A Fortune Teller's Fortune

It was on days like this one that Shuichi believed in God. He trotted ahead of his friend, his eyes sparkling and a pleased smile brightening his face. He waved his arm to tell his friend to step on it.

"Come on Little Kuwa, it's perfect!"

"I don't know about this Shuichi-"

"Ah don't be such a killjoy."

"But do we have to wear these?"

"Don't worry you look- nice, now hand me those clip-ons would you?" Kuwabara almost did a double take after Shuichi had finished tying a bandana around his head and fastened the gold hoop earrings onto his ears. He really really looked like a girl. They both wore heavily padded bras under their slip on dresses. They grinned at each other before Little Kuwabara picked up a cheap crystal ball while Shuichi jumped up and down flapping his arms and calling in as inviting a voice as possible. They had practiced sounding like women earlier and agreed that Shuichi would do the talking. They stood at the edge of Sherwood Forest doing everything short of flashing the golden carriage that slowly made its way down the path.

"Fortunes, forecasts, lucky charms!" Shuichi called nearly panicking when the carriage had yet to stop. He searched his mind for something, anything to get it to stop. "First reading is free, yes absolutely free!" His voice nearly broke.

The young prince's ears pricked and he hastily flicked open the curtains blocking the window. His eyes were immediately drawn to two women standing on the side of the road; actually to one in particular with red hair half hidden by a hideous polka dotted bandana. Her mesmerizing green eyes glittered as they alighted on the prince and she winked slowly at him. The prince swallowed and called for the carriage to halt immediately.

"Good day ladies, how may I be of service?" He asked standing in the doorway of the carriage. The steward lowered the steps should the prince wish to mingle more closely with his subjects.

"Oh my, it is quite an honor to meet a person such as yourself your highness." Shuichi wasted no time in the art of flattery.

"No the honor is mine." He gazed down with such an intense look that Kuwabara blushed for his friend. The Prince glanced away and held out his hand. "I give you permission to kiss the royal hand." He said haughtily but his face seemed slightly pink.

"You are too kind." Shuichi answered walking up with his hips swaying and his eyes locked onto the prince, he had this in the bag.

He held the hand lightly with thin fingers and caressed it while whispering in his ear. The Prince's face turned even redder and he coughed. Kuwabara wasn't sure if he wanted to know what Shuichi had said. Shuichi ducked his head kneeling on one knee and finally kissing the prince's ring covered hand. Kuwabara also kissed the prince's hand, only quickly and without any eye batting. Shuichi motioned for his accomplice to stay outside as he was allowed entrance into the carriage. The prince raised a brow and Shuichi linked an arm through his leading him further into the luxurious space.

"It's more cozy this way, don't you think so your highness?"

"Indeed." Shuichi giggled loudly and made another hand gesture behind his back. That meant the crystal ball would be needed later, Kuwabara sighed in relief. He wasn't sure how long Shuichi could play on the prince's libido before his identity was revealed.

"Do you mind if I close the curtains?" Shuichi asked moving to close them, he glanced over his shoulder with the curtain in hand.

"Yes it's fine with me." The prince said in a bored voice, gracelessly falling onto the seat he had occupied earlier.

"And the lantern?"

"Why?" He narrowed his eyes a fraction.

"Because we need complete darkness if I'm to read your fortune."

"Yes, you're right, go ahead." Shuichi had to stand up on a covered basket to reach the lantern that hung from the ceiling. His blue dress slipped up, revealing a bit more of a pale leg. The prince drank in the sight before the candle was blown out. He heard a soft thump as the fortune teller stepped down from the basket and then another squishing noise when she sat down on the same basket. The Prince was a bit unsettled that the woman was sitting on one of his little treasure piles, but he didn't want to draw her attention to it.

"You may sit on the chair if you would like." The Prince offered brusquely. Shuichi brushed their knees together,

"It works better if we are in contact with each other."

"I see."

"Give me your hands, please." She ordered him, and he was surprised that he didn't mind obeying the command. "Oh my, oh my goodness!"

"What, what is it!" The Prince exclaimed forcing himself to remain still and not pull back his arms.

"I see. Prince Hiei, I see . . ."

"What?"

"Um . . . it's hard to read, the lines are too crossed."

"What do you mean?"

"It could mean that you are going to live a long prosperous life or that you're going to die in the very near future."

"What!" Prince Hiei stood up angrily and crossed his arms across his chest. "Get out, get out this instant!"

"Forgive me your highness, I believe I can do a better reading with the help of the spirits."

"Can it really be done?"

"Yes, of course I just have to call upon them and a crystal ball will appear from the heavens."

"Interesting." Prince Hiei sat back down and stared into the dark trying to distinguish the strange woman's eyes but he could not see them.

"Oh spirits, from the mists of time,please come to my aid!" She sang in a husky voice. Nothing happened. She laughed shakily and tried again.

"You better not be trying to fool me-," The prince growled.

"No there must be something hindering the spirits from crossing into the human world." Shuichi speedily made up a lie.

"Oh spirits! I am in desperate need of your aid!" She intoned more loudly. Then a glowing crystal truly did appear floating down from above. The prince's eyes followed its descent hungrily; he reached up and felt a sharp pain on the back of his hand.

"Ah, ah ah you mustn't touch the magic crystal ball."

"You just hit me." Prince Hiei was stunned.

"I am sorry your highness but you could have died, only a divine medium can handle the crystal."

"So you say." Shuichi pulled the crystal toward himself so that his face was bathed with the dim light from the fireflies. Thankfully the prince did not notice that bugs were producing the light.

"Now I see it." He placed the ball in his lap and waved his hands over it, as if casting a spell.

"What is it, what do you see?" The prince asked leaning forward and trying to see what apparently the woman could.

"You aren't going to die, but you will become a king worthy of wearing the crown."

"I knew it, tell me more, there must be more."

"Um- I see- oh it's getting hazy."

"That can't possibly be all."

"The spirits are fading they can only come for a short period of time-"

"Then call them back!"

"Don't be greedy Hiei."

"Please refrain from speaking my name without my title Madame."

"I beg your forgiveness your highness." Shuichi half stood deftly pushing the cover off the basket and slipping one hand inside, his fingers found several drawstring pouches filled with coins.

"It's alright, just this once." He mumbled. The prince coughed again to hide his embarrassment. " Please go on, I would like to hear more." Just then shouts could be heard from outside. He stood and went to the window.

"What's going on, didn't I inform you all that there was a meeting in session?"

"Your highness you are being robbed!" The sheriff shouted riding up on a horse.

" Impossible." He turned and the crystal ball and woman were gone. "No," He frantically scanned the small enclosure realizing that the basket was empty.

"Long live Youko Kurama!" A man's rough voice hollered from behind the trees.

"Toodaloo!" A second voice yelled even more insulting with its sweetness.

"Damn him. Damn him to the deepest pits of hell."

"Shall we pursue them?" The Sheriff asked dutifully.

"No, it's too late now, no one knows where that thief's lair is located."

"Sir, what are we going to do about the missing money?"

"You know what to do." A wolfish grin spread across the Sheriff's face, oh how he loved tax collection.

TBC

AUTHOR'S NOTE: My creativity is in hiding so I'm turning to Disney to help me out. I'm still debating whether or not I should keep this story PG ;) Any suggestions?