Ding Dong
Chapter 21:
And If You Have A Dream Of Your Own...
Junko Kaname was in tears as she hugged her daughter. Her husband Tomohisa joined her, and he was crying too. Tatsuya joined in as well, a wide smile on his little face.
"Madoka, after all this time," Junko said through her sobs, "I was wrong. I am so glad you are back with me."
"I told you I would save our city. Did you miss me?" Madoka asked.
"I really did. I forgot about you, but now I remember you! It's been so long! So long..." The embrace was tighter.
Homura Akemi walked over, with Kyousuke Kamijou, Sayaka Miki, Mami Tomoe and Kyouko Sakura following her. "Mr. Kaname, Mrs. Kaname, Takkun, hello again."
"Homura," Tomohisa said, embracing her. "Congratulations on making it to London."
"Thank you very much."
"I will always learn to trust my daughter into doing something right," Junko whispered, her eyes closed as she relished this moment.
"I love it when families get together like this," Mami said. "If only my parents never got into the mess they did..."
"You can't change the past Mami," Kyouko said. "What's done is already done."
"And you just have to look forward and move on," Sayaka added.
"We had a blast in Italy, Mr. Kaname," Kyousuke told Tomohisa. "Sayaka and I got to visit Rome and watch some archery. And Madoka and Homura won medals."
"That's wonderful," he replied. "All right, I am in a really happy mood, and I just bought a new SUV. Who's hungry for some food?"
"All right!" they all said.
"I am treating you all to dinner. We're going to Omotesando. Who's with me?"
"Yeah!" they all said, high-fiving each other.
"Come on!"
"Homura-chan, let's go!" Madoka said, taking Homura by the hand.
"Yes, ma'am!"
"Awesome, Mr. Kaname is treating us!" Kyouko said. "Dinner is on the house!"
"Looks like I won't need to cook," Mami remarked.
"I could use some dinner," Sayaka said, elbowing Kyousuke lightly.
"I know you do."
"This is a day to celebrate," Junko said. "God bless this day."
"Madoka, Madoka, Madoka!" Tatsuya exclaimed. Madoka carried her little brother as the others took their luggage and left the airport.
-OOO-
Tomohisa's SUV was big enough to fit ten people and their luggage. It was a large vehicle that guzzled up gas, but was very reliable. Whenever he wanted to go on trips, he would bring his college mates on his SUV, and they went on trips: from Mount Fuji, to Sendai, to Osaka, and all points in between. This time, he was driving his family and Madoka's friends to dinner at the A to Z Cafe, a posh spot for food, drinks, and conversation.
And it was just 20 minutes away from the airport, since the traffic was relatively light. Even better, the parking was ample, since there weren't a lot of visitors that day.
"Here we are," Tomohisa said as the others left the vehicle. "It's time to get our grub on."
"You said it, Dad!" Madoka replied with a thumbs-up while carrying Tatsuya.
"Indeed," Homura concurred.
"This place looks cool," Sayaka said to Kyousuke.
"Nice paintings and sculptures," he mused. "Very nice."
"Whatever, I'm hungry you guys," Kyouko said as they found a table. "I need some food! Where's the menu? Anyone?"
"Here," Mami said, handing her a menu.
"Whoa, so many choices! Yes!" She scanned the menu as the others made their order. "I'll take this one."
Mami tilted her head to the side, confused. "Sakura-san, that's Napolitan."
'I don't care, I want it! Hey waiter, give me a big plate of Napolitan with all the fixings!"
"Yes, ma'am," said the waiter, who filled the order, along with the rest.
"Tee hee."
"Anyway, Madoka," Junko asked her as she sipped some tea, "where have you been all this time?"
"I don't like giving away secrets," Madoka said, "and it's a long story, but remember when there was a storm that nearly destroyed the city?"
"Yes?"
"Well, I was able to help Homura-chan and I became a Puella Magi."
"What's that?"
"A girl with magical powers. I erased these enemies, known as witches, from every dimension, but then as a result of my work, I became a goddess."
"Goddess?" Junko was confused. "Madoka, I don't understand."
"You mean our daughter has become someone divine?" Tomohisa wondered, amazed.
It was time for Mami to explain it further. "Mr. and Mrs. Kaname."
"Yes?" they asked.
"Lately you have been seeing important news events unfold in places like Israel, Iran, Puerto Rico, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Kosovo, Colombia, Italy and Korea, right?"
"We have," Junko replied.
"Kaname-san was responsible for making it happen. The news never found out that she did all this because it was assumed the belligerents that didn't want it to happen decided to make up and let these things become possible. Madoka convinced the warring parties to follow her rules, unless they were punished with their lives."
"Oh my goodness," Junko said.
"The Madoka you knew has changed," Sayaka said as her plate of steak and seafood came to her table. "Now she is able to change the course of history at her own discretion."
"Your daughter is very powerful," Homura added. "Plus, she is my lover."
Junko and Tomohisa looked at Madoka and were a mix of emotions. Madoka was no longer the carefree daughter they knew. Well, she was, but she also became someone to fear because of her new role. Even worse, she had become a lesbian, and that was news to them because they did not develop a tolerance to gays and lesbians yet.
"Mom, Dad," Madoka asked, "Do you hate me for doing all of this for you? Do you hate me for falling in love with Homura-chan and for changing the world as you know it?"
Junko paused, and the tears came out of her eyes. She hugged Madoka, lost in her thoughts. "I want to say 'yes', but I can't do that. You made the choice to be who you are, and neither I nor your father have any reason to stop you from doing what you want, because I know that you are all right. To think that you are also a supernatural being that came back to visit us...all of this...I feel blessed to have given birth to you."
"No matter what happens," Tomohisa said, "we are still your parents and we are here to support the choices you made and will make. Okay, Madoka?
"Yes, Daddy."
"You're still my little angel, even though you've grown up so much."
"I know, Daddy."
"Awww," the others said to the Kanames, clapping a little bit.
"This makes your heart melt, I tell you," Sayaka said, choking up a little.
"Always fun," Kyousuke added.
"One thing I should let you know," said Tomohisa, "this place has a karaoke bar. Do you want to sing a song for us, Madoka?"
"Eh, you want me to, Dad?" Madoka asked, blushing.
"Please?" the others asked.
"Do it, do it, do it," Sayaka added, prodding her on.
"All right, I'll sing a song for you." Madoka got off the table and asked the DJ to play a song by Dana International. As Madoka sang, she decided to transform into her goddess outfit, with her white bows and long pink hair.
Tomohisa, Kyousuke, Junko and Tatsuya were in awe of Madoka's true self. And for the parents, the tears were coming out of their eyes.
"Volay hayamim Hatovim (Maybe the good days)
Kvar Egeo hem kan (have come)
Rak od rega katan (Just for a moment)
Vakol yistaneh meachdhav (And everything will change from now)
Venohav eich noav (And we'll love how we love)
If you have a dream of your own
Don't be afraid go on with your heart
Close your eyes and hear the bells
Of your soul
Ding Dong say no more
I hear silent prayers
And it's making me high and fly
I know where to go
And I'm coming now
Veloay ze kimaat karov (And maybe it's almost here, close)
Achshav toro shel harega hatov (Now the good moment has its time)
Hakeev sebalev mistovev volech veozev (And the pain in your heart turns around and leaves)
Ding Dong say no more
I hear silent prayers
And it's making me high and fly
I know where to go
And I'm coming now.
Halely et hayom semevi et halaylah (Hail the day that brings you the night)
Halely et hazman syait otach (Hail the time that will enlighten you)
Oh yavi lach geula (It will bring you salvation)
Ding Dong say no more
I hear silent prayers
And it's making me high and fly
I know where to go
And I'm coming now!"
The crowd at the restaurant applauded, a few whistling. "Thank you," Madoka said, as she returned to the table.
"Everyone, this is Madoka as a goddess," Homura said to the party.
"Madoka, Madoka, Madoka!" Tatsuya said as Madoka took him and carried him while she worked on her plate of pasta. Madoka gave her little brother a kiss before sitting him down.
"You look so beautiful," Junko said. "What a nice dress."
"My daughter can't be this cute, or this sexy," Tomohisa said through happy tears. "She has grown up before my eyes!"
"And your eyes are now golden. Wow."
"Thanks," Madoka said, giggling.
"I like it when your hair is long, it makes you look cuter and more mature."
"Really? Thanks, Mom."
"When you look like that, it's as if you are a millionaire heiress or something," Kyouko said to her. "It's as if you are really rich." Madoka took out her wallet. It was very fat. "I rest my case!"
"Oh, that's right," Junko asked Madoka. "Madoka, you didn't show me your medal. You too, Homura."
"Shall we, my goddess?" Homura said to her.
"Yeah, let's do it." They both took out their medals and showed it to Junko and Tomohisa.
"These are so pretty," exclaimed Junko. "Real gold and silver?"
"Yep. They have the logo of the tournament and ribbons so that you can wear it."
"Really nice stuff," Tomohisa said. "When did you decide to take up archery?"
"Well," Homura asked, "when Madoka came back to finish school with me, I asked her, what club should we join? And we decided to go to the Archery Club because our weapons as Puella Magi are the bow and arrow. After our very first meet, we were invited to take part in the tournament that you saw on television, and you can see what happened after that. We were so good, not only did we win medals, but thanks to the Japanese Olympic Committee, we're going to London!"
"I am so proud of both of you," Junko said. "Especially you, Madoka. You're going to take part in the Olympic Games next year. Do you plan to medal there as well?"
"It's a long ways away," Madoka replied. "We just want to put on a strong performance. Obviously, it is the dream of every competitor to win gold at the Olympics, but to actually make it to London is great honor in itself. But I am so excited. It's like it's Christmas all over again."
Homura took a big bite out of her rather loaded burger and fries. "I won silver two straight times, Madoka," she reminded her after swallowing her morsel. "I only gave you the gold because I felt bad about your family. You owe me the gold next year if the two of us meet in the gold medal match, okay?"
"We'll see about that, Homura-chan," Madoka said, giving Homura a peck on the cheek.
"I'm only reminding you because I'm your fiancée, okay?"
"Jeez, already with the sweet talk?" Sayaka asked a rather smug Kyouko, who was sipping her Coke Zero. "The parents weren't crazy when they said they were growing up too soon."
"They actually said that?"
"In a way."
"No, I don't think so."
"They did, they did! I swear, man!"
"All right, I'll take your word for it."
"You'd better, Kyouko! Poor Kyouko. Conceding to her good friend, who already had a boyfriend. At least she had Mami. Sayaka turned to everyone. "All right, I want to raise a toast. Raise your glass." They all did. "Here's to Madoka Kaname and Homura Akemi, the best archers in the world, and to Madoka's family for being reunited with their beloved daughter once again. Kampai!"
"KAMPAI!" they all said, clinking their glasses.
All in all, the meal amounted to 8500 yen, which was not bad considering that this was for 10 people. Sayaka, Kyouko, Kyousuke and Mami elected to head back to Mitakihara by train, leaving Madoka and Homura to ride with Madoka's family.
"So, I hear that you know live with Homura, huh, Madoka?" Tomohisa asked his daughter.
"That's correct, even though my real home is in heaven," she replied. "I only go there to check and see if other Puella Magi have issues, but it looks like things are all right."
"That means you get to spend more time with us," Junko said. "And Tatsuya." The little boy was fast asleep.
"Mr. Kaname, can you drop us and our luggage at my house?" Homura asked him.
"Absolutely," he said. "You aren't making a mess over there, are you Madoka?"
"No, Dad."
"Good. I are surprised that you two are living together. You're so young, and yet, you can handle it like you are in your 20s. That's amazing."
"It's important for us, because it assures us that we can live independently," Homura said. "I'm paying the bills because my parents remit money from America. When I graduate from high school, I'm planning to find some work so I can take the burden off my parents."
"Good for you. Even though I sometimes get scared of you two—wondering if you can make it—I always say to myself, those two will be all right. Just hope and pray."
"It never hurts to believe in hope," Madoka reminded him. "Hope is a really strong element to life. It drives you to be your best in whatever you do."
"I will remember that, Madoka."
"Is this your house?" asked Junko to Homura as the van parked at a European-style building located in Northwestern Mitakihara, east of downtown.
"This is my house," she said.
"All right." Homura and Madoka took out their luggage as they left the car. Junko gave Madoka a nice, long hug.
"Madoka, take care of yourself and be sure to visit us every now and then, okay? Be good to Homura, okay?"
"Yes, Mom. As long as you remember me, that's all that matters." She gave Tatsuya a kiss. "Tatsuya, take care of yourself and always remember your nee-chan. She's always watching over you. I love you, Dad," she said, hugging Tomohisa.
"No matter what happens, you are still my wonderful daughter, and I will remember you, always," he said. "Take care, my angel."
"Thanks, Dad." She turned to Homura. "Homura-chan, let's go."
"Bye, Mr. and Mrs. Kaname!" Homura said to them.
"Bye-bye!" Junko and Tomohisa said, driving off into the night. Madoka and Homura were left alone, their luggage next to them. They made the short trek to Homura's room and unpacked.
"Ah, it feels good to get fresh air again," Kyubey said, stretching.
"You weren't feeling queasy on the flight, were you Kyubey?" Madoka asked her, changing back to her regular clothes. Of course, her golden eyes and long pink hair remained. She needed to give her locks a trim again.
"No, only sleepy."
"Well, as they say, there's no place like home," Homura said, heading off to take a bath before changing into her pajamas. The air conditioner was on, as it was stifling outside. A hot day in M-Town.
"I was sleepy until you opened the suitcase. At which, I woke up immediately," Kyubey told Madoka
"You had more sleep than any of us."
"I sure did, and it felt good. Where are you going?"
"Me and Homura-chan have class tomorrow," Madoka said as she went up the stairs, "so I am going to get some rest."
"All right, good night Madoka," Kyubey said. Seeing that Homura was still in the bath and Madoka elected to get some rest, Kyubey decided to go back and search for someone to make contract with, quickly leaving the house.
"Let us welcome our two wonderful heroes," Miss Kazuko Saotome said the next day at class. "Come on in."
Homura and Madoka opened the door. "Congratulations!" the class shouted out, popping party favors and clapping. Kazuko handed the two girls congratulatory flowers.
"Thank you," the two of them said.
"Let it be known, class, that we have the two best archers in the world. The future of archery in this country is bright, and it's women who will lead the way."
"Yeeeeaaaaah!" the class said, fists in the air. "MadoHomu! MadoHomu!" they chanted through their claps.
"All right, settle down, settle down. Any words, Kaname-san and Akemi-san?"
"How did we do, you guys?" Madoka asked them.
"You were wonderful!" shouted a student.
"Awesome archery!" said a second.
"Godly!" exclaimed a third.
"Thank you very much for your support of us in Italy. As a token of our gratitude," Homura said, taking out a folder, "here is our homework, Miss Kazuko."
The class laughed and applauded as Miss Kazuko received the completed assignments. "Thank you for the present. You get full credit. Oh, I was going to give you full credit anyway because you finished top three in the world over in Italy, but all right." More laughs. "Go have a seat."
"Thank you, Miss Kazuko," said Madoka and Homura, who took their seats. Before returning to school, Madoka had her hair cut and she donned her red contacts.
"Now then, ladies and gentlemen," Miss Kazuko said, "Today we will talk about a man closest to my heart, Mr. Pierre de Coubertin. He is founder of what we call the Modern Olympic Games."
"Oh, he is that Frenchman with the old porn stache that looks like Colonel Sanders, right?" said Kato, the smart-alecky shyster who had smart words to say.
"Kato...outside please."
"Yeah!" Kato slowly walked out, walking in a "Haters Gonna Hate" fashion. Seeing that he was taking too long, Miss Kazuko sent him flying out of the room with a nice, hard kick in the behind before slamming the door shut. "No! No, Miss Kazuko, you gotta let me in, I don't want to be seen naked here!" Kato bawled. Eventually, he was escorted to the teacher's office for disciplinary reasons.
"Now then, back to what I was saying," the teacher said. "Baron de Coubertin was the founder of the Modern Olympic Games, which started in Athens in 1896. He once said this: The important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle, the essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well. This goes down as the principle of universality that allows athletes from all corners of the world to partake in these festivities that happen every four years."
"Can I say something?" asked another student.
"Kurosaki, please, go ahead."
"Mr. De Coubertin forgot about the doping factor that defines the Olympics, and I would to give a shoutout to Dick Pound of Canada for being enough of a dick to penis up the Olympics into the sorry, decrepit, lame, greed-driven circus that it is today. Tabernak! Also, the Soviets screwed the USA in Munich in 1972. To hell with Communist countries like Cuba, Hungary and Poland! I wouldn't touch those places with a ten-foot pole! Thank you, teacher."
"Thank you...for sharing..." Kazuko said with a shaded face,
"What's his problem?" Madoka asked Homura.
"Too much research, and too much information," she replied flatly. "Plus, Hungary and Poland are not communist anymore."
"Obviously..." Miss Kazuko went on, talking about all things Athens 1896, even showing the class a video.
Mei Honda and Shiga Koyama both met Homura and Madoka back at the Archery Club after class. "Hey you two," Mei said to them, waving as they fell in with the others, practicing at the range.
"Mei-chan, Shiga-kun, hello," Madoka said to them.
"Congratulations, champions," Shiga said, shaking both their hands and hugging them. "What an amazing display down in Italy."
Madoka giggled. "Ah, it was nothing."
"Nothing? Trying to downplay your achievements, I see. Can I see your medals, pleasey pleasey plea~~~~~~se?" he asked, jumping side to side.
Madoka motioned over to her ladyfriend. "Homura-chan."
"Yes, ma'am." Homura took out the two medals, which were now framed.
"These are awesome," Shiga exclaimed, studying the intricate details of the metallic squares. "So beautiful. Congratulations."
"Aren't they neat?" Madoka remarked. "And we both ended up going to London next year."
"Awesome. You will go down as the best students to have ever been members of our Archery club. Mitakihara Junior High...home of scholars and world champions."
Homura and Madoka took out their bows and arrow quivers and joined the rest of the club in practicing their shots. Mei looked on, the wind lifting up her skirt a little. Through his crossed arms, Shiga adjusted his glasses so as to give it a nice, clean glint.
"Should we let them take part in the next meet?" Shiga asked Mei as the rest of the club watched Homura and Madoka engage in an informal duel.
"You want to see them run over everyone again? Let's just have them practice their shooting. It's up to them to decide if they want to participate."
"It's up to them?"
"Yes. They've won the highest prize in all of archery. If they want to take on others whose skill level is less than half of theirs, so be it, but all the attention would be on those two. It would be too easy."
"Mei..."
"Listen, Shiga," Mei told him. "The focus for those two is London. So practice upon practice is necessary for Homura-chan and Madoka-chan. They can't engage in other international meets because of their obligations as students. So practicing here on campus is all they need to do."
"I guess you're right," he mused. "But it would be a sin if Homura and Madoka didn't compete at another meet before the Olympics begin."
"There's a winter meet that takes place before March, so maybe we'll let them participate in that one," Mei said.
"Good idea."
The passages of time proved to be quick and fleeting. Homura and Madoka didn't spend much time going out to the beach during the summer break. All they did was study, study, and study some more. As a result of failing to secure a contract, Kyubey was still being chased by people of different persuasions all around Mitakihara and had to return to Homura's residence when evening came. He did this every night, except when he decided to take a rest. House pet? Or annoyance? Whatever the case, Kyubey was up to no good with his antics.
But time was running out on him to find someone. Or, perhaps Kyubey could just keep waiting to the point where he eventually gave in and simply became a house a pet. As for that winter meet, Madoka and Homura met in the final, and this time, Homura defeated Madoka, 6-0. The meet turned out to be a farce when it was revealed that the rest of the field forfeited, turning the tournament into a gimmicky one-off affair.
Finally, March 2012 arrived. Hours before commencement, Homura looked at a document she received from Sakuragaoka Girls' High School, which was a 30 minute train ride away from Mitakihara. "Congratulations, Homura Akemi," it said. "Welcome to Sakuragaoka."
Homura smiled. Sakuragaoka was her first choice school, and she scored a high-enough grade on the entrance exam to be given a spot in the soon-to-be-named Class of 2015. Her parents gave her messages, showing her pictures of the rooms and the administrative building, the iconic landmark that defined Sakuragaoka.
She elected to write a poem celebrating her achievements. Using an iPad to time, she took a deep breath, and wrote these words.
No one will ever take us away
From each other. History has tried
To prove otherwise, but they have failed.
I laugh at history's failure
To break the bond between the two of us.
Actually, I talked to such unbelievers,
But they shrunk in fear,
And they ran off like cowards
Into the oblivious sunset.
Such cowards they are.
Such cowards they will ever be.
The secret is in this ribbon that binds us.
A simple piece of scarlet cloth
Brightened into flame by pure starlight.
This is the secret, and it is nothing much
But a ribbon made out of love and passion.
When you and me tie our fingers
With the starlight ribbon,
There will be not a single one
That can tear us apart.
Light as a feather.
Stronger than steel.
It can withstand the icy cold of wintertime
Or the unforgiving heat of summer.
Day and night, night and day,
We wear this starlight ribbon
Before we sleep, when we wake up,
When we have anything to do
In this demanding society. We wear it,
And we wear it pride.
Why is it scarlet red? It's as red as the blood
That courses through our veins and keeps us alive.
It's as red as a brilliant July sunset,
What with its glowing pastels scorching the auroras.
It's as red as the lipstick on my lips
And the lipstick on my collar from
The one I love then, and love now.
It's as red as a beating heart, a human drum
That pounds a rhythm divine as I run down the street.
It's as red as the blush marks on my cheeks.
It's as red as a stop sign near a school.
It's as red as a cross or a crescent.
It is red because it is the color of life.
We live, we die, and we learn to find
The things we live and die for,
And we find each other, tied by this simple string,
This simple fabric that has the scent of fruit
And flowers plucked from a celestial garden,
Tended by my one and only love.
My lover, a goddess and a gardener.
Oh, how I can never be without her,
So long as my right hand is bound to hers
By this scarlet starlight ribbon!
How I long to never be without her!
This ribbon is the key to my happiness.
It is the door to her happy place.
I tie this, and the door is wide open,
And she is there. She is there.
I cannot stop smiling. No.
Not when I am wearing the ribbon,
Tied to our pinky fingers.
I cannot stop smiling. How can I stop?
How will I ever stop? I won't stop!
I won't!
And I will never stop smiling.
History has indeed tried to take our future away,
But it might as well give up, and accept
This simple honest fact
That as long as we are wearing
This simple, scarlet starlight ribbon...
No one will ever take us away from each other.
No one.
Taking one more deep breath, she saved the poem, fixed her hair, and walked out the door with a smile on her face. Madoka wasn't in the house because she was taking care of some Puella Magi whose time was up, but she would see her again.
And to her surprise, it came sooner that she thought. "Madoka," she said to her as her ladyfriend ran over and grabbed her by the arm. "It's time."
"This is it, the big day," Madoka replied. "Graduation from Mitakihara Junior High. Excited, Homura-chan?"
"Indeed, I am."
"So, where you are heading off to?"
"I made my decision after seeing the letter from the school."
"Where?"
A deep breath. "It's Sakuragaoka."
"Interesting..."
"Why do you say it's interesting?"
"Because...that's also where I'm going to!"
The tears came out of Homura's deep blue eyes as they continued to walk over to campus for the ceremony.
END CHAPTER 21