The Honky Tonk quaked.

Himiko, Akabane, Shido, Emishi, Kazuki and Hevn all sprinted across the city towards their unofficial 'club house". The four had been returning from a mission when they had felt enormous spiritual pressure followed by an explosion of energy that had come from the direction of the Cafe.

It had been four weeks since the Brain Trust had been defeated, and while nobody had talked about it, something was very very wrong with the GetBackers. After the initial euphoria of winning, the Urchin headed GetBacker had seemed to withdraw. He had encouraged Ginji to increasingly go on missions with his friends - saying that Ginji needed to bond with his friends after all the stress. The missions that Ban himself had gone on had been simple ones, requiring little skills, and amazingly they actually got paid. Then came that part that really began to worry everyone, Hevn had noticed it first. While Ginji spent his money on food and stuff, Ban no longer paid parking fines, and wasn't splurging on expensive foods as he normally would have. He seemed to be saving his part of the money, and THAT had everyone questioning what was going on.

This last mission they had gone on, had required them to leave town for a couple of nights. Ban had wanted Ginji to go with them - without him-.Ginji who had been getting more and more agitated at the distance Ban was putting between them, had flatly refused. Ginji had been bugging, nagging, asking and whinging at Ban to find out what was wrong, but Ban would just smile, ruffle his hair and tell Ginji he was just tired from the Brain Trust battles. There was enough truth in that to shut his partner up at first, but now the situation was getting out of hand.

Fearing the Raitei's return, the 5 sprinted to the Cafe, and almost tripped over each other in shock at the sight that greeted them. Natsumi and Rena were hiding under a table, Paul was working the wind to minimize the damage to his Cafe, Ginji was absorbing electricity for electrical equipment gone mad. And Ban, Ban was the source of the madness. Floating almost to the ceiling of the Cafe, his eyes rolled back, his body hyper extended and twisting, he mouth open in a silent scream. Dark blue and red lights emitting from his body, seemed to be at war. Spoons, knives, cups, plates, chairs, were flying around the room, flying clock-wise around Ban caught in a vortex of energy and magic. Most terrifying was the semi transparent figure of a snake, writhing in pain, twisting helplessly around its host.

Though comprising of some of the most powerful individuals on Earth, the group at the door, Froze, Ban literally looked as if he was expanding at the seams getting ready to explode. adding any power, or energy into the vortex was unthinkable.

Ban seemed to try to pull the Vortex into himself, the scream that he released was that of one whose soul was being ripped apart. The sound was so piercing that in spite of themselves, hands went around their ears to block the blood chilling scream that echoed through the room. (Hevn : BAN-kun please stop!!; Himiko : Nii-san- nooo;)

"BAN-CHAN!!" Ginji's yell countered the scream, and despite of the Danger (Kazuki : Ginji NO!!) the blond leapt towards his partner, catching him in a huge hug. The room flashed, and the forces dissipated leaving a crying, shaking Ginji, cradling his unconscious partner in his arms. (Ban-Chan, Ban-chansob please be all right, please)

Akabane went swiftly forward, checking the vital signs of the unconscious man. The blade he had gifted to Ban, vibrated assuring the transported that the GetBacker was at least physically not too badly damaged. "Ginji-kun, Midou-kun's blood feels a bit thin, his muscles are warn and drained, but I believe that physically he is alright, just tired."

"Take him to the back, and let him sleep, Ginji." Paul instructed. He looked around at the people in the room who were all looking at Ban with various levels of concern. "I doubt anyone is going to leave without explanations, so I'll have help cleaning up. Stay with him."

"Thanks Paul-san." Ginji, gently picked up his partner and took him to the back room.

"So" Emishi said breaking the silence that had filled the room after Ginji had disappeared with Ban into the back room. "The snake-bastard has finally gone rabid. Damn him, Ginji is going to be heartbroken if we have to put that dangerous bastard down. Whhhhattt!"

A killing aura, had deepened around the Jackal, but before he could say anything.

"Stupid Emishi!" Natsumi furious stormed up to the blood joker at kicked him hard on his shin. (OOOWWWW) Rena, broke a bottle over his head. "How dare you even say that."

"Hey you all saw.." Emishi looked around and was met with cold, disgusted eyes all around, "heh okay so I'm an idiot." Emishi said softly.

"You are lucky that you are too stupid to even kill" Akabane said softly, "Look around, see the destruction to the room (it was in shambles) now look at Natsumi and Rena, see any cuts on them? Any bruises even" The two girls looked messy but otherwise totally unharmed.

"That's right" Natsumi said, "If Ginji-kun had gone Reitai here, we would definitely have been hurt, but Ban - just now - when he started to shake and lose, just before it hit him real hard, he sort of looked at us, and not a thing actually hit us. We went under the table to get out of the way, but even when the hot water splashed not a drop landed on us."

"He he! So even when the dam that curbed his magic broke, the Heir to the Blood of the Pure Witch sought to protect those weakest around him." the bountiful Maria, the witch who had cared for a young Ban- for a little while, strolled into the Cafe. "Hello everyone, its good to see all of you survived the Brain Trust. I felt the magical upheaval and looks like its a good thing I decided to investigate." Maria said with a huge smile. "Well we all have to wait for Ban to wake up, so why don't you young people cleanup this mess huh."

--

Ginji carefully placed Ban on the Futon, covering him with a blanket, he stroked his partners hair. (whisper : Ban-Chan!!) After a few moments Ginji, turned around to get some cloth to wipe Ban down, when there was a flash of bright light.

Ginji spun around. His urchin headed partner had disappeared. In his place was a small boy, not more then 4 or 5 years old. The boy was pale, and painfully thin. He was wearing only a pair of torn and tattered shorts.

The boy stood pressed against the wall, his body was covered with bruises and what looked like paper thin cuts, the side of his neck was torn, deep cuts and bruises formed a grotesque necklace around a the slim neck. Limp hair framed a bruised face. The boys lips trembled, in fact his whole being trembled, and big blue irises ringed in crimson, looked in fear at the blond man. The blue was unmistakable. "Baaannn?" Ginji whispered in shock.

The word seemed to spur the small figure into action. His eyes scanned the room frantically, looking for a way out. "Please!!" The boy's voice was cracked and raw. "Please let me go!"

Ginji stared uncomprehendingly at the boy, he reached out a hand. "Ban-Chan"

The boy seeing the action as a threat, feinted to the side, Ginji automatically moved to catch the boy, the boy pivoted and scrambled the other way out of the door.

11 pairs of eyes, turned at the sound and widened in shock.

"Noooo!! so many" the boy whispered to himself, his eyes - that of a trapped animal, darted frantically around the room, looking for a way out. For a second they landed on the single scalpel that Akabane had been playing with and the boy seemed to shrink, a whimper escaped him. He shifted his weight readying himself to jump for the window, the only viable escape from the room. Only to have Paul, who had ripped off his glasses, move quickly - blocking that exit. Ginji emerged from the room, surrounding the little figure completely.

The little light in the blue eyes died, even the fear seemed to drain away, and the boys head dropped. He seemed to shrink even smaller, all the skin on the boy that was visible was either covered in bruises or those long thin paper cuts – dozens even hundreds of cuts.

"I.. I.. I'm sorry I was bad," The boy said in a broken voice, "I.. I.. pprromise I won't scream when you punish me." The voice shook with the force of the boys trembling. The words tore a hole, in Ginji's heart.

Maria and Himiko, both came forward. "Ban what happen.." Maria began

The boys head snapped up, and the little control that the child had snapped. He threw himself backwards, "NO!! No!! PLeeease NO! YOU CANT TAKE ANY MORE BLOOD..PLEASE NO!!." His eyes seemed to flash, and a scream similar to the one they had heard earlier emerged from the boy and small hands covered eyes that had begun to bleed. The boy flashed again, and the body of an unconscious Ban was now huddled under a table of the Honky Tonk.

Ginji shaking as much as the boy had been, scrambled to his parter, once again cradling him in his arms.

Maria came forward to check on Ban. Electricity sizzled, stinging the witch. "YOU!! Stay away!" Ginji's eyes while, filled with tears, were now sparking, fierce and furious. His hand stroked and cradled his partner, gently, protectively. But his eyes were like that of the Raitei, unforgiving, hard, and burning with anger. "Ban-chan was scared of you, no one is touching him. Stay back all of you. Until Ban-Chan wakes up nobody is coming near him." Having delivered his order, Ginji buried his head on his partner's chest, to listen to the beating of a beloved heart.

"Maria-san" Akabane's voice was deadly full of steel. "I find absolutely nothing amusing in what I just witnessed. The marks on that boy, those cuts. They were deliberate slices, not deep enough to bleed, not deep enough to scar, just deep enough to be excruciatingly painful. That boy, BAN MIDOU he could not have been more then 5 years old, had been tortured systematically. (the words were bitten out cold and hard. Gasps of horror, disgust and pain echoed in the room). You claim he is the descendant of your royalty, you WILL explain what we just saw. And you will explain NOW.." Scalpels gleamed in long fingers.

"Ching" A bell pealed as Kazuki moved to stand beside Akabane. Shido's fingers flexed and he deliberately blocked Maria's path to the door, Himiko drew out her puppet perfume. All had hard unforgiving eyes, if Akabane had chosen to carry out his unspoken threat, no hand in the Cafe that night would have been raised to defend Maria.

Maria looked around the room, sighed and sank into the chair, tears filled her eyes, and her shoulders shook as she cried. "I didn't realize. Good lord, I swear I had not realized, none of us realized how much they had hurt him. Those cuts, by the time he was found they had disappeared. He never spoke of it. GOD!! We never even knew they tortured him, that much." She cried. "I'll tell you. I'll tell you our shame, the shame of all witches, why Ban rejects us, I swear I never knew the extent of it." Maria's voice was heavy with guilt and pain.

The people in the room, were silent, watching, holding their judgment until they got the whole story from the witch.

"When Ban was born, his grandmother was very disappointed. He was a boy, the strongest wielders of magic were women. And no male has had the ability to use the Jagan in over 2000 years. She assumed that he would be like his father, and would not have the thick blood of a true Witch Heir in his veins. She had no interest in the boy, and left him to be brought up by that crazy mother of his. She never even bothered to test his blood." Maria sighed.

"Our Witch Clan, since our Queen had shown no interest in the boy, simply ignored the baby, and since he would be raised in the human world had no further concern for him. However we later, very much later realized what a mistake that was. Ban had magic. From what we can gather, he was reacting to magic, making things float and doing other things from the time he was about 3 years old. His father had disappeared and his mother freaked. She was in depression and when she wasn't cussing her son, she basically ignored his existence.

"Unfortunately, while our clan had failed to pay attention, another Clan of blood witches, heretics by any standards, had been paying attention. They kidnapped Ban a couple of months before his 5th birthday."

"God.." Ginji whimpered. "Did you get Ban-chan back Maria-san." Ginji looked up with hopeful eyes.

Maria stared into the large brown eyes, and bowed her head. "Gin-kun I am so tempted to lie, you have no idea how much I want to say, we stormed the kidnappers hideout and got Ban back."

SLAM!! Paul's hand slammed onto the counter. "THIS IS BULLSHIT MARIA!! What the FUCK do you mean that Ban was kidnapped. We NEVER, the Kaiser and I NEVER heard anything about Ban being kidnapped. Why didn't that Crazy Bitch tell us and who the hell got him back?"

"Paul, you never knew because by the time we found out it was moot point." Maria continued painfully.

"Ginji you see we didn't get Ban back, Ban's mother was so deep in depression when he was taken, she never even noticed he was gone. And our clan never checked up on him. You can't get back something no one notices is gone Ginji. (Tears filled Maria's eyes)

"The kidnappers had Ban for anywhere between two to three weeks, and no one tried to get him back, Ginji. No one even knew he was gone. You cant get back someone no one even knows is gone. Ginji"

The dawning horror in the room was palatable. All remembered the frantic look in beaten eyes of a child desperately trying to escape. Shido was the first to say it, his voice thick as he held back tears. "My god, he got himself back didn't he. Four years old, he was so.. so tiny, cut, beaten, abused and you freaks forced him to save himself did you. Shit!!"

"Damn you witches," Paul swore"I thought it was a good thing when he put aside his pride to ask you for help, I am a fool. We had no right to ask him to pay such a price."

"Ah but you never had to ask him to pay such a price did you." Maria said in a misplaced attempt to lighten the mood.

CHING!! Battle aura emitted from Kazuki, "Maria-san, it may be best for your continued good health to just continue the story, none here are impressed by any attempt that you might make at humor." No one saw fit to comment on the unusual, yet appropriate reaction by the string master.

Maria accepting the reprimand continued the horror story. " The witches who took him, systematically took blood from him. Those are the marks on his neck, those were the only visible signs of abuse that marked him when he was found. All the other marks had healed over, we had no idea (Maria's voice caught in guilt and pain. she took a breathe and continued) We thought that was all they had done. -God even I hate how that sounds."

"Anyway how Ban escaped is based on what we could piece together. Ban never talked about the kidnapping, he refused to even acknowledge it. The police discovered that 3 people had been involved. Asclepius had not yet partnered with Ban at that point, he was too young. The Jagan usually develops in our children at around puberty to ensure their safety and have them mentally prepared for the consequences of it, and his magic was hindered by the draining of his blood at such high levels."

"Hmmm" Akabane interrupted at that point. "He had already developed a part of his battle genius hadn't he, I could see the eyes of the boy just now, evaluating strengths, seeking and identifying a way to escape. But he was a child – physically there is no way -did someone help him escape?"

"No" Maria said softly. "Didn't you notice his eyes? They must have done something, finally pushed him to the brink, I think. Pushed him so far that the ability that should have remained dormant for another 10 years was triggered - brutally. We believed he used the Jagan on them and escaped. He escaped and as much as the police could trace, he had gotten on the back of a truck on the Autobahn which took him some 100 kilometers from the site he had been held. Three days after he had used the Jagan, he was found starving and half frozen in an alley in backwater Germany.

"We know the time-line, because the Witch Queen had sensed the triggering of the Jagan. She was actually confronting her daughter-in-law when the police came knocking to inform that a young boy had been found. Not once, never in our history has a four year old been able to use the Jagan. But other then the Jagan and Asclepius that developed later, Ban never used his magic again, we believe he himself sealed it up. And nothing his Grandmother or I did could get him to use his ability until he needed it to save his friends from the divine design. For some reason the barrier he built around his powers broke tonight and they went a little crazy, I suspect, the magical side-effect of the release was to revert him for a short period to the time when the barrier was first built when he escaped the Blood witches."

There was a lull in the Cafe as Maria paused and they processed the story, a horrific realization began to overtake Ginji.

Holding his partner to him, he yelled at Maria. "Did you tell him? Did he know? (Huh? Gin-chan?) Did you tell a 4-year-old that no one bothered to get back, that if Ban-chan used the Jagan, he would disappear and no one would remember him?" Uncontrolled electricity swept around Ginji, but not a spark touched the unconscious man in his arms.

The look in Maria's eyes was all the answer Ginji needed. Awe at his partner, pain and guilt filled the blond man, he understood now, so much better. But it hurt, he hurt for Ban-chan from his hair to his fingertips he hurt. (I'm so sorry Ban-chan wake-up please.)

"Ginji, his Grand-mother had to tell him. he could have accidentally used it. She had to tell him... (deep breathe) Anyway we identified, found and punished one of the witches responsible for the kidnapping, we had divined that she was the only one alive of the triad that had taken Ban. The other two were found dead by the police who suspect that they had had a falling out when Ban escaped and killed each other.

"The only other thing relevant to this story is.. is well what probably triggered the disintegration of Ban's magic barrier. When the Jagan is used 4 times, a curse is triggered and the person is wiped from the psychical world and from the memories of those around them. There is a book an ancient text, called "Heaven's Pride" that stands in the vaults of the witches. Legend has it the book would magically record the name of one who used the Jagan for the 4th time, to stand as the only record of that individual on the earth. To wipe out your very existence, to have none, even those who profess to love you, have no memory of your existence, is not a price that humans are willing to pay. In spite of the witch hunts, the deaths of our people, the world wars, till four weeks ago, the book remained empty, silent."

Remembering Amon's death Emishi blurted out "Don't blame em, to just be gone, I couldn't even consider doing it...wow..." he trialled off, and a silence of consent filled the room.

"Yes Ban used the Jagan for the 4th time, saving those around him. Nobody has ever had to ask him to, but he willing would have paid the ultimate price, and we would never have even known it, we would not even remember that he ever was a part of our lives."

"But he is not gone." Akabane said

"No he is not gone – thanks to your little trick" Maria said, her smile now sad. "But it does not reduce his action in any way – his name is now the only name recorded in Heaven's Pride - the first person in human history – to sacrifice so much - in exchange for nothing. Fate is not done with him, for it to allow Ban Midou to live... I fear the magic potential he showed just now is exponentially more than the level he should have. My guess is that something more is coming."

"Fine, wonderful, whatever.. we will handle the future as it comes" Paul said curtly. " What I want to know is why is this the first I have ever heard of Ban being kidnapped, does HIS FATHER even know what happened."

"Paul, no. It was not my decision to make. The Witch Queen when she saw Ban was never going to mention it or talk about the kidnapping, she decided that it was best for everyone if the kidnapping was never mentioned again and.."

"Fuck Maria.." A tired but irritated voice cut her off. "What the hell are you bringing up ancient history for." Blue eyes ringed with exhaustion narrowed on the Witch.

"Ban-Chan your awake,"

"Awwwkkk Ginji, Human here not a pillow. Ease up already"

Even as he hugged his partner, a sense of dread grew in Ban. His eyes swept the troubled faces before him, "Why are you talking about that crap Maria, clue me in somebody."

Before anyone could stop her Rena burst out, "Your Magic Ban, it made you a 4-year -old again and we saw... we saw.." She trailed off when Natsumi kicked her and she saw the disapproval in the eyes around her.

"Oh" Ban said slowly taking in the faces before him. Unfortunately, their horror, disgust and anger were still apparent in their eyes from Maria's story. And Ban conditioned to accept hatred and blame from those closest to him, was just relieved that Ginji was behind so he was spared the same look in brown eyers. "What? So you finally got to see the monster, the demon spawn huh?" Ban sneered.

Ban's defenses went up, he pulled away from Ginji, to protect himself from their judgment, that he just knew was coming. That he knew he had earned – by the blood on his hands. Ban had stopped asking for mercy, expecting miracles when he was 4. He was so tired, but he would not – could not surrender. So as he had then, he attacked. His sardonic mask slammed in place as he challenged mockingly "When was the first time you killed Akabane? Bet I got you beat, huh? So that's what got you pathetic lot so tense. Which kill did you see. Huh? Did you see a 4-year-old devil repeatedly slid a bloody knife into the stomach of an old man and perhaps you saw the demon spawn bury the same knife in the throat of a woman – younger then Hevn. Did you see the little monster continue to stab them long after they were dead?"

Himiko felt her knees give out, and she sank shaking to the floor, Rena, Natsumi and Hevn followed suit. Paul's fist smashed the counter. The others except Akabane looked away, overwhelmed - unable to meet the eyes of the Jagan user. Ginji moaned like a beast under torture.

The moan tore at Ban more than anything else could. He shut his eyes for a second, his lips twisted in an empty smile, accepting condemnation, totally misunderstanding their reactions. "Oh well" he thought, his eyes opened taking in the carnage, HIS loss of control had caused. "I'm really losing it, I will not put them in danger", Maybe he thought his worst secret coming out now was probably a blessing, they would want him gone now. And since he had already put plans to leave into motion, so that he would not hurt anyone else, their condemnation would make his disappearance a lot easier – on them. For himself – well – he had, had more in the last 5 years, than he had ever expected to get in his life. So he would go to fight this demon, and as this was his personal battle, he would fight it as he had always fought his battles since he was 4 – alone.

"Paul" Ban said not wanting the man who had been like a father to him to totally write him off, "I'm sorry, this damage its on me, not Ginji – I did this. I swear Paul. I wont do it again, and I'll find a way to send you the money for this." Ban promised, his voice thinning, his head swam with exhaustion, with the burden of his decisions.

Only tone person understood the meaning behind those words.

"Ban-kun" Akabane said in a voice unlike any had ever heard him use. "We did not see any monster, we saw a child. A small boy , beautiful beyond words, pushed to the edge and fighting with all his strength to survive. We did not see a devil, we saw an Angel Ban- kun – we saw the birth of Heaven's Pride."

Ban blinked, his pain overwhelming him, he could hardly hear let alone understand Akabane's words. Exhaustion overcome him, wanting to escape his reality just for a minute, to stall having to see the disappointment in his partners eyes, Ban allowed himself to sink into an exhausted sleep. As he slumped forward, he felt Ginji's arms go around him, holding him, and knew for a little while more he could sleep safe. For a little while more he could pretend that he was a good person, that there was a place for him in the world. He could pretend that someone would notice when he finally disappeared and would maybe try to get him back. A single tear – just one – ran down the porcelain pale cheek.

Ginji traced that single tear, brought it to his lips. He knew Ban would fight, his partner was the greatest protector around. There was nothing he wouldn't do to keep those around him safe, he guarded them – fought for them when they were hurt, and stood back, watched from the sidelines, when they fought their own battles. Battles Ban would have won with ease, but he let them fight, because he wanted them strong, because Ban had believed that he would not be around to protect them for long. The one thing Ban had never protected, that Ban held lightly, seeing it as having little value, was the one thing Ginji held dearest in the world. And Ban had never allowed him to strengthen the bond between them, for all the 'S" of the GetBackers – Ginji had never truly saved Ban, his ability to sense when Ban was in trouble, was minuscule. He got lost and Ban would find him – he had never actually been the one to find Ban.

In reality Akabane had saved Ban more than Ginji had. And Ginji would NOT allow this to continue. Ban-chan was NOT going to disappear. Ban-chan was HIS, and it was time that Ban Midou realized that. Ginji felt the deepest parts of himself stir, no longer a separate form, he accepted the part of himself that had once been the Raitei. He hugged his partner close and knew that he, Ginji Amano not the Raitei would fight for and would kill without hesitation any being who sought to separate Ban Midou from Ginji Amano.

He now understood Ban's confusing behavior these last few weeks. Ban would do what he had advised Shido to do when the Kiriudo were threatening Madoka's safety. Ginji knew now Ban was planning to leave, rather then endanger Ginji, Ban would leave and keep everyone else safe. He stroked his partner's hair "Silly Ban-chan, I came too close to losing you. It will never ever happen again" Ginji whispered softly, but with the absolute control, will and determination of the man who had forged the VOLTS and tamed the Limitless Fortress.

Cradling the sleeping man, securely in his arms, Ginji stood.

Akabane smiled, ever since he had saved Ban, the ex-Emperor had lost his fear of him. Now they shared a mission, to keep the Jagan user where he belonged – right where they could see him.

His friends made way as Ginji strode out, as he reached the door, Ginji said in a very un-Ginji-like voice. "Maria-san, I think that until Ban-chan calls you to visit, it will be best if you stay in your side of the City. While in my head I know that it is not truly your fault, in my heart, if you had been a man I think I might have killed you. So please Maria-san don't put yourself in danger by coming here again without Ban-chan's invitation to protect you." With that Ginji left.

"Actually Maria, even with Ban's permission, I suggest you find another place to meet up. Unless you are directly saving their lives (Paul had lived too long not to have this as a clause) Maria, I never want to see you in the Honky Tonk again. Ban may forgive you, but I sure as hell don't and you had better stay away from the Limitless Fortress too, because I doubt the Kaiser will be as forgiving as his son once I tell him about this."

Maria's smile was bitter, " I cant say I blame you" and with a flourish she walked out of the Honky Tonk, none sought to bid her farewell.

"Well at least Ginji will look after Ban-kun. " Hevn said with a sigh. "He really was a beautiful child – huh – he still is I guess."

"Heh" Kazuki said, "I think that we may need to reconsider our actions here, is letting Ginji and Ban go off alone a good idea?"

"Kazuki" Shido said with a grin, " You saw that look in Ginji's eyes, huh! After 5 years the Emperor is finally going to claim his surprisingly oblivious mate, he will tear us apart if we interfere now."

"Huh! We all know Ginji was hoping Ban-san would make the first move, I think he finally understands why Ban seemed so oblivious. (Kazuki said with a faint smile) however that is not what I meant. Didn't you feel it?"

"Feel what Kazuki-kun?" Akabane asked for all of them.

"Just before Ginji broke through the vortex around Ban, there was another force here, subtle, but hostile, and it was definitely watching Ban." Kazuki said.

"It takes a spy to find a spy I guess" Hevn muttered

"Now that you mention it." Himiko chimed in,"there was definitely something here, I felt it trying on lock on to Ban, then Ginji hugged Ban and the force disappeared when Ban collapsed. I was going to mention it.. but the kid came in and..." Himiko trailed off not really knowing how to finish the sentence. " I think I'll go and help Ginji watch over Ban."

"Himiko-san" Akabane stopped her. "You are about the last few people Ginji would allow near Ban at the moment."

"Huh! Look I have almost as much a claim on Ban as Ginji has." Himiko asserted.

"Yes and my dear, that is exactly why, Ginji-kun is not going to let you anywhere near Ban, until he successfully redefines their relationship. And you are right Kazuki-chan they will most definitely be distracted during the process. I will guard them. Ginji-kun knows that I know my place when it comes to the GetBackers, so he will accept my presence better then anyone else's here. (There was a mutter of descent at that – Kazuki and Shido were both inclined to argue. Akabane's next words stopped them) "Hehehe Would you really be able to accept what Ginji plans to do without interfering at all? Especially after what we just witnessed? - hehehe- no I didn't think so, Midou-kun is amazingly appealing is he not?"

With that black leather swished as the transporter walked off.