Author's Note: 'Sup -Dreamers! No, I haven't given up on my other stories, but I've been dying to write a Snow White with the Red Hair AU for a while now. This is my OC x Obi, because I absolutely love Obi, but I ship Shirayuki and Zen way too much to give Shirayuki to Obi. This story is my soul wanting Obi to find someone else to love and move on, even though I know that he will probably always love Shirayuki to some degree.
I can see the beauty of one-shots, but this turned out too good to leave this as one chapter. Needless to say, there will be more to come.
I own nothing but my own sh*t and ideas!
~Enjoy –Dreamers!
Siren
From the beginning I had no one. Abandoned far too early to even hope of remembering any name I may or may not have been given, I chose my own, deciding on Siren when I was old enough to read, because of my love for singing. I was an accidental and entirely unwanted child, the product of rape or of a prostitute, I may never know. I slept under bridges and in alleyways, I ate out of the trash to survive. As I grew older, I started to do odd jobs here and there for cash, traveling from town to town to look for work.
But as I started to develop physically, I feared for my safety, so I started dressing as a boy, donning big clothes to hide my figure, and tightly binding my chest with bandages to hide some of my curves. The skipping town thing became somewhat of a necessity, as I decided it safer not to remain in one place for very long. The longer I stayed, the more likely it became for someone to put two and two together and recognize me as a girl.
However, it was nearly impossible for me to hide my eye color, which was a grey silver. In some lights they could appear as a light, icy blue, or even lavender, especially at dawn or sunset. Their unusual shade sometimes drew unwanted attention, and not just from men either. From peasant to nobles, people who noticed my eyes often told me how jealous they were, wanting the oddity of my eyes' hue themselves.
Other than my eyes, though, I was rather short and stringy, only having meat where it counted. I let my dark wavy hair grow out, but it annoyed me greatly. When it was long I could at least tie it up with a ribbon or a hair stick, but in the past when I had cut it short my frizz made it look like an uncombed mess, small pieces sticking up this way or that of their own accord.
It was common for me to sport bruises, as some towns people couldn't seem to distinguish me from a starving kid digging around in their garbage from a rat scurrying around in filth. Sometimes they threw old plates at me if I was lucky, as those were easy enough to dodge, but more than once I found myself cornered in alleys and beaten by things like broom sticks or metal pipes.
As the need for some form of self-defense became apparent to me, I made it a point to scour out dojos to learn things like swordsmanship and martial arts. I never stayed in one place long enough to let myself get attached to anyone, but each of my masters always left me with memorable words of wisdom which I carried with me. Later, I taught myself how to throw knives and use a bow.
Now in my teens, I think I should be like sixteen or seventeen now, I've finally decided to dress like a girl again, though I still wore pants beneath skirts out of habit. The flowing fabric was pretty enough, but it made it slightly harder to hunt and climb trees, unless of course I slit the sides a little.
At some point I had become a sort of bounty hunter, earning my living by turning in the true scum of society; not starving children sleeping in the rain. I lived off the reward money, and could now afford the luxury of staying in an inn during the chill of winter.
I got by just fine, but there are times when the loneliness is crippling. During the holidays in the market place of a bustling town I feel like an outsider, as I watch families with small children and lovers clinging to one another, arms intertwined intimately. Whether in a romantic sense or in a more innocent one, I just want to love and to be loved by someone. I want to belong to a community and not feel like I'm alone when I'm surrounded by people. Perhaps I am simply a hopeless romantic.
A Forrest in Wysteria
I had been trailing after a wanted criminal for days, and if not for the rain, I would have captured and turned him already. I had caught word he was spotted in the town nearby, and had staked out in the trees overnight, positioning myself within sight of the single road in and out of town. Turns out my sources had been right after all, as the man in question suddenly came into view, his horse's footsteps announcing him like thunder. Standing up and readying my bow, I took aim, and shot the swine in the arm. I fired another arrow, this one pinning him by his shirt to the tree behind him.
"Having a little trouble there?" I taunted cockily, glad to have finally caught up with him. "With the money I'll get for turning you in I can finally afford to take shelter from this rain."
"You bitch!" the man cursed in anger and in pain, struggling in vain to free himself from the tree.
Knowing that he was securely pinned to the tree before me, I leapt down from my own tree, stepping out into the open.
Mistake number one.
Pulling off my pack, I produced a rope to tie him up. "I won't kill you if you don't struggle. Let me tie you up, and I'll patch up your arm. I'm sure the soldiers will eventually take you to see a real doctor after-"
This time it was my turn to scream out in pain, as an arrow lodged itself deep in my own shoulder. Frantically, I searched the canopy for the shooter, taking cover behind a tree. So the bastard wasn't alone after all.
Wincing at my fresh injury, I took a deep breath, and ripped the arrow out of my back as quickly as I was able – at least, I tried to.
Mistake number two.
The men shooting at me came into view, thinking that they had won. I smirked, despite my injury. They came at me, swords drawn.
Mistake number three.
Zen and Shirayuki had been on holiday, today marking the last night of their journey back to the castle. Both had cleared their schedules for a full three days, working late into the early hours of the morning completing mountain after mountain of paper work to the point of exhaustion. Prince Izana had of course been against the two of them frolicking around town together, to the annoyance of Zen, but he had promised to bring escorts with them so that they could avoid any scrutiny. Accompanying them were Mitsuhide, Kiki, and Obi.
The five of them had been making great time, and may have arrived at the castle that night if not for the rain. Now soaked, the decision to retire at an inn for the night and dry off was unanimous.
"Welcome!" exclaimed a man at the front desk of the inn. "Couldn't beat the rain?" he joked.
"Unfortunately," Zen mused. "Do you have any rooms left?"
"Just one. Forgive me, but it was all that I have left," replied the man, taking in their large group. "The room has two beds, but I have a few extra cots I can bring upstairs to you if you'd like."
"Excellent. That will more than suffice," Zen thanked him gratefully. A small sneeze from Shirayuki made the prince quick to pay for the room.
"Obi and I can bring up the extra beds," Mitsuhide offered, turning to help the innkeeper, while Kiki said she would go upstairs to put their things away with Zen and Shirayuki.
"That sounds like a lot of work," Obi complained, before waggling his eyebrows at the girls mischievously. "We could always share beds."
Zen and Mitsuhide furiously defended their honor as gentlemen by denying to have ever consider something so vulgar. Shirayuki blushed a crimson almost as deep a red as her hair, and was rendered unable to speak. Zen and Shirayuki had exchanged a glance only lasting a second before each had looked away from the other. He was as red as she was. Kiki only glared at Obi, and then at Mitsuhide for having so energetically fought such an idea. Seeing this, Mitsuhide had instantly put his foot in his mouth by trying to take it all back, feeling he had insulted Kiki by so readily not wanting to sleep by her.
Obi had burst out laughing, holding his stomach as it escaped him, finding it amusing that his little off handed comment had caused such a riot.
"Relax, Master!" Obi continued, as Zen pummeled his side with a barrage of punches. "I only meant for protection! Who knows what kind of weirdos are lurking around out there?" As he said this, he winked at the girls suggesting, though it was obvious he didn't mean any harm.
"The only one we need any protection from is you, Obi," Mitsuhide deadpanned, before grabbing Obi by the arm, and pulling him away from Zen, who was still swinging at him. "Come on, let's go get the beds. So that we can all sleep separately."
The innkeeper laughed heartily at their banter, and the men fought to regain their composure at the realization that they had an audience.
"There is some truth to what your friend says," announced the innkeeper, suddenly turning serious. "A wanted criminal was sighted on the outskirts of town today. He had brought a bunch of mercenaries with him, too. They haven't been caught yet, so best stay inside tonight."
Zen and the others exchanged worrying glances.
"We had no idea," Kiki admitted.
"I mean I thought it was kind of weird that no one was outside since its still so early, but I assumed it was because of the rain," Obi recalled. "We would've been on our guard if we had seen anyone who looked afraid or panicked."
"Is everyone in the village alright?" Zen asked suddenly, worried for their safety. This village was by the boarder, but these villagers were still his people.
"I wish I could assure you that everyone is fine, but I cannot," the innkeeper answered grimly. "Rumors say that a single girl stood up to the bandits. From what people are saying, she was a hell of a fighter, too. Unfortunately, eye witnesses say that the girl was gravely injured somewhere by the riverbank at the edge of the forest."
Shirayuki gasped, her hands flying up to cover her mouth. "Has anyone tried to help her?"
The innkeeper shook his head, his face grim. "Everyone is too afraid to go outside. The bandits could still be nearby." Then the innkeeper clenched his fists angrily. "I would go looking for her myself, but I can't leave the inn unattended. Every guest under this roof is under my protection, I can't just abandon my tenants. Besides, there is no doctor in this town. Even if we were lucky enough to find her, it's not like anyone could properly treat her if she is as seriously injured as the reports say."
"And what do the reports say?" Shirayuki asked tentatively.
"…That she was shot in the shoulder with an arrow," the innkeeper said grimly. "I don't know if she sustained any other injuries, but I don't know how long she'll make it, especially out in this rain."
"Zen," Shirayuki said suddenly, her tone and expression speaking volumes.
"Kiki. Mitsuhide. Obi, you too," Zen called suddenly, getting everyone's attention.
"This doesn't concern us," Mitsuhide scolded, but he knew that his Master's mind was already made up. "Alright. But we can't all go. Someone needs to stay behind with our belongings and tend to the horses."
"It would be best if Shirayuki and Zen remain here," Kiki stated. "I will remain behind as well. Mitsuhide and Obi can look for the girl."
"Kiki!-"
"Zen, she's right. I can't defend myself, and while I'm used to being outside, I doubt I could keep up with them in the mountains. If this was something as simple as a search and rescue, then we could all go." And you're a prince.
"Obi has the best tracking skills, but he can't go out on his own," Mitsuhide added, agreeing with Kiki. "I will accompany him."
It was times like this that Zen truly hated his title, neglecting someone in need to protect his own skin as a ruler of Wysteria. However, he couldn't leave Shirayuki's side if there was any chance of the bandits lurking around near the inn. He only just got her back from the Claw of the Sea.
"Hurry back you two," Zen ordered. I want both of you back in under an hour, or I'm coming after you myself."
"Have a little faith in us, Master!" Obi exclaimed, acting hurt, before his playfulness melted away all at once, as he turned to face Shirayuki. "We'll be back, Miss."
Not a moment later, the two men departed on horseback. While galloping along in the pouring rain, Mitsuhide spoke.
"I can't move through the trees like you can, so you take the forest. She might be sheltering from the rain," Mitsuhide began. "I can search along the river bank."
"Sounds like a plan. Here," Obi suddenly exclaimed, handing the reins of his still running to horse to Mitsuhide, before leaping into the canopy of the trees overhead, and disappearing from view.