Foxside: The Temple of Inari 52 - Nine Years of Foxes

[Cyber Punk]

[Sanctuary]

Rochelle nods once. She decides she'd check out the Hunting Grounds... after Anchor is brought back.

"Anchor. Her name was Anchor." She smiles a cat smile. "My Anchor..." She begins to sway side to side, holding the ashes as she does so.

"She was never without her goggles. I never got to see her eyes. Her pretty eyes..." She places a kiss on the vial containing the ashes. "She'll be back soon, right?"

[Ionbound]

[Sanctuary]

Hikari shakes her head and says, "I have no idea...This is way, way above my pay grade. I don't even know where to start..."

[Recaiden]

[Sanctuary]

Rather silly thing to say about things she never saw.

What does it take to make something one's name? Rochelle might remember that Anchor wasn't sure of her name. Had only had a self to identify as for a short time, and nobody else to call her by it.

[Fenric]

[Sanctuary]

Caroline hmms

Tell me something... does Anchor have a relative named Leah?

Elsewhere, Keiko takes a deep breath and summons up as much Messengerly-presence as she can manage

Hikari: please tell me, in detail...

But she doesn't get beyond that, and Izanami interrupts:

A little pony colt stabbed me with a hat pin, putting the full of his heart into it in order to save his family and friends. The pin had a simple enough enchantment: to pierce and to bind... but his strength of heart and love was vast.

Keiko claps her hands and smirks

YOU'RE BOUND! You're in the contract now, like it or not, because you were so bold as to interact. Well, my Lady of Creation and Death: enjoy the next sixty years or so, because...

And it finally dawns on poor Kekio

Wait... no... I'm stuck like THIS?! I'm a mortal Kitsune! NOOOOOOO!

[Ionbound]

[Sanctuary]

Hikari can't help but laugh and says, "I see. So you two are in the same boat, then. Well...Anything I can do to help?"

[Cyber Punk]

[Sanctuary]

Rochelle tilts her head quizzically. "N-no... I don't know... Her real name wasn't even Anchor. She couldn't remember her name." She sniffs again. "Said something about an experiment, and revenge, and Riverside."

She pauses. "W-we found a note containing the word 'Phoebe'. She got angry."

[Fenric]

[Sanctuary]

Keiko looks anything but happy

Really funny, Hikari. And I'm sure Helen will laugh her head right off at the notion. And Steven will be thrilled that he doesn't have to babysit me.

then she glares at Izanami

I bet this is your fault, somehow
I honestly don't remember.
Imma blame you, anyway.
That's hardly fair!
Who said anything about 'fair', huh?

Keiko looks at Hikari

Take her sorry butt off to the guest quarters and get her settled in, Hikari. Imma have to find somebody to fix this, 'cause I'm not sitting around as a mortal for the next couple hundred years!

MEANWHILE

Caroline nods and starts the Resurrection spell, naming Anchor and trying to narrow the nickname down by naming Leah as well.

[Cyber Punk]

[Sanctuary]

Rochelle waits as Caroline starts to do her thing. She glances at the vial of ashes and sighs, then wipes her tears. Only this time, they're tears of hope.

[Ionbound]

[Sanctuary]

Hikari shrugs and says, "Sure, if you want." With that, she leads Izanami off to the guest quarters, saying as she goes, "So...What is being a goddess like?"

[Deathkeeper]

Army Outpost

Well. Alright, then.
"Well, make that a yes, then. Though I think that I still want that weapon for the trip, though. Since we bothered to get armored..."

[Recaiden]

[Sanctuary]

A considerable display of magic.
Something comes back.

The ashes flow out of the container, shining, continuing to flow beyond what the container can hold until they make up a whole body.
Bones, flesh, skin, Anchor's body takes shape, and then the touch of life.

In the center of the magic circle, there's someone who is clearly Leah. For Rochelle, she's clearly Anchor. You could see her eyes if they weren't closed.
She takes a deep, gasping breath, suddenly feeling all the sensations of life after the blankness of death.

[Fenric]

[Army Outpost]

Private First-Class Todd looks abashed

I totally forgot! I'm so sorry!

And he returns with a 12-gauge short barreled semi-automatic combat shotgun with a 50-round disc magazine and a bandolier of hi-brass magnum [holy] [+3] #4 shotgun shells.

Just point it in the general direction of whatever it is you want to die and pull the trigger a couple of times. Reloading that thing takes forever, though, so try to keep it full when you aren't using it.

Frederick looks at the thing in awe.

---

[Sanctuary]

Caroline gasps

Leah!

Inari arches an eyebrow as Keiko comes over submissively.

Izanami grumbles softly

My memory is returning... and the biggest factor that I can think of is that nothing changes: there was no growth, no learning, just an endless state of pain and anger and loss and betrayal.

[Cyber Punk]

[Sanctuary]

Rochelle gasps. "ANCHOR!" She skips over to her lover and hugs her tightly. "You're back! I knew you'd be back, my love..." Rochelle's crying again, but they are tears of happiness.

[Recaiden]

[Sanctuary]

"Caroline? Keiko?"
Anchor opens her eyes (solid green orbs) and looks (?) around.

Then Rochelle, and she carefully returns the hug, one arm around the elf.
"What happened to me? I guess I lost that fight, huh?"

[Fenric]

[Sanctuary]

Kekio is grinning in spite of everything while Caroline looks baffled

Hey, Leah! Guess what, I got turned mortal!

Caroline blinks

But... but... what?

Then she looks aghast at Keiko

WHAT?!

Inari clears her throat

It would seem you are stuck with Miss Keiko for a while, Caroline.

[Deathkeeper]

Army Outpost

Steven stares at the thing.
"Oh, dear. I'm used to pump-action, but I suppose it can't be that bad." he says. He'll load the magazine during the drive.
"So, where's our ride?"

[Cyber Punk]

[Sanctuary]

Rochelle pulls back and looks her lover in the eye. "Green eyes. Pretty." She purrs, then draws back in shock. "What fight? Who did this to you? Tell me and I'll find him!"

[Recaiden]

[Army Base]

"Of course. If you can still get us there, let's go as soon as we can."
Winds is clearly relieved to not actually be fighting demons.

[Sanctuary]

"Mortal? You seem happier for that than I expect."
Leah leans over and grins at her friend.

"Welcome to being alive. Is that...with me? Did I die?"

With both arms, she tries to settle Rochelle down, calming and a bit away.
"Someone on the road. She was...shiny. Light magic. Said she was looking for her son, but tried to extort...something, and I don't know. From what she said, I think she thought I was a machine. Like, a robot copy of a person? We were sword-fighting, she had just parried, and then here I was."

[Cyber Punk]

[Sanctuary]

Rochelle shakes her head vehemently. "Say the word, Anchor, and I'll 'love' her for you. She'll scream such music we can both delight in as I rip out her organs and dangle them in front of her. Won't that be nice?" She smiles happily. You'd think she was talking about organizing a surprise birthday party for a close friend.

Then Rochelle takes off the goggles and stares at them before handing them to Anchor. "I kept them safe for you."

[Fenric]

[Sanctuary]

Keiko bites her lip at Inari's comment

Not much use being fussy...

She would argue all day with her older sister, but she's not about to raise a fuss with Inari in the room.

Caroline sighs

Well, Leah, it would seem someone caught up with you. And so we get to have Keiko here semi-permanently... well, I'm sure we'll have a lot of fun. I know just the person.

Katrina!

Caroline blinks

That was not the person I had in mind, no.

Too bad!

Then Rochelle talks

Um... right...

Hey, Leah, who's your friend?

---

[Army Outpost]

Todd starts and nods

We're already late! I'll get the car!

And he runs off. Not long after, a no-nonsense military vehicle with four knobbledy tires, angled armor plates, and a serious looking double-barreled cannon turret drives up and idles with the loping sound of a very large diesel engine.

Hop in!

[Ionbound]

[Sanctuary]

Hikari nods and says, "Mmm. I see...That sounds considerably less pleasant than I'd imagined. Do you supposed it had anything to do with your state?"

[Deathkeeper]

Army Outpost

Steven nods and hops onto the back. He hopes Todd is a good driver.

[Recaiden]

[Sanctuary]

"No, Rochelle. Sure, she was a real piece of work, but she's Riverside's problem now."
Leah shivers.
"She took me out without me noticing her move. Like, she was just playing around the whole time. Not that I don't believe you could do it, but it's not worth it.
She then tries to get up, and takes the goggles, shaking her head.
"Thank you. You brought them, brought me back here?"

She looks over to Keiko, her fake calm smile becoming an actual smile.
"This is Rochelle. She's not my friend."

[Army Outpost]

Winds hops right in.
"Let's go."

[Fenric]

[Sanctuary]

Izanami frowns and considers Hikari's question

I... think it probably did...

Keiko's ears and nose miss less than her eyes, which aren't dim by any stretch. She grins a pointy-toothed grin

Ooooo-oooh. So, Leah, any plans to go hunting in the 'Grounds sometime soon?

Caroline nudges her

Shush!

Inari shakes her head

I think it's time for me to be getting home

---

[Cherry Blossom St]

The car turns smoothly out onto the street and into traffic: surrounded by numerous vehicles of every shape and description. Todd proves himself quite a capable driver, navigating the insane Inside traffic like a trained, seasoned... professional...

'cause he IS a trained, seasoned, professional.

Been making the mountain run for three years now. It's usually pretty boring... so much so that I don't even get a gunner these days. But boy was I blown away to learn that the High Priestess is trained on the tank! I haven't even passed the basic certs to be a co-driver, and she's got full gunner clearance - and live combat experience at that! I've never done anything besides exercises...

[Cyber Punk]

[Sanctuary]

Rochelle nods and actually stands down. At least, for the moment.

"If you're sure..." When Leah takes the goggles back and asks her question, Rochelle plants a kiss on her cheek. "Of course I did. I'd travel the world for you." She starts sobbing again. "Why did you leave me, Anchor? Now look what happened! I'm just... so glad you're back again!" She turns to Caroline. "Thank you. You have no idea just how happy I am right now."

When Leah responds to Keiko, she turns to the kitsune as well. "I'm her girlfriend!" She blurts out.

[Deathkeeper]

Sanctuary

Well, not too seasoned. Or he'd be higher than Private. Maybe just salt and pepper.
"Yeah, she never really told me about that. I think Katrina was the one who did? But glad that chance suggests that this will be uneventful." says Steven, loading shells into the magazine.

[Ionbound]

[Sanctuary]

Hikari nods, smiles, and cheerfully says, "I see. Well, look at this incarnation as an opportunity for self-improvement. Since you are mortal currently, I suspect that means that you are, for now, changeable. And that means that, perhaps, you can find a form of enlightenment unavailable to you as a goddess."

[Recaiden]

[Sanctuary]

"Soon as I can, Keiko. I've got to-I mean, I was dead for a while. I have a lot of catching up to do. But you'll come with me?"
Leah is grinning herself now. How could she not? She's alive!

She goes to pull Rochelle into a hug again, calming her down.
"We were both mad, saying you might go back on your words, and I might- but you brought me here. That shows you love me well enough."

And that done, she turns to Caroline.
"I can't thank you enough. I know that's not easy, bringing people back. Anything you need, let me know. Messages run, souls delivered, people shot, people saved, anything, Lady Caroline."

[Cherry Blossom St.]

Winds is clearly nervous, gripping any handle or belt or part of the seat suitable to gripping. Surely that bus is going to collide with them. No. Guess not. There are so many cars, so many sounds.

"Well, she had a personal grudge there. Destroyed a whole temple complex, didn't they?"
Winds you really shouldn't know anything about this.

[Fenric]

[Sanctuary]

Keiko nods

Wouldn't miss it!

Then she nods to Hikari

Gotta find somebody to teach me enough kitsune magic to at least change shapes, though: I don't really want to spend the rest of my life like this.

But someone else is still standing there.

Hopefully you will learn a great many things you missed on your first time around. When I am convinced that you are prepared to return, I will intercede on your behalf and get your status re-instated.

Keiko's ears fold down

Yes, Holiness... I'll do my best

Caroline, meanwhile, is smiling at Leah

I haven't anything right this moment, but I'll let you know if anything comes up! Thanks, Leah.

---

[Cherry Blossom St]

Todd nods, and grins at the mention of Katrina

Katrina is certified as a driver, Caroline as a gunner. They came out on our last practice, a couple weeks ago, and dang but they're vicious! You Vulpans are supposed to be quieter than us Werefoxes, but you'd never guess it from those two.

[Deathkeeper]

Cherry Blossom Street

Aaaand now I'm imagining Caroline in a Black Lagoon sequence.

Steven smiles dreamily.
"Yeah. She tries really hard to be totally proper in her duties. She really needs to vent sometimes. I can imagine that there's a lot to vent." he chuckles.