It started with a prayer.

Hailey didn't really know to who, she had only seen it done by others, and didn't understand the subtleties. Nor did she really understand what she was praying for, a swirl of wishes and desires danced through her head, a desire for safety, a desire for happiness, several hundred wishes for several hundred worldly things.

A wish to be loved.

Now a prayer with no subject was a bit like dialing a random number on the phone. More than likely you'll get nothing, or at the very least an unhelpful wrong number, but if you are very lucky…

Hello~ who is this?

Hailey nearly jumped out of her skin. She quickly glanced around her cupboard. But there was nobody there, and thinking about it, she didn't recognize the voice, at all. It sounded young, and playful, with an accent Hailey was too inexperienced to place.

Hey hey, easy, didn't mean to scare you, I don't get a lot of prayers these days, what's your name kid?

"Hailey Potter, who are you?" she replied.

What, you sent me a prayer without knowing who I am? Heh, not every day I get a prayer with no address. My Name is Suwako Moriya, I am a goddess of the earth, among other things. How can I help you?

"Um…"

Oh come on, don't be shy, your prayer wouldn't have gotten this far if you didn't want something.

[What's going on here?]

Hailey jumped when another new voice, this one sounding much more mature, with a somewhat more serious tone then the first voice.

Hush Kanako, this nice little girl sent me a prayer, and I don't want you to scare her off.

[Really? Who on earth would be praying to you of all people?]

Well Admittedly, this prayer was sort of unaddressed, but I got it, so I've decided to help this young lady.

[Strange, and what does she want?]

I was just asking her that before you interrupted me.

"Who is that?" Hailey asked, confused.

[Oh, she can hear me as well? How unusual. She must have an impressive spiritual power.]

Since she is too rude to introduce herself, Her name is Kanako, she's my roommate.

[I was just getting to that! Ehem. My name is Kanako Yasaka, I am a goddess of the wind and rain. Myself and Suwako share a place of worship as she so eloquently put.]

Hailey sweatdropped.

What she said. But back to the subject at hand, what do you desire? You literally have two goddesses listening now, so no pressure.

[Why did you feel the need to say that?]

For fun.

[Good grief.]

"Errr…"

[Look now you've intimidated the girl.]

I don't know, she sounds more confused than anything.

"What do you ask from goddesses?" Hailey asked.

The voices were silent for a moment.

Hard question to answer, most people usually have a clear idea what they want from a god before praying, even if it's just guidance.

"Guidance?"

[Sometimes people question the gods when they are not sure what to do with their life, sometimes questioning a higher power can help people deal with uncertainty. And this can come in different forms.]

Kanako's voice had become slightly softer and more patient, probably to put her at ease.

Hailey thought. Uncertain certainly felt like Hailey, maybe guidance is what she needs?

"Maybe some guidance?" She said tentatively.

[Very well, what would you like guidance on?]

The Question caused Hailey to have to think again. It turns out prayer was fairly complicated.

Take your time, we goddesses don't have a lot going on these days.

Hailey tried to rack her brains, trying to put her swirling pit of dreams and desires into some sort of coherent question.

"How… how does one become loved?"

This prompted another silence from the goddess, although she swore she could hear some sort of distant murmuring.

[Do you currently not feel loved?]

"...No." Hailey said, although saying it out loud, felt somewhat painful.

[We might need a little background. How about you tell us about yourself?]

"What do you need to know?"

Oh you know, things you like, things you hate, dreams, where you live, and who do you live with.

Hailey hesitated, she wasn't supposed to talk about her life with anyone outside the house.

[...Please Hailey, we can't help you if you don't tell us. Try and put a little faith in us, and we promise that we will do our best.]

Hailey took a deep breath, before telling them everything. About her sad little life, about her aunt and uncle, about the abuse, the neglect, her little cupboard under the stairs. The more she talked, the more it hurt, but it also felt liberating, like a weight was being lifted off her chest.

When she finished, there was silence, and for a minute she thought the goddesses had left.

Well, seems like there are some people who need a good cursing.

[You stay right where you are Suwako! That won't solve anything, save your divine energy for something useful.]

Oh, and what do you suggest miss high and mighty?

Rather than answering, Kanako directed her next words at Hailey.

[Hailey, I'm sorry you have to hear this, but your Aunt and Uncle... will probably never love you, nothing you could do will ever be good enough in their eyes.]

The words struck Hailey like a brick, but in her heart, she knew them to be true. She sniffled.

Nice going Kanako, you made her cry.

[Hush. Now I know this is hard for you, but you have to understand. They may never love you, but you do not need their love, they do not matter.]

Hailey listened to the goddesses words like a lifeline.

[For there will be others. There are many people in this world, millions, billions of people, and as long as you keep your heart open, you will find those that will love you.]

"R-really?" Hailey sniffed. "No matter how… freaky I am?"

[I have no doubt, you have a kind soul Hailey, as beautiful as it is rare. Share it with others and eventually you will never want for love. But first, you must leave this place. You are a flower that needs room to grow, and your aunt and uncle will stunt your growth.]

"L-leave?!" Hailey exclaimed.

[I know that may be somewhat overwhelming, but just do what I tell you, and you will be fine. Now, do your aunt and Uncle have a telephone?]

A telephone?

"Yes… but I was told I was not to touch it." Hailey said.

[I'm going to ask you to be a little brave and do it anyway. I need you to make a call.]

"I-I don't know how though." Hailey said apologetically.

[Don't worry, I do. I'll talk you through it. Please, this first step is the most important.]

With shaky legs, and shaky resolve, Hailey stood up and quietly opened the cupboard door, and peered out into the gloom.

Care to fill me in on the plan here?

[Just be quiet, it will make sense in a minute.]

It was dark outside, as you'd expect for the late hour, but Hailey dared not turn on the lights for fear of her Aunt and Uncle. So feeling her way through the dark, she made her way to the Telephone in the Kitchen.

Lifting the earpiece like she had seen her Aunt do so many times, and holding it against her ear, she whispered. "What now?"

[Okay, do you see the numbers on the phone? Specifically the nine?]

Hailey squinted. Thankfully her night vision wasn't bad, so she could make out the nine. "Yes."

[You need to press that three times.]

Nine nine nine?

[It is the British equivalent of both one-one-zero and one-one-nine.]

Oh… OH I get it, Now I'm following this.

Hailey dialed the numbers obediently while the goddesses talked.

[Good, now press the little green button on the left.]

Hailey did so, and almost dropped the phone at the ringing noise.

[It will make that noise for a moment, then someone will speak and ask which service you require. You must answer with, 'police'. Remember to keep your voice down, you don't want to wake your relatives up.]

"Emergency, which service do you require?"

"P-police." Hailey said, thankful for the warning.

"One moment please, while I transfer you to another operator."

[Now this might get a little scary, and they will ask you a lot of questions, but just repeat whatever I tell you, and you will be fine.]

"Police, what is the nature of your emergency?"

Listening to the goddesses prompts in her head, she took a deep breath and said. "I… I'd like to report child abuse."

What followed was a series of questions, asked very quickly. But thankfully with Kanako's instructions she managed to keep up.

"Do you think you will be safe there until we can send an investigation team?" The operator asked after a while.

"I… don't know." Hailey answered, this time without needing any prompting, she didn't feel like she would be if Vernon knew she made this call.

"Do you have anywhere you can stay in the meantime. A friend's house perhaps?" She asked.

"No." Hailey answered, she didn't have any friends after all.

"Alright, we'll send a squad car over. Can you wait outside and we will come and take you somewhere safe. Is that alright?" The operator asked.

[Say yes.]

"Yes." Hailey said.

Then the Kitchen light turned on.

Hailey turned around, only to see her cousin standing there, blinking stupidly.

Dudley took a moment to realise what was going on. "MUUUMM, DAAAAD! HAILEY IS USING THE PHONE!"

[Run, get outside.]

Hailey didn't need telling. Dropping the phone in a panic, she ran out the backdoor, ignoring Dudleys continued shouting, quickly running around the side of the house and onto the street.

[The Police won't be here in time, find somewhere to hide.]

I think I can help here, run to that tree over there, quick, before they come outside!

Hailey did as was instructed, sprinting over to the tree in the neighbour's yard.

Before she could reach the trunk she tripped on a root and the trunk seemed to open up in front of her. She tumbled into the hollow, strangely soft, interior, the trunk closing behind her, leaving only a sliver to see out of.

Heh… heh… Still got it… can't find you in here.

[Suwako, be careful! Your spiritual energy isn't what it used to be. What if-]

I know my limits, don't worry. You won't be getting rid of me that easily. It would be pretty pathetic if a small miracle like this would be enough to off me. I just felt like I wanted to contribute to this great escape.

Hailey sat huddled in the strange hollow listening to the gods bickering, and for some reason she felt strangely relaxed. Despite her uncle shouting after her. She had just witnessed something unreal, a tree opening up to grant her sanctuary, at the behest of the strange voice in her head, an actual miracle. And it felt cosy, almost like she was being embraced by the mysterious goddess.

To the Goddess, it was a small thing, something they have been doing for most of their existence. but to Hailey, it was the first taste of love she had ever felt. And would become a major event in both their lives.

It was the moment Hailey discovered faith. Even as she emerged from her hiding place at the sound of Police sirens, and as she was taken away in a squad car. She could feel it filling her being.

She had received love from the gods, and she wanted nothing more than to return it, for the rest of her days.


Chapter notes:

Fourth story in the plot Bunnies, disclaimer away!

And to address the concerns people have about overextending, and trying to keep too many stories in the air, don't worry. You see, exercising plot bunnies is how I deal with writer's block, by clearing up the head space by committing ideas to paper helps me make make room to actually come up with more chapters, it also helps keeps me writing in general, because If I am having trouble writing for one story, having another story to work on means I'm less likely to stall.

And with five preferences, Hailey Who the gods love.

This one is somewhat unique because there is no parent figure in this one, The gods are there in a sort of guardian role, but apart from (eventually) teaching her how to be a miko, and offering moral support and guidance, they are unable to physically manifest for extended periods, and even then, not until Hailey gets pretty far into her Miko training. So they are unable to actually physically parent her. So this Hailey is going into foster care.

This actually presents me with my biggest problem with this story: I don't actually know who Hailey's new foster family will be at this point. I have a few ideas, but I haven't been able to settle on one, so this is the only one of my plot bunnies that never got a second chapter. Which is why I wanna ask you guys to feed me some input.

I've got some basic, vague ideas but I'm honestly not sure about any of them.

First one was borrowing from a much better story, Accidental Animagus and having her adopted by the Grangers, but the biggest problem with this idea is that Accidental Animagus exists, by using this idea, I invite myself to comparison with what is honestly one of the best Harry Potter stories I actually read on this site, not only that, but my only real idea about the Grangers and the Grangers family dynamic comes from that story, and I have no real interesting spin to add to that other then Hailey being a shinto priestess. so I will probably end up borrowing way too much and will come off as an inferior copy, further inviting the comparison.

Next idea I had, is Dumbledore doing his job as Hailey's magical Guardian and suggesting she stay with one of her magical relatives, (after all, distant family is better than no family I assume when it comes to the blood protection, and apparently everyones related at some point in HP), this could lead to a fun sequence were Hailey's mundane caseworker, has to go around all these wizarding houses trying to find which one will be an appropriate household for Hailey to grow up with. I've got a feeling this one won't be popular with you guys however, because a lot of you in the Harry Potter fandom seem to have a hate boner for Dumbledore.

The last one, make up someone, OC it up, simple enough, but runs the risk that OCs always have, that people just simply won't like them. A big part of me admittedly just wants to say, 'fuck it OC'. But a part of me does kind of want to at least try and use Cannon resourses before I resort to OC.

So what do you guys think of those? Do any of these appeal to you, or do any of you have any ideas of your own you want to throw into the ring? Let me know.

To notes about this chapter in particular, I do think I captured the different personalities of the two goddesses quite well, especially in reaction to Haley's life story, Suwako, who is more old fashioned, wanted to go right to curses, but Kanako, the more modern minded god, decided to just get the authorities involved. And then during the escape, with Kanako trying to think of a hiding place, while Suwako was far more willing to just invoke a miracle to make one.

Before I rap up, the next and last Plot Bunny will be the Hyper Dimension Neptunia/Familiar of Zero crossover, which will not appear on the HP or Touhou categories, so anybody who is reading all these and not following me specifically will probably have to go out of their way to look for that one.

One last thing before I go, I swear webpage has been spazzing out on me today, I've refreshed countless times, and not all of my stories are appearing on the lists for some reason. The mobiles fine, but on the website, no matter when I look at my Profile, the Touhou list, or the HP list, there always seems to be one or two of my stories missing. Did I post all these too close together and the website is panicking? Is anybody else seeing this or is it just me?