"Odama-Sama," Aoi says, linking her arm in mine.

"Yes, Aoi," noticing the flower had fully bloomed in her hair but wondering the cause and what she was going to say.

"When did you want me to be your bride?"

"Are you saying that you want to be my bride now?" I ask

"Never mind then," she said

Kind of annoyed that she did this

"Aoi, I do mind. My efforts to be your husband have been repeatedly knocked back, so excuse me for wondering if you do now."

Though I do know that she wants to because of the enchanted flower.

"Fair enough, I guess..." she said and stayed quiet, holding my arm. I left her to be as it was nice having her hold me like that. She turned a little, buried her head in my shoulder, and said with a hushed voice with a red face. " Master, I do want to be your bride...I have wanted to be ever since I was a child. It is somewhat embarrassing to realise that all the people I have ever been in love with are the same person, and I treated you so badly.... but Master, why didn't you tell me it was you?"

"Aoi," lifting her face to mine and kissing her, she responded to the kiss, "It was important for me that you came to love me for me, not a romantic version of me. I am not perfect, and those memories you have of me are hard to live up to."

"You knew of my feelings then?" Aoi asked

"I knew," I said. "It's why I had to end my placement and move on from the schools. I could not trust myself not to act on my feelings for you. I would return and teach you again when I had them under control. You're very intoxicating to me when you love me."

"Oh," Aoi said, thinking in my arms again, "but why did you teach me? You are clearly a very busy master, Master."

"Honesty, the first time was because a few people had hassled me that my promise to you as a child was out of pity. I didn't think that it was...so I went to see."

"Oh, Master?" Aoi asked

"Yes, Aoi?"

"When did you decide that you hadn't made a mistake?"

"The second day"

"So soon?"

"Yes, it would have been the first day, but the critics said it was too soon. I could not possibly know in one day. "

Aoi laughed.

"Why are you laughing?"

"You sounded so disgruntled at being told that. "

"I was"

"When did you?"

"When you walked in and introduced yourself as our teacher."

"Really? No wonder you were a pleasure to teach. "

"Was I?"

"Yes, I always enjoyed teaching you."

"Really?"

"Yes, I hope that you liked my teaching. "

Aoi was silent for a bit. "I did. I was always sad to lose you as a teacher. My grades were the best in your classes as I could understood you well. My friends, Yuri and Sandy, were the same. "

"I lost contact with them, and I don't know where they went."

"I'm sorry, Aoi, they seemed to get on with you despite you seeing us."

"They said that they saw them too. The little ayashi seemed to think that they could too."

"That's unusual. " I commented

"Yeah. They were my only friends who could see them. After that, people just avoided me and thought me weird."

"Ah"

I hugged her then, and she stayed in my arms the rest of the way home. "Aoi"
When we are nearly home, I say, " Are you sure you want to be this ogre's bride now?"

Aoi looks up at me. "Yes, why?"

"Then we must prepare. " I announce grandly.

"Prepare? Prepare for what?"

"Our wedding, of course. As much as I have teased you, and it's been advertised, you need a proper ceremony for it to be official, don't you?"

"Yes," Aoi nodded.

"Well, let's organise it!"

"Ok, where were you thinking and when? Even though I have agreed, I can't help but feel rushed."

"Aoi, it takes a month for the apparent realm to authorize the marriage, so you let me know when you want me to start organising, and I will. "

"You want to marry me in the apparent realm? But why?" Asked Aoi.

"You know that I have businesses there, don't you?"

"Yes, but what has that to do with me?"

"If you're my wife, you need to be recognised in whatever realm you are in. The only realm's marriage that is recognised across all three realms is the apparent realm. If you marry in either of the other two realms, it will be only recognised in those two realms and not the apparent. "

"Oh, I didn't know that. " Aoi replied.

"Also, I want you to be able to go to the apparent realm as you wish like Shiro did. You can't do that unless you are married to me there."

"Aren't you afraid that I will run off on you?" asked Aoi.

"No, you had the chance already, but you stayed," I said, feeling confident that she would stay as she finally loved me for me. Though it was more challenging this time as no glamour was involved, she fought against her and my feelings for a long time.
"Master, please organise it now. I think that I have made you wait long enough."

Ginji overhearing our conversations, smiled and said with sincerity

"Congratulations Master and Aoi! I will help organise it. Also, I am sure O-ryo and your friend will want to take you shopping for your wedding day and night. "

"Is that ok, Master?" Aoi asked, finally getting the danger she gets into without me.

"Yes, I will take you all to the apparent realm for a week so that you can shop safely."
"I can go home?" Asked Aoi

"You can go home."

"It's probably pretty dirty by now..." Aoi muttered.

"Sorry, Aoi, I will probably make you angry, but I had someone look after your place while you were here."

"Suzuran, when she got there, someone else before her. I figured that you would not mind Suzuran so much. Though she was given strict instructions to keep it clean, not decorate it."

"I am glad that it's Suzuran," Aoi said since she knew of her history with Shiro.

"I thought so," Relieved that I had guessed right.

"What about my bills?" She worried

"Suzuran looked after them too." Deciding not to tell her I had been paying the bills whenever Suzuran told me they had arrived. Suzuran, herself, had managed to get work as a geisha at the geisha tea house near Shiro's grave. But the little she got was barely enough for food and clothing as she needed. I thought those bills were an extension of my duties as her husband.

When we returned, Aoi wriggled out of my arms, bowed, and said, "Good night Master, I am happy that you will be my husband," and left me to go to Moonflower.
I sighed and knew that she was right.

I needed to attend my duties as Master, and she as Moonflower's boss to find out what state Moonflower was in.

I didn't get to see her again for another week. I was too busy. I had to go to the apparent realm the next day to start the process of our marriage and tell Suzuran what was happening so that she had the apartment ready for Aoi's return for her week with the girls. Suzuran showed me the sorry state of the bathroom in her apartment, so I agreed to let her 'change ' it to be like my bride's bathroom should be. Suzuran also asked if she could paint and refloor the unit. Again, I agreed. I organised the highly skilled workers to visit that day, and Suzuran picked out everything to suit. The work was completed the day before Aoi returned home with O-Ryo and her friend.

When I returned from the apparent realm, Byakuya sat me down and had me go over everything with him. I didn't see the light of day for the rest of the week.

Byakuya was about to drag me in again, and I refused. "I have to see my bride sometime before she has to go, and she doesn't even know that she has to go tomorrow yet."

"Ok, ok, I get it. Go!"

"Can you please tell O-Ryo and Aoi's friend to be ready to travel to the apparent realm tomorrow with Aoi and to pack for a week?"

"Yes, now go!"

I left to find Aoi outside Moonflower, curled up, sobbing into her arms.

I rushed over. "What is wrong, Aoi?" I ask, holding her as best I could.

"I haven't seen you all week! Why didn't you come? I thought that you wanted me... I thought I would have seen you at least three days ago. "

I was surprised; I didn't think that she would miss me that much, as before it was common I did not see her for up to a week. "I am sorry, Aoi, I could not get away till now. I had to see you before you had to go away."

"I am going away?" She asked, "Why? Have you changed your mind "

"No, I have not. Have you forgotten I promised you that you would go shopping for a week with O-ryo and your friend?"

"Oh...? I had. Master, will you spend today with me then?"

"Yes, Aoi, what do you want to do?"

"I want to spend the day with you up at the hot spring. It's the first place I started loving you but didn't want to."

"Ok, Aoi, let's go, " I agree.

We spent a lovely day up there, again eating the eggs and drinking ramune. We even soaked in the spring together this time, though we were in bathers. Although Aoi wants to marry me, she still is very virtuous. She seemed surprised that I was well muscled. I guess that it's not surprising since she has only seen me in my yukata. We walked back down the mountain, and she made us a meal to eat together. I kissed her goodnight.

"See you tomorrow, my bride."

"I will see you tomorrow?" Aoi asked hopefully

"Yes, for a little while," I answered. After all, I was going to take them all to her house as I wanted to see her face when she saw the changes.

The next day, O-Ryo, Aoi, and Aoi's friend met me outside Moonflower.

"Let's go," I say and walk them across the realms to the Ogre gate.

Once we were there, I let Aoi lead us to her home. After all, I technically shouldn't know where she lived.

Suzuran greeted us at the door and welcomed us in.

Aoi stood in surprise. "Wow! Suzuran, this looks great!"

"You're welcome, Aoi. I like the bathroom best. Go see!"

"Wow! It's beautiful!" Aoi exclaimed.

I was glad I decided to come. Even though I wasn't being thanked, it was enough to hear and see her pleasure in the changes.

"It's the least I could do since I am staying here without board!" Says Suzuran playing her part.

"I have to go now, Aoi... ladies. " I say and start to head back to the ogre gate.

As I neared it, I heard footsteps running behind me, so I turned around to see Aoi running after me. "Master..."she gasps, flinging herself at me. I catch her only to find myself being kissed. I smile and kiss her back. "I wanted to do that before you left. I won't see you for a week, will I?" She asked.

"No, my bride. However, I will come and pick you up provided nothing goes wrong."

"Well, make sure nothing does!" She demanded. "Can I walk you to the gate?"

"Yes, Aoi," I say, pleased that she wanted to spend the last bit of time with me before I walked between realms.

She walked holding my hand, and at the gate, I kissed her goodbye and left before I changed my mind about leaving her for that long.

I have to say that the week that followed was torture, between the Inn issues, booking the wedding venue and priest, sending out the appropriate invitations, including Matsuba-Sama, and then dealing with him. I wanted him to give away Aoi as he probably was the closest male other than me to Shiro, tracking down her two childhood friends and preparing for the wedding ceremony and then honeymoon.

It was a nightmare. I managed to find her two friends. Unfortunately, the people around them had had them committed for seeing the ayakashi. I talked with them in the teacher form they knew me from and found them to be bright, cheerful girls that could not ignore us. I explained to them that my looks were done by glamour, and they would have to face the real me in the hidden realm if they would like to live at Moonflower and help Aoi with the cooking. They were over the moon with the offer. With my connections, I got them discharged into my care and took them home to Tenjin-ya. As Aoi was not there, I had them initially stay in a room at the inn and learn from Cheif chef. I had strong words of warning to say to the duramas about not hurting my wife's childhood friends. I believe that they didn't hurt them after that.

When Ginji and my front desk manager met the girls, I couldn't believe it; they were immediately smitten by them as I had been with Aoi as a child. Luckily for them, they didn't like the same girl. I hope that they don't have the same problem with winning them over for their brides as I did with Aoi, but I need not have been concerned.

I returned to pick up Aoi and the ladies at the end of the week. I must have looked frazzled as all of them asked me what had happened. I fobbed them off by saying I was just busy.

"Ok," said Aoi looking determined to help me relax.

"Aoi..." she looked at me expectantly, " I found your childhood friends."

"Really? You found Yuri and Sandy?"

"Yes, I hope you don't mind; I bought them to Tenjin-ya to help you with Moonflower."

"Really?" Said Aoi with her eyes shining with excitement.

"Yes, Really!" I say.

"Are they at Moonflower yet?" She asked

"No," I replied, "they are in a room at Tenjin-ya learning from Cheif chef while you were gone. As Moonflower is yours, I didn't think it appropriate for me to house them there until you arrived."

"Thank you, Master, " Aoi says and kisses me.

"You are welcome, Aoi," and with that, we arrived back at Tenjin-ya.

Aoi wanted to check out Moonflower before she bought her childhood friends there. So, I left her be, saying, "let Byakuya know when you are ready for them. Unfortunately, I can't stay due to other duties."

"Oh," Aoi pouted in disappointment, then asked hopefully, "Can I see you tonight for dinner?"

"Okay," I smile, "I will pick you up and take you somewhere nice."

"Thank you, Master, " Aoi said as she hugged me. I hugged her back, pleased that she was so much more affectionate than before.

I found O-ryo waiting for me in my office. "O-Ryo," I greeted her

"Master, may I speak openly?" She asked

"Yes, what is the problem."

"Master, I am worried about your wedding night," she bravely said.

"Oh?!" I was rather looking forward to it.

"Aoi has no idea what to expect, " O-Ryo went on. "Suzuran and I tried to explain it to her, but she has romanticized it. Please, Master, take it slowly..." by the end of her speech, she was brilliant red.

"I plan to, O-Ryo. I don't want to lose my wife the first time I actually get to be with her."

"Sorry, Master, I am just worried for her," bowed O-Ryo.

"I understand; now go back to work."

"Yes, Master," and O-ryo left.

I knew that Aoi was innocent, but I didn't realise that it was that bad. I guess I will have to let her direct us. That's kind of going to be hard, considering just thinking about that night to come makes me hard.

I took Aoi out to dinner, leaving her friends giggling on the verandah of Moonflower. We had a lovely time; I gave her the engagement ring I had picked out for her. Aoi said she loved it-it had a green emerald in the centre, which I added my ogre fire to, surrounded by two diamonds that looked like hearts. Aoi kissed me again, and I returned it.

The weeks before our wedding disappeared so quickly. I was surprised that I was getting married the next day. I hadn't even sorted out my half of the wedding party or clothes. Ginji came in that morning, "Are you ready for tomorrow?" He asked

"No, and I have not asked you, Byakuya and Akutsuki yet to be my best men!"

"You're in luck!" Said Ginji, "Byakuya guessed that was the case and also guessed that you were going to ask us, so he arranged that."

"What?!" I say in shock, "He knew?... He's more reliable than I thought! I better thank him."

So, I did. I also officially asked Ginji, Byakuya, and Akutsuki to be the best men, which they accepted. I asked Byakuya if he could show me the garments he had picked out for us, and he did. As for the wedding ring... I had picked it out years ago. When I first met Aoi, the engagement ring was made to suit it. The wedding ring had a row of 7 small diamonds in it. I just had to dig it out and give it to Ginji to look after. Byakuya understood why Ginji was the best man, not him. Although Byakuya had been with me almost from the beginning of Tenjin-ya, Ginji was the young master and, therefore, technically outranked him.

I wondered who would catch the bouquet and garter. It would deem very fortuitous for the lucky pair.

The rest of that day went in a blur as all the men, including Matsuba-Sama, decided to hold me a buck's party. O-ryo gained permission to have a hen's party the same night at the Moonflower. Even Ritsuko-san came to her party.

I woke up the next day anxious about Aoi's and my marriage and that I would be there, and she didn't show up. Ginji assured me that she would be there. Everyone invited was already at the inn, and it was organised to transport everyone over half an hour before the wedding. The chief chef and the duramas stayed behind with a small crew of volunteers to prepare for the reception afterward.

Byakuya had organised the photographer at my request, so a good one was present. When we arrived. The photographer took before the wedding photos of both of us during the wedding and the reception.

The day went by in a blur. The only things I remember is my beautiful bride walking down the aisle, grabbing my hand, giving me my wedding ring, and me being able to kiss her as my wife finally! Everyone was surprised to hear my name. I used the one my first sensei had given me, Raiden Shunsuki, and used Odanna as my last name. The reason: -

Everyone called me Master, so I assumed that that was my name in truth.

The reception, I barely remember, except having to kiss Aoi every time the wine glasses were clanged with a spoon. I remember saying that I expected everyone but my wife to keep calling me Odanna and giving my wife the choice as to what she called me. I remember dancing the bridal waltz with her and her throwing the bouquet that Sandy caught. Ginji caught the garter. I remember thinking we could look forward to a double wedding as Sandy was smitten with Akutsuki, and Ginji was smitten by Yuri. Obviously, the feelings were returned.

We then ran away to the wedding suite for the night, where I finally got to have my wife after years of waiting for her and hearing my precious name given to me by my master all those years ago on her lips.

That's all, folks, I am sorry I can't bring myself to describe the joy of marriage if you wait, but it is there. But marriage is complex and ever-changing. You start with stars in your eyes and end up hating but loving each other. Then you finally get to the real deep love that you see couples who have been married for years with. Unfortunately, people are not told about the love-to-hate phase of marriage and divorce during that period... All I can say is if you *truly* love your partner wait it out and don't cheat, it takes time... things get better! Anyway, I will leave the rest of Odanna's story to your imagination.

If you want to read something spicy between Odanna and Aoi, read:-

https://www.wattpad.com/story/238169779-collateral-consummation-kakuriyo-no-yadomeshi

by HikariLydiaAoiKohana

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