Disclaimer: What story?

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Nova

Chapter 1:

Starting Anew




(A/N: Throughout the story the POV will change between characters. The change will be indicated with with
the name whoever the POV is for.)



Vash POV
Town of Demitri.


The faint twitter of birds echoed outside. Singing of the beginning of a new day.

I cracked open an eye, and peered out from under my blanket. The room was fairly dark except for the small amount of light coming in through the shades on the window. It was enough to illuminate the adobe-like walls. It wasn't a big room, but it did contain two beds and a bathroom.

The second bed was right under the window, and the light coming through allowed me to see the face of the occupant.

Knives.

It had been two weeks since our battle at the oasis, and he hadn't woken once. I was beginning to worry. The town doctor had come by to see him three days ago, and had said he was healing well if not unnaturally fast. So why wasn't he waking?

Maybe it was for the best, if he never woke. What if I failed at changing him? He would go back out into the world and case more pain.

I pushed myself up, and slid out of the bed, shaking my head. This was no time for such thoughts. When he wakes... that would be the time. But I know I will try, I will try as hard as I can to change him.

But if I failed....

I left the dark question unanswered, checked Knives' pulse, as I had done every morning since our fight, and stepped into the bathroom.



I stared at myself in the mirror, studying my new appearance.

My hair was combed back into a small pony tail, a few of the shorter strands up front giving me some odd
bangs. (A/N: find a pic of Miroku, from Inuyasha, and you'll know what I mean.)

I had a pair of glasses, shaped like the ones I had when I went by the name of Ericks, except with clear lenses. I pushed them up on my nose and grinned into the mirror.

I had a white T-shirt, black slacks, and black workman's boots. A completely new appearance.

I would now go by the name of Vash Saverem. 'Same first name as the Legendary Outlaw but not related in any way.' I would tell people.

Let that old name, and past die.

I had discarded my red coat and the two guns at the oasis, buried under the sand hopefully never to be
found again. I touched my hip where the gun had always been, and felt a little sad that it was gone. I could
still feel it's weight. Like still feeling a limb that was severed.

With that thought I squeezed the hand of my mechanical arm, then looked at the clenched fist. This was one
souvenir from the past that I could never bury in the sand. I still had the concealed gun inside. It was always useful.

I peered out the door at my sleeping twin. Time to start anew. If I could.





A knock at the door and the smell of bacon and eggs drew me out of the bathroom and to the bedroom door.

I turned to knob, swung open the door, put on my biggest grin for Meryl and pulled her into a tight hug, "Oh, Meryl, for me?"

"Darmnit you big oaf, you want to eat your eggs off the floor!?" Meryl yelled, but I could hear a smile in her
voice.

I let go and took the plate form her, then said with a serious face "Thank you Meryl, this looks great."

The blush on her face deepened and she smiled, "You're welcome." Then she jumped as if she just thought of something, "Oh! How is Knives?"

I turned my head to look at my twin, "Still the same, no change at all."

"Oh." Meryl's voice was crestfallen.

I turned back to her and blinked, "What is it?"

Meryl twined her fingers together and tapped her thumbs idly, "Well you see-Until he gets better, you... You're going to be taking care of him
constantly. I was hoping-that well, you see I don't want to see selfish here--but..." she looked down at her fingers, her brow furrowed.

I put the plate on a little table just inside the door, and placed my hands on her shoulders, "But what, Meryl?"

"Meryl!" Milly's child like voice interrupted.

Meryl stepped back and turned towards the approaching taller woman, "Meryl! We're going to be late!"

Meryl jumped in surprise, "Oh, damn, you're right, think you Milly! Bye Vash, see you after work!"

The two women rushed out the front door, leaving me standing there, with my hand up in a failed attempt at
stopping her, "But wait Meryl... what were you going to say?"

I went back into the room, sat on the edge of my bed and ate my breakfast.

A slight giddy feeling entered my body, did Meryl just about say what I think she was going to say? Did she?


Meryl Stryfe...

The short hot-tempered little woman. I loved her. More than anything. These feelings had slowly developed
over the little time I had known her. But I had always dreaded... what did she think of me?

After all that I had told her, after all that I had done, as long as I lived. She still stuck with me.

But so did Milly. And it was her job to keep me under 24 hour surveillance. I sighed, she was only doing her
job, right? But then what did she almost say?

Knives stirred in his sleep.

I looked up surprised, that was new.

I set the plate down on the bed and leaned over my brother, I touched his forehead and reached out for
his mind.

It was still buried very deep, but it was there, and he was dreaming. I smiled. I'd call that an
improvement.

Maybe he would wake soon. Then I thought of Meryl again, and I felt a cold dagger enter my heart.
Meryl... he could hurt Meryl. I couldn't let him do that. He was more adept at his powers than I, but I
had to try something. Anything.

Then I smiled and I knew what I had to do.

I touched his mind again and set to work.


Many thanks to FOO!

Rosebud: thank you for your review, funny, it gave me some ideas for some stuff later on! THAS good, yes! Hah.

Shutting up now.

Don't forget to review!