#shirayuki is in her early 60s here

[claudeng80]

When You’re Away (Part 2)

Time away from Shirayuki would always be Zen’s least favorite part of his job. For all the years they’d been married, the glow of excitement never faded. He was back. He got to see Shirayuki today.

She was in her garden, of course. He handed off his reins to one of his soldiers at the gate - they looked younger every year, he wouldn’t be hurt by attending to an extra horse for an hour. The gate labeled “teaching garden” arched above his head, and he headed for the greenhouse glittering from across the lawn like a diamond. It must be ten years ago Izana had dedicated it for Shirayuki’s birthday. He grinned, remembering the way Shirayuki had hauled Izana’s face down to kiss him on the cheek. He’d never seen his brother so out of composure, or so pleased.

The greenhouse door creaked open, a burst of warm air dampening his face. He paused for a moment by their tree, admiring the way the top branches brushed the glass ceiling, when so long ago it had been merely a seed in a pot in his office window. He patted the bark affectionately. How time passed. It had been the first tree planted in here, Shirayuki directing a small army of gardeners, Obi by her side enjoying the spectacle. It thrived in the shelter, in plain view of every visitor but with secret significance.

“I saw her in the succulents not an hour ago,” came a smiling voice from behind him. Luring Yuzuri away from Lyrias had been one of Shirayuki’s greatest triumphs, and it had paid off. The gardens were their life’s work, a true jewel of the kingdom. A whole generation of scientists owed their opportunities to Shirayuki’s drive and patronage, and Clarines was becoming a renowned center for learning. Zen couldn’t be prouder.

No more stalling. “Thanks, Yuzuri,” he tossed back. The succulents were a bit of a walk, but it felt good after all day on horseback. His hip clicked and he shook it out; it wouldn’t be much longer before he’d need to start taking the carriage on long trips. He sighed.

Shirayuki might have been harder to find from a distance, the apple shade of her hair faded to a red-streaked gray, but the scarves she’d adopted to protect her head from the sun had become ever brighter in return. Obi delighted in finding her ever more garish patterns, and she loved them all. It pained Zen’s aesthetic sense at times, but her happiness was worth the sacrifice.

Today’s pattern was sunflowers. Zen saw it bobbing the moment he reached the succulent garden. Obi slipped from the border tree where he’d been keeping watch, and, with a sloppy salute, faded away into the garden. Probably to go hassle Yuzuri, if his grasp on the gossip was up to date. Shirayuki was convinced something was going on with those two, and she couldn’t be happier. Yuzuri had mourned Suzu for years, but she wasn’t happy alone. And they’d all wondered about Obi. So it might be late, but never too late. They’d catch up later, share their customary drink and card game back at the castle.

The crunch of Zen’s boots on gravel ruined his surprise. At least he told himself that, but decades of Obi’s guard had taught Shirayuki vigilance. She always heard him coming. “Zen! You’re back early!” She dropped her work gloves in the dirt, throwing her arms around his waist and leaning against his chest. He’d have streaks of soil all down his coat, but that was nothing new at this point.

“I think you’ve lost track of time, love. I am exactly on time.” He’d be late to report to Izana, but that was nothing new either. “I won’t keep you from your-” he looked down at the lumpy green something with exposed roots that she’d been in the process of transplanting. “Plant. I just wanted to see you.”

“I wanted to see you too. I’m happy you’re back.” She nuzzled under his chin, fitting so perfectly against him, then stiffened with a jerk. “We had letters!” Zen only had a moment to look confused, not even enough to ask. “Lyal and Ryuu will be here for the naming,” she said, elated. Their second son was Ryuu’s assistant at Wilant, a near-copy of his mother who’d been attached to his “Uncle Ryuu” since he was little. He’d almost managed to stop calling him that in public, much to Ryuu’s professional relief. Their attendance was good news indeed - matters were not always smooth between Lyal and his elder brother Cerris. He hadn’t been to Wistal in several years, and Shirayuki traveled so little now.

“I’m so glad! Did you hear from Raj too?” They didn’t have much hope on that front. Raj was still the First Prince of Tanbarun, technically, but in all practical senses he was ruling the country. Behind closed doors he grumbled that his father was holding on out of sheer stubbornness and spite, but Zen thought he was actually secretly pleased with the state of things.

“He can’t be away for so long.” Shirayuki’s face was long, but compassionate. “Rona will come, though.”

Zen’s eyes widened. “I’ll warn the kitchens, then.”

“I already did.” She glowed when she grinned like that, such pleasure and mischief, making his heart beat faster. “I’m glad she can make it, at least Tanbarun will have someone there.”

“He’ll be the next heir to the kingdom, they should.” Izana and Haki had named Cerris heir when he reached his majority, and Zen had breathed the longest sigh of relief of his life. He wasn’t cut out to be king, but his son was. Cerris was clever and charming, the only person Zen had ever known to beat Izana at chess. Izana was delighted with him, and the two had always been close. His first child, about to be named with all the pomp and ceremony of a royal heir, had the most doting great-uncle and great-aunt imaginable.

Speaking of whom, Izana was waiting. Shirayuki’s scarf dragged against his chin as he looked up to the towers of the castle, and she sagged against him. “You have to go, don’t you?”

He held her closer for one more second. “Your plant is drying out, anyway.” She glanced down, guilty. “I’ll see you at dinner tonight, and for at least the next month I’m refusing to go anywhere. Anyone who wants to talk to me can come to Wistal or send a bird.”

“I like the sound of that.” She rocked up on her toes as he stepped out of her embrace, and he met her for a gentle kiss. There was no rush, no hurry, just the glow of everything being right when he was close to her. “Welcome home, Zen.”

[obiyuki-beebs]

I found this in chapter 56 and I thought it was kinda interesting. While Zen is comforting Shirayuki as she's crying, Mitsuhide says,"But this is about Zen and Shirayuki. I don't think this sudden distance is a big problem. It's not like being apart would cause their existence to become smaller in each other's lives." Maybe it's foreshadowing they will separate? What are your thoughts on this? Do you think ObiYuki still has a chance or is it just the author toying with us?

hi anon!!  (￣ω￣)

Short answer:

Yes, Whoaboy get ready I have some THOUGHTS, YESS!! and No.

I have been sitting on this ask for a long time sorry for le wait

The vast majority of this post is below the cut. I hope it is not too much / addresses what you meant. 

Here are some notes before I subject whoever reads this to my madness:

These little moments of “It’s okay to do what you want to do” always strike me, and I think about them when I’m considering Zen v Obi endgame because it opens up the possibility that things can change.

Yes it’s a shojo and shojo protagonists tend to stick with their initial love interest... blah blah blah. I don’t think this preconceived notion of how shojo manga ‘always goes’ is a valid point anymore.

So .... I think the comments we are both thinking of usually refer to Shirayuki’s Path and how she must be able to Stand By Zen’s Side as an Ally, etc. So I’ll kind of be thinking of this from the angle of a Journey. 

Everything discussed is also after The Play We Believe is Foreshadowing (except for the panels pulled from ch 9 and 20) which I think should be considered for the context of the plot. 

If it is actually foreshadowing for an eventual Obi & Shirayuki story arc -- which tbh we might be in the midst of (currently) at ch 117 without realizing it -- then it’s relevant to how we frame the comments made afterwards. At the end of the day, Akizuki-sensei is an author. She is telling us a story. I think it’s reasonable to seek out clues to foreshadowing in fictional stories. So I’m operating under a 90% certainty that the play is foreshadowing.

I have found that the best (fictional) stories are ones that have been planned carefully. I have no way of verifying if AnS has been so precisely crafted to weave in so much foreshadowing that we speculate over, but damn it sure feels like it was. 

The manga was originally just the first chapter, so we can assume that after writing that chapter and deciding to make it into a series, there was some planning done.

ANyway............... strong speculation ahead. I think I was ~60% thorough in my search to find material relevant to Foreshadowing of a Separation.

Please enjoy! 

1) So we’ll start with a panel from ch 9, 

where Zen is considering his relationship with Shirayuki and his growing crush. 

This panel is, as stated above, part of the story that Akizuki expanded on after the original one-shot. In the first chapter, we get a lot of cute fate-chitchat between Zen and Shirayuki, but I think -- after deciding to continue the story -- Akizuki changed the tone to allow for more character development, and to challenge the Fate tropes often seen in romance. 

Thus, the statement above from Zen that they may not always be together.

foreshadowing ?!   ( ˙▿˙ )

___________________________ 

2) In Chapter 28,

we have the crew essentially saying they are all growing stronger for the sake of each other, and lending their strength as needed.

Within the story, Akizuki-sensei has established a theme of moving forward and changing as needed as a way to get stronger.

Mitsuhide says this to Shirayuki, also in Ch 28:

Why .... does Mitsuhide look so serious as he says this to her? Is he reconciling the fact that Shirayuki and Zens paths may diverge at some point, as they do for the Lyrias arc?

He follows up the above statement with:

He goes on to say, 

“I want you to follow your heart so you can stand on your own wherever Zen takes you.” 

So... maybe that context takes away some of the significance for fellow lovers of AnS. But I don’t think we should just ignore the statement.

I think she’s being given permission to change her mind; that it’s okay for her to have feelings for Zen, but it’s also okay if she chooses to end things. Mitsuhide will support her either way.

Even though the the full remark still has to do with Zen, she is being encouraged to stand on her own. She is her own person. She has friends who will still be there even if she chooses something different from what people expect of her.

In this case -- pertaining to AnS as a whole, from the perspective of everyone who ‘knows’ about ZenYuki in-story and also (meta!) the manga readers -- Shirayuki is expected to someday marry Zen. 

After this, in Chapter 29, Izana is a bit derisive to Shirayuki after she gets the title from Tanbarun. I think his comments are intentionally made to make her uncomfortable. He says,

“Hahahaha! What an unusual title! Amazing!”

- cue confusion from Zen and Shirayuki -

“I wasn’t poking fun at it, it’s just a bit strange. Hmm... before, I said a nobody like her at your side would sully your name, Zen, but with this you can be friends without any such worry, right?

“Shirayuki, I’ve never asked what kind of relationship you want to have with Zen. And I don’t know if it’s something that can be said.”

Alrighty. So. Izana says in front of Shirayuki that he had described her as a nobody. This seems like something said meant to disquiet her, and her initial reaction is, “taken aback,” so we can safely say it was at least temporarily disconcerting for her to hear. I imagine it’s hurtful to hear you were once thought of as someone unworthy of notice.

Don’t get me wrong, I think most of what Izana says and does is in relatively good faith. I think the fandom has come to a general conclusion that he’s testing their relationship. 

Obi finds her in the early morning and he notices that she’s upset, commenting that she’s making a strange face. She is still thinking about what Izana said, and Obi asks,

“Is it about the path you want to take?”

“....No. It’s that I haven’t given it any thought.”

Zen already wishes (though I don’t think he’s explicitly stated it the way he does later in ch 33) to marry Shirayuki, and we see her here facing emotional turmoil because that part of her future isn’t something she has thought about yet. Interesting, to say the least.

I’m not really sure about this, but it seems like she either means where Zen is taking her and / or where she can stand on her own.

And then .......

“Obi, will you lend me a hand?”

“Didn’t I tell you before that I’ll take you wherever you want to go?”

This part of the story is still heavy ZenYuki, but I think Obi saying this to her right now is significant. Akizuki has repeatedly weaved Shirayuki’s path into the themes of the story so far, while contrasting that Zen will meet her at her destination, while Obi will be at her side for the journey. 

Zen and Shirayuki meet and talk. They basically address that Shirayuki doesn’t really know what the future holds, but that she still wants to stand by his side, and says that even though he’s a prince she wants to think it’s okay for her to feel that way. 

You almost forget about the significance of Obi and Shirayuki’s relationship when it’s followed up by this ZenYuki scene. I wonder about the aforementioned nature-of-planning involved in the story and the future of the characters at this point.

gnah how did this post get so long already

___________________________

3) Zen has presumably given his blessing for Obi to be happy in love

In chapter 31, while the group is stranded outside Wistal due to rain, Zen and Obi are in the bath talking about the possibility of Kiki and Mitsuhide getting married.

“It’s fine with me as long as they can say that they’re happy. I intend to make sure of that.”

“You’ll make sure of that?”

“The same applies to you too, Obi.”

More foreshadowing? Presently it seems that the MitsuKiki ship has sunk, so contrasting this conversation to current-manga-events is titillating to me. ESPECIALLY because Zen says that he wants to make sure Obi is happy when Zen knows how Obi feels about Shirayuki. So it’s established that they will support one another as friends.

Later, Kiki and Mitsuhide are talking after dinner and discuss how the nature of Zen and Shirauki’s friendship never changes (that’s the impression I got from it). Mitsuhide recalls when he and Zen talked about the same thing:

I think what Kiki and Mitsuhide are referring to is that Zen and Shirayuki have made a conscious effort to become friends despite the barriers they’ve encountered so far, by way of them showing the strength of their mutual respect and desire to aid one another. I get a similar feel from the conversation between Zen and Mitsuhide. 

And then .....

“The two of us will always be friends.”

ahem

Zen saying this -- in context to everything from the past four chapters -- implies that Zen is okay if their relationship is not romantic. If it is true that the mangas plot was deliberately planned out, these chapters will become increasingly interesting to look back on as the plot progresses. 

The direction of the story has changed since then if we are only looking at the big turning point of Mitsuhide rejecting Kiki.

And despite that rejection, the group is still a group despite their physical distance. 

___________________________ 

Brief note to say that in Ch 33 Izana says to Zen,

“Let me be an ally as you and Shirayuki follow your own path.”

While this is a ZenYuki comment, I see it as Akizuki reinforcing that each character is following their own path and they will be supported as they do.

___________________________

3.5) After this point is the first Lyrias arc, 

where obiyuki shippers are starting to salivate over how much is packed in just for their relationship. I mean .... remember when she pushed him to the ground because she thought he would get hit by snow? And he gives her those moony eyes just like it didn’t stop ... my heart

UGH JUST SAYING IT BECAUSE context! Shirayuki’s path is changing slowly, and Obi is still by her side.

___________________________

4) A period of transition

I think this is around the time the Bergatt arc is actually beginning, leading up even to current-manga-events.

In Chapter 53

And thus, they head towards the path that a new wind blows upon.

The times are changing.

While Shirayuki is preparing for her and Ryuu’s move to Lyrias, Zen and co. are at Wilant meeting with Haruto, who describes fools aiming to throw the country into turmoil. This is a seed for the plot that develops, ie, the Bergatt arc that was not actually resolved when Touka gets taken down at Sereg in ch (?) 86. I bring this up because I think it shows the level of planning that Akizuki has put into the story at this point.

In chapter 55, after Shirayuki has finally been able to tell Zen she’ll be away from Wistal for 2 years, and they have this conversation (slightly paraphrased) after he’s processed for a short time:

Zen -

“Sorry. The fact that you would be leaving the castle was something that I’d never considered. So my reaction was a little slow.

“I’ll hear it. I’m sure there was more you wanted to say.”

Shirayuki -

“I’m really glad that I got to meet you and come to the castle! I’m where I am now because I wanted to become Zen’s ally; and i achieved that by coming to the castle and becoming a royal pharmacist.

“I’m sure that, like how it’s always been, there’s something ahead connecting to my path now. That’s why, because there’s a place I have yet to go, I want to be there.”

This is Zen’s face after she says the above:

What is he thinking? Is he worried about their romantic relationship? I interpret it as preemptive disappointment that they may not stay together.

Shortly after we get to the point you made in your ask (sweet anon) re ch 56 with Mitsuhides comment. This adds to the reinforced theme that change is okay and they will all still be friends and allies regardless of where life takes them.

BUT IMMEDIATELY AFTER Mitsuhide says that in reference to Zen and Shirayuki, Obi responds:

Is Akizuki drawing a parallel between MitsuKiki and ZenYuki? No idea. maybe. But somehow I do not find it coincidental.

This seems like a MitsuKiki hint, meant to fuel the ultra-shippable pair that we all loved... but after the rejected proposal, it’s hard not to see the whole situation differently re: zenyuki / obiyuki and mitsukiki / hisakiki.

Then the first true ObiYuki hug, and this:

“It feels as though Obi might suddenly appear in Lyrias!”

girl you already knew. Shirayuki knows that Obi will follow her.

Obi deliberately postpones going to Lyrias, though, in order to consider his feelings for Shirayuki and how to tell Zen.

Then!! in 58-59 we get long-awaited confirmation from Obi that he has feelings for Shirayuki, and after this beautiful moment Obi goes to Lyrias to be at Shirayuki’s side, and after everything that has happened so far that is a clincher for me regarding our beloved Foreshadowing.

While discussing Obi’s crush on Shirayuki, Obi asks Zen

“Aren’t you going to propose?”

“.......................Well, I’m.. making her .. wait.”

“Master ... I don’t recommend postponing it, you know.”

I wonder about this comment. Is this a clue for us that Zen postponing engagement is going to be a negative thing in the future? 

idk maybe ╮(￣ω￣)╭

Either way ........ This transition period, in between Lyrias 1 and 2, shows us that the story is changing.

___________________________ 

I have definitely not covered all of the possible moments of foreshadowing and am actually going to leave off on that topic for the time being. I might do a part 2 as its own post. 

But for now I will switch to previously mentioned point that...

5) Obi and Shirayuki’s paths are walked together

I think the following two panels are a great way to frame their relationship. Chapter 20 in early Tanbarun arc:�� 

And then, much later in chapter 106 as they stand by the fire and Shirayuki tells Obi he’s handsome in the light:

“... because you come with me.” ( ╥ω╥ )

And then more delightful talk from chapter 104 that I think is ... gasp 

foreshadowing !!!!!

They are having this discussion after they’ve found out about Kiki becoming engaged to Hisame.

“It’s necessary to have the courage to make a decision and take a step down that path, isn’t it?”

Shirayuki is possibly saying this due to the implications of Kiki’s letter. Kiki has made the choice to take a new path from the one she had been on by marrying Hisame. 

So what about Shirayuki’s journey? Has her growth led her to a path she didn’t expect, and now it will take courage to step down it?

In recent chapters Shirayuki is shown to be seeing Obi differently and as a man:

overhearing him calling her beautiful and being surprised that he is embarrassed she heard

witnessing him going to a marriage meeting

that little moment where he is holding her wrist as a Lyrias knight tells him that the knights sister wishes him luck in love

the firelight comment oh my god

realizing she lost the pin Obi gave her and tearing up as she literally stared at him; upset that the gift she cherished is now missing and potentially realizing how very dear to her Obi actually is

fake dating and the 10 seconds of ... just... I still cant even 

Obi is the one who is by Shirayuki’s side. They developed a bond through years friendship that is now being reframed by Akizuki. The nature of their relationship has been slowly changing and I think we approaching a time in the manga where Shirayuki will realize it.

___________________________

To answer your last question ... I do think ObiYuki has a chance and I do not think the author is just toying with us. I’ve talked a lot about my ObiYuki Endgame feels in previous posts/asks. I could probably talk about it forever but this post is absurdly long .... sorry

Thank you so much for the ask! and wow thank you so much if you actually read this whole thing! 

<3 beebs <3

[akaivampire]

Obi and Shirayuki’s Development Throughout the Manga

IT IS TIME!! to update my old post “Regarding Obi’s crush on Shirayuki” because it’s been like 2 years and over 50 chapters FULL of delicious Obiyukiness  

(I’m gonna go by the order of the chapters this time)

Hope I’m not late to obiyuki pain Friday :D

(Chapter 60) 

First look at how Shirayuki blushes from happiness when she sees Obi, and that’s even before she got the chance to ‘miss him’ like it’s only been a few days yet LOOK HOW DELIGHTED SHE IS!

(Chapter 60)

This is one of the most romantic lines I've ever read, you can't change my mind.

(Chapter 61) So, I know in the first post I talked about how Shirayuki had no Idea about Obi's crush and only counted him as a friend but look at how they're GROWING! she is at a very critical point in her life, her training can determine her future and even though she thinks she's already decided on where she wants to go, when she starts saying the words she pauses and then turns to look at Obi, if that doesn't say that maybe her already-planned future isn't suiting her current self. and even Obi is surprised when he thought that she was 100% sure and certain of what she wanted.

(Chapter 62)

And here Obi was already assigned to her even officially by Zen in earlier chapters, yet here Obi asks for her permission, he asks her that because him being around her wasn't simply a temporary job but a permanent one, and he values her permission over the commands of his master and oh my god can you see how happy she is that he cares about her more than just his job I mean LOOK!!!

(Chapter 68) I think they also got even more comfortable with each other, like Shirayuki falling asleep in the same room as Obi thinking that he'll either carry her to her room (an almost certain headcanon he has a copy of her key) or stay the night with her and you know it happened soooo many times.

Now the big question is, are chapter covers considered canon? Because: 

(Chapter 71 cover)

Are you gonna tell me people like Obi and Shirayuki would just joke around and act silly with someone they aren't THAT comfortable with! I don’t think so (plus many other cool adventures on the covers)

(Chapters 72 & 73)

AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH look at this she already learned how to ride a horse yet Obi still saying you should ride with me, and she has absolutely no problem! (I mean she gets the chance to feel them muscles, so....)

And here... oh here: 

(Chapter 80) We get to the juicy stuff! can I say that she is able to recognize from the tone of his voice that shit is up (like actual serious shit) !

(Chapter 80) I know that I said this before but Shirayuki knows the type of danger she could be in, and knows that this is not a game yet she is completely relieved when he tells her that he won't let anything happen to her, and then she proceeds to give an early version of the glowing stone as a necklace, yeah It could be used to read things in the dark, but the fact that she gave him the one that most likely belonged to her instead of a random one, gave Obi the implication that it's a promise from him to return it when he gets back to her.

(Chapter 80)

Okay, so considering that most of the times Obi looks at her with honest emotions on his face she doesn't see it, but here she does! and it's to give him the complete trust that she has. This scene talks for itself I won't add commentary.

(Chapter 84) And then in the development, we have Obi, who had never been attached to anyone\anything but not seeing Shirayuki for a couple of days and he's like:I'M GONNA DIE IF I DON'T SEE HER, EVEN THOUGH IT'S ONLY BEEN A FEW DAYS!! 

(Chapter 86)

Besides my other rant about the stone, Look at how comfortable Obi is talking about it, because it IS beautiful even for other people regardless of their feelings towards Shirayuki, Obi has this moment where he can express his feelings of loving the gift (of course he didn't know that it was his own at the time) that she gave him, being able to hear himself say it out loud without fear or shame. 

Oh!..... I wonder which chapter is next? :3

Of course, you know the BIG MOMENT, but before that

(Chapter 88)

Please appreciate Obi's face, talking about how strong Shirayuki is, and yet how much that strength resulted in her just showing her weakness and worries to him, Like Obi probably finds it hard to express fears and show worry because it can be held against him, and he assumed that that would be the case with everyone, yet the fact that she was open and vulnerable around him made him feel trusted, he was allowed to see the more fragile side of her, and that he was invited in without the pressure to share his fears as well.

(Chapter 88) I mean, you can tell that Obi was surprised by this, knowing that Shirayuki always had a strong front on, he knows how much in-control she likes to be in every situation, yet here she opened up to him. Also, him picking her up was kind of there to break the tension, to ease her fears (but I still believe that it was also due to her holding his hands, YOU CAN TAKE THAT OUT OF MY COLD DEAD HANDS!)

(Chapter 88)

Obi, for the most part, thought that her relief was aimed at the fact that Zen and Mitsuhide and kiki all were safe but also oh my god I can't believe I haven't noticed this before! but his face when he says "even for me..." indicates that he had cut his share off by a lot, to finally realize it now. And look at how smug he is with Mitsuhide: like hell, I'm gonna tell you about my feels mister, not when you can't even face yours.

And aaaaaahhhhhhh look how happy kiki is for him! she got to see him from the second he came to the castle and how much of a mess he was, and now she sees that he found a new home in them, and in Shirayuki and that he is accepting that Shirayuki actually loves him and sees him more than just the random strong dude assigned to protect her reckless ass!

MOVING ON!

(Chapter 89)

Finally, everything is settled and Shirayuki is finally calm and relieved that all is good and BAM Obi throws a hella flirty line at her! And I have a feeling her mind drifted to the fact that she was wearing the hair ornament that he gave her (outright just begging him to notice it and compliment her like he always does) and now he's calling her the most beautiful lady in all of Lyrias, but when she simply says that he's skillful in changing his voice (flirting!) HE'S THE ONE BLUSHING AND HIDING HIS FACE! OH MY GOD OBI PLEASE STOP TORTURING YOURSELF!!

(Chapter 89)

And then, he goes from complimenting her out loud in public, to telling the story of how his FIFTH favorite moment is finding the woman he is madly in love with along with the kid he adopted with her waiting for him in time only ghosts lurk around in Lyrias with a hot delicious meal that SHIRAYUKI COOKED (like come on, the lyrias crew works so hard they probably finished whatever soup was made for dinner) 

Okay, I'm not gonna "talk about" as much as I will scream about the next scene since I already have an entire post about it.

(Chapter 90)

Look at how happy they are! They weren't like this just like a year earlier, and their development is soooo consistent and slow and PERFECT! Also, look at Obi! 

LOOK!

(Chapter 90) AT

(Chapter 90) HIM!!!

(Chapter 90)

What comes next is what I think is a very underestimated scene. 

(Chapter 98) The thing that gets me here is in the details, the way Shirayuki is gently looking at him while asking to check on him, it's not a command that usually works with him (since he'd usually avoid it that way) and look at the choice of words 

"How about I examine your injuries and see how they're doing" 

It's not at all forceful, she's not barging into his personal space with the excuse to check on him, she's giving him the choice and that is something that will forever make me happy about where they are now in their relationship.

(Chapter 32) 

And all of this shows in how Obi handles the treatment and care, in the beginning Obi is feeling a bit uneasy, like he's a burden, it's stressful when people show that they care, because to Obi it usually means that they want something in return, and he's conflicted because he's only seen good from his new friends but still can't throw away his past that easily.

(Chapter 96)

Look how relaxed he is here, he's finding himself trusting Shirayuki with his weaknesses more, being exposed to her more.

(Chapter 97)

And finally!!!! Obi is using his "my duty ""AS YOUR KNIGHT""" to spend time with Shirayuki and escort her to places, say, for example, walking down a romantically lit snowy street at night, that's some high-quality use of his title (thanks Zen!)

(Chapter 97) AND OH MY GOD, CAN YOU LOOK AT THIS AND NOT CALL IT FLIRTING! come on!! she is obviously teasing him, and Obi is not even surprised! he's just going along with it aaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!

(Chapter 97) Need I say anything? those scenes are a blessing on their own. 

Okay, so on this part there aren't many scenes I can quote from, and it's more of a pure speculation as to why Obi had that blind date\ planned marriage, I want to say that before the Berget arc, when Obi was being pulled into politics and him being at a good age and state to marry someone, although I'm certain he refused all the time, I think he was dragged into this by accident, that maybe a part of him believed that maybe he should actually try to build a family with marriage, just a hint of an idea in the back of his head landed him there, finding himself giving a yes while in a daze of some sort, but then everything that happened with Shirayuki after that, including him realizing that he had already found a family in his friends, and in Shirayuki and Ryuu, made him discard that idea completely and end the 'engagement' before it even starts, and before the situation gets bigger. though this is pure speculation.

(Chapter 98)

I just... I love the wording of his confession.

"my feelings lie with the young miss" 

It's not that he simply loves her, he's making it sound like it's out of his control, that his feelings are with shirayuki, they don’t belong to him anymore, that she has complete control over them, she has full ownership of his heart and instead of thinking that he's in trouble because of it, he accepts it, he accepts it enough to say it to his dear friend, to not hide it anymore. also, the fact that 50 chapters ago when Obi confessed to Zen, he said that he likes\loves her (depending on the translation) he worded it as if they were still his feelings at the time, unlike now. 

(Chapter 99) I want to throw this into the mix and say that Obi is waaay happier now that he is sure of where his feelings are, and is accepting them whether they get returned or not, and Shirayuki seems to notice some difference in Obi, and I’m willing to bet that she'll notice even more differences, more of Obi being more comfortable around her and being more open around her, which I think is a nice addition to the manga and where it's heading in the future.

In conclusion, you get a bonus:

the cleaning ninja.

[bubblesthemonsterartist]

AnS Gift Exchange

Authors notes: Takes place in the late 60’s/early 70’s NYC. The ballet that they are working on is La Bayadère. A much longer story exists in my head, but here’s a taste. I have no idea what I am doing in a ballet AU, but here we are and it’s all y’all’s fault. And Ana’s. It’s also Ana’s fault. Because how can someone have a reaction like that and not expect something like this to happen?

Special shout out to @sabraeal & @rebeccaravenroth. I was in desperate need of first person knowledge of ballet and y’all delivered. THANK YOU.

For Ana <3 (@heartamplifier)

Pink tulle and pigtails run underfoot with a squeal and Shirayuki just barely avoids stumbling over when she is steadied by a firm hand as petite as her own. Looking up, she is met by Kiki’s faintly amused expression and Shirayuki feels her cheeks heat. Why did everyone here have to be so pretty? Mumbling her apologies, Shirayuki rights herself and follows the other woman into the studio.

The room is filled with small children much like the one who just tripped her, either laid out on the floor as they “helped” one another stretch or dangling themselves from the lowered barre. It was a sea of pink and giggles with one lone boy hovering at the edge of the classroom.

Shirayuki can’t help but be confused as she takes in the scene. This couldn’t be what Zen meant when he said that he was going to ensure that she was ready for the prima auditions.

She’s so bewildered at the scene that she doesn’t even notice Kiki leave to gather the instructor until they both are at her side.

“Shirayuki,” Kiki’s voice and expression as placid as ever calls her attention from the room. Shirayuki turns her head and her heart bottoms out when she takes not of the tall, black clad figure at her side. “I trust you two remember one another?”

It’s rude, but Shirayuki can’t prevent her expression from stretching into a frown. For his part, Obi looks uncomfortable as well, reaching behind his head with a forced grin.

“Yes,” she replies slowly. How could she forget the man who, just a few weeks ago, tried to ruin her auditions by soaking her pointe shoes just moments before she was to try out for the company? She had barely managed to pass.

“Of course I remember the mademoiselle,” Obi responds with a nervous laugh, and… there’s something about his voice that is different. It’s not the American accent she is becoming accustomed to and she has to strain a little more than normal to understand him.

No one could ever accuse Kiki of being circumfluous. She gets straight to the point. “Zen would like you to train Shirayuki for Nikiya’s role.”

The both of them blanche, and Obi stills for just a moment, almost imperceptible if she wasn’t looking carefully for a reaction. After a beat, his face stretches in a grin that is too big to be genuine. “I’m sure the Boss could find someone more suitable—”

“He says you,” Kiki interrupts smartly, causing Obi to wince.

Shirayuki’s own misgivings must be plain on her face for when Kiki turns back to her, the other woman’s face smooths into a warmer expression.

“Obi teaches the intensives,” Kiki explains. When Shirayuki turns her head sharply to give the room a skeptical sweep, taking in the children and impatient mothers sitting along the edges of the studio, Kiki’s lips curve into a rare ghost of a smile. “And Level 1.”

Obi winks when Shirayuki turns her gaze back to him. Her frown deepens.

“I’ll leave you two to work out the details,” Kiki continues without preamble. “Please, Shirayuki, let me know if the situation becomes too unbearable and we’ll work something else out.”

And with those words, she swiftly departs, leaving Obi and Shirayuki staring awkwardly at one another.

It’s Obi who breaks the silence. “Eh— I have a class,” he gestures. “It starts soon?”

Shirayuki flushes, glancing quickly across the room once more. One little girl is staring at them both with an impatient scowl. “Ah, right. Ano, I have rehearsals until 2?”

When she looks back at him, he’s not looking in her eyes but at her neck. A faint tickling sensation informs her that her hair has, yet again, fallen from its bun—a frustrating recurring instance since she cut most of it off less than a month prior. Just as she is about to reach up to tuck the wayward strands behind her ear, she finds his hand is inches from her face.

Shirayuki flinches, taking a rapid step back.

His hand hovers in between them for a moment before slowly lowering. When she looks back at him, his face is unreadable. “I can meet you at 3,” Obi finally replies after a long moment. “Studio B is available at that time of the day.”

Shirayuki nods, pointedly looking at the floor as she pushes her hair back behind her ear. “Mm. That’s fine. I’ll, ah, let you get to your class then.”

She begins to bow before remembering that this is not the way things are done here. Glancing up at him, she remembers watching Kiki and nods curtly before turning towards the door. Behind her, she can hear the scoring of music and the pattering of little feet.

She knows she should be grateful that he’s taking time out of his day to help her, but the thought of working so intimately with a person who actively tried to sabotage her future in this country galls her. On top of that, Shirayuki didn’t even think she wanted to be a prima at this point in her career, and she’s not sure that Zen’s grand idea was worth her working one on one with this man, but--

“Good morning, my little ballerini’s!” Obi’s voice echoes through the room, his hands clapping together and Shirayuki spares one more backward glance as his troop of toddlers circle up, arms out and looking towards him with silly grins as he begins to prance across the studio. When they begin to mimic him, he looks every inch the mother duck.

--maybe it wouldn’t be that bad.

~ ~ ~

It’s bad.

Yuzuri is the one who grabs her arm when she finds out, fluttering with excitement and talking much too quickly about her private lesson for her to keep up. She drags her out as soon as rehearsal is finished to push her towards the window overlooking another studio.

“Him? You mean him, right?”

She looks through the window to see Obi, now with a Henley pulled over his unitard, weaving through a throng of teenagers moving through the steps of a routine. From what she can see, there doesn’t seem to be any major flaws in their stature, but Obi apparently catches them as he grabs arms, nudges legs with his feet and turns hips minisculely.

He’s far more hands on that any instructor she has worked with, and from the flush on certain girl’s expressions, she can tell that some of their mistakes are intentional.

“Yes, that’s him,” she replies, and the excitement on Yuzuri’s face is blinding.

“Mademoiselle Ashlan!” Obi admonishes, drawing Shirayuki’s attention back to the studio as he comes up alongside a tiny brunette. “No one wants to watch you hop around like a bunny on stage.”

She can’t hear the young woman’s response, but Obi grin splits his face before he suddenly becomes taller, the rest of the classroom delicately bringing their fingers to their lips to conceal their giggling. “Like this, Mademoiselle Ashlan.”

Shirayuki gapes. “He knows pointe?”

Yuzuri’s leans towards her, as if she is imparting an issue of national security. “I hear they make them do everything in the Russian Ballet.”

~ ~ ~

Shirayuki enters the empty studio at a quarter ‘til, her footsteps echoing across the floorboards and her hair tightly pulled back. Thankfully, Obi is not there yet so she fiddles with the cassette player, fast forwarding until she gets to the appropriate score.

The minutes tick by as she runs through her warm ups and she glances at the clock again. Five minutes ‘til, and he’s still not there.

Maybe he forgot? She knows that it might be too much to hope for.

Deciding that it would be a waste of the space to not practice at the very least, she pounds out the tempo of the music in her head, raises her arms, and sinks into the choreography. She’s only seen this particular dance a handful of times before it was announced that Haki would be unable to perform the role due to her pregnancy and Shirayuki pauses several times, attempting to remember.

It happens, as it is wont to do, that she reaches a point that memory no longer serves her. “Et-o,” to mumbles to herself, “it is three runs or four?”

“It’s three runs and then a tour jete.”

The voice comes from close, so close that she can feel the vibration against her back and she yelps in surprise. Turning on her heels, she looks up and finds Obi hovering over her and his lips trembling.

“How long have you been there?” she breathes, hand pressed to her pounding heart.

The edges of his eyes crinkle. “Long enough.”

Shirayuki feels the blood rush up to her cheeks as she looks up at him. He’s tall, her acknowledgement of that fact feeling more acute now that they are alone together, and a study of attempted aloofness—he reminds her somewhat of Izana, except Izana didn’t carry the same tension in his shoulders. Izana didn’t carry anything, actually, except Haki.

Her eyes go wide, gesturing towards the large wooden stick loosely grasped in Obi’s hand. “Ahh… What’s…?”

Obi looks down at where she’s pointing. “Ah, this?” He shrugs, lifting and pressing one end of the stick to her shoulder until it is squared with the other side. “This is to adjust your posture.”

She rubs the skin where he had touched her and mutters, “It looks like a keisaku.” At his confused look, she clarifies, “You know? What the monks use to hit you if you are falling asleep?”

Obi laughs, and the sound is brighter than anything she has heard from him. “I was taught with these back home, but don’t worry. I don’t hit,” he comments as he walks away, pulling his Henley off and revealing skin that she had been too busy to notice in the morning. Her eyes go wide at the crisscross of marks slashing his back and upper arms.

Is he some sort of gangster?

“Alright mademoiselle, from the top,” Obi announces, turning around and laying the stick across his shoulders.

Shirayuki’s mind goes black and she suddenly feels like she is scrambling, nerves filling her body with wet concrete. “Why?” she asks stupidly.

That twitch is back at the edge of his lips. “You’re always in the chorus line. I need to see what you’re like when you’re not hiding.”

Irritation wells in her. “I don’t hide,” she protests.

Obi makes a non-committal sound. “Is that so?” he murmurs, tilting his head and Shirayuki feels her heart skip a beat at the intent look he levels her with. “Are you ready to be a prima, then?”

Shirayuki’s lips straighten into a flat line. “I don’t know,” she answers honestly. “But we’re both here and Zen has asked you to teach me. So… please.”

His lips stretch into a patient smile. “Very well. Let’s both see what we got ourselves into, shall we?”

~ ~ ~

He’s not a gangster; he’s a monster.

It’s barely been fifteen minutes and she can feel her hair, once so prim on the top of her head, clinging to her face, but any attempt to brush it out of the way has been met with that infernal stick, firmly keeping her hands away.

Her lungs burn and she’s soaked with sweat, but he hasn’t let up on her. Not yet. He’s fixated on getting her through this segment and has set a brutal pace, insisting she repeat the same set of steps over and over.

“Again.”

She hates that word, and she especially hates how calmly he repeats it, but at least she’s no longer worrying about being a stranger in a strange land or Zen’s support that she is certain she doesn’t deserve or Izana’s steady judgmental gaze constantly watching her for a misstep: All that she has in her is a drive to get through this once without Obi interrupting her.

She’s almost there.

Bourree, bouree, bouree, arabesque, run, run, run, tou—

Wood cracks against the floorboards. “Wrong foot, mademoiselle! Again.”

~ ~ ~

“I wonder…” he comments, almost conversational, as he circles her slowly. She’s in absolute agony, balancing one toe with her other knee bending at the hip.

“What do you wonder?” she manages between shaking breath. Her foot slips slightly, only to be pushed back into position by that stupid, stupid stick.

“You’re missing… something. I can only teach you technique. It’s up to you to go deeper.”

Irritation flares deep in her belly. She was willing to give him a second chance. She was willing to be forgiving, but now she hates him. She hates him, she hates him, she. hates. him.

Shirayuki levels him with a glare and his smile brightens, looking far too pleased; those strange, cat-like eyes of his glittering as wood presses to her cheek to redirect her vision forward once more.

“Have you ever been in love?”

The question makes her sway, falling out of the releve, and he tuts, disappointed. She doesn’t even need to hear him instruct her to fall back into position. “W- why does that even matter?” she asks, her cheeks hot.

There’s a soft laugh that emerges from deep inside his throat. “Nikiya is heartbroken, mademoiselle. She’s being forced to dance for her lover and his betrothed.” Obi tilts towards her, his voice dropping. “It matters if you can identify with her.”

The flush on her cheeks has moved to her ears. She hopes that he thinks that it is exertion and it not the question itself. “Have you?” she claps back, wobbling violently before righting herself.

The light behind Obi’s eyes has closed off when she can look back him, that fake smirk back in place. “Then have you ever longed for something with everything in you?” he asks, this time softly.

Shirayuki feels off-balanced, shaking, but she doesn’t fall out of position this time. Her brows furrow, thinking back to all the years that she didn’t belong because she looked different, the desperate loneliness that came after her grandparents followed her mother into death, and the anxious search for a place of her own after she was driven from the dance community in Japan.

Obi taps her nose. “That. Right there. If you don’t know love yet, use that.”

~ ~ ~

Shirayuki kicks into a tour jete before falling into a kneel, her arms stretching towards the heavens and her vision swimming.

That was it. She made it.

Her breath is still forcing its way into her lungs when Obi squats beside her. She looks at him, her eyes half desperate, half prepared to hear that dreaded word again, but he looks pleased. “Excellent, mademoiselle! Excellent.”

She can scarcely believe it, blinking rapidly as his palm pushes the sweaty mat of hair from her face. The itching finally stops. “You weren’t even counting by the end. Much better.”

Shirayuki lets out a huff of exhausted laughter, tumbling out of the kneel and is surprised at the feel of his hands catching her so she doesn’t hit the ground. Dragging her eyes open, she finds him as startled as she is. It is somewhat satisfying, though, to see him looking off-kilter.

Obi makes a soft noise, shifting her in his arms so that she is balanced on under her own weight and releases her. Pulling back, he awkwardly pats her arm as his mouth stretches into a tense grin. “You’re not done yet, though. We need to move into the death scene next time.”

Shirayuki’s briefly won elation turns to dust in an instant and she falls back onto the floor, letting out a long, painful groan.