Authors Note: Longest chapter thus far, next chapter will be likely longer considering the pattern this is going at. I'm also going to be real with everyone; I am terrible at chapter names.

Picking up from where the last chapter left off. Just a tiny jump between scenes. If I've made any errors that need to be fixed, point them out. If there is anything I can improve on that you've noticed, point them out. Just tell me your thoughts on this chapter in general if you would like.

For those who are also reading Le Fleur Rouge, I am very sorry for just how long it takes between chapters. I've little motivation for that story compared to this one, and I guess that's just from the fact that I know more people read and like this one than LFR. I am working on the next chapter though, and am about halfway through, more or less.

Thank you and please enjoy.

The nurse had gotten to work right away when the girls explained what was wrong. She checked Homura's heartbeat and gave her the required medicine. Sayaka hovered over her almost like a hawk, a rather protective hawk at that.

Their schools nurse didn't make any indication that Sayaka was getting in the way, and Homura never requested that she back off, so Sayaka stayed where she was.

After seeing that Homura had everything alright, the nurse instructed her to lie down for a bit. Sayaka was to take her home after Homura rested, and had even gotten permission to not need to come back to school after that so long as she stayed with Homura in the case that something happened. Not that Sayaka minded or even needed to be given an Okay for that, she was sticking with the other girl either way.

With everything alright, Sayaka had left to bring back Homura's glasses as well as their things from class. Coming back, she found the nurse gone and the ravenette sleeping peacefully on one of the beds.

Sayaka couldn't prevent the smile that took over her face at such a sight. Sitting in one of the wheeled spinnable chairs near the bed, she leaned over the back, resting her arms and chin on the top as she just watched Homura sleeping. Watching the steady, even rise and falls of her chest as she breathed, the little fidgets and Homura shifted and relaxed.

Seeing her like this, Sayaka could only think of one word to describe her friend right now.

She was adorable.

The bluenette was reaching forward to brush some stray black strands from Homura's face, fingers tracing her cheek when she felt the ravenette begin to stir. Recoiling her hand and bringing it back to her side, Sayaka watched as violet eyes opened and looked right at her.

"Saya…Miki-san?" Homura sleepily asked, rubbing at her eyes, and Sayaka quickly handed her the retrieved red rimmed glasses. With a grateful nod, Homura placed them on her face and the world came into focus, "Shouldn't you be in class?"

"Forgot already?" Sayaka asked, giving her a playful grin, "I'm supposed to take you home and stick with you the rest of the day, remember?"

Homura blinked and then gave a flush of embarrassment at forgetting such a 'crucial' detail, sitting back up.

"You feeling better, Akemi?" Sayaka asked, reaching towards her a little before dropping her arm back, but still concerned, "If you're not, you can lie down some more."

"I'm fine, really."

To be honest, Sayaka would have wanted Homura to stay lying down and resting, but gave in the end anyways. The two checked out at the office, the Nurse had already informed them that Sayaka and Homura had a pass to leave school so it wasn't difficult. One of their classmates had even dropped off their bags there for them too, so Sayaka didn't have to run back to the class to get them.

Because she was still worried about Homura's condition, despite the constant assurances that she was alright, Sayaka refused to let Homura carry her own bag. Deeming it too heavy for her right now. She also chose to walk on the side closest to the street during their walk.

The bridge had been deemed a safer route the past few days as the deaths and suicides there had suddenly stopped, so Sayaka decided it'd be best if they took that route. It was shorter than the path the two found together, and the sooner they got to Homura's home the sooner she could make the girl lie back down and rest.

The girl wasn't even aware of how protective or how much she was fussing over Homura today.

The walk was a significantly lot shorter, and they managed to reach the Akemi residence sooner than expected. Homura fished her key out of her skirt pocket and unlocked the door, allowing Sayaka to enter first.

Of course she was nervous as both she and Sayaka removed their shoes. This was the first time someone other than herself and on occasion her parents had entered her home. But she didn't have the luxury of being able to get away with not letting Sayaka in this time. The girl would no doubt throw a fit if she did that.

When they got in, Sayaka looked around with a surprised expression on her face. It was all white; white walls, white ceilings, and white carpets. The only things that brought color to the home was the pale green couch and the brown color of the shelves and TV stand.

There actually wasn't much on the shelves. They were bare except for a couple of books and maybe a knickknack or two. Sayaka had held a feeling that Homura wouldn't have a whole lot of decorations, but this surpassed her expectations.

"Sure are going for a Sparta feel, huh?" Sayaka said with a slight whistle as she stood in the living room.

"I h-hope it's not….bad?" Homura asked tentatively from the kitchen. The sound of a faucet running came from there as she got the two some water. She was still waiting for some disappointed remark from Sayaka. But none ever came.

"Nah, its fine," Sayaka assured her, taking a seat on the couch and leaning back into it. "Should we give your parents a call to let them know you're home early? Don't want you to get in trouble with them thinking you skipped after all," she asked as Homura came back with two glasses of water and sat down next to her.

"They're not here," Homura answered, handing a cup to Sayaka and taking a sip from her own. "They're over in America."

"Wait, you're serious? They're not even in Japan?" That was surprising, and actually irresponsible in Sayaka's opinion, considering Homura's health. "Why though? They know your condition, and they just left you alone while they take a vacation in a different country? How long were they planning to be gone anyways?"

At Sayaka's questions, Homura gave another sip and a small shrug trying to make it seem as though her parents not being here wasn't an issue, "I don't really know when they'll be back, but it doesn't matter, I'm fine on my own," she explained.

They had left while she was in her third month in the hospital prior to coming to Mitakihara. It didn't really bother her, not anymore at least. Her parents had gotten her this apartment and were still paying its monthly along with her bills. Besides she had a great doctor she could call if she had any health issues, not to mention a few family friends would check up on her on her parent's behalf now and then.

It was lonely though, coming home to emptiness.

"That's still wrong," Sayaka muttered, crossing her arms over her chest as she sank in the couch and grumbled under her breath, "Why would they do something like that anyways?"

The ravenette shuffled awkwardly from her seat, unsure of how to answer Sayaka's question. Not sure if she even wanted to answer it right now. It wasn't that she didn't trust Sayaka… Who was she kidding? She didn't trust Sayaka not to get worked up over the reason they weren't here. It was just how Sayaka was.

Instead of answering her, Homura began scanning the room for something to shift the conversation and subject onto, "Um, M-Miki-san….do you want to…" she began and her eyes landed on the TV, "H-how about a movie?" she asked lamely.

Sayaka for her part seemed to understand and let it slide, it was a question she could ask when Homura could bring herself to answer, "Sure, let's get some popcorn," she offered, holding a hand out to Homura, pulling her off the couch, "Movie sounds like fun, great way to kill our new free time."

Though she didn't exactly like the subject change, Sayaka would accept it and take things at Homura's pace. If she wasn't comfortable with telling Sayaka something, the bluenette wouldn't push, she would wait for Homura to tell her in her own time. She didn't want to smother and ultimately drive Homura away.

Madoka stared at her notebook, occasionally glancing at Sayaka and Homura' empty desks before returning her attention to the blank pages. She should be taking her notes, but the pink haired girl just couldn't bring herself to concentrate on the teacher.

She kept thinking of that hallway incident. Sure, she'd seen Sayaka like that before, frustrated and angry at people, worried and concerned too. But never had she'd been the target of her best friend's anger, not like that at least.

Sayaka was holding herself back, Madoka could tell. She knew her friend well enough to know when the girl was trying hard not to yell, not to let anger get the better of her.

Madoka wasn't sure which had hurt her more, being the focus point of Sayaka's anger, or having her attempts to help refused and pushed away. They didn't need her to talk to Saotome-sensi, they could have had the nurse let her know.

It was just Sayaka's way of getting Madoka to leave.

Sayaka's attitude to her had been becoming increasingly more bitter whenever they got the chance to talk, Madoka had noticed it. Was it her fault? Most likely, it was. Sayaka didn't mean it, but Madoka was abandoning her, and Sayaka was lashing out.

She really wished she could spend more time with Sayaka, she really did. But she was busy with Mami, trying to collect as many Grief Seeds as they could, take out as many familiars and witches as possible. All so they could be prepared for what Mami had found out through rumors and warnings from other Magical Girls passing through.

Walpurgishnacht was coming.

A witch so powerful it didn't even need a labyrinth to hide. A witch so powerful it could destroy the entire city while everyone was left to think it was some kind of super cell or some other kind of natural disaster.

A witch that Madoka couldn't let harm anyone.

Madoka had made her contract so she could protect this city, protect the people in it who were dear to her. So she could protect her mother, father and Tatsuya. So she could protect Sayaka and Hitomi. How could she do that if she didn't defeat Walpurgis? Though, right now Madoka had a feeling if Sayaka knew why she had been leaving her, she would still be angry.

'Madoka-san, you seem off, are you alright?' Mami asked, her voice ringing through Madoka's mind and causing the younger girl to give a startled jump.

'I'm fine…I'm just thinking of Sayaka-chan,' she admitted, her eyes drifting back to her best friends empty desk before trying to resume some kind of focus on her class.

Mami gave a sigh from her end, not an annoyed or tired one, but a sympathetic sigh, 'I do feel bad for constantly pulling you away from her,' she admitted, gentle as always, 'I hope she isn't becoming too lonely without you.'

'I don't think she is, she's upset, but I don't think she's lonely' Madoka answered, eyes going over to Homura's desk, 'She's become good friends with Homura-chan, so she's not alone. I just wish we could tell her about all of this.'

Mami was silent for a minute or two before responding to her, 'How about this. When we beat Walpurgis, we tell Miki-san about the witches, and about us. Would that help at all? Maybe we can have her join us too.'

She thought it over, tossing the idea around in her head and gave a small nod, 'That can work. After we defeat Walpurgisnacht, we tell Sayaka-chan,' she agreed with the idea.

The veteran gave a pleased hum in her mind, 'With that decided, I'll leave you to do your work. We can have tea at my home after our witch hunt today,' Mami said, though she didn't need to say so, it was practically a tradition to have tea and cake after a hunt. 'See you after school, Madoka-san. One last thing though,'

'Hm?'

'I love you.'

Madoka smiled at that, a light blush she hoped no one noticed peppered her cheeks and wondering if Mami could feel happiness Madoka felt through their mental connection.

'Love you too, Mami-san.'

The two sat on the couch, each with a blanket around them now as a film played on the TV. A large bowl of popcorn was set on the coffee table between them. It had been made plain for the both of them with no salt because Sayaka had heard somewhere that too much salt can cause heart attacks. She didn't want to risk it with Homura, and she wasn't sure about butter so that was out too. Though Homura didn't seem to voice any complaints so she assumed it was fine.

They had binged on a few short films, some animated some live actions, and watched a few TV episodes. Playing right now was some kind of film that's title had seemed interesting. Though currently it was a bit of a letdown to both with how bad it was.

The earlier issue had been forgotten, something Homura was grateful for. She would explain what she had meant to Sayaka a different date, just not today.

"Ugh, that's just terrible," Sayaka groaned, stuffing some popcorn into her mouth as the leading lady of the movie clung to the love interest. Silver glowing liquid, or rather 'moon tears' ran down the right side of her face as she went on about how she had to return to the moon.

Homura gave a nod, "Why did we pick this?" she asked before shaking her head, "Right, the title seemed interesting, and the description made it sound like a decent movie."

With that, Sayaka gave a laugh, "You picked it, just remember that, you picked this awful movie," shaking her head and after that only gave the film a little attention as she tossed another piece of popcorn into her mouth, "This is your fault Homu- Akemi," she quickly corrected herself before pausing, "You know what, forget it, I'm calling you by your first name. I like it more than saying Akemi over and over again," she said shrugging, looking to see if her friend would argue.

"O-oh, well, um okay," Homura said, surprised, but not against it. She didn't mind Sayaka calling her by her first name. Though she didn't think she'd be calling Sayaka by hers anytime soon, it just felt too forward to her.

Nodding in response, another piece of popcorn was tossed into Sayaka's mouth, "Anyways, tomorrow the class is taking a trip to Kazamino," she commented, watching Homura out of the corner of her eye, "Are you….can you…"

"If you're asking if I'll be able to go, I can go," Homura said turning to look at her, hands on her knees toying with her socks, "I mean, the teachers say I can go, so long as I bring my medicine with me, and don't go off anywhere on my own."

Sayaka gave a nod, "Well, then great! We'll just have to stick together then the entire trip then!" Not as though that wasn't already her plan. They were going to a new city, like hell Sayaka was going to let Homura be on her own.

It was going to be the whole weekend, meaning they would be staying the night at the hotel too. Sayaka had all sorts of nighttime ghost stories she was just itching to tell Homura. She wanted to see Homura get so scared she clung to Sayaka for protection against the shadows on the wall.

"Maybe we can hang out with Kaname-san too," Homura offered with a smile, "You'd like that, right? And Tomoe-san won't be there so she won't leave you to hang out with her. Shizuki-san too, of course."

At the idea of hanging out with her three best friends brought a silly smile to her face, "That sounds great. We'll have to have so much fun too!" she said nodding her head quickly. It felt great to be able to spend time with Madoka without having Mami to drag her away. It would also let her and Madoka catch up, and more importantly put an end to all these negative feelings she was developing when it came to Madoka lately.

This weekend would be great.

Authors Note: So, next chapter will be taking place in Kazamino. Wonder what can happen over there. We are actually nearing the end of Part One. I estimate two or three chapters left until we reach the second act. I hope you guys are ready. I also hope you guys enjoyed this chapter. Until next time.