TWO – Pain is Painful
The next morning, the sun gave Shirayuki's face a lick of warmth. Her eyelids noticed the heat and fluttered open, with her other eye closed due to that half of her face shoved into her pillow. She looked around, her eye feeling just a bit puffy. She felt something upon her cheek and brought her hand to it, feeling dried tears partied on it. Giving it a bit of a scratch, Shirayuki sits up with her legs bent so she can keep herself up with one arm. Both of her eyes wandered around her room to find the back of her body guard by the door.
He was sat there, with his legs slightly bent at the knees. The tip of his black boots touched the bottom of the door with some force. His back was slouched, leaning his elbows against his knees. In his right hand, where the glove covers his index and middle finger, was his ninja knife. His thumb caressed the cold metal, likely contemplating about the ceremony while Shirayuki watched.
"Obi?" Shirayuki beckoned him softly. He quickly got on his feet and turned around, looking over at the barely rested girl with apple hair. It was a mess, to continue, as her morning bedhead was never the best sight. Obi hadn't dared to change her into pajamas, which explained why she was still in yesterday's outfit. He held too much respect for Shirayuki and simply placed her on her bed and tugged a blanket over her body.
"Good morning, Miss," Obi spoke softly, staying at his spot. He placed his knife back into his pocket to allow his arms to stay at the sides of his body. "Did you sleep well? Do you feel better?"
"No, to both questions," Shirayuki choked, her eyes forming fresh tears as they coated her emerald eyes. She didn't want to cry again, but that wasn't in her control. They quickly started to stream down her cheeks, having her trace them as far as her eyes can see. She felt them drip down from her chin, and expected to feel them fall down on her free hand. But it actually dropped down on the scarf around her neck. "Hm?"
"Last night, you felt a little cold in your sleep," Obi informed her gently. "And I didn't want Miss to shiver, so I wrapped my scarf around your neck. I'm sorry to surprise you with it still on. I didn't want to disturb your sleep."
Shirayuki brought her hand to it, feeling its silky texture between her fragile fingers. She brought them up to feel the tears soaking in it slowly. She pinched the area a bit, hoping some would come off on her fingers. But it already sunk it and will dry in due time. But she smiled, realizing Obi's consideration.
"Thank you very much, Obi." Shirayuki cleared her throat, as her voice sounded raspy and dry. "For both the scarf and returning me back to the castle. I didn't mean to cause you trouble at all—"
"It was no trouble, Miss," Obi insisted, having Shirayuki pause from his words. She stared with awe, her lips slightly apart to reveal the gap. "I wanted to find you, I wanted to make sure you were safe and sound."
Their eyes locked upon each other from their gaze, her emerald ones staring into those amber ones. She noticed this genuine concern and worry in his eyes. He looked a bit frightened, seeing as he was there when she felt sick and was bawling her eyes out. She knew that she could always count on him, even if she didn't ever want him to see her at her worst moments. Obi was always there.
"I-I'm sorry…" Shirayuki broke the gaze, sitting up as she dropped her legs off the bed. Her hands were pressed down on the bed, having her shoulders rise slightly as she stared distantly at the floor. "But I can't stop crying right now…" Tears kept streaming down her cheeks and dropping to the ground, feeling herself wash with sadness again just like the previous night.
"It's okay, Miss," Obi said calmly. Although he was acting calm, Obi was definitely the opposite internally. He watched as the girl he cares about dearly was weeping in pain. He knew as good as anybody that she didn't deserve to feel such things. Such a beautiful and kind girl, always doing the right thing and giving back, was hurting so much. Obi dreaded it. "You may cry as much as you'd like. I don't mind."
Shirayuki nodded silently as thanks, weeping quietly with him in the room. Not that she minded, really. But she didn't want him to see her like this, so weak and vulnerable. But how could she ask to kick him out when he's been the first one there? She allowed his own will to decide whether he wants to be around or not.
"If I may ask you of something, Miss?" Obi began, looking distantly at her brown dresser. She hummed in response, indicating that she paid attention and approved his asking. "Might I excuse myself to get you some breakfast?" Shirayuki looked over at him and smiled, appreciating how sweet he was being at a time like this.
"You're excused." With her permission, Obi bows her adieu and begins for the door. But once he's at the doorway, Shirayuki whispers something only he could hear. "Thank you, Obi." Obi couldn't help but smile widely. No matter what state she was in, she was always the kind Miss she's been since they met.
"Anything for you, Miss." With that said, the body guard shut the door and escaped to the office of the Second Prince of Clarines.
"Zen…" Mitsuhide tried, looking down at the Prince as he sat on his office table. Oh, how he wished his aides understood his feelings at this very moment. Due to his recent engagement, Zen had forced himself to avoid Shirayuki for many days. One can only imagine how much he misses the apple of his eye. She was the brightness of his days and dreams in his nights.
"I am such an idiot…" Zen mumbled to himself, his eyes completely set on his desk. Nothing but pages were ornate on it, but he couldn't focus on signing. He was worried about Shirayuki and wanted nothing more than to see her. He even wondered where Obi was as he didn't find him in his bedroom nor at any trees near his window.
"Tell me about it," Kiki spoke coolly, receiving a pathetic glare from his female aide.
"Kiki, we're all on the same page here," Mitsuhide tried to soothe the situation but it was clear how tense everything was. Kiki and Mitsuhide support Zen in all he does, but they never expected this from him without running it through them. Especially when he hasn't even denied that he fully agreed to the wedding. "We're all not happy about this."
"Can you imagine how that poor girl is right now?" Kiki commented, studying Zen's bookshelf with no sheer interest of the literature. Although Zen hated how cold Kiki was being towards him, she was right. Zen has no idea about Shirayuki's feelings and he can't even go off to find Obi to ask since he has work to get done.
"Look, Kiki, I know that things are a bit—" before the Prince can resume his sentence, the devil spoken of came through the doors. He pushed them away with great force, using his anger to chain his power. All 3 watched as Obi stood straight by the doors, panting while still giving the Prince a boy.
"Master." Obi spoke his title with a bit of a more sour tone than usual. His 's' was always lisped a bit, but the word felt nasty to him all together. He was so angry with his Master, it was almost inexplicable. But, even then, he still has respect for him and his decisions as he does it for the good of his state.
"Where the hell have you been?" Zen began, rising from his desk to walk over to the body guard. "You weren't in your room, you weren't in the trees—you weren't even lurking around my balcony!"
"M'sorry Master, but you assigned me to be the body guard of Little Miss," Obi said honestly. "And last night, she escaped into the forest."
"She what?" Zen froze. Shirayuki had ran into a forest all alone?
"This time, I had to be the one to tail her," Obi began, diverting his amber eyes to the ground. He was reminded of the time when he helped Shirayuki run in the forest only to let Zen proceed after her. But this time, he knew Zen wasn't coming for her and Obi had to be her knight for once.
"Is she okay? Did you find her? Is she back at the castle?" Zen attacked Obi with questions as he grabbed his arms with shaky hands. Worry was washing over the Prince as he yearned for answers of relief.
"She's okay, Master, but…" Obi trailed off, knowing that his frustration would be let out and he'd approach Zen with a lot more emotion. He couldn't even dare meet those blue eyes without finding a reason to get all red.
"But?" Kiki entertained, glancing over at Obi and Zen. Mitsuhide was just as curious, the turquoise-haired aide watching the two. Obi had to bite his tongue to refrain from yelling, giving himself a few moments to calm before continuing.
"I have never seen Miss cry so much without being kidnapped or harmed in any physical way," Obi muttered the poisonous words. "I carried her back to her room last night and stayed with her until the sun rose."
Zen felt this painful throb in his heart, one almost resembling the pain Obi had felt the night before. Zen knew that Shirayuki wouldn't be too content about this, but to think she had been crying for hours was unbearable. He almost wanted it to be him to run into the forest and see those tears, but that would have made the feeling much worse.
"D-do you think I can get a message down to her?" Zen asked Obi, his grasp on the body guard disappearing as he removed his hands. Obi still couldn't lock eyes with his Master, unable to look at him without feeling angry with the Prince.
"Sure, but if it's going to be a long letter you intend to write, I can't right now," Obi informed.
"And why not?" Zen asked, a hint of harshness in his tone.
"Because I have to get Shirayuki breakfast and guide her through the castle," Obi said simply. "She had vomited yesterday's lunch and skipped dinner due to her instability. I must be there for her right now, Master. Surely you understand I cannot wait as she doesn't have the time."
"You're right…" Zen said with a sad ring. Backing away from his distant aide, he gives him a polite, farewell bow. "Thank you for the update and please continue to tend to Shirayuki and protect her. Please." Zen's voice broke at the last word, having him curse himself from his expression of emotion.
"Bye Mitsuhide, Miss Kiki," Obi said with a bow. Turning around, he weaves his hands together and sticks them at the back of his black head of hair. Kicking the door open with his foot, he walks out of the Prince's office and goes to grab breakfast for Shirayuki.