Trigun Fan Fiction ❯ An Alternate Ending ❯ Crimson Moonlight ( Chapter 2 )

An Alternate Ending

Part Two: Crimson Moonlight

By Bekka Mouri-Hibiki

(Trigun doesn't belong to me and I am not making any money from this so please don't sue. This is set in an alternate universe where Wolfwood didn't die and things are a lot different than in the anime but some things are pretty similar. There are still spoilers and you have been warned.)

" So Chapel did not return? " Legato asked Midvalley before taking a sip of wine. They rode in a wagon towards the place where Knives was sleeping. He had made his home from the remnants of a crashed SEEDS ship and it still sent chills down Midvalley's back when he approached it.

Midvalley nodded, " Caine didn't come back either. "

" They are dead, " Legato said flatly. " I knew Chapel would kill himself if he killed Nicholas D. Wolfwood. The man was like the son Chapel never had and I knew he wouldn't be able to stand the pain of knowing Wolfwood died at his hands. "

" And Caine? " Midvalley said.

" Dead as well," Legato took a sip of wine. " Vash The Stampede must have found him and Caine was under orders to kill himself in the event he were discovered. "

Midvalley sat back in his seat, " That leaves only me and you then, doesn't it? "

Legato nodded, " Yes. "

The wagon stopped and Legato stood, reaching for his door. " We're here. "

Midvalley stood and reached for the door on his side of the wagon. " Do you think he will be awake? "

" He called us here so he should be waiting for us, " Legato stepped out of the wagon, his boots making a dull thump on the concrete below. Midvalley exited his side and gasped. The door to the plant room was wide open and Knives stood there.

Legato bowed and cut his eyes towards Midvalley. Midvalley realized he was staring and bowed. He couldn't believe the power he felt coming off of Knives. He knew his master was powerful man but this was beyond what he had imagined… way beyond.

" Where's everyone else? " Knives asked.

" They are dead, Master, " Legato said.

Knives nodded his head once. " I see. Then you know what to do now, don't you? "

Legato nodded, " Yes, Master. I understand. "

**

He groaned, coughed and his eyelashes brushed against Vash's hairline. " Are you an angel? " Wolfwood said. Vash kept his eyes closed because he was still healing Wolfwood and couldn't break his concentration.

" There's so much I have done… so much I need to be forgiven for. It sounds strange but I have never made a confession before today even thought I have heard many and this one will be my second. I doubt I will be forgiven… I have done too much to ever be forgiven. I did it for the kids… that's how I always justified everything… it was for the children. "

Vash tried not to lose his concentration and listened to Wolfwood as he spoke, letting his voice flow into his head as he continued to heal him. " All the jobs I ever took was so I could have money for the kids. I didn't want any of them to grow up like me or know what I did for them. All of the other jobs… they were to get rid of scum that had killed and killed again… they more than earned their end and maybe I earned mine although my intentions were good… they say the road to hell is paved in them though… good intentions. "

" When I took this job… I thought I was going after a heartless bastard, not a man that is so perfect; he could give Jesus a run for his money. Wait, I didn't mean that… I just can't think… I hurt… you understand that. I can't be responsible, can I? The Gung-Ho Guns took me in a child and I didn't know any better but now I do… now I have seen that things can be different. I want to be forgiven and I want to live… can you pass that along to the big guy and maybe somehow tell needle noggin I'm sorry for deceiving him? "

Vash took a sharp breath and shut his eyes tighter as he realized that Wolfwood had been working for The Gung-Ho Guns all along, his concentration almost breaking. He thought about Wolfwood's words and tears came to his eyes. It wasn't totally clear but he could see what had made Wolfwood into the quiet, brooding smoker that acted out on occasion. He felt sorry for Wolfwood and everything he had probably been through.

" Hey, " Wolfwood whispered. " I'm going to assume you're always this quiet so I'm going to take me a little nap until the worst is over. I'll see you there. "

Wolfwood's eyes fluttered closed and he relaxed under Vash's hands as the last bit of wounded flesh mended. Vash sighed, removing his hands from Wolfwood and whispered, " It's okay, Nick… I understand. "

**

Meryl leaned against the building, trying to stop the shaking that had started when she found the Punisher Cross in the alley. It looked like Wolfwood's and she noticed the ground under it looked freshly turned. Had Wolfwood been killed? Had Vash found him and buried him?

~I have to find Vash before it gets too dark, ~ She thought as she got the shaking under control and noticed that the suns were starting to vanish behind the mountains. She walked several feels from the cross and her eyes settled on a dark stain on the ground. She leaned down and ran her fingers over it. She sniffed them and her heart stopped in her chest. The stain was dried blood but she couldn't tell whom it belonged to.

She straightened up and scanned the ground, trying to find if there was a trail or if the stain was a lone one. A few feels away, there was another stain and they seemed to continue down the street at regular intervals. ~Perhaps this will lead me to Vash… I just hope he's still alive. ~

**

Vash stood up, his legs trembling as he unbuttoned his coat to use as a blanket for Wolfwood. He had taken Wolfwood's bloodstained suit off of him, leaving him nearly naked. He had cut the legs from Wolfwood's pants so he at least was covered where modesty should have mattered the most. His heart sank when he realized Wolfwood looked thinner than when they had first met.

He shook the coat once and knelt down, placing part of the coat over Wolfwood. He eased himself down to the floor and got on his side, pulling Wolfwood onto his side as well. Vash wrapped his arms around Wolfwood and pulled him as close as he could so the coat would cover them both. He propped Wolfwood's head on his arm and placed his forehead against Wolfwood's as he put his gun arm around his neck.

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" Sleep well, my friend… " He whispered and drifted off to sleep.

**

The blood led Meryl to Tonim Town's little church and she continued inside cautiously. She took a deep breath, grasping the possibility that she would probably find Vash there and not alive. Her feet felt like lead as she approached the doorway, noticing it was open. The moons had started to come up and the fifth one cast its red glow over everything.

~Vash, ~ His name slipped across her mind almost unconsciously as she stepped into the crimson filled church. She froze as her eyes adjusted, seeing a red coat was spread out over something in front of the altar. The moonlight only lit part of the coat; the shadow of a large cross fell across the coat and only made snatches of the garment visible. Her heart pounded in her ears so loudly, she could barely hear her own thought, ~Oh no… oh no. ~

She thought about getting Milly but decided against it because of what she had found in the alley. It verified Wolfwood was dead and now Meryl was certain Vash was dead as well. She wasn't conscious she was walking up the aisle until she stood only a few feels from the coat. ~Should I look? ~ She thought, trying to peer though the shadows that shrouded most of it.

Meryl didn't know how long she stood there just trying to decide what to do but the second and third moons joined the fifth as she tried to make up her mind. The moons made up her mind for her, casting their glow upon a head of spiky blonde hair from different angles. Meryl gasped and moved towards the altar, falling on her knees when she reached the coat.

" No! Vash! No! " Meryl whispered sharply, a lump rising in her throat. Tears welled up in her eyes as she reached for him with a trembling slender hand. She hesitated before stroking his face with her fingertips and found he was warm.

She moved her hand to his throat, searching for a pulse. She found one and it was normal. She leaned closer to check his breathing but she felt breath coming from somewhere else… someone else. She put her hand over her mouth to stop a startled cry when she recognized Wolfwood's shaggy black hair, the rest of his face hidden by Vash's gun arm.

She looked again, noticing that they had their foreheads pressed together and Wolfwood's head was pillowed on Vash's real arm. They looked as cozy as a couple in… ~There has to be a logical explanation for this, ~ She shook her head, clearing another one of her worst-case scenario visions from it. ~They would never do THAT in a church. ~

Vash snorted and his eyes fluttered open. It took a moment for it to register that he was no longer alone with Wolfwood, " Meryl… " He whispered, turning to face her.

Meryl caught her breath in her throat for this had been the second time he had used her name and not called her 'insurance girl'. She nodded and made her voice work. " Vash… what happened? "

" I'm really exhausted… can I tell you in the morning? " Vash said.

" Just tell me in the shortest way possible, " Meryl pleaded. " I… we were so worried about you and Wolfwood. "

Vash sighed, " Okay. The Gung-Ho Guns were here and we fought them. One of them nearly killed Wolfwood and the one I fought killed himself in front of me. I followed Wolfwood here and I… " Vash stopped cold, realizing he had started to say exactly what he didn't want to.

" But you what, Vash? " Meryl reached for the coat to lift it. " If he's hurt, let me look at him. "

Vash gave a halting glare where his eyes flashed briefly, glowing like they had the night he fought Monev, causing Meryl to pull her hand back. " He's okay. I took care of it. We'll be okay. I'll bring him to you and the big girl in the morning… we just need to rest right now. "

" But if he was shot he'll need medical attention, " Meryl said. " They make us take a first aid course every year at Bernardelli… "

" He'll be fine. Now, go. I told you I will bring him to you and Milly in the morning when I have slept, " Vash sounded forceful and it scared Meryl. It almost seemed like he was trying to hide something.

Meryl got up slowly, " Okay then… "

Vash watched as she took a few steps down the aisle before breaking into a run. He could almost swear he heard her sob as she shut the doors behind her. He would have to tell the truth though… but he didn't want her to get hurt. He would put Wolfwood back in the place he had been staying and leave once he was strong enough to take care of himself.

~If I see her tomorrow, I'll have to tell her the truth… ~ Vash shut his eyes. ~Oh Rem… is that what should I do? ~

**

Meryl dashed through the streets, trying to keep her vision clear enough so she could find her way back to Milly. ~What is going on with him? Why do I feel that there is so much more to him than I could ever fathom? ~

**

Vash carried Wolfwood to the place he knew the priest had been staying. The suns were just starting to color the horizon and Vash was hopeful that the insurance girls were still asleep in the building they had shared the day before. He reached the building and opened the door as quietly as he could. The house was small so he made a fair assumption of where the bedroom was, carrying Wolfwood towards it.

He opened the door slowly, peering inside. He nearly dropped Wolfwood when his aqua eyes fell upon a rather large lump under the covers. ~Did one of The Gung-Ho Guns come here looking for Wolfwood? Did they fall asleep waiting for him? ~

" Meryl… " The big girl's whisper startled Vash. " I think I heard somebody come in here… "

Vash barely had time to blink before both of the girls were sitting up, two of Meryl's derringers aimed at the doorway and Milly's stun gun aimed in the same direction. Meryl lowered her guns when she saw it was Vash. Milly looked bewildered as she stared at Wolfwood's cataleptic form in Vash's arms, her gun nearly falling to the bed and hitting Meryl's leg. Vash blinked, trying to comprehend what he was looking at.

" I thought you two were over there, " He motioned in the general direction of where he thought the girls had holed up with his head.

Milly crawled over Meryl to get out of the bed and went to Vash. " Is he? "

" No, " Vash shook his head, " He's not dead but he'll need a great deal of care. He lost a lot of blood yesterday. "

" Give him to me, " Milly put her arms out. Vash looked at her incredulously but she moved closer, slipping her arms under Wolfwood. " I can carry him, Mr. Vash… I'm stronger than you think. "

" You don't need to strain yourself Milly, " Meryl got out of the bed and pulled the short hem of her nightshirt a little before she motioned to the bed " Put him down here. "

Vash carried Wolfwood to the bed and put him down. Meryl jerked Vash's coat from Wolfwood's body and handed it to its true owner as she looked Wolfwood over. She scanned him for the life-threatening wounds Vash had told her about but she couldn't see them. She looked down and noticed a wound on his leg but knew it wasn't recent.

" Vash… what happened? " Meryl looked and found he was no longer standing next to her. She looked at Milly. " When did he leave? "

" I couldn't stop him… " Milly shook her head. " I felt like I was glued to the spot and I couldn't move at all. "

" Keep an eye on Wolfwood, " Meryl said as she rushed out the door. She stepped out into the street and saw Vash heading for the building they had been staying in, pulling his coat on as he walked. She ran as fast as she could to catch up but Vash must have known she was coming for he stopped just short of the doorway.

" I need to leave, " Vash said, not looking at her.

" I need answers Vash! " Meryl said as tried to keep from crying and clenched her little hands into fists, " Why did you tell me Mr. Wolfwood almost died when there isn't a mark on him? Why did you say he lost a lot of blood when the only injury I can see is on his leg? Why did you tell me he was almost killed yesterday? "

" Because he was, Meryl. He was shot and lost a lot of blood, " Vash replied.

" From where? If that's true, why can't I find a mark on him except for his leg? " Meryl asked.

" That's because I healed him, " Vash muttered, hoping Meryl wouldn't hear him.

" Healed him? How? How did you heal him? " Meryl wasn't even sure she was saying the words because Vash's statement had been so unreal.

Vash ignored the question. " I have to leave… you won't be safe if I stay around you all any longer. Your lives will be in danger and I don't want any of you to get hurt! " His voice was much louder at the end of the sentence than it had been at the beginning.

" You aren't like us, are you Vash? " Meryl whispered.

Vash shook his head, " I'm just like you… but I'm not at all like you. You have to leave me, Meryl. I need to be alone… no one will die if I'm alone. "

" I don't want to leave you alone, Vash! I want to help you! " Meryl shook her head. " I want these horrible things to stop! You aren't a bad person… not from what I have seen! "

" Only I can stop these things from happening, Meryl! Can't you understand that? No mortal can stop it! " Vash shouted then went cold as he felt his façade start to flake away.

Had he just implied he wasn't mortal? Meryl wasn't stupid but maybe she was too upset to catch the implication clearly. " What do you mean, Vash? " Meryl whispered.

" Please… " Vash whispered. " Leave me alone! Just leave me alone! "

" I can't do that Vash… " Meryl replied. " I just can't do that. You need… "

" YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT I NEED MERYL! " Vash screamed, his voice sounding unbelievably loud in the deserted town. He took a breath, " Just stay out of it. You should have never gotten involved at all. "

Meryl felt like she had been slapped hard across the face when Vash said he healed Wolfwood but now she felt like she had been punched in the gut. Her mouth moved however she couldn't make a sound come out. She reached for Vash but stopped, afraid of what he would do if she touched him. She let her arm fall to her side and listened as it seemed someone else was speaking with her voice.

" You're running from something bigger than the law, aren't you? Something so big, it makes horrible things happen to you and those around you! What have you ever done to deserve this, Vash? " Her voice sounded steady even though her insides were shaking wildly and she felt like she would throw up at any moment.

Vash was quiet for an agonizing amount of time before his head fell forward, his hair grazing the door in front of him. " I'm not running, Meryl. I am searching… "

" What are you searching for? What is it that is making your life so horrible? What is making you suffer? " Meryl's voice faltered as she suppressed a sob.

Vash turned slowly to face Meryl, his aqua eyes meeting her gray ones with seriousness she had never seen before. " It's not a what… it is a who and his name is Knives. I cannot die peacefully knowing he is still alive. "

Meryl thought about the monument in the center of the town and the name written on it… the same name Vash had just uttered. " Knives? " she asked, wondering how Vash and the mysterious name were connected.

" I'm sad to say he's my twin, " Vash admitted quietly, looking away from Meryl's face. " I think the time has come to tell you everything about me, Meryl. You may not believe it but I don't expect you to. Everything I'm about to say is the God's honest truth… "