Why aren't you still asleep in bed with Millie." Meryl asked.
He put out his light, and said, "She was sleeping so soundly and peacefully, and I was already awake. It's like she hasn't had a proper night's sleep since she thought I was dead."
Meryl absentmindly poured herself some coffee. "That would be because she hasn't slept properly since she thought you died. Now that you're back, she can finally sleep peacefully. I was really worried for awhile and thought Millie had developed clinical depression."
Nicholas looked alarmed. "Well I'm back now, and I'm not leaving her anytime soon. So Shorty where's broom head?"
Meryl shook her head. "I have no idea." She replied honestly and carried her coffee out to the front steps. She drummed her fingers, she was beginning to feel he had left and didn't want to cause a stir about it. Her pale blue robe fluttered in the wind, as did the liquid in the top of her cup. She closed her eyes, and then smiled to herself. If he had left, at least she'd been able to admit that she loved him.
"I didn't think you got up this early Meryl." Vash raised an eyebrow at her. "Sometimes I do, it depends on mood." She sipped her coffee.
"Nice robe, it looks good on you." There was a bit of mischief in his voice when he said it. Meryl herself couldn't help but be amused.
"Don't get any ideas." She replied.
"Aw that's not fair. I come all the way back here and I can't even get an idea about it." Vash pouted She shook her head; he really was something else. He came up and sat next to her. He put his arm around her and she leaned into his shoulder.
"I need you to promise me something." She looked at him.
"Nani?" He gazed into Meryl's blue eyes.
"Please don't follow me, it could be dangerous. Knives will be very explosive when he fully recovers. I don't want him to take his anger out on you. Promise me Meryl. I know it will be hard, but I will find you." Meryl felt her throat go dry, but she saw the pleading in his eyes and his caress, begging her.
"I promise I won't follow you, Vash." They sat there for a few minutes when he finally kissed her, a deep more passionate kiss. Meryl thought in her mind, she'd be with him one way or the other.
Meryl found Millie cooking breakfast, Nicholas trying to help her. He had gotten his humongous gun back; it stood propped in the corner of the room. Meryl involuntarily shivered, the last thing she wanted to be reminded was of guns right now. She wasn't interested in food right now; there was a sickening hole in her stomach knowing soon she'd lose Vash for a long, long time. Millie was able to guess Meryl's moods easily. She'd been quiet this morning, and sullen. Millie made a point to go talk to her. Nicholas and Vash were outside talking. By the look on Nicholas's face, it was not a pleasant topic in the least.
"Sempai?" Millie questioned as she knocked softly on her senior's door.
"Oh Millie, come in." Meryl's voice was strained and weak, as if she'd been crying. Meryl had been crying, she'd been crying hard at that. The kind of crying that empties your soul and leaves you with a headache.
"What's wrong?" Millie asked alarmed at Meryl's melancholy.
"Vash is leaving and I may never see him again!" Meryl wailed hopelessly finally allowing herself to cry openly on Millie's shoulder. Millie hugged her friend tightly and rubbed her back gingerly.
"We'll get through this Meryl." She was finally relieved Meryl had let out her emotions instead of conveniently pretending they didn't exist.
"So where are you going to go Vash?" Nicholas asked as he leaned against the railing.
" I don't know. But I have to do it now, he will be full strength by tomorrow." Vash looked grim.
"And Meryl?" Nicholas asked. Vash sighed heavily. "
I'll come back for her if I can, I want to so bad. Will you take care of her for me while I'm gone?"
Nicholas blinked. "You make it sound like a death sentence."
Vash averted his eyes. "It might be, I hope not, but it might be."
Meryl was unable to sleep that night. Her snatches of sleep were racked with dread and guilt. She hoped she hadn't burdened Vash with her confession. She got up and walked around, finding nothing else she could do to ease the lead weight settling in her chest. She saw Vash staring out at the stars without much conviction. She decided it was best not to disturb him, when he summoned her back.
"Wait, I want you to stay." She walked over to him and threw her arms around him. He responded by holding her tightly and burying his face into the nape of her neck. Meryl really didn't think they could find the words to express themselves. They were just holding each other tight, knowing full well this could be the last time they held one another like this for a long while. It was her who kissed him this time, a fiery desperate kiss. She was literally throwing herself into this kiss, and he responded back. She felt him pull away gradually as the last remnants of the night drifted away. Meryl saw a tired pained expression grace Vash's countenance. She knew he would be long gone by morning so she hugged him tightly and bade him goodnight. All the while Meryl felt a horrible lead weight sink to the bottom of her stomach. The first feeble rays hit Meryl's face abruptly. The short black-haired woman rolled over and burrowed deeper into her white down pillow. She didn't want to leave her bed; she had bubbling hot dread simmering in the dregs of her stomach. She understood why Vash had to leave her, but that didn't make it any easier on her. For one, Meryl had never been in love before she'd met Vash. Meryl had never been devoted to a man like she was to Vash, she was willing to risk her life to help him and stay by his side. But Vash wasn't the type to see anyone get hurt. Vash was the man who believed in love and peace and who'd rather dodge bullets than shoot them. Meryl sighed, and stood up on the cold tile floor. She dully wondered whether Nicholas Wolfwood would remain here with Millie. They had both seemed so happy together, but as fate would have it, Vash and Meryl wouldn't be together long this time. Meryl could hear the silence of the place magnified, which meant her suspicions were confirmed. Her beloved Vash had already vacated and she was basically alone once again. Meryl felt tears bite at the corners of her sleepy eyes, but mentally shrugged them off. Meryl skipped her usual cup of coffee and instead sat mutely at her desk. What could she do? She had promised she wouldn't follow him. She couldn't follow him, she could make thing worse for him like she had the time with Legato. Her head hit the top of the desk with a thud. She really was stuck. If there was one thing Meryl Stryfe hated it was being stuck on a problem. Millie decided for once she wanted some caffeine. Nicholas had decided he desperately needed a shower, so Millie decided to leave him be. She trudged down the stairs and found Meryl slumped uncharacteristically at her desk. Millie felt sympathy nag at her. She knew Meryl was upset about Vash leaving. Millie had heard him drag his brother Knives away early that morning. She peeked through her door and watched him pause slightly at Meryl's door then trudge on. Millie sighed; it really was cruel the way they were both ripped apart from each other so soon. She gently put a hand on Meryl's shoulder. "Meryl?" Millie questioned silently. Meryl's head violently shot up.
"Nani?" She asked dazedly.
"Did you fall asleep?" Millie asked kindly.
"Oh Millie, I suppose I did." Meryl's usually bright blue eyes had a dull slightly glazed look. The look of loss and a look of fear, a sort of look a woman has when she's afraid she's lost her love forever. "
Why don't we go after him?" Millie offered kindly. Meryl shook her head slowly. "I would if I could. I already promised I wouldn't go after him though. He told me it might be too dangerous. Where's Wolfwood?" Millie indicated towards her room at the top of the stairs.
"He's showering so I decided to come down for a cup of coffee." Meryl nodded and followed Millie into the kitchen. She really needed to talk to someone and Millie was her best friend.
"I just don't know what I'll do Millie, I can't stay around here or I'll go insane." Millie patted her shoulder in a sympathetic fashion.
"We'll figure out something don't worry." She smiled. Nicholas came down the stairs about fifteen minutes later, his hair still dripping.
"Hi honey what's for breakfast?" Nicholas inquired to Millie. Meryl thought Nicholas looked rather odd without his trademark sunglasses.
"We haven't fixed anything yet," Millie replied to him.
"I take it old broomhead decided to take off?" Meryl winced at this comment. "Hai, he left early this morning," Millie said.
Nicholas shook his head. " I hope he knows what he's doing. He'll be in the middle of the desert with that psycho brother of his." Meryl glanced up. She found it rather hard to talk today. Millie noticed this and quickly changed the topic.