[ application ]
[ Player Name ] : Laenavesse
[ Personal LJ ] : laenavesse
[ Age ] : 23
[ Timezone ] : GMT -6 (CST)
[ Other Characters ] : N/A
[ Character's Name ] : Obi
[ Character's Age ] : ...This is actually unknown. But I'm going to take a guess at 19-20. If I ever learn though, I'll fix it xD
[ Series ] : Akagami no Shirayukihime
[ Canon Point ] : Post Chapter 20
[ History ] :
Obi was originally hired to assassinate Shirayuki by the Marquis Haruka. He first spied on Zen and Shirayuki together, and then after an order from the Marquis went out and told the guards at the castle gates (Gate of Poets to be exact) that Shirayuki was no longer allowed to enter the castle. Unfortunately the plan didn't go quite as expected since the guards had already let her in. Shirayuki also overheard the conversation, and on her way to see Zen to confirm the orders, Obi fires an arrow with a note telling her to leave. However, she does the exact opposite, surprising him.
He reappears after Marquis Haruka and Shirayuki meet, commenting on Shirayuki's determination. Of course the only reason why he was speaking to begin with was because Zen's aides, Mitsuhide and Kiki had caught him. But he tells her that the Marquis wasn't the one who gave the order to the guards or who shot the arrow; it was him. However the Marquis admits that he was the one who told Obi to perform those actions.
After Zen appears and sends the Marquis away, Obi is approached by Zen and already starts calling him "master". After some subtle threatening, Obi tells Zen he has no intention of harming Shirayuki again and has in fact taken a liking to her, also noting she would be a good influence for Zen. Ever since, Obi has served under Zen, even though Zen never asked him to.
His next major appearance is in reporting about the situation out in Fortress Raxd. He comes along with the group as they go to investigate what's going on, and he's the first to report that all of the soldiers were inside sleeping. During this time he starts learning about both Kiki and Mitsuhide, and just pretty much observing everyone in general. They later learn that the cause of the soldiers' illness was due to grains from a load of firewood that thieves had delivered under a false pretense and later stole everything from the weapon. So he gets a chance to bust up some thieves when Zen and his party go out to punish them.
After everyone is treated, he's sitting up in a tree enjoying a nice bottle when he spots Shirayuki passing below him. He notices that she seems off and goes to tell Zen since he had a feeling Zen wouldn't like seeing him around her due to his previous offense...only to wind up catching her before she falls. When questioned, he just tells her that he's Zen's servant and not to worry about it. But once he hears a window creak open, he immediately drops the heavy load he had had been holding and hides up in a nearby corner on the ceiling. He's a cat, no lie.
Once the coast is clear, he hops back down. He asks if Shirayuki is suspicious of him, but when she tells him that she isn't, particularly after he helped her before, he's once again surprised by her response. When he notes that she's also becoming ill, Shirayuki asks him to keep it from Zen. He complies, but only because he can see that Shirayuki wants to keep the energetic atmosphere without everyone worrying about her. And once again, Obi has to wonder about Shirayuki and her personality.
During a party that is thrown at the castle for the Prince Raji of Tanburn's arrival, Obi skips out because Marquis Haruka was there and instead happens to meet Shirayuki who was wandering outside. So he drags her so that they can listen in on what's going on. When they hear Izana, Zen's brother, offer the Prince Raji to meet Shirayuki, however, things start taking a turn for the worst. Raji had originally sought after Shirayuki because of her hair, and it was Zen who rescued her. Obi tells her he has to return, but along the way Shirayuki grips his sleeve under the fear that she may have to return to her home country.
After returning from a short leave granted by Zen, he comes back to find out various things had happened while he was gone. Such as the assumption that Zen and Shirayuki may be getting engaged. Because of the news, different families have sent out spies. To help keep an eye on her, Zen appoints Obi to help watch over her. Kiki delivers him to where Shirayuki is working and he offers to help them pick up loca nuts. During this time, they're all wearing masks so as a precaution against the strong smell, and when Obi sees Shirayuki smile, for some unknown reason he just reaches out and removes her mask. It's a bit of an awkward moment for him, but they get back to work as if nothing happened.
Later on, while helping her bring things to the basement, he asks Shirayuki if it would be better if Zen wasn't a prince. The reaction he gets surprises him. Shirayuki told him that if he asked that again, she would take offense and gets rather serious with him. Afterward, the head pharmacist gives them all a bit of wine, which he has no problem consuming. Shirayuki, on the other hand, couldn't tolerate it at all, so he was left behind to watch her. They end up going out for a walk, and Obi winds up having to listen to Shirayuki's bemoaning. Which he actually doesn't mind since he learns more about the girl and can observe.
Once again the topic about Zen being prince is brought up, and this time Shirayuki says the position is perfect for him and he'll always have people around him. Obi tells her he thinks Zen is the way he is because she's there. He continues to play the "big brother" role and gives her advice, telling her that if she doesn't know what she should do, she should just go out and find it. He also mentally compares her to Zen, noting how similar they really are. He also tells her he could take her to Raxd, but he had already been there. He relays the message that they're doing find and they were hanging in there.
When Shirayuki thanks him, Obi can't really believe his ears. No one had ever really thanked him before, so it caught him off guard. At that point, they hear Shirayuki's boss calling for them, and she promptly collapses. But once again, Obi is there to catch her. While she's out, he states that he was only there to watch them since it was fun. After thinking back about the various interactions he had with both Shirayuki and Zen, he notes that he had decided to stay in a "troublesome" place.
He had sent Zen a letter about the situation and was still in the process of carrying Shirayuki when they meet. He's actually rather nonchalant about the whole thing, in contrast to Zen panicking and getting rather heated about the whole ordeal. After bringing her back, the two talk and Obi tells Zen what Shirayuki had planned to do. Near the end of their talk, Zen tosses Obi an ID that gave him an official title as "Personal Messenger of Clarines' Second Prince." Obi asks Zen if it's alright for him to give him something so easily, but Zen replies that he was doing it because he has faith in Obi. He's no longer Shirayuki's bodyguard, but he's still going to follow her around and report anything that happens. So he technically is still her bodyguard.
Obi helps Shirayuki out when the bird challenge happens. Basically they are trying to see if the birds from an island could be use as messenger birds, thus saving them and preventing the land lord from hunting them. Some time after Shirayuki goes to the fortress and gets locked in a room by the viscount, Obi arrives to make sure everything is fine. However, he arrives just in time to see Shirayuki jump out of the window several floors up into the lake. He was pretty stunned. But when she asks him for help to find the bell that the viscount had thrown, he readily complies. Though not without noticing the wound on her arm. They didn't find it, but the bird was actually able to find it and helped direct their search from there.
After the event, Obi noticed two things: Zen looking rather emotional, and when Shirayuki rode with him, he felt her hand was hot. Suspicions abound as he further notices the two acting strangely. Well, mostly Shirayuki, but it was around Zen.
Shirayuki asks if he could take her to the forest, though without really stating why. He doesn't bother asking since she's so quiet, but it does make him wonder. And now for the most...interesting scene. During the walk, his gaze drifts down toward Shirayuki's hand, and it looks like he was actually reaching out to take it. However, the action is interrupted when Zen and the others show up. No one noticed, which was probably a good thing. When asked why they were all the way out there, Shirayuki immediately hid behind Obi, much to everyone's surprise. He asks her why she's hiding, and is only confused further when she said she's just surprised. After taking a note of the situation, Obi blocks Zen's way and tells Shirayuki to run, which she does. When Zen asks Obi what he said to her, Obi just tells him he didn't say anything. But he does remark that Zen got demoted. Zen then tells them to wait at the castle, and Obi just silently wishes Shirayuki good luck as Zen chases after her, knowing full well what his master intends to do.
The next major event occurs when the group goes off on a recreational trip for their day off. Obi is sent to fetch Shirayuki, and he does so by knocking on her window, asking her to come with him. He doesn't actually tell her everything, though, which results in Zen smacking him. During their little trip, Obi asks Zen how he was going to turn this outing into more of a date. When Zen asks him what girls would like, he tells him he doesn't know. Obi, Mitsuhide, and Kiki go to see a swordsmanship competition. Obi actually participates in the hand-to-hand combat and wins the prize, along with a hair bauble from his opponent. He gives this to Shirayuki, telling her that when she's out with Zen again, show him that that's what a girl would want.
Some time later, a guy named Mihaya arrives. Obi learns that he had kidnapped Shirayuki some time before he arrived, and already designates him as an enemy. But they learn that some blond haired guy is asking around about Shirayuki, and they wonder if he may try to kidnap her. That very same night, an invitation from Prince Raji appears for Shirayuki to attend a dinner party. She agrees to go, and Zen states the condition that someone he trusts will escort her. The next day, Obi runs into Shirayuki all dressed up nicely for her dance lesson, and he's surprised. Mostly because he's never seen her like that. He then tells her that he'll be escorting Mihaya in order to collect more information, so off to the harbor he goes. While there, he basically threatens Mihaya that if he does anything to interfere with Zen or Shiraya, he'll "send [him] back up to that mountain choking on that scarf of [his]." This of course unnerves Mihaya.
After some time, they still had yet to find any adequate information. Obi is wandering around when he sees Mitsuhide and Kiki, and join them in fetching Zen. They find him practicing his sword fighting, and Mitsuhide tells Obi that Zen really wants to protect him himself. The next moment, Obi steps out and challenges him to a contest. If he wins, he'll escort Shirayuki in his place for him. If he loses, Zen would be her escort. After a rather quick fight, Obi eventually wins using his martial arts, and Zen recognizes him to be her escort.
As they prepare to leave, Shirayuki tells Obi she was surprised he was coming with her since Zen only told her last night. When he asks if Zen told her how he was chosen and she says no, he quickly dismisses it. But not without saying that it was Zen who really wanted to be with her. The two then meet the other person coming with them, and it turns out to be Marquis Haruka. Cue the awkward. Obi is also made to sit in the carriage, much to his displeasure.
The trip to Tanburn is uneventful, and they soon arrive. Along the way he notices he's wearing the hair bauble he had given her before (even if it's more because Zen told her she looked good with it on), and once again there's a moment of awkward from him. He starts to ask about it, but instead changes the question. When they actually arrive into the capital, Obi notices the happy expression on Shirayuki's face. He then reflects on how returning home evidentally does bring happiness...or so he's been told. This could suggest that if Obi were to return home, he wouldn't feel the same as Shirayuki.
They soon arrive to Shanazard Castle and are brought to see Prince Raji. However they are both startled when they both hear him ask, in a rather incredulous and strained voice, why she even came. Regardless, Obi formerly introduces himself, using that "refined, noble" disposition and even changing his voice slightly. The two are set to stay in adjoining rooms, which is, as Obi says, convenient. After telling her to call him should there be any trouble and vice versa, Obi sets out to explore and investigate the castle like the ninja that he is.
[ Personality ] :
Obi has quite the personality, which is only befitting for a ninja like himself. Like a ninja, he tends to laze about in the shadows of trees and observe everything that goes around him. He also has a mysterious air about him as he can also be very secretive and doesn't say much about himself unless necessary. In this way, he can also blend in rather well, making himself as unnoticeable as possible. He's usually smiling, but there are times when that smile is more of a secretive, sly smile. He's not necessarily a "stepford smiler", but he could pull it off without too much trouble if he wanted to.
However, he is also very much a boy and acts like one. He's rather friendly, being able to get along with just about everyone except Kiki (he has good relations, but he wouldn't be able to get away with a lot of things in comparison with others), and can be quite the jokester through his wit and words. He has no qualms teasing those he is close to, particularly Zen. He's not necessarily loud, but he is rather "energetic" in some ways. He enjoys surprising people by popping out of trees or from the shadows, and if there is something interesting going on, he'll check it out (by spying of course). In a way, he can be rather "silly" and "free". Shirayuki calls him "wild", which isn't quite right, but it is in some ways.
He is the "wanderer" type and prefers the outdoors and open spaces as opposed to confined rooms. He'll enter rooms through unconventional means (like the window) and will travel around the castle grounds via the trees rather than the hallways. In fact he prefers riding a horse to riding in a carriage for this precise reason. He likes being able to move around, but he also still chooses to stay in Clarines with Zen and Shirayuki. He didn't have to become Zen's servant, but he did because he thought it would fun to watch them. But there are times when he mentions how he would leave one day and commenting on how nice it is in Wistal, suggesting that he may have a darker past.
Obi is also rather polite. He'll address anyone he meets formally, and knows the royal/noble etiquette fairly well. He knows how to behave in front of those of higher rank, changing his disposition accordingly almost immediately. He's also more than willing to give a helping hand to others who might need it, especially to his friends and those acquainted to them. After his interactions with Shirayuki and Zen, and having them actually have faith and believe in them, he's also become very loyal to them.
He can be both frank and subtle in his remarks. Usually he's direct about his opinions, but if he's trying to fish something out he'll be less so. He'll also sometimes make side commentary about what's going on. This is mostly due to his observational nature. He's rather good at reading people, both in what they're thinking and how they are physically. Of course he's no expert, as both Shirayuki and Zen have proven him wrong countless times. But in general, he can make out the situation fairly well and at least have a good suspicion and be on the right track. He's not afraid to ask questions, even if they could be potentially invasive. He'll even ask them in such a way that it's obviously remarking on something touchy but it's like a curious, inquisitive tone. It's all so he could learn more things about whatever he is questioning about. But he doesn't necessarily pursue something if he thinks it would be pointless, like if someone (Shirayuki) is being stubborn or obviously isn't in the mood to talk. He may be nosey and sometimes invasive, but not pushy.
If one were to assign him a "type role", it would most likely be the "big brother" role. It could also be inferred that he's good with kids, or at least the ones he knows, like Ryuu. But this is particularly so for Shirayuki. He enjoys hanging around her and looks out for her even when Zen doesn't tell him to. He'll listen to her concerns, offer her advice, and will do what he can for her. There's some debate over whether or not Obi actually has feelings for Shirayuki, given some of his actions and responses to certain events, but he's probably the biggest ZenxShirayuki shipper in the canon. Even if he did, he wouldn't do anything about it for the sake of Zen. He knows the two have feelings for each other, and always cheers them on from the sidelines.
He's always trying to help both of them out, particularly Zen. In this way he turns into the "best friend"/"mentor" role. Though Mitsuhide is technically the "big brother"/"best friend" role for Zen, Obi fills in the gaps at some points as well. He'll hang around his place and will try to give him, basically, "girl advice". Except he doesn't say it directly and instead tries to push him in a certain direction and make him think about it. Zen and Shirayuki are probably the two most important people for Obi, and he respects them a lot. They're the ones who impacted him the most and changed his outlook on certain things.
Though this hasn't shown up as often so far, Obi does have a more dangerous side to him. It's hidden by his more carefree attitude, but he is a ninja by nature. He's not against fighting someone, and if it's an enemy or someone who could threaten either Zen or Shirayuki in particular, he will get rather protective. He may not openly threaten them depending on the situation, but he can give the cold, chilling smile while saying a subtle threat in a passive, polite voice.
One other thing is that he can hold his alcohol really well, and enjoys it. In fact he can usually be seen enjoying a nice bottle of wine when there's nothing going on. However, he never seems to get that drunk. Most likely because a drunk ninja would be a dead ninja.
[ Strengths/Weaknesses ] :
Obi is a ninja, plain and simple. He's great at martial arts, knows how to wield a bow, kunai, small daggers, the sword, who knows what else, and is just rather agile and athletic, period. He's also a good horseman and natural outdoorsman. Because he's traveled often, he can figure out his way around fairly well.
As mentioned in the Personality section, Obi can read people fairly well due to his observational skills. He's not perfect, but he can at least get a good gleam of the situation. Because he is able to look at thing from an outside point of view, he can give good advice while being objective about it. He can also make for an excellent spy, being able to hide himself in the most random of places and keeping his presence low. He can be stealthy in that regard, again attributing to his ninja skills.
[ Other Important Facts ] :
There's actually a lot of mystery to Obi since we don't actually know his full history or background. He just showed up and became part of the group. He does say at one point that he has an alias, and we learn it during their trip: Nanaki.
It's really hard to tell if Akagami no Shirayukhime is supposed to be a strict fantasy setting due to the names (there's a mix of Japanese-esque and then made up fantasy ones), but Obi in particular has a more Japanese/Asian quality to him, and this includes his looks. Out of all of them, he looks the most Asian, which again is probably attributed to him being a ninja.
He likes wearing masks/big scarves. He feels better when he can hide his face.
[ Sample ] :
Obi was sitting on a high branch of a tree, letting his scarf and jacket dry on one of the nearby jackets as he tossed the strange, starfish device up and down in his hand. He had woken up in the middle of a strange street of a strange city, and wet. It was definitely not Tanburn, and he knew of no city that was underwater.
Catching the SFC communicator, he stared at the strange marking that had appeared on the back of his right hand. He was sure he had never gotten any tattoos done, and unless he had been under some powerful drug, he would have noticed someone putting it on. There was also this strange...bug that had followed him ever since he walk. He gave it a sideways glance. Was it something that was native to this country? Just more questions to add to the ever growing list.
"It doesn't seem Little Miss is here," he said to no one in particular. "Master is going to kill me when he finds out," he added with a small sigh, a slight cringe on his expression.
But it was a shallow one. How did he even end up here? Upon waking and realizing he wasn't even in the castle, he had immediately taken to the shadows. Was this enemy territory? Had this been a trap? It seemed unlikely it was one from the country, given how Prince Raji had behaved. But what about that bandit -- Mihaya, wasn't it? Or perhaps that strange, blond fellow he had mentioned to them before.
These questions and more flitted through Obi's mind as he reached over to see if his clothes had dried enough for him to go back out. Seeing them fit and redressing himself, he silently jumped down from his perch and proceeded to walk through the streets, acting casual.
"I'd rather try and find Little Miss first, but I'll have to learn more about this place before I do," he mused aloud, glancing around for any potential sources of information. Pubs or taverns would be best, but for a general question of "Where am I?", a local bystander would do just as well.
Like an elderly woman selling flowers.
As he walked over, Obi did have to wonder about the nature of these people. Something seemed a bit off about them, but he couldn't place a finger on it. Other than the fact that he had never seen people dressed like them before (though he supposed it made sense since they were underwater -- a question he would save for later), they were always so...friendly. Even now, several had given him a smile and a wave, to which he responded in kind.
"Ah, excuse me, miss?" Obi called out with a friendly smile as he neared the woman. "Could you answer some questions for me? I'm still new here, so I'm a little lost. Could you tell me where I am? And have you seen a girl with red hair?"
Though she said she had not seen Shirayuki, which was not so surprising if just a little discouraging, Obi listened with great interest as she continued to explain to him and giving him directions to various place.
Particularly when she told him how there were people from other worlds around here, just like him.
[ Questions? Comments? Concerns? ] :
None really~
[ Personal LJ ] : laenavesse
[ Age ] : 23
[ Timezone ] : GMT -6 (CST)
[ Other Characters ] : N/A
[ Character's Name ] : Obi
[ Character's Age ] : ...This is actually unknown. But I'm going to take a guess at 19-20. If I ever learn though, I'll fix it xD
[ Series ] : Akagami no Shirayukihime
[ Canon Point ] : Post Chapter 20
[ History ] :
Obi was originally hired to assassinate Shirayuki by the Marquis Haruka. He first spied on Zen and Shirayuki together, and then after an order from the Marquis went out and told the guards at the castle gates (Gate of Poets to be exact) that Shirayuki was no longer allowed to enter the castle. Unfortunately the plan didn't go quite as expected since the guards had already let her in. Shirayuki also overheard the conversation, and on her way to see Zen to confirm the orders, Obi fires an arrow with a note telling her to leave. However, she does the exact opposite, surprising him.
He reappears after Marquis Haruka and Shirayuki meet, commenting on Shirayuki's determination. Of course the only reason why he was speaking to begin with was because Zen's aides, Mitsuhide and Kiki had caught him. But he tells her that the Marquis wasn't the one who gave the order to the guards or who shot the arrow; it was him. However the Marquis admits that he was the one who told Obi to perform those actions.
After Zen appears and sends the Marquis away, Obi is approached by Zen and already starts calling him "master". After some subtle threatening, Obi tells Zen he has no intention of harming Shirayuki again and has in fact taken a liking to her, also noting she would be a good influence for Zen. Ever since, Obi has served under Zen, even though Zen never asked him to.
His next major appearance is in reporting about the situation out in Fortress Raxd. He comes along with the group as they go to investigate what's going on, and he's the first to report that all of the soldiers were inside sleeping. During this time he starts learning about both Kiki and Mitsuhide, and just pretty much observing everyone in general. They later learn that the cause of the soldiers' illness was due to grains from a load of firewood that thieves had delivered under a false pretense and later stole everything from the weapon. So he gets a chance to bust up some thieves when Zen and his party go out to punish them.
After everyone is treated, he's sitting up in a tree enjoying a nice bottle when he spots Shirayuki passing below him. He notices that she seems off and goes to tell Zen since he had a feeling Zen wouldn't like seeing him around her due to his previous offense...only to wind up catching her before she falls. When questioned, he just tells her that he's Zen's servant and not to worry about it. But once he hears a window creak open, he immediately drops the heavy load he had had been holding and hides up in a nearby corner on the ceiling. He's a cat, no lie.
Once the coast is clear, he hops back down. He asks if Shirayuki is suspicious of him, but when she tells him that she isn't, particularly after he helped her before, he's once again surprised by her response. When he notes that she's also becoming ill, Shirayuki asks him to keep it from Zen. He complies, but only because he can see that Shirayuki wants to keep the energetic atmosphere without everyone worrying about her. And once again, Obi has to wonder about Shirayuki and her personality.
During a party that is thrown at the castle for the Prince Raji of Tanburn's arrival, Obi skips out because Marquis Haruka was there and instead happens to meet Shirayuki who was wandering outside. So he drags her so that they can listen in on what's going on. When they hear Izana, Zen's brother, offer the Prince Raji to meet Shirayuki, however, things start taking a turn for the worst. Raji had originally sought after Shirayuki because of her hair, and it was Zen who rescued her. Obi tells her he has to return, but along the way Shirayuki grips his sleeve under the fear that she may have to return to her home country.
After returning from a short leave granted by Zen, he comes back to find out various things had happened while he was gone. Such as the assumption that Zen and Shirayuki may be getting engaged. Because of the news, different families have sent out spies. To help keep an eye on her, Zen appoints Obi to help watch over her. Kiki delivers him to where Shirayuki is working and he offers to help them pick up loca nuts. During this time, they're all wearing masks so as a precaution against the strong smell, and when Obi sees Shirayuki smile, for some unknown reason he just reaches out and removes her mask. It's a bit of an awkward moment for him, but they get back to work as if nothing happened.
Later on, while helping her bring things to the basement, he asks Shirayuki if it would be better if Zen wasn't a prince. The reaction he gets surprises him. Shirayuki told him that if he asked that again, she would take offense and gets rather serious with him. Afterward, the head pharmacist gives them all a bit of wine, which he has no problem consuming. Shirayuki, on the other hand, couldn't tolerate it at all, so he was left behind to watch her. They end up going out for a walk, and Obi winds up having to listen to Shirayuki's bemoaning. Which he actually doesn't mind since he learns more about the girl and can observe.
Once again the topic about Zen being prince is brought up, and this time Shirayuki says the position is perfect for him and he'll always have people around him. Obi tells her he thinks Zen is the way he is because she's there. He continues to play the "big brother" role and gives her advice, telling her that if she doesn't know what she should do, she should just go out and find it. He also mentally compares her to Zen, noting how similar they really are. He also tells her he could take her to Raxd, but he had already been there. He relays the message that they're doing find and they were hanging in there.
When Shirayuki thanks him, Obi can't really believe his ears. No one had ever really thanked him before, so it caught him off guard. At that point, they hear Shirayuki's boss calling for them, and she promptly collapses. But once again, Obi is there to catch her. While she's out, he states that he was only there to watch them since it was fun. After thinking back about the various interactions he had with both Shirayuki and Zen, he notes that he had decided to stay in a "troublesome" place.
He had sent Zen a letter about the situation and was still in the process of carrying Shirayuki when they meet. He's actually rather nonchalant about the whole thing, in contrast to Zen panicking and getting rather heated about the whole ordeal. After bringing her back, the two talk and Obi tells Zen what Shirayuki had planned to do. Near the end of their talk, Zen tosses Obi an ID that gave him an official title as "Personal Messenger of Clarines' Second Prince." Obi asks Zen if it's alright for him to give him something so easily, but Zen replies that he was doing it because he has faith in Obi. He's no longer Shirayuki's bodyguard, but he's still going to follow her around and report anything that happens. So he technically is still her bodyguard.
Obi helps Shirayuki out when the bird challenge happens. Basically they are trying to see if the birds from an island could be use as messenger birds, thus saving them and preventing the land lord from hunting them. Some time after Shirayuki goes to the fortress and gets locked in a room by the viscount, Obi arrives to make sure everything is fine. However, he arrives just in time to see Shirayuki jump out of the window several floors up into the lake. He was pretty stunned. But when she asks him for help to find the bell that the viscount had thrown, he readily complies. Though not without noticing the wound on her arm. They didn't find it, but the bird was actually able to find it and helped direct their search from there.
After the event, Obi noticed two things: Zen looking rather emotional, and when Shirayuki rode with him, he felt her hand was hot. Suspicions abound as he further notices the two acting strangely. Well, mostly Shirayuki, but it was around Zen.
Shirayuki asks if he could take her to the forest, though without really stating why. He doesn't bother asking since she's so quiet, but it does make him wonder. And now for the most...interesting scene. During the walk, his gaze drifts down toward Shirayuki's hand, and it looks like he was actually reaching out to take it. However, the action is interrupted when Zen and the others show up. No one noticed, which was probably a good thing. When asked why they were all the way out there, Shirayuki immediately hid behind Obi, much to everyone's surprise. He asks her why she's hiding, and is only confused further when she said she's just surprised. After taking a note of the situation, Obi blocks Zen's way and tells Shirayuki to run, which she does. When Zen asks Obi what he said to her, Obi just tells him he didn't say anything. But he does remark that Zen got demoted. Zen then tells them to wait at the castle, and Obi just silently wishes Shirayuki good luck as Zen chases after her, knowing full well what his master intends to do.
The next major event occurs when the group goes off on a recreational trip for their day off. Obi is sent to fetch Shirayuki, and he does so by knocking on her window, asking her to come with him. He doesn't actually tell her everything, though, which results in Zen smacking him. During their little trip, Obi asks Zen how he was going to turn this outing into more of a date. When Zen asks him what girls would like, he tells him he doesn't know. Obi, Mitsuhide, and Kiki go to see a swordsmanship competition. Obi actually participates in the hand-to-hand combat and wins the prize, along with a hair bauble from his opponent. He gives this to Shirayuki, telling her that when she's out with Zen again, show him that that's what a girl would want.
Some time later, a guy named Mihaya arrives. Obi learns that he had kidnapped Shirayuki some time before he arrived, and already designates him as an enemy. But they learn that some blond haired guy is asking around about Shirayuki, and they wonder if he may try to kidnap her. That very same night, an invitation from Prince Raji appears for Shirayuki to attend a dinner party. She agrees to go, and Zen states the condition that someone he trusts will escort her. The next day, Obi runs into Shirayuki all dressed up nicely for her dance lesson, and he's surprised. Mostly because he's never seen her like that. He then tells her that he'll be escorting Mihaya in order to collect more information, so off to the harbor he goes. While there, he basically threatens Mihaya that if he does anything to interfere with Zen or Shiraya, he'll "send [him] back up to that mountain choking on that scarf of [his]." This of course unnerves Mihaya.
After some time, they still had yet to find any adequate information. Obi is wandering around when he sees Mitsuhide and Kiki, and join them in fetching Zen. They find him practicing his sword fighting, and Mitsuhide tells Obi that Zen really wants to protect him himself. The next moment, Obi steps out and challenges him to a contest. If he wins, he'll escort Shirayuki in his place for him. If he loses, Zen would be her escort. After a rather quick fight, Obi eventually wins using his martial arts, and Zen recognizes him to be her escort.
As they prepare to leave, Shirayuki tells Obi she was surprised he was coming with her since Zen only told her last night. When he asks if Zen told her how he was chosen and she says no, he quickly dismisses it. But not without saying that it was Zen who really wanted to be with her. The two then meet the other person coming with them, and it turns out to be Marquis Haruka. Cue the awkward. Obi is also made to sit in the carriage, much to his displeasure.
The trip to Tanburn is uneventful, and they soon arrive. Along the way he notices he's wearing the hair bauble he had given her before (even if it's more because Zen told her she looked good with it on), and once again there's a moment of awkward from him. He starts to ask about it, but instead changes the question. When they actually arrive into the capital, Obi notices the happy expression on Shirayuki's face. He then reflects on how returning home evidentally does bring happiness...or so he's been told. This could suggest that if Obi were to return home, he wouldn't feel the same as Shirayuki.
They soon arrive to Shanazard Castle and are brought to see Prince Raji. However they are both startled when they both hear him ask, in a rather incredulous and strained voice, why she even came. Regardless, Obi formerly introduces himself, using that "refined, noble" disposition and even changing his voice slightly. The two are set to stay in adjoining rooms, which is, as Obi says, convenient. After telling her to call him should there be any trouble and vice versa, Obi sets out to explore and investigate the castle like the ninja that he is.
[ Personality ] :
Obi has quite the personality, which is only befitting for a ninja like himself. Like a ninja, he tends to laze about in the shadows of trees and observe everything that goes around him. He also has a mysterious air about him as he can also be very secretive and doesn't say much about himself unless necessary. In this way, he can also blend in rather well, making himself as unnoticeable as possible. He's usually smiling, but there are times when that smile is more of a secretive, sly smile. He's not necessarily a "stepford smiler", but he could pull it off without too much trouble if he wanted to.
However, he is also very much a boy and acts like one. He's rather friendly, being able to get along with just about everyone except Kiki (he has good relations, but he wouldn't be able to get away with a lot of things in comparison with others), and can be quite the jokester through his wit and words. He has no qualms teasing those he is close to, particularly Zen. He's not necessarily loud, but he is rather "energetic" in some ways. He enjoys surprising people by popping out of trees or from the shadows, and if there is something interesting going on, he'll check it out (by spying of course). In a way, he can be rather "silly" and "free". Shirayuki calls him "wild", which isn't quite right, but it is in some ways.
He is the "wanderer" type and prefers the outdoors and open spaces as opposed to confined rooms. He'll enter rooms through unconventional means (like the window) and will travel around the castle grounds via the trees rather than the hallways. In fact he prefers riding a horse to riding in a carriage for this precise reason. He likes being able to move around, but he also still chooses to stay in Clarines with Zen and Shirayuki. He didn't have to become Zen's servant, but he did because he thought it would fun to watch them. But there are times when he mentions how he would leave one day and commenting on how nice it is in Wistal, suggesting that he may have a darker past.
Obi is also rather polite. He'll address anyone he meets formally, and knows the royal/noble etiquette fairly well. He knows how to behave in front of those of higher rank, changing his disposition accordingly almost immediately. He's also more than willing to give a helping hand to others who might need it, especially to his friends and those acquainted to them. After his interactions with Shirayuki and Zen, and having them actually have faith and believe in them, he's also become very loyal to them.
He can be both frank and subtle in his remarks. Usually he's direct about his opinions, but if he's trying to fish something out he'll be less so. He'll also sometimes make side commentary about what's going on. This is mostly due to his observational nature. He's rather good at reading people, both in what they're thinking and how they are physically. Of course he's no expert, as both Shirayuki and Zen have proven him wrong countless times. But in general, he can make out the situation fairly well and at least have a good suspicion and be on the right track. He's not afraid to ask questions, even if they could be potentially invasive. He'll even ask them in such a way that it's obviously remarking on something touchy but it's like a curious, inquisitive tone. It's all so he could learn more things about whatever he is questioning about. But he doesn't necessarily pursue something if he thinks it would be pointless, like if someone (Shirayuki) is being stubborn or obviously isn't in the mood to talk. He may be nosey and sometimes invasive, but not pushy.
If one were to assign him a "type role", it would most likely be the "big brother" role. It could also be inferred that he's good with kids, or at least the ones he knows, like Ryuu. But this is particularly so for Shirayuki. He enjoys hanging around her and looks out for her even when Zen doesn't tell him to. He'll listen to her concerns, offer her advice, and will do what he can for her. There's some debate over whether or not Obi actually has feelings for Shirayuki, given some of his actions and responses to certain events, but he's probably the biggest ZenxShirayuki shipper in the canon. Even if he did, he wouldn't do anything about it for the sake of Zen. He knows the two have feelings for each other, and always cheers them on from the sidelines.
He's always trying to help both of them out, particularly Zen. In this way he turns into the "best friend"/"mentor" role. Though Mitsuhide is technically the "big brother"/"best friend" role for Zen, Obi fills in the gaps at some points as well. He'll hang around his place and will try to give him, basically, "girl advice". Except he doesn't say it directly and instead tries to push him in a certain direction and make him think about it. Zen and Shirayuki are probably the two most important people for Obi, and he respects them a lot. They're the ones who impacted him the most and changed his outlook on certain things.
Though this hasn't shown up as often so far, Obi does have a more dangerous side to him. It's hidden by his more carefree attitude, but he is a ninja by nature. He's not against fighting someone, and if it's an enemy or someone who could threaten either Zen or Shirayuki in particular, he will get rather protective. He may not openly threaten them depending on the situation, but he can give the cold, chilling smile while saying a subtle threat in a passive, polite voice.
One other thing is that he can hold his alcohol really well, and enjoys it. In fact he can usually be seen enjoying a nice bottle of wine when there's nothing going on. However, he never seems to get that drunk. Most likely because a drunk ninja would be a dead ninja.
[ Strengths/Weaknesses ] :
Obi is a ninja, plain and simple. He's great at martial arts, knows how to wield a bow, kunai, small daggers, the sword, who knows what else, and is just rather agile and athletic, period. He's also a good horseman and natural outdoorsman. Because he's traveled often, he can figure out his way around fairly well.
As mentioned in the Personality section, Obi can read people fairly well due to his observational skills. He's not perfect, but he can at least get a good gleam of the situation. Because he is able to look at thing from an outside point of view, he can give good advice while being objective about it. He can also make for an excellent spy, being able to hide himself in the most random of places and keeping his presence low. He can be stealthy in that regard, again attributing to his ninja skills.
[ Other Important Facts ] :
There's actually a lot of mystery to Obi since we don't actually know his full history or background. He just showed up and became part of the group. He does say at one point that he has an alias, and we learn it during their trip: Nanaki.
It's really hard to tell if Akagami no Shirayukhime is supposed to be a strict fantasy setting due to the names (there's a mix of Japanese-esque and then made up fantasy ones), but Obi in particular has a more Japanese/Asian quality to him, and this includes his looks. Out of all of them, he looks the most Asian, which again is probably attributed to him being a ninja.
He likes wearing masks/big scarves. He feels better when he can hide his face.
[ Sample ] :
Obi was sitting on a high branch of a tree, letting his scarf and jacket dry on one of the nearby jackets as he tossed the strange, starfish device up and down in his hand. He had woken up in the middle of a strange street of a strange city, and wet. It was definitely not Tanburn, and he knew of no city that was underwater.
Catching the SFC communicator, he stared at the strange marking that had appeared on the back of his right hand. He was sure he had never gotten any tattoos done, and unless he had been under some powerful drug, he would have noticed someone putting it on. There was also this strange...bug that had followed him ever since he walk. He gave it a sideways glance. Was it something that was native to this country? Just more questions to add to the ever growing list.
"It doesn't seem Little Miss is here," he said to no one in particular. "Master is going to kill me when he finds out," he added with a small sigh, a slight cringe on his expression.
But it was a shallow one. How did he even end up here? Upon waking and realizing he wasn't even in the castle, he had immediately taken to the shadows. Was this enemy territory? Had this been a trap? It seemed unlikely it was one from the country, given how Prince Raji had behaved. But what about that bandit -- Mihaya, wasn't it? Or perhaps that strange, blond fellow he had mentioned to them before.
These questions and more flitted through Obi's mind as he reached over to see if his clothes had dried enough for him to go back out. Seeing them fit and redressing himself, he silently jumped down from his perch and proceeded to walk through the streets, acting casual.
"I'd rather try and find Little Miss first, but I'll have to learn more about this place before I do," he mused aloud, glancing around for any potential sources of information. Pubs or taverns would be best, but for a general question of "Where am I?", a local bystander would do just as well.
Like an elderly woman selling flowers.
As he walked over, Obi did have to wonder about the nature of these people. Something seemed a bit off about them, but he couldn't place a finger on it. Other than the fact that he had never seen people dressed like them before (though he supposed it made sense since they were underwater -- a question he would save for later), they were always so...friendly. Even now, several had given him a smile and a wave, to which he responded in kind.
"Ah, excuse me, miss?" Obi called out with a friendly smile as he neared the woman. "Could you answer some questions for me? I'm still new here, so I'm a little lost. Could you tell me where I am? And have you seen a girl with red hair?"
Though she said she had not seen Shirayuki, which was not so surprising if just a little discouraging, Obi listened with great interest as she continued to explain to him and giving him directions to various place.
Particularly when she told him how there were people from other worlds around here, just like him.
[ Questions? Comments? Concerns? ] :
None really~