View source for 1162/Of Mirrors and Hopes

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2016/03/06
|Location=Hisakata Residences
|Synopsis=Ayana returns home after the events of the cutscene 'Mirrors'. The sorrowful kitsune seeks snacks and comfort, both of which Ikiko is glad to provide.
|Cast of Characters=75,86
|Tinyplot=Power's Out
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:75|Ikiko Hisakata| (75)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Amid the darkness and ice of Kunzite's attack on Tokyo, Cute Wolf Tsukiko had done her best to rescue both people and dogs in the surrounding neighborhoods. It had been rough and not always successful, but there were some who still live thanks to her efforts tonight.<br /><br />But now, she's sitting on her bed at home, waiting for Ayana to return. They had split up to cover more ground, and the werewolf had been the first one to return home. Ikiko didn't mind; this meant that she could get the bag of jerky ready for her girlfriend.

:'''{{#var:86|Ayana Tasogare| (86)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>For a while, Cute Fox Inariko managed to do her part to help save people from the deadly cold and the creeping waves. She wanted so badly to be of help, and she knew that this was the kind of threat to Inari's own portfolio that she'd been granted these powers ''for''.<br /><br />But then she saw Kunzite.<br /><br />Inariko didn't manage to do much of anything heroic after that, as fear, and pain, and grief wracked her body. She cried, curled up in a little ball, on a rooftop by herself for nearly an hour after Sailor Moon restored the city with her escalation.<br /><br />Eventually, though, hunger won over grief, and there weren't many more tears to shed anyhow.<br /><br />The fox-girl lept her way home, but rather than coming in through the front, she instead landed on the roof.<br /><br />It's that noise: the little patter of her feet above, that Ikiko might hear first.<br /><br />On the roof, Inariko banishes her henshin, becoming Ayana once more. Her eyes are still puffy and red, her cheeks stained with tears. But she's not crying, now.<br /><br />Ayana drops down from the roof into the tree outside Ikiko's window, then leans forward to pull the window wide so she can climb in hopefully without Ikiko's parents noticing. She doesn't want to answer any questions, right now.

:'''{{#var:75|Ikiko Hisakata| (75)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Ikiko's phantom ears perk up when Inariko lands on the roof, and there's a warm smile on her face when Ayana climbs in through the window. "Welcome home, beloved," the werewolf murmurs softly to the kitsune.<br /><br />She walks over to give Ayana a hug and the jerky, and notices the foxgirl's tear-stained face. "What's wrong?" Ikiko asks quietly, her eyes full of concern. She still has the bag of jerky open in one of her hands, but her focus is on her girlfriend's emotions.

:'''{{#var:86|Ayana Tasogare| (86)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Ayana makes a soft noise of surprise when she is hugged before she even fully has a chance to finish getting to her feet. "W...ha," she mumbles, then hugs Ikiko right back as realization sets in. "Iki-chan," she whines clinging to her girlfriend tightly. "It was Saito-senpai. He was there. He was ... someone was ... and then they ... he's gone. They killed him. He's gone. Saito-senpai is gone!"

:'''{{#var:75|Ikiko Hisakata| (75)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Ikiko Hisakata blinks for a moment, then hugs Ayana tightly. The hand that isn't holding the jerky reaches up to skritch the kitsune's ears, and she gently rocks back and forth. "Go ahead and cry if you need to," she murmurs. "Grieve in whichever way feels best for you; I'm here to listen to and support you, beloved."

:'''{{#var:86|Ayana Tasogare| (86)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Ayana squeezes Ikiko tightly and shakes a little, then recovers and wipes her eyes on the wolfgirl's shoulder. "I did cry," she whimpers. "I cried so much. I didn't even help people once I saw him die. I couldn't help anyone esle. All I could think is how much he reminded me of myself. How much worse I'd be if you and Reiko hadn't saved me. And then I was so sad because no one saved ''him''. And ... and then there's Riventon. Who's going to save Riventon? I don't want him to die, Iki-chan."

:'''{{#var:75|Ikiko Hisakata| (75)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Ikiko Hisakata lightly kisses Ayana on the cheek. "I'm willing to help save him for your sake," she remarks. "But... it's going to be '''much''' harder than it was saving you. He's a lot stronger, and I'm not sure if any of my family's lore would help here. But I ''will'' help you as I can."

:'''{{#var:86|Ayana Tasogare| (86)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>"I know, I just ..." Ayana starts, then sighs. "I don't know ''how'' Iki-chan. I don't think he's going to be saved just because I love him. It's not ... the same for him. He was born this way, like a Youma. And I don't ... I don't know how to make it different for him. And if Saito-senpai were around he could help me figure it out. He's so smart and he was a lot like me and I think he could help. But without him, I don't know what to do."

:'''{{#var:75|Ikiko Hisakata| (75)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Ikiko Hisakata gives Ayana another hug. "The only idea that I have is to find someone about as clever as he was, and ask them for help," she admits with a sigh. "Which... probably won't be easy. Clever, and aware of magic, and willing to help... well, it at least gives us an idea of the type of person to look for."

:'''{{#var:86|Ayana Tasogare| (86)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>"I don't know if that would work," Ayana mumbles quietly. "Cause they also have to understand dark energy like he does, and ..." she trails off, then flops down on the bed and kicks her feet up into the air. "Konnnnnnn," she whines out in a most foxy noise of despair. Kicking her shoes off, she catches them as they fall from her stockinged feet, then drops them to the side. "I'm gonna lose him, too," she says unhappily.

:'''{{#var:75|Ikiko Hisakata| (75)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>"But we're not going to give up, are we?" Ikiko replies, sitting next to the kitsune. "We can try any ideas that we might have, and maybe one of them will work, and maybe none of them will, but as long as there's even the slimmest chance of success, it's better than giving up without trying."<br /><br />She gives Ayana another kiss on the cheek, then starts skritching the kitsune's ears again. "I think you could use a snack and some sleep," Ikiko points out. "And plenty of snuggles to go with one or both of them."

:'''{{#var:86|Ayana Tasogare| (86)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Ayana leans into the scritches, then makes a soft noise of agreement. "I'm hungry," he says quietly. "That's why I came home. And I'm tired, and I feel so sad." She twists on the bed and wraps her arms around Ikiko's waist, clinging to the girl tightly. "Can I sleep with you tonight?" she whines quietly.

:'''{{#var:75|Ikiko Hisakata| (75)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>"Of course, beloved," Ikiko smiles warmly. She lays down next to the kitsune and snuggles close, then pulls out a chunk of jerky and feeds it to Ayana like a servant feeding grapes to a queen.<br /><br />"I love you, Ayana," she murmurs, nuzzling her girlfriend's neck.

:'''{{#var:86|Ayana Tasogare| (86)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Ayana's not about to complain about being ''fed''. She gladly takes the food from Ikiko's fingers and chews it once before swallowing all too soon. She sighs and curls up against the werewolf, then closes her eyes and lets Ikiko keep feeding her until the jerky is gone. And then, she rolls over and curls up tightly in a ball next to Ikiko, selfishly seeking cuddles without offering them in return. Because right now it hurts to be Ayana, and not know how to save her brother.

:'''{{#var:75|Ikiko Hisakata| (75)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>With the jerky eaten, Ikiko places the now-empty bag onto the nightstand, then pulls the covers over herself and Ayana before trying her best to wrap herself around the kitsune-curl. It might not feel as good as mutual cuddles, but it's still enjoyable for the werewolf.<br /><br />As Ikiko settles in, she softly starts humming a lullably. It might not have the same projection as her Soulful Howl, nor the impact, but she still puts all of her love into the sound, wishing for soothing sleep for her beloved Ayana. &lt;3
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