Guest Author - The Futile Existence

Wolfwood remembers back to when he was 8 - he used a gun for the first time, shooting his guardian, and seeing a man who held a cat. The man ate a green apple, tormenting the boy who wanted it. Wolfwood started an orphanage to help other kids have a better childhood. But he still thinks this planet is horrible.

Vash goes back to the Knives monument while Wolfwood works on a motorcycle. The green apple guy shows up. Wolfwood goes after the apple and fails. The guy calls Wolfwood "Nicholas". The man asks Wolfwood what is going on, and Wolfwood says that his orders were to bring in Vash alive. The guy says that the orders have been changed, and that he guarantees that Wolfwood's December Orphans will be safe, protected by the Chapel of the Gung-Ho Guns.

Wolfwood goes into town to face Vash but walks past. Millie brings in sandwiches to Wolfwood, along with coffee, black. Wolfwood confronts her about the boy and she says she's confused. Wolfwood cries because he had to choose between a child and Vash. Millie comforts him. Next you see them, Millie is laying in his bed asleep, and Wolfwood is smoking a cigarette, without a shirt on, looking at her.

Vash and Wolfwood talk to each other the next day. Vash tries to say that there must be a non-violent solution, but Wolfwood draws on him. Wolfwood wants to end the quick draw contest now. Vash says, when I'm dead, do you promise never to shoot anyone again?

Cain starts shooting from the outskirts of town and the two run for cover. Wolfwood asks what Vash's real name is, and Vash says it is irrelevant. Chapel shows up and asks Wolfwood why he didn't kill Vash, but then says it doesn't matter. The two blast away at each other. Meryl goes in to find Wolfwood but finds Millie, in her PJs, in bed. Millie says Wolfwood made her promise to stay in bed and she will until he comes back.

Vash finds Cain and destroys his gun, telling him to go home. Wolfwood shoots Chapel but leaves him alive. He takes the green apple from Chapel. Legato takes over Chapel and makes him fight Wolfwood.

Wolfwood staggers into a church and wants to confess on the altar. He realizes he should have listened to Vash and tried to save people instead of killing them. He cries out that he didn't want to die this way, and collapses.

Millie and Meryl cry while Vash stands outside.