Obi was still calling for Shirayuki when Hikari emerged from the trees.
"Little miss! Where did you go? You had me worried!" he said, clearly out of breath.
"Sorry, um . . ."
"Obi. His name is Obi," Shirayuki prompted.
"Yes! Sorry, Obi. I didn't mean to worry you."
"Well," he sighed in relief. "As long as the little miss is alright. Are you feeling ok? You look a little pale, little miss."
"Um, yes. I feel fine. Don't worry about me."
"If the little miss says so. Ready to head back to the castle?"
"Sure!"
When they reached the castle, Hikari was astounded at the decorated halls, unknowingly gawking at the many paintings and architecture. Obi just stared, wondering whether he should be worried or surprised by her behavior.
"Little miss? Are you sure you feel alright?"
"Yes! I've never seen work like this before!"
"Um, little miss, you see it every day."
"Oh! Um, right. Of course." They continued down the hall, with Hikari still gawking at the designs. Soon, they entered a room where a gloomy Zen sat at a desk, paperwork piled up at both ends. As soon as he saw Shirayuki, his face brightened, making Hikari's heart thump.
"Hikari, did your heartbeat get faster?" Shirayuki asked.
"No, it was yours. I see you have strong feelings for this man," Hikari whispered. She could feel Shirayuki blush, a warm feeling that spread through her body.
"Shirayuki!" Zen said. "did you work hard today? I heard you gave Obi a scare." Her skin color suddenly caught his attention. "Shirayuki, are you feeling alright? Your facial color seems a little pale."
"I'm fine . . . Um . . ."
"Zen. That's prince Zen," Shirayuki told Hikari.
"Prince Zen, I'm perfectly fine. I already told Obi not to worry."
"You want me to buy that again!" He grabbed her by the arms, worry plastered all over his face. "You were sick once before and didn't tell anyone! Don't do it again, Shirayuki! You promised me you wouldn't hide this kind of thing from me again!"
"I'm not, prince Zen," Hikari said, trying to soothe his anxiety. "I'm perfectly fine. I'm as healthy as I'll ever be."
Zen was going to push the subject further when Kiki and Mitsuhide entered the room behind Obi.
"Prince Zen," Mitsuhide started. "I bring word from your brother. Oh! Hey, Shirayuki!"
"It's been a while, Shirayuki," Kiki added.
"The man is Mitsuhide and that's Kiki next to him. They're Zen's bodyguards and close friends."
"Hey, Kiki, Mitsuhide! It has been a while!" Hikari answered.
Zen spoke with Kiki and mitsuhide, while Obi went to patrol the palace grounds. Hikari seated herself in a chair near the door, trying to listen to their conversation.
"Hikari! What are you staring at?"
"The man, Mitsuhide was it? He's . . . eye catching."
"Hikari, do you like him?"
"Well, he's not a bad person."
"Ha ha! No, Hikari! I mean have you fallen for him?" Hikari blushed, the blood flowing to her cheeks, helping her facial color.
"That's impossible!" Hikari argued. Zen, Mitsuhide, and Kiki turned to see what the noise was about. "Sorry. I was just thinking out loud." As soon as they turned back around, Hikari continued with Shirayuki. "I cannot like him. Spirits cannot fall in love with mortals. It is a forbidden and tormenting love."
"Tormenting?"
"Once I leave your body, we will not be able to touch each other again. I cannot possess the same body twice. Love between a spirit and a mortal just isn't meant to be."
Shirayuki couldn't say anything. She could imagine not being able to touch Zen forever, and that no words anyone said could ever make her feel better.
"Do not feel bad, Shirayuki. I am used to this."
"No, Hikari. No one can get used to this pain."
"You are too kind, Shirayuki. I think I see now why the prince of this country has fallen for you."
Once again, Shirayuki blushed. Hikari's situation made her treasure her love for Zen; made her care more about the small things they had done over the course of their relationship.
"Hikari, did you love anyone before you became a spirit?"
Hikari hesitated before she answered.
"You don't have to tell me, Hikari, if you don't want to. If it's too painful-"
"No," Hikari interrupted. "I will be happy to tell you.
"Long ago, before this castle was built, I lived in a small village near these grounds. We never had many travelers passing through, so news from other towns and villages was very seldom. It gave our village a cozy, yet plain feeling.
"I was engaged to a farm boy, about two years older than me. He worked hard in his father's fields, but he had an adventurous spirit. It was the reason I loved him so much. He would always tell me stories about the outside world. There were dragons, faeries, ghosts, and even spirits in that boy's imagination!"
"What was his name?"
Hikari smiled. "Kuze. His name was Kuze.
"Unfortunately, his adventurous side made him too eager to escape our village. I believe it was around that time that the war to make Clarines a country was happening. A veteran of the war was passing through our village and stayed at the inn near Kuze's fields. That veteran told him about his ventures through the war. All the war stories encouraged Kuze even more to leave.
"A few nights after the veteran left our town, Kuze told me he was leaving to fight in the war. He had left me a note at my house, telling me of his parting." Hikari suddenly stopped.
"Hikari? Are you alright?"
"I never saw him again, Shirayuki. And now that I am like this, surely he is also dead as well."
"I'm sorry, Hikari."
"You don't have to be sorry, Shirayuki. It wasn't your fault."
"So, how did you become a spirit then? You looked so young when I saw you."
"I," Hikari hesitated. "I died at an early age."
Both girls remained quiet after, neither knowing what to say to break up the silence. Hikari continued to stare in the direction of Mitsuhide, Kiki, and Zen. But even though Hikari said she was staring at Mitsuhide, Shirayuki could slightly feel her eyes flicker towards Zen.