TRIGUN BETA: Series I
Written by Seras B. North

Episode 08: Dance-Dance, part 2

.o.o.o.

"Who's Rula?" Vash asked in a confused tone.

"The mayor's daughter." Mina replied simply.

Vash sighed. "Let me guess, she's using her position as his daughter to bully you out?"

"Yes."

"I bet she's been doing things like this for a long time now, and you're probably not the only person she's pushed around." Vash remarked. "She's nothing more than a simple bully, but you can't let her push you around." He paused. "You have to go into this competition."

Mina stood up and looked at him. "Rula's not just a bully, she's twisted and dangerous."

Vash stood up and looked at her seriously. "Don't worry about Rula. I'll make sure that nothing happens to you."

"How?" The Girl asked uneasily.

Vash smiled confidently. "Because I'm Vash the Stampede."

.o.o.o.

"And you say that this outsider has talked that annoying little girl into coming back into the contest?"

"Yes, lady Rula." Replied the servant. He looked nervously at the tall young woman wearing a dark blue dress.

Rula flicked back her dark hair and frowned. "How dare he interfere!" She exclaimed. "These outsiders with there basil customs have no respect for our ways!" She fumed "We'll just have to make sure that they both live to regret this." She reasoned.

.o.o.o.

Meryl and Maggie walked up to where Vash was; he seemed to be sitting on a bench, conversing with some girl who was trying out various dance moves. The different poses would be answered with a nod or a few words from Vash.

"What's going on here?" Meryl asked as she appeared beside him.

Maggie stayed silent.

Vash tipped his hat up and looked over his shoulder at her and smiled politely. "I'm helping Mina work out her routine for the upcoming dance contest."

The insurance girl sighed. "And do you actually know anything about dancing?"

Vash just smiled again. "That's the best part, she already knows a whole lot, so I'm just here to support her and offer my advice when I can."

"And how did you get yourself into this in the first place?"

"Well," Vash began. "Someone is trying to scare her out of the tournament, and I'm here to see that she won't be pushed around."

Meryl smiled slightly. "How gallant of you." She remarked.

Mina walked up and smiled. "Hello, I'm Mina." She said, introducing herself. "You must be a friend of Vash, right?" She asked innocently.

Meryl shrugged. "You could say that."

Maggie continued to stand and silently listen to the other two talk. But as she stood there, she began to sense something. "Hmm?" She looked around, feeling uneasy.

Vash looked at the tall girl, noticing her strange glance that seemed to shoot off into nowhere. "Hey, Maggie, is something wrong?" He asked.

SNAP

Vash stood up and looked around. "Now, I know I heard something." He remarked.

Maggie looked up and saw a stone pillar tilting to one side. "Look out!" She yelled.

Vash and the others looked up to see the massive column tip and fall forwards, towards them.

But nothing happened.

Vash and Meryl and Mina looked up and saw what appeared to be some kind of robot made of paper holding the column up.

Vash looked over at Maggie, who had her arm held out and appeared to be concentrating on something. "Wow, so that's the true power of a paper master." He exclaimed.

"That was close." Meryl remarked as she dusted herself off.

"Yeah, too close." Vash replied. He frowned as he got back onto his feet. "That was no accident, someone meant for that to happen."

"What are you saying, Vash?" Meryl demanded.

Vash looked at her. "It seems now that this Rula is more than just a bully, she's crazy and willing to kill to get what she wants."

.o.o.o.

Vash and Mina sat in the small room, across from an older matriarchal woman with wispy faded blond hair, mixed with strands of ivory white. The woman wore a light blue coat and a grey dress.

"I see." She remarked knowingly. "You're problem touches my heart, and I can see in your eyes great skill, but I can make your form perfect."

Mina beamed. "Oh thank you, Lady Edna!"

"And now, Mr. Vash." She began. "I sense that you're not just a dancing enthusiast, now are you?"

"Excuse me?" The gunman asked in confusion.

"I think you fancy yourself to be some king of wondering hero- a paladin if you like." Edna offered.

"Well, I never thought about it that way." Vash replied with a awkward smile.

The older woman smiled. "I'll begin training this girl, but I think it would be best if you kept on eye on this Rula woman- to make sure that she does not move to harm her again."

Vash nodded.

"Oh, and another thing."

"Yes."

Edna smiled at him and leaned forward a bit. "You'll have to be her dance partner!"

End of Chapter 9-