Beyond A Sky So Blue -- Part IV

“Knives is awake,” Milly announced.

“For how long?” Meryl asked, a myriad of thoughts racing through her mind.

She risked a glance at Vash. Her heart fell as she noted his suddenly somber face. All traces of good-natured humor were gone.

“He just woke up,” Milly replied. “Maybe five minutes ago. He ordered me out of his room, so I came out here to wait for you two.”

Without a word, Vash brushed past her. He practically barreled past Milly to enter the house. The two insurance girls quickly followed.

Vash didn’t pause as he raced up the stairs. Meryl made a move to follow, but Milly held her back. Meryl gave her partner a questioning look.

“I think they need to be alone right now,” Milly stated.

For a moment, Milly thought that she was going to argue. But with a reluctant nod, Meryl took off her cloak and hung it up. She sat down at the kitchen table. Milly offered to heat up her plate. Meryl thanked her but declined.

“I wonder what they are talking about,” Meryl murmured.

“I don’t know. I guess they would have a lot to talk about, considering everything that has happened between them.” Milly glanced at the clock.

Meryl caught the other woman’s look. “I don’t think we should wait too long. We both have work tomorrow.”

Milly nodded. Her eyes drifted to wear Meryl’s cloak was hanging. A realization suddenly flared to life in her head.

“Milly? Milly?”

“Sorry, Meryl, I must have zoned out,” Milly said with a chuckle. “What were you saying?”

Meryl gave a tired smile and shook her head. “Nothing, really.”

“When does Anne get back from visiting her nephew?”

“Day after tomorrow, thank goodness. Doris is coming in to help a couple of hours before closing so I should be home earlier tomorrow.”

“You’ve been working awfully hard, Meryl.”

“It hasn’t been that bad. Besides, we can use the extra money. Who knows when the next check from Bernadelli will arrive? Plus, there are two more mouths to feed.”

Seeing the extra worry on Milly’s face, Meryl sighed. “Don’t pay attention to me, Milly. We’re doing fine. I’m just tired and would really like to go to bed.”

“Well, I don’t that they’re be done talking any time soon. No use in waiting up for them, Meryl. You head on to bed.”

Amused to be ordered about by such an unusual source, Meryl complied. Saying a quick goodnight, she made her way upstairs. Milly watched her go before returning to her thoughts.

* * * * *

Vash could tell that his brother was definitely among the conscious again. If he hadn’t been paying so much attention to Meryl, he probably would have known before Milly made her announcement. Knives’ anger was coming through loud and clear.

“How dare you! You left me here with that spider!” Knives roared as soon as Vash opened the door.

Vash quickly closed the door behind him, hoping that neither Milly nor Meryl had heard the outburst.

“At the mercy of that inferior creature! Disgusting! Humiliating beyond belief!”

“Keep your voice down,” Vash ordered.

“To try to spare the spider’s feelings,” his brother sneered. “How noble.”

“That woman,” Vash said, emphasizing the word, “has been helping take care of you. Even after all the pain you caused her, she still willingly helps you.”

“Humans are so weak.”

“She’s not the weak one,” Vash murmured. The tall girl had been through so much, and Knives had been the cause of most of it. Yet, she had helped with his brother’s care. You had to admire such strength.

Knives went pale and was momentarily speechless. Vash was insulting him? Gloating that he had gained the upper hand?

“You were lucky in the desert,” Knives growled. “If weren’t for that buried gun of that fool Wolfwood, it would be you lying here and not me.”

“Is that why you are mad, brother?” Vash asked quietly. “That I won?”

“You haven’t won yet, Vash,” Knives growled.

Vash sighed as he slumped against the door. “Why do we have to keep fighting each other? When can we live in peace?”

“When you listen to reason.”

The brothers locked eyes, staring each other down. Knives tried again and again to probe his brother’s mind. But Vash’s shield held.

Time ticked on as neither gaze wavered. Sweat beaded on Knives’ forehead from the strain. With an explosive breath, he collapsed against his pillow.

“I’m tired of fighting you, Knives,” Vash confessed, a bit winded himself. “I’m not asking for a miracle. I’m just asking for you to give them a chance. A real, honest chance.”

Knives didn’t say anything. Vash took that as a sign for hope. With a sigh, he pushed himself off the door.

“I’m going downstairs to grab you something to eat.”

“Don’t bother,” Knives grumbled as Vash opened the door.

“You need to keep up your strength.”

“I’m not hungry.”

“Well, just in case you change your mind.” Vash shut the down behind him before Knives could protest further.

* * * * *

“Milly, what are you doing still up?”

The tall girl jerked in surprise. She smiled when she realized that it was Vash. “Oh, nothing, really. How’s Knives? Did you guys have a good talk?”

“I guess you can say that,” Vash replied, making his way further into the kitchen. “Do we have anything that can serve as a snack?”

“Meryl’s plate is still in there. She’s not hungry, so you can have it.”

“It’s for Knives.” He paused as he once had located the plate in question. “Meryl didn’t eat?”

“She said that she just wanted to go to bed. I’m sure she ate while at work.”

Vash didn’t look convinced but did not pursue it further. “I’d better take this back upstairs. Good night, Milly.”

“Night.”

Milly quickly tried to think out everything she needed to do. The only question was if she could hide it from Meryl and Vash. She sure hoped she could.


Conversations “Knives is awake,” Milly announced. “For how long?” Meryl asked, a myriad of thoughts racing through her mind. She risked a glance at Vash. Her heart fell as she noted his suddenly somber face. All traces of good-natured humor were gone. “He just woke up,” Milly replied. “Maybe five minutes ago. He ordered me out of his room, so I came out here to wait for you two.” Without a word, Vash brushed past her. He practically barreled past Milly to enter the house. The two insurance girls quickly followed. Vash didn’t pause as he raced up the stairs. Meryl made a move to follow, but Milly held her back. Meryl gave her partner a questioning look. “I think they need to be alone right now,” Milly stated. For a moment, Milly thought that she was going to argue. But with a reluctant nod, Meryl took off her cloak and hung it up. She sat down at the kitchen table. Milly offered to heat up her plate. Meryl thanked her but declined. “I wonder what they are talking about,” Meryl murmured. “I don’t know. I guess they would have a lot to talk about, considering everything that has happened between them.” Milly glanced at the clock. Meryl caught the other woman’s look. “I don’t think we should wait too long. We both have work tomorrow.” Milly nodded. Her eyes drifted to wear Meryl’s cloak was hanging. A realization suddenly flared to life in her head. “Milly? Milly?” “Sorry, Meryl, I must have zoned out,” Milly said with a chuckle. “What were you saying?” Meryl gave a tired smile and shook her head. “Nothing, really.” “When does Anne get back from visiting her nephew?” “Day after tomorrow, thank goodness. Doris is coming in to help a couple of hours before closing so I should be home earlier tomorrow.” “You’ve been working awfully hard, Meryl.” “It hasn’t been that bad. Besides, we can use the extra money. Who knows when the next check from Bernadelli will arrive? Plus, there are two more mouths to feed.” Seeing the extra worry on Milly’s face, Meryl sighed. “Don’t pay attention to me, Milly. We’re doing fine. I’m just tired and would really like to go to bed.” “Well, I don’t that they’re be done talking any time soon. No use in waiting up for them, Meryl. You head on to bed.” Amused to be ordered about by such an unusual source, Meryl complied. Saying a quick goodnight, she made her way upstairs. Milly watched her go before returning to her thoughts. * * * * * Vash could tell that his brother was definitely among the conscious again. If he hadn’t been paying so much attention to Meryl, he probably would have known before Milly made her announcement. Knives’ anger was coming through loud and clear. “How dare you! You left me here with that spider!” Knives roared as soon as Vash opened the door. Vash quickly closed the door behind him, hoping that neither Milly nor Meryl had heard the outburst. “At the mercy of that inferior creature! Disgusting! Humiliating beyond belief!” “Keep your voice down,” Vash ordered. “To try to spare the spider’s feelings,” his brother sneered. “How noble.” “That woman,” Vash said, emphasizing the word, “has been helping take care of you. Even after all the pain you caused her, she still willingly helps you.” “Humans are so weak.” “She’s not the weak one,” Vash murmured. The tall girl had been through so much, and Knives had been the cause of most of it. Yet, she had helped with his brother’s care. You had to admire such strength. Knives went pale and was momentarily speechless. Vash was insulting him? Gloating that he had gained the upper hand? “You were lucky in the desert,” Knives growled. “If weren’t for that buried gun of that fool Wolfwood, it would be you lying here and not me.” “Is that why you are mad, brother?” Vash asked quietly. “That I won?” “You haven’t won yet, Vash,” Knives growled. Vash sighed as he slumped against the door. “Why do we have to keep fighting each other? When can we live in peace?” “When you listen to reason.” The brothers locked eyes, staring each other down. Knives tried again and again to probe his brother’s mind. But Vash’s shield held. Time ticked on as neither gaze wavered. Sweat beaded on Knives’ forehead from the strain. With an explosive breath, he collapsed against his pillow. “I’m tired of fighting you, Knives,” Vash confessed, a bit winded himself. “I’m not asking for a miracle. I’m just asking for you to give them a chance. A real, honest chance.” Knives didn’t say anything. Vash took that as a sign for hope. With a sigh, he pushed himself off the door. “I’m going downstairs to grab you something to eat.” “Don’t bother,” Knives grumbled as Vash opened the door. “You need to keep up your strength.” “I’m not hungry.” “Well, just in case you change your mind.” Vash shut the down behind him before Knives could protest further. * * * * * “Milly, what are you doing still up?” The tall girl jerked in surprise. She smiled when she realized that it was Vash. “Oh, nothing, really. How’s Knives? Did you guys have a good talk?” “I guess you can say that,” Vash replied, making his way further into the kitchen. “Do we have anything that can serve as a snack?” “Meryl’s plate is still in there. She’s not hungry, so you can have it.” “It’s for Knives.” He paused as he once had located the plate in question. “Meryl didn’t eat?” “She said that she just wanted to go to bed. I’m sure she ate while at work.” Vash didn’t look convinced but did not pursue it further. “I’d better take this back upstairs. Good night, Milly.” “Night.” Milly quickly tried to think out everything she needed to do. The only question was if she could hide it from Meryl and Vash. She sure hoped she could.


Part V: Weary Back