I OWN NOTHING BUT THE STORYLINE AND CHARACTERS YOU DON'T KNOW FROM THE MANGA/ANIME!

Chapter Twenty-Five

Just Listen

Finding friends is easy but trusting them with everything you are isn't. Can you ever truly trust someone so much that you let them hold your life in the palm of your hands? I only have one person like that, and that's my twin. And then I met them. Three, strange, odd people that have become a huge part of my life. Such a huge part in my life that I want to help them in whatever their life goals are. Three people that I would gladly trust with my life.

"Are you sure that this is where she said they'd be?"

"Yes, I'm sure, so will you just shut up and look for them?"

'There's so many people here, though. How can we possibly hope to find them?"

"They both stand out like the plague, Alexander. One's in a red jacket and spiked blond hair and the other's so cold that it makes this desert air seem like ice. It's not that hard if you just put some effort to it."

Alexander gave a sigh as his sister turned and walked off again, searching for the duo that they were here to find. Though they had been sent off to Notila, their work wasn't that hard at all. Midvalley and Sylvia weren't even trying to hide their presence and so the twins had hurried after Kyri and Vash to Macca.

In the time they had, though, Alexander had learned everything about what Kyri had been doing while she was on her own; what Alexia had helped her do. Normally, killing people didn't bother Alexander, his sister either, but there was just something about what Kyri was doing…something that didn't sit right. She was killing people that she knew, that she had trained and trusted. How long was it going to be before that was turned on them?

That's what really scared Alexander. He knew that Vash wouldn't hurt a fly but Kyri…Kyri was a different story. When Alexia had ran off with her, every night all he saw was the older woman killing Alexia. He thought that he would be done with Vash and Kyri after he got his sister back, but his plans didn't go the way that he wanted them to. Alexia had insisted on staying with the older woman, in helping her. She practically had to beg her brother to do so.

He gave in.

So had Wolfwood.

Alexia had begged the Priest to help them as well and he couldn't hold up being stubborn against her long, either. Alexander was aware that the priest and his sister had gotten rather close as these strange travels of their had continued. At first, he didn't like the thought of any man being that close to Alexia, but he liked Wolfwood.

And he also thanked God that it was Vash that his sister had fallen for. Kyri definitely would have killed her then.

Wolfwood said that there was something personal that he had to take care of before he went traveling with the group after the Gun-Ho Guns again, but he had promised Alexia that he would catch up to them eventually.

"The Plant here seems to be running really, really strong," Alexia commented, breaking the silence again. "I'm surprised. Most of the others that we've come across have been half-ruined or worse."

"The Mayor of this place must have invested a lot of money in keeping it running like this, then," He replied. "And he's got to be rich. Not as rich as us, of course, but pretty damn rich."

Alexia rolled her eyes and laughed at the same time. "Money isn't everything, you know."

"Good; then I'll happily take your half of the fortune."

"Don't you dare!"

A loud thudding against the doors of the town made everyone freeze and turn, cutting the playful argument in half. Smoke and sand flew everywhere as the banging repeated until the large doors were busted down; everyone scattered.

"Never any peace or quiet, is there?" Alexander growled. "I swear to god that the bad luck that follows these two around it sent straight from the devil himself."

Alexia couldn't help but give a chuckle as the sand died down. "I can't argue there."

Behind the gates stood a weird machine and one, large man on top of it, happily gazing into the town with a huge smile on his face.

"It's just like that guy," He told himself. "Gathering up a bunch of small-timers, but thanks to that, this robbery's going to turn into quite the show!"

With great force, he jumped off of the machine and landed before powering up the gun on his right hand and firing into the surrounding buildings.

"IT'S GASBACK!" A man cried and the twins shared a look.

Bad luck with Vash and Kyri was like the plague.

At the announcement, bounty hunters appeared from all over, running towards the wanted man.

"Let's get the hell out of here!" Alexander grabbed his sister's hand and began to run in the opposite direction until his eyes caught a certain duo not far ahead of them. "Milly? Meryl?"

At their names, both woman glanced back and saw the twins; neither of them slowed down, though.

"Alexander! Alexia! It's good to see you again!" Milly cried happily.

"I should have known you two would be here if Vash and Kyri were," Meryl sighed. "And I suppose the priest is around her somewhere too, isn't her?"

"I haven't seen Wolfwood since the events on the ship," Alexia smiled. "So, I don't know where he is. But you've seen Vash and Kyri both here?"

"Yeah, last night. Had dinner with them," Meryl sighed. "Are you after Gasback's bounty too?"

"Are you retarded?" Alexander stopped his conversation with Milly to answer her partner. "Not with all these losers here. We have enough money right now, thank you." He glanced back at Milly. "Just what are the two of you doing here?"

"The insurance company sent us here to deal with the large statue," Meryl pointed at the said object. "It's really dumb but we thought that it would be better than dealing Vash and Kyri and…well…"

"Yeah, I kinda figured that was the story," The man sighed as they came to a stop before the said statue. "Well, it wouldn't feel right to just go off and search for Kyri while you tried to fight Gasback so…"

"Admit it," Alexia teased. "You're just worried about Milly."

"And if I were you, I'd be worried about that foot that's about to get stuck in your-"

Gunshots and explosions and screams sounded all around the area as destruction befell it and dust gathered up everywhere; and then everything froze. The twins shared a look and a name.

"Vash."

~Josie's on a vacation far away

Come around and talk it over

So many things that I want to say

You know I like my girls a little bit older~

"I knew you'd come out eventually."

"How could I not when the Bladed Siren's knocking on my door?"

"You're not…angry with me?"

"Should I be?"

"How about with this Gasback guy destroying your home?"

"We can always rebuild."

"I've missed you, Livio. And Razlo too."

"Just as we've missed you."

"I'm so sorry."

"Nothing to be sorry about. You followed what you wanted; we all should have done the same."

Kyri sat on the porch of a small house towards the back of the town, well enough away from all the destruction happening further in, enjoying the company of the man beside her.

Livio the Double Fang, was 5'8' in height with shaggy white hair and green eyes, though his left eye had a sunburst-like tattoo around it. That last time she had seen him, the left side of his head was shaved but it was starting to grow in again, though he still had the rest of his hair combed over it to hide it.

"I had received word from Chapel that you might be coming for a visit," Livio commented, reached forward from the beer in front of him. "I was told to tell you that I don't have any of Bluesummer's medallions."

Kyri fought a smirk. "I know you don't. If you did, I would have taken it from you two years ago when we fought."

Livio gave a smirk himself. "I still don't understand why you didn't let that friend of yours kill me. The redhead…she took down Elendira not long after, did she not? She could have done it."

Kyri closed her eyes. "I promised Chapel."

Livio looked surprised. "Chapel?"

"Yes. When…before I even ran into you, I ran into Chapel first. He offered to be my inside informant on the Gun-Ho Guns as long as I kept his two students alive." She gave him a smile. "When this is all over, I'll let you know. You can return to the orphanage again without fear of Knives of the others trying to kill you."

"That's good," Livio smiled. "I…I owe you a lot more than I can give. It was you that helped me and Razlo…become one again."

Razlo was the name of Livio's split personality. Razlo was violent and psychotic to the point of being unbelievable and only appeared when Livio suffered intense pain. Razlo even made Kyri shake the first time she met him but the fierce personality grew fond of her ways due to how loyal Chapel had been to her. During their skirmish two years ago, Livio finally accepted his other personality and truly became whole. He disappeared not long after.

Livio continued to stare at her. "What are you going to do when you find them?"

"Which ones?"

"Any of them."

Kyri glanced at him with a small smile. "I'm not quite sure yet. If anything, I'll…" She halted in her words and glanced down at the water in her hand. "You'll be able to return soon, Livio; I promise."

"You do what you have to, Kyri," He told her. "Everything will work out for the Bladed Siren in the end. It always has."

She gave a small scoff. "Maybe the old one, but I'm not so sure anymore."

'What makes you say that?"

"Back then, I never questioned myself, never worried about who I could, and would, hurt, but that's no longer the case. Vash changed me. I thought that after he left me I would revert back to my old ways, but it seems that's not going to happen. Instead he's always in my head, always making me double question myself. My reaction time in battle has fallen so much that it infuriates me."

Livio gave a soft smile. "Love is not a switch that you can turn off and on aa a whim, Kyri. It's something that, even n death, will never go away. Vash won't ever leave your head because he can't." He glanced at her. "And before you even say it, everyone makes mistakes, Kyri. Vash knows everything you've gone through. The two of you were meant to be. You ignoring him like this is just hurting you both. If what he did is tearing you up this much then just confront him about it."

"I'm afraid."

Livio straightened up in his seat, not sure he had heard her right.

Kyri had placed the water to her forehead, welcoming the cool liquid on her skin.

"Afraid that I was just too much trouble to him. Afraid that I'm just a burden to him and that's why he left me. Afraid that he doesn't love me like…like I've always loved him." She gave a sad smile. "I loved him even before the Gun-Ho Guns were formed. And then he ran off and left me alone with Knives and Kyra. For him to just leave me like he did…again…it's like history was just repeating itself. What else am I supposed to think?"

"Stop thinking and just listen," Livio told her. "You're just thinking too much. Stop thinking and listen to what he has to say. If the answer doesn't turn out to be what you want, then at least you'll know. But, between you and me, he wouldn't be following you around like this is he wasn't sorry for what happened. He's spent the last twenty or so years teaching you how to change from the murderer that Knives and Kyra have turned you into. It's got to mean something to him, don't you think?" his reply was silence. "You don't think all that time with him was just a waste, do you? I'm sure that there's something in you that makes you want to keep trying and find the truth. I may not have seen you in a long time but whatever Vash did to you is noticeable. I like you better this way."

"You're the only one, then."

"I'm sure that Legato and the others will see it too; and like it. The only reason…Eryn is the one that's mad at you, and you and I both know why. That's another battle that you're going to have to listen to if you intend on saving her." He then paused again. "You…you're not planning on killing her, are you?"

Kyri was silent for a moment; the gunshots in the town had come to a stop. She had a good idea as to why.

"Livio…can I borrow your kitchen?"

The man blinked, completely caught off guard with her question. "Uh…sure, but what for?"

"You told me to just listen…maybe that's the best thing to do so. There's just one thing you forgot, though."

"And what's what?"

She shot him a bright smile; one that lit up the sullen, depressed face that had sat there moments ago.

"The best way to get a man to talk is through his stomach."

Livio sat there on the porch as the woman entered his home. Kyri had changed so much, that's true, but there was still apart of the old Kyri there that he knew. The Leader of the Gun-Ho Guns. He remembered seeing her traveling with Vash, the light, carefree personality that she had. It was nice to see. But after their separation, there was parts of the old, Psychotic Kyri back, too. It was like the two of them had merged into one form now, just like him and Razlo. They were going to mingle together in that one woman now, there was no changing that.

Hopefully Vash the Stampede was ready for it.

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