Trigun Fan Fiction ❯ Humanity: Torn Between Loving It and Hating It ❯ Loathing ( Chapter 4 )

Kale yawned and stretched as she sat up in bed. She was grateful for the peaceful sleep she had received. She really needed the rest after all the excitement from the fire that occurred and endless worrying of what would happen next. She looked over to Milly's bed only to see it vacant, but it was neatly made.

"Guess they already left. Hmm, oh well." Kale slid out of bed and fixed the covers and sheets so that they were the same when she first saw them. She then walked into the bathroom to do her morning business then brush her teeth, take a shower, brush her hair and get dressed. Meryl had lent her some of her clothes because she was about her size, if not a few centimeters taller. Milly was just too big for her. So, they had no choice.

Kale opened the bedroom door and stepped out. She gave a quick look down the hall to see Knives' door closed. She smiled a little and muttered under her breath as she turned and went down the stairs, "Good. Last thing I want to start my morning with is dealing with Mr. I Will Give You Hell till You Die. Sheesh, what's with that guy anyway?"

She walked into the kitchen, expecting Vash to be there for some odd reason. Only, sadly, he wasn't. No one was. Where was he? She knew Meryl and Milly must have left for the little shopping trip, but where was Vash?

"Hello? Vash? Hey, Vash! Where are ya?" She called out. Just then she heard a soft yet chilling voice say from behind, "He went with the other women." Kale spun around and stared in slight fear.

Knives stood there, leaning with his shoulder pressed against the kitchen entrance. His arms were crossed and his foot was crossed over the other. He wore some fading jeans, a white muscle shirt, and the boots that he had on when he was wearing his suit at the bar.

He pushed away from the wall and walked past her, making sure to put at least a two-foot distance between their shoulders, and to the door that was considered the back door. She turned and asked, "H-Hey, where ya going?" Why'd she ask that?!

Knives turned his head slightly so that a blue eye could stare into hers. He pointed to the gun in the hostler that was strapped around his waist without breaking eye contact.

"Target practice. I get very bored around here and so I like to keep my aim and shot in check. If you like, you could be my target for today. I've ruined all the dummies over the past few months. But I do like to shoot moving targets. Don't worry, I'm a fair man. I'll give you a head start on running for your miserable life. What do you say?" He tilted his chin slightly so show off his arrogant smirk.

Kale bent her head low, her cheeks puffed and red with anger and embarrassment. How dare him! Grr, I like hitting moving targets too, jerkoff! Square between the legs, also! Hmph, what an ass! Kale thought.

"You're so sick, Knives!" she bit out. Knives laughed. It wasn't some normal, happy laugh either. More like an evil, bone-chilling laugh.

He shrugged off her comment and walked out the door, saying on the way, "At least I'm not about to blow my head. You need to calm down, human. If I were to be me, I would have forced you to be my shooting toy anyway. Just stay out of my way for I'm not in that good a of mood seeing how Vash decided to leave me with you." Then the door closed. Kale let out a noise that was part growl, part sigh.

She ran to the window and opened it quickly. She stuck out her head and shouted to Knives' back, "Well, maybe if you'd learn to be nicer to me then maybe I will be calm! And quit freaking me out when you say stuff like that! I hate it, you stupid Plant!" She let out a shriek and ducked back in when Knives' turned half way around, gun drawn, and shot a round at where her head was.

After a few minutes, she peeked out and stuck her head out again and continued, "Also, I'm not in a very good mood either seeing how Vash decided to leave me with YOU!" She ducked back some when Knives turned again, his gun at his side. He looked at her through half lidded eyes.

"You annoy me, human. Maybe you should cease your talking for once. You will learn that it may help you stay out of harm's way." Kale growled and leaned half her body out.

"Oh yeah?! Well, you annoy me, Plant! Maybe you should cease your empty threats for once. You will learn that it may help you stay out of the way or a woman's wrath! And it just might help you earn more friends! Hmph!"

"Get back inside the house you useless, irritating woman! I do not want to have to explain to my brother why you might have a hole in your chest or why your head might be missing!" Knives said, his anger growing. He clutched onto his gun tightly, trying to control himself. He refused to show that he was falling into her trap, which was to prove that he could lose his cool just as quickly as she could.

"Oh, bite me! I would have your balls in my crushing grip before you could even shoot! From what I've learned in school, a man's you-know-what is very sacred and can be very painful if touched the wrong way, am I right?" She smiled when Knives' face paled slightly. Good, he was getting the idea that I shouldn't be toyed with! She thought cheerfully.

"You wouldn't DARE touch me!" He roared. He stormed up to the window and glared up at her. She was higher up so she grinned down. She crossed her arms on the windowsill and leaned down.

"Try me, you freaky Plant!" She put her thumbs in her ears, stuck out her tongue and did a raspberry before slamming the window shut. Knives shouted rude things at the window and made his way to the door. When he went to open it, he found that it was locked.

"Human! I demand that you open this door!"

"Nevah!" He heard her say against the door. His eye twitched when she started to giggle. Great, he thought, not only is mocking me but she laughing at me too! Grr.

"Open this door now and maybe I won't inflict so much pain on you. I might just be generous to let you live after this--this game of yours!"

"You know, Knives," she started with a hint of boredom in her tone, "there's your mistake right there. You don't say that you're going to `inflict pain' on me cause that's just going to drive me into keeping you outside as long as I can! You really can be stupid, huh? I'm a little shocked at this! Vash always went on and on at how talented and intelligent you are."

Knives rolled his eyes and stepped back some. He pointed the gun at the doorknob and shot once. The knob blew off and he heard a shriek on the other side. Smirking, he shoved the door open and saw Kale trembling against the fridge.

"Well, now. What was that about calling me stupid you filthy piece of garbage?" Kale stopped trembling and put her hands on her hips, her face twisted with rage. She took a few steps forward, surprising Knives' some.

"Hey now! I just took a shower this morning! Maybe when I was brought here earlier, I might fit that description, but I refuse to even talk to you if you're gunna call me things like that!" Knives shoved her up against the fridge hard, pinning her there as his gun pressed painfully against her head.

"Ouch! Hey, back off pal! And-oh hey check it out, Knives! You're touching me! Never thought you would do that!" Knives sneered and moved the gun to her shoulder. He leaned down till their faces were an inch apart.

"I suggest you shut up now, human. You have worked yourself onto my very last nerve and I will not stand for it any longer. One more word out of you today and I WILL shoot you. Not kill you because death is too good for you at this moment. You should suffer like I had when Vash had shot me.

"I spent at least half a year healing from our battle and I am still internally scarred at the fact that Vash would rather shoot me, his own brother, just to save your worthless race! You are nothing but selfish dogs, polluting this planet with your presence!"

Knives' eyes burned with loathsome and hurt. Hate for her, hurt because of Vash. Kale's playful mood had all but vanished. Knives was being dead serious about this. She could see it in his eyes and hear in his voice. He really was going to shoot her if she said a thing! Her own eyes widened and she shrunk back some, trying to hide from his gaze. This only seemed to anger him more. He gripped her arms painfully and pressed the gun into her shoulder harder. A cry of pain escaped her lips and she whispered, not even thinking, "Knives! That hurts! Let go, please!"

Knives was suddenly pushed over the edge and he pulled the trigger. The shot rang out in the room along with Kale's agony filled cry. Knives stepped back and let Kale scream as she slid to the floor, holding onto her shoulder as her blood gushed out.

"You pathetic creatures never listen." Then he turned and walked back outside. Kale, her eyes wide and glazed over, suddenly started feeling dizzy and sick. He did it! He actually did it! Kale cried out in her head. She had never been shot before. She had always slipped past danger without a scratch and her lucky streak had just run out.

Pain was raking up and down her arm, across her shoulder and up her neck. She couldn't move. Things were getting darker. No, she thought, I-I'm going to pass out! No! I-I can't! I might bleed to death if Vash and the others decided to come home later in the day! Knives doesn't give a rat's ass seeing how he's the cause! Oh God!

The world began spinning out of control before Kale's eyes and suddenly everything went black. The last thing she heard and felt was a man cursing and strong arms looping around her.

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Weee! ^^ Updated! Hope ya liked that one! I think I might have had Knives go a bit over, huh? Well, anyway, laterz and wait for the next update! ^^V