~Yep, it's time for an update. I'm surprised that anyone read this story in the first place! It was so short last chapter because it was a bit of an experiment and all, but I guess I have to continue it now! This one is longer, a whole 2 pages this time. Next one will (hopefully) be longer, but it will take longer to post, me being sick and all and having no idea what to write next. I know that everyone is pretty OOC, but please forgive me! *makes sad, forgive-me face* I'm new at this, and I'm not used to character personality constraints. But, I will try harder to keep everything right. It's just kind of hard to endow Knives with feelings of love and compassion, not much to work with there! I will shut up now. Anyway, enjoy, and pleeze review some more!~

~Knives' Angel~

Disclaimer: I (still) don't own Trigun! *sheds little tear*

Chapter 2- The mother in me

Once back at headquarters, I looked Legato over closely. It was a miracle that he wasn't dead already; he had lost at least two or three pints of blood through his head.

Almost tenderly, I brushed some sand out of his bluish locks as I bandaged him up. I was doubtful there was anything I could do to save him, but I would do all I could. He had always been there, loyal and willing to praise, worship me like a god. If there was ever a human that I could stand, it was him.

"Why did you bring me back?" he asked faintly as I tied off the last bandage. He was unconscious, yet still communicating with me.

"I don't know." I answered truthfully. I could sense confusion in his mind, but I didn't blame him. After all, I myself was just as confused, if not more so. Smiling to myself, I privately laughed at the idea of me nursing a human back to health.

"Even Vash couldn't do a better job." I thought with amusement.

Legato let out a low moan of pain, and began to turn over fitfully in his makeshift bed. Without thinking, I lay down beside him and gingerly wrapped my arms around him in an effort to calm him. His body felt so warm to me, so inviting and familiar. He was so strong, yet at the same time, so frail. His life hung in the balance, swaying dangerously close between life and death. It was almost like a candle, burning fearlessly bright before the wind would whip by, blowing it out as suddenly as it was lit. At that minute, I vowed to myself that I would not allow that flame to go out. I would be the shield protecting it from the toxic gust of death, so that it could continue to shine in all its brilliance.

Letting out a deep sigh of satisfaction, I placed my head next to Legato's and fed soothing thoughts into his mind. I didn't want him getting upset again and hurting himself, all he needed to do was lay still and rest.

While I was there next to him, I couldn't help but scan through his subconscious mind. He was certainly in a great deal of pain, but I would do my best to fix that. With ease, I dulled his pain receptors so that he might rest easier. I was beginning to like this new 'duty' of mine; it gave me an almost motherly feeling of responsibility I had never felt before. Legato was dependant upon my care to keep him alive, and I enjoyed that fact. It was like playing God, pulling him away from the jaws of death and giving new life. This was power in a new form, much different than the one I was used to. Dealing death was one thing, but giving life, that was so much more of a challenge, and a challenge is something that I enjoy.

With a quick glance out the window, I saw that the twin suns had sunk below the horizon, causing the sky to light up in a bright reddish gold. The first few stars had appeared, giving the whole scene a picturesque quality. It was the end of another day, and a curiously eventful one at that. I had glimpsed at a new side of myself, and assumed the new role of caretaker. Getting up so as not to disturb Legato's sleeping figure beside me, I sauntered into the kitchen in order to find some dinner. The refrigerator and the cupboards seemed relatively empty, so to my chagrin I had to settle for dry ramen noodles and some stale crackers. As I ate, I kept one eye on Legato, making sure he was still breathing. Watching his chest fall up and down slowly, I felt almost like an animal watching it's prey. At any moment I could crush him, he was so vulnerable right now. Almost like I was being controlled by some outside force, I felt my hands slip around his neck, my grip beginning to tighten. This movement was almost impulsive, like some kind of perverse reflex arc. Part of me so wanted to stop that breathing, bring it gagging and choking to an end.

There was a sudden flash in my head, like I was watching an old celluloid film strip from days gone by.

"You can always start over." A voice echoed softly in my head.

"I don't want to start over!" I insisted, trying to push everything away. I wanted it all to stop, to leave me alone.

There was another flash, but this time I could see a person standing alone, looking off at something. When it came into focus, I recognized it as Legato. He was staring at me, watching as I was reborn. In a kind of slow motion, he shed a tear from his sullen gold eyes. He cared, in some way or another, it had touched something deep within him. I didn't know how it made me feel, but it made me feel something I wasn't used to.

Just as suddenly as it began, the whole scene dissolved and I was left back in reality. I had jerked my hand shakily away from Legato's neck, and I felt like I had just been in an intense fight. Staring down at my trembling hand, I felt somewhat horrified that I had hardly been able to control myself. I didn't want to kill Legato, yet I had come dangerously close. He still lay there, sleeping on as if nothing had happened. Did he know what had just happened, how close to death he had come for a second time? I doubted it, but he had always surprised me in the past.

I managed to calm myself down finally, and decided to stay seated next to Legato for the night, though I was still worried that I might kill him on the slightest inclination. As I leaned back in my chair, I let my mind drift to other things, thoughts that reached far away from the place where my body sat resting. I wondered silently, did Vash's mind do the same?

~Well, that's all she wrote for now. I hope you all liked it, and I'll try and have the next chapter up before Friday, or Saturday. Till then, keep reviewing and peace out~

~Knives' Angel~