A/N: Sorry long time no update, but here it is!
Disclaimer: Not my characters, not my universe...Love Hina just basically doesn't belong to me.
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Extrapolated Flight
"Don't slouch Motoko." Tsuruko chided her gently, prodding a finger into the middle of her younger sister's back. The characteristically quiet girl jerked as if stuck with a cattle prod, and then straightened, continuing her brisk pace through the crowd.
"Hai, Ane-Ue." The roar of the crowd played in the background like white noise. Unsettled, Motoko grabbed the edges of her white gi and wrapped them closer to herself, seeking to hide herself away as she and Tsuruko moved towards the locker rooms to get ready for their first ever competition. Unless one counted that impromptu showdown fueled by pride that had taken place when Motoko had been at the tender age of five of course, but at this point, that particular event was irrelevant. The only thing that mattered, Motoko thought, was getting to the changing room, performing, and then getting out of the arena without humiliating herself.
"Hey....huuu...heh..guys! Wait..ack...up!" Kitsune's distinctive voice, one fourth rasp, and four fourths pent up sexual frustration, rang out across the arena, causing both Aoyama sisters to groan and turn. From about five yards behind them, the crowd of people moving towards their seats suddenly began parting, and Kitsune emerged from the throng like the Israelites from the Red Sea....if the Israelites bore any resemblance to a cross-bred mutated species of fox-lobster-puffer fish. And the abomination bore nearer to them, until she was once again caught up in all her sweat soaked glory. If at all possible, Tsuruko thought, Kitsune's eyes were even more narrow than usual.
"Oh trust me, it's possible." Motoko assured Tsuruko, causing her older sister to gasp in surprise. Clearly, Tsuruko hadn't thought she had voiced her thought out loud. Composing herself, she merely nodded, and resumed walking. Two more pairs of feet sounding on the cold concrete, one even and balanced, and one unsure and frantic, convinced her that Motoko and Kitsune were following closely behind. Well, at least Motoko was close behind.
"Kitsune, you really must get in shape." Motoko's slightly deep, warm voice chided the older girl, and Tsuruko could just imagine her younger sister's brown eyes staring at the pale Kitsune.
"Awww come on, 'Toko! First I lose my booze, and then you gotta make me exercise?! Correct me if I'm wrong, but methinks the Kendo girl is asking a bit much!" Kitsune's normally seductive voice was laced with a whining tone. The sake lover had been sober for a month now, according to herself, and though she was glad of the lifestyle change, the withdrawal was getting very trying for her. Five times now either Motoko or Tsuruko had had to grab an alcoholic beverage out of Kitsune's shaking grasp, and Motoko had made sure to check Kitsune's belongings before they had set out for the competition.
"You're wrong." Motoko stated firmly. "If you hadn't been drinking so much, you would have been in better shape, and therefore, I wouldn't have to make your lazy behind exercise." The young warrior emphasized her points with her fingers, making precise, efficient movements.
"Well, as I recall, 'Toko, you liked my 'lazy behind' well enough that one time when-"
"We're here." Tsuruko interrupted quickly, breaking off the rest of Kitsune's little anecdote, which without a doubt would have turned Motoko beet red with embarassment. Not that Tsuruko wouldn't have liked seeing Motoko blush, but she didn't think she could take the jealousy that would come of hearing about Kitsune's sexual activities with her little sister. 'Jealousy?' Tsuruko pondered, ' Who am I jealous of?'
The odor of stale sweat pierced her olfactory senses, cutting off any thought she might have had. Exchanging disgusted looks with Motoko and Kitsune, she plugged her nose and strode into the locker room.
The large space had low wooden benches screwed into the dirty gray concrete, vandalized over the years with graffiti varying in skill. Motoko's favorite as she scanned her surroundings was the stylized character 'Courage' on one of the least vandalized benches. Lockers lined the walls, painted a dark green color that was chipped away and showing a rust shade in places. Motoko sat on the bench that had caught her eye earlier, gi creating a barely audible swishing sound. A second swishing sound told her that Tsuruko had sat down, and Motoko's finely tuned senses told her Tsuruko was sitting in the bench opposite of her. Senses such as her eyes.
Motoko lost herself in a swirling pattern etched into the wood by her hand, staring into the whorls until it seemed as if they were moving with no start or end.
A locker slammed. Kitsune brushed her hands off. Motoko shot her a death glare, matched by one from Tsuruko. Kitsune sweatdropped, but then decided she had nothing to be sorry about and produced a relatively large duffle bag.
"Um, where did that come from?" Motoko asked.
Kitsune shot her a sparkling grin, complete with slightly puckered red lips. "The fox has her secrets."
Motoko snorted. "Mmhmm...so what does your all powerful secret," She indicated the lumpy bag. "contain?"
"I was getting to that before I was so rudely interrupted!!" Kitsune pouted.
A pink tongue stuck out and Kitsune was about to stalk over and jam her tongue down the beautifully displayed throat when a more mature voice interrupted.
"You two are like children." Tsuruko watched the interaction, for all intents and purposes looking bored, arms crossed over her robe.
Kitsune jerked back, and unzipped the duffle bag in an over the top motion, replete with flourishes and bows. Reaching inside, she produced two outfits, which she unrolled.
Two sets of Aoyama jaws dropped, and two sets of Aoyama eyes bulged.
"MITSUNE KONNO!!!"
Kitsune grinned again.
"Yes indeedy!"
The arena was never completely silent. Sometimes it roared with passion and excitement, and sometimes it faded to a dull buzz, but always there was some evidence of the audience it contained. Motoko, wrapping her arms around the dressing robe with trepidation, decided she didn't like it. Tsuruko appeared as calm as always, but secretly, she didn't enjoy it much either. The announcer's voice cut through the fading din on a fairly clear P.A system.
"A technically sound performance by the rookies from America, but the lack of artistry gives their performance a 4.6 overall. I really don't see much chance of this team going home with money tonight! In the lead we have a veteran team from Russia, and in second, we have the tenacious Canadians. Next to skate, a local team! Sisters from our own Japan, Motoko and Tsuruko Aoyama!!!!"
The crowd cheered as Motoko and Tsuruko made their way onto the ice. Through Kitsune's mechanizations, the rink was dark, and the audience saw only tall silhouettes gliding smoothly into place. Heartbeats marked the passage of time as the sisters waited in their starting poses.
The telltale beginning first beats of the song started, and the lights flashed on. The crowd gasped, and Motoko and Tsuruko began skating.
'Well I dated your big sister...'
Motoko almost tripped. 'KITSUNE!!!!!!' she screamed in her mind. She was clad in a sexed up red outfit that showed off her natural cleavage and the majority of her long legs, and that scheming wench had picked this song, out of all songs. With THOSE moves!!! The defrocked warrior groaned internally...when she got off this ice..
'And took her to the show...'
Tsuruko grabbed Motoko's hand easily and they began a foot pattern on the ice. It was a tricky maneuver, but they made it through without a hitch with Motoko's natural grace and talent shining through. The audience gave credit to Tsuruko though....it was hard to move like that in the tight leather pants and tailored jacket of the same material that Kitsune had her wearing. If Tsuruko were truly Elvis Presley, she would have been chafing something awful.
'She's mean and she's evil, like that little ole' boll weevil, guess I'll try my luck with you..'
Tsuruko seized Motoko and pulled her in seductively, until there was no space between them, leaning down to bring them both into a low dip where Motoko's long raven tresses brushed the ice. The audience applauded.
'But you been a growin', and baby it's been showin'...'
Motoko groaned at what came next. Her legs stopped pushing and she glided on the ice along the barrier in a straight line. Tsuruko was positioned in front of her with a wry, apologetic look upon her face. Motoko's shoulders on either side were covered with Tsuruko's warm hands.
'From your head down to your toes...'
The hands brushed their way down Motoko's front, swishing all the way down to the tops of her skates. 'Maybe we should have become a limbo team instead...' Motoko mentally groaned in arousal, and she could have sworn the audience groaned out loud with her.
'Little sister don't you, little sister don't you...'
Tsuruko and Motoko skated arms wrapped around each other, taking turns tossing the other a short distance into the air, where they spun and twirled.
'Little sister, don't you kiss me once or twice, then say it's very nice, and then you run....'
Motoko pushed off Tsuruko while her older sister dug the backs of her skates in, and skated away in the opposite direction. Instants later, Tsuruko was chasing after Motoko, Motoko deliberately slowing down to allow Tsuruko to catch up.
'Little sister, don't you do what your big sister done.'
Tsuruko seized Motoko from behind, and rather than execute an aikido throw as her senses screamed at her to do, Motoko whirled into Tsuruko, who dipped her again, but held it, her own face breaths away from Motoko's as the music ended. The air was cold, but the sisters felt warmer than comfortable. Oblivious to the charged atmosphere, the audience went wild, throwing themselves out of their seats and cheering wildly. A small bouquet of roses hit Tsuruko, but she didn't move. Motoko caught it off the bounce and cradled it, adding to the romantic appearance of the pose. Moments later, Tsuruko hoisted her younger sister up, and they skated off the stage, smiling widely as protocol demanded.
As soon as they were off the ice, Motoko threw off her skates in a very controlled rage, and began moving slowly towards Kitsune, who was sitting on a fold-up chair rinkside. Kitsune's eyes popped open, and sweat began to pour from her brow.
"Ummm...l-look Motoko, I can explain....ummmm see, I mean....uhhh, yeah it's like that!"
"Like...what?" Motoko ground each word out with deliberate menace, and her supple fingers began the trek towards Kitsune's exposed throat.....a hand on the warrior's shoulder was the only thing that saved Kitsune from a swift, painful death. Kitsune sighed in relief, earning a glare that would shrivel Hercules' nether parts off.
"Calm yourself Motoko, they are announcing our scores!"
And indeed, the same voice from before crackled over the loudspeaker, clearing his throat.
"Ahem...well...whew..that was...something else! Earning our only perfect score for the night, and giving us all something to dream about tonight, we have the Aoyama sisters!!!"
Motoko's jaw dropped as Tsuruko dragged her limp sister to the middle of the rink, where all the placed pairs were gathered.
"So," the announcer's congenially deep booming voice began, "how long have you two been skating as a team, and how many competitions have you had before this, and why haven't we heard about you before?"
"Well," Tsuruko began, clearing her throat slightly, her even contralto entrancing the captive audience. "we've been skating together as a team for about two months, and this is our first competition."
For the first time that night, the rink was completely silent.
"That explains a lot!" the announcer finally forced himself to speak. Then he turned to Motoko. "You two are a very good team. But you, Miss Aoyama, are something beyond amazing. Watching you skate, it's like watching God create the world." The man's voice was sincere, and Motoko was flabbergasted. She searched for an appropriate response.
"Um...Thanks?"
And so the legend began.
