Trigun Fan Fiction ❯ CHECKMATE: A Spiders Beauty ❯ 10....seriously though, ain't Vash just a hottie??? ( Chapter 10 )

AN: a long chapter :P Sorry about taking so long to post this. We've been having computer trouble. The damn thing won't connect for the life of me. It takes like over an hour of consent dialing in to finally get connected. And even then the connection sucks!

Knives walked into the bar. He kept his head down and his cloak wrapped tightly around his head. It had been almost two months since he had escaped his brother. Two months of endless drifting. It had been hell, pure and simple. In fact the only good part of it was that his wounds were completely healed now, even the burns of his hands.

He never thought about how wonderful life could seem…even a life like the one he was living now, could be without pain.

Knives went to a table in darkened corner and sat down.

He was so exhausted. He couldn't remember ever being this tired. And that said something considering he was a hundred and thirty some years old.

As Knives got comfortable, a waitress came over to him and asked if he wanted anything.

Knives forced himself not to shudder at how close she was to him.

Disgusting humans.

He ordered water and a small plate of food. The waitress nodded and trying to make small talk as she took his order. Knives completely ignored her. After a moment she got the hint and with a frown she left.

Knives watched her go, wondering how long he would have to wait for his food this time. Places like this he had discovered were notoriously sloppy when it came to customer service.

He was actually doing pretty well for himself when concerning humans. Before the battle with Vash he couldn't stand them. In fact Legato was the only human he even looked at for an extended period of time.

There had been Midvalley the Hornfreak and Chapel…but they had both been dead men walking. They had been nothing but tools to him.

Well anyway…concerning humans, it was really a jump forward for Knives to actually be in a bar filled with humans, and eating food prepared by humans.

Have I slipped this low?

Knives glanced around him. Dirty disgusting humans, eating, drinking and talking as if they had a right to. They didn't have a right to anything. They should be all dead. They would have been all dead if it wasn't for Rem.

Gods he hated this.

Knives shook his head, clearing it of his current thoughts. He then looked quickly at his money wondering how long it would last.

After a moment's thought he decided not long enough. He would have to do something to get more.

Kill someone and rob them was the obvious choice. However Knives had already made a decision about unnecessary deaths. His brother was following him. He knew this; he could feel Vash when he slept. So to make it harder to find him Knives had decided not to kill anyone.

That's throwing him for a loop certainly. I wonder what he thinks about my tolerance all of a sudden?

The waitress interrupted his thoughts as she dropped his food off. She gave him a fake smile and walked away, there was no small talk this time.

Knives attacked his food just now realizing how famished he was.

Knives shifted in his seat feeling uncomfortable thinking about his brother. They would face off again soon. That much he knew. He could only run for so long. And unless he somehow gave the baka the slip he would have to keep running.

Knives wondered what he would say to his brother.

Don't think about it. Money…I need more money.

But what could he do to get some money?

Knives slowed down on destroying his lunch. For a moment he chewed thoughtfully.

It was at times like this when Knives missed Legato the most.

Dealing with humans was easy with him around. Just a simple thought and they dropped dead…or did anything we wanted.

Knives allowed his thoughts to drift to his late henchmen.

Legato had been a strange human. His blue hair and golden eyes had been proof enough to that. But there had been more to the human, lots more.

His powers of the human mind and body were quiet extraordinary. A real oddity among humans.

It was when Knives had given Legato the arm that his powers became beyond useful. Legato could actually force Vash into a transformation if the gunman was highly stressed. He used the link to Vash ruthlessly as well. Making Vash feel pain and suffering like never before.

He served his purpose. If only more humans were like him. I might be persuaded to let them live. Sadly enough Legato was one of a kind.

Knives pushed away his meal only half finished. He was still hungry but at least he wasn't starving now. He didn't like to be to full. It slowed one down and made them easier targets.

It was better to remain a little hungry and a little tired, and remain sharp.

Knives wondered if he should get a room for the night. He hadn't slept in a bed for almost a week now. Always on the run…never stay in a town long.

Always hungry, always tired.

When had he become like this? So pathetic and weak, running from his brother. When had he become so tired in his soul?

There were so many things he had to do. He had to kill the human race. He had to save his kin the plants. Yet…out of all those things he needed to do…he really only wanted tow things.

He just wanted to be left alone…that…and he wanted…

"Millie…"

Knives breathed the word. Closing his eyes tightly Knives tried to force the image of a brown haired beauty out of his head.

Even after two months he was still plagued by her. He saw her face in his dreams, heard her voice, and saw her in every woman that was tall, or had brown hair.

Why can't I forget about you? Why won't you leave me in peace?

He missed her. It was as simple as that. He couldn't deny it. He couldn't ignore it. He missed the sound of her voice, of her laughter. He missed her beautiful eyes…eyes a few shades lighter than the sky. Hell he even missed getting his ass kicked in chess.

This is pathetic. My body is still betraying me. All these emotions, all they are, are creations that lust has created. Lust and nothing more. If I had slept with the human and gotten this out of my system I would be fine right now.

Knives laid some money of the table before standing up. He felt like shit, and was actually very reluctant to leave what was left of his meal. He was still very hungry.

The problem was he didn't feel like eating. He didn't feel like doing anything.

Making his way back outside, Knives blinked in the glare of the double suns.

It was unbearably hot today as the suns beat down on the living below. The suns coupled with the fact that there was no wind today made it even worse.

Knives stopped as a group of about six kids suddenly went barrowing past him. They were playing with a large red ball.

They didn't seem to notice the heat.

How can they do that?

Knives wondered.

How can they act like they are in Eden and not hell? How can they play and have fun with all this misery around them?

Knives closed his eyes…remembering asking the same question once to Millie.

What had she said? Something about kids being little angels.

Angels in hell. He didn't understand then, and he didn't understand now.

Forcing his feet to move Knives wondered into one of the many alleys of the city.

He had thought about a bed tonight…but…

Not tonight. Maybe tomorrow. I'm too tired to look right now.

Finding a dry and somewhat clean spot Knives slumped down to the ground in a broken down heap.

He almost wished his brother would find him. At least then he could rest and be done with this. But…he wouldn't make it easy on the idiot.

It's my nature not to go down without a fight. I will fight you to the end brother.

Knives closed his eyes.

"Hey shit head! Hey I'm talking to you!"

Knives grunted in surprise and pain as a foot made contact with his side. Somewhat angry but not angry enough to actually get up and kill this vermin, Knives opened his eyes.

Before him were several humans. They were all wearing the same jackets… which suggested they were a group or something.

Knives simply stared at them. He didn't answer them, nor was he afraid.

"Go away."

Knives spoke softly, letting on a tiny bit of his anger show in his voice. He was starting to be seriously annoyed by these insects. He was even starting to think maybe he should re-think his no killing policy. It would be simple really. A bullet hole in each of their foreheads. A very clean kill, something totally painless for them. Vash might not even link the deaths to him.

But…if I kill them I'll have to go sleep somewhere else.

And moving right now wasn't something he really wanted to do. He just wanted to sleep. Why wouldn't they just leave him alone?

"What was that maggot? Hey I think blondie here said something! Now listen YOU, this is our territory. You wanna crash, you gotta fork the cash! So give us what you got!"

The human held out his hand in an expectant gesture. Knives looked at that hand like it was the filthiest most vile thing on the planet. Which at that moment, to Knives it was.

A quick flick, a flash of silver, was all that the thug saw before his hand suddenly detached itself from his arm

"AH FUCK!"

The thug fell back onto his friends. Chaos followed as they all tried to figure out what happened. Several were shouting out questions and the others were just plain getting in the way.

Knives sneered disgusted as he wiped his blade against his cloak. These humans were just a bunch of undisciplined worms.

These men were nothing like the GunHo Guns. They were stupid and petty. They deserved to die!

He stood up sighing in annoyance that now he was going to have to leave town. He would have to find somewhere out in the desert to sleep tonight.

The thug that he had injured was still screaming. The sound was high and shrill.

Disgusting!

Why couldn't more humans be like Legato…or even the Hornfreak? Both had died without fuss and without screaming.

The noise was enough to shred what little patience he had left.

"THAT BASTARD KILL HIM!"

Six shots fired so fast they sounded like one rang out and echoed through the air.

Six bodies fell to the ground…moaning in pain. Moaning…but not dead.

Knives blinked in surprise then looked at his smoking gun as if it were to blame for his aim.

I didn't kill them?

Knives walked over to the downed men. Each had a bullet in their left shoulder. In the exact same place…clean and through. It was enough to down them without killing them. It took a great amount of skill to hit just the right place so a man wouldn't bleed to death. So he couldn't blame this incident on a bad aim. He had been perfect. He was always perfect in his shots.

What the hell?

Knives shook his head as if to clear it and reloaded his gun. He quietly pointed it at the man with the missing hand. He hadn't been shot, but when his buddies went down so did he.

The man's screams became silent as Knives aimed at his head.

His arm was shaking. Why was his arm shaking?

Knives focused, his blue eyes burning holes into the man looking up at him. The human looked terrified. He should be terrified. He had just kicked and threatened the most dangerous creature on the planet.

He deserved to die for his stupidity.

Knives felt his arm stiffen and suddenly felt like it was filled with lead. He was having a hard time keeping it trained on the human's head.

Knives took a deep breath and forced his finger to move. He pressed the trigger…the man screamed.

The bullet passed harmlessly into the dirt beside the human's head.

The man blinked as if unsure what to do since he was still alive. Dust rose in a billowing cloud, slowly rising up and away.

Knives looked at his gun again wondering if maybe it was off?

He had been aiming at the mans head. He had been trying to kill him.

Three more shots fired from the gun…each one missed the human by only millimeters.

"Why can't I shoot you!?"

Spiders kill the butterfly! I have to kill the spiders! I want to kill this man. I want to see his blood and his pain before he becomes nothing. A corpse is nothing. It's empowering to see the nothing I've created out of something.

But a voice. A gentle and sweet voice spoke to him.

But what right do you have to kill the Spiders Knives?

NO…this can't be happening! GET OUT OF MY HEAD! I HATE YOU!

Knives screamed out in frustration. It was surreal. Like he couldn't control his own body anymore. Every single of his shots were altered at the last moment…altered so they didn't kill the human.

The gun dropped to the ground as Knives suddenly turned and ran. He ran hard and he ran fast.

In no time at all he was out of the city and beyond. He used what strength he had left to get as far away from that thug as he could.

Finally after what seemed like an eternity to Knives, he collapsed onto the ground totally and utterly exhausted.

"WHY! MILLIE!"

Ramming his fist into the ground, he cursed that human's very existence and more.

Why couldn't she just leave him alone? Why even though he was a world away, why couldn't he forget her.

Everything she had said to him, every word and every gesture was so crystal clear in his mind that it hurt.

What right do you have to kill the spider? Have you ever looked closely at a spider Mr. Knives? You can't touch anything without destroying it!

Tears flowed from his eyes. Tears of hate and sorrow, tears of confusion and pain, filled with the emotions that someone one tall woman had given him. They made their way down his cheeks and onto the sandy ground beneath him.

What was he to do?

Should he really continue on his mission? Could he continue on his mission?

I tried to kill that human. I really tried, yet everything I did was somehow stopped. A part of me…stopped myself.

Knives shook in fury and desperation.

If he couldn't kill humans…then what was his life worth? What was his purpose for living if he couldn't save his kin?

He had been given life by that anonymous plant over a hundred years ago. Given life and a body that could move and think, he wasn't just a slave of the human race. He was supposed to be their killer and the plants salvation.

Except…he hadn't saved them.

Humans still lived and no matter what he did nothing ever worked.

What was his worth?

I have to kill them. I will accomplish my destiny. I will do my kin proud. I will kill!

Knives snarled into the hot sand underneath him.

It wasn't true. He could still kill. He hadn't lost his will to destroy the human race.

He would prove it to!

"There as some things…dear brother that even you don't know about our bodies. You've spent too much time with humans, and not enough studying your body. We have more than one weapon…more than the Angel arm. And this weapon…"

Knives laughed softly. A chilling sound that had no humor or mirth in it. It was callous and cold. A laugh of death.

"There are reasons I've never used it though. But now…now I have nothing else to lose."
Be prepared brother. I will no longer wait for you. The humans die now.

Millie sighed as she looked over another stack of papers that the company had sent her.

Leafing through the mess she tried to decide what their clients thought was important and what actually was important. It was slow and tedious work. Not the kind that Millie liked…but it occupied the mind. It kept her busy and her mind focused.

"Millie? Are you going to come with us to lunch, or are you going to stay in this office all day? I swear you're becoming a worse workaholic than Meryl was."

Millie glanced up at her coworker an embarrassed smile on her face.

"Is it lunch time already? My how the time flies around here."

Millie quickly grabbed her bag and followed Corre. She stopped, her hand on the doorknob ready to close the door, as some of Corre's words finally sunk in.

A worse workaholic than Meryl? Is that what I'm becoming? I remember being so annoyed with her all the time. Meryl would never just stop and relax. It was always work. At least it was until she met Vash. I guess…

Millie sighed as she looked around the small office that she had moved into less than two months ago.

I guess it was the opposite for me when I met Mr. Knives.

"Millie…come on! We only have a 20 minute break you know!"

"Gomen!"

Millie quickly closed the door and ran after Corre.

The redhead looked less than friendly at the moment but that was ok. After all Corre was just worried about her. Unlike everyone else that worked in this small town, she had known Millie before Vash the Stampede.

Millie sighed as thought about all the hell she had gotten just to get this small transfer to an out of the way office, to an even more out of the way town.

The main offices were very hesitant to let one of they best field workers go back to a desk job. Despite her tendencies to arrive late and all the stuff she did wrong the bosses considered her a high value employee.

After all not many people could say they had traveled with Vash the Stampede and lived.

Millie sighed again as she thought about Vash…and in turn thought about Meryl.

The rumor going around the office was that Meryl Strife had been kidnapped by the humanoid Typhoon and was know his play toy. Millie had tried to tell them otherwise. Tried to tell everyone that Meryl was very much in love with Vash.

But no one believed her.

No one believed anything she said. She might have well been a talking piece of furniture.

Well, all that's behind me now. I'm living in Cola now. A small dinky town that has nothing to do with Vash the Stampede or Knives. No one but Corre even knows I actually was the agent sent with Meryl. That's how I want it. I don't want questions asked, when they won't even believe my answers.

Millie smiled as she sat down with some of her closer co-workers.

There was Corre Lenda, Nash Ville, Lindsey Colburn, and Matt Tarrent, they were the closest things to friends she had in this town.

I miss Meryl.

Losing herself in small talk Millie thought about her friend. She was probably still in newlywed bliss. It had been strange to say the least the morning Meryl had come running to her.

(Flashback)

bang bang bannnggg!

"Hold on I'm coming!"

Millie wiped the sleep from her eyes as she rushed toward the door. She wondered, somewhat crossly, who in the world was banging on her parents door at three in the morning? The first sun hadn't even started to rise yet.

"What!"

Millie said in the crossest manner she could manage. Needless to say she wouldn't have intimidated a mouse.

"Meryl!?"

She said as she finally saw who was at her door. Despite being half asleep she could see something different about her friend. She seemed…alive, if that was the word. She seemed radiate and so very happy it hurt to look at her.

"Millie, come to town with me."

"What? Why?"

Millie asked totally and utterly confused.

Meryl lifted up her left hand. A tiny ring glittered beautiful in the porch light. It took a moment but Millie finally realized which finger that little ring was on.

She gasped.

"Oh Millie he asked. He really asked. We're getting married this morning. Come be my Maid of Honor!"

Meryl sounded so excited. It didn't sound like her at all. But then again she was getting married to the man of her dreams. Who wouldn't be over joyed?

"Let me get dressed. Should I dress up?"

"Nothing to fancy. It's just going to be a quick thing."

Millie quickly left and ran back upstairs. In no time at all she was dressed in a pretty summer dress. It was a light yellow with white flowers.

"I'm ready."

"Let's go. Vash is waiting."

Millie felt like things were rushing by. Everything was going so fast, she felt like she was being left behind.

I am being left behind. Not that Meryl, or Vash meant to do this. But I can't go with them. I can't go after Knives with them. I would be in the way of their love…not to mention…I can't see Knives again. That would hurt too much. I don't want to hurt anymore.

Millie felt her head break all over again at the thought of leaving Meryl.

Meryl…the only woman that seemed to actually care about what she had to say. Everyone else just treated her like a big kid. They didn't care that she was grown woman and actually smarter than she let on. No body bothered to realize this.

Except Meryl…

Meryl drove like a mad woman into town. Once there she ran…with Millie in tow, to the church. It was a small thing, probably couldn't hold a hundred people if they stood on each other's heads. And it was dark except for a row of flickering candles which lead to the alter. The atmosphere was dark and heavy. A kind of spiritual feeling that was rarely found and could only be created by accident.

The church was completely silent once they stopped. Millie bent over slightly to catch her breath. Only then did she notice the long white silk dress that Meryl wore.

How in the hells she missed it before she didn't know. Maybe it was because Meryl always wore that white outfit of hers. Or maybe it was because she had been sleepy.

Now however Millie took the moment to really look at it.

After a moment of study Millie came to a conclusion. This dress…was probably the plainest thing she had ever seen. It had no buttons, no lace, no flowers, no zippers…nothing, absolutely nothing on it. It was just a simple white satin dress. It was sleeveless with the collar reaching high up across the chest. The end of the dress seemed a little to long for Meryl, it touched the floor, but that didn't seem to bother the short woman. The dress was very form fitting despite its lack of decorations and was probably…in Millie's opinion the most beautiful thing she had ever seen.

Meryl looked so beautiful in it that Millie felt tears well up in her eyes.

Millie wiped her eyes and looked up. The preacher was already here and waiting for them. He looked very nervous for some reason. Millie wondered if Vash had told the poor man his real name.

Beside him stood the man of Meryl's love. He looked very very handsome in the flickering candlelight. He was wearing a simple white shirt and black pants.

Millie wondered where he had gotten them.

"Are you ready?"

The preacher asked, his voice breaking slightly.

Meryl nodded and reached out to take Millie's hand. The gesture of friendship took Millie by surprise. Sure she cared a lot about Meryl and considered her a best friend, but she had had no idea that Meryl had felt the same way.

Millie followed Meryl as they walked up to the alter.

Millie felt something slipped into her hand. Looking down she saw it was Meryl's ring. No doubt she didn't want to ruin the ceremony by already having the ring on.

Millie smiled, count on Meryl to think about these sort of things.

"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here this morning…"

The preacher stressed the word morning and Millie wondered if Vash had woken the poor man up.

"To unit in marriage, Meryl Strife…and Va…Vash the Stampede."

This time his voice really did break. The poor man was obviously terrified of the Typhoon. However he braved his terror and did as his calling willed, continuing the wedding.

"In the holy words of God Almighty."

The Preacher stopped, unsure of how to go on.

"Would anyone like to say anything?"

Vash and Meryl looked at each other. Love shined in their eyes so brightly that Millie thought she might be blinded by it. It amazed her, simple amazed her how strongly they were loving each other.

"I'll say something."

Millie whispered.

All three turned toward her.

"I remember the first time Meryl and I saw you Mr. Vash. You were tired up like a Thomas. A captive of that man with the large boomerang."

Vash laughed embarrassed by this.

"You saved our lives then when you chose to ignore the danger and got us out of there. Meryl didn't believe you were the real Vash the Stampede. It took a very long time for her to realize it was you. And in that time we both saw you as nothing but a normal man."

Tears started to form in Millie's eyes as her own words choked her up.

"I so happy for you both! So happy that two souls could find each other despite all the horrible things that happened. And I know that despite the fact that Mr. Priest isn't with us anymore. I know that he has to be watching from heaven. And…(sniff) and knowing him he's probably saying something like, 'damn you needle noggin, what the hell took you so long'."

With a suppressed cry Millie launched herself at both Vash and Meryl. She gave them a bear hug that would have done her mother proud.

After a few more tears Millie finally got herself under control and nodded to the preacher.

He continued…

"Mr. Vash the Stampede…"

"That's Vash Peace."

Vash said interrupting the priest. The preacher gave Vash a look before nodding and continuing. Vash spoke to both Millie and Meryl under his breath at their confused looks.

"I don't have a last name technically. Thought Lina and her grandmothers last name would work just as well."

Meryl nodded obviously happy with the choice.

"Mr. Vash Peace, do you take Meryl Strife to be your lawfully wedded wife for as long as you both shall live. (I think we all know the whole for better or worst gig…so lets just pretend he says it)

"I do."

Vash's voice was calm and steady, his eyes so bright they seemed to be glowing softly in the candlelight.

"Miss Meryl Strife, do you take Vash Peace, the infamous Humanoid Typhoon as your husband for as long as you both shall live."

Meryl blinked at the preacher something akin to sadness suddenly flashing through her eyes.

"I will for as long as I live."

Millie did not miss the stress on the I. She only hoped it went over the preachers head.

"The ring."

Millie startled and quickly handed Vash the small ring. He smiled at her before turning toward Meryl.

"I love you."

He said as he slipped the ring on her finger.

"And I you, broomhead."

Vash sighed, and the preacher actually cracked a smile at the endearment.

"I pronounce you man and wife, kiss the bride and let me go back to bed!"

Vash suddenly grabbed Meryl and swept her up into a passionate kiss.

The preacher just stared wipe mouthed at the obviously sexual nature of the kiss, and Millie burned red.

Just like that, Vash the Stampede, now Vash Peace had a wife and a family. A man that was not a man, a creature that was over a hundred years old and counting…the humanoid typhoon had been tamed.

(end flashback)

"Millie? Millie…are you listening to me?"

Matt Tarrent waved a hand in front of Millie's face causing her to blush.

"I'm sorry did you say something?"

Matt shook his head; short pretty blonde curls bouncing around from the movement.

"Where are you today girl? Not on Gunsmoke that's for sure. I was saying that I think the whole Vash the Stampede legend is a hoax! Its probably just a medium to make Burndeli clients shell out more cash for coverage."

"You're full of bullshit Matt!"

Lindsey Colburn countered heatedly. She was a medium built 24-year-old mother of 2. She had black hair and brown eyes. She wasn't really pretty but not ugly either. She didn't seem to like Matt much, and the two constantly got into verbal fights.

"There have been to many incidents involving him. Look at what happened to August and July! Not to mention the fifth moon."

Matt waved his hand in a so what gesture, as he leaned back in his chair and crossed his legs. His face what that of a man overly sure of himself.

"Lindsey dear, that's exactly why I say he doesn't really exist. Trust me, I know a man can do a lot, but who in the world could actually do those things? No man could."

"Ok know it all, what caused those craters then?"

Matt rubbed his baby smooth chin thoughtfully.

"Probably a plant exploding. Both cities had more than one, and god knows what those things can do when things go wrong."

"And how the hell you would you know Matt? You don't know shit! All you do is talk and talk yet you say absolutly nothing!"

Millie sighed as the curses and the yelling got worst. She suddenly stood up, unable to stand the fighting anymore.

Both Lindsey and Matt stopped, as they looked up at Millie confused.

"I'm sick of this. You are both acting like hateful children. I was once told…by Vash the Stampede's own brother, that human's were nothing but Spiders. I'm beginning to see what he meant by that!"

Millie's words were soft without any feelings to them. She was simply too tired to feel anything anymore. She tried; she really did to be like she was once a long time ago. She tried to smile, she tried to laugh, but everything just wasn't the same.

She felt so empty inside.

With a soft shake of her head Millie simply gathered her things and went back to her office. She left behind four very confused, and two (Lindsey and Matt) ashamed co-workers.

"What was that about?"

Asked Nash, he had remained silent through the exchange and only now spoke.

"How the hell should I know?"

Matt snapped.

"Millie…was Meryl Strife's partner."

Corre said after a moment. It was obvious she really didn't want to say this but felt she had to.

"WHAT!"

Nash, Lindsey and Matt shouted.

Everyone knew who Meryl Strife was. She was or rather had been the company's best field agent. Rumor was that she and an unnamed partner had went after Vash the Stampede to curve his damages. Things had been going good until about two months ago. That was when Vash the Stampede had showed up in the Burnydeli's main office! He had become enraged and destroyed an entire block of the city by himself. Meryl disappeared with him, never to report back again.

Rumor also had it that she had been kidnapped and no doubt rapped repeatedly by the outlaw. She was thought dead by now. Everyone knew about it and talked about what must had happened to the poor girl.

"Oh my gosh! That poor girl…do you think that Vash? Well you know?"

Lindsey said hinting heavily.

"So he does exist?"

Matt whispered disbelieving.

Corre shrugged before glancing down the hall that Millie had disappeared.

"Or at least someone with his name does. I knew Millie before…she was such a sweet soul. You wouldn't believe how kind and ditzy she was. She never worked, always was late and taking extra breaks. She was always smiling to. Not like she does now…but real smiles."

The four were quiet a moment before Nash ventured another question.

"What do you think happened? Has she said anything to you?"

"Well she did mention that she got a transfer because she couldn't stand the questions."

"I can imagine. I bet everyone bothered her a lot."

Corre nodded to Lindsey before continuing.

"I think it's more than that really. I don't think it was rape. I used to work at a crisis center and she just doesn't have the signs. However I think something…did happen."

Matt, Nash and Lindsey shuddered at the implications of what the something had to be.

"You think Torture?"

"Or worse…brainwashing."

"Oh come on Corre that's stupid! That sounds more like something out of a book than real life."

"Oh I don't know Matt. After all this is the humanoid Typhoon we're talking about."

Nash shook his head as he ran a hand over his buzzed head.

"But why? Why in the world would V.T.S. brainwash Millie. She was just a field agent. It makes no sense."

"Why the hell did he destroy two cities and put a hole in the moon! Vash the humanoid Typhoon is crazy! Who knows what he thinks!"

Corre shot back heatedly.

"She mentioned Vash having a brother? I haven't heard that before."

All four sat back to think over that tidbit that Nash brought to light.

"Well…"

Corre started.

"Its safe to say he's probably crazy to. I mean Millie said he thought humans were spiders. How much crazier can you get."

"But…"

Lindsey said in a small voice.

"Millie said that she was starting to believe him. Does that mean that Millie…"

Matt finished the sentence for her.

"Is crazy?"

Corre licked her lips, moistening the dry tissue.

"I don't know. I have been wondering about her. Maybe I should try and talk to her."

"Yes that sounds good."

Lindsey said backing Corre up.

"And we shouldn't say anything about this. She can't know we know about Vash and her."

Matt stated with conviction.

Nash sighed and shook his head.

"That girl could be dangerous. Have you seen her hold that stun gun of hers. She could probably kill us all with a heavy right hook. She's a monster she's so strong."

"I don't want to do this…but if Millie has been changed, it might be best to tell Burndelli and have them deal with it."

All nodded to each other. They simply must take things into their own hands. Millie's behavior suggested something terrible had happened. And as descent human beings they couldn't just let that be. They had to find out what happened and try to help the poor thing. It was obvious that she wasn't handling it well herself.

And if she turned out to be violent…well they would notify the police and Millie would be restrained. It was for the best.

Millie stood on the other side of the thin walls tears coursing down her cheeks.

She couldn't believe what she had just heard from them.

Couldn't believe her own co-workers and supposed friends would turn on her so. They thought she was crazed and a danger. They thought that Vash had brainwashed her! It was so utterly ridiculous that it was funny!

Where in Gods name did they come up with that stuff? It was like, all you had to do to cut someone's IQ in half was to mention Vash's name. It was crazy!

Millie forced herself to walk to her desk and sit down.

She had thought…no, hoped, that this would work out. That she might be happy in this small town. It was so much like the town she grew up in.

She wanted a new life, one without Vash shadowing her every move. She knew he didn't mean to and she didn't blame him a bit. It was the people around her that did this, not good, sweet Vash. Vash, who deserved happiness that no mortal could get.

Millie hoped that Meryl was making him happy.

She hoped that Knives was happy.

What am I thinking? I don't care about Knives anymore. He was just someone that I knew for a while. We had some…intense moments, but it never went beyond that. It wasn't like I slept with him or anything. We didn't do anything. I did more with my first boyfriend than I did with Knives. This is silly.

Millie shook her head to break up the image of Knives in her head. It wasn't the face of him the last time she had seen him, or even the time he had said those horrible things about Wolfwood. This face was the one he had in the cave. That sweet slightly confused and embarrassed face…the face that smiled at her.

Stop it Millie! Knives doesn't care about you, so don't you dare care about him!

Millie tried to force herself to read the papers on her desk. However her vision kept blurring with tears.

Tears over Vash, over Meryl…over her co-workers betrayal…and yes tears shed even over Knives.

Millie stiffened as she heard Nash and Matt walk by. They were still talking about her. About what might happen if they police came for her.

"They'll probably lock her away with the crazies. She is crazy after all."

"Hell Matt what dam wouldn't be after spending so much time with Vash the Stampede."

The two laughed as they went back to their offices.

Millie half fell, half stumbled out of her chair. With a thud she bumped up against the wall using it as a crutch so she didn't fall.

Millie felt the scream build up from her toes, traveled up through her body and press against her mouth. It was a scream of frustration and pain. Of lost innocence and betrayal, it was a scream from her soul.

She was physically and mentally at the breaking point. She had forced herself to go on so that she didn't have to think about it.

Clapping her hands over her mouth she let her soul scream. She screamed in her mind until she couldn't even think. She screamed at Matt and at Nash, she screamed and cursed at Corre for telling about her. And she just screamed because she hurt so much.

With a final whimper Millie slumped onto the floor in a dead faint.

She was so exhausted, so very tired.

Knives…what's happening to me?

Knives jerked up from his first class seat on the sand steamer. The sounds of screaming still harsh and painful on his 'mental' ears.

What the fuck was that?

The voice had been familiar…so familiar. Where did he know that voice? And more importantly, why had he been able to pick it up? The only person he should be able to talk to mind to mind was his brother Vash…and once upon a time Legato. But Legato was dead and that defiantly wasn't his brother.

So where the hell did it come from.

Knives wiped his forehead free of the cold sweat that had beaded up because of the screams.

They had been so sad and full of pain that they even touched his callous soul.

In fact he was finding himself wanting to go out and find whoever screamed and…and what…help them?

No that wasn't right. No doubt the screamer was a human. Why the fuck would he help a human when he was going to kill them now. In fact his plan was already in motion. He was on the sand streamer heading toward January and the three plants the city had.

Once his plan started nothing could stop it. His brother probably didn't even realize what he was doing now.

His brother didn't know of their ultimate weapon.

But for some reason he could get the screams out of his head. Even now, although they had stopped, he could still hear them.

Knives shuddered and grabbed a blanket off the bed to cover his shoulders with. It was cold on the sand steamer for some reason. First Class rooms probably had AC or something; it was probably what rich humans expected.

Knives had been resting comfortable, happy and contented on his plan to eradicate the humans. However now…he felt unsure and rather fidgety.

Something was defiantly amiss and…and well it was bothering him.

Finally giving in the primitive urge Knives left the safety and quiet of his room and wandered onto the platform of the sand steamer.

It was about noonish and the double suns were unmerciful as they beat down on the sand steamers platform and the few fools that were out and about this time of day.

Knives leaned over the railing hoping the wind whipping by would cool him some. It helped a little bit, but the air was just as dry and hot as the suns.

Knives couldn't seem to just settle down and relax. Every time he let his mind wonder even a little it drifted back to the scream.

Who had screamed?

Why did he hear them?

And why were they screaming in the first place.

It was a mystery…and it bothered him.

I wonder if my brother heard the scream as well? I wonder if the plants reacted to it? Its possible since I heard it that they did as well. And if they feel emotions like Vash and me…well then they no doubt were unsettled by it.

Knives frowned. An upset plant was usually a stubborn one. One that didn't want to talk to him, or even respond in anyway. If that was the case…maybe his plan would become jeopardized.

Maybe…he should check into this. Just so that he could guarantee success. After all it was usually the unforeseen obstacles…or the ones one thinks are not big enough to bother with that ruin things in the end.

Knives unfocused his eyes allowing parts that no human had to come into use. It was strange, and Knives likened it to looking through a colored coke bottle bottom. The world became strange and oddly shaped. The dessert looked overly wide and in strange colors.

The land had dark shades of purple and blue, very few greens and even fewer things that glowed; it was lighted by suns that had been dimmed to two distant stars.

It was like he was looking at another world…and in a way he was. He was looking at light that no human could see. He was looking in a world were every human gave off…a kind of light that he could read and thus 'see' certain things about them.

It was a useful talent, one that had taken him nearly fifty years to perfect. It was in fact the sole reason he had found Legato as a child.

Knives looked around carefully for energies that would suggest someone had mentally sended. It would be a trail of bright blue…or maybe orangish smoke. It would be drifting from where the sender was. Drifting like a cloud on the wind.

It was strange…He didn't find one.

That's more than strange, that's impossible. That scream had to have been sent out. I wouldn't have heard it otherwise. But where is the trail? I don't see a trail.

Knives snorted, again looking around, this time harder…maybe the trail was a different color than unusual, or maybe it was of a different sort that he had never come across before.

This time he did find something. It was so small and so unnoticeable he was surprised he even noticed it. If fact the only reason he had was because it had reflected slightly the glare of the suns.

It was like a fishing line, clear and very thin. It connected to his person and stretched out…how far Knives couldn't tell because he simply couldn't see it over great distances.

But it did seem to go somewhere…it went out southward.

What the hell is it? Have I always had this line connected to my chest?

The most obvious answer of course was that Vash was at the other end. They were brothers and had always been connected…in the less conspicuous way. But Vash, Knives knew for certain was in the north…and this line went south. So what was at the other end?

Maybe a plant?

Or…maybe the screamer?

Knives frowned at that thought. Why would he be connected…through a 'line' to a human? He did have to admit the voice had been familiar. Although he couldn't place it.

Knives sighed and allowed his eyes to go back to normal. It hurt to see like that for any amount of time. As expected when Knives looked down at his chest he couldn't see anything.

He glanced toward the south…the way the Sand steamer was going.

I'll stay on the sand steamer…I'll have to find out where this line goes. I don't know why but I feel this is very important. I have to know.

With that Knives nodded to himself and head back toward his cabin.

AN 2: I have a question that I felt had to wait until after you finished this chapter. Anyway I have the lemony chapter with Vash and Meryl. Do you guys want it, or should I just leave it out? I mean there's not much to it other than the lemon but it is kind of sweet considering you get to read about Vash actually proposing. Well…its whatever you guys want.

Peace

Gloria Stone :P