Hello Welcome to the Quicky-Mart! How may I help you? Hahaha just kiddin I
swear. This is my first ever fan-fic.Mwawahaha I hope you dont die from
exposure to it.Heh.*Evil Smirk* Anyways. Uhh lets see here.
Oh yes. Many pairings.....Vash and Meryl, Wolfwood (yes he be back) and
Millie, the later on Knives and an O/C, and another O/C / O/C.Ha. Confusing
to the eyes, is it not? Sorry more of my bad humour.Ok Now ON WITH THE
STORY! (FINALLY)
Disclaimer:Roses are red, violets are blue, me no own, so YOU NO SUE.
As always I don't and will NEVER own Trigun of the Simpsons.If I did I
wouldnt have enough time to be writing this, now would I. (I mean c'mon if
your smarth enough to create a website that can reach your computers files,
than why cant you just realize that!PURE LUDICROUS I TELL YOU!MADNESS!)
Lorienth looked down at the days paper in a non-chalant way. She had no interest in antything that was going on on Gunsmoke, what-so-ever.She walked into her large home and gave the paper to her mother. "Here is the paper..."she said.Lorienth spotted sheaf of papers on the counter and walked over to file them. Meryl Stryfe sighed and set down her mug of coffee. Sometimes her daughter was so much like her it was scary.It wasnt that she just acted like her, but the fact that she was almost a mirror image of her mother. She looked nothing like her estranged father.
"Thank you honey,"she said as she began leafing through the paper. Lorienth nodded and headed into the kitchen to grab a coke.She grabbed a soda from the fridge and went to the table.
"Dont know why she cares so much about the stupid paper anyways..."she muttered stopping as she ran into Vash.
"Eeh-heh sorry Vash" she said, wiping the coke off his clothes. Vash just smiled and laughed it off..
"No problem Lorienth,"he mumbled, his head stuck in the fridge. He pulled it out after a few momnets of searching, and made his way into the living room. Lorienth shook her head she knew what was coming next.
"MERYL!" he yelled. Meryl turned his way. "What Vash?Do you need to yell?"she asked, sitll reading the paper. "Heh, sorry ...It's just we're out of donuts....."he said trailing off hopefully. Meryl sighed and set the paper down.
"Yes, what would you like me to do about it?"she answered him raising her eyebrow . Vash looked shot down.Meryl smiled inwardly.*He goes through donuts like water*she thought perkily.Vash was looking at her with pleading eyes.Meryl payed no attention to that fact. "Go ask Lorienth,"she said resuming reading the paper. Vash perked up.
"Good idea thanks.."he said rushing back into the kitchen. Lorienth cursed under her breath. "Always makes me the scapegoat..."she muttered as Vash entered the room. "hey Lorienth..."he began.Lorienth cut him off. "No Vash I am not going to the store for donuts again."she said sternly. Vash sat down and looked at her pleadingly.
"Please, Lorienth, please,"he whined fluttering his eyes. Lorienth shook her head. "Fine, fine I'll go,"she mumbled, thorwing her coke can into the trash. "Thanks!"Vash exclaimed handing her the money. "Your the best!"
Lorienth shook her head in mirth.She had never been all that close to Vash but she did enjoy his company. She glared at her mom on the way out letting her know that the scapegoat act wasn't appreciated in the least, but Meryl was paying no attention to her, still reading the paper. For some reason her mother had been adept int the happenings of Gunsmoke lately, though she couldn't imagine why. As she went outside Lorienth perked up.It was a pretty nice day out and the donut place wasn't to far from their home.
"If I hurry up I can make it to the donut place before it gets exceedingly busy,"she said to herself, taking off at a run to the shop.She was right, or so it seemed. Their was only one person in line.She got behind him and stood there. The man was sitll ordering, and Lorienth groaned as she listened to his order. It was really long. She pulled the money out of her pocket and counted it, trying to pass time. There was about $$20 extra.
The man finally finished ordering, and moved out of the way.The guy behind the counter smileed apologetically as she stepped up. "Ummm.I'm sorry but can you wait a bit to order, this man's order is going to take a little while to fill...." the donut person mumbled nervously. Lorienth smiled and nodded. "Thanks,"he said.Lorienth retreated into a nearby store, where she could shop and watch the donut shop. The coolness of the inside was inviting, no matter how nice it was outside.
She browsed around absentmindedly and seeing nothing she liked sat down to watch the donut shop. No one came there for a while, but whem someone finally did they were sent away as she was.Lorienth didnt catch what the person looked like because somene had just set a new box of stuff on the shleves.She walked over and sifted through it. Still seeing nothing interesting she went and sat on the bench again.
She watched as the fat man kept on adding to his order. It had been over an hour that she was waiting and she was getting fed up. "Im gonna go give that guy a piece of my mind!" she mumbled to herself exiting thorugh the door.She stalked over, anger rising with each step. Fortunately for the man his order was finished and he walked away. Still agitated Lorienth stalked over to the counter.She didn't notice that someone had arrived at the same time as her. They both slapped their hands on thecounter.
"I THOUGHT YOU SAID IT WOULDNT TAKE THAT LONG"they yelled at the same time. the man looked a little taken aback but just nodded. "I WANT 2 DOZEN DONUTS 1/3 CHOCOLATE CRREAM FILLED 1/3 THIRD REGULAR AND 1/3RD CHOCOLATE COVERED WITH RAINBOW SPRINKLES"they said echoing eachother. The man gaped at them and started to open his mouth but they both cut him off "AND YES THEY HAVE TO BE RAINBOW SPRINKLES OR ELSE!"they yelled finishing the barrage, (at the exact same time I might add).
The man silently went to go fill their order, and they suddenly became aware that they had just ordered the same thing at the same time. They whirled towards eachother, anger evident in their contrasted eyes.
"WHO THE HELL ARE YOU" they yelled. "NO I ASKED YOU FIRST!" "STOP COPYING WHAT IM SAYING" "NO YOU STOP COPYING WHAT IM SAYING" (A/N they echoed eachother the whole time)
"Hey hold on a second!" the donut man yelled as the raised their hands to hit eachother. He was finding the scene quite comical nad was on the verge of laughter. Both whirled towards him (at the same time) and he blanched. He knew Lorienth, who had moved in with her mother recently.She was an almost mirror image of her mother, attitude and looks.Shrot dark hair, dark blue eyes, fiery temper when riled up. But the new comer was a mystery. She had long blonde hair and piercing green eyes, somewhat like the man that lived with Lorienth and her daughter.There was a red bag slung over her shoulder and she was glaring angrily at him. The man blanched again as he realized just who he was dealing with.
"Layne Dark-Storm!" he said,fainting on the spot.Lorienth looked at the other girl confused.For a second she stared. *This girl reminds me of someone...........*she thought, cutting herself off to find out exactly what had happened to the man. "What's the matter with him?" she asked. The other girl,Layne, smiled sheepishly. "Ehh i have no clue!" she said grabbing her newly filled order and bolting away. Lorienth shook her head in confusement and sighed.
"Whats her problem? Geese, she didnt even pay," she mumbled slapping down money to pay for both orders.She grabbed hers and dashed away. Her mother was prbably worried because of how long she was taking and was also prbably cranky because of Vash's whining.Lorienth shook her head. Vash was a card. He acted like a dweeb most of the time,always in and out of trouble. She chuckled, thinking of him. *Heh what a dweeb...* As Lorienth walked the rest of the way home she was deep in thought about Layne. Something had clicked when she'd seen her at the donut shop. For some reason she felt a connction to Layne.
*Who was that, I could've sworn I've seen her somewhere before...* she thought.*Ohwell* she said mentally, ending the thoughts as she turned the corner to her street. As a habit she walked over to the town bullitein board. THe same old signs had been covered up by a new wanted sign. SHe gasped as she read it.
WANTED
Alive Layne Dark-Storm Age:Unknown. Hair:Long and Blonde Eyes:Green No Picture Available Any Information Contact authorities. Reward for capture: $$70,000,000,000
Lorienth gasped and almost dropped the donuts, *My god, shes almost as wanted as Vash is!And that was the girl.......*she thought .Something clicked in her mind again. *THat description.....that girl.....Vash.....* she though frantically. Without even thinking she ripped the paper of the bulletin board and sprinted the rest of the way home.She reached her home and bolted in slamming the door in her franticness.
"MOM! VASH! GET IN HERE NOW!" she bellowed, seeing the living room empty, They both zoomed into the living room. Concern etched her their faces as they saw Lorienth ,who looked as if she had seen a ghost. "Whats the matter Lorienth?"Vash asked worriedly.Lorienth was shaking all over, and couldn't answer. He hadn't seen her like this since the frist day he had come here to talk to her mother. Spying the paper he picked it up and read it.
"Wow, another trouble maker....Lorienth what does this have to do with anything?"Vash asked innocently. Meryl meanwhile grabbed had grabbed the paper and was reading it. No one noticed how her face paled as she read it. Lorienth took deep slow breaths and finally answered. "I saw her at the donut place....she ordered.... she looked....."Lorienth began, trailing off into incomprehensible language. "What what Lorienth,"Meryl urged her.Lorienth shook her head clearing it. "Nothing never mind, we have GOT to find her!" Lorienth said. Vash cast her a strange look.
"Why?" he inquired. Layne looked up at him, her eyes flashing dangerously. "DAD FOR THE LOVE OF GOD!WE JUST HAVE TO GO FIND THAT GIRL!" she yelled. Meryl and Vash reeled back in surprise.Lorienth had never ever called Vash Dad before.Vash wasnt her father, but had taken over the role after her real father had left when she was 7.Meryl took this in and nodded.
*This can;t be happening* she thought in panick. She quickly calmed herself down and turned towards Lorienth. "Alrighty, let me just call a few people, by the looks of this description and the report on her in the paper this is going to take a while to do" She said, casting a do-this-for-your-own-good look at Vash.VAsh was a bit confused but nodded in agreement anyways. Meryl walked out of the door shortly after.Vash nodded and followed her.
"Just stay here Lorienth, we'll be back,and I'll send Nixie and Grayfall over here, K?" he asked, not bothering ot hear her response. Layne shook her head. "No, I am coming with you,"she said following him. Vash shook his head in defeat.No use arguing with Lorienth now. ###############################################################
"CRAP CRAP CRAP! That was really bad!" Layne cursed herself as she ran to a nearby car and dove in, head first. She rooted around her pocket for the keys and after finding them jammed them into the ignition. The engine sputtered to life and she floored it, ripping thorugh the town like a fire.
"What the hell was fricken I thinking waltzing into a town like that.And then to be recognized. DAMNIT!" she chastised herself loudly, swerving around a large group of people who were consulting with one another. She speared a glance at them. There were two tall blonde men,a woman who looked like the girl from the donut stand, the girl from the donut shop, a blue haired huy, a raven headed girl,a tall blue haired man, a tall brown haired woman, and a dark haired priest. She returned her eyes to the road and swore as she almost hit a post. Layne slammed on the brakes and fishtailed.
At the screeching and cursing the group looked up. Cursing herself again she jammed the vehicle into gear. "Grat now Im probably going to be pursued by those people,"she muttered. This was followed by a loud string of her colorful vocabulary. She finally hit outskirts of the town and pushed the gas further,
"Wheew made it," she said finally calming down.Her thoughts were still rapid though. *What am I going to do?That girl obviously recognized me at the donut shop.Now her little posse is going to come after me! Great sometimes I swear I'm such and idiot! Its not my fault that trouble follows me everywhere I go and I certainly didnt mean to do most of the things they want me for!* she thought ruefully. She r ode on like this for a while, stopping in the night in a secluded sandbar. *I should be safe here.....* she thought, curling up in the back seat of the vehicle. She drifted slowly of to sleep, thinking of what had happened at the donut shop.
@@@Back in the town@@@ Vash, Meryl and Lorienth had gathered everyone.They stood in a loose group. Vash,Knives,Meryl,Lorienth,Grayfall (Legato's son),Nixie(Mille and Nicholas' daughter), Legato, Millie, and Nicholas. "So...there is another outlaw out there named Layne Dark-Storm, whom you met at the donut place,"Knives said. Lorienth nodded her head. "Anything else?"he asked. She shook her head, but Knives knew she was leaving something out.
"Are you sure?" he asked, giving her another chance. "Yes, thats right,"she answered tiredly.He decided not to push the issue, his niece could be a piece of work sometimes. No one had bothered to ask why she thought it was so important to go after Layne.Meryl had explained the circumstances to them and they readily agreed.During this time a vehicle veered around them. The group looked up as the car screeched to a halt and the driver let out a long line of colorful vocab. Lorienth heard that and knew exactly who it was.
"That would be her I presume?" Knives asked, raising an eyebrow.Lorienth nodded her head. No one moved as the vehicle took off once again,they didnt want to alert suspicion. "Interesting......"he said, trailing off. Lorienth watched silently as the vehicle rocketed out of the town, taking Layne Dark-Storm with it.They stayed in the same place consulting on what to do next. It was dark by the time they had a plan and left.
They split into a few cars, Vash and Lorienth riding in a two seater, Legato,Knives,Grayfall and Nicholas in one of the four seaters, and Meryl,Mille, and Nixie in the other.They drove for a while, following the fadind tracks in the sand.They stopped at the edge of a cleverly hidden sand dune, and got out to stretch legs (they had been riding or a few hours after all).Lorienth was sitting on the hood of the car in a distant mood when she heard the commontion below. She ignored it, thinking it was just some animal fighting, until a gunshot rang thorugh the air. Everyones head whipped up at that, and Lorienth bolted to the crest of the sandbar. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^******************^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Layne jolted back to alertness as she heard someone approaching the SandMaster 320 (her vehicle). The cool glint of a gun in the moonlight appeared and she pin pointed the enemy. A rapid plot filled her head. There were 6 burly men, presumeably bandits, surrouding the car.She mapped eachones posistion and slowly grabbed her gun, concealing it quickly under her jacket. One of the men approched her and pointed the gun at her tire, shooting it.
"Wake UP CALL MISSIE!" he yelled. Layne bolted up, playing the part of a scared traveler. "AHHH who are you?"she cried, feigining terror. The men laughed at her alarm. "Heheh little miss, we're gonna have fun with you, but first gimme all yon vittles and money,"the hick bandit said, gesturing towards the bag. Layne,wide-eyed obeyed, bending over to pick up her bag. With that the man got a good look at her.
"Well aint ye a pretty one,"he leered at her slapping her rear, oblivous to the fact that he had just slapped a world famous out law. Layne had a sudden change in attitude.The warmth in her eyes dissolved and she was seething mad.She shoved the pack at him, carefully avoiding his eyes. Layne marked that man in her mind, vowing to cripple him.She was seething mad, ready to kill at anymoment.
"Aren't you gonna leave?"she asked innocently, backing against the car in mock terror. The other men started to laugh and began to circle around her, making sure she couldnt escape. They didnt notice the gun concealed in her jacket. Another of the men shot out her tires, and she winced thinking, *Great, another patch in those tires, I've GOT to get some new ones* The marked man was getting dangerously close to her, so close that she could reach out and touch him.
"Oh no missie, we have to have some fun with ye before yon end,"he said, grinning fouly.Disgust inched it's way throgh Laynes body. She backed away fruther, faking horror at the recent 'revelation'. In this process she took out her gun and fired it into the pack she had gave him. The man payed no heed thinking the others were blowing out her tires some more.He was laughing wildly and advancing fast. Another shot rang out, and then another, and then 4 more. Finally the man got agitated and whirled around, ready to yell at his crew. They all lay on the ground, writhing in pain and clutching their legs
"WHAT THE--"the man called out, but stopped as he felt the cool presence of a gun on the back of his shaven head.His hand reached for his gun, but Layne noticed. "I would't do that if I were you,"she said in a dead cold voice, kicking the gun out of his hand. He let out a yelp of pain as her hand smashed into his and the gun went spiraling to the side, out of reach of everyone. Layne slowly turned the man around. "Whats your name pig?" she sneered in the same cold voice. The man lurched backwards in terror at the look in her eyes. Her eyes had seemed warm and friendly, if not terrorized earlier, but now they were cold as ice, the look of an animal about to take down it's prey.
"I asked you a question,"she hissed. The man shook his head. "My-my name is Oriko,Running Terror of the Desert,"he answered haltingly. Layne beared her teeth at him, in a type of mean evil smile. "You won't be running anymore,"she sneered. Pointing the gun at his stomach where the lower back would be. THe man reeled back, falling to the ground.He whimpered and twisted in the sand attempting to crawl away. "N-no p-please dont hurt me miss...I-I'm sorry,"he stuttered.
"How pathetic: N-no p-please dont hurt me miss...I-I'm sorry,"she mocked him. The man continued crawling backwards, tears spilling down his cheeks. Layne looked down at him as he cried so freely and snapped back to reality. Her eyes softened again, they were no longer ice. She looked around a bit, as if she were confused at what she was doing and then turned back to the man. The man noticed the different look in her eyes in and sighed. He had no intention on angereing or corssing this woman's wrath point ever again.Layne shook her head and peered down the nose at the man. She looked genuinley shocked at her earlier threats.
"I won't hurt you,"she breathed, still holding the gun.The man nodded, thankful. "My-my crew......"he said trailing off. " Mere lesh wounds. thats it,I assure you"Layne said backing towards the car.HEr head was spinning violently and she wanted to sit down. "I want you to get them up, and get out of here,"she muttered, sitting on her car. The man quickly complied and they were all quickly gone. Sighing in fatigue, Layne resolved to make sure they were really gone before she slept. Pain was radiating from some previous wounds but she ignored it. She made her way to the top of a dune and watched them leave before returning to the SandMaster. She sunk greatfully into the seat and put her gun away.She didn't feel well at all. "im just gonna sleep here, I'll fix the tires in the morning,"she promised herself before slipping into a deep, non dreaming ,semi-unconcious sleep. ************************************************************** Vash and the others watched in awe as Layne decimated the men around her easily. They ahd made their way down the sand bar to help her but Vash had stopped them and they watched the scene unfold from the bottom. it was quite an awesome fight. Layne had reflected her shots off of a metal plate in her bag and hit each of the men in the leg as the passed by. The men were to focused on their leader to notice their falling comrades. It was a risky move, but effective. Soemthing had happened to Layne as the man advanced on her.
She had sensed his ulterior motives. The group were surprised at her sudden change in attitude. Her eyes had gone cold as ice, and it scared Knives to death.he had nearly fainted, but no one had noticed. Then she returned to normal, telling the terrified men to leave. Vash knew they wouldnt come back.Then Layne went back to her car and was almost immedeatly asleep.It baffled them, but was a major advantage.
Knives scooted over to where Vash and Legato were. "We go now. Surround her loosely. I dont think she will wake up, but be careful anyways,"Knives whispered. Vash and Legato nodded, stepping out of the brush. They approached very cautiously, not wanting the same fate as those men. They surrounded her loosely and Knives got close. The others watched breathlessly from the bushes.He cocked the gun and pressed it against her head. ************************************************************* Layne was lost in deep sleep. She was vaguely aware of the pain of a recent gunshot wounds, but it was gone soon enough.Her head was feverish, she was sick form the infected wounds.She longed for cold water but couldnt seem to find her way out of the sleep. Suddenly somehting cool pressed against her temple, helping her out of the sleep. Her eyes fluttered for a few moments and then someone spoke. ############################################################### "Sit up, very very slowly,"Kinves commanded as Layne's eyes opened.He could tell that she was very ill by looking at her, she wouldnt be giving much of a fight as shedid earlier. her face was pale and she looked a little flushed.A panicked look came to her eyes and she sat up slowly.Her hand searched for her gun, but Vash already had it.
"W-who are......."she said, but slumped forward,passed out before he could answer. Knives knew she wasn't faking it.This girl need major medical attention. "Vash, take her to the car now,"Knives said. Vash was a bit confused as to why he was doing that when Knives was so close but he did so anyways. Vash couldnt see the girls face very well, but he could tell she was sick.
"She's burning up!" Lorienth exclaimed as Vash was walking to the car. Mille and Nicholas had grabbed all the stuff in the SandMaster and they were headed back to the cars. Vash set her down in the cargo part of the two seater, strapping her in like cargo.He and Lorienth got into ther car. To Lorienth's surprise Vash strapped himself in. He looked at her. "Lorienth strap yourself in, it's going to a bumpy ride home," he said starting the car. Lorienth did and Vash sped off at top speed. The others were close behind. THey reached the town within the hour. Vash stopped the car and jumped out. He grabbed Layne and whisked her inside. Meryl and Mille came in soon after.
"Ok, well we can heal her,"Millie announced, carting Vash out of the dark room. Meryl was rooting around in a nurses bag. "Millie turn on the light please, it'll be easier to see that way." Meryl commanded. Millie quicly complied and joined Meryl near Layne's side. "I thought the last time I would EVER have to do this was when Vash was injured last," Meryl grumbled. Millie meanwhile was paying no attention. She slipped one of Layne's sleeves up and gasped. A huge bullet wound was reopened. It was yellow and swollen with a bad infection.
"Oh my God, Meryl!" Millie exclaimed. Meryl was not phazed. "Mille, there are two more like it in her leg," she said calmly. She ripped the girls pants leg off and began to clean the wounds. "Millie, you start on the other one," she said. Millie complied. Layne was in a deep slumber, she didnt even move, well except for breathing. *This is gonna take a while* Meryl thought, extracting a bullet from the wound. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% ***3 days later*** Layne awoke in agony.She was having the dream again. The one where her parent's faces were just on the horizon, but Layne coudn't see them.It had gone a bit farther this time though. The same lullaby was playing through her head, but this time she saw a pair of sunglasses, yellowish-orange lenses, kind of like hers. Layne stopped and shook her head.
*BEst no to think about the past* she thought wiping the tears out of her eyes, taking deep slow breaths and looking aroung the white washed room. *My God what happened........where am I?* she thought, panicked. Her breathing was coming fast, so she stopped and took more deep breaths.
*What the hell kind of trouble did I get into THIS time*she thought with a groan. She couldn't quite remember anything. Then the gun and the blonde man came flashing into her mind. She groaned again, sitting up to look around the room. She noticed that her arm and leg was bandaged heavily, and were in mild pain. Realazation bloomed in her mind.She remebered the blonde man and his group of friends.She remembered the gun against her head and fainting into the blonde mans arms.
*They healed me.......why..........*she thought somberly. She could hear voices below, but couldn't make out the words. *I should go meet these people...*she thought dejectedly. She looked at her decimated clothes and sighed. "I'd better change........"Layne said quietly to herself. She swung her legs over the side of the bed and stood up. A mild pain shot through her leg, but she ignored it.She spotted her pack and sighed.
*Thank God...*Layne thought, picking up the pack and sitting on the bed. Her bag had been rumaged through, and they had take her spare gun and ammuntion. *Damn! Oh well, I just hope theydont decide to kill me* she thought. Her hands grazed a small bulge in the bottom of the bag, and she dumped everything out, ignoring the foreign bolt of bright red fabric that spilled out. She hastily flipped open the secret compartment and sighed.It had not been disturbed. In the pocket lay a yellowish-orange disk rimmed by metal.It was the lense to a pair of sunglasses she was sure, her only link to her past and parents.She sighed and replaced it. No need for these strangers to see it. She turned to place everything in the bag.A bolt of red fabric had spilled from the bag covering everything else.It hadn't been there before either.
"Wow, how did this get in here, it's beautiful,"Layne said in awe as she unfurled the long crimson coat. A note fell out of the pocket, and she read it. It was in a neat scrawl and read, FOR YOU LAYNE. Layne was puzzled. *Why would anyone do this for a criminal like me?* she thought. *No wait, I am not a criminal, it isnt my fault that trouble follows m earound and seems to be y middle name!* Layne chastised herself.She sighed and pushed the thoughts away.In any case it had been given to her, and she didnt want to offend. She reached back in her pack and withdrew the only other articles of clothing she had becides the newly decimated out fit she had had on. The outfit consisted of black dress pants and a white dress shirt. She wasnt sure why she liked it , it was just practical wear she supposed. She put her pants on easily, not even jarring her injured leg, then put the shirt on and buttoned it up. Last of all she picked up the coat and slipped it over her head.
The fabric was cool, inviting. She pushed her head through the hole and slid her arms through the others. It fit perfectly, like it was tailor made to fit her. Layne caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror and stopped.A brief memory flashed before her eyes, but she couldn't quite grasp it.Sighing she walked over and plopped onto the bed.
She withdrew her brush and brushed her hair back out of her face, pulling it into a tight ponytail.A few troublesome hairs stuck out on her forehead, but she could do nothing about them unilt they grew out. For the finishing touch she grabbed her trade mark sunglasses and put them on. The sunglasses were strange. The lenses were almost the same color as her other lense, but a shade lighter.The frame was cool, it had a zig zag design on part of it.She had bought these from a trader a while back. Well......if you could call using stolen money buying. She looked in the mirror again. A more vivid memory came to mind, but dissapered before she could identify it.She sighed and pushed it out of her head.
"Much better,"she said getting up and walking towards the door.She stopped short, the pain in her leg grew a bit. She was nervous about seeing her captors. *No,I have to go face these people*she chastised herself, steeling her reserve. She twisted the door knob and walked out into the hall. Below she could hear someone humming, but that was it.She walked slowly down the stairs, ready to be shot at any moment.Her ears registered the tune and she stopped dead .Layne gasped.She knew that tune.She remembered that tune. *Just who are these people?*she thought as the girl on the couch turned around and stopped humming. &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& Lorienth was sitting on the couch humming an old lullaby and sewing something at the same time.What she was sewing she wasn't sure.The fabric was a very deep red, beautiful to the eyes.Her hands moved rapidly over the fabric. A pocket here, button's there,zippers on the reverse side. She had no idea what she was creating, she was just waisting time until Vash and her mother came back. The minutes melted into hours.Lorienth had completely thrown herself into the task, oblivious to the world around her.At last she finished the garment.BEfore she looked at it, she glanced at the clock.It read 12 noon.She had only been sewing since 6 this morning, so she congratulated herself on the time.Then she turned back to the garment. SHe held it up and gasped.
"Wow, I never knew I could do anything like this,"she said in wonder. The coat seemed vaguely familiar, as if she had seen it somewhere before, it was almost eerie. Lorienth shrugged the feeling off. *What am I gonna do with a coat like this, red isnt exactly my color,* she thought to herself and sat back down.She allowed her thoughts to wander to the events of the last few days. A picture of Layne lying helplessly sick on the bed. She remebered how badly her clothes had been torn by her mother and Milly. Layne..... . Lorienth didn't know her but she cared for her somehow.Ever sincer her appearance those few days ago. Then an idea dawned on her.
"I'll give this coat to Layne!"she said, happily folding it up. She grabbed a pen and a piece of paper and wrote Layne a short note.She tucked it in the folds of the cloth and ran upstairs. It was cool in Layne's sickroom. THe girl was currently tossing on the bed, mumbling somehting. Not wanting to intrude Lorienth padded quickly to where Layne's pack was and stuck the newly made coat in. *I just hope it fits her,*she thought as she exited the room. Her stomach began to grumble and she headed downstairs to eat. "Oh there you are Lorienth, I was looking for you,"Meryl said to her daughter as she entered the kitchen.
"Hey Mom,"she said sitcking her head in the fridge. She withdrew a pink donut and grumbled somehting about the donut place not complying with her order. She also grabbed a coke.Meryl laughed as she heard her gumble that. "So what have you been up to today dear?"she asked Lorienth. "I scmmf ahjjj coahslll forjjj Lajjjjjjinnnnne" she replied thrugh a mouth full of donut, crumbs spraying everywhere.Meryl sighed. "For goodness sake Lorienth, you could've told me without the donut in your mouth,"she said in an exasperated tone.Loreinth swallowed the rest of the donut and smiled.
"Hehe sorry Mom, I'll clean that up,"she said sheepishly. "You better believe you will, almost-16 year olds can taked care of themsleves"Meryl lectured.Lorienth rolled her eyes and got out the broom. "Now what did you say anways?"Meryl questioned while she was sweeping. "I said I sewed a coat for Layne,"Lorienth replied. Meryl arched an eyebrow. "Really, that was nice of you, seeing as she only had one pair of extra clothing,"she said, praising her daughter. Meryl was sruprised how Lorienth could be acting so kndly to someon she had only just met.Lorienth smiled and put the broom away.
"Yeah I know Mom,Iknow" she muttered, her head stuck in the fridge again. Meryl laughed and went to clean the massive pile of dirty dishes. "Hey,Mom if you need me I'll be in the living room reading,"Lorienth called, walking through the doors with a coke in her hand.Meryl nodded and focused on the dishes. Lorienth sat down on the couch, pulling a worn book out of the crack in the side of the couch. She traced the cover, and opened it. Her mother had given her the book when she was younger, but she had never bothered to read it before now. SHe opened it and began to read. Somewhere along the way she bagan to hum the tune she hummed so often.It was old lullaby that Meryl ahd sung to her when she was younger.A few minutes passed, and she was almost completely immersed in the book.Behind her she heard a soft noise of feet coming down the stairs. Thinking it was her mother she continued to read and hum. THen she heard a crash from the kitchen and her mother swearing.
*If Mom is in the kitchen and all the other's or out than that means Layne...*Lorienth thought.She stopped humming and stood up turning around with the coke in her hand. She saw Layne and nearly fainted.The coke slipped out of her hand and the glass bottle shattered on the linoluem floor. Layne looked at her pleadingly. "No.....don't stop....don't stop humming....please"the girl whispered.She to had stopped dead in her tracks. *My god, she looks just like......just like.....*Lorienth thought. "Vash......"Someone finished for her. By the sound of her voice Lorienth knew it was her mother. Realazation dawned on Lorienth as she peered at Layne. She had donned the red coat, which fit her perfectly. Her long blonde hair had been swept back into a ponytail, but a few new hair strands lay out on her forehead, almost exactly like Vash.She had the orange sunglasses that Vash almost always used to wear perched on her nose, and her eyes were the same color behind them as Vash's were.Time stopped. Meryl could hardly breath.Lorienth felt dead. Layne stood immobile on the stairs, the strands of the tune running through her head.
And then the timelesseness was shattered by Meryl's sobbing. Lorienth was spurred into movement like this. Her mother had sat down on the couch, sobs racking her body. Lorienth went over to comfort her mother.She sat near her rubbing her back mechanicly. "Mom,mom whats the matter?"Lorienth asked worriedly.Meryl could not answer she was crying to hard.Layne had come down the steps and was standing near Lorienth, looking worried. *No...no it wasn't supposed to happen like this.....I couldn't....my god their all going to kill me*Meryl thought frantically as she realized the direness of her situation.
*I knew that the description was familiar...but I never dreamed......Layne* she thought, continuing to cry violently.Layne's brow was furrowed in worry. She didn't know what had happened, but she knew it had somehting to do with her. "i'm-I'm sorry did i do something?"Layne asked.Loreinth shook her head, but Layne wasn't convinced.
*Something is wrong with me, I bring trouble and heartbreak wherever I go,* Layne thought sadly. It had always been like this.Everywhere she went,anyone she was close to ended up dead or in hearbreak, and that hurt Layne alot. "Im sorry to trouble you so, I'll leave before anything more happens" she said, dashing upstairs to retrieve her bag before anyone could protest. She reached the room and grabbed her bag, sitting shakily on the bed.The tune was still running through her head, distant memories tickling her brain then dashing away before she could catch them, not unlike imps wiht someones prized posession. Below Meryl had stopped crying. Lorienth was still sitting on the couch next to her, thinking about Layne. Meryl turned towards her daughter.
"Lorienth,I'm sorry I didn't mean for that to happen,"she whimpered. Then fear etched her face. "D-Did Layne say she was leaving?"Meryl asked in a dry voice.Lorienth merely nodded. "Yes, she said she's leaving as not to cause more trouble....."she sighed, turnign her head away in anguish. For some reason she didn't want Layne to go, even if she was a wanted criminal. Meryl grabbed her chin and turned her face back.
"No, don't worry Lorienth I won't let her leave again.This isnt her fault at all,"Meryl said to her daughter. *No I wont let her leave you...us again.This really isnt her fault, it's mine*Meryl thought sadly.Lorienth smiled, trying to reassure her mother. "Thanks Mom,"she said. Lorienth heard Vash and the others coming towards the house. Meryl's eyes opened really wide for a moment, then stopped.
*I suppose everyone deserves to know the truth......*she thought in anguish.A few moments later Layne came clambering down the steps carrying her pack. She still had the sunglasses and the coat Layne made for her on. "Bye thanks for every--"she started to say, the door opened and in came Vash. "Meryl Lorienth we--"he started to yell but stopped short as he caught site of Layne.The case of donuts he was carrying fell to the floor, spilling everwhere. Legato and Knives were carrying something in and pushed him further in.Paying no heed to anything the other two went into the kitchen and set it down. Milly,Grayfall, Nixie and Wolfwood stumbled in after them and stopped in awe of the site before them.
Knives and Legato then stumbled back on the scene. Knives seeing the spectacle reeled back, Legato just stood there dumbfounded, mouth hanging open. Vash was back in his suit. The red jacket, the glasses, the works. If it weren't for the obvious fact that Layne was female ,you could've never told them apart.He and Layne were now staring at eachother,electricity flying through their stares.Things were weird enough but started to get weirder as the two yelled at eachother, mirroring their thoughts, words and actions.Everyone else could just look on in awe at what happened.
"WHAT THE.....WHO THE HELL ARE YOU!"they yelled, pointing violently. "NO I ASKED YOU FIRST DAMNIT!" "STOP COPYING WHAT IM FRICKING SAYING!" "NO YOU STOP IT CREEP!" They stopped for a breath and thought,eyeing the spilled donuts. *Hehe I'll get that little impostor with this one* they thought, taking a deep breath. "SUPERCALAFRAGILISTICEXPIEALADOTIOUS WITH EXTRA CREAM AND SUGAR ON TOP. I WANT 2 DOZEN DONUTS, 1/3RD CHOCOLATE CREAM FILLED 1/3RD REGULAR AND 1/3RD CHOCOLATE COVERED WITH RAINBOW SPRINKLES AND YES THEY HAVE TO BE RAINBOW SPRINKLES OR ELSE!" they screeched.THe whole time they had made the same gestures and eye movements.The only difference was the pitches of their voices. Both gulped air and glared continually at eachother.
"WHAT THE HELL IS THIS, WHO HIRED YOU TO MAKE ME LOOK LIKE MORE OF AND IDIOT THAN I ALREADY AM!" the yelled, trying to stare eachother down.Neither blinked. Everyone else looked on in total shock, coudn't speak if their life depended on it. *This is somewhat of the exact thing that happened at the donut shop*Lorienth thought.Suddenly she burst out laughing, hunching over then falling onto the couch. The two blondes looked agitatedly over at her. "WHATS SO FUNNY YOU!"they yelled at her, increasing her laughter. Then cursing they turned back to eachother.
"WILL YOU STOP DOING THAT ITS REALLY STARTING TO FREAK ME OUT!" they yelled at eachother, creating more irritation between them. The rest of the room was succumberd in laughter.Vash and Layne whirled on them, hands coming to hips. "HEY WHAT DO YOU THINK IS SO DAMN FUNNY HUH! ALRIGHT WHERES THE DAMN CAMERA THIS IS GETTING OLD!" Vash and Layne yelled. The laughter continued and Vash and Layne sat opposite of eachother, eyeing the other warily. THe laughter finally subdued and everyone looked at the two with renewed tension and silence.Vash and Layne whirled on eachother again. Vash was stuck in shock mode, so Layne finally got to say somehting on her own.
"YOU IDIOT FRICKING STUPID BROOMHEAD! I DONT KNOW WHO OR WHAT THE HELL YOU ARE BUT--"Layne started yelling at the surprised Vash. Suddenly, Meryl cut her off, yelling. "LAYNE MARKKU STRYFE DONT YOU EVER SPEAK TO YOUR FATHER THAT WAY AGAIN!"Meryl yelled.Layne froze in mid sentence, her eyes growing wide with surprise.Layne suddnely new exactly who this was.No one, no one knew here real name, and certainly no one else had ever called her by the full on before. "M-mother?"she stuttered incredulously, turning around wide-eyed.Meryl eyed the girl and nodded.
"Yes, yes I am you mother,"Meryl replied, glaring at her impudent child angrily. Suddenly everything clicked into place in Lorienth's mind. She remembered being 7 years old, her twin sister running away.She remembered her mother and her crying.She remembered how when Layne Dark-Storm had appeared in the news her mother had thrown herself into the case.She siged and sat down, rubbing her temples.
"Okay, just what is going on here?That is Layne, the new infamous outlaw that we captured is it not?" Lorienth asked, a bit agitated.Vash and Layne shook their heads. "That's what I'd like two now ask her/him!" the seethed.All eyes turned to Meryl. She fidgeted around in her seat a bit. "Ummmmm.....everyone I suppose you want an explanation......."she said looking away.Vash and Layne glared at her. "I SHOULD SAY SO!" they yelled. "Hush and I'll explain everything..."she said. "Vash, this is your daughter, Layne..."she began, silencing vash and Layne with a 'look'. "I know it must come as a surprise, afterall, Layne is Lorienth's age afterall. And this is going to take a while to explain." "Lorienth, despite things I have said, Vash is your real father....There was no John.... he never existed,I just needed somehthing to tell everyone. As you know Vash I left when I got pregnant, saying I couldn't bear to be around you when the baby came. Shortly after I found out I was pregnant with twins.........."
"Doctors were intrigued, one of the babies was growing rapidly, the other at only a slightly accelerated rate. They ran tests.....to see what the cause was." "THe cause was that the babies were part plant, which I already knew, this was interesting to the doctors, so they ran some tests. During these tests the noticed somthing highly unusual." "Some how the hybrid between plant and human had been breached. Only one of the babies was a plant like Vash and Knives, and the other not at all.Somehow the children had switched, Layne somehow got Lorienth's plant inheritance and Lorienth got Layne's human inheritance. It was strange, a complete mystery."
"I was scared when your birth came. Layne was at full term, and Lorienth feeding off some of Laynes err....growth, was almost there...about 2 months premature I would say. You were both born......both seemingly normal, even Lorienth. Loreinth came out as my mirror image, as you can see today, and Layne......well let's just say that she is every inch her father." "In any case, I raised you both, that is until you were 7 years old. Then, being the renegade she was, Layne ran away, and I lost all contact with her.I could see that it pained her to live around people.She constantly attracted trouble and heartache, much like Vash.But she was such a stoic, never saying a word about how the other people treated her or anything....alot like you Knives.Then Vash came back shortly after.I didnt want to through salt into anyones wounds,or make fresh ones, so I kept to myself.WIth Vash there, Lorienth pretty much forgot about the whole thing. And you know the rest from there,"Meryl finished, trailing off into thought. The room was stark silent, no one willing to break it. Then Vash did.
"So you mean to tell me, that you kept both of MY daughters from me for 15 years, and that Layne ran away.Then she was allowed to run wild, becoming the mirror image of me and an INFAMOUS OUTLAW?!" he asked in an incredulous tone.Meryl nodded and continued studying the ground.She just couldnt meet anyones eyes. "Jesus Meryl! Do you have any idea how much trouble this brings......I mean its bad enough that there is a $$60,000,000,000 bounty on my head......but then come to find out my daughter is an imfamous modern day criminal worth $$70,000,000,000!JESUS CRIMANY THATS MORE THAN IM WORTH!" he yelled, just figuring it out (A/N Sometimes Vash seems to be a bit dull...sorry). Everyone else in the room was fidgeting.Taking this as a cue to leave,Grayfall stood up.
"HEy, c'mon you guys....I think they should be alone to have a family chat..."he said bolting out of the door.Everyone else followed suit, including Layne. "Stop right there Layne,"Vash said sternly. THe girl stopped in mid stride, turning slowly around and going to sit on the newly freed couch where Vash was pointing to.
Mwahahaha I am an evil author.....but then I never said I was a nice one. MWAHAHAHA *HACK*HAHAHAH*COUGH* HA*THUMP*. Eheh sorry about that anyways. YOu likey you review. You no likey, You review anyways. Much thanks is offered to those who do.In the famous words of Apu Nehasahpemapatelon (I think that's how you say it): Thank-You Come Again! -R.K.
Lorienth looked down at the days paper in a non-chalant way. She had no interest in antything that was going on on Gunsmoke, what-so-ever.She walked into her large home and gave the paper to her mother. "Here is the paper..."she said.Lorienth spotted sheaf of papers on the counter and walked over to file them. Meryl Stryfe sighed and set down her mug of coffee. Sometimes her daughter was so much like her it was scary.It wasnt that she just acted like her, but the fact that she was almost a mirror image of her mother. She looked nothing like her estranged father.
"Thank you honey,"she said as she began leafing through the paper. Lorienth nodded and headed into the kitchen to grab a coke.She grabbed a soda from the fridge and went to the table.
"Dont know why she cares so much about the stupid paper anyways..."she muttered stopping as she ran into Vash.
"Eeh-heh sorry Vash" she said, wiping the coke off his clothes. Vash just smiled and laughed it off..
"No problem Lorienth,"he mumbled, his head stuck in the fridge. He pulled it out after a few momnets of searching, and made his way into the living room. Lorienth shook her head she knew what was coming next.
"MERYL!" he yelled. Meryl turned his way. "What Vash?Do you need to yell?"she asked, sitll reading the paper. "Heh, sorry ...It's just we're out of donuts....."he said trailing off hopefully. Meryl sighed and set the paper down.
"Yes, what would you like me to do about it?"she answered him raising her eyebrow . Vash looked shot down.Meryl smiled inwardly.*He goes through donuts like water*she thought perkily.Vash was looking at her with pleading eyes.Meryl payed no attention to that fact. "Go ask Lorienth,"she said resuming reading the paper. Vash perked up.
"Good idea thanks.."he said rushing back into the kitchen. Lorienth cursed under her breath. "Always makes me the scapegoat..."she muttered as Vash entered the room. "hey Lorienth..."he began.Lorienth cut him off. "No Vash I am not going to the store for donuts again."she said sternly. Vash sat down and looked at her pleadingly.
"Please, Lorienth, please,"he whined fluttering his eyes. Lorienth shook her head. "Fine, fine I'll go,"she mumbled, thorwing her coke can into the trash. "Thanks!"Vash exclaimed handing her the money. "Your the best!"
Lorienth shook her head in mirth.She had never been all that close to Vash but she did enjoy his company. She glared at her mom on the way out letting her know that the scapegoat act wasn't appreciated in the least, but Meryl was paying no attention to her, still reading the paper. For some reason her mother had been adept int the happenings of Gunsmoke lately, though she couldn't imagine why. As she went outside Lorienth perked up.It was a pretty nice day out and the donut place wasn't to far from their home.
"If I hurry up I can make it to the donut place before it gets exceedingly busy,"she said to herself, taking off at a run to the shop.She was right, or so it seemed. Their was only one person in line.She got behind him and stood there. The man was sitll ordering, and Lorienth groaned as she listened to his order. It was really long. She pulled the money out of her pocket and counted it, trying to pass time. There was about $$20 extra.
The man finally finished ordering, and moved out of the way.The guy behind the counter smileed apologetically as she stepped up. "Ummm.I'm sorry but can you wait a bit to order, this man's order is going to take a little while to fill...." the donut person mumbled nervously. Lorienth smiled and nodded. "Thanks,"he said.Lorienth retreated into a nearby store, where she could shop and watch the donut shop. The coolness of the inside was inviting, no matter how nice it was outside.
She browsed around absentmindedly and seeing nothing she liked sat down to watch the donut shop. No one came there for a while, but whem someone finally did they were sent away as she was.Lorienth didnt catch what the person looked like because somene had just set a new box of stuff on the shleves.She walked over and sifted through it. Still seeing nothing interesting she went and sat on the bench again.
She watched as the fat man kept on adding to his order. It had been over an hour that she was waiting and she was getting fed up. "Im gonna go give that guy a piece of my mind!" she mumbled to herself exiting thorugh the door.She stalked over, anger rising with each step. Fortunately for the man his order was finished and he walked away. Still agitated Lorienth stalked over to the counter.She didn't notice that someone had arrived at the same time as her. They both slapped their hands on thecounter.
"I THOUGHT YOU SAID IT WOULDNT TAKE THAT LONG"they yelled at the same time. the man looked a little taken aback but just nodded. "I WANT 2 DOZEN DONUTS 1/3 CHOCOLATE CRREAM FILLED 1/3 THIRD REGULAR AND 1/3RD CHOCOLATE COVERED WITH RAINBOW SPRINKLES"they said echoing eachother. The man gaped at them and started to open his mouth but they both cut him off "AND YES THEY HAVE TO BE RAINBOW SPRINKLES OR ELSE!"they yelled finishing the barrage, (at the exact same time I might add).
The man silently went to go fill their order, and they suddenly became aware that they had just ordered the same thing at the same time. They whirled towards eachother, anger evident in their contrasted eyes.
"WHO THE HELL ARE YOU" they yelled. "NO I ASKED YOU FIRST!" "STOP COPYING WHAT IM SAYING" "NO YOU STOP COPYING WHAT IM SAYING" (A/N they echoed eachother the whole time)
"Hey hold on a second!" the donut man yelled as the raised their hands to hit eachother. He was finding the scene quite comical nad was on the verge of laughter. Both whirled towards him (at the same time) and he blanched. He knew Lorienth, who had moved in with her mother recently.She was an almost mirror image of her mother, attitude and looks.Shrot dark hair, dark blue eyes, fiery temper when riled up. But the new comer was a mystery. She had long blonde hair and piercing green eyes, somewhat like the man that lived with Lorienth and her daughter.There was a red bag slung over her shoulder and she was glaring angrily at him. The man blanched again as he realized just who he was dealing with.
"Layne Dark-Storm!" he said,fainting on the spot.Lorienth looked at the other girl confused.For a second she stared. *This girl reminds me of someone...........*she thought, cutting herself off to find out exactly what had happened to the man. "What's the matter with him?" she asked. The other girl,Layne, smiled sheepishly. "Ehh i have no clue!" she said grabbing her newly filled order and bolting away. Lorienth shook her head in confusement and sighed.
"Whats her problem? Geese, she didnt even pay," she mumbled slapping down money to pay for both orders.She grabbed hers and dashed away. Her mother was prbably worried because of how long she was taking and was also prbably cranky because of Vash's whining.Lorienth shook her head. Vash was a card. He acted like a dweeb most of the time,always in and out of trouble. She chuckled, thinking of him. *Heh what a dweeb...* As Lorienth walked the rest of the way home she was deep in thought about Layne. Something had clicked when she'd seen her at the donut shop. For some reason she felt a connction to Layne.
*Who was that, I could've sworn I've seen her somewhere before...* she thought.*Ohwell* she said mentally, ending the thoughts as she turned the corner to her street. As a habit she walked over to the town bullitein board. THe same old signs had been covered up by a new wanted sign. SHe gasped as she read it.
WANTED
Alive Layne Dark-Storm Age:Unknown. Hair:Long and Blonde Eyes:Green No Picture Available Any Information Contact authorities. Reward for capture: $$70,000,000,000
Lorienth gasped and almost dropped the donuts, *My god, shes almost as wanted as Vash is!And that was the girl.......*she thought .Something clicked in her mind again. *THat description.....that girl.....Vash.....* she though frantically. Without even thinking she ripped the paper of the bulletin board and sprinted the rest of the way home.She reached her home and bolted in slamming the door in her franticness.
"MOM! VASH! GET IN HERE NOW!" she bellowed, seeing the living room empty, They both zoomed into the living room. Concern etched her their faces as they saw Lorienth ,who looked as if she had seen a ghost. "Whats the matter Lorienth?"Vash asked worriedly.Lorienth was shaking all over, and couldn't answer. He hadn't seen her like this since the frist day he had come here to talk to her mother. Spying the paper he picked it up and read it.
"Wow, another trouble maker....Lorienth what does this have to do with anything?"Vash asked innocently. Meryl meanwhile grabbed had grabbed the paper and was reading it. No one noticed how her face paled as she read it. Lorienth took deep slow breaths and finally answered. "I saw her at the donut place....she ordered.... she looked....."Lorienth began, trailing off into incomprehensible language. "What what Lorienth,"Meryl urged her.Lorienth shook her head clearing it. "Nothing never mind, we have GOT to find her!" Lorienth said. Vash cast her a strange look.
"Why?" he inquired. Layne looked up at him, her eyes flashing dangerously. "DAD FOR THE LOVE OF GOD!WE JUST HAVE TO GO FIND THAT GIRL!" she yelled. Meryl and Vash reeled back in surprise.Lorienth had never ever called Vash Dad before.Vash wasnt her father, but had taken over the role after her real father had left when she was 7.Meryl took this in and nodded.
*This can;t be happening* she thought in panick. She quickly calmed herself down and turned towards Lorienth. "Alrighty, let me just call a few people, by the looks of this description and the report on her in the paper this is going to take a while to do" She said, casting a do-this-for-your-own-good look at Vash.VAsh was a bit confused but nodded in agreement anyways. Meryl walked out of the door shortly after.Vash nodded and followed her.
"Just stay here Lorienth, we'll be back,and I'll send Nixie and Grayfall over here, K?" he asked, not bothering ot hear her response. Layne shook her head. "No, I am coming with you,"she said following him. Vash shook his head in defeat.No use arguing with Lorienth now. ###############################################################
"CRAP CRAP CRAP! That was really bad!" Layne cursed herself as she ran to a nearby car and dove in, head first. She rooted around her pocket for the keys and after finding them jammed them into the ignition. The engine sputtered to life and she floored it, ripping thorugh the town like a fire.
"What the hell was fricken I thinking waltzing into a town like that.And then to be recognized. DAMNIT!" she chastised herself loudly, swerving around a large group of people who were consulting with one another. She speared a glance at them. There were two tall blonde men,a woman who looked like the girl from the donut stand, the girl from the donut shop, a blue haired huy, a raven headed girl,a tall blue haired man, a tall brown haired woman, and a dark haired priest. She returned her eyes to the road and swore as she almost hit a post. Layne slammed on the brakes and fishtailed.
At the screeching and cursing the group looked up. Cursing herself again she jammed the vehicle into gear. "Grat now Im probably going to be pursued by those people,"she muttered. This was followed by a loud string of her colorful vocabulary. She finally hit outskirts of the town and pushed the gas further,
"Wheew made it," she said finally calming down.Her thoughts were still rapid though. *What am I going to do?That girl obviously recognized me at the donut shop.Now her little posse is going to come after me! Great sometimes I swear I'm such and idiot! Its not my fault that trouble follows me everywhere I go and I certainly didnt mean to do most of the things they want me for!* she thought ruefully. She r ode on like this for a while, stopping in the night in a secluded sandbar. *I should be safe here.....* she thought, curling up in the back seat of the vehicle. She drifted slowly of to sleep, thinking of what had happened at the donut shop.
@@@Back in the town@@@ Vash, Meryl and Lorienth had gathered everyone.They stood in a loose group. Vash,Knives,Meryl,Lorienth,Grayfall (Legato's son),Nixie(Mille and Nicholas' daughter), Legato, Millie, and Nicholas. "So...there is another outlaw out there named Layne Dark-Storm, whom you met at the donut place,"Knives said. Lorienth nodded her head. "Anything else?"he asked. She shook her head, but Knives knew she was leaving something out.
"Are you sure?" he asked, giving her another chance. "Yes, thats right,"she answered tiredly.He decided not to push the issue, his niece could be a piece of work sometimes. No one had bothered to ask why she thought it was so important to go after Layne.Meryl had explained the circumstances to them and they readily agreed.During this time a vehicle veered around them. The group looked up as the car screeched to a halt and the driver let out a long line of colorful vocab. Lorienth heard that and knew exactly who it was.
"That would be her I presume?" Knives asked, raising an eyebrow.Lorienth nodded her head. No one moved as the vehicle took off once again,they didnt want to alert suspicion. "Interesting......"he said, trailing off. Lorienth watched silently as the vehicle rocketed out of the town, taking Layne Dark-Storm with it.They stayed in the same place consulting on what to do next. It was dark by the time they had a plan and left.
They split into a few cars, Vash and Lorienth riding in a two seater, Legato,Knives,Grayfall and Nicholas in one of the four seaters, and Meryl,Mille, and Nixie in the other.They drove for a while, following the fadind tracks in the sand.They stopped at the edge of a cleverly hidden sand dune, and got out to stretch legs (they had been riding or a few hours after all).Lorienth was sitting on the hood of the car in a distant mood when she heard the commontion below. She ignored it, thinking it was just some animal fighting, until a gunshot rang thorugh the air. Everyones head whipped up at that, and Lorienth bolted to the crest of the sandbar. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^******************^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Layne jolted back to alertness as she heard someone approaching the SandMaster 320 (her vehicle). The cool glint of a gun in the moonlight appeared and she pin pointed the enemy. A rapid plot filled her head. There were 6 burly men, presumeably bandits, surrouding the car.She mapped eachones posistion and slowly grabbed her gun, concealing it quickly under her jacket. One of the men approched her and pointed the gun at her tire, shooting it.
"Wake UP CALL MISSIE!" he yelled. Layne bolted up, playing the part of a scared traveler. "AHHH who are you?"she cried, feigining terror. The men laughed at her alarm. "Heheh little miss, we're gonna have fun with you, but first gimme all yon vittles and money,"the hick bandit said, gesturing towards the bag. Layne,wide-eyed obeyed, bending over to pick up her bag. With that the man got a good look at her.
"Well aint ye a pretty one,"he leered at her slapping her rear, oblivous to the fact that he had just slapped a world famous out law. Layne had a sudden change in attitude.The warmth in her eyes dissolved and she was seething mad.She shoved the pack at him, carefully avoiding his eyes. Layne marked that man in her mind, vowing to cripple him.She was seething mad, ready to kill at anymoment.
"Aren't you gonna leave?"she asked innocently, backing against the car in mock terror. The other men started to laugh and began to circle around her, making sure she couldnt escape. They didnt notice the gun concealed in her jacket. Another of the men shot out her tires, and she winced thinking, *Great, another patch in those tires, I've GOT to get some new ones* The marked man was getting dangerously close to her, so close that she could reach out and touch him.
"Oh no missie, we have to have some fun with ye before yon end,"he said, grinning fouly.Disgust inched it's way throgh Laynes body. She backed away fruther, faking horror at the recent 'revelation'. In this process she took out her gun and fired it into the pack she had gave him. The man payed no heed thinking the others were blowing out her tires some more.He was laughing wildly and advancing fast. Another shot rang out, and then another, and then 4 more. Finally the man got agitated and whirled around, ready to yell at his crew. They all lay on the ground, writhing in pain and clutching their legs
"WHAT THE--"the man called out, but stopped as he felt the cool presence of a gun on the back of his shaven head.His hand reached for his gun, but Layne noticed. "I would't do that if I were you,"she said in a dead cold voice, kicking the gun out of his hand. He let out a yelp of pain as her hand smashed into his and the gun went spiraling to the side, out of reach of everyone. Layne slowly turned the man around. "Whats your name pig?" she sneered in the same cold voice. The man lurched backwards in terror at the look in her eyes. Her eyes had seemed warm and friendly, if not terrorized earlier, but now they were cold as ice, the look of an animal about to take down it's prey.
"I asked you a question,"she hissed. The man shook his head. "My-my name is Oriko,Running Terror of the Desert,"he answered haltingly. Layne beared her teeth at him, in a type of mean evil smile. "You won't be running anymore,"she sneered. Pointing the gun at his stomach where the lower back would be. THe man reeled back, falling to the ground.He whimpered and twisted in the sand attempting to crawl away. "N-no p-please dont hurt me miss...I-I'm sorry,"he stuttered.
"How pathetic: N-no p-please dont hurt me miss...I-I'm sorry,"she mocked him. The man continued crawling backwards, tears spilling down his cheeks. Layne looked down at him as he cried so freely and snapped back to reality. Her eyes softened again, they were no longer ice. She looked around a bit, as if she were confused at what she was doing and then turned back to the man. The man noticed the different look in her eyes in and sighed. He had no intention on angereing or corssing this woman's wrath point ever again.Layne shook her head and peered down the nose at the man. She looked genuinley shocked at her earlier threats.
"I won't hurt you,"she breathed, still holding the gun.The man nodded, thankful. "My-my crew......"he said trailing off. " Mere lesh wounds. thats it,I assure you"Layne said backing towards the car.HEr head was spinning violently and she wanted to sit down. "I want you to get them up, and get out of here,"she muttered, sitting on her car. The man quickly complied and they were all quickly gone. Sighing in fatigue, Layne resolved to make sure they were really gone before she slept. Pain was radiating from some previous wounds but she ignored it. She made her way to the top of a dune and watched them leave before returning to the SandMaster. She sunk greatfully into the seat and put her gun away.She didn't feel well at all. "im just gonna sleep here, I'll fix the tires in the morning,"she promised herself before slipping into a deep, non dreaming ,semi-unconcious sleep. ************************************************************** Vash and the others watched in awe as Layne decimated the men around her easily. They ahd made their way down the sand bar to help her but Vash had stopped them and they watched the scene unfold from the bottom. it was quite an awesome fight. Layne had reflected her shots off of a metal plate in her bag and hit each of the men in the leg as the passed by. The men were to focused on their leader to notice their falling comrades. It was a risky move, but effective. Soemthing had happened to Layne as the man advanced on her.
She had sensed his ulterior motives. The group were surprised at her sudden change in attitude. Her eyes had gone cold as ice, and it scared Knives to death.he had nearly fainted, but no one had noticed. Then she returned to normal, telling the terrified men to leave. Vash knew they wouldnt come back.Then Layne went back to her car and was almost immedeatly asleep.It baffled them, but was a major advantage.
Knives scooted over to where Vash and Legato were. "We go now. Surround her loosely. I dont think she will wake up, but be careful anyways,"Knives whispered. Vash and Legato nodded, stepping out of the brush. They approached very cautiously, not wanting the same fate as those men. They surrounded her loosely and Knives got close. The others watched breathlessly from the bushes.He cocked the gun and pressed it against her head. ************************************************************* Layne was lost in deep sleep. She was vaguely aware of the pain of a recent gunshot wounds, but it was gone soon enough.Her head was feverish, she was sick form the infected wounds.She longed for cold water but couldnt seem to find her way out of the sleep. Suddenly somehting cool pressed against her temple, helping her out of the sleep. Her eyes fluttered for a few moments and then someone spoke. ############################################################### "Sit up, very very slowly,"Kinves commanded as Layne's eyes opened.He could tell that she was very ill by looking at her, she wouldnt be giving much of a fight as shedid earlier. her face was pale and she looked a little flushed.A panicked look came to her eyes and she sat up slowly.Her hand searched for her gun, but Vash already had it.
"W-who are......."she said, but slumped forward,passed out before he could answer. Knives knew she wasn't faking it.This girl need major medical attention. "Vash, take her to the car now,"Knives said. Vash was a bit confused as to why he was doing that when Knives was so close but he did so anyways. Vash couldnt see the girls face very well, but he could tell she was sick.
"She's burning up!" Lorienth exclaimed as Vash was walking to the car. Mille and Nicholas had grabbed all the stuff in the SandMaster and they were headed back to the cars. Vash set her down in the cargo part of the two seater, strapping her in like cargo.He and Lorienth got into ther car. To Lorienth's surprise Vash strapped himself in. He looked at her. "Lorienth strap yourself in, it's going to a bumpy ride home," he said starting the car. Lorienth did and Vash sped off at top speed. The others were close behind. THey reached the town within the hour. Vash stopped the car and jumped out. He grabbed Layne and whisked her inside. Meryl and Mille came in soon after.
"Ok, well we can heal her,"Millie announced, carting Vash out of the dark room. Meryl was rooting around in a nurses bag. "Millie turn on the light please, it'll be easier to see that way." Meryl commanded. Millie quicly complied and joined Meryl near Layne's side. "I thought the last time I would EVER have to do this was when Vash was injured last," Meryl grumbled. Millie meanwhile was paying no attention. She slipped one of Layne's sleeves up and gasped. A huge bullet wound was reopened. It was yellow and swollen with a bad infection.
"Oh my God, Meryl!" Millie exclaimed. Meryl was not phazed. "Mille, there are two more like it in her leg," she said calmly. She ripped the girls pants leg off and began to clean the wounds. "Millie, you start on the other one," she said. Millie complied. Layne was in a deep slumber, she didnt even move, well except for breathing. *This is gonna take a while* Meryl thought, extracting a bullet from the wound. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% ***3 days later*** Layne awoke in agony.She was having the dream again. The one where her parent's faces were just on the horizon, but Layne coudn't see them.It had gone a bit farther this time though. The same lullaby was playing through her head, but this time she saw a pair of sunglasses, yellowish-orange lenses, kind of like hers. Layne stopped and shook her head.
*BEst no to think about the past* she thought wiping the tears out of her eyes, taking deep slow breaths and looking aroung the white washed room. *My God what happened........where am I?* she thought, panicked. Her breathing was coming fast, so she stopped and took more deep breaths.
*What the hell kind of trouble did I get into THIS time*she thought with a groan. She couldn't quite remember anything. Then the gun and the blonde man came flashing into her mind. She groaned again, sitting up to look around the room. She noticed that her arm and leg was bandaged heavily, and were in mild pain. Realazation bloomed in her mind.She remebered the blonde man and his group of friends.She remembered the gun against her head and fainting into the blonde mans arms.
*They healed me.......why..........*she thought somberly. She could hear voices below, but couldn't make out the words. *I should go meet these people...*she thought dejectedly. She looked at her decimated clothes and sighed. "I'd better change........"Layne said quietly to herself. She swung her legs over the side of the bed and stood up. A mild pain shot through her leg, but she ignored it.She spotted her pack and sighed.
*Thank God...*Layne thought, picking up the pack and sitting on the bed. Her bag had been rumaged through, and they had take her spare gun and ammuntion. *Damn! Oh well, I just hope theydont decide to kill me* she thought. Her hands grazed a small bulge in the bottom of the bag, and she dumped everything out, ignoring the foreign bolt of bright red fabric that spilled out. She hastily flipped open the secret compartment and sighed.It had not been disturbed. In the pocket lay a yellowish-orange disk rimmed by metal.It was the lense to a pair of sunglasses she was sure, her only link to her past and parents.She sighed and replaced it. No need for these strangers to see it. She turned to place everything in the bag.A bolt of red fabric had spilled from the bag covering everything else.It hadn't been there before either.
"Wow, how did this get in here, it's beautiful,"Layne said in awe as she unfurled the long crimson coat. A note fell out of the pocket, and she read it. It was in a neat scrawl and read, FOR YOU LAYNE. Layne was puzzled. *Why would anyone do this for a criminal like me?* she thought. *No wait, I am not a criminal, it isnt my fault that trouble follows m earound and seems to be y middle name!* Layne chastised herself.She sighed and pushed the thoughts away.In any case it had been given to her, and she didnt want to offend. She reached back in her pack and withdrew the only other articles of clothing she had becides the newly decimated out fit she had had on. The outfit consisted of black dress pants and a white dress shirt. She wasnt sure why she liked it , it was just practical wear she supposed. She put her pants on easily, not even jarring her injured leg, then put the shirt on and buttoned it up. Last of all she picked up the coat and slipped it over her head.
The fabric was cool, inviting. She pushed her head through the hole and slid her arms through the others. It fit perfectly, like it was tailor made to fit her. Layne caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror and stopped.A brief memory flashed before her eyes, but she couldn't quite grasp it.Sighing she walked over and plopped onto the bed.
She withdrew her brush and brushed her hair back out of her face, pulling it into a tight ponytail.A few troublesome hairs stuck out on her forehead, but she could do nothing about them unilt they grew out. For the finishing touch she grabbed her trade mark sunglasses and put them on. The sunglasses were strange. The lenses were almost the same color as her other lense, but a shade lighter.The frame was cool, it had a zig zag design on part of it.She had bought these from a trader a while back. Well......if you could call using stolen money buying. She looked in the mirror again. A more vivid memory came to mind, but dissapered before she could identify it.She sighed and pushed it out of her head.
"Much better,"she said getting up and walking towards the door.She stopped short, the pain in her leg grew a bit. She was nervous about seeing her captors. *No,I have to go face these people*she chastised herself, steeling her reserve. She twisted the door knob and walked out into the hall. Below she could hear someone humming, but that was it.She walked slowly down the stairs, ready to be shot at any moment.Her ears registered the tune and she stopped dead .Layne gasped.She knew that tune.She remembered that tune. *Just who are these people?*she thought as the girl on the couch turned around and stopped humming. &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& Lorienth was sitting on the couch humming an old lullaby and sewing something at the same time.What she was sewing she wasn't sure.The fabric was a very deep red, beautiful to the eyes.Her hands moved rapidly over the fabric. A pocket here, button's there,zippers on the reverse side. She had no idea what she was creating, she was just waisting time until Vash and her mother came back. The minutes melted into hours.Lorienth had completely thrown herself into the task, oblivious to the world around her.At last she finished the garment.BEfore she looked at it, she glanced at the clock.It read 12 noon.She had only been sewing since 6 this morning, so she congratulated herself on the time.Then she turned back to the garment. SHe held it up and gasped.
"Wow, I never knew I could do anything like this,"she said in wonder. The coat seemed vaguely familiar, as if she had seen it somewhere before, it was almost eerie. Lorienth shrugged the feeling off. *What am I gonna do with a coat like this, red isnt exactly my color,* she thought to herself and sat back down.She allowed her thoughts to wander to the events of the last few days. A picture of Layne lying helplessly sick on the bed. She remebered how badly her clothes had been torn by her mother and Milly. Layne..... . Lorienth didn't know her but she cared for her somehow.Ever sincer her appearance those few days ago. Then an idea dawned on her.
"I'll give this coat to Layne!"she said, happily folding it up. She grabbed a pen and a piece of paper and wrote Layne a short note.She tucked it in the folds of the cloth and ran upstairs. It was cool in Layne's sickroom. THe girl was currently tossing on the bed, mumbling somehting. Not wanting to intrude Lorienth padded quickly to where Layne's pack was and stuck the newly made coat in. *I just hope it fits her,*she thought as she exited the room. Her stomach began to grumble and she headed downstairs to eat. "Oh there you are Lorienth, I was looking for you,"Meryl said to her daughter as she entered the kitchen.
"Hey Mom,"she said sitcking her head in the fridge. She withdrew a pink donut and grumbled somehting about the donut place not complying with her order. She also grabbed a coke.Meryl laughed as she heard her gumble that. "So what have you been up to today dear?"she asked Lorienth. "I scmmf ahjjj coahslll forjjj Lajjjjjjinnnnne" she replied thrugh a mouth full of donut, crumbs spraying everywhere.Meryl sighed. "For goodness sake Lorienth, you could've told me without the donut in your mouth,"she said in an exasperated tone.Loreinth swallowed the rest of the donut and smiled.
"Hehe sorry Mom, I'll clean that up,"she said sheepishly. "You better believe you will, almost-16 year olds can taked care of themsleves"Meryl lectured.Lorienth rolled her eyes and got out the broom. "Now what did you say anways?"Meryl questioned while she was sweeping. "I said I sewed a coat for Layne,"Lorienth replied. Meryl arched an eyebrow. "Really, that was nice of you, seeing as she only had one pair of extra clothing,"she said, praising her daughter. Meryl was sruprised how Lorienth could be acting so kndly to someon she had only just met.Lorienth smiled and put the broom away.
"Yeah I know Mom,Iknow" she muttered, her head stuck in the fridge again. Meryl laughed and went to clean the massive pile of dirty dishes. "Hey,Mom if you need me I'll be in the living room reading,"Lorienth called, walking through the doors with a coke in her hand.Meryl nodded and focused on the dishes. Lorienth sat down on the couch, pulling a worn book out of the crack in the side of the couch. She traced the cover, and opened it. Her mother had given her the book when she was younger, but she had never bothered to read it before now. SHe opened it and began to read. Somewhere along the way she bagan to hum the tune she hummed so often.It was old lullaby that Meryl ahd sung to her when she was younger.A few minutes passed, and she was almost completely immersed in the book.Behind her she heard a soft noise of feet coming down the stairs. Thinking it was her mother she continued to read and hum. THen she heard a crash from the kitchen and her mother swearing.
*If Mom is in the kitchen and all the other's or out than that means Layne...*Lorienth thought.She stopped humming and stood up turning around with the coke in her hand. She saw Layne and nearly fainted.The coke slipped out of her hand and the glass bottle shattered on the linoluem floor. Layne looked at her pleadingly. "No.....don't stop....don't stop humming....please"the girl whispered.She to had stopped dead in her tracks. *My god, she looks just like......just like.....*Lorienth thought. "Vash......"Someone finished for her. By the sound of her voice Lorienth knew it was her mother. Realazation dawned on Lorienth as she peered at Layne. She had donned the red coat, which fit her perfectly. Her long blonde hair had been swept back into a ponytail, but a few new hair strands lay out on her forehead, almost exactly like Vash.She had the orange sunglasses that Vash almost always used to wear perched on her nose, and her eyes were the same color behind them as Vash's were.Time stopped. Meryl could hardly breath.Lorienth felt dead. Layne stood immobile on the stairs, the strands of the tune running through her head.
And then the timelesseness was shattered by Meryl's sobbing. Lorienth was spurred into movement like this. Her mother had sat down on the couch, sobs racking her body. Lorienth went over to comfort her mother.She sat near her rubbing her back mechanicly. "Mom,mom whats the matter?"Lorienth asked worriedly.Meryl could not answer she was crying to hard.Layne had come down the steps and was standing near Lorienth, looking worried. *No...no it wasn't supposed to happen like this.....I couldn't....my god their all going to kill me*Meryl thought frantically as she realized the direness of her situation.
*I knew that the description was familiar...but I never dreamed......Layne* she thought, continuing to cry violently.Layne's brow was furrowed in worry. She didn't know what had happened, but she knew it had somehting to do with her. "i'm-I'm sorry did i do something?"Layne asked.Loreinth shook her head, but Layne wasn't convinced.
*Something is wrong with me, I bring trouble and heartbreak wherever I go,* Layne thought sadly. It had always been like this.Everywhere she went,anyone she was close to ended up dead or in hearbreak, and that hurt Layne alot. "Im sorry to trouble you so, I'll leave before anything more happens" she said, dashing upstairs to retrieve her bag before anyone could protest. She reached the room and grabbed her bag, sitting shakily on the bed.The tune was still running through her head, distant memories tickling her brain then dashing away before she could catch them, not unlike imps wiht someones prized posession. Below Meryl had stopped crying. Lorienth was still sitting on the couch next to her, thinking about Layne. Meryl turned towards her daughter.
"Lorienth,I'm sorry I didn't mean for that to happen,"she whimpered. Then fear etched her face. "D-Did Layne say she was leaving?"Meryl asked in a dry voice.Lorienth merely nodded. "Yes, she said she's leaving as not to cause more trouble....."she sighed, turnign her head away in anguish. For some reason she didn't want Layne to go, even if she was a wanted criminal. Meryl grabbed her chin and turned her face back.
"No, don't worry Lorienth I won't let her leave again.This isnt her fault at all,"Meryl said to her daughter. *No I wont let her leave you...us again.This really isnt her fault, it's mine*Meryl thought sadly.Lorienth smiled, trying to reassure her mother. "Thanks Mom,"she said. Lorienth heard Vash and the others coming towards the house. Meryl's eyes opened really wide for a moment, then stopped.
*I suppose everyone deserves to know the truth......*she thought in anguish.A few moments later Layne came clambering down the steps carrying her pack. She still had the sunglasses and the coat Layne made for her on. "Bye thanks for every--"she started to say, the door opened and in came Vash. "Meryl Lorienth we--"he started to yell but stopped short as he caught site of Layne.The case of donuts he was carrying fell to the floor, spilling everwhere. Legato and Knives were carrying something in and pushed him further in.Paying no heed to anything the other two went into the kitchen and set it down. Milly,Grayfall, Nixie and Wolfwood stumbled in after them and stopped in awe of the site before them.
Knives and Legato then stumbled back on the scene. Knives seeing the spectacle reeled back, Legato just stood there dumbfounded, mouth hanging open. Vash was back in his suit. The red jacket, the glasses, the works. If it weren't for the obvious fact that Layne was female ,you could've never told them apart.He and Layne were now staring at eachother,electricity flying through their stares.Things were weird enough but started to get weirder as the two yelled at eachother, mirroring their thoughts, words and actions.Everyone else could just look on in awe at what happened.
"WHAT THE.....WHO THE HELL ARE YOU!"they yelled, pointing violently. "NO I ASKED YOU FIRST DAMNIT!" "STOP COPYING WHAT IM FRICKING SAYING!" "NO YOU STOP IT CREEP!" They stopped for a breath and thought,eyeing the spilled donuts. *Hehe I'll get that little impostor with this one* they thought, taking a deep breath. "SUPERCALAFRAGILISTICEXPIEALADOTIOUS WITH EXTRA CREAM AND SUGAR ON TOP. I WANT 2 DOZEN DONUTS, 1/3RD CHOCOLATE CREAM FILLED 1/3RD REGULAR AND 1/3RD CHOCOLATE COVERED WITH RAINBOW SPRINKLES AND YES THEY HAVE TO BE RAINBOW SPRINKLES OR ELSE!" they screeched.THe whole time they had made the same gestures and eye movements.The only difference was the pitches of their voices. Both gulped air and glared continually at eachother.
"WHAT THE HELL IS THIS, WHO HIRED YOU TO MAKE ME LOOK LIKE MORE OF AND IDIOT THAN I ALREADY AM!" the yelled, trying to stare eachother down.Neither blinked. Everyone else looked on in total shock, coudn't speak if their life depended on it. *This is somewhat of the exact thing that happened at the donut shop*Lorienth thought.Suddenly she burst out laughing, hunching over then falling onto the couch. The two blondes looked agitatedly over at her. "WHATS SO FUNNY YOU!"they yelled at her, increasing her laughter. Then cursing they turned back to eachother.
"WILL YOU STOP DOING THAT ITS REALLY STARTING TO FREAK ME OUT!" they yelled at eachother, creating more irritation between them. The rest of the room was succumberd in laughter.Vash and Layne whirled on them, hands coming to hips. "HEY WHAT DO YOU THINK IS SO DAMN FUNNY HUH! ALRIGHT WHERES THE DAMN CAMERA THIS IS GETTING OLD!" Vash and Layne yelled. The laughter continued and Vash and Layne sat opposite of eachother, eyeing the other warily. THe laughter finally subdued and everyone looked at the two with renewed tension and silence.Vash and Layne whirled on eachother again. Vash was stuck in shock mode, so Layne finally got to say somehting on her own.
"YOU IDIOT FRICKING STUPID BROOMHEAD! I DONT KNOW WHO OR WHAT THE HELL YOU ARE BUT--"Layne started yelling at the surprised Vash. Suddenly, Meryl cut her off, yelling. "LAYNE MARKKU STRYFE DONT YOU EVER SPEAK TO YOUR FATHER THAT WAY AGAIN!"Meryl yelled.Layne froze in mid sentence, her eyes growing wide with surprise.Layne suddnely new exactly who this was.No one, no one knew here real name, and certainly no one else had ever called her by the full on before. "M-mother?"she stuttered incredulously, turning around wide-eyed.Meryl eyed the girl and nodded.
"Yes, yes I am you mother,"Meryl replied, glaring at her impudent child angrily. Suddenly everything clicked into place in Lorienth's mind. She remembered being 7 years old, her twin sister running away.She remembered her mother and her crying.She remembered how when Layne Dark-Storm had appeared in the news her mother had thrown herself into the case.She siged and sat down, rubbing her temples.
"Okay, just what is going on here?That is Layne, the new infamous outlaw that we captured is it not?" Lorienth asked, a bit agitated.Vash and Layne shook their heads. "That's what I'd like two now ask her/him!" the seethed.All eyes turned to Meryl. She fidgeted around in her seat a bit. "Ummmmm.....everyone I suppose you want an explanation......."she said looking away.Vash and Layne glared at her. "I SHOULD SAY SO!" they yelled. "Hush and I'll explain everything..."she said. "Vash, this is your daughter, Layne..."she began, silencing vash and Layne with a 'look'. "I know it must come as a surprise, afterall, Layne is Lorienth's age afterall. And this is going to take a while to explain." "Lorienth, despite things I have said, Vash is your real father....There was no John.... he never existed,I just needed somehthing to tell everyone. As you know Vash I left when I got pregnant, saying I couldn't bear to be around you when the baby came. Shortly after I found out I was pregnant with twins.........."
"Doctors were intrigued, one of the babies was growing rapidly, the other at only a slightly accelerated rate. They ran tests.....to see what the cause was." "THe cause was that the babies were part plant, which I already knew, this was interesting to the doctors, so they ran some tests. During these tests the noticed somthing highly unusual." "Some how the hybrid between plant and human had been breached. Only one of the babies was a plant like Vash and Knives, and the other not at all.Somehow the children had switched, Layne somehow got Lorienth's plant inheritance and Lorienth got Layne's human inheritance. It was strange, a complete mystery."
"I was scared when your birth came. Layne was at full term, and Lorienth feeding off some of Laynes err....growth, was almost there...about 2 months premature I would say. You were both born......both seemingly normal, even Lorienth. Loreinth came out as my mirror image, as you can see today, and Layne......well let's just say that she is every inch her father." "In any case, I raised you both, that is until you were 7 years old. Then, being the renegade she was, Layne ran away, and I lost all contact with her.I could see that it pained her to live around people.She constantly attracted trouble and heartache, much like Vash.But she was such a stoic, never saying a word about how the other people treated her or anything....alot like you Knives.Then Vash came back shortly after.I didnt want to through salt into anyones wounds,or make fresh ones, so I kept to myself.WIth Vash there, Lorienth pretty much forgot about the whole thing. And you know the rest from there,"Meryl finished, trailing off into thought. The room was stark silent, no one willing to break it. Then Vash did.
"So you mean to tell me, that you kept both of MY daughters from me for 15 years, and that Layne ran away.Then she was allowed to run wild, becoming the mirror image of me and an INFAMOUS OUTLAW?!" he asked in an incredulous tone.Meryl nodded and continued studying the ground.She just couldnt meet anyones eyes. "Jesus Meryl! Do you have any idea how much trouble this brings......I mean its bad enough that there is a $$60,000,000,000 bounty on my head......but then come to find out my daughter is an imfamous modern day criminal worth $$70,000,000,000!JESUS CRIMANY THATS MORE THAN IM WORTH!" he yelled, just figuring it out (A/N Sometimes Vash seems to be a bit dull...sorry). Everyone else in the room was fidgeting.Taking this as a cue to leave,Grayfall stood up.
"HEy, c'mon you guys....I think they should be alone to have a family chat..."he said bolting out of the door.Everyone else followed suit, including Layne. "Stop right there Layne,"Vash said sternly. THe girl stopped in mid stride, turning slowly around and going to sit on the newly freed couch where Vash was pointing to.
Mwahahaha I am an evil author.....but then I never said I was a nice one. MWAHAHAHA *HACK*HAHAHAH*COUGH* HA*THUMP*. Eheh sorry about that anyways. YOu likey you review. You no likey, You review anyways. Much thanks is offered to those who do.In the famous words of Apu Nehasahpemapatelon (I think that's how you say it): Thank-You Come Again! -R.K.