Author's Note: I must be in a Karen/Aoki mood. XD Actually it just felt incomplete to just do "Justice and the Hierophant", I kinda felt after that like I needed to explain the other side of the situation as well...
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Seiichiro wrapped his hands around a cup of tea and sank into the threadbare armchair, staring into the fireplace and thinking. He imagined red curls dancing with all the vivacity of the flames before him and sighed.
It had taken months to finalize the divorce but now it was done. It was over.
And through all of it, Karen had been patient and understanding, lending emotional support but never once voicing her own feelings for him. He was well aware of them, but he said nothing and had dreaded the day she would. Yet months later, she still had said nothing and he was only just beginning to realize she wouldn't ever.
Legally his wedding vows were null. Personally, he had not relinquished them and had no intention of doing so. He hoped with what he knew was probably a fool's optimism that one day the world would be safe again and he could return, assuming he was still alive. To that end, he would honor his vows for the rest of his life.
That, however, did not mean he never considered breaking them. Karen was a beautiful and kind-hearted woman and he was still human, with all the sexual and emotional desires that came along with it. The thought that, as another Seal, she could be at the very least a temporary lover, if not someone he could start over with, was more appealing than he would ever admit out loud. He had carefully thought it over before though, knowing that so long as his wife, and she would never be anything less to him, was alive he could not truly bring himself to love someone else completely. So forming a relationship with Karen would mean using her and that was too cruel a thing to do to someone he cared for deeply as a friend.
He was still tempted sometimes though, especially on cold nights like this when he knew she was at home alone too.
He knew that if any other man had come to him and relayed such a dilemma, he would have told the man that he was stronger for having been tempted and doing the right thing anyway than he would have been if it had never occurred to him to do otherwise. However, this was the kind of advice that was much easier to give to someone else than to swallow for oneself.
So he deliberately sipped his tea and walked himself through the same well-trodden mental path he had followed so many times over the last year.
What makes one a Seal?
The ability to create a kekkai.
And how does one create a kekkai?
By having something to protect.
And what should one protect?
Their most important thing.
And what is your most important thing?
He hesitated but he knew the answer he would give.
My family.
Right.
Seiichiro pulled himself wearily out of the chair and poured himself some more tea. When he returned he stared into the fireplace without thinking.