Disclaimers: Yeah I know, I skipped them lately. But anyways, I'm assuming you're starting with the first chapter. I own none of these characters except Sloane.

Summary: So far we have met Sloane, a strange dark haired gunman who makes Vash quite confused. Vash: "I am not gay! What are you doing to me?"Moonfinder: "It's ok Vash, I accept your gayness and so should you. Embrace the other side, embrace Sloane wink Meryl: "How dare you steal my Vash?!!"Moonfinder: Run away! runs off, dragging Vash Meryl's not even in this story, dammit! Leave me alone!"And with that out of my system, here's another chapter of Eden.

Chapter 3

Men don't give men backrubs

The ruined city was a depressing sight for Vash; thoughts of July roaming through his mind. He quickly pushed them away as the orange and purple sky turned dark, angry clouds were covering what had seemed like a perfect star filled night. Sloane spared no time or guilt on this city; he found the first intact house and went inside. He looked around, his blue-tinted gaze taking it in, as a commander would inspect a barricade. He nodded. "This will keep us alive.", he grinned as he locked the shutters and settled himself on the ground, pulling off his white coat, revealing a large black shirt. He rummaged through his bag for a canteen when Vash joined him.

The blonde slid down the wall and let out a long yawn, stretching out a bit. He removed his glasses, folding them away in his jacket. His emerald eyes scanned the place they would be calling home for the evening, or at least until the storm let out. He left his bag close by, ready to leave if they had to. Sloane gulped down his water, whipping his mouth with the back of his black gloved hands. Feeling refreshed, he stretched out and curled back up against the wall. "We should sleep... At least I should... It's going to be a long walk tomorrow...", he stammered. He pillowed his head with his arms and looked over at Vash.

"What should I call you anyways?", he asked sleepily, his mind ebbed in fatigue. Vash laughed his hearty, loud, laugh. "Oh heck, why not just call me Vash. It can be our little inside joke.", he smiled as he rubbed his eyes slightly and laid down a little away from the other man. The dark haired gunman chuckled softly. "Vash it is. Not the smartest name to choose, but hey, your funeral, not mine." Vash nodded. "And what should I call you?" "Sloane's fine.", he replied.

And so, with the storm raging outside, they tried to get comfortable and fall asleep. Sloane was well on his way when he heard scrapping against the ground... and again.... And again... He looked over to see Vash turning and twisting to get comfortable. He quirked a brow. "What's wrong, the ground not good enough?", he asked softly, sleep numbing his mind. "Just some knots in my back. All that running and dodging puts quite a strain on the muscles. It should be fine thought.", he replied as he stretches in the attempt to crack his back, to no avail. When he came to the realization, he let out a small sigh and laid down on his back, hoping the pressure from the floor would dull the pain by morning.

Sloane slowly rose up, leaning on his elbow. "If you like, I could help out. I know a thing or two about relieving tensed muscles." He gave a small, yet still elegant, shrug. He knew that he would have liked to have a misuse around to unknot his back, like now for instance. He had learned several techniques and found them quite adequate. He also found it curious that he would offer to help the gunman before him. Maybe I'm turning into a caring person? , he asked himself, offering a mental explanation for his actions.

Vash looked over at him, a blush coming to his cheeks, a smile spreading over his lips. "Well, I am sure it's fine... besides... one guy giving another a massage, isn't that a bit weird to you?", he asked, tilting his head to one side. Sloane sighed and gave yet another shrug. He didn't quite understand his refusal. Was there something intimate about messages? Possibly... he let it go. "It was only a suggestion. If you want to live with the pain, that's fine.", he replied as he laid back down, closing his eyes and returning to his half-asleep state. Vash yawned and rolled onto his stomach, hoping that would ebb the pain. "Night night.", he said in a soft, relaxed voice as he made a makeshift pillow out of his travel bag. "G'night.", Sloane whispered before sleep finally took him.

The dreamless oblivion snared Sloane, but that was how all his dreams began. Soon, the blackness melted away, bringing him back to the days where his life turned for the worse. Screams of terror filled his mind until he could no longer stand it. He woke up with a start, gasping for air. Covered in a blanket of cold sweat, he groaned softly. Was this to be his fate? He held his head in his hands, willing himself no to succumb to his emotions and burst into frustrated tears. He would relive those moments until it killed him, he knew this; still... he would try to keep fighting hoping to make it right. He couldn't help but look over at Vash, enviously. He seemed so comfortable, so peaceful, almost angelic. He quickly shook his head. This was not the time for that train of thought.

Sloane closed his eyes and tried to will himself back to sleep. The same deep oblivion took him, followed by the nightmares. He curled up against the small of Vash's back, his subconscious reaching out for some kind of positive presence to ebb away the worse of his memories.

The suns' golden rays managed to filter through the window, burning their tint on Vash's eyelids. He rolled over only to find his companion had moved awfully close throughout the night. The beams fell on Sloane next. He groaned and turned his gaze away from the light, returning to sleep curled up against him. Vash shook his head and relaxed once more.

Vash found his traveling cohort rather curious. He was rather emotionless, and uncaring about the things that happened, though he did save those people. Was his emotionlessness just an act...? None the less, he brought to him memories of another emotionless male...

Deciding to think more about it when he was exhausted, Vash succumbed to his slumber. He rolled over in his sleep, his subconscious feeling the painful knots in his back. He rolled over a little too far, his head slipping off the large pillow, slamming into the hard concrete floor. A rush of pain flowed through him. With a growl rumbling in his throat, he jumped to his feet; his growl morphing into a yell. "Ow ow ow ow!" His hands wrapped around the point of impact, his feet dancing beneath him with this new feeling of agony.

Sloane's eyes snapped open, his fingers instinctively grazing over his gun at his hip. His blue-tinted gaze turned to Vash, watching him curiously as he danced. "What in the hells are you doing?", he asked a little irritably, though he was glad to be awake. Vash's erratic (not erotic, erratic) movements failed to cease but he does manage to utter a few broken words. "Head ... ow ow ow ... ground ... ow ow ow.... Slam... ow ow ow..." His feet shifted as his skull continued to throb. His fingers light enough to keep some of the pain away. He realized that it was more instinct than actual need. Sloane quirked a brow and chuckled softly as he watched him. His chuckled soon turned into a fit of laughter. Vash's dancing was hilarious to watch, even though the poor guy was in pain. The guilt wasn't setting in thought.

Slowly, his dancing slowed and over time came to a mere in place walk. He let his head go with a sigh, the throbbing waning at last. He turned to Sloane, placing his hands on his hips in a classic, almost superhero-like, pose. "Hey now, just watching and laughing, that's not fair you know.", he shakes his head, as if almost tisking his companion. Sloane smirks softly and shrugs. "It wasn't supposed to be fair. I'm supposed to be very amused." Vash shook his head. "Not right to get amusement out of others pain."

Sloane stood up, the typical male dominance pose. Only when trying to prove himself in charge, the better man, did he realize that he was a head and some shorter than Vash. This really did comprise things. He blinked and coughed, realizing a few other things about Vash, a slow blush creeping to his cheeks. "Ahem... well.." He clearly searched for something to say. "How's your back?", he blurted. Vash smiled at the strange change in his mannerism and voice, also taking notice of his height. "It's hurts quite a bit actually." He rolled his shoulder, wincing.

Sloane grabbed him and pulled him down. Vash yelped. "Wha...?", he muttered. Slowly, the dark haired man began to rub his shoulders. Vash blinked and relaxed into his touch. Sloane's fingers traveled over his back, carefully avoiding the more sensitive parts. He quirked a hidden brow. He could feel deep scars, bolts, metal plates. He avoided them all and removed all the kinks and knots he could find. Vash blushed and sighed, feeling the tension and pain slowly leave his back. "You're quite good at this.", he said softly. Sloane smiled. "Surprised I can be gentle? Does it hurt anywhere else?" The blond head turned from side to side, no. Sloane pulled away and stood up, stretching. "Well, we should set out then. Seems the storms over..." Vash slowly nodded, pulling his glasses out from his coat pocket. Maybe massages were a little more intimate than he had first anticipated...

Sloane moved on, shifting the weight of his bag onto his other shoulder. He needed a massage himself. He rubbed his neck and walked on. "What are you going to do in the next town?", Vash asked. "I have business in the city of April. It's a hard job but someone has to do it." Vash shook his head. "All work and no play..." "Makes Sloane... well a depressed sadistic bastard, I know, but I don't think that was exactly what you were going for." He looked up at the once again setting suns. And thus the world is once more plunged into darkness... where the wicked find no rest... Look at me, I'm a poet..., he thought to himself. "What await you in April?", he asked. "My plan is simple; I am a seeker of Love and Peace!", he said proudly. Sloane comically fell into the sand. "L-love and peace? So it is that you're searching for a girl then?" Vash's feet were the next to give out from under him, finding a point of impact in the soft and thankfully forgiving, sand.

They slowly got back up to their feet. "Well, yes. But I also believe that love and peace is a good ideal for this world, any world for that matter. If there were more of it, I wouldn't need this gun..." He pulled the silver revolver out of its leather holster. He looked at it with a sigh and a heavy look as he slides it back. Sloane nods slowly. "I suppose. If it was all love and peace... my life would be much different..." He stared off into the horizon, deep in thought. He willed the memories away. His gloved fingers brushed against the twin ebony guns hanging at his hip, one of the many weapons he carried on his person. He shook his head sadly as he kicked the sand.

Vash looked at him, and noticed the sudden change of mood. He sighed and shook his head. He didn't know what he could do to help him. Sloane looked over at him. Why does he have to look at me like that...? I don't need his pity... He climbed up the slope and saw they city ahead. He smiled softly. "Excellent!" He slid down the other side and looked over his shoulder, his expression changed. Vash noted that smile; it was the same as his, empty... "C'mon! I don't know about you, but I'm starved.", he said as he walked faster towards the city.

The city of April was quite prosperous. It was a beautiful place, white buildings stood up tall. A festival was going on to commemorate the prosperity of the city. Children ran around cheerful, merchants were selling their wares, or manning booths with games to play and win prizes. "We've picked a most excellent time to come.", Sloane grinned, knowing the crowd would make it so much easier for him to blend it... so much more difficult to get his target.

There was a shift as the sand kicked up behind him. Within moments, Vash was ahead, running at incredible speed. He slowed down once he was in the lead. Damn it... that might have given me away... Sloane moved up next to him and smirked. "A festival! I hope they are giving away free doughnuts!", the blond said excitedly. They slowly entered the town. Sloane looked around and nodded to himself. "Well, it was nice traveling with you, Vash. I think this is where we part ways though.", he sighed as he looked over at his friend. He bowed his head. "G'luck on your quest for love and peace." He moved his bag onto the other shoulder. "It was great traveling with you too! Good luck with your work!", he smiled sweetly as he waves.

Slowly, Sloane melted into the crowed, leaving Vash standing there curiously. He wasn't sure who that man was, though he knew there was something eerie and strange about him. Still, there went Sloane, the gunman and bounty hunter who followed him through the desert.

thus an end to another chapter... Will Vash ever see Sloane again? Will we ever know about this eerie past of his? Will Vash ever hit on another girl again? Answer to these questions and more in the next chapter. Please read and review, will only make things better later smiles