Disclaimer: I do not own Ai Yori Aoshi and Ai Yori Aoshi Enishi. This is the property of Kou Fumizuki, Pioneer/Geneon, and JC Staff.

Blue Monarch
Act 4, Scene 2

Aoi had summoned her cousin, though it was unnecessary. He always came of his own accord, and did not disappoint her. But since she had made the summons, it was only right to maintain some decorum, and now he found himself a step behind and to her side, leaning over slightly, trying to maintain a respectful bow. She glanced over her shoulder, and taking that acknowledgement, he relaxed and sat beside her. He set a brown paper wrapped bundle between them, but she didn't pay it any mind.

"Just like the first day, eh, Aoi-hime?"

She didn't say anything, returning her gaze to the far-off horizon. She was pensive, and he saw, for he asked:

"Is something wrong?"

"Should my family be unable to find a suitable husband, you would inherit the company, would you not?"

"I think that would be true... but only if you were unable to run it yourself."

His optimism was touching. "Seiji-kun... Do you think that I could do such a thing now?"

He looked away and he answered so quietly, the words were almost under his breath. "No, I don't think so."

The awkward silence between them only punctuated that uneasy truth.

And then she burst right through it.

"Would you marry me, Seiji-kun?"

"What!" He looked at her, bewildered.

"If we were married, you would be Sakuraba-sama, and you would have the entire company. Would you marry me?"

He looked at her, his eyebrows quirking and almost squinting, and his face contorting as he considered her question. "If you truly, genuinely wanted me to, I would. This will be good for the clan, despite the fact that I believe differently in familial intermarriage. We are in Japan, I am from Japan; not in America or Canada or England, or anywhere else where married cousins are viewed distastefully. So I think that I would do it because I care for you - you are my family, you are Aoi-hime."

What he said, it was too diplomatic, and Aoi frowned. "I am not forcing you to agree because it is your duty to the heir or because I am Sakuraba-sama's daughter. Disregard all of those and answer me, honestly. I want to know, would you marry me?"

"No... I would not. Because we both know that you can't love anyone other than your Kaoru-sama. Your devotion, your passion... it is your greatest strength, and it scares me. It probably scares you too, to see how far it has driven you and to see what it can make you do. But that devotion, that is tempered only by your kindness, your compassion. I also believe that you wouldn't want to cheat me out of finding someone who will love me like you love your Kaoru-sama."

Aoi looked away and straightened some wrinkle in her kimono. "No, no, you are right. I do not think I could bring myself to marry another."

"Then you have no intention of finding another husband?"

"I do not... It is a very difficult choice."

"Well... first, why me?"

"Because... you are my family. And you deserve more than what you can currently achieve."

"I don't understand."

A small sigh. "No, I did not think you would." It was hard to face him now, but she could feel his eyes on her.

"Is this because you think it's unfair that you should be heir and I am not?"

She swallowed hard. "Yes."

"Aoi-hime, I am very happy with what I am doing for Sakuraba. I was born to your father's side! I will end up in a good position, and that's a few years off. I can make my way there, given the time." He turned away from her sudden, sharp look. Seiji could only sigh and push his glasses back up his nose. "And your husband, whoever he may be, he will be more than capable of running Sakuraba. Whether it is me or him. You can't change the fact that you are heir and I am not. I have done the best I could, considering the circumstances. Shouganai."

"Shouganai," was whispered in reply.

"Sa... let's not dwell on such things. If these things can't be helped, they can't. Things will change, and maybe fortunes will turn soon. So for now, cheer up. I kept my promise." He nudged the package her way. He was hesitant and proud, like a child ready to give a present.

Hefting the bundle onto her lap, she neatly opened it along the folds, trying not to rip the paper.

There it was, as he said, the Tale of Genji, bound and new, just for her. There was another book underneath it, and she set the novel aside to see what this extra present was.

"It's a book about flowers and their meanings," Seiji explained. "During the Victorian period, people used to send each other messages with flowers. I... I know you like the Western style, and I thought that maybe... maybe you could use this in your flower arrangements. You can use a Western tradition with an Eastern one and bring the two together."

She opened it up and inspected the hardcover book. The pages had an array of pictures of flowers, complete with names and meanings throughout different periods. Her eyes caught different words and splashes of greens and blues.

"Thank you." And she leaned forward to kiss his cheek.

Surprised, he almost forgot to pull away. When her lips left his skin, he stared at her, his eyes wide and mouth almost hanging open.

"Seiji-kun, I think... I think I feel so much better. Maybe we can go out again tomorrow."

The smile she gave him was like the open sky.

Warning: The following chapter, "Interlude," is for mature readers only due to its sensual content. I believe that it isn't graphic enough to warrant an NC-17 rating (if such were applicable), but I should warn you nonetheless. This passage contains some very, well, "blue" material. It depicts masturbation, though I have taken care to use very vague, but sensual, language. This scene can be omitted from reading without any detriment to the overall story. For those of you who continue to read this passage, further author's notes on the "Interlude" will be included at the end of the epilogue.
Thank you.