The surface is not what he expects. It's loud, far louder than any other place he has ever been. It is crowded – the people pressed against each other, cramming into shops and streets. He thinks he might suffocate. He sees strange things, unfamiliar things. He sees curious people driving curious metal boxes, bobbing their heads to mechanical noise he can only guess is this country's version of music. He reminds himself he must not stop and stare at the oddities of human life, no matter how much he wishes to. He reminds himself that he is a King; he is here for a purpose. He cannot allow himself to be distracted – not by the curious sights and sounds and smell of the city, not by the tingle at the back of his neck that lets him know people are watching him. He hears snips of conversation though the din, hears snags of gossip and speculation and why is he here? He hears people guessing, people thinking. Some think his ears are false, others think his hair is – it's too red, his ears too long and pointed. He wants to turn around, wants to tell them off, wants to stare right back and ask them a thousand questions.

He just pushes on. He has better things to do.

The meeting goes well, he thinks. There are strange lights and flashes and strange people in strange outfits ask him the questions he wishes he could ask them. His head is filled with half formed answers to yet unasked questions, his gaze flicking around the room from face to face. They are waiting for him to say something wrong, something they can use, that they can write a story from. He won't give it to them. He starts feeling light-headed by the end of it all, but he supposes that is to be expected. He sighs, smiles, and hopes he doesn't have to do this again, though he knows he will.

He needs to get out.

"Lord Munto, a moment if you will…" A woman and her camera crew runs up to him the second he reaches the window, interrupting his attempts at a premature exit. He turns to her, replacing his sigh with a calm smile. He must make a good impression.

"Yes, what is it?" At least she remembered his title.

"In regards to your attempts to promote cross-cultural understanding and relations, what is your next step?" She says a bit quickly, glancing at his ears, as if looking for a seam or imperfection or something to tell her they weren't real. Why did everyone feel the need to do that?

"…I plan to begin attending a human school within the next three months in the hopes of not only cultivating a better understanding human culture, but human sciences and technology as well. I would like to introduce something of the sort into my Kingdom at a later date, if possible, which I've already explained. Now, if you'll excuse me…"

The movement was smooth, effortless. The window opened for him without hesitation, the night air soothing his building headache. He couldn't hold back the silent sigh that moved through him as he pushed himself up onto the edge, couldn't help the laugh that burst from his lungs as he heard the reporter scream.

"T-this is…. Lord Munto, the visiting king… He's jumped! I.. I've got no visual, but.. No, wait, what is that? Is it… Yes it is! My god, the rumours are true. Ladies and gentlemen, you're witnessing it here first – the Heavenly Beings are indeed capable of flight."

He slept heavily that night, unaware of anything besides the cool air and warm blankets surrounding him.

On the surface, hidden beneath her own covers, a green-eyed girl smiled to herself. He was coming.

A/N: First Munto fic~ Please inform me if you find any fault within this, be it character or plot. The next chapter is going to quite a bit longer, I think. Hopefully it'll go well. Also, please note that while the two worlds have been joined as one, akuto levels are lower on the surface, so while it is possible to go for a good few hours on the surface, anything beyond that is not exactly good for one's health. *EDITED 12/23/09*