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 Home to beings who have superseded human characteristics and taken on additional body configurations one or more various creatures..we're about to go talk to the Queen, whom Aaron mentioned to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.