Just Me: Holy Moly! How could I have forgotten to introduce a setting? You can tell this is my first fic, right? We are experiencing minor difficulties. ((makes static sounds with mouth.))
Setting: This takes place after the last episode in the series. Knives is still recovering after his encounter with Vash. Vash is living with the girls and everything is pretty peaceful for the moment. Problem solved and I apologize for any confusion anyone might have had.
The next morning the sun groped lazily about the house, touching everything it could with a gentle curiosity. The crickets had gone to bed and the town was now bustling with life.
Rays of light crept deviously through the curtains of Meryl's window. Kuroneko, who was once gratified by the scenery outside, pounced from the window sill onto an unsuspecting spider progressing across the wooden floor, which caused the curtains to lurch open and the greeting sun landed directly on Meryl's face. "Five more minutes." she incoherently mumbled at the offender and rolled over.
A recess later, Merly's eyes fluttered open and she was awake, ready to take on the world. She yawned blissfully, contentedly moved out of bed, and planted her feet into a pair of fuzzy brown slippers. She bumbled down the hall scuffing the slippers along the flooring as she went, following her basic need to survive the morning; coffee was calling. Almost to the kitchen the corner of her eye caught three figures relaxed on the couch. Milly and Vash were on either side of what appeared to be a still sleeping Knives, they sat slumped facing her. "Good morning." She slurred joyfully at them. None answerd back but unceasingly they kept their eyes on her. "What is it, guys?" She smiled as if there was a joke she didn't get. "What's going on?" There was an uncomfortable pause before she edged torward them. "Why are you looking at me?" It wasn't until she got closer that she realized that they weren't observing her but starring off into nothingness. "Hello?" Meryl waved her hand hopelessly infront of Milly but got no reaction, she pushed Vash's shoulder and he sundered from the others on the arm of the couch. From the motion, Vash's lips freely persed and blood spewed from them. The frightened woman jumped back as if on a spring and looked to Milly for some sort of explanation, crimson now poured from her best friend's nose and ears. "Oh my God!" came as more of a desperate whisper than anything. They wern't relaxing; they were being supported by the sofa. Meryl's insides were collapsing at the thought that was so evident now. They were dead.
"Good morning." The reply her first statement wanted was answered by the now grinning Knives. Terrified, she forced herself to look at him. He met her gaze with empty eye sockets and her stomache hurled. "Don't worry," he smiled heartedly, "you'll see them again soon." Fear paralyzed the small woman as Knives's hand reached for her.
Meryl jolted out of her bed and sailed out of the covers off the end onto the impenetrable floor. Still shell shocked she searched frantically for the assailant while still on the ground. (Just Me: I bet you said shearched. .) Kuroneko gave her a skeptical glance then nonchalantly walked away. Seeing as the seat belt lights were no longer on (Just me: Metaphor here.) and the danger was over she chuckled, the worst chuckle she ever chuckled, at her own absurdity. The front door slammed and Meryl internaly screamed blowing up any functional organs. Immediately she flew down the hall and ripped the door to Knives's room open with such force she may have as well surged right through it. There he lay, peaceful and deathlike. She eyed him suspiciously and inched closer. Extending a ginger hand out to expose this faker she poked his cheek, no response. She poked harder making his head shift a little, no acknowledgment. Determined, she situated her fingers and thumb on either side of his mouth and applied a little pressure, which in turn only made his lips a little pouty but still no counteraction. She shook his face.
"What are you doing, Sempai?"
Meryl jumped out of her skin. Milly stood in the doorway to the room with an armful of geroceries. "He's awake." Meryl advised emphatically. Milly simply peered around Meryl at the plant who apparently was still hibernating. She conveyed a look to Meryl that just said 'you poor confused little thing'. "He is awake, I know he is. I--." The comprehension of her accusation took effect and they stood in silence.
To quickly change the mood Milly optimisticly said, "I bought breakfast for us, it's your favorite, green eggs and ham." Milly gestured with the bag to signify the location of the produce. "Well, they're not really green but I bought some food dye so we can make them green." She smiled that sarrow filled smile again. There was another breathing spell then Milly added, "I was wondering if you could help me make it."
Angry with herself for just now becoming aware of Milly's discomfort near this room she smiled and quickly answered, "Of course." As Meryl was shutting Knives's door behind her she asked conspicuously, "Where's Vash?"
"I don't know, he's been gone since I got up." Milly cheerily answered.
"Vash got up before me? That's amaz--"
The front door gave an encore and Vash stumbled in. He looked as if he had slept in a gutter all night. He wandered up to them, beamed and said, "Oh, hello girls, what are you doing up this late?" He wobbled a little and the two just gawked at him. "I'm sorry, I just need to--" He stammered and fumbled to the couch. "-- sit down." Within seconds he was conked.
"--ing. And he's drunk, I should've known." Her light attitude lasted shortly before the irritation set in. "You dumb fucking idiot!" She grabed him by the collar of his tradditional red coat and violently rattled him. "You left us here alone all night with that phyco in the other room!" Vash muttered something that sounded like 'five more minutes'. "Damn you!" Meryl screeched. Milly tenderly pried her off the outlaw before she killed him.
"How 'bout that breakfast?" The tall women reminded Meryl pleasantly.
The insurance girls sat at the table with some rather pathetic looking green eggs and ham. Meryl proded spots of the eggs that escaped the dye while Milly nudged the ham around. They chatted about nothing really important and occasionally listened to Vash snoring away on the sofa. The house seemed so quiet and solemn now that Vash's brother was present in the picture and Vash perpetually drank. Milly just started picking up the guitar and smoking which everyone figured was her way of manipulating the obligatory depression that came with the priest's sudden death. Meryl continued her strict diet of stress and so the world kept on spinning. "Do you think he's in heaven?" Milly asked out of the blue.
Meryl stupidly replied, "Who?"
"Nicolas." Milly imperceptibley frowned but answered.
"I'm certain of it." Meryl tried her best to seem convincing. "I mean, he is a priest and don't all priests go to heaven? Well, except for Catholic priests." She laughed at her own joke but the moment was lost when Milly didn't respond like she had hoped. "I'm sorry." Milly stared at her plate for a bit before calmy setting the fork and knife down on the table suface.
"Excuse me." She said politely and left Meryl at the table alone.
After hearing the big girl's door close Meryl threw her knife and fork, while the knife stuck faultlessly in the wall the fork blunderingly hit the floor. "Damnit." She cursed her boorish tongue. This is all his fault! She slanted in her chair to look down the hall. If he hadn't have killed Wolfwood, if he would've just died in that godforsaken desert... She stood. Everyone would be happy. She eagerly marched torward Knives's room. That bastard! She had no idea what she was going to do when she barged in but the moment she entered she noticed a pair of piercing blue eyes glaring straight at her.
Just Me: Well that's it for the second chapter. Hope you enjoyed it. If not feel free to set me on fire. Until next time. Ciao.
