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It just isn't fair, Vash mused, quiet tears running down his cheeks. I just can't seem to be happy. He and Lina (with Milly, Nicky, and Jeff close behind) arrived back at the house to find Lina's grandmother dead of a heart attack. It was funny how fast things could change, really. Just an hour ago, it had been just another day, and now everything was different - meeting an old friend he never expected to see again, finding out that the had a kid, and then having one of the few people he truly cared about die. It was just too damn much for one hour.
Lina was crying, of course, and so were Milly and Nicky, who were apparently closer to the old woman than he had been aware. Vash felt a tug on his shirt, and looked over to find a blurry-eyed Jeff. "Mr. Ericks�" He spoke through sobs. "Mr Ericks, why did she have to die?" Vash searched for an answer, despite the fact he wondered about the question himself. "Sometimes it's� sometimes, it's just time." He put a reassuring arm around the heartbroken child. Jeff� where's your angel now? *** It was a good thing that they lived so close to the edge of town, because Vash just had to be alone. He sat at the edge of the cliff, looking down into the nothingness, crying and crying. He had lost people he had cared about before, but this experience was particularly awful, because his perfect, happy existence had been shattered. 1 hour. I damn hour. He realized he was being selfish, but found it hard to care at this point. She's dead. Whenever I care about people, they die. He stopped and reminded himself that Lina was still alive, and so was Milly (obviously) and Meryl (somewhere) but that was hardly comforting. He knew he would outlive them all, that he would continue to live this lonely existence when they were dead and gone. Outside of time - he either would be killed, or live forever. This cliff� He stared down into the rocky void, dark like death. Nobody could survive that drop. All I have to do is jump� It could all be over in a second. No more living like this. He stood up and contemplated this new option. Suicide? A memory from long ago� Actually, I disapprove of suicide more than anything. Who had said that? Hadn't it been him? Yes, he had said that long ago. Why? He searched for an answer, but found nothing. There was a reason, a reason he couldn't find through all the tears. Just one jump. That's all it takes. And then suddenly, a voice - "Tongari, stop! Don't do it!" Behind him. No. It couldn't be. No, what was he thinking, of course it could be, at least today. It had to be his imagination though. He was delirious, was all. "Vash, dammit, don't jump!" Vash took one deep breath and whirled around, then blinked a few times and fell to his knees. Everything that had happened in this crazy day was bad enough, but this was just a little too much - standing before him was Nicholas D. Wolfwood. *** Vash breathed heavily, not knowing whether to laugh or to cry. "But� but you're dead!" "No shit." Wolfwood spoke with his usual cynicism. He had the same hardness to his eyes that he had always had, a result of a tough life. There was also a hint of worry and relief showing in those tough, bluish-grey eyes, but not enough to be of note. He was still wearing the same black outfit he had always worn, except he had a ragged black cloak pulled over his shoulders and covering his back. Otherwise, he looked the same as the day he died. Vash was rather disturbed by the fact someone presumably dead was standing in front of him, speaking so casually. He couldn't restrain his curiosity any longer. "Then� then� how are you here? Why are you here?" "That doesn't exactly matter right now. What just happened there? You and I both know that if I hadn't showed up, you would've jumped. That ain't like you at all, needle-noggin." Vash lowered his head in shame. "I was just thinking about how hard it is to lose those I care for. I know I'll outlive them all, that I would have to be here when they're all dead and gone. I guess something just snapped." He paused. "And would you mind telling me what the hell you're doing here, if you're dead?" "Don't ever think like that. If you hate losing people who mean a lot to you, then stop and think what you mean to them. And I told you, it's not important, at least not yet. I'm breaking all kinds of rules talking to you right now, but I wasn't just gonna let you jump." He frowned. "Get back to town. There's people there who need you. I'll see you again when it's time." "Time for what?" Vash's voice was desperate as he stumbled forward, towards his old friend. "You'll see." And then he was gone. Having no other choice, Vash slowly started back towards the town.
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