Title: Blood of the Snake

By: retroelectric

Warnings: Mature themes, Vampirism, Horror/Supernatural, Yaoi

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters from Get Backers. This is a Get Backers fan fiction, ideas purely fan-made speculations based off the relationship between the Get Backers duo and infused with several elements inspired – and not stolen off the Vampire Chronicles Universe by Anne Rice. It is also important to note that this does not contain ANY of her characters, thus this is strictly NOT a Vampire Chronicles/Get Backers crossover. In this way I do not breach any of Anne Rice's policies regarding fan fiction on her work.

Chapter 3

Ban stared at his gaunt reflection in the mirror. Unanswered questions filled his mind but he found himself ignoring them as he set to fulfill the task of cleaning himself. Unclothing himself quickly, he stepped into the shower and closed the door behind him, enjoying the spray of hot water across his body. The stinging of the wound on his neck maddened him. How could he have been so weak as to let a vampire attack him and drink his blood to the point of near-death? He, the invincible Midou Ban-sama?

He found himself frowning as he remembered the power the vampire exuded, and the desperation he felt. He was able to fight the invisible bonds, but only just barely so. It was inhuman, and for once he feared for his life. He couldn't die at such an important stage of his life, no. If the vampire could control his body movement with only his thoughts, then he was afraid to know what else this vampire was capable of.

Then again, maybe he did know what vampires were capable of. It would be best if he were prepared for all that was to come in the very proximal future.

Finishing his shower, he toweled himself dry and reached for his pile of clothes, only to find them gone. Wrapping the towel around his waist indifferently, he let himself out of the bathroom.

"Ginji? Where are my clothes?" Ban called out to his partner.

Ginji came to the kitchen with a pair of folded jeans and a long-sleeved t-shirt in his hands and handed them to Ban. "Here," Ginji said, flushing slightly at the state of undress Ban was in. Why this reaction now? Ginji wondered, staring at Ban's naked back. He had seen Ban naked a few times before, and it never bothered him like this. Ginji turned his back to Ban and busied himself by pretending to rifle through the refrigerator.

After putting on the clothes, Ban flopped himself onto one of the chairs in the living room. He was still feeling lethargic and tired from last night's incident, but he still offered a small smile to Ginji as he came over to Ban and offered him a glass of milk. He accepted it gratefully and downed it quickly, slinging an amiable arm around his friends' shoulder.

"I feel like shit," Ban deadpanned to Ginji.

Ginji laughed despite himself and drew Ban closer to him. "I can tell."

What passed between them the next moment was inexplicable. Ban extricated his arm from around Ginji's shoulder, gazing into Ginji's chocolate brown eyes intently, gently stroking his face. Ginji could only stare back into the mesmerizing gaze, feeling the blush creep up into his cheeks as he felt the contact of Ban's calloused fingers brushing across his cheek.

"Ban-chan?" Ginji said questioningly, still blushing at the closeness of their faces.

Ban's hot breath lingered across Ginji's lips for a moment as the moment engulfed them and Ban's surprisingly soft lips touched onto his. It took a while for Ginji to respond to the sudden motion, and when he did and pressed his lips to Ban's harder, hungrily, Ban opened his mouth in invitation and Ginji let out a tiny gasp that went unheard between their interlocking motions. Tentatively using his tongue to stroke Ban's lower lip, Ginji snaked his tongue into Ban's hot and eager mouth and Ban groaned so needily, clutching onto Ginji as though afraid to let go. Ban was surprisingly vulnerable and Ginji thought fleetingly that he could get used to this. Their tongues touched, and the both of them melted at the sensations brought forth by the kiss.

It was over in an instant. Ban had pulled away, his face flushed.

"I'm sorry, Ginji - I didn't mean to do this," Ban mumbled, averting his eyes away from Ginji's gaze.

Ginji glanced at Ban's reddened face, feeling disappointed. The silence hung in the air, making the both of them feel uncomfortable. Ginji decided to dispel the awkwardness and spoke brightly. "Ne, Ban-chan, aren't we supposed to meet Master at the Honky Tonk?"

"Yeah, yeah, you're right," Ban replied grudgingly.

The walk down to the cafe was awkward for both Ban and Ginji. Ginji kept glancing to Ban's troubled expression, but Ban seemed dead-set on making their way to the Honky Tonk as fast as possible and ignoring Ginji's questioning looks aimed at him.

"Hello, you two," Paul greeted them as soon as they arrived to the empty cafe, the jingle of bells marking their presence. To their surprise, Paul got up from his seat and locked the door to the cafe.

Resuming his position from behind the counter, Paul looked pointedly at Ban behind his dark glasses. "Well?"

"I don't have to tell you anything, Paul," Ban groused.

"Ban-chan..." Ginji started.

Paul interrupted Ginji at once. "Now isn't the time for your pride, Ban. You were unconscious, had lost a lot of blood and made Ginji worried sick, and you're trying to tell me that it isn't none of my business?"

Ban sighed. It was an argument lost even before it began, and he knew it. "Che, fine." Ban continued.

"It was a vampire that attacked me." Ginji's eyes widened. "He has been following me for nearly a month now. He has some way of invading my mind and putting in thoughts that aren't mine -- it is hard to explain. Before he attacked me, I couldn't sense any presence at all. He doesn't have a scent to him, and he has white-blond hair, and violet eyes and skin like marble. He also has this strange power of being able to control my movements, and he is very dangerous. He just has this immeasurable feel to him." Ban looked to the both of them and shrugged. "That's about as much as I can tell you."

Ginji gaped at him for a few moments, open mouthed. Clearing his throat to be able to speak, Ginji finally said hesitatingly, "Do you suppose he... meant to kill you, Ban-chan?"

Ban paused for a moment. "Yes. He drained me to the point of death, but seeing as how I am the invincible Midou Ban-sama, it obviously failed." Ban puffed out his chest proudly, but deflated when a negative thought invaded him. "I don't know what to do," Ban mumbled quietly.

Paul, after being silent for a while, spoke. "Does this vampire have a name, Ban?"

A voice seemed to whisper to Ban's mind. "Cadmus Baptiste," Ban said, feeling surprised he even knew the name.

"Ban-chan..." Ginji shivered, looking to the outside through the glass window of Honky Tonk. It was already dusk, he hadn't realised that time had passed by so quickly. Paul went over to the door, unlocking it and looking at Ban through his dark glasses again. "Well, whatever happens, Ban," Paul stated, "don't let yourself get killed."

Ban made a non-committal sound and got up ready to leave. Grasping Ginji's arm and leading them both out of the cafe, he made with a "I'm off, Paul. See you."

Ban was secretly glad to be away from the cafe owner. Breathing in cool air of the evening, he was unaware of the firm hold he still had on Ginji's arm. It was only when he felt Ginji wriggling away from him that he was aware of it. "Sorry," he murmured to Ginji.

"Ban-chan, lets go back to our car, okay?" Ginji suggested. Ban nodded.

Ban felt uneasy all of a sudden as the duo navigated their way slowly to their car. The sensation he felt was like a slow coiling thing wrapping itself around his gut and squeezing him slowly. He found the reason for the odd feeling as he saw, perched on the hood of their car -- a pale, unearthly figure, giving a fanged grin in the direction of Ginji and Ban. Ban's heart skipped a beat as he recognized the creature as he spoke in that low and musical voice.

"Ah, Ban and Ginji. I was beginning to wonder when you were going to return." Cadmus spread his arms out in a gesture of welcome.