On horseback Zen, Kiki, and Mitsuhide searched the forest. Zen couldn't afford to let his worried self show, he replaced it with a determined, emotionless face. Kiki and Mitsuhide noticed this change in mood and decided it would be best if they did the same. There was not much talk between them, just the determinedness to find their friends.

After about 15 minutes however, the white haired prince saw red in the distance. Without a second though he kicked his horse and was off toward it. As he came closer Zen was able to see that it was Obi carrying Shirayuki, he hoped and prayed that she wasn't hurt…or worse.

Obi noticed the force heading their way, he froze. He would fight for Shirayuki's safety till his last breath. He then saw white hair atop the man on the galloping stallion and then hit himself mentally for thinking that. Obi stopped in his tracks, he knew Zen wouldn't be mad at him but there was still something in him that was scared.

"SHIRAYUKI!" "OBI!" The prince yelled as he stopped his horse in front of the two.

"Master…fancying meeting you here" Obi said. Trying to make a sad attempt at lightening the mood.

Zen was about to speak but Obi started first with a serious tone "I'm fine. But please get her back to the pharmacy, she's been out here too long."

Zen nodded. Obi lifted Shirayuki to Zen, who pulled her on the horse. She was in front of him he held most of her weight with his left arm leaving his right for the reins. Zen could clearly see her face, it was filled with pain and worry. Somehow at the sight of her face Zen couldn't control his emotions any longer, he spun the horse around and galloped as fast as the horse would go. Hiding his tears in the falling snow.

Obi hoped on Mitsuhide horse and they followed Zen as best as they could.

As Zen was riding Shirayuki regained consciousness, she didn't understand her surroundings or what was happening. But she did understand fully the arms that wrapped around her where Zen's.

"Z-Zen…" the red head whispered. She mustered the strength to grab onto his shirt and hold on for dear life. He wouldn't leave this time. And then she was gone again. Zen heard this and felt the small hand grip his shirt, he wasn't going to lose her again. Not again.

They reached the pharmacy in what seemed like a flash, but not fast enough for the prince. He jumped off the horse carrying his loved one in his arms. "it's ok Shirayuki. It's ok your going to be ok." He kept repeating over and over again. As if that would actually help something. Inside the pharmacy the first person he saw was Ryuu. Thank God, Zen thought.

As soon as Ryuu saw Shirayuki, he dashed for his bag with remedies. He put a leaf on her forehead and throat before saying. "Take her to her room I'll be there with medicine in ten minutes." Zen noticed Ryuu's frantic and worried expression and became concerned. "Is she going to be alright?!" the boy gave Zen a look that said just do as I say. Zen did.

Zen traveled down the hall the where the pharmacist's rooms where, it wasn't hard to find Shirayuki's room, books covered it. He laid her down on her bed kneeled beside her, Shirayuki's hand was still holding on tightly to Zens shirt. "Your safe now Shirayuki, I'm here." The prince said in a very calm loving voice. her eyes gently opened, and her grip tightened. "A-am I dreaming?" she asked just above a whisper. Zen smiled and with his hand placed on her cheek he whispered "This is real" the hand tightly holding the boy's shirt relaxed and fell to the bed and was replaced with a small smile on her lips. Zen held that hand in his and kissed her forehead.

Ryuu came bursting in with others from the pharmacy, but neither Zen nor Shirayuki moved their gaze. "Prince Zen we need to ask you to leave, the medicines we will be giving her, when breathed in by anyone else could cause problems." Zen looked up at the pharmacist telling him to leave "What about you guys then?"
"We've already taken the reverse of this medicine. We're immune to it. Please leave."

Defeated the prince stood up and started walking away when he felt a tiny tug on his hand. Shirayuki wasn't letting go, she put all her strength into it. When Zen saw her face, it screamed "please don't go" and he couldn't help but think she thought he was leaving her like so many times before. Kneeling down he kissed her hand "I'm not going anywhere, I'll be right outside the door waiting." She sighed at that and though he could see she was against it, her eyes sparkled with relief that he understood her expression. And he left the room.

A couple minutes passed and Zen was greeted outside Shirayuki's room by his aids and his knight. After he explained the situation to them they all sat in silence. It was Mitsuhide who broke it, "Well I'm glad we came when we did."

"I agree" Kiki followed up.

In the silence Obi felt guilty for confessing his feelings for Shirayuki, she wasn't his. She picked Zen not him, even though he really didn't have a fair chance he thought. It was already decided. Even though at that moment, he didn't tell her directly that he loved her with all his heart. He felt that still it was going against his best friend. Obi would never want to kill his too best friends love and happiness.

"Master…can I talk to you for a minute?"