CHAPTER SEVEN: Dangerous Truths

PART TWO…Isn't She Lovely…

Squeezing Salem's arm, she raised her other hand to wave.

"Hi, Meryl!" Vash called as he rushed to their table.

Meryl watched her boyfriend shake Vash's fake hand. She flinched, hoping he wouldn't notice any part of Vash's physical strangeness. But then, with a mere handshake, how could anyone?

Vash sat, wearing that false smile. After all these years, Meryl was too familiar with the smirk, and hated the look of it.

"Salem, honey, could you please get our trays?" Meryl asked sweetly.

Without hiding his irritation, he stood, casting a slightly accusative glance at the blonde man his girlfriend was so happy to see. He patted Meryl's shoulder. "Sure thing, honey," he added a bit sarcastically. Hadn't he already told her not to call him honey?

Once Salem was out of sight, Meryl leaned in to Vash and hurriedly attempted to force the information from him. "Has she told you anything yet?"

Vash nodded, the shielding smirk never fading.

"So I was right, she was conscious? And angry at us?"

Tracing a circle onto the table, Vash's weak voice attempted to lie. "Not angry, just…um…Well, it's a matter of privacy, and…Because of what we are, she…"

Meryl sighed, and would've pounded him for the fibs if she weren't filled with pity. "What do we have to do to earn some trust? We took her in, haven't told your secrets to anyone and won't…I mean, really!"

Vash's face pouted and still avoided her stare. "Yeah. I know. But regardless, there's a lot of things we need you and Millie to know. Stuff like that you can't tell anyone we have Tessla. I mean, you can, but you have to say she's around six, and that we had her when we boarded."

"Right. But I'll try not to say anything until she looks that age. Salem would want to meet her, and he can't yet."

Nodding, Vash raised his gaze to the time display across the room and then returned to look to Meryl. "There's a lot of other details, too, but…"

They grew quiet as Salem approached. Each took their respective ration trays and ate.

"So," Salem began, clearing his throat, "How's Vanessa?"

At first, Vash didn't reply, but then, hesitating, he choked out an answer. "Oh, Vanessa. Yeah, yes, she's doing much better now." Vash paused, smiling, before returning to his meal.

"Good to hear," Salem noted. "Meryl's always telling me about her, and how badly she's had things lately."

Vash glanced at Meryl. "She has? Well, yeah, Vanessa's a real trooper."

"Hopefully she can heal up soon," Meryl piped in. "Anyhow, Salem and I were wondering about your class, Vash. How-"

"Just a second, Meryl," Salem interrupted. "Vash, if I may ask, what exactly has Vanessa been ailed with? I can probably get some specific advice from some friends of mine, to help I mean. Funny, that Meryl won't give any details, huh?"

Chuckling softly, Vash stuffed a large spoonful of yogurt into his mouth. He took the opportunity to stall. Once swallowed, he breathed in sharply. "Well, it's not just one thing, really. It's all acquired from before liftoff. But we'd rather not let everyone know."

Meryl's eyebrows lifted. "Well, and it's not as if she wants everyone to feel sorry for her, so naturally it's pretty rude to tell, Salem," she added.

Salem sighed, peeling back the wrapper on his vegetable paste.

Suddenly, Vash's chewing halted. He sat upright in response to the approaching tapping, a sound both familiar and wholly unexpected.

Meryl's expression also paled as she stared up into the scarred face.

Stray strands of long, white blonde hair did little to hide the marks upon her eyelids and cheek. The winding scars disappeared beneath the neckline of her dress, hinting at their true extent. Her cheeks were flushed from the effort of coming this far, but her thin form betrayed nothing of the pregnancy. Leaning heavily against her cane, Vanessa squinted hard to determine the identity of the third party as she moved forward.

Vash stood and rushed to her side, helping her over while whispering hurriedly into her covered ear. "Where's Tessla? Back in the room? We can't leave her alone, you have to, er, I'm going back, um, but, so we don't seem suspicious, we…um-"

Wrapping her free arm across his back, Vanessa, too, leaned in to whisper. "No need; she's fast asleep, and I'll be back in a moment. Act normal, Vash, please."

'So that's Vanessa,' Salem thought as she came into view. At the distance, she looked lovely. He took in the light, long hair and the flattering yet simple dress upon her tall, attractive body. But her movement with the cane took him for surprise. She was hurrying, and weak, but not limping. There was such determination and poise to her, but the scarf covering her ears and hair over her bent face hid her features. Once Vash helped her to them, her face lifted, showing a tight scowl and scarring. Salem winced. This was a face of pain. 'No wonder…' he thought, explanation pouring forth, although it was mere assumption.

The curled expression corrected itself quickly once Vanessa remembered her role. "Hello, Meryl," she cheerily offered, smiling, allowing her eyes to lose focus.

"Huh, uh…Hi, Vanessa, hi! You're looking much better," Meryl sputtered, head tingling as the blood rushed back. She blushed. "But you really shouldn't be out and about yet!"

Vanessa nodded. "Don't worry about me, Meryl. I just wanted to be sure you got the invitation."

Salem prodded Meryl's side softly.

"Oh, Vanessa? This is Salem, my boyfriend; I was just introducing him to Vash…"

Smiling in his general direction, Vanessa moved her arm from Vash's back and shook Salem's hand. "Nice to meet you, Salem." She seemed a bit relieved by that introduction somehow, but yet again, very concerned.

The interaction being strange enough, Salem was left somewhat startled. When he took her hand, he noted the deep scarring there as well.

"Like I said, I can't be long," Vanessa continued, growing more obviously uncomfortable. "But if you and Millie could come over tonight, I'd really appreciate it. We'd like to thank you for all you've done, so around nine, if you could come by for a while?"

Meryl nodded. "Sure. Nine. Okay."

"Nice to meet you, Salem." Vanessa took position against the cane. "Vash, go ahead and visit, it's fine," she added when he looked intent upon following. "But I'd swear my ears were burning! You won't talk about me, will you?" she asked warmly.

Vash nodded, watching her leave before sitting.

They all became quiet again. Meryl was taken aback by her cheerfulness and the anger she thought it concealed. Salem was reeling from the scars. Vash wondered if having Vanessa back to her old self was as comforting as he'd remembered.