Puella Magi Contract Registry

Name: Kyoko Sakura

Weapon: Spear

Power: Illusion conjuration*, barrier generation

Home world: Earth γ—Mitakihara City

Wished for people to listen to her father's sermons. Raised in a failing church, she mostly lived in poverty. After her wish, her family managed to become somewhat successful, but soon fell to ruin after the Sakura Cult Incident. After losing her family, her demeanor changed greatly.

*It is suspected subject may have lost this ability. Have yet for clear confirmation.

Additional notes: "A natural hunter if I've ever seen one. A bit too much personality for my liking, but she gets the job done."

"She is…effective. If I had to, I'd say she's comparable to a hammer: powerful and straightforward, but not very tactful. Espionage and other such subtle tasks are definitely not her strong suit."

"Everyone else can say she's a pain in the butt—hell, I'll say it too: she's a real pain in the butt. But you cannot deny her ability. She can fight with the best of them, chewing up anything that gets in her path and spitting them out. Plus, she's one of the few girls that doesn't let things like "ethics" or "morals" get in the way of things. We can probably thank her family's death for that."

"A girl who has lost her innate ability and replaced it with an entirely different one. I must say I find this phenomenon quite intriguing. Could this have something to do with the tragedy that befell her family? Or was it her sudden change in personality? Their magic is tied to their heart, so perhaps a drastic enough change in one has influenced the other. Would that I could look deeper into such a possibility, difficult though it may be. I'd have to work around their fragile temperaments, but I believe an experiment may be in order."

"Kyoko has some real talent. She says she's been practicing for years, and boy, does it show. I've never to too big on pianos, but the way she plays those keys is otherworldly. She can harmonize with my tunes so well, and I…wait…Sakura? Oh, that one…that one's scary."

Chapter 9

A meeting was called, and the Round Room filled up as thirteen Nobodies took their thrones and one little alien wandered about the central dais below.

"Good tidings, friends," Xemnas announced, beginning the meeting. "As some of you may have already discovered, there has recently been a massive shift in the Realm of Light. The mass effusion of Heartless has been deterred, their number having significantly lessened as much of their force has been driven back to the Realm of Darkness."

"Does that mean…the Door to Darkness has been closed?" asked Zexion.

"Yes," Saix nodded. "Locked from both sides, from what we understand. It won't completely stop the Heartless—they'll just find other ways to enter the worlds, but at least now the Realm of Light won't be completely engulfed."

Larxene scoffed, lazing about in her seat. "And why does that matter? Since when have we cared about the worlds?"

'Personally, I would have as many worlds remain untarnished by Heartless as possible,' the Incubator chimed in. 'We still need more energy, and we cannot create Magical Girls out of Heartless.'

"More importantly," said Xigbar, ignoring the alien. "We need Heartless in the Realm of Light. Roxas here can't collect us hearts if everything's swallowed by darkness."

Demyx tilted his head, propping it up against a hand as he thought. "Couldn't we just send Roxas to collect hearts in the Realm of Darkness? What difference does it make?"

"You would have him fight on their turf?" Marluxia asked incredulously. "The Heartless are far stronger in their own realm, unhindered by the light. As things stand, Roxas wouldn't stand a chance there." He turned to the young Nobody. "No offense, Roxas. You are just not ready for that kind of darkness, at least not yet."

"Not to mention it'd be nothing but Purebloods there," Xaldin added. "Emblems may be creatures of darkness, but were creations of the light. Sending him there would be a pointless endeavor."

"Indeed, that is why the continued existence of the worlds is integral for us," Xemnas spoke up again. "That being said, it is not our place to interfere with the endless struggle between light and dark, but merely to use whatever results in their wake to the fullest. And thus do we come to our next point: due to the closing of the Door, many hearts once ensnared by darkness have been restored, both of people, and worlds. It is imperative we investigate these worlds immediately, gather intelligence, and begin creating footholds if possible. You had all best prepare for plenty of reconnaissance in the coming days."

A few groans rang out, but Roxas looked on with the faintest traces of intrigue. "You mean…we get to go to other worlds?"

"Not you, Roxas," Saix answered. "Your mission remains unchanged. You'll continue collecting hearts in Twilight Town. We've also prepared some exercises here at the castle to test your abilities, which I'd recommend undertaking within the next few days."

"Oh…" Roxas looked down, dejected.

"So then," Xemnas began wrapping up. "You all have your mission. Saix has compiled a preliminary list of worlds that would have returned, but the Realm of Light is vast. For now, we'll allow free exploration, so long as you all report back what you find. You're all dismissed."

Homura suppressed a sigh, irritated but patiently waiting in the line leading to the transporter. It could only take so many people at once, but at least it did so quickly, and the line was moving at a decent pace. The congestion wasn't surprising though, considering many worlds had apparently come back. The boards were overflowing with missions, most of them reconnaissance, and so many girls were eager to head out today.

"She runs a small café in the south side of town. You'll know her as soon as you see her."

"If I remember right, they'll probably be in service around this time. Just, please, take a look for me?"

"You may have to sneak past the guards, but if you could, please? I need to know if my family's all right."

"My baby brother. Please find him! If anything's happened to him…"

Girls were nosily chatting all around Homura, asking favors of one another to locate once-missing loved ones in their stead. It probably pained them that the Organization wouldn't let them visit their own world to see for themselves, and Homura could sympathize with that. She herself would jump at the chance to see Madoka again, despite the risks, or perhaps because of the risks. Kyubey would find her sooner or later, if he hadn't already, and as bad as their old fate had been, this was perhaps even worse. She hated the idea of Madoka being forced under the Organization; the only solace she could take was that she would know as soon as it happened, and thankfully she's seen no sign of her. Not yet.

Finally, Homura managed to get on the transporter and arrived at the castle. It wasn't that she wanted to go out on mission, she just didn't have a choice in the matter today. As she walked into the Grey Area, she spotted the one who called her sitting on one of the sofas.

Xaldin noticed her approach, looking up from his book. "So you've arrived."

"Let's just get this over with," Homura said brusquely.

Xaldin gave a very half-hearted chuckle. "You're eager, but we shan't depart just yet. We still await one more."

Out of the corner of her eye, Homura saw Roxas just as he vanished into a Corridor of Darkness. So, it wasn't the young Nobody they were waiting for. Another Magical Girl, then? While Organization members could bring multiple girls for a mission, the only one she'd seen actually do that was Demyx, who seemed to love taking the maximum allowance of four every chance he got.

With Xaldin giving no indication of moving, Homura reluctantly sat in one of the adjoining seats, quietly watching as Saix sent off wave after wave of Magical Girls. Minutes ticked by, and as…whoever they were waiting on still failed to show, Homura found it curious how calm Xaldin was. The dreadlocked Nobody didn't even show the slightest hint of irritation. In fact, it seemed strange how the Organization—for how high-and-mighty they acted—were all content to simply wait for the Magical Girls they called upon. Sure, some of the more volatile would sometimes complain, but they still waited around like the rest. It's not like they ever came down to the city themselves.

A flash of red caught Homura's attention as Kyoko entered the room. She glanced around before heading their way with one eyebrow raised and a hint of a sneer on her lips. "Ok, what the hell is this, Xaldin?"

Xaldin snapped shut his book and rose. "And greetings to you too, Sakura. So good you finally decided to join us. I was beginning to worry that you'd never show up, what with how late you are."

"Yeah, yeah. Whatever." Kyoko waved a hand dismissively. "But seriously, what is this? You doubling up now?"

"Like your assistance, my reasons are twofold, but before I indulge your curiosity, let us be off already." Without another word, Xaldin created a Corridor of Darkness and stepped through it. Kyoko gave Homura a sideways, scrutinizing glance before charging in too, with Homura following behind.

The three emerged into a shaded wood, where the trees began to thin and gave way to open field. Off in the distance, small buildings were clumped together, with small plumes of smokes rising from the occasional roof.

"Huh, kinda looks like Rho," said Kyoko. She craned her neck back and looked over her shoulder. "So, we headin' down there or what?"

"No. That is just a little town, filled with naught but little people. It'll be good to remember, but our objective lies elsewhere, and won't be so simple to locate." Xaldin's gaze drifted off to the depths of the woods. "Somewhere within here should lie a land forgotten by time, most likely through some arcane means. With your skills, you should be able to lead us right to it, no matter what kind of magic hides it."

Kyoko gave a small nod of acknowledgment and the Soul Gem embedded in her chest momentarily lit up. "Hmm…well, I'm not picking up anything now."

"Unsurprising. You'll take point and lead the way until you do. Akemi, you cover her. I'll scout around the area." Xaldin turned and began walking.

"Hey, hold it!" Kyoko shouted. "What was that 'twofold' nonsense you were on about? I get me, but what do ya need the newbie for?"

Homura's eyes narrowed slightly. It'd been over two week, she could hardly be considered new anymore. Not to mention there had been other girls brought in since then, but she didn't comment.

Xaldin stopped, turning his head back to them. "You're here out of necessity; Homura is here for assessment. You, Ms. Akemi, have been with us for a while now. You've had time to learn, time to grow. I feel now is the time to evaluate your progress, and stamp out any bad habits you may be developing. You may think of this as a training exercise if you wish, as I will help mold you into a warrior worthy of serving the Organization. That is, if this world still houses suitable targets to practice against. We shall soon see." He crouched down. A gust of wind wrapped around him, and when he leapt, he soared through the trees and out of sight.

"Well, guess that's that," Kyoko said after a moment. "Let's just get this done, and try to stay out of my way, Newbie." The two girls strode into the woods as silence grew between them. With no direction to go, they just kind of wandered in a straight line.

The silence gave Homura time to think. Even though by all accounts, Kyoko was compliant with the Organization, she still couldn't accept that the redhead would just willingly go along with this like most of the others. Kyoko was just too rebellious and free-spirited for that. However, it was also difficult to imagine soft-hearted Mami being able to cope with the truth about Witches, but there was the rare timeline where she did, this one included, it seemed. Perhaps this Kyoko was similarly different, or perhaps she was waiting for the right moment to strike, like Homura was. If that was the case, then getting Kyoko on her side—even as a tentative ally—could prove useful down the line, but she'd have to be cautious. It'd be far too risky to talk about attacking the Organization before figuring out where Kyoko's allegiances lie, however begrudging they may be.

Another matter piqued Homura's curiosity as well, and this one she didn't need to be subtle about. "What kind of skills was he talking about?"

Kyoko turned toward her, her expression a mixture of annoyance and puzzlement. "What?"

"The reason you're here is because he needed your skills. I take it that has something to do with your personal magic, something no one else could do." Xaldin mentioned locating something magically hidden; an illusion probably. Perhaps this Kyoko managed to hold onto her illusion magic, but even if she could conjure them didn't mean she could detect them, right? Then again, Kyoko reawakening to the full extent of her powers was such a rare occurrence that Homura couldn't rule out the possibility.

"Oh, you don't know, huh?" Kyoko's smirk grew wide. "Guess I shouldn't be surprised. It's not like any of them would admit it. I happen to be one of the best trackers in the force, and I didn't even need the contract to learn how, unlike some others. That ability's nothing but natural talent; as long as it's got some sort of magic to it, I can find it, and way faster than anyone else to boot."

"Really? A magical signature? Anyone can track those." And in Homura's experience, Souls Gems picked up on those energies at about the same range, regardless of the girls' strength.

"You're just relying on your Soul Gem. That only gets you so far." A light breeze blew, carrying with it a couple scattered leaves. Kyoko froze as she carefully examined their surroundings. "Alright, we're definitely on the right track now."

"How can you tell?" Homura checked her Soul Gem, but didn't sense anything magical.

"Because I'm just that awesome." That earned her a look of irritation from Homura, but Kyoko took it in stride. "Like I said, I have my ways, and like hell if I'm just gonna spill my secrets to someone like you."

Homura stared, but eventually relented. "Fine." She brushed back her wind-swept hair. "Let's get moving."

Kyoko looked like she was about to respond, but froze again as something caught her attention. "That smell…" she muttered, growing tense. She summoned her spear, poised to strike. "Watch out, Newbie! We've got company!"

Homura drew her weapon as Heartless started showing up. Unfortunately, the majority of them were emblems, with only a couple Shadows here and there. Small Soldiers were accompanied by large, rotund brutes and nimble, winged creatures. But before anyone could react, a cluster of blue lances plunged down from the sky, staggering many of the Heartless, if not blowing them away entirely. Xaldin floated down, his lances returning to his side.

"Even after restoration, it seems the worlds weren't fully expunged of darkness," the Whirlwind Lancer mused. "Sakura, with me! Akemi, support!" He shouted and launched himself into battle. Kyoko shot forward after him and Homura took the Nobody's advice, staying back and shooting from afar.

Kyoko fought as ferociously as she always had, unleashing powerful thrusts and swipes with her spear in close range and masterfully separating her weapon into chained segments when her opponents were one too many or just out of range. The speed and strength of her attacks were equally matched by the hurricane of lances Xaldin wielded. And yet, for as strong as he was, he seemed to be doing…less than the other Nobodies. Not weaker, just that he appeared less aggressive and his attacks weren't doing as much as Homura felt they should. She figured he must be holding back, not just from the way he fought, but because of how he kept shouting at her.

"Keep your knees bent, Akemi! Be ready to move at any given moment! Don't stay in one spot for too long!"

All throughout the fight he kept it up, shouting at her like a drill sergeant.

"You have the advantage in range! You control the battlefield, but only so long as you command the tide of battle!"

He wasn't even trying to defeat the Heartless. The only times he attacked were merely in retaliation when one came his way.

"You must be a leaf on the wind: ever shifting, ever flowing! Keep on your toes to keep the enemy off-balance!"

When the last of the Heartless finally faded away, Homura was sure it was Kyoko and herself who did most of the work, even if she didn't keep count.

"Hmm…most curious," Xaldin muttered, dismissing his weapons and surveying the impromptu battleground. Many small craters now dotted ground, churning up dirt and plant-life alike. Some of the nearby trees suffered from missing leaves or even entire branches, their remnants strewn across the ground. "Akemi, you're used to fighting alone, aren't you?" Xaldin kept his eyes forward, not even turning to look at the girls. "Am I correct to assume you're accustomed to fending for yourself, perhaps even before you made your contract?"

"What are you getting at?" Homura asked cautiously.

"You are fully able to work alongside allies, but you don't work with them. You put priority on destroying the enemy. Effective, to be sure, but as someone who fights long-range—someone who can see a battle for its entirety—you must also be aware of your partners and provide aid when necessary. I told you to provide support, but what did you do when that Large Body rammed Kyoko?"

"Hey, watch it…" Kyoko growled, nursing a bruised shoulder.

"A well-placed shot could have mitigated the damage, perhaps even averted it. You'd do well to learn to coordinate your attacks. After all—as I understand it, teamwork plays a large role for you Puella Magi."

"Is that supposed to be empathy?" Homura retorted. "What do you care, so long as it gets the job done?"

Xaldin turned his head, regarding her with a hard stare. "I suppose I can't argue with that logic, but that just makes it all the more intriguing. To achieve results, no matter the means; what a very…Nobody-like response." He moved his attention over to Kyoko. "So what's our status?"

"I've picked up a trail."

"Can you pinpoint its location yet?"

"Not yet. I just know it's somewhere…that-a-way." Kyoko pointed in the direction they were heading.

"Very well," Xaldin nodded. "Continue as per instructed. I shall come if you need me again." Once again, Xaldin flew off into the surrounding woods, disappearing from sight.

"…Wonder what he's doing out there," Homura thought out loud.

"Who cares? Just get a move on, Newbie." With her arm fully recovered, Kyoko marched forward, leaving Homura no choice but to follow.

Now with a clear direction thanks to whatever it was Kyoko was mysteriously detecting, the two proceeded quicker than before, and before long the forest began to change. The trees clustered closer together and looked increasingly unhealthy, as branches held fewer and fewer leaves until the barren trunks were completely destitute. The grassy fields they were easily traversing were replaced with small bushes and other intrusive shrubbery, forcing the girls to maneuver around them and watch their steps. The once benign—if ominous—forest dropped all pretenses of serenity as the area turned dark and hostile. Despite that, the girls weren't deterred. If anything, the darker things got, the surer Kyoko became in guiding them, and all the while, one detail was lingering in the back of Homura's mind until she could no longer keep quiet.

"What exactly did you mean by 'smell'?"

It was a small movement, but Kyoko stiffened. "The hell are you talking about?"

"Don't try to lie. I heard you mention it just before those Heartless appeared." That was probably the trick to Kyoko's "master tracking", Homura figured, but was it simply some augmented sense of smell, of something more? With magic, it was hard to say for certain.

"Well, you heard wrong. Besides, didn't anyone tell you that eavesdropping is rude?"

"Then what did you say?"

"Will you just shut it already!?" Kyoko shouted. "Jeez, I didn't take you to be the nosy, annoying type."

"And I didn't take you to be the kind to take orders from others."

Kyoko stopped dead in her tracks as she did a double-take. "…What?"

"I know what your kind is like: brash and stubborn, only concerned with your own satisfaction. The only way you'd work with anyone is if they followed your way. That just makes it all the more strange that you'd willingly submit yourself to Organization XIII. I would've expected someone like you to fight back, or even try to escape." Perhaps it was a risk, especially so soon, but the chance presented itself too perfectly to not test the waters.

"Do you really think I'm that stupid?" Kyoko scoffed. "You really think I want that spiky red psycho after my ass?"

"So you're afraid, then? Too afraid to do anything."

"Oh, really?" Kyoko was practically growling at her. "Like I see you doing anything either, so guess what, kettle? You're black, too! I know what happens to traitors, just like that Neverland girl. I'm not looking to become a charred corpse, and clearly neither do you."

"And what if you didn't have that fear? Say that Axel wasn't an issue, what would you do?"

Kyoko's eyes narrowed into slits. "Just what are you trying to say?"

"It's only a hypothetical scenario. I'm just curious, is all."

In that instant, Homura found herself staring down the edge of Kyoko's spear. Its tip lay dangerously close, but the time traveler didn't flinch. "I don't know what the hell this is about, but I'm not about to let you set me up as some kind of traitor," Kyoko spoke grimly. "So, who put you up to this? Lin? Hypatia? Or has Mami finally gotten fed up and dropped that "holier-than-thou" crap?"

"I assure you, that's not my intention, and I'm not under anyone's orders."

"Yeah, right. This is some kinda pathetic revenge scheme, isn't it? Because I don't agree with your perfect mentor?"

"That's not it—"

"Oh, but it is. It's always the same: everyone thinks she's just so perfect and completely ignore her faults. Then I come in and have an opinion, and you newbies just go ballistic. You think you're the first one to try something like this?"

"This has nothing to do with Mami." Okay, so she might have pushed a little too much. Homura needed to diffuse the situation and at least convince Kyoko she wasn't an enemy. "But I do agree: she's not perfect."

Kyoko's spear lowered just a fraction. "Is that so?" Her words dripped with sarcasm.

"She's definitely a powerful Magical Girl. Even you can't deny her skill." Homura noticed the corners of Kyoko's widening into an angry snarl. "But, while she does her best to always seem like the ideal Magical Girl, it's all just a façade, a mask she wears in front of everyone, never letting on what lies beneath."

"Really…" Kyoko watched her intensely. "And what do you suppose she's hiding underneath that 'mask'?"

A fragile girl terrified of being alone. "It's hard to say. Even if it's just an act, she plays the part well. Who knows what dark secrets she'd rather keep hidden, but aren't we all like that?"

"Hmm…dark, yeah." Kyoko's expression lightened up a little. "So you get what I'm goin' for here, right?"

"I do." Homura hoped that would be the end, but Kyoko still held her spear up, probably expecting her to say it. She suppressed the urge to sigh and continued. "Mami is just as fallible as the rest of us, and she could just as easily turn into a Witch as any of us."

Kyoko blinked. "Oh, so you know about that, do ya? Did Mami actually tell you about that?"

"No. I overheard someone mentioning it, and figured it out for myself. I take it everyone already knows, then?"

"Yeah. Annoying, isn't it? She could have told you—should have told you, but she didn't. She's so set on playing the caring mentor, but can't get it through her head to give the new recruits all the information. Call it cruel, but you newbies need to know everything about Witches, even if you don't like it. But Mami…she's just so damn stubborn. Once she's convinced she's right, nothing will change her mind, even when she's obviously wrong! She gets so set in her ways, and her damn pride won't let her back down; it all just pisses me off!" Kyoko took a few breathes to calm herself. Slowly, she lowered her spear. "Look, it's not that I want you to hate her. She's not a bad person, but she has done some pretty bad things. We all have. I just…What I'm trying to say…is…"

"It's complicated," Homura finished for her.

"…Yeah. This isn't some fairy tale where everything turns out fine in the end. We aren't heroes. The sooner you realize that, the better."

Homura nodded, fully aware of what Kyoko was trying to get at. "Let's...get back to the mission."

Kyoko let out a small chuckle. "That's probably the smartest thing you've said all day." With that, Kyoko quickly picked back up on her invisible trail. "You know, you've got some serious guts, Newbie. None of the others would have held their ground like that," she spoke one last time before fully ending the conversation.

The two resumed travelling, only now the silence between them was far less tense. What few traces of sunlight they had within the dense forest was now fading away. A thin layer of mist began to coalesce along with the encroaching darkness. Occasional howling could be heard far off in the distance, and if they looked hard enough, the girls could sometimes make out glowing eyes staring at them maliciously. And yet, despite all that, the thing that caught Homura off guard was when her Soul Gem started to glow. After spending so long trying to hone her senses, only now had she finally picked up a magical signature.

"You can sense it too, right?" whispered Kyoko. "We're getting close now. Real close."

But while they were getting closer to their destination, those eyes were getting closer to them…and multiplying. Hazy shapes formed around the eyes, large and four-legged. Both girls wordlessly drew their weapons, keeping their pace while anticipating the impending fight. The wolves crept ever closer, snarling all the while, until two lunged ahead and blocked their path. Kyoko leveled her spear, poised to strike, while Homura cocked her gun and kept a vigilant watch on the others coming forth to surround them.

"Man, talk about a waste of effort," Kyoko complained quietly. "There's not even anything to get out of this."

"Agreed." Homura took the initiative, removing the suppressor and blindly firing, not really aiming at any of the wolves, but simply trying to scare them off with the noise. While some did flinch, none of them ran, much to the girls' surprise. If anything, the shot acted as the trigger that sent the pack into action. The wolves charged, a strong gust of wind picked up, and just like that, everything froze.

Kyoko was right: it would be a waste of time, effort, and—most importantly—magic to fend off a bunch of wild animals, so Homura stopped time. If sound wouldn't scare them off, then perhaps fire would. She strategically set incendiary grenades within the beasts' paths, not caring if the ensuing blasts merely frightened or did…more. Unfortunately, there wasn't enough space to keep Kyoko completely out of the shockwave's range, but Homura did her best to at least make sure the flames wouldn't reach her.

With the stage set, Homura resumed her placed and ended the time stasis. The explosions were instantaneous, and the attacking wolves came to a screeching halt. Not all were so quick to react, as some were violently tossed back with flames licking their fur. Homura braced against the concussive blasts, but Kyoko, caught completely unawares, staggered on her feet and struggled to maintain balance.

"W-what the hell!?" screamed the red-head.

But it didn't stop there. The gust of wind grew stronger and stronger and—strangely—circled around Homura and Kyoko. The flames, rather than burn themselves out, were swept up by the air currents.

"What the…?" Echoed Homura.

The fire surged with newfound life in the small tornado, spreading to nearly encompass the winds. Upon seeing this, the wolves were overcome with fear and tuned tail to run. From within the vortex, the girls were trapped, unable to escape the heat or the embers flung their way. Kyoko hissed with pain and conjured a barrier around them. It didn't stop the heat, but at least the flames could no longer reach them, despite the barrier's appearance.

"How unexpected."

The wind began to fade as the tornado rose, taking most of the fire with it before dissipating high in the sky. What few flames remained flickered feebly or petered out. From off in the distance, Xaldin calmly strolled towards the girls, unperturbed by the events that just transpired.

"You…? That…that was you!?" Homura grunted. Her body stung and ached from several small burns, and her clothes had gotten singed. She wasted no time and began healing herself.

"I had intended to merely drive them away and avoid conflict altogether. I wasn't expecting that sudden fireworks display. I take it that was your supposed "pyromancy"? I can certainly see why you stick to your firearms; that showing was quite dismal. Your technique was unrefined, your control shoddy, at best. Any competent pyromancer wouldn't get burnt by their own fire."

Homura glowered as her magic slowly cured her wounds and repaired her clothing. "We would've been fine if you hadn't interfered."

"And I could say the say to you. Neither of us are without fault, as both sides acted without considering the other. But at least, I hope you can see now: this is what happens when you lack cooperation. Use this experience as a lesson. Remember the pain you felt so it won't happen again."

Homura ignored him and focused on healing the last of her injuries. She pulled out a Grief Seed to restore her Soul Gem. It wasn't any signs of darkness creeping in yet, but she restored its luster regardless. After topping herself off, she handed the seed over to Kyoko, who snatched it up both greedily and gratefully.

"Yeah, after that screw-up, you definitely owe me one," Kyoko remarked as she proceeded to do the same.

"What's our current status, Sakura?" asked Xaldin.

"We're closing in on it. Even Newbie can feel it now." With her Soul Gem purified, Kyoko pocketed the Grief Seed. "By the way, are you ever going to tell us what we're looking for?"

"Hmm…" Disregarding the question, Xaldin appeared to be mulling something over. "Do you think you can locate it within the hour?"

"Oh, come on. Give me some credit here, will ya?" Kyoko sighed, but flashed a small smirk. "Half an hour. Tops."

"I shall trust your judgement. From here on out, we'll travel as one." Xaldin nodded, satisfied.

The group quickly continued on, weary but steadfast. Even with the sun gone and night fully upon them, with two Magical Girls now on the trail, they proceeded without falter. It was as Kyoko said, and soon enough they drew near to the source of the magical signature. The tree-line came to an abrupt end, giving way to a sheer-face cliff with nothing but a single gated stone bridge offering a means across. And yet, as strange as it was, it was what lay beyond it that drew everyone's attention: a giant castle, standing tall and intimidating. At one time, it must have been a spectacular sight to behold, beautiful and opulent, but now it only radiated ruin and dilapidation.

"Woah…" Kyoko muttered.

"So now that we're here, what are we here for?" Homura asked. After coming all this way, there was no way Xaldin brought them here just for a Witch.

"Hmm…" Xaldin ignored her, finding more interest in the scene before him. He stepped forward and cautiously opened the gate. It creaked loudly, but other than that, nothing happened. Xaldin then started talking, speaking more to himself than the two girls. "There seems to be nothing protecting this place, but there is magic here, no doubt. The entire castle is under the influence of a powerful enchantment…or perhaps 'curse' is more appropriate. Everything—and everyone—inside has been changed to reflect the warped reality created by the magic here." His eyes glanced back at them, finally acknowledging the girls. "It's not unlike that of a Labyrinth, wouldn't you say?"

"Everyone, huh?" said Kyoko. "So who lives here, anyway? Some kinda royal?"

"Once upon a time, perhaps, but now only a monstrous beast roams its halls. Would that we could venture inside…" Once again, Xaldin's gazed at the castle with a ravenous look in his eyes. It seemed as if it was difficult for him to pull himself away, but slowly, he managed to do so. "However, that shall have to wait for another time. Simply discerning this location has been an important breakthrough." A dark corridor appeared with an apathetic wave of Xaldin's hand. "I suppose I should commend you, Sakura. Your abilities are as sharp as ever. Shame your disposition is similarly unchanged."

Kyoko rolled her eyes. "Results above all else. Isn't that what you wanted?"

Xaldin turned to Homura, ignoring the other girl's remark. "As for you, Akemi. Remember what I've told you. You still have much to learn. Improvement helps not only yourself, but the Organization as a whole, and we do not ignore those who go above and beyond." He strode towards the portal, vanishing within its depths.

"Heh, if I didn't know any better, I'd say he almost liked you." Kyoko took out a box of Pocky and snacked on a stick. "Look, I don't know what you're trying to do sucking up to me like that, but if you want to tag along on future missions, I won't say no. Sure as hell beats having to strong-arm someone into coming with. Just, try not to blow us up again, and maybe we can work something out. Deal?" She pulled out a second stick and offered it to Homura.

"...Deal." Homura recognized the gesture. For a glutton like Kyoko, sharing food, especially to someone she didn't consider a friend, was akin to signing a contract. A promise that Kyoko wouldn't go back on, and would expect her to do the same. She reached for the snack, but as soon as she took it, Kyoko's hand quickly lashed out, grabbing her wrist and roughly pulling her in close.

"But I'm warning you: if I get even a hint that this is some elaborate trick, there will be hell to pay, and no Puella Magi, no Nobody—not even Mami, will be able to protect you. Are we clear?" Kyoko held her dark gaze, only letting Homura loose after a few tense moments. "If you wanna back down now, I won't hold it against you. Otherwise…well, I'll see you when I need you." In stark contrast to just minutes before, Kyoko left through the portal with complete nonchalance, leaving Homura alone to slowly follow behind.

The redhead probably expected her to be scared and anxious after that confrontation, but in reality Homura felt almost the complete opposite, carrying with her a sense of satisfaction and perhaps even relief. She still didn't quite know the extent of Kyoko's loyalty, but at least now she'd be able to eventually figure that out, as well as slowly garnering her trust so that if the need ever arose for a partner, or a pawn, she'd have someone she could count on. Content with the little but vital amount of progress she made, Homura stepped through the portal.

The days passed by, and the reconnaissance missions kept coming in. Whether by Magical Girl or Nobody, Homura was dragged to new world after new world, each one different from the last. She completed each mission with no problems. Even the Organization members she was partnered with were a little more tolerable, or at least more easily ignorable, although she was thankful that she had yet to have the misfortune of working with Larxene again.

With each mission finished, Homura returned to her own affairs until the next day when someone else requested her aid. Such was the pattern she fell into, and one she didn't entirely mind, at least until a Dusk slithered up to her and the words echoed in her head.

"Lord Luxord has requested your assistance."

Homura immediately knew today was going to be terrible. She trudged through the castle and into the Grey Area, immediately spotting the insufferable Nobody. He seemed to be in thought, quietly muttering to himself.

A…poker league? Homura only caught a few scattered words before he took notice of her. An obnoxiously cordial smile spread on his face.

"Ah, Homura. Glad to see you could make it."

"No you're not."

"Semantics." Luxord shrugged half-heartedly. "But I have been looking forward to this day. Now that everyone else has had their turn, it's finally time for us to have our own little adventure." With an over-the-top flourish, he summoned a dark corridor. "After you."

Homura gave no effort hiding her disdain as she stepped past him into the darkness. Today was definitely going to be awful.

Saix watched as the two left. He sympathized with the Puella Magi's irritation. Luxord's jovial antics were unbecoming of someone who couldn't even feel the joy behind the act. It was an unnecessary waste of effort, one Saix never understood the appeal of.

The Grey Area slowly emptied out until the only occupants left were himself, a lounging Xigbar on one of the sofas, and Xion, standing in the corner blankly staring out the window.

"Isn't it about time you left?" Saix called out to the Freeshooter.

"Yeah, yeah…" Xigbar got up, stretching his arms. "Same thing again?"

"Of course. It needs all the practice it can get."

Xigbar sighed. "Did Vexen at least take a look at it? Give it something other than fire?"

"He did do some maintenance. It seems everything's working as expected."

"So…what? You saying he didn't change anything?"

"He said he didn't want any sudden complications. We're to let it develop its abilities naturally."

"Right, abilities. As if. The thing's been doing the same trick over and over. I don't think it's "developing" anything." Xigbar crossed his arms, peering over at Xion. The newest member didn't seem to be paying any heed to their conversation. "I'm starting to think this whole plan might be a joke. Might be we just can't copy something like the K—that weapon." Xigbar stopped himself short. Even when discussing sensitive information, there were some things even the deafest walls shouldn't hear. "I've seen some, you know? Back in the day. The things seemed to have a mind of their own at times. Their wielders could pull off all kinds of stuff with them, and I think that was only scratching the surface."

"Then it's a good thing we're not going for a perfect recreation. A suitable replication will serve us just fine," said Saix. "The Superior has ordered Roxas and Xion be partnered soon, likely to see if close proximity has any effect. But until then…" Saix threw his hand to the side, conjuring a dark corridor. "You have your mission. Get to it."

Xigbar grumbled, but conceded. "Hey Xion! Over here!" The Nobody silently obeyed, walking towards them. Xigbar gestured to the portal. "Let's go, puppet. We're out of here." The two disembarked, leaving Saix alone, but only temporarily.

As if on cue, a girl stepped into the room. She had short, purple hair hidden beneath her cap. Her attire was very formal: a white dress shirt and pleated skirt underneath a black corset that flared out at her hips like tailcoats. Her appearance gave off an air of professionalism, an air that was further emphasized by her elegant bow as she approached Saix.

"Sir."

Saix wordlessly handed her a thick file filled with completed mission reports. Just as he was about to dismiss her and return to his work, the girl asked "If I may, sir?"

"What is it, Nadalia?"

"It's about what we discussed last time. About finding a suitable hunt?"

Saix glanced at the Soul Gem set in the girl's cap. Its usual silvery sheen was replaced by a dull, darkened gray. "There have been a few new sightings. The details will be in there." He gestured to the file in her hands.

"I see. Thank you, sir." Nadalia bowed again and left.

Saix turned to his desk, suppressing a sigh. Searching for a Witch for her was always a chore. Her combat abilities were…less than substantial, to say the least. His fellow members were far more vivid in expressing her flaws, if her profile notes were anything to go by. Not only that, her relations with the other Puella Magi were rather strained. Even Nadalia herself admitted she wasn't good with people, having few girls to talk with and even fewer to rely on. More than likely, Saix would have to forcefully assign someone to assist her when she finally picked a target.

Yet despite all her shortcomings, Nadalia did possess one thing that few other Puella Magi had: ingenuity. Rather than forcing herself to amend weaknesses that couldn't be fixed, she chose to capitalize on her strengths, and to great effect. Saix remembered how reluctant he had been, watching the girl who brought failure after failure beg for her existence, pleading to be put to use somewhere, anywhere. When she brought up office work, he had almost said no, but in the end, she demonstrated extraordinary proficiency behind a desk and a stack of papers, all due to previous experience in her life before, as it turned out. She turned into the perfect extra set of hands Saix hadn't even known he needed, keeping most of the mundane affairs up-to-date and allowing him to put more focus into the more important matters. Nadalia was an invaluable asset, but Saix suspected the trust he placed in her might also be part of her estrangement with the other Magi. That kind of resentment was enough to make him scoff. Nobodies may be reviled as emotionless monsters, but the malice of hatred and jealousy can only come from a heart.

As Saix dug into his work, the hours proceeded as per usual. At this time, anyone planning to take a mission was already gone. Any Puella Magi choosing to stay behind today would keep to the city below, leaving the castle in a peaceful silence as only a scant few Nobodies remained. It allowed Saix to concentrate as he quickly poured through more reports. A few were mission reports, primarily from Roxas's and Xion's outings to deliver to the Superior as requested, but most were updates from the Organization's various informants across the worlds.

Rising popularity of a young soldier and his brother, alongside a growing fear of a serial killer targeting the military in Beta. Saix read through, nothing really important here.

Rising witch activity in Theta. Confirmed multiple new signatures within city. Not actual Witches, Saix quickly reminded himself, but an organization of female magic users, although they do show a penchant for sowing chaos wherever they go, much like their namesake. But for an increasing number to risk infiltrating the city of Death itself, they must be after something. Perhaps they caught wind of their operative, mistaking her for one of their own? They might need to pull her out, depending on how things develop.

Sudden sandstorm in Agrabah. Supplies needed. Saix was hardly surprised as he read the added list. That operative frequently requested supplies, whether for restock or fulfilling some commission. It was tiresome, but a clear sign of her effectiveness. He'd have to see how the Moogle was progressing with the order.

As Saix finished reviewing the reports, he sorted out the ones he felt Xemnas should be notified of, however few those were. With papers in hand, he summoned one of his Berserkers.

"Take over here," he ordered, just in case someone came back early. "And let me know immediately should Axel and Roxas return." With that done, Saix made his way through the castle, taking a detour on his way to Xemnas. He went down to the dungeons, to the containment cells for Puella Magi.

Five doors down. On the left. He unlocked the cell in question, revealing the girl seated within.

"Time's up, Bridget."

The girl stirred, looking up at him. For the past nine days she had been locked up in the tiny cell, with no food or water. The only reason she was still alive was because of her Soul Gem, its magic sustaining her body and preventing any atrophy. Physically, she looked fine, but her eyes told a completely different story. There was anger there, though most of it had eroded away from the ravenous hunger and thirst clawing at her mind.

She slowly got up and stepped out of the cell on shaky legs, hand pressed against the wall for balance. Saix only watched as she slowly shambled away. Even if he had a heart, he wouldn't have felt any sympathy at the scene before him. Bridget had been in and out of these cells numerous times now, and still she failed to learn. She was becoming quite a problem; each slip-up brought a potential risk to the Organization, and unlike some other problematic Puella Magi, she lacked the ability and results to make up for it.

She nothing but a liability at this point. Saix made a note to bring this to Xemnas's attention. It may be time to simply dismiss her from their ranks. At least her Dusk would be more useful, and far more obedient.

With all other matters taken care of Saix warped into the Round Room. As usual, the Superior was already there, quietly sitting in his throne. The meeting was brief, and really just amounted to Saix relaying any important information to Xemnas and receiving any new orders or changes the Superior might have him carry out. In minutes, Saix was already out of the room, with no new orders and simply told to continue as instructed. He considered whether to pass some time assisting Nadalia in the archives or returning to the Grey Area immediately to await the soon-to-be returning parties. His decision was quickly made as a Berserker Nobody appeared before him, telling him that Axel and Roxas had returned.

Saix warped in front of Axel's room. Making sure nobody else was around, he pushed passed the door to find the redheaded Nobody laying on his bed. Axel turned his head at his unexpected guest and sighed.

"Do you always have to look over my shoulder? We're not kids anymore, you know. I am getting ready."

Saix resisted the urge to retort. "I have a message from Lord Xemnas."

"Oh?" Axel sat up, his attention firmly grabbed. "New orders?"

"A debriefing of your true mission," Saix clarified. "Among the members assigned to Castle Oblivion, we suspect there are traitors. You are to find them, and dispose of them."

"Hmm…I see." Axel rubbed his chin in thought. "Now it's starting to make sense. That intel about Sora, that's all just a ploy to isolate the suspects, isn't it?"

"The information is still accurate. The keybearer is somewhere between the realms of light and dark. One of you will likely to find him soon enough and lure him into the castle."

"So that plan's still going through?"

"If possible, but not a priority. We'd rather have him eliminated along with the traitors than have him set against us."

"Are we really letting a useful tool like that go so easily? That is a second Keyblade, after all."

"If you can avoid it, then by all means, but the Organization only needs one key. You have your mission, Axel. Don't let anyone get in your way."

Axel stood up and started idly pacing around the room. There was a genuine look of consideration upon his face. "Correct me if I'm wrong, but you're sending nearly half of the Organization to Castle Oblivion, right? That's a lot of people to keep tabs on. Might need some help, make sure no one's doing any plotting while I'm investigating someone else."

"We cannot allow that," Saix objected. "Bringing a Puella Magi to our research facility would only raise suspicion. Not only that, we don't know how they would be affected by the castle's magic. The last thing we need is for it to become a den of Witches because one girl was forced to relive a bad memory."

"Can't make it easy, can you?" Axel sighed. "Alright, fine. I get it."

"If you do, then I'll leave you to it." Saix turned to leave. "Do not fail."

"Of course not," Axel called out. "After all, these are orders directly from Lord Xemnas himself, right?"

Saix briefly glanced back exiting the room, ignoring the knowing look on Axel's face as he left.

A/N: This was a difficult one. Laziness and other distractions aside, I've worked and reworked this chapter so many times, changing and even removing entire sections. Homura's meeting with Xaldin and Kyoko were originally meant to be separate encounters, and Saix's bit was only going to have his orders to Axel as a reference point before I decided to expand on that. I was also planning to include Luxord's mission, but it really didn't pan out and was kind of went nowhere for now. At least there'll be plenty of opportunities in the future. Luxord won't be content with just a single outing.