Chapter 3: Almost alone

It wasn't that Makubex didn't like Ban, it was the fact that he was always around Ginji. Constantly it seemed. As he came to think of it, it wasn't only Ban that bothered him. Sakura began to get on his nerves as well. He just wanted Ban, Sakura, and everyone else to leave. The only person that he wanted anywhere near him was Ginji.

As the partners talked, Makubex watched Ginji intently, carefully studying every expression, movement, and gesture that he made. He noticed how the sunlight caused his blonde hair to glisten. Makubex couldn't tear his eyes away, even if he tried to.

As much as he denied it, and thought it strange, he felt attracted to Ginji. He wanted to be alone with him.

"I'm going to the Honky Tonk for a while. Are you coming, Ginji?" Ban asked as he glanced at him.

"I just want to catch up with Makubex right now."

"Alright, I'll see you later then." Makubex sighed heavily as Ban left the fortress. Why do I want him so badly? He thought to himself. Why can't I take my eyes away from him? Maybe it's just because I haven't seen him in a while. That was the only explanation that he could currently accept.

"So…What do you want to do?" Ginji asked cheerfully.

"I would like to speak with you." He replied in a serious tone.

"About what?"

"Anything, and everything, I suppose."

"Okay, but where to start…I mean…So much has happened."

"Well, what have you been up to lately?" Makubex asked as casually as he could.

"The recovery service, as always"

"It's nice to know that you've been doing well." He uttered quietly.

Ginji placed a hand on his shoulder. "Everything's going to be okay. Just take it easy and stop worrying so much. The gentle touch caused a shiver to run down Makubex's spine. He felt nervous and somehow guilty whenever Ginji touched him.

A large strain of thought ran through his head.

I can't possibly…

"Makubex."

It can't be…

"Hey."

How could I?

"Makubex."

Do I?

"Makubex, are you okay?"

Why would I?

"Hey! Snap out of it…"

Why wouldn't I?

At this point, Ginji had his hands on Makubex's shoulders, shaking him. He remained completely limp in his arms. "Ginji…"

"What happened? Are you okay?"

"You were always there." Makubex quietly replied.

"What?"

"When I was younger, I could always look up to you. Once you left, I had nobody. I was all alone." Even though leaving Makubex always bothered him, Ginji always managed to put on an endearing smile, and provide kind words. "Don't say that, now. You had Sakura, and Jubei," he continued, "and you still do."

"I needed you."

Ginji was quiet for a moment. He knew that Makubex cared about him, and looked up to him, but he never realized just how much he actually did. "I never knew-" Makubex cut in, "now you do." Once he said that, he realized that he was still lying in Ginji's arms. He felt better, and could have stood up and he wanted. But he didn't want to.

"If I could…I would keep you here…forever."

"Really, Makubex? You mean that?" Asked Ginji, who was completely shocked by what he just said.

Makubex could hardly believe that those words came out of his mouth either. He knew that he meant every word of it. If that was all that I wanted to say, then why do I want to take it back now? He was quiet, confused, and thinking only to himself. There was nothing else to say, but so much more at the same time.

"Never mind. You don't need to answer that…I know that you do." Ginji replied in a happy voice, although he looked sad.

"Why are you sad? Was it my previous statement? I knew that I shouldn't have said that."

"No…it wasn't what you said, it's just that…I never should have left."

"But you hurt people when you were here. That's why you left in the first place."

"That wasn't as important as you."

That sentence made Makubex feel somewhat uncomfortable. He had no idea in what way Ginji meant that. What does he think of me as? What do I think of him as? Makubex was almost positive that Ginji only thought of him in a brotherly way.

But with Ginji, you never can tell.

"Ginji…how do you think of me?" Makubex asked nervously.

"You were always like brother I never had," he continued, "Why do you ask?"

"I don't…know. I guess I'm just confused right now." Most people would get what Makubex was saying, but to put it nicely, Ginji isn't most people. "Confused about what?"

His heart was pounding. There's no way that I can tell him now…no way. "I don't even know anymore." He replied with remorse.

Ginji couldn't take looking at his sad face any longer. He knew that they would have to do something together in order to cheer him up. "I know what will make you feel better…How about tomorrow we go out for ice cream…on me?"

Yes…he changed the subject. I'm free for now, and I don't have to answer his question. Makubex thought about it for a second then replied, "I would like that."

"How about at two forty five?"

"Why two forty five?" Makubex asked, wondering why such a specific time.

"Uh…I don't know…" He replied, as he shrugged his shoulders.

Makubex laughed, and after a few seconds, Ginji joined in.

"What's…so…funny?" Ginji asked between laughs.

"I don't know!" He said, as they laughed together.

But he did know. It was the way Ginji could be so dense and air headed at times that made Makubex laugh. It was another one of the reasons that Makubex is completely captivated by Ginji.

I suppose it's just part of that charm of his…

-Wait…did I just admit that he has charm?