Part 1

"So, what do you want?"

Ban took a long puff on his cigarette, a lofty expression fixed on his face, eyes examining the man in front of him. He was dignified, at least, as dignified as one could be with a chibi, blonde, electric eel on top of him. A bead of sweat broke out his forehead when his partner continued his search for a reasonably comfortable spot on his sea-urchin head.

"Get the fuck off me!"

And the little guy was flung up to the high heavens. Almost. He landed with an audible "Splat" on the ground. The other man winced.

"I need you to get something back for me."

"Anything!"

Ginji squeaked from his pancake position on the pavement. Ban glared at his partner and raised a foot, ready to mash the pummelled face into the ground until there was nothing left but little mound the size of a doggie poopie left.

"Fool. We don't work for free."

"But -- It's -- Katsu -- chan!"

The ball of meat managed to mumble from its awkward position on the earth.

"I don't care."

Ban was merciless as he attempted to mash the small splat's brain.

"It's fine. I will pay you. Just as long as you get it done without damaging the goods."

"Obviously. So what is it that you want back?"

"My sister."

"…"

Humans usually meant trouble.

"Any details on location?"

"No idea."

"Hmph."

"I know, vague huh? But, she's missing so I need you to get her back. She's with the yakuza, I think."

"That's vague alright. So you have no idea? Well then, I think that two-hundred thousand sounds reasonable, don't you?"

"Deal."

As the mad stretched out his hand to confirm the deal, something, something large, metal and heavy, smashed into the back of his head. He groaned and fell to his feet, clutching his head and gasping in pain.

"Is that how much you really value me?!"

The voice of his attacker was indignant, yet regal and commanding. As the man knelt down, the retrieval agents could see the new stranger who had hit the man from the behind. She was slim, with sharp, angular features to the face, but modest curves the rest of the way down, dressed in a school uniform of some kind. Jet-Black hair pulled back in a no-fuss pony-tail and with one hand on a hip, she was the sort that could be beautiful she tried. She also happened to be tossing up and catching with one hand, by the looks of it, a giant metal pole.

"Owww … "

Other two characters simply stood there (Ginji perhaps in a more difficult position), attempting to hide their surprise, completely caught off guard. After all, it wasn't every day that their client was knocked on the head with a huge metal baton. And it was't everyday that the client happened to be one of the second generation of the GetBackers either.

"How about he,"

The girl shrugged at the twitching man on the floor,

"Pays you three hundred grand instead?"

"But -- maybe 220 000 would be reasonable?"

Ginji suggested weakly.

"Nuh-uh. 275 00 and it's a deal."

"B-b-but … "

"How about 500 000?"

Ban added, finally getting over his shock. After all, they happened to be haggling the wrong way around.

"Done."

The girl smiled, a catlike curve that looked smug, very, very smug.

"In case you haven't realised, it happens to be my money?"

The injured man had recovered quickly.

"Yeah, well, it's me you're buying."

His sister glared down at him.

"Ginji, Ban, meet my only sister, Shizuka."

Seeing the puzzled looks on the GB duo's faces, he attempted to elaborate.

"She's the one you're looking for."

"It-it can't be that easy right?"

Ginji managed to stammer out.

"Sorry. You'll be looking for my body."

The girl smiled, almost wistfully, and Ban was beginning to wonder whether this was a sick joke or something. What was this, a perverted game of hides and seeks?

"You see, this body is made of pure platinum. The other one might be on the other side of the world for all I know, and as nice as this one is, I want the real one back."

Pure platinum?1

"I'd do it myself but … I have other priorities."

Katsu tried to explain, butShizuka rolled her eyes.

"By that he means that he has a control-freak for a fiancée and being such a push-over, told her that he would get someone else to find my body."

Katsu cringed, but got up, an amazing feat for someone who had just been knocked on the head with a metal bar, and straightened himself up.

"So? Will you take on the job? Or will I have to tell Aki, no and that charming Shido-kun, yes?"

Ban's pride was always present, and this time was no exception. Especially when a certain beast-master was concerned.

"We'll take the job."

"Good!"

Katsu beamed and shoved Shizuka towards them.

"She's all yours now."