Adjusted from the show

"Hey, hold it!" The ittan-momen guys yell "Young master"

Tan spoke "My, my... It's been a while, Master Innkeeper of Tenjin-ya. I'd like you to hand over Suzuran. I, the heir to Yahata-ya, am supposed to receive her. I've gone through the formal procedures for it." He looked so smug about it too.

"Well, well... if it isn't the Young master of Yahata-ya..." I respond trying to sound reasonable and polite "Suzuran is our front desk manager's younger sister. I wanted to give them some bonding time. So, we're bringing her to Tenjin-ya right now. "

"Hmph! That's an obvious lie!" He snapped

"Besides, Young Master... It seems that Suzuran doesn't like you." I continue "Isn't forcing her to marry you a little selfish?"

"Look who's talking " Aoi interjects

"W-What?! How dare you insult me! You won't get away with it! I declare war against you!"

The ship starts moving away and Aoi panics "What! we aren't on board yet!"

"Ah! Hold it!" Tan shouts, I noticed archers preparing to fire. "Fire!" Tan shouted again.

Aoe panicked as they came straight at us. I catch the flaming arrow protecting Aoi.

"What?Hey, this is bad!" As more arrows came to us and they also hit the ship.Aoe jumped in front of me to my surprise and blew the arrows away with her fan.

I said with surprise and pleasure, "Oh, you protected me, Aoi?"

She crushed me with her next words, "No, it was self-defence. This thing is really amazing."

"Ah! That's the tengu treasure fan!" The Yahata-ya people exclaimed, "Why does that girl have it?!"

"Girl! Wh-wh-who are you?" Tan asks. "Are you a tengu?"

Aoi replied, "Well... even if you ask me that..."

I step in, holding her to my side, for her own protection, "This is Aoi Tsubaki. She is Shiro Tsubaki's granddaughter and the fiancée of Tenjin-ya's master Innkeeper. In other words, me."

Tan stutters "Sh-Sh-Shiro Tsubaki granddaughter is going to...marry the ogre-god at Tenjin-ya?"

To my relief Aoi didn't argue my claim. I grab Aoi and jump to my ship with her and put out the flames on it at the same time. Still holding her we look at them.

"What a terrible tragedy..." Tan says, "This is the end of the hidden realm!She'll be the ogre bride of Tenjin-ya!"

"What? Isn't that too harsh?" Aoi asked puzzled holding onto me still.

"---Ogrebride!"

"---Ogrebride!"

"Don't call me that!" Aoi snaps still holding me.

I heard them say, "Why not, isn't she?"  But we by then were too far away.

As we fly home, we stayed looking at the view. Aoi eventually let go and stood close in front of me till we got back home.

All 4 of us walk in, my front desk manager sees us all but only focuses upon his sister, exclaiming, "Suzuran!"

"Big brother!" She returned the greeting smiling.

"What are you doing here?" he asked worriedly.

Suzuran answered before bursting into tears, "The master saved me. I... I was about to... big brother!"

"Suzuran! Are you okay? What happened?" He fretted over her reaction.

Next minute the old hostess snapped "O- Ryo! Where have you been at a very busy timelike this?!"

"I-I'mvery sorry." O-Ryo apologises

"We cannot tolerate that kind of behaviour! I thought you had potential, so I recommended that you become the young hostess. And you repay me by disgracing me?"

O-Ryo cried, "I-I was just... um... "

I stepped in taking over from the old hostess, "O-Ryo. I commanded you to look after Tenjin-ya while I was gone. Why did you disobey me?"

O-Ryo blushed and whispered, "I was just worried about you, Master. "

"I'm not so ignorant that I wouldn't notice what you did to Aoi in Youto." I said angrily, "It seems that it was too soon for you to become the young hostess."

"Ah,"O-Ryo groaned.

"I order you to confine yourself in your room until your punishment is decided." I say as I walk away.

I don't think that she understands how I really feel about Aoe. I expect that behaviour from Aoi, after all it is her life that is impacted on my choice. Knowing Aoi was upset by the whole experience I sent the young master to her. He will at least settle her down. Knowing that they will end up talking about the menu I suggested he suggest curry and rice, the dish she wanted as a child. I heard that O-Ryo collapsed so I had one of the maids take her to Aoi with instructions not to tell her that I said so but come up with some other excuse. I figured that Aoi would win her over if she looked after her, and stop this ridiculous rivalry only in O-Ryos head.

I took Aoi the bowl I bought her, wrapped in the box and left again not wanting to disturb her looking after O-Ryo. I hope that she likes it. I attached a note saying 'use it as you like'.

One of my staff at Tenjin-ya came and told me that Suzuran and her brother were having a fight. I went immediately to intervene, and as I arrived Aoi was knocked out with the bowl I had just given her on her head with some sort of food in it. Many of my employees were standing around watching the fight happen before them, like it was some sort of entertainment.

"Looks like Suzuran wins," I say as her brother then went flying out of the room. Aoi started coming around then, "Aoi...I never thought that you would use the Youto cut glass as a helmet. " I joke.

"I never thought that I'd wear it on my head, either. " she answered in a dry tone of voice.

I laugh at the situation, "You sure are a funny girl."

I then ordered my attendants to clean up and repair the damage done by the siblings, and sent Aoi off to the bath.

When she had returned, I asked "Have you warmed up Aoi?"

"Yes," she replied, "I will make some tea, so have some of those mame daifuku while waiting."

Aoi took a mame daifuku and asked, "About Akutsuki and Suzuran-san... What caused them to fight like that?"

I answered, "You know that Akutsuki and Suzuran are ayakashi from the apparent realm?"

She nodded, "Yeah."

"It was about 40 years ago, when Shiro was travelling between the apparent and hidden realms...there was a disturbance in which a wandering spider ayakashi attacked humans one after another while looking for shelter in the apparent realm. That spider ayakashi was Akutsuki. Then, Shiro, who was travelling aimlessly between the two realms, showed up in front of him. Knocked Akutsuki out in one hit after Akutsuki attacked him, picked him up and entered the temple to find Suzuran hiding there. After that, the siblings seemed to have been taken in by Shiro. "

"But Akutsuki hates my grandpa quite a bit." Puzzled Aoi.

"Yes, Akutsuki told me before that he never wanted to serve a guy like that again." I say as I make tea.

Aoi agreed, "Well I can imagine that."

"Even now, Suzuran feels indebted to Shiro" I say."and she likes him."

"It looks like it," says Aoi.

I took them back to the hidden realm with me because Shiro asked me to. After that Akutsuki started working at Tenjin-ya, and Suzuran started her training to become ageisha in the capital. In order to enjoy Suzuran's dancing and listen to her play the shamisen, Shiro often went to the capital, but according to Suzuran he hadn't visited her in ten years."

"Ten years...Is Suzuran-san really going to the apparent realm?"

"It seems she's determined to do so."

"Whatabout Akutsuki? He's fiercely against it."

"Suzuran isn't a child any more. She's going there with the money she earned herself, so who can stop her?" I answer.

Aoi replied, "That may be so, but...the ayakashi in the apparent realm all seem to behaving a rough time living there and are always hungry. So, I can see why Akutsuki is worried."

"By the way, " I say as I hand her her tea, "I heard that O-Ryo is under your care."

"She just has a fever," Aoi replied taking her tea. "She took medicine, so all she needs now is another day of rest. Thanks for the tea." And drinks it."Is O-Ryo going to be demoted from young hostess after all?"

"Are you concerned?" I ask, "She just likes you. You're like a father figure to her. That's why she got jealous of me and disobeyed you."

"I'm not her father. An independent young hostess or someone who can rely on me...she has to choose between one or the other."

"I know, but..." Aoi drinks some more tea.

"To think that you're taking care of an ayakashi who harmed you...you sure are a strange one, just like Shiro."

"You too! I said that you didn't have to, but you bought the Youto cut glass bowl for me anyway."

"You don't like it?" I enquire.

"I do," she said pulling a martyr face.

"Good," I say smiling at her.

Aoi smiles back and says "I really like it!"

"I'm glad to hear it."

"Say, what's your favourite food?"

"That question again?" Avoiding the question totally.

"I want to thank you for the Youto cut glass too, so...."

I covered myself by saying,  "I have a policy of not telling my favourite food to anyone so easily...because it could become my weak point."

"What do you mean by that?" Aoi demanded.

I laugh." Well, you must be tired by now, Aoi. Go back to the annex and go tobed."

"O-Ryois at the annex. I wonder where I should sleep," she asks looking at me.

"Wouldyou like to sleep in my room?" I asked hopeful but expecting rejection." I'll prepare another pillow, my bride."

"Nothank you! I would rather camp out."

"Oh? Then start working hard from tomorrow, unemployed girl."

"Hey, master. I have a small favour to ask." Leaning into talk to me.

"That's rare."

"Can I have some of that matcha? I would like to make matcha flavoured tofu ice-cream."

I give it to her and she seems so happy. We walk back to the old inn. " Alright,This is great! Thank you, Master!"

"It seems that it made her happier than any other gift I gave her" I am genuinely confused.

Aio runs ahead holding the match up. She stops and turns suddenly "Hey, where's Suzuran-san right now?"

"We got her a different room... though the repair of the large camellia room should be finished by tomorrow," I replied.

"Isee"

I ask dreading the answer, "Do you want to go back to the apparent realm too? Are you still attached to the apparent realm?"

"Yeah, since I am human. I do feel that I should go back there someday."

"Why?"

"Why?You ask?"

"Shiro died, so you don't have any family, there right?"

"That's quite a mean question. I'm a student. It'd be normal for me to be in the apparent realm, wouldn't it?"

"I thought I'd ask how you felt about it. " I said, then I left her.

I heard later that she found Akutsuki and looked after him, and fed Suzuran ice-cream she had made using the bowl I had bought her. Aoi also tried hard to mend the rift between the spider siblings.
I decided to organise Aoi to go with Suzuran.

When Suzuran was leaving Aoi, the young master and I saw her off.
The man who bought Suzuran showed up.

"Master innkeeper at Tenjin-ya " he yelled through a speaker cone "Bring Suzuran here right away!"

"Aoi. I have a favour to ask of you." I say and put her in the carriage with Suzuran.

"What?!"She says in surprise.

"Suzuran is supposed to marry me." the blockhead continues to yell. "If you continue to stand in my way, we'll set fire to Tenjin-ya!"

Akutsuki lept into action, kicking the man, "Shut up, you ittan-momen bastards!"

"Nii-san," Suzuran gasps from the carriage.

I give the tickets for Suzuran and Aoi to go to the apparent realm. I think that for the moment it is the safest place for her. Though I am sad to send her off, her heart is not yet ready for me.

"You know the apparent realm very well, and you can take Suzuran to the place she wants to go." I say.

The young master instructs Aoi to get in and O'ryo bought her her things. "Hey! Won't you have problems in the apparent realm without this?" O'ryo asks.

"Good thinking, O'ryo " I compliment her.

O'ryo said smugly "Well, I'm the young hostess. This is nothing!"

"What's going on, Master?" Aoi asks as I reach out to shut them in.

"I am leaving Suzuran to you." I say looking at her for maybe the last time.
The carriage starts to go.

"Like hell I'd allow you to marry Suzuran, you perv." Akutsuki says pinning him to the ground.

"Butler! Butler!" The man cried and tried to knock the carriage out of the sky. Akutsuki defended it with no problems. I was relieved as I did not have to stepin.

I waited at the gateway between the realms to see if Aoi would come. To my surprise she was there talking to a little Akutsuki.

"Hey...would you like to eat curry?"
Holding the bag of shopping out to me with a smile. "Do you like curry, Master?"

"I do like curry from the apparent realm. I like it because it certainly seems like a home-made dish."

"I'll make it once I'm back at Tenjin-ya. You'll eat it, right?" Aoi says.

"So you're willing to come to the hidden realm again?" I asked hopefully.

"What're you saying?" Aoi asks looking annoyed, "I haven't fulfilled my promise yet. I haven't paid off my grandfather's debt."

I walked her back to the hidden realm and said, "Welcome to the hidden realm."

I agreed for her to open up the eatery called the Moonflower. Several of my staff helped her and in return she cooked for them.

I came then as I wanted to eat some of her cooking too.

Aoi saw me and rushed over with a sample "Would you like to have some too, Master?"

I pick up a rice ball and eat it.

"How is it?" Aoi asks.

"I like it," I say smiling.

Aoi seems relieved and says, "I wonder if you are telling the truth."

"So, it'll finally open tomorrow, huh?" I ask.

"Yes. Aoi-san worked hard on the preparations, too." Ginji answered me.

"Aoi-san Aoi-san!" A little green and purple turtle called.

Aoi bent down and picked it up in her hand "Oh Chibi. Where have you been?"

"I took a dip in the pond over there. If I don't replenish the water on my plate, I'll dry up, so.... but I almost got eaten by a carp."

"Oh my..." Aoi exclaims, "Here. Have this and heal your wounds."

"All right! It's plum and cucumber! Yay! Yay!" Chibi cheered.

Out of the corner of my eyes I saw the cooks help watching Aoi. I worried that it would bebtrouble, but Aoi had a way of winning people over so I hoped she would them too.
Matsuba said that he would be back for Aoi's opening.

Before she opened, she was attacked and Sasuki protected her from the assassin. He also cleaned up the yard from the banana peels.

He reported to me.

"An Assassin...? Who was it?"

Sasuki answered "The others went after him to find out, but I was told that in their carelessness, they lost him."

I puffed on my pipe in annoyance, "It seems he's quite skilful."

"Is Aoi safe?" I worried.

"Yes.She treated me to delicious food."

"I see," feeling envious." That sounds like her. Continue to guard Aoi and Moonflower."

"Yes sir!" Sasuki agreed.

The next day I visited moonflower with Ginji. Aoi was busy preparing "Aoi. Let's goout for a bit."

"What? But I haven't finished the preparations for tonight yet."

"Just for a little bit," I say.

Gingi walks over and whispered in her ear."Don't you want to eat some good food?"

"What?"She blushed.

We went out and bought some food. "Oh, this is delicious!" Aoi exclaimed while she ate.

"Oh, hello, master!" Someone greeted me.

"So...this is Ginten district huh? I was curious about this place when I saw it fromvthe sky. " Aoi chatted.

"Aoi-san," Ginji called worriedly she ran ahead, "You'll get lost if you go ahead by yourself!"

I was worried myself but as Ginji had said something I let it go.

Aoi called back "Don't worry! We can see Tenjin-ya from here. If push comes to shove, I'll use the fan."

Needless to say Ginji and I were both shocked. I commented to Ginji "She really is a scary girl."

"Yes. She got it from Shiro-dono," he agreed.

"I can hear you guys!" She said.

We sat down and she looked at tea.
"Here you go. This is newly picked tea. Oh, hey! You're the ogre bride."

"What?"

"See this?"

"Ugh! I'm in a news article!" Aoi says looking at the article.

We all end up looking at the article.
"The masters engagement has been much talked about in the women's club here. I heard that the young girls who wished to have a chance with the master got so disappointed that they were confined to bed for at least 3 days." Said the shop keeper.

I had a dig at Aoi,  "What a sinful woman the ogre bride is..."

Aoi sighed, "I'm the one who wants to confine herself to bed. There are alot of ogre masks."

"The one who rules this land is the master, so that is why ogre masks are popular around here." Ginji says.

"I see... I wonder if they have that mask." Aoi wondered, I am guessing that she is thinking of the mask I wore when she was a child. "They don't seem to have it."

A person walked out of the shop wearing a similar one to then.

"AoiSan " called Ginj worriedly
I was worried too as she just ran off with no regard to her safety.

Ginji and I catch up to her and see her being frightened by Rokusuke, a snake Akutsuki.
"What'sgoing on here?" I ask, furious with the Akutsuki.

"Why if it isn't the Tenjin-ya 's master!" Rokusuki said. "Thank you for your continued business with us."

Aoi asked, "What? You know him?"

"We thank you for your business as well, Rokusuke-san." Said Ginji.

"Aoi. This is Rokusuke-dono from Mizumaki Farm. They sell vegetables and fruits wholesale to Tenjin-ya. " I introduce her to him.

"What? Vegetables and fruits...? Could it be that you make Roku-chan's CerryJuice?!" Aoi asks excitedly.

Rokusukitook off his mask "Aye."

"So you are the...."

Rokusukiturned and looked at me, "Master, isn't this lady the much talked aboutyoung wife of yours?"

"Young...wife..."splutters Aoi, obviously angry again. I ignore her.

"I'm surprised that you figured it out." I say.

"I sensed the spiritual power of our cucumbers in her."

"What? Spiritual power from cucumbers?" Said Aoi looking at herself puzzled.

"She appeared to be human, so I thought she might be the one. Well then, I'll get going now. I hope we'll continue to receive your patronage. "Rokusuki smiled as he left.

Aoi thanked him, "Ah yes! Thank you for your business!" And sighed. We then went back into the shopping area.

I asked, "Why did you walk off by yourself?" as we walked in to a restaurant.

"Welcome," we were greeted and we ordered Chicken tempura.

"Thank you for waiting. Here are your chicken tempura meals."

I was still upset with Aoi's lack of concern for her safety, so scolded her again "You were lucky that it was Rokusuke-dono. If it were a violent ayakashi you would have been eaten."

"I' m sorry." Aoi apologises.

"Seriously,I'm realising how hard it is for a mother to watch a small child who walks as they please. " I say.

"I'm not a small child! You're not my mother!" Aoi replied angrily.

I say again for her safety, "When we go out, always stay by my side."

Ginji interrupts in his cute young form trying to ease the atmosphere, "Now now, Master. You can probably stop now. Aoi-san seems to be feeling very sorry,so..."

"To me she looks angry, not sorry at all."

"And the Chickentempura is getting cold, too."

"Let's eat!" Aoi says.

"Yes, let's eat!" Says Ginji.

Aoi took a bite and said, " This Chicken tastes good! It has a light flavour!"

"Cassowaries are one of the specialities around here." I say.

Ginji asks, "Would you like to put Cassowary dishes on Moonflowers menu too?"

"Yeah. I'll think about it."

Ginji's form is starting to irritate me now, "By the way, why are you in thatform?" I ask.

"What?"Ginji asks, and laughs nervously.

"Whatdo you mean?"Aoi asks.

"Ginjiis good at getting close to others by using his shapeshifting techniques."Ginji laughs nervously, I continue "When he wants me to treat him, he's always in that form."

Aoi smiling says "always huh? Well... you two seem very close. How long have you been working together?"
Ginjianswered smiling, "It hasn't been that long since I started working at Tenjin-ya. I don't think it has been 50 years."

"But still 50 years..."

"He was working for our rival inn before us, and I head hunted him."

"Is that right?" She asks Ginji

Ginji smiled and said, "It's a long story."

After paying for the meal, we left to go to the Ogre Gate Iwato Shrine, and were walking up the stairs.

Aoi commented "Ahh... that was delicious. At any rate, this is one long staircase."

Ginji put agood spin on the stairs " But it's good for after-meal exercise, isn't it?"

"ThisOgre Gate Iwato Shrine has devine favour in matchmaking. Now is the perfect timing for you to visit it."

"What? Matchmaking?" Aoi frowned.

"The matchmaking by this Shrine is for businesses." Ginji explains. "It means to have connections and good business relationships."

"I see." Aoi said looking up at it.

As we prayed at the Shrine, I said to her "Aoi. Good business isn't only about making money. What's important is how much value you can put in encounters and relationships while doing business."

"Encounters and relationships..." Aoi repeats thoughtfully.

Ginji said"I hope Moonflower will be blessed with good business relationships."

"Metoo." Agreed Aoi as we left the Shrine.

She was amazed at the views from the Shrine looking back to Tenjin-ya.

The next day Aoi's Moonflower opened and the tengu came. They clearly had a good time because she made a lot of money that night. Ginji reported later it was a great night and that Matsuba-Sama wanted to stay and live with Aoi.