Keeping Secrets *Mitsuhide x OC*(COMPLETE)

Grass Crowns and Secrets

 I can't help but laugh as Reila fights against me. Her sword skills have improved drastically and she's just happily smiling and laughing as she attacks and talks to me. She's been asking random questions during all of this too, like my favorite color and my birthday. It's a rare mood for her but I'm just happy that she's happy. I never got to ask her about what Izana said that upset her a few days ago though, but now I'm afraid to bring it up and upset her again. My eyes widen as she ducks my attack and brings her sword up, knocking mine out of my hand. She catches it and hands it back to me with a grin.

"Did you-"

"I remembered that from when I first saw you fight with Miss Kiki before you started to teach me." She answers for me.

"How did you remember that?"

"Good memory." She shrugs. "So, is it still too early to tell if I'd make a good knight or not?"

"I think you're getting closer." I smirk, earning a halfhearted scowl in response.

"You're just jealous that I've beaten you four times now."

I shake my head and we start to head into the castle.

As we pass a tree, Reila pauses before lightly tugging on a string I almost didn't notice. She backs away quickly, dragging me along by my shirt as I hear faint crashing sounds from the tree above. Obi appears a moment later, dangling from his ankle by the string, his eyes wide as he stares at her. Her hand is holding onto the sleeve of my shirt as she tries and fails at holding in her laughter.

"It totally worked!" She wheezes.

"What did you do?" I asks as Obi tries to untie himself.

"Obi decided he wanted to cause a little trouble, so I returned the favor."

"This is so unfair! How do you even know how to set trip wires?" He whines as the string starts to make him spin in lazy circles.

"A woman can't reveal all her secrets, can she?"

I grin and step forward to grab Obi's pant leg and push him so he begins to swing and spin faster.

"I think this is one of the greatest things you've ever done Miss Reila."

"Mitsuhide, help me!" Obi whines.

"Oh, but why should I?" I ask as I watch him flail helplessly.

"I'll tell her!"

"Tell who what?" Reila asks curiously.

"That he's delusional. He likes to create little fantasies in his head since he has nothing better to do with his time." I answer before he can, sending him a smug smirk as I start to lead her away.

I pause and draw my sword to cut the wire and snicker as I hear him hit the ground with a thud.

After lunch, Reila drags me back outside to cloud watch. We settle down under her favorite tree and she sighs softly. We have just under a month left until she has to return to her home. I honestly think I will miss her when she leaves. I've gotten rather used to the peace and fun that she brings. I still can't believe that the Reila I know now is the same woman that was shoved out of the carriage a few weeks ago that was afraid to really speak at all. I much prefer her this way though.

"Mitsuhide, can I talk to you about something?" She asks as she sits up and turns to me.

I watch as she absently begins to pull pieces of grass from her hair and nod my head.

"There's a reason that my parents are so insistent on this interview working out... My father has lost all of his money. I'm not sure what exactly happened, but I know that we are on the verge of losing everything. If the marriage worked, I'd be their ticket to regaining the wealth they'd lost. I hated the thought of coming here and using someone in such a way, but at the same time, they're my parents."

"And Prince Izana knows about your situation and is using it to push you into winning Zen over so he can get what he wants out of it as well." I sigh.

"What does he want out of it?"

"Prince Izana doesn't approve of Shirayuki since she's not of a high status. He arranges these interviews in attempts to drive a wedge between her and Zen."

"Makes sense. Too bad his plan failed and they can be happy but my family is going to lose everything when I get home... If I have a home to come back to."

"I'm sorry Miss Reila. I wish there were more I could do to help."

"As I've said before, you being my friend is plenty enough for me. I'll figure everything else out somehow."

Reila has been weaving little rings with pieces of grass as she rests her head on my shoulder. The contact has brought back those strange feelings again and of course has reminded me that I messed up and kissed her forehead the other night. I still don't understand why I did it and I definitely never mentioned it to her or to Obi. Obi would shout it from the roof of the castle I'm sure. It must have been me getting caught up in how protective I've been toward her and how I've been taking care of her while she's here. That has to be it.

"Mitsuhide, if you keep thinking like that you'll burn yourself out." Reila mutters and I realize that she's started to stack her little grass crowns on top of my head. "So what's going on in that head of yours?"

"Oh, it's nothing." I choke out as I feel my face warm. She's the worst person to ask that question right now.

Her face comes into view as she moves to pick up the next crown. "Hm, red face... That's definitely not nothing. I was honest with you so feel free to do the same."

The crown falls from her hands as she sits back to stare at me with wide eyes.

"You have feelings for someone, don't you?"