Vacation Daze by Cienna

Chapter 5 - The Search for Ginji

Author's Note - Thanks to everyone who has reviewed so far! Sorry this chapter took so long, my computer was out of service for over two months. Things are back on track now and hopefully the next chapter will be out sooner.

Ban stopped running and took deep breaths, willing himself to think. It seemed like he had been searching for Ginji for hours. He had gone all the way down the beach in the general direction that Ginji had gone, but still hadn't seen his partner anywhere. The remains of the pina colada had dried almost completely, leaving streaks of white, and a general feeling of stickiness. He was hot, tired, and generally ready for a cigarette and a cold beer. A shower would be nice too. But he knew he couldn't stop until he found Ginji and got this mess sorted out.

He tried to think about where Ginji could have gone. He had already checked the stand where Ginji had been bought all of those drinks, but the man behind the counter said he hadn't seen Ginji for quite awhile. Then, noticing the white streaks running down Ban's chest, had given Ban a knowing look that had annoyed him immensely. The man proceeded to give Ban advice on where Ginji could have gone, which annoyed Ban even more. How the hell could this guy think he knew where Ginji had gone when Ban himself had no idea? The man finally implied that Ginji might have gone back to the beach house which was completely ridiculous because as far as Ban remembered, Ginji had gone running in the complete opposite direction.

After a few more dead ends he decided to go back to the beach house and check just in case Ginji had doubled back. On the way, throat parched, he stopped and bought a beer from the annoying guy.

"So where are you headed now? Back to your beach house by any chance?" The man smirked at him, and Ban began to think that he hadn't been nearly thirsty enough to have resorted to stopping here.

"That's right. I need to shower and get some clothes. Not that it's any of your business." He gave the man a pointed look that said - back away. At least that's what it usually said. This time, the man seemed to think it meant that he needed more advice.

"Your little friend is a cute one, but not too bright. I wouldn't let him get away if I was you." He then winked in a sleazy way and Ban almost choked on his beer.

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

"I just meant that the boy seemed awfully upset."

"I thought you just said you hadn't seen him since he bought that last drink!"

The man just shrugged and Ban resisted the urge to throw the beer in his face. Instead, he gulped down the remnants and slammed the can on the counter.

"I don't have time for whatever games you're playing right now." Crumpling the beer can up, he tossed it in the guys general direction and stalked away. His stalk soon turned into a run as he realized that this meant Ginji probably was at the beach house.

The place looked deserted when he arrived. The small palm tree outside swayed forlornly in the afternoon breeze and the entire area was strangely silent. He felt the hope he had been holding onto dissipate as he opened the door. Surely if Ginji was here he would be making noise. Either he would have the TV on or be doing something loud. Ginji was not a passive person, and had a hard time sitting still. But there was not the slightest sound or hint of movement as he wandered through the kitchen with the empty breakfast dishes still piled in the sink and then into the living room. The leather love seat was sitting deserted as they had left it the previous night.

Ban opened the door to the bedroom slowly and felt his breath catch. Ginji was curled up on the bed asleep. The sense of relief that came over him was almost overpowering. He moved closer and saw that Ginji's arms were wrapped around something blue. He looked more closely and saw that it was the sweatshirt he had been wearing earlier because of the extremely cold air conditioning. Ginji looked upset in his sleep, his face locked in a grimace as if he was eating something distasteful. Ban ran his hand indulgently through Ginji's hair and smiled as the frown disappeared. His friend's face now looked peaceful, but his eyes were still tightly closed.

Unwilling to wake him for the time being, Ban grabbed a towel from the floor and headed into the bathroom for a shower. He sighed in satisfaction as the warm water wiped away the remnants of the pina colada. Things were definitely looking brighter. He had gotten rid of the stickiness and found Ginji. Now he just needed to confront him. Unfortunately, that was easier said than done. For one thing, his partner was currently sleeping. For another, he was sleeping on an obscenely big bed that was altogether too much of a temptation with Ginji on it. He was tempted to just take a nap himself and put off their inevitable confrontation until later. But that was exactly what he had promised himself that he wouldn't do.

After exiting the shower and pulling on some boxers and a T-shirt he shook Ginji roughly on the shoulder. His partner awoke with a start, looking disoriented. Ban observed the panic setting in as he noticed Ban sitting on the bed next to him.

"Ban-chan…"

Ban cut him off. "What the hell are you doing here, idiot? After you took off down the beach like that I had no idea where you went! And you didn't even head in the direction of the beach house!"

Ginji was looking down awkwardly, his hands still clenched in Ban's sweatshirt. "That was kind of the point, Ban-chan. I didn't want to be found. At least not for awhile. I needed some time alone."

Ban glared at him. "You do realize you dropped an entire pina colada on me, don't you?"

"Sorry, Ban-chan." Ginji looked like he was holding back way too much laughter for Ban to take his apology seriously. He punched him playfully and Ginji hit him back, but not very hard. Their fight turned into a scuffle that somehow ended with Ginji pinned beneath him. They were both breathing hard and Ban both of Ginji's hands held tightly above his head. For a moment, staring into Ginji's brown eyes, with his warmth pressed against him he was tempted once again to give up the charade of just being friends and kiss him. No, he couldn't risk screwing things up. Releasing Ginji reluctantly, he rolled over on his back.

"Uh, Ginji, we have to talk."

"About what, Ban-chan?" Ginji had rolled onto his side and was looking at him innocently, but he couldn't hide the faint redness of his cheeks.

This wasn't going to be easy. "About what happened earlier. You dumped a tropical drink on me, remember?"

"I told you I was sorry. It was an accident. It's not like I hurt you or anything."

"Ginji, that was not an accident. Well, it might have been an accident, but you looked pretty upset. Is there any reason you might have been upset?"

Ginji sighed. "You were kissing Yumi. It made me mad. I know I shouldn't have cared, Ban-chan, but I couldn't help it."

Now they were getting somewhere. "You mean you like Yumi, Ginji?"

"Of course I like her. I was the one who brought her back for you to meet after all." Ginji had raised his voice ever so slightly.

"Ginji, were you trying to set me up with Yumi, because it definitely seemed that way."

"Yes."

"You aren't even trying to deny it." Ban was finding this whole situation more and more incomprehensible.

"Why would I deny it?"

"But, Ginji, if you like Yumi, why were you trying to set her up with me?"

"It doesn't matter now. Nothing matters. If you want to go out with Yumi I don't mind." Ginji was fingering the blue sweatshirt again, refusing to meet Ban's eyes.

"Ginji…" Ban's voice was gentle. "I don't want to go out with Yumi."

"You don't?" Ginji's face brightened.

"No, of course not." Suddenly he was knocked backward on the bed. Ginji had tackled him and was holding him in a strong hug that sent tingles of electricity down his back.

"You're the best, Ban-chan. I'm going to go get us some ice cream to celebrate." Ginji was up and out of the room before Ban could stop him. As a result, he was now completely confused. What the hell was going on with Ginji? He couldn't seem to get a straight answer out of him. Did he really like Yumi? Or was it possible he was so happy that Ban really didn't want to go out with her because he liked Ban?

Ten minutes later Ginji returned with two ice cream cones.

"They're pineapple, Ban-chan."

"I see." The fact that they were pineapple was somewhat suggested by the fact that there was a big chunk of pineapple stuck in the top of each one. "Ginji, what you said about Yumi…"

Ginji looked away. "I don't really want to talk about that anymore, Ban-chan. I'm just happy that you don't want to go out with her." Ginji plucked the piece of pineapple out of his ice cream and bit down on it, the juice dribbling down his chin. He wiped it away with the back of his hand and then began licking the ice cream in a circular motion. Pausing in his licking, he turned to Ban. "It's really creamy, Ban-chan!"

Ban stood frozen, watching him.

"Why aren't you eating yours?"

"I'm not very hungry." He wasn't. Not for ice cream anyway.

"Oh." Ginji looked disappointed as he continued to lick his ice cream slowly. Even though Ban knew he should somehow escape the situation, he couldn't help but watch mesmerized.

Ginji stopped licking. "Are you okay, Ban-chan? Your back isn't hurting is it?"

"No, it's fine, I told you."

"At least try the ice cream, Ban-chan. I went all the way out to get it for you. And it's really good."

"Looks like you got it for yourself, too," he pointed out, but obediently moved it towards his mouth to take a lick. Ginji took advantage of Ban's distraction by coming over and trying to push more ice cream in his mouth. In the process he also managed to get ice cream all over Ban's face.

Ban pushed him away, annoyed. "What the hell are you doing, you idiot?"

"Oops, sorry, Ban-chan. I'll wipe it off." He approached Ban with a paper towel, but Ban snatched it out of his hands.

"I can do it by myself, thanks." Irritated, he wiped his face with the paper towel and threw it, along with what remained of the ice cream, in the garbage.

"You missed a spot, Ban-chan." Ban looked up from the garbage as Ginji approached him, moving so close he could feel the warmth of his breath. Once again, Ban was frozen, waiting to see what Ginji would do. Ginji put his hands on either side of Ban's face and then gently licked off the remaining ice cream. Then he backed away. Ban was disconcerted to see that Ginji's face was slightly flushed. Maybe it was because the room suddenly seemed very hot. He felt a bit dizzy, and put one hand on the table to steady himself.

"I'm going to go swimming, Ban-chan. I'll see you there." Ginji bolted out of the room before Ban could stop him.

tbc