Underlying Personalities.

A Get Backers Fan Fiction

By: Cauryn Terenkey.

Disclaimer: I do not own any Get Backers characters.

you guys'll LOVE thsi chapter XD

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He knew now. There was no second guessing.

Akabane had suspected from the first training session that it was a slim possibility that Natsumi was descendant of residents of Babylon City. She had learned quickly in the past week and a half, not to mention her stamina had climbed at unbelievable rates. At the last session, Akabane had almost had to bring out his scalpels to keep Natsumi's paddle from hitting him, not to mention the flimsy plastic balls were starting to fall apart when she hit them.

With all this unnatural growth, Akabane was positive that Natsumi carried in her genes the superhuman powers that originated in the creators of the limitless fortress. The building, after all, had been built for the soul purpose for those like Ban, Ginji, Masaki and many others to find the limits to their strength. It wasn't surprising that the creators had had their own children, and those children had spread, some remaining within the fortress, the rest leaking out into the real world.

Akabane knew now that Natsumi was indeed descendent of one or more of the Babylon City residents, but who he was not sure of. It didn't matter anyway. The girl didn't know, and he would tell her. She had a right to know after all.

All this was buzzing though the killers head as he approached the Honky Tonk café. He couldn't help but smile as he came closer. The girl did something to him, and he rather enjoyed it. He felt protective of her, and he couldn't tolerate thinking of her with anyone else.

Upon opening the door, there was no one in the dining room, but Akabane knew someone was inside the store. Just as he sat down, Natsumi came hurrying out of the back room, a smile plastered on her face already.

"Hello, Mr. Akabane! How are you?"

"Very well, Miss Natsumi. How about yourself?"

"Great. Those training sessions are awesome. Thanks a bunch for helping me." Natsumi said as she poured him a cup of his favorite tea. Akabane smiled.

"Yes, about those…" He said, swirling his drink a bit.

"Hm? Something wrong?"

"Not quite, my dear." Akabane smiled, amazingly enough, looking reassuring. "No, It's more of good news than bad."

"Okay then, out with it." Natsumi pouted ever so slightly as Akabane skirted the subject, a smirk playing at the corners of his mouth.

"I have suspected from the first session, that you could possibly be a descendant of the residents of Babylon City. The last few sessions have confirmed it. Your strength and speed have nearly tripled, you're nearly as fast as I am, and I feel you still have some room to go. Then you had that amazing natural ability in the first place. You have incredible eyesight, giving you precision aim. I thought you may like to know what I thought, so I decided to tell you." Akabane sipped his tea, watching Natsumi chew on her bottom lip. He was right. She had gotten faster and stronger so quickly, but she hadn't thought anything of it until Akabane had pointed it out.

"I wonder why dad never told me." Natsumi said out loud. Akabane shrugged.

"Who can say."

"Well, he never did like anything to do with the fortress… oh well." Natsumi leaned on the counter, staring out into space. They sat like that for several minutes in the comfortable silence, wrapped in their own thoughts.

"Where is our dear Paul and Get Backers today?" Akabane finally asked as he finished his tea.

"Oh, Paul is out running an errand and Ban and Ginji are on a job. Work is pretty steady right now, so they're doing alright."

"That's good to know." Akabane smiled.

"Oh! I better go put this box away…" Natsumi ducked below the counter and straightened, holding a large cardboard box. "Be right back!" Akabane watched as she walked into the back of the store, before deciding to follow. Natsumi turned as she heard the tall man walk around the counter, and smiled.

"Thanks. I think I have it though."

"I shall still come. You may trip." Akabane said with a smile. Natsumi blushed a bit.

"Thank you. Um, can you open the door?" Natsumi asked, leaning forward so Akabane could reach around her.

"My pleasure." Akabane smirked. He seemed to move slower purposely, bringing his face close to hers, and his hand brushing the back of her shirt. There was a moments pause before the door clicked open, and Natsumi was able to back into the storage room.

"Thank you." She was able to say. She sat the box down, and turned to the smiling man. He looked proud of himself. "Can I ask you something?"

"What, my dear?"

"Your scalpels, how do you hide them?" Natsumi asked. "It's been bugging me ever since I saw you use them. You can't possibly hide them in your clothes comfortably."

"I could, actually." Akabane said, opening his eyes. "But I don't hide them in my clothes. They are a part of me." He opened his right hand, and twitched his wrist as he made eye contact with the girl. They both froze for a split second, causing Akabane to miss the single scalpel he had summoned. It slipped through his fingertips and lodged itself in the wall beside the left side of Natsumi's neck. Natsumi jumped, squealing, as she looked down at the tiny knife.

"My apologies, my dear Natsumi. I did not mean to do that. And, it appears I have harmed you." Akabane said, his eyes glued to the thin line of red on the girls neck as he moved behind her to grab the scalpel from the wall.

"T-that's okay. Just wasn't expecting it. Have you got a napkin?" She asked, looking at him again. He was quite close now, his long fingers wrapped around the scalpel in the wall.

"Yes." He said. But instead of reaching for his pocket, he leaned down and slowly licked up the thin trail of blood. Natsumi blushed and closed her eyes. His chest wasn't touching her back, but the heat coming off of him seemed to singe her.

'I g-guess that works." She mumbled. Akabane chuckled as he withdrew the napkin he'd said he had from his pocket with his left hand, pressing it up against the cut. He looked up, his lips brushing her jaw line.

'*'

"We're back, Natsumi!" Ginji called happily as he entered first into the Honky Tonk. Ban and Paul came soon after, carrying a load of boxes. "I don't see her Paul."

"She must be in the bathroom." The ex-thief sighed. He and Ban dropped their load with a grunt. "She'll be out in a minute." The bell jingled, alerting the three men to the person entering.

"Himiko?" Ban said in surprise.

"Yeah?" Himiko asked, raising an eye brow.

"What's up, Himiko?" Ginji asked, a grin plastered on his face.

"Nothing much, just looking for the Jackal. Seen him?"

"Nope. That psycho hasn't been in in about a week." Ban muttered. "Why?"

"We have a job tonight, and agreed to meet here."

"I'm sure he'll be along shortly." Paul smiled. Himiko nodded and sat down, but jumped sky high when a bang sounded from the back of the store.

"What the hell!?" Ban yelled, leaping up.

"I hope she isn't hurt." Paul said, leading the small group of concerned friends into the back of the shop. He opened the door to the back store room, and froze. Growling, Ban shoved the man over a bit, and froze himself. Himiko and Ginji stood on their toes to see over the two-man pile-up in the doorway, and their jaws hit the men's heads.

Natsumi and Akabane were locked together, completely unaware of their accidental audience. Himiko's cheeks began sporting a deep blush, while horror was etched on Ban and Ginji's, leaving Paul in a state of deep shock. No one in the door moved until they noticed Akabane's hand about halfway up Natsumi's shirt, and it was still moving. It was Ban who found his voice first.

"YOU FREAK! WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING??!!!" He yelled, shoving his way past Paul, causing the poor man to fall to the floor with a heavy thud. Akabane opened his eyes, peered at the group in the door, and broke apart from Natsumi, who's face had turned a deep shade of red.

"It seems we have company."

"You bet you got company you psycho!" Ban growled, his hands clenched into fists.

"Akabane! We're supposed to meet our client soon! What're you doing?" Himiko cried, still blushing. Akabane glanced at his phone.

"Oh my, that late already? Then I'm afraid I must take my leave." He placed his hat back on his head, bowed a bit to Natsumi, and followed Himiko out to the main part of the café. The female transporter was still shaking her head, but she had a smile on it now. Ban, however, had to shake out Ginji who lay on the floor in his chibi size, oozing over the hardwood flooring. Then they dragged Paul out to a booth and left him there with a note as Natsumi closed down the café. She decided it would be a good idea to leave a good amount of mind numbing work for when he came too. The three left the shop in silence, Natsumi still sporting a blush.

"Okay, mind telling me why the HELL you were locked in a back room with the JACKAL of all people?" Ban asked, still slightly disturbed by the scene still playing out in his head.

"Um…he followed me there so he could help me if I needed it. I was carrying this huge box."

"So you think that a good way to pay him back is to let him suck your face and grope you???!!!!" Ban yelled, scaring several passerby.

"Ban, calm down!" Ginji said, trying to calm his friend down.

"I ain't calming down, Ginji!" Ban snapped.

"W-well, he's a good kisser…" Natsumi said, blushing again. Ban froze, then screamed, holding his head.

"I DON'T WANT THAT IMAGE IN MY HEAD!!!"

Natsumi giggled and dodged an angry Ban, inducing a game of a type of tag. She got home a little later than normal, grinning ear to ear. She was glad her father worked late tonight. She could have some time to herself. As she got ready for her nightly bath, her phone rang, indicating she had a text message. She smiled as she read it.

*I was quite amused today. Any chance we can play again soon?*

~How soon were you thinking?~

*I'd like to play now, but I am a bit preoccupied.*

~That's to bad.~ Natsumi smiled to herself, sinking into the hot waters of the bath. She could still feel his gloved hand on her skin, making the path he had traced burn even through the scalding waters of the bath.

*Is it now?*

~But may I ask what you are preoccupied with?~

*Several men that need to learn to fight.*

*Properly.*

~Now now, play nicely. Don't be too rough.~

Akabane smirked at this message, slicing a J into the last man's back.

"Alright, you two, let's saddle up!" Called Takashi from his truck.

"Shall we Miss Himiko?" Akabane asked, holding his hat in his usual fashion.

"Yes. Come on." The pair boarded the truck as it began moving. Akabane sat in his favorite spot, on the floor beside the door leading to the front of the cab, on the drivers side.

*My dear, I can take that two different ways. And I do believe you know what way I'll be taking it.*

~Well then, where is your mind, might I ask?~

*Depends, what are you wearing my dear?* The message he received made him freeze. Himiko looked down at the man sitting beside her when she noticed he wasn't moving.

"What's up Jackal?" She asked, leaning over his shoulder. Soon, a grin spread across her face as she reached for the blood-red flip phone. "'I'm not wearing anything, I'm in the bath?' Who are you talking to?" Akabane looked up, a smirk plastered on his face, and a glint in his eyes that Lady Poison had never seen before. Himiko's smile faded, replaced by a look of shock. "Whoa, whoa, whoa… This is Natsumi?" Akabane closed his eyes, his smirk growing wider if possible as he tilted his head lower. "You've been texting Natsumi this whole time?"

"Yes I have, and I would like to finish the conversation."

"Not before I've had a look at the rest." Himiko grinned. She flicked thought the phones memory, keeping the phone out of Akabane's reach, though he wasn't doing much to get it back.

"What's going on back there?" Takashi asked, looking over his shoulder.

"Akabane's been texting." Himiko smirked.

"A GIRL?!" Takashi slammed on the brakes and once the vehicle was at a stop, he put it in park.

"Mr. Man-with-no-brakes, I'm afraid you are not quite living up to your reputation tonight." Akabane smiled, bowing his head lower.

"I don't care. This is much more interesting. So, who is it?"

"A girl from the Honky Tonk. Her name is Natsumi Mizuki, fresh out of high school no less." Himiko explained.

"WHAT?"

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Told you you'd like it XD I know that this is teh only one of it's kind, unless my friend and i over looked a catagory. but hey, when you think about it, Natsumi and Akabane actually look really good together ^^