Zehnte Kapitel: Ginjis Geburtstagzeit
"Jai-chan!" Ginji chirped as he gave the young woman a big rib-crushing hug as soon as he saw her.
Jaiden chuckled in amusement as the GetBackers walked into her spacious studio apartment for their weekly Sunday dinner. It had been three months since the duo's community service at Yokota Air Base, and ever since then, the young men would come by Jai's apartment for dinner and dessert, or just to have a movie night. And more often than not, the small group would spend hours around the little dinette table in the kitchen-dining area just talking, about themselves and their adventures. Each member grew to be in awe with one another after each story told and developed a deeper level of respect for one another. The young men left no secret unsaid and felt a hidden burden lifted off their shoulders since they knew that the good Captain would hold no judgment.
It was during these moments that Ginji truly enjoyed the most because he saw the hidden side of Ban that the brunette rarely let out, even with the blonde. It made the blonde youth extremely pleased to know that there was at least one other person, whom Ban felt completely comfortable with. It was as if their little duo was growing into a small family, and at this thought, Ginji burst into a fit of giggles, which caused the two darker individuals to look at the blonde curiously. Blushing in embarrassment, Ginji immediately buried himself into his dinner.
Ban just shook his head as he too dug into his meal, and listened half-heartedly to his cousin teasing his lover. He hid a small smile in relief that he did not have to hide his relationship with the blonde from the scarily perceptive DarkRiver. When the truth came out, she merely shrugged and offhandedly commented that his puppy would need some tags " 'less another attempted to steal the cute lab". Of course, Ginji thought that Jai was being literal and that Ban had been hiding a real puppy, which caused the brunette nothing but grief! However, her teasing remarks would not leave him in peace… Maybe I should… Ban absently thought as he finished his coffee.
After all, in little over a week, it would be Ginji's birthday, and he, the great Midou Ban, could not for the life of him think of what to give his lover as a birthday present! And what was worse was that he knew what the others were planning to give his blonde lab for his birthday.
Thread-spool was going to give Ginji several of the blonde's favorite children's books, to help the blonde with his reading. Monkey Boy and Madoka were going to get an iPod filled with the blonde's favorite music. Hevn and Natsumi were pitching together to take Ginji on a shopping spree for a new wardrobe, which made Ban a bit nervous, especially considering Hevn's sense of modesty, and Paul! That damned ex-detective was planning on giving Ginji a free-meal pass for the day! And all he can think of was a collar with a pair of dog tags stating: Property of Ban: No Touchie! Oh yeah, that'll go over real well. Ban grumbled as he stabbed at his piece of fruit torte.
"Ban-chan?" Ginji called, worried about his suddenly brooding partner.
Jai just arched a brow.
"I can assure you, Bruederlein, that torte is quite dead." Jai murmured then took a sip of coffee.
Ban made a face at his bemused cousin and continued eating his dessert.
"You've been awfully quiet." Jai commented, which made even Ginji look up again curiously. "Anything on your mind?"
"Ne." Ban lied.
Jai looked at her cousin curiously. She knew that he would not outright lie to her unless there was a reason. Suspiciously she glanced over to the blonde, who too looked at Ban but with a worried expression. He doesn't want Puepchen to know. Why? She thought then took a sip of coffee, only to find her cup empty of the bitter dark nectar. She got up and walked into the kitchen but immediately paused as she noted a shaky kanji handwriting on the nineteenth of the month. Immediately she recognized the writing to belonging to Ginji, and quickly she deciphered the writing… Ah! Ginji's birthday…
"Gin-puepchen," Jai called, causing the blonde to turn around, "did you write this?"
"Anou…" Ginji stuttered then nodded before quickly explaining, "Ban-chan said that people put birthday dates on calendars so they won't forget. I'm sorry…"
"Maa, maa…" Jai cooed then walked over to the agitated pup and gave him a chaste little kiss on the temple as reassurance that she was not angry with him, "No need to apologize. I just wanted to know."
"Oh!"
"And since it is your birthday that's coming up, how about a cake for the birthday boy?"
Ban felt his brow twitch. Great, now, he would have to beat that!
"Really?! You'll make a cake for me?!"
"Doch!"
"Anou… can it be chocolate?" Ginji shyly asked, "I like chocolate."
Ginji felt his cheeks burning red as he made his request. Jai chuckled.
"But of course! Anything for the birthday boy!" She answered then leaned forward to give the young blonde another chaste, reassuring kiss on the temple.
Ginji giggled then looked with child-like delight at his darker half, who too was smiling. Ginji never really had a birthday cake of his own, and Ban knew this. Even while living in Infinity Fortress, most of Ginji's cake were stolen from local bakeries, and even with the GetBackers, Paul usually bought a cake. Oh sure, Paul was an excellent baker but cakes… That was another thing. And Ban knew that his own culinary skills were limited to sandwiches and boiling water for Ramen. It was nice that for once that Ginji was going to get a homemade birthday cake. Even though now, the brunette had no idea on how he was going to beat that as a birthday present.
WRING. WRING.
Ban and Ginji looked up as they heard the phone ringing while Jai just glared the innocently looking device. She was about to take a sip of her beloved beverage when the damned thing went off. She reached for the thrice damned electronic leash.
"DarkRiver." She answered.
"Captain DarkRiver?" A solemn voice questioned.
"Speaking." Jai replied with a frown. She recognized Sergeant Russell's voice as Bravo Flight's Desk Sergeant, and she also knew that if the Desk Sergeant was calling her, it meant one of two things. One being a recall or…
"I'm sorry to call you at this hour," Sgt Russell began, "but there's been a situation."
Or there was another case.
"Understood." Jai answered while looking mournfully at her coffee. "ETA in 15 to 20."
"I'll inform Colonel Williamson."
Jai hung up then proceeded to walk back to her room.
"Was ist los?" Ban called out but received no answer. He then got up and transferred the black brew from Jai's cup to a traveling mug that he found in the cupboard.
A few moments later, Jai re-emerged and changed, literally and metaphorically. Before she just wore a tee-shirt and jeans and was every bit an average woman enjoying a night off, but now she wore a dark pair of slacks with a matching blazer and a creamed color halter-top that was both casual and very chic. She had transformed from that average woman to a professional woman with an air of authority and power about her that it was hard to ignore.
Ginji just stared at her in amazement. He never knew that professional women could look so elegant and empowering. It made the blonde wonder why Hevn did not dress more like Jai. Ginji then gave his oneechan a small smile as she gave him another chaste, reassuring kiss on the temple.
Ban held out the traveling mug, which made her smile.
"Dank'." She muttered then reached on her toes while Ban bend forward for his own chaste, reassuring kiss on the temple.
^_^
Ban found himself sprawled out on his cousin's unbelievably comfy sofa. He had helped himself to listening to his cousin's music collection, which he knew that she would not mind. A while ago or longer, Ban had just tucked his lover into Jai's bed after the blonde had fallen asleep while watching the third Harry Potter movie. Ban mentally swore to get back at Himiko and Natsumi for introducing the blonde to that series despite the fact that they were using the series to teach his blonde puppy how to read. After assured that his life partner was safe and secure, Ban began listening to Jai's collection. He primarily listened to her instrumental pieces, which ranged from Danny Elfman to John Williams to Yo Yo Ma to Mozart.
As his mind wandered to the haunting and yet soothing melodies of Yo Yo Ma's soloist pieces, he made a mental note to ask for a copy from his cousin. He found it strangely soothing and centering on his psyche as its low and haunting melodies called to his more primal side. Ban could easily presume that would be one of the reasons why Jai had it in her collection. He took a deep breathe and continued to let the Masters' work their magic on centering his psyche.
A short time after that, Ban felt the sofa sink deeper with the added weight of another. Ban remained absolutely still as a body draped itself over his own. He did not move for he knew that the new presence was no threat. He also knew it was not his lover for this new presence was dark and wild as himself. Suddenly his body relaxed as he felt the deep vibration of contentment throughout his own body. Then a pair of velvet soft pads began kneading his chest while he subconsciously scratched behind a petite triangular ear. The vibration became louder and deeper. Then suddenly nothing.
Ban frowned as he cracked open an eye to find himself staring into a pair of illuminated jadeite green eyes. Meanwhile a slender arm reached up and gently removed the Bose headphones from Ban's ears. Barely audible to the average human's hearing range, both Ban and Jai could clearly hear the seductive melody of Yo Yo Ma's cellos. Jai laid her head back down as the two listened in contentment until the track ended. Ban then reached back and turned off the stereo system.
"I'm surprised to see you back." Ban whispered.
"Only for a few hours then I'm gone again." Jai explained then held up a brand new silver key. Serpentine orbs crossed as the brunette identified the key in front of his face.
"What's this?"
"I'm going undercover, and I need you to water the plants."
Ban sharply looked at his cousin, hoping for more information, but she ignored him in favor of attempting to catch a quick catnap before plunging into the unknown.
"For how long?" Ban demanded but received the barest of shrugs as an answer.
"Weeks. Months." Jai mumbled, "Who knows. Tell Puepchen sorry for me."
Ban was quiet for a while.
"Keine Sorge."
"Dank'…"
^_^
Ban frowned deeply as he took another deep drag of his cigarette, nearly killing it in the process. It was his third one, and they had not been at the club for an hour yet. The brunette knew that coming to the night club was going to be a bad idea, but he could not say 'no' to his blonde puppy, especially when the blonde pulled his infamous 'puppy look' on the brunette, and what made it worse was that the brunette knew that the little bastard he loved so much was unaware of the look that the blonde would pull. Ban sighed as he killed his cigarette and pulled out a fourth, ignoring the Beast Master who sat right beside him, also clearly not enjoying the loud noise of the music nor the heavily scent of the sweating crowd.
It was obvious by the other's discomfort that the idea to go to the night club was all Kazuki's idea.
Earlier that night, the GetBackers were at the Honky Tonk, where the gang had planned to surprise Ginji with a party, and it worked. Ginji was like a kid in a candy store as he was surrounded by friends and presents, but Ban could tell that his happy-go-lucky puppy was a little sad that Jaiden could not come. Ban, however, had explained to the blonde that a case came up, naturally omitting the fact that it required Jai to go undercover, and that the case required all of Jai's attention; however, despite that, Ban was impressed to see that his cousin had somehow managed to still bake a cake for Ginji! And of course, the blonde was ecstatic to see the special delivery present was his chocolate cake. Naturally, everyone tried to get Ginji to tell them who had sent the cake, but the former Volts' Emperor refused to answer. He even hid the little birthday card that came from Jai from everyone, including Ban. Ginji wanted his oneechan to tell him what it said. Then sometime between eating the cake and opening the presents, Kazuki suggested going to a night club as a way to end the night.
And that was how Ban, Shido, Ginji and Kazuki ended up at the night club. Of course, both Ban and Shido were concern about the location of this night club of Kazuki's, especially since it was known to them that this particular night club was in the territory belonging to one of the numerous yakuza in Shinjuku. Nor could they dissuade the blonde from the idea of going clubbing. And as soon as they reached the door to the club, Ginji and Kazuki literally vanished. Ban was not too sure, but he suspected a group of teenaged girls were responsible for his lover's disappearing act, especially since the blonde could be now found amidst a sea of young girls. Something told the Witch Heir that the String Master was behind all of this. Ban sighed then stilled as he heard a deep, pained whine coming from his companion.
Ban grinned in feral delight. At least, Ban had a way to block most of the effects of being in such a large crowd. As long as he had a pack of smokes, he would be fine. Ban then glanced down and quietly groaned. He had only three smokes left, not enough to survive the night. Neither men looked at one another, but they both came to a silent agreement. In order to survive the night, they would leave one another alone. While Shido attempted to stem-off a headache and mentally cursing Kazuki for choosing such a place to celebrate their former Leader's birthday, Ban returned to his favorite past time - Ginji Watching. The Witch Heir knew that the migraine he would have would be worth it.
At that moment, Ban did not care if anyone saw him shamelessly watching his blonde partner dancing on the dance floor. In fact, almost everyone there was watching the blonde as well. The brunette did have to give Hevn and Natsumi credit. They did an excellent job in dressing Ginji up for tonight.
The slim-fitting jeans accented Ginji's lean and well-toned legs very nicely. The two-piece top was unique and definitely had Hevn's flare to it. The main piece wrapped around Ginji's torso tightly and was half way unzipped to allow the blonde's skin to breathe, but Ban believed it was more to reveal Ginji's well-muscled chest. The outer piece appeared to be a sheer material that resembled more like a tunic than anything else. All in all, Ban could understand why some of the club's clienteles would be looking at Ginji, but Ban felt comfortable in knowing that his beautiful snake charmer was dancing for him and him only. Ban lightly smiled as he took a sip of his drink.
Suddenly he stilled as he felt a familiar dark and wild presence caress the back of his mind. Ban slowly lowered his drink as he immediately began to scan the area. He dared not to lower his mental shields for he knew that with the number of people in the club, Ban would be overwhelmed by the emotions of everyone in the club and would be knocked unconscious for a good while. No, he dared not. He would have to trust his eyes. Hesitantly Ban lowered his shades, specially coated to protect people from an accidental spell of the Jagan and to protect him from being blinded by the multitude of auras in the night club. Blinking furiously a few times as his eyes adjusted once again to seeing in the spectrum of empathic color. Glancing toward his Sun, Ban immediately relaxed as he noted the beautiful gold and blue dancing colors, where he knew Ginji was. Then slowly he glanced toward the direction of the presence he had felt earlier.
Ban hissed as he quickly replaced his glasses on his face and looked again.
There was no doubt about it. There could be no one else whose empathic aura containing a black-blue sheen encased in marigold red and greenish-blue. No one but her!
Shido had been watching Snake for Brain for awhile. He was curious as to why the other had gone still as stone then slowly removed his glasses. Shido watched as Ban looked at Ginji for a moment. The Beast Master did find it odd that the other brunette did visibly relax at the sight of Ginji, but his curiosity doubled when he noted that Ban was looking over his shoulder and had quickly put his shades back on. Still curious, Shido followed the Witch Heir's gaze and frowned.
Talking away with a questionable thug was a young High Schooler. Shido would have guessed that the girl was about the same age as his Madoka and about the same size as well. The Beast Master frowned as he watched the thug brush his hand underneath the girl's school uniform. She did nothing save for a light smack, which the male complied but left his hand on her knee.
Absently Shido thanked his ancestors that his Madoka was nothing like these High School girls. Shido then frowned as he looked back at the self-proclaimed Strongman of the Universe. The brunette would have never thought of the other as preferring girls, especially since the Serpent Bearer had the tendency to do 'booby-checks' on Hevn.
"I didn't think you're into little girls." Shido sneered.
"I'm not." Ban numbly replied, "We gotta go."
"Hunh? What?!" Shido exclaimed at the sudden change of topic. As much as he was relieved to finally be out of the club, Shido could not help but sense that it might be safer in the club rather than outside of the club. Reluctantly he followed the Witch Heir onto the dance floor and toward the former Lightening Emperor.
Translation:
"I can assure you, Bruederlein, that torte is quite dead." Jai murmured then took a sip of coffee.
"I can assure you, Little Brother, that torte is quite dead." Jai murmured then took a sip of coffee.
He doesn't want Puepchen to know.
He doesn't want Baby-doll to know.
"Gin-puepchen," Jai called, causing the blonde to turn around, "did you write this?"
"Gin-doll," Jai called, causing the blonde to turn around, "did you write this?"
"Doch!"
"Of course!"
"Was ist los?" Ban called out but received no answer.
"What's wrong?" Ban called out but received no answer.
"Dank'." She muttered then reached on her toes while Ban bend forward for his own chaste, reassuring kiss on the temple.
"Thanks." She muttered then reached on her toes while Ban bend forward for his own chaste, reassuring kiss on the temple.
"Who knows. Tell Puepchen sorry for me."
"Who know. Tell Baby-doll sorry for me."
"Keine Sorge."
"Dank'…"
"No worries."
"Thanks…"