Keeping Secrets *Mitsuhide x OC*(COMPLETE)

Red Bird

Watching Reila and Obi try to fight is the worst thing imaginable. I worry that he will accidentally hurt her so every time he moves I want to tackle him. She seems to be holding her own though. When I found Reila in the library this morning, she asked if she could learn hand to hand fighting and I unfortunately had to tell her to ask Obi. While I'm better skilled with weapons, he's better suited for what she wanted. Obi was oh too thrilled to be needed by her so he immediately left the tree he was sprawled out in and guided her away from me with a triumphant look. I flinch as Reila barely avoids Obi's punch and shoot a glare at him. I don't know if my heart can take this but I can't look away. Obi brings his foot up to kick her and my eyes widen as she manages to bring her arm up to block his hit and shoves his leg down to knock him off balance and lands a hit to his chest that sends him to the ground.

"I did it..." she whispers. "I did it! Mitsuhide, did you see that!?"

Reila turns around to face me and she is absolutely overjoyed. I grin involuntarily and tell her that she was amazing. My eyes widen as she rushes over and hugs me.

"I'm so happy!" She squeals quietly, her face muffled by my shirt.

I find myself unable to move or say anything. It's like her touching me has completely shut my brain off. I notice Obi getting to his feet and he shoots me a pointed look and makes kissy faces while pressing his pointer fingers together. She finally releases me and I manage to bring myself back to life enough to scowl at Obi over her head.

After thanking Obi for working with her, Reila drags me away for lunch. I stop her halfway to the castle and ask if she'd gotten hurt at all while she was fighting. She shakes her head but pauses to push up her tunic sleeve. Where she'd blocked Obi's kick, there's a large red mark on her forearm.

"I think this was the only contact."

"Should we get it checked out?" I ask and she lightly pats my arm.

"It's a bruise, Mitsuhide. I think I'll survive." She looks up at me and I notice her cheeks slightly turn pink. "Um, Mitsuhide, would you like to have lunch with me? I-I noticed that you don't really eat whenever Prince Zen and I usually do."

I spot Obi a few feet away nodding his head repeatedly and mouthing 'do it'. I shoot him a glare before stuttering out a thanks for her invitation. She smiles and leads me toward the kitchens.

Reila has me sit beside her under a tree on the grounds, our lunch packed away in the small basket one of the chefs put together for her. She seems to have made friends with a few of them along with the maids so they had no problem setting it up so she could eat outside. As we eat, I notice her gaze trained on the passing clouds. That's a common thing I'd noticed during our times outside together. If she isn't occupied doing something, her eyes were on the sky.

"Mitsuhide?"

"Yes Miss?"

She sighs and I quickly correct it to Miss Reila, though that's still not what she's after.

"Have you ever wanted to be a bird?"

"A bird?"

She nods as a red bird lands a few feet away. "Birds can leave whenever they want or need to. They're not held down to anything."

"Miss Reila... are you happy back home?"

As the words leave my mouth I wish that I could simply snatch them out of the air but I can't. Her stoic expression drops into a hint of sadness as she watches the bird take flight again. I open my mouth to apologize but she speaks.

"No..."

"I'm sorry Miss Reila. Is there anything I can do?" I ask, still kicking myself.

"You being my friend is enough for me." She smiles lightly as she turns toward me. "Thank you for taking care of me while I am here. When I return home, I think I will remember these times with you happily."

I feel a strange flutter in my chest at her words but shove it back and smile back.

"I'm happy to help Miss Reila."

"How many times must I ask you to simply call me Rei or Reila?" She sighs as she lays back on the grass.

"At least once more Miss Reila."

"Please, just call me Rei or Reila."

"I can't do that Miss Reila." I smirk at the sour look she casts up at me.

When I leave Reila for the night and head back toward my room, I'm stopped by Obi who appears before me in the corridor. I roll my eyes and try to move past him but he blocks my path no matter where I go. He's a tall lanky boy, how could he possibly take up so much space? I finally sigh and accept defeat and ask what he wants. He smirks and props himself against the wall in front of me.

"Have you accepted your feelings yet?"

"I don't know what you mean."

"You can't tell me that when she bats those pretty blue eyes up at you that you don't feel a thing. When she hugged you earlier your face looked like Miss Shirayuki's hair and you couldn't move. You like that girl, don't you?"

I shake my head and try to move past him again.

"Fine... I'll ask it this way. Do you ever feel this fluttering or strange pull in your chest when you're around her? Like your heart beats just a little faster?"

Yes. "No. I've told you before that I don't hold those feelings for Miss Reila."

"Liar."

"Think what you want." I huff as he finally lets me pass him. "I'm going to bed."