VF Oneshot: Written in the Stars
Title: Written in the Stars
Pairing: A x A (implied only)
Rating: PG13?
Warnings: Takes place outside canon and immediately precedes Chapter 1. There's an OC in it as well.
Disclaimer: I don't own VF. This is fanfiction, written for fun, not profit.
“Hey Aki!”
Takato waved to his friend, who looked ready to pass out after eight hours of photographing little kids, their parents and other participants of this posh international school’s annual fair.
“Thanks, man.”
Akihito took the family-size bucket of soda from his friend and took a gulp.
“Phew... What a day! Eh, where’s Kou?”
“He saw a pretty girl at the popcorn booth and decided to hang out there. Let’s go get Michi. We can pick him up on the way out.”
“OK. Where is she?”
“At the fortune teller’s booth, where else?”
“Ha ha!”
Akihito laughed at the expression on his friend’s face. Takato’s girlfriend, Michi, like most girls he knew, was a fan of astrology and all things mystic. He got today’s gig through her, a member of the school’s administrative staff, and he suspected that she also had a hand in bringing in a fortune teller.
The two young men rounded a corner and were greeted by a large sign advertising: “World Famous Psychic & Fortune Teller Madam Morgana. Come Inside and Have Your Future Told. Only Y1000!”
“Hi honey! ” Michi stuck her head out and gave them a huge smile. “Hi Aki. Are you done? Good, good, come in and have Madam Morgana predict your future. My treat!”
“Er..”
Akihito hesitated but Takato egged him on with an arm-poke.
“It only takes a few minutes!” Michi said. “Come on! You’re the last customer of the day!”
“Michi and I will go get Kou. That guy can’t be left alone. See you out here in a few minutes!”
With that the couple was gone. Akihito let out a little sigh and pushed open the dark velvet curtain serving as the door to the makeshift fortune-telling parlor. Inside he found a middle-age Caucasian lady in a velvet dress and sixties hairstyle seated behind a little desk with a crystal ball and a deck of cards.
“Welcome, young man. Madam Morgana is here to tell you what the future holds! Tell me what you want to know!”
Relieved to hear fluent, if accented, Japanese, the photographer put down his camera bag and gingerly sat down on the rickety little chair across from Madam Morgana.
“Hi. I...er...I don’t really have a question...”
“No questions?” The fortune teller leaned over the desk, her smile turning into a frown. “You are not curious about your own future?”
“Well, it’s not that.” Akihito shifted uneasily in his chair. “I just... just can’t think of any questions.”
“Ah!” Madam Morgana clapped her hands together, giving her reluctant customer a better look at the multitude of rings on her plump fingers, which ended in inch-long nails painted the same deep-purple shade as her dress. “Then let me be your guide. Give me your hand. No, no, your left.”
Holding his left hand in both of hers over the crystal ball, Madam Morgana closed her eyes and moved her lips silently. After a minute, she opened her eyes again and let out a deep sigh as she let go of his hand.
“I see...” She squinted as if trying to see more clearly, though the photographer could see nothing in the somewhat cloudy crystal ball. “I see a lot of adventure in your future. And danger. You’re a thrill seeker by nature, and you tend to be overly bold and defiant. If you’re not careful, you might find yourself in a situation beyond your control.
Akihito leaned a few inches closer as the lady opened and closed her eyes dramatically.
“I also see a man-a very, very powerful man with a dark aura about him. Reminds me of a dragon, powerful and ruthless. He is going to come into your life and completely dominate it. I see a lot of tension between the two of you, but also... Are you gay?”
“Huh---what? No! Of course not!” Akihito’s eyes nearly popped out of his head. “What kind of question is that?”
“Alright, if you say so.” The fortune teller sighed. “My crystal ball has never let me astray before... But never mind.”
She picked up her deck of cards and swiftly shuffled it, then handed him the whole deck.
“Close your eyes and pick three cards. Any three.”
Intimidated by the solemn expression on her face, the photographer meekly did what he was told.
“Ah, here he is again!” Madam Morgana exclaimed. “You say you’re not gay, but I keep seeing this man in your future. A man who will dominate you body and soul, who will open the door to a lot of adventure for you. Including the sexual kind. There is also another man, younger, but also very strong. I see a kind of...love triangle. There will be a fight, a battle really, involving the three of you. Perhaps the two of them will fight over you, or you and this other man here will duke it out over the Dragon Man...”
“Excuse me.” Finally finding his voice, Akihito held up both hands and tried to smile. “This has been very entertaining but-“
“But you are not convinced.” The fortune teller gave him a frosty smile. “You are not the first skeptic to come in here, so don’t worry that you’ll hurt my feelings. But let me tell you something, young man, this crystal ball never lies and nor do these cards-“
“Hey, I’m not saying they do, or you either.”
The photographer grabbed his bag and started to rise but the woman stopped him with a flick of her be-ringed hand.
“It’s not my job to try and convert you, but as a practitioner of an ancient craft with a strict code of conduct, I have a duty to inform you of what I see in your future.”
“I appreciate that but-”
“Perhaps I offended you when I referred to your sexuality, but I was simply speaking candidly. You cannot change what’s written in the stars, but you can prepare for it.”
“Alright, Ma’am-”
“Sit down.” It was a command, not a request. “Tell me the date and time of your birth.”
Akihito told her and sat watching as she swiftly drew up a chart for him on a piece of parchment.
“I was right!” She looked up triumphantly. “It is written in the stars. Tell me, have you ever been hit on by other men?”
“Uhmmm, maybe a couple of times.” I don’t suppose being molested by rush-hour train gropers counts as being hit on, or does it? Thought the young man uneasily.
“It’s very obvious from your chart.” She pointed out cryptic symbols on the parchment. “People born under your sign are very attractive to members of their own sex, and in their relationships they tend to play the role of the pursued, not the pursuer. Thanks to the extraordinary planetary alignment at the time of your birth, you will find yourself pursued by an avatar of the Phallic God Priapus.”
“The what?”
“You know what a phallus is?”
“Umm, yeah...”
“There seems to be a lot of that in your future.”
“A lot of phallus?”
The woman nodded sagely.
“It could simply mean you’ll enjoy a very active sex life.”
“Well, that doesn’t sound at all bad.”
“Well..." The fortune teller gave him a rather wistful smile. “That’s one thing you can certainly look forward to.”
“Haha...” Given my track records, any sex at all would be an improvement, thought the photographer as he gathered up his bag. “This has been... interesting, but I gotta go meet my friends now.”
“Alright then. Just remember what I said.”
“Lots of adventure.” The young man smile. “And danger, so be careful.”
“Yes. Do be careful. Good-bye.”
“Bye”
Leaving the booth, Akihito spotted his friends sitting on a bench and hurried to join them.
“Hey Aki, how was your reading?"
"Ugh..." AKihito made a face. "Nothing to write home about"
"Are you sure you don’t want to go to the movies with us?”
“I can’t. I’m on stakeout duty tonight.”
“Is it a movie star?” Michi asked eagerly.
“No. Not a movie star.”
“Why are you being so cryptic?” Protested Kou. “Do tell.”
“It’s not someone you guys would know. He’s a bad guy and I’m trying to nail him.”
“That sounds pretty dangerous.” Michi suddenly looked very worried. “Be careful, OK?”
“Hey, don’t worry. It’s the bad-ass dude that ought to be worried, with me on his tail.”
“Yeah, yeah, Mr. Ace Investigative Reporter,” said Takato. “Let’s go eat or we won’t make it to the 8pm show.”
“Alright, let’s go!”
By the time they reached their destination, Akihito had pushed out of his mind the strange predictions he had received and the woman who delivered them. He had no way of knowing that, back in the fortune-telling booth, Madam Morgana was once again gazing in her crystal ball and becoming rather absorbed by what she saw. So much so that she kept going back to certain scenes over and over. When the fair’s organizers came to her booth to inform her they were closing up, they found her slumped in her chair, face flushed and barely able to speak. They blamed the long hours in that stuffy little booth and were relieved to see her recover after a few minutes in the open air. Only Madam Morgana knew that she had experienced the equivalent of multiple manga nosebleeds while looking at what the future had in store for her last customer of the day, a young photographer in pursuit of a big story who was about to become ensnared by the object of his pursuit.
If only I could take that boy’s place, I’d die a very happy woman, the fortune teller thought glumly as she made her way home to her cats.
-End-
Pairing: A x A (implied only)
Rating: PG13?
Warnings: Takes place outside canon and immediately precedes Chapter 1. There's an OC in it as well.
Disclaimer: I don't own VF. This is fanfiction, written for fun, not profit.
“Hey Aki!”
Takato waved to his friend, who looked ready to pass out after eight hours of photographing little kids, their parents and other participants of this posh international school’s annual fair.
“Thanks, man.”
Akihito took the family-size bucket of soda from his friend and took a gulp.
“Phew... What a day! Eh, where’s Kou?”
“He saw a pretty girl at the popcorn booth and decided to hang out there. Let’s go get Michi. We can pick him up on the way out.”
“OK. Where is she?”
“At the fortune teller’s booth, where else?”
“Ha ha!”
Akihito laughed at the expression on his friend’s face. Takato’s girlfriend, Michi, like most girls he knew, was a fan of astrology and all things mystic. He got today’s gig through her, a member of the school’s administrative staff, and he suspected that she also had a hand in bringing in a fortune teller.
The two young men rounded a corner and were greeted by a large sign advertising: “World Famous Psychic & Fortune Teller Madam Morgana. Come Inside and Have Your Future Told. Only Y1000!”
“Hi honey! ” Michi stuck her head out and gave them a huge smile. “Hi Aki. Are you done? Good, good, come in and have Madam Morgana predict your future. My treat!”
“Er..”
Akihito hesitated but Takato egged him on with an arm-poke.
“It only takes a few minutes!” Michi said. “Come on! You’re the last customer of the day!”
“Michi and I will go get Kou. That guy can’t be left alone. See you out here in a few minutes!”
With that the couple was gone. Akihito let out a little sigh and pushed open the dark velvet curtain serving as the door to the makeshift fortune-telling parlor. Inside he found a middle-age Caucasian lady in a velvet dress and sixties hairstyle seated behind a little desk with a crystal ball and a deck of cards.
“Welcome, young man. Madam Morgana is here to tell you what the future holds! Tell me what you want to know!”
Relieved to hear fluent, if accented, Japanese, the photographer put down his camera bag and gingerly sat down on the rickety little chair across from Madam Morgana.
“Hi. I...er...I don’t really have a question...”
“No questions?” The fortune teller leaned over the desk, her smile turning into a frown. “You are not curious about your own future?”
“Well, it’s not that.” Akihito shifted uneasily in his chair. “I just... just can’t think of any questions.”
“Ah!” Madam Morgana clapped her hands together, giving her reluctant customer a better look at the multitude of rings on her plump fingers, which ended in inch-long nails painted the same deep-purple shade as her dress. “Then let me be your guide. Give me your hand. No, no, your left.”
Holding his left hand in both of hers over the crystal ball, Madam Morgana closed her eyes and moved her lips silently. After a minute, she opened her eyes again and let out a deep sigh as she let go of his hand.
“I see...” She squinted as if trying to see more clearly, though the photographer could see nothing in the somewhat cloudy crystal ball. “I see a lot of adventure in your future. And danger. You’re a thrill seeker by nature, and you tend to be overly bold and defiant. If you’re not careful, you might find yourself in a situation beyond your control.
Akihito leaned a few inches closer as the lady opened and closed her eyes dramatically.
“I also see a man-a very, very powerful man with a dark aura about him. Reminds me of a dragon, powerful and ruthless. He is going to come into your life and completely dominate it. I see a lot of tension between the two of you, but also... Are you gay?”
“Huh---what? No! Of course not!” Akihito’s eyes nearly popped out of his head. “What kind of question is that?”
“Alright, if you say so.” The fortune teller sighed. “My crystal ball has never let me astray before... But never mind.”
She picked up her deck of cards and swiftly shuffled it, then handed him the whole deck.
“Close your eyes and pick three cards. Any three.”
Intimidated by the solemn expression on her face, the photographer meekly did what he was told.
“Ah, here he is again!” Madam Morgana exclaimed. “You say you’re not gay, but I keep seeing this man in your future. A man who will dominate you body and soul, who will open the door to a lot of adventure for you. Including the sexual kind. There is also another man, younger, but also very strong. I see a kind of...love triangle. There will be a fight, a battle really, involving the three of you. Perhaps the two of them will fight over you, or you and this other man here will duke it out over the Dragon Man...”
“Excuse me.” Finally finding his voice, Akihito held up both hands and tried to smile. “This has been very entertaining but-“
“But you are not convinced.” The fortune teller gave him a frosty smile. “You are not the first skeptic to come in here, so don’t worry that you’ll hurt my feelings. But let me tell you something, young man, this crystal ball never lies and nor do these cards-“
“Hey, I’m not saying they do, or you either.”
The photographer grabbed his bag and started to rise but the woman stopped him with a flick of her be-ringed hand.
“It’s not my job to try and convert you, but as a practitioner of an ancient craft with a strict code of conduct, I have a duty to inform you of what I see in your future.”
“I appreciate that but-”
“Perhaps I offended you when I referred to your sexuality, but I was simply speaking candidly. You cannot change what’s written in the stars, but you can prepare for it.”
“Alright, Ma’am-”
“Sit down.” It was a command, not a request. “Tell me the date and time of your birth.”
Akihito told her and sat watching as she swiftly drew up a chart for him on a piece of parchment.
“I was right!” She looked up triumphantly. “It is written in the stars. Tell me, have you ever been hit on by other men?”
“Uhmmm, maybe a couple of times.” I don’t suppose being molested by rush-hour train gropers counts as being hit on, or does it? Thought the young man uneasily.
“It’s very obvious from your chart.” She pointed out cryptic symbols on the parchment. “People born under your sign are very attractive to members of their own sex, and in their relationships they tend to play the role of the pursued, not the pursuer. Thanks to the extraordinary planetary alignment at the time of your birth, you will find yourself pursued by an avatar of the Phallic God Priapus.”
“The what?”
“You know what a phallus is?”
“Umm, yeah...”
“There seems to be a lot of that in your future.”
“A lot of phallus?”
The woman nodded sagely.
“It could simply mean you’ll enjoy a very active sex life.”
“Well, that doesn’t sound at all bad.”
“Well..." The fortune teller gave him a rather wistful smile. “That’s one thing you can certainly look forward to.”
“Haha...” Given my track records, any sex at all would be an improvement, thought the photographer as he gathered up his bag. “This has been... interesting, but I gotta go meet my friends now.”
“Alright then. Just remember what I said.”
“Lots of adventure.” The young man smile. “And danger, so be careful.”
“Yes. Do be careful. Good-bye.”
“Bye”
Leaving the booth, Akihito spotted his friends sitting on a bench and hurried to join them.
“Hey Aki, how was your reading?"
"Ugh..." AKihito made a face. "Nothing to write home about"
"Are you sure you don’t want to go to the movies with us?”
“I can’t. I’m on stakeout duty tonight.”
“Is it a movie star?” Michi asked eagerly.
“No. Not a movie star.”
“Why are you being so cryptic?” Protested Kou. “Do tell.”
“It’s not someone you guys would know. He’s a bad guy and I’m trying to nail him.”
“That sounds pretty dangerous.” Michi suddenly looked very worried. “Be careful, OK?”
“Hey, don’t worry. It’s the bad-ass dude that ought to be worried, with me on his tail.”
“Yeah, yeah, Mr. Ace Investigative Reporter,” said Takato. “Let’s go eat or we won’t make it to the 8pm show.”
“Alright, let’s go!”
By the time they reached their destination, Akihito had pushed out of his mind the strange predictions he had received and the woman who delivered them. He had no way of knowing that, back in the fortune-telling booth, Madam Morgana was once again gazing in her crystal ball and becoming rather absorbed by what she saw. So much so that she kept going back to certain scenes over and over. When the fair’s organizers came to her booth to inform her they were closing up, they found her slumped in her chair, face flushed and barely able to speak. They blamed the long hours in that stuffy little booth and were relieved to see her recover after a few minutes in the open air. Only Madam Morgana knew that she had experienced the equivalent of multiple manga nosebleeds while looking at what the future had in store for her last customer of the day, a young photographer in pursuit of a big story who was about to become ensnared by the object of his pursuit.
If only I could take that boy’s place, I’d die a very happy woman, the fortune teller thought glumly as she made her way home to her cats.
-End-