Author's Notes:

Sorry, nothing new here. I just removed some of the numerous typos that I found. I'll try to update soon.

Disclaimer: Get Backers is not mine. The story is fictional and all similarities to people and events in real life are coincidences.

The Man In Your Dreams

Chapter Seven: Discussion

Haruki listened intently as Ban described his relationship with the thread master in not so many words. But the words 'more than friends', 'bed', and 'sex' did come up so it was pretty obvious that though Ban never confirmed love, the connection between Kazuki and Ban was not purely platonic.

Hell, if he were smart enough to read between the lines—which he was, by the way—he would be able to conclude that platonic was the last word he would use to describe Ban and Kazuki's affiliation with each other.

He felt a pang of jealousy as he thought of Ban and Kazuki together. It wasn't fair. That perverted jerk, though he was vehemently denying violating the string master, Mido didn't deserve to be with the brown-eyed angel. And then he caught himself.

What the hell was he thinking? Kazuki?

No, he had a thing for the unbelievably cute waitress Natsumi! He couldn't be gay! He couldn't even be remotely attracted to any man. No, he was not attracted to Kazuki...

He couldn't be.

"What are you talking about?" Himiko leaned a little closer to Kazuki. Things were getting juicier by the minute. First, Ban and Kazuki turn out to be lovers, and then there was was a big fight between Ban and Juubei over Kazuki, and now, here was Kazuki saying he doubted his feelings for the Jagan master.

It was like some twisted soap opera starring only men...

Himiko watched as Kazuki brushed back the hair that fell loose over his shoulders and sighed.

...Except this man was so unbelievably pretty that he would pass for a woman.

Kazuki looked at Himiko with wide brown eyes full of confusion. "I never thought about Juubei as a lover. He has always been there and he was just a constant in my life until..."

Himiko frowned, "Until what?"

Kazuki stood up. In his white yukata, hair flowing down his back, eyes shining with an unknown emotion, Himiko had to admit he was a vision to behold.

"Where are you going?" the Poison Lady inquired as his eyes bore into hers.

"Please, take me to Ban and Juubei."

Juubei clenched his fists, trying hard to expel the tension in his body through his hands. He was not exactly angry. Actually, he had no idea how he really felt. He was just stressed at that moment. Part of him wanted to channel out Ban's words, while another part of him urged him to listen. But most part of him just wanted to leave the room and check to see if Kazuki was alright.

Makubex cut in on Ban's narrative and consequently broke into Juubei's thoughts. "So, you used your Jagan on Kazuki. Why?"

Ban was partly annoyed at being interrupted, but mostly remorseful for everything that had happened. "That's not important."

"Yes it is," Ginji insisted.

Shido nodded. "That's where everything started."

Outnumbered, the brunette Getbacker conceded, "I was jealous."

Jealous? A part of Juubei became inexplicably ecstatic.

"Of what?" Makubex asked again. "It doesn't seem that Kazuki is with anyone else, is he Juubei?"

The blind healer was not able to answer the question directed at him, because Ban had become enflamed. "That's just it! It's him. Juubei."

"I've protected Kazuki all our lives, nothing else," Juubei answered calmly, but inside, his own reply hurt him deeply.

"I don't know that!" Ban rammed his hand onto the floor creating a very loud sound making Natsumi jump slightly. Ban didn't notice the waitress' reaction. Shido was immediately ready to subdue the blue-eyed man if anything were to happen. Fortunately, Ban quieted down, somewhat, catching himself. "I know who Juubei is in his life, but I don't know where I stand."

That was when Juubei felt for his charge's bedmate of late. "That's why you gave him that dream about me."

"You figured that if Kazuki betrayed you in his dream, then you could let him go and leave him with Juubei," Makubex concluded from all the stories brought before them. "And if Kazuki remained faithful, the whole sordid affair would be just a dream. Your plan seemed foolproof, didn't it, Ban?"

"You got it," Ban felt exhausted. This whole night was going in the wrong direction. "It's no secret that Needle Boy here has always had a crush on the Yarn Ball."

Juubei frowned. He hadn't realized how obvious he had been.

"You didn't count on what happened, did you?" Ginji was a bit sympathetic for his partner, but at the same time, he was unhappy that Ban had betrayed one of his friends.

Ban shook his head, no.

NO.

No. No. No.

No.No.No.No.No.No.No.

NoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNo!

He was NOT falling for Kazuki!

Haruki was about to slap himself back to his senses, when the door opened to let in a slightly flushed, gently panting Kazuki.

Damn, Kazuki's hot.

Haruki cursed under his breath.

"Kazuki!" Juubei rose from where he was seated. He was relieved that the Fuchoin heir was awake. "Kazuki, I'm sorry for using my..."

But Kazuki was not listening to him. The thread wielder was looking at Mido Ban, eyes burning.

"Kazuki-san?" Natsumi ventured from where she was seated, but still there was no response.

Shido inched away from Ban as Kazuki marched towards the evil-eyed brunette. No way was the Beast Master getting caught in the line of fire between angry lovers.

And then Kazuki pulled Ban up by the collar and fiercely kissed him without warning.

Paul and Hevn gave each other knowing looks.

Realizing what was happening; Juubei sat back down, his heart sinking. Sakura watched him, concerned.

Himiko, who had just walked in, stood by the doorway stunned.

Makubex, Shido, Natsumi, and even Ginji were frozen by the almost far too erotic sight.

Strangely enough, Haruki found himself seething.

The aggression obviously took Ban by surprise and he found that he couldn't react properly. When he had gathered enough wit to move, Kazuki had already separated their lips.

"Why?" was the simple question from the beautiful angel with brown hair before stepping far away enough so he could examine Ban's facial expression.

And Ban proved to himself once again that the simplest questions are often those which could not be easily answered.