I do not own Trigun / Vash or Rem: they belong to Mr. Yasuhiro Nightow.

.

.

Peaceful Days

.

Year 0158 month 5 day 26 – month 6 day 10

Vash wanted the first visit with Rem to be more positive, after the pain of discussing Knives.

He wanted to make some good memories for Rem, since they might have to last her awhile. He dared not stay too long, and he would need to stay away at least a year after. He didn't want to lead the troubles that pursued him to these peaceful folk again.

There were the usual morning exercises, though he abbreviated them somewhat to allow more time with Rem. Also, since he was borrowing Shyla's room, he didn't want to make it smell too much like sweat. He liked the faint scent of lilacs that her room had.

He didn't know where the scent came from, but Shyla nearly always had a hint of lilac scent about her. It might come from a soap or shampoo, or perhaps she wore cologne. He'd come to associate that sweet, gentle scent of lilacs with her. Because of her, the lilac scent had become one of his favorites.

However, he did not want that scent for himself. Thankfully, Shyla provided soaps and shampoos for him with a blend of lavender, sandalwood and nose-clearing spices. He always felt more refreshed after washing with those scents than with what he could readily acquire elsewhere.

Breakfast was always pleasant, partly thanks to Shyla's wonderful doughnuts! He never minded when it was his turn to clean up after. Sometimes Shyla would stash an extra doughnut or two in the cupboard when it was his turn to clean. He would have cleaned anyway, since it was only fair for those who helped eat to help clean up after. Finding hidden doughnuts sure made it a lot more fun, though.

One morning, he woke up early so he cooked breakfast. He wanted Rem to know she'd not wasted her time when she was teaching him how to cook. She seemed to enjoy that breakfast almost as well as she enjoyed the ones Shyla made for them.

After breakfast, it was time to play with the children. He and Shyla would walk on either side of Rem, with their arms linked in hers. That way, if she faltered, they could brace her up. They took her to a bench where she could sit and watch.

Vash enjoyed the musical sound of Rem's laughter as she watched him and Shyla playing and wrestling with the children. He'd always liked her laugh, and had long missed hearing it.

It felt good to see and hear her being so happy. When Rem was happy, and he could feel Shyla being happy, that helped to make him feel happy, too.

Lunches were usually light, saving the heavier meals for breakfast and dinner. There were exceptions, usually on Shyla's day off. Most times, it was important for her to get to the infirmary on time for her shift.

They never went hungry. It was merely that lunch tended to be a more practical meal, and other meals were more about enjoying the food.

During those solitary hours after lunch, when Shyla was gone, he told Rem about the happy, quiet times with Sheryl and Lina, and with Carlito and his father, with various Seeds people, and with Naomi and Shyla. He wanted to share those parts of his life, since he remembered them as the best times outside of his earliest childhood days with Rem.

He even shared how it initially amused him that Naomi, who was approximately half his own age, had wanted to adopt him as a son. Yet it had proved to be good for both of them, strange as their age difference was.

Those times might not be his most exciting days, but they were among the most pleasant. Sometimes instead of talking about quiet times with surrogate family, he would tell Rem about walking the desert, and how beautiful the sky could be – especially at sunrise or sunset. This, too, was part of his life and often provided him with a measure of joy.

When Shyla returned from work, she would organize them for making dinner. Sometimes Vash would feel mischievous and throw flour over both ladies, or splash them with water, or pretend he couldn't read a recipe because it was upside-down. Usually he behaved himself, though, and simply entertained them with jokes or silly songs he'd heard on his travels as they all prepared dinner.

After dinner, he might talk about happy times with Wolfwood or the insurance girls. Silly times, or traveling times, when there were no shots fired and no one was hurt. The good times, the times that one had to remember on purpose. Bad times had a way of being remembered whether one wished to forget them or not.

Some evenings they spent with different families from the Seeds village. It was only polite for Vash to visit around a little, since nearly everyone there were his friends. However, he didn't want to be parted from Rem or Shyla on this visit, so they would all three go together. It was a good opportunity for Rem to get acquainted with more folks, when she wasn't too tired.

One night there was a dance in honor of his presence and Rem's awakening. That was fun, at least for him, even though he didn't get to dance with Rem or Shyla as much as he'd hoped.

He hadn't realized he would be so popular with the teen-aged girls. It must have been from his being the new face in town. At least, he couldn't think of any other reason.

Some evenings when they stayed at home, they sang. Rem's strong soprano blended well with his own indifferent tenor. Shyla's gentle lilting voice had enough range to harmonize with both. It could even be fun teaching each other new songs.

The days were so pleasant that Vash disliked the thought of leaving. He didn't want this visit to end. He knew it must, but he pushed that awareness away. He would think about that when he needed to go, and not before. He wouldn't let that need overshadow the joys of these gentle, peaceful days.

.

Year 0158 month 6 day 11

On one of Shyla's days off, after Vash had been there for about two and a half weeks, the three of them planned to have a picnic in the apple orchard. The trees were still in full bloom, though it was slightly over a month later than usual for them to be like that. The apple trees were just beginning to shed a few petals, whenever a breeze shook their branches.

They spread out the blanket under the trees and sat down to eat. Shyla had packed the basket well, staying behind while he took Rem to watch him play with the children. There were salmon sandwiches, biscuits and jellies, cider, tea, apple dumplings and doughnuts.

After everyone had eaten, Shyla lay back to stare up at the sky. He immediately took his customary place laying perpendicular to her and resting his head on her stomach. She gently stroked his hair, as she usually did when they watched the sky together.

That day the vividly blue sky had a few thin clouds moving slowly across it, somewhere high up in the atmosphere. Laying there in the orchard with Shyla and Rem, and watching the restful blue sky, was perhaps his favorite part of this visit.

He could almost feel Rem smiling at him. He turned his head enough to see her, and smiled back. He didn't remember when he'd been so happy since he was a child, before so many different sorrows came into his life to weigh down his spirit.

"The sky is beautiful today," he said, patting the blanket beside him and smiling at Rem. "Come have a look."

"I like the view from here just fine, thanks," Rem replied with a smile of her own. She was sitting with her back against an apple tree trunk, and appeared relaxed and content.

"Okay," he said, still smiling. "The spot will be here if you change your mind."

Rem chuckled, and he turned his gaze back up to the sky.

After a very short while, he felt Shyla fall asleep. Her fingers in his hair stilled. He smiled. She'd earned it.

Because he slept on the couch, he'd been wakened both when Shyla was sent for, and when she was escorted back so weary that she could barely stand. There had been a difficult birth, but because she'd assisted, both mother and child were fine. The doctor said without the loan of Plant regenerative abilities that only Shyla could provide, it was likely the child would not have survived.

Vash was proud of the way Shyla had found a place in the community, and learned to do something that benefited everyone. He was also glad that she knew how to borrow energy voluntarily loaned by the sisters in the orbs, so that she would not expend too much of her own power. The borrowed charges dissipated quickly, so the energy needed to be used right away, but Shyla had learned how to do this efficiently.

He turned his attention to Rem, who still sat watching him. "So," he said softly, to avoid waking his young friend, "You've been staying with Shyla for over a month now. How do the two of you get along?"

"She's a perfect roommate," Rem said. "She's always so neat and tidy, and quiet. She's been good for me, as I've been healing."

"She likes you," Vash offered. "I hope you like her, too."

"I do," Rem assured him. "Somehow, it's easier to like her than not."

"Yes," Vash said, considering. "I hadn't thought of it that way before, but you're right. It is easier to like her than not. It just sort of happens, and then you're glad it did."

"And then she grows on you," Rem said.

"Or into you," he said thoughtfully. "She becomes a part of your life, and she does it so gently and naturally... possibly instinctively. Then one day you realize what happened, and you wonder how you made do before you met her."

A breeze gusted, showering them with apple blossom petals.

"That would make a fine picture," Rem observed.

"What?" Vash asked.

"The two of you, with all the blossom petals around," she said.

He carefully disentangled Shyla's fingers from his hair, and lifted his head to look at her. She'd not braided her hair today, so it lay spread on the blanket under her. The petals scattered across her golden locks, and across her shirt, did result in a picturesque effect.

"I think there's a camera at the house," he said. "I'll be right back."

"Oh, don't disturb her," Rem said. She knew why Shyla was so tired, too.

"I won't," he said. "I'll just get the camera and take a picture."

He did exactly that, and then he lay back down and gently put Shyla's fingers back where they had been. It was a mild afternoon, good for sky-watching. Even the occasional breezes that made a few petals billow down were pleasant.

He'd not meant to doze off, but he woke to see Rem smiling and holding the camera. Had its click wakened him? Ah well, if it made Rem happy then he didn't mind.

The day was beautiful. Being with his two favorite people in the universe made it even more pleasant. He didn't want to leave, but knew he should.

He sighed, wistfully wishing that he could stay longer without fear of becoming a danger to them.

"That sounded sad," Rem said. "What is it, Vash?"

"I don't want to leave," he said. "I like being here, with you."

"I like you being here, too," Rem said. "Surely you don't need to leave yet?"

"Not today, no," he said. "But I should go soon, perhaps tomorrow. Troubles have a way of finding me if I linger too long in one place. I don't want those troubles to come here."

"The day we talked about... history," Rem said carefully, "You mentioned something about a bounty on you?"

"Yes, that's often the trouble that finds me," he said. "Bounty hunters, or law enforcement, or news reporters come looking for me. If I'm particularly unlucky, it might be all three. None would be especially good for the village here."

It was Rem's turn to sigh. "I'd like it better if you could stay, too," she said.

"Perhaps one day I can," he said hopefully.

Rem smiled. "I hope so," she said.

They enjoyed a companionable silence until Shyla stirred. The breezes had cooled, and the suns were beginning to set. So they packed up the blanket and the picnic basket, and walked home.

That evening, after he entertained them with more stories of humorous situations from his travels, he told them he ought to leave the next day. That resulted in a group hug, where both said they'd miss him. He said he'd miss them at least as much, and held onto the two souls dearest to his own for a long time.

.

Year 0158 month 6 day 12

The next day, shortly after breakfast, he packed his duffel, wished them farewell, and set out on another lonely journey.