Author's Note: I'm not from the South (East Coast, baby. XP), and the only reason this story is called Gunsmoke Alabama is because it sounds nice, that and the gang's from Alabama.

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Chapter VIII: All's Fair in Love and Basketball

Location: Kuroneko High School
11:20 AM, Friday
Gym Class

The whole group had gym class together, much to the relief of most of them. Except for Knives, who wasn't happy with anything. Torturing little butterflies and painting kittens was his thing…but don't tell him I told you that.

Anyway, as the students ran around the gym, causing mayhem and destruction, Knives sat alone on top of the bleachers, deep in thought. What he found out last night was something he needed to think long and hard about. Could it be possible..? Him and Vash...? Were they actually--

"Hey, Knives!" Vash shouted, jumping up onto the top bench where his brother set in solitude.

Knives sighed in irritation. "What is it, Vash?"

Vash shrugged. "Nothing really, you just look so lonely up here all by yourself."

Knives rolled his eyes. "Has it ever occurred to you that I would like to be alone?"

Vash thought for a moment. "Nope, not really. I mean, why would you want to be alone when you can be with your friends? It's gym time, the greatest class ever, next to lunch! Have some fun, bro!"

Knives grumbled and turned from his brother. He was silent for a moment as boredom took over. He glanced up and spotted Legato shooting a few hoops, an idea forming. He got up and made his way down to Legato.

"Legato," he said to catch the blue-haired boy's attention.

Legato looked up directly at his master. "Yes, Master Knives?"

Knives took the basketball from Legato's hands and grinned. "How about we challenge Vash to a game of…B-ball?"

Legato nodded. "Great idea, Master. But I do have one question."

"And that would be?"

"Since when did you learn how to play basketball?"

Knives fell over in disbelief before recomposing himself. His face turned red as he yelled out, "I ALWAYS KNEW HOW TO PLAY!!"

Everyone around them paused in what they were doing to give the two friends their full attention.

Knives chuckled nervously before deciding to put the attention on someone else instead of him. He quickly threw the ball in a random direction, not really caring where it was headed. Everyone watched on as the ball headed straight for…Meryl.

"MERYL!" Vash AND Legato shouted in a panic. (Legato in a panic? Okey dokey!)

Meryl blinked as she looked up and found the ball heading right at her. Her eyes widened and she found herself paralyzed to the spot. She put her hands in front of her face and closed her eyes tightly.

SMACK!

Everyone gasped as the body crumbled to the ground. Meryl opened her eyes once she realized that the ball never made it to her, and glanced down to see a basketball-head boy lying at her feet.

"Vash!" She knelt down on the ground and pushed the ball off of his face. "Are you okay?"

Vash stared up at her with a dazed look in his eyes. "I twat I taw a purty tat…" and promptly passed out.

"Vash! Vash…" She gently shook him as people gathered around the fallen boy.

Knives innocently walked out of sight with his hands behind his back, whistling an innocent tune. When he was sure no one was looking at him, he ran out the back door.

Vash opened his eyes again and grinned like an idiot. "Are you an angel?"

Meryl blinked as a red blush surrounded her cheeks. "Um…" She shook her head. "Vash, why did you do it? Why did you take that ball for me? You saved me…"

The tall blonde pulled himself up on his elbows as he rubbed his aching head where a large red bump was forming. "Well, I couldn't let you get hit by that ball. You know…I'll take a bullet for you, Meryl."

Meryl blushed again as everyone around them 'awed' and 'ooo'ed'. Just then, the school nurse, Nurse Joy (Coincidence? I think not!), rushed into the room to aid Vash.

"Oh my! Are you alright?" she asked as she, too, knelt down by his side.

Vash nodded as he rubbed the bump on his head. "Yeah, never felt better…"

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"Man, Vash sure is lucky," some random boy named Bob said.

"Yeah," his friend, Timothy, agreed. "The nurse is fawning all over him."

"I know," a third boy, David, nodded his head. "And he gets the new girl too." The three sighed in defeat.

Legato glared at them as Vash, along with the nurse and Meryl, left the room. He would not lose to Vash the Stampede. He was Legato Bluesummers, and Legato Bluesummers always got what he wanted. /Insert insane laughter/

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Knives grumbled as he made his way home. This wasn't the first time he played hooky, and it certainly wouldn't be the last. But he needed some time alone, some time to think things over in his head.

Last night he had made some interesting discoveries. Ones that concerned both himself and his brother. Discoveries that could change their world forever. He started cackling evilly, until he spotted a familiar figure. He arched an eyebrow and made his way over to that figure.

"What are you doing, Hornfreak?" Knives asked with crossed arms.

Midvalley the Hornfreak quickly turned to his master, startled. "Master Knives! I didn't expect to see you!"

Knives rolled his eyes. "You didn't show up at our meeting last night. Why was that?"

Midvalley started to sweat nervously. "I was…I was…at…um…doing a gig!" he said. It was partially true. He was doing a gig…until he met her. The mere thought of her made his insides turn upside down, make his head swim with love poems. Just being with her made him want to be a better man. Never in his life…

"Hornfreak! Snap out of it! What's with you anyway?!" Knives yelled in annoyance.

The Hornfreak shook his head as Knives came into focus. "Huh?"

Knives stared at him with an incredulous look. "I know that look…" he began, as realization dawned on him.

Midvalley gulped in fear. What would Knives do if he ever guessed it?

Knives was silent for a moment before speaking up once more. "That's the same look Vash has when he thinks of that female…who is she?"

Midvalley quickly looked around for some means of escape, but found none. So he decided to play dumb. "Who?" he asked, trying to act as innocent as possible (which wasn't very convincing).

"Don't play stupid. Who's the wench?"

"She's not a wench!" he yelled out, then quickly covered his mouth. "Oops…"

Knives smirked. "So, you admit that there is someone?"

Midvalley sighed in defeat. "Yes…"

"That's all you needed to say, Midvalley," Knives stated gently.

Midvalley's eyes widened in shock at what he had just heard. It wasn't what Knives said that shocked him so. It was how he said it. Something was definitely strange here. Ah! It must be the calm before the storm! He shuddered inwardly at the thought of the storm that was sure to come, lightning and thunder included.

But none of that came; instead, Knives smiled. He actually smiled! Yes, this was indeed the…Twilight Zone. A parallel universe he must've been sucked into! With a nice…dare I say it…Knives. Had the world gone mad?!

"Master Knives…?" Midvalley hesitantly started. "Are you feeling okay?"

"Of course I am!" de said, sounding back to normal. Phew. "So, Midvalley…tell me about your…lady friend."

He blinked. Knives wanted to know about her? Well, he guessed it couldn't hurt. "Okay…where do I start? Master Knives, she is unlike any woman I have ever met before. She has a heavenly aura around her that allows her to look so angelic and beautiful. Her name is the sweetest I have ever heard…Silvia…" he said, rolling the heavenly name off his tongue, liking the way it felt.

Knives sweat-dropped, but said nothing as Midvalley continued.

"Her eyes are like the ocean, so blue and free. Would you like to hear the poem I wrote for her?" Before Knives could decline the offer, Midvalley cleared his throat. "Silvia, thou art like the wind, blowing freely in the heavens. An angel that transcends, obliterating all that matters. She is a goddess above all else, not even Aphrodite can compare. Her eyes are like--" He was interrupted.

"Midvalley," Knives said a little too calmly.

"Yes, Master Knives?" Midvalley asked a bit nervous.

"Will you please…SHUT UP!?"

Midvalley sweat-dropped. "Yes, Master Knives…"

"Good." Knives turned around and walked away without another word.

Midvalley frowned. "That sure was…awkward…" And he went on about his day.

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Back at school, Vash was sitting in the nurse's office with a washrag, filled with ice, on his forehead, being held up by Meryl. Meryl sighed as she kept the ice-filled cloth on the poor boy's head.

"You know, Vash, you really didn't have to get hit with that ball," Meryl said smoothly.

Vash just wanted to melt then and there. He grinned. "Meryl, I told you. I'd rather get hit than you. End of discussion, okay?"

The girl sighed again. "Okay…"

Soon, the nurse returned with a bright smile on her face. "Vash? Luckily, no real damage was done. No broken nose or fractured skull…you're good to go!" She announced.

Vash jumped up from his seat, knocking Meryl over. "Great! Let's go!"

Meryl sighed in annoyance as she got up and followed Vash out of the room.

The nurse smiled as she watched the two teens leave. "Oh! Don't they just make the cutest couple?!" she squealed to the student next to her, who only raised an eyebrow and shrugged.

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With fifteen minutes of gym time left, the two students had no choice but to return to class. Upon arrival, Millie quickly hurried over to them.

"Meryl! Vash! Are you okay?!"

Vash grinned. "Yeah, nothing's broken."

Millie sighed in relief. "That's good!"

"Meryl," Legato said as he made his way over to the three. "I'm quite sorry for my master's actions." He bowed down in deep respect.

Meryl nervously backed up. "Um…it's alright…"

Legato shook his head. "No, it was foolish of him to commit such an act. Please, accept my most profound apology." He grabbed her hand and gently kissed it.

Meryl blushed. "Um…"

Vash glared as a hatred for the blue-haired psycho burned deep within his aqua-blue orbs. Thoughts of torturing Legato came to mind as he evilly cackled to himself. His eyes widen when he realized what he was thinking. 'What's wrong with me? Why am I thinking of torturing Legato…? I've never had such thoughts before!'

The ending bell finally rang as most of the students left to go to lunch. Legato's golden eyes fell upon Vash. Vash blinked at him. Legato smirked, turning his attention back to Meryl. "My fair lady, I must be on my way. We will meet again." With that said, Legato gave Meryl another gentle kiss on the hand before leaving.

Everyone stared at him in mild shock or amusement.

Meryl shook her head. "That was…"

"Weird," Nicholas, who'd finally decided to join the others, finished with an arched eyebrow.

Everyone nodded, still watching the retreating form of Legato Bluesummers. Vash growled deep in his throat as the blue-haired, golden-eyed boy disappeared. What was he up to, anyway? Did he expect to win Meryl over? I WILL GET YOU, LEGATO!!

Everyone's gaze turned to Vash. He blinked and blushed as the realization that he hadn't said that to himself, but out loud, dawned on him. He nervously laughed. "Uh, hehe…well, look at the time! Gotta run!" He ran out of the gym room like a bat outta hell.

Meryl sighed. "Things just keep getting weirder."

"You have no idea how weird, little cuz." Nicholas shook his head, also heading out of the room. Soon, everyone was gone except for Meryl. She sighed once more before sitting on the blenchers.

"Aw…aren't you a sad one!" A voice said mysteriously.

Meryl eyes darted around the room. "Who said that?"

"It is I!" The voice continued.

Meryl blinked. "Who?"

"LOOK DOWN HERE!"

Meryl blinked again and glanced down at a basketball. "A…basketball?"

"Correct!"

Meryl fell back in exasperation, placing a slender hand over her forehead. "It's official. I've lost it."

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Previews of the Next Episode: (Yet to be released)

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There are no previews because I am stuck. O.O I'm so deep in the hole, I can't climb out…I need a ladder or some rope…any takers?

Also, if I could ask you…could you…I dunno, check out my forum site? Please? And if you like it, could you join? /puppy-dog eyes/ (Link's in my profile, since I can't post links in here)

Next chapter will be here soon…hopefully…