TP-What to Prepare For[2 of 18][FanFic]
Twister
Chapter Two
-----------
Twister had just finished moving everything over to Nabiki's room
when she came in.
"Why did you _say_ that?" Twister blushed as she spoke.
"Well, it was likely to be either me or Mrs. Saotome." Nabiki
replied, unruffled by Twister's response.
Calming down, Twister sighed, "You're right. This is _not_ going
to be very comfortable though."
"Why, Twister! I thought you liked me." Nabiki raised an amused
eyebrow.
"I do! This is a little heavy right now though." She sighed again,
"At least I'll be in girl form all the time."
"More's the pity." Seeing Twister's face blush even more, she
laughed. "It won't be _that_ bad. Besides, you can practice magic while
you're like that."
"Hmm. True. I _did_ want to work on a few things. Like clothing
that will adjust to me when I change. That would be a plus." Twister
chuckled, "And for Ranma too." She turned to Nabiki. "Would you
mind helping me with that project? I've never been big on fashion."
Nabiki's eyes gleamed. "Work on something magical for clothing?
_This_ I _have_ to be a part of, since you'll be wearing it."
"Well, no time like the present." Twister selected some of her own
clothes. "We'll work with _this_ first, I guess..."
It was lunch before Nabiki and Twister finished one complete set of
clothing. You could tell it was magical...if you really looked at it.
The others at the table gaped a little when they saw Twister come down.
Twister had decided on color-coding this particular set of clothing.
A rich purple material made up shirt and pants. The top was the same shade
of purple as the pants. It fit well on her body and was very versatile for
it didn't restrict movement at all. The shoes matched the pants in color
and seemed to absorb light with their purpleness. It seemed that the
material shimmered a bit and a blue tinge lurked within the material,
hidden but sensed.
Twister had also added a few..._features_ that were not visible.
"Those clothes are _very_ nice, Itazuka. Very striking. It suits you
well." Mrs. Saotome commented with an approving eye.
"Thank you, Auntie Saotome. I like it too."
Nodoka smiled warmly at the title.
"When did you get _that_?" Akane said, eyeing the material.
"A _little_ while ago. Nabiki helped me get it," Twister grinned,
"though I talked with Ranko before deciding about it."
Ranma-chan silently inquired with an eyebrow and Twister answered
with a brief nod.
"But you really shouldn't wear something new like that to eat,"
Kasumi said, distressed.
"Oh, I wouldn't put much worry to that. I made sure something like that
wouldn't happen with this."
"Really? How did you do that?" Mrs. Saotome inquired curiously.
"I have a few talents." Twister smiled mysteriously.
Mrs. Saotome smiled and nodded. "I guess we all do."
Later, Twister got Ranma-chan to go to Ukyou's together.
"I'll show you there." Twister chuckled on the way, guessing the
question that was on Ranma-chan's mind.
When they entered, Ukyou smiled at them both. "Hi, Ranma! Hi,
Twister! Why are you both like that?" She looked at the pair and had to
smile. "You look very cute together," Ukyou chuckled.
"Thanks, Uc-chan." Ranma-chan sourly said.
"Ah, well. Notice the new duds?" Twister pointed to herself.
"I did. They look impressive. Where did you get those?" Ukyou
examined the clothing from where she stood.
"Made 'em with Nabiki's help. They fit my special needs for clothes.
Can I borrow some hot water to demonstrate?"
Ukyou looked puzzled, but complied and handed Twister the
requested liquid.
"I'll just duck in back and be right out." Twister smiled as she
disappeared behind a curtain that separated the kitchen from the dining
area. A few moments later, Twister came back out in male form, looking very
different. He was now in a similar style of suit, but one of a deep blue
color that hinted at purple. It fit this form perfectly too.
Ukyou gasped and then applauded. Ranma-chan looked at the altered
garments with a happy look.
"That's amazing! You _must_ have used magic." Ukyou exclaimed.
"Uh, huh. Only way to do this without a whole bunch of problems and
it fits in _both_ forms, which makes it great," Twister grinned. "I'll do
some for Ranma soon. I need to find out how to make it permanent though.
Right now this thing would only last a month if I didn't recharge it. But
that's a reasonable time."
"Any other surprises?" Ukyou smiled.
"Of course! You doubt me?" After those words, Twister started floating
up.
Ranma-chan wasn't impressed. "So what's the big deal? You've flown
before."
"True...but I'm not flying by my own power now."
"You mean you can fly using _that_?" Ranma-chan gaped.
"Yup. Now I can fly in both forms. Also, it's stain and water proof.
It uses a thin film of air to protect it _and_ its practically unrippable."
Twister bowed in mid-air. "Anything you ever wanted in clothes in one package.
I'll likely need every feature."
"Wait a minute! Aren't you immune to magic?"
"Yes...but me and Nabiki accidently found out that I could control
the flying part of the enchantment as a guy. I must be broadcasting my
commands and the suit picks them up because the magic isn't being worked
_on_ me." Twister frowned slightly, "Though as a girl I'm affected by the
flight spell as well. Just the clothes fly when I'm male. Pinches a bit."
"The size changes are all I need though." Ranma-chan said.
"You sure?"
"Of course I am! Why would I need..." Her voice trailed off as
Ranma-chan realized how many shirts, and occasionally pants, she had gone
through in the past few months alone. "Um... Maybe I will after all, but
not the flying part."
"Sure thing. I had a feeling you would want the other options." Twister
grinned and came back down to earth. "I'll need some cold water now. Ranma's
mother is visiting and she saw me in female form first. We are now
officially twins."
Ukyou's eyes widened in realization. "So that's why you were both like
that!" She turned sad eyes on the now depressed Ranma-chan. "Poor Ranma. I'll
get that water for you, Twister. And some okonomiyaki for Ranma!"
Ranma-chan brightened visibly as Ukyou went into the kitchen.
*She definitely knows how to cheer Ranma up.* Twister inwardly smirked.
A few minutes later, the two almost look-alikes were walking back
home.
"When do you think your problem with your mother will be solved?"
Ranma-chan sighed. "I don't know. That stupid promise of Pop's
is the whole problem."
"I believe he's made a lot of those." Twister commented.
"Tell me about it." Ranma-chan growled.
"I don't think that..." Twister started, but was interrupted
by a shout behind them.
"Pig-tailed goddess!" A familiar voice called out.
"Oh, no." Groaned Ranma-chan as she turned around to face the
owner of the voice. Twister just chuckled and wisely kept facing forwards.
"Ah, my love! I have found you! I have walked many paths just to hear
your sweet voice tickle my ears with its vibrant tones of paradise calling."
Kunou was standing before Ranma-chan who had her eyes half-lidded
with resignation. Twister couldn't see this, but she could imagine and was
waiting for the inevitable sound of Ranma-chan sending Kunou into orbit.
Unhappily, Kunou asked, "But who accompanies you, fair one?"
*Oh, _no_. Please Life, don't do this to me.* Twister prayed.
It was unanswered. Kunou managed to slip around Ranma-chan and faced
Twister. He was a little surprised.
"What is this?! Has nature produced _two_ such flowers of the same
beauty? It must be so, for the generousness of Heaven is unbounded and I,
Tatewaki Kunou, the Blue Thunder of Furinkan High, is undoubtedly twice
blessed for such to occur."
About halfway though this, Twister put her hand on her face and
sighed long and deeply. This time Ranma-chan chuckled behind her.
*Oh, just great. Now Kunou might want to date me too. Just super.*
Twister wearily thought. *_Now_ what do I do?* Twister thought for a second
and decided to wing it. "So _you're_ Kunou." She said in a resigned voice.
"My fame precedes me!" Kunou grandly said.
"Actually, _she_ just told me about you," Twister replied while
nodding towards Ranma-chan.
Kunou naturally turned to Ranma-chan again. "Ah, my pig-tailed Venus.
You have told of my prowess with the blade to your lovely sister? And sister
she must be in order to have the same lustrous eyes and tho..."
POW! Kunou went flying as Ranma-chan hit him hard with her fist.
"I was wondering when you would do that," Twister grinned.
"I can only take so much from him," Ranma-chan growled. "We'd better
get out of this area or he'll find us again." She started running home.
Twister followed, not exactly eager to face Kunou again in this state.
Getting home, the two finally sighed. They were safe.
"When did you want to give me another lesson?" Twister asked
Ranma-chan.
"You want to?"
"Well, since I have to be this way anyway..." Twister shrugged.
Thinking about it, Ranma-chan nodded, "Sure. I did agree in any case.
I'd say in about an hour and a half."
"Ok. I'll find something to do till then." Twister smiled and went
up to her room.
Which had Mrs. Saotome in it. She was sitting and looking thoughtful.
"Whoops! I forgot!" Twister was embarrassed.
Nodoka smiled. "That's all right, dear. It's understandable."
Twister was about to close the door when she said, "Would you mind coming
in here and chatting for a while? I would like to talk to someone for a bit."
She smiled again.
Nervous, Twister nodded, "Um...sure." She went in and sat down
opposite Nodoka. "What did you want to talk about?"
"I gather you've just visited the Tendo's recently. I was just
wondering what you thought of Ranma when you've seen and talked to him."
Twister thought a bit before answering Nodoka, "I think he's a
pretty nice guy overall. A little clumsy around girls, but he's okay."
Twister mentally snorted to herself, *Like I'm any better than Ranma in
that department.*
Nodoka looked very happy. "I'm glad that you like my son. It
helps me in finding out how good of a man he is." Her expression turned
a little sad. "I have not seen him for so long you see."
The sadness in Nodoka's face generated sympathy in Twister for this
mother's plight, but as she knew about Genma's promise... Twister didn't want
to lose a friend if Nodoka wanted to hold the male Saotomes to it. *Wish
I could be sure...*
"Why haven't you?"
"My husband persuaded me that our son would be a much better
man and martial artist if the two of them trained together. Alone.
I only let him take Ranma away when he gave me his promise that he would
succeed, or else both he and Ranma would commit seppuku..." Nodoka pulled
out a long bundle and unwrapped it to reveal a very sharp looking sword.
"...with this blade."
Eyes fascinated by the blade, Twister nevertheless spoke up, "Ah...
How old was Ranma at the time?"
Wistfully, as she casually held the long sword, Nodoka said, "Seven.
It's been hard to not see my son for such time."
"Yeah. Pretty young to hold him to something like that though."
"Yes, that is true," Nodoka sighed. "But family honor is at stake
here," she mused out loud before Nodoka saw 'Itazuka' trying to hold back an
expression of disbelief. "Something wrong?" Nodoka smiled.
"But he's your son!" Twister blurted out.
"And I have not seen him for more than ten years." Regarding the blade
she held, Nodoka seemed to weigh it before going on. "My son was a fine
child before my husband took him training and I do not think he could have
changed so much that I, his mother, would be forced to use this blade.
Do you think I would have to?"
"Hardly."
Nodoka really smiled then, "I thought not. I once had a dream
about my son as I imagined him now. After that dream, I decided that,
whatever I thought of my son, this blade would not be used." Carefully
re-wrapping the sword, she went on, "Honor is important, but being a mother
is far more." Seeing Twister's face, Nodoka queried, "Are you all right?"
"Yes. Just something in my eye..."
--
==============================================================================
Darren Steffler a.k.a "Twister"- mail at <umst...@cc.umanitoba.ca>
==============================================================================