Is anyone even still reading this? Because it's really kind of pointless for me to keep posting a story no one's reading. It'd be really nice to get some response. Suzu

Disclaimer: As always, I do not own Trigun.

LIVING MEMORIES

-A Trigun Story-

Chapter 8: Rifles and Rats

Just over an hour had passed since Vash, Frey, Alec, and Michael had left. And Aidan was still awake. She lay in bed, staring up at the ceiling blankly. Her bright red hair was spread out on the pillow, framing her face like the sun's corona. Sighing deeply, she turned on her side and hit her pillow, growing steadily more impatient. She could hear her parents' faint voices from downstairs. They were laughing about something. She grinned slightly, glad that her father was back, especially for her mother's sake, but at the same time wishing he had chosen a more opportune time to return. Then again, if not for him, Alec and Frey wouldn't have been there.

After what seemed like an eternity, she heard her parents' footsteps on the stairs. They both stopped at her bedroom door, and she quickly closed her eyes and made her breathing sound deep as they pushed the door open a crack and peeked in. After they were convinced she was asleep, they continued on to their own room.

Aidan waited for a little while longer, then crept out of her room and to their door. Sure enough, their breathing was deep and slow. They were asleep. Quickly she shot back to her own room, closing the door behind her, and began to change. She slipped on some black pants Frey had picked out for her and a white shirt with sleeves to her elbows. Then she quickly braided her hair, which fell midway down her back, and pulled a bag out from under her bed, filled with clothes, money, and food she knew her parents wouldn't miss. Taking a deep breath, she opened her door and walked slowly down the hall, creeping into the room of her parents. Her eyes took a few moments to adjust to the deep darkness in their room, but then she spotted it. Her father's rifle was laying on the floor on the other side of the room, next to the luggage he hadn't unpacked yet. With a sigh she realized that he probably wouldn't be unpacking it at all. He'd be gone again before he could.

Shaking that thought out of her mind, Aidan tip-toed across the wooden floor and carefully lifted the rifle, then dug around in the bag next to it and filled her own bag with sufficient ammunition. Holding her breath, she crossed the room again, stopping only once when her father shifted to his other side in his sleep, and then was gone.

Slowly she made her way down the stairs, careful to skip the one that always creaked. Once she had reached the outside and closed the front door behind her, she headed down the street at a sprint.

Only a few minutes later she reached her destination. Another young woman, this one with short blonde hair and dark brown eyes, greeted her.

"You're late."

"Sorry," Aidan answered, not bothering to explain why she hadn't been on time. She was breathing heavily, but more out of relief than exhaustion.

"Are you sure you don't want a car?" the other girl asked.

"Yeah, I can't afford one. Just give me a thomas."

The blonde girl shrugged. "Whatever."

She entered the building she was standing in front of, and came out a few moments later holding onto the reins of a brown thomas. Aidan quickly handed over the required fee, strapped her belongings onto the animal, and then heaved herself onto it.

"Thanks," she murmured, turning the thomas.

"You really think you can catch a car on that thing?"

Aidan smiled. "I can try." Then she snapped the reins and left the other girl in her wake, who just shook her head at her friend's irrationality.

"Have it back in a week!" she called. Aidan just waved, hearing the other girl's yell but having no idea what she was saying.

The sudden stop of the thomas jolted Aidan awake. As the thomas stopped, however, she kept moving, and landed head first in the sand.

"What is it?" she asked the skittish animal, brushing the sand off of herself. The thomas had stopped at the top of a hill, looking down at the drop ahead of them. Aidan realized quickly that the sun was out, which meant she had been riding all night. She had been pushing the thomas at a rapid pace for most of that time, until the last hour or so, in which she had fallen asleep. She didn't know how fast the thomas had traveled during that time. She also took note of the fact that the drop they were facing wasn't very steep, at least not as steep as some of the others they had taken. There had to be something else holding the animal back.

Standing up, Aidan scanned the surrounding area for anything out of the ordinary. Sure enough, just at the bottom of the hill, there was a car, filled with a few men that looked like those Frey had described that had been in the mobs that had chased her. Quickly Aidan jumped back, out of the area where they might see her, and took the thomas with her. After satisfying the thomas a few paces away with some food, she crawled back over to the edge of the hill and looked down. The men were excited about something, pointing into the distance. She followed their fingers with her eyes, and spotted another car in the distance, this one parked. She froze. It couldn't be . . .

Clumsily she ran back to the thomas, tripping in the sand, and pulled out a pair of binoculars. Holding them to her eyes, she looked at the distant car again. It was! It was Vash, along with everyone else. They appeared to be sleeping. Aidan raised an eyebrow. Why would they all sleep at the same time? Couldn't they take shifts driving or something?

This train of thought was interrupted as the car just below her started up. She shrunk back, making sure no one saw her, and watched as the car headed for Vash's. What were they doing? Were they thieves or something?

Aidan ran back to the thomas again, this time grabbing her father's rifle. She held it up as she had seen Sloan do before, then squeezed her eyes shut and held her breath, praying that she didn't kill anyone. She pulled the trigger.

Several yells were heard from the car, and she opened her eyes to see it careening off course. She had shot one of the tires. Grinning to herself, she discharged the shell and prepared to shoot again. One of the men had looked back though, and seen her. She couldn't tell what they were saying, but they were obviously angry, as they began pouring out of the car and up the hill after her. Suddenly she wished she had waited a little longer before shooting. That way they would have had a longer distance to run before reaching her.

She jumped to her feet and ran to the thomas, getting on. She wisely kept the rifle in hand, then kneed the thomas in the side so it was running as fast as it could in the opposite direction. Some of the men had already reached the top of the hill, however, and were quickly gaining on her. How they were so fast was a mystery to her.

Realizing that she probably wasn't going to escape in these conditions, she pulled her bag out of its secure position to search its contents for anything that might help her. Of course, there was nothing. She didn't know what had made her think there would be. Perhaps her complete terror had overpowered her sense.

She zipped the bag back shut and hung it over her shoulder, holding her breath and leaning closer to the thomas' neck in an effort to make it run faster. But it was tired from the pace it had kept almost all night long, and Aidan noticed that it was beginning to falter. She heard a buzzing noise somewhere, but ignored it, focused only on going as fast she could.

Suddenly she felt a hand grab the back of her shirt. She screamed and squirmed, trying to release the grip someone had on her. The arm was strong, though, and she was slowly being pulled off the thomas. When she was close enough, whoever had grabbed her shirt completely slipped his arm around her waist and heaved her off of the thomas. She screamed again in pure horror and hit the arm desperately, though she knew her weak blows weren't helping her. Suddenly the thomas was gone, in the hand of another man, disappearing from her view. It was then that she realized that she was speeding away. In shock she turned in the man's grasp to look at him. Alec's emerald eyes looked down at her, a sandy brown eyebrow raised.

"You okay?"

Aidan blushed furiously and nodded, wishing she hadn't screamed like such a baby.

"Get back here!" Everyone looked back, besides Vash, who was driving. The men were in the car again, somehow managing to keep going with a flat tire.

"I swear Michael," Frey said, "if I had a nickel for every time I've been chased by an angry mob since I met you . . ."

Without thinking, Aidan lifted her rifle and fired, blowing out the other front tire. The driver hit the steering wheel and started to yell, screaming what Aidan could only imagine to be a stream of curses directed right at her. She sighed and sunk into her seat next to Alec, suddenly wishing she had never tried to pull this off. Frey just laughed at the look on her face.

"Nice one Aidan! Since when could you shoot a gun!" Aidan just moaned, knowing she was as good as dead once her father found out about this. It was probably too late, though. He would have noticed that both Aidan and his rifle were missing by now.

Alec settled back into his seat, as did Frey, as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened. Vash hadn't really reacted at all, which was fortunate since he had the wheel. As she opened her eyes, however, Aidan saw Michael, who was sitting in the passenger seat, staring at her, his eyes open wide and his jaw practically hitting his seat.

"Did . . . did you just shoot a gun!"

Aidan laughed uncomfortably. "Um, yes."

At that Michael started to laugh. "Wow, I never though I'd see the day. I can't believe your parents let you come after us!"

Aidan's face fell.

"Uh, they did let you come, didn't they?" Frey asked, seeing her reaction.

"Well, not really."

"Not really?"

"I sort of snuck out."

Michael blanched. "You snuck out! And you stole your father's gun!" He shook his head, turning back around. "Are you crazy?"

She just groaned.

"Ah, give her a break, guys. She just wanted to come along." It was Vash.

"So are you going to take me back?"

"Nope." Aidan's eyes filled with gratitude as she sighed in relief. She would escape her father's wrath yet.

"So where are we going?"

"Tonim Town."

"Oh, that's where you and Frey met, isn't it Michael? Why are we going there?"

"We're just going to stay there for the night. We decided it would be nice to stay in a hotel instead of the car again. Then we'll be on our way in the morning."

"Where are we going after that?"

"Wherever Knives is."

Aidan looked down. That was right. This wasn't just a game, an opportunity for her to prove to her parents that she could take care of herself. This was dangerous. She had forgotten about that aspect, and her actions had jeopardized her life. It was too late for turning back now, though. Her thomas was gone, and she couldn't ask Vash to take her back to December. She would have to face the danger with the rest of them.

"Aidan . . . Aidan, wake up." Aidan opened her big brown eyes to see Frey leaning over her, gently shaking her by the shoulder. She sat up, rubbing her eyes. "We're here."

Aidan climbed out of the car, taking the rifle and bag she had been lucky enough to save with her. They were parked in front of a hotel. She followed Frey inside, where the men were already standing. Vash had finished talking with the man at the counter, and turned around, handing Frey and Michael a key.

"Girls, your room is number 23, guys, you've got 14." He glanced at Michael and Alec. "Try not to kill each other, okay?" Both boys gave a short "pft" sound, but said nothing more.

"Where are you sleeping, Vash?"

"I've got my own room."

"Oh, that's real fair."

"When you're the one paying for it, you can have your own room too."

Michael just rolled his eyes and lifted his luggage, heading for his room, followed by a reluctant Alec.

It took Frey and Aidan a few minutes to find their room, but they finally located it down the hall on the second floor. Frey opened the door and switched the light on. Aidan shuddered as she thought she saw something move in the corner, like it was scurrying away from the newly revealed light. Immediately suspicious of the hotel, Aidan placed her things on one of the two beds, then peeked under it. Next she pulled down the covers on the bed, checking for anything that might be alive. Once she was partly convinced that it was safe, she sat down on the bed, jumping up and down a little to check the springs.

Frey just plopped down on her bed, burying her head in the pillow and sighing.

"It's so good to have a bed to sleep in," she murmured, "last night was awful."

Aidan smiled and stood back up, then began pulling her clothes out of her bag and hanging them in the closet.

"What are you doing?"

"Hanging up my clothes."

"Why?"

"I always do this on family vacations. You know, it makes it easier."

Frey sighed, sitting up. "Look Aidan, this isn't a petite little family vacation. We're tracking the most dangerous man on this planet. We'll be gone in the morning, and you'll just have to take them all back down anyway. Now put the shirt back in the bag."

Aidan obeyed silently, hating the fact that everyone else had to treat her like she was helpless. What she hated even more was the fact that she knew she deserved it.

"Don't look so glum, it's not a big deal."

"Yeah, right."

Aidan grabbed her pajamas and padded quietly over to the bathroom, closing the door behind her. She decided to take a quick shower, then changed into her silky pj's, the material woven into intricate patterns of various shades of green. As she reentered the room she noticed that Frey was asleep. The only modifications she had made to her clothing, however, was taking off her shoes and socks and trading in her black shirt for a large gray one.

As quietly as possible Aidan pulled her covers down and crawled into bed, turning off the light after one last inspection of the room. A few minutes passed, and she soon realized that Frey wasn't asleep at all, as the other girl sat up and pulled down her own covers.

"Goodnight."

Instead of answering, Aidan sighed and turned so she was laying on her back.

"Frey, do you think it was stupid of me to come out here?"

It was quiet for a few moments, then, "What makes you say that?"

"Oh, don't pretend you don't know. You and Vash and Michael and Alec are all used to this kind of thing. Vash and Michael have their guns, Alec's got his knives, and you with your powers-"

"And you're amazing with a rifle."

Aidan frowned in the darkness. "I've never even used one before, Frey. I was just lucky."

"All the more reason to call you amazing."

Aidan bit back tears. Frey wasn't being serious at all. She was just trying to avoid having to answer truthfully.

"Aidan, why'd you come after us anyway?"

Aidan waited a few moments before answering, considering the real reason. "Well, I guess I just felt left out, is all. And I wanted to prove to my parents that I was capable of handling things on my own. I guess I was wrong," she added dejectedly.

Frey ignored her friend's sorrow. "Oh come on," she pressed, "what's the real reason you came?"

"I don't know what you mean."

"Don't play dumb. I saw you when we saved you from those guys back there."

"What are you talking about?"

"Oh, don't deny it! You should have seen the look on your face when you realized Alec had pulled you into the car."

Aidan started. "What do you mean?" she asked carefully.

"You were blushing . . ."

"I was just surprised!" Aidan suddenly shouted, surprising even herself with her fervor.

"Mmmhmm . . ."

Aidan fell into silence, groaning inside her head.

"Someone's got a crush on Ale-"

Frey was cut off as a pillow flew at her face, smothering her. She pulled it off and started laughing, Aidan moaning at Frey's realization the whole time.

Suddenly Aidan fell deathly silent, and Frey's laughter faded as she recognized the halt of the moans coming from the other bed.

"Aidan?" Silence.

"Aidan, are you okay?"

"Frey-" Aidan's voice was tense, her word uttered in a hoarse whisper.

"Yes?"

"I-I think there's something in my bed."

"What are you talking about?"

Aidan didn't answer, waiting silently. Suddenly something brushed against her foot. She let out a high-pitched scream, which was followed by a hard thud on the floor.

Frey dove for the lamp and turned it on. Aidan was laying on the floor, tangled in her sheets as she wrestled to get out of them, still screaming. Frey jumped back as something in the mess of blankets squeaked.

"Oh my gosh!"

Aidan finally freed herself from her blankets, and ran to the other side of the room, grabbing a broom. She walked to stand next to Frey, and both stood, watching the pile on the floor. Suddenly the top of the pile shifted slightly, and a pink nose stuck out from under the top blanket. Before Frey could even react, Aidan was screaming again, beating the blankets with the broom as hard as she could. A rat darted out from under the blows directed at it and scurried under Frey's bed. Aidan jumped onto her bed, breathing heavily and gripping the broom tightly in her hands.

Frey fell to her knees, peeking under the bed. "What are you doing!" Aidan cried, "that thing might be rabid for all we know!"

Frey ignored both Aidan and the heavy knocks at the door, thinking it was probably an angry hotel owner wondering what all the racket was for.

"Frey," Aidan whispered anxiously, "someone's at the door . . ."

"So?" she said in response, still searching under the bed for the small animal.

"Should we get it?"

"No."

After a few moments the knocks died down, and Michael and Alec, who stood in the hallway, turned away from the door, assuming everything was fine. They had nearly reached the stairs to return to their own floor when another scream reverberated from the girls' room.

"Frey!"

Michael forced the door open just as a huge gray rat flew into the wall, inches from his head. The slightly injured rodent, after falling back to the floor, scurried between his legs and into the hallway, disappearing. Michael looked up at the two girls in surprise.

Aidan stood on her bed, her face pale, clutching a broom in her hands. The covers from her bed were spread out over the floor. Frey sat on the floor, the look from when the rat had jumped at her from under the bed still frozen on her face. Her arm still hovered in mid-air, in the position it had been in as she had chucked the rat across the room. Michael and Alec glanced at each other, then back at the girls. Michael smiled in amusement.

"You two going to be okay?" Frey frowned and stood up, brushing herself off.

"It wasn't anything we couldn't handle," she said defensively.

"I can see that." It was Alec this time. Blushing, Aidan hopped off of her bed and returned the broom to its former position.

"Goodnight, boys," Frey muttered, "we'll see you in the morning."

Grinning, Michael pulled the door back shut. He and Alec glanced at each other once more, then both burst into uncontrollable fits of laughter.

Frey scowled as the boys' laughter reached her ears through the door. Aidan just picked up a pillow and curled up on her bed, not bothering to pick up the mess on the floor. Frey grabbed the top blanket from her bed and threw it to Aidan, understanding that she had no desire to use her own blankets after she had found a rat in them. Soon Frey followed Aidan's example and climbed into bed, muttering as she went. She was still glowering over the embarrassment of the situation when she heard soft sniffles from the other side of the room.

"Aidan? Aidan, are you crying?" Aidan didn't answer.

"Aidan, what's wrong?"

Curling up into a tighter ball, Aidan answered softly. "I never should have come, Frey. Like you said, this is dangerous, and here I am screaming over a stupid rat."

Frey sat up, pity apparent on her face. "Aidan, the guys were just teasing. They don't blame you for it." She smirked. "In fact, I'd like to see their reactions if one of them found a rat in their bed."

Aidan laughed weakly, brushing at her eyes. "Thanks, Frey."

Frey smiled genuinely, falling back onto her bed and turning off the light.

"Goodnight, Aidan."

"Goodnight."

"Oh, and Aidan?"

"Yeah?"

"You were blushing."

Carly awoke to find herself alone. It didn't surprise her at first. After all, she had been waking up alone for months now. But then she noticed the bag on the floor beyond the bed, the bag that hadn't been there the last time she had arisen. She sat up.

"Sloan?"

Her husband's head appeared from the other side of the bed. He was squatting next to it.

"What are you doing?"

"Packing," he said bluntly.

Carly's hand gripped the bed sheet, fear taking hold of her heart. "Already?" she asked weakly.

He answered her without looking up. "Aidan's gone. So is my rifle."

"What!"

At this point Sloan looked up at his wife, and stood. "I'm going after her. They were headed toward Tonim Town. I'll go get her, then be back as soon as I can."

"How do you know she went after Vash?" Carly asked, even as she realized what a ridiculous question that was. Sloan decided not to answer.

The calvary officer heaved what he had packed up over his shoulder. Then he turned to Carly, and leaning over, kissed her lightly on the forehead. "I'll be back as soon as I can," he said, smiling. Then he turned and placed his hand on the doorknob.

"Sloan."

He paused. "Yes?"

"I'm going with you."

"No Carly, you need to stay here and take care of things at the restaurant."

"Forget the restaurant, Sloan, this is our daughter."

Sloan bit back another retort as he saw the look on his wife's face. Sighing, he let his bag slide back to the floor.

"Alright. Hurry and get packed."

Less than half-an-hour later, Carly and Sloan placed the last piece of luggage in their car. Sloan made sure it was secure, then turned to climb into the driver's side of the car.

"Carly! Sloan! Wait!" Their two heads turned. Milly and Meryl were emerging from Milly's house, suitcases in hand.

Sloan moaned. "What are you two doing?"

"We're coming with you," Milly answered, as if it wasn't already obvious.

"Look, we're just going to get Aidan," Sloan started to explain.

"I knew it!" Milly exclaimed. "I told Meryl that that must have been what happened. Why else would you leave so quickly without telling us?" She smiled victoriously.

"You two don't need to come."

"Well we want to."

"What about the orphanage?"

"We got someone to look after it."

"Honestly, I don't want-"

"Give it up, Sloan, we're coming with you whether you like it or not," Meryl said as she began loading her own luggage. "Besides, Milly and I are supposed to keep an eye on Vash the Stampede, remember?"

Sloan frowned at her use of that old excuse to convince him to allow them to come. Rolling his eyes and growing impatient, he just sighed and shook his head.

"Whatever. Just hurry and get in the car." Grinning, the two women climbed into the back behind Carly and Sloan, and the four were off.