Disclaimer: I do not own Get Backers. I never will. I just write fanfiction
'cuz I enjoy writing fanfiction so there.
Notes: Well, here comes chapter 5! And some light shall be shed on just who stole the tear.....
Chapter 5: Underground
"Maria, I assure you that the Get Backers will be able to handle it." Bai Hu said hurriedly at the dark look that had passed across Maria's face.
"Do you..... know who stole it?" She managed. She looked as though she was fighting back panic.
"No. Feng and Huang have been in an uproar. If Ban-san and Ginji-san present the five sacred gifts of Zhu Que to the emperor of Heaven we'll be able find out where it is. That's our only chance right now."
Maria sighed, slumping back in her chair. "I should have foreseen this... This should not have happened."
Akabane stood and carried his empty cup to the sink. "Maria-san, do you have a brush and dust tray? I should like to sweep away the shards of your cup. You shouldn't leave such a mess, you might cut yourself." His voice was calm and polite, a thin sugar-coat over the underlying malice. He was wondering if witches bled red like normal people, or if their blood was green, like that vile green substance she had used on Ban. But she had done nothing to offend him, nor presented herself to be any sort of challenge. It would be going against proper procedure to start a fight for no reason.
"Yes, there's one by the stove. Bring it here please, I don't think I can stand up right now."
"I apologize for giving you such a shock," Bai Hu said sincerely.
Akabane set the dust pan and brush before a still rather stunned Maria, who carefully swept up her mess. She'd wipe away the spilled tea later, for now she wanted answers.
"Are you helping them?" Maria asked Bai Hu, who nodded in response.
"As much as I am capable of, without breaking any rules."
Maria took a deep breath, steadying her shaken nerves. "Yes, yes, understandable. Weakened or not, you're still a god, and you're still bound by the rules."
Bai Hu smiled resentfully. "Indeed. Were I not, this would not have happened. Anyway, I must be going. I have some other matters to see to, and I promised Kuroudo-san some entertainment. Midou Ban-san's car will be outside by tomorrow afternoon. The Get Backers might also want to search your apprentice's room for any clues as to who broke in." The dark skinned man stood slowly. "I'll come by again Friday. For now, take care Maria."
"You take care as well. Something feels very fishy about this whole mess."
---------------
The scent of blood was overwhelming. The scent of Yamato, the scent of blood, the scent of death. But worst of all was the scent of blood, because Ban was covered in it. It flooded his nostrils, his mouth, his lungs, and spilled from Yamato in great rivers, washing away everything else.
Again and again he was forced to plunge his hand into the chest of one of the only people Ban had ever considered family. He was mesmerized by how Yamato's ribs would shatter against his fist, how the heart would pump against his palm, and then the cold silence. The air was still, dead. Yamato was too.
And then it would happen all over again.
"Kill me."
"I can't! I can't do this!"
"You can. You're the only one who can."
"Please, don't make me do this!"
"Listen, it's a choice of killing me now, or Himiko later. Kill me."
There would be silence, they would stare at one another, one last time. One last moment. A thousand things would pass between them in that gaze, and Ban would finally plunge his fist into Yamato's chest.
Slowly the nightmare began to fade. Pinkish orange light filtered into his dazed eyes, something was tickling his nose. A warmth enveloped him, such intense warmth! Ban moaned and drew himself closer to it. It was warm all around; so soft, so familiar... he wondered if he had found paradise.
"Ban-chan..." came a quiet murmur against his ear. Ban opened his eyes fully, to find Ginji snuggled against him, bathed in the morning sunlight. Ban smiled, realizing it was Ginji's hair that had been tickling his nose. He reached to run his fingers through the soft strands. How long Ginji's hair had gotten...
"Are you awake?" Ban said in a low whisper. A soft snore answered that. Ban sighed, continuing to stroke Ginji's hair, studying the face of his sleeping partner. Funny, how he felt so relaxed even after such a horrendous series of nightmares. It must have been how peaceful the blond looked, sleeping beside him, content, happy, so god damn beautiful. Ban paused at that last thought. He had never really used that word, never found much to use it for other than works of art and Madoka's music. But there it was, Ginji, his friend, his partner, his one and only joy in life lay there bathed in light, glowing like some ethereal being with his mouth slightly agape and emanating soft snores. He wondered what would it be like to touch that mouth with his own, to kiss Amano Ginji.
He was an inch away from doing so as well, when there was a quiet knocking on the door.
Ban jerked himself back, just as Maria stepped with a tray laden with a bowel of something giving off an ominous red smoke and a glass of something white that Ban certainly hoped was milk.
"Hag, what the hell?"
"Good morning to you too sweetheart." Maria replied, setting the tray down on the bureau. "I thought you might be a little more grateful, seeing as I just saved your sanity last night. You should be polite to your elders." She beamed at Ban, and the brunet found he could not bring himself to be too contemptuous to the woman. Regardless of the grudges he held against his family, Maria had shown him nothing but kindness even as the apprentice to his grandmother. Maria picked up the bowl and a spoon, and took a seat at the edge of the bed.
"How did we get here?" Ban inquired, a little more composed.
"I'll explain later," Maria replied, handing him the bowl of some foul broth that was even redder than the steam it was giving off. "Take this. It's precautionary, but necessary. It should prevent any relapse of Fudo Myo-o's toxin."
Ban wrinkled his nose. "Is that steaming blood?"
"No." Maria responded.
"It looks like steaming blood."
"Just drink it, it won't kill you to cooperate for a change."
Ban dipped the spoon into the liquid and tasted it. He was surprised to find it had no flavour whatsoever, so he quickly downed it. He didn't feel like arguing the point any further with Maria. It felt too early in the morning for it to be early in the morning and god damn it he had been inches away from Ginji and all the blond seemed capable of doing now was snuggle a little closer and give a soft, sleepy whimper that could melt even the hardest of hearts.
Maria made a little cooing noise when she saw this, like a mother fussing over an infant that just did something indescribably adorable.
Ban simply glared in response.
"You make him so happy," she gave a wistful sigh. "He was up until god only knows when, watching over you."
Ban remained silent, watching Maria, wondering just where she was going with this.
"It is so obvious," She said when it seemed Ban had glued his mouth shut.
"What's obvious?" Ban snapped, although very quietly. Ginji had made stirring motions in his sleep, and Ban had a feeling he didn't want the blond to hear whatever it was Maria had to say.
"That you love him." She said simply.
Ban had no idea how to respond to this, so he simply settled in to glowering at her again.
"But," she began, standing up and passing Ban the glass of milk, "it's your business if you want to tell him or not. I'll give you some advice though; you'll only have yourself to blame if he gets away."
"What's going on? How did we get here?" Ban demanded again sharply, trying to change the subject.
Maria laughed. "When Gin-chan wakes up, you can ask him. From what Bai Hu told me, it's a very long story. Oh, and later on today I want you to search my apprentice's room for evidence of the break in. Yes Ban, don't look at me like that, Bai Hu told me everything, and yes you can trust him. He's a very good friend of mine. He just can't interfere directly because of... certain rules. Anyway, just get some rest. Bai Hu told me your car should be outside later this afternoon." Maria shut the door behind her when she left.
Without saying a word, Ban slumped back into the pillow. He felt very tired and his body ached from god only knew what sort of damage that had been inflicted on him the night before. Ginji stirred again, this time cracking open one sleepy brown eye.
"Ban-chan?" Came a drowsy murmur from Ban's side. Ginji suddenly snapped his head up. "Ban-chan!"
"Good morning," Ban said casually, and he meant it. Just seeing that look of happy shock plastered on the blond's face was enough to raise his spirits to high heaven.
"Ban-chan!" Ginji flung himself into Ban's arms, sobbing uncontrollably. "Ban-chan! Ban-chan! Ban-chan!"
"Hey, calm down, crybaby," Ban growled roughly, although he shifted his position just slightly so Ginji was completely pressed against him. No point in not taking full advantage of the moment.
Ginji stared up at his partner, one of his radiant smile etched onto his face. "Ban-chan, you're okay!" He paused, an expression of concern replacing his smile. "You are okay, right?"
Ban responded with a hug of his own that left Ginji breathless.
"Damn right I am," Ban murmured against Ginji's ear. He could feel Ginji's smile return from the way the muscles in the blond's face moved against Ban's cheek. It felt nice... it felt right. It was the way things were supposed to be.
They stayed like that for a long time, neither wanting to detach himself from the other if they could help it. For once, things were right in the world, in this tiny guestroom illuminated by the late winter sunlight. All was right, that is until Ginji let loose the waterworks again.
"Jesus, what is it now?" Ban demanded, pulling away and planting his hands firmly on Ginji's shoulders to look his partner squarely in the face.
"I thought you were going to die! You had all these burns on you, all over, real bad. Even your hands," Ginji grabbed both of Ban's hands in his own and inspected them to make sure that Bai Hu's strange healing potion had not been some illusion. Satisfied, he hugged them to his chest. "Especially your hands... some of the bone had even been black... Ban-chan, oh Ban- chan! I'm sorry, I was so useless, but there was nothing I could do if he wasn't on the ground, and--"
Ban drew one hand away from Ginji's unusual embrace and rested a single silencing finger on the boy's lips.
"Shh. Idiot, do I look dead to you?"
Ginji shook his head. "No..." He murmured, his lips moving ambiguously kiss- like against the pad of Ban's index finger. Ban gave a happy little sigh, leaning forward and resting his forehead against Ginji's. The tips of their noses were touching, and Ban realized just how close their lips were. He slid his hand around Ginji's head and drew the blond into what might have been their first kiss had Mei not burst in at that very moment.
"Ban-san! Ginji-san!" She exclaimed and then quickly spun around, her cheeks flushing when she realized what she had walked in on. "S-sorry! I didn't realize... oh my..."
Ban and Ginji shuffled apart looking like a pair of kids caught with their hands in the cookie jar.
"It wasn't what it looked like." Ban stated firmly.
"It wasn't?" Ginji sounded dismayed.
"Well," Ban managed, but he couldn't think of anything to say that would 1) save the moment he had managed to snag with Ginji, and 2) convince the midget that he hadn't been about to do what he had been about to do.
"Lady Maria told me to come in here and make sure you two weren't horsing around." Mei declared, saving Ban the trouble of explaining himself.
Ban noted the tone Mei had distinctly used with the phrase 'horsing around'. He made sure he gave her the full brunt of one of his annoyed glares. "Hair dye is bad for your brain, short stuff." Ban retorted, in comment on Mei's hair that had been dyed a shade of violet that presented the brain with a tough decision between a) begin to rapidly kill brain cells in an attempt of suicide or b) convulse violently before shutting down. Ban tried not to look at the hair. He valued his brain cells almost as much as he valued Ginji.
"It's good stuff," she insisted. "My own mixture of herbs and pigments and a little magic. None of those weird chemicals that burn your hair out or cause brain damage..." she paused momentarily at this, "... to those who put it in their hair anyway. And it works on every colour hair without having to bleach first."
"You make hair dye?" Ban said incredulously.
"And clothes. I want to start my own line," she rocked happily on the balls of her feet like a little kid, the violet hair flopping backwards and forwards like some glossy pendulum.
"You're weird." Ban stated. So the kid had an obsession with fashion. "Maria said I'm supposed to check out your room for anything that might give us some information on who broke in."
"Yeah, she told me to tell you when you're ready to get up that you should do that." And Mei was out the door before Ban could reply, and it shut with an audible click.
He glared sourly at the closed door, silently cursing Mei in every language he knew (German, English, Japanese and some Mandarin). Ginji was watching Ban, shifting nervously in his place on the bed.
"Ban-chan?" He managed tentively.
"What?" Ban snapped, more at the door than Ginji. He would curse doors into whatever place doors considered hellish for not providing the privacy they so often seemed to advertise.
"Are you angry?"
"Yes!"
Ginji smiled and Ban found himself in another one of Ginji's hugs. "Then Ban-chan is okay. I'm happy."
Ban sighed and patted Ginji's shoulder gingerly. "Yeah, I'm alright. I guess I was in pretty bad shape last night, huh?"
Ginji nodded against Ban's chest, exhaling softly. "Un. But you're alright. That's all that matters to me."
"Heh, you're easy to please." Ban rested a hand gently on Ginji's back, stroking soothingly.
"Mm... Ban-chan is being very nice to me lately. You're actually letting me hug you more than usual."
"Hn, you've been really clingy lately. What else can I do?"
Ginji shrugged, making sure to snuggle a little more against Ban. They were quiet for a long time, and Ban felt his eyes beginning to close again.
"Ban-chan?"
"Hm?"
"Do you love me?"
It wasn't the first time Ginji had rendered Ban speechless. In fact the blond's innocence and childish manner often caused Ban many moments of pause and reflection because Ginji could be truly quite profound without ever realizing it.
That was because Ginji was a simple person.
People often made the mistake of thinking that meant the same thing as stupid.
---------------
Maria tapped her finger on the glittering surface of the small prism. It rang out, clear as a bell and then shattered into tiny rainbow fragments of dust.
"Close, but still no good. Keep at it though, you've got the concept mastered but your application of it is still a bit sloppy. You rushed at the end, didn't you?" She brushed her hands together to rid herself of the remains of the fragmented crystal, surveying her apprentice closely.
"Ahhnnn..." Mei groaned, hanging her head in disappointment. "I thought I had it that time too, I really did. Ah well."
"You tried to store up too much time in it. The dimensions were crisscrossing too rapidly. Too many futures spindled together. It's like a spider building a web with too much thread, it can be balanced, but a brush of wind will cause it to collapse in on its self. At least they're not exploding anymore. I only have one vile left of my burn remedy... that reminds me, I have to make some more next half moon..."
Mei gave the twinkling remains of her experiment a disdainful look. "They were about to kiss."
"Good for them." Maria flopped down on the living room couch selecting a small, clear crystal from a large collection. "Try this one. It might yield better results. And stop spying on those two, it's about damn time little Ban-Ban found himself SOMETHING to be happy about." Maria chuckled. "And Ginji is such a little snookie-wookie pootie-pie I'm not surprised Ban is drawn to him."
" 'Snookie-wookie pootie-pie'?" Mei inquired, an incredulous expression camping on her face. Maria laughed and pinched her apprentice's cheek affectionately.
"Aw, you're a little cutesy-wootsy tootsie-too, too." She let go, laughing.
"You really are a very weird teacher." Mei stated firmly.
"Well you're no normal apprentice either. You've got talent, you just don't apply it to anything but making clothes."
"I like clothes," Mei said defensively.
Maria raised a brow. "Then why did you take an apprenticeship to be a witch? Why not go to a design school instead?"
Mei looked miserable, twirling her finger around a lock of very violet hair. "I dunno. I sort of fancied being a witch... it would be... something different."
"Was that your only initiative when I made the offer?" Maria had sobered up, resting her chin on the palm of her hand.
"No, no, no. There was something else, but I sort of lost sight of it until the... uh... incident." Mei trailed off, shuffling from one foot to another.
Maria smiled. "Do us a favor and don't loose sight of what drives you again. It cost us one of Zhu Que's tears. Let's not loose the other one, hmm?"
Mei smiled, running her hand nervously through the dyed strands. "I won't. The other tear isn't leaving my body." She tapped the earring to emphasize her point. "Ban-san and Ginji-san are really alright for this?"
"If they get the treasures, then they'll have a lead. Nonetheless, I want them to search the break in. There might be something."
Mei nodded and sank down into the oversized armchair.
---------------
"Huh...?" was the most profound thing Ban could have managed at that moment.
"I asked if--"
"I heard what you said," Ban snapped, unable to believe his ears. But then again, he thought, it made sense. It would have to be said eventually, probably sooner than later because even he was aware of opening up more than usual to his partner. He just hadn't expected the blond to be the one to initiate the conversation. Ginji stared Ban in the eye with a pleading look. Not the puppy face he got when he wanted food and they had no money. Not the whimpering baby eyes he got when things didn't go quite his way. It was a look of utter desperation, hoping against hope that he made the right choice.
"Do you?" Ginji managed miserably. He had a feeling that saying that would spoil everything. He had a feeling that this was going to be the biggest mistake of his life. Ban just wasn't like that.
"What makes you think..." Ban began, trying to cover his tail, and then realized that if he did that then it would be the stupidest thing imaginable. You only have one shot to get this right, so grab fate by the balls...
Ban leaned forward. "...That I don't?"
After that, Ban could never quite remember who closed the distance between them, but he remembered never to kiss Ginji again unless the blond had brushed his teeth.
"Jesus," Ban spat, "I don't think we should try that again until a little later."
Ginji coughed and nodded. Some things just take experience. Still he felt a little hurt that their first kiss hadn't gone how he wanted it to. Ban put an arm around the downcast Ginji's shoulder, brushing his lips to the corner of the blond's eye.
"Either way, I'm glad."
Ginji nestled closer, practically purring. Something, for once, had gone right.
---------------
"You didn't clean up since the break in?" Ban asked, mildly surprised as he and Ginji stepped into Mei's room. Other than the window having been magically repaired (probably by Maria. Ban had a gut feeling that if Mei tried to use magic to repair something it would come to life and start devouring everything in sight), everything was, well, everywhere. There were scorch marks on the wall, furniture had been knocked over or broken, and a lamp lay on the floor, its shade several feet away.
"No. Never clean a crime scene until you've gotten absolutely every scrap of information you can from it. I saw that on a forensic show on the television once."
Ban nodded. Ginji was preoccupied with the several torsos displaying an array of rather cute, brightly coloured outfits.
"Wow-ow! Did you make all of these, Mei-chan?"
Mei smiled, running her hand through her very violet hair. The colour made Ban's eyes water, as though it was trying to suck them out of his sockets. He directed his gaze to something else, something that had just caught his attention.
"Yup! Do you like them?"
"Un. Are they girl or boy outfits? I can't tell."
Mei laughed and flopped down in a beanbag chair. A leopard-print beanbag chair.
"Both boys or girls can wear them. You can take one if you want, those are too big for me and Maria won't wear it for the life of her."
"Mmm..." Ginji moaned, burying his face in the velvety soft felt sleeve that was the same colour as Mountain Dew. "It's so soft! It must be nice and warm!"
Ban looked to his partner, averting his eyes from whatever had caught his attention earlier. "You go out dressed in that, I swear I'll leave you to freeze to death outside."
Ginji stuck his tongue out at his partner, sliding on the jacket. "Mmm, it is nice and warm! Here Ban-chan, feel it! Feel it!" Before Ban could respond, Ginji had the rather large coat around the both of them.
"See how warm it is?" Ginji took full advantage of their proximity to sneak a hug, before bounding off to go eyeball the rest of Mei's technicolour masterpieces.
"Ch, idiot," Ban grunted but with no actual bite in his voice. He suddenly remembered what he had found. "Hey Mei, do you keep crows by any chance?"
Mei shook her head. "Witches haven't kept crows since the fifties, I thought."
Ban nodded, "Do you collect feathers? Or use them for sewing?"
Mei shook her head again "Besides an old pink feather boa I got at the salvation army, I don't have anything that would be molting."
Ban held up a few black feathers a little too dramatically which suggested he had been dying for a chance to show off.
"Looks like Ginji and I need to have a talk with the monkey trainer then."
---------------
It didn't fit. That's what Ginji kept saying after explaining what had happened to Ban last night. Ban had been pleased to find the Lady Bug parked outside, not to mention Maria had given him a vile of clear liquid she claimed to be the burn remedy that had saved Ban's life. It might come in handy, was the only explanation she offered. He wondered vaguely what he would need an old burn remedy for. Hadn't Bai Hu already healed him up?
When Ginji groaned in frustration once again, Ban decided that maybe he ought to offer some insight, even if he really was about as puzzled about the whole matter as his partner.
"I don't know what the monkey trainer would want with the stone tears. Regardless of all his stupid pigheaded antics, he doesn't strike me as someone who'd possess the greed that the tears of Zhu Que claims to satisfy."
"Maybe something happened to Madoka?"
"We would have heard something about it. She's our friend too, ya know."
Ginji looked hopeless. Nothing was working out now... nothing seemed to be making sense.
"I hope this isn't as bad is it seems..." Ginji whined, nuzzling against Ban's shoulder. Ban draped an arm around Ginji, shaking his head.
"I don't think it is. I mean really, how would he even know what they are? It's just between..." Ban trailed off, wanting to say 'it's just between witches and gods', but he was none of the above and yet he knew about the tears. Ginji would start asking inconvenient questions, and he was in too strange of a mood to be answering anything like that. Clouds had started to gather in the sky and a few flakes of snow whizzed by the car in white dotted blurs, heralding this afternoon's blizzard. "Well, we're going to Madoka's to find out, alright?" Ban reassured huffily, and Ginji just /smiled/! Ban made sure to steal a kiss from that smiling mouth, managing to keep one eye on the road.
"B... Ban-chan!" Ginji gasped, holding his hand to his lips, eyes wide with shock.
"Idiot, if you're going to be in love Midou Ban-sama, you gotta stay on your toes." Ban grinned, turning a corner. The white walls of Madoka's home was now in sight.
Ginji gave a mischievous smile as the lady bug pulled into an empty parking space along the side of the road.
And then pounced.
When they had pulled away (for need of oxygen rather than a desire to stop trying to fit the other's face in their mouth), the windows were more than a little steamed up.
"If you're gonna be in love with me, you gotta stay on your toes," Ginji parroted back at his partner, and Ban laughed. They cut an odd sight, Ginji leaning over awkwardly from his seat to rest his head on Ban's chest, while Ban was backed against the car door, his legs shifted at an odd angle.
"You may act dumb, but you learn pretty damn quick. C'mon, let's go say hi to the monkey trainer and his girlfriend before I end up with a hard on."
"What's that?"
"Never mind."
---------------
Madoka opened the door, her seeing-eye-dog Mozart standing protectively at her side.
"Ban-san! Ginji-san!" She sounded a little surprised when the Get Backers had greeted her. "You heard?"
Ban exchanged a look with Ginji. "Heard what?"
Madoka worried her lower lip, standing aside to let the two in then shut the door behind them. "I guess not... Shido-san had a run-in on his last retrieval about five days ago. He's pretty severely burned..."
Ban felt the weight of the vile in his pocket, and smirked. He was glad Madoka was blind, because he was grinning like a cat with cream while the girl was obviously in a state of distress. A plan was formulating...
"Could Ginji and I talk with Shido? We, ah, might be able to help."
Madoka nodded. "Certainly. He'll be happy to see the both of you." She paused a moment, and patted Ban on the shoulder. "Well, maybe not you, but you know how he can be."
Ban smirked, and Madoka smiled. They stepped into Shido's room.
"Shido-san!" Ginji exclaimed, bounding over to his friend who was sprawled on the bed. Shido, Ban could quickly tell, was the worse for wear. Bandages covered his left arm, and most of the left side of his face. Ban quickly recalled what Mei had said the day she had come into the Honky Tonk. Something about a fire spell on the intruders. Ban also noted the plural.
"Ginji..." Shido looked surprised to see Ginji at his bedside, although quite pleased that his friend had come. Then he spied Ban, leaning against the doorframe and talking in a hushed voice with Madoka. "What's that snake bastard doing here?" He nearly growled.
Ban glanced up, noticing Shido and gave him a contemptuous sneer. "Well, Ginji and I are kinda partners. We work together, ya know?"
Shido narrowed his one visible eye. "That doesn't mean you're attached at the friggin' hip."
"Not yet, anyway," Ban murmured. Madoka covered her mouth in a valiant effort to conceal the sudden burst of laughter. If Shido's eye narrowed any more, it'd be closed. Ginji failed to understand what Ban had implied, and instead fussed over Shido.
"Oh no, Mei-chan burned you bad. I bet that's what Maria meant when she said the burn remedy Bai Hu used on Ban-chan last night would come in handy. Shido, are you alright?"
Shido's expression softened at Ginji's concern. "Yeah, the doctor says the burns are mostly first degree, although I have a few second degree burns as well. Emishi went to go see what Gen has for it though, so I should be alri- -" He stopped in mid sentence and raised a brow. "What do you mean 'burn remedy'?"
"Oh," Ginji went off into the explanation of the injuries Ban had sustained the night before. When the blond was about to broach the subject of Bai Hu and Fudo Myo-o, Ban quickly cleared the distance between them and clamped his hand over Ginji's mouth.
"He doesn't need to know about that, Ginji." Ban looked up from Ginji. "The remedy works like a charm," Mostly because that's what it was, but Shido didn't need to know that. "I was in a hell of a lot worse shape last night from what I managed to understand from this idiot's," He bonked Ginji lightly on the head, "disjointed ramblings. And I'm as good as new now."
Shido sat up, glowering at Ban. Madoka had left to go tend to something or another and allow the three to talk in peace. "You're up to something, aren't you, snake bastard?"
"Not up to something per say," Ban said, grinning like a serpent. He dug into his pocket and produced the crystalline bottle, dangling it tantalizingly just out of Shido's reach. "Just cutting a deal."
Ginji was glaring at his partner, "Ban-chan," he said threateningly. Ban gave the blond a wink that Shido didn't notice through the haze of his bubbling rage. The snake bastard was going to make an ass out of him, he knew it.
"You're good at deals," Shido growled. "We'll see. Keep in mind I still have the hope of Gen-sensei."
Ban's serpent grin widened. "You tell us about the circumstances five days ago and how they came about, and I'll hand you the remedy and Madoka-chan doesn't have to play nursemaid anymore."
Shido glared. "You know that it's not proper business etiquette to give out the confidential information of clients."
Ban shrugged and farced dropping the bottle on the hard wood floor where it would have shattered had he not shot his hand out beneath the vile and caught it. Shido had also lunged for it, wincing when the rough underside of his bandages scraped the sensitive surface of his burns.
"Not very confident in the miracle man, are you?"
Shido sighed. It was clear he had lost and it would only be making a fool of himself if he pretended nothing had happened.
"Hevn set me up with a client. He had a suspicious scent to him, but I needed the money to pay my debts to Madoka so I didn't complain. Emishi was with me at the time. The client said a pair of earrings had been stolen from him, said they were a special family heirloom and he needed them back. He gave Emishi and me the address and which room to break into where we could retrieve them. We went in, and the person in there... something happened, because the minute I grabbed the earrings there was a burst of flames. I dropped one but Emishi and I got away with our lives."
Ban frowned, looking thoughtful for a moment.
"Shido-san, do you still have the earring?" Ginji asked hopefully.
"No." Said Shido flatly. "The client picked it up yesterday and paid me half of the agreed fee."
Ban and Ginji let out a collective sigh of disappointment.
"Do you know you're clients name?" Ban finally asked.
"Yeah, Hevn said his name was..." Shido furrowed his brow, trying to recall. "It was a Chinese name, I know that. It was... Taiyi."
"Well that helps. Anything else?"
Shido shook his head. "He just said the earrings were an heirloom."
Ban tossed the vile of clear liquid at Shido and is landed in his lap with a muffled thud.
"Right, well I'll warn you monkey trainer; don't go after the other one, or I guarantee you the occupants of that house won't be so nice as to let you off with a few second degree burns."
"What are you talking about?" Shido growled. "I knew there was more to those earrings than just some damn heirloom. You know something about this, now spill it you snake bastard."
"Shido-san, Ban-chan, stop fighting!" Ginji pleaded as the two exchanged dangerous glares that implied that exchanging blows was a prospect of the near future.
"I don't owe you any explanations, monkey boy. I'm being nice and warning you to keep yourself as far from this as possible. I think you already know this, but you're client is a fraud. Those earrings have been in the line he was trying to steal them back from since the days Bhudda walked."
Ban turned on his heel and stepped out of Shido's room. Ginji had stayed behind to help his friend use the remedy and make sure Shido would be alright.
Madoka approached Ban slowly, but steadily, her hand rested on the guide- dog's head.
"I wasn't spying, but I couldn't help to overhear," she started, scratching behind Mozart's ears. "Well, I know how stubborn he can be... especially with you. Could you tell me what he's gotten himself into, so maybe I could help?"
Ban shrugged, about to light a cigarette, but thought better of it considering this was not his home and he doubted if Madoka took well to cigarette smoke. It wasn't that he thought her frail. She had proven herself repeatedly that she was neither weak of body or of mind, having handled herself quite well in danger considering her impairment. He just felt it was inappropriate to apply his general inconsideration to society in the presence of one of the few people he respected.
"He hasn't gotten himself into anything if he backs down now and minds his own business."
"Aa." Madoka smiled. "I believe that'll happen when hell freezes over, as the saying goes."
"Damn right. Monkey trai-Shido is too stubborn for his own good. What Ginji and I are neck deep in right now would be way over his head. It's way over Ginji's head now that I think about it..."
Madoka laughed. "Well, I wish you luck then. I'll use my feminine wiles and get Shido to forget about this job."
Ban was smiling. He knew damn well that Madoka's concept of feminine wiles was exchanging smiles and holding hands, and the monkey trainer was so reserved that that was probably how he saw it as well. Ah, young love.
While on the subject of young love, Ginji stepped out of Shido's room and latched himself onto Ban's arm.
"Ban-chan, I think we should go now. Shido is very angry with you." Ginji tugged on Ban, heading towards the stairs. "Thank you very much Madoka- chan, and Shido will be absolutely a-o-kay! Let's go quick, Ban-chan, I gave him a little jolt so he wouldn't come after you immediately but your little bargain dealie* has seriously pissed him off."
Ban smirked as he was dragged away, Madoka waving in their general direction cheerfully. "Let him come Ginji, I'll show him and his little pets a thing or two."
"No," said Ginji firmly. "You two fight enough as it is. Bye bye Madoka! Shido should be up and about in no time! Ah, tell him I'm sorry but it was for his and Ban's own good."
"Feh, don't fuss over my good. I can take care of myself." Ban huffed.
"I will, don't worry," Madoka called back.
The door opened and closed and they were gone.
---------------
Ban and Ginji climbed the three sets of stairs to their floor, both feeling rather exhausted from the night before. Despite the fact the two were in good physical condition (thanks to Maria), Ginji was emotionally exhausted, and although Ban didn't say anything, he was sore from head to toe, and felt several twinges of pain where he had sustained the more severe burns.
"I think we should take tonight off." Ginji stated. Ban was about to protest, explaining that they were only going up to the apartment for a quick shower each, and a change of clothes, but Ginji quieted him with a soft kiss on the cheek. "We're both tired, and I know you're still in pain. Kamakura is a pretty long drive and maybe we should rest up before heading off to another temple. I mean, we kinda know what to expect now."
Ban stared at his partner in shock, and then grinned like the Cheshire cat. "You just want me all to yourself for the evening."
"That too." Ginji replied smiling sheepishly. It felt like they had been like this for ages rather than a few short hours.
"And I always thought you were innocent..." Ban tsked as they stopped outside their door.
"What's wrong with kissing?"
Ban stopped rummaging for his keys and gave his partner a disbelieving look. "Nothing's wrong with kissing. I just thought... oh never mind. I'll just explain it to you some other time."
The door unlocked with an audible click and the two stepped inside. They weren't alone.
Two men were seated on the couch. One was blond, his hair heavily spiked with generous amounts of gel, and pale skinned. His clothes were shabby, consisting of a faded leather jacket, covered extensively in silvery studs, a ragged old t-shirt that looked like a family of mice had a party on it, tattered jeans ripped at the knees and a pair of dark leather shoes. He seemed to be pierced in every place imaginable; ears, eyebrows, nose, lip, tongue, probably some other places too, but this story is at a pg-13 rating and it's staying that way. The other man was dark skinned. His hair was in hundreds of rows of beaded braids that fell far below his shoulder blades and clacked together whenever he moved. He wore far more comfortable looking clothes; a huge over-sized khaki coloured cashmere sweater that hung on the slim muscular frame in a manner that could only be deemed sexually alluring. He wore jeans as well, but unlike the blond's they were practically new. His footwear was a pair of brown leather dress shoes.
"Hello," said the neatly dressed man, "My name is Xuan Wu. The one who looks like he's been too intimate with a staple gun is Qing Long. We're here to check in on the progress of the retrieval."
Ban and Ginji silently gaped at the two.
---------------
To be continued...
---------------
*Dealie: A term my koibito uses quite often
Translations:
Si Xiang: Four cardinal directions (I don't know if the Si Xiang has a formal title in Japanese. If you know it does and what it is, please tell me I'll happily credit you! My language skills are pathetically feeble...)
Zhu Que: Red Phoenix/Flame Pheonix. Suzaku in Japanese. (Southern guardian)
Bai Hu: White Tiger/Tiger King. Byakko in Japanese. (Western guardian)
Qing Long: Green/Blue Dragon (or East Dragon Chinese has too many meanings) Seiryu in Japanese. (Eastern guardian)
Xuan Wu: Turtle Serpent. Genbu in Japanese. (Northern guardian)
Taiyi: This is actually a bit of a Houshin Engi reference. Taiyi (Taiitsu) was the one who implanted life in Nachu's (Nataku) mother so that she could give birth to the child after being pregnant with him for three years. (I'm not sure if any of these are the right spelling, but my grasp of Chinese is limited to what my friends tell me. Taiyi in this story is NOT the Taiyi from the legend. I just like the name I mean... it's meant to be symbolic. Yes.
-----
Ai-chan: W00t! Part Five is complete! So sorry it took so long but I've been totally addicted to Dink Smallwood and then proceeded to also get addicted to Silent Hill. Great games. That and I'm trying to keep Mei from becoming a Mary Sue (reason for her existence? I couldn't see Maria going to the Get Backers over something like this, thus the need for a rather incompetent apprentice) * smirk *. Anyway, hope you all have been enjoying the ride thus far. Things are beginning to unwind...
Ban: You are shameless.
Ai: I know. Shut up and go make mad passionate monkey love with you're boyfriend.
Ginji: Wai! Mad passionate monkey love! Hooray! Ban-chan...?
Ban: * glare-o-doom at Ai * Yes?
Ginji: What's mad passionate monkey love?
Ban: Um... come to the bedroom. I'll show you there.
Bedroom door slams shut with a small sign on the knob reading: "Knock and Die." *
Notes: Well, here comes chapter 5! And some light shall be shed on just who stole the tear.....
Chapter 5: Underground
"Maria, I assure you that the Get Backers will be able to handle it." Bai Hu said hurriedly at the dark look that had passed across Maria's face.
"Do you..... know who stole it?" She managed. She looked as though she was fighting back panic.
"No. Feng and Huang have been in an uproar. If Ban-san and Ginji-san present the five sacred gifts of Zhu Que to the emperor of Heaven we'll be able find out where it is. That's our only chance right now."
Maria sighed, slumping back in her chair. "I should have foreseen this... This should not have happened."
Akabane stood and carried his empty cup to the sink. "Maria-san, do you have a brush and dust tray? I should like to sweep away the shards of your cup. You shouldn't leave such a mess, you might cut yourself." His voice was calm and polite, a thin sugar-coat over the underlying malice. He was wondering if witches bled red like normal people, or if their blood was green, like that vile green substance she had used on Ban. But she had done nothing to offend him, nor presented herself to be any sort of challenge. It would be going against proper procedure to start a fight for no reason.
"Yes, there's one by the stove. Bring it here please, I don't think I can stand up right now."
"I apologize for giving you such a shock," Bai Hu said sincerely.
Akabane set the dust pan and brush before a still rather stunned Maria, who carefully swept up her mess. She'd wipe away the spilled tea later, for now she wanted answers.
"Are you helping them?" Maria asked Bai Hu, who nodded in response.
"As much as I am capable of, without breaking any rules."
Maria took a deep breath, steadying her shaken nerves. "Yes, yes, understandable. Weakened or not, you're still a god, and you're still bound by the rules."
Bai Hu smiled resentfully. "Indeed. Were I not, this would not have happened. Anyway, I must be going. I have some other matters to see to, and I promised Kuroudo-san some entertainment. Midou Ban-san's car will be outside by tomorrow afternoon. The Get Backers might also want to search your apprentice's room for any clues as to who broke in." The dark skinned man stood slowly. "I'll come by again Friday. For now, take care Maria."
"You take care as well. Something feels very fishy about this whole mess."
---------------
The scent of blood was overwhelming. The scent of Yamato, the scent of blood, the scent of death. But worst of all was the scent of blood, because Ban was covered in it. It flooded his nostrils, his mouth, his lungs, and spilled from Yamato in great rivers, washing away everything else.
Again and again he was forced to plunge his hand into the chest of one of the only people Ban had ever considered family. He was mesmerized by how Yamato's ribs would shatter against his fist, how the heart would pump against his palm, and then the cold silence. The air was still, dead. Yamato was too.
And then it would happen all over again.
"Kill me."
"I can't! I can't do this!"
"You can. You're the only one who can."
"Please, don't make me do this!"
"Listen, it's a choice of killing me now, or Himiko later. Kill me."
There would be silence, they would stare at one another, one last time. One last moment. A thousand things would pass between them in that gaze, and Ban would finally plunge his fist into Yamato's chest.
Slowly the nightmare began to fade. Pinkish orange light filtered into his dazed eyes, something was tickling his nose. A warmth enveloped him, such intense warmth! Ban moaned and drew himself closer to it. It was warm all around; so soft, so familiar... he wondered if he had found paradise.
"Ban-chan..." came a quiet murmur against his ear. Ban opened his eyes fully, to find Ginji snuggled against him, bathed in the morning sunlight. Ban smiled, realizing it was Ginji's hair that had been tickling his nose. He reached to run his fingers through the soft strands. How long Ginji's hair had gotten...
"Are you awake?" Ban said in a low whisper. A soft snore answered that. Ban sighed, continuing to stroke Ginji's hair, studying the face of his sleeping partner. Funny, how he felt so relaxed even after such a horrendous series of nightmares. It must have been how peaceful the blond looked, sleeping beside him, content, happy, so god damn beautiful. Ban paused at that last thought. He had never really used that word, never found much to use it for other than works of art and Madoka's music. But there it was, Ginji, his friend, his partner, his one and only joy in life lay there bathed in light, glowing like some ethereal being with his mouth slightly agape and emanating soft snores. He wondered what would it be like to touch that mouth with his own, to kiss Amano Ginji.
He was an inch away from doing so as well, when there was a quiet knocking on the door.
Ban jerked himself back, just as Maria stepped with a tray laden with a bowel of something giving off an ominous red smoke and a glass of something white that Ban certainly hoped was milk.
"Hag, what the hell?"
"Good morning to you too sweetheart." Maria replied, setting the tray down on the bureau. "I thought you might be a little more grateful, seeing as I just saved your sanity last night. You should be polite to your elders." She beamed at Ban, and the brunet found he could not bring himself to be too contemptuous to the woman. Regardless of the grudges he held against his family, Maria had shown him nothing but kindness even as the apprentice to his grandmother. Maria picked up the bowl and a spoon, and took a seat at the edge of the bed.
"How did we get here?" Ban inquired, a little more composed.
"I'll explain later," Maria replied, handing him the bowl of some foul broth that was even redder than the steam it was giving off. "Take this. It's precautionary, but necessary. It should prevent any relapse of Fudo Myo-o's toxin."
Ban wrinkled his nose. "Is that steaming blood?"
"No." Maria responded.
"It looks like steaming blood."
"Just drink it, it won't kill you to cooperate for a change."
Ban dipped the spoon into the liquid and tasted it. He was surprised to find it had no flavour whatsoever, so he quickly downed it. He didn't feel like arguing the point any further with Maria. It felt too early in the morning for it to be early in the morning and god damn it he had been inches away from Ginji and all the blond seemed capable of doing now was snuggle a little closer and give a soft, sleepy whimper that could melt even the hardest of hearts.
Maria made a little cooing noise when she saw this, like a mother fussing over an infant that just did something indescribably adorable.
Ban simply glared in response.
"You make him so happy," she gave a wistful sigh. "He was up until god only knows when, watching over you."
Ban remained silent, watching Maria, wondering just where she was going with this.
"It is so obvious," She said when it seemed Ban had glued his mouth shut.
"What's obvious?" Ban snapped, although very quietly. Ginji had made stirring motions in his sleep, and Ban had a feeling he didn't want the blond to hear whatever it was Maria had to say.
"That you love him." She said simply.
Ban had no idea how to respond to this, so he simply settled in to glowering at her again.
"But," she began, standing up and passing Ban the glass of milk, "it's your business if you want to tell him or not. I'll give you some advice though; you'll only have yourself to blame if he gets away."
"What's going on? How did we get here?" Ban demanded again sharply, trying to change the subject.
Maria laughed. "When Gin-chan wakes up, you can ask him. From what Bai Hu told me, it's a very long story. Oh, and later on today I want you to search my apprentice's room for evidence of the break in. Yes Ban, don't look at me like that, Bai Hu told me everything, and yes you can trust him. He's a very good friend of mine. He just can't interfere directly because of... certain rules. Anyway, just get some rest. Bai Hu told me your car should be outside later this afternoon." Maria shut the door behind her when she left.
Without saying a word, Ban slumped back into the pillow. He felt very tired and his body ached from god only knew what sort of damage that had been inflicted on him the night before. Ginji stirred again, this time cracking open one sleepy brown eye.
"Ban-chan?" Came a drowsy murmur from Ban's side. Ginji suddenly snapped his head up. "Ban-chan!"
"Good morning," Ban said casually, and he meant it. Just seeing that look of happy shock plastered on the blond's face was enough to raise his spirits to high heaven.
"Ban-chan!" Ginji flung himself into Ban's arms, sobbing uncontrollably. "Ban-chan! Ban-chan! Ban-chan!"
"Hey, calm down, crybaby," Ban growled roughly, although he shifted his position just slightly so Ginji was completely pressed against him. No point in not taking full advantage of the moment.
Ginji stared up at his partner, one of his radiant smile etched onto his face. "Ban-chan, you're okay!" He paused, an expression of concern replacing his smile. "You are okay, right?"
Ban responded with a hug of his own that left Ginji breathless.
"Damn right I am," Ban murmured against Ginji's ear. He could feel Ginji's smile return from the way the muscles in the blond's face moved against Ban's cheek. It felt nice... it felt right. It was the way things were supposed to be.
They stayed like that for a long time, neither wanting to detach himself from the other if they could help it. For once, things were right in the world, in this tiny guestroom illuminated by the late winter sunlight. All was right, that is until Ginji let loose the waterworks again.
"Jesus, what is it now?" Ban demanded, pulling away and planting his hands firmly on Ginji's shoulders to look his partner squarely in the face.
"I thought you were going to die! You had all these burns on you, all over, real bad. Even your hands," Ginji grabbed both of Ban's hands in his own and inspected them to make sure that Bai Hu's strange healing potion had not been some illusion. Satisfied, he hugged them to his chest. "Especially your hands... some of the bone had even been black... Ban-chan, oh Ban- chan! I'm sorry, I was so useless, but there was nothing I could do if he wasn't on the ground, and--"
Ban drew one hand away from Ginji's unusual embrace and rested a single silencing finger on the boy's lips.
"Shh. Idiot, do I look dead to you?"
Ginji shook his head. "No..." He murmured, his lips moving ambiguously kiss- like against the pad of Ban's index finger. Ban gave a happy little sigh, leaning forward and resting his forehead against Ginji's. The tips of their noses were touching, and Ban realized just how close their lips were. He slid his hand around Ginji's head and drew the blond into what might have been their first kiss had Mei not burst in at that very moment.
"Ban-san! Ginji-san!" She exclaimed and then quickly spun around, her cheeks flushing when she realized what she had walked in on. "S-sorry! I didn't realize... oh my..."
Ban and Ginji shuffled apart looking like a pair of kids caught with their hands in the cookie jar.
"It wasn't what it looked like." Ban stated firmly.
"It wasn't?" Ginji sounded dismayed.
"Well," Ban managed, but he couldn't think of anything to say that would 1) save the moment he had managed to snag with Ginji, and 2) convince the midget that he hadn't been about to do what he had been about to do.
"Lady Maria told me to come in here and make sure you two weren't horsing around." Mei declared, saving Ban the trouble of explaining himself.
Ban noted the tone Mei had distinctly used with the phrase 'horsing around'. He made sure he gave her the full brunt of one of his annoyed glares. "Hair dye is bad for your brain, short stuff." Ban retorted, in comment on Mei's hair that had been dyed a shade of violet that presented the brain with a tough decision between a) begin to rapidly kill brain cells in an attempt of suicide or b) convulse violently before shutting down. Ban tried not to look at the hair. He valued his brain cells almost as much as he valued Ginji.
"It's good stuff," she insisted. "My own mixture of herbs and pigments and a little magic. None of those weird chemicals that burn your hair out or cause brain damage..." she paused momentarily at this, "... to those who put it in their hair anyway. And it works on every colour hair without having to bleach first."
"You make hair dye?" Ban said incredulously.
"And clothes. I want to start my own line," she rocked happily on the balls of her feet like a little kid, the violet hair flopping backwards and forwards like some glossy pendulum.
"You're weird." Ban stated. So the kid had an obsession with fashion. "Maria said I'm supposed to check out your room for anything that might give us some information on who broke in."
"Yeah, she told me to tell you when you're ready to get up that you should do that." And Mei was out the door before Ban could reply, and it shut with an audible click.
He glared sourly at the closed door, silently cursing Mei in every language he knew (German, English, Japanese and some Mandarin). Ginji was watching Ban, shifting nervously in his place on the bed.
"Ban-chan?" He managed tentively.
"What?" Ban snapped, more at the door than Ginji. He would curse doors into whatever place doors considered hellish for not providing the privacy they so often seemed to advertise.
"Are you angry?"
"Yes!"
Ginji smiled and Ban found himself in another one of Ginji's hugs. "Then Ban-chan is okay. I'm happy."
Ban sighed and patted Ginji's shoulder gingerly. "Yeah, I'm alright. I guess I was in pretty bad shape last night, huh?"
Ginji nodded against Ban's chest, exhaling softly. "Un. But you're alright. That's all that matters to me."
"Heh, you're easy to please." Ban rested a hand gently on Ginji's back, stroking soothingly.
"Mm... Ban-chan is being very nice to me lately. You're actually letting me hug you more than usual."
"Hn, you've been really clingy lately. What else can I do?"
Ginji shrugged, making sure to snuggle a little more against Ban. They were quiet for a long time, and Ban felt his eyes beginning to close again.
"Ban-chan?"
"Hm?"
"Do you love me?"
It wasn't the first time Ginji had rendered Ban speechless. In fact the blond's innocence and childish manner often caused Ban many moments of pause and reflection because Ginji could be truly quite profound without ever realizing it.
That was because Ginji was a simple person.
People often made the mistake of thinking that meant the same thing as stupid.
---------------
Maria tapped her finger on the glittering surface of the small prism. It rang out, clear as a bell and then shattered into tiny rainbow fragments of dust.
"Close, but still no good. Keep at it though, you've got the concept mastered but your application of it is still a bit sloppy. You rushed at the end, didn't you?" She brushed her hands together to rid herself of the remains of the fragmented crystal, surveying her apprentice closely.
"Ahhnnn..." Mei groaned, hanging her head in disappointment. "I thought I had it that time too, I really did. Ah well."
"You tried to store up too much time in it. The dimensions were crisscrossing too rapidly. Too many futures spindled together. It's like a spider building a web with too much thread, it can be balanced, but a brush of wind will cause it to collapse in on its self. At least they're not exploding anymore. I only have one vile left of my burn remedy... that reminds me, I have to make some more next half moon..."
Mei gave the twinkling remains of her experiment a disdainful look. "They were about to kiss."
"Good for them." Maria flopped down on the living room couch selecting a small, clear crystal from a large collection. "Try this one. It might yield better results. And stop spying on those two, it's about damn time little Ban-Ban found himself SOMETHING to be happy about." Maria chuckled. "And Ginji is such a little snookie-wookie pootie-pie I'm not surprised Ban is drawn to him."
" 'Snookie-wookie pootie-pie'?" Mei inquired, an incredulous expression camping on her face. Maria laughed and pinched her apprentice's cheek affectionately.
"Aw, you're a little cutesy-wootsy tootsie-too, too." She let go, laughing.
"You really are a very weird teacher." Mei stated firmly.
"Well you're no normal apprentice either. You've got talent, you just don't apply it to anything but making clothes."
"I like clothes," Mei said defensively.
Maria raised a brow. "Then why did you take an apprenticeship to be a witch? Why not go to a design school instead?"
Mei looked miserable, twirling her finger around a lock of very violet hair. "I dunno. I sort of fancied being a witch... it would be... something different."
"Was that your only initiative when I made the offer?" Maria had sobered up, resting her chin on the palm of her hand.
"No, no, no. There was something else, but I sort of lost sight of it until the... uh... incident." Mei trailed off, shuffling from one foot to another.
Maria smiled. "Do us a favor and don't loose sight of what drives you again. It cost us one of Zhu Que's tears. Let's not loose the other one, hmm?"
Mei smiled, running her hand nervously through the dyed strands. "I won't. The other tear isn't leaving my body." She tapped the earring to emphasize her point. "Ban-san and Ginji-san are really alright for this?"
"If they get the treasures, then they'll have a lead. Nonetheless, I want them to search the break in. There might be something."
Mei nodded and sank down into the oversized armchair.
---------------
"Huh...?" was the most profound thing Ban could have managed at that moment.
"I asked if--"
"I heard what you said," Ban snapped, unable to believe his ears. But then again, he thought, it made sense. It would have to be said eventually, probably sooner than later because even he was aware of opening up more than usual to his partner. He just hadn't expected the blond to be the one to initiate the conversation. Ginji stared Ban in the eye with a pleading look. Not the puppy face he got when he wanted food and they had no money. Not the whimpering baby eyes he got when things didn't go quite his way. It was a look of utter desperation, hoping against hope that he made the right choice.
"Do you?" Ginji managed miserably. He had a feeling that saying that would spoil everything. He had a feeling that this was going to be the biggest mistake of his life. Ban just wasn't like that.
"What makes you think..." Ban began, trying to cover his tail, and then realized that if he did that then it would be the stupidest thing imaginable. You only have one shot to get this right, so grab fate by the balls...
Ban leaned forward. "...That I don't?"
After that, Ban could never quite remember who closed the distance between them, but he remembered never to kiss Ginji again unless the blond had brushed his teeth.
"Jesus," Ban spat, "I don't think we should try that again until a little later."
Ginji coughed and nodded. Some things just take experience. Still he felt a little hurt that their first kiss hadn't gone how he wanted it to. Ban put an arm around the downcast Ginji's shoulder, brushing his lips to the corner of the blond's eye.
"Either way, I'm glad."
Ginji nestled closer, practically purring. Something, for once, had gone right.
---------------
"You didn't clean up since the break in?" Ban asked, mildly surprised as he and Ginji stepped into Mei's room. Other than the window having been magically repaired (probably by Maria. Ban had a gut feeling that if Mei tried to use magic to repair something it would come to life and start devouring everything in sight), everything was, well, everywhere. There were scorch marks on the wall, furniture had been knocked over or broken, and a lamp lay on the floor, its shade several feet away.
"No. Never clean a crime scene until you've gotten absolutely every scrap of information you can from it. I saw that on a forensic show on the television once."
Ban nodded. Ginji was preoccupied with the several torsos displaying an array of rather cute, brightly coloured outfits.
"Wow-ow! Did you make all of these, Mei-chan?"
Mei smiled, running her hand through her very violet hair. The colour made Ban's eyes water, as though it was trying to suck them out of his sockets. He directed his gaze to something else, something that had just caught his attention.
"Yup! Do you like them?"
"Un. Are they girl or boy outfits? I can't tell."
Mei laughed and flopped down in a beanbag chair. A leopard-print beanbag chair.
"Both boys or girls can wear them. You can take one if you want, those are too big for me and Maria won't wear it for the life of her."
"Mmm..." Ginji moaned, burying his face in the velvety soft felt sleeve that was the same colour as Mountain Dew. "It's so soft! It must be nice and warm!"
Ban looked to his partner, averting his eyes from whatever had caught his attention earlier. "You go out dressed in that, I swear I'll leave you to freeze to death outside."
Ginji stuck his tongue out at his partner, sliding on the jacket. "Mmm, it is nice and warm! Here Ban-chan, feel it! Feel it!" Before Ban could respond, Ginji had the rather large coat around the both of them.
"See how warm it is?" Ginji took full advantage of their proximity to sneak a hug, before bounding off to go eyeball the rest of Mei's technicolour masterpieces.
"Ch, idiot," Ban grunted but with no actual bite in his voice. He suddenly remembered what he had found. "Hey Mei, do you keep crows by any chance?"
Mei shook her head. "Witches haven't kept crows since the fifties, I thought."
Ban nodded, "Do you collect feathers? Or use them for sewing?"
Mei shook her head again "Besides an old pink feather boa I got at the salvation army, I don't have anything that would be molting."
Ban held up a few black feathers a little too dramatically which suggested he had been dying for a chance to show off.
"Looks like Ginji and I need to have a talk with the monkey trainer then."
---------------
It didn't fit. That's what Ginji kept saying after explaining what had happened to Ban last night. Ban had been pleased to find the Lady Bug parked outside, not to mention Maria had given him a vile of clear liquid she claimed to be the burn remedy that had saved Ban's life. It might come in handy, was the only explanation she offered. He wondered vaguely what he would need an old burn remedy for. Hadn't Bai Hu already healed him up?
When Ginji groaned in frustration once again, Ban decided that maybe he ought to offer some insight, even if he really was about as puzzled about the whole matter as his partner.
"I don't know what the monkey trainer would want with the stone tears. Regardless of all his stupid pigheaded antics, he doesn't strike me as someone who'd possess the greed that the tears of Zhu Que claims to satisfy."
"Maybe something happened to Madoka?"
"We would have heard something about it. She's our friend too, ya know."
Ginji looked hopeless. Nothing was working out now... nothing seemed to be making sense.
"I hope this isn't as bad is it seems..." Ginji whined, nuzzling against Ban's shoulder. Ban draped an arm around Ginji, shaking his head.
"I don't think it is. I mean really, how would he even know what they are? It's just between..." Ban trailed off, wanting to say 'it's just between witches and gods', but he was none of the above and yet he knew about the tears. Ginji would start asking inconvenient questions, and he was in too strange of a mood to be answering anything like that. Clouds had started to gather in the sky and a few flakes of snow whizzed by the car in white dotted blurs, heralding this afternoon's blizzard. "Well, we're going to Madoka's to find out, alright?" Ban reassured huffily, and Ginji just /smiled/! Ban made sure to steal a kiss from that smiling mouth, managing to keep one eye on the road.
"B... Ban-chan!" Ginji gasped, holding his hand to his lips, eyes wide with shock.
"Idiot, if you're going to be in love Midou Ban-sama, you gotta stay on your toes." Ban grinned, turning a corner. The white walls of Madoka's home was now in sight.
Ginji gave a mischievous smile as the lady bug pulled into an empty parking space along the side of the road.
And then pounced.
When they had pulled away (for need of oxygen rather than a desire to stop trying to fit the other's face in their mouth), the windows were more than a little steamed up.
"If you're gonna be in love with me, you gotta stay on your toes," Ginji parroted back at his partner, and Ban laughed. They cut an odd sight, Ginji leaning over awkwardly from his seat to rest his head on Ban's chest, while Ban was backed against the car door, his legs shifted at an odd angle.
"You may act dumb, but you learn pretty damn quick. C'mon, let's go say hi to the monkey trainer and his girlfriend before I end up with a hard on."
"What's that?"
"Never mind."
---------------
Madoka opened the door, her seeing-eye-dog Mozart standing protectively at her side.
"Ban-san! Ginji-san!" She sounded a little surprised when the Get Backers had greeted her. "You heard?"
Ban exchanged a look with Ginji. "Heard what?"
Madoka worried her lower lip, standing aside to let the two in then shut the door behind them. "I guess not... Shido-san had a run-in on his last retrieval about five days ago. He's pretty severely burned..."
Ban felt the weight of the vile in his pocket, and smirked. He was glad Madoka was blind, because he was grinning like a cat with cream while the girl was obviously in a state of distress. A plan was formulating...
"Could Ginji and I talk with Shido? We, ah, might be able to help."
Madoka nodded. "Certainly. He'll be happy to see the both of you." She paused a moment, and patted Ban on the shoulder. "Well, maybe not you, but you know how he can be."
Ban smirked, and Madoka smiled. They stepped into Shido's room.
"Shido-san!" Ginji exclaimed, bounding over to his friend who was sprawled on the bed. Shido, Ban could quickly tell, was the worse for wear. Bandages covered his left arm, and most of the left side of his face. Ban quickly recalled what Mei had said the day she had come into the Honky Tonk. Something about a fire spell on the intruders. Ban also noted the plural.
"Ginji..." Shido looked surprised to see Ginji at his bedside, although quite pleased that his friend had come. Then he spied Ban, leaning against the doorframe and talking in a hushed voice with Madoka. "What's that snake bastard doing here?" He nearly growled.
Ban glanced up, noticing Shido and gave him a contemptuous sneer. "Well, Ginji and I are kinda partners. We work together, ya know?"
Shido narrowed his one visible eye. "That doesn't mean you're attached at the friggin' hip."
"Not yet, anyway," Ban murmured. Madoka covered her mouth in a valiant effort to conceal the sudden burst of laughter. If Shido's eye narrowed any more, it'd be closed. Ginji failed to understand what Ban had implied, and instead fussed over Shido.
"Oh no, Mei-chan burned you bad. I bet that's what Maria meant when she said the burn remedy Bai Hu used on Ban-chan last night would come in handy. Shido, are you alright?"
Shido's expression softened at Ginji's concern. "Yeah, the doctor says the burns are mostly first degree, although I have a few second degree burns as well. Emishi went to go see what Gen has for it though, so I should be alri- -" He stopped in mid sentence and raised a brow. "What do you mean 'burn remedy'?"
"Oh," Ginji went off into the explanation of the injuries Ban had sustained the night before. When the blond was about to broach the subject of Bai Hu and Fudo Myo-o, Ban quickly cleared the distance between them and clamped his hand over Ginji's mouth.
"He doesn't need to know about that, Ginji." Ban looked up from Ginji. "The remedy works like a charm," Mostly because that's what it was, but Shido didn't need to know that. "I was in a hell of a lot worse shape last night from what I managed to understand from this idiot's," He bonked Ginji lightly on the head, "disjointed ramblings. And I'm as good as new now."
Shido sat up, glowering at Ban. Madoka had left to go tend to something or another and allow the three to talk in peace. "You're up to something, aren't you, snake bastard?"
"Not up to something per say," Ban said, grinning like a serpent. He dug into his pocket and produced the crystalline bottle, dangling it tantalizingly just out of Shido's reach. "Just cutting a deal."
Ginji was glaring at his partner, "Ban-chan," he said threateningly. Ban gave the blond a wink that Shido didn't notice through the haze of his bubbling rage. The snake bastard was going to make an ass out of him, he knew it.
"You're good at deals," Shido growled. "We'll see. Keep in mind I still have the hope of Gen-sensei."
Ban's serpent grin widened. "You tell us about the circumstances five days ago and how they came about, and I'll hand you the remedy and Madoka-chan doesn't have to play nursemaid anymore."
Shido glared. "You know that it's not proper business etiquette to give out the confidential information of clients."
Ban shrugged and farced dropping the bottle on the hard wood floor where it would have shattered had he not shot his hand out beneath the vile and caught it. Shido had also lunged for it, wincing when the rough underside of his bandages scraped the sensitive surface of his burns.
"Not very confident in the miracle man, are you?"
Shido sighed. It was clear he had lost and it would only be making a fool of himself if he pretended nothing had happened.
"Hevn set me up with a client. He had a suspicious scent to him, but I needed the money to pay my debts to Madoka so I didn't complain. Emishi was with me at the time. The client said a pair of earrings had been stolen from him, said they were a special family heirloom and he needed them back. He gave Emishi and me the address and which room to break into where we could retrieve them. We went in, and the person in there... something happened, because the minute I grabbed the earrings there was a burst of flames. I dropped one but Emishi and I got away with our lives."
Ban frowned, looking thoughtful for a moment.
"Shido-san, do you still have the earring?" Ginji asked hopefully.
"No." Said Shido flatly. "The client picked it up yesterday and paid me half of the agreed fee."
Ban and Ginji let out a collective sigh of disappointment.
"Do you know you're clients name?" Ban finally asked.
"Yeah, Hevn said his name was..." Shido furrowed his brow, trying to recall. "It was a Chinese name, I know that. It was... Taiyi."
"Well that helps. Anything else?"
Shido shook his head. "He just said the earrings were an heirloom."
Ban tossed the vile of clear liquid at Shido and is landed in his lap with a muffled thud.
"Right, well I'll warn you monkey trainer; don't go after the other one, or I guarantee you the occupants of that house won't be so nice as to let you off with a few second degree burns."
"What are you talking about?" Shido growled. "I knew there was more to those earrings than just some damn heirloom. You know something about this, now spill it you snake bastard."
"Shido-san, Ban-chan, stop fighting!" Ginji pleaded as the two exchanged dangerous glares that implied that exchanging blows was a prospect of the near future.
"I don't owe you any explanations, monkey boy. I'm being nice and warning you to keep yourself as far from this as possible. I think you already know this, but you're client is a fraud. Those earrings have been in the line he was trying to steal them back from since the days Bhudda walked."
Ban turned on his heel and stepped out of Shido's room. Ginji had stayed behind to help his friend use the remedy and make sure Shido would be alright.
Madoka approached Ban slowly, but steadily, her hand rested on the guide- dog's head.
"I wasn't spying, but I couldn't help to overhear," she started, scratching behind Mozart's ears. "Well, I know how stubborn he can be... especially with you. Could you tell me what he's gotten himself into, so maybe I could help?"
Ban shrugged, about to light a cigarette, but thought better of it considering this was not his home and he doubted if Madoka took well to cigarette smoke. It wasn't that he thought her frail. She had proven herself repeatedly that she was neither weak of body or of mind, having handled herself quite well in danger considering her impairment. He just felt it was inappropriate to apply his general inconsideration to society in the presence of one of the few people he respected.
"He hasn't gotten himself into anything if he backs down now and minds his own business."
"Aa." Madoka smiled. "I believe that'll happen when hell freezes over, as the saying goes."
"Damn right. Monkey trai-Shido is too stubborn for his own good. What Ginji and I are neck deep in right now would be way over his head. It's way over Ginji's head now that I think about it..."
Madoka laughed. "Well, I wish you luck then. I'll use my feminine wiles and get Shido to forget about this job."
Ban was smiling. He knew damn well that Madoka's concept of feminine wiles was exchanging smiles and holding hands, and the monkey trainer was so reserved that that was probably how he saw it as well. Ah, young love.
While on the subject of young love, Ginji stepped out of Shido's room and latched himself onto Ban's arm.
"Ban-chan, I think we should go now. Shido is very angry with you." Ginji tugged on Ban, heading towards the stairs. "Thank you very much Madoka- chan, and Shido will be absolutely a-o-kay! Let's go quick, Ban-chan, I gave him a little jolt so he wouldn't come after you immediately but your little bargain dealie* has seriously pissed him off."
Ban smirked as he was dragged away, Madoka waving in their general direction cheerfully. "Let him come Ginji, I'll show him and his little pets a thing or two."
"No," said Ginji firmly. "You two fight enough as it is. Bye bye Madoka! Shido should be up and about in no time! Ah, tell him I'm sorry but it was for his and Ban's own good."
"Feh, don't fuss over my good. I can take care of myself." Ban huffed.
"I will, don't worry," Madoka called back.
The door opened and closed and they were gone.
---------------
Ban and Ginji climbed the three sets of stairs to their floor, both feeling rather exhausted from the night before. Despite the fact the two were in good physical condition (thanks to Maria), Ginji was emotionally exhausted, and although Ban didn't say anything, he was sore from head to toe, and felt several twinges of pain where he had sustained the more severe burns.
"I think we should take tonight off." Ginji stated. Ban was about to protest, explaining that they were only going up to the apartment for a quick shower each, and a change of clothes, but Ginji quieted him with a soft kiss on the cheek. "We're both tired, and I know you're still in pain. Kamakura is a pretty long drive and maybe we should rest up before heading off to another temple. I mean, we kinda know what to expect now."
Ban stared at his partner in shock, and then grinned like the Cheshire cat. "You just want me all to yourself for the evening."
"That too." Ginji replied smiling sheepishly. It felt like they had been like this for ages rather than a few short hours.
"And I always thought you were innocent..." Ban tsked as they stopped outside their door.
"What's wrong with kissing?"
Ban stopped rummaging for his keys and gave his partner a disbelieving look. "Nothing's wrong with kissing. I just thought... oh never mind. I'll just explain it to you some other time."
The door unlocked with an audible click and the two stepped inside. They weren't alone.
Two men were seated on the couch. One was blond, his hair heavily spiked with generous amounts of gel, and pale skinned. His clothes were shabby, consisting of a faded leather jacket, covered extensively in silvery studs, a ragged old t-shirt that looked like a family of mice had a party on it, tattered jeans ripped at the knees and a pair of dark leather shoes. He seemed to be pierced in every place imaginable; ears, eyebrows, nose, lip, tongue, probably some other places too, but this story is at a pg-13 rating and it's staying that way. The other man was dark skinned. His hair was in hundreds of rows of beaded braids that fell far below his shoulder blades and clacked together whenever he moved. He wore far more comfortable looking clothes; a huge over-sized khaki coloured cashmere sweater that hung on the slim muscular frame in a manner that could only be deemed sexually alluring. He wore jeans as well, but unlike the blond's they were practically new. His footwear was a pair of brown leather dress shoes.
"Hello," said the neatly dressed man, "My name is Xuan Wu. The one who looks like he's been too intimate with a staple gun is Qing Long. We're here to check in on the progress of the retrieval."
Ban and Ginji silently gaped at the two.
---------------
To be continued...
---------------
*Dealie: A term my koibito uses quite often
Translations:
Si Xiang: Four cardinal directions (I don't know if the Si Xiang has a formal title in Japanese. If you know it does and what it is, please tell me I'll happily credit you! My language skills are pathetically feeble...)
Zhu Que: Red Phoenix/Flame Pheonix. Suzaku in Japanese. (Southern guardian)
Bai Hu: White Tiger/Tiger King. Byakko in Japanese. (Western guardian)
Qing Long: Green/Blue Dragon (or East Dragon Chinese has too many meanings) Seiryu in Japanese. (Eastern guardian)
Xuan Wu: Turtle Serpent. Genbu in Japanese. (Northern guardian)
Taiyi: This is actually a bit of a Houshin Engi reference. Taiyi (Taiitsu) was the one who implanted life in Nachu's (Nataku) mother so that she could give birth to the child after being pregnant with him for three years. (I'm not sure if any of these are the right spelling, but my grasp of Chinese is limited to what my friends tell me. Taiyi in this story is NOT the Taiyi from the legend. I just like the name I mean... it's meant to be symbolic. Yes.
-----
Ai-chan: W00t! Part Five is complete! So sorry it took so long but I've been totally addicted to Dink Smallwood and then proceeded to also get addicted to Silent Hill. Great games. That and I'm trying to keep Mei from becoming a Mary Sue (reason for her existence? I couldn't see Maria going to the Get Backers over something like this, thus the need for a rather incompetent apprentice) * smirk *. Anyway, hope you all have been enjoying the ride thus far. Things are beginning to unwind...
Ban: You are shameless.
Ai: I know. Shut up and go make mad passionate monkey love with you're boyfriend.
Ginji: Wai! Mad passionate monkey love! Hooray! Ban-chan...?
Ban: * glare-o-doom at Ai * Yes?
Ginji: What's mad passionate monkey love?
Ban: Um... come to the bedroom. I'll show you there.
Bedroom door slams shut with a small sign on the knob reading: "Knock and Die." *