just because i missed my shirayuki/kiki interractions

FORTY-SEVEN - The Sun Rises From the East and Sets in the West

12 Days Before The Wedding

"So Obi, hm?"

Kiki's question danced in the air as she had trailed behind a quite busy Shirayuki. The two women were out at the garden, with the sun glistening their supple skin and the various colors of the flowers. Cool breeze had chilled the setting, blowing about Shirayuki's usual work gown as well as her red, crimson hair. Kiki's blonde hair, though tamed and held up by a pony tail, had swirled about alongside her side bangs. The aide had watched as Shirayuki was checking the flowers as well as held a basket with new ones to be planted and grown soon.

"Aren't you rather abrupt and straightforward this afternoon, Kiki?" Shirayuki hums, her silk-like hands getting tainted by the dirt she had been handling. She was removing the weeds that would ruin the medicinal purposes of the flowers, having it crucial that she focuses on her task. "That's quite a loaded question at a somewhat inappropriate setting."

"You make a point, Shirayuki," Kiki hums with a smirk. "I don't mean to impose, you know that. It just makes me so curious about you two…" Shirayuki takes this kindly, having her giggle to reassure Kiki.

"Trust me, I didn't expect it either," Shirayuki mumbles, feeling horrid to sound so cruel. The tips of her fingers rub down the basil colored stem of the honeysuckles she had been tending to. "But I'm more than happy that it happened." Kiki raises an eye at this, though she cannot even judge Shirayuki. This all was Zen's fault afterall.

"I never pegged Obi as someone capable to…" Kiki's words are quick to leave her, giving herself a moment of thought to find the proper words. "...hold such feelings for another."

Shirayuki could only shrug, "I didn't think so, too." The kind herbalist doesn't particularly mean to be short, though she has noticed completely that she's being as such. But her task is essentially her focal point and she would rather not do anything less than a good job. "But I suppose everyone is capable of anything at this point, no?"

"Like how an independent herbalist who refused to be a concubine of a royal dolt?" Kiki boasts, having Shirayuki smile softly. Kiki knew she had been being far too forward, and she didn't want Shirayuki to feel uncomfortable. Especially with how distant the two have been since the torn relationship between she and the Prince.

"Or maybe how the daughter of a noble bends the family norms and becomes an excellent swordswoman?" Shirayuki hums, making Kiki smile. It was a sweet thing for the two to be spending time with one another. It wasn't like the peaceful times before as a group, but the ladies were always tightly knit.

"I suppose a rascal like Obi is definitely capable of accumulating such intense feelings for you," Kiki comments as her azure eyes watches the sky distantly. The sun blazes strongly today, she notices thoughtfully. She could feel her loose blonde strands mat against her forehead from the heat. But when she looks down at Shirayuki, not even a lick of sweat is found. It was almost like her creator had kissed her skin perfect. "It just makes me rather curious that someone like you and someone like him were willingly binded."

Shirayuki smirked, "wouldn't that be the same case for you and Mitsuhide?"

Kiki suddenly found herself flushing, taken aback by Shirayuki's bold nature. But surely, Kiki keeps her posture with only her cheeks colored a hue of red. "Y-you assume rather hastily."

"But am I wrong?" Shirayuki quick tongue got the better of Kiki. The herbalist even glances back to see Kiki fail to suppress an embarrassed smile. "You shouldn't shy up about it. I think you two suit each other very well, almost like it were destiny."

Kiki turns away, attempting to hide her flushed expression. Shirayuki smiles before going back to the flowers she was attending to. As Kiki looked off wistfully, she couldn't help but question it, "do you actually believe in destiny?"

"Mm," Shirayuki hummed. She stopped tampering with the soil and presented her hands to herself. She looked at her fingers, the usual pale caramel skin tainted with earths kind gift. She could see the small cuts and gashes from dealing with stems with thorns. But Shirayuki finds herself smiling down at her hands while slowly closing the two into fists, "of course I do."

Shirayuki then lifts an arm, and with her pointer finger, begins to direct towards the noon sun overhead. Kiki stares curiously, her azure eyes only someone agitated by the direct sight of the heating ball. "Just like how I know that the sun rises from the east," Shirayuki points from said direction, "and sets in the west." Her finger wags once to the opposite cardinal direction. "Destiny is fact as everything happens for a reason, doesn't it? Like it was supposed to be this way."

"Some things come to fall in order by accident," Kiki suggests.

"But it wouldn't have happened without a reason for it not to be proper, no?" Shirayuki suggests, her arm falling with her hands returning to her duty. "Everything is already set in stone, whether we want to believe it was because of our doing."

Kiki shakes her head, "what are you, a philosopher now?"

"Not really," Shirayuki giggles, "my father had left several journals of his thoughts whenever he was drunk or inhaling something a little too much." Kiki raised a brow. Shirayuki hung her head shamefully, "my father was rather… curious during his early parent years."

"Mukaze definitely has grown up since then," Kiki attempts to make up as she rubs her sweaty forehead. "Being the General of the Mountain Lions and all, he cannot allow for such reckless behavior as he's in such a high up position."

"Mhm," Shirayuki hums, "that's what has me forgiving him." Coming to conclude that discussion, Shirayuki shrugs, "this is how life is, as raw and blunt as it gets. But I like to derail from my fathers idea of life and feel like my choices are truly mine. I only brought it up as it is quite a fascinating perspective of life."

"Like father like daughter," Kiki comments, conjuring a small smile from Shirayuki's lips. The red-haired herbalist hums in agreement, queueing yet another silence. But of course, Shirayuki is quick to dissolve it.

"Do you know what everyone is up to," Shirayuki begins quietly, "if it's alright for me to ask." It is known that Kiki is one who likes being aware of everyone's whereabouts.

Kiki doesn't even hesitate. "The King is up in his quarters, doing his duties as usual. I believe Obi is still scouting the perimeters upon request. Mitsuhide is up accompanying Zen in his quarters, likely enforcing him to actually do his work."

"Mm."

This is all small talk, isn't it? Shirayuki thought to herself. It wasn't like she disliked Kiki or had anything against her, but she had no real reason to be around Shirayuki as she's only doing her work. But guessing that the Prince requested for Obi to scout the area, he didn't want Shirayuki to be alone during her work time. Though the herbalist knows she doesn't need anyone as she could fair for herself, Shirayuki knew the many times she's found herself in trouble will never be taken lightly.

Plus, Obi probably asked the Prince for Kiki to take his place initially.

But it was nice to chat with Kiki again. Being that she was really the only other woman around her age range. It bothers her an incredible deal that they can no longer bond they way they use to due to the awkward tensions and job responsibilities. It also didn't hurt that though Kiki sympathizes with Shirayuki, her support and loyalty will always reside with the Prince.

"Shirayuki," Kiki began, "I must take my leave soon to check on some cargo coming in." Shirayuki nods, but she could feel Kiki hovering over her just a bit. "But I was wondering what those flowers are- in your basket."

"Nn, these?" Shirayuki followed her jabbing finger as she dropped the weeds she had been picking out and picked up a delicate white flower. She gently twirled the juniper-colored stem between her fingers and smiled gently at it. "This is a white Calla Lily."

"May I?" Kiki asks, in which Shirayuki kindly obliges and allows her to hold the flower. "I've seen this flower before… at several weddings and such occasions, I believe."

"Ah well, that makes sense," Shirayuki informs, her emerald eyes glistening upon the sight of the flower, "it is commonly used in wedding. The flower symbolizes 'purity' and essentially innocence before a bride becomes a wife."

Kiki was awestruck, "it's beautiful." She offers it back to Shirayuki, who smirked before taking the flower back.

"Isn't it just?" Shirayuki utters, dusting off her free hand as she lightly swipes the white petals with her fingertips. "It's unfortunate that the beautiful part of it is highly toxic." Kiki's eyes widened, almost terrified at how bluntly Shirayuki uttered the fact. But this was typical, wise, prideful-in-her-work Shirayuki after all. "The petals cannot be eaten by any means."

"Then what does it provide medicinal-wise if it is far too toxic to be consumed?"

Shirayuki lifts the flower up to emphasize the stem. "The stem and its leaves provide medicine for dressing wounds if boiled in milk." Shirayuki gives the flower one more stare before placing it back down into the basket. She looks up at Kiki, "tell the Prince about it. I'm sure His Highness would like to acquire knowledge."

Kiki smirks, shaking her head disbelievingly. "Your mind is a dangerous thing."

Shirayuki emits a laugh, "the red hair is the warning."

Kiki begins walking off, amused by the young herbalist as she saunters off. She lifts an arm up, paying Shirayuki farewell. "Stay safe, Shirayuki. It was nice exchanging words again."

Shirayuki watches her steps, smiling at her figure, "It's always a pleasure, Kiki. Take care."

The young herbalist resumes to watch the aide, watching the distance grow between them with each step Kiki takes. Her emerald eyes only grow more curious when she sees Kiki meet with a fellow guard and Garak.

"Miss Garak?"

She watches the sandy-haired herbalist greet Kiki kindly with a clipboard in one hand and what looks to be a pencil in the other. A few guards join the party, breaking their backs with arms loaded with crates and barrels of the sorts. Shirayuki squinted, seeing the crates and barrels being branded with crest she had never seen before. But Shirayuki was certain about one thing:

The cargo had something to do with the Royal Wedding.