Trigun is owned by Yasuhiro Nightow.

Vash to the rescue

Vash hurriedly dressed and dashed out the door. He didn't know what Knives meant but if Meryl was in danger there was nothing in the world that would stop him from getting to her and saving her. He followed Knives voice and came upon the same scene that Knives and Stella had moments before.

Vash pushed his way into the centre and looked down, shock and aw etched across his face. There was his precious Meryl down and dirty on the ground with a furious Jessica. He could tell in seconds that Meryl was holding back and trying everything possible not to hurt the human. They all knew that the plants were far stronger then a normal human and if Meryl so wished it she could have broken Jessica's neck twice in the ten to twenty seconds that Vash stood immobile.

It was Meryl's gasped cry of pain that sent Vash into the middle of the raging females. Meryl was once again on the bottom, opting not to get too physical with Jessica and let her have at it. But Jessica had taken a rather pointy stone and had smashed it into the gunshot wound that had healed not a few hours ago. Once again igniting pain through out Meryl's body.

Vash reached out and pulled Jessica rather roughly from Meryl. Vash noted in the moment of separation that the stone Jessica held had blood on it, Meryl's blood. Vash on instinct cradled Meryl to his chest and stood, her small frame held captive in his arms. Jessica looked at them with shock; she hadn't figured Vash would show up.

"What is the meaning of this Jessica?" spat Vash, his happy green eyes darkening, once again taking in the blood on the stone in her hand.

"I…I… but Vashy…"

"I don't want to hear excuses!" yelled Vash. "Tell me why you were attacking my mate?"

"Don't Vash." Whispered Meryl, she was gripping his prosthetic arm and trying to right herself. "Let me deal with this. It's between women."

"But Meryl, your hurt…" begged Vash as Meryl made her way slowly from his arms.

Meryl turned a soft smile to him as she gently pushed him away. Vash backed off and stood beside Stella and Knives. The two women in the centre of the crowed made a fine sight. Jessica was dusty from head to toe, most of her hair freed from her standard braid. Her light dress barley torn, so that it gave the faint impression that she had won the fight.

Meryl was a different story, Vash's shirt was torn to ribbons, the sleeves barley held on and there were maybe two buttons that were still attached. Meryl clutched the shirt closed her hand nestled between her breasts. Blood was seeping through the thin fabric staining the white shirt. Meryl's short hair was covered in dust, as was her face. All in all she painted to perfect picture of a lost fight. But Meryl had something that Jessica lacked, determination, and pride. Though Meryl looked worse for ware she was confident that she had done right but not fighting back.

"Well Jessica? He's here, your precious 'Vashy', why don't you explain to him why you did this?"

Tears had begun to spring from Jessica's eyes as she looked from the beaten Meryl to Vash who looked back at her with cool dislike. "How could you? You choose her over me? What about Brad? You took him from me, you have to marry me!"

Vash clenched his jaw, remembering that horrible day, but keep his mouth shut leaving it up to Meryl as she had asked him to.

"Don't you dare speak like that to him!" growled Meryl through a clenched jaw. She glared at Jessica for brining up such painful memories. "How dare you try to force him into something he didn't want. If I recall correctly you ran from him that day when we buried Brad. You couldn't even face him, but the moment that he returns you are once again clinging to him. That's all Vash is to you, a replacement."

"No! No that's not it at all; I want Vash to be happy. How is he going to be happy with you? You're so much older then me, he'll have a longer life with me. He'll be happy with me, not you. You'll die sooner then I will. He and I were meant to be!"

Meryl sighed and shook her head. "You know nothing child." Her voice dropped considerably and everyone within hearing distance stilled. Her voice was old, thick with years. She looked back up at Jessica, sadness in her eyes. "I may simply looked older then you, but I'm not human. Vash and I are the same, in terms of age, Vash is older then me, but by merely fifteen to twenty years. Not the hundreds that he is to you."

Not seeing any understanding coming from the girl, Meryl let the shirt fall, partially exposing her still bleeding wound. "Stella, knife." Called Meryl, without looking she caught the small box cutter. Keeping eye contact with Jessica, Meryl cut her palm and held the bleeding hand to her wound. Meryl hadn't wanted to use her power to heal the wound thinking that it would heal on its own, but after the attack with the rock there was no other choice.

Light filled the circle and when it died down Meryl's would was gone. She looked at Jessica, "I am Vash, and Vash is me. We are one and the same."

Jessica blinked tears falling freely. She looked one last time at Vash and saw his cold green eyes. She had not only upset him, but she had attacked and hurt his mate, his lover, and his wife all rolled up into one. "I'm…I'm sorry…" she stammered and fell to the ground.

"Stupid spiders." Grumbled Knives as he turned away, taking Stella by the arm.

Vash wrapped his arms around Meryl as the crowd began to leave, many not going near the two, and a few helping Jessica to rise and leave.

"That was brave and stupid Meryl." Whispered Vash as he buried his face in her dirt filled hair.

"I know but I had no other choice. Through the whole thing she kept saying that you owed her. I couldn't let it alone; we would never have been able to come back."

"It doesn't matter. You're all that I care about."

Meryl's shoulders fell and she lightly punched Vash in the gut. "Don't say that stupid. I know how much these people mean to you. Don't make me beat you up for lying."

Vash chuckled and scooping Meryl into his arms headed back to the house. "So…you get all beat up and yet I still don't get my donuts." Scoffed Vash.

"If you're not careful you won't get anything else either." Warned Meryl. The two chuckled and giggled their way back to the house.