"None are so hopelessly enslaved as those who falsely believe they are free."
- Goethe, Bk. II, Ch. 5

Under the springtime splendor of the blooming cherry blossoms I walked steadily up the gentle slope to Tomoe's residence with Madoka and Sayaka in tow. With every nerve of my body excited by Madoka's gentle arms, it seems as if today is destined to be one of those rare days of tranquility. However, such fantasies were quickly perturbed, unsuprisingly, by a still recalcitrant bluenette.

"Soooooo Kyuubey you got any tips on fighting?"

I repressed the immediate urge to admonish her for saying that out loud instead of using telepathy. There were other people walking along! Apparently even magical powers are not enough to induce subtlety in certain personalities. With only the sound of the demon's swishing tail in response, I calmly continued and pretended to enjoy the afternoon chorus of the songbirds.

Now that I think about it, I didn't recall there being so many in the previous cycles. Perhaps there were -

It depends on the type of fighting you expect and what your ultimate goals are dear Sayaka. The demon unhelpfully thought.

"Welll, I was just thinking, you know, that since I'm new and all to this business, and since Mami also knows that, maybe I can impress her with some sweet ass-kicking moves, ya know."

Although I always seek to further enhance the competence of my valuable contractees Sayaka, I usually refrain from providing direct instruction to eager minds such as yourself as from experience having a senior mentor demonstrate is the undoubtedly superior method and more energetically efficient as well.

The demon's tail continued swishing like a metronome beside the bluenette's head. A hundred cycles and I still have trouble ignoring it. Poor me right?

"Huh? You mean, like, ask someone other than Mami?"

Why not ask Homura here?

I could feel her unconvined gaze on the back of my neck.

"Pfft, yeah right! Miss dark and serious here would probably chew me out a dozen times before that!"

I can't deny that I was irked more than usual by her comment. As I was formulating a witty retort, Madoka helpfully intervened.

"Now, Sayaka, that's not nice. I'm sure Homura here has lots of wonderful advice to give. Ain't that right?"

"Mmm-Hmm"

"And plus Mami is so nice she will help you like a good senpai does, I'm sure of it!, there's no need to feel embarrassed asking for her advice Sayaka."

"Wahhhht! No way Madoka, I'm definitely not embarrassed about asking for advice... it's just... uhh... there must be loads of things she's busy with, ya know, being the chief... uhhh... you-know-what for a big city like Mitakihara. And so she probably doesn't have time to teach me everything about, ya know, being a defender of freedom and justice and stuff..." Her face tinged with a blush by the end.

I giggled along with Madoka at her transparent reasoning, I couldn't help myself, truly. Madoka's warm touch on my sides is just too heavenly.

On cue, the blunette sputtered, "What's... what's so funny Homura!"

My self control was slipping and the urge to retaliate to her annoying rasp interrupting my precious time with Madoka made me less cautious than normal. It was at that moment I thought of a novel response, untried in the cycles so far. So I tilted my head backwards,

"Is it not self evident that being a defender of both freedom and justice is an oxymoron?"

"Your an oxymoron!" Sayaka spat out.

An eyebrow arched, I remained silent.

"You think your soooo clever Homura! With your fancy words, and arrogance, and... and... your eru.. erud.. erudit..."

"Erudition"

"Yeah! So I don't care about what you say!" She harrumphed.

"Your assertion does not follow your premises Sayaka." My eyebrow remained arched.

With flinty eyes, she retorted "Well you got Madoka following you alright!"

Oh now it was on! However, I refused to abase myself before dear Madoka and the evil demon rat. Better to inject some doubt in her naive worldview than to engage in a schoolyard scuffle, Divide and rule, the old adage goes.

"Have you ever considered that freedom and justice are incompatible goals? Is it not the ultimate goal of freedom to attain what that is beyond any court of law to restrict?"

Her eyes widened and after a pregnant minute they sharpened again, I could see the gears turning behind those open windows of the souls, "Yeah right, your just trying to confuse me with fancy rhe... rhet..."

"Rhetoric."

"Yeah, that!"

Madoka giggled again. She's probably enjoying this as light afternoon entertainment, now that I consider it. Her gentle swaying at my side was akin to the balm of the ancient gods.

Sayaka turned away and blushed deeper, sputtering "Well it won't work on me!, let's see you try it with Mami."

Thankfully, we arrived at the entrance gate to Tomoe's conodominium at that moment, so I could gracefully retire from the first round of philosophical battle leaving the bluenette to stew in her thoughts. With the prospects of my final victory all but assured I led Madoka into yet another fortress of gilded crystal.

Although what a curious idea, perhaps I should try it with Tomoe too?