Staggered

"I've came." Homura said. "Let her go." She have done everything to stop her from knowing the truth, but all she wanted was to save her from her fate. Partially AU

The last scream faded and there was just silence.

In the supposed to be crowded plaza, the ones that were left was a group of police, another group of unnamed organization, a criminal and a hostage in his arms.

The criminal pointed the pistol at the temple of the girl and declared he was going to shoot unless all of them stepped 10 feet away from him. Everyone obeyed without a word.

Homura clutched her fist till the palm of her hands started to bleed a little. She narrowed her eyes as she stared down at the man, holding onto the life of someone that meant the whole world to her... Madoka.

"Tell your leader of that damn organization that killed my sister to come out, right now." He screamed, darting is eyes left and right to see if there was any movement. "Or I'll shoot-"

"I've came." Homura yelled out in the cold dark night and without any second wasted, she appeared right in front of him like he wanted. She stood calmly in the middle of the circle and lowered her head, her eyes staring straight at the man.

The members of the organization started showing signs of hesitation.

"Akemi-"

She glared hard, her piercing eyes was enough to stop anyone from saying any word. Even the criminal was taken aback for a moment but he regained his composure quick enough. "So you're the leader of this dumb organization that killed my sister... Huh?!"

Homura slowly glanced down at her shield and clicked her tongue. She didn't have enough sand to stop the time at the current moment so all she could do was to wait till she could make the move. Thinking six steps ahead already, she slowly lowered her stance and calmly raise her hands.

"Let her go."

The man drilled the end of the pistol into Madoka's temple. Madoka closed her eyes and bit her lips, her whole body was obviously trembling.

"No-" That sharp word slipped out from her without a thought. Homura held her breathe and clenched her teeth shut.

He snorted. "I said. Are you the lead-"

"Yes I am." She spat.

"Damn you!-"

"Your sister isn't killed." Homura interrupted, trying to calm the man down. "She was controlled by an energy that resulted her death. We didn't kill her, we were actually stopping her from changing into something that you wouldn't want to see your sister turned into." Homura knew she had no time to talk, or to explain some damn things that no one understand and believed her before... but this was her chance. She need to drag the time so she could use her time shield and stop the time to save Madoka.

"It's doesn't matter anymore because even after everything, my sister is still dead. STILL DEAD!" Madoka whimpered as the man tightened his grip around his pistol.

Homura clicked her tongue. Of all the damn people, why must he take Madoka as the hostage? Homura snapped inwardly, her eyes never blinked once.

All the police force and her organization members were holding to their gun, pointing straight at him. But she was never sure of their ability to target well. She was confident of her shooting skills, an aim was not even needed for her to shoot through this man's skull but she was there in the open, right in front of him like he demanded and she couldn't make any move. Everyone was waiting for her orders, but she gave none. The only precious person to her was at the risk of getting shot and killed.

She could turn back the time, no big deal. But it was hard, damn hard for her to come this far. To create this organization that supported her and helped her to wipe out the witches, to chase Kyubey out of this town, to save Sayaka and other people from becoming a magical girl and eventually witches. And the most important thing... to make sure Madoka know absolutely nothing about this cruel reality and truth.

Homura had no confidence that she could do everything all over again from scratch once she turn back the time... It was pure luck, to be honest, that she could gather some people and succeeded. And the fact that Madoka's energy and power would increase whenever she went back in time...

No. Homura had to think of another way... to save Madoka right now. There's got to be some way-

"Take out that thing on your arm and kick it forward."

Homura widened her eyes.

"I don't want to repeat my words." He sneered.

She took in a deep breathe and started removing her time shield from her arm and set it on the floor, kicking it hard enough to slide it to the man's feet. She could have used that opportunity to turn her time shield to activate her hour glass but there was just not enough damn sand. The only chance of breakthrough was completely lost.

"Why don't we-"

"Your jacket."

She froze.

"I said your jacket!"

Homura narrowed her eyes and unbuttoned it slowly before throwing her black jacket on the ground. True enough, the multiple hidden pockets were all filled with grenades, small guns, needles... there was no point mentioning the rest.

"Turn around."

She slowly turned, her feet shifting clockwise at a steady pace and finally her entire back was facing him. She rotated her head carefully, trying hard not to agitate the criminal if he claimed she wasn't completely following his orders. "Hey." She muttered. "Since you get what you wanted, could you let the girl-"

"Say one more time about this girl and I'll bloody shoot her head right this moment!" He bellowed and tightened his finger around the trigger.

Homura snapped her head back to her original position in a flash. Her mind was racing. She had to think fast, she had to formulate a plan that had no loopholes and absolutely no chance of failing at all. But she couldn't think properly. Her mind was not just racing, her heart as well. Honestly, she didn't care if her organization crumbled, if she lost her leg, or an eye, or even her life. She just want Madoka to be safe, to be alive... even if Madoka didn't even know who she was right now.

She had to save her, at all cost.

Homura grabbed hold of her soul gem and unfastened it from her hand. She turned abruptly and threw it right towards the two of them with no aim at all. The man panicked and raised his arms and pointed the gun at Homura in defense. It was when the gunshot was fired then Madoka screamed and broke away from the man's grip. The man continued shooting, without an aim as well.

Six bullets were fired. Two bullet hit Homura. One at the chest, the other at her collar bone.

Homura staggered back.

Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain.

There was nothing but pain. But the feeling was fading.

She looked up, to see Madoka with a horrified look, her hands clutching tightly onto her soul gem she just threw.

The whole image turned blurred as she stepped back and coughed out blood.

At first, there was a faint sound of gun being fired a couple of times and the next was the sound of the man collapsing. Slowly, there was no longer any sound, as if she had pressed the mute button to stop every shout, every yell, every words that were directing to her.

Her hand slowly raised to her chest as she tried to stop the bleeding but blood flowing out like tap water. She didn't had enough power to regenerate fast enough and her wounds were not closing and healing at all. But that was the cost she was willing to pay to see Madoka being safe now.

Homura's partner, Kyoko, was shouting at her. She could tell from the exasperated look she gave and the fast moving of her mouth. But there still no sound. Homura just dazedly stared at the redhead before her eyes rolled back and everything turned into darkness.

TO BE CONTINUED.

DO YOU GUYS EVEN UNDERSTAND THIS ORGANIZATION THING. PLEASE TELL ME IF YOU DON'T, ALTHOUGH I'LL PROBABLY ELEBAORATE IT MORE IN THE NEXT CHAPTERS.

I DON'T EVEN THINK CASHBANKY LIKE THIS MADOHOMU STORY CAUSE ALL SHE WANT IS FLUFF AND NICE VOCAB AND NICE KAWAII LOVE AND NO ANGST AND NO GRAMMAR MISTAKE AND PERFECT ENGLISH AND AWESOME MOMENTS BUT THIS SUDDEN PLOT HIT MY ARMPIT SO I THOUGHT MAYBE I'LL GIVE IT A TRY.

TWO OR THREE SHOTS I GUESS.