It was a normal and a bright day at the Barsburg Great Church. Everyone had woken up at 4 a.m. as usual. Sisters and bishop examinees had cleaned miles of different corridors. The bishops had held a mass and helped sisters with other works such as washing clothes and cleaning the courtyard within the big fountain. It was no wonder that some people were already yawning and looking sleepy. Only three people were wide awake and they were searching for a bishop who somehow had managed to completely fade away from peoples' sight.
"I don't think that he would be there, Kanon", said a copper-haired bishop known as Castor. The lavender-haired girl whom he had talked to turned around to face the bishop.
"But wouldn't it be better to look from everywhere rather than to look only from the places where you two think he could be?" asked the girl while glaring at a blond bishop who was obviously reading something very inappropriate. "And please take that book away from Frau."
"You're right about that, Kanon. He does have a peculiar ability to disappear from time to time", Castor agreed. "And we never know where or when he might doze off."
"Why aren't we looking from the greenhouses?" asked the blond bishop called Frau. "He might have gone there to water the flowers or something."
"I'll go to the Western greenhouse", Kanon announced and started running towards the said place. "I'll tell you if I find him!"
"Where in the world did he go this time?" Kanon mumbled as she ran up the stairs. After almost ten minutes of running she reached the greenhouse on the rooftop of the western tower of the church.
"You better – huff – be here, - huff – Labrador. Otherwise I – huff – will personally – huff – pulverize you!" Kanon panted while leaning on a pillar near the staircase. She had used almost all of her energy to running and now she was sliding onto the ground of the greenhouse.
After a quick revive Kanon started to look for bishop Labrador. She first walked near the wall that was made of glass. After the walk she started looking near the tree roots as Castor had advised her but she found only air. She was almost going to give up before she heard a loud 'thump'. She turned around and saw Labrador lying on the ground. Kanon realized that Labrador must have slept on a tree before falling on the ground. Kanon walked to the place where Labrador was lying and tried to wake him up.
"Wake up, Labrador", Kanon said while shaking the said bishop. After a while Labrador yawned and opened his eyes.
"Oh, hello, Kanon", Labrador said while he was getting up. "What's the time? I think I dozed off again."
"It is 12 o'clock, Labrador", Kanon told. "Why did you stay up so late? You know that it's no good for you!"
"I thought that I should water the roses before going to bed", Labrador chirped happily. "I had realized that I had forgotten to do it earlier."
"You had asked me to do it for you", Kanon said while mentally slapping herself for not telling Labrador that she really had done that. "Aside from that, what were you doing on that tree?"
"I had helped a wounded bird that I found there", Labrador explained, "And then I fell asleep."
"You really have a great ability to fall asleep anywhere, Lab", Kanon mumbled before saying: "Let's go to tell Castor and Frau that I found you and that you're alright."
Kanon turned around and started walking towards the exit while Labrador followed her. They climbed down the staircase of the tall tower. Many people stared at the two as they walked towards the Eastern Greenhouse. It was mainly because Kanon wasn't wearing a normal sister outfit but a black coat with golden edgings. The other reason was the rumored relationship between the two. Part of the rumor was true as Kanon really did have a deep crush towards Labrador but the latter had no clue about it as Kanon never had had any courage to confess her feelings.
When Labrador and Kanon arrived to the Eastern Greenhouse they witnessed something very amusing. (At least to Kanon it was amusing because she had a tiny sadistic side…) They saw one of bishop Castor's sister dolls choking Frau as the first was yelling something incomprehensible to the latter.
"THAT WAS MY LINE!" Castor yelled angrily at Frau who looked like he couldn't breathe anymore. "BECAUSE OF YOU MY LIFE TURNED INTO A LIVING HELL FOR THREE YEARS! I AM NOT GOING TO FORGIVE YOU FOR THAT!"
"Stop it, Castor!" Labrador shouted with a somewhat upset face. "You're killing Frau!"
"Hello, Labrador!" Castor exclaimed happily while telling the sister doll to release Frau. "Good thing that Kanon found you! I was starting to get a little worried for you!"
"I'm getting a little worried for Frau", Labrador sighed. "You two can't be left out of peoples' sight or you'll kill Frau right away, Castor."
"Is it all right if I leave before he kills me?" Frau asked pointing at Castor. "I have to go help the children."
"Yes, please do so before someone really dies", Labrador said. As soon as he had ended his sentence, Frau fled away as fast as he could. After that, Labrador turned to Castor and said: "You shouldn't torment him so much, Castor. He didn't really mean to annoy you so much. He just voiced his opinions."
Labrador is really like a doting mother towards those two, Kanon thought as she plucked a candy-flower and started munching it. Although it is kind of cute, it doesn't suit him.
"I have some research to do, so I'll take my leave now", Castor said. "Can you keep an eye on Labrador, Kanon?"
"Of course I can", Kanon answered and waved to Castor. "You won't have to worry about us at all!"
"Remember that if something happens to Labrador, it is your fault", Castor said smiling. After finishing his sentence he left the greenhouse and Kanon and Labrador were left alone.
Kanon turned around to see that Labrador had already went to take care of his precious flowers. She smiled and sat down on the evergreen grass. She started to sing a song for the flowers. Her song was a long one this time and it consisted of eleven verses and had many different languages in it. After she had sung three verses she heard Labrador singing with her. She grinned and raised the speed and pitch of the song slightly which made Labrador do the same immediately. Their song was in a perfect sync.
Kanon stopped after the sixth verse and let Labrador sing it alone while she whispered "Je t'aime Labrador." Her cheeks turned slightly pink as she started singing the eighth verse with Labrador.
Neither of the two saw a growing black shadow outside of the window.