'There's always a way to save everyone!'

"You're wrong, Knives. No one ever has to die. There's always a way to save everyone!" Vash yelled. Knives didn't seem fazed in the least, or if he was, it was only amusement.

"You still say that, hmm? And yet wasn't it you who killed Legato Bluesummers?"

Vash's eyes opened wide. Memories flashed in his mind. The cruel smile. The cries of his friends. Legato's cold eyes staring into his as he practically pleaded for Vash to take his life.

Pulling the trigger. Taking his first life.

Vash closed his eyes sadly. "I...I was too slow to save him. I didn't see the best solution in time." He raised his head and shouted "But that doesn't mean it wasn't there, I could've saved him too!!"

"But you didn't. You shot him." Vash lowered his eyes again. Knives smiled. "And from your standpoint, it was a good thing you did. After all, not only did you rid yourself of a dangerous enemy, you saved your friends. You saved everyone I would've had him kill if he had survived that day." Knives' voice softened, and became reassuring. It reminded them both of when they had been brothers, instead of enemies. "You did the right thing, Vash. Bluesummers deserved to die, and you and I were the only ones who could've done it. You couldn't have saved him. If you hadn't killed him, I would have."

"Then....the problem wasn't Legato. It wasn't the Gung-Ho Guns. It never was." Vash looked up at Knives with his eyes glowing bright white. "It's you!! You're the source of all this **** and suffering!"

Knives looked calmly at Vash. "Stop being so dramatic. Yes, I caused the misery and pain in your life. But you caused the misery and pain in mine. Besides, the past is done. If we're going to be brothers, we should start acting like it."

Vash's eyes returned to normal. He looked at Knives, wondering why he had this sudden wish to be brothers again. He figured Knives was trying to trick him, but he smiled and nodded. Knives did the same.

Then, as it had always done in his life, Vash's moment of happiness was cut short by an explosion and screams of townsfolk.