All For You
A Gungrave Love Story
Filler Chapter #1
Thank you once again for your patience regarding this story. Since I haven't continued the story as of yet, I decided I would write a filler chapter about a portion of Aki's past. This is when she's 17 and her eldest brother Max, who is a top sweeper for Millenion, is murdered by his target. It's also how Aki gets into the organization and begins her life as a sweeper. Thanks again everyone, hope you enjoy! ^__^
Aki wished the stereotypes weren't so damn true. A single moment could change your life, and at this point, it had. She sorted through her memory of the last ten minutes and fresh tears pooled in her eyes. Vaguely she remembered the doorbell ringing at ten that morning. After peeling herself from the couch she answered the door only to find two suits waiting on her door step, their limo in the driveway. They had apologized briefly and then told her that her brother Max had been killed. Luckily, Tony had come to the door at the proper moment to catch his little sister midair as she leapt at the men's throats, screaming. He had died with honor, they said, by protecting the organization with his life. Aki didn't give a damn about Max's honor, the organization, or especially, its leader, the infamous Big Daddy. Max had nothing but good to say about the man and revered him as not only a great man, but also a sort of surrogate father. But what had his loyalty gotten him? Nothing but a few bullets and a plaque of honor; Aki fought the bitterness that welled in her throat. Max was her everything, Mother, father, brother, provider, caretaker, confidante, and protector. Tony was the bully who constantly called her names and teased her about her imperfect grades, making him fairly useless as a brother. But, in the end, even Aki had to admit that they were together in their grief, different though it may be. He sat alone in the living room crying while Aki lay on Max's bed upstairs, curled into a tight ball, wrapped in his blankets without tears. Eventually, she fell asleep.
Two days later…
She and Tony stood side by side, both dressed head to toe in black. The sun was mockingly bright with no clouds on the horizon. The grass was an electric green and slightly damp after the previous night's rain. The siblings had finally agreed on a plot to put Max's body. It was half shaded by a large willow which seemed to guard the head of his tombstone. Several of Max's "co-workers" were present and a small group of suits stood several yards away, watching the service.
She, in turn, regarded them intently. The six men that stood in a circle were all generic looking with matching suits, shades, and too much gel in their hair. One man stood in the middle of the circle, he was well built and appeared to be in his mid-forties. There was a serious expression on his aging face. His hair was black but fading swiftly to white. He had a stern chin and what must've been a handsome face when he was young and his large glasses hid gentle eyes.
"Aki, come on," Tony tugged her arm and they stepped forward. He laid his rose atop the coffin but Aki kept a firm grip on hers, unable to say goodbye to her brother just yet. Her eyes went back to the suits that were departing to three waiting limos. Aki's mind was already calculating as she tried to calm her pounding heart. She would have revenge for her brother.
Everyone departed, leaving Aki standing alone once more by Max's coffin. Her fingers drummed the lid of the coffin and she glanced around for witnesses. She braced herself and wrenched open the coffin, her bottom lip quivering when she saw her brother, still beautiful even in death. He was pale and cold, but still, she reached for his hand and touched his face carefully.
"Thank you," she whispered to the corpse. "Look out for Tony, will you? And thanks for the car and the house…I love you, Max. And…I promise I'll find the man who did this to you and make him pay." The red rose was a stark contrast to his pale hands as she lay it on his chest. Her purpose confirmed, she closed the lid gently and made her way towards home.
Aki was up with the sun and fully dressed. She made Max's bed and dug the Smith & Wesson from his dresser drawer. It was a medium sized revolver that required both hands to hold steady. The holster-belt was too big for her but she wore it anyway. She crawled out the window and climbed down to the front lawn. Max's last gift was in the driveway, a red XJR Jaguar. Aki jogged over and swiftly climbed in. She sped for the Millenion headquarters, determination setting in. The building rose swiftly into view. Aki parked across the street and climbed the stairs to the glass doors.
"Good morning, Miss, can I-Miss?" the secretary stood as she walked swiftly passed her to the elevators. "Miss, you can't go up there! Security!" Aki darted in and heaved a sigh of relief as the doors shut in the woman's face. The city fell away as she rose in the glass tube towards the sky. The revolver was loaded and she flicked the safety switch off as she stepped from the elevator. She wasn't on the top floor.
"Damn it," she growled and followed the hall signs to the locked staircase. Immediately she was glad she had done a lot of target practice with Max. With a careful aim, she blew a hole in the door and shoved it open. Her feet pounded the concrete stairs as she raced for the top floor, and Big Daddy. Luckily, she came out on the correct floor. The lobby was empty except for a lone woman sitting behind her desk. Her eyes settled on Aki, a quizzical expression on her face.
"Can I help you?"
"I want to see Big Daddy,"
"What's your name?" she asked slowly.
"Akikaze Mikage."
"I'm sorry, Miss Mikage, you don't seem to have an appointment." Aki drew the revolver and aimed between the woman's eyes.
"Pencil me in," she commanded softly.
"No," the woman knew there was something desperately wrong with the girl. Her eyes were dead and there was no emotion radiating from her eyes except a cold calm. Still, she held her head proudly and defiant.
"Open the door," she cocked back the hammer. "I don't want to kill you."
"I'm afraid I can't do that."
"Do you want to die? Open the fucking door!" A spark of anger, or madness, appeared in the girl's eyes. Mrs. Takamura heard the elevator bell and was relieved when four men filed out, guns raised at the girl.
"Drop your gun, girl,"
"Fat chance," Aki hissed over her shoulder. "I'm here to see Big Daddy."
"The only thing you're going to see is the inside of a jail cell, young lady. Now get over here. You're already in enough trouble as it is." the man reached for her and she fired a warning shot passed his ear. They aimed at her this time, ready to fire.
"Mrs. Takamura," came a deep voice from the phone on the desk. Aki glanced at the woman, then at the phone. Obediently, she answered.
"Yes, Sir?"
"Let the girl in to my office, please," Aki was dumbfounded. She and Mrs. Takamura stared at one another for a brief moment before the guards tackled Aki to the floor and took her revolver away from her. She was brought into the office, both of her arms held tightly against her sides by the paranoid men. The same man from the funeral sat behind his desk and looked up to acknowledge their arrival.
His office was simple with two rugs neatly displayed against the off-white carpet. There was a small bar and two leather couches seated across from one another, a glass table with a floral centerpiece separating them. The desk was a dark mahogany and there was no mess to be found anywhere in the room.
"You must be Aki, Max's younger sister, correct?" his voice was kind and understanding, but that wasn't what made Aki stumble. It was the sincerity in his eyes. She nodded briefly. "You're brother was very loyal to me and also a wonderful friend. I'm very sorry for your loss. You must despise me very much to make it this far with only a revolver and seven bullets." Aki shook her head, her heart beginning to pound loudly in her ears. "I'll see to it that you get home safely. You're brother must be worried about you."
"No!" she yelled, wrenching free of her guards and bolting across the room only to drop to her knees in front of him, sobbing. "Please don't send me away! You're the only piece of my brother that I have left! I'll work hard to be apart of your organization, I'll do whatever you tell me to, and I'll even work weekends! I want to avenge my brother and I need your help. I can't do this on my own...I need you to help me, please. If my brother really meant that much to you just give me a chance. Please..." the room lay hushed for a few seconds until Big Daddy hugged Aki.
"Welcome to the Family," those words broke the dam on her tears and she wept unashamedly into the man that her brother admired because of his kindness, his warmth, and his understanding. Perhaps, she thought, Max had died for a noble cause.
"Cid Galarde and Bear Walken will be your instructors. I expect you to follow their orders as you would mine. But for now, let's get you home and rested. Tomorrow after school, come straight here and your training will begin. I'm expecting great things from you, Aki." he smiled softly and Aki couldn't resist smiling back. "Randy, please escort Aki home for the evening." A tall, balding man with light brown eyes and a pale complexion seemed to appear out of nowhere.
"Sure thing, Big Daddy. It's a pleasure to meet you, young lady," Aki bowed and was flattered to receive one in return. "Shall we?" he led her past the four dumbstruck guards, but Aki stopped in the door.
"Uh, Sir?" she began quietly. "How did you know I liked being called Aki?"
Big Daddy graced her with another smile, "You're brother spoke about you often. He would be very proud of you."
"Thank you," she bowed deeply.
"You're quite welcome. I'll see you tomorrow afternoon, Aki,"
"Until then...Big Daddy," she closed the door and followed Randy to the car. The mist had evaporated from the morning and the sun was just beginning to get hot. Aki sat next to Randy as he drove through the city and smiled to the sky, knowing that her brother was watching.
I hope that this was enjoyable! Thank you for reading everyone ^^ If you have any requests for one-shots with any of the characters I would be more than happy to attempt those as well. Thank you once again for reading ~Jade