Beyond A Sky So Blue -- Part V

Meryl was still trying to wake up as she made her way downstairs to the kitchen. Usually a shower was enough to get her going. This morning was going to require more.

She stopped when she entered the kitchen. Vash was stirring something on the stove. Was he actually wearing an apron?

“Hungry?” Vash asked, not turning from the stove.

“Um, sure,” Meryl replied, taking a seat at the table. “Where’s Milly?”

“She left pretty early for work. She said that she might be dark or later getting back. The foreman has some new project he wants her to work on.”

“Funny, she didn’t say anything last night about it.”

“Well, we did have some excitement last night.” Vash tried to keep his tone light, but he failed. Meryl could hear the weariness in his voice.

“That we did,” she murmured.

Vash ventured from the stove to spoon eggs unto her plate. Meryl thanked him as she helped herself to toast and coffee. Vash merely smiled and served his own plate.

“How is your brother?” Meryl asked, once Vash was seated.

“Feeling well enough to start complaining. He should be up and about in a few days.”

“That’s good news,” Meryl replied. However, she wondered if it really was good to have a homicidal Plant able to wander around in a house shared with humans. The house’s too small to avoid each other completely.

Vash saw her thoughtful frown. He didn’t have to read her mind to know what was going through it. Like Meryl, he wondered what Knives would do when he was able to get around the house.

He wanted to tell her that he would protect her. Her and Milly. But how could he make a promise if he had no way of keeping it?

“Food’s good,” Meryl said, desperately for way to break the silence. “I didn’t know you can cook.”

Vash chuckled. “If you’ve been around as long as I have, you picked things along the way. I’m not a great cook, but I can manage in the kitchen.”

“So I can trust you to fix food for Knives and yourself while Milly and I are out?”

“Yes, Meryl, we’ll be fine.”

She glanced at the time. “Oh, I’m going to be late for work.”

She quickly downed the rest of her coffee. She made an effort to clean the table, but Vash told her not to bother. With a quick thanks, she dashed upstairs.

Vash fixed a plate for Knives. He would do the dishes later. He didn’t want to risk another encounter with Meryl in that lovely waitress uniform.

* * * * *

“Good morning, Knives,” Vash greeted as he balanced the food-laden tray so he could close the door. “Hope you’re hungry.”

Knives merely glared before rolling over in the bed. With a sigh, Vash set the tray on the side table. He watched his brother for a moment, battling irritation.

“You may want to eat it before it gets too cold,” Vash said, trying to keep his tone neutral. “I’ll be back later to check on your bandages.”

Vash paused, hoping for some kind of response. Again, like most things with his brother, he was disappointed. He turned to head out of the room.

“Can’t stay away from your pets, can you?”

“What?” Vash asked, turning around. He immediately clamped his mind shut.

Knives felt the effort and smirked. “What have you told them about me, Vash? Have you told them what a monster I am?”

“You’re not a monster, Knives.”

His smirk broadened. “You don’t sound convinced, brother.”

“If you would give them a chance, people can surprise you.”

“You’re still blinded by your love for humanity.”

“And we’re still having this argument,” Vash sighed. “Enjoy your breakfast, Knives.”

The door slammed shut behind Vash. Knives could feel his brother’s contrition as he headed back downstairs. ‘Fool,’ Knives thought as he reached for the food.

* * * * *

“How about you come home with me after work, darling?” the burly man asked. His hand was inching towards the hem of Meryl’s skirt, leaving no doubt what he had in mind.

Meryl whacked him hard with her tray. “How about keeping your hands to yourself, pal?” she bellowed. She didn’t even bother to pick up the dirty plates as she stormed back to the kitchen.

“That’s the third one today,” Meryl muttered as slammed the door to the kitchen behind her. She caught the sympathetic yet amused gaze of the cook. “When are they going to take the hint?”

“Oh, about never,” Lenny replied with a grin. “Ya gotta understand, Meryl, there’s about five guys for every woman in this town, whether she be single or not. That makes for a lot of lonely men.”

“Men are stupid,” she said, her thoughts turning towards a certain lanky gunman. “Annoying stupid.”

“We can be,” Lenny agreed, “but some of us can control it better than others.”

Meryl smiled. “I’ll try to keep that in mind. So, is my next order up?”

“And steaming. I don’t have to tell ya. . .”

“Yeah, yeah,” Meryl interjected, gathering the plates up with care, “the plates are hot. Just keep them coming, Lenny.”

“Will do,” he called as she made her way back into the dining area.

* * * * *

Milly was relieved to find the lower part of the house empty. She doubted that Meryl would be back from work despite Doris’ promise to take over for the last part of the evening shift. Her main worry had been Vash.

However, there was no sign of him. She quickly but quietly made her way up the stairs. Her luck held as she made her way into her room.

It was such a relief to shuck off her sandy clothes. She knew that she needed a shower. But the bed was tempting.

With a sigh, she shook her head and gathered the stuff needed for her shower. Just a quick scrub and then time for bed. It had been a long day.

“Milly, hey, you’re home,” Vash greeted as they met in the hallway. “When did you get in?”

“Just a few minutes ago.”

“How’s the new project?”

“A bust,” Milly said, trying to keep her expression neutral. She hated lying. “The foreman’s switching me back to the regular project in the morning.”

“That’s too bad.”

“It’ll all work out. Now I’m going want a shower.”

Vash managed a weak grin. “Well, don’t let me stop you. Good night, Milly.”

“Night,” she called, quickly making her to the bathroom.

Vash made his way back downstairs to the kitchen. He washed the cooking instruments he had used to make dinner in addition to the plates he and Knives had used. He soon had the kitchen back to rights. Chores finished, he took a seat at the table.

He lost track of time as he let his thoughts wander. Things with Knives were still difficult and didn’t look like they would improve any time soon. He felt like he was going around in circles.

‘When did I get so tired?’ he thought, running both hands through his hair.

He heard the front door open. He lifted his head just in time to see Meryl enter the kitchen. She had hung her cloak up before she even noticed his presence.

“Oh, Vash, hi,” she said. “Has Milly made it back?”

“Yeah, just a while ago. She was taken a shower last I saw her before going to bed.”

“I see.”

“How was work?”

“Okay. Doris was a little later than I expected, but she showed in the end. It will be nice to be back to normal shifts.”

“Meryl, I…”

“It’s late,” she said, cutting him off. “I’m going to go to bed myself. I’ll see you in the morning.”

“Good night,” he said quietly. She didn’t respond as she trudged up the stairs. He liked to think she didn’t hear him.

* * * * *

With a good deal of effort, Knives sat up in the bed. He carefully swung his legs over the side and set his feet on the floor. The wood was cool and gritty under his feet but he wouldn’t let himself be bothered by such petty details. He took a deep breath and stood.

‘It won’t be long now,’ Knives thought. ‘Not long at all.’


Weary Meryl was still trying to wake up as she made her way downstairs to the kitchen. Usually a shower was enough to get her going. This morning was going to require more. She stopped when she entered the kitchen. Vash was stirring something on the stove. Was he actually wearing an apron? “Hungry?” Vash asked, not turning from the stove. “Um, sure,” Meryl replied, taking a seat at the table. “Where’s Milly?” “She left pretty early for work. She said that she might be dark or later getting back. The foreman has some new project he wants her to work on.” “Funny, she didn’t say anything last night about it.” “Well, we did have some excitement last night.” Vash tried to keep his tone light, but he failed. Meryl could hear the weariness in his voice. “That we did,” she murmured. Vash ventured from the stove to spoon eggs unto her plate. Meryl thanked him as she helped herself to toast and coffee. Vash merely smiled and served his own plate. “How is your brother?” Meryl asked, once Vash was seated. “Feeling well enough to start complaining. He should be up and about in a few days.” “That’s good news,” Meryl replied. However, she wondered if it really was good to have a homicidal Plant able to wander around in a house shared with humans. The house’s too small to avoid each other completely. Vash saw her thoughtful frown. He didn’t have to read her mind to know what was going through it. Like Meryl, he wondered what Knives would do when he was able to get around the house. He wanted to tell her that he would protect her. Her and Milly. But how could he make a promise if he had no way of keeping it? “Food’s good,” Meryl said, desperately for way to break the silence. “I didn’t know you can cook.” Vash chuckled. “If you’ve been around as long as I have, you picked things along the way. I’m not a great cook, but I can manage in the kitchen.” “So I can trust you to fix food for Knives and yourself while Milly and I are out?” “Yes, Meryl, we’ll be fine.” She glanced at the time. “Oh, I’m going to be late for work.” She quickly downed the rest of her coffee. She made an effort to clean the table, but Vash told her not to bother. With a quick thanks, she dashed upstairs. Vash fixed a plate for Knives. He would do the dishes later. He didn’t want to risk another encounter with Meryl in that lovely waitress uniform. * * * * * “Good morning, Knives,” Vash greeted as he balanced the food-laden tray so he could close the door. “Hope you’re hungry.” Knives merely glared before rolling over in the bed. With a sigh, Vash set the tray on the side table. He watched his brother for a moment, battling irritation. “You may want to eat it before it gets too cold,” Vash said, trying to keep his tone neutral. “I’ll be back later to check on your bandages.” Vash paused, hoping for some kind of response. Again, like most things with his brother, he was disappointed. He turned to head out of the room. “Can’t stay away from your pets, can you?” “What?” Vash asked, turning around. He immediately clamped his mind shut. Knives felt the effort and smirked. “What have you told them about me, Vash? Have you told them what a monster I am?” “You’re not a monster, Knives.” His smirk broadened. “You don’t sound convinced, brother.” “If you would give them a chance, people can surprise you.” “You’re still blinded by your love for humanity.” “And we’re still having this argument,” Vash sighed. “Enjoy your breakfast, Knives.” The door slammed shut behind Vash. Knives could feel his brother’s contrition as he headed back downstairs. ‘Fool,’ Knives thought as he reached for the food. * * * * * “How about you come home with me after work, darling?” the burly man asked. His hand was inching towards the hem of Meryl’s skirt, leaving no doubt what he had in mind. Meryl whacked him hard with her tray. “How about keeping your hands to yourself, pal?” she bellowed. She didn’t even bother to pick up the dirty plates as she stormed back to the kitchen. “That’s the third one today,” Meryl muttered as slammed the door to the kitchen behind her. She caught the sympathetic yet amused gaze of the cook. “When are they going to take the hint?” “Oh, about never,” Lenny replied with a grin. “Ya gotta understand, Meryl, there’s about five guys for every woman in this town, whether she be single or not. That makes for a lot of lonely men.” “Men are stupid,” she said, her thoughts turning towards a certain lanky gunman. “Annoying stupid.” “We can be,” Lenny agreed, “but some of us can control it better than others.” Meryl smiled. “I’ll try to keep that in mind. So, is my next order up?” “And steaming. I don’t have to tell ya. . .” “Yeah, yeah,” Meryl interjected, gathering the plates up with care, “the plates are hot. Just keep them coming, Lenny.” “Will do,” he called as she made her way back into the dining area. * * * * * Milly was relieved to find the lower part of the house empty. She doubted that Meryl would be back from work despite Doris’ promise to take over for the last part of the evening shift. Her main worry had been Vash. However, there was no sign of him. She quickly but quietly made her way up the stairs. Her luck held as she made her way into her room. It was such a relief to shuck off her sandy clothes. She knew that she needed a shower. But the bed was tempting. With a sigh, she shook her head and gathered the stuff needed for her shower. Just a quick scrub and then time for bed. It had been a long day. “Milly, hey, you’re home,” Vash greeted as they met in the hallway. “When did you get in?” “Just a few minutes ago.” “How’s the new project?” “A bust,” Milly said, trying to keep her expression neutral. She hated lying. “The foreman’s switching me back to the regular project in the morning.” “That’s too bad.” “It’ll all work out. Now I’m going want a shower.” Vash managed a weak grin. “Well, don’t let me stop you. Good night, Milly.” “Night,” she called, quickly making her to the bathroom. Vash made his way back downstairs to the kitchen. He washed the cooking instruments he had used to make dinner in addition to the plates he and Knives had used. He soon had the kitchen back to rights. Chores finished, he took a seat at the table. He lost track of time as he let his thoughts wander. Things with Knives were still difficult and didn’t look like they would improve any time soon. He felt like he was going around in circles. ‘When did I get so tired?’ he thought, running both hands through his hair. He heard the front door open. He lifted his head just in time to see Meryl enter the kitchen. She had hung her cloak up before she even noticed his presence. “Oh, Vash, hi,” she said. “Has Milly made it back?” “Yeah, just a while ago. She was taken a shower last I saw her before going to bed.” “I see.” “How was work?” “Okay. Doris was a little later than I expected, but she showed in the end. It will be nice to be back to normal shifts.” “Meryl, I…” “It’s late,” she said, cutting him off. “I’m going to go to bed myself. I’ll see you in the morning.” “Good night,” he said quietly. She didn’t respond as she trudged up the stairs. He liked to think she didn’t hear him. * * * * * With a good deal of effort, Knives sat up in the bed. He carefully swung his legs over the side and set his feet on the floor. The wood was cool and gritty under his feet but he wouldn’t let himself be bothered by such petty details. He took a deep breath and stood. ‘It won’t be long now,’ Knives thought. ‘Not long at all.’


Part VI: Surprise Back