Chapter Four: Truth and Lies
The path led Sayaka into a wooded area. The wind was no longer as strong here, thanks to many trees which hung over the top of the walls. The walls themselves were soon overgrown with vines. Eventually they disappeared altogether on one side, replaced by hedges of thorny bushes.
Then Sayaka peered around a corner and saw the last two people she had expected to meet. 'Kyosuke and Hitomi…'
The two of them were wandering the hedges looking very worried. Hitomi was clinging to Kyosuke's arm as though she were afraid. Sayaka didn't blame her, this place seemed off to her.
'Kyosuke are you sure this is the way?' asked Hitomi.
'I'm not lost.' said Kyosuke, kneeling and putting a finger on a tile. 'I left markings here before.'
'Well where are they now?' asked Hitomi.
'I don't know.' said Kyosuke 'They should have been here.'
'Oh, I knew we shouldn't have wandered into the labyrinth.' wailed Hitomi 'We'll never make it out now.'
'Don't say that.' said Kyosuke 'We can still find our way out, we just have to…'
And then Kyoko dropped down from above to stand in front of them, spear propped over one shoulder. 'Well what do we have here?' she asked, munching on some beef jerky. 'Two rich kids wandering far from home are we?'
'We're lost.' said Kyosuke 'Could you direct us to the central city?'
'Wow, I'm crying.' said Kyoko. 'What are your names exactly?''
'I'm Kyosuke Kamiji.' said Kyosuke.
'That's a pretty important family.' mused Kyoko.
'Yes. If you could lead us to the Capital you'll be rewarded, I promise you.' said Kyosuke.
'Sure I will.' said Kyoko 'And I'm Queen Homura. So what about you?'
'Me, I'm Hitomi Shizuki.' said Hitomi.
'Hmm, pretty important family as well.' said Kyoko, unshouldering her spear. 'Guess I've got two for ransom.'
'Ransom?!' said Kyosuke 'You can't-'
'Can too.' said Kyoko 'Now stand still a sec while I cut that pretty necklace off your girlfriend. Don't want her to lose her head.' She surged forward.
But Sayaka took action and leaped in front of her. Her sword parried Kyoko's spear and they locked blades.
'You again!' said Kyoko 'What, was one beating not enough?'
'Run!' said Kyoko 'Both of you get out of here! I'll deal with her!'
'Right.' said Kyosuke, before grabbing Hitomi and making a run for it.
'What is your problem?!' snapped Kyoko 'They're my prey!'
'You don't have a right to do this!' snapped Sayaka, shoving her back.
'Like hell!' said Kyoko, unleashing a counteroffensive of vicious jabs. 'Why should I care about some spoiled rich kid who had everything handed to him on a platter! I grew up in the gutter! I'll take what I can get!'
'What happened to you?' asked Sayaka, on the defensive.
Kyoko forced her up against a hedge and they were face to face. 'Why the hell do you keep acting like you know me? I've never seen you before in my life!'
'Yes you have.' said Sayaka 'Well, not in this life.'
'Is this one of those reincarnation things?' asked Kyoko.
'Look it is really complicated-' began Sayaka.
Kyoko smashed Sayaka in the side with her spear, sending her flying. 'Don't care. Gotta pay the bills somehow. And since you just helped two of my meal tickets escape you can fill it.'
'You could have tried thieving!' snapped Sayaka as she stood up.
'What, is Ms. High and Mighty suggesting I steal?' laughed Kyoko.
'Even that would be better than this.' said Sayaka 'Kidnapping people and holding them for ransom. Selling people into slavery. It's beneath you, Kyoko.'
'You say like you care.' said Kyoko.
'Of course, I care!' snapped Sayaka 'And because I care I'm not going to let you get away with this!' Then she surged forward with an offensive of her own.
Kyoko backpedaled, caught off guard by the fury of the attack. She lost her footing and fell backward, her spear flying from her hands as Sayaka's sword went to her throat. Kyoko stared up, stunned. 'You beat me? You never beat me?!'
'I know right.' said Sayaka in surprise, drawing back. 'I mean I guess all those different timelines really paid off… wait, you remember?'
Kyoko stood up, eyes wide and clutched her head. 'You! Get away from me!'
Snatching her spear she raced off into the hedges. Sayaka sighed and sheathed her sword. 'Okay, looks like Kyosuke and Hitomi ran off together without thanking me. Again. I'm really starting to hate this part of the job. Oh crap, it's the afternoon! I've got to double-time it!
Which direction though?
I know! I'll leave a slash on the walls.' Turning, she drew her sword and made a mark on the stonework. Then she walked onward. At every crossroads and turn, she would pause to slash the wall. Eventually, she came to a dead end and stopped.
With a sigh she turned back, only to find all her marks gone. 'Someone has been getting rid of my marks! That's not fair!'
'Few things are, you know.' said another voice.
Sayaka looked up and saw Kyubey, two Kyubey's, standing at two doors. As she approached she looked on incredulously. 'What the? Kyubey, why are there two of you?'
'We are the guardians.' said Kyubey 'One of these paths leads to utter destruction. The other leads you where you need to go.'
'Oh my god, I can't believe Homura is this unoriginal.' said Sayaka with a sigh.
'You may ask one of us one question.' said Kyubey 'One of us always tells the truth and one of us always lies.'
'You know that this riddle isn't actually all that difficult don't you?' asked Sayaka 'I mean it's pretty hard on paper. But all I have to do is ask one of you about some obvious feature of the terrain or if the sky is blue. The problem solves itself.'
'The riddle is too difficult.' said Kyubey, defensively.
'Whatever. Is my hair blue?' said Sayaka.
Dead silence.
'Well?!' said Sayaka.
'You already asked your question.' said Kyubey.
'I know, and you didn't answer.' said Sayaka.
'Yes we did.' said Kyubey 'You asked us if we knew that this riddle wasn't all that difficult. I disagreed.'
'That wasn't my question!' snapped Sayaka.
'You humans are so illogical.' said Kyubey 'You asked it so you must have wanted an answer.'
'But I didn't want that to be my question! It shouldn't count!' said Sayaka.
'It does.' said Kyubey.
'That's not fair!' said Sayaka.
'Few things are, you know.' said Kyubey.
'Wait a minute, you're the one who always tells the truth aren't you?' asked Sayaka 'Otherwise, you'd be lying.'
'Not necessarily. I could be telling the truth when I'm off duty.' said Kyubey.
Then Kyoko walked around the corner, spear propped over one shoulder. She waved easily. 'Hey.'
'Kyoko?' said Sayaka 'What are you doing here?'
'Just looking out for my interests.' said Kyoko as she came forward. 'So what exactly is going on here?'
''One of them tells the truth and one of them always lies. I have one question to pick the right path and if I pick the wrong one I end up facing certain destruction.' said Sayaka 'But I accidentally used my one question. I was talking about how obvious the solution was.'
'Huh, well that's easily fixed.' said Kyoko.
Then she walked forward and picked up both Kyubey's by the ears.
'Hey, what are you doing!' said Kyubey.
'The way I see it one of these doors leads to certain destruction.' said Kyoko, opening the right door. 'So if you're alive after I throw you through it I'll know not to take that one!'
'That's not fair!' said Kyubey.
'Few things are, you know.' said Kyoko, before tossing him through.
No sooner had she shut the door and there was a noise like thunder. The door was blown off its hinges as smoke and fire poured out of the doorway. Both of them were forced to their knees from the shock of it.
'Huh,' said Kyoko 'guess we'll take the left one.' And they walked through.
'You just killed someone.' said Sayaka.
'Yup. First rule of surviving in the Labyrinth. Don't play by the rules.' said Kyoko 'Besides that was Kyubey, it doesn't count. Now are we going or what?'
'Why are you helping me all of a sudden?' asked Sayaka.
Kyoko didn't speak for a moment or two as they walked in silence. 'That's a bit hard to answer. I keep thinking I've seen you somewhere before. And when I think about it I get the feeling that you are someone really important to me. You seemed to recognize me so I figured I'd ask you. Have we met somewhere before?'
'Yeah, we have. A lot of times, actually.' said Sayaka 'See-'
'Yeah, that's great, we're going underground.' said Kyoko, turning to one side. Opening a door Sayaka hadn't even seen, she led them down a staircase into the earth.
'Why this way?' asked Sayaka.
'There is a tunnel system we bandits use to maneuver around the labyrinth.' said Kyoko 'It's pretty dangerous if you don't know what you are doing, but I know what to do and what not to do. Now follow me.'
Madoka got home late that night. Dinner was almost finished when she got in and she chowed down quickly. Mom looked at her. 'So Madoka, how was your first day at work?'
'It went great, mom.' said Madoka 'Queen Homura is really nice and she showed me some really amazing things.'
'I'm glad you enjoyed it.' said Mom.
'Just be careful,' said Dad there are a lot of weird rumors going on about that castle. Most of them are probably nothing, but no harm in being cautious.'
Mom was staring at Madoka strangely. 'Did I give you those ribbons?'
'No.' said Madoka 'Homura did.'
'That is so odd.' said Mom 'I kept thinking that I should put ribbons like that in your hair. But I never got around to it. Now Homura does it.'
Madoka didn't know how to feel about that. And the thought kept bugging her. She felt as though she had worn these ribbons before. Maybe in another life? She could ask Homura about it.
Finishing her dinner she stood up. 'I'm going to take a walk, Mom. Okay?'
'All right.'said Mom 'Just be back before nine.'
'I will.' said Madoka.
She left her house. Her house was two stories and quite large. It was a bit eccentric in this city. The other buildings were mostly made of stonework. As Madoka walked she realized she was heading in the direction of the slave market and turned away. She didn't want to go there.
'Madoka!' said a familiar voice.
Madoka looked up and saw Kyosuke and Hitomi running toward her. 'Kyosuke? Hitomi? Where have you been all day? I didn't see you in school… Wait school, what was I thinking about… Everything seemed wrong all of a sudden.'
'We were stupid.' said Kyosuke 'We wandered into the labyrinth and got lost. Then we nearly got kidnapped by this crazy bandit girl.'
'How did you get away?' asked Madoka.
'Sayaka saved us.' said Kyosuke 'I… that's weird. How do I know her name?'
'You met Sayaka Miki?' asked Madoka.
'Yes.' said Hitomi 'I mean, I think so. Do you know her?'
'No, I mean, nevermind.' said Madoka 'You guys had better head home.'
'Right.' said Kyosuke 'See you in the morning.'
Was this the power which Homura had told Madoka about? The ability to make people feel like they knew you? Still, if she saved Kyosuke and Hitomi she can't be all bad.
Madoka slept like a log that night.
She woke up wearily, the morning light slipping through her curtains. Sitting up she licked her dry lips and looked at the time. Then she jumped up with a start. 'Oh no! I'm going to be late for work!
She was late for work.
'You're late, Madoka.' said Homura as she came in.
'Yes, I'm sorry Homura, I mean, Queen Homura.' said Madoka 'Some of my friends got lost and…'
'Please, just call me Homura. And it's quite all right.' said Homura.
At that moment a strange creature, a mix between a cat and a rabbit appeared before them. Homura looked furious for a moment, but the look disappeared. 'Kyubey, what are you doing here?'
'Ms. Miki is halfway through the labyrinth.' said Kyubey 'She received some help from Kyoko Sakura. Now she is using the bandit tunnels to cut straight to the castle.'
Homura smiled. 'Well, I'll just have to go speed her up then.'
'Speed her up?' asked Madoka 'But um, Homura, don't we want her to not get here in time?'
'Who says she'll be going anywhere?' asked Homura, before disappearing into the shadows.
The tunnel was dark and the only lighting was a series of torches which never seemed to burn out. The air was heavy and musty. Kyoko led Sayaka forward at a swift pace and they didn't talk much.
'So why haven't we seen any of your friends anyway?' asked Sayaka.
'Eh, these tunnels are huge.' said Kyoko 'You could go for miles without meeting anyone. Besides, they know better than to mess with me.'
'Right.' said Sayaka.
And then everything got bright. Sayaka shielded her eyes as out of a brilliant light emerged a shadow. The light faded and Homura was there, smiling. 'Hello, Kyoko. Just what do you think you're doing?'
'Isn't it obvious?' asked Kyoko 'I'm leading her out of the labyrinth and back outside.'
'Really?' asked Homura.
'Yeah, what you don't really think I'd go out of my way to help her, do you?' asked Kyoko.
'Of course not. I have absolute faith in you.' said Homura in a faithless tone. 'So, Sayaka, how are you enjoying the labyrinth?'
'It isn't even a challenge.' snapped Sayaka.
'Well then I suppose you won't mind if I make it a little harder then.' said Homura. Then she snapped her fingers. A clock suddenly appeared behind Homura and the arms spun round and round. Sayaka tried to move forward but the clock kept on going faster.
Then it stopped and the clock was gone. Sayaka looked at her soul gem and realized that it was two-thirds dark. 'What did you-'
'You've just lost a day standing here, Sayaka.' said Homura 'You'd better hurry up.'
'That isn't fair!' snapped Sayaka 'We had an agreement!'
'I'm sorry, who holds all the cards here?' asked Homura.
'Don't you ever get sick of these games?' asked Sayaka.
'Games?' laughed Homura 'Let the games begin.'
Then she was gone.
There was a moment of silence as Kyoko facepalmed. Then, all of a sudden, out of the darkness came a monster of shadow and flame. Sayaka and Kyoko ran as a flaming whip cracked behind them.
'Hey Sayaka, first rule of survival in the labyrinth!' snapped Kyoko 'Don't mock Homura!'
'Homura can rewrite the universe on a whim!' said Sayaka 'All I can do is mock her!'
'Well great job on getting us chased by a giant, black demon thing!' shot back Kyoko.
They came to a great gap in the floor. They leaped over it, but Kyoko fell short and caught herself on the edge. Sayaka ran to her and grabbed her hand. 'Kyoko!'
'Don't worry about me, just go!' said Kyoko as the demon advanced.
'No way! Come on!' said Sayaka, pulling her up.
They barely got away before the flaming whip cracked behind them. The beast leaped over the pit to pursue them. Kyoko and Sayaka ran and ran as flames pursued them. Then they hit an iron door. They slashed at it, but it wouldn't move.
'Damn it, the door is blocked.' said Sayaka.
'What about that one.' asked Kyoko.
Sayaka looked up and saw a smaller door to the side. Drawing out her sword she struck the door as Kyoko drove her spear forward. It shuddered and broke as the heat of flame hit their face. Leaping through the demon's whip cracked near them just as they passed through. Scrambling away they fled down the tunnel. Sayaka glanced back and saw the demon straining against the walls. It was too large to fit through.
They turned a corner and fell to the ground panting.
'That was close.' said Kyoto.
'Yeah...' said Sayaka in exhaustion.
'Hey, you said before that you were leading me out of the Labyrinth.' said Sayaka 'You were just lying to keep her off our scent, right?'
'Well if I wasn't it isn't like you have any other choice but to trust me.' said Kyoko.
'Good point.' admitted Sayaka.
Finding a ladder they scaled up it and onto the surface. They were pressed for time. But they could still make it.
Authors Note:
And the next chapter is up. Enjoy!
