Disclaimer: I do not own the Getbackers. Pity.
Ch.3
Now it was Hevn's turn to swear. This was not something she had anticipated. Why would Ban be the other recoverer…
"Well, does he know it's you?" Hevn asked. Another large crashing sound was heard in response.
"Ow…no, Hevn-san… I REALLY don't think so."
Ginji picked himself up as fast as he could. Ban's last swipe had sent Ginji flying into the table. He couldn't take his helmet off to let Ban know it was him, and Ban wouldn't hear him if he spoke. In a desperate attempt Ginji flailed his arms to signal Ban to stop.
"What's the matter Malice?" Ban said with a sarcastic smile. "You don't want to play?"
Ginji shook his head side to side.
"Fine, then hand me over that backpack and my next snake bite won't have to lop off your head."
Ginji raised his eyebrows. He was quickly learning that being on the opposite side of a Ban's recovery was not a fun place to be. This recovery had suddenly gotten a lot harder.
"Hevn-san, what should I do? I don't want to fight Ban-chan, and even if I had to I wouldn't be able to beat him with or without my electricity."
"Gin-chan, you can't just give up on this. I don't know what Ban's motivations are. But the fact that he is the other recoverer means he's working for the repossession service. Ban-kun may not know what he's gotten himself into, and we can't allow those thieves get a hold of a potentially powerful weapon. If you can't beat Ban, maybe you can at least outrun him."
Ginji was doubtful even that was possible, but Hevn was right and he would have to try. Now he just needed an opening.
"Hey. Don't think that just sitting there will buy you time until your partner gets here. I have been looking forward to taking that bastard out for boasting that he is the best in the business. Where is this Smarm anyway?"
Ginji being the honest soul that he was, pointed directly at Ban. Ban, however missed what he was trying to say, and instead looked behind him expecting to see the other recovery agent in a sneak attack.
Although Ginji was disappointed that Ban hadn't understood his gesture, this was still the opening he had been asking for, and he quickly turned to sprint back up the basement stairs and back out the hallway.
"Why you…I can't believe it! That is the oldest trick in the book! You dirty…"
"Gin-chan! You got past him?"
"Yeah, for now. But, now Ban-chan's pissed!"
"Well just keep going, you have to make it back to the bike. You can do it Gin-chan!"
Hevn's words were little comfort as Ginji thought of all the times Ban and him had playfully raced each other on a mission. They had started the game on their very first mission together. They were each always determined to out do the other and reach their goal first. Still, they had always ended as they started, side by side. Ginji had been ahead several times, but he suspected that somehow Ban was holding back a bit.
Startled from his memory Ginji could hear Ban now right behind him.
"No one pulls a fast one on the great Midou Ban-sama!" Ban yelled as he grabbed for the backpack.
However, since the backpack was strapped to Ginji, Ginji also went down with the backpack and causing Ban to trip over him and slide in a not so graceful face plant into the floor.
Ginji scrambled to his feet and continued to run, unfortunately stepping on top of Ban on the way.
"Dah! Gomen, gomen, gomen…."
"Oh, that is it you little punk!" Ban threatened as he started to peel himself from the floor a second time.
"Hmmm, now Ban sounds pissed." Hevn said.
"Yeah, I kind of just stepped on him…"
"Ha! Good for you Gin-chan!"
"Hevn-san!" Ginji scolded.
"Do you have a good lead now?"
"I think so I .."
Ginji was abruptly cut off as Ban appeared before him. Ban grabbed Ginji by the neck and slammed him against the wall.
"Sorry kid, I don't have time for this, and it's probably way past your bedtime."
Ginji knew Ban wouldn't kill him or anyone for that matter. At least he didn't think so. But he also had never thought Ban would be working for a reposition group again. He felt his mind cloud, as it got harder to breath. No, Ban wouldn't kill him, but Ginji still could not afford to pass out here.
"Hold on Gin-chan! I am hooking up the security again and setting off the lab's alarm." Hevn yelled to keep Ginji awake.
Ginji wanted to tell her it was a bad idea. There were still two guards somewhere and he wan not sure if Ban had taken them out or not. However, he had no breath and no other options.
With a high pitch shriek and flashing lights the alarm went off.
"What the hell is going on?!" Ban yelled as he glanced around and his grip loosened.
It wasn't much, but it was enough for Ginji to grab a breath before one of the guards came running out of one of the labs. Shocked to see a street punk with spiky hair and a guy covered in black rubber form head to toe in his normally quiet boring lab, the guard reached for his gun.
"Aw shit! How could you not at least take out all of the guards and the security system? And you call yourself a recover!" Ban shouted and he threw Ginji off the wall and out of the line of fire.
"Thank goodness." Ginji said with a sigh smiling at Ban.
"Does that mean my plan worked?" Hevn questioned.
"Well not exactly. Now we are being fired at. But, Ban-chan is still Ban-chan at least."
Another bullet flew by and grazed the backpack. There was a small clink as it just skimmed the safe box inside.
"Damn it. Keep that stupid rock safe, or I will have to doubly kick your ass when I get back to you." Ban yelled back to the man known as Malice, as he launched himself at the guard.
Ginji could hear Ban's signature snake bite behind him, but he kept running with out looking back. Ban could take care of himself, and though this was almost like they were working together, Ginji knew if Ban caught up with him now the next snake bite would be for him.
As Ginji made his way back to Hevn's bike he passed the ladybug. He felt his stomach knot as he realized he'd much rather preferred trying to outrun Ban on foot that riding Hevn's bike versus Ban's Ladybug. Especially with Ban's driving skills or lack there of, depending on how one would look at it.
"Hevn, I am almost to the bike, but I hope you have a good escape route that Ban doesn't know of."
"Finally something I can do again. Of course I can clear us a clean get away. Just follow my lead Gin-chan." Hevn said all too confidently.
Ginji paused slightly, pushing of his apprehensive feelings. As he jumped on the bike he quickly promised himself this was the first and last recovery mission he did without Ban. Well, without Ban as his partner at least.
"All right once you are back to the main road head north." Hevn directed.
"North? Which way is north?"
"What? Back towards Shinjuku."
"…"
"Left! Just go towards your left." Hevn rolled her eyes remembering a past comment of how the blonde getbacker's internal compass was almost useless due to his electric abilities. She has better be a really good navigator now.
From the road Ginji could see the Lasybug's headlights from the parking lot of the lab.
"Hevn-san, Ban-chan's gotten to the Ladybug now."
"So the real fun begins eh?"
"Whatever you say Hevn-san."
"How fast are you going right now?"
"Er… sixty five miles per hour."
"Sixty five! Gin-chan, Ban goes 65 in a school zone. You have to do better than that."
"Hevn-san, I don't know how well I can handle your bike. I'm not exactly very experienced here."
"Turn right."
"What now?"
"Turn right now! …And go faster!"
There was a screech of tires as Ginji made a wide turn.
"Please go easy on the turns, Hevn-san!"
"Sorry Gin-chan. But we have got to play this smart if we are going to outrun Ban-kun. So there will have to be some fast turns now. Come on, you can do this. Now, can you see Ban-kun behind you?"
Ginij looked in his side mirror. Sure enough the Ladybug appeared right over the hill.
Clamping his jaw down Ginji leaned forward and pushed the gas harder.
"Yes, but I still have a bit of a lead."
"LEFT!"
Trying not to close his eyes Ginji leaned into the sharp curve.
"Good you're doing better. Now this is a straight road for a bit so push as much speed as you can. I'm looking for a mountain path that only the bike will be able to take."
Ginji did not like the sound of that, but it had to be better than the Lasybug gaining on him.
"Found it! Ok there is a main intersection coming up, but there shouldn't be any traffic this far out of the city. Make a left there."
"Wait, are you sure it's not right?" Ginji squeaked.
"Now is not the time to rely on YOUR sense of direction. Turn left or we will lose our chance."
Hevn heard Ginji catch his breath before a loud splintering of wood and clanging of metal.
"GIN-CHAN!"
"I'm ok Hevn. The road was blocked with a caution fence and I knocked out a couple of signs. But I'm fine."
"Signs? Why was the road blocked?" Hevn asked scanning her computer screen. She quickly switched to another website to see an updated version of the roads.
"Did you see what the sign read?"
"No, there wasn't really any time."
Hevn found the road on another webpage. It led to a bridge that was out.
"Ginji turn right, up the mountains bike path."
Ginji made the turn grinding the bike into the now bumpy dusty road.
"He-vn-sa-an, is t-t-he-re a-ny- o-the-r w-a-a-y?" Ginji managed out through the bumps he was repeatedly hitting.
"No, the road you were on lead to a bridge that is out."
"WHAT?!" Ginji yelled, as he stopped in sudden horror.
The realization hit Hevn as soon as it had registered with Ginji. With the signs knocked out and the Ladybug at top speed Ban wouldn't know the bridge was out.
"Ban-chan."
Hevn heard Ginji's wheels screech once again as he turned down the small slope the bike had climbed and headed back to the road.
"Gin-chan what are you going to do?"
Ginji didn't respond, as he knew he had seconds to stay ahead of the Ladybug in time. He could see the Ladybug make the turn at top speed and then Ginji felt as if the world had turned to slow motion.
He took the bike to a screeching halt at the end of the road and waved his hands for Ban to stop. Only Ban wasn't stopping. In fact Ban had that all too familiar cocky look in his eyes and appeared to actually be speeding up.
"Too bad Malice, but I'm not falling for anymore of your tricks." Ban said with his foot on the gas pedal.
To be continued…
Note from author:
Thank you again to my wonderful Beta Iksugui and for the lovely readers and delightful reviewers.