Disclaimer: Trigun is sadly enough not mine, or there would have been way more episodes!

Chapter38: Milly's POV
After several hours of not being able to sleep, she finally gave up, getting up and wandering around the small living area that Mr. Knives has shown her to hours before. Knives. Now there was a situation in a half. He was Mr. Vash's brother, he was the reason Nick was dead, he was… she didn't know what he was. At times he was completely polite and nice, other times there was a hard edge to him like the anger that had fueled the problems between him and Mr. Vash, then there were other times when there was a sadness in him that just made her want to hug him. It was all very frustrating because it was making it hard to decide what to do. For the girl who liked black and white, all the shades of gray were driving her batty.

What would mama say in this situation? She asks herself as her mind does another round. Trust your instincts to protect you, baby girl, actions and words can disagree but there is always an underlying truth, you just have to let yourself see it. Don't stay angry, baby girl, it's the way almost all problems start. Nodding, she starts pacing the room, her mind clearing of the clutter as she focuses on one detail at a time. Reflect not in anger, but in peace, her father had told her when she got her job with the insurance company. As long as you follow that rule, you will always be happy.

In peace, she thinks, I am in peace. Sitting down in the middle of the floor she takes the time to meditate. I am at peace, my thoughts are clear of anger. It takes a while before she is able to actually clear her mind but once she does she feels better than she had since Mr. Vash had come walking out of the desert with Mr. Knives thrown over his shoulder.

Over the next couple of hours she carefully reviews everything that she knows about Mr. Knives, going over the details that she had seen and the information that Meryl had shared with her. While she knows that she does not know everything she is able to determine that this is probably the real him, the same way Mr. Vash has different aspects that sometimes seems to come forth, Mr. Knives does as well. Kindness, that was the key here, most his life had not been spent with kindness, but with anger. So he needed kindness. After meeting Lady Kikyo she knew that he would never go back to that anger, there was no way it would be allowed, that meant what he was becoming was going to be his new reality and to treat him accordingly.

Nodding to herself, she got up, stretching before going back to bed. She would continue to treat him the way she had been. Smiling, she drifted off to sleep, happy to have finally figured out what to do.

When morning comes, a rapid knock at her door awakes her, groggily she calls out, "Come in," and is almost startled when one of the small lizard people comes in carrying a mug in their clawed hand.

"The massster sssaid you like coffee in the morning." The small person hissed at her as it set the steaming mug on the night stand. "Will misssss be needing anything elssse?"

Sitting up, she rubs her eyes before taking the coffee and drinking it. "Oh thank you, I'm Milly, what's your name?" she inquires of the little lizard before it can leave.

It seems shocked but gives a little bow replying, "I am Izza."

Smiling, she finishes the coffee, "Thank you Izza, is there more coffee in the dining room?"

She bobs her head once, "Yesss, good day to you," before taking off, shutting the door behind her.

Stretching, she decides to take a shower and change into a clean set of clothes since they are in the room. She just about rejoices at how long the hot water lasts. Once she is changed into something clean she heads to the room where they had had dinner the previous night. Upon getting there she is surprised to see Meryl is already there but neither brother is anywhere in sight.

"Morning Meryl," she greets her friend as she gets a second cup of coffee and a small plate of food. Taking a seat she happily drinks the coffee, letting it wake her up. The coffee is great, hitting the spot. "Meryl, where are Mr. Vash and Mr. Knives?"

Taking a sip of her own coffee, she replies, "Installing Amber's bulb. Apparently Knives sent the lizaeri after her yesterday when we got here. They got back this morning with her. Sleep well?"

Shaking her head, she mutters, "Not really, but I finally got some things figured out, so it's worth it. Do you know when we are leaving? This place gives me the creeps."

Shrugging, her best friend responds, "Some time tomorrow or the day after, they want to make sure that Amber is settled first, plus both of them want to visit with Dai for a little bit." Pausing, she glances around, "it's a beautiful place and would probably be fine to live here if not for the really weird feeling it has in it. I seems, off. Though I could not say how."

Both girls smile at each other, understanding completely what the other means. When they are done eating, they clean up after themselves before deciding to go exploring. For the next several hours they look around until one of the lizaeri track them down to tell them that lunch is done. After thanking the small lizaeri, they ask for directions on how to get back to the dining hall because they had managed to get lost. Thankfully the small lizaeri had no problems helping them get back before vanishing.

When they got in the dining room she was startled to see both of them in nearly identical outfits. If not for the earring and the fact Mr. Knives is just a little lighter in coloring it would be really difficult to tell them apart. Startled she glances at Meryl, raising her eyebrow in question. A slight tilt of the head lets her know that Meryl doesn't know why either.

"Hello, interesting place you have here," her shorter friend comments, glancing at Mr. Knives as she gives Mr. Vash a quick hug and a kiss on the cheek, making him blush.

He glances at her but says nothing, making Milly wonder why. Some reason she is sure that there is tension building there even though she was sure they had got past it. What else could be the problem? It can't be Mr. Vash, since the only time she really claims his attention is at night. Perhaps she said something as she is wont to do? Hmmm, this bears talking to her about it later on. Maybe she will know what the problem is.

"Hello Mr. Vash, Mr. Knives, Meryl's right this place is interesting." She greets the two of them, only barely hesitating on saying interesting. To her it is not the good kind, but it is still something polite to say.

Mr. Vash flashes her one of his happy-go-lucky smiles, commenting, "It is, isn't it?"

Like dinner the previous night, lunch goes smoothly with the four of them speaking of unimportant things. However, the ease that Vash and us girls share is lost on Knives. For some reason, since we had gotten here anytime Meryl comments or speaks with him there is tension. Eventually, she can see Meryl losing her temper. Shortly after lunch, we head into the first bio-dome. We are just a little ways in when she spins on him, hand upper cutting his jaw before he has a chance to say anything.

"Alright, nice wide space, let's get this little problem out of the way. Since we got here, you've been like a cat in a room with rocking chairs when dealing with me. I'm going to bet it's because of where we are and who I remind you of. Best way to deal with it is a good old fashion brawl, besides I get the feeling your spoiling for a fight, so keep your tricks to yourself and lets go." her voice is a soft growl as she takes a fighting stance that Milly had not seen her friend take in a long while.

When Mr. Vash tries to step in, she grabs his arm pulling him back and shaking her head. "Let them sort it out. Its good to physically do so sometimes, never fails for my siblings."

Mr. Vash glances between them nervously, while Mr. Knives narrows his eyes at her.