Keeping Secrets *Mitsuhide x OC*(COMPLETE)

Surprise

 It's been six months since I've received any word on Reila and Obi since they left. I've been restless and worried ever since they got on the horse to leave and I'm not sure how I've managed to keep myself from going mad. Zen hasn't been as lucky, since he is always complaining that my pacing and how spaced out I've been annoys him. I can't help it though. It's hard not knowing where she is or how she is.

"Mitsuhide, go take a walk on the grounds because if you stay here pacing any longer I will attack you." Zen sighs as he rests his head on his hands.

"Sorry, I'll be back."

"Take your time." He mumbles, his eyes scanning a letter that had come in a few days ago.

I leave the office and wander the halls before stopping in the door to the library. When I couldn't sleep, which was most nights, I would sit in here and could almost hear her reading her books out loud. It wasn't the same though. I sigh and continue on toward the grounds. Perhaps the guards will be training still and I can lose myself in a fight for a little while anyway.

"What are you doing?"

"Go away Obi. Zen ordered me to take a wa-" I trail off as I turn to face the dark haired man smirking from one of the windows. "When did you get back?"

"Not too long ago."

My eyes widen. "Where is she?"

"Miss Reila is around."

I reach out and grab his shirt, then dangle him out of the window.

"Where is she?" I repeat.

"She's busy at the moment." He chokes out as he tries to hold himself up using my arms.

"What do you mean?"

"If you save me, I'll show you."

I follow Obi through the castle and out onto the grounds. I can feel the giddy excitement pouring off of Obi as he leads the way, all the while talking about young love, but all I can personally feel is confusion and a deep desire to hold her again. Why didn't I know they were back? Why didn't she come to find me? He leads me to the stables where I find Reila putting the horse back in his stall as she talks to him. She picks up his brush and begins to brush him, calling it a reward for being such a great companion during her trip. I smile as I lean against the doorway and find myself content watching her. Her hair has gotten longer, falling midway down her back now but not much else seems to have changed besides her outfit. I think I've only really ever seen her in dresses but now she's wearing pants, boots, and a dark coloured top.

"Don't hang around here too long, Miss. You still have to report to Master remember?" Obi calls out.

"I know, I-" She trails off as she turns around and her eyes fall on me. "Mitsuhide..."

Within seconds, I have her in my arms again as she plants several kisses on my cheek before moving to my lips. I hold her tightly to me, unwilling to let go for fear that I've finally lost my mind and am imagining everything. We part and she goes to step away but giggles when she realizes that she can't.

"Mitsuhide, I can't move."

"I know." I mumble. "I'm afraid to let go."

"I promise I'm really here, I'm safe, and I'm not leaving again unless ordered to."

I relax my hold but still don't release her. "Where have you been? What did you do? What-?"

She laughs and takes my hand. "Would you rather a long drawn out explanation or would you like to see what I've been up to instead?"

"See?" I answer hesitantly.

I let her pull me out of the stables as Obi walks beside me. I try asking him for help but he simply smirks and says that I'm going to be surprised. I'm even more confused as we reach the training area and Obi holds practice swords out to each of us. I remove mine and hand it to him before taking the one he offers.

"I'm confused." I mumble, looking between them.

"You'll figure it out." She tells me with a smirk before lunging at me.

I block it on instinct and quickly find myself struggling to keep up with her. She's a lot faster and stronger with her attacks. To my knowledge, she hadn't held a sword since before she left the first time she'd come to stay at the castle. My eyes widen as I recognize some of the moves she's learned and the small crest on her shirt. The quick lapse in concentration is enough for her to have an opening and I feel the tip of her sword lightly press against my chest.

"Do you think I make a great knight?" She asks, almost mimicking the question she asked when I had started to teach her myself almost a year ago.

"You-"

"I told you that I'd become a knight someday." She grins. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you but I wanted it to be a surprise. I wanted you to be proud of me when you found out..."

I drop the sword and pull her into a kiss. "I'm so proud of you, I just wish I would have known. I'd been so worried not knowing where you were or what was happening. How did you-? Why did you-? I just... My brain is broken right now..."

"It's something I'd always been interested in, even though Miss Nedia and my parents decided that I would simply be a wife. Then I saw you guys fight and train while I was here, then I learned the basics and fell in love with it. Prince Zen and I talked about it together at length and he sent a recommendation and arranged for me to go train properly. I'm supposed to be reporting to him right now actually on how I did."

Reila, Obi, and I return to Zen's office and he congratulates her on completing her training. According to what was sent in the letter Zen had been reading when he sent me away, she was the best of all of the recruits. I am extremely proud of her. Now I'm just wondering what she will be doing now that she's back. Instead of answering my silent question, Zen turns to me with a grin.

"Did you enjoy your walk?"

"You knew they were back, didn't you?" I hiss.

"I saw them out the window. You would have seen them too if you weren't too busy brooding and pacing."

"Did you miss me that badly?" Obi coos and I throw the nearest object at him in response.

"Well Reila, you have the rest of the day today and tomorrow to relax before you'll begin your duties."

"Thank you Prince Zen." She answers with a bow.

"What is her assignment?" I ask, looking between the two.

"It's a secret." I deflate at his answer, knowing that she got to him first.