A/N: Thank you to the people who have reviewed the story so far. Chi, you're so sweet. BabyGirlLuvInu, thanks for putting the story in your favorites. And Noisemx from DLMO, thanks for commenting on my works.
Chapter 2: Really an angel or just an orphan?
Milly opened the door to the small house. "Welcome home Milly!", said Meryl as she came out of the kitchen. An apron covered her clothes. "Are you making dinner already?" Meryl nodded. "Where's Mr. Vash?", asked Milly taking off her overcoat. "Well, he's um..." Just then, a scream came from the kitchen. "Ahhh!!!", screamed Vash, "My finger!" Meryl sighed. "Hold on Milly." She went into the kitchen. "I said cut away from your fingers!"
Karen peeked in behind Milly. "Is it safe now Milly?" Milly nodded and Karen stepped inside the house. "It's surprising how fast this town got repopulated. It was a ghost town last year. Except for the gunshots that echoed through." Milly got a solemn look on her face. Karen noticed. "I'm sorry about that Milly. I won't mention it again." Milly looked up at her. She wanted to say something but the words couldn't come. "Ok!", said Meryl coming out of the kitchen, "Dinner is read-" She looked at Karen. "Who are you?"
Karen looked at Meryl with her crystal eyes. "You're Meryl Strife." Meryl was shocked. "How did you..." "Hey! When can we eat?", yelled Vash coming out of the kitchen. "Why is everyone so quiet?" He then saw why. "Oh my." He was taken back by Karen's gothic beauty. He took her hand and started shaking it. "Hello Miss! It's nice to meet you, my name is Vash the Stampede. You are so beautiful. How bout we run away together?" Wham! Meryl had punched him in the head. "It's rude to do that to a guest. Besides, you don't know her name!" Karen stepped up. "It's ok Meryl." She took Vash's head and started to lean over towards him.
Vash was shocked. "Oh wow!", he thought, "I'm gonna get a kiss!" He started to pucker up. "Vash...", whispered Karen. Vash was off in la-la land. "Yes?" Wham! Karen head butted Vash, sending him into the wall. "That's for my friend Aria. You give her way too much hell." Vash sat up. "Aria? I don't even think I met a girl named Aria. Who are you?" Karen started to take off her jacket. "My name is Karen Sorel." Milly smiled. "She was Wolfwood's guardian angel." Both Vash's and Meryl's eyes got big. "Um, Milly", said Vash in a hurry, "Can we talk in your room? Now!" "Umm...Ok." Meryl and Vash grabbed Milly's arms and rushed her into her room. Meryl locked the door behind them.
"Milly, where the hell did you meet this girl?", asked Meryl, keeping her voice low. Milly crossed her arms. "I met her at Wolfwood's grave. She has to be his angel. Only we know where it is." Meryl's eye began to twitch. "Milly, how do we know this girl isn't some orphan that knew Nick and somehow knew where his grave was?" Milly loomed over Meryl. "Her eye's didn't lie when she told me she was an angel. I believe her." Meryl was getting agitated. She didn't believe this girl Karen for one second. "Milly, she's just a gothic teenager who wanted to say goodbye to her caretaker." Vash thought about it. "Meryl, it's possible that what you are saying is true, but how can a regular teenager her size manage to head butt me into a wall?!" Meryl thought about it. That was hard to explain. "And," added Milly, "How did she know our names?" Meryl crossed her arms. "Well, it's easy to know who Vash is but know our names..."
So...On the first night,
a pebble falls to the earth from somewhere.
"Who's singing that?", asked Meryl.
So...On the second night,
The pebble's children hold hands and sketch a waltz.
Sound life
Vash jiggled his ear. "Well, if you can hear it, I'm not going crazy."
So...On the third night,
The children of the waltz cause ripples on the face of the world
Milly walked over to the door. She unlocked it and stuck her head out the door.
So...On the fourth night,
the children of the wave spray the shore.
Sound life
Vash and Meryl stuck their heads out the door too. "It's coming from the kitchen.", said Milly. "Karen's probably in there."
So...On the fifth night,
those shards strike the face of the earth over and over.
So...On the sixth night,
those signals bring travelers together.
Sound life
The three snuck out of the room and to outside the kitchen. Milly peeked in. There she was. Karen, singing and stirring something in a pot.
So...On the seventh night,
a weightless ship races to the sky.
So...On the eighth morning,
a song from somewhere reaches my ears.
Sound life
Well then...A song that has recorded everything
echoes to the new sky.
Sound life
Sound life
When Karen stopped singing, Milly and the others came into the kitchen. "Oh, sorry.", said Karen, looking at them, "The stove was on and I didn't want the stew to get overdone. I hope you don't mind." Meryl forced a smile. "It's alright." Meryl usually didn't like anyone messing with her cooking. Karen walked over to Milly. "Um, Milly. Where am I going to sleep?" Meryl looked over. "Sleep?" Milly put her hand behind her head. "Yeah...I told Karen she could stay with us." Now, Meryl was mad, but she didn't show it. "How can Milly let her stay here? This girl could be lying for all we know!" Vash had a different expression. "Sure, she can stay here!!!" Meryl glared at Vash but he didn't notice. Karen bowed. "Thank you for letting me stay here." Vash held up his hands. "It's nothing."
Milly turned to Karen. "My room is the first room on the right. You can put your things in there." Karen nodded and started walking down the hall, but Vash stopped her. "Um...Karen...How did you know that song?" Karen smiled at him. "Aria taught it to me."
A/N: Sorry I'm making Meryl mean. She'll warm up to Karen eventually, she's just a bit paranoid right now. And Aria...You'll know who she is before the end.