Sorry it took so long to write the chapter, but heck it's pretty dang long!!!! I mean over 2,000 words unlike my other chapters which are mostly 1,000'. I guess I could have made this into two chapters but I really just wanted to end the story in one simple chapter, though I don't think it's that simple. Anyway sorry if I spelled their last names wrong in the end, see I don't have internet right now, but I once I do I'll upload this instantly. Well I want to thank all my fans and the people who encouraged me to keep going with the story, it was hard to do that! I keep getting ideas to write new ones but I must finish this one first. So I hope you enjoy!

Dead Start

Chapter 12: Frozen Time

Time was frozen, it didn't exist, nothing anymore did. One second seemed like a million lifetimes, time had just stopped moving'

Knives gasped as blood sprayed out of his shoulder, the pain now seemed unbearable. He turned and looked at his brother holding a smoking gun, he smiled before gravity took over and he gracefully fell to the hard cold grass. Vash only watched in shock as Knives seemed to slowly fall, his hand outward almost begging for some one to help before it hit the ground, dead.

Vash ran over to a girl lying on the ground, don't die, you can't die! Vash's thoughts screamed in his head.

"Meryl!" Vash cried out, tears started pouring from his eyes, "Meryl wake up, please wake up!" No response and Vash consumed with grief started crying. No one was around to hear Vash's howling as the stars twinkled in the dark sky. It was over, everything was over, he thought kneeling, why did it have to end! WHY!? But something interrupted his screaming thoughts, a movement. Vash starred at Meryl as she barley opened one eye, to see Vash starring at her, water leaking from his blue eyes.

"Vash!" Meryl had begun but she was cut off by Vash who instantly hugged her close. Meryl was speechless, first of all, she wasn't dead, second Vash was hugging her. Vash just held onto Meryl tight, the tears down his faces began to disappear as he smiled, she was alive. A couple minutes passed, Meryl was so confused now and it was getting harder to breath.

"Awwww, so cute!' A voice called out sarcastically, Vash looked over to see a tall black haired punk staring at him laughing.

"Wolfwood!" Meryl cried out, Vash released her as she ran over to Wolfwood, "What are you doing here?"

"Well I came over once I heard Knives yelling, I was sure he would plan to attack so I came over to see if I can help. But it looks like Vash took care of it'" Wolfwood trailed off looking at Vash, realizing the whole story just by looking into his soft blue eyes that had a swirl of emotions trapped within them.

"Oh Knives!" Meryl cried out forgetting all about him, she ran over to Knives who was passed out on the ground, a puddle of blood by his shoulder. Meryl quickly began to bandage the bullet wound in Knives' shoulder, Vash watched amazed, Knives was about to kill her, but here she was bandaging him up.

"You really don't have to do that..." Vash muttered watching Meryl stare at him, "I was going to take him to the hospital so he can heal" Vash quickly explained.

"Why didn't you kill him?" Wolfwood asked Vash so only he could hear.

"Even Knives has a right to live..." Vash trailed off, still watching Meryl, "she taught me that." Wolfwood sighed, the once great gang of Dead Start was now over, everything was solved. Ironic that two simple girls could start all their troubles and end them; maybe that's why Wolfwood never liked girls too much, until he met them. Two special girls, one of which came running up towards the hill, she ran over to Meryl and began helping bandage Knives.

"I called the police like you said, they should be arriving here soon!" Millie painted smiling at Wolfwood.

"Good, then we can get Knives to a hospital, thanks," Wolfwood replied, smiling back, how does she do it? He wondered, smile like that, like everything will be fine, how does she know? She can't tell for sure, but yet she still smiles'why? Yet the answer was right in front of him, it was because of him. Vash and Wolfwood were safe now, they weren't going to die, no one threatened them anymore. They were officially free, free from all their troubles, released from their past, and of course she was right, because it was going to be alright.

"I don't know how they did that," Wolfwood whispered to Vash, "they took us in and healed us like it was no problem to them. They even risked their lives for us, so carelessly but yet in the end everything ended up to be alright. How do they do that?" Wolfwood looked at Vash, he knew he wouldn't get the answer he wanted but he was content with what he had.

"I guess there are people who care after all, nice kind people who would help out others no matter what' people you don't meet every day, you know?" Vash replied smiling as he heard sirens and saw the police cars pull up. Vash walked over to the police men who cuffed him and put him in the car along with Knives he smiled and waved as Meryl was being escorted to another car as Millie and Wolfwood watched, this is what it's like to be loved, he thought as the car took off.

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A month later everything was squared away, Knives was in the hospital being healed, and then to attend to a psychologist. Vash wasn't charged with anything but self defense and went to school a couple weeks after the shooting, he would be scared with the memory burning in him, but then there was someone who would help him heal his scars.

Wolfwood and Millie waited happily for Vash's and Meryl's return, they got even closer than before. You could say it was almost sickening to watch their cute relationship. They flirted every five seconds and though some would call it cute, after watching it for a couple days you just get sick of the cuteness.

Meryl's mom had a heart attack when she heard what happened to Meryl, she ended up crying on Meryl's lap for a couple hours. After that it became very had to convince her mom to let her go to school. At first Ms. Stryfe refused to let Meryl go to school and planned on moving to a different place so Meryl wouldn't be in any danger, but she began to realize that Meryl was needed there more than at home. Meryl was shocked when her mom said that she would be moving to a different town but Meryl wasn't to come with her.

Her mom thought it was best before Meryl graduated from school that she would move, though she loved her daughter more than anything it was best that she would leave. Meryl though had a very had time saying goodbye to her mom, she cried a little as she watched her drive in her car smiling and waving as tears streamed down her cheek as she drove off. It was time the Meryl would fend for her own, though her mom would always be there for her Meryl needed to start living by her own rules in her own space. Though it was hard on the both of them, it was what needed to be done, to let go and start living.

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"Ah I can't believe how long this is taking!" Wolfwood complained loudly as he stood in line.

"Shut up!" Hissed Meryl who was behind Vash.

"Vash Stampede!" Called a man in black as Vash stepped forward in a black suit wearing a very weird red tie. Vash smiled as he grabbed a small rolled up paper and shook hands with the principle as he started walking off.

"Meryl Stryfe!" The man hollered as Meryl stepped walked up to him wearing a nice fancy dress as she took her diploma from the man and shook hands just as Vash did before she joined Vash on the other side of the stage.

"Millie Thomson!" Millie smiled as she heard her name, "That's me!" she cried out as the audience laughed. Millie was also wearing a dress but hers was a nice mellow yellow ( didn't mean to rime ) soon after she took her diploma she joined Meryl, and Vash.

"Wolfwood'" The announcer cried out confused, where was his last name it wasn't written the sheet. Wolfwood smiled walking up casually as he grinned madly at the announcer taking his diploma and shaking the principals hand violently before laughed as he walked off. It was now over they had finally graduated the cursed High school that gave them so much pain, from now on it was adulthood.

"And I am proud to represent our graduating class of 2008!" A huge cheer echoed in the building as they all stripped off their funky hats and began to laugh, to begin a new life. Confetti streamed from all sides of the stage as boys began spraying water on everyone, there was complete chaos.

The commotion eventually died down and Meryl began to walk home, she passed the demolished alley way smiling, remembering the good and bad memories there.

"Wait, Meryl!" A voiced called behind her, Meryl turned around to see a soaking wet punk with spiky blond hair looking at her.

"Oh Vash what is it?" Meryl asked she felt her self going red being in a dress in front of Vash.

"Hmmm..." Vash mumbled closing his eyes and pretended to think very hard.

"What?" Meryl demanded.

"Well I don't know if I should tell you..." Vash teased.

"You had better!" Meryl said dangerously.

"Well, I guess it's that you look very beautiful ok?" Vash said seriously. Meryl was taken aback and she began to blush badly, she wanted to hid her face and run away, even though she was happy.

"Y-you do t-to..." Meryl stuttered trying to hid her face from Vash's stare, Meryl began to wonder around in the alley way avoiding Vash who fallowed her.

"Is something wrong?" Vash asked worried that she was walking away.

"It's nothing really," Meryl sighed leaning against the wall, trying not to look at Vash but she couldn't help it as she starred into he soft blue eyes. Most of the time she couldn't read what they were saying but today she felt a little nerved at what they told her. No, it can't be, Meryl thought as Vash stepped closer, his eyes showed pure love.

"You don't have to be ashamed," he whispered softly, stepping in real close to Meryl, her heart began to beat very fast as she hid her face with her hands trying to hid her blush. Vash softly pulled her hands down and smiled as he leaned in close and whispered in her ear the very words she dreaded. Meryl stood shocked and starred at Vash her face was now bright red as he smiled, and slowly but surely she smiled back, and in truth she really did look beautiful.

Vash leaned in and kissed her softly on the lips, time once again froze, Meryl was so surprised but happy. She leaned forward accepting his gesture as they stood there for a few seconds connected. Vash pulled back and smiled the most happy smile he had ever done in his life, Meryl just starred at him.

"Can I stay with you for a while?" Vash asked randomly.

"WHAT?" Meryl yelled hitting Vash on the head, "What in the world are you thinking?"

"Well Knives is in the hospital and now I have no where to go, and I was wondering if I can live at your place for a while? Please?" Vash begged grabbing Meryl's legs and fake tears came out of his big eyes.

"Ah..." Meryl muttered taken by surprise but she might as well let him because he had no other place to go, "Fine ok!" Meryl sighed hitting Vash who had stopped crying and laughed.

"Thank you so much!" He yelled hugging her before he started skipping to her house. Meryl fallowed smiling, though it wasn't going to be an easy life with Vash around, it would be more interesting and fun though, a crazy life.

"Now don't get any ideas! You'll be sleeping on the couch in the front room!" Meryl warned Vash as he whined.

"Awwww why can't I sleep in a nice bed?"

"NO, because I only have one!"

"Then share- OWWW"

"Not in a million years!"

Vash smiled as a huge lump started swelling up on his head, I'm finally home...

Hahahahahaha the end!

MWAHAHAHAH YES that's it! The story is over ah what a shame eh? Hmmm maybe I should start a sequel' naw nothing to write about except Vash and Meryl's awww never mind... hehehe sorry that's it but please stop by and give me review! REVIEW! REVIEW! REVIEW!