(A/N: Welcome to Chapter Two of Across The Stars. When we last Keitaro, he had been thrown into a new job and nearly killed by the hyperactive antics of Koalla Su. After a rough day, Keitaro's quiet drink is interrupted by Motoko, who needs a favor from the Lord Of Canteroil. Join us now in Chapter Two, as Keitaro adjusts to life in the Golden Land. I thank you all for reading and I hope I can get more to read this tale. Most of you will want to know the pairing and I will tell you right now that wont come till at least Chapter Three, since I still have to get the rest of the girls introduced into the picture. Anyway, this idea seems to hold water so I will continue to write this fic. Also, if you ever have any ideas or input, post a review or email me. My email should be in my profile. Now, enjoy Chapter Two of Across The Stars!)
Italicized Thoughts
Telepathic speech
"" normal speech (duh)
Across The Stars
Chapter Two: Living In The Golden Land
Keitaro was certainly right. This job was going to kill him. To finish off his first day in Canteroil, he was put through the grueling demonstration of skill that was part of Motoko's favor. Her favor was she wanted to join the Order, the royal guard of Canteroil. Keitaro said yes, but upon her insistence, Motoko gave Keitaro a demonstration of how skilled she was in the way of the sword. After fifteen long and painful minutes, Keitaro lay in a heap on the floor of the throne room.
"Argh...", moaned Keitaro, pulling himself up to a sitting position. "If the princess doesn't get me, Motoko will."
Exhausted, Keitaro took of his jacket and used it as a pillow, and slept on the floor of the throne room.
:::Keitaro's Dream:::
Keitaro huffed and puffed as he ran up the stairs leading to his grandmother's house. Before him where two other kids roughly his age, maybe younger maybe older. The trio where racing to the top of the stairs for whatever awaited at the top. When Keitaro reached the top he watched as his two comrades started to melt away into a swirling vortex. Keitaro had his hand outstretched, begging them to come back, but they didn't. Keitaro just sat there on his hands and knees crying.
:::The Next Morning.:::
Keitaro awoke to find a box of doughnuts in front of him and Jessica standing over him.
"Good Morning, Lord Urashima.", said Jessica, with one of her trademark bows. "Did you sleep well?"
Keitaro mumbled something incoherently.
"Heh, obviously not...", Jessica laughed with a sweat drop.
"Sorry Jessica, I just had a long first day.", sighed Keitaro. "Anyway, are those doughnuts for me?"
"Of course.", said Jessica. "Dig in."
Keitaro's look of happiness turned to horror as he opened the lid to the box of doughnuts, only to find a few crumbs and Koalla Su with a half eaten doughnut hanging from her mouth.
"Howdy!", smiled Su, finishing the last doughnut. "Dese where good!"
"Glad you enjoyed them.", laughed Jessica. "They are the finest doughnuts in all of Canteroil!"
Keitaro sighed and wondered off.
"I'm beginning to wonder if I would be better off at home.", thought Keitaro. "At least back home I didn't get shot at and there was always food."
/Cheer up, Lord Urashima. All good things come to those who wait./
Keitaro stopped dead in his tracks. "The hell?"
/Happiness will find you./
"Bloody wonderful!", thought Keitaro. "Not only am I exhausted, but now I am hearing voices in my head!"
Behind him, Keitaro did not notice Su coming up to pounce. But before she could, Motoko came and stopped her.
"Awww.", pouted Su.
"Don't bother his Lordship.", Motoko said firmly. "If you would like, you can bother me."
Hoo boy, did Motoko just make a huge mistake.
"Yays!", shouted Su, hopping up onto Motoko's shoulders and kicking her in the back. "Giddy up!"
As the hyperactive princess lead off her new victim, Keitaro ventured back to Jessica to have a word about the voices he was hearing.
"Jessica?", asked Keitaro. "I need to ask you about something. I have been hearing voices."
"Really?", replied Jessica. "Not surprising. Canteroil is full of people with telepathic abilities. So someone was probably just saying hello."
/I don't mind the sun sometimes, The images it shows. I can taste you on my lips and smell you in my clothes. Cinnamon and sugary and softly spoken lies. You never know just how you look through other people's eyes./
"Uh, they seem to be singing now.", muttered Keitaro. "This is really strange."
"Well, someone obviously likes messing with you.", laughed Jessica. "Now, before this gets really strange, I must get going. I'll be around if you need me."
/Welcome to Paradise, Lord Urashima. The Golden Land./
"I'm going crazy!", thought Keitaro. "Maybe I'll go for some fresh air."
Keitaro strolled out of the Citadel and down into the vast city below. Canteroil had a large diversity of people in it, with the population numbering in the billions, Canteroil was huge. And Keitaro ruled them all. Looking around at a sampling of his subjects, he was quite surprised. Many of the citizens where female, and not one of them was even remotely bad looking. Another apparent thing was how strangely everyone dressed. Its all cloaks and capes and strange robes, with the occasional hat here and there. Keitaro as usual was too caught up in his thoughts to notice the girl he was about to run into. With a loud thud, Keitaro fell backwards as the girl landed on top of him.
"Oh hell!", blushed Keitaro. "I'm so sorry miss I wasn't looking where I was going and I didn't mean any harm!"
The woman got up and smiled. "Its okay, really."
Keitaro did a double take. Before him stood a extremely odd site. Dressed in some sort of a cross between a tunic and a bondage harness was a blonde woman, who smelled of booze. And did I mention she was really, really well endowed?
"Uh....", stuttered Keitaro. "I still feel bad for running into you."
"Its okay, sugar.", smiled the woman seductively. "After all, you're the ruler around here. You can do whatever you please without question."
Struggling to keep composure, Keitaro managed to squeak out, "Perhaps I should make it up for my clumsiness?"
"Now that you mentioned it, there is something you can do for me.", said the woman slyly. "You see, I really don't have a place to live and there are a lot of people who are coming for me. Totally not my fault. And well, you see, I need a big strong man to make sure nothing happens to me. So I was thinking, since your palace is so nice and big, maybe you could find it in your heart to let me stay. And who knows, maybe a little something special for you."
Keitaro, just wanting the awkwardness to end, stuttered a simple, "Ye...yes.. mam!"
"Then its settled.", grinned the woman. "My name is Mitsune Konno, but you can just call me Kitsune. And of course, you are Lord Keitaro Urashima, everyone knows you."
Keitaro nodded. "Its nice to meet you Kitsune. Get in contact with my top advisor, Jessica. She will get you all squared away at the Citadel."
Kitsune nodded and walked off toward a bar. "Heh, For an all powerful ruler, he is easily manipulated. I can shake my money maker and be rolling in gold and all the finest pleasures for as long as I live! What kinda person even falls for a 'innocent me, there are bad people out to get me' act?"
Keitaro walked on through his domain, this time determined not to run into any more scantily clad women. Canteroil was really starting to confuse Keitaro. Telepathic people? The insane princess that was out to terrorize him? The royal heritage he hadn't herd about, and the haunting memories of his past. Yes, Keitaro was definitely more than a little confused about the wild occurrences in his otherwise boring and normal life.
/I know you have questions you want answered, just as we all do. I could answer your questions flat out, or I could have a little fun in the process./
"Hey, the voices are back.", thought Keitaro.
/The Golden Land can fulfil all of your life's dreams, Lord Urashima. And you will find her here./
Before Keitaro could come up with a rebuttal, he got a message to come to the Citadel.
After returning, he found Jessica sitting with a man in the same basic uniform as her.
"We must speak to you about something, Lord Urashima.", said Jessica. "This is one of our deep space trackers, Commander Kinyalt."
"Lets skip the formalities and cut to the chase.", said Kinyalt. "We have spotted a massive fleet forming up with the intent to attack Canteroil."
"Yes, and we believe its being lead by your sister, Kanako Urashima.", said Jessica. "To explain quickly, your sister was at one point considered to exceed Lady Hina on the throne, but do to your sister's attraction to you, she was always at conflict with herself. Wanting to rule at your side, with her as your wife, Kanako said she would rather you have the throne."
"But, its also been rumored that your sister is insane, and that had developed a horrible temper, killing people just for the hell of it.", said Kinyalt. "She was banished from Canteroil three years ago and has been quietly gaining power off across the universe, waiting for her chance to take revenge on us. But now that you control the throne, we fear she may either have you kidnaped, killed, or she might just back off."
"Then we will send her a message.", muttered Keitaro. "Let her know that I want her to call of this nonsense and perhaps, if she can be civil, she can come and talk things over further in Canteroil. She will be allowed one ship, a small group of escorts and a few token body guards. Anything funny will be considered hostile and she will be punished accordingly."
"My Lord?", asked Jessica. "Is this wise?"
"Hell, I don't know.", replied Keitaro. "But you know, it just sounds like it would work."
"Isn't Kanako a threat?", asked Kinyalt. "I have herd terrible stories."
"I wouldn't worry.", replied Keitaro casually. "Understand that Kanako was picked on a lot when she was younger and the only person she really trusted and confided in was me. She is so attached to me there is no way at all she can ever hurt me. I trust her, and she trusts me. And I have a feeling that this plan will work."
The two stared at their Lord.
"And if not, well uh, we'll have to get to that when it comes!", shrugged Keitaro. "Now if you will excuse me, I have to go look for the voices in my head."
After Keitaro was clearly out of earshot, Kinyalt looked over at Jessica.
"He has gone to look for the voices in his head?", asked Kinyalt. "Are we sure he is mentally stable?"
"He is, just give him some time.", replied Jessica. "There someone talking to him, and he isnt used to people communicating telepathically. And if my powers of prediction are correct, then pretty soon, things will get better for Lord Urashima."
(Coming next chapter....)
Lord Keitaro Urashima is vastly gaining friends of the female sort in Canteroil. But what happens when one meeting with one girl opens up old memories? Stick around for Chapter Three of Across The Stars to find out. Coming soon....