Akagami No Shirayukihime - Obi x (OC) The Visitor

Chapter 4 - The Night of the Two

Alice glanced a look towards Mitsuhide, but he merely shrugged and looked at him, pleading to just go along with Zen's antics. Alice simply let a sigh escape her lips and she crossed her arms over her chest.

"Alright.." Her voice was cloaked in the sigh that escaped as it melded with her words. She slowly closed her eyes before opening them again and looking at Zen, not breaking eye contact. "Why exactly do we have to be tested, or rather, what is the test?" Alice could basically hear Obi's mind racing in his head, she knew he didn't need, nor did he wish to have, a partner; so the thought of working together to try and be partners made him a bit jittery.

Zen gave a very brief explanation of why he wants to test the two of them, as well as what their task was. Their goal was to travel to a small part of the kingdom of Clarines and locate a merchant that held something that Zen and Izana had required from the kingdom of Tanbarun. A letter and attachment from the prince of Tanbarun, Prince Raj.

"He's cleaned up his act since our first meeting and so we have been exchanging information via merchants and citizen who cross the boards. However, it seems the plan this time around needs to change, as the merchant cannot head any further in our direction. You two, are to locate him and bring back the letter and attachment with it. However, their are people out there who would love to bring back your body, so don't be too careless." After the warning of a possible attack on this mission, Obi and Alice looked to each other and nodded. They looked back at Zen and agreed to it, Obi a bit reluctant. The group broke off, Zen with Kiki and Mitsuhide accompanied Shirayuki to Ryuu as Obi and Alice stay behind.

Obi rubbed the back of his head and sigh as he looked down to Alice. She stared straight ahead, the wind blowing her head to her chest and she let out a breath, like she had been previously holding it in. She then turned to Obi. Hey golden eyes boring into his, seeing practically through him. Obi had planned to speak however, her sharp voice cut in first. "We can leave at dusk, it'll be easier to travel that way for me. Meet me in the courtyard then." Alice then turned on her heel and began to walk off.

"Yeah.. okay." Obi's voice was but a mere whisper as he watched her retreat, her hair bouncing slightly with each step behind her. He sighed as he rubbed his neck, and turned to go to his room. He got dressed in his work attire, and not some stuffy uniform. Time passed rather quickly as the sun began to lower itself towards the horizon. Obi showed up at the courtyard of the castle. As he rounded the corner of the outside walkways, he saw his small group of friends, all standing by and speaking with Alice. Kiki had noticed Obi and called him over, commenting on how he was later than everyone else. He grinned and made his way over. He looked towards his current 'partner.'

Alice wore her hair in a low ponytail, restricting it's movement as well as different, dark attire. A pair of brown pants that clung to her legs and her more firm black boots that specialized in movement and combat. Her torso held a black long sleeved shirt with lace on the chest and a black string ran around her neck, something dangling from it, small and thin, like a whistle. Her black scarf still wrapped around her waist, excess flowing at her side. Alice then looked at him by shifting her gaze.

"Well, aren't you late, as per usual." Zen crossed his arms over his chest, his finger lightly on his upper arm as he scowled at his aide. Obi nervously smiled and rubbed the back of his head.

"Now, now Master, I'm not always late for things, just more frequently than others." Zen sighed as Obi caught in his peripheral vision Alice and Mitsuhide chatting. He seemed to discuss something as they both wore serious expression. Mitsuhide sighed and pat Alice's head with a small smile, that she returned with a grin. The two then came over and Alice address Zen.

"Now that Obi is here, I believe we can start now?" Alice looked at Obi, and he nodded with his usual grin.

"Alright, here, this is the letter you need to trade out for ours, it will also confirm your identity of working for me, and not an enemy. Keep it with you." Obi took the paper from Zen and placed it inside on of the hidden pockets on the inside of his short sleeved jacket. "The location isn't far from the border, you two are fast, so I expect to see you back in 2 days. Understood?"

The two looked at Zen,and took a stance of firm respect, their eyes staring straight ahead. "Yes, your highness." They answered in unison with voice laced in serious emotion. They then relaxed again and turned to leave.

"Don't be too reckless you two." The two looked behind them at Mitsuhide who gave them one last bit of advice, a stern look on his face; he was anxious. They snickered at him before taking off, mentally stating that they usual are.

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The two warriors ran through the forests. Jumping, leaping, swerving, avoiding anything that seemed to stop their progression forward. Obi often glanced at the girl running beside him, keeping his pace rather easily he noted. He grinned slightly before turning his attention ahead of him, it'd be ridiculous to trip or run into something just because he was staring at Alice, not to mention embarrassing. After all, he had a pride to uphold. It was nearly midnight it seemed before the two decided to stop for the night. They would reach the meeting point in a few hours time, so they could make it their early tomorrow and head back and be at the castle before dusk. The forest was filled with trees, however, they had managed to find a small clearing with just enough clear ground to build a fire without setting off a forest fire. The moon was but a sliver tonight, the start of a new cycle, a small crescent, the night itself was beautiful. The stars could be seen clearly and little to no clouds littered the sky with their dull gray appearance.

Obi had began to build a small fire as Alice secured the surrounding area within a 5 meter radius. When Alice returned, Obi had offered her a small roll of bread he had taken with him from the castle. She took it as he took his own. The two ate in silence, but it wasn't as uncomfortable as it may have sounded.

"So, what's with the whistle?" Obi had shifted his gaze back to her and landed it on the small white whistle around her neck as it dangled against her chest. Alice finished her small bit of bread and touched it with his finger tips.

"It's a gift from my brother back at home. A good luck charm I guess." A small smile came upon her appearance as she leaned against a tree and sat herself on the ground.

"A brother eh? If he's anything like you, that'd be a sight." She let a small chuckle escape her lips as she closed her eyes and relaxed her body.

"He's not the same, but not different from me I guess. He's extremely straight laced, and don't much like me to travel around alone. He's protective, but it can sometimes be absurd. Like he doesn't trust in my abilities. I can take care of myself, and he knows it. He's also really strong, and can be quite cold almost at any moment, calling someone a rude name or shooting off sarcastic remarks." Obi grinned a bit as he lay down in the dirt that covered the forest ground.

"Sounds like a colorful person." She snickered and agreed with him. Silence was once again draped over the two of them as time passed. Obi not willing to fall asleep just yet, he wanted to talk to Alice more, that fact alone confused him. He's never really be a people person, but Alice.. she was different to him for some reason, making him want to know more and more.

The fire crackled and burned as Obi shifted his body to look at Alice. "Hey-," his sentence was stopped by his own breath seeing the crimsonette sleeping peacefully against a tree. her knees tucked into her chest, her arms lay on top of them as her head was leaned back against the sturdy trunk of the old tree. Her face reflected the red of the fire, the heat tinting her cheeks a beautiful pink hue. Her hair seemed as if it carried a fire in it. her breath was even and slow as her lips were slightly parted to inhale as well as exhale her precious oxygen. Obi genuinely thought she was gorgeous. His eyes stayed locked onto her form as he quietly crawled over to her and brushed his fingers carefully through her bangs, after a few moments he stopped himself and backed off. He rested his forehead in the palm of his hand and mumbled.

"What am I doing.. I shouldn't be doing this.. after all I.. the mistress.. Dammit."

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A/N

Thanks for hanging around this long guys, hope you're enjoying my Obi Story with Alice.  Also, shout out to BlazenGirl.  She has been writing a really amazing Obi story as well and I just want y'all to check it out, it's pretty awesome.  Other than that, hope you all enjoyed another chapter with Alice and Obi.  More to come soon!