Chapter 2: Answer to Ad
1 week later
Vash tapped his fingers on the wooden table and Meryl looked at him as he did so. He looked at her and then he stopped and Meryl sighed.
" Vash there's no point in waiting for a reply," Meryl said, " Go, do something."
" I am," Vash said
" Waiting is something you do when your bored," Meryl answered
Vash raised an eye brow and Meryl sighed. She stood up and handed him a mop and a bucket.
" You can a least help with the chores around here, Millie and I have been doing all that work," Meryl said, " And after all I can't clean with a stomach this round."
Vash sighed and nodded, he filled the bucket with soap and water and began to go to work. Meryl looked at the bills and sighed as Vash whistled. She gave him a look and he stopped.
" This is that part of your pregnancy that your low on patience," Vash said
" Vash," Meryl snapped
" Sorry," he cowardly said
He inched away from her glare at him. He cleaned around and continued from there. He did the whole kitchen and the bathroom. Meryl got peace for awhile and Vash came back, there she gave him more chores.
" The windows, the dishes in the sink," Meryl said
Vash nodded and got to work and Meryl finished paying bills. She sighed and placed her hand on her stomach feeling the baby kicking.
" Your just an active child aren't you," Meryl said
Knives worked for awhile and Salus looked at him as he finished what he was doing. He looked at the boring look that he was receiving from Salus. Knives wiped his hands on a cloth and Salus watched him.
" Do you want to come with me?" he asked
Salus nodded and Knives got up and grabbed a box. He wrapped the item he was working on and then placed it in the box. He tied it with some string and looked at Salus.
" Come on," he said
He grabbed her hand and they walked together to a small business and walked in.
" Ah, Knives I see your out and about," the mechanic said
" I've fixed your problem," Knives said
" Thank you very much, hold on I'll get your check," the mechanic said, " You know, you would think I would understand these new devices because I'm a mechanic. It's pretty funny I have to pay someone."
He brought him the check and Knives signed it, The mechanic looked at Salus.
" She's gotten big hasn't she?" the mechanic said
" Yes," Knives said
" So, I see your holding up just fine," the mechanic said
" Perfectly," Knives said
Knives left and Salus walked close to Knives. Knives stopped suddenly and looked up. He felt something that was here, something….just like him. He narrowed his eyes and looked into the far distance. He walked off with Salus quickly and walked to the back room. He pulled out the blade of Hades and loaded it, prepared incase trouble showed up. Salus looked at Knives as he suddenly face showed something different. She became afraid and ran to her room and shut the door. Knives looked up and placed the gun down, then walked to Salus' room. He opened the door and looked at Salus as she got into a corner in the far of her room. She held a stuffed bear that Meryl and Vash gave her. Knives walked over and picked up the terrified girl. He sighed trying to calm her down. It was hard now that he had changed suddenly.
" It's alright," he said
He carried her around until she calmed down. Then set her down, and made her look at him. She wrapped her arms around his leg and Knives gently rubbed her back.
Knives stared out the window, feeling the presence getting closer, but who was this presence. Friend or foe or a possible illusion that was to try to scare him.
That evening Knives made dinner and Salus stayed close to him, seeing he still was tense. She watched his movements as he did the simplest things. Knives served up dinner and looked at Salus. He sighed and cut up her meat and then looked at her.
" Your not hungry?" Knives said
Salus ate a little and Knives ate his dinner and Salus watched him. He looked up at her and then tilted his head.
" What's wrong?" he asked
Salus pointed to Knives and Knives raised an eyebrow.
" Me?" he questioned, " What about me?"
Salus got up and ran from one side of the room and Knives sighed.
" I'm sorry," Knives said, " I'll be more careful with you around."
She nodded and smiled again, then ate a little more before becoming full. Knives finished what she didn't eat.
A woman entered the quiet town, she carried two suit cases one in each hand. She dressed in a blue dress and her hair was braided in one long braid. She whistled and a dog followed behind her. She looked around and walked to a hotel and checked in. The desk clerk looked at her.
" Hello madam," he said, " How long will you be staying with us?"
" I don't know, but can I pay for a week's stay now," the woman asked
" Of course," he said
She paid for one week's stay and the clerk handed her a key to her room. She walked up to the top floor thenset her bags down. She walked down and the clerk looked at her.
" Yes Madam," he said
" I was wondering I have come to answer this ad, but is there away you can tell me where I might find this man?" she asked
" Yes, he lives just a few blocks up the road," the clerk said
" Thank you," she said
She walked back upstairs too her room and prepared for the next day. She turned down her bed and sighed.
" Tomorrow, I should have a new job," she whispered
The next morning Vash took Vita to the store with him and got the daily groceries. Vita picked out some snacks she liked and Vash bought them. He walked back with Vita carrying some of the groceries and he saw Salus and Knives both sitting outside. He saw he was teaching her something, some game of the sort.
" Morning Uncle Knives!" Vita called
Knives looked over and gave a wave to Vita. He gave a nod to Vash and Vash shook his head. They walked inside and Meryl stood up and walked into the foyer.
" Vash someone's here to talk to you about the ad," Meryl said
" Really!" Vash exclaimed
Meryl nodded and Vash walked into the kitchen to see the young woman sitting there. She stood up and Vita looked at Meryl.
" Hello, Mr. Vash," she said, " I'm Alicia."
" Alicia, well pleasure to meet you," Vash said, " You're here in regards of the ad."
" Yes," she said, " I wish to help."
Vash nodded and said, " How long have you been working with the deaf?"
" For the last 4 years," Alicia said, " I teach many methods."
" Long term I hope," Vash said
" Of course as long as the student needs me," she said
Vash nodded and Alicia looked at him.
" Is the father of relations to you?" Alicia asked
" Yes, he's my brother," Vash said
" Older or younger?" Alicia asked
" We're twins," Vash said
Alicia nodded and stood up and said, " Can I meet my student."
Vash nodded and rose and Meryl looked at him.
" I'm going to let Alicia meet her student," Vash said
Meryl nodded and Alicia followed behind Vash and they walked to Knives'. Knives was still out with Salus and Knives looked up. He narrowed his eyes and stood up. Salus looked at him feeling the change of movements from Knives.
" I want you meet Alicia," Vash said
" Why?" Knives questioned
" She's here to help Salus communicate with everyone," Vash replied
" I told you worry about your own kid," Knives said
Alicia looked at Knives and then looked at the little girl beside him.
" She's so young, don't you think it would be wise to teach her now?" Alicia asked
" Where ever you came from, why don't you go back to it," Knives said, " I know how to take care of my child."
" She's deaf unaware of the world give me a week," Alicia said
Knives looked at Alicia and looked at Salus. She grabbed Knives' hand and hid behind him.
" She's different, special," Alicia said
" And so are you," Knives said
" Come on," Vash said
" She's very convincing Vash, but I won't allow this inexperience plant teach my child anything," Knives said
Vash looked at Alicia and said, " I can help her Knives Millions."
" So, you knew my name all along, funny isn't? I've never met her in my life and she knows me," Knives said, " There's your answer."
Knives started to walk in and Alicia stared at him.
" It hurts doesn't it?" she questioned, " You watch over her afraid that someone will take her over night?"
Knives looked up and Salus looked at Knives with a confused look.
" She's my daughter and I'm her father, that's what father's do," Knives said
" What about her?" she asked
Knives gave a sigh and said, " Her, she's gone now. "
Knives turned and looked at Alicia.
" You have one week, if you dare hurt my child I will kill you," Knives said, " That's no threat, that's a promise."
" A week," she said
Knives invited her in and Vash walked off and Alicia looked at Knives. He cleaned up around the table and had Salus sit down. He pointed to Alicia.
" She will teach you how to talk to me," Knives said
" She reads lips," Alicia said
" Since she was three," Knives said, " I guess your job will be easy to get through with."
Alicia looked at Salus and closed her eyes, then touched Salus' forehead. She gently searched through he mind.
" Powerful," Alicia thought, " Healing, I see she's born with several gifts."
Alicia opened her eyes and looked at Salus.
" Let us begin," Alicia said, " I will teach you, your abc's."
Salus nodded and Alicia held out her hand and took Salus' hand. She began to teach her how the letter was formed then showed it to her in sign language. Knives watched Alicia teaching Salus. He looked at Alicia, not trusting her at all, her face was too untrusting. He walked into the kitchen and listened to Alicia.
" She's half human and half plant," Alicia though to Knives
Knives dropped a cup and it shattered, when he heard Alicia talk to him telepathically
" Get out of my head," Knives said
" I'm sorry, I just wished to talk to you while I taught your daughter," Alicia thought to him
" I mean it," Knives growled
" Please, allow me to ease your mind," Alicia thought
" I don't need anyone to ease my mind especially not you," Knives said
Alicia looked over at Knives as she made eye contact with him. Knives looked at her with narrowed eyes.
" You don't trust me do you?" Alicia thought
" I don't trust anyone," Knives replied, " You are a plant that was made four years ago….who created you?"
Alicia looked at him and tilted her head.
" I'm afraid your in no condition to ask that question," Alicia thought
" You will answer my question now," Knives growled, " Who created you? Was it Kaijin?"
" I do not know this Kaijin," Alicia thought, " Who is he?"
Knives narrowed his eyes and turned him away.
" I see, he was another of our kind, I'm afraid that I am much more advance of our kind…I was never created, but born between two plants," Alicia thought, " You may have been powerful, but when two plants come together they create a powerful offspring."
Knives sighed and watched her once more teach Salus. He learned what he wanted to, but he preferred to keep his own method. They stopped for lunch, but Alicia continued to teach Salus things.
" She learns fast," Alicia said
" She's half plant it's part of her system," Knives said
" Yes, I can see that," Alicia said, " It should have been easy to finish up in one week, just as you asked."
Knives nodded and said, " Good, cause I do not wish to have my daughter swayed with other ideas by another plant."
" Mr. Millions I assure you that won't be the case," Alicia said
After lunch Knives sat down and watched, he was a little more at eased, but he still didn't trust her. He learned the many hand signs for different things. He focused on how Salus repeated the motion. Alicia began a short conversation with her, Salus smiled at Knives and he nodded.
When the day ended Alicia looked at Knives and then at Salus.
" Your are a fast learner," Alicia said
She looked up at Knives.
" What time should I come?" she asked
" The same time," Knives said
" Very well, if you need anything I am at that hotel two blocks from here," she said
Knives nodded and Alicia walked off, then Knives got Salus in. He walked over to Vash's and knocked on the door. Vash opened the door and looked at Knives, whom had the most unpleasant face he'd seen in four year.
" You son of a bitch, why did you do that, I told you everything was fine," Knives growled
" I did it for Salus' well being," Vash said
" I told you Vash, you take care of your kid and I'll take care of mine," Knives said
" That bad," Vash said
" What?" Knives questioned
" Did it go well?" Vash asked
" You're an idiot, it went fine…that woman is a plant," Knives said, " A natural born plant."
" Really, strange I couldn't tell," Vash said
" You've been around humans too long you've forgotten what you are….your senses are thrown off," Knives said, " How can you not pick up a plant's presence."
" Her presence was dull to me," Vash said
Knives sighed and shook his head.
" Well, she's pretty isn't she?" Vash questioned
" Your trying to set me up too?" Knives growled
" Ah…no not really set up, introduce you," Vash replied
" Idiot, I don't want anyone and I don't need anyone," Knives growled
Vash sighed and said, " You said the same thing about Karen too, when she was caring for you."
Knives looked up at Vash and said, " That was different."
" How?" Vash questioned
" She was human," Knives said
" So, she cared about you and you cared for her too," Vash said, " Why else would Salus be here."
" Accident," Knives said
" Accident my ass," Vash said, " Maybe it's time that someone else entered your life…someone that might care for you like she did."
" Stop trying to set me up," Knives said
" She's a plant, she's one of us," Vash said, " Maybe you can a least show her some courtesy."
Knives narrowed his eyes at Vash and walked off and Vash sighed. There was no hope for Knives if he couldn't handle someone teaching his daughter. Knives walked inside and Salus looked at him. He sat down and she climbed up on his lap. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her head.
" Do you like your teacher?" he asked
She nodded and signed to him her answer. He nodded and leaned back into the chair then looked at a note, that went over what they did that day.
" I might give her a chance," Knives thought