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
Epilogue, Part 1

This tiny party of once close friends entered the funeral hall. This would be their last chance to see the one who nurtured them through the times that cemented their group as a family. They surely felt like they lost a member of their family, most likely a mother or big sister, someone who tended to them, encouraged them, and carried them through their troubles.

They had to give their proper goodbyes, in this room full of strangers. There was no one else they knew in this crowd of family, Sakuraba employees, and other emissaries of the business world. They felt a twinge of anger that a majority of these people most likely did not know Aoi.

As they emerged to the forefront, to where their sweetest, dearest friend lay, they found Miyabi hovering protectively near the casket.

The older woman looked no less distinguished in her smart, black mourning suit. Ever the businesswoman, she was controlled in her emotions, veiled in her threats and tears. Today, she lost that composure. Her eyes widened as she saw them, saw him.

Miyabi had seen Kaoru break formation to approach the casket, and she stormed over to him.

"You!"

Her hoarse voice struck Kaoru like a bolt.

Before he could apologize or pay condolences, she was upon him, tooth and nail.

"You did this to her! You ruined her! Look at what you've done! Violator!" Miyabi screamed, railing her arms and legs against him.

The hysterical woman was pried off of Kaoru by a young man, also dressed in a black suit. His dark green - almost bluish - hair sparked something in his childhood memory, but it did not register.

The restrained woman stared at Kaoru with smoldering eyes, panting from effort expended to hurt him and effort to prevent herself from sobbing.

He watched as the young man held Miyabi back and spoke evenly to her. "Miyabi-san... Aoi-hime wouldn't have wanted this. She wouldn't have wanted you, someone she loved dearly, to turn against another one she loved. Think of her and what she would have wanted. Do it for her sake."

Visibly calming herself, Miyabi rigidly nodded and stiffened, reining in her raging emotions.

The young man's arms slowly disentangled from the older woman as he released her, and he moved to stand by her side.

"Th-thank you, Seiji-san. I-I only hope that Aoi-sama wou-would forgive m-me," Miyabi shakily apologized.

Kaoru blinked, the name sounding familiar in the depths of his memory. "Seiji?"

The green-haired man approached him. "Hanabishi-san."

A crack across the jaw sent the former college student tumbling.

Awed gasps and small shrieks from the women that accompanied him followed, and they fell to Kaoru's side to tend to him.

Miyabi looked in awe. "S-Seiji-san... what of Aoi-sama?"

"Aoi-hime cares for you much much more than I, and I won't allow you to fall out of favour with her. If she'll hate me forever for this, then I'll gladly accept it. It was righteously earned."

Seiji rubbed his fist and looked down again at Kaoru. He regarded him and the women whom Aoi once regarded as friends in Kaoru's company, not rivals for his affections. "You shouldn't have come here, Hanabishi. The same goes for this... trash. If Aoi-hime were alive, she would let you all stay and suffer herself, and that would be a sickening sight."

Grief only fueled the strong personalities of Tina and Mayu.

"Who are you to speak that way about us?! You shouldn't go insulting people you don't know!" cried Mayu.

"Oi! Oi! You shouldn't speak so ill of the dead..." threatened Tina.

Seiji could only look at them with narrowed eyes. "What's it to you? Aoi-hime told me enough, and I only speak ill of you."

"You bastard! If you're so much better than us, tell us what you know then!" provoked Tina.

The green boy glared at Kaoru, almost waiting to be dared to reveal all. "I would, but it would only expose Aoi-hime's shame."

"Quit stalling and say something!" the girls cried.

Kaoru laid his hands on Tina and Mayu's shoulders. "That's enough. Let's go."

"But Kaoru-sempai-"

"Onii-chan!"

A sharp look back at Chika and Taeko. "I said, that's enough. Come on."

Closing ranks again, the single male and his assorted harem left, leaving only whispers and murmurs in their wake.

Hushed voices circulated among a small gaggle of close family assistants; people who held such similar stations and posts as Miyabi did amongst the Sakuraba family.

"Did you see all that?"

"Was Aoi-sama a... a..."

"Was she pure when she died?"

"I heard rumours she lived with a young man before sh-she..."

"Yes! He was from Hanabishi!"

"The dishonoured clan?"

"Now I'm surprised to hear that!"

"Let us ask Kagurazaki-san about-"

"No. We can find out through other ways..."

Miyabi was ashamed that her outburst resulted in a scene that would harm Aoi-sama's reputation further.

She also burned with anger. She was angry that such... such lackeys would dare to speak of such a thing at such a time. She was angry that they would dare to be curious about such private matters.

She saw Seiji in time to see him conferring with Sakata-san, the director of the family's estate. Of course he would be here by association with the family, but he wouldn't actually talk to anyone unless...

"Ah, Kagurazaki-san. I have something for you," Sakata-san said as she approached the two men. He handed her an envelope, and Miyabi observed that Seiji had one for himself, which he was now intently reading.

"I'm sorry that we have to see each other in these circumstances, but know that I offer my condolences. She was... she was a very good girl, a wonderful young woman."

"Thank you, Sakata-san."

As Sakata-san left, Seiji reeled back on his feet, looking shell shocked.

"Seiji-san!"

He pressed his palm to his forehead and muttered something, eyes affixed on his letter.

She grabbed his arm, which seemed to bring back his balance. "Seiji-san? What is it?"

"It's a letter from Aoi-hime, regarding her will..." Dazedly, he passed the letter to her.

She scanned it, and her eyes widened at what was declared.

It was true. There was no other male heir under Sakuraba-sama, and that meant only one other person could succeed the entire group.

Miyabi looked at him, which he caught.

He thought about their last conversation, face to face.

"How could you let her do that? What were you thinking? Do you know how fragile Aoi-sama's emotional state is? She hurt herself! Do you have any idea what she has just been through? I trusted you not to disappoint her, Seiji-san. One man too many has done that to her, and I will not let it happen again!"

Calmly, he raised his arm. "Let her be, Miyabi-san. This is Aoi-hime's own problem, and I will not force her to deal with it in a way that you demand is appropriate. You know better than anyone how hard it must be for her, and it is impossible that she go through this without any pain. I trust Aoi-hime to do what she needs to."

She stepped back. "I'm scared for her, Seiji-san."

"I'm scared too. But... shouganai. What's done is done. It's all in Aoi-hime's hands now."

Seiji stared off at the casket, grief-stricken and pale. "I'm sorry," he said. He nearly started when he felt her hand on his shoulder.

Miyabi gave him a reassuring squeeze. "Do not blame yourself, Seiji-san... None of us knew it would end this way."

"Yes... shouganai."

But both of them knew that was a lie.