-CHAPTER ONE-
She stares up at the gray sky watching the snowflakes trickle down and fill the courtyard. A small smile touches her lips.
The subtle crunch of footsteps warns her of his presence before she even catches sight of him. Butterflies flutter through her stomach and with a smile she turns away from the scenery. "Good morning, Obi." She glances up to the cat-like knight crouched on a pillar above her, folding snow in his hands.
He blinks down at her with surprise before smiling. "It's getting harder to surprise you, Miss," He muses. He leaps down beside her, pushing his hands into his pockets to warm them from the cold.
Together they enter the warmth of the Academy. The musk of coffee and old books lingers in the air. Scholars move throughout the building, seeming unfazed by the cold outside.
"Shirayuki!" A messenger calls to her, waving his arm to catch her attention. She and Obi stop as the man approaches them. Reaching into his thick side bag and retrieves a letter. He smiles, holding it out to her. "I have a letter for you, from the King of Clarines."
Obi and her exchange a glance of surprise. Obi steps forward and takes the letter. He glances down, reading the delicately inked inscription across the front. "It's King Izana's handwriting," He admits, holding the letter out to Shirayuki.
She stares down at it, dumbfounded.
"What do you think it says?" Obi asks, glancing over her shoulder.
She gently peels the top open and unravels the crisp, refined letter. She carefully reads the words written, but by the end of the letter, she's confused. She reads it again and again, her brain slowly registering the message.
"Zen's getting married..." the words escape her lips like an uncertain whisper.
Obi having read and understood it much quicker than her, rubs the back of his neck, uneasy. He watches anxiously as Shirayuki slowly lowers the letter to her side. She stares in the distance, an indescribable expression on her face.
"Miss..." Obi reaches toward her, growing concerned by her silence.
She walks forward, pulling her books tight against her chest. Obi frowns, watching as she stops a moment later, lowering her head.
He glances around the room. Even though the busy workers hadn't noticed them, he still felt that it was a good idea to get her away from prying eyes. He strides forward and takes a step past her, his hand finding her's limp at her side. "Come on, Miss," He says softly.
She comes willfully and silently.
They don't go far, turning around a blind corner and coming out to the breezeway above the lobby. He turns to her and his eyes widen at the despairing look on her face as she curls in on herself, tears silently streaming down her cheeks.
He frowns and takes a step forward, gently wrapping her in his arms. She presses her face against his chest and gentle cries quiver through her. Her slender fingers curl around the front of his shirt, clinging onto him like a life line. His arms tighten around her, wanting to shield her from the pain Izana's letter had unexpectedly caused.
When she finally settles it's with saddened eyes and a crestfallen expression. His gaze shifts down to the lobby, where the messenger speaks with the head pharmacist, smiling excitedly. He looks back to Shirayuki and he carefully pushes her hair away from her face. With a sneaking hunch he decides that today would be a good day for her to take a break from work.
"Should we return to your room, Miss?" He offers quietly. His ears twitch as the voices in the lobby grow louder.
Shirayuki hadn't even noticed the commotion in the lobby until he asked her such a question. The sudden joyful squeals and festive atmosphere brings a tightness to her chest. The dreaded words fill the whole room as the same messenger who handed her Izana's letter makes the announcement, "Zen Wisteria, is to be married!"
Shirayuki curls back in on herself and she hasfully nods in reply to Obi, accepting his offer. He quickly scoops her up into his arms and lunges out the window closest to them, wanting to get her away from the chaos as quickly as possible. She gasps and shoves her face against his chest, bracing as they land on the ledge. "Sorry miss. I wanted to get you away from there as fast as I could."
She only nods, her face still pressed against his chest. Part of him worried that she could hear the restlessness of his heart, the effect she had on him especially like this.
He catches sight of her dorm window but decides it would be better to give her space, so instead he climbs up to his window. He'd long ago forgone sleeping in it. Ever since arriving he found it more comfortable to sleep in Ryuu and Shirayuki's quarters with the rest of the herbalist. Something about it brought him comfort.
He enters the darkened room and gently sets her on her feet as he closes the window behind them. She sways, catching her balance on the near desk.
"Miss!" He comes to her side, gently placing his hand against her waist. She stares tiredly down at the floor, seeming unwell. "Are you alright, miss?"
She nods. "Just dizzy," She admits, quietly.
He frowns. He takes her arm and drapes it over his shoulders before lifting her back into his arms. "I can walk, Obi," She protests quietly.
He nods, saying, "But this is easier."
She says nothing, allowing him to gently set her on the bed. She sits on the edge and pulls her knees against her chest. Obi sits across from her, watching her blank, colorless expression as she stares endlessly at the floor. "You should rest, Miss."
She doesn't reply and with a concerned frown he raises to his feet, looking toward the doors across the room. He needed to see Zen about this.
"Obi."
He glances over his shoulder. She stares up at him, her eyes glossed with fresh tears. An unfamiliar tightness fills his chest.
"Will you stay?"
His eyes widen, then lower. He turns toward her. "Of course, Miss."
He seats himself on the chair beside the bed, leaning his head back with a deep breath.
"Why didn't Zen tell me?" She asks, quietly.
Obi glances over, frowning. He looks up at the ceiling, his jaw tensing. "I'm not sure, Miss. I can find out if you would like..."
She quickly shakes her head, lowering her gaze. "No, it won't make a difference," She whispers.
He stares down at her sleeping form, curled beneath his blankets, her hair spread across the pillows like a crimson wave. He reaches down, brushing his thumb over a small glistening tear lingering on her cheek. She'd fallen asleep crying. He realizes with pain tight in his chest. He frowns and lowers down beside the bed.
"I'm sorry." He whispers.
He turns away a moment later and gently slips his hand from her's. He opens the window and slips out into the night. With an intense bitterness swirling around him, he sprints through the darkened forest, hurling over downed trees and avoiding thick underbrush. If he kept his pace he'd reach Clarines by midnight.
The castle is still in the night, silence echos down the corridors. Guards move around the perimeter, yawning in absence of chaos. Obi pulls himself onto Zen's balcony, landing silently on top of the railing. The town glows behind him, a sight he always found comforting at a distance. He leaps down and scans the darkened room. He approaches the bed, expecting to find Zen spread across the sheets, sleeping.
"I had a feeling you would show up."
Zen's voice stops him cold. He tilts his head toward the wardrobe across from the bed. Zen stares up at him, a bottle of ale in one hand and a hopeless look.
Obi eyes him with surprise before slowly approaching. "You gave the little Miss quite a shock."
Zen frowns, averting his gaze. Tears glisten in his eyes and for a moment he closes them. "She heard then..." He mumbles under his breath.
Obi sits across from him and after having spent the day watching over Shirayuki, unable to ease her pain or prevent it, he felt bitter toward his master and bewildered that Zen would do such a thing.
"Izana told her without my consent. I Guess he thinks I've taken too long to do it myself." He scoffs and tilts his head back, taking another drink. "Or maybe he just wanted to break her heart before I could." He slams the cup down, scowling at the floor. After a moment he sighs and drops his head back, placing his hand over his face.
Obi frowns.