the greatest love story ever told;

[succinct]

[ She had known. Both of them had known, that being aides to Prince Zen mean facing danger on all sides, at any given time. They had known that their first priority was their prince.

And yet, the amount of panic and anger that surges up when she sees Mitsuhide fall in the middle of a bandit attack is so sudden that Kiki almost stumbles from the overwhelming force of it. She doesn't, of course; there are too many attackers left standing, and while Zen has escaped with Shirayuki, her partner has fallen.

She doesn't bother to check on him, to verify how bad his injuries are. Instead, Kiki throws herself into the fight with renewed fervor, driving them all away from Mitsuhide, cutting them down in silent, angry slashes.

And when she's left standing, she staggers as quickly as she can, dropping to her knees beside Mitsuhide and automatically checking him for the worst of his injuries with slightly shaking fingers. Adrenaline, she tells herself. She'd be steady otherwise. ]

Answer me. Mitsuhide!

Comments

[succinct]

[ Her own lips quirk up in a smile, one not as wide, but probably just as genuine. ]

You mean, when you realized I wasn't a man?

[cavaliering]

[Okay, now there's the time for embarrassment. He blushes, chuckling ruefully.]

Alright, you've got me there. I really messed that one up, huh?

[...but now that it's confirmed, his eyes are drooping, even if he's doing his absolutely best to stay awake.]

Still...I'm glad you're by my side now.

[succinct]

[ after a pause, Kiki reaches out to rest a hand on his head. ]

Go to sleep. I'm not going anywhere.

[cavaliering]

[He just sighs at that, in clear relief, and slumps a little, finally allowing himself to relax.

After all, Kiki is there, and everything he'd ever wanted has come true, so what does he even have to stay awake for?]

...All right...

[And he'll easily drift off to sleep with Kiki at his side.]

[succinct]

[ True to her word, she won't budge. She'll eventually drag a chair to his bedside and keep watch over him, only dozing every so often. Zen understands. ]