The Death Market *Obi x OC* (COMPLETE)

Love The Way You Hate Me

Song: Love The Way You Hate Me- Like A Storm

The guards for her cottage lead us out and watch as we take our weapons back. I give them a passive nod before walking back into the market with Mitsuhide. The visit went better than I expected but there's a thin line we're walking now. If Harlowe finds out that I lied about being with the castle or she finds out that I didn't take Mitsuhide out of here, we're in trouble. I notice him heading back toward the tent so I catch the back of his shirt and drag him back to me.

"Where are you going?"

"That scary lady said I had to leave."

"She's there, we're here. It'll be alright. Just lay low. Maybe we'll pick up a cloak for you or something."

"She threatened war on us."

"You worry too much."

Mitsuhide and I make our way through the lantern-lit market, scanning each of the open stalls for what we need but we still aren't having any luck so far. We may have to give up our search after this and return to the castle. The only places we haven't ventured to are over the border in Tanbarun. Even still, there's strong chances that what we need may not even be in a market or sold, or could end up somewhere we already searched. I remind Mitsuhide again of my rules before we separate to search our own rows to be faster.

"You survived meeting The Miss, it seems." I look up from an array of human skulls to find the little girl from before.

"Yes I did. She seemed rather pleasant."

"I figured you would make it. I wasn't sure about the skittish one. He reeks of castle. Why didn't she kill him?"

"I'm not sure." I reply as I move on to the next stall.

"If she didn't yet, she will soon. Outsiders don't typically get to leave alive."

"Well, I won't let her kill him."

She giggles and shakes her head. "When you die, can I have your boots?"

"Sure." I sigh. "In the very unlikely case I get killed while I'm in The Death Market, you can have the boots off of my corpse. So, who are you anyway? Isn't it past your bedtime?"

"I'm Iladriel and we're in The Death Market, bedtimes are the least of my worries." Her gaze moves past me and she smirks. "Your friend is about to sell his name to Orreck."

"Hide!"

I manage to keep Mitsuhide from selling his name to the haggard old man in a tattered cloak and carefully lead him back over to where Iladriel is settled on a large barrel of rum with an amused grin on her face. I scold Mitsuhide the whole way, repeating the same rules I've recited at least a dozen times now and he offers an apology with the defense that he didn't realize that the man saying he wanted his name meant that he was trying to buy it from him.

"How can you even take possession of someone's name?" He whines.

"Names hold a lot of power, Castle Lackey." Iladriel speaks up before I can. "You'd lose your name forever and would have to take on a new identity whilst the new owner could do as he wished with it. To those who knew you then, you could be blamed for murders you didn't commit, all because the murderer was identified with your old name."

"This place is crazy." He mumbles.

"You're going to die." Iladriel whispers under her breath and I go to ask why but by the time I turn around she's gone.

"Uh, Obi..."

I turn away from Mitsuhide to find Harlowe standing beside me, her pale face etched in a dark glare. I ignore her glare and study the floral tattoo under her eye and the other flowers winding up her throat on the left side. I meet her gaze again when she clears her throat.

"The one called Mitsuhide was supposed to leave. You have violated my trust."

"He was just leaving-"

"No he wasn't. You've been in my domain for four hours after I requested his removal."

"I deeply apologize for our disobedience, Miss Harlowe. We were simply distracted by the wares your area has to offer. He will leave now-"

"No." She cuts in, her tone dark. "There are no second chances. Welcome to The Death Market Obi. You're mine now."

"O-Obi, what does she mean?"

"It means your bartering agreement has been cashed in. The Miss owns Obi since you violated her trust." I turn to find Iladriel perched on the barrel again.

"What about me?" Mitsuhide asks.

"That means you're going to die." The blonde giggles.

"Mitsuhide, go."

"Obi-"

"No. Go now Mitsuhide! Get to the tent and get out of here. I can handle myself."

He tries to protest again but I shove him aside as I draw a dagger to block Harlowe's sword slicing down toward him. If I can get Mitsuhide out of The Death Market as quickly as possible, I can draw Harlowe away long enough to disappear and eventually get out myself. I follow closely behind Mitsuhide, running backward as I dodge and counter Harlowe's attacks. I can hear Iladriel running along the roofs of the stalls in the row, watching the assault in amusement. A few minutes later, Mitsuhide pulls me into the tent and I find us trapped between Harlowe's furious form in the entrance and the two guards standing at the entrance to the tunnel.

"As soon as you get the opening, go for it. Wait for me in the market and I'll find you as soon as possible." I whisper to Mitsuhide.

"The tunnel is sealed until further notice. No one in or out of my market until I give the word." Harlowe tells her guards. "Kill him. The dark haired one is mine."

I curse as the guards draw swords and I quickly steal Mitsuhide's from his sheathe and catch their blades with it while I block Harlowe's with the dagger.

"Go, now!" He casts me a glance back before hurrying down into the tunnel. "Alright Miss Harlowe, you wanted me? You've got me. Now let's play."