Hello you wonderful readers of Fan Fiction! Sorry it's been taking me so long to get chapters posted. I've become rater lazy recently. All I do is work, eat, sleep, and watch Anime. It's a sad existence really, but I'm content. SO I hope you enjoy this chapter! It was once again beautify edited and revamped by none other than the talented Grinsome, bringer of good grammar and spelling! I can never repay her for how wonderful she makes this story!
Thank you!
Nuclear Pudding**** I loved the comment "Too bad Vash had to go and toast his ass." It was it was really funny and helped make my unhappy day a little brighter. I'm still laughing. (Note: I'm easily amused)
Kagome-angel2000****I'm sorry I took so long----Forgive me!
WW**** Good lost, or bad lost? Is there such a thing as good lost? Oh look, I've gone and confused my self! And don't worry, wee all have those mind in the gutter moments.
KelliKatt****Yeah, I really like the Idea of creating a sequel and, or prequel to this story. I love all the characters so much I'd love to write about them again. I want to make it one of those stories you don't necessary need to read the first one to get, but it wouldn't hurt if you did.
Akira*D****So, I'm going over right now to read the newest chapter of your story. Don't think I've forgotten about you! I've Just Been on a constant hunt for Info on my newest Anime obsession. I'll tell everyone about it after this chapter.
SilverGunVM****Once agin I have let another reader down with my lazy behavior. I soooo sorry it took so long! I've had than chapter edited for almost two weeks, but I'm so lazy! Forgive me!!!
Only Five! Where was every body? I'm being punished for being lazy aren't I? I hope I'll be getting more revives with this next chapter! (Hint ,Hint! Don't make me hunt all of you down!)
^*^
Dislamer: I don't own Trigun and my therapist say that's ok.
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^
Kaleidoscope
Chapter 18: Backbone
"Meryl, you're blushing." Knives gave the unsuspecting woman a flirtatious smile and Meryl was taken aback.
"You know you shouldn't say things like that, Knives." She let out a huff of frustration. The way this man had been teasing her was driving the insurance lady crazy. "Someone could get the wrong idea, you know."
"Sorry, I just enjoy watching an adorable woman like you squirm a little. It is too easy to get under your skin and so fun!" The man flashed that million-double-dollar smile again.
"Just watch what you say, alright? You can't say just anything to anyone." She almost sounded like she was scolding a little child. Knives' almighty personality was starting to fray her nerves.
"So, is the little mouse starting to get a backbone?" The always somber man's new attitude was strange. It was a disconcerting, flirty tease, but his games seemed harmless enough, provided Vash was not nearby. The smile on his face breathed new life into what had always been dead or dangerous expressions. Even the peevish woman who sat a foot or so away couln't help but smile at his grin.
"Maybe I have, or maybe I've just grown accustomed to dealing with you--you don't scare me as much as before. You're just a big baby striving for attention." At this last sentence, Knives' smiling visage rapidly changed to it's opposite.
"So, I do not frighten you anymore, Meryl?" His voice was low and harsh. The two big hands of the superior man grasped the much smaller woman by the shoulders and pulled them both roughly to their feet. "Have I lost that which caused you to fear me?" Outrage burned in his eyes and the innocent moment the two had shared became shadowed. His mind tried to pull at reality, searched to find a reason for the feeling that stirred within him. "You dare to look at me with kindness in your eyes!"
"Knives, stop! You're hurting me!" Meryl's dainty shoulders felt as if soon they would crumble to dust in the tight grasp of the long, spidery fingers of Knives' hand. Her heart beat wildly, as Knives's unconscious strength surfaced in his anger. She forgot to breathe for a moment and saw spots appear in her vision.
"Does this scare you, Meryl?" Behind those angry eyes, Knives' mind was racing. Her rapid pulse pounded in his ears. Feelings were beginning to emerge that Knives had never experienced before; it terrified him. He continued to crush the hapless human while he attempted to salvage his control. He hated to lose command of a situation, so these--emotions!--needed to be suppressed. Only Vash, his only family, and ONLY his brother, could influence him so erratically, until SHE did something to him! He cursed even his brother for having that effect on him. At first, Meryl had been a necessary burden, caring for him like a mother because he could not take care of himself. He both despised her for seeing him weak and treasured her for nursing him back to health. But since that kiss yesterday, things inside him were changing. The tiny, black-haired woman had begun to look different. He had noticed it a few times before, the way certain events highlighted her and made her special; how, in the right light, the sun
warmed her pure skin, or how a soft smile she graced him with looked amazing when she sat in a dim room. These things were startlingly cute--no--something else. The passive "I won't kill her" he had initially felt was escalating to a deeper lust, peerhaps even a love. It was alarming how her simple touch set him on fire. He couldn't know it was a similar feeling she had gotten from Knives when he had placed his hand on Meryl's for the first time.
"Let...me...go!" Meryl struggled to inhale, not wanting to faint. Despite the pain he was causing her, she realized on some instinctive level that Knives was not making an earnest threat. "Knives, please let go." He did not respond, but she saw hints of his internal conflict. The look in those gray eyes was not at her, but through her now. The pressure was bruising and steady, but not endangering. Actually, her startlement was more paralyzing, though Meryl's eyes watered. Meryl didn't understand why he was like this. One moment, Knives seemed happy and glad to have her around, then, with no warning, his mood changed dramatically. He was a tamed animal, seemingly free of his wild roots, which one day snapped, taking off his trainer's arm. The reminder that he was truly evil was always there. Knives focused on her again, but she felt he wasn't...all there.
"You'd like it if I just let you go, if I just stopped this, wouldn't you? Well, I won't! Not yet. You need to learn that I'm not what you think I am. I am not your loyal puppy and I think you may be starting to forget that." From the beginning, the way he had treated her wasn't a game, but an experiment of sorts, though he hated to admit it. He cared, Knives really cared about her, from the moment he felt her sadness cover him like a heavy blanket. But could he really let himself keep being tempted by this woman? Enjoying her discomfort when using sexual innuendos had evoled from a joke to true tension. It was killing him, causing him to go mad locked up in this room with Meryl. And now that his presence was comforting to her, he might act on the feelings that simmered inside him. If Knives could keep her scared of him, there was a chance he could keep control of his emotions. "So tell me, Meryl, do I scare you now?"
A thought echoed through Meryl's mind, as she stood motionless in the grip of Knives' force. She remembered something Marvel had told her before she left: "Meryl, I don't trust him alone with you, he's dangerous, you know. I'm just trying to protect you." She didn't need it, the protection of others, especially the protection of that man-stealing bitch! It was time to stand up and protect herself. It was time to face fear and show that no one was going to push her around any more!
"No, I'm not scared of you! I wont be scared any more!" Taking in her words, Knives let go, freeing her in his confusion. Why was she not afraid? Would she force him to hurt her again? Her arm in pain, the petite woman raised her hand, slapping the unsuspecting man across the face. He looked at Meryl, stunned.
"You dare raise a hand to Me!?"
"I do, Knives! And I'd do it again! Where do you get off, pushing me around like that?! I'm not some lackey who you need to scare loyalty into. So if you try some crap like that again I don't care what kind of mind powers you have, I'll shoot you dead on the spot!" Knives stood there, covering the red handprint on his cheek, jaw dropped, not saying a word, merely blinking every so often. "To think, I was actually starting to fall for a guy like you! I was so stupid to think that I meant something, that I wasn't just the big evil's little sidekick!"
"Meryl." her name was only a low whisper on his lips. Still touching his face in amazement, the man who towered over her snaked an arm around her, bringing her body close to his. "You're really not scared of me?" Meryl did not know whether she could trust him; Knives' attitude baffled her, changing gears once again. She brought her gathered energy to bear, refusing to allow her rant to be halted by a shameful trick. He'd probably laugh like it was the greatest joke on Gunsmoke.
"No, I'm not! I said so already. You can beat my body to the ground before I'll give you the pleasure of my fear!" Knives started to lean in close to Meryl's face, but she didn't budge. She didn't care what this egotistical jerk was about to do. She stood, stiff but firm, enraged look painted on her face. That's when it happened. His lips met hers in a fury of unbridled passion. Trying to taste all of her, he held her rigid frame close to his.
This kiss was much different from the previous one. That had been the kind of gentle, shy kiss a little boy gave, but this was the kiss of a bold man. Knives didn't hold back as he attacked Meryl's lips with his own. It began entirely one-sided, but it took Knives very little time to feel Meryl letting herself return his desire. When she kissed him back with the same passion, Knives felt the most amazing of feelings. The warm rush of adrenaline rushed through his body, making him hot all over, as fireworks crashed in his mind. He couldn't focus on anything except the feeling of Meryl's lips. Pulling her as close as their bodies would allow, he could feel everything that made her a woman, everything he wanted and lusted for. However, Knives ripped himself away from the professionally dressed woman, pushing her away as well.
"Knives, what is it, what's wrong?" Concerned, she reached up to touch his face but was stopped when a firm hand wrapped around her wrist.
"Meryl, I won't do this. Please, take a walk or something while I cool off." He wanted to let her touch him so badly.
"But Knives, why?"
"Just do as I say, and leave! I need some time to myself. Besides, you haven't seen the outside of this place in days. Go enjoy a night with your friend, she missed you." Knives watched Meryl walk out the door and flopped back on the bed with a grunt of frustration. He wouldn't do it; he couldn't force himself on the pure little creature that he wanted so badly. How could he think of tainting her with his body like that? He didn't deserve such a thing, she didn't deserve it, either. No one on this planet did, those filthy humans reproducing like animals. But, why had he wanted so much to partake in such pleasure? He was superior to base animal instincts, that's why he could send Meryl away. He felt lowered towards humanity, and living here was corrupting him further. How could Vash be made to see reason if even he himself could nearly fall? Was Knives really falling in love with a human? Was Meryl more than just the company he kept to take care of him? The more he pondered his feelings, the more he knew, Knives Loved Meryl and he couldn't stop the feelings swelling in his heart. The great Knives was horrified.
^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^
"'Take a walk,' he says! What is up with him, anyway? I just don't get it!" Meryl walked the streets alone through town in the midday sun. "He kisses me, then he hates me, and then the whole cycle starts again!" Walking by one of the city's small restaurants, a familiar voice called out to her.
"Meryl, hey! Come in and join us for lunch." The tall woman with light brown hair and innocent blue eyes smiled and waved a beckoning hand to her friend.
"Alright, Millie, just give me a sec and I'll be right in." She inhaled deeply, then exhaled, readying herself to pretend like nothing was going on. She saw her doe-eyed partner sitting at a small table with the attractive priest.
"Come on, Meryl, and sit down. I've been worried about you, you know. You're spending all the time cooped up with Knives. I was actually beginning to think you enjoyed spending time with him." Millie let out a girlish giggle as her tired friend took a seat, laughing a bit too.
"Yeah right, Mille, you're so silly. Me enjoying time with that guy, really." If they only knew the soap-opera romance that was going on under their very noses, what would they think?"
"So, how is the jerk, anyway?" Wolfwood spoke up, taking a break from devouring the large plate of spaghetti he had chosen to share with Millie.
"Oh, he's fine, I guess. Still not moving around a whole lot and probably terribly bored, but fine." Meryl didn't enjoy having to lie to her two friends. On this planet, it seemed the only things that had made her moderately happy were her friends.
When Meryl had started Working for Bernardelli, it seemed as though she would work herself into the ground. The only thing that kept the tiny woman from a premature stoke was the bright smile of her child-like partner. In the worst of situations, Millie had helped Meryl keep her cool and stopped her from murdering Vash a number of times. Meryl looked over at the once mysterious priest, who had become pretty cozy with her best friend. Wolfwood would always do what was necessary to protect them. He had always seemed to be Meryl's complete opposite in every way. From her need to avoid violence and his to charge into it, to their mismatched statures, these two were completely different people. It was funny that they seemed to fight the least. Then there was Vash, the man that went from an assignment, to an irritant, to a friend who she loved but was still irritated by. These people had become her life, was she willing to give them up in the heat of passion for the violently unpredictable Knives?
Meryl closed her eyes and imagined his picturesque face with icy blue eyes and a smoldering smile. She would've done it, given up all of her friendships for one moment with him, and she still would if that's what he wanted. All Knives had to do is say the words and she would be there at his side. Meryl was hooked on love for the most evil being on the planet and she didn't care.
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^
"What about that guy whose face you threatened to cut off?" Emily suggested as the group made their way down the large staircase in the entry hall.
"Nah, that guy didn't have the balls to try something again." Marvel looked over at Vash who was toting Anna around piggyback style. Her little arms wrapped around his neck from behind. He held the small girl under the knees to keep her from slipping lose and falling.
"Can you think of anyone else, Marvel?" Emily was out of ideas and hoped there was just someone Marvel had forgot to mention.
"No, I have no clue what this is about. I mean, it's not like I hide who I've ticked off in the last few decades. And anyone else is an old geezer or dead and buried." They continued to walk down each step, taking them closer to the great entry. All of a sudden, the large doors began to open wide and a slender figure of a middle-aged man stood in the center, derby hat on the top of his head and suitcase in hand.
"Father!" Emily rushed down to the man waiting for her. He dropped his carry-on luggage on the ground and wrapped his spirited daughter in a warm embrace. Vash placed Anna on the ground and she did much the same as the tall man swooped her up into his arms, enjoying a family hug.
"I'm so glad to see you, Daddy." The tiny child's face shined bright with a cute smile only Anna was capable of.
"I'm glad to see you too, buttercup," The older man smiled back at her, giving the little blond a big kiss on the cheek. Looking up, he noticed Marvel still standing on the steps. "So I see you're okay, Miss Marvel, and judging by the fact that the house is still in one piece, I can assume that everything was all right while I was gone."
"Haha Woodrow, that's a funny one. I'll have you know that I'm a really responsible person."
"Yeah Dad, it was fun hanging out with Marvel--when she wasn't making kissy face with her new boyfriend, Vash." Emily batted her long eyelashes.
"EMILY!"
"Oh, look at the time! I have to get going, I'll see you later, daddy." Emily shot off, trying to reach the closest shelter, with Marvel close behind.
"You can't run forever, girl! You have to stop and rest some time!"
"So your name is Vash, right?" The older man greeted the tall blond from the doorway with a friendly smile.
"Yep, that's my name."
"Well then, Vash, you should follow me out of the danger zone. Those two can cause a lot of destruction and you don't want to be in the middle of it. Besides, if you've been stuck with Marvel for a while, You definitely need a break."
^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*
I thought I'd give you guys the low down on my other stories in the works.
The InuYasha story is coming along nicely when I have the time to write it. I really like that and am enjoying it. I have bee brain storming another Inu story also, but I don't know if it works.
I think a The Bebop story is a no go. I wrote the fist two chapters and I can't tell if I'm staying in character or not. It had a good plot and I already wrote a lot of dialogue but I don't know about it. So if any one would like to read the mess I have written than I cal chapter 1 please E-mail me. I'd love to get a second opinion.
The Ranma Story is in the preliminary stage. I think I'll start it after Christmas.
My Trigun fiction that has nothing to do with Kaleidoscope has been started. My Prequel and Sequel have not.
And I want start one on my new obsession as soon as I find out how it ends. Unfortunately, there is no place on FFN to post it! To find out about this obsession read below!
So recently, I have become obsessed with s-CRY-ed. I love it sooo much! I have all three DVD's that have been released and I watch them constantly. I'm watching them right now! For fan girls who love hot hero types who fight for a purpose, this Anime is fill with them. The animation is so awesome and the characters are extremely creative and cutting edge. You think, "Who though up some thing like that, I've never seen it done before!" I highly recommend it to all, and did I mention the guys are hot?
I also Updated my profile A little, more to come!
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
Review!!
Thank you!
Nuclear Pudding**** I loved the comment "Too bad Vash had to go and toast his ass." It was it was really funny and helped make my unhappy day a little brighter. I'm still laughing. (Note: I'm easily amused)
Kagome-angel2000****I'm sorry I took so long----Forgive me!
WW**** Good lost, or bad lost? Is there such a thing as good lost? Oh look, I've gone and confused my self! And don't worry, wee all have those mind in the gutter moments.
KelliKatt****Yeah, I really like the Idea of creating a sequel and, or prequel to this story. I love all the characters so much I'd love to write about them again. I want to make it one of those stories you don't necessary need to read the first one to get, but it wouldn't hurt if you did.
Akira*D****So, I'm going over right now to read the newest chapter of your story. Don't think I've forgotten about you! I've Just Been on a constant hunt for Info on my newest Anime obsession. I'll tell everyone about it after this chapter.
SilverGunVM****Once agin I have let another reader down with my lazy behavior. I soooo sorry it took so long! I've had than chapter edited for almost two weeks, but I'm so lazy! Forgive me!!!
Only Five! Where was every body? I'm being punished for being lazy aren't I? I hope I'll be getting more revives with this next chapter! (Hint ,Hint! Don't make me hunt all of you down!)
^*^
Dislamer: I don't own Trigun and my therapist say that's ok.
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^
Kaleidoscope
Chapter 18: Backbone
"Meryl, you're blushing." Knives gave the unsuspecting woman a flirtatious smile and Meryl was taken aback.
"You know you shouldn't say things like that, Knives." She let out a huff of frustration. The way this man had been teasing her was driving the insurance lady crazy. "Someone could get the wrong idea, you know."
"Sorry, I just enjoy watching an adorable woman like you squirm a little. It is too easy to get under your skin and so fun!" The man flashed that million-double-dollar smile again.
"Just watch what you say, alright? You can't say just anything to anyone." She almost sounded like she was scolding a little child. Knives' almighty personality was starting to fray her nerves.
"So, is the little mouse starting to get a backbone?" The always somber man's new attitude was strange. It was a disconcerting, flirty tease, but his games seemed harmless enough, provided Vash was not nearby. The smile on his face breathed new life into what had always been dead or dangerous expressions. Even the peevish woman who sat a foot or so away couln't help but smile at his grin.
"Maybe I have, or maybe I've just grown accustomed to dealing with you--you don't scare me as much as before. You're just a big baby striving for attention." At this last sentence, Knives' smiling visage rapidly changed to it's opposite.
"So, I do not frighten you anymore, Meryl?" His voice was low and harsh. The two big hands of the superior man grasped the much smaller woman by the shoulders and pulled them both roughly to their feet. "Have I lost that which caused you to fear me?" Outrage burned in his eyes and the innocent moment the two had shared became shadowed. His mind tried to pull at reality, searched to find a reason for the feeling that stirred within him. "You dare to look at me with kindness in your eyes!"
"Knives, stop! You're hurting me!" Meryl's dainty shoulders felt as if soon they would crumble to dust in the tight grasp of the long, spidery fingers of Knives' hand. Her heart beat wildly, as Knives's unconscious strength surfaced in his anger. She forgot to breathe for a moment and saw spots appear in her vision.
"Does this scare you, Meryl?" Behind those angry eyes, Knives' mind was racing. Her rapid pulse pounded in his ears. Feelings were beginning to emerge that Knives had never experienced before; it terrified him. He continued to crush the hapless human while he attempted to salvage his control. He hated to lose command of a situation, so these--emotions!--needed to be suppressed. Only Vash, his only family, and ONLY his brother, could influence him so erratically, until SHE did something to him! He cursed even his brother for having that effect on him. At first, Meryl had been a necessary burden, caring for him like a mother because he could not take care of himself. He both despised her for seeing him weak and treasured her for nursing him back to health. But since that kiss yesterday, things inside him were changing. The tiny, black-haired woman had begun to look different. He had noticed it a few times before, the way certain events highlighted her and made her special; how, in the right light, the sun
warmed her pure skin, or how a soft smile she graced him with looked amazing when she sat in a dim room. These things were startlingly cute--no--something else. The passive "I won't kill her" he had initially felt was escalating to a deeper lust, peerhaps even a love. It was alarming how her simple touch set him on fire. He couldn't know it was a similar feeling she had gotten from Knives when he had placed his hand on Meryl's for the first time.
"Let...me...go!" Meryl struggled to inhale, not wanting to faint. Despite the pain he was causing her, she realized on some instinctive level that Knives was not making an earnest threat. "Knives, please let go." He did not respond, but she saw hints of his internal conflict. The look in those gray eyes was not at her, but through her now. The pressure was bruising and steady, but not endangering. Actually, her startlement was more paralyzing, though Meryl's eyes watered. Meryl didn't understand why he was like this. One moment, Knives seemed happy and glad to have her around, then, with no warning, his mood changed dramatically. He was a tamed animal, seemingly free of his wild roots, which one day snapped, taking off his trainer's arm. The reminder that he was truly evil was always there. Knives focused on her again, but she felt he wasn't...all there.
"You'd like it if I just let you go, if I just stopped this, wouldn't you? Well, I won't! Not yet. You need to learn that I'm not what you think I am. I am not your loyal puppy and I think you may be starting to forget that." From the beginning, the way he had treated her wasn't a game, but an experiment of sorts, though he hated to admit it. He cared, Knives really cared about her, from the moment he felt her sadness cover him like a heavy blanket. But could he really let himself keep being tempted by this woman? Enjoying her discomfort when using sexual innuendos had evoled from a joke to true tension. It was killing him, causing him to go mad locked up in this room with Meryl. And now that his presence was comforting to her, he might act on the feelings that simmered inside him. If Knives could keep her scared of him, there was a chance he could keep control of his emotions. "So tell me, Meryl, do I scare you now?"
A thought echoed through Meryl's mind, as she stood motionless in the grip of Knives' force. She remembered something Marvel had told her before she left: "Meryl, I don't trust him alone with you, he's dangerous, you know. I'm just trying to protect you." She didn't need it, the protection of others, especially the protection of that man-stealing bitch! It was time to stand up and protect herself. It was time to face fear and show that no one was going to push her around any more!
"No, I'm not scared of you! I wont be scared any more!" Taking in her words, Knives let go, freeing her in his confusion. Why was she not afraid? Would she force him to hurt her again? Her arm in pain, the petite woman raised her hand, slapping the unsuspecting man across the face. He looked at Meryl, stunned.
"You dare raise a hand to Me!?"
"I do, Knives! And I'd do it again! Where do you get off, pushing me around like that?! I'm not some lackey who you need to scare loyalty into. So if you try some crap like that again I don't care what kind of mind powers you have, I'll shoot you dead on the spot!" Knives stood there, covering the red handprint on his cheek, jaw dropped, not saying a word, merely blinking every so often. "To think, I was actually starting to fall for a guy like you! I was so stupid to think that I meant something, that I wasn't just the big evil's little sidekick!"
"Meryl." her name was only a low whisper on his lips. Still touching his face in amazement, the man who towered over her snaked an arm around her, bringing her body close to his. "You're really not scared of me?" Meryl did not know whether she could trust him; Knives' attitude baffled her, changing gears once again. She brought her gathered energy to bear, refusing to allow her rant to be halted by a shameful trick. He'd probably laugh like it was the greatest joke on Gunsmoke.
"No, I'm not! I said so already. You can beat my body to the ground before I'll give you the pleasure of my fear!" Knives started to lean in close to Meryl's face, but she didn't budge. She didn't care what this egotistical jerk was about to do. She stood, stiff but firm, enraged look painted on her face. That's when it happened. His lips met hers in a fury of unbridled passion. Trying to taste all of her, he held her rigid frame close to his.
This kiss was much different from the previous one. That had been the kind of gentle, shy kiss a little boy gave, but this was the kiss of a bold man. Knives didn't hold back as he attacked Meryl's lips with his own. It began entirely one-sided, but it took Knives very little time to feel Meryl letting herself return his desire. When she kissed him back with the same passion, Knives felt the most amazing of feelings. The warm rush of adrenaline rushed through his body, making him hot all over, as fireworks crashed in his mind. He couldn't focus on anything except the feeling of Meryl's lips. Pulling her as close as their bodies would allow, he could feel everything that made her a woman, everything he wanted and lusted for. However, Knives ripped himself away from the professionally dressed woman, pushing her away as well.
"Knives, what is it, what's wrong?" Concerned, she reached up to touch his face but was stopped when a firm hand wrapped around her wrist.
"Meryl, I won't do this. Please, take a walk or something while I cool off." He wanted to let her touch him so badly.
"But Knives, why?"
"Just do as I say, and leave! I need some time to myself. Besides, you haven't seen the outside of this place in days. Go enjoy a night with your friend, she missed you." Knives watched Meryl walk out the door and flopped back on the bed with a grunt of frustration. He wouldn't do it; he couldn't force himself on the pure little creature that he wanted so badly. How could he think of tainting her with his body like that? He didn't deserve such a thing, she didn't deserve it, either. No one on this planet did, those filthy humans reproducing like animals. But, why had he wanted so much to partake in such pleasure? He was superior to base animal instincts, that's why he could send Meryl away. He felt lowered towards humanity, and living here was corrupting him further. How could Vash be made to see reason if even he himself could nearly fall? Was Knives really falling in love with a human? Was Meryl more than just the company he kept to take care of him? The more he pondered his feelings, the more he knew, Knives Loved Meryl and he couldn't stop the feelings swelling in his heart. The great Knives was horrified.
^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^
"'Take a walk,' he says! What is up with him, anyway? I just don't get it!" Meryl walked the streets alone through town in the midday sun. "He kisses me, then he hates me, and then the whole cycle starts again!" Walking by one of the city's small restaurants, a familiar voice called out to her.
"Meryl, hey! Come in and join us for lunch." The tall woman with light brown hair and innocent blue eyes smiled and waved a beckoning hand to her friend.
"Alright, Millie, just give me a sec and I'll be right in." She inhaled deeply, then exhaled, readying herself to pretend like nothing was going on. She saw her doe-eyed partner sitting at a small table with the attractive priest.
"Come on, Meryl, and sit down. I've been worried about you, you know. You're spending all the time cooped up with Knives. I was actually beginning to think you enjoyed spending time with him." Millie let out a girlish giggle as her tired friend took a seat, laughing a bit too.
"Yeah right, Mille, you're so silly. Me enjoying time with that guy, really." If they only knew the soap-opera romance that was going on under their very noses, what would they think?"
"So, how is the jerk, anyway?" Wolfwood spoke up, taking a break from devouring the large plate of spaghetti he had chosen to share with Millie.
"Oh, he's fine, I guess. Still not moving around a whole lot and probably terribly bored, but fine." Meryl didn't enjoy having to lie to her two friends. On this planet, it seemed the only things that had made her moderately happy were her friends.
When Meryl had started Working for Bernardelli, it seemed as though she would work herself into the ground. The only thing that kept the tiny woman from a premature stoke was the bright smile of her child-like partner. In the worst of situations, Millie had helped Meryl keep her cool and stopped her from murdering Vash a number of times. Meryl looked over at the once mysterious priest, who had become pretty cozy with her best friend. Wolfwood would always do what was necessary to protect them. He had always seemed to be Meryl's complete opposite in every way. From her need to avoid violence and his to charge into it, to their mismatched statures, these two were completely different people. It was funny that they seemed to fight the least. Then there was Vash, the man that went from an assignment, to an irritant, to a friend who she loved but was still irritated by. These people had become her life, was she willing to give them up in the heat of passion for the violently unpredictable Knives?
Meryl closed her eyes and imagined his picturesque face with icy blue eyes and a smoldering smile. She would've done it, given up all of her friendships for one moment with him, and she still would if that's what he wanted. All Knives had to do is say the words and she would be there at his side. Meryl was hooked on love for the most evil being on the planet and she didn't care.
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^
"What about that guy whose face you threatened to cut off?" Emily suggested as the group made their way down the large staircase in the entry hall.
"Nah, that guy didn't have the balls to try something again." Marvel looked over at Vash who was toting Anna around piggyback style. Her little arms wrapped around his neck from behind. He held the small girl under the knees to keep her from slipping lose and falling.
"Can you think of anyone else, Marvel?" Emily was out of ideas and hoped there was just someone Marvel had forgot to mention.
"No, I have no clue what this is about. I mean, it's not like I hide who I've ticked off in the last few decades. And anyone else is an old geezer or dead and buried." They continued to walk down each step, taking them closer to the great entry. All of a sudden, the large doors began to open wide and a slender figure of a middle-aged man stood in the center, derby hat on the top of his head and suitcase in hand.
"Father!" Emily rushed down to the man waiting for her. He dropped his carry-on luggage on the ground and wrapped his spirited daughter in a warm embrace. Vash placed Anna on the ground and she did much the same as the tall man swooped her up into his arms, enjoying a family hug.
"I'm so glad to see you, Daddy." The tiny child's face shined bright with a cute smile only Anna was capable of.
"I'm glad to see you too, buttercup," The older man smiled back at her, giving the little blond a big kiss on the cheek. Looking up, he noticed Marvel still standing on the steps. "So I see you're okay, Miss Marvel, and judging by the fact that the house is still in one piece, I can assume that everything was all right while I was gone."
"Haha Woodrow, that's a funny one. I'll have you know that I'm a really responsible person."
"Yeah Dad, it was fun hanging out with Marvel--when she wasn't making kissy face with her new boyfriend, Vash." Emily batted her long eyelashes.
"EMILY!"
"Oh, look at the time! I have to get going, I'll see you later, daddy." Emily shot off, trying to reach the closest shelter, with Marvel close behind.
"You can't run forever, girl! You have to stop and rest some time!"
"So your name is Vash, right?" The older man greeted the tall blond from the doorway with a friendly smile.
"Yep, that's my name."
"Well then, Vash, you should follow me out of the danger zone. Those two can cause a lot of destruction and you don't want to be in the middle of it. Besides, if you've been stuck with Marvel for a while, You definitely need a break."
^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*
I thought I'd give you guys the low down on my other stories in the works.
The InuYasha story is coming along nicely when I have the time to write it. I really like that and am enjoying it. I have bee brain storming another Inu story also, but I don't know if it works.
I think a The Bebop story is a no go. I wrote the fist two chapters and I can't tell if I'm staying in character or not. It had a good plot and I already wrote a lot of dialogue but I don't know about it. So if any one would like to read the mess I have written than I cal chapter 1 please E-mail me. I'd love to get a second opinion.
The Ranma Story is in the preliminary stage. I think I'll start it after Christmas.
My Trigun fiction that has nothing to do with Kaleidoscope has been started. My Prequel and Sequel have not.
And I want start one on my new obsession as soon as I find out how it ends. Unfortunately, there is no place on FFN to post it! To find out about this obsession read below!
So recently, I have become obsessed with s-CRY-ed. I love it sooo much! I have all three DVD's that have been released and I watch them constantly. I'm watching them right now! For fan girls who love hot hero types who fight for a purpose, this Anime is fill with them. The animation is so awesome and the characters are extremely creative and cutting edge. You think, "Who though up some thing like that, I've never seen it done before!" I highly recommend it to all, and did I mention the guys are hot?
I also Updated my profile A little, more to come!
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
Review!!