Kaname household-Early Evening

"Ughhh"

Madoka's head slopped over the table. Piles of homework and assigned readings sat in front of her, piling on top of her already weighted conscience. Whenever she seemed to try to pick up a pencil, she would drop it almost immediately.

It's not that she didn't want to do the work, but everytime she tried to drive herself, she would always think back to Mami.

Defiant. Determined. Working her hardest.

It pained her to think about, but she just didn't have the same drive she did. She couldn't even come up with a wish for herself.

Her phone vibrated from beside her, beckoning her to answer. Madoka attempted to resist the urge, the work knowingly sitting in the back of her mind, but after the fourth sound of the wood pounding from the vibrations, she picked it up.

"Yeah?"

"Tomoe Mami has been safely delivered to her home. While her soul gem is slightly unstable, she'll be fine after a few days rest. Nagisa should be fine to take care of her until then."

Madoka grew worried. If Nagisa were to get sick with her…

"Are you sure she'll be fine to take care of her by myself? I'd be happy to check up on her and make sure she's still doing okay."

"Nagisa insisted on it. Besides, I don't think she wants any of us getting sick from her."

Madoka was still unconvinced, but decided not to fight back against it.

"I'm glad she's doing alright. I have to go, though, but I can talk to you later if you wish-"

"No. Don't hang up."

The insistence of Homura's demand surprised her. Madoka took a moment to recollect her thoughts.

"I have a lot of work to finish that I really need to get back to." In truth, Madoka didn't want to hang up. Talking to Homura really was comforting.

"Can you finish it later? There's something I really want to do with you, something that I never got the chance to earlier."

"Can it wait?" She asked, having now moved to silently tapping her pencil against the table.

"Not tonight, and I'm already on my way there, so you'd better be ready."

Her tapping stopped. She wasn't getting anything done anyways, and she had been wanting to take a breather from all her work…

"Alright, I'll be outside in a few minutes. I assume we're going somewhere?"

"Yep, and don't worry. We won't be gone long."

"See you shortly, then."

"Same to you." the distinct beep told Madoka that Homura had hung up. She was really excited to see what Homura had planned for her, but…

Right now?

She decided it would be better to not question it, and instead embrace the excitement. It would be better for everyone.

"Will that be all for today?" The clerk asked, shuffling the CD's into a small bag.

"Yes, that'll be all."

"Alright. We don't get too many classical music fans here." The girl seemed to shift back and forth, lost in thoughts of joy.

"Oh, they're not for me. I'm buying them for a friend."

"Oh, a gift? Would you like me to wrap it up, in that case?" She stopped shifting, instead shifting to a somewhat pained expression. It didn't take a genius to know that she just struck a bad spot.

"No, it's fine. You don't need to do that" She stated blankly. "The wrapping would annoy him too much."

"I see..."

She left the money on the counter and grabbed the bag out of her hands. Normally, she would've been annoyed at that kind of reaction, but she somehow felt that she shouldn't pry farther than she already was.

"Have a good night." She said in a desperate attempt to redeem the situation, if even only a little bit.

"Yeah." Was all she responded as she walked out the door.

Better than nothing at all, at least.

Black.

Under the cover of the blindfold, all she could see was black and the occasional flicker of light from the corner of her vision. Probably from a streetlamp. Or maybe a car. She had no idea.

Feelings of fear stayed with her as she walked, the shakiness of her legs making no attempt to hide that fact. Homura acted as her only guiding spirit. Her trust in her to make sure she didn't cause problems was unfathomable, but it wasn't like she really had any choice.

Something else was pumping through her, though; feelings of adrenaline shot through her body and mind. Where was Homura taking her? What was the big secret?

She imagined opening her blindfold to find herself in Homura's home. Maybe she would have an exquisite dinner prepared for the two of them. She didn't imagine Homura as the type that cooked for herself, but then again, life was prone to throwing surprises at her.

.

.

.

"Welcome. Sorry if it's a mess. I barely had time to clean the place up."

Madoka looked around at the various furnishings before settling on a large table in the center. Two plates on opposite ends, a vase of flowers sat in the center of the table, and various dishes spread themselves around.

"Oh, I see you noticed. You see, I didn't take you here for just a meal. In fact, for the longest time, I...I...I've had feelings for you. Feelings I can't describe. I want to be with you."

.

.

.

Madoka felt her face getting warm, and if it weren't for the blindfold, she would be covering her eyes. She decided to take a different track.

Maybe she would take her to an alleyway where she would find out that she was an undercover agent sent to capture her and recruit her for some "end of the world" mission.

.

.

.

Madoka felt the blindfold stripped from her face. The ground was hard and uncomfortable, and the wall behind her jagged. For some reason, she couldn't stand.

Homura, meanwhile, was now wearing a completely different uniform. Her hair was down, and she talked into a small device.

"Yes, this is Akemi. I have her, and I'm awaiting orders...Roger that." She stopped talking, slowly getting on her knees to look her in the eye.

"I'm sorry to not tell you any of this, but the magical girl thing was just a cover. You've been recruited to work alongside me on a dangerous mission. With your special skillset, you're just what I need in my life."

Working with Homura...

.

.

.

Another thought crossed her mind. What if she was the target and Homura was an assassin, sent to kill her for skills and knowledge she didn't even know she had?

.

.

.

She felt herself fall to the ground. Well, more like pushed. She removed the blindfold to find Homura with her hair down and a completely different outfit. She was loading a small handgun.

"Homura…"

"I'm sorry to do this to you, but you unfortunately know too much. It's nothing personal, of course, but the world will be safer as a result.

She put the gun to her. Her finger sat shaky on the trigger, unable to keep straight. Were those tears from her eyes?

"I...I can't kill you. I'm sorry, but I think-"

.

.

.

The sound of a door chime sent her back into reality. Homura still refused to let her take off the blindfold, but she could feel herself being carefully seated.

"Wait here, and no peeking." She rushed away to do something else. Madoka suddenly realized that she was alone and blind with nobody around. She could vaguely hear Homura whispering in the distance, but as to what was a mystery.

Thankfully, she could see a little bit through the very corners of the blindfold. The outlines of a table could be seen from the bottom, along with the small chair she was sitting in. The hum of an air conditioner could also be distinctly heard. It really was amazing what you could notice when blind. Other than that, however, she still had no clear idea where exactly she was.

The sounds of Homura's footsteps sent a wave of reassurance through her. She looked for more sounds. A chair moving. Homura shifting in it. Her arm against the table in front of her.

"Can I take off the blindfold?"

"Not yet. I've put something in front of you. It's edible, don't worry."

Madoka was deadpan.

"Is this really necessary?"

"Just take a bite. Don't worry." She responded giddily.

Madoka did as she asked and took a bite. She was surprised to be greeted to a taste of icing and chocolate. The sweetness powered through her body, and the chocolate had an oddly satisfying softness to it. She took another soft bite, feeling the icing falling onto her face and over her lips.

"Hey, Madoka?"

Madoka stopped eating.

"Don't worry about stopping. Go ahead and finish."

She took another bite, only to realize there was no more.

"How did it taste?" Homura asked.

"It was amazing." She responded. She couldn't help but want more, but she didn't want to seem gluttonous.

"I'm glad. Really."

The hum of the AC rang softly in her ears.

"Hey…"

"Still listening." Madoka replied, still not taking off the blindfold.

"Did...you know that senses can be enhanced when one is removed?"

Madoka did remember hearing that at some point, but didn't remember where.

"Is that why you had me blindfolded? To enjoy the cupcake?" She asked curiously.

"That's half of it."

For a moment, she was confused, but it didn't take her long to understand. It was the second time she had had this feeling.

The sounds of a clicking from Homura.

Her seat shifting.

Homura tripping and falling to the floor.

Madoka took off the blindfold reveal an embarrassed Homura on the ground in front of her. She took a look around, noting that they were in a cafe of some kind. Thankfully, it was relatively empty, spare the occasional customer looking in their direction with interest. On the table, a mess of cupcake crumbs sat everywhere. She wondered just what her face looked like.

Homura was oddly quiet as she got up off the ground, seeming to examine her face. It was less out of fun, though, and more out of something she couldn't put her finger on.

"Homura…"

She snapped out of her thoughts.

"Sorry. Didn't mean to space out like that. Anyways, your face is a mess. I can clean that off for you, if you like." The shift was curious, but the thought of Homura wiping her face clean sent her mind back into a frenzy.

"I'll be fine to clean myself."

Homura looked disappointed, but understanding.

"I'll be out here when you're done."

Madoka walked to the washroom sinks and washed her face, wondering just what she saw in a girl like her.

Like many of her decisions, she decided not to question it.

A/N: Another chapter out. Hope you enjoyed once again.

Until next time...