“Ban-chan, do we have any water left?” Ginji had turned around and was rummaging around the back seat. Ban gave no reply. Just concentrated on the road before him, ignoring the sweat dripping down into his eyes.

 “Ban-chan?” Ginji asked again, turning to face his partner. Ban sighed dramatically.

 “I think you just drank the last of it.”

 “Oh,” was the only reply Ginji could think to make. He flapped his hand in front of his face, trying to cool down, but all it did was make him hotter. So he did the only other thing he could think of to cool down.

 “What are you doing?” Ban asked, watching Ginji curiously from the corner of his eye as he wriggled out of his t-shirt in the small space of the car.

 “It’s too hot. I don’t ever remember it being so hot. It feels hotter out here than in the city.”

 “It was your idea to leave Tokyo.”

 “ I thought it would be cooler.” Ban shrugged.

 “It usually is. Anyway, the beach aint far now.” Ginji nodded enthusiastically.

 “We can get water…no, no, we can get ICE-CREAM! We have enough money for that don’t we?”

 “ I suppose.” It was at this point that the car started to make sputtering noises. Ban frowned and in his mind began willing the car to stop sputtering, to carry on moving towards the beautiful yellow sands and blue, cool, refreshing seas that awaited them, and certainly not to….

 “Ban-chan. The engine stopped,” Ginji stated. Ban grimaced.

 “I noticed, idiot!” He shouted amgrily, and started mumbling colourful expletives about his car. Ban steered the car over to the side of the road before it ran out of momentum. Getting out and looking around his heart sank as he saw absolutely nothing but withering fields before him. Ginji had also got out of the car and was now scanning the shimmering horizon. Ban walked miserably to the hood of the car. 

 “What d’you think’s wrong, Ban-chan?” Ginji asked, joining Ban in front of the vehicle. Ban reached down to open the hood.

 “Probably just overheated…owww! Shit!” Ban recoiled his hand from the burning hot metal.

 “You alright, Ban-chan?”

 “Yeah. Metal’s just really hot.” He sighed heavily. Ban just didn’t have the energy to be angry anymore. The sun was at its highest and he could feel the skin on his arms frying. Sweat was now pouring down his back. At least in the car, when they’d been moving, there’d been a breeze. But now, out in the wilderness, exposed to the midday sun, there was not even the slightest bit of wind. Sighing again, Ban followed Ginji’s lead and took off his shirt. He wrapped his hand in its fabric and opened the car hood with it. He didn’t even need to touch the engine to know that the metal was burning; he could feel the heat eminating off it from where he stood. He stood back and stared at the engine intetntly.

 “Um…Ban-chan…” Ginji began.

 “Hmmm,” Ban replied, continuing to stare meanacingly at the engine.

 “What are we going to do? Can you fix it?” Ginji asked, starting to feel a little concerned. They were in the middle if nowhere with no one nearby to help them and no water left.

 “There’s nothing to fix. The engine just needs to cool down.” Ginji brightened slightly.

 “Oh, good.” But Ban shook his head.

 “ In this heat it’s gonna take ages to cool down.” Ginji sagged noticeably and let out a small cry of despair.

 “What should we do?” Ginji asked bleakly.

 “We should get out of this sun,” Ban replied shortly, closing the hood and walking back round to the drivers side door.

 “I don’t wanna get back in the car. It’s too hot in there.” Ban stood for a moment thinking, looking around carefully, until he finally spoke;

 “There are some trees over there that. We could sit there for a while.” Ginji looked around.

 “They look a bit dead,” he said skeptically, “won’t give us much cover.”

 “Well what do you suggest then, Ginji,” Ban snapped. Ginji turned to Ban and giggled guiltily;

 “Sorry. Let’s go.” Ban nodded, locked the door and walked with Ginji to the line of brown, withering trees. Deciding on the one with most leaves remaining, the two men sat down on the soft, warm ground feeling hot and exhausted. Several minutes passed in silence and Ban felt himself dozing off when Ginji’s cheerful, is somewhat dampened, voice cut through the silence.

 “Ban-chan?” Ban could feel Ginji looking at him intently, so he opened his eyes to see what was up.

 “What is it?” he asked sharply, a little annoyed at being woken up.

 “Sorry. It’s just really quiet. I don’t remember it ever being this quiet.” Ginji was fiddling anxiously with a leaf on the ground. Ban sighed again and sat up fully to keep himself awake. “Aren’t you hot in trousers? It’s really hot. Why don’t you take them off? You should have worn shorts. And you’ve still got your top on…” Ginji was babbling nervously.

 “Anyone would think you were trying to get me to take my clothes off,” Ban smirked. Ginji looked up at him startled and waved his hands in denial;

 “No, no, that’s not what I meant! It’s just so hot and you’d be cooler without your clothes on…” Ban was smiling mischievously from ear to ear at that;

 “You would be too.” Ginji smiled broadly and stood up suddenly.

 “You’re right!” he announced began removing his shoes and socks. Ban just gazed up at him in surprise. Not that he was complaining…

 “Come on, Ban-chan. It really does feel better without clothes on.” Ginji had by now removed his shorts and was standing wearing just his boxers, stretching his arms gleefully. Noticing that Ban hadn’t moved a muscle, Ginji looked down at his partner. Feeling like he’s got caught staring Ban looked away abruptly.

 “I’m fine,” he said flatly. Ginji frowned. Then an idea crossed his mind. Which he acted upon immeditly.

 “Oi, Ginji! What are you trying to do?!” Ban, uncharacteristically, squeeled as Ginji attempted to forcibly remove his top. Ginji just smiled brightly at him and continued tugging at Ban’s top until Ban stopped struggling and let his blond friend remove it.

 “Ah, it’s too hot for that, Ginji.” Ban said as he lay back on the ground. Ginji just grinned;

 “Does that mean you’ll let me take your trousers off too? Without a fight?” he asked. Ban bolted upright immediately;

 “What?! NO! Just ‘cause you wanna be a naturist, doesn’t mean I do!” he cried.

 “But it’s so hot,” Ginji reasoned innocently. Ban looked at Ginji for a long moment. It was true he was very hot and his trousers were very uncomfortable…

 “Fine. But I’m taking them off!” Ban stood up moodily, took off his shoes and socks then roughly shook off his trousers. “Satisfied?” Ginji nodded and laughed as Ban lay back down on the crispy grass. He flopped down beside him, laying his head against Ban’s side. “Oi. You’re making me hot again,” Ban protested. But Ginji didn’t move, and Ban didn’t mind anyway. So he sighed yet again and absently laid a hand in Ginji’s hair. A few minutes passed in contented silence until Ginji stirred restlessly. “Not good at keeping still for long, are you?” Ban said, looking down at his friend. Ginji looked up into Ban’s eyes;

 “Not really. Can we do something?” he asked.

 “Like what? Why don’t you sleep. Too damned hot.” “ If we do something, it’ll take our minds off the heat.” Ginji turned over onto his stomach and moved up closer beside Ban, putting his hands on his chest. Ban continued to watch his partner closely. If he didn’t know better, he’s think Ginji was…

 “Ban-chan,” Ginji laid his head down fully on Ban’s chest now and, gazed up at him. Ban was about to complain that Ginji was squashing him when he saw something he had not seen in Ginji’s eyes before. He looked there for a moment, wondering what to do when Ginji suddenly kissed Ban gently on the lips, taking him completely by suprise. When Ban did not respond to the kiss, Ginji pulled back a little, looking concerned and embarrassed all at once. “Umm..I..Umm. Sorry. I was sure you…” Ginji mumbled uncertainly, but Ban put an arm around his neck and drew him back into the kiss, this time reveling in the warm softness of Ginji’s lips, allowing Ginji to search the inside of his mouth with his wet tongue. A moment later Ginji drew back, breathing heavily.

 “You just surprised me,” Ban said softly, letting his other arm reach up to Ginji’s back. Ginji smiled brightly before once again kissing Ban passionately. He then proceeded to plant kisses on Ban’s neck, across his shoulders and down to his chest. Ban laughed softly. “So this is why you wanted me to take my clothes off,” he mused, gently stroking Ginji’s back and hair. Ginji looked up, and Ban was surprised to see a lustful look in those usually innocent brown eyes.

 “That’s not true, Ban-chan! After all, it’s not like this is cooling us down.” Ban burst out laughing at that and nodded in total agreement.

 “That’s very true! Hmm. But now, where were we…”