The day started normally enough. Shirayuki went to the pharmacy to go through the usual routine of reviewing the stock room, filling medicinal order backlogs, and checking the status of her current projects. She was busying herself with processing some echinacea root and leaf matter when she noticed Ryuu contemplating. Obi had fallen asleep leaning against one of the table legs next to Ryuu’s perch, his head near Ryuu’s knees. It was common for Obi to pass out near them while they worked, especially whenever Obi returned from the previous night’s watch.

But today Shirayuki caught Ryuu silently observing the sleeping Obi at his feet. Without a word Ryuu reached down patted Obi’s head, earning a contented chirp from Obi, and promptly returned back to his work. Shirayuki managed to restrain herself from making any noise that would notify them of the audience. However, the delicate dried leaves in her hand had been momentarily forgotten, and were currently crumpled on her workbench.

Shirayuki took a deep breath and forced herself to relax, trying to distract her mind by quickly reviewing the status on her current project and considering her next steps. She thought it would be best to harvest some of the milk thistle so that she could get the seeds laying out to dry for grinding the next day. It’d also be good to stretch her legs… maybe get some fresh air, and get herself away from the currently very distracting presence that was sleeping Obi.

She looked over to Ryuu and tried to keep her voice down as she called out to him, “Ryuu, I’m going over to the greenhouses, I think the milk thistle will be ready for harvest today.”

Ryuu barely looked up from his work but he nodded in response. Shirayuki went about collecting some small sturdy baskets, a small clipper and the thick gloves she would need to safely work with the prickly leaves of the milk thistle. By the time she had pulled together what she needed and was heading for the door Obi seemed to have woken up and was there waiting for her.

“Oh! Obi, are you going out to the greenhouses?” Shirayuki inquired, hoping it wouldn’t be the case. “Why of course miss, it’s my job.” Obi responded, all hints of drowsiness dissipated.

It wasn’t really his job, at least not anymore. But she knew better than to try to have that argument with him again; it just made him more stubborn. She tried a different tactic instead, “But your nap… are you sure you got enough sleep Obi?” she motioned, trying to see if the temptation of sleep could convince him to stay behind.

“I’m perfectly fine miss, it’s no bother.”  

Oh but it is a bother she couldn’t help thinking. Nevertheless, she lead the way out of the pharmacy with Obi following behind her. She tried convincing herself that this was fine and she could handle it, even if it seemed she wasn’t having much luck.

Once at the greenhouses Shirayuki got to work hoping to lose herself in the task at hand. She walked over to the milk thistle, evaluating the flowers to find their most recently developed seed heads. Setting down her baskets and clippers she put on her heavy gloves and started plucking through the milk thistle to move their leaves out of the way. Once a space had been made she removed her gloves and grabbed the clippers to gently snip a seed head off of the flower without jostling it too much. She then took her acquired seed head and placed it within a small bag and put it in the basket. After going through a few rounds of clipping, Obi sat down next to her and started plucking through the milk thistle for his own harvest. She watched his work from the corner of her eye, but his movements were too aggressive and was damaging the seed heads.

“You might need to take off your gloves if you are going to continue doing that” Obi stilled his movements next to her and looked toward her with a questioning look.

“You’re damaging the seed head so that the seeds come undone” she said simply, trying not to let her embarrassment of her rash statement flood her voice. “You’ll need to be more careful.”

“Of course, miss” Obi muttered, removing his hands from his task to undo the ties on his wrists. Time seemed to slow down as he lifted his hand to his mouth, biting down on the tip of his gloved fingers and pulling his hand out of his gloves. Shirayuki swallowed and tried to regulate her breathing as his lifted up his other hand to repeat the motion.

Shirayuki looked away pointedly, attempting to focus back on the milk thistle but couldn’t seem to drown out the thoughts of what would happen if she was the one removing his gloves with her teeth. After damaging a few of the milk thistle flowers herself, she decided that this task wasn’t going to be successful any longer and needed a different task… something that wasn’t as delicate.

“Oh, Obi, I just remembered! I have to check on the tinctures progress today for my research.”

Obi assessed Shirayuki carefully with his steady gaze but didn’t voice any objections as he slowly put back on his gloves. “Very well mistress, I can walk you back to the pharmacy” Shirayuki didn’t think that was a very good idea herself, but she didn’t know a good way to explain that to him at the moment so she let him walk her back to the pharmacy, wondering whether or not she would be able to regain her composure or if she was doomed to this distraction indefinitely.

---

Shirayuki didn’t get any relief from her distractions at the pharmacy for the majority of the day. It wasn’t until she had cleaned up her workstation and was getting ready to head home that she was granted some reprieve by a guardsmen requesting Obi’s assistance. She was walking along castle grounds, making her way home and trying to make sense of her jumbled thoughts when she found herself no longer alone.

“You look like you’ve been having a rough day”

Shirayuki turned to see Zen walking down the corridor, Mitsuhide and Kiki following behind him. Shirayuki’s shoulders slumped, deciding it would be best to just accept the situation as it was. “You have no idea.” She sighed, wringing her hands in her skirts. “I’ve managed to botch up most everything I’ve touched today. I’ve lacked all focus on any of my projects… this, this just isn’t like me at all.”

“Well then what’s wrong? Is there anything I could do to help?”

Shirayuki looked towards Zen, his concerned expression and eager smile rubbing off on her. He was always so enthusiastic to support her in her goals, she appreciated his friendship even now. “I wonder…” she smiled back at him thoughtfully. “I’m not sure it's something anyone can help me with I’m afraid, just adjusting is all.”

Zen looked disappointed with her response but seemed to have a handle on it. “Well, I’m sure you will figure it out Shirayuki, you always do.”

Shirayuki smiled back at him, and was preparing to take her leave when Zen spoke up again, “Looks like Obi has managed to adjust as well.”

Shirayuki stilled, wary of the context of his statement. But both Kiki and Mitsuhide seemed to be in good spirits, and were looking to the same direction as Zen. Zen locked eyes with her and motioned over the edge of the corridor’s balcony overlooking the courtyard below.

Obi was sparring with a young guardsman, still in training it seemed, and was easily dodging his blows. Her voice left her and she found herself frozen to the spot, she hoped Zen wouldn’t read into it much.

“I’m glad for him, he seems to have found his place in the castle, even without being under my jurisdiction.” Zen continued.

Shirayuki smiled gently, of course he did. He had become one of the most reliable trainers for the castle guard, and his humorous and carefree personality had won the hearts of many in Wistal Castle. He tended to do very well as a castle guardsman, even if he did insist upon watching after her as his previous position had required.

Mitsuhide spoke up first, “He seems to have a real knack for it, working with the recruits. They really like him and they learn well.”

Shirayuki turned towards Mitsuhide, “of course they do, Obi is a very likable person.”

“I suppose his personality does grow on a person after a while.” Kiki remarked, stoic as ever but sporting a small teasing smile in Mitsuhide’s direction. “You say that as if you didn’t find him funny yourself, Kiki.” Zen remarked. “Funny, no. Entertaining, I could agree with.” Both Zen and Shirayuki laughed, Mitsuhide looked pleased. With the lull in conversation Shirayuki looked back to the courtyard where Obi had switched sparring partners and was sparring with someone a little closer to his level. His partner took a swipe at him and he ducked easily, crouching low to the ground. His posture was nimble as usual, but his current position didn’t help with her current situation, and her desire to stare… had his backside always looked so attractive?

Zen was watching too it seemed, since he whistled under his breath. “He really has no idea how tempting he looks when he does that.”

“Oh, I’m sure he knows exactly how tempting he looks when he does that.”

Zen looked up at Shirayuki startled at her statement. Shirayuki was pretty startled at herself, she had not meant to say that out loud. But Zen recovered quickly with a smile that looked far more teasing and troublesome than she thought was a good idea at the moment.

“Oh? Shirayuki, your problems focusing today wouldn’t happen to be related to a certain… attractive person hanging around, would they?” Laughter twinkled in his eyes, he was enjoying this far more than he should. Shirayuki could feel her blush heating up her face. “No!” she started “He’s just… very distracting is all.” “Distracting?” Zen was actually laughing at her now. “Shirayuki, you wouldn’t happen to be compromised by his presence would you?”

Shirayuki had had quite enough of this, thank-you-very-much and was preparing to stop Zen’s teasing remarks when Kiki’s suddenly spoke up her tone pointed.

“I think she is completely compromised; we should ensure Obi’s removal from his post at once.”

“No! That’s not it at all!” Shirayuki could hardly believe what she was saying. Isn’t this what she wanted the whole day? Just some space away from him so she could think? Kiki’s eyebrow raised to her in response, “No? Then what seems to be the problem Shirayuki?”

Zen cut in before she could answer though, “Like you could blame her Kiki, he is really attractive. I would be just as distracted if he was hanging around me every day too!”

“Zen!” Mitsuhide said, scandalized. Kiki’s stoic expression was breaking under the pressure of her restrained chuckles.

“What? It’s true!” Zen exclaimed.

“Why Thank you, Master”

Everyone froze, and turned towards the sound of Obi’s voice, where he was perched on the balcony wall observing their conversation looking very amused. “Now, why are my dashing good looks the topic of conversation today?”

Shirayuki was ready to die, any moment now someone was going to tell him and she would be left to address her very compromising feelings towards Obi in front of an audience and it would be completely Zen’s fault. She reminded herself that whatever happens, she was going to make sure she got even at him for this.

“Zen was commenting that your butt looked good while you sparred.” Kiki said, her voice ever so even. Shirayuki could hardly believe what Kiki was saying. “The rest of us were just agreeing with him.”

“Hey, I never agreed to any of that.” Mitsuhide objected. “Wait. Kiki, were you agreeing with him?”

Obi ignored Mitsuhide’s comments completely and looked at the group quizzingly, “Everybody?”

“Everybody” Kiki confirmed, much to Mitsuhide’s personal horror. A small tilt to her mouth gave away her almost smile as she locked eyes on Shirayuki.

Ohhh Kiki was going to pay for this one. Obi broke out into a grin and looked over to Shirayuki like he was ready to pounce. “Oh miss! You should have told me! I would make sure to give you a chance to observe our training spar sessions more often!”   Shirayuki at least had the grace to look defiant over the situation. “Obi!” That is not the point.  

“What about me?” Zen hummed “Am I invited?”

“Oh Master, I would never dream of forgetting about you.” Obi purred, grinning at him like a Cheshire cat. “All you have to do is ask.”  

“That is quite enough of that.” Mitsuhide grumbled, silencing them both.

Obi continued grinning and Zen looked a little more disappointed then he should have been. But Mitsuhide was not having any of it. “Zen, I expect such behavior from Obi, but I expect better from you!”

Shirayuki was overwhelmed. While the boys continued their bickering Shirayuki looked for a way to escape this madness without creating a further spectacle of herself. She looked to her side to see Kiki standing next to her watching her with her careful gaze. “You should probably go while they are distracted.” Shirayuki breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank you Kiki.” she whispered as she turned away.

“This isn’t over Shirayuki.” Kiki whispered, a cheerful lilt to her tone, “Not by a long shot.”