Trigun Fan Fiction ❯ Burgundy and Blood ❯ Dead Man Walking ( Chapter 10 )

Standard Disclaimer: Not mine… making no money… doing this for fun…

Burgundy and Blood: Part X

Dead Man Walking

Lawren stirred in the large bed and grimaced as her body awoke to a screaming pain. Everything hurt. Glancing around the room, she was rather annoyed to find no sign of Legato. Sitting up carefully, she made a face at the mess in the bed. Blood covered everything. The pristine white sheets appeared beyond salvage. "Damn it," she thought. "I bet it'll cost me extra for all this damage."

Reaching out for the bedpost, Lawren pulled herself to her feet and crossed the room. The place between her legs was sore. Still, she realized that it had been worth it. She was convinced that no other man could have brought her greater pleasure. She smiled at her reflection in the mirror. The bruises, bites, and scratches would fade in time. But the memories of this day would last forever.

She turned her back to the mirror and glanced back over her shoulder. No wonder her ass hurt when she moved. Several raised welts were visible beneath the dried blood and there were a few open cuts where he had applied his belt to her cheeks. After a few moments of careful scrutiny, she concluded that it was nothing that wouldn't heal on its own.

As she moved toward the bathing area, she realized that it was very quiet. It was too quiet. Glancing out the window, she saw bodies everywhere. Recoiling in horror, she scrambled around the room, frantically snatching on clothes. "What had happened?" she thought.

Tearing down the stairs while shrugging into her silver coat, she looked around for any sign of life. The people were gone. Stepping outside, the first thing she saw was Midvalley, face down, one hand still clutching the remains of his beloved Sylvia. She rolled him over and grimaced. What ever had happen to him, it hadn't been pretty.

She glanced around at the other bodies. There wasn't a mark on them. A quiet shuffling noise drew her attention. Whirling around, she saw a small bunch of men, clustered together, looks of horror etched on their faces.

Striding toward them, Lawren reached for the nearest one and hauled him to his feet. Snarling into his face she demanded, "What the hell happened here?"

The gray haired man looked past her with wide terrified eyes. Stuttering, he tried to answer, "IIIIII…ttttt wa…wa…wa..s Va..ash the Stampede." He shook with fright as another of the men spoke in rapid sentences of how the notorious gunslinger had thrown himself in the path of Midvalley to save them and then had raced out of town to the north.

Lawren looked around disgustedly. Legato should have awakened her. After viewing this mess, she was unsure if Legato could take on him and survive. Whipping around, she left town at a run, ignoring the pain still wracking her body and hoping she wasn't too late to prevent disaster.

*********

Screams reached Lawren's ears as a brilliant flash lit the sky not far ahead of her. She instinctively threw up her arms to shield her eyes from the light. Lowering her arms, she realized she could hear someone was begging for something to stop. Legato was close, she could sense his presence. She hurried onward.

Topping a small pile of boulders, Lawren took in the situation at a glance. Several men bearing weapons surrounded two women. Both of them were lying tied up on the ground as the men moved closer to them. Legato was kneeling in front of a strange man in a red coat.

It was him! The weird geek she had met in the desert. That was Vash the Stampede? Lawren shook her head and realized he was holding a large gun to Legato's head. She heard the silent exchange between them as if they were speaking. Legato wished for death and he wanted death at the hands of Vash the Stampede. Vash wanted nothing more than to save everyone her without causing anyone to die.

Lawren shook her head and stood quickly. "Legato couldn't die," she thought frantically as she scrambled over another boulder that lay blocking her path. Her mouth opened to scream, but no sound came out. One loud report echoed off the rocks and Legato fell back to the sand.

Lawren looked forward from sightless eyes as her mind registered Legato's last thought. "Vash the Stampede will experience eternal pain and suffering, Master." Then he faded away as a cruel mocking laughter filled her skull. "Damn you Knives," she thought as tears slipped freely down her cheeks. "Damn you to Hell," she muttered before slipping into the waiting oblivion.

*********

A few hours later, Lawren groaned and rolled over in the sand. Her body really hurt now. Reality came back instantly as she scrambled to her feet. Glancing over the last of the boulders, she saw a body.

Carefully she approached the still figure. Her breath caught in her throat. Legato was smiling. It was a peaceful smile she thought as she knelt beside him. Her hand smoothed over his face. "It wasn't fair. This was all Knives' fault," she thought viciously.

Looking around, she found some of the tools left by the people that had been there earlier. Tears pouring down her face, she quietly dug a grave. As she worked, her mind played images of her time spent with Legato and of the one was responsible for sending him to his death.

*********

An hour later, Lawren stood back, making sure she had covered the grave with several heavy stones. She wanted to make sure no animals could get at the body. "Well, I never thought it would end like this. Maybe someday, we'll meet again somewhere." She sniffed again before continuing, "Your Master will answer to me someday… for now though, he's a dead man walking."

She turned to go, shrugging into Legato's heavy white coat. The material draped her frame and hung to the ground. Glancing over her shoulder one last time, she nodded, "I guess there's nothing else to say… except 'Thanks'."

"You're welcome…."

**********

Lawren trudged back into town determined to make something of her life before another day had passed. She noticed that the mess had been cleaned up and the bodies removed. She went to the undertaker's to find out what had happened to Midvalley's body. "You got that man in here that was wearing a black suit and a really loud pink shirt?", she inquired of the clerk.

The man behind the counter smiled in a gentle reassuring way. "Yes, he's here. Are you his next of kin? We would like to discuss arrangements with you if that's the case."

"I'm taking him with me."

"But… But… that's against policy. I can't just let you walk out of here with a body."

Her eyes flashed and locked into his. "Do you really want to argue with me?"

The harried clerk shook his head. "No I guess not. Right this way Miss."

Lawren made her way to the back and hefted the body over her shoulder. Striding out the front door, she threw the body over a waiting Thomas and started off down the street. "Miss, Miss? What are you going to do with him?"

"He's worth $$1 million, Dead or Alive. His next stop is at the fed office in the next town."

The clerk and several other people looked out of doorways and windows at the retreating figure. They were glad to see her go. After all, anyone associated with Vash the Stampede and his gang had no business around decent folks.

*********

Epilogue: 8 and 1/2 months later.

"It's a fine boy, Mrs. Bluesummers. You did just wonderful." The doctor smiled at his patient.

"Let me see him," she demanded. Lawren raised herself up on her elbows as a nurse brought her new son closer. A thatch of thick blue hair covered the baby's head.

Sitting up completely, she held out her arms. "May I please?"

The nurse smiled, "Of course, dear." She handled the bundle carefully over to the new mother. "Gently now, be sure to support his head with your arm."

Lawren smiled in wonder at the tiny infant. He made soft noises as she leaned down and gently kissed his forehead. "Hello baby… I guess you need a name."

The babe opened his eyes. Lawren smiled even broader as a brilliant platinum gaze settled on her face. She sighed momentarily. "It's a pity your father is dead… I think he would have been proud of you"

The nurse gently touched her shoulder again. "Do you have a name picked out for him yet, dear?"

Lawren smiled brightly at the nurse. "Yes, ma'am I do. His name is Lazarus… Lazarus Diaggrio Bluesummers."

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Well, there you have it - The final conclusion to Burgundy and Blood.

Do any of us Legato fans out there think it is possible for him to have any sort of feeling for anyone except Knives? Who knows!

I sort of like to think that maybe someone, somewhere on Planet Gunsmoke meant something to him at some time in his life.

Anyway, please R & R and let me know what you are thinking about this story!

Love and Peace,

Blackhat (^_~)

P.S. Don't think you've seen the last of Lawren or Lazarus just quite yet…

They will show up sooner or later in another story!