Keeping Secrets *Mitsuhide x OC*(COMPLETE)

Cold

Zen and I have been walking around the castle as an attempt to keep my mind off the wedding set to happen tomorrow morning... The wedding that would take Reila Canswen from me permanently. We would have gone outside to fight but rain has been pouring nonstop since the night before. I can't let Zen get sick over my emotional mess. I'm just glad that Obi was sent on a messenger job to Tanbarun shortly after Zen read the announcement so he hasn't been in my face to annoy me. He's due back at any time but I'm sure the rain will delay him a little longer. It's peaceful to say the least. The castle doors open, startling both of us and I reach for my sword as I step in front of Zen. Obi steps in carrying something, but in the dim light I can't tell what exactly he's holding. It looks human shaped though.

"We have a problem. I need towels, Miss Shirayuki, and somewhere warm."

"Who is that? What's going on?" Zen asks as he tries to make sense of everything.

"I will explain as soon as I can Master, but this is really important. Towels, Shirayuki, warmth."

Zen leaves to find Shirayuki after ordering him to go to his office. I follow Obi and track down a maid along the way. Before we even make it into the office, she's returned with a small stack of towels for me. Once we're in the light of the office my heart drops. It's Reila cradled in his arms, soaked thoroughly and her feet are covered in mud.

"What happened?" I choke out as he tells me to lay out a towel on the floor.

He carefully puts her on the towel near the fireplace and we do what we can to dry her off as her whole body shivers violently.

"I'm not sure what happened but I found her huddled up against the outer gates when I was coming in. I almost didn't notice her but the lightning flashed and I saw her hair. She was unconscious when I got to her and I brought her straight here."

I gently dry her face with the towel and my anger flares at the dark bruise on her cheek that was hidden beneath a streak of mud. I notice older, almost yellowed marks on her jawline on each side of her face, similar in size and shape to fingers. Two months... Two months I prayed for her to come back, but not like this. Whoever put their hands on her will regret the day they were born.

Zen and Shirayuki arrive and as soon as they see that it's her, Shirayuki drops to her knees beside her and starts to check her over. Obi gets to his feet to fill Zen in on what happened but I stay by her side, holding one of Reila's freezing hands in my own. I can hear Shirayuki talking to herself as she works, documenting injuries though none sound major, talking about her low body temperature, and a slight rattle in Reila's breathing.

"Is she going to be okay?" I ask softly.

"She has a few minor injuries, bruises and cuts really. Those are fine. Her body temperature was low from being in the rain and cool but thanks to you and Obi bringing her here and drying her off, it's rising. Based on her breathing though, she may be sick but once her body stabilizes I will be able to tell more. She's not in danger of dying or anything of that sort. Once I'm able to treat her, she should be just fine in a few days."

"Thank you."

She asks for one of us to call for her again whenever Reila wakes up so she can check on her again before leaving. I turn to Zen to see what he says. He hasn't said anything since he told us to take her to the office.

"So, what do we do now?"

"We make sure she is comfortable and taken care of until she wakes up. Then we'll go from there."

Shirayuki returns to the office with a dry set of clothing for Reila to wear and kicks us out so she can change her clothes. She steps out a few minutes later, holding Reila's ruined dress. I thank her again and immediately go to head back into the office but Zen stops me.

"You can stay here with her, make sure she's warm and comfortable. Obi will stay as well until Reila wakes up. Send him to get Shirayuki. I will come check on everything in the morning unless something important happens that I need to know about or there's an emergency."

He leaves and I return to the office with Obi following behind. I pick Reila up from the floor and move her to the couch instead before covering her with a blanket.

"Thank you for saving her." I mumble as I brush her hair from her eyes.

"Well I definitely couldn't just leave her out there." He retorts as he heads toward the door. "I'm just glad I decided not to stop for the night. I passed an old safe house on the way back and considered hiding out for the night but chose to just head back. The rain won't clear out until tomorrow evening. I'm going to change into something a little less soaking wet. I'll be back shortly."

As the door shuts softly, I carefully lift Reila's upper body before sitting down. I move the throw pillow to my lap then let her head rest on it. Her skin doesn't feel like ice anymore and despite the slight rattle, her breathing is even again. I don't know what happened to her or what led to her curled up outside the castle but I don't think I can ever let her go again. I hate that I let her go without a fight before and this happened.

"I'm so sorry Reila..."