Chapter 3

"From Themselves"

As promised, Michio escorted Mami to the funeral, where he, Akio, and Nana departed. The rest of the day lingered on as Mami was forced to interact with her devilish aunt, who implied the Tomoe's death was the result of divine punishment. From what god her aunt was hailing, Mami didn't know nor did she care. When the ashes were placed within the family grace, she fled the scene, refusing to join the family for dinner. She retreated back to her apartment, the place that smelt so different from her old home. Burying her head in a pillow, she cried to herself for the next several hours. Her stomach growled, but she ignored it. Everything around her teetered on one moment, that funeral. The witch hunt from early meant nothing.

Kyubey was the only one who seemed to care enough to stay. "I'm proud of what you did today."

"Leave me alone…" Mami cried. The small creature sat on the corner of her bed, glancing around the room. There was so little in it. Of the girls he had met before, many of them hung posters or decorated their spots with cute decoration or plush toys. Mami's room was a cold and lifeless as she was. If the room could try, it probably would. Even the apartment lacked flavor. She owned just enough to get by. The rest was sold to pay two months' rent.

"Not all bad has come from this," he assured her, "Your aunt and her family will be forced to pay for you. You won't need to get a job for some time." Mami lifted her head from the pillow.

"How did you know about that?"

Kyubey replied, "I always keep close tabs on my new Puella Magica. I'm sorry if you felt I was ease dropping." With no care to scold him, Mami returned her head to the pillow. Kyubey jumped to her dresser and became as still as a toy. In her tears, Mami's consciousness faded. Darkness overtook her as she drifted to sleep.

vvvvvvvvvv

Mami arrived at school early the next day but in no better mood. She drifted through the courtyard alone. Hardly a soul was present, but it was better than staying in her stuffy apartment. Finding a secluded spot on the side of the middle school, she sat down, not scaring about the elegance of her posture or the position of her skirt. She heaved a long sigh. Kyubey was nowhere to be found despite his comments from the previous night. She relaxed more; her shoulders dropped all tension. Her legs spread apart more, assuring any loiterer a free shot. Her eyes shut.

"You really shouldn't sit like that, you know." Mami's eyes blared open. The brown headed Akio stood over her; their eyes met. Realizing her embarrassing position, Mami closer her legs and pushed on her skirt. Her face flushed pink. Akio only laughed.

"It's fine," he said, "I didn't look. I'm a gentleman...when I choose to be, which isn't often considering I am a guy. Don't worry; you're blue panties are locked safely within my mind, and Nana's not here to scold me for my actions. When she does arrive, we'll keep this little bit to ourselves. Call it a lovers' quarrel."

Mami cocked her head. "Lovers' quarrel? That doesn't make sense."

"What lovers' quarrel? Did you hear anything about such a quarrel? I don't think so." Mami giggled as Akio went along; he was too "interesting" to be angry with even if he had taken a peek up her skirt. Besides, he rambled on about not knowing anything about his so called lovers' quarrel. She couldn't get a word in edge wise. She continued in typical Akio style. "I don't' understand any of this lovers' quarrel crap. I'm perfectly happy with my girlfriend; she's so pretty. I don't need to look up other girls skirts to get a buzz. I can just look up hers, and everything is hunky dory."

Mami held her hand up, a tactic Michio applied yesterday. It was ample for getting him, as Michio put it, "to shut up." "Akio… you're just digging yourself a hole."

"Oh…sorry," he muttered, "I was rambling again, wasn't I? I always ramble all the time. I mean-" With a giggle, Mami held her hand up again, and Akio went silent until she put it down. It was almost as if someone trained him. She assumed Nana if anyone. Michio wouldn't have the patience, and his parents, another thing he rambled about the previous day, loved him too much. From the short time she spent with Akio, Michio correctly defined him as a "white faced otaku." Akio's skin was pasty to say the least, and his hobbies consisted of games and anime. They made several detours before arriving at the funeral, and Mami was sure Akio blew close to ten thousand yen.

Putting her hand down, Mami asked, "Is Michio here today?"

"He never comes to school," Akio replied, "Says he doesn't like it when Ayami Ibuki isn't teaching him. Can't really blame her though. She is a very fine looking teacher and young too. Nothing compared to my Nana I must say."

Mami broke out into laughter, calming herself only long enough to say. "You have so much to say, don't you?"

"Rambling again…?" She nodded. Akio plopped down next to her; his lips sealed shut. From the get go, he welcomed Mami into their social group, which he referred to as the "Puella 3 and 1 Cute Girlfriend." Safe to say the name probably wouldn't stick with Michio around. Mami thought it was adorable.

"I think Michio mentioned this, but what did you wish for, Akio?" Though the former disliked having personal questions asked, Akio was more than willing to answer everything and anything Mami posed to him, right down to the oddest detail about the type of toothpaste he liked.

Akio scratched the back of his head. He flashed a grin, but a certain level of awkwardness radiated around him. "Geez…where to begin?"

"I don't need your whole life story," Mami reminded, "Just the wish."

"Yea, but you prolly won't get the wish without my life story," he teased, "My wish, huh? Well, let's just say I'm not the most popular guy with women." Though Mami kept smiling, she could see why. He was nice enough, but the rambling and the comments got old fast. Also, he wasn't the best looking buy, having such a short haircut. His hobbies were anything but romantic.

He continued, "but I'm not one of those guys who go all gaga over 2d women. No ma'am, I do not do that! I won't say I don't like 2d girls, but the fact is they aren't really."

"Akio…"

He bowed his head. "Sorry. Rambling again…I know." His twiddled his thumbs together with such a force that Mami was sure his skin would go raw. He opened his mouth, paused for a second, and began muttering some inaudible set of words. "Mami, I am, by this society's standards, a loser and nerd."

"Akio, don't say that. You're-"

No he was the one silencing her with the held up hand. "I've accepted that. Women don't like a man like me. I'm scrawny, not overly good looking, and I'm sure even you consider the things I enjoy and talk to be less than attractive." Guilt came over Mami's soul for the thoughts she had only seconds earlier. Akio's happy go lucky disposition changed into something sinisterly dark. It would make Michio proud to see his comrade this way. Mami bowed her head, unable to look him in the eyes.

"I tried my best to fit in," he went on, "but I understand more about the needs of computers or virtually generated women than I do about anything that is real. I'm not rambling am I?"

Mami shook her head. "Of course not."

"I'm glad…" Again, there was another pause. His lips moved; no words dare enter open space, and then like a record player flipping the disk, the sound started up again. "When Kyubey came to me, I was about to commit suicide." Mami gasped. Even though she only knew him for such a short time, he never seemed like the person to even think about such things. She wanted to comfort him, say it was all right, but she couldn't. His ramblings this time had a purpose which couldn't be broken. "I planned to jump into a subway train. Pretty stupid, huh? The odds were in my favor though. I had a 97% chance of being killed on contact. The other 3 involved me being dragged along by the train."

"Akio…"

"I'm sorry. That's rather graphic; I forgot I was talking with someone so young," He apologized, "Kyubey came to me in my darkest hour. He told me I purpose, a life beyond that of a computer and anime nerd. He gave me a wish if I promised to work with him and become what called a Puella Magica. I accepted instantly. I didn't even give any thought to it. What do you think I wished for?

Mami replied, "You wanted to be popular with women?"

"That's correct." As if he had a specialized sense for it, Akio shot up and pointed to the furthest part of the courtyard. Mami glanced past his shoulder to see Nana standing by the gates. "I better go greet her. I'll see you after school."

"Wait Akio!" his legs stuck to the ground. "Why did you tell me all that?"

"I can't tell Nana. It would break her heart. Michio doesn't care. You just happened to be here." He ran towards the high school.

vvvvvvvvvvvvv

Disguise meant everything to Themor and his kind. With the exception of Kyubey, the other took on human forms, finding it very easy to communicate with the locals and draw in subjects. Only minutes early, he chatted with a girl from a local high school. Germany was the first place they began when searching for Puella Magica, and he continued to reap a large harvest from the nearly landlocked country. To fit in, he puffed on a German cigarette, a weaker version compared to its American counterpart. Smoking became a norm for Themor, and his character, which he referred to simply as Mr. Charles. An American body needed an American name, and what was more untraceable than a common name such as that. Kyubey enjoyed masking himself, making sure only those he wanted to see him could. Themor admired the social aspects of having a visible body. It was a way to learn and understand a society that would eventually fall into oblivion.

However, despite Themor's infinite knowledge and wisdom, he was not a god and predicting the future was an impossible endeavor. "You know, Kyubey," he said, "You really should keep to your assigned areas. Besides, you like Japan." The coffee house where he smoked turned a dull black; people froze in time. The smoke from his cigarette lingered in the air, refusing to dissipate.

Kyubey stepped out from behind the young girl Themor had just talked with. "She did not accept your proposal?"

"No," Themor answered, "Despite the current problems with her family, she refused to except our cause."

"How much did you tell her?"

"Only as much as I deemed necessary to bring her over," Themor said, "Are you question my methods?"

Kyubey stepped further out into the light. The entire world around him consisted of grey nothing. The people frozen in time bore little resemblance to anything with life. They were paintings now; something he could enjoy and admire. "Of course not commander. I simply was curious how our German front was going."

"Worry about Japan…" Themor ordered, "America's taken care of. Britain and Spain as well. We'll move to Russia next and then Africa. You will be reassigned then."

Kyubey shook his head. "I don't believe that's necessary."

"And why not?"

"Project 24601 has been proceeding with flying colors," Kyubey replied, "the subjects, 24601 and 9430, have begun to work their charm, you could say, on Japan's newest Puella Magica."

"The girl you referred to as Mami Tomoe?"

Kyubey said, "Precisely. I believe we will have an exuberant amount of energy come this time in two Earth weeks. I made sure 24601 and 9430 were very emotional unstable before selecting them. Our Ms. Tomoe will crack under the weight of their pressure."

"And in turn, she'll become a powerful witch," Themor finished. Since their meeting a few weeks before, he desperately sought a flaw in Kyubey's plan, but nothing showed itself. His subordinate did his research, dug into the human physiological makeup, and possibly pulled out one flaw that existed amongst all humans. They were primitive species that filled their lives with sexual promiscuity and emotional fits. Everything single one of them attempted to grow, to become better than the one before them. Money drove men made.

"The real case is not simply about money," Kyubey began as if reading his thoughts, "Money is a derivative of human subconscious want for physical intimacy. Allow me to elaborate with a parable. A woman loves two different men. One of those men is king, a ruler of many lands. His wealth and riches outdo legions of citizens. The other man is a pauper, who works in the pig fields and barely makes enough to put food on the table. If the woman can have her pick, which man will she chose?"

"Logically the king."

Kyubey nodded. "Exactly! Logic in human culture dictates that the man with the supply of income is the more suitable mate. Therefore, the man with more money will gain that level of physical intimacy he has been seeking."

"What if the man does not love the woman?" Themor posed, "Will he not cast her out and pick a different bride?"

"That is correct," Kyubey explained, "In the end, the man has become a dominant suitor as many women will be attracted to his wealth. What will happen to the man?"

"He will become arrogant and lustful."

Kyubey continued, "Arrogance and lust are key components to the psychological makeup of such a man, but a woman, who believes she can have either man, will experience the same feelings. Men are simple creatures. They desire a few things and will work to obtain those. Women, on the other hand, have a far different mindset. They feed off the needs of others, whether those needs are positive or negative. A man may need a beautiful woman, and therefore the beautiful woman can extract anything from the man. She feeds off his needs. Conversely, a man may need someone to talk to. The woman will instinctively go to the man."

"You're trying to create that into a reality with Tomoe."

"You catch on quick, commander," Kyubey said, "Mami Tomoe will latch onto the problems of her two friends. She will attempt to help them while her own struggles build up and slowly eat at her. Eventually, when her male friends become useless witches, she will break; the emotional turmoil will corrupt her soul. We're assured a massive supply energy."

"Sexuality is an important concept in the human existence. Trying such an experiment on two female members would yield a limited resulted as friendships can only go so far. As with rich man and the woman, people are drawn to members of the opposite sex them deem worthy. To be deemed worthy, one acquires the assets that this society holds dear, and in turn, intimacy can result. The feelings Mami will have for her male companions, whether platonic or not, will grow simply from his desire for sexuality. Subconsciously, both 24601 and 9430 can create a stronger bond for them within her, making their eventually demise an outlet for a possibly everlasting supply of energy."

Themor sipped at the rest of his coffee. "You've thought this out, haven't you?"

"It would be illogical not too."

"I have to admit though…" Themor continued, "You're story, the one about the king, was not very good by human standards. I think your sly tongue might be slipping."

Kyubey bowed his head as an act of reverence. Despite the tension between them, a level of respect existed due to the hierarchy in command. Even Kyubey, who believed himself to somewhat of a superior being, could not refute the system. "You must forgive me then. I am persuader, not a story teller." If he could laugh, Themor would have. A being, even an emotionless one such as himself, could understand the importance to humor.

He said, "I think you're evolving Kyubey."

"How so?"

"You actually seem to feel," Themor replied, "You've become prideful and arrogant. One of these days those thoughts will betray you."

"Would the presence of emotions not be devolution?" Kyubey posed, "Through our lack of feelings, we can view the world at a purely logical level. You suggest that I have forfeited such logic when in fact this meeting had proven that I understand the principle qualities that make up this society and can logical determine the best course of action to assure our mission is a success. Like you commander, I am incapable of feeling anything, and anything that may be considered prideful is nothing more than my drive to see our goals met."

Themor set his mug down. It was the only inanimate object not caught in his time vortex. "You should return to your post." As he looked up from the table, he saw Kyubey had already left. Time returned to normal as if nothing happened.

vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv

Despite Michio giving her a few days off to recoup from the funeral, Mami stood outside the school gates with Akio and Nana, waiting for their unofficial leader to arrive. The sun was still high in the sky, and the warmer air finally settled in. Mami smiled as she enjoyed the warmth of spring. Having her friends around made it better. She had no problem hanging around with two high school students. Actually, she thought it made her stand out. She felt a little cooler and grown up. In only about a year, she would be at their school. It was a wonderful feeling.

"So Mami." Nana threw her arms around Mami' shoulder and pulled her close. When she looked for Akio, she saw him backing into the school, most likely going to the restroom. "We haven't had a chance to talk. You know, just us girls."

Mami blushed. "No…we haven't." Of her friends, not a one casual touched her in such a way. Most said high or went to get lunch with her. She hardly ever had anyone over; Nana's friendliness was a welcome change of pace.

"It's been a while since I've had some girl on girl talk," Nana went on, "I've been talking with Akio so much that I haven't spent any time at all with my friends. I must sound pretty selfish."

"No," Mami replied, "When there is a boy you like, you do anything to make him like you back." Though from the way Akio talked, he would take just about any girl, wish or no wish. She hated to admit it, but Mami knew Nana could treat him like shit. Akio wouldn't protest one bit.

"So! Are there any boys you like?"

Mami blushed again. "I don't really have any guy friends… I'm trying to just hang in there."

"Aw, come on," Nana teased, "You don't have to know them to like them. That's all the fun of it." With a sigh, Mami spilled her guts about a particular guy. He was in her class, very laid back and funny. He talked to her sometimes. Mostly it was about his future as an artist. He was a creative type, and Mami found that attractive. As her tale continued, Nana nodded her head and cooed with her at every one of his good points. For Mami, this was a first.

When she had finished, she asked Nana, "What do you like about Akio?" She interested in the wish. If Akio was right, Nana became attracted to him because he made wish and nothing else.

"He's a nice guy," she answered sincerely, "He might not look it, but he was always really nice to me and the other girls. It's actually a bit of a shame he became so popular after that wish."

"You know about that wish?" Akio acted pretty confident that she knew nothing about it. He dreaded telling her, fearing she would dislike him or feel cheated into a relationship. On the outside, Akio was very social and fun loving. On the inside, he was an insecure young man with just a bit of luck.

Nana said, "He never told me directly, but I could see the change. I knew Akio before his wish. He never really talked to anyone except a few guys, who shared common hobbies. He tried talking to the girls, but they always laughed at him because he was never very good at expressing himself. He was still very nice though. He always held the doors for us or helped us on homework when we needed it. My friends just abused him; they thought it was funny this dweeb was doing free stuff for them." Mami's heart sank. She too experienced thoughts concerning Akio's less than desirable side. She wrote him off as just that, a nerd or dweeb. She even questioned the reasons Nanda dated him, and his wish almost gave the perfect answer. Now, she was crushed to hear such things.

"Then one day, about five months ago, Akio just waltzed into school, and girls naturally talked to him. Flirting might be the better word. I found myself drawn to him; everything about him seemed sexy…even his hobbies. The others didn't pay any mind to it, or if they did, no one questioned it. I started talking with Akio and got to know him. A month later we started dating. A week after that, he told me about the Puella Magica and showed his powers. He killed a witch for me, saying 'he wouldn't let anything harm me.' He's a real romantic…" A tear came to her eyes. She wiped it away only to have another one take its place. "I only realized the concept of a wish when Michio mentioned it. It hit me pretty hard. His sudden popularity with women was a miracle, granting by something named Kyubey. I didn't care. If I fell in love with him because of a wish, then I still have no regrets. He cared for me unlike he does the other women; I blame myself for not getting to know him earlier."

Mami smiled. "That's really romantic."

Nana could only laugh. "I know, isn't it? Akio hates when I get like that though. He always likes to be the one being mushy. He's like a little girl." The two girls laughed as Akio approached. Glancing at them, he opened his mouth to question but stopped.

"Know what," he said, "Girl talk is girl talk."

vvvvvvvvvvvvvv

Michio arrived at school when the sun was almost down, and Akio grew tired of waiting for him. He and Nana retreated about an hour before their gloomy eyed leader approached. Mami waited for the additional time, shocking Michio as he arrived. The two stared at each other before a few seconds before Michio shrugged and let out a snort.

"I thought I told you to take a break…"

"You did," Mami replied, "but I want to help people too."

"Aren't you depressed about the death of your family?" Michio attacked, "Isn't it time to morn them?" Mami grinned at him and held up a fist. Her eyes radiated fire as she spoke.

"I am morning them by helping others."

For the first time she knew him, Michio showed his teeth in satisfaction. "I'm impressed, but today won't be a day for saving anyone." Mami cocked her head as Michio explained. "Witches feed off humans; they can make them think crazy things in this process. A mob had formed in the shipping district. I was going to see if Akio wanted to join, but he appears to be busy." Mami didn't have the heart to tell him that they left.

"I'll do whatever I can to help!"

"You do realize a witch might not even be there?"

Mami pumped her arms. "Doesn't matter if we're helping people!" Michio laughed his head off.

vvvvvvvvvvvvvvv

Mob was the understatement of the year. As Mami stood on the roofs of a shipping warehouse, she clenched the hem of her Puella skirt. The people down bellow looked crazed, violent, and nasty. A huge fire started in the center of their group; they were burning anything from books to what looked like a small dog. The air reeked of the burning flesh, and Mami questioned what may have already been burned. The police had yet to arrive. Michio mumbled something about the witch interfering with the phone lines or the police cars. It would take them time to get to the scene.

Below, everything from beer bottles to drugs was being tossed around. People had sex in the street. Men and women screamed "the end is near." A few men resorted to pummeling another rioter until the body stopped moving. They spit on his flesh and hurled insults. The smoke from the fire rose into the air; another man was pushed into the blaze. He pulled himself out, screaming in agonizing pain as he ran for the water. His body toppled into the ocean, and that was last Mami saw of him. As she looked to Michio for guidance, she saw he was unfazed by everything. He tapped his sword against the ground, generating an annoying cling.

The people below continued their party. Another case of beer was pulled from the shadows. Women began tearing their clothes off as the men sprayed them down with the alcohol. More shouted, "the end is near" while others resorted to the worst kinds of pleasures. Mami felt her body go cold as if her blood refused to flow within her arteries and veins. Everyone and everything around her was so dark. The good in mankind twisted into some type of disgusting entity she dared not look at. It was like the cult she heard about on the news. The situation had the makings for a mass suicide.

"We need to stop this!" she yelled to Michio.

He sighed. "You can't stop these people. Reasoning with them is impossible. We need to kill the witch first."

"All right!" Mami returned, "Where is it? Let's take it down now!"

"It's gone…" Michio replied, "I don't even sense it. It corrupted these people and left. Cowardice bastard."

"Then we need to talk to them. We can get these people to calm down. That's our goal, to save people!" Michio ordered her to wait, but Mami ran to the edge of the building. She was nearly a story and a half up. The people, seeing her odd dress, halted all their actions and looked up. Mami held no weapon; she smiled down on the masses. Michio too stepped forward; his sword no longer in hand. The crowd grumbled amongst themselves.

Mami spoke, "We need all of you…calm down!" Speaking in front of them all proved harder than she first thought. "This needs to stop now. You're hurting people, and the police will come and arrest you if you don't cease and desist."

"What are we…" Michio sarcastically muttered in her ear, "superheroes?" Mami ignored him.

"Please, if all of you would drop what you are doing and return home!" The rioters shot each other glances. They began to grumble louder, hurling curses at Mami and Michio. Soon the entire mob laughed at them and returned to their villainous party. From the sidelines, Michio also mocked Mami with his virtually silently laughter. The sex, the violence, and the curses took the crowd to another world.

"I told you it's impossible to reason with them," he said, "You're just wasting your breath…" Mami grinded her teeth together as she watched Michio cross his arms and wait for her next move. Everything about the crowd shut her out and refused to listen.

She could only yell louder. "I'm commanding you too leave here at once!" By this time, the crowd shut her out except for three young men, who continued looking upwards. They chatted amongst themselves for a second before the one in the middle, a dark haired man wearing a track suit, took a swig of his beer, emptying the bottle.

"What the fuck is up with that get up?" he yelled upward, "Are you some kind of hero? Some kind of fucking anime hero?"

"No!" Mami shouted back down, "I'm someone trying to save you from the punishment you don't all deserve. If you'd just listen to me-"

The man of the left, the one in the t-shirt and jeans, said, "Do you always wear blue panties?" Mami was taken aback for the second as the three men laughed. She was ready to scold them again, but the one wearing the track suit began screaming at her.

"Are you some kind of god or something? Maybe you're an angel looking to save us? All I know is the end is coming, and I'm going out with a bang. If you come down here, I'll gladly fuck you silly. You can enjoy your final moments of this world sucking my cock!" The three men burst out into laughter. Mami, slightly embarrassed, stomped her foot.

Michio placed his hand on her shoulder. "You should stop. They won't listen."

She refused his advice. "I'm telling you too shut up and go home!" The three men chuckled again; the black haired man gripped his beer bottle by the head. They talked in whispers again before looking back up towards the sky and Mami.

"Are you always this annoying, whore?" black haired yelled, tossing the beer bottle up at Mami. The glass bottle shattered right under her, glass fragments spread everywhere. Mami felt them slice at her skin. She dropped to her knees with a scream. The laughter from below was beyond insulting. Tears dribbled from her eyes.

Once more, Michio placed his hand on her. "I'm tired of this…" Without another breath, he jumped from the top of the warehouse, landing right in the middle of the three men. The others paused and began surrounding Michio. More insults were directed at him. The three men talked about beating him to a bloody pulp. What none of them saw was Michio's sword pressed firmly in his palm. As the smoke rose, Michio drew his blade into the air, crashing the blade on the head of the man who threw the bottle. The sword cut clean through, juices spilt out and soaked his robes. The crowd screamed in panic as Michio impaled the man in the jeans, and decapitated the other. The rioters, in fear of their lives, fled in every which way, and Michio gave chase. Fasting and far more agile, he hacked his way through possessed citizen after possessed citizen. Bleeding bodies dropped like flies; screams echoed into the night. Many ran out of range; Michio easily summoned more swords to aid him. Taking each one like a spear, he heaved them across the cement graveyard. Blades tore through heads, hearts, and lungs alike. Many were left on the ground, barely alive but slowly dying as the blood drained away from their organs. Michio stood over his work, a beautiful red panting for the gods to see. Fear emanated from ever surviving soul. Only a few escape alive.

And to them, Michio yelled, "Run you bastards, but remember, I'm always watching!"

Mami's legs didn't budge from their spot against the ground. Her whole body writhed in terror of the horror she just watched. Like the witch from the day before, he was covered in ink only this ink came from every human soul that happened to get in the way of his sword. Moans erupted from below. Her eyes were attached to the bodies and the blood. As if drawn to Michio, she pushed herself to her feet and jumped to the mess below. It was more horrifying the close she got.

"What…are you doing?" she stammered with tears pour from her eyes, "These people didn't deserve to die!"

"If we let them continue, they would have only harmed others before killing themselves," Michio reasoned, "The police wouldn't have gotten to here in time; this witch is too smart. I save these people."

Mami shouted, "Save them? From what?"

"You kidding me…" Michio replied, looking back at her. His eyes literally questioned her words as though everything he had ever done was justified. His hands sunk into his pockets as the most crooked of smiles was painting from to cheek to cheek. "We're saving them from themselves."

"You killed them!" Mami cried, "That's not saving anyone. That's murder!"

"Human kind has been trying to kill each other since the dawn of time," Michio explained, "The witches are just doing the job twice as the corrupt politician and business leaders. You gotta give them credit; they act fast." Mami couldn't stand fast to look at him let alone listen. Closing her eyes, she ran from the scene, dropping her Puella outfit and sprinting as far away from the docks as possibly. She never wanted to see Michio again, not after that massacre. She refused to look up, tripping on her feet. Her body scrapped against the pavement; her stockings were torn up under the friction of the fall. She cried for everyone who lost their lives.

"I wanted to save people to honor them… I didn't want this…"