A/N: Whoa! Almost a month and no update! Sorry about that. I don't have anything to say in my defense, except that my stuffed Kuroneko dislocated his tail in a fight, I went on a trip to San Antonio (Texas, in case you didn't know), my computer played a nasty trick on me when I came back, and I HAD MY BIRTHDAY LAST WEEK! I bet you can't guess what day. I'll give you a hint: The day that Vash blew up July and became a legend! Cool huh? Every Trigun fan should know that.
Extra notes: Just to let you know, George Michaels was on Oprah the other day, and he's from the same group that performed the song in this chapter! He even got to sing some of his songs on the show! Too bad he didn't sing the one I'm using (nuts). But it motivated me to finally get this chapter done.
P.S. I apologize to anyone who got confused in the last chapter. I won't be doing anymore rapid scene changes, at least for now. I understand that Meryl was acting weird, and I hope I'll be able to clarify why. Anyways, enough of my yapping. I hope you enjoy it!!! -NB-
Disclaimer: Own Trigun, I do not. The song 'Careless Whisper' by Wham does not belong to me. Added characters are of my own doing, and therefore, belong to me.
=Stray Cat Strut=
By: Neptune Butterfly
Ch 4: Careless Whisper
Meryl didn't look at anyone. She nearly ran into Angela but didn't seem to care. Her eyes were focused on the swinging doors obstructing her view of the darkened town square. Pushing them aside, she stepped out onto the wooden walkway and took hold of the rotted railing. She took a deep breath and let it out. Alicia and Amy decided to make a detour to tell their friend Mary what they saw happen on the dance floor.
Sean crouched down to Wolfwood's level as the applause died down. "Is she okay?"
"I'm not sure..."
Vash got up immediately to follow the short insurance girl and Mr. Kuroneko did the same.
"Mr. Vash?" He stopped to turn and face her partner giving him a concerned look. "Where are you going? Is everything okay?"
'Guess she didn't see Meryl walk out.' "I'm fine. I'll be back in a few minutes."
The priest came over to their table and noticed the blond gunman was about to leave. "Are you gonna check on shorty?"
"Uh, yea. What happened out there...?"
She folded her arms and leaned on the rail while looking at the moons illuminating the sky. Dust clouds were moving in dimming them to a soft glow, and the stars were slowly being erased as they moved closer. Sounds from the packed saloon became white noise to her as she lost herself in thought. They drifted to the Ingalls' house earlier that day...and Vash...
Her emotions have been out of whack since then causing her to feel confused. There were times when she could give no more than an irritated glance, maybe even get a little flustered when normally she'd yell and lecture the Humanoid Typhoon. They were followed by short periods of recovery. Of course, having everyone they meet poking fun at her all day didn't help, but even her reactions to their remarks have told her that something wasn't right. It was as if she were hiding something...in denial.
'What's wrong with me?' Meryl said to herself. 'It was an accident. I was just...caught off guard. No one else knows what happened except for Vash and Sharon. Wolfwood didn't see the whole thing, but even if he did, he wouldn't tell. It probably wouldn't have hurt if I told him what happened, but...'
"Why on earth do they all have to crack jokes at my expense!"
"Nyaooo."
Meryl felt something warm and furry rubbing up against her left leg. She picked up the hairball and brought it to her eye level. "Tell me Mr. Kuroneko. Do you think I'm going crazy?"
No response...except for a wide-eyed stare which for some reason was a permanent feature of the dark feline's face.
The insurance girl's face drooped in disappointment. "Gee, thanks. You're no help." Despite her pessimistic response she wasn't angry at the cat. She lowered him to her chest to let him cuddle while she continued to gazed into the night. This time she could hear the band start up another slow-dance song that overwhelmed anything else audible in the room. It was different from the kind of music they've been playing, and they've another player. Meryl could hear Eddie on his soundboard, a tambourine, small drums in addition to Brian's, Sean's guitar, and Andy's sax, which rang clear to where she stood outside.
"What's she thinkin' about out there?" Alicia whispered into Amy's ear. Both girls crouched just inside the doorway holding onto its frame watching Meryl. Little Charlotte sat beside Amy's right slip-on tail swishing with plain view of the woman in white.
A couple of moments passed before the eight-year-old answered her friend. She tilted her head up a bit to reach the blonde's right ear hovering beside her and whispered back with a secretive smile, "I bet its Mr. Vash."
"You think so?" Alicia responded excitedly almost to her face while attempting to keep her voice down.
The little brunette turned her smile towards the seemingly absent-minded woman outside. "I know so."
"How?" That look in Amy's eyes was telling her friend she was holding a big juicy secret.
"Remember when we were playing hide-'n-seek at your house while Angela 'n them were over?"
"Yea?"
"Something REALLY funny happened on the stairs when I was hidin' under the couch in the living room." Amy was getting giggly by the end of her sentence.
Andy's solo came to an end then came the lyrics in Sean's voice...
I feel so unsure
Alicia's mouth popped open then slowly formed a grin that caused her freckly cheeks to stand out even more. She pushed the younger girl's shoulder playfully. "So THAT'S where you were! Why didn't you tell me?" Her voice nearly forgot to keep itself down.
As I take your hand and lead you to the dance floor
"It was too good to tell JUST anybody!"
"Awww, Amy!"
As the music dies, something in your eyes
"Anything interesting out there?"
The girls squealed and did a half-turn jump smacking their backs against the wall. There was Vash squatting in front of them. His arms laid over his knees, and a wide eye-squinting smile occupied his face. The dangling part of the tie around his head had been moved back behind his ear and almost looked like a lop-sided ponytail.
Calls to mind the silver screen
Alicia clumsily tried to fix her crooked glasses back never leaving the wall. "Uuuuh, NOTHING!!"
And all its sad good-byes
Amy came up with an idea just then. She quickly pointed at the doorway. "MissMeryl'soutsidedoyouwannagoseeher?!"
"Huh?" Finally getting her glasses straight, Alicia looked at her to try and figure out what on earth she was doing. The chorus started up as Lee backed his friend.
I'm never gonna dance again
"Really?" The gunman knew already but decided to play along.
Something sparked inside the little blonde's head. "Oh yea! And there's NOBODY else out there. She's ALL by herself."
Guilty feet have got no rhythm
"Yep!" Amy shook her brown head glad that her friend finally caught on. Both had exaggerated smiles on their faces.
"Well, do you think I should go talk to her?"
Though it's easy to pretend
"Oh yea--"
"--Uhuh!"
I know you're not a fool
"Alrighty then!" Vash stood up and peered over the swinging doors at Meryl. Thinking of a smooth way to strike up a conversation, he moved to make his exit.
Should've know better than to cheat a friend
"MR. VASH!--"
"--NYAO!--"
"--WATCH OUT!"
Three different voices came at him at once, but it was too late. "GYAAH!!!" SMACK!!! His whole body slammed through the doors and onto the porch spooking Meryl.
And waste the chance that I've been given
The girls couldn't help but burst out laughing. Sharon was passing by when it happened and rushed over to the entrance. Little Charlotte walked over Vash nyaoing with each step.
So I'm never gonna dance again
The waitress stared in comic disbelief. "Mr. Vash? What are you doing out there?!" She noticed the freaked-out insurance woman and realized what he was TRYING to do. "Oh." She covered her growing smile.
The way I danced with you
"That was smooth. Could you AT LEAST walk out of a bar without hurting yourself?!"
Wooooooah
Even with his breath knocked out of his lungs and his head spinning, Vash could still tell it was Meryl, so he squeaked out a reply. "It was the cat's fault!"
"That doesn't matter! You should've watched where you were going!" She put Mr. Kuroneko down to help him up. The black kitty trotted over to the railing where Meryl was before and greeted his girlfriend. Sean went solo again after a short sax break in the song.
Time can never mend
"But I DID watch where I was going!!" That came out whinier than the gunman intended. 'This isn't going to get me anywhere.' More laughter came from behind. 'Man, I gotta get rid of them,' Vash thought. "Excuse me young ladies, but I need some alone time with the insurance girl."
The careless whispers of a good friend
Sharon gave an understanding nod putting her hand down. "Good luck Mr. Vash!"
"AAAAAWWW!!!"
To the heart and mind,
"Get moving you two."
Alicia gave her older sister the 'vulture look' and crossed her arms as she stomped her foot. "No fair!!"
Ignorance is kind
"Go on!" Sharon said making the 'shoo' motion with her free hand.
There's no comfort in the truth
"Let's go..." Amy sulked out. She grabbed her friend's sweater from the back and pulled her along in the direction of the kid's section. Vash watched all three girls disappear into the crowded saloon, Sharon's blue skirt being the last thing he saw of them. Sean finished his last line before the chorus.
Pain is all you'll find
"What do you want Vash?"
I'm never gonna dance again
The tall blonde now set his eyes on Meryl. Her voice, unlike before, was much softer and depressed. She seemed to be staring at boots as if she could will them to walk away. He knew that there was no need but asked anyway. "Has Wolfwood been giving you a hard time?"
Guilty feet have got no rhythm
Her eyes popped up to meet his. "It's not JUST Wolfwood! Its everyone, INCLUDING YOU!!!" She yelled accusingly. Just the kind of reaction Vash was expecting. His hands had automatically gone up in defense.
Though it's easy to pretend
"Whoa, hey now, nobody really meant it. It was just harmless fun." Vash said in a friendly tone.
I know you're not a fool
Meryl stared him, determined to find the perfect snappy remark to throw back into his face. To her, it wasn't harmless. The seemingly 'harmless' jokes drew out certain feelings she didn't realize were there until today...until the incident at Sharon's. 'He realizes there are only three people who know what actually happened, and so do I. He doesn't let the jokes get to him, in fact, he laughs at them. Yet I act like the whole planet knows.'
Should've know better than to cheat a friend
Meryl sighed in defeat and allowed her head to drop. "I'm sorry." Vash lowered his hands as she continued. "I don't know what's gotten into me."
"You sure?"
"Vash! I'm serious!"
And waste the chance that I've been given
"I'm sorry! That's just you're problem."
"What?"
"You take everything too seriously."
So I'm never gonna dance again
Meryl took to the railing again. "Vash, do you realize that our little 'trip' on the stairs could have not only jeopardized my job but also Milly's if the wrong person had seen it?" Her tone wasn't reprimanding; more like worried. She wasn't even looking at him.
The way I danced with you
Vash merely smiled. "But everything's okay now. There's nothing to really worry about. And I didn't mean anything by it, honest."
Wooooooah
Andy's sax suddenly magnified itself in Meryl's head as she watched the two cats have a snug-fest nearby. Neither paid attention to the distant howl of the approaching sandstorm. What was she really worried about? That moment on the stairs kept flashing across her mind. That moment when Vash came running out of nowhere and...
Never without your love
Those words cut through the air before the saxophone overtook it again. Meryl had a sudden revelation. 'NO WAY! THAT CAN'T BE IT!'
"Is something wrong?" Vash noted the spazzed-out look on her face afraid that he might have said something to cause it.
"Huh? Oh nothing!" Her voice was high and falsely cheery with an exaggerated smile, and her hand had leapt from the rail to wave themselves in a defensive manner. The reaction stumped the tall gunman.
Tonight the music seems so loud
Meryl began speaking in fast forward at the same pitch and cheeriness while she pushed a confused humanoid typhoon back into the saloon. "You know what? You're right! I am taking this WAY too seriously,--"
I wish that we could lose this crowd
"Well, yea, but--Oof--"
"--And it was SILLY of me to think there was a problem to begin WITH!--"
"--Maybe but, Mer--Ngh--"
Maybe it's better this way
"--It was JUST an accident after all!--"
"--It was, but--Ack--"
"--It was stupid me to assume that anybody would take it as ANYTHING else!--"
We'd hurt each other with the things we'd want to say
"--Are you honestly okay about it?" Vash held onto the swinging doors to keep the insurance from shoving him in, his head turned as far it could go to look at her. "You seemed pretty upset with Wolfwood when he asked."
We could have been so good together
"Of course! No worries! Just like you SAID!" Her smile became painful as Meryl gave one last heave sending Vash the Stampede over the threshold.
"GYAH!"
Angela squeaked as he landed at her feet with a THUD.
We could have lived this dance forever
"I take it didn't go well, did it?"
"Not really...How did you know?"
But noooone's gonna dance with me
"Sharon told me." The waitress set her tray on the bar counter and helped Vash up.
"Do you know where she went?"
Please stay
Angela's eyes swept the room. "Well, she was talking with that pretty woman with the dark hair and a lovely necklace, um...what's her name..." She trailed off and put a finger up to her small chin in thought.
And I'm never gonna dance again
"Layla?"
"Yes!" Vash smiled at her hopefully. "But I'm afraid that was about ten minutes ago."
Guilty feet have got no rhythm
Now he was confused. "Can't be. I was still talking to Layla, and I didn't see her come near our table when I left. It hadn't even been three minutes since I saw her at the door."
Though it's easy to pretend
The redhead blinked her green eyes, then smiled, "Wow, not even three minutes, and your girlfriend already kick you out, I mean in, or whatever..."
I know you're not a fool
After receiving an irritated look, Angela continued, "Look, I don't know where she went, and it's hard to keep time when I'm trying to pick up her slack..."
Should've know better than to cheat a friend
Meryl leaned against the wall between a curtained window and the entrance watching the dim shadow of a moon getting ready to set behind the buildings across the town square. The wind was starting to pick up even more dust.
And waste the chance that I've been given
"Well, I certainly wasted MY chance." Her gaze shifted down to the feline lovebirds in front of her. 'He probably wouldn't want to talk with me ever again,' Meryl thought miserably.
So I'm never gonna dance again
What was she thinking? Wouldn't that actually be a good thing? Not really. Sure, he can be juvenile and annoying, but there were so many other things about him that she admired.
The way I danced with you
'I care about him. That's no big secret. I'm willing to admit that. At least to myself anyway. Am I afraid that it could me more? Never without your love. Maybe, but no.' Then, why did she spaz-out on him?
Ooooooooh
The saxophone again. Staring at the fuzz two balls too absorbed in each other to notice that they had an audience, Meryl felt her heart hit the pit of her stomach. "That's it then," She said out loud. 'I'm afraid he won't feel the same.' Again she spoke out, angry and upset, "Huh, why would he? To him, I'm just a bitchy insurance girl! Sure, he may act nice, but I bet it doesn't mean it!" 'Then again...Now Meryl, you know that's not true--'
"Now Meryl, you know that's not true. I'm sure he cares about you very much."
"Huh-Milly! What are you doing out here?"
"Mr. Wolfwood and I saw Mr. Vash come back in, and we were wondering...How did it go?"
(Now that you're gone) Now that you're gone
Meryl leaned back again, head down and eyes closed. "That should have been obvious. Not very well."
"What did he say to upset you?" Milly asked in concern.
(Now that you're gone) What I did's so wrong, so wrong
"He didn't say anything to upset me Milly. It was me. I pushed him off before we had a chance to really talk."
"Why did you do that then?"
That you had to leave me alone
Meryl lifted her head to look her partner in the eye, then looked away. "I-I'm not sure."
But I...I
Milly was now confused. "But just a few seconds ago you said-"
"-Milly!!"
But I...I
She looked at Meryl for a moment. "If you're worried about how he feels about you, it's okay. Mr. Vash might be worried too."
But I...I
"What makes you think he's actually WORRIED about how I feel about him?"
But I...I
"Well, you never told him that you care."
"Neither did he."
But I...I
"That doesn't matter. You should tell him anyway. My mom tells me that all the time."
But I...I
Meryl sighed. "I don't think I can right now. Not after what happened today." She still felt embarrassed about it.
But I...I
"Then, promise me you'll tell him soon, say, within a year."
"What?"
But I...I
"Promise me Meryl."
"You're serious, aren't you?" She couldn't help but smile at her friend. "All right, but there's no telling where we'll be in one year."
Milly giggled. "That's the fun part! We'll never know until we get there!"
In some weird way, that made Meryl feel better. The music ended as Eddie's special soundboard faded into the cheers and clapping filling the saloon.
"I guess we better head on in. Layla was right about that sandstorm." Meryl walked over to Mr. Kuroneko and his girlfriend to pick them up. "C'mon you two. It's not a good idea to make out in a sandstorm." Their huge eyes stared up at her as they nyaoed in protest like little kids.
BANG!!!
"What was that?" Meryl stopped dead in her path to the door.
"It sounded like a trash can," answered Milly.
Two voices came from the alley where the back door to the saloon was.
"Be careful!--"
"--I'm sorry!"
"It sounds like there's a man and a woman. What are they doing back there?" Meryl quickly released the cats at the entrance and motioned Milly to quietly follow her. They listened in while they slowly approached the alleyway.
"Is she here yet?"
"Yes, she's here."
"Good. When will the back up arrive?"
"They're already stationed in Illinois just north of here, but she can't call them in until she knows where they're at."
'That voice is familiar, but who is she talking too?' Meryl thought to herself. The whole conversation sounded suspicious. She reached for one of her derringers and Milly followed suit with her stun gun.
"I can easily tell her that no problem."
"What are Antonio's plans?"
'Antonio?!' He was working for the leader of the Ruckus Boys.
"Meryl!" Milly whispered from behind.
"Shh! I know!" Meryl strained to listen through the wind of the arriving storm.
"He wants to try attacking the plants again tomorrow. They'll be coming through River Pass at sunrise. They should have no problem getting there if they're in Illinois. I met with a few others who were sent to scout the place out."
"You mean, some of them are here, now?!" The young woman sounded anxious.
"Just as scouts!" The man tried to calm her down with no luck.
"But Ryan! Are you sure?! They could be setting up a trap!"
"Ryan?" Meryl whispered. 'Then, that means...!!'
"It's all right. I've--"
"--Hold it right there!!!" Both insurance girls leapt into the alley guns at the ready.
Poor Sharon shrieked.
SMACK!!!
Poor Ryan was knocked to the ground by his girlfriend's flying tray.
"Please! It's not what you think! Don't shoot!"
Meryl looked at the man lying on the ground making sure he was knocked out before putting her derringer down. "Sharon, what's going on?"
The teenagers knelt down to pick up her tray and get a look at the damage it did on Ryan's head. He moaned as she lifted him up to the sitting position. His black cloak hid everything except his boots, and it was too dark to see anything under the hood even though it was about to fall off.
Meryl and Milly walked over to them. Sharon moved her brown hair out of her face as she looked up. The short insurance woman restated her question in a softer tone. "What is this all about?"
"I can't tell you, unless you promise to keep it to yourselves."
"We've already heard plenty about the Ruckus Boys," said Milly.
"Yea, so you might as well fill us in and give us a good reason why we shouldn't say anything." Meryl crossed her arms.
Sharon took a moment to think, then sighed, "Alright..."
A/N: Yea, Meryl was VERY confused wasn't she? I hope nobody else is now. I did what I could to keep it consistent with the series, so that means there ain't gonna be TOO much sap between Vash and Meryl. If don't know already, this fic takes place between episode 10 and episode 11. That might explain a few things. In case your wandering about the size of this saloon-bar-restaurant all this is taking place at, think about those old west movies where they would have these big fancy bars with a stage only not as fancy. Big enough to hold most of the town population, kinda like an unofficial community center. It is located at the town square after all. Anyways, please review and tell me how I'm doing! -NB-
Next time: Longest Time