Cure
Act II
"Hey Yuzuri..."
She turned and raised an eyebrow.
"Will you...do you think-"
Her eyes widened in excitement, anticipating what he was about to ask her.
"-do you think you might like me...just a little?"
Her smile widened and she laughed. "Maybe. Maybe I love you."
He looked down at her with wide, shocked eyes because for days he'd been torturing himself with how he would tell her how much she meant to him but then she went and stole his thunder. As per usual.
And then the feeling that always felt fuzzy and warm when she was around seemed to do cartwheels in his chest.
"Come on, lets go, Shirayuki and Obi are waiting for us in the library."
And then he grabbed her hand, guiding her out of the lab and into the frosty air of Lyrias.
"SUZU!" screamed Yuzuri, her blue orbs desperate and frantic as they carried her away.
He'd grabbed for her, he had, but it was too late and he wasn't in any shape to help her. He heard voices around him but his whole mind and body focused on the only person he cared about.
How did it turn out this way? Yuzuri...
"SHIRAYUKI!" he heard a loud booming voice.
His vision began to blur and the last thing he saw was red hair, rushing into the forest and then there was nothing.
He awoke and he was so damn cold. Was he back in Lyrias?
His retinas adjusted to the light that seemed to be filtering in through the gaps in the curtains. Suzu began to sat up but his whole body was stiff and then he noticed how wet his shirt was from beneath the sheets.
"Its sweat," said a deep voice from the corner of the room.
Suzu snapped his head toward the person and his eyes widened. It was the Chief. He pulled the covers off him and shock came over him.
He had bandages over his stomach and then the pain hit him. He winced but he didn't make a sound.
How could he show pain in front of the Chief? When the older man himself looked pretty run down too.
He had bandages around his arms and torso and his face was bruised with a couple of cuts and one particularly nasty cut sat just above his cheek.
"W-what the hell happened?" breathed Suzu, finally finding his voice.
Mukaze shook his head.
"She didn't tell me you guys were coming. If she had, I would have said not to come. But then she just turned up and then how could I refuse? She's just like her mother...you can't say no to her."
The blonde man frowned in confusion. "Uh...do you mean Shirayuki?"
Mukaze didn't answer but Suzu took that as a yes.
"Kid, you can't fight, can you?"
He shook his head. "Shit...Yuzuri-"
"She was taken."
Suzu took a sharp intake of breath.
"Show me. Show me how to fight."
Mukaze closed his eyes for a moment and nodded once. "You've learned how to heal, boy. But I'll have to show you how to kill, can you do that?"
He didn't argue with that, so he nodded, because he'd do anything to get Yuzuri back.
"How long have I been out?"
"Four days."
They were getting better. Kai could at least hit a target now and the group of young men who he'd thought couldn't climb a hill before, could now at least climb up the castle wall. They were slow but they did it.
And today, Shiira and another guard he'd trained, snuck up on him from the shadows.
He'd been walking toward the next training ground, well, it wasn't officially a training ground but it was a place he used to help his soldiers learn how to climb and jump across trees.
Obi didn't hear a sound when a kunai knife was held to his neck and another pointed into his ribs. They thought he was angry but he was anything but.
No, this meant he could leave earlier.
The King wanted an army full of Obi's and he was going to get it.
Izana had hundreds of soldiers and Knights but Obi's soldiers were a special army of ninjas who could scale walls, perform reconnaissance without detection, hide in trees and if needed, could perform assassinations under the radar.
Izana had been pleased when he visited with the news.
Obi had an odd feeling though. His Master hadn't said much for almost a week and he hadn't visited to check on his progress. Zen hadn't even asked for some late night training in the courtyard - and even Kiki nor the Mister had come to visit.
And Izana looked at him strangely. They knew something he didn't, that was for sure.
He'd packed extremely light with only enough rations for two days, some weapons (including a sword, despite the fact he didn't like swords that much), a bed roll and that was it. The horse would thank him because he planned on arriving in the Tanbarun mountains ahead of schedule.
But as he began to walk the horse out of the stable, he found a familiar face standing at the entrance.
"Ryuu?"
The boy stood a little below Obi's height now. They'd always told him to be patient because he wouldn't always be a little boy who Obi could lift out of trees easily.
"She's gone."
Obi stopped in his tracks, his mouth open with a quip but it died with the boy's words.
"Who?"
"Shirayuki. I got sent my own letter - one that was sent separately from the King's. I've been asked to give you this," said Ryuu quickly, walking over to Obi and handing him a satchel.
Obi sighed. "Yeah Ryuu, she left over four days ago-"
"No, idiot. I already knew that. Didn't the King tell you? The Lion's were attacked," spat Ryuu incredulously.
The taller man nodded. "Yeah but they're okay, they sent a message, I'm heading there right-"
"They took Yuzuri, Obi! And Shirayuki ran into the forest to save her and she hasn't been seen since!" exclaimed Ryuu.
Its like the air had been knocked right out of him. No...
"W-why didn't Master tell me?" he breathed quietly in disbelief, his hand gripping the horses reign tightly in his hand.
"When did you get that message?" he asked quickly.
He put his foot into the stirrup and quickly hoisted his other leg over the saddle, his other foot inserting itself into the other stirrup.
Ryuu looked up at him, his violet orbs filled with worry and anger at the fact that no one had informed the only person that needed to know.
"Four days ago."
Obi reached behind him and put the satchel that Ryuu had given him into one of the pouches sitting behind the saddle.
"They didn't tell you, did they?"
The Knight didn't answer, his expression hard and Ryuu thought he saw betrayal in his auburn eyes that faced straight ahead of him. "Save her...don't let her d-"
"Don't say it!" snapped Obi, not meaning to sound angry at Ryuu but he didn't want to hear him say...that. "Count on me, Little Ryuu." His voice sounded lighter then.
And the boy looked up at him with a half smile. "I will. I wish I could come."
Obi shook his head and ushered the horse to a trot. "You don't want to, trust me."
OOOOOOOOOOOOOO
He had planned on having a rest, only one, but that plan was shot now that he knew the truth.
He would ride for two days straight unless he was fatigued.
Obi had always hated riding on his own because it gave him too much time to think. This was no exception.
How could Zen not tell him about Shirayuki? He still cared about her, Obi knew he did because he saw the look that Zen would pass her way sometimes when she wasn't looking. He knew that look all too well.
So why? His Master cared for her but why not send him earlier? Maybe he could have saved her by now! And they were friends weren't they? At the beginning he knew he they weren't. Zen was a Prince and he was just his prisoner (sort of), doing his bidding; knowing in his mind that he would be leaving.
But then slowly and surely they'd come to trust each other and they were interesting people, after all of the missions and stories told and jokes...then all of a sudden, Obi didn't want to leave.
Half because of Zen but the other half...
The other half had gone on her own, off to the Tanbarun mountains.
Damn her for going without him. He hated that the last words he spoke to her were so harsh and even though he didn't mean any of it, she probably thought he did.
What if those were the last words he spoke to her?
Anger coursed through his body and his eyes grew dangerous just thinking about someone laying hands on her...again.
When she was back in his arms, he was going to have a serious talk with her.
When she'd imagined the bandits, she would never had come up with this scenario.
Her lips were dry from dehydration, her hands shook slightly from cutting up herbs non-stop since her arrival. Her eyes kept darting over to the unconscious girl in the corner, on top of some pillows on the floor because she was the only thing keeping her from collapsing from fatigue.
"Stop looking at her and mix!" snarled a man from behind her.
Shirayuki flinched and nodded silently. "I need that book I asked for-"
"It's commin' alrigh'?" he snapped.
She looked over her shoulder, taking in the brute of a man. He wore khaki colored trousers which were tattered and frayed with knee high brown boots and he had a white shirt with a black vest over the top, sword at his hip, a dagger on the opposite side and was quite stocky. His hair was brown, cut short but it was his face that caused her concern.
He was sweating and some welts were forming on his skin that she could see popping out from his collar. His eyes were having trouble focusing, she could tell because they darted around every few seconds and his eyes widened a little each time. He kept putting the back of his hand to his forehead and was breathing more rapidly than he had half an hour ago.
"You need attention," she said evenly before turning back to her work. "You're sick."
The man walked forward but staggered slightly before grabbing the back of her sun dress near her upper back and yanked it back. She screamed in surprise as she fell to the floor.
Wincing with pain she looked up at the man angrily, her eyes showing fire. "Just make our remedy!" he snapped before walking back to the door frame.
It seemed that action really took it out of him because he put his forearm to the frame and leaned against it, taking a few breaths.
Shirayuki noticed how he said 'our'. Now it was all coming together and she knew what she had to do.
"I'm a few minutes away from your remedy. You should go and get your leader, I will talk with them about it."
The man looked down at her with a glare but nodded and walked out of the room.
She ran as fast as she could, away from the room where Chiyo was laying, around the wooden planked path which wound around the village.
The shout had come from the forest and that was where Yuzuri had gone. Fear made her heart pound in her chest and hoped against hope that she was alright.
She ran up the stairs, past the rooms where Suzu and Yuzuri were staying and past more houses and bungalows. Where was everyone?
Shirayuki looked around her as she ran and saw a few older men and some women hiding or looking out their windows but everyone else was no where to be seen.
When she came closer to the stairs that lead up into the forest she heard shouts and orders being yelled. Her father.
Her legs moved quickly, going up two steps at a time and then she panicked because she heard metal on metal and angry shouts which meant there was fighting going on.
When she reached the top she managed to spot Yuzuri but she was being carried over a man's shoulder and disappeared into the forest line. She saw Suzu grasping for her but he was covered in blood and collapsed.
Oh god. There were a few bodies lying on the ground, also covered in blood like Suzu, and in her state of mind she couldn't tell who was who - bandits or Lions, she wasn't sure. But she did see her father fighting with his sword against a man who seemed to be evenly matched.
She wanted to see if Suzu was okay (he was yelling for Yuzuri, clearly in shock) but her priority was Yuzuri.
Shirayuki knew she wasn't Obi and there was no way she could fight but she could jump them and at least slow them down. If worst comes to worst, she would go with them - at least then Yuzuri wouldn't be alone.
She couldn't let them take her alone...she knew what that was like.
Her father's desperate cries for her were hard to run from but she had no choice.
I'm sorry father.
Shirayuki ran through the brush, almost tripping a few times, but she was determined.
She spotted Yuzuri's form, just, through the dim light that pierced through gaps in the trees. The further she ran, however, the denser the forest became.
For some reason, she swore that Yuzuri was getting closer. Was she actually catching up to them?
And then Yuzuri spotted Shirayuki and the girl's eyes widened with a gasp. The man turned with her still on his shoulder but his eyes focused on something behind her.
She turned but the last thing she remembered was incredible pain.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Shirayuki awoke to the sound of low toned voices. Her forest green eyes blinked open and she groaned a little; feeling the effects of what ever had hit her on the head.
She felt a pillow underneath her head and sat up slowly. "Yuzu..."
"She'll be fine. Seems she wasn't the one we were after anyway."
These words caused her to fully awaken and she looked around her to find an older woman standing in the doorway of a strange room that she'd never seen before.
And then she remembered that she had followed the bandits.
The woman standing before her wore a greyish-green colored dress that reached her ankles, a black cardigan over the top and a grey woolen shawl that covered her shoulders. Her grey hair was up in a bun, tied with a pin and her cool hazel orbs regarding Shirayuki carefully. She held a black walking stick in her hand but didn't seem to be leaning on it.
"You. I have heard of the girl with red hair. You cut off some of it and left it in Tanbarun for the idiot Prince to receive, instead of your body."
Shirayuki flinched at the words because that had been so long ago, in fact, she had not long after become friends with Prince Raj.
She nodded though, not wanting to cause animosity yet.
"Where is she?" she dared to ask, her eyes had now fallen to the ground.
"Follow me."
The woman slammed the bottom end of the stick to the ground and two guards appeared that had been standing on the other side of the wall. She nodded at them and when Shirayuki and the woman walked through the door, they followed.
Shirayuki took in where they were. The place was so similar to her father's hidden village in the mountains. There were bungalows and houses and she could see around half a mile away that there was a tavern of some sort and there was another building down below but couldn't tell what it was. If she had to guess, perhaps it was a farm house?
They walked down some stairs but Shirayuki couldn't help to notice that some people were hunched over, coughing, and most of them had their whole bodies covered either in shauls and scarves and had long sleeved shirts or jumpers and trousers on.
"Do you know we killed half a dozen of Mukaze's men," said the woman curtly as they walked.
Shirayuki's eyes widened in horror.
"We've always been rivals up here, alone on the mountain's. Its a shame that we had to resort to such things."
She remained silent but tears were running down her face. How could this have happened? Why didn't her father say something the day she arrived?
Finally, she noticed they had reached the farm house she had observed earlier. They were on the ground now and when she turned to look behind her, she realised just how high they had been before.
More people were huddled around a well, some coughed and their eyes stared at them as they walked by. They were so pale.
Even in the dwindling light, she could see it. She knew what sickness looked like.
There was something very wrong with this village...and these bandits.
"A-are you their leader?" she asked, after a few moments of silence.
"Yes. My name is Roki."
When they reached the farm house doors, she expected horses, cows, yaks...not people.
The woman nodded to the men who held the doors open - only long enough for Shirayuki to see the people inside - but closed them and then the woman was facing her.
"You are the Herbalist who cured Lyrias?"
Shirayuki's eyes widened. "T-that wasn't just me-"
"No, but you were the one who discovered how-"
"Yes but-"
"You will come with me and you will make us our remedy."
Roki entered the room but Shirayuki had noticed her decline in health. She'd thought the woman old before but this was much more than that.
She was hunched over with a young man of the village, who seemed healthier than the others, holding her arm to keep her steady.
"Have you finished it?" asked Roki, surprised.
Shirayuki shook her head. "I know what's going on here. That's why you took Yuzuri because you thought she was a healer."
Roki narrowed her eyes at her. "Finish the remedy-" screamed the woman, desperation in her eyes. Fear...fear of death.
"You said that you and my father's villages are rivals and that you regretted that things turned out this way. Its because of the sickness, isn't it? You can't go out anymore because too many of you are sick."
Roki shot at look at the man beside her and he turned toward Shirayuki and nodded.
"I-I can help you. I will help you find a cure. In return, you have to let Yuzuri go or at least, don't bring her any harm. And you must let me see her. I'll also need the books I asked for."
The woman regarded Shirayuki for a moment, taking in what she had discovered and then nodded silently. She banged her stick to the ground and another guard came from behind her, through the doorway with a few books in his arms.
"But if you so much as try to escape with her, you will die. I may seem like an old, sick woman but don't think for a second that I won't have you both killed. Before this sickness, we were well versed with the ways of killing - the reason for our rivalry with the Mountain's Lions."
Shirayuki was afraid but her need to protect Yuzuri far outweighed anything else. She nodded as the man placed the books on top of the table where she was working on their remedy.
When he arrived, he'd expected a welcoming party, but instead swords were drawn and there was fear in their eyes.
Shirayuki's father was among them but when his green orbs, so similar to Shirayuki's, came across the symbol on his lapel, he sheathed his sword slowly.
He commanded for his men to lower their swords. Obi got off his horse quickly and a man grabbed the reigns, shooting Obi a wary look.
The man had long grey hair tied into a pony tail and stood at the same height as Obi.
"You," the man said. "The Chief's been waiting for you."
Obi narrowed his eyes but let Itoya lead his horse to the stable for him and then he turned to face Mukaze. The man was broad shouldered, well built and his very presence displayed experience on the battlefield.
He couldn't believe that this man was the father of Shirayuki, considering where she was small, kind and beautiful as well as trusting, this man was tall, on edge (and not just because of what was going on) and had distrust written all over him. He wore flowing robes of dark green and khaki color with an insignia on the back. The Mountain's Lions, he assumed and as he walked toward Obi with purpose; even his very walk was demanding.
Despite all that, he was in a hurry and he wouldn't let anyone get in his way. And he was pissed off, tired, hungry and thirsty.
"You are the one from before. The one that-"
"Where is she?" demanded Obi, narrowing his eyes slightly.
Mukaze stared at Obi and then his eyes traveled downward at his attire.
"You may be a Knight of the Royal Army but here, you're just a kid," he said, holding out his hand for his men to stand down.
They circled around the two of them with their hands on the hilt of their swords.
"Chief, he's her guard," began a younger man and Obi's auburn orbs crossed over to where Kazuki stood out from the ring of men, his eyes on Obi.
"Was," corrected Mukaze, regarding Obi carefully.
Obi growled. "I don't have time for this. Where is she?"
Mukaze clenched his jaw. "She ran after them and I-"
"I knew it was a mistake for her to come here without me...even the Lion's can't protect her," spat Obi in anger. "I'll find her myself."
Shirayuki's father frowned at his words. "She lied."
Obi who had walked a few steps and was about to part through his men turned in confusion. His eyes focused on Mukaze who looked deep in thought.
"She said you weren't her guard anymore but she lied about that-"
"No, she didn't. I'm not her body guard."
Mukaze's green orbs widened. "Ah, I see. She lied about that too, then."
"What are you-" began Obi, taking a step toward the Chief of the village to question him.
"You're the one she was thinking about when she lied about not loving anyone else."
Obi took a sharp intake of breath like the wind had been knocked right out of him. He turned away from the man as his jaw tightened - now was not the time for such thoughts.
"You're wrong. I have to find her, we're just wasting time-"
"Not in those clothes you aren't. Men of the Royal Army do no good here. Come and we'll get my daughter back."
OOOOOOOOOOOOOO
He knew the saying 'fools rush in' but he couldn't just wait around. Shirayuki was out there and he needed to be by her side.
Damn his side mission, he didn't actually care about the bandits or what they were doing, all he cared about was her.
But they wouldn't let him go without explaining the situation.
"Boy, if you rush out there now, you'll be killed. No matter how skilled with a blade you are," said Mukaze sagely as they sat at a table in front of the bar.
Obi remembered it was the place they gathered around in celebration of eradicating the Claw and saving Shirayuki from Umihebi. He almost wanted to laugh at how simple those times were compared to now.
Itoya sat to Mukaze's right and Kazuki on his left and thirty other men filtered themselves around them. All with a mug with ale or rum in hand.
He wanted to point out that it wasn't exactly the time to be relaxing but he supposed that wouldn't go down so well.
"We've been rivals with the Serpents for years...that's what they called themselves. We discovered their whereabouts when news of attacks, killings and pillaging was heard from surrounding villages in Tanbarun and even some in the country of Clarines that are close to the mountain. But, we've never come to blows like this before. They had never attacked our village directly until a week ago."
Obi listened but didn't ask questions in hopes that it would make this conversation go faster.
"Two weeks before Shirayuki's arrival, news of their attacks on the villages were becoming more brutal and erratic. We don't know why. I sent a messenger to their village to deliver a note, asking their leader to meet with me," explained Mukaze with a sigh, taking a large gulp of ale.
"He never returned. Those bastards killed him, I just know it!" exclaimed Kazuki, his eyes filled with anger.
He slammed a fist on the table beside him, causing some of the drinks on top of it to clink together.
"And then they attacked a week ago. Why?" asked Obi, flashing a look at Kazuki before focusing back on Shirayuki's father.
A glass of water sat in front of him and he took a sip, placing it back down. He was now in more comfortable attire with his black pants and boots, long sleeved black shirt and had his bone colored hat on.
It was the same outfit he had met his Miss in (without the soldier's shirt on top) - he wore it at home sometimes, minus the hat. Some things he could never change and he hadn't yet had the heart to throw this outfit away.
And now it was coming in handy - and not just as lounging around gear.
"Apparently they were looking for a healer. My daughter's friend was mistaken for one of them but she...Shirayuki went after her."
Obi wasn't surprised to be honest. His Miss was going to be the death of him. Why did she have to care about people so damned much?
"Where?"
Mukaze sighed. "We have to wait, kid. Its not quite night fall but when it comes...we'll all go."
Obi clenched his fists but managed a nod.
"I should have been here," he said quietly, his eyes elsewhere, deep in thought. He forgot he was in company.
"Yeah you should have," said a voice from the bar.
Obi's eyes followed the voice with recognition.
His tall form sat at the bar, his hair disheveled as usual, but he was slouching. And that itself wasn't unusual, it was the way he was positioned to one side and then he saw some white bandage that poked out from under the bottom of his shirt that must have unraveled underneath.
Suzu turned to glare over at them, a pint of rum in his hand. He wasn't in any shape to move a lot, considering his injury from a week ago, but also, unbeknownst to Obi, he had been training with Mukaze too.
Not vigorous training, due to his injury, but enough to defend himself. When he was healed, he planned to really learn but there wasn't time, was there?
"Suzu," began Obi in surprise, getting up from his position at the table to walk over to his friend.
"Look-"
"Don't bother. She ran off, I know that and we followed. No one could have known...but, man, we could have used you a week ago," said Suzu with more understanding than Obi would have had.
Obi didn't know what to say. He was never one to not know what to say - even if he just joked to fill the void of silence. However, he wasn't good at apologising or giving comfort to someone who lost a person they cared about.
He was a man of action though, so he put a hand on Suzu's shoulder and squeezed it a little.
Obi leaned against the counter with an elbow resting on top of it and Suzu noticed Obi looking out up at the forest, his eyes cold and calculating or perhaps it was anger about something.
"Don't blame yourself, she wouldn't want you to," he said quietly, like he was trying to tell himself the same thing.
It wasn't working. If he'd been more like Obi and actually knew how to defend himself, maybe he could have saved her.
Maybe he would have seen the sword come down toward his side and instead of it ripping through his skin, he could have avoided it. It hadn't been fatal but had been enough to send him into shock and immobilize him.
"You said so yourself, you're not her body guard anymore-"
"Not by order but I am, Suzu," said Obi evenly, casting his eyes to the blonde for a moment.
Suzu managed a chuckle, despite the situation because it was just a typical Obi response. Not revealing anything by his words, unless you read between them, wondering if he was actually saying something else.
And if one could read what he was saying, he wondered if they meant that he wanted to protect her for himself and not because of an order from anyone and he knew the reason why that would be.
"Just promise me that you'll save them."
Obi wanted to promise him but his first priority was Shirayuki and if it were a choice between Shirayuki and Yuzuri he would always choose his Miss first, no matter the cost.
Examinations had been the first port of call and then isolation (quarantine).
When Yuzuri had awoken a day ago (after much worry from Shirayuki because why had she been out that long?), they had both decided this was the best course of action.
They had to at least look like they were trying to save them. When the guard stepped away for a moment, they'd whispered to each other how they weren't going to do that.
But then Shirayuki had an epiphany...and not the personal kind like that from over a week ago. Focus, focus.
"No, Yuki...that's insanity!" shrilled Yuzuri in a whisper, her blue orbs blaring at her red headed friend.
Shirayuki was crunching some herbs in a bowl but turned once to give a look to Yuzuri.
"Its too heartless not to help them find a cure, Yuzuri, but this will also ensure that they keep their promises."
Yuzuri glared. "You're too kind for your own good. And do you think we can even do that? Find the cure?"
Shirayuki reached up and tucked a red strand of fly away hair behind her ear and then pointed at a page in one of the books they had procured for them to study.
Yuzuri followed her finger and read the lines on the page, and the title.
She shook her head. "How are we supposed to find patient zero?"
She smiled. "I already know who it is."
"How will we synthesize a cure? Blood is the only thing I can think of and...don't tell me."
"Yes, Yuzu. Its the only way."
Before they could even think of creating the cure with her clean blood, they would need to get a sample from the patient who had contracted the disease first.
Over the days since their plan was born, they had given instructions to Roki and she had fulfilled them to the best of her abilities, while she was still able.
Quarantine was the first. Separating the various degrees of sickness in groups and those who weren't sick yet (not many of them were left) had to wear a cloth over their mouths because they couldn't be certain if it was spread with saliva and bodily fluids.
With the way it spread so quickly, though, she was sure it was. They'd thought of the food or the water but not everyone ate the same thing and they drank the same water the Lion's did, since it was straight off the mountain and so that was ticked off the list straight away.
The only logical explanation was that 'patient zero' had brought it from one of their raids and then had spread it to their entire village.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Yuzuri looked at Shirayuki skeptically as she inserted the needle she had fashioned from a common native plant in these parts and stuck it into her arm.
She winced but gave Yuzuri a reassuring smile.
They had created a substance from a sample from patient zero and used the other side of the needle to piece the container it was held in so that it would enter Shirayuki's blood.
When it was all gone, they waited until Shirayuki began to show symptoms. The village leader would think she had contracted the disease, she didn't need to know that this was all part of the synthesis for the cure.
When nightfall came, her symptoms had increased exponentially and much faster than the others. Shirayuki had been laid into some pillows in the corner.
"We're all doomed," spoke Roki as she coughed and spluttered. "A quarter of my v-village have already s-succumbed to-to this wretched disease and not even she could save us."
Roki turned to leave, with a cloth to her mouth so she didn't spread it to her men that surrounded her in the cottage where Shirayuki and Yuzuri had been working. She turned and gave Yuzuri a look as the girl clutched at Shirayuki who had fainted with despair, tears threatening to fall.
"She can die in that corner, that's all she deserves now. And when you go, we'll all be buried together."
Surprisingly, the old woman was holding out. Yuzuri also noted that Roki had taken the last of the remedy a short while ago.
"Oh Yuki...you've killed yourself," cried Yuzuri, hugging Shirayuki's small frame tightly, rocking her back and forth with her head in Yuzuri's lap.
And that was when she heard yelling and swords colliding down below.
Suzu observed his friend fasten a sheath with a dagger in it onto his belt, the hilt resting on the side of his hip. On the other side was a sword, not his preferred weapon of choice, and a pouch full of daggers sat on the back of the belt.
When he saw Obi like this, he didn't see a Royal Knight...he saw a ninja, ready to go into battle.
He wondered absently whether this was just a normal day for him.
Obi's auburn, cat-like eyes were on Suzu suddenly and they looked so vivid with only the veil of the moon lighting the clearing. He pursed his lips and looked displeased. He walked over to Suzu and grabbed the arm that held his sword.
"If you're using one hand, grip the handle in the middle. If you're using two, put your right hand at the top and the left closer to the bottom," he explained, as if talking to one of his soldier's back home, adjusting Suzu's hold on the hilt.
Suzu nodded in thanks. "This is just another day for you, huh?"
Obi raised an eyebrow and straightened back into a standing position, letting go of Suzu.
"I mean like, you do this sort of stuff all the time, right? Going into battle, fighting for your life...dangerous stuff, right?"
The Knight shrugged. "I haven't done something like this for over a year."
Suzu was surprised by that answer and couldn't help but smirk. It wasn't the time for it but often their jokes covered some truths that they weren't willing to share and this was no exception.
"She's got you wrapped around her finger, huh?"
Obi couldn't help but give a half smile. "Miss hates it when I get injured and Master has only sent me on recon jobs for the past year. Training soldiers is a bonus."
Their conversation was cut short when Mukaze turned up with his men, giving them orders on how they were going to proceed.
"Shirayuki and her friend Yuzuri are the priority. Everyone else you can kill, if you have to."
OOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Mukaze wasn't surprised that Obi was so capable but it was interesting to watch Shirayuki's former guard in action.
The way he weaved through the trees, jumping down to take out men so stealthily, like a cat really. Not at all like he imagined a Royal Knight would be, but then again, a Royal Knight wouldn't have trekked across a country and beat his best man Itoya in a one on one battle and all to get Shirayuki back.
Was he bothered that he could kill men so easily? Well, at the moment it was an asset.
He ran forward, his men around him doing the same, but he couldn't help but notice when Obi struck down from a tree behind one man, stuck a knife in his throat and immediately was onto the next, like it was child's play.
He had a dangerous, deadly look in eyes and he wondered, did his daughter see that in his eyes when she looked at him?
A group of men were ahead and they could see the village gates in the distance.
The fighting became more constant and before they knew it, Suzu had slashed a man in the chest (not shallow enough) but he had recovered, running through the village gates. He alerted everyone that they were under attack.
Obi jumped down to the ground beside him. Mukaze looked over at him and they shared a look.
Things were going to be much harder now.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Yuzuri clutched to Shirayuki's shivering body for dear life and tears had been falling down her cheeks for, well, she wasn't even sure how long.
God, how had things turned out this way? She'd been so excited, Suzu included, to go and visit the Mountain's Lions.
She'd heard about the rare flowers up here and now that she'd seen some of them through making this village's remedy for a straight week, she hated it because this was not the way she wanted to research botany.
The fighting was ongoing in the distance but when she looked down at Shirayuki, her shivering seemed to have stopped.
"God, Shirayuki," she sobbed.
Suddenly her ears pricked up when she heard footsteps and her eyes widened. Fear clutched at her but she managed to shift them both out of the light from the moon and further into the corner.
What if it was one of Roki's men, come to finish them off so the Lion's couldn't rescue them?
Yuzuri's blue orbs searched the room, trying to see if there was some sort of weapon she could use. Not that she knew how to use a weapon but anything is better than nothing.
Her eyes settled on the knife she had been using to cut off leaves and flowers from the plants which sat on the bench they had been using for a week.
She pushed Shirayuki off her gently, got to her hands and knees and quietly crept over to the table. Her hand touched the top of the knife when another hand pushed onto the top of hers.
She screamed.
"Shit, Yuzu, its me!" hissed a voice.
Yuzuri had squeezed her eyes shut, but when she heard his voice, she opened them to find that she wasn't dreaming. It was Suzu.
She had hoped he hadn't come because she didn't want him to get hurt. She loved that he was a Herbalist and even though he couldn't protect her before, she still loved that about him.
She didn't have to worry, like Shirayuki did about Obi.
How could you watch the man you love go out into battle and worry that he'd never return?
She jumped up into his arms and wrapped herself around his torso, breathing in his scent. Suzu seemed to wince and it was then she remembered he'd been injured a week ago.
"Oh god, sorry," she murmured, her breath on his chest.
"Its okay...I have to get you two out of here," he said quickly, pushing Yuzuri away and looked into her eyes.
Suddenly he pulled away from her and ran to the window when he heard yelling. "Shit, we've gotta go."
Yuzuri looked crestfallen and shook her head. "Shirayuki...she-"
Rustling was heard behind them and green forest eyes looked up at them.
"Oh my god, Shirayuki!"
OOOOOOOOOOOOOO
"Hold him!" yelled Roki but then turned from the man holding her to cough into a cloth. When she pulled it away, a patch of phlegm mixed with blood was splattered on its surface.
It was the last stage before death. Fear gripped her heart, knowing she would be gone soon, but she needed to hold on as long as she could for her village. She turned slowly, walking over to where the one man who had killed most of them was being held down by four of her own.
The bandits had managed to push half of Mukaze's men and Obi back and so they were still in the forest, just outside the gates. Her eyes flitted behind her to where she could see Mukaze fighting and then she turned to look down at Obi.
"You, young man, have killed over half a dozen of my men," she said sourly.
Obi struggled against the men holding him, but it was just too much. Two held his arms out from his body, another was crouched behind him with an arm around his neck and the other held a knife to his back, in case he tried anything.
He was on his knees and he spotted one of his knives on the ground.
A man walking toward them saw it and kicked it away, then walked up to him and held a sword to his throat.
"I could use a man like you," she said with half a smile. "It takes four of my men to hold you...what skill."
Obi narrowed his eyes at her. "I'd rather die."
One of the men holding him punched him in the face, splitting his lip. He laughed but there was no humor behind it and then spat out the blood onto the ground at her feet.
"Where is she?" he said in a dangerously low tone, his auburn orbs piercing into her own gaze.
Roki regarded him for a moment, thinking about which one he was talking about.
"The red head who is dying or the blue haired girl who will soon follow?" she asked callously with a smirk on her old, chapped lips.
His eyes flew open. "You're lying!" he yelled angrily.
"Don't worry, boy, you'll join them. Kill him."
"If you kill him, you all die," she yelled from across the clearing, holding a knife to her own throat.
All heads turned and stared at the intruder. Some of her men went to advance on her but waited for a moment, wondering what her explanation was.
Roki was in shock. How could she be standing after...the symptoms?
"Miss," spoke Obi in disbelief. "W-what are you doing?"
"Trust me," she spoke to him, her eyes meeting his for a moment as she walked closer toward them.
Behind her, Mukaze seemed to have broken free of his fight, running toward them with his men in tow.
Roki's men were surrounding them all, however and when Mukaze, Suzu and Yuzuri and his men joined them, the bandits circled around. Mukaze's eyes widened at the situation and wanted to grab her and run but felt that it wouldn't do any good and would probably just get them all killed.
"How do you think I'm standing? Alive? I am the cure!" she said confidently, her eyes ablaze with determination at the woman who had caused them all such horrible disaster. "I will spill every last drop of my blood right here if you kill him."
The old woman let out a breath and motioned for the man with the sword to Obi's throat to lower it. He did as commanded.
"Let them all go and I will give you your cure."
Roki looked at her but narrowed her eyes. "You wouldn't dare. You wouldn't risk your life for him-"
"You give me no choice then," Shirayuki spoke quietly, her eyes went to Obi who now understood what she was doing.
"Miss, don't...please, don't!"
Shirayuki pushed the blade to her neck, breaking the skin, and blood starting forming from the cut. She winced from the pain but it was worth it to ensure that her demands were met.
"NO!" screamed Roki and then Shirayuki stopped.
Her green orbs focused on Roki, daring her to defy her.
Roki motioned to the men holding Obi and they let go of him. When he was on his feet, he rushed toward Shirayuki but was stopped as men stepped in front of him with their swords pointed at him.
"If anyone even touches him, your cure will feed the forest floor!" exclaimed Shirayuki with fear in her eyes and Obi looked around the men in front of him to meet her gaze.
When had she become so brave? And why did she say things like that, as if she...
"When they have gone, all of them, back to the Lion's village, I will give you your cure," she said quietly, averting her eyes from Obi's.
"Miss...no-"
"Agreed!" said Roki quickly, nodding to her men who stepped away from Obi and walked to stand behind Shirayuki. "You're all free to go."
"This is the only way, Obi. I'm so sorry," she murmured with tears in her eyes but she faced the ground.
She finally met his gaze after a few seconds but he was angry. Unbelievably so.
"No!" he yelled and she swore his mask that he always wore was torn from his face because he looked terrified and she thought he had tears in his eyes.
He walked forward to grab her but a hand touched his arm and he turned to face Mukaze who shook his head.
Obi looked back to Shirayuki frantically but the men standing behind her gave him a warning glare.
He noticed that her clothes were tattered, dirty and she looked so fatigued and pale. But she was so amazingly beautiful and he just didn't know what he'd do if they killed her. She was everything to him.
When she had become his world, he wasn't sure, but he knew if they took her life away, he would come back and slaughter them. Every last one of them, he didn't care.
She was the main reason for his change in lifestyle and character from before so if she was gone...so would the Obi that everyone knew and loved.
"If she dies," he said coldly, turning around to face the old woman.
She looked at him with distrust but didn't interrupt.
"If anyone so much as touches her other than to receive their cure," he said the last word with distaste. "I'll come for you."
Shirayuki's heart fluttered and most people would probably be scared of the way he said it so dangerously with killing intent, but for some reason, it made her feel...protected. Obi always guarded her from harm, it was a given with him, but she'd never heard him actually voice his protectiveness. Not once.
Mukaze and his men began to walk back toward the village until only Obi, Shirayuki, Roki and the bandits remained in the clearing.
"Miss...I'll come back for you, I promise." His eyes had softened and his voice didn't hold the harshness it did with Roki.
She didn't know if she would be alive, but sure, she wanted the hope. So she smiled.
"Obi..." she said as tears fell down her face, her eyes piercing into his soul.
He stood in the clearing, waiting for her next words, his gaze never leaving hers for a second.
"I love you...I always will."
Then the bandits ushered her off (afraid to touch her) and he stood there, wide eyed and in utter shock, even as her silhouette got smaller the further she went.
"Shirayuki..." he gasped, his breath leaving him. How long had she...
I love you too.
He'd wanted to say that back but he was in disbelief. God, he wanted to go back in there and take her back now...but it was too late.