DISCLAIMER: Me no owny =C

WARNING: Yaoi people! Very very mild - almost only implied, but still there ^.^

A/N: I love you all! Sorry it took me so long to update last time, but this time I've been a little better right? Anyways, I'll have more time to update this when I've finished "Birthdays Are . . ." so await the new year with anticipation! 3

The Princess and the Ice Needle

Once upon a time there was a beautiful prince who had searched all over for a princess to call his own. But it could not be just any princess; she must be a real princess, and this made the prince's search for a wife all the more difficult – for how could he tell who was a real princess?

Finally, the Queen came up with a brilliant idea: she would place an Ice Needle beneath twenty mattresses and twenty blankets and invite princesses to stay the night on this bed. The princess who could not sleep would be a real princess for she would have such sensitive skin that she would be able to feel the ice needle and its chill even through such thick bedding.

The beautiful Prince Haku agreed that this was an excellent plan and he called for it to be put immediately into action, saying : "Whomsoever can feel the chill of the ice needle will win my hand in marriage, no matter who they be!"

So for days servants were rushing around piling up mattresses and blankets, and generally making the whole structure perfectly stable for the princesses to sleep on.

Each princess came to stay; one by one. They dined with the prince and his family and then retired to bed on the tower of mattresses. In the morning they ate breakfast with the royal family and when asked how they slept they always replied the same way:

"Oh it was a wonderful night your majesties! The tower of mattresses is such an excellent idea, we simply must try it at out own palace."

Finally after a month of hearing the same answer from every woman who passed through his halls, Prince Haku was ready to take down the mattresses and marry the first woman who threw herself at him.

Before he could give the order, however, a great knocking sound was heard. The doormen immediately opened the door to reveal a huge, muscled man with greyish skin and terrifyingly sharp teeth, currently soaking wet from the raging storm outside. The hall descended into silence and the man remained outside, one eyebrow raised.

"Well?" he said at last "Aintcha gonna invite me in? I'm freezing my arse off out here"

Haku was immediately knocked from his shock at the sound of his visitor's rough voice and crude speech. "Of course. Please come in mister . . ."

"Zabuza. Momochi Zabuza."

"Zabuza-san" Haku smiled gently "how can I help you?"

"Heard someone was lookin' for a Captain of the Guards" he said, gesturing at the huge sword strapped to his back "I'm here to apply for the job" he added, grinning widely and displaying his sharp little teeth.

"Well it is very late, so perhaps you'd like a bed for the night first Zabuza-san?"

"Yeah alright" he said and sneezed loudly

"And a warm bath?" the tall man shrugged "Oni, please find a room for Zabuza-san"

"Anou . . . Prince Haku?" the servant Oni whispered "the only bed we have available is the tower of mattresses, and we haven't time to take it down"

"Just put him in there then" Haku whispered back and smiled again "I hope you'll join us for breakfast Zabuza-san?" he asked the man who was currently dripping all over the priceless rugs in the entrance hall.

Zabuza sniffed "yeah alright I haven't eaten in a while"

Haku smiled politely and Zabuza was led off to his bath and bed.

oooOOOooo

The next morning Haku and his mother the queen were sat quietly at the breakfast table when Zabuza was shown in.

"Good morning Zabuza-san. I hope you slept well?" Haku murmured absentmindedly.

"Not at all!" Zabuza declared and Haku's head jerked upwards in surprise, his chocolate eyes wide. "I was restless the whole night and when I woke up this morning I was bruised all over" Haku exchanged a stunned look with his mother "and no offence meant your majesties, but you shouldn't skimp on the heatin' of all things – that room was freezin! I hate to think how you two shrimps might have been in there"

Haku and his mother said nothing for a while, but then his mother whispered "you did say no matter who they be . . . and he passes the test"

Haku nodded and put his fork down gently. "Zabuza-san?" he murmured and the man raised his head, mouth filled with breakfast meats "I have a somewhat awkward question to ask you . . ."

And so they all lived happily ever after . . . right?

OWARI!