Photo Shoot By Pa-Lee
Disclaimers: I don't own the GetBackers...(sniff...sniff)
The story is about: A Photo Shoot. An envious Ban. A confused Kazuki. An enlightened Juubei.
This is my first and probably only GetBackers Fic...I still don't know yet...
Read and Review please...THANK YOU...
Prologue
"NANI?!?" asked a livid Fuuchouin Kazuki whose right eyebrow was twitching, a disbelieving Midou Ban whose fists were clenched tight, a very amused Fuyuki Shido whose eyes were taking in every bit of the situation, and an outraged Kakei Juubei who slammed his hands on the table (which cracked a bit).
"Sugoi, Hevn-San! This job will help make the GetBackers' bond stronger!" Amano Ginji joyfully exclaimed!
Chibi Ginji was once again performing his infamous 'Fan-Dance' when he received an animated punch from his partner, Ban.
"Baka! No way I'm going to take this stupid job!" Ban said.
"Good. Because there is no way I am going to let you take it." A seething Juubei answered with needles in hand.
Shido was busy sending a message to Madoka while the others tried to stop a bloodbath from happening.
Natsumi just came in and had no idea what was happening. "Ne, Master, what's going on?"
"Well..." Paul started.
FLASHBACK
At the Honky Tonk, Hevn gathered all available GetBackers for a mission. They were Ban, Ginji, Shido, and Kazuki with his ever-loyal Bodyguard, Juubei whose eyesight, by the way, was now 10 percent functioning. Thanks to those therapeutic trips to the Hot Springs, (wink, wink...) he is now able to see the outlines of dim and shadowy figures. Also, he no longer wears a bandage over his eyes. He is once again wearing his cool sunglasses/shades.
The Retrieval Agents were scattered inside the coffee shop but were all looking at their Agent and waiting for the details of the mission.
"Our client is Ms. Katinka Sky – a half American, half Russian former ramp and magazine model. Your job is to get back her platinum band from her former photographer and boyfriend – Ricky." Hevn said.
Ban motioned to Ginji and was already standing up and getting ready to leave thinking what an insult it was to their profession to be offered such a seemingly easy task when Hevn's words steadied him.
"Don't go acting high and mighty on me Ban." The agent had a smirk on her face and continued, "I know very well that you're in a tight spot. Not being able to eat regularly or sleep comfortably. Your car being towed. Again."
When she saw Ban and Ginji silently, though hesitantly, taking their seats, she continued with the details.
"How was she able to afford a platinum band and why does she want it back? Still sour about the break-up?" Shido inquired.
Hevn shook her head. "It's not like that. It was given to her by her fiancée, Thomas."
Seeing the look on their faces, she further elaborated. "Thomas is a very, very, and I mean very rich guy who believes in fate. He gave Ms. Sky the platinum band when she was just starting her career and told her that if she took it and still have it when he came back, then, they really are meant to be."
"But she wasn't able to wait and instead gave the ring to one of her boyfriends." Kazuki deduced.
"Hai." Hevn concurred.
"Don't you think she's over acting? Hiring all available GetBackers? Can't she just ask him to give it back?" Asked an irritated Ban.
Hevn was getting irritated as well because of Ban's attitude. "Look – I don't know if she is over acting and, frankly, I don't care if she is. And no. She can't just ask him to give it back because..."
Hevn looked at Shido and went on. "...Ricky is the one who's still sour about the break-up."
She paused for a moment to breathe and then continued, "She hired the GetBackers because she wants the retrieval to be confidential and professional. If her fiancée, Thomas, found out about it, there may not be a wedding at the end of the month."
She looked at the Retrieval Agents around her and saw that they were all rather bored about the mission.
Ban was looking outside the window.
Ginji seemed very interested in a butterfly hovering over the flower at their table.
Kazuki was taking a sip of coffee from his cup.
Shido seemed very interested in Juubei hovering over Kazuki just across from him when a blue bird suddenly entered through one of the windows and rested on his shoulder.
"It's not as boring or as easy as you guys might think, you know."
"Oh, really?" Sarcasm was evident in Ban's voice as he turned to face the Agent. Revisions
"Yes, really." Hevn, who was trying very hard to stretch her patience longer, retorted. If she could get them to do this job, it would definitely mean money. Lots of it.
"Oh, didn't I mention? It's a Handicap Retrieval Mission."
Now this got everybody's attention.
"A Handicap Retrieval Mission, which pays a LOT."
"How mu–"Ban was just about to ask how much they were going to be paid when a confused – but smiling – Chibi Ginji sprung out of nowhere, tugging on Hevn's pants.
"Ne, ne Hevn-san...What's a 'Handicap Retrieval Mission'?"
"Ginji-san, it is a mission where in no special powers or special skills may be used." A smiling Kazuki explained as though explaining to a child. "Is that right, Hevn-san?"
"Hai." Hevn answered, glad she was spared from explaining. "So, seeing the spark in your eyes..." Having said this, she then hastily looked at Kazuki's Bodyguard and said, "No offense Juubei."
Juubei shrugged indifferently. "None taken."
Relieved she didn't offend the Flying Needles Master, she continued, "I take it we are all in agreement?"
"It depends." Ban replied. "How much?"
"The client is willing to pay us –"
"Chotto, Hevn..." Shido intervened. "Why don't you finish with the details of the mission first?" The beast master suggested.
Hevn looked at Shido, wondering why he had that smile on his face. She then noticed the blue bird on his shoulder. It was the same blue bird resting on the windowsill of the room where she was discussing with Ms. Sky.
The bird must have told him! Hevn thought angrily. She had wanted to tell them after they had accepted the job so that there would be no way for them to back out already.
All of them were now looking at the Agent. She still wasn't speaking.
They looked at Shido. He was still smiling.
"Game's up, Hevn. What else should we know?" Ban asked, completely forgetting about how much they were going to get paid. He knew very well that Hevn had a knack of getting them the most dangerous jobs.
True, the game was up. Hevn smiled sheepishly. "Well, the client gave a few conditions. Harmless, really. Nothing the GetBackers can't handle."
Shido let out a soft chuckle – confirming everybody's foreboding feeling.
"May we please hear them, Hevn-san?" Kazuki asked although he wasn't really sure if he wanted to know.
The blonde gave out a sigh of defeat and started searching inside her handbag for the list of conditions their client gave.
She found it soon enough and started to clear her throat. "Okay, since it will be a Handicap Retrieval Mission, here are the conditions:
1. No using of Electric Currents,
2. No using of Jagan,
3. No using of Fuuchouin Strings, and
4. No using of Animal friends...
...well, what do you say?"
The Retrieval Agents, expecting something else – something worse –, sighed with relief. They guessed this wasn't one of the dangerous missions their Agent usually gave them.
Shido cleared his throat. "You really should tell them ALL the conditions, you know...you shouldn't leave anything out."
They were all looking hard at Hevn. It was getting quite unnerving – even the blue bird seemed to be chuckling.
"Wakatta, yo!" Hevn shouted.
She took a deep breath and started talking as fast as she could. She talked so fast that none of her listeners got a word. Yes, not even Kazuki.
Ban was getting tired of this already. "Oi, Hevn! You can't be so sure of us turning down the mission just because of the remaining condition, are you?"
Everyone looked at her. The look she gave them clearly said 'yes, I am'.
"I could tell them for you." Shido offered.
"Iie. I'll tell them myself." Hevn curtly refused. She was beginning to dislike Shido.
She took another deep breath but this time, she talked slower. "Lastly, Kazuki and Ban must pose as a modeling couple. Ginji and Shido will only serve as back ups. Everything has already been prepared. Photo Shoot starts tomorrow morning."
It took another minute for them to realize what she had just said.
END FLASHBACK
"Sou ka..." Natsumi said.
By the time Paul had finished the story, his assistant already had her apron on and was just about finished wiping the counter while Ban and Juubei were already pacified and were on the opposite ends of the coffee shop. Hevn sat on one of the stools and ordered a shot of strong liquor straight up. It was 10 in the morning.
Ban and Kazuki flat-out refused to take the job.
A liberal amount of money plus her reputation was at stake.
Paul, picking up a newspaper from the counter, whispered, "You're going about it in the wrong way."
The distraught Agent raised her head up.
Reading the newspaper, he asked no one in particular. "Are you sure you don't want to take this job?"
"I'm sure." Kazuki firmly replied.
"Definitely sure." Ban said.
The owner of the Honky Tonk asked Hevn as he turned another page of the newspaper, "How much was the client going to pay?"
Hevn finally caught on. "Well, 5 –"
Everyone was looking at her from the corner of their eyes.
"– million – "
Ban's ears were perking up.
"– dollars – "
Ginji's eyes were as round as platters and were shining as bright as gold.
"– each. "
Kazuki bit his lower lip.
Paul ruffled the newspaper before folding it and as he did so, he said, "Hmm...I don't know about you guys, but, if it were me, I'd probably take the job. I mean, with that kind of money, I would probably be able to...oh, I don't know...have my friend undergo the safest and most efficient eye surgery in the world or... maybe...just maybe...get my car back, pay my debts, and finally live a laidback kind of life...But, that's just me..." and with that, he went out the backdoor to get a case of bottled water from his stock.
"Ne, Ban-chan..." Ginji started.
"Urusai...I'm thinking..." Ban said in a soft tone.
"Ikou, Kazuki." Juubei abruptly said as he stood up.
Kazuki simply nodded and let Jubei steer him towards the open door. But before stepping outside, he looked at Hevn and said, "I'll think about it."
To be continued.