It was perfect weather, the sun was warm the wind was a soft cool breeze and the grass smelt sweet from its fresh trim. Konoe-kacho was tossing a baseball up in the air and catching it as he leaned back in his chair with his feet up on his desk. It was calling for him, it was screaming for him to play. Wind from the open window carried that sent to his nostrils the sent of dirt and grass. It was a slow day so why couldn't he? With a smile he got up and left his office making a beeline to Watari's lab.

Watari was hard at work with his gender changing medicine and was stuck. He was wishing at that moment that there were something that could relax his mind just for a bit.

"Man," Watari flopped in his chair with 003 staring at him from his desk. "I wish something would happen. It's such a slow day and my brain isn't willing to cooperate on such a beautiful day…"

There was a knock on his door.

"Come in!" he rubbed his temples. "Ah? Kacho?"

"Come on, Hajime-chan. Please?" Wakaba begged her partner with their boss behind her with almost the same pleading look.

"You can be against Tsuzuki," Konoe said slyly. "It would be a good chance to prove that you're better than him."

Terazuma slammed his newspaper down on his desk, "I'll do it!"

Tsuzuki was standing at the window watching his messenger fly around stretching his wings and intermingling with the other birds of Meifu. The elegant bird landed on the shinigami's shoulder and looked at him with his own purple eyes. Feathers puffed up with pleasure when a gentle hand started to rub his belly. He looked at Tsuzuki then rubbed the top of his head against his master's soft cheek as if trying to sweet talk him.

"I wish I could," Tsuzuki gave the bird a pat. "But Hisoka won't let me come and play."

The bird turned its head to Tsuzuki's partner and nearly glowered. The boy was spoiling all of his fun and he wanted to play with his master.

"Tsuzuki, Kurosaki-kun," Konoe came in with his team of three behind him.

"Kacho?" the both chimed.

"It has come to my attention that this day has come for a purpose. With no work and nothing to do there is only one option for us to take."

"To go home?" Tsuzuki asked not noticing the baseball in his boss's hand.

"No you fool!! This is the time, this is when I will prove that I'm more superior than you!!" Terazuma pushed passed Konoe.

"Terazuma…" Tsuzuki's eyes narrowed.

His messenger flew from his shoulder and landed next to 003 that took the liberty of perching on the back of Hisoka's chair. They both new it would be safer there than anywhere else when those two mingled.

The tension in the air thickened when the amethyst eyed man asked, "What's your game?"

The shinigami smirked, "You'll never defeat me in base ball!!"

"Bring it on!"

"Now that that is settled we just need to convince Tatsumi-san to join and we'll have full teams," Wakaba chimed with her curls bouncing against her face.

"EH?!" they all looked at the innocent girl. She was right though. They all looked at each other then nodded.

"Absolutely not," Tatsumi slapped a pile of papers down on his desk. "There is still much work to do and work is not a preschool. I will not condone these actions Kacho!"

"B-but," the old man's eyes started to water up. "REGROUP!"

All the shinigami, except for Hisoka and Tatsumi, huddled into a little group and whispered about to themselves. Tatsumi rubbed his temples, they were giving him a headache. And no matter what they threw at him he would never give!! They had to deal with the "harsh" reality that work is a place where you were supposed to be professional and deign not playful and stupid.

The small group dispersed leaving only Tsuzuki there. "Tatsumi-san," Tsuzuki clasped his hands together thoughtfully. "Please, we really need you."

//Those eyes, no not those eyes,// Tatsumi was resisting as much as he could.

Now if Tatsumi-san had been paying attention to anything else but Tsuzuki (which he wasn't) he would have noticed Wakaba and Terazuma moving planters of flowers around in the background. He might have even noticed Konoe-kacho moving to the side and slightly behind him with a mirror in hand.

Tsuzuki took a step closer to the older man looking to the side, "Tatsumi… please…" Suddenly, to Tatsumi's surprise his lovely Tsuzuki was surrounded by sweet flowers and there was a soft light that played upon his soft skin (thanks to Kachou's mirror). Tsuzuki looked up with tearful eyes as he took another step closer causing the brunet to back into his desk. "Tatsumi, I need you… please…" Tsuzuki spoke softly.

"I….I…. I guess it would be okay as long as we don't spend to much time playing or get too dirty…" Tatsumi swallowed. He didn't like it when Tsuzuki did that, that look just made him want to reach out and hold the man. But that wasn't right and he would just embarrass himself, right?

Konoe wasted no time in rummaging through an old closet in his office soon as they all got the okay from Tatsumi. The old man was so happy, even though he was full blooded Japanese he had an American soul! He needed to play baseball! His eyes glimmered at the sight of his old umpire vest and helmet. He took in the sent of the well oiled leather before dressing himself into the treasured garments.

"Kachou? You coming?" Tsuzuki came into the office. "WAH!" he was a more than a little startled from his boss suddenly standing up and souting out in a fake American accent, "LET'S PLAY BALL!!!"

end part 1