Trigun Fan Fiction ❯ And So Shall Darkness Fall ❯ Gungho Traitor ( Chapter 9 )

Part Nine-Gungho Traitor

Jenny-"Ahhh, I never thought that Wolfwood…"
Kelly-"Hey hey hey! Let them read first! You'll ruin it!"
Jenny-"Amen sister!"
Kelly-"There are Wolfwood spoilers in here."
Jenny-"Whoa, I'd hate to have some person to accidentally read this chapter…hehehe."
Kelly-"Sucks to be them."
Jenny-"Well, can't say we didn't warn `em. And they aren't really bad spoilers, because we didn't exactly follow the true storyline."
Kelly-"True true. Or any storyline for that matter. ;)"
SPOILER WARNING!! SPOILER WARNING!! BING BING! ONCE AGAIN SPOILER WARNING!!
******

Vash was also having a helluva time. Midvalley, along with the controlled townspeople and a few unidentifiable Gungho Guns members, hog tied him and set him directly in the center of town. They stripped him of his gun and the hidden knife that was in his coat pocket. Legato stared down from his place on the roof every once and awhile, just to make sure everything was going well. Vash had a million other thoughts swimming through his now lumpy and bruised head. He mentally prayed to himself that the two women wouldn't show up. Were the Insurance girls ok alone with Wolfwood? Was Legato just lying about knowing the mysterious priest to simply get a rise out of him? Would he get anything to eat for lunch? Vash closed his eyes against the midday heat and just waited patiently, hoping everything would work out in the end. It just had to, right?

Sight got off of the bike and scanned the empty streets ahead of her. Psych stood up and stretched while Wolfwood heaved his cross from the back of his bike and leaned it against his shoulder. Psych drew one of her guns and tipped her hat so that the sun wasn't blinding her. "Well, it looks like no one's here."

"Oh, that bastard is here alright," Sight said, staring ahead, "I can feel it."

Psych started off down an alley, "I'll check it out over here," she called, talking through another cigarette, "You do what you gotta do."

Sight turned to Wolfwood, "Follow her please. I have to find Legato by myself."

Wolfwood nodded and started in the direction that Psych had went, "If you need help, just holler."

"Heh, me need help from anyone? Nonsense." Wolfwood turned to reply but she was already gone.

"Strange women," he sighed, readjusting his cross.

Everywhere Psych looked, she saw destruction. It was heartbreaking, but of course, she'd never show that she felt otherwise. She stopped when she heard the crunch of gravel behind her and whirled around, gun at ready.

"H-hey!" Wolfwood lifted his hands up defensively, "Don't shoot me!" He laughed nervously.

Psych lowered her gun and turned around and totally ignored him. She began to walk again, leaving him confused behind her.

"Why so cold all of a sudden?" he called, running to catch up with her, "Your friend asked me to keep an eye on you."

"I don't need a babysitter dammit," she said, "You should leave before you get shot or something."

"Looks like you're lost," said a voice from above them. Psych tilted her head up and found herself staring into the gold eyes of Legato, "Ah, Wolfwood. Long time no see. It's been quite awhile."

"Could stand to be longer," he replied none too happily, "Where's Vash?"

"Oh, forgive me," he apologized, "You'll be wanting to watch him die too. Being a member of the gang and all."

"What?!" Psych stepped back a few steps, pulling her other gun out and aiming them both into the air.

Wolfwood shook his head, "It's not what you think."

"What do you think I think?" she cried, "Are you working for this bastard?"

"Harsh words," Legato said, trying to sound offended, "You're angry with the wrong person Sheriff. The one that murdered your brother was the priest that's standing before you. I watched him do it."

Psych narrowed her eyes at Wolfwood as Legato walked away, leaving them to settle things by themselves.

Wolfwood was about to step forward but stopped immediately when he saw Psych start to squeeze the trigger, "Please, he's lying to you. Put down your guns."

"You asshole," she hissed, a scowl on her face, "Sight trusted you. Vash and the girls trusted you. I was even beginning to trust you. I knew from the start that someone like you couldn't be a real priest though. I should have killed you in December."

"I was a member of the gang at one time," he explained, taking a small step forward, "But I'm on Vash's side now, your side. You have to believe me."

"D-don't move," Psych warned, her voice wavering as he took another step towards her, "I ain't on any side but Sight's. I swore revenge on the murderer of my brother, and I intend to fulfill that promise. Even if it is you." She was about to fire her gun when a bullet pinged off the wall just a hair above her head. She ducked quickly into another alley.

"Hey wait Psych!" called Wolfwood, heading for cover as well, "I'm still on your side!"

"Save it for Satan, Preacher!" came the reply, a bullet grazing his leg. He grunted in pain, but made no move to draw his guns.

Midvalley stood above them, slowly taking shots at the feuding people. He couldn't believe that he had missed the girl. She was out of view right now. He saw Wolfwood leaning against a wall, his leg bleeding. Even though he was ordered to take care of the priest, Wolfwood was an old friend of his and a fellow member of the gang. He wouldn't be the cause of his death. He'd just let the two go at it for a bit. Maybe Wolfwood would have to actually end up killing her so he wouldn't have to do it. Mildvalley put his gun away and went off to find Legato.

Psych peered around the alley corner carefully. Someone else had been there as well, and they just barely missed hitting her skull.

"C'mon Psych!" cried Wolfwood, "I'm your friend whether you believe it or not! I let you drool on me!"

Psych fired another bullet and it ricocheted off a building and nearly caught Wolfwood in the other leg. Her heart was racing and she couldn't catch her breath. Maybe that was because of the three cigarettes that she was smoking nervously at one time though. "Draw your goddamn weapon like a man!"

"I won't!"

"It's your funeral," she said, shaking her head, "Literally." She was about to jump out into the street and finish the sorry bastard off when she heard 'them'.

"Mr. Priest! There you are! We were so worried!" cried Milly, running towards him with Meryl, "Oh my, you're hurt!"

"What happened?" questioned Meryl, kneeling next to him, "Where's Vash?"

"I don't know where Vash is. Psych and I are trying to find him, and Sight went after Legato. One of the Gung-ho guns shot me, I think," said Wolfwood quickly.

Before Psych could expose Wolfwood, thy heard more shooting from the center of town.

"What if it's Mr. Vash?" Milly asked.

"C'mon on, you guys, we have to help him!!" shouted Meryl, and ran off towards the shooting. Milly followed, but Psych grabbed Wolfwood's arm.

"This isn't over yet, priest. The only reason I'm not killing you now is because I think Sight is probably where all that shootings coming from. Next time, there won't be any interruptions," she said, looking hard at Wolfwood. Then she ran after Milly and Meryl. Wolfwood followed.

In the center of town, Legato was busy shooting people. The mindless townspeople were easy targets for a man of his skill, and he rather enjoyed watching Vash the Stampede pull against his bindings like a chained beast. The red-coated man was trying not watch the slaughter of so many innocents.

"Now, if only my dear sister would arrive, then this party would be complete. Hmm, I wonder if the priest and the other woman have killed each other yet?"

As if to answer part of his prayers, Sight appeared on the scene.

"Legato! You sonofabitch!! Come down here and fight like a man!" she shouted at him.

"Why? So I can take your other eye? Not yet. I have other plans for you," he said, and disappeared behind a building.

Sight growled, and ran over to where Vash was bound.

"You all right? You know, if you hadn't left us behind, we wouldn't be in this mess," she said, helping him up.

He groaned. "Nevermind. Where's Wolfwood and Psych?"

"We split up when we entered town. Where are you going?" she asked, as Vash started in the direction of Legato.

"After him, of course. Isn't that what we're trying to do?"

"He'll come out when he's good and ready. Besides, we need to find you some weapons. Where'd you ditch the truck?"

"I don't remember."

"Perfect. Oh well, no help for it I guess. Come on, we're going to my house. I have a surprise for my brother."

"You think your house is still standing? I destroyed everything!" Vash said, as Sight led him away.

Sight snorted. "Nonsense. I had the thing stashed away. You could have shot my house with whatever you shot the moon with and the thing would have been safe. Ah, here we are," she said, stopping in front of a random pile of debris.

"How do you know this is your house?" Vash asked, looking around. "All the piles of stone look the same."

"Don't worry, o ye of little faith. Aha! Eureka!" she shouted, and pulled a small steel box out of the rubble.

"I won't even ask how you found what you were looking for so fast."

"Good," she said, and opened the box. "Wanna see what's inside?"

Curiosity got the better of Vash, and he leaned over her shoulder to look in the box. "What is it?"

Sight took out her blue eye. "Hehe. Laser sighting, among other things," she said, and put the other back in. Her eyes now matched. "Now, I think Legato's time is up. Are you ready?"

"No!!"

Sight looked at him. "What do you mean, 'no'?"

"I mean, no! I don't have any weapons. If I could only remember where I parked the truck...I got it!" he said, snapping his fingers. He ran off towards the edge of town, Sight close at his heels.

After a few wrong turns and going in circles, they finally came upon the abandoned truck, complete with all the weapons Sight and Psych had lifted. Both of them loaded up on guns.

"Ok. Now are we ready?" Sight asked.

Vash nodded, a look of grim determination on his face. "Let's go."

Milly, Meryl, Psych and Wolfwood got to the center of town. They looked around and saw numerous bodies scattered everywhere.

"Well, he ain't here," Psych said, and pulled her guns out. "Now then, Mr. Traitor, do you wanna finish what we started?"

"What? Hey, what are you doing? How dare you pull a gun on Wolfwood after all he's done for you!" Meryl said.

"Do you want to know what he's done for me?" Psych asked, rounding on Meryl. "This so called priest murdered my brother! You've trusted him with your lives, so wouldn't you like to know about his past? Well? All right, then, how about I enlighten you? He works for Legato! He's involved with the Gung-ho guns!"

"That's a lie! Wolfwood isn't that kind of man!" Meryl shouted.

"Mr. Priest is a good priest," Milly added.

"Oh you think so, eh? Well, why don't you ask him about his past, hm? Ask him why Legato knows who he is."

"I can't believe this. You are such a liar, right Wolfwood? Wolfwood?" Meryl said.

"She's right."

"WHAT!!? Wolfwood, you can't be serious!" Meryl shouted again.

"Mr. Priest, you wouldn't be friends with Legato, would you?" Milly asked.

"No. I'm not friends with Legato, or any of the Gung-ho guns. I used to be a part of them, but that was before I met you guys. I have nothing to do with them now."

"You may be a former member, but that doesn't change the fact that you murdered Psydshot!!" Psych roared, and pulled the trigger on one of her guns. The bullet nicked Wolfwood in the left leg. His knee buckled a bit, but he managed to stay on his feet.

"Psych? What in the hell are you doing?" Sight shouted, her and Vash coming up on the group.

"He killed my brother!"

Sight swiveled her head towards Wolfwood, her eyes narrowed. "That true?"

Wolfwood looked at the ground, and didn't answer.

"Maybe they'll all kill each other and we won't have to worry about it, eh boss?" Midvalley said, as he and Legato watched the scene below them. They were carefully hidden away behind a pile of rubble.

"We could only be so lucky. I wonder if I should start a riot?" Legato said. He didn't know who to control first: the idiot woman that was friends with his sister, or one of the other two women. Of course, he could always control the priest, but that was no fun. He fought too much. "Hmm, no, I think I'll wait and see what happens."

"Well? Are you going to answer me, or do I have to beat it out of you?" Sight asked when she still didn't get an answer from Wolfwood. "Nevermind, your silence is answer enough. Psych has every right to see you dead."

"So, it's true?" Vash stood before his friend, "Legato was telling me the truth about you all along."

Wolfwood had a faraway look in his eyes as Vash confronted him, "I-I really am sorry." He looked down at his hands, frowning, "I didn't know that the poor decisions that I made then would catch up with me now. I'm a changed man. I hope you can forgive me." He looked imploringly at Psych, hoping to see forgiveness in her eyes. He found pure hatred and rage instead.

"You think that fucking justifies what you did?!" she exploded, "A simple I'm sorry?! Oh ho, you're damn wrong. Damn wrong! The only thing that'll make me feel better is seeing you dead. Seeing your friend's mourn over your lifeless corpse as I did my brother's. I found Psydshot in the middle of the desert so fucking shot up and maimed that I had a hard time believing it was actually him. The funeral had to be a closed casket because he looked so awful! And you actually call yourself a priest? A man of God? You don't deserve such a sacred title, you bastard!!" Psych screamed and much to everyone's surprise, aimed her guns directly at Wolfwood, "I'll kill you this way. The way you stole my brother's life away from me!"

Wolfwood bowed his head and closed his eyes tightly, ready to take whatever punishment God had in store for him. After a few minutes of silence, he opened one eye.

Psych stood shaking, her hands clenched so tightly on her guns that her knuckles went white. A tear of frustration coursed its way down her angry face as she grit her teeth together. "What the hell is the matter with me?? Why can't I kill you?" She exhaled violently and fired one gun. The bullet grazed Wolfwood's shoulder, causing him to flinch. "That bullet should have killed you!" she screamed, "Why won't I kill you?!" She tossed the guns down and fell to her knees, sobbing into her hands, "I--I can't do it. Why? Why can't I? Why the fuck won't I?! You deserve to die! Psydshot, please forgive me! Forgive me! I can't revenge you. I--can't."

Everyone watched helplessly as she cried. Sight didn't know what to say to comfort her friend. Every impulse in her body wanted to kill the priest, but she knew that Psych had spared the man for some reason. There was some part of her that didn't want to kill him, even though he caused her so much pain in her life. Psych got to her feet and wiped her eyes on her coat sleeve. She bent down and reclaimed her guns and put them away.

"Oh Meryl," whispered Milly, trying not to cry. Meryl was too shocked to answer her friend.

Psych looked at Wolfwood, her eyes red and tired. He tried to avoid her heated gaze, feeling ashamed and guilty. "Look at me Wolfwood."

He still avoided her. His heart thudded against his chest, and he choked back the sob that was threatening to escape.

"I said fuckin' look at me," she repeated. This time he looked up, and gasped when he saw that the rage had left her eyes and the one thing that he had been searching for before was actually there, "We all make mistakes in our lives. My brother made many of his own, just as I have during my lifetime. My brother would probably kill me himself is he heard what I'm 'bout to say to say to you. But I never did really care what I said when I was younger and I ain't about to start caring now. You're---forgiven."

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Wolfwood lunged at Psych and hugged her emotionally, obviously relieved.

"Git your ass offa me!" she cried, pushing him back, "I ain't one for all that mushy crap. Well? Are we all going to stand around with our jaws on the ground or are we actually going to kick some ass during this century?" She turned around and made her way next to Sight mumbling, "Damn preacher. Thinks that just because I forgave him he can start manhandlin' me. Oh boy, Psydshot's going to start haunting me for this doozy. I must be getting soft... What the hell are you all staring at me for?"

Sight laughed, slapping her friend's back, "That's because you got dirt all over your face, ya grub." Psych made an attempt at a half laugh and Sight playfully nudged her, "I'm glad you didn't kill him though, Psych. It'd be a shame to see the man go before you two have a few kids." Psych kicked her friend roughly.

"Don't you ever say that shit again dammit!" she cried, punctuating each word she spoke with a kick.

Sight half-heartedly blocked her, laughing, "Hey! Can't you take a damn joke?"

A voice made everyone look up, "How revolting. That's one thing I could never stand about humans. They're so weak and they can never seem to do what they want to because of 'feelings'. It's sickening to watch you."

"Legato," growled Sight, reaching for her lancer. Psych stayed her hand though.

"Dear sister," he said sweetly, a smile gracing his face, "Your eyes look so different. I always liked the blue one on you much better. It always reminded me of how inferior you really are when compared to me." He chuckled as Sight's jaw tightened and the veins on her neck stuck out, "Ooooh, calm down, sister, I wouldn't want you to have a heart attack."

Sight gained enough composure to talk to Legato without shooting him dead, "This is between me and you. Leave Psych and the others out of it."

"But where's the fun in that?" he asked, tilting his head to one side and grinning evilly.

"Oh, I've had just about enough of you!" shouted Psych, reaching into her coat pocket. She appeared to be pulling on something and then she smiled, "Catch, you fuck!" She hurled the rock sized object as hard as she could in Legato's general direction. He scowled at her and then realized what she had thrown, a surprised look crossing his face.

"Hit the deck!" cried Vash, pushing Milly and Meryl down. A loud explosion shook the ground and the entire building that Legato was standing on crumble and split in two from the power of Psych's grenade. Stone and rubble showered down on them as they waited for the clouds of dust to settle.

Sight coughed a few times and then lifted her head from the gravel she had thrown herself onto. "Psych? What in the hell were you thinkin'? You could have killed us all, you ass!"

Psych got up and dusted herself off, her face covered in more grime, "Did I get him?"

"How the hell should I know!"

"Well, you're the one with the super eye dammit!"

"Grrrr, is everyone ok?" Sight took a head count and everyone was accounted for.

Laughter floated down from another building, "That was it?"

"He's still alive dammit," cried Psych, snapping her fingers, "Nuts."

"Your friend is even more pathetic than you, sister," laughed Legato from his new standing point, "You all amuse me. But this is getting all very tiring. How about I make things more interesting for you?" He clapped his hands and next to him appeared three disturbing looking people.

Wolfwood's face fell, "We better get out of here. Those three are Gung-ho Guns."

"Oh," cried Psych, "So you can still talk!"

"Gray the Ninelives, Dominique the Cyclops, and Monev the Gale," he continued, ignoring Psych's statement, "We have to split up here!"

"Oh, by all means go and hide!" called Dominique, "You can't escape my demon's eye!" The other two laughed loudly, watching their newfound prey intently.

"Psych, you, Wolfwood, and Milly go right," whispered Vash, "Sight and Meryl, come with me."

Psych didn't need to be told twice. She took off; Wolfwood and Milly close at her heels. "Don't you go dying on me!" called Sight, as she followed Vash in the opposite direction.

"Ditto!" called Psych, as she and the others disappeared around a corner.

Legato smiled again. He had been doing that a lot lately. It usually meant that victory would be his. Before he killed Sight, however, he'd take everything dear to her away, and then end her life when she was at her lowest point.

"Well boss?" asked Monev, cracking his knuckles impatiently, "Can we go yet?"

"Yes," he replied, walking away, "But make sure you don't kill the little bitch. She's mine."

Dominique laughed wickedly, "I get the priest. That bastard will pay for ever leaving our gang. I never did like that one." She jumped from the building and ran in the direction Psych had taken. Gray and Monev headed in the direction of Vash.