Title: Blood of the Snake
By: retroelectric
Warnings: Mature themes, Vampirism, Horror/Supernatural, Yaoi, Alternate Universe
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 15
The cellphone beeped in Ban's pocket as they walked on the quiet street. Flipping it open, Ban saw that there was a text message from Hevn.
Kazuki and Shido agreed to meet – see you both at the Honky Tonk at 2pm sharp.
He smirked and turned to face his partner. "Ne, Ginji, it looks like we've gotten ourselves busy tonight."
Ginji blinked owlishly and Ban automatically answered Ginji's impending question. "Means we're going back to that junkyard later on with itomaki and Monkey Tamer. Geez."
After walking on for a few minutes, Ginji halted mid-step, and slapped his own mouth with his palm, causing Ban to stop and look at Ginji concernedly. "Ginji?" Ban asked, frowning at Ginji's sudden pensiveness and the uncharacteristic way his skin turned slightly green.
"What's wrong, Ginji?" Ban probed.
Ginji attempted to smile reassuringly at his partner, but it came out as a grimace instead. That's the second time he's done that today, Ban thought. "Nothing, I'm okay, I just felt a little nauseous... Ban-chan, can we go back to the hotel?" Ginji requested in a small voice.
The dark-haired male placed a hand on Ginji's shoulder. He did look a little paler than usual, Ban noticed. "Is it really bad?" Ban asked, frowning in worry.
Ginji looked up to meet Ban's eyes and was about to say something, when his chest heaved heavily. He covered his mouth again to prevent himself from retching right then and there. Ban's eyes widened – this was serious, Ginji had never been sick before.
"Shit, Ginji!" Ban cursed, and thought hard for a solution to bring them back to the hotel room as soon as possible. It wouldn't do for Ginji to be sick all of a sudden – they had a job to do. Then it struck him.
He did remember an obscure teleportation incantation his grandmother had thought him once, but it was rather taxing on himself despite his potent blood. His grandmother had given up on him the second attempt, citing something about his age but he'd secretly attempted it several times behind the old lady's back.
There was only two occasions when he was successful despite the many number of attempts. Then again, it only brought him several metres from where he had started from. He had collapsed after several minutes from exhaustion. It drained him of his energy to the point where he had slept for 12 hours straight, and still felt overly tired afterwards.
He never attempted the charm again, fearing the consequences it would have on his body. He was powerful but he wasn't stupid.
He was ejected from his memories the instant he heard another heaving sound from his blond partner. Glancing at Ginji's progressively greening face, Ban decided to throw caution to the wind and simply do it. Fuck the consequences, Ban thought, focusing on remembering the incantation from the back of his mind.
Ban extracted a small pocket knife from his coat pocket with shaky hands. "Hold me, Ginji," Ban commanded as he poised the sharp blade onto his right palm, Ginji's arm winding itself around his waist. Looking around cautiously, Ban proceeded to sink the blade into his flesh, hissing as he made a long incision across it. Ignoring the throbbing pain he felt from the flowing blood, Ban proceeded to mutter the complicated incantation under his breath, concentrating hard on the intended destination.
He focused his magic on it as translucent blue light flowed from Ban's palm and ensconced both of them safely in it. Ban recited the charm louder, the strange lilting language caressing Ginji's burning ears like cold water on hot coal.
Ban heard something snap, like bone breaking cleanly into half and he opened his eyes again as soon as he finished the last of the charm.
Ban was so stunned upon seeing the familiar space of the hotel room that he didn't even feel Ginji's arm leaving him and hear his heavy footsteps running towards the bathroom. Ginji had no time to compliment Ban on his prowess as his chest heaved painfully. He bent over the toilet bowl and vile spewed from his mouth.
It actually worked? Ban thought, his mind reeling from the shock and his knees feeling weak from the exertion. He slid to the ground in surprise.
Smirking proudly, he realised that he had actually been successful in using his magic for teleportation. This was quite a feat; he'd teleported hundreds of metres from the street to the hotel! Ban snapped out of his gloating upon hearing the sounds from the bathroom. Ban scrabbled to his feet and rushed over to aid his partner.
Ginji barely registered the hand thumping his back as he heaved for a second time. He wanted to cry from the pain – it felt like something was being ripped out from his chest. He gasped for breath in between the painful retching.
Finally Ginji's painful heaves began to subside and he heard Ban's voice telling him to take slow, deep breaths. He nodded slightly and stumbled over to the sink to wash his mouth, ridding himself of the sickly sour taste lingering behind.
Taking a clean towel from the rack, Ban wiped off the traces of blood from his palm. The wound had thankfully, ceased to bleed. Ban figured he'd tend to the cut later when he wasn't so tired. He felt the beginnings of lethargy starting to sink in his body, but he had enough presence to remove his coat and shirt.
Remembering Hevn's message, Ban deftly punched in a reply with unsteady fingers.
Let's meet at 6.30 pm.
Ban flung the phone onto the dresser as soon as he sent it. Ginji had finally finished cleaning himself up and looked to Ban with a pleading expression.
"C'mere," Ban slurred fuzzily, too tired to even respond properly. It wasn't as bad as the last time, Ban realised. His eyesight was starting to go hazy and clouded and all he could see of Ginji was miles of peach-coloured skin and yellow hair. Ginji settled himself in Ban's arms as soon as he removed his red shirt.
Comforted with the thought that Ginji was finally tucked in safely, Ban succumbed to his well-needed rest followed by Ginji.
"Where the hell are they?!" Hevn said angrily, pacing back and forth along the length of the cafe. Those two had promised to meet at 6.30 in the evening, but it was nearing half past seven in a few minutes' time, Hevn ranted silently. Her patience was drawing to an end – trustthem to keep their promises!
"You could try calling them again," Kazuki offered, smiling softly at the negotiator. "Hmnh. Stupid snake bastard," Shido growled at the same time and tapped his foot impatiently.
"I've tried calling them for three times already, but they still aren't picking the damn phone up!" Hevn huffed, then took out her cellphone once more. "Well, it won't hurt trying one more time..." Hevn dialed Ban's number again, hoping the Jagan Master would pick the phone up.
Back at the hotel, Ban's ears prickled as he was rudely awakened from his deep sleep by the obnoxiously loud ringtone of his cellphone. He blinked several times, then pushed Ginji's arms away from him as he sat up and grappled for his phone on the dresser. Flipping the phone open, Ban cursed lightly upon seeing it was Hevn. He wondered what time it was.
"Hevn-" Ban started, his voice rough and thick with sleep.
"Oi, Ban!" Hevn practically screamed into the receiver. "Where the hell are you guys?! We've been waiting for you since forever!"
Ban's head throbbed painfully as he growled his reply. "Quit screaming, Hevn. Okay, okay, we're going there already."
Flipping the phone closed, Ban rubbed his eyes and massaged his temple to ease the pounding in his head. He shook Ginji roughly awake, and the blond boy opened his eyes groggily and managed a small smile for Ban.
"I feel like someone ripped off my throat and forgot to put it back, Ban-chan."
Ban laughed. "That's nothing compared to my being run over by a ten-tonne truck all over my head."
Ginji laughed. His Ban-chan always lightened the situation with his wry humour. Ginji tensed as he remembered what had happened several hours ago. "Ban-chan, what about your hand? Ban-chan, are you sure you're okay? You cut your hand... I'm sorry for just now-"
"Don't be sorry," Ban said tersely, putting on his shirt and running his hand through his hair to make himself look more presentable. "Forget about me. What I didn't understand was, why did you of all people get sick all of a sudden?"
Ginji flushed in embarrassment and began putting on his shirt as well. "I-I don't know why myself..."
Ban hmphed, and rifled through the drawers for a first-aid kit. "It's most probably a minor stomach flu." Ban said offhandedly. Finally finding the box, Ban opened it with one hand and extracted a bandage and a safety pin. He swiftly wound it around his palm and pinned it into place with deft fingers. "Nothing a few pills can't solve," Ban shrugged.
Suddenly, he had an armful of an excitable Ginji in his arms. "What the hell, Ginji-" Ban groused, but ruffled his partner's hair nonetheless carefully masking a small smile of his own.
"Ban-chan, you're so awesome!" Ginji cried adoringly, lifting Ban in his enthusiasm. "I didn't know you could teleport using magic! Something bluish came from your hand and then, poof! We reappeared back here! I thought it only existed in cartoons and movies, like that X-Men character... eh, what's his name? Night-skipper? Night-jumper?"
"Nightcrawler, and put me down, damn it!" Ban said, pushing his blond partner away and effectively giving Ginji an affectionate noogie.
"Itai yo, Ban-chan!" Ginji pouted cutely at Ban, and rubbed at the sore spot on his head.
Ban laughed and placed a small kiss at the corner of his electric partner's mouth. "Serves you right." Ban smirked, then gave a cursory glance at the door as the bell chimed.
"Who could it be?" Ban wondered aloud, going over to the door and looking through the peephole. It was a mousy teenage boy holding a clipboard in one hand.
Ban opened the door, and shot a glare to the boy. "Yes?"
"A-Are you M-Midou-sama?" the boy squeaked nervously and began sweating.
"That's me. Is this about the delivery of the coffin?" Ban asked, smirking haughtily.
"Y-Yes, sir. Please sign here-" the boy pointed a shaky finger to a space on the paper, "And the coffin will be delivered to you shortly."
Ban looked at the paper, then to the boy, and smiled. The boy looked at him with huge scared eyes, and didn't expected the following words from Ban. "That's faster than I would expect. I'm impressed. Do you have a pen?"
The boy rifled through his trouser pockets and handed it to Ban. He signed it promptly, and shoved the clipboard back to him.
"T-Thank you for your patronage, sir," the boy squeaked, bowing and then gestured for the movers to bring the coffin into the lavish hotel room. The two heavily-muscled men carrying the coffin looked at Ban oddly when he told them to put the coffin underneath the bed. He brushed the looks off easily enough.
Soon it was all done and Ban shoved several large bills at the squeaking boy. "Here's your tip." He gestured to Ginji to get out of the room and after he did so, Ban locked the door behind him, entering the open lift.
"You do realise that we're late, do you?" Ban asked Ginji conversationally, tapping his foot against the carpeted floor of the descending lift.
"Eh? What time did you promise Hevn-san and the others?"
"6.30. You, boy," Ban barked at the teenager, looking menacingly at the nervous boy who'd gotten into the lift with them. "What time is it?"
"S-Seven t-twenty five," the boy stuttered, cowering away from Ban and Ginji, trying to hide behind the two burly movers.
"We're really, really late, Ban-chan," Ginji agreed and grinned sunnily at his partner. "Hevn-san is going to be so mad at us."
"Heh. I know." Ban smirked as they walked out of the hotel, heading towards the small space where their car was hidden.
Waving his hand in the familiar intricate motion, the invisible car reappeared again and Ban sighed softly as he entered the car, Ginji doing the same.
The short trip to the Honky Tonk was spent in companionable silence. Ban parked the car on the road opposite the cafe, smiling fondly as Ginji hopped, no less – over to the Honky Tonk. Despite having retched his guts out earlier, Ban noted, the electric eel sure still had a lot of energy left.
Ban heard Ginji gasp loudly even as he was about to enter the cafe. Opening the door, Ban finally understood why.
Cadmus was seated primly on a barstool, looking as if there was nothing unusual in his presence being there at all. In a flash of red and gold, Ginji had fluttered over to Cadmus and was hugging him tightly.
"Cadmus-san! Cadmus-san! Cadmus-san!" Ginji sing-songed happily, thoroughly clinging to the smiling vampire. The pale-haired man returned his exuberant embrace. "Where have you been, Cadmus-san?" Ginji cried, entangling himself from Cadmus to look at him with dewy eyes. "I've been so worried!"
"I was resting," Cadmus clarified softly, waving at Ban to come over. Ginji kissed the corner of Cadmus's mouth and sat down beside him, grinning from ear to ear. Meanwhile, Shido looked upon the scene in poorly-concealed disgust and Ban noticed the look as he went to sit beside Cadmus.
"Oi Monkey Tamer, did someone put some invisible dung under your nostrils to make your face look squashed up like that?" Ban said haughtily, thoroughly enjoying the anger sliding onto the Beast Master's face and gestured to the cafe owner. "Paul, two coffees please."
"Shut up, you disgusting Snake Bastard," Shido growled, glaring at the dark-haired male.
"Hnh, whatever." Ban replied disinterestedly. "What a weak insult. I'm not going to even try topping that. And Paul, got a cigarette?" The older man grumbled, but obliged nonetheless.
"Thanks." Ban took out his Zippo lighter, and lit the end of the stick. He released a cloud of smoke languidly, and began to speak.
"Yeah, so I asked Hevn to call both of you here, to update you of what's happening back in that junkyard." Ban exhaled slowly, and ignored the way Shido bristled at his cheapening of Mugenjou's name.
He continued. "Our mission yesterday was a success, but in the process we found out something about your good friend Juubei, Kazuki. It seems like he's working for Tenma. Do you know anything about it?" Ban asked, looking at Kazuki with piercing eyes.
Kazuki refused to let the Jagan Master intimidate him and looked at him straight in the eyes. "From what I know, Ban-kun, MakubeX does have problems with Tenma in the Lower Town. He has been unsuccessful in stopping his drug activities so far, but I believe MakubeX and the rest of the VOLTS have done the best that they can to stop it. But, tell me what do you mean – that Juubei is working for Tenma? I'm afraid that your statement is a bit vague for me to comprehend."
"Look, itomaki, we have to go back to Mugenjou to stop Tenma from making things in that junkyard worse, all right? Your friend for some reason or another decided to become a drug addict and go work for some coke-snorting son of a bitch. And I'm sure you want to go and save your dear Samurai Boy. So are we going back there to kick some druggies' arses or what?" Ban said forcefully, inhaling deeply then stubbing the cigarette in an ashtray.
"Ban-chan!" Ginji frowned at his partner's harsh words. Ban waved it off, opting instead to approach Hevn.
"No – it can't be..." Kazuki finally whispered hoarsely, eyes wide with the revelation from Ban. Shido patted his back comfortingly.
"Oi Hevn, where's my 4 mil?" Ban demanded of the negotiator.
"O-Oh, here." Hevn fished a thick envelope from her handbag and handed them over to a triumphant-looking Ban.
Ban sniffed the air around him as he extracted the four thick wads of cash from the envelope. "Ah, the lovely smell of fresh and crisp bank notes," he said, pocketing one stack and throwing a stack each to Cadmus, Ginji and Paul.
Paul looked at him questioningly as he caught it. "Told you the Get Backers would make it big someday, Paul." Ban smirked. "It's a token of thanks from us. You know, for sticking with us through the hard times." Tossing his head over his shoulder to glance at Kazuki and Shido, he said, "Well, are you coming or not?"
Kazuki looked up, and nodded firmly. "Yes. Come on, Shido-san."
Once they were gathered outside, Ban looked at the four men and then to his car. Shaking his head, Ban said, smirking, "No, I can't fit everyone into my car. Someone has to travel sitting on the roof or something. Preferably Monkey Tamer?"
Shido was about to growl something in response, when Cadmus spoke. "Well, Ban, Ginji can travel with me if he wants to. There'll be no need for anyone to travel sitting on the roof. It would be most uncivilized."
Ginji sparkled happily. "Wai! I'm traveling with Cadmus-san!"
Ban glared at the two blond men but relented. "Huh. Fine. Suit yourselves. Leave me with the Monkey Tamer and thread spool." He muttered, opening the doors for them. The two got into the back seat.
Cadmus waved and yelled at Ban, "Race you there!" Before Ginji could blink, the vampire had scooped him up in a quick motion and Ginji chuckled delightedly as Cadmus broke into a run.
Ban grumbled as he revved up the engine and drove, Cadmus and Ginji already fading into the darkness.