#mitsuyuki

Now, here in the candlelight, everythingaflame with color and the music swelling and receding like the waves on theshore, Mitsuhide can’t help rub his watering eyes. Can’t help but smile. Afterso many years watching Zen’s tender heart hide and reveal itself, only to breakapart before mending again, Zen has his storybook ending. Only-

A small arm brushes his, followed by amurmured apology, and Mitsuhide’s smile falters.

-Only it’s not the Princess anyone hadenvisioned.

The lady from Viande is certainly lovelyenough. In the center of the ballroom, her long skirts dragging behind her in awave of opulence, she’s the very picture of a Princess. And, well-

Maybe Izana. Maybe Izana had envisioned this ending.

Dark curls flecked with jewels fall down herback, framing a well-made face with an even finer smile. The two of themare beaming, wrapped up in the moment where they are both the promiseat the center of two Kingdom’s hearts.

“They’re so beautiful…”

Mitsuhide glances back down at the woman athis side, and Shirayuki’s eyes are glassy, a rosy flare fanning across hercheeks as the music dies down and the spectators politely applaud. Zen sweepshis bride from the dance floor and, absently, Shirayuki’s hands come togetherto join them.

He had thought he had witnessed strength,endurance, fortitude. Thought thatperhaps even he had those skills himself. But here, now, he is gutted at justhow much a coward he has become. He wasn’t even able to attend Kiki’sengagement party, let alone her wedding. And yet, here she is-

“Shirayuki,” he says, her name coming suddenlyand without his permission. She starts, nearly tipping into him, and- she’s hadtoo much to drink. Righting her, he smooths his hands down her arm. “Ah, wouldyou like to dance?”

“Oh!” she smiles at him, some of the haze clearing from her eyes. “That would be lovely.Just as long as, ah- Well, you know-”

Mitsuhide laughs,taking her hand and resting it on his bicep to lead her to the floor. “Don’t worry. With allyour practice this past year, I’d bet you’re better at it than me now.”

Lashes fanning across her cheeks, her dimplesstanding out stark when she fails to hide her smile. “I don’t know if Obi wouldtake that wager. He said I almost broke his toes at least three times at our last ball.”

“Obi’s more delicate than me,” he protests,moving them among the other dancers.

When she doesn’t laugh, he glances back downat her and her gaze is wondering the room. Flitting from the band to theguests before finally landing on the bride and groom seated at the highestpoint.

He executes a quick turn as the chords begin andshe- she chirps in alarm when he turns his back to them so shecannot see.

“Are you having fun?” he grins. Hopefully hissmile comes across as charming and not the grit teeth that it wants to be.

“Mm!” she nods, her blush a little deeper. “Theparty is lovely.”

Theparty… She can’t even bring herself to call it whatit is.

“You look lovely tonight,” he offers, pained, nearlycarrying her as a waltz begins. He wasn’t lying – he doesn’t dance often, but heknows more than a country two-step and Obi had warned him how his Mistress wasmore prone to turning an ankle than executing a perfect turn. But still, she’ssmall and easy to distract once a conversation has begun, so leading her iseasy as breathing. He just has to… put a little muscle into it. “Is that dress new?”

“Oh!” she flushes, glancing down, and he turnsthem sharp enough that she snaps her eyes back to his instead of lingering toat her feet. “Yes! Akaibara had it made for me!”

Mitsuhide just barely swallows his grimace.“Oh?” It’s a lovely thing, made of a soft green silk and Viandese lace. Itcomplements her complexion and makes her look… softer. More touchable. Nodoubt it cost a King’s ransom and some harried seamstresses several sleeplessnights to make in time for the wedding.

Yet still, it is a poor recompense for lovelost.

Shirayuki hums, smile broadening and his heart achesfor her more. “She said she wanted to have more made – for our continuedfriendship! – but I insisted on just the one. It’s not like I get invited to royal weddings every day.”

Mitsuhide is not what one would call a cynicalman. Or even a particularly suspicious one. But after so many years walking thehallways of Royal households, one becomes… sensitive to certain turns of phrase. And now bells are soundingan alarm in his head, clanging so loud that his ears ring.

“That’s… very thoughtful of her,” he sayshaltingly. “You’re a good person, Shirayuki.”

Her eyes go round, head tilting in confusion.

“I mean this whole situation,” he elaborates,flushing. “I’m glad there’s no… bad feelings. Between you all.”

“Oh, Mitsuhide,” she smiles, squeezing his arm.“Don’t worry. Zen and I discussed this all a long time ago.”

His stomach drops out. “Really?” he says, throatsuddenly dry. “You were- anticipating this?”

She nods, and beaming up at him. “So don’tworry! We’ll be fine.”

The sick feeling in the pit of his stomachonly grows, his eyes flitting to the happy couple seated upon the dais. They’resmiling, hands tentatively entwined at the pinky. He thought- he thought hetaught Zen better. And he had hoped, with Shirayuki remaining in Lyrias, thathis worse inclinations were banished. But-

Mitsuhide shakes himself, firming his resolve.That’s a talk for another day. Tonight-

Tonight is for putting a stop to this beforeit even begins.

“Shirayuki,” he says, taking a cleansingbreath. “What would you think about going for a walk around the gardens afterthis? Get some fresh air.”

“That would be lovely!” she says, and he’sstruck by how easily she’s dancing now. He doesn’t understand why Obi has suchproblems leading his Mistress. “It’s a full moon and Ryuu told me that if I get a chance, I should visit the night flower exhibit tonight!”

“How…nice.”

Shirayuki tilts her head and is opening her mouth to speak more when she trips over his foot. Whenshe lands, front flush to his and hands gripping his arms tight, Mitsuhide’slips thin.

Suddenly, everything makes so much sense.

“Thank you, Mitsuhide,” she laughs, lettinghim right her again. The flush on her cheeks looks painful, but thankfully the musichas stopped, the couples departing the floor.

“Well,” he laughs, scratching the back of hishead. “Shall we?”

She beams up at him and takes his arm at the elbow. “Weshall.”

~ ~ ~

The moment they step out the door, Mitsuhide has immediate regrets. There’s a chill in the air that promises afrost in the morning and Shirayuki’s so small that she’s bound to catch cold. Fresh air is one thing, buthe knows how thin silk is. Has handled enough of it when his family traded their textiles for something finer. 

She doesn’t seem to be touched by it, though,years in colder weather making her less delicate than the woman who shivered onthe back of his horse as they left Laxdo. She’s on a mission now, besides, herskirts sweeping through the first autumn leaves as she leads the way.

“I think-” She points one way, then the other.“Hmm-”

“Lost?”

Forehead creased with concentration, sheshakes her head. “No, I just- Ah! There!”

She tugs him forward with the strength of asmall dog yanking on its lead and Mitsuhide lurches to keep up with her. She’sstrong… for someone so tiny. And not for the first time, it strikes him howsmall she is. Smaller than Kiki, and without the honed muscle and training thatmakes his partner solid earth.

Shirayuki looks… delicate. Almost birdlike.Her bones fine and easily broken. Mitsuhide looks down at his own hands, and-

“Oh, you were right!” she chirps suddenly, wideeyes glancing over her shoulder. Pressing her free hand to her cheek, she says,“It’s much nicer out here.”

-What is he doing? He’ll break her.

“Where are these flowers you were telling meabout?” he prompts, strained.

“Oh!” Laughing, Shirayuki tugs him forwardonce again, and it’s so easy to follow her. There’s so much of her that’s like Zen. What she lacks in stature, she makesup for by being a gravitational pull that centers everyone to her. “Yes, it’sjust up along the way! I think.”

Casting a furtive glance back at the Palace, hispulse jumps. The windows are getting smaller, getting further away with eachstep, and yet he sees a few eyes watching them. Guilt stabs him momentarily,but- But it’s good. Fine, even. Word will get out fast and put an end to..anything else. That may have happened. Between her and Zen.

Shirayuki pushes them deeper still into thegardens, where firelight no longer leads their way but instead they must travelby feel. “Ryuu told me that these specimen displays are one of a kind,” she hums,head turning this way and that as she tries to reorient them by starlight. “Butthey have to be a little far from the Palace because the ambient light damagesthem.”

“Oh?” His breath has gone short, heartpounding a little harder than necessary, and- and Shirayuki trusts him. She’s his friend, and if this doesn’t work-

“Yes. They only completely open under a full moon. It’s very unique and, oh! Here is it!” she says, suddenly breathless. “Oh- Oh wow.”

Mitsuhide starts, and- and they’re no longermoving. They’ve stopped. Somehow, they’ve reached the center of the exhibit without noticing, the faint light reflecting white and purple and soft bluesoff speckled flowers and plants. The longer they remain still, the less they look at the skies and the more they look into the dark, the more they see, and-

“Wow is right,” he breathes.

Shirayuki giggles, squeezing his arm. “We haveto tell the others.”

Spellbound by the colors, the shapes, the light fragrance in the night air, he says, completely thoughtless, “Zen wouldlove-”

Too late, he catches himself. Too late, heremembers why he’s here.

“You’re right,” Shirayuki says, and it soundslike she’s pleased with the ideawhich is really- the last thing he wanted to happen.

“Ah.” Hecoughs to clear his throat. “Let’s sit. You must be tired.”

“Not real-” Her words cut off with a yelp, her seat planting where he backsher easily into a bench. “Okay?”

He sits down next to her quickly, sweaty palms spread out over the legs of his pants. Keeping asclose to his end of the bench as possible, he frets when he still takes up twice thespace she does. Gods - gods - she’sso tiny. The thought makes him break out into a cold sweat.

“Mitsuhide?” His vision clears, and Shirayuki’sface is pinched in concern. “Are you okay?”

No. “Yes.” He clears his throat, moreconfidently repeating, “Yes. Yes. I just- I wanted to talk to you. Aboutsomething. Something important.”

A frown kisses her forehead.

“You are… very brave,” he manages, voice justthis side of strangled.

Her eyes pulse, frown deepening. “Thank… you?”

Mitsuhide shakes his head like a wet dog,trying to clear it. “What I am meaning to say is- I meant it. Earlier. You are really such a goodperson for standing aside.”

Her lips tremble at the edges. “I didn’t really have much of a choice in the matter,” shelaughs. “It’s not like I could insist on-”

“No.” He shakes his head again. “You did andyou chose to make this easier on Zen. And I’ll be eternally grateful.”

Smiling, mostly to herself, Shirayuki sighs. “I-I’ve always wanted to be his ally, Mitsuhide. It was our goal to be together for so long,but-” She shakes her head, shoulders arching in a shrug before falling. “It doesn’t matter. I’m happy for him. And the woman he’s married to.”

Heart swelling, Mitsuhide pushes, “But- Idon’t- It’s not right that you be left alone. Or be kept as a secret.” He takesher hand and he’s such a horrible person, it’s like it weighs nothing. 

Shirayuki’s eyes pull wide.

“I’m not alone!” she laughs. “I still have Zen!And then Obi and Kiki-”

“No,” he shakes his head. As much as he lovesZen, Shirayuki was not made to be the other woman. No matter how fatedtheir love for one another may be.

“No?”

“No, I mean- Shirayuki,” he takes that smallhand between both of his, earnest, getting up just enough to come to one kneebefore her. “Shirayuki. Marry me.”

“Eh?!”

“Don’t become his Mistress. Marry me. Just-” He’s sloppy, unpracticed inthis really, but she’s used to Zen and wouldn’t Zen accompany a proposal with akiss? He dips his head, awkwardly pressing his mouth to hers and-

“Mmph!” She stiffens for a second, one hand comingto his shoulder, but he still has her other in his and she doesn’t pull back.So he tilts his head, opening his mouth a little, and- and all the fight goes out of her. She melts, asoft hum purring across his lips as the hand that was on his shoulder finds hishair.

It’s- Pleasant is a word. Warm is another. Alittle slippery, too. And he really likes the feeling of her nails dragging up his scalp. 

He’s never done this before, not really, but she’s theone deepening the kiss now so he thinks he’s doing a good job. Pulling backjust a breath to change the angle, he reaches one hand to her cheek, and, mindfulof the careful coils of her hair, presses just a little firmer.

Her small hand escapes his, touching his chestjust briefly and sending such a jolt through him that he rears back. Heartpounding, they stare at each other for several panting breaths. Finally, lickinghis lips, he catches the taste of her lingering on his mouth and laughs alittle when he sees that she’s flushed, too. Maybe the marriage won’t be as muchof a burden on her as he thought.

“Um.” Shirayuki says, so soft, touching hermouth.

He takes her hand again, squeezing it. “I takethat as a yes?”

Her eyes widen and she shakes her head. “Uhm,no!” she laughs, a little loud. His surprise must show on his face, and shemust misinterpret it, because she grits her teeth. Tenderly laying her handatop of his, Shirayuki says more gently, “Thank you. I’m honored that you wouldask, but no.”

“But Shirayuki-”

“Mitsuhide,” she huffs. “I’m fine. And I’m not going to be Zen’s mistress.”

Oh.

“I don’t want you to be single forever,” he presses. “I know you and Zen never- But not everyone else knows that, and-”

She’s laughing again, this time harder. “I’m still not interested in marrying you.”

He gapes a little. “But- but why?”

“It’s just!” She blushes again, and then laughs,embarrassed. “Obi and Kiki both already asked me!”

“What?!”

~ ~ ~

“What happened to Hisame?!” he does not yell, arms firmly clasped at hisside as he does not pace the carpet.

“Riding accident first day of our honeymoon,” Kiki says, so mild.

“Tragic,” Obi adds, not looking the leastamount sorry. “Might never have children.”

Shirayuki sits between them, her hands twisting around a kerchief, face burning. Strange, but she doesn’t look sorry to hear the news.

“Naturally I had the marriage annulled.”

He should have never gone on that trip with Zen to Viande. Never. Not if itinvolved leaving these... troublemakers to their own devices.

“Surprised, big guy?” Obi drawls.

That would be an understatement. “I’m just-”Disappointed? Surprised? Angry? It’s anyone’s guess.

Relieved, maybe? He could still stay at Zen’sside now.

Guilty?

He flinches a little. He thought solittle of his Master- Really, he’s no better than Obi sometimes.

“Close your mouth, you’re drawing flies,” Kikiquips, bringing a champaign flute to her lips.

Mitsuhide straightens, mouth snapping shut.

“It’s just-” Obi’s not watching him anymore.He’s plucking the ruined kerchief from Shirayuki’s hands, and Mitsuhide staresin disbelief. “You?!”

Obi’s mouth drops open, ignoring Shirayuki’ssquawk when she tries to take it back and instead presses it to his chest in offense.“What do you mean, me?”

“Well.” Mitsuhide flushes, gesturing vaguelyat Kiki. “Kiki is just a really good person like that. So I would expect thatshe would- would step in.”

“She has gardens, too!” Shirayuki chirps, sosupportive. It’s one of the many reasons he had hoped her story with Zen wouldhave a happier ending. “Have you seen them, Mitsuhide? I think there’s morespecies than we have even in Lyrias! And Kiki’s already promised to expand them!”

The betrayal on Obi’s face deepens. “Miss,” hegasps. “What are you saying?”

Shirayuki’s eyes widen in momentary panic. “I-I mean-!”

“Well,” Kiki cuts in before she can respond,so smug, and laces her fingers through Shirayuki’s. “That ends that debate.”