Underlying Personalities.

A Get Backers Fan Fiction

By: Cauryn Terenkey.

Disclaimer: I do not own any Get Backers characters.


"NATSUMI!!!!!!!!!!!" Ginji cried as he came into the Honky Tonk. Natsumi looked up and smiled, coming around the counter. "I missed you so muuuuuuuuuch!" The blonde whined. "Paul wouldn't let us eat a thing!!"

"Tsk, Paul, why not?"

"You spoil them, Natsumi. They haven't had work in a week, and they're about to start up a whole new tab." Paul said.

"I thought you guys were doing well." Natsumi said, facing Ban as Ginji burst into tears on the counter.

"Feh, that was before your trip…" Ban mumbled. "Went downhill from there."

"Don't worry, you two, work will pick up again!" Natsumi said. "Hey Paul, make a pizza, you can use some of my paycheck if you want." Natsumi said, leaning over the counter at her boss, giving him the innocent look she knew he couldn't resist.

"I'm telling ya, your spoiling them!" Paul said gruffly as the two recovery men glomped Natsumi. She only giggled and hugged her friends back, her arms around their necks.

"This looks fun, may I join?" Ban and Ginji froze at the smooth voice that came from behind them, and looked over their shoulders to see non-other than Akabane smiling at them. To them, the grin was cold, meaningless, but Natsumi's face lit up. She released the Get Backers to give him a hug as well.

"The usual, right?" She asked as Akabane sat down and she took her place behind the counter again. Akabane nodded, indicating for Ban and Ginji to sit as well. They did so warily.

"What the heck are you doing here, anyway?" Ban asked, taking a seat beside the transporter. Akabane gave him a mock insulted look.

"Why, I come to see you tow, me dear Get Backers. I wouldn't dream of going anywhere else."

"That's what I like to hear." Paul grinned. "Just keep coming as often as you like."

"Oh, I'll be here frequently." Akabane smirked. Ban growled at this look. The bell above the door rang again at that moment, admitting Hevn and Himiko. The people there already waved, making room for them at the counter. They fell into a happy chatter after agreeing about what pizza's to get and while Paul worked on the two large items, Natsumi filled drinks as the group caught up on what they had missed in each others lives that past week. As Natsumi placed Hevn's drink down, the woman's eyes grew wide, and snatched Natsumi's hand.

"My goodness! This is gorgeous!" She exclaimed. "Where ever did you get it?" She looked up at a smiling and blushing Natsumi.

"Akabane. We got married last week, we were on our honey moon." Natsumi said, her blush deepening. Reactions were different. Ban spit his drink out all over the counter and remained speechless for several minutes, Ginji seemed to go into a state of shock, Himiko started laughing, Hevn began congratulating them, and Paul just shook his head. Natsumi was giggling like mad at this point, while Akabane smirked into his cup of tea, sending his wife a wink over the rim.

"I don't believe it!" Ban finally sputtered. "the JAKAL?"

"Must I retrieve the certificate?" Akabane asked, smiling at Ban. The Jagan master scowled but said nothing more as Hevn and Himiko interrogated the newlyweds about their trip. Things settled down again when the pizza's were done, and talk turned to other things.

The small get together ended abruptly when a client came in for Ban and Ginji, and they were gone soon after. Hevn left after, saying her lunch break was over, and Himiko had a job. Akabane stayed for the rest of Natsumi's shift, chatting idly with them as other customers came and went.

When Natsumi clocked out, they joined hands and left the shop, leaving Paul with the weird image of Akabane hand in hand with his waitress. She talked nonstop about things they had gone over a millions times already, making Akabane smile fondly at her excitement. But first things first, he had to let her in on what he had been observing in the past couple months. It was surprising that Natsumi only noticed Akabane's distraction when they had reached to apartment, looking at him in concern as he removed his hat.

"What's wrong?" She asked. "You were acting like this before we left for England."

"We're being observed." Akabane said as they sat down on the couch. Natsumi furrowed her forehead in confusion.

"Why would we be being observed? By who?"

"Who else? Babylon City. They must have had you and your father tagged before, and I know I've been watched. They may be having a little fir over us marrying." Akabane smirked at this.

"Why?" Natsumi asked, tilting her head as she tucked her legs up onto the couch so that she was sitting sideways, leaning against Akabane's shoulder.

"Because the Mizuki I knew…" He said, placing an arm about her shoulders, "Was very talented, and a formidable foe. I idolized Mizuki, and desired to become just as if not more powerful. My own family was very skilled, and a union between you and I could bring about a very powerful team, or child." Akabane said, looking down at her. Natsumi blushed, looking away.

"Wouldn't they have tried to stop us if we could be that powerful together?"

"I have a feeling Kagami and my little brother were being a bit lax in their duties." Akabane said, a little bitterness in his voice at the mention of his sibling. Natsumi twisted around in surprise, her feet falling off of the couch.

"You have a brother?" She asked.

"Yes. Hakkai." Akabane said. " He can control darkness, create worm holes and such. He has potential, but he just doesn't know how to control his own power yet. He can't harness the whole of it. He's angry at me for leaving the Fortress though, hasn't forgiven me."

"So that's why you were all distracted! He was following us!" Natsumi said, thinking back to the day they left. Akabane nodded, fiddling with some of Natsumi's hair.

"We'll have to keep our guards up." He said, looking down at her again.

"I will." Natsumi said, cuddling up to him, letting a content sigh escape her. "Wanna go train?" She asked, leaning her head back to look him in the eyes. Akabane smirked.

"Thought you'd never ask, My dear."