I
They ended up making peas, pork chops and mashed potatoes. Homura inserted herself into helping with the cooking, which Madoka honestly would have preferred her not doing right now. Her mouth felt dry and her movements were awkward from anxiety. She worried Homura would notice something about her demeanor and realize she had an escape plan hatching.
She wondered, was Homura already suspicious? There was evidence right out in plain view in the form of the missing pen, but would Homura notice such a small detail?
She didn't, and Homura actually was not suspicious at all. Her thoughts revolved more around her own guilt, once again questioning everything she was doing here. She had already come so far, though. Walpurgisnacht was only three weeks away, and only two more weeks in this hotel room before she would move Madoka out of the city.
She tried to focus her thoughts on the end of the month: The day when Walpurgisnacht came and she could finally know for all certainty that Madoka would be safe. This time, Madoka wouldn't become a magical girl or simply another victim of the monstrous storm.
Homura wished she could save the city. She would try to save the city, but it would be her last attempt - her final stand against Walpurgisnacht. Even if the city was destroyed and Madoka ended up truly hating her, Homura did not care. Madoka would be safe, and that is all that mattered.
They ate dinner mostly in silence.
"This is good…" Homura said at one point, trying to spark some conversation. "Simple, but still good…"
Madoka didn't respond, she just kept eating and they didn't say much else through dinner.
When they were done Homura started cleaning up. Madoka considered asking if she could take a bath, but she was scared of leaving the room while there was evidence of her escape plan out in the open. There was the missing pen which was in the freezer, and something else she hadn't considered is there might be some residue of the plastic on the screw at the bottom of the toaster.
After putting the dishes away Homura asked, "Madoka?" Madoka's head shot over to her, then her eyes glanced down as soon as they made eye contact. "Do you want to watch a movie or something?"
Madoka shook her head, "No… I'm just going to take a bath and go to bed…" She quickly walked to the bathroom. She looked at the front door lock on her way there, wondering if her tool would actually work on those tiny screws. She also knew she might never get a chance to try it. It would take time to use her tool and undo the screws, but Homura rarely gave her more than a few moments alone.
She was anxious the entire time she was in the bathroom washing up, her mind having images of Homura picking the apartment apart while she bathed, looking for signs of her plan which Madoka was convince Homura already knew about.
That voice inside Madoka's head was chastising her for having made the tool. It was saying: "I told you so, I told you it was a bad idea but you wouldn't listen! She's looking for it right now and she is going to find it and then you're going to be in trouble! She's too smart and she thinks of everything - you're not going to fool her that easily!"
When Madoka finally finished in the bathroom she opened the door very slowly, as if she were expecting something to jump out at her once it was open. She was convinced she would see Homura standing outside the door with her arms folded and the pen in her hand, glaring at her. Madoka would have to explain herself and apologize but Homura would tie her up again and make her stay on the bed, this time she probably wouldn't untie her in the morning as she had threatened to do.
However, when Madoka finally willed herself to open the door Homura was not standing there. Madoka could hear the television was on. She stepped outside nervously and saw Homura sitting on the couch watching an anime. Madoka glanced to the lock on the front door again, then back to Homura, then came across the living room and sat down.
"Did you change your mind about watching a movie?" Homura asked.
Madoka nodded. "Um… yeah. Have anything in mind?"
Homura smiled. "Lets see what we can find."
As Homura began scrolling through the guide with the remote Madoka's paranoia slowly melted away. Not only was her paranoia going away, but she was also starting to feel a small bubble of excitement in her chest: Homura wasn't suspicious at all! The voice in her head was wrong about Homura knowing, and somehow, she was sure her plan could actually work this time and she could get away.
But next time she wouldn't be stupid, she wouldn't go somewhere that Homura would think to look for her. Going to Sayaka's house was a mistake last time she escaped, she knew that now, but if she got out of this hotel room again she would be smarter and finally get away for good. She would hide wherever she could, somewhere she had no connections to and Hourma had no chance of finding her.
Homura looked over to her and Madoka returned an innocent smile. She felt a little guilty being deceitful, she still felt sorry for Homura in some ways, but she knew she had to do this. Like her mom said, being forced to stay here in this apartment against her will, no matter what the reason: It wasn't okay.
II
The roof of the hospital had a beautiful view of the city. From up here it was like a painting; the buildings nestled neatly along the skyline and the bridges and highways crawled out away from it like the roots of a tree.
Nagisa turned to her mom and smiled as she put her hands up in fists. "Okay! You said you'd teach me how to fight!"
Her mom grinned. "Oh, I did, didn't I?" She stepped back over to her daughter. Nagisa's stance was all wrong, hands far away from her face and legs positioned side by side. She was tiny and naturally would not be able to put much weight behind her strikes but that stance offered even less leverage, she was more likely to stumble and fall over than hit her target if she swung a punch.
Her mom gently grabbed her wrists and guided them back to the side of her face, then rearranged her fingers so her thumb was on the outside of her fingers instead of behind held against her palm. She then turned Nagisa shoulders and used her toes to nudged one of her feet back so she was in a position where she could easily spring forward or backward.
"This is the basic stance," her mother explained. "You want to think about both your hands and your feet when fighting. The way you position your feet makes it easier for your body to move, and it will also keep you from falling over if you're pushed. Also, the power behind your strikes doesn't come from your arms alone. Momentum generated from your foot can transfer all the way threw your body, up your arm and into your fist." She smiled as she extended her own fist to demonstrate. "Physical strength is ways a plus, but with the proper technique someone small like you can still win with skill and the disadvantages of your size can be overcome and even turned into an advantage. It takes time and practice before the motions become natural, however."
Nagisa nodded her head through the explanation, but her mom knew her daughter well enough to see that she was already bored. Just like any artform, the finished product could be breathtaking, but all the brush strokes and building blocks that were required to get there were far less impressive.
"Can you show me that one thing you do?… Um…" Nagisa thought for a moment, then did a little hop into the air and kicked both feet out before landing. She stumbled as she touched the ground again. "The one that's like that?"
Her mom smiled as she took a few steps back and slipped off the hospital slippers. She knew what Nagisa was referring to, although that sloppy demonstration Nagisa just offered was nothing like it. "Alright, I'll show it to you once, but it's not something you can learn until you've mastered the fundamentals."
Nagisa nodded and stepped out of her way with a smile on her face.
Her mom stretched her legs and twisted her body for a moment to loosen herself up, then took the stance she had just shown Nagisa. She paused, and took a deep breath. She had felt a little light headed all afternoon, ever since having lunch, but she figured it was nothing and it would be better to stay active to get her body back into shape.
Once she was ready she suddenly sprung forward and jumped. Midair, her back foot swung forward in an arc, then it's knee drew back into her stomach as she turned and her other foot came out in a mule kick. She had done a full turn in the air as those two powerful kicks came out, she then landed in a crouch with her legs and arms in a stance that could easily spring right back into action.
Nagisa laughed and jumped up a little as she clapped. It was an impressive maneuver and after witnessing her mom on a hospital bed for so long it was exciting to see her do something like that again. The doctors would be angry if they saw her being that active, but that's because they didn't know about Nagisa's wish. Nagisa knew her mom was perfectly healthy again so it was okay for her to do that.
"Yeah! Teach me how to do that one!" Nagisa said, jumping with excitement.
Her mom just laughed then relaxed and walked back to her slippers. As she looked down to slip them on she saw the world turn under her feet and she had the nauseous feeling that had become far too familiar over the last months creep up on her again. She ignored it for now and just controlled her breathing, not wanting to worry Nagisa. "You have a long way to go before that, Nagisa."
"I know, but that's what I want to do, and the other one you do um…" She did two sloppy karate chops and a kick, once again stumbling slightly. "The one like that."
Her mom didn't really watch what she had done. When she moved her head she felt her vision drag behind a little. It was that familiar awful feeling she had been living with. She didn't want to believe the sickness was coming back, she may have even been in denial of it, but she did know she felt like she had to vomit again. "Why don't we go back downstairs sweetie?" she said with a smile.
"What? But we just got up here!" Nagisa complained.
"Yes, but you also have homework to do. I'll show you more on the weekend, okay? Just practice that stance I showed you until then."
"Oh… okay…" Nagisa eventually agreed, though she clearly wasn't happy about it.
By the time they were on the elevator and heading back down her mom felt like she was going to pass out. Nagisa started talking about something from school, but the words were going in one ear and out the other. Her mom nodded her head along anyway.
"Mom are you listening?" Nagisa asked with a whiny tone as she looked up once she realized she wasn't really paying attention. She finally noticed her mom's face was pale and instantly Nagisa became worried. "Mommy? Are you feeling okay?"
"Sorry… It seems I'm a little…" The elevator dinged and slid open. "Fatigued…" she tried to smile but it was so clearly forced.
"Mama? C-come on, let's go back to your room, I'm sorry I made you do that stuff," Nagisa said, taking her hand, worry creeping into the young girl's voice.
"No, Nagisa don't apolo…" Two steps out of the elevator her mom missed a step and fell to the ground.
"Mom!" Nagisa gasped and turned around, "Wh-what's wrong!?"
Her mom wasn't able to respond and instead just vomited right there on the floor.
"H-hang on! I'm getting a doctor!" Nagisa said, then quickly ran and started yelling for help.
What's happening!? Nagisa thought as she ran, yelling for a doctor. She's better now! Her sickness is suppose to be gone! So what's happening to her!?
III
"...So, after Clara explained all of that… that Madoka was in danger because of…" Junko shook her head. "Like I said, I didn't understand it. It seemed she was inferring something supernatural. But, she said she planned to keep Madoka for three years and refused to allow me to try to reason with her beyond that.
"She gave Madoka the phone back and I only got to speak with her briefly. I got more details from Madoka at that point, like Clara tying her to a bed when she has to leave or sleep... Madoka sounded complacent about the whole thing and I tried to remind her that what Clara was doing to her was wrong, at which point Madoka got upset and Clara took the phone from her and hung it up." Junko sighed, looking back up to the detective. "And that's everything that happened."
"I see…" The Detective said. He had the letter which was written by Clara in front of him, sealed in a plastic bag. "And where did this letter come from again?"
"As I said, it was with the letter Madoka sent to our house… I should have brought it to you right away, I know that, but I was scared and did not want to lose the chance to speak with Madoka. So I did as the letter demanded and kept it secret. I know that was probably a mistake."
"Did you tell anyone else about this letter?"
"No, not until after the call. At which point I told my husband then came here to bring it to you."
"I see…" the detective said, thinking it over. "And you said Clara sounded young?"
"Yes, perhaps Madoka's age, maybe a little older."
"Did she actually tell you her age, or say anything else that makes you believe that?"
"No, I'm just basing that off the sound of her voice."
"Okay."
"Do you think it's possible she may know Madoka from school?" Junko offered. "The way she spoke about Madoka it was as if she had known her for a long time, but none of Madoka's friends or classmates she has told me about over the years match Clara's personality. Therefore, this is just a hunch, but if she does indeed go to Madoka's school its possible she formed some kind of obsession with her from a distance, and is most likely from another class in the same school. Maybe a grade or two older? Her perception that Madoka needs to be protected could be a delusion she came up with to justify her own actions… it's clear her mental state is not sound, so it makes sense." Junko looked into the detectives eyes. "What do you think?"
The detective stared back at her for a moment, thinking, then nodded his head. "It's possible, I suppose... but unlikely. What we do know is on the day of her disappearance Sayaka Miki was with Madoka until about six in the evening, and therefore Madoka was abducted shortly after that, on her way back home. There are only two possibilities: either she was lured somewhere by the kidnapper- or kidnappers - or she was pulled into a vehicle and taken away forcibly.
"By your theory, Mrs. Kaname, the possibility a vehicle was involved is less likely because a middle school student would not have access to one or know how to operate it. Secondly, where would a middle or early high school student keep her? Students don't live alone so there would have to be more than just this Clara person involved in that case. Also this Clara would have to be missing from school herself based on how you say Madoka described her days being spent.
"There are no other students missing in this area, that's something we've been checking up on to make sure there were no other victims. The only student missing from Madoka's school is named Homura Akemi, and she moved back to Tokyo due to health issues, so she is accounted for. So, your theory that it's another student who abducted Madoka is unlikely, but we'll keep everything you told us in mind."
Junko listened, nodding her head as the detective cast off her theory. "Well..." Junko began. "I do believe only one person is involved. Madoka said so herself, and I can tell she was not lying or being forced to say that… granted, I don't know for sure if the kidnapper is a student, but I do know she is female. It's unlikely she is an adult though… her voice just sounds too young."
The detective nodded and thought, then eventually said, "Well, thanks for coming in, I'm sure this will all be a help…" He glanced back to the kidnappers letter. "And just to reiterate, you said this letter came with the one written by Madoka? Which you found in the mailbox, correct?"
"That's correct."
"You simply did not show it to us until after making the call? Right?"
"Yes…" Junko said, looking into his eyes and noticing something about his expression. "Why do you keep asking about that?"
"Just keeping the timeline straight, that is all," he said with a smile. It was a fake smile if she had ever seen one, but wasn't sure what to make of if it so she did not say anything. "Well, I think that is all we need. Thank you Mrs. Kaname, what you told us should be helpful. Do you think I could just speak with your husband for a moment before you go?"
"Oh, of course," she said, then stepped out of the detective's office.
Tomohisa was with Tatsuya outside the office. The toddler was squirming around and seemed quite agitated from being there. He was bored no doubt, but he also understood something had happened to his big sister even if he couldn't fully grasp the situation it still had him in a bad mood for the last two weeks.
Tomohisa went in to speak to the detective and Junko sat, lost in thought. She felt regretful for not telling the police about the letter sooner. Clara would have had no way of knowing, and what if they actually could have traced the call? It was too late for that now, and Clara probably wouldn't take the risk again…
Tomohisa was only in the detective's office for about three minutes when Junko heard something she hadn't heard in a very long time: her husband raising his voice.
"That is just ridiculous!" He shouted, his voice carring from inside the office. "Do you have any idea what my family's been going through and you bring me in here to imply something like that to me!?"
"Hey, we are just covering all our bases here," the detective said back. "You'd want us to be thorough wouldn't you? And also-"
"I've heard enough of this! Good day, sir!" And with that Tomohisa stormed back out of the office.
Junko looked up at him, her eyes wide and confused, wondering what the detective possibly could have said. It was not as if Tomohisa was easily angered (quite the opposite in fact), he wouldn't raise his voice even in situations that fully warranted it so what caused him to do it now?
"What's wrong?" Junko asked.
"Come on, let's go home," he said as he walked for the door.
Junko picked Tatsuya up. The toddler commented, "Daddy's mad," as he was carried out of the lobby.
Tomohisa calmed down by the time they got to the car, and patted Tatsuya on the head to not upset him any more.
"What just happened?" Junko asked.
"I'll tell you when we get home."
They didn't talk much on the way back, and it was not until they were home and had Tatsuya in front of the television and occupied that Junko went to the kitchen with Tomohisa and once again asked. He looked like he really did not want to explain himself.
"Come on," Junko said, "What happened? You're making me worry here…"
He eventually sighed and looked at his wife, shaking his head. "He started asking me a lot of questions about you… if you have had any fights with Madoka before her disappearance, if you had seemed agitated in general or depressed… he asked if maybe you've been overwhelmed, complaining about your job a lot lately. He also asked about your drinking... things like that..."
Junko shook her head, staring back at him, not understanding how any of those kinds of questions could relate to the fact her daughter was missing.
"Junko…" his voice lowered, "That detective… he just told me that you are the prime suspect…"
"What?" she asked, lowering her voice to a whisper. Her face dropped, unable to believe what she heard. "How could he possibly think that?"
"It's mostly because of the letters. The kidnapper putting them in the mailbox should have been caught on film, so now they think the letters were never in the mailbox at all. They think that you brought the letters there yourself and only pretended to pull them out of the mailbox. They said that's the only thing that makes sense…"
"Why would I do that!?" Junko said, raising her voice. "And the ones Madoka wrote were written in her handwriting! Of course they are from Madoka!"
Tomohisa put a hand on her shoulder to remind her to keep her voice down. "They believe you know where she is… But of course that's ridiculous. We are firing the private detective we hired and looking for a new one. The police themselves have no evidence and need to learn to do their damn jobs, but looks like we are on our own now."
Junko sat down, still shaking her head. Her eyes wide and perplexed and she looked like she was on the verge of tears. "I just… can't believe this…"
Tomohisa sat down beside her and hugged her, comforting her. He knew there was no way Junko could have had something to do with this. He would never even humor the thought. The thing with the mailbox was strange, because indeed it has been being watched and they should have caught the kidnapper on camera delivering it, but there must have been some obvious explanation no one was thinking of.
Junko had not talked to Sayaka since her conversation with Clara. Now that she had the strong suspicion of Clara being a highschool student, maybe it was possible Sayaka would have met her before, or spotted someone she might be suspicious of.
After taking a moment to calm down she accepted another hug from her husband then got up to make a call. She put in Sayaka's number and it rang for a while, Junko thinking she was not going to pick up, but she eventually did.
"Hey Mrs. K…" Sayaka said with a low voice.
"Hello Sayaka… um…" she noticed Sayaka's tone sounded really bad, so before asking questions related to Madoka she simply asked, "Hey, are you okay?"
IV
Earlier that day, classes had ended with the school yard filling with chatter as the students were let out. Sayaka felt a bit of a daze all day, and her heart pounded with anxiety as she walked to the hospital to go visit Kyousuke. Hitomi was only giving her this afternoon to confess, and if she didn't Hitomi would go confess first and it would be too late.
However, when Sayaka reached the hospital Kyousuke was not there. His room was already empty and there was a nurse inside cleaning up.
"Um, hello?" Sayaka asked. Once the nurse looked her way Sayaka said, "Excuse me, do you know where Kyousuke is or when he'll come back to his room?"
"Oh, the boy who was staying here?" The nurse asked. "He was actually discharged today, he should be going home now. I'm just getting the room ready for the next patient."
"Oh, I see, thank you." Sayaka said with a half hearted smile and then walked back down the hall.
So, Kyousuke got discharged and he didn't tell her… She felt a little hurt by that. Granted, she hadn't come to visit him much recently, but she had spent so much time with him over the last year she thought he would at least give her a call for something as big as him finally being discharged.
She pulled out her phone as she stood inside the elevator. Hitomi was suppose to confess this afternoon. Sayaka needed to call him and do it first, but she really wanted to do it in person. She actually did not feel ready to confess at all, her heart fluttered with anxiety by simply thinking of what words she would say.
Her thumb hovered over the call button until the elevator returned her to the lobby. By the time she left the hospital she still had not pressed it.
She got on the city bus and began heading to Kyousuke's house. She decided she would go there in person, knock on the door, and hope that the words would come to her once she was face to face with him.
This is not how she wanted to do this, she had always envisioned her confession happening at the perfect moment, like after a recital once he finished recovering. He would put on a performance that was only possible because of her wish, she would listen in the audience just like she had when she first heard him as a young girl, and when it was over she would then meet him backstage and congratulate him. They would talk, celebrate, and slowly their words to each other would become softer and their eyes would meet. Finally, she would tell him how she felt about him. He would then return her confession and they would officially become a couple.
She did not have the opportunity to wait for that day now, though, and she had to just accept giving this ordinary confession or else Hitomi would do it first and she would never get a chance to confess at all.
She practised the words in her head all through the bus ride, envisioning herself walking up to his door and knocking. Either his butler or one of his parents would answer, and she would then ask for him. After that when he came to the door and she was face to face she would just do her best to say everything that was in her heart. She just hoped it would go well...
She got off the bus near the entrance of his neighborhood and walked the rest of the way to his house. Her heart felt like it would burst out of her chest as she approached his driveway, but then, when she finally lifted her foot in the last step that would turn her down the walkway to his front door - the tension in her chest broke.
The anxiety she had felt instead filled with emptiness and she quickly ducked behind a bush before she was seen, because Hitomi was already standing at his door.
Right away, Sayaka knew what would happen. Sayaka knew what she had to do, but she also knew she would not have the guts to do it.
The only chance she had was to move her feet right at that moment. If she got to the bottom of the driveway, and showed herself, showing Hitomi how serious she was about this, she knew Hitomi would step aside and allow her to give her confession first. Hitomi was not cruel and Sayaka was sure she would honor Sayaka's wish to tell him first if she showed herself being that serious.
That would only be if she could move right now, but no matter how hard she tried to will herself, her feet would not move. She remained hidden behind that bush. She peaked through the leaves as the door opened and Kyousuke was now standing there… even now, it wasn't too late…
"It's still not too late!" she told herself.
This could still work. Like those scenes in romance movies when they run to deliver their confession at the last possible moment. It wasn't how she ever imagined delivering her confession but there was still some romance to it. All she had to do was move…
Her foot moved, taking one step. However, that is the only step she took and her body froze no matter how much her head screamed for her to just go for it.
Another voice in the back of her head told her no, it told her it was too late and said she would look foolish if she ran and delivered her confession like that. It told her if she did they would both probably just laugh at her, she would look pathetic and desperate, and Kyousuke would never accept a confession delivered like that.
She watched as Kyousuke stepped to the side, and Hitomi walked into his house.
Sayaka turned and ran and fast as she could. She ran back down the street just, tears already falling from her eyes like small blue crystals being left in the air behind her. She felt so stupid. She felt weak and stupid and now her crush was gone. Hitomi even gave her a chance but she didn't take it! She could have called from the hospital when she saw he wasn't there, and she could have stopped Hitomi at the last moment but she didn't.
She kept running until she eventually found herself in the park. She sat down on a bench and cried. She stayed there for a long time, her tears eventually stopped as her mind just ran through things.
When she made her wish she had two goals. The first goal is one Mami had warned her against: using her wish for someone else because she wanted something from them in return. Part of the reason she made that wish is because she wanted Kyousuke to appreciate her, she was foolish for doing that.
Her second goal was using the power to save Madoka. That of course, did not happen yet either. She failed at everything and there was no reason for her to be a magical girl.
She felt useless. Completely useless.
She sat there for a long time until she heard her phone ring. The sun was beginning to set now, but she didn't care. She lethargically pulled her phone out of her pocket and saw it was Junko calling. She did not actually want to talk to anyone right now, but for some reason she pressed the answer button anyway. She just felt so alone right now and kind of wanted to hear a friendly voice. She was fighting with Mami, Madoka was still gone, and she wouldn't be able to face Hitomi for a long time, so she had no friends left. She needed to at least hear the voice of someone she could rely on, so she answered Junko's call.
"Hey Mrs. K…" She said with a low voice.
"Hello Sayaka… um… Hey, are you okay?" she must have been able to hear something in Sayaka's tone.
Sayaka paused for a moment and said, "I'm fine… not really, but, kind of fine. You know?"
"Yes, I understand. I have been the same way lately… You seemed to have been dealing with things well though, did something else happen?" Junko asked.
Sayaka paused and said, "Not really… just… its more about what's not happening. Ya'know?" She sighed. "Thanks Mrs. K, but don't worry too much about me, there is too much else for you to worry about right now…"
Junko paused and said, "Well Sayaka, you know I'm here for you if you ever need anything. Don't think you have to bare things on your own just because something else is happening."
"Okay, I won't. Thanks."
"Actually… Sayaka, the reason I called was because of Madoka. I have to tell you something."
Sayaka's head lifted up. "About Madoka? What?"
"I spoke with her on the phone the other day. I also have some theories of who her kidnapper could be. I wanted to talk to you about it."
"W-why me?"
"I already told the police this but they cast off my theory. But, I believe the kidnapper is a student at your school."
Sayaka's eyes widened and she completely froze. How could Junko have put that together? Furthermore, she got to speak with Madoka? Sayaka didn't know what to say.
"Sayaka, are you still there?"
"Y-yeah, I'm here."
"Where are you? Can I come pick you up? I have some questions I want to ask."
-Atomyst
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