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 looked out of the window to the carriage he and Nozomu were sharing. He saw the snow falling lightly on the ground as their carriages rushed past. As he looked at the snow fall, he was reminded so much of how his life had been when he was living at the Saio-Hills. It seemed since eternity the last time he had been there at the Snowy Hill. He missed the place so much.

He looked out of the window and saw the girls' carriage slowly following them. In front of his carriage and at the back of the girls' were guards on horses ready to shove their life away for their safety. He sighed lightly. What was he doing going back to the place of his past…. probably trying to find a solution to his current problem.

He looked to his left and saw Nozomu looking out of the window with a similar expression in his façade. He wondered what was wrong with him and knew better than to ask for he would obviously receive the same reply if Nozomu asked him what was wrong. So, he gently emitted another sigh and returned to gazing out of the carriage window, wondering how he was going to make up with Santa.

Episode 24

The Two Friends

'I'm really excited about this trip,' said Aya looking out of the window to their fast-moving carriage. The three girls had taken a carriage to themselves leaving the two boys together upfront in another one. Miyu was seated between the two friends for the two said that they had never traveled in those royal carriages before. So, Miyu had politely given them the window-side seats.

'So am I,' acknowledged Nanami, closing her eyes whilst resting her head lightly on the seat and added rubbing her arms, 'but I'm not sure I'd be ready for that cold climate… I'm starting to shiver already…'

'That's because we are really close to the hills…' pointed out Aya smartly, 'but I wonder how we would be going though…'

'What do you mean by that?' asked Miyu curiously.

'Well…' said Aya looking out of the window again and catching sight of a beautiful hill covered by snow with green patches here and there, 'carriages can't manage up the hill…'

'So, how would we be going…?' wondered out loud Miyu.

~~castles in the air~~

'What do you mean I have to ride a horse?' exclaimed Miyu.

'Don't you even know the meaning of a simple sentence as that…?' snapped the brunet King, 'Who let you into the Internal Affairs Ministry?'

The carriages and the guards had stopped at what appeared to be the foot of the hill beyond which a carriage would be impossible to move. The two were having a feud whilst the rest of the crowd including the guards were standing by, watching with the three other interns.

'I can't ride a horse!' protested Miyu, throwing the brunet a death glare.

'Too bad for you,' said Kanata in mock-sympathy, 'it's either this or you have to walk!'

'What!'

Kanata smirked and added to the guards, 'we will take care of ourselves from here…'

'But Your Highness…' started who looked like the leader.

'You all can stay at the town nearby…' said Kanata looking at all the guards, 'we will be back in about a week, take or add a few days… till then, you can enjoy your vacation too…!'

'But sir…'

'And… since nobody up there knows who I really am, I'd really appreciate it if you all didn't come to protect me… seeing as it might be too obvious… I can take care of myself,' said Kanata and there was an essence in his voice that plainly said, "No arguments".

'Well… your wish is our command sir!' said the guards and bowed before him while Miyu just scoffed.

'Well, how many horses do we need…?' asked Kanata to Nanami, Aya and Nozomu with a raised eyebrow.

'I don't like riding horses…' Aya piped in at once, 'I feel a little scared of riding them…'

'OK… Nozomu you can take Aya with you, can't you?' asked Kanata.

'Any time…' said Nozomu though Kanata could've swore that his azure blue eyes traveled sideways, stealing a quick glance at another one of the interns.

'Nanami, you…?' asked Kanata.

'I don't mind riding horses…' said Nanami cheerfully, 'I love them…'

'Great…' said Kanata, and turning to the guards said, 'we will take two of your horses for Nanami and Nozomu and I'll take Sandy…'

After a few minutes, the guards left with the carriages leaving the teenagers with three horses. They loaded their bags onto the horses. Nanami and Nozomu climbed onto theirs. Aya was helped up onto Nozomu's horse by Kanata and Nozomu. Then, Kanata climbed onto Sandy. The four looked at the blonde who was still fuming with anger.

'Are you coming?' asked Kanata, raising an eyebrow.

Miyu narrowed her eyes at him and walked right past him and put out her hand to Nanami. Nanami stiffened a smirk and pulled Miyu onto her horse much to Kanata's annoyance. He frowned and scoffing, started Sandy and went right past the two horses in obvious irritation.

'You know, I think he really wanted to take you on Sandy,' said Nanami to Miyu, who was sitting behind her on the horse. They were going on a slow pace trotting up the hill at a refined pace. Kanata was going up front closely followed by Nozomu and Aya and the two girls came up last.

'So not!' snapped Miyu, 'he is such a jerk!'

'C'mon that's not the way to talk about your husband…' said Nanami, smirking.

Miyu turned light crimson around her cheeks and said, her eyes closed, 'that still doesn't make him any less a jerk!'

Nanami just smirked and continued riding up the hill laving the blonde in her own thoughts.

~castles in the air~

As he stopped at the entrance to the Saio-Hills, Kanata was still wondering how he was going to get Santa to accept his apology. He sighed as he looked at the entrance gate. He hadn't stopped for a few moments when he heard Aya's shriek.

'I thought so!' she exclaimed.

Kanata turned at once to see Aya grinning teasingly whilst Nozomu had turned a bright shade of magenta. Kanata frowned wondering what had happened but jerked his head back front when the remaining two climbed up the last crevice and reached the entrance.

'Why are you shouting Aya?' complained Miyu at once as the three horses stood together before the gate.

'That…' started Aya with an evil smirk directed towards Nozomu, 'that's really a simple matter of fact…'

'What is it??' asked Nanami.

'Nothing!' said Nozomu, his teeth clenched.

'But…' started Miyu but Nozomu asked Kanata in a loud voice, 'how are we going to get in…? Don't we need a traverse-key..?'

'What's a traverse-key?' asked Miyu curiously.

'It's an official document giving the holder the permission to enter certain parts of the Kingdom…' said Aya smartly.

'Bulls-eye,' muttered Kanata searching the inner pockets of his traveling cloak, 'but for Saio-hills, we need the Spectra-key…'

'What's the difference?' asked Nanami.

Kanata dropped to his feet and getting to the massive wooden gate, knocked on it three times smartly with his knuckles.

'The difference being that Saio-hills can be reached from other kingdoms… so defense is essential for this place…' replied Nozomu, 'Spectra-key is also a document with the same particulars of traverse-key…'

'But it must bear the crest of the kingdom's seal as well as the signature of any one of the main ministers of the kingdom…' finished Aya.

'I thought this is the most cut-off place in the kingdom,' said Miyu.

'Yeah… but it sure is an important one…' said Nozomu, 'once, the soldiers of the Kirara Kingdom entered through this place and destroyed almost the entire town…'

'There was a turbulent war and hundreds died…' said Aya.

'I remember that!' exclaimed Miyu, 'it was the "Saki" War. We read about it… just a few weeks ago with Kunimitsu-san, right Nanami?'

'Yeah…' acknowledged Nanami with a weak smile, her eyes somber and her head bent a little.

The other three looked at her a little confused for they had never seen Nanami even a little unhappy before.

'Well… that's why the Spectra-system was started…' continued Nozomu a little loudly, 'so that nobody from outside can enter the Kingdom easily…'

'We're in guys…' came Kanata, climbing back on Sandy, 'they are opening the door right now…'

'Great…' muttered Nanami, a little slowly.

'Nanami…' started Nozomu and Miyu at the same time but at that very moment the doors to the town opened and they all were distracted at once by the beauty of the little town.

It was like Christmas.

'Oh my…' gasped Miyu as she saw the beautiful little town.

Snow was not falling presently but the little cottages and shops either side of the road which ran completely with snow, were covered by a layer of crisp snow. It was as though they had walked right into a Christmas card.

Sandy took the first step into the enchanting little town. The other two horses trotted to either side of Kanata. They didn't know which way to look. Everything looked amazing. With the sun slowly setting due west, the streets were a little crowded. The streets were getting steadily chilly and everybody shivered, though not visibly.

Miyu looked sideways and saw that Kanata's brunet orbs had gone a little hazy as though he was looking at something that wasn't visible to anybody else. As she watched, Kanata's lips curved to a smile. Seeing that, hers followed the same.

'Where do your friends live, Kanata?' asked Nozomu, breaking the silence.

Kanata snapped from his temporary trance and blinked. Then, shaking his head lightly, said, 'they are right here somewhere… I think…'

'What do you mean by that?' asked Miyu, frowning, 'you don't even know where they are…?'

Kanata raised his eyebrows and pointed out, 'I didn't come here after their wedding… so, obviously I'm…'

He suddenly stopped before a Boutique. Everybody followed suite. Kanata's auburn orbs widened. Everybody looked up at the Boutique. It read "Citadel Boutique". It was currently closed.

'Is this it Kanata?' asked Nozomu, looking at Kanata questioningly.

'I don't know…' whispered Kanata almost inaudible.

Nozomu shook his head and with a leap, he and Aya got to their feet. Seeing that, Nanami and Miyu got down as well. But Kanata still was seated firmly on Sandy, looking at the signboard with a weird look in his eyes.

Nozomu stopped a passerby and asked, 'Erm… excuse me sir…? Where do the Kurosus live?'

The passerby, a guy in his late teens with raven hair and olive eyes, gave Nozomu a quizzical look and asked, 'you're new here, aren't you?'

'Yes sir, we are…' said Nozomu with a smile.

'Where do you all come from?' asked the raven-haired cheerfully.

'We travel from the Capital…' replied Nozomu.

'The Capital!' gasped the teen, 'we rarely ever get visitors from down there!'

Nozomu just smiled and said, 'now… could you point me to the Kurosu Residence?'

'Certainly sir…' started the teenager and then catching sight of Kanata on the horse gasped.

'Kanata!' he exclaimed.

'I though nobody here knew the King,' muttered Aya under her breath to the two other girls.

Kanata jerked his head and seeing the teen, smirked. He jumped down from his horse and the two neared each other.

'I thought you'll never set foot here again!' said the raven-haired teen.

'Neither did I,' said Kanata off-handedly.

'Wow… How are you…?' asked the teen, 'how long has it been…? Two years…?'

'I guess,' shrugged Kanata.

The other four looked clueless as the two teenagers went on chatting. They might as well be invisible to the two. Finally, it was the raven-haired teen who noticed the others.

'Who are they…? Friends from home…?' asked the teen.

'Well…' shrugged Kanata, 'kinda… yeah…'

The teen smiled at the four and extended his hand, 'I'm Yue… Yue Hyuga…'

'Aya Konishi,' said Aya and took his hand. After a few seconds, they let go.

'Nanami Tenchi,' said Nanami and was about to take his hand when Nozomu beat her to it and said, 'hey Yue… Nozomu Hikarigaoka… nice to meet you…'

'Great…' said Yue cheerfully and finally turned to Miyu.

'I'm Miyu…' she said with a smile. She didn't know what surname to give seeing as she didn't know which Kanata might have given himself.

'Wow…. Kanata you sure are traveling with the most beautiful ladies…' smirked Yue.

Both Kanata and Nozomu's eyes narrowed.

'The girls are interns to the ministers from the Castle…' informed Kanata, 'we are just accompanying them here so that they could finish a report on this place…'

'That's why you came…?' asked Yue.

'Not really…' replied Kanata, shrugging his shoulders, 'I came here to apologize to Santa…'

Yue sighed and said, 'I'm not sure he'd actually accept your apology…'

'Why do you say that?' asked Miyu.

'Well, they waited for you for hours before the wedding…' said Yue shaking his head, 'they were really hoping that you'd be there for the most important day of their lives… you of all people must have realized that…'

'I know… I was so stupid…' said Kanata.

'Where are they now…?' asked Miyu, cutting across, 'I'm sure that Santa will forgive you Kanata… that's what friends are for… to fight and to forgive…'

Kanata looked into Miyu's emerald orbs and then straightening up said in a determined voice, 'yeah… for once, you're right…'

'Yeah…' she said smiling and then exclaimed, 'For once?!?!?! How dare you say that?'

'The couple run one of the most successful boutiques in the town…' said Yue to Kanata, 'as a matter of fact, we are standing before it right now… "The Citadel Boutique"… they named it after your suggestion…'

'I know…' muttered Kanata.

'I'm going to open a dress-shop when I grow up!' exclaimed a thirteen year old raven-haired boy with cheerful mauve eyes. He was sitting under a beautiful Sakura Tree with a girl with the same shade of raven locks on one side and a boy with olive orbs and raven hair on his other side.

'That's so nice…' said the girl, who was of the same age as the raven-haired boy.

'This place could really use one…'said the olive-eyed boy.

'That's ridiculous!' muttered a brunet from one of the branches of the tree. His sharp auburn eyes looked lazily over his two friends as they frowned at him.

'That's not fair Kanata,' protested the girl, 'I think it's a lovely idea…'

'Whatever…' muttered the thirteen-year-old Kanata, leaning on the tree, lazily closing his eyes.

'So, what will you name it…?' asked the boy with olive-eyes.

'I'm not sure Yue… I want to give it a really good name…' said the boy, thoughtfully, 'what do you think would make the townsfolk come to the shop as soon as they hear the name…?'

'I think something classic would do the trick…' suggested Yue.

'How about something Royal, Santa…?' suggested the girl.

'I don't know, Akane…' said Santa thoughtfully, 'I don't know any royal names…'

'Kanata must know plenty… he is from the Capital after all…' said Akane.

'Of course…!' exclaimed Santa.

'I'm not going to give you any Royal Names…' came Kanata's stern voice at once.

'Kanata…!' chorused the three teenagers and received an inaudible, 'Damn Kanata…' back which almost neither of the three must have heard.

Then, Kanata jumped down from the tree and with his hands in his pockets said, 'how about something related to the Castle… that's the only thing that's different from a normal person and royalty…'

'True…' said Yue, 'but castle is old school…'

'Figure one out yourself then…' said Kanata and left the three.

'Citadel…' muttered the seventeen-and-a-half-year old Kanata under his breath, looking up at the sign on the closed Shop.

'Are they out or something?' asked Nozomu looking closely into the screened-windows of the closed shop.

'They don't open on Fridays…' said Yue, 'I don't know why though… they'd be at home for sure… They live right beside their shop…'

So, they tied their horses to a pole near the shop and Yue stepped before the door to a lively and warm looking home. The others stood behind Yue, Kanata the farthest. Yue knocked on the wooden door.

Kanata took a deep breath. He wondered how things were going to turn out. He closed his eyes lightly and then, he opened them to the creak of an opening door. Opening the door was the seventeen-year old Santa Kurosu. He looked at Yue with a smile and before he opened his mouth to greet him, his eyes fell on the brunet king.

'Santa…' exclaimed Yue, 'look how came back…!'

Santa scowled but didn't respond. Then, a raven-haired girl in her late teens popped her head from behind Santa and her face broke to a smile at the sight of the group.

'What does he want?' asked Santa coldly, looking at Yue.

Kanata hung his head lightly, guiltily.

'Santa…' started Akane but Yue cut-across.

'These are interns from the Ministry at the Castle…' he said abruptly.

Everybody raised their eyebrows at the sudden change of the subject.

'So…?' asked Santa, frowning.

'You see Santa…' said Yue, putting his arm over the mauve-eyed teenager, 'they are here to write a report on our little town…'

'Yeah…' said Aya joining, 'we need to write this report to pass as Ministers… we don't know anybody here… so…'

Santa raised his eyebrows and then after much tugging from his wife and Yue finally said, 'you can stay here…'

Kanata looked up excitedly but Santa said in a cold voice, 'at least let me help the ministers in making this kingdom a better place… seeing as the king is such a cold-blooded traitor…'

Kanata's heart almost stopped. Well, whatever he aid was true… But Santa had exaggerated a bit. Kanata bit his lower lip and gave everybody a small strained smile and said, 'he's right… this place is already cold… I don't want to make it even worse by sticking around…'

Akane's eyes seemed a little teary. So did Miyu's. They looked at Kanata pitifully and then he added, 'you guys finish your project… I'd better be leaving…'

He turned to leave when a warm hand grabbed his. His auburn orb widened in surprise as he saw Miyu grabbing hold of his hand firmly and looking at Santa with a determined look in her emerald orbs.

'Just so you know, Mr. Kurosu…' she began with her eyes steady and her voice filled with determination, 'the king is not a cold-blooded traitor…'

Santa just jerked his head away, scoffing.

'Kanata is the best King that Saionji Kingdom had ever had…' she acknowledged firmly.

'Do you know that Kanata is the King…?' asked Aya in an undertone to Yue to which the latter nodded his head.

'So, does this mean that Miyu here is his Queen…?' asked Yue back with a smirk.

'Sure is…' replied back Aya.

Santa merely rolled his eyebrows and before he even opened his mouth to retort, Miyu grasped Kanata's hand even tighter, entangling her fingers with his and said, 'he's the most self-less person I've ever met…'

Kanata turned a little crimson at this. He was very well aware of her hand in his and was trying very hard to control his mind from picturing memories of the night of the dreadful Chocoholic.

'Friendship is about trust…' said Miyu.

'A lost trust cannot be brought back,' said Santa looking into Miyu' determined emerald orbs.

'But there is no such thing as a lost trust in friendship…' pointed out Miyu, 'it doesn't except anything back… you must know that… having such good friends around you…'

'He ran out on my wedding…' said Santa furiously, 'how could I forgive that?'

'I assure you that that might just be the only time that Kanata ever acted for his own feelings rather than someone else's wishes…' said Miyu.

'He was selfish enough to leave Akane and me at the altar without a best-man…' complained anta.

'On act of selfishness and you avoid him for life?' asked Miyu.

'Miyu, let it go…' muttered Kanata, grasping her hand as well, 'I don't deserve any of this…'

'Yes you do, Kanata!' she exclaimed.

'Miyu…' he started.

'Miyu is right…' said Nanami suddenly and turning to Santa asked, 'how many other kings that you know how'd allow normal people like us call him by his first name?'

'Or let them travel alongside him…' put-in Nozomu.

'Or act like a normal person, putting us at ease…' said Aya warmly.

'Or…' said Miyu looking at Kanata, 'love every one of his people… however poor or rich they may be…'

Kanata turned and as his auburn orbs met her emerald ones, for once they did not blush and move away from each other. Then, Miyu suddenly smiled and said, turning to the now a little bewildered Santa, 'our ministry is nothing without our King… you have no place for him, we don't come into your home…'

Santa raised his eyebrows.

'Yes,' said Nozomu, 'if he can't come in, none of us would…'

'Of course…' said Aya.

'Yeah…' added Nanami.

Santa looked from one determined face to another and finally turned to his wife who said, 'if he doesn't come in, you don't get an edible dinner… ever…'

Santa pouted his lips to his wife's castigation and sighed.

'You can all come in…' he said with his head hung, 'Akane take them in…'

Everybody cheered.

'Come on in…' said Akane and everybody trooped in, with Akane. Santa still stood outside. Miyu looked at Kanata when he didn't move to get in. She looked at him questioningly.

'In a minute…' he said to her questioning look.

She smiled and let go of his hand.

After everybody left, Santa looked at Kanata accusingly.

'I…' Kanata started.

'…are such an idiot…' finished Santa.

'Yeah… that's what I wanted to say…' said Kanata, thoughtfully.

Santa sighed and asked, 'was that your…?'

'Yeah she is…' said Kanata.

'How about…?' Santa started.

'She's fine…' finished Kanata.

There was silence.

'I'm sorry for missing you wedding…' said Kanata finally.

'Its fine…' said Santa, off-handedly, 'I missed yours too…'

'It wasn't much of a wedding anyway…' said Kanata, shrugging.

'Why do you say that?' asked Santa.

'If you call a forced marriage where the bride faints when asked to kiss a wedding,' said Kanata smirking, 'then it was one…'

Santa grinned and said, 'mine wasn't that big either…'

'Why…?' asked Kanata, 'what happened?'

'Nothing…' said Santa and added smirking, 'the best-man didn't make it…'

Kanata glared but the next moment broke out laughing. Santa joined in and the two laughed for a whole two minutes at the end of which Kanata asked, 'am I forgiven…?'

Santa smiled and said, 'of course…'

'So…' started Kanata, relief spreading his chest.

'An awkward hug or a cool hand-shake…?' asked Santa.

'Hand-shake?' suggested Kanata.

The two shook hands but before withdrawing they said in unison, 'what the heck…' and hugged each other.

As they broke apart, Akane was back at the door and her eyes were teary. She smiled and said, 'you two are such idiots…'

She broke down crying and ran inside again.

'Crybaby…' said Santa looking at Akane's back as she walked into the house.

'Yeah…' said Kanata.

The two turned away and before either could see wiped a small tear that had formed in their corner of their eyes.

End Episode 24

A/N: It' been awfully late since my last update… I'm so sorry… this one might not be so good but I still loved writing it… Hope you liked reading it…

Now, for tonight's thought:

True friends

True friends are

Hard to find,

Difficult to leave…

Impossible to forget…

I'm fortunate enough to have true friends…

Hope you all are too…