The rain of the past few days has cleared, leaving a sunny, cool, breezy day behind. It's been a good day to get out of the house and do things, or explore, or whatever is needed. Unfortunately for some, what's needed is the patience to wait. That's harder than it sounds for some people.
A figure in a simple school outfit is walking along the sidewalk, staring at the ground. Kukai-N is in disguise today, while the sun shines, and for now is un-hungry enough to feel .. unbothered by anything. She was just letting her feet guide her movements, instead of her brain. She still had the pink umbrella with the skull motif closed, wound shut, and tied to her hip in case it began to rain again, though.
As she walked, she didn't bother looking where she was going, walking down the street in front of a large, walled compound that, if she had been in her own body and thinking clearly, she would have recognized very easily, and probably avoided.
Sora is coming home carrying a few bags full of groceries, because chores must be done and at least today it's sunny and she can carry the bags without having to worry about how she can hold into her umbrella. She pauses when she notices someone she believes to be a friend of hers, and approaches cheerfully, "Norie-chan~ I didn't know you were coming by."
Days like this are good for exactly one thing: lazing about atop a narrow wall in the fuzziest form available. Ayana is doing just that, sprawled out atop the fence, her black fur glistening in the sunlight. The lazy fox might just be asleep. She's certainly not looking terribly active, at the moment. There's probably some homework she should be doing, but right now the sun is way too perfect for that. The sound of light snoring can be heard from the fox, audible only to those with acute hearing or exceptional nearness.
Kukai-N's head snaps up and she stares at Sora for a moment before looking around, realizing where she's at. She looks at Sora for a moment, trying to put her brain together into a coherent thought. "...Sora! Sorry. I was.. lost in my own head. I wasn't planning on coming by but I suppose since I'm here.."
She moves forward towards her, holding out her hands. "Do you want me to take one of those bags for you? I can carry it in for you."
While Ikiko has some homework left to do, she's already gotten most of it done, and what's left can be finished after dinner. For now, there's sunshine to take advantage of! It's great weather for going walking with ones girlfriend, and just the kind of weather that you'd expect to see someone walking a pet in.
The conjunction of these two points is important, given what form Ayana is currently in.
Ikiko walks out of the house, leash in hand. She smiles at the sight of the fox curled up on the wall, then walks over to give Ayana a gentle skritch to see if she's not too asleep. The sound of voices floats over the wall -- ah, it's Sora and... Norie? And Norie is offering to help with the groceries?
Sora seems to be a little surprised when 'Norie' offers to help, but nods. "Sure, why not?" She hands over one of the bags towards the other girl before she spies Ikiko, still unaware of the location of a certain sleeping vulpine member of the family. "Hey Ikiko, what are you up to?" She greets cheerfully.
The scritches and jingling of leashes and voices all combine to wake the fox. Unfortunately, Ayana was mid-dream, and--so startled--she tips and rolls over, right off the fence!
It takes her only a split second to realize she's falling, and the kitsune lets out a shrill cry of concern as she tumbles towards the ground.
Kukai-N takes the bag and nods to Sora, moving in besides her. "How have you been doing? It's been a bit since I've seen you." She nods and then looks up at the sound. "Wait. What was that?"
Ikiko Hisakata yelps and dives for the falling fox. She's able to make a sprawling catch, unhurt except for her dignity. "Catching my girlfriend from falling, apparently," she ruefully calls to her cousin before giving Ayana a quick kiss on the nose and then standing back up.
By the time Sora realizes Ayana is there, Ikiko has already caught her. "Hey Ayana." She greets, and then starts to move into the compound, "I've been working on a plan to let myself help with magical stuff again. I've found out about a book that I think I can cajole into letting me work magic similar to my old book, but without all the corruption. Hopefully." She shares.
Ayana blinks confusedly at the sudden change in orientation. The kiss to her nose draws a sneeze, then the little fox shakes her head and peers up at Ikiko. As realization catches up with her, Ayana cranes her neck to lick Ikiko's nose in return, then squirms to a more comfortable position in her girlfriend's arms.
Sora's greeting earns a bark of hello, and then they're approaching and she spots Norie.
Cue hissing and growling from the miniature guard-fox, as she glares the vampire down.
Kukai-N grips the bag tighter at the sound of the squall and the yelp, then hears Ikiko's voice from inside. She can't help but let out a little smirk at the explanation. "Is she falling head over heels for you?"
She follows Sora into the compound, nodding. "That is good. Less trying to blow up the city means less getting beat into paste. And I know how much you want to touch magic again. If I can help you know I will."
She draws up for a moment and eyes Ayana, then takes the bag in one hand and offers her the other. "Calm down. Look, I'm not going to hurt anyone, and I'm not draining anyone unless they offer or they're doing some sort of crime. Like I told a friend, I'm trying to improve my diet."
Ikiko Hisakata nuzzles Ayana, then giggles at the quip. "Well, as long as we're talking to Norie and not Lacrima, we should be okay for now," she remarks. "Just... be careful about approaching the buildings; we don't want to set off the alarms."
She contemplates what her cousin mentioned. "If you need a hand with the new book, go ahead and count me in -- somehow I doubt it'll be as easy as just walking up and asking nicely," Ikiko smiles.
"It's inside a haunted house that's vigorously defied attempts at intrusion, and that I would love all of you to help with." Sora explains in brief what the problem surrounding the new book is. Ayana's response to Norie and then the reminder about the alarms does seem to make realize what was off, "Oh right. Did you forget about the alarms, Norie? Might be best if we stay outside to avoid setting them off..."
The kitsune hops out of Ikiko's lap to the ground, then moves to stand behind her. She shifts back, using Ikiko to keep herself mostly concealed. Talking over her girlfriend's shoulder, Ayana yells, "You're not welcome here!" at Norie. "You aren't really trying to change. I gave you months trying to help you, and all you did was ignore my help, tell me why you couldn't, and then try to hurt my friends! I won't trust you again!"
Kukai-N winces at Ikiko's comment, then nods, holding out the bag she's carrying. "OK. Well, if you want you can carry this in. I don't want to bring out all the guards and whatnot." She sighs again, looking over at Sora, then blinking at the haunted house comments. "...Good grief. Well. If I can help..."
She leaves the comment hanging as Ayana moves around behind Ikiko and yells at her. "... You know what? I agree with you. I wasn't trying to change. I was a giant butt and I wouldn't take any of your advice and I threw you over and I know that every time I talked to you I'd mention it to somebody else and they'd say 'gee, that sounds like good advice' and then I'd completely ignore all of that good advice! And then I just.... ate people, indiscriminately. So no. Don't trust me."
Kukai-N crosses his arms and stares at the three of them, the bag set down on the ground in front of her. "But you know what? I don't deserve any of that chewing out. Because - and here's a shocker - I'm not Norie." She looks angry, but she's keeping the Norie disguise up and not attacking anybody...
Ikiko Hisakata manages to keep something resembling a straight face at Sora's summary. "Sounds interesting!" she replies, keeping her grin down to just the corners of her mouth twitching upward.
When Ayana changes into humanoid form, Ikiko glances back at her, then watches Norie... or should that be 'Norie'? "Come to think of it, you don't sound like Norie," Ikiko notes. "The voice is right, but... the style of talking, that seems wrong.
She narrows her eyes at the 'Norie', but doesn't move from her location. "If you're not Norie, but you look like Norie... who are you, and what's going on?"
"Yeah, you'd better agree w--what?" Ayana's ranting tirade is cut short by Norie's admissions and then her bomb-drop of a surprise turn. The kitsune blinks in confusion, foxlike ears furled upwards and forwards.
For a moment, there is silence, then she blushes and closes her eyes, forcing an illusion over herself. Ears and tails fade, and a black sun dress provides modesty. "W--who are you?" Ayana asks worriedly. "And what'd you do to Norie-chan?!"