AN: For those who have read this, this is the sequel to " Some things Never Change"
Chapter 3: Voice of Silence
Alicia worked with Salus and Knives followed them around learning these signs so that he could speak to her. Salus petted Alicia's dog that she introduced and Alicia looked at Knives.
" Do you no like dogs?" she asked
" Not particularly," Knives said
Alicia smiled and watched the young girl playing with the dog. Alicia turned to Knives and looked at him.
" How long has it been since your wife died?" Alicia asked
" Four years," Knives replied
" I see and you've managed to teach her all this by yourself," Alicia said
Knives looked at her and said, " Yes, I'm not ignorant of her condition, she was born one month earlier than she should have been. Her hearing loss was her defect, I don't care that she can't hear. She's alive, it could have been worse, I could have lost them both."
Alicia nodded in agreement and smiled.
" You seem to take the bad things and find the good points out of it," Alicia said, " You must be a great father."
She walked over to Salus and began to teach her more new things. Knives watched and felt odd, that he had opened up to Alicia. He still was very watchful of the young woman. Salus had a smile on her face, that was a full smile with life in it. Her smiles that she gave him were empty because she carried such a burden. Knives sighed and looked over and saw Meryl and Vash standing outside watching.
" Is it going well?" Vash called
" It fine," Knives replied sternly
He turned away from his brother and ignored him, still mad at him for asking for a teacher for Salus.
" I think he's still mad at you Vash," Meryl said
" No just aggravated that once again he needed my help," Vash said
Meryl watched seeing there was a good feeling already around the three. She leaned her head on Vash's shoulder and he kissed her head.
" Come on lets go in," Vash said
By evening Alicia had completed her third working day with Salus. Knives walked her out and Alicia looked at him.
" I'll be back tomorrow," Alicia said, " She's making progress and so are you."
She called her dog and walked off and Knives watched her walk off.
" How am I making progress?" he thought
He walked in and saw Salus waiting for him to sit down and eat. She smiled and Knives sat down at the end of the table. Both began to eat and Knives watched Salus.
Later, he got her prepared for bed, washed up and ready for bed. Salus climbed into bed and Knives looked at her.
" Good night," Knives said
Salus signed to him 'good night', then closed her eyes. Knives watched her sleep for awhile then went and took a shower. He dressed and walked down the hall to his room and went to sleep. That night though wasn't easy to sleep, Knives tossed and turned and then woke up. He breathed deep and wiped the sweat from his face.
" It's alright, good back to sleep," a soft voice whispered
Knives looked over and thought he had seen Karen. He blinked and she was gone. He got up and cracked the window open. He sat in the windowsill and sighed.
" Four years," Knives thought, " And I haven't had a dream since Salus came home. So, why now?"
Knives leaned his head against his knees and sighed. He fell asleep that way and this time he felt relaxed and comforted. After awhile he opened his eyes forgetting where he was, then got into bed. He fell into a deep sleep, sleeping through the rest of the night.
By the next morning he was awaken by Salus. He opened his eyes and looked at Salus standing there. He then sat up and Salus stared at him as he rubbed his eyes.
" It's late," he thought
Salus smiled and signed to him good morning and Knives nodded. He lifted her up as he got up, then walked into the kitchen. He sat her down and made her some breakfast before Alicia came for her daily lesson. Knives watched the sizzling bacon and the frying egg. He placed it on a plate and sat it down and Salus ate a little of it. Knives walked off and changed into something decent, before Alicia came.
Alicia walked to where Knives lived and knocked on the door. Knives walked out his room and opened the door.
" Good morning," she said
" Morning," Knives said
Knives stepped aside and Alicia walked in. Salus looked up and waved a little. Alicia smiled and waved back to her. Knives shut the door and Salus brought her plate in, then came back and sat down to focus on her lesson.
" This is will be day four," Knives said
" I assure you, I can count," Alicia said
Salus looked at Alicia and Knives as they seemed to argue over something. Alicia turned away from Knives and began her lesson for the day. Knives sat down and watched Alicia's methods of teaching, Salus new things. He couldn't help, but to butt in every once in awhile. Alicia was becoming short with patience, with Knives.
" Do you mind?" Alicia said, " I'm the hired teacher."
" Of course," Knives said
Alicia returned and Knives got up and Alicia looked at him.
" Wait a minuet I need you," she said
Knives looked at her and Alicia, shook her head.
" I need your help," Alicia said correcting herself
" Are you sure you don't need me," Knives said with emphasis on the word 'need'
" I need your help that's what I meant to say," Alicia said
Knives smirked and sat down and Alicia looked back at Salus. Alicia reviewed with Salus and she looked at Knives as she showed sign language.
" Your pretty good after thinking that my teachings were lame," Alicia said
" I have to communicate with my daughter some how," Knives said
Alicia smirked and continued with her teachings, then she introduced gestures that were easy to recognize, like a hand shake and other small hand gestures. She showed examples with the help of Knives. Knives looked at her and she looked at him as both locked hands.
" You can let go of my hand," Knives said
" Of course," Alicia whispered staring at his blue eyes
" Now," Knives said
Alicia looked at their hands and then let go and returned her attention towards to her student. She looked at Knives everyone once in awhile from the corner of her eye.
About noon they stopped for lunch and Knives made lunch once more. He sat down with them and Alicia looked at him.
" You don't eat?" she asked
" I eat," Knives said
" Then eat," she said
" I'm not hungry," Knives said
She sighed and Salus looked at them with slight smile on her face. She had never seen two adults act like childern before. She was enjoying it and it was something amusing.
By the time the evening came Alicia had covered more than she expected to cover with Salus. She gathered her things and Knives looked at Salus as she said good bye. Knives, being the gentleman that he was, saw Alicia out. Alicia looked at him and pushed her bag on her shoulder.
" You seem rather tense," Alicia said
" I'm not tense, you can come later tomorrow," Knives said
Alicia sighed and said, " You look as though you haven't slept, your pale."
" I don't need someone like you to look out for me," Knives said, " Your job is to teach my daughter."
Alicia nodded and sighed and turned away and started.
" Good night Mr. Knives," she said
She vanished into the darkness and Knives went inside. Salus looked at him and signed him something.
" Don't be foolish she's a child compared to me," Knives said
Salus frowned and signed something else.
" No, I won't give her a chance," Knives said, " That's enough, we're dropping this."
Salus narrowed her eyes and stomped her foot and Knives looked at her. She folded her arms.
" Don't give me that," Knives growled, " I'm the adult in this house."
Salus shook her head and signed something else. Knives shook his head and turned away. She grabbed his hand and Knives rolled his eyes.
" Salus that's enough," he said
She stomped her foot on the floor and Knives knelt down. She looked at him and narrowed her eyes.
" You listen now," Knives said, " That woman is just a teacher, she'll be out of your life in three days."
Salus looked at Knives and signed to him again.
" I'm not listening to a child," Knives said, " You don't understand adult things…maybe when your older."
He stood up and walked off and Salus watched him disappear into the dark hall. She sat down on the floor until he got out. She wasn't done explaining to him that he was alone and she needed a mother.
Knives let the hot water run over him as he showered and washed the residue off his body. He closed his eyes and let the hot water hit certain tensed areas. He opened his eyes and looked at the scars on his body, each one he saw, was a wound that Karen cared for. He looked up and thought back to his past, he had changed for the best in some people's eyes, but to himself…he had fallen to meet his true standards.
" It's time I got back to my original plan," Knives thought, " No more weakness."
He got out and wrapped a towel around his waist after drying off. He walked out, then down the hall and went to his room. To his surprise he wasn't alone, he turned on the light.
" Your senses are dull," a voice said
Knives looked and narrowed his eyes. Raven sat on his bed, with her thigh high black leather boots, short black leather skirt and tight black shirt. She crossed her leg and looked at him.
" What do you want?" he growled
" What else," Raven replied
She stood up and looked at Knives and looked at him top to bottom. She smirked seeing he wasn't to bad off, but he was skinnier.
" You've lost weight Millions," she said, " Is that daughter cramping your style."
Knives narrowed his eyes as she ran her hand down his chest. He grabbed her hand and twisted her hand. Raven looked at him and smirked.
" I like a guy who's rough," Raven said
She reached up and pressed her lips against his. Knives felt his lips react to her kiss. Why though? He tried to push her away, but she wrapped her arms around him. Raven looked at him and rubbed up against him. Knives growled in his throat as she continued to throw herself onto him. Knives finally got the strength and will to push Raven off him. She looked at him and Knives wiped his lips with the back of his hand.
" You long for this kind of affection," Raven said, " Your lips proved it. Your body ached for it. I can make you as happy as that human can."
" Get out," Knives said
" No," she said
" Do it or I will kill you," Knives growled
" Then kill me," she said, " You've taken all that I have…why should this matter."
Knives backed up and reached for the blade of Hades in a drawer. He didn't find it and Raven pulled it from it holster.
" Now, I shall make sure I return the favor to you, using the blade of Hades," Raven said
Raven raised the gun at Knives and looked at him. She fired four shots, hitting Knives every time. She dropped the gun and looked at Knives.
" See you in the Underworld Millions," she said
Knives fell to the floor bleeding, badly. He felt his body was becoming to weak. He had to get help. He pushed himself up and dragged him towards the door. He hit the floor sending vibrations knowing Salus could feel them. He had done what he could, before his body gave out on him
Salus walked down the hall feeling these vibrations…she saw Knives half way out the door. She ran to him and knelt down, she shook him first seeing he wasn't responding. She looked and saw blood and looked Knives. She ran out the door and went straight to Vash and Meryl's. She hit the locked door hoping to get someone's attention.
Meryl opened her eyes and looked at Vash sleeping.
" Vash," she whispered
" Hmm," he moaned
" I hear someone at the door," Meryl said
Vash opened his eyes and sat up hearing it too now. He got up and slipped a shirt on and walked down the hall. He opened the door and saw Salus standing there, she had tears in her eyes.
" Salus," he said
She showed him her hands and then pointed to her house.
" Come on," he said
He lifted the girl up and ran over, he put her down and she showed him. Vash saw Knives laying there lifelessly on the ground. Vash looked at Salus and she stared at her injured father.
" Go get Aunt Meryl," he said
Salus nodded and ran back over to Vash and Meryl's. She ran inside and Meryl walked out.
" Salus? What's wrong?" Meryl said
Salus grabbed Meryl's hand and they ran over to her house. They enter and Meryl walked down the hall.
" Vash what's wrong?" she said
" Knives has been shot, I need you to stay here while I go run to the doctor, Apply pressure to his wounds," Vash said
" Alright, Meryl said
Vash lifted Knives and laid him down on his bed and he grabbed any type of cloth to put on the wounds. Meryl looked at the wounds and then looked on the floor seeing the bullets had been pushed out Knives' body.
" Vash, the bullets are out," Meryl said
" I know they are," Vash said
She pressed hard on the wounds and looked at Salus. She climbed up and helped Meryl. Vash took off to get the doctor, and quickly returned. Meryl and Salus continued to put pressure on Knives' wounds.
" Let me take a look," the doctor said
Meryl stood up and grabbed Salus' hand so the doctor could look at Knives. Vash looked at the doctor as he examined Knives.
" Two bullets to the chest and two in his lower abdomen," the doctor said, " These bullets must have been pretty powerful."
Vash looked on the floor and saw the blade of Hades and he lifted it up. He saw finger prints on it and narrowed his eyes.
" Why would such a young man shoot himself…I'd say it was a bad suicide," the doctor said
" He didn't try to commit suicide," Vash said, " Someone was trying to murder him and I know who it is."
Meryl looked at Vash as his hand shook.
" Who?" Meryl whispered
" Raven," Vash said
The doctor looked at Vash after wrapping Knives' wounds.
" Well, all we can do is wait," the doctor said
" Thank you doctor," Vash said
Meryl walked the doctor out and then once he was gone she walked back to where Vash was. She saw Salus sitting on Vash's lap, and she sighed. She walked over and placed her hand on Vash's shoulder.
" Why would Raven attack after all these years?" Meryl asked
" I don't know," Vash said, " If she's still out there we haven't seen the end yet."
Salus reached out and touched Knives' face as tears fell from her face.
" He's alright Salus," Vash said placing his hand on her shoulder
" How long do you think it will take him to heal?" Meryl asked
" A month at the most…maybe a week," Vash said
Meryl sighed and leaned her head on Vash's shoulder. Vash looked at her and kissed her cheek.
" Go, get some rest, I'll stay here with Salus for tonight," Vash said
" Alright," Meryl said
Meryl walked back home and saw Vita was up and so was Millie.
" What's going on?" Millie asked, " Is everything alright."
" Vash's brother's been shot," Meryl said
" Oh, dear, is he alright?" Millie asked
Meryl sighed and said, " I don't know Vash said he will be. He staying over there to keep eye out on Salus. I came back to take care of the house."
" I hope everything will be ok," Millie said
Meryl nodded looked at Vita as she drank some water then got up.
" Good nigh Mommy," Vita said
" Good night sweetheart," Meryl said kissing Vita's head
Vita walked off and went into her room.
" Does Mr. Vash know who did it?" Millie asked
" He believes, one of his younger brother's plants did it, seeking revenge for something neither one did," Meryl said
" Well, we can't worry about it tonight," Millie said, " So, get some rest Meryl, we'll find out tomorrow."
Meryl nodded and got up and placed her hand on her stomach. The baby was active once more and she knew she couldn't sleep with a kicking baby. She went ahead to tried.
Vash looked around the house for any clues and he noticed something on the floor. He knelt down and picked it up and looked at it. It was a bottle with some kind of liquid in it. He looked around for where Raven could have gone without, someone noticing her. Vash walked back and saw Salus place her hand on one of Knives' wounds. A soft light came from her hand and it seeped into the wound. He walked into the room and Salus looked up at him, then pointed. Vash looked at where the wound was.
" Healed," Vash whispered
He stat down and then realized that was how Knives was able to heal so fast. He looked at Salus as she stared at Vash.
" You can heal people," Vash said
Salus nodded and undid another part of Knives' bandage and placed her hand on his other wound. The same thing happened and Vash breathed deep watching Salus use her gift. She looked at Knives and he moaned and then opened his eyes.
" What happened?" Knives whispered
" You were shot," Vash said
Knives looked over at Vash and then looked down at Salus. She reached over and hugged him.
" Do you remember now?" Vash said
" Raven did this," Knives said
" I thought so, but how did she get past you, your senses are strong," Vash said
" I don't know," Knives breathed
He sat up and winced in pain. He looked at the blood that soaked the towel that remained around his waist.
" Salus," he said
She nodded and healed the two shots in his abdomen. She then climbed up into his lap as he sat up fully. He put his arms around the little girl and Vash smirked.
" How do we stop her this time?" Knives said
" I don't know, but I found this," Vash said holding the bottle
" What is it?" Knives asked
He unscrewed the top and smelt it, then put the top on it.
" It's some type of formula," Knives said
" Perhaps to do with plants?" Vash said
" I don't think she'd try to start over," Knives said
Vash looked at the clear liquid and sighed. He shook it and stared at it, trying to figure it out. Vash closed his eyes trying to see if it would come to him. A sudden image flashed through his head. He gasped and looked up at Knives.
" What?" Knives said
" All the titans had this penned on them," Vash said, " It protected them from our guns."
Knives looked at it and shook his head.
" This little thing can't stop a bullet," Knives said
" Legato had it penned on his arm bands, there was about 6 of them," Vash said, " My bullets never miss."
" You think Raven and her goons developed a formula to protect them from our bullets?" Knives asked
Vash nodded and looked at Salus as she looked up at Knives. She hugged him and Knives looked down at her.
" I'm not going anywhere," Knives said, " Let's leave this one alone she's just a wilting plant."
" Are you sure?" Vash said