It was just the eve of summer when they met.
The gentle and humid wind blew in Kagura's face as she made her way over to the coffee shop. The beach was just across the street, and she left her apartment a little while ago.
As she entered, the cool air whipped her body and a shiver sparked up her spine. She wasn't wearing her white jacket or her gloves on this hot day, and it had its own advantages and disadvantages. Not looking anywhere else, the swordswoman approached the line and stood. As her head lowered and her hands sunk into her pockets, thoughts flew into her mind, the guild, her nakama, why Mermaid Heel's master had not been present, ever since the beginning of the Grand Magic Games.
So deep into her thoughts, Kagura did not notice that everyone else who was appointed before her in the line had already ordered. The people at the back of her were close to saying something, even tapping the shoulder of the mage, but did not want to anger her. They witnessed her wrath against Erza Scarlet at the Grand Magic Games.
The swordswoman observed the stillness of the situation, and swiftly moved her head to the right. Awaiting her was a wide space, leading to the cash register.
Blushing in embarrassment she blurted apologies to the people at her back and rushed up to counter.
She was confronted with a handsome young blonde, about her age. "Took you long enough." As she was about to blast one of her signature retorts at him, he showed off his sharp white teeth in a cocky smirk that ceased her anger. "Rogue, take this air-head's order!"
Kagura's eyes widened in disbelief. "Air-head? Did you just call m-"
The blonde was already walking away, but that's when Kagura saw him. He was around the same height as the blonde, with jet black hair and deep dark red eyes. The man had a muscular build, but it was hidden over a tight black shirt and the evergreen coffee shop apron. "Hello, I'm Rogue and I'll be taking your order today. What would you like?"
At a loss for words, Kagura tried to remember what she was going to order. "I- um, I'll have a vanilla frap." She took the jewel out of her pocket and reluctantly used her fingers to scootch them towards him.
Rogue's red orbs stared into her brown ones, just for a little longer than usual. "Of course. Here's your receipt." His hands drifted to see the thin paper dispensing out of the small machine. "And, here's your change. What's your name-so I can put it on your cup?"
"...Kagura."
Sharp canine teeth were flashed in a smile that shot an arrow at her heart. "I like that name. It sounds beautiful. Kagura. Kagura, Kagura, Kagura."
Each time he said it, she felt more blood rushing up to her face. "Thanks."
"Ok then, I guess I'll see you in a bit, Kagura." A closed mouth smirk appeared on his lips. "With your drink."
Kagura nodded then quickly slipped away to the couches that were placed all around the room. There was something about the way he looked at her, the way he stared into her eyes. Kagura used to not believe in boys having the capability to turn a girl on. Then suddenly she saw another girl go up to order. She spoke in a flirtatious tone, and Rogue replied in a similar way. A spark of jealousy crossed her emotions, but it was halted when he called her name again. She approached the other side counter to pick up her drink, but Rogue was still putting spice on the whipped cream.
As he finished up, he pressed the lid onto the drink and smiled as his eyes drifted to her. "Here you go." Kagura waited for him to place the drink on the counter, but he never did. His hands remained on the drink. Kagura's right hand moved forward to take the drink. As she placed her hand on the drink her hands clasped over Rogue's. Staring at the two hands together, Kagura noticed that Rogue never ejected his hand. She looked up, expecting a smirk. Instead, there was a concerned expression, but it was looking at her wrists. Rogue was eying at the various slash marks on her arm.
As soon as she saw his eyes looking there, she snatched the drink away. "Thank you." Kagura swiftly exited the coffee shop, but she knew that Rogue was still staring at her.
As she was walking down the road, away from the coffee shop, she begun to hear running footsteps behind her, followed by a hand on her shoulder. "Kagura."
Slowly, she turned around to see Rogue looking at her. "Your worth it, you know that? Life. You are. So stop. With that."
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Of course you do."
Silence filled the air, until Kagura finally decided to utter out a response. "You don't even know me."
"I want to, though. Come back tomorrow. To the coffee shop."
"Make me."
"Just give it a try. Please."
"Fine."
She turned her body away in a rush, and strutted down the road back to the guild hall.
It was that day when Kagura Mikazuchi met Rogue Cheney. It was later that season when she found happiness.