Okay, here we go! It's very Watari-centric, and uses the Operation: Tatsumi journal a lot, but that is meant to make the chapter more insightful. *sweatdrop* I actually had a lot of fun writing this chapter (especially the journal entries). I hope everybody likes it! Again, the plot progresses slightly in this ... Now, I have to let you know - the formatting of it sucks, because nothing turned out like it should have. If you want to see the journals in their FULL glory, please read the chapter on my website. Then review it here! ^^;; Okay, well...I can't think of anything else to say, so on to the reviews and the fic!

Kara Angitia - Aww, I'm sorry. I know those puppets were eager to do some acting. ^^;; Well, hopefully you can think of some other speech to give Tatsumi (or maybe Watari).

LinaLau - Oh yes, Tatsumi enjoyed those exercises very much...*grins* It's about time they went on a date, isn't it? And many more, as you'll see in this chapter.

Kyraille Fade - Your wish is my command. I hope you like this chapter as much as the last!

digitalized - Wow. I've never been called sensei before. *bows gratefully* I'm extremely honored! I hope you like this chapter!

~~~~~~~~~~~~

For the next week, Watari managed to convince Tatsumi to go to lunch each day, although the scientist offered to pay each time. Their conversations became increasingly friendly, each man opening up to the other more and more. Operation: Tatsumi continued as planned, each day bringing new developments.

Operation: Tatsumi, day 3 - The subject asked me to lunch today (a date!!! I went on a date with Tatsumi!!!). He admitted to being afraid to let me close to him...I felt really bad for a moment, like I'm using him... But I'm not! My goal with this experiment isn't to hurt Tatsumi, only to help him. I'm just so tired of seeing him so unhappy and closed-off, ya know? :( Man, I'm getting off topic now...anyway, the experiment is commencing as planned with no obvious complications.

************

'He tricked me...he must have. How did I let him talk me into this? Missing so much work...even if it is only an hour a day! I never thought I'd have such a weakness for his whining...er, pleading,' Tatsumi thought with some amusement. For some reason unfathomable to him, the Kagetsukai found himself looking forward to lunchtime. Being in Watari's company so much lately had a profound affect on his mood. Although still the strict dictatorian, he had allowed minor infractions to slide.

'Perhaps he put something in my coffee,' Tatsumi mused, although he knew this wasn't the case. After all, that morning he hadn't needed coffee to be awake. Just the thought of seeing Watari was enough to perk him up.

Operation: Tatsumi, day 4 - Subject is responding to subtle non-verbal cues (such as smiling back when I see him in the hall). I've also noticed that he seems more hesitant to scold me about minor things. I think he's afraid to damage the bond we're forging. It's really very sweet! Tsuzuki asked me about Tatsumi today, and I only told him that we'd been hanging out a lot. Of course, any idiot can see that both Seii and I have been missing each day at lunch.

***********

Tatsumi smiled at the look on Watari's face when he insisted upon buying him ice cream that day. The scientist's lovely eyes widened greatly, and he paused before furrowing his brows quizzically.

"Seii-kun, are you feeling sick? Out of sorts? Do you have a fever?"

The secretary nearly laughed aloud at this, although he wasn't sure why.

"No, Yutaka, I'm not sick. I can assure you, I am as lucid as ever. Is it so hard to believe that I want to do something nice for you?"

Watari blinked in sheepish surprise.

"Well, uh...yes?"

Tatsumi smiled warmly and beckoned the waitress over.

Operation: Tatsumi, day 5 - Seii bought me ice cream today at lunch!^.^ It was so sweet of him, ne. On another note, 003's gotten used to Seii's scent surrounding me as of late. I think she's even pleased with it... I don't know what possessed him to do that! Well...he didn't seem to mind it that much. Poor Tsuzuki begged him for sweets today, but Seii told him (smugly) that he'd spent all the sweets money on me. The look on Tsuzuki's face was priceless! ^^ I think I'm really enjoying this experiment. I hope after it's over, Seii can love someone without being afraid of it...

***********

A knock on the office door startled Tatsumi from his work. Glancing up at the clock, he realized with a start that it was five minutes past lunchtime.

"Seii?" A blonde head peeked through the doorway.

He motioned the scientist inside.

"I didn't realize the time, Yutaka. I was trying to catch up on my work. I apologize. Just give me a moment to set these aside-"

"It's okay, Seii. Actually, I was thinking we could just stay here today...I'm kind of getting sick of burgers and fries, ya know? I shouldn't be taking up so much of your time...you should get your work done. I'll just see you later, okay?"

He stood to leave, but Tatsumi reached across the desk and touched his arm.

"No...please, don't go. I...I have all day to get this done. Please, sit back down."

Watari complied, smoothing out his lab coat.

"So, uh...what's up?"

Tatsumi shook his head casually.

"Work. And you."

The scientist grinned.

"Me? Oh, so I have a category of my own now? Wow, I've almost moved up to Tsuzuki-status!"

Tatsumi frowned slightly.

"...What do you mean by that?"

Watari blinked.

"Just that, um, you know - you've got a soft spot for him, that's all. He's always been, well, special as far as you're concerned. Heh."

"...Is that so."

The blonde could see that Tatsumi was getting agitated, and put his hand on the man's shoulder soothingly.

"I don't mean it in a bad way. I think it's very sweet, actually. And I'm very happy to be getting some of that attention now. It makes me feel like I matter to someone."

Tatsumi stared at Watari disbelievingly.

"You matter to a lot of people, Watari-kun. I cannot think of a single person who doesn't care for you at EnMaCho. Especially me..."

Watari smiled.

"Well, I think Tsuzuki's got me beat there." He leaned in closer to the other man's face. "Let's face it, Seii - you've got a thing for Tsuzuki. I totally respect that."

"Yutaka...As far as Tsuzuki goes, it is true that I have feelings for him. But it's far more complicated than that, and even I realize that there could never be anything between him and I. It would be a complete mess."

Watari nodded, lowering his head slightly.

"I'm sorry...I shouldn't have brought it up. It was immature of me."

Tatsumi smiled.

"Not at all. Tsuzuki isn't something you should feel threatened by. You're much stronger than he."

Operation: Tatsumi, day 6 - Seii and I talked about Tsuzuki today, and how Seii feels about him. He admitted to loving Tsuzuki, but expressed the belief that such a relationship would not only be unsuccessful, but would damage their strong friendship. And there's Bon in the way, anyhow. I don't know... at least he's resigned to its being an impossible love. Oh! Umm...the experiment's going fine still.

***********

Watari grinned at the small, adorable owl plushie sitting on the desk in front of him. It was golden-colored, with big, bright green eyes and the cutest plushie beak. 003 hooted in pleasure, hopping around the toy and pecking at it fondly. Watari went to touch it, but 003 squawked at him, indicating her disapproval.

"Sorry, girl! You're right - I don't let you touch my test tubes, so it's only fair that I can't touch your toy. Good point."

He chuckled as he watched the miniature owl fawn over the plushie. Tatsumi, in an increasingly common display of affection, had brought the owl toy to Watari only thirty minutes earlier.

"I saw it at a store," he had explained nervously, "and it made me think of you...and 003. So I, uh...bought it for your owl."

Watari had blinked in surprise. Already, 003 was circling it, hooting in curiosity.

"Seii...I...thank you so much. That's...one of the sweetest things anyone's ever done. And, as you can see, 003 loves it."

The scientist hesitated momentarily, then tilted his head up and planted a quick kiss on the Kagetsukai's cheek. His eyes caught Tatsumi's, and the blonde turned his head slightly, pressing his lips softly against the other man's. As he broke away, he could see that Tatsumi's cheeks were as red as his felt.

"I...I should get back to work, Yutaka. I'll see you later, all right?"

Watari nodded absently, his heart speeding up further when Tatsumi ran his hand over the blonde's arm as he left.

"Oh my god," he had whispered breathlessly.

As he ended the reminiscence, Watari realized that he was blushing again.