I don't own Trigun.
A/N!!!! This story will be coming to an end. I think I'll have only one more chapter to write and then it's finished.
Clans
"Talking"
'Thinking'
Stressed Words
The desert was cold this night and their travel had come to an end. Wolfwood and Milly stared at the cave that had torches lit up to where they were standing. Wolfwood got of his bike and helped Milly. Rei transformed back into his human form and sighed as he stared at his homeland.
"Is this it?" Wolfwood asked as he stared at the cave.
"Yes, this is where the elders live and the werecats of Gunsmoke meet every month," Rei explained as he sniffed the air.
"Why's it so quiet?" Milly asked.
"I smell death," Rei said as he growled.
"Something isn't right," Wolfwood said as he reached for a gun.
"Don't take out any weapons," Rei warned.
"Why not?" Wolfwood asked in disbelief.
"Because, you would be threatening them and as long as you don't do that we're safe," Rei said as he walked to the first torch.
"Welcome," a sinisterly calm voice said from the darkness of the cave.
"I don't think this man's good," Milly whispered to Wolfwood.
"I think you're right," Wolfwood said back as he watched the figure take form.
Meryl pulled out of Vash's arms and stared at Vash's shocked face. She was confused and didn't know whether to slap the man silly or love him to death. She sat down in front of him and took his hand.
'He still doesn't know that I'm damned,' Meryl thought as she looked up and into his aqua eyes.
"I know we can work past any barrier there is left," Vash assured.
"Vash, I have a question," Meryl stated as she finally made a choice.
"Ask away," Vash said.
"Have you ever thought about your soul and where it will go once you die?" Meryl asked.
"Who are you?" Wolfwood demanded to know.
"I am Hatcher, the third elder of the council," he introduced.
"Hi, I'm Milly Thompson and this is Nicholas Wolfwood and Rei," Milly happily introduced.
"I know all about Rei," Hatcher said as he used his claw hand to push his black hair behind his face.
"We are friends of Meryl and want to know what you want," Wolfwood stated as he ignored the looks Hatcher gave Rei.
"The elders sent Hotaru to tell her that she is to be pack leader since Jesse is ... gone," Hatcher.
"Where are the other elder's?" Rei asked.
"With Jesse," Hatcher answered as three male werecats grabbed the trio.
"You lying bastard! You killed them like my parents!" Rei yelled as tears threatened to fall.
Hatcher slapped Rei across the face and growled, "Attitude like that is what got your parents killed and as for the elders, they had an accident."
"Why?" Wolfwood asked.
"Because I was to be the pack leader!" Hatcher yelled as the trio was taken away.
Vash could say he was more than shocked at Meryl's question. The truth was he never thought about death until the hair darkening effect came into play.
"I don't know," Vash honestly answered.
"Vash ... I love you."
"That's all we need is love!" Vash yelled as he made his 'victory' sign.
"NO!" Meryl yelled as Vash stared at her curled up form.
"What is it?" Vash asked.
"I can't burden you with this," Meryl whispered as she looked into his pained face.
"You'll never be a burden," Vash softly said to her.
"I know my soul is going to a place you can't follow," Meryl said.
"Aw hell," Wolfwood muttered as he kicked the cell bars.
"Honey, sit down," Milly said.
"But we're in a prison!" Wolfwood mumbled.
"She's right, all you can do is sit and wait. Besides, there are more werecats out in the darkness," Rei said.
"Can't we just shoot em?" Wolfwood asked.
"Are your bullets silver?" Rei asked.
"No," Wolfwood muttered.
"Just relax, Meryl and Vash will come to rescue us," Milly happily said. "Plus we don't want to upset our host by leaving our guest rooms."
Wolfwood and Rei's sweat dropped as they laughed nervously.
Vash stared at Meryl. He was confused and not liking it one bit. Meryl sighed and looked away. He used her chin to make her look up at him.
"What do you mean?" Vash asked.
"I mean that my soul will forever roam the earth once I die," Meryl uttered.
Vash swore his heart stopped beating when he heard this. He squeezed her hand gently and smiled, which confused her.
"Then we have to make sure you won't die," Vash said as he hugged her.
"Everything dies, nothing's forever," Meryl whispered.
"We have to make sure this will be," Vash said as he held her close and kissed her forehead.
"No, reality must be faced, because I refuse to live in some fake world," Meryl said."
Vash was about to speak when Hotaru walked up to the group. Miki and Knives were in the jeep and prepared to leave. Meryl looked at them confused.
"What's wrong?" Meryl asked.
"We have to go to Rei, now." Hotaru said.
"Are Milly and Nick alright?" Vash asked.
"I don't know, but something is wrong," Hotaru said as he pointed in the direction they needed to go.
"What is it?" Meryl asked again letting the panic show.
"My elder that I served is dead and I fear it has something to do with Hatcher," Hotaru explained.
"Why would Milly and Nicholas be there?" Meryl asked as she glared at Vash.
"They went to see the elders while we came to help you," Vash said.
"Are you enjoying your stay?" A werecat asked as she sat by the bars.
"Lord help me, there's a talking cat," Wolfwood mumbled as he put his cigarette out. The cat hissed and went over to Rei.
"They will be coming any minuet now," the cat purred.
"What does this have to do with them?" Rei demanded as he pointed to Milly and Nick.
"Nothing, they are just bait," the cat said before she stalked away.
"Then just let them go," Rei whispered.
"It is not my decision," the cat whispered back.
Meryl's left eye twitched before she smacked Vash and Hotaru.
"Ow!" Vash whined as he rubbed his cheek. Knives laughed and Meryl slapped him too.
"What the hell was that for?" Knives demanded to know.
"For laughing at other's pain!" Meryl growled, but she then gave her attention to a nervous Vash.
"They wanted to go!" Vash defended.
"Why?" Meryl asked.
"They wanted to know what the elders wanted and to see if they could remove this collar," Vash said as he glared at Knives'.
"This?" Meryl asked as she tore the collar off to only shock Knives.
"How?" Knives said.
"Do you think something this puny could hold a superior being?" Meryl mocked. Knives growled and faced the opposite direction and drove again.
"So, what's Hatcher?" Vash asked.
"Hatcher is a who," Hotaru began.
Rei stood up as they watched the group of cats cleared away. A female cat stepped out of the shadows and began to unlock the doors to the cages.
"What are you doing?" Rei demanded to know.
"I'm doing my master's bidding," she answered as she let the step out.
She then began to walk up the stairs and away from them. It seemed like a light followed her as she walked. She stopped walking and looked out of the corner of her eye at them.
"Stay down here if you want to be food," the woman warned as she started to walk. The surrounding groups of werecats growled and Rei pushed the couple quickly up the stairs.
"She doesn't seem to bad," Milly whispered to Wolfwood.
They arrived in a darkened room that was lit with nothing but candles, and a pit of fire. They looked to the left and saw a throne that was covered by a white blanket. Milly looked over into the pit of fire and gasped when she saw what looked like a bone. Wolfwood turned his head away and pulled Milly behind him. Rei only sniffed and blew out the smell of death as quickly as he could. The woman walked over to the throne and kneeled.
"I have brought them, master," she said.
"I trust that the other's are coming," Hatcher asked.
"Yes, they are," she confirmed.
"Very good Isis," Hatcher said as he stood and walked towards the group.
"What are you planning?" Wolfwood asked.
"All will be revealed when they arrive," Hatcher said.
"GIVE ME BACK REI AND MILLY!" Meryl yelled as she stomped through the room and into the light.
"That was fast," Isis said.
"What about me?" Wolfwood dejectedly asked.
"Yeah, and him too!" Vash yelled while he nervously scratched the back of his head.
Hatcher smiled when he saw Meryl step into the light. Knives stood in front of his sister and to the right side of Vash.
"So, good of you to join us, Princess," Hatcher sneered as he watched confusion spread on the other's faces.
"What?" Meryl asked.
"Of course you don't remember," Hatcher said.
"All I want is my friends. I don't care about anything else," Meryl said.
Rage filled Hatcher's face as he stepped into the light and ripped off his shirt to show the same exact birthmark.
"You see Meryl, you and I are off the same bloodlines," Hatcher said.
"How?" Meryl asked.
"You see my brother Jesse, was about to die when he sired a new heir to the clans. I would have been leader if you weren't around!" He yelled as he pointed at her.
"Sorry," Meryl mumbled.
"The only way I can ever have the throne is if I challenge you," Hatcher said.
"But you won't, will you?" Meryl asked as realization dawned on her. "You're to weak, even if I'm still new."
"Shut up!" He growled. "If you want your friends to live you'll step down."
"You can't!" Hotaru pleaded.
"Why?" Meryl asked.
"He'll kill our people," Hotaru said.
"Step down," Hatcher growled.
"Let my friends go and I'll fight you without changing," Meryl offered.
"You can't," Vash said.
"I have to, else everyone dies," Meryl said as she looked up at him.
"I refuse to leave you," Vash said. Meryl looked into his eyes before she nodded her head and looked away.
"I challenge you Hatcher. These are my only terms," Meryl said.
"Challenge accepted."
"Wolfwood, please take Milly, Rei, and Miki with you," Meryl said before Milly could protest.
"How will I-"
"I'll send Hotaru back with news," Meryl said as she turned back to Hatcher.
"This will be a fight to the death," Hatcher said.
"I'll make sure this other cat woman doesn't try anything," Knives said as he glared at her.
"The rules are simple," Hotaru began, "There will be no interference and instant death is declared will the opponent is unconscious."
Hatcher transformed and lunged at Meryl, quickly slashing at her throat. She fell backwards and crawled away from his enraged form. She cursed and rolled out of the way and picked up a spear. She knew the tip wasn't silver. She jammed it into his stomach and he smacked her away. Her neck twisted left and Vash pulled out his gun ready to interfere.
"If you interfere, we all die," Hotaru warned.
Knives shivered when he felt the energy rise in the room. He could see that Isis was becoming excited when she saw the blood come from Meryl's mouth. Hatcher pulled the spear out and broke it in two. He tossed it to the side and went over to Meryl's limp form. He then stood over her and roared in her face. He went to tear out her throat when he stumbled backwards.
Meryl cracked her neck and grinned when she kicked him in the balls. Vash winced and watched as Meryl got up and ran towards Vash. She pushed him out of the way and dodged Hatcher again. When he went to snap at her he froze. He stared down the barrel of the gun and growled.
"Eat silver," Meryl growled as she pulled the trigger. He instantly fell over dead and she smirked as she dropped the silver gun. She blew on her smoking hand and yelped when she felt arms squeeze her.
"Queen Meryl," Hotaru said as he bowed.
"Queen," Knives laughed as he watched Isis drop to her hands and knees in front of Meryl.
"Please forgive me my lady," Isis pleaded.
"Isis, I know that you're not to blame. Now go free your people and tell them all is right," Meryl said.
Isis eagerly nodded and ran out of the room. Vash kissed Meryl on the lips only to be interrupted by Hotaru.
"You must toss his body in the flames," Hotaru said. Meryl nodded and picked up the body like it was a feather. She then tossed it in the fire and smiled as she ran back to Vash and kissed him.
"Disgusting," Knives mumbled as he walked out of the cave and towards Wolfwood's Motorcycle.
Meryl happily giggled before she turned around to meet the eyes of dozens of werecats. She counted sixty werecats and was shocked to watch them bow.
"Well, I guess I'm a queen," Meryl said before she and Vash sighed.
This is not the last chapter, there is only one chapter left!!!