Prayer for the Small

[swordofzero]

Who: Hibiki Shikyoin and Suzaku Kururugi
What: Prayer 41: A prayer for the small
Where: Near Shore
When: Forward dated to April 30th
Summery: The best babysitting duo in town are at it again. And by best we mean worst and by duo we mean two people who work completely separately but happen to be in close vicinity to each other.



A prayer slip in childish handwriting, left at a movie theatre. For the great god Apollo! Dear Shikyoin-sama. Do you remember us? You were the best babysitter we ever had! We had so much fun with you and that boy. Even if he is useless like you say. No one else will look after us and mama says if she can't find help for this weekend we have to all go to grandma's!

Please please please please please come and babysit us again! Mama can't even remember who looked after us that day and says that gods don't play origami with little children and that I have an overactive imagination but I know she's wrong.

Your biggest biggest fan.

Misa

A call for help, a plea to a god of fortune. A hapless shinki who once again seems to be in the wrong place just as Hibiki has received a prayer for childminding. How shall the great Apollo proceed?

Comments

[priforprince]

How to proceed? How does the great Apollo ever proceed? There is one answer alone - so allow this narration to inform you forthwith:

She proceeds with magnificence and grace!

.......And potentially some other reactions, but those happen off-camera, so they do not count. Thus are the rules of cinema. Do take care to commit them to memory.

In any case, Suzaku is off doing whatever sort of thing Suzaku might be inclined to do on such a fine day. Whatever his pastime, it concerns Hibiki not one whit. A spygoat with a stop sign attached to itself suddenly comes rolling up in front of him. (Even if he is in Richard's temple.)

And, from behind him, illuminated in the closest thing to a door or some other place through which light may stream:

"Your assistance is required. I'll have you cooperate."

A God of Fortune can't very well ignore a cry for help from a devoted worshipper. But if Hibiki must descend into the pit of chaos again, she requires a suitable buffer.

Is Suzaku not the most fortunate shinki not-alive?!

[swordofzero]

Suzaku is indeed in Saber's temple. He has less free time than he used to, now that he works for Ebisu but he finds he prefers a more busy schedule. He is training, going through weapon forms with a sword when the goat appears. He frowns, pausing more out of shock than out of obeying the stop sign.

The voice makes him turn again, the door of the training area, leading out into the courtyard. "Miss Shikyoin?"

Because it must be here. He knows no one else who utilises goat robots. No one else who speaks like that, no one else with that level of melodrama.

"What do you need help with?"

He steps towards the light, intrigued. Hibiki usually treats him like he is a hindrance rather than a help. So this matter must be serious.

[priforprince]

Hibiki holds up the prayer for Suzaku to take and read, thrusting it at him. "We've been offered an encore performance. The venue is lackluster, but anything less than exceeding my fans' wildest expectations isn't my style."

A pause that is not at all so she can brood about the cruel fate this Style of hers has dictated. But she lives true to it, nobly, heroically. "I'll fulfill the offer's terms. The rest is left to you."

"The rest", presumably, being the other children (and dog, and, and). Is this more like what you'd expect from her, Suzaku?

[swordofzero]

Suzaku took it silently, reading through it with an upraised eyebrow. The child had remembered them? He knew that small children were better at seeing those of the far shore than adults but he had not realised they had made such an impression on them. Or rather, that Hibiki had made such an impact on this Mira.

But then he supposed she was a god of fortune. It was clearer now why she would need his help, she would not want to be stuck babysitting alone.

Probably not at all. He nodded, "I'm happy to help."

It can't go any worse than last time at least.

[priforprince]

"We'll depart immediately." Hibiki turns to go. Technically, she could teleport Suzaku from anywhere - but. It's far grander to lead up to the departure by exiting the building first, so that is what she shall do.

The spygoat that had shown up with the stop sign spins around. On the other side of the stop sign is the word GO against the now-green octagonal background.

It's helping.

[swordofzero]

The goat just gets a level look. Not that it could see him because it was facing the other way now. He's... not going to ask. He merely follows Hibiki out of the temple, they don't run into anyone on the way, which might be for the best. Suzaku doesn't even know how to explain this.

He does wonder why they are walking rather than teleporting. But... It's Hibiki. He's learned to not ask question.

do you have ideas for the smol ayakashi?

[priforprince]

Once they have arrived at a Suitable Spot, the goat pulls up alongside Hibiki. She removes the stop sign and plants a flag (decorated with her crown emblem) in the hole instead, the pole of which she continues to grasp. Now the goat will come too.

"You as well." A hand is lifted. Suzaku may grasp it. For they are soon to be gone - first to Hibiki's movie theater shrine, then to the house in question (now that she knows where it is).

And the Heavens only know what they'll find upon arrival.

I don't have any firm ideas for their form or anything yet

[swordofzero]

Suzaku takes her hand and feels the familiar lurch of teleportation. First to a shrine that seems to be a movie theatre and then to the corridor just outside the apartment they had been in once before.

Like last time. The harried mum opened the door, toddler in her arms. This time., to avoid a Hibiki meltdown Suzaku stepped forward, taking the child who happily tugged on his hair and began to climb. He remembered being high!

I'm so glad you could come. I have to run. Numbers are on the fridge, the children have been preparing for you."

With that ominous note she rushed off. The three older children came to tug them through the door.

"Come help!" Suzaku found himself being dragged away to the kitchen leaving Hibiki with her biggest fan.

"It worked! You really came!" A hand outstretched.

"Is that a goat? You have to come reci... Get our offering!" Misa looked very pleased with herself.

okay, i will think too!

[priforprince]

What an unpleasantly foreboding sense of deja vu.....Was the point of today's outing not that the mother needed convincing of Hibiki's existence? Are the hearts of those sworn to Nekhbet so overshadowed by the wings of (gulp) carrion birds? Curses....

But, a fan calls. And has - something prepared? Hibiki sniffs.

"I accept only those offerings that please me," she informs Misa. "Refrain from presenting it if you've doubts."

The goat, on the other hand, is much friendlier, rolling up to see what's going on. A present for Maa-ster! It wants to see the present for Maa-ster!

Re: okay, i will think too!

[swordofzero]

"This way!" Misa leads the goat and Hibiki into the living room where Hibiki will find a picnic blanket spread out on the floor. At one end there is a soft beanbag cushion. "You can sit there!"

There are plastic plates with misshapen cookies on them. Misa sits down as well, encouraging the adorable goat to sit next to her.

A moment later Suzaku returns, toddler on his shoulders, tray in hand. The younger boy and girl rushed to take places on the blanket too as Misa made flourishing gestures to everything.

"We even made tea! But mama made us use the camping cups because too many got smashed last time!" Sure enough the tray Suzaku was putting down held a tin tea pot and an array of brightly coloured plastic mugs.

[priforprince]

Hibiki stares at the room. This....what.....This? What's even. What.

The spygoat is far more responsive; while its hooves are attached to a platform and it therefore cannot sit, it does roll up to keep Misa company. This looks cozy! Maa-ster, aren't you going to join them?

Something prickles the back of Hibiki's neck - a dread, a sense of some pollutant in the atmosphere. She ignores it, misattributing the feeling to the deep conundrum with which she has just been presented. Her temper roils, ready to spring.....but not unleashed. Not yet. Her mind is desperately trying to believe this cannot be true.

"Sit....." she begins, to be perfectly certain she comprehends the situation. "That - " A finger extends towards the beanbag. "Is for sitting?"

[swordofzero]

"Yes... Do you not like it? We have other colours if you want. Pink and purple and blue ones..." Misa is a big girl, a whole six years old and six year old don't cry when their offerings aren't instantly accepted by God's. Instead she puts on her very bravest big girl face.

Her little sister nudges Suzaku. " Pour! Pour the tea!"

The older boy has wandered over to sit next to the goat, petting it happily. Suzaku carefully poured the tea, watching Hibiki carefully. He knew she was particular but surely she wouldn't dismiss these children's efforts.

[priforprince]

"You expect me to pass the time seated upon this misshapen contraption?!" Hibiki harrumphs. "Absurd. Procure a chair!"

The goat nudges the boy, indicating it's needed (but that it likes the pats). Maa-ster gave an order....But Maa-ster might make the children sad, and that will fail the prayer. What should the goat do?

Oh, it knows. Getting up, the goat rolls until it finds the extra beanbag chairs and pushes the purple one over to Hibiki. Hibiki's eyebrows twitch as she stares down at it. The goat hopes it was not just a very bad servaa-nt. But! The...the prayer....

It doesn't want Master to make a fan sad.

Behind the goat, small shadows writhe across the blue beanbag, slipping towards the little boy while everyone is distracted by Hibiki. And Hibiki, in turn, is staring at the purple beanbag chair, sweat forming on her neck. She. It.

It's at least. It's purple.

If it's....purple.......dare.....she.......?

[swordofzero]

All the children are staring at Hibiki, waiting to see if she will sit down. If the purple one will be enough or if all their hard work will be enough.

All the children that is except the little boy, who is staring in the direction of the pile of beanbag cushions.

"Misa! Misa do it now!"

"She hasn't accepted the offering yet!" Misa hissed over her shoulder. The little boy shook his head frantically.

"Quickly"

Suzaku frowned, moving over to the boy, wondering why he was upset. Misa seemed to recognise something in her brothers voice because she looked back at Hibiki and took a deep breath.

She clapped her hands three times and bowed. "Apollo sama! We deplore you! Please help us!" She leaned forward, eyes wide. "What do you know about monsters?"

Suzaku frowned. "Monsters?" He asked.

With big teeth!" The little sister had come to hold her brothers hand.

"They're under all the beds." Misa was still staring at Hibiki. Her hero. She would help she was sure of it!

"They're everywhere!" The little boy whispered. Then as if on cue a mass of shadows shot out of the pile of cushions, flying towards the three younger children.

"Line!" Suzaku moved quickly, a barrier flying up.

The toddler on his back starting screaming and all at once the rest of the shadows began to move.

[priforprince]

".....A SUDDEN GENRE SHIFT?!"

Hibiki may not have realized she declaimed that aloud, so great is her dismay as she stumbles backwards. This wasn't merely a babysitting prayer? Or a proof-of-the-mighty-god-Apollo's existence prayer!? THIS WAS AN AYAKASHI PRAYER!??!?!

She grits her teeth. "Curse Kurosaki Shun.... Does glowering into his trenchcoat preoccupy him sufficiently to neglect the safety of his supplicants?"

--No, Hibiki mustn't lose focus. (Though she MIGHT call Chinatsu to complain, later. Chinatsu will surely Sort This Out.) In the meantime, she draws a holy water pistol with each hand - since they're this magnificently-designed, with antique details and a blunderbuss style, none could ever mistake them for a mere "water gun" - and opens fire, moving to get between the ayakashi and the children. Water splatters across the scene, keeping back some of the attackers while the others bounce of Suzaku's borderline, but the swarm keeps coming, seeking an opening.

Hibiki clicks her tongue against the back of her teeth.

[swordofzero]

"Wow!" Misa breathed as Hibiki began shooting water at the shadows. She was so amazing!

But more ayakashi are coming. "Misa. Over here!" Suzaku called her over. It would be much easier to protect all the children if they were together.

More ayakashi poured out of corners of the room.

What Suzaku had thought were large shadows were actually hundreds of tiny ayakashi. None larger than his thumb, interlocked by their hands or feet or in some cases their tails. Making a web of shadow.

Hibiki was fending them off in front and Suzaku concentrated. "Line!" He wasn't even sure if he could curve a borderline until he had done it, a curve to protect the back.

He grabbed the nearest object, a tray, to bat away the shadows that got through or past Hibiki's water. He kept the border up.

"We need to try and get the children out, miss Skikyoin. We can't hold this many off for long."

Those water pistols wouldn't last long and though he could fight with borderlines there is only one of him and he doesn't want to risk the border protecting the children shattering.

[priforprince]

A sound suggestion. And therefore, one Hibiki considers worth adopting and basically considering her own. She nods, reaching down to scoop Misa up without really looking at her.

"Provide a barricade," she orders Suzaku - he's the Best Possible Person for ayakashi deterrent, being a shinki, which makes her (the noble rescuer) the Best Possible Person for evacuation. All qualms about having to pick up children are forgotten as she heads for each of the kids in turn.

Evacuating the kids does, however, involve having both hands free. The pistols are placed into holders on the spygoat, which have popped up in place of its usual tray supports. When thus armed, the water fires continuously, so the spygoat stands next to Suzaku and fires into the web. It...can't see the ayakashi, being a machine....but Maa-ster has indicated where to fire, so fire it shall!

So there's that sorted. Now, how to arrange all of these children....

Hibiki ends up with one on her back and one beneath each arm. She has an extremely serious expression on her face as she dashes out. Perhaps she is focused on this important mission. Perhaps she simply does not want to think about what she looks like right now.

Ambiguity is a key aspect of being coolly mysterious.

[swordofzero]

"Yes, miss Shikyoin." It was good to note that when things actually got serious so did Hibiki. Suzaku thew borderlines out as quickly as he could, hitting the ayakashi that tried to break forwards towards the children. He is backing away as well as Hibiki runs but there are so many ayakashi. Much more even than the small ayakashi in the restaurant he, Edge and Saber had cleared. Very soon he and the goat are surrounded and the web is still pushing onward, cooing as they surge after Hibiki and the children.

As Hibiki breaks into the entrance hall, towards the door Suzaku focuses. "Line!" A border, floor to ceiling. He hopes there are no more beyond that point, that Hibiki will be able to get the children out of the apartment to safety.

The goat is still firing holy water and Suzaku is keeping them at bay with the tray and the occasional line, he can't risk the main border going down and it is requiring more and more of his attention as the web strikes at him, burning blight up his arms. He backs towards the barricade but he doesn't even want to risk softening it yet. They have to buy Hibiki and the children time.

1/2

[priforprince]

Once outside, the children are quickly deposited behind a tree in a lot across the street. "Staying in place is best," says Hibiki, still not really thinking about this since her genius mind is preoccupied running through her options at lightning speed. Multiple ayakashi means Wendy will be of limited use. D2 is marginally more effective, but unreliable. Hibiki respects Saber's position as the mighty Prichard, but he does not seem inclined to....accommodating those unaccustomed to waiting....

Tch. She's a god, Suzaku's a shinki. One choice alone remains.

Hibiki turns to go, but is stopped when a small body throws itself upon her knees and wraps its arms around her. "I'M SCARED!" wails Misa, which only makes her siblings cry harder. "DON'T LEAVE US ALONE!"

"Did you not summon me to eradicate the problem?!"

"I DON'T WANNA BE ALOOOOOONE!"

Hibiki seethes. The children sob. A notification buzzing in Hibiki's jacket informs her the reserves in the holy water pistols are running low. Hibiki stands in the center of the storm, knowing every moment spent is a moment the barricade may shatter.

She takes a deep breath.

2/2

[priforprince]

"Understood."

The word is spoken through clenched teeth, with baited breath. Sweat forms on Hibiki's face that has nothing to do with the present crisis. "Should you remain here, and quiet...."

Misa looks up, distracted, tears in her eyes. The other kids take their cue from their sister and wait for...something, they're not sure what.

Hibiki twitches, but continues. Revolution requires sacrifice, and here she makes a mighty one. ".....I'll sip tea from my own cup next to the purple beanbag."

Misa's eyes go very wide. Letting go of Hibiki, she steps back. "You'll come to the tea party?"

Hibiki's jaw has clenched shut, but her silence is enough. A mighty sniffle is sniffled. Misa wipes her runny face with her shirt. "O-okay! We'll stay here, real quiet! Go beat the bad guys!"

Hibiki sighs, but what's done is done. She turns and teleports back into the house.

Now. Are you alive - relatively speaking - Kururugi Suzaku? The god Apollo requires your service!

[swordofzero]

Suzaku is indeed still alive, relatively speaking. The barrier is still up though he doubts it will be for much longer. Beyond it there is a mass of ayakashi but in the centre there is a semi circle where Suzaku and the goat are pressed against the barrier fighting against the encroaching wave of tiny ayakashi.

Suzaku with borderlines, the goat with holy water. The gap is getting smaller and smaller, blight is bubbled on Suzaku's skin. Fear has long been put aside, all his focus is on holding this line until he is sure Hibiki and the children have gotten far enough away.

He's not sure how much time they need, he's not sure what he's going to do when this barrier breaks and the ayakashi spill out. He can't let that happen. That's why he can't let it down, not even for a moment. He has to hold out as long as possible.

He throws out more lines, cutting through the web. The ayakashi surge forwards once more, the water slows to a trickle as the pistols run dry. And Suzaku's barrier shatters.

"Line! Line! Line! Line!"

Smaller barriers, cutting lines trying to break apart the web, force them back into the apartment. He won't let them past. He won't let them get to Hibiki and the children!

do you have any ideas for his temp name?

[priforprince]

"Astounding."

The ayakashi are sufficiently distracted by the sudden appearance of something that Smells Good in their midst to buy Suzaku time to look at Hibiki, now standing so that they've got the ayakashi pincered between them. The spygoat would jump for joy, if it were capable of jumping. (It rattles instead.) Maa-ster! Maa-ster will fix this!

Maa-ster is MAA-NVINCIBLE!

Maa-ster here standing here with her arms folded. "In such a short timespan, you've lost this much ground? An unreliable guardian."

The ayakashi whirl, unsure which target to attack - or whether to divide and conquer. Hibiki snaps her fingers above her head, then holds a hand out to one side. "There's no choice. I'll allow you to receive my protection."

And the whole area is suddenly dyed in various shades of purple. Hibiki's last naming wasn't magnificent or elegant at all. It was intolerable.

The Brilliant Prince intends to make up for the lost opportunity.

Not really. I'm not sure what Hibiki associates with him past 'trouble' and 'terrible babysitter'

[swordofzero]

Why is Hibiki back? Where are the children? Suzaku's first reaction to seeing Hibiki is not relief at all but worry, confusion. Shame when she points out how quickly the ayakashi had taken over.

He fires out more borderlines even as he starts to fight his way over to her side. The snapping of her fingers, once again suspicious... The purple that covers everywhere. Was that a godly power? She had said protection? He hopes she has a plan. Surely she has a plan, she wouldn't just return here without one.

He continues throwing out borderlines. The ayakashi needed destroyed, perhaps Hibiki had managed to contact her shinki. Hopefully. Because there was no other way to destroy them and they couldn't leave them. If they escaped this apartment they would invade others, finding other frightened children to prey upon.

[priforprince]

"We two alone are the only recourse." Hibiki's building to her point. Not at all because she needs to buy time to think of the Perfect and Most Suitable Name, no. But because Hibiki does things on Hibiki's timetable, whether or not anybody is about to die. That is a trivial detail. Hardly worth rushing Elegance.

Yet a god even higher than this mighty God of Fortune must be taking pity on Suzaku, for after sufficient posing in her new purple lighting, Hibiki points at Suzaku. A spotlight appears all around him. (She is so making up for how she named D2. This is how things should be!) "Accept and be amazed! A name the god Apollo alone can bestow!"

NOTHING CAN POSSIBLY GO WRONG WITH THIS PLAN AT ALL.

[swordofzero]

More purple light. What is going on? What does she mean?

Some of Hibiki's posing gets lost as Suzaku throws more borderlines out at the encroaching ayakashi hoard.

The spotlight focuses his attention back on her. A name? She can't mean...

He shakes his head. She can't name him. He's Lord Saber's shinki. He serves Saber he can't be named by another God.

Truthfully Suzaku has nothing against Nora but... Without permission it is a betrayal. He can't...

The ayakashi web surges again. "Line" A line springs up at Hibiki' s side just in time. It won't hold for long, the blight burning his body has weakened him.

If they don't destroy them... Suzaku doesn't care about his own death. Not if it helps others he realises. But Hibiki...

The children. He can't let any of them be hurt. The ayakashi spill towards the door. Suzaku looks Hibiki in the eye and nods once, guilt spilling through him.