TEN – A Stroll With the Miss
"That scoundrel is working to vex me," Zen hissed, sitting at his desk with pure annoyance. Mitsuhide and Kiki both looked down at him. They were allowed back in once Obi had jumped off the balcony and probably returned to Shirayuki. But they noticed that the young ex-assassin had left their Prince with a very bad mood. And, of course, their eavesdropping gave them a real insight on why.
"Obi was just being honest, Zen," Kiki said quietly, her arms folded as she studied the white-haired youth before her. "You should be, too. With Shirayuki."
Zen began to tilt his head up to glare at her. But as he did, Kiki held this intimidating, stern face that completely shot his attempts to. He couldn't even be mad at his aide for bringing up a good point. Had Zen spoke with Shirayuki before the announcement of his engagement, things would be different. They'd relieve the stress that was produced by Shirayuki's heartbreak and Obi's supportive being.
"But this bothers me," Zen mumbled. "That idiot loves her, Kiki. That's something that should only be given to Shirayuki by me."
"Have you ever considered what kind of love it actually is though, Prince Zen?" Mitsuhide put out, having Kiki and Zen stare at him in surprise. Mitsuhide sweat-dropped, taken aback by the sudden pairs of wide eyes. From Zen, a pair of eyes filled with awe and hope. From Kiki, pure blood lust.
"What do you mean?" Zen asked for clarification, having Kiki twitch as she stared at the turquoise –haired boy. Kiki had been mentally cursing while Mitsuhide scolded himself mentally for her.
"W-well, it's like the love Ryu has for Shirayuki," Mitsuhide suggested. "He cares for Shirayuki like she were his older sister. She gives him love and care like an older sibling would, so it's kind of the same with Obi, but rather than siblings, they're really good friends. They could never share that kind of love."
Zen had allowed the unnoticed gears in his brain to run. Obi cares for her like a good friend… It made perfect sense to him! As Shirayuki's body guard, they are bound to be friends as he has learned to befriend people after meeting the group. So obviously they're just good friends as Shirayuki considers him a friend anyways.
"You're absolutely brilliant, Mitsuhide," Zen said, his face lighting up as he rose from his desk. "Kiki, what's the time?"
"…Half after 2," Kiki answered lowly, diverting her heated eyes away from the other aide to stare distantly at the ground. Mitsuhide knew she was upset with him, but he couldn't comprehend why. The two aides watched as Zen walked around his desk and began for the door.
"I'm off for my stroll with Elizabeth," Zen said, a shed of content dripping off his words as he exited the two large doors. A fairly loud slam interrupted the room, having Kiki turn to glare at Mitsuhide with flames in her eyes. They were a deep azure, but they didn't fail to inflame at the sight of the male aide before her.
"Mitsuhide," Kiki began, gritting her teeth to keep her from yelling. "Why would you tell Zen such words?"
"I-I-I- um…" Mitsuhide began, uncertainty and nerves sliding off his tongue as he stared distantly down at the floor. He could feel her glare on him, burning through his mind and soul as he tapped his index fingers against one another at the tips. "I thought it would put the Prince at ease to say something like that."
"But that's lying," Kiki replied.
"I didn't lie to my Prince!" Mitsuhide defends, flailing his arm before hitting his heart with his clenched fist. "I never have and I never will!"
"It's like you're deaf, Mitsuhide," Kiki uttered with an annoyed sigh. Mitsuhide flinched at her words. "Except deaf people don't need to hear in order to see a spark brewing between those two."
"What do you mean?" Mitsuhide asked softly, his gaze softening as he stared at the honey-haired blonde.
"Didn't you hear Obi's words?" Kiki had reminded him, having him recall the words Obi told Zen after the affection question regarding Shirayuki. "He doesn't like her, Mitsuhide. He loves her, and with the way he said it, it is not friendly or family love. "
Mitsuhide remained silent for a moment, his pupils dilating as he found himself trapped in thought.
"It isn't anything new, Mitsuhide," Kiki said simply, guiding Mitsuhide silently out of the Prince's office in search of the two spoken ones. She slowed down her pace and halted Mitsuhide at the end of a corridor to find Shirayuki and Obi on one of the square fields in the castle.
Shirayuki was sat on the oak bench, her legs together with her boots clinking perfectly at the heels. Her hands, soft and creamy, held a large burgundy book that likely held medicinal information. Beside her was the infamous Obi, the mysterious servant who held the apple-haired girl company. He had been studying her, listening attentively to her words which were just mouth movements to the two aides stalking.
"Do you see it, Mitsuhide?" Kiki whispered, having Mitsuhide squint to take a clear look at the two. "It's the way he stares at her. Those amber eyes don't look like that with anyone else. The way he chooses to sit beside her, rather than residing on a tree. The way he actually listens to her, and likely requested for her to read aloud to him. Look down at his hand."
Mitsuhide studied the boy's left hand, seeing as his right was occupied by Shirayuki's peripheral vision. But in his left hand, the one fully revealed without a glove, held a series of flowers. Hues of red and whites took place, seeing as the petals were lovingly gathered by their green stems.
Obi then lifted it to Shirayuki, his grin wide as Shirayuki put down her book and reacted in pleasant shock. And that's when Mitsuhide finally saw it.