A/N: Watch the dialogue when Knives talks because it is 'mind talk' mixed with regular "talk". Remember that Meryl is dead and no one can hear her, that's why she's in regular dialogue.

Sound Life

"Talking"

'Thinking or Mind talk'

Flashback or song

Stressed Words

Meryl tugged at her black waitress uniform as she nervously watched her body go up in flames. She could do nothing to comfort Milly, whom not only suffered the lost of her love, but now of her friend. Meryl looked towards Knives and was surprised to see him up and about, but he looked bored. She was afraid to float any closer to Vash because she knew Knives would see her. Meryl sadly gazed from her distance at Vash, and noticed that he wasn't showing any emotion on his face. It was like the day when he was driving toward the kids that escaped the caravan. She shuddered at the memory of when she pulled her derringer on him. She frowned and wondered why he wasn't showing any type of feeling.

"I'm sorry I put you through this much pain," Meryl whispered as she floated away from the group.

She floated down to the ground and tried to walk, but only found her feet wouldn't touch. She growled and kicked at a wall only to have her foot go through, she slightly swore when she almost lost balance and fell. She exhaled noisily and floated up onto the house roof where she stared at the moon. She closed her eyes and tried to feel the wind that she could see move the sand, but she couldn't feel anything. She looked up at the moonlight and gazed at it with so many questions in her running through her head.

"Why did I have to die?" Meryl asked as she thought about Vash and Milly. She knew they were hopeless without her.

"Accidents happen," a voice whispered to her.

"But they still need me!" Meryl yelled in defense.

"That's why it's a mistake," the feminine voice answered once more.

Meryl's eyebrow narrowed in confusion when she realized that someone was answering her. She turned around and noticed a woman dressed in jeans and a white t-shirt walk toward her. The woman had brown eyes and a long face with long black hair. She smiled at Meryl and scooted over knowing that she couldn't be killed. The woman sat down and looked up at the moon.

"It's a beautiful night," the woman stated as she started to hum

"I guess," Meryl cautiously responded.

"How rude am I? My name is Rem," Rem introduced with a warm smile.

"I'm Meryl," Meryl introduced herself to Rem.

"I know who you are, I know all about you," Rem said as she stared at the moon. Meryl's eyes held confusion as she thought about what the woman said.

"Are you a ghost?" Meryl asked as she turned to face Rem.

"No, I'm an angel that's been watching you," Rem said as she smiled.

"Why? Are you the Rem that raised Vash?" She asked in bewilderment.

"Yes, I'm that Rem, and I've been watching you because you've been doing a fine job keeping my boy in line," Rem answered.

"Thanks, I think," Meryl, said.

"Anyways, it wasn't your time to go," Rem said.

"That doesn't help the fact that I'm dead," Meryl dryly said.

"See, you were only supposed to be shot," Rem explained.

"Wow, only shot? So, I'm still dead," she responded.

"You weren't intended to die. The angel watching you was in training and they decided to take a break after you got off break," Rem clarified.

"So I'm dead because some angel decided to get lazy?" Meryl asked.

"Yes, and that's why I'm here. I'm here to offer you a deal," Rem said.

"It can't be any worse then being a floating spirit," Meryl said as she looked back down at the group of her friends.

"Now that your body has been burned, god can make you a new body since soul didn't go to sleep," Rem explained.

"What's the catch?" Meryl suspiciously asked as she eyed Rem.

"Since you did such a good job with my one boy…"

"Go on," Meryl said as she made a continue motion.

"My other boy, Knives, hasn't had the best life and he hasn't made the best choices in his time ether," Rem declared as she leaned back against the air.

"What does this have to do with me and my body?" Meryl asked.

"The way to get your body back, is you have to earn it back and prove that it wasn't your time to go and that you deserve to go back," Rem elucidated with an ending breathe.

"What do you want me to do about him, if I agree?" She asked.

"I want you to help him get back on the right path, so he can have a chance at a peaceful life," Rem told her as she looked sadly down at Knives.

Meryl remained silent as she pondered what to do about the offer that was presented to her. She could have another chance at life and could live again. The only problem was could she grow old and die again. She questioned herself about whether she wanted to go through the dying process again. At least, Vash would remember her as dying young and not some dry, wrinkled, hunched over corpse. She knew that this was the coward's way of thinking. She looked back down at the group and knew what her answer would be. She smiled and looked up at a smiling Rem.

"You already knew what my answer was going be," Meryl stated.

"Yes, I did," Rem truthfully said with a smile.

"Then did I really have a choice in this?" Meryl confusedly asked.

"You do, you didn't have to agree," Rem nonchalantly said.

"Okay, what do I have to do?" Meryl questioned.

"While, you're now Knives' guardian angel. All you have to do is guide him and try to help him," Rem explained.

"What if I can't help him?" Meryl asked as she furrowed her eyebrows.

"While, we won't ask that question yet," Rem quickly said.

"Is there anything I need to know?" Meryl happily asked.

"No, is there anything you need?" Rem asked.

"Yeah, I was wondering if you could change my outfit?" Meryl uneasily asked.

"Done," Rem said as she snapped her fingers and faded away into the moonlight. Meryl held out her hand as she thought of something else to say.

"Bye," Meryl whispered since she couldn't ask anything else.

Meryl looked back down at the group and watched as Vash threw her ashes on the ground and mixed it in with sand. She noticed Milly was crying and helplessly watched as Milly ran into the house. Vash exhaled in what appeared to be exhaustion and strongly followed Milly's path. Meryl now knew that Vash was trying to be the strong one. Meryl stood up and stretched and watched as Knives turned around and stared right at her. His gaze pierced her soul as she froze, like a deer caught in headlights. That's when she heard it

'I know you're there,' he sharply said as he gazed at her. Meryl's outline was faintly there in his view. It was like a fogged up window. So, he knew he saw something; he didn't exactly know what it was.

"Meet me in your room," Meryl ordered as she just vanished from his sight. Knives growled at the fact that he was being ordered around.

Meryl nervously sat on the air as she waited for Knives. She was in a corner on the left side of the door. She looked down and smiled at her new outfit, it was flowing silver pants with a white tank top. She then looked towards the door when she heard it open, her eyes never left the twin as he sat on his bed and looked directly at her. She finally decided to make first contact in this awkward situation.

"Do you know who I am?" Meryl asked. She floated down to eye level, but kept a good distance.

'First, never order me around …spirit,' he sent to her mind as he spat the word spirit out like it was some disease.

"Fine, I'm sorry Knives," Meryl apologized as she tried to make it sound sincere.

'And yes, you're Meryl Stryfe,' Knives answered as he leaned back.

"How can you see me?" Meryl curiously asked.

'I will only answer your questions if you answer mine,' Knives made sure to clearly establish in her mind.

"That's fine," Meryl said as she raised her hands in surrender.

'My plant abilities are so advance that I can see and achieve things my twin can't,' Knives answered. 'Now, what exactly are you?'

"You may not like this idea but I'm your guardian," Meryl happily said.

'I don't believe that I need a guardian or anything of the sort,' Knives stated.

"You haven't exactly accomplished anything worthwhile in your life if you look back. I mean you've lived a hundred and something years and you haven't achieved anything," Meryl stated back. Knives growled before he closed his eyes and fisted his hands in his sheet.

'That's because everything I've worked to achieve has been hindered!' Knives yelled at her causing her to cringe.

"Do you think people would just stand by and let you kill them?" Meryl furiously asked as she floated down to the ground and stood up. She leaned against the bed frame and gripped it without going through as she continued speaking in rage. Knives noticed that she wasn't fuzzy. She was beginning to take on a solid form.

"I don't think your few sacrifices were anything compared to what Vash has gone through! The only thing you've showed him is that most of the people on this planet are more compassionate than his own damn brother!"

"How dare you speak to me like that!" Knives yelled out without thinking.

"I dare easily; because you're nothing but a crying baby that can't even comprehend the thought of coexisting! Humans aren't the problem, you are!" Meryl yelled as she pointed at him. Knives stood up and glared at her and was about to say something when a knock at the door came. Meryl lost all concentration and went back to being fuzzy and foggy.

"Are you okay Mr. Knives?" Milly asked through the door.

"I'm fine," he snapped.

"Don't you snap at Milly," Meryl scolded.

"Are you sure? I heard you yelling," Milly stated as she opened the door. When she looked in she saw Knives standing up and holding a black cat with huge green eyes. He pushed the cat into her arms and stared at her.

"That thing jumped on me," Knives said before he pushed her out and closed the door.

'He's acting strange,' Milly thought before she walked off.

'How long are you going to be here?' Knives hurriedly asked as he turned back to Meryl.

"As long as you need my help," Meryl truthfully answered.

"Great," Knives sardonically said. Meryl frowned at that remark before she smiled at him and floated back into the air.

"So, what are the plants in the bulbs like?" Meryl asked.

Knives frowned at the question, but then looked up and by the expression on her face he could tell she was really curious. Maybe he could talk to this one being. She wasn't technically human anymore, so there would be no crime in association. It wouldn't be like he was going against his beliefs by talking to her. The only conversation he got out of Legato was about death and the others were just followers. Then his twin would only talk about 'love and peace'. He deemed that there would be no harm in talking to this professed 'guardian'.

'The plants in the bulbs are not like the plants that you would feed a Thomas, they are more complex,' Knives explained.

"I knew that, but I mean are they all female or male?" Meryl asked.

'I never really thought about their genders, but I imagine there are different genders,' Knives said.

"I know that they help us run or cities, but where did they come from?" Meryl asked.

'I don't know where they came from,' Knives answered.

"I guess it's lost history," Meryl joked as she leaned back in the air.

'It's something that I have to ask one them,' he said as he lay down.

"You can talk to them?" She asked with true interest.

'Yes I can.'

"Have you ever asked one if they want to be free?"

'No, it always occurred to me that they would want to be free.'

"If you never asked then how do you know? I mean if the plants are intelligent and superior wouldn't they be able to just leave?"

'This is something I don't want to discuss, it's getting late.'

"Then good night," Meryl said as she floated through the door.

Meryl sat in the kitchen as she watched the clock on the wall tick away. She couldn't stop the thoughts that raced throughout her mind as she sat on the table. She watched as Vash walked into the kitchen in a white shirt and his gray sweatpants. She chuckled when she remembered walking in on him. She frowned at the way he acted, but then he sat there in front of her and Milly fine after he realized they wouldn't run away. She knew that all those scars were from his all the good he did. Meryl watched as Vash set a glass of water on the table. She then watched as he went looking for donuts. She looked at the glass of water and imagined herself moving it.

She then reached her hand out and kept that image of her moving the water in her mind. Her hand touched the glass and she kept concentrating on the thought of moving the water. She then pushed the water and listened to its screech as it moved. Vash looked up and stared at the water. He took the donut out of his mouth and put it on the counter. Meryl picked up the donut and threw it at Vash's head. It smacked him in the head and he reached behind himself and caught the donut before it fell. She laughed when she saw the confusion on his face.

"Knives?" Vash whispered.

"Guess again," Meryl taunted even though he couldn't hear her.

"Milly?"

"Nope."

"Anybody?" Vash asked as he was answered with only silence and the night breeze.

A/N:

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