a heartbreak's tale

chapter five

"So, what's up." Kagura played it casual, though her cheeks felt like it was on fire. It had been weeks since they last talked, and that, along with her revelation that she actually liked this boy, had her heart fluttering - she had no idea where this was about to go.

"How have you been?" The assassin asked in response, almost just as casually.

Catching the weird edge in his voice, she glanced up at him, her eyes sharp and critical. Something was up. If their years of friendship had taught her anything, it was that her friend's eyes were the most expressive of his emotions. Even when Hayabusa was wearing his mask (which he was, almost all the time - she could barely remember the last time she saw him without it), she could almost always tell how he was feeling by his blue orbs. 

At that moment, his eyes were flickering to anywhere by hers, and she was almost sure of the tell-tale sign of his hand twitching, that he was anxious. She couldn't help the curiosity that bubbled inside her as to what the cause of his anxiousness was.

"I'm fine." She replies just as coolly, while she called back her umbrella. Instantly, she felt his curious gaze on her. She cursed inwardly.

Just like how she knew him, he knew her as well. 

She would had laughed at their situation - two people who were once inseparable best friends, now reduced to strangers who knew each others' tells, yet completely unaware of what was going on in the other's life - if not for the intrusion of another stranger.

Her eyes trailed after Hanabi who moved breezily towards the two. She planted herself next to the assassin, cheerfully inviting him to a celebratory lunch.

Kagura glanced at him. He seemed to be about to protest, but Hanabi shot him a look the mage couldn't decipher, and that seemed to shut him up completely. He sent an apologetic look her way. "Another time, perhaps?"

"Yeah." Kagura muttered, deciding that this was definitely the most awkward interaction the two of them had ever had.

She watched the two of them began to leave, as a dull feeling began to settle in a stomach. She couldn't hide her surprise when she saw Hanabi turn and march back towards her.

The marksman wasted no time before speaking. "I'm just going to cut to the chase, Kagura. You and I both know how focused Haya is on taking out the former Shadow."

Kagura tried not to flinch at how she was using her nickname for him. "Yeah, and?"

Hanabi smiled sweetly at her. "So, you're never going to be his priority. It's time to end this pathetic crush of yours, isn't it?"

Wow. That sure did hit close to home. Kagura bristled, struggling to construct a response, but her mind was more focused on how the hell did she know about her crush? Was she that painfully obvious?

Hanabi beat her to it. She shot her a pitiful look. "You deserve someone who would move mountains for you - and make you his priority." Having said her piece, the marksman left, leaving a bewildered Kagura alone in garden.