Disclaimer: If I owned GetBackers, I wouldn't be HERE writing about it, that's for sure.

Warning: Yaoi. Slash. Whichever you want to call it, it's a romantic relationship between two males. If you don't like it, then avoid reading this story. Otherwise, please continue.

Another Warning: I'm not a pro at this series, so facts may be jumbled and people may seem out of character. (Then again, this series isn't quite as popular as it was when it was first coming out over here.) Regardless, I apologize beforehand. Corrections are appreciated.

Tired Angel

Chapter 1: Beauty Defined

Juubei could practically see the annoyed look on Kazuki's face when a stranger took a seat beside the Master of Strings. It didn't matter that Juubei was all the way on the other side of the Honky Tonk and that he was blind. He just knew. Whether it was the change in the atmosphere or the fact that he could just sense when something was bothering Kazuki, he was fully aware of everything that was currently happening around the one he so faithfully and dutifully protected.

Yet, as soon as he took a step forward, he tripped over an empty barstool. It would probably have done him well to apply some of that awareness toward himself. He quickly peeled himself up off the floor.

"Yours is a beauty that belongs in magazines," this strange gentleman whispered to Kazuki. "Would you at least let me walk you home?"

Juubei had heard that. He was ready to defend Kazuki's honor as he drew several needles.

"I already told you that I'm here with someone," Kazuki said with an exasperated sigh. He was obviously tired of explaining that he was, in fact, male. "You're sitting in his seat."

After a short pause, the blind man heard Kazuki call out, "There you are, Juubei."

The samurai put away his needles and walked on over to Kazuki and the stranger. "Is this man bothering you, Kazuki?"

"No. He was just leaving," Kazuki said.

The man groaned his disapproval. "Alright. I get the picture." He quickly made his exit.

Juubei remained standing. "If that man has insulted your honor in any way, I will-"

"There's nothing to worry about," Kazuki assured him. "Please sit. Your tea is getting cold."

The taller man felt that there was something Kazuki wasn't telling him. The protected seemed annoyed and as the protector, he was supposed to guard against any type of harm that might come to Kazuki be it physical or otherwise. But he wouldn't ask Kazuki about it. If the Thread Spinner felt like talking about it, he would. All in his own time.

"Kazu! Juubei!" Ginji said as he walked into the Honky Tonk. He attacked Kazuki with a hug. "How are you, old buddy?"

And Kazuki let out a chuckle. "Fine."

"Well, if it isn't Thread Spool and Needle Boy," Ban said as he walked past all of them.

Juubei quietly ignored Ban's patented name calling and studied the aroma of his tea.

"Who was that guy I saw you hanging with a second ago? He sure left in a hurry," Ginji said to Kazuki.

Juubei felt anger rising up inside him yet again.

"Oh, no one," Kazuki answered. "Just a random guy who thought I was a girl again. I didn't even bother to correct him. I just told him that I was here with Juubei."

Ginji chuckled warmly. "That was probably best. He probably woulda groped you to see if you were really a guy, like that other time-"

"What 'other time'?" Juubei finally spoke up.

Kazuki shook his head at Ginji, but the blond idiot went on anyway:

"Kazu and I were out doing some shopping when this guy comes over and starts hitting on him. To keep from making a scene, Kazu tries to quietly explain that he was a man. Well, low and behold if that guy wasn't curious-"

Juubei suddenly heard the tell-tale sound of Kazuki's bells as thread undoubtedly wrapped around Ginji's face to shut him up. "Kazuki? He touched you?" Juubei asked.

"It was nothing really, Juubei," Kazuki said as he struggled to keep Ginji's mouth closed.

"Mm!" Ginji's only reply came out.

"Unforgivable!" Juubei stated, dramatically getting to his feet, accompanied by the clatter of his fallen seat. "Do you know who he was? He should never have put his hands on you. No one has that right."

Kazuki released his hold on Ginji and sighed. "I don't know who he was. Please don't overreact."

"I wasn't there to protect you..."

Ginji struggled to catch his breath. "It's alright, Juubei. Kazu took care of that guy."

"He should not have had to," Juubei said. "Not if I were around. And I wasn't." He quickly dropped down to one knee in front of Kazuki and took his hands. "I will never leave your side again."

"Oh, Juubei," Kazuki said, a hint of a smile in his voice.

"But Juubei, you always say that, and then the next second someone looks around, you've disappea-" Ginji began.

Apparently Ban had returned and bopped Ginji on top of his head. "Hey, Lightning Rod, why don't you mind your own business?"

"But Ban, being molested in public is everybody's business," Ginji said.

"What are you, a moron?" Ban whispered to Ginji, obviously forgetting that Juubei's hearing had improved ten fold. "Don't get between those two. I'd think you would know that better than I do, 'Lightning Emperor'."

"But Baaaaaaaaaan," Ginji whined.

"It's alright. No one has to worry about anyone touching me. So let's just drop it, please," Kazuki said.

Juubei sensed Kazuki's discomfort and irritation with the subject and frowned.

"But Kazu, Juubei's touching you right now," Ginji pointed out.

Ban must have hit Ginji on top of the head again because there was a little 'thud' sound immediately followed by an 'ouch'.

Juubei could feel Kazuki looking at his hands, so he quickly pulled away. "The Lightning Emperor is right. My apologies, Kazuki." He made out a barely audible sound of disappointment from Kazuki. This confused him, but he didn't think about it for too long. "Are you ready to leave now?"

"Yes," Kazuki said. "It was good seeing you, Ginji, Midou."

-outside...

"If it wasn't the same thing over and over again, I might not be so disappointed when I hear it," Kazuki said.

"What do you mean?" Juubei asked.

"Well, that I'm beautiful," Kazuki replied.

Juubei nearly froze. He was sure that Kazuki liked being called beautiful. That was what he was. If there were a greater description of his stunningly good looks, surely people would overuse that word as well.

"Don't people understand that when they say something like that to a complete stranger, it has no meaning?" Kazuki went on. "I mean, it's very flattering to be called beautiful..."

So he DID like it when people would say that he's beautiful. Juubei was feeling confused.

"...but to throw the word about to someone you hardly know takes away the true meaning of it."

(The true meaning?)

Juubei must have looked confused because Kazuki decided to elaborate: "For instance, I think that you are a beautiful person."

Juubei felt blood rush to his face.

"That means both physically and your personality," Kazuki explained. "Someone who doesn't know you the way I do wouldn't be able to say that about you. It's all because beauty isn't about physical attractiveness alone. That is what upsets me about strangers saying such things."

Was Kazuki trying to say something? For some reason, he couldn't read Kazuki's aura right now. It seemed as if Kazuki were almost asking for something, yet he couldn't be sure what it was.

"Well, that is just my opinion on the matter," Kazuki said.

Juubei gave a nod. He couldn't help thinking that there was something on Kazuki's mind. What could it be? If there were something bothering the Thread Master, why wasn't he telling him? "Kazuki?"

"I'm sorry. Please ignore me," Kazuki said. "We've made it back. Thank you so much for walking me home."

Juubei bowed a little. "Excuse my insistence, Kazuki, but I said that I would never leave your side again."

"Surely you only meant when we go places," Kazuki said, sounding a bit flustered.

"No," Juubei answered. "I said that I would not leave your side and I mean not to leave your side."

"That's really not necessary, Juubei," Kazuki said.

"I will not get in your way," Juubei insisted.

"What exactly is it that you mean to do? Do you plan to...live with me?"

"If that is what it would take to stay by your side."

"Even against my will?" Kazuki asked.

Juubei was a little hurt. "I wish only to protect you. Why would it be against your will?"

"It just would. Please, Juubei," Kazuki said. "Besides, wouldn't you rather be at home?"

"There is nothing that I would rather do than be by your side," Juubei said.

"Juubei, really. You don't even have clothes here," Kazuki reminded him.

"If that is your only concern, you have nothing to fear. We can simply go out tomorrow and pick them up," Juubei told him.

Kazuki laughed a little. "There is no winning with you, is there? You're rather stubborn when you want to be. Come. There is a guest bedroom right next to mine."

Juubei felt a slender, but strong hand take hold of his and he was lead the short distance from the front door to the two bedrooms Kazuki had mentioned.

"If you need the bathroom, it's just across the hall," Kazuki said.

Juubei simply nodded. It's true that this was close to being by his side. As close as he could ever hope, that is.

-To Be Continued...