Blood
to Bleed
Even
in the desolate wilderness, stars can still shine. - Aoi Jiyuu Shiroi
Nozomi
My
hands are soaking in the blood of the angels
on
broken wings they collapse
dark
clouds exploded and torrents of rain fell
all
these lost halos wash away- To Them These Streets Belong
Knives attempted to stand, finding that it wasn't possible if he wanted to avoid pain, and he did. He stayed laying on the sand, closing his eyes as the hot wind stirred the sand, pushing it in his face.
"You ought to be thanking me," again he erupted in coughs, spurting blood to the side. "I got rid of something that was going to die anyway, you were too attached, such a thing isnt healthy."
Vash leaned over his brothers beaten body, his face angered. "Don't you tell me that," Vash stood and took in some deep breaths, swallowing the sobs that still threatened to attack his face. He had been avoiding looking at the mess the town was, now he faced it, but his vision became blurred from tears that started to well up in his eyes.
He didn't want to look, he didn't want to believe what stood before him, he didn't even hear his brothers moans of pain. Trying to collect himself, only failing he walked toward the rubble and began hefting large pieces of building frame, putting it to the side, digging and searching pointlessly for survivors.
He found no one, he sensed no one. He didn't even find bodies, everything had been perfectly destroyed. Nothing of the humans lingered, Knives had made sure they perished, that not a bone survived.
Vash tried his best to make sure he didn't think of specific people that he would never see again, but when he found Millie's stun gun and one of Meryl's derringers his thoughts were crowded with their memories and their images. He dropped down to his knee's not being able to support himself any longer.
'I cant do this,' he thought. 'How am I going to do this? How am I going to move on after this? How can I ever forgive him? No... I don't want to forgive him, and I never will.'
Knives' breathing began to steady as his brothers thoughts flooded his own. He turned his head to the side and watched as his brother dug and looked for people that no longer existed. He continued to watch for hours as Vash began making one grave after another, having two in particular stand out from the rest. The humans he loved the most...
Knives' eyes began to grow heavy and finally the loss of blood caused him to pass out. His eyes fluttered open when he suddenly felt cold and when he felt a loss of light. Looking up he saw a tall figure, identical to his own, begin to wrap and treat a few of the bruises and cuts he had received hours ago.
Vash gave him water and did his best to heal what he could before standing and dropping the supplies. Knives' eyes drooped and he fought to keep them open.
"I was going to leave you as is, but I couldn't. I'm not heartless like you," came his voice. Vash turned and began walking off in the same direction as the setting suns. "I don't ever want to see you again." It was soft and Knives could barely hear his voice. He registered what had been said before he again, passed out.
When Knives awoke, he stood carefully, clutching his stomach area, as it was the part of his body Vash really took a shine too. Lifting his head slowly, ignoring the throbbing headache that was on its way he sighed as he beheld the new landscape.
The debris had been cleared and what now lay before him was a graveyard that expanded for as far as he could see. Vash had been at work. The thought to destroy all these handmade graves crossed his mind but at the present moment he wasn't in the condition to do such a thing.
'Why did I let him beat me up so much?' He wondered to himself as he began dragging himself in the direction that had been opposite as his twin had gone.
The days passed, and turned into months. Knives didn't hear a word from his brother and at the moment he didn't care. With his wounds finally healed he set out to make a lush world that would be worthy of himself and the plant angels he would release. He worked diligently, always humming to himself in happiness because there was no one to ruin his plans now.
When he had infused what plant DNA he held into Gunsmoke, it didn't reject it and the planet grew into a never-ending greenery. Tree's sprouted, and flowers grew. Gunsmoke was perfect, the nature was beautiful and while it didn't have the animals the earth had it still held the wandering Thomas'. The breeze had ceased in being hot and sticky and now it was cool and refreshing, Knives wondered what his brother thought of his Eden. It was far better than the Eden Rem had boasted about, he knew this for sure, because his would never be polluted with humanity and every dangerous thing that came with it.
For years he rejoiced in the peacefulness he had made, and on the planets sixtieth year of being lush, a day when he had been eating calmly on one of the many hilly meadows he noticed a figure far off. He could barely make out a figure at all and he wouldn't have been able to if the person, or rather plant, hadn't moved.
He said nothing as his brother came into view and walked slowly toward him avoiding his gaze.
"It's... beautiful," Vash said slowly. His voice was different, heavier and carrying more of a burden.
Knives brushed aside his long hair that had continued to grow over all the years. He still refused to cut it any shorter than his waist. "Thank you..." He hesitated. "Join me for lunch?" He asked, motioning to the food that was before him.
Vash nodded and sat down across from his brother. Knives studied the physical changes his brother had. He looked more tired, older, his hair too had grown in significant length, though not quite as long as Knives, it was also pushed back in a long ponytail that cascaded down his back. Vash had faint lines of age around his mouth, but that was due to stress rather than age.
"You look well," Knives said softly, changing his normal cold demure into a softer one, in slight fear of scaring off his brother who looked ready to break any moment. There had been past times in where Knives and Vash were separated, but this time was unique. For Vash, there were no human companions to keep him company, just the open fields and for him, that wasn't company at all. And while Knives had enjoyed his many years of calm solitude he had missed his brother, his intention was to always created this Eden for the both of him and he was pleased to finally see his brother join him.
"I want to get one thing straight Knives."
Knives looked up from his plate to glance at his brother expectantly.
"I didn't come back because I've forgiven you... or even because I missed you-"
Knives cut off his brother with a raised hand. "I know. What drove you here was loneliness and nothing else."
Vash nodded, studied his twin for a moment and went to eat the food Knives placed before him.
'It hurts,' Knives thought. 'But it's better than nothing.'
After Vash's return to his brothers side he said very little and Knives was fine with that for some time as he had never been particularly fond of his brother's talking. Though he wondered if Vash would be willing to help with what was time.
He had been keeping all the plant angels in close surveillance. Not releasing one until their bulbs and bodies adjusted to the change in atmosphere created by Gunsmokes new nature. But it was time now, it was finally safe to allow them to roam the planet.
"It's time I released the plant angel from their bulbs, are you going to help?" He asked his brother on that specific day. Vash merely nodded and followed Knives to the collected bulbs. He had gathered them all together so it was easier to watch them and he grew excited as he neared the first angel. She was wide awake and had a curious face as her two brothers neared.
After triple checking the vitals he walked up to the first angel and placed his hands upon her bulb, murmuring to her that it was time to come out and that it was now safe. The bulb opened with a light protruding as it did. The angel fell forward and Knives reached out to grab her.
"Vash release the retrains that are holding her to the bulb."
Vash did so, all the while marveling at the creature who was entering his brothers arms. He unsnapped the bindings and the angel was released from her long time prison. Vash couldn't help but to smile at the sight but his smile faded when he observed his brothers face. Something was wrong, he was frowning and he dropped the angel to the ground heading for the next one.
"Knives, what is it?" He asked quietly as he watched his brother open up another bulb.
Knives ignored his question. "Vash get the restrains!" Knives' voice, which had been calm to his brother since his return, had hardened and had become cold.
Widening his eyes in surprise, Vash did as he was told and rushed to release the new angel. As he did so, and as he watched as this one fell into his brothers arms, he watched again as his brother dropped the angel to the ground, his face growing grim.
They proceeded to release a dozen of the angels, all which were still lying on the ground where Knives had left them.
"Knives what is going on!" Vash finally demanded as he inspected all the angels making sure none were hurt. He cradled a few in rocking hugs as he observed his brother, who was quickly starting to anger as his breathing increased.
"They're not like us," Knives muttered.
"What do you mean?"
"They're blind, deaf, they cant feel, they cant taste, they cant smell, they cant think...," he turned to look at his brother, his face suddenly broke out in absolute fury. "Let go of it!"
His harsh voice caused Vash to drop the three angels in his arms.
"They're nothing but empty shells, they're nothing, they have no soul, they practically have no life. They're... they're, they're like inanimate objects programmed to release power and facial expressions."
"How do you know that?"
"You mean you don't! How can you not feel that you're holding something that is more or less dead!"
Vash looked down at the angels that were looking back up at him, their faces were soft with smiles, but he could feel it. They were nothing, nothing alive anyway.
"I don't know how this could have happened, they didn't always used to be like this... I watched them closely day and night, recorded all the changes..."
"So we're the only beings on the whole planet that have intellect?" Vash asked quietly and Knives nodded.
"The plant angels are nothing but toys. A waste of space... just useless mass."
Vash stood, letting the angels fall to the side, "but they look like us."
"So! That doesn't mean a damn thing Vash."
Vash sighed, hunching over, looking down at the ground. "Do you see now? Do you see how we'll be alone forever? There's no one to keep us company..."
"We have each other," Knives muttered.
"I don't just want you! Don't you understand that! But now... there isnt anything that can be done. We're alone."
"Its not that big of a deal Vash," Knives said as he began to rub his temples. This is why he liked it better when his brother didn't talk.
"It is a big deal! Now we're just wandering aimlessly with even less purpose, what if you die first? What if I live to be a hundred years older than you? I wouldn't be able to deal Knives, I couldn't stand being alone for that long."
Knives understood now. "Hey, if it makes you feel better I can kill you after a certain time," he let a small smirk escape his lips.
"It isnt funny!"
Knives looked down at his hands, "no, its not."
"You promised me a long time ago Knives, an Eden, and you've made one, but what's Eden when there is absolutely no one to share it with, to enjoy it with?"
Knives looked away from his brother at the useless angels, he thought of all the thousands of humans that had inhabited this planet. All the energy, all the life. He thought for a moment, he wished for a moment, he hadn't done what couldn't be undone.
"Where are you going?" Knives asked as he saw his brother start to walk off.
"To visit some friends at their resting place..." Vash stopped for a moment and looked over at his brother closely. "Do you want to come along?"
"You don't want me with you, besides don't you think its weird for the predator to visit his prey's grave?"
Vash thought a moment. "Yeah, but what else are you going to do?"
Together the two twins walked to the massive graveyard of all the deceased humans that Vash had loved and spent countless years along side. Knives eyed his brother as Vash knelt down beside some of the wooden crosses that were at the head of each grave, giving them a slight touch as if he could feel each person beneath it.
"It's the anniversary isnt it?" Knives asked, breaking the silence.
"Since you did this to them? Yes. I cant normally... handle being around the graves but, on this day every year I come back... if you come back with me every year, maybe over time they'll all forgive you."
"Forgive me? They're dead."
Vash stood after looking over the countless crosses that stood firmly from the ground. "Then you don't want to be forgiven? Even though you ripped them from this life?"
Knives folded his arms and said nothing as he looked off into the distance. "I'll come with you each year but know I'm not looking to be forgiven."
"You could change your mind as we're going to be alive for a really long time."
As each year passed in a lonely silence and truce between Vash and Knives they returned to the grave sites and every year Vash saw his brother warming up to the people he had killed. Feeling for them? Not quite yet, but he had high hopes. When they approached the place Vash often thought of what he had told his brother about wanting to be forgiven. Strange that he said that when he himself could still not forgive his brother.
On one particular anniversary Vash watched as his brother knelt before one of the unmarked crosses. He watched as Knives slowly reached out a hand as he had seen Vash do for so many years, and touch the symbolic wood. Knives jumped when Vash crouched down next to him.
"You can still kind of feel them can't you?" He asked.
Knives said nothing for a moment as he stood to his upright position, "somewhat...I feel..."
Vash stood as he gazed at his brother expectantly.
"I feel... almost... bad."
Vash gave his brother the smallest of smiles and Knives was a little taken aback by the emotion as Vash had been keeping them to himself. He was even more taken aback when he felt his brother rest an arm around his shoulder.
"That's a start," Vash said quietly to his plant twin, as they turned back to the graves and wished them a goodbye until next year.
The End
AN: What? I didn't mention this was only a two parter? Hehe, well it is. I could have written more...but on what? I like the ending, its nice and soft. Now I think its time to get back to my other stories which I'm neglecting. Thank you to Alexnandru Van Gordan, Tangled puppet, Just call me Blue, Canyon A. Lynn, ErekLich, Kitsuni -Demon, mangaqueen13 and even Sakura Blossom-Cilla-85, who simply wants Knives to go to hell, for your thoughts, opinions and comments on my version of this idea! It is much appreciated everyone! If you have in final questions feel free to email me!
Yours
Truly,
Faery
Goddyss :)
