| Knives |
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-----DISCLAIMER----- For standard disclaimer, please refer to chapters 1 to 12.
-----AUTHOR'S NOTES----- Lynda: **laughs arrogantly** HA! Wow... **goes back to being her stupid
self** Nobody guessed that Legato would be a Winger... eheheheheh....
>:) ... Ahem. Kuroneko: Mya? =^ô_õ^=
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Angels. They say humans are to blame. ... And humans are contagious...
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Vash was having a hard time keeping his thoughts in order. To his left
stood Wolfwood, looking grim and more than a little stressed. To his
right stood Legato, looking as displaced as a person can be without
being totally unconscious. And in front of him were two very vulnerable
and totally ignorant insurance workers, Milly glancing around in childish
curiosity and Meryl glaring ahead into her own thoughts. Ah, to be ignorant.
Despite having been saturated in the rancid chill of Demons for the past half hour, Vash had seen little of the creatures themselves. Besides from the strangely sentient shadows and the occassional disembodied snigger, he had seen neither hide nor tail of anything even remotely hellish. Well, he'd seen a great deal more of this 'Legato' than he would've liked, but even that observation was taken from him. Apparently, against all sense and reason, the man was a Winger. And had been one for as long as Wolfwood. Is nothing sacred? Vash remembered Wolfwood telling him about the first Angels. Gone were the good ol' days of flaming swords and righteousness; it seemed that just about anyone could join up now. Legato was evil proof of that. ...And the doors were drawing nearer. At the other end of the red carpeted hallway were the double doors that marked 'The Master's Room' as Legato put it. Which meant Knives was there. Ah, yes. Knives. Up ahead, the scientist stopped at the large ornate doors and loosened his collar. 'J-Just s-step in here w-would you?' he stuttered. Meryl took pity on the poor man and nodded. 'Thank you, we can take it from here.' she offered. Acute relief flooded the small man's features and he scurried away hurriedly, murmuring something along the lines of 'thankyou' as he went. Milly shook her head and giggled. Meryl could only sigh in exasperation. 'Come on, let's get this over with.' she muttered, moving to knock on the door. Legato stepped closer and turned to face the small woman. 'Your Guard?' he asked Vash cooly, as Meryl tapped politely on the wood. The clenching of teeth did little to help communication. After some more quiet examination, the tall white clad Winger blinked slowly in a strange substitute for a shrug and reached forward to turn the door knob. With a dramatic and ominous squeak, the door slowly opened... And three of the five waiting there were nearly bowled over by something big. Wolfwood and Vash leapt back, arm and Punisher raised while Legato looked up at the giant monstrocity stoically. 'Grey the Nine Lives.' he acknowledged in monotone. A mix between a rumble and a metallic whine was returned. From behind the mountain of a Demon appeared yet another figure. 'Master Legato.' the new comer greeted respectfully, bowing slightly. A saxophone was held lovingly in the hand that swept the ground in that expansive gesture. 'The Master requests the new batch brought up to his office.' Whatever this sentence meant, Legato didn't appear to like it. There was obvious reluctance there when he gazed at the two other Wingers one last time. 'Very well.' he finally said, turning his back on the group. 'Stay
with the Angels.' he added over his shoulder as he led Nine Lives away
down the hall. The saxophone wielding Demon turned a disgusted glare
to the pair of object antipathy. There was a brief flash of surprise
when his gaze fell on Vash, but shaking the expression quickly, the
Demon made to push them away from 'The Master's Room'. 'Hey!' the Demon snapped, stumbling after them in affront. 'This area is restricte-' 'Oh shove it.' Wolfwood replied casually, flicking his cigerette ash in the general direction of the Demon. Vash sighed out in relief. 'There they are. Thought we lost them for a minute there.' he exclaimed. Both of the living were standing in front of a large desk, waiting patiently. Or rather, Milly was waiting patiently and Meryl unpatiently. Either way, they were both watching the figure perched on the desk expectantly. Vash froze, whatever scrap of reassurance he had managed to regain vanishing instantly. Wolfwood noticed the attitude change and was about to inquire when a very vexed Demonic musician prodded him in the small of his back. 'Get out, Angel.' he warned, fingers resting on the instrument. Wolfwood grinned. 'I'd rather stay, if it's all the same to you, Mr...?' 'Midvalley. Midvalley the Hornfreak, now leave.' Midvalley said dangerously, raising the saxophone to his lips. Wolfwood pushed it back down with a finger. 'Patience, Demon.' he replied simply. 'Excuse me?' Meryl asked the man sitting on the desk. Vash flinched at her words. It couldn't be a coincidence. He was sitting there, in a perfect imitation of the last time Vash saw him. The same position, the same clothes, the same foreboding. The same intention. The only thing missing was the dead body sprawled in its own growing pool of blood on the desk. And Vash found that once again, death or no, he still felt tears spring to his eyes. All this promised was pain. The man at the desk turned... And failed to lay his icy blue eyes on Vash. The Living don't see the Dead. The feeling was not quite relief and not quite regret. Strange. Meryl attempted a smile and raised a slip of paper to her face. 'The investigation inquiry order was given from one... Knives Millions?' she asked. Again Vash flinched. Knives said nothing, eyes rivetted piercing on the gunman's Guard, his face that of one regarding a science experiment; calculating, measuring... And that elusive but ever present hidden fraction of disgust. Meryl didn't like it at all. 'Sir?' she asked again, one fraction of willpower away from snapping. 'Oh yes. The 'Insurance'.' Knives said calmly, releasing the word as if it were a disease. 'You will pay for the damages of my... Mansion?' he asked as an afterthought, finally standing from his desk and looking down at Meryl. Which wasn't all that an amazing feat for anyone, but Knives was as tall as Vash and as such, he managed to loom. Wolfwood, being the ultimate master at stating the obvious to get people to talk, did so. 'He looks a hell of a lot like you.' he noted. 'In fact,' he continued, 'too much like you. Related?' 'He's my brother.' Vash replied simply, fists clenched and gun holster feeling a great deal more empty than it had in the last couple of days. His attention was too focused on Knives to note Wolfwood's reaction. Or Midvalley's. 'That is what we are here to investigate.' Meryl replied to Knives' question, a small vein pulsing above her brow. Knives studied her some more. 'What is involved in this investigation?' he asked, a look of disgust finally by-passing his other emotions to dominate his features. Meryl seemed too affronted at his expression to respond, so Milly kicked into gear. 'Well, Mr. Millions, we'll need you to tell us exactly what happened! Then show us the damage and we'll evaluate the situation. Is that ok with you?' she asked, all cheer and smiles. Knives seemed unpleasantly surprised at her conviviality. 'Brothe-' Wolfwood began in surprise, only to be cut off when the double doors behind them opened again. Knives turned his blue gaze upwards as Milly and Meryl turned. The small scientist from before stood panting in the doorway, terror splayed across his features as three large metal crates were being wheeled behind him. All by themselves. With a fearful squeak, Milly all but fell into Meryl's arms as the three loads of cargo continued to roll into the room on their own, stopping just in front of the insurance workers. Vash and Wolfwood watched as Legato entered the Master's Room with Nine Lives pushing the crates in front of him. Midvalley's fingers left his saxophone and he bowed again, moving away from the desk slightly. Legato nodded and stepped up to Knives. 'Legato.' Vash's sibling acknowledged to the apparent empty space as Milly and Meryl turned confused gazes on him. 'I wish to see them.' Legato made his way up to the desk. 'Your Guard.' Wolfwood noted. This comment was pointedly ignored, the white Winger passing the other two Angels silently. He then did something very strange. He passed a hand through Knives shoulder and held it there. The afore mentioned Living shivered and closed his eyes. Then, slowly, he opened them again. And his gaze fell on Vash. '...Brother?' he asked in surprise, Legato's hand still embedded in his shoulder. Vash in turn tried to reply, but found his throat too tight. It didn't matter all that much, as Knives continued anyway. '...What did they do to you?' he demanded, expression going from shock to confusion then finally contained rage. Milly and Meryl exchanged a glance then turned eyes to the focal point that Knives was addressing. There was nothing there that they could see. They then returned their scrutiny to Knives who was searching the eyes on an invisible person for answer. And then shot each other another glance that said quite cleary, 'this man is very and utterly insane'. 'Knives.' Vash replied, finding that of all the words and questions that flew around his head, his brothers name was the only thing that seemed to work on his tongue. Wolfwood shifted, unsure as to how to react to this revelation. 'Our sisters and I lost contact with you weeks ago... I didn't understa...' Knives began, as if examining a strange puzzle. Then rage returned. 'How did this happen?!' he demanded, turning his glare on Meryl and Milly. 'An accident.' Vash blurted quickly, moving to stand beside the two mortals pointedly. Wolfwood followed, carefully keeping himself out of the confrontation. Knives scowled in disgust. '2 Angels. No I didn't plan on this. And especially not one being my very own twin... So this- This is your... Guard.' he observed, disdain dripping from the words as he switched his angry glare to Meryl. She backed up a step slightly, her face clearly displaying what she thought he was. Which was deranged. 'Mr. Millions?' she asked, a very forced smile plastered across her features. Knives examined her carefully, rage bubbling away on a level that only his brother could see. Legato remained silent, eyes closed. 'Knives.' Vash warned, feeling his teeth clench ever so slightly when his brother refused to relinquish his gaze on Meryl. Yes, it was very much like the last time they met. Only... There was far more at stake this time. His brother raised his eyes to the three crates in his office, and a small smile graced his features. 'Actually, my dear brother, this is a perfect turn of events. I was intending to test these out on the town, but this way I can kill two birds with one stone.' he said simply. 'I'll rid you of this pestiferous nuisance, and we'll find a way to restore you.' 'That's not an excuse for killing!' Vash snapped, his brother's intent all too clear. Wolfwood froze, then spoke up for the first time. 'Kill? Nobody mentioned anything about killing. What's going on?' he demanded. Knives glared at him, then shifted his head slightly to the left. Some silence, then Legato nodded. 'Yes Master.' he murmured quietly, then raised the volume of his voice. 'Midvalley, Nine Lives. Would you like to give these Angels their first real encounter with the Gung Ho Guns?' he asked simply. With a nod and a mechanical whine, both Demons stepped forward and towards the two surprised Wingers. Nine Lives stumbled to a lumbering halt as Vash ducked under the creatures legs and away from the trunk like arms that were reaching out to seize him. Midvalley raised his instrument, but received a Cross Punisher in the stomach for the effort. 'Back off, Demon!' Wolfwood snarled, placing himself between Milly and the musician. Midvalley doubled over, saxophone clutched in fist. Grey was a little harder to distract however. Keeping the monstrous entity away from small, unaware Meryl was a job harder than Vash felt he was up to, considering his homocidal twin was watching this all through the abilities of Legato. From between the unseen battle, Knives turned his gaze to the small scientist who was standing behind the crates and looking very unhappy. 'Would you please escort these two... Ladies to the scene?' he asked, making the word 'ladies' sound like a species of insect. Meryl looked ready to punch Knives across the jaw, but Milly tugged her gently away, leaving through the double doors with the fidgetty little man along with two of the three crates. 'Wa-WAIT!' Vash shouted, trying to follow but having the huge form of Grey the Nine Lives bar his way. Wolfwood encountered the same problem with Midvalley. Knives laughed. 'They won't be harmed. Yet. Not unless you're willing to listen to me, anyway. I don't like distractions, and they appeared to be distracting you.' he said, finding his seat on the edge of the desk again, Legato still in tow. When both Wingers had calmed down somewhat, Grey and Midvalley backed off, returning to the outskirts of the room. 'What do you want, Knives?' Vash demanded, fists clenched and stomach writhing with an emotion he didn't have a name for. Knives smiled. 'It's simple. What I want hasn't changed in 130 years.' he replied. 'The end of the cancerous organism that is humanity.' 'Knives, I don't understand you, how can you want that?! They deserve a chance to live!' Vash retorted, expression pained. Wolfwood cast a confused glance at his partner. The word '130' and 'they' was on his questioning lips. 'Hey, how is it that you can see us?' the priest asked Knives in substitute, lowering the leg of his Cross to the ground and leaning on the symbol casually. Knives shot him a scandalized glare that clearly spoke his abhorrence of Wolfwood's interruption, but he returned his gaze back to his brother to find the same question within Vash's eyes. 'I was fortunate to be sent my own Guardian Angel quite a few years back. Even more fortunate was that my Guardian was uniquely skilled.' Knives said simply as an explaination, refering to Legato's obvious power of mentality. 'Communication between us was exceedingly helpful. Further more, I was introduced to this world of Planes and Spiritualism through my Guardian Angel. I found it most... intriguing.' That said, Knives returned his glare to Wolfwood and looking like he was contemplating killing him. Again. 'You shouldn't have any grudge against him.' Vash said clearly, bringing Knives attention away from the priest. 'He's done everything you've asked him to do.' 'What, die? Yes I suppose so. Your logic, for once, is impeccible. And as such, I found that death wasn't enough for his kind. They are disgusting and spread their cancer even without life.' the blue eyed twin noted. With a hand, he waved to the lone crate in the center of the room. Both Vash and Wolfwood shuffled away from it, the sudden foreboding stifling the atmosphere. 'With the new knowledge of this After Life at my fingertips, I've effectively found another way to dispose of the spiders, soul and all.' he continued, smiling. 'What?!' Vash managed, turning a horrified look on the metal box behind him. Wolfwood dropped his Cross Punisher into waiting hands. 'Such disease ridden creatures, humans. In fact, they are a disease. Which is why I intend to unleash one on them.' Knives laughed, snapping his fingers. Black energy sizzled around the metallic surface of the crate, small purple flashes of lightening arching over the bolts holding it together and dancing along the edges. Aforementioned bolts began to slowly screw out of the frame to clatter to the ground like bullet shells; dangerously useless. The sides of the crate fell open like a blossoming flower, the squares of metal kicking up dust as they hit the carpeted floor. What poised quivering in the center of the now open crate was... A shadow. To Vash, the shadow seemed vaguely dog like, then it would rear up and seem human like, then spread wings and resemble a bird. After much debating, a conclusion was reached that it looked like a shape shifting blob, which, evidently, was what it was. The creature wavered, splaying fingers that quickly became talons, seemingly indecisive of it's purpose. It shuddered forward slightly in the direction of Knives, but Legato opened his eyes and the shadow fell back. 'This is a Vault.' Knives introduced airily as the creature slid around the room like an inquisitive child. 'An amazing achievement even if I do say so myself.' Wolfwood stepped away from the ooze like being, looking thoroughly disgusted. 'What the hell is it?' the priest demanded. 'I can't sense one thread of damn life off it!' Knives raised a surprised eyebrow. 'Observant, spider. No, these creatures are outside of life, just as my brother and I are outside of time. It is a variation of humans, but by far more advanced. It is attracted to and consumes life. Soul and all.' he explained, smiling at the insidious creature. 'How?' Vash managed, standing well clear of it. Knives' smile became clearer. 'I can show you my equations if you like.' he offered with the tiniest trace of enthusiasm. 'It's rather facinating actually. Did you know that the only souls that reside in between holy and hellish are humans? A perfect center? Pathetically vague, if you ask me, but incredibly helpful to my plans.' The Vault immediately dismissed Midvalley and Wolfwood from it's interest and oozed over to Vash who edged away. Knives watched in facination, continuing to talk. 'The general theme consists of taking an unadultered human soul and altering it. The end result is what you see. A disease. They consume life and convert the human in question into another Vault. Very practical. I predict that after a month of unleashing these onto this human infested planet, their numbers will augment drastically. I find th-' Vash spun and in a flash of metal, his gun unfolded from his arm and pointed at Knives. 'That's- It's wrong, and you know it!!' he shouted at his shocked brother, once unwavering aim shaking slightly. 'You've already shot me enough Vash, wouldn't you say?' Knives snarled, deathly quiet. After a thick and near suffocating silence, Wolfwood lifted and dropped his Punisher to the ground for attention. When he had it, the priest turned his gaze on Knives. 'Interestin', to say the least. But you have a minor problem.' he noted casually, lighting himself a cigerrette. 'These Bank things... Whatever you call 'em... They only attack the living right? Well, if that's true, then you've got a hell of a lot of dead humans in the After Life to live with.' Wolfwood continued, raising an eyebrow. Knives laughed. 'Such simple minds, humans. Of course I had not over looked your disgusting lifeless existence. The Vault's purpose is to eradicate the living, true, but also to trigger the death of the dead.' he reassured, smiling maniacally. 'I think you have a few screws loose.' Wolfwood observed stoically. The smile on the blue eyed twin's face morphed into a snarl. 'Not at all, vermin. I have every intention of turning your pathetic human Religion against you.' he countered, glaring. There were questions, of course. Why wouldn't there be? But Vash had been thinking. What he was thinking about was that both Guards had been led away with a crate each containing one of those... Creatures. Which was a Very Bad Thing. An exchanged glance confirmed that Wolfwood was worried about the same concept. Well, there was only one thing to do. Having pieced together his own observations, Vash altered his aim slightly and let a round fly without another thought. Legato was knocked back by the blow to his arm and the connection between him and Knives was cut instantaneously when the hand embedded in the Living's shoulder was pulled free. The Vault, which was in the middle of inspecting Grey the Nine Lives, snapped it's attention toward the living form of Knives Millions and lunged forward. Within the same split second, Wolfwood had unleashed his Cross Punisher and turned it in the direction of Midvalley. The Demon had managed to avoid the bulk of the attack, but a section of the ceiling fell down and either buried or heavily concussed him. Without another thought, and without rotating the Punisher, machine gun closed and rocket launcher opened. A missile was let loose and flew in the direction of Nine Lives. As chaos unsued; Midvalley probably very unconscious, Nine Lives smouldering slightly and Legato fending the Vault off his Master, Vash and Wolfwood made a break for it out the door. 'You're RELATED to that psychopath?!' the priest demanded as they sprinted down a random hallway in retreat. 'I'll explain later! Where are our Guards?!' Vash retorted, his gun folding back into place. The Meta-Kard was pulled out and some frantic button pushing moments later, Wolfwood turned left. He flinched. 'The Big Girls down this way, and the Small Insurance girl is somewhere to your right.' he managed as they stumbled to a halt. 'They were seperated?' Vash asked in horror, suddenly realizing what this meant. Wolfwood studied Vash for a few seconds before clapping him on the shoulder. 'You'll be fine! I'll meet you back at the inn. Then we're outta here as fast as those damn thomas' can be carried.' he said, turning and running down yet another hallway. Vash watched his retreating back for a few moments before snapping his focus back to his own very large problems. Without a Meta-Kard of his own, he would have to rely on his own instincts and on Lady Luck herself. Either way, time was running out quickly for his Guard. Time was running out for all of them. With the stench of Demons in pursuit, Vash took a breath and ran down a hallway in the general direction that Wolfwood had pointed him in.
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-----AUTHOR'S NOTES----_ Lynda: Looong! Wahey! Um, **shrugs** I got the bad guys going! >:D
I haven't really written Knives before, so go easy on poor pathetic
Lynda. Sigh. Anything else? Ah yes. The connection between Knives and
Legato. Being able to talk into someones mind might close the rift between
the Living and Dead, don't you think? -_-;; Kuroneko: =^ToT^= myoooo~ Lynda: Sorry it took so long. I got sick. **blinks** HEY!! Ms. Cymberleah gave me her cyber flu!! **cough cough hack hack** Now I shall spread the disease!! AHAHAHA!! ... I need to stop writing the word disease. Sigh. Anyway, see ya next chapter! Ja ne!
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