Blackness. Blackness absolutely everywhere, and I don't like it one bit. I mean who likes being in a empty void? Wherever here is anyway. I could move, well more like stir around like a leech or something but hey it was a start. Vaguely I could hear sounds, but this blasted ringing in my ears makes it hard to differentiate them. So I stayed put letting the ringing exhausted its welcome. And the sounds were...of everyday life? You know, people walking, talking, car driving by, the stuff you hear walking down the street in a busy city?

'But… if I'm in a city…' My thought reasoned. 'Then why is everything black?' I came up with about four different theories on what this could be, ranging from delusions to being sent to some sort of limbo. Then I came up the most simple one. My eyes were closed. I'm an idiot.

And my idiocy apparently rivals the stubbornness of my eyelids. 'Open darn you!' And they obeyed, after what I counted to six long minutes, my eyes opened. Only to immediately shut from the light. I always hated this part, waiting for my eyes to adjust. But, they did.

After step two of recovering from whatever, I went to step three: Take stock and get up. Unfortunately, I could only do the first half. Not to say that I couldn't move, it was just… awkward. Like my mobility abilities were switched up to have different commands.

Any way, I looked over and around the surrounding area. And I was surprised to see myself in a alleyway. Well, it's not so much the fact that I'm in alleyway, in fact I almost rolled my eyes at it. Alleyways felt cliche for me. What DID disrupt me is that I could remember diddly squat! Actually, thats a lie. I did remember a name. Actually, three names.

Homura Akemi, Madoka Kaname, and Shiro.

That last one impacted me the most. 'Maybe, it's my name?' Honestly, I found that more likely. The other two were, from what my knowledge tells me, female names. And I am most certainly NOT a girl.

I sighed. 'So I can remember random stuff, but nothing about my personal life?' Obviously there was no answer 'Greeeeeaat.'

And now to complete part two of step three: get up.

Easier said than done would be putting it lightly. It was just so… unnatural! Like, this was not how a human would move. But this monstrous headache I was getting made it so that I did not make an effort to examine myself.

All that mattered to me was getting help. And directions if I can.

So slowly and stumbling I walked towards the end of the alleyway, squinting my eyes as the sun shined in them.

Then I noticed something else out of the ordinary. Was everything… larger?

I shook my head, something waving in close at the corner of my eye. 'Worry about it later.' Clearing my head I spotted an officer down the street. "Scuse me, sir?" I called out.

I didn't get anything in response, not even a glance.

'Looks like he didn't hear me.' I got closer and called out to him again. And the result was the same. I kept repeating this until I was right in front of him. Wow, is he tall. Like really tall, was I at his ankles?

"Uh hey!" I tried again. "I'm lost, can I get...some…" I trailed off as he walked away from me. "Oi!" I stumbled after him, tripping over my paws.

Wait….

Those weren't hands I had… these were paws. Dark blue paws with tuffs of silvery fur around the wrists. What the…?

Holding in my panic, I hurried over to a nearby fresh looking puddle. Fresh as in recent, of course.

I looked over it. And what I saw threw me for loop.

Staring back at me. Was a… uh? Whatever the heck I am? I was some sort feline quadruped about the size of three week old kitten with dark blue fur with some silver accents. Well the quadruped bit explains why it was so unnatural to move around, I was walking on all fours!

Shaking my head I focused more on my features. I blinked my shiny Silver eyes letting my face contort in confusion wondering what to call these...these...tuffs of fur? That'll do. The "Tuffs" of fur seemed to be coming out of my white tipped ears and were close to touching the ground. But, they were like levitating. The one on my right was moving upwards slightly after I tilted my head. Normally, it would have touched the ground.

What confused me further was the silver rings, two each on the "tuffs". Neither of them were touching the "tuffs"

My three long fox like tails waggled, each about a foot or less long, while I continued to position myself to fully take in my appearance until I was satisfied. I never noticed the narrowed eye like symbol on my back, with its slitted pupil staring upwards. The six prongs, four on top, two on the bottom, stuck out a little while three tear drop fell the middle one aligned with the pupil and the largest out of the three. How I didn't noticed will forever remain a mystery for me as it stuck out against my fur.

….

What the hell am I?

The question repeated in my head over and over. And that happened to triggered something. Another name.

Kyuubi.

For some reason… that name makes me feel angry. Maybe not seething rage, but anger nonetheless. But, who… Incubator… Another memory.

'Incubator…' I thought. 'Maybe… maybe I'm an… Incubator?' The name was ringing bells. Lots of them, and their were straining my hearing. Wait… that's because there were some bells ringing in my ears.

I quickly found the sounds. Looking to my left, I saw a little girl at 6 or 7 holding a handful of ribbons with bells attached. She shook them a lot, seemingly ignoring me as she was begging her mother who was holding her other hand.

I needed to know something.

I walk up in front of her, clearly in the line of sight. Nothing. Maybe jumping? So I did, up and down. Still nothing. Was I invisible? Were incubators invisible?

Yes, yes they are. The question triggered another piece of info and told me that Incubators could not be seen by humans. But, & 6* could.

I sighed. I was missing part of the info. Who could see me?

… Nope nothing. No memory this time.

Frowning, I sighed and walked down the sidewalk, avoiding being stepped on. Lucky that I wasn't while I was observing myself back there, right? Walking down the district, I noted that frowning was not a thing Incubators did. Actually, using expressions weren't something they did. Or even emotions!

Ha! Well, glad to know I don't share those limitations. Now if only I could remember something of my personal life. Then again, what I am remembering is probably linked. Maybe...Hopefully.

I shook off the worry, it wouldn't do me any good.

So let's distract myself. Where is this place? I stopped. Looked about.

…

I got nothing. 'OH COME ON!' Is it normal to be this irritated? Yeah, I think so. Well, better not stay around. Maybe if I keep moving forward I could find something, anything, that I can recognise! Please?

-Later-

Blast it all! I've been walking for 2 hours straight!. Ok, I admit maybe it would take longer than two hours but I'm getting impatient!

Ugh, well I at least overheard a couple mentioning the city I was in. Kazamino. Nope, I have no idea where the heck that is… 'Why am I surprised?' I really shouldn't be.

More walking for me then I guess. Man, my paws were starting to go numb. To remedy this, I hopped onto a bench and sat down for a second. Sighing out of exhaustion, I studied the passing people. You know… I've only just noticed but everything feels a little too colorful?

These two girls, about between 12 to 13, walking by only help reinforce that thought. They were talking about something and I didn't bother to take it their appearance. Is that insensitive? I mean I took a guess at their age but…

I continued to watch them for a little bit before looking away. I could still hear them as the walked into a alleyway behind me. Then a sudden silence.

Hm? I looked behind me. The alleyway was long. Way too long for the girls to reach the end in a couple of seconds. Then… where are they? I jumped off and slowly walked towards it.

I suppressed a shudder. I don't like the look of this. I sucked in a breath, what happened to those girls? Are they in danger? I walked into the alleyway.

Oh, they were most certainly in danger! Where the absolute hell are we?!

The scenery changed so suddenly, I was sent reeling. And so were the girls in front of me.

"What the hell?" One of them, a Brunette muttered fearfully. She stood at a 4'9 and her hair just fell short of touching her shoulders. She was wearing a thin violet coat with the buttons undone and a bright blue shirt. And hugging her lower half were a pair of simple jeans and black sports shoes. I barely got a look at the purple bracelet she had on.

The other, a bluenette grab on to the other in fear. 'Tiny.' I thought to myself, seeing the girl about 3'9. Yet, she still looked twelve or thirteen. Her hair was shorter and was tied into a single pigtail on the upper leftmost part of her head. She wore a light green sweater with a matching skirt going below her knees and white sneakers and white socks.

Back on track.' I agreed with the first's sentiment. The sky was an unnatural hue of orange, one that screamed bad things to me. And the landscape. Just. What?! Since when has checkerboard colored grass been a thing?

And those clouds. Those clouds throbbing in the most unnatural way possible...

"What… in the heck?" I let out. And to my surprise, the two girls whirled around to face me. Did they hear me?

"H-hey little guy." The Bluette said walking towards me with kind but nervous pink eyes. My eyes widen a bit more.

But the other one grabbed her by the wrist. "Wait, we don't know what that thing is!"

"Hey I resent that!" I shouted at them making them freeze and stare at me. "Wait…" I started. "You can see me? Hear me?" I pressed them. Perhaps a little too aggressively.

""It can talk!?" Both of the girls shouted. Being called 'it' again annoyed me, but that was overshadowed by, oh I don't know, I can finally talk to someone!

"You can!" I shouted with underlining glee. "Wo! Finally!" They seemed even more afraid.

"Please don't suck our brains out!" The Brunette cried, making her friend sweatdrop. "Please let us go!"

"Huh?" I blinked.

"Whatever you are!" The Brunette yelled clutching her fist. "You better let us out of here or else." Oh they think…

"Wait hold on!" I took a step back. "I'm just as confused as you are, no idea how or why we are here!" I looked at the sky again. "Whatever here is…"

They blinked hearing my hopeless tone. "Sooo…" The Bluenette started, but hesitated. I looked back at them and gave the girl a patience smile. "You're not going to suck our brains out?"

Again the Brunette sweatdrop. How is that even possible?

Regardless, I shook my head, letting her breath out in relief. The brunette- ok I need to get their names.

"Hey uh, what's your names?" I asked offhandedly.

The two looked at each other before nodding and looking back. The one who thought I was some sort of stereotypical alien went first. "I'm Aiko Gime, nice to met you."

And the other. "Akako Hada." She grunted still on edge.

I hummed. "Both start with A and end with ko." I noted before smiling again. " Anyway, you can call me Shiro."

"Shiro huh?" Akako said, before looking at our surroundings. "Nice to meet you."

I nodded and echoed her as I scanned the area. Why do I get the feeling we're not alone? "So… either of you know what's going on?"

I got a negative. "We were hoping you knew." All three of us sighed, not looking forward to whatever danger that could be here.

"Guess we should keep going then." I said and getting nods from them. "I'll take point, who knows what out there." They agreed, seeing as my size could help.

Then Aiko made a 'oh' sound and spoke. "Before I forget, what are you?"

I turned my head to the side to show I was paying attention but kept an eye out. "I am an Incubator." I got confused looks.

Aiko started. "Incubator."

"The hell is that?" Akako finished. "Do you hatch stuff?"

I laughed shortly. "No, no we don't."

"So what do Incubators do?" She continued. I briefly stopped moving.

"Hm." I hummed tilting my head in thought. "Couldn't tell ya." I finished with a bit of slang trying to lighten the mood a little bit.

"Huh? Why not?" They both asked. "Is it some sort of secret?" Aiko added.

"No, no nothing like that." I said, quietly adding a "I think…" of which neither caught. "I couldn't tell you because I don't know."

"Whatta you mean ya don't know?" Akako pressured, seeming a little more relaxed. "I mean, other Incubators shoulda told ya, right?"

I shrugged. "Again, couldn't tell ya. I haven't met another Incubator."

They seemed a little shocked by this. "So you're alone?"

"I guess, seeing humans can't normally see me."

"Can't see ya?" Akako put her hands in her hips.

I nodded, glancing at a strange black rock jetting out of the ground. "Yeah, like I'm invisible."

"Then how come we can?" Aiko scratched her head.

Again I shrugged. "Might be what-" I stopped short, my ears standing up straight. "Wait, do you hear that?" I strained my hearing. What was that noise? Was that… snipping?

"It's coming this way." I hissed to them. "Hide!" They followed me up a big rock with a slightly hollow central down from the top. Just big enough to hold all three of us and keep us hidden. This should do. We looked from in between the jutting crown on the rock and downwards. What we saw forced us to hold out breath.

"The fu-" I shut my mouth, holding back a curse.

"The fuck is that?" Akako finished for me.

Whatever it was, wasn't natural. For one thing, it was tall and lanky. Black and Humanoid in appearance its height was just below our eye level, from us peeking out. 11'9 I suspect.

Good thing it was hunched over, or it might have seen us. Its scissors for hands snipped as it start down the direction we came from. Then it moved forward, going that way. The way it moved freaked us out a little more, as it suddenly straightened and ran in a exaggerated happy go lucky girl run, and that wasn't the freakiest bit. It moved like a stop motion movie, only with the cut between scenes painfully obvious.

And whenever it stopped it hunched over like it was punched in the stomach. We stayed put with bated breath, watching it go. Finally, it was out of our sight and hopefully out of hearing range. If it could hear, I saw no traces of ears.

We slowly got out of our hiding spot, a little shaken up. Please tell us that we won't have to face one…

The fear washed out, but it was replaced with tread. Seeing that thing triggered something, another memory.

Witch's and their Barriers and Familiars.

I suddenly felt far more afraid for our safety, astoundingly more than beforehand.

"We-w-we." I choked from fear. Steeling myself, I finished " Keep moving. We need to keep moving." Seeing them nod hesitantly, still looking where the thing was, I trotted on forward. Akako and Aiko kept close.

'Should I tell them? And how do I say it without seeming like I'm lying?' I couldn't help but thought to myself.

-Later-

'Damn it' I curse to myself. Ever since we saw the familiar, Karin as they're called, we kept silent me leading further ahead and on high alert. And we've been walking for five straight hours. And Aiko was reaching her breaking point, as hinted by the watering of her eyes.

I sighed. "Alright guys." I began looking around at the fractured grove we were at. Plenty of hiding spaces. "Let's rest." They both sighed out and sat down on the ground in silence. I kept watch, bounding to and from the edges of the grove, getting a good vantage point.

After what seemed like a few minutes, I took a moment to glance at the girls, seeing tears on Akio's cheeks. Akako saw it too and silently comforted her with a hand on her back.

Aiko flinched. "I-I'm ok." She tried to assured us.

Akako and I frowned. Looking back at the landscape, watching and listening, I listened to their talk.

Akako started first. " Ya don't look ok." She pointed at the Brunette's tears.

The other girl relented. "You're right." She admitted. Funny, I was expecting her to put up a fight. "I'm just worried."

"Worried about what?" I glanced back them as Akako made eye contact with her friend.

"Are…" Akio swallowed. "Are we ever going to get out?" She asked meekly. I faced back to the wasteland moving from corner to corner.

I could hear Akako smirk and stand up. "Of course we will!" I imagined she fist pumped. "Don'tcha ya worry about it, we'll escape from this…Hell!" Now that seemed to cheer the shorter girl up.

Everyone was silent after that, Aiko and Akako smiling at eachother. I couldn't help but smile myself. My smile was wiped off my face as a Karin charged acrossed the landscape followed by three others.

"Hide!" I hissed and the girls swifty, if a bit clumsily, hide in some small crevice. I hided above, just out of sight. However, instead of stopping to look for us, they took a right. Curious, I peeked around. Now I could see where they were charging for. Or should I say, who?

"Girls, there's another girl!" I shouted and the girls climbed out and ran to me.

And low and behold, there was a girl. Standing at 5'2 and fighting off I'd say about twenty or so of Karin with ease. With her red hair swishing about and her spear piercing and slicing through, she cut through like some sort of silent lancer.

"Let's go!" Aiko shouted running towards the battlefield.

"Aiko wait!" The rest of us shouted, chasing after her. Blimey, was she a fast runner! By the time we caught up with her she was waving her hands in the air to get the girl's attention. And she succeed. Skittering to a stop, I shuddered at the cold angry look she gave Aiko with her brown eyes then to Akako when she caught up.

Then I saw one of the beings raise its 'hands' from behind her. "Behind you!" I shouted. Her eyes missed me before she turned decapitating the thing. Then dashing forwards, she cut down the remaining few swiftly. I took notice of the slightly darkening of the gem attached to her necklace. Then focusing on the girl, I felt a tickle in the back of my head.

Twirling her spear in one hand she turned back to us, seeming uncaring. And just as she was about to turn her back she finally got a good look at me. After a few seconds, which felt like several minutes to me, of staring at me she gave the others a measuring look. Shortly after, marching off in a seemingly random direction. But I could see a purpose behind it. But what?

"H-hey, wait!" Aiko shouted and took a step forward.

She didn't get far as her brown haired friend grabbed the Bluenette by the wrist. "Aiko don't!" Akako shouted.

"What?"

"Did you not see what she just did?!" Akako stressed.

"And the way she looked at us?" I put in.

Aiko nodded with a little fear in it. "Yeah." Then she steeled herself. "But she might know what's going on! We should follow!" She pressed.

While the girls argued, I weighed out our options. While it's a risk, it might be a better idea to a least tail her. Will she helps us? I doubt it. But, just maybe those things will focus on her and leave us alone. Besides my mind keeps reacting in a way everytime I look at her, as proven as I am now staring at her back still in visible distance. Maybe she's linked to my past.

I sighed. "Hey guys-"

"I said no!" Akako shouted.

"But she could be our only hope!"

"Girls."

"This isn't some anime! She's not a hero, not with her leaving us like that!"

"GIRLS!" I was met with silence. Taking a deep breath, I opened my mouth. "I hate to say this, but I agree with," I paused for dramatic effect. This got them to lean in, though Akako seemed a little annoyed. "Aiko." I breathed out.

I readied myself by flatting my ears. "What?!" I could still hear Akako's shout.

Aiko beamed as she picked me up hugging me, squishing me in the process. "Ack! W-ell, it's risky but maybe these things would focus on her a-and ignored us." I wheezed. "Aiko, you're choking me." Aiko panicked a little and reposition me in her grip. Now I was being held like a cat .

I nodded in thanks. "I say we tail her a least, no interactions." Aiko readily agreed, happy to have someone agree with her. Akako was still hesitant about it, but being outnumbered in votes and the possibility that Aiko would just go regardless, she sighed and nodded.

So as they took a few steps, I was about to jump out and walk but Aiko had other ideas.

"You don't need to do that." I assured, moving about.

Aiko only reinforced her grip. "Oh come on." She insisted. "Aren't you tired?

"Huh?" I wasn't actually expecting that. Is that a bad thing? "Well, maybe but-"

She cut me off. "No buts, I saw how stressed you were." Now this I think is okay to be surprised with. But she was right. It was true, what with the constant threat of death looming over us. A few times before, I had closed my eyes when I rounded a corner, hoping it to be the exit, only to be disappointed nearly to the point of tears, much faster than Aiko starting breaking.

Funny, she was the one most scared and now it's me getting the attention. Though, I must admit I did not expect her, or Akako, for that matter to have noticed.

I smiled before wiping it off my face. "Um, thank you? But you don't need to do that." I tried.

Yet again, she shook her head. "Of course I do, you're my friend."

I looked up at her in surprise. "Friend?"

She nodded very serious. "Yeah, is it that strange?" She asked. "You worry about us, took some risks and put up a brave face for us. Even tried to distract one of the monsters." Yep, about twenty minutes before our break one of the monsters caught us with its single drawn on eye. I had told the girls to run while grabbing onto its face. Got a nasty cut on one of my tails.

And well, when she put it li- no. It makes sense from the very beginning.

I smiled, staring at her pink eyes. "Yeah… friends." Somehow, I felt more complete. Still no memory's though… Still in Aiko's arms as we tailed the mystery girl, I pondered whether or not to to tell them of my missing memories.

Contemplating this for a few moments, I decided to trust my friends. Well, friend. Akako did not say or implied that we were. "Hey, guys." Aiko looked down at me while Akako glanced back at us as she was leading the way. "Remember when I said I didn't know about Incubators or this place?" They nodded and I subtly noticed Akako narrow her eyes. "It's, uh, not because I wasn't told or experienced it before… I… forgot it." I finished a little timidly.

Akako eye's were boarding on a glare. "What do you mean?" I wasn't sure if I was thankful or not for Aiko to not notice the look I was getting.

"I have… Amnesia." Again, there was that timidity.

"Amnesia?" Both girl repeated in similar tones. Aiko scratched her chin in thought. "Isn't that…" She gasped and hugged me close. "Poor little guy!"

"Gah, Aiko!"

"Oh sorry!"

I waved her off with a tail. "It's alright, thank you for caring." I assured with a smile. "Besides, it's not all bad." They gave me some confused looks. "Some of them are already coming back."

"Like what?" Akako asked in a unfriendly tone.

"Well, my name and what I am for starters. I also remember three other names." I counted off.

"What are they?" Aiko asked, nearly tripping and focusing on the path.

I thought for a moment. " Homura Akemi, Madoka Kaname, and Kyubey." They mulled over the names, none of them sounding familiar.

Akako took a turn seeming a little more melo. "So, how do ya know you're an Incubator."

"Because I know Kyubey is one."

"Have you even met him?"

"No?" I said tilting my head to side. "I don't know maybe, the name just reminded me of Incubator and I guess I could identify one when I see it?"

Akako hummed in thought, then stopped and turned to face Aiko and I. "Hang on, does this mean ya know what this place is?" She said a little accusingly.

I nodded. "Yeah, but it won't help our situation much."

She crossed her arms. "Well, what do you know?"

I looked at the sky. "We're in a Witch's Lair. And I wish I was joking." They widen their eyes following my gaze. "It's because that you said 'Witch Lair' that I remembered. This place is inhabited by a Witch."

"A witch?" Aiko echoed. "What about those other things?"

"They're Familiars, basically a witch's minions."

"And Witches are…?" Akako pushed.

"Like from Hansel and Gretel!?" Aiko squeaked in fear.

I sighed. "Trust me when I say this; that kind of Witch would be a better option than this kind…" They shared a shiver. "From what I can remember, Witches are beings born of despair. How that happens I don't know. And they…" I swallowed. "They trap people here to… eat their...souls…"

"WHAT!?" This time it was a full on scream that filled my hearing.

I winced, flattening my ears. "D-don't worry though, they're hunted down by… something. And I think that girl is that something." I pointing with a paw to the girl. I wasn't sure if she knew we were following her or was just ignoring us. "I get this tickle in the back of head everytime I look at her." This calmed them down well enough.

"Ya know her?"

"Maybe not on a personal level, but maybe I can remember how she got her powers." I notified them. "But I do remember it has something to do with Incubators."

Akako again narrowed her eyes. "It better be a good thing…" She mumbled.

Aiko however caught her. "Hey, Shiro's our friend."

"Aiko!" I said. "It's alright. And…" I gave Akako a serious looked. "I get the feeling that it isn't a good thing." She widen her eyes, not expecting me to agree. "It just this feeling I get, like when I think about that name Kyubey, I feel...angry almost."

She huffed and turned back around and continued walking. "Let's hope then." I gave a verbal agreement before jumping onto Aiko's head. She gave a confused hum.

"Mind if I sit up here, Aiko?" I asked polity. She shook her, and giggled. "Hey look!" I pointed in front of us to watch the mystery girl impale another monster through the head. Then she shook off the… black blood? How have I only now just- And there is my answer. The black blood-actually it was more like an ooze- quickly evaporated in a few seconds of making contact with something.

You know. I've only just realized. I care alot about details when I find them important enough. I think it's an Incubator thing.

"She's good." Akako stated boredly. Aiko and I nodded twice.

"And our ticket out of here I bet!" I said confidently, throwing a clutched paw into the air.

"Yeah!" Aiko cheered with me also with a fist into the air. Akako rolled her eyes and a small smile.

"Onwards!" We shouted optimistically, taking the lead in front of Akako. Then quickly in a blur hide behind her after a monstrous screech filled our ears. Both of us shook, while Akako smirked at our fear and glanced around.

-Later-

"Muuuu." I whined splayed on top of Aiko's head. "Walking for so long sucks, right?" I got two exhausted nods.

"I don't see you doing much walking…" Akako mentioned. With my eyes still closed, I just gave her a lazy nod. So far my theory has been correct, in that the monsters focused on the mystery girl.

So far so good.

"Hey Shiro?" I hummed looking down at Aiko. "You said that witches eat souls right?"

'No, they eat candy." Shhhhh, be silent my sarcasm. "That they do."

"So does that mean we," She gulped silently. "stop existing?"

My head shot up and my eye bulged at the thought. Akako stopped walking for a moment. "Stop existing?"

Her close friend nodded. "Yeah, like blackness forever and know nothing forever?" Ok that scares me a little. My. Jeez, every time I think about it, my mind just rejects it. Like the concept is so alien, my brain can't handle imagining it. "Like-"

Ok I couldn't think about any more. "Aiko please stop." I said, my voice wavering.

She glanced back up at me. "Shiro?" She frowned at my troubled expression. "I-I'm sorry, did I freak you out?"

I managed to pull a smile. "Y-yeah, I'll be fine though." I didn't sound too convincing. "Besides, even if that's true," Again my mind recoiled like a snake at the idea, "it won't stop me from protecting you guys." Aiko smiled sweetly and patted my head. "I promise, no I swear!"

Even though I couldn't see it, I imagine Akako smiled as well. "I'll hold ya to that."

"We better get moving then." Aiko suggested and she and Akako got moving.

Laying my head down and despite my best efforts, I still thought of the soul devouring. While my mind wanted to reject the idea, I still thought about it. And dear god, did it TERRIFY me.

I'll just have to work harder then. If only to keep the girl's from losing their afterlife. If there is one.

-Later-

"Guys…" I shivered peeking out from behind Aiko's head.

The girls, one shaking with me while the other standing at attention, answered. "Yeah?"

I gulped a lump in my throat. "I think we're close to our Witch…" They nodded. The air felt heavy in this cave like area. Green crystals spiked out of the tall ceiling and walls. The floor had changed to a white marble that made the girl's shoes click against it.

The mystery girl wasn't too far ahead of us, I'd say about eighty feet? The redhead was just massacring the thingys. Yea, I said thingys. Seeing the big bad monster be dealt with ease in armies, the fear tends to slacken. Still, I kept my guard up. These girls are under my protection.

"What d-do you think it's going to look like?" Aiko stuttered glancing behinds us.

I shrugged watching the ceiling. "I don't know, generally a Witch's lair and themselves follow a theme. But even with the ground outside, it could be anything." Akako 'hmmed' at this new piece of info.

"And any new memories?" The Bluenette asked on edge. I shook my head and make a quiet no. No response was made after and we walked in silence. Every now and again we had previously and presently hidden ourselves when the redhead- you know what? I'm calling her Red. That's limit of my creativity with names.

Anyway, as I was saying. Often 'Red' was jumped by monsters, most of the time in group of five to seventeen or at times thirdy. But, she dealt with them easily. And after every skirmish, if you could call it that, I stole a glance with my sharp eyes at her gem. Now it was darker, but hardly. If some one else had compared it from before and now, they would say it looked like it wasn't polished.

So we continued to follow her, making small talk between our group. So Aiko and Akako are childhood friends, ever since their were three years old. Aiko explained that their mothers were ridiculously close to the point where they considered each other sisters. Neat.

…..Oh, holy...holy...holy shit! Pardon my language, but wow that aura! It's like we were being sized up for a slaughter house! Not that I've ever actually been somewhere like that. Point is, I think we've found our Witch.

Siiickshhhhh.

Oh! YEP! YEP! YEP! And NOPE it found us!

"Run!" I yelled, prompting the girls to run away after its massive claws broke the ground we were standing not moments ago. Thankfully, 'Red' did seem to want to wait for her fight. So imagine my relief when she stab her spear into the monstrosities side.

Now safely in the distance I took in the Witch's appearance. Whoooo, what an ugly sight it was. It wasn't something you would ever want see. No seriously, if you've seen something like this in reality there's something wrong with your life. No offense- ANYWAY!

Ever seen those half man half Scorpion things? Something that's only called a Scorpion-man, no fancy name? I still find that disappointing. So it was a large Scorpion Man. The body itself was black in color, but less of an inky color then the monster back out and more charcoal with a shine.

Nervously I was eyeing it's shears for claws snipping in anticipation. Oh by the way, it also had another claw on its tail instead of a stinger. So scissor themed? Maybe. Oh and let's not forget the face. Or mask rather, snow white with one eye opened wide and the other squinting as well with a limp smile looking like it's melting at the corners.

Schkai, Witch of Irrelevance. Well that's a little depressing. Wait, how do I know that?

The Witch made a clicking noise as 'Red' twirled her spear in a low stance and pointing it up at it's head. They stared at each other in silence. So silent only Aiko's, Akako's, and my breathing were the only thing we good hear.

That is until a bit of crystal crashed onto the ground and shattered. Schkais' pinpricks for eyes enlarge at the noise and stab at the ground in front of 'Red'. The redhead was hardly surprise as she jumped over the jab and readied her spear.

The Witch leaned back and made for a backhand, yet Red twisted out of the way. The witch cried out again as it felt 'Red's' spear embed it's into its back.

Then pulling it out in a fasion to only worsen the wound, Red parried a swipe from a tail strike. I had to smile a little when the parry made the tail jab at its already painful wound.

Red then jumped into the air and made a aim for the head, yet Schkai duck and dispaite all the effort put into it, its claws are batted away and its shoulder now had deep cut. Another tail parry.

Schkai then fell to its many knees as one of its many legs was chopped clean off.

Black blood oozing and furious, it actually grabbed her with a claw and threw her the ground. She recovered with shallow cuts on her sides and didn't even look irritated. Then she had to jump back in a flash when the Witch stabbed one claw into the ground then shot out with it's other to snap 'Red' in half.

To my relief, 'Red' twisted herself to flip and pole jump off the claw. Then as she vaulted over, she slashed the witch across the chest again. Then landing and spinning herself she swung her weapon. But thinking fast, Schkai stopped the blow short and got a hold on the spear, and she wasn't going to let go.

"Shiro!" I heard the girls yell and before I know it, I'm tasting black blood. And understandably, the witch screamed as it felt my teeth in the back of its neck. Hurting it was all I did, like a bee sting. It is not going to damage you, but you're not going to like it. But it gave time for 'Red' to pull her spear out. Then she pierced it straight in the chest, making it gasp before forcing her back with a backhand and missing. And then it threw me off, striking me with its tail. I missed the blade by inches.

But that blow still hurt as I was sent into a wall. And I felt something wet drip from my head as the Aiko and Akako gasped. 'Red'... did not care. 'Easy there, I might drown from the shower of gratitude from you…'

The Witch turned tail and ran with a limp, followed closely by 'Red'.

Speaking of red, I hope I don't bleed out. Well, I shouldn't have to worry too much as Aiko had a roll of bandages.

Which I found weird. "Not that-ow- I'm ungrateful, but why were you carrying bandages in the first place?"

She shrugged. "I always do." She said as she wrapped them around my head. Well it's stopped bleeding, but this headache is killing me. "I want to be prepared at all times, my dream is to be a doctor."

I chuckled at her enthusiasm. "Well, consider me your first patient." We chuckled and giggled respectively.

"A patient with silver and black blood." She added. Huh, interesting.

And my chuckle quickly turned into a gasp of horror..

There was monster right behind. "Aiko-!"

SKISH!

My blood ran cold as me and Aiko stared at that protruding out from her stomach and chest. Aiko let out breath, the only noise she let as the scissors were removed when Akako tackled the monster and started wailing on the thing. And surprisingly it acted a little scared and sound hurt from the impacts. Bee stings. Multiple of them.

"AIKO!" I shouted, straining my lungs. I tore off my bandages and tried my best to mend Aiko as best I could. But no luck, she was bleeding too much. "Ai-aiko." I said tearfully.

She cough and surprised me further by pushing through the pain. "It's alright S-Shiro." She coughed some blood again.

"You're going to fine." This was mostly to myself. Inside, I was yelling 'No no!'

The yelling in my head outmatched Akako's cry of anger. And that cry was all the monster need to push her off.

Time slowed down. The monster was poised to stab Akako, she closed her eye's waiting for it. And the sound of breaking bones forced them open, watching the monster fly over her head and into a wall.

She looked back to me, my face contorted into pure rage with my golden tears still running down face. Then she noticed my glowing and elongated tails. "You… BASTARD!" I think I just ruptured it's hearing.

I dashed at the monster , batting it with one six foot tail making a sickening crack. "Soul...STONE!" The word seemed like it was forced out of me. "HA!" And with that, the...Familiar… was given a brand new hole in it chest.

I stood there, glaring at the Familiar, not at all bothered by the new memory. But one memory did slap me in the face. My tails shorten and stopped glowing, making the Familiar fall to the ground. Turning I ran to Aiko again. She was still breathing, but she was running out of time.

Akako, slowly got up eyeing me with some fear. But she didn't let that stop her as she sat across from me. Aiko coughed again, making me tear up again. And if I had to guess, Aiko passed out from the pain and blood loss.

"There… not enough time…" I sobbed. This made Akako start to tear up more and join me in sobbing.

Then the area rippled followed by a dying shriek and now we were in the real world. Our world. But that hardly mattered.

I glanced around, and I saw 'Red' standing away from us with her back turned, she bent over and grabbed a strange black orb. Then she put it to her gem and my eye's widen as the dark energy, which was far more noticeable, went into the orb.

My mind clicked. "Magical girl…" I remembered. Who and how they are made.

'Red' glanced back at us with a uncaring look to her. Then she turned her head away and jumped to the foot of a building to our right.

I shook my head then took a deep breath. I looked at a still crying Akako. There is a way to save her. But…

"Akako?" I whispered.

Though she didn't respond I could tell she was listening. "I think I know a way to save her…" This got her attention. "The red head. I remember now. She's a Puella Magi, or Magical Girl."

"Magical Girl?"

"The name sucks, I know." I put in quickly, hoping she would take me seriously."They're the ones who hunt down Witches. And girls become Magical Girls because," I put a paw to my chest. "Of Incubators." She widen her eyes at me. "It works like a contract, actually it IS a contract. In return for becoming a Magical Girl and for fighting witches for the rest of her life, they get one wish granted."

"What?" She gaped.

I nodded. "Yeah." I smiled. "Any wish at all. One that could bring Aiko back." I saw Akako's face turn hopeful. "WAIT!" I yelled, sensing she was going to make a wish. "Being a Magical Girl is-"

"Dangerous?" She cut me off.

I nodded. "But there's more to it." She leaned to hear me. " Most don't last their first month and…" I swallowed. "Many Magical Girls… become witches." She gave a silent shout and fell backwards. "It happens with they get depressed, suicidal even or use up too much magic." She was silent while she took all of this in.

"Please." I muttered. "Think carefully, please..." It's risky and I'm wasn't going to leave her in the dark.

"Do it."

"What?" That was quick.

She sighed. "I know, it's risking but I don't have time the think about. Shiro, I wish for Aiko to be completely healed of all injury. Now!" She hurried, and with good reason as Aiko had less than a minute left.

I made eye contact with her. Then she stepped back as my body started to shine brightly. "Very well, Akako Hada. This will be our contract; Aiko's healing. In turn, you will hunt witches." I said. It felt instinctive, even the formality.

At that when Akako stood at attention as the glow around me turn bright, and I do mean freakin' bright, and blinded both of us into covering our eyes