Personal thanks to those who reviewed:
vashluver1- Hey! It's great to have you reading one of my stories again. I'm such a hopeless romantic too. Everything that I read, I'm always thinking of potential couples even though it could never be. Anyways, thanks for reviewing and I'll be continuing the Hormonal Rampage story but with a different plot and same coupling.
jenna- Yeah, I do proof read but when I was writing this, unconsciously I would switch from first to third person. It was irritating. Thanks for pointing them out though. I made the necessary corrections. The character of Meryl is more slightly mellow but she still has her pissy attitude when someone pushes her the wrong way. I do tend to take things a bit too fast!
PeiKing Ducktress- Thank you very much for the encouragement…I kinda need it. You know that feeling when you write something for the first time, you feel like it's your best work ever and then when you start on the second one, it's not as great. Yeah, that's how I'm kind of feeling. But I'm trying to make it as best as possible.
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Disclaimer (by Vash): Hello! Fairyskye here asked me to do the disclaimer for her so here it goes (clears throat and speaks in deep voice) "I do not own Trigun or any of its characters."
Me: Thank you very much Vash. You may-
Vash: You're very welcome and ladies, if you're out there and need a night on the town…
Me: Shut up Vash and let me continue with my story. OO
Vash: Hehehe…sorry, I'll just go bother Meryl or something…
Chapter 2 up!
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Chapter 2: The Conclusion of the Day
"So Meryl, tell us more about yourself," said Wolfwood. Meryl talked about her family and the businesses that they ran. She talked very affectionately about Esperanza and the loving staff that they had at the house.
"You have servants in your house?" asked Vash.
"They're not servants you idiot. They are my friends who just happen to work for my mom and dad. Don't you ever refer to them as servants!" Meryl said bitterly.
"You'll have your hands full with this one Vash," joked Wolfwood. Meryl's eyes flashed with anger and Wolfwood gulped.
"For your information Mr. Priest, I have no intentions of dating Vash or anyone for that matter," Meryl said as calmly as possible.
"A bit prude aren't you," muttered Vash. Meryl punched him in the head and his head slammed into the table.
"Oooowwww! Why do you have to hit so hard?" whined Vash.
"Because you're being a pig and you deserved it," Meryl said matter-of-factly.
"Meryl," interrupted Milly, who was trying to steer the conversation in another direction, "how do you like this school so far?"
"It's okay I guess. Aside from Needle-Noggin and that so-called 'holy man', everything's going well," said Meryl.
"Hey! I resent that!" said Vash and Wolfwood simultaneously.
"I don't," said an icy voice.
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Knives' POV
Interesting little spider, I mused. I was sitting with the usual: Legato, Midvalley, Zazie, and Dominique. She fascinated me for some odd reason. I can admit that I'm not the type of person who likes to date much. I leave that all to Vash, but this Meryl Stryfe person was different. She was beautiful, innocent, and pure and I wanted to make her…
"Mine," I growled.
"Come again?" said Midvalley.
I cleared my throat. "None of your damn business!" I snapped. "What do you think of that new student?"
"In my opinion, I think she's a spoiled brat who probably gets anything and everything that she wants," muttered Dominique. "I don't see why she has to come to our high school and dirty things up with her classiness."
"Do I suspect jealousy?" taunted Zazie.
"Fuck off," Dominique snapped.
"I think your brother has a crush on the tiny girl," drawled Legato.
"You think?" I said.
"Just observing what I see," replied Legato. I glanced toward Vash and his group. He was sitting awfully close to Meryl. A small grin appeared on my lips as I saw the fiery sprite punch my brother in the head. "You're attracted to her aren't you?" My thoughts diminished when I heard Legato's question.
"Well, do you?" Midvalley prodded. The whole table stared at me waiting for my answer.
"Perhaps," I answered.
"Good luck trying," said Zazie. "There's probably a good chance that Vash might get to her first." I steamed at that thought. I won't lose this girl to that idiot brother of mine. I got up from my chair and decided to pay their group a visit.
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Meryl felt hands slip from her shoulders to her arms. She felt the steam literally come out of her ears. How dare someone touches me! She was going to punch the living daylights out of this person but found that she couldn't move her arms. Whoever was holding her had a very strong grip.
"What the hell is your problem?" said Meryl vehemently. She hadn't seen the person's face since he was standing behind her.
"Yeah," said Wolfwood angrily. "Why the hell are you here anyways? You're polluting our air." Wolfwood made a choking noise and started withering on the ground. A few people giggled at his antics.
"Nick! Stop it!" whispered Milly nervously. Wolfwood stopped and sat back in his chair.
"I hope one day you will die from all your cigarette smoking and choke on one too," said the voice.
"Stupid shit," muttered Wolfwood.
"What do you want Knives?" asked Vash. Meryl detected a slight hardness in his usual goofy voice.
"Why I just came by to say hello to our lovely new student dear brother," said Knives. Meryl looked up at Knives and gasped. How could someone so…so cold be related to Vash? Vash's aqua eyes darkened slightly. "You don't mind now, do you Vash? You haven't established any intimate relationship with her yet have you?" Vash knew Knives was taunting him. He stood up from his seat.
"You stay away from her Knives or else," growled Vash. Knives smirked. Looks like I hit a sensitive spot. Knives stood in front of Vash.
"Or else what?" said Knives. Meryl's head was spinning. These two boys were arguing over her? That was unheard of! She could see the anger sparking between them. Meryl had to do something before it escalated into something worse.
"You know what Knives?" said Meryl, who stood in between them. Knives glanced down at the short girl. "If you're trying to get a date from me, you can just go to hell! I'd rather go out on a date with Vash anytime than you. So you can just turn your sorry ass around and leave!" The cafeteria erupted with cheers and hollers except for Knives' group. Knives muttered something obscene and left in a huff.
"Wow Meryl!" exclaimed Milly. "You're the first one who ever stood up to Knives."
"Hey! What about me? I've stood up to that asshole before," whined Wolfwood.
"I don't thinking taunting Knives then running away like a scared dog counts," said Milly.
"Well, it was me against him and five other people," mumbled Wolfwood.
"Don't worry Nick, you're still my hero!" Milly said cheerfully. Wolfwood lightened up from that comment and gave Milly a quick peck on the lips. Milly blushed profusely.
When lunchtime was almost finished, Vash pulled Meryl aside before going to their fifth period.
"Did you really mean what you said back there?" asked Vash.
"About what?" asked Meryl.
"When you said that you'd rather go out on a date with me anytime than Knives," said Vash. Meryl broke eye contact with him. During her rant with Knives, she hadn't been able to stop herself from saying that and it just popped out. She sighed.
"I guess I did," she replied. Meryl could see Vash's mood heighten. In the next second, she found herself wrapped in his embrace.
"REALLY?! THAT'S THE SWEETEST THING THAT ANYONE HAS EVER TOLD ME!" exclaimed Vash. Meryl's eyes went wide. Whoa, this guy is very emotional…maybe too emotional. Vash was practically squeezing the air out of her.
"Vash," gasped Meryl. That turned something on within Vash. To hear his name fall breathlessly from her lips drove his passion, which he quickly got under control.
"Yeah?" said Vash.
"Can't…breathe…" Meryl panted. Oops! Got a bit overexcited. Vash released Meryl and she took a deep breath.
"Sorry about that! I forgot how small you were," said Vash and Meryl growled at him. "Okay, okay. Maybe not," he said quickly. Meryl shook her head and chuckled. Vash was a stupid, goofy-haired idiot but she really liked him. He was a first class gentlemen compared to some of the guys she'd met before.
"You're so hopelessly senseless," said Meryl.
"I know. So," Vash said and laid an arm across her shoulder, "wanna go out with me sometime?" He had such a cute puppy face. She smiled slightly and shook her head.
"I'm sorry Vash but I can't," said Meryl. Vash's smile faded.
"Do you hate me Meryl?" asked Vash softly.
"No! It's not that. It's just…I don't really know you and this is only my first day of school and…"
"Then give me a couple of weeks so that you get to know me and I get to know you. That's all I ask. If you say yes, then terrific. If you say no, well, I'll just have to respect you and accept that answer." Meryl looked deeply into Vash's eyes. She didn't see a scheming jerk that wanted to take advantage of her. Vash was being honestly sincere. She sighed.
"All right. I'll give you three weeks and let me just say that bribery won't work," said Meryl.
"Of course not! I wasn't even planning on going there. I just want to spend those three weeks learning about you," said Vash.
"Good." Meryl smiled but then it faltered a bit.
"What's the matter?" asked Vash.
"Knives," Meryl said softly.
"Don't worry about him. I'll make sure he doesn't do anything to you," said Vash, giving her shoulder a reassuring squeeze.
"Are you sure? He seems pretty dangerous," said Meryl.
"He's my brother Meryl. I'll protect you okay?" said Vash. Meryl nodded. She looked at her watch.
"Well, I better get going to fifth period," she said.
"What's your fifth?" asked Vash.
"Economics," said Meryl.
"I don't have that but I have Physics for sixth," said Vash.
"You do? Great because I have that too," said Meryl.
"I'll see you later then," said Vash.
"Yeah, see ya," said Meryl.
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"How was your first day of school dear?" asked Mrs. Stryfe. Meryl was busy tacking up Esperanza for a quick ride.
"It was okay," said Meryl. She mounted up onto her horse and lovingly stroked Esperanza's gray coat.
"Made any new friends?"
"A few."
"That's nice dear," said Mrs. Stryfe. "Don't stay out too long. The weather forecast said it might rain a little."
"All right Mom," said Meryl and squeezed her legs to get Esperanza moving.
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Meryl's POV
It was wonderful to ride again. Esperanza moved smoothly beneath me as she fell into a gentle canter. The wonderful thing about living on a big piece of land was that I was able to explore it. I used to ride Diablo, my cobalt gelding, until my dad gave me Esperanza. Back then, Diablo actually was more of my mom's horse and I rode him every single day. I slowed Esperanza to a walk as we passed through some forest.
"Guess what Esperanza? I went to high school for the first time in my life." I didn't feel foolish talking to my horse. Even though horses couldn't talk back to you, you knew they were listening.
"There are many weird people at Gunsmoke. Isn't that a ridiculous name? Anyways, there's this really tall boy named Vash and he has this crazy brother named Knives. Vash is the total opposite from Knives. Where Vash is kind and goofy, Knives seems like he has something plugged up his ass. I like Vash, I really do. He even asked me to go out with him but I'm sort of afraid. Half of me wants to trust him with my life but the other half is still suspicious. What if he's the type of guy that uses girls for one night and dumps them the next day?" He's not like that. You realized that from the beginning. I had reasons for my thinking. A lot of girls, I noticed, were really attracted to Vash and they weren't going to lose their beautiful god to someone as mediocre as me.
"I'm sorry if I seem to bore you with my talk," I said and Esperanza snorted. "I don't need to tell you the woes of my life now do I?" I dismounted and led Esperanza to a small creek. I sat down and listened to the water chuckling over the pebbles. "What do you think I should do?" Esperanza nudged me with her soft, velvety nose. "Should I give him a chance?" Esperanza gave a loud whinny. I laughed. "Okay, okay. I'll try," I giggled and enjoyed the rest of my afternoon.
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