Night came. The sun had set hours ago but Shirayuki and Obi; especially Obi, didn't leave your side. They didn't really understand why you seemed to be unconscious for so long but it didn't mean they were going to leave so suddenly. There were bandages and cotton patches littered across your body, along your back and you legs, your arms and your face too. The blood was cleared long ago and your face had dropped as peace was written over your face.

Obi had his hand attached to yours, he wasn't disturbed nor ashamed by what he was doing no matter how unlike him it seemed. Shirayuki could only look at your hand; your small and weak hand that was being held by a larger and stronger one, and she smiled but didn't break the silence.

The door opened quietly and Ryuu walked in, he had a tray, three cups of steaming tea though Obi looked up quietly to smirk towards the twelve year old, letting you go to lean back in his chair and Shirayuki stood as he entered, "It's getting late. You two should get some rest."

"Right! You're right, uh, I'll..-" The red-haired girl looked a bit flustered, tired as well when her eyes dropped a little as she looked towards Ryuu and then to Obi. Ryuu put the tray down, smiling a little when he also showed minor signs of fatigue, "Don't worry, I made tea."

Obi didn't move, he opt to stay in his seat quietly as he resembled a guard dog besides you. Your breathing was regulated and he felt at ease by the even motions of your chest rising and falling every few seconds. He saw Shirayuki gratefully grab a cup of tea, wrapping her two hands around it and Ryuu also took one, approaching you as he stood on the other side of Obi.

The Princes' aide glanced at Ryuu and the way the genius pharmacist looked over your body, your face with a gentle gaze, "She's weak. She may be a sleep for longer than you expect." Obi's eyes widened and Shirayuki removed the edge of the tea cup from her mouth, "Asleep? You mean she isn't unconscious from her wounds?"

"You healed her wounds before.. Now.. now she's sleeping so that her body can recover; psychologically, emotionally too. Do you know what happened to her?"

He looked at his pupil to find her observing Obi again, urging him to answer as Zen had given him the order to watch over you, "I don't know what happened to her, she was just real bad, all blood and limping and-"

"She refused to let me help her, she didn't want to be helped."

"Was this the right thing? Some people are more grateful that they were left alone whether in pain or not."

Despite the furrowing oh his brows and the fact that he almost stood upon hearing this, he didn't allow himself to be heard as he stood without being involved. Obi, maybe he could understand but he couldn't imagine leaving you to flow down that river instead of saving you when he did. The thought didn't even cross his mind when he jumped in the water, startling your horse when he brought you back to safety.

"When will she wake up?"

The morning came and then the sun passed through the sky as more time flew by. Obi only did what he was told by Zen but other than that, the Prince would always find him seated by your side. The white-haired male was curious about Obi's behaviour towards you but he didn't say anything about it - yet. He often found Obi grabbing some kind of clean cloth so he could wet it under a tap and clean your face, your neck as well. He would move your hair from your face and Zen almost thought it was a fairy tale he was watching.

"You're starting to look like a stalker, Obi."

He jumped, turning to see his master while the Prince leaned against the door frame. Obi looked away, smiling lightly as he almost denied it, "I wouldn't want to wake up alone in a place I've never been in. I'm just waiting."

"Yeah, well, be prepared for when Kiki and Mitsuhide get back, they're gonna be not-so-happy about this." Zen's smooth voice had a teasing tone and Obi arched a brow, standing besides you while facing his master as well.

"They don't know she's here? Why would they be angry about it?"

Zen made a face, almost looking nervous before smiling that carefree smile that seemed to make Obi feel more at ease, "I sent them on an errand the day when I knew we'd be bringing her here an- Uh.."

Zen had turned his head, looking outside the room and his eyes widened, Obi's eyes widened when the door was slammed shut and Zen seemed to be guarding it from the outside, a voice being heard through the door, "Prince Zen!"

Obi's face fell, looking from you and then to the door that sounded as if someone had their body roughly pressed against it, "Uh hey~ how was your trip, guys? Kiki? Mitsu- Hey!" The door knob shook violently and Obi only sat down, "What are you hiding, Zen?"

"M-Me? I'm not hiding anything?! Shirayuki is trying to work, that's all!"

Mitsuhide's strong voice came through to which Zen answered nervously, his voice unsure as an obvious giveaway that he was lying. Nevertheless, they managed to break through and Kiki got in first, looking around quickly before her eyes settled on Obi, then to the sleeping girl beside him and they raised a brow, Mitsuhide stepping forward to inspect her, "She a friend of yours or..?"

Kiki rolled her eyes, looking down at the girl and then to the aide who had been questioning Obi. Obi smirked inwardly and Zen frowned with a slight cringe, readying himself for the scolding he'd receive for bringing you in the castle, despite how much he cared for his townspeople, "Are you dumb? She's the girl who broke in to take the poisoned apples from Shirayuki and escaped. Why is she here, is what I want to know. Prince?"

To her hard yet inquisitive voice, Zen seemed to back away, circling around the room until he was beside (or hiding behind) Obi, "She was injured and Obi found her, she almost died."

"What if she has other motives?" Kiki was quick to retort, questioning the real reasons you may be here when she could clearly see you were injured and healing, she thought of all possible possibilities anyway as she was also the Princes' aide, "Why would she think of anything like that when she was saved, though? Why would anyone hurt the people that helped them?" Zen replied, this time standing with his hands on his waist and his brows furrowed, Obi noticed his defensive stance but when he looked to the girl in the bed, he was quick to pull a smirk and speak, "Why hello there, sleeping beauty."