AN: Continuing to move along we are. I hope everyone enjoys the chapter!
Mami Tomoe's Apartment
"Alright, spill. Are you a Magical Girl too Rukia? And why didn't you tell us?!"
"Umm...you see..."
"Don't lie again, please...Rukia-chan."
Homura Akemi was not particularly surprised when Rukia Kuchiki melted under that gaze. Madoka's puppy eyes could break anyone, up to and including herself. Though to be entirely fair, she was unusually vulnerable to them herself...as she was to anything involving the pinkette. Leaving her feelings towards Madoka aside for the moment though, this was a problematic situation. While Kuchiki-san might have been able to lie her way out of the situation with Sayaka Miki or Mami Tomoe, she wasn't going to be able to with the pink-haired girl. Homura knew that from long experience...if she wanted to know something, she got it. The Incubator being here, watching both 'cousins' with his normal expression didn't help matters. That monster would dissect every word they spoke, so she and her 'cousin' had to be extremely careful in what they said. The wrong word at the wrong time...and it was all over, at least for this timeline.
And despite how uncomfortable it made her at times, Homura happened to like this timeline. Sure, things were awkward with the other girls. But it felt surprisingly nice to be part of the group again. Sure, she didn't trust or enjoy Mami's company like in the past, but Kuchiki-san made up for that. And perhaps it was the shinigami's influence, but even Sayaka was far more tolerable and kinder than usual. It was...odd. Nice, but decidedly odd. Back on the current subject however...her 'cousin' was shifting uncomfortably in her chair. Understandably so, because clearly she was not a Magical Girl.
How are you going to explain this, Kuchiki-san?
"I'm not actually a Magical Girl," the shorter girl finally said.
"Wha...huh...bu..." Sayaka blinked rapidly, before gaping openly, "But you transformed! And fought the Witch! Can't only Magical Girls do that? Right Mami?"
The blonde looked up from her tea, "Um...so far as I know, yes."
It was clear to Homura that her former friend was very deep in thought. Likely kicking herself for almost dying, in addition to being curious about Kuchiki-san.
"Then you have to be one Rukia!" the bluenette turned back, her voice taking on a slightly accusatory tone.
"But I'm not," Kuchiki-san countered, before holding her hand up, "Do you see a Soul Gem?"
She noticed. I am not surprised, Kuchiki-san is more intelligent than she appears, Homura had expected the other girl to figure out the ring eventually, still, I will have to be more careful. I do not want to risk her taking mine.
No matter how close the two were getting, Homura would likely never fully trust another soul beyond Madoka.
"...no," Sayaka replied confusedly, "Where're you hiding it?"
"I'm not hiding one!"
"You transformed though," Madoka sounded even more confused, "how did you do that if you aren't a Magical Girl, Rukia-chan?"
Kuchiki-san held a hand to her face, taking a deep breath, "Why is it so hard to believe I'm not a Magical Girl?"
If she had desired to do so, Homura could have held her hand up and counted down from five. Because she knew exactly where that statement was going to go. It wouldn't be Sayaka or Madoka who took issue with that. It wouldn't even be Mami, who as a veteran would have reason to dispute the point. No, the only one in this room who would have real cause to take issue with this statement was the innocent looking ball of fluff that had been oddly silent to this point.
"Because it should not be possible that you are not," the Incubator finally spoke, "only Magical Girls are capable of such a transformation or fighting Witches. And yet...I do not sense a Soul Gem."
Those creepy red eyes turned to where both the shinigami and Homura were in their line of sight. For her part, the latter of the two didn't bother hiding her distaste for the monster staring at her. Her face may not have changed from its stoic expression, but if one looked at her dull violet eyes they would see a lingering rage behind them. After all, there was nothing in this world, this time, or any other...that she hated as much as the Incubator. That monster had ruined her life, Madoka's life, and who knew how many others over the course of human history. And right now, Homura worried that Kuchiki-san might have just ruined her own people.
If the shinigami had avoided the Incubator's attention to this point, they would not be able to for much longer. Even if she could avoid telling the monster exactly what her people where, they would still draw interest.
"In fact" Kyubey continued, "only Magical Girls and Witches should have any such power at all. There was once a third, but they vanished. What exactly are you, Rukia Kuchiki?"
A third? Homura wondered, before the proverbial light-bulb went off over her head, Ah. The Quincy, it must be. The Incubators were aware of the Quincy, but not the shinigami?
"I see no reason to tell you that," unlike her 'cousin', Kuchiki-san didn't hide her disgust, "but you are right that I'm not a Magical Girl. My abilities are far different. Correct, Homura?"
"Yes," unhappy with being put on the spot or not, the time-traveler was an expert at improvisation, "it is why we do not spread her power around. I am aware more than anyone how different it is from my own."
"It is unique as far as we know," the shinigami continued, clearly improvising as well.
Confusion was written clearly on the faces of the other girls in the room. The Incubator's expression remained stubbornly the same, but the slight change in body language made it more than clear what he was thinking. Likely how to use Kuchiki-san's abilities to his own advantage. And clearly unbelieving of the 'unique' excuse.
Sayaka was the first to recover, "So you're not a Magical Girl, but you have powers like them? That's so awesome! Wait, does that mean it would be possible for other people to do it?!"
"Technically, yes," Homura answered. Kuchiki-san sent her a questioning look, but the time-traveler just nodded in response. While it was a risk to admit that normal souls could gain powers of their own, the Magical Girl was far more interested in one simple fact. If Sayaka Miki believed that it was possible to gain powers like Kuchiki-san's without contracting, that belief would also go to Madoka.
Considering Homura's entire reason for living was to protect Madoka, that was more than enough reason for her to say what she had.
"That's..." the pinkette looked wide-eyed.
"Awesome!" her friend bore an excited look by contrast.
While it seemed like plan 'distract them with other powers' seemed to be working, Mami Tomoe once more threw a wet blanket on it. The blonde brought her head up again, a hard look on it as she stared at Kuchiki-san. Who just looked right back, confused as to the meaning of her hostility.
"If you had these powers, why did you lie about coming along to see what being a Magical Girl is like?" Mami asked, "And more importantly...why don't you hunt Witches yourself?"
"I..." Kuchiki-san blinked, before her mind caught up with her, "I can't sense a Labyrinth myself. So I can't find a Witch, I can only fight when I stumble across one."
That wasn't even technically a lie. Kuchiki-san really couldn't sense a Labyrinth, not unless she was inside it. The prevailing theory, according to Urahara, was that Witches had developed a way of hiding from shinigami, to avoid being hunted by them. With the fact that Witches were Magical Girls, it explained how a Soul Gem could track them when a shinigami could not. The Soul Gem would resonate with the residual Magical Girl magic, and that could be used to track the Witch. By contrast, a shinigami couldn't sense the unique power signature of the monsters without being right next to them. Which was clearly a problem.
"That is why I don't take...Rukia...with me on hunts," Homura 'explained', "She is strong, but it requires me to find the Witch myself."
Sayaka looked a bit put-out by that, "Ahh...so if we got powers like her we couldn't fight Witches? What would be the point then? I want to be a Magical Girl so I can help people!"
Madoka nodded, "Sayaka-chan is right...no offense Rukia-chan. But we want to help people."
"Exactly!"
"It would be more dangerous to be a Magical Girl," the time-traveler tried to salvage the situation.
"I would argue it is more dangerous to have powers like Kuchiki-san," Mami countered, "If you can't sense the Witch until you are already inside the Labyrinth, then you won't be prepared to fight it. They've both seen what not being prepared can do."
Everyone but Homura and the Incubator winced at that statement. It was very true that Mami had gone against Charlotte without being prepared. Homura had seen it happen many times, almost always in the exact same manner. The veteran Magical Girl was cocky, even if she would never admit to that fact. It lead to overconfidence, that got her killed against a Witch that truly was unlike almost all the others. Maybe her near-death in this timeline had cured Mami Tomoe of that weakness. Maybe not. It hardly mattered to Homura, when she saw what the other girl was trying to do.
She was still trying to sway the younger girls to become Magical Girls.
"Indeed," it was not a surprise that Kyubey would do the same, "attempting to fight a Witch without Magical Girl powers is dangerous. Very dangerous in fact, and I would not recommend it."
As it said that, the Incubator turned to look directly at Madoka and Sayaka, the grin not once leaving his face.
"In addition, if you become Magical Girls, you have the wish!"
That statement was the main problem. No matter how Homura wished they could distract the other girls with Kuchiki-san's powers- knowing as she did that neither Madoka nor Sayaka could develop their own standard spiritual powers -there was that one problem. Kyubey could grant any wish the two could ask. They had no way of knowing they would be cursed in return, and with that...they could be tempted. Anyone, even kind and selfless Madoka, would be tempted by the idea of having any one wish of theirs granted. And nothing that Homura or Kuchiki-san could say would counter that.
It was this reason that they were working so hard to make being a Magical Girl look like it wasn't worth it. If the only way to convince Madoka- and Sayaka, as Kuchiki-san was prone to point out -to not contract was to emphasize how much danger being a Magical Girl truly was...then that was the way to do it.
"Yeaaahhh..." Sayaka looked at the others, "I think that's the better deal. If I could think of something to wish for anyway. There are so many things I could choose!"
"I haven't got any idea what I want," Madoka agreed, blushing slightly, "What did you wish for Homura-chan?"
To say that the dark-haired girl suddenly resembled a deer in the headlights would be an understatement. Though it was not as noticeable as it might once have been, her breathing picked up and her chest contracted. The feeling was not unlike her heart condition, but she knew better. Homura felt the pain of loss...loss that she had never been able to truly get over. To tell Madoka what her wish was...that she could protect her, no matter how many tries it took, was something she just wasn't ready to do in the slightest. Homura had no desire to tell her dear friend that, not until she had saved her. Then, and only then, would she tell Madoka...tell her everything. From her feelings, to the struggles she had gone through.
For now...
"I am not comfortable answering that," was all she could say, even if it felt like a stab in her heart when Madoka's face fell.
"Sorry...I mean, that was a very personal...I shouldn't have asked you that Homura-chan..."
"No, it's okay," she just couldn't let Madoka look sad, "I will tell you...someday."
Perhaps realizing the awkwardness, Sayaka broke back in, "Hey Mami, what about you?"
While it felt exceedingly odd to her, Homura sent the bluenette the best 'thankful' look she was capable of. Sayaka just winked back, before focusing back on the blonde talking. For her part, the time-traveler returned her own attention to the Incubator...and wondering just what was going on behind that grinning facade...
Mami Tomoe, Mitakihara Streets
I almost was killed. I know the dangers of this all too well, but if I had died and Kuchiki-san wasn't there...Miki-san would have died too. I put her in danger, because I was too cocky. I...
Mami shook her head, trying to force the depressing thoughts from her mind. She may never show it in front of her 'trainees' but the blonde had been heavily, heavily shaken by what had happened in that Labyrinth. She had come that close to dying, and there was nothing she could have done to stop it. Not just once, but twice in the same fight. If Kuchiki-san hadn't been there, the Magical Girl undoubtedly would be dead right now. It wouldn't be the first time she had come close to death...she knew that very well. But it would be the first time she had placed someone else in danger at the same time.
And that shook her badly. The idea that Miki-san would have died as well made Mami break out in a cold sweat. The last thing she ever wanted was to see others in danger, and know there was nothing she could do to save them. After her parents...she hated the idea of someone dying because of her. She hated it with every fiber in her body.
"Are you okay Mami-san?"
"Huh? Oh, I'm okay Kaname-san."
This time it was Madoka Kaname with the blonde, instead of Sayaka Miki. After the scare they had been through, it had been decided that only one of the girls would ever be with her at once and Kuchiki-san was always on call if needed. Even so, Mami had been half-convinced that Akemi-san was going to burn her alive with the glare she had received at suggesting it was Kaname-san's turn.
She is quite close to Kaname-san, the blonde mused, I wonder how that has happened...
"Are you sure you're okay?" the pinkette in question continued, a worried tone to her voice and an equally worried look in her pink eyes.
"I'm fine, really," Mami replied, managing a weak smile.
"Okay..."
Clearly, Kaname-san didn't quite believe her. Of course, Mami didn't believe herself either. The recent events had left her more than a little shaken, and there wasn't much real point in denying that fact.
"How do you know if a Witch is nearby?" Kaname-san asked, trying to move to a 'lighter' subject.
Mami appreciated that, as she smiled at the other girl, "With my Soul Gem. See, it's glowing slightly."
And indeed, the golden gem in her hand was glowing slightly more than usual. It wasn't much, the trail of this particular Witch being old. But it was noticeable enough.
"Oh!"
"The brighter the color, the closer we are to a Witch," the blonde continued, walking down the path the two had found themselves on, "Or a Familiar. Though it is much more rare to find one without the Witch itself."
"They can be without the Witch?"
Kaname-san's voice had a slight note of fear to it, and Mami found it very hard to blame the girl for that. Familiars were, in some ways, more dangerous than Witches to normal humans. Unpredictable at best, and in greater numbers than the Witches they served.
Still though, "Yes, they can. It's rare though, so I wouldn't worry Kaname-san. I make it a point to hunt Familiars before they can hurt anyone."
Her determination to do would seem odd to most Magical Girls. The vast majority would let Familiars go...let them hunt and become Witches, allowing for an 'easy' source of Grief Seeds. She knew that Sakura-san was one of those Girls now, however much it hurt to think about that. And then there were even more unscrupulous ones who would actively work to 'fatten up' the Familiars, without bothering to deal with the Witch itself. Those Magical Girls were the worst, and ones that sometimes had Mami questioning what she was fighting for.
Looking at Kaname-san's face reminded her of what she was fighting for however. A world where everyone was safe from Witches, and never had to experience the fear of being attacked. That was what Mami truly wanted, and what she would always fight for, no matter what.
"You're so nice Mami-san," the younger girl smiled, "You always protect everyone, don't you?"
"I try," the blonde answered, her own face holding a weak smile.
No matter what she was fighting for, Mami didn't really feel that she deserved the admiration she got from Kaname-san and Miki-san.
I'm weak. I put on a strong front for everyone, but I know I'm not really that strong.
The need to keep that strong front up kept her going, even as her Soul Gem began to fade instead of increase in light. Clearly, the trail here was too old to reliably follow. That was unfortunate, but it did happen on occasion. Even so, there was a part of the girl who was happy. At least this meant that she wouldn't have to worry about Kaname-san.
"I've lost the trail," she turned to her 'trainee'.
"Oh...can you find it again?" Kaname-san asked back.
Mami shook her head, "Most likely not. At least not while we're out here. We do still have school Kaname-san."
The bite to her words didn't have much effect when Mami winked at the younger girl. Who just smiled back, nervously rubbing her neck.
"Heh...I forgot about that."
"Even as a Magical Girl, it's not good to forget about your schooling Kaname-san!" Mami gently chided her.
"I know..."
Smiling at the girl once more, Mami watched as she waved goodbye and headed back to her home. Watching her go, the blonde felt the familiar dull ache in her chest returning. Being around her juniors made the pain go away, but it never truly healed. Sighing softly, Mami moved to return to her own apartment. She had to follow her own advice after all...staying out hunting for a Witch or Familiar wouldn't help her school career any. And she had to set a good example after all!
-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-
Upon arriving at her apartment, however, the girl came upon a familiar face. Kyubey was sitting on her couch, unblinking eyes watching her curiously. Or at least she assumed it was curiosity. It was hard to tell with him, to be honest.
"You've returned Mami Tomoe," Kyubey said.
"Yes," Mami nodded at her oldest friend, "I couldn't find the Witch easily, so I had to return. Did you need something Kyubey?"
"I wished to discuss what happened earlier."
Mami froze, turning her head to look at those red eyes. She had been thinking hard about that as well, but she wasn't sure if talking about it was right. Kuchiki-san had every right to hide her abilities, especially considering how most Magical Girls would react to them. That being said, Mami couldn't shake the feeling that something was off about her explanation. It hadn't helped that Akemi-san was acting just as reluctant to answer anything. It made her curious and a bit worried. All her knowledge of magic said only Magical Girls could do it.
The idea that someone else could had turned her entire worldview upside down in the course of one day. It wouldn't be human for her not to be worried or confused by that.
"What do you mean Kyubey?" Mami asked, sitting down so that she could face her friend easier.
"I'm sure you noticed as well as I did Mami," only with her would Kyubey use such an informal method of addressing someone, "those two girls are not telling the truth. Or, at least not the entire truth."
"...I did," the blonde replied, "But I don't want to push them. Everyone has their own secrets. Akemi-san or Kuchiki-san could have left me to die. I'm sure they don't mean any harm to anyone."
"Perhaps, but I am curious exactly what power that Rukia Kuchiki possesses. You are as well, correct?"
It would be a lie to say she wasn't. Kuchiki-san's abilities really weren't like any Magical Girl she knew of. Mami was familiar with those who used swords or similar weapons- Sakura-san... -so that wasn't odd in of itself. The use of a sword that could freeze what it cuts and her immense speed, according to Miki-san, was different though. Generally, a Magical Girl only had one or two abilities. Mami had her ribbons, and used them to form her weapons...meaning she technically had the one power. Sakura-san had the ability to form illusions in addition to her immense skill with her spear. She may have lost the former, but the point remained.
As such, "I'm not sure what Kuchiki-san is capable of. Her powers are like nothing I've seen."
"That is not surprising. I have a theory, but without more information I can't be certain," Kyubey's expression didn't change, though his voice did sound slightly different, "nonetheless, if I am correct Rukia Kuchiki's powers are neither unique nor related to Magical Girls."
Mami blinked, "Not unique...?"
Kyubey tilted his head, "I did mention a third race before."
He did? I must have...missed that.
"Third race?"
"Indeed," the 'cat' hopped off the couch, stretching as he moved to sit next to Mami's legs, "Humanity, Magical Girls- though I will admit you are still human -and...a third."
It was odd that he didn't name the 'third'. Mami had never known Kyubey to keep anything from her before. But if he was, it had to be for a good reason. She did trust him with her life after all. It was hard not to when he had saved that life and always treated her well.
"Can you tell me anything about them?" that didn't mean she wouldn't try and figure it out. Something like this...if Kuchiki-san really was a member of this 'third race'...she had to know. To protect Mitakihara. To protect Kaname-san and Miki-san.
"I can't."
The blonde frowned, "But I need to know if Kuchiki-san really is..."
"As I said, it is just a theory," Kyubey cut her off, "If I can confirm my theory, you shall be the first to know Mami."
That was probably the best she could expect. Kyubey was quite stubborn when he wanted to be, even though the thought brought a smile to Mami's face.
"However. If I am correct, I must warn you. Rukia Kuchiki will be no friend of Magical Girls, despite her apparent relationship with Homura Akemi."
To say it was hard to think of Kuchiki-san as dangerous was an understatement. Powerful yes. But dangerous? That seemed wrong on many different levels. The girl had seemed nothing but kind in the few times Mami had interacted with her. A bit hyperactive at times, but otherwise a normal Eighth Grader. And if she was truly not a friend, wouldn't she have left her to die in that Labyrinth? It would have been easy to let the Witch k...kill her, and get out with Kaname-san and Miki-san.
Not to mention Akemi-san. If Kuchiki-san were an enemy, wouldn't she be opposed to her cousin as well?
"Remember my warning Mami," Kyubey broke into her thoughts, "I will see you tomorrow."
With that said, the 'cat' left her room as quickly as it had entered, leaving Mami Tomoe with many conflicting thoughts and worries running through her head...
AN: And there we go!
Not entirely satisfied here, but that was bound to happen eventually. Mami especially...I find her difficult to write. Hopefully I did well enough there. I can only hope the readers still enjoy this chapter.
On that note, clearly Kyubey knows more than he's letting on. I wonder just how much he knows...
Reviews:
Guest, Krazyfanfiction1, gatesofhellkeeper: Thanks for the reviews!
thefluffyone93: Heh.
Accursius: They- Rukia and Homura -managed to diffuse the situation for now. But as above...clearly Kyubey knows or at least suspects more than he's letting on.
northernlion196: Oh that's very true...though she did take it a bit too far. I just don't think that Homura is likely to let her live even if she isn't going to be a threat. Seems like something she would do. *shrug*
IchiFell: That was one of the things I was worried about. Making sure that it didn't feel too much like a cop-out.
AN: Back to seven. Still a nice average though. Hope everyone enjoyed the chapter!
