Disclaimer: Same as before, no changes, well maybe one but it's a secret…actually no.

AN: To Atropo's Knife, I really appreciate the review and hope to make this story good enough for more, I've read your stuff as well as many other writers in this category and found hopefully a niche for myself, well here we go.

Get Backers Once More

Chapter Two: No? Are you sure?

"No." the two men conversing near the bar in the dive called "Honky Tonk" looked alike, but couldn't be anymore different. The slightly shorter one was put off by this remark as he flashed his blue eyes towards his companions' greens.

"No? What do you mean no?" Ban asked in increasing volume drawing even the normally aloof Paul away from his newspaper to witness. "Kuro" Takeshi removed his black square sunglasses and stuck them in one of the pockets of his black dress suit jacket.

"I mean No, I have no desire what so ever to help you out of you're mid life crisis." The taller man stated brushing Bans arm off from around his shoulder. Those in attendance were shocked at the callous apathetic tone this statement was covered in, but none so much as Ban.

"You got a lot a nerve! I trained you, formed from a lump of Euro-Trash clay to a half decent guy and you-"Ban was silenced by Kuro once again.

"Amano-San, I only came because you said it was important; don't tell me you agree with this?" Ginji, who had just polished off his breakfast, swallowed down the last few bits of food and got up to face Kuro.

"Well Kuro-Chan, it kind of makes sense if you think about it. I mean people lose stuff right? And someone's gotta get it back for them; just not two old farts like me and Ban-Chan." Ban snorted at this yet Kuro was unphased. He then turned his head slowly to look at the bar and those there.

"Sorry Amano-San not interested." Kuro said, taking a seat at the bar and shocking Paul by ordering breakfast and paying for it up front.

"So, this is what it's like." Paul muttered, accepting actual physical money from a customer. Ban then sat down on Kuros' right while Ginji sat next to Emiko who was on Kuros left. Emiko opened her mouth as if to say something, or at least greet the man who might become her partner but found the mans gaze too intense, too for lack of a better term: "scary", to talk to.

"Kuro, don't think I don't know how you have been getting by, you've been running a retrieval service of your own, right?" Ban asked, HEVN swore she could have seen a serpentine tongue lash out for a moment. Kuro merely lidded his emerald eyes and took a sip of the black coffee offered to him by way of Paul.

"Part time, fool, part time. It's only until I get in to Todai or at the very least Waseda." At that Paul crinkled his newspaper, Ban smirked, Emiko nearly choked on her coffee, HEVN raised and eyebrow and Ginji was…

"Waseda? Todai? You want to be a pop star Kuro-Chan?" a hit from Ban sent Ginji into the bar counter.

"Can you even breathe on your own Ginji?! Those two schools are some of the best in the country! Hell, Todai is the best!" Ban yelled.

"You're going? To one of those schools, I mean what about the entrance exams?" Emiko asked, bewildered as she suddenly remembered all the horror stories from her high school about last minute/late night cram sessions, days without sleep and the infection of heartwarming stories that trying to get into those schools created.

"I took the practice exams, scored something like fifth or second or something, I just need to save up some money as I'd rather not have to deal with the snakes…" Kuro glanced at Ban. "…the other snakes at the student loan department." HEVN ventured a look at the man who so nonchalantly stated he was doing what caused Ban and Ginji so much trouble.

"Pardon my rudeness but…are you any good?" HEVN asked. Kuro chewed on that…and his food for a few seconds before responding.

"I wouldn't really know, I don't do it to be good, rather I just do it for the money, so…I suppose to answer you I'm as good as I need to be." HEVN smiled, a little surprised at the blunt honesty of the reply or rather a reply like that coming from a guy who looked so much like Ban.

"Come on Kuro-Man, you're practically a Get Backer already, why not take the complete plunge?" Ban asked who then requested from Paul a possible early lunch only to hear the sharp pitch of a suddenly opened newspaper.

"Plunge? You mean bathing in fountains and living off hand me downs from the homeless? No thanks."

"But why not?!" Ban asked/yelled in an odd pout.

"Because I have a thing called pride Ban, no offense Amano-San." Kuro said finishing his breakfast quickly and then sipping his coffee.

"None taken Kuro-Chan, but are you really sure? Who knows, it could be fun to be a Get Backer, I enjoyed it!" Ginji said with a hand behind his head. Kuro couldn't help a small, almost imperceptible smile to that. Ban, seeing his opportunity jumped to Emikos' right.

"Yeah Kuro, it'll be fun and you'll get this cutie with you free of charge!" Ban said while cradling Emikos' head so that she was looking right at Kuro. The master of the Jagan soon found himself beaten down by two fists courtesy of HEVN and Emiko and a severe electric jolt from Mr. Raitei himself who then went on to continue yelling at Ban for even considering putting his daughter in danger. Kuro sighed and then left a tip for Paul much to his delight, Emiko looked up with a raised eyebrow at the mans near total apathy.

"Thank you once again for wasting my time Ban Mido." Kuro stood up and placed his sunglasses back on, gingerly stepping over the prone form of Ban.

"Kuro-Chan…" Ginji started.

"I'm sorry Amano-San, but your line of work is not for me."

"You can just call me Ginji…" a few seconds later and Kuro was out the door, with a quickly recovered Ban right out after him.

"Dad, who was that guy, Uncle Ban-Chans' son or…" Emiko began, seeing the odd reactions she was receiving from this question she decided to stop herself.

"Well, Emi, it's kind of complicated…I mean they're not related but I guess you could say they have a father-son, mentor…uh…er…" it was now Ginjis turn to stutter off.

"Let's just say that years ago, when Ban left Japan, he found a kindred spirit in Russia. I'll leave the rest for one of them to explain." Paul said pulling his eyes back behind the newspaper. HEVN then cleared her throat and began to walk out rather hastily, a fact that neither Ginji nor Emiko failed to notice.

0000000000

"What the hell is your problem!?" Ban yelled out, practically waking all of Lower Town. Kuro looked at him casually and then slid a cancer stick between his lips, as he lit up he responded.

"I said it in there Ban; I have no desire whatsoever to become a Get Backer." Ban thought on this, and then took out a cigarette of his own, Kuro tossed his lighter and the two smoked outside the Honky Tonk for a few minutes in perfect silence.

"So, how's Miss Himiko?" Kuro asked.

"Don't change the subject, I want to know what the hell the big deal is about you becoming a dakkanya." A few more moments passed as the air near the duo became steadily more foggy. "You'll make a lot of money." Ban added in a sing song tone.

"Don't care."

"You'll meet lots of cute chicks…even though most will probably want to kill you…"

"Wow…appealing" deadpan.

"…okay, I didn't want to play this card Kuro-Chan but…if you do a few jobs like two or three…I'll tell you what I know about…her whereabouts and his." Some ash fell to the wet concrete as proof of a shaken cigarette. Kuro looked over at Ban and found not a trace of mirth in his far off expression nor of any cynicism as he looked up at the early morning sky. With one last sigh and a hand through his hair, Kuro sealed his fate for the time being.

"Alright, two, three jobs max, but I expect that information and soon." Ban smiled a genuine smile which quickly perverted itself.

"So, it's been a few months Kuro-Chan how many girls have you used my "after hours" training on?" Kuro smirked a lazy way.

"Not much, probably still about double your virgin snake ass." Ban glared for a moment but could only hold it for a moment or two as he burst out laughing with Kuro allowing a laugh or two.

"Hey Snake bastard!" HEVN yelled out as she was leaving the Honky Tonk.

"Ah, the babe signal, yes my dear?" Ban asked in some faux mock sincerity. HEVN scowled and took out her phone.

"I hope you have Kuro-Chan convinced because a new job offer just came in…"

To Be Continued

AN: Hope you enjoyed it, read and review if you can, later.