Trigun Fan Fiction ❯ The Outlaw and The Insurance Lady ❯ The Odd Thing About Him ( Chapter 6 )

Meryl was yanked forward by a sharp tug on the thick rope that bound her wrists together. Her eye twitched in suppressed annoyance. Around her men, women, and children watched with open mouths and pity in their eyes as she was lead past them. In front of her was the tall man donned in the infamous blood-red coat.

He gave another rough jerk when she started to fall behind again, pulling her right up to his side again. She glared up at him, her nose wrinkling in a sneer.

"You could be a little more gentle you know," she hissed. He didn't look down but shoved her in front of him.

"Then I suggest you keep up," he growled back.

It was really hot that morning. The twin suns were merciless as their heat beat down on her in some act of hatred. She was beginning to really regret ever sneaking into the outlaw's room.

He had forced her to leave everything except for her money, her own toothbrush and toothpaste, brush, and some very personal items. ((A/N: I bet he scoffed at the idea *shakes fist*)) He just stuffed them in his own bag and ordered her to follow him.

"You can untie me you know," she grumbled as he shoved her forward once again.

"Yes, I know," he replied calmly. She glanced over her shoulder.

"Well?"

"Well what?"

"Untie me!"

"No."

"But you just said--"

"I know what I said."

"So why won't you?"

"Because I finally found some use for the rope. It was starting to take up space."

"Grr . . ."

She just glared in front of her and marched a little faster, sinister thoughts of revenge swimming around in her mind. It was then when they were nearing the open desert that she started looking around for some type of vehicle or other means of transportation other than foot.

She stopped altogether right before she passed the last building. She felt another sharp push from behind but she dug her heels into the hot, dry sand and spun around.

"What the hell are you doing? Move it," he shouted, impatient and tired of her already.

"But-but where's your car?"

He blinked in confusion. "Car?"

Her eyes narrowed in annoyance. What kind of game was he playing? "Yes, car!"

"I don't have one." In her mind the ground opened up around her and fell into the deep dark pit, her screams echoing eerily as it the pit closed. She was surprised it didn't burp or laugh evilly. He had to be kidding her.

"Y-you don't have one?" Her mouth hung open. He tilted his head down to glare at her over the rim of his glasses.

"That's right. Now c'mon. I'd like to make it halfway to the next town before nightfall." He grabbed her bound wrists and started in front of her, dragging her behind him. She dug her heels deep in the sand again, struggling furiously.

"You can't be serious!" she all but screamed. They were going to walk the hundred iles to Heckor under the murderous and unforgiving suns with only a limit supply of water? He was insane!

"I am so stop complaining!" Meryl looked back over at her shoulder and at the townspeople. They were whispering amongst themselves and a few little kids waved to her, not knowing what was really going on except that she was leaving.

She turned back around and lowered her eyes to the ground. This was not what she had had in mind. If she had known they'd be walking the desert for two days she would have . . . she would have . . . well, she wouldn't be there, that's for damn sure.

They had been walking for about four hours, the suns at their prime and the heat just unbearable. Vash had long since let go of her and walked at his own pace, thinking she would stay with him seeing how he was the one that had the water.

Meryl felt like she was going to collapse and after five more steps, she did exactly that. Her legs trembled before they buckled and she fell to her knees in the scorching sand. Her fingers trembled as she embraced the burning sand with them. She suddenly felt sick and she clutched her churning stomach.

Something was wrong. She never got sick. Did she eat something that just didn't agree with her? She felt her stomach lurch into her throat and her eyes widened. She emptied her stomach right there and she stared at the mess with blurred eyes.

One word haunted her mind: Dehydration.

She looked up through half-lidded eyes to see Vash glaring angrily at her over his shoulder. Her eyes rolled back and she fell to her side, a masculine voice shouting from the distance and rising in volume as it drew nearer.

Meryl scrunched up her face and let out a soft moan. She didn't open her eyes just yet, but listened around her. She heard the crackling of a fire and the howl of wind as it brushed over her skin, making her shiver slightly. There was a rustle of cloth, then a heavy sigh.

She felt a wet cloth on her forehead and for a moment she just laid there, reveling in the peace. Her hands came up and grabbed the cloth and pulled it off. She fingered it a little while, the water dampening her fingertips, before turning her head and opening her eyes.

A medium-sized fire waved lazily in front of her. She heard another rustle and she looked beyond the fire to see Vash the Stampede watching her intensely.

"So you're finally awake," he grunted and pushed himself to his feet. Her eyes followed him as he moved toward his bag. He dug around in it until he pulled out a bottle of water. He took the top off and made his way over to her.

"What happened?" she mumbled as she sat up. He crouched down next to her and handed her the bottle. She eyed it warily before taking it from him and she took a small swig. Boy, the feel of cold water going down her dry throat brightened her day. She took another.

"You fainted. Well, that was after you threw up." She offered the bottle back and he took it. She paused for a moment then looked at her hands, shocked that she had been able to grip the bottle. The rope was gone. Her arms were free!

She looked up just in time to see him put the bottle of water back in his bag. He sat right back where he had gotten up from and yawned. They were silent for a while, the fire the only thing keeping the silence from becoming heavy and uncomfortable.

Finally Meryl looked up and said, "Could I ask you a couple of things, Mr. Vash?" He looked her way, his sea-green eyes light and lazy with exhaustion.

"Shoot."

"How far are we from Heckor?"

"Another twenty iles or so."

"What?! But the last I remember we were nearly half way there!" She gawked at him. How had he covered thirty iles with her out cold?

"I carried you the rest of the way," he said simply, shrugging his shoulders as if it were no big deal. But it was a big deal to her.

She knew she wasn't any hippo, but she wasn't as light as a feather either! How could he have carried her, nearly another ninety pounds, and their luggage that probably weighed a little more than half of her and not pass out himself? There just wasn't any possible way!

"H-how?" she stuttered. He smiled smugly.

"Living the life as an outlaw has its advantages like, for instance, adapting to the extreme heat conditions. Not to mention you become physically fit when you've got about ten to fifteen persistent men armed with a variety of guns chasing you around everywhere you go, all determined to get that big bounty."

He looked amused and carefree about what he was telling her. She thought he was mad or something. It was as if he indulged in and relished the excitement and danger of being hunted down and fired at. Vash the Stampede was an odd man. Maybe he didn't quite adapt to those extreme heat conditions like he thought and the suns fried his brain.

"Why didn't you just leave me there instead burdening yourself with carrying me around?" His smile disappeared and his eyes hardened. What had she said to change his mood so suddenly?

"Would you have rather me left you there then?" His voice was so cold that she fought the urge to actually shiver. She shook her head furiously and looked down at her hands.

"Then don't ask pointless questions."

"Right . . ." she whispered. She lay back down and curled up, soaking in the warmth from the fire. She was about to drift back to sleep when she heard some movement then suddenly felt something light and warm being draped over her chilled body.

She cracked open an eye and saw Vash walk back to his spot. She lifted her head and saw a light blue blanket covering her body.

Shocked at his thoughtfulness and unusual kindness, she stayed awake a little while longer, watching him lean back on his hands and gaze up at twinkling sky.

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Yay! I finished and updated! ^^ How'd ya like it? Vash wasn't too evil and he wasn't too soft. Just the way I wanted him to be. ^^ Listen, I've been thinking, what if Vash was actually human but sly and cunning with excellent marksmanship? I dun want him or Knives being plants in this fic, but I should ask what YOU guys want. So let's vote: Do you think Vash should be human or stay a plant?

Hopefully you guys will have voted before my next update.

Also Vixon, I'm glad you review my story and ask when I'm gunna update, but when you do review could you do it only once? I mean, you can review all you want but I have about 3-5 reviews of the same thing that you typed and you've done it two-three times. So could you please try not to flood? Thanks ^^.