Keeping Secrets *Mitsuhide x OC*(COMPLETE)

Secret

After Shirayuki leaves to start her work for the day, Reila turns around to face us with a smile. She surprises me by saying that Miss Shirayuki is really nice. I hadn't expected her to say anything rude, but I wasn't sure how she'd react to suddenly meeting the woman that ruined her marriage interview either. I give Zen a pointed look and nudge him with my elbow until he stumbles slightly. He glares up at me before turning to her.

"Can we speak in my office, Reila?" He asks hesitantly.

She looks to me to gauge my reaction but nods anyway.

I stare between the two as I lean against the wall in Zen's office a few minutes later. He had settled behind his desk and she's standing across from him. She's nervous, that much I can tell by her hands fidgeting behind her back. The room is silent and I'm still waiting for Zen to open his mouth but he doesn't seem to be able to do so. I loudly clear my throat and he jolts before cutting me another glare.

"Can I speak honestly with you?" He finally asks.

"Of course, what is it?"

"Well, the thing is... I-uh, Shirayuki and I- well..."

"You're in love with Miss Shirayuki, so the interview is going to fail regardless of how well we bond but you didn't want to tell me for fear of retribution from Prince Izana and my family and you didn't want to upset me?" She fills in and he stares at her in disbelief.

"Y-Yes... I'm sorry Reila."

"It's okay, Prince Zen." She offers him a smile that doesn't quite reach her eyes. "My parents will be disappointed but I don't mind. I'd rather someone marry for love rather than business connections anyway. Mitsuhide told me that no matter what happens with the interview I should try to have fun and enjoy my stay here, so that is what I will do."

"Please enjoy yourself while you are here. Don't let me take away from it." Good boy. Say more nice things.

"Prince Zen, I do have one request and an idea to keep us both out of trouble." She says, looking up from her shoes. "Though the interview won't work, I'd like to be your friend. I think if we keep up appearances in public as if we are still trying, Prince Izana and my family will be less upset that it didn't work out once I leave. As it stands, you have been avoiding me recently so we haven't been seen together."

"You have a good point. I would like to be your friend, Shirayuki seems to like you as well. So, do we have a deal?" He asks, extending his hand for her to shake.

"No, we don't." She replies as she steps forward, interlocking her pinky with his instead. "We have a secret."

Everything between Zen and Reila seemed to change after that. She was no longer timid and nervous and spoke more openly and even smiled and laughed. He appeared to be happier as well. Perhaps now everything will turn out alright between them. They just have to look this way when they're in the public eye as well so Izana or whoever he has keeping tabs on them will notice. I will check on her this evening though, to make sure she is truly alright. She was rather upset last night when I found her in the library. Just because she and Zen have come to an agreement doesn't mean everyone else will be so accepting.

I leave Zen and Reila behind in the office as Obi appeared in the window and asked me to fight with him. With the look in his eyes, I know that's not all he's after. If I refused him in the office, there's no telling what would have come out of his mouth, so I asked Zen and he released me. He and Reila were deeply invested in a card game at the time anyway so I doubt he even knew what he was releasing me to do. I sigh when I reach the spot Obi told me to meet him at and he's not there. He'd left through the window so there's no way he didn't get here first, unless he came across Shirayuki and completely forgot that he'd planned this... I look up toward the tree and catch his foot as he tries to kick me, then lazily toss him away.

"So, what do you want Obi?" I ask as we fall into a rhythm of attacks.

"Who says I want anything? Perhaps I just want to spend time with my dear friend Mitsuhide." He smirks. "It feels like I never see you anymore since you've been spending time with the Miss."

"I've literally seen you three times today. I feel like every time I turn around you're right there."

"Have you told her yet?" He asks as he sweeps my feet.

I look up at him in confusion. "Told who what?"

Obi sighs and rolls his eyes as he dodges my punch. "I can't tell you that. You know exactly what I'm referring to, even if you don't know that you know yet."

"You make no sense." I sigh.

"Perhaps it's you that makes no sense."

"No," I mumble as I knock him to the ground and plant my foot on his back. "I still think it's you. So speak. Who should I be telling what, exactly?"

"Miss Reila that you like her." He replies smugly.

"I have no feelings like that for her."

"Says the man who fell asleep holding her hand and I find in increasingly intimate situations with her."

"Things were not what you thought them to be. I have no feelings for her in that way and she is here in an effort to marry Zen, not me."

"Ah, but Master is already spoken for, so dear Miss Reila is still available. You have... what? A month and a half to realize that you're into her and to tell her how you feel before she's gone forever. If you don't want her, I may just woo her for myself. At least I know how to appreciate what I have in front of me." He smirks up at me and I dig the heel of my boot into his spine before releasing him.

"I have no romantic feelings for Miss Reila." I repeat. "Stay away from her regardless."