Fate of Awakening Love
Disclaimer: I do not own Trigun. Life is that cruel.
A/N: Thank you for all the reviews! Remember how I said something about a K/M moment? Well its so slight I wouldn't even call it a moment. Sorry! I think my chapters are getting longer and longer. I hope no one minds. And just for the record, I wouldn't call this chapter my best work.
-
'I wonder if I've given Mr. Vash and Meryl enough time to work things out.' Millie thought to herself as she walked through the small town. 'And I wonder if such a small town could really carry something as rare as a wheelchair.'
With the hot suns blazing down on her, she decided to get a drink from one of the local stores. Entering the first one she came across, all eye's turned towards her, and she stared back with a wide smile and gleaming eyes. "Hello! My name is Millie Thompson." She said in her booming, but cheerful voice.
Turning back to what they were all doing, the townspeople in the small shop ignored Millie. With slight curiosity she let the people go on about their business and began looking at the options they had available for drinks, when a tall man with dark ash colored hair caught her eye.
"Dr. Neil!" Millie exclaimed in excitement, and walked over to the man who was slumped in the corner covering his left side with one of his hands. The other was holding a cigarette, which of course, he was smoking.
-
Looking over at the direction he heard his name called his eyes fell on Millie. 'Oh. Her.' He thought to himself. Turning away, pretending he didn't hear her, and he hoped she hadn't noticed him look towards her, he continued to smoke and look off in the opposite direction.
"Didn't you hear me call your name Dr. Neil?" Millie asked as she approached the doctor.
"I heard, and what I'm doing is called ignoring. Take the hint." He said dryly.
Deciding not to take the hint, Millie sat down next to him with a smile. "It sure is a beautiful day isn't it?" She asked. Responding with a grunt, Millie continued. "As soon as I can find a wheelchair, I think Meryl, Mr. Vash and I should take Mr. Knives out for a stroll. He could use the fresh air."
'She sure is irritating.' Neil thought to himself. 'Why do I have to be a curious man by nature?' He groaned inwardly. "Speaking of your Mr. Knives how is he?" He asked as he finally turned his head slightly so that he was able to see her through his peripheral vision.
"Being very quiet." Mille responded with slight worry lines forming on her cheeks.
'He did seem like that type.' Neil thought to himself. "Too bad for you and your friends." As he stood slowly, Millie glanced at his free hand. It was still clamped tightly to his side.
"Dr. Neil, what's wrong with your side?"
He sighed to himself. 'Almost a clean get-a-way.' "I'm icing it." He removed his hand to show her the ice, he was holding, then placed it back down oh his side. "Your friend's really strong, you know that? Too strong for an ordinary, supposed hurt, human. Gave me one hell of a pounding." With a knowing gleam in his eye, Neil walked away from Millie and out of the store.
'Could he know Mr. Knives isn't human?' Millie asked herself wondrously and amazement as she watched him go.
-
Vash stood, staring at the door Meryl went through. 'Knives' room.' He thought to himself. Deciding not to pursue her, he walked over to the bay window that looked east and over the entire small town. 'How long can I do this? How long can I go on without my heart bursting? How can I make Meryl mine?'
Still looking out the window Vash saw Neil and impulsively ran out of the room in order to catch up with him. "Doctor! Hey! Doctor!" Vash yelled, running after him.
'You've got to be kidding me. Another one of those newcomers? Can't they leave me alone?' Neil thought to himself as he stopped walking to wait for Vash. 'Don't think it'd work to ignore this one either.'
"What is it?" He asked Vash.
"I just wanted to thank you. For what you did for my brother Knives. I didn't really get the chance earlier, with the tension in the air."
"It was thick, and don't thank me. I'm a doctor, that's what I'm supposed to do." Neil simply responded.
"Yeah..." Vash thought back to reason of the tension, and looked off.
Neil, carefully eyed Vash. "It's the petite raven haired one isn't it? The women both you and your brother are in love with?"
"Huh!?" Vash twisted his head back at the doctor. "What... how did you...?"
Neil shrugged. "I'm perceptive. Here's my only advice for you, and know I don't always give the best advice. After this, I'm going about my business and you are to leave me alone. You seem close to your brother, even if he doesn't feel the same way about you. Think now, does that woman make him happy? Now, does she make you happy? Given the idea that I don't know how this woman feels about either of you consider this: Would you be able to let her go, if she'd have your brother, in order to ensure his happiness over your own?"
Neil watched as Vash's eyes glazed over as he thought about this. 'Poor sap.' Neil thought. "I'll stop by in a 4 weeks to check on your brother. I'll see you Vash."
Vash's thoughts were barely present to nod in response to Neil's last comment towards him. He felt Neil whisk by him, then like a gust of wind something about what the doctor had said snapped his thoughts back into the real world. "I never told him my name." He said a loud to himself.
-
Meryl stood gaping at Knives.
"Well don't you have anything to say?" He asked, turning his head to look at hers.
"...go after...you?" Meryl continued to stare at the bedridden plant before her.
"I don't remember stuttering." Knives told her dryly.
"Yeah right Knives, that's not funny at all." She said more to herself than him.
"Who's laughing? Are you honestly that surprised that I would ask you to go after me, versus my stupid brother? I said that other night that I wanted you. Did you think I was joking? That wouldn't be something to joke about." He continued.
Meryl, still leaning against the door, felt her body slide down and onto the floor as the disbelief flooded her brain. "You are joking. You hate humans. You want to destroy us." She murmured.
"I never said I hated or that I wanted to destroy you. At any rate don't think I'm happy about it. After all you're just a human." He said, eyeing her closely. "Don't you have anything more relative to say about it?"
'What am I supposed to say?' Meryl wondered to herself. 'I've been dreading this conversation since that night in the desert sand formations when he first said it, and to think he's serious. But why me?'
"Why, I don't really know either. You don't think I meant for this to happen do you? Maybe it's because you don't seem quite like the other humans. You're not weak, and you don't frighten easy." He said aloud.
'I just put on a good front.' Meryl reflected to herself, vaguely aware that Knives was reading her thoughts, since she said none of this aloud.
"Even if it is only a front, you play it well. Also there is the fact that you're so desirable to consider." The plant continued.
"Knives you're a murderer, why would I... why would I want to go after someone... like you?" She finally spoke to him without saying it in her thoughts.
Knives narrowed his eyes to tiny little slits, giving her a menacing look, even though she had taken to grabbing her legs and looking off, doing her best to avoid his boring eyes. "One can hardly help, who one becomes." He said without a trace of guilt.
She looked up at him with hurt eyes. "Knives! You've killed so many people and put the blame on your brother. He's had to live with your guilt forever. How can you say one cant help who, one becomes? People have control of their own decisions. You didn't have to kill all those people, you chose to!"
"Just like mankind didn't have to put the pain and agony on plants! Are you saying your human methods are not killing my kind?!"
Meryl stood. "I don't want to be having this conversation. You won't change, and I can't change what other people do."
Knives thrust his head away from her. 'How could I be so damn blind?! She's not at all different. She's like all the other humans. Selfish and thinks only of what's good for her, and her kind. How could I have ever wanted her?! Let her and Vash be together. I hope they rot in hell as one.'
Meryl looked at Knives' angry face that was turned away from her and against her own better judgment she took a few steps away from the door and to the edge of his bed, when the door opened itself with bang. Meryl looked at the door in surprise, turning back to Knives; she realized he had done it. A sign to get out, and to get away from him. She took it.
-
When both Millie and Vash finally returned they saw Meryl silently eating a bowl of soup. Not speaking they all grabbed their own bowl and sat down at the table to eat alongside her.
"Has Mr. Knives eaten?" Millie asked quietly.
Meryl shook her head. "Could you get him some food Millie?"
Both Vash and Millie looked at Meryl in surprise. She had always gotten Knives' food, even when they weren't getting along that well. But without questioning, Millie did as Meryl asked her.
-
As the weeks went by, the quartet stayed in February and awaited for the time the Dr. Neil would come and check up on Knives. Since those weeks ago, Meryl hadn't once entered Knives room or spoke about him and Knives was the same. Most of the time the hotel suite they had rented out was quiet. They didn't talk to each other much, and Meryl made a point of working most of the day for some extra unneeded cash. Not even Millie and Meryl shared their usual detailed conversations anymore.
Both Vash and Meryl hadn't mentioned that almost kiss and it didn't seem they were ever going to. There was a large grey cloud lingering over their heads that was caused by awakening love and it didn't seem any of them realized this or knew what to do about it.
-
A knock on the door startled Meryl, Vash and Millie as they had been used to the quietness. Meryl stood to answer it.
"Dr. Neil, come in please." She stated softly allowing the doctor to get by as she closed the door behind him.
Millie too stood. "Mr. Knives is in the left bedroom." She said with a very weak smile.
Neil looked at the group around him. Meryl was looking down and rubbing a non- existent itch on her shoulder, Vash was standing, leaning against a wall with his eyes half closed and was staring out the bay window, and while Millie looked the liveliest, even her aura had been mellowed.
"The little bastard didn't die did he?" Neil asked, interrupting the silence he found incredibly annoying.
Millie let out something with a mixture of a sigh and a laugh. "Of course not. You can see for yourself if you'd like."
Neil nodded, but hesitantly, as he stared at Knives' closed door. He watched Vash stand to a full right position. "Don't worry; I'll be in there with you this time."
'Jeez, these three sure are a load of laughs today.' Neil thought to himself as he followed Vash into Knives' room. He noticed that as Vash shut the door he sat down on a chair that was beside it, and didn't once glance at his brother.
'What the hell got into him? That's why I don't give advice.' With a sigh, Neil advanced towards Knives who was wide awake and was looking at the ceiling.
-
Out in the living area, Meryl and Millie were seating on the couch reading.
With an exasperated sigh, Millie threw down her book. "What's the matter Millie?" Meryl asked her friend, who so rarely got annoyed or irritated in any way.
"What's the matter with me Meryl? What's the matter with you? And Mr. Vash? And Mr. Knives? What's wrong with all of you? I've never been in group that was ever so quiet! And what makes it worse, is that you won't confide in me Meryl! I thought we were good friends? We've always been there for each other."
"Millie, I..."
They were interrupted from another knock on the door. Giving her friend an apologetic look, Meryl answered the door to see one of the front desk receptionists.
"Meryl Stryfe and Millie Thompson?" The woman questioned.
Millie stood and walked to the door besides Meryl, as she heard her name. "Yes?" They both responded together.
"A letter came for the both of you." The woman said and handed Meryl the letter.
"Thank you." The responded again in unison and shut the door.
"Whose it from Meryl?" Millie asked, looking over her partner's shoulder.
"It's from Bernadelli, I think." Meryl said slowly as she opened the letter and read its contents. When she was finished she looked up at Millie with a perplexed expression.
"What is it? What does the boss want?" Millie asked.
"According to him, two weeks ago there was a meeting, discussing the terms of Vash."
"And?" Millie prodded her friend.
"And, it's been decided that he's no longer an outlaw. The $$60,000,000,000 bounty on his head has been withdrawn and the boss says that because if this, our job is finished and that we are to report back to headquarters immediately."
"What?" Millie said softly.
"We have to go back Millie. Since Vash is no longer a threat, he is no longer our problem. He's free."
The two insurance girls exchanged looks and turned their heads to the door, a door that led to Neil, Knives and the former Outlaw.
-
'Look at that.' Neil thought to himself. 'He must have been completely healed weeks ago.' "How long have you been aware of your own condition?" Neil asked aloud.
When he didn't respond, Neil looked at Vash. "Your brother is completely healed. With the exception of some barely visible scars, you wouldn't even know he had been shot or immobile for so long."
"What?!" Vash stood and looked over at his brother who was still lying down, but now his expressionless face was covered in a darkened smirk.
They both watched as Knives swung his legs over the bed and stood up to stretch. "I've been in a bed far too long."
"Knives, how long have you been better?" Vash asked his brother.
"It's a recent devolvement, brother. I assure you."
"Please leave Dr. Neil and thank you again." Vash said quietly. "For everything." He added to the man was who was already walking out the door and closing it behind him.
-
Meryl and Millie turned their heads when the door to Knives' room was opened, and Neil walked out.
"Before you ask, don't. I highly doubt I'm the one who should fill you two in on these turn of events. Nick was right. You three have way too many problems. The first one being you travel with Vash the Stampede, the second being him and his brother. I mean, walking around Gunsmoke with plants?!" Neil shook his head and started to walk out of their hotel room, but was blocked by Mille.
"You knew the Priest?" Meryl asked softly, eyeing Millie.
"Unfortunately, I'm his cousin, not that he ever figured that out, and what do you mean knew?" Neil asked his curiousity getting the better of him again.
"Mr. Wolfwood was killed... a while ago." Millie said in a whisper with a small tear forming on her right eye.
Caught off guard with Millie's answer, Neil dropped his medical bag in shock. Seeing Neil alarmed for the first time, both Millie and Meryl gave him a surprised look. "Well, can't say that I wasn't expecting to hear that rather soon." He said, picking up his bag slowly. Combing one of his hands through his hair he let out a depressed sigh. "I have another appointment; I must be on my way."
"Wait!" Meryl exclaimed. "Don't you want to know what happened?"
"Why would I want to know the morbid details? No, besides I have a fair idea. I never did trust the man who took him in." Without another word, Neil swept past them and out of the room.
"... Meryl?" Millie trailed off.
Meryl gave her tall, gentle friend a hug. "He did look a little familiar."
"He did." She responded.
"Do you maybe want to go after him? To ask him more questions perhaps?" Meryl asked, releasing the hug so she could get a proper look at Millie.
Shaking her head, Millie walked over to the bay window and saw that Neil had walked into an alleyway. He was crouched down on the side of one of the buildings and was smoking a cigarette. A tear slid down his face as he inhaled the fumes.
-
Back in the other room, Knives and Vash were having their own conversation while Neil, Millie and Meryl had their own.
"Have a seat Vash, before you get yourself worked out over nothing." Knives said.
"No thanks. I like standing."
"I said sit." Knives commanded, and Vash found himself sitting in a seat, something he knew he didn't do himself.
"Knives...." Vash growled.
"As you can see, not only am I better physically, I am mentally as well. Now that I'm restored to my original health, I'll be leaving you and your spiders."
"Spiders?" Vash's eyes widened in horror. "When did you start calling the Insurance Girls, spiders again?"
"They always were spiders Vash; I just had a moment of insanity, thanks to you of course. But now that I'm back to my normal self I'm going to finish what I started from the day I killed all those worthless humans on Project SEED." Knives said, his eerie calmness coming back. "I don't suppose you've come to your own senses and are ready to join me?"
"Never." Vash seethed out.
"Pity. Brother's can always work wonders together." Knives started to walk towards his brother who was unintentionally walking away from him. When Vash bumped into the door, he pulled the last thing he could think of, to stop his brother who was rapidly returning to the way he used to be.
"What about Meryl, Knives? You can't leave her. You love her."
Vash thought he saw a flicker of softness emerge from his brother, but it quickly disappeared before he could register it entirely.
"...Never did I say I loved her." Knives responded staring down his brother.
"Maybe you never said you did, but you do, don't you?" Vash continued.
"She is no better than the rest of her species'. Get out of my way Vash."
"Not while your bent on destroying mankind again. I won't let you Knives. I stopped you before, I can do it again."
"Who said I was off to destroy mankind? While yes, that is on the "to do" list, I have no intention on fulfilling their destiny at this precise moment. I have other things on my mind."
"Like what?" Vash asked.
"My curiosity has gotten the better of me and I must find out where all those people disappeared to in that last town we were in. It certainly wasn't me and I must know who was behind it. Now let me pass."
Vash gripped the door handle so Knives couldn't. "Promise me you won't hurt anyone, if I do."
Knives sneered. "Fine. I promise. But is my word, really enough to satisfy you?"
"You're my brother Knives. And while you haven't made the best decisions, I've never known you to a break a promise of mine...recently... and... I trust you now."
Knives gave his brother a lofty look before Vash moved aside and let Knives open the door and walk out into the living area. Following his brother he was met with gasps as Meryl and Millie gazed upon the healthy Knives.
Ignoring their presences, Knives continued to walk past them and out the door.
"He's perfectly healed?" Meryl asked, speaking in reference to Knives for the first time in weeks.
Vash nodded grimly. Without waiting for further explanation, the three of them trudged after Knives who was already walking down the dirt street.
"There's something you two should also know about Knives now." Vash said.
"Knives seems to have reverted to his old self again."
"What do you mean, reverted?" Meryl asked dumbly.
They turned to watch Knives, as a small red ball rolled into him.
"Hey Mr.! Could you throw us our ball back please?" One of the kids who were playing with it asked.
Knives picked up the ball and examined it before looking over at the children. With a defiant smirk he popped the ball with one hand before tossing it back at them. Scoffing at the children's shocked expressions Knives continued to walk, the townspeople making sure to stay out of his way. Which made no difference as Knives raised his right hand ever so slightly, and everyone in the town fell on the hard hot sandy ground. Some were even thrown a small distance; the only one who wasn't touched at all, was Meryl.
"I see..." Meryl said, staring at Knives as he walked off laughing to himself.
-
A/N: I've spoiled you all. Giving you a second chapter so soon, now you'll have to wait 3 months for chapter 10. Totally kidding. Originally I was never really going to mention Wolfwood at all; in fact I wasn't originally going to do a lot of things now that I think about it, but I LOVE Wolfwood and thought it only fair that I should at least mention him. Well I hope you all liked this one. I know I had fun writing it.
Knives: I knew I'd never fall for something as inferior as a human. ::spits out::
Author: Suppose you're only in denial Knives. Ever thought of that? Besides, if Meryl doesn't take you, I will!
Knives: yeah, we'll see about that one.
Author: Read and review! ::drags Knives away::
Yours truly,
F. Goddyss