A/N: Two in one day! I love this story!! I hope people are actually reading it. Oh, and I'm currently reading the manga, but I can't be entirely sure if the info I want is in there specifically, unless anyone can help me. Oh, and Cauryn, you'd better read it this time!!!

Mysterious Stranger

"It's been awhile, Kuroudo." she muttered. Akabane nodded. "It certainly has. Going on five years, now." he said.

"Yes. And even without the pressures of the passed time, I can still see that you're the same cold-blooded killer you were then."

Ginji and Ban followed their conversation until Ban finally threw his hands up. "Do you mind telling me what's going on here!? What happened to the fox, who are you, why did you just slaughter that guy, why can you do what Akabane does and how does this all fit together!?" he yelled, gasping. The woman stared at him through his rant, only speaking once he'd finished.

"Are you quite done? Good. Well, I'll be going, then."

She turned and the second they blinked, she was gone, vanished into thin air. Ban just stared at where she'd been standing and yelled in frustration. "Why didn't she answer any of my questions!?"

Ginji glanced over at Akabane, gazing up into the sky with a strangely solemn look on his face. "Hey, Mr. Akabane," Ginji said cautiously. "Did you know her?"

"Yes, as a matter of fact, I do know her."

"Was she the one who summoned that fox?"

"She didn't summon the fox, my dear Ginji Amano, she was the fox."

Ginji's eyes went wide and he gasped, "So is that what you meant when you said that's her trump card?"

"Correct."

"So who is she?" Ginji asked. Akabane just pulled the rim of his hat down and sighed. "I do believe I'm feeling the effects of passing time." he mumbled.

"Huh?"

Akabane smiled wryly. "I actually don't feel like fighting right now. How about we take a rain check on it, hm?"

And with that, he wandered toward the gate, disappearing in the gloom of smoke from the smoldering shrine. Ban and Ginji watched him go, not noticing as Himiko picked her way through the rubble and came to stand beside them. "What happened? Where's he going?" she asked.

"He said he doesn't feel like fighting." Ginji said. Himiko's jaw dropped. She grabbed Ginji by the arm, her eyes wild. "He actually said that!?"

"What's the big deal?" Ginji asked. "He doesn't feel like fighting. I don't either."

"No, you don't get it. Kuroudo Akabane lives to fight his enemies! It's the sole purpose he became a transporter!"

Ginji paled and whirled to Ban. "So now what?"

"First things first," Ban said, staring off in the direction Akabane had gone. "We find out who that woman was. If she was really that fox that obliterated this place, she might be dangerous. We need to be prepared if we ever run into her again. Plus, she had a similar ability to Akabane's, so we'll need to figure out what's up with that."

"I could do that," Himiko said, "I could tap into my sources and get more info."

"Really? Thanks, Himiko." Ban said. She frowned. "I'm not doing it for you, Ban, I'm doing it so I can find out what the heck just happened to Jackal. This isn't like him."

"From the sounds of it, they knew or know each other." Ginji said. "Plus, Akabane seemed to know quite a bit about her before she even revealed herself. He knew how to avoid her in the fox form. He wasn't afraid of her either."

"Don't forget; she protected him from that thing that guy summoned. I'll bet it was an illusion of some kind, but it was real enough for me. In any case, I think, from the looks of your truck over there, Himiko, it's safe to say this job is canceled."

Himiko whirled to look at the truck. Maguruma, the driver, was stumbling around in front of it as it burned to the ground, the contents destroyed. Himiko sighed in defeat. "Damn it. Now what?"

"Now, we explain to our clients what happened and hope they believe us."

//ooo//

Ban and Ginji sat in a booth at the Honky Tonk with their heads in their arms on the table, moaning. Their client hadn't taken the news well and refused to pay them even the initial deposit. They were flat broke once again. They'd tried to explain about the giant fire fox, but their client had only gotten madder, saying if they were going to fail a job, they may as well tell the truth and hope for mercy.

"I'm so hungry." Ginji whined.

"Me too, but thinking about it is just gonna make it worse. Man, I hate that fox-lady."

"Yeah, me too. She sure was pretty, though. You know, I wonder how she and Akabane knew each other."

Ban pulled his cell phone out and slid it across the table. "I've been waiting for a call from Himiko, but nothing so far. At this point, we're stuck because no one can back up our story except for Akabane and like hell he'd stand up for us."

"We could try." Ginji suggested.

"No way." Ban growled. Ginji sighed. "It was just a suggestion."

The door's bells jingled, announcing a customer. Natsumi looked up and smiled. "Welcome to the Honky Tonk." she said. "Table for one?"

Ban and Ginji looked up and they both yelled simultaneously.

"It's her!"

The woman from the night before had come inside and allowed Natsumi to show her to a table.

"May I get you anything?" Natsumi asked.

"Yes, actually. I'd like some iced tea, please." the woman said quietly. In the bright of day, she looked even more like a spirit than before. She was pale as chalk, but didn't necessarily look unhealthy. It may have been her natural skin tone. In the daylight, her hair was pure black with no sign of the auburn tint it had had before and incredibly long; an inch or so past her hips. She wore a long sleeved white sweater and a long brown skirt. She also wore a white thin ribbon tied around her neck. She wasn't a particularly beautiful woman, but she carried an aura of inner beauty. She also didn't wear makeup which somehow made her seem even younger looking.

Natsumi brought her tea over and set it on the table. "Will that be all?"

"Yes, thank you. I'm meeting someone here." the woman answered. Her voice was mellow, but melodically smooth. It wasn't too high or too low, but a comfortable in between. She stirred a packet of sweetener into her tea and took a sip. Ban and Ginji stared at her from across the room and Paul noticed.

"Guys, quit ogling the customers." he muttered. The woman glanced up at Ban and Ginji, who both squeaked and returned to their previous positions of staring hard at the wood finishing. The woman smiled and chuckled.

Ban blinked and cast occasional glances at her.

"Hey, Ginji," he hissed.

"Yeah?"

"I don't know about you, but she's kinda weirding me out."

"I know what you mean. I keep thinking about that similar move she used, the one like Akabane has. You know, where she summons knives out of her body."

Ban nodded and frowned as the woman gazed out the window, lost in thought.

"Yeah. Maybe she's a relative or something."

Natsumi wandered over and sighed. "Not such a busy morning, huh?" she said. "So, I heard you guys had a rough night."

"Yeah, you can say that again." Ginji grumbled. "We didn't get paid and we'll be lucky if that shrine owner doesn't track us down and sue us for burning the thing to the ground."

"You burnt down a shrine?" Natsumi exclaimed. "You know that's bad luck, right?"

"We know, we know. Like our luck couldn't get any worse." Ban snapped.

"How did you burn down a shrine?" Natsumi asked.

"We didn't. That giant flaming fox did." Ban grumbled. "Akabane saw it and so did Himiko. But no one believes us so we can't prove it."

"That's tough luck boys, but that's also life." Paul called over to them as he dried some glasses. Ban sighed and looked over at that odd woman again. She had a small stack of photos out and was flipping through them. Her glass of tea was almost empty already so Natsumi went over there, ignoring Ban's irritated glances.

"Can I get you a refill?" she asked.

"Huh? Oh yes, but this time just water." the woman said, putting the pictures down beside her. Natsumi tilted her head. "What were you looking at?" she asked.

"Oh, just some pictures of my little ones." the woman replied with a smile. Natsumi smiled back. "Oh, your kids?"

"Oh no, not at all. I'm actually single. No, my little ones are my cats, Miki and Yuki. They're Maine Coons, but they act like children, so I call them my little ones."

"May I see?" Natsumi asked. The woman chuckled. "Absolutely. Here." she said, handing her the pictures. Natsumi leafed through them, cooing at the adorable things the cats were doing.

"They're gorgeous. You said they're Maine Coons? What is that, exactly?"

"They're the second most popular cat breed, just behind Persians," the woman explained. "No one knows their true origins, but it's believed the vikings brought them to America from their homelands and from there, they spread around the world. People originally believed that domestic cats were mixing with wild racoons, a biologically impossible feat. Maine Coons aren't like ordinary cats, though."

"Really? How are they different?" Natsumi asked.

"They love water, for instance. Every guide book warns you to shut and lock your door when you take a bath or a shower; they'll jump right in with you. But the biggest difference is how big they can get. Miki weighs fifteen and a quarter pounds and Yuki weighed in last week at twenty-one pounds on the dot."

"That's incredible! But isn't that unhealthy?" Natsumi said. The woman shook her head. "No, that's natural. Miki and Yuki are brother and sister, so naturally Yuki's bigger than Miki is. They're extremely muscular cats. But they're so friendly and have different personalities."

"They sound so cute." Natsumi said as the front door opened again. She turned. "Oh, good afternoon, Miss. Hevn." she called. Hevn smiled and made her way inside, glaring at the Get Backers. "Afternoon, Natsumi," she said sweetly. "All right boys, what's this I hear about the two of you burning down a shrine last night?"

"I keep telling people, it wasn't us!" Ginji whined.

"Don't give me that. The priest on duty last night said a bunch of people were fighting in the courtyard. He says he left to go call the police and when he came back, his shrine was burning to the ground."

"But he must have seen the flaming fox!" Ban exclaimed. Hevn raised an eyebrow. "Hey Paul, get these boys some sandwiches on me. They're hallucinating from hunger."

Ban jumped up and slammed his fist down on the table. "We're hungry, but we're not hallucinating! A giant flaming fox fought this giant lizard being controlled by a guy in a black cloak! The fox kills the lizard and then disappears and then, well, ask her!" he yelled, pointing to the woman across the room. She looked up and smiled. "Ask me what?" she said.

"You were the fox, weren't you?" Ginji said hopefully. "Please tell me I'm right and didn't just dream it!"

Hevn smacked them both over the heads. "You dorks! How dare you go and blame your mistakes on some woman sitting in the restaurant!?"

"Um," the woman muttered. Hevn glanced up as she got out of her seat and slowly made her way over. "Actually, Miss. Hevn, they're telling the truth."

Hevn's eyes widened. "What?"

"That fiery fox was my ultimate ability. In fact, that's my nickname in the assassination world. The Fire Fox."

"Assassination world?" Ban and Ginji both exclaimed. "Then that means that you-"

"Own and operate my own assassination service." the woman said with a bow. Ban and Ginji's jaws dropped and Hevn folded her arms with a sigh. "Well, had I known that you were the fox they were talking about, I wouldn't have clobbered them-much." she said. "I suppose you're Ms. Miyazaki?"

"Yes, I am." the woman said, shaking Hevn's hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you."

"Likewise. I'm glad to see you could make it. These two bubble-brains over here are the famous Get Backers, Ban Midou and Ginji Amano."

Ms. Miyazaki's eyes widened a fraction at Ginji's name. "Ah, the famous Lightning Emperor. I've heard a lot about you." she said. "But I expected you to look much tougher than this."

Ginji plunked his head down on the table. Hevn shook her head and turned to Ms. Miyazaki. "I assume you received my fax?"

"Yes. A double-header for tonight at six-thirty sharp at the theater. I read through it this morning. Targets are Masato Tachibana and Naruyuki Inoue, wanted assassinated, but made to look like a heart attack and or stroke."

"Exactly. My client has put a lot of faith in your shooting abilities."

"Oh, I don't use guns," Ms. Miyazaki said. "Not during secret affairs like this. I use my special secret weapon."

"And what would that be?" Hevn asked.

"It's a secret." Ms. Miyazaki said tauntingly. "I'd better go get prepared. It's a showing of Macbeth tonight, so I'd better go all out."

"Are you going to need an escort?" Hevn suggested.
"Let me see what conditions for the job will be like and I'll let you know. Well, I'd better be off, then. I'll see you soon, Get Backers." she said, heading out the door.

"She was nice." Natsumi said. "But she seemed awfully sad about something."

"Hey, Hevn," Ban said suspiciously. "Don't tell me she's one of your regulars."

"She's fairly new to Shinjuku. Up until now, I'd only ever spoken to her on the phone. But the rumor is that her destructive abilities rival those of Kuroudo Akabane."

"What!?" Ban exclaimed, leaping to his feet.

"I agree," Ginji said, "I find it extremely hard to believe that a pretty, sweet lady like that is capable of what that monster Dr. Jackal does."

"The prettier and sweeter she is, the less she'll be suspected as an assassin." Hevn said. "I don't know very much about her, but I do know that her grandmother died six years ago and she lives alone in her old condominium on the outskirts of town. Most of the info about her is nothing but a pack of rumors, but the juiciest one is that she was once a resident of the upper floors of the Limitless Fortress."

"Babylon City?" Ginji gasped. "Ms. Miyazaki? A resident of Babylon City?"

"That's the rumor. From her resume, she's certainly qualified to have been at one point. She's a quick and efficient killer."

"The polar opposite of Akabane." Ginji mumbled, remembering Jackal's slaughter of the interception service the night before.

"Oh," Ban said, "Hey, that's right. Do you know if she actually knows Akabane?"

"Not sure. Why?" Hevn asked.

"Last night after she returned to human form, she addressed Akabane by his first name as though she'd known him for a long time."

Hevn frowned. "Really? That's interesting. I'll look into it for you and see what I get." she said.

"Thanks. Himiko's working on it too, but only because Jackal freaked her out last night."

Hevn raised an eyebrow. "Himiko's hard to scare. What'd he do?"

"He said he didn't feel like fighting."

Hevn's jaw dropped this time and she stared, dumbfounded. "Woah. I wonder if he's sick or something?" she muttered.

"Who knows? But Ms. Miyazaki can do similar stuff as Akabane and we're wondering if maybe they're relatives or something."

Hevn frowned. "I'll check some of my sources. This is worrisome. Paul, you up for helping me?"

"I've been on it for a few minutes now," Paul said, typing away on his laptop. "And I've got a lead on Ms. Miyazaki, anyway."

"Lets' hear it."

"Her full name is Kannaya Miyazaki, originally from Hokkaido. According to this publicly posted blog about her, she was pursuing a career in art when she suddenly quit in the middle of her sophomore year at Tokyo University and became an underworld assassin for hire."

"Does it say why she quit?"

"No reasons were given." Paul said.

"Hm," Hevn murmured, tapping her chin. "All right, pull her up in the Japanese list of accounted for assassins."

Everyone waited with baited breath. Paul scanned the screen, searching for anything that could be of any use. Finally, he hummed.

"Well?" Hevn asked.

"It isn't much better. I've got an old photo of her and it tells her current age and blood type. Not much for bio, though."

"Tell us anyway."

"Lets' see...parents killed in a terrorist attack fifteen years before...no surviving family members, current residence, Shinjuku, blood type A, preferred weapon of choice...huh?"

"What?" Hevn probed. Paul raised an eyebrow. "It says info unavailable. I guess she never filed a preference. Okay, here's the last bit. She's twenty-seven years of age and her nickname is just like she said, The Fire Fox."

"Twenty-seven? She looks way younger than that." Ginji said. Hevn sighed. "Okay, now pull up hers and Akabane's names together and lets' see what we get."

Paul typed furiously, growing just as curious as the rest of them. But finally, after ten minutes of searching, he sat back and sighed. "Nothing." he said. "I only get info on one or the other and it isn't much."

Hevn hummed. "Okay, we'll have to try a different route. We'll keep searching and let you know what we find, boys." Hevn said. "I'll be going now. I'll be back at around nine to check up with Ms. Miyazaki and-"

The phone in her pocket began to ring suddenly. She pulled it out. "Hello, this Hevn... Oh, wow, that was quick. So you need an escort after all? Right. I think I've got just the man. Okay, I'll have him meet you at the theater tonight. Okay, thanks. Bye now."

Hevn hung up and whirled to the Get Backers. "Which of you lucky gents wants to escort a lovely lady tonight?" she asked. Ban and Ginji stared at her in disbelief. Hevn sighed irritably. "Listen you bean-brains, Ms. Miyazaki called the client and asked him if an escort would help her blend in. He recommended she take an escort because you don't usually see single women attending theater, especially in a private box. One of you has to go with her tonight and if she needs any assistance, help her with the kill. Understand?"

"No way!" Ginji exclaimed. "Look, given the choice between Ms. Miyazaki and Akabane, I'd take her any day, but she still creeps me out!"

"Yeah, and besides, we don't want to be part of an assassination!" Ban said.

"Look guys, this assassination has been approved by the county legislature. These two men are terrorists planning a bomb heist next Friday. This job is dangerous, so Ms. Miyazaki was immediately called in as the best assassin money can buy. It's in a public area filled with people and this makes it extremely tricky. You two are her best chance at pulling it off undetected."

Ban and Ginji exchanged wary glances. Hevn sighed. "If you refuse, I can always dress Natsumi up as a guy and send her along."

"Fine, I'll do it." Ginji said, standing up. "Blackmailer. You know Natsumi wouldn't turn it down."

"That's right," Natsumi called over, grinning. Ginji sighed and allowed Hevn to drag him away. "I'll see you later, Ban!" he called as they left.

"Okay, Ginji," Hevn said as she pulled him along, "First, we gotta get you the right outfit."

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"Dummy, you can't just wear jeans and a T-shirt to the theater. Ms. Miyazaki will likely be in a some kind of fancy ball gown or something. She'll explain the procedure to you when you get there and-oof!"

Hevn had been looking back at Ginji while she spoke and walked into someone, causing Ginji to run into her. Hevn stepped back and laughed sheepishly. "I'm so sorry, I totally wasn't watching where I was going," she said.

"It's quite all right. You two are in quite the hurry."

Ginji froze up and yelled, hiding behind Hevn. "A-A-Akabane!" he stammered. Akabane chuckled and looked up slightly from beneath his hat, smiling. "Where might you be headed on this fine day?"

"We're going to get Ginji all fixed up for an escort assignment tonight." Hevn answered. "One of my clients hired a new assassin in town to do the job and Ginji has volunteered to help."

"Really? And who might this assassin be?"

"It's been requested that I don't reveal the name, but the rumor is that this person's skills rival yours, Jackal."

Akabane chuckled. "How delightful. I look forward to meeting this assassin." he said. "Where is the job taking place?"

"It's at the theater. The targets are attending Macbeth."

Akabane nodded in approval. "A truly memorable performance, I must say. I try to make time to see it whenever it comes to the theater."

"You?" Ginji exclaimed in shock.

"Why of course, my dear Ginji. I pride myself in my appreciation for the fine arts. Unfortunately, I'll be tied up for the remainder of its performance. I do hope you enjoy it, though."

Ginji grinned nervously, "I hope so." he said. Hevn grabbed his arm. "Well, Dr. Jackal, if you'll excuse us, we've got to run and get a tux for this neanderthal here."

Akabane chuckled. "Go right ahead. Please enjoy the show, Ginji." Akabane said as Hevn dragged him away. But as they disappeared around the corner, Ginji protesting the entire time, Akabane frowned suspiciously.