Accidentally In Love *Obi x OC* (COMPLETE)

Well Aren't You A Little Ray of Pitch Black

Chapter 10: Well Aren't You A Little Ray of Pitch Black

Obi POV

Something is wrong with Imrei besides her hating me. She's been a lot quieter today as we traveled and her movements are sluggish. Maybe she just didn't sleep well last night but I'm getting worried.

"Let's break for lunch." I offer so she can have a chance to rest and I can figure out what's going on.

I'm afraid to say anything for fear of making things worse between us. I'm still in disbelief that I'd said and did something so cruel to her and I didn't even remember it. She slowly leans against a tree and I exchange a bottle of water for an orange.

We finish lunch and I get to my feet to help her stand but she gets up too and immediately latches onto my arm to keep from falling over.

"Are you okay?" I ask and she lets go as if I'd burned her.

"Yeah, yeah. Just got up too fast." She mumbles.

She straightens but her eyes roll back and I catch her as she collapses.

"Imrei!"

I curse and gently lay her on the ground and try to figure out what's going on. I get my answer as soon as I touch the back of my hand to her forehead. She's running a rather high fever. I rip part of my shirt and wet it from my bottle before placing it on her forehead. It's all I can really do for now. I pick her up and continue on toward the castle. Maybe I can reach it before she wakes up and can get her some help.

She wakes up just after sundown and I hear her whisper my name. Even despite her being sick, it sends a chill down my spine. I stop moving and ask if she's awake. She says yes so I let her off my back and turn around to check on her.

"How are you feeling?"

She tells me that she feels like death between sips of water.

"Why didn't you tell me you were sick?"

"I-I didn't know."

I give her a pointed look. "You're lying."

"We have a job to do. I'll be fine. Let's go."

I gently shove her back down as she tries to get up and I'm called rude for it.

"You're not going to be walking. You'll make yourself sicker and will slow us down so I'll carry you."

"Definitely not. I'll be fine." She protests, stumbling as she gets to her feet.

I let her take two wobbly steps before I put her over my shoulder.

I let her shift to my back once she stops complaining and struggling and we continue onward in peace. I can feel her head resting on my shoulder as her arms dangle in front of me. It feels nice caring for her.

"You're going to get me in trouble, aren't you?" She sighs.

"Why whatever do you mean Dar- Imrei?" I correct myself.

"Thank you." She whispers around a yawn. "When we get back to the castle you're going to tell Mitsuhide on me, aren't you?"

"Why do you worry what Mitsuhide thinks?" She's probably going to admit she likes him.

"Because he's the only one at the castle who actually cares about me."

"That's not true, I'm sure." I mumble. I care about her more than she will ever know.

"It is. The only people I ever talk to are the ones we hang with at the kickbacks and that's just because we're drinking. Besides, Mitsuhide is a really great guy and he's like my family since I don't have any."

"What happened to your family?" She never talked about them, even before I came to the castle apparently.

"They... It's a long story. What about your family."

"It's a long story." I repeat.

"How much longer til we reach the castle?" She whispers quietly.

"Don't worry about it, just get some sleep."

I come across another of my safe houses by sunrise and decide we should stop for a while. Her fever isn't breaking like I had hoped. I unlock the door with one hand, the other still supporting her, and lay her on the bed. This house is smaller than the last and is just one large room. I wet a fresh cloth and place it on her forehead before investigating the fireplace. I'm able to light a fire after knocking away an old bird's nest and it's enough to give us warmth and a bit of extra light for now.

Imrei wakes up just after noon and as I refresh the cloth I ask how she's feeling. I get a mumbled response that she's fine before she asks where we are. We've made it just over the border into Tanbarun so I tell her that and explain that her fever spiked and worried me so we stopped.

"Why don't you go on to the castle and finish the job? I don't want to burden you further." She offers and I shake my head.

"You're sick, I can't just leave you here to die. I'd never hear the end of it from Mitsuhide and Master."

"Just go. If I die, I'll take the blame." She shrugs with a half-smile. "Besides, if we take any longer we'll be off schedule and in trouble anyway."

"I'm not leaving you." I sigh. "Though it would be nice."

"Sorry to be such a burden. Your only options are to take me with you or leave me here and do it yourself."

I ignore Imrei's options and insist that we both stay until she's well enough to travel. She complains about it and when she tries to get up, I pin her down and threaten to tie her to the bed if she tries again. She calls me a rude husband and we fell silent and I retreat back to the chair.

"Do you really not remember us getting married? I've been trying to remember anything but it's all a blur." She asks.

"I don't remember a thing beyond our drinking contest. At least we'll get it sorted out when we go back to Master so I don't have to be stuck with you anymore." I wouldn't mind but I know she doesn't want this.

"Don't worry, you'll be back to shamelessly bedding the maid staff in no time." She huffs as she turns over.

"Nice to know you think so highly of me." I bite out before slamming the door as I walk out.