gonna be gone for a few days. Update might be slow aha x
TWELVE – A New Tree Climber
"Zen, your flower garden is absolutely beautiful!" Elizabeth chimed, her brown hair flowing through the wind as she stood at the top of the stairs.
There the two soon-to-be-married strangers stood, at the top of the stairs that had the best sight of Zen's flowery paradise. Colors splashed from ranges at red to purple and squeezed in all the combinations in between. Lilies and dianthus flowers danced with the wind, their scent riding on its current. It was something that could never grow dull to anybody, even to those who wander there on a daily basis.
This was another stroll with his Miss, one that he didn't like but had to endure. It was also a reasonable excuse not to do his paper work.
"Zen, love?" Elizabeth cooed, staring worriedly at the white-haired boy beside her. Zen was too busy distracted by the very herb he swore to take a better look at. The Yura Shigure flowers, as red as Shirayuki's head of hair, resided nicely between the blues and yellows to be distinguished with ease. Zen smiled at them, reminding himself of her smile and the way her cheeks rose with it. "Zen?"
"Mm?" Zen hummed, still staring at those flowers wistfully. The girl was quick to grab at his blue garment, having him look over to see her look with desperation. "What's wrong, Miss Elizabeth?"
"You look so distracted, Zen," Elizabeth said calmly, her blue eyes filling with worry as she stared up into his azure orbs. "I thought you didn't hear my compliment."
"Over the garden?" Zen began, hoping his guess was right considering the situation. Elizabeth nodded. "Why thank you. It's been here for a great amount of time, and it's mostly admired and visited by our Court Herbalists."
"There's more Court Herbalists?" Elizabeth asked ponderously.
"Of course," Zen said simply, a small smile painting at his lips. "We have our two Chief Court Pharmacists who look over our prodigy, our Court Herbalist, and an apprentice still working for a promotion."
"I only know one, and that's Shirayuki," Elizabeth said with an embarrassed giggle. Zen smiled fondly hearing Shirayuki's name, filling his mind with beautiful memories of her and her lovely face. "She's the Court Herbalist, yes?"
"Yes she is," Zen confirmed. "This garden, in fact, is her favorite thing about the castle." Zen had hoped he was lying, assuming Shirayuki's favorite thing was him. Which was rather pompous of him, but he couldn't help and be optimistic.
"She's quite intriguing, isn't she?" Elizabeth said quietly, bending down to pick a simple red flower from the garden. "I bet that red hair is given her a great deal of trouble."
"You have no idea," Zen muttered, reminding him of all the times he couldn't protect her. The rarity of her hair, though beautiful, has made his heart crumble beyond belief. But every time she was in trouble, she had so much trust that he would save her. "But Shirayuki is incredibly brave. She's stronger than what she appears to be."
"Is that right?" Elizabeth merely whispered, her eyes diverting down to the flower as she twisted its stem in her fingers. "And who is that mysterious boy? The one who came from the tree that day?"
"Oh, that's Obi," Zen began, annoyance rolling off his tongue a bit. Though he knows the two are friends, Zen couldn't help but feel so jealous and envious of him. "He's one of my closest servants as well as Shirayuki's bodyguard."
"Ah, so you needn't worry about her," Elizabeth said with a soft smile, hoping to catch his comfortable gaze. But she noticed Zen's eyes darken, barely faltering from her words. It made her rather curious. "Right?"
"R-right," Zen spewed out with uncertainty. He looked over to his fiancé and gave her a reassuring smile, one wide with no sentiment. He didn't care for Obi protecting her because Zen wanted to be the one to always save her. Like always. "Would you like to enter the garden now?"
"Oh, sure."
In silence, Zen held his fiancé by the arm as he walked her down the stairs. Nostalgia hit when he stepped on the very platform where he had kissed Shirayuki's neck. Oh, the addiction he had over this girl was beyond him. The softness of her neck, the way it felt on his lips, her taste. She smelled of roses and honey and everything perfect in Zen's ideal world. Then, his stomach jolted a bit of guilt as he realized he was with his fiancé and not the young herbalist.
"It's beautiful," Elizabeth uttered, a gentle smile crawling at her lips. Zen was too focused on those red flowers, Ryu's personal favorites. He had no clue what this girl was referring to.
"Yes, the garden is quite lovely," Zen agreed. That's when Elizabeth shook his arm, grasping his attention and eyes.
"Not the garden! Those two, over there." Zen diverted his attention forward, following to wherever Elizabeth's finger was pointing to. And that's when he saw it.
There she was: the apple-haired angel. Shirayuki was there, with her usual pink-white dress and hair short and loose. But she hadn't been alone. There was Obi, standing as her center of attention. Zen noticed she was barefoot, dancing around Obi, who was wearing his usual dark attire while turning to keep his eyes on her. She was jumping and laughing, tossing what looked like flowers at the bodyguard. Obi held this warm smile, the same smile Zen would flash just looking at the girl.
Zen was beginning to walk over when Elizabeth halted him. He turned, confused as to why she stopped him. "Let's just watch, okay?"
Zen stood there with his fiancé, watching his love interact with his servant. She was smiling so widely, a genuine happy smile in comparison to the one she flashed to him when she first met Elizabeth. She then stopped, looking up happily at Obi, who was laughing fondly at her. Her mouth moved, conjuring some words as she weaved her fingers together as some sort of plead. Obi smirked before grabbing the back bit of his scarf and covered her head gently with it.
Why does she still wear that? Zen's teeth gritted as his free hand clenched into a tight fist.
Shirayuki removed the scarf off her head and properly fixed it around her neck. She pleaded against, her eyes full of desperation as she looked up at the amber-eyed man. He looked unsure, scratching the nape of his neck before shoving his hands in his pockets. Zen felt his eye twitch when he saw her grab his shirt in desperation. The two held a stare, their gaze still and everlasting before Obi reluctantly nodded with a shrug. Shirayuki jumped excitedly before pulling her boots on as Obi walked over to the nearby tree that resided right out the garden.
Within seconds, Obi was up and sat on the lowest branch. Shirayuki looked up with awe, staring at his swiftness. Her mouth moved, and then his did. Shirayuki then went to the trunk of the tree, hugging it before hoisting herself more up on the trunk with her feet. Zen watched her struggle, having him smile softly as she climbed. She got fairly far up but froze, calling to Obi. That's when he stood up and moved closer to the trunk, offering his hand to her. And, to Zen's dismay, Shirayuki grabbed it with ease.
Shirayuki looked shocked. She was now standing on the branch, trying to keep her balance. But she looked over at Obi, who had perfect balance on the branch. He then helped her sit on the branch, her complete trust in him as she sat down and allowed her legs to hang loose. She was giggling, looking distantly at the patch of grass before them as Obi smiled down at her. Obi took his seat beside her, having Shirayuki look over and giggle at him.
She brought her gentle hands towards his black hair, having him flinch as she pulled out a red flower from his raven locks. Shirayuki giggled, flashing him such an innocent expression as she held the flower to him. Obi's cheeks flushed a hue of rouge as he took the flower from her hold. He placed it in her hair and smiled, moving his lips a bit to make her blush in return.
"Aren't they adorable?" Elizabeth whispered, having Zen grit his teeth before forcing a smile.
"The cutest." Zen was quick to lead him and Elizabeth towards the couple, having Elizabeth feel dragged along by the royal blood. The two wound up at the tree, having Shirayuki and Obi turn their attention down to the ground dwellers. "Shirayuki, Obi."
"Yes, Master?" Obi replied for the both of them as Shirayuki looked down at the branch in discomfort. Zen noticed this and faltered a bit, seeing the way she was rubbing her index finger upon the bark. His azure eyes dimmed a color of navy dancing within the whites of them.
"Get back to work." Shirayuki widened her eyes at Zen's sudden aggression. The only times she has ever heard this tone was whenever someone was doing harm upon her. Now, he's using it on her, and she didn't know why.
Obi squinted his eyes some, looking down at the Prince attentively. They locked eyes, Obi feeling his jealousy in his eyes. It humored him to see his Master so flustered but acting so tough. Especially to her. He knew this wasn't how Zen was, but Obi realized that he was the catalyst for this behavior. And, really, he wasn't mad about it.
"Will do, Master." Obi hopped off the branch, feet now on the ground. Legs were bent and he steadied himself with one hand. He looked up at Zen, seeing him glare down at the bodyguard before him. Smirking, Obi turned around and looked up at Shirayuki. "Jump. I promise I'll catch you."
Shirayuki looked down at him, determination dancing in her emerald eyes as she began edging herself off the branch. With one simple push away from the branch, she had begun falling. And, with Shirayuki's self-respect, she held her dress down with her hands as Obi caught her perfectly in bridal style. She clung her arms around his neck as Obi delicately let her down.
"Good day then, Master." Obi turned to bow at Zen before turning around to offer Shirayuki his arm. "Come, Miss." She adjusted the flower in her hair securely and fixed the green scarf that still resided around her neck. Glancing back at the Prince, Zen managed to catch those hurting pink eyes and the pain that danced in her eyes every time she saw him. Before Obi went on his way, he paused for Shirayuki to whisper in his ear. When she closed her mouth, he looked at her curiously before nodding.
That's when the two turned around and bowed.
"It's nice seeing you, Prince Zen, Miss Elizabeth," Shirayuki said quietly, rising up once more to shed the two a smile. Elizabeth smiled widely and bowed in return like a Princess, using her free hand to hold up her dress before bending her knees.
"Take care, Shirayuki," Elizabeth replied kindly. "You as well, Obi. It's nice to meet you."
"Pleasure is all mine," Obi said, smiling widely at her as he offered his free hand. She lent it to him, having him plant a kiss before letting it go. "See you around."
With that, Obi turned the both of them around and began guiding them away. Zen watched wistfully at the two, his eyes mainly on Shirayuki and the way she was exchanging words to Obi. Zen felt immensely piqued at how genuine Obi really was. It angered him that he was such a good man to Shirayuki.
He was showing her things she's never seen before with Zen. Climbing trees, showing Shirayuki things she's never seen or done before. And Obi is managing to get a side of her Zen never got to see. Her foolish, free dancing, dancing around him or with the Prodigy before him. She has grown immensely comfortable with Obi within the days- post-announcement of his engagement. And that damn scarf around her neck.
"That body guard is quite the gentleman," Elizabeth muttered with a small smile. "He looked like such a rogue at first glance. But he isn't at all as mischievous as I deemed him to be."
"Yeah, he's developed to be a very chivalrous man," Zen forced out, trying his best not to present himself as irritated. He turned the both of them around to enter the castle at a nearby exit, refusing to see Obi and Shirayuki's fading silhouettes.
"And you can tell those two are brewing something," Elizabeth said contently, receiving a puzzled stare from Zen. "The way Obi stared at her… those two have something special."
"Sorry to shoot your content, but I doubt it," Zen said with certainty. "It's just impossible." Zen uttered the words, stuck in the denial Mitsuhide provided and absolutely refuses to confront it.