Gungrave and all characters therein are not my property. This story is all I own.

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All-encompassing darkness. No light, no sound. No feelings except for regret. Regret for an unfinished job, for a promise broken, and for betrayal. But with the regret came images. Most were incomplete, though a few stood out in clarity. She dwelled most forcefully, a beautiful lady whose name had bled away into the ether. Still she captivated, and saddened with her entrancing soulful eyes. Her form, though shrouded, was swelled and pregnant. It wasn't blatant, but it was noticeable. A man was next to her, but his features were indiscernible.

Another man came to mind's eye, this one clearer than the last, though his face was hazy and his identity unknowable. However his appearance brought anger along. But the rage was softened by the same ether that unraveled thought and memory. Strong emotions it seemed held no power beyond time. All emotions, be they love, hate, or sorrow turned to regret. In this place only this feeling was constantly present. That is, until a dim flash of light broke in.

Any bit of luminescence in this place was remarkable, and even dim brightness shone with near-blinding intensity in the darkness. It caught the attention of the dweller in the dark, and regret gave way to determination. A struggle toward the light began. The light flickered, threatening to go out, and the struggle became more frantic. It consumed all thoughts and emotions, everything and anything. This was a time when moments weighed like hours, and mind and soul were stripped bare.

Finally, the flickering stopped. The light dimmed, then grew to a blazing intensity as it surrounded. As the light grew, with it came a tugging, a pull leading farther on. The force became stronger and stronger until the abrupt stop. With the cessation of motion, came the feeling of being crushed into an impossibly small space. The intense light began to dim, and then finally ebbed away.

As the light receded, other feelings came into the mind and...
Eyes open. Eyes? Make that ... eye. Where's the light? Ah. There, right above me. Above?

".ke now?" a voice interrupted the stream of thought. It was a familiar voice, but not one that could be placed.

Listening brought more noises to the attention, the whir of machines and the quiet but steady drip of fluid in IVs attached to him.

"I know that I swore never to do this, but you'll have to forgive me." A man in a white lab coat moved around nervously. "There was no other way you see," he turned toward the wall of computers and pressed a button.

That gray fringe of hair around the bald pate, the glasses, I should know this man. Who is he? Who am I?

"You should be able to move now, but try to take it slow. Don't run off on me now," a nervous laugh from the other man showed his uncertainty. But uncertain or not, the man turned around and studied his patient. When their gazes met, the doctor found he could not endure his patient's scrutiny for long.

The doctor's eyes shifted to his shoes, and he plucked at the collar of his lab coat, at a momentary loss for words. The patient inspected the room, not uttering a sound. His survey ended when he came to an IV attached to his left arm. The doctor shifted, as if ready to say or do something, but ceased when the patient looked at him.