Chapter Thirty-Four: Loving Your Older Sister

Kyoto was a city bounded by mountains. Aiko walked its streets with the same confidence she'd shown in Nagoya. Mami followed her, looking around with interest. They'd come by train to Fushimi, close to the mountains. "Have you ever been to the Fushimi Inari Taisha before?" Aiko asked absently.

"Never," Mami said. "Well, I've never been Kyoto before, after all."

"Figures," Aiko said. "Well, here you go."

The mountain before them was thick with leafy green trees. They passed the souvenir shops without sopping and walked up the stone steps. Aiko walked past the large red-white prayer hall without stopping.

"Can't we take our time?" Mami said.

"You can do the tourist thing later. For now, we gotta meet up with Kahoru." Aiko sighed, sliding her hands into her pockets. "I wish she'd used one of her less inconvenient hang-outs."

"Why would she use this place as a base?" Mami asked.

"Dunno. She thinks it's suitably majestic or something, I guess," Aiko said. "Though she wouldn't bother if she couldn't fly." She stopped for a moment, looking up at the long tunnel of red torii gateways. "She usually picks a shrine somewhere up the mountain and has it sealed off with magic. Just follow me."

Mami nodded.

They walked through the corridors of torii and up endless stone stairs for about twenty minutes before they reached their destination, one of the smaller shrines. The visitors around them carried on past without so much as noticing. Mami could barely see, though. Small wooden models of torii gates were piled up along with stone monuments. The whole cramped space between the trees was gripped by magic, faint circles of yellow light.

Aiko stepped through those circles without hesitation. Mami followed her, feeling an unpleasant tingling as she passed through.

Three girls sat in a rough circle, each perched on one of the stone monuments. Kahoru sat above them, perching incongruously on the highest of the plain stone torii that were scattered about the area. She looked up from her red book, raising a hand in greeting. "Afternoon."

"Good afternoon," Yurino said. She was sitting beneath her sister.

"Yo," Aiko said. "I came."

"Thank you, Aiko," Kahoru said. "You brought a friend, as well. How are you, Mami?"

"I am well, thank you," Mami said. "How are you?"

"Despite the circumstances, I'm enjoying myself," Kahoru said. "Allow me to introduce you. These three girls are my executive officers. Riko Kobi is the girl who created this bounded space, and the girl I entrust with the north of Kyoto."

A long-haired, beautiful girl dressed in a white and red school uniform glanced uneasily at Mami. "Hello."

"To her left is Toku Hagiwara, who I entrust with the west," Kahoru said.

A boyish girl with short green hair grinning at Mami. "Pleased to meet ya."

"And finally, there's Tsuya Matsuya, my east wind," Kahoru said.

Tsuya folded her arms. She was the only girl close to Kahoru in height and age. She had short red hair, and her left cheek was scarred. "Who is she, Kahoru?"

"Mami is one of the Mitakihara girls," Kahoru said.

The atmosphere changed in an instant. The three girls straightened, watching Mami with sudden suspicion.

"There's no need to be stiff," Yurino said. "Mami is a nice person, I think."

"She's trying to be a nice person, anyway," Kahoru said. "I admire the attempt."

Mami frowned. She knew the name Tsuya. She felt like she'd heard it before. She blinked as she remembered. "Aiko said Kahoru fought a girl called Tsuya when she took over Kyoto?"

Tsuya snorted. "Aiko, don't go telling anyone crap like that."

"It's the truth, so it can't be helped," Aiko said. "I was making her understand Kahoru's ability, it's a good example."

"I'll take that as a compliment, I guess," Tsuya said. She shrugged, looking down at Mami. "Yeah, Miss Hoshino beat me black and blue. But that's all in the past, you know."

"You work for her now?" Mami said. She frowned.

"Tsuya is one of my reliable executives now," Kahoru said. "I've never been the kind of person who lets past disagreements get in the way of making mutually beneficial arrangements."

"I see," Mami said. "What about the south?"

"Right now, I'm dealing with the south," Kahoru said. "I lost someone a few months back, and it's not been easy finding a replacement of the right calibre, even with the whole city to work with." She smiled. "How about it, Mami Tomoe? I'll give you the south, so become one of my subordinates."

"Thank you for the offer," Mami said. "But I'm afraid I must refuse."

"Homura and Kyouko are plenty to deal with Mitakihara," Kahoru said. "Well, if we're both alive after the battle, I'll pick up this conversation again."

"Isn't she one of the enemies?" Toku said flatly.

"A good question," Kahoru said. "Tell me, Mami, are you my enemy?"

"Only if you choose to make me an enemy," Mami said. "Even after everything that happened that night, I still don't want to fight. I don't think you and Homura have any reason to fight."

"Shouldn't you be saying that to Homura?" Kahoru said. She looked down at Mami, smiling. "Right now, that girl is staying in Osaka, home of that charming girl Tai, and plotting my demise."

"That's your own fault," Mami said. "But we can still stop her. Just renounce your ridiculous ambitions. She's only scared because she feels Madoka or whoever is threatened, that's all."

"Do you think I'd give up just like that?" Kahoru asked. "Do you think Homura would believe me, even if I agreed?"

"What you're trying to do is so ridiculous giving up is more usual than carrying on trying," Mami said. "I'm sure I can persuade her. But Homura is strong. If she's given support by Kyubey, you'd be in serious trouble. Carrying on isn't an option any more."

"Do you think I'm cornered? Really?" Kahoru smirked, putting her head on her right hand. "This situation may look bad to you, but I actually have her right where I want her. The ironic thing is that Homura must know that as well. If a battle happens, it's a battle I've permitted to happen. That's the nature of my magic."

"I don't think that matters," Mami said. "Right now, Homura's coming after you with incredible resolve. You should back out while you have the chance."

"Yeah, even though she knows, she's going to come at me anyway and try and force her will through with raw power," Kahoru said. "Well, that's how she should be. I don't hate that side of her, you know. If she had more peripheral vision, my job right now would be a lot harder."

Mami sighed. "What are you fighting for? You can't become a god!"

"I can become a god," Kahoru said. She looked down at Mami. "You may not believe, but I know."

"That's absurd!" Mami looked at the others. "Are you all okay with that? Being dragged into battle with someone who believes that?"

"It's Miss Hoshino," Riko said quietly. She averted her gaze. "She isn't wrong."

"Damn right," Toku said. She scowled at Mami. "Look, I don't know who you are or everything Miss Hoshino is thinking, but we've got her back. She goes and saves your miserable little city, and this is the thanks she gets? You outsiders have some cheek."

"She threatened us, and Aiko nearly killed Homura," Mami said.

"That's something I did," Aiko said. "You can't pin that on Kahoru, can you?"

"She'd have stopped you if she'd wanted you stopped," Mami said. "You know that as well."

Tsuya sighed. "Well, whatever. We don't really care, Mami, even if you're right. Osaka's coming at us again, with some more lackeys and threats. It's pretty simple, we're gonna break them. There ain't no one in this city who's gonna hesitate to fight."

"There isn't anyone," Kahoru corrected. She smiled at Mami. "Well, you get the idea. I've worked hard for Kyoto, Mami, and they'll fight hard for me. That's how a warlord and his army should be, isn't it? Tai gets that much, more so than you and the rest of Mitakihara."

"Magical girls aren't soldiers," Mami said. "We shouldn't fight."

"We do what we have to do, no more and no less," Kahoru said. "Your methods might work in a city that small, but they won't fly in Kyoto."

Mami frowned, meeting Kahoru's gaze. This was probably why. Whether it was her subordinates or her sister or Aiko, who was blinded by affection, there was no one here who could contradict Kahoru. No one whose voice could reach her. That was majestic, lonely, and would end in nothing but ruin. She released her magic, jumping upwards and landing on the stone torii gate opposite Kahoru. "What you're trying to do is wrong. And if you don't stop now, many people will die because of your actions."

Kahoru raised a hand to restrain her subordinates as they released their magic as one. "It's fine." She stood, coming to her full height and looking down at Mami from her position atop her own torii. "Doesn't that apply to Homura? I'm not the aggressor here."

"You said yourself, you only fight the battles you want to fight," Mami said. "If that's the case, you could stop this battle if wanted to do so."

"Not without giving up everything," Kahoru said. "Never mind my plan, I'd lose Kyoto and perhaps even my home. Do you think this is just about Homura? Even if you made her leave, Tai would still come after me."

"Who is she?" Mami asked. "I've heard the name before, but that's all."

"She's Osaka's warlord," Kahoru said. "She invaded us a while back and we drove her out. She's rather less mannered than I am, and far less polite than you. She'll kill as many people as it takes for her to call this city her own, even if she has no reason to do so. She does it because she can." Kahoru smiled. "Warlords are like that, so I almost admire her."

"Then you have no choice but to fight," Mami said. "But that doesn't mean you should fight Homura. If you made peace with her, you'd be far better placed to fight Tai."

"You said that as if Homura isn't the belligerent one here," Kahoru said. "But let's put all that aside. I'm willing to fight because I have an objective and a plan. I'll accept having Homura as my enemy as a result of that. I need her to be my enemy."

"That's a selfish goal, one that endangers your subordinates," Mami said.

"It's a selfless goal. I'm going to save everyone," Kahoru said.

"Even if that was true, people will still die unnecessarily," Mami said. "Including the people here who are fighting for you."

"The ends justify the means," Kahoru said. "Homura must believe that as well, since she's fighting a war just to kill little old me."

"Just because she's in the wrong, that doesn't mean you're right," Mami said. "You have the records, right? You pride yourself on being able to manipulate others. If you wanted, you could stop her from fighting you."

"I could do that, but I have no reason to do so." Kahoru held Mami's gaze. "I admire your will, but all you have is words. I want to save everyone, Homura wants to protect Madoka, and we're both acting to make our will into reality. What can you do, Mami? How can you fight for the sake of not fighting?"

"Fighting isn't necessary. If anything, it's the wrong way to back up your convictions," Mami said. "Talking with you now is my way of fighting."

"But things won't necessarily go your way just from this," Kahoru said. "If that was the case, this wouldn't be an issue. Aren't you here precisely because you know your words can no longer stop Homura?"

"That's true, but that doesn't mean I've given up," Mami said. "And if you refuse to listen, I'll work out what to do next. I don't have a plan, and I've never wanted one. I'm just trying to stop people from dying unnecessarily."

"People die. That's the nature of this fallen world." Kahoru smirked. "You can't save me, Mami. You can't save anyone. Tell me how to live. Should I do as Ritsuko does and steal the body of others and cut away at my own memories to extent my lifespan? Or should I ask Aiko to trap me in her Lotus Garden? Or should I ask my sister to become a magical girl to save me? Or should I simply lie down and accept death before society even sees me as an adult?"

Mami's eyes widened. "What you're trying to do has nothing to do with that."

"No, it has everything for that. If I become nothing to save everyone, that's an acceptable death," Kahoru said. "And if I die trying to change the world, by Homura's hands or whoever else gets in my way, I can accept that, as well. Nothing of value can be gained without taking risks. So I'll reject all those previous answers and follow through with my own. Do you understand, Mami? I'm choosing how I want to die. For a few months now, that's the question I've been confronted with."

Aiko closed her eyes.

"You have the records," Mami said. "You pride yourself on your intelligence. Someone like you should search for a way to live, for yourself and others, a way to live without compromise. If you can become god, you have that much ability!"

"There's none," Kahoru said. "Nothing that convenient." She put her hands behind her head. "But that's all the same, you know. It's not like that's my motive. This world is far too imperfect, so I've wanted to change it for a very long time indeed. Suffering is far too humdrum and routine a thing for me to ignore a chance like this, a chance to rewrite universal law."

"Who gave you the right to change the world?" Mami asked. "In the end, you'd simply change everything based on your own preferences, without consulting the billions of people of this world."

"That's the nature of god. God is always alone," Kahoru said. "God doesn't have to justify her actions to us. In the first place, who could hold someone like that to account, when they're a transcendent existence?"

"You judge god, don't you?" Mami said. "Just by looking at the world, you judge god."

"I do. But I have the akashic records as my guide," Kahoru said. She grinned. "If I've learned one thing with them, it's that human history is driven by leaders. I'm going to charge forwards believing in myself, that's how I've always been."

"So who judges you?" Mami asked.

"If I become god, I'll be judged by the results, just as I judge Madoka. I don't mind that," Kahoru said.

Mami looked down at Aiko and the others. They simply watched in silence. For the first time, she began to understand why. Everyone wanted life to get better. But that wasn't something you could leave to another. She raised her head, meeting Kahoru's gaze. "What if you fail?"

"Then I'll be judged by my failure. The sacrifices I demanded of myself and others will have been in vain and I will die without redemption," Kahoru said. She raised her left hand, reaching towards Mami. "But doesn't that have a certain appeal, Mami? Dying in vain while reaching for a better world has a certain charm to it. I'm sure you'd agree. You're living as if you're searching for that martyr's death right now."

"Nothing good ever comes of killing and dying," Mami said. "I'm fighting so no one has to die."

"Yes, but you will fail. And you're weak," Kahoru said. "You're not like Homura or I, and you never have been. Do you not realise that? You should give up and become my ally or my enemy. What you're doing right now is beyond your strength, and it will break you."

"Even if it's beyond my strength, it's right for me to try," Mami said. "I'm sick of living by killing others and fearing death, of betraying and being betrayed, deceiving and being deceived. Is a life like that even worth living?"

"If you understand that much, you can understand why I'm fighting," Kahoru said. "That refusal to compromise with 'the way things are' is something we share. So why not join me? If you hate this world, then fight to change it."

"Improving the world isn't something you do with magic," Mami said. "A magical girl should know that, right? Improving the world is about talking and struggling with other people. It's quieter and slower and far more peaceful than what you're trying to achieve."

"You would be dead without magic," Kahoru said. "There are things that can only be done with miracles. People fight and conflict is inevitable. Pacifism cannot deny the unending history of war. So if you want to stop that fighting, well, that would also take a miracle."

"I won't rely on a miracle again," Mami said. "You're just the same as Kyubey, in my eyes. It's rather ironic that magical girls would make the same mistake twice in believing in your words."

"Miracles and magic exist. Madoka created a true miracle," Kahoru said. "If she can do it, so can I."

"I don't know anything about Madoka," Mami said. "I never have."

"I know of her," Kahoru said. She smiled. "So, what next? You need to persuade me, don't you? If you won't join me, there's not much more I can say."

Mami shook her head. "I can't change your mind. You're too set in your ways."

"I see. So negotiations have failed?" Kahoru knelt, sitting down and dangling her legs over the edge of the torii gate again. "Being a pacifist must be tough. In the end, you can't change anything at all."

"All I can do is try." Mami jumped from the torii gate, landing smoothly. "Excuse me for tonight. I need to find a place to stay."

"Very well. Toku, go with her," Kahoru said. "Mami is our guest, for now. She is not to hunt, but she will be provided for. She has the freedom of this city in my name. Understand, Toku?"

"Yes, Miss Hoshino," Toku said. "Leave it to me."

"Good." Kahoru stretched her arms. "When Chiaki gets here, I'll leave her to you as well. I'll give you further instructions about that matter presently."

Mami blinked. "Chiaki is coming here?"

"Don't worry about that," Kahoru said. "It's nothing that concerns you. Aiko, stay a while. I have various things to discuss with you. The rest of you may go. We will meet again tomorrow. Remember, I want every girl in this city there."

Her subordinates nodded.

Mami glanced back at Aiko. "Good-bye," she said tiredly.

"Bye," Aiko said.

"What about the barrier?" Riko asked.

"Leave it there," Kahoru said. "You can release the magic in half an hour or so."

Riko nodded. "Okay. As you like." She glanced shyly at Aiko before walking away.

Yurino smiled at Aiko, putting her hands on the straps of her backpack. "Do you mind if I go on ahead, Kahoru? I have homework to do, after all."

Kahoru blinked in surprise. "If you like, then by all means. I can help you with it if you wait until later."

"I'll be fine. Today I don't have much work, so I can do it myself," Yurino said.

"I see. I'll see you later, then," Kahoru said. "If mother gives you any trouble, just call."

Yurino nodded. "Goodbye." She smiled at Aiko before turning and walking after the others.

A momentary still fell over the shrine. Kahoru caught Aiko's gaze and patted the cold surface of the stone gate she was standing on. "Want to come up here?"

"Sure," Aiko said. She walked forwards, jumping up and gripping the lower of the two protrusions near the top of the small stone torii. She wrapped her legs around the pillar, pulling herself up and reaching for the top of the gate.

Kahoru offered her hand, clapsing Aiko's wrist tightly and helping pull the younger girl up to the top. "Why climb? It'd be much easier to use your magic."

"I wanted to see if I could climb," Aiko said. She steadied herself, sitting next to Kahoru and gripping the cold stone tightly with both hands. "Tsuya's changed."

"People get used to changes in circumstances. She's always had ambition and ability," Kahoru said. "So I just had to wait until her feelings had cooled before putting her to use."

"That's like you, alright," Aiko said.

"And I was surprised to read you'd be bringing a guest," Kahoru said. She smiled. "I don't think Homura cares enough about her for her to be of use as a hostage, sadly."

"I wouldn't let you do that, anyway," Aiko said. "Let's just play this one straight."

"Yes, I agree. Hostage-taking isn't really one of my hobbies," Kahoru said. "But she's trying so hard it's almost painful to watch."

"You were enjoying yourself," Aiko said. "There aren't really that many people you can have an all-out debate with like that, right?"

"I guess so," Kahoru said. "Mami is quite sharp, and unlike Homura she's willing to listen to what I say and meet me on my own terms. I appreciate that."

"That's fine, but offering to make her the south executive?" Aiko said. "That was weird."

"She has the ability," Kahoru said. "I will always try and recruit useful people. Asking is cheap, you know."

"There's no way she'd agree, right?" Aiko said. "You know that."

"Maybe, maybe not. But when I look at Mami right now, I don't see someone who is happy with where they're currently standing." Kahoru frowned. "If we had more time, I'd do what I could to bring her to my side. We can't afford to be so leisurely right now, though."

"That'd be pretty cool," Aiko admitted. "It won't happen, though."

"If not Kyoto, why not Nagoya?" Kahoru said. "You get on with her, don't you? Make use of her."

"I've never wanted to conquer Nagoya," Aiko said. "I'm not like you or Tai, someone who can just boss people around and do stuff because I can. And anyway, my power ain't for defeating people. All it does is end them without any way to hold back."

"You're strong enough without using Lotus Garden," Kahoru said. "But if you don't want to unify Nagoya, it can't be helped. If you like, feel free to stay here instead. You're my right hand, it'd be good to have you by my side."

"That'd be nice, but if I do that, I'll just be like Tsuya and the rest," Aiko said. She looked away. "That ain't what I want."

"Nonsense. You're much more valuable to me than those three," Kahoru said.

"That's not what I mean," Aiko said.

Kahoru frowned at Aiko before leaning back and stretching her arms. "Well, stay with me for now, at least. I need you, now more than ever."

"That's why I'm here," Aiko said.

"You're a reliable person," Kahoru said.

"I wish I could do more," Aiko said. "Hey, Kahoru, are you happy with this? Just dying or disappearing, one way or the other?"

"Worried about me?" Kahoru said playfully.

"Of course," Aiko said sharply. "Are you stupid or something? There's no way I wouldn't be worried."

Kahoru blinked. "Well, if you say so. In any case, I'm fine. Like I said to Mami, this battle, this war, it's how I want to die. It's meaningful for me to fight to change the world."

"What will happen to this city after that?" Aiko asked.

Kahoru shrugged. "I don't know. I've never found anyone suitable to be my successor." She smirked. "Don't suppose I could ask you? You could do it if you tried, trust me."

Aiko shook her head. "For better or worse, I gotta stay in Nagoya. That's just how it is."

"I see. That's a shame. Well, without a successor the order I created here will crumble," Kahoru said. "But that's fine. Everything fades with time in this fallen world."

"And what about you? Have you lived enough?" Aiko said. "There's still a lot of things you don't know, right? Like love, and that sort of thing."

"There's no time, and if it's an omission it's not one I care about," Kahoru said. "I'll be fine, Aiko. Don't worry about me."

"I see." Aiko raised her right hand, placing it on Kahoru's hand. She blushed slightly without meeting the older girl's gaze. "Guess all I can do is stay with you until the end, then. Sorry. I should be able to do more than that, ya know. But I can't."

Kahoru blinked, then turned her head away. "No, I'm the one who should apologise. But we really are out of time. This last battle is the end and the beginning. It will change everything, one way or the other."

Kahoru's hand was cold. Aiko took a ragged breath, closing her eyes. "I'll win, whatever it takes."

Kahoru nodded. "I know. I'm counting on you."

Yurino ran down the stone steps between the red torii gates, catching up to Mami and Toku as best she could. "Wait up, Toku."

"What is it, Yurino?" Toku asked, stopping and glancing up at the silver-haired girl. "The boss want something?"

"No. But I just thought I should look after Mami," Yurino said. "You have a lot to do right now, don't you? This is a waste of your time."

"Yeah, there are things I could be doing," Toku said. "But Kahoru asked me to deal with this one, so I'll take care of it."

"Leave it to me," Yurino said. "I think that's for the best."

Toku frowned. "She's a Mitakihara girl, right? I can't put you in danger."

Mami sighed. "I'm not going to take her hostage, you know. And please don't talk as if I'm not here."

"I'm just being realistic," Toku said. "You can tag along, Yurino, but I can't let ya take over from me. Miss Hoshino would have my head."

"I'm insisting, so it's fine," Yurino said. "I know Mami isn't that kind of person. If it becomes a problem, say I insisted, and Kahoru will blame me instead."

Toku sighed, rubbing the back of her head. "This sucks for me, you know." She glanced sidelong at Mami. "But whatever, from all you said back there I guess you're a decent person. An idiot, maybe, but a decent person for all that."

"Charming," Mami said.

"Exactly," Yurino said. "If Kahoru thought Mami was dangerous, she'd already have acted. And you'll be in trouble if the west's mobilisation falls behind the other areas, right?"

"True enough," Toku said. "Well, I'll leave it to you, I guess." She transformed in a flash of blue light, running forwards and jumping upwards in a single bound. She landed on top of the red torii gate before jumping again, springing downhill as she skipped several gates each leap.

"Let's go," Yurino said. She smiled at Mami and began to walk slowly down the stone steps.

"Are you happy with this situation?" Mami asked tiredly. "The risks Kahoru is taking, and the fact she's willing to die for it?"

"I don't know. I don't want her to die. If it was up to me, I'd become a magical girl to save her," Yurino said. "But she's always been smarter than me. I don't want to disappoint her." She gripped the straps of her bag tightly. "I prefer working towards her intentions and having her praise me than thinking for myself and upsetting her."

"Why is everyone mindless around Kahoru?" Mami said, sighing. "If just one of you could question her, it wouldn't come to this."

"We're not mindless," Yurino said. She met Mami's gaze. "Working towards someone takes a lot of thought, you know. I know Kahoru better than she knows herself. And from time to time, I'll think of what she's overlooked, and do what I can to help. I was doing that on that night, you know. Kahoru thought she'd manage with just Aiko and Hitomi to help, but I stayed close by, just in case. That ended up saving her life."

"The problem is her whole plan of action is flawed, not the tactics she adopts," Mami said.

"We'll have to agree to disagree on that," Yurino said. "You don't know my sister, really. That's fine. I know her, though."

"I guess I can't persuade you," Mami said. "So I'll give up. Bad-mouthing someone's older sister would leave a bad taste in my mouth in any case."

"You're kind, Mami." Yurino stopped for a moment as she reached one of the flat breaks in the stairs. "Thank you for coming. Even if you might see it as a waste of time, I think my sister was a little happy you came."

"I came here to stop her, not make her happy," Mami said.

"I know." Yurino folded her hands, glancing sidelong at Mami. "What will you do from now on? Fight my sister?"

Mami shook her head. "I don't know what I'll do. I don't want to fight."

"Then why not fight to stop the fighting?" Yurino said.

Mami blinked. "Like Kahoru said, that would make no sense."

"No, it can be done," Yurino said. She smiled. "All you need to do is draw a line between the two sides and stop anyone from crossing it. You have binding magic, right? You can do it without killing anyone."

"Against that many strong magical girls, it's impossible," Mami said. "I wouldn't be able to do anything."

"I see. Well, if that's the case, then never mind." Yurino turned her head away. "I thought you could manage something if you had time to prepare."

"If I had that time, it's a different matter," Mami said. "But I don't know where the battle will be fought. Kyoto is far too large."

"I can tell you that, when I know," Yurino said. "If you betrayed me and told Homura, I'd be in a lot of trouble. But I think you're a good person, so I'll take the chance."

Mami frowned. "Why? Why are you doing this?"

Yurino turned back and met Mami's gaze. She smiled innocently. "This is also working towards my sister. I'm hoping something like that will slow the enemy down more than it will slow her down, that's all."

"So you want me to be your pawn?" Mami said.

"If you don't want to, it's fine," Yurino said. "It's probably for the best if you don't fight. But I just thought you'd want another chance to make a difference, given you said that much to my sister."

Mami sighed. "I'm serious. I want to stop the fighting. But no one listens."

"Then fight. If everyone is just fighting, you need to stand on the same stage as them," Yurino said. "The others think risking their lives makes their actions into something you can't question."

Mami snorted. "You aren't wrong about that. Your sister, Homura, they're more alike at times than I'd like to admit. Reckless, silly girls." She sighed. "I'm almost jealous of that."

"You can fight if you like. You have the ability," Yurino said. "Unlike me, you can do what you like."

"I'll think about it," Mami said awkwardly. "Though forgive me if I don't entirely trust you."

Yurino giggled. "I see. Well, I don't want to be trusted. But that doesn't mean we can't get along."

"I suppose so," Mami said weakly.

It took the best part of an hour and a half for Mami to find an appropriate hotel with Yurino's help and guidance. The time passed slowly, with Yurino chatting amicably about her everyday life. Mami responded politely, happy to lose herself in the banality of the conversation. But it didn't escape her attention that Yurino never talked about anything relevant to the magical world. The Kahoru she spoke off just helped her with her homework and picked her up from school from time to time. They parted politely without saying anything more about the battle to come.

Yurino was walking back to the station alone when she spotted a familiar face. "Evening, Sumie."

The brown-haired girl blinked, turning to meet Yurino's gaze. "Good evening."

"How are you feeling?" Yurino said. "You look tired."

"I've been better," Sumie said. "Is it true Osaka's invading?"

"Kahoru will be addressing everyone tomorrow," Yurino said. "That will make everything clear."

"I know, but I'm still worried," Sumie said. "We'll do our part, of course. But I'm worried about Mako and Kasuga. They're still so green, you know, they're not ready for a real battle."

"Every fight with demons is a battle," Yurino said. "If they fight with you, they will pull through. I'm sure of it."

"I hope so," Sumie said. "But it's cruel. Damn Tai to hell. Why does it always come to this?"

"If you build something worthwhile, bandits will come to steal it," Yurino said. "That's what my sister says."

"I suppose so," Sumie said. "Even though we just want to be left alone."

"Can you do me a favour?" Yurino said. "You know the Kyubey hunt?"

"Of course, it's standing orders," Sumie said. "I was looking for him before you said hi, actually. But it's hard to make progress without Miss Hoshino's guidance."

Yurino nodded. "My sister's using the records for other things right now. Could you do me a favour, with Mako and Kasuga helping you?"

"Of course," Sumie said. "Anything for you. What is it?"

"My sister needs a live Kyubey," Yurino said. "Could you try and catch one now? If we can get it done now, she won't have to waste time taking direct control over the hunt. That'll leave her with more time to scrutinise the enemy battle plans."

Sumie frowned. "Well, if it's for Miss Hoshino, we'll do what we can."

"Thank you," Yurino said. "I'll be waiting in the park, okay?"

Half an hour later, Sumie ran into the park, clutching a struggling Kyubey in her arms. She ignored the stares of the few strangers around as she approached Yurino, panting for breath. "Here you are. Man, he runs fast. What does Miss Hoshino need him for, anyway?"

"Nothing I can say," Yurino said. She smiled apologetically. "You know how it is. But she will appreciate this. Thank you."

"No problem. It was Mako who caught him, actually. Tell her that," Sumie said. She thrust Kyubey forwards. "Hold him tightly. He's a slippery thing."

Yurino gripped Kyubey with both hands, picking him up by his back and thrusting him against her chest. "I will. Thanks a lot, Sumie. I'll see you later."

Sumie nodded. "Good night."

Yurino smiled as Sumie walked away.

Kyubey struggled impotently against the silver-haired girl's grip. "Just what is Kahoru planning? She should know there's no meaning in this."

"It's my idea, not hers," Yurino said. She turned Kyubey around, meeting his red eyes. "I need you to sit still and sleep for a while, okay?"

"I have no reason to do that," Kyubey said.

"That's a problem." Yurino lifted him up, her hands closing around Kyubey's throat. "Hey, Kyubey, do you breathe? You're warm, so maybe you breathe."

"What are you doing?" Kyubey struggled impotently against her grip.

"It looks like you breathe. That's strange." Yurino watched Kyubey as he slowly choked before slumping into unconsciousness. She loosened her grip. "That was close. You might have died." She put the limp white body aside and took her bag from her back, opening it quickly. "I'll have you sleep for now, Kyubey. Just in case." She stuffed the body into her bag and shut it again. Then she stood and checked her watch.

It was getting on. She decided to hurry home before it got dangerous outside.