This was written for uakari in response to my Timestamp/Where Are They Now meme, where people could choose a story and request to see what happens five years later. But I figured I might as well post it up as an epilogue here as well.

Ashura's meeting with the Trade Minister finished early that day. Left with an unexpected gap in his schedule, the King of Ceres decided to take the rare opportunity to check on his daughter.

He was somewhat surprised by how big she'd grown; more like a small person now, bouncing around like a cricket and chattering in an odd mix of Ceresian and Nihongo. He was even more surprised to find Fai in the nursery with her, bent over her with some incomprehensible bright toy. Fai looked older, too; more graceful, mature, less like a gawky teenager than Ashura was used to. But then, the King thought, it's about time; he's past thirty.

Fai scrambled to his feet and bowed deeply when Ashura entered. "Sire," he said, then smiled. "This is a welcome surprise."

"How fares my daughter in her lessons?" Ashura asked, watching the child sing to herself as she wandered along.

Fai shot him an odd look and raised his eyebrows. "She's only three years old, my lord. It's a bit early for lessons," he said in a tone of mild reproof. Then he smiled. "But she already knows her letters. Why don't I let her show you? Sakura!" he called out, raising his voice and his tone. "Come here, flower-princess."

The little girl ran obediently to Fai's arms, and he swooped her up and hugged her, then turned smiling to Ashura. "What's your name, princess?" he asked her.

"My name's Sakura!" she proclaimed.

"And can you spell Sakura?" the blond man asked.

"Yes!" she said, and her chubby face glowed with pride as she raised it and proclaimed, "Ess, Ay, Kay, Yooo, Arr, Ay!"

"And who am I?" Fai said, smiling and pointing at his face.

"Fai-niisan!" Sakura said, bouncing in his arms and giggling. "Ess, Ay, Eye!"

"And who's this?" Fai said, pointing to Ashura.

Sakura looked over at him, and the small green eyes blinked for a moment in incomprehension before she grinned in recognition. "King!" she proclaimed.

"No, flower," Fai said, giving her a gentle shake. "Father. That's Father."

Ashura's smile dimmed, and he sat back in his chair, rubbing his finger absently over his lips as he watched Fai trying to coax his daughter into saying his name.

Three years - could it really have been three years? It must have been, else the high-blood courtiers that plagued Ashura's ears would not have thought to suggest the idea of remarriage.

Rui, my beloved... His thoughts darkened further, and it was with an effort that he steered himself away from the blackness that had overcome him. No. He would never remarry.

And yet, he had to admit, that left him with a problem. If he had never had any children, he would have the option of choosing his own heir - or at least, choosing whichever of the old clan scions he found the least offensive. Since there was a girl child, however, the kingship would attach itself to her marriage; whoever married Sakura would be the next king. A possibility that, no doubt, would entice power-hungry flatterers from all corners of the country to fight over her like dogs over a piece of meat. Unless he chose a husband for her first.

"Your majesty?" A voice broke into his meanderings, pulling his attention back to the moment. He saw a pale-haired adolescent boy, with thick spectacles over his eyes, hovering uncertainly by his elbow.

"What is it, Yukito?" he asked. It had to be important enough for the boy to approach him unasked, but not important enough to interrupt his meeting with the Trade Minister. He studied the boy's face, his posture; he looked upset, but not urgent. "Did you have another vision?" he asked, making his voice gentle.

"Yes. I thought you'd like to know," Yukito said, bobbing his head. "I dreamed... about a boy. Dark hair, dark skin. All of his family had that, too. Probably Autozam, maybe Hanshin."

"Talented?" Ashura probed. Every wizard they could gather was an asset, every one increased their power.

Yukito nodded. "I saw him pick up a table with his mind," he said, then paused. He looked down, and Ashura saw a glint of wetness in his eyes. "His father beat him, and locked him in a cage," he whispered.

"Ah." Ashura nodded understanding. "Well then, by all means, let us bring him to live here with us," he said calmly.

Fai had drifted closer, listening; with one hand holding Sakura's chubby fist, he placed the other on Yukito's shoulder, squeezing comfortingly. "Don't worry, Yukito," he said, and gave him a reassuring smile that lit up his face. "He'll be all right. I'll go and find him."

Yukito smiled back, tremblingly, and Sakura bounced at Fai's knee, clamoring for attention. As Ashura watched him bend to pick the little girl up, still talking reassuringly to the teenage dreamseer, he was suddenly reminded of a shepherd, tending to his flock. Fai stood above them by a head, tall and graceful as a heron; he moved with an unconscious self-confidence and authority. Such a shame, Ashura thought, that the Council would never approve an official adoption of Fai as his heir...

The idea broke on him like an epiphany, and he smiled wider as he watched the toddler pull Fai over to her pile of toys. "Fai-niisan, look, a broom," the little girl said, holding out a cinder-brush that one of the maids must have left lying around. She began laying about her with it enthusiastically. "I'm seeping! I'm seeping!"

Fai tipped his head back and laughed, and Ashura smiled as he stood up and went to join him. "Quite an enthusiastic little housewife, isn't she?" he remarked. "She'll make someone a wonderful wife someday."

"Oh, yes," Fai said, nodding enthusiastically. "I envy the man that she marries, but I think I pity him, as well. She has quite a mind of her own, our princess does!"

"Yes, indeed," Ashura said, and walked away, already making plans in his mind.