Summary: Kazuki comes to see Ginji, meets Ban for the first time. Sparks fly. What's a guy to do when Ban decides to get mischievous? B x K.

Disclaimer: I do not own get Backers. If I did, Ban would be chained to my….ahem…never mind, let's move on.

Rating: T for language and adult situations.

That Familiar Stranger

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Kazuki sipped his coffee elegantly, like everything else he did. Elegant, graceful, poised beautiful Kazuki. Never missed a beat of what was going on, anywhere, everywhere. Kazuki of the strings. Back in Mugenjou he was a legend, a force people were wary of, but here, out in the open, he was just another specialist, offering stellar services for a stellar fee. That he was a tough fighter was just an added bonus. Clients often made the mistake of underestimating the delicate string master, but it was the last mistake they ever made regarding him, the ensuing strike was too precise to be ignored.

But that was an aspect of his personality that rarely surfaced. Kazuki preferred to fight his battles in a clean manner; he did not enjoy breaking his opponents, though he could, if he wanted. He managed to satisfy his purpose by causing minimal injury to his victims. That was his way, and he wouldn't change it for the world. In fact, it always worked in his favor to have his opponents underestimate him and make some stupid mistake. Surprisingly, despite the rising number of people he dispatched to the hospital, his deadly fighting abilities were still unknown, a fact that suited him just fine.

He set the cup down on the saucer and looked around the small cafe. The place had a slightly rundown, unobtrusive air about it. Kazuki glanced at the clock. It was almost time. It had been very long since he'd seen Ginji. He sighed. Six months was too long a time to have been away.

"I want you to meet Ban-chan", his voice had crackled over the telephone. Kazuki had to strain his ears to hear him. "You will come, won't you Kazu-chan?"

"Of course I'll will Ginji. It's been too long since I saw you. And I want to see how Midou and the outside are treating you."

He hadn't been able to detect even a trace of sadness in Ginji's voice. Maybe he really was happy. Maybe this Ban Midou was better for him than any of them had ever been. Kazuki felt a rare jealous spark moving through his head. Ban Midou. That menace had just shown up one day and taken their Ginji away. In one fell stroke, he took away their Thunder Emperor and the best friend Kazuki had ever had. Of course he had Jubei, but Jubei was always something more than a friend, and something less than a lover.

He shook his head. No. He was not going to think about that again. He had tried his best to make Jubei give him what he needed but he just wasn't ready to come out of the I-live-to-serve-you-master mode. He had been pushed away too many times. He closed his eyes, willing the memories away. They were friends, friends for life, but nothing and never more than that.

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"Jubei…"

His hands cupped the blind man's face. His lips were quivering with desire and hesitation; he didn't even realize when his teeth descended into the soft flesh of his lips biting hard. Hard enough to hurt, so he'd have something apart from Jubei's blank, passive face to think about. He frowned. Why! Damn it! I'm here, I need you, I want you so much. Why…don't you just hear me…just once, listen to me…

Kazuki moved closer. They had spent too much time beating around the bush. Not anymore. Today, they would take care of this once and for all. Today he wasn't taking no for an answer. Jubei had to respond to him today, he had to! Jubei sat up, stunned. He could Kazuki's cool fingers moving pushing into his hair, his other hand skimming across his collarbone, up his neck, cupping his cheek. Jubei gasped as Kazuki smoothly ran the pad of his thumb over his lower lip.

"Kazuki! We shouldn't…"

"Jubei…just…let this happen…"

"…."

Kazuki moved his face closer and closer. Jubei shivered slightly as he felt warm breath tickling his face. The lips that claimed his were soft, and moist. His eyes widened then shut slowly as he sank deeper into the couch. Jubei almost burst with pleasure. He pulled Kazuki closer, deepening the kiss. The velvety feel of his tongue, darting in and out of his mouth, felt so right. They broke apart, eyes blazing with want. Kazuki cocked his head to the right as he gently bit his earlobe before caressing the sensitive area behind his ear with his silky tongue. He deftly maneuvered Jubei's shirt out of the way, throwing it over his shoulder, not bothering to see where it went. He smiled at Jubei's petrified expression. Wait a minute. He frowned. Petrified?

He slowly turned at a sound from the door. Please God, let it be just a stray cat or something. He stopped cold at the sight of Sakura standing bolt upright at the door, her left hand covering her mouth and her eyes wide with surprise and shock. Before either of them could react, she bolted and ran from the room.

Jubei scrambled up and away from him. "Sakura...Kazuki! I…I'm sorry. I got carried away. This, this should never have happened! I…I gotta go!"

"Jubei! Wait! What are you talking about! We both wanted this!"

Jubei took a deep breath. "I'm sorry Kazuki. I…we shouldn't. This isn't…it's just not right! I'm supposed to protect you. I can't do that with you…I…try to understand Kazuki. I can't do this…I'll go crazy."

"…"

"I'm sorry."

"…"

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He had accepted that and wasn't about to retrace his steps on a path that was closed and sealed to him. So he waited.

The café was well-lit and airy and the air was practically humming with electricity. Kazuki smiled. Ginji was coming. He could feel it. The door swung open and a little bell tinkled announcing the arrival of two young men, the blonde looked around eagerly before making his way to the counter where the delicate looking young man sat, absently swirling his spoon in his cup. The dark-haired one followed, keeping his distance, but watching the scene in front of him with intense eyes.

Ginji threw his arms around Kazuki and shouted into his ear. "Kazu-chan!! I am so happy you came, feels like it's been years!" Kazuki gagged; Ginji's arms were strangling him. He managed to pry them away from his neck and turned to face Ginji who was positively beaming with joy.

Kazuki smiled with happiness. "I'm happy I came too. It really has been too long. How have you been?" Kazuki hadn't noticed the other man yet. Just as well, had he noticed he would have been surprised. Ban leaned against the counter, his eyes fixed upon the slender man, watching his every movement, lips curving into a slow, predatory smile. Kazuki was oblivious to the studied observation of the Jagan master. He and Ginji were talking a mile a minute. Neither of them noticed as Ban shifted his gaze from one to the other.

The former rulers of the Limitless Fortress noticed their companion only when Natsumi came with more coffee and deposited it in front of Ban. Ginji looked stricken. "Ban-chan! I'm so sorry, I completely forgot about you".

"No shit. I could've died and you two wouldn't have noticed."

"I-I'm sorry" Ginji looked at Ban pleadingly, his eyes melting. Ban merely snorted and shrugged it off. Not that it would have mattered. Kazuki had drawn Ginji into conversation again, and they were both lost, in a maze of names and faces that were strange to Ban. So he settled in his seat, lit another cigarette and proceeded to memorize every contour of Fuchoin Kazuki's frame. He couldn't help it. He was just so beautiful. Ban lazily leaned back in his chair; his eyes burning into Kazuki's back, going lower...

Oh. My. God.

Bless the heavens for that ass. It was sexy…very sexy. The way he tossed his hair behind his shoulder, the way he frowned slightly when he was listening intently, the way his fingers would grip the cup when tensed, every last detail about Kazu-chan was sexy. He was like a Rubik's cube, and Ban couldn't wait to unravel him.

"Kazu-chan, you should hear Ban-chan play the violin! He's awesome!"

Ban snapped out of a number of very unmentionable thoughts involving a certain string master at the sound of his name. He looked up to find Kazuki regarding him seriously.

"Is that so? You play the violin? I had no idea."

"Yeah, it's no big deal." Ban brushed aside Ginji's adulation with a flick of his cigarette. Kazuki frowned. That moron, how can he just dismiss Ginji's praise so easily? I knew it. He's a heartless bastard. Ginji is too kind-hearted to notice slights like this but that doesn't mean he should treat him like this. Kazuki went on thinking dark thoughts about the man sitting beside him till he felt someone tug his sleeve. It was Ginji.

Kazuki looked at him, somewhat perplexed. "Yes, Ginji?"

"Ne….Kazu-chan, is everything alright?"

"Huh…sure. Why?"

"You've been looking at Ban-chan like you're mad at him for something." Ginji confusedly looked at both of his friends. He wanted them to get along. He loved them both. It would be awkward if they didn't like each other.

Kazuki felt a flush of embarrassment creep across his features. He quickly looked away and feigned a cough. He was miserably trying to fake an allergy when a cup full of steaming tea was placed in front of him. "Here. Have some tea, it'll help with your condition."

Kazuki snapped his head up to look at the person who spoke and found himself gazing into a pair of gorgeous blue orbs shaded by purple glasses. He frowned as a smirk formed across Ban's face. Bastard! He's doing this on purpose. He pursed his lips and thanked him curtly. Kazuki was pissed. He wanted to have nothing to do with this arrogant, uncouth scoundrel who had somehow brainwashed Ginji into leaving Mugenjou. In his attempt to get away from Ban Midou as quickly as possible, he picked up the cup and drained the contents of the cup in one sweep.

The idea was good, finish the cuppa and get the hell away from Ban. Just one little hitch. He started coughing violently, this time for real. Ginji yelped and ran behind the counter, looking for something; he just didn't know what.

Ban rolled his eyes. "What are you looking for in there, baka! Get into the kitchen and get a glass of water and some lemons. Hurry up!"

Kazuki keeled over, still coughing. He felt a warm touch on his back, and realized it was Ban, rubbing his back slowly. It was meant to provide relief but it just made him more jumpy. His touch was so…intimate. He jerked away. Ban stepped back and filled a clean glass with water, handing it to him.

Kazuki stared at it. "Why did you ask Ginji to go to the kitchen for? There's water here…..and what the hell were you going to do with the lemons?"

"Get Ginji out of here, what else?" Ban leaned against the counter once more, glasses perched on the bridge of his nose, his eyes trained unblinkingly on Kazuki.

"What…but why would you want to do that…."

Ban smirked. "You're not very sharp, are you?"

"What! What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing….and everything."

Author's Notes

Hope you liked it! You know the drill guys. Read and review.