Adjusted from the show

I received a letter from the imperial court not long after the column was published asking for Aoi to feed the emperor and his wife on their anniversary. I left my accountant to inform Ginji and Aoi. It was no good if I did it. I wasn't really surprised though at the request as the emperor's wife is human too. I just hoped Aoi would rise to the challenge of feeding Noinoin-dono and his wife.
I need not have worried, though.

Akutsuki reported that he found Byakuya eating breakfast in Moonflower. He was so surprised. He also said that Aoi said something innocent, and it triggered a reaction like Shiro would have on him. Aoi denied anything, though.

Ginji said that he was going to take Aoi shopping at the international market in the eastern land for the food she needed tomorrow. However, he said that he told her to talk with me first about it. I wonder how long it will be till I see her.

When Aoi came to see me, I was cutting spring flowers from the hot springs garden.
"You want to go to the eastern land tomorrow?"

"Yes." said Aoi "I really want to go there to get the ingredients for the anniversary dishes that I'll be making for the royal couple."

Feeling sad and disappointed, "I wish I could go, too, but... tomorrow won't work for me because I need to attend the Hachiyo Night Meeting held in Youto."

"Hachiyo...they are the ayakashi who rule the eight lands in the hidden realm, right?"

I was so proud that she knew that! "Yeah." I answered, "It's an important meeting with them. Even a great yokai cannot make light of this meeting."

She didn't look upset at all that I couldn't go, "I'm sorry that you can't go, but I'll go to the Eastern land with Ginji-san" She really didn't get the danger that she was in. I really worry for her safety.

"No," I say. "Since I cannot go, that's not a good idea, considering that someone tried to kill you before."

Aoi laughed at my concern and dismissed it. "It'll be fine. You're overprotective of me, Master. You're like my grandpa."

How rude! I'm nothing like Shiro. Though he was entertaining. Oh my goodness, does she think of me as a Grandfather? Noooooo, "What...? Do I...look that old...?" I ask in horror.

"What? No, not really. Wait. You're several hundred years old, and you're worried about looking old? No, I meant that you're acting like my grandpa."

"What? Shiro?" Feeling really insulted.

"Hmmph! I'm always being told the same thing. I'm glad that you understand the pain of it now."Aoi said, smiling " So you won't allow me to go no matter what?"

"Oh, you mean to the Eastern land? Can't you send Ginji there?"

"I'm going to cook dishes for the couple's precious anniversary. I want to choose the ingredients myself. I made a bento to show my appreciation if you were to give me permission. But yeah. You can't give me permission, right? So, I'll bring it back and stress eat it myself."

Such obvious blackmail, and I fell for it as I really wanted to eat what she had prepared for me. "H-hold on a second, Aoi. Calm down."

"I am calm." She said.

I look for the pendant I made with my ogre fire. "Here it is. This is the one."

"What are you doing?" Aoe asks as I kneel down and attach the pendant to her neck. She looked flustered as if I was going to kiss her. Not that I wasn't tempted, but that would not win me her heart. I am relieved that she isn't unfeeling toward me.

"It's pretty. Wow..."

"It's a stone that I enclosed my ogre fire in. Make sure that you keep it with you at all times." I instruct.

"So this is an amulet?"

"That's right. And, make sure that you stay with Ginji at all times and never go anywhere alone."

"Then...!"

"If you keep those promises, you can go to the Eastern land tomorrow. " I said, smiling.
"Thank you, Master!" Said Aoi, clearly pleased.

"So, give that to me."

"Okay."

"I'm happy that you made it for me."

"Are you that hungry?" Aoi asks.

"If you ask me how hungry I am, I'd say so-so. I'm just happy that you made it for--" just then, lightning struck, and thunder cracked Aoe looked afraid.

"Oh, I wonder if a thunder beast has just passed by above us. Even our fires are quite vulnerable to the thunderstorms they cause--" Aoi grabs my shirt trembling. "Aoi?"

"I-I'm sorry, Master. I am not good with thunder and lightning."

"Aoi," I light up my ogre fire in my hand in front of her like I had when she was a frightened child and patted her head."It's okay. Nothing will scare you any longer."

"Have I... heard that somewhere before?" Aoi wondered out loud, and then she said, "Thank you, Master. That's a pretty fire."

"I'm surprised to know that there is something that you're scared of."

"I'm pathetic, aren't I?" She asked still holding my outfit.

"If it makes you feel at ease, I don't care how many wrinkles you put in my clothes."

" Say, Master...When I was a child...No, never mind." So close...

I walked her back to Moonflower and dropped her off; she thanked me; I wished her well on the trip tomorrow and say good night.

Because of my ogre fire now with her, I know she had that memory again...she still hasn't recognised me, though. I leave her a note tucked into the bento box, as I am really concerned about her going shopping without me. After all, with Ginji and I with her, she still managed to get into trouble. It was just lucky that I was with her then.

My note said, "The stewed pork belly was quite delicious. Although the thunder and lightning are gone now, there are tons of other scary things. Come back to Tenjin-ya as soon as you can today."

I headed off to the Hachiyo meeting with Byakuya on the airship and talked with him about my worries.

Byakuya said, "You sound like you're her guardian. If you're that worried about her, why did you give her permission to go to the eastern land?"

"She isn't a caged bird. In addition, she was earnest about obtaining the ingredients herself. I am sure that she will do her utmost. She's that kind of girl. She'll probably be arriving in the eastern land soon."

I attended the start of the Hachiyo meeting about sundown. I felt something odd through my ogre fire that was around Aoi's neck, then stark fear. I knew that I had to go then. A call from Ginji about her being spirited away confirmed it. I could not leave her alone feeling like that. So I abandoned the meeting, leaving Byakuya in charge after asking him if he would. Byakuya sighed. "If you really must go, I won't stop you," he said.

"You really are dependable, Byakuya." I praised him as I left.