Disclaimer: No I don't own Trigun, I don't own anything.
Thanks to reviewers:
Arteme: Thanks for your review; I'm glad you liked my last chapter. Yeah Vash doesn't have much experience with romance does he...poor guy. I'll just have to make sure I change that.
Happyjack: I'm hoping this fic will be just as good as well, I'm just glad people are reading it and liking it. Yeah I love getting them into trouble, I don't know why but Millie never seems to...maybe I can change that. Thanks for your review.
Darkraven: two reviews from you...dunno if you realized or not but thanks anyways.
Puchiko2: Heh heh sorry about the cliff hanger, sorry this chapter took so long to get out, this chapter was harder to write than I though it would. Thanks for your review.
Neptune Butterfly: I might take Kuroneko up on his offer! Yes the woman is an original character linked to one that was in the anime series. You'll have to wait and see ^_^ Thanks for your review.
Luna-Kitsune-Blu: that's okay. As always your review made me laugh. Thanks for reviewing and I hope you like this next chapter.
Dustdragon: sorry bout leaving the cliffhanger, I just had to do that. You might be annoyed with the way I ended this one too. Any way before you kill me.... thanks for your review!
Rainy-days13: ha, glad you like the fic, and I hope you enjoy this chapter too, it took me longer to write than I had first anticipated. Thanks for your review.
* * * * * *
Angel: I got the donuts ^-^
Knives: About time, what the hell took you so long?
Angel: I found a cute kitty on the way...see. *holds up Kuroneko*
Knives: Whatever, just hand them over.
Angel: Yes sir!
Knives: *Snatches the donuts and puts them in the cage*
Angel: How long do you think we will have to wait?
Knives: Not long.
*Three hours later*
Angel: *Sleeping*
Knives: *Pokes* Hey wake up!
Angel: Did it work?
Knives: No
Angel: Aww damn.
SNAP!
Knives: We got him!
Angel: Yay!! ^-^
Knives: Hang on a minute that isn't Vash...
Angel: *gasp* It can't be!!
Knives: Legato get out of that cage right now!!!
Legato *sniffling* I don't want to...
Angel: Uhh enjoy the next chapter.
Part 3: The World Went Dark...
Meryl sighed as the henchman bound her wrists in the rough rope and gritted her teeth in frustration, she looked around for a means of escape but it seemed virtually impossible. Some more of the woman's followers had entered the room and blocked every possible escape route. The other staff were being led into the room behind her and she glanced over her shoulder at them. Her violet eyes filled with grief at seeing them all, trembling and desperately trying to hold back tears. 'My friends, this is all my fault' she looked away from them in guilt.
Curling up against the counter she let her eyes fall onto the ground and shivered, a sudden coldness had enveloped her that chilled her to the bone, 'is this fear I am feeling, or is it the cold feeling of guilt?' she quickly decided it was a mixture of both.
"Now tell me miss...do you think that Vash the Stampede cares enough about you to come down here?" The smooth voice of the woman reached her. Meryl's head snapped up; an angry retort bubbling in her throat, but knowing better she simply remained silent and stared back into the woman's hazel eyes.
"Well, you don't look very hopeful...could it be that my records were mistaken?" Her strange hazel eyes clouded in thought.
"What records?" Meryl snapped, feeling even more annoyed at these intruders.
"Hmm, you mean you don't know?" A smirk appeared on her face, "My records simply state that Vash was seen with his arms around you..." Her smirk grew even wider at the response to her comment.
The short insurance girl was flushing violently, partly with embarrassment, partly with anger and partly with joy at remembering that certain event in her life. That small embrace had been the closest she had ever been to the elusive gunman, in fact it was the closest she had ever been to any man. A full time job and a strict father had made certain of that.
Meryl dipped her head and sighed miserably, "You have it all wrong, it's not like that at all." Meryl's voice was merely a whisper, finding it hard to admit that it was nothing more than a friendly hug.
"What do you mean, Vash the Stampede would hug an enemy? You are obviously an ally and that is good enough to serve our purpose."
Meryl closed her eyes, part of her wishing that Vash would come to her rescue, part of her mad that she would have to rely on him, and another part of her hoping he would stay away and keep safe. She leaned back against the counter and closed her eyes, trying desperately to squash the fear that was fluttering in her stomach.
"As soon as Vash the Stampede arrives we can put our plan into action, our day of revenge is here so don't mess up!" The strange woman yelled. "Do you all remember the plan?"
"Yes." came the few replies of her henchmen.
"We get him in here by using that woman to make him do what we want." She turned hazel eyes to Meryl who was sitting quietly in the corner. "Remember not to injure him, we need him alive. There will be no quick, painless death for him."
* * * * * *
Vash stood up from his chair and stretched lazily, he had been sitting in the small room all day and still his brother hadn't moved at all. He was beginning to doubt that Knives would ever wake up, and that thought sent him deeper into the pit of guilt he was already wallowing in. He couldn't help but think that he had taken the wrong course by shooting his brother, perhaps there had been another way to save him, but then he remembered how eager Knives had been to hurt him. There was no way he could have talked himself out of that situation.
He turned his line of vision towards the window where the evening's shadows were starting to spread across the dust. The sky was a wash of oranges and reds as the two golden discs floated just above the skyline, the whole town seemed bathed in a golden light and Vash soaked up the beauty of such an innocent occurrence. For a long time he stood admiring the splendor of what lay before him, the reds deepening as the suns dipped into sleep enhancing the passions in the sky.
Leaning against the windowsill Vash glanced sideways into the town, he hadn't really walked about in it much considering all the townspeople seemed to hate him. The closest he had ever been to the main part of the town was when he had leaned out of the window like he was doing now. Sometimes he would watch Meryl go to work, her head bowed as she shuffled through the street as if wanting the ground to open up and swallow her. He had been extremely confused by her actions this morning but he knew she was only putting up a disguise so he and Millie wouldn't worry about her. It surprised him how much she was like himself; she hid her emotions and built barriers up around herself just like he did. Maybe it was because of this that he noticed how upset she was inside, her eyes lacked the usual shine and even though she had never laughed a lot that reaction seemed to have disappeared from her totally.
The sound of panicked screams and yells snapped him from his thoughts and he leaned further from the window to glance into the town center. His heart clenched painfully as he caught sight of people dashing around the streets and crowding around one certain building...the restaurant where Meryl worked! For a moment time seemed to freeze and his blood ran cold as thoughts raced through his mind. He knew he had to go but he hated to leave Knives alone. Shaking his head angrily he didn't even stop to grab his coat and was out of the door before anyone could notice.
He desperately hoped he was reading too much into the situation but as he grew closer to the restaurant he caught snippets of conversations, which made him fear the worst. Drawing closer to the circle of onlookers he desperately tried to get someone's attention so he could ask what exactly was going on.
"Hey mister could you tell me what's happening?" He asked as politely as he could. The man he had tapped on the shoulder obviously recognized him as Vash the Stampede, his expression turning to one of disgust and anger.
Stepping back nervously Vash held his hands up in typical surrender position and gave a nervous grin, which seemed only to make the man angrier.
"This is all your fault! The only reason those bounty hunters are here causing trouble is because of you!" He pointed an accusing finger at his face.
"Bounty hunters?" Vash instantly lost the grin he had somehow plastered onto his face and peered over the heads the crowd of nervous people. It was one of those times he was grateful for his superior height.
The door to the restaurant swung open and a cloaked figure appeared, a wide brimmed hat covering his or her face. Trying to push his way through the crowd Vash noticed that the person was hiding something behind their back.
"If you don't find Vash the Stampede and bring him here then the hostages will all be killed!" The feminine voice yelled and silenced the onlookers. Everyone stood frozen, their eyes fixed on the bounty hunter in the doorway. Vash flinched as the woman raised her head, strange eyes traveling over the motionless crowd. "Don't you believe me?!" She bellowed angrily and revealed what she had been hiding behind her.
Vash couldn't say he was surprised at who it was she was holding onto, this bounty hunter had obviously been watching him for some time, but seeing Meryl being hurt because of him caused a terrible ache in his heart. She had enough stress at the moment without him causing even more problems for her.
The woman took out a gun from a holster on her hip and pressed it sharply against Meryl's temple her face strangely emotionless and her hand steady. For a long moment she paused and looked around as a new hush fell over the crowd, wiping out any murmurs or whispers. She shrugged and smiled, "Well it seems that no one knows where the Humanoid typhoon is...guess I have to kill this insignificant-"
"-Stop!" Vash yelled as he pushed through the crowds to stand only meters away from the bounty hunter and Meryl.
He saw the flicker of a smile on the stranger's face and her grip tighten on Meryl's arm causing a brief flash of pain shooting through the short girl's clouded eyes. Vash swallowed nervously knowing that he didn't have his gun with him and that if he had to fire he would have to use his arm gun. Gritting his teeth he stepped closer reaching up with one hand as if he could offer some comfort to the insurance girl who was trying desperately to act calm. All he wanted was to see her away from this dangerous woman and to keep her safe from all harm, but with him around he knew that this situation had been inevitable.
"So Vash, you decided to show up after all. We were starting to doubt that you cared for this pathetic girl."
"Don't hurt her!" He took another step forwards.
"We'll let her go, if you step inside. We merely wish to speak with you that's all...no blood has to be shed if you just listen to what we have to say,"
"And you'll let her go." He pushed the subject.
"Yes." She confirmed.
"No Vash, it's a trap you idiot!" Meryl's warnings were muffled as the hand, which had been keeping a firm grip on her arm clamped around her mouth.
Vash frowned, he knew it was a trap, but what choice did he have if he wanted to save Meryl? She was too dear to him to just leave behind to die; he would never be able to live with himself. Slowly he approached the stranger ignoring the warning looks he was getting from Meryl, this was something he could not back down from. He just prayed that they would keep their word about setting Meryl free.
Meryl's eyes widened in fear as she saw Vash slowly approach and she desperately tried to get his attention and keep him from walking into the trap. She had heard what they planned to do with him and knew their intentions all too well. Tears welled in her eyes but she kept them in careful check and none escaped from their places in her violet orbs.
"You make one move to help him and you will die." The bounty hunter murmured so that only Meryl could hear. Slowly the woman stepped back taking Meryl with her and continuing until they were in the center of the restaurant. The other workers were tied up and placed to one side, guarded by two of her henchmen who stood silently and nervously. Obviously they feared the man they were trying to take out and Meryl hoped that that fear would be their downfall.
As soon as Vash entered the restaurant the door was slammed shut and was barricaded from the outside, obviously by some more henchmen who had been hiding not too far away. The sound of the closing door echoed around the silent room and never seemed to quite fade away. Vash seemed to reach for his gun instinctively even though it was no longer with him and the realization appeared to hit him hard. He had no way to protect Meryl or himself.
The red light of the sunset seeped in through gaps in the blinds and bathed the room in blood, trickling gently over the smooth surfaces of the tables and the floor. Vash stood poised not really sure what to do, his first choice would have been to try and talk to them but he could see that nothing he could say would work. He let his eyes fall to Meryl who was standing beside the leader, her wrists bound tightly in front of her and eyes sparkling with unshed tears.
"So Vash the Stampede, seems like after all this time we have finally discovered your weakness." The woman smirked and raised her eyes to glare at him. "How rude of me I haven't introduced myself yet have I? You may have heard of me...I am Ivory Sharpshooter and these..." She gestured to the men scattered around the room, "are my loyal followers." She smiled again and released her grip on Meryl who fell to her knees beside her.
"You said you wanted to talk." Vash let his hand reach into his shirt pocket and pull out his sunglasses, which he quickly put on.
"Yes that's right, let's talk about what I'm going to do to you after we have caught you."
"You sound confident."
"You have no weapon and your only armor is thin fabric...you are also outnumbered and I am the one with hostages. Seems like I have already won Vash the Stampede." She sighed and glanced down at the raven-haired woman, her head was bowed and her shoulders shook ever so slightly. Meryl was trying so hard not to cry but it was becoming more difficult by the minute.
Ivory gestured for the men to train their guns on Vash while she leant down beside the shorter woman and grabbed her chin with her free hand before turning her face roughly up to look at hers. Their eyes locked and an understanding passed between them.
'So this woman cares for that idiot of a man, it would hurt her to see him suffer.' Her face relaxed as she delved deep into thought. 'She would be broken if he died, just like I was after...no! I can't think like this, I can't lose my nerve now!' Tightening her vice like grip on Meryl's neck she thrust her back to join the other hostages, the nearest men pinning her to the ground with their feet so she couldn't move.
Vash inched slightly closer as if he could somehow ease her pain but heard the sounds of guns being readied to shoot. He froze again, the panic and anger tightening in his chest and stabbing at his heart.
"Line up the hostages and free them one at a time!" She yelled and two men went over and began to drag the people to their feet and ushering them towards the door to the kitchen where they could get out through the back. Vash was painfully aware that Meryl was not included with the other hostages and was left lying on the ground, her back to him so he couldn't see if she was all right.
"You said you would let Meryl free!"
"Oh we will, we just have to keep her here a little longer so we can make sure you co-operate. Can't have you running off now, can we?" Her eyes sparked with a taunting shade and he frowned, narrowing his eyes; peering at her through the orange lenses of his sunglasses.
"I won't try anything." He assured them but she shook her head briefly.
"If he moves or speaks shoot him...and the girl." She snarled as she went back through the kitchen to converse with the rest of her henchman.
Vash glanced slowly round at the four men who all had their guns aimed for him and tried to stay calm, panicking would not help him or Meryl.
"Do you think the boss will let us keep this one?" One of the henchmen asked, reaching out and rolling Meryl over onto her back. She was unconscious and a few tears had escaped from where her eyes and been closed tightly shut. Her face was pale and her dainty features looked completely relaxed, her long eyelashes rested on her cheeks and she seemed almost childlike. Never had Vash seen her so completely vulnerable and innocent, all the barriers she built around herself during the day just fell apart when she was asleep...or in this case knocked unconscious. Tears were gathering in his aqua eyes, and the familiar ache returned to torment his heart.
His breath caught in his throat when he saw one of the men nudge her side with the toe of his boot so she rolled further over.
"Don't you touch her!" Vash warned and took a slight step forward.
"I thought the boss told you not to move." One of the men warned as he lifted Meryl into a sitting position to lean against the counter. She frowned slightly her brow creasing as she mumbled something like a complaint before her eyes slowly opened. She tried to pull herself to her feet, using her bound hands to grab hold of the side of the counter and force herself to stand. She wavered slightly and glared angrily at the two men who had been standing near her.
"I told you it was a trap you broomhead." She scowled, making sure to keep her gaze fixed on the floor.
"I wouldn't talk to him if I were you." The closest man to her grinned, "We've been ordered to kill him and you if he speaks or moves."
"Idiots." Meryl muttered, her fear being squashed under the weight of her anger. She tugged against her binds but winced as the rope opened a wound in her wrist where her skin had been rubbed raw.
The sound of a door being swung open grabbed their attention again and Ivory reappeared, Meryl narrowed her eyes but remained silent. 'Something just doesn't seem right' She thought as she looked around the room. 'If these people were normal bounty hunters surely they would have killed him by now, I can't help but feel there is something else going on here.' She leaned heavily against the counter and gritted her teeth as she caught Ivory's gaze.
"The plan has changed." Ivory began letting her gaze fall steadily on Vash. "We will have to travel further, the place we were going to go is not prepared for such a..." She paused as if to find the right words then smirked..."Dangerous criminal."
Vash flinched at the title and lowered his gaze to the ground completely aware that there was nothing he could do. Yes he had been in situations similar to this before, but for some reason he could not see a way out. His vision had been clouded and his judgment blurred because of the fear for Meryl's safety and he knew if he tried anything she would be hurt or worse...killed.
* * * * * *
Meryl glared angrily around at the bounty hunters - assuming that's what they were - and scowled. She could not believe that Vash was just standing there letting himself be taken away; surely he didn't believe that they just wanted to talk. She guessed that they also had no intention of setting her free. She also realized that if she did not do something, then Vash and herself would be in even more danger. She knew they intended on torturing Vash, and in the process would most likely kill her just to cause him pain. Her feelings for Vash would not allow her to let him have that much torture, she had seen what it had done to him before and he did not deserve to be hurt again.
Whirling round faster than she thought possible she brought her fists cracking into one of the henchmen's face. He let out a cry or rage and in doing so dropped his gun, which fell to the floor with a loud clatter. Reaching down her fingertips brushed against the gun but failed to grab hold of it as the angry man kicked it away.
He furiously grabbed her by the shoulders and threw her back against the wall knocking the back of her head sharply against it. Meryl lifted her head to see the man trembling in rage; 'probably surprised that I could hit so hard' she thought and readied herself for the pain, which would surely ensue.
She watched as the henchmen retrieved his gun and pointed it straight at her, it was then that she lost her nerve and closed her eyes. She could hear her heartbeat steadily thudding inside her chest, its loud echoing sound felt like it might break through her ribcage and she shivered slightly. 'How long could it possibly take to shoot a gun' she thought angrily when suddenly she was pushed sideways and knocked off of her feet. The gunshot rang out a split second after as she was crushed beneath the unknown object.
She was aware of the weight putting uncomfortable pressure to her lungs and making breathing difficult. Drawing in a ragged breath she tried to move but found it impossible and as she opened her eyes her heart almost stopped.
Her clouded eyes met the ones of Vash the Stampede, so close that her eyes found it difficult to focus on them. She was pressed firmly under him from where he had knocked her down away from the bullet and she could feel his body trembling...trembling with pain.
He tried to lift himself up and off of her but failed miserably and his eyes filled with pained tears. Meryl freed her arm and tried to find where the wound was, letting her hand trail down his back and round to his side. Finally she found the sticky substance of blood that soaked his side and tentatively touched the wound pressing her hand over it to try and stop the flow of blood.
"Vash, are you okay?" She asked tentatively but he couldn't answer as he was wrenched away from her grip. The blood that had been flowing freely from his wound had soaked her clothes and she tried to get to her feet only to be struck from behind and knocked to the ground again.
The world went dark...
* * * * * *
Angel: Don't cry Legato, I won't let those crazy fan girls get you.
Knives: Aren't you one of those crazy fan girls?
Angel: Your point?
Knives: *sighs* Never mind.
Kuroneko: nyaa! *Steals the donuts*
Knives: Hey you stupid cat leave them alone! *Starts chasing Kuroneko around*
Angel: Now I'll never find Vash *starts crying*
Legato: Vash?
Angel: Yeah...you know him?
Legato: Blonde haired man...red coat...huge gun...total idiot?
Angel: Yeah that's him!
Legato: That's funny...matches the description of that man over there.
Angel: Wha-what? *Looks at where Legato is pointing* ahh it is him!
Vash: Who? You mean me? *Blinks*
Angel: Yay I finally found him. *Dances*
Vash: Uhh do I know you?
Knives: She is a crazy fan girl after your blood.
Vash: Ahhh scary...*runs away*
Angel: Gah! Knives now look what you did...guess our journey must continue...
Knives: O.o
Kuroneko: (=^.^=) nyaaa!!
Thanks to reviewers:
Arteme: Thanks for your review; I'm glad you liked my last chapter. Yeah Vash doesn't have much experience with romance does he...poor guy. I'll just have to make sure I change that.
Happyjack: I'm hoping this fic will be just as good as well, I'm just glad people are reading it and liking it. Yeah I love getting them into trouble, I don't know why but Millie never seems to...maybe I can change that. Thanks for your review.
Darkraven: two reviews from you...dunno if you realized or not but thanks anyways.
Puchiko2: Heh heh sorry about the cliff hanger, sorry this chapter took so long to get out, this chapter was harder to write than I though it would. Thanks for your review.
Neptune Butterfly: I might take Kuroneko up on his offer! Yes the woman is an original character linked to one that was in the anime series. You'll have to wait and see ^_^ Thanks for your review.
Luna-Kitsune-Blu: that's okay. As always your review made me laugh. Thanks for reviewing and I hope you like this next chapter.
Dustdragon: sorry bout leaving the cliffhanger, I just had to do that. You might be annoyed with the way I ended this one too. Any way before you kill me.... thanks for your review!
Rainy-days13: ha, glad you like the fic, and I hope you enjoy this chapter too, it took me longer to write than I had first anticipated. Thanks for your review.
* * * * * *
Angel: I got the donuts ^-^
Knives: About time, what the hell took you so long?
Angel: I found a cute kitty on the way...see. *holds up Kuroneko*
Knives: Whatever, just hand them over.
Angel: Yes sir!
Knives: *Snatches the donuts and puts them in the cage*
Angel: How long do you think we will have to wait?
Knives: Not long.
*Three hours later*
Angel: *Sleeping*
Knives: *Pokes* Hey wake up!
Angel: Did it work?
Knives: No
Angel: Aww damn.
SNAP!
Knives: We got him!
Angel: Yay!! ^-^
Knives: Hang on a minute that isn't Vash...
Angel: *gasp* It can't be!!
Knives: Legato get out of that cage right now!!!
Legato *sniffling* I don't want to...
Angel: Uhh enjoy the next chapter.
Part 3: The World Went Dark...
Meryl sighed as the henchman bound her wrists in the rough rope and gritted her teeth in frustration, she looked around for a means of escape but it seemed virtually impossible. Some more of the woman's followers had entered the room and blocked every possible escape route. The other staff were being led into the room behind her and she glanced over her shoulder at them. Her violet eyes filled with grief at seeing them all, trembling and desperately trying to hold back tears. 'My friends, this is all my fault' she looked away from them in guilt.
Curling up against the counter she let her eyes fall onto the ground and shivered, a sudden coldness had enveloped her that chilled her to the bone, 'is this fear I am feeling, or is it the cold feeling of guilt?' she quickly decided it was a mixture of both.
"Now tell me miss...do you think that Vash the Stampede cares enough about you to come down here?" The smooth voice of the woman reached her. Meryl's head snapped up; an angry retort bubbling in her throat, but knowing better she simply remained silent and stared back into the woman's hazel eyes.
"Well, you don't look very hopeful...could it be that my records were mistaken?" Her strange hazel eyes clouded in thought.
"What records?" Meryl snapped, feeling even more annoyed at these intruders.
"Hmm, you mean you don't know?" A smirk appeared on her face, "My records simply state that Vash was seen with his arms around you..." Her smirk grew even wider at the response to her comment.
The short insurance girl was flushing violently, partly with embarrassment, partly with anger and partly with joy at remembering that certain event in her life. That small embrace had been the closest she had ever been to the elusive gunman, in fact it was the closest she had ever been to any man. A full time job and a strict father had made certain of that.
Meryl dipped her head and sighed miserably, "You have it all wrong, it's not like that at all." Meryl's voice was merely a whisper, finding it hard to admit that it was nothing more than a friendly hug.
"What do you mean, Vash the Stampede would hug an enemy? You are obviously an ally and that is good enough to serve our purpose."
Meryl closed her eyes, part of her wishing that Vash would come to her rescue, part of her mad that she would have to rely on him, and another part of her hoping he would stay away and keep safe. She leaned back against the counter and closed her eyes, trying desperately to squash the fear that was fluttering in her stomach.
"As soon as Vash the Stampede arrives we can put our plan into action, our day of revenge is here so don't mess up!" The strange woman yelled. "Do you all remember the plan?"
"Yes." came the few replies of her henchmen.
"We get him in here by using that woman to make him do what we want." She turned hazel eyes to Meryl who was sitting quietly in the corner. "Remember not to injure him, we need him alive. There will be no quick, painless death for him."
* * * * * *
Vash stood up from his chair and stretched lazily, he had been sitting in the small room all day and still his brother hadn't moved at all. He was beginning to doubt that Knives would ever wake up, and that thought sent him deeper into the pit of guilt he was already wallowing in. He couldn't help but think that he had taken the wrong course by shooting his brother, perhaps there had been another way to save him, but then he remembered how eager Knives had been to hurt him. There was no way he could have talked himself out of that situation.
He turned his line of vision towards the window where the evening's shadows were starting to spread across the dust. The sky was a wash of oranges and reds as the two golden discs floated just above the skyline, the whole town seemed bathed in a golden light and Vash soaked up the beauty of such an innocent occurrence. For a long time he stood admiring the splendor of what lay before him, the reds deepening as the suns dipped into sleep enhancing the passions in the sky.
Leaning against the windowsill Vash glanced sideways into the town, he hadn't really walked about in it much considering all the townspeople seemed to hate him. The closest he had ever been to the main part of the town was when he had leaned out of the window like he was doing now. Sometimes he would watch Meryl go to work, her head bowed as she shuffled through the street as if wanting the ground to open up and swallow her. He had been extremely confused by her actions this morning but he knew she was only putting up a disguise so he and Millie wouldn't worry about her. It surprised him how much she was like himself; she hid her emotions and built barriers up around herself just like he did. Maybe it was because of this that he noticed how upset she was inside, her eyes lacked the usual shine and even though she had never laughed a lot that reaction seemed to have disappeared from her totally.
The sound of panicked screams and yells snapped him from his thoughts and he leaned further from the window to glance into the town center. His heart clenched painfully as he caught sight of people dashing around the streets and crowding around one certain building...the restaurant where Meryl worked! For a moment time seemed to freeze and his blood ran cold as thoughts raced through his mind. He knew he had to go but he hated to leave Knives alone. Shaking his head angrily he didn't even stop to grab his coat and was out of the door before anyone could notice.
He desperately hoped he was reading too much into the situation but as he grew closer to the restaurant he caught snippets of conversations, which made him fear the worst. Drawing closer to the circle of onlookers he desperately tried to get someone's attention so he could ask what exactly was going on.
"Hey mister could you tell me what's happening?" He asked as politely as he could. The man he had tapped on the shoulder obviously recognized him as Vash the Stampede, his expression turning to one of disgust and anger.
Stepping back nervously Vash held his hands up in typical surrender position and gave a nervous grin, which seemed only to make the man angrier.
"This is all your fault! The only reason those bounty hunters are here causing trouble is because of you!" He pointed an accusing finger at his face.
"Bounty hunters?" Vash instantly lost the grin he had somehow plastered onto his face and peered over the heads the crowd of nervous people. It was one of those times he was grateful for his superior height.
The door to the restaurant swung open and a cloaked figure appeared, a wide brimmed hat covering his or her face. Trying to push his way through the crowd Vash noticed that the person was hiding something behind their back.
"If you don't find Vash the Stampede and bring him here then the hostages will all be killed!" The feminine voice yelled and silenced the onlookers. Everyone stood frozen, their eyes fixed on the bounty hunter in the doorway. Vash flinched as the woman raised her head, strange eyes traveling over the motionless crowd. "Don't you believe me?!" She bellowed angrily and revealed what she had been hiding behind her.
Vash couldn't say he was surprised at who it was she was holding onto, this bounty hunter had obviously been watching him for some time, but seeing Meryl being hurt because of him caused a terrible ache in his heart. She had enough stress at the moment without him causing even more problems for her.
The woman took out a gun from a holster on her hip and pressed it sharply against Meryl's temple her face strangely emotionless and her hand steady. For a long moment she paused and looked around as a new hush fell over the crowd, wiping out any murmurs or whispers. She shrugged and smiled, "Well it seems that no one knows where the Humanoid typhoon is...guess I have to kill this insignificant-"
"-Stop!" Vash yelled as he pushed through the crowds to stand only meters away from the bounty hunter and Meryl.
He saw the flicker of a smile on the stranger's face and her grip tighten on Meryl's arm causing a brief flash of pain shooting through the short girl's clouded eyes. Vash swallowed nervously knowing that he didn't have his gun with him and that if he had to fire he would have to use his arm gun. Gritting his teeth he stepped closer reaching up with one hand as if he could offer some comfort to the insurance girl who was trying desperately to act calm. All he wanted was to see her away from this dangerous woman and to keep her safe from all harm, but with him around he knew that this situation had been inevitable.
"So Vash, you decided to show up after all. We were starting to doubt that you cared for this pathetic girl."
"Don't hurt her!" He took another step forwards.
"We'll let her go, if you step inside. We merely wish to speak with you that's all...no blood has to be shed if you just listen to what we have to say,"
"And you'll let her go." He pushed the subject.
"Yes." She confirmed.
"No Vash, it's a trap you idiot!" Meryl's warnings were muffled as the hand, which had been keeping a firm grip on her arm clamped around her mouth.
Vash frowned, he knew it was a trap, but what choice did he have if he wanted to save Meryl? She was too dear to him to just leave behind to die; he would never be able to live with himself. Slowly he approached the stranger ignoring the warning looks he was getting from Meryl, this was something he could not back down from. He just prayed that they would keep their word about setting Meryl free.
Meryl's eyes widened in fear as she saw Vash slowly approach and she desperately tried to get his attention and keep him from walking into the trap. She had heard what they planned to do with him and knew their intentions all too well. Tears welled in her eyes but she kept them in careful check and none escaped from their places in her violet orbs.
"You make one move to help him and you will die." The bounty hunter murmured so that only Meryl could hear. Slowly the woman stepped back taking Meryl with her and continuing until they were in the center of the restaurant. The other workers were tied up and placed to one side, guarded by two of her henchmen who stood silently and nervously. Obviously they feared the man they were trying to take out and Meryl hoped that that fear would be their downfall.
As soon as Vash entered the restaurant the door was slammed shut and was barricaded from the outside, obviously by some more henchmen who had been hiding not too far away. The sound of the closing door echoed around the silent room and never seemed to quite fade away. Vash seemed to reach for his gun instinctively even though it was no longer with him and the realization appeared to hit him hard. He had no way to protect Meryl or himself.
The red light of the sunset seeped in through gaps in the blinds and bathed the room in blood, trickling gently over the smooth surfaces of the tables and the floor. Vash stood poised not really sure what to do, his first choice would have been to try and talk to them but he could see that nothing he could say would work. He let his eyes fall to Meryl who was standing beside the leader, her wrists bound tightly in front of her and eyes sparkling with unshed tears.
"So Vash the Stampede, seems like after all this time we have finally discovered your weakness." The woman smirked and raised her eyes to glare at him. "How rude of me I haven't introduced myself yet have I? You may have heard of me...I am Ivory Sharpshooter and these..." She gestured to the men scattered around the room, "are my loyal followers." She smiled again and released her grip on Meryl who fell to her knees beside her.
"You said you wanted to talk." Vash let his hand reach into his shirt pocket and pull out his sunglasses, which he quickly put on.
"Yes that's right, let's talk about what I'm going to do to you after we have caught you."
"You sound confident."
"You have no weapon and your only armor is thin fabric...you are also outnumbered and I am the one with hostages. Seems like I have already won Vash the Stampede." She sighed and glanced down at the raven-haired woman, her head was bowed and her shoulders shook ever so slightly. Meryl was trying so hard not to cry but it was becoming more difficult by the minute.
Ivory gestured for the men to train their guns on Vash while she leant down beside the shorter woman and grabbed her chin with her free hand before turning her face roughly up to look at hers. Their eyes locked and an understanding passed between them.
'So this woman cares for that idiot of a man, it would hurt her to see him suffer.' Her face relaxed as she delved deep into thought. 'She would be broken if he died, just like I was after...no! I can't think like this, I can't lose my nerve now!' Tightening her vice like grip on Meryl's neck she thrust her back to join the other hostages, the nearest men pinning her to the ground with their feet so she couldn't move.
Vash inched slightly closer as if he could somehow ease her pain but heard the sounds of guns being readied to shoot. He froze again, the panic and anger tightening in his chest and stabbing at his heart.
"Line up the hostages and free them one at a time!" She yelled and two men went over and began to drag the people to their feet and ushering them towards the door to the kitchen where they could get out through the back. Vash was painfully aware that Meryl was not included with the other hostages and was left lying on the ground, her back to him so he couldn't see if she was all right.
"You said you would let Meryl free!"
"Oh we will, we just have to keep her here a little longer so we can make sure you co-operate. Can't have you running off now, can we?" Her eyes sparked with a taunting shade and he frowned, narrowing his eyes; peering at her through the orange lenses of his sunglasses.
"I won't try anything." He assured them but she shook her head briefly.
"If he moves or speaks shoot him...and the girl." She snarled as she went back through the kitchen to converse with the rest of her henchman.
Vash glanced slowly round at the four men who all had their guns aimed for him and tried to stay calm, panicking would not help him or Meryl.
"Do you think the boss will let us keep this one?" One of the henchmen asked, reaching out and rolling Meryl over onto her back. She was unconscious and a few tears had escaped from where her eyes and been closed tightly shut. Her face was pale and her dainty features looked completely relaxed, her long eyelashes rested on her cheeks and she seemed almost childlike. Never had Vash seen her so completely vulnerable and innocent, all the barriers she built around herself during the day just fell apart when she was asleep...or in this case knocked unconscious. Tears were gathering in his aqua eyes, and the familiar ache returned to torment his heart.
His breath caught in his throat when he saw one of the men nudge her side with the toe of his boot so she rolled further over.
"Don't you touch her!" Vash warned and took a slight step forward.
"I thought the boss told you not to move." One of the men warned as he lifted Meryl into a sitting position to lean against the counter. She frowned slightly her brow creasing as she mumbled something like a complaint before her eyes slowly opened. She tried to pull herself to her feet, using her bound hands to grab hold of the side of the counter and force herself to stand. She wavered slightly and glared angrily at the two men who had been standing near her.
"I told you it was a trap you broomhead." She scowled, making sure to keep her gaze fixed on the floor.
"I wouldn't talk to him if I were you." The closest man to her grinned, "We've been ordered to kill him and you if he speaks or moves."
"Idiots." Meryl muttered, her fear being squashed under the weight of her anger. She tugged against her binds but winced as the rope opened a wound in her wrist where her skin had been rubbed raw.
The sound of a door being swung open grabbed their attention again and Ivory reappeared, Meryl narrowed her eyes but remained silent. 'Something just doesn't seem right' She thought as she looked around the room. 'If these people were normal bounty hunters surely they would have killed him by now, I can't help but feel there is something else going on here.' She leaned heavily against the counter and gritted her teeth as she caught Ivory's gaze.
"The plan has changed." Ivory began letting her gaze fall steadily on Vash. "We will have to travel further, the place we were going to go is not prepared for such a..." She paused as if to find the right words then smirked..."Dangerous criminal."
Vash flinched at the title and lowered his gaze to the ground completely aware that there was nothing he could do. Yes he had been in situations similar to this before, but for some reason he could not see a way out. His vision had been clouded and his judgment blurred because of the fear for Meryl's safety and he knew if he tried anything she would be hurt or worse...killed.
* * * * * *
Meryl glared angrily around at the bounty hunters - assuming that's what they were - and scowled. She could not believe that Vash was just standing there letting himself be taken away; surely he didn't believe that they just wanted to talk. She guessed that they also had no intention of setting her free. She also realized that if she did not do something, then Vash and herself would be in even more danger. She knew they intended on torturing Vash, and in the process would most likely kill her just to cause him pain. Her feelings for Vash would not allow her to let him have that much torture, she had seen what it had done to him before and he did not deserve to be hurt again.
Whirling round faster than she thought possible she brought her fists cracking into one of the henchmen's face. He let out a cry or rage and in doing so dropped his gun, which fell to the floor with a loud clatter. Reaching down her fingertips brushed against the gun but failed to grab hold of it as the angry man kicked it away.
He furiously grabbed her by the shoulders and threw her back against the wall knocking the back of her head sharply against it. Meryl lifted her head to see the man trembling in rage; 'probably surprised that I could hit so hard' she thought and readied herself for the pain, which would surely ensue.
She watched as the henchmen retrieved his gun and pointed it straight at her, it was then that she lost her nerve and closed her eyes. She could hear her heartbeat steadily thudding inside her chest, its loud echoing sound felt like it might break through her ribcage and she shivered slightly. 'How long could it possibly take to shoot a gun' she thought angrily when suddenly she was pushed sideways and knocked off of her feet. The gunshot rang out a split second after as she was crushed beneath the unknown object.
She was aware of the weight putting uncomfortable pressure to her lungs and making breathing difficult. Drawing in a ragged breath she tried to move but found it impossible and as she opened her eyes her heart almost stopped.
Her clouded eyes met the ones of Vash the Stampede, so close that her eyes found it difficult to focus on them. She was pressed firmly under him from where he had knocked her down away from the bullet and she could feel his body trembling...trembling with pain.
He tried to lift himself up and off of her but failed miserably and his eyes filled with pained tears. Meryl freed her arm and tried to find where the wound was, letting her hand trail down his back and round to his side. Finally she found the sticky substance of blood that soaked his side and tentatively touched the wound pressing her hand over it to try and stop the flow of blood.
"Vash, are you okay?" She asked tentatively but he couldn't answer as he was wrenched away from her grip. The blood that had been flowing freely from his wound had soaked her clothes and she tried to get to her feet only to be struck from behind and knocked to the ground again.
The world went dark...
* * * * * *
Angel: Don't cry Legato, I won't let those crazy fan girls get you.
Knives: Aren't you one of those crazy fan girls?
Angel: Your point?
Knives: *sighs* Never mind.
Kuroneko: nyaa! *Steals the donuts*
Knives: Hey you stupid cat leave them alone! *Starts chasing Kuroneko around*
Angel: Now I'll never find Vash *starts crying*
Legato: Vash?
Angel: Yeah...you know him?
Legato: Blonde haired man...red coat...huge gun...total idiot?
Angel: Yeah that's him!
Legato: That's funny...matches the description of that man over there.
Angel: Wha-what? *Looks at where Legato is pointing* ahh it is him!
Vash: Who? You mean me? *Blinks*
Angel: Yay I finally found him. *Dances*
Vash: Uhh do I know you?
Knives: She is a crazy fan girl after your blood.
Vash: Ahhh scary...*runs away*
Angel: Gah! Knives now look what you did...guess our journey must continue...
Knives: O.o
Kuroneko: (=^.^=) nyaaa!!