Chapter 13: A wonderful surprise!
It is a beautiful morning! The sun is shining, the birds are singing and there are little clouds in the sky which look like little cute sheep. It is a sunny day and on everyone's face there's a smile. The kids are playing happily and their parents are proud of them. In the castle, the servants are trying to finish their work before the lunch and the royal families have work to do too.
King Yuu, King Mitsuo, Queen Miki and Queen Hitomi discuss about the better administration to their kingdoms. Shirayuki helps Dr. Garrack and Ryuu (the Clarines' court herbalist, who met Shirayuki in the greenhouse while he was collecting informations about yura shigure) with a plant for a new medicine. Zen is in his office doing his paperwork with a gloomy face while Mitsuhide and Kiki talk to him about how he should signing the papers with pleasure because this way he'll help Clarines.
Shirayuki (P.O.V.)
What a beautiful day! The sun is shining and I'm here helping with the new medicine. How many things have I learned from Ryuu about herbs? Even though he's so young he knows a lot of things about plants. When I was around his age ( 12-14 years old), I was learning dancing, horseriding and rules for behaving politely.
Dr. Garrack tells me to relax for a little as she and Ryuu can handle the rest. So now I'm heading to my favourite spot, the apple tree in the garden. The air is so relaxing that I close my eyes and try to imagine a landscape where Zen and I are dancing while butterflies and birds are flying all around us. A melody is heard from far away and we continue dancing. I hear Zen say to me "Shirayuki are you okay? Talk to me." Then I realise that this is not in my imagination but reality.
- Shirayuki are you alright?, asks Zen worried.
- Um... Zen... Yes I'm okay. I was just resting for a while but it seems like I fell asleep.
- I got worried and I thought that something happened to you. Thank goodness you're alright.
- Are you worried about me Zen?, I smirk.
- What? No... I-I mean yes... Ugh, you know I'm worried about you Shirayuki, he blushes.
- Don't worry, poor boy. I'm just teasing you, I wink to him. So, what can I do for you Zen?
Zen is still blushing and he's just so cute that I want to kiss him. Huh?! Since when I have such thoughts...? I have to get that out of my mind or it'll get worse. But I can't resist! Calm down Shirayuki, calm down... Don't let such thoughts get into your head.
- I was just wondering if you desire to go with me for a walk in the forest. I want to show you a place that I'm sure you'll love it.
- What kind of place? And it will be just the two of us?
- No, Mitsuhide and Kiki will come with us for protection and I won't reveal you the place. I want this to be a surprise!
- Then let's go!, I say with excitement.
We go back to the castle and I get ready for the walk as Zen's aides take care of our horses.
NARRATOR
The company after about half an hour reaches its destination. Everywhere there are tall trees and birds' nests on them with eggs. It's spring and the eggs soon will break and baby birds will be born.
- Take care of the horses while Shirayuki and I go for our walk, Zen says to his dear friends.
- Won't you come with us? I thought that all of us would go for walking, Shirayuki says confused.
- No we'll stay here. Mitsuhide and I need to discuss about some things that happened in the castle lately, answers Kiki looking at Mitsuhide.
- Yes. You two go for your little walk and have fun, Mitsuhide winks.
- Shall we go my Lady?
Shirayuki nods to Zen and they walk away little by little.
The flowers smell so nice that their smell is all over the place. Zen gives to Shirayuki a red rose and he kisses her hand.
- It has the same color as your hair. It's a pretty flower but you're more beautiful than this.
Shirayuki blushes and now has the same colour as the rose. They continue walking and Shirayuki sees a blue butterfly.
- Look Zen! It's so beautiful. Its wings are blue like your eyes. Zen, I've always loved your eyes. They're like the ocean and are so expressive that I can see the whole world inside of them.
They look one another in their eyes and there is a smile on their faces. Their cheeks have a light red and Zen takes Shirayuki's hand into his own. Shirayuki looks down the ground from awkwardness.
- S-So where are we heading?, she speaks to change the atmosphere.
- You'll see. We're near, just a little more to reach it. Be patient!
They chat and look each other in his eyes but after a few seconds they look away from the other's face embarrassed. The time has passed without realising it and the sun sets.
- We're here, Zen announces.
Shirayuki looks the landscape and becomes ecstatic from the view. There are tall, green trees and after you walk the path there's a big lake. Behind the lake, there are mountains which are reflected on the lake's surface. The sunset also reflects on the lake. Birds are flying while they're singing their song and generally the landscape is magnificent!
Shirayuki looks at Zen surprised. She can't find the words to speak and she sits there with her mouth and eyes wide open. Zen smiles to her and sits next to his beloved childhood friend.
- Zen... W-What is g-going on here? W-Where did you find this place?, she speaks slowly and confused.
- I knew you'd like this place!, he says gladly. I'm so happy you like it!
- Of course I like it. No, it's wrong. I love it... Where did you find it?
NARRATOR
Earlier that day...
Zen (P.O.V.)
I'm sitting on my chair in my office and signing papers. Ugh, it's so boring doing this thing every single day. Kiki and Mitsuhide encourage me to do that for the Clarines' people. I can't say anything to them bacause I know they're right. Anyway, I want to finish from here to go see Shirayuki.
I hear a knock on the door and I say "Come in". Obi appears behind the door and he says that he wants to speak with me. So we sit on the couch which is at the corner of the room and he looks at me with his hand behind his neck, as he always does.
- Master, I want to talk with you about something. Can I?
- Of course. What is it?
- Um... I see how much you love the young miss. So I have a suggestion for you.
I blush and I see my aides smirking. What can I do now? I mean, why does everyone know about Shirayuki and I? Is it so obvious? I ask this to Obi and his answer confuses me.
- Of course it's obvious. Everyone can see with how much love you look each other in the eyes. Together you make a great couple, you know.
I cough to clear my throat and begin to talk.
- So, what's your suggestion?
- I wanted to thank young miss for taking me with you when you found me in the forest. She's kind and I desire to please her. I know an amazing place with a great view where you two could visit. I know that she'll like it. So what do you think?
I look towards my friends and they look at me with a weird expression on their faces. I figure out what they want me to do and finally I agree with Obi.
- Master, can I ask you a favor?
- Of course you can. What is it?
- Well... I don't want young miss to find out from whom you were told to go with her to that place. Could you keep it a secret please?, Obi asks me anxious.
- Don't worry, I won't tell her anything. I promise...
-Thank you so much, he bows.
- I should thank you for suggesting this place.
Obi bows to me again and gets out of the room. Kiki and Mitsuhide walk towards me and tease me.
- Come on! Stop it! It will be nothing more than an ordinary walk with her. What could happen?, I reassure them. Come on guys, we have work to do.
NARRATOR
(We return to where we left Zen and Shirayuki)
- So where did you find this place Zen?
- Um... Well... I found it two years ago when Kiki, Mitsuhide and I went for a walk, Zen explained.
Shirayuki looks at him with disbelief. Zen knew that she wouldn't believe the explanation he gave her.
- Zen, tell me who told you about this place.
- I told you. I found it with my aides, I look away from her.
- Mm... So it wasn't Obi, right?, she crosses her arms on her chest.
- What does Obi have to do with this?
- Zen please... I know Obi told you about this. Don't lie to me because I know you since we were kids and I can figure out when you're lying to me.
- Okay but please don't say to him that I told you about it.
- Don't worry... I just want to thank him back, she smiles.
They are sitting on the grass and look at each other's eyes with love in them. The nature wants to make the atmosphere more romantic so the leaves on the trees move and the birds continue their song. Zen stands up and he reaches out for her hand. Shirayuki takes it and stands up too. He puts his hand around Shirayuki's hips and Shirayuki puts her hand on his shoulder. They put their other hand in each other's and look one another in the eyes. Then they start dancing while the nature's song plays.
I'm so excited about what's happening. I love dancing with Zen while I'm looking into his blue eyes. I don't want the night to come and return to the castle. I just wish the time would stop and stay like this forever... I've never felt like this in my entire life... I feel awkward when I'm around Zen but I'm happy to be with him! What's wrong with me anyway, Shirayuki thinks.
I love being with her! She gives me hope for everything through her smile. I want to stay with her forever and nothing will come between us. It's the only thing I can ask right now. I think she liked the place and I made her happy. This is the one thing I want to know. I know her since we were little kids and now here we are dancing together! When I'm with her, I think butterflies are flying inside my stomach. Everyone tells me that I'm in love with Shirayuki but I haven't been in love again so I couldn't know how it feels like. I just wish we could be together and dance like that, Zen thinks while he's looking at Shirayuki.
After they realised that the night has come, the teenagers stop dancing and say to each other that they should return to the castle or their parents would get worried.
They go back where Kiki and Mitsuhide are and the four of them ride their horses. The two aides have already figured out that the walk went even better than they hoped because the two childhood friends are looking to one another smiling.
When they get to the castle, Shirayuki heads to where Obi usually is, under an orange tree. She goes towards him and Obi understands that she wants to talk with him.
- Hey young miss. How was your walk with the master?
- We had an amazing time... thanks to you. I wanted to thank you Obi for what you did for us.
- Did Prince Zen told you that it was me who told him to go there?, he asks disappointed.
- No, of course not. I figured it out myself. After all, it wasn't so difficult. Again thank you Obi.
- I should thank you Princess for taking me with you that day in the forest. I hadn't had friends like you for a long time.
He bows to her and climbs onto the tree like he does. Shirayuki goes to her room to get some sleep while thinking about what happened this evening. It was the most wonderful surprise someone could do for her. She loves Zen so much!
Hey guys! I know that I updated late for once more but I have a lot of homework to do. I hope you enjoyed this long chapter because I wanted to pay you back for the late update and the amazing reviews you write. You really encourage and support me!!! Thank you...
See you next time...