Bleck, I'm sick today. But I'm also quite bored and I have had an idea for this next chapter for a bit, so I've decided to write a little today. Sorry about the length of the last chapter, I thought it was longer than what it really was, but to add more would, in my mind, just not fit in right. But I'll try to keep the chapters a tad bit longer (grin).
igbogal: Thanks! Yeah, pain is just a sucky thing that nobody likes, and it does evoke sympathy, even if it is a psychotic murderer (wink). Beauty mark smooty bark, he's got a sexy mole! (heheh, actually it's an inside joke with my friend...but that's okay). Oh, and don't worry about the mono, I don't think I made it clear...I got over mono right when school started again (luck for me) and then my computer crashed after...but thanks for the hugs anyway!
cinafran: Actually, I'm not out of school...you're the real lucky one. We (as in everyone who is not a senior...because they get out early) get out on June 14th...so much kudos to you! Hehehe. Thanks though! I'll try my best to keep this up over the summer so you can read! (and I'll try to not contract any freak diseases...sigh...)
For the next two weeks, Vash and Meryl worked from when the suns rose to when they set. The income was still a bit unstable, but they were thankful to have such understanding people help them out. Every so often Jeffrey would leave them some leftovers he had so they wouldn't go with such a small supper every night and Doc said that he might cut the price for the medicine a bit.
The two would come home completely tired but were greeted with a cheerful Milly who's cooking would brighten their spirits immediately. One night she even made pudding. They sat on the front porch gratefully enjoying the desert. Milly finished her bowl with great speed and bid them all goodnight. She stated that she wanted to read some of a book that Jeffrey let her borrow. For the first time since Vash heard Meryl's confession, the two were alone on the rickety bench.
"Vash?" Meryl said, setting down her empty bowl.
"Hmm?" he said and turned to her with a big grin on his face.
"Did-did you really mean what you said? That night, I mean…"
Vash cocked his head. "Of course I did. What, don't you trust me?" he said playfully.
"It's not that…it's just…I never figured you would like a plain woman like me, you know?"
Vash leaned back and put his hands behind his head. "Ah, I see. Is this about the whole 'womanizer' reputation I have?"
"Huh?"
"People think I'm some sort of womanizer and I go after all of those gorgeous girls and stuff." He leaned in as if telling her a secret. "But even if I have chased a skirt here or there it doesn't mean I haven't been looking at some real cuties," he whispered as he nudged her arm and winked.
Once more Meryl punched the legendary gunman, though this time it was much more softly.
Cool air flowed in through the open window and made the weathered curtains billow into the room. The moon's light shown in the small dark room and landed upon two silhouettes lying on the bed. Milly was sleeping soundly under the thin white sheet that in a few months would bulge with the woman's pregnant belly. Now it just hugged her large figure just as she hugged the stuffed bear in her arms.
Just a short distance away Knives slept restlessly. Unbeknownst to the sleeping insurance girl, he was twisting and turning in his bed sheets and an occasional whimper escaped his lips. The pain…the pain! Why am I feeling so much pain!
Through his agony, Knives was recalling memories through his delirium. He found himself on the ship being beaten by that fool of a spider. He recalled when Vash shot him in the leg. When Vash shot him with his angel arm. When Vash shot him during their duel. All those times Vash, his own dear brother, pointed his weapons at him! Vash wanted to hurt him! All those times! Knives just couldn't understand why Vash would point his gun at him instead of those wretched beasts who were leaching off of their Eden.
Why didn't you just kill me! It would have been so much easier, and you never even tried! Stupid brother, any sensible being would have done that first, if they so wished! Even though it would have been in vain…we are superior, we cannot be killed…we are as gods….
But even as Knives thought those words, a small voice surfaced. It was a voice that sounded much like his own.
Who said Vash even wanted to kill you? Who said you were so powerful? Who said you were superior?
…Who said you couldn't be killed?
It was this doubt that appeared in his mind that scared Knives. But what scared him the most was that the voice was right. His voice was right. His voice of reason was always there, but he was so set on his ego and his pride took over. His ignorance made him assume that because he was more advanced than humans he was above them.
I AM ABOVE THEM!
WHO TOLD YOU THAT? The voice had grown and echoed with the same force.
I KNOW THAT I'M ABOVE THEM!
HOW DO YOU KNOW?
I COULD DESTROY THEM WITH THE BLINK OF AN EYE!
THEY'RE THE REASON YOU'RE EVEN ALIVE NOW!
I CAN TAKE CARE OF MYSELF!
YOUR BROTHER TAKES CARE OF YOU NOW!
MY BROTHER IS AN IDIOT FOR SIDING WITH SCUM LIKE THEM!
Oh, but your brother seems to be doing just fine with them, doesn't he? the voice hissed. He's happy. You're jealous. He has people who care about him. You had people who cared for you because you made them do so. He has a life. You have nothing and so you try to force everyone into the plan for your selfish little Eden you know you might not be able to create!
"AAAAAAAARGH!" Knives cried out in frustration and agony. His legs felt as if they were on fire. He clawed at his pillow and bit down hard on it. Tears streamed down from his cold eyes. Milly woke in the next bed and rushed over. He shoved her away and she fell back onto Vash's mattress.
"Mr. Knives!" she shouted and quickly tried to calm him down. She ripped the sheet of his bed and stepped back in horror.
Vash and Meryl hurried up the stairs to see what all the noise was about. Meryl stopped in the doorway but Vash sped over to his brother's bed. He blanched as he looked at Knives' legs and picked up his writhing brother.
"Meryl! MOVE!" he shouted and she jumped out of the way. Vash took the stairs two at a time and jumped the last few as gracefully as he could with a man just as big as him wriggling in his arms. The two girls ran to try and catch up with him, but just got out the door as they saw him halfway across town. They followed him to Doc's and barged through the door and to another room marked Surgery. They saw Knives out cold lying on an operating table and hooked up to all sorts of tubes and machines. Doc had put on rubber gloves and was setting rather sharp-looking tools upon a sterile table.
"Out, out, everyone OUT!" the small man commanded and the three flooded into the main room.
Vash was in a state the two girls had never seen him in before. Tears streamed down his face and he began kicking over chairs. Meryl flinched with every kick and Milly sat in the only unturned chair. She began to cry as well.
"WHY!" Vash screamed as he pounded his fist against the wall. A picture fell and crashed upon the floor. Meryl walked toward him and gently placed a hand on his shoulder.
"W-what's going on?" she whispered. Vash turned and looked at her. His face was red and tears ran uncontrollably down his face faster than they ever had before. He sank to his knees and grabbed Meryl's arms. He sobbed into her stomach before giving a muffled answer.
"I-it's all my fault. If I hadn't shot him…he wouldn't have to…he…." Vash broke down before he could finish. Meryl knelt down and held him in her arms.
"Milly what happened?"
Milly gazed at Meryl with tearstained eyes. "Oh, Meryl. It was awful. His feet were turning black. It was as if they were dying while he was still alive," she said and then she covered her face with her hands.
"The medicine didn't work," Vash mumbled. He gripped the back of Meryl's shirt and looked into her eyes. "It wasn't just his feet, Meryl. It was more. He's…he's…" he gripped her shirt even tighter.
"…He's going to lose both his legs…."
That's it for now! Please R and R!
