Aoi: Blue Sun © 1999

Story

Back when the world of Okanu was still young, during the era of the "Bella Mariposa" series, before humans and animalians lived side-by-side, a little water spirit maiden named, Aoi, fell into the care of a young woman and her three sons. Though she was a physical spirit, she hid her celestial being from them by veiling herself in the cloak of a "false form". Thanks to her illusion, she was able to live with them under the guise of a normal human girl. Though her need for secrecy was imperative, the reason behind her covertness is mystery known only to her. However, Aoi is not the only elemental spirit that lives hidden among humans. There are many others like her and one, in particular, whose identity must be so greatly concealed, that its truth of their birth is unknown, even to them.

Inevitably, Aoi's secret is eventually disclosed. The youngest member of her adoptive family, Ashley, discovered who she was from the moment they first met. But, their first encounter was on the night of a tragedy. It was an evening so eventful and traumatic that Ashley believed their encounter to be nothing more than a dream. After all, there was no such thing as magic and magical beings...right? In time, he realizes that the mystical girl he saw that night and the normal girl living under his roof are one and the same. Still, she pleads with him to keep her identity secret and though he doesn't understand her need for secrecy, he vows not to let anyone know who she really is. He will protect her, no matter what.