Disclaimer: I do not own Akagami no Shirayukihime

Summary: Canonverse, in which Shirayuki and Zen have a date after all their months a part, but Shirayuki can't stop thinking about Obi. ObiYuki. Fluff. Takes place after the most recent chapters.

~A New Path~

The snow danced and dazzled around Lyrias. The brief bits of sunlight made the snow sparkle like raining crystals. Beautifying the end of Shirayuki's shift. She wondered how long until the sun would break free of the clouds. From the looks of it, she'd give it another hour. And the way the clouds lined the sky, it would be one hell of a sunset later. Which was perfect for her evening with Zen.

It would be their first time being alone together—besides running into him in the library when he got back.

She was ecstatic and erratic. Her chest seized with nerves, making her breaths too big, and her head kind of dizzy. But her stomach churned and she was hit with a wave of nausea.

Wasn't she happy about her evening with Zen? She smiled at herself in the mirror, of course she was! Because time alone with him was rare. It was special. It was everything…but…

Her reflection frowned at her, and her frown deepened as she caught sight of it. Why was she frowning? She shook her head and smacked her cheeks twice. No, she was excited. Very excited.

Her thoughts moved to her apple hair. It's been getting longer, and she wondered if she ought to tie it up. Would Zen prefer it up or down? Or perhaps she should clip some of her hair back with the ornament he said he likes.

The one Obi gave to her.

The smile was back as she used the clip to pull back hair from her face.

She was ready. Her heart pulsed anxiously as she made her way to Zen. She glanced down at her feet, clad in boots, turned slightly inward from trepidation. She couldn't remember the last time it was just the two of them alone. She swallowed thickly. What would happen on this…date? If they kissed…she tugged absently on her hair. She didn't want to finish the thought because she felt sick. Perhaps she was coming down with something…

Zen should be outside by now. And she wouldn't make the Prince of Clarines wait a moment longer. So with one last cheek pat, she smiled and made her way outside.

True to his title, Zen truly looked like a prince set in a fairy tale. He looked beautiful, leaning against a pillar with the snow gleaming behind him. His smile was warm and inviting, reaching up to crinkle his eyes. Shirayuki smiled back. Whatever it was that she'd felt, it was nothing. There weren't doubts about anything. And her stomach no longer felt like upchucking its contents. It would be a wonderful date.

Zen took her gloved hand into his own gloved hand. She couldn't feel any warmth. In fact, she only felt the glove. And she was too hyperaware of the glove—its softness and plush material. Why was she thinking of this of all things? Normally, his hand would warm her to her cheeks and to the curl of her toes. But she didn't feel it right now. Nor did she feel comfort. In fact, she looked behind her, expecting Obi to be trailing there like a security blanket—her knight, ready to do whatever crazy idea she came up with next without protest.

"Where's Obi?" asked Shirayuki. She immediately felt stupid and wanted to face-palm herself. Of course Obi wouldn't be following them on their date. Why would he?

"Obi?" Zen repeated. "He's probably with Kiki and Mitsuhide."

"Right, right!" Shirayuki smiled, doing her best to shove down this bleh feeling that seized control of her.

Zen pointed ahead. "In fact, we are passing them right now."

And he was right. Obi was sitting on a ledge, while Kiki leaned back against it, arms crossed over her chest and Mitsuhide right beside her. Obi tossed his head back and laughed at something that was said, and knowing Obi, he was probably laughing at his own joke and most likely it was about Mitsuhide, judging from Mitsuhide's puffed out cheeks.

Something cold stirred around her. She tossed it off to the crisp winter air in Lyrias. And before she could finally pull her eyes away, Obi looked up and directly at her. His mouth quirked into a half smile and he waved.

Shirayuki smiled back, while questioning the skip in her heart. She turned back to Zen and suddenly she couldn't wipe the smile off her face.

"I hope those two figure it out," Zen said, stirring Shirayuki back to reality.

"What?" Again, her heart skipped. He wasn't talking about herself and Obi…right?

"Mitsuhide and Kiki," he said.

Shirayuki breathed in relief, but her cheeks now felt hot and legs felt like jelly.

"Me too." Without helping it, she looked back over, and while she meant to look at Kiki and Mitsuhide, her eyes found Obi's again.

"Master and Mistress," said Obi, and a chill ran down Shirayuki's spine at the word 'mistress.' Why was her body behaving like this? "If you guys keep looking over at us and whispering to each other, we're going to have no choice but to think you're gossiping about us. And, Mister, here," he pointed over at Mitsuhide, "is very sensitive to that."

Mitsuhide glowered and Zen chuckled softly.

"That guy…" Zen said as he caught her eye once more. "Shall we go to this mysterious place you plan to take me?" He gave a squeeze of her hand and suddenly Shirayuki was made aware again that they were holding hands. Wearing gloves. With no warmth to be exchanged. And nothing but a knotted stomach could be felt.

"We shall," Shirayuki said. She gave a squeeze back, but it made her uneasy. It felt too intimidate to be holding hands in front of their friends—a huge, overwhelming desire to hide it from them overcame her.

To hide it from Obi, in particular.

She looked back over her shoulder despite everything that told her not to—to only focus on Zen. And yet…She was already looking at Obi and his catlike eyes, which seemed honed in on Zen and her intertwined hands.

What is he thinking? The flutters in her stomach were like poisonous butterflies. The urge to be sick was strong once more. Because she couldn't be thinking about another guy while with Zen—the person she wants to be with.

Obi rolled his left wrist and squeezed his hand, and continued on with what ever the three of them had been talking about. There was a smile on his lips and against her better judgment, Shirayuki yearned for it to be directed at her.

Obi, then, shook out his hand and it was such an odd thought, but what his hand feel like? To connect palms and intertwine their fingers? Would his hand be callused? Would it be warm? Could she feel his warmth through a glove? He'd only touched her a few times, brief contact with skin, but Shirayuki never dwelled on it, despite every jolt it would elicit in her pulse because Obi was quick to end it. He clearly didn't like her touch. And she clearly liked his too much.

But what really struck her was why she didn't want him to see her holding Zen's hand. Why she felt guilty? It wasn't anything new or anything to hide. But it was as if Obi were her…

Knight. That was all he was. Her knight, who was wearing the necklace she had given him…

XOXOX

Shirayuki shoved all thoughts of Obi out her mind and focused on the date. She had the best idea for it. She led Zen into the snowy woods, to the place where Obi had taken her to the day he'd asked to be her knight. And there went shoving Obi out of her mind… Her cheeks warmed, and the ghost of a smile pranced onto her lips. The way Obi had looked at her that day, the way the sun rose in the background…

It was romantic.

It was beautiful.

It was everything.

It was with the wrong guy.

But this time, Shirayuki would be with the right guy. Zen. Only Zen. Because Zen would love it up here to watch the sunset. And while she'd watched the sunrise with Obi, the sunset with Zen would be just as impressive.

Probably.

She came prepared this time, having Zen carry a little picnic basket with a blanket for them to sit on. They wouldn't have long before the blanket would soak through, but if everything went according to her plans, they should be just fine.

"This place is beautiful," he said, sitting close to Shirayuki that she could feel the heat radiating off him. They were no longer holding gloved hands, but he settled his hand very close to her own. She fought the urge to move it.

"Isn't it?" said Shirayuki, still blue sky. The clouds had managed cleared a path for the blue to come through and for the snow to stop. "I'm so glad Obi showed me this spot."

"Obi took you and Ryuu here?"

"Not Ryuu," she said, shaking her head. "Just me. To watch the sunrise."

Zen's eyes flashed with something, as if he were working on a puzzle in his mind. "He woke you up early to watch the sunrise?"

Shirayuki shook her head again, hands toying with the hair ornament. Touching it brought back the memory of Obi putting it in her hair. She hadn't the slightest clue what he was doing at the time, but he'd made her heart race a million miles per second and her breath stop. At the time, she'd tossed it up to embarrassment and normal flustered reaction. But also, she couldn't stop thinking for the rest of the day that his hands were so gentle and swift, it was like being touched by the wind. A slow whisper of a breeze against her hair. And thoughts of why he gave it to her taunted the back of her mind. He knew she was self-conscious of her hair and yet, he gave her something that only aided to its beauty… Something that made her want to parade her hair…

Her mind fried.

Of all things to think about while on a date with Zen…

Why did she decide to wear it again? Oh right, Zen said he liked it. Yes, that was it. He liked how it looks. Not that it matters Obi gave it to her. Or that his hands were gentle—and again, what would his hands feel like in her own. No, no. Not these thoughts again!

Her hands curled into fists on the blanket.

"Shirayuki?" Zen's brows pulled in and his forehead crinkled. Ah, right, she wasn't acting normal and he had just asked a question.

"Actually, we never went to sleep that night. We were so busy working that when we finally found the solution, it was almost time for sunrise. And Obi took me up here and asked to be my knight."

"Solution?" Zen scratched his head.

Shirayuki forgot that there was a lot Zen didn't know. So much had happened since she'd last seen him. How do you catch someone up on everything? She did her best to. She spoke of all the small quests she and Obi did together. And about the necklace she'd given him and Zen smiled and listened to it all, laughed at appropriate parts, but there was something off-putting in the way he looked.

He grabbed a twig from the snow and cleaned off the snow dusting it.

"So much has happened in these past months a part." He mindlessly drew in the snow with it. "I wonder if we are still the same people who met back on that fateful day…"

"Zen?" Shirayuki glanced over. He was focused on the random lines he was drawing, no longer taking in the beauty of the nature and winter wonderland that surrounded them.

Shirayuki felt guilty. This was their date and all she has done was remind Zen of how much time has passed between them and mentioned Obi. Way too much Obi. It brought her back to the day when everyone came back to Lyrias, and she only had one thing on her mind—scratch that, one person. Obi. The second she'd heard he was back, she bolted to him—and grabbed his arms because she had to feel him. To make sure he was truly here and had come back to her in one piece. Albeit, he was injured and tried to hide it from her, but still. She could have cried from how relieved she was. And when he'd brought up that everyone was fine, that was when the guilt had set in. They were all afterthoughts. She had been so preoccupied about Obi, that no one else mattered for those few moments.

It was only Obi.

When did this happen, she wondered. When did Obi come before everyone and anyone else? When did Obi come before Zen? Or maybe it's always been Obi.

And when she reunited with Zen in the library, all she was relieved, but she was anxious. And she hadn't went to seek him out for herself and all she could wonder was why not.

But things felt clear as the darkening sky. Suddenly this date with Zen made her head hurt. Made her heart ache. It was obvious what she had to do. She had to be honest with him. That she didn't want to be withhim hanging out—no, she did, because she missed him, but it wasn't the same way she'd missed Obi. Obi who came back injured. Obi who tried to feign wholesomeness just so Shirayuki wouldn't worry about him.

And here Shirayuki was—with Zen—at the place Obi took her to. The very place Obi made her lungs fill up with too much air and her cheeks with too much heat.

It was clear how wrong it was for her to bring Zen here of all places.

It was clear what she had to do next.

"I think," said Shirayuki, "that we are still the same two people who met, but we are the same two people who are now discovering more about ourselves."

Zen smiled and held out his hand and Shirayuki took it.

It was a goodbye and an we'll be alright.

XOXOX

Shirayuki ran and ran and ran as fast she could. Zen had decided to end their evening early, and Shirayuki felt a rush of panic. Of what if it's too late to watch the sunset? What if Obi is busy? What if he's at another marriage meeting. Even though he claimed he's not interested in that, the thought still brought unease.

She tripped over something, a rock hidden in the snow. Her hands sank into the soft powder, it's icy sting came fast as her gloves soaked through. She chucked them off and shook out the cold burn, and forced herself to keep going. No time to spare!

When she made it to the square, Obi was still there, outside with Kiki. They looked like they were in the midst of a serious conversation, and if under different circumstances, Shirayuki might have questioned it.

"Obi!" She gasped and doubled over, resting her hands on her knees, trying to catch her breath.

"Mistress?" Obi and Kiki jumped. His pointed eyes shifted around. "What's wrong? Where's Master? Did something happen?"

"No," she said still breathing heavily. "He—let me—go ahead—and Obi!"

"What is it?" He frowned, his eyes shifting over to Kiki's and Shirayuki was very aware of herself. Of her frazzled hair and short breaths. Of her skewed clothes, snow covering her knees of her tights, and her ungloved hand being kissed by the frozen air. And despite it all, she felt hot, feverishly so.

"Sorry, Kiki, I have to borrow Obi!" Maybe fueled by the rush of her blood, Shirayuki daringly grabbed Obi's hand.

And he wasn't wearing gloves.

"We have to beat it!" And she took off in a run, kicking the soft snow behind her and Obi didn't let go of her hand, allowing himself to be led by her.

"What exactly are we beating?"

"The sun!"

Obi looked incredulous. Shaking his head, he smiled. "There's never a dull moment with you."

Her heart sparked, but she blamed it on the adrenaline from the run. And when they made it to the top, Shirayuki didn't release his hand. She reveled in it. His fingers seemed thinner than Zen's, and also longer. A little callused, but soft, too.

"So we are watching the sunset?" Obi blinked as confusion must have clouded his mind. "Weren't you doing this with Master?"

"I was," said Shirayuki, her cheeks turned red. Was it from the cold air burning her cheeks or was it from their run? Or was it something else entirely? She couldn't tell. "But I wanted you here, Obi."

"Me?" He pointed at himself and shifted his eyes side to side as if expecting this to be some kind of set up.

"You, and only you."

Obi didn't say anything, but he did take a step back. Like he couldn't believe what he was hearing and that the distance would make it clearer.

"I…" It wasn't easy to say. So, she tried to start again. "Remember when I said I found the path I want to take?"

He nodded. "The path to be Master's ally." He no longer wore a smile on his face. It looked more like a grimace mixed with apprehension. Like he was preparing himself for her to smack him. To be honest, she felt like she was smacking herself.

"Well that wasn't quite right…" Her chest seized up. The running. It was all the running, she told herself. She refused to give into her nerves. She clenched her hands at her side. "While I want to be Zen's ally, and it is still the path I want to take, I want to take your path, Obi."

Obi opened his mouth, but then shut it. Shirayuki was glad because she thought she'd lose steam if he'd interrupted. She squeezed his hand. "So please, Obi, stay with me and watch the sunset."

Obi's yellow eyes stared at their interlocked hands, and Shirayuki trembled. Her hands were so sweaty and she knew Obi could feel it, too. And Obi doesn't like touching, right?

She squeaked. "S-sorry. I shouldn't have—" She went to release him, but Obi's voice stopped her.

"Uh, Mistress, the sun has finished setting. And it set that way."

"Eh?!" Shirayuki whirled and saw that it had indeed set and that it was blocked by the forest they had ran through. She felt incredibly silly. Why would she think the sun would set the exact way it rose? Well, to be fair, plants are her specialty…

"The stars are nice though," said Obi, tilting his head back to look. He adjusted his hand in a way that their fingers fit better. And Shirayuki was pulled back in time. A time where she and Obi watched the stars from the balcony of Tanburan Castle. Except, back then, Obi had made jokes about telling Zen how much he missed him.

But this time there were no jokes about Zen to clear the air. It was just the two of them. The way its been for a while now.

"Yeah…the stars are beautiful." She didn't know much about astronomy, but she appreciated the still beauty of it. The twinkle in the sky, the warmth of Obi's hand, that spread all throughout her body.

"Anyway," said Obi, getting back on track it seems, "didn't I already tell you, Mistress?" His voice was as low and as soft as the wintery wind that danced around their hair. It should have been cold to her, but she never felt more hot. "Whatever path you take, I'll be sure to follow by your side."

He met her eyes and Shirayuki smiled, a real one, not tangled with nerves. She didn't know what was in store for them. But she held his hand tightly as he did back.

"Thank you, Obi." She leaned onto her tippy toes, snow frozen enough to hold her weight, and she kissed him on the cheek. A small peck, chaste by definition, but it left her lips tingling and her hands trembling.

"Shirayuki…" Obi's hand quickly cupped his face.

But all she could focus on was her name. Shirayuki.

What a beautiful sound.

It was the best thing she'd ever heard.

She smiled inwardly as they stayed in silence watching the stars, and his warm hand enclosed around her own.

A new path, indeed.

XOXOX

Hi! I am back with another random oneshot! I hope it's okay because honestly it's so hard to write obiyuki with Zen because I don't want to hurt poor Zen ;O;; And also? I feel like Shirayuki is kind of dense and hard to write POV in because then I feel like I'm ultra OOC with her? Maybe that's just me?

And wow is it hard to write in new fandoms because I have to remember to check over my spellings of names and places and all that. So I'm really sorry if any errors or mistakes in general!

Thank you for reading! Hope you all have a wonderful day! ^-^