#much to Shirayuki's frustration

[shoujomangathoughts]

Shoujo Thoughts - Snow White with the Red Hair

This is another series that I've heard about for years and finally gave it a chance (watched the anime then immediately went to the manga). It's a series that I find very charming, relaxing and was a nice change of pace for me and my usual tastes.

I remember seeing people warning others how "you shouldn't read the manga" because apparently it gets boring and is overstaying its welcome story-wise. While I don't think everything that has happened so far is entirely necessary, I think this sentiment comes from people wanting the more romance focused parts from the beginning to remain throughout. If you haven't read the manga, Shirayuki gets (and takes) an opportunity to help her studies as an herbalist but this results in two years away from the palace, and therefore Zen. They're still together here and there, but the manga starts leaning in a more slice of life direction and the romance is a bit more subdued. I actually appreciated this and found the individual adventures and growth of Zen and Shirayuki more interesting at times as Zen tries to learn and be a better prince and Shirayuki continues her studies and tries to reach people.

Zen and Shirayuki do have a nice relationship though and I find the romance to be pretty well done. They both have that awkward energy and are trying to navigate their own lives as well as their relationship.

The presentation and world of this series is another captivating point for me. The anime was visually great and I thought the manga's art was really nice too. It has a whimsical style and shows you a lot of small interactions and details. It makes the world feel lived in and allows you to have a clear idea of the cast and their personalities. I specifically really like the visual of Lilias and its snow covered imagery (as well as the wintry outfits).

The main cast is also mostly likeable. The way they interact with each other feels natural and they each have their own charm that adds something unique to the dynamic. Even the part that had people frustrated with Mitsuhide didn't bother me as much because I could understand how that was a very in-character decision for him.

Favorite character : Obi

I do find that Obi is the most charismatic character in the series for me. He's obviously had a difficult life but he also seems so genuinely affected by having found a group of people that he comes to value. Every time he's around he adds something, whether it be a witty remark or demonstrating his ability to be a bodyguard. Yes he loves Shirayuki, but the series doesn't really show that Shirayuki loves him back (basically the series isn't really leaning into the love triangle direction). Though I do appreciate that she has on multiple occasions told him how much she values him because he does do and help her a lot. He also seems to have good chemistry with the rest of the cast (particularly in his interactions with Shirayuki and Zen though I also love his relationship with Ryu).

All in all, I've found this to be a really enjoyable series up to the current chapter (sad to see it's on hiatus, hope the mangaka is doing well). I'm not entirely sure how long it will continue as the scope of the story seems to suggest it still has a while left, but I'll be continuing it whenever it does come back.

It's been a little bit since I posted one of these but as always, thanks for reading!

[spyder-m]

Renruki - "Setting Fire to My Soul"

Summary: While training to perfect Absolute Zero, Rukia's body is wracked by an unbearable cold that she struggles to come down from. She finds reprieve in a familiar, comforting presence.

A03

Rukia collapsed against the futon, breath rising from her lips in chilling wisps. A dull ache blanketed her body, born not only from the spiritual energy she had exerted, but the bitterly cold temperature she was still acclimating to while mastering her Bankai. 

She'd spent decades wielding an ice zanpaktou, even having been in the presence of other, more powerful Shinigami with similar abilities, such as Hitsugaya-taichou. Yet, somehow, nothing could compare to the chill Rukia felt when trying to harness the full power of Sode no Shirayuki. 

Perhaps the most daunting part was knowing how much more work was still needed. How far she still was from reaching Absolute Zero. It was clear that not only would this cold persist, it would only grow more intense. 

The further Rukia progressed with her Bankai training, the seemingly more difficult and frustrating it became. 

At her current level, she could only maintain the technique for so long before the cold became too much to bear.  As much as she tried to endure it; determined not to abandon the progress she'd made; Hyosube-dono would step in, urging her to stop, so as not to harm herself.

Each time, he assured her to be patient and that her mastery would come with time. 

Rukia would relent through gritted, chattering teeth, as she reflected on his words. Time. 

The time they had, unfortunately, was scarce. 

In the midst of a war, Rukia felt pressured to master the technique faster, knowing that she was too weak to stand against the invading Quincy forces. 

In many ways, it was already too late. 

She needed to become stronger. 

For the sake of the Soul Society and her peers, as a Lieutenant of the Thirteen Court Guard and for the safety of her friends and family. Not to mention, the many lives that had already been lost. 

She needed to become stronger, to ensure that no more would have to suffer the same fate. 

The very idea woke with it a chilling image, still etched in the back of her mind. Nii-sama and Renji lying prone, their lifeforce slowly slipping away. 

Still, as frustrating as it was, Rukia understood where Hyosube-dono was coming from. 

She couldn’t afford to be reckless.  

Her Bankai was incredibly powerful, one that, if utilized correctly, could be instrumental in fighting against the Quincy. Yet, if not, it could be as dangerous to her as it was to her opponents. 

If Rukia were to make even the slightest mistake, she could die. 

She had already brushed too closely with death for her liking and knew it wasn't worth the risk to cast her life aside so carelessly. Not when she had been given another chance, where others hadn't been as lucky.  

Still, even now, with her latest training hours behind her, the cold hadn’t dissipated; a numbness seeping into her bones. Bundling herself amongst the sheets, Rukia rubbed her hands vigorously together as she tried helplessly to conjure any semblance of warmth. 

As her body was wracked by shivers, suddenly, without a word, there was a stirring beside her. A presence that, in her quest to thaw herself out, she hadn’t registered. 

Not until she was pulled abruptly against a warm, fleshy cushion, firm arms surrounding her. 

They weren't strangers to holding one another into the late hours, sharing body heat. It had been necessary during their younger years on the streets of Rukongai. Though it had been so long, Rukia still recognised that same urgency and desire to protect in his grasp, even while his consciousness was muddied by sleep.

This time though, it carried a distinct difference. 

Perhaps, most glaringly, was the body surrounding her. Not that of a bony, malnourished child, but a battle-hardened warrior. 

His embrace carried more of an intensity than she could remember, bolstered perhaps by his growing strength, an ever-mounting desire to keep her close after having lived through the void her absence left. There was an entirely new set of urges permeating through his touch. Hands she had once slipped, begrudgingly away from, now dragged her impossibly close, caressing and tattooing patterns against her skin without reticence. 

But, for as much as things had changed over the years, there was an unwavering sense of home in his grasp, his very presence. One that spread vibrantly through her the moment Ichigo had first launched her back into his arms. 

Steadily, with the heat permeating from his skin, Rukia could sense the chill wracking her bones begin to dissipate. It wasn't scalding, but rather a controlled, radiating comfort, a sign that Renji too was forging stronger connections with his Zanpaktou. 

Zabimaru hadn’t been a fire-based weapon. At an earlier point, it was the last thing she would feel comfortable with him wielding, judging by his Kido skill. Yet, he had learned Zabimaru’s true form, and with that knowledge, uncovered new abilities and potential within himself. 

Now, the more Rukia thought about it, the more she realised the element actually suited him. 

Renji had always been hot-blooded and passionate, with sun-scorched skin and hair the colour of an inferno.

While fire was an entity of dangerous, destructive power, when utilised with proper control it could also bring about light and comfort. 

These were aspects of Renji that Rukia had come to intimately know. The force of his strength pulsating through her arms as their Zanpaktou had clashed. The calming heat of his body permeating through her as the last residual effects of Absolute Zero passed. 

It was symbiotic, as she gave just as much comfort to him in return. Rukia could sense it in how he reached out for her, needing the reassurance of her presence. In how tightly he had taken hold of her, the way that contact lulled his breathing to a steady, calming pattern. 

As much as their battles had helped to push one another beyond their physical and mental limits, they aided in each other’s recovery.

Much like when faced with the uncertainty of their youth, they now faced the world together, the threat of war now loomed ominously over them. Yet, Renji’s grasp held confidence in a better life ahead for them, beyond the fighting. The one they had always sought. 

Though, the idea didn't seem so uncertain to Rukia, as she nestled deeper into Renji’s embrace. 

If anything, as far as she could tell, they had already found it. 

[x-authorship-x]

Hi Torship 💛 you have ficd for Tokoyami (mha) and Shisui, assuming they're your series favs... What other favs do you have? I don't know if you love any character like you love shisui tho? ;D hard to imagine

Have a good day/night!

Hey, Anon!

I have a lot of series that I like, fandoms that I browse over like popping your head in a gallery to admire the view and not read the labels, but only a few characters I am pretty hardcore for...!

Shisui

We been knew. I don't really know how I found myself quietly determined to dominate his character tag but life works in mysterious ways. He was a possible love interest for my SIOC back in the day and then... We spiralled, massively. I liked his character so much that I turned to my Beta one day and said 'why isn't there a Shisui time travel fic, one thats simple but impactful?' and she shrugged and told me why I didn't try my hand at it myself, and that's how In The Eye of the Beholder started. The first of...many. I think we're at around 20 Shisui-centric fics posted? And endless ideas 🤡 The OG blorbo

Obi (Akagami no Shirayuki/AnS)

Oh my god Obi. You guys don't realise everything I have bottled up inside of me, but Obi gets me almost at the same level as Shisui, I just never posted much. The AnS fandom is smaller and idk in a weird way I'd feel more out of place there because, with Naruto fics, you're kinda sheltered by the crowd? We all deal with self consciousness, I guess. Obi unlocks something in me. Like with Shisui, I can ship him with almost anyone because I'm ace and romance is nice to read but not the end of the world, you know? It's always going to be a platonic relationship that rules my fics, I can't help it. But Obi? His love for Shirayuki just turns me into this puddle of emotionally complicated goo 😵

For Bnha....

You're not wrong that there's a reason that Tokoyami ended up as my first character-centric foray into this fandom, but it's not at all the same as the previous two. I have a lot of loves in BnHa. Ochako, Momo, Kirishima, Todoroki, Dabi, Hawks, Mirko, Best Jeanist, Ingenium (Tensei), and I have a protective streak a mile wide for Tamaki (I have a lot of thoughts, on...all of it tbh) but I'm very happy to rotate across basically the whole cast from BnHA because a good fic is a damn good fic! And the artists are also extremely talented~

Narutoverse

I want to swing by Narutoverse again, just to reiterate that I may be welded to Shisui but I do love a massive number of characters, mainly the idea/potential of them than canon reality (as in most cases, I'm not a "love letter to canon" author) but it's a love all the same. Tobirama, Gai, Lee, Tsunade, Kakashi (squad 2 tbh, i picked my favs for that group), and I've grown so much fonder of other characters that I never paid much mind to (mainly Uchiha or Akatsuki etc) as just a reader!

Other fandoms

I'm... I'm a binge reader without much in the way of pickiness for a lot of fandoms. Les Mis, MCU, HP, LotR/Hobbit (I'm not even loyal to Aragorn/Arwen, this is how flexible I am in the face of good fandom content).

I have a huge preference for BAMF Din, I had to stop watching season three of the mandalorian because it was frustrating me so much lol

My favorite PJO character by a long long shot is Percy

I get annoyed when I remember that they didn't make the RDJ Sherlock Holmes movies a polytriad

I'm Merlin trash in the year 2023

I'm too scared to start One Piece 🥴

If I had the time, memory space, and energy to swallow Star Wars lore, I would write a huge fic where Finn is the protagonist. No hate to any character but I want what I want

I think I'm running out of fandoms and, therefore, character fixations 😂 you're right tho, Anon, that I don't exactly have a designated 'Shisui' level of love in each fandom!

Thank you! Have a good day/night too✨

[dedahblog]

I know that the ichiiruki fandom likes to ship Ichigo and Rukia's zanpakto together but honestly I don't think Zangetsu and Sode no Shirayuki can get along.

As far as the anime portrayal is concerned, Sode no Shirayuki is basically a tsundere and who's between Ichigo and Zangestu is the tsundere ?

I think you get where I'm going. Silly drabble under the cut about Ichigo x Sode no Shirayuki brotp potentials

Ichigo : ...

Sode no Shirayuki : ...

Ichigo : Nice weather, right?

S n S : ...

Ichigo: So ! Chappy told me you're the only all white zanpaktou.

S n S : ...

Ichigo : and the most beautiful one ever created

S n S : You lowly human, are you trying to court me ?

Ichigo : We've been silently staring at each other for 2 hours waiting for Zangetsu and Rukia to come back. I'm just trying to make small talks and what was that gross thing you just said right now ?! Don't even joke about it, idiot.

S n S : All that talk about being the most beautiful zanpakto is meaningless. What does a sword get from being beautiful ? If anything the beauty of the zanpakto is the reflection of the soul of its weilder.

Ichigo (scratching the back of his neck slightly smiling) Ha... Rukia admires you a lot. I'm happy you feel the same.

S n S : W-what are you talking about ? Who feels the sa- I'm just stating facts ! It's not like I'm writing poems about Rukia sama in my spare time or anything !

Ichigo : Hey ! Hey ! What's wrong with writing po- I-I mean who cares about that ! It's not like Rukia is that pretty pretty pretty

S n S : How dare you badmouth Rukia sama you lowly-

Ichigo : I never said Rukia isn't pretty pretty ! I'm saying she's just pretty pretty pretty. See ! You're the one denying your feelings for her !

S n S : Well, I never said she's pretty pretty. I'm just saying if you want to call her pretty pretty pretty you should at least call her pr-

That's when, Rukia and Zangetsu came back from the bunny theme festival.

...

Three days ago, Ichigo was willing to go with Rukia and was actually excited despite his "Hmm, I guess I have no other choice."

It was until he saw the tv ad, that he swore he would never go to "this childish festival" "Like who do you think I am ?? I have a reputation ! Your creepy rabbit obse- aarg" **Rukia's violence on Ichigo**

Of course, this was only an excuse.

The real reason was that he saw someone dressed as a bunny in the tv ad with a similar outfit to the one from a horror manga he watched when he was 6.

A movie that traumatized him ever since.

He didn't even have to ask Zangetsu to go instead of him because the latter was already aware of Ichigo's trauma.

As a part of his soul, he also watched that movie simultaneously and was also freaked out when he saw that tv ad.

However, he thought that if he let Ichigo go to that festival, all his inner world would filled with creepy serial killer bunny and Zangestu wouldn't be able to rest even one eyelid.

That's why he went.

Aside from the fact Rukia insisted on having a photo with that bunny in particular, the festival wasn't that disastrous experience. Althought the cheesy cuteness of the chappy dance was too much for him to handle, Rukia's company made it worth it

To sum up, Zangetsu was glad it was over until he saw Ichigo and Sode no Shirayuki yelling at each other.

Rukia,on the other hand, was deeply concerned. She had never seen the calm and collected Sode no Shirayuki so heated up. But seeing her indulging Ichigo's idiocies warmed her heart "She's an idiot after all. I'm glad they get along, right Zangetsu ? "

However, Zangetsu wasn't impressed at all. He said to himself "King has found someone who's going to fuel his tsundere behavior even more". Him being the first victim of Ichigo's emotional constipation and inner frustrations, he braces himself for the dark future awaiting for him.

Zangestu : Let's go back do that tummy bunny dance challenge.

Rukia : I thought you said on the name of murder and blood lust, you would never do it

Zangetsu : Well, I need something to stop reminding me of some dark upcoming events and this dumb challenge is the only thing that can help me right now.

Rukia : (too concerned to notice he insulted chappy) ... do you need to talk about it ?

Zangetsu: I wish I could tell you.

[realtacuardach]

Anger and Release

Here's my entry for Match 2 of Obiyuki Madness 2021 @snowwhite-andtheknight : Roaring Rampage of Rescue. Many thanks to @jhalya for her beta reading. I hope y'all enjoy!

...

Steam curled out from Shirayuki's mouth as she peered through the frigid dimness of the morning towards the fortress. In her current frame of mind, she could almost imagine that the steam was actually smoke pouring from the maw of an enraged dragon who had had treasure stolen from her.

She didn't like being angry. Anger clouded the mind, affected the senses, and she liked to be in control and sensible at all times, especially in times where a cool head was needed.

On the other hand, though, the anger that was not at all going away was fuelling the adrenaline coursing through her blood, and she would need that adrenaline for what she was about to do. 

So, she let herself be angry.

Angry at the renegade soldiers for capturing her and Obi in the middle of the night without provocation. Angry at how they savagely beat Obi after they'd already mobbed him and restrained him when he tried to rescue her. Angry at how they had been thrown into the back of the wagon like sacks of potatoes, the pain of his fresh, brutal wounds showing through his bruised eyes and stabbing her in the heart. Angry at how he managed to undo only his hands before removing her bonds instead of untying himself totally. Angry that, instead of saving himself, he'd given her an apologetic look before pushing her out of the cart and then collapsing himself. 

The apology frustrated her almost more than anything else, because she was certain he was not apologetic for the right reasons. 

"When we get back," she muttered to herself in the lessening gloom, "we're going to have a long talk about not sacrificing yourself for me. Again."

Truthfully, she didn't have much faith that this talk would stick any better than any of their previous similar ones, but that wouldn't prevent her from trying. 

You idiot, she choked back a sob, don't you know how much it hurts when you do this?

She forced the tears away. There would be time for tears later, when he was home and safe and so bound up by her healing that he would have to stop and listen to her.

And he'll smile up at me and shrug and say he couldn't make any promises...

She shook her head. Focus.

Squinting, Shirayuki looked around the fortress and saw only one sentinel standing guard at the entrance. That seemed a little lackluster as far as security went, but she wasn't complaining. 

A murmur like Obi's echoed through her brain. Miss, you can never be too careful. The ground's not the only place the enemy can be.

As though on cue, she heard a slight crackling of tinder above her as though a squirrel was making its way through the limbs. She craned her head upwards to see a man in the tree besides the one where she was hiding, well camouflaged against the gnarled bark.

That wouldn't do.

Looking around surreptitiously, Shirayuki saw a jagged stone on the ground. She reached out and took it, its roughness grounding her and steeling her resolve. After a quick glance towards the sentinel at the door, Shirayuki crept a few trees away from her hiding place and looked up towards her target.

Practice with both Kiki and Obi had served her well; the rock slammed into the back of the tree dwelling soldier's knee as she'd planned, forcing his knee to bend and for him to lose his balance. He fell to the ground with a heavy thud amidst all the dead leaves.

Even in her haze of adrenaline, she could see his chest rise and fall, and felt a traitorous sense of relief.

The sentinel ran over to check his fallen comrade, his face showing first alarm, then irritation. He nudged the fallen man none too gently in the ribs and cursed. Shirayuki reached into her satchel, the glass jar solid in her hand.

"Fool," the guard grumbled, "falling asleep in a -"

The glass jar cracked across the back of his head, the potent herbs smearing across his skin and hair ensuring that the blow would knock him out. There were a few beads of blood where the glass scratched him, but she recognized him as one of Obi's attackers and couldn't bring herself to care much. 

She stalked across the grass quietly and quickly, her ears attuned for any small sound, but heard and saw no one as she made her way to the door. Despite herself, her hand trembled a moment as she grabbed the door handle but she swallowed it down. She couldn't hesitate.

Obi needed her.

…

Years of having to deaden old soldier's wounds and to temporarily incapacitate stubborn, hardy patients who would not listen to her and stay in bed were serving her well. It meant that she knew just the right herbs to use, even if she had to grab them on the fly from the surrounding forest and unattended cupboards. It also meant she knew just where to dig and press her fingers to weaken muscles and render others unconscious. 

She moved through the halls with almost clinical efficiency. Guard in west wing, herbs. Guard in east wing, pinch at the neck. Guard on the staircase, jar of herbs to the back of the head. 

For once, she was grateful for her small size, it allowed her to creep and duck around the shadows. Because she had to take everyone out on the way to Obi, otherwise she knew their chances of escape were slim. 

Especially with Obi as injured as he is. 

Shirayuki gritted her teeth, forcing her feelings to fuel her rage. This was not the time to falter.

It was best to be quiet, the element of surprise was key. But she noted with alarm that her attacks were getting more reckless the deeper she went into the fortress, whether that was due to her desperation and anger, she didn't know.

She didn't care.

As she crept past the guard who had been watching the dungeon door, she heard voices and scowled. 

A dull slap of something against flesh. "Where is the girl?"

A hollow chuckle. "What girl?"

Wind whistled as something was swung through the air, ending with a muffled thud and a deep groan. "You know what girl we're talking about!"

"Can't say I do," Obi groaned in response.

There was a sound that sounded sickeningly like a blade being drawn from a scabbard. "I won't ask again."

"Good, because I won't answer again." Obi clicked his tongue, the sound strangely garbled. "Not good at taking no for an answer, no wonder you can't get a girl-"

Don't provoke them, Obi!

Usually, if Obi was still being snarky and insolent, things were okay; it was only when he reverted to death glares that things were serious. However, that was when others, especially Shirayuku and Ryuu, were at stake. He was annoyingly flippant when it came to his well-being, so Shirayuki had no way of telling how bad it was without seeing him. She pushed up on her toes and stared through the bars.

Her blood ran cold, then hot, then boiling.

Her knight was shackled to the wall, looking even more bruised and battered then she had seen him before. Blood ran in a stream from the corner of his mouth, his limbs were contorted where they were shackled with blood plastering the material to his skin, and his glare was lessening to a slit of golden, blood-shot eyes as his face swelled from all the bruising. 

And there was a blade held to his neck.

Rage filled Shirayuki like a beaker overflowing with viscous, corrosive liquid and she felt herself grabbing a rusty bar that had fallen in days past from the door. There were two people with him, the element of surprise would be almost useless here.

And it was overrated anyway.

She only made one sound before she dropped her cover entirely, just enough to surprise the brute holding the blade to Obi's neck and have him facing her.

With that, she cast aside all secrecy, let out an unholy shriek that she hadn't known herself capable of, and pounced. 

…

"That," Obi huffed besides her as they struggled into the clearing, him leaning heavily on her shoulder, "was something, Miss."

Shirayuki gave something like a nod in response, but kept going. Her adrenaline was just about running out, and she could feel all the aches in her body starting to emerge. Just a little further. 

"Miss?"

Along with the aches, the reality of what she had just done was beginning to sink into her thoughts as well. All those guards slumped unconscious, their wheezing both reassuring and terrifying. The bruises and scabs forming on the backs of heads and necks. The pained groans of Obi's tormentors as they faded into delirium, clutching most likely broken legs or arms. It looked terrible and daunting in her mind. 

And she couldn't really bring herself to regret it. 

"Miss, are you okay?"

It wasn't until she felt his fingers brush the dampness of her cheek that she realized she'd been crying. "I'll be fine."

"Miss."

He had no right to sound admonishing right now. None at all.

"Miss." He sounded gentler, although the admonishing tone still lingered in the back of his voice. "You're bleeding."

"Sure it's mine and not yours?" She shot back, and immediately regretted it at his wince. 

"Miss, we're far enough. You need to rest a minute."

Acquiescing, Shirayuki maneuvered them to a small cave. She lay him down and sat beside him, hugging her knees to her chest, the fear and fatigue and anger and anxiety all curdling at once in her gut. She was doing a poor job of hiding it, given that Obi reached up to brush his fingers against her face again. "Miss, please…"

Something about the touch and tone undid her, and she began weeping. "Don't," she choked, "don't ever do that again."

Obi frowned. "You know I can't promise that."

"Why?" She demanded, "Why can't you? Don't you realize how much you matter? Don't you realize how much it would kill me if something happened to you?"

He swallowed hard. "Not as much as you-"

Shirayuki glared down at him. "Don't. Just, don't."

Obi sighed and forced himself into a seated position. With a slight noise of distaste at his bloodied clothes, he wrapped his arms around her and held her close. She hugged him back fiercely and cried into his shoulder. He rubbed her back soothingly. "Thank you, Miss. I'm so sorry."

"Not as half as you'll be if you scare me like that again," she sniffled.

"Yes, Miss," she could feel his smile in the breath against her neck, warm and close and reassuringly alive. 

She would need to talk with him more about this later, they were both well aware. But for now, they were both alive and safe.

And for now, that would have to be enough.

[onedivinemisfit]

Obiyuki lap sleepies lineart~

Inspired by the fic An Economy of Suffering, which at the time prompted me to doodle a couple of Obi comfort sketches. And as I await the Madness Semi Finals, I figured I’d spend time cleaning this one up.

I had a lot of fun imagining Obi’s bedroom in Lilias (since this clearly isn’t the palace’s west wing lolol) and just, this guy has so few items I had to be inventive with the little clutter I could add, like his necklaces, his knighthood diploma, a random succulent etc. And an art easter egg, if you can find it >:3

AnS (c) Akizuki Sorata

Art: Me

Free transparent png below

[yumi-cha]

I screamed in this chapter. Sorata really knows how to get her Fandom excited.

Me the entire chapter:

First order of things. My girl need some rest. Exhibit A:

Not me dying the first 3 minutes I run

Zen the entire time with his conv with Makiri: Explain yourself

Zen: You gave Ryuu that command from Wistal Castle, right? Did you get another one?

Makiri: … I may have.

STOP BEING SO SHADDY JUST ANSWER THE QUESTION.

Zen being frustrated cause Izana is behind everything which means he won't know anything until end lol.

Izana putting the bombs and leaving the aids to handle the aftermath of zen's rage. It hilarious.

And Obi's face screaming get me out of here.

Ladies and gentlemen I present to you the biggest reveal.....

ZEN HAS AN UNCLE. The job listing was done at HIS REQUEST! Zen and Shirayuki will both be meeting him.

The interesting part is that he goes by the name Shinsu Jiran(シンス·ジラン). WHY DOESN'T HE TAKE THE WISTALIA LAST NAME?! Perhaps Zenyuki isn't the only case where noble married a commoner?! Anyway, so much speculation there. He is more likely an uncle from KAIN SIDE (aka. Zen's father) but were not 100% sure.

What if...

Izana's whole speech about you can't have what your heart desires (Ch 10), was foreshowing this whole time to Kain's backstory. A noble/commoner marriage that happened in past and Izana trying to prevent the stigma from reoccurring (I may be overthinking and getting ahead of myself)

I AM READY FOR THE FAMILY TEA 🍵 (aka. The drama and angst) and the possible reveal of YOUNG KAIN.

And finally Zenyuki....

Both of them went silent, getting their thoughts in order. Then, they started speaking AT THE SAME TIME. Tjeir Couple telepathy is just 🤩🤩 🔥

Yes, I made a collage. I AM NOT OKAY.

When Shirayuki asks what type of person zen's uncle is, he says you will find out when you meet him.

This is really giving me vibes of daughter-in-law and father-in-law meeting before marriage. HELP.

Shirayuki: I wonder if I am leaving tommorow

Zen: Yeah. Let's do that

Shirayuki: Shall we?..

Zen: I coming too.

Shirayuki internally:

We can't forget the HAND TOCUH CHEEK. Initiated by SHIRAYUKI HERSELF

Hand touch I wonder where we seen that before....OH WAIT...

Flashback to Ch 25

Akhilian said it on ANS discord and I jUST HAD TO SHARE IT.

The potential of seeing another Zenyuki AND a backstory for KAIN (which by the way so many speculations on it that I thought will NEVER BE ADDRESSED). Bless you, Sorata.

Next chapter will be released on Oct. 24th

I am going to have fun typesetting this one.

[kirayaykimura]

In Every Lifetime

Things usually got hazy between life and death. One minute she was dying, the next Shirayuki was three years old and finally able to form permanent memories. Everything in between was a wash. 

It was also around three years old that she remembered her past lives, which made her a really weird kid to be around. 

Right now, though, she wasn’t three. She was still eighty-five, and felt like she’d just passed away in her bed in this lifetime’s home minutes ago. 

“You did.��� 

She sat up with a small, startled intake of breath and spun to face the man who’d just spoken to her. He stood a few feet away, his stare as cold and clinical as the impossibly white room they were currently in. 

Shirayuki had a million questions, but the most pressing one to her was, “Did you just read my mind?” 

The man waved a dismissive hand. “There are no secrets in heaven.” 

Heaven? She felt her eyes go wide. That couldn’t be right. She hadn’t-

“Exactly,” he said. “You haven’t. Despite how many chances?” 

Fourteen. This last had been her worst failure yet. Zen had barely just begun to agree to be her friend when he’d died in a car accident. They’d been nineteen. She’d had to live sixty-six years without him. At least she’d had Obi by her side for most of those, her constant companion no matter how unpredictable Zen’s presence in her life was. 

“You have been favored by the gods,” the man said. “But even they have limits, and you are testing theirs.” 

“How?” Shirayuki asked, confused and vaguely frustrated. It wasn’t her fault Zen kept dying. If anything, that was on the god who were patting themselves on the back for giving her the opportunities to be with him. 

A corner of the man’s lips quirked up, a show of humor there and gone so quickly she couldn’t even be sure she’d seen it in the first place. 

“Is it wise to place blame on gods in their own kingdom?” he asked mildly. 

“I don’t care about kings or gods,” Shirayuki said. “I care about Zen.” 

This time, he didn’t try to hide his amusement. One corner of his lips tilted upwards as he said, “We are not meant to interfere with human lives, you know.” 

“Why did you, then? With mine?” 

“Eternity is long.” 

“So you’re bored.”

His lip curled a little higher. 

“We are not meant to interfere with human lives,” the man said, “and we are especially not meant to guide them after they’ve failed to listen to what we have been telling them for, what was it, sixteen times now?” 

“Fourteen.” 

“The gods are getting restless. You have taken our gift, but are refusing to use it properly.” 

She frowned, uncomprehending. 

“Think of-” 

Shirayuki was a toddler. She was a toddler for the fifteenth time. And the last thing she remembered from her past life was a baffling conversation with a god. 

Chubby, clumsy hands reached for oversized building blocks. What were gods to a three-year-old anyway? She could sort that conversation out after her brain had developed past addition and proper sentence structure. Right now, she had a castle to build. 

Her brain was on Calculus and essays by the time she met Obi again. 

The campus coffee shop was absolutely packed after her first class of the day, but she was fine with a line so long as she got something large, iced, and caffeinated. It was already pushing 90 degrees and the air conditioning in Blake Hall was on the fritz; she was definitely going to need something to get her through her next two classes. 

She was debating trying something new or going for classic iced coffee when she felt eyes on her. She skimmed past the man with an arm draped casually over the open chair next to him, slouched low in his own seat. Her attention snapped back to him when she registered the fact that she knew those warm eyes that were almost always sharper than his lazy, relaxed body language. Her stomach flipped over in excitement and surprise. She’d always met Zen before she ran into Obi. She hadn’t realized how much she’d come to expect the routine of Zen-before-Obi until Obi had changed the game. It was a specialty of his, really. For all that he was a steady, dependable presence in her life, he made sure to change things up every once in a while. It kept life fun, and she always missed his unique brand of zest until he showed up and distracted her from the more mundane parts of her days with his casual chaos. 

She gave up her spot in line to make her way through the throng of loitering students over to his table, slid into the chair next to him - her only choice, really, since the other two chairs were occupied by apparent strangers who didn’t so much as glance up from their laptops when she sat down - and said, “Hi. I know you don’t know me right now, but we’re going to be very good friends.” 

He raised a skeptical eyebrow, the corners of his lips twitching in suppressed amusement, and said, “That has never worked, you know.” 

Shirayuki blinked. 

“What?” she asked after a moment of attempting to parse his words. 

Too casual to be anything but an act, he said, “You always promise we’re going to be friends, and you’re right, but you gotta boil the frog a little first. Buy a girl dinner. You can’t just come in hot like that.”

What? It sounded like- like he remembered. But that wasn’t possible. He never remembered. Neither did Zen, nor any of the others. She was the only keeper of their past. 

His smile grew as she worked out what he was telling her, full of amusement and fondness, eyes sparkling as he watched her unravel his secret in real time. It was the kind of expression built on shared history. 

“You,” she said, trying and failing not to hope, “remember me?” 

“Remember you, Miss?” he asked with feigned surprise, even as his oldest nickname for her gave the game away. Then, softer, he said, “I don’t know how I was ever able to forget.”

He was hers again. Immediately. She didn’t have to spend months - years - regaining his trust this time. The sheer relief that washed over her was almost overwhelming in its intensity. Without conscious thought, she threw her arms around his neck and hugged him as tightly as she could with their knees awkwardly in the way. 

“I’m so happy to see you,” she said into his collarbone. “I’ve missed you.” 

After a brief pause, she felt his arms wind around her back. Almost too soft to be heard over the din of the coffee shop, he said, “I’ll always come back to you.” 

[batgirlsay]

Sounds of Our Love

A Playlist for Zenyuki Week 2022 by @zenyuki-festival-2021

Only had a few Zen songs saved up from my last set of playlists, so I accidentally ended up with another Eisley and Copeland playlist… but I am glad I was able to use another perfect Copeland B-side with a grey/red color reference!

The playlist title comes from Wonder English, from my original Shirayuki playlist!

Wonder English- Eisley  Don’t Slow Down- Copeland You Belong Here- Anberlin  You Love To Sing (Slow Version)- Copeland  When You’re Smiling My Way- GLASWING (Aaron Marsh of Copeland) What Cannot Be Found- Copeland  Be Still My Heart- The Postal Service 

Songs are in order of the prompts for the week and summary lyrics are cited after the cut:

Wonder English- Eisley (Day 1: Communication)

If I might be as so bold to say, you saved my life I'm wondering, wonder English, oh I've found Has no words to correctly describe The way love sounds

Don’t Slow Down- Copeland (Day 2: Independence/Individuality)

With a heart so pure You could fall so quickly But don't you dare slow down for me

You could take everything I have Just don't leave my side now, don't leave my side

They say I don't know how to love the right way But you make me feel, you make me feel like I do

You Belong Here- Anberlin (Day 3: Appreciation)

You belong here You were meant to be with me

You've got the better part of me Always have and always will

You've got the better part of me And you know that I'm right

A heart that's not worth breaking, Isn't worth much, not at all

You'll be the better part of me, for the rest of my life

You Love To Sing (Slow Version)- Copeland (Day 4: Respect)

I've never any time to play It always seems to slip away But it never really goes by While I wait here with my level head For our only try

Sing with your head up With your eyes closed Not because you love the song Because you love to sing

You saw frustration on my brow You noticed I'm distracted now I'm thinking only of my bill fold And how I want to face you With diamonds and gold in my head

When You’re Smiling My Way- GLASWING (Aaron Marsh of Copeland) (Day 5: Admiration)

Across a bright sky to another lifetime I saw your face I whispered your name I watched you watching me

You're lovely when you're looking back at me You're lovely when you're smiling my way

In a moment I realized you're mine Takes some getting used to, to know we'll be alright

What Cannot Be Found- Copeland (Day 6: Inspiration)

Though every eye is wide, there's still not one to find it It vanishes like wine with nothing left behind it I found your life in grey and white and never thought I'd color it

And love put up an awful fight You never made your peace with it

So stay where you are, and hold what you love, and feel what you want And know all the while, don't hurt 'til it's done

Be Still My Heart- The Postal Service (Day 7: Spontaneity) 

And on the bus I could have sworn, It was all a dream, and it didn't happen to me

And then I felt the scrapes From the slippery subway grate Oh, how you laughed at my complete lack of grace

But I could not recall A more perfect fall Cause when I looked up into your eyes It didn't hurt at all

And I thought, be still my heart This could be a brand new start with you

[aca-4]

I know Halloween is still a week away, shh

This entire thing was really just an excuse to find costumes I think the group would wear and draw them. Plus a little comic for fun. Additional explanations below:

Mettaton: Vampire

‘Cause they tend to be interpreted looking very stylishly and it’s not the first time he’s out for human blood XD

Undyne and Alphys: Shirayuki and Zen from Snow White with the Red Hair

Obviously a couple cosplay for our anime fans. Wasn’t sure wich couple at first, but then I remembered this show, how the protagonist has red hair and thought it was a perfect fit. Think that was also one of the very first (if not the first) animes I’ve ever watched, so that’s nice.

Papyrus: Royal Guardsman

Updated his costume we already see him wear. He looks just like a royal guard now! And I was only getting slightly frustrated with how the hell I should draw his helmet!

Sans: Skeleton

An obvious and simple choice as he explains himself. Turns out ribcages are hard to draw, though; even with reference pics. Which you don’t even see much of in the end result because of his jacket...

Frisk: Conveniently Shaped Lamp

Joining Sans in humor. Also something simpler and kinda last minute as they were the one working very hard on Flowey’s costume! Speaking of...

Flowey: The evil plant from Little Shop of Horrors

Pretty self-explanatory. Just don’t feed him!

Toriel: Angel

Figured she’d go with something harmless and keep it simple. She doesn’t want to scare kids away, after all!

Asgore: Santa Claus??

I know what you’re thinking and I admit this was more intended as a joke. I probably should have given him something classic like a zombie or a mummy costume, but I just thought it would be hilarious if he got his human holidays mixed up or forgot to buy a new costume. I really gotta work on how I draw him, though. Sorry, goat dad :(

----

UNDERTALE and its characters belong to Toby Fox

[another-miracle]

Nobody actually told Obi what exactly happened to make Shirayuki leave Tanbarun (now on AO3)

Leave it to Sarah to know the exact “right to the good part” scenario I needed to scratch my writing itch. This one’s for you @claudeng80 :) Set before Eisetsu arc when Shirayuki, Obi and Ryuu are still travelling on the road together.

Dinner starts off as a simple affair. Miss cooks up half the dishes while Obi settles the other half in the in-built kitchen of a decidedly-not-small room they’ve found themselves in (wonders what accommodation one affords with all that sweet Wisteria cash; they are delegates after all). A trade-off that they’d agreed on so that they could cook and have dinner in the same space they would reside for the night - instead of going down to the common area. Ryuu sets the table as best he can.

Eventually, they settle down to eat. The conversation steers towards Miss’ early days in the pharmacy - Ryuu still a boy who hid under tables, a fact present-Ryuu did not appreciate being brought up - and Miss still desperately trying to find her footing in a foreign land. It’s new to Obi, to hear of their endeavours before his arrival to Clarines, and he finds himself enjoying the journey down memory lane. That is, until Miss drops a wayward comment that catches the both of them off guard.

So casual, she says, “It’s so funny. And to think I’d almost had to live my life as Raj’s concubine.”

Ryuu freezes and his eyes dart over to Obi. Similarly, Obi’s glass has paused over his lips. It feels like the air in the room has been abruptly sucked out. The word ‘concubine’ rings in his ears as Miss continues to laugh between bites.

“What do you mean concubine?” Obi asks carefully. He’d thought she’d been invited to the palace to be a princess, or perhaps a lady-in-waiting. To be seen, not...

“Oh yes,” Miss shares, something almost fond lining her lips. “Raj and Sakaki-san had pretty wild ideas back then. Sent me poisoned apples and everything.”

“Miss-what?”

Shirayuki looks up, only now noticing Obi’s tone. Next to him, Ryuu lowers his utensils down and places them on either side of his plate. Obi immediately fixates on Miss’ form. His eyes dart down to her arms, searching for any scars, mind desperately rifling through memories of when they first met, whether she had been constantly wearing long sleeves. She’d worn leggings all this while hasn’t she? Obi resists the urge to bend down to look under the table.

“Oh,” Miss starts again, startling Obi’s gaze back to hers. “Oh! He didn’t get to me- I mean, he did. It’s a funny story actually- Zen ended up being the one eating said apple and getting poisoned. I’d only followed to get the antidote, but thankfully-” she glances at Ryuu, “Zen has had quite a resistance against most poisons, and he was fine.”

The sentence is met with tense silence. Ryuu seems to be staring at his plate as if the peas could conjure up a response. A part of Obi wants to shake the boy and tell him not to worry, to crack a joke to diffuse the air. The other part is blinded by red hot anger. The urge to retrieve his knives and march right up to Tanbarun to commit regicide thrums wildly in his temples.

Friend of the Crown? What on earth was Master thinking - working with someone like that. What on earth was he thinking? He’d spent every afternoon for a month, watching, not knowing, as the two - kidnapper and concubine-to-be - traipsed through the gardens of Tanbarun castle, sat next to each other for hours in the libraries. He’d carried the man on his fucking shoulders.

A touch to his hands and his eyes fly open. Miss’s hand is placed on his, on both of their hands. A small smile plays at her lips. Obi turns to Ryuu. The boy looks frustrated enough to cry.

Miss gives a small laugh. “Hey, it’s over alright? I didn’t bring it up to see you guys upset. It was just in passing. And look, we’re all here now. Royal delegates, serving the Wisteria Crown for the greater good of her people!”

Miss glances up at him, then flicks her gaze at Ryuu. Obi suddenly remembers how distraught Ryuu was when they returned to Clarines after their visit to Tanbarun, having only received news that Miss had been kidnapped. He also remembers the fear in his eyes when both he and Shirayuki succumbed to the then-Lyrias disease.

Obi sighs.

His hand reaches out to ruffle Ryuu’s hair. “Yeah,” Obi says, “Miss wouldn’t let something like that get her down. She’s strong, isn’t she, Little Ryuu?”

Ryuu stares up at him, unshed tears, his gaze darting between the both of them. Obi gives him his best reassuring smile; he knows Miss does too, even if he doesn’t look at her.

The boy sniffs. “Yeah- she is. Yeah.”

--------

Later when the plates are cleared and Ryuu has fallen asleep, exhausted from the additional emotional tirade he had earlier, Obi finds Miss by the window. She sits with her feet propped on the sill, arms wrapped around her knees, gaze focused on the distant horizon. The moon is out, deciding to grace Miss in all the splendour and glow her countenance deserves. If Miss thinks he looks good by the firelight, then it should be of no consequence for him to say-

“You look good in the moonlight, Miss,” Obi tells her, holding out a cup of tea and sitting down by her. Miss accepts the drink with a smile before looking out again. She is quiet - more so than usual. Obi sips his tea and waits.

She thumbs at the rim of the cup, looks down, then up at him. With a sheepish smile, she says, “I wonder if that’s something I might have heard from...men...if…”

She trails off, bringing the cup to her lips, the picture of grace and relief. Obi, on the other hand, is struck frozen for the second time this evening. That’s not what he meant. That’s not what he meant.

“Miss-”

“I know, I’m sorry,” Miss rushes out. “That wasn’t fair- it’s just- it’s my fault, I’d brought it up. I don’t mean to say that you’re like any of them- I don’t-”

Miss breathes, a shaky exhale. Obi watches as she struggles with something bigger than her, bigger than the both of them. It’s something more immense than even the distance between two countries, if he’s honest. His heart pulls toward her; the burden she has been carrying for almost two years - the shame, the fear - feelings he has no way of possibly understanding in this lifetime. He aches to reach out for her, but he’s not sure- in that moment, he rehashes every single touch between the two of them. Belatedly, he also finally understands why she’d run when Master kissed her.

“It’s alright,” he murmurs, an assurance that falls flat in the space between them. Miss hums in response, forcing out a smile at him in apology. And- Obi doesn’t want that. How many smiles has she hidden behind? Sweet words that fall from her lips - not just to him, but to the very people who’d wanted to kidnap her, to turn her into an object of possession, to reduce her brilliant mind and her wonderful soul and the endlessly faith-bearing light in her eyes into a mere ornament to be gawked at, prodded until nothing is left. What has he been doing? What have they all been doing?

Obi places his mug down on the table before sidling up to the sill, back to the scenery, hands clasped in front of him. He notices Miss is looking at him curiously. Obi sets his gaze on the ceiling, tracing the cracks in the concrete. He doesn’t do this- doesn’t offer more than platitudes to soothe, doesn’t give others more than he should, more than he can spare another human being. But- he thinks of the broken smile on Miss’ face-

“I’d almost lost my life once,” Obi tells the ceiling. “Thought myself hot shit and went around accepting jobs that were clearly beyond my pay grade. Risked my life because I’d thought it a resource to be utilized when needed - as long as it puts bread on the table, money in my pocket.”

Obi turns down and gives Miss a wan smile. “And it’s funny, because that was me when I met you. You, with all your incredible courage, this red-haired girl who’d walked forward in face of an arrow shot at her. Who’d saved an entire colony in face of a disease no one knew. Who’d jumped off a tower. Who’d walked straight back into the place she’d been running from, head held high, into the den of the very person who’d deigned her an object.

Miss flinches at this. And Obi aches.

“And-” Obi pauses. Breathes. “So much of me just wants to ride down the South back to Tanbarun, go up to Raj’s door and wrangle his neck - him and Sakaki both. But beyond that, Miss-”

Obi stares at her, willing the words, “You are beyond what anyone says of you, beyond whatever value anyone places on you. You’re not some object that someone just picks up and calls their own. Because whatever that’s in there,” Obi jabs his thumb against his chest, “it’s not something that can be assigned by anyone else. You are your own person, Miss. You belong to you. And it’s this you who has toppled boundaries, created antidotes, you and your brilliant mind, and your wonderful soul and everything that is you.

“And-” Obi wrenches his gaze from her, hand coming up to push down on his shoulder. “I can’t imagine myself without you. I’ve changed, because of you. Myself and many other people you’ve met in Clarines - Little Ryuu, too. So please-

“Don’t think you are anything less than who you have made yourself to be. Don’t let anything cause that- not Raj, not Master, not Izana, not even me. You are yours, Miss.”

Obi says it quietly, a whisper taken by the wind into the meadows ahead of them. But he knows Miss hears it all the same. Obi lets the words take up the silence, let them take root. He hopes, desperately, that in between the awkward cadence and messy phrasing, Miss may find some comfort in them. An unspoken assurance that he is on her side - always have, and always will be.

Sneaking a glance at her, Obi is startled to find Miss’ head buried in her knees, shoulder shaking.

He jumps up and immediately frets. “M-miss, ahh- I didn’t mean to make you upset! I’m sorr-”

In an instant, Obi’s hand is enclosed between both of hers, warmth effusing through skin. A warbled laugh escapes her and she looks up from her knees up at him. Arrested by the tears in her eyes, Obi watches as she smiles that broken smile again - only this time, he knows it isn’t forced. She brings his hand close to her, and places the back of it against her forehead. Obi’s hand twitches, almost aching to cup her face and rub the tears trickling down - but clearly Miss is having a moment as she closes her eyes and breathes.

“Thank you, Obi,” Miss tells him, words entangling around his fingers. ��It never gets easier- I don’t think it will, but-”

She takes his hand and cups it against her cheek anyway, collapsing all his walls. “You, being here. You remind me that I’m worth more.”

He can’t resist his fingers running across the apples of her cheekbones. He wipes away every tear that falls and bends down close, leaning his forehead against hers. There are no words to describe the monument of a woman before him now, and as he draws strength from this little form of comfort he’s offered, he only hopes she receives the same.

It will not be easy, probably never will, as Miss says.

But Obi will be damned if she ever faces it alone again.

[obiyuki-beebs]

and it goes on: an excerpt

Obiyuki Bingo 2021

Words: 565

Free space! Chronic illness / Disability AU.

@snowwhite-andtheknight

-------

Shirayuki wondered, after the fact, if she was simply ignoring the signs. If maybe she could have done something earlier that would have made it easier.

There were days they spent foraging in the woods -- collecting the wild herbs that weren’t so easy to cultivate in controlled conditions -- that at the end of them, her knees ached. Aching like a knife in between the bones; aching until she sank into the hot bath in Lilias central; aching until the willow bark solution finally, finally, started to work. 

There was a whole month in Autumn when both of her thumbs were inexplicably useless. Her grip floundered often, and Shidan almost seemed like he might be frustrated when she dropped her sixth medicine vial. She realizes after the second week that her frequent massage of the joints is not providing any relief and takes Ryuu’s advice to simply ice and let them rest. He sat with her in the pharmacy, small hands in his as he examined them, his brows furrowed. 

It had been slightly alarming when she heard the sharp crack of her hips as she climbed into bed in the dead of winter, echoing around her small room. But it happened so rarely -- only every few months, she thought -- that it didn’t seem like something that needed attention. Just the snap of her tendons over the joint. Normal. Something everyone goes through. 

Perhaps the most intrusive change that she had, for whatever reason, ignored was when she was no longer able to maintain energy with just her usual, single cup of tea; Shirayuki quickly found herself consuming three to four mugs of coffee to stave off the all-encompassing exhaustion that overtook her. The cost of staying alert while she worked was a frightful inability to slip into sleep in the evenings, and soon she was living in a cycle of perpetual, endless sleep deprivation. 

-----

If only, if only, if only. But there is no going back.

And then, her life changed. 

-------

Shirayuki woke up slowly the morning after Suzu and Yuzuri’s wedding; it was a riotous affair, complete with mead and line dancing so fervent that she was sure it was simply the dancing that had made it so difficult to climb the stairs to her room. Waking was difficult, and her entire body was stiff, but surely, surely, it was just the effects of alcohol and her usual plague of poor sleep. 

Back to work, she thought to herself, moving slowly, dressing slowly. The now-familiar weight of fatigue hung like a shroud. Just make it through the day.

Ryuu eyed her from his desk in the pharmacy as she trundled into the room, feet hardly lifting from the stone slab.

“Shirayuki,” he spoke as he rose, approaching her with the face she recognized as his assessment-underway expression, “You seem different.”

“Oh, you know. Too much to drink.”

“Hmm. Have you taken anything?”

“Willow bark.”

He nodded, eyes skirting down to look at her quivering hands. 

“Please keep me informed of how you’re feeling. I’m concerned.”

“I can tell. Thank you, I will,” she replied, smiling and turning towards the schedule listing expected patient visits. 

Ryuu hadn’t left yet, seeming to expect her to say something else.

“I-” she started, face falling and voice dipping lower, “To be honest, I’m concerned, too.”

He simply nodded, lifting his hand to her shoulder with a reassuring pat.

-------

Hello hi thank you for reading!

Write about what you know, eh? Hope you don’t mind my wildly obvious self-insert fic contribution. Changes made to better fit Shirayuki but I am mostly drawing from my own experience. 

I do have a plan for this but .... tbd. 

[queenofwordsandnerds]

My thoughts on AnS Manga Ch. 119 and 120

Okay I may be late to the party but I have so many feels about these two chapters I have to get them out there or I may explode...

I CAN'T be the only one freaking out about these chapters, can I? They both contained such BEAUTIFUL and OBVIOUS Obiyuki moments that if I was in any doubt as to Sorata Akizuki's intentions before, I'm not now. Obiyuki HAS to be endgame. All the moments in these recent chapters are so subtle yet well-crafted...it can't be an accident.

Let me start by drawing your attention to the beginning of Chapter 119, specifically the title panel and the panel before that:

LOOK. AT. THIS. I had to bite my lip to keep from screaming in the car with my mom when I read this. This and the next panel, more than anything else, confirms my belief that Sorata intends for Obiyuki to be endgame.

So in the first panel, Shirayuki and Tsuruba are waiting outside the party for Obi's signal. He steps outside to the balcony and waves the glowing crystal that SHIRAYUKI GAVE HIM (the fact that THAT was their prearranged signal gives me life because that crystal has so much meaning at this point). But he was supposed to flash it, not wave it. Tsuruba is concerned and asks Shirayuki if everything was all right. Shirayuki immediately gets this intense concern on her face, and she says this:

"No...Obi would do exactly as he said. Without a doubt."

Shirayuki knows Obi so well, probably better than he knows himself. She KNOWS INSTANTLY that something's wrong. It speaks volumes to their level of connection. They've always been able to tell when something is wrong with the other, even when other people don't see it. It makes me endlessly frustrated how well they know each other yet they're so blind (at least on Shirayuki's end).

And THEN. THEN.

THE TITLE PANEL.

LOOK AT IT!!! This panel comes right after the first one, by no accident. Sorata WANTS you to have Obiyuki's connection and Shirayuki's concern for Obi in your mind while you read this title panel.

This is the second title panel that has featured Obiyuki dead center of attention with significant wording beneath the phrase "A romance that cuts through fate." If the first title panel wasn't obvious enough...this one is. If I was a new reader and I only saw this panel...I would think that Obiyuki was the "romance that cuts through fate." Other wonderful tumblr users have explained how Obiyuki could be this romance, so I won't go into it...but this is just further confirmation from Sorata to me.

The first title panel read "please, take my hand." This one reads "unwavering trust." The CONTINUITY. DO YOU SEE IT THE WAY I DO?? This title panel is a response to the first one. Shirayuki trusts Obi enough--unwaveringly--to take his hand. There's nobody else that phrase could refer to. Obiyuki's trust in each other is legendary, even within the story. Other characters see them as a unit. (And their hands aren't visible in this panel but close enough that I like to believe they're holding hands beneath the frame here. It's possible!)

Am I reading too much into this? Maybe. But I can't be the only one who sees the massive significance?? I just can't!

Also, I will say the one issue I had with the story was the lack of Shirayuki in a gorgeous mask and ball gown infiltrating the party on Obi's arm (and Obi's utter swamp mess of feelings upon seeing his Miss dressed up). I feel ROBBED on that score. But at least we got to see our cat boi in his fancy clothes and mask...can we just take a moment to appreciate how FINE our boi looks? Like LOOK AT HIM

STUNNING SO SEXY SHIRAYUKI YOU BLIND WOMAN-

Ok moving on

So these next two panels were my FAVORITE part of the whole two chapters. Shirayuki and Tsuruba are outside and Shirayuki asks Tsuruba to help her up onto the balcony. But Obi APPEARS out of nowhere like he was summoned by a call (lbh his Miss asking for help probably was a call) and he jumps down besides Shirayuki and lifts her up himself before Tsuruba can even move...all without saying a word.

OUR BOI IS THE ONLY MAN ALLOWED TO HELP HIS MISS AND ONLY HIM. ZEN WHO??

Seriously, this part is so short yet so significant. It takes up a notable number of panels, and we didn't need to have Obi help Shirayuki. Tsuruba could have done it. But Sorata devotes these pages to this scene so we can SEE that Obi is still his Miss's loyal knight. He still takes care of her and is probably a bit jealous of another guy helping her when that's HIS JOB. It's a sharp reminder that not only is Obi very much Shirayuki's knight, but also he's still in love with her. It's just a sweet scene with a very easily discernible romantic element.

Also...that panel of Obi kneeling at Shirayuki's feet with his cape fluttering, ready to aid her...*chefs kiss* I could stare at that panel for hours. The facial expressions and detail during this scene is also priceless. I would rate it in the top 10 Obiyuki manga scenes, honestly.

SHIRAYUKI YOU SWEET GIRL HOW CAN YOU BE SO BLIND I SWEAR-

The rest of the Obiyuki moments that I noticed were more minor, but still really significant to their story and development as a whole. There's several panels of Obi and Shirayuki considering things together, being concerned together, working out solutions together...

Like this one (the way he hovers protectively over her shoulder tho...it's almost like his right hand is on her back):

Or this one:

THIS ONE MURDERED ME:

LOOK AT THE SYMMETRY. THE PARALLELS. THE BACK TO BACK. THE WAY THEY THINK THROUGH THINGS TOGETHER.

Obiyuki's legendary similarity in thinking will always impress me. They share such similar thought processes, they LITERALLY finish each other's sentences. And the way they come to the same conclusion in this panel and they share the same determined look like "yeah, we know what we're thinking and we know what we've got to do and we're on the same team" JUST KILL ME NOW. Could you get any more couple-y without being an officially canon couple?

And the last panel of them together: Shirayuki can ride on her own now but she sits behind Obi JUST LIKE OLD TIMES and how the two close-up panels of their faces are just too perfect and they're ready to take on the danger together like the absolute unit they are-

So yeah

Chapter 119 and 120 had some of the best Obiyuki moments I've seen in a while, honestly. The plot didn't go in the way I expected, but it was SO GOOD! The drama and pacing were absolutely on point, I can't wait until December I need to find out what happens NOW!

[itspillowtime]

recommended ichiruki fics (will update as I go)

The Photo Shoot by Fathom-x chapters: oneshot rating: M summary: What happens when Rukia attends a bikini modeling job for the first time, and her photographer is a familiar hot bodied orange headed man?

If Not in This Life, Maybe in the Next by @darisu-chan chapters: 52 rating: M summary: Series of IchiRuki one-shots for your IchiRuki needs. "Isshin's latest attempt at listening through Ichigo's door finally brings results."

The Real Winners by krisil chapters: oneshot rating: E summary: Rukia finds out that there is a bet about whether she and Ichigo have had sex, and she can't stop thinking about it.

Never Getting Caught by Princess of poison (teacher/student smut) chapters: 5 rating: M summary: Never say never.

The Visitor by gokusgirl chapters: oneshot rating: M summary: In any relationship, you're bound to do things you dare imagine.

Telephone by KurosakiLove (discontinued, sadly, but SO GOOD) chapters: 29 rating: M summary: Ichigo and Rukia keep connected as their lives and feelings change about them.

Dreamer's Disease by @hesesols chapters: oneshot rating: E summary: It takes her the fourth- or maybe the fifth sleepover to admit that she’s catching feelings from him- Ichigo Kurosaki, her sort-of friends with benefits from Physics. And for the love of God and Chappy, it is not a revelation that she takes well to.

Winterborn Dreams by @ariadnekurosaki chapters: oneshot rating: T summary: Her body slams into someone much taller and stronger, and Rukia topples backwards, falling to the cobblestone ground with a cry. "Ah. I'm sorry," a deep voice says, and a hand slides beneath her elbow to help her up. Rukia can feel the warmth of his hand through the fabric of her dark purple kimono, and she straightens up with his help. "I was in a rush and wasn't looking whe—"

When Your Hands Were Missing by kubotits chapters: oneshot rating: M summary: It's been six months since Rukia's been gone. Missing her, all Ichigo wants to do is get some sleep. He has...ways of handling it.

Wakamezake by gokusgirl chapters: oneshot rating: M summary: They have the entire house to themselves. Erotic play ensues.

Sweet Mischief by Lost Angel III chapters: oneshot rating: M summary: Despite of her recent breakup with her cheating boyfriend, Rukia didn't understand why she found this man called Ichigo Kurosaki very irresistible. So to release all the pent-up frustrations she had, she gave in to temptation and slept with him.

Burning Desire by @darisu-chan chapters: oneshot rating: M summary: Tired of their unfulfilling marriages, Ichigo and Rukia find solace in fantasies. But maybe those fantasies can actually become a reality.

Push my luck by withered (my first-ever intro to A/B/O dynamics. READ IT) chapters: 25 rating: E summary: Even beneath the blockers, his scent reaches out to her in seeming answer; deceptively sweet in the form of a crisp autumn air and a touch of Christmas morning that grows steadily headier; curling thick, mouth-wateringly good, and – oh. This is definitely a mistake waiting to happen.

Odalisque by Tituba3 (a freaking masterpiece) chapters: 46 rating: M summary: Rukia Kuchiki: smart, successful, & forever single. When her new job throws her into a whirlwind of mergers, jealous secretaries, treachery, and vile, yet incredibly sexy orange-haired coworkers, she is left wondering whether fate will let her out alive.

nothing left inside by ilija (possibly the most kudos’d explicit IR fic on ao3, and for good reason. ichi/hichi/ruki) chapters: oneshot rating: E summary: Something is wrong today; it's something in the air. It has her fingers too warm and itching for Sode no Shirayuki’s cold weight at her hip.

[kaedix]

Storm (Izanayuki)

Shirayuki turned the key in the ignition one more time - but her last shred of hope dissipated as her car squealed pathetically before falling silent. 

Of course this would happen tonight. Of course.

Shirayuki rested her head on the steering wheel with a sigh. She tried not to be too pessimistic, but it was almost three in the morning and her long workday had consisted of one unexpected mess after another. She was irritated, ready to be home, and in desperate need of a hot bath.

She was too exhausted to cry, but she wished she could. It would probably help her feel better. Frustration tugged at her nerves as she tried to switch her brain into solution mode. 

Who could she call at almost three in the morning? 

Obi was an option, but Shirayuki knew that he had just gotten back from his trip with Zen just a few hours ago. Both of them were probably completely zonked, and Shirayuki couldn't bring herself to encroach on their much needed sleep.

Calling Kihal was out of the question -  she had a 6 a.m. class. There was no way Shirayuki could wake her roommate up in good conscience to come rescue her at such an ungodly hour.

Shirayuki supposed she could go back inside and sleep in the staff room. But that didn't appeal to her at all, and neither did sleeping in her car.

Shirayuki picked up her phone and stared at the time. 

2:42. 

No one was awake. No one could come get her. It was a thought that hit Shirayuki with a wave of unexpected loneliness as she sat in her defunct car in an empty parking lot.

She swiped the lock screen on her phone - she was stalling, not wanting to get out of her car and trudge back into the dark building to sleep on a couch that meant well, but in all honesty was hard and occasionally lumpy. 

Just a quick scroll through Twitter, Shirayuki told herself. Then she would resign herself to her fate.

A tiny orange notification caught her eye at the bottom of her screen, hovering over the messaging app icon. 

She'd missed a text? 

Read the rest on AO3

[realtacuardach]

Deception and Perception

“Con-artist” entry for Obiyuki Bingo 2021, hosted by @snowwhite-andtheknight

I hope you enjoy!

~~~

Leaning nearly double on the folding chair, Shirayuki clutched her ankle and moaned lowly under her breath as the security guard closed the door behind him. His footsteps echoed as he walked down the hallway to the main office, the steady rhythm slowly fading away to nothing. A half-minute more ticked by on her watch, and Shirayuki straightened up. Quickly getting to her feet, she walked over to the filing cabinets stacked against the wall and pulled fruitlessly on one of the handles. It didn’t come as any surprise that the research had been locked up, but she allowed herself a small curse of frustration before extracting a lockpick from her pocket.

There has to be an easier way to get information, she internally muttered to herself as she got to work.

But there wasn’t, she’d already tried.

When the progress on her laboratory’s latest research had slowed down, Shirayuki initially filed it away as one of the typical delays and frustrations of being a researcher. But months had passed, and they weren’t getting any further in their findings - meanwhile, the neighboring lab from Bergatt Enterprises, who had piggy-backed on their research for a time, was making leaps and bounds.

She had asked to see their results, to understand where she might have been making mistakes. In response, they had erected swift, impenetrable walls, stating that their findings were their intellectual property. A bitter pill to swallow, but their offering a thorn bramble when she’d offered an olive branch in the past was just going to have to be a lesson to keep her guard up better in future.

But when she’d returned to her own lab, intent on looking at her earlier notes and samples to start over from scratch, she’d found that her notes were gone. Someone had taken them.

The filing cabinet clicked open, and she shoved the lockpick in her pocket before reaching into the drawer, fingers flying over the tops of the file folders.

She hadn’t wanted to believe that the other lab would stoop to theft or sabotage, but when the lab assistant who’d started work two weeks before their collaboration with Bergatt stopped showing up with no explanation two days after it had ended, she’d had suspicions. Suspicions that were confirmed, at least in her mind, when she’d seen that same lab assistant in the lobby of Bergatt Enterprises when she’d first approached them and been shut down. Calling after the woman had been an impulse, but also a mistake. The faux lab assistance had scurried deep behind the security of ‘limited access’ doors, and Shirayuki had been escorted out.

The guard had rushed her out so quickly that she’d tripped on the threshold, and landing hard on her ankle had hurt but also given her an idea.

The first drawer didn’t have them. Fighting the urge to slam it shut in frustration, Shirayuki instead closed it slowly and started on the next cabinet down. It has to be here, she assured herself, squinting at the papers and forcing herself to keep a steady pace, this is the only place left.

Bergatt Enterprises had four labs within the state; it would have been too much to hope for that they’d have left the research in the first place she’d looked, the facility where she’d seen the spy. But she’d tried anyway.

After a week, she’d gone back, her hair tied back and covered with a bandana to fill out a job application. On the way to fill out the paperwork, she’d walked by a Wet Floor sign and fallen. She’d held her side and groaned, curling around her injury. Frantic to avoid lawsuits, employees had ushered her into a makeshift nurse’s office and left there for a few minutes. Moving quickly, she’d managed to get into the lab offices, only to find the filing cabinets were only for show and were disappointingly empty.

The paper in the file folder at the back of the cabinet caught on her fingers, the paper crumpled and off-color compared to the pristine contents of the other files. Her breath catching, she pulled the paper out and nearly cried with relief. Found you, she grinned, holding the paper tight to her chest. Now I just have to-

Two sets of footsteps were coming closer down the hallway. Shirayuki just managed to keep from slamming the drawer shut, instead smoothly closing it and darting back to the chair. Wadding her notes into a square and shoving it down into her blouse, she drew her jacket around her before bending down to resume the slow massaging of her ankle.

The security guard returned, closely followed by a man who looked distressingly official. Next to the guard with his ill-fitting button-up and baggy slacks, the new man had an air more polished and somehow dangerous, his eyes hidden behind sunglasses. “This is the lady?” He asked, tucking his badge into his suit jacket.

“Yes, sir.” The guard glared at Shirayuki. “Procedure said to call you in if we had anything....suspicious happen. We’ve had a lot of attempted break-ins.”

“Have you?” Behind his sunglasses, the new man’s eyebrows raised, the skin pulling taut around a scar over his left eye. “And not been able to catch them yet? At all?”

The security guard puffed up indignantly. “I caught her.”

“Hmm,” the other man stepped around the desk where Shirayuki’s chair had been situated and sat down on a chair behind it. “And you’re sure this girl is some kind of criminal mastermind?” He snorted. “I can see why you had to call me in.”

Flushing red, the guard drew himself up, but got waved off. “Easy, easy. I’m not saying you’re wrong.” The well-dressed man leaned forward, Shirayuki’s breath catching as he moved closer, smooth and sinuous and unpredictable. She stared steadily back, praying he couldn’t hear her heart pounding or the paper crinkling as she struggled to keep her composure. The man smirked at her, then leaned back in his chair. “You can go,” he told the guard.

“What?” The guard hitched his belt indignantly. “Shouldn’t we both-?”

The suited man’s lips twisted into an irritated smirk. “You think I can’t handle one little girl?”

Shirayuki focused on her fake ankle pain to keep from bristling and giving herself away.

“Well, no,” the guard stuttered.

“If it makes  you feel better,” the man waved towards the door, “you can wait outside. But this is my case now.”

The two men stared at each other for an agonizing few moments before the guard stepped back. “Okay, Mr. Nanaki.”

Nanaki smiled, his smile full of teeth and thinly veiled malice. “Ah, ah, ah. Agent Nanaki.” He pulled out a badge with a smooth flourish. Shirayuki caught a glimpse of “Internal” and “Security” before the badge was returned to the jacket. Nanaki reached out his hand towards the guard, palm up, and beckoned with his fingers. The guard, his expression simultaneously flustered and cowed, stepped forward and pulled out a manila folder that he’d been carrying between his arm and stomach. He handed it to the agent.

‘Thank you,” the agent snarked smoothly. “I’ll call if you’re needed.”

His tone indicated that the guard wouldn’t be, and the guard stomped out..

Agent Nanaki opened the manila folder, flipping through the pages, his head moving ever so slightly from side to side as he read. Silence grew thick between them, and Shirayuki’s heart pounded in her ears. She took a silent deep breath and licked her dry lips. “So…”

The agent lifted his head to look at her. “Yes?”

Shirayuki gritted her teeth. “Can I leave?”

Clicking his tongue, the agent’s smirk that had previously been twisted with irritation smoothed out into amusement. “Come on, Miss. We both know you’re smarter than that.”

“Excuse me.”

He turned a page and whistled. “Never mind, maybe not. They got camera footage of you that time.”

“What?”

“It’s true.” He picked up a grainy picture of a figure with shoulder-length hair lingering near an office door. “Not the most revealing angle, but these aren’t the most sophisticated cameras.”

Shirayuki just managed to keep from folding her arms; this man was incredibly irritating. She squinted at the photo - even though it was grainy, she could just see the loose sandal strap she’d used as an excuse to linger behind from the group. “I can’t believe you think that’s me,” she sighed. “It doesn’t look anything like me.”

The agent sighed and scratched his forehead. “Okay, so we’ll play it that way.” He turned all the papers over until he reached the first page, which he extracted. “Incident one, main campus. Young woman with red hair comes in for an interview. Falls down in the lobby, sustains injuries, risks suing the company. They leave her alone to try and get her medical attention - and a lawyer.” His mouth quirked. “By the time they get back, the young lady has collapsed by the filing cabinets, saying she’d hit her head.” He flipped the page. “But when they turn around, she manages to sneak off. And the name used to secure the interview was fake.”

Well, she could have hardly used her own name. “I hope the poor woman got help.”

“Hmm.” He rifled through the next few pages before pointing at a new sheet. “Incident two, east campus. Another young woman, also with red hair, was walking out by the storage house. Some guy with a cart ran into her and knocked her over. She got rushed inside, reported symptoms of concussion.” He snorted. “They left her alone for a few minutes to get a glass of water, came back to find an empty room with a cabinet wide open with a safety pin jammed in the lock.”

“Really?” Shirayuki raised an eyebrow in interest. She’d brought a bobby pin along, but it had gotten lost when she’d mistimed her footing to collide with the stockroom employee. She’d been lucky she hadn’t gotten a concussion; less lucky that she’d had to resort to using a safety pin she found on the top of the cabinet. “I didn’t know you could open locks with a safety pin.”

“You really can’t,” the agent looked down at his paper. “I think the lady just yanked it open at some point - the cabinet locks are pretty weak.”

Shirayuki begged to differ, she had nearly splintered all her fingernails in her haste to open the drawer.

Agent Nanaki looked at her for a moment, then shook his head. “You’re still - okay, incident three, south campus. A young woman, again with red hair, joins a group of students to tour the labs. She accidentally,” he smirked, “broke the strap of a sandal and stayed behind to fix it. Tour guide goes back to check on the young lady, but she’s vanished. Meanwhile,” he drawled, “ someone managed to jimmy open a door to the main lab, off-limits to the tour, and snuck in.” He tapped the grainy picture. “Sure this isn’t ringing any bells?”

Shirayuki shook her head. “I’m sorry, but no.”

The agent snorted. “And that brings us to today. Young woman, with red hair,” he shut the manila folder and made a sweeping gesture towards her head, “somehow gets lost in the north campus and twists her ankle. She gets helped to a room, but then the rent-a-cop gets suspicious and calls in the cavalry.” He leaned forward. “Because even he can tell this can’t be a coincidence.”

Swallowing back her anxiety, Shirayuki shrugged. “I couldn’t say about the other times, but this time is certainly a coincidence.”

“Really?”

“Hair like this,” she waved a hand around her crown, “stands out like a sore thumb. Would I really be so dumb as to not conceal it - if I was the person you are thinking of?”

Agent Nanaki leaned back in his chair, springs squeaking, and barked a laugh. “Ah, a double bluff, Miss? Not too shabby.”

She couldn’t tell whether it was pleased pride or irritated frustration that was filling her chest at that laugh, but she chose to ignore the sensation. “If that’s really all you think you have that points to me, I’ll be going. I need to ice this ankle.”

“Oh.” Nanaki got up and walked around the desk in front of her chair, before sitting on the edge of the desk. “No, Miss. That’s all they have on you.” He reached into his suit jacket and pulled out a small notebook. He flipped open the cover, and Shirayuki could see pages filled with cramped writing. “This,” he licked his thumb and turned another page, “is what I have on you.”

“Oh?” Shirayuki was having a little trouble breathing, although where that was from the revelation of this knowledge or the awareness of how close the agent was standing, she wasn’t sure.

Nanaki took off his sunglasses and tucked them into the collar of his shirt. He looked into her eyes, and she was captivated by warm amber. Leaning forward, his smirk grew as he closed the distance between their faces. Shirayuki swallowed as she felt herself drifting into his eyes. “Uh, what are you doing?”

“Eyes are the windows of the soul,” he drawled smoothly. “Trying to see what I can see.”

Shirayuki’s fingers curled on her lap as she looked into his eyes. “And what do you see?”

“Hmm.” He leaned closer, and she felt her hips tilt her towards him. His tongue brushed his lips  - and then he licked his thumb and turned another page in his notebook. “Name: Shirayuki Leon, has doctorate in biology specializing in medicine and botany. First studied in Tanbarun before moving to Clarines three years ago. Been making a real splash in the science scene. Working under Garrack Gazelt, has published two-” He flipped a page. “-three papers in various academic journals.”

Shirayuki took a deep breath, striving for calm. “Sounds interesting.”

“I thought so.” He smirked harder. “Recently working on the same research that Bergatt has been focusing on for the past few months.”

“Ah.” Her fingers shook a little under his scrutiny.

“Research that really picked up,” he continued, “once Bergatt’s current head researcher came from your labs with some classified notes, and possibly after sabotaging your work.”

“I knew it!” Shirayuki cried, and then shrunk back. “Oh.”

“Yeah, oh.” The agent smiled broadly. “Gotcha, Miss.”

Shirayuki slumped back in her chair, brushing a lock of hair from her face. “Yeah, you got me.” She sighed. “Now what?”

“Well…” Nanaki’s watch chime and he looked at it. “Time for us to leave, I think.” He stood up. “Will you come quietly, or do I need to use handcuffs?”

She sighed. “You don’t need handcuffs.”

The agent craned his neck towards the door, sliding his sunglasses back on. “After you, Miss.” 

Shirayuki’s feet dragged as she made her way to the door. The agent moved around behind her, his arm grazing her side as he reached to turn the doorknob, and she shivered. Nanaki’s hand encircled her wrist as the two stepped out into the hallway, and the guard roused himself from his half-asleep position against the wall.

“I’m taking the suspect into custody,” the agent snapped, pulling lightly on Shirayuki’s arm. “I expect a full report sent to the department by noon tomorrow.”

The two briskly made their way down the hallways. “Good thing you’re not actually injured,” Nanaki mused as they walked through the parking lot, “otherwise we might not make it in time.”

“You’re in that much of a hurry to arrest me?”

“No.” The agent opened the passenger side door - funny, she’d expected to be put in the back - and indicated for her to get inside. “But time is not on our side.”

“Why?”

“Because,” he leaned in, “the actual agent should be here any minute.”

And with that shocking statement, he closed the door.

“The real agent?” Shirayuki exclaimed as the fake agent slid into the driver’s seat and started the engine.

“Yeah.” He swore under his breath. “Duck down, he’s pulling in now.” Shirayuki could hear the sounds of a door opening and closing, although the sound grew smaller as Nanaki stepped on the gas.

“What in the world-”

“You can sit up now, Doc,” the man grinned, tossing his sunglasses to the back as they sped away from the parking lot. He flexed his shoulders underneath his jacket. “Can’t wait to get out of this monkey suit.”

Shirayuki stilled. The humor and wry tone that had been lingering beneath his officious demeanor was in full force now, and his grin was rakish. 

“Who are you?”

“I have many names,” he smirked, eyebrows wiggling, “but mostly I go by Obi. And I think we have a common enemy. I’ve been trying to take down the Bergatts myself for a while now.”

“Okay, Obi,” she tried, and his grin grew. “Now what?”

“Well, first,” Obi answered, “we stash away that research you have hiding in your shirt.” Shirayuki blushed, her hand going to her blouse. “And after that, well, that’s up to you. I figured we could get you someplace safe until things cool down a little. Or-”

"Or?"

“I like the way you work, Doc,” he smirked, “and I think we can bring the Bergatts down a lot faster if we work together. You bring the science smarts, and I bring the infiltration and deception skills. I teach you, you teach me.” Keeping his left hand on the wheel as he continued driving, he raised up his right hand towards her. “What do you say? Partners?”

This was crazy.

Shirayuki smirked back and clasped his hand with one of her own. “Partners.”