Defy

Chapter 24

Author Notes: Ohh I'm so sad yet excited to end this! I'm crying, my precious baby has nearly reached its end into adulthood...i wonder if i should start a funeral...*sniff* I don't own Nanbaka.

3rd P.O.V

"What's got you all so tense?" The various criminals could see that something was wrong as the group was missing a member and acting strangely. They were all in the game room, interacting with their friends trying to pretend nothing was wrong.

But all of them saw something was off, like how Nico wasn't as loud or annoying-he wasn't even hugging Upa! Rock was talking to Liang, but he didn't mention food or Shiro even once. In addition kept taking glances at Uno who was the quietest of them all.

He was at the table, trying to play a game of mahjong against Qi. In general Uno was struggling with the game since he hadn't played much of it so he didn't know the ins and outs compared to his usual card matches.

However it was clear to his opponent that his heart really wasn't in it, he was distracted and due to such made a lot of careless mistakes. It took Honey to address the elephant in the room, having had enough of seeing such an ugly sight.

"Where the hell is your cellmate?" The fact that Jyugo wasn't here with them was the biggest hint that something was off. And the way all of them stilled at the mention confirmed everyone's worries.

"Rock is everything alright?" The three had hoped to distract themselves, playing it up like normal but there was no use. "Yeah. Everythings fine, it's just Jyugo had to do some stuff before coming." He purposely kept it vague, as he himself was unsure.

Honey raised an eyebrow, annoyed with the answer. "Some stuff huh? Like what?" Nico poked his fingers together, pouting slightly. "We don't know. Jyugo said it was an important surprise." These three were such a sad sight, as if someone kicked puppies around.

There was more to their behavior than just that though. Uno started tapping his nails on the wooden table, sighing to himself as he accepts defeat. Musashi wasn't here either, making him all the more depressed.

"Oh good, all of you are in here." Everyone paused in their activities as the supervisors enter, each one taking a place on the wall. "What's going on Kiji?" Trois blinked, as each member stood in a line.

Hajime was the last to enter, folding his arms across his chest as he stayed in front of the door. "This won't take long." Uno, Nico and Rock all moved from their positions, giving them their undivided attention.

The others were confused, wondering what was going on. Hajime sighed, glancing over his shoulder. "Alright you punks, get in here." Zen came out first, his blindfold still on, wearing a pair of sweatpants and t-shirt, nodding to the group.

What really shocked them was when Aki stepped forth, swallowing. She no longer had on the bandages or the one piece suit she normally wore. Instead she had on a pair of black jeans, and a black and white stripped top that went off the shoulders and rested below her hips, revealing her true gender for all.

The biggest difference was metal shackles that were on her limbs and neck were removed... for good. "Jyugo?" Her eyes were no longer green and purple, but two different shades of red. "Hey guys."

She waved as she stood, letting them all see who she truly was. "What's with the outfit? Are you an actual cross dresser? Or are you a trans?" She stifled a giggle as Uno glared at Honey, giving him a smack on the head.

"The fuck was that for!?" His purple hair spiked out as he yelled. "It's not that he's dressing up as a she, it's that She's been dressing as a He up until now." It took a moment for the realization to cross their faces.

Leaving the group to scream as their world was suddenly turned upside down. Trois was one of the few who didn't over dramatize his reaction but it left him curious. "If that's the case why are you here? And why reveal yourself now?" Zen placed a hand to the girl's shoulder, offering his steady support.

"My true name is Aki. The Short version is I was being stalked by a violent and dangerous man. It took up until now for that dangerous man to be stopped and for me to feel safe enough to be true to myself." Her hands clasped together, as she bit her lip.

It was hard for her to keep eye contact with them. "But this is also goodbye. Uno and the guys were already told...but now that I'm safe, I can't stay here anymore." Her boyfriend clenched his fist in agony, and from there all hell broke lose as people started yelling.

"You can't just drop a series of bombshells and then just leave dammit!"

"What is this!?"

"This some sort of drama? You can't go now!"

"You're supposed to be the main character!"

She twisted her head back and forth, trying to decipher the various shouts from her fellow criminals. If she were honest, Aki wanted to stay, all of the reasons she wanted to was right here in this room. But she knew she couldn't.

Momoko and the others have gone through so much for her, she couldn't be a burden to them no longer. "Not so fast little Aki~ As Jyugo you're still a criminal who still needs to do time." She was well aware that fact.

"I know Mitsuru, Momoko herself told me as such." She had also told her how much her presence would bring chaos amongst the other jailers. If she were to do time, she would have to do it elsewhere, in a women's prison.

But Mitsuru's statement made her pause in her thoughts. He should already know that-he was there when Momoko talked to her. So why was he still grinning, giving pointed looks to Hajime.

The uniformed Supervisor was trying to light a cigarette, completely ignoring his co-worker only to get an elbow from Kenshirou. "Ah...right." As if just remembering Hajime pulls out two sheets of paper for her to take.

"Read them." Still unsure of the odds looks the adults around her were making, she skims...the silence suffocating as her eyes widen. "Are you sure!? I mean-" She gets a snort. "It'd be too much paperwork." The boys all begin to panic as her lips start to tremble.

Musashi smiled. "Before you ask...I didn't talk to them about this." Big fat salt drops start to form. "But Momo-" Having given up on trying to get a smoke the bald man shrugs. "Came from the Warden yourself. Don't like it then go speak to her yourself."

His fellow staff give the man unimpressed looks. Must he be so harsh and nonchalant!? That didn't matter to Aki as she held the papers close to herself, thanking him. "Aki?" Uno moves forward, wrapping an arm around her shoulders as he reads to himself.

"What's it say Uno!?" He smiles, giving her a peck on the head. "Hajime gave her two things. First being the report stating that 'Jyugo' still has to do time and at Nanba. She's staying!" From sadness and concern morphed joy and relief.

Cheers rang from all sides. Though Momoko was too busy to come, she had made sure that her message would be delivered. The older woman had at first believed it would be better to ship Aki away so that she could start a new life.

Momoko had thought long and hard about her decision after talking to Aki and understood that wouldn't make her happy. After all she and Zen had gone through that once before, and it didn't do anything but cause problems.

Besides both 'Jyugo' and 'Musashi' had lives here, they had friends, good food, a place to rest. It only made sense that she have a change of heart. There would be rules(especially with Uno) but Momoko saw no issues in letting them stay at Nanba.

Plus with their crimes, no other jail would want to keep them at risk of them trying to escape. This truly was the only place in the world that would hold them, and Momoko was fine with that.

As was Mitsuru who had gotten very attached to the various inmates locked up. He waved a finger at the pair, catching their attention. "Now Aki, the warden wants to put those puzzle skills to good use. You can pay your debt to society by testing out the security systems of Nanba and fixing them."

It was something she never thought she would hear. That was her father's life, that was her dream as a child...and now it was happening. "I-don't know how to thank you." There was no better way to pay for her sins. And there was even more reasons to be grateful.

"What's the second thing?!" Nico was jumping up and down, eager to know what the other piece of paper was about. Aki smiled, hope and happiness brightening the whole room.

The girl was dazzling as sparkles surrounded her. "I'm being adopted. Officially." Rock with his jaw dropping snags the paper, only to do a double take. "No way-Hajime's adopting you!?" Mitsuru slaps said father on the back.

Ignoring the way he grunts in pain. "The ass here was technically supposed to make it official on Aki's birthday. I call uncle rights~ Oh and for the record Kenshi is doing the same with Zen." Now it was Zen's turn to freeze, flabbergasted and looking ridiculous.

"Is that true?!" He turns to the quiet guard, giving a wry smile. "Figured it would be better keeping an eye on you if things were on paper, not that you could read it." Chuckling the blind young man shook his head. "Thank you. So so much." It was all either of them wanted.

They had it all. Though Uno had a thoughtful look on his face, before turning to the Aki's new dad. He went on his knees, hands up in prayer-making everyone uncomfortable with the stance.

Immediately Aki shook her head and face palmed. A groan breaking forth as she already knew what the idiot was going to ask. "Does this mean I have permission to finally take Aki out on a date outside of prison?! Please please pleaseeeee!?"

Now that the status of father and daughter was known, Hajime as per usual took his duty very seriously. "Hell no!" And grabs said boyfriend by the shirt. "With that in mind...I think it's time we finally had a talk about you dating her." Uno squeaked, terrified as Hajime's grin turned sinister.

The end~

Author Notes: I DID IT! Within two weeks or some such I got all the chapters done~ You know, not counting that special chapter if enough people message or review about it. But that's for another time.

This story was a lot of fun and I have to say-i think the adrenaline rush of addiction is finally out of my system. Thank goodness for that~ Guys if you liked this series please feel free to fav/follow/review. Now...i'm due for some fricking rest *collapses on the couch*