Amidst the eternal waves of time
From a ripple of change shall the storm rise
Out of the abyss peer the eyes of a demon
Behold the Razgriz, its wings of black sheath.

The demon soars through dark skies
Fear and death trail in its shadow beneath
Until men united wield a hallowed saber
In final reckoning, the beast is slain.

As the demon sleeps, man turns on man
His own blood and madness soon cover the earth
From the depths of despair awaken the Razgriz
Its raven wings ablaze in majestic light.

*sigh*

I have to admit, he has good taste in literature…

Homura laid down the tiny book at her nightstand. She had found it at the bottom of the sports bag Kaz had given her, tucked in a corner. She wasn't sure whether it was a gift to her or it was simply left there forgotten, but she was almost frightened by how much it related to her history…

She sighed again, turned the hourglass on her nightstand, and looked at the little black book that now rested beside it. Even the title – The Unsung War – seemed to mock her.

A week and a half left… I couldn't keep Mami from perishing, nor Sayaka from contracting. It's not perfect, but it hasn't been bad either. Madoka seems to be over the sniper incident and Kyouko's acting as usual.

As the crescent moon rose from the horizon, Homura sat on the side of her bed, analyzing the events of this timeline so far. In essence, it hadn't been all that different so far. And that scared her slightly, for it might also lead it to end in failure, just like every other attempt.

But there was a wild card that had entered the game, the results of which she couldn't make out yet.

Kazuhira…

Without realizing it at first, the name gave her a bit of comfort. For a cool and collected person like Homura, analyzing every single event and possibility was a must. So, normally, a factor as unpredictable as him would unease her. However… that unpredictability, that feeling of not knowing what could happen because of him… it made her perk up a slight smile in the corner of her mouth.

Because she'd read, observed, dissected, and acted upon everything and everyone around her so far, and no matter how much she tried, the results had always been the same. Mitakihara demolished. Everyone around her drowned in despair. Madoka dead, or worse. And her own heart and soul shattered, fated to repeat everything again.

So that new element Homura could not figure out could be the key to end the wretched cycle. Unwittingly, and contrary to her cold character, she hung on to that hope. She embraced it. It was too late to back out now. This was the path she had taken this time… and she prayed that it was the one that would lead her to her Elysium.

Slowly, she got up, and walked to the main room, where the giant pendulum that endlessly swung back and forth above her. Pouring down coffee on a mug from a thermos, she started to review her data on Walpurgis for the billionth time, sending her magically enhanced screens back and forth, as she retrieved the date she wanted to observe. Spawn location. Reaction to attacks. General movement and offensive actions. Areas of danger to civilians.

Immersed as she was in her research, she was barely able to react in time as a massive volley of blades broke through her windows, violating the peace of her household.

"In faith, there is enough light for those who want to believe and enough shadows to blind those who don't."

Puella Magi Madoka Magica: Against Destiny

Chapter 9

Veritas Vos Liberabit

Homura sprang back to her feet immediately, having witnessed the projectiles fly dangerously close above her head. She drew her Desert Eagle in a flash, and took aim. Her eyes scanned the empty window frames, an icy wind blowing into the apartment through them.

Before any foe came to sight, another relentless wave of blades flew in, forcing her to gracefully weave through them. A number of them hit the floating screens dead on, causing them to lose their power and collapse to gravity's heavy hand, oozing a thick black fluid. Homura was, however, unscathed.

That was… too easy.

Being cool and collected, even in battle, had it's advantages: she realized immediately it should have been much more difficult to avoid the large number of swords, if not impossible. It couldn't have been simple bad accuracy. Their intent wasn't to kill: just to wreck havoc.

Her brain had a sudden flash, and only then did she realize those swords, those beautiful blue cutlasses, could only belong to single person. Homura frowned at the thought, and again looked at the windows, the assault having stopped. This time, however, they were not empty: a single black figure stood tall at the farthest window. A street light cast its light behind it, making it nothing more than a mere shadow, not a trace of color in it. The figure held a sword in each hand, and its cape flew high with the wind.

Slowly, the figure walked inside, back straight, head high, shoulders aligned, its cape slowly falling to its back as it did so. Coming into light, across the room from Homura, the shadow revealed itself to be who Homura predicted it to be, but desired the less.

"Sayaka Miki. What do you think you're doing?"

Sayaka came to a halt, maintaining some five meter distance from Homura. She made no unnecessary movements, maintaining a posture so correct it was ominous. She didn't even blink.

"You know why I'm here."

A chill ran up Homura's spine, but she closed her fist and refused to give the bluenette the pleasure to see her affected. She'd suspected it since she identified her, but she did not want to believe it was possible.

"If this is over Mami again, we have already-

"Shut your filthy mouth, whore."

The swift reply came as a shock to Homura. Sayaka, for all her imperfections, very rarely swore. And yet, she did not hesitate to do so, her voice as cold as the ninth circle of hell.

"I will make you pay for your sins."

Homura closed her eyes. There was no way to get around it: Sayaka knew she was involved in Mami's death. But to what extent? Did she know about her end? Did she know about Kazuhira?

Wait, did he… no, he'd never do that.

In any case, Sayaka was more than hostile. She slowly raised one of her swords, and slid the blunt end across her other hand, at her eyes' level.

"Your blood for Mami's blood." She said, slowly, putting a lot of emphasis on "blood".

"I know you won't believe me" Homura said, trying to avoid a battle. "but I did not kill Mami Tomoe, despite whatever you may have heard or seen."

A loud clang filled the room, as Homura was forced to use her shield to block a lightning-quick sword strike.

"You shall not say her name." Sayaka said, in a low, terrifying voice. In her deep, blue eyes, Homura saw nothing but death, as the two exchanged looks, locked where they stood, neither shield nor sword wavering.

"Kneel, and accept your divine punishment."

"I will not, Sayaka Miki." Homura spat, filling the last words with venom.

Sayaka immediately struck her with her other sword, forcing Homura to defend herself again.

"Then you will suffer."

Sayaka pushed herself back by pulling her sword forward, and immediately rushed back at Homura, this time attacking with all she had, swinging her cutlasses left and right, giving the black haired girl no space to even breathe, such was the ferocity of her attacks. Dodging them all was impossible, and she had to block most strikes with her shield, the blades pounding off of it with an astonishing force, causing Homura to shake with each blow.

Dammit, I can't keep this up for much longer!

Slowly, Homura was driven back against the wall by the relentless assault. Sayaka continued to attack her, a small, sadistic smile perking up in her cold face. As Homura was recovering from a blow with her left sword, she struck her high with her right one. The result was exactly what she expected: Homura's defense caused her whole body to tremble.

Check-mate, bitch.

Sayaka pulled her left arm back, and trusted it in a forward stab, aiming the cutlass at the exposed neck to her distracted foe. Homura noticed it just in time, and pulled her head to the side, the blade missing her neck by less than nothing.

But Sayaka recklessness worked in her favor. The cutlass buried itself deep into the wall behind her, and before the swordswoman could let go of it, Homura drove a breathtaking knee blow to the bluenette's stomach, causing her to flinch and stumble several paces back, coughing and breathing heavily, leaving her at Homura's mercy for a few moments.

She could have killed her there. Every cell in her body yearned to. Sayaka, for all her sense of justice and pride, was always a hindrance in her way, and a source of despair. If it wasn't for Madoka's friendship, and the fact that Sayaka was, in the end, just another victim, she would have had no problem disposing of her hastily, be it on previous timelines or right there.

Yet, those motives were important enough to stop her. No need to kill her. Not yet, at least. Homura could also knock her unconscious again, but that would accomplish nothing. She had just one card left to play. But before anything, she would play it.

"I'll tell you again: I did not kill Mami!" Homura yelled, surprised by her own display of emotion, as Sayaka tried to regain her composure. "I tracked a witch across town, but by the time I got there, Mami was already dead. I couldn't do anything to save her. Do you want me to apologize? Fine: I'm sorry! I'm sorry I couldn't save her. But I did not kill Mami Tomoe!"

Sayaka raised her head in the blink of an eye, her gaze crossing with Homura's. She didn't think she'd say that much, or that she'd display emotion just to give a last chance to Sayaka, but it was fine. It was only partially false, anyway.

I killed a witch… nothing more.

But her gamble failed. Homura could only watch as she saw Sayaka's eyes darken, her forehead contracting, her neck muscles extending, her cape waving just slightly as the girl gained a blue aura around her.

"You… You…"

Dammit.

Homura immediately put herself on guard. Sayaka was a volcano of fury about to erupt. Her cutlasses started trembling just slightly, such was the strength she gripped them with.

"I'm… gonna… KILL YOU!"

Sayaka again rushed at Homura, but this time wildly, shouting and screaming like a barbarian as she sliced forward, not caring if she hit air, wall, couch or flesh. She'd lost all focus, and looked closer to a madman than a middle schooler. Homura thus had a much easier time avoiding the careless attacks.

But the recklessness also made her attacks completely unpredictable. Homura easily blocked a left blow, but was scared out of her life as she saw another just missing her shoulder.

What the-

She didn't even have time to complete her thought.

"Argh!"

Homura's left arm was immediately stabbed by a quick strike from Sayaka, driving the blade half way through her flesh and muscle, and burying itself on the wall, pinning Homura down. She grunted in pain, grinding her teeth, and Sayaka, with a large, malevolent grin, drew her other arm back, ready to mercilessly strike her deadly blade at Homura's heart.

"DIE!"

The bluenette grabbed the cutlass with both hands, and recklessly flung herself against Homura, her heart filled with a vengeful rage, nothing in the world mattering but her death.

The tunnel vision turned out to be costly, however, as she didn't saw the large shield being bashed into her face until it was too late. She again stumbled back, but Homura would not stop there, this time. With effort, she pulled the blade out of her arm, approached Sayaka, and gave her a powerful, wrathful right hook across her face, sending the girl flying and skidding across the floor, until she hit the wall on the other side. A squirt of blood flew out of her mouth, and stained Homura's garments.

Sayaka managed to do what her former selves had never been able to: she'd pissed Homura off. Badly. And she'd pay the price.

Disregarding all retrains she had put on herself, Homura pinned the girl down with her boot, and retrieved a weapon from her shield. She was looking for her Desert Eagle, but her rage caused her to pick up the Barrett .50 Cal instead. She did not even noticed it, however, and effortlessly aimed the massive rifle at Sayaka's head. How ironic it would be to kill her with a weapon where "Aegis", Athena's shield of protection, had been engraved.

Not that she cared.

"Sayaka Miki. You life brings nothing but despair and death to those around you."

The roles had changed. Homura now had the same dead, emotionless eyes Sayaka had displayed before.

"Despite everything everyone tells you, you keep being a fool who brings forth disaster. I will not allow you to do that. I will not allow you to hurt Madoka like you have.

"And if you aren't willing to change… I'll end your life right here!"

For a second, Homura could have sworn she saw the old, innocent Sayaka that helped her with math the first time she saw the shy, scared twin-tailed girl in the scared eyes she now presented. But it didn't faze her. If it did… she would have died long ago.

And so, she kept her finger on the heavy trigger, a finger pull away from giving the girl a sour goodbye.

*cling*

But before she was able to, her attention was diverted by a metallic sound she heard across the room, near one of the windows. The sound repeated itself, getting lower and lower, but ever closer. It took her a second too many to see the small, white canister that slowly bounced and rolled near her foot.

No!

She immediately dropped everything and hit the deck, arms crossed, eyes closed, ready for an explosion that would surely leave scars on her. But the "shhh" sound she heard was far from an explosion. And only she started coughing did she realize there wasn't going to be any.

Her room had been filled with a cloud of thick white smoke, to the point that she could barely see her hands. She instantly ran back to Sayaka, but she wasn't there: the girl had used the cover of the smoke to escape. Homura knew her apartment well enough to navigate without sight, and ran to the windows on the other side, the smoke getting thinner and thinner as she approached them. Sayaka had definitely run through there, her dirty boots leaving footprints on her clean floor. Homura looked out the window, but the street was empty. She was gone.

Homura punched the wall in anger, as she tried to calm herself down. Whatever her course of action would be, she couldn't allow herself to be overwhelmed by feeble emotions. Eventually, she did so, and focused her magic on her hand, bringing it down in a whip-like motion that cleared the smoke out of her household.

Just as she was about to turn her back, a sudden sight made her heart skip a beat, and she hurriedly gazed at the rooftops in front of her. She could have sworn she saw a shadow standing there… but there was nothing there.

Don't tell me…

She trotted back to where she stood just moments ago, and picked up the now-empty grenade, dropping it instantly as it was scalding hot. However, she did see it was military-grade. She instantly ran to the center table, and put on her headset radio.

"Kazuhira, talk to me."

Nothing but silence from the other side.

Answer me, damn you.

She called him again, but a minute after, still no answer.

Homura frowned. Things were not looking good.

I don't know if we can do it…

"What? Sayaka didn't come home last night?"

The news came as a deep shock to the pink-haired girl, as Sayaka's absence that day hadn't worried her much. It was just Sayaka being Sayaka, after all.

"Y-yes, if I see her, I'll call. Please tell me if she comes home. Uh-uh. G-good evening to you too."

The sun was just about to set in the horizon, to which Madoka had a spectacular view from the park. Normally, that would have meant it was time to go home.

But not that day.

But I will believe in it, always.

"I don't know what you're thinking, but we have to talk."

Again, nothing but an eerie silence. The uncertainty was almost killing Homura: in the blink of an eye, every plan she had had gone south. She had to sort things out, fast, lest things get even more fucked up than they already were.

An entire day had passed, and the little hope she had that Sayaka settled down had vanished. And so, she engaged in pursuit of the runaway Puella Magi, ignoring the strong wind and mild rain that blessed that night. Nothing at the park, save for a junkie shooting up in a dark corner. Kyousuke's street was abnormally devoid of life: usually, the angry noises on engines and horns would be drowned out by his beautiful violin. But that night, none could be heard. The same scenario occurred by Mami's place.

"Kazuhira, answer me, now!"

Another hour, another message without response. Although, to be fair, cell phone signal in that area was pretty bad, so radios might suffer as well. She was on the outskirts of town, after all.

"Are you looking for her, too?"

She'd gone there as it had been one of Sayaka's hideouts in previous timelines, but Homura's search there was fruitless. And of course, visiting the ruined Sakura Cathedral always came with the risk of running into a certain rash girl.

"Yes. I figure she could have run here, since she…

Ran here before.

"…seems to have grown attached to you." Homura answered, blushing slightly midway. Kyouko did not notice it, as she blushed lightly as well. With agility, the girl jumped to the rooftop, her red hair flickering with the wind like wild flames, and sat next to her interlocutor, on one of the few wooden beams that hadn't collapsed with time.

"Yeah… I heard from that Madoka girl, Sayaka's been missing since last night. I've been searching for her, but… still nothing. Figured I'd come back here and think things straight, but here I find you perched up on the roof."

Homura had nothing to answer, so she simply sat there, her face unchanged. She could have moved on, but in truth, she was doing the same. The whole ordeal seemed like a snipe hunt to her: when Sayaka had these fits in the past, she had never found Sayaka. There was only one location that was consistent: the train station.

…but no point in going there. She only ends up in there when it's already too late. Might as well search anywhere but there… but where?

"I suppose you don't have any idea-" Kyouko asked casually, trying to hide her own lack of clues, but was promptly interrupted.

"If I had, I would have found her already."

The red haired girl looked down for a second, abnormally ignoring the fact that she'd been interrupted. She was truly worried for Sayaka.

But that instant, something irked her. She was worried about Sayaka: she had all the reason to. She confided to Sayaka, and for the fool she was, she had grown to love her livelihood, her stubbornness, her character… to love her, maybe. But she'd seen nothing but a bottomless pit of coldness from Homura towards her. So why in the world would she care about finding her?

It took her but a few moments to connect the dots.

"That girl's not been herself since Mami kicked the bucket."

"It's fool-

"And you had something to do with it."

Homura froze.

"I thought we had closed-

"Do you take me for stupid or something?" Kyouko replied, angered. "You've been nothing but a cold-blooded bitch towards Sayaka, and now you're suddenly looking for her. Doesn't add up."

"Think what you want." Homura answered, looking away from Kyouko's fiery eyes.

"Did you kill Mami?" Kyouko shot, without hesitation.

"If I said I didn't, would you believe me?" Homura answered, her eyebrows frowned.

Kyouko paused for a second, and looked down. The ruined interior of the cathedral was clearly visible through the large termite holes on to wooden ceiling.

"You did, didn't ya?"

Kyouko's gaze was as serious as Homura had ever seen it.

"I've already given you my answer. If you choose not to believe me, I won't be able to stop you."

Kyouko flinched a little. Her gut told her she did it, she fucking did it, but, at the same time, her mind told her the opposite. Homura might have been a stone-cold, uncaring, hateful brat, but she wasn't an outright murderer. Kyouko could tell, she had spent her share of time around that kind of human trash.

"I didn't care much for Mami, but she was a good girl." She said, neutrally. "I know this is a shitty world, but still, she didn't deserve to die."

Homura didn't respond. She knew Kyouko understood her death, those words were simply her way of mourning her. And they were a better way to do so than how Sayaka reacted. That was one of reasons why she had always considered Kyouko to be an important ally… when she survived, that is.

"I'll go look for Sayaka again. If I find anything, I'll tell you." Kyouko said, hopping off and landing on one knee on the ground below them. Homura mustered a "Thanks", and Kyouko went on her way.

"Wait!" Homura called, just before the red-haired girl got out of sight.

"Uh?"

"What we agreed to, in regard to Walpurgis Night." Homura asked. "Is it still up?"

"Of course it's still up." Kyouko replied. "It's not like I have a choice, I'm not planning on running away any time soon."

Homura sighed in relief, although Kyouko didn't see it.

"But that doesn't mean I'll forgive you if you're the one behind all of this." She added, before running through the tree-laden path back to town.

Even if we can't save them, even if we die, even if the world ends, come heaven or hell.

"Excuse me, have you seen this girl?"

The stranger leaned over the pink cell phone, whose screen showed a picture of a smiling, blue-haired middle schooler.

"No, sorry. I'd definitely remember her if I'd seen her…" He answered sheepishly.

"T-thanks anyway, mister." Madoka answered, as they parted ways. She wondered for a second how she had ended up in the mall, before approaching another stranger.

"Mister, can you please tell me if you've seen this girl?"

"Let me take a closer look."

The man leaned very close to Madoka, uncomfortably close. He took a good look at the cell phone for a few seconds, before yanking it out of her hands and making a run for it. Madoka still shouted a "Hey!", but didn't try to pursuit, and doubled back out of the mall. Right now, she had more important things to worry about.

I need to find Sayaka-chan…

If we stop believing, it's all over…

"I know you can hear me."

Dammit, why won't you shut the hell up…

A whole day hasn't been enough to sort things out in his head. The events of last night were still vivid in his memory… not least because he was living the consequences for them.

Out the frying pan… Dammit, why did I let her out of my sight?

"You know what's happening to her. You've seen it before."

He never thought she'd run away. Now, Sayaka was alone, probably being consumed by thoughts of despair, loss, and god knows what else that was in her mind for her to attack Homura like that…

And in the process, he had also probably lost all of Homura's trust. But right now, that was the least of his worries. He had to find Sayaka, now. Or…

No, dammit, no! It's not too late! I'm not losing her too! Not Sayaka!

And so the Kawasaki Ninja roared through Mitakihara's streets, ignoring red and green lights, leaving behind a large trail of sprayed water. Kaz had been riding since dusk, and still had no clue where to find her, not even where to look. But he had to. Somehow, anyhow. She had to be somewhere, and he would fucking find her before it was too late, at any cost.

10 PM.

11 PM.

Midnight.

1 AM.

Nothing. But he couldn't give up. With sweat running down his forehead, his whole body soaked by the heavy downpour that now purified the city, he revved up the ZX-10R's engine to the redline, nearly pulling a wheelie along the deserted street. His breathing was heavy, and his arms were shaking: riding for that long was taking its toll on him. He shook it off, and drafted around the corner, into a long side street that ran along the train tracks, throttling again afterwards.

But the bike wouldn't answer him.

What the-

"FUCK!"

The fuel gauge was pointing at E. Ignoring a few more throttles, the bike rolled slower and slower, eventually coming to a halt.

"Move, you stupid piece of shit!"

Kazuhira cried in fit of rage, and punched the fuel tank with all the strength he had left, laying his head upon his forearms. He wasn't going anywhere.

Slowly, he pulled himself back on the saddle, and looked at the clouds through his fogged up visor, watching as they grew darker and darker, and the torrential rain intensified. A lightning bolt struck a lightning rod a block away, causing a loud thunder that shook him to the spine. It was as if the gods were laughing at the tiny ants that lived below. He finally lowered his head, and tried to think of what to do next. But his mind was completely blank, forbidding him from even remembering where he was. He was… lost. Lost in a meaningless labyrinth of empty streets, walls of rain, bright street lamps, endless asphalt, flying cars, his own fear, death, and nothingness.

Suddenly, his heart skipped a beat, and the blank turned blue. A vivid, bright blue. All he saw in front of him, above him, inside him, was blue. For he had just seen, far off across the numerous train tracks, sitting in a deserted station, a blue haired girl, the one he longed to see.

SAYAKA!

A surge of adrenaline rushing through his veins, Kazuhira jumped off the bike, not caring if it had been left parked in the middle of the street, and ran as fast as his legs allowed him, up the stairs of the footbridge that separated him from the station, never taking his eyes off the bluenette, and the red-haired girl that talked to her over a snack.

And as he saw them talk, his eyes focused on Sayaka's right hand, revealing Kazuhira's worse nightmare. His heart fell to his feet, and his legs came to an abrupt halt.

"H-her Soul Gem…"

He didn't realize immediately he had vocalized that thought. Or that he had had his headset on all the time.

"I-is it clouded?" A startled Homura questioned, her voice quite a few octaves higher than usual.

Kazuhira mechanically retrieved his Arctic Warfare, and mounted the bipod on the railings. His mind had shut down, and his instincts took over. End… her… pain…

"Kaz… if it's almost black… then you know what you have to do…"

He adjusted his shoulder to the sniper rifle's stock, and took aim, zeroing in on Sayaka's hand, and the corrupted jewel she held in her hand.

"You need to shoot it… now… before…"

Sayaka revealed the Soul Gem to Kyouko, who jumped from her chair, looking at the terrifying sight, at a loss for words. But she was in for an even more shocking sight, as Kaz prepared to pull the trigger.

"Brother… I don't want to become a witch…There is only one way out…"

"…Kill me."

At the last moment, memories more painful than the worst of Satan's tortures overpowered him, and he screamed in pain, both hands clutched to the sides of his head, knelt on the floor.

"I-I can't…" Was all he could muster.

"TAKE THE SHOT!" Homura shouted, somewhere between anger and desperation.

"After all, we're friends… right?

"Yeah."

"We're friends."

"SAYAKA!"

His cry was loud and powerful, drawing both girl's attention away from the nearly-black Soul Gem. With power he didn't thought he had anymore, he stood up, and ran down the stairs, throwing himself at Sayaka and hugging her as tight as he could. As she was shaken, a single teardrop fell from Sayaka's tearful eyes, barely missing her Soul Gem and landing on her skirt.

"K-Kazuhira?"

He immediately noticed Sayaka's voice was sluggish, as if a talking doll running out of batteries, and her thought and movement were off as well: she didn't even try to hide the blackened Soul Gem from him. Her eyes could barely track him.

"Hey, who the fuck are you?" Kyouko bluntly asked, opening her arms wide.

"Sayaka-chan, I need you to listen to me very carefully, okay?" Kazuhira said, completely oblivious to Kyouko's presence, his heart pounding inside his chest.

"B-but what are y-you…"

"Listen to me. You haven't realized it yet, but you are gravely injured. We need to heal you right- Sayaka-chan?"

The bluenette's eyes had completely lost their focus, and her head started to fall back, as if losing support.

"Sayaka! Keep talking to me!"

Sayaka stopped blinking, and her hands fell to the side as well, her corrupted Soul Gem landing on the concrete floor. Kaz gave her a couple of soft slaps in the face, but obtained no reaction.

"Don't let it take over!"

Her eyes dimmed, losing their life, and her heart stopped beating. Both Kaz and Kyouko realized this, as they were holding on to her arms tightly. With a loud crack, the glass that encased the darkness within her Soul Gem broke, and pure evil started seeping out.

"YOU'RE NOT A MONSTER, YOU'RE ONE OF US!"

The next instant, both Kaz and Kyouko were thrown away by a powerful wind blast, Kyouko holding on for dear life to a railing, and Kaz crashing back-first against an information panel. Sayaka's body fell to the ground like a rag doll, and was thrown away by the ethereal wind as well.

And slowly, the world around them started to tear itself apart at the seams.

"DAMN YOU!"

And, right now, it's far too early too give up…

A/N: Intro quote by: Blaise Pascal, again.

Pascal is the king of quotes, Venari Strigas is the king of Madoka's OST, and I'm the king of laziness. All is well.

Sayaka is my favorite character… so it pains me a little to write this chapter, but that's how things go. If you've read Alpha and Omega, you know where she is right now :)

Oh, and "Billionth time" isn't actually the billionth time. Homura is strong (not really, her cold façade is a mere attempt to shield herself from the pain, but that's my opinion and would take ages to discuss), but neither her, nor Chuck Norris, nor anyone would be able to keep their sanity after spending decades, centuries, or, as some people suggest, even millennia, on that cycle. I don't believe Homura lived through that many timelines. Certainly not only five, but also certainly less than fifty, and most likely a lot less than that. If I had to guess a number, I'd say… 13.

And, as always, enjoy!