Trigun Fan Fiction ❯ Forever Mine ❯ Tour de Ship ( Chapter 23 )

 

Disclaimer: Hmmm... I own my kids (Because I made them) I own my husband, (Because the Marriage License says so) and I own a REALLY big mortgage. (Because I'm stupid and signed on the dotted line.) However I don't own Trigun. (Because if I did, I wouldn't have said mortgage.)

“blah blah” : talking

`blah blah' : thinking

“blah blah” : telepathic talking

blah blah : other misc. stuff.

 

*~*~*

 

Forever Mine

Chapter 23: Tour de Ship

 

 

 

“So, insurance girls, what do you think so far?” Vash asked with big smile as he led the ladies out of the ship's main galley, which was primarily used for large parties or for other gatherings that required a larger space. He was glad that he was able to show the girls around that morning and without any major complications.

 

Fortunately, after eating and showering, his brother had advised the outlaw that he didn't want to be bothered and just wanted to sleep for the remainder of the day. Knives even stated that he would not purposely cause any trouble for McKenna, which made Vash a little leery. But, at the same time, he knew that he needed to show his brother a little trust, so, Vash simply thanked him for his cooperation. When the dynamic duo arrived (at 8:25), he asked them to go to his room and retrieve some clean clothing for Knives while he helped him into the shower. Both girls said `of course' and once the golden blonde gave Meryl the pass-code for his room, the lovely ladies quickly left to retrieve something comfortable for the twin to wear.

 

Forty-five minutes later, the three companions left the sleeping Plant in the capable hands of the lady doctor and started the grand tour. Vash had showed them everything that he thought they would enjoy, from observation deck, where he used to enter the ship before it fell, to the galley, the room they had just walked out of. He even showed them where he and Hopperd the Gauntlet had fought in power room two. Though, once they reached the haunted space, Vash instantly saddened. With a tears running down his face, he told the girls that because of his failure to prevent the Gung-ho Gun from destroying the Plant that he had ultimately caused the downfall of the floating city. Upon that admission, both girls wrapped their arms around the grieving gunman while telling him that it wasn't his fault and that without his help then it could have been worse… much worse.

 

“Wow… this really is amazing, Mr. Vash!” Milly answered with a big smile that made her baby blues twinkle with delight.

 

“Yeah, it sure is,” Meryl agreed with a matching smile as they walked through the galley's double sliding doors and into the concave hallway. “So, what's next, Vash?”

 

“Well, I have two more places that I want to show you. The first place is the cold sleep chamber, though we'll only be able to stay there for a minute or two, since we aren't dressed warm enough to stay for any length of time,” he advised the insurance girls as they continued on their way down the short hall and to another elevator.

 

“What's the second place?” the petite beauty asked after stepping into the elevator and watching Vash while he pushed the up button.

 

“That my dear, is a secret!” he replied sneakily, while wrapping his arm around her shoulders and pulling her close. Then with a wink to the big-girl, he added suggestively, “Well… there's also a third place that I would just love to show you short-girl, but I don't think Milly would really appreciate going to my bedroom with us. Well… unless you two are into that sort of thing?”

 

“Ugh… such a pervert!” Meryl groaned before pulling away from the outlaw and smacking him upside the head. The blonde immediately started whine over the `abuse' while exclaiming that he was only kidding.

 

Milly just laughed at the two while saying that they were always so much fun to watch. Then a thought crossed her mind. Scratching her head in confusion, she asked, “Gee… Mr. Vash why would you want to show us your room? We were already there this morning when we got some clothes for Mr. Knives remember?!”

 

“Huh?” Vash questioned, while both he and Meryl gaped at the big-girl with disbelief apparent. Instantly deciding to feign ignorance, he laughed goofily and scratched the back of his head while saying that he forgot, instead of trying to elaborate on what his suggestive comment actually meant.

 

Once the doors opened, the outlaw and insurance girls immediately entered another laboratory that looked similar to the infirmary's lab. The only exception was the far wall, which was made entirely of glass, including the double doors that were in the very middle. With a small smile, Vash walked over to the control panel that was located on the center island and keyed in a couple of commands. A moment later, a slight resonating sound was heard right before several rows of lights began to flicker on throughout the cavern on the opposite side of the translucent wall.

 

“Oh my,” the short-girl breathed as both women stepped up to the tall glass and gazed out into the vast openness.

 

“That's nothing short-girl,” the blonde advised before he keyed in another command. Once he entered his password and hit the submit key, an automated voice called out `access granted. Welcome back, Vash' right before the glass doors slid open. “Well ladies, shall we enter?” he added as he started to walk through the opening with the girls following close behind.

 

When they fully entered the space, complete and utter awe took over. So much that they never noticed the sudden drop in temperature, even as their breath rushed out of the mouths like smoke from a certain preacher's cigarette. The cylinder shaped space was immense, going literally for isles before them as they walked to the edge of the platform and leaned against the railing. The interior of the metallic cavern harbored thousands of uniform rows of capsules, completely encircling the oblong sphere.

 

“Gee… Mr. Vash what are those?” Milly wondered as she stepped toward the left end of the platform and pointed to one of the capsules.

 

“Those are cold sleep cylinders, big-girl.”

 

“Are their still people in them?” she then asked.

 

“Yup, there sure are,” he replied before exhaling deeply into the cold air causing a large cloud of breath.

 

“Will they ever wake up?” Meryl asked as she walked up and stood right next to her best friend.

 

“I'm sure the Doc will wake them once New Oregon has the means to support them all,” Vash absently replied, while looking out into the vastness. Becoming completely engrossed in his thoughts, he wondered if it would be possible to awaken from their ever-youthful slumber. He truly hoped so, but unfortunately, he wasn't so sure anymore. They were having a hard enough time living on the desolate planet as it was.

 

“So… Vash?” Meryl began after a few moments of silence. When he didn't respond, she looked over her shoulder at him and saw the far away look that enveloped his features. “Vash?” she asked again, but he was too far gone in his ponderings to hear. She tentatively walked up to him and gently touched his prosthetic limb while asking if he was okay.

 

Finally being brought out of his thoughts, Vash looked down to the petite beauty standing next to him and gave her a small smile. Then wrapping his arm around her shoulders, the Plant told her that he was fine before asking, “I'm sorry Meryl, what did you wanna ask me?”

 

“Well… I was wondering if anyone has ever been brought out of their suspended animation?” she asked as she wrapped her arms around his waist.

 

“Actually, about twenty-six years ago section 137B and C had a malfunction and the Doc had to try to revive all of the occupants to keep from losing them.”

 

“Wow! Really Mr. Vash?” Milly exclaimed as she walked up to her comrades with her teeth chattering.

 

“Okay, time to get out of here,” Vash observed as he pulled away from Meryl and grabbed her hand before leading to two out of the frigid space. Once they entered the much warmer lab, he let go of his short-girl and stepped over to the main control panel. After returning the area back to its original state, he elaborated more on the malfunction. “Yeah, as a matter of fact, that's how Jessica came to living here. She was a little over a year old when she was awakened.”

 

“What do you mean by `tired to,' Vash?” Meryl asked.

 

“Well… not all of them made it. Twenty-three of the hundred occupants past away before the Doc could save them,” he sadly murmured, while looking up from the panel before walking over to the insurance girls. He then motioned for them to head back to the elevator and once inside he indicated what level he wanted to go to next. When the doors slid shut, he continued with the story. “Unfortunately, Jessica's parents and big brother were part of the twenty-three that didn't make it. So, she ended up being all alone.”

 

“Oh Vash…” the short-girl sadly whispered as she wrapped her arms around his waist again. “Someone must have taken her in.”

 

“Yeah, actually the Doc did,” he replied with a small smile as he bent down and kissed Meryl lightly on the top of her head.

 

“So, Mr. Vash, is that why she latched on to you?”

 

“Oh probably…” he answered with a sigh as he brought his attention to the big-girl. Then with a chuckle he added, “Of course, with my roughish good looks and dashing smile, who could resist me?!”

 

“Boy, that didn't take long!” the short-girl complained as she pulled away from Vash while rolling her eyes. “I don't know whose worse you or your brother!”

 

“Hey, what's that supposed to mean short-girl?!”

 

“It means that I don't know who is more conceited! After all, you think that you're God's gift to women and Knives just thinks that he's God's gift!” she replied sardonically as she looked up to the tall blonde and smirked.

 

“Actually, I'm only God's gift to you, insurance girl!” he retorted cheekily before a big grin made is aqua orbs twinkle. “As a matter of fact, I can think of a few ways that I can prove it to you, and I'm sure that you will be crying out his name to thank him repeatedly!”

 

“Vash!” the smaller insurance girl screeched as her cheeks turned a lovely shade of scarlet. She then smacked him on the arm and told him to watch his suggestive comments or else he would be meeting the presenter of such a gift much sooner than he had anticipated. He immediately told her that she'd miss him too much and who else would she have to smack around if he wasn't around.

 

“Gee… you two really are funny!” Milly happily declared for the second that morning as the elevator door opened and she stepped out into the hallway. “Well… where to, Mr. Vash?” she started before turning around in order to look back at the two still standing in the elevator. Then with a big grin she added, “Or did you wanna go ahead and take Meryl back to the third place you wanted to show her, so she could call out Oh God repeatedly?”

 

With a blush that matched the petite woman's, the outlaw squeaked out for the big-girl to head right. Then without pause, he ran out into the hallway and past her to keep from getting smacked again by the very feisty and embarrassed insurance girl. Meryl immediately gave chase while yelling `get back here you perverted pea-brained idiot.'

 

“Man, I hope those two do it soon…” the big-girl muttered, while shaking her head. “Or I think they just might burst from all of the sexual frustration.” Then she heard Meryl yelling back telling her to hurry up. “Coming Sempai,” she chirped happily as she started to jog down the corridor to catch up with her partner. As she turned the corner, the big-girl saw that Meryl had almost caught up to the now walking gunman and called out, “Hey, I'm getting kinda hungry. Could we stop and get some lunch?”

 

When Vash heard Milly mention the word `lunch,' he stopped in his tracks and turned just as Meryl caught up with him. He reflexively grabbed the little spitfire's arms to prevent her from smacking him before looking down and smiling at her. “Meryl, are you getting hungry?”

 

“Yeah, I guess I am,” she quietly muttered, feeling rather awkward. She realized that he had caught her in order to prevent her from hitting him and wondered why he had never stopped her before.

 

“Hmmm… I have a great idea!”

 

 

 

*~*~*

 

 

 

Rolling hills of green with an occasional splash of yellows, reds and whites, stemming from varieties of flora, flowed throughout the space as far as the eye could see. While the blue sky seemed never ending as sporadic white clouds floated aimlessly along in the gentle breeze.

 

Meryl thought she was dreaming as she looked about the landscape in wonder. Never in a million years had she thought that she would ever experience anything like it. The space was more amazing than visiting the geo plant that she and Milly defended about three years ago in Little Arcadia. And what made it completely astounding was the fact that they were still inside the ship. She looked up through the branches of the tree they were sitting under and laughed.

 

“What's so funny, Meryl?” Vash curiously asked before turning his head and looking at the small woman, right away noticing the childlike wonder that enveloped her features.

 

“This…” she breathed before looking over and meeting Vash's gaze. With a wide smile, Meryl added, “This is amazing! I just cannot believe this is real. I mean… the trees, the flowers… everything! I feel like I'm dreaming!”

 

“You're not dreaming. This is real and alive,” the blonde replied before lying down on the red checked blanket beneath them and resting his head on his upturned arms. As a contented sigh escaped his full lips, he let his wandering gaze move through tree's canopy.

 

“Wow! It's all so surreal,” she added as she turned her head and peered down at the reclining man.

 

“Yeah Mr. Vash, this is neato!” the big-girl chirped as she set the last empty container back in the wicker basket. “What was it called again that we just did?”

 

“What to you mean big-girl?” Vash asked as he glanced over to the brunette.

 

“Well, I mean eating out like this.”

 

“Oh… It's called a picnic. Rem used to take Knives and I out on picnics all of the time when we were little,” he replied introspectively before looking back up through the branches. Turning reminiscent, his features became poignant as he spoke again. “Rem really loved it in the rec room on the ship that we were on. We were in there all of the time.”

 

“Are you okay, Vash?” Meryl asked with concern.

 

“Yeah, I'm fine. Just feeling a bit nostalgic, I guess,” he replied, while closing his eyes in order keep the tears from falling.

 

“What was she like Mr. Vash?” Milly wondered after a moment of silence.

 

“Well… I don't know if describing her would really do her justice,” Vash murmured before opening his aqua blues and turning his head toward the statuesque beauty. Then with a small smile, he added, “I'll give it a whirl though…”

 

He then told the girls about her kindness, generosity, and love of life. How she took the time out of her busy schedule to play and teach him and his brother about life, about how to respect one another. Also, how she loved them like they were her own children, though she always said that she didn't know a thing about raising them. He even told the girls about her love of plants and how she joined Project SEEDS to ensure that the species from Earth would endure.

 

Meryl watched him as he continued to stare up through the leaves and talked about the woman who molded him into the man he was now. She noticed how he beamed with respect and admiration for her, how his entire being seemed to emanate an immeasurable love for Rem. Regardless that she had pasted away over 130 years ago. Sadly, Meryl knew that there was no competing with her in regards to Vash's heart. He had already given it to his mentor over a century before she was even born and in a sense a tiny part of her died upon the realization. He could never love her how she loved him…

 

Irrevocably.

 

“Gee… Mr. Vash she was amazing!” Milly declared after Vash finished. “What did you say she did again?”

 

“She was a botanist,” he advised, looking over to her again. “She was a scientist who studied plants.”

 

“Wow… did you hear that, Sempai?” Milly asked. When Meryl didn't answer, the big-girl turned her attention to her partner and saw her staring at the clasped hands in her lap. “Sempai?”

 

“I'm sorry,” Meryl muttered before bringing her attention to her concerned friend. She immediately hid her depression by smiling and lightly laughing, while adding, “Oh yeah… silly me, I guess I spaced out a bit. What did you ask me again, Milly?”

 

“I asked if you heard what Mr. Vash said about Miss Rem being a plant scientist.”

 

“I sure did,” the short-girl answered as she looked to the reclining blonde and saw him keenly regarding her. Not wanting Vash and Milly to fret over her, or more to the point, her melancholic emotions, Meryl quickly asked another question in hopes of distracting the two. “So Vash, I bet you learned quite a bit about plants then?”

 

“Yeah, you could say that,” he responded even though he knew why she asked. He didn't buy Meryl's `cover up' one bit.

 

“What's your favorite, Mr. Vash?”

 

“Well, Milly, I would say that it was the geranium, a red geranium,” he informed her while continuing to stare intently at the petite beauty sitting next to him. “But lately… I've been partial to lavender.”

 

“Oh…” the big-girl began as she looked back and forth between the two. “Gee… Sempai, don't you wear lavender?”

 

“Yes,” Meryl whispered, looking back down to her lap and blushing. “It's the scent of my favorite lotion.”

 

“Ummm… okay…” Milly replied as she continued to watch the two and knew that they needed a little alone time. With a big smile, she stood and stretched before excitedly chirping, “I think I want to go exploring! Would that be all right, Mr. Vash?”

 

“Sure big-girl.”

 

“Kay, I'll be back in a little bit,” she added before walking down the hill.

 

After Milly disappeared from sight, Vash sat up and brought a hand over to Meryl's and pulled her to him as he laid back down, taking her with him. He gingerly placed her on her back before rolling in his side and enveloping her in his embrace. “Meryl, what's wrong?” he quietly asked, while nuzzling her neck and kissing lightly it.

 

“Nothing…” she whispered.

 

“Meryl…”

 

“Please Vash… it's nothing really,” she murmured as she brought her hands up and wrapped them around his arm that was lying across her chest.

 

“Okay…” he sighed as he closed his eyes and tightened his hold. Then as an after thought, he languidly added, “Mmmm… you really do smell good, short-girl.”

 

Meryl silently laid there while wondering about their relationship and what would happen between them. Perhaps, Knives had actually been correct when he said that she was just a temporary plaything. Though, Vash did admit that he had never really been with anyone before. Well at least not all the way, but that didn't mean emotionally. Could Knives have meant that she was a temporary replacement for Rem until someone more like her came along? After all, there was no comparison between her and the valiant woman who, quite literally, saved millions.

 

With another sigh, she observed the man lying next to her and saw that he had fallen asleep with a contented smile on his handsome face. `You say you're crazy about me, but…' Meryl sadly pondered before finishing the thought out loud by whispering…

 

“You really loved her…”

 

“Yes, I did,” he gently answered, momentarily surprising the woman in his arms. Then with a sigh, he admitted, “I guess… I still do.”

 

“Oh,” she muttered dejectedly as a tear slipped down her cheek.

 

“But, not in the way you think,” he instantly clarified as he pushed himself up and leaned on his prosthetic limb to bring his face and part of his body directly over hers. Then giving the petite woman a reassuring smile, he added, “I love Rem as a son would love his mother. She was a guide for me, an educator. She taught me about the good in things, the purity, and I know that I wouldn't be half the man that I am today without her influence. However, I never had any romantic feelings for her, I couldn't. It would have been too weird. Now you on the other hand…”

 

“What about me?” she urged, while trying not to sound too hopeful.

 

“Well… I most definitely have romantic feelings for you,” he mischievously finished as he lowered his face and kissed her ardently. “Mmmm… you taste good, too. I wonder if you taste this good all over?” he breathed after tearing away from the blistering kiss. Lowering his lips down her cheek, he started to kiss and nibble toward her earlobe while moving his real hand to her bent knee and leisurely caressing the covered skin.

 

“What do you mean by all over?” Meryl panted as she un-tucked his shirt and slipped her hands inside. She felt his real hand travel up her inner thigh and over the lace top of her thigh high.

 

“I mean every inch of your beautiful body,” he moaned as he reveled in the feel of her touching him again. Then with a shaky breath, he added, “Especially, right here…”

 

Then without hesitation, the enamored Plant moved his index and middle finger to the juncture of her thighs and softly stroked her through the cotton panties. The stimulating caress made the woman in his arms arch her back into him as she moaned out his name. Vash was unable to resist the soft sounds and the way her body reacted to him as the need to taste her sweet lips again became all consuming. So, he brought his mouth back to hers and kissed her intensely while continuing to drive the woman to oblivion with his arousing touch.

 

Never in her life had Meryl ever experienced the pleasure filled ache coursing all throughout her body from Vash's sinful hand. Knowing that only he could do this to her, make her want more; make her want all of him… completely. The need to have him buried deep inside of her, driving into her while calling out her name in climax and in love was making her delirious. The erotic sensations also made the panting woman want to caress him in kind, to give him the same pleasure that he was giving her. But could she do it? Could she muster up the courage to slip her hand inside his pants out in the middle of the rec room where anyone could interrupt them at any moment? `Yes, I could,' the short-girl thought naughtily as she lowered her hands to his belt and unbuckled it before efficiently unbuttoning the blue denim.

 

“Meryl what are…” he started telepathically while exploring her mouth with his tongue after he felt her hands at his pants. The next instant he felt her tentative touch on his exposed lower abdomen right above the waistband of his boxer-briefs. “Meryl…” he breathed, pulling away from her luscious mouth and looking intently into her molten silver orbs, while momentarily stopping his own ministrations.

 

The short-girl matched his heated gaze and gave him an impish smile right before she slowly slipped her hand into the thin cotton covering. Her explorative hand immediately found him, or more specifically found what made him male and by the size of him he was definitely a blessed one. She heard his gasp while telepathically receiving a `God… Meryl' as she shyly touched his swollen head and shaft. The enraptured woman slowly caressed him with her fingertips while noticing that he was like the softest satin encircling the hardest steel.

 

How she loved the feel of him, the strength, and the promise of every carnal desire being fulfilled. Completely losing her inhibitions, Meryl encircled him with her hand and slowly moved her opened fist over him. She intently watched as Vash threw his head back with his mouth partially open from her touch and heard him panting in ragged breaths.

 

“Mmm…” Vash groaned, attempting to say her name as he tried to keep his raging desire for the woman practically beneath him check. He knew that if she continued with her stroking that he wouldn't be able to control himself and he would take her right then and there, not caring who came upon them. He involuntarily shivered as he felt her turn slightly and proceeded to kiss him at the opening of his shirt. “MMM…Meryl… if this continues…”

 

“If this ccc…continues?” she moaned as he started to caress her intimately again.

 

“I…I don't think I could stop,” he hissed through gritted teeth.

 

“VVV…Vash, I don't wanna stop…” she replied shakily right before his mouth met hers, kissing her hotly as he slipped his probing fingers under her panties and began caressing in earnest. “Please Vash…” she moaned against his mouth as he circled his middle finger around her opening. “Please…mmm…make me yours.”

 

“OOO…Okay…” he breathed, removing his hand from her panties before moving in between her open thighs. Once in position, she started to pull his pants down over his hips while he started to push her skirt up and over hers. He then grabbed the sides of her panties preparing to pull them down until he felt someone close by… several close by.

 

`Crap, not again,' he thought right before he heard Milly from the other side of the hill.

 

“Why Hello, Miss Jessica!” the big-girl called out loudly as if in warning to the wannabe lovers. “Are you and the kids here to play?”

 

“Double crap… of all people,” Vash muttered mostly to himself. He then gave Meryl a strained smile while pulling away, so, they could quickly right themselves before Jessica and the children made an appearance. Once their clothing was back in order, he gave Meryl a quick kiss prior to moving away and leaning against the tree trunk feigning sleep. While his short-girl brought her knees to her chest and wrapped her arms around them.

 

“I promise we will definitely finish where we left off soon, insurance girl,” the frustrated outlaw mentally declared as a strained grimace broke across his face, making it look like he was in pain. Then with an internal groan, he added, “God, at least I hope so… this is really killing me!”