ThReE

The Importance of Privacy

Three days had passed since Akabane adopted Shinji. It wasn't the official type of adoption, as the Transporter had no plans to have a child, by blood or by papers. The idea didn't please him, and besides, he had assigned the young girl to be his lover.

Shinji awoke to the smell of breakfast. She had tasted Akabane's cooking for herself, and he was far from being bad considering that he had never peeked inside a cookbook or had watched a single cooking show. He said that he simply went with his instincts and that his sense of smell was so sharp that he was able to recognize the goodness of a food's taste just by sniffing it once. It was a useful gift, he said, especially to his job.

That was one thing that Shinji wanted to know, though. What was Dr. Jackal's job anyway? He said he wasn't really in the field of medicine, more like the opposite of it. The details were quite vague and thinking about it made Shinji's head hurt. Not that it was crucial to find out more about it. The shadiness of it made it more interesting was all.

Sliding her feet into a pair of dog-shaped slippers that Akabane had let her purchase, Shinji got out of her bed and went to the kitchen. The wonderful smell of moist white rice and buttery scrambled eggs greeted her, making her empty stomach rumble. She went to the bathroom to wash her face before she sat at the table in front of her rice bowl, chopsticks, and a glass of fresh orange juice. Akabane served her steaming rice. Shinji waited for him to be seated before she got her portion of the viands of eggs, fish, and crunchy vegetables.

"I have to leave you today, Shinji-chan," said Akabane. "A client called last night, and the job needs to be done right away. I don't know if I'll be back late but don't wait up. You're free to go anywhere you like, but make sure you bring your cellphone with you. Am I clear?"

"But I hardly know how to use that cordless phone, Jackal-san," said Shinji. "I've seen people carrying them around all the time but there's just too many buttons to press. That manual wasn't very helpful, either,"

"Just make sure you carry it with you. You don't need to answer my calls. You just have to keep it open and I'll know where you are," explained Akabane calmly. "However, it will be best if you learn the basics. It's not always an assurance even if your phone's turned on,"

"I understand," said Shinji. "I'll take the manual with me. It's a small book anyway," She wondered if she was going to stay at the apartment or go back to where her friends were. How were they doing?

"You know the rules," reminded Akabane. They had finished eating and he was in front of the open door ready to leave. "I'm not going to let you be captured again by some dirty old man. I want you back here before seven-thirty. I'll call and check on you,"

Shinji nodded several times, smiling. It felt heartwarming to know that Akabane was being somewhat overprotective. He didn't look like someone who could possess so much care in his heart. Shinji's smile went away when the older man kissed her on the cheek, replaced by a heavy blush.


"I'm telling you, we saw Dr. Jackal shopping with his girlfriend. Why don't you believe me?" said Ban, seated in front of the counter at the Honky Tonk café. "The manager raised an eyebrow.

"Does he even know anybody else except for the Get Backers and his victims?" Natsumi questioned innocently. "He's not exactly a socialite,"

"Well yeah," said Ginji, drinking his tea. "But maybe he has a secret life or something,"

"That bastard doesn't have a life," protested Mido. "You know what I think?"

"What?" asked the other three.

"I think Jackal has this mind-controlling power," Ban explained, acting his words out. "He used it to lure that girl into his trap. He's acting all nice around her, but what she doesn't know is that after a certain period of time he'll suddenly pounce on her and eat her alive!"

"Um, Ban-chan, could you get off me please?" Ginji requested.

"Oh, sorry Ginji," Ban got off of him and dusted himself. "Anyway, it's most likely that he'll do that, the monster,"

"Even if we could say that Akabane-san is a killer," said Natsumi. "I don't think he has supernatural powers or anything like that,"

"And how do you know that, Natsumi-chan?" Ban asked in between gritted teeth.

"I don't know. I just do," replied Natsumi. What Ban was irritated about was the fact that she kept on smiling. He looked at the direction of the window, and his eyes widened.

"There she is! There's Akabane's girlfriend!" shouted Ban. He pointed at a girl passing by with white hair and wearing a pair of overalls. "C'mon, Ginji!"

"Wha?" Ginji was pulled out of the café before he could resist. He and Ban spied on the girl, hiding behind poles, trash cans, mailboxes, walls, trees, buses, dogs, and other things and places they saw as they followed her closely. "Why are we doing this, Ban-chan? This isn't work,"

"This is voluntary work, Ginji," said Ban in a whisper. "We are going to save that girl from being further played with. There's nothing in return, but hey, at least we can stop Jackal's evil ways. It will be our small victory,"

"I didn't know you're this benevolent, Ban-chan," smiled Ginji. "Usually you'd want money for our services,"

"There are always exceptions," said Ban, smiling back at him. "And this is one exception we can't possibly ignore,"


Akabane looked up at the stack of towering metal buildings in Infinity City. A grin formed on his pointed face, feeling the heavy air of the place due to its unknown history. Visiting there was always so unexpected.

"Dr. Jackal," A man appeared out of nowhere in a sleek gray tuxedo. "My master thanks you for coming. Please come this way,"

"Oh, this will be fun," said Akabane to himself. He walked behind the man, his hat covering his thin eyes. They went inside a small structure, which turned out to be an elevator, and off to the top floor they were lifted. Once out, a long hallway greeted them.

"Master is at the end of this hall, Dr. Jackal," said the messenger. "However, you cannot meet him in person. There are several doors within the walls leading to other rooms. That is where you will be waiting for instructions. Your payment will also be discussed in the process,"

"Who is this master of yours?" inquired Jackal. "Why won't he see me personally?"

"I'm afraid I was forbidden to speak of my Master's true identity," answered the man. "He requires you to give him a bit of privacy,"

"I see. I won't insist anymore,"

"Good. Let's be on our way, Dr. Jackal,"

I'll find out for myself soon enough, thought Akabane. He and the messenger walked on until they became one with the shadows in the hallway.


Now why do I feel like I'm being watched? Shinji asked herself. She spun around, spotting no one except for the empty road. What the heck? Am I just being paranoid? Hmm. She resumed her walking, still wondering.

"Let's go," whispered Ban in his softest audible voice. They tiptoed their way behind an orange car. "Let's make sure she remains in our range,"

"She'll notice us sooner or later, Ban-chan," said Ginji. "She seems like a pretty smart girl,"

"She ain't smart enough for the both of us, Ginji," said Ban while listening to Shinji's footsteps. "If we keep up our stealth mode, she won't spot us. Duck, you fool!"

"Sorry.. I just think we should leave her alone. Who knows? Maybe she really is Akabane-san's girlfriend,"

"Oh wow. That's believable," mocked Ban, grinning. "You should learn that some things are as possible as wood becoming water,"

"Huh?"

"That means it's never going to happen! Don't you know anything?"

"But you just invented that saying. How was I supposed to?"

"Shh! Time to move," Ban stood up and moved to another position.

Ginji sighed and followed him.


Author's Note: Gomenasai, minna-san! I'm really, really sorry! I was supposed to have updated this days ago but I have exams right now and so I need to study. Actually I need to start studying now for tomorrow's tests, but this is much more fun. I hope you'll be patient enough to wait for me. I only have two more days 'till summer break anyway. Yay! To those people who gave me review, arigatou! You've relieved me of my stress. Thank you once again. -