Disclaimer: Sadly, I don't hold claim to any of the following: Trigun, Vash (my sexy bishounen), the late Wolfwood, Meryl, Millie, Rem, Knives, Legato, any of the Gung-ho-Guns, any other characters (alive or dead), Planet Gunsmoke, any of the Seven Cities, celestial bodies, spaceships, Project S.E.E.D.S., handguns, weapons of any sort, salmon sandwiches, doughnuts (love them!), frozen geezers, "Sound Life", any random quotes from the episodes, or pretty much anything else. Thank Mr. Yasuhiro Nightow for the creation of this wonderfully inventive series! (You can just thank me for the fic!)
A/N: Wow! Thank you everyone for your fabulous reviews! I absolutely adore hearing feedback of almost any nature!
In regards to a comment left by "geranium", the reason Vash doesn't have possess a shirt is simply because he shouldn't wear one. For one thing, it's HOT in the desert, so why add to it with a shirt? Plus, I just prefer him that way.. yeah..
Enjoy Chapter III, and for the love of all things Vash-y, leave me some nice, long reviews!
Chapter III: Perseverance
'Clinging to life until the verge of death is probably intrinsic behaviour of all organisms.'
'But is it right to live if it means such huge sacrifices?'
Exsulo.
Vash's mind often lingered on that question from so many decades past, ever since he had first taken a life, or perhaps, even from the time he first held a gun in his hand. It was difficult to tell when the feelings of culpability and uncertainty had arisen.
It was becoming difficult for Vash to distinguish anything, anymore.
Weak from hunger and dehydration, the Stampede lay, eagle-spread, on the sweltering sand. Hyperthermia, a less than lovely effect of the combined rays of the twin suns, consumed him. As a result, reality and the lunatic hallucinations were impossible to tell apart. Along the barred flesh of his torso and back, both a brilliant shade of pink, heat-blisters were bubbling to the surface.
Was it right?
'No one has the right to take another's life.'
"Rem.. you're right, Rem," Vash muttered weakly, beads of sweat emerging along his fevered brow.
'Unless the spider caught the butterfly, it would die of starvation anyway. You can't save them both, don't you know that?'
'You shouldn't make that choice so easily..'
'But I'm not wrong! If you keep saving the butterflies, the spiders will die!'
Knives.
Even as Vash lay there, battered and beaten by the elements, he couldn't help but feel a stab of anger at the thought of his brother. Knives' calculated face swam into the gunman's field of vision; those cold, emotionless eyes boring into his. That same astringent smirk was drawn taut across his visage; but what did he have to grin about? Was it not his arrogant ways that had driven him to utter madness?
There was no way around it; Knives had gone mad. What else could have compelled him to kill without a hint of remorse? Had he always been a cold-blooded killer?
'Vash! Vash.. you're crying again..'
No, once upon a time, he had a heart. He had been capable of emotions, human emotions. At some point or another, he'd felt some type of love – to his twin, to mankind, even to Rem.
'I'll never understand humans. They're a total waste of life. To think they'd actually sacrifice themselves out of foolish sentiment for others. It's incomprehensible. I thought I'd let her live only because you were so attached to her, but now I see how truly imperfect she really was. It's a good thing she died.'
'Don't say that!'
He had loved her; they both had.
'Their immigration is out of the question. That'd be like spreading pathogenic organisms across our healthy universe.'
He wouldn't have let her die..
'You're saying you planned this?!'
He couldn't have..
'That's right. But don't worry. You and I will be fine. I made sure the plant ship will survive. After all, we need that to create our new home, now won't we, dearest brother? Only the ships carrying the humans will crash.'
"No, Rem.. don't leave me! Come back, Rem.. come back.."
Tears, teetering on the verge of Vash's eyelids, finally managed to break loose, rolling sideways off of his face. Several tiny drops of water refused to depart the blonde man's dirty face by clinging feebly to his eyelashes.
"Don't leave me here alone!" the Humanoid Typhoon cried hysterically, tears further clouding his already hazy vision. "Don't leave me! Come back!"
'Vash, take care of Knives!'
"I.. can't do it Rem.. I can't.."
His strength dwindling to practically nothing, Vash let a choked sob escape. His throat constricted; he was too weak to even cry! Whenever he tried to speak, his voice only produced a gurgling sound.
Come back..
There was something in front of him, no; it was someone who was blocking out several rays of the blinding sunlight..
Don't leave me..
Someone with dark hair was kneeling in front of him..
I.. need you..
A woman with dark hair was leaning over him, holding something to his lips..
I love you..
He could almost swear it was her pouring the cold water into his mouth..
Rem..
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C/N: It's a miracle! I've updated again!
For the most part, this chapter is leading up to something – I won't say what, but it is headed somewhere. If anyone had doubts about how Vash felt about Rem, I'm hoping this helped to dispel them. Also, it's meant to reveal some of Vash's feelings about his brother, if you happened to miss that. ;P
I hope you all enjoyed the chapter! I plan to update again soon, IF you guys all leave me nice, long reviews!
Trigun © Yasuhiro Nightow
"Golden Recluse" © Kawaii Youko