Chapter 9: Performance of a High Class Man
3 days later
Midvalley leaned against the windowsill and stared out. He had been there three days to much. He had recovered the first day and was ready to move on. His orders were to travel onward once he had made contact with Wolfwood. He would head to the next city west of this small town. The city was about a 3 day trip by foot, but he was pretty sure he had enough to take a bus.
" What am I suppose to do in the next city?" Midvalley said
He looked at his sax and then lifted the case up. He walked out the door and headed out and Wolfwood looked at him.
" What do you attend to do now?" Wolfwood asked
" Head to the next city," Midvalley said
" East or West?" Wolfwood asked
" West," Midvalley said, " It's 3 days by foot not any kind of trouble."
" You better hope, well, happy travels and drink lots of water," Wolfwood said, " I don't want to scrape you up off the sand again."
" You won't have too," Midvalley said
He headed off and Wolfwood threw the cigarette down.
" He's probably going to meet someone in June city, but who?" Wolfwood thought, " What should it matter he's got his life and I got mine."
Midvalley trudged through the sandy lands and continued like that for three days. His thoughts wondered, but they never found peace. He was feeling the emptiness he had once felt before. As the day ended Midvalley found a town and stayed the night. He stared out the window and wonder what his purpose was in life. Everything he remembered had become a blank.
" Damn, what happen to me," Midvalley whispered, " I don't remember anything, but pain."
By the next morning Midvalley trudged through the two day dry terrain and did not stop this time. He arrived early on the second day, walking into the city of June. He stared at the empty city and wondered if he was mistaken.
" Is this it?" He wondered
" Are you lost?" a gruff voice questioned
Midvalley narrowed his eyes and turned around, to see a man in his early 20's, black hair pulled up into a pony tail. He wasn't the clean cut guy that Midvalley was. He wore clothing that a samurai would wear and tied to his side was a blade.
" I'm looking for someone?" Midvalley said
" Who?" the man said, " I can't tell you everyone by name, but face I do know."
" Then perhaps that will do," Midvalley said
The man slightly narrowed his eyes at Midvalley. Midvalley felt the sudden change in attitude towards him.
" A samurai," Midvalley stated
The man smiled and pushed his blade from it's sheath and Midvalley shook his head.
" You shouldn't have done that, I live up to my reputation on a draw," Midvalley said
" And who are you?" the man said
" I'm the man who plays the greatest music on the greatest stage," Midvalley said, " Midvalley."
" I was warned about you," the man said
Midvalley pulled out his sax and sighed.
" It wouldn't hurt to see how well she plays today," Midvalley said
He smirked and the man smirked back.
" Let's go," he said
Midvalley waited for his opponent to make his move. The man came at him and swung his blade and Midvalley played a few notes forcing back the rocks and dust thrown from his opponents blade.
" Amazing," he said
" I told you," Midvalley said
" Yes, but you won't win a draw with such a classical instrument," the man said
He swung and Midvalley continued to force the attack back at him. They were equally matched , but both stubborn to call it quits.
" What do you say Legato?" Dominique questioned
" Easily matched in a draw and wasting their time," Legato said
He walked off and Dominique followed behind him.
" That's enough Rai Dei," Legato said
Midvalley turned around and saw Dominique and Legato walking out of the shadows. Midvalley turned back to his opponent and smirked.
" Well, what a nice warm up," Midvalley said
Legato walked closer and Dominique tipped her hat to Midvalley.
" This is who I was looking for?" Midvalley questioned
" You are naïve," Dominique said
" I am Rai Dei the Blade," Rai Dei said
" Another assassin?" Midvalley stated
" Yes, and one that you are equal too," Legato replied
Midvalley smirked and said, " I'm wasting my time."
Rai Dei sheathed his blade and looked at Legato.
" Inexperienced," Rai Dei said
Midvalley stood there holding his sax and narrowed his eyes at Rai Dei. Yet another he would not get along with. Legato turned and Dominique followed, Midvalley narrowed his eyes.
" What kind of games are you playing Legato?" Midvalley questioned
" I'm just introducing each to you by city," Legato said
He followed behind them and this time traveled with Dominique and Legato. He looked behind him and Rai Dei was gone and Midvalley shook his head.
2 years later
Midvalley becoming well aware of what he had to do now after the first year. His life was becoming routine and now with Dominique away he was Legato's right hand man. Higher than the other Gung-ho-guns, he tended to keep it that way.
Midvalley stood next to Legato as the doors opened and they entered. Midvalley looked around and then the other set of doors opened and Knives stood there.
" I see you have your faith follower," Knives said
Legato turned and looked at Midvalley. Midvalley gave slight nod, but no bow to Knives. Knives narrowed his eyes and looked at Legato, who bowed.
" He has already begun his chaos again," Knives said, " Don't let him live a moment without regret."
Knives smiled and turned around, then walked off. Legato stood and then walked on. Midvalley didn't say anything as they left and begun their first mission, to destroy Vash.
" Where are we going?" Midvalley asked
" To introduce myself," Legato said, " Stay your distance once we are in the town."
" Of course," Midvalley said
As they traveled by foot to the town Vash was currently in Legato went one direction and Midvalley stood outside an old building. Clouds covered the sky, but threat for rain was little. He folded his arms and waited, but not for long, Legato walked out and the two walked off. Midvalley went to the saloon and got a drink and there waited for the morning light. Legato had once more vanished, possibly wait for Vash. He had it all planned out and Midvalley waited for the plan to be executed.
" Prepare yourself," Legato said, " It's going to be a show you wouldn't want to miss."
Midvalley down a drink and smirked.
" I never miss a good show when I'm apart of it," Midvalley said
The next day Midvalley walked with Legato into the shoemaker's shop, where Vash had left his gun. Midvalley watched Legato end a life and leave so casually, he followed Legato out the same way they came in. He then vanished into the background and watched the show. He was kind of enough to play a soothing melody to ease the day from the soon to be tragic set up. As Legato casually walked past Vash in the middle of the town he saw fear enter the eyes of the legendary gunman.
" He's afraid," Midvalley noted
His playing continued and he gained an audience, whom simply listened from the distance. Midvalley laughed in his own mind seeing Legato playing mind games with Vash.
" It's a shame that this wimp is the legendary gunman, that destroyed July and many other towns, I was hoping for someone more gutty," Midvalley thought
Legato got up and left and Midvalley vanished into the shadows, then heard the cry of the shoemaker's wife.
" Its all going accord to plan," Legato said to Midvalley
" Is that him the legendary gunman?" Midvalley asked
" Yes, the one who thinks he has killed no one," Legato said
Midvalley chuckled slightly.
" He's a weakling," Midvalley said
" Perhaps, we shall see," Legato said
As the day had continued Legato watched as the first of the Gung-ho-guns enter. Midvalley played a simple melody to lighten the mood. It was interrupted by the sounds of guns and explosions. He watched from afar and saw a smile climb Legato's lips. Legato's eyes showed little expression, but his smile showed the embracing of death that would come after Vash. If Monev failed there were others. Dominique would follow up the failed assassin. Legato turned on his heals and walked off.
" All is done," Legato said
" Aren't you going to see if he fails?" Midvalley questioned
" He is just the opening act," Legato said, " There are others, do not continue to look back or you will fall forward."
Midvalley nodded and followed faithfully. It would be in time that he truly understood Legato's tactics. If one failed there would always be another to replace until the last gung-ho-gun was diminished. If they had all failed to create true pain then Legato had the last chance as the head of the assassins. Midvalley continued for the next two days.
The following city brought a surprise to Midvalley, though he was a man with very little expression, this had broke one expression. Midvalley played his sax on stage and had his back towards the audience. Something he never did while playing, the band behind him played a soften melody to let Midvalley become the star. Legato sat at the end of the bar eating cake. It was then that a large group of men, that people feared, entered leading some women by force inside. Midvalley looked over and slightly narrowed his eyes, to this. He continued on playing and ignoring the gruff sounds of the group. The leader apparently ordered around the fearing waiter. Midvalley looked at Legato to see if this annoyed him, if it did he would certainly take action.
" Scum," Midvalley muttered between breaths
It was only minuets later that it began to really get good, when the leader's second notice one of the girls staring at Legato. Midvalley knew other wise that he was playing a game with the band of bandits. Legato stopped eating for a second when the leader spoke to him. A small and not noticeable smile kissed Legato's dead lips, before he returned to eat. It was then the leader's ignorance interested Legato, when he shot his fork. Legato simply asked for a fork. Midvalley played on and let Legato handle his own fight, which simply ended in death. Legato left once the slaughter was finished. He had told the crying women something before his departure. Midvalley followed close behind in his tracks, eager to know what would happen next. It was apparent once they had come across the rest of the bandits. Brave and ignorant the leader looked at Legato prepared to kill him, but again it wasn't necessary. Legato had looked at the leader and questioned him a second time before turning to Midvalley.
" Only half of them," he said
Midvalley nodded and looked from the corner of his eye and smirked. It was only a blink of the eye before half were wiped out and the leader looked at Legato.
" Do you know why I spared half your men?" Legato questioned
" No," the leader said
" So, the other half could bury them," Legato said
Midvalley looked at Legato and then smiled.
" They're all here, E.G. Mine, Rai Dei the Blade, Caine the Longshot, Leonoff the Puppetmaster, Gray the Ninelives, Hoppered the Gauntlet, Zazie the Beast, Dominique The Cyclops, and myself Midvalley the Hornfreak," Midvalley said taking a bow
" It appears that Chapel is absent from your little introduction," Legato said
Midvalley looked at Legato and remarked, " He appears to be untrustworthy as rumors claim."
Legato nodded and simply said, " It doesn't matter, your target is close by."
" Do you attend to use us all at once on this one target?" Midvalley asked
" No, it would be a shame to waste all that talent all at once, my respect for you is higher than that," Legato said
Dominique stood next to Legato and tipped her hat.
" Don't worry, I'll take care of Vash," Dominique said softly
" Very good," Legato said
Legato nodded and Dominique was gone in the blink of an eye. Midvalley and Legato watched from a distance. Midvalley watched Dominique take her turn in proving that she would kill Vash.
" She's good," Midvalley thought
The draw continued until Dominique stood there looking at Vash, she then jumped and Midvalley shook his head. Midvalley walked off and leaned against a building wall knowing Dominique would take the back way to avoid shame. His remarks would be easily said. He heard her coming down the alley and out the back and he stood up straight. She gasped slightly and looked at Midvalley, though his remarks were silent she knew what he was thinking. She also knew from that slight smirk meant that Legato would abandon her. Midvalley chuckle and walked closer to her and grabbed her chin between his thumb and index finger.
" Your not as slick as you think you are," Midvalley said
" I never thought I would have lost to that moron," Dominique growled
Midvalley slapped her to the ground with his hand.
"Your failure is not acceptable Dominique," Midvalley growled
She narrowed her eyes at Midvalley and fired a shot at him.
" Bastard," she growled
" You've fallen from grace, Legato nor Knives will not accept you," Midvalley said lifting his sax up
" Don't waist you time on her, all in time will she get what she deserves just as Monev did," A voice from another alley came
" I leave her up to you then," Midvalley said, " She's not worth playing a deathly lullaby too."
Midvalley turned on his heals and headed back to where Legato was.
" Did you take care of her?" Legato asked
" I don't waste good music on trash like that, I let one of the others take care of her. I know she will regret failing you," Midvalley said
Legato nodded and looked out, he watch the evening light vanished and then Midvalley played a jazzy tune to attract the attention of Vash. Legato stood there with a sinister smile. Vash made his way to get a view and saw Legato standing there. Midvalley soften the melody and suddenly a cloud of dust gave them the chance to vanish.