CHAPTER TEN: Moral Obligation

PART ONE…Time Well Spent…

"Hi, Professor Vash! Is it okay if we have lunch with you?"

Vash snapped out of his daydream. He looked up from his meal to see five concerned and smiling faces. "Sure, have a seat," he replied, smiling. Suddenly, he noticed Meryl in the ration line and gasped.

"What's the matter?" Melanie asked, opening her food packets. She glanced over her shoulder. "See a ghost?"

Vash looked to his food again. "Thought I saw someone, that's all."

"We were wondering if you needed help with something," Bryan asked him, narrowing his pale green eyes in concern.

The sudden rush of compassion from these students warmed his heart and Vash smiled wide, waving his hands in dismissal. "Don't you worry about me; I'll be fine."

"Well, we just wanted to let you know that we hate seeing you down," Sara piped in, "And if there was anything you wanted to talk about or anything, we're here for you."

"Thanks, but it's just a decision I have to make," Vash responded, red in the face with embarrassment. "No big deal, really."

The students exchanged glances and became quiet, beginning their lunch. They didn't want to lose the only kindly professor they had for classes, especially considering that for most of his students, their comprehension and speed of learning the material was far greater than in other classes. Professor Vash's skills had been on the decline for the most recent week or so, when he sometimes obviously hadn't prepared the class lessons at all.

Vash noted that Meryl was approaching, and ducked his head low to his tray.

"Hi, Vash."

Now he had to look up. "Meryl, meet some of my students – Bryan, Melissa, Melanie, Sara, and Derek."

"Nice to meet you all." Another ration tray met the tabletop. "I'm Meryl Strife; Vash and I are old friends."

The students made their greetings and engaged in usual conversation. Amongst these energetic people, Vash and Meryl sat silent, studying each other with glances. Bryan asked about the verb conjugation on that night's study work and Vash turned full attention to the young man. After the answer was through, and Bryan's tray was empty, he left to write it down. The four that remained began to disperse as well, and after twenty long minutes of Meryl sitting silent and not touching a single crumb the two were alone in the cafeteria.

"Have I been blown off completely?" she assumed in a low rumble. "When you said you'd figure out the 'right thing' and all, I assumed you'd let me know to my face instead of ignoring me. If you think-"

"Meryl, please don't yell at me," Vash murmured in reply. "I promised you an answer and I'll give you one. Please wait a little bit longer."

"You swear you haven't already decided?" she asked, still angry, but with a bit of hope.

"I swear it. But it's really important that I take the time to-"

"No," she insisted softly, prepping her juice pack. "I can't live like this. It's messing me up. Come to my place in three days, after your classes. If you aren't there, I'll take it as a no. Got it?"

Vash nodded. "I'll do my best."

Meryl sighed, staring into his eyes. "This is weird. I…I'm sorry…"

"Like I told you before, it's okay. This is nobody's fault; it's just there. This feeling inside…I'm not sure what it is yet, but there's something powerful tugging at me day and night. I'll tell you as true as I can. Three days, then."

She nodded, frowning. "I trust you," she mouthed.

"Thanks," he replied, wondering if he should reach over and touch her hand, but feeling it wrong. "Tessla said she hasn't seen you since the gallery. I hope you're not avoiding her because of me."

Meryl shook her head. "I didn't think I should go over there. I'd feel bad to be around them…"

"Don't be," Vash said, concerned. "We haven't done anything wrong. Just talking. Thinking. Tessla misses you."

Lowering her head, Meryl bit her lip.

"Millie mentioned something about taking her to the zoological exhibit day after tomorrow, since me and Vanessa are still banned. Think you can go with them? Like you guys used to?" Vash asked hopefully.

"Sure."

Vash smiled. "She'll be so glad to hear that. I've got to get back to my lessons; see you later."

Meryl held back a sigh. "See you."

OXO

"Hey Mr. Saverem!"

"Hi, Mr. S."

Tessla also turned from the little circle of friends to greet her father. "Hi, daddy. I thought it'd be okay if I invited Bettie and Shauna over tonight. Can they sleep over?"

"Sure. Yeah, girls, you're welcome over anytime."

"Hello, Mr. Vash, how were classes?" Millie asked, walking in from the kitchen area.

"Good." He walked to the kitchen, motioning for Millie to follow. "Where's Vanessa?" he whispered, knowing that if she were around, Tessla wouldn't have invited her friends. Vanessa was embarrassing, or so Tessla claimed. And where would Vanessa possibly go, considering her scars and ears and sight and fears and…well, considering everything?

Millie shrugged. "She wasn't here when I got here. I let myself in – was that okay?"

"Is there a note or something?" Vash whispered, glancing about for a clue.

"Well, it's probably like she said the other day, when she was painting Meryl. She said, 'I should be more independent,' and she went out for the rations herself. Good for her, I think."

Vash frowned.

"C'mon, Mr. Vash, you should be happy that she's not afraid to go out on her own. What could possibly go wrong?"

"Plenty," he muttered, wondering if he should go looking for her.

"Daddy, can you tell us that story about how we all came from spaceships to begin with?" Tessla asked from the next room. "About the SEEDS project? Bettie and Shauna said they've never heard of it, and I told them you're not lying..."

Perhaps Millie was right. Vanessa ought to be free to make her own mistakes and adventures. Without obvious hesitation, Vash turned and joined the girls, to recall this story as safely as he could (i.e. leaving the Knives and first-person parts out). He gradually forgot to worry about her.