Why is it that humans feel a need to attach themselves to another in a time of darkness and sorrow? Darkness surrounds humans when they are depressed and lonely. Only with another do they see a far away light seeping through the end of a tunnel full of pain.

Everything was dark and lonely. There was a chill in the air that caused Iris to shudder. She felt her eyes open slowly. Her body was flouting endlessly in the darkness and she couldn't tell whether she was awake or asleep. The same shudder went up and down her body, causing her, once again to shake violently. The darkness was enveloping Iris and she began to panic. She put her legs under her chin and hugged herself not realizing she was naked. She hid her face under her knee and tried to concentrate. A sharp pain forced Iris to open her eyes and look at her shoulder. An endless flow of blood was pouring out and covering the right side of her body. Iris couldn't remember what had happened so she stared at it, shocked, not even remembering how it had got there. Iris could feel her body slowly shutting down and her muscles become limp.

So, this is what Death feels like. Pain, lonesome, and sorrow. Hmp. . . I never though I was going to die like this. . .

Iris put her head back down slowly, letting her hair cover her face. She felt the pain fill her body and soul. She was gradually welcoming Death's cold arms and slowly, she closed her eyes.

NOOO!

Iris opened her eyes quickly not knowing who had yelled. Bewildered, she looked around and saw light coming from above. She lifted her head slowly and saw a beautiful Angel reaching its arms towards her. The Angel had long, white wings and a plain, gorgeous dress. The Angel looked familiar somehow, with long black hair and shiny brown eyes.

Rem. . . .

Rem gently sat next to Iris with a light smile across her face. Iris stared at her with tears streaming down her eyes. Finally, Rem wrapped her arms around Iris as she began to sob like a helpless child.

"Iris?"

Rem looked down upon the crying child and hugged her tightly.

"Why have you welcomed Death, Iris?"

Iris stared up at her loving mother.

Because. . . .I can't take this anymore. It's to painful!

Iris showed Rem her wound like a child showing its mother a scratch.

"Iris, you are stronger then this, you know it. From the first time I brought you on the ship, I knew you were special."

But I've lost so much blood! I let you down, I let Vash down.

It had been a while since Iris had cried and right then she let it all out. After she finished, she felt better somehow. The best she had ever felt in the time that Vash had disappeared. Rem lifted Iris' head and placed her hand on the wound. Her eyes twinkled as she smiled.

"Promise me you won't give up so easily next time."

Iris nodded as a glow began to illuminate from Rem's hand. She felt a tinge and a warm sensation running through her body. Rem placed a soft kiss on Iris' forehead and slowly disappeared into light spectacles. The glow continued to surround Iris. She felt happy inside, so happy from seeing Rem that she didn't realize she had stopped breathing. Iris once again began to panic. She felt like she was underwater, drowning. She clawed at the darkness, feeling so helpless inside. She tried to hit anything, but hit only air.

Iris sprang up from where she laid, breathing in long and hard. She couldn't see at first, everything was so bright. Finally, after catching her breathe, she began to look around. She was sitting up in a bed for one with sheets around her. The room was plain and old-fashioned with only the basic needs, a dresser, a sink, and a drawer next to the bed. A window shined light into the room making the surroundings seem cheerful. She looked down at her body and saw that her upper body was bandaged along with her shoulder. Cars and people could be heard from outside. It was busy, just like every little town.

Iris sat there a bit, confused as to where she was. Finally she lowered her head and stared at her hands. The first person that came to her mind was Rem. She had remembered the whole event and she smiled. She touched her shoulder lightly, but didn't feel any pain. A man walked in, interrupting her thoughts. He was short with glasses and medium brown hair. His eyes matched his hair, but his face clearly said he was beyond 30. His face was slightly wrinkled and his eyes showed he had been through some hard times. He wore a simple white coat with pants and a shirt underneath along with black boots.

"Well, I'm happy to see you're awake." His face lighted a bit as he spoke.

"Still, I'm surprised you're even awake right now." He looked down at some wrinkled papers.

Iris looked at him and said nothing. What was there to say to a man that just walked in. Iris suddenly felt very tired. Enough was enough for one day, she just wanted to go to sleep.

"My name's John, Dr. John Limband. And yours is?"

Iris stared for a while, but decided to finally answer.

"Iris"

"Iris, that's a name you don't normally hear."

She really didn't care much about his comment. She liked her name and so did Vash. That meant more to her then she had ever realized. She stayed quiet until finally the doctor spoke.

"I suppose you want to know how you got here. Right now, you are in Kero. A city about 200 iles from July. A young man brought you here. You looked like you were about to die since your body had lost so much blood."

Iris kept on staring down, trying to determine if what the doctor was saying important. Yet he continued

"We tried to ask what happened and where you came from, but he just got up and walked away."

Iris remembered July and the psychopath that tied to kill her.

The crazy man had send Iris some visions right before he died. Visions she wished to forget. Children murdered and women dying. She tried her best to push them aside, but to no avail. Children were this world's future. Iris couldn't help but wonder how many children that psychopath had killed. She could feel a piece of her humanity tear off from her soul.

He deserved what he got!

Iris thought about what had just ran through her head and felt the need to cry so badly. She needed someone to lean on and no one was there. Vash used to be there, but she pushed his image aside as well. She didn't want to think about him right now, it was just so sad.

" . . . . . you feeling?"

The doctor looked puzzled, his patient was staring down, not blinking and from the looks of it not breathing. Iris had completely forgot about the doctor. She looked back at him apologetically.

"I'm so sorry Dr. I didn't mean to drift off."

The doctor looked worried, but decided ultimately not to ask.

"That's quite alright. I just wanted to see how you were felling. That's all."

Iris stared back down and closed her eyes again.

"If you don't mind, I would like to be left alone please."

Iris didn't feel like talking at the moment. She just wanted to sleep as much as possible without having to think about all the problems that had aroused. Walking in an endless desert can do a lot to one's mind, especially if so much horrible things had happened in one lifetime. No human should have to go through the pain that Iris had been through. They probably wouldn't have survived either way. Being shot in the shoulder was painful, but seeing the things Iris saw was even more painful. Because the things you can physically feel can go away, but the things that you mentally feel stay with you for as long as you live.

"No problem, I'll send someone to come check one you every now and then."

With that said, the doctor left Iris to her misery. Iris laid back down on the bed and turned towards the window. Her eyes began to close and suddenly she was asleep under the velvet sky with Vash lying next to her. From somewhere across the desert, Rem could be heard from far off.

Good Night my Little Angels . . . . .

That was the most wonderful sleep that Iris had ever had since Vash left. She slept for a good while, without caring what was happening in the real world.