A/N: I don't know anything about guns, I am sorry if i get any facts wrong about them.

I would like to thank Buddi-chan Aine of knockaine and Sephiroth1Ripley8 you peoples are the best in the world. You also may find that I say that a lot.

Hugs for all.


Lost Years.
Meryl sat at her desk. It had been one year, five months, one week, two days, and 13 hours since she had been called back to the Bernardelli head office. Her eyes were gently closed her chin resting on her hand. The pencil in her over hand lazily tapped against her desk. Meryl sighed nothing seemed exciting anymore. Vash was an assignment that one just couldn't forget. She had cried when they were called back and when HE had left. Meryl leaned back on her chair, letting her arms fall to her sides to sway lifelessly. She just couldn't stop drifting into memories about those times they had spent together, all four of them, Vash, Wolfwood, Milly and herself. She closed her eyes, she felt tired all of a sudden.

"Didn't your mother ever tell you that you shouldn't play with knives?

'What is this?'

"There has got to be another way. I won't go back to that,"

'Go back to what?'

"I will forget, I will forget all of that right now."

'I have forgotten who I am. Is that what I wanted?'

"Next time, child, do not underestimate your opponent. You just might find that they are not what they seem."

'No I couldn't have done that, I wouldn't hurt so many people. What would he think of me then?'

"So did you have fun letting your little temper tantrum run its course?"

"Don't talk to me Kali. It wasn't like that."

'Who is that?'

"It doesn't matter what you tell your friends or yourself but don't lie to me, I am still your commander."

"No, not any more."

'I had to forget.'

"A leopard can't rub out its spots."

"You're wrong."

'I had to forget.'

"Do you think you can just walk away from everything that has happened?"

" I will forget."

'I had to forget.'

"And when They come after you what then?"

"I don't know."

'I had to forget.'

"You're going to end up like her, you know."

"Her…"

'It must remain forgotten.'

Meryl snapped awake, her head reeling from the memory of years past. "What am I?" Meryl whispered to herself.

"Meryl, MERYL!" Milly run happily right up to Meryl's desk, her eyes shining brightly. "Meryl it is lunch time! Isn't that just the best, I think I am going to have pudding for lunch!"

"Milly you always have pudding for lunch." Meryl said slumping at her desk.

"Well it is like my big, big sister always said, you shouldn't tamper with a good thing." Milly said smiling. "Now hurry up Meryl, Mr. Wolfwood said he would meet us at 1 o'clock and it would be rude to be late."

Meryl looked out the office window. She didn't really like it when they had lunch with Wolfwood; it always made her sad for the soul reason that the Needle Noggin wasn't with them. She forced a smile and turned back to Milly. "I'm sorry Milly, I have so much paperwork that I'll have to work though lunch today, but would you pick me something up?" Meryl asked clapping her hands together as if to pray.

Milly smiled and waved as she walked out of the office and into an elevator. She lent against a wall, her smile dropped. "Oh Meryl." She sniffed. "What is wrong, is it Mr. Vash? Or is it those cloths and weapons that you keep hidden in the bottom of your suitcase?"


"We have been here for days already and Meryl still hasn't unpacked." Milly said to herself. "Meryl has been having a hard time excepting that fact that Mr. Vash is Vash the Stampeded. I know I'll help her out." Milly slowly opened the pick travel case. She sifted through clothes she had seen on Meryl before, White shirts Skirts, Stockings…

"What is this?" Milly asked herself as she opened the sectioned off storage space at the bottom of Meryl's bag. There sat a set of midnight blue clothes. She lifted out a jacket, it was strange it was a slim fitted short jacket the material was soft and strong, like leather, but it was too light and allowed for too much air circulation for it to be leather. Milly looked around scared of being caught like a child sneaking a look at their Christmas presents early. She looked back into the case. She saw a midnight blue turtleneck sleeveless top, a pair of pants and combat boots. She handled them with surprise. They looked like they had not been looked at for years let alone worn, so why did Meryl keep them. She want to put them neatly back, feeling like she had betrayed her friend in some fashion, But what she found next shocked her more than the clothes did.

Lining the bottom of Meryl's case was two 9mm handguns, ammunition and from what Milly could see at least nine knives and blades. Milly looked at them scared. She thought that Meryl only had her Derringers on her. This frightened her; these things belonged to a Meryl she didn't know.


"Maybe I should ask Meryl about it?" Milly asked herself. The elevator door opened to reveal a smoking Priest being yelled at by the receptionist. Milly smiled. "Hello Mr. Priest!" Millie waved enthusiastically and ran up to him.

"Where is the short one?" Wolfwood asked the cigarette dangling in his mouth.

"Meryl is busy so we have to pick up some lunch for her." Milly said pulling him out the door and onto the street. "I think I want pudding. Say, you haven't found where Mr. Vash is have you Mr. Priest?"

"There is a place I have been looking into. I am going to head out there tomorrow." Wolfwood said with a smile as they walked down the street.

"So soon?" Milly asked looking a little down, but then she lifted her head and a smile was found on her lips. "Just like my big big sister always says, there is no time like present. Oh look, street performers!" Milly grabbed the Priests hand and pulled him over to where the crowd had begun to gather.