AN: Hello, followers new and old! Thank you for continuing to read and support this story. Extra thank you to Donovan Master 55 for all your lovely comments. They truly made my day every time! I commend you for reading despite some of my chapters being a little heavy and English not being your first language! I'm so glad for Google Translate! I hope I only made you cry in a good way. These characters all move my heart so much. 3 3 3 I'm sorry it's taking so long for Vash and Clark to actually interact, but I think the wait will be worth it. ;)
Chapter 29 - Welcome Home
Previously, Jimmy shared their adventures with Luida and the crew. When Clark and Lois rejoined them, Luida brought up Clark's similarities to Vash. But the conversation went sour after the trio shocked Luida with news that Knives also survived Lost July.
Now, Vash makes his rounds to apologize to his Ship Three family for being presumed dead for two years. A task easier said than done, but long past due.
前に進むのは
バランスを崩すこと。
不格好でも
走り続けたらいい。
どっちでも
廻り廻って明日になる。
—
To move forward
Is to lose balance.
I wish I could keep running,
Even if it gets ugly.
Either way,
It will turn around and become tomorrow.
Sitting on his bed and staring at the closed bedroom door, Vash sighed deeply.
It was well into the morning, and Vash finally worked up the nerve to leave his room (after two hours of low-intensity exercises, a lengthy cool down with ample stretches, the most refreshing shower he'd had in ages, and a longer-than-average session of meditation).
The night before, Meryl and Wolfwood confirmed that word of his arrival had spread like wildfire amongst the crew. He knew he wouldn't have a moment to himself for the rest of the day.
First on the day's social agenda: find and apologize to Luida and Brad. They'd brought him Home once again and made sure he was not only safe but also patched up.
His infrequent returns over the years were always a huge affair. This time was surely going to be a whole new level of insanity. At least no angry mob had battered down his door, demanding he'd been thrown out yet.
Vash knew he shouldn't expect such poor treatment from those he considered family. Yet sometimes, he couldn't help but anticipate the worst.
It'll be fiiine. Everything's gonna be just dandy, Vash thought as he stood.
A primly folded set of clean clothes—a comfortable set of loungewear—had been left on his small dresser. On top of the pile sat a plain sheet of paper. When Vash picked it up he smiled broadly, recognizing the familiar cursive writing.
Vash,
For when you are ready to be welcomed home.
—Luida
As he read, his smile shifted to a frown, noticing the slightly shaky penmanship.
He read Luida's note over and over, almost not believing he was back after so long. Even if Luida and Brad did welcome him back with open arms, he wouldn't blame them if things were never the same between them again.
After all these decades, their worst fears had come true that unspeakable day in JuLai.
How could Vash begin to explain what happened? With his memories still full of holes, he didn't have all the answers himself.
Vash stepped out of the room, his door whishing and clicking closed behind him. He strode confidently a few steps, but then stopped walking after only a few feelz. Maybe Meryl and Wolfwood had already spoken to Luida and Brad? Shared their side of the story?
Vash glanced down the empty corridor. If not, he could bring them with him. Their bedroom doors were right there…
No. He had to face his family alone.
It wasn't his friends' burden to bear. It had been his choice to stay hidden away in a tiny, remote town on the edge of the frontier all this time. He'd tried to make a new family there, leaving this family here to worry and fear the worst.
Vash might not be prepared for the consequences of his actions, but he couldn't keep running—couldn't keep running away. No matter how much his feet wanted to carry him far, far away again and again.
Meryl had reminded him of that.
But he was still Vash the Stampede. This time, he needed to be running towards something.
Vash took a few more resolute steps forward. There'd be no turning back to a quiet, sheltered life anymore.
He'd underestimated the stakes with his brother last time. He hoped, believed Knives could be reasoned with before. And Vash pretended for too long that he wasn't much of a fighter.
Vash would never let something like Lost July happen again.
Starting today, that ended. Millions Knives wasn't going to stop, so neither could the Humanoid Typhoon.
If anything made Vash realize how unprepared he'd been to get back on the road, it was facing, or rather flailing, out of predicaments with only one arm. He'd need every small advantage he could get.
So Vash's second task of the day: grovel to Brad for losing (or breaking? destroying? Still can't remember…) his prosthetic arm and kindly ask if he could get a new one made. Pretty please, with sprinkles on top?
Instead of using the ship's intercoms, Vash wanted to see and hear both Luida and Brad in person. He owed the two people who'd spent over a century as the only constants in his life that much.
So first stop, Luida.
It was still early in the morning—the suns just starting to rise, warm light filtering in through small porthole windows. So if the woman's routine was anything like she'd kept it over the decades, Vash knew right where to find her.
Further into the colony ship, the door to the geoplant dome slid opened, and bright sunshine trickled into the hall. Taking a few steps into the enormous room, the expanse of lush greenery was a wondrous sight for sore eyes. Vash took in a deep breath of fresh, moisture-filled air. To his lungs, the difference was night and day compared to the parched, dusty air planetside.
Vash meandered along the thoughtfully landscaped walking path, heading toward the center of the bio-dome. While fields of Luida's favorite desert bluebells filled the dome, new swaths of different colored flowers decorated the gardens.
A few were a type even he didn't recognize. A bush of long-petaled yellow flowers with fluffy golden disc florets. Tall stalks of magenta flowers with three large petals and a speck of yellow in the center. A white flower that looked like dozens of mini flowers growing from a single stem and reminded him of a pincushion.
He stopped walking to kneel in the vibrant green lawn. He ran his fingers through the dew-coated blades of grass. It seemed like a lifetime ago he felt the soothing texture of geoplant life under his palms.
Leaning over to the flora garden, he gently reached out to smell each of the unfamiliar flowers and ever so carefully rubbed the petals between his forefinger and thumb. Some felt smooth and some velvety. His senses captured each new flora and he committed them to memory. Later, he'd be able to ask Luida their names.
Vash lit up, a warm glow growing inside. He felt so impressed and humbled by all the hard work Luida put into her botany work—not to mention all her more demanding duties as community leader of Ship Three. Every day she woke up and saw the beauty in the life given to her and gave twice as much back.
She saw the infinite potential for growth for generations to come on their new planet.
Vash thought about all the people he'd met, many with similar hopes and dreams. Even without Home's technology, people across the planet still found the will to thrive and innovate.
The collective will of all humanity to overcome and grow and prosper never wavered completely. Even when individuals stumbled or felt hopeless, as long as there was someone to pick them up, they'd find their footing once again.
Vash wished with all his heart he could see the day No Man's Land became as beautiful as the flourishing land so full of life before him now.
Standing and brushing off his knees, Vash took one last glance around the colorful garden. He caught the tiniest of movement out of the corner of his eye. The fluttering of small, yellow wings stood out from the dark green leaves around it.
Curious, Vash tiptoed over. Up close, he realized the wings belonged to a butterfly flying from one flower to another. Such Earth animals were extremely rare; many could only be found in small numbers here in the bio-dome on Ship Three.
He lingered to watch as the insect drifted around the garden. After a moment though, Vash noticed it flutter oddly. The poor thing got caught on the glossy silk threads of an intricately woven spiderweb.
Like anyone or anything in need, Vash crept closer to help.
As the little butterfly struggled, flapping its wings trying to get loose, Vash spotted more movement — the spider. With each agitated motion, the vibration lured the spider closer and closer to the butterfly.
However, Vash was faster. Without hesitating, Vash carefully scooped his palm under the butterfly's delicate, thready legs and tugged it away from the rest of the web. He avoided disturbing the web too much, not wanting to destroy the spider's home.
The butterfly spent just a moment cleaning its tiny legs before fluttering away. At the same time, the spider, finding that its prey escaped, simply spun more silk, expertly fixed the damaged part of its web, and skittered back to its resting spot.
It was only after the encounter was over did Vash wonder if saving the butterfly had been the right choice. The spider had to eat too, right? He didn't want the spider to suffer for his actions either.
Vash stood up again, this time wiping his sticky palm on his pant leg. The faintest of footsteps, muffled by the cushion of grass alerted Vash to another's approaching presence.
"Always coming to someone's rescue, aren't you?" a mature, feminine voice spoke behind Vash.
Vash closed his eyes, a smile creeping onto his face. "I suppose I do. But sometimes, I wonder at what cost? Is it always the right choice? Is any one life more precious than another's?"
A light laughter from the woman took Vash somewhat by surprise. He winced, but then slowly, reluctantly, spun around. Whatever expression he wore set off Luida's laughter even more.
"You never change either, do you?" Luida asked, eyes crinkling. She took a few steps closer to him. The sunslight peaking through the now clear sky dome framed her tall, yet slender frame and highlighted her dark gray hair with a silvery sheen.
A few lighter gray hairs peppered her signature pixie cut, and a few more wrinkles creased around her eyes. The small changes in her appearance reminded him yet again that in a physcial way, he certainly never changed.
He never let on how it bothered him when they joked about it, but sometimes he caught an apology in their eyes. As if they realized the fact must make him feel othered even if it wasn't meant intentionally.
The same expression flashed past Luida's eyes this time too. "Ahhh, but what do we have here? This is quite a new hairdo, I must say. But I like it! And is that stubble, I see? You look so mature, Vash." She raised her hands to cup his indeed stubbly jawline. "We've missed you dearly."
Despite her genuine smile, Vash caught the glint of tears in her eyes. "I'm sorry, Luida. I've made you worry, haven't I?"
She slid her hand down to his and squeeze it tightly. He squeezed back more gently.
"We've worried about you for a century and a half. Every time we go into cold sleep or you leave Home. That will never ever change."
Vash's face crumpled at that. The sunslight framing Luida's face became a glowing blur in his own teary tears.
He wasn't sure who initiated it, but a moment later they found themselves wrapped in a comforting embrace more than two years overdue. Luida had to lean up to tuck her chin over his shoulder, and he had to hunch down to do the same.
"Welcome home, Vash."
—L&P—
"Tell me one more time. What happened to my masterpiece?"
"I don't know. I'm sorry, Brad."
"He doesn't know! He doesn't know, he says!" Brad's arms flew into the air in disbelief.
"I really don't remember. I promise I'll take better care of the next one," Vash hunched lower on the edge of his stool, looking up with pleading eyes from under his bangs.
"That's what you said the last… dozen? Two dozen? Times!" Brad huffed and shook two angry fingers for emphasis. "Bah! I've lost count at this point." He held an elbow in one hand, the other coming up to rub his eyes.
Vash noticed that Brad, like Luida, had a few light gray, almost white, strands in his already pale blond hair. His face looked a tad slimmer and featured a few more wrinkles around his cheeks and neck than he'd remembered.
Brad's usually muscular frame didn't fill out his pristine white and gray space suit quite the same as it used to.
His standoffish, yet endearing gruffness hadn't changed one bit though, Vash was happy to see.
Of all the things for Brad to be angry about, being upset about losing his prosthetic arm was the least awful of the many options Vash had anticipated. Vash could certainly take this particular grievance in stride any day. Or at least every few years—a decade tops—as was his track record.
"Wasn't I due for an upgrade anyway? I was thinking about trying a new color!" Vash said, trying to diminish the tension. "What do you think about black and purple?"
"Sure! Suuure! Why the hell not? If I gotta make one from scratch, you could get one in rainbow for all I care!"
"Really?" Vash replied, lighting up with a half genuine smile at the proposition.
Brad stared back with a deadpan expression for a few beats. He then groaned and dropped his face into his hand again.
"How old are you again? Seven?"
"You know. Everyone always says I look young for my age. I'm flattered."
Brad huffed. "Yeah yeah, Mister Fountain of Youth. Keep it up and there'll be more than just a few gray hairs growing in that mop of yours."
"What?!" Vash bolted over to the room's mirror, leaning in closer to inspect his hair. "Where?! What gray hairs?"
Brad's rumbling laughter pulled Vash's eyes up to watch the 'older' man through the reflection.
"Gotcha!" Brad said with a smirk. Vash's exaggerated pout just made the man's smirk grow and he laughed a few times more at his own prank.
Calming down, Brad took a seat on a backless rolling stool and scooted across the small room. He waved Vash over to retake his own seat.
Vash ambled over, plopping down as if with a heavy weight on his shoulders.
"Okay, roll 'er up. Let's see the damage," Brad said, gesturing to Vash's upper arm.
Vash reached out to untie the knot in his sleeve and hesitated when he saw his fingers tremble.
The uneasiness came from the idea of the impending surgery required. Not that he'd need surgery right this minute, but just the memory of the first time rattled his nerves. And it wasn't so much the pain he dreaded. The pain and act of patching up his dozens of injuries over the years by himself—that he'd gotten used to.
The thought of being poked and prodded in an operation out of his control was another thing. But this was Brad and the Doc. He couldn't be in better hands.
He didn't look up because he knew if he did, Brad would ask if he was sure he wanted to do this now. And Vash didn't want that opportunity offered. He couldn't keep putting things off.
Instead, Vash forced his hand steady, unknotted his sleeve, and rolled the loose fabric up as far as it could go, just below his shoulder.
Unlike the many other times he'd damaged or almost completely broken a prosthesis, this time even the attachment port was long gone. Its absence baffled Vash. He unwrapped the clean bandages from around the stump of his bicep. The re-exposed skin had long since healed back over where the missing mechanical port had previously been.
"Guess you weren't kidding about wanting Doc to take a look too," Brad grumbled, scratching his head with a brow raised in confusion. He took a only a minute to examine Vash's arm. "Was gonna offer to hook you up with a spare, but you're gonna need the new port first." He sighed, taking another moment to think. "By the time you're outta surgery, I should have the new one made up, though."
Vash nodded. "Thanks, Brad. I've gone this long without a spare, I'll get by a couple more days."
Brad grunted, leaning back and folding his arms over his chest. "You coulda come back, kiddo. Or at least called. If Luida didn't already give me a lecture, you woulda gotten a real good earful from me, ya hear?" The engineer gave Vash a firm look, silently telling his wayward charge that he still wasn't all that happy about the situation.
Vash nodded and hummed an affirmation. An apology would probably just get Brad started into a lecture. Better to keep his mouth shut for now.
Brad rolled over to the intercom console and tapped in a few commands. A line opened with a few ringing tones, waiting to connect to another unit in the ship.
"Medical Wing! How can we assist you?" a cheery youthful woman's voice chimed as she answered. Her face was just visible to Vash over Brad's shoulder on the video screen.
"Is Doc in? Got a patient I need to bring by for a consultation." Brad replied.
"Oh! Hello, Mister Brad!" It appeared the young woman recognized him.
However, Vash didn't recognize her himself. Perhaps someone recently awoken from coldsleep?
She continued, "Yes, Dr. Ito just finished up with his last appointment for the day. I'm sure he wouldn't mind if you swung by now."
"Great. Be by in a few."
"Alright, see you soon!" She waved, but the video call ended abruptly as Brad hung up and sighed.
The "older" man pushed up on his knees to stand with a grunt. Vash followed suit. Exiting into the hallway, Brad took the lead even though Vash already knew which way to go. They walked awhile in companionable silence. Vash waved to a few new faces in passing along the ship's corridors.
Eventually Vash stepped forward to walk in step with Brad. "So, the girl? A newly awoken crewmate?" Vash asked, genuinely curious.
"Hmm? Who?"
"The young lady in Medical," Vash clarified.
"Oh, Jessica? Nah, not really. Unless you count two years ago recent," Brad answered with a wave of his gloved hand.
"Ahah, right. I suppose not."
"Luida called the order to awaken a bunch of folks who could help with—" Brad paused, although his eyes flickered over to Vash, looking unsure whether to continue.
Vash hummed, curious about what Brad was about to say.
Brad gave a concerned, weary sigh. "With the emergency aid and relocation efforts of JuLai refugees."
Vash came to a stop, feet glued to the floor. Brad walked ahead a few paces until he realized Vash wasn't following.
Brad turned around to see Vash staring blankly at the floor. He sighed again, this time more softly. "C'mon, kid. Ain't the time or place to sulk. One step at a time."
Brad stepped over and patted Vash a bit roughly on the upper back. "Let's get that arm fixed first, then you can go brood with your girlfriend."
"G-Girlfriend?" Vash's dark thoughts washed away in a heartbeat. His eyes were wide behind his amber glasses as his head shot up to gape at Brad.
"Hm? Or is that con-artist undertaker your boyfriend?"
"B-Boyfriend?" Vash cried again incredulously.
"Huh, coulda sworn it was one or the other. Ain't everyday you're bringing someone home to 'meet the family.' Especially not the same two." Brad smirked at Vash's face becoming more and more amusing.
"Hell, what do I know about kids these days? I should leave the matchmaking to Luida." He huffed a laugh and waved a hand dismissively.
Vash gulped and whispered to himself, "Matchmaking?"
—
Vash was extra fidgety, even more than usual, once he made it to the medical wing.
After being greeted with much enthusiasm by Jessica, the new receptionist-slash-intern, she led Vash through the routine vitals checks. Vash was a little uncomfortable, but he'd managed this part so many times that it didn't faze him as much as it used to.
After Jessica finished, it was only a few minutes later that the exam room door slid open.
A short, elderly man in a white doctor's jacket stepped into the exam room. "My, my, Vash. It's been quite a long time hasn't it?" His voice a crackly, light tenor with the faintest hint of an old Earth accent.
Vash grinned widely, his nerves settling a little seeing a familiar face.
Dr. Hiroshi Ito—or rather just "Doc" to the older generation SEEDS crew—wore a friendly smile. Deep crows-feet lined the edges of his dark eyes, but they always had a kind light to them.
It was harder to tell if Dr. Ito looked any older than Vash last remembered. The elderly man was biologically well into his seventies. If it weren't for his shiny bald head and wrinkles, he might've been mistaken for a child due to his short stature.
As the colony's most senior attendant surgeon, Doc spent most of his time in coldsleep. Every decade or so he'd take his shift to educate younger, less experienced medical professionals. And continuing further education to slightly more experienced residents and newly promoted attendants. Any other time he preferred being around only in the case of an emergency requiring his skills.
Vash and Dr. Ito were well acquainted, the Doc being almost a grandfatherly figure to Vash despite the few and far between times the former was Home and the latter was awake and on duty.
"Oh, twenty years give or take?" Vash replied with a chuckle. "Good to see you again, Doc. Wish it were under better circumstances." He tried to mask his grimace with a goofy smile.
"We're all just glad to have you Home, my boy," Doc patted Vash's knee. "Luida and Brad cried their eyes out after they brought you in and got you settled, you know."
"Pft. I don't know what Doc's talking about," Brad grumbled from his seat in the corner. For a minute, Vash almost forgot the other man was in the room too.
"Brad especially bawled like a little newborn, he was so relieved you were alive and well," Doc continued, completely ignoring Brad's denial.
Vash felt his own tears fill his eyes. His lips quivered as he fully faced Brad. His fist scrunched up and rose to his face. "You missed me? You really, really missed me?"
"Yeah, yeah. I missed you like I miss sand in my shoes. You're always a big irritation every time you come back."
Vash beamed, even though Brad was trying to be a grump.
"I'm starting to suspect you planned this whole 'presumed dead' thing just as an excuse to hear me say, 'I miss you.'" Brad crossed his arms and narrowed his eyes.
"Did it work?" Vash tilted his head.
"Ugh, fine. You win. Yes, we all missed you." He rolled his eyes and looked away.
"Aw, I missed you too!"
Brad huffed and went back to tinkering with his datapad, pretending to be busy.
Doc chuckled, catching Vash's attention again. "It's good to see you in such good spirits, lad. Now, I hear that arm of yours needs some work, hm?"
Like Vash did earlier, he untied and rolled up his sleeve for Doc to take a look.
Doc grabbed a pair of medical gloves from the counter, snapping them on. "Ah, I see," Doc similarly inspected the stump of Vash's left arm, gently turning it with gentle hands to get a good look. He tapped a few spots to check Vash's reflex response. "Peculiar. It healed over quite cleanly. The muscle and nerve endings don't appear to have been affected by any significant force. How may I ask, did you remove the port?"
Vash shrugged. "I honestly don't have an answer for you. I, uh, can't remember." His shoulders sagged and he had to resist pulling away.
"Kid, told me the same thing. Got amnesia or something. Might need to check his head too, Doc," Brad added.
Doc frowned. "Is that so?" Vash merely nodded a yes. Doc's eyes opened a little wider as he contemplated. "Well, if that is something you'd like to discuss further, I'm happy to see what I can do to help."
Vash didn't respond in any noticeable way. His thoughts going to dark places knowing his memory still escaped him for some reason.
Doc paused a moment, again appearing thoughtful. "Just to be clear. Both your arm and your amnesia stem from the JuLai incident?"
Vash's face went neutral, his lips pulled into a tight line. He gave another silent nod.
"Vash." Doc grasped Vash's right hand between both of his own. He waited until Vash looked up (or rather still down) to meet his gaze. "You went through an extremely traumatic event. It is completely normal for one's mind to protect itself. Perhaps, we can focus on your arm for the time being. But if you do want to explore options to access your memories, I will do everything within my power to help you with this. But only if you are sure you want to."
Vash nodded again, the smallest of smiles tugging at his lips. "Thank you. I'll think about it."
—L&P—
AN:
Thanks as always for following along! Please review to let me know how you're enjoying the fic, what you liked, or what you'd like to see in future chapters! I appreciate every favorite and follow too!
Next Chapter 30: Homesick
Just a reminder, I will be posting every two weeks. Chapter 29 will be posted around 9/28/24.