Ghosts and the damned

"Japan is composed mostly of mountainous regions. The highest mountain is the Mount Fuji. Yuma, can you show me on the map in this book the location and the height of it?"

On a sunny day, Oriko was teaching Yuma in the park. Always when the weather was favorable, the classes took place outdoors, sitting on an extended towel over the ground. Accompanied with tea and delicacies, it remembered much a picnic.

"Hmmm..." The little girl, wearing a hat, slid her trembling fingers on the drawing of the Japanese islands in the book. "H-Here..." Although she found what she wanted, she lacked air to formulate the answer.

"Yuma?" Oriko took out a handkerchief and dried the sweaty face of her protegee.

"Big love."

Oriko turned her attention to Kirika, who was sitting beside the basket of food.

"It wasn't a good idea to bring her here." Kirika said, with her face full of apprehension.

"It's... okay papa." Yuma was breathing hard. "Ah... I can't... keep missing classes."

"See Kirika?" Oriko smiled. "She is being more responsible than you."

"Oriko, please..." Kirika pleaded. However, the only answer she received was a hostile look of her loved one. The concern had been replaced by sadness as she lowered her head.

"It's 3776 meters high and... and..." Yuma took a little air before continuing. "... and is here, near the capital."

Seeing that Yuma had returned to their studies, Oriko turned her attention to the book. "Very good. You say 'near', but how much? Can you tell me the distance between the mountain and Tokyo?"

Yuma nodded, but before she tried to answer, she went to pick a glass containing tea. Unfortunately, she was so weak she could not lift it and almost dropped.

"Leave that to me." Oriko took the glass and brought to the mouth of Yuma. "No need to struggle. If you need something, just ask. Now drink."

The girl sipped the liquid slowly.

"Your lips are dry, I should have paid more attention." Oriko noticed.

Before the glass was taken out of her mouth, Yuma started coughing violently. The cup fell and ended up spilling tea on the book.

"Sorry! You chocked? "Oriko moved closer, worried.

"GGGGNNNNN!" By contracting all the muscles of the face and arching the body, Yuma convulsed and fell to the ground, making the hat to detach from her head.

Oriko sought to aid her. "Yuma?! YUMA!"

"Oh no!" Kirika stood up. "I knew this would happen!"

When the body of Yuma relaxed, her left hand opened slowly. Inside it was a soul gem completely corrupted. In the midst of darkness inside the gem, a pulsating light danced as if it was looking for a way out.

Seeing this, the eyes of Oriko grew. "Kirika, bring the cubes."

"Oriko..."

Oriko looked at Kirika.

The girl was in tears. "No..."

Oriko gritted her teeth. "Kirika! Bring the cubes, please!"

The request only made the tears of Kirika spurt with more intensity.

"Ki... Ki..." Oriko shook her head, twitching eyes, confused. "Bring... please."

Kirika began to sob. "We don't have cubes." And between each sob she repeated. "We don't... we don't... we don't..." Until she turned and started running away.

"Kirika!" Oriko reached out, screaming. "KIRIKAAAAAH!"

"Mama..."

Seeing her most trusted person abandoning her and listening to the agonizing murmur of Yuma, Oriko felt a sickening despair.

We don't have cubes.

This was an absurd idea. They had left at home? That was why Kirika run away? But why did not she tell? They never committed such a serious mistake.

"Mama..."

Oriko looked at the basket. "I will be back my dear." Running, she nearly dived into it. Rummaging, her eyes was eager for any black object that was therein. Kirika brought many cubes every day... It had to have at least one there. She lifted and turned the basket, dropping it on the towel. She got on all fours, frantically spreading what had fallen, but found no cube. "Where? Where!"

"GGGggnnnnaaaAAAAHHHH!"

With the cry, Oriko returned to the fallen girl. "I am here. Okay?"

Yuma contracted her neck and sighed. "It... hurts..."

Tears streamed down the face of Oriko, which immediately began to remove them. Yuma needed her more than ever, could not give up.

"Right. I... I will get you out of that sun." Holding the little girl in her arms, without letting the soul gem to drop, Oriko went to the shade of a nearby tree. Finally, left Yuma leaning on the trunk. "That is better, is it not?"

Opening her eyes slowly, Yuma paid attention to the soul gem that she was holding. Contorted her face, scared. "Ah... ah... Gnnn..."

"No!" Oriko held the head of Yuma and made her look at her. "Look at me. Only at me, okay?"

With tears pouring, Yuma nodded. "Thank you... for all, mama."

"Do not say that!" Tears of Oriko fell again. She used all her strength to hold the crying, at a point of stopping to breath. Swallowing hard, she forced a grin. "It is okay, right? Kirika is already coming with the cubes and we will take care of it."

Yuma arched her body again and threw open her mouth in pain. "Gnnnnnaaaaahhh!"

"Hey!" Oriko came as close as she could and wrapped Yuma with her body. "Stay with me! With me... me..."

Yuma could not stand already the burden she carried, leaving her gem roll over from her hand and fall to the ground. "Mama... I'm sorry."

"What?"

"I'm... sorry for making you cry."

Oriko pulled away from Yuma and held her face. "Do not say nonsense! That is nothing, everything will be fine. Everything! Everything!"

"It'll... It'll be... yes... we'll always... be together." Yuma tried to smile, but the pain did not let her to do it. Her breath was getting shorter. "Ah... ahhh... you gave me... a new life. Ma... ma..."

"Stop, please!" Oriko held the face of Yuma more firmly. "Do not strain yourself."

"... Love... you..." Yuma's body returned to shake. "...bu-but..."

"Yuma!" Oriko exclaimed in a tone of plea.

The greenette, closing her eyes, sighed. "...you should ru..."

The sound of a crystal shattering.

The body of Yuma, before squirming, now remained motionless, limp.

Oriko frowned, astounded and speechless. Now she felt the full weight of the head that the little girl did not hold anymore. She felt between her fingers the last tears falling on that face.

Oriko began to cry for the two. It was the only thing she could do now, consumed by guilt. It was then she noticed an object floating nearby.

It was a jewel of metallic adornments with the size of an egg, with a small head of a stylized cat on its top and a long sharp pin at its base. Orbiting that object was many black crystal fragments.

Oriko was mesmerized by it. That is not the soul gem...

So the fragments began to enter inside the jewelry, forming a kind of caged dark globe. Soon the globe began to pulse a white light and the jewelry began to spin faster and faster. Then plunged toward the grassy ground and, with the pin, started to drill it.

In an act of desperation, Oriko jumped in trying to prevent that object to bury itself. Plopping on the ground, the only thing that her hands felt was the hole that had been formed. Inside it has a weak green luminescence.

Oriko felt her hand burn. By looking at her palm, she saw a large cut where was dripping blood. It was then that she realized that the grass leaf blades were hard as stone. Looking around found that everything was petrifying, acquiring the appearance of jade.

Including the tree and the lifeless body of Yuma on its trunk.

"No!" Oriko returned to Yuma, tolerating the grass that pierced the soles of her feet as daggers. Despite her effort, she could only feel the cold touch of the rock with the little girl's form. She still, in a vain act, tried to lift her, but it was like she was stuck to the floor, as if Yuma was one with that bleak scenery.

The world grew dark, the sun, stolen. It was no longer an outdoor park, but a cavern of green and well-polished rocks and even with such beauty, contained an oppressive atmosphere.

However, Oriko paid no attention to any of that, just in her blood flowing and entering into the cracks of the surface than a moment ago was the skin of Yuma. "Ah... AH... AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!" She shouted with all her might, as if she could make her lungs to leave from her mouth. She wished that her life was ripped out right there.

If her prayers have been answered, she did not know, but what followed surprised the magical girl. Oriko felt to be rising, just below was herself, mouth agape, still crying in despair.

When she crossed the canopy of the petrified tree, she realized she has no body. Continuing to move away more and more of that tree, she could catch a glimpse of the extent of that cave, with huge columns supporting the ceiling of jade with numerous protruding and sharp rocks.

Until it began to fade.

The predominant green scene had been replaced by a white and smooth surface. While Oriko moved away more of it, she found that she was in front of a large pearl. In the bottom part of the pearl, a creature was holding onto it, which only existed in the most sordid imaginations.

A deformed, pulsing tower of flesh. Among its folds were arranged, without an apparent pattern, dozens of mouths. Each mouth had a different size and shape. The only thing in common was their rows of very sharp teeth.

Oriko did not contain her cry of terror, but it was drowned out by the sound of the roar from those mouths that opened in unison. At the bottom of each mouth, a range of green eyes opened, with their pupils fixed on the girl.

"It's all right."

Searching for the origin of that soft and feminine voice, Oriko looked around. The setting was a large dome, composed of various sheets of newspaper. Although the sheets are giants, she could not read because it was written in a strange language composed of runes. However, the photos were clear: that news could only refer to her father. In the pictures, although she be able to recognize the faces, people had their eyes gouged out, through which ran a massive amount of blood that dyed the paper.

"It's okay, Oriko."

And there was, in midair, the girl calling her by name, with her long white dress and wings on her back. Her pink hair tied with white ribbons matched the five gems in her chest, her look of pure gold brought luster to her serene expression.

Yuma died.

How can be all right? Why is that girl smiling? There is no reason to smile, there is no reason to live.

Yuma perished.

It's all my fault. It was my image that should be in those newspapers, not of my father. I have sinned, I have failed and that girl know. She knows what I did and is here to mock me!

Dead.

Oriko's vision was completely taken by a blinding bright light. Shortly after that flash, she saw the flying girl, shot down, falling against the ground lined of paper.

Dead!

A new roar and Oriko looked back down, where was the abomination that held the great pearl, now brighter than before. It brought to her a sense of familiarity.

Yuma. She began approaching the pearl again. I need to see.

But a tremor took Oriko off that trance state. The large sheets of newspapers struggled frantically and a large shadow fell on the girl.

When Oriko found the source of that shadow, she faced with her greatest fear. A living nightmare in the form of a dark mountain, rising to the ceiling with its long tentacles, until it bent.

On top of that mountain was a humanoid figure with long black arms and monstrous hands that reached Oriko. Arrested, the girl witnessed a head 'sprouting' between those arms. As pitch in a whirlwind, from the head came up a couple of eyes focused on what the monster was holding.

Using arms and legs that she had not, Oriko tried desperately to ward off that visage, which was approaching.

"Hey! Stop!"

A hole opened up in that head. If this was a mouth, Oriko could not say, but from within it came new tentacles that went against her eyes.

"It's me big love!"

Oriko punched and pushed Kirika with all her strength, rising from the couch in the living room.

"Mama! Mama!"

Hering the voice of Yuma, Oriko felt her heart beat faster. However, before she could see her, an overwhelming pain dominated her body and everything started to spin. She twitched, dropping a jet of vomit on the floor.

"Oriko!"

On the verge of unconsciousness, she fell on her own vomit. Her body did not obey, did not seem to belong to her anymore. In her blurred vision, she noticed a round and dark object rolling from her left hand.

"The gem! Yuma! Bring the cubes! Fast!"

Voices were now distant. All senses were focused on something that was tearing inside. Oriko did not know what was that which seemed to be groping underneath her skin, but had no doubt it was something evil and that she should fight to not allow it to be free.

"It'll be fine, Oriko."

No. It will not.

Oriko saw herself again sitting on the couch, Kirika holding her shoulders so she would not fall. She felt the pressure inside her body decrease, that's when she noticed Yuma, who was in a hurry rubbing the surface of the soul gem on the wooden table with grief cubes. A dark cloud within the gem shifted position, following where the cube was.

A foul smell announced that her senses had returned to normal. Oriko then looked at her completely stained dress. "I am... in a deplorable state. Sorry."

"Big love! Why did you do that?" Even if Kirika tried to scold, her tone sounded more like a relief. "You know you can't use so much magic to see the future, you end up losing control."

"B-But... I need to have another vision." Spoke Oriko while Kirika wiped her mouth with the sleeve of her jacket. "I need to find a..."

Yuma had finished to purify the gem and looked at her, worried.

"I need to find Kyuubey." Oriko finished saying, extending her hand toward the little girl.

Forgetting the puddle of vomit, Yuma walked toward that trembling hand. "Are you better?"

Contracting the face and lips, Oriko caressed.

"Mama?"

"Thanks. Ohhh... Thanks..." Saying these words between gasps, Oriko let out a couple of tears.

Seeing this, Kirika asked. "Big love, did you see anything?"

Oriko backed out and acquired a more serious expression, recovering her composure. "Like I said, I have not got the vision I need."

"Yes, but I'm asking if it was something else." Kirika pointed to the soul gem on the table. "You could have disappeared, surely you must have seen something..."

"I DID NOT SEE ANYTHING!"

The bluster of Oriko did the two girls standing to retreat frightened.

"What I saw is an absurd. It will never happen." The girl on the couch lowered her voice, realizing what she had committed. "So it is like I had not seen anything."

Kirika and Yuma exchanged glances.

"Soon will be nightfall, you must prepare to meet with the other two girls." Looking to change the subject, Oriko rose from the couch. "I will stay at home. I am... not able to go today."

"Of course you're not." Kirika looked back at the stained dress. "And that's why we should stay with you, big love."

"It would not be good. I do not want the other two being more concerned than they already are. You need to go to give support." Oriko looked deep into Kirika's eyes. [Listen. hordes of demons, from neighboring towns, will invade the south of Mitakihara tonight. Suggest to Mami to look for demons in the north, without letting her to suspect.]

Receiving the telepathic message, Kirika stammered. "O-Okay then..."

"I don't want us to separate!" Yuma complained. "How will I protect you?"

"Why such concern? I will be at home." Oriko grinned. "And I know you will be safe with Kirika, and Mami-san and Sakura-san. Do not worry."

"They will wonder about your absence, what should I tell them?" Kirika asked.

"Give the proper apologies and inform them that I have some bureaucratic issues related to Shirome that I need to solve." Said Oriko.

Yuma was crestfallen. "Mama... isn't better to stop lying? They trust us, you don't need to hide your power anymore."

Oriko replied. "This is something very sensitive. To be honest, our situation is very delicate and I can not afford to plant a seed of doubt in our alliance. Yuma, I promise that when this is over, I will tell them."

"Biiiig love." Kirika made a reproachfully expression. "Don't try to force your clairvoyance while we're away, huh?"

Oriko approached Kirika and held her hands. "Ah. What would I be without you. How I wish I could embrace you now."

Kirika did just that.

"Ki... Kirika..." Oriko reciprocated the hug. "Now you will have to shower and change your clothes."

"Kukuahahaa... I would give many hugs were needed." Kirika stroked those ash blond hair. "As long as you stay well."

Oriko rested her chin on the shoulder of her companion. "I promise."

/人◕‿‿◕人\

"Sorry Kirika."

Night had already fallen on the mansion of Mikunis and in the same place that she made her promise, Oriko now was filled with guilt. Alone, she put her gem on the table, with numerous black cubes around it.

She sighed. "But I have to. The world depends on it, is up to me... I need to find a way..."

She then sat on the same couch, with the same intent and determination.

To protect...

However, before she could focus, the lights went out.

"Now this." With eyes still getting used to the darkness, Oriko watched the weak luminescence that her soul gem emitted. The silence was broken by the sound of her breathing and a distant, muffled garden foliage rustling.

I do not need light. She closed her eyes.

A long sound of wood snapping surpassed all others.

Oriko stood up, frightened. By the direction, she knew it must have came from the hall. Although the present state of the wooden floor, a sound of this magnitude would be very unusual, except...

Again the sound occurred.

Oriko was absolutely sure it was a movement in the house. She grabbed her gem and in a flash of silver light, she put her magical garments. Then she conjured a ball, which started to light up the room with a bluish light. Slowly, she walked towards the door and opened it. In doing so, the sound became clearer.

They were the steps of a person.

"Who is there?" Oriko motioned with her fingers, seeking to create new spheres to defend herself.

However the steps continued, as if the person had not heard.

Oriko held her breath, anxious. The person certainly had noticed the light.

The steps became more distant and then the person appeared, walking toward the center of the hall.

Oriko gasped, even the person standing back, she would always recognize. That light hair, with a cut that went up to shoulder height, was unmistakable. "Mom..."

"Mama!"

A cheerful voice echoed. It came from a ash blonde little girl, with a short cut and a small pigtail tied with a scrunchie.

Yurako Mikuni held her daughter who came running to her. "Ah. My little Oriko, how was the walk in the park?"

Witnessing the scene, Oriko entered in the hall with her sphere emitting light. When she realized, she noted that was not more necessary because the hall was well lighted. Thanks in part to the well-waxed floor, and the staircase. The wallpapers revealed its beautiful blends of vivid colors, giving company to the works of art on them.

"She did an entire lap on it." The male voice belonged to a well dressed servant. "For her age, she runs very fast."

"My daughter wanting to become an athlete so..."

Oriko approached more and more of her mother, of her past. Along the way, other servants showed up, busy with their duties to leave everything in place and well maintained.

Smiled. These were happy times, which she could reach again with her hands. However, when trying to touch her mother, she felt the cold in her fingers.

The hall returned to darkness and what Oriko felt out was just a smooth surface, lifeless, of her floating ball. Again her only companion was the mold and abandonment. With the scandal, the servants left. Even if it were possible to honor the payments, no one would dare to risk their honor working for that surname.

New voices and footsteps.

Out of the corner of her eye, Oriko noticed the light from the entrance of one of the rooms which was in the main corridor of one of the wings of the mansion. She went there, knowing that was the room for visits in which her father received with joy any guests.

But that was not the occasion.

Facing the entrance, Oriko saw all those people in there, with black clothes. They features of grief and sadness.

"My condolences for the loss of your wife."

Her father, Hisaomi Mikuni, just nodded silently. He was a proud man, spontaneous and with a charismatic smile, but at that moment this was not present on his face.

Beside him was herself, still very young, but already learned to hold back the tears.

Among the sighs and lamentations of the people, there were also whispers of which Oriko was well aware.

"See how the daughter of your brother is behaving. Does she not feel anything for Yurako because she was not her biological mother?"

Kimihide Mikuni, adjusting his glasses, said to his wife with a brief smile. "She carries our surname and is trying to behave as such. If this is not the case, then she is an ungrateful and it will just facilitate." Getting closer to the ear of his wife, he continued. "She is entering a difficult age. Without Yurako and my brother so busy, she will soon misbehave. When this happen, I can offer myself as her guardian. My brother will have a debt with me and I can influence her in my favor."

Oriko soon learned that to be under this roof she would live shrouded in cahoots and interests. Having the Mikuni surname was a great burden, even more for someone who did not have the same blood.

The living room darkened to the point of being only under the blue luminescence of her sphere. Silence returned to be the company of her thoughts.

For the pride of her parents who were in heaven, and to give thanks for what Yurako and Hisaomi made for her, she had to prove she deserved that surname.

More voices now coming from down the corridor.

Oriko started to walk, accompanied by her loyal sphere. Approaching more of her destiny, the voices passed her with cristaline messages.

"Like father, like daughter."

"Hisaomi Mikuni, your daughter is really your most valuable jewel in this house."

"Pride of the family."

"The daughter that everyone would like to have."

Always seeking to be the best student of Shirome and helping her father in his work. All this required a strenuous routine, something many adults would not bear, but to persevere was the only option.

The voices went silent with the sound of a piano. The room ahead lit up.

Oriko smiled at the memory of that place, the game room. There was her father, at a poker table playing with others men. From politicians to big businessmen, some of them with more influence and power than entire Mikuni family together. Drinks and large amounts of money making company to the cards.

Then she get closer to herself, who was in front of the piano, entertaining those men with its melody.

Her father said you could found out more about a person in a match than in a lifetime at their side. Oriko was aware that for he to reach his main objective, peace and prosperity in Mitakihara, would have to enter at their own game. To make a difference, would only be possible from inside.

Unlike poker, however, in politics each card has its own price.

The ball landed softly on the body of the piano, illuminating the dark and empty room. She went to the window, pulled back the curtains and opened it. The wind broke into the room, blowing the long skirt of her dress and almost knocking her mitre.

Outside it was almost as dark as inside, perhaps because of the shadow cast from the balcony that was in her father's office on the second floor. On the high walls it was not possible to see any light from the neighborhood and the sky was overcast, heavy. Amid its dark clouds occurred incidental bright flashes. Maybe that was a warning or even expression of revolt from nature at what was going on.

With this climate, there is no reason to question why the light was cut. Oriko left the room, already having in mind where she was going now.

If it were a coup or a father's mistake, she never found out. One day the police arrived at the mansion with a subpoena to testify, in which her father received without surprise because the newspapers have announced the 'new big scoop' of investigative reporting. A dossier, with names and numbers, where 'Mikuni' was the most frequent word.

The ladder that led to the second floor at the end of the wing seemed much narrower amid darkness. Every step that Oriko won, taking due care not to trip on her own skirt, the wood creaked and her thoughts flowed. Father... why did you do that?

His allies, even his brother, left him, except her. But Hisaomi did not seek her only daughter. He surrendered to drinking until the police raid take everything, and then to isolation and despair.

On the second floor, Oriko stopped in front of the first door. As she put her hand on the doorknob, she stopped and recoiled. Pulling the sleeve, she used the other hand to feel the pulse. Her blood ran fast.

What does means this surname now?

She took a deep breath and opened the door. Entering up in her father's office, she walked to the desk and behind it there he was.

Sitting and head down, Hisaomi Mikuni had wrapped in his neck a belt that was tied on the doorknob that led to the balcony. His pants stained with feces and urine.

Why do you not fought to the end? For the sake of Mitakihara and that country?

Contorting the face and gritting her teeth, Oriko did not hide her outrage.

Liar! Liar! LIAR!

His death was considered as an aggravating factor, an admission of guilt. All they had, the world Oriko knew, fell into disgrace. No one of the family wanted to keep her guard, much less his uncle, who kept by obligation, since she was an 'illegitimate' daughter of a worthless man. Although Kimihide had inherited the mansion, he never set foot there anymore. The whole reputation she built in Shirome over the years collapsed like a sand castle beneath the waves. Alone, she came to be plagued by these specters of the past.

Her father was gone, in his place, through the door glass, glowing red eyes were focused on her.

Came one day where she understood that those were not the ghosts. Was herself, the most valuable jewel of the house that would never abandon this rotting place.

Father, your dream did not die and with it a new family will arise.

Oriko opened the balcony door, she knew that who awaited her was very real.

Over the parapet, a creature with thin white fur, with its long ears and tail swaying with the wind, greeted her. [Oriko Mikuni.]

Coming closer, Oriko gave her answer. "To whom do I owe the honor? Incubator. I believe I must be the only magical girl in the world who is receiving your visit right now."

Kyuubey raised his pair of pointed ears. [You did not call me like that.]

"I found out eventually." Oriko smiled. "And considering the circumstances, you are worthy of that title."

[Found out eventually? Perhaps it would not have been through a vision?]

Oriko went silent.

Kyuubey closed his eyes. [I accompanied you and Kirika during the dispute for Kazamino against Kyouko. The way you always knew where the demons would appear raised my suspicions. Your reaction now only further confirms.]

Although Kyuubey did not present any expression on his face, Oriko could have sworn that behind that muzzle had a smile. "So that is the reason for the visit?"

[Partially.] Kyuubey stretched over the railing. [Actually what brought me here was the way you approached Mami and Kyouko. Your methods to win the trust of them were effective, but I did not find grounds for such attitude. Given the varying degree of your precognitive ability, I wonder what your intentions are.]

"My intentions. Oh yes..." After speaking those words softly, Oriko contracted her face, her lips quivered. "Free Madoka Kaname!"

Kyuubey blinked a few times before lowering his head. [You know more than I expected.]

"Incubator!" Oriko exasperated. "You have to stop what you are doing while there is still time!"

[I can not.] Kyuubey's fixed look was again on Oriko. [The universe is in great danger.]

"Great danger?!" Oriko expressed in disbelief. "Great danger is that your... experiment that will destroy everything."

[You saw that? Will it fail?] The tip of the creature's tail pointed to Oriko. [Tell me what you saw, might it helps...]

Oriko put her hand to her temple. She shook her head with a strained face. "No. No... We have been through this phase already. It is not a question of failure or success. No matter what happens, we will all be doomed if you continue!"

Kyuubey started walking the parapet from one side to the other, pondering. [Uh-huh. Oriko, you are not the first girl I have met with such talent. As I have done for some of them, I will question you.]

Oriko breathed deeply, taken by restlessness, but decided to listen carefully.

[You see the future and then decides to change it. If the future you have seen does not happen, does not mean it was false? If so, how would you prove that all your actions were not motivated by an illusion? Delirium?]

"That is the question?" Oriko raised her eyebrows. "It is very easy to answer. The future I see is real and will happen, my intervention is able to change it just because it is part of my gift."

[Ah... It's always the same answer.] Kyuubey nodded as if agreeing with himself. [Always they believe they are the only ones capable of changing the course of events. Is not that what you humans call pride?]

"ENOUGH OF THIS DRIVEL!" Oriko opened her eyes with a menacing expression. "Why do you want to insist? Do you not understand that I am warning you? You are risking your very existence, Incubator."

[I am aware of that, but worth a chance to reach the quota in time than none.]

"Quota?" Asked Oriko, confused.

Kyuubey tilted his head, examining Oriko for a brief moment. [Did not you know? So I overestimated your knowledge.]

"Answer me! What quota?"

Kyuubey looked at the dark and cloudy sky. [Just as the members of your species wither and perish, the same is happening with the universe. Have you ever heard about the entropy?]

Oriko did not believe what she was hearing. They would argue about physics? "The second law of thermodynamics. It describes the disorder of a system or, in other words, the tendency it has to turn into a defined state."

[Very well, Oriko. Entropy is crucial to our existence. Right now, every living being is using entropy, transforming what is in their surroundings in favor of their own equlibrium. Unfortunately these processes are irreversible, except when there is the expenditure of energy, which is limited.]

Oriko agreed. "I know about it. There is the theory that the universe will extinguish eventually, but that would take too long to happen."

[From where comes this information?] Kyuubey looked back at Oriko. [Is it correct?]

Wordlessly, the girl looked away.

[It is very difficult to conjecture when your point of view of the universe is from a mere pale blue grain inside it. Only those who have a broad view can measure the entropy as a countdown. A clock which should be delayed.]

When Kyuubey finished his affirmation, Oriko noticed he was not aiming at her eyes but something below. She put her hand up to her soul gem and smiled. "Ah... I never believed you did these contracts out of charity, but never found out where you earned on this all."

[In our quest for reversal of entropy, we find a power source that did not follow this law. It is generated in sentient creatures and have a chaotic aspect, unpredictable, unstable. Unfortunately, due to these characteristics, it ends up being very scarce, as a creature with such high amount of these energy has a short life.] Kyuubey pointed his paw to Oriko. [It was very interesting to discover that on this planet there was a species capable to generate in large quantities this energy and still survive. They could in fact live with it, even gave a name. You call it 'Emotion'.]

Oriko slid her fingers over her gem.

[You even classified this energy for us. 'Anger', 'Joy', 'Despair', 'Hope'... this is all considered part of you, as your identity, or, how you denominated, your 'Soul'.]

Oriko retracted her hand of her gem, like she had taken a shock. "How long have you been doing this? Incubator."

[Considering the historical of climate events of this planet, it was after what you consider now as the last ice age. At that time your species was already tormented by demons. Apparently, these creatures are a side effect of the abundance of that energy that you all have. We observed that human groups trying to settle were decimated due the increasing concentration of demons in one place.] With a back paw, Kyuubey scratched his head. [It was during that we found the great potential in younger females for our experiments. It was even greater at that time, because nearly all of them already had children. The maternal ties with the offsprings bring an emotional overload. Nowadays it is not so common in proportion with the population, but that is irrelevant.]

Clenching her fists, Oriko held herself to not kill that creature at this very moment because she needed to know more.

[Our experiments revealed that wishes are excellent catalysts, from which we could extract this energy and store it in a small device. What was unexpected is that you were able to manipulate such energy from it and then became able to deal with demons.]

"And so were born the 'magical girls'." Oriko added.

[Yes. Thanks of that, your species could stop the life of nomads and build the first villages, develop agriculture, as well as technology.] Kyuubey turned, watching from the balcony the city of Mitakihara, both the old part that was dark as the modern part with its illuminated skyscrapers. [Your population grew and spread throughout the world and so we could get even more energy. We come to consider this system we set as a symbiosis between our species. However, this energy, although fascinating, we concluded that it is really too dangerous. So we will end.]

"End...?" Oriko blinked as that information was established in her mind. "With the magical girl system?"

[Exactly. What are we doing would get an amount of energy that even surpasses the estimated quota considering the factors that could cause the extinction of your species. It is what we need to save the universe for the moment and then we will have time to explore other solutions.]

"But... but..." Oriko searched for the words. "The demons will continue to emerge. W-We need you, we need more magical girls to... to..."

Kyuubey, still with his back to Oriko and silent, just swung his long tail.

"You... will leave us to die..." The realization of Oriko was accompanied by a shudder and a churn in the stomach.

[Demons are a byproduct of humans. We have no responsibility for it.] Kyuubey turned his head. [Although the human population will suffer a significant reduction, with the technological level currently achieved, the projections that you will not be extinct until the next climate cycle of this planet are very favorable.]

"I will not allow." Oriko said ominously.

[You all are always incomprehensible. Where there is a choice between the universe and the lives of some who would die in mere decades anyway?]

"I will find a way..."

[This means that we will see each other soon. These are your current intentions.] Kyuubey turned back toward the city. [Until the time comes, reflect about. This is your only chance to protect this world. So long, Oriko Mikuni.] And then he jumped the railing toward the mansion's stone wall.

However, before he could land, his peripheral vision warned too late about an object coming at great speed, from an open window on the first floor.

/人◕‿‿◕人\

Wet concrete.

At least.

Oriko was again in that gigantic gallery and looked at the tunnel that led to that place. The fog was still there. Then turned her attention to her counterpart of the future, who watched the small prism orbiting the large one with the girl inside.

Then the small prism darkened and broke, releasing the black abomination that clung to the larger prism.

A Kyuubey was next to her counterpart, watching that event as he swung his tail.

Her counterpart then began to speak. "I hope you are seeing this."

Kyuubey wiggled his ears, but those words were not for him.

Her counterpart continued. "If that does not work, try again, never give up. That is our blood, our surname."

Oriko, even if her other self could not see, nodded in agreement.

If that monster succeed and take possession of Madoka, we will all perish.

The creature was being absorbed by that dark globe, losing mass and size.

If the Incubator succeed in their intent, we will all die.

Oriko of the future began to walk towards the prism, with Kyuubey following. She stopped where it was located the shards of the smaller prism. She bent down and began to rummage through it.

Oriko then saw her counterpart stand up, holding an object between the tips of her fingers. By distance, she could discern what was a small ebony jewel, which had a format of an animal, a reptile, with a broken violet gem on its tail.

That monstrosity was losing its struggle against the absorption that was happening. Minutes passed and it was only half of what had been. Its tentacles slithered in frenzy over the prism surface.

The attention of her counterpart shared between it and the jewel in hand until she crushed it and threw it away. "Incubator!"

Several Kyuubeys turned their heads toward the girl.

"Your greed ends here." Making gestures with her hands, she created various spheres and promptly threw them against the prism.

The local of the impacts were marked with cracks.

It was not strong enough. Oriko could only hope for herself.

The counterpart spread her arms, bringing the spheres back to her for a new onslaught. It was when a Kyuubey jumped and grabbed one of the arms.

Oriko was terrified and she knew her future counterpart must also be feeling the same. Tens, hundreds, thousands of Kyuubeys, like ants defending their nest, departed toward the girl and her spheres.

With a slap, the counterpart managed to dispose the Kyuubey on her arm, but soon others were already climbing her skirt. "I will not allow!" The ball passed with speed, shattering the Kyuubeys who were clinging to her, smearing her white dress with the red of their flesh. "Ugh!" That was not enough, some Kyuubeys were pulling her hair and her head back, making the mitre fall. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Kyuubeys climbing her chest, getting closer of her soul gem.

Oriko witnessed the desperate attitude of her counterpart: with finger gestures, she made their spheres to fly towards against her and the Kyuubeys. "AHG! AAhg! Uh!" The Kyuubeys were crushed, as the bones of the girl. Falling to the ground, bloodied, she lifted her arm that was not broken, fist clenched. The spheres obeyed the command and began orbiting around her in great speed.

Oriko could hear the buzz of that 'wall of death'. Still some Kyuubeys even tried to cross it to then be transformed into a red cloud.

Coughing up blood, her counterpart opened her hand and the globe began to expand, with more and more balls being generated. This gave her time and space she needed to be able to prioritize her goal.

The dark creature continued its struggle, with some tentacles wrapped on top of the prism.

Using the arm to point towards the target, the future's Oriko ordered her balls to strike the prism in continuous sucession.

Until it broke.

With such event, the Kyuubeys dispersed. Their plan had come to an end, without complete success.

Along with the large crystal pieces, the girl with long pink hair in her pure white dress came to the ground.

Oriko saw that, soon after, what was left of that abomination reached the girl and merged with her.

Oriko of the future, unable to endure more, let the spheres fall to the ground. Using grief cubes that were with her, she purified her gem, but the extent of her injuries was too big and would not heal soon. To get to the other girl, she crawled by the gallery floor, between the pieces of Kyuubeys present there. "Madoka... Madoka..."

"UUGH! Aghhh..." Madoka was writhing, grinding her teeth.

I know you can resist. Come on! Oriko approached the two.

Her counterpart held the girl's head who was convulsing. "Madoka... please..." Said pleadingly.

The convulsions lost strength, leading to a rapid and shallow breathing. Oriko noted that the five gems that were on the chest of Madoka were not black but a dark pink.

Slowly, the girl opened her eyes. Oriko gaped at the sight of those pink irises.

Madoka looked from one side to the other, confused, as if she had just woken up from a long sleep.

"Madoka Kaname-san." Her counterpart looked down at herself, noting all the blood. "Do not panic. You are safe now."

Establishing consciousness, Madoka met the olive eyes of Oriko of the future. Raising her eyebrows, she broke into a smile, accompanied by a sigh of relief.

"Thank you..."


Next chapter: Last rites