EPISODE 3: DEVASTATION
"Vash!" Sophira called as she hung her head over him. She cocked a brow, then grinned, plopping herself on his chest, covered by his red trench coat of course.
Vash, making an 'oof' noise as she sat, sat half-way up then laying back down again.
"Hey! That…what? Sophira? You're still here?" He blinked as he took a heavy breath as Sophira still sat on him. She giggled.
"Of course. Why leave?"
"Well, I thought…"
She shook her head, "I didn't think you'd remember last night, but, don't worry about it, alright?"
He blinked, then nodded his head slowly.
She smiled, "Now, I've got one question for ya…" She narrowed her eyes a bit casually, slumped over to the door, and kicked it open, revealing a pretty pissed off Meryl. "Who the hell is she?"
Vash rolled his eyes and sat up from the bed, "That's just Meryl, she was ordered to follow me by her damn Insurance thingy --;"
"That's right, and as my duty, I'm gonna keep you from certain destruction, and I want you to stay away from this woman!"
"Excuse me?" Sophira blinked, and cocked a brow. "Maybe HE can't stay near ME, but -I- can sure stay near him!"
"No you can't!"
"I can, and will! You may be able to control him, but you can't control me!" After that, she snickered uncontrollably, almost in an insane manner.
Meryl and Vash cocked a brow as the woman in the black trench coat proceeded in her laughing fit. "Was it really that funny?" Meryl blinked, and Vash shrugged, and grinned, "Interesting little cupcake, aint she?"
Sophira blinked, and giggled her last gahfah's, and smiled, "Cupcake? Is that my pet name?"
Vash smirked, "Ahh yes, our pet names!"
Sophira grinned, "Can I be shmoopsiepoo?"
"Can I be Vashie washie?"
"How about snuggle bunny?"
"Lover bunny?"
Sophira blinked, "Going a little too far there, are we?"
"We are?" Vashes smirk remains.
Meryl's eye twitched, "Alright everybody, let's can it! I gotta get to work, and I don't wanna hear you two giggling all day, especially if she's staying with us!"
Sophira stuck out her tongue childishly, "Of course I'm staying with Vashie washie!"
"I still like lover bunny more…"
"Dare to dream, Vashie boy..." Sophira grinned as she stepped beside Meryl and out of the room.
Vash skipped after to follow, but was stopped by Meryl, "Where do you think you're going?"
"Sophie!" Vash squealed.
"Neh?" She blinked, cocking a brow.
"Sophie. I've decided to call her that from now on! Or maybe shmoopsiepoo like she wanted to be…either's fun and fine!"
"Listen knucklehead, I don't entirely trust this girl here you call Sophie. Her name's Sophira…ring any bells?"
He blinked, then looked up as if to ponder, "Hmm…I think some girl named Sophira owes me at least a hundred and thirty double dollars, but besides that, my mind is like a blank slate."
"SOPHIRA THE TSUNAMI YOU DOLT!" She exclaimed at the top of her lungs, poking him rather roughly in the forehead.
"Gah! No touchie...wait…Sophira the Tsunami? THAT'S her? But she's so…"
"Evil?"
"No…"
"Psychotic?"
"Maybe, but, no…"
"Then what?"
Vash clasped his hands, idly poking two fingers together as he stared down at them, "She's so damn cute!"
Meryl's eye twitched, "CUTE? The fate of our planet is most likely resting in your hands, and yes I'm putting this in your responsibility, and you think she's cute?"
He nodded his head, closing his eyes and turning red, not being able to hold back a smirk, "Aye, captain."
Meryl obviously did not find this funny, "Vash, you fawn over every single girl you meet, what makes this one so special?"
Vash frowned, "I don't know, I can't put my finger on it, but I know her from somewhere…"
"You do?" Meryl found this rather interesting. Either he had a case of Déjà vu, or he really did remember her from somewhere, "You have no clue where?"
He shook his head, "Not a clue in the sky."
"Interesting…" She frowned. The other news she hadn't told him about is the insurance society wants a specific dirty deed done. Not one that Vash would fancy whatsoever. "Well Vash, I'd love to help you, but there's a slight problem…"
"What?" He asked, blinking a couple times.
"The Insurance Society wants her dead. They don't think they could risk anything with this one. So, if they find her, they want her dead, and they know exactly what she looks like."
"Oh, and I bet you happen to know?" He asked, almost sarcastically.
She nodded.
His eyes widened, "What…? Wait, Meryl, are you saying, they want you to kill her? And I mean YOU and MILLIE?"
She nodded again, "I'm sorry Vash, it's my job…they never said anything about killing before, but, when everyone's safety is on the line, sometimes you have t-"
"What about what I'm feeling?" He interrupted, "I won't let you kill her!"
"Vash, be reasonable! She's a cold-hearted criminal who does these things on purpose! Do you? No!"
Vash bit his lower lip. She had caught him there, but still, Sophira? She couldn't have done those things. Though he doesn't really know her as well as she said he should.
"But…Meryl…I have some questions that just can't go unanswered!"
"Then get them when you have the chance, because I'm not putting my job on the line…" Her gaze averted downwards, "I'm sorry Vash… The Insurance Society can't make their decisions on feelings alone, let alone yours."
He said nothing.
She looked back up at him and sighed. She got up slowly and made her way out of the room. As soon as he was sure she was gone, Vash frowned again with a furrowed brow and said aloud, "No. No one else is dying."
With Meryl gone, Vash could make his way out of the inn in a jiff, but it didn't mean Millie wouldn't stop him.
"Mr.Vash, where are you going?" Millie questioned, blocking the exit to the inn.
Vash blinked, "I'm going out, why does it concern you?"
"Because, Meryl said to keep you from walking out of the inn, that's why."
Vash grinned, "Meryl this, Meryl that, are you gonna marry Meryl?"
Millie blinked, "Why of course not! That'd be plain out wrong!"
"For a guy too, I know, so why don't you ignore Meryl's current orders, and let me go out and have a little fun?"
Millie smiled, "Alright Mr.Vash! See ya later!" She waved merrily, as she went on her way.
Vash blinked and cocked a brow, "Well, that was easier than I thought…Now then! On my way!"
On his way out, a very familiar person must've entered the inn, because an awful chill ran up Vashes spine. He came to a quick halt, as did an out-of-the-ordinary looking person. A dark shade of blue hair hung over his left eye with hair mussed. He wore a hauntingly familiar white coat over a simple black shirt, and long off-white pants. Belts and spikes adorned the coat. He had a good idea as to who this man, and someone with a skull pinned to their left shoulder would definitely meet the description.
Hello there. Mr. Vash the Stampede.
Vash's eyes widened as he quickly turned around to confront the man, ready and willing to fire a few rounds. The man, however, simply vanished. Great confusion plagued his mind, as did an overwhelming fear. All of this was too much. Not only did he have to skip town to avoid contact with a certain necromancer, but to get Sophira out of the town, and lose the insurance girls for good. Despite the circumstances, thinking of his blonde-haired beauty made him smile.
His eyes gazed in every single direction to absorb the familiar, depressing atmosphere of his memories. What he remembered he wishes he didn't. His eyes narrowed sadly, eyes caught by the attention of young children playing in the streets. His eyes watered by the sight, thanking god those children weren't there all those years ago. His eyes closed, though he still envisioned the piles of innocent dead people, ash and rubble from the city he visited, destroyed, and just left for those still alive to die. His concentration, though, was interrupted by a sweet voice.
"You're such a baby, you know that right?"
"Rem?" His eyes flashed open to see a grinning Sophira.
"Rem? Who's that? It's Sophira, you dolt, "She laughed, still grinning.
He blinked, and smiled weakly, "Oh, sorry Sophie, I was…erm…just thinking." He raised a hand to wipe away his tears, but Sophira had done that job for him, smiling warmly as she did so.
"So, what're your plans for today?"
His gazed down at her. She was actually pretty short compared to Millie, but definitely taller than Meryl. Her delicate frame was perfect. Almost too perfect. His eyes welled up with tears, but held it in long enough that it would eventually go away. An awkward moment forced him and wrap his arms around her waist, and pull her in for some comfort.
She blinked her amber eyes, "Vash? What's wrong?"
He didn't speak too clearly, but Sophira could make out just one word, "Everything."
She smiled weakly, and patted him on the back, "Hey now, don't go all weepy-eyes on me, m'kay? I know you're better than that…"
"Everyone needs to cry sometimes you know…"
"And I've been doing a lot of that lately." She responded in almost a cold tone.
His eyes widened slightly, "Why? What's wrong with you?"
Her weak smile remained as she stared him in the eye, and plainly replied, "Everything, as a matter of fact."
"Gee, we're problemed, aren't we?" Vash cocked a brow as his smiled, a fake one.
"I guess so…Maybe we can discuss them later…I…I wanna leave…" She remarked as her voice lowered into sort of a whine, as she looked to the sand.
"Well, good, because I wanted to, too. Let's be on our way then, alright?"
Sophira nodded, her weak smile strengthening, "Good."
She grinned, and took his hand in hers, "Alrightie, let's go then!" She began to drag Vash and herself out of town, "This place gives me the creeps anyway!"
"Me too, I just think I saw an old…friend…a minute ago…"
Sophira stopped, seconds later, asking, "Who? Who did you see?"
He cocked a brow, "I didn't actually see him, he was pulling his creepy necromancy crap…"
Necromancy? Sophira thought as she gulped, "You're right, we might as well get going…NOW!"
No use in fighting it, Takahashi. Kill him, or make his life miserable…
I'd rather end his misery then put him through any more!
Shall I tell your little friend your intentions?
Fine! Just leave me alone…I'll do my damn job…
Good. On your way, then.
"Erm…Vash, how do you feel about going to December, and just, well, talk?" Sophira suggested as they began their way to the town of December.
"Sure, that sounds good. I'd like to get to know you better, "He grinned.
"Yeah…know me better…" She coughed after replying, her attention drifting towards other things.
"Anything wrong?" He blinked, lookin down at her with a confused face, "You seem distant."
"Eheheheh! How could I be distant if I'm less than 3 inches away from you?"
He cocked a brow, "You like to be funny, eh?"
"Yup! Sophira is funny, silly Sophira! Nehehehe!"
"Sophira, stop kidding ar-"
"Why would I be kidding around? Especially with you?"
"I don't know, unless you're hiding something from me…"
Sophira stopped. How did he know? Did he? Or was this a coincidence? Just a coincidence, hopefully, she didn't want her cover to be blown THIS early.
"What would I have to hide…? I'll tell you everything when we get to the inn in the next town!"
"Why not now?"
"Because I'm tired, that's why."
Vash sighed, "Alright then, if you say so…"
Sophira's eyes gazed around, eyeing something a short distance away. Vash hadn't noticed it because what she saw was cloaked, invisible. She bit her lip.
Long shot…
The figure, before cloaking himself, set up its unusually long gun and aimed it for Vash.
Sophira winced, almost as if she was in pain, but clearly she wasn't. Her ears rang from the sound of a gunshot, and clenched her eyes shut, "WATCH OUT!" She exclaimed, as she pushed Vash away from the line of fire.
"Whoah! Sophira? What the?" Noticing blood spilled from a new bullet hole in her shoulder, his eyes widen, "Sophira!"
This time as she winced, she was in pain, "Oww…" She muttered, holding her shoulder as she laid on the fallen Vash. Her eyes averted from the ground upward, sensing the sharpshooter's presence no more.
"Sophira…are you ok? Obviously not, you're hurt…"
"I'm fine, Vash…it's just a- oww!" She growled as she gripped her wound tighter, the blood dripping through her fingers.
He frowned, and got to his feet after helping her up as well, "Sophira, will you be able to make it to December?"
She nodded, "Yes…I'll be ok…" Her eyes closed, "I feel…tired…"
"Sophira, hang in there ok?" He stared down at her graciously.
"Sophira…you…risked your safety for mine?" Vash asked, blinking as his face was in astonishment.
She nodded, and grinned weakly, "Yep. I did…"
"I don't know why I ever doubted you, but, don't ever do that again, okay?" He asked, looking into her eyes seriously.
She chuckled momentarily, "Fine."
After helping Sophira through the desert land to December, they got themselves into another inn where they soon settled in.
Vash sat Sophira on her bed, after asking for some cloth and disinfectant from the inn keep, not to mention a pair of tweezers to pull the bullet out. He sat beside her wounded arm, after she removed her black trench coat, revealing a rather shredded in some places, body suit. There were belts to keep weapons hidden, such as daggers, knives, and of course two hand guns at her sides. He mopped off the blood with a wet towel, and began his work on digging the bullet out. "Now that we have this time together, mind telling me about yourself?"
Sophira blinked, and winced again as he dug the tweezers into her skin, "Oww! Damnit! Can't you be a little more gentle?"
"I'm doing the best I can here!"
Sophira growled, "If you insist…well..." She looked to the ceiling, "I was abandoned by my mother…either that, or she was murdered. My memory is really cluttered about that, but, you know, moving on…I was then taken in by someone…I…" She gazed into his eyes, which were hard at work concentrated on her arm, "Don't remember him too well…but…he was real nice, but his traveling companion was a different story. He hurt me a lot. The one who took me in defended me until the day things started to get a little more serious. I loved. I don't know if he had the same feelings. The words I heard are so…unclear…I…don't remember. Afterwards, I fell into a heap of trouble. I wasn't traveling with them anymore after…" She seemed to skip why and went on, "But…like I said. Things happen unintentionally. They happen despite whether you can take the pain or not. But I went on with life, cursed with a job I must carry out…"
After getting the bullet out, Sophira screeches, "Sorry, erm…what job would that be?"
Sophira stared coldly across the room, not particularly in Vashes direction, more to a wall, "…Revenge."
"On who?"
"He knows who he is. He took what happiness I had. One of these days, I'll give him what's coming."
"You seem to have a lot of anger towards this fella, "He remarked, beginning to pull the tweezers out when he heard a small clack in her skin. "Sophira, are these more bullets..?"
She glanced at her shoulder and frowned, "Maybe…"
"How long have these been in here?" He exclaimed, plucking a second bullet out of her.
Sophira growled, sucking in a scream, "Yeah, well, anyway, I have a lot of things. I have a lot of feelings; a lot of memories; a lot of anger. More of anger, and anything related to being particularly sad, ya know…"
Vash frowned, the tweezers falling a little limp in his hand, "That's sad. Can I help in any way?"
Sophira glanced at him, eyes widening a bit, "Well…you…could…" Her thoughts raced, but she coughed to clear them as if she would her throat, "… get that other bullet out if ya don't mind."
He blinked, and flushed a bit, "There's another…? …Oh, yes, right." He continued to work until getting the third and last bullet from her arm, grabbing all three, and chucking them out an open window. "There. That's it for the bullets."
With that, he cleaned up the blood that spilled as he was getting the bullets out. Dripping a bit of disinfectant on each of her wounds, she bit her tongue because of the sting, and wrapped her shoulder in cloth to keep pressure on it, and from bleeding. "Alright, I'm done…" He smiled and leaned back a bit, as he was sitting on her bed.
She smiled weakly, "Thanks."
"No problem."
Part of her anger was towards him. Ever since she found him again, she either had the need to ring his neck, or shower him with her happiness and love. She didn't know what to think, for someone else thought for her; otherwise, she'd be punished.
She sat, seeming to be in deep thought, when Vash spoke up, "Well, there's still time in the day left, anything you wanna do?"
"Not at the moment…" She muttered, looking to the wooden, slightly rotten floor of the inn. "I'd like to be left alone, if you don't mind."
Vash blinked, but frowned slightly, "No…of course I don't mind. I'll leave then, alright?" He smiled a bit weakly, and slowly left the room, not looking back.
She closed her eyes.
I don't understand you, Bluesummers.
As you shouldn't. You don't need to understand, you need to just do.
I don't understand why I would have to make his life miserable all because he says so…
You're in his debt, and you agreed to bring him to Master.
Right…
Master Knives will be pleased with the news of you befriending him. I think he's taking a greater liking to you, Takahashi.
Sophira growled.
Shut up freak. What would you know about it anyway? Go find a life…
She re opened her eyes, and looked to the ceiling, "I …still don't understand." Closing her eyes once again, "What does love feel like? I don't remember."
"It feels like a knife running through your heart, "She answered her own question after falling on her back on the bed. "Why does everyone… leave me?"
"What do you mean?" a voice asked from the doorway. It was Vash, of course, "I didn't leave."
Her eyes remained closed. She had sensed someone, but was relieved it was Vash, and not anyone else. "It hurts."
Vash smiles weakly, "That really all depends."
"Whatever."
"If you're hungry, I'll treat you to dinner."
"With what?" She blinked her eyes open, and sat up. She didn't expect him to have any money, where would he get it?
"…I snagged a couple double dollars when that robber guy left."
Sophira blinked again, and couldn't help but laugh. She found a bit amusing, as well as Vash who started laughing as well.
"To dinner then?"
"Alright."
I still don't understand.