745/Accidental Slumber Party

Accidental Slumber Party
Date of Scene:	24 December 2015
Location:	Uminari City - Juuban Avenue - North
Synopsis:	Ayana sneaks into Ikiko's room late at night to talk about things. And when the talking is done, the pair fall asleep cuddling. Ikiko has to smooth things over with her parents in the morning, but luckily that doesn't take too much effort.
Cast of Characters:	Ikiko Hisakata, Ayana

---

Ayana has posed:
'Twas two nights before Christmas, and all through the house no Hisakata was stirring, not even Sleepwalking cousin Mao. The night was all quiet, and chill with no breeze, and dark clouds overhead cast their shadow in the trees. Ikiko is nestled, all snug in her bed, as visions of happy times dance in her head.

A thief steals its way towards the tree just outside: a little black fox with the talent to hide. It sneaks through the grasses and right up the trunk, and onto the limb with nary a thunk. It pads to the window and perches with care, then scratches and claws for attention just there!

Ikiko Hisakata has posed:
Ever since she became a magical girl, Ikiko noticed that she seems to have better dreams around the time of a full moon. More accurately, she's more aware of the correlation; the two have corresponded for a long time, but it was her first night as Tsukiko that made her start to notice.

With it being two days before the full moon, her dreams are pretty upbeat -- nothing that would really be coherent upon waking, but still filled with happiness. She vaguely remembers two snoozing canines, curled up together in a den, and that she was one of the two canines. The other was probably...

A scrabbling sound at the window wakes her up. Blinking in disorientation, three thoughts run through her head in sequence:

    how did the fox in my dream show up at my window?

    is this another 'dreaming but not' like the lycan locket?

    hey it's aya-chan!

Ikiko scrambles out of bed and opens her window as fast as she can gently do so. "Hi, Aya-chan!" she beams, holding her arms open invitingly.

Ayana has posed:
With the window opened, the black fox leaps in, gladly leaping into those inviting arms. The furry creature licks Ikiko's face once, twice, and then it changes. Growing rapidly, the fox becomes a girl--Ayana wraps her arms around Ikiko and hugs her close as she sits on the wolfgirl's lap.

"Hello, Iki-chan," she murmurs quietly as she rests her forehead against Ikiko's. "I'm sorry I woke you up."

Ikiko Hisakata has posed:
Yup, definitely not a dream! Ikiko huggles fox-Ayana when she jumps into her arms, then sits down during the kitsune's change before kissing human-Ayana in reply to the licks. "Waking happiness is better than a good dream," she smiles, rubbing her forehead against Ayana's as she nuzzles the foxgirl's nose.

She skritches Ayana between the ears, a happy smile on her face. "I'm glad to see you, Aya-chan," she murmurs.

Ayana has posed:
Ayana blushes at the kiss, as before, and reaches up to touch her lips with her hand. "Ikiko~" she murmurs quietly, then ducks her face down beside her friend's neck. For a moment she simply hugs the curse hunter, not saying anything further.

When she does recover from her startled embarassment, Ayana pulls away and pets Ikiko's hair, briefly, before saying, "We should talk. There's a lot I need to explain. And apologize for." She looks away again, then meets Ikiko's eyes. "Is it okay to do that now?" Pause. "Do you want me to move so I don't crush your legs?"

Ikiko Hisakata has posed:
"Yes to both," Ikiko nods. "It's easier for me to sit in your lap than the other way around. Well, other than when you're being a fox, of course."

She does hold onto one of Ayana's hands when the foxgirl moves, though -- she does enjoy the touch of her girlfriend, even in something as simple as holding hands. Easier to maintain a conversation like this, too.

Ayana has posed:
Ayana willingly shifts out of Ikiko's lap, and instead kneels on the bed beside Ikiko, facing her. She clutches Ikiko's one hand with both of her own, but carelessly gets her shoes on the poor wolfgirl's bed. So rude.

"I ... don't know where to begin," Ayana says quietly. "I said horrible things about you, the past few weeks. I told people you were evil. And that you were trying to take me from him." Ayana bites at her lip a moment, then explains, "I even asked him to kill me, because I was so overwhelmed."

Ayana sighs, just a little, then reaches up to pet Ikiko's cheek softly with her fingertips. "And now I'm still doing things that you would call awful. Hurting people, stealing their energy. I have to. If he asks me to do something I have to do it. And he asked me to do those things to draw out Magical Girls."

Ikiko Hisakata has posed:
Ikiko Hisakata reaches over with her free hand and gives Ayana a hug. "I remember feeling that massive amount of despair from you," she murmurs. "It was powerful, even at a distance. And the avalanche of darkness..."

She shakes her head. "I'm the one who should be sorry, for leading to you getting hurt so much," she whispers. "Love can be used to support, but others can use that support as a bludgeon instead."

She winces a bit at the mention of what the foxgirl is having to do. "I'm not sure how much I can help, except to comfort you," she admits, hugging the kitsune. Being drained of energy is no fun, although the cuddles she got last time helped her feel better. In fact...

"Does he require a certain number of victims, or a certain amount of energy?" she asks, something resembling an idea coming to mind.

Ayana has posed:
Ayana shakes her head sadly. "None of that, anymore," she explains quietly. "I can drain whomever I want, whenever I want, now." She sits back and crosses her ankles, then looks ashamed to one side. "Right now, I'm supposed to just create chaos so magical girls will come stop me. He wants me to record what they do so that he can gain more information on magic."

Ikiko Hisakata has posed:
"Ah," replies Ikiko. "Not something I can help much with, then." Odd as it may seem, she had been looking forward to offering some energy to Ayana to help out with energy quotas -- makes for a good excuse to snuggle afterwards!

"We could always... wait, no; it'd be too hard to get everyone to fight in ways that they usually don't," she sighs. False information might subtly slow Riventon's progress, but would not be feasible to set up.

She gives Ayana another hug, resting her head on the foxgirl's shoulder. "I can give you snuggles," she remarks. "Even if I can't help directly with your hiding mission, I can still do what I can to cheer you up."

Ayana has posed:
Ayana smiles at Ikiko, and lets go of her with one hand so she can pet the brunette gently. "I do like snuggles," she agrees quietly. "But listen, Ikiko, this isn't the worst part." She takes a deep breath, then lets it out slowly. "I've told you before that my brother can unmake me, I think. But I really need you to understand what that means. He can completely destroy me with a thought, if he wants. So hiding the fact that I'm fixed from him isn't a good idea. If he finds out, he's going to think I was betraying him. I don't know what to do."

Ikiko Hisakata has posed:
Ikiko Hisakata reaches up and gently rubs Ayana's ears. "I've started looking into the lore of similar things," she murmurs. "It's slow going; I'm having to sort what's actually similar from what's just coincidentally alike, and mostly it's just things that have small things in common."

Another sigh. "It'll be a while before I'll have enough ideas that might mossibly work," she admits. "Especially since we have to keep it a secret, which limits what I can do to learn from it."

Ayana has posed:
"Iki-chan, I don't have a while," Ayana tells her unhappily, even as she leans into the ear-pettings. "So ... I'll come here as often as I can, to spend what time I have left with you. But he's going to figure it out, and then he'll unmake me." Ayana sighs and puts her head on Ikiko's shoulder. "And then I'll miss you."

Ikiko Hisakata has posed:
"And I'd miss you, too -- which is why I'm going to do my best to find something that will help," Ikiko replies, kissing the top of Ayana's head. "That way, he won't be able to unmake you, and we can stay together after that with no worry."

Ayana has posed:
The kitsune sits silently for a moment, not sure what else to say to her newfound beloved. She eventually voices these thoughts aloud, "I just don't see what you could do. We'd have to convince him not to be the villain, anymore; to forgive me for betraying him, even on accident. I don't want to betray him. I love him. But I've done it anyways, because I also love you."

"Oh, Iki-chan," Ayana says softly. "I just don't think there's anything we can do. I'm sorry I got you into this. I wish we'd never met, so that you would be safe."

Ikiko Hisakata has posed:
Ikiko Hisakata hugs Ayana and kisses her tenderly. After several long moments, she breaks the kiss and smiles at the foxgirl. "Being a magical girl isn't about staying safe, Aya-chan," she reminds her. "It's about protecting people... and I will protect you, my beloved. For happiness -- for both our happinesses."

Ayana has posed:
Ayana's arms flail just a little at the sudden and unexpected kiss. Wide-eyed, her tails and ears all stick straight out, and she seems utterly uncertain what to do. But she refrains from breaking the kiss, and eventually manages to return it with slightly less flailing.

Her face is bright red when Ikiko stops kissing her, and her toes are curled tightly inside her boots. "O...okay," she says. Because how else do you respond to such a promise? "Just ... promise me you won't challenge him to a fight or something. He's really strong."

Ikiko Hisakata has posed:
Ikiko Hisakata nods. "I won't take him on like that," she promises. "This calls for the cunning of a fox, not the bravery of a wolf." She giggles and nuzzles Ayana's nose. "And you are a great inspiration for cunning, my lovely Aya-chan~"

Ayana has posed:
Ikiko's words only give Ayana more reason to blush, and the foxgirl slides of of her bed to pad away and explore the room. "Yeah, but ..." she trails off. "But I can't think of anything. And I'm the fox. So if I can't figure something out, how are you going to?" she asks. At least she's got her blush back under control.

Turning, she faces Ikiko and asks, "How can you beat him? I just don't ... see how it's possible without unbinding me from him. And then I'd just be a fox again. And he'd be very sad. I'd miss him as a fox. I'd miss you, too."

Ikiko Hisakata has posed:
"Sometimes a second perspective can come up with unusual solutions," Ikiko points out. "And an unusual solution can be more effective that an expected one, too. Don't give up, Aya-chan; I won't give up, either."

Something about what Ayana said stuck in Ikiko's mind. Unbinding the foxgirl would turn her into a fox, but not actually kill her. Also, Ayana cannot intentionally betray Riventon, which means she probably can't directly help in saving herself from him.

But stories often imply that it's easier to restore someone's form and abilities than it is to change them in the first place. Perhaps that will hold true here: once a kitsune, always a kitsune?

"Remember, I can talk to foxes," Ikiko smiles. "But one problem at a time -- first, protecting you from Riventon. Once we solve that, we'll have more time to figure out other things that need to be solved."

Ayana has posed:
Ayana sighs and closes her eyes. The poor foxgirl's ears droop to either side, and for a moment she just stands still, almost managing to become invisible in the middle of the moonlit room.

When she moves again, it is towards Ikiko, whom she wraps her arms around as she falls into the other girl and places her head against Ikiko's chest. She doesn't say anything; there really isn't anything left to say. So instead she just lets Ikiko bear the burden of her weight as she collapses against the werewolf.

Ikiko Hisakata has posed:
Ikiko Hisakata hugs Ayana and leans back, laying sideways across the bed with the foxgirl next to her. There's not much to say at the moment, but there's a glimmer of hope for the future.

Besides, she's currently cuddling with her girlfriend, and that's enough to bring a contented smile to her face in this moment.

She doesn't bother looking at the clock, but instead strokes the kitsune's hair, enjoying her close company for as long as Ayana can remain here.

Ayana has posed:
Ayana remains huddled up next to Ikiko for the better part of an hour. She nearly falls asleep there, before a thought occurs to her. "Hey, Iki-chan," she murmurs thoughtfully. "I know it's still a few days out, but ..." she trails off, then disentangles from Ikiko's arms. "Um," she reaches down into the little purse attached to her belt, and pulls out a small package. "I got you this," she says. "And there's another one here, for Reiko-chan." She pulls out a second paackage. Both are wrapped really poorly in Christmas paper. "Will you give it to her?"

Ikiko Hisakata has posed:
"I will," Ikiko promises with a sleepy smile, accepting both presents and putting them on her nightstand. "I have a Christmas present in mind for you, but it'll be easier to deliver during the day sometime after Christmas." At least she's confident that the kitsune will enjoy it!

Ayana has posed:
"In the day?" Ayana asks curiously, then tilts her head thoughtfully. "Okay. I guess ... I'll try to find you. I can't promise I will be able to." She swallows, then glances out at the night. "I should probably go," she says, as she lays back down next to Ikiko, laying her head on the other girl's shoulder.

Ikiko Hisakata has posed:
Ikiko Hisakata snuggles close to Ayana. "Just close the window when you do go," she murmurs, already starting to drift back to sleep. Cuddles with a loved one, a possible way to save her friend...

This should result in very sweet dreams!

Ayana has posed:
"Mmm," Ayana agrees quietly. But she doesn't rise to head for the window. Instead, she simply remains in Ikiko's arms, cuddled up close to the girl until they both fall asleep. In the morning, they're probably going to have some explaining to do when Ikiko's parents come to wake her.

Ikiko Hisakata has posed:
Happily snuggling with Ayana does lend itself to restful sleep, but between that and the interruption that led to it, it does mean that Ikiko wakes up slowly. At first it's just a case of wondering what that weird ringing in her dream is, then slowly realizing that it's her alarm clock. She blearily raises her head, trying to orient herself from her unusual angle on the bed.

Her eyes snap open when she realizes that the alarm has been ringing for ten minutes. Quickly sitting up, she flails over to the clock and turns off the alarm. Maybe her parents haven't noticed?

No such luck -- there's a knock at her door. "Are you waking up, Ikiko-chan?" comes the voice of her mother from just outside the room.

"Yes, mom!" Ikiko calls back, quickly putting a finger on Ayana's lips. "Just woke up a bit on the slow side!"

"Okay, then," her mother replies. "Just remember that breakfast will be ready soon, and it's your turn to help with the dishes!"

"Right~!" Ikiko calls back, then waits tensely as footsteps move away.

Ayana has posed:
Ayana's ears twitched at the first sound of ringing alarms, but the girl's laziness wins out over her desire for peace and quiet. So instead she just buries her face deeper into Ikiko's armpit and covers her other ear with her hand.

When Ikiko pulls her arm out from beneath her, Ayana yelps in surprise, and both eyes come open with a startled suddenness. She peers up at Ikiko as the girl crawls over her to reach the alarm. Voices at the door, and Ayana's being told to be quiet and the window is still open. She peers up at Ikiko, then stifles a giggle and nestles down under the covers.

"Breakfast smells tasty," Ayana notes. "I smell sausage and eggs. Ohhh I love eggs."

Ikiko Hisakata has posed:
Ikiko Hisakata pauses for a moment. It wouldn't feel right to send Ayana away without any food, especially when there's something she loves on the menu. But she can't just let Ayana walk down to the dining room, and trying to save some leftovers isn't quite practical. What to do...

An idea comes to mind. She quickly gets dressed, then kisses Ayana on the forehead. "I'll be right back," she smiles, then heads out of her room.

Walking down to the dining room, she spots her parents. "Mom, dad? Apparently Ayana had some trouble with her family last night, and she had to get away from them for a while, so she climbed up the tree and knocked on my window," she explains. True enough, even if not the full story. "She stayed overnight in my room, but she should be able to go home today." More like she should probably go home to avoid suspicion, but they don't need to know that! "I'll be keeping in touch with her in case she needs more help, but for now she's okay." Perfectly true. "Shall I call her down for breakfast?"

Her parents blink for a few moment. "Well, if she's okay for now, that's good," remarks her father. "And of course she may have breakfast. Did she say why she had to get away from her family?"

Ikiko shrugs. "I think it has to do with her brother being too controlling," she demurs. "It sounded like he's trying to control her life, but she didn't give many details. But she did promise to keep me informed, and if it's something too big for me to handle, I'll let you know."

A mix of truth and lies, but it sounds good to her parents. "Well, if it's not too bad at this point, I guess that's okay," her mom nods. "Go ahead and call her down for breakfast."

"Thanks!" Ikiko beams to her parents, then hurries back upstairs to her room. "Come on down for breakfast, Aya-chan! They're accepting of you being here, and they probably won't ask too many questions."

Ayana has posed:
Ayana blinks in surprise as she's called down, and hesitates for a very long moment. "Crap," she says, then reaches up to fold her ears down. "Umm," she glances at Ikiko, "They're going to sense me using magic," she whispers. "And I can't change form without doing so. So ... how do ... my ears?" And tails.

Ikiko Hisakata has posed:
"I don't think anyone else in my family can actually sense magic," Ikiko muses. "And the things that can detect magic only seem to work at noticing malignant magic, like active curses and such. So, it should be safe to hide your ears and tail using magic..."

A sudden grin. "...cute as they may be," she winks.

Ayana has posed:
Ayana gulps, then nods and reaches up to hide her ears and tails behind a glamour. Then she passes her hand over her whole body, and her clothes are swiftly exchanged for a simpler, more Christmasy dress and stockings. This leaves her shoeless, as is customary.

"Okay," she says, then pauses. "Still Night, are you still masking our location?"

"Jawhol," comes the reply from the little gem at her neck. Ayana smiles and reaches for Ikiko's hand as she heads for the doorway.

Ikiko Hisakata has posed:
Ikiko Hisakata smiles as she takes Ayana's hand as the two of them walk towards the dining room. The morning of Christmas Eve, spent with a loved one; today promises to be off to a good start!