I've been waiting forever to get this chapter out. I wanted to update, but life's been hectic and everything's been blowing up. So get your donuts out, it's time for another chapter.

I plan to update fast, but I have other stories as well so please review.

Forever Night

"Talking"

'Thinking'

Stressed Words

Dreams or Flashbacks

Milly had noticed that on the way to the orphanage Meryl had been silent and nervous. Wolfwood kept driving and wondering what had happened to make the cat girl on edge. He knew that Vash was clueless about Meryl's secret, and he knew Knives showed no interest in the current situation. So the ride to the orphanage was quiet and nerve wrecking. Wolfwood had just hoped that Meryl would lighten up around the kid that Milly had told him about. Vash had cautiously put an arm around Meryl's shoulders and smiled when she didn't complain of fidget.

'What should I do?' Meryl thought as she touched Vash's hand and began to massage his fingers. She stopped massaging his fingers and looked up at his face to notice his smile. She lightly blushed and looked away. He then leaned his head on top of hers making her blush even more. Knives just scoffed at the idea of affection and turned his thoughts towards his brother.

"We'll be there soon," Milly said with a smile. Meryl looked toward Milly and smiled, but she could tell it was an empty smile. Milly turned around and frowned. Vash was blissfully pretending to be unaware of the current situation. Knives had a cynical smile on his face when he thought of the dream that he invaded.

'Meryl,' Knives whispered in her mind. Her back tensed up and she dared not to turn around. Vash felt her tense and looked over at her to see her eyes unfocused.

"Are you okay?" Vash asked. Meryl stiffly nodded a yeah.

'What do you want?' Meryl demanded as she stared unfocused.

'I noticed your lacking confidence. I couldn't help but dive into your dream,' Knives said.

'What the hell are you getting at?' Meryl growled.

'I know your hiding something,' Knives taunted.

'Really?' Meryl challenged.

'Did you know I'm training Vash on how to use his abilities?' Knives casually asked.

'I could smell a rise in power,' Meryl thought as blocked Knives.

'I know your not human anymore. Vash knows too,' Knives whispered inside her head.

'He knows nothing,' Meryl snapped.

'So you admit to something. He was in your dream ... just like I was,' Knives said with a smirk on his face.

'Even if you find out what I am, I will not be bullied by your inhuman ass,' Meryl coolly said.

'But will you choose to be bullied by Vash?' Knives asked knowing that he had dealt a major emotional blow to her.

'I won't be bullied, Knives,' She plainly said with no emotion.

Vash pulled Meryl closer to himself only to feel the distance between them grow. He noticed that Knives was silently laughing at him with his cold blue eyes. Meryl frowned and leaned closer to the window.

"Yah! We're here!" Milly cheered as she got out of the jeep and ran towards the orphanage.

"Wait up honey!" Wolfwood yelled as he chased after her.

"Look it Meryl! They have dodge balls!" Vash yelled as he ran towards the kids that were playing ball. Knives scoffed and sat on top of the jeep's roof.

Meryl sniffed the air and noticed a scent that was slightly off. She looked around and saw a boy walking along the shadows of the orphanage. She then saw that he had what she had ... a tail. She jogged over to the boy and waived at him. He glanced at her and then went back to walking. She frowned and decided to walk with him.

"My names Meryl," she introduced.

"Rei," he whispered as his tail flickered in agitation. Meryl titled her head before she reached inside her cape and untied her tail. The boy stopped and his eyes widened when he saw her tail.

"I know what you are," Meryl whispered, "Because I'm like you."

"Where you born this way?" Rei asked as he slumped against the building and sat down in the sand.

"No, I was cursed," Meryl, answered as she sat next to him. She made sure to leave space.

"Oh, how long have you been this way?" Rei asked.

"Less then a month," Meryl answered.

"You haven't had a moon change yet," Rei stated as he drew the moon in the sand.

"No, I haven't. Is it different then the other changes?" Meryl asked.

"Yeah it is. It's easier to lose control," he answered as he took a deep breath".

"So why are you here?" Meryl answered.

"My father was leader of the Marozi tribe and he fell in love with my mother. The tribe threw him out and the villagers of our town killed my mother and father. So I ran away and live here," he explained as if the pain wasn't there anymore.

'All that pain, yet he hides it,' Meryl thought as she tied her tail back up.

"Why do you hide your tail," Rei asked.

"I don't want Vash to know," she answered as she looked over at the said gunman. He stopped playing ball and waived at her only to get hit in the face.

"Why?"

"Truthfully ... I don't know," Meryl answered.

"How many shifts have you done?" Rei asked.

"Only three or four," Meryl answered.

"That's a lot for a beginner," Rei stated.

"Really?" Meryl asked.

"Yep, I'm only twelve and only shift when I have to," he answered.

Meryl ruffled his brown hair and looked into his green eyes and smiled.

"Would you like to live with me?" Meryl asked.

"Do you mean it?" Rei asked as he looked up hopefully.

"Of course, you could be like the brother I never had," Meryl said.

"That would be great," he excitedly said.

"I promise to keep you safe and we can learn to be a tribe," Meryl promised.

The boy smiled and looked down before jumped up and started to dance.

"This is going to be so cool!" He yelled. Knives raised a brow before he scoffed and turned away.

"Will your friends think it's okay?" Rei asked.

"They'll think it's wonderful," Meryl assured as she took the boys hand.

Meryl then got up and walked towards Vash with a smile. She pulled him aside when the dodge ball game was over.

"Hey Meryl," Vash said.

"Hey yourself. We're going to be having another person around the house," Meryl explained.

"Really? Who?" He asked as he looked around.

"His name is Rei and he's a Marozi," Meryl said.

"You mean a shifter?" Vash asked.

"Yeah and he's a shifter," Meryl stated in a cautious tone.

"Can he be trusted?" Vash asked.

"Just because he's different you're saying he can't be trusted?" Meryl asked in a tone of disbelief.

"No it's not that," Vash argued.

"Like hell it isn't! You of all people should know everyone deserves a chance!" Meryl growled as her eyes narrowed. She began to walk away only to be stopped by Vash's hand on her shoulder.

"Meryl you got it wrong-"

"I got it wrong?" She asked in disbelief. "I'm not the one who brought a psychopathic killer into the house!"

'No offense Knives,' Meryl sent out.

'None taken,' he dryly assured.

"Wait," Vash pleaded as he chased after her. Meryl stormed into the library and met a startled Milly.

"Milly, please take care of Rei. I'll meet you back home," Meryl said as she continued her way out of the building. Meryl then began to run as and as she ran she let the shift begin. She quickly took off her dress like shirt and cape as she ran. She made the shift into her full animal form and let out a roar. She missed the grinning face as she took off.

Knives sat in the darkened kitchen as he waited for Meryl to walk in through the door. By the look on his face you could say he was giddy about the meeting he was about to have. He now knew for sure what Meryl was and now he had a way to free his sisters without drawing attention. All he had to do was get a simple collar on her and everything else would fall into place. He looked up when he heard the door creak open.

"What are you doing up?" Meryl asked as she softly closed the door. She took off her cape and laid it down.

Knives smiled and placed a white collar on the table that had a blue daisy on it. Meryl let her violet-gray eyes glance at the collar then back to Knives' ice blue eyes.

"It's for you," he simply said. Meryl eyed it suspiciously before she touched the stone.

"Nothing you give is free," Meryl stated as she pulled her hand back and eyed him distrustfully.

"Very perceptive, but this is a gift. Put it on," Knives suggested as he watched her.

She picked up collar and couldn't help being entranced by its beauty. She put it on seeing no harm in it. Once it was on she looked into a mirror and touched the flower.

"The blue accents your skin," Knives said as he stood behind her.

She quickly stepped away and tugged at the collar. She was shocked and fell to the floor in pain. She let out a low growl as Knives chuckled at her tactics.

"What is this?" She demanded to know as she stood up.

"I saw you change," he softly said as he watched understanding dawn on her face.

"So, what do you want? A medal?" Meryl mockingly asked as it shocked her again. She grabbed at the collar and gasped.

"Impudence is not an option my kitty," Knives disappointedly stated.

"First I am not yours and second, go to hell," Meryl said. Knives frowned.

"I own you since you have that collar and I will not hesitate to kill you," Knives threatened.

Meryl laughed as she looked up at him and smirked.

"Kill me and Vash will kill you."

Knives gave a dry chuckle before he sneered and kicked her in the face. She slammed into the wall and slumped in exhaustion.

"Listen and understand. You are mine and you will do as I say unless you want Vash to know what you are," Knives threatened.

Meryl weakly looked up and growled as her eyes flashed anger. She still smirked and looked up at him.

"Screw you," Meryl said as she watched him frown.

"No, I believe it is you who is screwed," Knives said and walked away from her.

She pushed herself up and leaned against the wall as she thought about what just happened. She growled and punched the wall before she stood up and went towards her room.

'Damn him,' Meryl growled furiously.

"Remember, your ticket to the future is ...is open"

'Why the hell must I keep suffering? Wasn't once enough?' Meryl asked her mind as she lay on her bed.

She smiled when she saw Vash's outline in the moonlight. She knew that days like these would be few.

'I promised that I wouldn't lose another, and I refuse to lose you ... even if it means losing myself,' Meryl thought as she closed her eyes and let sleep consume her.

"Hello," Meryl called out as she looked at the clouds around her. She lay back and relaxed.

"Are you Meryl?" A soft voice asked.

"Yeah, I am," Meryl, answered as she looked at the woman before her.

The woman had long black hair and gray eyes.

"You shouldn't go to sleep when you're angry," Rem said.

"Who are you?" Meryl asked.

"I'm Rem."

"Oh," Meryl said as she realized whom this was.

"Knives is really a good boy," Rem said.

"Shooting up your twin and then trying to blackmail others doesn't go down in my books as being good," Meryl said.

"He's just confused and scared," Rem said as she closed her eyes.

"Like hell," Meryl said.

"Please help him," Rem said as she began to fade away.

"Help him?" Meryl asked in disbelief.

"I can not believe this."

Meryl rolled over and yawned when she saw light creep in through the window. She looked over to the other twin bed and noted that Vash was not there. She sat up and remembered that he now had a job and hers was to take care of Knives. She growled and narrowed her eyes when she thought of him. She then thought of Rem and how she requested that she take care of Knives.

"What the hell do you people want from me?" She demanded to know as she let out a sigh.

She pushed herself out of bed and decided it was time to change. She put on a white tank top and a black skirt. The skirt came half way down her calves. She was able to wrap her tail around her leg. She then took a deep breath and prepared herself for any challenges that might happen.