Chapter 4: Chance Encounter

(Marketplace of Agrabah, early in the morning)

Kurama: (Looks down from the top of a melon vendor) Psst. Hey Yusuke!

Yusuke: Oh, Kurama, Hiei, I was wondering when you two would show up. Two of the best melons, right off the cart.

Kurama: Thanks. (Pulls himself up.) Okay my friend. Breakfast is served.

(Kurama and Hiei go to work on their melons. Botan starts walking down the street. Kurama happens to get a look at her.)

Kurama: Wow.

Hiei: Hm? (Looks around and while Kurama isn't looking, swipes half of Kurama's melon.)

Botan: (Spots a little kid reaching for an apple on a cart.) Oh, you must be hungry. (grabs apple.) Here you go.

Merchant: You better be planning to pay for that.

Botan: Pay?

Merchant: (Grabs Botan's wrist) No one steals from my cart!

Botan: Please, if you let me go I can get some money from the sultan.

Merchant: Do you know what the penalty is for stealing! (Pulls out a sword.)

Botan: NO! No, please!

Kurama: (Grabs the merchants wrist.) Oh, thank you, kind sir. I'm so glad you found her. (Turns to Botan) I've been worried sick about you!

Botan: (Whispering) What are you doing?

Kurama: Just play along.

Merchant: You...uh...know this girl?

Kurama: (Sighs) Sadly yes. She's my sister. (quietly) She's a little crazy.

Botan: (scoffs)

Merchant: She said she knew the sultan.

Kurama: (laughs and points to Hiei.) She thinks the midget is the sultan.

Botan: (catching on) Oh, wise sultan, how may I serve.

Hiei: That won't be necessary thank you. (pats Botan on the head.)

Kurama: (Shakes his head) Tragic isn't it. Well, no harm done. (Takes Botan's hand) Now come along, sis. Time to go see the doctor.

Botan: (Looks at a nearby camel) Oh, hello doctor. How are you, today?

Kurama: No, no, not that one. Come on, Sultan.

Hiei: Coming. (Drops money he had stolen from the bystanders and runs.)

(Elder Toguro runs on a giant wheel to generate electricity)

Elder Toguro: (Panting) With all due respect...oh foulest of brothers...couldn't we just wait...for a real storm.

Younger Toguro: (Places ring in proper place) Save your breath, brother. Faster.

Elder Toguro: Yes, Oh mighty evil one. (Pants even harder)

Younger Toguro: Part sands of Time. Reveal to me the one who can enter the cave. (Kurama's image appears in an hourglass) Yes, Yes. There he is. My diamond in the rough.

Elder Toguro: That's him. That's the clown we've been waiting Foooooooooor! (Slips and gets caught in the gears.)

Younger Toguro: Let's have Karasu and Bui extend him an invitation to the palace. Shall we?

Elder Toguro: (Hits the wall, singed to death.) Swell...(Coughs; hits the floor.)

Younger Toguro: (Laughs maniacally)

Kurama: Come on, this way.

Botan: I want to thank you for stopping that man.

Kurama: Forget it. So this is your fist time in the marketplace, huh?

(Kurama launches his rose whip over an expanse between two buildings and swung across)

Botan: Is it that obvious?

Kurama: Well...(looks at her slyly) you do kinda stand out.

Botan: (Blushes)

Kurama: (snapping out of his daze) I mean I don't think you realize how dangerous Agrabah can be.

Botan: (grabs rope on other building and swings across.) I'm a fast learner.

(Kurama and Hiei stare at Botan)

Kurama: (gets up and walks over to Botan.) Come on. Not much further.

(Enter an old building)

Kurama: Careful...watch your head there.

Botan: This is where you live?

Kurama: Yep. Just me and Hiei. Come and go as we please.

Botan: Sounds fabulous.

Kurama: Hell, it ain't much. But...(pulls back curtains to view the palace) it's got a great view.

Botan: Oh, (disappointed) the palace. It's wonderful.

Kurama: I wonder what it would be like to live there. Have servants, and valets.

Botan: Yeah, people who tell you where to go and how to dress.

Kurama: Better than here. Always scraping for food and ducking the guards.

Botan: You're not free to make your own choices.

Kurama: You just feel so...

Botan: You're just...

Both: Trapped!

(Kurama and Botan look at each other and smile.)

Kurama: (Hands Botan an apple) So where are you from?

Botan: Doesn't matter; I ran away and I am not going back.

Kurama: Really? How come?

Botan: My father's forcing me to get married.

Kurama: Gee. That's aweful.

(Hiei is about to swipe an apple in Botan's hand.)

Kurama: (Noticing this.) Hiei!

Hiei: (moves over and whispers in Kurama's ear.)

Botan: What?

Kurama: Hiei says, "That's not fair."

Hiei: (Glares at Kurama.)

Botan: Oh, really? And does Hiei have anything else to say?

Kurama: Well...he wishes there was something he could do to help. (Sits down next to Botan)

Hiei: Oh god.(Sticks Finger in his mouth.)

Botan: (Leaning closer to Kurama) Tell him that's very...sweet.

(Kurama and Botan are about to kiss when there is a loud crash at the door.)

Guard: Here you are.

Hiei: Shit!

Kurama and Botan: They're after me. They're after you?

Botan: My father must have sent them.

Kurama: (Looking out the window) Do you trust me?

Botan: What?

Kurama: Do you trust me? (extends his hand.)

Botan: (hesitantly) Yes. (takes Kurama's hand)

Kurama: Then Jump!

(Kurama and Botan jump out the window.)

Kurama: Run!

(Kurama Runs straight into Bui.)

Bui: So you are the street rat.

Hiei: Geronimo!

(Hiei lands on Bui's head. Kurama, punches him in the stomach.)

Kurama: Let's move!

(Kurama meets up with Karasu.)

Kurama: Other way.

(Bui knocks Hiei out)

Bui: (Grabs Kurama's collar) It's the dungeon for you, boy.

Botan: Let him go.

Karasu: Look at that. A street mouse. (Knocks Botan away)

Botan: Unhand him. (Removes her hood) By order of the Princess.

Karasu and Bui: (Gasp and bow.) Princess Botan.

Kurama: The princess?

Karasu: What are you doing outside of the palace? And with this street rat?

Botan: That is not your concern. Do what I say. Let him go.

Bui: We would, princess. Except our orders are from Master Toguro. You'll have to take it up with him.

Botan: Oh, I will.

(TBC)