-----Gossamer Wings and Sweet Tasting Things-----
---A Trigun Fanfiction---

 

-----DISCLAIMER-----

**stares at people in a scary manner**
By now... You should know...
I... Don't... Own... Trigun...
**Evil expression much alike a Vampire on drugs**

 

-----AUTHOR'S NOTES-----

Lynda: Ok, here's the other half. O_o;; I can't believe I had to do that. Seriously... Ahwell. ^_^ No biggie, right? Er... I hope you weren't expecting much. I'm using my imagination and my plot builderness-es... Plot Builderinging... -_-;;
Me build heap big plot, you savvy?

Kuroneko: Mya~ =^ToT^=

 

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Vash, because a panicking Angel is a sensible one, withdrew immediately from the inside view of the Machine and back into his earlier predicament.

Neutral Territory. It was Neutral Territory. That place Black Jack and Rem had taken him to. Where Wolfwood said souls went when exorcised. And what's more, what used to be an empty space of mind warping void, was now crammed full of millions upon millions of Vaults. And they didn't seem too happy about the intrusion. He had been seconds away from having his head ripped off.

So this is where Knives was creating them.

Realizing that he was back where he started, Vash grimaced and relinquished one grip off the Vault pinning him, trying to readjust his back breaking position with the free hand. The attempt only had the offending hand rammed back into the panel, much alike the rest of him. There was a strangely detached beep as a button blinked and the conveor belt shuddered to a halt. Then, in a grindingly slow movement, it began to reverse back into the depths of the contraption.

And an idea formed. Completely pinned to the metal, Vash gritted his teeth as the Vault snarled and moved closer.

Oh, ok, that's a head. Vash decided as the blob of black ooze crept closer to his own face. The shadow shifted slightly, and what had once seemed like an indentation was now a gaping hole. A hole, that is, that looked very much like a mouth. The fact that this hole was lined with layers upon layers of fine sharp pointy things proved this to be true. The creature drew closer, gaping mouth and multitudes of teeth inching further toward the Angel's head.

Coming to the haphazardous conclusion that the Vault was probably contemplating biting his face off, Vash's boot lanced out and knocked the creature from it's feet. As it fell, the Winger used what strength he could gather to push the black shadow away from the control panel. In a short adrenaline based tousle, he managed to pull the Vault to the conveyor belt. Vash braced himself, dragged it into another strangle hold and hauled them both onto the slow moving assembly line.

Somewhere in the calm part of Vash's mind knew that this wasn't such a good thing to do. It wasn't a very good plan, but, when push comes to shove, at least it was one.

Screeching, the Vault struggled savagely in the grip, trying to free it's arms to claw something off. The Winger was having some issues keeping it pinned down, but he refused to give it one inch of freedom. The Vault suddenly ceased it's thrashing and, in a sickening movement, everything neck down of the creature seeped into slime and slowly began to wrap itself around Vash's stomach. The blonde twisted in a vain attempt to stop the ooze from tightening, but tighten it did. Painfully so.

And the machine exit was drawing closer, hatch wide open and gaping.

Sure of it's unbreakable hold on it's victim, the Vault suddenly spread it's mouth again, neck cranning upward slowly. It's teeth were inches from his nose when Vash, realizing there was no hope in holding it by the shoulders, managed to grab it by the head and drive it back down. Both shuddered with the effort.
And there was a horrible sense of suction. Like something within was being dragging against it's confinements and will. The feeling was close to shattering. And, despite the meta-physics of the sensation, it managed to be bone rattling. In a sudden dawning of horrified comprehension, Vash realized the Vault was trying to take his soul. So he fought every agonizing second it.

The conveyor belt rolled them closer to the inky blackness. 

The blonde Winger, ignoring the tormenting jarring of his bones, shifted position. As the square opening of the machine suddenly loomed up around them, his right boot caught the edge as a brace and his left hand followed suit with the top of the frame. Then, effectively propped up by the entrance, he used his right elbow to drive the Vault's chest into the still moving conveyor belt. It screeched as the treads of the belt dragged across its back, but refused to relinquish it's grip. So did the Angel. The squeezing around his waist got tighter, and as retaliation, the force behind Vash's elbow increased.

In the end, something had to give. With one final shriek of rage, the Vault let go of it's opponent and was pulled into the mysterious depths of the machine. There was a brief flash of light, the thudding of metal... And finally silence as the Vault dissipated back to Nuetral Territory. The conveyor belt continued to whir onwards, impervious of Vash who was still perched awkwardly above it. With the last reserves of strength he had, the Winger managed to roll off the machine and onto the floor, breathless. He winced as every single ache he had previously ignored suddenly demanded his full and pained attention.

Okay, damage report. Leg? Still bleeding and looking not pleasant. Back? If it wasn't currently feeling like jelly, probably kinked permanantly. Soul? Weak from having nearly being torn out of it's residence forcefully. Over all assessment? Ow.

Vash became aware of the fact that he was thinking like Meryl.

The Living in question was standing by the empty crate still, looking vacantly at the machine as if it were possessed. The distant expression indicated she was collecting her thoughts and filing them logically away. Which was just as well, because Vash seriously doubted that he could start moving again without a rest. Gradually, if not slowly, the overall ache began to ebb from the Angel's body.

'TONGARI!!' a familiar voice shouted, shattering the short lived silence. Vash's head snapped up and a quick glance brought his vision to Wolfwood and Milly, the pair just reaching the bottom of the stairs. One of the priest's hands was wielding a stake which was been brandished before a following Milly, the other hand was holding a handgun. A gun which was pointing to the shadows behind Meryl. Sprawled on the ground and panting from dragging a ton of metal with him was E.G. Mine, glaring vindictively at the unaware Living, fingers tangled in wire flexing. In one fluid, yet painful movement, Vash was on his feet and away, tiny rocks of rubble being thrown up by the kick start.

Wolfwood fired. Unfortunately, half a second after E.G tugged determinedly on his trigger wires. The resulting explosion of movement would've probably bought a smug comment to the lips of the Demon, but Wolfwood proved to be a very good marksman. And as such, Mine's egotistical countenance died, quite quickly, quite literally. An explosion of shadow marked the end of the Demon E.G. Mine.
The agonized helpless expression marring Wolfwood's face spoke too clearly of how late he knew he was. The barrage of spikes was well on it's way and Meryl paused at the unknown sound, her slate gaze inquistively sweeping the area.

Vash, already at an all out sprint, was simply at a loss. What on earth was he supposed to do? Time, because it had a strange relationship with terror and stress, had slowed somewhat. Or Vash's frantic thoughts had shifted into overdrive. Or maybe it was both. In anycase, if there was an answer to this horribly desperate conumdrum, it wasn't presenting itself to the Winger. Wolfwood... Was out of the question. He was too far away. It was all up to the Humanoid Typhoon... Which also didn't help.
Vash couldn't touch her, he couldn't push her aside. Vash couldn't tell her to run, or duck, or dive. He wasn't even close enough to use himself as a human shield.

So much for Angelic power.

But as panic peaked itself, something clicked. Something just flicked itself into auto and made more sense than breathing. Considering that nothing else did at current point in time, Vash went with it.

Winger reached Guard about a second before E.G's last barrage did. And he slipped into her. Quite simply put, Vash didn't have the time to ease himself into the blood curdling chill that began to shake him. So he didn't take his time. Meryl gasped and contracted as the intense shivering set in, the contact between the pair literally reaching hitherto unexplored levels, her cower making it easier for Vash to surround her. To sink every inch of Meryl Strife into her Guardian Angel. It wasn't pleasant. The Winger wasn't entirely sure as to who was surrounding who. One second and he was sure he felt his Guard contained under his skin. Then the next second he was drowning within her. And slipping. Slipping somewhere within the blinding white. Through something perhaps? He wasn't sure. What he was sure of, was that the cold was shaking him apart. The shivers didn't start at his spine, but at every single joint on his body at once, the simultaneous quaking quite, quite unpleasant. But despite the near nauseating effect the move was having on both of them, Vash somehow knew it was the right thing to do.

Well, he was pretty sure.

At some point in this obscure union, Vash became aware of one of them crumpling to their knees. Or at least contemplating it. He was pretty sure it was Meryl, so finding her center, he grasped and refused her knees the priveledge of giving out. There was protest, but little. Vash was infinitely aware of the metaphorical mountain that was his Guard's will power, and he doubted he could oppose her if she really wanted to collapse. Luckily she abhorred the idea of displaying that much weakness. And the Winger found the fact that he could see all this of her was shocking and slightly disturbing. There were boundaries that were there for a reason, and he crossed all of them in a heartbeat.

Eventually the eternity of asphyxiation ebbed, and Vash realized that he'd been here for seconds. She'd been here. They. Both. Who was who? After a moment of near delirious contemplation, Vash decided that not knowing this was probably a bad thing, so he spent the next few seconds trying to figure out who he was. Well, it was apparent that he or she didn't hurt.

Gasping slightly and taking a step back and away from his Guard, the Winger sunk slowly to his knees. Meryl was white as a sheet but, luckily, also unhurt. She wavered on her feet slightly before falling lightly backwards to sit in a dazed manner on the floor. As relief took away what will power he had, Vash near threw up. His head was spinning. Skin crawled. Stomach churned. General nausea swept him in an odious wave, leaving him panting uselessly on the ground, trying not to think so as to not over heat his pounding brain. Footsteps.

'What the hell did you do, Vash?!' Wolfwood's voice demanded through buzzing. I'm not sure.

'Oh, Sempai! Sempai are you alright?!' Milly asked her partner worriedly. Well I hope so after all that.

'I'm- I'm ok Milly. I just... Feel dizzy.' Meryl stuttered, sounding shaken, but thankfully intact. I feel like my head's about to explode, if it's any consolation. Hands grabbed Vash's shoulders and shook him roughly.

'Don't ignore me dammit! What the hell were you thinking?!' That would have to be Wolfwood. Damn, he sounds pissed. What's his problem? I managed to save my Guard didn't I?

'I... Feel sick.' Vash croaked, his head swimming. The hands on his shoulders grew firmer.

'So you damn well should!' Wolfwood snapped, dragging his counterpart gracelessly to his feet. When Vash managed to force his knees and ankles into co-operation, he unscrewed his eyes. Everything was several suns too bright. Including the face of a very aggrivated priest. Vash backed up a step in fear.

'What?!' he demanded, clutching his pounding head.

'How the hell did you do that!?' was the pretty ticked off response. Vash shot a pain induced squint his Guard's way. She was holding onto Milly for dear life, jaw clenched as she refused to pass out. She glared at the empty space around her, and Vash had the strange feeling that she was searching for someone. Milly spoke up.

'What happened Sempai? One minute you were fine, then you were shaking so badly, I thought you were having an episode!' she exclaimed, eyes wide. Meryl scowled.

'I... Just got a headspin, that's all.' she managed, giving up her scrunity so she could close her eyes. And Vash lost the feeling that he should be hiding. Wolfwood didn't appear to want to give him time for rest. A slap across the back of the head proved this theorum.

'What the hell do you think gave you the right to do that to her?!' Wolfwood demanded savagely, a small shake bringing the blonde back to the current situation. What? The right?

'I don't even know what I did-' Vash began shakily, trying to focus, but still stay detached from his partner's obvious rage. Wolfwood's eyes widened in mock surprise.

'Oh, Vash the Stampede?! You might not know, so let me inform you!' he snapped, then waved a hand to the machine behind them. It was dotted with spikes, thoroughly embedded in the metal. The whole contraption was shuddering and sparking unhealthily. So... The spikes had passed through the pair...

'They... Passed through...' Vash managed, swaying.

'Of course they did! You're the one who did it!' the priest snapped. 

'Did what?' Vash asked, his throat dry. He squinted blearily at his companion, one hand clutching his head, the other gripping a black suited shoulder for support.

'Dissilation! You Dissilated with her, like it was nothing at all! Have you any idea as to- as to... No, you don't do you?!' Wolfwood snapped, waving his hands about. He was seriously getting worked up. Vash wondered why. The word sounded familiar, but he couldn't quite place it. And everyone was safe now, so what was the big deal?

'I don't-' the gunman began, grimacing as he tried to frown with his headache.

'No you don't! Remember your lessons with Lina?! Did you even pay attention?! Dissilation. Yeah, that's right. The 'D' word. And, if you'd like to recall, Strictly Forbidden. Illegal. Wrong. Just like Materialization!' Wolfwood continued, scandalized. He narrowed his eyes. 'Oh, that's right. You Materialize too, I forgot!' he added waspishly. His eyes were suddenly the hue of storm clouds.

'I still don't understa-' Vash croaked, trying desperately to keep up with events. Wolfwood began pacing.

'I'll school you, how about that?!' the priest growled. 'Even if you don't know what you did, I'm sure I can explain it so that even you could understand!' He took a deep breath and began waving his hands about again, frustration sharpening the gesticulations. 'No touching Guards, right? Well! Not only did you meld with the poor girl, but you dragged her by your connection together to another Plane! Merged then skipped! Get it? Do you know how dangerous that was?! What if you lost your grip on her soul? Left her stranded on the Howler Plane?! What then? What if you weren't compatible enough to pull the stunt off, and she died, you along with her because of the connection you forced?! What if the connection broke, leaving you trapped in her mind?!' 

The Humanoid Typhoon felt even more sick than his current condition of 'bilious'. Wolfwood was right. Now that the words were leaving the priest's mouth, Vash's actions became all too clear to him. The nameless move that had made so much sense fundamentally now made sense logically. But despite the horrible outcomes the dark haired Winger was listing off, Vash found that he hadn't felt any danger. None whatsoever.

But still...

'I'm sure other Wingers have done it-' he began weakly, shuddering. He was cut off promptly.

'No. No they haven't. It's not only that it's illegal, Tongari, but it's also theoretically improbable! Only one other Winger has managed it, and he died ages ago!'

'Who-' Vash tried again, but was once more interupted. Wolfwood jabbed his partner in the chest with an accusing finger.

'Plane jumping, Guard tracking without a Meta-Kard, in tune with Howlers, your 'skill' at touching the solid! Let's not forget our two highly illegal talents of Materialization and Dissilating! Oh, yes!!' he snarled, getting more and more worked up as he continued. 'And the ability to regenerate wounds! I'm not talking about the few scars you've got from when you were alive, I'm talking about the wounds you get now! Funny how they just disappear, eh Vash?!'

A few scars? Vash decided that Wolfwood must've only seen a forearm while the blonde slept or something. 'Few' is not a word used to describe the number of marrings he had over his body. 'Few' was the last word that arrived in one's head.

'You're point?' Vash snapped, getting sick of his partner shouting into his headache and worsening the nausea.

'I'll spell it out.' the priest said simply. 'Arch Angel.' he swept Vash with a calculating gaze. 'Only you're no where near one.' The blonde grimaced and turned his head away slightly.

'... I feel sick.' he groaned, ignoring the comment. He still didn't understand how this all applied to him. Or what it meant. There was a large silence, then a resigned sigh.

'... Ok, let's just get the hell outta here.' Wolfwood relented, the hand on the gunman's shoulder more supportive and less accusing. 'It's a wonder you conscious at all after a stunt like that, Tongari.' the preacher muttered in continuation. 'You should have a Hangover the size of December.' Vash groaned in response.

Wolfwood straightened and slung the $$60 Billion Man's arm over a shoulder and turned around to survey the damage. E.G had caused a great deal of damage before he was sent back down, and Milly and Meryl were talking quietly to themselves. But, on a more important note, the spike embedded Machine looked in terrible shape. Dangerous shape in fact. The metallic groanings and constant sparkings indicated that something was going to blow, very soon.

'We- have to stop it.' Vash croaked, struggling to stand upright. 'Vaults- the Vaults will get out..'

'What?' Wolfwood asked, grimacing as the machine literally shook.

'It's linked to Neutral Territory! If it blows-' Vash attempted again. The priest waved a hand.

'Explain it later. I think we should use it as a cover to get out first.' he offered, turning and motioning to the gaping hole in the side of the factory. Sunlight, like the warm Euphoria at the end of a terrible tunnel, filtered into the dusty gloom. And, barring the way like an insidious blot on the sun was Nine Lives. Both Wingers swore. Neither felt in shape to take on a Demon, to say the least. Especially as weaponless and currently senseless as they were. Wolfwood leant closer.

'Here's the deal. We're gonna just bust our way out. One last big hurrah. No finesse. No weapons. Pure Divine Power. Pure Angel. With me?'

Well that made sense.

'Deal.'

Vash slipped out of Wolfwood's supportive grip and stood, impervious of his sickness. It made a whole lot of sense. A 6th sense to be exact. There was something so fundemental of Angelic warfare that consisted of... Well... For lack of a better word Terrible Holy Retribution. Pure mass destruction. And it made it easier when in a tight, desperate situation.
Wolfwood picked up a stake from the ground and waved it about. Then, when he had Milly's attention, he pointed it to the crumbled detritus surrounded exit to the outside. Vash shook his head. Oh, they'll be in so much trouble after this escapade. Content with the understanding, the priest dropped the wood and picked up his Punisher.

'Let's go cause some damage.' he suggested loftily.

'Do Angel's always fight so dirty when cornered?' Vash asked, managing a grin.

'Who said that rats weren't Holy?' was the casual response.  'So, ready?'

'Bring it on.' Vash replied simply. With a magnificent and ground shaking blast, the Machine behind them exploded, shrapnel screaming through the air. Time shuddered to a slow down as Neutral Territory tore open more of the gash between worlds. They didn't have long.

Both priest and gunman stepped forward at the same time, complete and calm competence smoothing their features. Halos scorched into visible existence, sparking as power was drawn in and stored, the glow intensifying with every laboured second. And slowly, like shedding sunlight itself, bright luminance seeped from shoulder blades and burst into bright, dazzling prominence, gossamer feathers crackling.

Angels advanced.

 

 

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-----AUTHOR'S NOTES-----

Lynda: AHAHAHAHAH. ... ... O_o;; Woooow... That was... Weird. Gooomene... ;_; I was literally pulled from my computer for the past couple of days, so upon being berated by one Ms. Cymberleah when I managed to plunk my bottom back down in my trusty comp chair, I hurried and typed all this out in a huge rush. Thus the messy spastic-ness. I know I said I had the first part already done, but that gave me false relaxation and I thought 'Hey! I get to take a breather!'

Then I realized a week as passed. Aha.

Kuroneko: =^¬_¬^=

Lynda: Gomeeeneeeeeee!~ Oh yeah! I'm such a scary person who makes story lines out of verbal manure, you can actually see how my idiot brain works! Check out Lina's lesson and I actually talk about Dissilation. **smirks** Yep. I'm over imaginative. Er... I shouldn't be proud of that O_o;;

Sorry to Ms. Cymberleah for the wait ^_^ I... Er... Was caught up and lazy... Ahhahahah... -_-;;