A/N: I'm back!!!! YAY!!! How long has it been, a month?? IM SORRY!!! Ok this chapter IS going to have Vash/Meryl fluffs so don't worry. Also, I'm sorry if Knives is a little OOC in my fic but Knives wasn't portrayed in depth much the Anime so I'm writing him as I see him. Ok one more thing, the most important of all . . . READ AND REVIEW!!! So on with the story peeps!!

Disclaimer: "Who owns Trigun?" interesting subject. Nightow of course! I do some times like to dream that I own Trigun, is that a crime? If it is then IM A CRIMINAL BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!

P.S. They're on the path to December city.

~*~previously in chapter 7~*~

The sun beat down relentlessly on the group. Meryl swiped the sweat of her brow with the back of her hand, her other hand fanning herself. Vash and Millie were in back of the group and Meryl and Knives were in the front. Vash couldn't stop thinking about what Meryl said earlier, "Since Josh did work there with me." Josh used to work with Meryl on a day by day basis, Vash was envious. Not only that, but Josh and Meryl went out, I mean jeez!

"Argg! When is that so called 'bus' coming Vash?!" Meryl asked Vash, interrupting his thoughts. Vash thought for a moment and looked out into the horizon, hoping and praying a bus would some how come, and soon; his prayers were answered.

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Chapter 8 ::December City::

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Vash's eyes widened in bewilderment, he was right! Now he could rub it in Meryl's face! 'Bad idea, unless I was two black eyes' Vash thought unenthusiastically.

"It's right there!" Vash answered Meryl quickly and enthusiastically, opposite what he was a minute a go. Meryl turned her gaze from Vash and looked where Vash was looking.

"HOLY SHIT VASH, YOU WERE RIGHT!" Meryl screamed!

"What was that Meryl?" Vash said smugly. Meryl sneered and started running towards the bus, followed by Vash, Millie, and believe it or not, Knives. They made it close to the bus and the bus stopped. A middle aged man, unshaven and scruffy looking, asked them for their bus toll.

"OK Millie, give the man the money!" Meryl said, impatience rising in her voice.

"Umm Meryl, you have the money," Millie said quietly.

"Ok Millie, stop joking around and give the man the money!" Meryl yelled, impatience turning into anger.

"I'm not joking," Millie said, giving Meryl a pathetic smile.

"Shit, we left the money in the car!" Meryl screamed in realization. Knives sneered, obviously annoyed. Vash just gave the bus driver a nervous grin.

"Ummm . . . sir . . . could we pay you some other way?" Meryl asked the bus driver politely, the bus driver gave Meryl a grin.

"Well, I'll let you ALL go on the bus or free if you, little lady, give me a big old kiss. What do you say?" The bus driver said winking at Meryl. Meryl twisted her face in disgust. 'Well it would be saving us some time and money not to mention time also. Come on Meryl, show some courage!' Meryl encouraged herself but HATING to do this.

"Fine, I'll do it." Meryl said plainly, face still twisted in disgust. Meryl slowly climbed the bus stairs to face the driver, the driver's grin grew.

"Come on sweetheart, make it count, I know you can." The bus driver said with a wink. Meryl brought her face close to the drivers and before she could second the thought the bus driver roughly planted his lips on hers in a gruff and disgusting kiss. Meryl did her best to get them the free ride but it wasn't her best because it was lacking the spark . . . which Meryl and Vash had.

Just as Meryl was about to break the kiss the bus driver pulled her onto his lap roughly. Vash's face lit up with anger, as did Millie's. 'How could he, not to my Meryl!' Vash thought angrily to himself. Meryl put her palms up to the driver's chest and pushed. Meryl got out of the driver's grasp and stumbled back, tripping over the stairs and falling into Vash. Meryl took a few steps from Vash and spit on the ground. Meryl walked up the stairs of the bus once again so she could get to her seat, followed by Vash, Millie and Knives. The bus driver slapped Meryl's butt.

"Thanks for that kiss sweetheart, you made my day!" The driver said with a wink, gaining a deadly glare from Vash. They all got to their seats in which Vash is sitting in the window seat with Meryl next to him and Knives, reluctantly, is sitting next to Millie, who is sitting in the window seat. After a few hours night came and the heat still hasn't subsided so Meryl, not thinking because of the heat, takes off her shirt, leaving her bra. Luckily they sat in the back so the driver didn't see Meryl, but Vash, Knives and Millie did. Millie saw Meryl and just turned around looking out of her window, unfazed by what Meryl did. Vash and Knives on the other hand, just gawked. Yes, whether or not you can imagine it, Knives gawked. After Knives figured out he was gawking he changed his gawk into a sneer, still thinking about Meryl's body. Although Vash was gawking he wasn't looking at Meryl's face **Duh it's Vash we're talking about right!** Meryl noticed Vash gawking at something so she followed his gaze all the way down to her chest.

"Vash what the hell are you looking at?!" Meryl screamed bonking Vash on the head with her fist. Vash looked at Meryl's face **Finally, _ dumb Vash!**  and saw her frustration – wait no, anger is more the word for it.

"He-he, well I was just admiring your necklace!" Vash said, hoping Meryl would just buy his excuse for looking at her chest. The necklace was a turquoise gem surrounded by diamonds on a silver chain, snugly fitting her neck. "Where did you get it?" Vash swiftly asked, hoping his subject change wouldn't be caught by Meryl. Meryl looked down at her necklace than at Vash. Meryl's face got serious.

"My mother gave it to me before she died, she got killed by bandits. Vash sucked in air, feeling sorry for Meryl. It was the necklace her mother gave her who got it from her mother. It's from Earth." Meryl said, eyes turning from serious to sad. **For the purposes of my story Meryl know quite a bit about Earth** Vash noticed Meryl's mood and put his hand on her shoulder, earning a surprised glance from Meryl.

"Are you ok Meryl?" Vash asked, concern written all over his face.

"Yeah, I just . . . my mother was like a best friend to me and talking about her is just . . . bringing back memories." Meryl said trying her best to keep her strong woman stature and not to cry but a single tear slid down her cheek, shimmering in the moonlight. The moonlight added an angelic touch to Meryl's face. 'She looks like an angel,' Vash thought, taking his hand off Meryl's shoulder and using his thumb to gently wipe the tear away from Meryl's angelic face. Knives, still watching, not noticed by Vash and Meryl, could hear both their thoughts. Knives was aggravated with Vash and didn't know why, he never felt like this before. 'Could it be jealousy?' Knives's mind taunted. 'Never would a superior being like me be jealous!' Knives thought, swiping his past thought away. Knives looked back at Vash and Meryl, not being able to tear his eyes away from the pair.

Meryl looked up at Vash, eyes showing want, lust, sadness, confusion, eagerness, and introversion. Knives, without thinking Knives coughed, interrupting Vash and Meryl's "moment". Meryl and Vash both looked at Knives.

"Excuse me." Knives said, turning around, lips changing into a grin while turning around so Vash and Meryl wouldn't notice. Vash and Meryl turned back to each other.

"Are you sure you're ok?" Vash asked acutely.

"Yeah, I would just like to go to sleep." Meryl said with a yawn, putting her shirt back on, leaning her head on the back of her seat; Vash did the same. After an hour passed, Meryl couldn't fall asleep in her position. Meryl looked around and saw everyone sleeping, including Vash. Her eyes grew heavy by the minute, but she knew if she fell asleep in her position she would feel it in the morning. Vash wasn't really sleeping because he noticed Meryl's discomfort. Vash slid his hand around Meryl's waist and pulled her close, letting her lean on him. Meryl yelped but caught herself, not wanting to wake anyone on the bus.

"I thought you were aslee-"Meryl whispered, getting cut off by Vash's finger against her lip.

"S-h-h-h-h-h, go to sleep." Vash whispered, pulling Meryl a little closer so there was no space between them. Meryl just leaned against Vash and quickly fell asleep, the hem of Vash's shirt between her fingers. 'She always fiddles with something when she's nervous, it's very cute.' Vash thought with a smile, before drifting off into a deep sleep.

Morning

Meryl woke up the next morning, muscles relaxed. 'I haven't slept this good in a while.' Meryl thought, yawning, completely oblivious to who she was sleeping on. Meryl moved a little, still not getting up, yawning again. 'What is this comfortable thing under m-'

"Good morning." Vash said calmly and deviously. Meryl nearly fell out of her seat from the shock of Vash's sudden "Good morning" and from the fact that

she was just laying on Vash, not to mention sleeping on him!

"G-G-good m-morning" Meryl said while stuttering. Vash's smug grin grew even wider.

"We're in December; all who need to leave at this stop get your stuff together so the bus can be on its way, thank you and have a nice day." The bus

driver said impatiently, wanting to get the bus going quickly. Millie and Knives got up and got their stuff first, followed by Meryl and Vash.

"Ladies first Meryl." Vash said smugly. Knives turned around and gave Vash a quick glare, not caught by Vash or Meryl.

"Um-m-m, thanks Vash?" Meryl said, surprised at Vash's politeness. They all got off the bus and kept walking to find a hotel.

 "Jeez, December is huge!" Vash said wide-eyed.

"Yeah, this is the largest town on Gunsmoke." Meryl said matter-of-factly.

"Not as big as July was." Knives said in a vengeful way towards Vash. Knives was trying his hardest to be some-what "kind" but it was beginning to become a mind-numbing task, but if he was to go out with his plan he would have to suffice living with these disgusting and filthy "spiders" and his dimwitted brother too. There was a deep silence between because everyone knew the connection between Vash and the destruction of July. Finally someone broke the silence.

"That was uncalled for!" Meryl yelled, face turning red. Knives did nothing but smile his sinister and deadly smile. Vash bowed his head in silence and despair. The silence went on until everyone noticed Meryl didn't lead them to a hotel but a really nice sized house with baby blue paint nicely coating it's outside.

"Well, this is where we're residing," Meryl said smiling. "It's my house."

"Wow, it's really nice . . . but shouldn't we get the information about the kidnapping and you know, leave?" Vash asked, watching Meryl take out her house keys. Her house keys, oddly, had a black cat with big shining green eyes and an oval head on them.

"Well, Bernardelli H.Q. isn't open yet because it's Saturday but it will be Monday morning, so I guess we just have to wait till then." Meryl said while leading everyone into her house.

"O.k., I'll lead you into your rooms so you can drop off your stuff, follow me." Meryl said, walking up her marble stairs which glistened in the morning sun, giving off the appearance of heaven itself. Milly, Knives and Vash followed Meryl up the stairs. They got to the top of the stairs and Meryl pointed to the first door to her left.

"Knives that's your room," Meryl said, watching Knives walk into his room. Next Meryl pointed to the first door to her right, "Millie, that's your room," Meryl said, again watching Millie walk into her room. Last she pointed to the second door to her left and right and said to Vash "that's your room and that's mine." Meryl said while walking into her room.

Later

After every one changed and got settled in they went downstairs and met in the kitchen to eat breakfast. The first to come downstairs was Knives, then Millie, then Meryl then Vash. While coming downstairs Vash tried his best not to break anything but naturally Vash broke something. While Vash was Walking down the stairs he accidentally tripped over Meryl's rug and fell down, taking Meryl's vase with him.

"V-a-a-a-a-a-a-ash, what did you break this time?! " Meryl screamed loudly, walking out of the kitchen to where Vash was.

"Well . . . I, umm . . . kinda . . . brokeyourvase!" Vash said, stumbling for words. Meryl got to the room Vash was in and really, truly, tried to keep her face serious but burst out laughing at the scene before. Vash was tangled in her rug (which didn't cover her whole floor), pieces of the vase all around him.

"I'm sorry . . . " Meryl tried to keep a straight face but failed miserably. Meryl snickered while saying "You look like a fool" to Vash. Vash hasn't seen Meryl laugh in a while and now that she finally has Vash felt the urge to laugh with her. Soon enough both Vash and Meryl were in fits of laughter on the floor. Meanwhile Millie was making pancakes in the kitchen with Knives silently sitting in a chair, also in the kitchen. When Millie finished making the pancakes she politely asked Vash and Meryl for breakfast, before their pancakes get cold. Knives walked slowly at first, not caring if the pancakes get cold. Knives thought for a second about the possibilities if Vash and Meryl . . . alone together. 'I don't know why I care!' Knives thought while quickening his pace. When Knives got to Vash and Meryl they were both doubled over laughing, Vash entangled in the rug. Knives felt something wash over him like ice cold waves washing over jagged rocks; Jealousy, envy, it could be both.

Vash felt something strong, a strong emotion engulf him; it was Knives. Vash stopped laughing and Meryl soon followed. Vash turned around and saw Knives, as did Meryl. When Knives saw Vash watching him he quickly put barriers around his mind, not wanting Vash to know any more about his "feelings".

"Pancakes are ready." Knives said, hoping Vash would forget what he, Knives, felt. Vash didn't forget but played it off nicely like he did forget, not wanting to press the subject and further in front of Meryl.

"Yay, pancakes, come on Meryl!" Vash yelled enthusiastically, much to Meryl's dismay, pulling her towards the kitchen while gesturing Knives to follow. Knives followed them to the kitchen and they all ate breakfast. After everyone was done with breakfast Meryl asked if they wanted to go swimming.

"Yay, that would be great but I don't have swimming trunk!" Vash said in a whiny voice. Meryl went towards the upstairs, dragging Millie with her so they could change (they both had bathing suits). When they got to the front of the stairs Meryl stopped.

"Go in your boxers!" Meryl yelled back to Vash from the stairs, blushing from the thought of Vash half naked in his boxers, walking up the stair after. P.S. READ THE A/N AT THE END TO ANSWER SOME QUESTION FOR YA!

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End of chapter 8 ::December::

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A/N: He-he Vash half naked *blush*. Oh and for those who want to know "WHAT ABOUT VASH'S SCARS?!" I'll fix everything in the next chapter!!! HE-HE!! I'm evil huh!! Oh and once again sorry for the looooong delay in my last update ^^;

MUCH LUV TO YOU ALL!! Love & Peace . . . and Doughnutz!!

Any suggestions or questions e-mail me at Angyluv321