T ime line : FOR TIME IS THE EMENY & ARMIES OF THE WITCH KING
(This time line has NOTHING to do with STRENGTH Arc and canon time lines)
Pre GB :When Ban met Raitei for the first time : Story : THE SAFE HARBOUR - RAITEI POV : Armies of the Witch King
September 8th 2008 :Janis visits the Honky Tonk releasing Ban's Magic : Story : Time is the enemy
March 6th to 8th 2009 : Ginji is kidnapped by EarthSea : Story : Get back Control of the Raitei (part 1 to 3)
March 8th & 9th 2009: Ban in hospital : Story : the limit to giving
March 15th 2009 : Ban and the Raitei at the dam. Story : A good dream
March 21st 2009 : A Chibi Interlude (or HELP!!! CHIBI"S Hi-jacked my story)
March 21 & 22 2009 : Ban and Akabane share a weekend. Story : In the Jackal's den
May 2009 : The Nagas join the witch king's army. Story : Toshiki's Journey : Armies of the Witch King
July 2009 : The GetBackers retrieve the soul of the Sliver Fist and received a vow of loyalty from them
September 2009 : The GetBackers in the Amazon Jungle
December 2009 : The GetBackers in Australia
February 2010 : The Omniyogi meet the Witch King
April 2nd- -5th 2010 : The GetBackers and the Leviathans . Story : Secrets of the Atlantic pt 1 & 2: Armies of the Witch King.
May 20th 2010 : Ban's German Witch clan swears allegiance. Story : Female retaliation : Keeping secrets is not good for the health.
July 29th : Scene at the Honky Tonk : Current story : Duality
August 8th : Current story Gbs in China : Duality part 1
Prelude
Duality in the Self is never considered a benefit. In certain matters having only one is the best model. One body, one heart, one mind and one soul. But then sometimes trauma splits a person. Then you have two minds in one body, and usually you end up in the psychiatric ward under heavy medication and close care.
However when the personality split in the Infinity Fortress, the beings that formed were one of pure power dedicated to destruction of all that caused pain and fear in the world, and the other one that maintained his innate kindness and strength. 2 beings separate in mind, heart and physical characteristics formed. One protected and maintained the sanity of the other in the face of ceaseless attacks from the Belt line. As time progressed the two separated further and further, becoming more distinctive and different the original host was subsumed by the dominating power of the Raitei. The gentle soul was almost lost, in a sea of electricity and pain.
And then he came, a being of grace, and beauty, of power and strength. One that finally dominated the dominator and in doing so freed the inner self, channeling strength and power to the then weaker self and forging a new future for both. Ban Midou and Ginji Amano became the GetBackers and the Raitei was sent to sleep in the depths of Ginji's psyche only awakening in times of extreme stress or in the bowels of Infinity Fortress, only subservient to eyes of depthless blue.
Then in the highest floors of the Beltline the Raitei met the Voodoo King in single combat. The Raitei sacrificed himself, destroying the Voodoo King and allowing Ginji to emerge the victor.
And most had rejoiced Ginji was free. Ginji himself had moaned the loss, and in the entire world only one other had missed the Raitei. He had always seen the weakness and loneliness that had been the Raitei and Ban Midou had missed that part of his partner, though he hadn't admitted it – even to himself.
Then the Witch King had awakened.
And all that witnessed the awakening realized that power was required. And deep within Ginji, something sleeping had been protected by the boy, and the seed of the Raitei grew. Only now it was separate, and in pain, death had split not just the psyche but the souls in two. And now the duality was complete, 2 souls in one body.
The EarthSea had kidnapped Ginji and prematurely awakened the Raitei to his full power. Ban Midou had gentled the Raitei, merged with him and removed the loneliness that was the Raitei bringing colour into his colourless existence. And through the love Ban had for them both - Ginji and the Raitei finally merged and created a unique and satisfying duality that made the being of the Ginji/Raitei all the more dangerous.
Allies knew this and rejoiced.
Enemies knew this and plotted.
2012 was fast approaching the army of the Witch King gathered momentum and members. The enemy noted the growing power and as overconfident as they were the decided that some action needed to be taken. It was noted that the Generals in the army of the king may be the most vulnerable point, as the king without them was foolish enough to fight the battle on his own. And of the two the duality of one made him the easier target.
The air in the Honky Tonk was rather strangled; it had been for the last 3 weeks or so. The strange thing was that the two main people involved Natsumi and Ginji were the most relaxed about it. Their relationship had died a rather natural death. Ginji had been too busy with the GetBackers and WitchKing business and as a result Natsumi and he had drifted apart. By mutual consensus they had decided to split up officially, and two days ago Natsumi had accepted an invitation to dinner with a certain whip wielding denizen of Infinity Fortress. Paul had been expecting an explosion of electricity ever since then, but had been shocked when nothing had happened. Instead the two seemed rather content and Ginji was very supportive of the date, to the extent of commenting on outfits and places to go.
Ban was rather surprised by the maturity of his partner's reaction, but Ginji refused to talk to him about it and Ban respected that – sort of. When Ban pressed him, Ginji had responded by asking about Ban's active sex life, effectively shutting up the Jagan user. Ban smiled, his face softened and his eyes glowed as he looked at his partner, with all the powers he had as the WitchKing; Ginji still wrapped him around his little finger.
A rise of dark energy suddenly came from the doorway, and everyone snapped to attention, the Jackal stood at the doorway, his eyes small, chilling and murderous as he stared into the room, the waves of murderous energy were aimed at the blonde GetBacker. Ban rose slowly to his feet, as Ginji eeep'ed and ducked behind his partner; the Chibi clung to Ban's knee. "Kourodo, what the fuck is your problem?" Ban snapped.
Akabane seemed to catch himself, his amethyst eyes widened and he forced himself to act relaxed. "Hihi, why nothing lover, it's just been a long day." Ban didn't respond; he stared impassively at Akabane as the Jackal came to stand before him. Ban reached out with his right hand, curling it around Akabane's slim neck; with his thumb he tilted the Jackal's head exposing his neck. Deliberately in an act of obvious dominance Ban slowly lowered his head; sank his teeth into the line of the jugular, licking and sucking the pale skin at his leisure. At first the Jackal, fought it, not overtly of course - as he stood unmoving before Ban. But covertly, his muscles tensed and rejecting. The point where Ban's lips touched his skin and the slight pain of his teeth however sent waves of uncontrollable pleasure through the Jackal, the energy that was Ban, seeping into Akabane's being. With a sign that was only heard by Ban, the Jackal submitted. His head dropped further offering more of himself to Ban's domination. His length hardened painfully and he surrendered to his chosen master.
Akabane could accept Ban Midou's sexual exploits with the Raitei, and the deals that he had made with other beings of power, But Ginji.. Ginji. While Ginji was with Natsumi, everything had been fine, but now.. Somehow the thought of Ginji unfettered by a relationship caused the Jackal to howl in anger. He had wanted the blonde to disappear, it had been too much. Akabane's rage had built in the last 3 weeks to uncontrollable levels… or so he had thought. In one act, Ban had proved how little he knew himself.
Akabane could not remember the last time Ban claimed him so openly, so thoroughly. In one simple act, Ban had reduced the rage to Zero, had reminded him that he was controlled, that he was owned. The dominating power of the WitchKing was Akabane's ultimate drug, and he wanted it, needed it and loved it utterly. Akabane knew he had crossed a line, Ban Midou would stand no threat to Ginji Amano, Ban's lips on the slim column of Akabane's neck were comprehensively driving home his place in the food chain. And only utter submission soothed the irritated WitchKing.
Ban raised his head, Glittering sapphire orbs met violet eyes, the message was given and received comprehensively, Ban's eyes lit with satisfaction, "Mine" he said softly and drew the Jackal to him for a long through kiss.
All across the cafe partners drew together, knees crossed and uncrossed, thighs squirmed, as blood flushed to extremities in response to the sexual energy being released by the WitchKing.
"Ban-chan" Ginji whimpered. Ban broke away, smiling, he took his seat, Ginji scrambling to sit next to him, while Akabane with a small salute, turned and glided out of the Cafe into the cool night. His time would come later.
Paul expelled a long sigh of relief, his Cafe was saved.
---**---
10 days later, Ban, Ginji, Akabane and Himiko found themselves in China tasked with retrieving and transporting 3 pieces of Dragon jewellery from 3 temples in Southern China to a major ancient temple in the Heart of the Chinese Mountains. The GetBackers and Transporter teams had been hired for the mission. Toshiki had been left out on account of problems that he had committed to handle for MakubeX.
The mission was pretty straight forward. The GetBackers went to the temples and handed the head priest a seal that they had been given by the client, and the priests seemed almost relived to hand them the iron boxes that contained the jewelery. Ginji had of course wanted to look in the box, but Ban remembering a certain Venus arms incident had absolutely forbidden the idiot from meddling until they got paid.
The danger came when they left the temples, and those who had heard of the movement of ancient jewelery had perused them. The reason for 2 teams was that they had to handle the matter in utmost discretion, the involvement if the Red Army was the last thing anybody wanted. In the end both Ginji and Akabane ended up unhappy as both their methods were declared too obvious and attention catching. Ban and Himiko ended up handling most of the fights. Still they were not a major threat, and the trip turned into more of a fun jaunt then anything. Akabane and Himiko surprised the GetBackers by singing complex duets together, making Ban's fingers itch for his violin. Ginji made up silly games that had everyone relaxing and enjoying themselves.
Himiko, Akabane and Ban took turns driving the rented car and sleeping. After he had almost ran them off the road twice for looking at interesting sights instead of the road, Ginji had been consigned to the back seat permanently.
After two days of driving, fighting and sleeping they had all three jewelery boxes and were heading for the main temple. It was late night and Himiko was driving, Ban and Ginji were snoring lightly in the back. Himiko observed Akabane watching Ban in the rear view mirror.
"You have changed Jackal, since I first knew you." She observed.
"HiHi! Yes, it has been quite a ride hasn't it Lady Poison, I got to witness myself at a 100% only to see that limit being pushed much higher then before." Akabane replied
"Yes, but I did not mean in Battle. We all understand Ban and Raitei after the EathSea incident, but you and Ban.. I can't even comprehend your relationship. No one can." She said.
"Huh! That is not quite true Himiko-san, Ginji-kun understands all too well." Akabane said with a snap.
"Jackal," Himiko said very carefully, "are you jealous of Ginji? Why? You know it's almost impossible for the WitchKing to be faithful to you – you have even encouraged him to sleep with others in the name of cementing loyalties. Ginji and he don't even have that kind of relationship."
"Do they not? It is not only I who has changed Himiko-san. The rest of you choose to ignore changes until they are right in front of you, but that has never been my style."
"Akabane, what.."
"Lady Poison, his sister or not, my relationship with Ban-Midou is not really your concern. I will only say that no matter his relationship with any other, I will not surrender my position." Akabane said in a flat voice.
A hand curled around the Jackal and slipped under his jacket. Curious blue eyes blinked sleepily over Akabane's shoulder, "I doubt I'd allow you to anyway, Kuroudo. I just caught that last bit, what is going on?
"Nothing Ban, just a chat." Himiko sighed as the Jackal relaxed into Ban's touch and made no effort to respond to the question. Ban raised an eyebrow but let the matter rest. Himiko changed the subject "So anything WitchKingy, about this mission, we seem to be in the clear so far."
"WitchKingy…" Ban winched. "I'm going back to sleep." He leaded back next to Ginji and did just that.
Akabane smiled, "He sensed the tone of our discussion, in close quarters it is inevitable."
"It seems to always be about Ban these days." Himiko said in an irritated voice.
"Yes, and its because most of what he does is for other people, but rest assured Himiko-chan if Ban Midou had ceded the position of champion to another, it would all be about them. It is only because he has surrendered himself to this destiny is he the focus of the War in 2012." Akabane stated in a soft voice, Akabane knew that most would never be able to appreciate how hard it was for Ban to allow destiny to rule his life to such an extent.
Everything said and done, Ban was still human, and still achingly young. Akabane had noticed recently that the sheer stress of forces congregation around the WitchKing sat very, very heavily on slim shoulders. Ban was absorbing energies, growing and changing, how he maintained his humanity was one thing that fascinated the Jackal. Akabane admitted that power had corrupted him thoroughly. One reason Ban had captivated him from the start because he had so much delicious power and yet had never been corrupted by it. Initially Ban had held power lightly, had sought to hide it and repress it. Now however the power of the WicthKing was like a beacon, it had to be to draw the armies to its Sovereign.
This exponential growth of power experienced by the WitchKing however came at a price, one that Ban Midou paid. Akabane had seen its impact, Ban tried to act normal, but now it seemed that every night even when not on a mission, he would collapse to sleep at night totally drained, his delicious strength totally gone in service to the needs of the WitchKing and his armies. He did much more then he ever told anyone, and Akabane knew that the only reason that Ban was maintaining his humanity at this time was not because of the Raitei or himself, but because of Ginji, it always came back to Ginji.
---
The explosion threw the car into a roll. It turned turtle and burned red hot. The wielder of the bazooka smiled in success, he and his team had seen none leave the car.
"That's a good fire.",
"Damn it, does this mean we are going to lose the deposit.",
"I grabbed the jewel bag, but Oh no! I lost the sushi – it was sooo good."
"Hmm its interesting that you are so slow?"
Casual voices said behind them. The group turned to see the 4 standing behind them leaning against the trees. "W..whh..what do you mean slow?" the leader of the party said in response to the last statement.
"Why slow to notice that you are dead of course." Akabane said as the team of six, exploded into pieces of flesh and blood. The others turned with no comment, Akabane's blood lust from not fighting had been on the rise, and he had needed this little release.
They looked at the temple hidden at the top of the hill in the forest. Smoke suddenly rose from it and sounds of battle reached their ears. "Looks like the mission is finally getting interesting." Himiko said. "Lets move."
The 4 ran forward. Private soldiers and mercenaries sought to attack the group by the dozens, however the passing of the group seemed to knock out the attackers, without any attacks that the enemy were aware of.
As they neared the temple 4 hooded figures stood in their way, a wave of force shook the earth and a shock blast had the 4 jumping into the air. "Elemental fighters, interesting!" Akabane noted. "Or it would be if they weren't so weak." He said with a sigh. His bloody sword sticking out through their main attacker. Himiko flaming the water wielder, had to nod in agreement. Ban who had sent the wind wielder flying, was trying to measure if he had made a new personal best, and Ginji had taken out the flame wielder with at an electrical punch in the gut. 'They should take lessons, really." He muttered.
Screams that shook the ground resounded out of the temple. A spiral of amazing energy was released and the air itself seemed to tear from the force. The 4 sprinted, Ban's snake-bit the huge 20 foot gate, smashing it, without pause the 4 raced in to the temple.
A thunderous crash and a tremendous bolt of lightning had three of them scattering. "Ginji! You Idiot!" Ban yelled. "It wasn't me Ban-chan." Ginji said standing unaffected by the blast, he looked healthier then ever. The bag of boxes he had been carrying however didn't do so well it had burst open and the jewelery pieces fell to the ground. They glowed, like magnets were drawn to each other, with a flash of intense green a 3 ringed crown fell to the ground.
Another flash of blue, and a small dragon scooped up the crown and flew with tremendous speed to the temple, even as lighting, acid and fire rained down on the group. They dodged the attack, and saw 4 humongous Chinese dragons in the sky. Akabane didn't hesitate; he went after the largest dragon that attacked with the power of the storm. Himiko neutralized the acid sprayed at her, as she accelerated to attack the Green acid spitter. "Ginji the jewels." Ban yelled as he took on the dragons of fire and ice.
Ginji ran after the red dragon, ignoring the wall of electricity that it had left to halt its pursuers. Colour leeched from a brown eye, as the Raitei awakened and Ginji's speed fed by the lightning had him in the temple in a flash. In time to see the Dragon toss the circuit into a strange black room, he was moving at such speed that he failed to hear an agonized scream of warning (LIGHTNING LORD DON'T) as he plunged through the door as was immediately engulfed by a ripping but short lived pain.
"Ginji" Ban gasped as he felt the short lived burst of pain. His senses told him Ginji was alive, alright for the most part.. but something was wrong. Something else whispered at him, as he dodged and damaged the attacks, he 'heard' a plea, a cry, an echo of something. He glanced at the Strom Dragon that was being pushed to death's door by Akabane's attacks, and suddenly understood. He averted his hand from killing the ice dragon even as he yelled, "Don't kill them, they are being controlled! Knock them out!"
Then it was over. 4 unconscious dragons dropped to the earth. "I am most pleased Ban-kun, they had attacked you but I was lax in my duty" Akabane said stroking the stout of his unconscious dragon, "I truly did not wish to see such magnificent creatures dead." Himiko stared at the Jackal. "Did you wish to see them dead then lady poison?"
"Err.. No" Himiko said, blinking in surprise.. the Jackal was a hard one to understand.
Ban was already running, the two quickly followed. At the sanctum of the temple an individual fought a myriad of smaller dragons protecting the Priests who stood at the base of the alter.
With twin blades of fire and ice, the man blocked, protected and deflected the attacks of the dragons. He was highly skilled at it was obvious he too was attempting not to kill the dragons while protecting the priests. Ban, Akabane and Himiko joined the battle; the priests gasped in surprise at the speed to which the battle was over. However there were roars from outside, followed by a pounding that shook the foundations of the temple, indicating the 4 major dragons had awakened and were trying to make their way in.
The Head priest pointed at a glowing ball at the top of the temple, "That must be destroyed it is allowing the dragons to be controlled." He shouted. They noticed at a high ceiling was a glowing swirling ball of red and blue light, the ball swirled malevolently. The dual wielding warrior leapt up to slash at it only to be thrown back and through the wall by an unseen force. Himiko was about to launch a flame attack, when Akabane put a hand on her shoulder. "Any attack we make will only bounce back, Lady Poison. This is not our battle." He said softly with a wealth of sadness in his voice. Himiko turned and her eyes widened as she glanced at Ban, no not at Ban.. but at the WitchKing. Magic and power flowed around him as he chanted in a language Himiko did not recognize, superimposed on Ban's clothes were the vestments of a witch but much more elaborate then Himiko remembered and the scars that were usually hidden gleamed on his skin showing through the cloth.
He didn't attack the orb, instead he lifted off the ground and floated toward it, the orb seemed to reach hungrily for the power that was the WitchKing. Himiko choked back a cry as the energy suddenly oozed out surrounding the Jagan user. The priests' cried out as well, and Himiko's heart clenched. The energies seemed to consume Ban, his head arched back in a silent scream as the energies invaded him and sought to tear him apart. Inside his body, like eating air, and drinking heat, he slowly drew the energies into him and tamed them, absorbed them and refined them. His will was his greatest asset, and he forced the subjugation of the energies, instead of attacking him, slowly and painfully it became part of him. The energy disappeared and Ban's body still shuddering in agony, tumbled out of the air.
Strong lean arms caught Ban in a gentle bride-style embrace. Holding him gently as he landed on lite feet. Ban blinked in surprise and immediately embarrassed scrambled to stand. He swayed though and Akabane stood close allowing Ban to lean against him. A hand loosely around his waist supporting him casually.
The dragons all seemed to awaken at once, they looked around, nodded at Ban and then they slowly disappeared.
"We thank you greatly young man, we were trapped even with Chu QingLong's assistance, but what you did... who are you?" The head priest said addressing the GetBacker.
"Ban Midou of the GetBackers." Ban said
"He's the WitchKing, champion of 2012." Akabane added earning a sideways glare of disgust from Ban.
The priests drew their breathe and as one bowed, "Forgive us for not recognizing you Midou-heika." the address had Himiko choking back a laugh as she anticipated her brother's irritated snap.
"Midou-san just san. Where is Ginji? I sense he's fine did that directional retard get lost again?"
This drew a sharp sound from QuinLong, who knelt before Ban crossing his swords before him. "The swords of Chu QunLong are in your service Midou-domo, the Lightning Lord went after the Tri-jade crown and is now trapped in a pocket dimension, I attempted to stop him but he moved too fast."
"Raitei-kun can shred dimensional wall, even Ginji-kun can." Akabane said in a puzzled voice, "Why have they not returned."
"It is possible that they cannot" A slightly hissing voice came from behind them, in reverent tones the priests fell to their knees before the new comer. A humanoid of blue and silver walked in, long flowing hair and charms graced the slim elegant form. He or she it was impossible to tell, smiled fondly at Akabane. "I thank you for not taking my life, Warrior, thought it would have been an honor to fall to someone of such battle skill and integrity."
Akabane was non-pulsed for a split second, before he smiled and bowed deeply. "You were only losing, as a part of you was not entirely committed to battle, Storm-Dragon-sama and the honor was entirely mine."
The dragon frowned at him, "While I appreciate your actions, it ill befits a General of the army to bow before one of the Lieutenants, especially now. The dragon, did not bow to Ban, instead it glided up to him,resuming the form of a serpentine dragon of much smaller dimensions then before it wrapped itself around Ban and faced him. Ban leaned his head so that their foreheads touched, sealing the contract between them. Energy from Ban going into the dragon. It returned to the humanoid form resting in Ban's embrace against his chest.
"Forgive my weakness WitchKing, but the return of my magic to this level after such a long period of famine is intoxicating. You are very kind to place such trust in us when we were attacking you, but moments ago." The dragon said its head resting on Ban shoulder. Ban humphed without saying anything, it was an all too common a scenario to deserve comment.
The dragon slowly pulled away, "Unfortunately it seems our enemy has succeeded in their intentions this time, and we have lost a General."
"What the Fuck." Ban swore.
---
Cliff hanger--- Will up-date soon I swear. Hehehe! Hope you like this please r&r.