Yay. Went back and re-read after I saw you finished. I swear you make me feel for these two. The anguish, the longing, the self berating, the uncertainty, gah! Your manga based fics are some of the best, always love VxM

It's sort of sad that it's ended, though it was an intriguing and wild ride.

Thank you for writing this, and for sharing it with us. :)

"... who else carries a huge cross, and drives like every Fed in the city is after him?" Good point, and well phrased.

"That's impossible!" "... it should be impossible ... It is also non-reversible." Someone is *not* a happy camper ...

... showering everything in the vicinity in effluence. ... I can imagine that quite vividly. Both imagery *and* odor.

"How can you ... ?" Some decisions are remarkably easy to make. Following through successfully can be challenging, though.

" ... He is a threat to our very existence ..." ... and has been, since before the one speaking was born. Somebody doesn't "get it," to complain of the situation in such ambitious terms. Wolfwood's estimation of the likely consequences sounds about right.

... He was not leaving ... Legato anywhere near ... Nor would anyone else with two functional brain cells to rub together, and an ability to do anything about it.

VNH again! Poor guy. It never rains but it pours, figuratively.

"Some things need to be done," ... "Taking out the trash is one of them." Part of me wishes it were rationally possible to disagree with his definition of "trash." Unfortunately, in those specific circumstances, it falls under how sometimes extreme situations require extreme measures. It's just such a tragic waste of potential ... imagine if they had chosen to use their energy, skills, and other resources ... to do good, instead!

I suppose it's a good time to be grateful that the pair in question were never real... ;-)

You pack so much into each chapter, it leaves one slightly breathless from trying to keep up! (And I mean that in the best possible manner, so don't you dare think of it as anything less than a compliment!)

I am in complete agreement with Milly's reminder. No point in rubbing salt into an open wound, when there are other medicines to use instead. Here's hoping they have (or find, soon) a large supply of better options! Such options are already needed, and may be needed even more ere this tale is complete.

Looking forward to future chapters. Thanks again for finishing this, as I daresay many silent readers are thinking. ;-)

man, I'm just glad you are still releasing this story. Still love it.

Wow. Just ... wow.

And hooray for Milly, holding everyone together - and looking after them, in a nearly maternal fashion!

Everyone is hurting so much, though Vash likely most of all...

... "just like a kitten ..." not how I would have thought of that individual, though the following description suits *very* well.

You do keep one guessing! You invent so many little twists, and so many surprises cleverly woven in, often eloquently.

Thank you for finishing this. I look forward to your release of the next installment!

... "but no angel scowled like a disgruntled tomas." Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! So funny, in part because it's so likely to be true!

... "make ... life so wonderful and so complicated at the same time?" Yep, that's how it is, all right. I hear rumors that neither ingredient ever changes much ...

Ah yes, prolonged illness. The frustrations at the limitations are almost worse than the symptoms themselves. At least this fictitious sufferer should have hope of eventual recovery. Here's hoping the solution will be found sooner, instead of later!

It's good to see at least one of them perking up. :)

Intriguing theory about Emilio. That could indeed explain a few things ...

Poor Vash, always in so much pain, and keeping it to himself partly from fear for their lives. Yet, also, from not wishing to burden anyone needlessly. Vash is considerate, like that. His bottomless compassion shows, even in details like this. For such a gentle soul to suffer so greatly seems the worst type of injustice.

Wolfwood, for all his bluster, is almost equally soft-hearted. It shows with the children, and occasionally with others. I suspect that's why Vash frustrates him so much. Wolfwood resists his own nature, thinking it necessary to survive. He so desperately longs to live ... not merely survive, but truly live! Alas, we already know how his story ends. It sounds as if he, himself, may have suspected what was coming in this AU version of the tale.

Someone asked me why I mostly write post-manga Trigun fanfic. The answer is simple: that is where Vash can heal.

I see that you have contrived a method to begin his healing earlier. Clever effort - many points to you, for that! *hat tip*

... "He was beautiful, even when injured ..." - - This. Yes. Always. Couldn't agree more!

... "no feeling being could refuse to comfort another in such deep distress." So true. Vash tends to bring that out, somehow, doesn't he? Poor soul, always in such deep pain, yet always reaching out to help others ... far easier to care about him, than not.

... "the symphony and harmony of the movements, as highlighted in the dim light, were intoxicating." One can only imagine ... though the imagery evoked thereby is indeed nearly mesmerizing.

... "She fell asleep hugging the blanket." Sounds a little like something I might do, under similar circumstances.

You've written quite the page-turner. *winks conspiratorially as she turns the page*

... "Oh no, he had to get away!" Story of his life, poor Vash. VNH ...

... "he could hear Wolfwood's cussing following him ... " Under the circumstances, that seems so completely in character!

... "[it] was not an admission he was going to make to Wolfwood." Completely understandable. Some tings are too embarrassing to share, especially with someone prone toward sarcastic remarks.

... "this was going to be very unpleasant." Likely, though sometimes unpleasant things are necessary. Another VNH moment.

... "On second thoughts, the reports she sent back to Bernardelli would be X-rated if he did." Oh my!

... Meryl "smiled to herself, as she began to hatch a plan to hide the damned coat." *giggle*

... "she watched the graceful movement with a light head." Now that I can easily und- ... erm, imagine. ;-)

... "he said in that soft, concerned voice she rarely heard. ... It reminded her that he saw far more than he let on, and felt deeper than he showed." That seems to be when Vash speaks from his heart. It is indeed rare for him to do that, out loud. Rare, and (although he would be unlikely to anticipate this) highly likely to touch the hearts of those who are blessed to hear it.

... "she was impressed at his gentleness in his strength ..." That's Vash all over. Strength expressed through gentleness, unless forced into a "tough love" situation.

Good attention to details, there. Well portrayed, and, frankly, fun to read. Thanks. :)

OMG! I didn't think I would see anymore chapters of this. I only found it about a month or two ago and absolutely loved it. I'm so glad to see an update and really hope you keep going. This story is amazing!

Yay, I was happy to see another chapter and to see that you might be continuing this story. One of my favs

I really loved reading this fic, even if you never update it i love how you characterize everyone here and it's really good

plleasssseee finish this one day, your other stories are so good. You make me feel for Vash and Meryl so much.