Trigun Fan Fiction ❯ Sinner ❯ Salvation ( Chapter 7 )

Ch 7 - Salvation

Milly shrieked like she had seen a ghost as Nicolas winced a bit. "Christ, honey. You're gonna wake the dead!" He said with a lopsided grin.

It had taken a good couple of hours after that to calm the two girls down. Nicholas had taken care of Milly, and surprisingly Meryl had offered to tend to Knives' wounds. The man looked a bit surprised at the offer, but allowed her to do so none the less. The being in Seraphine's body had showed him many things….and for the first time in a while his vision of the future wasn't so clear and he had to now decide what was right. They all now sat around the table as the three men told them everything.

"God…." Meryl whispered as she covered her mouth. "How….."

"It's a miracle." Milly whispered softly but there were tears in her eyes, "But it's also sad too."

"I know, honey." Nicholas whispered as he patted her hands one arm around her as he kissed the side of her head.

"It's my fault." Knives said as he looked down. "Why did she save me?"

"Because, it's wrong to take a life of another." Vash said softly, as he looked up. "Seraphine said so. She knew it was true, and yet she wouldn't stand by and allow you to die because she also knew that everyone deserved a chance to correct their mistakes." Tears slid down his face. "She said so."

"Vash…." Knives whispered, pain in his face. Suddenly there was a creek on the floor, everyone turned around…

"Seraphine!" Vash cried, the young woman was standing up, looking blindly a head Myrel and Milly had changed her into a pair of light blue pajamas, as she stared blankly to the group at the table.

Instantly Vash was as her side, one hand reached out…grasping at air. Immediately his hand came up as she grasped onto that…and moved slowly. Like she was trying to remember how to walk, the group watched silently as she slowly moved her way around to look at Milly.

"S….Seraphine?" Milly asked a bit in confusion.

"M….M…." Seraphine tried….her expression looking pained.

"Yes, Serahphine, it's me. Milly!" She said as she grasped the shorter girls hand. "Do you remember?"

"Mu…Mu…." She swallowed once more, and tears edged her eyes. "Mother…." She whispered softly. Everyone stared in shock, as Milly flushed, then paled, then flushed again.

"Mother?" Nicholas said, "What's that supposed to mean?"

Seraphine squeezed Milly's hand tightly, "Mother….." She whispered again her eyes softening.

"What's she talking….." Nicholas began.

"Oh God, Milly!" Meryl gasped, "Is she saying what I think she's saying?!"

Suddenly realization hit Nicholas as he turned to Milly, she looked up at him tears in her eyes. "Guess the cat's out of the bag." She said, a bit nervously, as she looked at Nicholas. "Um….I….." That was all she got out before Nicholas pulled her into a tight embrace.

"Oh God…..Honey…." He whispered as he held her face, "God, I….." At a loss for words He kissed her deeply. And for one moment, everyone smiled. Perhaps things would change after all.

"I'll be back around three, Vash." Knives said, as he waved a bit. "Don't get into trouble while I'm gone!" He smirked as he and Myrel walked down the street together.

Vash smiled a bit, he didn't know what the strange attraction was between his brother and the hot tempered ex-insurance girl, but he obliviously cared deeply about her and she about him.

It has been a month since the joyous and sad return, and in that month not much had changed. Seraphine would show some kinds of life….she could now feed herself and would respond when someone called her name. Lately she had been wandering by herself, which left everyone to decided that someone needed to stay with her so she didn't get hurt. Vash was extremely grateful for everyone's help, Knives had been extremely helpful…possible because somewhere in his new found conscious he felt responsible.

Vash walked back into the house, and saw Seraphine sitting at the window looking out. He smiled a bit fondly, "You okay, angel?" He asked walking over to her. She turned to look at him….and blinked once. He smiled again, that was the most anyone ever got except on rare occasions. "Okay, you stay here and I'll come check on you in a bit." He said as he kissed her forehead gently and straightened and walked across the house to the kitchen.

"Knives gone to town?" Wolfwood asked curiously.

"Yeah, he and Meryl said they'd be back at three." He said as he started cleaning up the table.

They had all pitched in and gotten a huge house on the outskirts of town, no one bothered them. Except for the older woman of the town who occasionally saw Vash walking with Seraphine down the street, their hearts went out to the young woman and the young man who obliviously loved her very much. When they had asked what happened, it was simply said that she had been hurt very badly in a fight and they were all friends and moved here together to try and find a piece of Eden and help her recover.

Wolfwood looked up to Vash, "How you doing?" He asked.

"What? Oh, I'm fine!" Vash said brightly, "Couldn't be better!"

"You're a liar." Nicholas said immediately. Vash froze, as Nicholas sighed and put down his coffee, "I see your agony every time you look at her, Vash." He said as he stood up.

"I just……" He whispered his eyes tearing, "It's just……it's just not fair, Nick!" He finally said, "I know it's only been a month, she's doing better! Even the doctor's says so….it's just…." His shoulders tensed, "I want her back!"

"I know…" He sighed as he walked over and placed a supporting hand on his friends shoulder. "Vash if I could have traded places….."

"No….she wouldn't have let you." Vash said with a sad smile, "Because you had responsibilities here." He looked to his friend. "But she is getting better, and there's still hope." He said brightly, "Right?"

Nicholas looked to him and smiled, "Right." He held up his hand, "For love…"

"And Peace." Vash smiled as he took his hand.

"Mr Vash!" Someone pounded on the front door despertly, "Mr. Vash! Come quick!"

"What the hell?" Nicholas swore as both he and Vash immediately went to the font door. Standing there breathless was a young girl "Mr. Vash! You have to come!"

"What's going on?!" He asked.

"You're brother and Miss Meryl are being held hostage by a gang of robbers at the bank!" Her eyes panicked, "Miss Serpahine is there!"

"WHAT?!" Vash cried as he looked over to the chair Seraphine had been sitting in not five minutes ago….it was empty. Imediately he looked to the mounting where he and Knives' gun had been resting….both were gone.

"No…" He felt his face turn pale. "God no!" He immediately grabbed one of Seraphine's old gun which hung now next to the empty pegs and ran, Nicholas hard on this heels.

"What the hell could've caused her to do this?!" He demanded

"Please….Seraphine!" Vash cried out, "Wait for me!"

The huge bandit looked nervously to the single young woman standing before them, her eyes were dead and at her side were the two biggest guns he had ever seen in his life. Strangle the sky was dark…..and gray. Like a typhoon was coming, but that didn't matter.

"What's your problem, girly!" He called out to her.

"Seraphine! Run!" Myrel cried out as the man held her by her throat.

"You come to save the day?" The man taunted again, as another held Knives who had been shot and was bleeding.

"So help me…." He grunted, "You hurt either Myrel or Seraphine…."

The man kicked Knives in the face, "Shaup!" He hissed.

"Knives!" Myrel called out an then gasped as the man gripped his arm more tightly around her throat.

"See? All you need to do is smack some people around to get respect." He laughed as he looked back to the young woman in a while sleeveless dress still looking at him. "Well, what have you got to say for yourself?" He demanded.

Thoes dead eyes looked up at him, and held his gaze. He grunted a bit, he didn't like this. The lights were on but there was definitely no one home, which means she was completely unpredictable.

"It's…..wrong…." She said.

"Huh?" The man grunted a bit, as Meryl's eyes widened.

"It's wrong…..to take the life…..of another." Her weak voice whispered as the man snarled.

"What the hell kinda crap are you spitting out girly." He demanded.

"Seraphine don't!" Meryl cried out, "Run away!"

"Shadup!" The man suddenly whirled Myrel around and smacked her across the face so that she landed next to Knives.

"No! MERYL!" He cried out to her dormant form.

The man started laughing when suddenly a bullet flew by racking him across the cheek. Instantly his hand went to his face as he whirled around to see the young woman with her weapon raised her eyes blank…but her features were hardened….angered. "No one…." She said, as she raised the other weapon. "No one has the right to take the life of another!"

Vash and Wolfwood came running around the corner and stooped short at the sight they saw.

Serpahine was standing there, her eyes still blank but her features hard and angry as she repeated "No one has the right to take the life of another!" She said her voice becoming stronger.

"What the fuck?!" The man said "You shot me!"

"No one has the right to take the life of another!" She said loud enough for everyone to hear her as the man looked at her.

"Are you fucking nuts?!" He demanded.

Suddenly lighting cracked through the sky, blinding everyone for a moment so that no one saw the passionate determination flash through her eyes. "And everyone deserves the right to live!" Seraphine's voice cried out as nine more shots rang out as the lightening flash again this time the thunder rolled with the shots.

When people could see again….they all saw the two robbers down on the ground moaning and crying in agony. The towns people came out just as the gentle ran began to fall as they all looked in awe at the familiar girl in white slowly lower both smoking weapons as she tiled her face to the sky. "I will sin….no more." She said softly yet people heard.

"Seraphine…" Vash whispered as he took a step closer to her as the droplets of rain began to fall. A soft pattering followed at the drops began to fall faster, as the two weapons dropped from her limp hands.

"Finally…..I'll be clean." She whispered then without warning she began to fall back.

"Seraphine!" He called out and caught her before she felt completely and eased her onto the ground. "Seraphine! Wake up!" He cried as she shook her unconscious body lightly. "Please don't leave me again! You can't do this to me!" He cried tears mixed with the soft rain trickled down his face as the towns' people looked on….and their hearts broke. "Oh God, WHY?!" He threw back his head and cried out. "Why HER?! Why not me!? She doesn't deserve this!"

Milly came running up to Nicholas, her thickening abdomen apparent in her old insurance inform. "Nicholas…" She whispered as she looked into the street and her eyes clouded.

"Hey!" Someone called, "Someone get the doctor! They ain't dead!"

"What?!" Nicholas and Milly cried in unison.

"They ain't dead!" The man called scratching his head, "I'll be damned on how she done it, but the Lady missed all their vital organs! They're going to live!"

Nicholas' eyes widened as Knives sat up, with a now conscious Meryl's help. "That's because…..no one ever has the right….to take the life of another." He said as he looked to Meryl and her bruised face. "Right?"

Meryl looked to him and smiled, "Right."

Then they all looked to Vash who held her, their smiles faded. "Was it all for nothing?" Nicholas asked, "Was she slated to die anyways?!" He balled his fist. "Damnit!" He drove it into the building before him.

Milly simply put a hand a top his wrist as he looked to her, "Why dose this have to happen to them?" He asked pained.

Milly just looked at him helplessly. "I don't know." She said sadly.

Just then the lightening flashed again….and suddenly there was a little orb that settled before Vash that glowed brightly. "You're crying again." The little girl took form holding her teddy bear, but this time she had white feathery wings her blue eyes said.

Vash looked up to her, his heart crumbled. "Horrible things keep happening to Seraphine." He said as everyone looked on in awe.

"Look….you see that?!" Someone asked.

"I see it, but I ain't believning it!" Someone else chimed in.

"It's a little angel!" An old woman said, "An angle came with the rain and after the poor girl saved those poor people!"

"Why?" Vash asked brokenly as he sat in the rain holding her close to him. "Why does this have to happen to her?!" He asked.

The little girl looked at him sadly. "Because she wanted to bring you the rain." She said softly as Vash gasped and looked to her.

"What?" He asked.

"She wanted to bring the rain to the dry world, so people's heart wouldn't be dry anymore." She said her eyes clouded, "That's what she told me."

Vash's eyes widened as he looked to the little girl, "She told you that."

"Yes." She said, "Her thoughts couldn't come back fully until she taught the sky how to make it rain." She said….then suddenly the little girl looked over her shoulder and smiled. "See??"

Vash looked up and his eyes widened. Floating to him was a small glowing orb, instantly he knew that inside that orb was a plant. The orb slowly floated over to him, spoke into his mind.

:We know you Vash.: The plant said, :It has taken us some time, but we now understand.:

"Understand…?" He whisapred his voice broken.

:The wishes of the young woman you hold in your arms. She couldn't come back to you fully because she tried to make us understand. About what this world needed. That day at the old weather vein…she tried to teach us to make it rain. So that the planet could support more of our kind…and the humans.: The voice chuckled a bit, :As you can see…it took a little bit of time.:

"But….what about Seraphine?" He asked.

:Silly boy, she's been with you all along.: The plant smiled, as the little girl giggled. The plant vanished as the little girl looked to him.

"I'll see you soon, Daddy!" She giggled happily as Vash's eyes widened as the little girl turned into a small sphere of light….then slowly entered Seraphine's body.

Everyone gasped in awe as the implications of the little one's words, a moment later Seraphine moan softly…..her eyes fluttered open as she felt the pelting of the rain. She looked up into a pair of emerald green eyes that looked at her in awe and absolutely joy.

"Vash…." She whispered….then immediately rolled to the side and proceeded to puke her guts out.

Nicholas started incredulously, "Well, what'da know?" He said a bit bemused.

"Vash and Seraphine are going to have a baby!" Milly squealed, "Isn't it wonderful?!"

"Yeah…." Nicholas said as she smiled and put his arms protectively around Milly. "It's a miracle."

After wrenching her guts out, Vash immediately pulled Seraphine closed to him as she blinked at him in confusion. "Uh….Vash?" She asked.

"Oh, God Seraphine…I thought I lost you! I thought you left me like Rem!" He said as he turned his face into her neck and kissed her neck…up her throat over her cheeks and claimed her mouth passionately.

Startled and confused….but when Vash kissed her deeply she tasted tears on his face but at the same time that kiss thrilled her to no end. Desperately he pulled back as she looked up at him with those innocent eyes. "I love you, Seraphine." He said, as he pulled her close again. "I promise I'll protect you from now on." He said as he tightened his hold around her a little more. "Both of you."

Her eyes widened, so the vision hadn't be a dream. "My God…..this is real?" She whispered as he released her a bit….her legs curling under her as she sat up a bit her hand went to her stomach as a blush crossed her face. "I really am…..?" She looked up at Vash who looked down at her with unconcealed love.

"You really are." He said, as he embarrassed her softly. "You know what would be even better?" He asked.

"What?" She asked still a little dumbfounded.

"If you'd become my wife." He whispered, "Not as Vash the Stampede….but as Vash Savrem." The one thing he would take from the past, that reminded him that his ticket to the future was always open….and now there was so much more.

Seraphine smiled, "I'd thought you'd never ask." She whispered as she pulled him to her and kissed him deeply.

"Hey, preacher-man….do you do weddings?" Someone called as the town clapped and Nicholas laughed.

"Not normally but in this case, I'll make an exception!" He laughed.

And years down the road, everyone in the town of Eden knew of the little angel named Miracle and how she brought the water to the dried lands of Gunsmoke, and who taught the human race how no one ever had the right to take the life of another, and everyone should live with love and peace in their hearts.

*********THE END***********

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