The Magic of the Earth and the Sky

by Flare Haynekie

Disclaimer: …………

Warnings: AU, OOC-ness, shonen-ai

Author's note: I forgot to explain that the AkuRoku moment from the last chapter comes before Rikue runs out his castle. Sorry, sorry. I noticed way later. Heh. Sorry that this chapter's short! (don't kill me…)

-------------------------
Chapter 31: Your name means sky, did you know?
-------------------------

Roxaius giggled as he ran down the hall, Lae hot on his trail. The young guard had less shifts lately and spent all his newly found free time playing around with his little blond lover. No one seemed to mind much either. In fact, Cloud looked at them worriedly from time to time.

Quickly turning, Lae gave it a last effort and pounced on Roxaius, both laughing at their chase ending. Once the laughter was gone, leaving wide smiles, Roxaius frowned, looking up at Lae worried.

"What's wrong?" Lae quickly asked, nuzzling the blond's hair.

"I understand why Cloud left the heir title to me. And I can't have it."

The red head looked at him completely puzzled. "What do you mean you can't have it? That's as silly as when Cloud said it."

"But I'm serious. I can't have it." Roxaius softly touched one of Lae's cheeks. "Can't you see? I love you so much. I can't even begin to finish thinking on what life without you would be." He got up, Lae helping him too.

"What does the heir title have to do with that?'

Roxaius looked down. "Being the heir entitles you to many things, but it also entitles that if the earth kin were to declare war on us, or vice versa, Hikari would be the winning trophy. Whichever side wins, also wins the supposedly honor of marrying her. Until then, she gets to choose which side she would like to marry off to. It's the latest version of arranged marriage. Pathetic."

"I see." Lae nodded. "But if you won't have it, are you giving it back to Cloud?"

"No. He wouldn't let me anyway." The blond prince chuckled. "I would have to give it to Sorae. He doesn't have someone to love since he's always locked up in his room or hiding out in the gardens. He wouldn't mind."

-------------------------

Sorae looked up in shock, Shion shrugging at him.

"He what! But, but… but that's not fair!" he whined.

Shion sighed. "I'm sorry, but that was what they wanted. Cloud still hasn't given me his reason, but Roxaius did. I imagine it's the same for Claudius. Silly boys."

Sorae pouted. "But that's not fair!" he repeated. "That's so selfish of them just dumping me the title and not even coming to tell me about it!"

Shion chuckled. "Anyway, your new lessons start soon, so hop to it. Give my regards and apologies to the tutor for all the mess up."

"But!"

"That would be all Sorae. Have fun."

"Fun! This is not fun or funny! Do you even know that Ro has a bad habit of mocking me because I was named different?"

Shion signaled him closer, Sorae walking up to his father. The king scooped up the young prince onto his lap. "Do you hate your name?"

Sorae looked down at the hands on his lap. "No. But it's not fair that mine is different."

He chuckled. "Your mother took over a year to pick that name for you. And finally, after much thinking and pondering, she sat you on the balcony edge and took a good look at you. You turned up to look at the sky with a big smile and pointed to it, turning to look at her with your happy smile and big wide blue eyes. She looked up to the sky, then back at you and saw the same in you eyes. Did you know that your name is the most special one?"

"What about Cloud's? His name is similar. It's a cloud!"

"Actually, Cloud's name is my fault. So was Ro's name. Your mother couldn't think of pretty good names, so I thought it would be nice for me to name them. Cloud's came from one of your great ancestors, the great swordsman Claudius."

"And Ro?"

"Wait, I'm not done yet." Shion smiled. "So the nickname Cloud came as a way of shortening Claudius. But Cloud himself changed the way it was spelled. As for Roxas' name, that was the name of my grandfather's best friend. I met him once, he was really awesome."

Sorae looked up. "And my name?"

"Your mother thought that it wasn't fair that I got to name them, so she wanted to name you on her own. Which is the reason it took so long to find your name. And as she looked into your eyes and saw the same clear blue sky in them as the one behind you. That's when she picked your name. Did you know that in one of the human languages, Sora means sky? She loved that name. So she added and 'e' at the end, grabbed you and came running to me with you giggling in her arms. And she pronounced your name to the whole court, settling you on my lap."

"You were in a meeting?"

Shion nodded. "I was. But that didn't stop her. And she smiled widely, quite proud of herself, and repeated it for me. I asked her why, and she said that it was because of what your name meant."

"So my name is special?"

"It's very special. You should be proud of it."

Sorae smiled to himself and jumped off his father's lap. "Okay. Thank you."

Shion grinned. "Not at all. I love remembering that. Now off you go. You'll be late for your classes if you stay here much longer."

Sorae rolled his eyes but walked out the room and down the hall to meet his fate.

-------------------------

"Wow, it's really hot here." Sorae mused, looking up the green leaves of the palm he was sitting against.

Rikue chuckled. "It's an island, Fluffy. I believe it's supposed to be hot."

"And the sky is so blue."

"It's always blue, Fluffy."

"Shut up, Bunny." Sorae smiled, looking at Rikue's aqua eyes. "Your eyes have the same color as the sea. It's pretty."

Rikue rubbed his nose with Sorae's. "I know that. And yours are the same color as the sky. It's really beautiful."

Sorae giggled. "I guess that's why it goes with my name."

"Your name?"

The young heaven prince nodded. "Yeah. I thought that my name was bad and such because my brothers mocked me for it being really different from theirs. But dad cleared it up for me. It was because mom named me."

Rikue chuckled. "Your mom, huh? And who named you brothers?"

"Dad named them both. But, I'm proud of my name now. It was something mom gave me and just me after a long time of thinking."

"That's sweet. Where is she now?"

Sorae shrugged. "Depends. She might be napping or playing the piano. Depends on the time. Why do you ask?"

Rikue laughed, giving the little brunet in his arms a tight hug. "You idiot! You made it sound like she had passed away or something!"

"I did?"

"Yes! You really did!"

Sorae laughed. "I'm sorry! I didn't really mean it, it's just… it was sweet."

"No, it was adorable. I'm sure that whatever your name is, is beautiful."

"One day I'll tell you. And you'll tell me yours too."

"I promise."

The smiled at each other and turned to watch the rolling waves and at the horizon. I really did look like the sea was melting with the sky.

---------------------------------------------
To Be Continued!
---------------------------------------------

(Author's rants)
Yes, I know, it's short. I was bored and watching movies… shush!

BTW, I'll be taking a short summer break. Mainly cuz I have no internet until I finish the math book (I'm sneaking around to just post the chapters XD). So, please wait for me to return, kay? Please and thank you!

(Things you should know)
A bit of AkuRoku at the beginning, and lots of RikuSora at the end! I love it! Did anyone notice how ever since Axel and Ro appeared, things have been circling around them? No! That's just wrong! This is not their fic! Shame on me….. bah! XD

(Things I was hearing and/or working on while writing this chapter)
Well, there's too many to list here. But I will note the fact that I'm obsessing over Ōban: Star Racers a lot. Heh.

(Reviews)

1. AngelicOrgueil – Yeah, you should've left me a description… Oh well. Leave it anyway, just in case! Ahh, the popos took the white stuff? Too bad! You almost cried! Makes me kinda proud that you were that happy over lil Angel! Whoot!

2. kingdomhearts222 – yeah, it is becoming more popular! I'm making up all the AkuRoku with this chapter! (I hope)

3. Largo-sensei – haha. Not in a while, no. My sister makes them every other day and never shares. Oooh! I love roller coasters! Heh, back to the fluffy bunnies! XD Hmmm, chocolate… I should go have some now that you mention it! Whoot! More hugs, plushies and fluffy bunnies! Yay! Bwahahahaha! XD

4. Prozacfairy – yeah, it is. And Shion/Sion is such a lovable idiot and just agrees… oy.

5. Bonnie Mizuhara – yeah, too much AkuRoku. Sorry!

6. nurseangel – I fixed it! I fixed it! Sorry! Oooh! Hullo, Adrian!

7. losthimagain – thank you for the review!

8. The-2nd-Yaoi-Ninja – um, thanks! XD btw, I love your nickname!

And there you have it! Now, I'm off! I have to finish this book soon so I can go back to fic writing!