Trigun Fan Fiction ❯ Sinner ❯ Confessions of the Heart ( Chapter 5 )

Ch 5: Confessions of the Heart

They stopped at the next town to get something to eat, it was already late afternoon. "Alright!" Vash cried out, "FOOD!" He cried happily as he dug into his meal. "I thought we were going to die of starvation before we got to Knives!"

Seraphine shook her head, "Vash, we only left just a few hours ago." She looked up at him and sighed a smile on her lips. Despite his melodrama, she was happy to see him back to more or less normal. She shook her head, "Where do you put all that!" She said as she took a sip of her water.

"Hey, I'm a growing boy. I need my strength!" He complained giving her his best `puppy dog eyes' routine.

She made a face as she lowered her cup, "You're no boy." She said.

Something in the way she said that made Vash stop eating and look up at her. She wasn't looking at him then she was looking down at her water. Then she looked up at him, again endless sapphire blue met forest emerald green. But there was something else there, for an instant Vash could have sworn that he saw a kind of longing in her eyes that he quite didn't understand.

Suddenly she broke the spell by laughing, "You're what? How old Vash?" She smirked, quirking an eyebrow at him.

"Oh….yeah." He chuckled nervously a bit looking back down to his food, eating at a much slower pace. Why had his heart rate picked up so much? They ate in silence for a few moments more.

Suddenly Seraphine spoke. "Knives is close, isn't he?" She asked startling Vash as he looked up to her. She was looking out the window to a point beyond the horizon. Vash looked down at his plate; he hadn't noticed that he had finished his dinner.

"Yeah." He whispered, "He's close."

She smirked a bit, "There's a good chance that we won't be coming back alive, isn't there?" She asked.

Vash's heart clenched painfully tight at the though of Seraphine dying, he masked it by smiling a bit. "Well, anything's possible!" He laughed weakly, and then looked down. "Can we not think about dying?" He suddenly asked mournfully retreating into the act that had served him so well. The act of the pathetic, weakling, buffoon.

Seraphine looked toward him and smirked, "Then how about this." She suggested as Vash looked up at her. "Why don't we stay the night here?" She suggested, "Knives isn't going anywhere and we can just relax for this one night, what'd say?"

Vash pondered a moment, she was right. Knives wasn't going anywhere, all the Gung-Ho-Guns were dead, Legato was also dead…he didn't have anyone else to send. The though of just spending a quiet evening here didn't seem so bad.

He smiled a little, "That doesn't sound half bad at all." He said softly.

Seraphine chuckled, "In that case…." She turned around, "Bartender! Give me your best alcohol!" She ordered.

"Yes ma'am!" He smiled

Vash looked in surprise as she smiled at him as the Bartender brought over the bottle. "What's the use of living, if you don't take some time to smell the flowers?" She asked as she pour two glasses one for him and one for her, and then she lifted up her glass. "Here's to….." She paused a moment then smiled at him. "Other options."

Vash smiled a real smile as he lifted his own glass, "Other options." He said as they clinked glasses.

"You've got to be kidding me!" Vash complained, "There's a whole town out there and you've got no rooms?" He asked, his bright spirits now being doused by reality, apparently there was some kind of festival in town and the place was packed! Vash's head was swimming a little, he wasn't drunk but he was buzzed a bit he felt warm and his cheeks were flushed. He was floating, everything was perfect….until they had gone to get rooms.

"Well…." The man said, "I have one left, it has a queen sized bed but that's the only one."

"Aw….man!" Vash complained, because there was no way that Seraphine was going to split a room with him! He was going to have to sleep out in the desert and…..

"We'll take it." Seraphine piped in, as Vash blinked and looked down at her.

:Uh…did I hear right?: He thought, :Did she just say `We'll take it,'?: He shook his head a bit, :Uh huh…no way, there's no possible way that she's ever consider sharing a room with you Vash!:

"Alright." The man said as Seraphine filled out the form passed him the money and took the key. She turned to him, "C'mon Vash." She said as she tugged his arm, as he blinked stupidly at her as she pulled him along.

"Why do you have to turn everything into a huge melodrama?" She asked as she pulled him along. "There was a room available, just because there wasn't two you think the end of the world was happening here!" Seraphine's cheeks were a little flushed, from alcohol and hormones. She admitted it, she found the lankly gunman attractive the though about sharing a bed with him (even if nothing happened) was more than enough to move her into action!

:God, you're such a little tart, Seraphine!: She scolded herself, :Mooning over him like some love-struck fool! What in the hell are you thinking?: Her eyes narrowed a bit :Shut up.: She told her other voice :If I want some physical comfort, what right do you have to lecture me about it? Beside…: Her eyes softened :We could die tomorrow fighting Knives, then what? I'll be damned if I let this opportunity pass me up!:

She turned the corner, and accidentally ran into someone. She yelped out as she stumbled back into Vash who caught her before she fell.

"Oh, I'm terribly sorry." She said as she looked up, and immediately knew that they were in trouble.

The man standing before them was huge! In height and body size, he was obviously drunk out of his mind and alcohol oozed from him filling the hall with a pungent stench.

His eyes narrowed, "Sorry, ain't good enough little girl!" He slurred his words as he looked at her hungrily.

"Hey man, don't be like that." Vash interjected, he hadn't liked the way the man had looked at Seraphine. He didn't like it one bit! Something cold surged through him, but he kept his mask. "She said we're sorry, we didn't see you! C'mon, it's a festival….here!" Vash said as he held up the still full bottle of booze, Seraphine had gotten another one before they left. It was a small price to pay to avoid a fight tonight. "Will this make up for it?" The man took the booze and looked at it for a moment, "Alright!" Vash smiled, "See?" He said looking down at Seraphine, "People can be reasoned with!" Then suddenly he was clocked up side the head but that very same bottle. :Or not…: Came the fuzzy thought as he felt himself propelled down.

"Vash!" Seraphine cried out as she moved to go toward him, only to have her wrist gripped tightly as she was whirled around.

"You're going no where missy, until you apologize!" The man slobbered, instantly Seraphine's eyes flashed cold at her hand snapped down to her side as she pulled her weapon, but despite being drunk the man was quick! His other hand snapped around her other wrist gripping it tightly.

"What's this?" He demanded angrily "You a gunfighter, missy?" He snarled his eyes hardening. "Little girls shouldn't play with such dangerous toys!" With that he slammed her into the side of the building. Seraphine cried out a bit, but still held onto her weapon.

"Stubborn!" He snarled, an unholy light glinting in his eyes. "Just the way I like'em….breaking bitches like you is more than a pleasure!" He licked his lips as Seraphine glared at him through half open eyes, her mind swimming from the first impact.

:Help me!: Her mind called out in a panicked fear, :Vash, help me!:

:Help me! Vash, help me!: The voice called to him in his mind, and instantly he knew that voice.

In the stupor between consciousness and unconsciousness, Vash roused a bit "S…Seraphine?" He whispered as he looked up he gasped as his eyes widened. He looked up just in time to see the huge man slam Seraphine into the wall, he must have done it more than once because the wall already seemed indented behind her. She cried out her body went limp as she dropped her weapon to the ground.

:No!: Vash's hear clinched painfully tight.

"Good bitch." The man crooned as he released her wrist, "Now lets see what you have to apologize to me with…." He licked his lips as his hand moved to the collar of her shirt….his intentions clear.

A cold rage encircled Vash and instantly he was on his feet, charging the man, "Knock it off!" He snarled as he shouldered the man aside with his artificial shoulder. The man was so surprised he let go of Seraphine who crumpled to the ground next to her gun, he was propelled back about ten feet or so. He hadn't been ready or expecting that!

"Seraphine!" Vash instantly knelt down next to her, anxious green eyes looked at her dormant form as he rolled her over tapping her cheek. "Oh please, Seraphine, open your eyes!"

He was rewarded with a soft moan, and a flutter of eye lids she looked up at him squinting a bit. "Vash?" She whispered softly as he breathed out a sigh of relief.

"What's going on over there?!" Someone demanded, as both Vash and Seraphine looked to the struggling man trying to stand back up, then they looked to each other and nodded.

"Run." They both said in unison as Vash jumped to his feet, Seraphine grabbed her forgotten gun and tried to follow suit but stumbled a bit falling back down her head still swimming a bit from the impact. Suddenly she felt herself hoisted up.

"What are you doing falling down on the job?!" Vash demanded as Seraphine found herself cradled in the gunman's arms as he ran desperately through the streets, "Oh man why do I have to do all the work!?!" He complained.

"What do you men by that?!" Seraphine snapped back hotly, "You're not the one who was slammed into the wall!"

"Me?! Why'd you have go and run into the stupid drunk for anyways?!" He demanded back.

"Listen here you, skirt chasing….." That set her off, much to Vash's relief. If she was feeling good enough to yell at him while he ran down the street with her, she was going to be okay.

"We really lucked out." Vash said as he looked through the curtain of the second story room as they hauled the bit man away in chains. "Apparently that drunk was wanted for robbing a bank three days ago."

"Yeah for our team…" Seraphine said lamely wincing a bit as she adjusted the ice pack, her head throbbed painfully and she wished it was from the hangover rather than being shoved into a concrete wall!

Vash looked over at her, concern in his eyes. He left the curtain and came to the side of the bed and sat down next to her. "Here," He said softly, "May I see?"

Seraphine looked as him and smirked a bit, as she lowered the icepack down. Vash removed his glove from his real hand and pushed her long silver hair aside. As he brushed it he marveled at how silky her hair was….which was a feat here considering the arid climate the whole planet was in. He felt his cheeks warm and angrily shoved those thoughts aside.

Skillfull fingers examined the bump, being careful not to anger the tender flesh or wound. He delicately felt around the edges, as Seraphine closed her eyes. She loved it when people paid with her hair…she turned into one huge cat. She loved nothing more than when someone ran their fingers through her hair. It soothed her, and made her relax. After a few more moments Vash removed his fingers and gently brushed her hair back into place.

"You really are lucky." He said, "It doesn't seem like anything's broken or cracked." He smiled relieved himself. Although he still had a part of him in a cold rage about what the man almost did to Seraphine….

"Hooray for thick skulls." Seraphine smirked as Vash unconsciously stroked her long hair.

"Yeah." Vash said softly his eyes softening as the realization finally started to sink in. Seraphine…..Seraphine was almost raped right in front of him! His heart clinched painfully tight, as his fought down the tears. She didn't know how close and he…..if he hadn't heard that voice calling to him……

Suddenly he lurched up from the bed, Seraphine blinked in surprise. "Vash?" She asked, her eyes clouded as she saw the tightness in his shoulders his hands unconsciously balled into fists. Then suddenly he whirled around and laughed placing one hand behind his head, "Yep that sure was a close one!" He said his whole posture tensed.

Seraphine narrowed her eyes at him, "What's wrong, Vash?"

Vash stopped laughing at he looked at her, in surprise. Then he chuckled, "Wrong? What do you mean, nothing's wrong…other than the fact we don't have anything to drink. I know!" He snapped his fingers together, "Why don't you take a bath, and I'll go down to the store and get some more, okay?" He said his eyes bright, but Seraphine saw right through the mask.

"You wait here and I'll be right…." A hand came a top his shoulder and instantly he fell silent, his whole body tensed.

"You're hiding again, Vash." She said softly as he half turned to look at her over his shoulder his eyes wide. Her sapphire eyes looked at him in concern, "You're hiding your pain again. I can see it in the way you move and how you speak." Her eyes softened, "What's so painful that you think you have to hide it?" She asked confused.

Vash swallowed….hard, those eyes. They were bluer than any sky, and picture of ocean he had ever seen. "I…." He said, trying desperately to think of something to say. "I…." :I almost saw you raped right in front of me, Seraphine.: His mind whirled as his heart squeezed painfully :You were almost…and I…: His mind whirled with conflicting emotions. Suddenly a hand gently cupped his face; he started a bit at the contact as his eyes focused on her again. Her thumb gently stroked his cheek as she looked at him with those sad compassionate eyes. "Vash, you don't have to pretend for me." She said softly as he looked at her with wide eyes. "I saw the look he was giving me after he knocked you in the head with the bottle." She held his gaze gently, "I know he was going to rape me if you hadn't saved me."

Vash gasped a bit his eyes softening his heart throbbing wildly as tears reflexively sprang into his eyes. "Seraphine….I couldn't……" How could she be so calm about this?!

"Shhhhhhh." She whispered as she smiled a bit. "It's alright, Vash. I'm okay." She smiled a little, "Thanks to you." Then gently she stepped closed to him, wrapping her arms around his waist as she rested her cheek on his chest. "Thank you."

Vash's mind whirled as he stood there with a complete dumbfounded expression on his face. A young woman was standing in his arms, holding him gently, soothing him, his heart beating wildly against his chest. :Oh please calm down!: He begged the rapidly beating muscle. :She's going to hear you if you don't!!: All the while his arms were attempting to wrap themselves around her, moving then hesitating…moving then hesitating again, trying to think if she was going to kick his ass for touching her later.

She chuckled, "You can hug me back if you want to." She said softly as she closed her eyes a bit, "I wouldn't mind." A soft rose color flushed her cheeks.

Vash's eyes widened at the offer, slowly he swallowed once and gently he eased his arms around her. His real one wrapped easily around her shoulders….his mechanical one around her waist. After a few moments, when he was sure that she wasn't going react like Meryl and kick his ass….he relaxed a bit and smiled. It felt nice….no nice wasn't the right word. It felt good to hold her like this, like she held him so many weeks ago in his broken state. He closed his eyes, and gently rested his cheek on the top of her head, rubbing slightly against the silky strands.

Seraphine chuckled softly, "You're not use to having people touch you, are you?" She asked softly.

Vash opened his eyes but found that his arms wouldn't move from their spot. "Why do you say that?" He asked, his heart beat increasing again.

"You just seem to crave contact with people." She said softly, "Yet, at the same time seem to be afraid of it." She looked up at him, her eyes softened as he looked at her. "Are you afraid of people hurting you?" She asked.

His eyes clouded a bit, and despite himself his voice responded on it's own, "I'm afraid of people dying, and leaving me behind." His eyes widened almost as soon as he said that, he looked panicked for a moment she felt him tense in her arms he almost pulled away.

She pulled him closer her, as his eyes widened a bit in surprise. "You don't have to run, Vash." She said softly. "There's no reason."

"I….." He swallowed hard a bit, and looked away "I just…..I feel….."

"Vulnerable, and afraid?" She asked as he nodded a bit. She smiled a little, "So do I."

His eyes widened as he looked down at her, she was looking directly into the middle of his chest. "As you know…" She said with a bit of mirth to her voice. "I am a woman who usually speaks her mind directly." She half smiled a little, "At least, I was until I met you." His eyes widened a bit as she closed her and leaned forward so that her forehead rested in the middle of his chest.

"I knew who you were the moment I saw you. You confused me when you asked me not to kill that man. You shook the foundation of everything I ever came to believe in….and then….." She gripped his red coat tightly, "I remembered about Knives, and remembered that you were his brother. For a while I thought you would hate me if you ever found out." His eyes softened a bit, he realized that this was costing her a lot to tell him he felt the small tremors in her hand "But as I got to know you, I realized that might not be the case." She shook her head softly, "Every time I shot someone, it killed me to see that sad look in your face and in your eyes. But I didn't care, you could hate me….so long as you were alive…it didn't matter." Tears welled in her eyes and knotted in her throat making her voice scratchy.

"Seraphine…" He whispered softly, his heart aching.

"Everything I did, I did because I wanted you to live. I wanted you alive, and I was willing to risk everything and pay any price…even if it meant I had to have my hands stained with blood….forever." She said her knuckled deathly white around the front of his jacket. "I don't understand why or how it happened….but seeing all the you were and everything you did. You made me remember everything that I wished to forget…the no matter how bad people are, they still have the ability to change. To correct their mistakes, by the time I realized that…..Legato….." She faltered as she felt him tense a bit as she looked up at him tears in her eyes. "Seeing you in so much pain…" She cried, "Vash…I DIED that day!" She broke down sobbing, her carefully erected barriers crumbling much to her shame. "I couldn't save you! I couldn't protect you! I didn't get

there in time and you……you……" She cried, "Vash I'm so sorry! I failed!" She cried horribly pressing her forehead into his chest.

Vash wept as the tears streamed down his own face. Wordlessly he held her a little more tightly, protectively. Seraphine had always been strong, like she was rock. Nothing seemed to shake her, even after it all happened. She was always the strong one…even when that man…..His fist clenched a bit in anger at the still fresh memory, but even then she was strong…resilient.

Now her barriers broke, and for the first time Vash saw how really fragile this young woman was. How delicate her heart was, and how easily she could be hurt. She blamed herself for not being able to protect him from Legato, she would've shot him herself. Vash knew that. She would've killed Legato with her own hands….she would have bored his anger…she would have sinned for him…so that he might be spared. Suddenly a memory came to his mind from a while ago…

"Why'd you have to shoot him!? Vash demanded angrily as Seraphine calmly holstered her weapon, calm blue eyes turned to him.

"He was going to shoot you, Vash." She replied, "I just beat him to the draw."

"You didn't have to shoot him! There was another way!" He challenged angrily. Then she looked at him….then suddenly she smiled, startling him.

"Maybe." She said softly, "But I didn't want to risk it." Vash blinked at her confused, as she came up right in front of him and looked him directly in the eyes. "The world's a nasty place, Vash the Stampede." Her voice absolutely serious, "There are people who are willing to shoot you in the back just because they can, and if you aren't careful you might be the one going to the hospital instead of the bad guy." Her eyes softened a bit, "You're so clean." His eyes widened a bit as he felt himself flush a bit as she looked away "It almost makes me ashamed of myself." She said softly and for one precious moment he saw past the guard of the bounty hunter and saw the wounded look of a young woman who must've seen hell too many times. Suddenly she turned a bit and replaced her sunglasses….her barriers back up. "So don't worry about getting dirty hands, Vash." She smiled as she waved a bit walking to the bar, "I'll be the one to get them dirty instead of you, `K?"

His eyes widened as the realization hit him. She was doing it…to protect him, because she wanted him to live. She sinned, she took lives sometimes and he hated it when she did….but she did it because she didn't want him to die. Even when he wanted to die himself, she wouldn't let him.

:All those time I yelled at her about shooting people and taking lives.: He thought his heart clinching painfully. :Never once did I ask her why she did it. Never once did she say why. I never knew, and…she was here just taking it all.: His eyes squeezed shut :God, I hated it when she killed someone! Even though they were trying to kill me and the others! But she was always there, her aim dead on, her eyes clear and without hesitation and all the while…she was doing it because she wanted me to live.: He opened his eyes and looked down to the young woman crying in his arms. :She stained her hands with blood so I would live, and never once did I thank her for saving my life.: It was like a blow to the gut. :She sinned so I wouldn't have to. She sinned…for me.:

A half choked sobbed escaped his lips as he buried his face in the nap of her neck. "Serpahine, I'm so sorry!" He whispered tears trailing down his cheek, "I…I didn't know. I didn't understand…." He whispered desperately his hear breaking. No wonder she was so was afraid to let her guard down around him. Everything she was doing to protect him he and he was yelling at her for it…because he was to blind to see, what she was really trying to do.

Seraphine's arms tightened around him, "No, Vash…it's okay." She said as he felt her pulling away….trying desperately to erect the walls around herself, around her heart. "I shouldn't have said anything…." She said in halting sobs.

"Please don't." He begged softly, "Don't pull away from me, Seraphine." He closed his eyes desperately, "Don't close your heart off because of me anymore." He drew in a tattered breath, "Don't hurt yourself….to protect me anymore, please." He said in a half choked sob. "I couldn't bear it if you did. Now that I know…." He shook his head, "All the while I was trying to protect people…I couldn't see that someone dear to me was suffering, Seraphine I'm so sorry that I didn't see it!" He whispered his voice thick with tears. "You don't have to sin for me anymore."

Her eyes widened as she drew in a ragged breath tears spilling over, "It….it doesn't matter anymore." She whispered, "You were right all along, no one ever has the right to take the life of another and I simply ignored this fundamental rule. First, because I wanted to eliminate those who prayed on the weak, like Knives did to me." She shook her head, "Then, I did it because I wanted you to live no matter the cost." She cried, "I wanted you to live even if I had to become the devil himself and have you hate me for the rest of my life!" She shook as she cried, "I didn't care! So long as you were alive, it didn't matter! It didn't! And now…..now…." Her legs gave out as Vash caught her and eased her to the ground. "God, how you must hate me!" She cried horribly.

"I don't hate you, Seraphine." He whispered as he stroked her head, "Not you. You've done so much for me, and I didn't even see it." He closed his eyes pained. "God, I'm so sorry. I was so blind, I never saw….." He buried his face in the nape of her neck again, within those silken strands. "Please forgive me, if you can."

Seraphine pulled back as he looked up at her, confusion shown in those tear streaked eyes "How couldn't you hate me?" She asked shaking horribly her fists still latched onto the front of his coat. "Vash…I kil…" She faltered, "I KILLED PEOPLE." She sobbed. "I've been doing the one thing you absolutely HATE!"

Gently Vash covered one of her hands with his you, his eyes soft and sad. "Yes, you did." He whispered, "But you did it to protect me, and I never saw it. I didn't understand." His eyes clouded, "I didn't know what to think, you would kill in one moment and in the next show mercy to someone else. I didn't understand, so I reacted instead of thinking." He smirked a bit, "The one thing I'm not good at and have been told I shouldn't do!" That earned him a half hearted wry smile from her. His eyes softened, "Now I know Seraphine." He grasped both her hands within his own and held it between them as he looked deeply into her eyes.

"I understand now, Seraphine." He said earnestly, "I understand what you've been doing and I…." He faltered a bit, "You've bore this burden all alone, and never once did I say anything to you except to lecture you about not killing people." He closed his eyes, "I never even thanked you for saving my life." He opened them back up and looked at her, "So thank you, Seraphine." He said with a soft smile. "Thank you…for everything." Her eyes widened as she stared at him incredulously.

After a moment, his hands slid up her arms and seemed to gently cup her face a bright blush stained his cheeks as he leaned forward and gently kissed her. Seraphine's eye widen, they were as bright as jewels as she sat there in shock as Vash kissed her hesitantly, then suddenly something within her melted away as she closed her eyes and surrendered to the hesitant kiss.

Her own hands finally released the front of his jacket as one slid up his arm to gently cup his face, she could feel the heat in his cheeks as she pressed her cool hand upon his warm skin. Slowly she parted her lips, allowing him access. He made hesitant fortes with his tongue gently which she surrendered to without resistance.

Vash had intended the kiss to be nothing more than a sigh of affection, but when he saw her…her eyes, her face her hair….he smelled the light musky sent of her so close to him. The feelings he had fighting with all night long took over as he drew her into a kiss, the second ever in his life and the first he had initiated. He felt her stiffen a moment, then in a panicked second cursed himself for loosing control, but the second after that he felt her relax in his arms, as she parted her lips for him. The fire in his blood surged through him as he tried to remember how she had kissed him that day which seemed so long ago. His tongue taking hesitant gentle tastes of her mouth, as her light sent seemed to surround him. God, it was intoxicating! He felt himself hardened as he felt his fevered skin flush even more. Her tears seemed to mix into the kiss and she tasted of salt and the alcohol the both drank, absently he wondered if he tasted the same to her.

:God, I could die now and be happy.: He thought

After a few moments the kiss ended as he hesitantly pulled back a bit to look at her. Her eyes opened slowly as she looked at him, moonlight peeked through the curtains and seemed to halo her, her tear stained face looked to him with wonder a bit giving her a fey quality. Right now she didn't look like the hardened bounty hunter he had met, what seemed so long ago. Right now, she looked so soft, so innocent….like she was the one he should've been protecting all along, instead of the other way around. He looked away for a moment as shame crept into his heart. "I'm sorry."

Seraphine blinked a bit confused. "Why are you sorry?"

"For….everything." He whispered, "For not seeing, for not understanding, and for…." He faltered a bit as his cheeks flamed. "For feeling the way I am now." Great, she was DEFINITELY going to throw him out now! But he found he couldn't lie to her anymore, no…he didn't want to lie to her anymore she didn't deserve that.

Suddenly a hand came a top his cheek he looked up startled as her eyes looked to him softly. "How are you feeling, right now?" She asked softly

His eyes clouded a bit, in fear "Please don't ask me that." He whispered, "I'm afraid." He looked away in shame. He couldn't bring himself to say, he couldn't curse her like that! Everyone he cared about died around him and he didn't want her to die! Not her! She had sacrificed so much for him already….

She gently turned his face so that he looked at her, and she smiled. "I understand, Vash." She said softly, as he looked at her in a pained lost expression as her hand released his face as her hand gently pressed against his chest as she felt his rapidly beating heart, he breathed in quickly his eyes widening. He was sure he could feel how fast his heart was beating. She smiled, "Your heart's beating fast." She said as she looked down to his real hand. Gently she released his face as both of her hands reached down and took his hand…slowly she drew it up to her…

His eyes almost bulged out of his head as he gasped as she pressed his hand into the center of her chest. He felt the warmth of her body, the softness of her breasts beside his hand but on top of all that, her heart was beating just as wildly as his! He looked to her, her calm face he would have never known….

"Mine is too." She said softly, her eyes softening. His own heart seemed to `Thud' loudly once…almost painfully. His mouth was dry his mind was whirling in all directions. She smiled a little, "Would you think me to bold if I asked if you wanted to…be with me tonight?" She asked hesitantly, smiling a bit shyly, "I'm sure this is no the most romantic way to ask…."

Now Vash was certain he was dead! He had to be, this was the only way this really could be happening! For his valiant attempts to sway those of the fairer sex, never once did any of his attempts ever reach fruition. Not that he had sex on the mind, mind you…well that wasn't true either. He was a guy after all, half plant half human, but a guy nonetheless! He flushed as he thought about the amount of times he had to *ahem* relieve tension as it were, and those times seemed to increase after he met Seraphine. He flushed even harder when he realized that lately he had been picturing Seraphine while he had been…..

"Vash, you're blushing." Seraphine's voice interrupted his thought as he blinked up at her his cheeks really burning now. He tried to think of something to say, something witty…but nothing came out of his mouth. Seraphine smiled a little, "Maybe this might help you decide." She said as she pressed closer to him, taking gentle possession of his mouth again as she slipped his hand from the center of her chest to gently mold one of her small pert breasts.

Vash's eyes widened as he felt the softness of her, through the thin fabric of her shirt and bra he felt her nipple in the palm of his hand. No meeting resistance, Seraphine move forward more gently pushing him back until he was lying on the ground with her on top of him. His eyes fluttered shut as he moaned softly into the kiss as she gently straddles his waist, settling herself easily a top his already swollen member. Her hand worked at the front of his jacket slowly undoing the fastenings while his other hand slowly came up to tenderly cup her other barest…his hesitant thumbs stroking her already sensitive nipple making her face flush even more in passion.

She worked at the jacket until most of the upper fastenings were undone, her hands move inside and gently stroked his chest through the black shirt he wore. He was like a huge cat, almost purring at the contact as he arched his back a bit so that she could touch him more. Suddenly his eye shot open and he nearly cried out as Seraphine's fingers brushed against a sensitive nipple. She could feel some of his scars, and her ribs were pressed up against the meshwork on his chest, but she didn't care. They lay like that touching, teasing, kissing, for what seemed like hours. The slowly Seraphine pulled away, Vash whimpered a bit as she did…opening his eyes looking up at her as she smiled.

"I don't think you're that comfortable down there." She said in a half teasing tone. "Would you like to move someplace a little more soft?" She suggested nodding her head to the bed. Right now Vash wouldn't have cared if he had been in the middle of the desert with just a tent and sleeping bag! He nodded, not trusting his voice as she chuckled a bit. Her voice sounding almost like a caress. She chuckled again as she pulled herself off him and he whimpered a bit, from the lost contact again. She offered him her hand as he sat up, he looked up at it for a moment…

Then she let out an undignified swaquak as she found herself pulled down into his arm and in the next moment found herself being carried by him as he grinned like a fool. "I pride myself on behind a gentleman, after all!" He said as he walked over to the bed and settled her down on it gently.

Just as he set her down she gently cupped his face, startled he looked at her. "You don't have to ware a mask with me Vash." She said earnestly as he looked at her, "It's just you and me, no judging and no masks." Her eyes softened. "That's all I want."

Vash felt his guise crumble immediately as tears welled in his eyes, "Seraphine…" He whispered softly. No woman had ever said as much to him as she had in the past hour.

She smiled as she pulled him closer to her, "So just for night, you're just Vash." She whispered as she kissed lightly along the jaw line as he moaned a bit closing his eyes until her lips took his again. He lowered himself down a top her warm body, a part of his mind marveled at how fragile her form really was. At how this tiny being in his arm, could actually be a feared bounty hunter….

:Stop it!: He mind ordered, :No masks, that's what she said. So tonight she's not a bounty hunter, she just Seraphine.: He nuzzled closer to her, :Just…Seraphine.: He said as his hand came up to gently hold her face as he deepened the kiss as her hands worked their magic again making him purr and moan. Then suddenly she stopped and pulled away a bit, he blinked at the lost contact and tensed up looked up at her with worried eyes wondering of he had done something wrong.

"Take off your shirt." She whispered her voice husky with desire, "I want to feel you against him."

Immediately his eyes clouded a bit, as his hand went unconsciously to his shirt. His scars, his horrible scars all the left over signs of his vow never to kill. Those were the wounds he carried as the price of that vow. They were horrible, ugly…..

"Vash…" Her voice caught his attention again as he looked to her, her hand covering his. "I've already seen your scars." She said holding his eyes, "I don't find you any less attractive or repulsive." His eyes widened a bit as she looked to him. Gently she coaxed him to back off the bed a bit and stood him up. Wordlessly she followed him and as he stood looking down at her as she slowly began to unfasten the rest of his overcoat, easing it off his shoulders, down his arms until it lay in a pool of red on the floor. Then she reached for his shirt, as she began to undo the fastenings, of his leather garb underneath. It wasn't until he was only in his pants and shirt that he grasped her wrist when she reached out to pull the fabric over his head…

"I…." He whispered softly, as he looked down at her his eyes filled with concern and perhaps a little fear.

"Hush….it's okay. It really is." She said softly as she reached up and stroked his face. "We all have scars, Vash." She said softly as her eyes clouded. Then slowly she pulled back from him, his eyes widened as she began undressing herself. The long black trenchcoat, the thigh high combat boots, the gloves, the leather holster around her waist…..she was down to her sleeveless tunic and pants when she looked up at him and never leaving his eyes she pulled the shirt over her head, and let it drop on the floor next to her.

Vash's eyes widened as he saw the jagged scar that ripped across her torso from just under her right breast all the way down to her waist. His body move of it's own accord as his fingers reached out and touched the abused flesh. "How…?" He asked in an almost broken voice.

"Like many of your wounds, I got it in a fight." She half smiled a bit enjoying the feel of his soft fingers against her skin, however she was a little anxious she didn't know how repulsed he would be, she didn't think he would he had several worse himself…but you never knew.

Vash touched the scarred skin, as tears pooled in his eyes. :She shouldn't have this.: He thought, :She doesn't deserve to be scarred like this.: Then slowly he knelt down and gently kissed the edge of the scar. Seraphine's breath hitched a bit as other kissed followed tracing the outline of the old wound as if he could somehow kiss away the ugly reminder of the life she had chosen. She closed her eyes as she gently stroked his hair, it was still a little spiky but she didn't care. She had been waiting for a moment like this for what had seemed like forever.

After a few more moments, Vash's lips moved away from her flesh as she looked down he was looking up at her tears in his eyes. "You shouldn't have had to…."

"Hush." She stilled his lips by placing a finger against them, as she smiled. "We all have scars, Vash. It's just if we have them on the outside, inside or both." She stroked his cheek gently as her smile faded. "I know you have many scars both inside and outside." Her eyes softened, "And I know the ones on the inside, especially on your heart, have never fully healed."

"Seraphine…." He whispered as she smiled, and leaned down and kissed him deeply. The rest of the clothing followed, but not rushed. Vash curbed his desire, exploring everything about this wondrous being in his arms. Her soft shoulders her slender hip, her long legs….he slowly stripped the fabric that hid all these wonders from his view and when the last article of clothing was removed he looked down…

The vision that lay before him was indescribable in mere words. She way lying on the bed those dark sheets contrasted her pale skin so well; her silken silver strands pooled everywhere spilling around her and over him. He was lying half a top of her, the only thing he had left on were his pants…his fingers and hands trailed over her body he lowered his lips down to one little pink nipple as he licked it experimentally as Seraphine moaned softly, encouraged he tenderly suckled the little pink bud…..then trailed a row of hot, wet kisses across to the other neglected one as Seraphine arched her back a bit trying to get closer to him. He was drowing in a sea of sents, sounds and feeling….Suddenly he gasped out arching back a bit as Seraphine's hand gently glided over his rock hard erection. He clutched to her trembling as she rubbed him through the fabric of his pants.

"Do you like that?" She asked in a passionate voice.

"Muh…..I…*ugh*" He swallowed hard as she pressed a little more into him. "I…..li…..like it." He finally managed to get out, he was sure that if this kept up he was going to explode!

Seraphine smiled as she stroked him, as he shivered and moaned, "So sensitive, Vash?" She whispered into his ear sending more shivers down his spine. "But you must be very uncomfortable in such restricting clothing…" She said as she drew both hands up as he looked down to her. Her eyes were soft as she smiled, Vash felt the audiable *ZIP* of his pants and before he hand time to do anything, Seraphine had him in her hand stroking gently up….and down. Vash almost collapsed right on top of her, and almost lost it completely.

Her silken hand against his throbbing member, he knew what it was like to touch himself but it had never felt so good! He quivered as he knelt there poised above her his eyes clinched shut as he trembled. Suddenly the wonderful agonizing pumping slowed the stopped he took a breath as he looked up Seraphine coaxed him to lean back and helped him out of his pants. With the last of their clothing gone, Seraphine settled herself beside him as she kissed his scars much the same way he had….over his shoulders down his neck…..over his chest. She paused there for a while to suckle his dusky nipple, teasing him more, before she continued her progression.

Vash felt her kissed the apex of his hip, and opened his eyes, "What are you…." The his eyes widened as he gasped out and almost arched off the bed as Seraphine's mouth took hold of his straining erection as she began sliding slowly….up….and down……and back up a bit….using her tongue to occasionally brush the top of his head.

Vash was seeing stars, her warm wet mouth slicked his erections……pushing him to the brink. He cried out again in seer pleasure as she quickened the pace as he pushed himself up on his elbows to see the most erotic thing he had ever dared hope to imagine. Seraphine's silken strands were brushed to one side as he watched her mouth slide up and down his penis he quivered and moaned, and gasped her name and just when he though he could take no more….she would slow….allowing him to relax just a bit…before working him up again, working him with her mouth.

Vash's cheeks were flushed as he looked at her with bright emerald eyes, never before had he seen something like this, never before had he felt something like this! All too soon he felt a familiar sensation start to grow in the put of his stomach and with a strangled cry grasped Seraphine by the shoulders…

"No……stop…." He panted, his breathing coming in rapid pants, a sheen of sweat broke over that beautiful body as he looked up at her as she looked to him confused.

"Didn't you like it?" She asked a bit worriedly, her eyes tingeing a bit in an anxious fear.

"No…No!" He quickly assured her still trying to get his breath as flushed a brilliant scarlet, "I just…… I mean…….I felt…." He faltered a bit. Great, she was going to think him some inexperienced clod because he was close to cuming so soon after starting! :Well you are inexperienced.: His own voice reminded him :I mean you are a vir….:

:Shut up!: He snapped at the mental voice.

"Were you close?" She asked curiously, startling him out of his thought as he looked at her.

"I…." He swallowed once panic rising in him a bit.

She smiled, "Well if you were than that means I'm doing a good job!" She said as she nestled closer to him, her own cheeks rose tinged with passion. "I've never done that before."

Vash's eyes widened, "Never?" He asked automatically then mentally kicked himself.

:You broomed-headed, needle-noggined idiot!: He screamed at himself. :What the hell kinda question is that?! You don't ask women stuff like that!:

But Seraphine simply chuckled, "Never, you sound surprised." She looked up at him mischief in her eyes. "What? Do you think I make it a habit of knocking handsome young men over their head and dragging them off to my bed?"

"No!" He flustered a bit, "I mean….."

Seraphine chuckled, "Its okay Vash." She said as she pushed away from him so that she was on all fours like a cat smiling. "I just wanted to make you feel good." She asked a bit shyly, "Did it feel good?"

"Very!" Came the immediately reply, and once again he kicked himself mentally for sounding like an ass.

She smiled, "I'm glad."

He looked at her for a moment, "Do you think…." He began then flushed a bit as he looked down to the blankets. "Nevermind."

"No, what?" She asked curiously.

He fingered the blankets nervously his voice barely audible. "Do you think that I could do that…to you?" He asked softly.

Seraphine stared at him in complete shock, "Do….do you want to?" She asked surprised in her voice as he looked up at her his eyes concealed nothing.

"Very much." He said earnestly.

She looked at him a moment more, then smiled as she leaned in and kissed him deeply again, this time he responded with the same passion. While still kissing they turned over as he positioned Seraphine on the middle of the bed as if she weighted next to nothing. The he copied her motions earlier….kissing his way down her shoulder, to her breasts stopping to suckle on them. God, he loved doing that! She seemed to like it too by the way her eyes fluttered closed and the way she moaned softly.

Then after laving attention onto both her pert little breasts, he kissed down her chest over her abs, over her hips as he slid his hands between her thighs and gently coaxed them apart. Before his vision was absolutely the most entrancing thing he had ever seen. The folds of her skin hiding that most secret of places, the sent that was uniquely her own overwhelmed him and on instinct alone he moved forward his tongue lapping at the little bud as she gasped out his name.

Encouraged he pressed forward more, and soon he was suckling on that sweet bud, as she writhed beneath him her sent growing stronger as his fingers probed the entrance…. hesitantly he parted the folds of her skin with one finger…and slowly entered her tight, wet passage. The reaction he got was completely unexpected; her back arched as he felt her muscles tighten around his finger her eyes went wild as she let out a broken cry.

Startled Vash was about to pull away, unsure of he had accidentally hurt her when her hands grabbed two hand fulls of hair, as she cried out. "Don't stop!" She begged writhing beneath him, "Oh, God Vash….please don't stop!"

A thrill surged through his body as immediately he was rock hard as he licked her his fingers sliding in and out of her slowly at first then increasing in speed as he heard the gasps and cries from her. He pressed his mouth into her licking her little bud and working her until she reached her breaking point. Suddenly she arched her back out, her eyes bright as jewels as her sent became even stronger and her muscles constricted around his finger. Seraphine climaxed hard, and loved every moment of it, as if sensing it Vash slowed the pace and pulled back from the warmth between her legs, crawling up her body. Her skin was flushed, her breathing hard, and her eyes which had fluttered shut opened to look up at him as he lowered himself to kiss her deeply. Seraphine tasted the essence of herself on his lips and his overwhelming sent. He trembled slightly, all his senses were on fire he could feel his heart beat between his thighs and behind his ears.

He pulled away from her his body trembling as he pushed himself against her with need and desire. "Seraphine…." He whispered in ragged breaths, his whole body felt hot, his eyes closing in a pained desire "Please….."

Wordlessly she positioned herself beneath him, as he opened his eyes to look down at her. He felt his gently take him in hand and brush the tip of his erection against her opening. He took a quick breath in, God he could cum just from that! He was so sensitive, experiencing these strange things with someone else, for the first time. Suddenly he was scared, what if he wasn't good? What if he didn't perform well? What if she hated him after?!?

"Vash." Her voice called him back to the here and now, as one hand gently cupped his face. "There no good or bad." She told him earnestly her eyes soft, "There is only us…you and me." She said her thumb stroking his cheek softly, "No regrets and no judging."

:God, how does she know what I'm feeling?!: Part of his mind wondered and again tears knotted in his throat. "Seraphine….." He breathed as he eased himself down on to her….taking possession of her mouth….and slowly he entered her. She was incredibly tight around him, so tight is bordered between pleasure and pain. He didn't expect to feel a slight barrier….

:What's this?: His mind thought :I don't think there should be anything…: Suddenly his eyes flew open as a thought came crashing into his mind. :Is she….?!?: He immediately pulled back from the kiss to stare at her confusion and anxiety crossed his face.

:He knows…: She thought and before he could say anything or freak out, she pulled him into her fully breaching her untouched barrier.

Both cried out in unison. Vash clung to her, unable to do anything else. His body quivered yet desire warred with a max of horror and awe. He hadn't expected her to be a virgin too! She didn't act like one did she? Now, he took that precious gift away from her…was it wrong? Did he sin?

"Vash…." She breathed his breath causing him to shudder within her sending sensation through both of them.

"Why……" He finally was able to get out as he held her tightly to him, making sure not to crush her beneath him. "Why didn't you…."

"Tell you?" She whispered, she stroked his back casing him to shiver more, creating a ripple sensation she felt at the member now deeply within her. "Should it make a difference?"

Vash pulled away to look down at her, those emerald eyes pained with tears. "You were still innocent…." He whispered softly

"So were you." She pointed out, her eyes holding his. "I wanted my first time to be something special, with someone special." She said as she stroked his face. "You are someone special Vash." She smiled, "From the first moment I saw you, I knew that. I also knew that you were the one I wanted to give myself to, for the first time."

Tears crept down his cheeks as he heard her words. "I…." He whispered.

"No more talk…." She said softly drawing him back down to kiss him deeply. Touching him deeply as no one else had in a very long him.

Vash kissed her tenderly, as he began moving within her slowly….in, then out, her passage was so small he felt like he might be hurting her but she moaned softly…locking her left around him urging him deeper…faster….

Vash lost any though of anxiety and fear he felt in the bliss motion, felt his member sliding against her moist, warm passage. Hearing her pants her gasps, her ragged voice pushing him on…deeper, faster…..he was now moving on pure instinct alone his eyes closed, holding her close letting her sent envelop him completely.

Again that familiar sensation began to curl in the pit of his stomach, desperately Vash tried to push the feeling away. He wanted this to last longer…last forever, the feeling grew stronger….stronger….and then suddenly after one particularly deep thrust Seraphine cried out as her muscles clenched about him so tightly….Vash cried out a second after her spilling over into her his whole body racked with tremors as he came harder that he ever had in his life.

Seraphine held him closely to her, until the tremors stopped and his ragged breathing slowed. She eased her hold on him slightly as he tightened his.

"Please don't let me go." He whispered softly his voice thick with tears. "Please don't ever let go!"

Surprised a bit, Seraphine's eyes softened. "I won't Vash." She whispered as she held him. "I'll keep holding you, for as long as you want."

And for the first time in a long while, Vash's heart didn't feel empty or wounded anymore. He felt whole…..