Trigun Fan Fiction ❯ Kaleidoscope ❯ Chapter 2: Reunion ( Chapter 2 )

Marvel was a beautiful woman who made the mistake of saving Vash the Stampede now she couldn't get rid of him if she wanted to. Knives lay in bed recuperating and pushing everyone buttons. Will Meryl be able to take care of Knives without killing him?

 

 

The Beginning After the End

 

Kaleidoscope

 

 

 

Chapter 2: Reunion

 

Nicholas D. Wolfwood found himself lying in the desert sand. He didn't know were he was or exactly how he'd gotten there, but he knew he was some place on the planet Gunsmoke.

 

//I was dead! // The tall scruffy faced clergymen sat up rubbing his eyes in disbelief. //I died, why am I back here in this place? I'm supposed to be dead! //

 

Everything came back Wolfwood as he remembered the voice, that beautiful voice that sounded more like the playing of a beautiful melody than spoken word.

 

//Go back Nicholas, go back and protected them. Protect all our children. //

 

"Yeah, yeah I got it. I will prove I'm worthy of this life I've been given." Nicholas stood up and brushed himself off riding his dark rumpled suit of uncomfortable bits of sand. He didn't know where he was going he just had a feeling, He had to find them, and he had to find something he'd left behind.

 

^*^*^*^*^*^*

Meryl noticed the door to Knives room slowly being pushed open from the hallway outside. In popped the face of a woman smiling with cheerful eyes her head was coved with a long dark brown mane. The second member of the Bernadelli pair Millie Thomson looked over Knives room seeking out her partner. Meryl sat in the uncomfortable looking chair next to resting man's bed. He had been back in forth between awake and a sleep for days now. When he was awake he ate and complained to his annoyed nursemaid about the filthiness of her race. While asleep he seemed harmless as could be, his handsome face blanketed in a peaceful expression.

 

"Meryl," The tall woman with blue eyes and long chestnut hair spoke in a hushed voice. "How are you doing?"

 

"Ok, I guess." Millie noticed Meryl looked worn-out her usually wide eyes were covered by droopy lids and extremely blood shot. The usual tidy white suite she always clothed herself in was in disarray needing a good press.

 

"What's wrong?"

 

"I'm just worried about Vash, that idiot's been gone a lot longer than it should've taken to just pick up some things from the store. I just hope the moron didn't get into any trouble on the way!"

 

"I'm sure Mr. Vash is fine. He can take care of himself even know he seems a bit foolish sometimes. Something must've had come up, that's all. But still, I sure hope he's all right."

 

"I hope so too Millie, I really hope so." Tears came to her eyes but she pushed them away quickly giving her friend a warm but weary smile.

 

// He's got to be ok, I don't know what I'll do if he's not. //

 

^*^*^*^*^*^*

In the scorching heat of the desert, a young woman traveled alone. Covered in a hooded cape to protect herself from the harsh sands scattered by the wind she and her thomas traveled through the beating of the afternoon sun. It was one of the hottest days of they year on Gunsmoke, or at least it felt that way. She pushed her sweat soaked brown locks out of her face. Her emerald eyes narrowed, as she looked far off into the distance, with amazing eyesight she caught something that seemed unusual.

 

"Is that a person over there in the sand?" She asked herself a loud. The wind had picked up and the dust whirling around stung her eyes making it hard to see the far off figure. "Whatever it is I guess I'd better get a look at it before it gets buried."

 

The mysterious cloaked woman made her way over to Vash's unconscious body. The fallen man laid so still she could barley she him breathe.

 

"A man? Well, he looks pretty beaten up, better get him out of this sun." The woman loaded Vash and his bag carefully up onto her Thomas. She headed back to the town she called home.

 

*^*^*^*^*^*^*^

 

Marvel looked at this mysterious man's numerous wounds through his interesting leather body armor. Her nose sniffed the air; he reeked of blood and gunpowder. She gingerly checked over his body and made a note of each bullet hole his body had obtained.

 

"I see one in the shoulder and one in the abdomen. I guess we'll just have to take some of these clothes off to look for others wont we.” She sighed out loud “Sometimes wonder how I get my self into theses situations. Good thing you're passed out or this could be embarrassing for the both of us buddy."

 

Marvel was a strong smart woman who had a multiple of problems to do deal with. She lived in the town's inn earning her keep by doing odd jobs for the people of the city and another generous source. The residents counted her for protection almost like some sort of bodyguard. Rumors of the demon woman with unbelievable powers did not faze them at all. Dangerous but compassionate she always helped those who need help. But those who caused tough as nails outlaw trouble might not live to do it again.

 

Looking down at the strange man that now inhabited her bed Marvel started the task of treating his wounds, which was a task she was all too familiar with. She had earned her own share of bullet holes. The gloves had to come off first. After she had undone all of the buckles on Vash's left glove, she slipped it off.

 

"It's cybernetic? I haven't seen lost technology like this in years. How could this man have a piece of equipment like this? You're more of a mystery than I thought. Better be careful. Normal people don't need metal body parts” She continued to rid him of any clothing that got in the healing process's way.

 

Being careful not to cut him with her long nails Marvel took off all visitors' clothing off with minimal trouble, even know she muttered something about “All those damn buckles”. Without his garments the curious woman could finally see the full extent of the abuse the sleeping man's body had taken over the years.

 

"These are some serious scares. I wonder where they all come from? And these here, they look pretty recent. What kind of trouble have you been in lately?" The results of Knives and Vash battle were still visible all over his body. "You must be one big bad man.”

 

Marvel finished patching up Vash's gun shot wound and other minor injuries. She looked over her efforts and was proud. Her work was skilled and hopefully he would soon awaken explaining how he got so beaten to hell. Tending to her nameless stranger his handsome features could not me ignored. His face was so soft and gentle looking. Blond hair all mussed up suck out everywhere cling to his sweet soaked face made him look almost childlike. Marvel brushed a few stray hairs out of his eyes.

 

"Nice looking for a guy with a metal arm."

 

Just them Vash stirred. His body ached but he'd felt worse in the past. The bright sunlight pouring through the windowpanes irritated his aqua eyes and as he tried to open them everything looked blurry. When his surroundings began to come into focus the fallen hero was able to look on at the ceiling above him.

 

"So you're awake."

 

 

Vash heard an impassive voice from beside him he turned his head to the direction he'd herd it from. There he saw what could possibly be the most beautiful creature in this world. Garden green eyes met his while flowing golden brown hair framed the woman's sun kissed face.

 

//She must be a goddess// He thought and then he got the look, the dreamy look Vash only got when he was about to say some thing incredibly ridiculous.

 

"Beautiful woman who has come to my rescue, I ask to repay you by taking you as my wife."

 

Marvel's jaw dropped taking in the ludicrous words of the bold proposal. "I hope you're delirious Mr. or soon you'll be in a whole new world of hurt!" All her words came out in a growl of anger.

 

"Sorry guess I was a little too forward. Let me start again I'm Vash defender of love and peace and your name is?" He smiled sweetly

 

"It's Marvel, just Marvel. You won't happen to be that outlaw Vash the Stampede would you? I herd there was a chance he's wandered into these parts" Uncertain of what threat her new found companion was Marvel stayed sharp. If the rumors about this man were true he could be a serous hazard to her health and the people of this town.

 

// This could actually be one dangerous guy. Despite how he looks and acts. //

 

"What happens if I am, Will you be won over by my rugged outlaw charm?" He gave her what her thought would be a sexy smile, really turned out to look just plain goofy.

 

"No but I might turn you in for the 60,000,000,000 $$. I could always use some extra cash." A wicked grin emerged ear to ear on Marvel's face.

 

*Gulp*

 

"Don't worry it'd be more trouble than it's worth to turn you in. You gave your self away anyway." Picking up the medical supplies and moving away from the bed the athletic looking woman began to tidy up the space around her guest.

 

"How?" Vash pondered what it was about him that clued her into his true identity. Without even turning to look at him or putting a halt to her cleaning she answered the outlaws silent question.

 

"What regular Joe off the street has a left arm made of spare parts and besides, no normal man could survive what it would take for his covered in scars like that."

 

Vash then came to realize how naked he really was covered in only a sheet up to the waist wearing only his little gray under shorts. All of a sudden his nearly unclad position became embarrassing. Her eyes gazing over all the results of prior battles on his body didn't sit well with him. Seeking refuge the now red-faced man took sanctuary under the sheet that coved his lower half.

 

"Hey you act like I haven't seen it before, you wouldn't believe where I had to put my hands to get to some of your wounds. I'm gonna have nightmares for months." Her voice was devoid of any real emotion but the woman's beautiful face contorted in disgust.

 

"Oh… It's…It's just these scars. I don't think they really turn on women you know." His blush burned brighter as Vash peered over the sheets he'd pulled around his battered form.

 

"Well if it matters any, I think they prove how big of a man you are. Some women might think you could really protect them if they needed you to. I guess you could say they're beautiful in their own unique way. " Marvel finished cleaning up the mess from attend to her patient and sat down on the edge of the bed facing away from him.

 

Vash rolled over to his side and propped himself up on one arm. "So you think I'm beautiful huh? We should celebrate our new found love with a kiss." With one bounce Vash tried to through his arms around the woman on the edge of the mattress but she stood before he had the chance.

 

"Oh, give it a rest would ya! I'm gonna go get us some grub stay up here and don't touch any thing! You can stay right there and love yourself some more." Marvel went to walk out the door leaving her visitor alone.

 

"I don't love me! You love me…I mean… I want you to love me! Come on give me a chance!"

 

She placed her hand around the doorknob ready to turn it when he sounded serious.

 

"Ms. Marvel." Turning slightly she looked over at him.

 

"Yes."

 

"Do you mind bringing me back some donuts while you're out?"

 

Marvel grumbled and growled as she walked out the door and slammed it behind her

 

Vash was puzzled. "Man, all I wanted was some donuts."

 

^*^*^*^*^*^*^

 

Meryl paced up and down the hallway uneasy. She didn't know where Vash could possibly be. Maybe he's stopped at the bar in Pebble and had been to drunk to remember to return or possibly the fool could be lying in the desert as vultures picked at his rotten course. Just then a young woman with brown haired walked into her.

 

"Hey, watch where the hell you're going!" The petite insurance woman was tense and didn't need anything else to stress her out.

 

"Sorry, I should pay more attention" Marvel grumbled out unpleasantly as she rubbed her temples in circles still trying to clam herself down for her encounter with Vash as she started to walk off.

 

//Guess my reflexes are off today, I must be a little distracted// Watching the woman walk off Meryl noticed her mumbling something to herself.

 

"Donuts, he wants donuts! I'll give him donuts!"

 

Meryl paused a moment.

 

//Donuts, I wonder could it be? // She ran after the woman the collision had just occurred with.

 

"Hey wait, please I need to ask you some questions!"