Chapter 7: Mr. Charles Glenning
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The suns were well up in the sky, relieving Delta of the gothic tone and bringing it to a respectable manner. Five sleeping bags were spread a long the dirt, one more reserved than the others.
Staring up at the sky, Knives felt in the way. Not in the way as Vash needs him to move, so he can make breakfast, but in the way of two forces; in the way of right and wrong, or as he preferred, logic and emotion.
He listened to Vash and the teen making sandwiches, laughing, and a few moments ago Knives had wondered what could be so funny about making pitiful sandwiches.
‘You’re not Knives!’
If he’s not Knives, then who was he? What is he doing here? Right or wrong? Or just caught in between? In the way…?
Vash and Clint were whispering now, something about last night. Knives wondered if it was about him…what else had they to whisper about?
“What’s that?” Millie yawned.
Clint and Vash jumped, and were relieved to she that it was Millie instead of Meryl.
“Sandwiches?” She asked curiously.
“I figured some of us needed to eat.” Vash explained.
“All of us need to eat.” Clint eyed Vash. “Especially if we’ve had a rough night.”
“But I don’t want to eat,” Vash answered.
“Vash, you’re setting a really bad example for me,” Clint told him. “Don’t make me force this down your throat!” He pointed at a sandwich.
Millie smiled at them, and helped herself to the food. “Will you two eat with me? Meryl’s still asleep.”
“Of course we will,” Clint agreed.
“I don’t like to eat alone. When I was growing up, mealtime was family time,” she explained.
“My mom says that too,” Clint agreed.
“How many people do you have in your family?” Millie asked, sitting herself comfortably on the dry dirt.
Clint followed her and planted himself on the ground, legs bent and folded.
Waiting for his reply, Millie bit into the peanut butter sandwich. It coated her mouth, making it slightly drier.
“Just my mom…you?”
“I have 10 brothers and sisters, 2 parents, 15 nephews and almost 18 nieces. Oh, and you, Vash, Meryl, and I guess Knives is too now!”
“Wow, that’s a big family.” Clint smiled.
Vash handed him a sandwich, and reluctantly picked one out for himself.
“There’s more,” Millie shared. “But they’re on the other side now.”
“Yeah, same here, my father passed away two years ago.” Clint answered, staring down at his sandwich. “…it must be really nice to have such a big family…”
He felt slightly envious at the idea of having brothers and sisters to keep him company- a larger family meant more friends that were stuck with you no matter what…
“It’s wonderful.”
“I’ve always wished I had brothers and sisters…but I’m sure there are reasons…”
“What about you Vash?” Millie asked, pulling him into the conversation.
“Me? Well I… I guess I do have a big family, but Knives is my only blood relative, and a lot aren’t here either…”
“Oh, they’re here, Vash, we just can’t see them.” Millie answered like it was common knowledge, like she knew from the day she was born that something followed after death.
Vash bit into his sandwich, and when he had finished, went to his brother, who still lay motionless in his sleeping bag.
“Here Knives,” Vash said, kneeling next to him. “You need to eat.”
Knives never understood how Vash could be so kind after he had done everything to him. It was one of the reasons he hated him- he let himself be walked on for the sake of others, and Knives (being caught in between) didn’t want to be a burden to him. He had always been a burden. It made him sick now, at least in this moment of life. He didn’t want his help, but he needed it. Gosh, he wished he didn’t need it. He wished he could carry his troubles alone.
Who was he now? His own tried to kill him- wants to kill him. Who is he? What is he doing? Where does he stand?
“I’m weak,” Knives said in a raspy voice.
“That’s no surprise in your condition.” Vash answered.
“I couldn’t shoot him,” he admitted. “I couldn’t do it. I’m weak, you’ve made me weak, and I couldn’t shoot him…even when he was trying to kill me…”
Intently, Vash listened.
“I’ve been a murderer lately,” he looked away from Vash’s crisp sober eyes, remembering his killing sprees in December. “Trying to find myself again. I thought it was easy, but I couldn’t shoot that little girl…I helped her instead.”
Vash captured the disappointment in Knives’ face and voice. His stomach clenched at the image of his ill brother trying to murder a child. The seriousness in it was suddenly displayed in front of him with the disappointment found in Knives’ voice… his brother was sick…he was ill…
“Something is broken inside me. I have no place.” Knives said, eyes widening.
“You have a place here.” Vash insisted, trying not to sound desperate.
“I don’t belong here.”
“The only thing holding you back is yourself.”
“I don’t know who I am.”
“I think it’s time you found out.” Vash advised, handing him the sandwich.
He was about to leave, when Knives spoke again.
“Vash…? Can we go to Sunset city?”
Hesitating and resisting the temptation to ask questions, Vash studied Knives’ eyes. Knives struggled to keep them calm and innocent.
“We’ll see…” He answered.
“Meryl needs to go there anyway…that’s what I heard…”
Vash didn’t answer. Meryl had mention about returning home to see Charles and get ready for her wedding, and Sunset City was exactly where Bernardeli was located.
….
Buses had become a tradition when they traveled. Sunset City was rather large, with businesses on nearly every corner.
“Do you see him?” Millie asked Meryl as they searched out the window.
“Right there, right there!” Meryl pointed. “With the box in his hands!”
“And the brown hair?”
“Yeah, that’s him.” She answered happily. “Do I look okay?” She asked Millie.
“Beautiful!”
Vash watched Meryl fix her features from across the aisle, his head on the back of the seat in front of him and his arms over it.
Clint looked at Vash, and sighed.
When Meryl’s eyes ran into Vash’s, he quickly turned his head.
Meryl didn’t want Vash to like her, it was all cruel, very disappointing, and made their friendship very uncomfortable.
Coming to a sudden halt, the bus let out a hiss as the doors opened.
Meryl and Millie jumped up so suddenly, it looked as if they had been sitting on tacks.
“Excuse me!” Meryl pardoned, trying to eagerly beat everyone out the door. She had managed to get very close until a large man with a mustache stepped in front of her. He was so big that he touched both sides of seats when standing in the aisle.
Sluggishly, Vash followed behind, hardly even picking up his feet from the ground, which were consequently making a shuffling sound. As he stepped off the bus, he regrettably rose his eyes to the man Meryl was forcing her way to.
Charles Glenning, handsome, tall, and slender, could be easily depicted as the best kept person for miles. He had honey-brown hair which was parted on the side in a straight line. His hair fell to the top of his ears in perfect alignment, and his eyes were immediately distracting, as they were a very rich emerald green and beaming.
“Meryl,” he smiled, revealing his nearly pearly white teeth, it was a slight relief to see that they weren’t perfectly straight (but close to it).
“Charles…” She mimicked, clearly thrilled to be standing in front of him again.
He leaned in for the kiss, and for a split second she was caught between two thoughts. Was it cruel in front of Vash? Or did he need to be slapped into the idea? But when she remembered how he had never pressed her, she bolted her arms around Charles’ physique, and hugged him close.
“I missed you so much,” she told him, breathing in his scent.
“Me too,” he hugged her back.
Vash watched them hug, feeling slightly awkward as it always is when you’re in company with two lovers falling over each other. He tried to find something interesting about the stop sign several yards away, but even the graffiti on it couldn’t keep his mind occupied. Knives continued to watch them, looking bored, and slightly annoyed.
“Did you get my letters?” Meryl asked.
“Yes. All of them I think.” He let go of her. “I bought you some chocolate.” He held up the little red box that had been in his hand. “See?”
“Just what I need to get back to myself… it’s been rough…”
“Are these your traveling partners?” Charles asked, beaming at everyone.
“Yeah.” Meryl looked away from the box. “Millie, Knives, Clint, and, and Vash.” She introduced.
After hearing his name, Vash felt he was forced to look back at
Mr. Glenning, who was beginning to shake everyone’s hand.“It’s nice to meet you.” He said.
“Same here,” Vash forced the words out as Charles’ soft hand shook Vash’s rough one.
“And welcome to Sunset City!” He put his arm around Meryl.
“Thank you,” Millie smiled. “And it’s nice to meet Meryl’s fiancé.”
“It’s Charles Glenning by the way. So have you guys found a hotel yet? I don’t know if Meryl’s talked about it, but there are a few nice ones you might be interested in.”
“Do you still have your house?” Millie asked Meryl.
“Been trying to keep it clean for her,” Charles answered. “But I hardly have time to help keep mine clean.”
“We can stay there.” Millie suggested.
“Then we’ll just need to find a place for the guys. I’d let you stay at my house if it wasn’t so crowded, but we’ll find something. That way you guys can take a break, you all look tired from the travel.” Charles noted. “The Knock Inn is nice, and it almost always has openings.”
He led them into the heart of the city, giving a little information here and there, and whispering to Meryl here and there. Vash deliberately fell to the tail end of the line with Knives to minimize the words of Charles Glenning’s delighted voice.
“I thought you were Mr. Sentimental,” Knives scoffed when Vash was next to him, sulking.
“I’m just tired,” Vash said in a very unconvincing tone.
Knives studied him from the corner of his eye.
“What?”
“You’re a terrible liar, Vash. I came back here to prevent my temper.”
If possible, Vash felt even less spirited.
He watched Mr. Glenning’s poppy walk provoked by his chipper slender legs; his arm propped around Meryl. Charles was just to perfect to be real, and by the looks of him so far, was the best pick for Meryl.
“We’re in luck!” He cheered. “They have plenty of room,” he told them after investigated the front desk. “I’ve heard this place is really nice, you like it don’t you?”
It was impossible for them to answer because none of them had been inside a room yet.
“I know you’ll like it, it has the essentials, and for a very good price,” Charles continued.
“This sounds exciting!” Millie agreed, apparently Charles’ good mood had increased Millie’s.
“Oh joy.” Knives said sardonically, but so quiet, only Vash and Clint heard.
“And Meryl’s house isn’t too far from here,” Charles added.
“Charles, it’s at least 10 blocks away!” Meryl corrected.
“So it’s far…but not too far. Anyway, walking is good for you.” He explained, and paused for a moment. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean anyone specifically, you know, just in general. It would be rather cocky if I meant it specifically.”
“Thank you, Charles,” Clint said.
“Yeah, it was nice meeting you, but you’re probably tired. Knives, Clint, Vash- get some rest.” Charles advised.
“We’ll come over,” Millie promised the obvious.
“Yeah,” Charles agreed.
Meryl waved them a small goodbye, before awkwardly turning away with Charles’ command.
….
Thump.
Knives, Clint, and Vash dropped their belongings on the carpet of the suite. The hotel was comfy, it did have the essentials and it was a very reasonable price.
“Good riddance, I’ve had enough love to last a lifetime,” Knives growled. “Surely you won’t make me deal with that all day long.”
“You wanted to come to Sunset City, and here we are.” Vash stated.
“But those two…”
“To be honest, I don’t see what he has and you don’t, Vash,” Clint said.
“What?” Knives asked after sitting on the edge of a bed.
Vash felt Knives eyes wander to him.
“Oh…are you jealous, dear brother?” Knives asked with satisfaction, when Vash didn’t answer he added. “He is annoying with her.”
“I don’t think I really like him…” Clint voiced.
“The way he talks- eh!”
“I don’t see anything wrong with him,” Vash spoke. “We hardly even know him, he seems like a fine man to me. I just think he was excited today…I mean, he hasn’t seen Meryl for a long time. He seems to treat her well.”
They were words of truth, but did not sound like it when Vash said them.
“I think we should give him a chance.” He continued.
Knives and Clint didn’t answer him.
….
Creeping quietly as not wake the juvenile or Vash, Knives walked gently on the carpet. At half passed midnight, Knives slipped on his coat, pocketed his gun, and glided out the hotel door.
Once the door was shut softly, Clint sat up in bed and scrambled (as quietly as possible) for his shoes, coat and sunglasses. Then taking a deep breath, he pulled the door open and cautiously sprung into the dark after his suspect.
It had been days and still Knives had said nothing about his time at Delta, who he fought, and why. As much as the teen didn’t want to think of it, it was something to take into account. He was the one who wanted to come here, so there must be something he had in mind to do. Something he was probably doing now; something that required sneaking out at 12:30 am.
Clint moved fast along the sidewalk, taking time to roll through his feet to keep his steps silent. Once he found Knives a good distance away, he stopped.
He continued to follow Knives, careful to keep a far distance, and out of the light.
‘The plants,’ Clint thought in dismay. ‘Why is he going to the plants?’
Whatever the reason, it would not result with cotton candy fluff, Clint knew. But to find anything about his father’s life…or death, was worth it.
Knives studied the glorious room with the plants.
Clint flattened himself against the door, holding his breath, but Knives’ mind was so preoccupied, if Clint was out in the open he wouldn’t have noticed.
Scanning the plants, Knives sensed the illness spreading in them. They were already infected.
“Mi-a-ow!”
Knives stared at the white haired and red-eyed cat. Chame was still here.
Filled with a sudden impulse, Knives disappeared from Clint’s view.
Clint crept after him again, but paused to get a glimpse of the gorgeous plant that was now bound to destruction. The silver surface caught the light, and it broke his heart to know that soon it could be cracked, shattered, and completely demolished. It had been ages since he had been so close to one.
Holding his gun close to his body, Knives followed the cat towards and around another plant. He spotted the familiar figure of Chame, which the cat greeted by rubbing against his leg. Knives watched Chame inject some sort of pastel liquid through the plant’s surface.
It was his chance. Knives could shoot him right now so easily. Chame hadn’t even noticed him.
Knives brought his gun up to aim, when something jabbed his mind so sharply, that he staggered several steps back. His senses picked up something other than the poison breaching the plant.
Chame looked up.
It was plant power Knives sensed…behind him...slowly, he turned his head.
Clint, whose hands were on the silver orb, was shaking wildly. Never had his plant energy felt so pronounced to Knives; so alive.
The teen cried out, and it all looked so painful.
His knees buckled and he fell to the ground, breathing so hard, his chest hurt.
“Caught me red-handed, stranger,” Chame smirked.
Knives redirected his eyes to him, still wondering what that idiot teenager was thinking following him out here. Whatever the case, he had keep Chame away from him, especially with that liquid.
“Mia-ow.” The cat stared up from his master’s legs.
“I can’t believe you still have that thing,” Knives sneered.
“Rade? He and Janell are one of the only good things from my past.” Chame explained. “Is Knives going to accept my invitation?” He asked, putting the liquid away and rummaging through his pockets.
“I am Knives.”
“You are nothing of the sort. Knives is a man that can kill me. Knives is a man that strikes terror, a man you can’t defy; someone who’s after Vash the Stampede happiness; a plant who owes a dead priest money,” his voice rose. “A plant who killed a man name Chapel. A plant who doesn’t believe in love. A plant who is afraid of a boy he called Chame, and murdered- destroyed- all he cared for! All but a white cat…The only similar trait is your fear of me.”
“I’m not afraid of you, never was.”
“Than why were you going to kill me?”
“I didn’t need you.”
“If you didn’t need me, then why did you order for me in the first place!”
“I didn’t need you, anymore…” Knives raised his gun. “I don’t need you now.”
“Stop bluffing,” Chame demanded. “You won’t kill me.”
Knives stared into his cold gray eyes.
“And it would be embarrassing for me to kill you,” Chame spoke softly. “It’s been a pleasure, stranger.” He tipped his hat, and then added, “I wouldn’t stick around next week…take a vacation and I’ll hopefully see Knives when you get back.”
Again, Knives watched Chame walk away with simplicity, his albino cat slinking in his wake.
He let his arm drop, a mixture of frustration and shame developing in him, until his mind came quickly back to life with the sudden jar.
“Clint.”
Slowly, he turned back to the juvenile, who was hunched over, still shaking. Debates flourished in his head of what to do, and when distance had decreased between them, Knives reach out his hand for Clint’s shoulder. Just as his index finger was about to touch him, Clint turned to him sharply.
“You worked with him?” He half cried and half yelled.
His eyes were watering behind his sunglasses, and Knives noticed something distinctly odd about it.
“He killed my father and you’re, you were-“ Clint came to an abrupt stop, because he had just found himself staring down the barrel of a black gun.
“Get up,” Knives ordered.
Because of either shock or disgust, Clint didn’t move.
“GET UP!”
Glaring, Clint struggled to his feet.
“I’m not in lead with him,” Knives told him. “I came hoping to head him off, but I was just a little too late…” He held his gun steady at Clint. “Just who the heck are you anyway? You didn’t find us for shooting lessons, that’s for sure. You’re not like these plants,” he glanced briefly at those infected, “and you’re not like me either.”
Clint didn’t say anything.
“ANSWER ME!” Knives demanded.
Finding defeat when a gun was pointed at him, Clint reached for his sunglasses.
Knives gripped his gun, and watched intently.
“No, I’m not here for shooting lessons, and now that there is a gun to my head, guess I need to come clean.”
With a swift tug, he removed his sunglasses.
….
“Hello?” Vash answered the door drowsily.
“Hey Vash,” Charles smiled. He was with Meryl, and they both were ready for the day, showered, shampooed, dressed, and combed, while Vash was framed in the doorway in his pajamas.
“Oh, hey.” Vash tried to act glad to see the handsome prince charming.
Meryl studied him. He only looked this way when he was worried. “Everything okay?”
“Yeah…it’s great.”
They heard footsteps.
Vash turned as Knives rushed by with a washcloth.
Feeling their eyes on him, Knives answered, “Clint isn’t feeling well; got sick last night.”
“Is he okay?” Meryl asked. “Is it from the traveling?”
“He’ll be fine.”
The problem with Knives’ response was the different look in his eyes. Vash had never seen them look so sober, and he looked at him and Meryl directly in the eyes (specifically longer with Meryl)
“Can we see him?” Meryl asked suspiciously.
“Don’t see why not…” He answered.
Vash followed behind Meryl and Charles to Clint’s bedside.
Knives placed the wet rag on the teenager’s forehead.
“He has a fever,” he explained.
“Traveling is a torture, isn’t it?” Meryl asked, smiling weakly.
“There are worse things.” Clint answered in a scratchy voice.
“I don’t like traveling either,” Charles shared. “My cousin travels even more than Meryl does.”
“What does he do?” Vash asked, trying to be friendly, but at the same time, wanting to know nothing of him (which he thought sounded rather selfish).
“He’s a bounty hunter.”
“What!” Vash popped like a balloon.
“Crazy, huh? Talk about living life on the edge. I don’t know how he lives that way, I much rather live the quiet normal life, but he’s always loved adventure.”
“Is he going to the wedding!” Vash wailed.
“Well, of course.”
Vash let out a cry of agony.
“No kidding, do you have any idea how awful it’s going to be?” Charles asked.
“Terrible!” Vash clenched his hair.
“I mean, I love him to death, but he’ll stand out and hog the crowd, who will be there for us, and tell us gut-busting stories that make me sick! If only he wasn’t a bounty hunter, because he’s such a great guy.”
“I’m sure he is,” Vash said through clenched teeth. “Fantastic.”
“His name is Kushmen.”
Color drained out of Vash’s face. “Kushmen?”
“Have you heard of him?” Charles asked curiously.
“Isn’t he like the third bounty hunter who has caught the most bounties?”
“I don’t know,” Charles admitted with his shining white teeth. “Like I pay attention to that stuff.”
“Yeah,” Vash laughed nervously. “How would you know? Living the quiet normal life?” He laughed some more.
Meryl blinked, she couldn’t be sure, but she thought she sensed some jealousy in Vash’s voice. She rarely heard him jealous.
Clint let out a cough.
“Vash, Meryl and I are going on a date tomorrow,” Charles educated. “Want to double date with us?”
“But Vash can’t ever get a date!” Meryl bounded.
“Gosh, Meryl” Charles frowned as she went red. “Don’t you think that’s a little harsh?”
She blushed more.
“I’m sure I can hook you up with someone.”
Meryl watched him, her hands now over her mouth to keep her private thoughts inside.
“I shouldn’t,” he glanced at Clint.
“I’m sure your brother will look after Clint.” He suggested. “What do you say?”
“I’m not sure if-“
“Oh come on, I know some pretty cute girls.”
Vash looked up at Meryl, who stared back.
“We’ll see you around 7:00 tomorrow then.” Charles decided. “It will be fun. Wear a suit or something classy.”
Privately, Meryl wondered if Vash even owned a suit.
“Just us?” Vash asked. “What if the girl doesn’t want to go?” He suddenly felt even more self-conscious then even when Charles had knocked on his door. Meryl was right, he never really could get a girl, and what if he made fool of himself in front of them?
“The one I’m thinking of loves blind dates.”
“What if she already has plans?”
“Then you can go with Millie as friends or something like-“
“No.” Vash answered flatly.
“You don’t like Millie?”
“No, I like her, I just couldn’t-“ Vash was at a loss of words. He couldn’t do that after Wolfwood… but he was relieved that Charles interrupted so he wouldn’t have to further his search for words.
“Oh, I understand, more of one of those brother-sister friendships, huh? I know lots of people, I’ll find someone.” He promised.
Vash didn’t know whether he found Charles’ confidence relaxing or more worrisome, but either way, he would officially be double dating tomorrow evening.