Trigun Fan Fiction ❯ Trigun: Welcome to Eden ❯ Ticket to the Future ( Epilogue )

Epilogue: Ticket to the Future

"Vash? What's going on? Everyone at the general store suddenly rushed out."

Vash turned and saw Meryl approaching him. She seemed so different, now that they were together. Happier, as if she were enjoying every moment of her life. She just glowed and whenever he looked at her, he got all warm inside.

"Vash!"

Vash shook his head and straightened. "Well, that's because everyone is happy to see someone they know."

"Huh?"

"Seems like someone who used to live in this town, and used to work at the orphanage too, left for a while and then it was thought he was dead. He just walked into town today and is saying `hello' to his wife and baby," Vash said with a smile.

Meryl gave him a light smile. "That sounds wonderful. No wonder everyone seems so happy. I wonder who it is…? Though it would have been nice if it was someone we knew, huh?"

"I didn't say we didn't know him."

Meryl's eyes narrowed at him. Vash grinned and put his arm around her shoulders. He pulled her around and pointed over the throng of people. "Who do you see over there?"

Meryl scrunched her eyes. Vash thought she looked adorable doing it. "I see Father Jim and Millie and they're with someone… Um…"

"What's he dressed in?"

"Black."

"And do you see who he's holding?"

"Millie and Davie… WHOA!" Meryl whirled at Vash. "You're not telling me that… that's…" Meryl turned back and saw Millie turn around with the man beside her. Both were laughing. "DEAR GOD, IT'S WOLFWOOD!!"

Only Vash winced at her scream. No one else heard because of all the commotion that was going on. Meryl turned to him. "Vash! It's…it's…! But he's dead! We found him dead! What happened?!"

Vash smiled. "Nicholas told me that an angel brought him back. An angel that said she was doing it for me and for him. An angel I know too well that sings my song."

Meryl smiled. "Rem."

Vash nodded. "Yeah. I think this is her way of saying thank you or of doing one last thing for me, even though she's already done so much."

Meryl shook her head. "If I were her, Vash, I would have done only because you had been through so much pain that you needed something good to happen for a change. And I would have wanted you to believe in miracles again."

Vash smiled. "But I never stopped believing in miracles." Vash saw Wolfwood suddenly wave at them and both he and Meryl waved back. Meryl abruptly threw herself at him. "Whoa!"

Meryl giggled. "Oh, Vash! I'm so happy! Maybe I'll get to see Millie and Wolfwood have their kids and their grandkids in Eden after all. Some of my dream is coming true!"

"I think a little more than that will come true, Meryl."

"Huh?" she looked up at him quizzically and Vash drew strength from her violet eyes and asked the dreaded question.

"I don't know if you'll have me, Meryl, but would you marry me?"

Meryl's jaw dropped and Kuroneko-sama pranced around their feet. Vash lifted his eyebrows as he looked down at her.

"You're not pulling my leg, needle noggin'?" she asked.

Vash shook his head fervently. "No way! You crazy? I like all my body parts in tact!" Little sparkles appeared around his face. "Can't you tell I'm being deadly serious?"

Meryl hit him. "Don't get all weird on me now, Vash! Are you serious?"

Vash leaned down to kiss her. "As serious as a heartbeat, Meryl. As serious as a heartbeat."

* * *

"Where are you going to go, Knives?" Vash asked his brother.

Knives turned and gave Vash a shrug. "Not sure yet. Out. All these years I've had only one frame of mind. I was always telling you to grow up, and you did. I'm the one who stayed locked in place."

Vash smiled. Over the last few months, Knives had recouped all of his physical abilities. Vash had already told him, if went psycho on him again, he'd just have to plug him up once more. Knives had just laughed at him. "Well, you know where we'll be. Be sure to visit. Davie is going to miss you plenty."

Knives smiled lightly. "I'll miss him too, I guess." Knives turned away again. "Now it's my turn to travel around for a hundred years. See what I learn. There's good and bad in everything. Let's see where this road takes me."

"Your ticket to the future is open, Knives. It's been open since you were born. Ride it all the way," Vash said.

Knives turned back and gave his brother a small nod. "I will, Vash. I'll keep in touch… Oh, and Vash?"

"Yeah?"

"…uh… Thanks."

Vash smiled. "It was my pleasure, bro." Vash paused for a moment. "You know, everyone's going to be mad when they find out you left without saying good bye."

"Tell them I did say good bye, I just wanted to leave before dawn. I wanted to see the suns come up as I walk."

"Will do." Vash put out his hand.

Knives took it and the brothers embraced briefly.

"Have fun out there, Knives." Vash pulled back. "I sure did."

Knives nodded and gave Vash a wave as he walked to the east. Vash smiled as he watched his brother disappear into the distance and twin suns begin to rise.

"Did Knives leave?"

Vash turned and saw Meryl beside him. He turned back to the dawning day. "Yeah."

"I hope he'll be all right."

"His ticket to the future is open. He'll ride it." Vash turned to her. "And we will ride it too. And when we finally decide to get off, is where the journey ends."

Vash turned back to the sunrise. "Love and Peace."

The End