Part 2
Someone kindly reminded me that I had no disclaimer for part one. Let me try again
The Disclaimer: (sung to the tune of the Anthem but Good Charlotte)
It's a new fic, but it all feels old
It's a good plot, that what I'm told
But every thing at all just feels the same
When I found out, I didn't make
Up Vash-chan, or legato
My love for them only made me sing
I don't ever wanna get sued by you
I don't wanna do the things you do
I don't own trigun at all!
Cause I don't wanna,
Don't wanna be sued!
Don't wanna be sued by you, what I'm saying is
This is my fan fic, put all your hands up
You! Don't wanna get sued
Never made up Trigun or Vash
Don't shot me! I don't smoke hash
So I can go on writing what I want
I'm gonna be good, and won't do no time
Tell the truth though, Mar is mine!
I'm just a minor threat so pay no mind.
Do I really wanna to be like them?
Do I really wanna follow another trend
Am i really part of that crowd
Cause I don't ever wanna
I don't ever wanna be sued!
Don't wanna be sued by you
What I'm saying is, this is my fan fic!
Put all your hands up!
You! Don't wanna be sued
Read it once that's fine; read it twice that's ok.
Read it three times, you're starting to creep me out...
Sued! Don't wanna be sued by you.
What I'm saying is, this is my fan fic
I don't own trigun, ya'll gotta know me, read if your with me.
Sued! Don't wanna be sued by you!
This is my fan fic, I don't own trigun, ya'll gotta love me, read if you're with me
Another loser fan fic (whoa)! 4x
Author's notes for Part 2: Ok, this is the last part that is based on my dream. Since I had to foreshadow and all that, I had to start thinking again and make up stuff. I promise the annoying little flashes of paradise are important and have a reason... other than that I needed a break. Oh, and Wolfwood and Rem are still very much dead. They just aren't hanging around with the living. I'll leave it at that. Other than that, enjoy the remainder of my dream. And read and review. That's always good.
Time time time...time time time ...time time time...the water sang as it splashed upon the rocks. There were fountains everywhere inside the building. All of it made Knives uncomfortable.
It had been months since the 24-hour coffee shop. During that time, Knives had kept his ears open for news of Vash the Stampede. Nothing. There had been rumors and sightings of a man in a red coat. Mostly in bars asking for a girl named Morphia or one called Mar. Rumors, nothing solid. That's when Knives turned his attentions to finding Esme Nime.
Finding her wasn't too hard, but it did take a month of his time. That's what brought him to the 5 stories building in September. The first floor was occupied by a family who ran a Chinese restaurant. The minute he had mentioned Nime they rushed him to the back where he found a staircase ascending up into the floors above. There he found the fountains. All along the walls in niches were fountains. He was looking at one at the top of the stair when-
"Hello, you must be Knives-san,"
Knives turned and looked at the little blond girl standing in front of him. She looked preposterously happy and youthful.
"My name is Akaria. We've been expecting you. Nime-dono will see you now. Please, follow me," she said, smiling up at him.
She turned on her heels and started to walk down the long hallway. Knives followed her slowly; keeping his eyes on her little blond head rather than the fountains. He had the strong desire to blow her brains out, but he needed her to lead him to Nime. Humans, such tools. Akaria lead him through a complicated system of halls and when Knives was completely confused, she stopped.
"Here we are," she nearly sang when they came to a sliding door.
Gingerly, she knocked and then opened it. She stood to the side, allowing for Knives to go first. He entered and stood in front of a large wood desk. Akaria entered and closed the door behind her.
Knives found himself face to face with Nime again. She was sitting in a tall swivel chair, looking just like she had when he first saw her, sans the facemask. Akaria bowed and smiled at her. Several candles burned around the room, making it look hazy.
"Hello Knives," Nime said through the smoke. "I knew you'd come."
"How-?"
"Akaria?" Nime interrupted, "Would you please wait in the hall again, I have a feeling our other guest is coming too."
"Yes, Nime-dono," Akaria said enthusiastically. She turned and skipped out.
Nime turned back to the work on her desk, writing slowly. Knives flipped his hair over his shoulders, out of his face. He studied her for a moment, the curves of her features, and the hue of her lips. Her rich, brown hair was swept back into a lazy braid at the nape of her neck; bangs too short to be tied back fell on to her forehead and around her face. This human couldn't possibly have caught his bullet that day. And yet, she did.
"You seek my services," Nime said, turning a page. She said it like a statement, not a question.
"Yes, I do. But first, who are you?" Knives asked, frowning as he did so.
"I am Esme Nime," she said with out looking up. "Professional assassin, at your service."
"That doesn't answer my question."
"Well. What kind of answer are you looking for?" she replied, looking into his eyes.
Knives offered no response. Nime took the time to regard Knives. He looked more wild and unruly than before. Somehow, he was wearing the old armor that Legato had once inhabited, but Knives had made some new altercations. His hair was even longer; it stretched down almost to his knees. The lower parts of his eyes were blood shot. She fought the urge to smile; he was desperate.
"What do you wish for?" she asked, leaning forward and resting her chin on her hands.
"I want to find my brother, Vash the Stampede. You know him; you saved him from me over 6 months ago when I tried to kill him. I know he is alive and I want you to find him," Knives said.
"Do you want me to kill him?" she asked plainly.
Knives sneered, "Oh no, I just want you to find him," his smile got bigger. "I want to kill him my self."
She made a note on a piece of paper, "How much are you willing to pay?"
"Pay?"
She looked up at him expressionlessly, "I do not offer my services for free."
Knives shifted on his feet.
"How much is someone's life worth?" she asked, her eyes locking onto his.
No reply.
"I thought so. For tracking him down, I'll take a flat rate of $$10,000 and an additional $$500 a day," she said, turning her eyes back to her papers. "You are welcome to stay here until I have found him. I cannot ensure you completely that he will be alive when I find him and bring him to you. But I can guarantee that I will find him."
Knives thought about it, "Deal."
"I would have charged more, but... you will be the one carrying his death if I bring him back alive," she said solemnly. "Life is priceless,"
Knives was about to respond when a bell rang. Nime looked up.
"Damn, I took too much time with you," she muttered. "Knives, I'm going to have to ask you to please step into the room behind me."
Knives made no sign on moving. Nime got up and took his arm.
"Knives, I must insist, please come this way." She said, taking his arm and dragging him around to a door behind her desk.
She wrenched it open and pushed him in.
"There, now you make your self at home and I'll be right back," she said, smiling. She closed the door behind her, but it stayed open just a crack. Knives came back over and looked through.
Nime went and sat back down in her chair.
"Whew!" she sighed. "That was too close for comfort."
She bent over her papers again and started writing. Knives shifted his weight and looked around the room, watching the candles burn. Akaria opened the door again, and in walked Nime's second client of the day.
Vash looked up at the tall building through his glasses. He'd been wandering almost aimlessly for months. He tried to keep a low profile wherever he went. Plus, ever since Knives shot those three people in that coffee house; people were up in arms again looking for the easy bounty reward. It also got worse with each additional killing. Also, he'd been looking for Mar. No one he talked to seemed to know her. Deep in his heart, he still loved her, and he wanted to find her. That's why he was here in September.
Somehow, he knew she was in this building.
"I'm gonna find you, Mar," Vash said, gazing up at the tinted windows. "Right after some lunch!"
He walked inside the restaurant and sat down at the bar. A squat, little old woman came up to him.
"What can I get you, sir?" she said, her voice sharp and intent.
"Uh... can I have a shot of wild turkey and um..." he paused and thought. "And the specialty of the house," he added. "Please."
The woman turned around and shouted something through the kitchen window. Vash took the opportunity to look around. There were a lot of people here eating lunch. He was not alone at the bar. The rooms were decorated in an oriental style and a young girl played a string instrument in the other room. He didn't see any stairs around.
"Here ya go, partner," said the barkeep. He put down Vash's whisky.
"Thanks," he murmured.
He downed his shot and thought for a moment. She was here, but the question was where.
The old woman came back and put in from of him a large plate of something. It smelled delicious, but Vash wasn't hungry.
"Excuse me, miss?" Vash said, calling the old woman back.
"Yes'sa?"
Vash leaned in, "I'm wondering; I'm looking for someone. Her name is Mar. Is she here?" he asked lowering his voice.
"Mar? No, I know nobody like that," she said, shaking her white haired head.
Vash thought again for a moment. She had told him her assassin name. It was worth a shot, "Then... where do I find Esme?"
The old woman's eyes opened wide. She grabbed him by the shirt collar and pulled him close to her face. "Esme Nime? Who sent you? Why do you want to find her?"
"Ahh! I want..." he scrambled. "To have some one killed. Is she here?"
The woman let go. "You, come with me,"
She walked around behind the bar and Vash followed her. They went thought the double doors into the kitchen. People were rushing around madly, cooking and cleaning. The woman yelled an order and a little boy who scuttled off to do her bidding. They came to a back wall where a large sheet of paper with calligraphy on it hung.
"You go up the stairs. If she wants to see you, you will find her," the woman said, pulling a chord. The paper rolled up like shade and reveled a spiral staircase.
"Thank you ma'am," Vash said, bowing a little at the waist.
"Go," she said tartly.
With out further prodding, Vash climbed the stairs.
Somewhere in Paradise, twins were born. A baby girl and boy were brought to life. They slept gently in their mother's arms. Their father looked on with loving eyes. The simple joys of Paradise.
An apple fell from a tree near by and rotted.
"Hello, you must be Vash-san," said the little blond girl.
"Yea, how'd you-"
"Nime-dono is ready to see you," she said, smiling. "Please follow me."
Vash felt confused. The girl had her hair in twin pigtails with long tresses framing her face. Her cheeks were pink and she looked so young. She couldn't be more than 12 years old. She turned around, making her kimono flair around the edges a little.
"My name is Akaria. We've been expecting you." She said over her shoulder.
"You have?"
"Yes. Nime-dono said you'd be back."
"She said that?"
"Yea, and I've never heard Nime-dono be wrong."
"Oh."
Vash looked at the fountains that filled the hall. They all gurgled to their own tempo. "Why all the fountains?"
Akaria shrugged and kept walking, "Nime-dono likes them, I guess. She says she likes water. They remind her of... oh what was it?" Akaria paused and stood for a moment, tapping her chin. She remembered and said, "Right, she said the 'ocean'. I don't really know what that is, but if it makes her happy, who am I to deny her that?"
Vash said nothing. He watched Akaria's little head bob up and down as she walked. Maybe it was the light, but he swore he saw a little yellow butterfly fly past Akaria's face.
Vash blinked, "Huh?"
"I didn't say anything," the girl said, turning a corner.
"Oh." Vash followed. "So, Akaria? How old are you?"
"I'm 11, I think. I'm not completely sure. How old are you?"
Vash smiled, "um... 137 or so. I'm not really sure either."
Akaria smiled over she shoulder, "That makes two of us." She turned back around. His brother wasn't nearly this talkative. I think I like Vash more.
Vash whistled a little, looking around. "So... how does a cute girl like you end up here?"
"Oh, that's easy," Akaria replied. "When I was seven, our house caught fire when my daddy left a cigarette burning. Nime-dono came in and saved me. I'm the only one in the whole building who lived. Since most of my family also lived in there too, she took me in and I've been working for her ever since."
"Working? Don't you miss you parents?" Vash asked.
Akaria cocked her head to the side, propping it up on one of her tiny hands, "I guess, sometimes. But not really. If it hadn't been for their laziness, they'd be alive. It was their time to die. That's what Nime-dono says."
Her frankness was startling, for a little girl that is. Vash was taken aback. He decided it was time to change topics.
"So, you call her Nime-dono?"
"That's what I call her."
"Never Nime-sama, or Nime-san?"
"Nope."
"Not Mar?"
Akaria stopped walking. There was a moment, a very small one, where there was no sound but the fountains. Then, Akaria started laughing.
"Mar? Nobody calls her Mar. She doesn't have anyone close enough to call her that. I'm surprised you knew it," she laughed. Akaria started to walk again, "The only one I've ever heard call her anything but Nime or Esme was Konji. But, then again, that's Konji."
Vash was about to ask whom Konji was when Akaria stopped.
"Here we are," she sang, tapping on a sliding door.
She pulled it aside and let Vash step in.
An old man died in Paradise. They buried him in a cluster of trees and put a rock to Mark the place. All the people of Paradise gathered around in silence.
"Does anyone want to say a few words?"
Nobody said anything. No one had known the man when he was alive or before they had been brought to Paradise. With that, they dispersed.
The twins woke up and cried.
"Good to see you again, Vash," Mar said through the hazy smoke from her candles.
"Mar!" Vash shouted as he ran forward. He would have embraced her, but that pesky desk was in the way.
She smiled softly, closing her eyes. "You seek my services."
Vash blinked. He'd been so excited he totally forgot why he went to the trouble of finding her. Well, one of the reasons anyway.
"It's Knives," he said finally.
"Your brother," she added.
"Yea, but he is even crazier than before! He killed these three people in a coffee house. He leaves my name in blood, making everyone out there angry again. So, I'm on the run-"Vash went on and on. Waving his arms around, he paces in front of Mar's desk. She closed her eyes and listened quietly, breathing in the smoke.
When Vash was finished bringing her up to speed, she answered lazily, "I know, Vash. I told you I'd keep tabs on you."
Vash blinked, feeling confused and a little embarrassed.
"What do you want me to do about it?" she asked.
"I... I don't know. I've got nowhere else to run to, nowhere to hide. I thought that-,"
"That I could help?"
"Yes!" He exclaimed. "Help me find him or calm him down or anything! He is out of control and I can't do anything."
Mar picked up a candle and used it to light another one on her desk. "Are you sure?"
"I don't know." He said, hanging his head.
Mar was about to respond when the sliding door burst open behind her.
"Three... two...one," Knives heard Nime whisper.
The sliding door opened at the other end of the room. From his crack in the wall, Knives saw Akaria standing in the doorway. She let a man dressed in red enter. The door closed behind her.
"Good to see you again, Vash," Nime greeted the man.
Vash? He was here?
"Mar!" Vash shouted, dashing forward.
"Mar?" Knives whispered. "Why'd he call her Mar?"
Nime paused. "You seek my services."
She used that same line with me, Knives thought. He felt a bead of sweat drip down his face.
"It's Knives," Vash said.
Knives gasped, clutching his gun tightly.
"Your brother."
"Me? He came to her to kill me?" Knives whispered. He was shaking. "This is my chance. I must wait for the right moment."
"...Killed these three people in a coffee house. He leaves my name in blood..." Vash rambled on in the other room.
Only three? I thought there was more. There have been so many deaths since that; it's hard to remember them all. Hm... yes brother. All for paradise. And finding you, Knives thought.
"I know, Vash."
"What?" Knives gasped, struggling to keep his voice down. How could she have known?
"I told you I'd keep tabs on you."
Tabs? She's been watching him? Why? How?
"What do you want me to do about it?" she asked.
"I... I don't know. I've got nowhere else to run to, nowhere to hide. I thought that-,"
"That I could help?"
Ah, so he doesn't want me dead. I thought too highly of you, brother. For a moment, I thought you'd come up to my level.
"Yes! Help me find him or calm him down or anything! He is out of control and I can't do anything."
He saw Nime shift in her chair. Knives quickly checked his gun and waited. His moment was coming soon.
"Are you sure?"
"I don't know."
Now.
Knives flung open the sliding door.
"Knives!"
Knives came around and aimed his squarely at Vash's head.
"Well well well, look what we have here. I was going to have to pay her to hunt you down, Vash. But it looks like I won't have to. You walked in all on your own. I've been looking for you. Looking and looking. I walked the very face of this planet trying to find you. Why? To ask you one last time: are you with me? Or against me?" Knives cocked his gun.
Vash was sweating. Then, his face set into a firm stare. "I won't let you kill innocent people."
"Then you're against me."
"Yes."
"Then I'll kill you."
There was a gunshot and Vash fell to the floor with a hole in his head.
Akaria let out a nervous squeak from her spot on the floor. She trembled.
"Oops, looks like I got him anyways."
Konji was lying down beside Rem and Wolfwood. They all watched the sun set slowly. Wolfwood sighed, breathing out a puff of smoke.
"You talk to her yet, Konji?" Wolfwood asked.
Konji said nothing.
"Heh, didn't think so. You haven't talked to either of them?"
Silence.
"Fine, be that way. You just let 'em know I said hi when you do, okay?" he reasoned, putting out his cigarette.
Rem closed her eyes and sighed. "Does she ever sing my song?"
Konji sneezed, shaking his head.
She smiled, "That's good. I'll take that for yes. That makes me happy, that she still remembers it. You know it's been so long since I last saw her in person. She doesn't come up to see us much anymore. But... you know, I like to listen to her sing her own song. It reminds of when... back when I was..."
Wolfwood put a hand on her shoulder, "It's okay. I miss it too. But, you know. This ain't too bad. All we can do is wait. Right?"
Konji sat up and stared into the darkness.
Time just about stopped in Mar's office. Vash lay on the floor bleeding, the side of his face pressed against the carpet. Poor Akaria was kneeling next to the door shaking uncontrollably. Knives's eyes were full of shock. His gaze was fixed on the spot where his brother once stood.
Mar blew the smoke of the top of her gun. For the first time, she felt true panic. Her plan was almost brought to ruin. If she had closed the door all the way, none of this would have happened. She put the gun back in its holster. It's okay, though. She fixed the problem herself. It's just trouble shooting, that's all.
Slowly, Mar rose to her feet and walked over to where Vash was sprawled on the floor. Scooping him into her arms, she turned to Akaria.
" Knives, you are welcome to stay or she can show you to the door." Mar explained.
With that, she left Knives standing there with that little girl. The cup of coffee on Mar's desk got cold.
It was dark when Vash woke up. Then he realized that his eyes refused to open. He was still in that foggy place between asleep and awake. Straining, he could hear voices whispering near by.
"... Really, they say hi? That's nice. I'm glad that they are thinking of me. I really ought to go visit them sometime, huh? I know, I know. But I've got so much to do around here, what with Vash and Knives and all. I don't know if I can." Pause. "Oh stop that. You know I can't just stop in the middle of this. I am going to finish what I've started. I'm good about things like that. Most of the time, anyways."
Vash recognized Mar's voice. She was speaking to someone. The other person snorted.
"Konji... you're not making my life any easier, you know that? I'm up to my eyeballs in stress. My plan almost got completely fucked up today. I need to check the future more often more thoroughly. And Fate... oh crap I need to see her soon too don't I?" pause. "I know, you've been reminding me for, like, forever about it. But I've been busy, what with the twins and all. Both sets. I've had a flood of commissions. Konji, you know how it is. Oh Konji, its so exasperating!" another pause. "Have you visited her?"
That was Konji? Who was Konji? The same one that Akaria was hinting at earlier? Why wasn't he/she saying anything? There was a shuffling sound.
"That's good. I bet she would get lonely with out us bugging her all the time, huh? I'm glad she is doing well."
There was a long paused. Vash heard a faint jingling sound, like a bunch of keys on a ring. Then, a sort of panting or breathing; it was hard to tell since sleep was still threatening to take him again.
"Vash?" Mar asked the other. Vash hadn't heard the former ask a question. "Well... yea I shot him. I had to; how else was I supposed to save him if I just let Knives run around blowing holes in him again. It was a lot harder to bring him back to life last time 'cause Knives was the one who killed him, not me. It's so much simpler when I'm the one who does it. I don't know if he will forgive me. And don't look at me that way. I don't want to make this a habit either." A brief pause. "Oh shut up. You're getting on my nerves."
There was a slight growl. Vash twitched.
"Hey, I think he might be coming around. Off you go." There was that jingling again. "Wait! I have something. Give this to Fate when you see her. It's a letter, not a bomb. Don't look at it like that. And don't, you know, slobber on it or anything. I spent a lot of time and thought on that letter. Tell Nick and Rem I say hi, if you think about heading that way, okay, Konji? Bye now," Mar whispered quickly.
Nick? Did she mean Wolfwood? And Rem? They were alive? How could that be?
There was a scraping sound on the floor that accompanied the jingling sound. Then, a thud and a pop and then there was silence. Mar's hand caressed over Vash's chest. He suddenly realized that he was shirtless again.
"Shh... sleep now," she cooed, and he did.
Vash's eyes burst open and he yelled at the top of his lungs. He'd been having a nightmare. Sitting up, he covered his ears and shook his head. Mar was beside him in a flash.
"Vash! Vash, honey. It's okay. It's okay," she said, touching his back gently. Vash was still shaking. "It was a bad dream. You're safe now. Sh, it's all right."
She wrapped her arms around him and kept muttering into his ear. After a few minutes, he stared to feel better. His grip on reality returned slowly and he lied down again. With that, he shut his eyes tightly, willing the haunting after thoughts to go away.
Mar ran her finger across his forehead and through his hair, which had fallen flat. "Do you want to talk about it?"
Vash thought for a second: He and Rem, standing on the shore of an ocean, Rem turning into Mar, Mar pointing a gun at him and speaking with Knives's voice, Vash dieing. "No."
"Okay."
Vash opened his eyes. Mar was watching him sweetly. Her eyes sparkled a little. The little voice in his head wanted to say I love you, but his mouth wouldn't listen.
"Here, drink this. You're probably hungry." She said, picking up a bowl and spoon. "Sit up, if you can. Or I can feed you myself."
Vash sat up and took the soup from her. He found that he was indeed starving. He practically inhaled the soup. Mar smiled again.
Vash lowered the soup bowl and let it sit in his lap. He stared into it for a moment.
"Mar?" he asked.
"Yea?"
"I... I heard you talking, when you thought I was asleep." He said slowly.
Mar said nothing, keeping a perfect poker face.
"I know you killed me."
"Oh," was all Mar said.
"I heard you explain why. It's just... you shot me. I still have to ask why."
Mar smiled, cupping his face in her hands, "I had to, to save you. If I hadn't... I don't know if I could have brought you back to life so successfully. Do you remember last time? You were tired and weak. You're not now, because I was the one who took your life and gave it back."
Vash looked into her eyes. He swore he saw affection there. She was close enough to kiss. Please, he thought, please kiss me.
Mar let go. Vash wanted to ask about Wolfwood and Rem and 'Fate' and everything else she had said. But all he could muster was, "Who were you talking to?"
Mar looked a little startled at the question. Then she smiled, "Oh, no one special. Just my dog."
Vash felt he needed to probe a little deeper with that, but Mar got up, ending the conversation.
"Come on, I'll put some coffee on."
Vash said nothing but rose to his feet. She was right. He didn't feel tired or weak like he had last time. The soft padding of his bare feet across the carpet floor felt good. He came into the kitchen and sat at the table. Looking around, Vash realized that it was the same kitchen from before, the same apartment. He thought back and realized that he had absolutely no memory of what happened after he left Mar's apartment for the first time. Not even which city he had been in.
Mar was walking around the kitchen, pulling out things for coffee. She turned on the machine and started to hum absent-mindedly. Rem's song, Vash thought.
The pot started to fill slowly. Mar grabbed two mugs from the top shelf.
"Mar?" Vash asked, staring at her.
"Mmm?" she hummed.
"Never mind," he said, thinking better of it.
"Okay."
There was a lull in the conversation. Mar leaned against the counter and watched the pot fill. Vash watched Morphia.
"You know, I never meant to kill you. I mean, I never planed for that." She said suddenly.
Vash didn't say anything, his eyes focused on her face. She kept staring at the coffee.
"I knew Knives would come in and ask me to find you. The plan was I'd accept and I'd find you and hide you. I wouldn't kill you at all. I was going to try and calm him down, you know? Heal him and make him better again. That was the plan. But then you showed up earlier than I expected and here we are."
"Are you being honest?"
She looked at him, her eyes very serious and a little hurt, "When it comes to people's souls, I am always honest."
Vash said nothing but returned her gaze.
The coffee maker dinged and Mar poured them each a cup.
"Sugar?" she asked.
"No, I take it black."
"Right, how could I forget?" she said, nodding curtly. She put a cup down in front of him.
"Why is he so messed up?" Vash asked.
"Hmm," Mar paused. "He is missing part of himself still. That's what I'm going to help him find. That's how I'm planning to heal him. All I need is a little time."
"Oh," Vash blew on his coffee, making the steam disperse.
"You know, he decided to stay here."
"Really?"
"Yea, I gave him that option... oh wait, you wouldn't remember, you were already dead by then. Sorry," she said, stirring her cup.
She took a seat. Normally, she would sit across from him, but today, she sat down in the chair right beside him.
"Are you going to fix him?" Vash asked.
"I am going to try. I have not looked into the future and seen my success or failure yet. I think I will do this one blind."
"You can see the future?"
Mar smiled a little, "Maybe?"
Neither of them said anything for a moment or two. Then, Mar started to hum the song Vash had heard the night he woke up and found her doing Tai Chi. He closed his eyes and listened to her.
Suddenly, Vash asked, "Why do you always sing that song?"
"It makes me happy and calm, I guess." She replied.
He thought for a moment. "Yea, I know what you mean."
Vash turned to look at her. She looked back at him, smiling. Vash reached over and put a hand on the side of her face. He leaned in and kissed her tenderly on the lips. For a moment, Vash thought his heart was going to burst.
He pulled back and opened his eyes, seeing her open hers at the same moment.
In the very pit of her stomach, she felt primal fear. This was not according to plan either. She looked down into her coffee cup, looking at the hazel color.
"Vash... I..." she said slowly. Then she got up suddenly, placing her cup down on the table. "I have to go now Vash. I'll... I'll see you later, okay?"
With that, she turned and hurried out of the room. Vash heard the front door open and close. He looked around again and realized that this was not the same apartment. It wasn't the same and he was all alone. Again. He finished his coffee in silence and then poured hers down the drain. He almost smiled inwardly, he was sure that she had kissed him back.
Knives was watching the sunset from the hallway. There weren't any fountains on this floor, but a lot of plants. He liked the plants. He leaned against the wall and stared out the window. It was a vivid orange with purple clouds. Further up it was blood red.
Akaria had told him to not leave the room at all. She had also told him that everything he needed was there, she would bring him meals if he could not cook, Nime-dono would be into see him soon, don't go wandering around. After Nime had left, he had told Akaria that he wanted to stay. She smiled and asked him to follow her. She took him up two flights of stairs and through another maze of corridors until they came to a hallway on the side of the building. She opened the door and showed him the apartment. She had returned to her normal, perky self from the nervous wreck she had been when Nime had shot Vash. Akaria put up a good front, but Knives could see in her eyes a very pure, animal fear. She was scared. She was very, very scared. Good, he thought.
After little Akaria had left him standing in his place, he made a thorough inspection of it. There was a sleeping palate, a little kitchen, bathroom, low table, no chairs, and one tiny window in the bathroom that didn't lead to anywhere. He walked out of his room and decided to stare out into the distance for a while.
His mind kept running in circles around Nime. Part of him wanted to start calling her Mar, which seemed more intimate. Vash had called her that; maybe that was her real name. He was unsure. He remembered the first time he saw her. His heart almost stopped. She was a luscious, dangerous creature. Part of him wanted her; the other wanted to see her brain splattered across the floor. Something also told him that she wasn't human. No human can catch a bullet out of mid air with out damage. And yet she had. No human could be that lovely. And yet she was.
Part of her screamed Rem, which is the part he hated. He hated Rem and everything she stood for and had ever said she was a fraud. She had turned his brother into a soft, wet blanket. But she was an assassin, which meant she killed for a living. She was everything he wanted and despised. Ah, sweet irony.
Knives was so lost in his own thoughts that he didn't hear her coming down the hallway. Mar had decided to take a walk after Vash had kissed her. She was completely distressed. She was so distraught that she didn't even notice she was on the fourth floor until she saw Knives leaning in the hallway. She smiled and came up to him.
"Hello Knives."
Knives suddenly noticed her but didn't make any move to acknowledge her appearance.
"How are you doing?"
He kept his eyes on the sun.
"Okay," Mar said, easily. Not up for talking.
So she stood beside him in silence. Time passed very slowly. After about an eternity, She started to hum very softly. Knives recognized it instantly as the one Rem always sang.
Knives opened his mouth slightly, "You remind me of Rem..."
She stopped humming.
"Except I can love you," he finished slowly.
"I know," Mar said, closing her eyes. How could I not have seen it? This can't be happening.
Knives turned and gripped her shoulder tightly. Shock paralyzed her for a moment as she looked up into his eyes. For a second, the cold hatred vanished. His grip tightened and he leaned in and placed a forceful kiss on her lips. She stood frozen.
He released his grip on he, opened his eyes and pulled away. Her face (those eyes!) was completely unreadable.
"Good night, Knives," she said blandly, turning around and disappearing into the shadows. The sun went down, leaving the earth looking like black coffee.
The wolf was lying on the floor by her writing desk. The room was completely dark except for three lit candles on the desk. His paws were crossed and his head rested perfectly in the cradle that his forelegs created. His big, brown eyes were half open. The very sight of him made one think he was dead.
Then, Morphia burst through her door. Hot tears streamed down her face and she collapsed on the floor beside the wolf.
"It isn't supposed to happen this way! It isn't! I'm supposed to heal him cleanly; I can let them go back, I can keep expanding paradise. This is all wrong. Why didn't I see it? Why didn't I look?" she sobbed.
The wolf sat up and walked closer to her. The collar around his throat jingled. His eyes were sympathetic. Morphia wrapped her arms around his neck, holding him closely.
"Konji, this isn't what I planned. I wanted to teach them love, but I didn't want it to be me... it's not what I wanted." She cried into his glossy fur. The wolf licked her cheek the way dogs do, tasting her tears.
I know, Mar, said Konji, nuzzling her, I know.
Ending thoughts: ain't that a kicker, Konji really is a dog and Mar wasn't lying. I think Akaria is obnoxiously happy, kinda like me when I'm hyper. Man, I'm annoying. Mar also seems to seriously be screwing up today, must be having some bad luck. oh, and when i made up all the names, i didn't know that konji also refers to a written form of japanese. i might use that in the future. hehe! So, please tell me what u think, cause as of right now, I don't have much of part 3 written and I want to know if I should go on or give up. R&R!!!