Knives was surely the happiest man on Gunsmoke. His dreams had finally come true: humans had been all destroyed like the spiders they was, Plants were free even if they still couldn't leave their bulbs, and the most important was that his brother was at his side like he had always hoped for. So he didn't ask for anything anymore. Vash and he were living in their Eden and each day was like the former, all in bliss. A pair of arms enlaced his waist and Knives smiled. "What are you thinking about?" His brother asked.
Knives shivered. Even after all that time, he still couldn't resist his other half, his Vash. About the happy life we're living, he answered mentally. He sensed his brother tensing up and he bit his lip. Vash didn't really like to use their telepathic link. Knives didn't understand why he was so disturbed by that. After all, they used to talk like that all the time when they were children, until Rem had asked them to talk a little more. "Sorry," Knives said, turning to face his brother.
Vash relaxed and smiled. "It's alright," he said.
Their eyes met and Knives could feel once again the attraction between them. Of course they were brothers but it didn't matter to him. Knives was sure they had been one being at the beginning. So was it really surprising they were trying to become one once again? Knives smiled and took his brother's hand to lead him to their house. Of course they were one and one only person. You could see that with their hair and eyes colours: they were inverted, like a sort of negative. While Knives had blond hair and blue eyes, Vash had golden eyes and blue hair. So they were only one and Knives was happy his brother shared his opinion on that subject. He couldn't have stand it if his brother had rejected him.
was deeply asleep upstairs, a sleep partially induced by Legato. Legato was now waiting impatiently. He didn't know how much longer he could bear it. "I'm here," a voice said suddenly at the door.
Legato nearly jumped from his chair to greet the visitor. "You're finally here!"
Vash smiled at him. "Of course, you know I would never miss this meeting! It's too important." Legato nodded. He knew it but still he was worried. "I'm seeing Knives," Vash said. "Better do it now."
Legato nodded and he put water on the gas for tea while waiting. He could feel that Knives unconsciously recognised his brother's nearness, his true brother's, and his mind was greeting him and trying to contact him. Vash accepted the contact while he settled near Knives and he began his work. Legato sighed. How long the hypnosis made by Vash would last? How long before Knives wake up for good and understood he had been deceived since the beginning? And then what would happen to Legato?
"It's done," Vash said, walking down the stairs. "There was no problem." But his face said otherwise.
"Really?" Legato insisted.
Vash shook his head. "He took my hand in the end. Thanks God, he didn't woke up but I think he's more and more aware of my presence."
Legato nodded. "It won't last. I dare not speak telepathically with him anymore because he would realise then it's not the same as with you. And each time you're coming here, he feels it. He doesn't really understand but I can see it: he's more impatient and restless."
Vash was troubled. "So it's possible that one day the hypnosis won't work anymore. And then..."
Legato finished for him: "... he will kill me then will look for you. So he will realise humans are still alive, taht they have perfectly transformed this planet into a second Earth with the help of geoplants and that you live with them."
Vash pulled a face. "I don't want to think about his reaction. I really hope this day will never come."
Legato sighed. "If you think about it, I'm the luckiest: I will only be killed. But you... Imagine what he will do to you. He won't kill you, of course, since you are his beloved brother, but still..."
"He will kill every people I love, Merryl, Millie and their children... He will kill them before my eyes and maybe he will even force me to do it."
Vash's eyes seemed lost and Legato pitied him. He didn't have chosen the easiest path.
All had begun during their fight. While he was trying to force Vash to kill him, one of his thoughts had escaped and Vash had caught it. "You're in love with my brother?" He had asked then, amazed.
Ashamed, Legato had looked down. "I know it's not suitable," he had murmured. "I'm just a miserable human and I don't deserve to breath near Knives-sama. All I can do is sacrifice my live so that the only person he loves in this world comes back to him."
Vash had had then a hard time to pull him out from his depression. But he had made a promise to Legato, a promise Legato hadn't believed in the first. "Take my place at my brother's side. Isn't it what you have always wanted?" Vash had said when he had come back with his brother on his shoulder.
"But I'm not you! Knives-sama wants only you!"
"Then... become me."
Legato shook his head. Even at that time, he had known it wouldn't last long. Still...
"It has been fifty years," Vash intervened.
"But everything have an end," Legato replied. "And now you have to decide what you're going to do. Will you let Knives threaten humans once again?"
Vash sighed. "You know I can't kill him. I would have done it otherwise in our last fight."
Legato smiled mockingly. Vash was still so weak. He was unable to decide something so important. If Legato were him, he wouldn't have hesitated. On the other hand, it was surely that naïve side Knives loved so much...
Legato's heart contracted. Was it jealously? But could he be jealous of himself? For he had completely become Vash, overcoming years of devotion and shyness. During his first years with Knives as Vash, his world had radically changed. He had been upset to see his former master make timid advances to him. And after their fist night, Knives had smiled to him, a warm and bright smile that Legato had never seen before. Of course, he knew that smile was for Vash and not for him but he didn't really behave like the real Vash. After all, Vash would have never accepted to sleep with his brother because of his morals. After all, Knives' current happiness was entirely Legato's doing. Only his past had changed. He had only taken Vash's name and his place in Knives' memories. But he had built their present. Somewhere deep in him, there was that fool's hope that Knives could understand that, that Knives couls realise Legato could make him happy, unlike Vash. But Legato had had enough disillusions in his life to know that sort of hope was vain. During all those years with Knives, he had often been tempted to tell the truth. Whenever Knives called him that name that wasn't his. Whenever Knives was talking about their past.
"Another solution would be that you take my place... your place." Legato said suddenly. He had said that without thinking, only wanting to hurt Vash. And effectively he saw Vash close his eyes in pain. He could guess Vash had already thought about it. Vash had already thought about sacrificing himself for the humanity. But he wasn't strong enough.
"It's a solution," he admitted against his will. "But I... I couldn't stand it."
Why? Legato wanted to ask. Why can't you love him while he loves you so much? You don't hear the words he tells me. You don't see how he looks at me, thinking it's you. You only knew his anger and sadness. You don't know his love. I would do anything just to be really you!
All those thoughts must have been visible in his eyes for Vash looked away suddenly, ashamed. "I'm sorry," he said. "When I made you this promise, I really thought it would be for ever..."
Legato shook his head. "Nothing is for ever. Even if my life expectancy has increased thanks to your arm, I could never live as long as you two. I think... I don't have so much time left." Vash's eyes widened while Legato's tone was flat. "It won't last," Legato concluded. "So you'd better think about what to do after. You won't be able to escape."
"I know that!" Vash replied angrily.
Legato sighed. Soon it wouldn't be his problem anymore. In the meantime, he wanted to be with his beloved.
Some hours later, Knives wake up. He was disoriented for a moment, as though something vital was missing. Then his gaze felt on his sleeping brother at his side and he smiled, forgetting anything else. He cuddled up to him and kissed his neck. Vash didn't stir and Knives sighed. But he didn't want to disturb his brother's rest. He frowned. Vash had seemed troubled for some times, as thought something was perturbing him. He didn't want to talk about it with Knives and it was the problem. They had no secrets for each other before, right? Why was Vash now hiding things from him? It was strange. Maybe it was also the reason why Vash didn't want to use their telepathic link anymore.
Knives got up and headed for the bathroom. Sometimes he was really worrying for nothing. Maybe did he fear that his current happiness may disappear one day, like a dream dispelling in the morning. Knives shook his head and washed his face with cold water. When he looked up in the mirror, the water had flattened his hair so that they were falling around his face. He smiled then tensed. He was remembering something: a young boy like him and with golden hair and blue-green eyes. That boy exactly looked like that every morning since he persisted in keeping the hairstyle Rem had chosen for him...
One second. Knives took a deep breath. But what was he thinking about? There was no other boy with them on the Seed ship! There were only his brother and he. And his brother didn't have golden hair like him and blue-green eyes, like a more colourful version of him, with such a pure and warm soul and...
"Knives?" His brother intervened.
Knives faced him, a little lost. Where did those memories come from? It didn't make any sense at all! His brother was in face of him, no doubt about it! "I'm fine," he said smiling.
He took his brother's hand and lifted it to his lips. It was alright. It was just a bad dream that would dispel in the morning.
To continue.
Please, R&R!