All for you
Chapter 3- A new ally
Zen and Brandon
Special thanks to Serene Walker for her reviews! I really appreciate it. Wow, Part 3. As per usual I do not own Gungrave or any of its characters except Zen and Aki. (Yada yada yada) Yeah...On to the story! Still on memory lane for Zen.
3 years later
"Hurry up, shithead!" Zen hissed, shoving Harry out the window down the makeshift ladder, Brandon scuttled out after him. They ran beneath the moonlight, carrying small packs with them containing all they possessed, and fled into the night.
For the next few years they stuck by one another, and took possession of a small, run down restaurant in the ghetto. They were soon joined by three other men, Jolice, Nathan, and Kenny. All of them grew to be very close, all the men answering to Zen, of course. She would never lead them astray.
Sadly enough though, even Zen had to answer to the man who ran all gang related money making schemes this side of the ghetto. But it wasn't so bad. Zen also noticed a change growing in her heart every time she looked at Brandon. She decided to repress the feeling and ignore it, for now.
Another 3 years (Zen; Age 13)
Twas a sweltering day. Zen hated the rich bastards that rove through the streets with their costly cars and soothing air conditioning.
"Bloody hell…" Harry groaned, flipping his stolen tarot cards over and over in his massive fingers. Zen was seated on the counter, calmly flipping through a stolen math book.
"What grade do we have now?" Harry asked. Zen checked the cover.
"Seventh, why?" For the last three years they had terrorized the students in the neighborhood for money, books, and a few laughs.
"Cause it's too easy for all of us, we need the next grade up." He responded.
"Oh well. I'm gonna go out for more money. The schools almost out." She tossed the book at Harry, who scrambled to catch it. "Wait here for the others."
Slam, Crash, Beat, Bash, Thud
"Goody." Zen muttered sarcastically at the ten dollar bill in hand. The former owner lay unconscious at her feet. She looked up when a shadow fell upon her face. A girl slightly older than she stood in the entrance of the alleyway, calmly watching her.
"What do you want?" Zen asked, not in the mood for more trouble, but if this girl wanted it, she would get it. The girl replied with a quick smile and shoved a textbook into Zen's hands. With a wave, she jumped into a waiting car and was gone.
"The hell..?" Turning the textbook over, the faded blue letters read 'Algebra 2; for eighth graders.'
It became increasingly difficult for Zen and her gang of misfit boys to steal money and such from the local school kids. The teachers had gotten smarter.
"Shit. This ain't good guys." Nathan stated, wiping the sweat from his forehead, the days were getting longer and the sun was merciless.
"No sweat. Come on." Zen strode boldly onto the school grounds as the final bell rang.
"Get the hell off me!" Harry snarled behind her. Some teachers had shown up, holding her friends in place.
"You kids are going to be turned into the authorities! Shame on you!" One snapped to them, Zen felt a hand grip her shoulder firmly.
"You're coming with us!"
"Like hell I am!" She struggled against the weight on her shoulder, she didn't know another watched.
"Let them go!" A voice yelled over the tumult. It was the girl who had given her the textbook. Her green eyes blazed with anger. "Duck!" Zen ducked as the girl laid a well placed kick in the teachers face. "Run!"
Zen gathered up her boys and bailed. When she looked back the girl was being carried, kicking and screaming, back to the school.
"Who the hell was that?" Kenny gasped as they ran.
"Not a clue…"
Part 2 (of part 3..?)
Zen watched Harry from a tree, it was his turn to steal from the highschoolers. After his job was done, he ran straight into the mystery girl. Both went down in a tangle of limbs.
"I'm so sorry!" Harry cried helping her up in a flash. She shook her head and grabbed her fallen materials.
"It's alright." She chuckled. "Can you help me with this?" She gestured at her math book. "I don't get it."
"Uh…sure." He explained the problems to her and Zen saw the understanding light her green eyes. "That's it? Thank you!" Harry gave a bright smile and nodded.
"So, are you gonna tell us exactly who the hell you are?" Zen inquired, approaching the pair.
"Oh, yeah!" The girl gave a quick bow. "My name is Aki Mikage, and you are?"
"Harry MacDowell. And might I say that you are lovely Ms. Mi-ow!" Zen bowled him over.
"Zen Shinomori." They shook hands. "Thanks for the help you gave us a while back."
"Not a problem." She gave a sly grin. "You guys are the thieves I've heard so much about."
"Yeah? You expecting a reward?"
Aki laughed. "No, of course not!"
Over the course of the next few years, Zen and Aki grew to be very close. Aki even invited Zen, Brandon, Harry, Nathan, Kenny, and Jolice over to her expensive house. Her brother Max, worked for a big time company called Millenion. He was an excellent sweeper. An assassin. But no one knew save Aki, Zen, and Tony, Aki's second brother.
"Welcome. Make yourselves at home!" Aki left them to roam the house as she made dinner. Zen was very uncomfortable in such grandeur. She was a street rat, a thug, slime. She didn't deserve this, not from Aki. But Aki wouldn't let her leave.
"Aki? I'm home!" A voice called from the door. In the next instant Aki was glomping her brother and vice-versa. "You have guests?"
"Yep!" She beamed and introduced her friends in order.
"Feel free to clean out the fridge. We have to shop anyway." Max collapsed on the couch and watched the news.
Several hours later
It was fun to just sit around, talk, and not worry about getting shot or clubbed. But, Zen knew it had to end sometime. She gathered her friends.
"Come on, let's go home now." All the guys filed out the door with 'thank yous.' Zen was the last to leave.
"We should to do this again." Aki said, leaning against the door frame. "I have to cook for Max's boss' tomorrow night. Scary." She shuddered once for emphasis.
"You really love your brother, don't you?" Zen asked. Aki smiled and nodded. "Well, good luck with that." Zen grinned and headed down the path for home and a cozy blanket.
Okay, that'll have to be the end for now…Sorry! But this one is five pages long! I'll have the next one out soon, I'm almost done typing it, it'll be another short one though! Rate please!
