His Father's Words

The most surprising thing about all of this was that no one seemed to care.

"Hello there, Vash!"

Needless to say, Vash was not used to this. Not that he made a point out of threatening everyone with guns. Not even all the people that annoyed him got that treatment. Yet, usually after that had been done, those people would always leave him alone.

Not this time. Everyone knew his name now and everyone was either friendly or indifferent toward him. No fear. No hatred. Not that Vash would have minded. He had expected it, after all. So... nothing negative? Not what he had thought would happen.

"I could drive you and your sister into town," Kiku told him and Heidi when they finally saw him. "But I am waiting for an important work message. After it arrives though, I can drive you there."

"Thank you."

"What do you do?" Heidi asked curiously.

Kiku did not respond. "Work," he responded before returning to his house.

"That's always his answer," Alfred assured him as he went through Kiku's mail.

Vash did not need to be assured. Vash did not care. As soon as they were out of this town, none of what happened here would matter. Everyone had their belongings (or what was left of them) returned to them. Brian or Roy or both of them could deal with Young Sil (not that he seemed to be getting a very strict imprisonment or anything) and Vash would be out of here.

But it left him wondering why no one avoided him.

"People 'ere only get scared when the danger's right 'ere," Brian told him, shrugging his shoulder. "'ow long are ye sticking around fer?"

"Kiku says the latest it could be is by Friday," Vash replied stiffly. Too long for his liking, but considering how there was no public transportation out of here, he could deal with it. Plus, Heidi seemed to be getting along with Elizaveta. Elizaveta seemed nice enough. He could survive until the Friday.

It seemed quite possible he could survive until next Friday. Which was when he realized something.

Maddox. He had not seen Maddox. The man who could not leave him alone was now gone.

Vash knew he ought to be relieved, but it only put him on edge. What was he up to?

The only reason he asked Arthur was because Vash had the impression (both formed by his own experiences and by the advice by everyone in town) that when one did not know where Maddox was there could be a big problem at hand. So he asked just to make sure he or Heidi would not have any unpleasant surprises in store for them before they left.

"Hiding in his room," Arthur replied. "I think he's still panicking because of your gun fire. Honestly, he mucks about with louder and more dangerous things... but leave him alone. If he doesn't want to see you I won't let you bother him."

Which left Vash more confused than ever. Though if he is not planning something strange, I suppose it does not matter. I never want to see him again anyway.

It would have worked out perfectly but for the fact he did see Maddox again.

"Guns are horrid."

Vash turned to face the monotone man. Maddox said the words with the same amount of application he put in any of his sentences. Vash did not know whether to take him serious or not.

Then again, Vash tended to take things seriously in the first place. So he did so.

"Guns are simply another sort of power in existence," Vash replied. "As they exist people will use them for good or evil. So I will use them for good."

"Who told you that?"

Vash narrowed his eyes. "What gives you that impression?"

"People do not talk like that," Maddox said. "I believe you were told that by an alien. Please return to the atmosphere. We have nitrogen."

With that, Vash returned to the inn, hoping Maddox would not follow him.

Scared of guns my foot.