Zen's arms hurt a lot, the ropes feel like they're cutting his wrists. The wind is cold, the high pitch whistling makes it hard for Zen to hear anything else and the darkness behind his eye lids intensify everything. He had tried to speak to Obi, to affirm it was the former assassin who is carrying him, but his voice got caught in his throat. Luckily for him, Obi did respond, even it was only a deep hum in his chest. Zen had felt the hum more than heard it, but it was all he needed.
His whole body felt heavy, but he didn't want to fall asleep again, not at a time like this. Obi's steady heartbeat, that Zen can hear from where his ear is pressed into his knight's chest, isn't helping him stay awake. It's a soothing sound, but Zen doubts that Obi knows how soothing it is.
"This must be how Shirayuki felt in the Pirate incident…"
Zen and the others often talk about some of Obi's amazing qualities and skills – without the black cat in question knowing of course – and Zen often debates these sorts of things in his head when he has a hard time falling asleep, but one thing that they often discussed, and that Zen is not-so-secretly jealous of, is Obi's ability to not lose energy or stamina in a physical fight or even long distance travel. Obi is a very good – the best – court messenger in this way as he can deliver a message or letter in at least a tenth of the time as a normal messenger, depending on the distance to travel. But it also lets him get jobs and inspections done faster. Like now, Obi's running through the tree tops at an amazing speed and has been for who knows how long, and yet, his heart rate is calm and his breaths are even. Zen prides himself with his ability to escape his office when he can, but ever since Obi showed up, he hates to admit that he knows that he can only do a fraction of what Obi can do, and even when Zen does escape, he has to climb down walls and is sweating even just a little bit by the end. Obi on the other hand, just jumps down without a fear of breaking bones or getting scratched – much to Zen and Shirayuki's annoyance – seeing that he never does get injured from his movements as well as not even breaking a single sweat.
Suddenly, Obi uses more force to a push off a branch and Zen can't help the surprised grunt that escapes him as he sinks deeper into Obi's hold on him.
"We're going to meet someone Master," Zen can barely hear him over the wind, but he does. "They'll take care of you while I deal with him."
Zen doesn't know what he's more shocked by: the fact that Obi admitted that he's going to drop him off with someone and leave to fight someone who could possibly kill him, or by how terrifying Obi sounded when he said 'him'. But Zen does know what he's more worried about, the fact that Obi admitted to dropping him off and running off to fight a crazy man and possibly never return.
Zen opens his eyes, his neck almost snapping at the speed in which he lifts his chin to look at Obi's face, not believing his declaration. His hair is being blown into his eyes, luckily not stinging him, but it does make it hard to see Obi's deathly amber orbs.
"Y-you can't do that!" Zen doesn't even feel embarrassed by his voice crack. "We… we need to get back to the palace as quick as we can!"
"He would catch up to us if we di…" Obi started in a monotone voice, his eyes focused in front of them.
"No he wouldn't, he couldn't! you can out run him!"
Zen's heart feels like it's about to beat out of his chest, and even though his ear isn't pressed against Obi's chest at the moment, he can still hear the ever calm beating of his heart.
"We would have to stop to rest at least twice…" Zen opens his mouth to argue his case further, but Obi continues. "Wistal Castle is seven days travel if we continue like this. The inn we were staying at near Wilant is two days. Wilant is two and a half, that is where the others are staying."
Zen shuts his mouth. The information causing a silent panic in him for three different reasons.
"Two days travel! Obi can make a two day trip in one, which means that we're at least four days travel from Wilant. But then… how long was I out. Obi had to have come from Wilant because the others…"
Zen's eyes widen more than they already are, his face pales and his body tenses.
"The others! They were… they were attacked with me. Mitsuhide got cut…"
Obi seems to know what Zen is thinking.
"They are fine, they're in the infirmary. Mitsuhide's wound is very shallow, he didn't lose much blood… He'll be fine," He says in a quiet voice to reassure his master.
Zen doesn't really know how he can hear Obi. Part of him wants to believe that Obi is lying for Zen's sake, but the rest of him knows that Obi doesn't lie about this sort of thing. He recognizes that Obi is comforting his own emotions as well as Zen when he says that the others are okay. Obi is a monster in man's clothes when it comes to his friends being threatened, he needs the reassurance just as much as Zen does.
Obi squeezes Zen a bit, and upon looking in the direction that Obi is going, Zen notices that they are getting close to a cave in the side of a cliff, the entrance is almost completely hidden behind vines. Zen doesn't see a real path, meaning that there is a possible hidden entrance or multiple, but if this someone is anything like Obi, then a cave entrance on the side of a cliff shouldn't be much of a hassle to get to. Obi proves that by simply pushing off a branch, going through the vines without much resistance and landing on the stone floor. The walls echo the sound of Obi's landing and Zen's grunt from the force of the landing, but Zen notes that Obi's landing was slightly louder than it normally would be.
"Well… I suppose we would want the inhabitant of the cave to know we're here."
Zen looks down the tunnel into the cliff, at least what he can see. It's dark, even with the midday light coming in from the other side of the vines, but it's mostly because the cave delves deeper into the cliff side. For all Zen could know, the cave system can be as big as Wistal castle, maybe even bigger! A little ways further into the cave, Zen sees some sort of device on the right wall… an unlit torch. The cave system must be large if a torch is needed.
"Perhaps if that guy chases us in here, we could lose him… but that's not very likely."
Zen continues staring down the cave, trying to adjust to the darkness, he barely registers that Obi is moving until the unlit torch is within arm's reach – if Zen could use his arms that is.
"…ster?"
Zen gasps and looks to Obi wide eyed. He'd been so distracted by the cave that he didn't even realize that Obi was talking to him.
"Huh?" he whispers without meaning to.
Obi stares at him for a moment; analyzing him, Zen corrects. It's a short moment before he repeats what he said, but there is still an unnerving moment that allows Zen to hear the cawing of the crows getting closer.
"Do you think you can walk Master?" His amber eyes seem emotionless, but Zen can see the tinge of worry and anger.
Zen pauses, looking down at his legs that are supported by Obi's arm. He should say yes, because getting carried princess style is kind of embarrassing. But at the same time, Zen realizes that it would be better if he said no. He can't feel his legs, his body and eyelids feel heavy, his wrists hurt where the rope is digging into his skin – Zen wouldn't be surprised if his wrists bleed and/or bruise from the ropes – and his heart beat still isn't normal.
"No," Zen says, lowering his head in embarrassment.
He feels Obi slightly turn, looking out the cave entrance. It's silent for a moment, except for the cawing of the crows that is only getting louder.
"Should I put you down to untie your wrists, or would you feel more comfortable if we did it in the cavern with my former ally?"
"Former ally… doesn't that mean the two of you don't get along? … But none the less…"
"I would like to be untied here… the rope is cutting into my wrists."
Obi moves fairly quickly, but otherwise slow and cautiously. Zen can understand, they need to get away from the cave entrance soon and go meet Obi's "former ally", but it's dangerous to drop Zen on the floor and yank the rope off. Zen wobbles horribly once the soles of his boots touch the stone floor. So much so that he ends up leaning heavily into Obi's chest once again. Zen is facing the cave entrance as Obi delicately and hastily undoes the rope binding. From where his chin rests on Obi's shoulder, he can see the black blotch in the sky from which the cawing of many crows comes from. It's not too close, but definitely getting larger as they get closer and closer to the cave. Zen doesn't even notice that Obi has completely untied him and lowered his arms until he feels his whole body being picked up again. His conscience tells him to put his hands in his lap, but his instincts tells him to wrap his arms around Obi's neck for leverage – not like Obi would drop him though. His instincts win. His arms feel numb, but they're feeling isn't completely gone, and when he turns his head to once again look at himself, he can see – in the shallow darkness – how red his wrists really are. He can feel the warmth spreading across his cheeks as Obi continues walking with Zen in his arms, but he doesn't bother with trying to hide it. Obi already knows he's embarrassed, and besides, Obi is too focused on navigating the pitch black cave without a light, so… wait, what!?
Zen's head quickly turns back to look over Obi's shoulder to where he can still see the bulge in the wall where the torch is.
"But doesn't he need the torch? Won't we get lost?"
Zen turns his head back to look at Obi who just stares ahead yet seems to know what Zen is thinking.
"I've memorized the cave system and the steps throughout," he says, his voice slightly echoing off the walls. "That torch is for any unfortunate soul that needs to escape from gangs and thieves, because those criminals don't know how to track properly. Besides… if we used the torch, he could follow the scent, and he doesn't know the cave system, and my ally and I don't want him to know."
Zen somewhat relaxes. With everything being pitch black, his eyelids droop even more and he can't tell when his eyes are open or closed. He hadn't expected Obi to offer so much information without being asked to when he is in a murderous mood – he only ever offers too much information when he act like normal Obi. He supposes it is logical, to leave a torch for someone who doesn't know the cave system. They could obviously still get lost, but only idiots would go in after them. And apparently Obi's "former ally" got promoted back to "ally". But Zen feels uneasy about the last piece of information Obi offered.
"How can you be sure that guy doesn't know the cave system?" Zen whispers, being mindful of the echo.
"My ally would never allow it, but I'll have to tell them as it is now," he says.
Zen is quiet for a while, the cawing of the crows dies out as they go deeper into the cave, he can feel every time Obi turns and the only sound that he can hear is the sound of Obi's feet as they pad along the stone floor. He should stay quiet, but the further they go, the more Zen worries. Obi will be leaving him alone with someone he doesn't know, and may never meet again. There's also the fact that this person either once worked in the underground of still does, and even though Obi and that girl Torou aren't the stereotypical all bad nature and horrible people, people from the underground can be absolutely terrifying. His kidnapper is proof. That's two things now that he wants to ask, but he'll stick with his first question first.
"Obi?" he whispers.
"Hm…"
"What is your… ally like? You two do get along, right? ... Otherwise, I don't think it would be a good idea to leave me alone with him…"
This guy could possibly want revenge on Obi and use Zen for pay back. But Zen is starting to fall asleep again, he doesn't know how long he'll last. Obi suddenly chuckles, and Zen feels a tad bit annoyed because he doesn't see what's so funny, but he mostly feels confused, because why is Obi chuckling?
"What are you laughing at," Zen says, leaning his head against the former assassin's chest again as sleep continues to take him.
"I'm not laughing."
"You chuckled."
"So I did."
Zen feels a vein welling up in his temple.
"… Why did chuckle?"
Zen is pretty sure his eyes are closed at this point.
"Because you said think my ally is a man."
"So your ally is a girl?"
Obi chuckles again.
"Woman have always seemed like more efficient hunters to me. Men like to turn on each other in the underground, so I find it best to team up with a woman. An alpha woman at that, they get work done quicker and better."
"So do you and this… your ally get along?"
"…"
"Obi?"
"I guess… making friends in the underground is almost like a death sentence really…"
Obi had given that answer many times during their sparring. Zen doesn't really get what he means by it. It's the most confusing thing Obi has ever said, and Obi says a lot of confusing things. One thing that Zen – and possibly Izana, seeing that he allowed Obi to stay – wanted Obi's help with, is a better understanding of the underground since there are reports that there might be an underground camp somewhere in Clarines. He wants a better understanding of the laws set up in the underground, the community, how dangerous it is to the rest of Clarines and other countries, but Obi keeps his mouth shut. Zen knows that Obi would do whatever he could to prevent an all out war, but his silence doesn't help. Zen is aware that making friendships is dangerous in the underground seeing that one could easily be stabbed in the back – literally – by someone they thought they could trust.
"Cerberus won't kill you, she has standards."
"Cerberus? Really?"
"I don't know what her real name is, and if she were to tell me, I would think it a lie."
"She sounds scary."
"The most terrifying person in the underground."
"…"
The most terrifying person in the underground… Seriously? Obi is going to leave him with the most terrifying person in the underground, by himself!?
"It's because she's the most terrifying person in the underground that no one, not even him, will come looking for you… Like I said, she won't kill you, or even harm you. She has herbs two so she might make you some tea, and suggest that you accept it… If you are awake at all that is."
Zen notices that he already is half asleep, he doesn't even care about this 'Cerberus' person anymore. His whole body is going limp, and Obi's steady heartbeat is calming. He can no longer feel the turns that Obi takes, can't hear anything besides Obi's footsteps and heartbeat, but soon, the footsteps fade out and all Zen is left with before slumber takes him whole, is the sound of Obi's melodic heart beating in his warm chest, promising the life of the former assassin.