Chapter 2: Abundance of Feelings
Knives opened his eyes and saw the young girl, that was take care of him, enter the room . He narrowed his eyes as the anger inside of him raged and the aggravation that Vash left him in the care of humans and didn't leave him in the desert to die. Knives watched the girl's every move as he thought how Vash could think he would change for the sake of living amongst these filthy beings. Knives shifted to sit up and the girl ran to his side to aid him. She sat on the bedside and cradled him in her arms once more to feed him.
" I am capable of feeding myself," Knives growled, " Your kindness is wasted if you are trying to follow my brother's ways."
" I'm only trying to nurse you to health," Karen said
Knives narrowed his eyes at her and saw she didn't care about what he had said. She continued to do what she was doing, by lifting a freshly prepared meal for him.
" You'll be bed ridden for weeks if not months due to your injuries," Karen said, " Please allow me to care for you until you are well."
Knives looked at her as she begged him to serve him.
" Fine, but know this you serve only me," Knives said
" What ever you say master," Karen said mockingly as she made quotation marks with her fingers
Knives narrowed his eyes at the young woman, who showed no fear. She mocked him for his superior power. Karen fed her "new master", whom had no interest in being touched by a human. Once she finished feeding him, she tended to his wounds, that made him bed ridden. She gently cleaned them and bandaged them up.
" Your wounds are healing quite well since Mr. Vash brought you here," Karen said
" Don't mention that name in my presence fool," Knives said balling up his fist
Karen nodded and finished then stood up. Knives looked at her and a sinister smile claimed his lips.
" You can leave now, I need my time alone, come back later when I may need a service from you," Knives said
Meryl served the last of hard working men that came in. She walked to the back to see how Vash was doing, problem was he wasn't there. She raised an eye brow to find Vash suddenly missing. As she looked around she was greeted with a sudden spray of water. Once free from it there was laughter in the background and the familiar voice that followed.
" Gee, Meryl your really shouldn't surprise me like that," Vash said coming out from around a shelf with the extended rinser
" What do you mean I surprised you? I nearly had an heart attack cause your were gone," Meryl clarified
" Oh, sorry about that I was just cleaning the back," Vash said scratching the back of his head
" With the rinser?" she questioned
" Nah, it followed me," Vash said
Meryl reached for the rinser and Vash pulled it back. Meryl continued to reach for it while Vash continued to spraying water on her.
" Hey, cut that out," she cried
" What this," Vash said once more spraying her with water
Meryl finally just jumped at him and grabbed hold of it, but in the process tripped and fell towards Vash. Vash fell back as he caught Meryl, they landed on the slippery floor and Meryl fell into Vash's chest. Vash had a tight hold on her as to protect her, but suddenly it didn't seem that way. Meryl looked up at Vash and met Vash's bluish green eyes and stared at him. Vash looked at her and became unable to speak, usually having something to say. This time he didn't seem to want to say anything, he just wanted to stare. That's all they could do is stare. Meryl felt her heart beat against her chest as she just looked into Vash's eyes. She wanted to tell him then, but Vash had already thought. Vash reached up and became inches from her lips. Meryl's hand reached for the rinser and pulled it, then sprayed him with water. She quickly got up before he could get the rinser away from her.
" Haha, got you," Meryl said
By the time they got the sudden playfulness out of their systems they were soaked from head to toe and the whole back had been cleaned and drowned in water. Meryl left the back and leaned against the wall.
" Oh Vash," she said
Vash mopped up the back before the boss got back. He suddenly was back to thinking as he washed. What had happened?
That evening Meryl and Vash picked up some groceries and carried it back to where they stayed at. Millie had probably already went to sleep so they were on their own. Meryl came to the home and Vash opened the door.
" It's about time you were a gentle man and opened the door for me," Meryl said
" About time? I've always been a gentleman, you were just a very difficult woman," Vash said
" Me a difficult woman?" Meryl questioned
He let her in first and they set down the groceries and unloaded it. Meryl put away some things and then came across a bottle of wine in one of the bags. She lifted it up and Vash looked over and smiled.
" Wine, to what do we owe this occasion?" Meryl asked
" I thought we would drink to our youth." Vash noted
" Drink to our youth Vash?" she questioned
" Yes, what better way to then a fine glass…or two glasses," Vash said
Meryl nodded and sighed and said, " Alright fine drink to our youth."
Vash smiled and pulled the cork out and pour Meryl a 1/3 of the glass.
" Come on Vash, I'm a grown woman," Meryl said, " Pour a little more."
" Only a little it's a pretty strong wine for a woman of your stature," Vash replied
" What are you saying….I'm short," Meryl said
" No, no not at all," Vash defended himself, " You're a very nice height."
Meryl narrowed her eyes and grabbed the bottle and poured a full glass. Vash looked at her and sudden fear crawled up his spine. Meryl gently sniffed the wine before tasting it. Vash pour a half glass and sighed as Meryl drank a little. She tasted it and Vash looked at her.
" It's very good, I like it," Meryl said
" I'm glad," Vash said
By the time Meryl had drank half her glass of wine, she already had a touch of pink to her cheeks and nose. Vash reached for her glass and she pulled it away before he could get a good grasp on it.
" Come on Meryl, I think half a glass is enough," Vash said
" Oh, come on Vash, I can handle a whole glass, I don't need you holding my hand," Meryl said drinking more
Vash stared at her and sighed, with the thought of what would happen to her. Meryl finished the glass and handed it to Vash. He looked at it amazed she did drink all of it. Of course he now thought she had enough and thought she would be content. He was wrong Meryl asked for another glass, but Vash was being responsible for her actions. He poured another glass for himself and looked at Meryl.
" You had enough," Vash said, " I think you better relax a little or your going to find it very hard to get up in the morning."
" Vash you worry to much," Meryl said
She walked over to him and reached for the bottle, but he pulled it just out of her reach. He looked at her seeing her pink cheeks and pink nose just shine. Her eyes were filled with unawareness. Finally she gave up and sat next to him. She looked at him as he stared at her.
" You know Vash," Meryl said
" What?" Vash said
Meryl's eyes showed a different side to them. Vash sighed and Meryl smiled.
" I think you are the worlds braves man in the world," Meryl said
" Thanks," Vash said
Vash listened for awhile as Meryl rambled on about her past and how it was a pleasant reprieve to get out the office of daily life. Then Vash watched as the wine really took it's total on Meryl. He sighed and then got up feeling she was already going to regret what she had done by the morning. He lifted her into his arms and she wrapped her arms around him.
" My your very strong, do you work out," Meryl said
" Why yes, it impresses the most beautiful women. They can't resist me," Vash replied
" So, I'm one of the pretty women you impressed with your very muscular arms," Meryl said
Vash was beginning to like Meryl drunk, she flatter him well and he enjoyed holding the very difficult woman in his arms. Of course it wasn't hard to flatter such a man. Vash wished he could hear her flatter him more often. Did she think of him that way often or was it just the alcohol in her blood stream that was effecting her? He didn't care now he was hearing how she actually felt about him. Meryl leaned her head against his chest and sighed. She took a deep breath of the air around him, he had a sweet smell to him, but she could describe the scent.
" You smell like fresh flowers," Meryl said, " I like fresh flowers."
Vash raised an eye brow to her remark and then smiled at her.
" Perhaps that's you Meryl, you always have a sweet smell," Vash said, " One of a very pleasant woman."
" Oh, Vash, don't make me blush," Meryl said
Vash looked at Meryl and she stared at him in his green eyes.
" You have beautiful green eyes," Meryl whispered, " I think you're a very handsome and kind man Vash. How can any woman resist you?"
Meryl reached up and Vash looked at her. She pressed her lips against his and kissed him. Surprised at this, but suspected it would happen sooner or later, Vash kissed her back. Meryl pulled away and a smile creased her drunken face.
" I've admired you, since the first time we've met," Meryl said softly, " I'm in love with you Vash the stampede."
Vash looked at her and smiled and she kissed him again. Her sudden drunken figure that he held seemed much lighter than before, he was in a state of mind that didn't make anything feel heavy.
" Maybe you should sleep," Vash said, " I think your tiered."
" You don't love me?" she asked
" It's not that," Vash said
" Oh, Vash I have come out with my feelings only to be rejected," she said
Vash sighed and set her down and she looked up at him. She stared at him pleadingly.
" Tell me Vash, tell me how you feel," Meryl said grabbing his hand
Vash looked at her and smiled.
" I feel," Vash said
Meryl looked up at him as he got closer to her. Her eyes full of hope that he would tell her how he felt finally.
" I feel that," Vash said inches from her lips
" Yes, Vash," Meryl said
" I feel that you need to get lots of rest," he said light heartily, " We have a job to go to."
Meryl fell back and Vash looked at her. She got up and wacked him across the face.
" Be that way," Meryl said
She walked back stumbling towards her room. She sighed and Vash looked at her as she entered her room. He breathed a little easier and leaned back.
" It's not the time," Vash said
Meryl flopped on her bed with tears in her eyes and cried a little. She cried and buried her face in the pillow.
" He doesn't love me," she cried
Meryl closed her eyes and fell asleep as tears remained to stream down his face.
" Oh, Vash," she whispered
Vash sat in the window and drank from the bottle. He stared out the window and looked towards the desert.
" I can live here," Vash whispered, " This is where I need to be."
He looked around and then set, the almost empty bottle down. He got up and walked out the door then looked down the hall.
"I've admired you, since the first time we've met," Meryl's words echoed, " I'm in love with you Vash the stampede."
" Mr. Vash," Millie's voice came from the back
Vash turned and looked at the tall young woman. She gave a smile and walked over to him.
" Why are you up so late?" Millie asked
" Couldn't sleep," Vash replied
" I'll make you some hot tea to help you," Millie said
Millie walked to the kitchen and Vash followed her. He sat down while she boiled the water and pulled out two cups. Vash let his head rest in his hand, then sighed. Millie sat down and looked at him, he was obvious disturbed by something.
" What's the matter Mr. Vash, your not yourself?" Millie asked
" It's nothing, just a lot on my mind," Vash replied
Millie looked at him and then sighed.
" I've been thinking about the past," Millie said, " The travels with Mr. Wolfwood. I enjoyed those days even though they weren't the best."
Vash looked up at her, it had been days since Wolfwood had died and he went after his brother to end what pain that resided in him. All this happened so fast and he knew they were all still grieving.
" Yeah, those days had special meaning," Vash stated
" I miss him so much Mr. Vash," Millie said, " How come he had to die?"
Vash lowered his head and shook it. How come people had to die? Knives' words echoed in his head
" You waste a life time for these humans and they will shrivel up and die," Knives' words echoed, " Their better off dead."
" It's my fault I should have not let him go," Vash said
" No, it's not you tried to not kill," Millie said
Vash looked at Millie and said, " I only wish I knew how I could have saved him."
Millie stared at Vash until the boiled was done. She poured the hut water in the cups and tea bags. She set one down and Vash looked at it. He watched as the water seeped into the tea bag. He stirred it and sighed, then Millie sighed.
" Mr. Vash, are you afraid to tell people how you feel?" Millie asked
" Only when I care about them deeply. They always seem to be taken away from me," Vash said, " I don't want to see anymore pain."
Vash sighed and sipped the refreshing tea, then let his hand just sit on the cup.
" For as long as I can remember I've been alone and I never really needed company. I had my pain to do so, but then you and Meryl came and suddenly it was like I had someone to protect. Then Wolfwood came and I had a friend to help me out. I just can't stand being alone," Vash answered
" You don't have to be anymore, you have Meryl and me now and Mr. Wolfwood is watching over us," Millie said as she wiped away some tears
" Your right, I still have you girls to protect and I'm forever in your debt," Vash whispered
Vash drank up his tea and then walked down the hall.
" Mr. Vash," Millie said
" Yes," Vash said stopping
" Maybe it's time to tell Meryl," Millie said, " She's waited long enough."
" Meryl," Vash whispered
Vash nodded and then walked down the hall. He stopped by his room and then continued down the hall to Meryl's. He opened the door and slipped in then walked to her bedside.
" Meryl," he whispered
Meryl opened her eyes a little and then looked up.
" What is it?" she muttered
She sat up and looked at Vash and he just stood there.
" Vash what's the matter, has something happened?" Meryl said
" No," Vash whispered
He sat next to her and she moved over and Vash stared at her. She saw a different look in his eyes.
" Vash," she whispered
" I'm sorry," Vash whispered, " I've been a fool and concerned with myself not to take notice."
" Vash," Meryl whispered
Vash leaned towards her and Meryl felt her cheeks become red with a blush. She felt her heart beat loudly in her chest and her breaths become shallow. She suddenly felt his lips brush up against her own ready to plant a kiss on them.
" Vash," she said, " Vash wake up."
Vash opened his eyes and moaned a little and saw Meryl standing there. He turned to one side and Meryl sighed.
" Vash we have to go," Meryl said
" Just 5 minuets," Vash replied
Meryl put her hands on her hips. Vash opened one eye and waited for her to do her usual if he didn't wake up.
" It was a dream," Vash thought, " It was real to me though."
Meryl pulled the covers off and dropped a shirt on him then left the room. Vash sat up and looked around, she had just left him to his own devices.
" Strange," he thought
He sighed and got ready and then walked out the door where she sat.
" I thought you left," he said
" You know I don't like walking a lone," Meryl said
" Afraid that someone's going to kidnap you?" Vash teased
" No, afraid your brother might actually go on a killing spree," Meryl said
Vash sighed and shook his head then put out his hand.
" Don't worry he won't be up for months and I think he'll change soon," Vash said, " Come on now let's go."
Meryl looked at him and took his hand then wrapped her arm around his as he walked her to the saloon.
Knives pushed himself up without Karen's aid and he pushed himself to the edge of the bed.
" These idiots think I am as weak as they are," Knives said
He pushed up and stumbled falling to his knees, right when Karen entered.
" You shouldn't be up," she said dropping the fresh towels
She knelt down and swung one of his arms over her shoulders. Knives looked at her as she touched his skin.
" You dare touch me," he growled pushing her
" Mr. Knives, I told you I was going to help you," Karen said, " Please your not strong enough to hold your weight."
Karen looked at him and Knives looked at her as his body shook. A look of pain and anger filled his eyes.
" Strong enough, I'm stronger than you will ever be human," Knives said
He came to his knees and he leaned against the bed. She looked at the wounded Knives and breathed deep.
" Vash!" he shouted loudly
Karen looked at him and then walked over to him then draped her arms around him. His eyes widen feeling the girl's embrace on him, she stroked his head.
" I promised I'd take care of you and that's exactly what I will do," she whispered, " So please, I beg you let me help you back into bed."
Knives looked at her and stared at her blue eyes that matched his very own blue eyes. She smiled and he sighed then she helped him up, there he got in bed. He stared at the woman as she walked to the closet that was in the room. She pulled out some fresh clothing for Knives.
" I won't wear human clothes," Knives said
" Forgive me Mr. Knives, but you need new clothing, your brother's wishes," Karen said
Knives looked at her as she walked over to him, then sat by his side. She stroked his head and he turned away.
" I know you are not well to understand that your brother does care about you," Karen said, " Now let me help you clean up."
Knives looked at her as she helped him sit up once more and she removed the clothing he remained to wear since he came here three days ago. Torn and beat up it seemed he would not part from the clothing. She took a wet towel and placed some soap on it to clean his wounds and body. Knives breathed deep to avoid from killing this woman who continued to touch him the way she did. She cleaned him off with another wet towel and redid his bandages. She looked at his scars on his back and around, barely visible. She gently traced one and Knives grabbed her hand and she looked up at him.
" I'm sorry," she said, " I've never seen so many."
" You're a sheltered human," Knives said, " Finish up and get out of here."
Karen nodded and placed a shirt on him, she button it up and then finished cleaning and dressing him.
" Tomorrow I want to go outside," Knives said
" That's impossible, your not able to handle that far of a distance," Karen said
" I said I want to go out," Knives growled, " That's an order."
Karen looked at him and said, " I'm your care taker and I know what's best for you."
Knives slapped her across the face and Karen looked away.
" Next time you will be nothing, but a corpse," Knives said, " You will listen to me. What I want is what I get, or people will die."
Knives eyes showed a sinister look and Karen nodded.
" I'm sorry," she said, " Please forgive me."
Her tears fell from her face and she got up. Knives looked at her and she grabbed the dirty towels and empty plate. She walked off and Knives looked at the ceiling.
" So very soon, I will be strong again, and I will kill you Vash," Knives said, " Along with these humans."