Prerogative

AN: Oh alright, one- two pages once a month it is... for now. Though I will try to write more than that if I can manage. There are 4 pages so that should last you... four months.

Getting to Know You

Meryl took slow strides walking up the cliff, a small knot beginning to form in her throat. 'What have I gotten myself into?' She thought, when the full realization of what she was about to do hit her.

Yes, she could handle Vash if need be, but Knives? She knew nothing of him, only of his actions and they were catastrophic. Her head down, she started to try and calm her nerves, but before they were calmed she noticed the outline of two similar shadows approaching. She looked up to meet their owners.

Knives studied the human that seemed to play a significant role in his brothers life. She was short, a dark hair color with a sheen of an almost dark violet, made her raven. Her wide gray eyes peered at him and his brother. She put on a brave face but Knives was no fool to what was hidden under looks. She was sweating apprehension for the unknown. He gave her a smile.

"We meet in person at last," he said softly.

It was said softly but his voice carried perfectly with slight wind that had picked up.

Meryl swallowed the knot that was in her throat and eyed Knives. Vash was silent and was saying nothing as he eyed her response. She narrowed her eyes at him and looked straight at the obvious twin in charge.

"At last? You've been meaning to meet me?" Her voice was confident, but inside she trembled. He was far too calm for a killer whose goal was a genocide of the human race. Her race.

"I have. My brother has thought, highly of you."

'Thought?' She thought to herself at Knives' odd choice of response.

"I want to go," Meryl heard Vash's voice.

Knives turned to look at his other half in exasperation. "Go? I've only just met her and you want to leave? No."

"There's no point having idle chit chat with her."

"Of course there is a point Vash, you just don't see it. No, I want to stay and if you insist on leaving then I must insist on rushing my original intentions."

Vash frowned from the edge he heard through his brothers words. 'What the hell could he possibly want to talk with her about! He's just toying with her!'

Knives smiled at Vash and turned his attentions back to Meryl who was looking back and forth at the two in slight confusion, then without warning her stomach released another rumble and she groaned inwardly. She wanted to appear confident and strong, but her stomach was giving away the physical weakness that she felt.

Knives figured he was retraining himself rather well, but already he was growing antsy from looking at her. He could easily kill her from where he stood with a wave of his arm. Just one single motion and she could be dead, along with her traveling companions who were waiting for her down below.

Then do it.

Came the tiniest voice in his head, the true ruthless killer that always sat on the edge of his mind. He could, but he would not. Vash was far too attached and he wouldn't risk losing his brother... yet. He watched as the silence between the three of them continued. His brothers eyes were fiercely on those of the womans, and hers, Knives smirked, she was avoiding his trivial looks to get her attention.

Knives watched as his brothers eyes turned from fierce determination to get her attention to an almost pleading. Vash was trying to will her to look at him, and it wasn't working.

'How pathetic,' he thought. 'The way he wants her attention so much. She clearly has a power over him.' The thought annoyed him, but it also sparked an idea. One he wouldn't enjoy, but one which could come in handy.

"You're hungry then?" He suddenly spoke up and two pairs of eyes flashed over to him.

Meryl said nothing.

"You are. I can see the hunger in your eyes, and of course I heard the evidence. You have my permission to follow my brother and I. We'll take you to some food."

Both Meryl and Vash widened their eyes in surprise.

Vash opened his mouth to say something but Knives, curtly cut him off, "I don't want your opinions on the topic Vash." He turned his focus back to Meryl, "of course the others may come as well. We'll be waiting up there, at the top of the cliff for you all."

With that said, Knives turned on his heel and began to walk back to the top, a thoughtful smile playing on his lips.

Vash watched his brother walk away, and when he thought he was far enough that he wouldn't be able to hear, he looked back at Meryl who was watching him expectantly.

"What are you two up too?" She asked slowly, making sure her words were clear.

Vash frowned at her question, "Knives and I are not working as one. I don't know what he's planning."

Meryl snorted, "right, as if I believe that. I saw you when we were attacked by BDN. You did nothing, instead you stood and watched just like him." She jutted her chin in the direction that Knives had left.

"Then you have to know that I wanted to help! Of course I wanted to help!"

"Then why didn't you? Now so many of us are wandering this desert, trying to reach nearby towns. I don't like to admit it, but I know most of us wont make it to civilization before something happens to us. No food, no water, the constant heat, not much protection from fierce dust storms and with night temperatures reaching the negatives..." she sighed in resignation. "Its too much... and when things were going so well..."

Vash bit his lip.

"He's in charge isn't he? He won?" She asked him, staring at him.

Vash nodded slowly, "but that doesn't mean anything. I know it seems hopeless now, but Knives is restraining himself and I know its for my sake."

"For... your sake?"

He nodded, "I think he's torn right now, on what he wants to do. He won the fight, but I'm not planning on sharing his idealistic views, even though he'd like if I did."

Meryl thought a moment, "even though I don't know what's going on, I'm going to take his offer on food. We don't have any choice, we'd starve for sure, at least with this option we can live that much longer."

"You're talking as if you expect to die."

"I'm talking realistically," Meryl turned slightly. "I don't trust him, and honestly... I don't trust you much either right now. I'm in a blind position and how do I know you're not under his influence?"

"Because you know me!"

"... Nevertheless... its good to see that you're alive Vash. Millie and I were worried," saying nothing more Meryl headed back down the cliff to tell the others of their newest options and hopes for survival. She failed to mention who exactly would be taking them to food but Millie, it seemed knew anyway.

Vash, dejectedly, walked back to where his brother was standing at the top of the cliff area. He stopped when he was beside his brother who was overlooking the desert scene.

"She doesn't trust you," he said softly to Knives.

"She shouldn't now should she?" Knives responded rhetorically.

"But she doesn't trust me either," Vash added.

Knives looked over at Vash's hurt expression. "Humans can be fickle Vash, and it seems hurtful. But it's a part of their nature."

Vash's hurt look, hardened.

"I'm sure she doesn't mean to hurt you, but after all she is put in a submissive situation, naturally she's on her guard."

Vash looked at his brother surprised, but Knives' entire body was still turned toward the edge.

'Once I find out what makes her so damn special to him, I can take that and apply it to get him on my side. I just have to not kill them, I don't have to bother pretending to like them,' Knives thought to himself.

Still staring at his brother, Vash thought he looked slightly different. He seemed to be concentrating.

'Concentrating on what? Its never a good sign when he's deep in thought.'

AN: I'm just kidding, I wont make you wait 4 months... intentionally. Anyway, please read and review!

Faery Goddyss :)