A.N: I checked the pool, and someone voted for Zephyr of Faith, Which I figured as such, since its long overdue. From now on, I will try to update it more often, but if you all change your minds, just let me know.
A.N.2: I suspect this story might be paced a bit too slow...should I speed it up a notch?
CHAPTER NINE: HOME SWEET HOME?
The day had ended much sooner than Kyubee thought it would, but sure enough, the sky was painted a fine orange-pink colour, broken only by the occasional grey cloud. Kyubee followed Madoka and Homura to the bus stop right by the school's side.
"Hey, Exu! You riding back with us?" Madoka asked, cheerful as ever. From the tone of her voice, and the bright expression on her face, Kyubee could have assumed she didn't witness a fight to the death with a huge monster a few hours earlier.
"I may as well," Kyubee replied, "The bus route leads to my new apartment, anyway."
The students piled into the bus in a single line, shuffling and scuttling to sit next to their friends. Madoka and Homura sat next to each other near the back of the bus, where Kyubee sat next to a girl she did not recognize. Kyubee stared out the window at that warm-coloured sky, sighing to herself.
"Thinking about something?" Madoka asked, lightly tapping Kyubee's shoulder.
"Eh, not really." Kyubee responded, staring at the sky.
I still remember when I first saw a clear, non-polluted sky... Kyubee pondered, still staring out the window. Kyubee smiled slightly as she saw the pink clouds dance across the golden expanse; the exact same colours she saw when her ship first arrived on Earth.
Kyubee was snapped back into the present by a nudge from Madoka's hand.
"Exu," She began to ask, "Homura says she wants to talk to you."
Kyubee glanced over at Homura, who glared into Kyubee's soul with her piercing faded-blue eyes, that seemed to lead to a whole other dimension.
"Exu...we need to talk...personally. As in, off the bus." Homura stated, her voice more sharp than usual.
Kyubee swallowed air, shaking a bit. Before Kyubee could even blink, the bus stopped at the stop nearest to Madoka's house.
"Well, that's my cue to leave," Madoka sighed, getting up from her seat, "I hope you...umm...had a good day...despite, y'know..."
"It could've been worse," Kyubee laughed nervously, "I could've been hit by a car in heavy traffic or something."
Madoka giggled uneasily at that last remark. "Well, bye!" She chirped as she winked, turned around, and left the bus in the blink of an eye. Kyubee blinked for a few seconds, staring at the front of the bus.
"Wonderful, isn't she?" Homura muttered, snapping Kyubee out of her trance, "So open and trusting to anybody...no matter how much of a wash-out they are..."
"And just what is that supposed to mean?" Kyubee fumed.
"Exactly what it sounds like." Homura quipped.
Kyubee sighed in defeat as she slumped back down in her seat, quietly waiting for the bus to reach the apartments. Kyubee frowned at the dusty red-brick building standing off to the side of the road, wedged between two massive concrete blocks that called themselves buildings. Kyubee lurched towards the Red building before Homura grabbed her on the shoulder and spun her around.
"You really shouldn't stand around like that when in a fight," Homura scolded, "If Kyouko hadn't gotten there quickly enough, you'd be dead."
"This again?" Kyubee sighed, "Look, I get it; I was just...a little scared, that's all!"
"It would be best to overcome that fear soon," Homura muttered, putting her hand on Kyubee's shoulder, "Cause I've seen too many of them just freeze up and get killed like that..."
Kyubee blinked quickly. "What?" She asked.
Homura lifted her head, and stared into Kyubee's eyes, widening them open and shrinking her pupils. "Do you seriously think ALL of them live long enough to turn witch?!" She shrieked, as if she had been stabbed.
Kyubee stumbled backwards, falling over on her back. "I...I had no idea!" She blurted, crossing her arms across her face.
Homura closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "Sorry...I just saw it happen too often..." Homura whispered, a few tears escaping from her eyes.
"Well, if it makes you feel any better, I'll try to get stronger." Kyubee stated, getting up and reaching a hand for Homura.
Homura batted Kyubee's hand away. "Don't try. Do." She replied bluntly. Homura turned around and began to walk away.
"Hey...don't you need a ride or something?" Kyubee asked, following slowly.
Homura merely vanished at the speed of light. I guess not. Kyubee, thought, turning back to the building.
Kyubee had walked up to the second floor, and approached room 232; her room. She planted the key into the doorknob, and twisted it, but the door was locked.
Wait! The door was unlocked before?! Kyubee asked, her mind suddenly racing, Someone broke in here!
Kyubee yanked the key back around, unlocking the door once more, and she threw the door open, falling flat on her face from the force.
"Glad to see you finally made it home." A familiar voice called from across the room.
Kyubee peeked up at the source of the voice, and blinked rapidly for a second. "Kurtis? The hell?" Kyubee asked.
Kurtis extended his arms, a chimp-like grin on his face, and a beer bottle in his right hand. "Is that any way to greet your old street friend?" He asked in a cheeky tone.
"Well maybe it would have been nice to tell me that you were going to lockpick your way in!" Kyubee shouted, waving her hands wildly.
"Oh, you know me," Kurtis cooed, "Just hanging out, having a drink...and making sure you succeed at your contract mission."
Kyubee tilted her head to the side, her mouth slightly agape. "Excuse me?" she asked.
"Oh, you didn't think the misogynist thought you could pull this off yourself, did you?" Kurtis asked, dropping the cheerfulness in his tone, "He sent me to make sure you follow through with it."
Kyubee shook her head. "You're a human! From Earth!" She snapped.
"Not exactly true..." Kurtis muttered, "I had pulled off the 'human wish' thing WAY before you to go undercover...though it involved less hermaphroditism."
"And why exactly are you telling me this now?!" Kyubee snapped.
"Because I got a hunch that you aint' exactly...willing...anymore," Kurtis growled, "Kyubes, you know they have your ma and sister back home, and they WILL kill them if you don't cooperate."
Kyubee froze, unblinking and unresponsive, her expression wide-eyed as she stared.
"Look, kid," Kurtis sighed, "I know he's full of shit...but the misogynist stabilized the planet. Besides, you've got your ol' pal Kurtis to help you get through it."
Kyubee turned away and punched the wall, her teeth clenched and her eyes closed. Kurtis backed off, holding out his hands defensively.
"And besides...I'm not his only agent here." Kurtis quietly whimpered out.