Photo Shoot By Pa-Lee

Disclaimers: I don't own the GetBackers...

THANK YOU SO MUCH for the reviews and advices you have given me...it really warms the heart and inspires the brain...I hope you keep on reading Photo Shoot and I hope the following chapter will be to your liking.

Again, thank you.

Read and Review please!


Chapter 1

It was a beautiful and quiet morning at the Honky Tonk. Until...

"Oi, Hevn! Why do I have to wear this?" Ban complained stridently as he came out from the men's room. He was wearing a casual outfit, which really looked good on him. He looked like the perfect fashion model for male teenagers.

The Agent was busy reading a women's magazine and did not bother to look at him. Her answer was dry and mocking. "You and Kadsuki are supposed to be models. You should at least try to look the part. You can't very well achieve that with your black pants and white short-sleeved shirt, now can you?"

Ban was just about to utter something really, really nasty in retaliation when Ginji, all of a sudden, let out a loud gasp.

Hevn smiled with approval.

Ban's mouth fell open.

Paul's newspaper fell from his hands.

Natsumi's eyes shimmered with awe.

They were all looking at an approaching blushing Kazuki who was wearing a baby blue, off-shoulder, and body-fit top – which bared a tad amount of cleavage – over a white pleated micro 'school-girl' type of skirt with a matching white knee-high sexy killer boots.

The outfit really looked good against his tan and on his body as it accentuated his feminine curves and his long legs.

To finish off the 'look', his long and silky brown hair was free of deadly Fuuchouin Bells and was tied high in a white and fluffy ponytail with tendrils falling on all the right places, which was very becoming. He looked like the perfect fashion model for female teenagers.

"Ara..." Chibi Ginji – after getting over his shock –, in all his naiveté, couldn't help but state the obvious ever so bluntly. "...you have breasts Kazu-chan!"

This was probably in everybody else's mind because, even though they sweatdropped at Ginji's childlike bluntness, they nodded fervently. The poor Fuuchouin Master colored as he struggled for words. "Iie, Ginji- kun...this is...ano...this..."

Hevn, despite her amusement, decided to help the distressed descendent of the Fuuchouin.

"This is the latest innovation in infiltration disguises for various agents from –" Hevn suddenly stopped.

"Oh! So you are still keeping in touch with him, Hevn-san!" Ginji exclaimed as Ban gave one of her smirks back at her.

Blushing lightly, she answered, "I don't know what you're talking about. Anyway, a special kind of Silicon Gel Material is attached to the brassier. So when you wear it, it will look like this." She then pointed Kadsuki's chest, which actually looked good as it wasn't too big but it wasn't too small either.

"What about his...um..." Natsumi suddenly said. She was blushing and every now and then glancing at Kazuki's skirt.

Paul noticed this and looked thoughtful. He was curious, too. "Now that I think about it, the skirt is too short. Won't that be a problem?"

"Nani? Nani? Nani?" Chibi Ginji asked as he suddenly appeared in front of Kazuki – inspecting every inch of his body. "What might be the problem?"

"Urusai!" Ban said as he picked Chibi Ginji up by the nape of his neck and removed him from Kazuki's thighs.

Clearing his throat, Ban faced his modeling partner. He, too, wanted to know. "Thread Spool, how were you able to – "

Kazuki did not give him the chance to finish the question to avoid further embarrassment. He quickly replied. "Rubber."

Seeing the colorful question marks above their tilted heads and the blush on Natsumi's cheeks, Hevn promptly explained. "It's a specialized Rubber Spanky that can...um...hold 'it' in and keep 'it' in place. It is very comfortable and allows Kadsuki maximum mobility."

"Ban, shouldn't we get going?" Kazuki immediately asked right after Hevn's last word. He desperately wanted to change the subject.

"Yes, we should." Ban agreed as he looked at the wall clock, which read 9 o' clock. "But that Monkey Man called while you were changing and said that he's going to pick us up at 10. So we have to wait for him."

"Really?"

Ginji answered with a vigorous nod and a big smile on his face and added, "We were supposed to get our car today, but..."

Chibi Ginji did not continue until he was safely fastened on Kazuki's shoulder. He then whispered to the listener's ears, "...Ban-chan raised his voice at the policewoman dakara..." "Urusai na, Ginji!" Ban shouted as he picked Chibi Ginji up by the ear and removed him from Kazuki's shoulder. "Taku...maybe I should have just left you at the Police Station." he muttered under his breath.

"Gomen ne, Ban-chan!" Chibi Ginji, with large drops of tears in the corner of his eyes, apologized as he struggled to get his ear free from his partner's pinch.

Kazuki smiled at this. Though Ban and Ginji may get like this sometimes – okay, most of the time – he knew that their bond was stronger than that of brothers. He has now come to accept this fact. That in this man, this rude, money-centered, conceited man – Midou Ban –, their Raite has found peace of mind. And if the person he had sworn his loyalty to believed that Ban is a good person then he'd just have to take his word for it.


It was only 20 minutes past 9 as Ban took another swig at the iced tea Natsumi treated him and Ginji to after hearing their story about not being able to drink anything other than water for the past five days.

Paul and Hevn were discussing about television and movie personalities getting involved in the Government Arena while Ginji was telling a story about how he saved a cat from being run over by a speeding car just the other day. This earned the cat-saver a free tuna sandwich from the really impressed cat-lover.

Ban, who was sitting on a stool just like the others, was now looking at Kazuki, who was sitting on the long soft chair by the tables, gracefully sipping tea from his cup.

He found it fascinating how Kazuki held himself. The longhaired man was positioned in a very lady-like manner with his legs pressed modestly tight together and his hands delicately resting on his lap. Though scantily clad, he still managed to look demure and quite endearing. Even if you looked closely, he could still pass for the real thing. Heck, he even looked better than the real thing. How in the world was the Fuuchouin Master going to handle the advances of men filled with raging hormones? He was far too polite to say anything mean to get them to stop and far too kind to give them a good beating.

"Ban-chan?" Chibi Ginji literally popped up in front of Ban.

Chibi Ginji's face, which was just an inch away from his, was enough to snap him out of his thoughts.

"Taku, Ginji! What do you think you're doing?" screamed an irritated Ban.

"You've been silent for quite sometime." Paul said.

Ban looked around and saw that everybody was looking at him. Even the two customers whom he didn't notice come in. How long had he been deep in his thoughts? He looked at the wall clock.

It read 9:50.

"And you had a stupid smile on your face." Hevn supplemented. "I wonder –"

But Ban never found out what Hevn wondered because her sentence was cut short by the arrival of...

"Juubei!" Kazuki happily cried as he stood up from where he was sitting to meet him. "What are you doing here?"

"I...I came here..." Juubei stammered, apparently unfocused. He had just entered the coffee shop when he caught sight of Kadsuki hurriedly walking towards him.

Juubei didn't know whether to be thankful or not for his improved eyesight. Oh, sure, it was only ten percent but because of that ten percent he was now able to distinguish, though hazy it may be, Kazuki's contour. And he was able to distinguish a lot of it.

"Yes?" Kazuki asked.

"I..." He started.

This was no time to get distracted. Juubei came here for a reason. He had something to say and he was going to say it.

He moved closer and looked down on Kazuki's beautiful face. Clearing his throat, he tried once more. "Whatever decision you make – whatever path you may choose – I will stay by your side."

Breathing deeply, he continued, "I may not be a GetBacker, but..."

Natsumi, Hevn, and the two customers, which just happened to be teenage girls, held their breath in anticipation. It was like they were watching a scene from a noontime drama. They tried very hard to suppress the girlish screams of delight that were building up inside of them as Juubei placed his hands on Kazuki's shoulders.

"...but I am a Protector. Your Protector. I will let neither harm nor pain come to you. Even if it means losing my life."

"Juubei..." Kazuki softly said as he looked at his protector with mixed emotions.

The suppressed girlish screams of glee finally exploded, surprising Shido who had just arrived. An arrival, which Paul, Ginji, and even Ban were thankful for.


"Oh – my – goodness! They're perfect! Will you look at that...they're both tall, but, as appropriate, the male is taller...yes, yes, handsome and oh, so lovely...very stylish and fashionable...I like that and their bodies! Their bodies are absolutely beautiful...absolutely right...absolutely...perfect!" The Director of the Photo Shoot whispered to himself, meaning everyone around him heard.

An uncomfortable Kazuki and Ban had just arrived at the busy set of the Photo Shoot and were immediately placed under the detailed scrutiny of the Director. He had just finished circling around them and looking at them from head to foot and was now closely analyzing their skin. "Skin...yes, exquisite...soft...smooth and shiny...utterly flawless..."

The modeling couple discreetly sighed with relief as the Director finally stepped away from them.

"Impressive." The Director said as he intently rested his gaze on the couple in front of him. "Katinka has always given me beautiful models but, I have to admit, she has outdone herself this time."

The Director then opened the folder, which contained the bogus profile Hevn had prepared for the modeling couple. He was reading it quietly, every now and then glancing at Ban and Kazuki whose eyes were checking for any sign of Ricky the Photographer.

He finally closed the folder and stared at them a bit longer. It was hard to believe that this serious looking man in front of them was the same chatterbox just a while ago. "So you've been modeling for magazines exclusive to high society? Not bad. Not bad at all. But be advised, we take things seriously here. Here, realism is our aim."

Without preamble, he suddenly asked, "So, how long have you been together?"

The question took them by surprise. It never crossed their mind to talk over the particulars regarding their 'relationship', thinking it wasn't bound to come up in detail anyway.

"2 years– "

"4 years – "

The frowning Director raised an eyebrow at Ban and Kazuki who answered at the same time. "Well, which one is it?"

Kazuki laughed melodiously as he casually hooked his arm on Ban's. "Well you see...we have an 'on and off ' relationship."

"But we've been going out for years now. Just not constantly." Ban smiled nervously. "You know how it is."

"Of course." The man in front of them was now smiling. "It's only natural in this kind of business. You two are so beautiful it's only right to go see other people from time to time. Anyway, we should get started."


"Okay...no, wait...closer. Just a little more..." Ricky the Photographer was holding his expensive camera in one hand while using the other to signal to the models in front of him.

The modeling couple was on their fifteenth pose. A self-conscious Kazuki was now sitting on the lap of an equally embarrassed Ban whose hands were around his partner's small waist. Their faces were only an inch apart, which was what they were directed to do.

"Okay, that's it. That's great." The Photographer exclaimed and started clicking away. "Yes, that's good. Think 'shy'. Think 'unresolved'."

As it turns out, the theme of this day's Photo Shoot was 'Love in Bloom'. They're supposed to act all shy and everything because they're a couple who's still not sure about how they really feel about each other.

After a few more shots, the Director finally called for a 1-hour break, as it was already three in the afternoon.

"I never knew modeling could be so difficult." Kazuki articulated as he gracefully slid off Ban's lap and started stretching the creases that have formed on the summer dress he was instructed to change into. Ban nodded in agreement as he stood up and stretched his arms upwards.

He turned to look at Kazuki and saw him daintily fussing over the creases of the summer dress he had on. It really never failed to fascinate him how the person in front of him could be so feminine. Even clothes seemed to be on his partner's side. After the seventh pose, they were asked to change into summer clothes and Kazuki, in the floral, baby pink, spaghetti- strapped, above the knee summer dress, looked amazing. The dress in itself was extremely simple but on Fuuchouin Kazuki – exquisitely beautiful. Plus, he smelled good. Just like –

Ban's musings broke off when the ecstatic Director approached them.

"Wonderful! Absolutely wonderful!" the Director exclaimed in delight as he stood in between Kazuki and Ban. Hooking his arms with theirs on both sides he lead them to the buffet table set up earlier at the corner of the set. "Your depiction of the theme is absolutely marvelous! Those facial expressions...just perfect! I don't know how the both of you summoned those blushes at will, but it was magnificent!"

Upon reaching the table filled with food, he unhooked himself from the couple and continued to say, "If I hadn't known any better, I would have thought this is the first time you came in close proximity with each other. One couldn't have guessed you've been going out for years already! Your representation is truly outstanding! Very realistic!"

The Director was about to say more when his phone rang. Excusing himself, he rushed off to answer the phone privately – much to the relief of Ban and Kazuki who were blushing slightly.

They were just about to search for Ricky, when a crewman passing by them suddenly said, "It's been three and a half hours already and you still haven't made significant contact with the target."

"Shido?" Kazuki guessed.

Ban looked at the crewman in surprise and noticed that it really was Shido. He stopped not too far from them in the pretense of fixing a light stand. "What's taking you so long?"

"Try being constantly sidetracked by a chatty Director who could actually and most possibly talk your ear off." Ban muttered as he poured himself a glass of soda and helped himself to a slice of sandwich.

Shido raised an eyebrow (oops...no pun intended!) at Ban's comeback. "I'd rather not." Tightening the screw of the leg of the light stand, he continued, "Anyway, right after the Director called for a break, he packed his camera and then went outside. He's currently at the cake shop across the street. Ginji's keeping an eye on him."

"And Juubei?" Kazuki inquired.

"I did as you requested. He's sleeping deeply at Madoka's."

"Thank you, Shido. I hope Madoka didn't mind. I'd really rather have him rest than to waste his time here. Besides, it's not like this is a dangerous mission. And even so, I am fully capable of defending myself."

"We all know how understanding he could be so just be sure to tell him that." Ban advised as he lit a cigarette. Kazuki decided not to comment on this and excused himself as he felt the need to go to the comfort room.


"I'm so sorry! I'm really sorry! I thought this was the...um, women's restroom! I'm really sorry!" The beautiful longhaired man bowed in apology for the last time before closing the door of the men's restroom.

He had completely forgotten that he was wearing female's clothing today and had rushed into the men's restroom casually.

Shouts of surprise and indignation made him remember. He suddenly didn't feel the need to go to the restroom. After all, he didn't really need to go. He just wanted to be alone for a while.

How was he going to explain to Juubei? – Oh, hi Juubei. I see you're awake. I'm really sorry, but I just didn't want you to tire yourself out and complicate things, so...I had you drugged. – No, that wouldn't be right. So, how was he going to explain it?

"Kazuki – such a beautiful name, which means 'flower' and 'moon'." A voice from behind suddenly said.

Kazuki turned around in surprise. He was so deep in his thoughts that he didn't even feel somebody come up behind him.

It was Ricky the Photographer.

Kazuki quickly gave him a once-over in search for any sign of the platinum band. He couldn't find it.

"I suppose it's only fitting." He said smiling. "Your scent is as fragrant as a flower's and your beauty – as exquisite and as mysterious as the moon's."

Slightly blushing, Kazuki returned the smile with uncertainty.

Stepping forward, the Photographer offered his hand. "I'm sorry, we haven't been formally introduced yet. In this business, it's usually 'shoot now, introduce later'. I'm Ricky."

Kadsuki offered his own hand was caught off guard when the Photographer planted a gentle kiss on the back of his smooth hand.

To be continued.


Thank you for the correction, Nanami!