Disclaimer: I do not own Getbackers or any of its characters.

Content Warning: has mild shounen-ai… (hmm… I think mild isn't the word…)

Another thing, I'm sorry if Ginji is a little bit OOC here. I mean, he's quite mischievous… I just needed him to be that way to put more spice in the story… hihihi… anyway, enjoy minna! (bdw, thoughts are italicized)

When Fate Wills It

Chapter I: Cases

He looked at the clock and saw the time. It was past 2 in the morning. He didn't know why he was still up. He had already turned off the television. No channel was broadcasting anything anymore. He threw the remote at the other side of the sofa. He looked around and appreciated their new house. It was quite sometime before he and Ginji were able to save enough money to buy their own house. Finally, they are able to sleep somewhere more comfortable than the car. Well, there were always those cheap motels or hotels they could spend the night in if they didn't like the car. It was still different to have a new house though. Besides there is a risk when staying in cheap motels-- there was always a risk-- of having a 'knock' on their door in the middle of the night. How he hated when he and Ginji were waken up by those desperate women and even men sometimes. It wasn't that he despised them. He just couldn't bear to look at them, doing 'that', selling their bodies for a living. It was painful for them, to see such people. Even if he and Ginji were down to the last cent, they never thought of that for a living, definitely not. They'd rather die than stoop to that level.

He looked up at the ceiling and saw dust falling off with little sparks of electricity. Ginji must be dreaming, he thought. He always sends off sparks every time he dreams of happy things. There was no need to worry. It means he was still peacefully asleep, not bothered by anything else.

So, why is Mido Ban still up? He looked at the door, as though expecting someone to come bursting in. He looked at the door for half a minute. When the knock he was expecting didn't come, he lay down on the sofa, putting his feet on the soft cushion without even bothering to remove his shoes. He closed his eyes, trying to attract sleep but as soon as he did, he opened them right away. His picture was again forming in his head. He could see him clearly, his soft, kind and beautiful face. Though he talked to Ginji about him and poured all his feelings on his best friend, he still felt that dragging guilt inside him. Ginji managed to comfort him with his simple words. Yes, they were simple, but they weighed a lot, almost as though they were said by his mother. He could remember exactly his personal conversation with Ginji only a few hours ago.

"If you really like him, then you should let him know," said Ginji while he made a coffee for Ban.

"I can't," replied Ban. "You know I just can't Ginji."

"Why? Why can't you tell him?"

"It's because… I'll end up betraying and hurting everyone."

"Ban…"

"Everyone knows it's them already. Though they don't admit it, I know there's something happening between them. It would be a scandal if I suddenly get into the picture."

"But Ban, unless you let him know---"

"I can't let him know Ginji!" said Ban with a slightly louder voice causing Ginji to almost drop the coffee. He placed it on the bedside table across Ban and flung an arm around his best friend's shoulder. He looked at Ban and saw how sad he was that time, which was a rare occasion. He never let anyone see his vulnerability, except for him and---

"Itomaki," whispered Ban. "He shouldn't know. Yeah, that's right. He's better off with the Needle boy."

"It's not who he's better off which matters here Ban-chan," explained Ginji. "It's what you feel. It's what he feels. I tell you, if you don't confess your true feelings to him, there'll come a time---and it might be even worse that time--- you'll accidentally let it slip. You're hiding your feelings Ban-chan, and it doesn't help. It'll just worsen your position."

"Never mind my position Ginji," said Ban while clutching his forehead. He hated himself. He was showing his weakness again. "As long as Itomaki's happy, I'm happy."

"Don't fool yourself Ban-chan," Ginji replied while withdrawing his hand.

"It's the truth."

"You're not fooling anyone this time, not even Ginji-kun."

"Ginji?"

"Do you really think he's not affected here? When you hide your feelings, when you don't let him know, are you really sure you're not hurting him?"

"What are you saying Ginji?"

"You perfectly know what I'm saying Ban-chan," said Ginji while looking at the darkness outside through the small window in their room. It had started to rain and thunder was roaring outside, almost angrily, almost like they were Ginji's.

"What if he did or may be he does like you?" asked Ginji without looking at his best friend. These words made Ban stand up and pace the room.

"It can't be the case," whispered Ban. Though he said this, Ginji found a trace of hope in his voice. He was hoping he did like him. He still liked him.

"Oh?" asked Ginji while smiling a little. "You don't know what he's thinking Ban-chan. He and Jubei-san may be close but it doesn't mean there's something beyond friendship going on between them."

"But no one can deny that they like one another," said Ban. "Remember what we saw in the hot spring? They were acting as though they were a couple already."

"What if, Ban-chan," started Ginji. "What if Kadsuki-chan just did it to---to make you jealous?"

This idea from Ginji brought a stop to Ban's pacing. He looked at Ginji who was looking at him with a glint of mischief in his eyes, also a rare sight.

"Jealous?" Ban asked incredulously. The idea was absurd, but there could be a possibility. Ginji looked at Ban when he couldn't believe what he said. He raised his eyebrows in a reassuring way and gave him a nod.

"There's always a possibility Ban-chan," said Ginji. "Maybe Kadsuki-san was waiting for you all along."

"You're mental Ginji."

"No, I'm serious Ban-chan," said Ginji. He was actually holding his chin while his eyebrows were almost meeting at the center. He was actually absorbed in concentration.

"I'm not getting ideas out of thin air. I'm basing my theories on what I saw."

"But, Itomaki likes Jubei," defended Ban. He was wondering why he wasn't open to the idea that Kadsuki may also really like him.

Ginji tutted and stood up beside Ban. He tapped his best friend's shoulder and led him out of the room.

"Ban-chan, you and I know, as well as the whole group that the Kakei clan is the protector of the Fuchoin clan. Think about it."

"Ginji… I didn't know you could think like a genius! Thanks for the support," said Ban, his spirits suddenly up. "Just kidding," he added while looking at Ginji.

Ginji snorted and melted into a puddle of goo. He oozed his way to the bed before talking again.

"You know what to do then Ban-chan," said a super deformed Ginji. "And oh please, do close the door before you leave? I don't want electric sparks ruining the house during my sleep."

Ban nodded and closed the door.

It was really a long conversation. He was really feeling happy a few hours ago but now, everything seems to turn bad again. He was feeling sulky again. He was having second thoughts of telling Kadsuki what he feels for him. He didn't know how he would insert himself in the picture: in Kadsuki's life. There were so many possibilities and so many cases.

Case 1: Itomaki and Needle boy are together BUT Itomaki has hidden feelings for Ban as well.

Case 2: Itomaki and Needle boy are 'just friends' and Itomaki does like Ban.

Case 3: Itomaki and Needle boy are together, period. He liked Ban before but since he didn't admit anything, his feelings for Ban are history.

Case 4: Itomaki and Needle boy are 'just friends', so with Ban.

Ban was trying to think of possible ways to deal with these cases as well as their possible consequences, when suddenly, as though God willed it, he heard a weak knock on the door. It was a minute before the knock registered completely on Ban's mind because of his case-full brain and the hammering rain outside. He stood up from the sofa and put on his sunglasses. Who would be knocking at 2 a.m. in the morning?

He was very slow in walking when he heard a familiar voice on the other side of the door.

"B-Ban-kun? Are you still awake? P-Please let me in… I need to t-talk to you."

He hurriedly went to the door to open it for his unexpected visitor. As soon as he opened the door, his view was blocked by a mass of hair and he felt the owner of the shivering voice fall forward. Good thing he was able to catch him on time before both of them fell on the floor. He saw his visitor had passed out. He was soaking wet and as Ban held him up, he looked at his face and as he did, he felt his heart drop.

Only seconds ago he was thinking of him. Now he was before him and in his arms! How playful fate is, he thought. He buried his face on the familiar smooth and long brown hair though it was damp with rain. He wrapped his arms around Kadsuki and drew him closer to him.

He couldn't think of anything else at the moment. It was 2 a.m. in the morning, it was raining hard outside, he was soaking wet, but it was the happiest day of his life.

To be continued…