JLXS: Guess what… I'm back! I'm terribly sorry for the lack of updating! I really am! Sumimasen! Good, now that that's out of the way, you'll be happy to know that now that it's summer, I'll be updating more often! I was going to update before A-Kon, but forgot! ::sweatdrop:: Now then, on with the story!

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"Hello Ms. Jewel," Ronara greeted as Jewel entered Yanako's room.

"How's he doing?"

"Better… Do you mind watching him for me? I have to go take care of something."

"Sure."

Yanako's eyes fluttered open as Ronara closed the door. "Wha…"

"You've taken quite a beating, ya' know. Ronara's been worried."

"She's not worried about me. She's worried she won't get any money…" Yanako replied as he sat up.

"What do you mean?"

"The child Ronara is with is not my own. The father won't give her any compensation. I fell in love with her a couple of years before that, so she came to me…"

Jewel looked to the side.

"…I'm pitiful."

"No you're not. You just took compassion on a woman in need."

"I'm just her meal ticket. She doesn't know anything about me; she doesn't want to bother to get to know me either."

"Look, she just needs time. Us women take a long time to adjust when it comes to relationships. And besides that, she's probably scared about me pregnant in the first place."

"…I guess you're right."

Jewel cocked her head to one side and smiled. "You get some rest. Vash and the girls should be back soon with some food."

"Okay."

Jewel sighed as she closed the door. "Poor Yanni… That woman had no right to do that… but all the same, it's best for the both of them."

At this moment, a blonde and red blur tackled her to the ground.

"I've stolen you're heart!" he yelped.

She looked at him skeptically. "You've stolen nothing I hope."

He whimpered. Jewel, in response, rolled her eyes. "You're so childish," she commented.

"Jewel, I have a question to ask you."

"What?"

As Vash opened his mouth, a gunshot was heard. The two plants looked towards the sound. "Knives," they replied in unison. The two ran into the living room to find Ronara on the floor, her blood pooling around her.

"Get her some bandages!" Vash commanded Meryl. Meryl nodded and began to lift Ronara from the floor.

"Stop," said Jewel solemnly.

"But…" Vash began to protest.

"She's already dead. The gunshot was to her temple."

Knives's maniacal laugh came from the corner of the room. "Of course she's dead."

"You killed her!" Vash yelled, his gun already pointed at Knives.

"He didn't… she shot herself," Jewel explained. "The shot was to her temple. If Knives had killed her, he would have shot her between the eyes so she would've known he was her killer... and so he could watch her panic-stricken face."

"So you still remember how I like to see them squirm," Knives grinned.

"It's a mental image; don't bother wasting your bullets," Jewel explained to Vash as he was about to shoot.

Knives smirked. His vile laughter filling the room as his image faded away.

"Take her to the undertaker," Jewel told Millie. Millie nodded and lifted Ronara from the floor. "I'll be the one to tell Yanako. In the mean time, Vash, you best search for any remaining signs of Knives."

Vash nodded, tears stinging the corners of his eyes.

"I'll clean up," Meryl said before Jewel could give her orders. Jewel nodded and headed to Yanako's room.

"I heard the entire thing…"

"Yanako…"

"I'll be fine."

Jewel began to leave. "Ya' know, Yanako, it's okay to cry."

"I'm fine."

Jewel sighed as the door closed.

"How is he?" Vash asked as approached her.

"Physically, he's in pretty good condition, but emotionally…"

Vash nodded solemnly. "Millie just got back and Meryl just finished cleaning. As for Knives…"

"No sign," Jewel finished. The two headed to the kitchen in search of something to clear their senses.

As Vash began to grab the bottle of liquor he had carefully hidden in the back of the pantry, Meryl stopped him.

"No booze for anyone tonight. Last thing we need is for that… that devil to show up and have no one sober and healthy enough but me to fight him off," Meryl chastised.

Both Jewel and Vash nodded in guilty agreement.

"I'll start making dinner, in the mean time, you two should go see about Ronara's funeral."

"Yes ma'm," the plants said in unison.

The walk to the undertaker was a silent one, up until the last five minutes.

"Vash, you really need to tell Meryl."

"Tell her what?"

"Don't try that with me. I am psychic you know."

"She'll get in the crossfire."

"She'll get in the crossfire either way. At least if you tell her, she'll know you cared."

"…"

Jewel turned to look at him. Tears were streaming down his face.

"But…"

"No buts, Vash. She deserves to know."

"…everything?" he asked.

Jewel nodded.

It was around 8:00 when the arrangements were finally done and dinner was ready. After dinner, everyone was to emotionally and physically drained to do much of anything, so they all retreated to their sleeping area, Vash to the couch, Meryl and Millie to their room, and Jewel to hers.

"Jewel," Yanako called as she passed his doorway.

"Yes?" she answered as she entered.

"Who are the twins?"

"…"

"Jewel…"

"I didn't know you were there the entire time that conversation between Knives and I took place."

"Don't change the subject."

"Yanako, I don't think I should…"

"Tell me."

She sighed as she sat on his bed, her face to the floor. "They're my daughter and son… Saiyake and Dagger…"

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JLXS: Sorry it's so short, but I'll make the next chapter extra-long to make up for it! Well, at least this isn't a cliffhanger… it's more like a pseudo-cliffhanger. NEwayz, expect the next chapter in two weeks tops. Bai bai!