Alfred And Rasheed

(The Title of This Chapter Could Also Be

What)

Vash had finally realized how pointless this was.

He really should have read the script for this story first as it would have saved a lot of time.

Nevertheless, this was pointless. They were learning nothing. This entire process had been messy. Vash had ultimately lost faith in his abilities and was not certain why he was continuing at this point. No, at this point it would almost make more sense to round everyone up in one spot and search the town if they were to find anything.

"You seem stressed," the elusive Alfred said.

"There is a lion in the doctor's office," Vash informed him. You know, just in case Alfred had not noticed. The doctor certainly had. He was patting the head of the cub absently, like it belonged there. Which it really could not be. That was not even legal.

No one else seemed to think it was a big deal, for whatever reason.

"A friend of mine sent him," Rasheed said calmly. "Somehow."

No point in arguing it now. Vash was pretty sure if he did a tangent might just be started like it was with Muhammad and he really was not up for that.

Why was he talking with either of these people? They had nothing to do with it. He was sure of it. Rasheed was on the phone with Roy in the evening and Rasheed's cell was broken so he had to have been at home at the time. Alfred had apparently the tightest alibi the the world and Vash did not think there was any point in verifying it when he was certain all he would hear back was:

"Oh yeah? Alfred was there! He was always there!"

Why was I even looking for him? Vash did not remember.

"This is impossible," he finally gave in. Everyone stopped and stared at him.

"What?" asked Brian.

"I... concede," Vash admitted through grit teeth. "I have no idea. My plan has failed. We are no closer than we were this morning. It has been the longest day of my life. My innocence has been proven and I just do not care."

"Tha' is jist na true!" Roy exclaimed. "Ye know we've gotten it narrowed down ta jist a couple people!"

"What."

"And Maddox, but 'e ne'er really counts," Brian added, flipping through all of the notes he had taken.

"What."

"Let's hear it," Rasheed suggested as Brian began to take note of everything they had learnt.

"What."

"Try ta listen, Zwingli," Roy rolled his eyes.

Vash opened his mouth, but no sound came out. What.

Despite how Vash's brain had broken, Alfred listened to his uncles as they went through everything. He went through all of it and realized who it was. He knew who it was, but realized that the entire picture could not be this person stealing things. This person was in trouble.

Because, after all, he would never be so quiet about making trouble unless he was in trouble.

Therefore, it was Alfred Jones who escaped the doctor's office (with Rasheed giving him silent approval) heading off to the Im household right as the law enforcement officers were coming to their conclusion.

"Maddox!" Vash announced.

"Ah... no," Brian frowned. "It's Yong Soo."

"Same difference," Vash decided. "I still get to cuff him."

"Ye're talkin' about Yong Soo, righ'?" Roy asked.

"...sure."

"Then let's go!" Roy announced as Brian closed his notepad and they headed for the door.

None of them realized the mistake they had already made.

Notes:

Rasheed is my name for Cameroon. As you can tell, he was the doctor before Alfred. He inspired Alfred, actually, if anyone remembers Al saying that in AFTEO. To be honest though, I do not know enough about Cameroon yet to feel comfortable with writing his character. Which is why his part was so small.