"Such a beautiful day..."
Karius smiled just before she put a cigarette between her lips and started to light it. She sat with Vash on a bench downtown, Meryl and Milly on the other. He started daydreaming while Karius was beside him smoking a cigarette while watching the fun in the city center that afternoon.
The children were running around happily. Some appear to be playing ball before accidentally kicking towards Vash and landing directly on his face. Karius, who was sleepy because it was time for her nap, didn't have time to fend off the incoming ball. She just jumped away as fast as possible leaving Vash who was thrown back along with the bench after receiving the ball shot from the children.
The two perpetrators approached Vash worriedly. Karius was still standing behind them, trying to hold back sleep while rubbing her eyes. She looked around for Edward, looking like she should tell him to get some coffee.
"Oh, crap!"
"Are you okay?"
Vash didn't move for a few moments with the ball still stuck to his face. Karius ignored him and was still busy looking for Edward. Just when she found the copper-red haired figure among the people, Vash suddenly got up and scared the kids to death.
"DEADLY DODGEBALL HEAD! MY AMAZING MOUTH HOLD THIS SUCKER TIGHT! GO AHEAD, TRY IT!"
Karius sighed in resignation at her brother's behavior. When Edward approached her, she immediately reached into her jacket pocket and handed him some money.
"Get me some coffee and buy some ice cream," she ordered. "Seven, okay? I've had enough of coffee."
Edward looked at the money in his hand and Karius took turns. "Then who is the other one for?"
"Come on! Let's get some ice cream!" Vash called from behind.
"Really?!"
"Sweet!!"
"No need! I've already told Edward to buy them," cut Karius with her tired smile.
"Huh? Harlan, are you all right?"
Karius smiled with difficulty. "Don't worry. I'm fine," she said with a big yawn.
"How about you go rest? You've been looking terrible since earlier," Vash offered worriedly.
A few minutes later, Karius sat back on the bench that had been returned to its original position while enjoying a glass of warm black coffee in her hand. All the ice cream had just been shared, including to a little girl in very shabby clothes not far from their position. Karius herself handed her the ice cream. Although the little girl looked doubtful, she finally melted because of Karius' gentleness that she rarely showed. Unfortunately the girl refused when Meryl and Milly asked her to play together.
Vash and the others continued their game that afternoon. Edward didn't want to be left behind either, he played with Vash and the others. Karius was the only one not invited due to her creepy expression. But after a few sips of coffee, she started to look better.
"What a beautiful day," she muttered as he took a deep drag on her cigarette. "Unfortunately this will not last long."
While Karius was still enjoying her cigarette, she suddenly felt an unusual pressure. The same pressure when she met Helio The Flame. She turned her head, only to see Vash who suddenly fell silent after previously still laughing at Meryl who was hit on the head by a ball. His handsome face looked completely surprised. And she could see who made Vash put on that expression.
Karius took another drag on her cigarette. "Finally the damn brat came."
Pretending as if nothing had happened, Karius went back to enjoying her cigarette and coffee. Edward, who apparently also noticed the change in the situation, looked at her confusedly as if he was waiting for orders. But seeing Karius even smoking her cigarette while smiling at him made the young man sigh. He went back to playing as if nothing had happened.
Karius slightly shivered when the figure of a dark blue-haired man sat on a nearby bench. He carried a paper bag and grabbed a hot dog to eat.
"I've found you... Vash The Stampede."
Somehow Karius could hear that voice echoing in his head.
"Who are you?"
Vash's voice was deep and serious even though he was still smiling at the kids.
"Legato. The servant of Knives you so desperately seek."
The wide smile on Vash's face faded. He took out his glasses and immediately put them on. The children who saw the change in expression also looked confused.
"Where is he?"
"What would you do if I told you?"
"I'm the one asking the questions. Where is he?!
The one thing that has kept living for so long. I must send him to hell.
The bast*rd killed Rem! It's time to pay for his sin.
He's mine!"
"He continues... to sleep."
Legato replied in a tone that was no less sinister.
"Due to the wounds you so graciously gave him.
Even he must now rest. Never fear. I will take you to him, of course.
As a corpse.
You don't think I cant?!"
Legato suddenly looked up. The shabby girl was standing in front of him, watching him from earlier. He immediately took a hot dog from his paper bag and gave it to the little girl. Vash couldn't believe how Legato was stroking the girl's head.
"I still haven't given you your gift, have I?"
Karius' black brows furrowed as Legato's laughter floated inside her head. Just like Vash, she fixed her glasses and started looking at her little brother. Along with the shabby girl earlier who ran away while laughing cheerfully.
"A stronger reaction than I expected. How amusing!!
Should I desire... I could kill every single person within fifty meters of here in under two seconds."
"Y-you..."
"That woman traded her very life to protect this planet and its people. And you do your best to do the same. You have no idea how much that holds you back.
Then again... this battle has only just begun and you've lost...
No bystanders this time. Ready to take me on?"
Vash was still frozen in place.
"Wise choice!"
Karius exhaled the smoke from her cigarette and squeezed the rest of it until it was extinguished. Edward saw the reaction from afar and pretended to stop playing. He lied to the kids around him that Karius called him.
"Besides, today I'm only here as a messenger." Legato took a small box out of his jacket pocket. "In here, twelve coins have been split in half.
Soon, twelve assassins will appear, hunting for you!
The very wickedest men. Each with half a coin in hand, looking for the other half. I'll delight if they give you even a tenth of the hell you deserve!
And if one of them collects all twelve coins... the things will get very interesting.
The rest is a parting gift. A lesson from me to you. I'll set it right here."
Edward glanced at the paper bag Legato had left on the bench. His pair of golden eyes widened realizing that one corner of the paper bag was starting to bleed. He returned his attention to Karius, and she stepped toward Vash without saying anything, dragging him away before the situation got any worse.
"KYAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!"
Suddenly, a woman's hysterical screams were heard when Karius managed to get Vash away from the mysterious paper bag. Everyone panicked and looked at the source of the sound. A middle-aged woman hobbled over crying. Her face looks very scared.
"What is it?!"
"Hey, isn't that the shoemaker's wife?"
Vash immediately looked at the woman.
"M-m-mur-murder!!" the poor woman panicked. Karius immediately took the initiative to approach her and tried to calm her down.
"Madam, what happened?" asked Karius with a worried expression. She grabbed the poor woman and sat her down on the ground.
The woman cried again as she hugged Karius out of fear. "My husband's head...!" she couldn't finish her sentence. But Karius immediately embraced her tighter. "His head's gone!! My husband's head! Where'd it go?!"
