Golden Recluse Chapter 1: Grapevine, a trigun fanfic

Disclaimer: Must you remind me that I don't own Trigun or its characters? Sheesh.

A/N (Author's Note): All right. This is my second Trigun fanfic, my first having been "A Fighter's Spirit". For all of you who enjoy reading optimistic, 'fluffy-bunny' writing, TURN BACK NOW. Click off the page. Escape.

Angst and humor lovers, read on, enjoy the fic, and leave me lavish reviews!

Chapter I: Grapevine

It's been said that time passes in the blink of an eye, when what we want most is for that moment to last a lifetime. It's gone before your mind even registers that it happened. Once that precious moment's lost, there's no way to ever recapture it. However, as the cruel 'Mistress of Fate' would have it, time seems to screech to a halt and refuse to budge when you're looking forward to the arrival of something wonderful, or better yet, the return of someone special.

'Do you think he'll come back, Meryl?'

'Of course he'll come back; he wouldn't dare keep a good woman like me waiting.'

The words, once so definite, stung fresh in Meryl's restless mind, as though she'd said them just yesterday, instead of the agonizingly long three months ago.

She remembered rather vividly the day he set off into the horizon, without so much as a farewell; the day Vash the Stampede was last seen, the late Wolfwood's massive cross-shaped arsenal of guns strapped to his back.

Leaning back in her wooden rocker, Meryl gave a soft, despondent sigh.

'Surely he should have returned by now,' she thought, her somber eyes turning skyward.

The twin suns, now residing directly above the small town, shone fiercely, their scorching rays beating relentlessly on the already blistering-hot sand. People in the dusty streets, frying under the suns' ever piercing gaze, darted into local saloons and stores, trying to avoid being caught in the unbearable heat. Even the children, who would normally be playing games in the town square were no where to be found.

"It's.. so hot.." simpered Millie, her tall build appearing in the doorframe.

While Millie herself was something to behold, her height amounting to about six feet, her mismatched clothes were truly attention-grabbing. In attempts to stay cool, she sported a large, paint covered smock, a pair of faded shorts and a magenta bandana, though, it was to little avail.

"I know," the raven-haired woman agreed, wiping several beads of sweat from her brow. "It's starting to look like a ghost town around here."

"Then why don't you come inside, where it's cooler?" the brunette asked, placing one of her large hands atop Meryl's narrow shoulder.

"No," she replied, politely brushing the hand away. "I'm fine; you go inside. I'll come in later."

Knowing the limited capacity of the petite insurance agent's patience, and the instability of her temperament, Millie returned inside, closing the door with an irksome squeaking noise.

Relapsing into quiet thought, Meryl stared absentmindedly into the austere expanse of barren wasteland before her. Rolling sand-dunes lined the horizon, creating an asymmetrical line against the cloudless, aquamarine sky. The endless firmament, so pale and beautiful, struck a delicate chord residing deep within her unconscious memory.

Aquamarine eyes.

Slowly, Meryl approached Vash, who sat atop a lofty plateau, his eyes fixed intently upon the night sky. His appearance was in disarray. Pieces of blonde hair hung limp in his unshaven face, the remainder shooting off in random directions. Beneath his white, unbuttoned shirt, a bare chest was visible, a mass of gauze wrapped about his stomach. While his features were morose, his eyes retained their entrancing, breath-taking loveliness. Staring deeply into her lilac eyes, she could feel her heart practically stopping.

Scenic memory making the subtle transition into embracing fantasy swept her away, her most secret thoughts appearing true.

Vash was no longer sitting a few feet away; he was holding her in his comforting arms. Their breathing synchronized; their hearts beating as one. He stared serenely into her eyes, a smile tugging at the corners of his handsome lips.

With a flourishing motion, his face was merely centimeters from hers. The tips of their noses were practically touching..

'Meryl..'

"Meryl!"

Jolting from the vision, she quickly met eyes with a frantic Millie.

"Oh M-Meryl!" she stammered, tears cascading down her face. "Mr. V-Vash! First it's Mr. W-Wolfwood, and now t-this!"

"Slow down Millie," Meryl told her, rising to her feet. "What about Mr. Vash?"

Unable to answer, the distressed girl's shoulders shook with each sob.

With concern quickly mounting, Meryl grabbed Millie's shoulders in a desperate attempt to stabilize her.

"What about Mr. Vash?!" she demanded, a note of panic in her voice.

"H-he's been k-killed!" the woman cried, holding up the remains of a now terribly smashed radio. "S-someone m-made an announcement t-that he'd b-been captured and s-s-shot outside of A-Augusta! He's d-dead, M-Meryl!"

"N-no," she whispered, releasing Millie's broad shoulders.

"W-what're we going t-to do?!"

Biting her lower lip to keep from crying, Meryl cast her eyes towards the floor.

"There's only one t-thing we can do," she stated, crossing her arms tightly in front of her chest. "We have to g-go back to the Burnardelli Insurance Company. C'mon, w-we'd better get packing."

"O-okay M-Meryl."

As soon as Millie was out of earshot, the dark-haired lady gave a stifled sob, and rubbed her eyes, brushing away several tears.

"How could you?" she questioned, taking one last glance into the unforgiving desert. "How c-could you leave me like this?"

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Chapter Note: Sad beginning, isn't it? Vash is rumoured to be dead, and Meryl's heart is broken. HOWEVER, do not forget, this is ONLY the beginning, and there'll be more chapters soon.

Now, all you have to do is hit that little 'review' button at the bottom of your screen, and tell me what you thought about the chapter. Did you like it? Hate it? Wish Meryl had gotten to kiss Vash in her fantasy? Let me know!

Thanks for reading Chapter I. More will be posted soon. But until then, goodbye, and have a nice day.