BonitaWolfSpirit Administrator BonitaWolfSpirit member is offline
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Joined: Apr 2005 Gender: Female Posts: 388 Location: Rhode Island
Blaze of Glory « Thread Started on Mar 21, 2008, 4:04pm »
Disclaimer: I no own, so you no sue ^_^
~*~ Idea Created On: October 13, 2006 Chapter Started On: November 4, 2006 Chapter Ended On: November 5, 2006 ~*~
Blaze of Glory
Those of us on the sandsteamer managed to find a bus to Mei City. During the three-day wait, I learned more about Meryl and Milly, how they were also following Vash. I could tell Meryl had taken somewhat of an interest in Vash, even if she didn’t know it herself yet. I’ve always had an uncanny knack to read people, and with the life I lived, it came naturally to me now. We had gotten on the subject on why I was following Vash. I had explained to them how I was a journalist, and I wanted to prove his innocence; I repeated my theory from all those years ago, the very same theory that got me started on this path. When asked about my guns, I only said that I learned to use them for protection, and also when I joined a group of bounty hunters in hopes of getting better leads on the Humanoid Typhoon. I didn’t go into detail about Ethan or Dax and the others; I didn’t even mention their names. I didn’t feel the need. At one point during the three-day wait, Meryl had told me that I was very wise for my age. I had told her that may be because of all the things I’ve seen in my life, and how I felt older than I really was. Much, much older.
I thought about the events of that first night on the sandsteamer. How Kaite had said that Vash was “too clean”. I was inclined to agree. That was probably why I felt the need to redeem myself in his eyes. He was clean, and I was dirty. It was easier for Kaite to repent, and it’ll be easier for him in the future. As for me, I don’t know.
I just don’t know.
~*~
“We really do appreciate you lending us bus fare,” Milly told Vash with a smile. Vash turned from the window of the bus, looking across the aisle at Milly.
“What’re you talking about?”
“How you made her cry and Meryl miserable,” you replied in monotone, slouching in your seat –which you happened to be sharing with Vash- more, your eyes closed and arms crossed over your chest.
“Oh yeah,” Vash said, his cheek in his hand and eyes closed. “I knew it was a mistake, but I couldn’t take the whining.”
“I appreciate it!” Milly chirped.
“Okay okay, you can shower me with all the appreciation you want; just make sure you pay me back when we hit town. My wallet’s almost empty.”
“You’ve got a point there!” Milly said cheerily, a grin on her face. Vash slowly leaned over you and onto the empty part of Milly’s seat, looking at her and sweatdropping.
“Am I really getting through to this girl?” he muttered.
“I’m a little bit thirsty; do you think that I could have some of your water?” Milly asked, smile still on her face. Vash freaked, tears streaming in rivers down his face.
“I’m not getting through to her at all!” he wailed.
“Will you keep it down?!” Meryl hissed, whacking him upside the head and causing him to go limp and plop onto your lap.
“Get off!”
“Haven’t you noticed that everyone here is exhausted from their terrible ordeal on the sandsteamer?” she continued, then put a hand next to her mouth, addressing the passengers. “Don’t worry, I’ve shut him up for you; he won’t be causing anymore trouble!” The passengers just gave weak, sheepish laughs, the two little girls in the front just staring at Meryl and the rest of the crew in the back. Vash finally got off your lap as Meryl sat down, having come from the bathroom before she whacked Vash. He rubbed the back of his head as tears continued to stream down his face, you rolling your eyes and staring outside the window, past Vash.
“I really don’t think you had to hit me,” Vash muttered. “Huh?” He looked out the window the same time you straightened in your seat, your eyes narrowing, both of you spotting something shining in the distance. “Wha?!” Vash yelped, causing Meryl to stand up behind you, reach over you, and whack him upside the head again.
“What is it this time?” she asked, aggravated.
“That,” both you and the blonde hunched over next to you stated simultaneously. There’s something in the desert,” you continued. Meryl looked, seeing the twin suns flicker off of whatever was in the desert, gasping when she saw what you and Vash were talking about. She got the driver to take a detour, and within minutes the bus stopped near the object, which happened to be a man. The driver got out, along with some passengers. You joined them, Meryl and Milly taking your place and peering out the window. You were getting a little claustrophobic anyway.
The man was hunched over a small mound of sand, a large cross covered in a tan cloth with brown leather straps and silver buckles wrapped around it leaning against his back. He was wearing a black suit with a whit collar, the top button undone to show a teasing amount of a tan, chiseled chest, and had blue-black, shaggy hair.
“That is one heck of a well-prepared dead guy,” the driver stated, getting a little closer to the man. The driver extended his arm, index finger out, poking the man on the head. “Hey you.” The man’s head popped up and he let out a startled gasp, before clearing his throat. The man had stormy gray eyes, sweat rolling down his strong jaw-line, and stubble on his chin.
“Well, praise the Lord, hello!”
And this was how you met one Nicholas D. Wolfwood, the traveling priest.
If you want to live, let live If you want to go, let go I'm not afriad to dream-to sleep, sleep forever I don't need to touch the sky I just want to feel that high And you refuse to lift me
Guess it wasn't real after all Guess it wasn't real all along If I fall and all is lost Its where I belong ~ Cloud Nine; Evanescence
BonitaWolfSpirit Administrator BonitaWolfSpirit member is offline
You're still in all of my [d.r.e.a.m.s]
Joined: Apr 2005 Gender: Female Posts: 388 Location: Rhode Island
Re: Blaze of Glory « Reply #1 on Mar 21, 2008, 4:05pm »
“You girls are the ones who spotted me, aren’t you?” the dark-haired man asked Milly and Meryl, after clarifying to Milly that he was a priest, not a dressmaker. “You saved my life.”
“Well, actually,” Meryl began, “the ones who spotted you when you were nothing but a tiny little speck on the horizon…was that pathetic guy,” Meryl pointed to Vash, who was on the floor, trying to get the last drop of water from the canteen laying on its side on the seat, “and that young woman,” she pointed to you, who was sitting cross-legged on the floor in the back, having given up your seat for the man you more-or-less saved.
The man looked down at Vash, and Vash looked up at him, staring for a moment, before the priest grinned. “Heey, I’m alive because of what you two did. How can I ever thank you, uh…” he scratched his head, looking to both you and Vash.
“NameLast Name,” you supplied. Vash stood, standing to his full height, posture at attention.
“I am Valentinez Alkalinella Xifax Sicidabohertz,” he said in a deep voice, pausing before continuing. “…Gumbigobilla Blue Stadivari Talentrent Pierre Andrt Doitzel Kaiser III.” You and the gray-eyed man just stared at him as if he were insane. “Don’t hesitate to call,” Vash finished, his voice back to normal as he slouched forward a little, holding out his hand to the man.
“Oh my…” you muttered, stunned, before giving out a slight chuckle and shaking your head. “You like to over-exaggerate things, don’t you?”
“Ugh,” Meryl muttered, while Milly giggled, a happy grin on her face.
“What’re you talking about, Mr. Vash the Stampede?”
Vash whipped around, a river of tears streaming down his face as he put his hands over his ears. “I hate it when you call me by my full name!” he wailed.
“The Vash? You mean to say that he’s THE Vash the Stampede?” The man stood, turning Vash’s head around –how, you didn’t want to know, but it looked painful- so he could look at his face. “Huh? Can this man really be him? He’s absolutely nothing at all like I envisioned! How is that possible?!”
Both you and Meryl looked at each other before replying simultaneously “Yeah, I know. I have trouble believing it too sometimes.” You smirked. “Though not so much me as it is her,” you said pointing to Meryl, who snorted.
“You mean…?! Oh, hey, jeeze, sorry about that!” he said, turning Vash around fully, sticking out his hand. “I’m Nicholas D. Wolfwood, at your service!”
After that, you had the joy of listening to the two men bicker, before they started laughing hysterically at random. A forlorn smile crossed your lips, the laughter reminding you of when you, Ethan, Maverick, Bobby, and Camryn used to laugh hysterically over the stupidest things, Dax’s threats to disown all of you only causing the five of you to laugh harder. You sighed heavily as the bus slowed to a stop, everyone clambering out to stretch their limbs. Vash was sitting outside, right next to the door, his back against the bus when you walked off, Wolfwood a couple of feet away to your right and trying to make a deal with the driver for his fare. You sat on the steps of the bus, you body angled in the corner of the door so that you were facing the blonde gunman.
“You’ve been really quiet,” Vash stated. You looked over to him, shrugging.
“Just thinkin’ about things,” you replied lightly, watching as Wolfwood tried to get some business with his portable confessional.
“Looks like you got a pretty tough job,” Vash spoke up when he saw Wolfwood’s unsuccessful attempt, causing said priest to look over at him and you. “Is that thing part of your gospel?”
“Of course not,” Wolfwood replied, patting the mini chapel, “it’s all business, unfortunately.” He placed the mini chapel down, leaning against the bus and pulling out a slightly crumpled cigarette from inside his shirt, letting you catch a glimpse of the sliver cross stitched onto the cuff of his suit. “Our church doubles as an orphanage.”
“Really?” you asked curiously. “That’s great! When I was young, they didn’t have any orphanages around.” Wolfwood looked down and over at you curiously.
“You’re an orphan?”
“Raised myself since I was five,” you said with a nod. Yours and the two men’s attentions were drawn to the two little girls from the bus and their mother. They were telling their mother how they were hungry and tired, the mother trying her best to comfort them, but they continued to persist. Wolfwood closed his eyes, dropping his cigarette on the ground and stepping on it as he made his way over to the two girls and their mother, you and Vash watching.
“Are you guys hungry?” he asked kindly as he kneeled down in front of them. The little girl with pigtails nodded. “I see,” Wolfwood said, reaching into his pocket and bringing out three small packages of cookie bars. “Well, I have these; they’re little, but they taste pretty good,” he continued, holding them out to the girls. “Okay? Well, this is yours,” he pointed to the girl with the low ponytail, “and this one,” he pointed to the girl with the pigtails, “is yours. And then this one, uh…well,” he said with a small laugh, “is mine. Sorry it’s not much, but do you think it’ll be enough for now?” The little girls hesitated a moment, before giggling happily and taking their food. As the mother gave her thanks and the little girls promised not to drop a crumb, you felt yourself smile widely, happily, amazed at the priest in black’s actions.
Wolfwood walked back over to you and Vash, stopping next to where he had placed his confessional and looking down at the both of you. “Well I’ll be,” he said with a lopsided smile. “I’m actually surprised you two can smile like that.”
“Huh? Whaddya mean?” Vash asked, as you blinked, your smile fading slightly. Looking over at him, you saw the same smile that was on your face on his own. You knew what Wolfwood was talking about.
“You had me kinda worried,” he replied, closing his eyes for a moment before opening them. “I noticed that the two of you always smile and seem really friendly…but the way you smile was so empty that it hurt to watch you two.” You inhaled sharply, straightening a little as he continued. “You’re both hurting like crazy on the inside, yet you grin and bare it. At least that’s this man’s opinion anyway.”
“Heh,” you said with a lopsided smirk, closing your eyes and shaking your head. ‘He isn’t no ordinary priest, that’s for damn sure,’ you thought.
“That’s why I have this confessional!” he stated, holding out the mini chapel towards the both of you.
“Gah!”
“No matter what the worry, I’ll listen to it! Just put a coin in here,” he said with a grin, pointing to the steeple.
“You’re really good at your trade,” Vash semi-snapped, looking at Wolfwood in aggravation.
“I’ve gotta be to make a living; it’s not easy ya know!” At that moment, a man came rushing around the end of the bus, talking about another passenger, named Erik, saying he was going crazy. The three of you followed him to the crowd that was forming around Erik, said man lying on the ground, holding his shoulder. As a stretcher was coming, Wolfwood studied the man’s wound, eyes narrowed.
“Who’s responsible for this?” he asked gravely.
“There isn’t anyone here but the passengers,” Meryl replied. Milly suddenly whipped out her stun gun, sliding out into the middle of the crowd and aiming at Vash.
“Alright alright alright! Whoever did it come out with your hands up right now!!”
“Why are you pointing that thing at me?” Vash ground out.
“It was you, wasn’t it?” Milly asked innocently.
“It was no mortal that did this,” Vash replied, causing all of you to look at him with a “Huh?” or a “What?”
“Come again?” Wolfwood asked, before your attention was drawn to the hill in front of you, where a machine that resembled a spider with four legs and an elongated neck broke through the sand. “What the hell is that? That thing is huge!” As it began to advance via hovering over the sand, the passengers screamed and Vash pulled out his gun, aiming and firing a round. However, the machine merely reared back with the shot before returning to the ground on all fours, continuing to advance as the passengers ran to the bus.
“It’s still alive!” Meryl exclaimed.
“What is that thing?!” Wolfwood added as Milly got in front of your four, firing off two rounds from her stun gun and effectively downing the machine. “Heey, not bad, girl!” Wolfwood shouted to Milly, who looked over her shoulder at all of you and giggled. A whole horde of machines stood then, causing all of you to scream. As they started to advance, you all ran to the bus while Meryl yelled at Vash the whole way.
“Why doesn’t anything nice ever follow you?!”
“I know! It’s a real drag, isn’t it?” Vash replied as the bus peeled out after you five got on, going as fast as it could, the machines falling behind.
“What the hell are those ugly hunks of lost technology? Damn! It’s all because I changed my route to save that stupid, cheap priest! I’m too nice! I shoulda charged him full price!” the driver ranted.
“Now now…” Vash said, grinning sheepishly, before sticking his head out the window, watching as the machines fell behind. He pulled his head back in, walking over to you and Wolfwood, who were trying to help Erik. Wolfwood wasn’t helping much, though.
“Helen?!” The woman with the two children stood suddenly, looking around. “Has anyone seen my daughter?!” Everyone’s faces dropped as they realized the girl wasn’t on the bus. “Oh my God, no….” You, Vash, and Wolfwood stood, you out the back door in a flash, the men landing on either side of you a moment later. You and Vash looked at Wolfwood, you raising an eyebrow at the unarmed priest.
“What’re you doing?” Vash questioned.
“Don’t ask ridiculous questions; I’m going to save the child!”
“With your bare hands, my dear priest?” you asked with a smirk, amusement laced throughout your voice. His eyes widened and he frantically checked his sleeves, shirt, boot, before looking back at the retreating bus, grabbing his hair.
“Oh shiiiiiit! Huh?” He looked down as Vash threw him a hunting knife.
“You would’ve gone anyway, huh?”
Wolfwood grinned, picking up the knife. “Of course I would.”
“Alright boys, that’s enough chatin’,” you stated, checking to make sure your guns were loaded, snapping the wheels shut. “I hope you two can dance, because this is gonna be one hell of a party.”
“I’m likin’ this girl,” Wolfwood stated with a grin as the three of you made your way to a small overhang, laying flat on the ground as you all crawled up to it, Wolfwood flipping onto his back and holding the knife up, using it as a mirror.
“I see ‘em, I see ‘em! There’s lots of those big guys,” Wolfwood informed you and Vash. You weren’t really paying attention, however; you were too busy watching Vash worriedly. He was lying on his waist, arms wrapped around said body part. “Hey, but those are nothing for the likes of Vash the Stampede, right?” When he didn’t receive an answer, he turned to look at Vash. “What’s wrong with you?”
“My stomach kinda hurts.”
Wolfwood grinned. “Aw, c’mon now tough guy! You’re not that fragile, are you?”
“He got shot in a little tiff with a couple of Badlads, and then proceeded to duel with BDN in that condition about three days ago,” you stated dully.
“You had a face-off with Brilliant Dynamites Neon?” Wolfwood asked, laughing. “Now that IS impressive; you do lead an exciting life just like they say.” He flipped over, crouching, face and tone serious. “We gotta go.”
“You listen to people, and then again you don’t!” Vash complained while you held back snickers. “What’s up with that?!”
“A child’s life is on the line; she needs our help.” Vash lifted his head from the ground, looking over the ledge.
“Just look for a second, will ya? The use that thing on the end to detect objects which radiate heat.” Although you were curious as to how he knew this, Wolfwood wasn’t even listening as he stood, sliding down the slope. “Hey, listen to me!”
“I don’t have time to just sit around and chitchat!” One of the machines turned towards Wolfwood as he jumped into the air, holding the knife in both hands high over his head as he brought it down upon the machine. Unfortunately for him, it shattered almost up to the hilt. “Oooooh this is bad. This is gonna be tough! I’M IN TROUBLE!!” Vash went down the slope as the machine began firing at Wolfwood, chasing him.
“Get down!”
“Fire!” Wolfwood ducked as Vash took out all the robots in the area, only sounding like he shot off two or three shots from his rapid fire, when in reality he used all six bullets. The machines fell to the ground as you made your way down the slope, Vash walking over to Wolfwood.
“Heey, nice support!” the priest yelled over to the blonde.
“And you were a nice decoy!” Vash replied, loading his gun as he walked. A robot suddenly sprang up next to Vash as you landed on flat ground, and you quickly slid out a dagger from your coat sleeve and twirled, Wolfwood throwing his broken blade at the same time. The blades were sticking out on either side of the sensor, electricity crackling as it fell to the ground.
“And that’s what’s known as a nice cover.”
“Double cover,” you corrected, stepping up near Vash and slipping Sin from its holster. Vash suddenly aimed to the left, firing off rounds.
“What is it?!”
“Over there!” Vash shouted, taking off at a sprint with you and Wolfwood not far behind. As the three of you came up over a hill of sand, you spotted the little girl among the broken remains of several machines.
“She’s still alive and she looks okay!” Wolfwood said in relief. “Praise the Lord!”
“I second that!” you added, glad the little girl was okay. Three more machines rose up from the ground as you and the two men ran towards the girl, causing Vash to slide and fall back, firing three rounds rapidly before the machines could fully emerge from the sand.
‘My God,’ you thought. ‘I’m fast, but not THAT fast! It sounded like a single gunshot!’ Two more popped up in front of you and Wolfwood, halting the both of you in your tracks and giving you no time to react. You heard another gunshot, both machines falling to the ground, and you turned to slightly to see that Vash had you two covered. You fully whipped around, however, when you saw that a machine was behind Vash, aiming Sin and firing, your bullet hitting its target.
“Well, it looks like we’re almost done,” Wolfwood said, his hands on his hips. The little girl started screaming a second later, causing Wolfwood to turn around and run off muttering “Nuts.” You and Vash followed, all three of you spotting a machine running off with the girl as you all jumped off a ledge, Vash aiming and firing. The machine fell in a crumpled heap, dropping the girl. She was safe.
You three, however, weren’t as fortunate.
“Oh shit!” you cursed as your booted feet hit the ground, sinking right through. “It’s quicksand!” you, Vash, and Wolfwood yelled simultaneously, falling into an underground corridor.
The little girl looked up, shaking her head a bit before looking over to where her three saviors disappeared. “What a sad way to go,” she murmured.
If you want to live, let live If you want to go, let go I'm not afriad to dream-to sleep, sleep forever I don't need to touch the sky I just want to feel that high And you refuse to lift me
Guess it wasn't real after all Guess it wasn't real all along If I fall and all is lost Its where I belong ~ Cloud Nine; Evanescence
BonitaWolfSpirit Administrator BonitaWolfSpirit member is offline
You're still in all of my [d.r.e.a.m.s]
Joined: Apr 2005 Gender: Female Posts: 388 Location: Rhode Island
Re: Blaze of Glory « Reply #2 on Mar 21, 2008, 4:06pm »
After confirming that the three of you had fallen into an “alien ship” (as Vash had said), you were promptly chased by some more of that lost technology. The argument between the two men because of it [b]would<i/b>have been amusing…if you didn’t risk getting your asses shot by robots. Right now, the three of you were on a bridge, in the middle of a still operational Plant, Vash handing his gun over to Wolfwood. The plan: Shut down the facility.
“I’ll go, you two cover me,” Vash said, also handing Wolfwood extra bullets.
“Heey, I have to tell you I never fired a gun before! Besides, if I go ahead and take this, doesn’t that mean you’re going in there completely unarmed? You’re really crazy!”
“I’d lend you Penance, but the aiming is more than a few iles off. I need to get it fixed; I just haven’t been in a town long enough to do so,” you added to the conversation.
“He’s still crazy!”
“Why don’t you go then?” Vash said with a lopsided smirk. You snickered as Wolfwood loaded the gun, replying, “I’ll shoot the gun,” albeit grudgingly.
“Okay, shuffle the deck; it’s time for a game,” Vash said as he began to get up, before Wolfwood placed a hand on his shoulder.
“Juuust one moment.”
“What is it?”
“May you go with the protection and love of almighty God,” Wolfwood stated, holding a fist to his heart, eyes closed. “It’s the usual mantra for the big guy,” he said, opening one eye and looking at Vash.
“Does it work?”
“That’s entirely up to you.”
“Wonderful mantra you got there,” Vash replied sarcastically.
“Believers will be redeemed in the end!” Wolfwood replied cheerily.
“Okie dokie then,” Vash said, all three of you standing. Vash hopped over the ledge while you and Wolfwood took aim with your guns.
“‘Kay, let’s get in the game!” the priest beside you said, taking out the two robots in front of Vash, allowing him to pass.
“What is it with you men and games? I like parties and dancing better,” you said with a lopsided smirk, taking out the robots behind Vash with Sin. You watched as Wolfwood took down the machines with ease, aiming precise and shooting with precision. “I thought you never fired a gun?” you asked, amused. “I knew you were no ordinary priest,” you said, running down the bridge sideways and covering Vash, Wolfwood doing the same in front of you.
“You’re not an ordinary woman. Dead aim, perfected accuracy; you don’t learn that from just protecting yourself,” he shot back, earning a chuckle out of you as you ran and reloaded your gun, Wolfwood doing the same once you started shooting again.
“I don’t know where I’m going, only God knows where I’ve been. I’m a devil on the run, a six gun lover, a candle in the wind. I’m a filly in your stable, I’m what Cain was to Able; Mister catch me if you can. I’m going down in a blaze of glory. Take me now but know the truth; Lord I never drew first, but I drew first blood; I’m the devil’s daughter, call me young gun.”
You saw him smirk out of the corner of your eye. “So you’re the bounty hunter-turned-journalist they like to call ‘Panthress’ or ‘Black Rose’, huh?” You gave a lopsided grin.
“Those are just a few, but I guess so. Shit,” you muttered as your gun clicked, signaling it was empty. “I’m outta bullets and extras,” you said, both you and Wolfwood coming to a stop and watching as one more machine stood in Vash’s way.
“I got it!” Wolfwood said, taking aim and pulling the trigger. After the third click, both you and him gasped. “Damn!” Just as Wolfwood was about to jump down, you cried out his name as both of you were shot at by a robot, sending the both of you skidding to the ground.
“Please show your ID number,” the robot stated in a feminine voice.
“Leave me alone already!” Wolfwood shot back.
“Unable to confirm identity. Conclusion: Intruder.”
Wolfwood growled. “Would you just…get out of my way?!” You squeaked slightly, closing your eyes and bowing your head, waiting for the robot to kill both you and Wolfwood. A barrage of bullets being fired met your ears, and when you didn’t feel any pain, you opened one eye color eye, then the other. The robot in front of you was smoking, and as it fell to the ground, Wolfwood muttered, “What happened there?” You shook your head, quickly getting to your feet and leaning over the rail of the bridge, your waist-length hair color hair falling over your shoulder and hanging.
“Vash, are you all right?” you called down. He was standing, the robot that was in front of him lying in pieces on the ground, all of them and his left-hand smoking.
“He’s alive…I don’t believe this guy!” you heard Wolfwood whisper from beside you.
“Amazing,” you said in a breathless whisper.
~*~
You were all back on the bus, after Milly and Meryl “rescued” you, Vash, and Wolfwood. Well, more like sent the ceiling crashing on top of you three, but we’ll just ignore that fact. Currently, Vash and Wolfwood were resting, Meryl was in the bathroom, Milly gazing out the window, and you kiddy-cornered in the space between the wall and Vash and Wolfwood’s seat.
“You can get out of the worst predicaments imaginable, just like they say, Vash the Stampede,” you heard Wolfwood say.
“I’d much rather lead an uneventful life if it was up to me,” Vash replied after a moment.
A pause, then, “You couldn’t if you tried.” Wolfwood stood then, going over to Milly and pointing to the empty spot next to her. “Can I sit here?”
“Huh?” The green-eyed girl turned, blinking. “Uh, yeah, go ahead,” she said kindly with a smile. Wolfwood sat, yawning, then leaned up against Milly, his eyes closed.
“Hey, you’re really comfortable,” Wolfwood said, causing Milly to blink owlishly and you to chuckle. Meryl came out of the bathroom then, walking over and looking at Wolfwood.
“Ugh.” She sat next to Vash, a scowl on her face. “Boy, that guy sure has a lot of nerve. Actually, he reminds me of someone I know,” she said pointedly.
“Yeah, isn’t he horrible?” Vash said exasperatedly. “I think we should tell him off. Yeah, let’s do that.” Meryl sighed. Then it was quiet.
You stayed awake, not being really all that tired. Sighing, you stood, quietly making your way over to the driver and bending over so you could whisper in his ear and not disturb the sleeping passengers. “Hey, if you get tired, just let me know and I’ll take over for you. Just tell me where to go, and I’ll do it,” you offered, He looked at you for a moment, a smile on his face as he gave a light nod.
“Thanks, but I’ll be fine,” he replied in as whisper as well. You nodded.
“The offer’s there if you need it.” You made your way back to your spot, getting comfortable. Once you were comfortable, you began to play with the locket Dax gave you. It was oval shaped and silver, about the size of a tab on a soda can. It had a cross engraved on it, vines filling in the spaces the cross made, while blue roses were at the bottom of the cross. You opened it, turning it to face you and looking inside to find a picture of Dax’s wife and daughter on one side, you, Dax, Rick, Ethan, Bobby, and Cam on the other.
“Name?” You jumped at Meryl’s whisper, looking up to spot her kneeling in front of you, rubbing one eye sleepily. “What’re you doing up still?”
“I can’t sleep sometimes,” you responded, shutting the locket and letting it fall back against your chest. Unbeknownst to you and the raven-haired girl, Vash was very much awake and listening to your conversation. “I just have a lot of things on my mind.”
“Oh? If you don’t mind me asking, what? And, if I’m not pushing, what made you go back to journalism?”
“You ask about my conscience, and I offer you my soul. You’ll ask if I’ve grown to be a wise woman. Well, I ask if I’ve grown old. You ask me if I’ve known love and what it’s like to sing songs in the rain. Well…. I’ve seen love come, and I’ve seen it shot down. I’ve seen it die in vain.” Her eyes saddened at your words, remembering what you told her three days ago.
“You never did say what happened to the bounty hunters you traveled with,” she said quietly.
You took out your guns then, showing them to her. “There’s a reason why these are called ‘Sin’ and ‘Penance’. My only family and my first love were taken from me and I’ve gotten my revenge. The only thing I can do now is repent.” Meryl was silent for a moment, studying your guns. She finally looked up at you, gray meeting eye color.
“Sometimes…you have go to let go. I know you want to keep their memory alive, but in order to do that, you have to stop walking in the past and head towards the future.” You stared at her, eyes wide, before they softened, a small smile appearing on your face.
“Thank you, Meryl.” She nodding, matching your smile.
~*~
You all finally arrived at Mei City, all in once piece. A few men hefted Wolfwood’s cross off the top of the bus as he informed you, Vash, and the girls that he’d be leaving.
“Damn, that thing’s heavy!” one of the men exclaimed.
“That, my friend, is because it’s so full of mercy.” Wolfwood hefted the cross onto his shoulder, turning to wave at the four of you. “See ya later!” You and Milly waved while he walked off, continuing to ramble. “Try to stay out of trouble Vash, everyone around you will be a whole lot healthier for it, and with any luck, we’ll meet again soon. May you all go with God, my friends.” You all stared after him for a few moments, before Meryl spoke.
“He was a strange and unusual man.”
“Yeah,” Milly seconded.
“And there went Wolfwood,” Vash said.
“The preacher in black,” you finished with a smile.
“Okay, I think I’ll go get something yummy to eat!” Vash declared.
“That sounds good!” Milly chirped.
“But first, I need you to return the money I lent you.”
“Alright already, we’ll give it back!” Meryl snapped. “It’s not like you don’t know where to find us or anything!”
You laughed, getting the attention of the others. “This is gonna be one hell of an adventure, isn’t it?”
~*~
As I’m looking back now, from the moment I met him, I changed. He started my fifth stage. They all did. In the course of five days, I had learned so much. So much. We met up with Wolfwood again, when he entered Vash in a quick draw tournament, for that boy and his mother. At one point, I took him aside, taking Meryl’s advice to heart. I told him all my sins. When I was done, he had asked me if I wished I had known it was Vash from the first time we met, so none of this would have happened. I said no.
If you want to live, let live If you want to go, let go I'm not afriad to dream-to sleep, sleep forever I don't need to touch the sky I just want to feel that high And you refuse to lift me
Guess it wasn't real after all Guess it wasn't real all along If I fall and all is lost Its where I belong ~ Cloud Nine; Evanescence
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