TK: …-has a bloody nose-
Blu: -snicker snicker snicker-
TK: shut it
Blu: -snicker- fine -snicker-
Hustino- Well, needless to say your review made my day…but I hate to say that TK dodged all but two of the cleats. If you say that in rhythm, tis a rhyme!
Black Betty- Well, I'm glad I could answer your questions. If you have anymore go ahead and ask away
XSRX – so are you a Naruto fan? Nvm. Anywho, thankies for reading my fic for your first Trigun one . The chapter title is actually a song I sing at my voice lessons. –loves that song to bits-
Ali10- Glad you liked it babe! If this works out well, then yessh, awkward moments are sure to come!
TK: -is hit with the shoes- ow
Blu: way to live up to your name, Shoe Magnet
TK: shut up
Largosan- …oh shit…um…you really don't have to sing the song anymore…I mean you can if you want to…um…CRAP! –runs away-
Sanosuke4ever- …did you do all of that by MEMORY!? Jeez, you must have quite the memory there…I can't even SAY half of that! (TK: get to the point) oh yeah…I'm sorry this is so confusing. If you have any questions, I will be glad to answer! Thankies for reading!
NintendoKat- Thankies for readin'! I'm so happy so many people like this! Wolfwood kicks ass, and we all know it! W00t!
Blu: that's all of them!
Read, Review, and Wait, the three things that happen on this site.
Chapter Eight: Amazing Grace for Dummies
"This looks great, girls!"
All of the little girls around the square table blush. "We just followed what Miss Meryl told us to do," Sarah says, talking more to the table then to the typhoon that addressed her. It's Meryl's turn to blush. Millie and her humanoid friend exchange glances after looking at the red folding over the shorter woman's face and smile at the other.
"Shut up, you," Meryl whispers to Vash after jabbing him in the stomach. He smiles weakly while holding his tummy and turns away to go for the innocent look. Nick and Millie snicker, only earning glares from the midget. "I said, shut it!" she snaps.
"Well, with out further adieu!" Vash says as he raises his spoon into the air, "LET'S DIG-"
"Not so fast!" Millie cuts in, standing up. Vash looks at her confused before dropping his arm back onto the table. "We haven't said 'grace', yet," Big Girl says, scolding Vash as if it was his fault they all never did it in the first place. Everyone at the table exchange glances until their collective gaze falls on one Nicholas D. Wolfwood II, who raises his hands as if to explain he had nothing to do with his 'Mother's' behavior. Deciding to shrug it off, they all turn back to Millie.
"Grace," everyone says at once before scooping into the meal at full force.
"NOT LIKE THAT!" the stun-gun touting insurance girl screams, sending everyone into a frenzy. Stopping to catch her composer, and to make sure she has everyone's undivided attention, Millie takes a deep breath then continues. "We have been given a lot of things we don't deserve in this life time, one being my Nicky's return, and I think we all need to thank the Lord for such things," she says quickly. She opens her eyes, smiling at her own little speech, only to see the whole table staring up at her and blinking blankly. "Now, who's first?"
"I VOTE WOLFWOOD GOES!" the Localized Disaster yells, perking up. He turns to the seven year old across from him, who is gapping widely, and smiles his 'this-is-what-you-get-for-turning-Millie-into-this' smile. He's returned with a 'I'll-get-you-in-your-sleep' glare. Turning to Millie, little Nick tries to find a reason for him not having to go first, but the tall insurance girl shakes her head and gives him the 'your-first-buddy-now-deal-with-it' finger shake. He lets out a defeated sigh and pushes out of his chair.
"I want to thank God for guiding me back to Millie and all my friends," he says quickly and mainly to his soup bowl. A few boys snicker, but thanks to the glaring every girl returns them with, they let off. Blushing extremely, Nick climbs back into his seat and tries to hide his face under his long, black bangs.
"Umm…" another boy says, slowly raising his hand. "C-can…can I go next?" he asks, sheepishly. Millie claps her hands together in joy before nodding happily down at him. "Umm…ok…I want to thank God for giving us this food so we wont starve."
"I want to thank God too!" a little girl says, standing up quickly.
"Me too!" another interrupts. Millie smiles but shakes her head.
"I think we have had enough tonight," she replies sweetly, ruffling the hair of the standing boy next to her. "You can each have a turn at breakfast tomorrow. It's getting late and I think you all have had a fun day so we all need to get to bed!
"I know you all want to get up BRIGHT and EARLY to play out side again, so I think it's the best thing just to get to bed as soon as possible so we have as much time to play, does that sound good?" Millie smiles, finished with her little speech. The kids nod, some a little more bummed out then others, but all understanding. Big Girl giggles, clapping her hands together again happily. "Great!" she chimes, sitting back down and scooting her chair back into place. "Now what are we having?"
No matter how many times I run it through my head, I can't seem to get what that kid said out of my mind. That thing about me and Millie looking similar. Even looking down into my soup I can see the resemblance. I still have the same pointed nose and the same deep, black hair, but it's parted down the middle now instead of to the side. My skin is lighter, almost exactly Millie's shade, and even my eyes are a mixture of the two of ours. All of this is giving me a head ache.
More so then that, is the fact I've been keeping to myself more then usual. This whole thing is freaking me out WAY too much. I really need to loosen up! God, some how, gave me a second chance and I have to use it to it's fullest…
…even if I'm only three something…
…oh chripes.
"Are you ok, Nicholas?" Millie asks beside me. "You haven't touched your soup. If you want to grow up big and strong, you have to eat!"
"I know," I say, raising my head. "I was just thinking."
"Uh oh, Nick was thinking, guys!" A boy across from me says, nudging the shoulder of the girl next to him. "His head might explode!" A couple giggles erupt from the kids sitting around the table.
I stare dumbfounded to about two seconds. Are the kids finally warming up to me? This might be fun. It takes me a minute to figure out I've been laughing the whole time. "Ah hahaha…heh heh…um…yeah," I mumble. Everyone is staring at me now. Way to go, Mr. Dumb-ass Preacher Man.
"So it's just you and me on the dishes tonight?"
I look up at Vash and smile before setting down the glass in my hand and taking the dish from his. "Yeah," I mumble, running the bowl in my towel covered hands. "Did you zone out when Millie was giving her whole 'get to bed early' speech?" The Stampede hands me another glass, shaking his head.
"What the hell is in that book you gave her?" he asks, staring down at me.
"It's the bible," I huff, snatching away the cup. "It's the word of God. She must've found something in there that made her want to have grace tonight or something. I donno."
"…did you used to say grace?" he asks, pausing with his hands under the sink. I hesitate, letting my vision blur. Did I? I can't remember…
"I think I used to…" I mumble, letting my eyes wander back to my now taller friend. "But it was a long time ago. I can't remember…"
"What…what do you remember?"
"…I remember gunshots and target practice," I say slowly, forming the words in my mouth before saying them. "Old churches and…and graves." Why can't I remember more? What's the matter with my memory? I used to be able to remember more…
"Are you guys planning on going to bed any time soon?"
Both of us jump. Spinning around, there is Meryl and Millie, both ready for bed. Meryl taps her foot, her arms crossed. Millie just stands there, looking down at me and yawning. "Aren't you coming, Nicholas?" she asks halfway through her yawn. I slightly blush.
"Uh…yeah," I sputter, turning back to the glass in my hands and starting to dry it in double time. "Yeah, Vash, hurry up!"
"…That's so cold."
Slipping the nightshirt/dress Vash had lent me the night before on, I let my mind wander where it chooses. That, of course, means I'm thinking about Millie. Just as I get really into my reminiscing, she comes in. "You should brush your teeth, Nicky," she says, a toothbrush dangling out of her mouth. "You don't want your teeth to rot, do you?" Jumping onto the bed, I let out a defeated sigh.
"Fine," I mumble, pulling my bag into view. After a moment of rummaging, I pull out one hell of a beat up toothbrush, it's bristles stained with yellow and its handle covered with grime. At least it's in better shape then Vash's. Hopping back down to the floor, I scurry off to the now open bathroom.
A few minutes later I return, mouth foaming. "Dis good?" I say around my toothbrush. Big Girl nods, giggling. I smile under the bubbles dripping from my mouth then quickly return to the bathroom to get rid of them. When I return, there she is with her bible laid out in her lap. Not seeming to know I reentered, she sits there, skimming what seems to be the last page. Damn she reads fast, but I really wouldn't put ANYTHING past her. She's beaten that into me by kicking my ass at chess too many damn times. Without looking up from her reading, she takes the pink ribbon in her hands and ties her hair into a low ponytail over her shoulder.
"I don't get this," she mumbles to herself.
"Get what?" I ask, announcing my presence for the first time. She jumps, the book bouncing in her lap. "Sorry."
"No, I'm fine," she says smiling. "In fact, I kinda need your help."
"What for?" I ask, sitting on the bed next to her. Smiling, she moves the bible down to my eye level, a few handwritten lines coming into view.
My handwriting.
"What's this poem about?" she asks, turning to me. I read the lines slowly, mouthing them along as I go.
"It's…it's not a poem, Millie," I reply slowly, "it's a song." Taking my index finger, I underline the first two words. " 'Amazing Grace'," I whisper, brushing over the fading ink. "It's about the power of the Word of God, of the Holy Spirit," I say louder, turning my face up to see Millie's reaction. She seems really into this. "This song tells of the power the Holy Spirit has on people." Looking up again, I see her nod, her eyes moving back and forth over the page. "According to legend, the person who wrote this song used to kill Christians but then was given the Holy Spirit and came to Jesus. He then realized his wrongs and wrote this song. Out of all the songs in the old texts, this one is most highly recognized and loved…along with another one about Jesus' cross…but I forgot the name…"
"Do you know the tune?" she asks, meeting my eyes. I smile and nod before returning to the page.
"Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like meee," I sing, pausing. Millie looks down at me hopefully, and closing my eyes I start again. "I once was lost, but now I am found. Was blind but now I see." Opening one eye I look up at her. "It just repeats the tune, so if you want you can sing the rest with me." She smiles and quickly nods. I guess she likes sing-a-longs.
"Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fear relieved. How precious did that grace appear the hour I first believed.
"Through many dangers, toils, and snares I have already come…" Millie's voice begins to fade as a few yawns escape her. I drop out, letting her finish in her own beautiful sleepy voice. "…tis grace hath…brought me safe thus far…and grace…will lead me…home." Laying back, Big Girl falls on her pillow, pretty much out. I smile, letting her last words hang in the air as I pull the covers over her. She has a glorious singing voice. Snuggling next to her, I let her calm breathing lull me to sleep.
"…demon…"
The word makes my eyes shoot open. Feeling the vibrations on my back is proof that that came from Millie, but…
"My demon is coming," she mumbles sleepily. "He has returned…take heed…and repent." At a loss of breath, I can feel a sudden string of pain run through the wound in my chest. How can that be? I'm not in that body anymore…
…unless…
"…damn you, Legato."
Blu: SEVEN PAGES! NEW RECORD!
TK: GO BLU-CHAN!
Blu: sorry it took so long, guys! Writers block decided to move in and I just now got the guts to kick him to the curb…and my foot still hurts.
TK: …I am still up for shoe throwing for anyone who HASN'T thrown some yet. That means no more, Hustino.
Hustino: awe man!
Wolfwood: There is such a thing as a loss for words. It can be because of great happiness or great joy, but it can also be for great sorrow. As we all climbed into the seats of our beat up car and head away from the deserted city, I found myself at a loss for words. There is so much one wants to say, but to find the words might cause more pain. As the dunes passed, I found my voice and spoke. I asked the question no one could answer, the question no one wanted to hear. What can you do when you demand an answer no one can give? No one wants to give?
Next Chapter: Vastly Overrated.