A Strange Twist of Fate

Part 2

About an hour after Kisshu and Pai went to do homework, Yuki came back with a large bag. "What's in there?" Ichigo asked curiously.

"I found some clothing for you, and a new stuffed animal," Yuki said, smiling. She took a stuffed cat-like toy out of the bag, and Ichigo said, "It's so cute! Thanks Aunt Yuki!"

"You're welcome," Yuki said. "Let's go see if the clothes I got you fit, okay?"

"Okay," Ichigo said. She followed Yuki to a bedroom, and Yuki closed the door, turning on a light.

"Alright, take off what you've got on," Yuki said. Ichigo obeyed as Yuki pulled out a pair of white leggings and a pink dress. She handed Ichigo the leggings, and Ichigo pulled them on. Then Yuki pulled the dress over Ichigo's head, and asked, "How does that feel?"

"It's really comfy," Ichigo said.

"Good," Yuki said, smiling. "I got you two more pink dresses, one red, and three blue, and they're all the same size, so I think we're good to go. I also got you some pajamas and underwear, socks, and a pair of boots. I think you should try the boots on."

"Okay," Ichigo said. Yuki handed her the boots, and she put them on. "These fit really well," Ichigo said happily.

"I'm glad," Yuki said. "Will you come help me with dinner?"

"Sure," Ichigo replied, and followed Yuki to the kitchen.

~XXXX~

Meanwhile, in Tokyo, Japan: A man slammed his fist down on his desk. "Go get Akasaka and the Shirogane kid," he snarled at his secretary. Scared, the woman ran out, returning ten minutes later with a tall man with long brown hair, and a young boy with neon yellow hair. "The aliens found the tracking chip," the man at the desk said without preamble. "And it's been destroyed."

"And the girl?" the boy with yellow hair asked.

"She's alive, but that's all we know," the man said. "The last bit of footage was of an alien apparently healing the injury he created by taking the chip out. But this means they know we sent her."

The man with brown hair looked worried, and asked, "Do you think they'll attack us?"

"I'm not sure, but even if they don't, they'll be prepared if we go through with the invasion," the man behind the desk said. "I'm not so sure this was a good idea."

"If we use the portal, they won't be able to detect us until it's too late," the boy said. "They may be able to sense ships coming, but a portal set in a remote location won't attract attention, and we can send as many people as we want."

"Remind me again why we're trying to take over a planet that's dying?" the man behind the desk asked.

"We have the means to restore it to life; we just need to eliminate the inhabitants first," the boy said. "They would never agree to let another race live with them."

"How do you know that for sure?" the man behind the desk asked. "If we have the means to restore their planet, maybe they'd let us live there."

"They're evil," the boy said. "And you've seen what happens to people who study their way of life; they killed my parents simply for being curious about another culture. They're not human, so don't think of them that way."

"Judging by what we've seen, they act like humans," the man behind the desk commented. "I've seen no evidence that they're evil. I know you want revenge for your parents, but until I see proof that they're evil monsters, this project is discontinued. I'm not sending my men into a situation where they could get hurt or killed if I don't have to."

"What are we doing about the girl?" the man with brown hair asked.

"There's nothing we can do, considering the nature of her parents' deaths," the man behind the desk said. "We can't bring her back in any case; let the aliens deal with her. I don't think they'll harm a seven-year-old, no matter what Ryou may think."

The man with brown hair sighed as Ryou's eyes flashed, and said, "Ryou, he's right; we need actual proof that the aliens are going to attack before we can attack them."

"I'll find that proof, then," Ryou said. "I'm not going to rest until all of those rotten aliens are in hell where they belong."

The man behind the desk sighed and said, "You two should go; I have work to do."

Ryou left without a word; the man with brown hair bowed and followed him.

~XXXX~

Back on Cyniclonia: Ichigo was helping Yuki cook dinner, and she asked, "Why is there not a lot of food here?"

"This planet is slowly dying," Yuki explained. "It's getting harder to find food as it dies. Cyniclons used to live on Earth millions of years ago, and we still dream about living there."

"Why can't you?" Ichigo asked. "Don't you have a way of getting back?"

"With the humans there, I'm not sure it would work out," Yuki said sadly. "Not to mention from what I've heard, it's pretty polluted there."

"That part is right," Ichigo said. "I couldn't go outside much when I was little. Mommy said it wouldn't be good for me."

"Is there something wrong with your lungs?" Yuki asked.

"No, but I was born too early, and getting sick could have killed me, so Mommy didn't let me go out very much," Ichigo said. "I'm stronger now, though."

"That's good," Yuki said. "Oh look, the soup is done."

"Good, I'm hungry," Ichigo said.

"Will you go tell your brothers that it's dinnertime?" Yuki asked.

"'Kay!" Ichigo said happily, and ran off. She poked her head into Pai and Taruto's room, and found them and Kisshu in there. "It's dinnertime," she said when they looked at her.

"Yay!" Kisshu said. Pai smiled and picked up Taruto, and the boys followed Ichigo out to the dining room, where Yuki was setting the soup out. "Where's Uncle Hayako?" Kisshu asked.

"He called a while ago and said he'd be late; the Council summoned him," Yuki replied. "I'll set some soup aside for him."

"Okay," Kisshu said. He and Ichigo sat down, while Pai put Taruto in a high chair and then sat down. Then they started dinner.

Meanwhile, with Hayako: Hayako had been called to the Council room, and was currently waiting outside with the Council's messenger, Kia. Finally he was called in, and he walked to the center of the room, then went down on one knee. "You may rise," a woman said. As Hayako got to his feet, she said, "We called you here to talk about your new daughter. We're concerned about sending her to school, considering the fact the teachers there all teach the kids that humans are evil."

"Did you have an idea about that?" Hayako asked. "Yuki and I can't really homeschool her; we often get calls from the hospital during the day."

"We had an idea, but it's a bit unorthodox," a man on the Council said. "We would like you to ask Ichigo if it's okay to turn her into a Cyniclon."

"With all due respect, isn't that technically against the law?" Hayako asked.

"It would be if she was a Cyniclon, but considering the fact that she's human, I don't think it's a problem," the woman from before said. "There's nothing in our laws that states we can't experiment on humans or change them into Cyniclons."

"Alright," Hayako said. "I don't think she'll mind; she seemed to think teleporting looked fun, so it shouldn't be too hard to convince her."

"Good," the woman said. "Please inform us of what her powers are when you're done."

"Understood," Hayako said. He bowed and teleported out.

Landing in the living room, Hayako went into the kitchen, where he found Yuki and the kids finishing dinner. "Oh good, you're back," Yuki said. "What did the Council want?"

"They apparently want me to turn Ichigo into a Cyniclon; they're worried about school," Hayako said.

"That makes sense," Yuki said slowly. She looked at Ichigo, and asked, "Ichigo, is it okay if Hayako turns you into a Cyniclon?"

"Would I get to do that vanishing into a ripple of air thing?" Ichigo asked hopefully.

"Yes, and you'd get lots of other new abilities, including flying," Yuki said.

"Okay!" Ichigo said happily. "When are we doing this?"

"Tomorrow," Hayako said. "I'm hungry, and it'll be bedtime soon for you kids."

"Oh right, I saved you some soup," Yuki said. She went to reheat it, saying over her shoulder, "Kids, you can go play for a while."

Ichigo and Kisshu hopped off their chairs as Pai took Taruto out of his high chair. "What are we playing?" Ichigo asked.

"I'm going to go read," Pai said, and headed off, ignoring Kisshu's comment of, "Bookworm!"

When Kisshu and Ichigo turned back to Taruto, they noticed he looked sulky. "What's wrong, Taruto?" Ichigo asked.

"Want plants," Taruto said sulkily.

"Plants?" Kisshu asked, puzzled. "Why do you want plants?"

"Play!" Taruto said.

"You can't play with plants; you'll hurt them," Kisshu said. "Would you like us to read you a story instead?"

Taruto didn't respond; instead he put a hand on the floor, then made a pulling motion. A thick, wavy stalk popped up, and a large flower and some leaves sprouted on it. Two of the leaves reached out, and picked up Taruto, who giggled. "AUNT YUKI!" Kisshu and Ichigo screamed.

Yuki and Hayako came running, and their jaws dropped when they saw the flower thing, which was cuddling Taruto, who was giggling happily. "Where did THAT come from?" Yuki asked.

"Taruto somehow created it," Kisshu said. "It doesn't feel dangerous… maybe it's Taruto's new friend?"

"Great…." Yuki sighed. "We can't keep that thing in the living room…"

Hayako sighed too, and said, "I guess we'll have to destroy it; I don't want a plant monster in the living room floor."

Apparently the plant monster heard him, because it hissed at him. Hayako sighed and snapped his fingers. Taruto disappeared and reappeared in his arms, and then he snapped his fingers again. The plant monster went up in smoke, and Hayako said, "That should do it. What should we do about Taruto's powers, though? He's obviously unable to control them very well, and he's too young to understand that he can't use them."

"I can put a block on them, but is that a good idea?" Yuki asked. "Aren't there other plant users who could teach him?"

"At age two? Probably not," Hayako said.

Yuki sighed and said, "Alright, I'll put a block on Taruto's plant powers until we can find a way to teach him how to use them." She took Taruto out of Hayako's arms, and carried him off.

Hayako looked at Kisshu and Ichigo, and said, "I think it's bedtime."

"Aww…." Kisshu and Ichigo said together. Hayako gave them stern looks, and Kisshu sighed. "Did you put a futon in our room for Ichigo?" he asked.

"Your aunt did," Hayako said. "Come on, you two."

The kids sighed, and Ichigo followed Kisshu to their room. She found pink pajamas on one of the two futons, and took her boots off, then began to undress. She put the pajamas on, and looked over at Kisshu, who was also in pajamas. "Night," he said.

"Night Kisshu," Ichigo said, climbing under the covers on her futon. Hayako came in as Kisshu settled down too, and said, "Sleep tight, you two."

"'Kay…." Kisshu and Ichigo said sleepily. Hayako smiled and turned out the light as they fell asleep.

Here's Chapter 2, minna! I know it's a bit boring, but tell me what you think; I'm taking requests for what should happen next!