AN: Aha! I'm back~ Sorry for the long wait, I just have school...and life...and haven't really been motivated to write. I never forgot about it though. Well, Read&Review.
As Mami made tea, Madoka and Sayaka sat around the triangular table in the eldest girl's apartment, while Homura leaned back on the sliding glass door, still in her uniform. Sayaka looked around curiously and sighed a little.
"What's the with ears...and tail…?" As Sayaka asked her question, she reached out and grabbed what she thought was a fake tail.
Homura yelped and recoiled, yanking her tail from the blue haired girl's harsh grasp. Her ears lay flat as she sorta...curled around her tail. "Why?" she asked, trying to keep control her voice.
Mami walked back in at chuckled at the sight. "That's what you get for leaving it out around two new girls."
Homura let out a whine, covering her ears and stuffing her tail in her vest.
"Sayaka, please, don't pull on a magical girl's tail," Mami instructed. She placed the platter of tea cups she was caring down on the table before carefully sitting and explaining softly. "They are physcial representations of our power and very sensitive."
Sayaka gasped as Mami's small ears and tail appeared. As she quickly apologized to Mami, as Madoka scooted over to Homura, worried as she still was curled up into a ball.
"Homura-chan...are you alright?" she asked softly.
Homura glanced over at Madoka and put on a smile. "Yes...it just stung a little…it felt like she was trying to rip my soul from me…"
"What do you mean?"
Homura shook her head, it wasn't time for them to know. She'd have to convince Mami of it first. Thinking of the sick happy bastard, the little white thing hopped up on the table and started talking, trying to get Madoka and Sayaka to contract with him. Though Madoka wasn't really listening, Homura was.
"Why? Why do they have to contract at all?" she wondered.
Kyubii paused and looked over at Homura. "What do you mean, Homura Akemi?"
Homura scowled a little and bit back a hiss at the creature that spoke her name. She quickly reassembled her stoic mask and said simply, "Between myself, Mami, and Nanako this city should be well handled in terms of witches."
"Can we really trust that crazy scythe wielding...reaper?"
Homura glanced over at Sayaka and shook her head. "Not really...but you can trust her to be her. She doesn't want to see any more magical girls pop up in a territory she's patrolling...she doesn't want to share the riches...and she'll do anything to stop that. But she'll protect people from witches because of her...power. She can't actually kill anyone of her own accord for the same reason."
"You seem to know a lot about her, and magical girls," Mami said suspiciously.
Homura shrugged and looked away. "Yeah well...Nanako might be a crappy person...but she's a good teacher. I've only been at this a month."
Mami nodded and continued explaining, Homura sometimes interjecting with things she's learned. Though again...Madoka is only half listening, she noticed Homura is still in that guarded position, her ears laid back and her tail still hidden. The pink haired girl scooted closer and gently reached out, running her fingers very softly over her black tail, drawing it out. Homura took on a slightly blissful expression as Madoka petted her tail. She backed out of the conversation and relaxed enough to let her ears prick and her tail lay in Madoka's lap.
Homura was snapped out of the blissful state when Mami called her attention. "Akemi-san, you can change back now."
Homura pulled her tail from Madoka's grasp, though stayed relaxed since Sayaka was on the other side of the table. She shrugged and looked at Mami. "I guess I've been around Nanako too much. She always said to stay ready."
"That's wise, but you're safe here, so relax."
Homura looked at Mami, surprised by her words. It had been a while since the yellow magical girl showed any kindness to her, it was now...unexpected. The time traveling girl nodded and in a flash of purple light, changed back into her school uniform, ears and tail gone for the moment. Mami seemed to relax, and as did Sayaka, the threat of Homura following in Nanko's steps quelled...for the moment at least.
After a bit of idle chatter, which mostly consisted of magical girl wishes or school homework, Homura glanced out the window.
"Its getting dark...Madoka...Sayaka Miki...you should head home now."
Sayaka was about to say something harsh, not liking how Homura addressed her, but she was cut off by Mami. "She's right. It is getting dark and your parents would be worried if you didn't get home soon."
Homura smiled as Mami backed her up. That's what she needed. She needed them to trust her. Homura found it difficult to keep her stoic mask as Sayaka just went to pout. Homura stood and looked out at the sunset.
"...imagine the despair this beauty holds…" she mumbles. No one heard her though, as Madoka is pulling Sayaka to her feet and Mami is taking cups to the kitchen. Homura looked back as the girls turned to leave, though what Mami said something that made her feel peeved.
"We'll bring you along tomorrow, I promise."
Homura gave Mami a look that could only be described as annoyance. As the human girls walk out, Mami notices the look.
"What's with the scary face?"
"There's no need for them to come along...or get involved at all," Homura answered plainly.
"It seems you've gained more from your mentor than just your fashion sense."
Homura paused and looked Mami over. That was the wrong thing to say, she had to amend it. "I'm saying they have lives, friends, family, they don't need this life. We had nothing. They have everything to lose."
Mami paused and thought for a moment. Though before she could answer, a wave of energy passed over the two girls. Their animal aspects pop out and they both look out at the city.
"This conversion can wait...a witch just hatched," the senior girl said simply.
"Yep…" In a flash of purple and yellow the two were transformed and out a window. Despite Homura's opinion on Mami's outlook, she will admit, the rifle swinging magical girl was very skilled in what she did.
Madoka waved goodbye to Sayaka where they needed to part on their way home. Sayaka seemed nervous to leave her alone with, as she says, that crazy scythe chic is still around. Though Madoka assured her it was fine and sent her on her way.
A few minutes later and half way to her house a monotone voice calls out, "Madoka Kaname."
Madoka jumped and spun around, finding herself face to face with the girl in white. She stepped back, clearly ready to run, though the girl didn't flinch or make any moves to attack.
"I mean no harm, I'm just here to say this...do not make a contract."
"Wh-what? Why?"
"Your new friends, take a close look at them...at me. We have nothing, we're not part of this world because of our contracts. We're not even really human anymore. If you make this wish, you will surrender everything, is that what you want?"
Madoka struggled for an answer, it didn't makes any sense. Homura and Mami...aren't...human? The strange girl turned to leave, pausing only long enough to say. "You have a purpose beyond being a magical girl." Then the girl took her scythe and swung it over her head. Bringing it down in front of her a dark rift like slash appears before her. She nodded back at Madoka then stepped forward into the tear, disappearing into the darkness.
AN: There we go! Chapter 2 is up and running~ Hope ya'll enjoyed it, I'll try not to have that big of a lull in updates again.
