Chapter Text
Chapter 1
The sun was finally setting after a day of hard work and, frankly, time-consuming tasks. Obi would not complain though. Even when it was true that he was not used to this kind of life, one where he was bound to serve one master, it did come with its perks. He no longer needed to constantly look over his shoulder to make sure that nobody was pursuing him and he did not have to concern himself with finding food and shelter before a storm started raging.
It was, in all honesty, a life he never imagined for himself, being the unredeemed marauder and assassin and all that. Nevertheless, more often than not he found himself being grateful and even...happy. The Master was a good person and has brought along a bunch of other good people who made worth the risks, the travels and the long sleepless nights keeping vigil or running errands.
In particular, ever since the Master had encountered her. A person with the uncanny ability to make people revalue their staunch ideals and look at life from the brightest perspective possible.
The one person that was still elbow deep in the soil, still trying to create the perfect environment for some type of important herb to grow in. The dirt covered her white robe, her face and uncommon red hair. Somehow, she still looked pretty…although Obi would say that it were not just her looks what made her so very unique. No, he would say that it was the way her mouth pressed downwards in deep concentration, her cheeks flushed with effort and her eyes danced with what he knew was a sense of undomitable purpose.
Her work ethic was a bit ridiculous, especially when it came in between her wellbeing. But oh well, what was he there for anyways? He sighed and smiled fondly at her. What a trouble she was.
A few moments later, he picked up the faint sounds of people approaching. The cadence of their footsteps registered in his awareness and he smiled. He liked them a lot and had been able to develop a level of trust that he had never achieved before. A sense of camaraderie that a loner like himself never though possible.
"Mitsuhide-san, Kiki-san!" Shirayuki exclaimed, beaming widely as they stopped before the mounds of earth and countless plant pots awaiting to be relocated "What are you doing around here?"
The royal attendants of his Highness Zen Wistalia, the second prince of Clarines greeted them with pleasant expressions. No danger, then. Obi thought and relaxed his posture. Nothing was wrong, small blessings.
"Hello Shirayuki, Obi" Mitsuhide said happily "We were finishing some errands for Zen and came to invite you to have dinner with him. He's trying to avoid food until he's done with work but that could mean another couple of hours, and we kind of need your help..."
"So you're using Mistress a measure of pressure to make Master eat? How devious" Obi commented lightly. Kiki smiled in a sharp kind of way and nodded.
"In the past we couldn't do much when Zen choose to be dismissive to his bodily needs, but Shirayuki here has proved to be an excellent method."
Said redhead blushed a little but smiled brilliantly.
"I will make sure that Zen eats properly. You can count on me!"
Mitsuhide and Kiki exchanged conspiratorial looks.
"Excellent. He is holed in his study" Mitsuhide said. Shirayuki stood up and was ready to depart when she realized that the assigned work for today wasn't done. It would probable take two good more hours. A conflicted expression marred her features. She was torn between fulfilling her responsibilities as Court Herbalist and her desire to make sure to aid Zen stay healthy. Obi knew that as much as she cared for Zen, her sense of duty would lead to wearing herself thin in attempts to do everything herself. So, before she could said anything Obi jumped down from the branch he was leaning on and dusted his trousers. She was such trouble, Obi thought once again.
"I will take care of this batch from this point on, Mistress. I will report your annotations to Ryuu and will bring him all he asked for. I remember what he asked for earlier. Go and make sure Master is behaving."
Obi would later berate himself for acting out of impulse, but the brightening of her face was payment enough. He smiled and felt his ears burn a little. She was radiant. It was like gazing at the most stunning expanse of glittering green sea and Obi couldn't look away. Her joy and kindness had bewitched him and for the life of him, he did not wish to be out of her spell. He had decided he would do anything on his power to bring that expression on her face.
"Thank you Obi! I'll make it up to you somehow!" she exclamed, and sprinted away.
Obi kneeled in front of the pots of young medicinal herbs and started gathering what he needed to complete the tasks under the watchful gazes of both retainers. It took a fee seconds for the realization to drop. He had blown his cover completely and there was no turning back.
Inwardly he punched himself, outwardly he discretely gazed at Kiki and Mitsuhide. The former was looking in the direction where Shirayuki had gone and the latter was frowning at him pensively. After some seconds in silence, they waved him goodbye and started walking away, synchronized, in a way that spoke of years of working together.
It was Kiki who made a declaration that cemented his bond with them in that moment.
"We admire you Obi" her voice was soft and faint "The sacrifice you are making for them is admirable. Please count on us on everything"
And they left.
It was after the disaster in Lyrias that Zen confronted Obi about that topic. The young spy had hoped that it would pass like water under the bridge but fate wasn't quite so merciful sometimes. And so, on that fateful day, when Prince Zen squared his shoulders and a phantom look crossed his eyes, Obi admits that he became worried. They were in one of the fortresses outer walls, overlooking one of the spire towers. The mountainous landscape was truly awe inspiring with all that snow and ice forming patterns and glacial structures. It was one place that he had added to his personal favorites.
But then his attention was distracted with that look and he wondered it this meant a permanent farewell.
"That hair ornament you gave her is beautiful" Zen commented lightly. Obi's eyebrow twitched faintly but he still nodded. He was not going to deny it. He knew how this could be interpreted when he gave it to her. He was still not sure how he would cope with an order to leave their sides. The dark voice in his head reminded him that it was only just what he deserved. Of course, it was. He started the process of detaching himself from his emotions. It was the only way to survive and above everything, Obi was a survivor. He knew he would be devastated but if it was the Master's will, he would have to accept it.
Zen looked up at Obi and for a long time they exchanged glances directly and, in the end, a sort of understanding passed through them. To his absolute surprise —and horror, because, someone could be looking and it would be his head rolling, for heaven's sake!— prince Zen bowed and with tightly clenched fists said something Obi wouldn't have expected in a million years.
"I understand if you wish to leave. She would do too if she knew we're making you suffer this much. Even if we can't really imagine building a future without you in it, it's cruel and I don't want any friend of ours to go through that. And…and if you want to fight for her, I understand too. I will give my best and expect the same. You are a great man, you have the same opportunities and-"
"What the hell are you talking about, Master Prince?" Obi interrupted, bewildered. Zen straightened and the look of hopelessness struck Obi hard in the chest.
"It's hard not to notice the way you protect her, Obi." He smiled, a little sheepish and a little bitter "You care deeply for her and have been by her side all this time, never faltering. She's happy with you too. She trusts you. You...you would make her happy."
Obi felt his chest flutter and had to breathe to avoid blushing. He was elated to hear that, but his Master was forgetting something important, vital even.
"She made her choice already, Master. That's all that matters." And it did. She had decided to support Zen as his partner. And Obi, who knew how deeply she valued the power to make her own choices, would never try to dissuade her or manipulate her.
Zen was taken aback and his eyes widened. Obi smiled a bit wistfully. He had grown to like the Master as well and was grateful to being able to participate in the making of that bright future beside him.
"It's all right, Master. I want to be here to make sure you and Mistress achieve what you have set out to do. It will make this Kingdom a better place for everyone."
Zen then extended his hand and before Obi stretched it, he swore he saw a bit of glistening in the prince's eyes.
Truth being said, however, some days were harder than others.
Some days there was so much work to do that it was simple to sink in it until the moon was high in the sky and the only thing in mind was rest and bed and blissful sleep.
Other days it was like testing his resilience under duress. Obi would accompany his Mistress to the market or to the flower gardens and she would talk about so many things in rapid succession that she would need to gasp for air to continue. He always payed close attention to not miss the course of the conversation. He would listen to her and would be reminded of the great intelligence behind the prettiness, of her drive and seemingly endless energy, her strong ideals and clever humor. But above all, her infinite kindness and resilience. She was also a survivor, but she did not merely stop at that. She thrived and bloomed, and helped everyone around her to thrive and bloom. In those moments, surrounded by the market vendors or the mounds of earth and plants, he had to suppress the urge to reach out and touch her hair or the side of her face. He ached to discover the temperature of her skin and the texture of her hair. He yearned for her laughter and the warmth of her gaze.
She was such remarkable woman.
Some other days, she would make it easier for him and would start talking about her latest travel with Zen to Laxdo, or perhaps a guard would come to his rescue, asking for a summons or announcing Kiki or Mitsuhide's entrance. Whatever happened first. Like this time, for example.
"Shirayuki-sama!" A young guard panted as he approached them before taking a deep breath and bowing deeply "Your Highness, His Highness Zen and His Majesty Izana are looking for you! They said you hadn't permission to leave your rooms under your condition…" The guard blushed. Obi wondered if he was embarrassed at having to chide his Mistress or if he was taken aback by her radiance. Obi would not blame him, either way.
Shirayuki frowned stubbornly and hid behind Obi. Her belly bumped against his side and she had to hold onto Obi's robes to avoid tripping.
"Tell them that I'm perfectly safe with my knight and to stop being such dramatic queens. I'm not sick and neither going into labor any time soon, thank you very much. And I need to walk otherwise I'll get fat"
The guard despaired but Shirayuki did not relent and in the end, he bowed again and made his way back mumbling. He probably was trying to find a way to relay his Mistress' message in different words to avoid being subjected to the ire of the so-called 'dramatic queens'. Heh, Obi wondered if Her Majesty Haki would find that amusing.
"You know they are going to unleash all their fury onto the poor guard, right Mistress?"
Shirayuki shook her head dismissively.
"Bah, they worry too much. Let's keep walking Obi, it was medic's orders to walk frequently to avoid swelling and overweight"
Obi obeyed and they continued their stroll. With a sideways glance, he made sure that the heavily-seven-months pregnant Princess of Clarines was walking alright. He couldn't wait to start training a small master or mistress. It would be another adventure.