DISCLAIMER: I don't own Get Backers.

Author's Notes: Hi everyone! This is my first chapter. Enjoy reading!

Short Introduction: In this chapter, I'll give you a glimpse of my favorite pair, BanxKazuki.

Black Pearl

by Kasumi-san

Chapter 1 – Stuck Together

"Snake Bite! This is for you Big Mouth!"

The dragon was dented and a great amount of blood flowed from its arms. Strings then caught its whole body and the dragon was incised into pieces. Parts of its body were scattered and one of its arms fled towards Kazuki's leg, causing him so much pain, enabling him neither walk nor stand up.

"Ouch! That one hurts!" Kazuki complained with a lot of pain seen on his innocent face.

"Kazuki! Are you alright?" Though it was obvious that he's not okay, Ban still asked him as he rushed towards his co-worker. He immediately ripped off a piece of his shirt and tied it around Kazuki's ankle to lessen the pain.

"Arigatou Ban-kun!"

"Thread Spool, I'll carry you in my back. I know you can't stand with that condition." Kazuki agreed, having no choice but to accept Ban's aid. Ban carried him and he was surprised to find out that Kazuki is very light. It was a good thing so that he will not get tired easily for the long walk or travel that awaits them.

Later on, they arrived on thick walls standing in front of them. It was a maze. They found no other ways so they entered the maze. No uncertainties were seen on their faces because they both know the tactics on how to finish mazes - always stick to the right direction…always turn right! They started a long walk and also an on-off conversation with each other.

"What do you think? Where are the others?"

"I know they'll be in good conditions. Our team is made up of skilled fighters like us. I'm sure they can handle themselves. I just hope that each has partner so that if someone gets injured, the other can help. Right, Kazuki? Kazuki? Hey Thread Spool!"

Ban looked at him and found out that he was already asleep. He continued walking. "Good thing you have that stunning face…If not, I'm sure that I already left you alone…"He said to himself. Ban was smiling when he heard Kazuki speak, "Really?" Ban was terrified; he fretfully looked at Kazuki on his back, still asleep. Ban realized that the beautiful man was just dreaming. Ban took a deep breath and sniggered at himself for such immediate and odd reaction.

"Hey everyone! Are all of you guys alright?" Ban used his CCE to correspond with the others.

Ginji: Ban-chan, where are you? Himiko and I are just over and done with this dragon. Are you all right?

Ban: I'm all right Ginji. Currently I'm here on a maze with Itomaki at my back, sleeping.

Ginji: I'm glad you're fine. Be careful, Ban-chan. Take care of Kazu-san!"

Ban: Don't worry. I will.

Jubei: Hey Ban! Is Kazuki all right? He's sleeping? Sakura and I are still facing one of the dragons.

Ban: He was injured. His left leg was kind of busted that's why he can't walk. I placed a piece of cloth around his ankle. It was the part of his leg that was badly hurt. Don't worry I'm carrying him at my back. He's sleeping.

Jubei: Just take care of him. We'll just finish this one. Don't you ever let Kazuki get hurt or else…

Ban: Or else, what? Ne, whatever!

Makubex: Everyone! It's good that CCE is working. By the way, Akabane is with me. Shido already informed me of their situate. Emishi was with him. If there's any problem, just communicate with me. We'll still finish this dragon here. All of you tell me your locations.

Ban: In a maze…don't worry I can manage here!

Ginji: Still here in the forest…

Jubei: Also in the forest…

Shido: Forest too…

Makubex: All right! I think everyone is in good condition except Kazuki but I know Ban can take care of him. Ok team; let's just talk later. I know all of you can manage!

Meanwhile Ban and Kazuki finally went out of the maze. After thick walls, a huge mansion stood in front of them. Ban decided to enter and take a rest. It is also a good opportunity for Kazuki to restore all his strength and sleep so that, maybe soon, he can already recover from his broken leg.

Ban wandered through the mansion and brought Kazuki in a huge room upstairs. He laid him on the bed. He checked the room and found a shower room on the left corner. He decided to sleep on the sofa and take a bath later. Sleeping beside Kazuki approached his mind but he was hesitant so he ended up sleeping on the sofa. But before he finally took a rest, he massaged Kazuki's foot with oil that he had brought with him, just in case...Ban can't resist a glance on Kazuki's face. "I wonder why the gods didn't make him a woman. He was goddamn beautiful." Ban blushed. He decided to sleep right away before he could do something and sin…

The next day…

Kazuki woke up first and found Ban sleeping on the sofa. His right leg still aches but not that much. He doesn't know what happened but he feels better now (maybe because of Ban's massage on his right foot). Kazuki started fixing the bed and headed his way to the shower room. He can walk only when holding on something for support. He carefully walked towards the bathroom. He prepared the water in the bathtub. He also prepared some breakfast on the table, which he got from the refrigerator inside the room. Suddenly his leg ached to the extent that he lost his balance. He was about to fall when he felt tender arms around him, saving him from the fall. "You shouldn't be walking." Kazuki turned to the owner of those arms and found Ban. Ban immediately carried him back to the bed. Kazuki's cheeks suddenly turned red. He immediately turned his face away to evade Ban from seeing it. But then…

"Blushing huh, Itomaki?"

"Nani? Iie, I'm not! Curse you, Ban-kun!"

"All right, I'll just carry you to the bathtub if the water is ready. You'll take a bath first, Thread Spool. I'll just follow after you are already settled." They waited. Ban was smoking again and Kazuki is just sitting on the bed. Kazuki was still blushing. At the same time Ban was a kind of getting anxious with the brunette just a few steps away from him. There was something bothering him, a very strange feeling.

After some minutes, the water was ready. Ban carried Kazuki to the shower room as what he had said. Ban avoided looking at Kazuki but he doesn't know why. As soon as Kazuki finished, Ban immediately followed after bringing him back to the bed. He rushed himself to the shower room without meeting Kazuki's eyes to avoid himself being tempted by the gorgeous man, who was wearing only a towel, revealing off his shoulders and the curves on his body like a real woman. He can't help but think of some "unclean" thoughts bothering him as he carried Kazuki to the bed.

Meanwhile, Sakura and her brother, Jubei also saw the big mansion. They decided to stay there after defeating a dozen and more enemies that blocked their way in the jungle. It seemed strange since Ban and Kazuki didn't meet any opponent on their way. Besides Jubei and Sakura didn't pass by the maze on their way to the mansion.

Back to Ban and Kazuki…both of them are finished taking a bath. But Kazuki is still undressed on the upper part because he can't walk (or else Ban will get mad on him) to get his clothes placed on the table. Ban is wiping his wet hair using the towel when he saw Kazuki with his wet hair scattered on his face. Ban finds him more attractive with that. On the other hand, Ban also was bare on the upper part after having a great shower.

"Ban-kun, can you hand me my clothes. It's there on the table…"

"Hai."

"Ouch! My eye!"

Ban approached him immediately after getting the garments from the table. "What happened? A…Okay, I'll blow your eye so that the dust will sweep away."

Ban stepped on the bed and his face was getting closer with Kazuki's. Kazuki's cheeks revealed shades of pink, and also Ban but he doesn't notice it. When he was about to blow his eye, he lost his balance and both of them fell on the bed, Kazuki underneath Ban. Suddenly, the door opened.

"Ban? Kazuki? How could you?!"

"Oh my…Oh…Gomen nasai! Come on Jubei." Sakura was shocked and kept on apologizing to the two as he pulled Jubei away and closed the door. The Kakei siblings were thinking the same thing…they thought Ban and Kazuki were doing something private. Jubei was indeed hurt; it was seen in his face. He was glowering when Ban called them.

"Hey! Why are you two saying sorry. It's not what you're thinking. Come on guys, enter here. It's just that…"

"You don't have to explain, Ban."

"It's up to you, Needle boy. It's a good thing that you're here. You can cure him with your needles. I'll just explore this mansion first while you are doing the process. I haven't still look at this place since Kazuki and I were sleeping all day." Ban went downstairs after dressing up. Sakura went to the garden house of the mansion and left Jubei and Kazuki alone. Kazuki get dressed. Jubei prepared his needles for the process. Jubei is still frowning and gave Kazuki a glare as he recalled what Ban said, "Kazuki and I were sleeping all day." He also recalled what he saw just a minute ago -- Ban was over Kazuki and both of them were undressed. The silence inside the room was deafening. Finally…

"Jubei, what you were thinking was wrong. Nothing happened to us. It's just that my eye…"

"Nani shiagare! You don't have to explain it. Now, give me your foot. This will just take a few seconds."

"But Jubei! Please don't act like that!"

"What I saw itself explains everything. You and Ban…"

"I said it's not like that!"

"Nothing? Then why are you blushing a while ago? The same thing was seen on Ban's face when we entered the room!"

Kazuki was silenced. Though nothing really happened, he felt guilty because it's true that he blushed at that time. After a while, Kazuki's foot was fine again. He can now stand and walk.

The four characters exploring around the mansion, trying to take pleasure on whatever they see, spent the whole afternoon. They did many activities since the mansion was a complete source of enjoyment. Still, Jubei was eyeing on Ban and Kazuki, maybe, because of jealousy.

The next morning, a very strange thing happened. The mansion disappeared like dust. It was a good thing that all of them were outside the mansion and were already awake so they were prepared for what happened. Abruptly, the whole place became a vast desert and a sandstorm appeared at instant and got with it Jubei and Sakura. Ban and Kazuki had no choice but to be left alone again. They tried to use their CCEs but Jubei was not answering, either Sakura.

"They're not answering. Ban, what will I do? Are they dead?" Kazuki was crying, worried on his friends.

"You really love Jubei, aren't you?" Ban asked. He was frowning.

"Nani?"

"Nothing. Hananero. We can do nothing for them right now. Let's just pray both of them are fine and safe."

To be continued…

Notes: Chapter 1 down! Hahaha! It's good that it's already Christmas vacation. Actually, writing this story is excluded on my schedule but I can't help…Tokoro de, I need your reviews! Please! The next chapter is more quixotic. Watch out for Ban and Kazuki's first kiss!!! You will also know what really is the relationship of Jubei and Kazuki in my story…well you read how the two reacted upon their encounter at the mansion. Again, reviews please!!!