the slightest bit. Knives looked at her wide-eyed.

"Okay, Vash, let's see you think of a plan to get us out of this mess with out firing a shot. You seem to have a knack for that," Meryl said, slowly backing up from the monster that opposed them.

"Well, first... let's just... slowly back away and give it its space..." Vash said, taking a few steps back. Everybody but Staccato cringed as Milly screamed in fear.

"Mr.Vash! Heeelllppp!" she shouted as another sand worm grew out of the ground under her. She stood on its head, crying out in despair.

Two more worms appeared. The first one roared and rushed at another one. They began to fight each other, while the other two also began to fight. Milly screamed as the one she was on lunged forward.

"Help!" she squeaked. Milly yelped as she landed in Knives' waiting arms. Vash and Meryl ran over as he set her down on the sand. She gasped a bit, then lunged at him, embracing the plant in a big bear hug.

"Thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyoutha-"

"You're welcome!" Knives shouted at her, prying her off him.

"Elizabeth!" Vash shouted. "Get out of there!"

Staccato lifted her head and looked over at him. Her Thomas sped off as fast as its feet could carry it. She calmly walked towards the group.

'What are you thinking?! You could easily be crushed!' Knives shouted at Staccato.

'I am coming to you,' She replied calmly.

"Do not worry. They have no interest in us. There is a female near by. These males are simply fighting over her. Nothing serious," Staccato said.

"Elizabeth! Watch out!" Milly shouted, pointing to her side. Staccato turned to where Milly was pointing. A dead sand worm was flying right towards her, propelled by his adversary's strength.

'What are you doing?! Don't get yourself killed!' Knives commanded.

Staccato glared at the sand worm. The dead creature suddenly began to move again. Its blank dead eyes glowed with a golden light. Nobody noticed Staccato's doing the same, as her bangs shielded her eyes from everyone. The worm righted its self and wriggled next to her. It groaned as she stroked its giant tooth. She climbed on its back. The worm scooted up to the group. Staccato reached her hand down to the others.

"Anybody want a ride?" she asked.

End, chapter four..............

Whoo! Lookit me go! I don't know how long this will be in the end... My animafia better be reviewing! They know who they are cough KimHannahHaileyLaurenRachalSammyHakumei cough

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