The Picnic - Part one

It was Paul's idea to have a group picnic, he enjoyed these outings and peaceful times that everyone else seemed to take for granted. The main reason behind the picnic was that the Getbackers had not been getting a lot of jobs lately. Paul had thought that this would be a good way for them to get a decent meal without him having to give away freebies and at least this way Ban and Ginji would not think that they could take advantage of him so easily. Paul cared for the boys, even if it did seem like it was their life's mission to run his business into the ground, but he had a subtle was of showing it.
Paul had actually just planted the idea in Natsumi's head with an idle comment one day at work, and then had left the rest to her. Natsumi seemed to have a natural gift for planning parties and brining people together. Paul often looked back on his hire of her as one of his best business decisions. Sure she was often a sucker for Ginji's puppy eyed looks; sneaking out a free cup of coffee here or there, but she had a natural radiance to her that actually brought customers in, just so that they could see her bright smile. It was not something Paul could offer but he had his own qualities to offer. He seemed to be able to help sooth those who had lost their souls.

Both Ban and Ginji had been lost like that once. He remembered their cold, hard stares. Those stares that had shown Paul that they saw and hoped for nothing. He looked at them now, wrestling with each other near where the group had gathered. He smiled; to think those two boyish brats were once the unseeing shadows of young men who had lost their way.

"HEY!" Natsumi yelled. "Cut that out! You're going to get dirt all over the picnic blanket!."

"Sorry," Ginji squeaked through a pin hold Ban had around his neck.

"Fine," Ban proclaimed, "Clearly I was winning anyways."

"Really, Ban, sometimes all I think you care about is giving yourself an ego boost by proving your better than someone else." Hevn sighed.

"Not a bad idea and look, here comes that monkey boy,…" Ban retorted carelessly.

Before Ban could even finish, Ginji was already tackling Shido in a hug while saying hi to Madoka. They had brought Mozart and another picnic basket to go along with Natsumi's. Ban and Shido exchanged their usual un-pleasantries and slanted glances. Ban was anxious to announce his idea of a friendly sparing match but couldn't until Ginji was done hanging all over Shido. He glared at Shido again; sometimes he hated how affectionate Ginji was with everyone. Ginji had picked up on Ban thinking this before and only laughed at him before reminding him of some of the special "affections" that he reserved for only Ban.

Ban sighed and swallowed his pride for now, deciding to instead greet and try to spark up a pleasant conversation with Madoka. Ban liked Madoka for her grace and ability to play her violin so beautifully. Listing to music or playing seemed the one time Ban let himself get lost in daydreaming. He was hoping that she would play today. Kazuki and Juubei arrived a few minutes later and Ginji was on to his next greeting. Hugs all around, again.

"Hey, where's Emishi?" Ginji questioned curiously.

"Oh, he's helping Makubex and Sakura on a project today," Kazuki stated. He noticed Ginji's small look of concern and disappointment and decided to elaborate. "Nothing to worry about he just stayed as an extra hand so that Juubei could come with me."

Paul looked around from his spot at the corner of the picnic blanket, mentally checking off the people that were there. No Himiko, though he had expected that. Still, there was another person he had made sure to personally invite that didn't seem to be showing up either. He sighed inwardly.

"Ok," Ban spoke once everyone seemed to be settled. "It's a nice day and so I think this would be a perfect chance for a little one on one sparring."

Paul groaned. Leave it to Ban to turn a peaceful outing into something like this.

"No way, you guys will ruin the parks turf and god knows what else. You'll probably rip your clothes up and you have no money for new ones, do you? You'll also end up trampling all the food."

"Can't you guys just arm wrestle?" Hevn suggested.

Ban smirked while every one else gave him a dirty look.
Hevn hurried to apologize for her poor idea before Ban got a chance to boast about his 200kg grip.

Natsumi just laughed. "No, no. Here, I had planned for something like this." She pulled out several long red strips of material. "If each of you wears one of these, you can spar like your playing flag football." Ginji tilted his head a bit confused as usual. "The sparing partner who grabs the flag first will win the match. No hard contact, no using special abilities, just grabbing the flag."

"Pffft," Ban scoffed. "You just took all the fun out of it."

"What's the matter, Snake-for-brains? Don't think you could take me on without your Snake Bite or your precious Jagan?" Shido said snidely. Ban fumed.

"Sounds like fun," Ginji chirped excitedly.

"I agree.'' Kazuki added.

"Fine!" Ban had reached his limit. "We'll play with these flag thingies, but screw matches the GetBackers will take you all on." Ban smirked confidently as he handed Ginji a flag that matched his own.

Ginji smiled while looping a flag around his belt. He loved it when Ban showed off his pride in their partnership. Natsumi handed out the rest and moved the group a safe distance away form the food and blanket but still close enough for her, Paul, and Hevn to watch.

"Okay!" Natsumi shouted, "I'll cheer you all on."

Paul sighed again and chose to at least pretend to be reading his usual newspaper. The GetBackers stood back to back, Juubei stood angled behind Kazuki and Shido took a low fighting stance.

"Ready? Set…"

Paul looked up from his newspaper to see the last person he had invited silently walk up to him. The rest of the group was too intensely focused on the game to notice. Teshimine smiled at Paul and he smiled back.

"….GO!" Natsumi yelled.

Paul was happy that he had come; he knew how important Teshimine was to Ginji, even if they hadn't seen each other in a long time. Paul had made sure not to tell Ginji he had invited Teshimine, so that Ginji wouldn't feel let down if he had not shown up.

"What are they doing?" Teshimine asked Paul.

"Being idiots." Paul replied simply.

"I see," Teshimine seemed to agree. He looked on at the circling mass of boys that seemed to be kicking up quite a lot of dirt. "We could show them a thing or two, ya know."

"Yes, Ban did boast that he would take us "all" on. We should do it discreetly though." Paul smiled, mischief in his voice.

"Of course," Teshimine once smiled back mischievously.

There was a sudden gust of wind just then and Shido, Juubei and Kazuki's flags vanished. The trio gave a look of utter shock.

"What the f…" Ban didn't get to finish his sentence because both of his arms were wrenched behind his back.

Ginji turned to help Ban but his feet were quickly swept out from underneath him and a dark figure was pressing him down to the ground. Ban arched his neck back to only to be more stunned to find Paul holding his arms behind his back. Paul then let go waving Ban's red flag in front of his nose.

"WHAT!!!"

Ginji looked up again at the dark figure only to realize who it was. "T-Teshimine-san…" he stuttered with a tear in his eye.

"Hey Ginji," Teshimine smiled. "Now I seem to remember a little boy who was very ticklish right behind his knees."

"No! OH NO, NO…" Ginji tried to cry through his laughs as Teshimine proceeded to tickle him.

Ban was caught somewhere between being thoroughly confused, which was rare for him, and pissed. "How did you…. And you, you don't even have flags!"

The rest of the group laughed from the sidelines.

"Ban-chan…" Ginji pleaded through tears from laughing so hard. "Ban-chan help…"

Ban couldn't help but let a half smile curl off his lips. "Teshimine…. so he's ticklish where?"

"Traitor!" Ginji laughed and then turning to Teshimine he pleaded, "No, no, please don't tell him... ha ha… I'll … never….ha…" Ginji started to spark a little and Teshimine stood up turning to Ban.

"Behind his knees but you only have so long before he builds up a static shock and then it's best to let go." Teshimine extended his hand to help Ginji up. Despite his recent "attack", Ginji was beaming form ear to ear.

Paul was glad to see every one so happy now, he was fortunate Teshimine had come after all. Ban tuned to Paul again looking for answers but luckily Hevn stuffed a piece of melon in his face.

"There ya go Ban, that's the prize for second place." She gloated. "Now lets all sit down to eat."