Trigun Fan Fiction ❯ Humanity: Torn Between Loving It and Hating It ❯ Deadly Amusement ( Chapter 6 )

Kale stirred a little and took in a deep breath as she stretched. She let out a gasp when she moved her injured shoulder. She gazed around the room and stopped at the empty chair beside her bed. Knives. She wondered, Why had the man watched her that night? He hated her; he hated her kind. He hated her so much that he had shot her for no damn reason.

"Hmph. Stupid jerk. One of these days, I hope he trips and falls down those stairs and breaks his neck," she grumbled, sitting up. She bit down hard on her bottom lip as she grasped her bandaged shoulder. It was hurting more than ever and she had obviously sat up to quickly because now she was dizzy and had a headache.

"Oh . . ." She forced herself out of bed and made her way to the bathroom. She brushed her teeth, her hair and, with some difficulty, took a hot shower. At first it really stung when the water hit her bare shoulder, but it soon gave way to soothing pleasure. She stood under the heated water for about fifteen minutes after cleaning her body and hair before shutting it off and stepping out.

She walked back into the bedroom with a towel tired tightly around her body. She didn't see that a certain someone was leaning against the wall with his back to her. She let out a shriek and stumbled back, only to slam into the wall. A cry of pain escaped her lips and she gripped her shoulder that she had quickly wrapped in fresh bandages.

"You are clumsy, human. Keep this up and you'll never heal," came that smooth, deep voice. Kale grumbled something under her breath before looking up, her eyes glaring at Knives who stood before her.

"Why the hell are you here?! Were you spying on me?! Pervert!!" She screeched. Knives narrowed his eyes and snorted, turning his head away.

"Please, there is nothing on your disgusting being even worth looking at and comparing me to my brother is not a wise thing to do," he said darkly as he towered over her, glaring evilly into her eyes. Kale cowered back on instinct, tightening her hold on the towel.

"Why?" she whispered.

"Because it's like comparing me to a human!" he snapped. She cringed slightly and turned to look at the bed.

"Well, excuse me," she grumbled.

"What?" he growled, slamming his right palm on the wall beside her head causing her wandering gaze to shoot up at his.

"You are in no position to talk back to me, human. I suggest you watch what you say or you will have another hole, only this time it will be in your head." She shifted slightly so that she was off the wall and standing only an inch from him, her head tilted back so she could look at his face.

"Are you flirting with me, Knives?" She asked out of the blue, batting her eyelashes. Knives hadn't expected this at all so he jumped back a foot or so, giving her a deadly look.

"Flirting?! I am not flirting! I am merely stating my promises if you were to push me to my limits!" He said, nearly shouting in outrage. She smiled inwardly when she noticed a light pink blush staining the bridge of his nose and his cheeks.

"Whatever, Plant. Could you leave? I don't enjoy revealing myself to men while dressing," she said, turning her back to him, but glanced over her shoulder. Knives made a noise between a growl and a huff, but obeyed, closing her door. When she was sure he was gone, Kale collapsed on the bed, breathing in a deep sigh of relief.

"Good lord that man is creepy! Why was he even in here? I'll ask later, I guess. That is, if he's willing to tell me. After all I am," imitates Knives in a deep voice, "a pathetic, selfish, disgusting human who can't do anything right!" She huffed and put a hand on her hip, glaring at the door as if it were Knives.

"Geez, what a hypocrite! At least I'm not going around threatening everyone! That guy really needs to calm down." She got up and wandered off to the closet to get dressed.

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"Good morning, Miss Kale!" Vash said happily. Kale smiled back and watched as the spiky-haired hunk fry a few eggs. Meryl and Milly were seated at the table already eating away at their breakfast. Knives wasn't anywhere in the kitchen. She seated herself across from the other girls and asked without interest, "Where's Knives?"

"In his room, like always," Vash said sadly. Meryl looked up from the paper.

"By the way, Kale. I got news on your would-be assassin earlier this morning." Kale leaned in slightly, giving the slightly older woman her full attention.

"The sheriff said that the man was Cole Ramen, originally wanted for the murder of his wife and two sons. He has a pretty impressive bounty on his head. Over the past three years he's robbed eight banks, killed fifty-six citizens, and destroyed five sheriff stations with the help of explosives."

"But, why did he come after me? Surely it wasn't random picking!"

"That's the other thing. The sheriff also told me that Cole had sometimes been paid to kill. They found his hideout not too long ago and found a briefcase full of money. Someone had paid him to kill you." Kale sat back, not believing any of this. Someone wanted her dead, but why? Who?

"Do you think it was it him who burned down the bar?" she asked quietly. Vash walked over and placed a plate of fried eggs, a few strips of bacon, some toast and a glass of water in front of her. Milly spoke up this time.

"They're considering it, but they're not all that sure. They need more evidence that it could have been him." Kale sat back in her chair and stared at the food. Questions that couldn't be answered raced through her mind.

Why was this happening? Who wanted her dead? Why did they want her dead? Did she really make an enemy without knowing it? She sat there, pondering on whom could hate her so much. Suddenly a name came to her. Todd.

"Oh my God, could it . . . no." She whispered, a smile crossing her face at the ridiculous thought. Todd had a short temper, but he would never hurt a soul except if it was out of self-defense or protecting someone he cared about.

"What?" Meryl asked. Kale shook her head and waved a hand to dismiss whatever she was thinking.

"I had a silly thought that my ex-boyfriend could be the guy, but it couldn't be him. He just isn't the killing type really." Meryl looked serious.

"Well, maybe we should ask him a few questions. You never know, Kale. I always though Vash The Stampede was some heartless killer who wiped out anyone, man, woman or child, who got in his way, but he turned out to be an idiotic, donut-loving, perverted, anti-killing fool!"

"Hey, now! I'm standing right here!" grouched Vash. Meryl jumped slightly and turned to give Vash an apologetic smile.

"Uh, no offense, Vash!" The man smiled.

"None taken! I guess you can say it's all true, but you have to admit, I'm starting to become a better man!" Milly giggled and Meryl rolled her eyes.

"Whatever you say, Vash. To me you're still perverted as ever and your obsession over donuts is growing. I have to go pick up a box of fresh baked ones every two days now! Really, Vash, you need to cut back! You're going to get fat."

"No I won't! That's such a mean thing to say!" whined Vash. Meryl puffed up her cheeks.

"No it isn't. I'm simply stating the truth!"

"And sometimes the truth hurts!" Vash argued. Meryl threw her arms up in disgust.

"What EVER! Ugh, all I know is that if you gain ten pounds in the next month, Donut Boy, I will force you to sleep on the couch because you wouldn't believe me!" Vash looked nervous now. Kale shook her head and got up from the table and walked out of the kitchen, leaving her breakfast untouched. No one noticed because Vash and Meryl were still fighting over the donut hazard and Milly was watching in amusement.

She walked outside into the warm morning suns. It was nice in the morning because the suns weren't as high like in the afternoon and every now and then you would get a few cool breezes. She sat on the concrete steps, laying her wounded and weak arm limply in her lap while she used her other to hold her head.

For a moment or so she just stared into the stretching desert when shots echoed in the air. It was Knives doing some of his daily target practicing. She knew this because Knives was her usual wake up alarm. She tended to sleep late in the mornings and Knives's shooting always woke her up.

"What else is there to do, but sit around and ponder?" Kale thought aloud. With that, she pushed herself up and walked around the house, cradling her arm as if it were completely numb. She stopped right on the side of the house, peering around to see Knives with his back to her.

He wore a pair of faded jeans and a white shirt, along with the boots that went with the odd suit he had worn at the bar. She watched him as he shot round after round at a black and white bull's eye that stood quite a distance away. She was rather fascinated that he could shoot from such a distance and make it dead center each time.

That's when he stopped. At first Kale though he had to reload again, but instead he jus stood there, the black gun at his side.

"It's annoying when you stare." Kale's eyes widened and her mouth dropped. He knew she was there?!

"Yes, I've sensed you standing there for a while now. What do you want?" he growled, turning slightly to give her his famous glare. Kale stepped up from the side of the house and looked past him and at the target.

"I was board and I heard you so I decided to watch." She stated.

"Well, don't." Kale blinked and watched him reload his gun then spin barrel before snapping it closed.

"Why?" He turned fully to her, pointing the gun at her and before she could react he shot at her. She expected pain, but instead dirt exploded between her feet. She looked up at the pale blonde-haired man in shock. Knives had his gun pointed at the ground where he had shot then moved it upward to her forehead.

"Because I said so, that's why. Do not question those who are superior to you. Do as they say and you might not get hurt." Kale quickly recovered from her composure and put her good hand on her hip and turned her head away.

"I really wish you'd stop flirting with me, Knives." She got the reaction she wanted when Knives stumbled forward slightly, nearly dropping his gun.

"You actually believe I'm flirting with you?! What is wrong with you, woman?!"

"Oh, so now I'm `woman' and not `human', huh?"

"Not only are you humans filthy, you're insane as well!" Kale couldn't help but laugh. Knives didn't seem to like that.

"I see nothing funny, human!" He shouted and stalked toward her. Kale saw this and let out a shriek, but not of fear. She turned and dashed around the house with Knives not too far behind. She kept screaming every time he shot at her, hitting the dirt right beside her foot every time she took a step. She knew he was missing on purpose. If he had wanted to kill her, he would have done it on the first shot.

They rounded the house again and she jumped the few steps on the porch and flung open the door. Knives obviously didn't want her to escape so he headed for the backdoor. He dashed through the kitchen leaving his brother and two women wide-eyed as they watched him. In no time a shriek filled the house. Vash was out of the kitchen first, soon followed by Meryl then Milly.

Knives had Kale pinned in a corner of the den with his gun pointed to her abdomen. Kale was giving Knives a little feminine smirk, which meant there was little evil in her but lots of playfulness. Knives was smirking too, but his was full of evil and cunning.

"Wipe that expression off your face, human. You think you have won?" He said, pressing the gun into her slightly, his finger on the trigger.

"No. I never said this was a contest of `Catch me if you can'. But I have won in something." Knives arched a slender eyebrow.

"What is that?" Her smirk turned into a grin and her eyes twinkled slightly, making Knives a little uneasy.

"That I proved that you can have fun." Knives's eyelids drooped half way, making him look bored.

"There was no point in proving that," he said.

"What?" She looked confused.

"I always have fun tormenting you humans, but having to live with my wimpy brother for so long-"

"Hey!" Vash shouted.

"-it seems all I can do during his twenty-four/seven watch over me is scaring you instead. Watch." He said and tightened his finger in the trigger. Kale let out a high pitched shrill and squeezed her eyes shut when he pulled it. All she heard was a loud click and that was it.

Kale peeked open an eye and watched Knives pull his gun away and stuff it in it's hostler. He chuckled, grinning evilly.

"See. You just proved MY point. All humans are scared of anything. Most common one, dying. I should threaten your life more often. You're very amusing." With that, he turned and walked out of the room. Kale, wide-eyed, slid down to the floor, trying to slow down her heart rate.

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Wee, updated! I don't think Knives was too OOC ^^U Hope ya enjoyed it! Laterz!