Milly parted with Vash in good spirits when she saw Meryl exit the bar with a smile on her face. It was an odd moment really, the little girl wandered out of the saloon and a moment later Wolfwood followed, but turned in the opposite direction and disappeared. Even though she had promised Vash that their "game" wasn't over, she really did need to get to work because now that Meryl was headed back to the hotel she'd undoubtedly need to file paperwork which was Milly's expertise, not so much Meryl's. Sure, Meryl was organized, but she had her own form of organization and a normal human being wouldn't be able to figure it out without a map and compass.

Dashing after Meryl, she soon caught up with her, "You're in good spirits I see."

The little insurance girl nodded with an odd smile spread across her face, her eyes glazed over as if she were in another world, and Milly thought it strange because her senpai was never like that… Oh, then again, she was like that on occasions when she drank, but this was a bit different. They walked a block before Meryl snapped out of her odd mood, stopped walking and turned to look at Milly. "How long have you been there?"

"Um, a few minutes now, didn't you hear me?" Milly was worried, this wasn't like Meryl at all…

But Meryl just shook her head, "Oh yes, I heard you, I'm fine."

Milly lifted an eyebrow, "Are you sure?"

"Yes… So, when's this little game of yours going to be over with anyway? Mr. Wolfwood told me about it, and even though I don't like it, I suppose I don't have any say in the matter?"

Falling into step, Milly felt a stirring in the pit of her stomach. Now that she was away from the humanoid typhoon she felt guilty for her little suggestion… Even more so now that she was walking next to Meryl and was being questioned about it. Her head dropped as she walked and she stared at the dirt road. "I'm sorry Meryl… I don't know what I was thinking really… It just… Well," she put her foot down into the dirt and stopped walking. Meryl glanced over her shoulder and stopped as well, waiting for the answer. Milly summed up her courage, "That's just it Meryl, I really like Mr. Vash. He's a really nice guy once you get to know him, which is something you've never really bothered to do I've noticed… And I felt really sorry for him the other day because we were talking at the bar when you were doing your work and he said that no matter how hard he tried to ask girls out they always avoided him. I know you're always grumbling at him, but when he was out there with those kids he really looked like he was hurt when that girl rejected him. So I started thinking to myself what it would be like to be around Vash all the time, what it would be like to be his girlfriend and it really didn't bug me all that much, in fact I kinda liked the idea." Milly paused and Meryl waited for her to continue. "So when you left the store this morning Mr. Vash bought me this necklace and I thought, why not ask him?"

She fiddled with the little necklace Vash had bought her. It wasn't extravagant or flashy, just a little silver feather on a chain. She wasn't even sure why it caught her eye but it reminded her of Mr. Vash for some reason. "I told him that we could go out today and act like we were a normal girl and guy going out on a date and he said that he'd like that."

"Of course he'd like that Milly, he's a guy…"

"But Meryl!"

Meryl rolled her eyes and put a hand on Milly's arm, "Look, I know you haven't had much experience with men, so let me spell it out for you. A guy only likes you as long as he can get something out of you, and then once he has, he'll leave you."

"But Mr. Vash…"

"Listen to me!" Meryl shook Milly's arm, a dark scowl on her face. Milly only saw that expression her senpai on rare occasions. It scared her and she stopped talking, closed her mouth and waited for Meryl to continue. "I just don't want you to get hurt, Milly. We're following Mr. Vash around so of course you'd get attached to him, I know you, you're just too softhearted for this detail, but I thought we'd make a good team on this trip. You're good at paperwork too so our boss was happy when I agreed to take you out of the office. But that also means I'm your superior, and I have a say about what happens, and I could easily send you back to December if you aren't working out!"

Milly's eyes went wide. "But Meryl! Please, don't make me go back! I hate office life!"

Meryl sighed, her hand dropping to her side, "Then leave him alone and let's get back to work."

"But…"

"It's your decision Milly…" Meryl waved a hand and turned back down the street, "I'll give you until Mr. Vash decides to leave May City. Do whatever you like, but if you're still clinging onto him when we step foot outside of this city then you can either kiss Mr. Vash goodbye or kiss your job goodbye."

Milly stood where she was, numb. She watched Meryl disappear around the corner down the street to their hotel. How could she do this? How could Meryl just make her decide like this! Especially after she told Vash that she'd give him some more time… And she really did like him, he was such a kind man, even being a gunman he was so mysterious and funny… But Meryl was her friend too, and they'd worked for such a long time together and had been through so much! And now she wanted her to decide! Why did she have to be so cruel?

Without realizing it, Milly found herself sitting on the sidewalk. People walked by her with odd expressions as she just stared down the street where Meryl left her. Someone stopped and asked her if she was okay, and Milly just nodded, got to her feet and started to walk. She couldn't decide right now, not after the wonderful day she spent with Vash. But that feeling in the pit of her stomach returned and she wanted to heave… Had she really made the right decisions today or had she let her curiosity get the best of her? Milly felt wobbly and wanted to sit down again, but as she looked around she found herself on the outskirts of town, and the sun was going down and it was getting dark very quickly. She fell to her knees and just started to cry.

For the first time in her life she really was thinking about her own happiness, not that of her family, of her friends, of anyone else. She thought she was making the right decision just to have a bit of fun, didn't other girls do that sort of thing all the time? Weren't there girls who just picked up a different guy every night? There were plenty of them! So why couldn't she be like that? That's what she'd really been thinking when Vash was being so friendly with her that morning. It was as if that dared kiss was like a signal to start something, and she got so caught up in the moment she dared to think that for once something might happen! Of course, she thought that when Mr. Priest put his head on her shoulder on the bus, but the next day he was completely cold to her and took off. Then he ignored her the next day so she didn't think anything of it. He was tired, she had soft shoulders, but it was completely innocent.

But Vash wasn't like that at all! He kissed her, walked her up to her room that night and she couldn't stop thinking about it the entire night. Her first kiss! With someone so grand like him! Sure he was a gunman but he didn't kill anyone. He wasn't anything like all the rumors, he was just this sweet man with a donut obsession from when he was a kid. He told her so many stories of his childhood and his mother and it was just all so sweet… And besides, he was too young to have caused the destruction of July City, so there was no proof that any of the rumors were true, except maybe that trouble did seem to follow him, but he never went after it! And then he told her that he liked her and he wanted to spend more time with her…

Sniffling now, Milly wiped her face. She couldn't decide right now. It was impossible! Maybe she could ask Vash to stay in May City forever. Then Meryl would have to keep her word and the priest could keep Meryl company, and she and Vash… "No, that's just silly…" Milly smiled to herself but she knew if anyone saw her face, they'd probably think she was about to cry again. She desperately wanted to go back to the hotel, to go to bed, but she knew she couldn't because Meryl would be there and she couldn't face her.

Finally with a deep breath, she got back up to her feet and looked around her. It was dark now and she wasn't sure where she was. Hopefully in her wanderings she had gone in a straight line, so turning on her heal, she headed back the way she was pretty sure she'd come. Some of the houses were dark, but most of them were well lit, it was only the second day of April after all and the suns set fairly early since it was still early spring. Most everyone was still up, many were having dinner, and she was able to find her way back to the street where the hotel sat, where the day before vendors were selling hotdogs and other treats during the quick draw tournament.

Milly wished she could go back to the day before, just so she could have dragged Meryl along with her to the bar that night. Then things would have been okay, they wouldn't have gotten into that mess and… Her stomach growled. Milly grimaced, she hadn't eaten anything since lunch and she was starting to think about those hotdogs again… The little restaurant where Mr. Vash had helped out was still open, and as she passed it by, she stopped and reached into her pocket for her change purse. Luckily the branch office supplied them with their monthly paychecks and even though she could have bought the necklace Vash gave her herself, she was thrifty, she had to send some of it home. At least until her parents were paid back for the money Milly used to travel to December in the first place, plus the toma, and the first month's rent. She'd sold the toma and sent that home, and she was almost finished paying for all of the other expenses her mother had footed for her to get her job in December City. Only a bit more and she'd be done and not have to worry about scrounging for c-cents.

Nodding to herself, she turned and went into the restaurant. She'd have enough money to spend on this little luxury. The little boy, she believed Vash called him Neil, yelled to his mom and dad behind the counter that they had a customer, and Milly sat down at the bar. "What would you like, Miss?" The woman asked, smiling.

"Oh, I'm not sure…" Milly glanced around, noticed there was a menu up on the wall, scanned the list and replied, "A BLT, some tea, and do you have anything for dessert?"

The woman started to list off the dessert menu when the door to the restaurant jangled and Milly turned to look at the new customer. "Why hello Mr. Vash! Thank you again so much for your help yesterday!" Milly's heart skipped a beat and she turned instantly and looked down at the placemat in front of her.

She wanted to cry all over again as he recognized her and sat down beside her. "Milly! What are you doing here? I thought you went back to do work." He grinned and ordered some fried rice before noticing that she was doing her hardest to avoid looking at him. "What's wrong?"

Milly swallowed, "I um… That ice cream you mentioned sounded good, I'll have that too," she managed to say to the woman who turned and went to prepare the orders. Vash's hand settled down on her arm and she closed her eyes, this wasn't good, she couldn't face him right now… Not after what her senpai said. "Everything's just wrong Mr. Vash."

"What do you mean?" He moved his head to look into her face, and then brushed her bangs out of her eyes. "What happened? Are you crying?"

Milly choked back a sob and put her hands to her face, "No…"

"Milly," Vash wasn't sure what to do. The girl seemed happy not long before, so what had happened between her leaving and now? He reached out and put his arms around her head and pulled her into his chest. She started to sob and wrapped her arms around his stomach. Other people in the restaurant were looking their way, confused and concerned about the young woman crying, but Vash didn't pay them any mind. "Tell me what happened."

"She's going to fire me!"

"What?"

Milly couldn't look up at him, she tried to control her tears because it really was embarrassing but what could she do? She was in such a tough spot, and here was Vash and he was just so nice to her and did all of the right things… Every time she was near him she just wanted to be close to him and now she was worried that every minute she stayed with him it was ruining her chances at the life her family helped her get. What would they think if she wrote home to say she was dating the humanoid typhoon? Her mother would be shocked and her sisters would think she'd gone right daft… "I'm sorry Mr. Vash but as much as I like you… I have responsibilities to my family and Meryl… Meryl… She said she'd either have me fired or send me back to December City for reassignment!"

Vash frowned. That little woman was surely a pain in his… Well, she had caused him more than a few bruises during the last few days, and now she'd even managed to bruise his ego. Did she really have the right to threaten Milly with such a thing? He wanted to storm out of there right then and force her to take back what she said to Milly, but the way the big girl was clinging to him, he wasn't sure he could. "Damn it," he said quietly, helping Milly to sit up and handing her a napkin to wipe her nose. She sat up as she took it from him. He turned on his stool and looked down at the fried rice Neil's mother placed in front of him. Suddenly he wasn't very hungry. "I'm sorry."

Blowing her nose, Milly looked down at her plate. Her stomach growled even though it was so upset. Setting down the napkin, she put her elbows on the counter and stared at her food. "I'm sorry too… I've really enjoyed myself but the moment we step foot outside of May I've got to decide…" She reached out and grabbed her teacup and placed it to her lips, taking a small sip of the hot liquid. The cup still sat on her lower lip as she added, "You or my job, that's what Meryl said."

They both sat there for a long time, Milly feeling the steam of the tea hitting her nose, Vash staring at his cooling rice. People weren't whispering about their show anymore, going back to their previous conversations. And after awhile Milly placed the cup down in front of her and started to eat her sandwich. Vash followed suit until they both had empty plates in front of them and the woman came back and gave Milly her ice cream and Vash ordered one for himself. When they were finished, they were both handed their bills, but when Milly reached out for hers, Vash snatched it away. "I'll pay for it," he said slowly.

"Thank you," Milly replied, watching him take out his wallet and placing the money on the table. Then she looked down at her necklace… "Mr. Vash?"

"Yes?" He didn't look at her.

"I think maybe I should give you this necklace back… You should take it back to the store…"

"No," Vash said, his eyes saddened. "Keep it. I'd rather have you keep it, besides the guy said no returns or exchanges."

"Oh."

Vash started to stand, and Milly followed him with her eyes. He stood, putting his hands on the countertop and then he looked at her, determination crossed his features. "You said you don't have to decide until we leave May City right?" Milly nodded and he continued, "Then I'm not leaving. I want the days you promised me." He reached out and put a hand on her cheek and her bottom lip started to quiver. Milly tried her darndest not to cry again as he looked at her with that sweet face. "I'll see you tomorrow morning, eight sharp, we're going to have breakfast."

Milly watched as he turned and disappeared out the door. The bells jingled and then were quiet again, and finally she stood, a hand to the cheek Vash had just touched. She wasn't sure what to do… what to say… Suddenly she was really tired and it didn't matter that she had to face Meryl. Milly left the restaurant and went back to the hotel, walked up the steps, knocked on the door and her friend opened it. Meryl didn't say a word, just went back to her typing and Milly went into her room. She shucked off her coat, took off her tie and suspenders and got into her pajamas. She could still hear the clicking of the typewriter as she slipped into bed and fell asleep.