Chapter Two: His return

Meryl sat patiently on a small bench that was surrounded by the small up beat town, the sun slowly lowering down behind the horizon. Millie sat comfortably beside her, her happy-go-lucky smile widening as she watched the sunset. "Isn't beautiful Meryl?" Millie asked. Meryl just frowned, resting her head in the palm of her hand. "I'm going to write about this in my next letter! My big brother, and my little big brother, and my big sisters, they really like sunsets." Millie clapped her hands together like a little child would when they got really excited. She always did, when it came to writing her family.

"Don't exhaust yourself Millie, when, or if Vash comes back, we'll have a lot on our hands." Meryl said with a sigh. Truthfully, her patients were wearing thin. Every day she sat here waiting for him, and every sunset her heart sank deeper. "Vash."

"Oh I'm sure Mr. Vash will return, he always does." Millie replied happily.

"Always does, hm, I guess he's always has, hasn't he? But seeing him leave that day, I, I don't want to feel that again. Why am I falling for the brainless idiot, that spike haired, unpredictable, donut brain, who flirts with every woman that passes by..." Meryl jumped to her feet, her eyes tightly shut and her hands in fists. "All that man does is cause trouble! No one is safe when he's around! It would be for the best if he doesn't come back!!" Meryl yelled not realizing how disturbing she was being as a few early bedders looked down at her through their windows.

"You don't mean that Meryl, you've been waiting out here every day for his return. You'll perk up soon. I feel it!"

"Eh, why do you have to be so honest Millie?" Meryl replied, her eyes still shut.

"Huh?"

"Never mind. I'm going to bed. Don't stay up to late writing letters Millie, we have to find a job tomorrow, our funds are running low."

"All right Meryl, goodnight."

- - - - -

"It's a beautiful night." Vash said simply as he gazed up at the ocean of stars.

"Don't start that poet crap again, my head is still throbbing from your last 'It's Beautiful' blah, blah, blah!"

"Come on Knives, lighten up, you shouldn't be so angry all the time. The people here live their lives each day, like it is nothing at all, I envy that."

"Not this again, why don't you do me a favor and don't ever think, again." Knives snarled.

Vash slid on his red coat, the air was getting chilly. He was just going to leave it there, he thought that after he faced his brother, he would have no use for it anymore. But he couldn't, he had gotten only a few feet away from it before quickly turning around, picking it up.

"Where are you taking me anyway?" Knives couldn't help but ask.

"Back into town, the insurance girls are waiting for me there. I have to go back."

"You can't be serious? You dare take me to a nest full of maggots!"

"They're not maggots. They're human being's Knives."

"Heh, through your eyes maybe, but through mine they are nothing but sad, pathetic maggots that need to be squished."

"Don't say that Knives, you just, need to open up to them. They're good people with strong hearts."

"Good people huh? Are you replying to the same people that wanted you dead? Just so they could have that bounty that's on your head? These 'Humans' know nothing more then their greed. Face it Vash, you will always have to look over your back, humans cannot be trusted. So tell me brother, is that what you call 'Beautiful'?"

Vash gave no reply and for a long time there was no thoughts between them. Vash's stomach started to growl angrily at him, he placed a hand over it. "I can't wait till we get back into town, I want something yummy to eat."

- - - - -

"Millie, Millie get up! I told you not to stay up all night!" Meryl said frustrated.

"Yes! I will take all of them! Yummy!" Millie stirred, flopping over onto her back. "Why yes sir, I will be happy to have some cake."

Meryl narrowed her eyes, giving Millie a, I can't believe this!' look. She continued to shake her till Millie started screaming. "Earth quake!! Everyone outside!!"

"Millie! There's no earth quake calm..." She couldn't finish, Millie leaped off the bed, slamming into her and then running out the door.

Meryl sat there, her head spinning, she put her hand on the side of her head, rubbing it. "What am I going to do with that girl?" She thought as Millie came running back into the room.

"Meryl, it's him! He's back!"

Meryl turned and looked at Millie blankly, did she just hear what she thought she just heard? Millie's face glowed with excitement, it must be what she heard. "Are you just going to sit there?! Come on, let's go meet him!" Millie took hold of Meryl's arm practically ripping if off when pulling her out the door.

Small groups of the town's people had already gathered outside the inn, they surrounded the legendary gunman with happy hellos and welcome backs. Vash greeted them all with a heart warm smile, his smile growing larger as he saw Millie and Meryl amongst the crowd. "Hello!" He happily said, waving his hand at them.

Meryl could feel warm tears surfacing to her eyes. She quickly wiped them away. Millie lifted her hand high in the air, waving back. "Hello!"

Vash gently made his way through the crowd, surprisingly, Knives didn't comment, he remained silent, but Vash knew he was holding back, that he wanted to say something.

"Welcome back Mr. Vash!"

"Hey Millie, how are you on this fine day?"

Millie giggled. "I'm doing fine, thank you for asking."

Vash moved his gaze from Millie to Meryl, who looked up at him with a faint smile. "I'm glad to see you're safe." Meryl simply said, closing her eyes. "Don't let him know you're too happy to see him."

"Well, now that I'm back, I want to get some food! It was horrible being out in the desert! I didn't think I was going to make it for awhile." Vash joked.

"I'll make you something Mr. Vash. I bought lots of good food yesterday."

"Millie! We can't be feeding everyone you know! Our funds are low, remember?"

"But Vash is only one person." Millie said with a frown.

"That's exactly my point! With Vash's appetite and his stomach, it'll be like feeding the whole town!"

"Hey, I don't eat that much."

Vash and Meryl continued to argue as they entered the inn, finally after many weeks, Vash was reunited with the two people he can call, friends.

"Eh, you're an idiot!!" Meryl yelled as she threw something at Vash. The unknown object soared across the room and out a window.

"Awww, come on now, don't be like that." Vash responded.

The poor object climbed to its feet, its tail twitching. "Meow."