Characters: Ban, Ginji, Hevn, Natsumi, Paul Wan

Summary: Ginji was kidnapped by the same dangerous society they dealt with during their last mission regarding a secret artifact protected by the Hokkaido Asahikawa Museum of Art.

Disclaimer: Get Backers is not mine. Only the plot of this fanfic is mine ^_^ All characters, places, objects appearing in this work are fictitious. Any resemblance or have the same name to real persons, places and objects are purely coincidental.

RAPID RETRIBUTION

Last night had been very splendid yet tiring for Ginji and Ban. They successfully finished their mission to infiltrate a very dangerous society who stolen a vital and top-secret artifact from the Hokkaido Asahikawa Museum of Art. They drank and ate as many as they could at the closest grandeur restaurant they found. They had earned a lot of money for a job well done. But instead of being luxurious to stay in a cosy place, they made their way home to Honky Tonks and there, continue the celebration with Hevn, Natsumi and Paul.

Hevn and Natsumi went home after two hours. Paul was knocked out, snoring loudly as he sleep like a madman on one of the sofas. Ginji fell asleep too. Ban was the only one who managed to go upstairs and sleep decently. He wanted to enjoy his sleep in this night of victory with a warm blanket, soft pillows and mattress.

He quickly drowned himself into the verge of the same dreams again.

It was getting late. The skies were drawn out in a velvety orange and violet. The scenery around him brings a sense of serenity and secrecy. He was in a small garden where vines grow everywhere and colorful flowers bloomed. He was walking towards the gate. When he looked up from his fascination with the marvelous bricks and stones of the pathway, his eyes and heart melted instantly at the sight. The gate leads to a beach where the waves of the ocean echoed along with the songs of the birds flying across the painted sky. On the far side he could see the looming mountains that shelter caves below and roofed with thrilling cliffs.

The place was like Eden and Ban felt like he was in the beginning of time. He scanned the seashore and saw something distinguishable but still appeared somewhat vague. He run towards that thing and when he was so near he realized it was actually a person crouching and playing with the shells on the seashore.

Before he could ask who that person was, the person stood up and when he faced Ban it was timely with the sunset that it blinded Ban. Though Ban could not see the person's face he felt he knew who it was.

Then the person turned around and walked away. Ban lingered for a moment before instinct tells him to follow the person.

"Wait," Ban whispered but when he wasn't heard, be began calling out as he ran after the person.

"Wait!"

He caught up easily. He wanted to grab the person's shoulder but instead his left hand met the strands of soft brown hair drifting with the wind. The fresh rosy fragrance in the air was familiar. Finally, the person before him spoke softly in a gentle teasing voice.

"Oh my, Ban. You let yourself get caught… I told you not to fall—"

Ban awoke abruptly and found his body quivering. He sat up, yawning and stretching and looked at the old clock hanging on the wall. 5:45 a.m. That darn weird dream again…

Feeling wide awake and certain he won't be able to continue his sleep he put on his polo and headed downstairs. The café was a mess with all those empty bottles of beers and food leftovers scattered everywhere. He looked around and saw Paul, who looked stupid at his unconscious state.

He went outside the café and his eyes fell straightaway to their old green car. It was then when he realized he had not yet noticed Ginji. Thinking his friend was just inside the café, Ban went back inside to check on him.

"Ginji," Ban called. "Hey wherever you are, wake up! Party's over!"

After quite a moment of searching around the café and found Ginji nowhere, Ban went to Paul and lightly wakes the latter. He didn't know why he was having a bad feeling about this. Eventually, Paul woke and shook off Ban's hand and he sat up grudgingly.

"What on the heavens—!" He said annoyingly.

"Hey, just wanna ask if you know where Ginji is? He's not here."

"Ban, I didn't know you can be stupid to ask me that. I just woke, see?" Paul grumbled in between yawns. "No idea."

"Fine. Sorry."

Where the hell are you Ginji?

Ban trudged outside the café to their car. Closing by, he noticed that a small paper was inserted on the windshield.

First, let's play a game

I shall call it an exchanged gift.

You give us back the La reliqua de la Naturaleza.

Then I'll return your dear friend.

But if ever you cheat…

No need to worry, we'll still give you something.

That would be the relic of your friend's remains.

Should you be willing to play,

Let's get in touch.

Call me by the phone inside your car.

Be grateful my friend,

Or shall I say, be careful…

With his mind racing and his heart thundering, Ban dialed his cell phone and called Hevn. And for the first time, he didn't know what to do first.