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"Talking"

'Thinking'

Flashbacks

Stressed


"What are you planning?"

Brown eyes sparked with glee as the young woman smiled at Matt Saverem. He stared at her with a raised eyebrow. She shrugged and ran her hand along the glass of the giant bulb. Kagome could see Matt's reflection in the bulb.

"I'm gazing into the future," Kagome softly answered.

Matt's aquamarine eyes traveled to the bulb. He sighed and walked behind Kagome. He reached his hand out and placed it against the bulb besides Kagome's hand. She smiled and looked back at him. He softly smiled back at her.

"You really believe in that seed?" Matt questioned with amusement.

"That seed will save our race," Kagome firmly said with a knowing smile.

Matt dropped his hand from the bulb and walked over to the control panel a few feet away. Kagome remained as she watched a few scientists stepped inside the bulb. They hooked the seed up to the bulb by a few wires. Kagome turned around and walked to where Matt stood. He handed her a pair of black goggles and put his own pair on. The remaining scientists sealed the bulb and joined the two at the control panel. They each gathered at a station and read the current stats.

"Should we precede Dr. Higurashi?" Matt teased as she chuckled.

"Let's begin with a low level wattage Dr. Saverem," Kagome mocked as he sighed.

"Level five?" Dr. Motoki questioned.

"Proceed to level five!" Kagome declared with an excited smile.

The lights in the room dimmed as Kagome moved the lever to the first notch. She turned her attention to Matt as he fixed the level of the wattage by turning a few knobs. A few sparks traveled within the bulb signaling the rise in power. Stats were shouted out and Kagome nodded in understanding. She ordered the settings to be changed to level three. A soft hum traveled through the room and bolts of electricity surrounded the seed. Matt shouted to raise the power levels to two. Kagome shifted the levers and the humming increased.

The room went silent as they raised their eyes to the seed. Stats were yelled out as cracks of light appeared on the seed. Kagome stepped from behind the console and slowly approached the bulb.

"Energy levels are rising within the seed!" Matt shouted.

The bulb filled with light and energy exploded within the room. Warmth filled them as the light continued to grow. Kagome reached out and pressed her hand to the bulb as her eyes desperately sought to see what happened within. Giant wings stretched out and she gasped in wonder. Luminescent eyes quickly opened and made contact with her brown orbs.

Meryl gazed at her family's estate with a sense of dread. The blood colored brick and soulless windows made her wonder about her family's legacy. How much blood had they spilt in order to rise from their ashes. Meryl sighed and leaned back on her Thomas in an attempt to escape her the mansion. She met a firm surface and gasped. Glancing over her shoulder she noticed that Vash was watching her with curiosity written across his face. Meryl quickly turned around to avoid his questioning gaze; she couldn't answer anything.

"Wow sempai! Did your family add more onto the house?" Milly questioned with amazed blue eyes.

"I'm not sure," Meryl softly answered.

Vash let his gaze fall back to Meryl. She appeared to be more subdued then normal. Her whole body radiated a saddening fear. It made him sick that she feared her own family this much. Vash silently wondered what could strike so much fear into this little spitfire's heart. A crunching sound made it to his ears and he heard Meryl's gasp. An older woman was approaching them. Her long black hair held tints of gray and swayed in the soft breeze. She wore an old fashion dress. A blood red corset was connected to a long black skirt. Around her neck was a red stone held on a black choker. Her skin was extremely pale and her brown eyes were void of anything.

"Mother," Meryl whispered as she jumped off the Thomas.

Vash lost his balance and fell off the Thomas. Meryl was the only thing keeping him from falling off in the first place. He stood up and watched as Meryl bowed to the woman. The woman stopped in front of Meryl and reached out to caress her face. Meryl winced at the movement but remained in place. Vash heard the sound of a crack but couldn't believe it. Meryl's mother had roughly slapped her own daughter to the ground. Meryl was on her side and her fists were clenching the dirt as an anchor.

"Sempai," Milly whispered with worry.

"How dare you come back?" Meryl's mother harshly growled.

"Isabella," Meryl pleaded as she spat the blood from her mouth.

"How dare a monster like you come back?" Isabella demanded as she quickly kicked Meryl back down. Meryl fought the tears back as her mother repeatedly called her a monster.

When the next blow didn't come to her Meryl opened her eyes and stared at Vash. He was in front of her holding back her mother. Milly came to her side and helped her off the ground. Meryl couldn't help but wince at the sore muscles.

"I don't think that's a nice greeting for your daughter," Vash spoke with a smile.

"I didn't birth that monster!" Isabella hissed as she sent a pointed glare to Meryl.

"Meryl may have a temper and she may seem like a monster—" Vash spoke as he nervously laughed at Meryl's growl-"but I'm sure she's not a monster."

Isabella remained silent before she softly began to chuckle. Her chuckles turned into a haunting laughter as she doubled over. Her laughter faded away as resentment replaced her look of mirth.

"You will see what happens when she reveals her true self," Isabella replied before she turned to the calling of her name.

"Isabella," a strong voice firmly called out.

Her brown eyes turned to the man coming towards them. His black suit was immaculate as he stopped in front of him. At the edge of his nose, rested glasses and he smiled. His black hair was slightly taking on a gray color, but there was fire within his gray eyes.

"Father," Meryl softly said with a happier note.

"Meryl," her father responded with a kind smile.

"Micah, you have to get rid of her! That monster's back to finish us!" Isabelle ranted.

"Go to your room and rest…it's time for your medication," Micah told his wife as she glared at him.

"She'll kill us!" Isabelle growled.

"Go to your room!" Micah firmly said.

Isabelle glared at him before she turned on her heel and marched back toward the mansion. A sigh of relief escaped his lips as she vanished. He turned his gaze to his daughter and frowned at small cut on her lip. Meryl shyly smiled before he held open his arms. Without another word, Meryl launched herself into his arms and hugged him tightly.

"I've missed you," Meryl whispered.

"Then you shouldn't stay away for so long," he teased as she kissed his cheek.

"But mother…"

"You know you're mother is crazed," Micah huffed with a frown.

"She's right," Meryl whispered. Micah shook his head and tightly embraced her again.

"No, she's wrong…you're a gift," Micah whispered as he released her.

"Hello Mr. Micah!" Milly greeted with a smile.

"Milly, you've grown," Micah said with wide eyes.

"Yep…just like mom," Milly chirped with a brilliant smile.

"Who's this?" Micah questioned as he looked at Vash with a knowing smile.

Vash opened his mouth and then just chose to smile. He scratched the back of his wondering how he would introduce himself.

"This is Vash the Stampede," Meryl said with a smile.

"Surely his name can't be Mr. Stampede…it sounds like he needs a leash," Micah mused.

"Saverem. Vash Saverem," Vash opted for as he held out his hand.

"I hope you haven't caused my little princess too much trouble," Micah said with a dangerous smile.

Vash blanked before he began his loud laughter. Meryl's face turned red as she listened to that annoying laugh. Micah noted that her fist was clenching and unclenching.

"Stop that!" Meryl growled as she punched him.

"Meryl!" Vash sobbed as he covered the lump with his hand.

"Sempai sure loves hitting Mr. Vash," Milly spoke as Meryl covered her face in embarrassment.

"My princess has always been the one for rough love," Micah stated with a smile.

"Father," Meryl groaned.

"Nothing to be embarrassed about," Micah assured.

"Meryl must love Mr. Vash a lot since she's always showing him rough love," Milly mused with a smile.

Micah raised an eyebrow at this and pointedly looked at Vash. Vash sheepishly smiled and choose to act naïve. Meryl groaned before she heard the sound of footsteps approaching. Her eyes looked past her father to see her brother.

"Hello little sister," Richard calmly spoke with a smile.

"Hello brother," Meryl calmly said.

"Hello Mr. Richard," Milly happily said as she grimaced at his wince. "Are you in pain?"

"Yes…but everything should be fine once I leave your presence," Richard mumbled as Meryl glared at him.

"Did you come out here just to insult me?" Meryl growled as her eyes flashed with anger.

"No, but that's just a bonus," Richard mocked with a sneer.

"Be kind to your sister," Micah scolded.

"I will when mother actually loves her," Richard taunted.

"You maturity level is the reason why you won't inherit the Stryfe business," Micah sighed knowing that would anger his son.

"True…but she won't hold the business long once the Fier's actually see that she's monster," Richard jabbed.

"I'm going to kill you!" Meryl growled as she lunged for him.

Richard's eyes widened in shock at her brash attack. She knocked him to the ground and he groaned as he hit the dirt. Her fist was the first thing that he felt on his face. He reached up, grabbed her hair, and pulled. Meryl howled in pain before she turned her head and bit him. Richard yelped and clenched his fist as he prepared to hit her. Meryl was quickly grabbed around her waist and hoisted off of him.

"I think that was too much of a welcome," Vash sighed.

"Put me down now and then I'll punch you," Meryl growled.

"Don't you mean 'or'?" Milly questioned.

"Fine then…'or'," Meryl relented.

"I'm going to skin you Meryl!" Richard threatened as she glared at him.

"Bring it! I'll claw up just like I did before!" Meryl growled as her eyes sparked with something feral.

"You bitch!" Richard snarled.

"Woof," Meryl simply said as she glowered at him.

"Milly," Micah calmly said. "Meryl's room is still in the same place…please take her there."

"Sure thing Mr. Micah," Milly happily said.

Milly happily hummed as she picked up Knives from the cart and signally Vash to follow. Micah pinched the bridge of his nose and listened to his son's complaints. Even though Richard was the oldest, he acted like the youngest. Micah then turned to Milly and wondered whom that unconscious man was.

"She'll kill us!" Richard growled.

"You will respect your sister!" Micah firmly said with a dangerous glare.

"I don't respect freaks," Richard seriously said.

"She's still human," Micah responded.

"Barely," Richard snorted as he walked away with a scoff. "Just wait until she turned twenty-three."

She could hear his footsteps closing in behind her. His voice called like a distant echo. He was getting closer and that caused the fear in her to build. She turned to the nearest door and shook her head. He would find her if she hid in her room. Her gray eyes turned the door at the hall. She looked behind before she ran for the door.

"Meryl!" The voice shouted.

Meryl gasped as she felt herself being pulled away from the door. She was roughly thrown into the wall. The impact caused shock but nothing more on her three-year-old body.

"Leave me alone!" Meryl growled as she looked up at him.

"My friends just want to see the freak," Richard teased with a cruel smile.

"I'll tell dad!" Meryl weakly threatened.

"Dad won't be back for another week," Richard informed with smirk.

"What's wrong with her ears?" A shorter boy asked.

"She looks like she has dog ears," Richard nodded at the comment.

"Her nails look sharp."

"She claws up the furniture like a stupid cat," Richard joked as the others laughed.

Meryl closed her eyes as she listened to them. He was constantly tormenting her. Richard would chase her down just to tug on her ears. He would point out how she drove mother crazy. Meryl covered her ears and shook with uncontrollable sobs.

"Why is she such a freak?"

Meryl's eyes shot up and she pushed herself to her feet. A sort growl rumbled through her chest and increased in volume. She could see some of her brother's friends begin to a panic as she crouched low and showed them the small claws on her hand.

"What's the freak doing?" One questioned.

"I…I don't know," Richard said as panic laced his voice.

"Leave me alone!" Meryl shouted.

Richard clenched his fist and dove to hit her. Meryl panicked and without thinking, she quickly hit him in the chest. A rip was heard as blood stained his white shirt. Richard fell backwards and his friend's screams echoed through the halls as they left him. His eyes were wide with shock as he stared up at her. Meryl was in her own shocked world too. Bits of her brother's white shirt were dangling off her fingers leavings pieces of flesh under her claws.

"You stupid dog!" Richard growled at her as he got up to lunge.

"No," Meryl whimpered as she slashed at him again.

Her claws caught his side and she ran around him with the intent on hiding. He grabbed her by her long hair and fear coursed through her again. She spun around and brought her claws down again. Richard screamed and fell to floor as he whimpered. Meryl looked at his bloodied form one last time before running to her room and slamming the door shut.

Author's Note:
It may seem confusing but all will be explained!