Trigun Fan Fiction ❯ Forever Mine ❯ Sense of Betrayal ( Chapter 33 )

 

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 33: Sense of Betrayal

 

 

 

“WHAT?!?!” The collective audience in the space screeched, yelled, or bellowed in disbelief after the shocking announcement.

 

Save for one person… Meryl Stryfe.

 

She simply stood there, staring at the newly engaged couple without any hint of emotion reflecting on her lovely features. She was numb. It was almost as if the insurance girl was stuck in the part of consciousness where the world would become hazy just before drifting off into a deep sleep. Meryl vaguely sensed the happenings around her, for like a dream state, everything and everyone were muted and moving in slow motion. She just continued to stare straight ahead at the two as her vision became blurry from all of the fog filtering through her brain. Internally refusing to digest what she just heard. If she did, then she would realize what just happened.

 

After what seemed like an eternity, the short-girl was brought out of her stupor by an anxious `Sempai' coming from her best friend and partner. Blinking rapidly, she removed the smoke and suddenly felt five pairs of eyes intently watching her. Clearing her throat, she absently looked around the room and saw the varying degrees of distress on her friends' faces, minus Knives, who just looked really pissed. She then brought her attention back to Vash and Jessica. The woman in braids had a victorious smile plastered across her face, while the golden blonde continued to look toward the floor with his longer hair, most likely, covering a guilt ridden face.

 

“Well,” Meryl finally started on the exhale of a deep breath. “Let me be the first to congratulate you two. I wish you the best of… luck.” she finally added after a lengthy pause, making everyone in the room to gape incredulously at her. Save for Vash, who continued to stare downward.

 

With nobody uttering a word and their eyes still pinned on her, the short-girl suddenly became very uncomfortable and decided that it was past time to make a dignified exit. With a small breath, she mumbled, “Ummm… if you will excuse me I have to finish a report.” Right before she calmly walked out of the room, barely hearing Milly asking her to wait.

 

In no time, Meryl found herself sitting in front of her typewriter with a clean sheet of paper cradled within the confines of the machine. With a flick of her wrists, she started to type an addendum to the report that she had already mailed Tuesday morning.

 

Addendum report, July 23rd

(Original report issued on July 18th)

 

M. Stryfe reporting

 

Recent developments regarding our assignment warrant the reevaluation of the necessity of having my partner and I assigned to Vash the Stampede. He has decided to settle down and get married. Therefore, the `Humanoid Typhoon' will no longer cause the mass mayhem and destruction that seemed to previously follow him. In conclusion, with the combined information that has already been sent on our last missive and his up and coming change in martial status, I feel that it would be in the best interest of the company to cancel the assignment and let us return to headquarters.

 

I look forward to your prompt reply.

 

 

 

Meryl E. Stryfe

Senior Disaster Investigator

 

 

With out thinking, something she simply refused to do, Meryl pulled the paper out of the typewriter and placed it in an envelope before heading out of her bedroom. She was planning on sending the missive immediately to advise the Bernardelli Insurance Society as soon as possible. Also, so, she wouldn't have time to stop and think about the consequences, either way. Once out in the main living area, she noticed Milly standing in the middle of the kitchen with tears streaming down her face. Briskly walking over to the closet next to the entrance to grab her cloak, she thought, `Oh Milly, I need you to be strong for me.'

 

“Meryl…” Milly whispered as she took a step toward her friend. However, before she could say anything else, her partner rapidly spoke.

 

“Milly, I have to head out for a little while. Don't you need to be at work? If you would like, I can walk with you?” Meryl rushed, instantly hiding behind her busybody self.

 

“But Meryl…”

 

“Ya' know, actually I think it would be in our best interest to have this wired back to HQ, instead of just mailing it,” she absently added, placing the envelope on the coffee table before putting her white cloak on.

 

“What are you planning on wiring?” Milly asked, while wiping her eyes as she walked into the living room before stopping to stand directly in front of her partner.

 

“Well an addendum to our most recent report, of course.”

 

“And what does it say?”

 

“Well…” Meryl said looking at the floor, not wanting to answer.

 

“Sempai, what does it say?” she asked again, placing a hand on Meryl's shoulder to get her complete attention.

 

With a deep sigh, Meryl looked up to her best friend and gave her a small smile before replying. “I am simply advising Bernardelli of the recent development involving VVV… him.”

 

“Is that all?”

 

“No,” she sighed again before adding, “I am also recommending that we should be removed from this… assignment.”

 

“Are you sure you wanna do that?” Milly questioned as concern took over. “I think you're acting a bit hasty, Meryl. I mean you haven't even talked to Mr. V…”

 

“Don't!” Meryl interrupted as her eyes started to glisten. “Please don't say it, Milly. I…I can't stay now. Not now. I…I mean hhh…he chose her and I have to let hhh…him go…” she stuttered before trailing off as the tears finally started fall.

 

“I'm so sorry, Meryl,” the big-girl whispered as she enveloped her friend in a comforting hug.

 

“Oh God Milly, what am I gonna do?” the petite woman cried into best friend's work overhauls.

 

“Shhh… it will be okay. We'll just take this one day at a time,” Milly comforted as she started to rub her partner's back. “Just one day at a time,” she repeated after a moment as the tears started to fall from her own eyes again.

 

Both women simply consoled one another over the Gunsmoke shattering news for the next few minutes until the tears finally slowed. Once they were down to a trickle, Meryl pulled away to wipe the remaining away and gave her friend a weak smile before whispering, “Thank you, Milly.”

 

“You don't have to thank me, Meryl.”

 

“I know but…”

 

“No buts, ya' hear,” Milly exclaimed as she cut off Meryl. Then with a reassuring smile, she speedily chirped, “Now, why don't we go and send that wire. Then we can head over to the well. I need tell foreman Kevin that we are probably leaving soon and that I need to take the day off so we can prepare. That way we can spend the day together. Ya' know we could window shop and go out to lunch and perhaps get some pudding and a banana sundae for dessert! That sounds like fun don't you think, Sempai?!”

 

“Milly, you don't have to do this. I know that you love it here and I completely understand if you wanna stay…”

 

“Nonsense, were partners and best friends, right?” Milly then scolded as she picked up the envelope from the table and handed it to Meryl.

 

“Oh Milly, what would I do without you?” Meryl asked with a watery smile, entirely grateful that she had such a wonderful person for a best friend.

 

“I don't know, but I'm sure you would be a complete mess,” she said with a laugh. Meryl adamantly agreed before both women headed toward the door for their little excursion.

 

 

 

*~*~*

 

 

 

For the remainder of the morning and into the early afternoon, the insurance girls roamed the streets of New Oregon looking through the various shops and boutiques that littered that main market place. Both, for the most part, enjoying the free time that they where so rarely able to share, while trying their best to keep the devastating events from the morning from surfacing, especially in the smaller of the two. Every time Milly would see Meryl with a far away look in her eyes, she would immediately change the subject or pull the smaller woman off to a different shop to distract her. The entire strategy seemed to work really well, until they walked past a bakery and smelled the fresh baked goods.

 

Unfortunately, the short-girl's eyes instantly welled up with unshed tears as it reminded her that she wouldn't have to buy or make the un-spiky headed idiot doughnuts any longer. When she finally calmed down, Meryl told Milly that she was fine and said that all she wanted to do was shower and go to sleep. So, the lovely ladies made their way back to the ship with the hopes of having a quiet afternoon.

 

Walking in silence the entire way back, they wondered what the next week, or so, would bring. Meryl knew it was going to be exceeding difficult, especially when seeing Vash and Jessica together. But, at the same time, she felt that it would probably be over soon. There was only a slim chance that the Insurance Society would want them to continue; actually it wouldn't even be considered slim. After all, Meryl had recommended their removal and that was more than enough to ensure that the company would recall the Disaster Investigators.

 

“Sempai?” Milly softly called, finally breaking the silence.

 

“Hmmm…” Meryl mumbled as they passed through the elevator doors, walking toward their now temporary quarters.

 

“Are you going to tell him?” she asked, stopping in the middle of the hallway.

 

“Tell him what?” she asked, stopping as well before turning to look back at the taller woman.

 

“That we are probably leaving.”

 

“No,” she whispered as she ran her left hand through her cropped locks. “I don't think that would be a good idea.”

 

“Okay, I won't tell him either...”

 

“Thank you, Milly,” she quietly murmured before turning to start walking again.

 

“Meryl?” Milly called, not moving, which made her friend look back to her again. “Ummm… remember, I will always be here for you, like you are for me, okay?!”

 

“Okay Milly,” the short girl said with a sad smile, before Milly walked up and lightly slapped her on the back.

 

“Now no more tears, Sempai!” Milly advised in a motherly tone. “Just remember… never let them see you down. You can never do that! If you did, then they will know that they have beaten you!”

 

“Is that something your big, big sister would always say?” Meryl asked with an inkling of the twinkle in her eyes.

 

“Nope, my daddy!” she replied, giggling, making Meryl laugh a little while saying that she would remember that. Then with a `come on' from Meryl, the ladies finished their trek. A moment later, they found themselves at their door where Milly keyed in their pass code and opened the door. As the big-girl stepped into the room, she instantly froze.

 

“Milly, what are you doing?” the short-girl groused as she pushed her way through the entrance before immediately freezing as well.

 

Standing in the middle of their living room was Vash the Stampede.

 

“Ummm… yeah… Oh, I just remembered I have something to do,” Milly nervously sputtered as she started to turn around.

 

“Don't leave!” Meryl desperately whispered, while grabbing her friend's arm.

 

“I won't, Sempai, I won't. I'll just go in my room for a spell, kay?”

 

“Okay,” she replied, just as quietly, before Milly told her to be strong and quickly exited the room, purposely ignoring the man she had just passed. Once the big-girl left the room, Meryl made her way to the kitchen to make some fresh coffee, while coldly asking, “How did you get in here?”

 

“I know your pass code, remember,” Vash softly pointed out as his saddened aqua eyes followed the beauty's every move. “Where have you been?”

 

“I really don't think that's any concern of yours now is it?” she bit out; refusing to look directly at him, while absently thinking that she needed to change their pass code.

 

“Meryl…”

 

“No Mr. Vash, I don't want to hear it!” she exclaimed as she hit the start button bringing the welcomed scent of freshly brewed coffee into the air. Then subconsciously she leaned up against the counter before tiredly adding, “Please just go away. I'm tired and I don't want to deal with you right now. I just want to take a shower and go to sleep.”

 

“But, Meryl please,” he pleaded, taking a step closer to her.

 

“No… don't come any closer…”

 

“Please, I need to explain…” Vash desperately implored as his eyes began to water in frustration. All he wanted to do was hold her close and tell her that everything would work out. But, he was beginning to realize that it wouldn't be possible, at least at that point in time.

 

“Oh… you need to explain?” Meryl questioned mockingly. The lack of sleep and the stress of the day were starting to react negatively on her already nettled nerves, to the point that she was becoming irate, very irate. Pushing away from the counter, she quickly turned to look directly at the sullen man before her. With her molten silver orbs flashing and her hands now clenched into tight fists, she seethed, “What is there to explain? You made everything perfectly clear this morning, now didn't you?”

 

“No!” he cried taking another step closer. “You see, I…I was drinking and then we were at Brad's grave aaa…and she was crying…”

 

“Enough!” she yelled before closing her eyes to try to control the growing rage inside of her. A tense moment later, she opened her eyes and pinned a frigid glare on the gunman. Fortunately, for him, she had calmed down enough to not scream out her next question. With frost lacing every word, she slowly asked, “Are you or are not engaged to her?”

 

“I…I am…” he choked out.

 

With his admission all hell broke loose.

 

“You fucking bastard!” she seethed through clenched teeth before she started pace the kitchen while screaming out, “Was this some sort of sick and twisted joke? What? Did you have a bet going on with all of your buddies at the construction site, to see how long it would take for you to get into the short insurance girl's pants? I just knew that you had no interest in me other than piece of ass. I just knew it, but no… I ended up giving myself to you, anyway! God… I trusted you!”

 

Then the tears came as she stopped her pacing and vehemently cried out, “How could you, Vash? After all that we have been through? I even told you that I loved you. And what do I get for that admission? Betrayal and lies!”

 

“I never lied to you!” Vash declared defensively.

 

“Bullshit!!”

 

“When, Meryl? When have I ever lied to you?” the outlaw bit out, while clenching his fists, starting to reach his own boiling point.

 

Meryl just looked at him in shock, instantly ceasing her tirade. She couldn't believe that he actually had the audacity to demand that she name a time when he lied to her. The whole five weeks had been nothing but a degrading lie. Then one instance in particular came into mind. Without breaking their eye contact, the overemotional woman finally sobbed, “In the lll…lab. When you said that yyy…you would al…ways… need me…”

 

`What did she just say?' Vash thought to himself in disbelief. Of course, he needed her. He would always need her. She was everything to him and should have known that. Then the blonde replayed in his mind exactly what she said. Meryl thought everything that had happened over the past few weeks was just some elaborate plan so he could screw her. At first, that completely boggled his mind. Then the entire situation finally clicked…

 

And it really pissed him off.

 

He knew that he had it coming; her yelling at him. But, she wasn't just spouting off in anger. She really didn't believe him, even with everything that they had been through together. A low growl escaped his lips as he narrowed his now blazing blue eyes before slowly rasping, “I will always need you!”

 

“Well you sure could have fooled me,” she said brokenly, while wiping her tears away. Then a notion tickled the back of her brain. `Wait a minute,' she thought as her anger started to grow again. `He doesn't think that…' she added internally, lowering her hands from her face and bringing her attention back to Vash. Then narrowing her eyes, she muttered in disbelief, “You actually thought that, didn't you?!”

 

“Thought what?” he asked, completely bewildered.

 

“You actually thought that you could marry her and keep me around for a little sex on the side,” she said in utter astonishment. “Oh my god… I can't believe you!”

 

“Meryl, that's not…”

 

“Just shut up Vash! No more lies!” the raven-haired woman screamed, slamming her fist down on the counter. Starting to pace again, Meryl was shaking her hands furiously as she continued her tirade, “Of all stupid, idiotic things you have come up with… This by far takes the cake! You truly are nothing but a lecherous, doughnut scarfing, skirt-chasing, hog in heat that gets some sort of perverse enjoyment out of lying to women so you can screw them! I bet that you even lied when you said that you've never been with a woman before!”

 

Eyes narrowing once again, Vash just watched while she paced at the edge of the kitchen and screamed. His rage was about to take over and he was going to explode. Then he heard her say that he lied about his sexual experiences… That was it; something deep inside snapped and all logical thinking disappeared from the gunman…

 

“That is enough!” he bellowed, instantly making her stop her rant and pacing. “God, you are such a bitch! And ya' know, you are absolutely right! I only want you naked and underneath me while I'm fucking you! That's all I want from you! I don't need you for anything else. Actually, I don't even need you in particular, any woman would do! Willing or not, I don't care. After all, I am Gunsmoke's biggest womanizer! Maybe I could prove my point right now…” Vash trailed off ominously as he stalked her, intending to do just that.

 

However, he was instantly stopped by a pair of derringers pointing at his chest.

 

“Get out,” Meryl hissed, making his logic kick in. He then realized what he had just said to her. His eyes widen at the discovery as a tear trickled down his cheek.

 

“I'm so sorry, Meryl,” he whispered as the anger turned into deep sadness. He just lost her, all because he couldn't control himself and blew up, screaming anything that he knew would hurt her. “I didn't mean any of that, short-girl. I swear!”

 

“Get out, Vash!” she said, firm in her resolve and never lowering her guns.

 

“Please Meryl…”

 

“Mr. Vash it's over! Get out.”

 

“But…”

 

“OUT!!” she shrieked at the very top of her lungs, causing the blonde man to whisper that he was sorry again before he slowly turned and left with his head hung low.

 

Meryl just stood there for a moment, shaking as the recent events replayed in her mind. It all became completely overwhelming as she absently dropped her guns to the floor. Then the uncontrolled sobs came as she fell to her knees and cradled her face in her hands. There was no hope for them now. She just crushed it by being her typical bitchy self and not giving the man that she loved enough trust to listen to what he had to say…

 

“Oh God… what have I done,” she cried, completely forgetting about the freshly brewed coffee.

 

 

 

*~*~*

 

 

 

“Geez, are you back already?” the man behind the faux-wood bar asked as he set a glass in front of the newcomer and automatically filled it with a tawny-colored liquid. He distinctly remembered kicking the blonde out at closing last night and just knew that something must have really been bothering him. Normally, when Vash came in, he was with friends and having a good old time. However, last night, he just sat at the corner of the bar and drank with a very somber look crossing his features. And by the looks of him, it was going to be the same today. “So, wanna talk about it?”

 

“Not really, thanks for the offer though, Ned,” Vash muttered before throwing his head back and downing the entire contents of his glass. “I'll take another, though…”

 

Several drinks and several hours later, the outlaw stumbled out of the saloon and started the hazy trek back to the ship. Then his queasy stomach started to protest the jarring movements of his bumbling walk. Groaning out loud, he turned a sickly shade of green before slipping into a nearby alley to retch. A few minutes later, the acidic contents that once filled his stomach were split all over the wall and ground below, making him thankful that he only drank his dinner. With another groan escaping, Vash tried to right himself while wiping his mouth on his sleeve at the same time. Unfortunately, the normally uncomplicated actions made the inebriated man very woozy, resulting in him stumbling backwards and into the opposite wall.

 

Where he slid down the sandstone and promptly passed out…

 

 

 

*~*~*

 

 

 

Opening his eyes proved to be quite daunting for the blonde outlaw as the brightness of the blue sky pierced through his skull, making him moan loudly before quickly closing them. Decided that it just wasn't worth it to get up, Vash rolled over, wanting nothing more than to evade the intense light and, hopefully, ease the pain of his splitting headache. Finally, after a couple of minutes, he dared to tempt fate and opened his eyes again. Unfortunately, instead of seeing the sandy ground, which would have been much duller, he again saw nothing but blue.

 

`What the hell?' he thought, sitting straight up and noticing that he was in his dreamscape. “Great, I drank so much, I'm even hung over in my dreams,” he groaned to himself, while covering his eyes and trying to get used to his surroundings.

 

“Wolfwood, I'm surprised you aren't laughing right now,” Vash murmured a moment later, refusing to remove his hands. However, when nobody answered him, he realized that there was something, yet again, different. No cigarette smoke. “Wolfwood?” he called again as the lowered the hands from his face, so, he could look around the space.

 

He was all alone.

 

“Rem? Are you there Rem?” he then called as a feeling of dread took over. “Nicholas, Rem please… answer me!” he added desperately, fearing the worst.

 

“Oh God, I lost them too,” he finally cried out as he brought his knees up and wrapped his arms around them before lowering his head so he could cry in earnest.

 

It was too much for him. In the matter of hours, he lost everything that was dear to him, save for one person, his brother. Though, he may have lost him too he realized, remembering how angry his twin was. Knives barely tolerated Jessica and when he found out about their engagement, he instantly sent Vash a mental message advising him of his stupidity, and left the ward right behind Milly and…

 

Meryl

 

“I'm truly am sorry, Meryl,” Vash whispered, turning his thoughts to the raven-haired beauty. He never wanted her as a mistress or for her to play second fiddle to anybody. He just wanted her and only her in his life for as long as he could have her. Where he could make her happy, give her everything that she could possibly want… love, children, a home, anything. Now, however, he would never have the chance to fulfill any of those dreams for her… with her.

 

All because of he felt honor bound to keep a promise that he made to Jessica. Something, he still wasn't exactly sure how it happened, how he ended up agreeing to marry her. All he remembered was Jessica feeding him whiskey like it was water during dinner and then they made their way to Brad's grave. He faintly recalled her kneeling in front of his grave crying, while saying that she truly missed Brad and that she realized that she loved him…

 

Then the events from the past evening rose to the surface of his alcohol induced haze.

 

He remembered how the tears flowed down her childlike face as she continued to wail about her loss. Never having the chance to know what it was like to have the man that she loved hold her. How she would end up as an old maid, because marriage proposals came few and far between for someone her age.

 

Vash instantly felt the guilt and the responsibility slam into him as his own tears started to fall. He was the reason for Brad's death and ultimately for Jessica's grief. So, he did the only thing that he could think of. He started to apologize, which turned into his own admission of guilt. The confession eventually ending with him exclaiming, in between sobs, that he would do anything to ease her pain, her suffering. After all, he was the one who caused it.

 

“Anything Vash?”

 

That simple phrase led him to his downfall, to his despair. He should have known when he heard her speak those two words that he should have quickly amended `I'll do anything' to `I'll do almost anything.' But, he didn't. The Jack Daniels must have dulled his senses since he remembered just whispering `yes,' as the last part of their conversation as it replayed in his mind…

 

“Oh Vash, really?” she sobbed into her hands before quickly adding, “I so glad, because the only way I could be truly happy if you took Brad's place.”

 

“Took Brad's place?” he questioned dumbly, continuing to wipe the tears away from his eyes.

 

“Yes, you promised, Vash. You promised that you would do anything,” she answered, turning around and looking expectantly at the outlaw.

 

“BBB…But how?” he stuttered, thinking that she meant that she wished that he had died instead.

 

“By becoming my husband,” she clarified, knowing that she had him right where she wanted him.

 

“What?” he cried in disbelief. “I…I can't! What about Mer…” Vash added until she cut him off.

 

“Vash, you said you would do anything to ease my pain! After all, Brad is dead because he stepped in front of that puppet to save you and now that he's gone… I'll be all alone. All I ever wanted was a family of my own and I won't ever have the chance if you go back on your word. Please Vash! I need you and I know that would make the best wife possible for you,” she pleaded, while giving him the most desperate look he had ever seen on her face.

 

He knew he was stuck. Unless he decided to go back on his word, something that he had never done before. It would go against his very fiber if he did. He looked down to the ground trying to find away out of the situation. But, like in LR Town, he couldn't think of another option. If only there had been more time…

 

“Alll…right,” he finally whispered after a few tense minutes. Then the next thing he knew, she had flung herself into his arms before saying that she would be the best wife ever and he would always be happy.

 

So, in order to keep his promise to Jessica, he not only broke his own heart, but Meryl's as well. He never wanted hurt his insurance girl, not in a million years, but he did and deeply. There was no hope for them now, there argument solidified that, he realized while tilting his head to look at the clouds floating by. “Yeah… I'm really happy,” he muttered sarcastically, before noticing another presence.

 

“I don't know what you have to be so happy about,” the man standing behind Vash angrily retorted as he lit a cigarette. After pulling his cupped hands away from his mouth, he took a deep drag before speaking again on the exhale, “I thought I told you not to do anything needle noggin-ish, needle noggin!”

 

“Wolfwood!” Vash cried in relief, as he stood and ran over to the priest to give him a big hug. “I though you abandoned me!” he blubbered, picking the priest up off the ground in a bone crushing embrace.

 

“Damn it Vash, put me down!” he complained before bringing his fist down on the unsuspecting gunman's head.

 

Vash instantly let go as he stumbled back, raising his real hand to rub the back of his head. “Ouch… What did you do that for? I was just glad to see ya'. Besides, I'm already in enough pain as it is…” he whined as he looked to his friend and saw his miffed expression. “And what took you so long to get here, Wolfwood?”

 

“Well… I hit you because you deserved it and I just got back from being with Milly. She's really upset with you for what you did to Meryl, ya' know,” the preacher in black replied as he tried to relight the now very crumpled cigarette that Vash put out with his bear hug. “What in the blazes were you thinking, anyway? No wait… you obviously weren't, were you!”

 

“Please don't rip on me, I don't think I can handle it,” he sadly muttered before slumping to the ground to mimic his earlier position. “Besides, you already know what happened,” he then whispered as the never-ending tears started to fall.

 

“I know what happened,” Wolfwood affirmed as he stepped up to the blonde and placed his left hand on his shoulder. “I truly feel for ya' buddy. I really do, but… what I don't understand is why you just didn't tell Jessica no?”

 

“I couldn't. Brad died because of me and for that reason she probably won't get any other offers of marriage now. So, I basically ruined any chance that she had for a future.”

 

“So, you sacrificed your future with short stuff to make Jessica happy?”

 

“Ahhh… Yup.”

 

“Are you sure she hasn't gotten any other marriage proposals?” Nicholas asked, giving up on the crumpled cigarette as he flicked out into the expanse of blue before it disappeared into thin air. “I mean she's a pretty woman and there are approximately two guys to every girl on Gunsmoke. So, I'm sure that she has had more than what she's told you.”

 

“Jessica would never lie to me,” Vash replied defensively as he watched his friend sit down next to him.

 

“Okay Vash, whatever you say,” the priest dryly retorted as he decided lay down with his arms resting underneath his head before closing his eyes. Then after a few contemplative minutes, he wondered, “What about Meryl's future?”

 

“I…I don't know… I just know that I won't be apart of it any longer, at least, not the way I wanna be,” Vash whispered sadly.

 

“So, you're just gonna give up?”

 

“It's not like I gotta choice.”

 

“Are you sure about that, Tongari?”

 

“What do you mean, Wolfwood?”

 

“Well… aren't you the one always saying that there's gotta be another way? You know… if you keep you vision clear ….blah, blah, blah,” he said before pulling a lit cigarette out of the air, right after Vash looked back incredulously at him. “What needle noggin? You've seen me pull a cigarette out of the air like that before.”

 

“I…I know… It's just that I can't believe that you're actually are feeding me my own advice!” Vash said with a small smile.

 

“I know! Kinda ironic, ain't it!” the preacher said with a chuckle before adding, “So, watcha gonna do, Vash?”

 

“Well… I guess I'm gonna try and find another way.”

 

“Well praise the lord! There are some working brain cells in that otherwise empty head of yours!”

 

“Hey… that wasn't very nice, preacher man!”