Beyond A Sky So Blue -- Part II

Milly, indeed, was able to find him some clean clothes. He took a quick bath, careful not to wet his new bandages. Once he was dressed, he quickly went to see how Meryl was faring with his brother.

She was struggling. She had managed to change a few of the more peripheral bandages. But she was having difficulty holding the dead weight of his brother up and wrapping new gauze around his shoulder at the same time.

“Need some help?”

Meryl nearly dropped Knives in her fright. Vash was really glad that his twin was unconscious. He rushed forward and held his brother up so Meryl could resume her bandaging.

“You nearly gave me a heart attack, you know,” she said, keeping her eyes focused on her work.

“Yeah, I know. I just wanted to see if you needed some help. That’s all.”

“I’m glad you did. I don’t think I could have done this by myself.” She briefly met his eyes with a faint smile. “Your brother’s deceptively heavy.”

Vash marveled at her as she moved on to the next wound. Did Meryl Strife just admit that she needed help? Wait! Did she just admit that she needed his help?

He glanced out the window to see if snow was falling on Gunsmoke. He also looked for airborne mammals of the porcine variety just in case. Seeing neither, he wondered if he had just made the conversation up in his head.

Meryl seemed oblivious to all this. She quickly had the shoulder and torso wounds redressed with the bandages neatly secured. She paused to view her handiwork with a pleased smile.

“Well, that should do it,” she said, turning to Vash. “I’ll probably need some help when I check them tomorrow.”

Vash risked another glance at the window.

“What are you looking at?”

“I’m looking for snow.”

“Huh?”

He realized that he had answered her question out loud. “Uh, nothing.”

She studied him for a moment, then shook her head. Muttering about “one blow too many to the head”, she began to gather up her supplies. She stated she was starting dinner as she left the room.

He listened as her footsteps faded away. She would never cease to amaze him. Why a girl like that continued to associate with him he would never understand.

But he was grateful. Grateful to have Meryl and Milly both with him. He didn’t deserve to have such good friends.

Would the girls be enough to help Knives begin to see the good side of humanity?

He turned his attention to his brother, watching him as he rested. He looked so peaceful as he lied there. Yet, he carried so much hate and violence within him. Could Knives ever see humans as more than inferior beings? Vash certainly hoped so.

But Vash had to be a realist as well. By returning to Milly and Meryl with his brother, he may have placed them in danger. Not only was Vash the Stampede still feared but now there was the very present and possible threat of Knives in the house. He could never forgive himself if one of the girls got hurt.

What would he do if Knives threatened the girls?

The thought gave him pause. His thoughts drifted to Meryl, who was downstairs making dinner. He shook his head to clear the thoughts away.

He would have to pack and leave. He would have no choice. He couldn’t let the girls get hurt.

But how could he keep the girls from following them? Could he convince them it was for their own safety? How could he explain and make them understand?

‘Vash, take care of Knives.’

‘I’m trying, Rem,’ he thought as he pulled the blanket higher on his brother’s chest. ‘I’m really trying.’

He suddenly felt weary. The strain of the past few days had finally caught up with him. With a sigh, he pulled his chair closer to the wall and leaned against.

‘I hope Meryl finishes dinner soon.’ With that final thought, he surrendered to sleep.

* * * * *

“Vash?” a soft voice called.

He opened his eyes, momentarily disoriented. He noted Knives was still unconscious in the bed before turning to the person gently shaking his arm. He smiled when he saw it was Meryl.

“Hey,” he mumbled in greeting.

“Hey,” she returned, matching his smile. “I’ve brought you up some food. I didn’t know if you wanted to stay or not.”

He glanced back at his brother. “I think I should.”

“You’ll probably want to stay in here tonight, too. I’ll find a cot and bring it in here.”

“Thanks, Meryl. I really appreciate this.”

“It’s no problem,” she said quietly. She seemed to suddenly realize that she was still touching his arm. She pulled it back quickly. “Well, you should eat before your food gets cold. The dishes can wait until the morning.”

She quickly retreated to the door. “Milly and I are just down the hall if you need anything. Good night, Vash.”

“Good night, Meryl.” However, he doubted she heard him during her hasty departure.

“Well, brother, it’s just you and me,” Vash said. “Too bad you asleep and can’t enjoy this great food. Guess that just leaves more for me.”

Chuckling at his own joke, he dug into the food.


My Brother's Keeper Milly, indeed, was able to find him some clean clothes. He took a quick bath, careful not to wet his new bandages. Once he was dressed, he quickly went to see how Meryl was faring with his brother. She was struggling. She had managed to change a few of the more peripheral bandages. But she was having difficulty holding the dead weight of his brother up and wrapping new gauze around his shoulder at the same time. “Need some help?” Meryl nearly dropped Knives in her fright. Vash was really glad that his twin was unconscious. He rushed forward and held his brother up so Meryl could resume her bandaging. “You nearly gave me a heart attack, you know,” she said, keeping her eyes focused on her work. “Yeah, I know. I just wanted to see if you needed some help. That’s all.” “I’m glad you did. I don’t think I could have done this by myself.” She briefly met his eyes with a faint smile. “Your brother’s deceptively heavy.” Vash marveled at her as she moved on to the next wound. Did Meryl Strife just admit that she needed help? Wait! Did she just admit that she needed his help? He glanced out the window to see if snow was falling on Gunsmoke. He also looked for airborne mammals of the porcine variety just in case. Seeing neither, he wondered if he had just made the conversation up in his head. Meryl seemed oblivious to all this. She quickly had the shoulder and torso wounds redressed with the bandages neatly secured. She paused to view her handiwork with a pleased smile. “Well, that should do it,” she said, turning to Vash. “I’ll probably need some help when I check them tomorrow.” Vash risked another glance at the window. “What are you looking at?” “I’m looking for snow.” “Huh?” He realized that he had answered her question out loud. “Uh, nothing.” She studied him for a moment, then shook her head. Muttering about “one blow too many to the head”, she began to gather up her supplies. She stated she was starting dinner as she left the room. He listened as her footsteps faded away. She would never cease to amaze him. Why a girl like that continued to associate with him he would never understand. But he was grateful. Grateful to have Meryl and Milly both with him. He didn’t deserve to have such good friends. Would the girls be enough to help Knives begin to see the good side of humanity? He turned his attention to his brother, watching him as he rested. He looked so peaceful as he lied there. Yet, he carried so much hate and violence within him. Could Knives ever see humans as more than inferior beings? Vash certainly hoped so. But Vash had to be a realist as well. By returning to Milly and Meryl with his brother, he may have placed them in danger. Not only was Vash the Stampede still feared but now there was the very present and possible threat of Knives in the house. He could never forgive himself if one of the girls got hurt. What would he do if Knives threatened the girls? The thought gave him pause. His thoughts drifted to Meryl, who was downstairs making dinner. He shook his head to clear the thoughts away. He would have to pack and leave. He would have no choice. He couldn’t let the girls get hurt. But how could he keep the girls from following them? Could he convince them it was for their own safety? How could he explain and make them understand? ‘Vash, take care of Knives.’ ‘I’m trying, Rem,’ he thought as he pulled the blanket higher on his brother’s chest. ‘I’m really trying.’ He suddenly felt weary. The strain of the past few days had finally caught up with him. With a sigh, he pulled his chair closer to the wall and leaned against. ‘I hope Meryl finishes dinner soon.’ With that final thought, he surrendered to sleep. * * * * * “Vash?” a soft voice called. He opened his eyes, momentarily disoriented. He noted Knives was still unconscious in the bed before turning to the person gently shaking his arm. He smiled when he saw it was Meryl. “Hey,” he mumbled in greeting. “Hey,” she returned, matching his smile. “I’ve brought you up some food. I didn’t know if you wanted to stay or not.” He glanced back at his brother. “I think I should.” “You’ll probably want to stay in here tonight, too. I’ll find a cot and bring it in here.” “Thanks, Meryl. I really appreciate this.” “It’s no problem,” she said quietly. She seemed to suddenly realize that she was still touching his arm. She pulled it back quickly. “Well, you should eat before your food gets cold. The dishes can wait until the morning.” She quickly retreated to the door. “Milly and I are just down the hall if you need anything. Good night, Vash.” “Good night, Meryl.” However, he doubted she heard him during her hasty departure. “Well, brother, it’s just you and me,” Vash said. “Too bad you asleep and can’t enjoy this great food. Guess that just leaves more for me.” Chuckling at his own joke, he dug into the food.


Part III: Moments Back