Gungrave:

All For You: Chapter 8

Restart and Become

I am so sorry it took me so long to get started again! I really am! If you guys are still reading could you keep reviewing please? It gives me the kick in the ass I need to keep writing for you! I had to change the story to mature because of everything that's going on now and later in the story, and I don't want to get my account deleted! That's all for now, please keep reading! –Jade P.S. You know I don't own the Gungrave or any of its characters!

Zen's P.O.V.

The restaurant had stayed the same, though the bloodstain on the floor was a cruel reminder of the fate that her friends had been victims of in only two days. Harry crudely bandaged Brandon's grazed arm as Zen perched atop the countertop, her throne. Aki's probably dead…just like the rest of them. Damn it all… She thought, distraught. She slid to the floor as Harry tied the knot on the bandage and caught her blank eyes. Together they walked into the mist, silent as the grave.

The petty guard's of Deed's hideout proved easy to overpower along with the door they guarded. After putting the rest of the men to the floor, they approached the quivering mass of bruised flesh. Deed's wide eyes betrayed his terror as he looked first to Harry who held a .45 automatic that he had picked up from the suit (Suits: rich people, in case you were wondering. It's a bit of an insult.) That had 'rescued' them earlier that night, then to Brandon's unreadable face, and finally to Zen, whose eyes thirsted for blood.

"W-what are you doing here? W-where's my brother?" He spluttered. Zen's merciless grin drained what was left of the color from his face. Her sanity was lost with her friends.

"I'm afraid your brother won't be joining us." Harry began.

"He should be in the morgue about now." Zen cackled viciously, Brandon motioned for silence, she merely smirked.

"Whatever you want you can have it! It was all my brother's idea, I swear! I'm sorry!" He started bawling into his swollen hands.

"…No, Deed. You have robbed so much from us but, I, will not rob you…" He paused and swallowed with difficulty, Zen grew impatient as time stood still. Finally, he spoke again. "I will give instead of take," Zen's grin faded to a frown as one grew on Harry's face. "And the gift I will give is death!" He pulled the trigger. Deed scarcely had time to cry out before he ceased to be.

Zen nearly rejoiced at the fact that their vengeance had been sealed in blood but, what had come over Harry since earlier? Was it that his friends had been murdered before his very eyes while he sat helpless? Or something inexplicable, beyond comprehension? The look of pure horror and shock written so plain on Brandon's face aroused these questions in her mind.

As Harry left, Zen stared, mesmerized, at the fluids leaking from the cavity that used to be Deed's face and thought of death and it's easy to please attitude. Without another word, they left the confines of Deed's place, into the night.

Aki's P.O.V.

"I'm glad your wounds have healed properly, Aki. You had us all quite worried." Big Daddy turned to look at his subordinate, though he thought of her as a daughter, with a loving smile. She returned a weak one and fiddled with the thin material of the hospital blanket, knowing that she would be punished for disobeying direct orders from Big Daddy and Bear not to go after Mad Dog.

Damn him…If not for him…Jolice would still be alive… She thought miserably, tearing the fabric as she wrung it.

'Tsk, tsk, my dear Aki.' Yami cooed in her head. Do you honestly believe Jolice would have wanted you of all people? After everything you've done? Aki bowed her head in defeat.

"Sir, about my punishment, I-" She fell silent as he raised a palm.

"There's no need for such things. You know that." She nodded. "However, you still disobeyed our orders, Aki. What would people say if I began to favor you? I wouldn't be in this business much longer. That being said,"

He tossed a manila folder onto her lap, turning to stare out the window once more. "You are to go to the city of Atlas and will be discovering all you can about the mafia, Titan. Is that understood?" She looked agitated but remained silent. "You will leave tomorrow afternoon."

"But-So sudden?" She asked, dismayed. His reflection revealed a stern stare. She returned her gaze to the folder. "Yes, sir…"

Zen's P.O.V.

"We're going with you Harry and that's final." Zen said flatly, bringing the argument to a screeching halt. There was a pause as she fixed her eyes back onto the azure desert stretched before her.

"Yes, we'll all go." Brandon added, almost to himself. Harry's face brightened with a true smile, his first in days. After dealing with Descartes men and freeing themselves, Harry decided that he had no reason to stay.

"But, Brandon, what about Maria?" He asked, shooting a suggestive glance at Zen who ignored it. It was none of Harry's business. Brandon merely nodded his head in response. Harry beamed again and hopped from his garbage can stool. "Great! Together always…See you guys when you're ready!" He strode off whistling to himself.

Zen, too, stood, brushing the remainder of dirt and grass from her jeans. She was overjoyed that Brandon was coming but, refused to show it on her face. But, what about Aki? She thought. She's alive, I know that much. Perhaps it's just better to leave it at a silent goodbye. I never was good for the teary ones.

"…I'm happy you're coming with us, Brandon." She admitted finally, going to her own destination. But, quietly, she heard him reply:

"Me too, Zen. Me too…"

After their final showdown with Descartes men in the graveyard, the bloody coward didn't come himself, and having to be bailed out by a member of the Millenion organization…again, to Zen's annoyance, Harry made a deal with the man who saved their asses. That he would be able to become a part of Millenion if he could get money from Descartes and keep on sucking the dough out of him.

A train horn tore her away from the discussion at hand and to the station in the distance.

Aki…where are you going…? Her heart had dropped into her stomach. The train pulled away faster than anything she had seen before, off into the red sunset. I guess it's fair…things will be so much different when you get back, my friend…

"Something wrong?" Brandon asked, seeing the forlorn look on her face as they set off once again to milk Descartes for all he was worth.

"No…it's nothing…"

Aki's P.O.V.

It was crowded. How they fit all those people on that one tiny train, Aki would never know. Thankfully, she found her seat as they began to plug along into the deepening night. The seat next to her was mercifully empty for the first part of her journey to Atlas. Far off, she could see Zen, Brandon, and Harry standing in the graveyard with a group of suits.

It figures Big Daddy would pull something like this when I'm leaving…She thought angrily. They, too, faded into the past as the train sped on into the unknown future of her life. Yami was asleep, for the time being, so her head was silent save for her own thoughts. Several stops later, when Billion was merely a thought on the horizon, a man with shades and a duffel bag boarded the train and climbed into the vacant seat next to her.

Somehow, she managed to strike up conversation, as the man was completely unsociable, and he shook her hand.

"The names Akikaze Mikage, and you are?" The man tucked his shades into his shirt collar, revealing mysterious brown eyes that held her fawn colored ones.

"It's Kabane. Juji Kabane."

Did I shock you at all? I sure hope so! Anywho, I am sooooooo sorry about the wait…I hope I still have readers…When I get more reviews I will update again I promise! I'll skip a lot more of the intro stuff and go more into depth with our main characters, how's that sound? So, hopefully, you know the plotline well enough to keep up. If you guys want to give me any constructive criticism, comments, questions, or (please!) suggestions that would keep you interested, that would be awesome and most appreciated! Thanks again everyone! Love mucho, -Jade email: