CHAPTER TWELVE:  EMIGRATION  (cont2)

     In this delightful air of expectations and new beginnings hung an isolated cloud of worry.  Nevertheless, Vash still found time to sneak away from his patrol and mingle with the various tent-fulls of people.  For sporadic minutes, he would clown onto the scene and distract folks from their studies, beckoning children to come out and play.  He still asked if anyone had seen his twin - a tall, blonde man - walking about, and his guard was never fully down, but without human contact he just couldn't feel like his usual, goofy self.  Vash certainly wasn't pleased that Knives was on the loose, but was highly relieved to be out of that stuffy, old basement for good.

     Money wasn't an issue in the settlement, so Vanessa and Vash had locked up their basement and begun to live in the tents, taking turns patrolling for Knives, but not expecting to see him just yet.

     The clock was counting down, and last call was fast approaching.  The populations of humans in the tents dwindled in the hundreds, as opposed to the past thousands.  Nearly all had boarded, and no major violent incidents had been reported.

     Finding himself in the chokehold of an 8-year-old, Vash reflected on Vanessa's theories as to why Knives hadn't yet made any moves.  'He's bogged down from the medications, so he likely hasn't been healthy enough to act without drawing suspicion.  She said he'd have trouble with balance, eyesight, and fainting for a few days, and he would have to overcome the drug withdrawal before becoming healthy.  The addiction we'd inadvertently caused in him is keeping him too nauseous to eat.  But since his breakout was just this past Thursday…Any day now, he should start to meddle with the ships.  Boy…Knives getting a ship and flying to Earth, to destroy all of mankind…Now, THAT doesn't sound good at all…'

     Vash brushed himself off and waved goodbye as the children dispersed.

     "Hey, Mr. Vash, how come you don't ever have to do these boring studying things?" a little voice asked him, while tugging at the leg of Vash's jeans.  "It's not fair."

     Vash lifted Tommy into the air and gave him a little hug.  "I'm sorry, I guess it's really not!  But it's 'cause I already know that stuff!  I'm a really quick learner."  He set the little boy down in the sand and ushered him towards the tent.  "Now, if you work real hard, you can probably get smarter than me some day!"

     Tommy pouted a little, but sped along regardless.

      "Vash!"  Vanessa ran towards him, holding the long, white scarf close about her head with her good arm, the fracture healed.  The other arm was still in a sling, since its shoulder blade still hadn't completely fused.  Despite her healing, it was a wonder she could run without tripping, in his general direction, since her sight was limited to a blurry squint.  "Vash!  You won't believe it!"

     He rested his hands on her shoulders as she sat back on her heels to catch her breath.  "Holy crap, what?" he asked anxiously.  "Did he…was it him?"

     Vanessa smiled.  "Uh, huh!  He was trying to enter the ships!  But he was stopped by a porter; asked him for his ID.  Instead of killing the man, because I would guess Knives knows better than to do that now, he turned around and stumbled off!  In his condition, there's no way he could make it aboard.  He'll never accomplish that goal of his…He'd hardly be able to angel arm at all, the way he was weaving about!"

     Vash collapsed onto his rear.  He laughed softly.  "Are you sure?  That's great!  Wow…But did he see you?"

      "No, I don't think so.  But it's not like I could see well enough anyhow – most of the details I got from the porter afterwards.  I don't expect he'll be around until last call."  She grinned, and patted Vash's knee.  "See?  No need to worry!" he reassured, squinting to see his expression and failing.

      "Yeah, that's good news," Vash repeated softly.  "But you've yet to tell me what you plan to tell him."

     Vanessa shook her head, grin fading into a façade.  She stood, dusting the sand from her dress, and brushed past him on the way to a tent.  "It's my decision.  You'll have to wait." 

     Watching her over his shoulder, Vash remained slumped in the sand.  He pulled his knees to his chest and set his chin upon them.  "Why won't you tell me?" he whispered to no audience.  He again felt that familiar and loathed supposition – that she would choose to stay with Knives in a last-ditch effort to save the ships.  Vash knew that if she told him that she would, the surprise he'd register might clue Knives in to the lie.  If she was going to try to solve things on her own again, she would make the charade far more realistic.

     Back in the basement, when things had been so in control and peaceful, Vanessa had begun to truly warm to him.  They'd stayed up talking every night, laughing as they shared happy tales, and crying as they indulged in the sad ones.  And she hadn't complained about the sleeping situation – in fact, she had chosen to curl beside him as they slept, wrapping her good arm around his waist and tickling his ear with her breath.  It was as though they'd picked up where they left off, back in his hotel room in May.  Her smiles were always real, and so long as they weren't in Knives' room, she tended to accept hugs gratefully and kissed him for such long periods of time.

     A blush arose on his cheeks as he giggled in spite of himself.

     She had come to trust him completely, and showed so much affection.  Though she seemed such a cold, stoic survivor during their time alone, she was far more passionate in private than he'd guessed.  In that dank basement, with nothing but each other for entertainment, he never found himself bored.  Not with Vanessa.  She was special, somehow, and he enjoyed her true nature.

     But then Knives broke out; they abandoned their home, and things changed greatly between the two of them.  Vanessa suddenly insisted on sleeping alone, and showed Vash no physical affection.  Only in brief moments - like when she had first lifted those scarred eyelids and found herself to not be blind - did a bright smile shine through her serious expressions.  It was as if she was letting him down gently, disguising her self-sacrifice as a simple breakup.

     Vanessa didn't know that so many times, when she had taken over their patrol for Knives and left Vash to rest, he had risen and wandered out into the desert to practice his angel arm.  Not since battling his brother so long ago had he flexed the ability, yet Vash was certain that his skill with the weapon would make the difference between his own happiness with Vanessa and Knives'. 

      'I've got to protect Vanessa from him,' Vash thought, staring at his right arm apprehensively.  'With my control perfected somewhat, I should be able to fight him without killing anyone.'

     At last call, Vash found himself and their luggage alone at the far edge of the ships.  He'd asked Vanessa to hurry here after her checkup.  At this point, hopefully no one would see their angel arms, or at least not be harmed by them.

     He stiffened as his brother approached, hands in pockets, wearing a clever grin and clean suit.

      "Hey, Vash.  So where is she?  You're not moronic enough to make a trap of this, are you?" Knives asked impatiently, stopping within earshot of Vash but not so close as to invite an attack.

     Vash smirked.  "We know about your plans, and I'm not going to let you take a ship.  You're staying here, to watch over these plants, to leave humans alone forever."

     Knives rolled his eyes.  "Whatever, Vash.  Whatever."

     "You know I can beat you, again.  And I will," Vash continued, gesturing a little with his right hand.

     "Is Vanessa coming or not?" Knives repeated, leaning against a nearby crate casually.

     Vash bit his lip and attempted to match that level of calm.  "Still at her medical check.  She'll be back any minute."  His hand drew into a fist as he glanced up into the sky, wishing this stupid confrontation was already over and won.

     They stood rigid in a long pause, each wary of the other's subtle movements.

     "Sorry I'm late, it took longer than usual," Vanessa called to them, arm over her chest as she strode forward.

     "Vanessa, hurry and board!  I'll take care of things out here…"  Vash lifted his right arm slightly from his side, hoping to appear as valiant as he envisioned himself.

     Knives stepped forward.  "No, she's going to answer my request first.  As agreed."

     "I already know what you're going to say, and I'm not going to let you make that mistake," Vash whispered to her, hoping Knives wouldn't hear.

     "Well, whatever you think I'm going to say, let it be known that I've changed my mind since this morning anyways.  Have some faith in me – I'll do my penance yet," she replied softly, face a little pale.

     He moved to protest, but was interrupted.

     "Vanessa, I'd like to speak with you without that knucklehead overreacting," Knives called.

     She nodded slightly, avoiding Vash's eyes.  "Vash, please just relax.  No need for violence."

     Vash's face reddened.  That should be his line…

     Vanessa walked slowly and deliberately toward Knives.  She lifted her palm to his forehead.  "How are you feeling?  I hope the withdrawal wasn't too harsh.  I'm really sorry we had to do that to you," she apologized, in a low, genuine tone.

     'I'm worried about him too, but sheesh!  Does she have to say it like THAT?'  Vash rolled his eyes, hoping one of them saw.  'This is just like at the cave…Damn it…'

     Knives smiled and said something Vash couldn't hear.  Hand reaching for Vanessa's face, Knives began to look concerned, whispering to her about the injuries, most likely.

     Vash stepped forward a little, just enough to hear what they were talking about.  He frowned, picking up the all-too friendly tones of voice as she explained her healing and accepted his apologies. 

     "I hate to rush things along, but I think you should reveal your decision, Vanessa," Knives asked, hiding impatience and growing more and more confident of the answer as this went on.  He moved his hand along the unscarred half of her face, running his fingertips through her hair as he smiled.

     She reached up and took his hand from her face.  Holding it in her own, firmly, she grinned uneasily.  "If I fulfilled our promise, and stayed with you, would you spare the humans' lives?  For me?" she asked sweetly, gazing into his face as nicely as she could when squinting this hard.

     Knives smiled and moved closer to her.  "For you, I would do anything.  Yes, I'd let them all live, if you wish."

     Vash gasped.  Even if he was serious, wasn't it more important for Vanessa to be happy?  Could he really let her sacrifice her will to him, even if it was for the benefit of an entire species?  He knew the answer to that – any sacrifice they could make was worth all of these lives, these millions and billions of souls.  Shoulders slumping, he resigned to his pathetic existence, only there as a backup soldier, should action arise.

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