MONTHS LATER

The insurance girls have already followed Rem's boy through:

1.the ordeal in Warren City with the drunken gunmaker Frank Marlon

2.the hostage situation with Grim Reaper Bostalk's daughter

3.the fight against the whole town of Inepril that wanted to collect the Typhoon's bounty so much they brought in part of the Nebraska family

4.and Ms.Elizabeth's desire to collect needle noggin's life in exchange for Lost July.

"I have to see you type this."

"Milly, quit hanging over my shoulder."

"No. I have to see this."

"Quit gloating."

"I'm not! Just type it!"

Meryl sighed looking at Milly. "Okay, but will you promise we'll finally talk."

"About what?"

"I dunno, I mean we're two girls...we've been living together for the longest time chasing this goofy guy around. We should be like sisters practically. But we still don't even know anything but each others names and the weapons we carry."

Milly sounded off mechanically. "Meryl Stryfe. Cape full of Derringer's...and don't you have a knife too?"

"Yeh. You've got two revolvers, that knife in your sleeve, inner pockets full of ammo..."

"And the boots."

"Your boots?"

"They're lined with steel, Sempai. Kind of hurts if I kick ya."

"Oh yeh, and you know some karate type stuff that I really wish you'd teach me."

She looked a little embarrassed. "Aw, I'm not that good at it. My grandpa just taught me some things to help keep myself out of trouble. I don't really put it to use anymore."

"How old are you then?"

"20."

"You?"

"21."

"A while back you told me you use to just wander before you moved to December, forgive me but you just don't seem like that kind of person. What made you want to live on the move like that?"

She glanced down somberly, trying to think of the simplest way to explain. "Well...I guess you could say I was just looking for answers. There was a man I had to find. But after awhile I decided that whole path, was just making me into someone I didn't want to be, so when I turned 20 I stopped wandering and decided to just settle and live out my life like anyone else. December was the closest city when I made that decision."

"The man...did he give you that..."

"Scar, yeah." The two went quiet, and then Milly spoke again. "Don't worry Meryl, it's really no big deal. All that's over and done with. Who I am now is the real me and I know it." She grinned. "My personality isn't an act or anything. When I smile, I'm really smiling. And I am kind of an airhead. But I'm just that way without trying. I've never been the faking type..."

Before Milly could do anything Meryl was already out the chair hugging her. "You don't have to tell me anymore Milly, I know you're the person you say you are. And you're right the past is just...the past you know? Did you want to know anymore about me?"

Milly smiled broadly. "You can tell me later. NOW TYPE IT!"

Meryl smiled and typed key by key, much to Milly's delight:

"I, Meryl Stryfe, field agent of the Bernardelli insurance society, assigned to minimize and verify damage caused by history's only localized disaster...have come to the absolute, 100 percent conclusion, that the deranged yet somehow brilliantly skilled gunman that solves every incident without killing a soul, and has interfered with us time and time again, is none other than the true humanoid typhoon, VASH THE STAMPEDE."

Milly cheered and fell back onto the floor. "Tell them I knew before you!"

"I am not saying that!"

"But you know it's true!"

"I'll buy you pudding."

"Deal."