Author's Preface
OBI CLIMBED ONTO HIS HORSE, AND MITSHUHID HANDED HIM THE GIRL. HER FACE RESTED AGAINST HIS CHEST, AND HE COULD FEEL HER BREATHING SLOWING BACK TO NORMAL. SHIRAYUKI CLIMBED ON THE HORSE WITH ZEN AND SENT A CONCERNED LOOK TOWARD THE GIRL. THEY STARTED THEIR RIDE BACK TOWARD THE CASTLE. OBI COULDN'T STOP HIMSELF FROM MARVELING AT HER HAIR. HE HAD JUST LEARNED HOW TO SEE YUKI'S RED HAIR AS NORMAL; NOW HE WAS FACED WITH BLUE.
MESMERIZED, OBI REACHED OUT TO TOUCH HER. THE HORSE SNORTED, BRINGING HIM BACK TO HIS SENSES. HE SHOOK HIS HEAD AND STARED FORWARD.
KIKI LOOKED AT THE GIRL, THEN AT ZEN, AND SAID, "WHAT TO DO IF SHE TRIES TO FIGHT US AGAIN?"
ZEN SCRATCHED HIS HEAD. "HOPEFULLY WE CAN CONVINCE HER THAT WE ARE NOT THE BAD PEOPLE, AND IF THAT DOES NOT WORK WE WILL DEAL WITH HER ACCORDINGLY."
KIKI NODDED, AND THE GROUP RODE THE REST OF THE WAY IN SILENCE. BEFORE REACHING THE CASTLE GATES, OBI THREW HIS COAT OVER THE GIRL'S HEAD, NOT WANTING TO DRAW TOO MUCH ATTENTION TO HER.
AS THEY GOT THROUGH THE GATES, ONE OF THE GUARDS SNICKERED. "HEY OBI, WHO'S UNDER THE COAT, IS IT A BEAUTY?"
OBI LOOKED AT THEM THEN SMILED, GRABBING THE BACK OF HIS NECK. "SHE IS JUST A SLEEPING GIRL. I WAS TRYING TO KEEP THE SUN OUT OF HER EYES WHILE SHE RESTS."
ONE OF THE GUARDS SWOONED THEN LOOKED AT OBI. "OBI, YOU'RE SUCH A KIND AND GENTLE PERSON. SHE'LL BE OVERJOYED WHEN SHE WAKES UP."
"SO OVERJOYED SHE'LL TRY TO PUNCH ME IN THE FACE," OBI MUMBLED BEFORE HE RODE OFF.
