Trigun Fan Fiction ❯ Incompatible ❯ Chapter 0040 ( Chapter 40 )

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 40

**~**

Knives opened the door slowly, wincing when the hinges protested the movement with a long, drawn out squeak, and held his breath as he waited to see if the sound alerted anyone to his presence. When all remained silent save for the soft snores emanating from Millie and Meryl's room he breathed a silent sigh of relief and mentally cursed his brother for not oiling the hinges when he said he was going to. Stepping out into the hall he winced again when the floor creaked. **Damn it! Is the whole blasted house against me now?** Shaking his head he shuffled forward cringing at each loose floorboard that let out what, to his ears, were deafening creaks of protestation to his weight. Making his way down the endless hallway towards the stairs he bit back a startled yell when he stepped on the cat's tail and it let out a yowl guaranteed to wake the dead before glaring at him with baleful yellow eyes and scampering down the stairs, making enough racket to wake even his brother from his usual heavy sleep. **I thought cats were supposed to be quiet!** Giving up all pretense of stealth, he all but scurried down the stairs and tripped on the rug at the bottom and nearly fell on his face, knocking into the small table by the door. He made a desperate grab for the vase that wobbled precariously and let out his breath on a whoosh of air when he caught it, falling heavily in the process, saving it from smashing loudly on the floor he was currently sprawled out on. "I hate my life." He muttered under his breath as he jumped to his feet and set the vase back in its previous position of the now steady table.

Looking up the stairs he waited, but when no sound greeted his ears he shrugged and continued on his way towards the kitchen. He was amazed that no one had awakened, what with all the noise he'd just made. He shook his head and yelped when his shin came in harsh contact with what he assumed to be the couch. Bending he rubbed his hand against the bruised limb and limped the rest of the way to the kitchen. He was beginning to think he should've just stayed in his room. Was he really all that hungry? When his stomach rumbled at the mere thought of food he sighed. Yes, he was that hungry. Moving through the doorway he pictured the layout that he remembered and made his way towards the refrigerator and cursed under his breath when he nearly tripped over a chair on the way. Releasing a harsh string of rather imaginative profanities under his breath, he shoved the chair out of the way and continued towards his destination.

"Why the hell is it so damned dark in here?" He grumbled as he bumped into the refrigerator and reached for the handle. Sure, he could've switched on the light, but if someone emerged from their room that would've alerted them immediately that he was out and about. He'd rather avoid them for a while longer if he could. Opening the door he swore again when the light failed to come on. "The whole place is falling apart!" He reached in blindly, deciding that he would just take the first thing he came across and be glad he found even that. His eyes widened and he blinked several times when his fingers came into contact with something…gooey. Grimacing in disgust he pulled his hand back and held it out from him as far as he could while trying not to breath. If he wasn't mistaken, he'd found Vash's salmon that he'd been complaining about losing for the past two weeks judging by the odor. He shuddered and closed the door again as he shuffled towards the sink. He really wasn't having any luck, none at all. "Maybe there's crackers in the cupboard…" He muttered as he found the dishcloth, blessedly still damp, and wiped the offensive goop from his fingers. "Vash and his salmon sandwiches. Yech…"

A soft sound near the doorway leading back into the main part of the house caught his attention and he whirled just as the light came on, momentarily blinding him, followed immediately by agony exploding through his skull, dropping him to his knees. "Oh my gosh! Knives!" Dimly through the ringing in his ears he heard something clatter to the floor. He assumed it was a weapon of some sort and the same object that had very recently connected with his head in a most disagreeable way. "I'm **so** sorry!" He felt small hands tugging on his arm. "Here…come sit on the chair and I'll get come ice." He moved without saying a word. His head hurt too much to even think about talking, never mind actually doing it.

Leaning forward, he rested his aching head in his hands, elbows propped up on his knees, and closed his eyes. Meryl…it had to be Meryl. Who else hit so damned hard? Of course, if it would've been Millie, he'd probably be laid out and unconscious. The tall woman sometimes didn't know her own strength. "I knew I should've just stayed in my room…" He muttered and winced when something cold was pressed against the spot that was currently sporting a rather nasty bump.

"I'm really sorry, Knives. I didn't know it was you, I swear." The silence stretched for several minutes as she continued to apply the ice to his injury and he felt no need to break it. He closed his eyes and sighed inwardly. He'd been purposely trying to avoid everyone…especially Meryl…and here he was with her practically in his lap. He really had rottenest of luck these days. "Um…what were you doing in the dark?"

He cracked one eye open and shrugged. "I was hungry." He offered by way of explanation and winced when she moved the ice pack and applied more pressure. "Not so hard!" He yelped and wrapped his fingers around her wrist and pulled her hand away slightly. "I'm injured here!"

"I know and I'm sorry." She sniffed and wrinkled her nose. "What's that smell?"

"The salmon spread Vash has been looking for." He held up his hand and grimaced. "I managed to find it."

"Ew!" She grabbed the cloth from the sink and handed it to him. "That's disgusting! It has to be at least two weeks old by now."

"I think it might be multiplying." He answered dryly as he finished wiping the residual traces of two week old salmon spread from his fingers. "It's in the back of the 'fridge if you're interested." He set the cloth on the table and watched as she tossed the ice pack into the sink before opening the door to the refrigerator with one hand and covered her nose and mouth with the other.

"I'm surprised Millie hasn't found it yet. Must be because of that cold she has." She narrowed her eyes and reached inside. "This is probably one of the most disgusting things I've ever seen." She pulled the bowl out and held it as far from her as her arm would allow her to reach while pinching her nose shut. "Yuck!"

Knives suddenly grinned and stood, reaching for the bowl. "Here…I'll take that." He had just the right place to put it. "I think Vash deserves to know that his precious salmon was found. That way maybe he'll stop whining about it."

Her eyes widened as she stared from the bowl to him and back. "What are you planning to do with it, Knives?" His only reply was a rather nasty smirk which, after a moment, she returned. "All right…I think it would serve him right, but you're on your own, Knives. I am **not** taking any responsibility for this." He shrugged and made his way out of the kitchen, up the stairs and stopped at the door to his brother's room. So far so good and no mishaps with cats, rugs, tables or couches. He was rather pleased. Slowly opening the door he frowned when he discovered that **this** door didn't squeak as his had. **Figures.** He thought in disgust. **Probably wanted to keep tabs on me.** It only took a moment for Knives to complete his mission and run as Vash came up shouting and promising retribution. **Oh yeah…life can be good…** Knives thought as he returned to the kitchen with a wide grin.