Castles in the Air

Every cloud has a silver lining

SEASON II

Author: Kanata Saionji

Genre: Romance/Family/Drama

Summary: It's been nearly four months of their wedding. Not much have changed except that they have grown a tad bit comfortable with each other. Living life together isn't so bad. But wait till your past catches up with you. Let's begin the second season of the story "Castles in the Air". We shall hope that the silver lining is still present.

Disclaimer: The characters belong solely to whosoever created them. But "castles in the air" belongs to the author in the general pattern. Thank you.

'Kanata…?' called the blonde uncertainly, her voice breaking.

'You want me to marry her…?' asked Kanata finally looking right into her emerald eyes intensely.

'Um…'

'Would you be okay if I get married to her…?'

The question came so suddenly that she couldn't even process her mind fast enough. She first thought that her ears were not working properly. She just wanted to hear his ask her again just to make sure.

'Kanata…' she started.

'Fine,' he said looking down his brunet locks covering his face, 'I'll marry her, if that's what you want!'

'Kanata…' she started again, tears now forcing their way down her cheeks.

'You should go back to bed… its getting cold,' he muttered walking away from her towards the door that'll lead them back to their rooms.

'Kanata!' she called so firmly, he couldn't pretend that he didn't hear. He stopped but didn't reply.

'How come you never said "damn Kanata"?' she asked, tears streaming down her face.

He didn't reply.

Tears streamed down the blonde's cheeks as she sunk further into the warm water in the royal bathtub, her salty tears mingling with the pure and clear water streaming into the tub from griffin shaped taps.

Episode 20

What the King is…

She dipped her face into the lukewarm water and brining her face back from inside the water, with her eyes closed, she rubbed off the tears as well as the water with her palms. Just then, she heard a soft knock on the bathroom door and heard Akira's voice.

'Miyu…? Are you done yet?' Miyu heard her soft voice.

'Almost…' replied Miyu, her voice a little cracked from the constant crying.

'Oh…' came Akira's voice and then she added, 'ok, then… I'd be waiting for you at the Dining hall with Kanata… come soon, ok…? We should be leaving in a few minutes…'

'Yeah…' replied Miyu, suddenly, her stomach feeling a little empty but not out of hunger, 'I'd be there in a few minutes…'

'Ok then…' said Akira cheerfully through the door and added, 'see you there…'

Miyu heard shuffling and the sound of the room's main door opening and then closing. She sighed and sunk a little into the bath. Her emerald eyes, which were just half-focused, wandered around the bathroom. It was a circular marble finish room with a beautiful and elegant bathtub right at the left end of the room.

Miyu's mind started wondering whether she'd miss this bathroom once she'd no longer be the Queen. If she becomes the minister, she'd surely not miss any other part of the castle but surely as just a minister she was sure she'd never be allowed into the bathroom of the King and the Queen again.

'Would you be okay if I get married to her…?'

'Would I be okay…?' muttered Miyu under her breath and deepening into the water, her voice now nothing more than bubbling water, '…god... I don't know…'

Nearly fifteen minutes later, Miyu stood before the dressing table combing her hair aimlessly. She looked at herself in the mirror. She was wearing a long periwinkle blue dress which reached a little below her knees and her other usual accessories in its place—her thin diamond chain her mother presented for her birthday, the bracelet and her wedding ring.

Miyu lifted her right hand and on it gleamed the bracelet and the ring in question. Both were given to her by Kanata—one on her birthday and one on his. She was sure she has to part with atleast one of them—or maybe both.

Just then, the door to the room opened and holding onto the doorknob was the King of the Saionji Kingdom himself. Miyu looked into his amber eyes for a second and the next, both the teenagers turned away.

Unconsciously, Miyu's eyes started watering. It took all her willpower to stop them from flowing. She reminded herself that whatever was happening to her was because of her own actions and words and nobody else's. But the tears didn't seem to know that. They just wanted to free themselves.

But what was going on in the brunet's head was far more heartbreaking.

'You want me to marry her?' I asked, unable to believe what I was hearing. I didn't know but why does it feel all somber and angry inside of me when she says that.

'Um…'

'Would you be okay if I get married to her…?' I asked her, firmly. Yes, I wanted to know for anger was rushing into my veins at her words and from where it came, I had no idea. I was just furious that she would want me to marry Akira. Why couldn't she just say that she didn't want me to keep up my promise with anybody?

And now, he still didn't know the answer. But didn't want to anymore. He was sure he wouldn't be able to handle it. The anger he had felt last night had yet subsided and he had no idea how to make it fade away.

Now, Akira had sent him to call her and he couldn't open his mouth to deliver the message as unlike her, he can't hide his anger. He can only hide pain and suffering… and happiness and love.

Finally, he opened his mouth and muttered, 'It's time to leave…'

'Yea…' replied Miyu, her heart throbbing with pain. It would usually have been something like, 'what have been taking you so long, loser…?', or, 'can't you keep up?' or 'you are so slow'

But it was just an "it's time to leave…"

He removed his hand from the doorknob and was about to move away when she suddenly called him. But this time, not by his name for she couldn't stand not getting back his trademark counter dialogue.

'Hey… one minute…'

He stopped and chose to turn facing her. She didn't look up but slowly moved near him and planting a soft peck on his cheeks whispered on his cheek before moving away, 'I got used to it… that would be the last one… sorry about this…'

Kanata stood there, his hair covering his entire eye façade whilst she was sprinting away from the room in a dash, her hair flying past her shoulders and her cheeks flowing down with tears.

A tiny drop of tear formed around a pair of amber eyes but the owner just rubbed it off his robes and pushing his brunet locks away from his face moved out of his room, closing his door behind him in despair.

*castles in the air*

'So, aren't either of you going to ask where we are going?' asked Akira.

The three were seated inside a horse driven carriage. Akira was sitting between the two teenagers and was not at all convinced by their insistence that they prefer window side seats. But she decided not to ponder over it as the reasons were pretty obvious. But the silence that the two maintained was hell. She couldn't take it any longer. That's why she had asked the above question.

The two teenagers looked at her a little confused at the sudden question. But neither answered. Finally, it was Kanata, who looking out of the window muttered, 'we are going to the garden aren't we?'

Miyu looked up at this. She looked outside the window and sure enough they were moving towards the direction of the amazing garden that Kanata had taken her to on her birthday. She looked at him and unfortunately or fortunately, he made eye contact with her as well. They turned away at once.

Akira sighed inwardly and tried to smile amidst all awkwardness.

Nearly another fifteen minutes of carriage riding and they were now climbing the small hill that will lead them to the amazing flower garden. The last time she had been there, Miyu had ridden right to the garden on Sandy with Kanata. But, now, however, Kanata was walking a few feet in front of the two girls. The guards and the carriages were parked right at the bottom of the hill.

'He can be such a jerk,' muttered Akira.

Miyu looked up surprised.

'Sorry, didn't mean to insult him in front of you but… just look at him!' she spat angrily, 'he's walking as though we are not even there… we might as well be invisible…'

'I wish I was,' thought Miyu but smiled nonetheless.

They saw Kanata stop and were sure that they had reached the top. In a quick pace they reached it too and Miyu couldn't see any change in the garden except a few changes in the flowers. It was almost exactly as she remembered from her birthday. She stole glances at the brunet unconsciously and saw that he was busy looking at the sky with a lost look in his eyes.

She looked back to the ground. But not for long. Akira grabbed hold of her wrist and pulled her into the rows and rows of flowerbeds and laughing, pulled her in circles, making flowers separate, making a wonderful scene. Despite herself, Miyu's heart felt a little light at the touch of the flowers.

Kanata stood staring at the scene and a small smile crossed his façade. But it disappeared at once.

'Kanata!' called Akira, waving her arms frantically in the air, 'Come here! And join us!'

He looked at her incredulously and then shifted his gaze to the blonde who, just a second ago had been looking at him, had shifted her emerald eyes to something on the ground. He raised his eyebrows and shaking his head muttered, 'not interested… I'm not a kid…'

'Party killer,' muttered Akira darkly.

Miyu smiled lightly.

Akira looked at Miyu cheerfully with a wide smile and said, 'Kanata and I used to come here everytime when we were kids…'

'Oh…' acknowledged Miyu with a small smile. Akira sat down in the middle of the flower bed lightly and Miyu followed suit.

After seating themselves, Akira looked at Kanata. So did Miyu. He was sitting with his head rested on the trunk of the Sakura tree, which unfortunately was not in its blooming season. He looked really peaceful sitting there with his eyes closed and his brunet locks moving lightly with the breeze.

'I can see by the look on your face that you have been here before,' said Akira suddenly, 'did you know about this place?'

'No… I mean yes…' stuttered Miyu, 'ugh!'

'Everything alright…?' asked Akira laughing lightly.

'Of course,' replied Miyu forcing a smile, 'Kanata showed me this place…'

'He did?' asked Akira, her smile fading for a second but it returned again back to its original place. She shifted lightly and more comfortably on the grass and asked, 'when?'

'On my birthday… on March… this year…' muttered Miyu slowly, looking at a small crimson flower which stood right near her ankle to where she sat.

'Oh,' was Akira's reply now.

Then, she suddenly got up and cried, 'Kanata!!! Wake up!!!'

Miyu looked at her surprised. So did Kanata. His eyes snapped open, as if expecting danger, because his hands flew to his sword at once. Miyu got to her feet as well.

'Akira…?' Miyu called softly, a little confused.

When he didn't spot any danger, Kanata cam marching right in front of Akira and asked furiously, 'what was that for? Where you trying to give me a heart attack?'

'Of course not, silly,' she said playfully brushing his brunet locks. Miyu looked down at once because the sight gave her the feeling of being left out… unloved.

Kanata lightly flinched at her touch to which Akira withdrew at once, a little surprised. But her smile returned and she said, 'Miyu and I are hungry… go get the food from the carriage…'

'Why didn't you bring it with you?' flared up Kanata at once.

'I forgot,' said Akira pouting her lips.

Kanata sighed lightly and then turned, chancing a glance at the blonde whose emerald eyes were buried in the grass, and started moving down the hill towards the carriage.

Akira smiled smugly and grabbed Miyu's wrist again.

'Ouch,' cried Miyu at once.

Kanata who hadn't gone much turned his had towards the girls in a quick motion. He stopped in his tracks.

'What happened?' asked Akira to Miyu, concerned.

'Nothing,' replied Miyu at once pulling out a smile, 'you grasped a little too hard on the bracelet… it hurt a little…'

'I'm sorry,' apologized Akira at once.

Kanata, lightly able to catch the conversation, continued his way down the hill.

'So, let's go catch Kanata's place before he comes back,' said Akira cheerfully.

'That's why you made him go down?' asked Miyu, incredulously. Despite herself, a smile came across her face.

'Of course,' replied Akira, 'that's the best spot in the entire garden…'

Miyu smiled and the two girls walked towards the tree and seated themselves at the place where Kanata had once sat, leaving exactly the place he had.

After a few minutes of silence, Akira called Miyu, 'Hey… Miyu…?'

'Yeah…?' asked Miyu smiling. She was already starting to like Akira. She was as different as it was from Christine.

'Um… do you like Kanata?'

The question had come just as suddenly as the one Kanata had asked her. If you analyze it in a way, they both contain somewhat the same meaning. But being asked by two different persons, it also meant something different.

Miyu gave Akira a surprised look to which Akira just smiled.

'C'mon… tell me… I promise I won't breathe a word to him…' she promised, 'whether good or bad…'

'Akira, better not make any promises,' muttered Miyu lightly, 'you might never know when you might break it'.

Akira's smile vanished for a second but it returned at once and she pursued her question again, 'ok I take it back… now, tell me… tell me whether you like this King of ours or not…?'

Kanata… Like Kanata? How could she like Kanata…? Or does she…? Miyu's mind started racing with memories…

'I've been in this room for nearly fourteen years and I never had any reason to knock to enter…'

'Why don't you find yourself a room by the broom-closet?'

'Damn Kanata!'

'He's such an idiot sometimes!' she started and Akira was completely taken off guard at her sudden pronouncement, 'how can I like a guy who calls me a loser or doesn't know how o knock before entering a girl's bedroom…?'

'Running away already loser?'

'A loser doesn't deserve anything more than this… wouldn't you agree?'

'Damn Kanata,'

'This office of yours is a little dirty don't you think?'

'Or somebody who uses his time just to think about ways to make my life miserable…?' she continued, some unknown strength taking over her body and mind, 'or someone who… who…'

'Who gave you permission to let her starve for me?'

'…who worries about my health…' continued Miyu's her eyes relaxing.

'Well… if you didn't do it for my health… what if He got angry at you and decide to punish me for it, by ducking away days of my life,'

'…and who doesn't eat all day just because I did it for him…' continued Miyu, a smile crossing her lips.

'Damn Kanata,'

'…who risks his own life to save that of his people,' she continued and her eyes were filled with an emotion that Akira knew too well. She sat there smiling at the blonde whose emerald eyes were filled with unmasked emotions towards the brunet she had come to see.

'A Saionji knows everything…'

'…who tries to make a fool of me everytime but always leads to me laughing about it…' said Miyu and now a small tear drop had formed around her eyes.

'I won't leave you, Miyu…'

'…who gives me the best medicine when I fall sick…' she continued and the tear that had formed slowly flowed down her cheek but her smile looked intact and Akira looked at her a little surprised but tears were forming around her eyes as well.

'If Hanakamachi is wine, I want you to be water, Miyu…'

'…who…' she stammered, '...Who…'

'Congratulations…'

Akira looked at the blonde as more tears started running down her cheek.

'Just get used to it…'

Miyu could almost feel his lips on her cheek as she remembered that memory.

'Would you be okay if I get married to her…?'

'Miyu…?' called Akira finally pulling the blonde back from her memories. The blonde blinked a second and then looked at Akira, surprised as though she just saw her. Only then did Miyu realize that her face was wet. She rubbed it off at once. But before Akira said anything else, they heard footsteps and not long after, they saw the brunet walking towards them, his eyes buried in the grass.

With one look at him, Miyu looked away, biting her lower lips, fighting back tears.

Akira finally made up her mind.

*castles in the air*

'You're leaving already?' asked Kanata.

'Yeah… have to…' replied Akira standing at the carriage.

It was nearly Dusk and they had returned from the garden a few hours ago. Now, however, it was after supper and Akira was standing near the carriage that will take her back home to Sasaki Kingdom. All her luggage was already loaded and she was currently standing before the King at the entrance to the castle.

'Okay…' he muttered with even a glance at her.

Akira took a deep breath and then smiling asked, 'is something bothering you, Kanata?'

He looked at her surprised and shaking his head said with a small smile, 'of course not… nothing…'

She smirked and said, 'you know Kanata… you can't hide anything away from me… I'm your best friend remember…?

He raised his eyebrows and returning the smirk said, 'so am I… same goes for you, you know…'

She gave him a painful smile and said, 'I don't think that's entirely true Kanata…'

'I'm sure it is,' he replied, 'even the things that you hide from me, Akira… I know…'

She looked at him surprised and a tear flowed down her cheek at his words. He gave her a smile that he was sure he had caught from Miyu the night before and said, 'I should be keeping up my promise, right Akira…?'

'Kanata…?' she called, confused.

'I'm supposed to keep up the promise now, Akira…' he said painfully, with a forced smile, 'even she says so…' at this point, Akira saw something she had never seen in the brunet's life with her—a tear had actually formed near his sharp amber eyes, which were no longer as sharp as they had been.

'You mean Miyu…?' she asked.

He chose not to reply. But instead said, 'I want you to be here the coming Christmas… right…?'

She forced a small smile and replied, 'I would be… but I'm sure you won't be able to stick to your promise Kanata…'

He looked at her surprised.

'I told you, I know everything about you… even things that you don't know…' she said, 'and I don't have to be a Saionji to know everything Kanata… I want that to be Miyu's now…'

Kanata looked at her even more surprised.

'Try to sort out stuff with her…' she continued, tears threatening to flow down even farther, 'don't land in more trouble that you can manage…'

'I don't go looking for trouble, you know,' he pointed out.

She smiled and tears broke down fiercely.

He looked at his best friend painfully and somberly and asked, 'Akira… Can I get a hug?'

Akira looked at him and shook her head lightly, making her hair fall all over her shoulders, 'no… you don't deserve it… go ask your wife…'

'Please…?' he pleaded, 'just one…?'

'Kanata!' she muttered and pushed herself onto him and cried her eyes out into his shoulders. Kanata closed his eyes and muttered, 'thanks…'

She nodded her head on his shoulder, tears still falling down her cheek.

'I'll miss you so much Kanata,' she cried and gripped his neck even tighter, the heels of her feet leaving the ground.

'I'll miss you too Akira…' he muttered and hugged her even closer.

They parted after a few minutes. She brushed away almost all her tears and the remaining ones were brushed away by Kanata's thumb. She smiled at him and he smiled back.

'I'll be back for Christmas…' she said cheerfully whilst climbing onto the carriage, 'but for your anniversary… sure to throw a party, ok…?'

He just waved at her, smiling.

End Episode 20

A/N: How'd you like it? Further chapters are sure to be less tears than these ones, I promise… cause even I am a little fed up with a continuous crying scenes and all my cast and crew are running out of glycerin:-P

Alright… for today's thought:

Golden words of Bill Gates:

"Love your work…

Don't love your company…

For you might never know…

When your company might

Stop loving you…"