Castles in the Air
Every cloud has a silver lining
Title: Castles in the Air
Author: Kanata Saionji.
Genre: Romance/ Fantasy/ Family
Story Line: Is it possible for love to sprout after you get married? And what if your partner for life is a completely different personality with dreams of their own? What if all this happens in Royalty? What if a deadline is given for your dreams? What if…? What if…? Why don't we play this "What if?" game with our most favorite pair—Kanata Saionji and Miyu Kouzuki—in this fantasy filled adventure set in the 12th century?
Disclaimer: The Author does not own the characters. Everything is the sole property of whomsoever it was created by. However the story, in the general version, belongs to the Author.
Review Replies:
Thanks for all those who reviewed. You don't know how much it means to me.
To Crushed Love: I'm glad it brought a smile to your face and you wouldn't believe how much I was laughing while I was editing it. Thanks again for the review
To StarAngel :Thanks for the review. What is "KANK"? And, don't you worry a minute… I'll never let Miyu to be away from Kanata. They are meant to be together.
To Misstruthfully: Thanks for your review. I hope you liked it. And I'll keep you posted for any further stories of mine. I wouldn't be a bother, would I?
To jdcocoagirl: I'm really glad... and miyu being intelligent is something i really wanted to work on for some time now... hope it works out well
To mel: thanks and i will...
To StarXxX: A Million Thanks!!
Author's words: Enjoy the story to its extreme and please, the readers can make any sort of comment. Anonymous reviews are welcomed.
Story…
'What are you guys talking about?' asked Kanata.
'I was going to ask that,' said Miyu.
'Loser,' muttered Kanata.
'Why you…' started Miyu but was interrupted by Miki who said, 'Miyu that's not the way to talk to your fiancé…'
'What?' asked Miyu.
'Come again?' asked Kanata.
'Oh we forgot to tell you,' said Hosho with a smile.
'Miyu you said you'll get married if we want you to, right?' asked Yuu.
'Yes, but…' started Miyu.
'Well, we want you to and we want you to get married to the Prince of the Saionji Kingdom…' said Miki
Chapter 2
The Deal and its Conditions
It was nearly midnight and the entire Saionji Kingdom was enveloped by sleep and darkness. Almost all the civilians of the Kingdom were clothed by the blanket of sleep which was not to be removed until the bright King of the sky decides to show up from behind the mountains in the morning. There was complete silence except for—
'I CAN'T BELIVE THIS!'
'Miyu, calm down, honey…' soothed Yuu Kouzuki, the most successful merchant of the Kingdom and the King's close friend.
'Listen to your father, dear…' said Miki Kouzuki, his most intelligent and charming wife.
'And you!' shouted Miyu Kouzuki, their beautiful blonde daughter with fury in her emerald eyes, pointing at her mother, 'I can't believe you kept this away from me all this time'.
'Just listen to us,' said Yuu.
'NO WAY!' shouted Miyu.
'Miyu honey,' tried Yuu again but Miyu was not to be soothed that easily.
'I really am taking no part of this insanity…' she said pulsing. She was trembling with fury. She continued, 'did you guys really think that I was going to accept that?'
'Miyu,' started Yuu again while his wife remained calm with her eyes closed, possibly thinking.
'I'm not going to accept this!' said Miyu.
'Miyu…' started Yuu for the third time but this time he was interrupted by his wife.
'Honey,' she said to her husband, 'can you wait outside for a while?'
Yuu gave her a questioning look, but obviously getting nothing out, decided to leave. He closed the door behind him and waited outside patiently hoping against hope that he could see his wife alive in another fifteen minutes.
'What are you going to say?' asked Miyu furiously glaring at her mother.
'Look Miyu,' she started, 'just give me fifteen minutes and if you're not convinced by then, I'll give up'.
'WHAT DO YOU MEAN CONVINCED?' shouted a brunette at the Palace of the Saionji Kingdom in his father room, shouting at him. It may just be noted that his father was the King and if it were someone else, they would've got their head chucked off for shouting at the King. But juts like always, the King was guilty and took all his son's shouts slowly and gently.
'Kanata, calm down,' said Mikan shaking her index finger in front of his face, 'Miyu is a really nice girl and…'
'What are you guys talking about?' shouted Kanata and turned away from both his father and his governess.
'Kanata, for the twentieth time, you're getting marri—' started Hosho, the Noble King of the Saionji Kingdom.
'Don't finish that sentence,' said Kanata threateningly.
Hosho hushed up. Mikan looked from the young Saionji to the old and made a decision. 'Your Highness,' she muttered and ushered him a little away from the Prince and whispered something into his ear, making the King smile with glee.
'Whatever you two may be cooking up, I'm not buying it!' said Kanata.
'That's a good point Mikan,' said the King.
Mikan turned on her heel and left the room and closed to door saying, 'all the best you two'.
It took longer than a minute for Kanata to actually take in what she meant. But even after that one minute, he was no closer in figuring out what that maniac of a governess-turned-minister, might be thinking about.
'Kanata, can I ask you something?' asked Hosho gently.
'What?' asked Kanata furiously.
'Do you love your mother?' asked Hosho slowly and the aftermath of this simple question was breathtaking. Kanata's eyes turned sober in a second and his fury seemed to vanish into thin air. He didn't actually remember everything about his dead mother but he knew certain things about her that his body had remembered rather than his brain. He could remember the smell of her long brunette hair and the way she used to cuddle him. A small smile appeared in his lips thinking back but it changed into a frown at once.
'What's that got anything to do with now?' asked Kanata shaking his head.
'Well, it is your mother who wished you get married to Miss Miyu Kouzuki,' announced Hosho.
'What are you saying mom?' asked Miyu bewildered.
'Yes honey, the late Queen decided that you should take her place,' said Miki smiling.
'Why me?' asked Miyu.
'Well, Hitomi, the late Queen, and I were the best of friends and on the day of her death, she made me promise that you should take over the kingdom with Kanata,' said Miki smiling warmly at the sky.
Miyu raised an eyebrow and miles away at the Palace Kanata did the same.
'You expect me to believe that?' he ridiculed.
Hosho hung his head and with a sigh said, 'she did say it and Miki and Yuu were there too'
Kanata raised both his eyebrows and asked, 'ok then why so early? When I'm just sixteen?'
'Seventeen,' corrected Hosho, 'we want you to get married only when you're seventeen'.
'Oh that makes a great difference,' said Kanata sarcastically, 'oh wait! I turn seventeen in FIVE DAYS!'
'Mom, I don't want to get married, not now…' Miyu said in the verge of tears.
'Wait until you listen to me, honey,' soothed Miki.
'What are you going to say now?' asked Miyu.
'Why don't we make a deal?' Hosho asked.
'What kind of a deal?' asked Kanata, thoughtfully.
'If Ms. Kouzuki rejects this proposal…'
'Who's Ms. Kouzuki?' interrupted Kanata with a blank look.
'This is never going to work,' sighed Hosho to himself and continued to his son, 'She's the blonde from tonight…'
'Oh she…' said Kanata, 'continue…'
'As I was saying, if she rejects this proposal, you don't have to become king and as an added bonus, you shall get the sword,' he said showing Kanata the Magnificent Sword of the Saionji Generation. It shined even in the bright room and Kanata's eyes were filled with desire and awe.
Kanata got closer to it but before he could place even a finger on it, Hosho withdrew it and said, 'but if she accepts, you have to get married to her and you get the throne as well as the sword'.
'So, I get the sword anyway?' asked Kanata.
'Yes, but on a few conditions…' said Hosho.
'Start,' said Kanata sighing.
'Condition 1: you shouldn't do anything to change her mind,' said Hosho.
'I hadn't thought about that,' said Kanata with a small smirk and added, 'thanks for the tip dad…'
Hosho sighed and continued, 'Condition 2: her last answer will be before noon tomorrow'.
'Too soon!' retorted Kanata at once.
Hosho paid no attention to his comment and continued, 'and condition 3: you should accept whatever answer she might give'
Kanata raised his eyebrow and said closing his eyes, 'whatever…'
Hosho smiled and left the room. As soon as he was out of Kanata's room, Mikan was on her toes to pounce on him.
'He accepted it!' exclaimed Hosho with a bright smile on his face, 'isn't it awesome?'
'Not yet,' said Mikan thoughtfully.
'Why?' asked Hosho.
'Now, we must make Miyu accept it…' said Mikan and at that exact moment all the clocks around the Kingdom stroked midnight.
'…in twelve hours' finished Hosho and Mikan nodded.
The next day was bright and sunny but the snow was still covering the entire Kingdom like a blanket. The whole Palace looked as thought it was pulled right out of the North Pole. Inside the castle, tensions were rising as this was obviously an important occasion as the future Queen shall be confirmed today. Within a few minutes would be noon—the deadline. The dead line was closing but the to-be groom was still fast asleep in his room. He was in the same state as the day before and he completely forgot both about his breakfast as well as Miyu's reply deadline. To forget your breakfast is one thing, but to forget the deadline of a proposal-answer…?
Kanata suddenly jumped up from his bed. He stood right on top of his bead and had a stunned look in his eyes.
'It must have been a dream,' he muttered to himself.
He touched his chest and his heart was beating really fast.
'What must have been a dream Kanata?' asked Mikan entering the young Prince's room.
'Mikan!' exclaimed Kanata, 'don't you knock?'
'Tell me,' she continued, 'what was your dream?'
Kanata blushed a little and said in a small voice, 'I dreamt Dad announcing me that I was going to get married on my seventeenth birthday'.
Mikan looked up at him thoughtfully and sat at the edge of his bed with her fingers on her chin. Kanata sat down beside her and asked, 'what's up Mikan?'
'Oh Kanata!' she exclaimed and said, 'sorry to break your heart honey but you are going to get married on your birthday! In other words, you'd no longer be single in four days!'
'WHAT!' shouted Kanata and stood on his bed again.
'You forgot?' asked Mikan.
Kanata slapped his forehead with his right hand and said, 'oh my god!'
Mikan smiled and said, 'and one more thing Kanata'.
'What's the time?' asked Kanata at once.
'Five minutes to noon,' she replied.
'WHAT!' shouted Kanata, again.
'Stop shouting,' said Mikan, 'or I'll put my medical bills in your account…'
Kanata gave her a death glare and suddenly remembered something, 'what did you mean by "one more thing"?'
'Yeah, I completely forgot!' said Mikan standing up.
'What?' asked Kanata as he got into his bathroom with a towel.
Mikan didn't reply till he got out. He was dressed in his usual riding clothes again—but this time, cream colored shirt with black pants. He was checking himself in the mirror to make sure he doesn't look good when Mikan chose to reply, 'Miyu said "yes"'
'Who's Miyu?' asked Kanata messing up his hair while looking into his mirror.
'Your bride!' shouted Mikan clapping her hands.
'WHAT!' shouted Kanata again turning around with a look of utter terror in his eyes.
'I'm so happy for you!'
Kanata vaguely heard a door slam and Mikan leaving him alone in his room. The clock in his room chimed noon and Kanata felt his stomach drop. This can't be happening, he thought. He dropped on the floor on his back with a soft thump.
End Episode 2
Tune in for the next episode of
CASTLES IN THE AIR
Every cloud has a silver lining.
