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.

Author's words: Enjoy the story to its extreme and please, the readers can make any sort of comment. Anonymous reviews are welcomed.

Chapter 1

Dreams and Proposals

It was a large wooden house built out of simplicity and taste. It was beautiful and well decorated. The entire house bore a feeling of being at home. All the credit must go to the maiden of the house. A middle aged woman came out of one of the rooms carrying scrolls in one hand and a pen in the other. She was in a perturbed state. Her short ginger hair was messed up as though she had just taken out her hand from it and her emerald eyes were shining with frustration.

'Yuu honey,' she called, 'this order is completely off the books'.

She turned a corner and came out into a huge garden decorated with lilies, bougainvilleas, roses in all colors and two large cherry blossom trees overlooking a pure and small spring. A girl in her teens was seated beside a middle aged man with short blonde hair. As they heard the cry they looked up at her. The lady's expression changed at once.

'What are you two doing here?' she enquired and she sat beside the young blonde teen.

'Nothing mom, just talking,' replied the blonde smiling.

'Miki, I was just telling Miyu about the dinner tonight,' said the blond guy with a raised eyebrow.

Miki, the ginger haired stressed out mother of Miyu, had a dawning look on her face and said at once, 'of course Yuu, at the castle right?'

'So, what is this dinner about?' asked Miyu, as she flocked away her falling blonde hair back.

'Well,' started Yuu thinking when Miki answered at once.

'We wanted to talk to our old friend, King Hosho and enquire him about the terms in becoming a minister at his kingdom,' said Miki.

'But I already know what I have to do to become a minister, mom,' said Miyu and recited, 'I have to finish my school studies and read the theoretical part of which sector I want to become a minister of and I have to take a whole year's training at the castle under the king and the other ministers, right?'

'Yeah…' said Yuu and turning to Miyu asked, 'you know your thing, don't you?'

'Of course,' replied Miyu enthusiastically, 'I'm joining as an intern at the castle starting New Year'.

'Yes you told us honey,' said Miki soothingly and said, 'but you're the first female to run for minister so we're a little worried…'

'There's nothing to worry about,' said Miyu defending.

'Alright then,' said Miki with a fallen face.

'We'll just go to that dinner to meet the King and the Prince…' said Yuu, 'you do want to meet the prince right?'

Miyu looked up at him and thought a little and said, 'I've never met the Prince before and every girl I know says that the Prince is the most handsome guy ever…'

'He is, honey,' said Miki smiling.

'We'll see…' said Miyu off-handedly.

The parents looked at each other and gave either one a confused look.

Miles from the Kouzuki's place, at the Castle of the Saionji Kingdom, in the grandest room, there slept a teenager in his last few days of sixteen. He had his face completely hidden beneath the azure blankets and his legs were spread out backwards. He was obviously in a deeper sleep for someone sleeping through his breakfast. A guard entered the room and he quietly poked the blankets to wake him up.

'Your Highness?' he called.

'Mmm…' was the sleeping Prince's reply, 'two more minutes…'

'The King wants to have a word…' stammered the guard.

'I don't care…' mumbled the Prince from beneath the blankets.

'Maybe I should just call Ms. Yamamura,' said the guard under his breath, when the Prince finally popped up. He threw away the blankets and crossed his legs on the bed. His brunette hair was completely messy and so were his clothes but his auburn eyes were petrified with obvious fear.

'No… no,' he muttered, 'not Mikan… Please…'

The guard smiled and said, 'the King is waiting young master…'

Kanata sighed and said, 'in a minute'.

The guard bowed and left. Kanata got up from his bed and looked into his mirror. He looked just like everyday after waking up—messy and grubby. He sighed and decided to take a bath. In minutes, he returned with his right hand brushing a towel against his brunette hair. He walked to his wardrobe and selected a normal home-wear—which was pretty unusual for a Prince, who always wears luxurious and royal clothes. He selected a simple white shirt and tied a knot and left the others near his chest open. He pulled into a russet leather pant for riding and brushed his hair a little and left his room to the Royal Table. Kanata hated the Royal table because it was so long and if he wants to talk to his father who sat straight opposite to him, he has to run nearly a dozen meters to reach there.

'Hey dad…' said Kanata as he took his usual seat. But unusually, the King took a seat beside Kanata. Kanata looked up at him in amusement and asked, 'what's special today?'

The King, Hosho Saionji was in his late forties and had a warm smile and a comfortable personality. He smiled upon his son.

'Well… I have invited the Kouzukis over for dinner….'

'The who?' asked Kanata pushing boiled eggs into his mouth.

Hosho bent his head thinking, 'This is never going to work…'

'Oh! Yeah' said Kanata suddenly standing up, punching his right fist into his left palm.

'You know who they are?' asked Hosho excitedly.

'Huh?' asked Kanata to his father and said, 'nah… I just remembered that I promised Sandy that I'll take her out today…'

'Who's Sandy?' asked Hosho with question marks on his head.

'My horse of course…' said Kanata and added in a whisper, 'but she doesn't like being called that…'

Hosho's head dropped on the table and blue lines formed all over him.

'Dad, are you ok?' asked Kanata, sitting back down.

Hosho got up and said, 'The Kouzukis are coming for dinner and you're to be here to welcome them…'

'Yeah… yeah whatever…' was Kanata's reply.

Hosho sighed and left the room with his minister.

'Is this actually going to work?' asked the minister.

'Why not?' asked Hosho frantically.

'Well… she has run for the internal-affairs minister's intern…' said the minister.

'We will see,' said Hosho and sighed with a small, 'oh, Hitomi, please help me through this…'

Later that evening, Kanata was walking his chestnut horse along a beautiful garden with roses and lilies planted all around them. After finding his usual spot, the chestnut, "Sandy" started grazing. Kanata looked at her with a warm look in his eyes and a smile across his face. He sat down on the grass and dropped on his back. He always loved coming here. Nobody would disturb him, not even his governess, Mikan Yamamura. Even thinking about her gave Kanata shivers. She kept him until late at night finishing her works and Kanata couldn't actually believe that she was a minister at the Kingdom—the Minister of Art and Literature.

Kanata sighed and looked up. His birthday was approaching fast and he could remember his father's words in his ear, 'On your seventeenth birthday, my son, you shall take over my throne'.

'Why so sudden dad?' he had asked and the old man's reply was, 'I think it's time I retired and spend my last days traveling and cherishing Buddhism… and moreover, your grandfather left me his throne when I was just fifteen…'

Kanata hadn't actually believed that until he had asked the King's trusted Minister. It has never been Kanata's dream to rule the Saionji Kingdom. He had no intention of taking over the throne. He had always believed that he was too uncanny to be a King.

Kanata sighed. Ever since his childhood, Kanata has been obsessed with horses and swords. He had always dreamed of one day fighting for his kingdom. What he really wants from his father was not his throne but his amazing sword. It was too handsome for words and way too powerful. Kanata dreamed that one day he'd finally get it. But he had really missed the fact that if he had to inherit his father's sword, he had to be the King.

He sighed again and looked up at the sky. It started to grow dark. He really has to go back. But Kanata was too preoccupied to go back. He moved to one side and closed his eyes.

'The Kouzukis are coming for dinner and you're to be here to welcome them…'

Kanata got up with a start. He had completely forgotten. He jumped onto the bewildered Sandy with such abruptness and said to it in a hurry, 'go back to the Palace… Not again… Don't let me be late again…'

Back at the Palace, the Kouzukis had already arrived and the King himself was present to welcome them, but not his only son. He had a stiff smile pasted on his face but inside his head, 'Kanata, where are you?' was the constant saying.

'So, where is Kanata, Hosho?' asked Yuu.

They were all seated at the Royal table and the dinner was too awesome for words. The King, Hosho, sat at the head and Yuu Kouzuki was to his right and his wife to Hosho's left. Miyu, their only daughter was seated beside her mother. She was in completely awe at the splendor and magnificence of the palace. She had never been to the palace but had always dreamed of once working there. To be brought right to her dream was too much for tender Miyu.

'He—he is a—' stammered the King.

'Wow… this Palace is awesome than I thought it would be,' exclaimed Miyu standing up.

'That means a lot coming from you Ms. Miyu,' said Hosho mildly with a small smile. Miyu returned the smile and sat down. She looked at the table and was amazed to see the assortment of food laid there. There were lamb chops, pork chops, treacle tart, coconut pudding, rice pudding, curry rice, coconut mash, potato mash, salad, orange juice, wine, bread, chicken legs, and chocolates in milk and for some reason, pumpkin juice, pumpkin soup and pumpkin dessert.

She was anxious to begin. Just looking at the foods had given her an appetite. But they were waiting for the prince. After nearly half an hour, Miyu got really tensed. Marks began to form all around her head and noticing this, the King kindly said, 'maybe we should start the feast without that spoiled brat of a son, of mine,'

'We can't do that…' said Yuu at once.

'Yes, we absolutely cannot start this without Kanata,' said Miki.

'I can't believe a Prince of the Saionji Kingdom shall behave like this,' said Miyu with her eye closed, 'aren't Princes supposed to be punctual…'

'Well, yeah,' said Hosho, obviously ashamed.

'When I become a minister, I'll make sure he never arrives late at the court,' said Miyu with her eyes still closed and a smirk on her face.

'How?' a voice asked.

'Well, you know I'll just…' started Miyu and opened her eyes just to see a handsome young brunette take a seat right in front of her. He had sharp auburn eyes and a smirk was playing across the handsome of his. He was wearing azure-olive robes and he had chosen to remove his cape. A thin crown decorated his brunette hair and it was in turn decorated by diamonds and emeralds. Miyu sensed at once that he was the Prince. She blushed.

'Kanata, you're late,' said Hosho furiously.

'Well, I arrived at the Palace half an hour ago,' he started.

'Then how come you arrived only now?' asked Hosho standing up furiously.

'Cool down dad,' said Kanata matter-of-factly, 'I would have marched right here but for Mikan… she dragged me to my room saying I looked ridiculous in my casuals. She asked me to wear all this stuff… she said this was a very important dinner and I should look like a Prince but I skipped the cape…'

He looked at the Kouzukis and asked, 'I don't see anything important in this dinner except for friends getting together… so what's so important?'

Hosho sighed and looking at both the teens said, 'why don't you two wait at the balcony? We have something to discuss…'

'Why?' asked Kanata.

'Just go,' said Hosho.

'I have a right to know,' demanded Kanata.

'I'm the King and I ask you to go,' said Hosho.

'Dad…' started Kanata but Hosho said, 'if you stay here a minute longer, I'll deport you to France for another year…'

Kanata gave his father a death glare and marched to the balcony without even so much of a glance at the person he was asked to go with. The Kouzukis looked between the King and the Prince with a look of utter bewilderment. Hosho, seeing the look on their face, 'don't worry, this king of thing happens twice a day… it's usual for anybody living with Kanata… Ms. Miyu, if you please?'

Miyu got to her feet, gave a small bow to the three and left to the balcony which was straight facing the table. Her only regret was that she hadn't even had the chance to touch her food yet. She sighed while walking and reached the balcony. It was absolutely amazing. It faced a fountain whose water glittered like diamonds in the starlit sky. She smiled at the amazing sight and looked around for the prince. He was leaning over the balcony with a lost look in his eyes.

'Excuse me your highness?' she called tenderly.

Kanata turned to look at her and straightened up. He bowed a little and getting up said, 'sorry about having to make you and your family wait for me'.

Miyu was completely taken aback. The Prince was actually bowing to her and apologizing. Her friends wouldn't believe it if she told them.

'It's ok…' she stammered shaking her hands before her.

Kanata gave her a blank look and smiling said, 'If I go out with Sandy, time just flies by…' He leaned on the balcony again with a cozy look in his auburn eyes.

'Oh…' said Miyu and placed her hands on the balcony wall, made out of pure marble, gently. She wondered how beautiful Sandy would have to be for the Prince to be with her. She imagined her to be extremely beautiful and gentle and tender unlike herself.

'You want to be a minister?' asked Kanata.

Miyu recognized the note of sarcasm that was evident in his tone. She gave him a cold look and with an air of confidence, 'What's it to you anyway?'

'Duh…' said Kanata, 'I'm going to the king in five days and for you to be a minister it'll take more than a whole year…'

'If I have talent you can't do anything…' she said confidently.

'Well I just don't accept woman ministers into my court… one is already more than enough…' he said sighing at the thought of Mikan.

'Hmpf!' exclaimed Miyu and said, 'anyway, you can't become a king without a queen…'

Kanata looked at her with a smirk which slowly turned into a questioning look, 'who told you that?'

'Well… isn't it obvious?' asked Miyu unable to believe her ears.

'But… dad never told me about that…' said Kanata, more to himself rather than to Miyu. Question marks formed all over her head when Kanata was seriously thinking.

'Hey?' called Miyu after a while.

Kanata sighed and said, 'you can't be right… after all, Dad would've told me if there was such a rule…'

'If you say so Your Highness,' said Miyu with mock respect which bestowed a glower from Kanata.

'So, don't you want to become a King?' asked Miyu after a deep thought.

'Of course not!' he said at once, 'but do I have a choice?'

'C'mon, you must be kidding me,' she said.

'Well, I'm not!' he said slowly.

'Did you tell the King?' asked Miyu giving him a warm look.

'Even if I did, I wouldn't make any difference…' he said.

There was silence among the two teenagers. Kanata's voice was filled with self-pity and sorrow with despair that Miyu found it hard to maintain a formal conversation.

'You told me, why you can't tell it to your father?' she asked after a few minutes. Kanata looked up at her and stared right into her eyes, wondering. Apparently, he was thinking of the same question.

'I just find it easy to talk to you,' he said after a while. Miyu looked up at him and he turned at once. He left for the Royal table away from the balcony. Miyu followed suit.

They both reached the Table in silence and the two teenagers' parents stopped in the middle of their conversation. But they looked satisfied for some reason and they were smiling at the two approaching teens. Kanata took the seat beside Mr. Kouzuki and Miyu took hers opposite him. Kanata took off his thin crown and placed it beside his plate.

As soon as he did that, a butler arrived and placed before him a bowl of Pumpkin soup. Kanata gave him a frown. Miyu thought he was such a spoiled brat until he muttered, 'Ryo-san, please don't do that… you'll just get me more spoiled…'

Miyu smiled to herself and the dinner continued through three courses and at the dessert while Kanata was shoving himself with pumpkin pudding while Miyu was gently eating chocolate pudding (although she had already damaged many of the Royal Dishes), Hosho cleared his throat as if to make an announcement.

'Kanata,' he called and Kanata looked up, 'you must have known or heard by now that to be a King you have to have a Queen by your side…'

Kanata choked in his pudding, not to mention he already had a mouthful.

'What?' he exclaimed getting up.

'You mean, you didn't hear it?' asked a voice from behind and Kanata turned to see his formidable governess—Mikan Yamamura. Mikan Yamamura is the first woman to enter into the courts of the Saionji Kingdom and is the role-model for many girls like Miyu. She was in her mid-twenties with dark hair and blue eyes. She looked beautiful and enticing but in truth (which Kanata experienced every day) she was demanding and dominant.

'Mikan?' he gasped.

'Kanata, aren't you so dumb?' she said smirking.

Kanata fired up defending, 'I did know!'

'Well, doesn't that make things easier…' started Hosho but Mikan cut-in.

'You're going to get married,' she exclaimed and rushed over and hugged Kanata going, 'and that too on your seventeenth birthday!'

'Mikan you must be kidding me!' said Kanata pushing her away.

'No Kanata,' said Miki Kouzuki, 'Ms. Yamamura is delightfully true and your bride is…'

'I'M NOT GETTING MARRIED!' shouted Kanata.

'C'mon Prince it's not going to be that bad,' said Miyu sarcastically, 'that would be a bonus for your throne…'

'Take that back, now!' shouted Kanata at Miyu and she stood up furiously.

'I was just trying to help!' she retorted.

'I wouldn't want any help from a loser who thinks she can become a minister…' said Kanata.

'Whoever thought that you could ever be a KING?' shouted Miyu with a red face.

'The same people who think that you could be a Minister at the kingdom…' said Kanata.

'You're just scared of getting married aren't you?' asked Miyu.

'Well I don't see you trying,' said Kanata.

'I'll get married if my parents want me too,' said Miyu closing her eyes.

'Alright then, if my dad wishes it, I'll do it!' said Kanata.

Both hadn't realized the true meaning of the sentences that had escaped their mouth because they turned to see each other and started stammering, 'I mean…' 'What I meant to say was…'

'Doesn't that solve our problem?' asked Miki cheerfully to the two men.

'What?' chorused Kanata and Miyu.

'Then we have to get the arrangements ready,' said Yuu getting up.

'I really can't believe this is happening,' exclaimed Hosho and Miki standing up too.

'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

Miyu turned to look at Kanata who was standing dumbstruck at the last few words.

What?, was what Kanata was thinking, I can't get married to her… for Pete's sake I don't even know her Name!'

While in Miyu's head this was what was going on, ". . . . . . . . . . ."

End Episode I

Tune in for the next episode of

CASTLES IN THE AIR
Every cloud has a silver lining.