(A/N: Hello all my readers. First off, thanks for taking the time to check this story out. I always like having my stuff read. Anyway, wasting my free time at school a new idea came to me that just seemed like it was worth a shot. Lets build an AU and put the Love Hina gang in space, giving Keitaro a very different job. This will be the first time I have tried something like this and just as a warning, I will have to alter the character's personalities in some ways to get them to fit my idea. This story will probably have a lackluster first chapter but hey, I hope you like the twists I am going to throw at you. I could go on and on about how this idea came about and why I am doing it, but uh I hope the finished product of this comes out half decent. Which knowing me, this will probably end up being funny at times, I will strive to keep my mis-typed names to a minimum here and as I said before, I will try to keep everyone in character as much as possible. And before I do go, if you think I'm having fun making Kanako go insane in The Eternal Saga Of Lost Spirits, you will see I am going to top myself with what I have planned for our little brother lover in this story. So anyway, I hope you enjoy my take on what Love Hina might have been if it was in space. And Fans Of The Eternal Saga Of Lost Spirits, fear not, its been a while since an update by the end of September,as of right now this side project had to be posted!)
(Disclaimer! I do not own Love Hina or any other movie, anime, game or product that finds its way into this story. They are all property of their respective owners.)
Across The Stars
Chapter One: Inheritance
Urashima, Keitaro, age twenty-one sat in his seat on an otherwise deserted, yet lavish private transport headed for the home of his Grandmother Hina. Not knowing exactly why or where he is heading, Keitaro ponders to himself.
How strange it was, that I should be summoned so far away on such short notice. My Granny Hina summoning me to her current home, some far off place called Cant-something. Whatever the name is, more importantly, what could she have possibly mean by "I have a job for you."? Stranger still the last part of the letter that told me when and where a transport would be waiting for me. Oh well, whatever it is, it sure beats just lying around the house all day...
Peering out the window, Keitaro saw nothing but a vast expanse of black, dotted by tiny points of light, with the occasional freighter or smaller spaceship flying by. But after a minute, a large blue planet came into view. Orbiting this planet where many different kinds of space stations, platforms, military vessels and what have you. This planet was by far the largest Keitaro had ever seen in person, stretching on for what seemed like forever.
A voice came over the intercom and said, "We will be landing shortly, please buckle up and I hope you enjoyed your flight."
Keitaro buckled his seat and looked out the window as he entered the atmosphere, but the heat shields quickly closed around the windows, so Keitaro wouldn't lose his sight in the blinding light. It was a few minutes but the craft came to final stop as it landed, and the door to the outside opened. Nothing could ever prepare Keitaro for exactly what he would see next. As he stepped off the ramp onto the landing pad he saw a vast sea of buildings extending to the horizon, all of different sizes and shapes. His gaze soon fell on a large palace, the most commanding structure of them all. Keitaro didn't notice the woman in strange attire there as the welcoming party, he just stood there with his mouth wide open in awe, drool running down the sides of his mouth.
"Greetings, Lord Urashima.", said the woman with a bow. "My name is Jessica. And Welcome to Canteroil."
Keitaro snapped back into reality. "Huh what?", Keitaro snorted. "Oh yes hello, nice to meet you Jessica, I am..."
"Keitaro Urashima, I know.", said Jessica, cutting off Keitaro. "My lady sent for you."
"I am here to speak with my grandmother.", said Keitaro. "She said she had a job for me. I assume thats why your hear?"
"Yes, Lord Urashima, that is why I am here.", said Jessica.
"Lord Urashima?", asked Keitaro. "Are you feeling okay? I don't have a title like that."
Jessica sighed. "You have been called to here to Canteroil to take over for your grandmother as the Lord Of Canteroil. Your grandmother held this office for some fifty six years and now she has handed power to you. You are now the ruler of all you see before you."
Keitaro blinked. "Excuse me?"
"You don't have the slightest idea of your heritage nor Canteroil do you?", asked Jessica.
Keitaro shook his head.
"No one ever told you?", asked Jessica.
"I haven't even herd of Canteroil till I got a letter three days ago.", replied Keitaro. "And no, Granny Hina never mentioned being some all powerful ruler."
Jessica smacked her forehead. "And you're the one who is going to sit on the throne of our land?" Jessica once again regained composure. "Please forgive my out burst, Lord Urashima. It wont happen again."
"Uh its fine.", laughed Keitaro. "Uh so can I have the tour?"
"But of course, Lord Urashima.", Jessica said with a bow.
The pair walked off of the landing pad and out toward the vast expanse of city before them. Keitaro still didn't fully get what had just happened, but with nothing better to do, he followed Jessica on to take a tour of the city. The city itself was beyond anything anyone would have ever thought possible. Buildings stretched out beyond the horizon in every direction. The center piece however, was the palace mentioned before. Tall and made of a rather shiny blue material, the palace is where Keitaro would soon make his home.
"Excuse me, Jessica?", asked Keitaro, pointing at the large blue palace. "But that is my palace over there, right?"
"Yes, Lord Urashima. It is.", replied Jessica. "Its most often referred to as the Citadel. But your grandmother always called it her Inn."
"Inn?", asked Keitaro, puzzled.
"Yes, Inn.", Jessica replied. "Lady Hina always entertained many guests inside the long hallways of the Citadel. As you should know, your grandmother liked people and the crazy stories they told. And she also liked to travel, which is why she gave the throne to you."
"I see...", said Keitaro, as he and Jessica reached the gates of the Citadel. Jessica punched around on a keypad and the doors shot open in a flash. Fast enough to startle Keitaro.
"Welcome home, Lord Urashima.", said Jessica, pointing through the open doors to what seemed like a different world. "I hope that you will find your home very impressive."
"She wasn't kidding! Its beyond impressive!", Keitaro thought.
Keitaro stood awestruck at the scene before him. When they called a palace, they meant it. Even the entry hall was massive. Hallways spread off of the main hall, miles of them it seemed. And at the far end of the entry hall, lay another set of massive doors. Besides being massive, the halls were also fantastically decorated, flags and large drapes and paintings of various scenes of heroic battles and past monarchs. Taking everything in as he walked, Keitaro strolled down the hall with his head darting about, taking in the various sights of his new palatal home. Keitaro didn't notice that Jessica had opened up the door at the end of the hall, the door to the throne room. At the back of the room, A giant coat of arms hung from the wall just behind the Throne Of Canteroil, a tall chair with long gilded arm rests and bright blue fabric for the seat.
"This is your throne, Lord Urashima.", Jessica said, motioning for Keitaro to sit down. "Take a seat and you will be fully in power."
Keitaro nodded and sat down on the throne. Looking out from his throne, he was shocked as the walls seemed to disappear.
"Jessica?", asked Keitaro. "Where'd the walls go?"
"They are still there, Lord Urashima.", laughed Jessica. "They are transparent, so you may see the city!"
"I guess that makes sense.", Keitaro muttered. "This is all just so confusing."
"I hope you learn some diplomacy skills fast.", said Jessica. "Your first diplomatic guest will be arriving shortly."
Keitaro dropped his head and groaned. "Are you serious?"
Jessica nodded. "Don't worry, Lord Urashima. Everything will work out in the end."
"You really think so?", asked Keitaro.
Jessica sweat dropped uneasily. "Of course Lord Urashima! Your going to be a great ruler!"
Just then the doors where thrown open to the throne room and a tan skinned girl bound through.
"Announcing Princess Koalla Su, of the kingdom of Mol-Mol", said Jessica, bowing as the girl passed.
Su walked up to Keitaro as he stood up.
"Welcome to Canteroil, Princess.", said Keitaro with a bow. "I am Lord Keitaro Urashima, Ruler Of Canteroil."
"Hiyas!", shouted Su, kicking Keitaro in the face. "I'm Su! Its nice to meet you!"
Keitaro rubbed the shoe print on his face. "Is that how you great all heads of state?"
"Uh huh!", nodded Su, bounding up onto Keitaro's shoulders. "Now! Gimme a horsey ride!" Su kicked Keitaro in the back, and using his ears as handlebars, she ran him straight into a wall. Keitaro hit the ground with a thud.
Jessica sighed, trying to hold back laughter. "Are you alright, Lord Urashima?"
"Im peachy, Jessica.", said Keitaro, rubbing his head. "So Princess, when are you leaving?"
"Dontcha know?", asked Su with a ear to ear grin. "I gets to live here!"
Keitaro groaned. "This job is going to kill me."
"Welcome To Canteroil, Princess Koalla.", said Jessica with her trademark bow. "It is good to have you here and I hope you enjoy living here with us."
::::Later On, at Dink's Pale Ales::::
Lord Keitaro Urashima sat on a bar stool in the far corner of Dink's Pale Ales, thinking things over. Three hours earlier, he had been literally thrown into the office of Lord Of Canteroil and met his first diplomat. After a very interesting game with Su, which basically consisted of Keitaro running throughout the Citadel with Su unloading bazookas and rocket propelled grenades in his general direction, Keitaro pulled himself into a bar for a little bit of liquor. Keitaro had a lot of things to think about. First and most important was he really cut out to lead a nation. This thought quickly ran from Keitaro's head when he reminded himself this is his job now, which is a big step up from being the freeloader he had been recently. And second, Keitaro thought back to his childhood. He spent a lot of time in space at his Grandmother's winter home. Being young some fifteen years ago, Keitaro had wonderful memories of his former companions at his Grandmother's, thought he really couldn't remember their names and can vaguely remember a face here and there. But what he remembers the most, the one thing that comes back to haunt him over and over, the promise he made to one of them. The two who made the promise where supposed to meet in the future and live happily ever after. Unfortunately for Keitaro, love always screws him over, making sure he never got any kind of love, it seems. Not noticing the person standing behind me, Keitaro went on thinking, not hearing the few times he had been addressed.
"Excuse me?", asked a woman standing behind Keitaro, poking him on the shoulder.
"Huh?", replied Keitaro, wheeling around in his chair. "Yes, what is it?"
"You are the new Lord, are you not?", asked the black haired woman. "Lord Urashima isnt it?"
"Yes. That would be me.", replied Keitaro. "Now, tell me. What is it you want?"
The woman bowed. "My name is Motoko, and I have come here to call in a favor."