I always wondered why Shirayuki didn't just cover her hair completely after the first time she was kidnapped to avoid trouble. And then I thought that Claudia might have the sense to do something like that (she has bright red hair, just like Claire), although, she might reveal her true self later (most likely) so it's more dramatic like this. I also really like the idea of Claudia, Charon, Bobby and Illness hanging out, I think that they would have a good balance. So, that's how this happened.
I don't own Snow White with the Red hair or Baccano, otherwise they might be very different stories.
Chapter 1 - A Chance Meeting
Prince Zen, Mitsuhide, Kiki and Shirayuki had been traveling from the neighboring kingdom of Tanbarun on their way home. The setting sun had painted the sky hues of purple, pink and gold. The path led them along a cliff that overlooked a raging river. Autumn had changed the color of the leaves to oranges, yellows and reds with just a few still green.
Something that none of them seen scared the horses. Mitsuhide's horse, which Shirayuki was also riding, reared and threw them both. Mitsuhide had somehow managed to push Shirayuki so that she didn't fall off the cliff. Unfortunately, he wasn't that lucky.
As he was fighting against the current, he could hear their voices calling after him. The icy water was making it hard for him to move. He was having difficulty keeping his head above the water. As he was moving further and further from them the rocks and debris in the river were cutting him up.
Suddenly, a strong arm grabbed his collar. He gripped onto the arm that grabbed him and pulled himself up with the help of the other. It took him a moment to catch his breath again.
He had expected to see Prince Zen or even Kiki but it was neither. A young man, perhaps in his early teens, had pulled him to the bank and walked away. "Thank you so much." Mitsuhide said, but it seemed like he was being ignored. A fishing rod and a small pile of fish lay on the ground nearby. Without a word, the boy took his things and started to walk away.
"Hey!" Mitsuhide called, walking after him with a slight limp. There was blood around his upper thigh on his right leg but he did his best to ignore it. He quickly caught up and looked at the boy, "Hey?" The boy's face held no emotion. His eyes were yellow, just like Obi's, although a little less cat-like. He vaguely wondered if they came from the same country.
The boy glanced at him to acknowledge that he had heard. "I- uh, wanted to say thank you." The boy kept walking at his slow pace. The boy nodded but said nothing. Through the trees he could see a small fire that he assumed was the boy's.
As they approached he noticed three other children about the same age as the boy, two girls and one boy. One of the girls had the same yellow eyes as the first boy and a intricately patterned silk scarf wrapped around her hair, hanging down the middle of her back, clashing against her simple cream dress and brown flats. The other was a rather sick looking girl, with dark rings under her eyes. The other boy was normal looking in comparison.
"You were supposed to just get some fish, not a guy." the other boy smirked. The first boy ignored him while he and the sickly-looking girl took the fish over to the side to prepare for cooking. While they were doing this, the other girl walked up to him and stuck out her hand, "My name is Claudia." He shook her hand and replied, "I'm Mitsuhide."
She had the opposite disposition as the first boy. Where he was stoic and reserved, she was warm and bubbly.
She smiled and gestured to were the two others were working with the food. "You've already met my brother, Charon. And that lovely lady is Illness."
He couldn't help making a face. They actually called this girl 'Illness'. That was a bit cruel. He didn't think that he could call her that.
The other boy cleared his throat so the girl crossed her arms and said, "Oh, and that guy is Bobby." She dismissed him. "Hey!" Mtisuhide smiled at their banter. His friends liked to tease him in the same way.
Claudia sat by the fire and gestured for him to join her, "You look cold." she said. Mitsuhide nodded, "Yeah, thank you." He held his hands in front of him to warm himself. He was grateful for the fire, otherwise tonight would have been pretty hard.
"So," Claudia continued with an impish smile, "Don't tell me you were swimming when you met my brother?" Mitsuhide blushed a little, "Ah, no. I was actually with my group when my horse threw me. If your brother hadn't saved me when he did, I don't think I would have survived. I owe him my life." He could see her eyes sparkling, "I hope that isn't forgotten in the future."
While they were talking the sickly-looking girl came over with one of their blankets, which he took gratefully. "Um, mister?" she asked, "Would you mind if I looked at your wounds? I have some experience in that field." Charon was placing the skewered fishes in the ground around the fire so that they could cook. "I wouldn't mind at all. Thank you all so much." Mitsuhide responded
He sat still as she touched his face, neck and arms. Her face was now very serious. She unbutton his shirt and touched his chest, examining him thoroughly. He shivered at the cold air. Next, she took out a small dagger and opened the rip in his pantleg even further. He hadn't noticed that there was something in his leg, a small piece of wood or something. "That's nasty," Bobby mentioned.
The sickly-looking girl nodded, "Yeah, it's going to need to come out. And it's going to hurt." Upon hearing this, Charon stopped turning the fish and produced a small paring knife. He took a piece of a branch, about as thick as two fingers and as long as a hand, and started to strip the bark from it. While he was doing this, the sickly-looking girl stepped over to a sack and started looking for something.
Bobby was looking at him curiously, "Hey, uh, where are you headed anyway?" "I live in Clarines." Mitsuhide responded. He didn't need to tell them what he did there. "Really?" Bobby seemed a little surprised. "That's where we're going. We have some-" But Claudia bumped him. "It's not important." she said, looking away.
He wanted to know what she meant but at that moment Charon handed him the naked piece of wood. "You'll want this." He tapped his lips and went to check the fish again.
The sickly-looking girl brought over an armful of stuff, it looked like bandages and creams. "I'm going to work on the other injures first and your leg last. Even though it is the worst, you're not going to want me to mess with you after." "Don't worry, I'm tougher than I look." he assured her, but she just shook her head.
He was surprised at how quick and skillful her hands were. She worked with determination and focus, getting the job done quickly. When she had finished with the minor things, she pushed on his shoulder gently until he was laying on his back. Then she wrapped the blanket around his arms and shoulders. She took the naked piece of wood, put it in his mouth and waited for him to clamp down on it.
As she lifted the back of his knee she called for Bobby. When he came over he held up his leg, "Hold him still." Mitsuhide could hear the ripping of cloth as his pantleg was opened further. He couldn't really see what was going on from his position, but that was probably for the best. He could feel a tourniquet being wrapped around his upper thigh.
When the process started he closed his eyes tightly. The wood crunched under his teeth. It probably didn't take as long as if felt and it was soon finished. He was panting heavily as the tourniquet was released.
"Get some sleep," said one of the girls, "We're going to leave early in the morning."
