A Quick Breakfast with a Side of Loss.

Disclaimer: I wonder..is it really necessary to constantly post something everybody already knows? I mean if I owned Trigun...I'd be rich...and...and...Vash-kun would be under constant attack by means of glompage. *shrugs*..but thats just me... ^^; I dunno about you ppl..


AN: WELL...I got reviews...*feels loved.* I'm so motivated to write now...XD who knows what could happen now..creative mindset..coming into place. ^.^


Riina : I'm glad I made you laugh. *sweatdrops* I didn't even think..I'd have that reaction from anyone. BUT..if you're vague..its good..bc..that leaves it up to the imagination...and i know how yours works. *smirks* Don't worry..it happens to the best of us.

AmoebaFive: Well our convo last night was interesting..and I look forward to your reactions. XD Me write a story without a vague plot? NEVER. ^^; I'm glad ya like so far. I'm open to suggestions.

Lady Kitsuna: I suppose I should have been clearer in the intent of that comment ne? It was a joke on Ai's behalf , and its purpose succeeded…she wanted to embarrass her and nothing more.. its just part of the friendship. ^^; heheh
Well onto the fic..!


Hoshi smiled sweatdropping as Ai glared at her. 'If looks could kill...' She proceeded closing the door behind her and changed. 'Damn hardly any clothes..enough to spend the night at Ai-chan's place..for a few days.' She sighed. Its not as if she'd been forewarned of their current predicament. Pleasant one yes,but still a predicament nonetheless. This day had been causing her to sigh a bit. She supposed then that the whole situation was sigh worthy and it made sense. It felt oddly relieving. Amusing what a simple exhalation could do. It was as if the body made an attempt at complete catharsis with the air that was purged from the lungs. A wry smile crept its way onto her lips as she shook her head. 'I think too much for my own good.'

She walked downstairs humming along the way. ' That sleep was oddly refreshing..'
She looked about her eyes finding Vash, who'd begun gorging upon donuts. ' No wonder..he's so cheerful..this much sugar in the morning? first thing. ...I'd explode..too much energy..'
She shook her head. The thought of a sugar overload wasn't exactly pleasant. She stretched. Realizing he hadn't seen her, a small smirk formed. ' Heh..heh..heh...' Creeping silently she stood behind him and prepared to yell, when, he turned.
"Hey! Ya want one?" His face in that familiar goofy grin as Hoshi fell over. She'd become the victim of her own prank. How ironic. Lovely, maybe it was a sign against ever trying to startle the blonde. He peered over at her.
" Eh..Daijobu?" She stood up, a slight smile on her lips as she twitched.
"Just peachy..." She replied her voice touched with a hint of sarcasm. He shrugged inhaling another one of the sticky confectionaries. 'God..imagine...how many he might have eaten in all these years...?' The number had to be outrageously large. Hoshi sweatdropped imagining the sheer size of the number. It seemed she was teeming with odd thoughts this morning. He gestured as she thought, to the empty seat accross from him.
"Ya know..Vash-san..."
"Hm?" He looked up mid-bite half a donut hanging from his mouth as his eyes looked over at her. Curiosity was still abundant. She related it to the less intense look he'd given her last night. 'Just..so...cute.. She couldn't help but think. She'd gotten a bit lost in her thoughts as he tilted his head still watching her, watch him.She blushed upon realizing this.
"You could have woken me up ..I feel bad about taking your bed."
He swallowed the rest of the donut before speaking. "Well.." He paused making sure he had her full attention his lips curling upwards as he spoke. "We could always share next time.." He trailed off as she glared , he sweatdropped. "I mean..eh..er..you just looked so cute and peaceful how could I ?" Hoshi stared at him mouth agape. He laughed nervously. "Ehehehe..heh..eh.." He paused while trying to girue out what to do. He grabbed a donut. "Want one?" She stared blankly. He waved it before her eyes. She stared, unblinking. "C'mon its good, ya want it?" He sighed and placed the donut before her eyes once more. 'She doesn't want it? Why? Could it be that she doesn't like.Noo... I don't even wanna think it..'
He shuddered and continued waving his hands before her face.
"Hoshiiiiiiiiiiiii? Come on..wake up.." He still received no response. " Please..?" He asked. 'Did he just call me...CUTE?! He used the C word. no...' Her expression remained intact as the flustered blonde before her waved frantically at her unblinking eyes. "AH! I think I broke her!" He whined to no one in particular. Ai had shown up just then.
"Broke..what?" Vash nearly jumped out of his skin. 'Uhoh..she's gonna hurt me.' Things just didn't seem to want to go right today. He rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "Eheh..well ya see its kinda like this.." Ai waited looking over at him. Meanwhile she was oblivious to the statue-like condition her friend was in. "I um.." He paused again. "IkindabrokeHoshi." He mumbled quickly. Ai's eyes widened. She glanced over.
"NANI?!" She glared at him. "What exactly did you...do?" His thumbs twiddled nervously as he glanced up at the glaring girl.
"Well..I really don't know.."
"Figure it out."
He winced at her tone and thought for a moment finding that the table was a better sight than her glare. "Um..we were talking..she apologized for taking my bed..I said it was fine..because I didn't want to bother her because she looked so cute slee-"
"Did you say cute?" She said cutting him off with a sigh. Placing a hand on her shoulder she whispered something. "Hoshi?"
She blinked. "I..um..eh?" She looked confused. Vash fell over. All this time..and now she's ok? He resumed a standing position beside her.
"So she's ok? " Hoshi nodded and blinked as he hugged her. She blushed as she felt the warmth of his embrace envelop her. She felt the heat escaping her in the form of a quickly deepening hue of red upon her cheeks.
"I'm so glad you're ok! " Vash continued chattering away cheerfully oblivious. She nodded and returned the gesture eliciting a happy sigh from him. Ai sputtered about to burst into hysterics. Hoshi on the other hand didn't share her amusement. Gr... Her eyes narrowed she gave her best friend a glare worthy of Heero Yuy. This was the little shove that pushed Ai into a fit of racous laughter. Hoshi was surprised at this sudden outburst.

I'm so..gonna..get her back for- It was then that she'd come to realize in the midst of this jovile embrace , that had lasted a bit long to her standers that his hand had begun to wander where it was not welcome. Her expression of confusion darkened. With a low growl emitting from her throat she proceeded to thwap him. Lech... She thought her expression reflecting her annoyance. "Baka.." She managed to verbalize as she moved away from him.
"Itai.." He rubbed the spot of impact. Hoshi glared. Ai laughed, and Vash...well..he continued to be himself as the donuts disappeared.

Meryl watched in disbelief at the spectacle before her eyes. She shook her head a hand rubbing her temple. And this is Vash the Stampede ?

Looking over Millie spoke. "Vash-san sure is weird ne Sempai? "
"You've got that right.." Sighing they both headed over sparing a wary glance at Ai who seemed to be having issues breathing. Hoshi glared at Vash who grinned sheepishly and muttered an apology between bites. Hoshi took a donut and shrgged. Oh well down the hatch it goes... The two older women seated themselves. Thus..breakfast began. That is...after they eventually managed to peel the nearly suffocated Ai from the floor.

*'*' A bit later.... *'*'

The suns were high in the sky and continued to beat down upon the two girls, who sadly remained unaccustomed to desert travel. They huffed wiping the sweat that had begun to form at their brow. It was the same for the both and their minsitrations to assuage their reaction to the heat were nearly in perfect unison. Occasionally one would shade their eyes glance at the two suns and scowl, or shake their head in disbelief. Another hot day. Arid as usual.
"Atsuiiii.." Ai murmured and Hoshi sighed in agreement. "Living in florida..is nothing..compared to this. " Hoshi nodded, living in New York did little to prepare one for the degree of heat they were surrounded by. She wanted nothing more than to be drenched by a sudden storm. Ai paused in her steps . She was distracted by a faint flickering glow at her feet. She picked it up quirking an eyebrow at the tiny fragmented glowing thing in her hand. She rolled it over her fingers. The texture seemed akin to that of glass or a marble of some sort. The fact that it glowed added to its appeal. Ai shook her head. Maybe I am too distracted by shiny things.. She looked up realizing she'd begun to fall behind, speeding up to a slow jog she smiled , her little "prize" grasped in her hand.
"Ne..Hoshi-chan,look at this." She said happily extending her palm, her response was a blank look.
"I..don't see anything..I think your brain's officially died.." Ai sweatdropped. Is it a mirage..? They continued walking in silence and before long another fragment of the same material was in her posession. Needless to say she was perplexed. Vash looked back noting her confused expression as the odd conversation began.
"I have two in my hand...can't you see them?"
"Maybe you need some rest Ai-chan.."
" Look closer!"
"Still..nothing, just your hand."
"Grr! You're so mean.."
"Demo..I was telling the truth.." Hoshi sighed. Vash had slowed down by now seeing the odd situation, and took up their pace.
"See what exactly?"
"These..marble things..." Ai murmured her palm extended. Vash looked, and looked, but no matter the length of the gaze all that he could see before him was her palm. Nothing more. He squinted, trying harder. Still nothing.
"Eh..." He began scratching his head. " I don't see anything either.." Ai gave them both a glare. Hoshi sweatdropped.
"Well they're there..I'm not makin' this up. They're tangible..." She sighed and veered away from them attempting to catch up with Meryl and Millie who were a little ways ahead of them. Hoshi shrugged.
"Must be the heat.." They both nodded.
Ai sighed. Is this payback for laughing earlier? Another glare was sent at Hoshi. Of all the mean things to do..
Her attention was drawn elsewhere by the usdden appearance of what appeared to be a small wooden structure. She squinted as she tried to determine what it could be. Sparing a quick look towards Vash and Hoshi she began to meander towards the object. Damn..going by my curiosity almost as bad as Hoshi. She sweatdropped. They stopped, watching her wander off. She received a weird look from the both of them.
"Ai-chan, what are you doing over there?" She called out only to be ignored. To them it seemeed she was merely walking away. Hoshi and Vash followed. Hoshi didn't exactly want to lose her. She glanced over at Vash, it seemed he agreed but she wasn't completely sure.
Ai reached the desired destination and tilted her head. She circled the object and brushed a bit of sand away with her foot. The wood had long since browned and worn under the wear of the daily sun. Sand had smoothed out the splintering surface to an extent. She drew nearer. Light brown eyes narrowed slightly as she figured out , much to her confusion, what the object before her was. A ...well? All inhibitions pushed aside she leaned forward to look into it. Curiosity pressed her on as her eyes found that the well in fact had some degree of depth.

She was oblivious as the breeze that had been stirring the sand about her had worsened. It was nearly a gale. The cries of her companions went o underheard and failed to grasp her attention. It was as if the darkness were rising to swallow her. She managed a strangled cry as she plummeted forward. The well was buried under a huge dune. Hoshi stared as the wind abruptly ceased.

Ai-chan....It can't be.. She rubbed her eyes and didn't hesitate in running over to where she'd last seen Ai. She saw nothing, no trace of Ai's presence. Oh no no no no no no no ..

"No.." she managed to verbalize. She whispered as her hands brushed the sand before her. She fell onto her knees plunging her hands further into the sand as if somehow her digging attempts would bring Ai back.
"Ai-chan...no." She continued to murmur her efforts growing more frantic with each passing moment. Her three companions had finally made their way over. Vash shared a look with the two women. Hoshi looked up her eyes empty of any true expression. She gazed at them and seemed to diminish in stature, her face now forlorn. Taking a deep breath, two words escaped her lips.

"She's...gone.."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

hehe..I'm so mean...cliffhangers. XD Gomen.. I'm writing this and as of yet I don't know when it'll be uploaded..bc my net isn't working..but I guess this means I can work more on my writing,ne?

Well..seeing as I'm feeling slightly generous...here's a teaser... *waves* Enjoy, and reviews would be appreciated, I'd love some suggestions or constructive criticism. -.- ;

*'*'*'*'*'*'*'*

Ai groaned as she regained consciousness. Vaguely she could hear arguing. Squinting she looked about her surroundings.It was dark and she sighed her eyes continuing their frantic scan for anything slightly familiar. Bones...What the hell?! Where am I ?!