whoa...
SOOOO so sorry I haven't updated in...gulp...forever...My computer is being extremely stupid. And the last time I updated was right before I got mono. so yeah, it's been tough, but now I'll try to get this thing up and rollin' again! First, some thank-you's...
Madam Midnight: Thankies thankies, Madam!
TheHomicidalManiac777: I know, I know, I will update sooner...and this time, if something happens...again...I'll still try to update.
Saraki: gotcha buddy!
vashluver1: heheh. those two were just meant to be. I really don't think it should be rated mature though...hrmm...
Neptune Butterfly:Thanks, I didn't truly intend on having chapters as short as this, but (before the whole hiatus thinger) I thought it'd be better to have slightly shorter chapters and more updates instead of forever long chapters and months inbetween posts...though i'm sorry for the lack of postage...
fairyskye: Yeah, I was playing on how Knives is one of those "I'm invincible!" types of people...(random monty python flashback with the black knight...funny stuff)...and I thought, hey, this would be a good opportunity to ...(oops...almost gave a spoiler...heheh)
Degan:Thanks! I noticed how Knives just doesn't like pain and how it seemed so strange to "such a superior being" to actually be hurt.
josh: Don't worry, it's not the end of the story...I was just on hiatus due to completely screwed up timing for very bad things to happen. I hate it too when the story gives cliffhangers like that. It's even worse when it's one that I'm writing...
snwbnny: Thanks!
"So…basically…I'm going to work with Doc for a little bit. So we can pay him back," Vash said, trying to smile a bit. Meryl and Milly both sat staring at the table. Milly looked up at Vash and said quietly, "I can take care of him for now. I'll do my best, Mr. Vash."
Vash tried to smile again and hugged her. "Thanks Milly, it means so much to me right now. I-I hope he won't be too much trouble for you."
"Oh, I'm sure he'll be fine. I can take care of him!" Milly giggled. Yawning, she stood up and stretched. "Well, you two better get some rest. You have to go to work tomorrow, you know!"
Vash nodded and stood but Meryl remained sitting. Vash turned and said, "Something wrong, Meryl?"
"N-no, no. Nothing's wrong. I-ah…I'm just…going to go outside for a little walk. I'll be back in a few." She stood, grabbed her thick coat, and walked out the door, closing it behind her. Vash turned and glanced at Milly who was already in bed.
"I'll be back too," he said and without waiting for her response he went to catch up with Meryl. Walking quickly out the front door he ran in the shadows so Meryl wouldn't notice him. But the small woman was nowhere to be found. Scratching his head, Vash looked around in confusion. Where could she be? he thought. A small sob caught his attention. Then another. Vash walked quietly around the old building andtoward the source of the noise. He reached the corner of the building and stopped. He knew full well that Meryl was just around the corner, and he also knew that she would wring his neck if she caught him listening. But once again, Vash risked his life and listened as the young woman confessed everything to the blackness of the night that pressed upon the world.
"Damn...why am I like this? I'm glad Vash is back, but how the hell are we supposed to all live like this? Milly's going to have a baby. Our income is too small. There's a psychopath laying injured in our apartment. And...and...crap." She looked pleadingly up to the stars as if hoping they would provide an answer, and of course they gave none. She held her head in her hands. "And...yet...Vash is all that's keeping me sane. Whether he knew it or not, he was the one keeping me alive. All those times I wanted to die because I thought it would lighten the load...he would do something or say something worth living for. Then that day he left..."
Vash, who was now sitting back against the wall, lifted his head. A lone tear-streak dried into the parched desert night. He listened intently to Meryl's voice unknowingly confessing everything to him.
"That day he left, I was afriad he might never come back. I thought he might...god, I can't even think of it. And I tried to tell him...but the words wouldn't come out. I felt so stupid, gawking like an idiot. Besides, would he have stayed if I had said it? Would he have failed, knowing he had more weight on his shoulders? But Milly told me I could tell him when he got back. And now he's back. But...I still haven't told him. I haven't told him...that I love him..."
Vash bit his gloved hand so he wouldn't make whatever noise that wanted to escape his throat to do so. He wanted to scream for joy and to cry out in pain at the same time. He could feel her suffering throughout the whole situation, but at the same time he was so happy he could jump off a cliff. Instead, he got up and, as quietly as he could, he snuck behind Meryl. He wrapped his arms around her fragile body and whispered in her ear, "I love you too."
Meryl jumped and spun around, pushing away from the tall man. "Whatthe hell do you think you're doing? You-you think you can just eavesdrop on me like that? Did you think you could...did you...w-what?"
"I mean it."
"I-I...erm..."
"I know you mean it," he said with a grin.
"H-how much have you heard?"
"Everything."
She looked at the ground. So he found her out. And he felt the same way. Looking up again, her violet eyes met his sea foam-green eyes. He stepped toward her. Meryl thought for a split second he was going to kiss her, but instead he just held her close to his chest. Meryl began to cry into his shirt, thankful that he knew exactly what she needed at the moment. Not a kiss. Nothing hot or passionate. Just someone to hold her close and would be there for her forever. She could feel the metal bars that covered hisheartthrough his shirt. Though his heart was caged, his love was able to seep through the bars.
