Disclaimer: Trigun is not mine. Please note: to make things less confusing [ ] will denote thoughts. You'll see why as the story continues....

Later on, as they snuggled under the sheets, Vash looked down at Meryl's hair again. The blonde tips were longer than they were yesterday- nearly a fourth of an inch now. He slid his fingertips through the soft strands.

"Meryl- have you been dyeing your hair?"

"Dyeing my hair?" Meryl repeated, puzzled. "Nooo- why are you asking?" He wrapped a sheet around her and pulled her to the mirror.

"Look- the tips of your hair..."

"Blonde? What the hell?" Meryl leaned close to the glass. "When did this start?"

"We noticed it yesterday on the caravan- it wasn't as obvious..."

"And I didn't have a mirror..." Meryl frowned, studying her reflection intently. "It's not like sun streaking."

"No, it's not." Vash sat down on the chair in front of the mirror, Meryl standing between him and the glass. She was nearly eye-to-eye with her reflection.

"I've heard of color changes- but black to blonde?"

"And from the tip?" Vash tugged at his own blond hair. "The color change should start at the bottom." Meryl turned back around with a shrug. Her face was calm, but he could see the hint of panic in her eyes.

"Well, it's weird, but it's just hair, right? Dead cells and all that." Vash pulled her down on his lap and leaned his head against hers. [Silly child, why aren't you admitting you're scared?] He thought.

"I'm not scared," Meryl protested. Vash froze.

"Meryl- why did you just say that?"

"You said I wasn't admitting it."

"No I didn't." Vash tilted her chin up so she could see his face. [I thought it.] Meryl's eyes widened. [You can hear me this way?]

"I... yes." She nodded. Then she blinked. "You don't look surprised."

"I am, but..." He remembered all the times when Meryl seemed to be responding to what he was thinking- not what he said. How she always knew when he was hurt or upset... [I think you've done it before. How do you think you manage to read me so easily? You've been hearing- or at least sensing- my thoughts. ]

"No! I couldn't..."

"Yes. I'm betting you've always been a bit psychic."

"No I haven't!"

"Think about the quick draw tournament- you described EXACTLY what happened. Men with guns shooting for the bounty! It's getting stronger is all." He paused. "Maybe that's because of me."

"You?" Meryl looked thoughtful for a moment. His expression was a guilty one, and her heart ached. So she shrugged and smiled. "Well, being psychic isn't a bad thing, and that would explain the blonde hair- maybe it's catching," she teased and rumpled his hair. Her hand stilled. "Vash..."

"What is it?"

"Your hair- look." Meryl got up so he could lean closer to the mirror. The base of his hair- about a fourth of an inch- was black. "Maybe it's me," she said in a small voice. [Maybe this is what Knives was so worried about... maybe I've really hurt him...] He could hear her panicked thoughts. He turned and slid his arms around her.

[Stop it.] He took a deep breath. [You haven't hurt me, for goodness sake. Remember: This might be my fault.]

[If I can't blame me, then you can't blame yourself.] Meryl leaned against him.

[You might want to blame me,] Vash took a deep breath.

[No, I don't. Even if it is because of you, I don't care.] Vash tugged her back down into his lap. He kissed her, reassuringly stroking her back, cuddling her close against him.

[I don't deserve you. Why did you ever fall in love with an idiot like me?]

[It's not like I had a choice.] Meryl replied teasingly. [Really Vash, you aren't an idiot and you deserve to be loved. I know you don't love... ]

[Stop,] Vash put his head against hers. [It hurts me that you'd even think that anymore. Even if it's not safe for me to admit it, I do love you.]

[You do?] Meryl looked up into his eyes.

[Yes.] She leaned up to kiss him again, and several minutes went by.

[All right-] Vash finally managed. [Let's focus. I'm not mad and you're not mad. Whatever is happening is no one's fault. But what is causing it? Why is this happening now?]

[Well, it's only since...] Meryl flushed.

[Right.] Vash flushed too.

[Hasn't this happened before? I mean you've been alive for a long time Vash. What about your other women?]

[My other women?] Vash blushed. [Uh, no.]

[So it's only me. Then we definitely can't blame you.] Vash twitched, but Meryl spoke before he could. [I wish I had some actual family members to ask- maybe they were all psychics...]

[What happened to your real family?]

[I don't know. Dad always said he found me. He never said where. I have an adoption certificate, but no birth document. Dad said there wasn't one.]

[No information about your real parents on the adoption certificate?]

[No. It just says 'unknown'.] Meryl frowned up at him, then leaped out of his embrace.

[What?]

"Vash- stay away from me. Look..." She lifted a strand of her hair. The blond tips were longer now- half an inch. "Yours are getting longer too."

[Meryl...]
"Don't! Maybe talking that way makes it worse." Meryl's eyes were wide and panicky. She turned and grabbed her clothes, throwing them on quickly.

"Meryl- don't- what are you doing?"

"Leaving," she replied. "I don't want to hurt you."

"Meryl- no! Wait!" She opened the door and was gone. Vash cursed, realizing the sheet was not appropriate for following her in.

"What the hell's going on Tongari?" Wolfwood was stretched out on the couch, Millie next to him. "We've been waiting for you two to wake up so we could go to dinner, and Meryl just took off like a tornado."

"Uh.. go without us."

"Tongari-" Wolfwood sat up. "Your hair!"

"I know. See ya!"

The street was nearly deserted. No sign of a short insurance girl anywhere. [Meryl, damnit! Where are you? Come back!] No answer. Vash cursed again and picked a direction. He turned a corner and nearly ran into Sam.

"Hey Vash, I was just on my way to the hotel to round you guys up for dinner."

"Did you see Meryl?" Vash grabbed at him.

"Uh- no. Why?" Sam looked at him narrowly. "Did you do something to my sister?"

"No- nothing like that. She's.." Vash paused, collected himself. "Sam, this is going to sound really odd, but where did your Dad find Meryl? Do you know?"

"Uh...no. Just that she was out there by herself someplace." Sam gestured towards the dunes. "Mom might know." Sam's eyes narrowed. "Why?"

"It might be important." Sam frowned.

"What does this have to do with anything now? Meryl's my sister- adopted or not."

"It might be important to her. If she was upset, where would she go?"

"That's easy." Sam turned and pointed at the plant bulb. "She said it was always peaceful there. She'd sit by the wall of the old ship by the plant." Vash closed his eyes.

[Sibling? Can you hear me?]

[[Yes brother. Can I help you?]]

[Is this girl near you now?] Vash sent a mental picture. A wave of recognition came from the plant.

[[Yes, little sister is here. She is sad. Will you help her, brother?]] Vash opened his eyes. Sam was staring at him.

"Vash- did you know your hair..?"

"Yeah. Uh, thanks Sam. See ya!"

"Vash!" Sam rolled his eyes as the gunman vanished. "What the hell is up with him?"