The Great Hall of Chireiden, several weeks later.
"Impressive work, Mami. You're really coming into your own, now." Satori's compliment rang true. Mami Tomoe had proven herself a splendid student. She was now capable of most of the minor parlor tricks citizens of Gensokyo could use. Indeed, Satori suspected she was on the verge of managing flight. Very impressive for someone with no prior understanding of magic. Though, perhaps having her soul freed from it's body contributed to her prodigious learning.
"You must really mean that... thank you, master." Mami bowed her head thankfully. She was drained from focusing so much, but the thanks were heartfelt. She wouldn't say it if she didn't mean it.
"You're done for today though, I think. Much more of this and you'd make me fall over from your exhaustion. Perhaps you're ready to learn flight."
Really? Mami's fatigue felt washed away by the surge of enthusiasm. To be able to fly... ever since she'd seen Satori do it (Though the youkai stopped whenever she saw Mami was around; she had declared herself uncomfortable at the idolization over what she considered a trivial ability), she'd wanted to fly, herself. "I'd like that very much."
Satori smiled warmly. "I know. But it would be dangerous to continue anymore for now. Rest up, and I'll meet you for dinner when you're finished."
"Oh, thank you." I really need a shower... Mami absently thought as she left.
Satori chuckled quietly, and Mami shrugged it off as she kept going... they'd had this discussion before. Even though Satori had taught Mami how to directly clean away sweat, dirt, grime, and the like with magic, the Magical Girl had insisted on using the showers in one of the guest rooms (One of which she'd effectively claimed as her own) if she was too tired for that. It was far less efficient, but it seemed to give her a sense of familiarity. Considering how much her life had changed, Satori couldn't begrudge her holding on to what she could of her past.
And besides, water had some purifying properties, which proved helpful in keeping Mami's soul gem clear. That odd limit that had been put on Mami's magic was an annoyance, and while Mami spent some of her free time reading Satori's writings or talking with her host, an unfortunately large amount of it was spent purifying the soul gem in Utsuho's flame. She didn't enjoy it, of course, but she was willing to endure it... she still thought herself guilty for the deaths of Sayaka and Madoka, and the Yatagarasu's flame seemed as fitting a punishment as any, in her mind. As Satori had trained her, Mami seemed to be making more efficient use of her magic... Or she simply had more stored within her soul. Whatever the reason, the basic exercises that had once drained so much now left hardly a mark on her soul.
Satori's thoughts were interrupted by a rather annoyed, familiar voice...
"Shikieiki Yamaxanadu, what can I do for you?" Satori turned to her guest... no... her guests; it seemed the Yama had a vengeful spirit wrapped around her Rod of Remorse...
"Satori Komeiji, I need to speak with Mami Tomoe." She has some explaining to do.
"She's showering right now... she should only be a few minutes... what's the matter?" Satori asked, the spirit around the Rod of Remorse thinking rather bitter thoughts. I should have known... Mami was different. I wasn't... I wasn't able to be as good as her... I didn't heed her advice, and now I have nothing...
"What's the- What's the matter?" Shikieiki was furious... it seemed someone had escaped... presumably that vengeful spirit right there.
"I assure you, none have left these halls before their appointed time. Not for lack of trying, mind."
"Then tell me why she came to me to be judged, when my records clearly indicate I've already done so! Several times before, even!" The Yama shot the vengeful ghost a bitter gaze, but it kept on lamenting its failings. Kyousuke left me, Hitomi betrayed me... I suppose they deserve a better friend than me, anyway.
"I couldn't tell you. She's not really the rebellious sort, though. And besides, if she had wanted to escape... why in the world would she to go get judged, only to be sent right back here? She'd escape to the surface, wouldn't she? People don't really hold a fondness in their hearts for the hells, you know."
Shikieiki paused and considered this. That... is odd. And her reflection in the mirror was odd, too. The Yama recalled... it was as though her soul was split or something; it seemed as though she were watching several lives superimposed on eachother... and through it all, the glass was the foggiest she'd ever seen.
"Well, it seems your friend Mami knew her, so perhaps she knows what's going on here... and if she's guilty of something-"
"Then she probably doesn't realize it. Let's see..." Satori turned her eye on the spirit and addressed it directly, curious if it would notice at all.
"Sayaka Miki..."
The spirit turned towards Satori... What? What was that? The spirit, unable to see as it was accustomed, quickly lost track of the faint voice it figured it must have imagined and continued to lament. What was I even fighting for? People aren't worth saving... My life may be worthless, but that doesn't mean anyone else's is worth more...
"Sayaka Miki..." Once again Satori repeated the spirit's name... This time, the spirit seemed to recall its last moments under that name... moments of utter despair, a meaningless existence. Of lashing out at the world around her, striking out against those she had once protected, hateful of their disrespect. I was to be their savior! And none of them could understand... Not even Madoka... the world is corrupt... better off destroyed...
Satori felt how the despair had turned to anger, how Sayaka's ideals had been betrayed by everyone around her... Only Mami... Only Mami was different...
Oh, she has a visitor? Mami's thoughts preceded her into the room. She had changed out of her training clothes into a comfortable bathrobe, and her hair was wrapped up in a towel. "Pleasure to meet you Ma'am, I'm Mami Tomoe. Uh... please excuse my current attire." Mami bowed respectfully, deeply awed by the grace of the woman before her. The yama herself seemed pleased at the gesture.
Well, at least someone has some good manners around here. The Yama's thoughts were clearly directed towards the less than respectful satori standing beside her.
"And if I were mannerly, you'd call me out on betraying my nature, so enough out of you." Satori said to the Yama, who grinned simply in response.
"Aren't you going to introduce us?" Mami was looking between the two speakers, a little confused and nervous.
"I had thought her capable of responding to your greeting in kind, but it appears I was wrong. Mami Tomoe, meet the Yama of Paradise, Shikieiki."
Mami stood stunned. Images of a colossal man with tremendous horns melted down to... well, the almost girlish figure that stood in front of her. Yet, even though the Yama's stature wasn't far off from Mami's own, when the judge of the dead looked her in the eye, the young girl couldn't help but feel the enormous presence such a great being exuded. She felt as though she were even now being judged, and found wanting.
Mami looked to Satori for support, but the youkai wasn't standing quite as tall... even Mami's incredible teacher was cowed by the Yama's mere presence, though her pride wasn't going to let it show more than necessary.
"I... I... Ah... I..." Mami stuttered out as she prostrated herself, submitting to the Yama's will.
"Don't scare the poor girl. She's going to have enough stress already." Satori cast a spell... some sort of communication spell, if Mami didn't miss her guess.
"I am sorry to intrude on business like this. But it really is a serious manner. Mami Tomoe; what is your relation to Sayaka Miki?" The Yama demanded, her tone making it very clear that she would tolerate no deceptions.
"Sayaka...? She... I..."
"Speak!" The Yama commanded, making Satori wince a bit, and Mami said what she knew.
"I was... showing her the life of a Magical Girl. She... She had been chosen by... by Kyubey. So, I.. well... kind of started showing her the ropes, you know? What it meant... the dangers..."
The Yama's presence bore down on Mami, a lingering threat larger than the one that had ended the life the Magical Girl had once known... pressing her to continue.
"I did it for my own reasons, of course! I... I wanted someone to fight with! Someone... I wanted a friend. Sayaka Miki and Madoka Kaname... they were willing... but... but then I betrayed them... I died in front of them... They... they must have watched as I was... eaten." Tears spilled from Mami's eyes, but her gem remained pure... Satori felt a bit of pride for the poor girl; she'd come a long way if even recalling the trauma of her own 'death' didn't cause her strife. Yet something in her explanation caused Satori to feel uneasy... an untapped power echoed in that tale.
Still the Yama's presence loomed... that hadn't been the answer she wanted.
"I don't know any more! I woke up here after that! Please! I know I've done them wrong, but... can you forgive me?" Mami somehow managed to lift her gaze enough to look at the Yama as the judge's presence lifted itself off of Mami.
"That's not something you should be asking me." Shikieiki shook the Rod of Remorse, shaking the spirit off of it.
"What... what do you mean?" Mami, in her time here in the Hell of Blazing Fire, seemed to have forgotten it's purpose.
"Shikieiki, please. She needs the news broken easily."
"And I suppose you'll do it? Fine, Satori Komeiji. Show me you've changed. Tell her." The Yama's presence now bore down on Satori. The youkai squirmed under the scrutiny... this wasn't exactly what she'd been thinking. She'd been hoping Orin would...
"What is she talking about, Satori?" Mami asked her mentor.
"Ah, well, you see..." Satori tried to think of a good way to break the news, but with the blasted Yama breathing down her neck...
"I recently met Sayaka Miki, you see." Satori began to explain.
She's alive? ! That's great! She... she probably didn't make the contract then... that's... well, a bit of a relief... Mami's thoughts were not making this any easier.
"So have you, actually, though you can't really speak with each other." What...? But... I haven't seen her since...
"Perhaps introductions are in order. Mami Tomoe, meet Sayaka Miki... whose selfish despair tainted her soul with sin." Satori winced as she let out the last bit and gestured to the spirit that now hovered around Mami, confused, but feeling inexplicably comfortable as it did so.
"What? No, no... this is just a... a..." Spirit... Mami's heart sank... she doesn't mean.
"Yes... she's dead. And you won't like this, but you know I'm going to tell you... you know what I'm going to tell you, don't you?" Satori offered, as the Yama stood impassively.
"It's... It's my fault somehow, isn't it?"
"Just so. She tried to live up to the ideals you showed her... a fearless, selfless life of sacrifice... not the terrifying one of despair she had to endure."
"Sayaka... I'm... I'm so sorry..." Mami said to the spirit, which continued its litany of regret.
"She can't hear you Mami, but I've called a translator. She'll be here... now, it seems." Satori turned as the cat bound into the room before transforming back into its humanoid form.
"Oh! Hi!" Orin greeted Shikieiki, who returned a simple nod. "So where's... ah, must be this one." Orin looked to the ghost of Sayaka Miki and addressed it directly.
"Hey there. Wow, you're really down on yourself. Hey, you know Mami, too? Small world..."
Satori listened to the full conversation, but for the Yama and Mami, the experience was more like listening to half of a telephone conversation.
How do you know Mami? Because... I've got some bad news.
"She's dead? Nah, not quite. I mean, she's in hell, but she's doing a lot better than you."
What? No! How... -why- would she be sent to hell?
"Apparently it's something of a training session. Actually, you're kind of odd..." Orin looked to her master curiously as she asked a simple question.
"So... what... are we supposed to be talking about?" Orin's question elicited nothing more than a shrug from Satori, who looked over to the Yama... who finally replied.
"Sayaka Miki was judged and sent to this hell before. Many times, it seems. I'm trying to find out the cause of this discrepancy, as it doesn't seem she ever truly escaped." Orin began questioning the spirit, but Satori revealed something she'd noticed.
"I'm quite sure that part of the issue is that she's..." Satori paused a moment, contemplating the right wording before continuing. "She's like Mami." Satori said. Mami wasn't sure what she meant... but looking around, she knew she wasn't alone in that. Sensing their confusion, she clarified.
"Mami, your spirit is several decades old... perhaps nearly a century. Yet, as I'm sure you know, you have less than fifteen years of memory. Sayaka Miki is much the same... this spirit's been... improperly reincarnated, perhaps? I'm not entirely sure."
"You're saying I'm nearly 100 years old?" Mami was struck with disbelief.
"No... and yes. I don't know how much it has to do with you, Mami, but with Sayaka's arrival, it has become something you should know." Satori explained, and the Yama nodded quietly in agreement before adding a few thoughts.
"You have come quite a ways, Satori. I should share my thoughts as well." Shikieiki stated, nearly cut off by Satori, causing the Yama to doubt the statement she had just made.
"Allow me. You're thinking that time manipulation is involved, somehow. Apparently the vampire's maid has a similar sort of haze when viewed with your mirror, and she's skilled with that sort of magic. While I'm not especially comfortable with you bringing her down here for comparison, if you must, then you must."
"You may have changed, but you're still a satori, I suppose." The Yama's face was clearly annoyed, yet Satori saw that she understood Satori's statement quite clearly.
"So it seems. I'll be prepared for their arrival." Satori said, and the Yama vanished.
"That... that was really the Yama?"
"Do you have any doubt?"
"I... suppose not. If anyone's the Yama, it would be her."
"She does have a bit of a presence, doesn't she? It isn't quite proper to refer to her as the Yama... she merely presides over the realms of illusion, paradise, and fantasy. I have met her superiors, and it is not an experience I ever wish to repeat."
"I can't even imagine what it must be like to meet them..." Mami said, and her heart supported her statement.
"It's impossible to describe... I was nearly crushed under their wills."
"I... I won't have to meet them, will I?"
"Oh, goodness, no. Well, probably not. If your existence threatens the cosmic cycle, you might draw their attention, but a little thing like time manipulation in a world like ours is below them. They've other worlds to watch, after all."
"They do? There really are other worlds out there?"
Satori nodded. "I know little more than that, but Earth is not alone."
Orin was still chatting quietly with the spirit as Mami indicated them. "So... what are they talking about, anyway?"
"Oh, Orin's just getting Sayaka to recount past days of glory. It seems her time as a Magical Girl was short indeed. She turned into a youkai of despair, as you almost had weeks ago, and... Kyouko killed her? Ah, a spear using magical girl in red. It seems their personalities clashed... the fatal fight was not the first they'd fought, and Sayaka is unsure of Kyouko's fate."
Mami could hardly believe it. Kyouko had returned to Mitakihara? And she fought Sayaka... Sayaka had become a witch... oh, no... then.. what of Madoka... but wait, if Kyouko isn't here, she must have survived! Mami's head spun.
"I doubt it. The conflict seemed rather heated, and this is but one of many hells. From what you know of this 'Kyouko', I wouldn't be even a little surprised if she were in a comparable hell elsewhere. She seemed to have precious little regard for human life, and while that's accepted and even encouraged among youkai... it's not exactly a virtue for humans."
"But it's not her fault!" Her father, he-
"The world is fair. She will be punished exactly as much as she needs to be to free her soul of sin, then she will be released to the Netherworld to reincarnate."
"You... you would know, I suppose. Do you mind if I take some time to myself...? I... I need to think all this over." Mami gently pleaded.
"I do mind. Your heart is troubled... far more than you realize. If you ruminate on this alone, you're rather likely to once again try and take your life."
"N... no. Don't... don't say things like that." As much as she denied it, though, Satori's words rang with that by now far too familiar tone of truth.
"I say things how they are. Sayaka's fate is partially your fault, but ultimately her decisions were her own, and Kyouko shares no small blame in influencing them, herself. You all made your choices. You couldn't have known how things would turn out. Even if you did, mutable as human nature may be, it can also be quite resistant to change. You may not have been able to alter her course."
Mami simply stood and looked at the ground, ashamed.
"Orin, would you mind preparing the place for a few more guests? I expect the vampire will accompany her maid, and the mage of the mansion may be in attendance as well. Best to prepare another two, in case they decide to bring anyone else."
"Okay!" Orin said, and walked off, still chatting with Sayaka's spirit. "And she actually confessed to him? One day wasn't nearly enough time for you to prepare, especially with..." Her words faded into the distance. Now Satori needed something to draw Mami out from her ruminations, and she just happened to have a fine distraction ready.
"Now, Mami... perhaps you'll feel better once you too can fly. It may become expected of you, so it's only proper to teach you."
The magical girl's eyes lit up, concerns of what had happened still lingering in her mind, but with the prospect of true flight simply too tempting to ignore.
Author's Note: I almost wonder if I should make this chapter and the next (final) chapter a separate story, since they're kind of a different focus. I don't know.