Chapter 10:
"I cant believe you told her!" Vash shouted as he walked across the desert, followed closely by Knives.
"What was I supposed to say?"
"Anything other than that."
"Oh so now I'm supposed to lie to girl, as well as tolerate her."
"Well, she's run away now, Happy?"
"Actually no. Because you're dragging me after her."
"Well it's your fault were out here in the first place."
"How's that?"
"Because you went and told her fucking everything, that's why!"
You never told me to lie to the girl, As a matter of fact, I seem to remember warning you about it too."
"Shut up." He growled.
Three hours previous.
Knives and Eliana were in the basement, both conducting their now daily ritual of her exercising and his working on the parts of her gun, However at that moment he sitting close to her on a small chair counting her press ups as she did them, over the past month or so since she had began her training with him, she had been steadily getting better. Her stamina and strength had increased by a small portion, she could now do around sixty press ups and had moved on to add other excises such as sit ups and bench press's
"Thirty."
"Knives?"
"Thirty one, Yes."
"Why...did... Millie call you a murderer." Came the nervous question
"Thirty two. Because I am." She stopped and looked up at him
"What? What Happened?" He leaned back a little in his chair and crossed his arms.
"It's not something we need to discuss. Thirty three."
"Fine." She muttered doing her thirty third press up.
"So, you really killed someone?"
"The first time?" She hesitated when he spoke, and looked up at him, Uncertain. He uncrossed his arms and leaned forward gently resting his hand on her shoulder pushed down.
"Thirty Four." She did as she was told.
"Thirty Five." There was a momentary pause. "I shot a man in the head."
"Why?"
"He was in my way."
"In you way of what?"
"I couldn't change the course coordinates while he was at the control terminal, besides he would have tired to change the co-ordinates of the..."
"Y'know, dictionary brain, most people use normal words for those things."
"Ships." He finished 'Didn't Vash tell you anything?' He got up and walked across the room to the work table where the gun parts were laid out in a neat fashion. He picked one up at random and examined it. Slowly turning it in his hands, his back to her.
"You have heard of great fall haven't you? Or have they given up on educating kids like these days?"
"That was over one hundred and sixty years ago."
"Well at least you can count." He turned his head to the side a little so she could she his smirk.
"Your full of shit, No human could live that long." The smirk broadened.
"I never claimed to be human."
"Then what...what are you?" Her voice became soft, like that of a child instilled with fear.
"What do you think I am?"
"You know, I'm a little offended you ever though I was human." She heard faintly in her head.
"You're...You're...a." Her words began to waver and shake.
"A what?"
"A plant!" He caught her stray thought and could hear the word "plant" clearly in his mind milliseconds before her wavering voice spoke it aloud." She began to cry a little. Her arms giving out, she collapsed forward and landed hard on the floor.
"What's the point of using words when this is so much easier?" He looked at her, collapsed on the ground, blood flowing from a spilt lip, and a cut on her forehead. Eyes clenched shut, as if she was trying to imagine some other world where this wasn't happening. She looked pathetic. He walked to her and gently shook her shoulder.
"Com'on. Its time you started your sit ups." She instantly recoiled to his touch. She pushed herself away from him and screamed. Loudly.
"Don't touch me you freak! Keep away!" She shouted, then broke into a run, up the stairs and out of sight. He looked after her for a moment, Before squatting on the floor and beginning to do press up's himself.
They walked the rest of the way to the town in almost complete silence. It was nearing dark when they arrived and a cool chill had entered the air. One sun had already set, and another was very close to setting. The town's night life had just begun to emerge from their houses and in some cases holes.
Vash led the way down the main street. If he was truthful he didn't really know why he'd come here. He was just hoping she'd come to the town, Rather than wander off into the desert. He led the way down the main street towards the centre of town, where most of the saloons' were. As they walked Vash slowed his step so the gap between him and Knives closed as the crowds began to thicken. They followed the crowds until they reached the centre of town, As Brightridge was a small town there were only a few saloons compared to larger towns. They headed to the closest. The largest of the four, a place called the Dancing Swan, Vash entered pushing aside the screen doors, while Knives budged them side with his shoulders as he passed. The room was dim and smoky, almost every table was filled to the brim with people, and many crowded around a low lit pool table in the corner.
A few people looked up at newcomers and a few waved to Vash.
"Hi Alex, don't see you in here often." A tall bald man shouted from the bar.
"Hey Sam." Vash called back.
"Alex?."
"What?" There was a crash from the back of the bar as he replied to Knives. Both of their heads snapped towards it, they saw a Eliana standing over an uprooted table.
"Ellie." Vash called to her quickly walking across the room to the girl.
"Wh't ar' ou doing here." She slurred, alcohol heavy on her breath.
"How much have you had to drink?"
"Erm, 'ets se, un, ooh, fee, 'our. I lost count after that." She giggled uncontrollably.
"Come on we're taking you home."
"Aww, but I wanna stay." Knives, who had been silent for the whole conversation groaned.
"He said, we are taking you home." He reached out to grab her forearm, she pulled away instinctively.
"Don't touch me you freak!" she screamed loudly. The whole bar turned to look at them. Knives frowned and reached for her again. This time catching her arm. She let out a high pitched scream. The bald man who had greeted Vash when he entered stood up and walked to Knives. Placing a hand roughly on his shoulder and pulled him away from Eliana.
"Hey, Bub, you better back off." Knives shook the hand off his shoulder and turned to face the man, as he did so his right hand flew out and caught the man hard the across the jaw. He staggered backwards, having to learn against the bar to keep standing up.
"Cant you see she's my daughter you idiot! look at her!" Knives growled. The bar room shushed at that point. And all returned to what they were doing before. Meanwhile Eliana had sunk the ground crying.
"Come on kiddo, lets get you home yeah." Vash said softly bending down to pick her up. He scooped her up and him headed for the door.
"Knives." He nodded and followed Vash out of the door. As they left the chatter of the bar returned to normal and the somber mood followed Vash and Knives.