All for you
A Gungrave Love Story (Zen and Brandon)
I created Zen Zhinomori and Aki Mikage (I took the name from Ceres: Celestial Legends), other than that I do not own any part of Gungrave or it's characters. I made some of this up and the sequence of events may be out of order... The first few parts will be flashbacks for Zen.
Zen Shinomori was asleep in a meeting as per usual. No one dared wake the dame from her slumber for fear of their lives. Her former friend, Harry MacDowell, now head of the Millenion corporation, was droning on and on about the weeks upcoming events. Bunji Kugashira watched her in dismay from behind his glasses, but he too said nothing. None of them knew that she was lost in the past, when things had been so much better...
The orphanage was a huge, dark building to the eyes of a seven year old girl. Children ran about and chased each other on the small concrete court out front. Zen watched them with interest as her car stopped with a shudder and the driver exited the vehicle. The sun shone brightly on the balding head of the orphanage manager as he came out from the shade of the building to meet the driver. Zen igored them and cotinued to watch the children frolick. Two boys stood out from the rest, just for keeping to themselves. One was the shy, quiet type, who's eyes could see a person's soul. The other was an arrogant child who's eyes constantly wandered, hoping for a chance to prove himself to the world.
"Well, young lady. It was nice meeting you, good luck with everything." The driver announced, rather robotically, he had obviously done this many times before.
"Yeah...whatever." Zen replied monotonously. Soon after he drove away, the manager grabbed her arm and dragged her inside. Her bunk was smelly and had strange things growing on it and all the children had to share one room. Once her things, what few she actually had, were situated on her bed, the man dragged her out into the sunshine. She immediately approached the big tree in the center of the grounds and climbed to a thick branch.
"Don't see why I have to pay for my good-for-nothing father's mistakes." She told herself bitterly. "Stupid drunk, never had a mind for anyone but booze. Too bad mom's dead." Voices came to her, even so high in her sanctuary. The two boys were backed against the base of the tree, completely surrounded by the rest of the children.
"Hey freaks!" One of the boys called, he was the leader of the mass. "You think you're so tough! Try this!" He threw a punch at the quiet boy and Zen launched herself from the tree, landing square on the older boys shoulders. Both went down in a world of hurt. She recovered quickly and stood in front of the shocked boys.
"Boys always were pathetic." She spat at the quivering mass at her feet. "And to think, you're older."
Days later:
Everyday Zen sat in the same tree, while the two boys sat at the base in silence. She got annoyed.
"Don't you two have anything better to do!" She snapped. The loudmouth looked up at her with a grin.
"You're an outcast too. We should stick together, you know, for survival." He explained knowledgeably. The quiet one nodded his consent. "What's the name anyway?" She looked at him like he was stupid. Didn't he see that she had always been alone and wanted to keep it that way? But, some allies might make things easier...
"Zen. Zen Shinomori. And you?" She said as she landed. The boy gave a victory grin.
"Harry MacDowell." They nodded to one another and shook hands.
"You?" She asked again.
"Brandon. Brandon Heat."
Brandon Heat...