FIFTEEN – The Emerald Eyes That Kill
The morning after had taken a toll on Shirayuki, and Obi didn't need long to notice.
She remained incredibly quiet, her lips constantly stuck together to force weak smiles. She ate very little, having Obi needed to beg in order for her to eat just a few more bites. She walked much slower than she typically would. And finally, though against her lover's words, Shirayuki wrapped Obi's scarf securely around her neck. And Obi found this odd because it was usually much looser than it was now.
He led her down to her work wing, noticing how quick she was to reel her arm from his as she walked to her stool. She refused to meet the boys' eyes, giving Obi a tough time in trying to figure her out. She had been like this for the last few days, morose painting her eyes but not reflecting on the way she behaved. Shirayuki was still as kind as ever, but the cheerfulness in her tone was completely dissolved from her tongue.
Obi went to check under Ryu's desk to see if the Prodigy was still asleep. But to his surprise, the boy was not there and the bed was made perfectly. So, Obi took it upon himself to sit on his stool and watch the backside of Shirayuki. That red hair was still brushed nicely, her posture was still perfect, and her hands still had the skill she owned to perform her job. She seemed just fine when she seriously wasn't.
Obi wanted to take her word, he did. But nobody could deny the dullness that now resided in her eyes as she continued to live her life. He wondered what could have happened, and why it had such an awful effect on her. Obi felt his stomach shift, giving him a bad feeling that it had something in regards of the Prince. He was really praying that he Master hadn't laid a finger on her, regardless of his approach.
"Miss," Obi called out to her, hoping that she'd turn and meet his eyes. Shirayuki did turn, but she stared indirectly at the boy, her emerald eyes immensely dim as she held a vial in her hand. Obi watched as the substance bounced due to her shaking. "How are you doing this morning?"
"I'm well, thank you," Shirayuki replied quietly, still looking distantly at the ground as Obi frowned. "I hope you are doing well, too?"
"A bit, yes," Obi said simply. He then began chewing on his bottom lip nervously, hoping not to step on any sensitive boundaries. He wants to ease up to it slowly so she hadn't flinched or feared him. "But something is bothering me."
"Oh?" Shirayuki hummed, turning back around to put the vials down. She then picked up a piece of parchment, turning back around as she sat it on her lap. Obi then noticed as she reached up to the scarf and slightly tapped at it as if she was checking something. "You mind telling me what's bothering you?"
"I've noticed that you've wrapped the scarf more times than usual," Obi muttered, his amber eyes darkening as he asked. Shirayuki flinched right when he mentioned the scarf, having him lower his eyelids as he stared at her. "I was just wondering why that is."
"It's nothing, really," Shirayuki said with a shrug. "I just felt colder so I wanted to cover more of my neck."
"It's rather warm today though, Miss," Obi noted, walking over to open the window. He let in the wind, feeling relief wash over the two from the cool sensation. Shirayuki didn't want to admit it, but she was feeling rather hot due to the scarf. "Do you have a cold maybe?"
"I was feeling a little chilly last night," Shirayuki commented, nervously staring at Obi's boots. She wanted to tell him everything, but she was scared. "S-so, I might have gotten a cold, or a fever."
"I can check, if you'd like," Obi offered, having Shirayuki widen her eyes as she continued her distant stare. She remained silent, having Obi take that as a 'yes' as he walked up to the girl. With his gloved hand, he places his palm on her forehead, feeling nothing but a regular temperature. Shirayuki took this shyly, feeling herself flush up as she felt his rough skin upon her forehead. "You feel okay to me, Miss."
"You're acting like you're a doctor, or an herbalist," Shirayuki joked, making herself smile a bit as Obi grinned.
"I pick up a thing or two from being around you," Obi replied, having Shirayuki smile in some honor as Obi removed his hand. "You seem okay, health-wise. But I think something else happened."
"Wh-what do you mean?" Shirayuki stammered, her heart pounding from Obi's itching for the truth.
"Your eyes are practically bloodshot," Obi commented, his voice going stern as he looked down. She looked away from him, still staring at the floor. It was true, though. Obi saw correctly. Her eyes were pink and puffy, but the whites of her eyes were also becoming red. "I know you cry every night, but you don't cry harshly enough for this."
Shirayuki winced, her hands grabbing her knees and clenching them tightly. Obi briefly looked down at her hair before swiftly bending down in front of her. He looked up and finally met her eyes, seeing the emerald of her eyes surrounded by red irritation. The eyes widened, meeting the amber ones as tears began to collect in hers. Obi frowned, his heart swelling from seeing her ever so sad and torn.
"Please tell me what's wrong, Miss," Obi whispered, desperation evident in his words. His voice strained a bit, with his tone barely lacking in concern. "I care about you, maybe too much than I should. But I've been here since the beginning and I want to listen to everything you have to say. I want to help you."
Shirayuki froze, staring into that boys eyes in pure confusion. She wondered why he cared so much over a girl like her, but it felt nice to be cared about like that. Obi was so kind, so sweet and lovely. His eyes indicate that he was being honest, seeing plead swell his eyes as she stared into her broken ones.
"Okay." With a painful gulp, Shirayuki put her parchment down and reached for her scarf. Obi watched as Shirayuki unwrapped the scarf from her neck. It felt like forever, the torture that was impatience as Obi stared with wonder. She finally removed it fully, placing it down on her lap as she twisted her neck to show Obi. And the sight made Obi clench his hands into tight fists.
There, in her creamy, luscious neck, was an ugly blue-purple blotch with streams of red. Obi's eyes widened at the bruise, his cat-like pupils thickening as he stared at it. His pearly whites gritted together, anger building inside him. He knew that bruise wasn't an accident or an attempt to harm the girl. That's a bruise as signature, making Shirayuki appear as property.
"He did this, didn't he?" Obi said simply, retraining himself from using a bitter tone. Shirayuki nodded weakly, tears streaming down her cheeks. His hand reached up for it, having him pause just a few inches from it as he stared at her broken expression. "May I?"
With a weak nod of consent, Obi brushed the bruise with his middle finger. Shirayuki was quick to react, wincing in slight pain as Obi merely pressed the bruise with two fingers. It pained him to hurt her, so he quickly took his hand back to leave it be. Shirayuki nibbled her bottom lip tightly, attempting to muffle her cries as she let the liquid pain seep out of her eyes.
"Tell me everything," Obi requested. And then Shirayuki went off, telling Obi about her nights for the last week slowly. She described it in such detail that made Obi collect more frustration in his heart. Aside from the fact that he was in love with this girl, he hated what Zen was doing. Especially knowing the fact that Zen knows what he's doing. And as she spoke, Obi saw more and more pain collect in her emerald orbs. And he has to admit:
Of all the pain he has ever endured physically, the sight of Shirayuki's sore eyes did a great deal of damage to Obi beyond comprehension.
"I'm sorry I wasn't there," Obi croaked after the end of her weak rant.
"No no, it's okay—"But before Shirayuki could continue her ramble, Obi was quick to rise from his bent posture and wrap his arms around her. Shirayuki's heart began to pound again, feeling it hammer against Obi's as he held her. One hand held the back of her head, with the other rubbing her upper back. Shirayuki allowed her tears to soil into Obi's jacket, but she knew he didn't mind.
Then, it was Obi's turn to have his heart enter the race. Shirayuki brought her arms up, feeling her hands rest upon his back. Her fingers grabbed his garment, clenching it between them as she holds him strongly. Her bottom lip quivered so quickly to the point where the lips finally parted and a few cries were let out. Obi listened as she whimpered quietly with sniffles erupting from her nose. Obi dug his face into the crook of her neck in pure defeat.
"I'm sorry." Obi mumbled, Shirayuki feeling his warm breath on her delicate neck. "I'll do better next time, I promise."
"Master!" A growl erupted behind the doors of Zen's office. Mitsuhide and Kiki removed themselves from the wall where the doors resided, standing cautiously as they watched the doors banged open. There was Obi, standing tall in his dark attire, with several guards frozen at the doorway, attempting to stop him. The two aides exchanged looks, dropping their guard as they stared at Obi.
"Obi?" Mitsuhide began, noticing those amber eyes completely change from his goofy entity. They were dimmed, his pupils sharper than ever as he scanned the room in search of the Prince. But to his dismay, Prince Zen was nowhere to be seen in the room. That's when Obi looked away and closed his eyes, letting out a shaky sigh.
"What's the meaning of this, Obi?" Kiki asked quietly, dismissing the guards as they closed the office doors. Obi's clenched fists loosened up, having his fingers hang numbly as Obi opened his eyes and stared down at the ground. He let himself calm down, reminding himself that if he spat at the Prince now, he'd get in serious trouble that would potentially put Shirayuki in harm as well.
"My condolences, Miss Kiki, Mitsuhide," Obi muttered quietly. His amber eyes softened, tilting his head up to meet Kiki's blue eyes. "I didn't mean to barge in uninvited and forcefully."
"All forgiven and kept from Zen," Kiki spewed quickly, having Mitsuhide nervously stare at her. But Kiki shrugged, knowing that it would be best to keep this intrusion from Zen. "I assume you were looking for him?" Kiki jabbed her thumb in the air to point at the desk behind her.
"I was," Obi said quickly. "Is he off on another stroll with his Miss?"
"He is," Mitsuhide answered this time, folding his arms together as he eyed Obi. "What did you need from him, Obi?"
"Nothing anymore," Obi said quietly, sniffling a bit as he rubbed the bridge of his nose between his eyes. He shut them closed, focusing on easing the veins that popped from his temples. No use in getting so angry when he isn't around. Don't cross a line yet. For her. Obi thought of the red-haired girl and found himself back in tranquility. "I'm sorry again."
Turning around, Obi exited through the doors and took his leave, leaving the aides immensely confused and curious of his intentions.