It was an overcast day, but it was warm and birds sang from the big maple in the yard.

Inside it was less peaceful.

"You know you're heading for heartbreak if you marry that girl," Ouga Uzuki said, and sighed when his son glowered at him.

"I love her!" Suou flung his arms up. "What am I supposed to do? We don't know that she'll get sick."

"Have you met her family? Hope makes rather poor armor."

Suou sank down to sit on one of the cushions. "I'm not giving up on Aoi."

"As long as you understand the risk."