Fanfic: The Devil You Know (Get Backers)
Title: The Devil You Know
Author: Amethyst Hunter
Rating: PG (language)
Word count: 2400
Warnings/Spoilers: None
Notes: Based on a springkink prompt - “desperation”/“getting next to nowhere with your back against the wall”
Disclaimer: I can not has any GB.
Summary: When a job goes bad, Ginji goes from the frying pan into the fire when he enlists the help of his not-so-favorite nemesis!
--
He laughed at lightning.
He sneered at snake bites.
He rammed through retrievers as though they were made of paper.
Nothing, and no one, fazed an Undead man. Particularly when that man was Hishiki Ryuudo, former wrestler-turned-protector. The mountain of a menace held deep and abiding grudges against those who crossed him, and wouldn’t you know, Ban Midou and Ginji Amano had made star status on his hit list.
It was a dishonor that neither of them wanted. No matter how many times they struck the behemoth down, he simply rose again to pile-drive their dreams of riches into the grave. Ban was fresh out of ideas and out all three uses of his illusionary gift as well.
Ginji wasn’t faring much better. He was low on current and feeling every inch of it. They were very much the proverbial trapped rats, having been cornered in the fenced-in-yard by the protector when they’d tried to escape the building with their mission objective. It was Ban’s policy never to back down from a fight if challenged on open ground, and Hishiki still had the item, so they had no choice but to bulldoze their way to domination if they wanted to see payday.
“Ban-chan?”
“I’m thinking, I’m thinking!” Ban snapped. But he, too, was feeling the strain of being backed into a corner with nowhere to run except into walls - and that included the massive one fast stomping their way.
Ginji racked his brain for a solution. Something, anything - he’d beg the devil himself if that were possible -
“Oh God, like we need this to get worse!” he heard Ban suddenly groan.
Ginji looked to where Ban was directing several choice obscenities. His heart froze in mid-beat before he realized that Akabane wasn’t paying any attention to them; the transporter’s focus was entirely on the deli shop across the street that he was about to enter.
Akabane. The answer to their prayers - no, no, not in a million years! No way!
Hishiki’s voice rumbled over their ears like a full-tilt rockslide. “When I catch you, I’m going to flatten you two punks like the worms you are,” he grinned, cracking his boulder-sized fists. “Any last words?”
“Yeah, how about ‘not tonight honey, we’ve got headaches?’” Ban drawled sarcastically as he automatically took up a battle stance in the face of an imminent pounding.
Ginji swallowed the fat lump of nausea and terror in his throat. Sometimes, you had to do what you had to do. Better the devil they knew instead of the one they didn’t...
“Ginji! Where the hell - “ Ban didn’t have time to finish, as Hishiki charged. Ginji made it to the chain-link fence in record time and scrambled over it, ignoring the gashes its points etched in his bare legs, and hurried to catch Akabane before he disappeared inside the deli.
“Akabane-san!”
The tall man in head-to-toe black stopped midway through the door, then stepped back outside. A look of mild curiosity graced his elegant features. “Ginji-kun! What a lovely surprise this is, meeting you here!”
“Akabane-san,” Ginji gulped, halting in mid-skid before he collided with and impaled himself on the walking pincushion, “we - Ban-chan and me - “
“Ah, yes, dear Midou-kun. What is he up to, might I ask?”
“ - well, Ban-chan’s busy fighting this Undead guy and we really need help - “ Ginji paused to suck in a lungful of air - “’cause we’re on a mission right now and we can’t get the object back because there’s too much fighting going on - “
Akabane smiled, tolerant as ever of Ginji’s tendency to ramble under stress. “One can never have too much activity during a job,” he chuckled lightly. “But then, that’s just my opinion. I do so enjoy a stimulating pursuit. But I digress,” he purred, waving a hand. “You seem troubled in spite of your success record. I take it that your opponent is particularly persistent?”
“Yeah.” Ginji almost backed down, almost turned and ran for the safety of Ban - before he remembered that Ban needed safe haven of his own. He glanced across the road to where the dust clouds were settling. Hishiki had just shown Ban, himself no slouch in the strength department, why he’d been dumped from the wrestling world.
Ginji hung his head. Feasting on roast beef was not nearly as much fun by oneself as it was with one’s partner. And Ban couldn’t enjoy roast beef if he was dead.
“A-Akabane-s-s-san?”
“Yes?”
Ginji took a deep breath. “WouldyoupleasehelpusgetridofUndeadHishikisowecangetbacktheitemandgetpaidandeatroastbeef?”
Akabane blinked as he processed the panicky request. A feline smile settled on his lips. “I would be delighted to lend you my assistance,” he said. “However, surely you understand that nothing comes for free in this world. If you would like to employ my services, you must offer me something of ample compensation.”
Ginji fumbled for a second. “I’ll give you my share of the money?” he offered quickly.
Akabane laughed softly, a wicked little chill that sent ice crystallizing down Ginji’s spine. “Oh, Ginji-kun,” the dark one cooed. “You know that money doesn’t interest me. It’s the value from the effort that can’t be measured; this is what I desire above all.”
“I am not letting you kill me!”
Purple eyes twinkled deviously. “If you’re as good as everyone says you are, you won’t have to worry about dying, now, will you?”
Ginji bit back a screech of frustration. A fight - especially a fight with Akabane - was the last thing he wanted. But it didn’t appear that the man would settle for anything else. Lucky him. It must be nice to have such simple dreams, Ginji thought sourly.
Dreams...Ban’s specialty...
He’d never do it, Ginji thought, dismissing the idea with a shake of his head. As boastful as he was of his enviable abilities, Ban was loath to waste the Evil Eye on what he termed ‘bullshit fairytales.’ Pleasing Akabane surely had to fall into that category, by anyone’s reckoning.
Akabane adjusted his hat. “Well. A pity that you couldn’t meet my fee, Ginji-kun. I do wish you luck on your mission though. And now, if there is nothing further to discuss, I shall be on my way...”
“Wait - Akabane-san!”
“Yes?”
Ban would kill him first, if he ever found out - “If you help us, I’ll - I’ll - I’ll - “
Akabane’s eyes were all sly interest. “Yes?”
“I’ll get Ban-chan to give you a fight!” Ginji stammered.
The transporter’s slender brow arched like a cat’s back, but other than that, he made no immediate comment. The prospect seemed to appeal, however... “The Jagan doesn’t count,” Akabane stated flatly. “I want to be able to enjoy myself for longer than a mere minute.”
“Of - Of course!” Ginji blurted. “Ban-chan would never welsh on a bet!” Not strictly true, but then Akabane didn’t need to know that. By the time the Jackal figured out that he’d been had anyway, Ban and Ginji would be long gone out of scalpel range.
Akabane seemed mollified by this. His smile returned. “I am amenable to a substitute,” he said. “And this is agreeable to Midou-kun, also?”
Ginji forced a too-bright smile. “You know how he is!”
“Very well. Since you did ask so nicely...” Akabane chuckled and patted Ginji’s shoulder. “Wait, then, Ginji-kun. I’m sure this won’t take but a moment to resolve.”
Ginji watched with morbid fascination as Akabane sliced through the chain-link fence and walked right up to Hishiki - who was having a fine old time introducing Ban to the pavement, repeatedly - and tapped him on the arm.
“Pardon me. My associates would like for you to take a rain check on your duel with them. I would be more than happy to stand in for their absence.”
Hishiki paused, letting go of Ban, who - no dummy he - scrambled out of harm’s way and straight to Ginji. The incredible hulk squinted through beady eyes as he looked his challenger up and down, and then, spat a succinct, if anatomically incorrect, answer as to what Akabane could do with his offer.
“Well! You certainly won’t win any points for manners.” White teeth gleamed in a sinister smile. “Kindly allow me to teach you some!”
While Akabane gave Hishiki a thorough if overly strict instruction on the proper way to address knife-wielding homicidal maniacs, Ban and Ginji raced to recapture their item. “Way to use the ol’ noodle, Gin!” Ban panted as they hauled the box out of hiding and rushed it to the car. “How’d you come up with that one?”
“Ah, you know, I figured it takes one bloodthirsty zombie to know another!” Ginji said. He very conveniently left out the part about promising Akabane a fight with Ban. That could always come later, and besides, Ban was easier to approach on a full stomach...
Ginji promised himself that he would confess all once the item was returned and the pay dispensed, but as Ban drove he began spinning tales of roast beef, spicy chicken and sushi rolls, as well as ham sandwiches and grilled tuna and sweet pudding, and soon thoughts of the devilish deal that he’d made were all but forgotten to Ginji in the wake of their planned celebration.
--
About a month later the Get Backers were cloistered in a booth at the Honky Tonk, inking fresh posters for immediate display. There had been no jobs since the chaos with Undead Hishiki, and Paul had indicated to them in no uncertain terms that it was either pay up on the tab, or starve.
Naturally this did nothing to improve Ban’s and Ginji’s desolate moods. The former was loudly carping to anyone within hearing radius about the stinginess of mean old shopkeepers who took obscene pleasure in torturing nutrition-deprived youth with the smells of delicious coffee and biscuits, and the latter was threatening to electrocute his whining stomach into silence if it didn’t quit with the yowls of empty protest.
And in keeping with the score to date, the doorbell sounded its death knell...
“Joy upon joys. Who kicked over the rock?” Ban snarled under his breath as they saw Akabane enter.
Ginji’s eyes flew wide open. Shit! He’d forgotten about that. Please, please, please, PLEASE don’t let him come over here - !
“Ah! Ginji-kun, Midou-kun.” Akabane approached with an expectant smile. “How wonderful to see you both here today.” He held out a hand, as if offering it for Ban to take. “Shall we, Midou-kun?”
“’Shall we’ what?” Ban glowered at him.
“Why, I’m here to collect on the promise that Ginji-kun made to me several weeks earlier.” Akabane lifted a delicate brow. “Surely he told you?”
Ban’s eyes had narrowed to razor slits. He fixed his lethal gaze on his now-trembling partner, who was trying (and failing) to squish himself into a puddle indistinguishable from the rest of the decor. “No. He didn’t.”
“Mmm.” Akabane appeared all the more amused by this deliberate omission. “He promised me that you would engage me in battle if I helped remove the obstacle that was blocking the completion of your most recent job.”
“He did,” Ban said, still staring at Ginji, his blue eyes turning a distinctly thunderous shade.
Akabane’s gaze narrowed slightly, pointing purple daggers at Ban in not-so-subtle challenge. “I can appreciate that this seems to be coming as a bit of a shock to you, Midou-kun. But I do hope you don’t intend to renege on a gentleman’s agreement, however impromptu it may have been...”
“I wouldn’t dream of it,” Ban said, his voice surprisingly level for one who had just discovered the extent of Ginji’s trickery. “In fact, since I always pay off all my debts in a timely fashion, I’d be more than happy to give you your bucket of blood for the day.”
“I am delighted to hear that,” Akabane replied, a shade too cheerfully.
“One catch. I’ve got an appointment I’ve gotta keep elsewhere, and wouldn’t you know, it’s right about now,” Ban said. “But since we had a deal, and since my honorable partner - “ he clamped a rough hand on Ginji’s shoulder before he could scatter like pollen on the breeze - “doesn’t have anything on his schedule, why don’t we trade off? You’ll still have plenty of fun, I assure you.” He leveled a shark-toothed grin at Ginji. “Right, Ginji? Right?”
Ginji wished he would melt into the floor. Or be sucked up by a typhoon, or fade into an instant blip of invisibility, or anything.
Akabane tilted his head as he put a finger to his lips, thinking the proposition over. “I suppose that would be acceptable,” he finally said, smiling. “I trust this is agreeable with you, Ginji-kun?”
“He doesn’t mind at all! Do you, Ginji?” Ban spoke for him. “He was just saying to me the other day that he could use a little more opportunity for exercise, so you couldn’t have come at a better time.” He got up from his seat, pulling Ginji with him, and shoved him at Akabane. “Knock yourselves out! And don’t worry about coming home early on my account, either,” he told them with evil joviality. “I won’t wait up.”
“Ban-chaaaaan,” Ginji whimpered, knowing that it was useless to plead innocence. But still, how could Ban be so MEAN?! It wasn’t fair! Ginji had only been trying to help. It wasn’t his fault if some people had a one-track mind.
“Heck, take the whole weekend if you want. Bloody Rain-dance yourselves to exhaustion for all I care,” Ban said to Akabane. “A gentleman always settles his outstanding affairs. Right, Ginji? Right.”
“That’s very generous of you, I must say.” Akabane grasped Ginji’s wrist gently but firmly and began towing him away. “If there is anything left when we’re through, I will certainly see to it that Ginji-kun’s remains receive the proper burial treatment, free of charge, as my thanks for your understanding.”
“Bu - burial treatment?!” Ginji squeaked out.
“Embalming,” Ban said with relish. “They dip you in pickling juice and sew up your external body cavities. You won’t be stuffing that fat mouth of yours with anything where you’re headed, eel-boy,” he cackled.
Akabane patted Ginji’s arm as they walked out the door of the Honky Tonk. “I feel it only fair to warn you that I am not carrying metal scalpels today. They are all ceramic-based,” he proudly told Ginji.
Ginji wanted to cry. So much for good deeds going unpunished.
--
Author: Amethyst Hunter
Rating: PG (language)
Word count: 2400
Warnings/Spoilers: None
Notes: Based on a springkink prompt - “desperation”/“getting next to nowhere with your back against the wall”
Disclaimer: I can not has any GB.
Summary: When a job goes bad, Ginji goes from the frying pan into the fire when he enlists the help of his not-so-favorite nemesis!
--
He laughed at lightning.
He sneered at snake bites.
He rammed through retrievers as though they were made of paper.
Nothing, and no one, fazed an Undead man. Particularly when that man was Hishiki Ryuudo, former wrestler-turned-protector. The mountain of a menace held deep and abiding grudges against those who crossed him, and wouldn’t you know, Ban Midou and Ginji Amano had made star status on his hit list.
It was a dishonor that neither of them wanted. No matter how many times they struck the behemoth down, he simply rose again to pile-drive their dreams of riches into the grave. Ban was fresh out of ideas and out all three uses of his illusionary gift as well.
Ginji wasn’t faring much better. He was low on current and feeling every inch of it. They were very much the proverbial trapped rats, having been cornered in the fenced-in-yard by the protector when they’d tried to escape the building with their mission objective. It was Ban’s policy never to back down from a fight if challenged on open ground, and Hishiki still had the item, so they had no choice but to bulldoze their way to domination if they wanted to see payday.
“Ban-chan?”
“I’m thinking, I’m thinking!” Ban snapped. But he, too, was feeling the strain of being backed into a corner with nowhere to run except into walls - and that included the massive one fast stomping their way.
Ginji racked his brain for a solution. Something, anything - he’d beg the devil himself if that were possible -
“Oh God, like we need this to get worse!” he heard Ban suddenly groan.
Ginji looked to where Ban was directing several choice obscenities. His heart froze in mid-beat before he realized that Akabane wasn’t paying any attention to them; the transporter’s focus was entirely on the deli shop across the street that he was about to enter.
Akabane. The answer to their prayers - no, no, not in a million years! No way!
Hishiki’s voice rumbled over their ears like a full-tilt rockslide. “When I catch you, I’m going to flatten you two punks like the worms you are,” he grinned, cracking his boulder-sized fists. “Any last words?”
“Yeah, how about ‘not tonight honey, we’ve got headaches?’” Ban drawled sarcastically as he automatically took up a battle stance in the face of an imminent pounding.
Ginji swallowed the fat lump of nausea and terror in his throat. Sometimes, you had to do what you had to do. Better the devil they knew instead of the one they didn’t...
“Ginji! Where the hell - “ Ban didn’t have time to finish, as Hishiki charged. Ginji made it to the chain-link fence in record time and scrambled over it, ignoring the gashes its points etched in his bare legs, and hurried to catch Akabane before he disappeared inside the deli.
“Akabane-san!”
The tall man in head-to-toe black stopped midway through the door, then stepped back outside. A look of mild curiosity graced his elegant features. “Ginji-kun! What a lovely surprise this is, meeting you here!”
“Akabane-san,” Ginji gulped, halting in mid-skid before he collided with and impaled himself on the walking pincushion, “we - Ban-chan and me - “
“Ah, yes, dear Midou-kun. What is he up to, might I ask?”
“ - well, Ban-chan’s busy fighting this Undead guy and we really need help - “ Ginji paused to suck in a lungful of air - “’cause we’re on a mission right now and we can’t get the object back because there’s too much fighting going on - “
Akabane smiled, tolerant as ever of Ginji’s tendency to ramble under stress. “One can never have too much activity during a job,” he chuckled lightly. “But then, that’s just my opinion. I do so enjoy a stimulating pursuit. But I digress,” he purred, waving a hand. “You seem troubled in spite of your success record. I take it that your opponent is particularly persistent?”
“Yeah.” Ginji almost backed down, almost turned and ran for the safety of Ban - before he remembered that Ban needed safe haven of his own. He glanced across the road to where the dust clouds were settling. Hishiki had just shown Ban, himself no slouch in the strength department, why he’d been dumped from the wrestling world.
Ginji hung his head. Feasting on roast beef was not nearly as much fun by oneself as it was with one’s partner. And Ban couldn’t enjoy roast beef if he was dead.
“A-Akabane-s-s-san?”
“Yes?”
Ginji took a deep breath. “WouldyoupleasehelpusgetridofUndeadHishikisowecangetbacktheitemandgetpaidandeatroastbeef?”
Akabane blinked as he processed the panicky request. A feline smile settled on his lips. “I would be delighted to lend you my assistance,” he said. “However, surely you understand that nothing comes for free in this world. If you would like to employ my services, you must offer me something of ample compensation.”
Ginji fumbled for a second. “I’ll give you my share of the money?” he offered quickly.
Akabane laughed softly, a wicked little chill that sent ice crystallizing down Ginji’s spine. “Oh, Ginji-kun,” the dark one cooed. “You know that money doesn’t interest me. It’s the value from the effort that can’t be measured; this is what I desire above all.”
“I am not letting you kill me!”
Purple eyes twinkled deviously. “If you’re as good as everyone says you are, you won’t have to worry about dying, now, will you?”
Ginji bit back a screech of frustration. A fight - especially a fight with Akabane - was the last thing he wanted. But it didn’t appear that the man would settle for anything else. Lucky him. It must be nice to have such simple dreams, Ginji thought sourly.
Dreams...Ban’s specialty...
He’d never do it, Ginji thought, dismissing the idea with a shake of his head. As boastful as he was of his enviable abilities, Ban was loath to waste the Evil Eye on what he termed ‘bullshit fairytales.’ Pleasing Akabane surely had to fall into that category, by anyone’s reckoning.
Akabane adjusted his hat. “Well. A pity that you couldn’t meet my fee, Ginji-kun. I do wish you luck on your mission though. And now, if there is nothing further to discuss, I shall be on my way...”
“Wait - Akabane-san!”
“Yes?”
Ban would kill him first, if he ever found out - “If you help us, I’ll - I’ll - I’ll - “
Akabane’s eyes were all sly interest. “Yes?”
“I’ll get Ban-chan to give you a fight!” Ginji stammered.
The transporter’s slender brow arched like a cat’s back, but other than that, he made no immediate comment. The prospect seemed to appeal, however... “The Jagan doesn’t count,” Akabane stated flatly. “I want to be able to enjoy myself for longer than a mere minute.”
“Of - Of course!” Ginji blurted. “Ban-chan would never welsh on a bet!” Not strictly true, but then Akabane didn’t need to know that. By the time the Jackal figured out that he’d been had anyway, Ban and Ginji would be long gone out of scalpel range.
Akabane seemed mollified by this. His smile returned. “I am amenable to a substitute,” he said. “And this is agreeable to Midou-kun, also?”
Ginji forced a too-bright smile. “You know how he is!”
“Very well. Since you did ask so nicely...” Akabane chuckled and patted Ginji’s shoulder. “Wait, then, Ginji-kun. I’m sure this won’t take but a moment to resolve.”
Ginji watched with morbid fascination as Akabane sliced through the chain-link fence and walked right up to Hishiki - who was having a fine old time introducing Ban to the pavement, repeatedly - and tapped him on the arm.
“Pardon me. My associates would like for you to take a rain check on your duel with them. I would be more than happy to stand in for their absence.”
Hishiki paused, letting go of Ban, who - no dummy he - scrambled out of harm’s way and straight to Ginji. The incredible hulk squinted through beady eyes as he looked his challenger up and down, and then, spat a succinct, if anatomically incorrect, answer as to what Akabane could do with his offer.
“Well! You certainly won’t win any points for manners.” White teeth gleamed in a sinister smile. “Kindly allow me to teach you some!”
While Akabane gave Hishiki a thorough if overly strict instruction on the proper way to address knife-wielding homicidal maniacs, Ban and Ginji raced to recapture their item. “Way to use the ol’ noodle, Gin!” Ban panted as they hauled the box out of hiding and rushed it to the car. “How’d you come up with that one?”
“Ah, you know, I figured it takes one bloodthirsty zombie to know another!” Ginji said. He very conveniently left out the part about promising Akabane a fight with Ban. That could always come later, and besides, Ban was easier to approach on a full stomach...
Ginji promised himself that he would confess all once the item was returned and the pay dispensed, but as Ban drove he began spinning tales of roast beef, spicy chicken and sushi rolls, as well as ham sandwiches and grilled tuna and sweet pudding, and soon thoughts of the devilish deal that he’d made were all but forgotten to Ginji in the wake of their planned celebration.
--
About a month later the Get Backers were cloistered in a booth at the Honky Tonk, inking fresh posters for immediate display. There had been no jobs since the chaos with Undead Hishiki, and Paul had indicated to them in no uncertain terms that it was either pay up on the tab, or starve.
Naturally this did nothing to improve Ban’s and Ginji’s desolate moods. The former was loudly carping to anyone within hearing radius about the stinginess of mean old shopkeepers who took obscene pleasure in torturing nutrition-deprived youth with the smells of delicious coffee and biscuits, and the latter was threatening to electrocute his whining stomach into silence if it didn’t quit with the yowls of empty protest.
And in keeping with the score to date, the doorbell sounded its death knell...
“Joy upon joys. Who kicked over the rock?” Ban snarled under his breath as they saw Akabane enter.
Ginji’s eyes flew wide open. Shit! He’d forgotten about that. Please, please, please, PLEASE don’t let him come over here - !
“Ah! Ginji-kun, Midou-kun.” Akabane approached with an expectant smile. “How wonderful to see you both here today.” He held out a hand, as if offering it for Ban to take. “Shall we, Midou-kun?”
“’Shall we’ what?” Ban glowered at him.
“Why, I’m here to collect on the promise that Ginji-kun made to me several weeks earlier.” Akabane lifted a delicate brow. “Surely he told you?”
Ban’s eyes had narrowed to razor slits. He fixed his lethal gaze on his now-trembling partner, who was trying (and failing) to squish himself into a puddle indistinguishable from the rest of the decor. “No. He didn’t.”
“Mmm.” Akabane appeared all the more amused by this deliberate omission. “He promised me that you would engage me in battle if I helped remove the obstacle that was blocking the completion of your most recent job.”
“He did,” Ban said, still staring at Ginji, his blue eyes turning a distinctly thunderous shade.
Akabane’s gaze narrowed slightly, pointing purple daggers at Ban in not-so-subtle challenge. “I can appreciate that this seems to be coming as a bit of a shock to you, Midou-kun. But I do hope you don’t intend to renege on a gentleman’s agreement, however impromptu it may have been...”
“I wouldn’t dream of it,” Ban said, his voice surprisingly level for one who had just discovered the extent of Ginji’s trickery. “In fact, since I always pay off all my debts in a timely fashion, I’d be more than happy to give you your bucket of blood for the day.”
“I am delighted to hear that,” Akabane replied, a shade too cheerfully.
“One catch. I’ve got an appointment I’ve gotta keep elsewhere, and wouldn’t you know, it’s right about now,” Ban said. “But since we had a deal, and since my honorable partner - “ he clamped a rough hand on Ginji’s shoulder before he could scatter like pollen on the breeze - “doesn’t have anything on his schedule, why don’t we trade off? You’ll still have plenty of fun, I assure you.” He leveled a shark-toothed grin at Ginji. “Right, Ginji? Right?”
Ginji wished he would melt into the floor. Or be sucked up by a typhoon, or fade into an instant blip of invisibility, or anything.
Akabane tilted his head as he put a finger to his lips, thinking the proposition over. “I suppose that would be acceptable,” he finally said, smiling. “I trust this is agreeable with you, Ginji-kun?”
“He doesn’t mind at all! Do you, Ginji?” Ban spoke for him. “He was just saying to me the other day that he could use a little more opportunity for exercise, so you couldn’t have come at a better time.” He got up from his seat, pulling Ginji with him, and shoved him at Akabane. “Knock yourselves out! And don’t worry about coming home early on my account, either,” he told them with evil joviality. “I won’t wait up.”
“Ban-chaaaaan,” Ginji whimpered, knowing that it was useless to plead innocence. But still, how could Ban be so MEAN?! It wasn’t fair! Ginji had only been trying to help. It wasn’t his fault if some people had a one-track mind.
“Heck, take the whole weekend if you want. Bloody Rain-dance yourselves to exhaustion for all I care,” Ban said to Akabane. “A gentleman always settles his outstanding affairs. Right, Ginji? Right.”
“That’s very generous of you, I must say.” Akabane grasped Ginji’s wrist gently but firmly and began towing him away. “If there is anything left when we’re through, I will certainly see to it that Ginji-kun’s remains receive the proper burial treatment, free of charge, as my thanks for your understanding.”
“Bu - burial treatment?!” Ginji squeaked out.
“Embalming,” Ban said with relish. “They dip you in pickling juice and sew up your external body cavities. You won’t be stuffing that fat mouth of yours with anything where you’re headed, eel-boy,” he cackled.
Akabane patted Ginji’s arm as they walked out the door of the Honky Tonk. “I feel it only fair to warn you that I am not carrying metal scalpels today. They are all ceramic-based,” he proudly told Ginji.
Ginji wanted to cry. So much for good deeds going unpunished.
--