Trigun Fan Fiction ❯ Incompatible ❯ Chapter 0026 ( Chapter 26 )

Trigun Fanfic

Trigun © Yasuhiro Nightow * Shonen Gaho-sha * Tokuma Shoten * JVC * Pioneer Entertainment (USA) Inc.

The following fanfiction was written by me (Chiruken) and is intended for the sole purpose of shared entertainment and not intended for publication or sale.

--Incompatible-

Trigun Fanfic Featuring Knives and Meryl. Knives hates all humans. Meryl just hates Knives. It's a match ideal for the promise of Eden.

By Chiruken

Chapter 26

**~**

He'd been following the faint trail for three days now and still hadn't found any sign of his 'quarry'. Pausing, Knives closed his eyes and bowed his head as he focused and concentrated. In his mind's eye he could envision the faint glowing trail curving off to his left, towards more rocky terrain. Meryl's distinctive psychic signature was broken in places, smudged and bleeding off to mingle with others, from the amount of time that had passed, but still he doggedly tracked her, followed the disappearing path, and refused to give up now that he'd found something to trace to her. He was rather disturbed by the direction the trail was leading. It had somehow backtracked and turned east from October City, towards the direction he'd originally come from. He didn't like the idea that he'd wasted two weeks just to find that he'd been closer to her before he'd started out.

Opening his eyes again he sighed as the landscape blurred momentarily. Raising a hand, he rubbed his eyes wearily and shook his head before continuing to walk, his steps slow and heavy. He was tired. It had taken a lot of effort to find the correct signature amongst all the others left by humans traveling through the desert and truthfully, all he wanted was a chance to lay down and sleep away the fatigue pressing down on him. He hadn't slept well since he'd met up with Millie and found out about Meryl's disappearance and it was beginning to catch up with him. He'd been pushing himself both physically and mentally, using up precious energy and tapping into his reserves. If he didn't get some much needed rest soon he was likely to drop from exhaustion. Of course, he wasn't about to let that deter him from his set goal. He intended to find Meryl and return her to Vash and Millie…preferably safe and unharmed. If not… He shook his head and forced the rest of the thought from his mind. He wouldn't think of the alternative. It was a waste of time and energy, of which he had precious little to spare.

He scowled as he watched the last sun set beyond the horizon and rubbed a hand wearily over his face. The damned trail had backtracked yet again and turned him in the opposite direction to head west once again. He was becoming thoroughly sick of all the twists and turns he was being forced to follow. If he didn't know better, he'd swear she'd been passed several times from one group to another, the other distinctive signatures changing often, yet since he'd never had contact with those humans before he couldn't be absolutely certain that they were different or if the time had merely altered them. He was becoming increasingly frustrated…and irritated. The constantly zigzagging trail he'd been following was wearing thin on his patience. He'd been following the damn trail across the desert, feeling very much like one of those 'blood hounds' Rem had told them about from old Earth, and not liking it one little bit.

Ahead through the increasing darkness he could make out the shape of a building. Tilting his head to the side in consideration, he approached it cautiously. The traces of Meryl's psychic energy led in that direction. He doubted she was still inside, but he would check anyway to be sure. He was hoping to find something that might make tracking her easier and possibly be able to rest for a few short hours. He certainly didn't want to risk 'burning out', which was a very likely possibility if he continued expending energy without pause. He shivered as he thought of the likely outcome for such an occurrence and immediately pushed the images from his mind. He'd seen what happened to the captive Plants once they'd reached their maximum energy output and he had no intention of allowing that to happen to himself.

Resting his hand on the comforting smoothness of his gun, he slowly approached the building and the door facing him. Eyes narrowing, he focused and scowled. There was no one inside that he could tell. Not wishing to take any chances where his life was concerned, he drew his gun and cocked the hammer back in readiness before focusing once again. The door flew open and he tensed, gun held at readiness. Several tense moments passed and nothing moved. Slowly lowering his arm, he gently depressed the hammer and approached the now open door and the darkness revealed beyond. Stepping slowly over the threshold, he frowned as he surveyed the interior of the cabin. With the exception of a few pieces of furniture, it was empty. The light shining through the still open door offered enough light for his sensitive eyes to pick out details in the dim interior and he slowly shook his head as he replaced his gun in its holster.

From the corner of his eye something caught his attention and held it. Turning slowly towards it he drew in a sharp breath and held it. Crossing the dirt floor he stared down at the white material lying rumpled in the corner before bending to touch it hesitantly. It was, he could see, Meryl's cape. He remembered seeing her wear it many times during his time of recovery. He now had proof that she'd been here, in this very cabin, at some point in the not so distant past.

As much as he wanted to continue in his search, he knew that he needed to take the opportunity to get some much needed rest. Now that he had something of hers, it would be a little easier to track her, but he really needed to try to 'recharge' some of the energy that he'd expended to just reach this point in his search. So, with that in mind, he slowly lowered himself to the floor and leaned back against the wall. Sighing deeply, he closed his eyes. He knew he should at least let his brother know what he'd found and so he concentrated and tentatively brushed his twin's mind. **Vash…** He called silently, wincing at the weariness reflected in his mental voice.

**Knives! Where the hell are you? What are you doing? Why did you just leave Millie like that? She's been going out of her mind with worry, you big jerk!** He winced at the immediate diatribe sent back to him.

**She'll get over it.** He answered not bothering to hide his impatience. **Look, I just thought you'd like to know I've found Meryl's trail…**

**What?!**

**Damn it Vash! Not so damn loud!** He pressed his hands to his aching temples. **I picked up the trail heading south east from October City, but it backtracked to the West before turning again to the East.**

**I see…so…whoever has Meryl is coming my way, then.**

**Let me finish. The trail doubles on itself. It's hard to follow, but it seems she's been passed off to different groups and each of them has taken her in different directions. I've found her cape, so that should make it easier…maybe.**

**How are you doing this, Knives? How can you track like that? Any signs left in the sand would be long gone by now…**

**No need to sound so suspicious, brother. If you'd give up your foolish insistence of denying your true nature you could do this just as easily. Now shut up and listen. I think she's somewhere east of October City. Despite the way the path keeps backtracking, it continues more in that direction. I'll keep following from here, but you start searching the east. Got it?**

**Um…yeah. I got it.** There was a pause before he spoke again, tone hesitant. **You sound tired, brother.**

**I am.** He answered truthfully. **I'm going to get some rest now and start out again at dawn. If I find anything, I'll let you know. I expect you to do the same.** He broke the connection and settled back against the wall, rubbing his temples absently as he felt the dull throb of a headache forming. He really needed to get some sleep. He couldn't remember the last time he'd felt so utterly exhausted and he knew that if he continued on like this he'd be virtually useless later, if not dead. He had no intention of killing himself yet…he still had quite a bit to do in his opinion.