The is the continued story of the Time is the Enemy Arc (TiThE Arc). Do you think I should combine it with the earier arc?? Thechinically this is the 4th independent post of the series with Time is the Enemy (6 chapters), A Chibi interlude or Help Chibi's Hijacked my story as a comic chapter, followed by an M rated story in "In The Jackal's den." The main arc will be kepy T rated. This has a Toshiki POv in it, but the central figues are Ban and Ginji, make no mistake - whoever Ban/Ginji may tale as lovers the cenrtal bond in the GetBackers is and in my book will always be Ban and Ginji. Its fun for me cause I got 2 seperate stories going - one with them as soul-brothers-nonsexual and another with them as soul-mates/lovers. Fiding it fun keeping in seperate.

Anyway Enjoy and please dont forget to review... LOVE reviewers they keep us writing.

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With the Brain Trust no long an acting interfering force the Limitless fortress was no longer as dangerous a place as it used to be. The Hell Night took stock of his surroundings as he patrolled the halls of the Fortress. Sure the bastards of the Beltline still attacked , but they were uncoordinated, ravaging dogs rather then packs of deadly wolves. MakubeX was no longer a major target for assassination. He had begun to work with that blond professor chick to ensure the continuance of the Limitless Fortress without interference of others. Truly independent virtual programs were beyond Toshiki, he would focus on what he knew.

His buzzer went off. MakubeX was calling him, as he raced off his senses stretched feeling nothing unwarranted in the Chi of the fortress, he actually began running faster. Nowadays incidents outside the fortress seemed to be much more dangerous.

"Toshiki, Jubei, Emishi I am glad you are here. It seems that Miss Hevn has a job that she's like some of you on in." MakubeX informed the small group as they gathered before the huge banks of computers.

"Hmmm our main task is to protect you, not play errand boys" Jubei said flatly.

"Come now, I have Teshimine and Sakura here for protection, they have no desire to leave. And things aren't so bad here that I need so many bodyguards." The computer genius said with a faint smile. "Beside you all know that, if you weren't out there, I'd never hear the end of your complaints if you missed out on something interesting."

"True, true" Emishi said in his irrelevant manner. "So what's the job, what's the job, be super-models, recover lost kittens? Find Jubei lost sense of humor." BASH!! the bloody joker was rammed into a wall.

"No horsing around the the computers children!!" Sakura admonished softly. "Anyway not all of you need to go. Its more for backup and broad shoulders than anything – according to Miss Hevn."

"Huh??"

"Well" MakubeX said with a smile, "It seems that the GetBackers have been hired to retrieve some idols that have been stolen from India. I think there are 18 idols and their weight collectively more then half a ton. So they literally need help to lift and move the idols once they find it. According to Miss Hevn, Shido and Kazuki are off on another assignment- so she asked me if I could get one or two of you to volunteer, else knowing Midou-san, Ginji-san will end up doing all the carrying – but this is not a job you have to do."

"I'm old... bad back you know." Emishi said with a laugh. Jubei had no wish to get involved if Kazuki was not on the team.

"I'll go." Toshiki said easily.

"Huh! Really, I thought Jubei might go to help the Lightning Emperor but I didn't really expect you to volunteer Toshiki, you have never seemed to like the two."

Toshiki not really sure how to respond to that just shrugged, "I'll go to the Honky Tonk then"

As the young man walked off, the 4 exchanged glances, then went about their own business.

--/

"Hevn, come on there is heavy lifting involved in this, you cant expect 30 of the take." Ban and Hevn had been at it for the last 15 minutes, this was one battle that Ban Midou had NEVER even come close to winning.

"Its my rightful fee as a professional negotiator, you can take it or leave it Ban-kun."

"And they call me a witch," Ban muttered under his breathe in disgust.

The bell tinkled and Toshiki walked in, "Ginji-san, Midou-sama, I have come to assist in your task, MakubeX has sent me."

"Palm-tree boy, you realize that this job is mainly heavy lifting from what Hevn says, however knowing her we will be heavy lifting while running for our-lives." Ban said his eyes narrowed on the young man that had just walked in the door.

"Toshiki, hey you are joining us for this mission – that's great." Ginji said greeting the ex-Fugu with enthusiasm.

"Well buys you need to remember to claim the full fee, you need to recover the 15 stone idols and the 3 golden ones. The gold idols are small so you will probably have to do a little more searching for them."

"Who else is joining us Hevn-san?" Ginji asked

"Mr. No-brakes will act as your transporter. Unfortunately the Jackal and lady Poison are on another mission, so Ban will have to sleep alone." Hevn said with a smirk at the Jagan user.

Ban, who was not inclined to let Hevn win twice in a row, pulled his glasses down his nose with his middle finger, and very slowly opened deep blue eyes, looking straight at the negotiator. Unfolding himself from his seat, his jacket casually over his left shoulder, with the sensuousness of the serpent, stalked straight up to the shocked coordinator. He deliberately licked his lips, and said softly, "Do I really seem like a man, who ever HAS to sleep alone, Hevn dear?."

As Hevn's caught he breathe with wide eyes, Ban gestured to his partners, and with a satisfied smirk strolled out. Ginji shooting Hevn an apologetic look, glad Masaki had not been around to witness that, he grabbed Toshiki's arm and dragged him after the Jagan User.

Hevn recovering her ability to breathe turned to Paul with a troubled look, "Paul since when has Ban-kun been this appealing? It is not my imagination is it, Ban-kun has he really, really changed, why has he changed like this Paul?"

The papers perpetually in Paul's hands lowered just a fraction, equally troubled eyes met Hevn's, "I wish I knew Hevn, I wish I knew." The papers raised again to signal the end of that conversation.

--/--

The GetBackers team traveled to the ore mines where the statues were being housed. Riding with no-breaks was a breeze. The trip was relatively uneventful, with Toshiki riding shot gun while Ban and Ginji chilled in the trailer area, enjoying the treat of uninterrupted sleep in secure hammocks.

"Ban-chan, why would someone steal statues" Ginji asked as they made their way down the winding mines. The guards at the mine opening posing no threat what-so-ever would wake up in a day or two with blinding headaches.

" Lots of reasons Ginji, some have historic, artistic or even just sentimental value. These statues are Hindu though, that means they have probably been 'invoked', Hindus use statues as a focus of spiritual energy."

"Ya I have heard that Hindus have a lot of strange animal gods, strange rituals." Toshiki observed

"Prejudiced much?" Ban said. "Hinduism is the oldest living religion on earth, sure they have myths and legends by the millions, but if the philosophy, the core of the religion, was not solid and deep – it would not have survived and thrived in spite of all threats. Their holy books the Vedas and Bhagavath Gita has some deep shit. Hindu's believe that all life is connected and having many god forms are fine, as the source of the connection, of the energy that powers everything is one God, who is literally everywhere. My family have always respected them, most Hindu's believe that whatever you believe in is fine as everything is God and what you do is more important than what you believe, so they have sheltered many witches in history."

"You sure know a lot Ban-chan" Ginji said admiringly. Ban shrugged.

The trio, hushed up and crept forward, as they saw the tunnel was opening up into a huge craven. 15 dark black statues each about 2 feet high were arranged in a circle in the middle of the room. Guards with sub-machine guns stood around the statues, looking bored. There was no sign of the golden statues.

Sensing no great threat, the 3 strolled into the room, even with machine guns and flame throwers going off, the fight was predictable. Chi blows, electricity and snake-bites took care of the guards in less then 20 seconds.

Ban and Toshiki were checking the unconscious bodies for the leader to question, while Ginji went to check out the idols. "Hey Ban – check his out – these idols all look pretty cool, there is something about them..."

"GINJI, don't touch that." Ban leapt towards his partner, his instincts were screaming.

Too late - the area in the circle disappeared, smoke churned out. Toshiki without a seconds hesitation jumped towards the GetBackers, as coiling smoke wrapped around them and dragged all three into an abyss.

Toshiki awoke in darkness, the sound of a lighter and a flare, showed blue eyes with a resigned look "This is why I hate Hevn, its never simple" Ban said taking a long drag of his cigarette.

"Ban-chan what happened", Toshiki felt relief as he heard the slightly confused voice of the ex-Emperor. "What happened, is I fucked up royally Ginji" Ban said with disgust.

"B..But Ban-chan I touched the statue." Ginji never liked his partner blaming himself, he much preferred his irritation, as Ban already took on too much in Ginji's eyes.

"Ya, but I'm the dumb-ass with magic, and that set-up screamed occult, I should have scanned the area first. Dammit, the fucking Limitless Fortress was simpler than this shit. Any idea where we are?"

"Underground. (Toshiki earned a glare for that useless bit of information) However I sense the Chi-of many lifeforms. Further up that way." He gestured to a corridor to the far left. "Hmm.. someone comes."

Three women dusky skinned, draped in iridescent cloth of numerous colors, glided into the room. The upper parts of their faces were hidden behind gauzy veils. (Hey Ban-Chan they look like Kazu-Chan when we went to that tower-arts place, pretty... WHAM Owie; "Focus you eel!!")

The woman in the middle, bowed, palms folded before the three. "Welcome, warriorsss. The massster has anticccipated your arrival." The woman's accent seemed to stress the 's' sounds.

"And we should care, why? All we are interested in lady, is getting those Golden Statues you stole so that we can collect our fee." Ban said belligerently.

"Ah but Your Highness Ban Midou, you are the reason our Lord ordered the golden Statues taken in the first place." The ladies eerie smile was strangely sad.

"What do you mean by that, why do you want Ban-chan." Ginji asked suddenly shoving between Ban and the woman. Sparks surrounded the young man, as he felt a rare flash of anger at all the shit that people had been putting his Ban-Chan through these last few months.

"You have anger at usss, Lord of Lightning?" The woman asked softly, "You waste your anger, your Ban is His Highness - heir to true magic in this world, therefore pain, sorrow, trails and sacrifice is the price that he must pay to balance the power."

"What!! How can.."

"Enough Ginji," Ban cut him off, his hand on his shoulder, Ginji turned to to see the knowing look in his partners eyes. Ginji's own eyes filled with tears, he threw his arms around his partner's neck in a fierce hug. Whispering, "Its not fair Ban-chan, its not."

Ban allowed himself to lean into the strength and warmth of his emotional soul-brother, his hands ruffled soft gold hair, "Its okay Gin, we both know life is not fair, but who else would you trust to do this? Who would you trust to get back people's ability to choose their futures, Gin?"

Ginji smiled, beamed at his partner, "You, Ban-chan I'd trust you."

WHAM!!, Ban conked his partner one, "Bbbuuut Bannn-Chan why did you hit meeee...!!"

"You stupid-eel, what the fuck can I do alone? You trust the GetBackers, to get things back. The great duo Ban Midou and Ginji Amano. We do this together, we are never alone remember."

Ginji's eyes began to shine. For a moment, Blue and Brown eyes met and held, understanding, accordance and love passed between the two. The cave itself seemed to brighten reflecting the strength of of emotions between the two. They were the GetBackers, and those who watched could see and believe that together they formed an unbreakable bond that was indeed invincible.

Then the moment was over.

Ban turned to the ladies, "Well what does your Lord want with the Witch King."

The woman shook her head as if to clear it of confusion. "My Lord wishes to defeat you in battle and devour your magic, of course."

"Oh of course, how stupid of me to ask... Are you totally insane lady, why in hell would I want to waste my time fighting with your stupid two-bit Lord. There are easier ways for him to commit suicide."

"I have overestimated your abilities, if you do not know us. We are not Human, my Lord is very powerful."

"Ban-chan are they ghosts!!" Chibi-Ginji demanded in a scared voice, from his safe perch on Ban's head. (Get off!!)

"Bah!" Ban said with a sarcastic smile, "Not ghosts Gin, Lady you don't seem to get it, human, ghost or SNAKE it doesn't matter, your Lord will lose."

The lady smiled, "Then we have a request to make, Your Highness. Blood not ability or compassion determines who rules our kingdom. Lord Adhisha is a despot, he has no regard for his people and will not look beyond his own comforts. But he is the oldest and by his blood he is the leader. His sister is next in line, he keeps her in a manner no being of honor would treat another, so she has no chance to threaten his rule. As long as he lives he is King, and by blood he must be obeyed. Therefore we make a request of you, if you indeed win the battle, you must kill Our Lord. Give us back our lives of honor, of meaning."

There was an appalled silence. Ginji was the most stunned, Toshiki wished that the Jackal was with them, he would have happily obliged in Ban's place, and Ban simply took a drag of his cigarette. "We need to put our puzzle together Ginji, lets go." Looking apprehensively at the women, Ginji swore he saw a hood of a cobra form on the upper faces of the women... Chibi-Ginji latched himself to Ban's shoulders deciding that it was the safest place... and the best place to keep his partner grounded.

The royal chamber was a huge room dominated by a throne, a man with a snake crown sat on the gold throne. That however was not what drew the GetBackers eyes. Mounted on a wall to the left of the throne was a woman, she was held in place by chains that criss-crossed her body. Her left arm extended was placed over a pitcher that collected her blood that dripped slowly from a strange scar on her wrist. The lord poured some of the liquid in the pitcher into a wine glass... and sampled it.

"Yumm two years and my sister's blood is still as sweet." He said mockingly at the GetBackers, "Blood rules and with my sister's blood inside me I am 10 times more powerful. With the blood of the Witch King I will be invincible."

A hail of arrows suddenly shot from the shadows towards the three. Wrists crossed, Ginji magnetized the tips of the arrows, and they fell harmless to the ground. "Care to try that again, you Bastard. Let that woman Go!!" Lightning balls attacked the despot. Only to hit their 3 female escorts throw themselves between Ginji and his target. "Whhaa WHYY?" Ginji demanded.

"In battle blood calls and we must protect our Lord. Only if single combat is declared can we allow our Lord to fight." The lady explained in a pained voice.

"Fine" Ginji said, "I will fight him.."

"Hahahaha!!" Lord Adhisha said with a smirk, "Who says I need to accept a challenge from pheasants, its going to be a lot more fun for me to sit back and have my 'loyal' subject kill you. You no longer have any status to challenge me boy"

"Fine, then you will fight me." Ban said stepping forward. His temper aroused from seeing the abuse the despot had heaped on his own sister.

"Ahhh welcome. I was hoping you would be stupid enough to challenge me." The despot walked down, as he threw aside his cloak, his body seemed to molt, his grin stretched grotesquely, and before them stood not a man – but a being Half man-half serpent. A Naga, " I am king of the Nagas, the King Cobra if you may, and the unique thing about the King Cobra is we feed on other snakes. So come snake-man let me feed on you." The Naga King's body now swayed a snake attacking a snake, the King Cobra, the devourer of other deadly snakes -in nature indeed had the upper-hand.

The two combatant circled each other, both seemed to glide around the room, sensuous, graceful. Then the Naga King struck – to hit air.

"Ahh..." Ban Midou smirked "You see, your problem is that I'm not just a snake. And quite frankly a pathetic thing like you is not even worth fighting. You have the marking of a poser rather then a true king."

Toshiki watched the fight. The despot's strikes hit only air, Ban would make lighting hits and then dodge the poisonous strikes of the king with ease. It was not a fight between snakes, rather it was a fight between a snake and a mongoose. The conclusion was therefore inevitable. Ban's kick caught the King in the diaphragm breaking ribs and damaging internal organs, the despot collapsed. Badly damaged but not dead.

Ban walked away disdainfully, and freed the woman on the wall. She collapsed into his arms, weak from years of captivity. Her eyes however conveyed an unbroken spirit, they were fierce and they made demands on the Witch King. "Please I beg you, free my people, kill him."

Ban spun around prepared to deliver a killing blow, as Adhisha launched a final attack, fangs barred at the Jagan user's back. Ban's blow never landed,electricity hit the king, but that was not what killed him. Insinuating himself between the Jagan user and the despot, facing him, the Muramuse Wave Breaker strike tore through the body of the despot, smashing his heart, killing him instantly.

But a snake can kill even after its dead. As the depot fell forward his fangs brushed Toshiki's collar bone, slitting skin and deadly poison entered his blood stream. Ginji caught the collapsing Toshiki.

"Witch King," the lady (queen?) they had rescued ordered, "quickly, there is only one antidote for the Naga King's poison, my blood is too weak at the moment."

"This is familiar," Ban said sarcastically trying to hide his secret relief – he needn't have bothered no one was fooled. "The Witch Kings blood is needed." Ban took a small dagger from the ladies that had come to help the queen and made a quick cut on his lips. He raised a eyebrow at the Naga queen.

"Actually Asclepius the healer's blood is needed, on the bite mark." The Queen said with a wan smile. Her eyes never left the Jagan user.

Ban pressed his bleeding lips to the cut on Toshiki's collar bone. He sensed the residue of his blood still in Toshiki - had rallied to stop the poison from immediately killing Toshiki, now as additional blood flowed into the hell knight, the poison was neutralized.

Toshiki floated in darkness. This was familiar to him. He was dying again – but at least this time he had been on the correct side. He was happy. Then a familiar scent assailed him, magic surrounded him – so powerful, so controlled, so familiar. Toshiki as he had then yielded to the call of the power. The loves of his life Kazuki and Jubei had been helpless to call him back, but this – this was not love, this was power- pure dominating power. Power that commanded, that took fate in its palms and twisted it, till what was written became meaningless before unyielding will.

This power had demanded Toshiki Uuryu return to the living, and while unable to respond the the calls of love, the Hell Knight – he finally acknowledged he was born to serve- had obeyed the call of his Lord, the Witch King. Then as Ban had rejected his role as Witch King, the bond had not hardened it had gone dormant, now as Toskihi opened his navy eyes – he saw not the urchin headed Getbacker, instead for a second he saw the Witch King, glowing with power before him. Navy eyes met resigned sapphire blue ones, "Ban Midou-heika. This time you have sealed the bond."

Ban stood looking at the sandy haired warrior "What about MakubeX and the sewing pair?"

"MakubeX has made it clear that without the Brain Trust to hound him, the Limitless Fortress does not require as many guardians. Kazuki and Jubei are my Loves, we are Fugu and nothing on this earth can change that. You however are my Lord, My King , My "Heika", and I request that you accept me as your warrior and your knight in the coming battle." Toshiki knelt before the Jagan user.

Even as the selfish part of Ban wanted to reject the offer again, wanted his freedom, the growing part of him that was the Witch King, had been waiting for this moment since he had been first awakened to his power. And this is the part that responded, he placed his right hand on Toshiki's head. "Raise Toshiki Uuryu, Knight of the Witch King. As the liberator of the Nagas, you are now the Serpent's Knight. Your pledge is accepted, stand and kneel no longer."

"Ban Midou-Heika" Toshiki said softly.

"Err drop the Heika" Ban said "This is going to be weird enough as it is."

"Very well. Midou-domo." Toshiki said rather smugly, that had been what he had intended to call Ban in the first place, but he had watched his savior long enough to recognize that Ban required some concessions. To claim titles that were truly his.

"What ever" Ban said with a sigh. "so what happens now your queenship? And why the hell have you been so quiet?" Ban asked his partner.

Ginji's smile was beaming, he slung an arm across his partner's shoulders, but was in no mood to explain. "Now Ban-chan we have to focus on the mission -remember." BASH!! ("Qwwwie I thought u had lost that mallet! Ban: As if you have any right to say that to me")

The Lady they had rescued spoke. "I am Lady Paamba, now that my brother is dead, the one who slayed him may request to be crowned king or I may take the throne." The GetBackers both cast an amused look at Toshiki who was looking rather panicked at the thought of being made king. Taking pity on his new knight, Ban picked up the crown, but being Ban walked diagonally towards both the contenders for the crown. When Toshiki's eyes bulged in panic and he started swaying away, Ban ended the torture and made a smart turn to stand before Lady Paamba. He place the crown on her head saying "The Witch King recognizes you as the sole heir and contender to the throne, all others will be considered usurpers and the allies of the Witch King (not many at the moment) will stand to help ward against pretenders. Queen Paamba reign with honor."

Cheers of joy echoed though the hall, and now Ginji saw why the women had been veiled, they all had slit eyes of the snake and scales arrowed down their foreheads. Queen Paamba, grasped Ban hand, "Your Majesty. Thank you for your kindness, know that the army of the Nagas will now be strengthened." She removed a cobra shaped earing and handed it to Ban. "The Nagas are now your allies, and in the great battle to come, summon us and the army of the Nagas we will fight under the banner of the Witch King."

Some hours later, No-breaks was treated to the sight of a group of men carrying statues to the truck. Toshiki and Ginji along with 13 other men huffed and puffed as the lugged solid stone statues, Ban (as MakubeX had predicted) cradling the small gold statues, casually strolled beside the group – giving unhelpful suggestions, and earning killing glances. The 13 men silently placed the statues in the truck and bowed to Ban before disappearing in the night. Somehow No-breaks felt relief to see them go.. there was something unearthly about them.

It was a surprise to everyone when the delivery went without a hitch and they actually got paid. Ban and Ginji went off to splurge on Sushi and steak, while Toshiki went off to see MakubeX and to plan of how to best arrange situations to start his new job as the Witch King's protector.