Who Won The Game (Akabane X Ginji)

During our Get Backers kick, [icon=TaijutsuMstr] and I became rabid Ginji X Akabane fans. :) We decided how the relationship would play out, and RPGed the beginning.

Of course this is another RPG between the two of us turned Fic by me. :) So I can\'t take credit for the brilliance that is Akabane in this fic, it\'s 98% Loki.

I do chuckle every time I read the line: \"I need your help, Ginji. You are the only one who can aid me.\" Because I always think: \"Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi, you\'re my only hope..\"

Oooh boy.

Pssht.. one of the best parts about this RPG was the Juubei X Paul funniness.... Teehee!!

Ginji, Paul & Juubei written by me; Akabane, Ban and Kazuki written by Loki.


Ginji let out a yawn and rolled over onto his stomach, tipping the book up against the bed\'s headrest so that he could continue reading from his new viewpoint. His usual outfit had changed - thanks to a very generous client and Natsumi insisting that he and Ban buy a new wardrobe. He wore a pair of light cargo pants, full of huge pockets way to big for anything you\'d ever need a pocket for. His shirt was a simple white t-shirt with the Japanese symbol for \'Lightning\' on it - That was also thanks to Natsumi. She\'d decided Ginji couldn\'t wear just a plain white t-shirt.

He blinked at his book in a confused way - something about the sentence not making sense to the blond. He sat up, swinging his legs over the side of the bed and pulling the book with him to study it more carefully. It still didn\'t make sense. He sighed and dog-eared his page, setting the book on the small table in the corner of the room before squeezing shut his puppy-brown eyes and letting out another yawn, this time accompanied by a stretch of his tired limbs.

He\'d been cooped up all day reading - he didn\'t really know why.. He wasn\'t really a big book fan, but for some reason the book just intrigued him... Who could resist the classic \'Super Hero\' story, when the super hero had electric powers?

Ginji snickered a little and flopped back onto the bed, the window in front of him. He closed his eyes and stretched out his fingers a little, still clad in his black fingerless gloves. He could feel the pull of gathering electricity from outside - it was gonna rain, and rain hard.

The night was warm. The stars were bright and the sky amazingly clear. But he had no time to ruminate about the sky, Akabane had other important things on his mind. He half wondered idly whether maybe he should have just come through the front door. But no, this seemed entirely more fitting. It was too bold, it had no style. This way, this way just seemed to suite him. And it had a wonderful view of the night sky, cold stars like eyes, watching him. They would be his witnesses, his companions, he needed no others. Well, perhaps one other for the night.

He looked down, his angle fairly perfect from where he stood to see directly down into a window into the upper room of the establishment so charmingly referred to as the \'Honky Tonk\'. He did not try to suppress the smile that curled his pale thin lips. The name seemed entirely fitting for the type characters that chose to make it their second home. For most of them, that is as far as he cared to look into their personalities, they were \'Honky Tonk\' people, tedious urban cowboys with nothing better to do than go looking for trouble. Well, he looked for trouble too, but the difference was, he liked what he got...that, and he was usually the cause of it.

His smiled faded only slightly as he felt the wind tug at him, rippling the brim of his wide hat slightly and making his long black coat flutter around him anxiously. He held his hat by the brim with a white clad hand. He chose to ignore the tingle the wind left against his skin in it’s wake. Tonight he had more important things to do.

Without warning, he strode forward and seemed to just step off the side of the building and in a few seconds was on the fire escape of the Honky Tonk, having swung across with the grace he seemed to radiate. His black paten leather shoes barely made a sound, even against the hollow rusted metal as he landed, much to his amusement. He stood for a few more seconds merely watching...gazing in at the \'Lightening Emperor\'. He had no idea what it was about the man that intrigued him so, but the pull was so strong, that he could not seem to keep himself away. He let himself smirk once more before dropping it into a stony deadpan.

It was time to play a little game.

And then, with speed that was almost beyond the scope of the human eye, Akabane....Dr. Jackal himself, flipped open the window to the sparsely furnished upper room and was standing inside. It was almost like he just appeared there.

“Ginji-kun.” He addressed the silent reader in a congenial voice.

Ginji let out a bit of a shout and was on the floor on the opposite side of the bed in a matter of seconds. He slowly peered over the blankets at the intruder, uttering a soft \'Akabane?\' to himself before standing up and pulling on a serious face.

“You scared the shit out of me!” He said after a moment, rubbing the back of his neck a little and relaxing a bit. He studied the man for a moment, then raised an eyebrow and crossed his arms over his chest. “What uh- what are you doing here? Himiko\'s downstairs, if you\'re looking for help with a job - uh.. I think her car\'s been fixed.. Plus Paul only serves food downstairs.” He smirked in a slightly knowing way, closing his eyes as he did so. “This isn\'t a hotel after all!” He said in a mocking way - as if he\'d heard it one too many times from the cafe\'s owner.

Opening his eyes after a while he took a very small step backwards, the reality that he was alone with Akabane settling in uncomfortably. Granted he hadn\'t really tried to attack Ginji recently, he still had once or twice before - not to mention he tried to annihilate Ban.. But Ginji had a feeling Akabane wasn\'t looking for a fight -he wasn\'t sure how he knew, he just.. did. Ban told him he was good at reading people - \'s what Natsumi said too.. Ginji just shrugged it off.

Akabane smiled. Ginji always made him smile...he couldn\'t, nor did he really try, to resist the impulse. He lifted his hand from the brim of his hat and let it fall slowly to his side, his black hat\'s shadow still hiding most of his features, all but his white, stretched lips.

“ Pardon me terribly for intruding on your…” He stole a glance at Ginji\'s book. “Eventful night, but I am not interested in food or room and board.” He continued, letting his smile grown just a bit larger. Oh Ginji, there was something about him! The way he spoke was so delightfully contrary to the something behind his eyes...a certain something.

“And I am not, surprisingly enough, in search of Himiko, I was looking for, and seem to have found, you.” He drawled, leaving it at that, his words seeming to go stale and die in the small dilapidated room. He said no more just yet. He did not like to give things away prematurely, the game was ruined if the other side had no chance to play.

“M-me?” Ginji stuttered, rubbing his head for a moment in genuine confusion. What could Akabane want with him? He shrugged, more to himself than to Akabane, and dropped his hands to his sides, fidgeting for a moment before wrapping them back over his chest.

“So - why are you lookin\' for me, Akabane-san?” He asked, trying not to sound as uncomfortable and well, downright frightened, as he was. Something about Akabane just rubbed him the wrong way. Maybe it was the all-black ensemble, or that hat - it had to be the hat. It hid the man\'s entire face!

Ginji knew, from the every now and then that he had really paid attention to Akabane, that the man\'s expressions were few and far between, but Ginji hated not being able to see the eyes of the person he was talking to. It told him a lot about the meaning behind a person\'s words - so maybe Ban and Natsumi were right after all. He pulled himself away from his scattered thoughts -running off in various directions as they always seemed to - and dropped his focus back on the evil-looking man before him.

Akabane\'s smile slowly pulled itself into a grin of sorts, twisting at the corners. He would have to use all of his will power in the next few minutes to keep his amusement to himself, it was essential for the game to begin properly.

He paused and said nothing for a few minutes, willing his smile to fall away slowly, for it to shrink and slip from his features. A few seconds later, his expression was somber, a ponderous frown. He could sense Ginji\'s unease despite his calm and polite demeanor....it gave him shivers. But for now at least, Ginji\'s fears would have to be abated.

Akabane reached up once again and caught the brim of his hat between finger and thumb and tugged at it downward. It slipped from his head, leaving his hair in much the state it usually was; jaw-length controlled chaos. Mostly it swept back, but a few pieces stuck out at odd angles. He looked straight at Ginji and into his eyes. He masked his excitement the best he could and he hoped the distance of the room between them would do the rest, helping to make his true expression indistinguishable. Inside, however, his heart leapt and danced. This was such great fun! He looked at Ginji seriously.*

“I need your help Ginji. You are the only one that can aid me.”

Ginji\'s eyes grew a bit wider in surprise as Akabane removed his hat, almost on cue to Ginji\'s pondering it. His eyes narrowed a bit as he listened to Akabane, but he chuckled and closed them, opening them to their usual, big puppy-dog look.

“Wow, really?” He said in a giddy sort of voice. “Didjure lights go out or something, Akabane-san?” He snickered, folding his hands behind his head and tilting it to the side lightly, his blond spikes pressed up against his skin, flattening a bit.

He turned his eyes only in the direction of the door - should he go down and tell Ban where he was going? Well, not where but why? He frowned a little. \'Hey, Ban-chan! I\'m going out to help Akabane-san with his lights, see ya later!\' \'What!?\'...Mmm, maybe he wouldn\'t alert Ban and the others. None of them were very trusting of Akabane, with pretty good reason too - but Ginji didn\'t see the need to hold grudges. It just made people unhappy and sour.

He dropped his arms and shoved his hands into his new pockets, wiggling his fingers against the fabric for a moment before looking up at Akabane with a playful smirk. It\'d be kinda cool to go out and do something on his own, then come back and act like nothing had happened. Maybe he could mention it later, when no one suspected it - and impress them all.

“Well, uh, lead the way then, Akabane-san.” He said softly. “It\'s not like I was doing anything constructive.”

Akabane did not have to fight his smile this time, just keep it well contained to what it should be, a smile of gratitude maybe, a smile of relief? He tried his best to keep the devious lusting from his eyes.

He appraised Ginji for the first time, looking him up and down like a predator. A new outfit? It was strange, usually a change so small would not even raise an eyebrow, even for a person\'s closest friends, but the fitted t-shirt and new cargo pants made Akabane\'s mind flip with a strange kind of excitement. It was like a fox’s fur changing color in the spring, it was the start of a brand new season. Akabane\'s heart suddenly gave a particularly strong thud as his smile faltered just a bit. He hoped this would be the beginning of something new. The thoughts became a bit jumbled as the good doctor felt something akin to fear. But no! He pushed such swells aside and smirked. It was a game, all a game...it would be so entertaining, and that is all he ever needed, entertainment to stave off the boredom...the emptiness.

He nodded his head in an amiable way.

“Why thank you Ginji-kun, it is....something like that.” He replied to Ginji\'s simplistic assessment of Akabane\'s reasoning for seeking him out. “Now come, follow me.” He willed himself to move slowly, as drawlingly as his speech tended to be, he slipped out the window and started down.

By the time Ginji followed, he stood on the ground looking up, white hands in his pockets, hat back over his charmingly disheveled hair, face shaded once again.

Ginji smiled in reply to Akabane\'s smile - a bit put off by the odd quality lingering behind the man\'s face. What was he grinning at really? Deciding to figure the man\'s inner workings out later, the Get Backer took one more look around the room, then leapt out the window with a strange sort of grace.

He landed rather roughly, stumbling forward a bit, but he caught himself before he fell flat on his face, and stood up with a small, embarrassed grin. He turned to look over his shoulder an up at the room. He\'d left his light on. Oh well. He had a feeling that in the short amount of time he imagined he\'d be gone, no one would come looking for him. They hadn\'t for the past few hours, why would they suddenly feel the urge to do so now?

Ginji turned to look at Akabane, face slightly blank, the hint of a smile of intrigue there, but nothing more.

“Something like that... Um.. Microwave?”

Akabane feared that if he replied the jig would be up and the innocent, yet still wary Get Backer would not follow him into his spider web. Yet he took a few seconds to gather his wits before turning over his shoulder to glance at the other man, the odd way about him making his hair stand on end with pure pent up excitement.

“Would you like things to heat up then?” He hissed in his usual thick cryptic tone. The quip may have been a bit stale for his tastes, but who can come up with wit when they are in the throws of such wild anticipatory shivers?

He began to walk, not slowly, but not overly rushed. His steps were slight, but firm and purposeful. He seemed to glide over the dingy city street. He did not look at his new \'partner\' as he addressed him.

“In all seriousness, you are the only one who, i believe, will assist me. And your...peculiar talents will come in quite useful.” He added vaguely, grin returning to his lips. He imagined the power flowing through him...just like the last few times they‘d fought...it was....incredible...it.....made him feel.

He continued on, path twisting and turning down this back alley and that in silence, leading his ally through a labyrinth of narrow roads to a rusted, blue and stained metal door. He paused next to it.

Ginji paused and reached up to scratch his head. \'Would you like things to heat up then?\'.. What kind of an answer was that? He continued to think heavily on it as he followed Akabane, not really paying attention to his surroundings. \'Would you like things to heat up then?\' Well, Ginji certainly didn\'t want a cold pizza.

As Akabane paused next to the door Ginji sighed and looked over his shoulder, feeling as if something were awry - then he felt the storm shift and closed his eyes. Wow. It wasn\'t just going to rain, it was going to storm. Really storm. He tilted his head upwards and smiled a bright smile. Feeling the clouds gather, feeling the electricity cackling between them like uncertain strangers always made him a bit giddy. The kind of giddy one felt when they\'d been up all night watching really bad old flicks... Which Ginji did on occasion - until the TV\'s owner saw him at their window, and chased him down the street.

He opened his eyes, still directed at the darkening sky, and chuckled to himself. He\'d been chased with a whole assortment of things.

He slowly lowered his head, feeling his skin tingle all over from the power above him, and he watched Akabane curiously. He\'d said something about believing Ginji would be the only one to help him - and seriously, the guy was right. Himiko might have helped - but there would have had to have been something in it for her, something big.. and since it didn\'t seem like it was gonna be a transportation of any kind - her reward would have to be even bigger. Ban would\'ve tied the guy up and called the police.

Ginji still didn\'t understand why Akabane needed his help... nor did he understand his answer... \'Would you like things to heat up then?\'

Akabane paused at the door much longer than first anticipated. He was watching....just watching the Lightening Emperor as he watched the sky. He had an incredible manifestation of pure passion on his face, as if he were conversing with the clouds and impending storm. Of course, he knew it was going to storm. Needless to say, he could not speak to and listen to the ever increasing energy around them, but he had already heard a very very distant roll of thunder and intuitively felt the storm was going to be fit to shake the whole building. It was an old building after all.

He never took his eyes from his companion as he reached out, unable to contain himself anymore and under the pretense of getting Ginji\'s attention, and laid a hand lithely on the other boy\'s shoulder. With his other hand he slipped the door open.
“What do they say Ginji-kun?” He asked whimsically as he swung the door open fully.

Ginji stiffened a bit as Akabane laid a hand on his shoulder, and his eyes grew a bit suspicious. Why did he suddenly feel alert and tense?

“Uh -” He stammered, stepping into the warehouse, never thinking twice about putting his back to the other man, no matter how tense he might have just felt. “I can\'t really say - heh. They don\'t talk to me um.. like that.” He said, walking further into the dark emptiness and looking around before standing and waiting for his unusual companion.

His tense feeling, this place didn\'t make it any better - in fact, he felt weirder now, being inside the old building. What was it? What was he picking up on? Maybe there was a power leak somewhere nearby - maybe a snapped cable or a downed power box..

He ran a hand through his spikes, almost giggling at the feeling of them immediately springing back into place, and tried to calm himself a bit. Akabane didn\'t lure his prey out like this - he killed on the spot.. at least, every time Ginji\'d seen or heard about him killing, that\'s how he worked.. Plus, something else told him Akabane wasn\'t out to kill him. But then he remembered the book he\'d been reading. Ah! That had to be it! He\'d been reading another Static Shock book, and his mind was just playing tricks with him as it was apt to doing... Especially after creepy horror films. His mind was just relating the old warehouse to some place in the book - trying to flip Ginji out \'cause he was running on very little sleep.

Eh.. just ignore it, help Akabane, then get Paul to give you free ice cream for doing a good deed.

“So, Akabane-san, what\'s the problem?”

Akabane watched Ginji with unabashed glee as he entered the bottom room after him. It was a warehouse, like a storehouse of sorts, lots of empty space on the bottom floor and offices on the second. Of course it was all abandoned long ago. Still racks and boxes still lay around like the walls of a ruined ancient city. They made a maze full of treacherous and leaning crates and metal shelves rusted to the point of disinigration.

Akabane left the door open for a few minutes before closing it and relishing in the complete blackness, broken only by the dim shafts of moonlight that cut through the high windows.

“Oh, but Ginji-kun, you must know what they are whispering about.…” He chuckled in the dark, a sinister sound. “Why even i can hear them now, listen.” He said, a thunder roll cutting him off just barely as if to illustrate his point. “Something about power isn\'t it? Something about an amazing graceful, deadly sharp power...so familiar.” He said, caressing the tips of his fingers with his other hand. Scalpels were sharp like electric bolts. Yes, just like them.

“The problem....the problem Ginji-kun is complicated. Come, it is terribly dreary down here.” He said removing a small lighter from somewhere and flicking it into life, a small torch in the black. He led Ginji to a flight of stairs near the other side of the warehouse and ascended with a grace that seemed so effortless it was subconscious.

From the stairs, the path led down a hallway and to a small room, door hanging from it\'s bottom hinge at an odd angle. It was open wide to reveal the room inside. A desk and chair to the left and a cabinet of some kind to the right, against the wall. Everything looked about 50 years old and unused for about 40 of them. There were several pieces of rubbish laying around, and one small oil lamp resting on the desk.

Akabane walked over too it and applied his lighter wordlessly. As he replaced the glass globe and suddenly the room was bathed in fighting light. The cold blue rays from the window with the overpowering flickering warmth of the tiny fire. He felt his skin prickle with rising excitement.

Ginji couldn\'t help but stiffen visibly as Akabane shut the door and sent them both into a paralyzing darkness. He narrowed his eyes a bit, listening to Akabane, but the other man had given him no reason for distrust yet, so he still chalked it up to his book and decided, as he followed Akabane up the steps, that he\'d read something else before he went to bed for the night.

His attention was caught by the shadow of Akabane up against the wall, and he cocked his head to one side as he watched it climb up the stairs in an insanely graceful way. He turned his attention briefly to Akabane, and almost asked if the man had ever been a dancer- Ginji had seen ballet dancers with such grace, but very few other people possessed it. He shrugged it off and stepped cautiously into the room, looking around with a small sigh. Man - maybe Akabane really did need his help with lighting. This place was too dark and dreary for Ginji\'s tastes, even now that it sort of glowed from the one corner.

He stepped a bit further into the room and adjusted his gloves in readiness, a small smirk playing on his features. He could feel the storm growing, and it made him antsy to let off some steam.

“So- enough with the tour already! What\'da need me to juice up?” He chuckled.

Akabane let his hair fall into his eyes under his black brim and turned to face Ginji, still bent over the surface of the desk, leaning against it with one hand. He smirked, concious of the way the light miust have played off his pallid, almost ivory features. Ginji was so intoxicating, and his hope, true his dearest desire was to intoxicate the boy in return. It was he least he could do and games were mush more fun if both parties contributed.

Finally, he stood up, leaning back, hips thrust foward as he was wont to do, his usual stance, though it was not quite as relaxed as normal...it held a tenseness, thoughts and muscles ready to spring forward at the drop of a pin. But no, he could not let his tongue run away with him, this had to be handled carefully, with a deilcate hand....like a surgeon. He chuckled to himself at his own wit before letting his eyes slip over Ginji\'s form before coming to rest on his face, his eyes.

“I know that the clouds are whispering to you right now Ginji, and i so long to hear them too...but you take this gift for granted i can see. Something stops you, there is a barrier you cannot break...you acnnot answer the clouds, not really, not in the way that would give you release. Your concsience is your prison.” He offered in a calm, unphased drawl, his smile slipping away the entire time until he looked thoughtful again, an expression that was almost foreign on his sharp, needle-like features. “The problem Ginji-Kun...the problem i need your help with, is me.” He said, letting his hands spread at his sides, palms up in invitation. He looked like the picture of serenity right then, almost like the dim accepting faces of Christ on the cross, arms out, body slightly crooked. But no the inside, he was churning, guts twisting with nervous lust, obsessive desire. Before he’d had to defeat him and now...now he had to have him.

Ginji listened to Akabane and a slow, pained expression crossed his face. He stepped back a bit, the sadness in his eyes overwhelming, and reached up to gently lay a fist against his chest. \'Your concsience is your prison.\' Akabane\'s words, though soft and curious, were painful and cut quick and deep - like his weapons of choice.

Ginji slowly looked up at Akabane, the sadness still on his face. Nobody really understood what it was like - not really. Ban with his jagun and Shido with his animalistic transformation came the closest, but it was nothing like The Lightning Emperor.. Nothing was really like him.

Ginji pried himself from his thoughts enough to drain the sadness into some hidden space in the back of his mind, and cock his head curiously to one side as he regarded Akabane - Something about him at that moment struck fear into Ginji\'s heart like nothing else had.

He stumbled backwards a bit, smacking into the wall a bit roughly and he looked away.

“I -uh.. What do you mean? I-I can\'t give you powers, Akabane-san..”

Akabane nearly went erect then and there, just watching Ginji react to him. He was concious about how he seemed there in the flickering light, it played a trickery on the onlookers. He could feel the fear that seemed to fill the room all at once. He felt a bitter taste in his mouth knowing that some of that fear was his own. But he would not let his weak emotions spoil all his fun. Yes, this would be more fun than he\'d imagined, in both of two possible courses of events. Acceptation...rejection.

His eyes locked onto Ginji with bated breath. So frightened then, but there was still that something....his eyes belayed his body\'s reactions. He was really two people, Dr. Jackal could see it. There was a hidden something....Akabane wanted to find out what it was.

He laughed openly almost more out of obligation than actual amusement. His heart was thundering in his ears muffling his own laughter, his own voice.

“Oh Ginji-kun. You are a most amazing creature, capable of so many things at once. I do not want your powers...not in the way you think i do. I want....i want you Ginji.” He took a few steps forward, arms falling limp at his sides again. He stalked to barely a foot away from the retrieval agent.

Ginji stiffened at this and could do nothing but stare for a long while, watching Akabane move closer with a sort of \'hypnotized-serial-killer-victim\' look on his face. He finally shook his head and held up his hands, inching sideways to try and find the door.

“Um, sorry Akabane-san, but I\'m not like that.” He said, trying to keep his voice light and not reflect the sudden fear and vague disgust he felt. “I can\'t help you, sorry.” He stuttered again, feeling himself tense up - partly due to the storm raging outside quite suddenly, and partly due to Akabane\'s odd request and sudden, intimate closeness. “I-I\'m going back to the Honky Tonk now..” He said, feeling the edge of the doorway with one hand and letting out a slight breath of relief.

Akabane\'s smile fell with the crashing silence that seemed almost to pervade the room over the sound of the sudden raging storm. He had not expected that of himself, nor had he wanted his companion to bare witness to his faltering. He wasn\'t sure what his face had looked like when his devious smile had abandoned him, but he knew that it had revealed the chink in his armor.

He dug deep and pulled the smirk back into place, adjusting it with a momentary strange expression. No, he would not let the other man see him faltering.

“But Ginji-Kun....i can whisper to you like the clouds do. They call you even now, to be who you were made to be. We are alike you know, reaching for things we can never touch with eager fingers... the only difference is, i do not know what it is i am trying to grasp, you do.” He paused, feeling his throat tighten dangerously. He reached up and fingered the slit on the left side of his brim. His fingers slipped past it to grip it securely, pulling it off for the second time that night.

He looked at Ginji with hungry eyes, torn between his pleasure at his victim\'s obvious fear, and something else, a revulsion with the whole ordeal...and disgust at Ginji\'s reaction, at himself.

“No one else will help me Ginji....i do not want anyone else\'s help.” He said, the closest he would ever get to begging, for indeed that is what he was doing.

He removed his right glove with to fingers and reached out to stroke Ginji\'s cheek. A simple gesture, but for Akabane, intimate beyond reason. This thrill that the touch delivered seemed to urge the doctor into another lustful grin.

“Do not leave Ginji-kun, the game is not ended yet.…”

Ginji sneered a bit as he listened to Akabane, his nice, sweet-boy demeanor all but gone. He jerked away from Akabane\'s hand and reached up to grab the man\'s wrist in his own firm grasp - almost surprised at how frail the man seemed.
“I don\'t know how you know all this, Akabane-san.. but if you think I want to go back to... You are gravely mistaken.” Ginji said in almost a growl. “True no one else will help you - you\'ve given us no reason to trust you.. I\'m feeling foolish for coming out myself now.” He shook his head and forced away Akabane\'s hand. “I don\'t know what kind of game you\'re playing, but I\'ll forfeit. Thanks, but no thanks.” He narrowed his eyes a bit and released his hand, turning to leave.

Akabane felt the sharp, viciously pointed little teeth inside him quiver and tremble with the imminent threat, and he used all his will power to calm them again. He wanted to do more than hurt little Ginji, yes, so much more. The blonde-haired Get backer may have forfeit the game, true, but he was still playing. And the fat lady, as they say, hadn\'t even warmed up yet.

He felt his blood boil as Ginji grabbed him by the wrist, he felt the instant need for release....to dominate....and to be dominated....to hurt....and to be hurt in return. Oh such lively pain. His smile turned quickly into a sneer of sorts, teeth clenched, but still, somehow, a smile.

“You do not understand, Ginji-kun.” He said as he sprang forward in a move too fast to be seen, not that Ginji was looking. He wrapped his arms around the other man, one snaked around his waist, the other, down his broad shoulder and onto his chest, tight under his t-shirt.

“I am indifferent. I wanted you....i wanted you to want me as well. But there was a part in me equally as strong that longed for you to resist...I hurt anyone close to me.” His voice and face faltered before retuning to a sadistic glow, “It gives me a great amount of pleasure. We are still playing Ginji-kun, and i do not like to lose.” With that, Akabane pulled violently backward and to the side, still holding onto Ginji, attempting to throw him back into the room.

Ginji had been hoping Akabane would faulter again, would turn away or step back so that he could make a run for it - something about the whole thing made Ginji rather hesitant to hurt the man - but the touch, that was it. Akabane\'s arms around him made his body tingle, and he didn\'t like it.

Small, neon-blue sparks shot sporadically from the tips of his fingers as Akabane continued to talk, then tried to throw him back into the room.

“You lost to me before, Akabane, baka, and you\'ll loose again!” Ginji hissed, suddenly pulling his hands up and grasping Akabane\'s shoulders with a viciously biting strength. He tilted his head back a bit and called forth all his power, letting out a shout as he began pumping thousands of volts into the man wrapped around him like a cloth.

He pulled energy from the storm raging outside, and continued to push forward with his arms and powers, beginning to shudder a bit as he did. He didn\'t want to - kill Akabane... did he? For some reason he just couldn\'t get a grip, he just kept pumping out the voltage. It had to be the storm.

“Ahhh- Ah!” Ginji\'s scream broke a bit as he attempted to stop, to pull back and run - but he couldn\'t do it. He\'d been pulling from the storm, and the storm kept giving. He felt the heat slowly drain from his body, along with all his energy, and he let out a small moan as his knees gave out and sent him into the taller man.

Weak and powerless. He should have.. known.. he shouldn\'t have... tried.. not with... the storm so... close... He let out another slight whimper and his eyes fluttered closed.

Akabane had not expected such a quick and relentless attack and he cursed himself mentally for it. Why hadn\'t he expected such a thing? Wasn\'t it obvious? It should have been, with what he\'d tried to do. But somehow, he had expected, something different...

He grimaced through his pain, cursing his weakness as he scalpels tingled again at the attack. Luckily he was too caught by surprise for his weapons to react fully, or else they might both be nothing but pieces of their former selves. He stood, back arched, eyes wide as the heat and power encircled him. He smiled through it all finally, focusing his energy on taking in the power versus letting the power take him under. Still, by the end of the onslaught, he was weak and shaking all over. It was....glorious! If that was what his shocks were normally like at the height of a storm, what would they be at the height of his very own storm? The thought made Akabane shiver as he slipped to the ground, Ginji in his arms.

If only the Get backer was awake to see how tenderly the doctor held him to his chest as his knees gave out on him and he sank to the floor. He cradled Ginji\'s head in his lap, not sure he really wanted to do anything else with him just yet. What is the fun of causing harm if the cause was not awake to pleasure him with his responses. And pleasure itself seemed empty when there was only one participant.

It took several minutes, perhaps even near to a half hour before Akabane had the strength and the presence of mind to stand and make his way to the desk and slide the drawer open. Duct tape and strong rope lay inside, rope of leather. Yes, it was true he’d planned well for this little exercise, he was not ashamed to admit it. He retrieved the items and made his way over to the prone figure that was the object of his obsession.

This game was getting better and better. With shaking and unsure fingers he tied Ginji\'s arms and legs, duct taping around the rope just to be sure. He then proceeded to sit down next to Ginji and wait. He felt the sharp quivering under his skin as he began to get inklings of feeling...the way Ginji\'s face looked in the candle light....it was quite magnificent.

Why- was it so quiet? If Ginji\'s memory served him right the Honky Tonk was always loud and lively when Ban and Shido were present.. But it was - dead silent. He slowly pried his eyes open, letting them take a minute or two to adjust before knitting his eyebrows together in confusion.

This wasn\'t the Honky Tonk - this was... The warehouse! Yes, oh yeah - he remembered now. Akabane. He suddenly rolled to his stomach in an attempt to get up, but it wasn\'t nearly as graceful as it should have been, leaving him sprawled on his stomach.

“What-?” He muttered, tilting his head to look down at his ankles - bound. He narrowed his eyes and pulled at his wrists - they too were bound. He let out a slight growl and attempted to push himself into a sitting position at least - but he was... so dizzy. It was like his very essence had been sucked from him. He\'d probably drained himself completely, then turned and pulled power from the storm, running on nothing but what nature gave him. His body obviously didn\'t like that much... shock and surprise.

He let out a light moan and fell back to his side, shivering for a moment, suddenly cold, before a thought hit him and his eyes grew wide, making him scramble and finally manage to get upright. Was Akabane still around?!

He teetered for a moment, sitting on his bound legs, and looked around the room, having a difficult time of seeing - what with the spots, the dim lighting and his pounding headache... But there he was - a lanky shadow.

“L-let me go.” Ginji said simply, his voice softer than he would have liked.

Akabane rested against the far wall of the room, arms crossed over his chest, hat neglected on the floor. In fact his long coat was also missing, hanging over the back of the chair instead of his bony shoulders. Now it was just a white shirt and a short tie, black pants and shiny black shoes. His shirt was unbuttoned at the top, revealing his collarbone and a little bit of his chest, his tie hanging limply under his collar, having been undone some time ago.

The thin shadow-man fairly hung off the wall, so much did he rely on it for support. It had been a considerable amount of time, but he still had spasms of shaking from the power he\'d taken in, his muscles and very bones vibrating in a way that was not unpleasant. He grinned at Ginji.

He\'d not taken his eyes off the boy since he\'d tied and left him there, content just to watch him the entire time. This surprised even himself, usually he could not stand idle for very long, but even though he was really doing nothing, he was engaged, thoroughly entranced. The candle still flickered on the table...Akabane saw to it that it had plenty of oil.

“Ah, you are awake.” He said, and though his voice was soft and bemused, it was a bit softer than before, quieter and more reserved, like he hadn\'t the strength. He paused before taking a few steps forward and crouching down beside Ginji, lithe arms resting on his knees. He smiled.

“Oh, but Ginji-kun, i don\'t think you know the rules of this little game....you see, you had your play, and now...now the ball, so to speak, is in my court. It\'s my move.”

Ginji narrowed his eyes and scooted away from Akabane, trying to call forth his powers, to see what kind of juice he had left.

“I told you, Akabane, I forfeit. You can\'t honestly tell me you wanna play a game with an unwilling partner?” He sneered, letting out a small wince as few sparks flew from his fingertips only to dissolve against the tape. It was a horrid, painful feeling. Like the feeling of getting your finger pricked - but only it doesn\'t fill up the tube, so the nurse has to sort of help it bleed. It was as if he\'d given all he could, and any more he tried to give was taken from a place it should have remained.

His mind wandered back to Akabane\'s request and he felt a pang of fear in his heart. If his body felt threatened enough - could he afford one more good jolt? No - Ginji couldn\'t - Ginji was dried up.. But the Lightning Emperor probably had power to spare. Ginji shuddered in spite of himself, and seemed to snap out of a daze. He wouldn\'t risk it.

“You know - if you let me go now, I won\'t mention this to anyone..” He continued, making a face as soon as the words left his lips. He was negotiating.... He was scared. Terrified because his powers were essentially gone for the next few hours.

At this Akabane actually laughed aloud, though it was soft and he took a few deep breaths after he was done.

“I know what you are thinking Ginji-kun, do i have enough power left for one last bolt, one last good shock. You see, you are still playing. You cannot forfeit when you\'re mind betrays your lips. I know what is in your heart Ginji-kun, you cannot hide from me.” He breathed, lowering his face very close to Ginji\'s, his body twisted in an unnatural looking crouch, back bent forward, head tilted up, he looked like an agitated snake half mesmerized by the charmer. It was as if he were trying to decide whether to strike, or dance.

He smiled a little again and leaned in even more, pressing his lips hard to the other man\'s. He forced his tongue to slip in between Ginji\'s soft lips for a split second before pulling away again. He straightened his torso, looking down now at Ginji.

“You know, i love playing games, my whole life is games, and i enjoy winning them more than anything....it leads me to wonder, is this really fair? I have years and years of experience behind me and you....how often to you play games? Against me, what kind of chance do you really have?” Akabane smirked. he was getting a bit light-headed, Ginji there on the floor bound and helpless, and he, lording over him with such sinister grace. The power trip was making him dizzy. He wanted to dominate everything about this man, control him and see what was on his inside, get inside his head and get inside his body.

Yes, he would make every piece of him his own. His smile widened slightly....he didn\'t know this was going to be a robbery as well as a game...after all, he would steal Ginji\'s body away from Ban.

“I do not care who knows of this Ginji-kun.” He finally replied, shaking his head slightly, hair dripping fitfully. Now that he was so close, Ginji could probably notice that he was soaked to the bone, white shirt translucent with the water, hair fallen limp against his head and face. His narrow eyes were wider, almost eager in watching his companion on the floor, waiting for a response. Just the sight of him, angry and frightened and immobile....it drove Akabane wild.

Ginji stiffened and tried to pull away from Akabane as the man kissed him, and he turned his head immediately after Akabane pulled away to spit on the floor, bringing his bound hands up to wipe his mouth. He barely listened to Akabane\'s words - his body shaking from fear and the will to fight. He had to get out of here!

He felt a drop of water land on his cheek and tilted his head a bit, narrowing his eyes at the man curiously. Could he outrun Akabane? Probably not - the man had longer legs, that meant a longer stride... Could he outfox him? Maybe - Akabane\'s mind worked in strange ways... He dipped his head a bit, eyes scanning the room wildly for a way out, and his hands brushed the binding on his legs... He looked up at Akabane suddenly, vicious.

“It\'s really an unfair fight, Akabane. I kicked your ass royally if I remember... the first time we fought.. Ripped each and every scalpel from your body.” He narrowed his eyes a bit, hoping his distraction was working. “How\'d that feel, huh? Want me to try again?” He growled, still fingering with the duct tape and rope over his ankles.

Akabane chuckled and looked deeply into Ginji\'s eyes.

“You certainly continue to surprise me Ginji-kun.” He said with a small disbelieving shake of his head. “I think that is one reason why i enjoy you so much, you always have a surprise for me.” He said, leaning in again and running his hands along the floor until they met Ginji\'s feet. His palms continued to travel up and around Ginji\'s shoes and to his ankles, slipping around his hands with fluid grace. He took Ginji\'s hands in his own and pulled them slowly up to hold them against his chest.

“True, you defeated me in the past, but i have....changed since then. True your victory over me made me reassess myself truly, you made me a new man. And as far as removing my weapons of choice again, you may try if you like, but as you can see, i recover quite well from your attacks, better than most i can safely say.” He looked Ginji up and down, hands still held against his heart thundering in his chest. “And, if my assumptions are correct, it does not look as though you have much fight left in you…”

Ginji narrowed his eyes and began pulling back against Akabane in a slightly panicked way. His mind was slowly beginning to register what was going to happen to him, should he stay. The way Akabane moved, the way he sounded - Ginji didn\'t want to think about the final outcome.

He pulled his legs back under him and tried to stand, but couldn\'t find the strength or the balance to do so. He narrowed his eyes and suddenly launched himself forward- onto Akabane. If he couldn\'t pull away, he could try something else.

Akabane was caught by surprise at Ginji\'s sudden attack. He thought this would be a bit of a verbal spar before continuing their play, he liked matching words with Ginji, laughing at the things he had to say, listening to his voice, feeling the electricity in it. But this...this was a total surprise.

He fell backwards on his backside, Ginji landing squarely on top on him. He felt their chests connect and it almost knocked the air from his lungs. He lay for a moment, too shocked to move, bound legs and arms and his own limbs intertwined. Inadvertently, Ginji had slipped one knee between Akabane\'s legs as he landed and after the doctor had caught his breath, he realized exactly how close their crotches were to each other. In fact, he felt Ginji rub against him and he gasped, his eyes closing.

He gritted his teeth, hid hands on Ginji\'s shoulders as he had attempted to stop him too late. The raw power he radiated...he filled and overwhelmed Akabane. His soaked hair fell out behind him in a sort of black crown as he tilted his head back. He felt himself become hard against his own will, pressing against the other man.

Somewhere inside him, he was embarrassed and angry, not because of his reaction, but the timing. He had wanted to play this game on his own terms, but Ginji didn\'t seem to like his rules. The rest of him enjoyed himself and that is the only thing that showed on his face, a broad smile, wickedly twisted as he let out soft moaning breaths.

Ginji cocked his head to one side, confused for a moment, until he felt the reason for Akabane\'s insane grinning. He immediately let out a curse and managed to tumble off of the man, landing on his side on the floor.

Ginji never wanted to be the Lightning Emperor, granted he and his friends would be dead hundreds of times over if it weren\'t for him, but Ginji had never wanted him there. He\'d never been invited or called by Ginji.. but he almost wanted him now. He almost wanted to forget the horrible things he wanted to do to Akabane.

He flipped to his knees and lifted his wrists to his mouth, trying to chew off the tape, ripping at it with soft grunts, back to Akabane. Couldn\'t the Lightning Emperor feel Ginji\'s fear? Wasn\'t that enough to bring him out?

Akabane felt his throat hitch as a rush of cold air engulfed him. No...now that he had felt Ginji\'s beautiful body pressed against his own, he did not like the feeling of it being gone. He wanted the wonderful strange warmth there again, the warmth that made his senses reel, his body quiver with anticipatory glee.

He stood again, not making any move to hide himself, though he pulled a face at the awkward nature in which he had to move due to his soaked clothing. After he had recovered...he had gone to stand outside in the rain, the static running through his clothes and hair driving him nearly mad. he took care of it well enough, but now he was literally wet down to his skin.

His smile faltered only for a second before returning. He took his tie between his fingers and pulled it free of his collar, letting it slip unhindered to the floor. Next he set to the task of unbuttoning his shirt, walking forward at the same time. He knelt on the ground near where Ginji had scrambled backward too.

He snapped a hand out, quickly grabbing Ginji\'s wrists for the second time that night and pulling them roughly away, up, over his head. He lunged forward, pushing Ginji to the ground with one hand, open palm against his chest, all his weight against the thrust. He landed in a straddle over the man, soaked and dripping, and painfully aroused. He ran the fingers of one hand down Ginji\'s chest, caressing it in a surprisingly gentle way. He said nothing.

“Uh!” Ginji shouted, wincing a bit as his head connected painfully with the floor, Akabane\'s hips painfully pressed atop him. His eyes grew wide as he watched Akabane, and desperation began to sink in. No. No! He couldn\'t let this happen.

He arched his back as he dug his heels into the floor, trying to push himself away, the cold water dripping from Akabane\'s shirt to his own white t, making his skin prickle. He writhed for a moment more in silence before taking a deep breath.

“HELP!” He shouted, voice breaking as he tried to roll to his side, managing only to shift Akabane\'s bony weight. “Someone! HELP!”

Akabane let his head tip back blissfully as he listened to Ginji\'s cries for help. Had he really broken the boy already? No, there was something deep inside the Lightening Emperor that even the boy himself did not know about, something that fueled him and it had nothing to do with his powers. Plus, he did not want to break Ginji\'s spirit, it was not his intention...he wanted to feed off of it, suck it out to fill his own soul somehow with...something....

Then, quite suddenly, from the hand that caressed the younger boy\'s chest, popped a single scalpel. he held it between his fingers like a cigarette as it glowed bright in the dark. In one quick motion, he had sliced down Ginji\'s chest...he just barely brushed over the skin, not breaking through, only slicing the shirt in half so that it hung open for the world to see, or perhaps just for him.

“Ah…” He let out a soft airy moan as he tucked his hand, scalpel now gone, inside Ginji\'s shirt and traced the lines on his chest. So smooth. His own shirt hung open as well revealing a skinny torso covered in scars. Small ones and one large one on his left side that almost ran the length of his chest.

“B-but Ginji-kun, i am helping you.…” Akabane managed to get out between waves of overwhelming desire. “I want you to feel...feel you true self inside!” He said, leaning in to press his emaciated chest to Ginji\'s, locking lips with his once more.

With one hand he still held the man\'s wrists, pushing with the power of his weight on them to hold them in place, and with the other, now, he snaked it down Ginji\'s chest and to his waist. He lifted his backside up just enough to let his arm pass beneath.

With long thin fingers, he expertly undid the fasteners on the retrieval agent\'s pants. He wasted no time in letting his fingers explore the skin under the waistline of Ginji\'s underwear, brushing his crotch teasingly.

Ginji stiffened as his shirt was suddenly opened and Akabane\'s cold hand was splayed on his bare chest. He shuddered and tilted his head to look for another way to escape. Something - Anything!

He continued to writhe, shaking his head as violently as he could manage as Akabane kissed him for the second time that night. He arched his back up again and dug his heels into the rough wood underneath him, inching upwards only a bit before he stopped with a loud gasp - Akabane\'s cold hands were not simply on his chest anymore. His face took on a pained expression and he tilted his head away, pulling at his wrists, the rope and tape at his ankles.

“N-no.” He muttered, breathless for a moment before he began writhing again. “I-I don\'t want to- to ..” He began, but stopped himself and let out a shout of frustration. He wouldn\'t let Akabane get to him. He wouldn\'t let the doctor know how much he feared the Lightning Empero.. he wouldn\'t give him that as well.

He didn\'t want to give him anything, but it seemed as if that was no longer Ginji\'s decision.

“H-HELP!” He shouted again, tears beginning to fill into his eyes as he felt his body fill with acceptance.. There was no way he was going to win this.. He didn\'t have the power left in himself to shock the doctor, not even the slightest bit.. and Raitei chose to make himself scarce.

Akabane felt his mind soar with the thrill of Ginji\'s cries and screams and then....i don\'t want to...oh, thank whatever God might exist, it was just too much.

His hand was spurred on by the noises and writhing beneath him and he shot downward to grab the other man\'s penis firmly in one hand, caressing it with long, slender fingers. Without seeing it, he drew circles around it\'s length, pressing his chest to Ginji\'s at the same time.

He stretched out his whole body with a moan, back arching, his arm extending down underneath his own crotch and into Ginji\'s. He leaned his head down between the crook of Ginji\'s neck and shoulder, moaning in a whisper into Ginji\'s sensitive ear, wet hair falling to hide his face.

He closed his eyes and took the ear lobe into his mouth, sucking on it sharply, running his tongue over it. His arousal throbbed painfully now, but, for some reason, he liked this, drawing it out. At heart he was a sadist and a masochist....oh yes, he wanted to last as long as possible.

Ginji let out a muffled cry as Akabane began stroking him, and he squeezed his eyes shut tightly, mouth open as he took in a few deep breaths. He\'d always wanted Ban to be- to be the first and only person to... well... Be intimate with him. It just seemed to fit; Ban had saved him from the Fortress, from himself, and they\'d grown so close. But now this sadist wanted only to bring out the Lightning Emperor - he didn\'t understand.

Ginji tried to pull away, out of Akabane\'s grasp, but there was nowhere for him to go, and digging his heels into the floor as he\'d one earlier only sent him up into Akabane\'s eager hand. Why wasn\'t the Lightning Emperor there!? What was keeping him back?!

“Uh..” Ginji let out a small noise in spite of himself as Akabane\'s lips closed around his ear, sending strange shivers down his thigh. He felt his penis reacting to Akabane\'s fingers and it hit him - he wouldn’t turn into the Lightning Emperor because Ginji\'s body wasn\'t reacting with fear or pain.. Ginji\'s body was reacting to the most carnal instincts instilled in a man - and there was nothing the Get Backer could do to stop it.

“N-no!” He shouted, shaking his head in a violent attempt to knock Akabane\'s mouth from his ear. “I-I don\'t .. I-I\'m not the Lightning Emperor anymore!” He cried, reaching now - anything, anything to stop Akabane. “I-I don\'t want to go back to that!” He continued, his voice slightly broken as a few tears slipped down his cheeks and tickled his ears. His chest began to rise in rapid gasps, his ribs brushing against Akabane\'s almost painfully with each rise and fall.

Akabane tilted his head to the side, still stroking the Get Backer\'s growing arousal. he licked one of the boy\'s tears, relishing in the salty taste in his mouth, his sweat, his tears, they were all electric.

He felt the spasmic rise and fall of Ginji\'s chest and felt his own breathing come in more rapid, greedy sucking gasps. His shouts seemed almost dim now, like they were coming from a long distance away, or from behind a thick wall...but they were there nonetheless, like a whisper in Akabane\'s ear. With the other things he was concentrating on, it took the doctor a minute to register what the other man had said. When he did, however, he smiled and leaned back down beside Ginji\'s ear.

“D-don\'t want to be the Emperor anymore?” He inquired rhetorically. “Then you must....you must become something entirely new.” He said with a thrill of delight. He sometimes even surprised himself with the things he said and was unsure of what he meant by them until later, when he could muse over his own words. In this case it just seemed to...fit.

“In l-life you cannot go back...only forward...own-ward.…” With that, Akabane let Ginji\'s hands go long enough to sit up and begin to pull his pants roughly down around his hips and over his thighs. He began to work feverishly at his own button with slippery hands and pulled his black slacks and underwear down only enough to expose himself.

Ginji shook his head violently, gasping and now making small sobbing noises as he listened to Akabane draw on - his voice slightly rhythmic, as if he were reading a poem.

He felt the pressure on his wrists vanish and suddenly pushed himself upwards, reaching out and wrapping his hands around the other man\'s neck. He began to tighten his fist viciously, his whole body shaking, his ripped shirt hanging by his shoulders - it had been a gift from Natsumi too.. the shirt - and now it was ruined.

“H-hu..” He gasped, then squeezed his eyes shut and let out a cry, forcing another jolt through his fingers from some unknown power source deep within himself. It felt as if his very soul was being sucked out through his fingers.
“Nngg.. Ah-ahh!” He cried, voice cracking as he collapsed again, his hands moving down his own chest to cover his arousal in a protective way.

If he\'d had any energy left before - now it was completely gone - any struggle he could have given was now a bleak memory. He tried to roll to his side, but Akabane hadn\'t left him that unprotected, and so he settled for a light whimper, chancing a meeting of their gazes. His brown eyes were large and filled with tears, hopeless and frightened.

“P-please.. please don\'t..”

Akabane was only slightly surprised when he was attacked again, but the jolt was a fraction of what it normally would have been and the man merely stopped, pausing for a few seconds, head back. he was unsure whether the sensation was more pleasant or painful...perhaps an equal share of both. Still he slowly regained his composure and leaned back in toward his prey.

His eyes met Ginji\'s for a split second and something flickered behind his violet orbs as he witnessed what he was doing to the other man..the tears in his huge brown eyes, his pleading. In part, the begging only made him harder and more anxious, but something else was there too. True, he enjoyed the pain of others but for some reason, this was not as pleasurable as he\'d intended it to be. For a brief second, a flash of sadness, of desperation crossed behind Akabane\'s eyes, and then...and then he suddenly found himself very angry.

He reigned in his blades, but could not do the same for his expression. His lip curled in a sneer. Ginji...had rejected him. But what had he expected after all...? Somehow the obvious no longer mattered....he had rejected him blatantly and firmly! Rejected him for Ban. In the height of passion, his mask fell. He glared down at Ginji.

“It is your own fault!” He snapped at the man beneath him, before grabbing Ginji\'s penis a bit roughly. And then, before he had time to faultier any further, to think it over any more, he grabbed Ginji\'s shoulders and flipped him to his stomach.

He slipped down against him, now facing downward. With a growl, he thrust forward into him. he let out a scream, unable to hold it back any longer.

Ginji\'s eyes grew wide as Akabane showed, for the first time, something akin to true emotion. He was angry. Ginji tensed up as he was suddenly attacked, letting out a sharp cry as his erection was roughly taken in hand. Then he was flipped to his stomach.

“Uh- Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh!” Despite the feeling of having the breath knocked from his lungs, Ginji managed a loud cry of agony, throwing his head back so that his spiky blond hair was ruffled. The muscles in his legs tightened painfully, not used to the stretching between them, and his stomach locked up against the penetration, sending shockwaves of pain through Ginji\'s body.

No.. no it was supposed to be Ban - it had always been Ban in his dreams. His finger tips burned slightly as his body reacted to the sudden pain and intrusion, trying desperately to pull power from somewhere - but none could be found.

Akabane\'s scream echoed for a long time as he remained inside Ginji, paralyzed with pain and pleasure. His mind reeled and he almost became quite dizzy, to the point of passing out. But he pulled himself back from the edge of consciousness and shook his head, trying to regain coherent thought.

He pulled out shakily, his body moving like a rusted, jerky machine. No, he had to concentrate, prepare himself this time. he braced his mind and body before reentering, thrusting forward more slowly this time, not fueled by anger, but by the desire to draw out his pleasure.

He closed his eyes and began to find the motion, in and out, in and out...slow at first, then gaining a real rhythm shortly. He moaned aloud with no attempt to conceal his expression of pure pleasure.

“No-Aaaaaaaaahh!” Ginji let out another surprisingly high pitched scream as Akabane pulled out, then thrust back in, shattering the Get Backer\'s body with pain once more. He skittered forward against the ground ripping into the skin on his elbows as he tried to keep his face off the ground.

He splayed his fingers against the floor, trying to stop the rocking that accompanied each thrust, but ended up cutting into his hands as well.

“P-pl-please.. Aaah! S-st-stop!” He gasped, the muscles in his stomach pulling tighter each time Akabane pulled out, leaving them raw and tense for each re-entry. Tears began to stream down his face, falling onto his hands, his body rocking freely with each penetration now, followed by an almost hiccupping motion as sobs began to rattle his chest.

Akabane had enjoyed Ginji\'s screams before...they made his heart leap in his chest and his stomach twist with something akin to butterflies. But now, now for some reason they only made him angrier.

He thrust harder each time, gritting his teeth, his rhythm steady now. His hair, drying now, swung back and forth with his motion, eyes screwed shut. \'Please stop…’ The words echoed in his mind, an affront to him, an insult! Ginji mocked him with his innocence, with his truthfulness...he really was who he had become, and could never return!

He growled and continued. He made a concious effort to calm himself again, so the pleasure could come flooding back to him, yes, only a game, amusement...and this was quite amusing. He threw back his head and let out a yell that was desperate and pain filled...it was all the feelings he could not express.

Ginji let out another stifled cry and dropped his head to lay on his hands, legs slipping as he gave in and almost failed to support him. The tip of his erection began to brush against the floor the same way his elbows and hands had, and he shot back up, bucking into his raper, thrown suddenly to his hands.

“Kkyyyaaaaaaaahh!” His arms shook violently beneath him, as did his legs, now supporting his weight along with the pain of penetration, and threatened to give out on him with every thrust.

He dropped his head back down to hang between his arms and slowly slid forward, arms stretched out in front of him, forehead against the floor. His legs continued to buckle and shake, somehow still managing to keep him off the ground.

His sobs grew louder as Akabane screamed again, and they began to rock him forward just as the man\'s thrusts did. He dug his nails into the floor and tilted his head to the side to gasp for breath as his tears continued to stream down his face.

Ginji\'s scream only made Akabane scream louder and his shaking fueled his passion. He thrust one last time, violently in, holding it there for longer than before, arching his back impossibly, long torso almost forming a lithe crescent moon with his push. He felt his toes curl in his shiny shoes as his mouth fell open with a silent cry. It was as if he wanted to shout out with pleasure but could just not bring himself to do so, not at the height, it was like, sacrilege.

Several blissful seconds and then, it was over. It was as if his spirit had wilted as well as he pulled himself from Ginji and dropped to his back on the floor, panting and heaving, his thin chest rising and falling spasmically. every muscle seemed to have given out on him and he had no energy left....He opened his eyes slowly to stare at the ceiling.

He wore a smile from pure physical pleasure....it was not long, however, before the smile seemed to melt. And it was like...like he felt even more empty than before....completely hollow now. \'Why...why was that not how I\'d expected it to be?\' a voice inside him shouted desperately into the darkness. no one answered.

Ginji\'s body, finally registering that this pain was not what it wanted, seemed to find it\'s power source as Akabane came, filling Ginji with a horrid burning sensation.

“Aaaaaaahhhhhhhhh!” Instead of pooling at his fingertips like it usually did, Ginji\'s whole body seemed to suddenly explode and thin blue bolts of electricity shot all over the room, illuminating the dark warehouse to an almost painful point before slowly dissipating and dying away, leaving the duo in the wavering candlelight again.

Ginji\'s legs shuddered and he fell to his side, his body mimicking the action as he pulled his legs to his chest along with his hands, curling tightly against himself with a few hopeless sobs. Blood leaked from the corner of his mouth, smeared over his chest where he balled his hands and pulled in his elbows. He needed to get up. He needed to pull his pants up and run - run before Akabane decided to do it again - that or attack him... but he couldn\'t.

He didn\'t want to leave himself, the comfort of his own shaking limbs... besides, he knew he didn\'t have the strength to remove the rope and tape, so he wouldn\'t have gotten very far anyway.

“B-ban..” He whispered brokenly, closing his eyes tightly and letting out another sob.

\'Ban\'....That was it, that was the very last straw....just then, something inside Akabane broke. he sprung to his feet and, at his command, a scalpel slipped viciously into his fingers. he closed the distance to Ginji and leaned down over him.

Before the other man had time to react, he sliced through the bonds holding his arms and legs together. He pulled the tape roughly off and stumbled backward. He dropped the bonds from his shaking hands and tried to fasten his own pants, unsuccessful the first few times. He finally got them buttoned and stepped back again, running into the wall and remaining there, leaning.

“Leave.…” He whispered....he did not sound angry now, but dead, cold...sad? No, unfeeling. He let himself slump against the comforting support. He felt so weak....why did he feel so incredibly weak?!

“Get out...go...go home..…” He said a little louder. “The game....is over…”

Ginji stiffened and let out a cry as Akabane neared him. He closed his eyes and tried to ignore his aching enough to put up a fight- but it seemed as if Akabane was finished before he began.

Ginji slowly opened his eyes, still sobbing relentlessly, and watched the bonds fall from Akabane\'s hands. He stared for a minute then painfully stood up, teetering wildly before he managed to pull up his pants, letting out a noise and making a face - he wanted to shower.. He felt so dirty, pulling his pants back up over fluids he didn\'t want to identify. He stumbled out of the room and nearly fell down the stairs, small noises escaping him with each step, sending a jarring pain up his legs. He felt as if he\'d been ripped open, as if each step he ran the risk of loosing all his insides - it was a foul and horrid thought.

He made his way to the door somehow and struggled with it hysterically before throwing it open and dashing outside. Running felt no better - and his weak legs gave out on him, sending him to the mud where he remained for a moment, bent over with an arm slung across his abdomen.

He pulled a face and struggled to his feet again, walking along the wall for support at a dangerously slow pace. The rain’s assault slowly dawned on him, but the cold water felt good over his skin, making his hair droop over his eyes, washing his blood into pink rivulets down his chest, pink stains in the shirt Natsumi made for him.

By the time he stumbled to the door of the Honky Tonk he looked like he felt. He leaned against the doorway for a moment, gasping for breath before lifting his hand to grope for the doorknob. Unable to find it he dropped his hand and started to sob anew.

He couldn\'t take much more.

He lifted his shaking hand once more and gripped the doorknob as tightly as he could, letting the wind sweep the door open, free from his hand. He dropped his gaze as it did so, looking as if he were on the brink of death as a lightning bolt struck down somewhere behind him, illuminating his badly worn form for a moment as he teetered against the doorframe.

Juubei smiled, and continued to drag the brush through Kasuki\'s long hair, the wraps that normally held it into three sections were discarded on the table.

The Honky Tonk had closed about an hour ago, but Paul, being in an unusually caring mood, let the three men stay when he should have kicked them out. Jubei and Kasuki had taken to a booth in the back, where Jubei had nearly begged until Kasuki took his hair down for the other man to brush.

He heard the door open, followed by the crack of lightning -far too close to signify anything other than the arrival of Ginji, and a rush of rain. He knitted his eyebrows together - when had Ginji left? Hadn\'t he been upstairs? He kept his mouth shut, waiting for someone else to reply.

Paul was bent under the counter at Ginji\'s arrival, and didn\'t even look up as the door swung open - he\'d gotten used to people just popping up, especially these people... especially after hours. He grumbled something to himself and continued to look for another bottle of cleaner for the tables.

*Akabane slipped from where he stood against the wall...the lamp was burning out....he was unable to stand anymore.....he sat, knees bent up to his chest, shirt open and still soaked....his mind was so overwhelmed by new and disturbing feelings that all he could do was stare...the little game, the one he had started.....it was over now, and the funny thing was....he had never for one second expected......to lose.

Ban sat in a back booth , paper in front of his eyes scanning for interesting headlines...every once in a while a headline would give them a lead...something that the police just could not figure out...that was a job for...The Get Backers! Huh, their name shouted triumphantly sounded wonderful in his head but it soon soured, who was he kidding anyway?

He looked the folded sheet up and down...nothing...filled with so much tiny words that said nothing at all. He sighed aloud and looked at his coffee trying to decide whether it would still be warm enough to venture drinking.

His big choice was delayed, however, as the door slammed open. He turned to see who would be invading THEIR after hours spot...after all, they were the only ones allowed in here after close, right?

His brows furrowed and eyes narrowed a bit as the lightening threw the figure into sharp black outline.

“Ginji?” He offered hesitantly. What the hell?! “Ginj, when did you leave? And what the hell were you doing out when the weather is so shitty?! You get killed and I’m out one partner and i…” He stopped mid-word and shot to his feet. Good God! “GINJI?!”

Kazuki smiled softly to himself as JuUbei brushed out his hair. He had practically begged to do it for him and...after a little persuasion, was happy to oblige him. Truth be told it felt wonderful, but he just loved it when Jubei asked so vehemently, he simply had to have him ask at least a few times.

His head was turned a split second before the door flew open wide and he took in Ginji\'s form with horror. He stood slowly and carefully, shaking a bit now.

“Ginji.…” He whispered breathless.

JUubei tilted his head to one side as he heard Ban first, then felt Kazuki move away from him. He inched out of the booth, sitting on the edge of the seat and put a hand on Kazuki\'s arm, hearing the distress in the other man\'s voice. Apparently it was not good.

Ginji\'s eyes welled up with tears again as he stumbled forward into the Honky Tonk, beginning to question how he was able to stand upright. He made his way over to Ban and without another word fell bodily to his knees, wrapping his arms over himself and leaning forward to touch his head to Ban\'s legs.

“B-ban..” He whispered brokenly before sobs shook his shoulders and muffled his \'sorry\'.

Paul paused in his search as he heard not just Ban, but also Kazuki, speak Ginji\'s name in a less than desirable tone. He slowly lifted himself from behind the counter and leaned forward onto his elbows just in time to watch Ginji crumple at Ban\'s feet.

He clicked his tongue against the roof of his mouth, and bent back down under the counter, searching for something they could use as bandages.

Ban froze in place, the expression of horror he wore quite uncharacteristic of him. He did not move as Ginji fairly stumbled and half crawled across the room to him, nor did he change position as Ginji fell into him feebly. He made a few small strangled noises of shock, eyes wide before stepping back and immediately kneeling to catch Ginji in his arms.

“Ginji! Ginji....my God....Ginji, what happened to you?! Are you alright!? Ginji?” Ban\'s glasses had dropped to the floor in his quick movement, but he hardly noticed at all as he held Ginji out by the shoulders to look at him. He looked like he\'d been through hell and back...but the worst part, was his expression.

Kazuki laid a hand on Juubei\'s and turned his head over his shoulder to look at him.

“Ginji is...badly hurt…” He explained. “Paul is getting bandages…” He said, assuming, and hoping for Paul\'s sake he was, “would you help him please?” He asked, his voice held an air of one who had seen something shocking and instead of panicking, they go deadly calm.

Kazuki gave Jubei\'s hand a squeeze before leaving the booth to kneel at Ginji\'s side, laying a hand on the boy\'s shoulder.

“It\'s alright Ginji, we are here now to take care of you…” He offered, he would let Ban do the interrogation, Ginji didn\'t need questions flying at him from all sides.

Juubei nodded and reluctantly left Kazuki\'s side, paranoid about doing so with the origin of Ginji\'s obviously brutal attack unknown. He moved behind the counter and stood for a moment before holding his hand out.

Paul raised an eyebrow, then set the roll of bandages he\'d just picked up in Juubei\'s outstretched hand - wondering idly how the man had done that.. He thought sometimes that Jubei was just playing the blind man, to get attention.. but it didn\'t fit Samurai boy.

\"Go take that out to them.. I\'m gonna go get the first aid kit from upstairs..\"

Jubei merely nodded and walked back out into the main area of the cafe, stepping carefully until he was behind Kazuki.

Ginji twisted a bit, out of Ban\'s grip, so that he could collapse against the other man\'s chest, still shaking with his arms wrapped tightly over himself. He peered over Ban\'s arm and saw Kazuki, Juubei soon joined him, and his cheeks flushed a bit.

“I-..” He\'d been so foolish. He turned and hid his head in Ban\'s shirt, smearing it with all sorts of things, but he knew Ban wouldn\'t care - now anyway.

“A-a-aka-akabane..” He managed, his voice weak from his raw throat.

Ban blanched. Akabane?! But...the last time they had seen him, he\'d helped them, right? Why...Why would he...what did he do anyway? How could the man have gotten to his partner like that? What could he have possibly said or done?!

“Akabane? Akabane...but, how...w-why? What the hell did he do to you?!”

Kazuki was just as shocked, but remained silent...he watched the other man, looking entirely broken, lost....suddenly his hand shot up to cover his mouth as he gasped.

No....why.....how.....it could only be one thing...only one thing was so spiritually destructive...so degrading....but....why? He was utterly baffled, shocked into stunned silence and immobility.

Juubei reached out as he heard Kazuki gasp and laid his hand on his shoulder, giving him a light squeeze before bending down and handing him the bandages.

“Paul has gone to get the first aid kit.\" He said in a steady tone, knitting his eyebrows together as he heard Ginji\'s pained breathing.

Ginji paused as he listened to Ban, then started as he heard Kazuki gasp and threw his arms around Ban, releasing his bare torso for the first time since Akabane had finished.

“H-he..” He turned his head towards Ban\'s chest, burying his face there and taking a few deep breaths of the familliar smell that was Ban Midou. “B-ban he-.. r-rape... he raped me..” He whispered, his voice muffled before he broke into sobs again, digging his fingers desperately into the back of Ban\'s shirt.

\"Uh..\" There was a slight clattering from the bottom of the steps, where Paul stood - the first aid kit\'s contents spilled at his feet. He\'d walked down just in time to hear the last part of Ginji\'s sentence.

He shook his head and crouched down, beginning to pick up the supplies while trying not to let his mind wander. That Akabane was a creepy character... He could just- Ah! No.

He walked stiffly over to the group and fingered the first aid kit for a moment, wondering if they\'d still need it - since apparently Ginji wasn\'t really wounded in that way.

Juubei stiffened as Ginji explained, and his hand around Kazuki\'s shoulder tightened again in a sweetly protective way. He wanted to wrap his arms over Kazuki, tell him that he\'d never let that happen to him, but for Ginji\'s sake, now was not the time.

Ban felt like he was gonna be sick then and there. He had to swallow the bile that rose in his throat. he felt every muscle tighten to a painful degree. Angry wasn\'t a fraction of what Ban was...livid was not even close....there were no words to express Ban Midou at that moment.

He stared off into nothing, blank expression on his face, glasses crushed under his knee where he\'d fallen on them. And then, the moment was passed. He took a gentle hand and rubbed Ginji\'s back, curling the fingers of his other hand into his wet spiky hair. He held him close, his actions not a mirror for his face, which was still set in stony silence.

“Ginji... where is he?” Ban asked in a voice that was just a little too deep, and much too cold.

Kazuki laid his hand over Juubei\'s and squeezed back, eyes never leaving Ban\'s face...he could feel something....something stirring beneath him, and rightly so, of course....but he\'d never felt anything like it before. It was as if a volcano were about to explode...and what it volcanoes could chose their targets?

Certainly, he felt something inside himself as well...something so revolting he couldn\'t rightly try to describe it. But Ban....he had a feeling the good doctor wouldn\'t be able to run far or fast enough...

Paul slowly sat down in one of the chairs and put a hand to his head. True he complained constantly about Ginji and Ban running up such an enormous tab... but he loved the two idiots - and anyone who could consciously do this to a person as sweet as Ginji - needed to pay.

He balled his hands into fists and waited for a location.. He\'d be out the door right behind Ban.

Juubei sighed a little and tossed the bandages over his shoulder, hearing a surprised yelp from Paul as they smacked him in the face.

Something didn\'t sit right with him, however. He\'d seen Akabane - watched the madman work.. it just, didn\'t seem like him. Not that Juubei really knew anything about Akabane, but something about the whole thing struck an odd cord with him.

He tilted his head a bit, feeling an overwhelming sense of anger simply pouring from Ban... He\'d rip into the doctor like Shido - like an animal.. but it wouldn\'t sit well with Ginji. Juubei knew that if Ban killed Akabane, if anyone killed Akabane, that Ginji would consider himself a murderer for the rest of his life - such was the heart of Ginji Amano. He would not wish death upon his enemies, not even now, when he had lost the one thing a person treasured most - when it was so brutally stolen from him.

Ginji stiffened and shook his head a little, relaxing a bit in Ban\'s arms.

“I-I ... I..” He stuttered, then pulled back to look up at Ban. “H-he\'s p-probably l-long gone b-by now... B-b-ban-chan…” He whimpered, expression slowly turning blank as he leaned back in against Ban\'s chest.

“C-can y-you as-ask Paul if-if I ca-can use his sh-shower?”

Ban said nothing for a few minutes. Inwardly, he schemed, Ginji would need time....at least a little time. Alright, he could have time.

“Paul?” He said simply, hoping the owner had hear Ginji\'s request. He did not trust his voice past that. he remained where he was, expression stuck in a grim deadpan. Though anyone that knew him would see the rage behind his eyes.

Kazuki stepped forward and laid his hands on Ginji\'s arms. He felt himself torn apart inside as he felt his shoulder\'s shake. His new clothes were...ruined....he felt his throat clench and he fought the urge to just fall to his knees and cry beside Ginji....but he knew that would be of no help.
“Come on Ginji-chan, let\'s get you upstairs to the shower...You\'re ok, I’ll help…” He said, offering his strength to help Ginji stand.

\"Uh-uh sure.. Yeah.\" Paul stuttered, still trying to figure out how Juubei had hit him earlier.

Juubei smiled a little at his kind Kazuki and stood up, moving to lean against the wall.

Ginji looked up at Kazuki and forced a worn smile to his face, standing shakily while putting most of his weight on Kazuki, though he felt bad for doing it. He cast one more glance at Ban before starting up the stairs, trying not to hurt Kazuki with his tight grip.

Juubei paused for a moment until he was sure Kazuki and Ginji were out of earshot.

\"Well,\" He said crossing his arms over his chest. \"What do we do now?\"

Paul turned his head sharply and let out a laugh.

“Are you kidding? We go kill the bastard.\"

\"Midou?\" Juubei said, tilting his head slightly towards the Get Backer.

Ban remained silent for a good while before speaking, and when he did open his mouth all he said was.

“You heard the man.” He reference to Paul\'s comment. He, personally, couldn\'t put into words what he was going to do, and didn\'t want to try. Words, right now, were a waste. The concept of talking was really lost on Ban at this point.

Juubei sighed and shook his head.

\"I believe that would be a mistake, gentlemen.\" He said softly, gesturing with one hand. \"We cannot kill Akabane, not now at least. If we were to kill Akabane, Ginji would forever consider himself a murderer - the rest of his days would be spent wallowing in guilt. Akabane did not murder Ginji-san, therefore if we were to murder Akabane, our crime would be worse, and Ginji would feel at fault.\" He paused and folded his arms together again. \"Ginji does not believe in revenge - that is something I learned a long time ago. The Lightning Emperor is a different story.. however I feel that he was not involved - otherwise the story would be drastically different.\"

Paul frowned and stood up, walking a bit closer to Ban and Juubei.

\"Right now I\'m thinking about doing the best for Ginji. He might feel guilty now, but he\'ll thank us later.\" The red-head grumbled.

Ban turned his head very slowly towards Juubei, his expression never faltering.

“There will be no we. You two ill be there to make sure Ginji is safely away while i have a talk with Dr. Jackal.” His eyes bored holes into Samurai boy\'s head. “Juubei, you are either with us, or you stay here. I can do this on my own.

Juubei turned his head slowly and stepped away from the wall, turning as if looking directly at Ban.

“You are in no position to tell me what I can and cannot do, Ban Midou.\" He began sternly. \"But I would think you would take Ginji\'s feelings into consideration a bit more before you jump into things... You are very rash - and it has gotten all of us in trouble in on way or another.\"

Paul\'s eyes grew wide and his lips formed into an \'o\' as he turned his gaze to Ban.. this might get interesting.

Ban stood up and turned to face Juubei.

“Maybe you didn\'t hear me right Samurai Boy, you are either with me, or against me. You try to stop me tonight, and i will fight you next. I know what i am doing. You must trust me.” Maybe it wouldn\'t be the best idea to kill Akabane, but Ban could certainly torture him until he begs for death...make him beg like Ginji probably begged...he felt his blood boil.

Juubei\'s lips pulled into a bit of a snarl, and he was about to reply when a light creak told him that Kazuki and Ginji had returned. He stepped back against the wall and awaited word from Ginji.

Paul remained silent.

Ginji frowned as he stepped carefully onto the bottom floor, eyes red, face pained. He felt stiff, he felt - horrible. He wore a gray hooded sweatshirt and baggy jeans now; but he felt no cleaner.

“I-I can take you... to-to the place.. b-but I d-doubt he-he\'ll still b-be there.”

*Ban simply nodded and walked over and took Ginji by the arm.

“Yes, tell me where.”

Kazuki helped Ginji walk down the stairs, letting him lean heavily on him. he was a bit stronger than he looked.

He wore a different outfit from before also, for he had to assist Ginji as he was quite unsteady on his feet. He shot Ban a searing look.

“Ban... “ Ban silenced him with his own look, that could easily have frozen him to the spot.

Ginji stiffened a bit as Ban grabbed his arm, and looked up at the other man with hurt in his eyes.

“I-I said I\'ll take you…” He said softly, turning and pulling his arm from Ban\'s hand with an odd look on his face. Perhaps Ban was just too upset to comfort him.. that\'s all Ginji wanted right now. He wanted nothing more than for Ban to say: We\'ll go look for him later, Ginji... - then comfort him.

His whole body ached, and he didn\'t want to move.. but he didn\'t want to let Ban out of his sight either - for fear of being taken from him again. He started towards the door, wavering on his feet every now and again.

Juubei turned and walked to Kazuki\'s side, putting a hand on the other man\'s lower back and pausing for a minute, raising an eyebrow. Kazuki had changed his outfit. He\'d probably helped Ginji.

Paul turned and leaned over the counter, searching around in the random cupboards for a minute before standing back up triumphantly, a baseball bat in his hands.

Ban faltered for a minute, noticing the look in his eyes. He stumbled over his words a little. he did not want to speak right now.

“Oh, uh, yeah...well, i just didn\'t want you to have to go back there....if you told me, i- we could go instead.” He said.

Kazuki stood at Ginji\'s arm, glaring daggers at Ban. he knew what the other man wanted, and, as much as he wanted it too, he knew that Ginji would blame himself, probably for the rest of his life. Still, he wasn\'t sure that if he went along, that he could resist tearing the man limb from limb before Ban got within 20 feet of him.

“Maybe we should wait a little bit...he is probably long gone by now anyway.” He ventured, ignoring Ban\'s wordless response.

Juubei tilted his head towards Kazuki and smiled the slightest bit - so, he was not alone in his assumption about Ginji... Kazuki agreed.

Paul.. just wanted to beat something, so he swung the bat a few times.

Ginji turned his head slowly, looking over his shoulder at the people gathered in the Honky Tonk, and a violent shudder passed through his body.

At that moment he did not want to go to Ban for the comfort of a lover, but to Kazuki, for the comfort of a friend.. Could Ban offer him the comfort he needed? He knew Kazuki could.. Kazuki had always been there for him.

His eyes narrowed in sadness as he watched Juubei step in beside Kazuki, so tuned to him... they were like one person. That\'s what Ginji wanted.

He turned his gaze quickly back to the door, shivering again and wrapping his arms over himself. Why now? Why of all times now was he thinking like this? His mind was just spinning, that was all.. He\'d been through too much to think coherently.. Ban was just worried about him.. he\'d get it later.

“No-No. I wan-want to go back.” He said after a long pause. “I need to..”

Ban nodded.

“If you think you can…” He said, though his mind was elsewhere.

Kazuki watched Ginji and Ban carefully and something struck him like a lightening bolt (ironically enough). The interactions were strange. Why wouldn\'t Ban just go to Ginji and tell him it would be alright? Why didn\'t he touch him and hold him close when that was so obviously what he needed? Something was wrong here, very wrong....

He tried to push the thoughts away, but he couldn\'t get them out of his head. He took Juubei\'s hand, overcome, all of a sudden, with the need to touch him, and walked up to stand close to Ginji as well. He needed something right now, and Ban couldn\'t give it to him...was it possible that he did not know what to give?

Juubei frowned as Kazuki took his hand, alerted by the strange something in his actions - not that he took his hand, but the way that he did it, almost desperately. He followed obediently behind Kazuki, hands in his pants pockets.

Paul gave a little nod and picked up the keys from a hook on the wall.

\"I\'ll take up the rear and lock this place down while we\'re gone.\"

Ginji tried to ignore the pain in his heart and opened the door, stepping back out into the cold night like stepping up to a fight to the death you knew you were not going to win. His body shuddered again, but he squared his shoulders and tried to walk as steadily as he could down the road, leading the small group down all the twists and turns that Akabane had led him down.

As they left the Honky Tonk, Juubei leaned over and picked up an umbrella from the small bin in the corner (much to the chagrin of Paul, who jumped up and down a few times like a frustrated midget), turning to follow Kazuki. He opened the umbrella, a dark red in color, and swung it over the smaller man\'s head, leaving him free to walk very close to him.

\"I feel,\" he began in a soft whisper, \"that this attack has hurt Ginji in ways we have yet to see.\"

Ban followed behind Ginji closely, a fire behind his eyes and his skin. Just the thought made his adrenaline kick in and he felt like he\'d run ten miles and could run ten more. He walked with fists clenched and jaw set, eyes and heart aflame with the sweet thought of vengeance...justice.

Kazuki followed just to Ginji\'s right side and slightly behind him, he looked up as an umbrella unfolded over him and smiled. Juubei...his Juubei.

He dropped back underneath the covering and walked barely a foot ahead of the other man. His voice was soft.

“Yes, you are right…” He said in response. “And not all the wounds were Akabane\'s fault.” He added with a sigh that said, \'ill explain later\'.

Juubei started a bit at Kazuki\'s reply, but said nothing and continued walking, knowing Kazuki would spill it all like gossip later. It made him smile a little. He heard Paul behind them, whistling suddenly - probably frightened at the dark alleyways and rainy night.. And the looming figure of Akabane awaiting them. Idiot.

Ginji stopped slowly in front of the warehouse, leaving it at his side for a long while before actually gathering up the courage to turn to it.

He\'d known. He\'d known the moment he\'d looked at the warehouse that something wasn\'t right.. and yet - longing to be the hero for once, he\'d gone in anyway.

He took a slow step forward and reached out with a shaking hand, but he couldn\'t get a hold of the doorknob, and began to loose his control again, nearly falling into a fit of hysteria at not being able to grab the doorknob.

‘Akabane won\'t get within feet of me, Ban\'ll kill him. Akabane won\'t get within feet of me, Kazuki\'ll kill him. Akabane won\'t get within feet of me - uh.. Juubei\'d kill him if he came after me... Right?’ Paul thought morbidly.

Kazuki was by Ginji\'s side, as was Ban. The former, took Ginji\'s arm and looked him in the eyes, pulling him aside and telling him it was ok. He rubbed his hand like Juubei did for him sometimes, it was comforting to him.

Ban stepped forward and grabbed a hold of the doorknob but did not have to turn it of the door swung open of it\'s own accord. He paused for a minute to look at the others, then stepped inside.

He fished into his pocket and pulled out a lighter, clicking it on and sweeping it around to get the lay of the room. it was a huge abandoned warehouse.

Ginji let out a few shaky sighs and reached up to put his own hand atop Kazuki\'s, then looked up into the other man\'s eyes. They\'d been friends for years - they\'d been so close. He knew Kazuki could read unspoken things in his eyes.

He told Kazuki he just wanted to hear that -that it was ok- that he\'d wanted to hear it from Ban. Why hadn\'t Ban said it? Why.. did it hurt so much.

Juubei let out a small grunt as Kazuki moved away, out from under the umbrella\'s protective reach and into the rain. He sighed a little but felt someone else move up next to him. He paused.

\"Paul...\" He said in a slightly testy way.

\"It\'s raining.\"

Yes. Yes it is.\" And with that Jubei closed the umbrella and shoved it into the man\'s chest, making him drop the baseball bat.

inji started slightly and reluctantly pulled away from Kazuki, finding so much comfort there- his body ached for it... but he followed Ban. He followed Ban like Jubei followed Kazuki.. but something was missing - he sensed it now.

“H-he... Upstairs.” Ginji relented, looking towards the stairs.

“Stairs?” Ban questioned, but held the lighter back to properly see Ginji\'s face. He noticed the direction he was looking and followed his line of sight and spotted the staircase directly ahead across the room. He made his way there quickly and up, not waiting to see if the others were following him.*

Kazuki took Ginji\'s hands in his own and nodded understanding. he then leaned close to his lifelong friend and looked him in the eyes.

“Ginji, don\'t let Ban do anything you don\'t want him to do…” He offered cryptically before gesturing for him to go inside. He grabbed Juubei\'s hand and entered as well.

“Paul, do you really need both of those? I mean, do you really think you will need to beat him up with both the bat AND the umbrella?” He asked, perfectly aware of how he\'d gotten the umbrella, but unable to resist teasing him about it.

Ginji\'s mind echoed Kazuki\'s words - and a part of him was slightly angry. What did he mean by that? Ginji wanted Akabane to pay more than any of the others! It was his body he\'d violated! But another part of him had already accepted what Akabane had made him realize, what Akabane had done, and knew that he couldn\'t let harm come to the other man..

It scared him.

He followed behind Ban as quickly as he could, limping a bit. As they neared the top of the stairs he reached out and grabbed Ban\'s arm gently, wanting Ban to turn and look at him.

Juubei snickered at Paul and followed faithfully behind Kazuki, ignoring the stuttering from behind them.

\"Wait! You mean I\'m gonna have to fight him!?\"

Kazuki reached a hand out behind him.

“Paul, just give me the umbrella and shush.” He said quietly. Now, if Akabane was smart, he would be gone by now, long gone, but who knew, that man\'s mind worked in such twisted ways. If he was still here, they would need to be quiet and careful.

Ban held his lighter out in front of him, but stopped dead as he saw another light, very dim, down the hall...could that bastard really still be here?

He jumped slightly as Ginji laid a hand on his arm and turned around.

“Ginji? What is it? Is it that room?” He asked, nodding his head in that direction.

Ginji frowned, he’d wanted to tell Ban not to do anything, he wanted to tell Ban that he would speak to Akabane first, before the fists flew - but he couldn’t. He gave in and nodded.

Juubei shook his head while looking over his shoulder at Paul as if to say ‘Yeah, why are you being so loud?’

Ban cocked his head slightly and furrowed his brows.

“O-ok...hey, you gonna be ok Ginj? You don\'t have to go in you know…” He said, though he was clearly itching to meet up with their sometime ally and sometime enemy.

Kazuki followed in silence, hand on Juubei\'s arm to help guide him, though he was fairly sure he could probably get by well on his own. He liked to have that contact, to know he was useful when Juubei was concerned.

“I\'ll- I\'ll be fine, Ban.” Ginji whispered brokenly. “I- I want to go in.. Kind of lik-like facing your fears, you know?”

Juubei frowned as he listened up ahead, apparently they\'d found the room. He tilted his head towards Kazuki, and for a moment wanted to pick him up and carry him away so that he wouldn\'t be in danger if a fight broke out, but he knew that stubborn Kazuki would just come back anyway - and he\'d get yelled at for it later. So he moved to walk ahead of Kazuki a little, reaching up to put his hand over Kazuki\'s, as if escorting him to a dance rather than keeping him close so the madman killer didn\'t harm him.

Paul inched up the stairs with his back to the wall, looking around nervously... because every shadow seemed to be Akabane swooping in to attack him because he\'d been so rude to him that once when he\'d come in after hours.

Akabane leaned against the wall, legs still tucked defensively against his thin, partially bared chest. His shirt was almost dry now, and it lay in wrinkles off his shoulders instead of stretched fabric weighed down by water. His pants were still damp and his hair had dried as well, the same semi-disheveled look it always had.

He stared hard at nothing, the voices he heard vague and dim to his ears. They didn\'t matter...he didn\'t know why, but a lot of things that used to matter, did not anymore. He wondered idly how many had come for him....would it be the entire posse? Or just a revenging Ban... Either way, he felt no great desire to move, or try to flee from the situation.

Was this some kind of twisted martre act? Was he doing this because he thought he deserved it....no...no it wasn\'t that. It had been pleasurable and that is all he really lived for, amusement and pleasure. He stayed because he just....couldn\'t care anymore...

Ban nodded and walked forward heavily, footfalls echoing against the hollow sounding floors. He stopped just inside the door. He could not survey the room, nor take in any evidence that may have been lying around...his eyes were glued on a prone figure against the back wall. Akabane.

“Get up. Get up so i can properly greet you Dr. Jackal.” Ban said through gritted teeth. He wanted a fight now, he wanted Akabane to lash out, at least that would give him an excuse to attack in Ginji\'s eyes.

Akabane sat unmoving and even smiled as Ban entered and spoke.

“Why Ban, how nice of you to drop by, to what do i owe this pleasure..?” He asked, though he looked dazed, as if he weren\'t there at all, he sounded....broken.

What right did he have to sound like that?! Ban growled and stepped forward.

Kazuki stopped in the doorway and assessed the room...he felt the urge to vomit then and there. the smell, the look, the feel...it had happened right here....and so why did Akabane look like the one who\'d been run over by a truck? And why was the bastard still here?!

\"I-uh.. I\'m gonna stand guard- in case he has friends who try and sneak up on us..\" Paul reasoned, standing against the corner just outside the doorway, bat poised and ready.

Juubei gave an expression much like rolling his eyes, and followed in after Kazuki, feeling a strange unease settle over him as he did. He couldn\'t resist the urge to suddenly snake his arm over Kazuki\'s waist and hold the other man to him protectively. His body was tense and on edge - and he wanted Kazuki as close as possible.

Ginji shuddered violently as he stepped into the room, and paused, his hands falling to his sides. Akabane was - still here.. And-and the way he looked, sitting in the same position he\'d been in when Ginji left..

He looked - he looked like Ginji felt this time. He looked like the torn, lost and confused fragments of Ginji\'s soul... And Ginji - felt sorry for him. He didn\'t want him to hurt anymore.

“B-ban..” Ginji said in a soft voice as Ban stepped forward.

Ban gritted his teeth and lunged forward on one foot, hand in a fist. This is what he had pent up rage for, this was the moment, first, a little yelling and then...then Ban planned to bring the pain.

“What?! You have some nerve to talk to me like that, baka! You know damn well why we\'re here, Now get up so i can hurt you…” He shouted, whole body shaking. Ginji had been violated by this man, and it felt, to Ban, as if it had been him as well.

Akabane paused, Ginji had come as well...he stared at him with a blank look, unable to choose an emotion to express, unable determine what he was feeling in the first place. Ban, Ban was easier.

He turned his gaze to the wild-haired Get Backer and smirked, but his heart did not seem to be in it.

“Whatever do you mean? How should i greet guests?”

Kazuki felt the arm snake around him and was about to tell Juubei that it was alright, but thought better of it, perhaps it would be better for the other man to hold onto him in case he tried to muscle in on Ban\'s gig. And by the way things were going, Akabane\'s flippant attitude was only fueling his anger.

Ginji winced as Ban shouted, partly because of his harsh words, and partly because his headache had returned full force.

“B-ban.” He said again, taking a step forward, putting him closer to Ban... closer to.. Akabane. He caught the man\'s glance and froze in fear.

What was he thinking? Pitying this man? But as Akabane looked away, as he addressed Ban again, Ginji could hear it in his voice. Raping Ginji had - done something to Akabane... like it had done something to Ginji.

“Ban…” He voiced again, stepping closer once more and putting his hand out.

Juubei couldn\'t help but reveal a small smile as Kazuki did nothing to ward off his arm. It was probably just so that he wasn\'t tempted to join the fray, but still, it made Jubei happy.

“Akabane doesn\'t have allies.... So I\'m just uh... gonna stand here... and wait.. they don\'t need me trailing around.... Wait- does Akabane have allies?\" Paul muttered to himself, finding the silence and muffled voices unnerving.

Ban could hardly contain his seething rage, he would rip Akabane limb from limb...but....Ginji. He didn\'t want Ginji to see what he did to the doctor. Didn\'t want Ginji to see him as he saw Akabane. But he was very close to crossing the line with Ginji there or not.

Just then Ginji caught his attention and he looked over at him.

“Ginji...maybe you should go...i don\'t want you anywhere near him…”

Akabane remained slumped against the wall and said nothing...it was alright throwing quips at Ban, but ginji, when Ginji was involved, he didn\'t know how he felt...he couldn\'t even look at the other man without feeling the blades inside him tingle and downright spin with the onslaught of raw emotion. he had never felt so much in his entire life, he was sure of it.

Ginji frowned a little and shook his head.

“No, Ban. I\'m going to stay. I think you should go. I think we all should go... You too, Akabane.” He said, the man\'s name rolling off his tongue in a strange way. He looked down at the floor, then back up at Ban.

“Ban - look at him, listen to him. What he did was-was wrong, Ban.. but-but it did something to him too, can\'t you hear it in his voice? He\'s-not all there... I-I think he\'s suffered enough... He didn\'t have much when he came after me - but now, now he doesn\'t have anything... and having nothing is the worst thing in the world... He\'s suffered enough.”

Ban did a literal double take to his friend.

“What?! Ginji are you out of your mind?! He RAPED you Ginji!” He said as if the other man was not aware of the severity of the wrong committed against him. “He has to pay for what he did to you! And don’t tell me you buy this \'mental anguish\' act!”

Akabane couldn\'t help but stare slack-jawed at Ginji. he was more confused than ever. he felt a shiver as the other man addressed him directly, but did not respond. Instead, he chose to answer the easy questions.

“Oh yes, because he knows all about mental anguish…” He drawled, head lulling back to rest against the wall. “You cause enough of it with that tongue of yours, isn\'t that right, Ban-chan?”

That was is, Ban did not wait for a response from ginji, but spun around and lunged forward at Akabane, who, in turn, did not move an inch, or even flinch at his attacker.

Juubei stiffened a bit as he listened to the fight between the trio, and knitted his eyebrows together. For some reason it didn\'t sound like the argument he\'d imagined it would be. Ginji wasn\'t just stopping them from killing Akabane, he was protecting Akabane. He tilted his head a bit to see if he could gauge a reaction from Kazuki.

Ginji started at Ban\'s harsh tone and moved away slightly. Hearing it shouted like that.. made him remember how bad it really was.. but as Ban lunged forward, and Akabane didn\'t even flinch, Ginji knew he couldn\'t let it continue.

“Ban! Stop!” He shouted, turning and dashing in front of Ban, throwing his arms out to his sides and putting his back to Akabane, not even two feet behind him. “Stop, Ban! Just stop!”

Ban skidded on one heel to a stop inches from running headlong into Ginji. The defense, he anticipated, but this, this he hadn\'t expected. he stumbled backward and stared at Ginji, wide-eyed.

“G-Ginji? Why won\'t you let me fight him? He deserves everything he gets!”

Akabane stiffened at having Ginji so close to him again. and he was...protecting him....not even his temporary allies ever did that for him. He gasped and tried to flatten himself against the wall, maybe to disappear, maybe to will his scalpels to stop twisting inside him.

“Ginji…” He whispered the name for only himself to hear.

Kazuki stood in stunned silence. It seemed as though Ginji didn\'t really need his encouragement. He would do what he liked and Ban would not be able to oppose him. He had to say, however, he was surprised at Akabane\'s state of disarray...what did violating ginji do to the man? Of course, rape wasn\'t his style, but Kazuki thought it was probably an individual thing, rather than a problem with act in general. In the face of this situation, all he could think to do was stand and only help if called upon, after all, what could they do that wasn\'t already being done?

Ginji\'s body immediately began to shake again, uncontrollably and violently - it had been too much exertion after such a trauma.

“B-ban you ca-can\'t call th-that a fi-fight.. H-he\'s re-ready to-to die... H-he wouldn\'t e-even pro-protect himself against you .. H-he prob-probably w-wants to d-die... do you... really want.. hi-him to ... w-win?” He muttered, his words coming few and far between as he suddenly toppled backwards, bracing himself as much as he could for the impact he was sure awaited him.

Juubei frowned as he listened to the happenings and splayed his fingers over Kazuki\'s stomach in a tender way. He could feel the pain in the room - not just from Ginji, but from Akabane and even Ban as well. He wanted Kazuki to know he would never let him feel such pain and hopelessness.

Akabane had no real time to react, only to act. He heard the hitches in Ginji\'s voice and watched him waver where he stood and now he faltered. Without thinking, he sprang to his feet, knees bent and caught Ginji under the arms.

He held him there for a few seconds in a very tender way, not touching him any more than he had to and yet, he wasn\'t being distant either. As he slowly realized what he had done, however, Akabane froze, looking down at Ginji. He Held the man only a few inches off the ground and after a brief pause, standing motionless, he jumped backward, dropping Ginji to the ground again softly. he flattened his body against the wall, breathing heavy and irregular.

Ban was too shocked to move, so he just stood. He feared what Akabane might do, now that Ginji was totally at his mercy again....so he remained frozen. he knew Akabane had enough sense not to look him in the eye, so any other attack would be useless. and then, Akabane backed off, dropping Ginji to the ground. Ban surged forward and knelt by his side, holding his torso in his lap.

“Ginji? You ok Ginji?”

Ginji couldn\'t react - it wasn\'t that he was scared or shocked or too tired, he just - didn\'t know what to do exactly. He blinked as Ban was suddenly at his side, and threw his arms over his partner\'s shoulders, leaning into him desperately.

“T-take me b-back home, B-ban..” He whispered, looking up at Ban from resting his head on the other man\'s shoulder brokenly. “I-I can\'t move…”

Ban thought only of Ginji now, revenge forgotten, he knew it could be put off, he\'d track Akabane down if he had to, but now, now they would go.

“Yeah Ginji, let\'s go.” He said, slipping his arms underneath his friend and standing. He turned without another glance at Akabane and exited the room.

Kazuki took Juubei\'s hand and headed for the door.

“I\'m not exactly sure what happened there, but i think it\'s over…” He said, knowing those words might come back to bite him in the rear.*

Ginji cast one final glance over his shoulder at Akabane, then looked up at Ban.. He\'d walked away from a fight to help Ginji.. Feeling no better however, Ginji let out a light noise then passed out in Ban\'s arms.

Juubei sighed and followed Kazuki, pausing to kick Paul in the ribs to wake him up, choosing to ignore the cafe owner\'s curse.

He turned his attention back to Kazuki and took the umbrella from him, preparing to open it and shield his companion from the rain.

\"You will tell me what you have figured out, when we return?\" He asked softly, knowing that even though they often thought the same way, Kazuki was much more perceptive than Juubei.

Akabane, for his part, remained frozen against the wall. Frozen with what he wasn\'t sure...fear...anger....misery.....or just mind-numbing confusion....he let his head drop, hair falling into his eyes, arms hanging limp at his sides. His clothes hung from him uncomfortably...he felt, drawn too thin, strained. His blades were finally calm, but the rest of him was not...what had just happened?

“Did i really....lose the game after all?” He asked, his voice sounding as lost and small as he felt.