Hello all my faithful fan fiction readers! Sorry it took so long to get this chapter up. I've been a little distracted with other things recently. I'll make this short and sweet so you can get to the story. I have the most wonderful editor, grinsome, who will be taking care of my awful spelling and grammar. So she dissevers a big hug for making this chapter so wonderful! THANK YOU GRINSOME!!! The little touch she put here and there and this chapter much more amazing than anything I could have done one my own. Grinsome you are my fan fiction angel helping me with this chapter and hopefully many more.
Thank you!!!
Trapt-tears^*^ No I don't' have beta; I don't even know what that is. I'm not much of a friend to computer and all I have is Microsoft word 2000. I id get an editor though and I know she can catch all my awful mistakes. Thank you for offering you help though!
trigunlover#1^*^ You asked for it so here it is!
Akira*D^*^ I'm still hoping you forgave me for taking do long to give you reviews on you last two chapters. SOOO SOOOOOORY! I BEG FOR YOUR FORGIVNESS!!!!!
Kegome-angel2000*^* And I can't wait for you to read more of it, so were even!
Melissa :) Wolfwood's reappearance is actually a whole story in it's self. And it's for reasons nether the readers or he would have even thought of. I'm thinking a sequel where you learn more about his return and who's pulling the resurrection strings. With more of Kaleidoscope's romances too of course.
Ujiji^*^ I'm gland you love Marvel and Vash. There were quite a few people who really hated the paring. I hope they changed their minds.
Faery Goddoyss^*^ You find out how Knives feels about Meryl in all due time. So I guess you'll just have to keep on reading. Maw hahaha Maw haha
KelliKatt^*^ Do I really always leave you hanging? I never noticed :)
Nuclear Pudding^*^ Legato's not really a weenie, he still capable of all the awful destruction he always has been. But he has found something worth keeping safe on this unhappy dust bowl planet. Ok so maybe he a little bit of a weenie.
WW^*^ Come on if you keep writing post's like that I'm going to cry! That was so sweet! Thank you sooo much! *Breaks down into tears* I said I wouldn't do that!
Ten Reviews! That's Wonderful! Keep them coning wonderful readers of fan fiction!
Disclaimer - I don't own Trigun or any of its character. If I did I'd be the happiest woman in the world!
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Chapter 17: You're all I need
Vash held Marvel close to his lean, muscular frame, easing her tremors. The emotional woman felt soothed, protected, encircled in the arms of her pacifistic outlaw. She looked into those soulful eyes that seemed to change shade with his mood and she was calm enough to tell him of the day she lost everything.
"His path was chosen before he ever met me and I had to let him go. I just watched him walk away and all I could do was cry. I wanted to scream out; I wanted to stop him, but it wouldn't have mattered. I knew it had to be that way, that we were just never meant to be. It's possible that we were never even supposed to meet, but we did, and I put all of his beliefs in jeopardy. Just like your existence did, Vash.
He couldn't understand how you and Knives could have such different beliefs when you were so alike, and it made him angry and confused. All he desired was an end to all the pain."
*^*^*^*^*^Flash Back*^*^*^*^*^
As night consumed the small city Marvel called her home, it dawned on her that today had been one of the most peaceful days in this place. Perhaps it was a little too calm, because tranquility only meant the quiet before a storm. Something had to be coming. As she sat by herself at the saloon's lonely bar, she could taste trouble in the dry air of the cold, desert night, as a familiar smell hit her nostrils from close range.
His scent was exotic, masculine and sensual. So much like the man himself, a smell so wonderful and intoxicating it seemed almost forbidden. It invited response, a subtle balance to his manner, calculated to inspire withdrawal. He attracted her with his hidden self, and challenged her to reach his core.
"So, Legato, Why did it take me so long to pick up your scent?" She gingerly sipped rum from the shot glass in her hand. Marvel already knew why; he always messed with her senses when he arrived. "Were you hiding yourself from me?" The man enjoyed seeing her face when he was unexpected. It angered her when he got the jump on her, and he loved her angry. Marvel was so feisty when she was angry. This time, she baited him with a show of nonchalance, not even facing him.
"I just didn't want to cause you any type of distraction. I wouldn't want you to be thinking of me and do something careless. When your mind wanders you can't seem to do the most simple of tasks. You need to learn how to concentrate." Legato placed one hand on Marvel's shoulder as he spoke, feeling her stiffen, then relax under his touch.
"Maybe if you didn't cause so much havoc, you wouldn't be such a distraction!" Her words were harsh and she spat them like venom, but she placed a hand on her shoulder, too, interlocking her fingers with his.
"I don't think this is the place for our conversation to continue. It might be better left for somewhere a little more private," Marvel growled, and rose to her feet.
"I don't know how much talking you're planning to do. Maybe I should just say 'no' this time and leave you high and dry," Legato responded in his habitual fashion. He reverted seamlessly to a distant pose, removing his hand.
"I do need to have a word with you. It is a matter of great importance."
The look in Legato's bewitching eyes was not like one the tough lady had ever seen before. It caught her off guard, while it ruined the effect of his stance. Crossing her arms and putting her weight on one hip, Marvel didn't let him know that look actually scared her.
"Oh-kay, if it's that important, I guess I should hear you out. I mean, what harm could it do?"
While walking back to Marvel's room, Legato did something else very uncharacteristic of his cold-natured self. His aloof shell chipped as he reached down and grasped her small hand in his bigger one. The shocked girl's eyes grew wide as she turned to look at him, but he just kept walking as if it were a normal, everyday occurrence.
Marvel was more than startled, as a matter of fact, she was a little freaked out. Legato was affectionate in his own way; it was usually a kind of rough and passionate affection that made other women blush at the sight of the two of them on the street together. He did not have a concern for privacy; Legato despised all people in general and their opinions, but Marvel always steered them from the public. They shared furious desire, kissing one another all over and clawing at each other like wild animals, but this touch was gentle, loving.
Reaching the room, Marvel's mind raced a mile a minute. His demeanor seemed to be changing right before her eyes. She experienced a flash of Legato standing in her doorway, shedding his white coat and fading away. She shook her head and dispelled the image, making herself comfortable by lying down in bed. Legato sat on the edge facing away from her, his shoulders slumped in an unhappy fashion. Marvel shifted towards him, a yawn forming despite her apprehension. After a moment of sitting silent, Legato spoke.
"In the beginning, this was a game, a trick the master wanted me to play, but this has gone so much further, hasn't it?" Marvel didn't quite get the meaning of his words, and told him so.
"Legato, what do you mean, what are you talking about?" Whatever was going on in his head, she know it couldn't be good.
"This--you and I--at first it was make believe. The master knew that you wouldn't just join the Gung-Ho guns, so he sent me to trap you. All the master had heard about you was that you were an amazing fighter, so you'd make the perfect weapon for his quest to destroy humanity. You were going to be another of his pawns to direct." Marvel let hot tears run down her face.
"So this is all game to you, is it? Just a little game to mess with the heads of the innocent! Well, I told you I would never join that stupid gang and I never plan to! So you've wasted a lot of time and energy because-" Legato suddenly turned around and pinned the young woman down on the bed with his weight, immobilizing her strength while stilling her voice with his mind.
"Yes, it was nothing more than a scheme to use your heart to ensnare you in my masters web. Such foolish emotions are exploitable. I liked how you resisted me. I loved the chase. But you did something to me, something I don't understand. When I told him I would do this myself, I knew I was the perfect choice. Midvalley, for all his good looks and talent, would have come back in a box, and none of the others would have any appeal for you. I took it upon myself. You shouldn't have been hard to attract, with your feeble human mind."
Mentally, Marvel was screaming curses, and it showed. As hard as Marvel struggled, she was under Legato's control and it was of no use. The strikingly beautiful man ran a hand over the features of her face, letting his fingers dance on her skin and over her lips. Her fury surged, anticipating further violation.
"But with those eyes and those lips, I started to feel myself lose control. Even the way you smell was pulling me in. All I could think of was you, and you became my obsession. The master decided I should not waste my time pursuing you, but I only told him of your incredible strengths and convinced him you were too useful. I kept up the plan and led you to create destruction, but only the destruction you know you wanted to cause. I merely suspended your sentimental 'better judgment,' stopping you from reaching your full power. Your loyalty to me was deferred to aid my master." The woman under him clenched her teeth. He graciously allowed her a moment to reply.
"You made me a monster, a creature only good for murder!"
"To the contrary, I only fed the beast within you. It has always been a part of you." She sputtered anger at his betrayal, and Legato suppressed her once again, following the surface of her thoughts. "I began to see, though," he continued, "that you were not meant for such things. You were put here, not to kill, but to protect, and I began to feel reality slipping away. I didn't understand why I loved you or why I needed to protect you, but I had to stay with the plan because if he found out?" Marvel's anguished stream of "How could you"s stopped as she listened to his words. She struggled no longer, it was all making sense now.
"If Knives found out, he might do something about us. He might try to stop you from being confused about where your loyalties lie. You could not stand against him." He slowly felt her hostility cease, and he released her completely. Her green eyes met his gold ones. "But, Legato, his mind is so much stronger than yours, he has to know already. There's no way you could hide what's in your heart from him."
She breathed deeply, finally making the connection.
"That's what this is all about, isn't it?" Soft hands cupped the face of the man with such amazing mental power. Even his mind was no match for Knives.
"My master wants this to be your last night on this planet; he wants you dead, my attachment ended. But I cannot carry out his request this time. I love you; for once, I feel like there is something more important than his wishes." He smiled and stroked her cheek with the back of his hand. "When I leave, I won't be coming back. The master has a special mission for me to take care of and I will not return alive."
"What do you mean! You can't go! Where are all the others, why can't they take care of this?" Marvel clung now to the man who once only desired her help in the extermination of mankind. Now she was his desire.
"They are all gone. Midvalley and I are the only two who remain." Legato heard her gasp in shock.
"Even Dominique and Rai Dei?"
"All of them have died for their inability to stop the master's brother. I will be the one to break him." Marvel brushed the hair out of her lover's eyes so she could look deeply into both of them. She saw regret when he looked at her, but she could have sworn he said those words with--approval? Maybe she didn't know his emotions as well as she imagined. He was enigmatic at best, often projecting an emotion he didn't mean. She was finally convinced of his sincerity regarding her, though, and she trusted him more than ever, so she let it lie.
She didn't care. She loved him.
"Why don't we forget about all of this and run away some place, just the two of us. We'd never have to worry about Millions Knives or Vash the Stampede again. We could just be together always." There was no hope in the young man's eyes. Her voice lowered to a hushed whisper. "You're all I need in this existence we call life. I can't lose you."
"My fate was decided before I met you, Marvel, and I can't change it now. I was never meant to live out my days in happiness by your side. Even if we did leave, he'd find us. There is nowhere to hide. The master would hunt us down and the punishment would be severe. Vash the Stampede will release me from this hell so I can finally rest. Just promise me that you won't do what you're thinking once I'm gone."
"I can't just let Knives get away with this! Your life is not his to toy with! I won't let your death go unavenged!"
"You're wrong! All lives are his toys. Life itself is pain, and I have suffered enough." He stared at her piercingly. "Stay away from him! If you come up against him, you will be ripped to shreds form the inside out! I have seen him do it before and no one would be able to save you. Choose your manner of death more wisely than that! You could not avenge me, only earn yourself torment. Just let this go and let us spend this time we have together peacefully." Gripping the shoulder of the white coat Marvel began to strip him of the sheet covering his body.
"Someone has to stop him." She captured Legato's lips with her own.
"It will not be you or I that stops him. If anyone does, it will be that idiot brother of his. Even though I don't believe he will, you may keep up hope if you wish." He started to place kisses under her jawline, soft kisses.
The whole night he showed her the true love in his heart, lavishing her with his admiration over and over. Knowing this would be the last time they were together, the two slipped into a timeless place. Legato was like never before, so tender and loving Marvel never wanted the night to end. Never wanted him to leave.
*^*^*^*^*^*^End Flash Back^*^*^*^
"Nobody else ever saw him when he was sound asleep, lying in bed. He looked like an innocent child. I always just wanted to crawl in with him and lay like that together forever." Marvel sniffed a bit trying to hold back her tears. She didn't want to cry, not even in front of Vash. "In the morning, he left me and I reluctantly let him go. He walked out of my life just like he walked in, quietly on a blazing, dusty morning. I came here right after he left and stayed till I could sort things out. I can't even remember how long I stayed in my room alone, trying to make heads or tails of this life I still have. When I left for town, I found you lying in the sand and brought you back with me.
Vash pulled her close, so much so that he was crushing her in his arms. "Vash, hey, what are you doing?!" Marvel snapped in irritation. The bottom lip of the man above her trembled and his eyes grew big.
"That was the saddest story I've ever heard!" The man's blue-green eyes filled with gushing tears, clutching her even closer.
"Vash, if you don't let me go, I'm not going to be able to breathe soon." The small woman in his arms squeaked out a plea for him to let go.
"Oh, sorry. Guess I don't know my own strength some times." He let go of her, rubbing the back of his head and looking sheepish.
"Now, don't you see? I'm not only a sign from the grim reaper that you're going to die, I'm also a mess you just don't wanna clean up." Marvel wiped the newly formed tears underneath her eyes.
"What do you mean, a sign from the grim reaper?"
"Everybody I care about dies!" The beautiful woman looked away from Vash's concerned stare.
"People die, you can't help that! You don't cause their deaths, because everyone has a time they're meant to go. Not even you can control that." Delicately, the kind man wrapped his arms around her again. He felt two palms on his chest and he looked down to meet Marvel's gaze. The pair leaned in closing their eyes, lips ready to meet when the door burst open.
"Hey, Marvel, mail call! Oh, was I interrupting something?" Emily 's face lit up with a smile. Marvel growled at the younger woman.
"Do you ever knock!?" Frustrated, the older woman rose to her feet, snatching the letter from the girl's hand.
"Well, you know, if you locked a door when the two of you planed to make out, this wouldn't happen!" She huffed, and then giggled.
Marvel ripped open the letter, shredding the envelope with her claws. She looked at the words on the paper strangely, not understanding what they meant.
"What is this, a joke? I have no clue who this is from or what it means." Using the feline nose she had been given, the cat woman sniffed the piece of paper. "And the scents are not familiar to me either. Scents are like the person themself and no two are identical. I'd recognize this one."
"Read it out loud, Marvel. Maybe you're just having a memory lapse. Let Vash and I help you." Emily smiled sweetly and plopped down next to Vash, sitting on the bed.
"Alright, 'I've been waiting for this a long time, Marvel, and we will finally meet again. Revenge will be taken for the way you betrayed me in the past. We will meet soon. I have trained for what seems like forever for this day. Beware!' Revenge against me? What for?"
"Sounds like you really ticked someone off," Vash chuckled aloud, falling back rolling with laughter. Emily sighed.
"The question's not who has she ticked off, it's who hasn't she!?"
*^*^**^*^*^*^*^*^*
"This has become increasingly boring." Knives paced about the room in a restless manner. He's spent most of the day closed in with only Meryl to entertain him. "If he doesn't come back soon I'm going to go and get that idiotic brother of mine."
"You can't just go and bring Vash back, so calm down." Meryl sat in the chair next to the bed, catching up on some paperwork she had neglected while attending to Knives.
"We have to do something! I'm going insane in this place!" He continued to march back and forth.
"Why don't you sit down and we'll think of something to do, ok?" The disgruntled man took a seat on the edge of the bed, thrusting his hand through short platinum hair. Meryl sat a moment, thinking about what the two of them could do in this room they couldn't leave.
"Well we could play some cards, but I'm not any good and you'd only cheat anyway."
"Why would you assume I'm going to cheat?"
"Because you can read my mind and have no morals to stop you." The frigid man actually smiled at the clever woman.
"You have a point." Flashing her a sexy smile, Knives leaned back on the bed, supporting his weight on his elbows. "I guess chess is out of the question too then."
Placing her paperwork on the nightstand, Meryl stood and paced a bit herself. "What am I going to do with you, Knives?"
"Do with me whatever you want, Meryl. I don't mind."
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Hope you liked that chapter! I only have a few things to say I won't keep you long. On is Go buy the 'Super Gals' DVD. It is the most hilarious thing I have ever seen in my life! I'm a Gal to a t, I even had red steaks in my hair like Ran Kotobuki until recently. Two is thanks so much to grinsome the most wonderful editor in the world! Third is read "Walking Toward Tomorrow" By darkladyknight. I think it's really interesting, but has very few reviews. Give it a shot and tell her what you think.
Nova
Review!!!!
Thank you!!!
Trapt-tears^*^ No I don't' have beta; I don't even know what that is. I'm not much of a friend to computer and all I have is Microsoft word 2000. I id get an editor though and I know she can catch all my awful mistakes. Thank you for offering you help though!
trigunlover#1^*^ You asked for it so here it is!
Akira*D^*^ I'm still hoping you forgave me for taking do long to give you reviews on you last two chapters. SOOO SOOOOOORY! I BEG FOR YOUR FORGIVNESS!!!!!
Kegome-angel2000*^* And I can't wait for you to read more of it, so were even!
Melissa :) Wolfwood's reappearance is actually a whole story in it's self. And it's for reasons nether the readers or he would have even thought of. I'm thinking a sequel where you learn more about his return and who's pulling the resurrection strings. With more of Kaleidoscope's romances too of course.
Ujiji^*^ I'm gland you love Marvel and Vash. There were quite a few people who really hated the paring. I hope they changed their minds.
Faery Goddoyss^*^ You find out how Knives feels about Meryl in all due time. So I guess you'll just have to keep on reading. Maw hahaha Maw haha
KelliKatt^*^ Do I really always leave you hanging? I never noticed :)
Nuclear Pudding^*^ Legato's not really a weenie, he still capable of all the awful destruction he always has been. But he has found something worth keeping safe on this unhappy dust bowl planet. Ok so maybe he a little bit of a weenie.
WW^*^ Come on if you keep writing post's like that I'm going to cry! That was so sweet! Thank you sooo much! *Breaks down into tears* I said I wouldn't do that!
Ten Reviews! That's Wonderful! Keep them coning wonderful readers of fan fiction!
Disclaimer - I don't own Trigun or any of its character. If I did I'd be the happiest woman in the world!
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Chapter 17: You're all I need
Vash held Marvel close to his lean, muscular frame, easing her tremors. The emotional woman felt soothed, protected, encircled in the arms of her pacifistic outlaw. She looked into those soulful eyes that seemed to change shade with his mood and she was calm enough to tell him of the day she lost everything.
"His path was chosen before he ever met me and I had to let him go. I just watched him walk away and all I could do was cry. I wanted to scream out; I wanted to stop him, but it wouldn't have mattered. I knew it had to be that way, that we were just never meant to be. It's possible that we were never even supposed to meet, but we did, and I put all of his beliefs in jeopardy. Just like your existence did, Vash.
He couldn't understand how you and Knives could have such different beliefs when you were so alike, and it made him angry and confused. All he desired was an end to all the pain."
*^*^*^*^*^Flash Back*^*^*^*^*^
As night consumed the small city Marvel called her home, it dawned on her that today had been one of the most peaceful days in this place. Perhaps it was a little too calm, because tranquility only meant the quiet before a storm. Something had to be coming. As she sat by herself at the saloon's lonely bar, she could taste trouble in the dry air of the cold, desert night, as a familiar smell hit her nostrils from close range.
His scent was exotic, masculine and sensual. So much like the man himself, a smell so wonderful and intoxicating it seemed almost forbidden. It invited response, a subtle balance to his manner, calculated to inspire withdrawal. He attracted her with his hidden self, and challenged her to reach his core.
"So, Legato, Why did it take me so long to pick up your scent?" She gingerly sipped rum from the shot glass in her hand. Marvel already knew why; he always messed with her senses when he arrived. "Were you hiding yourself from me?" The man enjoyed seeing her face when he was unexpected. It angered her when he got the jump on her, and he loved her angry. Marvel was so feisty when she was angry. This time, she baited him with a show of nonchalance, not even facing him.
"I just didn't want to cause you any type of distraction. I wouldn't want you to be thinking of me and do something careless. When your mind wanders you can't seem to do the most simple of tasks. You need to learn how to concentrate." Legato placed one hand on Marvel's shoulder as he spoke, feeling her stiffen, then relax under his touch.
"Maybe if you didn't cause so much havoc, you wouldn't be such a distraction!" Her words were harsh and she spat them like venom, but she placed a hand on her shoulder, too, interlocking her fingers with his.
"I don't think this is the place for our conversation to continue. It might be better left for somewhere a little more private," Marvel growled, and rose to her feet.
"I don't know how much talking you're planning to do. Maybe I should just say 'no' this time and leave you high and dry," Legato responded in his habitual fashion. He reverted seamlessly to a distant pose, removing his hand.
"I do need to have a word with you. It is a matter of great importance."
The look in Legato's bewitching eyes was not like one the tough lady had ever seen before. It caught her off guard, while it ruined the effect of his stance. Crossing her arms and putting her weight on one hip, Marvel didn't let him know that look actually scared her.
"Oh-kay, if it's that important, I guess I should hear you out. I mean, what harm could it do?"
While walking back to Marvel's room, Legato did something else very uncharacteristic of his cold-natured self. His aloof shell chipped as he reached down and grasped her small hand in his bigger one. The shocked girl's eyes grew wide as she turned to look at him, but he just kept walking as if it were a normal, everyday occurrence.
Marvel was more than startled, as a matter of fact, she was a little freaked out. Legato was affectionate in his own way; it was usually a kind of rough and passionate affection that made other women blush at the sight of the two of them on the street together. He did not have a concern for privacy; Legato despised all people in general and their opinions, but Marvel always steered them from the public. They shared furious desire, kissing one another all over and clawing at each other like wild animals, but this touch was gentle, loving.
Reaching the room, Marvel's mind raced a mile a minute. His demeanor seemed to be changing right before her eyes. She experienced a flash of Legato standing in her doorway, shedding his white coat and fading away. She shook her head and dispelled the image, making herself comfortable by lying down in bed. Legato sat on the edge facing away from her, his shoulders slumped in an unhappy fashion. Marvel shifted towards him, a yawn forming despite her apprehension. After a moment of sitting silent, Legato spoke.
"In the beginning, this was a game, a trick the master wanted me to play, but this has gone so much further, hasn't it?" Marvel didn't quite get the meaning of his words, and told him so.
"Legato, what do you mean, what are you talking about?" Whatever was going on in his head, she know it couldn't be good.
"This--you and I--at first it was make believe. The master knew that you wouldn't just join the Gung-Ho guns, so he sent me to trap you. All the master had heard about you was that you were an amazing fighter, so you'd make the perfect weapon for his quest to destroy humanity. You were going to be another of his pawns to direct." Marvel let hot tears run down her face.
"So this is all game to you, is it? Just a little game to mess with the heads of the innocent! Well, I told you I would never join that stupid gang and I never plan to! So you've wasted a lot of time and energy because-" Legato suddenly turned around and pinned the young woman down on the bed with his weight, immobilizing her strength while stilling her voice with his mind.
"Yes, it was nothing more than a scheme to use your heart to ensnare you in my masters web. Such foolish emotions are exploitable. I liked how you resisted me. I loved the chase. But you did something to me, something I don't understand. When I told him I would do this myself, I knew I was the perfect choice. Midvalley, for all his good looks and talent, would have come back in a box, and none of the others would have any appeal for you. I took it upon myself. You shouldn't have been hard to attract, with your feeble human mind."
Mentally, Marvel was screaming curses, and it showed. As hard as Marvel struggled, she was under Legato's control and it was of no use. The strikingly beautiful man ran a hand over the features of her face, letting his fingers dance on her skin and over her lips. Her fury surged, anticipating further violation.
"But with those eyes and those lips, I started to feel myself lose control. Even the way you smell was pulling me in. All I could think of was you, and you became my obsession. The master decided I should not waste my time pursuing you, but I only told him of your incredible strengths and convinced him you were too useful. I kept up the plan and led you to create destruction, but only the destruction you know you wanted to cause. I merely suspended your sentimental 'better judgment,' stopping you from reaching your full power. Your loyalty to me was deferred to aid my master." The woman under him clenched her teeth. He graciously allowed her a moment to reply.
"You made me a monster, a creature only good for murder!"
"To the contrary, I only fed the beast within you. It has always been a part of you." She sputtered anger at his betrayal, and Legato suppressed her once again, following the surface of her thoughts. "I began to see, though," he continued, "that you were not meant for such things. You were put here, not to kill, but to protect, and I began to feel reality slipping away. I didn't understand why I loved you or why I needed to protect you, but I had to stay with the plan because if he found out?" Marvel's anguished stream of "How could you"s stopped as she listened to his words. She struggled no longer, it was all making sense now.
"If Knives found out, he might do something about us. He might try to stop you from being confused about where your loyalties lie. You could not stand against him." He slowly felt her hostility cease, and he released her completely. Her green eyes met his gold ones. "But, Legato, his mind is so much stronger than yours, he has to know already. There's no way you could hide what's in your heart from him."
She breathed deeply, finally making the connection.
"That's what this is all about, isn't it?" Soft hands cupped the face of the man with such amazing mental power. Even his mind was no match for Knives.
"My master wants this to be your last night on this planet; he wants you dead, my attachment ended. But I cannot carry out his request this time. I love you; for once, I feel like there is something more important than his wishes." He smiled and stroked her cheek with the back of his hand. "When I leave, I won't be coming back. The master has a special mission for me to take care of and I will not return alive."
"What do you mean! You can't go! Where are all the others, why can't they take care of this?" Marvel clung now to the man who once only desired her help in the extermination of mankind. Now she was his desire.
"They are all gone. Midvalley and I are the only two who remain." Legato heard her gasp in shock.
"Even Dominique and Rai Dei?"
"All of them have died for their inability to stop the master's brother. I will be the one to break him." Marvel brushed the hair out of her lover's eyes so she could look deeply into both of them. She saw regret when he looked at her, but she could have sworn he said those words with--approval? Maybe she didn't know his emotions as well as she imagined. He was enigmatic at best, often projecting an emotion he didn't mean. She was finally convinced of his sincerity regarding her, though, and she trusted him more than ever, so she let it lie.
She didn't care. She loved him.
"Why don't we forget about all of this and run away some place, just the two of us. We'd never have to worry about Millions Knives or Vash the Stampede again. We could just be together always." There was no hope in the young man's eyes. Her voice lowered to a hushed whisper. "You're all I need in this existence we call life. I can't lose you."
"My fate was decided before I met you, Marvel, and I can't change it now. I was never meant to live out my days in happiness by your side. Even if we did leave, he'd find us. There is nowhere to hide. The master would hunt us down and the punishment would be severe. Vash the Stampede will release me from this hell so I can finally rest. Just promise me that you won't do what you're thinking once I'm gone."
"I can't just let Knives get away with this! Your life is not his to toy with! I won't let your death go unavenged!"
"You're wrong! All lives are his toys. Life itself is pain, and I have suffered enough." He stared at her piercingly. "Stay away from him! If you come up against him, you will be ripped to shreds form the inside out! I have seen him do it before and no one would be able to save you. Choose your manner of death more wisely than that! You could not avenge me, only earn yourself torment. Just let this go and let us spend this time we have together peacefully." Gripping the shoulder of the white coat Marvel began to strip him of the sheet covering his body.
"Someone has to stop him." She captured Legato's lips with her own.
"It will not be you or I that stops him. If anyone does, it will be that idiot brother of his. Even though I don't believe he will, you may keep up hope if you wish." He started to place kisses under her jawline, soft kisses.
The whole night he showed her the true love in his heart, lavishing her with his admiration over and over. Knowing this would be the last time they were together, the two slipped into a timeless place. Legato was like never before, so tender and loving Marvel never wanted the night to end. Never wanted him to leave.
*^*^*^*^*^*^End Flash Back^*^*^*^
"Nobody else ever saw him when he was sound asleep, lying in bed. He looked like an innocent child. I always just wanted to crawl in with him and lay like that together forever." Marvel sniffed a bit trying to hold back her tears. She didn't want to cry, not even in front of Vash. "In the morning, he left me and I reluctantly let him go. He walked out of my life just like he walked in, quietly on a blazing, dusty morning. I came here right after he left and stayed till I could sort things out. I can't even remember how long I stayed in my room alone, trying to make heads or tails of this life I still have. When I left for town, I found you lying in the sand and brought you back with me.
Vash pulled her close, so much so that he was crushing her in his arms. "Vash, hey, what are you doing?!" Marvel snapped in irritation. The bottom lip of the man above her trembled and his eyes grew big.
"That was the saddest story I've ever heard!" The man's blue-green eyes filled with gushing tears, clutching her even closer.
"Vash, if you don't let me go, I'm not going to be able to breathe soon." The small woman in his arms squeaked out a plea for him to let go.
"Oh, sorry. Guess I don't know my own strength some times." He let go of her, rubbing the back of his head and looking sheepish.
"Now, don't you see? I'm not only a sign from the grim reaper that you're going to die, I'm also a mess you just don't wanna clean up." Marvel wiped the newly formed tears underneath her eyes.
"What do you mean, a sign from the grim reaper?"
"Everybody I care about dies!" The beautiful woman looked away from Vash's concerned stare.
"People die, you can't help that! You don't cause their deaths, because everyone has a time they're meant to go. Not even you can control that." Delicately, the kind man wrapped his arms around her again. He felt two palms on his chest and he looked down to meet Marvel's gaze. The pair leaned in closing their eyes, lips ready to meet when the door burst open.
"Hey, Marvel, mail call! Oh, was I interrupting something?" Emily 's face lit up with a smile. Marvel growled at the younger woman.
"Do you ever knock!?" Frustrated, the older woman rose to her feet, snatching the letter from the girl's hand.
"Well, you know, if you locked a door when the two of you planed to make out, this wouldn't happen!" She huffed, and then giggled.
Marvel ripped open the letter, shredding the envelope with her claws. She looked at the words on the paper strangely, not understanding what they meant.
"What is this, a joke? I have no clue who this is from or what it means." Using the feline nose she had been given, the cat woman sniffed the piece of paper. "And the scents are not familiar to me either. Scents are like the person themself and no two are identical. I'd recognize this one."
"Read it out loud, Marvel. Maybe you're just having a memory lapse. Let Vash and I help you." Emily smiled sweetly and plopped down next to Vash, sitting on the bed.
"Alright, 'I've been waiting for this a long time, Marvel, and we will finally meet again. Revenge will be taken for the way you betrayed me in the past. We will meet soon. I have trained for what seems like forever for this day. Beware!' Revenge against me? What for?"
"Sounds like you really ticked someone off," Vash chuckled aloud, falling back rolling with laughter. Emily sighed.
"The question's not who has she ticked off, it's who hasn't she!?"
*^*^**^*^*^*^*^*^*
"This has become increasingly boring." Knives paced about the room in a restless manner. He's spent most of the day closed in with only Meryl to entertain him. "If he doesn't come back soon I'm going to go and get that idiotic brother of mine."
"You can't just go and bring Vash back, so calm down." Meryl sat in the chair next to the bed, catching up on some paperwork she had neglected while attending to Knives.
"We have to do something! I'm going insane in this place!" He continued to march back and forth.
"Why don't you sit down and we'll think of something to do, ok?" The disgruntled man took a seat on the edge of the bed, thrusting his hand through short platinum hair. Meryl sat a moment, thinking about what the two of them could do in this room they couldn't leave.
"Well we could play some cards, but I'm not any good and you'd only cheat anyway."
"Why would you assume I'm going to cheat?"
"Because you can read my mind and have no morals to stop you." The frigid man actually smiled at the clever woman.
"You have a point." Flashing her a sexy smile, Knives leaned back on the bed, supporting his weight on his elbows. "I guess chess is out of the question too then."
Placing her paperwork on the nightstand, Meryl stood and paced a bit herself. "What am I going to do with you, Knives?"
"Do with me whatever you want, Meryl. I don't mind."
^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^
Hope you liked that chapter! I only have a few things to say I won't keep you long. On is Go buy the 'Super Gals' DVD. It is the most hilarious thing I have ever seen in my life! I'm a Gal to a t, I even had red steaks in my hair like Ran Kotobuki until recently. Two is thanks so much to grinsome the most wonderful editor in the world! Third is read "Walking Toward Tomorrow" By darkladyknight. I think it's really interesting, but has very few reviews. Give it a shot and tell her what you think.
Nova
Review!!!!