5

5. Open Your Eyes to Reality pt. 2




A brief but bright flash would explode inside the clearing of a forest. Karu fell to his knees on the pad that set below them. One of his hands came up to rub his forehead.

"Short distance is alright but this continent must be enormous if after that second we were sent off, I had a major headache..." he complained looking around him.

During his speech Zsenith and Izzy appeared behind him. Both of them stepped off the pad.

"Fricken androids trying to act cool," Karu got up, "Where is this anyway?... Is this that island Aaron was talking about?"

Zsenith replied in his usual staunch voice as he walked onward, Karu appearing to his side.

"This is the twin breed's territory. Home to beings who have superseded human characteristics and taken on additional body configurations one or more various creatures..we're about to go talk to the Queen, whom Aaron mentioned to you once already," Zsenith explained.

Karu looked around them curiously as they walked entering a plentiful forest of many trees.

They hadn't walked far before they were confronted by a pair of human looking tigers approached them with staff shaped weapons, sharp crystals mounted upon the ends.

"We welcome you to our home, guests from Seilku," one welcomed with his deep but friendly sounding voice.

The other bowed slightly before following up with his statement.

"Do you have some special business with Nekuila today?" He asked, contrary to his partner, voice much higher in tone.

"Correct, we've been sent by Aaron to meet with the Queen for an urgent matter that's recently arisen," Zsenith replied.

Both of the tigers looked to one another and nodded back toward Zsenith.

"Please follow us then, we shall get you to her as quickly as possible," the tiger's spoke simultaneously as they turned and began running.

Karu watched them dart off, followed by Zsenith and Izzy.

"But I..." he started, beginning to run after them.

In his school one could consider him athletic but not to this level they were running at.

"Guys?..." he stated as he ran down the forest pathway.

A few moments passed and Zsenith would show up ahead of Karu. Once close enough Karu stood there panting for a bit holding his knees.

"You guys are too fast for me..." he managed to speak between wheezes.

"Perhaps you are too slow. You should say you're not physically inclined sooner," Zsenith commented.

Karu looked up at him with a dumbfounded appearance on his face.

"You know, for an android you seem like a dick," he retorted bluntly.

"As someone incapable of feelings, I'm unsure what you mean. All that was implied is that you could mention that you would fall behind," Zsenith stated.

Karu was about to say something in response but was interrupted by Zsenith who pulled him up over his own shoulder hurrying down the path to meet up with the others.

After about a minute or so of running the five of them would reach a rather large building composed of rock, wooded plant and some synthesized material. The group of them would approach the rear entrance of the building. The two tigers paused there.

"We shall stay here, you there with bright yellow hair should remember her highness' building well so I'll leave to you on finding her," one of them stated while the other opened the door.

Zsenith nodded setting Karu down walking forward. Izzy followed behind shortly after. Karu entered last holding his gut, having received a major stomach ache and sore on his abdomen from being carried over the shoulder. Behind them the door closed. On the inside of the building they stood inside of an auxilary room that had a door shortly before them. To either side of them on the wall with portraits of the Queen on them. Karu, curious walked over looking at one of them closely seeing most of her general features: natural beauty, mid-length purple looking hair, a mostly average looking build maybe a bit on the bigger side and blue eyes. Upon closer examination he would notice some things that seemed only a little off: her ears were that of a feline's, a long exceptionally bushy looking tail and a face that also resembles a cat. Lastly the one feature that completely caught him by surprise: her breasts.

"Ho-holy crap!" He exclaimed.

About to say more he was thrown off balance, the room they were in was actually an elevator. Once he heard the ding he looked at the door as it slowly opened.

Behind the door a girl probably the same height as Karu blinks looking them all over. She looked over at Zsenith, recognizing him first she jumped toward him.

"Zsenith! No one told me you were coming, what brings you over?" She asked confused. Her arms, covered by concealing sleeves, wrapped around him.

"We're here on urgent business, where's your mother?" He asked looking down at her.

The feline looking girl lowered herself from Zsenith to think for a moment. As she did this she looked over seeing Karu.

"Hey...you're that boy from Miss Sabrina's house," she walked over to him, "Momma's been waiting for you!"

Karu looked at the girl, finally remembering. This was Snow from when they met out on the plains the other day.

"This...this is your house here?" He looked at her, then around himself, "You live like a freakin princess!"

Snow, the feline human hybrid, giggled. From behind her another woman would appear.

Karu stopped freaking out long enough to realize they'd been accompanied by a fifth person. Upon looking the first thing to catch his eyesight was the ridiculously sized orbs upon her chest.

"What seems to be all the commotion, honey?" Asked a mothering voice.

Snow turned around having not noticed her mother had appeared behind her. A gleaming expression appeared on her face as the younger girl hugged the older.

"Momma~, Zsenith came by to visit with that boy I was telling you about," Snow responded.

Behind split curtains of violet hair the older woman peeked, before taking it upon herself to pull her hair out of her face.

"Is that so?" She looked over.

Surely enough she recognized Zsenith from the organization and her eyes shifted over to Karu first.

"You must be the young one my little girl's been telling me about, care for a hug sweetie?" She asked holding her arms out to him.

Karu looked at her confused as he pointed to himself.

"Wait...aren't you like...the queen here? Are you sure it's okay for me to just do that?" Karu asked being interrupted by the matriarch.

"Aw, no hug then? You have a good conscious about you, that will come in handy one day for you," she replied, "I am Nekuila, and yes, I do rule over this land. It is a pleasure to have you as guests in my home."

Zsenith stepped forwards to Nekuila.

"I beg your pardon mistress for interrupting but we have an urgent matter, may we head somewhere a bit away from the entrance?" Zsenith cuts to the point of them being there.

Nekuila closed her eyes holding her cheek.

"Snow, sweetie, go take Karu to play, grownups need to talk, okay?" Nekuila commented.

Karu huffed throwing his hand in her direction as he scowled.

"Hey, I'm in this as much as they are, I deserve to know since I'm in the middle of all this," he explained.

"My my, a very hot tempered one also. That just won't do," she replied with a light sway of her hips, "I've come to understand that you're the one I was foretold about, you youngster."

"Y-youngster?..." he repeated after her.

He looked down at the floor before being met by the older woman's arms being set on his shoulders. Looking up he nearly fainted from the close up of the woman's enormous breasts.

"What's wrong you act as though something is wrong," Nekuila stated leaning in closer to him.

Karu held her shoulders to keep them arm's length apart from each other. He kept his eye's closed, also turning his head away, hoping to prevent this woman's appearance from subjecting himself to the sight of her chest.

"I'll go play with Snow, jeez..." he complained letting her go.

Snow giggled watching him with her mother. Nekuila simply watching him, confused as he spoke. Behind her a curious tail curled and twisted about.

"Are you sure you don't want to tag along, honey?" She asked, not sure what was going on.

Karu nodded and stepped away, heading off. Snow followed close behind him waving to Zsenith, Izzy and her mother. Nekuila waved them off turning back to Zsenith, walking away with him. Karu couldn't help but watch them as they head their opposite ways.

Snow swung her arms idly as she looked at Karu in interest.

"So how did you get here? Momma's been really wondering how you got here and stuff," Snow stated as she stepped out before him.

Karu's head lowered before his response.

"I honestly wish I knew, I wouldn't be on this world I know nothing about," he replied, stopping once she had taken position before him not wanting to walk into her.

"Aw, but then you wouldn't have met me or momma or the others!" She complained to him, "I think you were supposed to come here."

Karu looked up at her wondering what she meant, this felt familiar to him. He folded his arms around having a slight change of mood.

"You wouldn't mind showing me around would you?" Karu asked.

Snow's face seemed to light up at the question.

"Would I? I'd love too!" She exclaims to him grabbing his hand.

He glanced at her before being dragged off.

Meanwhile, Nekuila, Zsenith and Izzy all make their way to what could be considering a living area. Zsenith and Izzy both stand by the seats placed about while Nekuila sets herself down with an ungraceful plop onto the cushion, her breasts would bounce right up upon immediate settling. After she was set her right leg would cross over her left.

"So he was the child then, huh?" She wondered as she flipped her hair from her face, her pair of feline ears leveling out flat.

Zsenith nodded folding his arms over his chest.

"Affirmative, the boy known as Karu, was brought here via a possible inter-dimensional rift. The result of which was an energy spike strong enough to reanimate the Helio Crystals, is what Aaron believes. He requests your assistance in seeing if this boy might be harboring something that may aid in finding the Crystals," Zsenith explained.

Nekuila leaned her head back her with a sigh escaping her mouth as she stared at the ceiling.

"That boy, I swear. I'm going to bring him over here for spiritual training one day. I will see what I can do with him, in the meantime please enjoy your stay okay, dears?" Nekuila replied to him not seeming to mind much.

Zsenith and Izzy both bow to her, in respect.

"We thank you for your kindness, your highness," Zsenith spoke as he bowed.

"Oh please, please, you're making me blush, baby," she replied waving her hand, "Has Aaron spoken of me lately? I feel he's been steering away from me for some time now."

Zsenith stood up, unsure of what she was talking about.

"I don't believe he's spoken about you for the last few days since you're last visit, Miss Nekuila," he answered.

After answering her, he would watch the anthro stand up exhaling a sigh.

"Come, we must head to the rooftop balcony...I won't know for sure without contacting my goddess for further insight to this event.

Zsenith nodded and moved aside, out of Nekuila's way, as she begin walking.

Karu walked behind Snow trying to keep up with the girl as she excitedly showed him around.

"H-hey, slow down I can't keep up with you," he complained.

Snow laughed as she stopped to let him catch up.

"You need to run more, Mister Karu. It'll help you keep up!" She nodded.

Once he was close enough to her he sighed and panted, catching his breath. He leaned over holding his knees as he wheezed for air.

"Do you run in the mornings or something?" He asked looking at her tiredly.

"Mhm!" She replied, "Come on I'll show you my room next and we can relax there."

He grinned and nodded following behind her again.

Only a short minute passed as the two came up to the door of Snow's room. She would push the door open and welcome him inside, heading in herself after he was well past the doorway. Karu curiously looked around. Her room, for someone who was daughter of a queen, was surprisingly plain with the exception of a high abundance of cat shaped teddy bears.

“What's with all the cat toys around the room?” Karu asked a bit creeped out by the number of stuffed animals sitting around the bedroom.

Snow walked past him and took a seat on her bed, gathering a group of the cat shaped toys into her arms.

“What's not to like about kitties? Would you like one or two?” She asked holding out a pair to Karu.

Karu shook his head holding his hand up as he made his way to the bed also. Careful not to sit on any of the stuffed animals he sits down himself.

“Well, I do like cats, but meeting someone like you and your mother is something like out of a comic book,” he explained looking at a cream colored stuffed animal beside him.

He'd suddenly feel weight on his lap. Snow had taken his lap to lay on as he was talking.

“Aww, so cats like me you don't like?” She questions, pulling her arms up over her chest.

Her petite fingers held the long sleeves over her hands while she stared at the boy with big curious eyes. The simple gesture made Karu uncomfortable which also troubles his response to her.

“Well, I mean there's nothing wrong with you being a cat too...it's just different for me. It's not everyday I meet a girl who's got the ears and tail of a cat,” he replies, sure to keep his eye contact from her.

Snow smiles and reaches a hand up to tap his nose in a teasing manner.

“Would you like to feel?” She asks.

Karu looks down at her, silent for a moment.

“Would you like to feel my ears?” She asks again, more specific this time.

Hesitant, Karu just stares at her. Eventually though he comes through with her offer and moves his right hand up toward her head to rub the girl's ear.

“So do you purr like a real cat, too? If you're pet enough or something like that,” Karu states while rubbing Snow's ear.

Answering his question for him, Snow lets out quiet purring noises as the expression on her face grows into a satisfied one.

Karu can't help but grin some as he moves his other hand to rub both her ears then.

“I can see you like having your ears rubbed a lot,” Karu comments.

As Snow has her ears rubbed by her new friend, her body writhes subtly in his lap.

As Karu provides the feline with satisfying ear rubs, Nekuila enters in on the two.

“My oh my, Karu. Treating my little girl to ear pets but I can't even get a hug?” She jokes with him as she enters in.

As if he'd committed a crime of the highest level he stops and puts his hands behind his back.

“I-I swear it wasn't on purpose! She asked me to do it and I figured I'd go ahead cause I didn't know!” He exclaims.

“Calm yourself, sweetie, calm yourself, I'm only toying with you,” she laughs after her statement and finds her way onto Snow's bed.

Snow opens her eyes as if she'd waken up from a hour long nap.

“Ma-Mama?” She called out.

A simple turn of her head allowed Snow to see her mother had joined them.

“Karu gives good ear rubs...” she continued on to say.

Nekuila pet her daughter on the head as she looked at Karu now.

“Now what's all this about, makin' the mother feel so envious of her daughter,” Nekuila sat up looking at Karu.

Karu turned to face the mother himself, a look of worry in his expression as he watched her.

“I think before we get things under way I need to feel how good this ear rub is,” she declares.

Karu turns back around feeling Snow had gotten up and was now rubbing her head. Just as soon as Snow got up Nekuila took her seat on Karu's lap.

“Uhh..Miss Nekuila Queen. I don't think this is how you're supposed to act with me,” Karu comments.

The older of the two felines side-straddles Karu's lap and wraps her arm around his neck. A playful grin on her face as she rubs her nose against his cheek.

“Now now, what would someone like myself have to do with a young man like yourself?” She asks, “I only came here to give you and my precious kitten some company.”

Snow, the daughter of the older anthro, gave a content grin. She climbs back onto her bed looking at her mother who so casually made Karu her seat.

“Mama, don't you have something you have to do with Zsenith and Aaron?” Snow asks.

Nekuila nodded as her previously cheery expression turned into one of a bit more concern.

“Right, Karu, sweetie. Do you think you could come with me?” Nekuila asks, turning to face him.

Karu looked up at her with a distant expression on his own face before nodding up at her in realization of what was happening.

Nekuila got down from Karu's lap and walked toward the bedroom door, Karu following behind her.

“Do you want to come along, honey?” Nekuila asked Snow who remained on her bed.

“No thanks, Mama, I'll come find you if I need something,” Snow replies before laying back in her bed.

Nekuila nods and exits with Karu.

Once in the hallway outside her daughter's doorway, Nekuila turns to face Karu.

“We're heading up to the balcony to undergo a little ritual. We need to find out if you have something of value inside you that will assist in getting you back home,” Nekuila explains.

Karu nodded. There wasn't going to be much reason for him to go against it, he had to find a way home one way or another and if this method was a step in finding that out, so be it.

“I'll do whatever is necessary,” he simply replies.

Nekuila smiles and pats Karu's head. She turns and starts walking. Karu, stumbling at first, gets to following behind her.

“You're an optimistic boy aren't you?” She says a bit of her mothering side starting to show.

“What do you mean? I'm not optimistic at all,” he replies, “I'm very much the opposite.”

Nekuila continued to walk as she listened to Karu speak.

“Back home where I come from, I was always the average or the lower than average. I don't have a whole lot of hobbies. I have mediocre grades in school. My friends are limited but as far as I know they're good friends,” He finished explaining as he looked toward the ground while he walked.

Karu, still walking ends up bumping into Nekuila's back almost falling back himself. He looks up at her curious as to why she stopped walking.

“Karu, sweetheart, you should never think down of yourself. If you do that, you can never expect things to turn for the better,” Nekuila explains to him before walking again.

Karu sighs and starts back up walking with her.

After another few minutes of walking and a bit of stair climbing they end up getting to their destination which has led them to a white door.

“Where I have taken you is my spiritual chamber which actually happens to be on the outer balcony,” Nekuila explains to Karu as she lifts her hand and places it on the door.

The area around her hand begins to glow with a bright light and that same light expands itself to the rest of the door eventually hitting the door frame before coming back in suddenly, focusing around her hand prior to dying out.

She lowers her hand down to the door handle and opens the doorway to the balcony. It still appeared to be mid-day and things, for the most part, were quiet around Nekuila's fortress-like manor.

“Come, Karu, my dear. We're going to see what your spiritual calling is,” she explains, pointing her finger toward a specific area on the balcony.

Karu begins walking toward the marked spot on the balcony. Upon actually looking he'd notice that the area was rather strange and intricately designed markings in specific areas and circles making it all the way around his person.

“Was this design on purpose?” He asks her as he looks around himself.

After a short wait he looked up to see what was going on with Nekuila. The feline had her arms up in the air, having already started things off. She was standing just outside of the circle with her hands raised toward the sky and, based on what Karu could hear, she was mumbling words in a language he wasn't familiar with.

Moments after this chant had begun, Karu notices that the rings the symbols and all the engravings on the ground begin to glow in a bright pink color as well as his clothing seeming to float in the air as if there were a controlled wind current coming from below.

Nekuila lowers her hands as she looks down toward the teen.

“Karu, I want you to close your eyes and relax. Let the light take it's effect on your body and show you what you must do,” she explains.

Karu nodded hesitantly as she details what he's supposed to do. He then closes his eyes and relaxes most of his body.

Nekuila watches as the rings on the ground begin to close in around Karu's position. Once tightened around his position the light creates a column that rises up toward the sky.

Karu felt almost weightless as his mind is flooded with images of random and completely unrecognizable events. Suddenly the images stop showing him a picture of what seemed to look like a range of mountains. After having the image burned into his thoughts the light fades and the weightless feeling he had was gone as he was dropped back to the floor.

After regaining his consciousness Karu held his head as if he had a headache.

“Ow...I feel like that place was literally carved on my brain...” he mumbles.

Nekuila approaches him and holds his arm and shoulder with her hands.

“What place, Karu?” she asks, leaning her head some to look into his eyes.

“There were mountains...lots of them. I think there might have been a cave on one or something along that line...” he tried to explain to the best of his ability what he was shown.

Nekuila nodded, knowing where he was talking about.

“We must go inform the others quickly, the sooner Aaron can start his search the better,” she declares with seriousness in her voice.

Karu blinks in confusion as Nekuila spoke. Within that same moment Nekuila let Karu go and walked for the doorway again.

“Aah, wait for me!” Karu exclaims rushing toward the door.

Nekuila headed straight for Zsenith and Izzy who hadn't left the living area on the ground level floor.

Zsenith and Izzy both look toward the feline who approached them with urgency.

“By the way you're moving, it seems like you've found out some helpful information?” Zsenith asks.

Nekuila stops within feet of the pair and nodded.

“I have. I need you to tell Aaron that the first crystal has revealed itself probably within the mountains to the north of here. It seems the boy is capable of locating them but he only has capacity to do it one at a time.” Nekuila explains.

Zsenith simply nods as Karu comes up from behind Nekuila.

“Perhaps it's because he's not inclined to readings that you're used to doing, Miss Nekuila,” Zsenith deduced.

Karu walks around to where Zsenith and Izzy stood.

Nekuila shruggs and walks forward to rub under Karu's chin a little.

“All I know is he's a good little guy. Make sure you two keep a good eye on him. If someone gets a hold of him things could go pretty far downhill,” Nekuila comments.

Zsenith nodded some, as did Izzy. The three of them then turn to return back toward the portal to take them back to the organization building.

On their way back to the portal to return to the Seilku building, Karu stops. Noticing him stop, Zsenith and Izzy also stop and look back to him.

“Is something troubling you, Karu?” Zsenith asks after turning around.

Karu stands there, staring at the ground before looking to the skies.

“I guess it's nothing. Let's get going before something happens,” he comments.

Zsenith simply nods in agreement.

“The sooner we can get this information to Aaron, the better off we shall be,” the android responds.

Karu nodded his head slightly and follows with them. The group of three use the teleporting pad that got them there to transport back to the organization building's main lobby. Upon returning, Zsenith wastes no time heading for Aaron. Karu, the last to recoup after appearing, shakes his head a few times before realizing that Zsenith is heading for Aaron.

“H-Hey wait for me!” He exclaims rushing after Zsenith and Izzy.

Karu busts in through the doors to Aaron's main office finally caught up.

Aaron looks at him from behind his desk and then stands walking around.

“Karu, it seems things have taken a slight turn for the better. With you on our side we should be able to acquire these crystals without problem,” Aaron explains.

Karu freezes in confusion as Aaron spoke.

“Does this mean we can work on finding a way to get me home?" The boy asks a bit of hope shimmering in his eyes.

Aaron nods turning back for his desk as he grins.

“Indeed Karu. You'll be able to go back to your real home. Zsenith, go get ready, I want you to accompany Karu on his journey, seeing as he's the only one able to feel these crystals. We'll need top guard over him,” Aaron speaks following up with a further question, “Karu, how adept are you to fighting?”

Karu remains quite for a brief moment. In reality he wasn't really much of the fighter type. He had barely any real athletic background.

“Uh...well...I guess you could say I'm less than beginner,” he answers, lifting his hand to scratch his head in embarrassment.

“Ah, not a problem. Zsenith here will be accompanying you, maybe you can get some defensive techniques from him in some training,” Aaron laughs, “but for now, I want you to pack some supplies. You will leave in the morning.”

“What!? I just got back though!” He protests.

“What's the big deal? You're young, I'm sure you'll be good and ready come morning,” he replies in a humored way.

Karu let out a aggravated breath as he folds his arms together over his chest.

“Why can't it be a week or something?” He asks, irritated.

Aaron lifts his hand up as if in presentation of options.

“Simply put: If I allow that much time to pass, who knows how much of a lead our adversaries may gain. That's simply not allowable. Unless you want to stay here on this world and assist us with preventing our certain doom,” Aaron explains, a more serious look appearing on his face.

Karu keeps silent, as Aaron was right, Karu didn't belong here, no matter how much it really fit his fantasy world descriptions.

“Alright, alright... I get it. Can you take me back to Nina's place for now?” He asks going quiet after that.



Aaron hums softly to himself watching Karu as he exits the room. Moments later he follows behind.

4

4. Open Your Eyes to Reality

        "A number of different problems," Karu stated to himself.
        Currently, the teen was outside the household in which he resided, thinking over what Aaron had said the previous day. If he was understanding everything right, then something threatening to not only this world but to his own life was going to happen. He knew he would have to get to the bottom of this if he wanted to figure out what was going on at the least. He dug into his pocket for the little device Aaron gave him and held it before himself. As he held it he did as he was instructed, bringing Aaron to mind before putting it up to his ear. Surely enough he would hear a ringing noise.
        "Hello?" Aaron answered on the other end only a brief moment afterwards.
        "Hey Aaron, it's Karu, I wanted to ask you something," Karu responded holding the little cellphone-like object.
        "What's up Karu? I hadn't thought after only a day something would come up," Aaron replied with a brief laugh.
        Karu offered a brief snicker of his own before talking again.
        "You said one of your friends told you all this was going to happen. You wouldn't be able to tell me who it was and where I could meet them, would you?" Karu asked, scratching the back of his head somewhat.
        "Why are you interested in that, Karu? I can handle all the hard work, you just relax," Aaron replied promptly.
        Karu waited a moment, looking up ahead of himself now. He turned around to see that a familiar face was peeking at him from one of the windows of the house. He would blink a few times as the girl in the window waved to him. He would idly wave back before speaking back to Aaron.
        "Well I wanted to see if I could help, I have the feeling that staying here in this house isn't going to help much. Plus it's been a dream of mine to visit another world so I wanna explore some," Karu grinned.
        Karu could hear a sigh through the device before Aaron replied back.
        "Well I suppose it wouldn't kill you to enjoy yourself at least. Her name is Nekuila, she's the leader of an anthro society that resides on the east coast of the continent. You'll need a ride over there it's a good two day drive from the city and then once you leave town its pretty much nothing but plains until you hit the coast. It's not the fastest way but I can't have you using our teleportation system out of hand, it uses far too much power. I will warn you though..." Aaron paused briefly.
        Karu looked to his side as if trying to look at the device.
        "Warn me of what?" Karu asked hesitantly.
        "Unless you have a strong will, it's best not to look directly at her," Aaron replied.
        Karu was speechless for a few moments as he thought about the possible outcomes of what this person was like. Supposedly she must have been appalling to the eye, or maybe she had a stare similar to that of the fabled Medusa from the history of his own world.
        "I'll keep that in mind..." Karu replied, "Thanks for your help, I'm gonna get going then."
        Aaron replied with a simple 'OK' before closing the line. Karu looked at the ground from the porch he sat on. From behind him the front door of the house swept open.
        "So this is where you were," shouted an angry Nina.
        Karu spun around in surprise looking up, being met with the view of a rather nice, in his own mind, sight of seeing Nina's lace underwear.
        "So mature underneath..." Karu dazed a moment.
        Nina, who had her arms crossed at that moment blinked pushing her skirt between her legs.
        "Karu, you jackass pervert!" She scowled, winding her hand up for a punch.
        Karu blinked looking at her raising his arms in retreat.
        "W-wait, I didn't do that on purpose you just appeared out of nowhere, damnit!" Karu protested.
        Nina stopped herself mid swing and glared at him. After rationally thinking the situation over she calmed.
        "Anyway, I came to tell you that in a couple days, momma's taking us on a retreat to the east. And because I don't trust you in my house alone, I'm making you come with us," she hissed at him.
        Karu looked up at her confused for a couple seconds before a grin smeared over his face.
        "Just you, huh?" He laughed under his breath, "Fine by me, it works in my favor actually because I need to head that way."
        Nina cocked her brow when he finished speaking.
        "Why do you need to go to the east?" Nina asked.
        Karu looked at her, holding himself silent. Nina tilted her head confused.
        "You wouldn't care so why does it matter?" He answered her getting up.
        Shortly after standing he would stretch and head toward the exiting gate of the front yard, near the street.
        "I'm just gonna go for a walk for now, I figure if I'll be stuck here, I should know my way around at least," he stated.
        Nina stood there in the doorway to her house folding her arms together and sighing. From the side window the black haired vixen peeked from the window watching as Karu disappeared around the corner, her ears slowly lowered and she vanished from where she stood.
        "Momma, I'm gonna get you! Give me back my underwear!" Snow screamed as she chased her rambunctious mother through the manor.
        "Ha ha haaa! You have to rescue them from me if you want them back!" She teased, making a turn down a separate hallway.
        As she did Snow realized that her mother had gone down another hall at the last moment and attempted to turn only to misstep and slide on the hard floor. This miss step quickly took her to the floor. Nekuila peeked back around the corner to see her daughter laying in a daze on the floor. A brief laugh escaped her mouth as she walked over and placed her hands on her hips, the younger feline's underwear hanging from a finger on her left hand.
        "Now, dear...you can't be laying like that on the floor, you'll get sick," Nekuila sighed some.
        "You're one to talk momma, walking around butt naked all the time, even in the winter..." Snow retorted as she sat up rubbing a sore spot on her head.
        Nekuila snickered some, and in respect to her bouncing her heaving chest would do the same.
        "Well, well, for someone so trained in combat you sure are a klutz yourself to just trip from running like that," Nekuila spoke as Snow rose to her feet.
        "Well if it wasn't you I was chasing..." she whispered walking up to her mother.
        As she approached Nekuila welcomed the young feline into her arms. Snow leaned in against her mother's large bust, relaxing there.
        "Don't sweat it, honey. One day when you're older, I'm sure you're training will have paid off," Nekuila whispered, rubbing over the back of Snow's head.
        The feline smiled, the long extension protruding from her lower back waded from side to side over the floor.
        "Also, I smell a new person from you...is it another boy?" Nekuila asked.
        Snow looked up at her mother, a bit confused for a moment.
        "O-oh, yea, Miss Sabrina has a boy staying with her, he's from another planet, I should have asked sooner, but do you think you can help him?" Snow asked.
        Nekuila thought for a moment, having known Sabrina for a while now it was strange she had a boy in her household, but then it hit her.
        "From another world you say? I wonder if he's anything like that first boy who came here," Nekuila wondered, folding her left arm under her breasts as she rubbed her chin with her right hand.
        Snow looked up at her mother in a bit of confusion as she stood there.
        "More than one person has come here from another world?" Snow asked.
        Nekuila nodded, walking down the hallway, Snow following close behind her.
        "What were the other people like, I want to meet them, momma!" Snow exclaimed excitedly as she pulled on the mother's arm some.
        "Settle down, sweetie, settle down. Besides, one of them you've already met, but I'll let them tell you when its necessary," Nekuila finished in a whisper as they entered the foyer of the building.
        Snow sighed but then realized what she said.
        "I've met one already?..." she questioned.
        Meanwhile, back on Earth at Karu's middle school, class continued on like usual. Carra, Karu's secret love obsession, continued to look toward the seat where her crush sat. Empty, Karu's desk set there.
        "I hope he's okay he's been gone three days now...if he isn't careful the school's gonna get on him about it..." she thought to herself.
        Suddenly the bell rang and the students all began hurrying to gather their supplies together and start their class chores.
        Carra was putting away books when Karu's only friend, Alex, approached her.
        "Hey, you're Karu's secret girlfriend right?" He asked plainly.
        Carra's head jerked up to look at him. Embarrassment smeared all over her face.
        "I-I wouldn't say I'm his g-guh-guh-girlfriend..." she started before being interrupted by Alex.
        "Well that aside...you wouldn't happen to know where he is would you? We were supposed to meet a few days ago and he never showed," Alex explained.
        Carra could only shake her head briefly before facing her desk's surface.
        "I do believe it's weird that he hasn't been around lately...do you suppose all the bullying he's gotten pushed him to far?..." she wondered.
        Alex shook his head.
        "Nah, he's too hardheaded for that," he said with a brief moment of confidence.
        "Yea, I guess you're right. There's no way he'd do that," she reassured herself with that statement.
        Back at Karu's household, his father paced impatiently back and forth in the living area. Suddenly the phone would ring, and as if his very life depended on it he rushed for the phone to answer.
        "Karu! Are you okay?!" He exclaimed into the receiver.
        There was a brief moment of silence before speech came back to him.
        "Sir, this is the city police. We have no leads on the whereabouts of your son, yet. We can only continue investigation another four more days before calling off the search," spoke a woman.
        The father sighed and nodded, trying to relax as he stood there.
        "Understood, please let me know if you find anything," he said calmly.
        The receptionist on the other end replied with a quieted 'OK' before getting off the line.
        Karu's father, Justin, sighed yet again after setting the receiver back on its dock. He walked back to the couch in the living area setting down before putting his head in the palm of his hands.
        At the end of the day, Karu would find himself laying out on the couch as his new official location to stay at. Midnight was just passing by and he was idly staring up at the ceiling as he laid there. A familiar face would suddenly appear over his own. A small but inviting smile within the faint light of the night told him it was Yuri. She would rest her hands over his shoulders and he just lay there still.
        "Hey, Karu, I heard you were going to meet someone on the east of the continent," the fox stated leaning over the couch's back.
        He simply nodded as he glanced up at her. He would spot her eyes, appearing almost black in the dark room.
        "One of Aaron's friends says they know whats going on best, so I'm going to go and check it out for myself," he explained.
        Yuri nodded slowly and leaned over the couch, a bit intrigued.
        "Do you plan on going with the others? The east is a pretty long walk from here," she whispered as she reached her hand down playing with his side idly.
        Karu lay there flinching a bit as she pushed and rubbed his torso with her finger. He then sat up to move himself some.
        "Well I hadn't thought about it really, Nina was saying something about how the family was going there and I figured I could use that to get there, but if there's a faster way, I'm all ears to suggestions," Karu replied rubbing his now slightly sore side.
        Yuri smiled some as she moved around to the couch to set beside the boy.
        "Well, I could always rush us there, I'm much faster than any vehicle you'll find," she leaned against his shoulder.
        As she spoke and moved simultaneously, Karu shuffled in his seat as she sat next to him. Soon he would feel her body against his own, in his head his sense of touch focused on that soft feeling of her breasts being squeezed between their bodies.
        "So what is it you're trying to find out?" She asked curiously again pressing her finger up against the boy's chest.
        "W-well, I was told by Aaron that this person probably knows what's.. gonna happen.." he started to explain before his eyes wandered.
        Eventually his gaze wandered down into her cleavage for the moment before he fell back.
        "S-sorry!" He exclaimed covering his eyes with his right arm.
        Yuri snickered some as her ears flickered about, leaning in closer.
        "Quiet, someone might hear you if you aren't careful~" she whispered, "As for what's gonna happen, well, we should definitely find out, I'll make sure you get there fast."
        Karu smiled looking at the vixen with an assured expression.
        "Yuri, thanks. I don't know what'll happen with the family here, though," Karu stated, "I'd like to make it there as fast as I can, though."
        The vixen moved herself over onto his leg, her body laid up against his right side as he lay against the couch at an angle. Her dark blue eyes, once again blackened by the shade of the night as she stared at him with a hint of her affection toward him. She would take notice to his hand falling onto her back as she lay over him.
        "Say, Karu, I know it's a bit soon to ask because you just got here and all, but is there anyone you love right now? I was hasty to make you mine but I must ensure you feel the same way," she whispered.
        Karu's face wasn't far away from being completely bloodshot due to the situation, he would answer with uncertainty in his voice.
        "W-well, I wouldn't say there's anyone I love right n-now..." he replied, though he knew subconsciously he was denying his crush on Carra from back home.
        The vixen smiled, a sigh escaping her mouth.
        "That's good to know, I would like to know if it's possible for you to consider me," she whispered in his ear.
        "There's no harm in that I suppose, but I need time before I take a leap like that okay?" He replied, looking up into her deep ocean colored eyes.
        The vixen nodded and sat back up, fixing her hair as she settled on the chair.
        "Well you know not to hesitate to ask me if you change your mind, okay?" She started to say, "It's interesting, you were only here a few days and already you've been thrown into a fire it seems like."
        Karu looked at her as she got up from the couch then realized what she was talking about.
        "You don't happen to know what's going on do you? Everyone's speaking in riddles and all I'm gathering is that my being sent here was bad...and I mean really bad," Karu sighed.
        The vixen looked over him from behind the couch, her finger rubbing her chin some.
        "Well, all I do know is that if if your coming here by this unknown force caused something big to happen. It's probably related to the Helio Crystals," she explained.
        Karu looked at her as if she were speaking a foreign language.
        "Helio...Crystals?" He asked, wondering what she meant.
        "Yes. I can't give you a lot of details...I don't know much about them myself. If that man you've been seeing knows, I'd ask him," Yuri stated with a smug grin.
        Karu nodded in confirmation.
        "That helps a lot actually. I'm going to find out what's going on...especially if I'm going to be a part of it," he stated, laying down.
        Yuri simply grinned and wandered off back to her own bedroom hidden within the house.
        The following morning, Sabrina wandered into the living area. Passing by the couch she spotted Karu laying down, asleep still. Grinning she walked around to the front of the couch she sat next to where his torso was. Looking at his face she thought out loud to herself.
        "How cute it would be if you were my little brother," she stated out loud.
        As she sat next to him, her hand stroked over his cheek. His head would roll away somewhat from the feel, a look of discomfort on his face. Iruka could only laugh some. Scooting down the couch she would lean over his torso to lay on him for a bit simply to relax as she played with his messy red hair. After she laid on him Karu would fidget some, breathing harder due to the additional weight on his chest. It was only moments afterwards that he would awake and see the black hair out of the corner of his eye.
        "I definitely need to find somewhere else to live or I'm gonna end up somewhere weird... aren't I?" Karu asked plainly as he stared at the ceiling.
        "Nonsense,  I was just thinking about having a brother...you would be a great little brother to have, Karu. Fun to tease but also nice to be with," she whispered as she stroked his hair back.
        Karu was silent for a moment. Hearing her say that got him thinking about his own brother that had disappeared from his family some years back.
        "You don't want me as a brother. I'm a pain in the ass," he commented with an assuring grin, "Besides, you have Sarthe right?"
        Iruka tapped him on the head as she sat up, pushing her hair back behind her head.
        "Well he's never around and he always acts like he never needs anyone around him, plus he gives off a creepy vibe unlike you," she stated.
        Karu thought back to his own brother for a moment, his own brother seemed the same way always having defiant glares and not really caring for much of anything. Though when he met Sarthe, Sarthe definitely talked a bit more than his brother.
        "Karu?" Iruka called him as she watched him space out.
        Karu shook his head and looked at her.
        "Is there anything I can even do?" Karu asked again, it seemed like no matter where he turned he was going to end up back on that square.
        Iruka looked at him with a bit of concern, unsure of how to answer his question. Karu looked over at her with a grin on his face.
        "It's alright, you don't have to worry about me," he commented as he got up from the chair brushing himself off.
        "Are you going out?" Iruka asked abruptly changing the subject.
        Karu nodded and fixed his jacket, he hadn't realized until now he was wearing his school uniform. This meant he'd need a change of clothes now.
        "Well...I guess I can ask something of you Iruka," he turned around to her.
        Iruka looked up at him, straightening up in her seat.
        "What is it?" She asked him, curious.
        "You wouldn't know of any clothing shops would you..I kinda need a change of clothes," he replied looking at his slightly battered uniform.
        Iruka chuckled softly as she jumped up from her seat.
        "I'll take you shoppin' for some clothes this evening okay? It'll be fun just the two of us!" She exclaimed as she hurried over to him, "I'll even get some things myself for you to see."
        Karu stared at her in shock as she rushed to him and as she whispered into his ear.
        "I'll even let you pick out a few if you'd want to," she taunted, running her finger up his chin.
        All he could do was grin, not minding that.
        "I'll look forward to it," he replied throwing her off slightly, not prepared for that kind of response.
        Iruka sighed some fixing her her from the surprise and leaned in to kiss the boy's cheek.
        "Anyway, Mr. Hotshot, I need to go run some errands. I'll be back in the evening waiting for you okay?" Iruka stated as she headed into the kitchen.
        Karu nodded, figuring the best task for him was to head to the organization to find out about the Crystals he was told about at night.
        "I gotcha, I'll try and be back this afternoon after I do what I need to," Karu nodded to the oldest sister.
        Iruka pulled a few bottled drinks from the fridge and Karu simply relaxed wondering about what he'd heard. After a brief silence both of their heads perked up to the repeated blowing of car horns coming from outside.
        "Who in the hell is doing this at this hour in the morning..." Iruka scowled moving to the front door.
        Out of curiosity Karu followed her to the front door.
        When she opened the front door she was confronted with the visual of a bright red sky. Aaron was sitting in his personal car window down as he yelled out to Karu.
        "Come get in the car! We have to get you to the organization quickly!" Aaron exclaimed from his car.
        Iruka looked down at her brother-to-be as he stared, confused.
        "Go Karu, you're needed, obviously," Iruka stated giving him a gentle nudge.
        With that nudge, Karu snapped back to reality and ran toward the car. Turning back to wave at Iruka.
        "We'll definitely go out shopping if not now, a bit later!" He yelled back to her.
        Iruka simply grinned as she waved to Karu. Somehow though she knew it was going to be a while before she saw that boy again.
        Karu ran around to the passenger side of the car and got inside quickly.
        Aaron waited until he was inside before kicking the gas, the tires on the ground began screaming as the car pulled away.
        "Woah! Wh-what's the problem Aaron!?" Karu asked grabbing onto something as he feared for his life.
        Aaron remained quiet before one of his hands rose to his forehead for a brief scratch.
        "It's begun and we need your help Karu...you're the only one who can do this..." Aaron spoke calmly yet with a hint of urgency.
        Karu, still grasping onto the nearest bolted things stared over at him.
        "Starting?" he stuttered.
        Aaron nodded as the reached the organization building in record time.
        "This red sky you see right now? A phenomena is going on and we need you to participate without question...afterwards we will...I will explain everything up to what I know," Aaron stated as he disregarded where he simply parked near the main entrance, "Will you help us?"
        Karu tried to settle himself from the car ride itself a bit before he was able to answer.
        "I...I guess if it'll really mean something..." he answered.
        With that reply Aaron got out of the car. Karu followed shortly after him.
        "It would appear that what we were hoping wasn't going to happen, has happened. In that regard we've assembled a small team that you, Karu, will have to trek with. I know you've said before how you want to know what's going on. Well, I hope you have strong shoulders because you're going to be the epicenter of this whole thing," Aaron explained as the two walked into the main building.
        Aaron seemed to aimlessly wave around to people as he heard greetings. Karu looked at the CEO with a confused, shocked and disturbed expression on his face. Obviously what was going on now seemed to be of highest importance to him and to hear that he was the main focus point of it all unsettled him.
        "A team? Like body guards?" Karu questioned, thinking that he was going to be the lead of this group of people.
        As the two of them boarded a teleportation pad, Aaron nodded waiting until they were launched to their destination before explaining again.
        "Correct, we suspect that within a short period of time you will be subjected to a high level of power similar to the one that brought you here. If that's the case, my teams will be able to both work on a way to get you home but also aid our search for the Helio Crystals," Aaron stated.
        As soon as he heard the words 'Helio Crystals', he nodded.
        "Someone told me you might know something about them, are they really that important?" Karu asked.
        Aaron paused wondering who he could have known that knew about the crystals as well, but shrugged it off, it was probably one of the girl's he was residing with.
        "Yes, it seems that the activation of these crystals has occurred. Now that they have, a notorious group, better known as RF, will be searching for them. We are  still unsure as to what their intentions are at this time. We hope to find out before it's too late," Aaron stated as he moved toward his main office.
        Inside his office stood a group of people who all turned to face the pair. Karu glanced at them all wondering what was going on.
        One of the group approached the two of them with a wide ecstatic grin on her face.
        "Hi you two! Aaron you took so long to get here I was super sad!" She exclaimed.
        "Easy, Maria, easy. I'm only one man. I can only do but so much," he replied, hands shaking in front of him.
        Maria puffed up her cheeks in a displeased manner then pulled back folding her arms.
        Aaron made his way across the room to his desk.
        "Thank you all for coming here, as you may have guessed, a pretty big job has come up and Karu here will be who you're working with," Aaron stated.
        The group all looked toward Karu. Some of them of disgust, some of interest, others just uninterested.
        Behind the group the door would part open and another male would walk in but something was different, each step sounded like metal was hitting the floor.
        "Apologies for being late, I had an issue I needed to deal with," spoke a familiar voice.
        Karu turned around to Zsentih walking in. His hand then rose, pointing awkwardly at the android.
        "H-he's gonna be one of my body guards?" Karu asked looking back at Aaron.
        Aaron glanced at him wondering what was wrong.
        Karu rushed up to Zsenith, poking against the android's abdomen.
        "If he's gonna be watching over me, I'd like to request he be the only one. Also I'm going to meet that woman you were talking about so I think one tagging along will be fine," Karu stated.
        "You just want Zsenith with you?" Aaron asked leaning back against the desk.
        Zsenith stood there seemingly un-phased by having his gut jabbed at by the teen's finger.
        "Yea! I mean whatever's happened so far hasn't really started yet...so I figure I wont need this many people watching over me," Karu explained.
        Aaron looked at the rest of the group who looked to one another, most of them not wasting a moment to forward their desire to exit the plan.
        "Well whoever would like to stay on the operation shall stay those who want to go, may do so now," Aaron held his arms out to his side.
        As soon as he said that the room began to clear until only two people remain, Zsenith himself, and a female clad in a uniform similar to Zsenith's.
        "Well, they didn't seem enthusiastic to help," Karu folded his arms looking back at the woman who decided to stay, "And what might your name be?"
        The female turned her gaze to Karu's before looking away immediately. Zsenith walked over and put his hand on the girl who seemed nearly half his own height though, she would actually be about Karu's height.
        "This is Izzy, she's a subordinate of mine in the fighter's division. Don't let her timid expression get to you, she could put you down in an instant," Zsenith commented.
        Izzy's head nodded forward as Zsenith held her. Her hand would clench the cloak that flowed around her hips.
        "Teacher, he seems rude," she spoke softly as she moved to Zsenith's side.
        "You'll be fine, he's harmless, if a bit clumsy," Zsenith replied.
        Karu felt insulted after hearing this and turned back to Aaron, who was laughing under his breath.
        "Well now that the introductions are done. Karu, Zsenith and Izzy, you three will have the task of heading out to the eastern island to see my friend, there she will fill you in on what all is going on. Zsenith, I need you to take double duty and watch over Izzy, as I recall she's still in training with you?" Aaron stated.
        Zsenith nodded as Karu's jaw dropped.
        "Wait you're gonna send me off with only two people, one of which is still in training?!" He exclaimed in complaint.
        As soon as he finished a bullet whizzed past his head.
        "Don't you underestimate me, human," Izzy commented.
        Karu sunk his head some.
        "Tch...spiteful, so when are we going?" He stood back up.
        Aaron smirked holding up a remote.
        "Right, now, have fun kids!" He answered as the three disappeared off in a flash of light.
        As they disappeared Aaron stood upright only to be crossed with a black edged and white bodied sword against the front of his neck as he felt one of his arms being held behind his back.
        "And who might this be?" He asked in a calm manner.
        "You have been invited by Qkuill  to show up on Mackai for a negotiation. Be there five days from now at high noon. If you refuse, I've been given orders to bring your head on a platter to her highness," spoke a woman with a lower than usual sounding voice.
        "Geez you guy's can't just knock can you?" Aaron asked calmly. "I guess I have no choice but to come then."
        "Wise choice. I shall see you regardless," she replied darkly before disappearing.
        "Haah, I just never get a break," he walked over to his desk, "I suppose I should start getting things under way."