Akagami No Shirayukihime - Obi x (OC) The Visitor

Chapter 3 - The First Mission

"Wait wait, Master, think this over for a moment. I can't have a partner, they just aren't compatible with me."

"Well, that may be so for the guards and personnel here in the castle, but Alice is different. She is of outer walls, and I think she can be a great deal of help.  Alice, you're okay with this right, I do know it's rather sudden."

Alice simply smirked as she bowed slightly, closing her eyes. "If that is the second prince's wish, I shall agree to it; regardless my opinion.  Not like I have anything to argue against it in the first place."

"Lovely, you two will begin your official work together tomorrow. I'm not expecting a partnership like Kiki and Mitsuhide, just aide each other and get along." Before Obi could voice anymore objection, Zen had ran off and told Alice to meet him in his office later on in the evening. Obi stood there as he watched his employer disappear then glanced at his apparent new partner. Alice was looking at him as she sighed then turned towards him, offering her hand.

"Whether or not you like it, or even if this whole partner thing works out, I do hope we can at least be on a stable relation with one another, dare I say friends." Alice smirked as Obi scratched the back of his head as he sighed and clasped his hand with hers again, slightly paranoid she would flip or something like when they sparred earlier. She shook it firmly then released his hand. "Well then, Obi, I think I will see you later on. I need a bit of time to myself." She slightly waved her hand as she ran off to, God-knows where. Obi looked at his hand, he was surprised in himself, when she held her hand in his own, it was warm. Her hand was so small, his basically engulfed hers, and it seemed to feel natural, like it was suppose to be that way. He only clenched his fist as he went to visit his beloved Mistress in the pharmacy wing, trying to ignore the warmth that his hand held as it spread through his wrist. 

-------------------------------

Obi calmly strode around the courts, easily navigating his way to the pharmacy in the medical wing of the castle courts. He began to reach for the knob of the door to the pharmacy where all the court herbalists gather for work when his hand stopped short and a sweat gland dropped down his forehead at the sounds inside.

"-Ryuu! It's going to fall!"

"Ah, Shirayuki the chief is sleeping!"

"Help, balance it, Yatsufusa, help out!"

"Anything to spare my life!"

There was a symphony of footsteps rushing around, with clattering of ladders and thuds of books with flutters of paper through the door, all accompanied by the faint aroma of herbal tea.He snickers slightly as he opened the door to Shirayuki, Yatsufusa and Ryuu all gathered around the table, safely placing a tower of books on it. the table was adorned with files, scattered papers and the now thick medical books. However, in one corner was a pitcher of tea, most likely for the most paranoid chief pharmacist in the back. This happens every so often, she gets behind on work, works for hours on end, falls asleep, and all-in-all, her mood is down the drain. The three herbalists sighed as the books were stable and Shirayuki notice Obi's presence as he shut the door quietly behind him.

"Ah, Obi! Good morning, oh but I guess I saw you earlier." Shirayuki walked over to Obi to greet him as he offered his usual toothy grin.

"Yes you did. Also, Mistress, were you surprised with our sudden guest?"

Shirayuki nodded as she cupped her hands to her chin thinking. "In all honesty, I am, but I'm also relieved. It's nice to see someone else with red hair around here you know? Plus, she seems like a nice enough girl. I hope I can see here again, I'd like to get to know her."