Vash held her hand tightly, tears streaming down his cheeks. "Meryl...Meryl you can't leave me...I love you Meryl...please don't leave me."
Salty streams flowed from her eyes as he spoke those words. He loved her... she loved him...now they were supposed to live happily ever after right? Right? Wrong. Now...now they were to experience more pain. More heart wrenching sobs were to come. The couple could not be together, for death had its own plans.
She cupped his face in her hands, feeling no pain as she moved. "Vash...do you love me enough...to always remember me?"
A shattering sob escaped the lips of the humanoid typhoon. "Why? Why are you asking me something so...so obvious...of course! You are the only woman I ever loved! I can never forget you..."
"As long as you have memories of me...you still have me...as I always have you."
Remember
I will still be here
As long as you hold me
In your memory.
"Meryl...I'm so sorry...you shouldn't have to go...it should be me...I'm so-"
"Shh...please don't Vash..." He clenched her hand tighter, as if as long as he held it, her life was still captured in her body. She couldn't leave if he held her down. "Do me a favor Vash." Her voice became stronger as she spoke, knowing that she would have to face death sooner or later. "In fact promise me something."
"What? I'll do anything...tell me."
"Don't cry...when I leave...don't cry."
"What! How can you ask that?"
"You have cried too much already, and there is no reason to shed more tears. I will always be here. As long as you hold me in your memory."
"Meryl...I can't promise you that."
"Please Vash! That is all I ask! Please shed no more tears! No tears over me...show your love, by not crying. I hurt, when you do."
"I...I won't..."
"Promise me."
"I promise...I promise that I love you, so that I won't hurt you any more..."
Remember
When your dreams have ended
Time can be transcended,
Just remember me.
"Meryl...I...I will see you again."
"I know." She petted his face with her hand. "And when you come, I will greet you with open arms. "
"I know, that you will. I will always love you, no matter how far away. Even though I may not see you."
"But you will Vash."
"What?"
"I will be standing on the stars, looking down on you. Making sure you are safe." Vash grinned, even though she was leaving him, she would still be there. She would still love him, still be near him, and he would speak to her every night.
I
Am the one star
That keeps burning
So brightly
It is the last light
To fade into the rising sun.
"I will talk to you every night. I will sing you the song that we sang on the cliff."
"And I will always listen."
"Meryl, I will miss you so much...why? Why do you have to leave?"
"I don't know, but there is a reason I am sure. But remember, no matter how far, I am always with you." She laughed, gaining more strength in each chuckle.
"What's so funny?"
"I must sound like a romance novel..hehe, I always thought I would never end up like a sentimental person but here I am, speaking like a book you get out of the drama section of a library."
"Yeah...you do..." He laughed too, it was nice...to laugh like that. Not crying that she was going to go, but laughing about it. So much better. "Meryl...can I kiss you one more time?"
"Of course. " She wasn't allowed to speak more, his mouth had covered hers. Her arms snaked around his neck, feeling the soft hair in her hands. He had wrapped his arms around her back, stroking it softly.
She melted into him, fitting perfectly. She felt his tongue on her lips, asking permission to kiss deeper, more passionately, and she accepted his request, and participated with him. He felt along her teeth, she his, this feeling, this taste, this...love. Incredible.
And with you
Whenever you tell
My story
For I am all I've done.
Her hands fell from his neck, her body went limp. She was gone. Vash let her body down, lying it on the bed. The sorrow was unbearable, but he did not shed a tear. Did not break his promise. Instead he covered her up with a blanket, and remembered all the things about her.
He remembered all the hit he took, from her...for her. He remembered how many times he was yelled at. Her cute little face that she made when she was angry. He thought about how many times he had thought about kissing her sooner, and cursed in his head for not taking a chance.
Tears threatened to fall so many times, the pressure in the back of his eyes was proof of that, but he held them in. He wouldn't cry...he promised her. He thought of more memories that may be able to cheer him up. The time that he helped with the Nebraska family to save the old man and woman's land. He never told her how he helped out.
That time that they met the children in the desert also came to mind. She made his favorite food for him. A whole plate of donuts. She thought of him, and cooked for him.
His mind wandered back to the day before he left. How she risked her life for him. She stopped the man from kiling him. Even though she could have died in the process. She really did love him.
Remember
I will still be here
As long as you hold me
In your memory
Remember me.
Vash buried her the next day. Made the caskit with his bare hands, along with anything he could find. He even found wood, nails, a hammer. His hands became raw from the work, but it was worth it. In it he placed what he could. He left her in her insurance uniform, her mantle still on, her derringers all loaded. He placed a picture of himself in it, along with his red coat. "I will see you soon...my love." He whispered as he placed the last spoon full of sand atop the box.
He turned to the sky, feeling the wind hit his cheek. Hearing it whisper softly, "I love you..."
I
Am that one voice
In the cold wind
That whispers
And if you listen
You'll hear me call across the sky.
"I love you too Meryl." He whispered back, never shedding a tear. He would keep his promise to her, he wouldn't cry.
Never, he wasn't going to hurt her any more. She would...rest in peace. He gave her love, it was only right, to also give her the peace she deserved.
As long as
I still can reach out
And touch you
Then I will never die.
Many who heard this story may have thought that he was probably insane, that the grief made him lose his mind. But in the wind he could hear her voice, talking. Telling him that she was still there.
Remember
I'll never leave you
If you will only
Remember me.
People would especially think he had lost it if he told them what he heard from her every time the wind blew. He heard her soothing his sorrowed soul saying,
"Remember me."
Remember
I will still be here
As long as you hold me
In your memory.
Remember
When your dreams have ended
Time can be transcended
I live forever,
Remember me.
Remember me.
Remember me.
And Vash would always reply the same, speaking in the wind. "I will remember you always." He knew they would meet again, and she would welcome him to Eden...with open arms.
A/N: -Holds out a box of tissues- who needs one? -sniff- I know I do. -foghorn is heard- Whew! I cried so bad when I finished up this story. So did you? I know it was depressing, but I had the need to write it. The songs were as following,
Chapter 1- Gunning Down Romance: by Savage Garden
Chapter 2-Closing My Eyes Won't Help Me Leave: By Moneen
Chapter 3- Remember: By Josh Groban (from Troy)
Well C-ya...-sniff- so sad...