DISCLAIMER: I do not own Trigun blah blah –Insert more disclaimer stuff here-
WELL Sorry I've been gone so long. Had a lot going on, but here is the new chapter! Finally.
4. Lunch
2 Years Later
Meryl Stryfe typed away frivolously at her typewriter while biting on her lower lip. The clacking noises drowned out the quietness of the offices of Bernardelli Insurance Company. A hand gently rested on Meryl's shoulder, causing Meryl to jump out of her typewriter trance.
"Meryl, I've been talking to you and you haven't even acknowledged me," a short blonde girl seethed. Her hazel eyes sized up Meryl, noticing the disheveled look and red eyes that had black bags beneath them. "Your head just isn't in the game. What is wrong with you?"
"Karen I'm sorry. I was just spaced out," Meryl chuckled and scratched the back of her neck, immediately stopping herself. 'That's what he used to do'. She flashed an empty smile and watched as Karen placed her hands on her hips. "I just haven't slept is all!" She said as she fidgeted in her chair.
"I can see that. Why don't you take a day off once in a while? You're always working and plus you've seemed really upset since you returned from following The Humanoid Typhoon around," She paused as Meryl bit her lip. "So he just disappeared?"
Meryl sighed and rested her head on her hands. "Three years today since he disappeared," She looked down as his teal eyes hit her mind. She tried forgetting him. His blonde locks, his tall lanky figure. Meryl looked back at Karen seeing her eyes filled with concern.
"What was he like?"
"That spikey-headed buffoon of a man? Well.." Meryl paused trying to gain her composure. "He was an idiot. A complete moron. All he ever did was eat, chase girls, and caused problems. Trouble always followed him. He was more of a bad omen than anything. He couldn't stay in one place for a certain amount of time. He spent a lot of time in saloons and just partying. And he had some pretty odd friends. But he had a lot of them. He was never serious…until…"she paused trembling.
"Until what?" Karen pushed on.
"Until a man came and took a lot of peoples' lives. Not once had I ever seen Vash so angry. He was always sweet. Always. Never wanting to hurt a soul. All he wanted was love and peace." Meryl chuckled as she remembered Vash repeating his mantra, holding up silly peace signs in front of peoples' faces. "Despite the rumors, and what people think and say about him, I've never seen a more caring and loving man." She finished, tears welling up in her eyes. "I just hope he's okay…"
Karen stood with her arms crossed. "Sounds like you LOVE him. I think you've been out in the desert way too long, Meryl. He probably just lied to you. Like a façade. Everyone knows he's a ruthless killer and if it weren't for him, a lot of people would still be alive today." She sneered.
"Oh I disagree, very much so, Ms. Karen." A high pitched voice said. Karen and Meryl looked up to see Millie walking up with a big smile on her face. "Meryl is right," She continued, shadowing over Karen. "Mr. Vash is a very, very nice person. You can't always go by rumors." She smiled and looked over Karen and Meryl. "Sure he has some secrets, but Mr. Vash has a truly pure heart." Millie knocked on her chest right over her heart. "You just have to meet him.
Karen laughed at the tall insurance girl and patted her on the shoulder. She then stepped aside and took one last glance at Millie and Meryl. "Are you two going to join me for lunch later?"
"Sure thing Ms. Karen!" Millie smiled and waved Karen off before turning back to Meryl. "Ya know Sempai, she is right. A little break here and there couldn't hurt," The younger woman held her smile. "Or maybe you could use a banana sundae from the café! Come on let's go meet Karen there!" She laughed as Meryl nodded and stood up, letting Millie practically drag her from her desk.
The café was serene and peaceful, and the breeze was cool and relaxing. Meryl looked up into the cloudless sky and took another bite from her banana sundae. It had been a perfect day other than having that spikey-headed idiot on her mind. Work was going by fast and she was enjoying her lunch with Millie and Karen. It was rare that the three of them ever hung out and it was nice. Karen and Millie were in a heated argument over types of pudding and Meryl smiled at the two of them as they voiced their opinions about tapioca and chocolate.
"What about you Meryl? What type of pudding do you like?" Millie chirped as four eager eyes looked at Meryl.
"Oh I dunno," Meryl sighed and swirled her spoon around what was remaining of the sundae. "I kinda like vanilla." She laid her cheek into her palm.
"Vanilla is good Sempai, but I still think Tapioca is the best!" Millie nodded setting down her empty pudding cup. "That sure was good. Thanks again Ms. Karen!"
"Don't worry about it!" Karen laughed. Meryl nodded in agreement and stood up, brushing off her skirt. Millie and Karen stood up as well, pushing their chairs in.
"Back to work I guess," Meryl pouted, not wanting to end the luxurious lunch. Spending time with the girls had taken Meryl's mind off of everything, and even gave her some well needed laughs. She twirled her now shoulder length hair around her finger as she walked back with the girls….
"Meryl you're doing it again. You're spacing out." Karen brought Meryl out of her own little world.
"I'm sorry I jus-" Meryl was cut off as a loud explosion sounded, sending smoke billowing from the center of town. The town's emergency sirens came on, sending people screaming and running back to the safety of their homes.
"Meryl come on we need to get inside!" Karen yelled as yet another explosion went off. She grabbed at Meryl's arm, but Meryl pulled back and shook her head.
"No Karen, you can go back," Meryl looked over to Millie who was awaiting the orders. "Get your stun gun Millie. We're going in!"
"Right Sempai!" Millie saluted, unslinging her stun gun. The two took off in the direction of the explosions, leaving Karen in shock.
"Wait I'm coming with!" she managed to yell as she tailed the two insurance girls. The three made their way to the center in impressive time, gasping for air. As soon as the girls caught their breath, they took in the scene before them. Where two building once stood, there was only rubble. Probably from the explosives, Meryl assumed. Four men stood in the midst.
"Come out; come out, wherever you are!" A tall man sang out. His hair was scraggly and unkempt, his beard reaching to his chest. A cigar hung from his lips. "You've got five minutes to show yourself before my buddy here blows up another building!" he yelled and took a puff from his cigar. One of the four men stepped in front of him, holding a small box in his hand. The man with the box laughed cynically, his fingers twitching.
"You better do as the boss man says or else this detonator in my hand will send this town sky high!" The man yelled. "My fingers are getting a little itchy!"
"And what if you're bluffing?" A cold voice called out, as a tall man appeared. Meryl gasped as the blonde man stepped in. He was wearing a white button up shirt with denim Levis. His hands were in his pockets as he slowly walked up.
"It can't be..." Meryl said under her breath. A hand landed on her shoulder and she looked up to find a serious Millie. She shook her head and pointed at the man.
"It's not, Sempai." Millie said lowly as Meryl looked at the man again. His hair was shorter and paler. His eyes weren't the teal color she had come to love, but ice blue. "He does have a freckle under his eye though," Millie whispered pointing again. "But it's on a different side." The man took a step closer and three of the four men lifted their guns.
"You really want to take that chance?" The man with the detonator stepped closer as well. The blonde man smiled wickedly causing hairs to stand up on Meryl's neck.
"Maybe." The blonde man replied as a gunshot rang through the air. The three insurance girls' eyes widened as they watched the detonator fly out of the bomber's hand. He clutched his hand closely to his chest, shaking in fear, as the other three looked around trying to find out who shot.
"Who the hell did that?" The bearded man turned, scanning the windows of the building surrounding them. The blonde man chuckled as he pulled out his black .45 long colt.
"That's just like Mr. Vash's!" Millie whispered. "The must have the same gunsmith!" Meryl and Karen both shushed Millie as they watched the blonde man aim his gun towards the group of men, pulling back the hammer.
"I suggest you leave if you know what's best for you." The blonde man's ice cold voice rung out. The four men laughed as they cocked their guns.
"One man against four! What a joke!" The bearded man laughed and was cut off as two more gun shots sounded, sending two remaining armed men guns to the ground. The three men ran, leaving the bearded man alone facing the tall blonde.
"Looks like it's one on one now." The bearded man frowned and took aim. Meryl closed her eyes as one last gunshot fired. She slowly opened her eyes seeing the bearded man's gun knocked out of his hand.
"Brother, you ruined all my fun." The tall blonde yelled, reholstering his gun. Wiping off his hands, he looked at the bearded man. "Now shoo, before my brother reaches you." Another man stepped in wearing a blue button up shirt and black w\Wranglers. Almost identical. The bearded man stuttered and took off.
"You make me sound worse than I really am, Knives." The new arrival chuckled, reholstering his gun as well. "Actually, I'd say I'm more forgiving than you!"
"AND WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO SAY FOR YOURSELF VASH?" Meryl stormed up to the two brothers with her fists clenched to her sides.
"Who me?" Vash asked, pointing at his nose.
"Yes you…you…YOU IDIOT! I waited for you and you had the audacity to disappear for so long! Leaving me thinking you had broken your promise, or ever worse! That you had DIED!" Meryl was red in the face, trying to restrain from punching the spikey headed idiot. Karen and Millie walked up behind Meryl.
"Oh, hey big girl!" Vash smiled and waved, ignoring Meryl's anger. "Who's your friend?" he asked, nodding towards Karen.
"Oh this is Ms. Karen!" Millie turned to Karen smiled. "Ms. Karen, this is Vash the Stampede!" Karen's jaw dropped. He was definitely NOT was she'd expected. Vash's eyes sparkled and he pushed Meryl aside, kneeling in front of Karen.
"Why, Miss Karen," he said, grabbing her hand and kissing it. "A fine lady such as yourself shouldn't travel unarmed in a dangerous town like this. You should be escorted by the finest of bodyguards such as me"
"Oh please, brother. You truly are an imbicile." Knives cut in, whacking Vash on the back of the head.
"OW that hurts you know!" Vash stood up rubbing the back of his head. He felt a petite hand roughly grab his ear.
"We need to talk." Meryl said sternly as she pulled him with her. "If you'll excuse us." She said as she passed Millie, Karen and Knives. Karen blinked and looked towards Millie and Knives.
"THAT was Vash the Stampede?"
"Yep, sure is!" Millie smiled. "And it looks like he is in a lot of trouble with Sempai!"
Haha once again sorry it took so long. But hey, at least this chapter is a little longer! R and R!
See you soon!