Disclaimer: Akagami no Shirayuki Hime doesn't belong to me. (If it did, things would be progressing much faster in the manga, believe me)
Warnings: Spoilers from the anime and a few of the manga, but very small and non important.
Notes: As you noticed this is an ObixShirayuki kind of fic, although I actually ship ZenxShirayuki completely. Is just that some moments in the story made me fall in love with Obi and I couldn't resist temptation. (And I shouldn't, because if I lose my high, then I wouldn't write anything)
Loyalty.
By: Evelyn Fiedler.
The sun finally was setting after a day of hard work and time-consuming tasks. Obi wouldn't complain though even when it was true that he wasn't used to this kind of life; one where you didn't need to constantly look over your shoulder to make sure that nobody was pursuing you and looking for ways to find food and shelter before the storm started raging.
It was, in all honesty, a life he never imagined for himself, being the unredeemed marauder and shinobi and all that. But nevertheless he found himself being grateful and happy. The Master was a good person and carried along a bunch of other good people who made worth the risks, the travels and the long sleepless nights.
Especially that one person the Master had encounter. A person with the uncanny ability to make people revalue their ideals and look at life from the brightest perspective possible.
The one that was still elbow deep in the soil, trying to create the perfect environment for some class of important herb to grow in. The dirt covered her white robe, her face and uncommon red hair, but she still managed to look pretty…although Obi would say that weren't her looks what made her so very unique, no, he would say that it was the way her mouth was pressed and her eyes focused in absolute concentration.
He sighed and smirked. What a trouble she was.
He felt them approaching before they were even close and he smiled because he liked them a lot and had been able to develop a level of trust unparalleled.
"Mitsuhide-san, Kiki-san!" Shirayuki exclaimed, beaming widely "What are you doing around here?"
The royal attendants of his Highness Zen, the second prince of Clarines approached them with pleasant expressions so Obi relaxed his posture. Nothing was wrong, small blessings.
"Hello Shirayuki, Obi" Mitsuhide said happily "We were finishing some errands for Zen and we came to invite you to diner with him, he's trying to avoid food until he's done with work but that could last another couple of hours"
"So you're using Mistress a measure of pressure to make Master eat? How devious" Obi commented lightly. Kiki smiled in a sharp kind of way and nodded.
"In the past we couldn't do much when Zen choose to be inattentive about his needs, but Shirayuki here has proved to be an excellent method"
Said redhead blushed a little but smiled brilliantly.
"I will make sure that Zen eats properly. You can count on me!"
Mitsuhide and Kiki exchanged conspiratorial looks.
"Excellent. He's in his study" Mitsuhide said. Shirayuki stood up and was ready to depart when she realized that the assigned work for today wasn't done still and it would take good two hours more. A conflicted expression marred her features and before she could said anything Obi jumped down from the branch he was leaning on and dusted his trousers.
"I will take care from this point on, Mistress. I will report to Ryuu your annotations and will bring him all he asked for. Go and make sure Master is behaving"
Obi would later berate himself for acting out of impulse, but the brightening of her face was payment enough; it was like gazing at the most stunning dawn and Obi couldn't really do less. He decided he would do anything on his power to keep that expression on her face.
"Thank you Obi! I'll make it up to you somehow!" and she sprinted away.
Obi kneeled in front of the bushes of herbs and started the gathering that was needed under the watchful gazes of both guardians and just then, he realized that he had blown his cover completely and there was no turning back.
Inwardly he punched himself, outwardly he discretely gazed at Kiki and Mitsuhide. The former was looking in the direction where Shirayuki had gone and the latter was frowning at him pensively. After some seconds in silence, they started walking away synchronized in a way that spoke of years of working together.
It was Kiki who made the declaration which strengthened their bond even deeper.
"We admire you Obi" her voice was soft and faint "The sacrifice you are making for them is admirable. Please count on us on everything"
And they left.
It was after the disaster in Lyrias that Zen confronted Obi about that topic. The young spy was hoping that it would pass like water under the bridge but fate wasn't quite so merciful sometimes.
Being sincere, he was worried when a phantom look crossed Zen's eyes. They were looking outside from one of the towers; the landscape was truly awe inspiring with all that snow and ice forming patterns and glacial structures. It was one place to add to his personal top five.
But then his attention was distracted with that look and he wondered it this meant a permanent farewell.
"That hair ornament you gave her is beautiful"
Obi only nodded and sobered completely. His mind unfolded his cope mechanism and he started the process of distancing himself from his emotions. It was the only way to survive and he most of all, was a survivor. He would miss them terribly, but if it was the Master's will, he would have to accept it.
Zen looked up at Obi and for a long time they exchanged glances directly and in the end a sort of understanding passed through them. The prince surprisingly bowed and with tightly clenched fists said something Obi wouldn't have expected in a million years.
"I understand if you want to leave, she would too if she knew we're making you suffer this much. Even if we don't want to build a future without you in it, it's cruel and I don't want any friend of ours to go through that. And…and if you want to fight for her I understand too. I will give my best and expect the same. You are a great guy, you have the same opportunities and-
"What the hell are you talking about, Master Prince?" Obi interrupted, bewildered. Zen straightened and the look of hopelessness struck Obi hard in the chest.
"It's hard not to notice the way you protect her, Obi. You care for her and have been accompanying her all this time, and she's happy with you too. She trusts you"
Obi felt his chest flutter and had to breathe to avoid blushing. He was elated to hear that, but his Master was forgetting something important, vital even.
"She had made her choice already, Master. That's all that matters"
Zen was taken aback and his eyes widened. Obi smiled a bit wistfully; he had grown to like the Master as well and was grateful to being able to participate in the making of the future besides him.
"It's all right, Master. I want to be here to make sure you and Mistress get what you want"
Zen then extended his hand and before Obi stretched it, he swore he saw a bit of glistening in the prince's eyes.
Some days were easier than others.
Some days there was so much work to do that it was simple to sink in it until the moon was high in the sky and the only thing in mind was rest and bed and unconsciousness.
Some other days it was like training his resilience. They would go to the market or to the flower gardens and she would talk about so many things in rapid succession that he would need to pay close attention to not miss the course of the conversation. He would listen to her and would rediscover the great intelligence behind the prettiness and it would be hard to suppress the urge to reach out and touch her hair or her face.
She was such remarkable woman.
But then she would make it easier for him and would start talking about her latest travel with Zen to Laxdo, or perhaps a guard would make it easier, whatever happened first. Like this time, for example.
"Shirayuki-sama!" the poor guy panted when he approached them, but without fault, he bowed deeply and blushed "Your Highness, Prince Zen and His Majesty Izana are looking for you, they said you hadn't permission to leave your rooms under your condition…"
Shirayuki frowned stubbornly and hide behind Obi.
"Tell them that I'm with my guard and that stop being such dramatic queens. I'm not sick and neither going into labor any time soon, thank you very much"
The guard paled but complied and started running back.
"You know they are going to unleash all their fury to the guard, right Mistress?"
Shirayuki shook her hand dismissively.
"Bah, they worry too much. Let's keep walking Obi, it was medic orders to walk frequently to avoid swelling and overweight"
Obi obeyed and they continued their strolling. With a sideways glance he made sure that the heavily-seven-months pregnant Princess of Clarines was alright. He couldn't wait to start training a small master or mistress. It would be another adventure.
Okay, this is it. I hope you liked it. I don't know if I will publish anything more in this fandom but it's a possibility as long as the manga is still going. Let me know your opinions in a review?
Love,
Eve.