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Hopesparks in his heart, but he keeps it grounded. She doesn’t remember, he remindshimself. She can’t. It might even be the wrong girl. Regardless, she was too young and he had been a mere scrap of a boy. Shejust… wanted company. That was all.

But-

Butshe had been acting odd these last few days, comfortable enough to be in hispresence but not comfortable enough to tell him what troubled her. Which wasfair. She barely knew him. But her normally bubbly conversation had faded todense silence, her cheeks burning and her body shrinking in on itself wheneverthe Master came within eyeshot.

Concern claws at him. Master did not seem like the type, but if he didn’t know anybetter…

Obifrowns, looking at his sparring partner out of the corner of his eye. The otherman shrugs. “Well then, I’ll escort you to as far as the outer area.”

Shenods, staring hard at the floor. “Okay.”

~~ ~

Thepaved path fades to gravel the farther they get from the palace proper. Smallstones crunch beneath his boots amongst the sound of singing birds andrustling leaves. It’s a lovely day, all in all; One that he would be happy tospend out of doors, but his company.. Well…

“Whyto the forest again?” he tries.

Herhead tucks down, hugging her hands to her chest and worrying her thumbnailbetween her teeth. 

Hislips tilt, confused, and he reaches for his shoulder. What did she want? Whydid she invite him? She could have walked within the palace walls alone. Sure,Master would have scolded him for losing track of her, but she wasn’t the measlysort of noble that required constant coddling. And he’s certain that she wouldhave vouched for his absence if it came to that. 

Apart of him, a small part, is nervous, though. She hasn’t said anything since theystarted walking. Indeed, she hadn’t said anything at all about that day in theRoka enclosure and he wonders- he wonders if she might-

It could be her… 

Atense flutter bubbles up in his chest and he looks out into the forest, swallowingdown the strange emotions flitting along his nerves before glancing back ather. She is such a tiny woman, her shoulders narrow and hunched under theweight of the wheels turning in her mind. He doesn’t know what she is thinking about,he reminds himself. He has to wait, even as his heart pounds in his chest. Itcould be him, or the Prince, or her precarious place in the Palace walls, but- 

Therewas no way to be certain. It was so long ago, and she was younger than him. 

Buther eyes—when was the last time he had seen eyes like that? 

If it’s her… 

Hepounds the thought down. It’s useless. It doesn’t matter what he saw that day.He doesn’t even know what triggered the memory; the seriousness of her gaze, thecatch of light to her skin, the way she talked so quietly. It was just like- 

Pain can play plenty of tricks on a human mind. He would be a fool to not know this. He had seen the way agony could bring a healthy man to insanity within days, the way a sharp woman could be reduced to dull edges… 

But heremembers the eyes, the gentle grasp of a small hand and- 

If it’s her…

Would she remember? He had been caked in blood and several feet shorter at thetime, but- 

Buthe does remember her hands, the way that her fingers had wrapped around his,holding him tight through the pain, dragging him through the little house tothe kitchen.

If it’s her… 

Hiseyes flicker down, following the movement of her hand as she lets it drop toher side, swaying gently in time to her strides. 

If it’s her… 

Hishand moves without his permission 

“Shirayuki!Obi!” 

Hefreezes.