Immortal: Greetings all, I have finally gotten work on a lesser scale, so now I have much more time to update and write. I intend to crank out as much as possible before it's back into the swing of things for me. Thanks to my first follower and my first reviewer for giving me a little "oomph!" in updating!

Disclaimer: In no way, shape, form, concept, alternate timeline, alternate universe, parallel universe, thought, idea, means, possibilities, impossibilities, do I own anything related to Puella Magi Madoka Magica and I urge you to please support the official release only.

Jail Cake and Court Date

"Hey brat wake up!", came a loud voice followed by the sound of a metal bar banging on the steel wall that separated Kyouko from freedom. Kyouko groaned a bit as she sat up, stiff from sleeping on her pitiful excuse of a bed. "Come on, you're needed for questioning." said the cop, whom Kyouko recognized as the asshole who maced her. Scowling, she sat up and got on her feet before flipping the bird at him. It wasn't the smartest of moves, but Kyouko didn't want to even look at the guy as he said, "Keep up the attitude and we'll make this even harder brat!". "Yeah whatever asshole, cry me freaking a river." thought the redhead as she was instructed to put her hands through a slot in the door, glaring at the handcuffs that were put on her. Afterwards, she was escorted to the interrogation room and was placed on the chair, her leg cuffed to the table that had it's legs drilled into the floor. The cop left her alone as she waited impatiently for the show to get started. As she waited, Kyouko felt a churning in the pit of her stomach at the thought of what Mami would say and how she would react. Scenarios ran through her head ranging from Mami freaking out and kicking her out her house to simply being extremely disappointed in her, and somehow the disappointment brought more dread than anything else. Kyouko heard the click-clack steps of heeled shoes from outside the room. There was a short conversation going on, and a policeman dressed in a cheap suit entered the room as he said, "...call you when I'm done." This was the same guy who had questioned her and informed her of the charges brought against her last night.

The previous night had them ask her the standard questions, her name, address, and relevant data about her. Things were tough for the cops because they couldn't track her through their systems. For one thing, Kyouko had been homeschooled and had thus never attended anyplace for her formal education so tracking school records was out of the picture. Plus due to her father being excommunicated from the church he preached at meant that he and the Sakura family were no longer part of any record belonging to the church. To top all that off, the only thing that really gave any semblance of identity to her was the fact that the article of her father's murder/suicide was still in the criminal database. The whole night had been spent piecing together just whom the church had been leased out to, and once that was establish, Kyouko's father had been identified through the main church where he was ordained as well as his marriage certificate, and finally his children's birth certificates. "I'm Lieutenant Sakazuki and I will be in charge of your case." began the man, setting the file containing the paperwork and information that he had dug up onto the steel table. Kyouko didn't speak as the cop opened the file and rifled through a few pages. "Your father's name is Sakura Tetsuya, married to Naoko and the father of two children, Momo and Kyouko." he said out loud as he looked through the papers, not looking at the teen before him. Then he went on, ignoring the glare from Kyouko as he pulled up a paper of a news article, "Three of the family members were discovered in a forced suicide after the building was caught on fire believed to be started by one of the family members and the other member was declared dead. Officially you were declared missing, but given the circumstances surrounding the incident, it would seem that is not the case.". The cop looked up at Kyouko, who was glaring at him with her hands clenched on the table so hard her knuckles were white. "Listen, before you jump to any conclusions, this is just to verify information about you since you have neither official school transcripts, nor any paper trail. As far as the system is concerned, you are a ghost." said Sakazuki. Kyouko leaned forward with a smartass sneer and said, "Then don't be surprised if I crawl out of your tv and kill you later.".

The older man raised an eyebrow before saying, "I'll just pretend I didn't hear that. As of right now, we have a social worker here in order to get started on making a paper-trail for you so you will be able to have an actual life instead of just living on the streets." "I'm doing fine myself thanks." replied Kyouko abrasively. "Really? I imagine sleeping out in the cold isn't very fun, especially considering what you're wearing." was the reply. Kyouko didn't say anything, but continued to glare as the cop sighed and put the paperwork aside. He stood up, reached for his belt and to Kyouko's surprise he pulled out a set of keys and uncuffed her. She rubbed her wrists a bit as Sakazuki said, "Alright look, you're still young and shouldn't have to be out on the streets. You probably don't know this, but over the past few years we've had young females around your age go missing. No bodies, no indication of her being kidnapped, just simply gone. I have a kid of my own, about your age group, and I'd hate to see her suddenly vanish with no idea where she is. It isn't right for somebody with so much potential in their future to have it suddenly cut short." "Well nobody really gives two shits about some street urchin, so it's not like anybody's gonna miss me. As for a future of any kind, I highly doubt I'd be around long enough to see what will come." replied Kyouko. That wasn't really true, but the cop didn't need to know the details. He'd probably have her committed to some insane asylum or something, but to his credit he did seem to be sincere and wasn't all that far off on his statements. But he was woefully ignorant of the real fact behind the disappearances, that they had either been horribly killed by an eldritch abomination or fell into despair and turned into one themselves before they were destroyed by another Magical Girl. Sakazuki persisted and said, "C'mon, for you to be healthy and well, which is more than I can say for others who are homeless, somebody HAS to be caring for you. Relatives, friends, classmates?". Mentioning Mami by name would likely put her at risk for trouble, although she was technically considered an emancipated adult capable of taking care of herself due to being orphaned, Kyouko didn't know whether or not it allowed her to be her guardian. So she decided not to say a word and instead looked down at her hands in silence. "Alright then..." sighed Sakazuki as he said, "You were tested for drugs and any illegal substance, all of which came back negative so we at least know you aren't messing with drugs. Sorry for asking this, but I need to know... Have you been engaging in prostitution as a means for support?"

"What the shit!?" yelled Kyouko, surprised and embarrassed by the question, her cheeks flushed as she felt a fresh wave of indignation and anger. "I'm not a goddamn whore you jackass! I ain't gonna just up and sell myself to some creepy fuck!". "A simple "no", would've sufficed, but I just needed to know." said Sakzuki as he heard a knock on the door. He sighed and got up, opening the door at a crack and looking at the other side. He seemed to be in the middle of a scolding before he sighed and then looked at the angry redhead before saying, "Alright, your social worker is going to talk to you now.". Kyouko scowled at him before he left the room. Immediately a woman dressed like a typical office lady along with a female officer escort entered the room. The woman looked to be in her mid-twenties, "A Christmas Cake huh?" thought Kyouko as the woman sat down across from Kyouko. She had black hair that had a section tied up in the back, giving it a small ponytail and a small mole was near her lip on her left side. She was dressed in a black business skirt with black stockings and red high-heeled shoes. In addition to that, she had a white-collared, long-sleeved shirt underneath a grey business-vest as well as red diamond-shaped earrings and necklace. Her eyes were light brown that gave off a sense of sadness as well as inner strength that seemed like a comfort to Kyouko, and she smiled kindly at the younger woman before saying, "Hello Sakura-san, I am Fukui Shouko, and I will be in charge of your paperwork. If you like, it can be just you and I here in this room." "Just so you know, I bite, and as a Christmas Cake you look pretty good." said Kyouko with a wry smirk. The woman's eyes widened a bit and she coughed once before saying patiently, "It's really up to you, and whatever is said in this room will stay in this room between you and I.". The female cop looked at Kyouko before the younger girl said, "Yeah whatever, tell the old hag to step out." "Smartass brat..." said the female police officer as she looked at Shouko, before she said, "It's okay, everything will be alright and if I need you I'll call for you.".

As Kyouko looked at the woman, she thought she could sense some faint trace of magic on her. The thought of Kyuubey contracting with a full-grown adult female and her being in a magical girl outfit was so amusing she couldn't help but smirk and laugh under her breath. Also, if Kyouko REALLY wanted to break out of the station, she'd be more than capable of doing so. The woman reached into her bag and fumbled around a bit before pulling out a small pocky box. She passed it over to Kyouko, who took the box and pulled one out. "Sakura-san, I was told that you were currently living with a girl named Tomoe Mami, is that correct?". Kyouko held her pocky like a cigarette before asking, "Well whoever told you that probably didn't have their facts straight. I'm just a homeless brat, bumming off a hotel room." The older woman replied, "That's not true, I'm sorry. Tomoe-san told me herself, and she did in fact arrive here this morning before I even showed up here." Kyouko snapped her pocky in her mouth before slowly chewing, feeling a flush rise in her cheeks at being caught in her lie. So Kyubey had kept his word and informed Mami of her situation, but there was a question rolling in her head that she voiced, "Do you know her? You sound really familiar with Mami.". Shouko replied, "Mam-er, Tomoe-san saved my life once. I don't recall the details too clearly, but I had a very bad day, and something prompted me to want to just end it all. It was like being under a spell, where I just wanted to end things, and that suicide was my only way out." "Sounds like she had been a victim of a witch at some point." thought Kyouko to herself. "But then something happened, I don't entirely remember the details, but I knew Tomoe-san had saved me from doing something irreversible." The older woman looked at Kyouko and said, "Tomoe-san helped me and so I promised her I would do everything I could to help you as a way to repay her in even the smallest way I can." The redhead made no reply as looked at Shouko as she began to eat another pocky. There was a silence between the two, but then Kyouko replied, "I also had a really bad day. But well... shit happens.". She held out the box, sticking a pocky out like a cigarette before asking, "Want one?". The older woman smiled, "I'd love one." and took a pocky. Mami was right when she had said that the easiest way to open up to Kyouko was through a food offering.

Kyouko personally was not just going to start trusting the social worker, but if Mami had been involved with her and impacted her enough to want to help her out of this jam, then she was willing to give the benefit of the doubt. Kyouko was set to appear before a judge in the afternoon to discuss what was going to happen to her. From what Shouko had said, they had lucked out and gotten a more benevolent judge as well , so he was willing to work something out. But it all depended on Kyouko's behavior and whether or not the owner of the store was going to push for a more severe punishment. Kyouko had asked Shouko about the guy, but the social worker unfortunately admitted she hadn't had a chance to talk with him since he was currently buying a new door. They began to discuss starting a paper-trail for Kyouko and that they would be meeting regularly to take care of formal paperwork. Kyouko made it clear that she would cooperate for Mami's sake, but she was NOT going to just talk about things she didn't want to talk about. "You may know Mami, but I don't know you, so don't expect me to suddenly be best buds with you Miss Cake.". "I understand, and I just want your cooperation. Also, could you not call me that please? I'm only 25." "Whatever Miss Cake. It just sounds easier to remember you.", replied Kyouko with a grin. Shouko sighed and said, "Alright, but please make sure you are on your best behavior." "Gotcha Miss Cake, I'll be on my very bestest behavior.", said Kyouko with insincere sincerity in her voice. The social worker collected herself and said, "I will see you this afternoon Sakura-san, please try to behave.". Lt. Sakazuki returned after exchanging a few short pleasantries before saying, "Alright Sakura-san, we're taking you to the visiting room. Tomoe-san is already waiting for you.". With a sense of dread, Kyouko sighed and put her hands out before looking away, "Alright chief, slap 'em on...". With a raised eyebrow at the gesture, he uncuffed the set that kept Kyouko chained to the table before placing the restraints on her wrists and telling her, "Alright then, stand up and we'll get going to the visitor center to meet with Tomoe-san."

Kyouko's boots and Sakazuki's dress-shoes echoed as they walked down a long corridor to the visitor center. Dread once again filled Kyouko as she walked the corridor, looking and almost feeling like an convict being taken to the electric chair. As the door opened, she saw that the walls were as gray as the floors, and she also saw another uniformed policeman standing by. He moved in front of her and uncuffed Kyouko, but behind him she could see Mami's blond drill hair and she cringed a bit. Sakazuki left her alone and she went to the only chair in the room. She was separated by a bullet-proof glass window from her senior, and in addition to that there was a microphone that allowed for a two-way conversation with no way of physical contact. Kyouko looked at Mami, feeling a wave of guilt as she said with a shaky smile, "Uhh... Hi Mami-san." The older girl had a stern look on her face and by the tone of her voice, Kyouko could tell she was very disappointed with her, "Kyouko, are you alright? I heard about what had happened, but I had hoped it wasn't true that you were actually arrested." The redhead replied dully, "I didn't even do anything. I mean, I just kicked out and a door happened to be in the way." "So why didn't you explain the situation?" asked Mami, a slight frown on her face. "Old habits die hard." replied Kyouko, for she had memories of stealing food even before she became a magical girl. So running from the law whenever she did something she knew was morally questionable. Mami was not impressed, but she was not going to get into chewing Kyouko out for something she didn't even know the whole details about.

She was really worried when Kyouko didn't show up that night for dinner given how much the redhead loved her cooking. At first she thought she was stuck in a battle with the Wraith's, but then Kyubey told her that Kyouko had been detained by the authorities. Needless to say, Mami's worry went up another few notches. Did Kyouko get caught fighting Wraith's? Did she accidentally injure somebody in the middle of a fight or did she do something else? Kyouko may have been abrasive, rude, and not above stealing food or money when she really needed it, but she wasn't the type to just beat up ordinary people for no reason. Plus she had made a turn-around, in that she didn't have to steal money or food anymore since she had been living with Mami. She thought of perhaps getting in touch with Homura to let her know that Kyouko was detained, so she should be aware of possibly having to pick up Kyouko's slack. But that thought was dashed because hey, maybe it was just a misunderstanding, and Kyouko could get released the next day! The truth was a bit more complicated as she quickly found out, but that's when she met a familiar face. It was that office lady that had nearly committed suicide after being subject to a Witch's Kiss, and she still remembered Mami in spite of not entirely remembering the details of how she was put under the witch's spell. Although she kept purposefully vague on the details, Mami did profess to remember helping her in that moment, and she mentioned that Kyouko was a friend that she wanted to help out. So Shouko had promised to do everything she could in return for Mami saving her life, and so far things were going pretty well. The social worker had known some of the officers and court officials, so had things gone through the bureaucracy as per normal protocol, Kyouko was looking at the very least a month or two in jail just to wait for her trial.

"I talked to Fukui-san earlier this morning, and she told me that just from the bare facts that she had received that she would do what she could to help you. But unfortunately I cannot be considered your legal guardian despite being an emancipated adult." said Mami, her hands squeezing a bit on top of her thighs. She knew she was skirting some legal boundaries by keeping Kyouko around, which was frustrating because Kyouko was not legally considered an emancipated adult. "Well maybe we should change my last name to Tomoe and we'll just say you're my uber-hot mom." said Kyouko with a shrug. "Please don't joke Kyouko, this is serious." replied Mami, "I know Mom, and I, Tomoe Sakura, am very sorry.". Mami rubbed her forehead and frowned before speaking telepathically, "Kyouko, I am not joking around. This is serious, and you may very well be put away for at least a year! Without you around, this city will be in danger with only Akemi-san and I to defend it!". The redhead rubbed the back of her head, cringing at how she upset Mami, and cursing herself for not keeping her smartass tendencies in check. "Look I am... I'm sorry Mami. I really didn't mean for things to happen like this. It just got... Stuff just happened that I didn't intend." replied Kyouko after mulling through her guilt. "Please Kyouko, just don't aggravate the situation anymore than it already has been." "Alright Mami, I'm sorry. Seriously I am." said Kyouko, looking straight at the older girl. She was painfully reminded of Sayaka and how much she disapproved of her less-than-noble means of survival. At least back then Kyouko knew that the other girl had no right to look down on her. What did Sayaka know about growing up poor, about going hungry, and how desperation made you make your own rules just to survive? But this was different... Mami had made a serious effort to help her out, and Kyouko ended up in jail as thanks. Mami saw that Kyouko at least had the decency to look guilty, plus she was already feeling trashy enough about being in jail, so she sighed and said, "We'll get through this Kyouko. As long as you behave yourself, and pray that the judge will be easy on you. This WAS your first offense right?", "The first one I got caught for. I... I think I still have some magic left in me, but no promises." replied Kyouko telepathically before the guard said, "Ten more minutes left.". She had enough to influence people on a small basis, which is how she survived after her family died, so whenever she got caught breaking into places or taking food, she never got busted. Kyouko sighed and began to just make some small talk with Mami, killing time with her until she was taken back to her holding cell.

Later that afternoon, after counting the holes in the ceiling from the tenth time, Kyouko was brought out to go see her appointed attorney. It was a man who you would glance at and not even remember him afterwards, possibly even mistaking him for somebody else in three minutes. Kyouko made at least an honest attempt to listen to the guy talking about how she should act in court, how to address the judge, and what her options were. At best, she would have to perform community service with no fines nor jail time, and at worse she would have to face jail-time despite being a minor because she actively resisted the police. On top of that, he had a "secret weapon". Kyouko's responses were mostly, "Okay", "yeah", "I see", "mmhmm", "yep", "right.". Then there was paperwork that had to be filed and after all that, she was placed in a police-car and driven to the courthouse. It was a relatively short drive to the small brick building, but Kyouko soon was ushered inside to a waiting area in order to be called in. She wrung her hands somewhat nervously, aware of the fact that she had to be on her best behavior like her life depended on it. She had faced witches, wraith's, and even been through death itself, yet she was fretting over the outcome of her trial. The thought nearly made her crack a grin, but she was soon called in by the baliff.

The courtroom was fairly small, but it was built to look wider, and present itself as much more intimidating than it really was. Kyouko saw that Mami was sitting in the benches behind her to watch the case along with a few other onlookers including Homura Akemi. The black-haired girl kept her stoic look as she sat next to Mami, and Kyouko wondered why she was even there. "I am here at Mami's request, Sakura Kyouko. Nevertheless, I wish you well. So do not become more troublesome than you already have been.", said Homura telepathically, almost indifferently. "Gee thanks, I feel better already." said Kyouko in reply, annoyed that Homura at least wasn't more sympathetic to her plight. The Judge was an older man in his late 60s, with glasses and a thick bushy beard that reminded Kyouko of Santa Claus. The prosecutor was a woman in her mid-thirties, sorting through paperwork with a very stern look on her face. Sitting at the defense-bench was Shouko also having paperwork to speak for Kyouko on her behalf. The defense and Shouko set themselves up as the judge banged on his gavel and said, "This trail for Sakura Kyouko is now in sessions." "The Defense is ready Your Honor." said the lawyer. "The Prosecution is ready Your Honor." said the other woman.

The trial was laid out by the Prosecutor stating the facts of the case, calling in the policemen who had detained Kyouko. The Judge in particular was displeased that "excessive force" had been used against the teenager, although the prosecutor was quick to point out that Kyouko willingly resisted arrest. Her lawyer countered that a fifteen year old girl had absolutely no way of resisting a grown man with strength and that he had been wrong in using his mace. The taser was different because it stopped her from running, but he added that she was known to be homeless, so trusting adults could've put fear in her. "Ugh, this is like something out of a lame crime drama, and I'm the star it would seem.", thought Kyouko as the trial dragged on. The judge seemed to have sympathy for Kyouko due to her being technically homeless, but he didn't ignore the fact she had broken the law, a fact that Shouko tried to diminish as much as she could. But then that's when something new came up that Kyouko was not expecting. That "secret weapon" was being called in to validate Kyouko's character and that she was a good person. The defense called in, "Kazama Yuuma, the owner of the establishment in question.". The baliff brought forth the man to the witness stand, looking Kyouko straight in the face the whole time. The look creeped her out and her lawyer began to question him, "How did you come to know Sakura-san?". The man began to speak, almost deliberately as if he had been working on his words for the longest time.

"It was about two years ago. I was... in a very bad place at the time, mentally speaking that is, erm... I-I had access to a gun an old buddy of mine carried from the police. I don't even remember the whole story other than that something possessed me to take my life, but this girl... she stopped me!". He cleared his throat and ran his hand through his hair as he continued, "She knocked the gun from my hands and before I knew it, that horrible feeling I had was just... gone. It was like being lifted from a spell that I had been placed in, and she told me that I was alright. "You aren't gonna die today, you got that idiot?", was what she said. I never saw her again after that, and I quit the force not long after. But I never forgot Sakura-san, and I know she made a mistake, but I still haven't forgotten that gift of life she gave me that day. I talked to the officers and I still do not want any charges pressed." "Thank you sir, that will do." said the judge. "Okaaay... laying on it a little thick there pal." thought Kyouko, feeling a slight tug at her memory. This HAD to be a long time ago because she didn't even remember this guy! Hell, it could've been Tuesday or Christmas Day for all she remembered, but this guy had apparently been obsessing over it for the longest time. After being excused from the witness-stand, the judge began to deliberate Kyouko's fate. The girl held her hands as if she was praying, closing her eyes and concentrating. Shouko put a hand on hers to reassure her, unaware that she was interrupting Kyouko's attempt at trying to find her enchantment magic. "C'mon, c'mon! Judge, Not Guilty, Not Guilty!". she thought as she continued to try her magic. The Judge said, "Sakura-san, stand up please."

The redhead stood up shakily and looked at the judge. "It is my belief that you are a good person, that you have done wonderful deeds and have lived a hard and unfair life. Nevertheless, you have broken the law, so you must understand that there are consequences." Kyouko gulped a bit as the judge continued, "However though, I do not believe it appropriate to punish you severely for this mistake. Therefore, I am sentencing you to one month community service by paying off the damages done to Kazama-san's establishment. He has requested that you work for him to pay off the damages and-"

"OBJECTION!"

"Sakura-san, . have. a. problem!?" said the judge very sternly, looking at the girl as she pointed at the judge, shouting the only lawyer word she knew. "N-none at all Your Honor, I uhh... just noticed that it hadn't been used, so I figured somebody had to use that word, right? Ehehehe..." replied Kyouko in embarrassment as she looked down. In the audience, there were a couple of snickers, and Mami had her hands in her face as she shook her head. The lawyer looked as if he had crapped his pants while Shouko had stiffened at the sudden outburst. But to Kyouko's surprise, the judge actually chuckled and said, "Well that's true. I don't suppose it truly is a trial unless the word "objection" is used, but please be more conscientious about that Sakura-san." He cleared his throat and pounded the gavel before saying, "OVERRULED!" with a good-natured laugh. Then he continued, "You will pay for the damages, and in the meantime you will be monitored by Fukui Shouko as well as placed under temporary guardianship of Tomoe Mami, whom I am told has been looking after your affairs. This is somewhat unprecedented, but seeing as how she is indeed an emancipated adult, you will be required to be an emancipated adult yourself if you do not prefer being placed under foster care.". The blonde looked up, enormous relief on her face as she hugged Homura. Despite herself, the other girl had the smallest grin crack her lips before she gently pushed Mami off her. "I would like to be an emancipated adult Your Honor." said Kyouko, finally smiling. The judge nodded and said, "This trial has ended, good luck Sakura-san.".

From his position in the court, Yuuma thought to himself as Kyouko was led away, "So it begins... I can finally settle that debt I owe to you Kyouko Sakura. I know it's weird, but I truly do have the best intentions for you, just like you did for me that day."

Immortal: Well, there you have it! The second chapter is done. I honestly feel like things were a bit rushed here, but I hope it wasn't too bad. Also, Fukui Shouko is NOT an original character. She is in fact the Office Lady from episode 2, and I just really feel like she has a lot of potential to be a reoccurring character, so I wanted to include her in this story. Her name Fukui (fortunate) Shouko (auspicious child) is a reference to her being lucky enough to have Mami save her life after being hit with a Witch's Kiss! I don't know if she has an actual canon name or not, but since I couldn't find it, I just decided to make up my own name for her.

Kazama Yuuma is an OC, but don't worry he is NOT gonna be paired up with Kyouko or some other creepy thing.

Title Drop's and Objections were definitely something that HAD to be thrown in at some point. Well, till next chapter! Please leave a review, would you kindly?