Disclaimer – Uhm... ::shuffles her feet uneasily:: Trigun isn't mine. ::turns away from the camera:: Gahhh! I'm so ashamed!

Miss Chang Po - ...Eh?

LR

Chapter 1

I had managed to at least put up a brave front on Milly's behalf. I was almost positive the she saw right through it – as she usually did – but said nothing in favor of focusing on the task at hand. Vash had only left an hour or two prior to us – if we traveled light and made very few stops, we could manage to catch up to him quickly.

"And then we can bring Vash-san back with us and things will get back to normal!" Milly had chirped cheerfully.

But things would never be the same – both of us knew it. I wasn't exactly sure what would happen when we found him, but of one thing I was sure – we would find him, no matter what it took. I had lost him once...

"There you go, Sempai," Milly's voice came softly. My partner was standing beside me, a quiet smile on her face. Though it was nothing like her usual radiant smiles, it was an improvement. In her cornflower blue eyes was a look of understanding. "There's that determination we're all so used to seeing." I merely blinked at her. "It's good to have you back, Sempai."

Back? I could only stare at her dumbfounded. She was a wreck – an emotional mess. It was a miracle she was even standing here with me, couldn't she see that?

Milly stared ahead. "My middle big sister once told me," she replied. "That sometimes to cope with pain, we have to focus on the bigger picture."

"Channel it into something useful?" I replied softly.

"That's what you always do, isn't it, Sempai?" Milly asked. "It's how you managed to be so successful in life."

I laughed ruefully. "I see nothing successful about my life," I replied. "I think now I realize how much a waste it has all been." I could see my partner watching me silently out of the corner of my eye. "I think back on all the things I've done and how much I've missed out on. Now that everything seems like it falling apart, I don't think I can take it."

Milly shook her hand and smiled. "Don't worry, Sempai," she replied. "I know you'll be just fine. You're a strong person."

I stopped, looking down at the sand beneath my feet. The small town was less than a half an Ile behind us. The things that had happened there - the four of us happy together - it seemed so far away. "How can you be sure?" I asked, jumping slightly when I felt a hand on my shoulder. "I don't feel strong at all."

"You wouldn't be here otherwise." Milly turned back to face me. "He's important to you, isn't he, Sempai? Without him with us, nothing seems the same anymore, does it?"

I felt a lump rise in my throat. "Oh... Milly..."

"So it's like my Big-big Sister always says, 'If you care about a person, it's important to let them know,'" Milly's eyes were so bright and sincere. "Sometimes you don't get another chance."

Carpe Diem, seize the day. Looking up at her with wavering eyes, I could only nod. "I will tell him, Milly, I promise." I gave her a shaky smile, or at least I think I did. "I won't let you down."

"Oh, don't do it for me, Sempai," Milly exclaimed. "Do it for you!" She leaned forward, speaking in a stage-whisper, "Oh, but do it for Vash-san, too! He needs you to keep him from getting into so much trouble."

"Right," I replied with a nod. "I'll do it." I turned forward only to be met with the blunt end of a rifle. After a brief, white flash of pain, everything went dark.

Everything was still dark. Void of any emotion, Vash stood before me shrouded in darkness.

"...Now, if you don't mind... I'd like to be alone right now..."

The more desperately I reached for him, the farther out of my reach he seemed to be. Before long the blonde gunman was nowhere to be seen. 'No, Vash... don't go. Don't go alone...don't go alone... don't leave me alone...!'

I opened my eyes to endless sand. Light entered my vision, making way to blinding pain. With a groan of discomfort I recalled the blow the head I had received just before blacking out. But why...? Bandits maybe, thieves perhaps? Who would do such a thing?

((So... you're awake.))

'Who?' My eyes widened, and despite the vertigo I was experiencing by doing so, forced myself into a sitting position. "Milly?"

I spotted her sprawled out in the sand a few feet away, sporting a nice bruise on her forehead – most likely a victim of the same treatment I myself had received.

((Very good detective work. You've figured at the What and the How...)) I whipped my head around. There was nothing around but rocks and sand; where was the voice coming from? ((Now all that's left to determine is the Who and the Why?))

Yanking back my cloak, I whipped out two of my derringers trying to get a bead on the mysterious voice. "Who's there?" I called out keeping a constant vigil on our surroundings. "And what do you want?"

The voice 'tsk'ed, ((Now, now... that would be too easy.))

I gasped as an image of a man came unbidden to my mind. There was a man unlike any I've ever seen. His dark blue hair, contrasted against his large white overcoat with spikes and skull-like shoulder pad. His expression was gaunt and his golden eyes seemed to pierce through my mind. I knew who he was almost immediately.

"Sempai..." Milly's voice whispered hesitantly. Could she see him, too?

Yes, Vash had spoken of him – only once of course – on the bus to May City. He had claimed we had been there when he first appeared, but neither of us had had any recollection of the meeting. Besides, back then I wasn't to quick to believe anything he said, but seeing him now... Had he found a way to alter our memories somehow?

(( The human mind is... so frail and fragile... so easy to manipulate.))

Before I could respond, Milly let out a high-pitched shriek. I whipped my head around to find my partner huddled in a ball, cringing in pain.

"Oh my God..." I forced myself to my feet. God, it hurt to move. "Just what the hell do you think you're doing?" I exclaimed.

"Nicholas..." Milly whimpered. "Nicholas... Nicholas... Nicholas..."

"Milly..." I called out.

(( Oh yes, she was fond of the priest... how unfortunate. )) The Voice replied. (( It's always strange to see how the human psyche reacts when faced with the truth. ))

"Truth? What truth?" I exclaimed. "Do you mean to tell me that you're the one responsible for Wolfwood's death?"

(( Man is ultimately responsible for his own demise... we are flawed, you see. ))

"You admit that you're human..." I murmured. "And yet you work for Knives?!"

(( I am a servant who carries out his will, yes. You truly are a credit to your organization, Meryl Stryfe. ))

My hand automatically went for one of my derringers. "How the hell do you know my name?"

(( You have been traveling with the infamous Humanoid Typhoon. Did you not think you would not attract our attention? ))

"You and the Gung Ho Guns..." I spat.

Milly let out another wail, spurring me to rush to her side. "Milly, snap out of it!" I exclaimed. Angrily I turned my head to the skies. How dare he treat my friends this way! "Why don't you leave her alone? She's never done anything to anyone!"

(( Perhaps not directly, but she did consort with a murderer. How can someone who is sworn to protect the interests of their fellow men condone the killing of a child? ))

Swallowing hesitantly, I clenched my hands securely around my pistol. "It wasn't like that... he was trying to protect us." I cried out.

(( So you, too, feel he has the right to kill as he sees fit? Curious. ))

"Look, you jerk, it's not like that!" My head still hurt like hell, but it seemed my infamous temper was the only thing keeping me on my feet - hurray. "And you have no right to talk what with all the lives Knives has taken! I know he was the one responsible for the Great Fall!"

(( An action that was for the greater good. ))

"Oh yeah? And who is Knives to decide what the greater good is?"

(( You should not speak ill of my master so, )) the voice cautioned, his voice still in the same dull monotone. (( He is above us – superior. ))

"Superior my ass!" I yelled. "No one has the right to take the life of another! No one!"

There was a period of silence. This Bernardelli agent looked around hesitantly. Before I knew what was happening, I felt a sharp pain inside my head, forcing me into sub consciousness. As I lay there in the sand, I remained unaware of the group of villagers approaching upon me.

End Chapter 1