It was perhaps the last time in their lives when they could have been seen by the general public playing as if they were boys. Near the Senate, in a huge field of flowers and knee tall grass. No, it wasn't that they were playing, just enjoying the day as boys might.

Of course it wasn't at all mature or leader-like to run about in a large open field, but who was to judge? Caius and Julius were taller than most men when it came to government and no one would dare utter a word out of line about the two friends.

The clouds were rather heavy in the sky that day, although not dark. The kind of day that Cassius had always loved. Not gloomy, although not terribly bright. The wind carefully licked his ears and hair.

Julius Caesar, on the other hand, never had liked such days. On the cold side, no bold strokes of sunlight, but, if Cassius wanted to be out in such cloudy weather, he wasn't going to stop him. Caesar thought these days were very much like Cassius himself; sly, thoughtful, contemplative, and in some ways, vain.

"Julius, still, you can't catch me? How come I am so much faster than you are no matter how many spoils of war you can bring?"

Caesar ran up to him nimble companion, panting, "Ai, and you smarter than I. Although we both know who wins in strength."

Cassius cast him a knowing look. "Of course you dost mean me."

"Myself, I am far stronger than you." He flexed his arm, "You never could take Brutus down with a single motion."

"Oh?" Caius challenged. "Let us see if I can take you down as swiftly as you Brutus!"

With that, Caesar ran forward on to Cassius and lunged. Cassius simply stepped out of the way and sent Julius tumbling onto a patch of grass. He came after the ground ridden man as they wrestled each other on the soft soil ground. The wind blew its way in between them.

Finally, Caesar, atop his buddy like a lion to a kill, pinned down Caius's shoulders. "You lose, Cassius." –and then rolled on to the loamy floor. They both lay, side by side, laughing like children. "Almost as if danger and I were lion cubs together." Caesar sighed, clawing at the air like a cat.

Above, the clouds had begun to darken slightly and they let out of the first drops of cooling rain upon Cassius and Caesar as they cast their glances to the heavy sky above them. "Days like this are by far the most beautiful to behold, Caesar, remember this, that it is as if the gods cry forth."

"Why do they cry, Cassius?"

"They cry for those who cannot see the sun behind these clouds. But for us, two friends who can laugh out in the middle of such a gloom cast day, they bring tears of joy. Remember, Caesar, forever and ever, enjoy such days."

"Why is't that you enjoy them?"

"Caesar, rain 'tis a time for contemplation. When in the sun and heat of the moment thou dost not think. When there is a downpour, drizzle or tempest, promise me you will reflect?"

"I do, Cassius, I do." A freefalling bead of rain laid itself across Caesar's forehead. "Although the rain dost sometimes interfere."

They sat next to each other in the long stretch of land until their togas began to soak and Caesar finally proposed they go in. "Thou bears the rain hard, I suspect?" Cassius asked.

"Although I try to heed your words, Cassius, I do not bear it gladly."

So they got up and moved about out of the field, two best friends laughing in the rain, soaked down to their tunics.