Disclaimer: They do not belong to me. Just the story does.
Precious Things
Chapter Twelve
Akabane and Ginji ended up making love at some point later that night, both being careful of the other one's injuries and bandages. It was afterwards, when they lay together in the dark, their hearts finally calmed, and Ginji's back pressed against Akabane's chest that the darker man had actually said it. Akabane's arms wrapped a little tighter around the blond, rubbing his forehead against the blond's messy spikes.
"...I love you, Ginji." Whispered Akabane through the darkness, his voice barely audible.
The blond's eyes flew open then blinked in surprise, before sliding closed as a contented smile crossed his lips. "I love you, too."
Akabane pressed a kiss to Ginji's bare shoulder, smiling against his skin.
"Will you stay with me?"
"Yes."
"Forever?"
"...Define 'forever'." The blond chuckled. "Knowing you it probably has a different meaning."
"I want you to quit the Get Backers recovery service."
Ginji gave a nod. "Uh huh. And do what instead?" He wriggled around so that he was now facing his lover, large brown eyes watching him innocently. "Ban would be devastated if I were to quit. He's my best friend and we're partners..."
Akabane shrugged, obviously not caring whether or not Ban was devastated or anything else Ban considered himself to be. Ban could take a flying leap.
"You could come work with me in the Transport service." Offered Akabane. "That way I could look after you and make sure you were safe, and you'd definitely be making more money that you do with Ban, whom the money gods hate." His expression was completely serious but his eyes were playful and teasing, causing Ginji to smile and press a lingering kiss to Akabane's mouth.
"I couldn't do that." He said after pulling back, yet continuing to snuggle into his lover's embrace. "That would only make Ban feel betrayed, even worse than if I was to simply quit the Get Backers."
"Well, then let me join the Get Backers." Offered Akabane simply.
Ginji laughed and shook his head. "No can do. Ban would never allow that. He tolerates you for my sake, he's not gonna let you be a part of the team."
Sighing, Akabane pursed his lips then sort of tilted his head to the side. "Ginji... I'm possessive you know that. Ah. Wait, let me finish. It's not that I'm worried you're going to leave me for Ban or anything like that, I'm not the least bit concerned about him, but what I am concerned about is your safety. You forget I know many of the scrapes you've gotten yourself into. Now," He began, arching a brow as though daring Ginji to argue. "I am planning to relocate from the city I normally reside in to the one where you are. Don't look at me like that, I worry about you, probably because I'm so possessive and obsessive. I'll move there so I can at least keep an eye on you, or were you hoping this was going to be a long distance relationship, which you should know I was never going to allow."
Ginji shook his head. "Actually, I hadn't even thought about it yet."
Akabane chuckled and kissed the blond's forehead. "I know, Pet. But, I'm determined to be near you, thus it has been on my mind. And, I do worry about you, look, if you won't quit the Get Backers, at least only do it part time, like on the weekends, or something. That way: Ban doesn't feel betrayed, you get to keep your recovery service, I have peace of mind you're nearly not getting yourself killed everyday, and I still get you all to myself."
The blond arched a brow. "Only on the weekends? What do I do the rest of the week?"
"You could try a normal job, nine to five-"
Ginji stared at him incredulous. "With my education?!"
The darker man shook his head. "People skills can open doors in the most amazing ways, Ginji. And besides, what you don't know can be taught. You can get a job that requires mostly customer service, and then from there be taught things you would need to obtain jobs in other areas, if you want. I'm sure Kazuki and Natsume could help teach you."
Ginji pushed himself up onto his forearm, staring down at Akabane in uncertainty. "So, wait. You want me to quite Get Backers, which I won't, let you join, which Ban won't allow, or switch to doing it only on the weekends and get a normal job during the week, right?"
Akabane nodded. "Oh. And start making the financial decisions, I'm sure Ban will object, but point out all of your money trouble is because he's making the decisions. The money gods hate him. Remember the platinum melon?"
--
--
Himiko grabbed Ginji's arm as he came down the stairs, pulling him off to the side and into the kitchen. He watched her in confusion, his head cocked t the side while waiting to see what she was up to. She whirled around to regard him seriously, her arms over her chest.
"You know Ban's already mad. He went through three packs of cigarette's yesterday. He's furious. He's mad about what happened, what could have happened, that you were the target, that Akabane knew about it, that others knew about it, and that no one told him. Okay? Last thing he needs is another reason to be angry added to the list. So why did you spend the night in Akabane's room? What the two of you did, I don't want to know, but I've assured Ban you merely fell asleep up there while looking after Akabane. Fell asleep on the bed, not in it. It took a lot of effort to make sure he didn't go barging up there. And then he wanted to know why you never came down and got in your own bed; I had to assure him you were thoroughly exhausted and probably hadn't budged from the spot you fell asleep, remind him that we were all exhausted."
"You could have taken him to your room and occupied him there, Lady Poison." A voice offered silkily, as Akabane entered the room.
Himiko flushed and shot him a cross look. "I share a room with Natsume!"
"Then you could have gone to his bed."
"Akabane I am not having this discussion with you, so drop it!" She barked, her entire face a deep shade of red. "The two of you are on thin ice already, namely you Akabane, don't go making it worse, that's all I'm trying to say." She threw her hands up in the air in aggravation. "I'm just trying to help, why though, I don't know. The two of you only make my life more complicated!"
"Ban may be mad, Himiko," Began Ginji softly. "But he's my best friend, nothing can change that. If he's mad at me, he'll eventually get over it, nothing's so big that it could ruin our friendship. I know Ban, and I know he'll probably be mad at me for a while, but I also know that even while he's still mad at me, we'll be okay."
"He's right, Himiko." Agreed Ban as he stepped in the room, taking out a cigarette. He stopped and looked pointedly at Akabane. "Do you mind if I smoke?" He demanded sarcastically.
Akabane smile pleasantly. "I'm sure we would all prefer you continuing to smoke outside as you have been."
The brunette snorted and put the cigarette away before hooking his thumb over his shoulder. "Himiko. Ginji. Out." His blue gaze slid over to the darker man. "I need a minute with Jackal-boy."
Himiko nodded and grabbed Ginji's wrist to pull him after her, knowing full well that he wasn't just going to leave the two of them alone together in a room. Ginji pulled himself free and stood there stubbornly, making a silent statement he wasn't leaving. Ban shot him an annoyed look.
"I'm not going to fight him if that's what you're worried about. I already kicked his ass in the past, what's the point of doing it again. It would be too easy."
"I find your never-ending supply of arrogance to be amazing, Midou. You actually believe you bested me, and it has gone entirely to your head." 'Tsk'ed Akabane with a shake of his head, dark eyes narrowed and watching Ban's every move.
Ban snapped around to glower at the darker male, Ginji all but forgotten while Himiko left to go get her medical supplies. "'Actually believe I bested you'?" He echoed, before snapping angrily. "I did kick your ass; I wiped the floor clean with you, you bastard!"
Akabane rolled his eyes. "Honestly, Midou, with age is suppose to come maturity, yet you can't even tell when someone is indulging you like they would a child." His expression turned sadistically evil. "Allowing you to believe you had defeated me was no different than allowing a child to believe in Santa Claus. It's a fantasy, a dream that offers momentary happiness, but a lie all the same." He finished with a sinister grin.
Balling up a fist, Ban pulled back preparing to deck Akabane one, only to be stopped when Ginji stepped between them, arms outspread as he stood protectively in front of Akabane.
"Stop it, Ban. If you're mad, get it off your chest, but don't pick pointless fights because of it."
The brunette man blinked in surprise, lowering his fist before glaring at his best friend. "What is with you lately, Ginji? You're always taking his side. Just because you have a-" He stopped himself, instead shifting his gaze from Ginji to the man standing behind him.
"Because I have a what, Ban? Say it." Ordered Ginji, glaring as well. Blue eyes snapped back to the blond once more.
"A crush." Snapped Ban.
Amused, Akabane stepped forward to embrace Ginji from behind, lowering his face by that of his lover, all the while keeping his eyes locked with Midou's.
"Oh, I'm afraid it's much more serious than that, my friend. Much more serious." He purred.
Ban stared in shock as Ginji stood there, his arms now lowered to his side; he was blushing slightly, but continued to allow Akabane to hold him, still glaring at his best friend.
"Explain." Grit out Ban through his clinched teeth.
"We're... dating, Ban." Stated Ginji as Akabane released him. Ban not missing the cocky smirk that twisted Akabane's lips, the unmasked amusement in his eyes.
The brunette shook his head in disbelief, his brain already in denial. "Oh, hell no! You have got to be f-" His brows knit together in confusion, his gaze shifting uncertainly between the two of them. "No way. Since when?!"
The blond shrugged. "A couple of days ago."
"He's been lying to you!!" Exclaimed Ban. "What happened was his fault, and you're telling me you're dating him?! What the fuck?! You could have been killed! And you're dating him!! I don't believe this!"
"Denial won't change the facts," Offered Akabane sweetly. "Ban-chan."
Ban nearly attacked him again, this time Shido and Emishi jumping in to restrain him, while Ginji pushed against his chest. Ban was yelling obscenities at the top of his lungs, fighting with everything he had in order to just get to Akabane.
"Emishi," Called Ginji, brown eyes flicking to the male. "Shido, Sorry about this..."
They both immediately released Ban just as Ginji released a strong jolt of electricity, causing Ban to cry out in alarm and fall back on his rear. He looked up at Ginji as though he'd just been betrayed, and the blond watched him remorsefully.
"Sorry, Ban, but you have to calm down. This isn't going to get any better if your temper keeps getting the best of you." He nodded. "Yes, Akabane lied to me, he lied to all of us about this mission and his involvement. I already knew that though. Himiko knew. And my best bet, the others had a pretty good idea themselves, but the fact that they didn't say anything tells me they trusted him. I trusted him. And I agree that if we had all known ahead that I was what they were after, things would have been stressed and tense while we all waited for the attack and our enemies were biding their time. And had we known that Akabane was the client wanting to protect something, most of us wouldn't have taken the job, which was crucial to the plan of protecting me. He did what he thought was best, and maybe you don't agree, but you can't say you would have come up with a plan that would less risky. I mean, look at who all he selected for the job, Ban. He chose people he knew he could trust to protect me, doesn't that say something?"
--
--
A month later...
Ginji looked up from his spot behind the register when the bell above the door chimed, grinning when he saw Natsume looking around curiously.
"Natsume!" He called, waving. Seeing him, she grinned and hurried over.
"Ginji! So this is where you work, huh?" She asked, looking around appreciatively. "Why a manga store, though?"
Sitting back on a stool, Ginji knocked some dust off the front of his green apron, before looking around the store as well.
"Kazuki suggested it and Akabane agreed. This way, I'm using my people skills, and also have the chance to actually work on the reading lessons Kazuki is giving me. My handwriting still isn't the best, but it's getting better."
"How's Ban? Chief said he came in the Honky Tonk the other day, but that was only to finish paying off his half of your old tab."
Ginji grinned and nodded. "Ban's fine. Since I only do the recovery business part time, he got a real job during the week, too. Said 'the 's' in Get Backers means you never have to be alone'. So the Get Backers only work the weekends, aside from that, he works as a courier during the day and construction in the evenings." The blond laughed. "Even when we get to hang out, all he does is go on and on about Himiko. He's got it real bad."
The teenager laughed, and nodded. "Himiko's the same way. I'll be talking to her and she's not even listening, she just has this smile on her face like she's a million miles away and loving every minute of it, but when I bring it up she just blushes and changes the subject." Natsume bit back a grin, her bottom lip caught between her teeth. "So... how are things with Akabane?"
The blond flushed and busied himself with straightening a display of manga. "Fine." He smiled and corrected himself. "Good." His smile broadened. "Great."
Natsume giggled and nodded. "Well, I'm glad to hear it. And Ban's okay with it?"
Ginji waved her off with a snort. "Ban's fine with it, he just had to get over being mad at him for keeping secrets from us. He told me to tell Akabane that he would show up to kick his ass again if Akabane ever hurt me in ways I didn't want him to."
Busting out laughing, Natsume laughed till her stomach hurt and she had to lean against the counter for support. Oh, Ban was a character alright.
"So what brings you here today Natsume?" Asked Ginji, his gaze sliding over her form. "You're not in your school uniform, you're not dressed for work, and if I'm not mistaken you are wearing Chanel."
The teen flushed and nervously brushed her hair over her shoulder. "It's an imitation of Chanel13, but yeah. I have a date with Emishi tonight." Her blush spread as she refused to lift her gaze from the floor. "We've, uh, been seeing each other a couple of weeks now. My aunt nearly freaked when she learned the age difference between us, but then laughed it off and treated him like a member of the family once they met. She really likes him, too."
"Y'know, despite the circumstances that brought us all together at the cabin, a lot of good came from it." Noted Ginji, scratching his chin.
Natsume tilted her head to the side in question. "How do you mean?"
A pink hue spread across Ginji's cheeks as he released an embarrassed laugh. "Well... everyone got together."
A slow smile crept across her lips and she nodded in agreement. "You're right, everyone ended up with the one they love."
THE END
Tenoko: Yeah! It's fini! Joy! Rapture! Now onto the next project!!