DISCLAIMER: I don't own Trigun

Author: Thanks for the review, Ocean Goddess. I will try to return the favor when I have time to read your fic. I try to update with one chapter a day at least, so you should be able to get a daily dose until the fic finds itself concluded.

Knives snuck done the stairs and retrieved the outfit Vash was talking about. When he got to his room he locked all his doors and closed his windows. He removed the outfit from the garment bag and appraised it. Not bad, Vash...

He raced out of his room into the bathroom. He didn't have to hide that. It was not unusual for him to take showers, after all. He scrubbed himself clean and dried himself off. Then he took a look in the mirror. Renee had been managing his hair and shaving, so he only needed a few little touch ups. A bit of Vash's hair gel and his appearance was utterly perfect. He wrapped his bathing robe around himself and ran back to his room, promptly re-locking the door.

First came the black socks, black shoes, and black pants that fit him just right. No doubt Vash had had them tailored in spite of his comment. He probably special ordered the outfit weeks ago. He couldn't believe that he was happy that his brother was manipulating him. Knives tucked the crisp white dress shirt into his pants and fassoned a dark blue vest shut over it. The blue matched his eyes exactly; Vash had thought this out quite well. Over that he wore a matching deep blue dust cloak. Then he pulled out the finally touch. A cane for a touch of class. He had to admire Vash's taste. He jumped into his outfit just in time to hear the girls come home. He appraised himself in the mirror. The long bed rest had not robbed him of his superior athletic frame, he decided.

He unlocked the door and sat in Renee's chair. All he needed to do was wait for her to bring his dinner...

And wait he did. Just how long did it take for three women to get dressed, anyway? He was sure his dinner hadn't even been started yet. It was a good thing he was too nervous to be hungry. He could hear the girls carrying on about how beautiful they all looked. Then he heard Vash throw in one of his infamously stupid, lecherous remarks. Then there was some whimpering. No doubt all three girls had given him a good thump. Knives smiled. He would have killed to see that.

Then they all went downstairs. Knives strained to hear the conversation. After what seemed like forever, he heard the front door open and shut. Then he got nervous. He couldn't hear anything from downstairs. Surely she hadn't listened to him about not being hungry earlier. She never took him serious on a lack of appetite before. Just as he was going to get up and go chase them down he heard her usual three knocks. The door opened and Knives was struck breathless.

She wore a deep red evening gown the hugged her... Well, everywhere, and the slit up the right side showed more than a little leg. The neckline of her dress dipped down just enough to be scandalous, and a red silk shawl was draped around her shapely shoulders. It was quite a change from her usual, modest attire. Her red hair hung down in free flowing waves of fire to her hips. It was the first time he had noticed just how long her hair was. She wore crimson lipstick, and all that red just made her silver eyes stand out and shine even brighter. All Knives could do was stare at her.

Renee was frozen in her tracks. She couldn't move or breathe. Gads, he's magnificent! She thought on trembling legs. She felt faint. She traced him from his polished shoes up past his broad shoulders, to his entrancing blue eyes. He was just sitting there, looking at her. Like some romantic duke from a dime novel. She knew what she was in that case; the woman who had been running from her feelings. Tonight, she had no choice. They faced each other as man and woman. Not doctor and patient. She had to look at him that way now, there would be no more pretending between them.

Knives summed up his courage and stood, never loosing eye contact with her. I am Knives Millions. She will not refuse me. He took the tray from her hands and placed it aside. He gazed down at her and realized she was trembling. It was the first time he had seen what resembled fear in her eyes.

Heat radiated off him. He was so close, so close to her. The tray had proven a miserable barrier between them. He was awash with emotions she had never felt from him before, but she shut herself off. She didn't want to know what he was thinking. It wasn't fair. Not during this precious moment.

Knives leaned closer to her. Intending to tell her how beautiful she looked, but before the words could pass his lips she flung her arms around his neck and kissed him. He was surprised, but wasted no time in wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her tightly against him.

Where had THAT come from? She asked herself. It was like a dam broke inside her. All her better senses were being over-ridden. She was just a bunch of nerve endings begging for some kind of reaction. She felt his arms close around her, and pull her closer to him. He was probably wearing more of her lipstick than she was at this moment, but she just didn't care. Only the basic need for air could break this primal kiss.

They stared at each other breathlessly for a moment. Then with a shy smile she wiped away her lipstick from both their faces. As she wiped the last bit from his face she said, "Oh my, sorry about that."

"I'm not," Knives growled in a husky voice as he pulled her back to him, kissing her passionately.

This kiss lasted even longer. When it stopped she had to slump against him for support. Her legs were jello. He smiled down at her and said, "We'd better get to that dance before my brother starts wondering."

"What dance?" Renee mumbled and pulled Knives down into yet another hungry kiss. He jumped a little with surprise, and broke the kiss almost immediately.

"Renee," He gasped, "It's technically our first date. Don't you think you're being a little forward?"

Renee's fingers skillfully unclasped his dust cloak sending it to the floor as she said, "No... THIS is forward."

With that she pushed him aggressively back into the bed and straddled him. She leaned down and nibbled his ear as she whispered, "Are you going to stop me?"

Even Renee didn't know what had come over her. She had never been this forward, and she was a virgin. The thought of carrying through on this advance should have scared her senseless. But it just felt right. It didn't feel like the first date, it felt like their entire game of cat and mouse had brought them to this conclusion. This was exactly how it was supposed to happen.

She felt knives stiffen and his hands clasped her hips roughly as he moaned with pleasure. He slid a hand up to the back of her neck and whispered against her lips, "Not for all the world. I've wanted you for so long, Renee. This is how it is meant to be."

He pulled her lips down to his just as Vash came bounding through the door. Renee shrieked and jumped off of Knives, landing on the floor. Knives sat straight up like a bolt and roared, "DON'T YOU EVER KNOCK YOU BROOM HEADED IDIOT???"

Vash stopped in his tracks and took in the scene. He bit his lips in an attempt to not laugh. All at once he erupted in laughter and hooted at the top of his lungs.

"WOOHOO!" He cheered, "Way to go bro! And you didn't even take her to dinner!"

Renee blushed from head to toe and stood up shying away to the other side of the room. She was obviously flustered and ashamed. Vash and Knives both watched her carefully and Vash said, "Wait a minute. I didn't mean-"

"I KNOW what you meant!" Renee snapped.

She shoved past Vash and ran down the stairs and out the door. Vash gaped at her as she disappeared, and then a swift right hook landed on his cheek knocking him backward.

"Now look what you've done you buffoon!" Knives yelled, "What did you even come back for anyway?"

"Owie! I just wanted to be sure you guys were on your way, the girls were worried!" Vash whined.

"Oh never mind!" Knives groaned, "Just get out of my way!"

Author; I know I haven't said much about MxV or Millie and her new boyfriend. I wanted to dedicate this story to KxR. Maybe I will go back and write new fics on that once this one is done. I hope you are all enjoying this, if not, let me know how to make it better.