Ranger24: Today Naruto learns a little about the future and see's that girls can't really share anything, not even a herb shop.
Chapter 25: Chibi's Herb shop.
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
The next day Naruto got up late. After bolting down a breakfast in the kitchen he ran into the butler Alfred.
Alfred: Sir, Riccard left early this morning with my master for the castle. He said you could do as you please for the the day just stay out of trouble and no blowing stuff up.
Naruto nodded and ran out into the city and took a tour of the market districts going into every shop that struck his fancy. After several hours however he was forced back to the mansion due to his lack of money and empty belly.
As he walked out of the kitchen he decided to take a peak in the herbilist shop next door. The windows were dark with ivy so he couldn't see inside. He stepped inside undetered. The inside was a lot bigger than he expected. There were thousands of drawers smoe no larger than postage stamps but some large enough to fit a keg of beer! A lucario sat on the counter sleeping but it stirred as he entered.
Remembering Ranger's suggestion to try out his mind touch by talking to pokemon he tried to make it understand he was a friend.
??: You don't have to do that.
Naruto literally jumped in suprise! He glanced about there was no one there but the pokemon who yawned.
Naruto: Cortana?
There was no answer. Then Naruto noticed a strange wooden rod sitting on the counter. He reached for it, curious.
??: I wouldn't do that.
Naruto: Stop playing games Cortana!
He picked it up and a jolt of elecity ran through his body! He shuddered and shock thenn collapsed to the ground. The pokemon walked over to him.
??: You know for a dragon rider you aren't that bright.
Naruto: HOLY SHIT! YOU CAN TALK!
??: What? Even a farm boy should know about us Werepokemon.
Naruto: A werepokemon! Holly shit again!
Werepokemon were legendary! They were said to live longer than most humans, knew more than they told, and always managed to get into the really popular stories.
Naruto: I didn't know you were real!
The werepokemon growled and put its foot on his chest.
??: Knowing is independent of being. I didn't know you exist before you bumbled in here and ruined my nap. But that dosen't mean you weren't real before I meet you. I suggest you drop the rod. It's going to shock you again in a few seconds.
Naruto quickly dropped the stick now weary of it.
Naruto: What is it?
??: A common and stupid artifact, unlike myself.
Naruto: What's it for?
??: Didn't you find out?
He hopped up on the counter and settled back down for a nap.
Naruto: Wait whats your name?
??: I go by many names. If you are looking for my proper one you must look elsewhere.
Naruto sighed.
??: However you may call me Spirit.
Naruto: Thanks.
Suddenly two women entered. One was Chibi but the other looked just like her only black haired and wearing a shirt that read, "I don't need a weapon to kill you". They were both holding a bag of groceries and argueing.
Chibi: I'm telling you Xichib, that was not a wink!
Xichib: Yes it was! Deidara so winked at me!
Then they both froze seeing Naruto. Then they glanced at spitrit.
Chibi: He says he talked with you!
Naruto: You can hear him to?
Xichib: Dosen't mean he'll talk to us
Chibi: Shut up.
Xichib: You shut up!
Chibi: No You shut up!
Xichib: You shut up!
Chibi: No you shut up!
Xichib: You shut up!
Chibi: No you shut up!
Xichib: I'm shutting up!
Chibi: Ha! I'm not falling for that old trick!
Xichib: God damnit.
Naruto: Ummm... Excuse me?
Both: WHAT?!
Naruto: Can I go? I really just came here to look around, all I've gotten is a shocking, meet a werepokemon, and listen to you two argue.
Chibi: Well herbs aren't all I do!
Xichib: Ahem.
Chibi: I mean all "we" do. All the fool lords pay us to mix love potions, we don't say they work but for some reason they keep coming back. And all the rich ladies ask us to read their palms and such. Would you like your fortune told?
Naruto smiled.
Naruto: Sorry I'm afriad my future is pretty damn near unreadable.
Chibi thought for a moment while her nobody scratched Spirit behind the ears. Then she waved her hand at the crystal ball.
Chibi: That's only for show, but I do have... wait here.
Xichib raised an eyebrow in suprise.
Xichib: Your actually bringing those out!
Chibi: Yes now help me find them.
The two of them began diging in a drawer. They threw out balls of yarn, leafy plants, kunai kives, a shotgun, a history textbook, several empty bottles off wine, Waldo, Carmen San Diego, Elvis Presely, a year book, the holy grail, the Mona Lisa, the ring of power, the mask of light, the shroud of turin, a giant diamond, the prophet of regrets crown, the deatly hallows, the Index, the sword excalibur, the spear of destiny, a signed poster of linkin park, John Lennons sunglasses, and the ark of the covenant. Then Chibi emerged holding a small velvet bag.
Chibi: Got them! Xichib, could you clean it up?
Xichib: F#k.
Chibi poured the bags contense of the bag onto the counter. There were several white objects with symbols carved into the sides.
Chibi: These are the knuckle bones of a dragon. Don't ask me where I got them its a secret I will not reveal but unlike crystal balls, tea leaves, or divining cards these have true power. I offered to do this for the other two people who were able to get Spirit to talk to them, the begger and the Woman. Only the woman accepted it.
Chibi sighed as Xichib wrestled Elvis Presely back into the drawer.
Chibi: She regreted it later, was her name.
Naruto's heart twisted. , his mothers name! Could it have been her? Was her future so terible that she had been forced to abandone him?
Naruto: Do you remember the fortune?
Chibi: It was so long ago the detail's have melted away into the rest of my memory which isn't as good as it once was and the bits I do remember I won't tell you. It was sad though, I've never forgotten the look on her face.
Naruto: You don't look that old.
Chibi blushed.
Chibi: I'm flattered but the apperance of youth mostly comes from having to eat my own herbs when times are tough.
Naruto (thinking): If that was my mom, and if she could bare to have her fortune told I can to.
Naruto: Cast the bones then.
Chibi nodded gathered up the bones and then closed her eyes.
Chibi: Manan! Wyrda! Hyugen!
The she thew the bones on the table! Naruto recgonized the words from the anceint language! And to use the for magic Chibi had to be a witch! This was no joke, this was a true fortune telling! Chibi breathed deeply then began to exaime the bones. Then she sighed pulled up a wine bottle and took a swig.
Chibi: You want some?
Naruto shook his head.
Chibi: Well you were right, your future is a tangled mess. I was able to wrestle a few details from it though.
She pointed to a bone with a tree on it.
Chibi: I shall start here, as its pretty easy to understand though this is the first time I've seen it in someones fortune. Infinity, or long life. Whether this means you will live an unusally long time or you will live forever I don't know, but you should know there are many years ahead of you.
Naruto (Thinking): No suprise there, I am rider.
Was Chibi going to tell him things he already knew?
Chibi: Now the bones grow harder to read. Your future is a tangled mess. I can see great battles being fought around you, some of them for your sack and the great powers of this land fighting to control your will and destiny. Countless futures all filled with blood and conflict, but only one will give you happiness.
Chibi she took another swig of wine.
Chibi: Next is this small group, the , the sailing ship, and the lighting bolt. A patern I have never seen only heard of. I'm afraid that your going to have even more trouble, first comes a death, one that will pain you deeply, then some time later you will leave this land for ever.
Naruto's stomach turned over.
Naruto (Thinking): Another death? Who am I to lose now!?
He thought of Edward.
Chibi: And this one here, the tree and the hawthorn root. I wish I wasn't the one to tell you this but betrayl is coming, and be from your family.
Naruto: Edward wouldn't do that!
Xichib: Hey don't yell! You're agrivating Waldo!
Chibi: Sorry kid but its what the bones say and the only way they are wrong is if you kill your self. But here's one a little more plesant.
She pointed to a small bone with a crescent moon, in between its ends was a rose. Chibi smiled mischeviously.
Chibi: An epic romance is in your future, unusaly strong.
Naruto: What do you mean?
Chibi rolled her eyes.
Chibi: The moon is the magical symbol and it'll be strong enough to out last empires. Whether this passion will end happily I cannot say, but your love is of noble birth and heritage, and rather good looking.
Xichib: Well thats something to be hopefull of. If only we all could get that lucky.
Chibi: Oh shut it.
Naruto was silent thinking it all over.
Naruto: Damn.
Chibi nodded and offered him the bottle again.
Chibi: Damn straight.
Naruto finally took a drink from the wine bottle.
Naruto: After all that death might be welcome.
Chibi: It would at that.
Naruto: You used words of power.
Chibi and Xichib froze glancing at one another.
Chibi: What I wouldn't give to see how the rest of your life turns out. You can speak to werepokemon, know of the ancient language, and few young men with rough traveling clothes can hope to be loved by a noble woman. Whats your name?
Naruto almost said Barney but reconsidered at the last moment.
Naruto: My name is Naruto.
Chibi raised an eye brow.
Xichib: You just get werider and werider kid.
Chibi: Who was the old man with you the other day?
Naruto figured that another name really wouldn't hurt.
Naruto: Ranger.
Chibi and Xichib glanced at eachother again and then burst out laughing! Xichib collapsed to the floor clutching her stomach! Inbetween tears of laughter Chibi managed to speak.
Chibi: That one! I had no idea he was even still kicking!
Naruto: Don't insult him! He's a better man than most!
Chibi: Ah I know that. It's just he is, known in our professian. I'm afraid the poor man's fate or doom is kind of a joke with us.
Naruto was about to walk out when Spirit walked up to him.
Naruto: Yes?
Spirit: Listen closely and I will tell you two things. When the time comes and you need a weapon, look under the roots of the Minowa tree. Then when all seems lost and your power is insufficent, go to the rock of kuthien and speak your name to open the vault of souls.
Naruto: What?
Spirit hopped back on the counter and went back to sleep.
Chibi: I'm not going to ask you what he said. It was for you and you alone.
Naruto: Well um... Thanks for reading my fortune.
Naruto (thinking): I think.
Chibi: Take care.
Naruto walked out of the shop. Once he was in the street his pase quickend, by the time he dashed out of the gate he was running full sprint! When he reached the clearing were Cortana had dropped him off the previous night he called her with his mind. In a minute they were sitting together looking out over the city. Naruto finishing his explanation of his experince in the shop to her.
Naruto: And so I guess Ranger's right, I can't keep myself out of trouble.
Cortana: You should remember what the werepokemon said it's important.
Naruto: How do you know?
Cortana: I don't its just the words he used seem powerfull. Kuthine.
She rolled the word around on her tounge.
Cortana: No we shouldn't forget it at all.
Naruto: Do you think he should I should tell Ranger? He might know what this all means.
Cortana: It's your choice but he really dosen't have a right to know your future. And if you just tell him what those words mean it may lead to questions you don't want to answer.
Naruto: Good point.
Cortana: Of course it's a good point. I'm the one who said it right?
Naruto: Haha.
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Later at Daivd's house Naruto banged on the door, Alferd quickly opened it for him.
Naruto: Is Riccard back?
Alfred: Yes sir I believe he is in the study with my master.
He lead him up to the room. In a corner Ranger was sulking while David was pounding his head against his desk.
Naruto: So how'd the meeting go?
Ranger: Bloody awful.
Ranger spat the gum he was chewing into the waste basket next to David's desk.
Ranger: I didn't think I would ever meet a noble who wasn't corrupt. Now that I have I think I prefer them when they're greedy bastards!
He loosed a stream of choice curses.
Ranger: This administartor of trade is the worst sort of burricart, he abides by every rule, delights in making his own whenever it can inconvenice some one and at the same time believes he's doing good!
Naruto: So he won't let us see the records?
Ranger: No dumbass. He refused every offer I made even substational bribes!
Naruto: Hey! Don't take your anger out on me or I'll report you to social security for child abuse.
Ranger: What?
Naruto: Nevermind, so what do we do now?
Ranger: I'm going to take the next week and teach you how to read!
Naruto: And then?
Ranger grinned.
Ranger: After that we're going to give Percy a nasty suprise.
David groaned.
David: I know that look, it's what got us into trouble in the first place.
Ranger: An understatement but true.
Ranger24: Next time Ranger, David, and Naruto do a little breaking and entering! After Naruto get's some schooling. Read and reivew!