Downtime (Rayen)

[Hana Tachiban]

Japan may have been where Hana worked, but the states were where Hana lived. And she liked keeping it that way. She had an established house that she lived in for many years, tucked back in a beautiful suburban neighborhood, surrounded by trees. It was a huge Victorian number with a wrap-around porch and a tower built onto the side. . .the kind of house on the cover of home decorating magazines for their autumn edition. Everything about it was classic and homey, including the rope tire swing on the huge oak tree in the front yard. 
Inside, the house was wall-to-wall original hardwood flooring and tall ceilings. Every piece of furniture was antique and obviously handpicked, from the velvet-upholstered hand-carved couches, to the wrought-iron chandelier in the dining rooms. Up a spiral staircase to the third story was a circular room, clearly the tower of the house, where Hana's bedroom was. A four-poster canopy bed sat in the middle of the floor atop an expansive rug, and the walls were covered in floor-to-ceiling bookcases. 
This was Hana's haven. At the end of the day, when all was said and done. . .this was home.

The silver-haired half-'pire sat at a roll top desk near the window. An oil lamp cast light on an open journal that Hana was silently writing in.

[Rayen Shadowoak]

Rayen Shadowoak debated with herself for a very long while about how she would confront Hana. She sighs and decides to simply appear in her room, she sent out an aura of calming so she didn't get shot or stabbed. "Hana Tachiban I am Rayen Shadowoak Goddess of Nature... and protector of mothers." She says with a pleasant smile. "I wish to speak with you."

[Hana Tachiban]

Hana flinched, but only because of the sudden noise in an otherwise silent room. It would have been a lie if she said this didn't happen a lot. . .people seemed to always be appearing in her house.
She got up from her desk, setting her pen down, and turned to face the woman. She bowed her head at once. "What can I do for you, goddess?" While she wasn't one for gods and goddesses, nor was she one for sucking up to them, this was the protector of mothers. Hana had all of the respect in the world for her.

[Rayen Shadowoak]

Rayen smiles and begins to pace, "I have watched you over the years... I would have been here much sooner... anyway... you have pleased me in a way that I have never felt. I wish to grant you something that only I can... I want to grant you the ability to have children. Though if you have slept with anyone recently... my magic is powerful... you could risk getting pregnant now."

[Hana Tachiban]

Hana watched Rayen pace and remarked to herself how beautiful the woman was, truly fit to reside among the gods. However, Hana was pulled away from her thoughts by Rayen's words. At first, she just stood there and stared. Surely she hadn't said what Hana thought she heard. She even laughed briefly - a nervous little noise - because she wasn't sure whether or not this was a joke being played on her. The goddess didn't appear to be joking, however.
By the time Rayen finished speaking, tears were already biting at the corners of Hana's eyes. "What?" she asked, certain she'd misheard, desperately needing to hear her say it again.

[Rayen Shadowoak]

Rayen smiles and nods, "I will give you the ability to have children. My only request is that you use it wisely." She replies with a smile on her face. "I want you to be happy but also to use this wisely. DO not forget that you will be getting a child from Nadja... two technically."

[Hana Tachiban]

The room suddenly got loud, not from any noise Rayen was making, but from her own heart pounding in her ears. Centuries of infertility and heartache reversed in an instant. The tears that had stung the corners of her eyes fell freely now, and Hana quickly reached up to wipe them away. "I don't. . .I don't know what to say." How had she earned the favor of a goddess like Rayen to notice her?
Hana backed up and sat down at her desk. Her world had been turned on its side. The only thing that prevented her from falling victim to her emotions were the last words the goddess spoke.
"Wait. . .what? I'm getting children from Nadja? When? And why?"

[Rayen Shadowoak]

Rayen watches her and simply smiles, "You don't have to say anything Hana, I know how you are feeling." She says. The woman plays with her hair for a little bit before looking at the woman oddly, "Yes two children from Nadja, one to be her priest one for her to take care of... in nine months or so." She replies. "Nadja has realized that even though she isn't the goddess of insanity, she's still crazy... she cannot raise children."

[Hana Tachiban]

"Did she intentionally pick me to care for them?" she asked, bewildered that Nadja would even think to elect her as caretaker. Was she really some paragon of a mother? "So I'll raise them and then give them to Nadja when it's time?"

[Rayen Shadowoak]

Rayen looks at the woman her eyes searching the woman for a moment. The woman thinks for a moment, "She only wants one of them, as her priest, the other is yours for as long as you wish. Nadja saw what I did... they way you raised children that were not yours. It is honestly everything that I wish to see in a mother. It is what I myself look for in every mother that is created. Some do the responsible thing, Nadja... Rayleen, and realize that they cannot raise children... that they are not sound of mind enough to do so and give their children up for adoption. Others strive to overcome their weaknesses, Marista. Others such as yourself are natural mothers."

[Hana Tachiban]

Hana pursed her lips, frowning a bit. "I will do everything in my power to raise them perfectly, then. I can't. . .I can't thank you enough, nor Nadja for giving me this opportunity. Really. This is all I ever wanted." Hana's mind was still trying to process all of this, and while that happened, she just sat there and stared in amazement.
"What. . .what do I need to do for now?" she asked, snapping back to reality.

[Rayen Shadowoak]

Rayen smiles and moves over to Hana, her hand finds the lower part of the woman's stomach and a gentle blue green light escapes her hand, Rayen's own eyes shining in the shadows of her hair. After a moment she steps back and bows her head to Hana, "For now live your life as you would. Thank you Hana." She says before stepping back a little more, "Do me a favor... if you will... Keep and eye on Rylie and Rylan. Rylie is stubborn and dominant... Rylan needs someone to have control over him. Their wishes will clash and I would feel bad if anything happened because of that."

[Hana Tachiban]

"I will do my best," she promised Rayen, standing to see her off. She bowed her head to the goddess, hands clasped in front of her. It seemed briefly that Hana's faith may have possibly been swayed. Centuries of damning the gods and denying their influence over mortals. . .was she a believer now?