DISCLAIMER: I do not own Snow white with the red hair

Ch 2: In competition with reason

"B-but master why would you need another guard for Shirayuki!?" Obi was taken back by the thought of sharing his Shirayuki, his eyes widen no the Princess Shirayuki she was just his charge, he ground his teeth as he looked at his master feeling the stroke of shame. "Have I not proven my competence in protecting her?"

Zen stapled his fingers as he rested his brow against the tips briefly.

"it is not a question of your loyalty or ability, it has come to my attention that now she has assumed the position of my wife to be there will be more threats to come" He held out his hand to hush any disputes and he continued. " Your strong and I put my complete faith in your ability to safeguard Shirayuki, but it would be foolish for me not to have someone to aid you." Zen stared pointedly at Obi dominating the contact, Obi's eyes narrowed briefly before he gave a stiff bow.

"I understand master and when should we be expecting this new guard?"

Mitsuhide swatted Obis back hard as he grinned " The candidate should be here within the day, possibly sooner. Don't take this too hard political intrigue and threats should help liven up your workload."Obi grunted as Kiki gave a small giggle "Well if I am to have a partner why not let Miss Kiki be mine?"

"NO!" Both Kiki and Mitsuhide respond in union shutting down that glimmer of hope, Obi rubbed the back of his head and chuckled. A knock echoed as a lone soldier opened the door at Zen's permission, he stood in a militant stance.

"Prince Zen the new Candidate for Princess Shirayuki's guard is here, she's been escorted to the training grounds" Zen nodded as he stood grabbing his cloak to grace his shoulders, Mitsuhide and Kiki shared a look as they assessed Obi's stiff shoulders at the guards announcement, all three filing around Zen.

"Thank you, looks like we have a candidate to meet."

Naoki stood in the vast training yard watching the dance of sun and shadow weave through the grass, the wind fluttering its blades. Nervous energy bubbled within her breast, she could feel her heart pounding like Lily Bell's hooves 'I'm gonna do great! I won't trip or break a bone...not this time! I've waited so long for this' Her internal pep talk rallied courage as she browsed the various sparing tools along the back wall rack, taking each items measure. Curving her hands over her hips she leaned solidly on one foot as she mindlessly tapped the other, the metal over the toes of her boot clanked loud in the still air erasing the sound of approaching footsteps.

"Hello Miss, I am Prince Zen Wistalia it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance"

She gulped in the squeak of surprise as she regained her composure and balance nearly pitching herself face forward as the sound of his voice shocked her out of her daze, catching her by surprise . Breathing deep she twirled around and bowed letting her braid bunch at her shoulder as she greeted the prince.

"Greeting Prince Zen I am Naoki" she gave a genuine grin as she looked up at the Prince and his company, her cheeks flaring crimson as the look of humor that danced across the majority of the faces 'Good job already showing yourself the fool' she chastised herself for being caught with her guard down, not a way to win over the trust to be a guard of the Prince's beloved. She stood regal as the esteemed company in her presence took her measure, a single sanguine look from a silent threat of a man stood off to the side leaning casually against a column. His relaxed stance sent off alarm bells in her senses, she knew he wasn't at ease not one bit he was picking apart her stance and beating down her defenses. She looked into the golden eyes and offered up a challenge, She would not wither beneath his gaze. The Prince gave a cough and reversed her attention to him, her cheeks heated up once more. The prince simply smiled as he offered his hand to her with his kind smiling beaming she took it in a firm shake.

"It is a pleasure Naoki, would you do me the honor of testing your skills?" Zen walked over to the arrangement of wood swords and gestured for her to pick one up, she gulped and looked down.

"Prince Zen I am not one for the sword" She paused licking her lips "My fighting style is a bit unusual."

Obi watched the girl Zen addressed, they seem to have caught her lost in thought from the near pitfall at hearing a voice behind her, he grimaced 'She is to be my partner in being Shirayuki's guard.' He looked her over taking in each detail. Her chocolate brown eyes bore into his, with thick mauve bangs whispering across her drawn brows, her spiky crop of hair dusted her jawline as a thick plait coiled over her shoulder, she looked small but soundly built, with a round face and heart-like lips that were pursed, a high collar hide the milky column of her neck as the fabric flared into a quarter cape draping around her shoulders, it was a dark tan color that gave her skin a pale luminous. She had a solid waist that led to flared out hips with strong thighs. Thick belts looped around her hips cinching the darker brown skirt that slid across her upper thighs, black leggings ran along till above her knees and thick calf boots hugged with metal plates at the toes and heel. He took her measure and found her lacking in his opinion a girl that was shorter than Shirayuki! might as well be written off as a child, he sniffed, she just wouldn't do, the power nor speed he would want in a partner wasn't built in her compact body. He registered the challenge in her eyes and returned it tenfold, he listened vaguely to the introductions and quirked a brow at her admission for not only not being proficient with a blade but having an unusual fighting style, to say the least he became intrigued.

Zen looked at her strangely, eyeing Mistsuhide who merely shrugged in response, he hung up his cloak on a overbearing hook and grabbed a practice sword, he approached her taking a passive stance. "would you mind demonstrating?" He watched her expression became calculating as her eyes looked him over, taking in details and forming a means to attack.

"Yes I would gladly Prince Zen, if you would like to pit my skills against your sword I'd be happy to oblige" Naoki, straightened her spine and threaded her fingers through the loose coils of her braid, with a look of determination she took her stance, a single knee bent slightly; her hands loose of tension, pulling her plait to her side. She tracked Zens' movements as he griped the shaft of a wooden sword and squared his stance, they shared a brief acknowledged smile before both leaped into a flurry of movements. Naoki launched herself into a series of twirls, her bent knee grounding her movements while snapping her braid in an arc matching Zens wooden sword blow for blow, he gripped the hilt tight grinding his teeth as he held his ground putting more power into each swing. She danced across the training grounds her fingers gripping the twist of her braid directing the rounded blows of her hair ring, the sheen of the metal dancing with the sun catching its rays as it spun. She skidded to a stop, the metal of her boots giving off sparks, grounding her body low she sprung forward as Zen leaped back for a powerful forward slash, she met the blow headlong twisting her body slightly her weapon of choice coming up in a shallow arc sundering the blows from both opponents to a stalemate. Zen gulped in air, sweat dotted his brow he stood stagnate his body still in the stance of the final bow, swallow gouges littered his practice sword and his tense muscles began melting as he stilled his hectic breathes. Naoki was in a crouch fingers gripping her braid tightly as her weapon lay listless against the cold tile, her chest bounced the air in her lungs as she regained her poise, she stood flinging the deadly braid over her shoulder feeling it pull as it swung at her hips, turning to Zen.

"I did mention that my fighting style was unusual" she watched as he turned to face her, the wood sword held loosely, watching the play of emotions gauging his reaction. Gold rushed at her hot and angry, hard and cold like the metal. she stared into the eyes of one of the princes company, a blade pressed to the soft skin of her throat as the tall male growled.

"Back away from her master!"

Mitsuhide rushed forward hand on hilt "Obi!" Kiki took a similar stance as her brows drew together, Zen took a step back his ocean eyes surveying his servants volatile reaction dropping the wooden sword he straightened with feet braced eyeing the situation hearing the footfalls of guards coming to examine the outburst.

"Obi what is the meaning of this?" Zen demanded a dark look crossing his features

Obi pressed the blade closer getting within a breathe of a vital point upon the slender column of her throat, his expression thunderous; eyes slitted as he pinned the girl with a glare."That fighting style, I have witness it" He growled "It is most commonly used by assassins in the West!"

She could taste the tension in the air, feel the tendrils of accusation coil close to her throat like the prince's servants blade, already feeling the hard stares of the company. She swallowed feeling the blade track the movement, the silence became deafening as all but the cruel eyes that bore down upon her became the main focus even the heavy steps of approaching guards became distant, she was being drawn to an ancient scar feeling its pain choke her thought process, no.. not that look..the look like i-i'm a monster' her eyes widen as fear darkened her irises.

"If that is true Obi then let us hear her explain"

She blinked hearing the princes kind words, her eyes warming

"Master!?"

"Obi we should hear her side" She watched as those narrow eyes closed the owners brow furrowing like a prayer for patience, with a pointed look from those cat-like eyes he withdrew the blade and back away but she could see his body was coiled, ready to spring if she made a wrong move.

Naoki breathed deeply and looked at everyone, they held the same tension and a weariness to their eyes that made her stand taller ' I won't back down' she returned the eye contant not breaking it in the least, even as her fingers trembled.

"Your eyes are keen good sir but I am no longer with a company that takes lives" She took a breath, licking her lips "I left the life of an assassin's long ago, I vowed my services to only protect and I am willing to prove my worth."

Decided to upload ch 2! whoo please leave a comment and review :)