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Disclaimer: I do not own Trigun, although I wish I owned Vash and Wolfwood. They are the property of Yasuhiro Nightow, Young King Ours, and Madhouse.
Rating: Pg-13 for violence and mild language, blame it on the priest
Genre: Action / Adventure / Angst
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Author’s Note: This was my first attempt at anime. It as been fun writing it and this story is doing fairly well on ff.net. Any comments or questions can be posted to the guestbook or emailed. I appreciated feedback!
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“I’m hungry, are we there yet?”
“If you ask that one more time!” Meryl threatened glaring at the red clad gunman.
Vash the Stampede just looked at Meryl with the most innocent look he could muster, the one with the big puppy-eyes that just made her even angrier.
A small giggle to her left made Meryl shift her glare over to the larger woman beside her.
Millie Thomson couldn’t help but to giggle at the silly look Mr. Vash made, but when Meryl’s gaze fell on her she suddenly found herself matching Vash’s look. She smiled sweetly at the small dark-haired woman.
Meryl Stryfe simply sighed. Vash was bad, but Millie could be equally as impossible. She supposed the gunman brought it out of the larger woman.
The three travelers were heading for May city on a halfway crowded bus, which, thankfully, was only an ile or so from the outskirts of town. Vash was getting hungry and cranky, which only fueled Meryl’s ire. Meryl was sure that if the bus had been crowded like usual she probably would have strangled Vash by now. Millie at least was taking everything in stride and watching it all with patience.
“Come on, lighten up Meryl, I can see the city from here,” Vash commented not really thinking about his health.
Meryl’s eyes widened a bit at being told to lighten up. Millie could see her partner’s face turn an interesting shade of red and she wondered if that was exactly healthy.
Vash didn’t pay any attention to the small woman as his gaze was drawn away from her to the town. He could see the city and just on the other side the plant was visible. It was the plant that drew his attention away and he stared at it intently. Something felt wrong about it. What it was exactly Vash couldn’t tell, but something just felt out of place. Whatever it was, he couldn’t tear his eyes away from the plant no matter how hard he tried and a small shiver went down his spine.
Meryl was reciting to Vash how it was his fault their car was destroyed and therefore his fault they were on the bus in the first place and how he never listened to her voice of reason. She was getting herself worked up and not even really looking at the red clad man when a touch on her shoulder brought Meryl out of her tantrum. At Millie’s soft touch she looked sharply at the other woman, but before she could speak Millie lead her gaze back over to Vash. Meryl immediately noticed the serious look on his face and became silent.
“Vash, what is it?” she asked quietly.
And just like that it was gone. Vash had to wonder if he had actually felt anything or if he just imagined it. He heard Meryl’s question and turned to the girls seated across from him and smiled broadly.
“Nothing, why?” he said lightly.
“Ah…” Meryl began unsure of what to say.
How did you tell someone it was because you got “that look” on your face?
“You just looked a little distracted I guess,” she finished.
“That’s because I’m hungry,” Vash whined.
Meryl sighed. Just when you though the man was going to be serious for a second. She should have known.
Vash was actually quiet for the rest of the bus ride, although Millie did enough talking for all three of them.
As he rode Vash tried to remember the brief feeling he had felt and what it could possible be, but it was just to short and he again wondered if he had imagined it.
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The bus kicked up dust as it stopped right in the middle of May City. Vash and the two insurance girls grabbed their bags and exited the bus with the other travelers.
“We should go find rooms,” Meryl suggested picking up her bag and heading down the street.
Vash gazed down the street and his keen gaze found that the saloon conveniently came before the hotel.
“Good idea,” he agreed loudly marching down the street.
“Yea,” Millie agreed wholeheartedly.
Meryl immediately saw where their charge was heading and decided to do a little prevention work.
“Oh no you don’t. Do you remember what happened the last time you went into the saloon first?” Meryl said pointing a finger at Vash with the other hand on her hip.
“That wasn’t my fault!” Vash whined, “All I was doing was minding my own business and…”
“It’s always your fault Vash,” Meryl cut him off, “disaster follows you everywhere whether you mean it or not.”
“Maybe one drink wouldn’t hurt ma’am,” Millie suggested.
“But it never stops at one drink Millie,” Meryl said sternly.
“Please Meryl,” Millie and Vash said in unison.
Meryl just sighed. She could not believe herself even as the word ‘alright’ left her mouth.
“But just one, then we have to get rooms, because I am not sleeping out on the street,” she warned.
The three entered the saloon to find it smoky and dim, just like a saloon should be. They took one of the tables near the far wall and Meryl, insisting on keeping track, went to get the drinks. No one in the saloon seemed to pay the three much attention, except for one patron who watched from the back of the room.
Meryl had no more than brought the drinks back and sat down when the same anxious feeling swept over Vash. This one was definitely not his imagination he knew as his head began to ache and everything went silent for a moment.
The next thing the gunman knew he had his head lying on the table with Meryl and Millie calling his name.
Vash lifted his head up from the table not even realizing he had laid it down. He suddenly did not feel very well, but as a few moments passed by the sickness began to go away.
“Are you alright?” Meryl asked trying to keep the concern from her voice, but failing.
“Yeah, I’m fine,” he answered still a little confused.
“That was strange Mr. Vash, you just dropped to the table all of a sudden. I think you might have passed out,” Millie said.
A voice from behind them made all three turn in surprise.
“I knew you couldn’t hold your liquor noodle-noggin, but damn Vash you haven’t even started.”
Behind them stood a figure dressed in black with the hair to match it. The traveling priest had his huge covered cross slung over one shoulder and a bent cigarette hanging from his mouth.
“Oh, hello Mr. Priest,” Millie said smiling ear to ear.
“That isn’t funny Wolfwood, Vash was sick,” Meryl said stiffly.
Nicholas D. Wolfwood looked curiously at Vash the Stampede.
“It’s nothing Meryl, I’m just hungry,” Vash replied giving her a reassuring smile.
Wolfwood saw right through it. It was obvious to him that the blonde was troubled by something.
“Maybe you should go see the doctor while we’re here Mr. Vash,” Millie suggested.
“It’s alright really. I feel fine, except for that I’m hungry!” Vash whined again.
Millie wasn’t entirely convinced, but she said no more.
“Won’t you join us Mr. Priest.”
“Sure thing Big Girl,” Nick said pulling a chair up to the table.
Meryl sighed inwardly. This was all they needed. It wasn’t like Vash wasn’t enough to watch over let alone add Wolfwood into the mix. Those two always managed to get into trouble one way or the other. And although she wouldn’t admit it, it had frightened her when she saw Vash slump foreword, no matter how brief. It just wasn’t normal for him.
‘Hungry indeed,’ she thought, her mouth creased in concern.
She had a feeling this was not going to be a peaceful stay.
“We need another round!” Nick called as a shout rang out from Vash and Millie.
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