Disclaimer: I am so sorry for updating this fic so late… been real busy lately. (Having entrance exams dizzying me) But for my dearest readers… I've allotted some time to continue this fic of mine. Hope you'll like it, as well as the chapters that follow…

Oh, before I forget, I don't own Get Backers…

Enjoy!

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The air's chilling breath made their bodies cold with trickling sweat; their hair glued on their damp foreheads; the dreadful facade of the building made their teeth chatter mercilessly, causing them to saunter awkwardly toward the mansion. Every one of them suddenly wished that they never did attempt on discovering beyond the known and substantial truths of this enigmatic place. This was simply too spooky for anyone of them to handle calmly.

As Ban cautiously shuffled toward the towering manor, pieces of vague childhood memories fogged his mind. He scanned his bleak surroundings, squinted as bits of revelations revealed themselves to him. Ignoring his uncomfortable state, he abruptly stopped and mindlessly made his way to the disheveled lawn. He stared at the lawn, bent down to snatch a handful of grass, then his gaze shifted to the mansion's worn-out door. This place. Why does it suddenly seem as if I've been here before? I… I don't understand. Kudo. Himiko. Yamato. They don't ring a bell… but this place. It's as if I've been here before.

Slightly surprised by Ban's unexpected move, Ginji called out to him. "Ban! Is there something wrong?"

Called back from his catatonic condition, Ban turned to the others, nearly blushed as they strangely looked at him. "Shut up, will you Ginji? In case you haven't noticed, we're trespassing, and that's illegal. Keep that up, some nosy neighbor might hear you and call the cops. You and your big mouth," Ban hissed as he stomped to the looming edifice.

Kazuki mildly tapped his cousin's shoulder. "Don't take his words seriously. You can see that something deep is goin' on his head now. Just give him some air, okay?"

Ginji smiled and patted Kazuki's hand. "Okay, couz."

"Look, if you two wanna share some sweet, intimate moments with each other right now, might I suggest that you two don't have to block the way and make me have to walk around you because my entire body is freezing, mind you," Emishi said, rubbing his hands together. He then looked irritated as Ginji and Kazuki, hand in hand, teasingly strolled along the rugged pathway.

"Huh… how I would give anything to have a babe to treat me like that." Emishi nearly drooled when a picture of Kazuki's picturesque figure gracefully inched toward him in his head. Shido rolled his eyes and smacked Emishi's head to transport him back to the present. "We're not here to dream, dream-boy. Now cut it out before I puke on your face."

"Euw… mind you, but the only day when I'm gonna puke is when I see you in my dream." With his head help up high, Emishi left an annoyed Shido beside Jackal.

"Shall we? Ban might get upset if we let him wait." Jackal tipped his black cap lower to block the rambunctious wind from drying up his pristine complexion.

"Whatever." Jamming his hands in his pockets, Shido left Jackal behind, mumbling something as he spotted Ban glaring at him. What an arrogant hothead.

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As Ban set one foot on the porch, the door involuntarily swung open, making him jump and swallow a scream. The rest of the gang saw it, felt their hearts sinking into their tummies as fear fiercely drove itself into their trembling core. Ginji almost made a sprint for it, but stopped himself. No. He wasn't going to run and leave the others behind. He would follow the plan; finish this till the end, no matter how pathetic he may appear. In fact, he too wanted to discover this baffling mystery concerning this ghost. Digging up the ghost's past, to find out the puzzle concerning this girl and her family. Yes, he would know the truth. He was just as curious as Ban and—

"Ginji!" Ban whispered when he saw Ginji's blank look. "What the hell is wrong with you today?"

"Huh?" Ginji bashfully scratched his head. "Oh nothing. Sorry. Were you saying something?"

"No. But don't do that gawk of yours. You're making me worried." Ban shook his head, and exasperatedly switched on his flashlight. Ginji smiled and did the same with his gadget.

Staring at the pitch-black foyer ahead, Ban warily clutched his throat with a shaking grip, and then slowly sauntered into the threatening, splintered threshold, his light unable to drive away the oppressive shadows. When Jackal finally crossed the dusty entrance, the door eerily shut itself. They abruptly turned around, unlocked fear sketched across their faces.

Though fearful of these strange happenings, Ban didn't want to show his anxiety. To divert his frightened attention from the uncanny door to somewhere else, he wearily scanned his surroundings with the aid of his flashlight.

All of a sudden, Ban realized his utter foolishness of being terrified beforehand when he noticed something odd about the place. He breathed in deeply and caught a scent of something that seemed incongruous about a haunted place such as this. This place didn't reek of archaic attributes. In reality, a small whiff of cologne wafted throughout the room. Looking down, he swept the grimy floor with his shoe, detected as a cloud of dust didn't tickle or irritate his nose, as it should have been.

"So, you've noticed it too." Jackal bent down beside Ban, and with his flashlight, scrutinized the noisy planks. With his index finger, he coated a thin film of dust on his finger and stood up. He scrutinized it for a moment, and then showed it to Ban. "Guess what it is."

Ban grabbed Jackal's wrist and observed it carefully. He even sniffed it for a while when the possibility hit him. Doubt overwhelmed him, but as he saw Akabane's grin, he said, "Flour."

"Bingo."

"Ban—" Ginji was about to dash toward Ban and Akabane when an outrageous bang was heard from above. Ginji quickly stopped and motionlessly stood still.

Thud. Creeeaaaak. Thud. Creeeaaak. Thud. Creeeaaak. They all jumped as it neared them from the second floor. Thud. Creeeaaaak. Thud. Creeeaaak. As they listened intently, as they waited, the haunting beat seemed to have immobilized them.

Emishi, with shaking fingers, patted Shido's stiff back, wheezed out, "Let's get the hell out of here."

Wide-eyed, Shido turned to Ban, and was vexed by Ban's indifferent reaction to this. Ban instantly saw Shido's frantic eyes and calmly tapped his foot on the dirty floor. Confusion still occupying his mind, Shido's brow twitched with uncertainty.

Aggravated, Ban whispered to Akabane, "Pass the word around before they all pee in their pants."

Holding back a chuckle, Akabane coolly strolled toward Ginji and the rest. As Jackal was approaching Ginji, the disturbing rhythm abruptly halted. The group suspiciously gazed at the gloomy staircase that was inclined before them. Suddenly, an eye-stinging flash of light momentarily impaired their eyesight. Moments later, unsure of their actions, they struggled to see the subject that was seemingly standing at the top of the stairs.

Ban saw it. He saw her. Quite adjusted to the bright light, he rubbed his eyes to convince himself that these were all real. The fake dust, the thudding sounds that nearly gave him a heart attack, the blinding light that had stung his eyes, he couldn't entirely believe that this girl—this ghost was actually standing there, staring at him with inexplicable contempt. Looking at her now, she appeared to be a cursed angel sent from above. The light that manipulated her figure, made her seem like she was a live apparition. He was almost entranced by her strangely familiar, beautiful countenance, when unexpectedly, he glimpsed her awkward shift of movement.

What is he doing here? Why is he here? Why him? I couldn't… move. Aniki… help me. Himiko felt her cheeks burning, and at the same time, felt utterly cold as she observed Ban's intense stare fixated on her. She almost stumbled forward, but luckily, her good leg prevented her from completing the fall.

Yamato, with his left hand virtually strangling himself as he watched Himiko making a fool of herself in front of those meddlesome brats, cursed himself when he turned off the lights and activated the device that would trigger the flooring—where Himiko was approximately standing on—to descend into his underground lair and bring her back safely into his outstretched arms. He would scold her later for making an irreparable mistake, but for now, he was wholly focused on her wellbeing. So much for the ghostly charade.

You like? No? Review please! XD

To be continued…