a heartbreak's tale

chapter eight

"So..." Lesley started, her arms crossed as she stared at her room mate threateningly. "You want to tell me what this is about? Or do I have to force it out of you?" She made a show out of reloading her sniper gun and aiming it at the mage.

Kagura shot her a small smile as her eyes caught sight of the rose that lay on the counter behind the marksman. "So... I'm kind of dating Chou, now?"

Lesley let out a gasp, her hand raised to cover her mouth. She squealed, jumping animatedly. "Since when? Why was I not informed?"

"A few weeks ago? We haven't actually gone around announcing our relationship." Kagura shrugged. "Besides, we're doing the exact same things that we did as friends." She paused, her eyes gleaming as she raised her eyebrows at her friend. "Except with more cuddling, hugging, and maybe even kissing here and there?"

Lesley stared at her.

Kagura gulped. A silent Lesley was never a good sign.

"Are. You. Kidding. Me." The marksman drew out. "I can't believe you didn't tell me the news immediately! I'm so happy for you." Putting down her weapon gently on the counter top beside the rose, she lunged for her friend, toppling the latter over onto the bed and knocking Kagura's breath out of her.

Kagura weakly hugged her friend back. "You were busy with your own issues with Gusion, I didn't want to overload you with the details." She giggled as Lesley's long hair brushed against her cheeks. "And honestly? I don't even know how I feel about the relationship yet myself." She decided not to let her friend know that she was somewhat disappointed that Chou had already forgotten that her favorite flowers were peonies, not roses. 

Lesley hummed in understanding. "You'll figure it out eventually, I have faith in you." She detached herself from the mage, standing to retrieve the rose for her. "Besides, I believe that this note here is asking for you to be at the garden?" 

She laughed as Kagura got up to snatch the rose and note away from her. The mage's eyes widened and she cursed under her breath as she realized she was already ten minutes late for her supposed date with Chou. Rushing to make herself look presentable, she was out of the door within minutes and heading for the garden.

-

Kagura frowned, confused, when she arrived at the garden only to find Chou nowhere in sight. Wandering about, she mindlessly admired the flowers, surprised to find a new collection of flowers right in the middle of the garden.

The new flowers were huge in size, almost towering above the mage. She had to admit, they were pretty. She sighed, leaning in to breathe in the scent of the strange flowers that she had never seen before. Immediately after she had inhaled it in did it hit her - that was definitely not how flowers smelled like.

She staggered backwards, almost losing her balance. The world spun around her as she struggled to regain footing, only to feel herself fall forward onto the ground. As if all the strength in her body were drained from her, she could barely even make out a soft "help" before her eyes were rolling behind and she was plunged into darkness. In the darkness, her mind uselessly supplied, 'chloroform'.