Chapter 6: Along Came Death
Legato stood on the roof of the mansion dressed in the black armor and Megami stood on the side.
" Will this work?" she asked
" It will," Legato said, " They are both injured."
Megami nodded and Legato placed a gun under his coat. Megami stood back as the hatch opened. Knives climbed out and then Vash, Legato did as he said, he would shoot Knives first. Knives narrowed his eyes at Legato and drew the blade of Hades, then aimed at him.
" Today it ends," Knives said, " I will show you who you truly are."
" Not, before you die," Legato said, " Don't you enjoy the smell of death. It's just takes you're your breath away."
Vash walked over and stood next to Knives with the blade of the Willing, Vash's eyes glowed and Legato smiled.
" I believe I've seen this look before Vash the Stampede, more than once. The first was with Monev the Gale, the second would be my second visit with you four years ago, and today. I feel almost honored that you would show, so much hate for me," Legato said, " You never cease to amaze me, but that is why you must die today Vash the Stamped."
" Cut the crap Legato," Vash growled, " It's time die."
" We'll see," Legato said
He fired a shot and his words held truth to them, the bullet that was suppose to be aimed at Vash was turned at the last second and hit Knives in the chest.
" Knives!" Vash shouted
" Son of a bitch," Knives growled
He fired three powerful shots at Legato. Legato took three shots, but was unaffected. Vash narrowed his eyes and looked at Megami, she held something in her hands, a device of some sort.
" She's protecting Legato," Vash thought, " I have to get it."
" You'll only fail Vash," Legato said
Vash growled and charged at Legato with full strength firing two to four shots at a time though it sounded like one. Legato smirked and drew the blade from the sheath tied to his leg. The steal blade made one swift movement and Vash felt a pain in his abdomen. He looked at the blade that has pierced threw the coat and armor. Blood dripped from the stab onto the blade and Legato looked at him with a smile. Legato pulled the blade and kicked Vash in the face, cutting him with the knife that was in his boot. He looked at Vash and licked the blood off the blade. Vash fell back and Knives looked at Vash then back at Legato. Knives narrowed his eyes and aimed the gun, the gun reacted and turned into the angel arm. Blood dripped from Knives' arm as it finish forming.
" Are you going to shoot me Knives, with a pathetic gun like that?" Legato questioned
Legato laughed a sinister laugh and Megami walked over to him, then grabbed the trigger with him.
" Like you two, we are able to fuse," Megami said, " Your tactics are pathetic Millions… Legato is not like the once controlled minion you knew."
" He's a dead man," Knives growled
Knives brought the angel arm down and let the gun fall from hand. Legato and Megami smirked as their arms fused together into an angel arm. It's darkness was different from the one that the blade of Hades' made. It's black wings sprouted into four others and the black halo that went over, remained on the barrel. It's ability was just as powerful, if not more powerful than the blade of Hades. Vash looked up weakly and saw the double angel arm that Megami and Legato formed together, the aura around it made his body shake. Vash reached for the blade of the willing and held it and breathed deep.
" I have to do this," he thought, " It's my only way to survive."
Vash stood up and held the blade of the Willing. He closed his eyes feeling the blood drip onto the ground. He weakly stood and reached over to Knives.
" I won't allow a bastard like him to win!" Vash shouted
He grabbed for Knives' gun and Knives drew it, just like the first, both brothers combined guns and their arms fused together. The angel arm that had been created was not from any ordinary plant, nor human. It's powers were far from a higher power, heavenly and demonic aura cast a blinding light to their opponent's eyes and its wings flowed freely behind creating two powerful bodies of power. One who had seen this sight and compared it to the first time would have dropped dead. It's power was the beginning of its ability. Vash breathed deep and Knives stayed steady, just the opposite as before.
" You are mad, you can't handle that power," Megami said
" We can," Knives said, " You and that dead corpse won't last but nanosecond it this power."
" It's just enough to kill you both," Legato said
Knives and Vash placed a hand on the barrel and Legato and Megami placed their hands on their barrel. Vash and Knives combined in physical ability, but combine in mind and spirit. Their goal was noted at that second as they fired the angel arm. Legato and Megami did the same and there was a flash of light and silence that flowed it. Vash and Knives' eyes glowed a deep red and a white. Heaven and hell combined calling forth the power of two powerful sides.
Nine young women stood there and clasped hands together.
" Isn't this exciting sisters, the brothers are fighting together for one common goal," one said
A wind blew and from a distances the sounds screams, then with a blast of light three old crones stood there.
" Fates," the nine said
All nine bowed and the fates looked at the scene.
" Amazing, I did not think these brothers would survive this long," One fate said
" I told you, but I'm afraid in the end there will be a death," another fate said
" We shall watch and see," the three said
The nine muses stared out watching the fight in progress. The light dimmed and the town remain standing, not so much as a piece of anything fell.
Vash and Knives breathed deep and looked at Legato and Megami, they were powerful, but they were weak. Vash pulled away and his arm bled with gold blood, but once it touched the ground it became red. Knives' bled black blood, but then it fell and it became red. Legato and Megami did not part, but inside once more fired, but Knives blocked it with his angel arm. Both were thrown to the other side and Vash weakly laid there. Knives stood up and looked at Legato and smirked.
" Part three of my promise," Legato said, " Death to you and Vash the Stampede."
" Shut up!" Knives growled
Legato smirked and looked at Knives and then at Vash. Vash's hand reached out for the fallen gun. He looked at Knives and Knives looked at Vash from the corner of his eye.
" Get out of my way," Vash said
Knives breathed deep and just as Legato had planned, Knives drew his gun. Legato smirked and Megami grabbed Legato's arm.
" Don't do it Knives," Vash said
" Same to you," Knives said
Their fingers slipped to the trigger and prepared to shoot at each other.
" Go on, your big enough to use a gun," Legato thought, " Take out your anger."
" No," Vash said, " I won't."
" Are you still living on that dream of that foolish woman Vash," an echo of something Knives had said to him
" Go on Vash make it easy on yourself and take him down," Legato said to him in thought
" No," Vash said
" Let me make it easy on you," Legato said
He forced Knives to the ground at the same angle of Vash's gun.
" I assure you it's simple, you just pull the trigger," Legato said, " Should I persuade you."
Knives narrowed his eyes and looked at Knives.
" No," Vash thought, " I won't kill…I won't force myself to kill when it's not necessary."
" Do it Vash," Knives said
" No," Vash said
" I said do it Damn it!" Knives growled
Vash closed his eyes and shook his head, Knives heard the sound of the gun and closed his eyes. He held his gun then as Vash was about to pull the trigger he forced himself to fire the gun. There was silence and Knives opened his eyes seeing Vash standing. He breathed deep and dropped his gun, then looked over and saw Megami and Legato dead.
" Impossible, he shot them both with one shot," Knives said
Vash fell to the ground and closed his eyes letting his gun fall from his hands. Knives looked at Vash seeing him lying there lifelessly, blood around him.
" Give me the thread," one fate said
" Strong and willing," a second said
" But in the end he was to weak to handle such a precious gift of the gods," a third fate said
The nine muses looked down below and sighed.
" Must you cut the thread?" one asked, " Perhaps he is just weak and at rest."
" There is no life from this thread," the fates said
" Vash, wake up," a soft voice said
Vash opened his eyes and looked at the bright light. He then saw two people walking out of it. He sat up and looked around then saw Rem standing there and beside her stood Wolfwood.
" Hey," Wolfwood said, " Didn't expect the legendary outlaw to join us up here."
" Am I dead?" Vash questioned
Rem smiled and walked over to Vash and hugged him.
" Welcome home," she said
" Home?" Vash questioned
" What the hell were you thinking shooting like that with a gun that close," Wolfwood said
" I thought I could kill them without thinking I was shot my own brother," Vash said, " I guess I was wrong."
" In that case there wasn't another way," Wolfwood said, " You know you think to much."
" I know," Vash said, " But I wasn't thinking."
Rem looked at Vash and helped him stand up.
" It's time to go Vash," Rem said, " You can watch over everyone now."
" Yeah, after awhile your life gets a little boring," Wolfwood said, " But I assure you that your going to like it here."
Vash smiled and walked with them towards the light. He looked back and then sighed.
" Good bye life," Vash said, " it's been a thrill."
" Daddy," Vita's voice cried out
Vash stopped and turned around and saw Vita running to him.
" Vita," Vash said
" You can't go," Vita said, " Mommy, and Nicholas need you….Uncle Knives and Salus need you too."
" Nicholas, that's right my son," Vash whispered, " I can't let them be alone."
" Vash," Rem said, " You can't go back."
" I have to," Vash said, " They need me."
" Your dead Vash, you've crossed from that world to this, you can't," Rem said
Vash ran towards Vita and as the ground from underneath began to crumble. He looked back at Rem and Wolfwood.
" My family needs me, I can't give up," Vash said, " I have to survive."
" Then your going to need a lot of help," Wolfwood said
He undid the cross from around his neck and tossed it to Vash.
" Go home, you idiot," Wolfwood said
Vash smirked and took off as the ground broke between life and death. Vash leapt over landed next to Vita. She smiled and hugged Vash tight. He looked over at Rem and Wolfwood one last time.
" Thank you Mr. Priest," Vita said
" Any time," Wolfwood said
The light consumed Rem and Wolfwood and Vash stood there.
" There he goes again, Thank you Nicholas," Vash thought
He walked with Vita and vanished into the light of life. Vita vanished and it replayed.
" I said do it Damn it!" Knives growled
" No, I will survive!" Vash shouted
Vash grabbed Knives by his neck and hurled him towards the edge of the building and then raised his gun.
" You will not control me!" Vash yelled, " But I will control your fate!"
" What is this, the thread," the Fates said, " It's glowing."
" What does it mean?" the muses asked
They turned and looked at Vash as he stood there. Vash loaded his gun with three jewels off his coat.
" I was given a gift and I will use it," Vash said
" He's no longer the Vash," Megami said, " His power is far much greater."
Knives smirked and stood up and grabbed his gun. He walked next to Vash and looked at Megami.
" Take the dead guy I got the bitch," Knives said
Knives' eyes glowed and he let the gun fall to the ground and suddenly he closed his eyes. An aura surrounded Knives and the darkness became a black orb.
" Allow me to introduce my new gift Megami," Knives said, " Darkness."
" You are a demon," Megami growled
She fired several shots at Knives and Knives smirked feeling nothing.
" Just like those in the past who have given themselves to darkness, you will join them now. You want power this is what happens when it takes control," Knives said
" I won't fall for you weak games Millions," Megami said
" Who, said I was him, Those who wear the coat of the World Beyond allow me to take control of them, He's no longer in existence," Knives said, " Isn't that right brother."
Vash smiled and aimed the silver gun.
" I don't believe there will be any mercy," Vash said, " May you walk in the underworld for eternity with my brother."
" They're…letting our master and your master take control of them," the muses said
" It's about time they came," the fates said
" I was beginning to worry that they wouldn't come," one fate said, " I believe you owe me a soul each sisters."
" Yeah, of course," the other two groan
Vash closed his eyes and focused on his target.
" Enjoy hell," Vash said, " Stay dead this time."
Vash fired a shot as Knives consumed Megami in darkness. Together they destroyed what was left of their meddling in life.
" Alright release the body, we have complete what we needed too," Vash said
" This body is strong couldn't we have one eternity," Knives said
" I'm afraid not, it's their free will that we have interfered with," Vash said
" Alright then, I guess It's back to hell," Knives said
He closed his eyes and Knives body was released from the spirit of the underworld and Vash's body was released from the spirit of mount Olympus. Both brothers fell into an unconscious state.
" Alright muses, do your thing," one spirit said
" Fates, cut the threads of those who lie here, expect those we have processed," the second spirit said
" Of course Hades, Zeus," the muses and fates said
The muses appeared to where Knives and Vash laid.
" Sleep dear warriors of the gods, you have served us well in protecting the future of our kind," one muse said
The muses lift Vash and Knives and vanished into the mist. The muses laid them to rest and tended to their battle wounds.
" You brought them back," Vita's voice said
The muses smiled and bowed.
" Now, make this world plentiful with life little one and one day you shall take rule of it as it's nurturing mother," one muse said, " Take care."
They vanished and Vita looked at Vash and smiled.
" Daddy, your home now," she said
AN: Hey, I'm not sure, but I thought Hades and Zeus were brothers so if I'm wrong please tell me I'm a little rusty on that part