Myaaaaa! Gomen nasai! Gomen nasai! I'm sorry I haven't updated recently! It's all the d*mn school systems fault! The school gives waaaaay too many tests! What do they think I am, a computer? Plus, I had the writers block FROM HELL, and mix that with the fact I haven't been able to get on the computer often, and when I did, I couldn't stay on very long. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this chapter... . . . . . . ( ( . . . . Disclaimer: I nto'D won giurnT ro nya terho nAmnie.

(Translation: I Don't own Trigun or any other Anime)

P.S. Please don't kill me, 'Llyssa.

************************ The $$60,000,000,000 Rose ************************ Chapter 8: Sky Dragon, Earth Fox-Part 4

As Vash stepped out into the dusty, dry air after the engineer lady, he shook away the unusually strong feeling of jealousy welling up inside him. Aside from the fact that the 'chick' he had been hitting on was really a guy, this guy was Saria's boyfriend?!? He had hidden it well, but Vash had had to restrain himself from strangling that 'Ryuuen' guy.

This unusual reaction had made Vash uneasy, and he had jumped at the opportunity to escape from that particular situation.

*** In The Hotel Room

***

"It isn't ALL bad, Saria. He could have congratulated you, or something along those lines, anyway."

"Yeah, Sari-Saria! Ryuu-Ryuu is right! and you still have us!"

Pirotess hissed agreement.

Saria smiled. "Thanks you guys....You know, maybe we should go and check out that plant-thingy that engineering bitch is working on, ya? Me being here mighta done something..If not for exacting revenge, then for seeing a Plant Angel-in a bulb- up close."

"Plant Angel, my dear? Whatever is that?" Ryuuen's slight smile turned into a frown.

"Tell you 'bout it on the way."

"Then let's go, Miss Miss Saria!"

***

As Saria, Ryuuen, and Psyche headed towards the Plant, Saria explained to the best of her ability what a Plant Angel was.

"..and aside from that, I don't know much else." Saria finished, sighing.

"How absolutely fascinating....I never would have guessed that about the Plants, much less Vash the Stampede...."

The three of them had almost reached the Plant, when the Plant itself had begun glowing, and people began to run, screaming, away from it.

"IT'S GONNA BLOW!"

"RUUUUUUUN FOOOR YOOURR LIVESSSS!"

"WEEE'RREEE ALLL GOONNA DIIIIIIIEEE!"

Ryuuen grabbed Psyche's hand and started to yell to Saria to run, but her gaze was fixed completely on the Plant.

As Ryuuen watched in horror, Saria suddenly clutched her head as if in pain, and let out a piercing scream, so loud and shrill it couldn't possibly be human.

***

The painful sensation of being stretched, crushed, and burned alive from the inside roared through Saria's entire body. She glared at the still- glowing Plant, silently cursing it within her head. She barely heard Psyche and Ryuuen calling her name, as the pain intensified, causing a red haze to form at the edges of her vision. Beneath her, she felt the earth began to throb, like it had a heartbeat, the steady beat moving in perfect time with her own heart. The red haze started to take over her vision quickly, as molten fire seemed to twist and move all throughout her body. Finally, her vision went black, and she began to fall, and as she lapsed into unconsciousness, she smelled the faintest scent of grass, and cherry blossoms.

***

As Vash walked out of the Plant, sighing in relief, he noticed light, almost white, pink petals floating by, covering the entire area with a sweet, delicate aroma. He caught one in his hand, and immediately felt a sense of gentle comfort, and warmth....

Vash looked up in astonishment, and spotted a large crowd of people around...

'A tree?!?' He ran and shoved his way though, and what he saw astonished him. The ground was covered in rich, green grass. In the middle of it all stood the tree; a gigantic cherry blossom tree, it's sheer size overwhelming; it would take at least five full grown men, to barely encircle the trunk itself. White-pink blossom-covered branches spread out so far at least 35 people could stand comfortably underneath and be completely shaded. And it had to be at least two stories tall.

But the thing that shocked him most, was the thing underneath the tree.

Curled around the very base of the trunk, lay the largest four-legged animal Vash had ever seen. Golden fur, with the slightest hint of red, covered it's vast and slender body. Nine long, lush tails, attached to delicate, but strong, body, and attached to the body, was a slightly canine- looking head, with a narrow muzzle; two large, pert ears sat atop it's head.

It was a fox.

And lying next to it, was Saria's bag, and gun, with Saria nowhere in sight.

*****

Well, how did you people like it? I think one of the main reasons I haven't updated is because I have gotten as many reviews as I would've liked. Not to mention, I had kinda forgotten what happened in the episodes, on account of not watching Trigun for awhile.....But that's okay! I just bought the first Manga book! Faster updates are expected! Yippee!