Chapter One: Guns and Bombs

Dammit! Dammit! Dammit!

Kyoko covered her ears as the bombs hit again. When she opened her eyes she could feel the glow of flames as debris flew over her head. The blood from her wound in her calf was gushing in a stream and the pain from that and the ache in her head was almost about to make her black out. She couldn't tell if one of her ears were busted because of how many bombs had hit in the past hour, but she has dived over one of the sand bag walls just in time to get it not to hit her.

The battlefield was bloody, wet and full of dirt. The rain was pelting down onto the dirt that turned it into slippery mud. Grenades were set off in every corner the eye could see. As now with being the only woman solider in the war, Kyoko was now underestimated. Many people thought it was foolish that Kyoko and her friends signed up to work in the war. 'You know you'll die' and 'stupid little girls' they'd said. But Kyoko had ignored them.

American Soldiers were armed all around with a large variety of guns, and Kyoko couldn't tell what they were. Army tanks were rolled out onto the battlefield and many of the Japanese soldiers bodies were tossed over the trench, stray bits of their torn off flesh flew into the air. Their blood was splattered across the walls of the trench, which was mostly made up of sand bags or cement or gravel. Kyoko didn't have time to figure it out before another bomb made her gasp and cover her ears.

Kyoko knew that if she went out there again she would die. The Japanese were vastly outnumbered. Unlike them, Japan didn't have as many volunteers. And even them were killed quickly. Young children. Young adults. Of course, Kyoko four years has passed since the war began and she is now nineteen, but even at fifteen she was ready and willing to put up a fight. But not exactly for this country.

Dammit Sayaka. Kyoko thought. How did you get me into this?

Kyoko eventually decided to give it a try. She grabbed a rifle and squatted down so the nozzle of the gun was pointed out into the battlefield. Ignoring the blood that splattered onto her face, Kyoko's hand hovered over the trigger that pointed at American soldiers across the plain. Until the eventually pulled it.

Ten bullets were shot. Kyoko didn't see the impact or the damage; she just hoped that she did something. It wasn't until she noticed her own blood running down her head when she noticed she was in pain. Kyoko screamed in agony, grabbing her head. The blood ran down her face and over her eyelids, making it look like she was crying blood tears. Kyoko collapsed onto the ground, her body was limp and she felt absolutely useless.

Through the haze of pain she could see corpses littered around her. Men. Her allies. All dead. Screams of pain that sounded so familiar through her bad and wounded ears. Her dull red eyes were the same colour as the blood, which now coated her crimson red hair. A person was rushing towards her. A girl. She wore a white and black nurse's uniform with a matching hat that sat on her pink hair that was tied up in a high ponytail on the back of her head.

Kyoko gritted her teeth together in frustration. Dammit Madoka.

Madoka knelt down beside Kyoko, and the redhead noticed splatters of blood stains on her dress. "You're going to be okay Kyoko-chan!" Madoka sounded distressed and incredibly concerned, as worry was shown in her large pink eyes.

Too tired to argue, Kyoko stared with blank eyes as Madoka hurriedly wrapped bandages around Kyoko's head and leg. The blood did not subside. Madoka lifted up Kyoko and placed her on a stretcher.

"What are you doing...?" Kyoko hardly whispered, she couldn't even hear her own voice over the sound of guns being fired and bombs and mines going off.

But somehow Madoka heard it. "I'm getting you back to the hospital."

"But I still need to fight…" Kyoko said tiredly, knowing herself that it wasn't to convince Madoka.

"You are in no state to fight Kyoko-chan." Madoka said, sounding like she was in a rush. The pink haired nurse yelled for another to come over to help her. The two lifted up the stretcher with Kyoko's body and basically ran towards the hospital.

That was until a gunshot was heard up too close. The bullet ripped through the other nurse's skull, another through her heart and she collapsed to the ground. Madoka screamed as tears came to her eyes, the other side of the stretcher was dropped and Kyoko fell to the ground.

In a state of hysteria, Madoka grabbed Kyoko's arms and pulled the redhead in the mud to the hospital. Madoka's mind was clouded with the sounds that surrounded her. Of course this happened all the time, she'd lost all her friends except for Kyoko.

Eventually the sound of war decreased, and today's battle finished. More than one hundred dead, another hundred wounded. In the heat of battle over four years only one nurse was left now. Madoka Kaname.

"You didn't have to do that." Kyoko said as the touched the clean bandages on her leg.

"Yes I did, any longer and you would have been dead within minutes." Madoka said, rinsing out the blood filled sponge.

"Couldn't that nurse have been saved?" Kyoko asked.

"Wakana-san had just about enough time as you did until the other bullet hit her heart. There was no way to save her then." Madoka said bitterly.

The two sat in the dark hospital. The windows were the only sources of heat, cool and light. The walls were painted in a disgusting dark green colour and the room was filled with white sheeted beds which usually held sick and patients. But this time the two were alone because Madoka had rushed the soldiers back to health in a matter of hours.

Despite her hostility towards the smaller girl, Kyoko thought Madoka was amazing in a way. She had grown more from being a crying wreck when the war first started. At eighteen, Madoka had become more mature, although she still didn't like handling deaths, especially ones of her friends. Being Madoka's only friend left, Madoka had a special tendency to run to Kyoko first. Not because Madoka hated the other soldiers, but –

"The bastards treating you like crap again?" Kyoko said while she took a bite out an apple, food was rationalised in the war, but Kyoko always found some.

Madoka ignored the redhead's language. "You mean the other soldiers? Not really." She caught the apple Kyoko threw at her and bit into it, savouring the taste of something that had the colour of blood but didn't taste like it.

"You're lying Madoka, what'd they say to ya?"

Madoka sighed, refusing to let tears come to her eyes. "I heard one the men being sexist, they didn't say it to my face though."

"That's new." Kyoko said sarcastically. "You're used to it now I'm guessing?"

"After they regained consciousness a few of them complained to me about how it's my fault that all the other nurses are dead."

Kyoko growled. "Bastards, why do they think that bullshit?"

Madoka's eyes avoided the redhead's. "They said it's because I bring them out onto the field to treat the other soldiers."

"But it's their job and they know that."

"But the nurses avoided it before – broke the rules. It was only until I came when they started to go out onto the field."

Kyoko punched the air before lightly punching Madoka's arm and grinning – lightening up the atmosphere. "Go bossy Madoka!"

Madoka giggled and smiled at her friend. "Thanks Kyoko-chan."

"But still…" Kyoko took another bite of her apple. "… Want me to go fix them up for ya?" She smirked and smacked her fist into her hand.

Madoka sighed. "No thanks Kyoko-chan, I can handle it on my own."

Smirk fading, Kyoko leaned back onto the bed and looked up at the ugly painted ceiling. "Things are going to get harder for you, you know that right?" She said softly. "You have hundreds of soldiers to treat almost every day, and you go out onto the battle field every time. You've gotten shot before, you were lucky another nurse was alive to get that bullet out of your ribcage. You barely even survived that surgery."

Madoka laughed. "My injury was far-fetched wasn't it?"

Kyoko frowned. "Idiot. You've been at risk every time. It's only a matter of time 'till you get killed out there. Without any weapons – it's dumb."

Madoka smiled reassuringly and placed her hand on Kyoko's. "You don't need to be worried about me Kyoko-chan, I won't die out there. I won't leave a friend behind."

Kyoko smiled faintly. "… I don't believe you, but okay."

The Wind War. Started four years ago and had no signs of stopping. Innocent people taken from their homes, most volunteered. Hundreds of the Japanese and the American dead or injured badly. Alexander Johnson was the president of the USA as he conquered the previous ones. He made accusations to the government and the Japanese that they weren't trading. Apparently the Japanese cut off them being trading partners without the American's approval – this was a lie. But anyone who tried to convince the Government of the USA that killed by trained assassins the day after.

Madoka was the one who had first convinced Homura to volunteer in the War. Madoka planned to be a nurse while Homura planned to be in the front lines along with Mami; who volunteered with her own reasons. As soon as Sayaka heard from Madoka she was eager to join even if it meant her death. With months of convincing Kyoko finally volunteered. She was supposed to be in the front lines but being her she basically jumped off to kill anyone in her way, no matter the cost. But joining the army at being only around fourteen and fifteen was foolish and they all knew that. They all knew they were going to die in that war and they let it come.

Homura and Mami were killed when a mine went off from under them. Sayaka was too reckless and gone over the boundaries and risked her safety behind the frontlines. Despite the fact that her skills had improved – being so close to the enemy got her killed in less than thirty seconds. Kyoko had watched the pool of blood appear from below her dead best friend with blank eyes and allowed herself to cry. Once Madoka learnt the news of her friend's deaths she was crying for days over it but still treated for in the battlefield. Those four were the only girls fighting in the war and only one was left. Kyoko was determined not to let it get to her. Madoka wasn't strong enough to deal with it on her own, so Kyoko decided to comfort her until the war ended.

If they were alive by the time it ended anyway.

Kyoko lay down back first on the white sheeted bunk bed in her room. Well 'her room' has actually a bunch of beds that looked a lot like the hospital – even though the walls were painted beige it was still ugly.

Kyoko's crimson eyes searched the ceiling. She eyes the paint peeling off as flakes of it drifted onto her skin that had paled from the loss of blood. Her head still felt dizzy and it held the same ache that her calf held. Her vision was slightly blurry but she had experienced worse in her lifetime in the war, and she could still see the peeling paint that she saw every night so she knew that she was okay.

Kyoko knew that she needed to get some sleep; fatigue was something that wouldn't be on her side in the heat of battle which were uncalled for. One could strike at this very moment while everybody was asleep and invade their privacy.

But then again, privacy wouldn't matter if a bomb hit and a mine went off near them. Every single person could be killed in the blink of an eye.

Kyoko didn't really understand the concepts of the war. Time had gone on since armies used trenches and girls weren't allowed to be in the army. If a bomb hit it'd be a lot easier to escape in the trenches that to be stuck under the rafters of a building that collapsed. Idiotic. Kyoko sighed and closed her eyes.

Whenever Kyoko decided to sleep she would be haunted by nightmares. About the battlefield with all the blood and screaming, the sound of bombs going off still rung in her ears and she wondered why she hadn't gone dead yet. She would see the bodies of Sayaka and Mami – and even Homura and scream at her tearfully why she let them die. Their deaths would replay over and over in her mind until Sayaka grabbed her by the throat and she would wake up from her nightmare gasping for air and clasping at the inexistent hands around her neck.

But lately her nightmares had been about Madoka. The younger innocent nurse girl. Sweet, kind and selfless as she was she wasn't protected from the war and the trauma. She had nightmares as well. Particularly about Homura – apparently Madoka had dreams of Homura yelling at Madoka how she killed her. And she would wake up similar to how Kyoko did, with Homura's inexistent hands wrapped around her throat. Once Madoka told her this tearfully Kyoko had started to feel empathy for her, but not pity. Dreams about Madoka had replayed in her mind like all her other's friends deaths like a broken record player. Madoka would come out to help Kyoko when she was injured and she would be shot through the heart, her body fell limply to the ground and turned into a gruesome beast. Something like a zombie. Kyoko had woken up from those dreams yelling the pink haired girl's name. But later she wondered why she was having dreams about her anyway; maybe it was because Madoka was Kyoko's only friend left alive. Anyway she didn't know.

On those rare nights were a battle hadn't sprung up in a week or two nightmares about her family had begun to resurface again. Although they were terrifying for her she got over them as she hadn't experienced them in four years. She would sometimes be running through darkness, shouting her sister's name while Momo was calling her things like 'traitor' and 'sinner'. Those voices still came to her occasionally.

Although the nightmares with her late friend's had started to be seen through daydreams and hallucinations. When she was really close to shooting an American soldier their body was change form and turn into Sayaka, who was smirking darkly as her, Kyoko hardly recognised her as her usually bright blue eyes full of excitement where darkened with despair and hatred – specifically for Kyoko. "You traitor," it whispered, "You betrayed me." Then the hallucination of Sayaka had stared at her with a ghostly wide smile and Kyoko was paralysed. Soon the illusion disappeared and deep gunshot wounds appeared after.

Kyoko chuckled darkly at how weak she'd become. At how life in an ongoing war had broken her, turned her darker than she was before. Once she had broken from the pain of losing Sayaka and Madoka was the only person to calm her down even though the scared nurse was crying as well. Sayaka's voice was screaming "Weak! Weak!" at her for around an hour until it went away.

With blank eyes Kyoko reached up to the ceiling and traced it with her pale fingers. Flakes of dry paint fell onto her face but she didn't budge. She forced memories resurfacing had become too much for her worn out mind and she eventually drifted into unconsciousness.

"Kyoko!"

Gasping, Kyoko snapped her head upwards. Her completely clean red hair drifted as she looked up, the familiar voice calling her name.

She was in a field. While she was wearing her normal army uniform she did not feel in pain and her vision was clear. She wondered where the voice had come from and turned around, until she recognised it.

"Sayaka!" Kyoko called out, stepping forward. She lifted up her arm to shield herself from the bright sun that lit up her body in a bright light. The faint breeze drifted her fringe to the side so she could see clearly in front of her.

A girl. Bright large blue pools for eyes and short blue hair. She wore Mitakihara School Uniform. Kyoko was surprised she recognised the uniform as she hadn't worn it but had seen Madoka and her friends wear it many times. A bright smile was on her face directed at Kyoko. "Let's go Kyoko!"

Panicking, Kyoko grabbed Sayaka's wrist. "Wait!" The wind dropped slightly as Sayaka turned to look at Kyoko with curious eyes.

"What is it?"

The redhead gulped. "What are you doing here? What's happening?"

Sayaka rolled her eyes and pulled away from Kyoko's grip. "Come this way and I'll explain."

Kyoko stared at Sayaka with uncertain eyes. Confused as she was the joy of seeing Sayaka alive and well again was overwhelming her as well. She decided to follow the blue haired girl.

Sayaka ran for a while until she eventually stopped all of a sudden. Kyoko ran up beside her, confused. The looked around where she was standing but it was the same, a vast field full of green grass with a clear blue sky above of them.

It seemed too strange for Kyoko. She faced Sayaka. "What is it Sayaka?"

Sayaka faced the redhead. Her fringe was covering her eyes but a faint smile graced her lips. She raised her hand and traced a finger on Kyoko's jawline teasingly.

Kyoko felt like growling and batting Sayaka's hand away but instead she stayed frozen to place as her cheeks heated up. She wondered why. Eventually she had the courage and slapped Sayaka's hand away before she stared at her with a cold hard glare.

Sayaka pretended to look innocent. "Oh did I upset you?"

She was mocking her. Kyoko knew that at least. But it was all too weird. "What's going on?"

Sayaka titled her head as a ghost of a smile overtook her face. The wind dropped suddenly and clouds filled the sky which became black. Over the lightning and her own horrified gasp as the once green glass was now overflowing with dirt Kyoko heard Sayaka's voice.

"You don't understand Kyoko?"

The place was now fully changed at it was all too recognisable. A warzone. Rain pelted down from the sky and lightning struck mercilessly as gunshot rung through Kyoko's ears. Her shoes sunk into mud and her hair started to get damp and before she knew it Sayaka's katana was at her neck.

With wide eyes, Kyoko stared at Sayaka. Her hair was soaked and was now a darker shade of blue, it covered her eyes but that ghostly and cunning smile was still planted on her lips.

"What's … going on?" Kyoko almost whisper; blood splattered onto her leg as nausea filled her throat.

Nothing in Sayaka's expression changed, but she tilted her head up again just so Kyoko could see something under it.

Terror filled Kyoko's body once she saw Sayaka's eye sockets; they were filled with blood as her eyeballs dropped to the ground. Kyoko was paralysed with fear, her body shook violently and she didn't react when blood filled bile dripped out of her mouth and down her chin.

She tried to speak but only breath came out; it was ragged and wavered with fright. Her crimson eyes were widened enough but when Sayaka spoke.

"This Kyoko… is your nightmare."

Kyoko awoke, strangled gasps escaping her throat and she wiped her face constantly with her hands to get the sweat and tears away, but they would just keep coming. Kyoko bit into her shirt to gag herself and keep herself and from making any noticeable sounds that she was full of terror.

After a couple of minutes of her rapid shaky breathing had died down, and her fright filled expression had changed back to neutral – which was what Madoka considered miserable – was left on her face. She sat up and pulled her knees to her chest, opening her mouth to the saliva- soaked collar of her shirt fell out of it. Kyoko wrapped her arms around her legs and rested her head on her knees, staring at nothing in particular.

Sayaka's voice echoed in her mind over and over again as a constant reminder of her fear.

"This Kyoko… is your nightmare."

"Kyoko… is your nightmare."

"… Is your nightmare."

"Your nightmare."

"Nightmare."

Kyoko squinted her eyes tight as tears formed in the corners of them. She was used to this already. Waking up every night to be so full of fear is was hard for her not to have yet another panic attack, it was all familiar. One time she had woken up to a terrible nightmare and had a panic attack screaming "I'm going to die! Help me! Help me please!" It was so loud that it woke everybody up. Kyoko didn't remember it of course, but Sayaka was alive at the time and she told her.

But that ghostly smile on her late best friend haunted her. It said 'I hate you', 'I can't stand looking at you', 'you're a disgusting human being' and 'should I even call you human?'

"That's right." Kyoko whispered to herself. "Someone who let their best friend die doesn't deserve to be called human."

A battle didn't strike up the next day surprisingly. They soldiers had training before they were pulled off to break.

Kyoko sat alone like she always did. Sitting next to the building cross legged just thinking was something she found relaxing, even though she could always hear the gunshot and bombs in her head.

Today was different. It seemed that Madoka was allowed to be let off duty for break at the same time she did. How convenient. Kyoko thought as she watched Madoka walk out of the hospital room. The pink haired girl held her hands to her chest and she looked nervous as many muscular men walked past her.

Kyoko raised a hand to her mouth. "Madoka!" She called. Madoka turned her head instantly and her face lit up. She ran towards the redhead and kneeled beside her, beaming. "Good morning Kyoko-chan!"

"Afternoon." Kyoko corrected, before immediately noticing the bags under Madoka's eyes, her face looked quite pale. Kyoko's eyes softened in empathy. "Another nightmare huh?"

Madoka nodded while smiling softly, she wiped the dirt off her white ankle long dress and sat down. "You always seem to notice don't you Kyoko-chan?"

"I learnt off Homura." Kyoko said. "Whenever I saw her when she wasn't fighting she was always looking after you. Even though she wasn't allowed into your quarters at night to comfort you she always told me that she could hear you crying every night even though I couldn't." She paused, choosing her words carefully with a bitter smile. "She was a nice person."

Madoka smiled softly again and the redhead's words before she noticed the bags under Kyoko's eyes as well. Her dark red eyes held hidden despair and fright. She had a nightmare again as well. She thought, fidgeting with the fringe of her dress. But I won't bring it up, I'm sure it was worse than mine.

"So was Sayaka-chan." Madoka said quietly. But instead of a pained expression overtaking her face, Madoka was surprised to see Kyoko's face not change but her fringe cover her overcast eyes. "Yeah, she was."

"And Mami-san… they all were." Madoka whispered, and Kyoko only nodded in reply.

A silence befell them, they both watched the dirt fly up into air with the faint breeze. Madoka felt sadness fill her; she clenched her throat to stop herself from crying. She knew that she had grown up, and to cry of her friend's deaths in a battle that happened around two years ago was not only pathetic but it was weak for she was considered a soldier herself even if she was not fighting. When she volunteered to be in the war, she knew that she was going to die in there. She refused to die in any other way in the war than to die protecting someone else. And even if Kyoko died, she would protect the other soldiers who disrespected her and called her bad things. If she died and was known in the future for protecting another soldier she would be happy with it.

Madoka was completely ready and willing to sacrifice her own life for someone else's.

Before she could process another thought about her future Madoka saw the large shadow of a person appear in front of her. As she looked up with wide eyes she saw the person. A muscular man wearing an army uniform was standing before them. He had short black hair and dark brown eyes. He was smirking at the two girls and blocking Madoka's view of the sun.

Kyoko's voice snapped Madoka out of her trance. "What do you want Arisaka?"

Arisaka put his hands on his hips and Madoka noticed the bandage on his left thigh. "That's right." She said out loud. "You're one of my-"

"Patients." Arisaka finished. His voice was gruff and his Japanese sounded rude and informal. "Yeah that's right, my leg still hurts from yesterday." He glared at Madoka darkly.

Madoka sighed inwardly, not showing Arisaka. She knew that he was about to blame her for yet another case of wound pain. She stood up. "Arisaka-san, I'm sorry but it's not my fault. I washed and bandaged it so it won't get infected. The fact that's still hurting is natural."

Arisaka glared with narrowed eyes. "Now we only have one nurse left because you wouldn't let your favourite die right?"

Madoka felt a pang of hurt inside but she covered it up. "I would do that for you Arisaka-san." She smiled. "I'd do it for everyone."

Arisaka growled. "Then why do you let everybody else die then Kaname?!"

Madoka took a step back, feeling pain at his words. "I- I can't get to all of you in time. Please you have to understand that-"

Madoka was cut off by a sharp pain in her cheek and her head was forced to the side. All the soldiers fell silent with the one sickening sound and turned to them.

Kyoko gasped.

Madoka held her tender cheek with one hand as she listened to Arisaka shout so that the entire site could hear.

"Look at her! Pathetic! She let our men die! Without the nurses we won't be able to live anymore! And it's all because of YOU!"

Madoka shrieked when Arisaka slapped her again. Kyoko was unable to do anything as he continued.

"YOU lead them onto the field so they can die! YOU made us lose all our hope of living with these fucking injuries! YOU are the one who is letting us all die 'cause you just want to save your redhead favourite! YOU DON'T DESERVE TO LIVE!" He raged.

Arisaka raised his arm and Kyoko suddenly felt rage build up inside her, the very anger bubbling up to the top and it was nearly pouring out like a volcano. Arisaka brought down his hand and Madoka winced; waiting for the impact.

But it didn't come.

Madoka opened her eyes and gasped. Kyoko stood in front of her holding Arisaka's wrist with an iron-like grip. The other hand was held out beside her to protect Madoka. Kyoko raised her head so Arisaka could see her dark, narrowed and accusing eyes.

"Don't touch her." Kyoko snarled.

For a moment Arisaka looked surprised, before he smirked. "What are ya gonna do about it ya dumb bi-"

Kyoko swung her foot into his face to shut him up. Arisaka skidded back before crouching down; he held his face in his hand as he cursed. He didn't have any time to speak before he saw Kyoko running towards him.

Kyoko threw her fist at him but Arisaka dodged just in time. He ran up to her and flung his foot at Kyoko's face but she caught his leg and jumped up. Arisaka caught a glimpse of Kyoko's fiery red hair before a sharp pain in the back of his head pushed him to the ground.

Kyoko landed onto the ground in one swift moment, she crouched while facing the ground before she stood up and stared him down with a cold expression. She walked over to him and roughly kicked his head, causing him to moan in pain.

Suddenly Kyoko caught a flash of angry brown eyes and a fist before a pain in her face knocked her down. The agony that seared up her face made her sure that her nose was broken as blood flashed before her eyes.

This Kyoko… is your nightmare.

Kyoko flipped over before landing crouched with her hand in front of her. Her head shot up to look at Arisaka with an angry expression. "You bastard!"

A gunshot rung through the air.

Kyoko and Arisaka froze in the spot, eyes wide.

General Ryoto Matou stood near the two of them. He wore an army uniform and he looked enraged. He had long straight black hair that ran down his back and slanted hazel eyes. His pale skin outshone the rest of theirs and it looked almost white like a vampire.

"Step away from each other!"

Growling, Arisaka stepped back. As did Kyoko while snarling. She couldn't believe this, but she couldn't stop it. She wanted to beat Arisaka up so bad that when she clenched her fist she could almost feel her nails ripping into her skin.

Ryoto walked towards them with a stone cold expression. "What happened here?" After a moment of silence, he raised his voice. "Explain imbeciles!"

Clenching his teeth, Arisaka spoke up. "Sakura attacked-"

"He hit the nurse General." Kyoko interrupted him. "He said that she should die, and he slapped her."

Ryoto didn't look surprised. During his many years of being in wars Kyoko could tell that it happened before. From the wrinkles embedding his face she could tell that he was around fifty. Ryoto stayed silent for a moment. "Kubota. Killing the nurse will not give you anything back. Having one nurse who can fix all you idiots up is better than nobody to care for you."

Arisaka scowled in annoyance, but he knew that he couldn't argue with the General. It would get him killed.

Ryoto's head turned to Kyoko, and she felt a shiver run down her spine with those familiar dark emotionless eyes. It reminded her of Homura.

"Sakura."

"Yes General." The way Kyoko said didn't make it sound like a question, more like a reply.

Ryoto didn't bother to notice. "Has anybody ever bothered to tell you that you shouldn't let your emotions get the better of you before?"

I can't remember how many times I've been told that. "Yes." She said.

"Who?"

"Homura Akemi."

"Homura Akemi…" Ryoto's tongue ran over the names as if he was trying to resurface something in his brain. "You mean the front liner who was killed when a mine went off?"

"That's right." Kyoko said bitterly. "She always reminded me never to lose my temper because I might lose my life in battle."

Ryoto was silent for a moment. "She was a good solider."

Kyoko nodded. "I respected her." She admitted.

"Well she was right. Getting injured any more will bring more trouble to our only nurse, who has been hurt already. Did you think of that?"

Kyoko's eyes widened as the realisation came through her like a tidal wave. She looked at Madoka who was staring at Kyoko, her cheek was swollen and her bright pink eyes were widened with fright.

She bit her lip and lowered her head to prevent Madoka's gaze from getting to her. "I did not realise that. I apologise." Kyoko hated the sound of using formal Japanese, it sounded sick to her.

Glancing up at Arisaka, she noticed his smirk and she was sure that he was thinking something like 'she deserved to be hurt.' That very thought made her clench her fist with anger, but she didn't move from that spot.

"Look, I understand that you're both angry." Ryoto continued. "But you've got to let it slide. We are in a war and we're trying to defeat the opposite side, not our own." And with a simple glance at the two, he turned.

"Kaname-san!" Ryoto raised his voice so that Madoka could hear him. Madoka was startled. "S-Sir?"

"Please take Sakura with you as you take care of your wounds, Kubota will come to you soon." He paused. "If he hurts you, I will make sure that he pays for it dearly."

Madoka nodded and tried to smile in gratitude, but her eyes were filling with tears. "Thank you General."

Once the General had walked away, Arisaka walked up beside Kyoko and said something to her softly. "After this war, I will kill her. She is too young to handle this. Kaname caused my brother's death."

"So you didn't try to save him?"

Kyoko heard Arisaka's gasp of shock and anger. "Of course I would have helped him if I had known!"

"So through all the screams of gunshot and bombs and mines and everything you can't even recognise your brother's scream of pain? How pathetic." Kyoko said with brutal honesty.

She didn't wince when Arisaka grabbed her shoulder and dug his fingers into her skin. "You don't understand. I bet you never heard your friend's screams when they died."

"I did. I tried to go to their side but their bodies were already ripped apart by bombs or they were too far away from the border for me to get to them. But I got over it. You should too."

Kyoko lightly tapped Arisaka's hand and he let go. Kyoko heard his scream of frustration before she rushed over to Madoka.

Holding her arms, Kyoko rushed her over to the hospital room with tears stinging her eyes and blood dripping from her broken nose.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry Madoka…"

"Kyoko-chan…"

The two sat in the hospital room again. Madoka silently bandaged Kyoko's broken nose without even looking at her.

Kyoko glanced up at Madoka. Her face was shadowed over with her fringe as she wrapped the last of the bandage up.

"Thanks." Kyoko muttered.

Madoka didn't reply as the wound the bandage up and placed it on her pile of medical equipment on her desk. The room was filled with silence until-

"Kyoko-chan."

"Madoka."

The two shot their heads up to stare at each other as they had said each other's in unison. Madoka eyes softened as she spoke. "You say it first."

Kyoko frowned. "Are you gonna fix your face or what?"

"It's fine, I'm not weak."

"It's okay to be weak."

Madoka's eyes widened. "Kyoko-chan…"

Kyoko smiled softly with reassurance unhidden in her tone. "Sayaka told me once that crying is another way to show strength. If you cry when you need to then you can face your problems better.*"

"Sayaka-chan said that"

"Yeah, so you can cry if you want to Madoka. It's okay." Kyoko grinned the same way she always did as if to reassure her that everything would be alright. "I'm right here."

Madoka stared at Kyoko for a few moments until her pink eyes started to well up with tears. Sobs started to escape her throat as she grabbed Kyoko's hand with both of hers for support.

Expression softening, Kyoko used her other arm to pull Madoka closer to her. Madoka didn't bother as she sobbed hard into Kyoko's chest.

"It hurt! It hurt so much Kyoko-chan!"

Kyoko wasn't about to show Madoka her pained expression so she buried her face into Madoka's hair. "It was his words right?"

"Yes!" Madoka sobbed. "I don't deserve to die do I?! Kyoko-chan!"

"You don't Madoka." Kyoko said as she moved her arm to clutch the smaller body tight. "You see me? If I was in your place I wouldn't give a damn about all those other people on the battlefield except my friends. But you… you'd sacrifice for someone who hated you."

With half squinted eyes Madoka saw her tears form onto Kyoko's clothes as she moved both her hands from Kyoko's and clutched the redhead's body like it was a life source.

"I can tell that ever since the first time one of the soldiers criticised you you haven't cried about it. Haven't you?"

Madoka wept hard as she tearfully spoke. "No I haven't! And you know what? It isn't fair!"

"You're right, it isn't."

"I don't like getting told off because I'm doing my job!"

"I understand that Madoka."

Madoka didn't speak any more as she cried almost hysterically into Kyoko while the redhead embraced her with strong arms. They stayed like this until they awkwardly pulled apart a few minutes later.

Madoka sat up and wiped a tear from her cheek. Her face and eyes were red from crying so much and her hair was a mess. "I'm sorry Kyoko-chan."

"Don't apologise all the time Madoka, you should be glad. You feel better now don't you?" Kyoko smiled and moved her hand from Madoka's shoulder.

Madoka nodded and smiled. "I do feel better. Thanks for telling me that."

"Now…" Kyoko lightly tapped the red mark on Madoka's cheek, causing the pink haired girl to wince. "Fix it up!"

Gunshot after gunshot after gunshot. Kyoko saw mines going off from and dust sprayed into her face as the blood from other people's bodies did too. Army tanks rolled out onto the field and before Kyoko could register what was happening she saw a stray bit of skin drop onto her leg.

I need to get out.

Kyoko felt the scream clog up in her throat but it wouldn't come out. But luckily she wasn't paralysed so she batted the piece of skin off and sprinted. She didn't see much as her feet slammed into the ground so fast she wasn't focused on much else other than getting back to shelter.

I need to get out.

Suddenly she heard the whistling sound of a grenade over the sounds of battle. Realising what was happening Kyoko gasped and sprinted off in the opposite direction. She barely had any time to duck before the loud boom of a grenade hitting rung in her ears. Screams of the soldiers that died in that battle crossed her mind hauntingly. Kyoko scrambled back before standing up and seeing Madoka's bloody body lifeless with the debris of the hospital.

I need to get out.

"Madoka!" Kyoko shouted before she started running towards her. But a bullet shot past her ears and hit Madoka straight through the heart. Kyoko felt her soul crushing down but she didn't give up. All of a sudden the hospital burst into bright orange flames and Kyoko watched Madoka's body collapse into ashes.

I need to get out.

Terrified, Kyoko turned to start running again before she saw a rifle pointed to her head. Kyoko gasped as she saw who was in front of her. Amber eyes and golden hair in drills. Her eyes were dark looking and her face was graced with a ghostly smile. "Mami?!" Kyoko gasped out.

I need to get out.

Kyoko took a step back before she felt the nuzzle of another gun pointed at the back of her head. The wind picked up and the redhead could see a wisp of raven hair drift past her. "Homura! What's happening?!" When Kyoko was about to face the dark haired girl a sharp cut to her thigh rendered her speechless as she dropped to the ground. Wincing in pain, Kyoko lifted up her head to see a familiar girl with short blue hair holding a katana.

I need to get out!

"What are you three doing here?!" Kyoko shouted. "You're supposed to be dead! Tell me!" She pleaded. Her three friends didn't reply and aimed their weapons at her again. Kyoko eyes widened and tried to scramble away but was frozen into place. Mami, Homura and Sayaka were wearing a set of familiar cunning and ghostly smile on their faces. Sayaka raised her katana to strike while Mami and Homura held their fingers over the trigger. Kyoko held her hands over her head and screamed as she saw her own blood splatter the muddy ground.

Get me out of here!

"Madoka!" Kyoko screamed as she shot up into place. Her breathing shuddered with fear as she remained frozen in place. She felt the white sheet beneath her fingers as the ache in her broken nose shot up again.

"Kyoko-chan what's wrong?"

Kyoko blinked to see Madoka's face right in front of hers and she scrambled back, an embarrassed blush covering her cheeks. "N-Nothing!"

Madoka frowned in worry once she noticed the complete and utter terror in Kyoko's face. "Was it a nightmare?"

Kyoko was momentarily surprised before she nodded and lowered her head. "Yeah it was."

"Did I die in it?" Madoka daringly questioned, she saw Kyoko clench her fist when she nodded. The pink haired girl smiled. "It's okay. I know that because whenever I see Homura-chan dying in a dream I'm always calling her name."

Kyoko winced when Madoka spoke up again. "Would you like to-"

-get out of here!

The redhead froze before she nodded. "Yes… I- I would like to…"

Kyoko glanced up at Madoka to see her eyes widened. "But K-Kyoko-chan." Madoka started. "That's very unlike you."

Kyoko suddenly felt angry. She stood up off the bed and pushed Madoka's desk aside in rage. "Unlike me?! How is me wanting to escape unlikely?!" With those last few words she leant down to Madoka so she could see her wrath filled eyes.

"Escape?" Madoka whimpered out. "I didn't say that…"

Kyoko faltered. "You didn't?" Madoka shook her head and the redhead slumped down onto the bed before rubbing her temple in frustration.

"It doesn't matter. Some something from the nightmare" She sighed. "What did you say?"

Madoka placed her hands on her lap. "I asked you if you wanted to talk about your nightmare."

Kyoko shook her head. "Rather not thanks."

Madoka frowned. "I understand."

Silence befell them for a few minutes as an idea started to form in Kyoko's mind. Along with the voices in her mind it shaped into something so brilliant she didn't understand how she didn't think of it before.

I need to get out. Out of where? Out of…

Kyoko grinned as a fang showed. Her eyes glinted with sudden determination and passion. Her body flowed with something that she hadn't felt for years. Happiness. And she liked it. A fire came into her eyes that she hadn't felt for so long it almost burn her.

"Madoka."

"Yes?"

Kyoko straightened up her back and faced the nurse, her burning crimson eyes were glinting so bright Madoka wondered why it didn't. The redhead placed both hands on Madoka's shoulders and grinned at her with such a wide smile it almost looked insane.

"Let's get out of here."

Madoka eyes widened. "Out of… here?" Kyoko nodded. "You mean out of the w-war?"

"Yeah." Kyoko said intensely, that same grin still implanted on her face. "We can escape all of it. Oh Madoka it'd be awesome! Some freedom and not having to get wounds every day in battle! Just think about it for a second."

Madoka did think about it. And it seemed totally insane. "But it's suicide Kyoko-chan! If they catch you you'll be killed! Think clearly!"

"I am." Kyoko said as her grin became wider so her blood red gum was showing in the faint light that shone in through the windows. "I haven't thought so clearly in my entire life."

"Kyoko-chan…" Madoka started, fear growing in her gut and showing on her face. "You're starting to scare me. This is unlike you."

"But think about it Madoka – an entire world where we're free away from war. Away from the things that caused the nightmares of our friends. You can even see your family again after these four long years!"

Madoka stifled a gasp as the thought of seeing her family again made her fill with joy. Mama, Papa, Tatsuya- She immediately shook the thought away and frowned at Kyoko. "I refuse."

Kyoko's smile faltered as did the glint in her eyes. "But why? Don't you wish for freedom?"

"If I had a wish it would be to protect everyone. Besides…" Madoka chose her words carefully. "Even if we run away from here then we won't escape the war."

"Then let's stop it."

Madoka's eyes widened dangerously. "S-Stop the war?"

"Yeah." Kyoko's grin appeared again just as insane looking as it did before. "We'll stop the war. You'll go back to your family and we'll be able to avenge your friends!"

"But that's impossible Kyoko-chan!" Madoka raised her voice. "We'll never be able to stop it! We're just people in a major war and who knows when it'll stop?! The president of America and our leader absolutely despise each other! Also like you said you don't care for other people so why would you even think about stopping this war my reasons-"

"Because I'd do something like that for you."

As soon as the words slipped out from Kyoko's lips the crazy glint in her eyes disappeared and the smile fell from her face. Her eyes widened and she felt her cheeks heat up as she shuffled back on the bed.

Madoka stared, her cheeks were touched with tinge of pink as she replayed Kyoko's words in her head. "You'd stop the war… for me?"

"N-No…" Kyoko lied, fidgeting with the edge of her shirt. "I mean that… if we stop the war we'll have freedom, that's all."

Madoka frowned and sat down beside Kyoko, she stared to try and force the redhead to look at her. She eventually did, Kyoko stared back as Madoka spoke softly.

"Do you mean that if we escape and stop this war then everybody will be safe?"

Kyoko hesitated a moment before nodding.

"So everybody will be free from fighting and getting hurt?"

"… I guess so."

Madoka smiled. She knew what to do now. No more sitting around and saving people who didn't like her – she was going to do much more for others now. "Then let's go!"

Kyoko's face lit up. "Really?!"

Madoka nodded and took the redhead's hands in her own. "Let's go Kyoko-chan!"

Now that it was decided neither Kyoko or Madoka knew how they were going to escape the military headquarters that was far from the battlefield and in the so called 'security' of walls and enclosure. However the headquarters was rigged with traps that set off alarms which meant that the soldiers would follow General Ryoto's orders and capture them. The escapees were killed for treason.

The doors and windows were locked and bolted every night to stop them from escaping anyway. There was no way out and Kyoko had never thought of an idea at night because she was too busy trying to keep the nightmares away.

Kyoko knew that going to Madoka and sleeping in her quarters before escaping was impossible as well. Every night there was a roll count and whoever wasn't there at the time was immediately caught by camera's set around the entire headquarters. Madoka knew this too.

Kyoko had heard the General chatting to a Major about how they were going to rage battle on the American Soldiers tomorrow morning, so she told Madoka they had to escape tonight. The two decided to form a plan before lights out.

Kyoko would first take out the cameras by encasing black tar she had found on the battlefield over them. They would be convinced that it was pitch black and it took out the sound. While Madoka did that as well Kyoko would burn off the bolts using a match that she got from Madoka – who used it to burn the wounds off the soldier's bodies. Madoka would do this too. After tarring up all the other cameras in the hallways and Madoka's quarters they would meet up in the hospital and sneak past the General.

"Is this safe Kyoko-chan?" Madoka whispered. Her usual white nightgown was covered with a long brown old fashioned coat. She kept her back to the wall with Kyoko as they crept past the General.

"Yeah now shut up. Anything can wake that damn General up." Kyoko whispered harshly back to her.

Madoka's eyebrows furrowed together with worry and her body shook with nervousness. She was unsure if they would get through it and she was sure Kyoko thought the same thing.

Once the two had edged a safe distance from the General's room they sighed softly in relief.

I wonder if he let us past. Kyoko thought before making a gesture for Madoka to come along. "Hurry up."

Madoka nodded and scurried after her. After a few moments of silence with only their footsteps echoing quietly in the hallways Madoka spoke up.

"Hey Kyoko-chan."

"What is it?"

"I never do anything… the others always fight for me. Am I a coward?"

Kyoko almost winced at the sound of self-hatred in her tone. "Is that why you think you should become a soldier like me?"

Madoka's eyes widened. "I wonder…"

Kyoko froze to the spot and glared back at Madoka. She faced the pink haired girl. "Don't underestimate it. It's not just a job anybody can do."

Madoka stepped forward. "But-"

"If you're fine with being a nurse and saving other people's lives to make your happy, then why go the hard way and try to save others by killing them? I wouldn't let someone become a soldier and throw their life away just because they think they should. I'd beat her to a pulp."

Gasping, Madoka stepped back as Kyoko continued.

"Only those who have no choice should put their lives on the line like you and me. I wasn't able to stop you and I'm putting you at risk now by doing this. So I'm a hypocrite and I'm fine with that. But were you really willing to become a soldier with your so called 'instincts' that you could save our country by killing others?"

Looking at the floor, Madoka muttered; "I guess."

Kyoko frowned and held her hand out. "Take it."

Madoka looked at Kyoko with wide eyes when she snapped her head up. "… Take your hand?"

"You're nervous. Whenever I was nervous my little sister would hold my hand until I calmed down."

Madoka smiled warmly. "Okay." She took Kyoko's hand in her own.

They didn't have time to move when the alarms went off.

*Who can guess what that quote is off?

A/N: Please R & R!