I
Kyoko had forgotten a crucial point as she was breaking the door open. This was Mami's apartment two years ago, but two years is a long time, and it might not belong to her anymore. Once she was inside, however, Kyoko could tell by one quick look around that it was indeed still Mami's. There was a certain elegance to this apartment that only Mami could have pulled off. Kyoko shut the door behind herself and made a line right toward the kitchen.
There were all kinds of fancy tea cups displayed on the kitchen counters. Kyoko knew that in the cabinets there would be even more decorative plating and other such things. She opened up the fridge, at the sight of the fully stocked shelves she licked her lips with a toothy grin and said, "Jackpot."
She stacked her arms with as much food as she could carry and did a balancing act back into the living room. Once there, she unloaded everything the coffee table in front of the TV and sat cross legged on the couch.
She turned on the TV and flipped over to the news to do some research. Her time as Mami's kohai was not completely unbeneficial, as Mami had taught her a good way to find witches is to go to an area where crimes or suicides have been committed. Watching the news could usually give her a hint of where to start looking. However, right now the news was only talking about sports, so she ignored it and started digging into Mami's food.
She had eaten nothing but snacks and gas station foods over the last week. Therefore, she was greatly appreciative to be getting something with actual substance into her belly. Although she still could not help letting the cake get most of her focus, despite the meat and vegetables she had also pilfered from the fridge. Mami might have been questionable as a Magical Girl, but Kyoko would never be able to put down her baking skills!
As she gorged herself, she listened to the news with half an ear. For the most part none of the stories were very much use to her. There was one about a cat stuck in a well, another about some high school girl who had gone missing, then a particularly interesting one about... soup? She took a pause from her feast and leaned forward as she turned up the volume.
She listened to the report with fascination, nodding her head and mentally taking notes. "So, eating canned soup can... I see... but what about chicken nood-? oh." She nodded approvingly as the story came to an end, then shrugged and said, "Wow, guess I should order soup more often!"
The aftermath of the great feast was a mess of crumbs, a few bones that had been picked clean, many dirty plates scattered all about the coffee table, and a fat Kyoko laying back on the couch with a hand on her stomach. Caught in the comfort of her full stomach, Kyoko's head rocked back and her eyes closed. Her mind passively told her not to fall asleep, she wanted to be gone long before Mami got back, but her body wouldn't listen and she slowly drifted off.
II
She was wakened by a sudden sharp pain in her stomach. Kyoko shot out of her slumber, and curled up in a ball with both hands grabbing her tummy. She groaned, and burped, then got up and ran for the bathroom.
Once she was finished relieving herself, she took a good look in the mirror. She hadn't realized it before, but she was a mess. She supposed she hadn't had a chance to shower in a couple day, and since then she had at least one battle with a witch and she traveled to a new town. Her long red ponytail was a mess of split ends, there was a bit of dirt on her face, and some icing leftover on the corner of her mouth witch her tongue lapped at.
She figured she still had time for a quick shower before Mami got back. Besides, if she didn't go for it now it might be another couple of days before she got the chance again. Normally she tried to keep up with her hygiene, but with her lifestyle the way it was she sometimes had to put it off longer than she'd like to.
She stripped down and undid her ponytail then climbed in. She lathered herself up using Mami's many bottles of shampoos and body washes, being extra thorough with her long silky hair which regrettably did not always get the attention it deserved. When she was satisfied and felt clean, she stepped out of the shower and wrapped herself in a towel.
She left the bathroom to get her bag, and pulled out a toothbrush, toothpaste, a hairbrush, and a change of clothes, then returned to the bathroom. She brushed her teeth, and brushed all the snags out of her hair. She redid her ponytail, tying it off with the bow she liked to use, and then got dressed. She took another look at herself in the mirror, feeling much better now that she was clean.
With all that done, she figured it was now time to take her leave. She still had plenty of time before Mami got back, but she had no other business here. She stuffed her dirty clothes back into the duffle bag, doing her best to keep them separate from the clean ones. Then she put the bag over her shoulder and went for the door. She looked back and saw the mess of plates and crumbs she left behind on the coffee table. She thought about it for a moment, then decided the least she could do was wash the plates. So, she put her bag back down and went to take care of that. After they were washed and dried and put away, she was finally ready to go.
She left the apartment, placed the bag over her shoulder, and took in the mid afternoon sunlight. Then she transformed back into her Magical Girl attire and jumped over the railing of the balcony.
III
The school yard was alive with the chatter of students heading back home. Sayaka waited around for Mami near the school's entrance. When Mami found her they both greeted each other and started walking together. Sayaka had a pretty important decision to make, and needed Mami's advice.
"So, would you like to go somewhere?" Mami asked, "Or maybe just back to my place?"
"No, sorry, I'm actually visiting a friend soon. Can we just walk and talk for a little while?"
Mami nodded. "You were thinking about your wish? Correct?"
"Well, yeah," said Sayaka. "The thing is, I was thinking there's really nothing I want for myself. However, I have this other friend who could really use a miracle right now."
"I see, and you are thinking about using your wish on this other person?"
"Yeah, his name's Kyosuke Kamijo. He use to be a brilliant violinist, but he had an accident and can't play anymore."
"I've heard the story," said Mami in her kind soft voice. "It is very sad, he was so talented. Before the accident he was something like a local celebrity around here, wasn't he?"
"Yeah he sure was." Sayaka frowned a bit, thinking about it, then looked back to Mami. "Well, what do you think? Think I should use my wish to cure his paralysis? That's a good wish right?" Mami didn't respond, suddenly seeming uncharacteristically quiet. "Mami?"
"I think that's a wonderful wish," Mami finally said, "but, think hard on it for a while. Think about why you are doing it, and what it actually means to you."
What it actually means? Why had she stressed that word?
"What do you mean, Mami?" Sayaka asked.
"How can I put this." Mami thought for a moment. "There's a difference between wanting a wish granted for someone else, and wanting to be the one who grants it. Do you understand? I'm sure you do want him to have his wish. However, if you are also expecting to get something for yourself out of the deal, you will most likely end up regretting it later."
Sayaka scratched the back of her head. "Woah, harsh."
"Sorry, but it had to be said. I once knew of another Magical Girl who made that mistake. In the end, her wish ended up destroying her. I don't want to see you make that same mistake, so you need to be one hundred percent sure you know why you are making your wish before you make it. Understand?"
Sayaka thought she understood. After leaving Mami, she thought about it all the way to the hospital.
If you are also expecting to get something for yourself out of the deal, you will most likely end up regretting it later.
Something for herself? What could that be? She supposed if Kyosuke somehow knew that she had cured his paralysis, he would be pretty grateful. Wouldn't he? That wasn't the reason she was doing it, though, she was sure of that. She didn't even plan on telling him about the wish, or the Magical Girl thing. He would probably just think she was crazy even if she did. No, she didn't want anything for herself, she was doing it for him simply because he needed a miracle more than she did.
At least, that is why she thought she was doing it...
IV
After departing from Sayaka, Mami had nowhere left to go but home. Tomorrow was saturday so she didn't have to do her homework right away, but she decided she would go ahead and get started anyway. That way she could go on a witch hunt tonight guilt free, and also have the whole weekend off.
She climbed the stairs at the front of the complex, saying hello to one of her neighbors on the way. She made it to her front door, and when her key was out of her pocket and halfway to the lock, she noticed something. There was damage to the doorframe right by the handle. She turned the handle very slightly, and found that it was unlocked — there had been a break in!
She cautiously glanced around the outside of her apartment, being sure to scan every window and corner for any accidental peeping toms before transforming. When she thought it was safe, she clasped her SoulGem and cast the spell. Her school uniform became covered in rainbow light and grew transparent as it morphed into her Magical Girl outfit. She kept her arms folded over her chest until the process completed. Then, she held out her hand and made one of her muskets appear in her grasp.
You picked the wrong house you creep! she thought to herself.
She turned the doorknob and slowly pushed the door open with the barrel of her gun. She crept in with slow silent footsteps, her gun leading her every movement. None of the lights were on, and as far as she could tell the apartment was exactly as she had left it. All the big ticket items (TV, laptop, radio) were right where they always were. This worried her a bit, thinking she may have walked in on the burglar while he was still in the act.
She crept around, checking every corner and behind every dresser and furnishing. There was indeed nothing out of the ordinary in the main room. Maybe her bedroom? She approached the bedroom with the same caution, entering with her gun taking the lead. Nothing in there, either. Her jewelry box was sitting right on her night stand where it always was, plainly out in the open. She lifted the lid and looked inside and everything still seemed to be in place.
She checked every other room of the house, glad to see everything was normal, but confused about just what the heck was going on. She thought that maybe the burglar never actually made it inside? Maybe he managed to pry the door open, only to be seen by one of her neighbors and scared off before he could actually do anything.
She sighed as she dispelled her gun and transformed back to her school uniform. She then went to sit down in front of her TV and think it over. Maybe she should go ask her neighbors if they had seen anything suspicious? As she sat down, she had finally noticed something that was out of the ordinary; There were crumbs all over the coffee table, and she even noticed a bit of icing on the armrest of the couch.
As soon as she saw this, she had an idea of who the 'burglar' actually was. She went right for the kitchen to confirm her suspicions. She opened the fridge and found that it was almost completely cleaned out.
"So," Mami grinned. "She's back..."
V
Sayaka entered the hospital, holding onto her schoolbag with both hands at her waist. The receptionist, chewing on bubblegum, looked up from a magazine.
"Oh, it's you. You're here to see Kyosuke right? Up on the eighth floor?"
Sayaka nodded, "Yes."
She clicked around on a computer then said, "He should have just finished his physical therapy. You can go on up."
Sayaka said, "Thank you," and went for the elevator. She had been coming here almost every day since Kyosuke's accident. Therefore, most of the nurses and other staff knew her by name.
In the beginning, Kyosuke had seemed very hopeful for himself. In spite of his bed ridden condition there was a certain eagerness in him. Sayaka would listen to classical music with him and he would say things like, "When I get out of here, this is the first song I'm going to play," or, "I'd like to learn this one when my condition gets better," and, "I used to know this one, I can't wait to play it again for you!" Hearing him say things like that always made Sayaka feel so happy. She would nod and reassure him by saying something like, "Yeah, that'll be great! I can't wait!" She believed it, and he believed it. It was never a question of if he got better, it was always a question of when.
Over the last few weeks, however, those kinds of comments became less and less. He still seemed to enjoy listening to the music, most of the time. Other times, he would just stare out the window with a faraway look in his eyes. It made Sayaka feel so sad for him when he was like that, but she resolved herself to stay by his side and help him through it.
When she got to his room, she gave the door a quick knock and entered.
"Hey, Kyosuke, how's it going?" She said with a big smile.
He was laying on his bed, staring out the window. He turned his head with a half hearted smile and shrugged his shoulders. "You know."
She noticed he had an ear bud in, listening to his CD player. "What are you listening to?" she asked as she took a seat beside him, and set down her bag.
"The Girl With The Flaxen Hair. It's on the CD you brought me yesterday."
"Oh yeah, it's Debussy, right? It's a beautiful song." Kyosuke didn't say anything back, but looked back to his window. "You know," Sayaka started, trying to break the silence, "Most people don't think of me as the kind of girl who listens to classical music. When I can name a piece correctly I always get looks like 'woah, seriously?' Heh, I guess I owe that to you, I probably never would have started listening to this stuff if you hadn't gotten me into it. It's all really great, though. I love it." There it was, that sad distant look in his eyes. Sayaka fidgeted in her seat a bit, trying to think of what to say. "I- I can't wait for you to get better so I can hear you play again! That'll be great, right?"
His weak crippled hand pulled meekly at the bed sheets, his eyes shifted, and his slow shaking hand reached up and pulled the headphone from his ear.
"I don't need this crap," he said, his voice as cold as stone.
Sayaka was taken back by the sudden coldness. "S-sorry um… what's the matter Kyousuke?"
"Why do you keep torturing me with this?" he said, "I'm never going to play again."
"Hey, come on, you don't know that."
"It's true!" He suddenly shouted at her with a fierce look in his eyes.
"K-Kyousuke, you just have to have faith. You just got to-"
"Would you shut up already!?" He shouted as his hand rose in the air and crashed back down on top of the CD player again, shattering it. Sayaka gasped and stood up from her seat. "Even if I learned to walk, my hands will never be any good. I'll never be able to play anything ever again! It's impossible!" His hand started bleeding, and he moved as if he were going to smash it against the player a second time.
Sayaka grabbed onto him and tried and calm him down, "Don't say that! You don't know, they'll think of something! They'll find a way!"
"They're the ones who told me!" He yelled, "They said it's impossible, that there's nothing more modern medicine can do. They told me to give up! They told me I'll never play again!" His body tossed and turned, trying to let out his anger but unable to fully do so because of his paralysis. Sayaka held him tightly, burying her face into him and trying to keep him still.
"Just believe!" Sayaka shouted, "Miracles happen all the time! You'll see! There will be a miracle!" Then his body started convulsing. His eyes rolled back in his head and his limbs twisted and turned violently. Sayaka, not sure what was happening, held onto him even tighter, and started screaming for help.
She screamed and called for help, holding onto his spasming body as tightly as she could. Then, she felt a strong hand grab her by the shoulder and pull her away. She stood by and watched in horror as doctors descended upon his convulsing body. She felt tears welling up, but she didn't cry. A nurse put a soft hand on her shoulder and turned her away. "You should go for now." She spoke hurriedly, but in the kindliest voice possible given the situation. Sayaka just grabbed her bag and ran out of the room, unable to bare the sight of it.
She ran down the hall, holding back her tears. She held them in as she waited for the elevator. Inside the elevator, she held it back. Through the lobby she didn't see the receptionist wave goodbye. She held it back, and held it back.
Once outside and descending the front steps she couldn't take it any longer. Her bag dropped from her hand, and she sat down hard, burying her hands into her face. She cried like she had never cried before. She didn't care that she was out in public and she didn't care if anyone saw her. It was too horrible! She couldn't hold her emotions back any longer.
Her tears helped dampen her sorrow, and when enough of it was gone she felt she could once again open her eyes. Open her eyes, and face the awful world that surrounded her. As she lifted her face from her hands, she saw two soulless red eyes staring at her. His expressionless face stared her down as his fluffy white tail waved back and forth.
"What's wrong? Sayaka Miki?"
-Atomyst
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