Chapter 10

Little Arcadia (リトル・アルカディア, Ritoru Arukadia) is the tenth chapter of the Trigun manga.

Summary
Milly writes a letter home to all her relatives, chided by Meryl, who hardly writes at all. Gunshots interrupt the conversation, and they investigate. An old couple is using Vash as a shield while they stand up to an armed punk apparently trying to bully them off their land at the behest of a man named Morgan. As it seems to get serious, Vash prepares to intervene in earnest, but Milly and Meryl double team him from behind, fire a stun gun shot at the punk and his truck, which collapses a building. Insurance claims aside, Milly convinces Meryl that it was a necessary sacrifice. The old couple try to recruit Milly and Meryl as bodyguards, which they turn down, as they can’t have part time jobs. When the old couple turn to Vash, who agrees readily enough, Meryl jumps in again, taking the job to minimize damage.

When they head out to the old couple’s property, Vash tags along, much to Meryl’s displeasure and it’s revealed to be land supported by a geo plant, making it green and fertile. Granny and Gramps, as that's all they're called, explain that they’ve been caring for the land, allowing it to grow well and nurturing the plants that grow. They explain that they’ll be taking the deed to town to finalize possession the next day, and that they just need Milly and Meryl to protect it for the night. They’re not the only ones hired, though. A few men from town who apparently played on the land as children were more than willing to help out. Meryl sent Vash back to town, hoping to keep his amazing ‘how could it possibly get any worse’ touch away from the situation. Upon looking around, though, she comes across a picture of the old couple in their younger years with a baby and a boy that looked suspiciously like the thug harassing them earlier.

The punk from earlier comes up on the land with help, the remainder of the Nebraska family hired with the hopes that the money would be enough to bail out Father and Gofsef.