Disclaimer: I don't own Trigun or any other anime - I just like making up stories…oh, and this is my second official fan fic and my first Trigun fan fic so I'll just apologize now if it sucks. Sorry!

Chapter Eight: Neon Revisited

He stood there and threatened me. He wanted us to die. I had no options but to fight him. If I hadn't taken a stand, people would have died. Considering his character, what can I do to stop him? Can I stop him?

The speed of the sand steamer caused quite a gust of air on the deck. It was evening and the stars were beginning to peek through the sunset. Two men stood with their backs against the railing speaking quietly to each other.

"…luckily for me, my wounds were already beginning to heal, so I had the strength to move quickly. When the rocks hit the deck I fired. It was just a matter of judging speed and projectiles."

"Vash. I'll never know why you do things like that. You might have been actually injured."

"You didn't see the little squirts face. I couldn't let him down. And for that matter, I really didn't feel like plummeting to my death." Vash grinned.

"I can understand saving yourself, but all that bratty kid. I can't see that."

"Well trust me, it was the right thing to do. I chose to forgive him Knives. No. More than that, I chose to risk myself for him. It was my way of forgiving him. Do you understand what I'm saying?"

"Of course. But that doesn't mean I agree with it." Knives looked at his brother.

"Well, if you were there, you would have understood. I was needed. It's nice to be needed. And the girls were there, you know, and they needed me too." Vash paused and smiled madly at the sky. "It's a whole new feeling to be needed by a woman."

"I'll take your word for it." Knives responded.

The two brothers stood in silence as they watched the sunset burn itself out. Darkness was setting in as Knives looked out into the evening sky.

"That's strange. What is it?" he frowned.

"Something's not right out there, huh?" Vash spoke into the night.

"That's right." He responded.

"I feel it too."

"What do you do now?"

"I wait for it to come."

"I see."

"Knives?"

"Yes?"

"You don't have anyone out there still waiting for me? Anyone you forgot about?"

"No Vash. There's no one left."

For a moment the twins simply looked into each others eyes. After a moment of silence Vash spoke again.

"Alright then. I guess we'll just have to wait for –"

A loud screeching sound filled the night. It sounded like a body made out of steel was being ripped, torn in two. Screams filled the air. Vash was running towards the sound when he noticed he was running alone.

"Knives! Aren't you coming?" He stopped and called over his shoulder.

"Why should I?" was the reply.

"Because people might be hurt! They might need our help!"

"It is not our place to help."

"We would want help if we were injured. Come on Knives! Something terrible must have happened. We can't just do nothing!"

Knives calmly walked to his brother. "Fine. We'll look into it. But don't expect heroics from me."

The twins began running towards the direction of the sound when its source revealed itself. Gun fire unloaded itself upon the deck. The brothers dropped onto the floor, avoiding injury. Masked men in large neon-lit suits spilled onto the deck. I know them! I know those suits! The Bad-lads!

You mean the fools from your story are here on this steamer?

It looks that way.

Then our course of action would be to find the leader and rid the ship of him.

Yea, I think so.

Then let's get moving.

Knives was on his feet in a heartbeat. The Bad-lads who were on the deck opened fire, yelling to each other to shoot him. But Knives was too quick. Come ON Vash! He dodged the bullets as he made for the nearest door leading into the steamer.

I can't believe I'm doing this.

The control room was silent as they watched, horror-stuck, the scene before them. The Captain was shaking before the gun which was only inches away from his face. The large, dark man holding the gun, threw back his head and laughed. "You actually expect me to believe that you don't have a safe on this steamer? Oh come on now, you need to be honest, or you will be dead. Which will it be?"

"Please! We're not an entertainment vessel! We don't have a casino or a shopping area! We're purely passengers! And we're usually employed by governments! What little we do have belongs to them!"

"What did I just tell you about lying?" The large man laughed before pulling the trigger to shoot his gun. An earsplitting sound filled the room and blood and brains splattered on the helmsmen. The man continued to laugh while the rest of the men in the room cried out in anguish, anger or fear.

"Fantastic! What courage! Really shiny! Simply amazing!" The man was still laughing.

The twins were in the hallway outside of the control room when the shot was fired. Knives stood still watching his brother tremble. Viewing the room before them, it was obvious that the Captain had at least an ounce of bravery. But as far as Knives was concerned, he had more than his fair share of stupidity as well.

Why are you freaking out Vash? He should have been honest.

Stealing is wrong. He is wrong!

What are you gonna do ab-

Knives was cut short in his question as his brother shoved the door before him and entered the room. For a moment Knives considered following him, but something held him back. He walked up to the door and watched.

The large man turned around and a wide, frightening smile spread across his face.

"Well, what a surprise! If it isn't Vash the Stampede!"

"I wish I could say it's nice to see you again, but to be honest, it isn't, Brilliant Dynamite Neon."

To Be Continued…

Yee-haw! How about a little show-down? What do you think?