(In this story the concept of Magical Girls does not exist. Kyouko is a runaway who had happened across a talking cat named Kyubey. Like in another story of mine, 'The Mitakihara Muse', she is homeless. Just thought I'd clear some stuff up first. Thanks.)
I wouldn't be surprised if the skyscrapers themselves were just the teeth, set in the jaws of what we call Mitakihara, and one day, the earth will levitate slowly folding upon itself, as the metallic fangs of this place seals shut and traps the citizens inside. We will be swallowed into it's grungy gut forever and left to fester. Every night, I sit atop these construction sites, over looking the general public. Far below, they are entrancing and if I could swoop down and take a person out with my mighty set of talons, I would. Long ago, I wouldn't think of climbing this insane height. The idea of slipping off by chance would make me weak in the stomach. Why'd I come here at all? It started with Kyubey. That rascal. It must be the stomach pains and hunger getting to me, but I swear I can hear him talk and no one else can. I have been alone for a while now.
We happened across each other one night when it was raining. I'd found a large, disposed box at the end of a blind alley and sat in it, hunched up and pathetic. The smell inside was sweet and tangy, and it tickled my taste buds. I'd walk past some take-away joints sometimes and pick up on it, but I never knew what it really was. Then I saw him, all soggy and ruffled from the downpour and I invited him in with me. He crept up into my lap and snuggled in close to me. I didn't complain. I was damp already, and I am most of the time. It felt nice to have someone, something, to hold close to me.
The next morning I woke up, alone, to the rich, fresh stench of new garbage. Nauseating. Probably expired fish or something. Retching, I covered up my nose with my sleeve end and crept out from the cardboard. Thinking of taking it with me somewhere else, my hopes were crushed to realize the apparent sturdy form slumped effortlessly once I had exited and it fell in a miserable wet heap on the ground. My stomach roared fiercely in my belly and just as I had turned to walk out the alley, Kyubey came back. It looked like a cooked chicken or something, but he approached me confidently, still somewhat messy with matted dried fur. The chicken was almost as big as him and, damn, it smelled good. It glistened in the morning sun with a thick, sweet, reddish coating on its skin. He nudged his head up at me continuously, as if he wanted me to take it. I did and tore off the drumsticks to give to him. I figured he wouldn't need as much as me.
"I'm ever so grateful for you for taking me in last night. I was sure I'd not survive at all if it hadn't been for you".
I stared at him for a long moment, unsure If I'd actually heard him. It was impossible. It's a cat, for pete's sake.
Playfully, as if I'd heard him, testing my sanity, I spoke back "If you got this chicken on your own, it's pretty certain you'd get by better than I probably will".
"On the contrary, stray cats are nothing but a nuisance to people. Perhaps if I were still a kitten, It would be more likely, but seeing me as I am now, they'd probably think I'm feral and have some diseases".
I chocked on my food, thumping my chest to clear my airway. The cat talks. It talks! What the freaking heck?
"Err... Hi I'm crazy. Absolutely crazy. What's your name?" I stuttered jokingly, spooked by the feline. This was some prank, right?
"I understand you're feeling perplexed by my ability to communicate. I was in a lab and part of a new investigative study on how to make animals be able to speak in according to their moods and actions. You see, I've been micro-chipped and this microchip allows for me to be able to direct my speech in a language you can understand. I believe it is adjustable in currently 15 other languages" he said brightly, brushing himself up against my boots affectionately.
This all went over my head and I shook my head viciously, trying to snap out of what I was sure was some delusion.
"S-so... um...".
He chuckled "I'm sorry. I haven't answered your question. I am test No:430. But, you can call me Kyubey. It's nice to meet you".
"I-I was kidding before. My name's Kyouko. Kyouko Sakura".
"Very well, Sakura-san, shall we dig into today's breakfast?".
It seems so long ago now. Time has gone by so much faster, things have been easier, now Kyubey's with me. He's my little associate in crime now: Sniffing out clothes for me to wear, raiding restaurants and convenience stores for food and rummaging through skips to find the nights cover. If we were lucky, we'd find maybe a store doorway for a while to cover us from the rain, but we'd be quickly shooed away.
There's an abandoned warehouse now and me and Kyubey share a small room, coated in dust. It's dark and kinda creepy, but there's a king-size bed, shelter and as much security as we can probably get. It's drafty, but I can't complain.
"I'm going down to the park, Kyubey".
"Ah, are you hungry, Sakura-san?" he peeped, stretching himself from sleepiness.
"No, I just need a walk, I've been up here for hours".
It's nice here at night. Quiet. Most people are scared, 'cus some mean, older folks walk around here doing heck-knows-what. It doesn't seem too bad, besides, I'm used to the dark and have some good hearing. If someone were to creep up on me, I'd pick up on it in an instant. After gazing around the wide space, consisting of the little flourish of nature that was cupped in this jagged, unnatural environment, I hear a voice in the distance and take refuge under a bridge. Just in case it was the police. They'd pick up on me in a second and I was wanted for shop lifting. Little Kyubey sat like a Bastet statue beside me, lapping up some of the water not too far off the edge where we sat. I am really not in the mood for roughing it up tonight.
Oddly enough, as the voice becomes more distinct and clear, it rouses my attention. I had expected gruff grunts, slurs and grumblings of older men, drunk from the bar. What I'm getting is light, fluffy and makes my heart flutter. A girl. What was she doing out here so late? I hear her walk over the bridge and I edge about the corner to get a proper look. It's a school girl, tall with short, sapphire blue hair. She heads across the path and leans back against a street light, talking on her phone casually.
I feel something woozy, a stirring at the pit of my stomach and this lightness in my chest. Why am I being magnetized to her like this, automatically, so naturally? Is this normal?
She stands and talks under the light for a few minutes and then hangs up, putting her phone away and going to walk off further down the path.
I want to talk to her. To know her name. But... how would I do that? If I just went up to her, would she be creeped out? She'd definitely think I smelt and looked awful. I mean, just look at the state of me right now: Scuffed boots, tatty shorts, a thinning, torn hoodie, a pony tail turning proudly into a dread lock and greasy from heck knows.
"You look conflicted Sakura-san" declares the kitty, quite loudly, looking up at me.
"Damn it Kyubey, is there no volume adjustment to your voice?!".
"I believe not".
"Well, please shut up!" I hiss desperately.
"I just want to understand, Sakura-san. Is there anyway I can help you at all? Are you sick? Your face seems a tad red and you're sweating".
"No, I'm not sick!".
"There's no need to be snappy" he informs, blatantly.
"I said be quiet and you're still tal-"
"Hello?".
I shiver, just feeling the presence of the girl standing behind me, crouched, so as to see me better. I spin round on my heels, still squatting, falling on my behind in the dirt and looked at her gob-smacked. Kyubey crawls all over me like he's disorientated. Why does she have to see me like this?
"A-are you okay under there? What are you doing?" she says, her voice so soft and showing clear concern, rather than disapproval or repulsion.
"I... I err..." I'm so embarrassed. So humiliated. I'm stuttering so nervously. It's just a girl. Why am I so damn nervous?
"My cat... erm... was thirsty. So, I went to fetch him. Didn't want him falling in the lake" I lie, still stammering awkwardly. I crawl out from underneath, wanting to have some chance at this. I hold up Kyubey, 'proving' my situation.
Wavering his tail, Kyubey wriggles and purrs in my grasp. Thanks for playing along, pal.
"Hey, he's a cutie" she cooes, scratching under his chin. "He needs a bath though. Though I could say the same for you" she vocally prods, her face twisting a little.
"Oi!" I growl, losing my temper a little.
"H-Hey, I was just playing around" she says, holding her hands up a tad in mock self-defense, smirking out the corner of her mouth.
"Quit laughing at me!" I snap, pushing her back some.
She scowls, brushing herself off and marching back over "What's your problem?".
"You're my problem. Don't make fun of me like that".
"I'm sorry, geez. Not my fault that you look like you crawled out from a dumpster" she grumbled, irritated.
"I can hear you" I snarl.
"Well, good. Do something about it. Your parents let you go out like that, or are you just some kid that's way too enthusiastic about nature?".
"Quit it!".
"Yikes, whatever. I'm going".
Aw, nuts. I screwed up.
"W-Wait... I'm sorry. Err... I didn't mean to shove you like that. I'm just not use to... well..."
My words shrivel up and won't leave my mouth. My heart's pounding like crazy now as she stands there, arms folded, judging me with her eyes, like some parent expecting an explanation for some ill deed from their child. I can't take my eyes off her. She's stunning: Those captivating, ocean blue eyes of hers are sucking me in and I can't seem to escape them. The street light is illuminating her skin and highlighting every possible detail. Is my heart growing arms and legs and trying to climb out my throat? It feels like it!
"Not used to what?" the girl jabs, brow raised.
Christ, it's like she's trying to make me not like her.
"Calm yourself, Sakura-san. You're not doing well to make a good first impression" the feline points out, obviously.
"You're not helping!" I snap through clenched teeth.
Sighing with frustration, the blue haired gal grabs Kyubey away from my grasp and stands back "You should be nicer to your pet. It's no wonder if he keeps running off like that". The little annoyance curls up comfortably in the student's grasp, smiling contently.
"But it's like he thinks I'm brain dead or something! I'm trying to apologize to you and he says that-"
"Says?"
Oh, snap. Now she thinks I'm a nutcase.
"Y-You know... w-when a pet looks at you a certain way, it gives the impression they're talking to you. It's kinda funny really" I explain, laughing stupidly.
"I've never had a pet myself, so I dunno. I have some friends that talk about their dogs and cats like that though, so, I guess"
Phew.
"Anyways, treat your cat a little better. They're little people too and deserve lots of love and care".
I sigh exasperatedly, tired of her judgement "Okay, I get it. I promise".
"Good" she bites, handing the fleabag back to me.
"A-Anyways , I'm... I'm sorry I pushed you like that" I manage finally, shyly. There. Was it really that hard? "A-And... what I meant to say was... I-I'm not use to talking with other people. I'm err... what you call... introverted".
That was more than what I was meant to say, but it's true. I'm relieved to see her smile again. A break through?
"It's okay. I'm the same sometimes. It's nice to see other people, but there's gotta be 'me' time every once in a while".
She gets it! "Heh, yeah, yeah! I know right?".
"Anyways, I better get going. I guess I'll see you around...um...?".
"Kyouko Sakura" I state clearly.
"Heh, I'm Sayaka Miki. Well, goodnight Kyouko. Goodnight kitty! Get yourselves cleaned up".
She had to slide that in at the end, as if I don't feel embarrassed enough she spoke to me in this state.
I watch her walk away and out of sight. I can't believe I even got that far, considering how much I messed up. I thought she'd hate me. So her name's Sayaka.
Sayaka...
"Sakura-san, if I didn't know any better, I'd think you were infatuated with that girl. Is this what they call 'Love at first sight?'".
I swear I'm gonna strangle that pest.
End of Part One
