Trigun Fan Fiction ❯ A Second Chance ❯ The..second chapter! ( Chapter 2 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

David had been attempting to keep track of the kids. So far he had glimpsed all of them
now and then, with the exception of the two troublemaking twins, Tim and Ted. He was a
man on a mission. Although he was on a mission, there was no reason he couldn't stop
for donuts. These ones were supposed to be suprisingly good. Hearing their voices
nearby, he had set off in hot pursuit.
That's just perfect. It would seem that they found some random, odd-looking
newcomer. The two of them were bouncing alongside the tall man in the red coat,
powerwalking to keep up. And that cross slung over his shoulder didn't look especially
safe. Catching up easily, Mr. Wolf was about to say something when the person
announced that he could smell donuts and turned.
"Uh.." the black-haired teacher stared back. Vash mentally freaked at the sight. '25
years! I KNOW he died 25 years ago! In the CHURCH! ALONE! IT'S NOT POSSIBLE!' Trying to
voice this, he only managed, "You-Wolf-priest-dead-church-priest-AH!" Then he promptly
fainted.
Alarmed, David darted forward to keep Vash from falling and injuring himself. The cross
didn't look too heavy from the way the gunman was holding it, so the twins tried
catching it. Half a second later they were a few feet away from it as it thumbed to the
ground. "Jeebus that thing's heavy!" Smiling slightly at their expressions, he pulled Vash's
cybernetic imitation arm over his neck and wrapped his arm around his middle to
support him.
The nearest place of refuge was a small sort of hut covered by a tattered brown
cloth. Although not looking the most inviting of places, David couldn't support the dead
weight much longer. Also, something was pressing against him through the coat. Felt like
a metal grate. It was at the moment leaving an imprint in his own side.
They staggered into the tent, causing an instant silence. For its small size, the hut could
certainly house quite a few people. From the back, two wizened women sat silently.
Each had a certain power radiating from their small bodies and minds, but he paid no
mind to it at the moment. Not revelant. But the unconscious man propped up against
one of the poles supporting the shack needed some medical attention. “Anybody got
some water?”
A woman nearby told him that she did and handed over an unopened container.
“Thanks.” David unscrewed the cap and poured a little into his hand. Cupping it so as to
keep a small puddle there, he moved over to Vash’s forehead dumped it there. “Come
on..wake up..” He repeated the actions.
Vash heard a voice, cutting through the black. Where was he again? A fair. As cold
water splashed his face again, the black began to dissipate. The man kneeling in front of
him became visible, as was the crowd around him. “You awake now?” Finally focusing,
his aquamarine took in whatever else was about. A dirt-floored room. Walls made of
cloth. Creepy old women in the back. Guy that looks just like Nick in front of him. Oh,
yeah, that’s why he fainted. Trying not to show any more shock, he saw the
now-forgotten donuts by David. “You going to eat those?”
David was left speechless. The guy yells at you and blacks out, then asks in he can have
your donuts? “Uh...” “Well, are you?” The blonde was still waiting for an answer. “..go
ahead.” He happily reached out and snatched the remaining pastries, a small smile on
his face.
The entire tent had gone dead quiet. There was something you just didn’t see every
day. The poor young man must be bad in the head. Some of the crowd left. Some
stayed, either to watch the women, or watch Vash. Strangers didn’t come by often, and
this one probably put the strange in the word. Especially the hair.
David shifted so as to sit with his knees drawn up, arms laid horizontally across them.
Then he settled his chin on top and was content for a few moments to watch the
peace-loving gunman eat. As he swallowed, something became painfully aware to him.
His face was a mask. Yeah, he smiled. But they weren’t real smiles. They were full of pain.
More so now than usual. Did anyone else notice? Obviously not. The mask was a good
one. “Stop it...” The murmur was barely caught by Vash.
“What is it?” He paused in his ravaging of the donuts. David repeated himself, firmer.
Before Vash could reply, he continued. “Stop smiling like that, will you? ...it’s not real.”
The smile slipped away and a silence reigned between them. Finally the pair of green
eyes dropped from the gray ones, somewhat ashamed. Another emotion seeped in.
Sadness. Overwhelming sadness. This man wasn’t Nick. He looked like him. He sounded
like him. He said things like him, although admittedly not in the same attitude as they
were spoken before. But he wasn’t Nick.
“Hello, friends,” said a voice somewhere near Vash’s ear, scaring him beyond all
reason. Once his heartbeat had almost receded to normal, he looked over and found
himself almost eye level with one of the old women. “Go ahead and give me a heart
attack, why don’tcha.” Her worn and lined face broke into a grin. “Terribly sorry, young
man.” The other sidled up beside David. “You seem troubled, child. Please, let us offer
you our services. Free of charge.” Vash seemed interested. “What do you do?”
She smiled as the other had. “We tell you your past, your present, your future.” Now he
hesitated. The past wasn’t something he wanted to dwell in at the moment. Now the
idea didn’t seem so appealing. David, however, appeared to approve. “Sure, why not.”
Vash didn’t speak, but stuffed the donut still in his hand into his mouth and started
chewing. “You may have your choice. Past, present, or future.”
“Mmywshwlafffrtoontak’n,” the blonde attempted to speak around the food. “What?”
David met him with a stare.
Vash swallowed and repeated himself. “Might as well have my fortune taken.” “Good,
good, follow us.” The mystics turned as one and walked back to their area, behind a
thick oak desk. They both sat on high-backed stools, old-fashioned, furling chairs
opposite them. The two men took their places. “Now, let everything around you fade
away..”
David shifted uneasily, not liking the stares of everyone around him. Of course, they
had all been watching reading after reading and didn’t especially care if he was there
or if it was someone else, but he was still uncomfortable. Being watched by large
amounts of people wasn’t something he was used to. Vash, however, simply hooked the
heels of his boots onto the rung of the chair and slouched forward.
“Now, let us begin.”