DISCLAIMER: I don't own the Get Backers or any of the characters. (But I should!)
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"Ka-Kazu-chan? Wow! I always knew you liked him Ban-chan!"
Ban grinned. "Oh, that's why you asked me if I loved another girl, huh Ginji?"
Ginji pouted. "You don't have to be like that."
He pulled Ban in a big hug. "I'm so glad for you, Ban-chan. You won't be mopey now, will you?"
Ban shook his head. "Not any more, Ginji."
The last few hours seemed to have whizzed past. They had stayed like that for while, kissing in the park. Softly, they'd pulled apart and walked around in silence, just enjoying each other's presence. It had felt wonderfully right to Ban. Yet, when he didn't speak, it bothered me. Maybe I'm just a little scared of what goes on in his head when he's not talking.
He had walked Kazuki back to his place, gently brushing his lips across his cheek in goodbye. Such soft skin...
"Ban-chaaaan..." Ginji gave him a big grin.
"What is it, Ginji?"
"You just went all goofy-looking for a while, Ban-chan!"
Ban smacked him on the head. "No, I didn't. I was thinking."
"About Kazu-chan! Wow, you must have it really bad!"
Ban gave a low growl. "I think I'll go make a call to a certain person named Natsumi. She'll be very interested in the things you were saying in your sleep, Ginji."
"Ban-chan!" Ginji was blushing furiously. "I wasn't saying anything in my sleep!"
"My word against yours, Ginji, my word against yours."
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It was around ten-thirty at night when Ban's television watching was interrupted by loud knocking on the door. Ban opened the door cautiously. It was Juubei. Ban opened the door all the way and invited him in.
"Kazuki told me about the park today, Ban." Juubei started off bluntly, without any greeting.
"Is this the Kazuki-is-mine-stay-away-from-him talk?"
Juubei sighed. "I'm going to be honest with you, Ban. So I expect that in return. Is Ginji asleep?"
Ban shook his head. "He's at the Honky Tonk, waiting for Natsumi to finish up. He doesn't want her going home alone so late."
"Okay then. I wanted to ask you Ban, does Kazuki really mean anything to you, or is he just some toy fo-"
"Shut up," Ban snarled, "Don't ever call him that again. Don't even imply it."
A hint of smile played across Juubei's lips. "So you do care for him, Ban. Then listen to this very carefully. He has been hurt before, and betrayed. If you ever give him any reason to cry, Midou Ban, do not expect me to hold back on you."
A sharp retort rose in Ban's throat, but he held it to himself. "I'll never hurt him, Juubei, neither will I betray him." Like you did. "So hold your threats and let us be happy."
Juubei nodded curtly. "Fine, Midou Ban, I'll take you word for it."
As he left, Ban wondered how many more of Kazuki's friends would pay him a visit like this.
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Ban snuck glances at Kazuki from his booth. Kazuki was sitting at the counter, sipping coffee as he ate a muffin for breakfast. Ban smiled to himself as he saw a tiny crumb break off the muffin and fall to his chin. A look of slight annoyance crossed over Kazuki's face as he brushed it off.
Kazuki looked up from his breakfast to look at Ban. Smiling, he walked up to his booth and slid in next to him. "Good morning, Ban."
"Took you long enough." Ban put out his cigarette. "Did you sleep all right?"
Kazuki gave him a slightly flirtatious look. "Yes, Ban, I had very pleasant dreams."
Ban shook his head. I really hope he doesn't make any more bad puns. "You here to see a client?" Ban tried making small talk.
"No, I came to see you. We're together now, aren't we, Ban?"
Ban looked at him in mild surprise. "Did Juubei say something to you?"
"Juubei? No... why?" Kazuki seemed a little confused.
"Nothing, I just thought maybe he did. Anyway, yes, we are together, unless you say so otherwise."
"Oh, no, I was just thinking I could take you out to lunch. Our first official date."
Ban poked him in the ribs. "Lunch, huh? How romantic," he said sarcastically. "I thought I at least deserved a nice dinner."
Kazuki moved to the opposite seat, out of reach of Ban's fingers. The Master of Strings was a very ticklish person. "Why, Ban, I didn't think you had any romance in your blood"
Ban narrowed his eyes at him. "How about I take you out tonight. Dinner. Somewhere nice. The way a first date should be properly done."
"All right, Ban, do your best."
"Oh, I doubt you can handle my best just yet, Kazuki," Ban drawled, his voice just a tad seductive. The slight shiver the words gave Kazuki just about made Ban's week.
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A very short chapter, I know. I started out writing, and their first date ended up so long, I decided to just make another chapter out of it. It will probably run around 1500-2000 words in itself. (What can I say? I'm a big date person myself)
Thanks once again to Ryuuen kurai. I find it really hard to write from Ban's POV. We're nothing alike, me and him (me being a pretty hyper, very emotional, genki brat), apart from the fact that we're both male. Hmm... though we have slightly similar ethnicities... sorry, I digress. I like to think Ban's mostly normal, really, under all that. /cries/ I'm stuck writing my book. I've been on the same page for the last two hours, writing and rewriting. I really do need all the luck I can get now.
I'm glad you like this chapter, it reinforces my faith in this fic.
Next chapter will be up tonight or tomorrow, depending on how things go.
Kerian