Disclaimer: Me no ownie.
Tenoko: Ha ha! My first attempt at a Get Backers fic.
AJ: What are the Get Backers?
Tenoko: Go get seasons one and two out of my room and watch them. It's my new favorite anime.
Precious Things
"Hey, Ban?" Began Ginji with a frown as he glanced over at his friend in the driver's seat. "How exactly did this happen again?"
The brunette man glanced at the blond in annoyance.
"What do you mean 'how did this happen'?! You were there! Don't you remember?!"
They both looked up in curiosity as the bell at the entrance of the Honky Tonk gave a little jingle, signaling a customer. Much to both Ginji and Ban's excitement, who should it have been but Hevn herself.
"Yo, Hevn! How's it been?" Called Ban, as he casually plucked a cigarette from the pack he kept in his pocket.
Ginji was bouncing around like a hyperactive kid on sugar.
"Do you have a job for us, Miss Hevn? Do you? Do you? Do you? DO YOU?!"
Laughing behind her hand, Hevn offered them a smile.
"As a matter of fact, I do, boys. Today's your lucky day, it has to be, by far, the best job I've brought you yet."
Ban gave a heavy sigh, releasing a long stream of smoke.
"Why does that worry me?"
"And it's super easy!" Added the blonde woman reassuringly.
Ban's silently observed her for a moment before holding up his hand.
"Sorry, not interested. Get Monkey Boy to do it or something."
She frowned.
"Don't worry, he'll be involved too. Come on and I'll tell you the details." She insisted, moving over to one of the booths to sit.
Ban didn't budge.
Worriedly, Ginji pulled on the brunette man's hand.
"C'mon Ban. We should at least hear her out. Besides, we have no money and no others jobs-"
"Did I mention the fee is enormous?" Questioned Hevn from her seat at the booth, leaning over to peer around Ginji at Ban.
Ban still didn't budge.
Well, his brow did peak in interest.
"Ban…" Pleaded Ginji softly.
Finally caving, Ban sighed again, putting out his cigarette as he stood to his feet.
"Alright, fine. I'll listen to her, but I still reserve the right to refuse any job that walks through that door, alright?"
Hevn smiled triumphantly as both Ginji and Ban slid into the booth opposite her.
"That's more like it." She slid a manilla envelope across the table to them. "The client owns a massive cabin that's completely isolated in the north. What he wants is an assembled team to go and stay there for about two weeks; he fears something precious of his is in danger of being stolen in the near future, and should it be taken while you are there, he requests that you get it back. Going with you will be a couple of members of a transport service to transport the said object to safety."
Ban's eyes played over the picture of the cabin in his hand, glancing once at the map that marked out its location before raising his gaze to Hevn's.
"In case? So nothing has been taken yet? Hevn, we're a recovery service, not a protection service, you know that."
"He was well aware of that, but he wanted the best should the worst happen." She shrugged. "Besides, it's a ridiculously easy job, thinking of it as a vacation, more than likely nothing will happen. He's paying for everything, and should something happen, there will be more than enough of you to take care of it."
Ginji frowned.
"Wait, you mention a Transport service?"
Ban cut in before Hevn could respond to the blond.
"Enough of us? How many people are assigned to this job?"
Hevn laughed.
"Why, the whole gang, of course. You, Ginji, Shido, Kazuki, Emishi, and Juubei. And as part of the hired transport service: Himiko and Akabane."
Both males blanched at the mention of Dr. Jackal, Ginji turning fearful eyes on Ban.
"Akabane, Ban! Akabane!"
"Can it, Ginji, I heard her." Snapped the brunette before leaning across the table towards the brunette. "Does everyone already know about the assignment? Namely Akabane?"
She shook her head lightly.
"No, he's the only one I haven't been able to actually talk to yet."
"Good, leave it that way."
She shrugged.
"Well, the client asked that there be nine people on the team, and I had something come up, so I asked Natsume to take my place." She winked cheerfully at them. "Have fun in the snow boys."
Nodding in remembrance, Ginji laughed lightly.
"Oh yeah. It all kinda happened so fast, I wasn't sure it actually did happen."
The driver ground his teeth together angrily.
"Yeah it happened, and that damn Hevn didn't even give us a chance to turn her down before she simply packed up and left."
Ginji folded his hands behind his head, leaning back in his seat.
"Relax, Ban. This is too easy to pass up. We don't even know if anything is going to be taken, so this is kind of like an all expense paid vacation."
Rolling down his window, Ban spat what was left of his cigarette out the window, glancing in the rear view mirror at the van and motorcycle trailing behind them.
"I don't know, Gin. I have a bad feeling about this."
"What's the worst that could happen? Akabane isn't going to be there so we should all be safe. Good thing Miss Hevn couldn't get a hold of him, right, Ban? If she had, we'd have ended up living with him for the next two weeks."
His friend gave a curt nod.
"And the thought of just seeing that man makes my skin crawl."
They rode in comfortable silence for the rest of the way, Ginij nodding off as he watched the thick evergreens passing by the window, and as the green began to become covered in white as the moved further north and up.
When the finally reached the house and got out of the car, both males stood there staring at the massive three story cabin that they would all be sharing.
Ban released a long whistle.
"Man, what a place. Who'd build such a big house out here in the middle of nowhere?"
"Maybe the client is here waiting for us." Suggested Himiko as she got off her motorcycle, removing her helmet and pulling her coat tighter around her body. She hooked her chin towards the roof, "There's fire burning, so somebody's here."
"Welp," Sighed Ban, "We'd better go introduce ourselves. C'mon Ginji."
"But wait, Ban!" Protested the blond, looking over his shoulder at the van as its passengers began piling out. "Shouldn't we help unload everything first?"
The brunette male stuffed his hands into his pockets as he began making his way up the stairs to the door.
"It won't take but a minute and then we'll help, c'mon Lightening Boy."
With only a moment's hesitation, Ginji quickly followed him, silently watching as Ban effortlessly entered the unlocked door.
"It would appear we're expected." Commented Ban. "Most likely it is the client. I hope they aren't mad because Hevn skipped out."
They stepped into the warmth of the foyer, stamping the snow off their shoes before moving into the living room.
They both came to a stop when they saw the man kneeling next to the burning fireplace, placing more logs in the flames. He had his short black hair pulled back in a loose pony tail, his long bangs and loose strands of hair falling down to frame his face. He wore a white button down shirt that was un-tucked with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows and black slacks.
Ginji coughed lightly into his hand to get the man's attention and so not to startle him when he turned around and saw them.
"Um, excuse us…"
The man didn't flinch, but merely turned his head just slightly so as to peer across the room at them, a slight smirk crossing his lips.
"So you made it. I was beginning to worry."
He stood to his feet, knocking pieces of wood fragments from his hands. Both Ban and Ginji stood frowning at him, a faint feeling of déjà vu overcoming them both.
"Hey Ban…" Whispered Ginji as he leaned into his friend. "That guy looks familiar…"
The brunette nodded.
"I know, but I can't place him."
They continued to stare at him as he turned and moved closer to them. Ginji gasped as realization dawned on him.
"Akabane!"
The man in front of them chuckled lightly, an amused smile crossing his lips as he tilted his head to the side.
"Why, my dear Ginji, who else could it be?"
Ban recoiled away as though burned, staring at the man before them as if he were a ghost.
"You! But how? Hevn said she couldn't get a hold of you!"
The dark man tucked a stray strand of hair behind one ear.
"I returned the message she left me a few days ago, and she told me the current situation. She even gave me a spare key, fearing you would try to leave me behind for fear that so many people would not be necessary." He smiled pleasantly at Ginji. "But you would never do that to me, would you Ginji? No, you wouldn't." He shrugged lightly, his gaze shifting to Ban. "I arrived early this morning, expecting all of you to have already been here. Imagine my surprise when I found the place deserted."
Ginji whimpered from his spot beside his best friend.
"I'm scared, Ban, I'm scared…"
"Relax, Ginji, with this many people here, there's no way he'd try anything." He reassured him in a low voice, before turning to go back outside. "C'mon, let's start helping everyone unload and get everything inside."
Akabane followed them out, throwing on a coat that had been hanging by the door. They all stopped when they stepped out on the front porch. Himiko, Shido, and Emishi were all yelling at each other, apparently trying to get into a fight as well, only to have Kazuki restrain them with his threads. Natsume was leading Juubei by the hand towards the house.
"Watch out, there are steps here. There's a handrail on your left. No, no, your other left."
"Well, well, well…" Chuckled Akabane, sliding his hands into his pockets. "Not here even five minutes and already they can't get along. This is going to be a very interesting couple of weeks, yes it is."
Visibly cringing, Ban sulked forward.
"C'mon Ginji, let's just get all this stuff and get inside." He smacked Shido upside the head as he walked past. "Hey, Monkey Boy, what's got your tail in a twist?"
"Well, apparently, a three hour long ride in the same vehicle as Emishi is too much for even the most patient of men to handle." Offered Kazuki softly. "Though, I'll admit, I was growing quite irritated with him as well. And then, Emishi made the mistake of asking about room arrangements, and Natsume suggested letting Himiko and Ginji share a room, since they're… involved."
"For the last time: we are not involved!! What happened in the hospital was just a bunch of misunderstandings!!" Yelled the female as she pulled at the strings restraining her. "If anybody's in love with Ginji, it's that guy over there!" She exclaimed, pointing towards the three men standing closest to the house.
Ginji gasped and turned to his friend.
Ban blinked in surprise, holding up his hands innocently, as he looked at his friend.
"Don't look at me. You know better than that yourself, Ginji."
The blond man chuckled into his hand, smiling despite himself, as he whispered, "Yeah, you're in love with Himiko, aren't you, Ban?"
Ban smacked the back of his friend's head.
"Shut up, man! That's not something you should just broadcast. What if she heard you?"
The blond smiled apologetically.
"I wonder what she's talking about though."
"My, my..." Chuckled a low voice as Akabane moved past them. "Has Lady Poison taken to riddles, as well? What fun. But I'm afraid there's no need to worry, Miss Hevn already arranged sleeping quarters if I'm correct in saying so."
Their earlier squabble forgotten, Emishi waved cheerfully.
"If Natsume doesn't have a room mate, I'm happy to volunteer!"
Wordlessly, Kazuki released the three from his threads, reattaching the bell to his hair.
"Don't be so ill-mannered, Emishi. It wouldn't be proper to have a boy and girl share the same room." He reprimanded his friend softly.
The auburn haired male laughed as though he'd made a joke by making the suggestion.
"Course not, Kazu. Besides, you know I would never do that to a lady, much less Natsume."
"Not to be rude," Began Akabane as he effortlessly lifted a couple of boxes, "but could we please end this conversation and get everything inside so that we, too, may escape the cold, hm?"
"I agree with Akabane." Stated Himiko, grabbing her own bags off her bike. "Just tell us which rooms are which, so we can go put up our stuff."
Nodding, grudgingly, Ban began rifling around in his pocket for the printout of the house that showed where everyone would be staying.
"I already took the liberty of labeling each others doors," Stated Akabane, "All of your rooms are on the second floor. Miss Himiko and Miss Natsume will share one, Ban and Ginji another, and then Shido and Emishi will have the two smaller rooms to themselves, while I am on the third floor." He smiled pleasantly. "Now, shall we go? I didn't build a fire just so we could freeze to death outside."
Ginji moved closer to Ban's side as the good doctor walked past, smiling at the blond as he did so.
"I'm scared, Ban."
TBC
Tenoko: Hahaha. So much fun. Okay, so not alot of fun yet, but there will be.
AJ: The hospital episode is my favorite. I died laughing. Though, I must admit, I liked the first season better than the second, the second just seemed to be lacking something.