Blu: I HAVE MINIONS!
TK: -rolls eyes-
Blu: what?
TK: you do realize that after this chapter your so called 'minions' will either leave you or tie you up and beat you senseless with a pink shoe, right?
Blu: …I don't see where you're going with this…
TK: -falls over-
Hustino- -smack hit smack slap- NO LIL FOX, DAMMIT! –smack hit slap- I'm glad I finally got it posted myself XD Believe me, you're still completely wrong XD Not that you wont find out by the end of this. Thank you so much for being with me every single step of the way. You don't know what it means to me and don't forget about all the great reviews you've sent me! You're the best –hugs-
Magnet-Rose- -eyes get all starry-like- I g-get MINIONS?! SHWEET! –does a jig too- …I want tacos…Anywho, you've been a great readers and reviewer, so thankies much! -hugs-
Ali10- I'll try to get this chapter posted in under the next month this time XD Btw, you don't know what it means to me for sticking with me thru every typo ridden chapter! To put it simply, it means the world. Thanks again –hugs-
Black Betty- WHOA Betty! Deep breaths, hun! Everything's gonna be alright…well…maybe it WON'T but…you just have to trust me! Do you trust me? Good. Now, since you probably have your breathing back to normal, I want to thank you for being one of my first long-time readers. You rock, girl –hugs-
Kitara-Kama- We ALL love Wolfwood here! This story is like it's own little Wolfwood shrine! (TK: and yet…) YOU SHHH! Well, this is it, babe. This is all I can give you. I hope you liked it! Thanks for being one of my readers –hugs-
Angelarms- REALLY?! I can HAVE THEM?! YAY! –puts Vashu's sunglasses on then runs around flailing her arms- I CAN'T SEE! I CAN'T SEE!
TK: that would be because there's still sand all over the lenses.
Blu: oh yeah –takes off the sunglasses and wipes them off with the edge of her t-shirt- I knew that. Anywho! I'm glad you liked the chapter! I like putting in plot twists! XD Don't worry about your fic, tho. First off, you chapters are MEGA long, which always makes it worth while, and secondly we all love you! I want to thank you again for taking the time to read this! It makes me really happy to have so many of my favorite authors reading my stoof! It really kicks ass, so thanks –hugs-
Flower Maiden: -falls over- PERVERT! YOU'RE A PERVERT! Well…I can live with that! Thanks for reading then taking the time to review –hugs-
Tongarisangel- Well, the cliffhanger has come to an end! You'll finally get to find out who the bad guy is, along with all my other readers! I hope you liky! It has really rocked reading all your reviews. It means a lot to me, so thanks, hun! –hugs-
RavenWyng74- Whoa, I got a review via email! How cool is that?! Anywho, I was wondering if anyone would mention the pudding, but I guess everyone just crowded down at the end…or something like that…The mystery of the warped red eyed Wolfie has come to an end…of course you'll only find out who it tis after you stop reading this…hmm…Anywho, it really rocked having you as a reader, and you even put extra effort into reviewing. You are a author's best friend, you know that? thanks –hugs-
XprepxhaterX- -hands you back your jaw- you might need this…for THIS chapter and all XD You might want to hold onto that plushie too…just don't pop it's spiky lil head off…THAT would be a tragedy XD Thanks again for being my reader! It's been great –hugs-
InuBuggy- I'm glad I kept you entertained! It really makes me feel happy when my readers are so into my stories! Believe me, it matters. It matters A LOT! Just as much as it matters that you became one of my readers! –hugs-
Pyro- sorry I haven't been talking! I haven't heard from you in a long time either XD Thanks for being a reader! –hugs-
Neptune Butterfly- I'm pretty sure you were the first reviewer, although that's not everything. It means a lot that you came back to this story after the first draft of it turned out to be such a shitty one XD thanks –hugs-
VashslilAngel- tis true that good MWs are hard to come by, but that just means they're that much cooler to read! I'm glad you've liked my little twist on the pairing! Hope this chapter is as lovable –hugs-
Gunslinger Neko- You read all of them? Go you! I've gotten so many new peoples just this chapter alone XD I'm so happy this is so popular, and you're just one of the many people who made that possible. Thanks! I'm sorry to say that this is it, no more other then epilogue, so I hope you like it –hugs-
Hero O Donuts- Band wagons are fun XD Thanks for catching it in time! This it, Tye, so I hope you like it –hugs-
Blu: I'm gonna miss you guys! You totally and completely ROCK! MY! SOCKS!
Read, Review, and go on to read the epilogue!
I'LL MISS YOU!
Chapter Fifteen: Promise
My head hurts…
Millie lets out a low groan of pain. Her lungs scream at her as the sound rattles out of her dry throat. There's a faint taste of blood in her mouth, but her mind is too jumbled to remember how it got there. Her head pounds with each sudden movement as her body bounces lightly up and down.
I'm…I'm being carried…she thinks weakly to herself. Her hands grope blindly around her to find who or what is holding her. One falls onto a rough surface.
A very familiar rough surface.
She closes her hand around it, letting the fabric ball up in her fist. Nicholas' jacket, she concludes, her other hand clinging to it as well. She runs her palms over his chest, feeling the grains of sand permanently imbedded in the cloth as she lays her throbbing head on it as well. But…where is he taking me?
Straining to make her muscles obey her, she slowly opens her eyes. Gradually they adjust to her surroundings-
Two blood red eyes.
Images come rushing back to her as her eyes widen with terror. She opens her mouth to cry out, but nothing comes out. The hands clutching the man's shirt shoot to her throat. I can't speak! her mind screams. The red eyed man grins down at her for a moment before redirecting his attention back on where he is going. She yells at her body to move, to break from his grip and run, but nothing happens.
She's frozen.
"You've been out for a while, honey," the man says as he glancing down at her, his slimy voice twisting her nickname into an insult. "My master has made sure you won't interfere with our little show-and-tell." Her blue eyes widen in fear, making his slight grin shift into a sadistic smile. "You seem frightened, baby," he hisses. "You act like you've never seen this side of me before. What do you think I hide behind my glasses, dear?" She stares at the reflection of herself in the crimson pools of his eyes, too horrified to speak even if she could.
Her lungs suddenly scream for air, but her body wont respond. Sweat trails down her forehead, suffocation ripping her from consciousness. Her vision is soon tinted red from loss of air.
Then black.
"MILLIE!"
My voice drifts off into the night as the three of us speed down another street. It may not seem like it, but this is a pretty big town. We could be searching all night.
No, I can't think like that. We'll find Millie, BEFORE anything happens to her.
Then, whoever, or WHATever, will have to answer to me.
My teeth grind together as I make a sharp turn down another alleyway, almost instantly losing my footing. I let out a yelp of surprise before twisting to where the pavement collides with my good shoulder and not my wounded one.
That doesn't mean it doesn't hurt.
I hiss an oath through my already clenched teeth before pushing myself into a sitting position. Meryl and Vash are at my side instantly.
"Nick! Are you-"
"Wolfwood, you should-""I'm fine," I snap, cutting both of their sentences short. "I didn't hit my wound, I'll be fine." Before they can say anything more, I steady myself on my own two feet and shoot off in the direction we were going.
I can't stop now. Not when Millie might need me the most.
I won't let her down again.
"Maybe…maybe we should split up," Meryl pants as she leans on the side of a building for support. "We can cover more ground that way."
"Good idea," I say, surveying the area. My eyes land on Vash and a little red flag goes up. "Give me you're colt, Vash," I order. He blinks.
"Wha...why?!" the Stampede asks, hand placed protectively over his holster.
"You both have guns to protect you if you run into the bastard," I say bluntly. "I, on the other hand, have nothing other then a little bit of self protection karate shit, which, in this scrawny body, will get me no where." He blinks again. "Just give me the goddamn gun." For a moment neither of us do anything except stare down the other. Finally, the Typhoon gives me a solemn nod, showing that he understands. He places the gun in my hand and I force a grateful smile for him. When he lets go of the gun, the full weight of it nearly breaks my arms. Holy Hell, this thing is freaking heavy! I grunt out a curse before stuffing it in my back pocket. Vash gives a slight chuckle before turning and heading down one of the alleys. After sending him a death glare, I do the same.
I'm coming Millie.
I can hardly breathe.
Its been forever since I've gotten this much exercise.
Even running away from those sandworms hadn't left me this winded!
Meryl stops with a groan to lean on one of the many white-washed buildings. It had been about thirty minutes since she had suggested to split up, and she hasn't gotten anywhere since then. All the houses look the same.
Before today she hadn't even HEARD of this town.
She lets out another annoyed moan before getting ready to start off again.
"I swear, Millie," she grunts though clenched teeth. "If you're not hurt, I'm gonna kill you."
"MERYL!"
The sudden noise makes her jump. It takes her a minute to place the voice, but finally does.
It's Vash.
"VASH!" Meryl calls, waving her arms frantically. "VASH! OVER HERE!"
The red clad outlaw sprints around a corner before spotting the waving woman. He comes to a full stop infront of the insurance agent seeming quite out of breath himself. "Meryl…" he pants, placing a hand to the wall by them to steady himself. "I…I think we might be in trouble."
"W-what?!" Short Girl stammers. "What do you mean?! Millie's the one in trouble…I think."
"No, she's defiantly in trouble," the Typhoon corrects. "Legato's around." Meryl's eyes widened slightly at the name.
"How do you know?" she asks, eyeing the tall man infront of her.
"We've been searching for over an hour, and we haven't seen hide nor hair of Millie," he replies plainly. "She couldn't have gotten too far from the church, and if Wolfwood really did hear her scream, she was close by when whoever or whatever jumped her…that and I'm completely and utterly lost."
Meryl almost face faults.
"Just because you get lost, you automatically think that psychopath is on our tail?!" she all but screams at him.
"I have a photographic memory," Vash replies matter-o-factly. "For the last thirty minutes I've been seeing the same twenty-seven houses, three broken street lamps, and run-down gun shop up until I heard you screaming my name. Legato is messing up our sense of direction so we don't reach Millie where ever she is."
Meryl almost counters, but stops to think about what the outlaw's said.
Her eyes widen in realization.
"That means-"
"He really is after Wolfwood."
"M-Millie!"
God I frickin HATE this body!
I'm so out of breath I might keel over.
Huffing and puffing, I lean against one of buildings for support.
Oh God, I really am gonna keel over.
Seeing as I'll probably be catching my breath for a while, I take this time to look around. This is the somewhat older part of the city. Back when I first came here, the houses around the church were just being finished. After the plant was fixed good-as-new, the city was able to expand, circling the church at its center. This used to be a very Earth founded town. You could tell by all the lost technology they tried to remake. In fact, if my memory serves me, I'm leaning on one of the very shops that used to sell things like portable radios and fans. They never really worked very well, but they were nice.
Finally I can breathe normally, but all this skipping (more like tripping) down memory lane has given me a headache. Stumbling slightly, I start off down the street, my pace quickening from a unsteady walk to a dead run. There's no time for reminiscing. I have to get to Millie.
"Nicholas."
I slide to a stop.
"Legato," I hiss. "Where are you, you snake?"
"Right…behind you."
I flip around with a started gasp.
"Got you!" Millie giggles before falling into the sitting position infront of me. "You really thought I was that Staccato guy!"
I stare up at her in shock. Everything is going by in a blur. Should I be happy she's safe? Should I be mad that she IS safe? Should I ask her what the hell's going on? God, my head hurts now. "It's…it's Legato, Millie," I grunt weakly.
"What's wrong, Nicky?" she asks, her head cocked to the side.
"I thought…weren't you…never mind," I say, shaking my head. "Come on, Millie," I mutter, grabbing her hand. "Let's get back to the church."
"Yeah, Sempai and Vash might be worried sick!" she replies happily before standing and starting down the road. I don't move. "What is it, Nicky?"
"You're not one to mess up so easily, Legato," I say grimly up at her. "Now get the hell out of Millie." After a moment of starting down at me in shock, she gives a sickening chuckle.
"And so I have," she says in an inhuman tone. "How careless of me!" She blinks and the beautiful blue eyes I fell in love with disappear, replaced by two sickening golden orbs.
I knew it.
"Get out of her," I snap.
"And what if I don't?" she ask, her head cocked slightly to the side, sickeningly mirroring her small habit.
My hand drifts to the colt in my back pocket.
"Don't flatter yourself, Nicholas," Millie hisses. "You can barely lift that much less shoot the likes of me with it. You would only accomplish in killing your darling Millie," she runs a hand down her face, "and that would be SUCH a waste."
My gut turns as I grip the handle.
"Would you really shoot her, though?" she asks, seeming quite amused at the concept. "Do you really believe that would do ANYTHING to me? I never took you for being so naïve." Her eyes flicker dangerously. "My power is so far above yours, there is no comparison. They are more then worlds apart."
Slow footsteps echo behind us, pulling me from our little glaring contest.
What I see makes my blood run cold.
I stare up at myself. Its like looking into a warped fun house mirror. My eyes trail up from his feet to his face, where they stop.
Red eyes.
Blood red warped eyes.
My body starts to shake. If it's from the terror or the ice trailing through my veins, I don't know.
"Do you like him?" the golden-eyed Millie coos, walking casually over to him. "He was quite the feet to create." She runs her fingers through his hair as she speaks.
"You liar," I snap. "Vash destroyed the body so this wouldn't happen. You're just messing with my head."
"Wonderful thinking, Nicholas," she taunts, draping herself over the illusion. "My, you did do your homework, didn't you? But, I'm afraid you're wrong. He's all flesh and bone." She runs her finger nail across his cheek, drawing a string blood.
He's bleeding.
Dead people don't bleed.
It takes me a moment to realize there's something running down cheek. It's just sweat…but it feels thicker then that, and its warm. I wipe whatever it is off with the palm of my hand and look at it.
Blood.
I'm bleeding.
But how could I be…bleeding!?
I look up to see Millie lick away the blood running down warped me's cheek. "Mmm," she chuckles, "the taste of your blood is so sweet."
"STOP IT!" I bark, fists clenched so tightly at my sides they've turned chalk white. "Stop using her as your doll, you damned coward!" My words echo around us as Millie suddenly falls limp in warped me's arms.
"As you wish, Nicholas," Legato's voice says plainly, his voice seeming to come from everywhere at once. "I will leave your lover out of this."
"What the hell do you want with us?!" I demand sternly.
"Unfinished business."
"You bastard," I hiss. "Just leave us alone!"
"My, what language. You should be grateful to me." I blink.
"Oh, yeah," I hiss. "I have A LOT to thank you for! My death. Yeah, thanks a bunch, buddy."
"Come now, Nicholas. Do you still cling to that naïve belief it was an act of God that brought you back? More like the act of the devil."
My breath catches in my throat.
He couldn't mean.
"Yes, Nicholas. It was I that gave you back your life."
"LIAR!" I scream. "You're nothing but a filthy liar!"
"I'm not lying, though I wasn't expecting to bring you back. I was originally just trying to resurrect the demon in your soul and give it flesh, but something went terribly wrong. The other half of your soul also took on flesh in the form of your unborn son."
I blink.
Everything suddenly makes sense.
Why my memory is in pieces.
The nightmares.
Why I have some of Millie's traits.
Oh God, everything makes sense.
"However, there are other affects, which you've already felt. If something happens to one of the bodies, both feel the pain. Your other half tried to get rid of you in Louisville, and you both know the consequences." There's a slight chuckle before he continues. "My, this little experiment has been quite the entertainment."
Silence.
"Legato!" I shout.
No answer.
"It seems Master has had his fun and left. I guess it's my turn."
My eyes fall on warped me, who is smiling sadistically down at the comatose Millie in his arms. He runs a hand down her chest, making my frozen blood boil. In one fluid movement, I rip the colt from my pants pocket and do my best to aim it at the bastard's head. "Don't you dare lay another hand on her," I hiss.
"Or what?" he asks, staring me down. "You'll shoot? Don't make me laugh. Not only would that mean loosing your own life, but you can barely hold that gun steady." His eyes trail back down to Big Girl. "Damn, she has beautiful skin, don'tcha think?" He runs his free hand over her neck, undoing the collar around it. Her red tie falls forgotten onto the ground.
"I MEAN IT!" I screech. "LEAVE MILLIE ALONE!"
He ignores me and continues to run his filthy hands over her now bare neck. With a demonic glint in his eyes, he applies more pressure until his hand is completely cutting off her air flow. I grunt out an oath as a small gasp of pain escapes her throat.
BANG
Blood trickles down my other cheek, the bullet barely missing the bastard's skull.
Damn.
"Jesus, you're psychotic!" he chuckles before throwing the girl in his arms at me. She hits the earth and rolls before coming to a stop in a heap infront of me.
Oh God.
"Millie!" I scream, falling to my knees to pull her onto my lap. "Oh God, Millie, I'm sorry!" She has bruises around her neck, but there's a pulse. She'll be fine. I let out a sigh of relief before glaring up at the bastard who dares to pretend to be me.
I would never do this to her.
Ever.
"You're not me," I hiss.
"Oh, but I am," he counters, taking a few steps forward. "I'm everything you hate about who you are and everything you can't change about your past. I'm you in more ways than you are."
"Then you must know I can't let a monstrosity like you to live," I snap, shakily raising the colt in my hand at him.
"Not this again," he cackles. "Are you trying to miss me?" I ignore him.
"I'm sorry Millie," I whisper, looking down at her sleeping face. "I really wanted to stay with you for a little longer, but I couldn't live with myself if this monster ever did anything to you." I glare up at him. "To anyone."
"What the hell are you talking about?" he grunts. "You can't shoot me! You can't even aim."
"I'm not going to shoot you," I reply dryly, placing the barrel of the colt to my temple. His red eyes widen. "You're right, there'd be no point.
"Later."
BANG
Well, that's it. Promise is OVER.
-sniff- I'm really going to miss this.
Now off you go to the epilogue, where a longer goodbye thingy is waiting for you!
Also, I am up to all throwing of the shoes instead of TK today, seeing as most of you will probably want to murder me now XD I'm completely prepared! -pulls the bullseye over her shirt- READY AND WILLING FOR SHOES!