I OWN NOTHING BUT THE STORY LINE AND THE CHARACTERS THAT YOU DON'T KNOW FROM THE ANIME/MANGA!
Chapter Three
Peace Maker
Those who made mistakes blame themselves and close their hearts. It's impossible to fix the mistake. Men can't return to the past. That's why they drink. Lushes, drunks, sliding alcohol down their throats to dilute the memories that can't be forgotten. Frank Marlon the gunsmith does nothing but drink. And he question's the glass after its empty, "Am I wrong? Was I wrong?"
"Hi Vash! Kyri!"
Kyri and Vash both came to a stop by the small building to find that their 'friends', AKA stalkers, were sitting there eating as they passed by. She couldn't believe it. Not even a week ago they had to deal with these people and the water business and here they were again. Had they stuck a tracker on them somewhere and she couldn't find it?
"Not you, again." Kyri sighed, hanging her head, not bothering to hide her dislike in seeing the four of them. "Do we have to keep dealing with you guys?"
"Trust me, I know how you feel," Alexia sighed herself as Alexander took another drink from his glass, trying to ignore all of them.
"Come on, Kyri, let's go." The woman turned as Vash gave a wave and left.
Alexia smiled as the dup walked off. For a man and a woman, not siblings like her and her brother, to travel like that together... "I wonder…"
"Don't wonder," Alexander told his sister as Meryl argued with Milly. He could recognize the look on his sister's face. "It'll get you into trouble."
Kyri shook her head as the two of them moved further into the town. "When the time comes, can I beat that short brat into the afterlife?"
Vash gave her a smile. "She doesn't mean any harm, Ki, so don't worry about it." He then paused, giving out a sneeze. He rubbed his nose. "I think I have a cold."
Kyri lifted her hand and placed it on his brow. "You don't feel warm. Maybe you just sneezed because someone was talking about you."
"Talking about me? Why would they be doing that?" Vash looked at her in surprise.
Kyri shook her head, unable to keep back a giggle at the adorable look on the blond's face. "I wonder…" Her voice stopped as a man came flying out of the building beside them and rammed into Vash, knocking both men to the ground. Kyri was standing in front of Vash so she was kept out of the collision. She couldn't help but giggle again as she saw Vash sticking out of a feeding trough.
"Hey you," She turned to see that the man that had hit Vash was drunker than a skunk. "Yeah you. Over here," Vash, after pulling his head out of the food, turned to look at him. "You go around bumping into someone and then you got nothin' to say for yourself, eh?"
Vash looked lost for a moment before lifting up a hand. "Hi? Catch'ya later…" He began to crawl away but the other man grabbed his shoulder before pulling a fake act of his shoulder hurting because of him. Kyri gave a sigh and shook her head.
~Why do we keep running into people like this?~
"How about buying me a drink? Instead of medical compensation, I want you to buy me a drink." Vash shook his head and began to crawl away again but the drunk man wasn't letting up. "Hey, don't be shy! We're pals, aren't we?"
"But I don't even know you!" Vash cried with a scared look on his face.
Kyri watched in silence, a frown on her face as the two wrestled on the ground at her feet. She hung her head and gave another sigh. The commotion was bringing a large crowd to watch the events. Kyri finally had enough of this. She moved forward and grabbed the back of the drunk's jacket and pulled him away from her companion. Vash grabbed her left leg and hugged it, rubbing his face on her pants as he thanked her from 'saving him from the drunken monster'.
"You, if I buy you a drink will you leave us alone?" She demanded. The feel of Vash hanging onto her leg, rubbing his face on it, made her face heat up. She tried to ignore it, used to him doing things like this all the time, but she could never not blush.
The man she was holding looked at her like she was his savior. "Of course!"
"You sure about this," Vash, now standing, asked her as the man led them into the bar.
She closed her eyes. "What does it matter to us what these humans do to themselves? Let's just get him a drink so we can continue on with our journey."
Vash nodded his head and took his sack away from her. "If you want. You owe me donuts the next time we stop, though."
She gave a laugh. "Fine, fine."
As she moved towards the bar, Vash watched her with a blank face. She had referred to the people as humans again. He had been trying so hard to get her past all of that but it seemed that not everything cold be erased. He was proud of how far she had come, though. She only had a little further to go. He was not going to let these last years go to waste; he refused to let her turn back to her old self.
It appeared that this man, Frank, was a regular at the bar he had led them into and from the look on the woman's face behind the counter she disliked it.
"My friends here are the children of millionaires! Bring it on. You're finest!"
Vash gave a worried look. "He's lying," He called to the woman. "Just bring us the cheapest in the house, all right?"
Kyri wore a smile on her face until the bartender walked up to them, holding her hand out. "I don't want any trouble in here, so I'll keep your guns 'til you leave."
"My apologies, but I'm not quite happy in other touching my weapon." The two of them held a staring contest until Vash handed the woman his own. "This is a strange gun." It took her attention from the other weapon and Kyri gave Vash's leg a little appreciative bump.
"It was given to me," The blond smiled. "I think it's a pretty good gun."
"No, it isn't," Frank commented.
Vash placed a hand on the back of his neck. "Yeah, you're pretty sharp. You must know guns. It's three inches short of ten yarz."
Things fell silent for a moment as the woman set the alcohol on the table and walked away.
"It wouldn't kill her to be more friendly," Frank grunted as he poured his glass. He then lifted his glass. "I propose a toast to new friends!" Vash held his glass out to be filled but Frank ignored him and drank his own. Giving a pleased cry, he took another glass.
Vash gave a sigh. "I didn't really plan on buying a drink, but since we did, can I ask you a question?"
"What do you want?"
"Do you know a Frank Marlon?"
"Never heard of him." The man set the bottle down.
Vash turned to the bartender. "Hey, grandma! Er, I mean, Miss, he is famous, isn't he?"
he turned. "Yeah, he's famous all right. He's the hero of this here town. A long time ago, this town was attacked by vicious bandits. So Marlon, the gunsmith, went around town, handing out guns he made himself and teaching the folks how to use them against the bandits. Now you know the story. So what's your business with Frank Marlon?"
"I just wanted him to fix my old heap," Vash answered. "That's all."
"You're wasting your time. He'd just pawn it for booze and you'd have to buy yourself a new g-" She cut herself off as the drunk threw his glass at her, shattering it against the counter. Kyri raised a brow as he began to laugh and reached over to Vash's empty glass.
"You really want to give your gun to a complete stranger, mister? You'll only have yourself to blame if you get shot in the back. You'd have to be a damned idiot." He drank the glass. "That's right, nothing but a hopeless, damned fool.'
"Coming from the lips of the town drunk," Kyri sighed, crossing her arms.
Vash gave her shoulder a small push with his own as he reached over to fill Frank's glass again. She pulled a frown to hide her smile, both of them having the same though pass through their head.
~We've found Marlon.~
Kyri's frown quickly turned true, though, as Vash decided to take a few drinks himself and soon he and Frank were sitting on the table together, laughing and singing as loud as they could. She had moved from the table, letting the two of them go as she took a seat at the counter.
"Here," Kyri lifted her head to find that the bartender had given her a glass of her own. "To put up with the two of them you need a little of your own."
Kyri gave a smile and curled her fingers around the glass. "Ain't that the truth?
She and the woman just stayed there till nightfall, mostly in silence, until she had gotten tired of the two men and tossed them out. "I better go make sure they don't do something stupid." She left the money on the counter and took Vash's gun.
"Please do," The woman told her, turning back to her glasses.
Kyri grabbed Vash's sack and followed them out the door only to be halted at the sight of the insurance girls and the twins.
"What are you three doing there?" Meryl demanded.
"Oh, it's the insurance girls!" Vash smiled happily.
"You sure look happy, Mr. Vash!" Milly smiled.
Vash gave out a huge laugh. "Having a heck of a time! By the way, what are you guys doing out here so late?"
"Being dragged around on a stupid pun," Alexander hissed as he glared over at Meryl.
Alexia placed a hand on her hip. "Shorty here still thinks that Vash the Stampede is gonna show up."
"One would think that she'd get over her obsession with the gunslinger." Kyri replied.
"It's not an obsession," Meryl hissed at her.
"Then what would you call it?"
"Being stupid." Alexia told her. She moved from the trio. "I'm not gonna be stuck here all night with you," She turned back to Kyri. "Would you mind if I came with you guys instead? It looks like you'll need some help with the two of them."
Kyri paused for a moment. She did like Alexia, a lot more than the other women, so why not? "Sure. What do you two think?"
"The more the merrier!" Frank and Vash called out together. "Cheerio!" They began to walk away again.
Alexia gave a laugh at the tie-dyed cloth tied around Vash's head. "Does he get like this often?"
Kyri closed her eyes. "If I told you the truth, I doubt that you'd believe it."
Frank's house was small and covered in empty bottles of alcohol. Both women had cleared a small table for themselves to play cards on as Vash and Frank continued drink. Alexia was extremely pleased that she had gotten away from the others for a little while. She didn't understand why her brother kept wanting to travel with Milly and Meryl but she couldn't just leave Alexander on his own with them. No longer than a single night, anyway.
It was well after midnight when they finally slowed down their drinking and began to talk. Vash had made a comment on Frank going to work in the morning.
"I got it covered. I'm not worried about it. I only do charity work. I don't get paid so it doesn't matter if I'm coherent or not."
"Huh?"
"My friend, the world is full of the weak and the needy. It's my job to help them." He fell back on his bed to continue drinking but found his bottle empty. "But then I found a way to help those who weren't suffering at all."
"What the hell are you talking about?" Vash asked him.
"It's wrong to discriminate, right? You help someone and then someone else suffers. That is how this world works. That is why I have decided to do nothing. That's all I do. Nothing but drink. This is equality."
"You really think so?" Vash asked him, but Frank had already fallen asleep. Kyri watched as her companion stood up and covered the sleeping man before moving to look at a doll on his desk.
"Hey," Alexia had watched him to, taking in the serious look on his face. "I thought you were drunk."
"Yeah," Vash rubbed the back of his head. "So did everyone else."
"I told you that you wouldn't believe me," Kyri commented with a smile, setting her cards down on the table. She watched as Vash left the room to get sick and glanced back at Alexia. "I believe it's time for some sleep, my friend."
"Why?! Why is everyone so obsessed with Vash the Stampede?!" Alexia growled that next morning as the shouts sounded all over the town.
"Because all you humans are stupid," Kyri replied, peering around the side of the house at the group in the center of town. "It's just regular morons today. Like every day." She then closed her eyes as Meryl and Milly got involved, large bags of cash in their hands.
"I swear, I'm gonna kill Meryl one of these damn days!" Alexia hissed.
"Not if I do first," They turned to the voice to see that Alexander had joined the two of them. "She's getting Milly closer and closer to danger every damn time!"
"Like I said," Kyri turned back to the scene to find the two women being used to load up the cash in the getaway car. "Humans are stupid." She then gave the trashcan in front of her a kick. "Let's go, Ericks."
"What are you-" Alexia gave a cry as the blond in red poked his head up out of the trashcan, the top balanced on his spiky hair. "When the hell did he get in there?"
"He's been there since the commotion started," Alexander told his sister. "That's how I knew the two of you would be over here."
"Give me a warning next time then, sheesh." Alexia rubbed her thumping chest, giving the blond and the woman in front of her another look as they talked. There was definitely something strange, really strange, about the two of them.
"Countermeasure number 1," Vash was saying. "Take the place of a hostage."
"You go for the tall one and I'll take the short one?" Kyri asked.
"As long as you don't kill her, then yes!" Vash nodded happily.
"I can't make any promises." She gave a devilish grin.
"Won't work." They turned to find that Frank had joined them as well, another bottle in his hand.
"Number 2, then." Vash continued. "Send everyone into a mad panic by shouting 'Earthquake!'"
"Even I think that one is stupid." Alexander shook his head.
Vash stood up. "Well, then what do you suggest?"
"I'd have to go with Number 3," Frank told them. "Shut up and let 'em take the money."
"I don't think so," Vash told him.
"Why the hell are you sticking your neck out? Just stay quiet and you might stay alive. There'll be less damage, too."
Kyri turned her head as Vash began his talk and looked at the twins. "You two be ready to move into action as well in case you're needed, understand?"
"Hey, you ain't got to tell me twice!" Alexander told her.
"Don't worry," Alexia grabbed her shotgun. "You can count on us." Kyri gave a nod and hurried after Vash as he moved into the scene. "Hey, Alex…do you think he realizes that he still has the trash lid on his head?"
"Nope."
"Do you care?"
"Not at all."
A gunshot made Vash and Kyri come to a stop. As the wind blew, Kyri hid her face behind Vash's arm, getting a small look at the group of robbers. She raised her hands alongside Vash's.
"What do you think you're doing? Trying to play the heroes?"
"Nah, we're not that great," Kyri called out as Vash lifted his foot from the ground and gave a small tap. A knife came out of the tip and he flattened the tire on the car they stood beside. "Just trying to be troublemakers. We're good at that one."
"Oh, jeez, that's too bad," Vash smiled. "You've got a flat tire."
"Very good at that." Kyri giggled. "Looks like you won't be getting away in this thing."
Their reply was gunfire and Kyri ducked around the hood of the car as Vash used the lid as a shield until he was knocked off of his feet and another man pointed his gun at him. Vash moved quickly and ripped the man's arm behind his back and handing the gun to Kyri. She stood up and tossed it off to the side.
"Are you crazy? Do you have any idea what you're getting yourself into, mister? This gent here is the much-feared Humanoid-"
"Yeah, yeah, yeah," Kyri waved a hand as Vash snapped their captive's neck. "We've heard it all before. You people are so stupid. Trust me when I say this, that is not Vash the Stampede. Having seen the legendary Typhoon before, I know for a fact he's taller, cooler, more dangerous, and much, much better looking." She shot the man beside her a grin that he returned.
"Besides," Vash turned back to the man. "Isn't Vash supposed to have a succulent lady always by his side?" Kyri gave another giggle.
"Are you implying that I'm not-"
"Vash the Stampede?" Kyri cut him off.
"Maybe we should find out."
"What the hell is wrong with these two?" Alexia asked aloud, watching as the events continued. "You'd think that they'd want to die."
"No," Alexander shook his head, watching closely. "I don't think that's it. I don't think that's it at all."
"Then just what is it?"
"I…I don't know…"
"Hold it right there!" Everyone turned to find the Bartender standing there, her own gun in her hand. "This gun is an original Frank Marlon special! And don't think I'll miss just because I'm a woman!"
"Am I supposed to be afraid of this Frank Marlon?" the imposter asked. "It's a rusted piece of crap! You think you'll hit me with that?!"
Kyri gave a grin as she grabbed the handle to her Gunblade and pulled it from its holster. "I don't have bad luck in aim, either, boys." She told them. "And this is a rather special gun, you know. Only two in the world." She watched as more of the town pulled out Frank Marlon guns and moved forward. "Besides, you can't dodge all the bullets now, can you?"
"Especially not mine!" Alexia announced, running up beside Vash and Kyri; Alexander was close behind.
"Apparently you think that you have won," the man cried as his gun transformed into more nozzles. "You think wrong! A piece of parting advice. You should always save your aces for last." He began to laugh until Frank moved up behind him and pressed something to the back of his head.
"Checkmate, mister. Shooting from behind is just not my style."
The bandits ran off, crying out how the town was going to pay for all this. They ended up tripping over one another.
"Wow, they really stick together." Vash said as Kyri returned her Gunblade back to its holster.
"Hmm. Wasn't even loaded." Frank smiled down at his finger.
Vash pulled out his hand from his pocket; he hadn't had his gun, either. "Sure wasn't."
The town threw a party that night. Alexander and Vash got into a drinking frenzy as Kyri and Alexia just watched, clearly keeping away from Meryl. Alexia was trying to figure out just what Kyri and Vash were doing, but her answers never came.
"I INTEND TO USE IT TO CREATE EQUALITY AND PEACE THROUGHOUT THE WORLD!"
At Vash's voice, Kyri stood up from her chair. "And that is my sign to go," She grabbed her and Vash's sack with a smile. "I'll see you and your brother around, Alexia."
"With what's been going on lately," The other woman shook her head. "I'm sure that you will."
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