Trigun Fan Fiction ❯ Guided Steps ❯ Revelations ( Chapter 1 )

For simplicity's sake, I'm just gonna refer to Elendira as `she.' Aaaaand… We're off!

 

***************************************************************** *******

In the end, it hadn't taken long for Meryl and Milly to find out which way Wolfwood was headed. It had been nearly impossible for Vash to convince Meryl to stay behind while he went after Wolfwood. He'd almost resorted to the priest's method of sneaking out while her back was turned, but Milly had saved him again. She dragged Meryl away from him and proceeded to hold an entire conversation with her consisting entirely of dueling glares, raised and lowered eyebrows, and several pointed looks. After that, Meryl gave up the fight.

 

The bus the girls had found him dropped Vash off a few iles from the orphanage where Wolfwood spent whatever childhood he'd had. He tried to get the driver to take him a little further, but the man explained that there had been a major fight in the area a couple of nights ago that could be seen from iles away, and he was afraid to bring his passengers any closer. It could only have been Wolfwood. And so, Vash was left to guess at the outcome of the fight, walking the rest of the way with his heart in his throat.

 

The orphanage had just come into sight when the wind picked up out of nowhere, but he was well protected. He ignored the biting, sandy gale that swirled around him as he approached the building. Part of him felt like he was intruding. This was where Wolfwood grew up, after all. It was the place and the people he cherished.

 

He stopped short before he got too close, sensing something wrong. A moment later, the toe of his boot caught on something and he nearly tripped. He bent down to uncover whatever it was, and his heart dropped like a stone.

 

It was the shattered remnants of a gun. A very large, very familiar one. The sand was still obscuring it for the most part, but its components were unmistakable.

 

He was too late. He'd never see Wolfwood again. It was all for nothing.

 

Vash would have fallen to his knees, but over a century of fighting for his life had his body dropping into a defensive stance out of sheer reflex; an automatic response to a serious threat. His hand closed around the grip of his gun just in time to see a cloaked and hooded figure appear almost out of nowhere.

 

The wind blew the hood back, and Vash could see jagged tattoos radiating out from the man's left eye, and for a brief moment, it seemed that that eye flashed maniacally. But it must have just been a trick of shadow and light because when the stranger blinked, it was gone. He looked to be in his late teens, but there was nothing remotely youthful about his muscular build or the hostile intent he projected. This was a highly trained, experienced killer. There was a cross-shaped machine gun clutched tightly in each of his hands, leaving no doubt that this was one of the ones Wolfwood had taken on for his sake.

 

And lost his life to, apparently.

 

Vash felt no sadness; even anger was curiously absent. Only emptiness remained. He whipped his revolver out and made ready to release the other from its place in his cybernetic arm. He would make sure. And then… “Where is Wolfwood! Did you kill him?!”

 

A puzzled expression flitted across the man's face before he brightened into a grin. “You're Vash, right?” he yelled back over the roaring of the wind.

 

The great emptiness was forced to yield to confusion at the man's change in attitude, Vash just nodded. His grip on the machine guns in his hands relaxed. “I knew it! Come inside. It's too hard to talk out here!”

 

Vash pulled a broken chunk of the Punisher out of the sand and held it aloft for this stranger to see. “Wolfwood,” he demanded simply.

 

“Oh, that thing. It's one of mine, kind of. Nicholas blew it up when we fought. Now come on! There's some stuff you should know, and I'm getting sand up my nose standing around out here!” The stranger released the triggers on his guns in a show of good faith and they reverted to two innocuous-looking, if large, crosses on each wrist.

 

Vash looked him over for a moment, considering. None of that killing intent he sensed earlier was present any longer. Now he exuded nothing but good will. With a sigh, Vash holstered his gun and let the man lead him to the orphanage.

 

“I'm Livio, by the way. Nice to meet you!”

 

Vash cocked an eyebrow at him. “Gung-Ho Gun, I presume?”

 

Livio flinched and ran a hand through his close-cropped blond hair uncomfortably. “And Eye of Michael. But not anymore.” Livio held the door open just long enough for them both to squeeze through, and they both heaved a sigh of relief to be out of the roaring wind. As soon as they walked into the building, Vash could feel many sets of curious eyes on them. “C'mon out,” Livio called. “It's safe. This is Vash. He's been traveling with Nicholas.”

 

To his surprise, kids started running into the room from everywhere, pulling on Vash's coat in an attempt to get his attention. They fired questions at him in rapid succession; he could barely keep up with who wanted to know what. “You're Nico-nii's friend? Where is he? He brought Livio home ta keep us safe! Is nii-chan coming back soon? We miss him!”

 

Vash laughed in spite of his own worry and did his best to answer them all. When one of the older boys puzzled him by asking if Nicholas looked old enough to score them some beer, a short, no-nonsense woman with a kind face bustled into the room. She scolded all the children and herded them off amid whiny protests. Despite her gruff behavior, amusement sparkled in her eyes. The children grumbled and complained, but did what she told them. She shot Vash a grin and winked at him before following the kids out of the room.

 

The place was by no means wealthy, but it looked like they had everything they needed to survive. It was comfortable, and it felt like home. Every child he'd seen seemed to be thriving, knowing that they were loved and they would always have a place here.

 

It was no wonder Wolfwood had been willing to risk his life to protect this place, these people. In all his long years, Vash had never seen any place quite like it before.

 

Livio shrugged his cloak off and dropped himself into one of the chairs at a long table. Vash sat down across from him, past ready to find out just what the hell was going on. “I need answers.”

 

Livio nodded, seeming to understand his need to get down to business. “I've been in the area for a month or so, keeping an eye on the orphanage in case Nicholas showed up against orders. I was to take everyone here hostage and start executing the kids until he fell back in line. I was so messed up I would have done it, too. Knives thought Nicholas might get too close to you and rebel.” He shot a grin across at Vash. “Looks like he was right to worry.”

 

Vash grimaced. “I wish I could take credit for it, but I don't think he ever listened to me. If he had, he would have let me help him instead of trying to do everything alone. After all the times he's gotten into trouble trying to save me, I would have been happy to do something for him.”

 

“Don't take it personal. If he gave a crap about himself, every man, woman and child in this orphanage would be dead at least twice over by now. In any case, he didn't think you'd come after him. But since you did, I guess he'd want me to tell you to stop wasting time and go settle things with Knives. He definitely would not want me to tell you that he went after the last Gung-Ho Gun, a couple hundred iles on the other side of December City. Whoops,” he added with a smirk.

 

Vash asked the only question on his mind. “Can he win?” `Or will I lose him to Knives, too?'

 

He was disheartened when Livio hesitated before speaking again. “Her name is Elendira the Crimsonnail; supposed to be the strongest Gun. Fast like you wouldn't believe. You've seen her before, right?”

 

“Yeah.” His memory from that time was a little hazy, but he remembered that she'd fired multiple nails from her crossbow in the time it would have taken anyone else to fire one shot. Not to mention… “She shot me through the arm with a metal spike. Hurt like hell, but at least it stopped me from going out of control.”

 

Livio paused at the grim look on Vash's face, wanting to reassure him as much as possible without getting his hopes up unrealistically. “Vash, my regeneration technology is a lot more advanced than Wolfwood's; he shouldn't have been able to beat me, but he did. And I don't know if you've ever seen him seriously go all out in a fight, but it's wicked scary stuff. He wants to beat her, so he will, there's no question of that. But I'm not gonna bullshit you. He was in bad shape when he left here. He's pretty much running on determination and willpower. If he does survive, it probably won't be for long. So take these with you. I don't really need them.”

 

Livio reached into a shirt pocket and held out two vials of liquid. “Nicholas used up some of his fighting me. He's only got a couple left, and that's not enough to live through a fight with Elendira. Just don't give him more than one at a time; it'll eat him alive.”

 

Vash took them, wrinkling his nose at the noxious-looking liquid before pocketing the vials. “What is this stuff?”

 

“You've been around him awhile, Vash. Don't tell me you never wondered how Wolfwood fights so well, catches things normal people miss. The Eye of Michael… They operated on us, `modified' us to increase our regenerative capabilities, among other things. The bastards even sped up our metabolisms so we'd heal from stuff faster. But there are some things not even we can heal from, so we get that stuff for life-threatening injuries. It's a drug that boosts our ability to heal even faster than usual.”

 

“And the price?”

 

Livio's lips twisted into a humorless smile. “Ask Nicholas how old he is sometime. I'll bet he won't tell you.”

 

Something just wasn't adding up. The Wolfwood he knew accepted killing as a necessary evil when he had to do it, and he set out specifically to wipe out the last of Knives' assassins. If he had an enemy down for the count, he wouldn't hesitate to pull the trigger. So why… “Why didn't he kill you?” `What makes you so special to him?' his inner voice asked, but he tried to ignore it. “Don't get me wrong,” he spluttered apologetically at a glare from Livio. “I'm really glad he didn't. But it doesn't seem like him.”

 

Livio gave him a wry smile. “That's kinda hard to explain. See, he did kill me, or at least part of me. Two of the Gung-Ho Guns were… well, they were both me. You see?”

 

He was relieved when Vash only nodded instead of freaking out on him. “Split personality. I read about it a long time ago.”

 

“Yeah. Nicholas and I were here together, years ago. He always looked out for me then. After I… after I figured out something was really wrong with me… I got scared and ran away. He said he always felt guilty for not protecting me better. He had me down Vash, dead to rights. Could've finished me off, but he just kept beating on me - the other me - until he got weak enough for the real me to get in control again. Our teacher always told me Nicholas was weak for not letting go of his family, and I believed him up until we fought. You should have seen him, Vash. He was… amazing! It made me realize protecting something makes you stronger, not weaker.”

 

Vash nodded, hoping the relief he felt at Livio's fairly obvious hero worship didn't show too much. So that's all it was. “Can Knives reach you here? You may not be safe.”

 

Livio just shrugged, unconcerned. “He doesn't care about me; he never even met me. I got my marching orders from Legato. But Nicholas is a different story. Far as I know, he's one of the three Guns that reported directly to Knives, and that guy doesn't seem to take open defiance too well. I don't know, maybe you've noticed?” Vash rolled his eyes, and they both chuckled.

 

“That's one of the reasons Nicholas wanted me to stay here; he knows there's a chance Knives will send someone after this place just to hurt him. Look, if by some miracle he manages to survive Elendira, he's going to have to deal with Knives. Not to mention Legato. There's something between those two I can't figure out. I mean, I know they hate each other for some reason, but it's more than that. It's like Legato's obsessed with him or something. You should have heard the little `We Hate Nicholas' party he and our old master had…” Alarm bells went off in Vash's head at that for some reason, so he filed the information away to be examined when he had more time.

 

“The bad news is that you're about three days behind him. The good news is, it'll take him a while to find her, and,” he paused to chuck a set of keys at Vash. “He left me his bike, but he never said I had to keep it. That oughta make things easier, right?”

 

It was too early to get his hopes up, but it was a better situation than he had a right to expect. “Yeah, I guess it will. Thanks, Livio.”

 

“Any time! Happy to help. I'd come with you, but Nicholas was right, this place really is in danger. I can't leave yet… but I just wish there was something else I could do right now!”

 

“You're looking after your family Livio,” Melanie said, coming into the room. She stopped behind Livio to ruffle his hair. “That's the most important thing in the world.” He beamed up at her with the innocent smile of a happy child, making Vash wonder just how old he really was. “Could you go check on the kids for me? I need to talk to Vash for a minute.”

 

“Yeah, just one more thing.” Livio placed four broken coin pieces on the table before Vash. “My two, Rai-dei's, and Wolfwood's. Just… I hope you can get to him in time, Vash. Come back here when you find him. I need to know, either way.” Livio hesitated for a second, looking puzzled. “He said… he said you needed a devil around so you wouldn't forget how to be a saint, but I don't really know what that means.”

 

Vash's jaw clenched tightly at that. It was true. He and Wolfwood clashed at almost every turn, but their confrontations always left him more certain of his own decisions. Dammit, it was true. They hadn't really known each other that long. How the hell could Wolfwood have seen that in him so quickly?

 

Livio shook his head and continued talking, missing the reaction. But Melanie didn't. “Anyway, he told me what you're trying to do, and that you shouldn't be doing it alone. When things calm down here, I'll come with you, if… if Nico-nii is…”

 

He bit his lip, not able to give voice to the possibility that Vash might not find him in time. Before Vash could say anything, Melanie whipped out a ladle and bashed Livio squarely over the head with it. “You're staying put young man! Nicholas will be fine, you hear me? Now off with you!”

 

“Yes, ma'am,” he muttered with a parting grin at Vash.

 

When he left, Melanie took the seat Livio had just vacated with a weary sigh. She let her stoic attitude falter, giving Vash a glimpse of someone deeply troubled. It was the same look he'd seen on countless mothers worried for their children. She and Vash looked up at the sound of giggling to watch some of the children running down the hallway.

 

“Makes me wonder what kind of child Wolfwood was,” Vash mused aloud, trying to draw her out.

 

Melanie smiled after the children sadly. “He was never a child. By the time the kids come here, many of them have seen so much they've forgotten what it's like to just be a child. They all remember after a while though, once they realize they're safe here. But not Nicholas. In all my years here I've never seen such old eyes in such a young boy. He couldn't remember how to be a child because I don't think he ever knew to begin with.”

 

She fixed Vash with an intense gaze. “I tried. I really tried to teach Nicholas that we were here for him when he needed us, but the lesson never stuck. Even now he still can't trust anyone, and I don't blame him one bit after all that's happened to him. He's gone through hell and had to do some awful things to protect us, and he never once came home for help. A lot of it was my own fault.”

 

“You can't blame yourself,” Vash offered gently. “You had no way of knowing what was happening.”

 

“Well, maybe not, but I certainly didn't help matters. I depended on him so much around here, and he never really complained because he saw it as his God-given duty to protect the rest of the children from all the things that hurt him. Then I handed him over to those… those monsters, and they hurt him, made him grow up too fast. They even tried to brainwash him like they did Livio. No, I failed him Vash, no doubt about it. But it looks like you've managed to do better by him than I have. So, I have to ask, what is he to you?”

 

Vash blinked widely at her, taken aback by the bluntness of the question. “He's…” `What? My friend? The only reason I need to keep fighting? The only person in my entire life to be this close to me since Rem? Yes, but he's…'

 

Vash stumbled over many answers before finally settling on one. “My guide. Without him, I'll lose my way again and forget what I'm fighting for.” `Everyone will die, and I won't even care.'

 

Melanie nodded, accepting. “Then you may be the only one who can teach him what I couldn't. Teach him so he learns.”

 

Vash smiled to himself. It was easy to see why this woman was the heart and soul of this place. “All I can do is try. If I'm not too late already,” he added darkly.

 

Mere seconds later, Vash was grabbing his head and yowling in pain. He never even saw her move, but Melanie was standing over him menacingly brandishing that ladle in her hand again.

 

Apparently the heart and soul doubled for the claws and fangs as well. “I won't hear that kind of talk, young man! Now get out there and bring my Nicholas home!”

 

“Yes, ma'am,” Vash whined, rubbing his head.

 

***************************************************************** *******

Vash slammed the bike into high gear when he heard the distinctive sound of the Punisher's rocket launcher followed immediately by a single gunshot and a huge explosion. It sounded close. Vash cursed the rolling sand under his breath; if it weren't for all the dunes, he'd probably be able to see them already…

 

There! He topped the rise and looked out on a bloody war zone. Nails littered the sandy landscape, stuck deep in the sand with the force of Elendira's crossbow. Many of them were sticky with drying blood. He pulled the bike to a halt just in time to see Elendira falling to her knees with a look of utter disbelief on her face. “How… did this happen…?” she cried. There would be no saving herself; bullets and that last explosion had mangled her body. But for once, Vash couldn't even bring himself to feel sorrow about her impending death.

 

Another figure twenty or so yarz away from her held his attention. The black-clad man leaning heavily on his Punisher and puffing shallowly on a cigarette was completely run through by six… no, seven nails, as big around as a man's arm and almost twice as long. “Told ya to… take me seriously,” he huffed. “Didn't even… get yer armor off, stupid bitch.”

 

“Wolfwood,” Vash sighed quietly. Seemingly in response, the priest smiled a little around the cigarette. Confused, Vash looked back to Elendira, and saw her shakily raising her crossbow, aiming it directly at Wolfwood's head. He wasn't even trying to get out of the way.

 

“Die,” she growled desperately. “Pave… my way… to hell!”

 

The bike hit the sand and Vash was running, arm outstretched even though he knew he was too far away to make it in time.

 

“Don't give up now,” he moaned.

 

Elendira's desperate eyes fixed on her target, and the strength that the dying can sometimes conjure steadied her hand. Wolfwood's eyes drifted shut.

 

Vash kept running, silver-white tendrils beginning to curl from his arm. “Please.”

 

She took one final breath and her finger spasmed on the trigger even as her body fell backward. The nail flew toward its target with incredible speed.

 

Still, Wolfwood stood, serenely accepting what had to be.

 

“NO!!!!”

 

 

**********

Like it? Hate it? Want me shut the hell up? Hit the `review' button and let me know!

 

I tried to bring myself to hate Livio/Razlo, but I couldn't do it. Livio's just too infuriatingly… likeable.

 

Did I fail to mention I'm fond of cliffhangers? ::runs away::