DISCLAIMER: I don't own the Get Backers, or any of the characters. (But I'll be rich some day...)

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Ban walked out into Kazuki's living room. Ginji had filled him in on everything that had happened. They'd found the microchip clutched tightly in Ban's fist. He'd been in the hospital for a day after he had woken up, and had spent the last two days in Kazuki's apartment.

Kazuki was in the kitchen, cutting vegetables for dinner. He looks so peaceful, so happy.

"Midou-san, you can use the shower if you want. Ginji has your spare clothes in the bag by the couch. I know you haven't eaten in days. Dinner will be ready by the time you're done."

Ban nodded silently, picking up the bag as Ginji started helping Kazuki out with dinner. He walked into the bathroom and stripped. He turned on the shower, waiting for the water to reach the perfect hot-warm temperature he loved. The water felt heavenly running down his sore body, working out the kinks in his muscles. He soaped and shampooed, instantly recognizing the sweet smells that were always a part of Kazuki. No wonder Fuuchouin always smells amazing. This stuff is great.

He stepped out and turned off the water as he felt it run cold. He dried himself and dressed before stepping out to the wonderful aroma of freshly cooked food.

"Finally, Ban-chan, you're done. We can eat now!" Ginji hugged him again.

"You should've started without me, Ginji."

The string master's bells tinkled. "I told him that, but he insisted we wait for you."

Ban gave Ginji one of his rare sincere smiles as he sat down for dinner. Dinner was surprisingly fun for Ban. Ginji kept up his normal cheerful banter, still managing to eat the most food. Ban tried to keep up with him, all the while maintaining mild verbal sparring with Kazuki. And the food was delicious. The first mouthful had almost made him smile. Fuuchouin, do you have to be perfect at everything? Ban thought just a tad affectionately as he continued eating.

Almost as soon as dinner was over, Ginji yawned widely.

"You should go to bed, Ginji. You've lost too much sleep staying awake with Midou-san the last few days." Kazuki's voice held the slightest hint of reproach.

"All right, Kazu-chan. Ban-chan, promise you'll wake me up if you need anything."

Ban sighed softly. "I promise, Ginji. Good night now."

"Good night, Ban-chan," Ginji replied through another yawn and hugged him sleepily. "Thanks again, Kazu-chan."

Kazuki smiled at the droopy-eyed former Volts leader. "You're welcome."

Ban and Kazuki sat in silence watching the news after Ginji's exit. Finally, after around twenty minutes, Ban spoke up. "I would've been fine staying at the Honky Tonk, you know. Paul's got a loud bark, but he's really pretty nice."

"Yes, I know that."

"Then why did you bring me here? So I could owe you for this?" Ban felt a surge of bitterness against Kazuki.

"Lose the arrogance, Midou-san. I did this for Ginji. This way, at least I could make sure he was well-fed and comfortable."

"Oh..." The bitterness ebbed slightly, replaced by a tinge of jealousy. "I still don't like living off you, Yarnball."

"You're not. I... well, we all owed you for getting Ginji out of Mugenjou. I'd say we're even now."

"I didn't get him out. He chose to leave. All you damn Volts idiots are so quick to blame me for him leaving." Now Ban was starting to feel just a little overwhelmed. He had never talked so long with anyone other than Ginji in a long time. And so seriously, too. He hated to admit it, but it felt pretty good getting all the resentment he'd been harboring for so long out in the open.

Kazuki sighed. "Honestly, Midou-san, I cannot see why Ginji would choose someone so loud, arrogant and obnoxious for a partner. But he did, and I can see he's a lot happier than he ever was with us."

Ban smirked at the longhaired man. How much more contempt for me, Fuuchouin?

"Say what you want, but he was too good for you losers." Ban knew he was pushing it the minute the words left his mouth.

Kazuki's normally gentle eyes flared with anger. His voice was quiet, with a strongly passionate undertone. "This front you have, Midou-san, who do you think it's fooling? Stupid insults and harsh words. We all know your power, and I know you're smart. What are you-"

"Shut up, thread spool. I don't need your psychoanalysis. And since when do you care what I do or do not?"

Words. Stupid words. I already know his answer. Ginji. Always, for Ginji.

"For Ginji, Midou. I care about him. I don't want to see him worry like that again. And what thanks does he get for it? Insults, even him."

Ban stood up, almost looming over Kazuki. His skin seemed about to burst with the anger he was radiating. When he spoke, his voice was as low and controlled as Kazuki's. "Insults are not all that I give him, Fuuchouin Kazuki. I love him. And I make sure he knows that. Every single time we're together." With that, he strode into the bedroom where Ginji was obliviously asleep, and shut the door.

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I love him. And I make sure he knows that. Ban's words hung in the air around the Fuuchouin heir, echoing for eons in his head.

How do you make sure, Midou Ban? Kazuki wondered as his feet carried him slowly towards the bedroom. He opened the door quietly and looked in. Midou Ban and Amano Ginji were curled up on the opposite ends of the bed, their faces masks of serenity. Kazuki lingered a minute longer before returning to the couch and falling into an uneasy sleep.

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Ban walked between deeply asleep and widely awake several times that night. He probably thinks we're lovers, or something now. What a stupid choice of words.

He looked over at Ginji. The sight of him sleeping with his mouth open a bit, snoring softly brought a smile to Ban's face. It's so hard not to love you, Ginji. I wasn't lying back there. No wonder they all worshipped you. No wonder Kazuki loves you.

Ban felt a wave of resentment against Kazuki. He seemed to have a smile for everyone. Everyone but Ban. He thinks I'm beneath him. He admitted I was strong, but he still thinks I'm beneath him. That Ginji deserves better than me. I could've died back there, and all he'd have cared about was how Ginji would've felt about it.

On a sudden impulse, Ban shook his partner awake. Ginji rubbed his sleep-blurred eyes.

"Ban-chan, is everything ok?"

Ban smiled at his concern. "I, yes, everything's fine. Just... thanks."

Ginji smiled back. "It's all right, Ban-chan. Try and sleep, won't you?"

Ban lay back down, and listened to Ginji's breath become slower and more regular.

The calm Ginji had brought soon wore off in the darkness. His thoughts slowly became angry, vengeful.

He loves me, Fuuchouin, and he chose to come with me. He chose me over you. Angrier and angrier.

Yet, through it all, the one tiny voice persisted. But you love him. You love him anyway.

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I just realized I concentrate too much on the characters the story centres on... Next chapter should be up in a aday or so. I have tons of time on my hands right now, and I've been writing around five hours every day (an hour on this fic, and four on my story).

Thanks to yukie-chan for the review! Woohoo! I have two now! I plan on continuing through with this till the end, and it will probably end up pretty long given my obsession with complicating relationships. I kinda have an end planned, but I also want to spend some chapters on Ban and Kazuki being together, not just how they got there.

Kerian