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 4

Miyabi navigated past the boxes in the hall to Kaoru's room and found him rooting around, emptying his shelves and closets. She really did not want to do this, but it was for Aoi-sama. She watched him as he intently peered in a mostly emptied cabinet, then took out a shoebox. Delicately, he brought it out and removed the lid. Amidst the emptiness of the room, of all the packed away possessions, he fondly took inventory of the items in that little box.

He pulled out two ticket stubs, which Miyabi recognized as one night hotel passes that he used with Aoi-sama. Then he laid out a twisted band of green material. Some receipts, most likely purchases he made for Aoi-sama. A small silver key.

She knew it was an invasion of his privacy to watch him like this, but it somewhat eased her. This was the reaction she was looking for from him. Still, it was not enough to take away her anger, but she could respect that he felt something since Aoi-sama left.

Miyabi waited until he put back all the contents of the box to make herself known.

"Ahem. Hanabishi-san."

Hastily putting the box aside, Kaoru went to greet Miyabi at his door. "Ah, Miyabi-san, I- huh?"

He looked at the bouquet that Miyabi had so gruffly offered him.

The vase had an uneven hourglass shape, reminiscent of a woman's figure, and was of the same colour as Aoi's hair. Blue violets, campanula bell flowers, cornflowers, periwinkles, and forget-me-nots crowned atop the rim, looking like the water had come up and out of the vessel, rushing to spill over but stopping at a crest.

"Take it," Miyabi said sharply. "Aoi-sama made it for you, though I do not know why she would. Take it and do not refuse her this."

Carefully, but roughly, she handed it off to him and walked off without another word.

Kaoru started at the vase and slowly rotated it, looking all the flowers over. It was a beautiful arrangement, and he could see that she still loved him. He thought of all the effort she had put into this, just for him, even after what he had done to her.

Part of him wondered: Why? What is this for?

And another part answered: Goodbye.

There was a flash of pale pink lost in all the blues, and he tenderly pushed a cluster of forget-me-nots aside to find a tiny sprig of sakura blossoms.

He couldn't help but feel his heart breaking as a single sakura petal fell amongst the sea of indigo.