Trigun: A Cruel Endless Wasteland

Chapter 2: Preparation

They had arrived at the Inn, Wolfwood taking a long look around, carrying his own case along with Millie's as he sat their luggage down on the floor, Vash and Meryl had followed in behind them, Wolfwood turned himself to face Vash and Meryl and smiled almost as if he planned this.

"Well what do you think? Pretty fancy huh?" he said aiming his question towards Vash, turning to the side, facing the bar.

"Yeah it's a real fancy place alright, are you sure we can afford to stay at a place like this?" Vash said, seemingly uncomfortable about the quality of Inn.

"Yeah, Yeah don't worry about that okay, it just seems right to make sure that the ladies have a nice, comfortable and safe place to stay." Wolfwood added to Vash's comment. Moving over towards the bartender to enquire about room's. Vash let a gentle sigh leave his lips knowing this would be another expensive trip, turning only to have Meryl step up to him demanding questions.

"So, Vash why did you come to this part of the wasteland? What are you chasing? Are even, who are you after, I demand to know!" She said, stomping her foot down in dictation.

"W-What! Hey I aint chasing anybody, cant a guy get a little peace and quiet around here?" said Vash, as he raised his hands either side, as if showing a sign of surrender.

"Hmpt…well I'd prefer if you told me, that way I'd expect of what's to come…" Meryl said, sounding uneasy at his comment, knowing that he was hiding something. Turning to Milly she smiled.

"Don't worry Meryl, I'm sure Mister Vash would be willing to tell us anything if he knew, isn't that right Mister Vash?" Milly said, smiling towards Vash, as he turned and waved gently to them both.

"Yes! Yes! Of course, I know it'd be extremely unfair to leave you both out of my own personnel business!" He laughed lightly, trying to joke with them.

Wolfwood was now, finally managing to talk with the Innkeeper as he was asking questions regarding room's.

"So how much is it here, to stay that is?" asked Wolfwood.

"Let's see, I'm guessing there's a total of four people in yer party?" Guessed the Innkeeper.

"Yeah, that's right, four people, my friend here, and two lovely ladies." Wolfwood, smirked, moving slightly to the side to let the Innkeeper see them, Meryl and Milly returning waves and smiles, this included Vash standing behind them intimidating Meryl with a wave and similar face. Meryl continued wave and smacked her elbow back, knocking it into Vash's stomach as he let a whine, Wolfwood managed to cover the Innkeepers view and laughed nervously.

"So, how much will it cost, good sir?" said Wolfwood, laughing still very nervous.

"Hmmm, it'll cost ya, 175 for one of ya per each staying night." said the Innkeeper with a sly grin across his face.

"WHAT?! 175!! Are you serious!? So that's…uh…" Wolfwood started counting with his fingers as he retaliated as soon as he figured out the cost, "That's 700 for every night we stay here?!" slamming his palms down onto the bar side, almost directly eye-to-eye with the Innkeeper, "That's Insane!" he stuttered.

"Well, that's my price, you can't blame me sonny, it's those bandits, they keep stealing our supplies, I tell you what, you rid those bandits outta this here city and I'll give you back half the double dollar's that you pay?" said the Innkeeper, obviously the Innkeeper's business was being effected by the situation occurring in the city at present.

"That's better, we can at least get some compensation for getting rid of the problem." said Wolfwood, turning to the others, "Well, we got room's but we'd need to help rid the city of the problem if were going to have enough money to make the next trip…" he stated.

"Well that's okay, we'll pay the tab until we're going, so we don't get in over our heads" said Meryl as she walked past Wolfwood and filled out a small form handing it over to the Innkeeper. "Nice going Meryl!" Milly responded happily, as she turned to Vash, "Now we can eat and drink as much as we want at no expense!" she clapped her hands. Meryl turned and raised an eye towards her, "Behave Milly, we aren't on vacation, just remember that." Milly laughed and rubbed the back of her head, "Yes, I almost forgot Ma'am! Thank you for reminding me!" Milly quickly bowed down and stood upright again.

"Well, let's grab our gear and get unpacked we have some work to do before sunset" said Wolfwood, grabbing his, Meryl's and Millie's luggage as he gently kicked his cross toward Vash. "Oh hey buddy, I'll be a gentleman and take the ladies cases, you carry my cross with ya?" Wolfwood said in a serious, yet joke like fashion, as Vash yelped, grabbing the cross in time, falling to one side slightly, "Hey! You took the lightest choice of baggage! How am I suppose to lift thiiiis….!" Vash struggled with the cross and tried to edge his foot over to lift his own baggage, "Yes! Success! W-Wait..!" Vash panicked as he gradually fell over and collapsed on the floor, crushed under Wolfwoods cross. "Gah…agh…" Vash whined.

Wolfwood entered the girl's room placing their luggage on the floor and smiling to them both, winking slightly to Milly as he took his leave of the room and walked to his and Vash's room, standing outside waiting for Vash to come up the stairs, seeing him at the top of the staircase. "Hey buddy, you sure took your time." Wolfwood remarked, as he watched Vash haul the large cross down the corridor, "Shuddap…and take your luggage!" Vash threw the cross toward Wolfwood, catching it in one arm, Wolfwood placed it on the floor and walked into his room, as Vash followed him.

Vash closed the door and became serious all of a sudden, speaking towards Wolfwood, "You know, it could get dangerous here…" Wolfwood smirked and turned slightly, placing a cigarette to his lips, replying "It's dangerous wherever we go my friend, as long as your around." he lit the cigarette and dropped his head back, resting himself against the large window.

Vash walked over beside him, Wolfwood moving himself from the window, as they both analysed the view they could see from their bedroom window. "Well I guess we have to help out this town with ridding the gang's huh?" Vash sighed, "Well you heard the man, we get half the discount if we rid this city of its main problem, I think its beneficial in its own way.." Wolfwood exclaimed.

Vash shook his head, "We'll have to make them give up." he suggested, "What's with you? I don't understand, it's all about making them give up? If we just wasted the entire gang we would be done and over with his little problem!" Wolfwood complained. Vash turned to him and growled, "It's always about killing with you? What kind of preacher are you, aren't you suppose to stop killing and violence?!".

Wolfwood laughed and shook his head and patted Vash on the shoulder, "Sometimes…certain situations call for drastic measures, in this case…we've a gang to deal with, things could…get pretty messing out there." he said, turning to the door, "Well I'm hitting the hay, so first thing in the morning we'll get started on that problem okay? I'll be in the spare room next to here…" with that Wolfwood grabbed his luggage and left the room, leaving Vash to himself.

Vash gripped his hand closed and sighed as he sat on his bed, staring at the ceiling, closing his eyes, thinking to himself, speaking out gently, "Rem, what do I do…what would you do, If I keep this up…someone's going to get hurt…but I don't want to lose you…" he muttered softly to himself, eventually drifting off to sleep, he hadn't been able to gather much sleep lately with their travelling and constant battles with people trying to cash in the reward for him.

Next door Meryl and Milly were reading themselves for bed as Meryl stood in her usual long T-Shirt nightdress and Milly in her long Pyjamas, as she watched Meryl standing staring out the window, "What's wrong Meryl?" asked Milly worrying. Meryl didn't answer and continued to look out over the darkening sky as she smiled gently and pulled the curtains, "Oh, it's nothing Milly, I've just got a bad feeling about this trip, that's all." she replied.

Milly moved towards her bed and climbed in, lay down, looking across the room to Meryl, "Well you have no need to worry Meryl, we have two of the best looking out for us and we cant fail with their help!" She smiled innocently, as Meryl smiled back towards her, she always seen that Milly had a very cute and childish smile to her look sometimes, it was always very comforting to her, having such a good friend travel and stick-by her. She climbed into her bed also, as she lay down and pressed the switch next to her, switching the lights off, "Goodnight Milly, we've a lot of work to do tomorrow, so get plenty of sleep okay?" she said, before getting herself comfortable. "I will ma'am! You can rely on me, I wont let you down, tomorrow will be a big day for us and the society!" she giggled happily as she closed her eyes and let a long relaxing sigh leave her lips. "Good night, Meryl…" with that, the room stayed quiet, eventually both falling asleep.

Wolfwood, however standing gazing out of his room's open window, cigarette in his mouth, the gentle breeze blowing his cigarette smoke to one side, he was in deep thought, staring towards the almost setting sun, a bright deep red and orange glow lighting the city, he gazed himself towards it. "This kid's alright…we'll be alright I know it…". He said to himself in a low tone of voice, as he then smirked and continued his gaze before heading to sleep.