Trigun Fan Fiction ❯ Trigun: Welcome to Eden ❯ Going Home ( Chapter 1 )

Part I: Going Home

"Sorry, chief, but we're handing in our resignations."

The chunky man with glasses blinked in shock as both Millie and Meryl handed in their resignation notices. His jaw dropped and he stood up behind his desk, knocking Kuroneko-sama from his perch. "Nyao!" the black cat meowed in indignation. No one paid it any attention.

"B-but Millie, Meryl… This is so sudden. You're finally off the Stampede case and now you're quitting?! Why on earth for? You're both heroes! You're the role models for all the new agents! Why this sudden decision? It makes no sense. You were about to get a raise!"

Millie just grinned, while Meryl shook her head. "Sorry, chief. This is just the way it has to be. We can no longer commit ourselves to the company… We've endured so much, seen so much… We're not the same girls who started working here. We're not the same girls who left after Vash the Stampede almost a year ago."

Millie nodded. "Meryl's right, chief. We're really different now… We've…" Millie's words drifted as her eyes reflected her pain. Her hands drifted to her abdomen and Meryl put her hand on Millie's arm. Millie looked up at the chief with teary eyes. "We've lost so much…learned so much, chief. We just can't continue working here anymore…"

The chief shook his head, his eyes wide and incredulous. All of Millie and Meryl's co-workers looked on the scene with shocked expressions. "You two have to at least give me a two week notice! This is too abrupt! You can't just walk out of here like this! You finally show up, after not having a written a report in ages, and then give me the report as well as this notice! This is highly irregular! I understand if you girls need a vacation, but this is a bit extreme, isn't it?"

Meryl shook her head. "It has nothing to do with taking a vacation or not, sir. We… just can't continue working here like this anymore. This case has been infinitely more to us than just a job. It has changed our lives. Completely and totally."

"We would have arrived sooner," Millie said, "but we had someone to take care of along the way. And our bus out of town leaves today, chief. Sorry again for being such short notice, but we really can't stay. Not anymore anyway."

"Where are you two going to go?"

Meryl smiled. "We're going to stay with my parents for a bit. I've got so much to tell them. So much, they don't know…"

Millie grinned. "Then we're going to visit my family! We'll probably stay longer with them, after all I have some really big news to tell them and I'm sure they'll want to keep us all for a while. Then we're going to find a new place to live!"

The chief blinked. "A new place to live…?"

Meryl nodded. "We're going to try and find ourselves a small paradise where we can live happily with those we love."

The door to the office suddenly burst open. Vash stood there in a beige shirt and a pair of jeans, his brother Knives over his shoulder. There was a bunch of people behind them, all ruffled by his intrusion. Most were scurrying back to their desks trying to look as if they weren't eavesdropping.

"Meryl! Millie! Dammit, can we get going already? I didn't know quitting would take this long! The bus will be outside in minutes! We don't have all day! I can't leave Knives hanging upside down for too long."

Millie giggled. "Sorry, Mr. Vash! We didn't think it'd take so long either! I know Mr. Knives needs to rest and he will on the bus. And then at Meryl's he'll be able to rest lots!"

Meryl smiled and began to walk towards him. "Maybe he'll regain consciousness at my home. You're right, Vash. It's late. We should get to the stop." She turned around and smiled at the chief's slack jaw. "Sorry again, chief. Our lives have changed. I'm sure you'll find agents even better than us. Right, Millie?"

"Right, Meryl!"

Meryl grinned and looked up at Vash. "Let's go, Vash! The bus won't wait for us, and again, sorry for the wait."

Vash shrugged it off. "No problem, Meryl! I just figured I'd have to come in and remind you. If not, your chief would have probably kept you talking for the next two weeks!"

Meryl nodded in agreement and headed for the door. Millie chuckled as she followed Meryl, waving farewell to the chief.

Vash turned to follow them, but gave the chief a backward glance. "Thanks. Those girls saved my life as well as my soul so many times, I've lost count. Sorry you had to lose them, but thanks for giving them to me. See ya!"

He walked through the door, but before he left the building he turned around and flashed the Bernardelli Insurance Company his 'love and peace' trademark. "Just remember people! LOVE & PEACE!"

And with that, he walked out after the girls, Kuroneko-sama following him, leaving an entire building of stunned insurance agents behind.

* * *

"Meryl!"

Meryl smiled at her parent's shock, taking in their appearance. It had been so long since she'd seen them. Her mother was still the same petite woman with dark hair and vibrant violet eyes, but there were more streaks of silver in her hair than there was last time she'd seen her. Her father's thick wavy hair was peppered with gray, as was his mustache, and he still looked like a proud businessman, though he had been retired for years. Both parents rushed in for a hug and squeezed her. Her father's mustache tickled her face and her mother was squishing her. She gave a light laugh and hugged them back. "Yeah, yeah. I know it's been ages since I've come for a visit. You two don't have to make it so obvious."

Her mother pulled back with teary eyes. "Well, you're just always so busy! You never have time to even call or write us anymore!"

Her father growled at her, his gray eyes flashing. "And whenever we gave you a ring, no one ever picked up! And whenever we wrote to your apartment, you never replied! Lord, girl, for a while there I'd thought you'd dropped off the face of the earth!"

Meryl shook her head. "I'm sorry. I was doing a case for the company. A really long and… difficult one. I learned a lot. But, don't worry. I'll be here for a while, so you can grill me for all the questions you like and lecture me!"

Her mother's violet eyes sparkled. "Does that mean you finally got some time off, then?"

Meryl shook her head. "Nope. I quit."

"EH?!"

"But Meryl," her father began, his hand reaching up to tug on his mustache. "I thought you loved working for that company. That's all you'd ever talk about!"

"I'd given up hope you'd find yourself a husband, Meryl!"

Meryl burst out laughing. "Oh, gee, Mom! I wasn't that bad, was I?" At their nods she laughed again and shook her head. "Oh well. I quit, I'm a free woman now. And I can stay for as long as you want me."

"Of course, we want you, Meryl! What kind of remark is that?!" her mother shouted.

Her father nodded. "The only thing that has me confused is why the sudden decision to quit…"

Meryl smiled. "I'll give you all the details later. First, I was wondering if you could let us in. It's getting kind of chilly out here."

"Us?"

Meryl moved aside to let her parents get a look at the people behind her. Millie giggled and waved, Vash gave them a crooked smile with Knives being held in his arms. Meryl smiled at her parents' shocked expressions. And they hadn't seen anything yet. "Mom, Dad. This is my best friend Millie Thompson, and this is Vash and his brother Knives. Knives was injured pretty badly and he still hasn't regained consciousness. So can my friends and I come in?"

"Sure, honey! Of course! Come in, quickly, all of you! So sorry for keeping you all out like that!" Her father ushered them all in.

"So sorry," her mother said to them. "We just got caught up…we haven't seen Meryl in so long… Oh dear! I'm so sorry!"

Vash smiled at the petite woman that looked so much like Meryl it was terrifying. The only difference was her long straight hair that she wore in a loose ponytail and the streaks of silver through the black. "It's all right, Mrs. Stryfe. We understand completely. I'm just glad you didn't toss us out on our ears when you heard our names!" He grinned at her puzzled face.

She shook her head. "Whatever, dear. Oh, and don't bother calling me Mrs. Stryfe. For Meryl's friends I'm Olivia or Mom. And her father is Albert or Dad. But why would you think that I'd throw any of you out because of your names?"

Millie grinned as she followed Vash. "Meryl, you do the explaining while I help Mr. Vash with Knives!" Millie waved at Olivia. "Don't worry, Mom Olivia! Meryl will explain everything!" She turned back to Vash. "Come on, Vash! Let's get Mr. Knives settled in!"

"All right, Millie."

The door to one of the guestrooms closed behind them and Meryl's parents turned to her with lifted eyebrows. Meryl smiled slightly. "His full name, or the name he's had his whole life, has been Vash the Stampede…" her mother gasped as her father's jaw dropped. Meryl's eyes filled with tears as she said her next words, barely above a breath. "And I love him…"

She gave them a small helpless smile as the tears spilled from her eyes and her mother gave her a hug. Meryl hugged her in return.

* * *

"All right, dear," Olivia said to Meryl, placing a warm cup of cocoa before her. "Start telling us all about it."

Meryl wrapped her hands around the warm mug and closed her eyes. "It's a long story, Mom, Dad… A very long one…and it starts hundreds of years ago."

Meryl felt a warm hand on her arm and looked up into her father's smiling face. "It's all right, honey. We'll listen. And then when you're done, we'll offer what advice we can."

Meryl nodded and began to tell the entire story…from the very beginning…

"And that's pretty much all of it. Vash is determined to save his brother, but what Knives will do when he wakes, we don't know. Millie's pregnant with Wolfwood's baby and she's happy and sad at the same time. And we have to find someplace to live without Vash suffering anymore. He's always trying to help people and somehow only ends up being hurt himself." Meryl buried her face in her hands. "I just don't know what to do. I'm in love with a plant, Mom. A plant. Not a tree or a flower, but the kind of plant that we get energy from. They're an alien life form that decided to help us…by lending us their energy. And then Vash and Knives were the first plants born in human bodies and with free will. He's lived for over a hundred years and will continue to live a very long life. I don't know…" Tears spilled unconsciously onto the table.

She felt her mother's hands on her back and caressing her hair. "It's okay, Meryl. Yes, it's very complicated, but I think there are some solutions. There is always another way. He willed himself to be different than his brother. To live like a human, to choose and love and live. To enjoy life and to live it, even with all of its hardships and sufferings. He could have been like his brother, but he chose not to be and his will is what made him survive. He can choose to live like a human…with you. And I'm sure if his desire and will is powerful enough…he can."

Albert nodded. "Your mother is right. If he loves you as much in return, Meryl, he'll find a way to stay with you. If he's got the will to survive all he has, he's got enough will and power to live like a normal human too, if that's what he desires."

Olivia grinned. "As for you all finding someplace new to live with that brother of his and all of that, I think you should all head to a new town, a remote one too where not many people go. And don't use the name Vash the Stampede either, for the love of heaven. Give him a different name!"

Meryl sniffled a bit. "Like what?"

Her mother smiled. "I think you already have one in mind, Meryl."

Meryl looked into her mother's smiling eyes and nodded. "Yeah, I do." She looked toward her father and he gave her a nod. Meryl wiped her face with her sleeve and her father handed her a kerchief. She laughed and gave him a hug. "Thanks Dad. Thanks Mom. I hope everything works out."

Albert rubbed his big hands up and down her back. "I hope everything works out too, baby. Just remember that we're always here for you."

Meryl nodded. She released him and stood up, determination flashing in her eyes. "Well, thanks for the pep talk, parents! I have a needle-noggin to beat some sense to, so if you hear him whining or whimpering just ignore him!"

Meryl heard her parents' laughter as she marched out the door toward Vash and Knives' room. Her heart began to race. How was she even supposed to begin to tell him…? She shook her head. It's not like she was going to be confessing her love or anything for the love of heaven! She was just going to talk to him. She smiled and slowly opened the door. Everything was going to be okay. They were all together now. They'd look after Knives, help him, change him and find a great place to live where life will be at least semi-normal.

She saw Vash standing on the balcony, the wind blowing the curtains of the doors about and his hair moving with the wind as well. He was shirtless and he was staring out over the horizon, his gaze lost there.

Meryl headed toward him, giving the sleeping Knives a gentle glance, before stepping out to the balcony beside Vash. He was leaning over the balcony now, his spiky hair a bit droopy, his body relaxed in a way she'd never seen it before. She couldn't stop her eyes from moving over him and her heart clenched. Lord, he'd been through so much…

"You told your parents the whole story, Meryl?"

She started for a moment and then smiled. She moved beside him and leaned over the balcony as well, staring off into the horizon. "Mm-hmm. They took it quite well and they're going to give us all their support."

Vash smiled lightly. "I'm glad… It's always good to have family with you…" he turned his head slightly, his sea green gaze settling on his brother. "Even if it is a little dangerous."

Meryl placed her hand on his shoulder. "Whatever happens, we'll deal with it together, Vash. You know we'll never leave your side."

He placed his hand over hers and looked into her eyes. Meryl's heart pounded as she stared back and drowned. "Thank you, Meryl. You even quit the job you loved so much…"

"I found something I care about more." Meryl realized what she'd said when she saw his eyes widen. Her cheeks burned and she turned away quickly, afraid what other confession those eyes may wring out of her. "A-a-anyway, we'll be here about a week before going to Millie's. I want to spend some time with my parents before we move on. They gave me some good advice though, for whenever we find that new town to live in."

Vash was silent for a moment. Meryl could feel his gaze on her the entire time, her heart pounding against her rib cage like it was trying to escape. "What advice did they give you?" he said after a long moment.

Meryl smiled lightly, her eyes unconsciously drifting to his gentle face. "Change your name." She giggled at his animated reaction to that comment. "Not changing it completely. Just getting rid of the 'Stampede' part. Everyone knows you by that, but that's not who you are. You're Vash…"

"Just Vash sounds a little suspicious, don't you think?"

Meryl shrugged. "All right. We'll give you a last name, so that no one can ever connect you to the Stampede again. Not goofy, gentle Vash…" She turned to face him, and he was only looking at her, his eyes seemingly lost as they gazed at her.

"Vash…?"

"I'm waiting for you to tell me my last name, Meryl. I'm sure you've given this a lot of thought. Who am I going to be? Vash Stryfe?"

Meryl chuckled. "No… but if you want to be that's okay, too." He gave her a gentle smile and she shook her head. "No…you're not Vash Stryfe, or Vash Thompson, or Vash Wolfwood-"

"I think Wolfwood would be insulted by that remark."

Meryl let out a brief laugh and shook her head. "No, you're none of those. You're Vash… Vash Saverem." His eyes widened and he stared at her as if he'd never seen her before. Meryl's heart ached, wondering what he'd think of her idea. He seemed so amazed…

"Vash…Saverem…?" He turned his gaze back to the horizon and seemed to mull over the name. A small smile formed on his face. "Knives will hate it. Heh, heh." He turned back to Meryl and his eyes met hers. She felt as if they were trying to touch her soul…and succeeded. "I like it, Meryl. Vash Saverem. Meryl Stryfe. Millie Thompson. What a strange trio we make…"

"Don't forget Knives and the baby," Meryl said with a smile.

Vash chuckled. "But we're the ones going to be taking care of both. You and Millie are so strong… How you've managed to endure being with me… I feel as if I can't even face your parents, Meryl. I've caused you so many problems and so many heartaches…"

"That's only because we care, Vash. We want to stay by your side. You're more than just a friend to us. You're a best friend. And we'll do anything for a close friend."

Meryl felt his gaze on her skin as if she wasn't wearing any clothes. Those eyes of his were doing it again. Reaching beyond her flesh to touch her soul… and all she wanted to do was bare it to him…but… She was so scared… Vash straightened and moved toward her. Meryl's heart began to do somersaults in her chest and her breath caught as he got closer. She looked into his deep sea green eyes and felt herself drown in their depths.

"Just a friend, Meryl?"

Her breath stopped as his hand lifted to her face and gently caressed her cheek with his soft fingers. She took in a short gasp of a breath when he began to lower his head toward her, his lips moving toward hers.

When their lips touched for the first time, Meryl swore she'd died and gone to heaven. It was like falling into the deepest clearest ocean, something she'd never seen but only heard of in tales… And yet it felt as if the waves of cool water suddenly overwhelmed her and swallowed her in their refreshing embrace. His lips moved over hers and she melted against him, her mind lost into the glory of the kiss. Her hands slid up his scarred back, her fingers tenderly caressing each scar, making the man kissing her shudder. When his tongue managed to persuade her lips to part, Meryl felt her body suddenly explode with sensation. Her soul seemed to rush through her body, eager to meet his kiss.

They stayed locked like that, drinking from the essence of each other, too spellbound to think, let alone stop. Their hearts were pounding madly and in sync, as if they had merged into one sole heartbeat, strong enough to support them both.

When they finally began to pull away from the kiss, tears slid from Meryl's eyes. She felt Vash's soft thumb rub them away and when she opened her eyes, saw the worry on his face… and the hint of apology on his lips.

He opened his mouth to speak, but Meryl silenced him with her finger. She shook her head. "I'm not crying for the reason you think, Vash. Don't apologize for kissing me… I don't think I could bare it." She moved her hand away from his lips to cup his cheek and caress his face. "You just have no idea how long I've wanted to do that…"

Vash abruptly pulled her into his arms, startling her. She was about to bellow at him, when she felt him bury his face against her throat and felt his hot tears slide down her neck. Her heart twisted. "Vash…?"

"I'm sorry, Meryl…but can I just hold you like this for a while? I just want to make sure you're real and you won't vanish and leave me with the next gust of wind. I don't want to wake up and realize this was all a dream… I can't bare to lose you too…"

Meryl smiled and wrapped her arms around him. "You won't lose me, Vash. I already told you I'd always be by your side. Always…"

They stayed like that for a moment before hearing a couple of hoarse whispers from below them.

"Are they saying anything now?" her father's whisper sounded in the night air.

"I don't know. They were talking so quietly I can barely hear them," her mother replied.

"I hope he's not doing anything funny to my little girl…"

"Oh, will you just lighten up. I'm glad Meryl has finally found a good man. 'Bout time she settled down, as far as I'm concerned. Now, I can finally have some grandkids."

"G-g-grandkids…?" Meryl whispered hoarsely.

An enormous vein pulsed on Meryl's head as Vash blinked and then promptly let her go. She turned her furious gaze to over the balcony and down. Sure enough, there were her parents arguing as quietly as possible.

"MOM! DAD!"

Both abruptly stopped and turned to face their daughter with her blazing eyes. They gulped. "H-h-hi honey…"

"Kkkkkk… I can't believe you two!" Meryl jumped down and began to chase after her parents. "Do you have any idea how embarrassing that was?! How could you?!?!?"

Vash burst out laughing on the balcony, and continued to laugh until he hit the floor with the force of it. He was guffawing so hard his sides were hurting. Kuroneko-sama just meowed as he watched Vash laugh.

Millie emerged from her bedroom with sleepy eyes… "What's going <yawn> on…?" She saw Meryl's parents zoom by her with Meryl hot on their tails. Kuroneko-sama was now following Meryl and meowing the whole way. Clearly, Vash wasn't half as entertaining. Millie just blinked.

Vash laughed till dawn, his spirit light.

* * *

A week later…

"Bye Mom! Bye Dad! I promise to write more and I'll be visiting more often now! Promise!" Meryl shouted to her parents as she waved farewell.

They waved back with as much enthusiasm. "Take care, everyone!" Olivia shouted. "I hope Knives is better soon!"

Vash waved back with a grin. "I hope so too, Olivia! Thanks for letting us stay!"

"It was no problem, my boy!" Albert called back. "Take care of my girl! And don't let her boss you around, just because she's every bit a busybody like her mother is!"

An enormous vein pulsed behind Meryl's head as she glared at her father. "DAD!!"

Everyone burst out laughing. Olivia kept shouting. "Millie, honey, you too! Take care and watch out for Meryl! She tries to be tough but she's all mush!"

"I will Mom Olivia! And trust me, I know she's all mush already!"

"You take care too! Make sure nothing happens to that baby!" Albert shouted.

"I will!" Millie called back.

"Vash!"

Vash turned to Albert. The man's eyes smiled kindly at Vash and they shown with such faith in him that Vash didn't believe he was really seeing it. "Take care of those, girls Vash. Watch out for them. They're tough but they're both still to nice for their own good-"

"DAD! Vash is fifty times WORSE than us when it comes to being 'too nice for their own good'!" Meryl said with a laugh.

Albert nodded, but turned his stormy gaze to Vash, sending a silent message. Please, take care of them. We know you can.

Vash smiled and gave Albert a nod. The older man smiled and continued teasing Meryl and Millie with good-byes. Vash watched the rest of the farewells and said goodbye to them himself. Meryl's parents were great people. They had accepted him and Knives like they were nothing out of this world, though they most definitely were. And now they trusted him with the lives of their daughter, Millie and the baby. He could feel the tears starting to sting in his eyes. Vash couldn't believe it… What angel had been watching over him to make him lucky enough to have run into those two girls…and have them change his life? And it wasn't just them…from what he'd seen of Meryl's family and from what he'd heard about Millie's, the disease of kindness was hereditary.

He could only marvel at them both. How had he gotten so lucky…? Millie just grinned at him and started telling him more about her family, while Meryl just watched Millie chatter on with a smile. These girls were so special to him… His heart twisted. He just hoped he never had to lose them.