Obi and Shirayuki was in a tight embrace. Going against Obi's desire to hold her there in the middle of nowhere just the two of them, he let go. The cat eyed boy backed away from the embrace just enough so he could see her clouded mint green eyes. Still holding her arms in his hands as if the moment he let her escape his grasp she'd gone again. Obi knew what he was going to say, but he also knew he couldn't say it. His two best friends in the whole world, the two people he would trust with his life. He would betray both. With three simple words, just three, he would destroy the only relationships he's ever cherished.

Golden eyes looked deep into Green ones. Attempting to convey how he felt through them, Obi was trying to speak his heart through his eyes. And Shirayuki understood. At least he thought she did. Her sobs stopped and she focused on him.

Shirayuki saw Obis Golden pools like a glimmer of hope and life in the middle of the white and treacherous forest. They where filled with such relief and love. Obi was never one for words, she knew that. The red haired girl was overwhelmed at the amount of emotions pouring out of the man in front of her. Without words, she understood.

But she couldn't show him the same with her eyes. She loved him, but she didn't and couldn't have the connection with him that she had with Zen. After all Zen was her force pushing her forward, the one that showed her the hair on her head wasn't the color of poison and despair. But the color of passion and fate.

Shirayuki cupped Obis face and rested her forehead on his.

"I love you too, Obi"

He knew from her voice it wasn't the same, the love he felt was so much stronger. She cared for him but he understood. She could never love him more then that. Zen and the women before him had such a strong bond, he would never want to tear apart.

Obi's tears started to fall.

He knew what she would reply. It was like this was a reoccurring dream, that the women he truly fell in love with, would never love him as he loved her. His hands rested on hers that held his face like a gentle flower in spring.

"I'm sorry…"

He whispered. Selfish he came to his senses, here he was trying to convey his feelings for her. Moments ago he was worried he may have never seen her again, and now he has a new hole in his heart.

He would have to deal with this heartbreak later on his own time. Right now, getting the women in front of him home was the main priority.

Swiftly Obi grabbed her bag, turned around, and kneeled in the snow.

"Get on let's get you home Miss"

Zen arrived in Lyrias, earlier then expected, with his two closest aids Mitsuhide and Kiki. They arrived and received the warm welcome only a prince would deserve. But something was off. The people at the check point, there was something hidden underneath their expressions. Zen couldn't figure out what it was and was mostly concerned about seeing his beloved red and his best friend.

Thanking them for there welcome he proceeded to the pharmacy in hopes of finding the two, only to be met with franticness chaos. All the pharmacists and scientists where running around doing specific jobs, they all seemed to be deep in though or worried about something though. Just as Zen was about to ask, Ryuu came up from behind "Zen, Kiki, Mitsuhide, what are you guys doing here? Did you come to celebrate tomorrow night?" A smile appeared on the three of them at the familiar face. Kiki started "Yes we heard from Shirayuki the research was successful" Mitsuhide nodded while Zen added excitedly "So where is Shirayuki and Obi? I want to congratulate them!" Mitsuhide added under his breath with a sly smirk "especially Shirayuki" in return he received an elbow to the chest from the blushing prince.

Ryuu stopped it seemed and didn't say anything for a couple of moments as if saying "didn't you know?" Zen started to take on a worried look, Ryuu noticed and quickly added with a worried tone "Shirayuki and Obi just went out to get some firewood they'll be back any minute now" and quickly went off to work on the stones he was working on before.

Zen knew.

He knew from how the storm was when they arrived, the expression on everyone's faces, the fact that it was so dark out. And Ryuu just confirmed it. They didn't go just to get firewood. The prince looked at his aids and they understood as well matching his expression.

Zen interrupted Ryuus work in a very serious tone "which way did they go."

"The forest just outside the pharmacy the firewood's deep in the forest where the thicker wood is."

"Thank you"

With that the prince and his aids where off.