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 Fifteen: The Truth Confessed

Someone once said that words should be weighed, not counted. I know now how true that statement is. It seems like my heart and my mouth are the heaviest things on this planet.

After the outburst of hostile words between Knives and Marianne, Vash told his story to the table. Resuming her chair, Marianne stabbed at her meal while listening attentively to the events as Vash retold them with precise accuracy. He willfully left out specific details about entering his brother's mind, but in the back of his, he made a note to explain it all to Meryl at his first opportunity.

"So then, what made you come here?" Marianne asked.

"Well, we were in the neighborhood." Vash grinned.

"And Vash said we should make a pit stop to see the cute Marshall." Knives said pointedly.

Meryl glared at the blonde man across from her. I can't believe him! Talking so sweetly to me, making me believe that he cared! When the whole time he was coming to see her! Of all the stupid, pig-headed moronic things to do! Meryl threw her napkin on the table, shoved her chair back and rose to her feet.

"Thank you for the meal Marianne, but I really must be going, I have a partner that will shortly be in great need of me and work waits for no one." In a few swift steps she was at the door opening it.

"Meryl." Vash was also on his feet. "Wait, before you go, let me have a word."

Vash reached out and snagged Meryl's hand in his. She turned, shocked by his actions, and found him very close to her.

"Let go of me." She growled.

"I will, as soon as you listen to me." He implored.

She stared at him, half curious and half angry. For a moment it seemed like a spell had been cast over her, and she had completely forgotten how to speak. It wasn't until Marianne's laughter echoed over to the door that she found her ability to speak. Meryl sighed heavily.

"Alright, five minutes, no more and no less. You say what you have to say and then I am out of here." Meryl crossed her arms.

"Five minutes." Vash echoed and gestured to the hallway.

Behind her, Meryl could hear the beginnings of a conversation between Marianne and Knives, but her mind was racing too fast to focus on anything being said. At that moment, she was far too busy remembering to breathe, and she was desperately trying to get her heart to stop beating so loudly. As it was, if it kept up beating like this, she wouldn't be able to hear anything he said anyways. Meryl was preoccupied. It wasn't until, moments later when she was standing on the Marshall's front porch that she even realized she was outside. The fresh night air did her good though, and she was able to think clearly. Looking up and Vash she crossed her arms and waited.

"There are something's that I left out of my story Meryl." He said softly. "I need to explain it to you now, but I know what you're thinking, and I'm pretty sure you're unwilling to hear me out. So, I'm just going to say it and you can choose to listen if you'd like." He paused and Meryl took the opportunity to speak up.

"I am willing to hear you Vash, just don't waste my time, say what you have to and let's get this over with."

Vash nodded and took a deep breath. Here we go. "Can I tell it to you in a different way than just using words?"

Meryl looked confused. "Can you what?"

Knives wasn't interested in having the dessert that Marianne offered. He was more interested in his brother's conversation with the snotty, short woman. But the blonde woman before him wasn't about to be ignored.

"I see your brother has an amazing degree of faith in you, leaving us alone like this." She said.

He glanced over at her. "My brother isn't leaving me alone. He may not be here physically, but he is always in my mind mentally."

"What does that mean?" She frowned.

"It means that we're higher life forms." He smiled.

"Right, just because you can communicate without being present doesn't mean you're any better than anyone else." She leaned back in her chair.

"Excuse me?" He raised an eyebrow.

"Intelligent communication does not require a complicated form to be successful. It's not how you communicate, but what you communicate. Obviously, you and your brother have proven that you're just as messed up as everyone else. You may have been able to communicate on a deeper level but you weren't able to be effective, no offense, but you only ended up driving him away." She said.

Knives was silent in his chair staring at the woman before him, could it be that she was actually an intelligent creature? She did raise a well thought out argument, so well thought out in fact, that he himself could not argue it. He tilted his head as she continued and wondered what her reaction would be if he tested her.

"Of course, I don't think I would mind having the ability to communicate just through my mind. It would be handy to – " She stopped short.

Would you like to give it a try? Knives voice was suddenly clearly ringing in her mind. Marianne blinked at him from across the table.

"Yes, I think –"

Shhh. Think your response, don't speak it.

Yes – she hesitated – I think I would like to give it a try. She blinked at her success.

It's much more convenient, isn't it? He lifted his glass and drank while his mind spoke to her

I would have to agree. She shifted in her seat. But I would have preferred you ask me before entering my mind like this.

My apologies. He nodded.

Is this all there is to it? Tell me, if I were in another room of this house, would this communication still work?

Yes, it always works.

Interesting. She smirked.

To be continued…

Ha! I'm totally gonna deny you the goodness until the very last second! Er, well, at least until the next chapter...lisa