Are my Sins my Own?
By: Prince Marth a.k.a. Xai
Disclaimer: I don't own the characters, nor do I own the setting. This particular scene takes place during the fight between Knives and Vash in episode 26; however, in following my last chapter with Legato, this takes place assuming Legato was never killed.
Knives sat drinking some high-class red wine, with him was Legato, a much older, more mature Legato, whom fully understood his power, but indeed he still lacked something according to Knives. This was nearly ten years after his surgery, and yet legato did not seem, with his entire heart to hate Vash. This fact worried Knives, but it wouldn't matter, it would all be over soon.
"Vash should be here soon Legato, "Chapel" betrayed me, as I expected."
Legato's eyes darkened, "I've taken care of him master."
"Albeit, a little late don't you think?"
"Master?" Legato looked troubled, slightly at least, he feared a hint of anger in Knives' last statement.
"Legato, I am not angry; actually I feel this to be quite beneficial." Knives smiled lightly, almost purely.
"Master, he's here!" Legato sensed the excitement, or more so, the anxiety in the air.
The tall figure, donning a red coat that was Vash the Stampede appeared.
"It's been awhile, eh, Vash?"
Vash seemed speechless, his eyes hardened, 'I'm not here to talk Knives."
"Why are you in such a rush to die brother? Come now sit down lets reminisce."
"You sick-" Vash's eyes twitched in anger.
"- Come, now. Is that any way to talk to your brother? Well is IT!?"
Knive's eyes became maniacal. He drew his gun. Though it appeared nearly unused, an the black of the metal shone it the sun, Vash's eyes grew dark knowing that its bullets were not without their stains of blood.
The angel arm engaged, "Are you ready Vash? Are you ready TO DIE!?"
"Knives……. " Vash then thought to himself, "I guess this is the only way to reason with you…. To think….I have to nearly kill you to make you come to your senses…… I wish there was an easier way."
Knives shot his arm first, as smoke erupted Knives smiled, "So quickly, and to think I wasted all of this time."
Vash's figure however, stood clear as day as the smoked cleared.
His own angel arm engaged.
"Ah, so you're not dead after all…… Try this!!" Knives' face contorted as he shot another blast, only for it to be negated.
"Damn!!" Knives thought to himself, "With only this gun….. It is impossible to kill him… but………"
Knives shot a blast just left of Vash's position, catching Vash off guard by only a quarter of a second, and though Vash negated the attack, the force from it blew him back. The force was enough to disengage Vash's angel arm and knock his gun from his hand.
"Knives…….." Vash was breathing heavily.
Knives walked over to Vash calmly and picked up his gun as if to pick up a dropped coin. – as all of this had been occurring, Legato, who had observed this fight from a safe distance was fighting his own battle. A battle waged within his mind….. Legato had wanted to aid his master from the very being of the fight, however, his left arm had gone numb, and the numbness traveled through his body, leaving only his mind open. As Knives was on the verge of finally killing his brother, Legato was not even near a deciding move to end his own battle. –
As if from beyond his grave Vash heard the voice of his late friend, Wolfwood, "Hey! Broomhead! Use it!! It's right by your hand!!"
Vash grabbed for the Cross-Gun Wolfwood had once used, and lifted it from the surrounding sands, though still, lying on the ground; Vash aimed the gun straight form Knives' arm, which was, along with his other arm, engaged as an Angel Arm. Both Angel Arms were activated, and Vash was closer to his death bed then he would have hoped. His old friend's weapon was his last hope. Knives, however, seeing this newly attained weapon quickly knocked it away, well out of Vash's reach.
"Sooo… he thinks he can be of use? He's better off staying dead and keeping quiet!!"
Knives rammed Vash back about ten yards with a swift jab to chest with the Angel Arm. Vash, though not completely out of energy yet was feeling the toll of trying so hard to negate Knives' attacks. The last jab left Bash's chest bleeding and had slammed his back into a rock. Vash's body was falling under paralysis fast.
"Knives…….please… come…a..round." Vash was starting to feel the exhaustion falling over him, the weight of which he could not bear.
Knives merely walked over to Vash, stood at Vash's feet and with both Angel Arms flaring, he spoke, "ARE YOU READY!? ARE YOU READY TO DIE!? VASH!? ARE YOU READY TO SEE WHAT TRUE POWER REALLY IS!?"
Suddenly a new feeling overcame Vash, he laid there more awake then ever, and yet unable to move. Knives leaned the Angel Arms directly at Vash, ready to fire, his face maniacal with anger, "It IS TIME BROTHER—"
"-NO!! stop it master!! Stop!!" Legato stood, crying his blue eyes filling with endless tears. "You can't kill him!! Master…. I…I… I felt it, as you held those weapons to Vash, this arm it trembled, it shook uncontrollably, it revealed to me in my mind the feeling of true fear. The basic urge that every living creature has to live….. master…. Please stop!!" Legato stood in front of Vash blocking Knives from attacking.
"Dammit!! Why…. Why?"
"Because master…. It was the same fear you talked about…… when you were hurt."
"Uhhg……. No…. no don't remind me!! Vash!? Did you really feel that way!?"
"Knives….. every being has to live, because every being possesses fear, and will we are no different, I knew you wanted to kill me… I …..I've seen this before…. But… I Never thought it would be of my own brother….. The pain I felt for you, and the fear I felt, a feeling I had never felt before………… Knives I cannot lie to you."
Knives looked about to cry, "No……. Brother!!-" Knives collapsed, though he was still conscious."
"Legato…. Why did you, of all people stop him? Why would you save me?"
Legato was about to speak but Knives cut him off, "I see now, Why? Because…..He isn't Legato."
"What do you mean?" Vash seemed puzzled.
Knives' voice was quiet now, and sounded sad and exhausted, "His name is Shotoko."
Shotoko looked up, "Vash….. I do not know what to say to you after all that has happened, I do not even think I can look at you, never mind at myself. I do not know how to repent for what I have done, or how to deal with my mistakes. I have fool heartedly used my power; I have tortured your mind. I had actually considered letting you die, and freeing you of these burdens of thought…"
"Then why save me?" Vash was tired, but he kept an even voice, questionably happy.
"Because, I found that if you die, you dreams in life, and your journey in life would have ended in failure. I though my best way to repent was to hope that Knives would stop if I intervened…. I guess it worked. However this action does not nearly purify my heart, my heart will never be pure again, but at least I can help those whose hearts are still pure at least I can hope that no one else will make my mistakes."
"Your heart was always in the right place….. Shotoko…. Merely, like my brother's heart… it was clouded." Vash smiled. "Shotoko…. Thank you."