Another chapter- so close to 60 omg. Please leave reviews, it makes me smile lots. Thank you all for still reading this, I don't even know how I got so many reviews, favs, and follows. It's crazy, but I am soooo grateful for it!
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FIFTY-EIGHT - Mine
10 Days Until The Wedding
"Obi! You're soaked in water!"
"It is sort of raining, Little Miss."
Shirayuki rushes Obi into the cabin without question. He watches as she forces the covers from the single bed and drapes it over his head. He chuckles before fixing it so it was hanging loosely off his shoulders. Shirayuki comes back with a white towel, placing that on his head with the two ends of the towel in her hands. She pulls him down playfully, giggling as she flosses his hair with the towel.
"What're you doing, silly?" Obi mumbled playfully, poking her nose before grabbing her hands with his. He cups them, feeling how cold they've become. He removes them from the towel and brings them up to his lips. Bestowing a gentle kiss, he lets go and starts drying himself. Shirayuki couldn't even react- she was still shocked to react.
It wasn't like Obi was never affectionate like this since they've started their relationship. She's seen his development in getting comfortable with her, but she always figured it would take a long while before he would take some sort of charge in their relationship. But she senses this sudden confidence in Obi in regards of the way he acts with her. Especially since the two are alone now.
"I-I'm almost done with fathers remedy!" Shirayuki stammers, shyly scurrying over to the creaking table. It was crowds with vials and glasses with all sorts of herbs. Obi wonders how she carries it all without getting exhausted. He then notices a tray of food left for them in the corner. "They've brought the dinner to us instead- I assume it's because of all the rain."
"Yeah," Obi hums as he shuts the door behind him. Continuing to dry himself off, he watches as Shirayuki files herself back into the seat to resume her work.
He can't help but watch how delicate she is with her study. The way her hands glide the herbs together, plucking the vital sources from their stems. It was like she was performing some show, the way she threw them together into a mortar and had them come together as one with the pestle. Obi heard the scratchy sounds of the grinding as Shirayuki put all her elbow grease into changing their form. Within minutes, her hands made the small, hard pebbles into a fine powder.
He lets his mind wander away from her work as he spots the tray of food on the floor. Tossing the towel aside, he picks up the tray and places it carefully onto the single bed provided. Obi blushes from the idea of them once again sharing a bed, but it felt strange to potentially stay together as a couple under her father's protection. The very thought of doing anything with her in this village was far too scandalous for Obi's heart.
"Hungry?" Shirayuki's suddenness had made Obi flinch. "Oh- did I scare you?"
"Just a bit of both," Obi chuckles, his eyes still sauntering about the food. He lifts up one of the plates and grabs one of the forks provided to them. "But I'm definitely more hungry than I am frightened."
Shirayuki giggles as she watches Obi take his first bite. The meal provided was steak, medium-rare, complemented with steamed vegetables and buttered bread. She watches the way he glides the metal utensil along the porcelain plate. He rips off a piece of the tender meat and adds as many vegetables that can fit onto the fork as well. As he takes a bite and slides off all the food into his mouth, he notices that his lover was watching him.
"Yes?" Obi begins, his cheeks full of food. Shirayuki giggles, stepping away from the table to go join him at the bed. He watches her lift her plate and begin to eat as well.
"You made me hungry," Shirayuki smirks as she begins to fill herself with the food (and still warm) food. Obi smiles as the two share words and laughs between bites.
After dinner, Obi decided to lay down a little bit while Shirayuki was finishing up her remedy.
It felt strange to Obi. Just staying in the small cabin for a few hours with his lover felt as though they were married for a long time. He felt like he had just come back home from a long day to be greeted with food and then rest knowing that Shirayuki was just a few feet from him, tinkering away with the tools needed for her work.
It felt even more strange to think that they are not too far from that reality. Obi turned his neck to watch his lover, seeing as she begins to carefully add the contents of her concoction into a vial. Obi needed to talk to Kiki and Mitsuhide to discuss where he can find a ring beyond belief to surprise Shirayuki with.
This is what he wants. Obi could swear to God and the Heavens that he will marry this girl. He will slip a ring around her finger and declare her his. He will promise to protect her and love her the way she deserves to be loved. Because he knows that Shirayuki was too good for any Prince, let alone a damn scoundrel like himself. But here she was before him, sharing a love that he believed was once not reciprocated.
That's when she turned over to him and smiled widely. "It's done!" Obi sits up as she stands from her seat and frolics over to him. Placing the cork firmly in the vial, she hands it over to him with cheer in her voice. "Papa's sleep remedy!" Obi chuckles as he holds the glass in his hand. He twirls it a bit in his hand before giving her a nod of approval that he knew she didn't need but wanted.
"You never fail to impress me, Mistress," Obi spewed genuinely, eyeing the powder curiously. "I know this'll definitely help your father rest soundly."
"I sure hope so," Shirayuki smiles cheekily. She takes back the vial and places it carefully back on the desk. She then returns back to Obi, looking down at him as he looks up at her. "Hey, Obi?"
"Mm?"
"Why do you still call me Mistress?" Shirayuki asks curiously, her legs slowly guiding her between his thighs. Obi didn't notice too much of her actions as he was in thought with her words. "We're lovers- you're allowed to call me by my name."
"I know that…" Obi begins quietly, one hand flying to the back of his head for a scratch. "I just can't get over it…"
"Can't get over what?"
"Knowing that you're mine," Obi responds quietly. He looks up at her bravely, mustering all his courage to meet her eyes to tell her these words from his heart. He takes her petite hands into his and gives them a gentle squeeze. "How do you think a bastard like me feels to have a lady as perfect as you love me?"
"Obi…"
"Since I was assigned as your guard, I couldn't help but entertain my curiosity with your being," Obi begins to explain. "The way you walk, the way you talk- the fact that nothing truly scares you. Your mind is one that will be remembered in history just as much as the rarity of your hair. Everything about you, Mistress, is everything that I want in my life. And I never realized how much I needed your everything until you willingly gave it to me."
He holds her hands tighter, feeling tears beginning to well up in those amber eyes. "I swear to God, Shirayuki…" He finally said it. "...one look at you, and I know that I'd give you the world without you needing to ask me."
Without wasting any time, Shirayuki hopped right onto Obi's thighs. Obi's muscles were quick to move as his hands went to hold onto her thighs. He could feel her hands hold onto his neck, forcing goosebumps all over his body by her actions alone. He knew what was coming next, but he was already flushed up and practically trembling inside.
Breathlessly, Shirayuki plants her lips against his. She could feel the tips of his fingers lightly denting into her flesh as he began loving on her bottom lip. She could feel his warm tongue slide along it every few seconds, savoring the sweetness that was her lips. It felt as though he needed to kiss her every time they did share a kiss and honestly, Shirayuki loved it.
She loved the way he held her as if something (or someone) was threatening to rip her from his hold. She loved the way his heart sped up faster and faster with each time she would pull away for a breath before going back to lock lips with his. She loved rubbing the back of his head to feel the goosebumps only get worse with her touches.
"God." Obi forces out a moan. "You're gonna make me into a bad, selfish man." Shirayuki moved closer, her hands snaking up to cup his cheeks. "A very bad and selfish man."
"Aren't you already a bad and selfish man?" Shirayuki says breathily, her chest heaving up and down with a smirk playing at her abused lips. Obi snickers, taking in relieving breaths as he tightens his grip a little around her waist.
"You made me into a better man," Obi whispers. "A man worthy of your love."
They lock lips once more, having Obi struggle with his burning desire to go further. But he knew he couldn't- not yet, not here. He knew that he must contain himself until she is officially his and they are in a situation where everyone gives them their blessings. That includes Master himself.
But damn, did she smell heavenly. He wanted nothing more but to stay like this for the rest of his days: his lady in his arms while giving her all the love and affection she has deserved for a very long time. He could feel himself getting intoxicated with her love, his lips nipping desperately at her saccharine ones.
"I'm so defenseless-" Obi begins between kisses. "-you make me so weak."
"O-Obi…" Shirayuki quietly mewls, pulling away to shyly look away from him. But, she begins to ark her neck, straining it with her cheeks turning into a deeper crimson. "P-please…"
Obi's pupils dilated, frozen from her very request.
I'm not vying for Shirayuki's love anymore. Obi's lips slowly approach the girls soft neck. I'm not vying for Shirayuki's attention. Goosebumps rose at the feeling of his hot breath upon her skin. She's mine. His teeth begin to graze along the skin, searching for the right spot. All mine.
He takes a gentle bite, and Shirayuki euphorically shut her eyes for more.
"Thank you for everything, Father."
The two were stood on Mukaze's porch, paying him a proper farewell with the small gift Shirayuki had made for him.
"Are you sure you don't want to stay the night?" Mukaze insists. "It's pouring out- it won't be pleasant."
"We should get back to the castle," Shirayuki hums, her red hair wet and sticking to her skin. "Our presence is typically needed there and I don't want to risk something bad happening due to our absence."
"I understand," Mukaze submits. He grabs his little girl in his arms for a hug, rubbing her back longingly. Obi smiled, knowing how much this man loved his very daughter. Mukaze soon met eyes with Obi and smiled at him, adding a wink before letting Shirayuki go. "Be good, my dear. Get back safely."
"Don't worry," Shirayuki begins with a wide smile. "Obi will protect me."
Mukaze chuckles, nodding as he turns to Obi and holds out his hand. "Until next time, Obi. It was a pleasure having you over."
Obi grabs his hand and gives it a firm shake. Mukaze then surprises the young man and pulls him into his arms too, giving him a good, 'manly' hug. Obi chuckles and nods, "the pleasure was all mine, sir."
As they begin to walk off, Mukaze begins to thank Shirayuki for the sleeping remedy. "Thank you, Shirayuki, for the sleeping remedy. I'm sure it will definitely help me rest better."
"Send me letters if you desire more, father!" Shirayuki replies, waving her arm to bid farewell to her father. He nods, waving at them as a few of the villagers also spout their goodbyes at them. The couple waves at everyone before disappearing into the night to head back to Clarines.
The two walked in silence, hand in hand, as everything around them seemed still and tranquil. They held smiles on their faces as fireflies begin to illuminate their path and everything around them.
Shirayuki felt like a cloud, walking ditzy down the path as she held hands with her lover. She felt so happy- so much so that she was in disbelief. She never knew one could be this happy before. Even the Prince never made her float this much with a bubbly attitude and a full heart. She hoped to never come down and didn't think she would.
So long as Obi existed, her world would never cease to be any less than euphoric.
But Shirayuki's mind might have gone a little too far because upon approaching Clarines, the guards at the gates did not seem too welcoming.
"Obi." One guard begins as the couple stood a few feet away from them, confused. "It's upon the Second Prince's order that we arrest until further instruction."
Shirayuki was wide-eyed but Obi remained tame. He pushes her behind him, eyeing them curiously. "Did Master provide a reason why?"
"The Second Prince does not require to provide reasoning for his orders and actions," the second guard says. "Now please cooperate."
"Wh-what?" Shirayuki whispers shakily, holding onto the back of Obi's shirt as the guards begin to move closer. "Don't touch him!"
"Miss, it's okay." Obi turns around and looks down at his Mistress. Her face was all wet and dewy from the rain, with her nose and cheeks rosy from a potential cold. She was so, so cold, and Obi wanted nothing more but to get her inside already. "Just go inside and get dry and warm, okay?"
"No!" Shirayuki wrapped her arms around him, suddenly forgetting that it was raining and they were immensely drenched. "I don't care- I'm not letting them arrest you!"
"Mistress, please," Obi insisted, his heart already hurting from the Master's candid order. "Just let them take me. Go find Miss Kiki and Mister Mitsuhide. Figure out what's going on for me."
Shirayuki didn't listen. She held onto her lover for dear life as the two guards begin shouting for some sort of back up. They begin to tug at his arms, attempting to pull him away from her, but she wasn't having it. "Don't touch him!"
"Miss Shirayuki, you must abide to the Prince's orders-"
"No I don't!" Shirayuki shouts. "I refuse! Let go of him right now!"
Obi could feel the pain all over, a sudden ringing in his ears that only added to it. He had to watch as another guard ripped his lover from him. He watched as she screamed and disobeyed, attempting to remove the guards touch from her. He didn't know if it were tears or rain on his lovers face, but he didn't want to know.
They forced Obi onto his knees, taking away his power as they held his wrists to tie them up. He remained calm but quickly found back the fire in his heart. The adrenaline he used to have when he was a scoundrel wandering the night streets, seeking a lucky participant to steal from or potentially kill for a bounty reward.
Zen was separating them, and that right there became one of his ultimate mistakes next to letting the Mistress go.