"You… You bitch! I'll kill you!"

Kyoko reached for the spear and thrust it directly upwards towards Homura's head. It was no use, Homura deflected the spear with one hand, then grabbed her by the collar with the other before she even had time to react.

"I won't let you get in my way!"

Homura tried to wrap her hands around Kyoko's neck, but before she could move a bright flash of light erupted from the other end of the room, causing her to look away as she was temporarily blinded. Several ribbons tied themselves around her wrists and when she turned back, Kyoko had disappeared. She was now standing near the door behind Mami, who spread her arms out either side in an effort to protect her friends. She wore a dazzling golden outfit and held a musket in both hands.

"I won't let you hurt my friends," Mami declared, aiming directly at Homura's soul gem which was located on the back of her hand.

"You think you can defeat me?"

"Maybe I'm not strong enough to defeat you, but one thing's for sure, I'm not going to let you hurt anyone else."

Another ribbon became wrapped around Homura's waist. No matter how much she struggled, she could not break free.

"You think this will be enough to stop me?"

Mami said nothing and aimed her musket directly at the floor. There was a bright flash followed by a cloud of smoke. By the time the cloud cleared the group was nowhere to be seen; the ribbons did not dissipate until several moments later. Homura desperately ran out onto the street, but no trace of them remained.

"W-We have to go back for Sayaka, she's still there!" protested Kyoko as they came to a halt in a small alleyway several blocks away.

"I know how you feel…" Mami started as she looked down and avoided Kyoko's gaze, "but it's too late… You'd only get yourself killed too."

"Damn it!"

Kyoko punched the wall with all her might, leaving a knuckle shaped imprint on the brick. Madoka merely leaned against the wall for support and remained silent. Her expression was a mixture of shock and sheer horror. She tried to speak, yet the words would not escape her mouth.

Kyoko sighed deeply, trying to suppress the tears which welled up in her eyes. She could have collapsed onto the floor at any moment and screamed at the top of her lungs – but she knew she had to be strong. She would protect Sayaka's dearest friends even if it meant giving up her life, and would not allow herself to show any weakness.

"Thanks for saving us back there," Kyoko said after a long pause, "you made a contract with Kyubey right, what did you wish for?"

"H-Huh? Well, nothing important…" Mami replied, dodging the question.

"…Nothing important?"

"I–… Wait, hang on. What happened to Kyubey? He was with us a moment ago."

"Who knows? Maybe he went back to Homura…"

Kyoko was about to reply, but was abruptly cut off by Madoka.

"It's my fault…"

"What are you talking about?" asked Mami with a sincere expression.

"I was the one who insisted that Homura wasn't evil… I thought that she might have had her reasons, I had no idea of what she was capable of. Maybe if we were more careful, this wouldn't have happened."

"You're not to blame. Don't try to convince yourself it's your fault. If anyone's at fault, it's me. Maybe if I were stronger… Maybe if I had warned you sooner."

"There's only one person responsible for this," replied Kyoko bluntly, "Homura killed Sayaka, no-one else. None of us are safe anymore, you saw what she did to Sayaka, what is she going to do next?"

Kyoko paused and clenched her fist, her expression was full of conviction.

"But I promise you… I'm going to make her pay for what she did."