Okay, so I reeeeally wanted to make this chapter longer, I actually have quite a bit more written...it's just not in order. Gomen. Spent my free time this weekend finishing a pic of BanGin instead of writing. More soon...hopefully...if my schedule allows...

Chapter One

"Where is Ban-chan?!"

Shidou inwardly cringed as anything in the near vicinity metal and not securely tied down began quaking violently. The target of Ginji's wrath was cowering in the furthest corner, trying with all his might to become one with the brick wall behind him.

The air crackled with electricity as Ginji slowly paced forward, face contorted in rage. "Tell me...where...he...is!" A charge gathered strength in his palm, the light blinding in its center.

The man gulped, his eyes leaping in panic past his attacker to Shido. "Please...you gotta do something...he's gonna kill me!" he stuttered, trying to press even further back, to no avail.

Shido returned the man's gaze coolly, but truthfully it did appear a likely possibility, which sent a chill down his spine. Amano Ginji's hands were by no means clean; no one who had survived long in Mugenjou's were. Yet even back then, when all of Volts and Lower Town had depended on Raitei's strength for protection, the times he went all out had been daunting, on occasion downright terrifying.

Now, though, Mugenjou was miles away and a lifetime ago, and the Ginji he knew now was a far kinder, happier person. And yet in the man that currently stood before Shido, fire in his eyes and lighting encircling him, that new Ginji was almost entirely hidden. Regardless of the desperate man's pleas, Shido would have done anything he could to stop this, to get the new Ginji back. Narrowing his eyes, he shrugged.

"What do you expect me to do?" His voice was casual, masking well the tension he felt. "The one guy who's ever had any luck reaching him when he's like this, you and your friends seem to have done something to."

And that stung, more than anything. That none of the four Gods, none of those who had grown up with Ginji, had befriended him, protected him, could ever reach him when he became like this. Only that damn snake bastard. "I suggest you start talking."

Sweating clearly now, the man licked his lips, eyes darting between Shido's calm gaze and Ginji's fiery one. "I, er..."

The section of bricks a few feet from the man's head exploded as a pent-up ball of electricity was released from Raitei's control and sent spinning towards him.

The man gulped again, sank to his knees and started babbling like a baby. "There's a mansion up past the town, on the hill in the woods, big estate, you can't miss it. They were headed there and I don't know anything else I swear I was just ordered to distract you long enough and oh god don't kill me." Curling into a ball, he continued to blubber, tears of fear rolling down his cheeks.

Ignoring him, Ginji turned, stormed out of the alley. As he went, Shido felt the hairs on the back of his neck fall, the static hum of the air lessen. Letting loose a long low whistle as he headed after his friend, Shido lifted an arm to offer a perch as the first bird came swooping in.

A crow, always curious, ready to help. Even so, it cackled its concern, sidestepping, edgy, still sensing the dangerous power hovering nearby, ready to spark again at any time. Giving his request quickly, the Beastmaster sent it on its way, spiraling up and to the west, into the hills surrounding the town.

Picking up his pace, he found Ginji leaning against the car, face buried in his arms, breath coming in short, harsh gasps. At his approach, Ginji glanced up, and he was relieved to see the carefree, gentle features returned to normal, eerie light gone from those warm brown eyes. The tension still lurked just below the surface though, drawing a slight crease in his brow.

"I'm sorry," Ginji murmured, eyes refusing to meet Shido's, settling someplace around his chin. "I just...I promised I wouldn't do that...but..." He took a deep breath. "He's really in trouble, I think...I can feel it and I don't know what else to do." The nervous laugh held no humor. "Ban-chan's gonna be really mad at me, though, for losing control. You won't tell him, right?"

As if anyone could say no to Ginji when he asked like that. Still, Shido saw no need to answer, knowing Ginji already knew his response. Not that it would matter anyways. As much as Shido avoided thinking about it, he was forced to admit Midou seemed to have an uncanny sense where his partner was concerned. Chances were good he already knew. Instead, Shidou sighed. "Let's go find him."

To be continued...