Linked Paths

Arc II - Many Firsts [Chapter 2: Dates]

She runs all her fingertips over the palm of my hand. As it tickles a little, my hand twitches slightly.

Fortune teller Nunnally: "Ah, mhm...", *grins*, "A fine young sir we have here."

"Thank you, lady Nunnally.", I play along.

She's good.

Fortune teller Nunnally: "Surely the young sir is now eager to find out what the future holds for him in love?"

"Uhn, my feet carried me here for exactly that reason, young lady.", I grin because I'm having a lot of fun right now, although I'm aware that what she's about to "reveal" to me is not something she really "foresees". Nevertheless, my romantic heart is curious and wonders what she will pick out of her repertoire. Probably something like "The young sir has already found his soulmate. And he's very close." I giggle inwardly. Well, she certainly can guess that the one I came in with must be my date or alike.

Fortune teller Nunnally: *nods*, "Then, I will ask the voices for you. But be warned, young sir, the things they show me are not always what you want, but what you need."

She has to say that to avoid you asking your money back, guaranteed.

"I'm aware of that.", I reply.

Fortune teller Nunnally: "Good."

She then runs the fingertips of just her index and middle finger over my lifeline. She repeats this a few times until she all of a sudden tears her eyes open in shock, revealing that she is indeed blind. Yet her milky irises disappear behind her eyelids just as quickly as they were shown to me. I don't have time to process this information properly, as her face suddenly looks very sad, and I am grasped by a queasy feeling.

Fortune teller Nunnally: "Oh young sir, I'm afraid I see a dark path right in front of you."

"Oh?", I respond, taken aback. I was expecting a lot of things, but not this. Wasn't she supposed to tell me something positive? So, her warning wasn't just a set phrase?

Fortune teller Nunnally: "Colors...", *furrows brow in concentration*, "I see colors."

Colors? What does she mean?

I listen to her spellbound as she continues to travel up and down my lifeline.

Fortune teller Nunnally: "Oh...", *looks like struggling with her emotions*, "Be careful of the colors brown...and black.", *pauses, probably to interpret the 'voices' for a moment*

Something about this situation feels somehow eerie. As if she could foresee for real.

Fortune teller Nunnally: "They bring you much misfortune and pain...but," *short pause again then smiles*, "Ah, yes...Red. I see different shades of it, they're good colors. Red will bring you luck."

Then she releases my hand. And I don't quite know how to deal with what I've just been told.

Fortune teller Nunnally: "Young sir, there are many stones you have to overcome. You will lose, you will win. But you will find true happiness in love."

She's waiting for me to say something.

Well, I was kind of expecting something else, but at least I'm supposed to find my true happiness.

"Is my love close by?", I ask carefully.

Fortune teller Nunnally: *nods*, "Your paths have already crossed."

I knew it! Tamamushi and I will be happy together! I smile because the romantic in me is satisfied.

Fortune teller Nunnally: *smiles too*