AN- I had a little bit of trouble planning this chapter out. I know how this is going to end in my head though. But the chapters in-between are hard to write. Thank you to my reviewers! I love you guys! Hands out Knives Plushies to all Also, small spoiler warnings for what happened to July City, and a small rape warning. Don't worry. It's nothing graphic, but it will be hinted at later in the chapter. Ok, I am going to leave now, before I give the rest of the story away.

Chapter 8

"Vash?"

Vash sighed.

"What Knives?"

"How much farther? The car broke down about 10 iles from the house, and we have been walking for what seems like days now."

Vash sighed.

"I'm sorry Knives, but there is nothing I can do. Time is of the essence here, so I really couldn't wait three days for the car to get fixed."

"You could have at least threatened the spider into fixing the car sooner. You are Vash the Stampede after all."

Vash rolled his eyes. He was glad that Knives didn't rip off the mechanics head when he said the car would take a few days to fix. Knives had behaved himself when he was around the humans, and Vash was proud of him.

"Vash?"

Vash was getting annoyed at Knives now. He loved his brother, but his brother had done nothing but complain since they had to leave the car.

"What is it now Knives?"

Vash asked with as much patience in his voice that he could muster. Vash rarely lost his patience, but Knives was starting to get on his nerves.

"I was just wondering, what did that note say Vash? I didn't really get a chance to read it before we left."

Vash stopped and contemplated for a moment if he should tell Knives.

If I do, he will really hate the humans. But if I don't, and we don't make it to Karsted on time he will hate the humans. Better tell him. Either way, he's still going to hate humanity.

Vash sighed.

"It said that if we don't make it to Karsted City in two days, they will kill Milly. They want the bounty on my head, in exchange for Milly."

Knives' eyes widened.

"Vash. This is the exact reason why I think humans are filthy, vermin that should be extinguished immediately. They toy with the lives of other humans, and steal, and rape. This is why, Vash, I don't trust them anymore. I was foolish to think for one second that I could put my trust in one single human, and to have her taken away."

Vash looked deep into Knives' blue eyes.

"Now you know how I feel about Rem, Knives. I loved her with all of my heart. She was like my mother Knives, and you killed her. Though, I forgive you now, but you know the pain I went through of losing a 'spider'."

Knives nodded. They continued to walk in silence now. Did it really hurt Vash this bad when Rem died? Even though he hated to admit it, he was getting scared for Milly. She was such a sweet spider. She didn't seem to have a mean bone in her body.

'All she ever wanted to do for me was make sure I got better, and be my friend, and I just pushed her away. I treated her like shit. Oh God, Milly. When this is all over, I will show you what I'm feeling. I promise.'

Knives thought to himself. Suddenly Vash stopped.

"We can rest here for a while. We still have another; oh I'd say maybe another hundred or so iles away. If we just nap here for a bit, and we travel straight through the next day and a half, we'll be there just in time. Hell if we find a town with a rental place we'd be in business."

Vash said handing Knives the canteen of water. He had packed quite a few canteens of water. He knew the odds of them coming across a town, was slim to none. But still, he had to have a little hope.

"Hey Vash?"

"What?"

"Are you really going to give yourself to the guys, in exchange for Milly?"

Knives asked concerned.

"Well, I don't want to Knives. And I am going to find a way out of it, but if I can't, then yes, I suppose I will have to give myself to them in exchange for Milly."

Knives sighed.

"Is she really worth it Vash?"

Vash looked taken aback by the comment.

"What?"

"Giving yourself up for her. Think Vash. I am the one after her. I am the one who always made her feel bad. I should be the one giving myself to the authorities. I have done so much more then you have, and yet, you're the one in trouble, and it's because of me. If I hadn't have made you use the angel arm, and destroyed July, you wouldn't have that bounty on your head. You wouldn't be in this situation. Everything's my fault."

Knives turned away from Vash, and sat down on the ground. His head was resting on his arms that were folded around knees that had been pulled up to his chin. He was weeping silently.

"Knives?"

Vash bent down, so he was level with his brother.

"You can't always blame yourself for everything Knives. I told you, I forgive you for anything and everything you have ever done. Milly is that way too. She forgives you for lashing out at her, and for Nicholas. Milly is very much like me, Knives. So if you love me, you can love her."

Knives looked back at his brother. He smiled a little.

"Thank you Vash. It's hard. I used to hate the humans, and part of me still does. But it's just an on-going battle that keeps going on inside of me; I just don't know what to do anymore. Vash, do you really forgive me?"

Vash nodded his head.

"Knives, I forgave you a long time ago."

Vash hugged his brother. Knives leaned into the warmth of Vashs' chest. He felt safe in Vashs' arms.

In Karsted City...

"Let me go!"

Milly yelled at Steven who had his arms wrapped around her.

"Aww, but sweetie, don't you want me?"

Milly shook her head. She was scared now. Before she didn't feel threatened by Steven, but tonight he was all over her, and she didn't like the way he grabbed at her.

"Please, let me go. I can't, and I don't..."

"You can't and don't what? Want this?"

Steve kissed her.

"Just don't fight Milly."

With that, he pushed Milly onto the bed. Milly tried to ignore everything, and anything that was going on.

Back with the boys...

"You ok Knives? Do you need any water?"

Vash looked back at Knives who was looking quite tired. They had about another half of a day to go, before they would reach Karsted City.

"Yeah. I'm ok."

Knives replied back wearily.

"You sure?"

Knives nodded. He wasn't used to this. He always got around the planet, either by car, or thomas. Knives wasn't particularly fond of walking so far. But he was doing it for Milly. No matter how hard he tried to fight it, he had feelings for her.

"We'll be there soon. Just hang in there, and you can have a comfy bed to lay in."

Vash reassured his brother. Knives was glad that he wouldn't have to walk much further. He didn't know how long he would be able to do this walking thing.

In Karsted City...

Milly awoke. Her whole body was sore. She recalled the events of the previous night, and she began crying.

"Oh my God. I was...I was..."

It made her cry even harder. Never before in all her life did she feel so violated.

"Please let Vash be here soon. If he even has left at all. I really want to go home."

Steve walked into the room, and noticed her.

"Oh, don't cry. Last night wasn't all that bad, now was it?"

Milly didn't meet his eyes. She wasn't ready to see him yet.

"Well, I guess you're stuck here until further notice. I will be back later this evening. And I promise you, tonight will be much better then last night."

He walked over, and pulled Milly's face to his. He kissed her as she fought back.

"Goodbye Milly. I'll see you later honey!"

He waved to her from the door. She wanted to go home.