Title: Blood of the Snake, a Get Backers fanfic
By: retroelectric
Warnings: Mature Themes, Vampirism, Horror/Supernatural, Strong Language, 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 18
Cadmus was having mixed emotions as they walked to Gen's pharmacy. He kept feeling like he'd done something that he shouldn't have done. It hurt him to think that he had done something so wrong to make Ginji cry like that. Ban, on the other hand, had smirked at him in a strangely proud manner as he closed the door behind him, and he couldn't help but to feel confused.
He never had been excessively emotional and sensitive. Cadmus never cared for what others thought, or for what his conscience screamed out to him, for the matter. That was mainly how Cadmus survived throughout more than three centuries on the surface of the Earth.
Cadmus had never gone underground before. He never felt the need to be known to the world, to write his life story and publish it into books. He kept countless journals before, but they were mostly private. He felt all that was ridiculous and he liked his quiet long life alone. He also didn't think he'd go crazy just because of it. The hundred years or so came and passed, and he remembered the warning his Maker gave him - "Time can be a dangerous thing to all of us. Just remember that in a century or two, you might not be able to adapt to the changing world around you." He'd scoffed at this, and he had been right. More than three centuries had passed and nothing had happened to him, except for his constantly evolving powers.
He'd stayed in Herakleion, his birth land, for half a century after he was turned. Cadmus had gotten bored with Greece soon enough, so he'd gone to explore the rest of 17th century Europe as a lone vagabond vampire, finally settling in Japan mid-19th century. He'd become fascinated with the Asian culture which had been so different and foreign from his own, and learned their language with no effort.
He was satisfied enough with his quiet life in Japan. But after meeting the Get Backers, he felt a most unlikely emotion unleashed from deep within his immortal heart that could possibly be love. After some deep thinking, he'd acknowledged the fact that he'd already fallen for them, and vice versa. He didn't want to lose any of it due to his indifferent nature.
He spoke suddenly, startling Ginji.. "I'm sorry. Was Akabane your friend, Ginji?"
"Huh?" Ginji asked, puzzled. "Eh, Akabane-san is not really... my friend, we just bump into each other often during missions, and he often likes to battle with me, but I don't 'cos he's really scary and all, but..." he trailed off, looking at Cadmus suspiciously, "Hey, why are you asking about Akabane-san?"
Cadmus smiled, putting an arm around Ginji's shoulder. "You just seemed to be emotionally affected back there."
"Erk? Because what you were doing really scared me?" Ginji fidgeted uncomfortably. Ban looked on interestedly.
"Do you want me to stop?"
"It's not like that, Cadmus-san! I mean, we can't really change the fact that you're a vampire, right?" Ginji said earnestly. "I should be the one to say sorry, I didn't mean to overreact like that!"
Cadmus smiled, and shrugged. "I suppose. I'm still sorry for making you cry, though."
Ginji grinned boyishly and locked his chocolate-brown eyes to Cadmus's violet ones. Ban interrupted them, shuddering dramatically. "Ech, I didn't know you were so sappy, Vampire-sama. Don't you dare trying that on me, though."
"And you and your revolutionary, inventive nicknames, cherub."
"It's good to know we're adapting to each other's quirks so fast," Ban commented, making a face. "Damn, I wish I knew of a spell which can create cigarettes out of thin air."
Ginji giggled. "But it's good for your health, Ban-chan! You didn't smoke for a week back at Iriomote," he said thoughtfully.
"That's because I'm not addicted, dummy. It keeps my hands and mouth occupied, that's all." Ban said haughtily, puffing out his chest.
"That doesn't make any sense!" Ginji argued, as they climbed the staircase to the pharmacy.
Ban rolled his eyes. "Yeah." He jogged quickly, and reached the door before Cadmus and Ginji. He knocked the door politely, and the old pharmacist came to meet them.
"Ah, the Get Backers," he said, the corners of his eyes crinkling as he smiled. The old man looked tired. "Do come in."
Ban nodded once, and stepped inside the room. He sneered at Shido, who bristled and promptly went over to a pale-looking Kazuki who was seated on one of the plastic chairs. The curtains were drawn, and Ban knew that Juubei was lying on the bed, comatose, on the other side.
"Kazuki, anything new? How's Juubei doing?" Ban asked quietly, using the needle-user's name for once out of respect.
"He's not doing too good, Ban-kun. He's still in a coma." Kazuki looked sad again for a moment. "Anyway, Ren-chan told me that she saw a letter in Juubei's hand when she found him unconscious. Here," Kazuki handed Ban a piece of paper which looked like it had been crumpled then smoothed back again, "I think this will help you find Tenma."
Ban looked at Kazuki calculatingly, and accepted the letter.
'By the time you read this letter, I might already be dead. Either way, I have many things to confess.
As I write this, tears are pouring from my sightless eyes and I hope to God that someone will find this and be able to convey my final words to a certain someone. To Kazuki, I am sorry to have failed as your Protector-'
Ban stopped there, and frowned. This was private. He skipped several paragraphs and read again.
'Tenma has told me of his background – he's a wanted drug smuggler from Tokyo, seeking refuge in Mugenjou. He promised me many things. He said that with my skill and with his influence, we could make several things possible, like regaining my sight. I believed him. He told me that the drugs he'd give me would make my condition better. I was vulnerable at that time, and the result was that I got addicted to drugs. I am sorry, Kazuki. I was stupid.'
'Now that I've made a mistake, I need to make everything alright once more. Kazuki, Tenma is not just a drug dealer – he has a special ability, teleportation. This is how he was able to escape from prison. He works alone. This is also why MakubeX has given up on tracking him down, he's a very slick character.' Ban raised his eyebrow at this, and scanned the letter, skipping the unimportant parts.
'His headquarters is on the fifth floor.'
As Ban examined the letter carefully, Shido glanced at the mysterious man beside Ginji. It was the scent of blood which constantly lingered on him, but now he positively reeked of it and just the thought made him feel ill. Shido wrinkled his nose involuntarily and simply turned his head away from them.
Ban handed the letter to Kazuki, and turned to Cadmus with a displeased look on his face. "Bah, do we really have to go kick Tenma's butt for them? Can't we leave that to Monkey Tamer or someone else? This is too stupid!"
Ginji glared at Ban warningly, then smiled at Kazuki. "Don't worry, Kazu-chan, we'll make Tenma pay for doing this to Juubei! The Get Backers are on the job!"
"Aw, hell..." Ban groaned, moving towards the door. "Fine. Whatever. Just don't expect me to use the Jagan."
Cadmus and Ginji followed, and Ban grumbled still as they took the flight of stairs to the fifth floor. "This is so stupid! Come on, it's not like it's our problem that Samurai Boy snorted a truckload of coke up his nose and is half-dead because of it! No one can coerce anyone to take drugs, it's their own personal choice! What a load of bullshit!"
Cadmus frowned at Ban. "If you feel like you won't help them, then let me."
"Fine. Go do what you want." Ban huffed. "What a waste of my time... Ah. Before I forget, the motherfucker Tenma can teleport, if that's of any help to you."
"So if I kill him, problem solved?" Cadmus asked nonchalantly.
"Oi, Vampire-sama! Now you're being morbid!" Ban said, but didn't protest. Ban then kept quiet the rest of their way, despite his restlessness. Ginji kept constant vigil, looking around himself warily and tiny sparks of electricity emitted from his body.
Soon enough, they reached the fifth floor. Ban and Ginji treaded quietly, whilst Cadmus moved forward. "It's your show, Cadmus," Ban called, grasping Ginji's hand and stopping the lightning-wielder effectively in his tracks.
"Ban-chan!" Ginji protested, looking at their interlocked hands and colouring. Ban shushed him, and watched as Cadmus grin maliciously to himself.
Cadmus sensed the presence of Tenma easily enough. He heard the vagabond prisoner move, heard his frantic drug-laced thoughts. The man was high on drugs, it seemed. Cadmus gave a little mental suggestion to the drug-dealer to reveal himself.
The young man followed Cadmus's mental suggestion without hesitation. It was laughably easy as Tenma didn't have mind defenses of any kind. The skinny boy appeared at Cadmus's feet, and he looked up from his sprawling position with bloodshot eyes. Cadmus proceeded to rifle through the man's mind effortlessly.
Tenma wasn't his actual name, Cadmus gathered. He was once a boy full of potential, having discovered his ability at the tender age of fifteen. But, it seemed that he'd gone down the long and winding road of drug abuse and pain, having no one to turn to. Cadmus shook his head sympathetically. He'd have thought that Tenma was an old, experienced drug smuggler, but it seemed that he was just a brash, arrogant boy, with lacklustre powers, arrogant enough to believe he could work alone. How Juubei managed to be entranced with such filth escaped him.
"You're Tenma, aren't you?" Cadmus spoke.
"Yesss... and wha' do you want?" the boy slurred.
"Your life."
"Ha ha ha, you're going to kill me, y-you bastard? I am Tenma, the great Tenma, I'm invi-vincible... ha ha ha," the boy rambled, eyelids drooping slightly.
"Ginji, we'd better go somewhere, don't want to interrupt Cadmus, do we?" Ban said and directed Ginji to the stairs, upon realising that Cadmus was about to take another young life. Ban knew that Ginji was still sensitive to this – this merciless killing that Cadmus seemed to be fond of. He didn't want Ginji to end up hating Cadmus for his senseless killing.
Cadmus heard his two partners move away. Tenma twitched at his feet pathetically, unable to escape from the vampire's spell. He promptly proceeded to bite deeply into the boy's jugular, closing a hand over the boy's mouth to prevent his screams from surfacing. The blond vampire felt no pain nor regret as he took the youth's life.
A few moments later, Cadmus reappeared alongside Ban and Ginji, feeling slightly inebriated and smiled at them apologetically. Ginji smiled back. "Cadmus-san, what happened to Tenma?" he asked, with wide trusting eyes. The blond male made a move to walk past Cadmus and up the stairs, but Ban blocked him.
"Ginji, let's go. Aren't you hungry or something?" Ban diverted the situation, knowing the topic of food would distract Ginji. "I'm really hungry." Ban patted his stomach.
"Eheh, yes, I am!" Ginji sparkled happily. "I'd like to have as many egg sushis as possible! Mmm, sushi!"
Ban nodded considerately at Cadmus, who felt stunned. It seemed as though the Jagan user knew of his every intention towards them.