Trigun is owned by Yasuhiro Nightow.

Truth and Letters

It had been days since Vash had killed Legato and the pain he felt still echoed through the modest home. Millie and Meryl kept to themselves allowing Vash time, that was the only thing that they could do for him. Allowing him time to deal with what he had done and give him time to realise that no matter what - he had done the right thing, even if it pained him to think on it.

Millie worked hard digging the well while Meryl worked every shift she could at the pub, both women working extra hard to make ends meet. They both knew that Vash eventually would get himself out of his funk, so until then, they had to make way.

It didn't help Vash to know that everyone in the town still looked on him in fear. There was no excuse for what they had done to him but neither was there one for Vash himself. He was at times too good for his own good, he allowed them to walk all over him, torturing his body far more then it was necessary.

Meryl spent her nights sitting in the moonlight thinking on Vash while mending his coat. There were so many things that needed to be sorted out but every time she thought on it and how to tell him and Millie she found her mind a blank. There was no easy way of telling them that everything they knew about her was false, especially to Vash. He had (all a bite hard pressed to) told her of his past and what a past it was. In no way did her story compare to his, but he had to be told, he had to understand that he was not alone in his fight.

Then the day came. Vash cleaned himself off and donned his red duster, and there in the suns fading light stood Meryl, once again thinking over how to tell him. But still her mouth would not work; she was unable to tell him everything, all the bad, the good and the ugly, Millie the wonderful girl that she was told Meryl to tell him when he got back. 'The idiot had better get back soon' thought Meryl, otherwise she would loose her grip once again and shy away from telling him everything. She had sent messages to the people that would prove her story true but she feared that they would arrive either too soon or too late and she would be forced to repeat herself, and suffer humiliation because of it.

-----

Millie saw him first and the joy on her face shown bright even in the noonday suns. Meryl turned, her heart racing, and seeing Vash smile she felt her heart leap wishing against hope that once he knew everything that he would still accept her.

"Hi insurance girls! We're back!" Vash smiled as he set down who could only be Knives. Meryl looked from one to the other ascertaining who needed aid the most. She moved to help Knives but found Millie already there; a sly smile on her lips, Meryl smiled back, and moved to help Vash. He was smiling so much he never caught the glances shared by the two, like any typical male.

----

Vash was more then happy that it was 'his' little insurance girl that was looking after his wounds. They had begun walking back to their little home, happy voices echoing off the stone street walls. Millie held Knives to her chest cooing over him, Vash had to smile; even the most feared killer was being babied. He looked down at Meryl, her face concentrated on the scratches on his arms, unable to reach the one on his shoulder. Vash would have been more then happy to have her in his arms to look at it but he doubted she would have liked that. Vash mildly wondered what Meryl had tried to say to him earlier, but figured that she would come around to it. He knew finally that he had loved Rem as a mother, not as one would that of a lover. And whenever he looked upon Meryl he saw that she was the one for him, that she would be the one to save him from himself.

They reached the beaten down building they called home and entered the cool blackness. Vash sighed, relieved that he was home. They settled in for the rest of the day, since the well was finished Millie no longer had a reason to be out in the suns, Meryl on the other hand had work that night, another double shift, but she spoke nothing of it.

Knives was placed in the bed that Vash had previously occupied and Millie tended to his wounds. Meryl looked after Vash at the kitchen table finally able to reach his shoulder.

"Mr Vash I thought you said you were going to be careful? Does this bullet wound look careful to you?" she fretted.

Vash smiled silently. He knew that for all Meryl's words she meant well, and that she cared about his welfare. Something that over the years Vash had missed. He glanced over to Knives, who was silent even in his mind. Vash hoped that with all they had been through that he would finally understand why he loved humans so much, especially the human that now stood by him tending to him.

"Mr Vash?" Meryl was staring at Vash but it seemed that he didn't see her, his mind was else where, probably somewhere with someone special…Rem. She had heard him say that name often. She was the woman that he loved first and for most. Meryl knew there was no way that she could take the place nor have a large enough spot in Vash's heart, but Meryl hoped that there was somewhere for her.

A knock came at the door and Meryl answered. "Hello, I am looking for a Miss Meryl Strife?"

"I'm Meryl Strife."

"This letter is for you." The messenger passed the letter over and was gone.

Meryl silently looked down at the letter seeing the writing and knowing where it had come from. "Excuse me…this is a personal letter." She didn't bother looking at the people in the house but went outside to find a quite place to read.

Vash looked from Millie back to the empty door. What had gotten Meryl so spooked?

----

Meryl went out to the hill where she had first seen Vash the day he had awoken, and plopped herself down. The letter was light, which meant that the writer was merely writing to tell her when they would be arriving. Meryl opened the letter and read,

Dear big sister,

Oh how I've missed you. I received your letter a few hours ago and have already bought a ticket on a steam train there. It should take no more then a few days, by the time you receive this letter I'll be no more then a day or so from the town. Do not fear, when I get there we'll sort everything out. I can't wait to meet Mr Vash and Mr Knives.

I love you lots.

Meryl sighed, so soon all her secrets would be out in the open, soon Vash would see who she really was. Blinking Meryl realised that she was late for work and dashed down the hill making a beeline for the pub.