AN: I would just like to say.

Yes I do realize I have the grammar of a sixth grader. I can't help it and I'll be damned if I'm going to rack my brain fixing it over a fanfic.

I love doing fanfics, but I also realize that's all they are. They are fun.

As with my book which I hope to have finished in a few months, that I will actually put thought into.

I'm sorry for all of you that think grammar is so wonderful. As I have said before, If spell check doesn't fix it, it is not a problem!

Vash sighed as he leaned against the railing on the huge sand steamer he was riding.

He always loved this part of the ride. Loved when the suns were just about to set and the air was starting to cool. He loved the feeling of that chilly air hitting hit face.

Leaning over the edge Vash smiled as he watched the sand whiz by at a frightening speed.

It was truly amazing what humans could do after only a hundred years or so. They had gone from shipwrecked survivors to living like this.

They had done so much with so little.

Humans were amazing.

Looking over his shoulder he could just make out the form of the woman he loved. She was standing in the lunch line waiting patiently for her turn.

Vash face changed from his regular smile to that of a love sick goofy smile. Anyone that looked at him now would instantly know what was wrong with him.

He had actually thought he would never find another he could love as much as Rem. Never imagine he actually had the strength to love like that again.

It was hard sometimes…he knew that someday Meryl would die and he would be cursed to continue living. He wouldn't grow old and he wouldn't die like a normal human.

But he didn't like to think about that much.

Just as someone once said that the future is open…so is the present. He would live for today and love for today…and be damned the future until it came.

Vash wouldn't give up this wonderful feeling just because he was scared of losing it.

Vash stretched out his arms yawning wide.

He hadn't been getting much sleep lately. A certain hotheaded Vixen was keeping him well satisfied.

Vash blushed bright red as he remembered what happened last night…and the night before…and this morning. (cough)

Never mind about that.

Anyway he had finally come to a decision.

He didn't know if Meryl would go for it but it was a start.

That decision stemmed from him being tired of drifting. He wanted a place to settle down and to be happy. He needed a place that wouldn't freak out and scream when they found out he was Vash the Stampede.

And he had finally found it.

Well actually he already knew about the town but he was to stupid to think about.

It was simple really.

What was the only town that didn't hate his guts and actually liked him? A place that he had saved and he was the hero of.

Enepril City!

We can live in Enepril and no one is the wiser.

I could even get a job…maybe as the sheriff or something. Something that used my talents for the good of the town.

"Vash?"

Meryl came up beside him two sandwiches in hand. With a smile she handed one to him before she started on her own.

"So what you thinking about?"

Vash shrugged.

"Nothing really. I was kind of wondering how Millie and Knives are doing."

Meryl flinched slightly.

"I'm scared to find out. But surely he isn't well enough to do to much trouble yet."

Vash took a huge bite of his sandwich and answered, not caring one bit that he was talking with his mouth full.

"Naw, I don't think Knives will cause trouble yet anyway. He'll no doubt be wondering what's next. I think he'll wait for me until he makes a move."

"I hope you're right."

For a moment they both remained silent, as they watched the suns start to set.

It was beautiful really how the suns created such vibrant colors. There were reds, and oranges, purples and blues. A splash of color that was the same, yet different every time.

Vash had been watching sunsets and rises for little over a hundred years now, and he had yet to grown tired of it.

"I want to settle down Meryl."

Meryl blinked at him, sandwich forgotten.

"Meryl, I was thinking about moving to Enepril city. Remember that town?"

"Yes of course. It was the town you saved twice."

Vash nodded and smiled down at her.

"I would like it if you come with me. Will you?"

Meryl stared up at Vash her eyes wide.

He wants me to stay with him?

Meryl swallowed unsure of what to say.

She loved him. She knew that. And she thought that Vash might love her.

They hadn't talked about it yet. For now it was only sex…or at least that what she thought he thought. To her it was much more than the pleasure of the body.

Every time she was around him she felt so happy it hurt.

But as she said they hadn't talked about how they both felt. She was scared of what he might say to her. Vash was a pervert. She knew that much after traveling with him for so long. So what if this wasn't a forever thing? What if she was just throwing her heart away? After all Vash wasn't even human, what would he want with her in the end?

Meryl gave herself a hard mental slap.

Vash wasn't that kind of man.

Besides…he had asked her if she wanted to settle down with him. Granted it wasn't what she really wanted (a marriage proposal) but it was a step in the right direction.

"Sure Vash."

Two ridiculously long arms wrapped around her holding her close to him.

"I figure the town will welcome me. I'm so sick of screams when people learn who I am. I just want to live quietly for once."

Meryl smiled and kissed his neck. She really couldn't reach any higher but she still got the reaction she wanted. She felt Vash shiver against her.

"Don't start something you ain't going to finish."

He growled sexily into her hair.

Meryl snorted lightly as she then licked said skin.

"Who says I want to stop. We do have our own cabin."

Vash opened his mouth to comment on that when suddenly a red head girl came running out of the crowd.

"Eriks!"

Vash actually moaned at the interruption.

"What do you want Squirt!"

Meryl smiled at the little girl who somehow had made a big brother out of the legendary outlaw Vash the Stampede.

"Grandma wants to know if you're going to eat with us…and are we there yet?"

Meryl felt Vash's chuckled since she was still against him.

"Sure…just give us a moment."

The girl while still a kid wasn't that young. She gave Vash a disgusted look. The kind of look a little sister would give her brother after seeing him kiss his girlfriend. It was really sweet actually.

Meryl thought back to a week ago.

Knives had just been taken in and hadn't even woken up yet. He's condition while not bad wasn't good either. He had lost a lot of blood and being carried over a shoulder wasn't the best way to move a wounded man.

(flashback)

"What do you mean you have to go?"

"I just do Meryl. I…I promised someone I would come back and see them someday."

Meryl fairly saw red at this. He had promised someone…WHO…if it was a woman she swore to god she would kill him.

"Who!"

Flames jumped up behind her as jealously made her skin green. Her and Vash had just become lovers and she would be damn if she was going to be used and then abused.

Vash's eyes got really big in fear as he looked at her.

"Uh…Lina."

He said without thinking.

"LINA! You asshole!"

Meryl had proceeded to try and kill him. She was feeling so betrayed…so hurt. She really thought he cared about her. Really thought she was special.

Vash was confused as hell as he grabbed her hands to save his face anymore abuse.

"What the hell is wrong with you?"

Meryl growled at him.

"Oh nothing! I'm just the type to gets angry when their lover leaves to visit his other girlfriends!"

Vash turned an interesting shade of pink at that moment. She wasn't sure why he was blushing. Was it the girlfriend part or the part when she called him lover.

"I don't have another girlfriend!"

He said still confused.

"Oh ya…who the hell is Lina, the girl you promised you would come back to!?"

Vash blinked once then twice before suddenly bursting out in a hardy laugh. It was so genuine and heart felt that Meryl was stunned.

"What?"

Meryl asked now confused herself.

"Meryl. Lina isn't my girlfriend."

Meryl gave Vash a hard eye, which made him squirm a little in his chair. With a deep sigh he suddenly reached over and grabbed Meryl by the waist and forced her onto his lap.

Meryl fought him at first but after a moment of fruitless struggle she slumped against him.

Vash smiled and lightly exhaled into her ear. Meryl stiffened as she felt a sudden heat in her belly.

"Who is she then!?"

Meryl forced herself to ignore the fire within and instead demand answers.

Vash smiled as he held her closer to his body. They both felt themselves kind of become puddy and almost melt into one another.

"She's a little 12 year old girl that saved my life awhile back. I lived with her and her grandmother awhile. I wanted to see them again."

Meryl turned her upper body around she that she could see his face.

"You're not lying?"

Vash rolled his eyes before tracing a finger down the side of her face.

"Of course not."

Meryl smiled wickedly as she took his hand and placed said finger into her mouth. Vash stiffened in more ways than one underneath her.

"Ok…I'm going with you though."

"Huh?"

Vash tried to think, but it was very hard with Meryl doing that tongue mouth thing she did on his fingers.

"I'm going to see Lina with you. Just to make sure."

Meryl turned completely around straddling his hips. This in turn made every coherent thought in Vash's head simply disappear with a flutter.

"Uh um…sure."

He said as he started to try and get Meryl's shirt off.

(end flash back)

Meryl smiled at the girl. Somehow visiting had turned into, why don't you live here. Which Vash turned down. The last time he was in the town the people hadn't bee to nice. So somehow that turned into since you can't stay here we'll go with you.

Vash had been slightly surprised but also very pleased.

Meryl could tell that Lina and her grandmother meant a lot to Vash. They were like his family, hell they were his family.

"So Eriks don't keep Grandma waiting."

Vash sighed as he let go of Meryl.

"Lina, you know what my name is."

Lina frowned slightly as she looked at him. He was so different from the light hearted man she had first met. But he was also the same as well.

"I know that, but I like the name Eriks better. People don't freak when I say I know a man named Eriks."

Vash chuckled again at this.

"That they don't. Alright Lina lead the way."

Vash gave Meryl a look that said sorry, and don't think you're off the hook yet.

Meryl only smiled and blew him a kiss.

Men.

She thought with a mental laugh.

Knives was feeling a lot better after his long nap. He felt almost healed in fact. That was truly amazing to him. He had never healed from gunshots wounds so quickly. Normally it took him twice…or even triple the amount of time.

Currently Knives was seriously thinking about trying on the new cloths had Millie had bought him. He was sick of being in bed and really wanted…if not walk around at least go outside to feel the suns.

He didn't know where Millie went this time. She wasn't in the house he knew that much. Probably off shopping for dinner or something. Judging by the shadows outside it looked like he had been sleeping for quiet a few hours, it was almost evening.

Knives eyed the bag that held his new cloths and coat.

Reaching over he grabbed it feeling only a twitch of pain, more of a deep soreness that anything else.

It took him awhile to get dressed. One reason he was extremly slow since he didn't want to feel any pain. The other reason was the outfit was a little complicated to put together.

There were a lot of straps and buckles to work with.

However he figured it out easily enough and he finally was dressed in something other than his pajamas or birthday suit.

It felt good really.

Gathering his strength Knives allowed his legs to slip off the bed. Taking a deep breath he got to his feet.

"UGH!"

Using the nearby wall Knives kept himself upright…but just barely.

Breathing hard he wondered how in the hell he had been able to attack Millie the other day. The pain in his legs was almost enough to make him want to get back into bed. However he was determined. He wanted to go outside and sit in the sun for a while.

He was sick of that bed and the house. He had to get out!

Knives put on the coat that Millie had given him. He smiled to himself as it proved to be just his size. It fit really nice, even better than his old outfit.

Knives clinched his hands together in a fist and took a small step…well a shuffle really. His foot hardly left the ground and more or less just slide forward.

He jerked at the burning sensation in his thighs.

God damn it Vash. Did you half to shoot me four times? I'm sure just once would have worked!

It took him nearly 10 minutes but he finally made it to the door.

Almost there…just a little further.

Opening the door was easy enough. Now came the hard part…he would have to walk without the walls help to the bench he had been staring at since he woke up.

He glanced up and around as the harsh light of the twin suns beat down.

There were few humans out this time of day. It was simply to hot for them.

Well it wasn't to hot for him.

His eyes focused on the bench. It was sitting innocently by a large water fountain that the humans had made. It looked comfortable and warm. If only he could make it that far.

Taking a deep breath he left the safety of the wall. If he fell now it was likely he wouldn't be able to get up right away.

Determined like never before he took another step…and another. Slowly the bench came closer and closer.

He felt himself starting to tire. It was so hard to keep walking and forcing his legs to move. They hurt so much he could hardly stand it.

Almost there!

With finally last ditch effort Knives barely made it to the bench. Sighing in relief he plopped down so that the consuming pain in his legs would go away.

Breathing hard he let himself relax and absorb the power rays of the suns. It felt really nice after being coped up for so long.

Tilting his head back he allowed himself to relax enough to close his eyes.

This was nice.

The suns were hot on his skin and the sound of water sounded cool behind him, it was very nice.

He felt at ease for once, surprisingly peaceful.

I don't want to worry anymore. I don't want to hate anymore.

Knives sighed, he was tired true…but it wasn't just a physical tired. He was worn out mentally as well. For over a hundred years he had been fighting his brother.

He had done everything he could possibly think of to make his hate humans.

Yet nothing ever worked.

Vash was exactly the same goody over sensitive big ass crybaby.

He had to finally admit…that he could never change his brother. It was impossible. Rem's silly teachings were too deeply engraved.

Rem…

Knives said softly in his mind.

He remembered everything about her. The way her hair seemed so dark next to his brothers. The way she was always saying the strangest things about live and love. She used to talk about a man named Alex.

Knives remembered this clearly.

Vash had been obsessed with the thought of that man. I suspect it was because he loved Rem so much he wanted to know about the people she loved. It wasn't like we were socially introduced or anything. We never knew anyone at the time except the other crewmembers.

Knives supposed he had liked Rem as much as his brother. She had been the only one to really care about them. The others just kind of allowed them to stay.

It was Rem who saved us. I heard Steve talking about it. She had actually placed her body between them and us.

I had planned to let Rem live. She would have been with us. But she chose to save everyone else. I will never understand that. Why would she choose to die?

Knives remembered the Captain hadn't been too bad. He had been intelligent and quick. He made no excuses for what his kind had done to the earth. He hadn't even tried to scream before Knives had shot him.

He had looked at me in shock and…and disappointment. I don't think he was disappointed with me though. I think he was sad that he had failed to teach me better.

Knives laughed softly at this thought.

To teach me better.

The captain might have missed some of his education…but he had nothing to worry about. Steve had filled in the holes. Steve had taught him plenty. That asshole had taught him that humans were weak and scared creatures that would never accept him or his brother.

Steve had been nothing but a big scared bully. He had used his superior strength and size to hurt them. He had beaten them every chance he got.

He had been physically and emotionally abusive.

It was because of Steve that Knives truly hated humans.

Knives stopped his train of thought with that.

I let that one human decide the fate of the others. I know now it was because of my hatred toward Steve that I tried to kill everyone.

Knives frowned slightly.

Knives hated Steve. Hated him to the depth of his soul and back. If possible he wished was alive so he could torture him slowly and painfully. Steve deserved it for the things he had done.

I hate him…yet…

The frowned deepened.

Yet I had let him influence me so much. I let him shape my ideas on humans. That disgusting pitiful human does deserve that kind of honor!

He wouldn't let Steve have the honor! He wanted to spit on the memory of that man. He wanted to tear his very being out of existence. No one here but his brother and Knives even knew the man had lived. And if Knives forgot him…then he would gone.

Knives was sure that Vash probably didn't think much about him.

Steve would cease to be…even in memory if Knives forgot him.
And he would forget him. Knives would start over. He would wash every idea he had about the Spiders and Butterflies. He would watch and relearn.

I'll give humans a chance. That's all Vash wants anyway. I won't let that human decide what I want anymore!

Knives felt suddenly at ease with himself. It was if a great weight had been taken off his shoulders. He opened his eyes slightly a carefree smile on his face as he just enjoyed being alive.

I wonder why I didn't see it earlier.

"Mr. Knives?"

Knives startled slightly at Millie gentle and innocent voice.

Once again he started to feel funny as he looked at her.

She looks different in the sunlight.

It was true…in the house and its dim one lamplight she had looked different. She had seemed pretty but no overly so…however out here in the suns he could see her. See her as she was meant to be seen…and she was beautiful.

He couldn't help but notice how shiny and pretty her hair was. It was so long and such a thick dark brown mass.

Her eyes which he had always thought were a dark blue, proved to be much lighter than his own. They were a pale blue just a few shades lighter than the sky above him.

Millie smiled again, something she did way to often in his mind…yet not nearly often enough, as she sat down besides him.

Knives let his eyes flicker toward her then quickly away. That damn strange feeling was back. It was a tight tingly feeling in his stomach that seemed to only happen when she got near him.

He didn't understand it, he liked it even less.

"I'm really happy you're feeling better Mr. Knives."

Knives grunted wishing she would just go away so his stomach would calm down. It felt like something was crawling around inside.

"And I'm glad the coat fits. It looks very nice on you."

Millie reached out and casually wiped some sand off that the wind had placed on his shoulder. Knives stiffened as his mind went into overload.

He didn't understand what was happening to him. Why did Millie's touch make him shiver like that?

And why did the fact she complimented his looks make him feel so good?

"Are you ok? Your cheeks are flushed."

Knives cursed himself…he was blushing, he was seriously blushing. But why? He wasn't really that embarrassed…just funny feeling.

With a frown on her face, Millie suddenly reached up and touched his forehead looking for the fever that had been popping up every now and then. Her hand felt surprisingly cool and smooth against his forehead.

Knives felt himself go into a panic. If he had been able to run away he would have. His heart felt like it was going to explode in his chest.

His eyes wide Knives reached up and took her hand away.

He suddenly realized with some alarm and annoyance that although the panic disappeared the anxious feeling did not.

"Uh…"

He said trying to think of something to distract her. Millie was very talkative and would usually drop something that bothered him if he suddenly switched topics. For someone that seemed so dense she was really good at picking up on his sometimes subtle hints.

"How is your neck?"

Knives cursed himself. Why did he bring that up? He didn't want to talk about that. He didn't want her to ask why or why not. He didn't know himself.

Stupid stupid baka!

Surprisingly Millie didn't take her hand away from his. Instead she used her other hand to touch the small but rather deep scratch

Knives eyebrows drew together as he noticed how deep it was. He hadn't realized how close he had been to killing her. Just a little bit more pressure and her life vein would have been severed.

"Its fine Knives. Its stings a little but that's it. Doesn't even need stitches."

Knives glanced down at their joined hands. Neither of them had bothered to untangle them. In fact somehow their touch had gone from his simply holding her hand to having his fingers entwined with hers.

He didn't like it…but then again he did. He didn't want to remove his hand.

"You should at least cover it."

He tried to make it sound like he didn't give a rat's ass about what she did with the wound. However by the look in her eyes he could tell she didn't buy it.

"I suppose, I haven't really thought about it. Its really not that bad."

Knives turned his head away, not really wanting to say anything else but at the same time feeling like he had to.

What was with him lately! He was being worst than his brother with all his contradicting emotions.

Knives felt the words on his tongue. They wanted out and keeping them in was all but making his eyes water.

"I am sorry."

Knives grunted as he removed his hand and turned all the way around. He would have simply got up and left but because of his wounds he could not.

What am I doing saying sorry to a Spider! I have nothing to apologize for. Humans are imperfect beings that should be d…

Knives stopped himself as he realized what he was ranting in his head.

I told myself I would give them a chance. This is not giving them a chance.

Surprisingly Millie didn't' remark on his comment. Instead she stood up and smiled at him.

"Do you want to go back inside?"

Knives nodded, true he hadn't been out long but already he could see humans start to mill around. He didn't want to bother with them.

Millie bent over which nearly caused a panic attack in Knives, and gently wrapped her arm around his waist.

She didn't put his arm around her neck because that would most like cause some pain.

So with that she grunted slightly a stood up.

Knives blinked at her as she fairly dragged him back into the house. He wasn't doing much just moving his legs so he wouldn't be totally dragged.

Damn she's a strong one.

Granted Knives didn't know a lot about human females, but weren't they supposed to be weaker than the males?

In a lot less time that it took to get outside, Knives and Millie were inside.

Millie sensing that perhaps Knives didn't want to go back to bed instead put him in a chair that was by the window.

"There we go, all nice and comfy I hope?"

Knives didn't bother to answer her since it seemed like she was talking to herself more than him. She didn't that a lot, just random prattle.

He should be annoyed by it. He had expected to be annoyed by it, but the thing was…he wasn't? That in itself really confused him.

Ah what the fuck…everything about Millie confuses me!

"Do you want to play Chest again Mr. Knives?"

Knives narrowed his eyes at her.

"No, not right now."

Millie pouted a little bit before brightening up again.

"Well how about I teach you a card game?"

Knives eyed the deck of cards on the table. Millie had bought them yesterday when she had gotten him clothes.

He had never before wanted to play cards. It seemed like a huge waste of time to him.

But…it wasn't like he wasn't wasting time now. Might as well do something constructive…even it was learning another human game.

Besides it might not be that bad, Chess after all was a human game.

"Fine."

Millie clapped her hands together like a small child her happy pure smile radiating through the room. Knives could only blink at it and wonder why she took such joy in such small trivial things.

Quickly she moved the table that they had been using for chess and sat down beside him.

Then she started to explain the fundamentals of…Old maid (SNICKER just kidding)

She started to teach him poker.

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN THE SAND STEAMERS BROKEN!!"

With that screamed Vash started jumping up and down screaming out the must vulgar and inventive curses that Meryl and one of the Ships crewmates have ever heard.

He said things that would have made God blush in embarrassment.

Meryl made a wow mouth movement. She would never have imagined goody two shoe Vash being able to comprehend those words much less scream them out.

"Damn Vash…"

She said somewhere in-between being impressed with his vocabulary and mortified that he was acting like a three year old.

"You don't understand Meryl!"

He finally said after a few more jumps and some flashy words that nether Meryl or the crew guy even knew existed.

"By the time we get back now…whether we wait on the Steamer or take Thomas's Knives is going to be well enough to do Millie some serious harm!"

"Who's Knives?"

Asked the kid that had been sent to tell the passengers about the delay.

"My homicidal manic brother that I shot so he would stop killing! Except he won't stop and he's just going to kill Millie and probably destroy the town we left them in, dear god almighty!"

Vash screamed out without really thinking. In fact he wasn't thinking at all.

What was he going to do? What was Knives going to do? What was Millie going to do?

Would she realize they were late and run for the hills? Would she try and tough it out?

He didn't know!

"Vash! What about a bus? Would that get us there in time?"

Vash sat down with a plunk. He was in such a mood that he barely even realized the crewmember had left to tell the rest of the passengers the bad news.

"Where are we going to find a bus? We are in the middle of now where!"

Meryl sighed…that was true…all too true.

Meryl quietly closed the door that the crew guy had neglected to close. She then walked over to her love and sat down on his lap.

The action startled Vash a little, especially as she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him on the lips.

"Don't make me, handsome, wash that mouth out with soup."

Meryl spoke her lips still touching Vash's. She was trying to settle him down and it was working. Vash's eyes got kind of dazed and his arms came up to wrap around her waist.

"Is that a promise?"

"Hmmm"

Meryl answered back as she flicked her tongue over his lips to taste him.

Vash she had been learning over the past week was…how should she say this, active. It took almost nothing at all to get him up and going so to speak.

"We…really…need…to."

Vash started to say as he kissed down Meryl's neck. Meryl shuddered slightly at the feeling of his lips and breath.

"To…"

He continued.

"Think about this. Knives is dangerous."

Meryl didn't answer as she slipped her hands under his shirt. She let her hands roam over the scared body of her lover, not caring one bit about the damaged flesh.

"Meryl…"

He asked pleading.

Meryl rolled her eyes as she sat back and stopped torturing him.

If Vash was willing to stop playing then it must really be bothering him. Vash was and will always be a pervert.

"Come on Vash. Lets go on deck and think about this. I'm sure we'll think of something. We still have a few days right?"

Vash nodded and after Meryl got off him stood up. He followed her their hands entwined up to the deck. Not many people were up there this time of day but that was fine.

"Hey?"

Said Vash as he looked up and for a moment forgot about his brother.

"hey what?"

Vash's eyes narrowed as he walked over to the railing trying to look out on the desert.

"Its that…NO…surely the fates don't hate me this much!"

"What? I don't see…"

Meryl stopped as she also saw something out in the sand.

"Oh Vash…is that me or does that look like…"

"Brilliant Dynamite Neon."

Vash started punching the railing crying out how everyone upstairs hated him and how death and poverty AND their friends just loved to visit him.

The few people that were on the deck looked at him weirdly.

"I think this is the last time I'm going to ride on a sand steamer."

Meryl said annoyed. This was only her third trip on one, the first one said bad guy attacked. The second one the guys with that family dispute attacked…and now this.

Vash suddenly stopped abusing the steamer and calmed down enough to study the situation.

"Does look like they're going to attack. I think they only work at night or something. Maybe I should…"

"Don't even think about it Broomhead!"

Meryl grabbed Vash by the shirt being him down to her level.

"Huh?"

Meryl glared at Vash causing him to swallow nervously.

"You remember what happened last time. B.D.N is out to get you!"

"Well we might be able to borrow a car from him or something. This is important!"

Meryl twitched and suddenly whirled around.

"Meryl?"

"Do what you want! I can't stop you, but if you die I will hate you forever! I'm going back to our room!"

Vash blinked.

Ok…

"Guess that settles it."

With an up and over the side rail Vash jumped off the sand steamer.

It was a long fall but he just rolled with it. The sand was soft enough so that he didn't hurt himself.

Whistling to himself to try and forget Meryl's angry face, he double-checked his gun to make sure he had bullets…just in case and started forward.

He was used to walking alone in the desert. Before Meryl and all of them he had done it a lot. Since he usually didn't have much money on him that left walking. Of course he could have bought a Thomas…but he really didn't like those stinky animals.

So that left walking. He didn't mind it either.

It was peaceful, and allowed him time to think.

Walking easily over a small dune and some rocks Vash came up onto the camp rather quickly. He was slightly surprised by this. It had taken almost no time at all to reach them. From the sand steamer they had looked rather far away.

Vash shrugged to himself and continued on.

Must have been a mirage from the shape of the sand dunes and rocks or something.

The camp was also much larger than he had first thought. Several large tents dotted the area and a lot more smaller sleeping tents were planted all over the place. Vash did a quick count of all the people he could see. It looked like there was about a hundred men at this camp. Not good…but then again it was nothing he couldn't handle.

The only one that would be a problem was B.D.N.

Suddenly Vash heard the unmistakable click of a gun…and half a second later the rattle of said gun shooting at him.

Screaming high and shrill like a little girl Vash jumped around somehow managing to dodge all the bullets.

He took a dive behind a rock that was just big enough to shield him.

Damn why does this always happen to me?

He withdrew his gun hoping he wouldn't have to use it.

"He's over here!"

Vash's face fell as he was forced to roll and avoid yet more gunfire. Bullets riddled the rock he had just been sitting against.

"SHIT!"

Vash screamed as he searched for another hiding place. It wasn't good. Where the hell were these guys. He didn't see anyone! And he couldn't see how they could have gotten behind him with noticing!

Only one thing to do. Better do it quick before I die.

"TIME OUT! I'm HERE ON BUSINESS! I need to talk to Brilliant Dynamite Neon!"

Vash waited hands up in the air and his gun pointed downward in a non-threatening position. No new bullets went flying his way so he assumed someone was thinking his request.

"Who are you!?"

A voice finally asked loudly. It was coming from over by the sands dunes. Vash glanced over there and smiled. No wonder he hadn't seen them. They were actually in the sand, a kind of altered foxhole so to speak. Even now Vash couldn't really see them…just the ends of the guns that peeked out of the sand.

"VASH THE STAMPEDE!"

Vash smiled as he heard total silence follow. No doubt he had startled the hell out of them.

Hey it helped to be famous sometimes.

After a tense moment Vash heard someone telling him to come on and the boss will see you.

Smiling widely Vash waved at the guy in the sand. He saw the sand shift as no doubt the guy startled at being found.

Another man came forward visibly shaking and told Vash to follow him. Vash found it rather weird to see them not in their costumes. They hardly looked like the same gang he had fought last time.

Vash deciding to use a little bit of intimidation followed the man just a little to close to the guy for his comfort. He kept glancing back as if expecting a knife in the back. However Vash just smiled at him, which didn't seem to calm the guy one bit.

"Here."

He said pointing to a tent.

Vash nodded his thanks and walked in.

"Hello Vash!
Said a deep and familiar voice.

Vash smiled and raised his hand to the outlaw that had both almost killed him and then saved him.

"Hi, long time no see."

Neon leaned his great bulk back in a large plushy chair. Like the rest of the inside of the tent it was very bright and very extravagant. There actually wasn't much in the tent besides guns, maps, papers and other business stuff. However like he said everything that was in the tent was bright.

That was one thing about Neon. He liked it flashy.

"What are you doing here Vash the Stampede? Do you want to continue our duel? Or are you just going to blow us up like you did August?"

Vash flinched slightly. Damn he hated it when people brought up August and July.

"Low blow Neon."

Neon studied Vash a moment his face almost terrifying to look at. That was one thing Vash would never forget about Neon. He had a scary face. Perfect for the kind of job he did.

"If you tell me what happened…I might let you leave here without a fight. If you don't we'll pick up where we left off."

Vash sighed deeply.

"Only if you lend me a car for a couple of days."

"Deal."

Vash opened his mouth…and began from the beginning. Like when he had told Meryl he didn't leave anything out. The SEEDS ships, Rem, his brother and the hundred so years he had been here was told. He ended his story with what happened at August.

"I didn't want to do it. I didn't know it at the time but Legato had the arm I lost and was using it to control me."

Vash looked up at neon. The large man had his head down deep in thought. No doubt he had trouble believing everything Vash said. It would be hard for anyone to swallow.

Suddenly Neon started to laugh. A huge hearty almost insane laugh. Vash swallowed a little nervous that perhaps Neon had lost his mind or something.

"I hate to admit it Vash, but you by far out sparkle me. Take the car…don't worry about giving it back. I don't want to ever see you again!"

Vash laughed nervously and muttered a thanks before he got up and went to get his car.

That man is really strange. But what can I say…he's a human. They do tend to do weird things. Oh well I got a car that's all that matters now.