"Madoka-sama? A word, if you will."
Madoka looked up to see Michael watching her with a grave expression from the entrance. She stood up from where she had sat tinkering with the Holy System of Heaven to divine its secrets to no success thus far. "Is something the matter, Michael-kun?"
"It is simply something that has been troubling me as of late." He glanced past her towards the Holy System. "Pardon the interruption."
"No, no, it's fine." She stepped closer to him. "What is it?"
"At the peace conference, you mentioned how it was your duty to shoulder the despair of others so that they did not have to, correct?"
"Yes, I did." She tilted her head. "What of it?"
"And when you deployed that strange barrier to protect the school building, it . . . well, to put it mildly, it reeked of despair."
The goddess flinched. "Did it? I never noticed; I'm sorry you had to put up with that. I hope the other faction leaders weren't too offended either –"
"I doubt that they noticed. My fallen brethren and the devils are much less sensitive to negative emotions than we are, but that is not my concern, Madoka-sama." His gaze bore into her. "My concern is: you take despair away from others, but who takes despair away from you?"
She smiled at him.
"No one."
"But that's –"
She cut him off. "If I allowed someone else to share my burden, then I would not be doing my duty properly."
Michael sighed. "I apologize if I am being too forward, but I am worried. If there is no one to ease your burden, and the weight you carry only continues to grow . . ."
"You fear that it will become too much for me to bear?"
He nodded.
Madoka gave a small smile. "I appreciate your concern, but you needn't worry." She looked at her hands. "I am an existence whose purpose is to erase despair. As the goddess of hope, I will not despair. I cannot despair." Her golden eyes stared intensely at him. "Does that satisfy you?"
He hesitated. "I'm sorry to doubt you like this Madoka-sama . . . but you are not telling me the whole truth, are you?"
She gave a self-deprecating laugh. "I should have known better than to try to pull one over you, Michael-kun." She sighed. "I was not lying when I said that I cannot despair. But that only applies to the here and now. My ability to resist despair is part of my power, you see. And it is possible to seal away or even steal a goddess's power." A sad smile. "So, if I were ever to lose my power . . . or just that power in particular . . . well, I would be no different than a normal girl when it comes to withstanding despair. And if a single human's worth of despair is enough to drive them to suicide . . ."
Michael sucked in a breath as he realized what she was saying.
"I see . . ." he said. "Thank you for indulging me, Madoka-sama."
She waved indifferently. "It was no trouble at all."
He nodded. "You have given me much to think about." His face became tinted with sadness. "I don't suppose I could convince you to remain in Heaven for your own safety?"
The goddess shook her head. "Do you remember what I said at the end of the peace conference? About carrying on God's legacy of being a caretaker, a nurturer, a parent?"
"Of course."
"Then you know that I cannot stay in Heaven forever. What kind of parent raises their child from afar? A parent must be close by to catch their child when they fall, to scold them when they err, and to praise them when they succeed. But a parent's most important duty . . ."
Golden eyes stared straight into him, an iron will that could bear the weight of the world on its shoulders.
"Is to protect their child from any and all harm." She smiled at him sadly. "And I cannot do that if I remain cooped up in Heaven, no?"
Michael's eyes were wide open, his face tinted with wonder at the goddess's speech. Slowly, he bowed. "I understand, Madoka-sama. All I ask is that you be careful."
"Rest assured that I do not intend to be a careless parent."
"Then I will be taking my leave, my Goddess."
After exchanging their farewells, the doors to the room closed once more.
Turning back to her pet project, the goddess resumed her work.
"Now, what was I doing?"
A few wrong buttons pressed and one particularly confusing user interface later, the goddess slumped backward with a sigh.
I need to take a break from this before I start pulling my hair out.
Maybe she should drop by Kuoh and give Homura a surprise visit. Not only would the other girl be jumping for joy (not that she would ever show it), but it would also let her do something she'd been meaning to do for a while.
Now, what to wear? I haven't dressed casually in a very long time . . .
xxx
Homura was having a very uneventful day.
Wake up, prepare for the day, greet Asia, eat breakfast, head to school. There, she sat through the tedious lessons, half her brain keeping an eye on her surroundings while the other half brainstormed new fighting techniques for when the enemy reared their ugly head once more.
Once school was over, she politely declined yet another invitation from Tsubaki to join Sona for a chess game (she couldn't help but feel that the Student Council President had a grudge against her for some reason) and slipped back to the church before she got wrapped up in another devil's scheme.
Safely inside, she rushed up to her room and blitzed through her homework like the honors student she was pretending to be.
Someone knocked on the door.
She sighed and stood up. Visitors were rare, but not wholly uncommon. Most of them came simply to pray, although a few also left donations behind.
Another knock.
"Coming," she called out.
She opened the door, its iron hinges creaking as they yielded.
"Welcome to –"
Her eyes landed on the other person and her body froze.
A pink blouse. A white skirt. Short, pink hair tied up in twin pigtails with those achingly familiar ribbons.
And warm, golden eyes that conveyed an indescribable feeling of tenderness.
"Mado – ka?"
The goddess grinned. "Hiya, Homura-chan!" She peered past her. "I hope I'm not interrupting anything important?"
"Oh – no, no. I was just doing homework."
"That's plenty important, Homura-chan! You won't graduate if you don't do your homework, you know?"
Finally regaining her composure, she smoothly answered, "Perhaps I will need the practice in the higher grades, but for now, the material is fairly trivial. Even you could have done it quickly, before . . ." She trailed off awkwardly, hesitant to bring up old memories.
But Madoka simply smiled. "Hey, my grades in school weren't that bad! Hitomi-chan's tutoring really helped a lot."
Homura gave a small smile in return. "Maybe it helped you, but for Miki-san, it probably just went in one ear and out the other."
The goddess chuckled. "She always had trouble paying attention." She glanced at her with a teasing expression. "Anyway, are you going to let me in?"
Realizing that they had been standing near the entrance for a minute now, Homura flushed in embarrassment and quickly stepped aside.
Madoka strode in, taking in polished piers and new mosaic designs scattered about. She didn't know what the church had looked like beforehand, but she doubted that the mosaics had images of magical girls fighting witches on them before.
"I like the new design," she said. "But why that scene in particular?"
Homura paused on her way to the kitchen. "Because we shouldn't forget the fate that you saved us from," she said simply.
Madoka absently nodded as her friend continued into the kitchen (presumably to get some tea, she supposed). She glanced around and saw another mosaic, this one depicting a more peaceful scene.
It was a simple scene. One where five girls sat at a table, drinking tea and eating cake, laughing and talking without a care in the world.
She smiled.
It never hurt to have a reminder once in a while.
xxx
"This is really good tea!"
"Tha – thank you very much!"
"And these biscuits are so soft and chewy! I almost want to take you home with me and make you my personal chef!"
"I – I'm not worthy –"
"You're adorable~!"
Homura sighed as she watched Madoka make Asia turn increasingly deeper shades of red. The nun was fidgeting uncontrollably under the goddess's gaze, shrinking back against her seat to avoid her intense stare.
To think that her kind and gentle friend had such a mischievous side to her . . .
How terrifying.
She coughed politely. "You should give her some breathing room, Madoka. Argento-san might suffocate under your pressure at this rate."
"But she's so cute! I wanted to hug her when you first brought her to Heaven, but I needed to look serious for the exorcists." Madoka folded her arms on the table and rested her head on them. "I'm sure any food made with hands as cute as those will taste absolutely wonderful~"
Asia began spluttering some more while Homura calmly replied, "If Tomoe-san heard you say that, she would probably go into a corner and cry from being upstaged by a sheltered girl who was burning food a few weeks ago."
The goddess laughed. "You may be right about that."
Homura's lips twitched upward in the barest hint of a smile before assuming her normal severe expression. "This question is a bit overdue, but to what do we owe the pleasure of this visit, Madoka?"
Her friend tilted her head. "Can't I just drop by to see my favorite magical girl?"
"You can," she admitted. "But with the situation the way it is right now, I doubt you would shirk your duties just to see me."
Although the peace conference had been successful, the tentative period just after the event was the most crucial factor to determine whether this peace would be lasting. The War was still fresh in everyone's minds, and even the smallest spark could be all it took before the tension exploded into violence.
In times like these, it would be irresponsible for a leader to shirk her duties and run off to see a friend.
It was Madoka's turn to sigh. "You're no fun, Homura-chan." She smiled. "But you're right. I did have something else in mind when I came here, but I thought I would kill two birds with one stone and have some fun with you too."
"And what did you have in mind?"
"We're going on a trip to Kyoto!"
Homura blinked.
"Pardon?"
"I hear Kyoto is quite nice this time of year. Plenty of flowers blooming, excellent tourist spots, and great food!"
Homura raised a hand to stop Madoka's tirade. "Why do you want to go there?"
The goddess tapped her chin. "Well, I'm hoping to meet someone there. But it's also a great destination for a trip!" Her gaze locked onto Asia. "You're coming too, Asia-chan!"
The nun, who had been simply watching their back-and-forth exchange for the past few minutes, suddenly sat up as she was addressed. "Eh? Me?"
"Of course! You don't get to go out very often, do you? It's not fair to you that Homura-chan keeps you cooped up in here all the time."
"I'm not keeping her cooped up – !"
"I – I would be honored!"
Madoka grinned. "Perfect! Then we have a consensus."
Homura frowned. "You didn't hear my response yet."
She blinked at her innocently. "Are you saying you wouldn't want to go on a trip with me, Homura-chan?"
The magical girl opened her mouth to retort, then slowly closed it.
She turned away with a huff.
"Ah, you're so cute when you pout, Homura-chan!"
And that was how Homura got roped into going on a trip to Kyoto.
xxx
Homura never saw the point of sightseeing.
Going somewhere just to see attractions in person when she could simply find a picture on the internet seemed pointless to her.
"This is such a nice view! You should come take a look, Homura-chan!"
But Madoka seemed to be enjoying herself, so she would just bear with it.
She approached the observation deck where her friend stood, Kyoto's vast, sprawling metropolis laid out before them. Towers of steel jutted before them, their towering heights looking like they touched the heavens themselves.
"How does the view compare to what you see from Heaven?" she asked.
The goddess hummed as she gazed down at the populace. "I think I like this one better."
"Oh? Why is that?"
"Because . . ." She tapped her chin thoughtfully. "When I look down on them from Heaven, they seem so small and frail. But when I look down on them from one of their own creations, it makes me marvel at the heights that they have managed to achieve. And I can't help but feel proud." She turned to her. "What about you, Homura-chan? What do you see when you look down from here?"
Homura looked down. From her vantage point atop Kyoto tower, the people bustling about and the cars racing on the ground looked so small and insignificant.
She felt like she might crush some of them if she were to take one more step.
"I see people wallowing about in their selfishness, not giving a single thought to the troubles that plague the world," she said.
The goddess tilted her head. "You're not wrong," She concluded. "But you're not right either." She cupped her head between her hands. "It is true that many people disregard any events that do not directly involve them. But it is also true that many people fight for causes far away from them, for no other reason than because they believe it just." She smiled. "This world still has hope. It just needs a little time to get there."
Homura shrugged and nodded. She didn't really care about the rest of the world so long as Madoka remained safe. "As you say."
Madoka pushed herself off of the railing. "Let's go, Homura-chan! If we keep Asia-chan waiting any longer, she'll think we fell off or something."
Asia had followed them up the tower, but after taking one peek at the city beneath them from the observation deck, she had swiftly retreated back near the staircase, saying that she would wait for them to finish.
Homura didn't really understand what the issue was, but Madoka had giggled and called Asia's reaction "cute," so she had shrugged and put it out of her mind.
As they made their way back into the main building, they spotted their timid companion near the stairwell, only she seemed to have a rather large crowd around her.
A crowd consisting mostly of devils, if her memory didn't fail her.
Rias smiled at them as they approached. "Oh! Akemi-san, I didn't expect to find you here. I never got to thank you properly for helping me out, did I?"
"As I mentioned before, no thanks are necessary," she replied.
"I insist. Oh, I know!" Rias fumbled around in her bag. "Since you're in Kyoto, you might find these handy. My brother was rather overzealous and gave me too many." She chuckled weakly as she held out slips of paper.
Homura gave them a glance as she accepted the offering.
Kyoto Sirzechs Hotel
Pass for free overnight stay!
"Thank you," she said.
"It's the least I could do," the devil replied.
A golden blur zipped past them and hid behind Madoka, reforming into a red-faced Asia.
"Oh my, it appears that I got a bit ahead of myself," Akeno said as she stepped closer. "I'm sorry for teasing you so much, Asia-chan!" She glanced at the new arrivals. "Are they the companions you mentioned?"
"Y – yes –"
Madoka smiled and waved at Rias's peerage cheerfully. "It's nice to meet you all!"
Yuuto frowned. "You seem familiar, but I can't quite remember from where . . ."
"Peace conference," Koneko helpfully supplied.
Issei smacked his palm with a fist. "That's right! She's the one who made that spooky red barrier!"
Rias's eyes shot open. "M – Madoka-sama!" She hurriedly bowed. "I – I apologize for not noticing sooner! It's an honor to be in your presence –"
As the rest of her peerage began to follow suit, the goddess frantically tried to dissuade them. "No, no, it's fine – I'm not too comfortable with the bowing and scraping – I would have been more surprised if you had recognized me so quickly – !"
After all that confusion was cleared up and proper introductions had been made, they retreated down the tower and relocated to a nearby café. Even though everyone was some sort of supernatural entity, the conversations that sprung up were surprisingly normal.
Well, as normal as things could get for people like them.
Madoka had formed some sort of huddle with Rias and Akeno and the three of them were . . . gossiping.
Yes, her gentle, kind friend was gossiping.
About what, Homura had no clue.
And with the furtive glances they occasionally shot at various people in the vicinity, she wasn't sure if she wanted to know.
Yuuto and Asia had struck up a conversation of their own. She had no idea what the two had in common, but after overhearing a few snippets of their conversation, it appeared that they both had tragic pasts involving the Church.
"We will have to do something about that at some point."
Homura stiffened at Madoka's words. "What? Aren't you . . . ?"
"Talking with two other people at the same time? Yes, I am." The goddess giggled over their telepathic link. "Being proficient at multi-tasking is a requirement for most deities. You will not believe the number of things I had simultaneously occupying my attention back in the other world."
"Huh . . . wait, how did you know what I was thinking?"
"It wasn't hard to guess. I overheard parts of Asia-chan's and Kiba-kun's conversation too, and you were looking right at them."
"I see . . . what did you mean by 'doing something about that'?"
A telepathic sigh. "For an institution built on faith and righteousness, the Church is surprisingly corrupt. So long as I am the leader of Heaven, I will not tolerate such infidelity. But that will have to wait until later."
"Will I play a part in your solution to this issue?"
"Perhaps. I have not decided yet. In the meantime, you should socialize some more, Homura-chan!"
The magical girl sighed as the link was cut. A nagging doubt sprouted within her mind, whispering that she wouldn't be picked, that she wasn't good enough for Madoka –
She swiftly stomped it out with her iron discipline. Her friend was simply weighing her options and selecting the best people for the job. That was all. Emotions had nothing to do with it.
In any event, making friends was never her strong suit, but if her goddess decreed it to be so, she could at least try.
Glancing around, she looked to see who was currently not preoccupied with a conversation.
Issei was staring at Asia's chest, his head nodding absentmindedly as he pretended to listen to the nun's story about her life in the Church.
Well, he looked like he was busy so that only left . . .
Hazel eyes met her own as Koneko seemed to reach the same conclusion.
"Hello."
"Hi."
". . ."
". . ."
This might be harder than expected.
Who knew it would be so difficult for a quiet, reserved girl to strike up a conversation with another quiet, reserved girl?
"I like shooting things," she tried.
"I like punching things."
". . ."
". . ."
That was . . . better?
She would chalk this up as a victory in her book.
xxx
The first thing Madoka noticed about Kinkakuji temple was that it shone brightly.
Not because its exterior practically glowed with the gold paint applied to it, but because there was a faint aura surrounding the temple, one that exuded peace and calm for the benefit of all who entered.
It was also a popular tourist destination, but one wouldn't think that considering how barren the place was at the moment.
Homura frowned. "Where is everyone? Shouldn't there be more people here?"
"There usually are," a gruff voice answered. "But seeing as I have special guests today, I thought it would be better if we had a little privacy."
A childish figure covered in golden fur and wearing a monk's cassock approached them. Puffs of smoke drifted up from his pipe as he peered at them through his shades. "Normally, I don't show up on demand. But when another deity prays to me and asks for an audience . . . well, you could say I was intrigued."
Madoka smiled brightly while Homura and Asia looked on with a hint of confusion. "It's nice to meet you, Wukong-sama! I am Madoka." She gestured to her party members. "These are my friends, Homura-chan and Asia-chan."
"Wu – Wukong?! As in Sun Wukong?!" Asia hastily bowed when she realized the identity of the person in front of her.
Homura was more hesitant but gave a wordless bow after a stern glance from Madoka.
"The one and only." The Buddha took another draft from his pipe. "Come, let us take this inside."
The inside of the temple was sparse, with little furniture aside from the many sliding doors that separated the various rooms. But on each door was a painting, a work that an artist put their very soul into the making of: mountain ranges stretching across the room, mythical figures brandishing legendary weapons, and famous philosophers contemplating life's meaning.
They sat down at a table that had not been there a moment before, around a small, silver bowel containing sweets that the world had not seen for many ages.
"Among all the foodstuffs that I encountered during my travels, these will always remain my favorite," Wukong said as he plopped one into his mouth. "Go on, try one."
Madoka reached forward and took a sweet without hesitation. After chewing on it for a few seconds, her eyes widened. "Mmmm! It's good! Tastes like honey and caramel."
Seeing her reaction, Homura and Asia endeavored to try one as well.
"Ahhhh, it's melting in my mouth so nicely!" The nun said.
". . . Too sweet," Homura declared as her verdict.
Wukong chuckled. "Not to your taste, huh? Too bad." His gaze darted back to Madoka. "Before we begin, I have to know: who are you? I have never heard of you before the day ridiculous rumors started popping up about you, the new leader of Heaven."
"I am a goddess from another world," She answered. "I came here because people wished to be saved, and I wished to save them."
"A do-gooder, aren't you?" Another puff of smoke. "Not many deities have your attitude; most of them just think of humans as walking pockets of faith, to be ensnared and kept enthralled."
"As a former human myself, I know of human suffering only too well." Her eyes narrowed. "Their lives are troubling enough without petty gods thrown into the mix."
Wukong paused as he stared at the goddess for a long moment. Slowly, he set his pipe down. "A former human, you say? Now that's impressive." He took off his shades, revealing ageless eyes filled with the wisdom of a thousand years. "It takes a pure heart, a wellspring of benevolence, and an unfaltering sense of righteousness for a mere human to become a god." His eyes roved over her, seeing the goddess in a new light. "What was it that affirmed your resolve so, that allowed you to transcend the confines of the flesh and into a new and enlightened state?"
Madoka's eyes flitted into the distance as she thought back. "It was the tragedy of the world. That people with hopes so bright were doomed to fall into eventual despair." Her voice hardened. "Looking at their plight . . . it was just too sad. I couldn't accept a world like that. So, I rewrote it with my own two hands."
Wukong laughed. "When you put it like that, it sounds so simple. Not at all as complex as the eighty-one trials I had to undergo to gain my Buddhahood." His expression became serious. "But it wasn't any less difficult, was it?"
Madoka smiled sadly. "For you, you were given an arduous task, and you were free to do as you wish with your reward once you finished. But for me . . . " Her eyes softened. "It is an endless sacrifice. I did not ascend for my own benefit, but for the benefit of others. And that is my endless task."
The Buddha's expression was solemn. "I see." He paused. "Do you regret it?"
"Not at all."
He grinned. "A good answer." Suddenly, a bottle of sake was in his hands. "The deities I respect in this world are few and far between . . . but I think someone like you can make the cut." Cups sprang into existence around him, and he began pouring finely aged sake into each one. "If you what said is true, you'll be needing a good drink sooner or later."
Madoka smiled as she accepted the drink. "Thank you."
Homura coolly took a cup as well.
Asia stammered as a cup was placed in front of her as well. "U – um, I'm underage – a – and I don't think I'm supposed to drink anyway –"
Wukong rolled his eyes. "You youngsters and your stiff beliefs. Fine, fine." He waved his hand over Asia's cup and it flashed briefly. "There. I turned it into apple juice." His eyes narrowed. "The most expensive apple juice ever made. Know how much this thousand-year-old sake costs?"
"I – I'm sorry!"
He burst out laughing. "Oh, lighten up, I was just teasing ya. I don't actually care: I have a hundred more of these bottles anyway." He raised his cup into the air. "Now, let's drink up!"
A few empty cups later, and the atmosphere at the table was much more relaxed.
"Wooo . . . forgot how fun it was to drink with others," Wukong said. "Now, what was it that you sought me out for, Goddess?"
Homura perked up at the shift in topic; she was curious about why they had come here as well.
Madoka was a tad bit disoriented, but upon being addressed, she snapped back into focus. "Hmm? Oh, right." She gathered her thoughts before speaking again. "I came seeking your wisdom."
"My wisdom?" Wukong looked intrigued. "Do tell: what would a goddess like you have need of my wisdom for?"
"To create a vessel for a lost soul."
Homura's eyes widened at her words. Could it be . . . ?
Wukong tilted his head. "A vessel for a lost soul?" He stroked his chin. "You wouldn't h –"
His gaze suddenly darted to the side. Frowning, he slashed through the air with his pipe.
The others looked at him in confusion. "Is something the matter, Wukong-sama?" Madoka asked.
"It's nothing. Just getting rid of an annoying gnat." He brought his pipe back to his mouth. "Now, where was I? Oh, right." He cleared his throat. "You wouldn't happen to be trying to reincarnate the souls in Heaven, would you?" His gaze grew sterner. "Even if you are new at managing the affairs of Heaven, you should know that bringing the dead back to life would disrupt the balance of the world."
"Bringing back those long lost is not my intent," Madoka clarified. "It is for friends of mine, whose souls are much more detached than normal."
"Friends with detached souls? What strange acquaintances you have, Goddess." Wukong peered at Her. "Tell me, are these friends of yours dead?"
"Not dead. They are simply in a better place."
He gave her a strange look. "Some would think that you were simply using a euphemism, but I have the feeling that there is actually a significant difference, isn't there?"
She smiled. "There is."
The Monkey King sighed as he took another swig. "What strange things I've seen and heard throughout the ages." He set the bottle down and popped the cap back on. "Well, no matter. I am feeling generous, and if you are not attempting to disrupt the world's balance as you claim, then I shall lend you my aid."
Madoka clasped her hands together. "Thank you very much!"
"Don't start thanking me yet. Not until you get over the headaches." He snorted. "Before we begin, I assume that you want the vessel to be a humanoid body?"
She nodded.
"In that case, the God of the Bible would have been a much better teacher than me. But since He's not around anymore, I suppose I'll have to do." He folded his arms. "First off, to create something, you must truly understand it. Do you understand the human body?"
Madoka blinked. She could vaguely remember taking an anatomy class back in school when she was human, but she doubted that it was in-depth enough for her needs. "Only the basics," she confessed.
"Luckily for us, that won't be a problem since you kindly brought someone with the blueprint for the human body." He gave a pointed look at a specific person.
Asia, who had been fascinatedly following the conversation thus far, gave a start when she realized that everyone was now looking at her. "Huh? Me?"
Wukong rolled his eyes. "Yes, child. How do you think your Sacred Gear can heal any injury? Magic?" He chuckled. "Well, it actually is magic, but even magic needs a basis to work off. And for Twilight Healing, that basis is a fundamental understanding of the human body and how it works. It even has special indexes containing information about angels, devils, and fallen angels so that it can heal them too."
The nun stared at him with wonder. "H – how do you know all that, Wukong-sama?"
"I've been around for a long time, child. I even got to meet with the God of the Bible on a few occasions. And let me tell you, you won't believe the kind of stuff he lets slip when he's drunk." He began laughing as he reminisced about past times.
As Madoka and Asia looked on with growing horror at the kind of dirty jokes the old God liked to tell, Homura coughed politely. "That all sounds very interesting, but would you like to explain how Twilight Healing can help Madoka understand the human body?"
Wukong paused in his tirade. "Hmm? Oh, right. Must have had a bit too much to drink if I've started rambling." He coughed. "Anyway, God put the blueprint of the human body into that Sacred Gear to help it work. So, all she needs to do is . . . hmm, what's the term these days? Download?" He looked up in thought before nodding. "Yes, download. She needs to download a copy of that blueprint into her head."
They all stared at him.
"Um . . . how am I supposed to do that?" Madoka asked.
The Monkey King just waved his hand around indifferently. "Beats me. If you're the new leader of Heaven, that means you're the one now in charge of the Sacred Gear system. You should know better than me." He gulped down another bottle of sake. "If you don't know where to start, I'd suggest putting your hand on the gear and start concentrating. Can't really go wrong with that approach."
The goddess looked uncertain about the procedure but resolved herself to follow through. "May I?" she asked with a glance towards Asia.
"O – of course!" The nun quickly proffered her hand with the ring known as Twilight Healing.
Madoka clasped her hand around the ring gently and focused. Countless hours spent tinkering with the Holy System gave her some idea of what she was looking for. The system was held together by countless strands, each signifying a unique concept, and many of these strands were combined to further create more complex ideas.
Twilight Healing itself was a single strand made of countless others. To her mind, it felt like a maze, where each individual thread was a corridor she could proceed down.
Cervix.
Regeneration.
Sternum.
Ring.
Green.
Words flew through her mind. Many of them were foreign terms she didn't recognize, but when she latched onto them, they divulged their secrets to her.
Neck.
Breastbone.
Wrist.
Knowledge poured into her, everything she needed to know about those words she had just captured. How to recognize them. How to structure them.
How to create them.
At this point, she understood what she had to do. This was a labyrinth riddled with treasure, and it was her job to search every nook and cranny to find every last hoard.
It was a daunting task. With thousands of strands to choose from, and a thousand more diverging from each strand, she felt her mind would break under the impending strain.
But if it was for the sake of her friends, she was willing to endure any trial.
xxx
An eon passed.
At least, that was what it felt like to Madoka as she pieced together bits and pieces of the strands containing the blueprint for the human body.
Chin.
Armpit.
Navel.
She never knew the human body had so many different parts. She had enough trouble trying to comprehend it all, let alone coming up with it in the first place.
She found herself with a newfound respect for her predecessor.
Digestion.
Respiration.
Circulation.
How many had she gotten by now? She had lost count, but she felt her understanding grow bit by bit.
Soon, she felt that her knowledge would become complete.
Heel.
Chest.
Rib.
And like a monk suddenly achieving enlightenment, she felt everything shift into place.
She understood now. How humans were born, how they lived, how they moved, how they laughed, how they cried, how they died –
It was too much. If there were ever such thing as information overload, she was experiencing it now. It was like an ocean, and she was naught but a mere pebble to be swept away by the tide.
Maybe it would be easier if she just let it take her . . .
Madoka!
. . . ? Was someone . . . calling for her . . . ?
Madoka, please!
A familiar voice. It was an important voice, she knew. But she couldn't quite place it.
Please don't leave me!
And with a surge of emotion, she remembered.
Homura-chan!
And like a drowning man breaking the surface of the ocean, she woke up gasping for breath.
"Oh? Looks like you made it out of there in one piece."
Madoka panted, Homura buried into her side as she grasped her tightly. Asia was staring at her with wide eyes from across the table, her face pale and her body trembling.
"A – are you alright, M – Madoka-sama?" The nun shakily asked.
"I – I am fine," she replied. "Just tired."
Wukong was the only one with any sort of composure. "Well, did you get what you needed?"
The goddess numbly nodded.
Homura looked up and snarled at the Buddha. "You! You knew this would happen!"
He raised an eyebrow. "For all my vast wisdom, I did not actually know that this would happen. I imagined that it would be difficult, yes, but not so dire that it would put her into a coma."
"Wha – what?" Madoka was confused. "A coma?"
The Monkey King turned to look at her. "You were in there for two hours. Your followers got worried sick after the first hour, and they began trying everything to get you to wake up. But no matter what they did, you wouldn't respond." He frowned. "They even tried pulling your hand away from Twilight Healing, but even that didn't do anything." He sighed. "Even if we were all ignorant of the perils, I will still take the blame. Tampering with the creation of a higher being always has its dangers, and I should have warned you better."
She shook her head. "No. Don't feel bad. Even if you had warned me of the risks beforehand, my decision would remain unchanged."
"Is that so?" He lit up his pipe once more. "It's a rarity to find someone with your resolve. No wonder you ascended to godhood." He let out a puff. "Anywhere, now that the hard part is over, the rest is easy. All deities have the natural ability to create items related to their domains. Think of the feeling when you do that and apply it to your newly gained knowledge. Instinct should take care of the rest."
Madoka nodded slowly. "I understand. Thank you for your time, Wukong-sama. I am tired, so it would be best if we retired for the night."
He nodded. "Take care, Goddess. I wouldn't mind meeting you again."
As Madoka stumbled out of the temple with the aid of the two girls, she had an embarrassing revelation.
"Hah . . . I don't think I have the energy to take myself back to Heaven," she sheepishly admitted.
Homura shrugged. "It's a good thing we have these then." She pulled out the free hotel passes that Rias had given them.
Madoka took one look at the passes and burst out laughing at the sheer coincidence of it all.
"U – um, what is it, Madoka-sama?" Asia asked.
"Nothing," she replied tiredly. "Nothing at all."
xxx
Cao Cao and the rest of the Hero Faction stood near the outskirts of Kyoto. Their blades were honed, their bodies tense; the plan was due to start momentarily, but . . .
"What's wrong, Cao Cao?"
His eyes flickered behind him to see Georg, standing loyally at attention as always.
"Something troubling has arisen," he said. "The city's Ki is fluctuating more than it should be."
His friend frowned. "Ki fluctuation? That would only happen if someone was performing a ritual to manipulate the city's Ki or . . ."
"If someone with an immense amount of Ki were to appear," he finished.
Georg nodded. "Someone like that could prove rather troublesome for us. I believe it would be best if we investigated first. Know your enemy and all that, yes?"
Cao Cao scratched his chin as he pondered the uneasy feeling that had entered his gut.
"Le Fay!" he barked. "I need you up here."
"Here, here, Cao Cao-san!"
The magician he had called for skipped over, her big, blue hat bouncing up and down as she moved. Behind her, her brother followed closely, his eyes sharply observing everything in sight.
"How can I help?" Le Fay asked as she skidded to a stop in front of him.
"Something, or someone, is causing the Ki in the city to fluctuate abnormally," he said. "I need you to use your divination to find the cause."
"Right-o! I'll get started right away!"
Arthur remained while his sister ran off to collect the materials for her spell. He glanced at his leader. "Do you think this will hinder the mission?"
Cao Cao grunted. "It shouldn't. But just in case . . ."
They waited in silence as Le Fay prepared the reagents. Soon, the sound of her chanting echoed throughout the quiet clearing, growing louder and louder.
And at its peak, a hole inscribed itself on the surface of reality, showing the magician what she wished to see.
"Phew! I think I got it!" she called out.
Cao Cao strode over with his subordinates in tow. He peered over her shoulder at the image brought up by the scrying spell as several other members of the Hero Faction crowded around for a closer look as well.
"This spell is meant to show us the largest concentration of Ki in Kyoto," Le Fay informed him.
Cao Cao absently nodded as he observed the scene. There was a group of people sitting around a table; the flooring and walls led him to believe they were in some sort of shrine. There were three girls that he didn't recognize, but the old man they were talking to seemed vaguely familiar –
"I came seeking your wisdom," a female voice spoke.
Behind him, Georg furrowed his brows as he stared intently at the one who spoke. "I cannot be certain, but based on the description given to us by Vali, I think that she might be the new leader of Heaven that we've heard about lately."
"Heaven?" Cao Cao frowned. "What is the Heaven faction doing here?"
"My wisdom?" the older man spoke. "Do tell: what would a goddess like you have need of my wisdom for?"
"Well, that certainly confirms it," Georg muttered.
But Cao Cao didn't quite hear his friend's comment. The old man's voice had sparked a feeling of recognition, and as he searched his memory for why it sounded so familiar, he realized –
"That's Sun Wukong."
Arthur raised an eyebrow. "The Great Sage Equaling Heaven himself? Are you certain?"
Cao Cao nodded numbly. "I met him once when I was young."
If Sun Wukong was here, that would explain the fluctuation of the city's Ki. After all, the Monkey King possessed a vast amount of Ki himself, enough to send ripples through other sources of Ki like a pebble dropped into a lake.
"To create a vessel for a lost soul."
"A vessel for a lost soul? You wouldn't h –"
The man in the image stopped and turned around, his gaze swinging to look –
Right at them.
"Eeeeeek!" Le Fay was panicking. "He's noticed us!"
Before she could do anything to conceal their presence again, Wukong's pipe flashed across the screen. The surface rippled, losing its cohesion and dissolving into fine mist.
The magician sat back with a sigh. "Darn. Now that he's on guard against me, I won't be able to peek in on them very easily."
"It's fine," Cao Cao interrupted. "We got what we needed."
Conversations were breaking out as the Hero Faction discussed the presence of the two deities in Kyoto.
"Isn't Sun Wukong a terrifyingly strong god?!"
"Nah, look at how old he was; I bet he's a total pushover!"
"Was that really Heaven's new goddess? She looked kind of cute."
"Will we have to fight Her? I'd feel bad about fighting angels . . ."
"ENOUGH!"
Cao Cao's voice rang through the clearing, silencing all others. Once the quiet had returned, Heracles stepped forward to voice the question in all their heads.
"Well? Is the plan going through, or not?"
As the crowd waited with bated breath for his answer, Cao Cao felt his fist clench and unclench repeatedly. His pride was telling him to stand and fight regardless of these complications, but . . .
He could still remember that overwhelming pressure. Even as a child, he had been unnaturally perceptive, and so he was able to tell that the old monkey in front of him was no normal monkey.
It was strong.
Incredibly so.
And as it told him of his ancestry, of the great hero he was descended from and the great hero he might become in the future, the only thing running through his mind was the insurmountable gulf between them.
No matter how hard he trained, no matter how long he lived . . .
He would never be able to defeat it.
Even now, when he was older and more experienced, when he laid eyes on the Monkey King once more, that feeling was as strong as ever. In other words . . .
This mission was over before it even began.
The only thing left was to assuage his damaged pride.
"We're pulling back."
Cries of protest immediately sprang up to meet his decision, Heracles being the loudest and most vocal of them.
"What?! We're leaving just because of an old monkey and a wannabe goddess?!"
"SILENCE!"
The crowd quieted once more at his raised voice.
"While Wukong may be defeated with careful preparation." Cao Cao choked a little on his lie. "Getting embroiled in a conflict with Heaven would defeat the purpose of our group. Or have you all forgotten who it was that bestowed these blessed gifts upon us?"
The murmuring died down as various people glanced at their Sacred Gears with looks of acknowledgment.
Heracles, however, was not satisfied. "In that case, we can just ignore that goddess and her goons! If we don't attack them, they'll have no reason to interfere with our mission!"
Cao Cao gazed at his subordinate with an unimpressed look. "And just what do you think they will think of us when we kidnap the leader of Kyoto with the intent of forcing her to open the Dragon Gate? They will believe that we are not heroes, but villains. And they will do their utmost to stop us, as is the duty of the Heavenly Host." His stare intensified. "Do you want to be a villain, Heracles?"
The musclebound man scowled but grudgingly backed down.
With the loudest and most brazen of them cowed, no one else raised an objection to their retreat. As people began turning to leave, Cao Cao paused and took one last glance at the city.
"That was an impressive performance."
He turned to find Georg smiling at him. "It won't change the fact that we failed," he said with a scowl.
His friend shrugged. "Some things can't be helped. At the very least, you managed to retain their respect with that speech of yours." He pushed back his glasses. "Retreating to fight another day is always a viable option. A pity that many of them do not understand that."
Cao Cao was silent. "If it weren't for that day so many years ago, I wouldn't understand that either," he said at last and began walking away. "Come. At the very least, we heard something interesting before the spell was cut off."
"Indeed, we did . . ." Georg grinned. "A vessel for a lost soul, hmm?"
xxx
". . . And you are certain about this?"
The well-mannered man sitting across from him smiled. "Of course. I assure you that my sources are very reliable."
The Pope closed his eyes and breathed heavily. "Normally, I would have taken your news as an ill-mannered jest, but from what my people have been able to discover, your claim is not without merit, Astaroth-san."
"I would never bring you bad information," the other man smoothly replied. "That is, provided you are willing to pay my fee?"
He grimaced, a hint of distaste creeping onto his features. "Yes, yes. You will find her ready for pickup in the same room as usual."
Astaroth raised an eyebrow. "Oh? You seem to be lacking your usual hesitation, Pope-sama. Have you gotten used to it?" He grinned savagely. "Used to using others for your own gain? To this deal with a devil?"
"As despicable as you are, Astaroth-san," the Pope said, "I would hardly call you a devil. My current sorry state is the fault of no one but myself."
"If only you were aware of the irony of that statement . . ." the other man muttered.
"Hmm? What was that?"
"Nothing," Astaroth smoothly replied. "However, you still haven't answered my question."
A bitter laugh. "Does it really matter if I am used to it or not? A sin is a sin, no matter how the perpetrator's heart may look at it. But with God's death, even the most virtuous saint may sin, and there will be no one to punish him for it." He let out a tired sigh. "To think I used to be one of the idealistic masses, praying to the Heavens all innocently, unaware of the tragedy of the world . . ."
He hadn't always been this jaded, wretched man today. When he had first taken up the office of Pope he had been ecstatic, eager to share the Word of God with the devoted masses. All had been well for a while until he had unwittingly stumbled onto the Church's darker side.
A corrupt clergyman who extorted his worshippers into giving him money with threats of damnation and hell. A most despicable person.
He had the man arrested and excommunicated on the spot.
But the man had laughed. Laughed and said those awful parting words:
"God is dead."
He had not believed it, at first. He brushed it off as simply the ramblings of a raving lunatic. But the more time passed, the more his intuition nagged at him, making him question the validity of that claim.
So he had investigated. It was difficult, with the Heavens all clammed up as they were, but after finding records from his predecessor, he had learned the truth.
God was dead. His work was a lie. His station was a lie. His life was a lie.
He had been ready to resign then and there. But in his darkest moments, a certain someone had come to him, with silky words that rolled off a serpentine tongue.
"Would it not look suspicious for the new Pope to quit so soon after taking office? You don't want the masses to figure it out, do you? If you think your despair is so great, what do you think will happen when the masses learn the truth?"
That certain someone who sat across from him even now.
"Even if God is dead, it is your duty as their shepherd to protect them, is it not? Even if it means protecting them from the truth. A little white lie won't hurt, will it?"
It had started small. Small favors in exchange for friendly advice.
But as he continued living this lie, it escalated. His advisor started asking for "donations". Specifically, of the female, virgin kind. Preferably of the "Holy Maiden" variety.
He had been appalled at first. But Astaroth had offered information about the movements of the other Biblical Factions, and he had eventually rationalized it as sacrificing one life to save countless others.
A den of vicious stray devils stationed near a church.
A group of nefarious rogue Fallen plotting to murder a bishop.
A batch of stray exorcists: traitors seeking to undermine that which they once protected.
All eliminated thanks to his associate's information.
And that was where their relationship stood today. Offering lives for the information to save more lives.
A serpentine smile. "If I may, I have an additional proposal that you may find worth your while."
"Go on."
"I have in my possession a photo of the usurper. With it, it will be much easier for you and your men to dispose of the imposter."
The Pope nodded carefully. "That is true," he admitted. "What is your price?"
"Due to some incompetent help, one of the nuns that I was meant to obtain was lost. It is not very easy for me to recover her at the moment, which is why I would like your assistance in the matter."
He drummed his fingers on his desk. "If this is about who I think it is, I will need some time to set things up, but it should be doable."
"That is fine," the other man said. "So long as you follow through, I have no grievances." He turned and beckoned. "Come, darling. Show our host his prize."
A young woman walked up, face downcast and posture slumped. Her eyes were utterly vacant, and her movement was stiff, as if she couldn't move without someone else's orders. She set down her bag, pulled a photo out of it, and laid it on the desk.
"Here you are, Astaroth-sama," she murmured.
He smiled beatifically at her. "Why, thank you, darling."
Looking at the broken girl in front of him, he could hazard a guess at what the man did with the women he had handed over to him these past few years. It was something he didn't like to dwell on, despite his countless sins over the years.
"I believe that concludes our business, yes?"
The Pope looked up to see that Astaroth had gotten up, ready to leave. "Yes . . . that will be all."
The other man nodded. "In that case, I bid you farewell." With a flourish, he spun around and left, his servant following close on his heels. The two of them would not be stopped by any of those guarding the inner sanctum, for he had long since replaced the old guards with men of his own, men who wouldn't question what their Pope was doing, having such furtive, surreptitious meetings with dubious characters.
As their footsteps receded, the Pope glanced down at the image that had been left for him.
His first impression was that the supposed deity was awfully young, with a sort of ethereal, radiant beauty that reminded him of the fairest angels in Heaven. Pink hair framed a gentle, kind smile that reminded him of his late wife.
He sighed. It was hard to reconcile this girl, no, this deity with the fake, the imposter, the enemy that he was supposed to fight against.
But it must be done.
Even if he was one of the vilest sinners, a wicked man who deserved his own personal level in Hell, he was still the Pope.
He would prevent God's legacy from being perverted by this usurper. And he would protect the secret of God's demise from being revealed by this imposter.
xxx
Omake: A Most Indirect, Convoluted, and Unintentional Favor
Homura plopped down in her bed, tired after such a long day. As she felt her drowsiness beginning to pull her under, she felt something lightly land on her face.
She shot up in her bed, eyes already scanning the room for any possible threats.
When none presented themselves, her eyes darted to an inconspicuous-looking paper that had fallen on the comforter. Picking it up, she quickly read its contents:
Consider your favor to me fulfilled.
Great Red
She frowned.
"But I didn't even do anything."