Akagami No Shirayukihime - Obi x (OC) The Visitor

Chapter 2 - Sparring and Surprise Partnerships?

"Lord Brother, it's Zen." He stood in front of his elder brother door as his a voice responded from the inside.

"You may enter." Zen pushed open the door to find Izana in the company of Shirayuki. She looked over her shoulder as she smiled at him and shocked at her presence with his brother.

"Shirayuki?! What in the world are you doing here?"

Shirayuki walked over to Zen as she clutched a medical book to her chest. "I was caught by Prince Izana while I was on an errand for Ryuu. He took me here and said you'd be here soon. I had no problem staying anyhow." Shirayuki's smile swatted away any worries Zen had about his brother doing anything to her so he just smiled in relief and sighed as he placed his hands on his hips.

"Well, I suppose that is okay." She then looked over his shoulder to see the other three. Confused now she asked why everyone was here. "Why not ask him. He's the one who called us here." They all shifted their eyes to the blonde prince who fiddled with his vase of flowers. He shut his eyes before smiling and walking to lean on the edge of his desk.

"As you all are aware of, there has been a guest as of recently that has finally sparked the attention of the courts. I thought it would be appropriate to introduce her to you all." His gaze shifted over to Mitsuhide for a moment, but as Mitsuhide sent a look of confusion back to him he chuckled before looking over his shoulder to a curtain behind him. "You may come out now, this little game is over. I found you." As he finished his sentence a laughter could be heard behind the curtain as it fluttered open to reveal a figure. The same girl from earlier.

The masked girl went to stand beside Izana as she smirked. Izana continued, "This is a visitor from a recently revived kingdom in the north that I have recently been exchanging letter with for some time now. The kingdom itself is small but a reliable ally to have as their resources as well as their troops are well managed. She is well acquainted and also representing the future ruler of her kingdom. This is Alice." The one address as Alice gave a quickly bow, her right arm diagonally around her chest as her left went to her back. "I heard she had a little visit with you four earlier, correct?" Izana motioned to Zen, Kiki, Obi, and Mitsuhide.

"She may have dropped in to say hello," responded Mitsuhide from behind Zen, a playful tone in his voice. This earned a chuckled from Alice as she stepped forward. She then introduced herself, by herself.

"As stated, my name is Alice. I represent Synthis, that is where I come from. Currently my younger brother is training hard and studying for the day of coronation, but if won't be for a long while yet. It's a pleasure to meet you." She then walked over to Mitsuhide and adjusted her mask, once again inspecting him. She leaned back and crossed her arms before scoffing. "You really have changed, bet you have a nice build, am I right?" She turned to the blonde haired Kiki as she agreed.

"He does have a nice build."

"He really does," naturally Obi had to pipe in.

MItsuhide only responded in a flustered way as Alice laughed and walked away from them and stopped in front of Izana. "Your Highness, might I remove these now. After three days, they are not so comfortable." Izana seemed to enjoy your annoyance, but he allowed you to do your task.

She then removed her mask and pulled her black hair down, revealing it was a wig. Underneath that was was bright crimson. Crimson hair fell from the net of the wig as it was long. A loose looped bun shortened the back a bit as her bangs fell and rested on her shoulder. She shook her head and she turned around and revealed golden eyes. They seems almost inhuman, brimming with life and confidence. She bowed once more at the group who were astonished to see red hair, much like Shirayuki's.

Something seemed to click in Mitsuhide's head as she stared at her eyes, her hair, heard her voice and surveyed her attitude. "Wait.. are you perchance.." Alice looked to him as she smirked placing her mask and wig in a small back that was on her back.

"If only your speaking as was fast and well coordinated as your fighting, then we'd get somewhere." His eyes widened as he recognized that a certain friend he had as a child use to tell him that all the time.

"There is no way, I thought you were taken by the.. but how did you..?"

"People change over time, and I changed just enough to get out." She smirked and chuckled as Mitsuhide ran over to her and hugged her. He spun her around earning a, surprising, smile from Izana and confusion of the rest of the audience. He set her down and ruffled her hair. She chuckled as she turned to Izana and bowed. She then, turned to the group of five as she ushered Mitsuhide back to his place, and bowed to them before excusing herself. Once out of the room, Zen turned to Obi.

"Obi, you keep an eye on her, I would like to speak with her later on." Obi only snickered as he walked towards the door with a simple 'Yes Master,' and with that he was gone. Zen turned his attention back to Izana as they continued their conversation.

Obi found the girl sitting on the ground of the training courts as she leaned against a pillar, a sketchbook a top her lap as she looked at it focus as her pencil sketched across the page, creating some unseen art. She looked up at Obi as he stood in front of her then bent his knees to get eye level. She mirrored the smirk he wore on his face as she shut her book and placed it beside her, crossing her legs.

"Well well, it seems the cat had sniffed me out." Obi only snickered.

"A cat you say, will now Little Red, I hope that is a compliment."

"It could be, cat are crafty after all."

"If that implying I'm a suspicious person? That hurts, it really does."

Alice chuckled at his attempt at humor as she stood up. Obi's gaze followed her as she walked into the middle of the court and turned to her. "I'm Alice, as you're aware of, your Obi, right? I heard you are a pretty good fighter, wanna spar?" Obi eyed her confused as she stood and stretched his back.

"What makes you want to Little Red?"

"A little exercise wouldn't hurt, besides, if I'm going to wait for Mr. Second-Prince, I might as well be entertained, no?"

Obi followed her and stopped in front of her form as he smirked. "I suppose that is true." Alice then huffed as she stuck out her hand smiling. Obi stared at it, then back at her.

"Shake my hand. I wish you a good match." Obi slowly clasped his hand with her as he once again, felt her odd strength level, then felt his arm being jerked forward. His fight stopped his advance forward as his knees locked and Alice locked his arm to his chest. her face close up to his as he wraps his leg around on of her own, then jerks his leg back knocking her off balance, resulting in her grip to loosen and her hold to break as she caught herself from the ground and Obi the chance of getting away. Obi looked at her in astonishment, her eyes were narrow and quiet serious, nothing like they were before. It's like she switched personalities in a split second. She stood from her position on the ground as she seemed relaxed, confident her fighting abilities. Obi would be lying if he said he hadn't taken some spark of interest in her. Her body tensed as it seemed she was going to have another go but a voice snapped her backstory reality as Zen called out to the two fighters.

"Hey, there you two are!" Obi looked over to him then back to you. Your eyes seemed to have returned to normal and your figure was standard for a normal passerby. He was sure your previous state was simply for combat. Zen walked over to the two of you. He explained how Izana had put Alice under his watchful eye. He smiled as he stared as the two of them and placed his hands on his hips.

"From this day until further notice, Alice will serve as your partner Obi." Alice and Obi were silent as Obi suddenly outburst with surprise. Alice wasn't surprised by his reaction though, it was common for a sudden commands like that, and at last moment to boot.