Trigun Fan Fiction ❯ To Love Humanity ❯ Visions of Red ( Chapter 5 )

To Love Humanity

Chapter 5: Visions of Red

By: Dashing V. and Hellions K.

**Thank God...** Knives responded in a barely audible sighed whisper of relief. **I...I don't know Vash..I...I think I'm going crazy**

He closed his eyes against the red vision that he saw as he trembled. Shaking his head he opened his eyes again and this time the red did not go fully away, it only dimmed in it's coloration. He then closed his eyes tightly, **Make it stop! Make it stop! MAKE IT STOP!** Knives cried out, his voice getting progressively louder and more frantic each time the phrase was spoken. If he could have placed both hands beside his head in a gesture to relieve his tortured mind he would have.

* * *

The darkness within the plant coiled about in its place of hiding; slowly it put pressure upon the area of the system that was the final barrier that protected Knives. The twins sibling within the plant shuddered slightly, as it started to realize that something was very wrong but it could not voice it's worry as it didn't know what was wrong. The corrupted systems still read that they were in the green. Knives too started feel the pressure but he still brushed it aside. Too worked up with his own thoughts to fully connect that he might be in danger. The darkness then pulled back, sensing that it could go no further but delighting in the agony that it caused. Soon, very soon it would win and the plant would be it's to control.

* * *

**No, you're not going crazy, Knives,** came back the reply, Vash quickly getting a grip on himself, he had to stay strong for Knives' sake dream or now dream.

**Make what stop?* he asked, fearful of what the answer may be, he didn't like the note in his twin's voice, *Don't worry, Knives, everything will be okay,** Vash soothed as he laid in the dark listening to the softly snoring of the insurance girls.

There is a sound of nervous laughter, almost frantic fearful laughter as it is only Vash's soft spoken words break through the frantic screaming. **I don't know...I just don't know anymore...** Knives replied the fearful and frantic tone still lingered in his voice.

**I see things, Vash...things in my dreams...** the man's voice cracked, on the verge of tears as his voice dropped to soft whisper, **things ...fri...frightening....hor..horrible thi…things.** He swallowed hard, as if his throat was parched.

**A..and it is almost as if these things are slipping over into my waking hours....** he flinched, it would have been a visible flinch to see if the gunman was there. **I see red...all I can see is red,** Knives voice picked up a more frantic tone again, **Why does everything look as if it is bathed in blood! It's driving me crazy!* his voice picked up a tone of heavy breathing.

**I..I can barely even sleep any more Vash. A...all I really want is to...is to... get a good... nights sleep** The tears did not stay away with his last soft-spoken phrase. As the stress of what has been happening to him over the past few days was wearing on him. He closed his crystalline eyes as the tears fell and blocked out the vision of red before him. He hoped that it would just go away.

* * *

The darkness just waited, feeding off of Knives raw emotions, it writhed in delight, and it couldn't help it. It was too delicious, this man's emotions of fear and distress.

* * *

The gunman's face showed one of shock and worry for his twin as he heard Knives's words, **I understand, Knives,** he started trying to sooth the man, **I wish I was there...I will come as soon as I can. I don't know the answers, brother,** he said softly, **But I will find them for you. I don't want you to suffer.**

He closed his eyes as the images from his dreams flashed in his mind, shoving them aside he made himself think about the situation at hand, **Try to get some rest, brother. I promise to be there as soon as I am able.**

There was a sound of a shaky sigh, as a first response to Vash's words. That proved that the gunman's twin was at least listened to what the other had to say. **Al…All right,** Knives responded back in exhaustion.

**But....I don't know if I..I can sleep anymore.....so...tired** Knives took a deep breath and tried and calm himself, his brother's voice did help sooth the distraught man. He sighed again, **I'll try,** was the response to Vash as he told him to get some sleep.

**Hurry back, brother,** Knives murmured softly as he apparently drifts off to sleep, for how long, it is hard to tell.

* * *

The sounds of soft snores are interrupted by Millie talking in her sleep.

"Oh sure," she slurred, as she raised one arm in the air, only to let it fall limply next to her a moment later. "I'll take another one right here."

The big girl was so tired out that she slept right through Vash's frantic shouting from the nightmare. What ever she was dreaming about was obviously much better then the gunman and his twin's dreams have been.

Unlike Millie, Merle was awakened by the terrible screams that Vash had let out. Worried about him but hearing nothing more from the gunman, not even a sob, she laid there in the dark for a few moments before calling softly to him, "Vash?? Is everything all right?"

The gunman gave a sigh of relief as it seemed that his brother had
went off to sleep, he hoped that Knives would sleep. He was worried about his brother.

Then realizing that someone had said his name, he looked over in Merle's direction, "I'm fine Merle, go back to sleep."

Turning over so that he face the other way he closed his own eyelids as he tried to forget the images he had seen, he needed his sleep as well.

The insurance woman looked over at the gunman with a worried look that would've been lost in the dark. She rubbed her temples with silent frustration knowing that it would be no good to argue with Vash at the moment. "Alright, if you're sure Vash..." She waited a few moments for an answer but after not getting one she gave a sigh and rolled over to wait for sleep to claim her.

* * *

He went deep into the garden, nearly it's center and sat down on the bench there to think. He was growing weary of this search, with all the hurdles that were placed in front of him lately. They had been so close, so close indeed till a few days ago when the trail went cold. He sat there for many long moments, head bowed as he was lost in thought before he again looked up. A slight bit of a smile crossed his lips as he looked about the garden. He had chosen well for his base of operation in this city. Standing to his again he walked over to another tree that was in bloom and plucked off one of the white flowers.

"What are you hoping to accomplish, Vash?" He spoke his thoughts out loud

since no one was around to hear them. Dropping the blossom to the ground he turned and walked back inside and to his room. With that the last light within the manor went out for the evening.

* * *

He was ready now, he was sure of it. His strength had returned and he no longer felt like hurling when he sat up and his brother needed him, it had been two, too many days already.

Sitting up he listened to the snoring of the insurance girls before he carefully got out of

the bed and gathered his belongings, consisting of pack, sunglasses, and most important food.

As he slung the pack on his shoulder and his sunglasses in a pocket he took one last look at the slumbering girls before he opened the door and stepped out, shutting it softly behind him.

He stopped and again looked back, "Goodbye Merle, don't know when I'll be back again," he sighed, "And Millie take care of her."

Readjusting the pack he made his way down the hall and out the door of the hotel, into the brightly lit night, for two moons were at half, which he was thankful, for it would make it much easier for him too see.

The dust stirred at his feet as he made his way out of town and towards where his brother was, a tear sliding slowly down his cheek, he was leaving one thing behind for another. Shaking the feeling off he kept his feet moving forward, I'm coming brother, he said softly to let Knives know that comfort was on the way.

Knives stirred a bit at the sound of his twin's voice. Rousing a bit from the light sleep that he had lapsed into. The first bit of good sleep that he has been able to get for some time now. Crystalline blue eyes opened slowly, wearily perhaps, afraid that he would see a vision of red before him.

**This time dear brother I hope that you remembered to bring along enough food and drink to keep you from passing out in the middle of the desert,** Knives responded back a bit snidely but there was a soft sigh of relief given as well. He was not a man that like to show that he cared for his brother all the time. **The last thing that I want to find out is that you died out there in the middle of the desert.**

He shifted a bit inside the restraints and he sighed again. The restraints were all that held him still for they were his only support inside the glass dome, due to the wounds that his dear brother had given him. The wounds were starting to itch, which was a
good sign. Itching meant that the wounds were healing, nerves were growing back. He hated being inside of the plant. It was not that he disliked his sibling that was helped him. He just didn't care for the confinement.

**Yes, I brought food with me this time,** Vash chuckled slightly at his brother, not caring that Knives was being snide. The smile slowly disappeared off his face as he moved on through the sand, **No, for then you would be alone and I will not do that to you dear brother, I promise.**

He gives a heavy sigh a feeling of slight blues hanging about him as his legs kept going taking him towards the plant where his brother was housed and healing. He blinked his eyes tiredly as the suns suddenly shined in his eyes, causing him to stop and look at them as he registered subconsciously that he had been trekking all night with out rest or food. Something said he should stop and eat and rest but another part of him told him to go on and save that until he had seen his brother again.

He frowned, pulling out his sunglasses to help shield against the brightness of the new day, as he stood and warred in between the two decisions. Pulling off his pack he took out a couple pieces of jerky and a canteen of water and then slung it back on.

He grinned to himself as he continued on chewing on the tough meat, there now he keep walking and not get too weak, **I will be there tonight brother,** he said his long legs ate up what distance they could with each stride.

* * *

The darkness inside the plant could feel the man's frustration and
anger as pleasant vibrations to it. It shivered in its place as it stayed there biding its time. It knew that it was going to be quite some time before it could get through the last of the barriers, but it could wait, it could always wait, wait for the delicious pleasure of corrupting another....to gain control....

* * *

He let out another slow breath the smoke of the cigarette dissipating into the moonlit night as he stood out side of the saloon, just after hours.

He looked calmly at the hotel and raised an eyebrow as he saw a tall black figure emerge and head out of town to the east. He smirked, he knew whom it was, there were only two persons he knew of that was that tall and one was incapacitated.

He took another long draw on the cigarette and blew the smoke out of his nostrils sending twin tendrils out into the air, the master would be pleased to know in which direction that Vash the Stampede had went.

Flicking the butt on the ground he stepped on it to smother it out, didn't need any fires. Then turning on his heel with hands in pocket he pushed his way through the swinging doors of the saloon and made his way around the dirtied tables to the stage where he had set Sylvia in her case.

Picking up his beloved instrument he turned and made his way out, without any of the other workers really so much as looking at him, he had become a regular face in the crowd and played good music bringing in good business.

Once back out in the light of the moons he turned and headed back towards the mansion where his master surely was awaiting, but if he was not up he would not disturb him until morning, for that MidValley knew.

Heavy footsteps left the garden, this was the place were he spent most of his time. It was something that he had started from observing the true Master who was not easily found due to Vash. His Master had wanted to purify this planet, to make it and Eden, an Eden for himself and his siblings. It was a noble cause, a cause that Vash seemed to over look. A sigh passed his lips as he walked up the stairs to the master bedroom that he claimed as his own from the occupants of the stately manor.

"Why do you pain me so, Vash the Stampede?" He spoke as he entered the room and turned off the light.

In the darkness he removed his long white coat and hung it on a peg by the door before walking over to the window and looking out at the sleepy town. Again the man sighed as he adverted his golden gaze from the sight before him and turned. Shaking his head, sending pale locks of blue-violet swaying before his vision, he walked over to the bed and sat down. Removing his boots and his shirt in the darkness before he laid down. There he stretched out legs crossed at the ankles as he folded his arms behind his head as he looked at the ceiling where a stream of moonlight flickered across the sparse surface, caused by the movement of the drapes. Absentmindedly he held his left arm out
before him, his hand catching the pale flitting light before it ran down the rest of his arm to shine off the scarring just below the shoulder. Reaching over with his right hand the traced the scars, the scars caused by the grafting of Vash's arm to his own by the Master.

"What will you do when we meet, Vash the Stampede?" he whispered in the darkness. "Will you break when we take the Master from you?"

* * *

Sunlight splayed over the woman's face as it started to make its way over the horizon to signal the start of yet another day. She moaned and turned over to get away from it but it was insistent on that she be getting up and followed her a few minutes later. She frowned in her sleep and finally opened one eye to glare across the room, it blinked and then both blinked. Sitting bolt upright in bed, throwing the covers back in the process she ran over to the empty bed that was across from her.

"Vash!?" she questioned, starting to feel a bit panicky as she turned and wildly looked around the room, noticing that all his belongings were gone, "Vaaash!?"

A couple tears slid down her face as she stood in the middle of the room one arm wrapped about her waist as the other covered her face, "How could you? How could you do this to me again?"

The sunlight as it moved across the tall woman's face had no effect upon her slumbering form. What woke her was the sound of Merle's voice when she called Vash's name. Sitting up she blinked her green eyes as she looked around the room finding the gunman gone.

"Oh Merle," Millie said softly as she stood up and walked over to her partner. "Are you going to be ok, Merle?"

She walked around to stand in front of Merle and wrapped her arms around the distraught woman in a hug. "Why do you have to be so mean Mister Vash?" She said softly. "Why did you have to make Merle cry?"