UPDATE: This has been changed slightly from its original form to deal with a...new plot point.

AN: So...this and A Gem in the Rough will be uploaded interchangeably from here on out until one is finished. This might just be the single longest chapter I've ever written and actually posted...anyway Read&Review and all that jazz


Homura watched in horror as it all went to hell. They had defeated Walgerpiest, but, everyone was dead or fallen. Everyone but her and this strange white magical girl who had appeared during this loop. The magical girl who had introduced herself as Nanako, gripping an almost comically large scythe stood between the purple clothed girl and Madoka's newly formed witch.

"Homura Akemi! You have to go back now!" the strange girl snapped back. "This isn't how its supposed to go! Gretchen can't be allowed to be free!"

Homura stood stunned as the darkness began to cover it all. This loop was perfect...she saved Nagisa, through her saved Mami...Sayaka and Kyoko were safe, neither had to sacrifice themselves...and this strange new girl was surprisingly being helpful. They had kept Kuybii away from Madoka...until the last battle. But she thought it would be okay. It wasn't.

"Akemi!" Nanako snapped again. Her loud, monotone voice snapped Homura from her thoughts as she put her hands on the shield. "You know this isn't how things are supposed to be...go back again…"

Homura stared at the girl in white for a moment before nodding. She put a hand on her shield and turned it around, to put things back. Nanako smiled and pulled her hands away, creating her scythe again. Suddenly, it all went black.

Homura vaguely remembers going back, but she clearly remembered the white ceiling her eyes fluttered open to. She was back in the hospital...the first day all over again. She slowly sat up and looked down at her palm as she summoned her soul gem. She touched the familiar dark purple surface. "Round and round we go…" she mumbles softly.

The violet eyed girl then stood, putting a hand on her heart as it ached. She was still weak, she needed to fix her body. She went into the bathroom and held up her soul gem. She took off her glasses and repaired her eyesight, then protected her heart.

That's when she noticed it, the major difference in this loop. She could feel two ears twitch on top of her head...and a black tail squirm inside her pajamas. "This is...new…" she muttered. About a hundred times now she's gone through the same month, and never has this happened.

"Indeed that is quite interesting."

Homura jumped at the voice, though it only took her a moment to recognize the monotone. Turning around she found the white magical girl, Nanako standing there in her uniform. And just like Homura, she had cat ears and a tail, though they were white instead of black.

"This did not happen last time."

"Wait...you remember?"

"Of course, as I said last time, Kyubii made a mistake granting my wish. I had...too much potential."

Homura stared at the girl for a moment before letting out a sigh. This is too weird, this can't be happening…there's really someone who remembers completely.

Nanako put on a smile, though it was obviously fake, her milky white eyes holding no emotion. "Don't you have a cat to save?" she deadpanned.

Homura hissed in annoyance at the girl, who just forced a chuckle. "Aw, cute. Madoka will defintally love what's happened."

Homura sighed and transformed, hurrying off to save the little black cat that Madoka originally wished to save. She just got there in time, like always. She quickly sprinted across the road, grabbed the sleeping cat from the road, then dove into the bushes before Madoka and Sayaka could see her. She watched from the bushes as Madoka and Sayaka passed on their way to school.

"Madoka…" she muttered so softly, not loud enough to be noticed. She decided then and there this would be it...this will be the one, the last cycle, the last time round…


The next day, Homura walked towards the school planning out exactly what she's going to say to Madoka. Though her thoughts are interrupted by a voice from the trees. "Don't say anything."

She looks up to find Nanako sitting in a tree, still in her uniform. "And why not?" Homura mused. In the last loop she had realized Nanako seems to be able to read minds.

"You need them to trust you..to be able to rely on you…" Nanako answers simply. "Let you be the cute little kitten...and me the enigma who knows more about others than she should."

Homura mulls over the idea as she continues on her way. She knows Nanako won't follow, she has a hunt to go on. The strange sound of a blade slicing through the air just confirms her thoughts. She walks to school and goes through her day as usual, introducing herself, maintaining an aura of mysteriousness...yet kindness. Homura allows Madoka to take her to the nurse room, and somewhere along the way, Madoka started saying 'Homura-chan'. This made Homura smile, though she quickly hid it behind a mask. She denies that Madoka addresses almost everyone like that.

The rest of the school day Homura takes it easy. Just keeping up, not excerting herself during gym. Its been awhile since she relaxed this much. She didn't want to stand out, needing to be alone to plan. She goes through the checklist in her mind, pausing as she mulled over the day she's repeated again and again. She saved the cat...Madoka didn't contract...the next attempt Kyubii will make will be at the music store. That is always the same.


From the shadows, she watched as Madoka and Sayaka are lured down to the basement and into a labyrinth. She could do nothing. This wasn't her fight. Nor was it Nanako's, who stood beside her.

"You think she'll be one…like us...?"

"Just wait and see…"

Homura glanced over at Nanako, annoyed by her answer. This weird girl never gives anything that could be considered a straight answer. Though her attention is drawn back to the two girls in the labyrinth when she hears a voice, proper and dignifed, say simply, "Maybe I should deal with this first."

"Homura...go, now. They'll blame me for hurting Kyubii...and so will Kyubii."

Homura looked over at Nanako for a moment before nodding and pulling out a gun. She jumped into the fray and shot the few Mami couldn't get. The magical girl in yellow looked shocked that Homura is helping her, and Homura noticed two little tan bear ears on her head and she knew there was a little stubby little tail under neath her skirt.

Sayaka and Madoka stared at Homura, shocked that she was the same a Mami. As the labyrinth disappered Homura watched Nanako appear outside, glaring intently at Kyubii, who Madoka was holding. Mami and Homura stepped between them, the later pretending to protect Kyubii when she's really protecting Madoka.

"The witch got away...you can go after it if you want," Mami said dangerously. Nanako opened her mouth, though a sharp sound of a bullet hitting the metal container cut her off.

"Get out of here...I want nothing to do with you anymore," with those fake words, Kyubii is assured that Homura won't hurt it anymore. It was Nanako who made her...or so Kyubii was made believe.

Nanako stepped back and gasped when Homura shot at her. She didn't expect that...but it went along with the plan. "I'm not done here...but I won't fight two at once...especially one I trained. You'll regret this though." Nanako stared at Homura intently before turning around and jumping down, only leaving a sound of a scythe through the air.


Sayaka paused as Mami healed Kyubii's various wounds. Homura stood by and flicked her tail.

"Okay...can someone explain exactly what just happened?" the blue haired girl demanded.

Mami looked up and chuckled lightly as she took Kyubii into her arms. "Well...come with me...and I'll explain everything."


AN: Yes there is OC involvement...she is a little bit important, I couldn't help it. Don't worry...she won't steal anyone's spot light. Well...hope ya'll liked it.