Shirayuki wiggled her wrists and ankles, hoping to find relief from the chains around them. Her hands were above her head, the chain long enough to scratch her forehead. It was useless. Whoever kidnapped her obviously didn’t care about her comfort.
The blindfold around her eyes was tightly bound, chaffing her skin. She tugged the chains, harder and harder, reaching her hands out to try and move the clothe off her face. To no avail.
She could hear the shuffling of feet above her. Heavy footsteps mixed with light pattering. Wooden floorboards squeaking with each step.
She groaned, annoyed at the realization that she was on a boat.
“Hello?” A soft unfamiliar and shaky voice echoed in the room.
Shirayuki could hear several metals clinking at once. She wasn’t alone. And she wasn’t the only one bound and chained.
“Yes, hello,” she responded, her voice firm and calm, giving no hint of fear despite being helplessly bound to her spot like the others.
“Where am I?” Another voice reached out. Several voices murmured, all talking at once, mixed with whimpers and sobs.
“I want to go home,” a tiny voice cried.
“Me too,” another one said. She was most likely the same age as the previous voice. Young. No older than thirteen years old.
“Why are we hear?”
“Who did this?”
The voices continued to speak their turns, each one frantic and scared. Shirayuki counted seven. Seven girls. Seven different girls were in the room with her. At least. She couldn’t account for the ones too busy crying silently in the room.
A slave ship. They were stuck in a slave ship.
It served her right to be in the situation she was in. She had insisted on gathering herbs alone, in an unfamiliar place. Without Obi by her side.
She tagged along with Zen, Mitsuhide and Kiki. She promised she would not get in their way, and they reluctantly agreed. It was supposed to be a quick stop. Just a meet-and-greet.
But the island was beautiful. So much green and bright flowers that needed to be explored.
And she literally did not see the blow to her head coming.
“Hey, hey. It’s okay,” Shirayuki interrupted. “My name is Shirayuki, and I promise we’ll get out of this.” A name to a promise. She was taught at an early age to accept liability. And although she had no clue how to get out, she was attaching her name to this promise.
The room quieted. Some stifled their cries, others exhaled in relief.
“Shirayuki? That’s your name?” An irritated voice called out. “I’m not stupid like these other girls. Explain to me how you’re going to get us out.”
Shirayuki sighed, and a smile slowly grew on her face like the punchline of a joke just reached her. She was never quite good at consoling crying children. But doubt? Oh, she was an expert at proving anyone who doubted her.
And this doubtful girl just sparked confidence back into Shirayuki.
“I’m not rescuing anyone,” she explained, a small chuckle escaped. “But I know someone who will.”
She closed her eyes, picturing Zen dashing into the room with Misuhide and Kiki right by his side. But a flash of amber eyes quickly replaced all her thoughts, knots forming in her stomach. She felt her cheeks warming into a blush.
“Who?” The voices said softly, as some shushed each other. Shirayuki could hear them face her, their breathes fanning into her direction. All eager to hear her story.
“He has many names. Different aliases. And he’s very good at doing one thing,” she bragged.
It was working. She could hear them calmly breathing.
“What? What’s he good at?” A curious voice interrupted.
“Fighting bad guys, of course,” Shirayuki answered, her tone playful. She imagined Obi blushing if he heard her right now. She knew him to be modest about everything. His cooking. His humor. His attractiveness. His loyalty.
But fighting? You would never hear the end of it.
“How will he find us, Shirayuki?” The doubtful girl questioned. Her tone was not as brash as before, but still unsure. “We could be across the world by now.”
They could be, Shirayuki agreed silently, a slight chill running through her body.
Where are they?
She shook her head, brushing off the doubt that quickly crept into her mind. No way. No way Obi would let her down. He was coming.
“Because he always finds me,” she reassured.
The floorboards above them thumped and creaked loudly. A commotion. A disturbance that wasn’t anticipated, by the sound of it.
Blows were landing. Bones cracked and crushed from different directions. Deep voices screamed and groaned along with heavy thuds that fell right above them.
“Hey, stop!”
“No, don’t!”
“Who are you?”
And it all stopped at once. No more shuffling. It was too quiet to be comfortable.
Some of the girls shuffled, their chains clinking as their interest piqued.
“What’s happening?”
“What’s going on?”
The crying and murmurs of worry started again.
“Where is she?” A familiar voice yelled out from above, tone drenched with threat and danger. This man was not just skilled at fighting. He was also capable of killing.
“Down. Down there.” Thud.
“Shirayuki!” He yelled, anxious and concerned.
“Shirayuki, I’m here!”
Shirayuki laughed, tears falling from her eyes as she recognized that sweet voice. That same voice who laughed at her jokes. Same voice who whispered in her ears as she fell asleep in his bed. The man who was good at fighting bad guys.
“I’m down here, Obi!”
The other girls exclaimed, voices excited and and relieved.
Obiyuki Week day 6: Little Mermaid
Haaaah, this is getting longer that it’s supposed to.
Part 4 will be the last.
After what had happened down at the rocks, the herbalist had spent the rest of the day in a daze. The truth of what she'd seen, of what he was, was nearly overwhelming. Whenever she had felt settled, another image of the merman's golden eyes and sharpened teeth would scurry through her mind like a mouse. Spending the evening with everyone, more than one worried question was sent her way, and forcing smiles as white lies slid between her teeth was more draining than nights spent grinding and mixing herbs back in Wistal.
She had left for bed early that night, leaving a slightly forlorn Zen behind to complete a jigsaw puzzle by himself. With a single lamp to illuminate her room, Shirayuki paced in small circles, mouth in hand as she stared at nothing. Eyeing her bed with an expression akin to a convict faced with certain doom, she debated with herself over whether or not she should bother with sleep tonight.
It was only the thought of facing a concerned Kiki in close quarters that sent her to bed.
Her dreams were formless, shifting from murky waters to resplendent gold, the sound of waves fading in and out, You truly mean that echoing over and over. Even when she awoke, his voice remained in her head, like a melody she couldn't forget.
Deciding that sleep would be next to impossible, she quietly thumbed through her book on mermaids; she had to double check to see if mermaid's were supposed to be enthralling, because her merman seemed to be an aficionado at plaguing her mind.
She'd have to remind herself to ask him tomorrow.
Shirayuki later woke to an empty room, the inn quiet save for children occasionally running by, shrieking and laughing. Smiling, she quickly dressed and made her way downstairs. This time it was Zen who had left a note; the Duke was making himself a nuisance to the locals and to the festival, and he had to smooth things over.
"Well that clears up one thing." She said to herself before pulling up her hood. Double checking that the mermaid lure was still in her bag, she set off.
Mouth set in a grim line, Shirayuki clambered back over the misshapen rocks, bag in hand and her objective in sight. He'd taken her by surprise yesterday, but this time she was marching to battle prepared. After what felt like hours, the herbalist had finally pushed the merman from her mind last night and slept. Clearly, his unnatural charm was wearing off, which was encouraging.
Standing before the rushing waves, Shirayuki took a deep breath of the salty air.
"Alright, let's try this again." Tongue between her teeth, she pulled back her arm, ready to throw--
"You don't have to keep doing that Miss."
"Wha--?!" Shirayuki dropped the lure as she jumped in surprise. There he was, resting his arms on the rocks with his amused smile firmly in place.
"I mean, you could keep throwing it out, but I feel like its only an optional way to get my attention Miss." The low purr of laughter in his voice made her blush slightly. This level of control he seemed to have over her thoughts and emotions was getting ridiculous and she squared her shoulders.
"Well that's good! That means I don't have to keep swinging this around if you're going to be here waiting for me." Lifting the lure off of the rocks, she stuffed it back in her bag and turned to face him, determination set in her eyes.
"Obviously I'm here because I have a lot of questions."
"I'm sure you do Miss, but..."
He held up a hand as voices suddenly echoed in the background, the high trill of children scrambling towards the tidal pools, with the tired tenor of parents failing to the rein them in. Shirayuki ducked down, hunkering behind the rocks.
"Here isn't a good place to talk."
He slid closer to her in a way that can be only be described as suave, lifting a finger to his lips. And once again, Shirayuki noticed the droplets of sea water running down his arms, skipping over the lean muscle--
The herbalist forced herself to look at his face, into his eyes that were just as dangerous as the rest of him. The evolution of curiosity to fixation was a short one, and she needed to be careful. She was very close to Zen after all, and...
"Do you have a place in mind then?" She asked in a hushed whisper that was absolutely not hoarse.
"Oh that I do, if you're willing to follow me Miss." His voice was as calm as ever, but his eyes were dancing yet again in a wild excitement, no doubt at the thought of leading her on to another discovery. And possibly laughing at her. Again.
"Just watch the water, and follow my lead."
Even though she did her absolute best to sneak past the frolicking families at the tidal pools, it still felt like a fluke that nobody had noticed her. Tugging on the fringe of her hood, Shirayuki left the beach, following the trail her ‘friend’ was leaving for her.
She made her way down the docks of the port, watching and listening for the telltale splash of the merman’s tail to guide her. It was cleverly done, small innocuous splashes that wouldn’t seem out of place to the common eye, and she had to admit she was impressed.
Weaving her way through the heart of the fishing docks, Shirayuki walked past more and more houses as she entered the outskirts of the town. The sheer drops of the docks gave way to a sprawling beach and with a final splash, she looked up to see the broken hull of an old boat, overturned on a set of rocks close to the shore.
"A boat huh?" She muttered to herself before gingerly stepping across the rocks. The water was shallow, but she didn't want to spend the rest of the day walking with wet boots and stockings. Each jump from rock to rock was carefully calculated as Shirayuki held her skirt tightly around her knees. When she finally reached the shipwreck, she took a moment to catch her breath, looking at the husks of barnacles plastered to the hull. Pressing a hand against the salt-weathered wood of the boat, she found a large hole and crept inside.
The water gurgled as it swirled around the insides of the boat, lapping against the ring of rocks that were much more smooth than the ones from before. Shafts of light filtered down through the broken deck, the spots of sunlight dancing on the miniature waves. The water was much clearer here, allowing the herbalist to see the hills of sand sloping down and away beneath the waves. Minnows flicked in and out of sight, and a small crab scuttled by. Her window to the sea was completely out of sight from the shore, and Shirayuki knelt on the rocks just the merman appeared.
She was finally able to see him beneath the water, smoothly cutting through the water in a predatory glide that made him every inch the shark that he resembled. It took her breath away, just for a moment, and she did her best not to stare when he surfaced.
"This is much nicer, wouldn't you say Miss?" He asked, looking incredibly pleased with himself. Stifling a snort, she smiled back.
"Yes, yes, it's lovely. This was a wonderful idea, and you were so clever in thinking of it."
He let out a genuine laugh, pulling his chest up past the rocks.
"You'll make me blush if you keep that up Miss!"
"I'd like to see that."
"But that's not why you sought me out again, right?"
Shirayuki shook her head, shifting to get more comfortable. "Not really, no."
He tilted his head, a motion she was ashamed to admit was adorable. "Not really? What does that mean?"
"Well...it was a lot to take in all at once yesterday, and I wanted to confirm things for myself. What had happened had really happened, you really were real, and I didn't even know your name!" She glared at him in mock anger, puffing her cheeks.
"All things considered, you could've at the very least told me that before vanishing!"
He ducked his head, having the deceny to look apologetic. "Yes...yes you have a point there."
He looked back at her with a wide smile and waved a hand. "Hello there Miss! My name is Obi."
"Obi..." She turned the name over in her head, marveling at how well it suited him. "That's a nice name. Hello Obi!"
Obi chuckled again, his bare shoulders shaking. "Hello Miss. What did you want to talk to me about?"
Shirayuki threw out her arms, gesturing at Obi. "Isn't it obvious? Everything!"
"Well, we'd be here for days if that were the case Miss, but I can tell you the basics." Obi shifted forward onto his elbows, his dorsal fin poking out from the water. He lifted a hand and began ticking off his fingers.
"I travel all over the ocean, but I visit this place every year for the festival. My tail resembles a shark, but others that I know of do have different kinds--"
"Others?"
Shirayuki had perked up, eyes bright with wonder, and it seemed to take him aback.
"Eh, yes. Other 'merfolk', just like the ones in your stories. But you don't have to worry about me luring you to your watery death. Only sirens bewitch sailors like that. So be sure not to make any lures for them." She would've laughed if he hadn't suddenly sounded so serious, so she nodded vigorously.
"Understood. Though it's unlikely I'll ever meet one, or lure one. You're the one I want to talk to!"
His eyes widened, and Obi ducked his head, but not before Shirayuki could see the pink dusting his cheeks. And it felt amazing to have him being the flustered one for once.
"Uh, well...thank you Miss."
"You're welcome! So," She scooted closer, eyes wide and attentive. "You were saying?"
That won her another chuckle, and Obi returned to his list, the tips of his ears still a bit flushed.
"Well, I eat fish, but shrimp is my favorite. Although I did nip a fisherman who thought he could pull me in with the evening catch."
Shirayuki blinked, something stirring in her memory. "Wait, fisherman? Did he have a large beard?"
"And smell like the sailor's grog he drank? Yes, that was him." He gave her an impish smile.
"He has a huge scar on his arm! That's a 'nip'?!"
"Ah...maybe it was more of a nibble?" His smile widened, his fangs coming into view and shining in the light. Shirayuki stared at them and couldn't help but imagine just how painful Obi's bite must've been for the poor man. His scar hadn't been small at all, and if Obi called it just a 'nibble'...
"Do you want to touch them? I promise I won't bite if you do."
Her eyes met his, and his grin widened, a teasing glint in his eye. It was a dare, plain and simple, set up for him to tease her yet again.
'We'll just see about that.' She thought to herself, and nodded.
"Yes, if you don't mind." She didn't miss the flicker of surprise in his eyes before he chuckled.
"Alright then." He said, leaning up and opening his mouth wide.
Oh.
It horribly fascinating to see rows of shark's teeth in a human mouth, and Shirayuki leaned closer in spite of herself. They almost didn't seem real, but here they were. Carefully, she lifted a hand, testing her finger against the tip of a fang...
...and nearly had a heart attack when, with a small plink, it broke off.
"Oh no, I am so sorry! I didn't mean--it just--it just broke and I--" Shirayuki was panicking, waving her hands as Obi pressed a palm to his mouth, shaking.
"Did I hurt you?! What can I do?! Is there a way to reattach it or--?"
Obi threw back his head and laughed, full-throated guffaws shaking his frame and sending ripples through the water as his lower half bobbed about. Shirayuki watched in shock, more confused than she'd ever been in her life as Obi tried to control his laughing.
"Believe me Miss, it happens all the time!" He managed to gasp between giggles. "Here, let me show you!"
Opening his mouth again, he reached in and, after a bit of wiggling, pulled out a second tooth. Presenting it proudly, he dropped both teeth in her palm.
"There you are! You can keep those as a souvenir if you'd like, maybe a necklace perhaps?"
After staring at her palm, then at Obi, and then back at her palm, Shirayuki sat in silence.
"Really? Does it really happen just like that?"
"Oh yes. I can pull a third if you want."
"What about ten?"
"Probably."
Their eyes met, and they both burst out laughing.
They were able to talk for hours after that, from Obi describing forests of seaweed and winding coral tunnels, to Shirayuki describing her hometown and the sight of the castle skyline. The freedom of the open waters, to the beautiful lights of dawn sifting through forest leaves. The thin filament patterns of a leaf's veins, and the rainbow of scales in enormous schools of fish.
"I'm sorry Miss, you're a what?
"I'm an Herbalist. I work with herbs and plants to make medicines that help others and...well...it's a very esoteric subject so--"
Obiyuki Week Day 6: Little Mermaid
Heh, better late than never right? It’s been nearly
a year, but I’m determined to finish this Obiyuki
week before the next one arrives! So...Day 6!
Part 2 Part 3
The ocean breeze sent Shirayuki's dress dancing around her knees as she wound her way down the worn path to the beach. The roar of the waves was distant, but the light tickle of sea spray still dusted her cheeks. The herbalist would have smiled were she not so focused, double checking the contents in her bag as the rocky pathway gave way to sand.
It was near midsummer, and Zen had invited her to accompany him, Mistuhide, and Kiki to the coast and attend the soon to be held festival there. And of course there was no way she could say no! The ocean was always so vibrant and beautiful, and the culture of the townsfolk charmed her to no end; from the myths and tales of the sea, to the jewelry and chimes made from glistening shells, to the clear air sharp with salt. Side by side with her dearest friends, she loved every moment of it.
Up until she tasted the ocean's salt in a much more personal way.
She really should've just walked away. The others were distracted, with Zen discussing something with the Duke of the land, and his aids at his shoulders. Shirayuki was at the end of the dock-like overlook, watching the waves. The arrogance of nobles was nothing new to her, nor was the attention she drew from being at Zen's side. If she always placed her pride over common sense whenever a noble sneered her way, she'd never get anything done. But she couldn't, wouldn't, bow her head to the self-satisfied smirk of the Duchess before her, especially when Zen's integrity was insulted aside from her own. Keeping a tight grip on her temper, Shirayuki had countered the noble's words with a polite iciness that spoke volumes of how she felt towards the noble before turning away.
She didn't expect the dainty yet malicious hands that shoved her over the overlook's railing.
Nor did she expect just how long she fell before she hit the water.
Shirayuki was no stranger to swimming, but the water was so cold, her body seized up from the shock of it, clogging her throat and filling her limbs with lead. She only just remembered to hold her breath as the salt water stung her eyes. Her heart began to beat frantically in her ears as she began to sink.
No, no!
The fear was rising in her chest, but she beat it back, struggling to swim, to force her arms to bring her back up to the surface!
Something dark and sleek flicked past her eyes before Shirayuki felt something suddenly grab the back of her dress and pull. The herbalist whipped her head around, straining to see through the rush of water at what had her in such a strong grip.
A tail, long and sinuous, came into view. Nearly black in the water, the angular fins and sharp dorsal were unmistakable.
Shark.
Stories of blood mixing with the waves, the dire warnings mothers had given their children as they'd rush to the beaches, and the horrible, grisly scar a drunken fisherman had shown her in the tavern, all flashed through her mind.
And she panicked.
Shirayuki screamed, the sound literally drowned out by the water as a storm of bubbles burst past her lips. Water filled her throat as she thrashed, adrenaline finally breaking through the ice in her limbs. She swung with all her might, and the heel of her hand struck solid flesh.
With a jerk, the tail vanished along with the grip on her dress. Shirayuki immediately kicked her legs, desperately swimming for the dancing patches of light that seemed so high above her. That light that was...getting darker...and....darker...
An arm strong as iron wrapped around her waist and with a sharp tug, she broke the surface. Air, sweet, wonderful air, came rushing back and she gratefully choked and gasped, squinting against the bright sun.
"Shirayuki! Shirayuki, are you alright?!" Mitsuhide's voice was nearly cracked with worry, but his arm held her steady as he began a powerful sidestroke back to the docks.
"I'm...guh, I'm fine. Thank you...Mitsuhide." Shirayuki managed to croak, feebly kicking her legs to help him swim. There was more shouting, and she looked up to see the familiar patch of white-blonde hair and waving blue arms that was unmistakably Zen. When she wearily raised an arm to wave, Zen immediately dashed down the pier to Kiki, who was already waiting for them at the dock's edge.
It was a barrage of tight hugs and questions after that, a coat being draped around her shoulders, and Zen insistently carrying her back to the inn. But it all passed her by in a haze, and Shirayuki barely heard Zen's angry muttering towards the noble. Only one thought was solid in her mind, a revelation that slowly sank in with each step Zen took away from the ocean.
She had felt a human face against her hand, a nose and lips squashed beneath her palm.
That thought had kept her up the nights that followed, an impossible truth that hounded her until she could take it no more.
She felt ridiculous for asking for stories about mermaids. She felt even more so when she bought a book about them. By the time she had gathered the materials for a 'mermaid lure', embarrassment was replaced by a tired acceptance. Leaving a message for the others at the inn, she bundled up her supplies and made her way to the seaside.
Shirayuki stopped, briefly sitting on the sand and emptying her bag; a long cord of rope, a necklace made of shells, a small metal fish ornament, and two glass floats. One was simple, a plain glass orb she'd received from the local fisherman in exchange for a remedy for bad breath. The other was much more refined, yellow tinted glass with swirls of orange and gold. It took a lot of heckling to buy it at a reasonable price, but Shirayuki still felt a sense of pride having won that battle.
Pulling off her hood, she set to work, wrapping the rope around the fish and float, and having the necklace dangle free at the end. But when she lifted her creation up to her eyes, her expression fell.
"This doesn't look a mermaid lure at all." She muttered, eyeing the rope with disgust. "It looks an abandoned dog toy."
"Still, I've come this far and there's no point in going back now." Squaring her shoulders, she tucked the lure and the golden float back in her bag before setting off down the beach.
There was a place she had chosen that was fairly tucked away. Beyond the tidal pools were a cluster of rocks, tall and jagged, with plenty of places to sit out of sight. Carefully stepping over the rocks, Shirayuki briefly stopped to stare down at the vibrant life in the pools. There was a starfish that was almost the same shade of red as her hair, and she continued on with a smile.
That smile vanished by the time she reached the rocks, but with a deep breath, she pulled out the lure and flung it as far as she could into the water, keeping the very end of the rope tightly clutched in her hand. With determination shining in her eyes, she sat down to wait.
...
.......
............
.....................
A sharp tug on her hand woke her with a start, and she quickly rubbed her eyes. Salt from the sea spray had coated her face when she'd dozed off, and she looked down to check on the lure--
And saw a pair of bright yellow eyes staring up at her.
"WAH!?" Shirayuki jerked in surprise, nearly dropping her bag into ocean.
There was a man resting his arms on the rocks below her, droplets of water running over his bare skin. His short black hair ruffled a bit in the breeze and he seemed completely at ease with the water and foam swirling around his waist. Below a small scar above his eyebrow, the skin around his glowing eyes crinkled as he smirked.
Obiyuki Week Day 6: Little Mermaid
The one-shot turned into a two-parter and now
we’re going for threeeeeeee sorry! :D
Shirayuki stared down at the stranger with wide eyes, her mind a buzz of questions. Who was he? What kind of person would have the strength, and the nerve, to be able to swim here? She doubted even Mitsuhide could manage it, being so far from the shore and at the mercy of the waves. And just how long had he been there? Obviously he was the one who'd pulled on the lure to wake her, but--
She opened and closed her mouth several times, attempting to speak as his expression became more and more amused. His eyes were glittering, shades of gold and green swirling together in a way she'd never seen before. His pupils seemed almost slit like a cat, catching the light as his smile widened. Staring into his eyes, her frazzled mind finally clunked into place.
"I've never seen eyes like yours.”
She hadn't meant to blurt that out, and she struggled not to flush when the stranger blinked in surprise before laughing.
"And I've never seen eyes like yours Miss, so I suppose we're even!" He titled his head to the side with a playful wink.
"Yes, I suppose we are." Tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, Shirayuki leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees. "Um, who are you?"
"Oh, I don't know Miss. Who are you?" He tilted his head in the other direction, eyes bright with humor. "Not very many people come out to toss mermaid lures into the water like you have. Why is that?"
This time she did blush, ducking her head. "My name is Shirayuki, and honestly, I doubt you'd believe me. Nobody would."
"No? Try me!"
Shirayuki looked back at him, expecting a patronizing smirk. Instead, she saw that the man had pulled himself higher on the rocks, his unique eyes bright with an honest curiosity, and even a bit of excitement. He'd sounded so earnest...she bit her lip, turning his request over and over in her mind until she gave him a small smile.
"Alright. Well, two days ago I...fell from the overlook. The water was so cold I could barely move, and if...that hadn't happened, I'm sure I would've drowned."
Her audience rested his face in his hands, raising an eyebrow. "That?"
"I..."
It was one thing to think it to herself, but quite another to say it out loud. Shirayuki looked down once more, her hands clenching and unclenching around the strap of her bag. The sound of the seawater slapping against the rocks was incredibly loud as the silence stretched.
"Miss?"
"A mermaid tried to save me!"
Again, she'd just blurted it out without any sense of self-restraint. It was mortifying, but there was no taking it back, nor could she save face, so she quickly continued before the stranger could say anything.
"It was dark, I was scared, and I...I did something horrible."
"Something horrible? Like what?"
The herbalist cautiously lifted her gaze to see him still listening with rapt attention, but she swore she saw his lips twitching.
"I...hit them in the...face." She mumbled.
Now his lips were definitely twitching from suppressed laughter.
"In the face? Really?"
She sighed, rubbing at her eyes. She really should've known better that to tell him this, well aware how insane she sounded. But...
"And now you're out here with a mermaid lure. Why is that? To find them again?"
Shirayuki sighed deeply before turning to face him, looking him dead in the eye and no longer caring if he laughed or not.
"Yes. I want to thank them. And to apologize for what I did."
The laughter vanished from his face as he stared at her in a mixture of naked surprise and disbelief. Slowly, he raised his head from off his hands, stretching his neck upwards, as if being closer to her would help him find the truth in her words. She resolutely stared right back into his wide eyes, and found herself holding her breath. His eyes were shimmering, the gold of his iris swirling and shifting, then suddenly filled with an emotion she couldn't name.
"You truly mean that? That was your reason?" His voice was low, with an edge to it that made her feel as if...something between them was being tested. Shirayuki hardly dared to blink as she replied, just as quietly.
"Yes."
And in that moment, his face broke into a wide, sincere smile.
"Then I do believe Miss, that you are the first to do so!"
He leaned back, his expression as bright as the sun, and the change was so sudden, it took Shirayuki a moment respond.
"Er, y-you think so?" She blinked several times, focusing on the man's smiling face.
"Mm, yes. Yes I do! Like I said, not very many people bother with making their own lure for things like this. Ah, how did you know how make that, if I may ask?"
As if his smile were infectious, Shirayuki felt herself grinning. "I found a book that was filled with all sorts of stories and facts about mermaids. It taught be about the lure, and even the right kind of gift to give to one if I wanted to, which I did!"
"Ohhh?" The man stretched out the word as Shirayuki dug around in her bag, pulling the glass orb out from the scarf she'd wrapped it in. Then he gave a low whistle when she held it out, the sunlight catching the glass in a brilliant yellow shine.
"May I?" He asked, holding out a hand. The herbalist passed it over with a nod, smiling at the wonder on the stranger's face as he turned the orb over in his hand.
"The book said that a bauble or orb of the finest craftsmanship was a mermaid's favorite trinket to have, So I found the best one in all the shops. Do you think it would do?"
There was a second of silence, two, five, then without warning, the man burst out laughing.
"OH that it would Miss!" He looked up at her with undisguised glee, flashing her a grin that showed nearly all of his teeth.
His sharp, angular shark teeth.
No...it couldn't be...
He was laughing again, louder this time at the thunderstruck look on Shirayuki's face.
"I knew you were a special human the moment I saw you! True, when I saw the red in the water, I thought you were a bleeding fish at first, despite there being no scent. Instead, I find a human girl fighting for her life, a girl who somehow managed to punch me in the nose."
He lifted a hand to rub at his nose, giving her a look of mock sorrow.
"That exceedingly hurt Miss! You ought to be more careful with those hands of yours!"
His torso stayed suspended above the water, no arms to support him against the rocks. Without his arms obstructing her view, she could plainly see the sculpted muscles of his chest, lean and dripping from errant seawater. A long jagged scar hung below his collarbone, and a dark shape flickered beneath the water where his abdomen met the waves.
Words failed her, the...the merman's words barely registering in her mind.
"Anyway, since you were so sincere and kind, I gratefully accept your gift!" Fluttering his eyelashes, he lifted the glass orb to his face, mushing his cheek against it. His eyes sparked playfully as he began to drift backwards through the foamy water.
"I'd love to stay and chat a little longer, but I need to go."
"Wha?" Shirayuki squeaked.
He gave her another wide, toothy grin and winked.
"Have a good day Miss!"
"Have a...wait, no, WAIT--"
But with barely a splash, the merman disappeared beneath the waves.
The reason why I ship obiyuki is because I am not feeling with Shriayuki and Zen. Zen the second prince but still a prince at most Shriayuki is going to his mistress.
I also ship obiyuki is because I love red black haired pairings. Also, obiyuki has more chemistry and could actually get married life. Also, their interactions are so much sweeter than hers with zen also I want the heroine to end up with someone other than the hero you feel me
Oh girl. I feel you.
I am a sucker for the underdog story. And I agree that they have great chemistry! I could talk at length about this. The Lyrias arc spends so much time developing that relationship that it is hard not to love that easy-going, supportive, and playful relationship.
There is a lot of excellent fic in the Obiyuki tag that develops the relationship. Feel free to PM me for recs or if you want to talk HCs!
Zen and Shirayuki are end game for me but I read, write and breath everything obiyuki because they are always by each-others side and have such a deep trust in each-other. And I find there's a bit of untold story where obi's feelings are whereas Zen and Shirayuki are straightforward with there feelings. Why do you think the pairing is so popular ? :)
Oh my god I could go on about this all day.
For me, I really feel like Obi deserves love, that Obi deserves someone like Shirayuki. He’s a lost boy, possibly from a totally different part of the world. Likely thrown (or forced even) into a desperate situation where he has no choice but to start killing. When he is with Shirayuki he feels like maybe, possibly, he could be more than that. He sees how she has chosen her own path, and he thinks maybe he could choose for himself as well. It’s been a looong time since he’s been able to see himself as anything other than a weapon to be aimed and fired, but she looks at him like a person, like a man. She relies on him for more than just protection, but for strength and companionship.
Also, Shirayuki is no stranger to danger. She grew up in a bar, never knew her parents, harassed and singled out for her appearances. She knows what it’s like to feel lost and afraid I bet. Her and Obi are similar like that. We all know she is a sucker for people who need help. Maybe her fascination with him starts like that. But then she realizes he is a complex individual, one who has suffered yet still rises at dawn with a smile on his face and a joke on his lips.
When I first watched the show, I really liked Zen and Shirayuki together. But thinking forward to their future together, I can’t see a way for everyone to get everything they want in that relationship. I don’t think it would be possible for shirayuki to practice her passion in medicine and be queen/princess. She would have to choose one or the other. If Zen wanted to be with her no matter what and she refused to give up her work, he would have to give up his royal title and I don’t think he would be content with that. Obi would never make her choose I think. He would do anything to make her happy.
