The night in Mitakihara city wasn't a dark one, the lights of the streets and buildings shone brightly to make its own artificial daylight. An unnaturally thick miasma covered the whole city. The grief filled miasma made it hard to even think clearly, life felt as if it was slowly being drained away.

The cold air of autumn rushed past Homura as she leapt from roof to roof; her hair tied by a red ribbon wildly following her trajectory as she landed onto the next roof.

Homura was alone.

Homura took a deep breath as she walked towards the edge of the building, the air she exhaled turning into a fleeting misty cloud when it left her body. She looked downwards and tried to concentrate in one of Mitakihara's many alleyways.

Almost as if being summoned by her presence, the wraiths started to become visible. Their white forms filled most of the alleyway, the group of over forty wraiths marching forwards in search of food for the night.

Homura took a step forward. The air buzzed around her as she fell. She readied her bow and took aim. A mass of purple energy quickly took the shape of an arrow, it's tip flaring with purple flames as Homura held back the newly formed arrow. The wraiths noticed her presence, their heads turning to the sky. Homura released the arrow, hitting one of the wraiths directly before it exploded into an inferno of violet flames that took care of a another six.

Homura approached the ground at great speed, but before she could make contact a pair of wings sprouted from her back; lifting her into the air to stop her fall. There was no need for Homura to think to use them, they always stopped all her falls; even when she wasn't transformed.

The wraiths around her didn't hesitate, quickly surrounding Homura from all sides. They raised their hands, and laser like beams pierced Homura from all directions.

Homura didn't try to dodge.

Homura started to prepare another arrow, this time the violet flame roared with anger; its light completly illuminating the alleyway as Homura drew it back. She slowly raised her bow until it aimed at the night sky, the wraiths beams pierced her once more, her right leg failed to keep her standing. It didn't hurt. Homura released the arrow and it flew into the sky before exploding into a thousand bolts of energy, filling the night sky with fake violet stars before falling down into a rain of destruction.

The downpour of magic lasted for a few seconds, by the time the last bolt had hit the ground there were no more wraiths to worry about.

Homura tried to get up using her bow as a makeshift crutch. She focused her magic into her leg, slowly healing it back to normal until she could stand on it again. Once she had finished healing her body Homura was covered in a flash of violet light, revealing her normal clothes after the light dimmed.

"Don't you think that you are overdoing it?" Kyouko said as she jumped from one of the roofs, landing next to Homura.

"Why were you following me" asked Homura.

"I wasnt" Kyouko pointed towards the sky "Didn't need to with that lightshow you did"

Homura stared at the girl for a second with her piercing glare before turning around.

"I don't have time for you" said Homura as she started to walk away "There are a lot of wraiths still"

"That's what I'm trying to say" said Kyouko with a tired sigh "You've been at it the whole night, you should stop"

Homura didn't listen to the redhead. She wasn't in the mood to have to deal with her, or worse, with Tomoe; not today.

"Mami and I have been worrying about you, y'know?" Kyouko raised her voice, making sure that Homura heard her "You dissappear for weeks at a time and when you come back your soul gem is almost completely dark"

Homura kept walking. She really didn't want to talk today. Even less if it was just to say that she was being careless. She already knew that.

Kyouko jumped in front of her, winning a frown from Homura.

"Move away"

"Listen" Kyouko's expression was soft "If something is bugging you you can tell us. I know we haven't been talking much these past months, but really... we are here for you" Kyouko made a pause, closing her eyes for a second before she opened them again with a pained expression "I don't want to lose another friend"

"I'll take into consideration" Homura tried to move past Kyouko, but the redhead blocked her way

"I'm being serious Homura" Kyouko tried to place a hand on Homura's shoulder, but Homura took a step backwards "Sayaka died out of... recklesness. But you- you are being suicidal Homura"

Kyouko took a step forward, closing the space between the two once again. The girl was raising her voice once again.

"You spend magic as if it didn't matter. You fight without caring about getting hurt" Kyouko pointed towards the ground, were grief cubes laid "You don't even try to hide how you aren't picking up grief cubes anymore- How long has it even been since the last time you cleansed your soul gem?"

"That isn't of your concern"

"See, that's where you are wrong" Kyouko softened her expression, a worried smile appearing on her face "It is. And all I wanna know is if I can help you with... whatever it is that's making you feel this down"

"Well, that's a shame. There is nothing you can help me with" Homura turned around, and started to walk away.

"Is it about that Madoka you always talk about?"

"Don't you DARE say her name!" Homura shouted as she turned around, an angered expression she hadnt used in years decorating her usually cold face.

"I didn't say anything-"

"You didn't?!" Homura started to take steps towards the girl with each word she said "I KNOW that you and Tomoe think she isn't real. I KNOW that you two think I'm delusional!"

"Homura we dont-"

"You think I made her up with my magic don't you?! That I fucked my own memory so I had someone important in my miserable life?!" Homura fought the tears back as she spoke "Think I'm trying to kill myself so I can go meet someone that doesn't exist?!"

Homura took another step forward, forcing Kyouko to back down.

"You say that I am like Sayaka?! I WISH that I was dead like her! She got lucky being able to die so soon-"

First came the sound, second the realization that Kyouko had slapped her across the face.

"Fuck you" Kyouko said, tears about to escape her eyes, before she took out her spear and jumped away into the night.

Once again, Homura was alone.

She stood still for a few minutes in the empty alleyway trying to calm herself down. It didn't do much internally, but at least she was able to put on her mask once again.

[-]

Homura turned the key, the old door creaking as she entered her apartment.

She walked into her room, turning her ring into its soul gem and carelessly throwing it onto her bed. It's violet shine was completely gone, completly replaced by dark murkiness.

Homura walked towards her desk, a calendar laid open on it; the current date marked as October 3rd.

Madoka's birthday.

"I didn't know what to get" her voice was weak, more a whisper than a voice that wanted to be heard "So I got you this..."

Homura placed a finely made black wooden box on the table, opening it to show its content. A pair of red ribbons like the ones that she wore.

"Since you gave me yours..." Homura's voice started to break, the girl trying to fight back her tears but failing in the process "I- I really liked how th-they looked on- on you. So... I hoped that- that I could see you with them again..."

She tried to remember her, but her face was a buzz of static. Only her pink hair with the red ribbons remained on her memory.

"Please I want to see you again... even if just once" Homura cried "I want to- to remember how you looked, how your voice sounded. I want to remember your smile please"

Homura fell to her knees, wrapping her arms around herself as she tried to anchor herself to reality.

"If you wont let me die... at least let me see you please- please- please"

The night went on, Homura was alone.