This is my first work fotrthe Getbackers, and I'm a little nervous about it, so go a little easy on me, okay? Enjoy the story!

Disclaimer: I don't own the Getbackers.

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Those Three Words

Ban Midou wasn't the type to fall in love. Nope, not at all. So why the hell did he ALWAYS turn red when he looked at Kudo Himiko? And why did his heart start beating really fast at the same time? And why for the love of GOD did he think of Himiko as his….precious cherry blossom? Himiko wasn't like a cherry blossom at all! Cherry blossoms were, no actually they are, soft and pretty and…that's all the adjectives he could think about. But Himiko was not soft and pretty. She was cold and sarcastic. Bit like Ban himself. But whatever.

Natsumi said that was probably why Ban was attracted to Himiko in the first place. Ban said that opposites were supposed to attract, and if Natsumi said that they were both cold and sarcastic, then that meant that they were similar, so how could he be attracted to Himiko? Natsumi rolled her eyes at that. And then when Ban said that he was offended that Natsumi would call him cold and sarcastic even after returning her cat doll to her, she just sighed and went back to wiping the dishes. And when Ban looked at Ginji for support, he just gave him that 'You've got to be kidding me' look combined with his 'Don't drag me into this' look. And then he said, 'We returned Natsumi's cat doll to her six years ago, Ban-chan, so it's pretty meaningless trying to make her feel guilty. Besides, she's right.'

So Ban was forced to accept that he was in love with Himiko. And that he was cold and sarcastic. When he admitted the above, Natsumi clapped her hands with joy and said that now he should confess his love to Himiko. Ban scoffed at that. He could do that. Say 'I love you' to Himiko? Piece of cake. Then he heard the whirr of Himiko's motorbike. He craned his neck and saw Himiko taking off her helmet and climb off her bike and come towards the entrance of the Honky Tonk. He winked at Natsumi and Ginji, said 'Watch and learn, kids,' and went to Himiko, who had entered. He stood before her and smirked. Then he opened his mouth. 'I-' he started, 'I-I lo-lo-um…..' He took a deep breath and started again. 'I-I-l-lo…DAMN IT.' And all the while, Himiko looked at him, with one eyebrow raised. Ban changed tack and went, 'Jeez girl, wash your face for once. Look at you!' and marched out of the Honky Tonk, his face bright red. Ginji burst out laughing and Natsumi sighed again. Himiko stared at the both of them, wondering what in the world had happened.

Meanwhile, Ban was outside, trying to figure out what had just happened. He was the great Midou Ban-sama, Snake Man, Jagan wielder, and yet he was not able to say those three words. They were just words for the love of god, anyone could say them! He had heard three year olds say it to their moms and dads. Okay they said it to their parents, but STILL. He looked back at the Honky Tonk, where Natsumi was making Himiko a cup of coffee. He narrowed his eyes. It was the way she was looking at him .That's why he couldn't say that he loved her. Riiight. Next time he was going to make sure she didn't have an eyebrow raised before confessing his love to her. And as for now…..

Damn.

If he asked Natsumi why he couldn't say it, she'd say something about him loving Himiko so much he couldn't say it. That didn't even make any sense. He heard Ginji saying it to Natsumi everyday! 'Hi, Natsumi, I love you.' 'Goodbye, Natsumi, I love you.' The guy was an 'I love you' machine! Okay that didn't make any sense. But if Ginji could say it, why couldn't Ban….?

Maybe it had something to do with Ban being cold and sarcastic. Could cold and sarcastic people say 'I love you'? He thought for a while. No, that can't be it. Himiko said it to Yamato every night before they went they sleep back then. 'Goodnight, aniki, I love you.' See? It was so easy for her. Ban leaned on Himiko's motorbike and lit a cigarette. There had to be something wrong with him that day. Maybe winter was approaching. He was always slow and sluggish during winter, being the snake-ish guy he was. It's March, said a voice in his head. Oh yeah…..

Ban looked around as he heard the door of the Honky Tonk open. Himiko was coming out. 'Get off my bike, Midou,' she said. Ban smirked. 'What'll you do if I don't?' he asked. Himiko looked at him for a second. When she couldn't think of anything to say, she muttered some kind of insult and walked to her motorbike and climbed on it, kicking Ban veeery close to where it hurts, making him lean off her bike. He turned around to look at her, and found that she was looking at him. They just stayed that way for a few seconds, and then Ban looked away. 'Wash your face.' Himiko rolled her eyes. 'Yeah, I'll do that,' she said, 'When you quit smoking.' And then she rode away, leaving Ban alone outside the Honky Tonk.

Chapter One

Ban made his way to the Honky Tonk and took his usual seat on one of the bar stools. He could feel Natsumi and Ginji's stares boring into him. 'Yeah, yeah, I know I was pathetic, okay?' he glared at Natsumi, 'Don't rub it in.'

Natsumi smiled instead. 'No, it's just…I'm very happy you love Himiko-san so much.' 'Eh?' Ban stared at her. Natsumi smiled again. 'You found it hard to say you love her.' Ban blinked. He knew she'd say that, he knew she'd say that. He sighed. 'How could I not say that to her?' he muttered, 'I mean they're just three words….' Ginji gave him a funny look. 'But they're not just three words, Ban-chan,' he said, and Natsumi nodded in agreement. Ban looked at the both of them. 'Eh?' he said again. Natsumi sighed. That was the third time she had done that in the space of an hour. 'Telling someone you love them is a very big deal, Ban-san,' she said, 'It's like..it's like..proving your love in a way.' Ban nodded. 'Okayyy…' he said, 'But they're still just three words, I still don't get why…' 'Ban-chan, I told you, they're NOT just three words,' said Ginji, 'Sometimes, it's really difficult to say 'I love you'. Take me with Natsumi. It took me six months to tell her I, um….love her,' he finished, going a little red. Natsumi went red too. 'It took you that long?' she asked softly. 'Um..yes,' muttered Ginji. Then the both of them blushing. At least that's what it seemed to Ban. He cleared his throat. 'Okay so I figured out the importance of those three words,' he said.

Ginji and Natsumi stopped blushing and grinned. 'That's great Ban-chan/Ban –san!' they both chorused. Ban nodded. 'Thank you,' he said, 'Now what?' 'Now you confess your love to Himiko-san!' said Natsumi happily. 'I thought we were through that already.' said Ban. Natsumi shook her head. 'No we aren't. You still have to say you love her.' 'But I already-' 'No you didn't,' said Ginji, 'You told her to wash her face.'

Ban grunted. 'Fine,' he said after a while and looked at Natsumi, 'How do I do this?' She smiled. 'It's simple,' she said, 'Tell her you love her, but do it in a really special way.' Ban opened his mouth to say something, but Ginji cut across him, 'First stop looking as if we're forcing you into this,' he said. 'Yeah, he's right,' said Natsumi and looked at Ban curiously, 'You do love Himiko-san, don't you?' Ban looked at counter. 'Of course I do,' he said, his voice (and face) softening. Natsumi nodded. 'Good. Now, let's think of ideas about how Ban-san can confess his love to Himiko-san.' She went deep into thought. 'Maybe we could..' she started to say but shook her head, 'No…' Then she piped up with, 'Or perhaps…no.' She wrung her hands. 'Um…'

'Tell you what,' interrupted Ban, and turned to Ginji, 'How did you tell Natsumi you love her?' Ginji went red again. There was a small smile on his face. 'I just told her I love her, that's all,' he said. Natsumi smiled and held Ginji's hand, 'And he gave me a red rose.' Ban blinked. 'That's all?' he asked. The two nodded. 'Yes.' 'Why couldn't I do that then?' 'Well you couldn't do it because you love Himiko-san so much that-' 'I get it, I get it.' said Ban tiredly. 'Now, I need ideas,' he said. The three sunk into silence and tried to think.

Fifteen minutes later…

'Arrgghhh, this is pointless,' growled Ban, crushing his third cigarette under his shoe. Natsumi sweatdropped. 'Don't litter the floor, please, Ban-san.' Ban ignored her and racked his brain. He was useless at this. He had never been in love before, forget confessing his love to the one he loved. And thinking of possible ways to confess his love was getting on his nerves. He didn't have much of an imagination in the first place and above all he wasn't that kind of guy in the first place. But he had to tell Himiko he loved before he lost his mind…so…

Well, yeah. He had no choice but to think of corny ways to confess his love to Himiko.

Ginji suddenly piped up with, 'Maybe you could take to the circus and tell her you love her there!' Ban and Natsumi sweatdropped. 'Why would I want to do that?' asked Ban. 'Circuses are fun!' said Ginji, transforming into his chibi form, 'They're so cool! The trapeze artists and the the magicians and the athletes and-' 'The clowns are creepy,' interrupted Ban, 'Besides, Himiko isn't a circus-ey type of person.' So that plan got scratched out.

Natsumi tapped her chin with her finger, deep in thought. 'Ban-san,' she said after a while, 'Why don't you do it in a really simple way, you could give her a bouquet of flowers, and tell her you love her. But do it in a really simple, soft way.'

Ban raised an eyebrow, considering Natsumi's idea. He opened his mouth to say something, when the door to the Honky Tonk opened and Hevn came in and sat next to Ban. 'Natsumi, can I get a coffee, please? I had a long day today…' Natsumi nodded. 'Hai, Hevn-san,' and disappeared into the kitchen. Hevn let out a looong sigh. 'I woke up at the crack of dawn because I had to meet a new client and when I reached his place, what do you know, he wasn't there, so I had to wait there for two whole hours until he showed up and-' she found Ban staring at her. 'What?' Ban smirked. 'Hey, Hevn..' he said, 'You're female….' Hevn half-glared half-looked amused at him. 'I figured…' 'Maybe you could give me ideas.' said Ban.

Hevn's eyes grew wider and wider as she listened to Ban's story. Then when he was finished, she stared at him a little longer…and started laughing. Loudly. Natsumi looked startled as she came out of the kitchen, carrying Hevn's cup of coffee on a tray. 'Hevn-san…?' 'It's just funny,' said Hevn, calming down a bit, 'That you'd fall in love.' A vein throbbed in Ban's forehead. 'Say that again..' he growled. 'Not that you're not capable of it,' stated Hevn, 'But it's still very,very strange.'

Ban continued glaring at her. 'Nice to know,' he muttered, and lit another cigarette. Hevn turned serious. 'You need my help don't you?' she asked, and smiled, 'Well, I have an idea.' Ban leaned closer to her. 'Yeah…?' 'Make reservations at an expensive restaurant,' she said, her eyes brightening, 'and hire someone to play music at your table. And then after dinner, when you're taking a walk down a moonlit road, hold her hand and look deep into her eyes. And then confess. And then she'll say she loves you too and you can get married and have kids and grow old together and…' she trailed off as she saw Ban, Ginji and Natsumi all staring at her and sweatdropping.

Ban pointed at Natsumi. 'Her idea's cheaper,' he said. Hevn narrowed her eyes at him. 'See if I ever help you again.' she said sulkily and finished her coffee, 'Either way, I'm charging you for that idea.' She winked and stood up. 'Goodbye!'

Ban glared at her as she exited the Honky Tonk, muttering under his breath. Then he reached for his wallet and opened it. He looked for some money and looked at Ginji. 'You got any money..?' he asked, 'I don't have enough to buy Himiko's bouquet.'

Natsumi's eyes brightened. 'So you're really going to carry out my idea?' she asked excitedly. Ban nodded. 'Hai.'

Natsumi squealed loudly. 'This is the best thing that could possibly happen!' she exclaimed and ran into the kitchen for Lord knows what reason.

Ginji turned to Ban. 'I'm so proud of you.' he said. Ban shrugged and took a sip of his coffee.

Sooner he got that task off his back and Himiko as his girlfriend, the better. Those three words were getting to him.