Whoo…this one is four pages long, in case you're wondering. Again, more lunchtime conversation. Can you tell that I really like doing dialogue? ^^;; I hope it flows well enough…and in case you haven't noticed, I love ellipses. Hope that doesn't bother anyone too much! Okay, well…er, I'd say the plot progresses in this chapter. Subtly, perhaps, but good things can't be rushed. .;; Boy, I need a nap. Reviews:

Kara Angitia - I don't think he's blind so much as reserved. ^^ Poor boy just doesn't know what to do with himself!

Nikki - So do I! ^^ Thanks!

LinaLau - Heh heh…he really 'notices' Watari in this chapter. I hope you like it!

Ace of Time - Oh, I love online tests! All I know is that my Tsuzuki type is 'Immortal Tsuzuki', my Hisoka type is 'Adorable' ( I think), and on a personality test, I got Muraki. 9_9;;; That scares me! If you know of any good YnM quizzes, let me know. I'm always looking for 'em!

Sorcha - Naw, that's not the plan. Perhaps he'll see the notebook sometime in the future, but not in the way you're thinking of. Yeah, Watari's speeches are either: contrived, or sincere. I don't think he even realizes that he does that. ^^;

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Tsuzuki was bored. He sat at his desk twirling a pencil in his hand, while Hisoka glared at him and muttered choice words. His violet eyes were heavy, about to close as sleep tempted him.

"Ne, 'Soka…?" he mumbled sleepily.

"What?" The green-eyed boy looked at him impatiently.

"In'it odd…?"

The younger Shinigami paused, counting to ten mentally.

"Is what odd, you idiot?"

"Tatsumi…goin' to lunch with Watari…"

Hisoka blinked.

"He did that?"

Nod nod.

"…Strange."

Tsuzuki closed his eyes.

"You think so, too? Good…" he whispered, trying to go to sleep.

His partner was about to reply when the man in question walked past. He nodded politely as he passed Hisoka's desk.

"G…good morning, Tatsumi-san," the boy stammered, embarrassed at having been gossiping just seconds before.

Tsuzuki peeked his eyes open.

"Is that Tatsumi? Where's he goin'?"

Hisoka frowned thoughtfully.

"I don't know, but…Watari-san's lab is that way."

***********

Watari groaned as he stretched down, touching his toes with the opposite hand. He paused like that for several seconds, then straightened up and repeated the action. The white lab coat was tossed aside, and his pale blue turtleneck rested atop it. He remained clad in his lycra tank top and black slacks, his honey-colored hair pulled back into a ponytail. 003 fluttered on his shoulder, her wings flapping in an attempt to mimic human exercise routines.

"One…two…three…" Watari muttered, grunting with the effort he exerted.

He had been neglecting his routine over the previous few days, instead focusing all his time developing Operation: Tatsumi. 'I've really gotta focus more,' he thought. He had been feeling very energetic since the lunch with Tatsumi, and 003 was more than happy to encourage him to resume his exercise routine.

He had no idea that he had company, however. He continued his stretching, oblivious to the fact that Tatsumi's eyes were glued to his movements, his position giving the secretary a rather uninhibited view of the scientist's rear.

"…Ah, Watari…" he hesitated, unsure of whether he should make his presence known.

Watari straightened up, trying not to blush profusely as he turned to face his co-worker.

"Y-yes, Tatsumi?" He could feel his cheeks getting warm as the blood rushed to them. The stoic Shinigami was staring at him oddly.

"…What are you - no, never mind."

Watari laughed self-consciously.

"Err…exercise, ya know. Gotta keep in shape!"

Tatsumi eyed his body, then cleared his throat.

"You realize that Shinigami can't…'get out of shape' as they say?"

The blonde shrugged.

"Yeah. But it's more of a psychological issue than anything else."

"I see…" Tatsumi almost turned to leave, but stopped himself.

Noticing this hesitation, Watari stepped over to him, putting a slender hand on his broad shoulder.

"Is something wrong, Tatsumi?"

The Kagetsukai shook his head reassuringly.

"Not at all. In fact…" He took a deep breath, forcing himself to look at Watari as he spoke. "I was wondering if you would care to join me for lunch today?"

Watari blinked, shocked by the question. 'Whoa…this is unexpected!'

"Lunch? Well, sure! There's nothing I'd rather do. Let me just get my money-"

Tatsumi grabbed his arm as the scientist began to move away.

"That's not necessary, Watari. It's only proper that I pay. I asked you out, after all."

Watari blushed at the implication of the phrase "asked out".

"Tatsumi, it's not like you asked me on a date or anything! There's no need-"

He stopped at the expression on the secretary's face. He looked somewhat pained, or embarrassed. Watari felt a wave of guilt trickle over him.

"Uh, what I mean is…oh, shit. Were you asking me on a…date?"

The Kagetsukai shifted uncomfortably.

"No! No…I just meant a friendly lunch. D…does that bother you?"

Watari shook his head quickly.

"Of course not! But…if you did want it to be a date, I mean…"

Tatsumi blinked.

"Is that what you want?"

The scientist froze. 'Oh shit…I've got myself cornered now.' Watari frowned, an idea coming to him.

"Tatsumi, I won't go out to a friendly lunch with you. I'm sorry."

He turned around, leaning his palms against a counter, praying that his comrade would catch on.

Tatsumi stood there in silence, staring at the back of Watari's head blankly. He felt confused over the other man's run-around answers, and a little hurt over the last comment. 'I thought…I thought he wanted to go to lunch…?' The confusion and frustration were eating at him as he tried to understand his enigmatic friend. 'Wait…he said…' The Kagetsukai thought he had figured out what Watari wanted, but was afraid to ask. 'What if he still says no?'

"Watari…" He waited for the scientist to turn around before continuing.

"Would you be interested in…um…my taking you to…er, on a date?"

The scientist grinned in relief. He grabbed Tatsumi's wrist gently.

"I would love that, Tatsumi-kun."

The Kagetsukai smiled softly, trying not to think of how easily Watari had managed to get him to ask that.

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Watari smiled as he slipped into the same booth he and Tatsumi had shared the day before. 'This is so exciting! A real date with Tatsumi!' He almost giggled.

Across from him, Tatsumi took his seat with more dignity, smoothing his suit jacket and adjusting his glasses nervously. 'I can't believe I'm doing this…' he thought with resignation. He watched as Watari picked up the menu, searching it with his eyes. Tatsumi flushed when the man glanced up suddenly, catching his gaze.

Watari smiled.

"You don't have to do this if you really don't want to," he offered.

The Kagetsukai shook his head slightly.

"No, I…I want to."

The scientist gave a different kind of smile. 'Time to heat things up.'

"Still, it was good of you to…come with me."

Tatsumi's breath hitched at the way his friend spoke those words. He could feel his face becoming flushed as he stared at the amber-eyed man in shock.

"W…Watari…"

The blonde sighed.

"Yutaka. Please."

Tatsumi blinked.

"Alright…Yutaka-san."

Watari rolled his eyes to himself. 'Oh, give me a break! San?'

"Seii…" he raised an eyebrow at the frown he received. "What?"

The Kagetsukai sighed wearily.

"Yutaka…Listen to me for a moment." He took a deep breath. "I'm very glad that you want to be a real friend to me. It means a great deal that you care enough to make that effort. It's just…some of the things you've said…" He closed his eyes. "Can I be honest with you? Completely?"

"…Of course." Watari leaned forward some, concerned over the sudden change in the demeanor of his comrade.

"It worries me. I'm…afraid…to let you get close to me. It makes me nervous. I feel like I don't know how to act, how to respond to friendship."

"You think you make a lousy friend?"

Tatsumi nodded. The scientist chuckled derisively.

"You're a wonderful friend, Seii. Believe me - you have nothing to fear. And…I would never do anything to hurt you. Never."

Watari reached over, clasping Tatsumi's hand in his own gently. He rubbed his thumb over the strong hand, watching the secretary's blue eyes the whole time. Something inside him was nagging at his brain, cautioning him to slow down, to let go before it was too late. 'I can't do that…I have to do this for him. It's for his own good that I finish the experiment. This is exactly why I'm doing it…I can't stand that lost look in his eyes.'

Tatsumi had to force himself to concentrate so his hand wouldn't shake. The younger man's hand felt so soft and warm in his own. 'I never…never thought such simple physical contact could be so powerful…' He was far more frightened than he had admitted to Watari. Frightened not just because the scientist had the power to hurt him, but because he was scared of his own feelings. He hadn't felt so exposed since he'd become too attached to Tsuzuki, and the thought of reliving that terrified him. 'But Watari's stronger than that…he's much stronger in that way. I…I can't hurt him with my heartlessness like I hurt Tsuzuki-san…'

Neither man realized that they were still holding hands when the waitress came.