Chapter 8: Curtain Call: Midvalley's Destiny
6 month later
Midvalley stood beside Legato over looking the city of Augusta.
" What have you come up with?" Legato asked
" Vash the Stampede has been dormant for 6 months, there hasn't been a word out of him," Midvalley said
Legato smirked and looked at his left hand.
" It has been awhile," Legato said
Midvalley looked at Legato and asked, " What about the others?"
" All in time they will come," Legato answered, " But they are not needed right now."
Midvalley looked at his sax as he held it and smiled.
" Perhaps we should stir up some trouble," Midvalley suggested
" No, need at this moment," Legato said, " We will find where he is first before we stir up trouble."
Legato turned around and Midvalley followed Legato, when Legato stopped.
" Why don't you go back to December," Legato said, " I know you want to, because of that girl. You'll be summon when the time comes."
" But my job is here," Midvalley said
Legato chuckled a sinister chuckle.
" My have the times changed," Legato said, " It's almost scary how being choked can change your mind."
Midvalley rubbed his throat, then sighed. He nodded and headed on his way and Legato watched the sand consume Midvalley.
" Are you going to just stand behind me?" Legato questioned
" No," Dominique's voice replied
She walked over to him and looked out in the distance.
" Follow him, and make sure he doesn't do anything," Legato said
" Still not trusting?" she said
" I don't believe that 6 months of torture can shape a man into wanting death so much," Legato said
Dominique nodded and tipped her hat and headed down to follow Midvalley. Legato turned and looked in the opposite direction.
" Soon so very soon there will be no mercy," Legato said
Midvalley made the 5 day trip back to December. He entered the town and found it bustling with business. Midvalley walked down to the saloon and opened the doors to the slow saloon. People looked up and so did the young bartender. Her eyes filled with delight to see the handsome sax player return.
" Midvalley the Hornfreak," she said
Midvalley sat down and she pulled two shot glasses out. She sat them down in front of Midvalley and then filled them up.
" 6 months without December's best, it's going to take you awhile to get back into this," she said
He smirked and downed one and then the other with the burn after effect. She smiled and filled them up again.
" Do you enjoy this?" he asked
" Only when it's you," she replied
She smiled and then tended to the other costumers. Midvalley smirked and leaned against the counter as he waited for the afternoon wave to go.
Once the afternoon waved died away, Anna shut the doors and looked at Midvalley. She folded her arms behind her and walked towards him.
" Your looking good for 6 months of being gone," Anna said
" I try to keep myself in good shape," Midvalley said
Anna stopped in front of him and stared a him, she ran her hands through his hair, then smiled. Midvalley grabbed her hand and pulled her close to him. He stared at her and leaned towards her lips and kissed her. She kissed him back, with a long awaiting kiss.
" Is that room still available?" he asked
" Yes, I didn't rent it out," she replied
" Good," he said
He grabbed her hands and led her upstairs, she smiled. He shut the door and locked it and then looked at her. Midvalley stood there and she then jumped into his arms. Both fell onto the bed and kissed each other, Anna on top of Midvalley as she kissed him.
By an hour they had moved on and moved to another phase of their togetherness. Clothes laid out on the floor and the sounds of pleasure escaped their lips. Their love making went on for hours without end, until they both became tiered. Anna laid close to Midvalley and stared at him.
" That, was good," she whispered
" Very," he replied with a smile
Midvalley put his arm around Anna and stroked her arms and her bare back. Both fell asleep in each others arms.
By the late evening Anna reopened the bar and Midvalley once more played on stage. The upbeat music continued for the spirited people going until closing. Midvalley and Anna closed up and enjoyed a bite to eat by candle light. Anna opened a bottle and poured Midvalley some and then herself.
" To us," she said
" To us," Midvalley replied
Both downed a drink and smiled a little. Anna reached over and stroked his rough face.
" You've been gone so long," she said, " Are you going to be here long?"
" As long as I can, I promise I won't leave without saying good-bye," Midvalley said
Midvalley pulled out his sax and played for Anna. He played her a song he had written on his own. She listened and watched him get into the music, just like any ordinary musician would. He stopped playing and looked at her, and a sly smile caressed his lips. It wasn't his typical smile, it was one that seemed to be thinking about something else. Anna kind of feared this new look, something had changed him in the last 6 months. She didn't want to find out what it was, but she wanted the old Midvalley.
By the next morning Midvalley was in the windowsill of the window. He leaned his head against the pane and stared out.
" Your just a human being, don't think you will be able to over power me," Knives' voice echoed
" Weak, my ass," Midvalley thought, " He's mistaken if he thinks he can control me."
" You don't really mean that do you Midvalley," Legato said
Midvalley fell out the windowsill hearing Legato speak to him. He looked around and rubbed his head.
" Damn it Legato," Midvalley growled, " Warn people before you do that?"
" You should be use to me entering your mind by now," Legato said, " It's so easy to."
" Can't I have a private thought to myself?" Midvalley questioned
" You given up your free thoughts once you start serving my master," Legato answered, " Your free will no longer exist, you only serve."
" I never had free will in the first place," Midvalley answered
" Then you are well prepared," Legato said
Midvalley got back into the windowsill. Midvalley lightly bumped his head against the glass.
" What have I gotten myself into?" he thought
Later, Midvalley laid in bed and the door opened. He looked up and saw Anna standing there.
" You've been in bed all morning, is there something wrong?" Anna asked
Midvalley sat up and Anna walked over to him. She sat next to him and ran her hand through his hair.
" You look like you've been up since early this morning," Anna said
Midvalley grabbed her hand and brought it to his lips and kissed it.
" What's the matter?" she asked
" My stay here is very brief Anna, I'm sorry," he replied
Anna looked at him and met his gaze, then said, " You travel so much. I worry about you, I worry that you may not come back to me."
" I will come back to you, but I have too leave," Midvalley said
Anna sighed and looked down, she shook here head and Midvalley took her chin between his index finger and thumb.
" Look at me Anna," Midvalley said, " I will not change the person I am now."
" Tell me Midvalley, what is it you do for months at a time that you return later on?" Anna asked
" I'm not at liberty to say," Midvalley replied
" Please, tell me, I must know," she whispered, " For the sake of our love."
Midvalley looked at her and said, " I'm searching for someone who has taken everything from me. He's out there and I will kill him."
Anna looked at him and leaned over and kissed him. Midvalley wrapped his strong arms around her, as she kissed him.
" If I beg you to stay, will you?" she whispered
Midvalley smiled and said, " Begging doesn't work on me, but you can still try."
Anna smiled and trailed her hands down his built chest all the way down to his waistline. She looked at him and undid his belt, as she kissed him. Midvalley kissed her back and took her into his arms then laid her down on the bed. He leaned over her and kissed her, his hands balanced him over Anna, as he did.
" One more time before you leave me," she whispered
Midvalley kissed her and gently began to undress her piece by piece as she began to undress him the same way.
By the late afternoon, Midvalley picked up his things quietly. He stared at Anna and kissed her head, then left quietly. He walked out towards the Northern entrance and continued straight on for the next two days. Once he stopped, he looked at the set of rocks, remembering this was where he had traveled to with Legato and Dominique. He listened and heard the sounds of heavy footsteps, followed by the sounds of wheels. He then saw the ride they had taking. The covered windows of the carriage and the animal that pulled it.
" Things never change," he thought
He got in and sighed feeling the loneliness, but the sudden urge of dedication he had to fulfill to achieve what he wanted to. His thoughts were only casual thoughts, about the last 4 hours with the woman he desired. He leaned his head back and breathed deep, this was for revenge.
The two day trip ended and the carriage stopped. Midvalley got out and looked at the dullness of what to him was a foyer to hell. The two doors opened and the same bright light broke through the darkness. Midvalley entered and stopped and looked around before he heard the sounds of the other set of doors open.
" Come through," Knives' voice rang through the dense room.
Midvalley carried his sax and walked across the dense metal bridge. Midvalley entered the soundless room and looked up, machines were around the room.
" So, you have come for what? To kill yourself in failure?" Knives asked
" I have decided," Midvalley said
" Have you?" Knives questioned
Midvalley looked up at the capsule that held Knives. The metal plates were removed and he now seemed to be rested.
" I want to serve under you," Midvalley said
A smile stretched across Knives' lips. Laughter escaped his lips and Midvalley looked at Knives.
" To serve me you're relinquish everything," Knives said, " Your free will, your thoughts. You are, but a pawn for me to use to kill my brother."
" I know," Midvalley said, " I just want the revenge that is promised."
Midvalley looked at Knives and Knives opened his eyes and looked at Midvalley.
" Then it is done," Knives said with a smirk
Suddenly the room became fully lit and Midvalley looked around. Something stabbed Midvalley and began to eat away at him. Midvalley fell to his knees and gripped his head. A sudden darkness appeared and Midvalley looked at it as it came towards him. He shouted in in pain and tried to fight it.
" What are you doing to me!" Midvalley shouted
" Do you feel that?" Knives questioned
" What is that?" Midvalley questioned
" The end of what you know, of your spirit," Knives said
Midvalley saw the sudden darkness that then grabbed him. Midvalley struggled and shouted in pain. It then shot him in the chest and he looked at Knives.
" It's all a trick," Midvalley said
" You serve only me," Knives said
Midvalley was thrown back and fell unconscious, memories of his past were erased, love was vanquished and the goodness he had harbored was turned into bad.
" Take him away," Knives said
Legato walked out of the shadows and bowed to Knives.
" Make him suffer, make Vash suffer," Knives said
" Yes, master," Legato replied
Legato lifted Midvalley as well as his sax and started on the two day journey back towards December. Legato got out and dragged the unconscious Midvalley and did as he was instructed to do by Knives. He left Midvalley there with the only thing he would need. Legato vanished from site into the desert land, and watched from afar.
3 days later
" Hey look there's someone lying on the ground," a small voice said
" Ok, you kids stay there," an older voice said
The man walked over to the lifeless body that laid on the ground.
" Ok, let's see what we have here, Hey mister are you alive," the man said
Midvalley moaned and opened his eyes, he didn't see anything at first. He felt pain and that was all. He then looked up and saw a man, whom seemed to be out of place. He a wore black suit, with a white collared shirt with a few buttons undone and his hair was short, black, rough looking. He wore a cross around his neck. Midvalley's guess was he was a priest.
" Your looking a little beat up there," the man said, " Here have some water."
Midvalley looked at the water and took it then handed it back to the man. Midvalley tried standing up, but fell.
" Easy there stranger, I guess you've been out here to long, you can catch a ride with me and the kids," the man said
" I'm ok, just a little sick," Midvalley said
" Yeah, well there's a doctor in town you can get checked out there," the man said
He helped Midvalley up and grabbed what he had along side. One of the kids carried Midvalley's sax case and followed.
" Step up," the man said
Midvalley did and got into the passenger's side. The kid handed Midvalley his case and Midvalley gave a nod.
" It's a little strange to be out here without water, what are you trying to prove?" the man asked
" I don't know," Midvalley said, " I was traveling and I blacked out."
" Lack of water will do that," the man said, " Where you from?"
Midvalley looked out straight ahead and said, " Rosetta, 60 miles from July."
The man turned to him and nodded.
" You must be kidding that place has been destroyed for almost 16 years," the man said
" And 6 months," Midvalley said
" Well, it looks like you may be in worst shape than I thought," the man said
They arrived into a town 100 miles outside of December and the man helped Midvalley out. The kids unloaded and ran beside the man and Midvalley.
" Get a doctor would ya?" the man told one of the kids
The man got Midvalley inside and Midvalley looked around. He served him some water and set a plate down.
" You got a name wander?" the man asked
" Midvalley," Midvalley answered
" Midvalley eh?" the man said, " I'm Nicholas D. Wolfwood, but everyone just calls me Wolfwood."
Midvalley stopped and looked at the plate.
" You'll come to a town 100 miles from December, there will be a man who will pick you up there. His name is Nicholas D. Wolfwood," Legato's voice echoed
" What do you do?" Wolfwood asked
" I'm a sax player, but now I'm searching out for someone," Midvalley said
" Who?" Wolfwood asked
" A man that kills, only for sport it's what my master wants," Midvalley said
" Who's your Master?" Wolfwood said
Midvalley looked at his reflection in water and then looked at the knife.
" Knives," Midvalley said
Wolfwood looked at him wide eyed and then turned away.
" Knives, that can't be he was killed in the blast that destroyed July," Wolfwood thought