Knives: Good, it was only a dream.  Three ghosts, ha!  What a joke!  Well, good night.

Knives lies back down and closes his eyes.  A few seconds later, he opens his eyes…and finds himself looking at a young boy’s face!

Knives: AHHHH!!!  (jumps back)

???: Oh jeez, don’t tell me you’re afraid of a little kid?

Knives looks over his bed and recognizes the figure.

Knives: Zazie?  What are you doing here?

Zazie:  Actually, I’m not Zazie, I’m just in disguise.  Oh, you don’t know yet.  I’m the Ghost of Christmas Present.  But in short, you can call me Zaz.

Knives: Eh, okay…what do you want from me?

Zaz: Just like what the Ghost of Christmas Past did…only I’m gonna show you what’s going on right now!

Knives: No way!  I’m not going anywhere with you!

Zaz: Too bad!

Zaz takes his hand and they fly out the window.

Knives: NOT AGAAAAAIIIIIN!!!!!

Zaz: Just be quiet!

They fly around the city of December until they reach a Saloon.

Zaz: Seems like the boys, and Dominique, are here tonight.  Let’s see what’s going on.

They look through the window where Knives’ Gung Ho Gun gang are having drinks.

Rai Dai: Finally!  A time to ourselves and not get bossed by the master!

Lenord: Cheers to that!

Everyone cheered and clinked their glasses of beer together.

The Real Zazie: What is up with that Knives anyways?

EG Mine: Yeah, he’s been quite annoying lately.

Grey the Ninelives: I gotta agree with you for once.

Caine the Longshot: OMG you actually talked!

Hoppered: Same with you!

Midvalley the Hornfreak: Let us not worry about that Knives and enjoy ourselves this evening.  After all, it is Christmas.

Dominique: Yeah!  Who needs him?!  Legato was the TRUE leader of the Gung-Ho-Guns!

Chapel the Evergreen: Knives never paid us enough!

Everyone: YEAH!

Knives watches this and gets angry.

Knives: You idiots!  Who was the one who brought you here when you were all lost and alone in the world because of your inhuman powers?!!!

No one answers.

Knives: Answer me!

Zaz: No Knives.  They cannot see you, nor they cannot hear you.  You’re nothing but an invisible force right now, just like how you really are if you’re not.

Knives: Exactly what is the point of all this?!

Zaz: This was to show you what you’re gang really thinks about you.  Now, we have two more places to go to.

Zaz takes Knives’ hand again and they fly through December until they reach a small house.

Knives: (growls) Why are we at my brother’s house?

Zaz: Something amazing is about to happen to him.  This would be because all these years, unlike you, he has chosen the right path.

They walk themselves towards the window and see Vash sitting with his wife Meryl Stryfe on the couch in front of the lit fireplace.  They listened to the couple carefully.

Vash: This has been such a wonderful evening Meryl.  I couldn’t imagine anything better than this.

Meryl: Me either Vash.  Who knew this would turn out like this.  Never in my wildest dreams would I be sitting here with you tonight.

Vash: Isn’t life funny sometimes.

Meryl only smiles and nods in reply.

Vash: Meryl, I love you so much.

Meryl: Oh Vash, I love you so much too.

They share a brief kiss before Meryl pulled away.

Meryl: Vash, I have an early Christmas present for you.

Vash: Really?

Meryl: Yes.  Um, the other day I went to the doctor and…Vash…we’re going to have a baby.

Vash: *in surprise* M, Meryl.

The two embrace in silence, but with happiness shown in both of their eyes.

Zaz: Awwww how cute, Knives is going to be a monkey’s uncle!

Knives: Shut up.  Again, what was the point of this?  This is all a waste of my time.

Zaz: *sigh* You’ll never learn…except, there is one more place to go to…

Knives: Then will you leave me be?

Zaz: …fine.

Zaz once again takes Knives’ hand and they go across December.  They go about 300 iles out of town before landing upon a lone building.

Zaz: Recognize this place?

Knives: Of course.  This is Nicholas D. Wolfwood’s church.  Why are we here of all places?

Zaz: Well…you know how your little gang had said that they don’t get paid enough.  Well, it’s not too much of a matter for them…but it’s a BIG matter to Nicholas D. Wolfwood.  And you, my friend, are about to find out.

They go by the window of what looks like a kitchen.  They see about twenty children waiting for dinner to be served.  They see Wolfwood and his wife Milly by the stove.

Wolfwood: Okay everyone! Dinner’s ready!

Milly turns around holding a bowl of…

Knives: Peas?  That’s dinner?

Zaz: If only YOU had given Wolfwood enough money for him to buy a big ham, cranberries, stuffing, and all that good stuff.  But nope, they are only getting peas this Christmas Eve.

As Milly served the peas to the children, Knives noticed the littlest child of them all.  He sat quietly as his seat as he waited for his food.  Next to him were a pair of crutches.

Zaz: Ahh, I see that you are noticing Little Liam.  You know, Wolfwood loves these kids, but Liam is his favorite of them all.  As for the crutches, he has polio.  It’s simple, get a vaccine for it, right?  But unfortunately, there is not enough money to give Little Liam the cure.  Who knows…this may be his very last Christmas…

For the first time in the many years Knives had lived, he started to feel a little care towards Little Liam.  There was something about Little Liam that made Knives feel this way.  Perhaps the little boy reminded him of himself when he was that young, well, that young-looking.

The little orphans ate their food and finished up quickly.  Once they were finished, they put the dishes in the sink.  Milly kept her smile as they did this.  Then, she went over to Little Liam.

Milly: Here Liam, I’ll take your dish, you can go back to playing with the other children.

Little Liam: Okay Miss Milly.

Little Liam got into his crutches and slowly made his way out of the kitchen.  As soon as he was out, Milly went over to the sink to put his dish away.  Wolfwood waited for her there.

Wolfwood: This is awful…I wish I could’ve gave these children a better Christmas, especially for Little Liam.

Milly: Dear, we tried the best we can with all we had.

Wolfwood: I know but…you and I both know that it could’ve been better.  We’re lucky that each child is getting at least one gift this year.  But we could’ve done more…we could’ve put up a Christmas tree…some decorations…a bigger dinner…but this is all I can afford…*sigh* and afterwards, I wonder…I wonder if I’ll be able to get enough money to give Liam the cure to his polio.  Makes me wonder…is this is last Christmas?

Milly: Dear, don’t think about that…

They both wrapped their arms around each other and held one another close in silence.  All that could heard were the winds and the laughter of the children playing.

Knives shook his head and growled.

Knives: I’ve had enough!  Take me back!

When Knives turned around…Zaz was no where to be seen…

To Chapter Four------->