Obi entered the building and felt the warmth flood over him. But, in his opinion, it wasn't warm enough. He ducked back out, grabbed a few logs from the stack, and went back in, throwing them on the fire. Then he looked over, surprised that Shirayuki hadn't greeted him yet. She was sitting on a stool, resting her chin in her hand, and staring pointedly at the crystal. Obi walked in front of her and waved.
"Hi, Shirayuki!' he said brightly.
"Huh? Obi! When did you come in?"
Obi grinned and rubbed the back of his head. "Just a minute ago. Hey, you look tired. Why don't you be done for tonight?"
"No, I'm close, but not yet."
So Obi waited a few minutes., absently poking at the fire. But he saw that her focus was wavering. He got up and walked over to her.
"Come on, Shirayuki! I'll get you something to eat, and you haven't eaten since six, so," He glanced at the clock. "Three hours. You've got to be hungry."
"Well, I guess that I would like some tea."
"Yes! I'll get you tea then. Here's your coat. Let's go!"
Shirayuki followed Obi outside. Obi tipped his head back, breathing in the cold, fresh air. He tapped Shirayuki's shoulder, "Look."
The clouds had cleared, and many brights stars were twinkling above the dark city.
"Ahh! It's so beautiful! Oh." Shirayuki walked along, one hand on Obi's arm to keep her moving straight, her face upturned in wonder. "It's so bright tonight."
Obi smiled down at her. Suddenly, a breeze wafted towards them brought the warm scent of dumplings. He guided her to the small shop. It was not until he had bought the dumplings and they were covered in their sticky, sweet sauce that Shirayuki looked down.
"Thank you, Obi."
"No problem. Anything to get out of that stuffy little room." Obi laughed, and Shirayuki laughed with him.
"It has been a long day. I sent Ryuu home a while ago."
"I see."
Obi and Shirayuki walked along, enjoying their skewered dumplings. After a few minutes, Obi steered towards Shirayuki's favorite tea shop. Yuzuri was working there, and she and Shirayuki struck up a lively conversation while they drank the steaming tea. Obi watched Shirayuki with a smile on his face, grateful that, for the moment, she was all his to take care of. Her face, all lit up and happy, was the most beautiful thing in the world right now. But then her cup was empty. She told Yuzuri goodbye and Obi led her to her room.
His last shift assisting the guards started at ten, which would be-five minutes ago! Obi made sure that Shirayuki was fine and then ran out and took his post again. After a while, it started to get cold, and his thoughts naturally turned to things warm and comforting. Fires, Shirayuki, hot tea, steaming bowls of soup, Shirayuki, nice warm beds, hot baths, Shirayuki, sitting by a warm fire and watching Shirayuki work, eating the nice hot dinner with Shirayuki and Ryuu, walking along, eating dumplings with Shirayuki. Soon enough, his shift was over. Obi shook his head. No doubt about it, he was never going to get over this girl.
He headed back to his room. Passing through the hallway where Shirayuki's room was, he saw that her door was open. Chilling thoughts ran through his mind. He ran into the room. She was still in her bed, fast asleep. He looked underneath the bed, in the closet, in the bathroom, nothing. Perhaps she had forgotten to shut the door? Obi finally breathed a sigh of relief when Ryuu walked by in his pajamas, shutting the door… and it slowly creaked open again. The latch must be stuck.
Obi knelt by Shirayuki's bed. She was safe, and happy. So he was happy too. Obi kissed the tip of his finger, and then pressed it lightly to her finger, laying outstretched on the bed. She shifted in her sleep, closing her hand, as if to hold the kiss to herself. Obi smiled, and tiptoed out of the room.
He told the guards at the end of the hallway that the door would have to be fixed in the morning, and to keep an extra good watch tonight, and then he went to bed.