Chapter Eight
"I can clean myself up, y' know!" Kyoko protested as Sayaka rubbed at her face with a wet paper towel next to the sinks in the restrooms.
"Then don't make a mess in the first place!" Sayaka commented in aggravation, perhaps scrubbing a little harder than necessary.
"Ow-OW! Be careful, I'm still tender!" Kyoko winced, pulling her face away when the bruises on her face really started to sting. Sayaka's eyes widened in surprise before she looked down at her hands.
"Sorry." She bunched up the paper towel and threw it into the trash. "I guess I'm just annoyed right now. I've managed to embarrass myself in front of Kyosuke twice, and the night has barely even started!"
"Hey, I'm the one who should be annoyed since you insist on molesting my head in public." Kyoko accused.
"Again with the fake molestation gag?" Sayaka said in exasperation. "If anything, you were the one sexually harassing me in front of them."
"Maybe we're subconsciously hot for each other?" Kyoko wiggled her eyebrows suggestively at Sayaka.
The blunette snorted dismissively. "Saying things like that is what's going to cause misunderstandings! Did you see Madoka's face, she was like," Sayaka demonstrated a mock shocked face, much to Kyoko's amusement. "And I definitely don't want Kyosuke to get the wrong idea! Ugh, I should've introduced you two properly to clear the air."
"Sayaka, look at me." Kyoko held her thumb and pointer finger half an inch apart. "This is how much I give a fuck."
Sayaka stared at Kyoko as if she were annoyed with herself for even considering Kyoko cared for her problems at all. "You don't have a romantic bone in your body, do you?"
Kyoko actually looked offended. "I do!" Then it was as if she lost some steam and her eyes trailed away from Sayaka. "It's just that this has nothing to do with me. I'm here to have fun and eat food, not make you look good in front of your boyfriend."
Sayaka adopted a sly look. "So, you don't have a romantic bone in your body."
"Shut up! I do!" Kyoko defended herself with a blush.
"Then, what would you do on a date?" Sayaka asked, sensing that she could use this against Kyoko.
Kyoko looked ready to respond, but she had to pause in thought. She really had no idea what would be considered romantic. "I would, like, y'know… Eat first. Then we'll hang out. And then we'll eat some more."
"Ha!" Sayaka crossed her arms and looked smug. "That was even more pathetic then I had anticipated!"
Kyoko huffed resentfully. Her answer had been the tiniest bit pathetic. "Why are you getting so superior over something like this?"
"Because," Sayaka looked mighty proud of herself. "I consider myself to be an extreme romantic." She looked like she half expected rose petals to fly around her after her declaration.
"Ohhh, then enlighten me with your expertise of what to do on a date, ye shining beacon of hope for those of us too inept to understand the sacred art of courtship." Kyoko drawled contemptuously.
Sayaka would normally comment on the river of sarcasm attempting to bowl her over, but she was so confident in this topic of conversation that she decided she would do Kyoko a favor in the area of love. "First!" she held up a finger dramatically. "Surprise is essential! Boldness is also important! Instead of plain old flowers presented to your date, how about a sonnet of love which will leave an impression in their heart forever!" Sayaka looked to be getting caught up in her own idea while Kyoko looked on in confusion, still trying to figure out what the hell a 'sonnet' was.
"Dinner should be made and served by your own hands. But in a romantic place, not at your own! Then, at the end of the night, I would dip my date and whisper 'I love you.' tenderly into their ear. Uwah, I'm blushing just thinking about it!" Sayaka put her hands to her cheeks and sighed at her own fantasy.
"That's…" Kyoko couldn't hold back her laughter. "the most hilarious thing I've heard all day!" Kyoko had to lean on the sinks and hold her stomach to keep her ribs from bursting forth with how hard she started to laugh.
Sayaka reached out a finger and tried to tip Kyoko over. The redhead nearly did fall over from the tiny push since she was too busy laughing her ass off to do much else.
"Geez, mock me all you want but I didn't think you'd laugh this hard." Sayaka grumbled with a puff of her cheeks.
"This Kyosuke must be girlier than I thought if you think you gotta do those kinds of things for him!" Kyoko said breathlessly, picturing Sayaka dipping that guy and whispering 'I love you' into his ear while he swooned. The thought was enough to send Kyoko into another fit of hilarity.
"Eh?" The gears in Sayaka's head turned and clicked into place as she realized she had been speaking as if she was the one who courted Kyosuke in reversed roles. "T-that's not what I meant!" Sayaka blushed furiously, holding her hands up defensively. "I was just saying that that is what I consider romantic!"
"You were totally playing the part in your head!" Kyoko was having too much fun with this. "You were saying 'I' by the second half," It was her turn to look extremely sly. "Looks like someone wants to wear the pants in their fantasy relationship."
"Arg!" Sayaka gripped at her hair, not having a good comeback for something she had said herself. The fact that Kyoko caught her saying something like that and was laughing outright at her expense was going to destroy her brain! "Well according to you, we're on a date right now!" she shot back, wanting to wipe the mirth from Kyoko's face.
The laughter stopped immediately. "Huh?" Kyoko squeaked unintelligently.
"We ate, then we hung out, then we ate some more." Sayaka recited in amusement. "See? No romance whatsoever!"
"'Cause we're not dating," Kyoko deadpanned. "Not that I'd want to, after everything you just said." Kyoko mock shivered as if the idea of Sayaka reciting a love sonnet to her repulsed her.
"It's still been a terrible date." Sayaka continued to jab, hoping for a reaction. And she was getting one, since Kyoko looked like she was getting progressively annoyed.
"If you're going to start calling this a date," Kyoko stepped up to Sayaka, taking the other girl by surprise, grabbed her by the waist and dipped her low. "You'd be into something like this, right?" Kyoko stared with satisfaction down at Sayaka. "Now who's wearing the pants?"
Sayaka had to grab Kyoko by her forearms to support herself. "So much for not doing things that'll cause misunderstandings. And in the bathroom of all places." Sayaka was nose to nose with Kyoko but she still sounded defiant despite the blood rushing her cheeks. "You're more tasteless than I thought."
Kyoko gulped and couldn't help her eyes darting away momentarily in fleeting tension, before focusing back of Sayaka's face with renewed pride. "You started it."
"Um, excuse me!" a voice outside the bathroom door spoke loudly, interrupting their conversation and making Kyoko drop Sayaka on the bathroom floor rather unceremoniously. "If you people aren't using the bathroom, can I go in now? I'm peeing myself!" the voice said urgently.
Sayaka scrambled to her feet to whack Kyoko on the arm for dropping her onto a public bathroom floor. Kyoko laughed some more as Sayaka rigorously patted herself off and looked embarrassed, realizing they had been hogging the space and with their trivial messing around. "Let's get out of here, we're holding everyone up."
"Hold up," Kyoko grinned bashfully at her. "You made me laugh so hard I gotta pee now."
Sayaka huffed and stepped past Kyoko to give her the privacy. "You suck as a date."
"And yet, you're having fun. Who knew, right?" Sayaka rolled her eyes and waved dismissively as she stepped out the door. Now alone, Kyoko allowed herself to put a hand to her chest to calm her thundering heartbeat. 'Geez, what is wrong with me?' She couldn't even tease Sayaka properly without almost getting lost in the moment herself.
When Kyoko stepped into the bathroom stall, she noticed with horror that someone had painted a giant Kyubey face on the inside of the door.
"… I change my mind." Kyoko fled the bathroom quickly, much to the relief of the people waiting in line.
By the time they got back from cleaning themselves off, Homura was waiting for them at the entrance to the enormous tent. "Since I'm the one with the tickets," she had said upon asking. "I wouldn't want you two barred outside by yourselves."
Sayaka had leaned over to Kyoko. "Why do I get the feeling she would rather have everyone except for Madoka barred from entering?" she whispered.
"I dunno," Kyoko whispered back. "But try not to think it; this girl's got ninja sense or something."
"I do not have ninja sense, please stop talking nonsense." Homura replied without missing a beat. They didn't say anything after that and followed Homura inside like chastised children.
Just as the view outside left an impression, the inside of the Walpurgisnacht circus tent was equally impressive. The farther they walked, the higher and broader the room became, opening up to an enormous stadium-like space, complete with raised seating for hundreds of people surrounding a big ring. The place glittered with lights and anticipation.
Kyoko was thrilled. She wanted to immediately start running around and would have if Sayaka hadn't anchored the excited girl by the hand and guided her the correct way before she could get lost. And though Sayaka tried to remain the serious one between them, she couldn't help being looking about her in wonder
"Sayaka-chan, Kyoko-chan! Over here!" Madoka waved at them from seats from the very first row. They headed over and took their seats. Sayaka ended up sitting next to Hitomi, who had Kyosuke sitting on the other side. Sayaka was reluctant to sit down, but gave in when Hitomi smiled reassuringly at her. "Hello Sayaka." Hitomi greeted hopefully. Sayaka merely nodded and looked ahead.
Kyoko sat on Sayaka's other side, followed by Homura and Madoka.
Hitomi leaned forward to look past Sayaka. "I don't think I've had the chance to meet you yet." Hitomi said to Kyoko, holding out her hand for a shake. "I'm Hitomi, and you are?"
Kyoko stared at the offered hand in slight irritation. She couldn't remember ever having to introduce herself so much in such a short period of time!
"That's Kyoko Sakura." Sayaka answered for her. Sayaka turned around in her seat to Kyoko. "Kyoko, this is my fr-, this is Hitomi." A hurt looked passed over Hitomi's face, but Sayaka still wouldn't look at her. "Go on, shake her hand. Don't worry; you don't have to sniff it first or anything." Sayaka continued to address Kyoko.
Giving Sayaka a withering glare, Kyoko took the proffered hand. "Nice to meet you." she said half-heartedly out of the side of her mouth. Hitomi had a firm and steady grip for such a delicate looking girl.
"Enjoy being domesticated?" Homura commented quietly to Kyoko. Again, the manner in which she said it struck a chord in the redhead that made her uneasy.
"I don't think I'd enjoy the collar and leash as much as you do, Homerun." she grumbled back without looking at her. Homura was also looking straight ahead as she addressed the other girl. After the mutual jabs, they went back to their respective conversations as if they hadn't just spoken.
"So, how do you know Sayaka?" Hitomi asked Kyoko, trying to get a conversation going.
"I beat the living-"
"She's my new roommate." Sayaka cut Kyoko off before she could say anything embarrassing. She put an emphasis on the word 'roommate' so that Kamijou would also hear.
Kyosuke joined the conversation at that moment. "Ah, so she must be that 'stray' you were referring to. I must say, this is new even for you, Sayaka."
Kyoko shot Sayaka a questioning look. "'Stray'?"
Sayaka laughed nervously before clearing her throat. "It's just a temporary arrangement."
Homura decided to ask a question. "Until when, Sayaka Miki?" she inquired. She needed to know how long Kyoko will be able to distract Sayaka from Madoka.
"Uhhh," Kyoko and Sayaka looked at each other. Kyoko was still reluctant to admit that she had rendered Sayaka's initial motivation for taking her in null. She broke eye contact first.
Sayaka considered the other girl for a moment, slightly surprised that Kyoko had looked away from her with what looked like guilt on her face. "Until she's ready." Sayaka finally answered. "She can stay until she's ready."
Kyoko looked back at Sayaka with a confused brow raised. Ready for what exactly? Sayaka just shrugged at her like she wasn't quite sure what she meant either. That's when the lights inside the giant tent dimmed and the whole place was plunged in darkness.
"It's here." Homura stated ominously. Kyoko nudged her arm.
"Quit that, you're starting to freak me out."
"Quit what?" Homura asked in genuine confusion, but some anonymous person shushed them. The show was finally starting and a single spotlight illuminated the center of the ring where a small white animal sat perched on a colorful platform.
"Aw, it's so cute!" Madoka commented.
A voice over the intercom boomed over them. "My name is Kyubey!" said the cute voice as if the white creature was speaking them. "Make a contract with me and become a magical girl!" Girls from the audience squealed at the prospect.
"Wah, it talked!" Kyoko exclaimed, jumping out of her seat and looking shocked.
"It's not real!" Sayaka told her, yanking her back down into the seat. An annoyed audience member shushed them once again.
"I want to become a magical girl!" Madoka said dreamily.
"It would suit you." Homura encouraged wholeheartedly.
"Magical girls fight Witches and spread hope, all in exchange for a single wish!" Kyubey explained as the spotlight focused on him. The beam of light soon started broadening and encompassing the entire arena, revealing many girls in various costumes appeared while the audience was focused on Kyubey. They waved at the spectators proudly, faces painted swirling colors to go with their outlandish varying outfits.
"Whoa, where did they come from?" Sayaka was the one who exclaimed and stood up this time.
"Since two minutes ago, it was so obvious!" Kyoko said, yanking Sayaka down into her seat. Several people around them shushed them again.
Hitomi was embarrassed with the negative glances they kept receiving. "Perhaps we should try to keep it down?" she suggested politely.
"Why?" Sayaka demanded to know. "It's a circus, not an opera."
"Yeah, what she said!" Kyoko exclaimed. When someone shushed them yet again, she said very loudly "Bring it!"
"That's not what I said!" Sayaka ducked down in her seat, afraid people would actually 'bring it'.
Kyoko shrugged. "I'm paraphrasing."
"Kyoko-chan, remember there are children present." Madoka leaned over Homura to whisper. Homura flashed Kyoko a thumbs up. Kyoko had no idea what she meant.
"If parents come after us, I'm leaving you behind." Sayaka grumbled to Kyoko.
"Good! I can handle a few angry parents." Kyoko smirked. "I've handled angry parents high off my ass after attacking a playground when I thought I was a mag-"
"Never mind!"
"Hey," Kyosuke spoke over all of them sharply, voice commanding attention. "Quiet. All of you." Sayaka flushed and squeaked a 'yes'. Kyoko looked irritated, but kept her mouth shut since the stage demanded her attention anyway.
Music started playing loudly as the clowns- or 'Magical Girls'- started running around the ring, performing somersaults and flips and other impressive acrobatic feats. Spotlights of various colors swirled the entire tent, and something in the atmosphere seemed to change as well. The air itself was being filled with projections of seemingly random objects like candy or small animals. The audience reached out their hands in wonder as things seemed to float around them.
"Welcome to the Witch's barrier where our Magical Girls will stop them from spreading despair with their magic!" Kyubey narrated quite well in that upbeat unisex voice he had. Up above their heads the spotlight fixated on an oddly shaped figure swinging on the trapeze. Glowing letters that appeared in the air above the figure labeled it as a Witch. The Witch looked like a pink plushie.
Even so, the Magical Girls launched themselves at it to destroy it. Trampolines were place around the ring and they leapt to and fro, launching streamers and colorful sparklers at the Witch. Somehow a giant white canon was rolled in by a Magical Girl dressed in yellow with white face paint. The audience gasped at the size of the canon. The girl winked and curtsied at the audience before pulling a big chord on the canon and saying the words "Tiro Finale!" A giant yellow ribbon burst from the canon and wrapped itself around the small Witch and the audience cheered.
"AH!" Madoka suddenly exclaimed excitedly. "Mami-san!"
"Mami?" Sayaka exclaimed in surprise as well. "Hey, that is Mami! I almost couldn't tell with the face paint. What's she doing there?"
"Wow, Mami-sempai is really amazing, isn't she?" Hitomi said to Kyosuke, cheering excitedly for their classmate.
Homura pursed her lips as she watched Madoka cheer very loudly for Mami. "Impressive as always, Mami Tomoe." she acknowledged her rival. Kyoko didn't care who the big breasted girl was, all she knew was that canon looked fucking awesome.
When the ribbon wrapped around the Witch, something huge and dark burst forth from its mouth and lunged at Mami so suddenly that the audience collectively gasped. There were polka dots and a flash of sharp teeth on the dark shape that was an extension of the Witch itself. However, Mami was not alone, as there had been Magical Girls swarming the trapeze like the professional acrobats they were and they pulled the Witch back before it even reached a confidently poised Mami. Getting a good look at the thing now, it wasn't so scary, and its teeth looked like an oversized grin. The Magical Girls somehow got their hands on some giant tennis rackets and proceeded to smack the Witch between them like some kind of bizarre game. The spectators ate it up, laughing along at this strange comedic sight until the Witch fell.
"Now that the Witch has been defeated, hope prevails and darkness falls!" Kyubey proclaimed as the music reached its climax and the Magical Girls threw up their arms victoriously. The audience cheered loudly as the opening act concluded. Sayaka was one of the loudest, whooping and clapping her hands over her head.
"Now who's acting like a kid?" Kyoko said with a laugh. Sayaka ignored her as she tried to call out to Mami along with Madoka. However, it seemed the blonde couldn't hear them and bowed deeply to the crowd before waving and skipping out of the spotlight with the other Magical Girls.
Madoka decided to text Mami. 'Mami-san, I thought you couldn't make it tonight, but I saw you in the show! That's amazing!' It didn't take long for her to get a response.
'Sorry for lying, but I wanted to surprise you Madoka! I was lucky enough to get to know one of the girls participating and she invited me along. I'm happy to know you saw my short performance, even if I think it was a little embarrassing. I'll meet up with everyone later and greet you properly.'
The show went on, mostly involving outlandish animals parading around the tent, and the circus clowns doing comedic acts and making the audience roar with laughter at their physical play. Kyubey served as the ring master and would scamper onto the center stand occasionally to introduce a new act or provide monologue.
Finally, around the time the show was supposed to end, the small white ferret/cat/rabbit thing took center stage and called out for a volunteer from the audience. A hundred hands shot up eagerly, wanting to participate in whatever was going to happen next. The spotlight zigzagged across the stands as a drum roll sounded in anticipation. Finally, the light zeroed in on one rigid person near the front.
"Huh? Is it me?" Kyoko asked eagerly since she had been stretching out her arm as hard as she could into the air much to Sayaka's embarrassment.
"Homura-chan, the light's on you!" Madoka exclaimed in excitement.
"It is not." Homura stated with finality, even as the light glinted off her glasses and nearly blinded Madoka.
"Homura Akemi, come on down!" Kyubey called out.
"Tch, so it was Homerun." Kyoko sat down and sulked in disappointment.
"Homura-chan!" Madoka grabbed onto the dark haired girl's shoulder and shook her since she had immediately turned to stone the moment that annoying voice called her out by name. "C'mon, it'll be fun!" Madoka insisted.
"I don't remember volunteering." Homura sighed and got to her feet. She looked uncomfortable as she made her way towards the ring.
"This is Homura Akemi," Kyubey introduced her once she stood wearily next to him in the center of the ring. "She helped me find my way in this beautiful city after I got lost!" he relayed.
"You mean when I knocked you unconscious and dragged you ba-" Homura started to inquire. Her soft yet firm voice echoed and bounded through the room through speakers.
"What a thoughtful girl!" Kyubey interrupted her with an all too adorable tilt of his head. "Say, would you like to make a contract with me and become a Magical Girl?" Jealous members of the audience gasped eagerly at this invite.
"I refuse." Homura said straight away. This was clearly not according to script. An awkward silence encompassed the crowd at the unexpected answer. "I don't know what this contract entails. Is there a written form you could show me?"
"Eh, written form?" Kyubey's voice sounded nervous over the intercoms. "I can grant you any wish! In exchange, you spread hope and-"
"I know that part." Homura cut in. "However, what are you getting out of this 'contract'? I can't possibly make this step without first evaluating all details of this form, should you provide one. Am I being unreasonable?"
Behind Sayaka, she could overhear a conversation between a child and her parent. "Papa, that girl is ruining my childhood!" Sayaka wanted to facepalm.
"Wow, Homura-chan is so smart!" Madoka gushed.
Kyoko gave her a deadpan look. "Nothing get's past you, does it?"
Behind Homura, a very short Magical Girl wearing a black polka dotted scarf and a pink frilly dress stepped up behind her and whispered in her ear. "Hey, just play along! This isn't real y' know."
Homura sighed. "Very well." She opened her eyes and cut a look at the circus mascot sitting before her, swishing its fluffy tail and peering at her with those soulless red eyes. "In that case," she removed the glasses from her face and flicked her hair over her shoulder. "I wish to always be close to the person I care for the most." She looked straight at Madoka when she said it.
"Smooth move, Homerun." Kyoko said with a smirk, seeing Madoka blush under Homura's meaningful look. "For once." Sayaka crossed her arms and frowned in a disagreeable way.
"If that is your wish, Homura Akemi, it shall be done!" Kyubey's voice multiplied and bounced through everyone's ears. There was a sudden bloom of thick smoke that rushed through the ring and hid Homura and Kyubey from view. The drum roll resumed and the smoke swirled thickly for a few moments, obscuring the crowd's view of what was happening within the ring. Then all at once the smoke was blown away.
Homura looked down at herself. "… Not bad." Somehow in those brief moments Homura had transformed into a Magical Girl, complete with sexy black stockings, white jacket with purple lapels, and a short black skirt. In her hands she had a striking black bow and arrow that didn't look like it was just decoration. Overall it looked like the outfit had been tailored to fit her.
"WHOA!" Madoka was amazed. So were Kyoko and Sayaka for that matter.
"Akemi-san looks very impressive, doesn't she?" Kyosuke said. Hitomi nodded eagerly.
"Can I become a Magical Girl?" Hitomi asked.
"No." Sayaka replied quickly.
"Oh."
Kamijou took a dejected Hitomi's hand. "Your charm has enough magical effect on me." he said smoothly. Sayaka gagged on something. Probably jealousy. However she barely had time to savor the taste when Kyoko smacked her on the back so hard she nearly fell into the row in front of them.
After coughing and apologizing to the people she coughed on Sayaka whirled on Kyoko. "What did you do that for? !"
"Looked like you were choking on something." Kyoko responded with a cheeky grin. Sayaka really wanted to grab Kyoko and shake her until her brain rattled in that head of hers, but she restrained herself. Barely.
Meanwhile back in the ring, after a round of amazed applause Homura was allowed to return to her seat, where an eager Madoka waited to snuggle her. "Homura-chan, you look so cool!" Madoka squealed enviously, squeezing Homura until the newly transformed Magical Girl looked she was about to pass out from happiness.
"This is the end of the show, but it's not the end of the Festival of Witches!" Kyubey said cheerily. "Outside, the festival continues with many treats for all you potentials out there in the audience. Thank you for coming out to see us, and remember to spread hope and happiness even if you don't make a contract with me!"
"That," Kyoko said with a grin as they stood up from their seats. "was awesome."
"Yeah, it really was!" Sayaka agreed. "I like the part when Mami-san was like 'Boom!' and the others were like, 'Pow!' and the Witch was all like 'Nooo!'"
While Kyoko shot an uncomprehending yet amused look at her, Kyosuke laughed along with Sayaka. "I know what you mean! That part was rather exciting, wasn't it?" He put his fists up like a boxer. "I have no desire to become a Magical Girl myself, but fighting a Witch would be interesting, wouldn't it?"
Kyoko muttered under her breath. "Why not, a frilly dress would suit you."
Sayaka reflected Kyosuke's pose with a giggle. "Better leave the fighting to the professionals, Kamijou-kun!" He sent a playful one-two her way, which she slapped away and sent a slow-motion right hook at his head. Kamijou made a face before he slowly ducked under it. Sayaka laughed before aiming her next slow-motion punch into his abdomen. Kyoko and Hitomi had paused to watch this playful exchange between the childhood friends.
"This is pathetic." said Kyoko in dislike.
Hitomi gazed sadly at the pair. "I'm glad," Hitomi said with a sigh. "It looks like Sayaka can still have fun with him. I was a little worried that maybe I had ruined their friendship." The green haired girl wrung her hands worriedly as she looked especially hard at Sayaka. "It makes me feel like maybe Sayaka and I might be able to patch up our relationship." she turned to Kyoko, who had been listening to her quietly. "I feel like I should thank you."
"Huh?" Kyoko was confused. It seemed this was happening a lot to her when she interacted with other people.
"You're her new roommate, correct? I think maybe that has helped alleviate her spirits, and I haven't seen her smile so much in a while." Hitomi smiled up at Kyoko. "So I'm thanking you."
Kyoko was uncomfortable once again and looked away as she scratched at the back of her neck. "I don't get you people. You seem to think I know or care about what's going on with Sayaka's personal life. I have nothing to do with it, you know."
"Perhaps it's that sort of attitude that she needs right now." Sayaka and Kyosuke were finishing up their mock fight and sharing a good laugh. Kyoko was tired of watching them.
"Hey, hurry it up you two, or freaking Homerun Magica will leave us behind!" Kyoko burst out with, since Homura and Madoka had already disappeared in the moving crowd.
"Ah, sorry," Kamijou smiled apologetically at Hitomi and held his elbow out to her. "Shall we?" The smile Sayaka had been wearing slowly faded from her face as she watched Hitomi delicately grasp Kyosuke's arm before the two of them started walking away together. She stuffed her hands in her pockets and heaved a heavy sigh.
"If you want, we can eat some more food." Kyoko suggested, bumping shoulders with the blunette. Sayaka cut Kyoko a look.
"Is food all you ever think about?" she grumbled, walking after the pair ahead of them.
"Hey, give me a little credit." Kyoko responded in mock defense. "I doubt cotton candy counts as actual 'food'."
Sayaka managed a tiny smile. "I can't argue with that logic. I guess I could go for some cotton candy." She turned around to face Kyoko and pointed a warning finger at the redhead's face. "But I don't want a repeat of the candy apple incident, so eat properly!"
"Yeah, yeah," Kyoko said with an embarrassed roll of her eyes. Way ahead of them was Homura and Madoka, just now coming out of the tent entrance.
"Everyone is looking at us, Homura-chan." Madoka commented on Homura's now very distinctive appearance.
"Don't worry, I'll protect you, Madoka Kaname." Homura said seriously, holding out her bow and staring down anyone who looked their way.
"Ah, actually, I was thinking that was a good thing?" Madoka tried to explain nervously. Homura did look very intimidating for a Magical Girl.
"How so?" Homura inquired.
"Well, ah," Madoka fiddled with her hands. "Maybe it'll help you make more friends…" Madoka glanced up at Homura timidly. Clear violet eyes watched her steadily.
"I don't need more acquaintances." Homura finally answered after a second of regarding Madoka. "I think you're already more than enough of a friend for me." she said in a quieter voice.
The smaller girl smiled fondly at the dark haired girl, even if Homura was now looking away from her to hide the blush on her face. "I'm very happy you think that." Madoka grasped Homura's hand, making the other girl jump. "But more friends would never hurt anyone. How about Kyoko-chan? You said you knew her, and you two got along pretty well." Madoka suggested eagerly. Homura made a face, even if Madoka was holding her hand.
"We got along?" she said skeptically.
"Well, I think you two have a lot in common!" Madoka continued happily, liking her own idea. "You're both kinda mysterious, and you both seem really strong." She put a finger to her chin in thought. "And I think maybe… You two might be lonelier than you both let on. So you should both try your best to be friends!" Madoka concluded.
"I wish I could share your enthusiasm." said Homura, not exactly relenting to her suggestion, but keeping it in mind.
"Maybe we should start by making you look more approachable." Madoka was already set on about how she could help Homura be more popular. Homura sighed, knowing there was no stopping the other girl now. A thought seemed to occur to Madoka and she let go of Homura's hand, much to the taller girl's disappointment. She started untying the ribbons tying up her pink hair. It was a pretty red ribbon that she had gotten from her mother, and she held it up for Homura to see, her pink hair now resting about her shoulders. "I think this would look cute on you!" Madoka said, motioning for Homura to come closer.
The dark haired girl looked uncertain for a moment before she bent her head forward and let Madoka tie the ribbon around her head. "There. It looks really cute on you!" Madoka appeared satisfied to see the red ribbon now resting in Homura's dark hair. "Well, you were already extremely pretty, Homura-chan." Madoka giggled sincerely. Homura blushed and felt the now precious ribbon with her hand.
"I can't possibly keep this…"
Madoka waved her off. "It's okay, my mom keeps lots of those. She always tells me 'ribbons don't make a girl cute, a cute girl makes the ribbons cute!'"
The blood flow from Homura's body to her face was experiencing heavy traffic from the string of praise she was getting from Madoka. She almost couldn't handle it. "Thank you." she said gratefully, bestowing Madoka with a rare, deeply fond smile that left Madoka completely dazed for a moment.
"You're welcome…"
A new voice cut through the atmosphere the two had created around them. "My, Madoka, you certainly have excellent taste."
"Mami-san!" Madoka's face lit up excitedly when she finally noticed Mami standing near them. The blonde was still in her Magical Girl costume, but the face paint had been washed away. Behind her were a few more Magical Girls waiting to be introduced.
"Good evening Madoka, Akemi-san." Mami greeted graciously with her usual well-mannered smile.
Any trace of Homura's angelic smile had vanished by now. "Evening, Mami Tomoe." she said with a nod in the other's direction. Mami gestured behind her at the other cast members that had been a part of the show.
"Let me introduce you to Charlotte, Gertrude, and Elsa Marie." The three elaborately dressed girls waved at them with friendly smiles. "Those are their stage names, of course. I had bumped into Charlotte-san earlier, and after eating dinner together she graciously invited me to have a small role in the show." Mami explained, offering the small Magical Girl with the black polka dotted scarf a smile. Homura recognized her as the one who had whispered in her ear earlier on stage. The girl named Charlotte nodded at the acknowledging look and smiled back.
"Amazing, Mami-san!" Madoka greeted all the girls introduced admiringly. "You were all so cool in the show!"
"Not as cool as your friends here." Charlotte offered with a friendly grin. "Mami made a great Magical Girl, she even named the move that destroyed the Witch!"
Mami waved modestly. "I just thought it would be fun to shout a name, that's all!"
"And your other friend there," Charlotte nodded toward Homura, who was standing silently behind Madoka. "Well, she's very impressive, don't you agree?"
"Yes!" Madoka smiled proudly, and Homura's chest inflated slightly. "All of my friends are very impressive!" Homura deflated at those words. Madoka fidgeted where she stood. "Even if I'm not very special myself, I'm very proud of all my friends."
Homura stepped forward at that. "Madoka, don't ever sell yourself short. You're a very special person."
"Akemi-san is right," Mami piped up kindly. "I'm sure we're all very happy to have you as a friend as well." Their combined kindness made Madoka smiled self consciously.
"Enough about me. What are your plans for the rest of the night, Mami-san?" the pink haired girl asked politely.
"Well," Mami clapped her hands together with pleasure. "For starters, I invited these ladies to my place for a celebratory meal I cooked. It'll be delightful; won't you join us, Madoka?"
Charlotte jumped up and down excitedly. "Will there be cheese?" she asked.
"There will be whatever you want, Charlotte-san." said Mami, placing a hand on the girl's shoulder to settle her down. Madoka giggled at their interaction.
"I would love to," Madoka answered. Homura looked slightly disappointed. "But maybe later." She flashed Homura a wink and smile. "Homura is the one who invited me here, and I invited everyone else, so I can't leave just yet."
Homura flushed at her words, but still knew that Madoka wanted to go. "You should go, Madoka. If it pleases you."
"Why don't we have a small friendly contest, Akemi-san?" Mami suggested with an alluring smile. She motioned to a booth near them, where a shooting range game was set up. "If I win, I take Madoka with me. If you win, you get to keep her!" Mami suggested. Homura raised her chin. Madoka became easily flustered and tried to wave Mami's suggestion away with embarrassed excuses until Homura interrupted her with an "I accept."
Toy rifles were lined up to be used, and the object was to shoot as many floating Kyubey targets as possible. Mami took up one and twirled it in her hands like she handled those things every day. "Fair warning, Akemi-san, I'm a fairly good shot."
Homura put down her new bow and cocked one of the shotguns. "I won't be holding back either, Mami Tomoe." With weapons in their hands and confrontational looks in their eyes, they both looked like imposing figures. Even if they were only toy guns and this was a friendly contest, if not in name only.
"Fire!" There was barrage of 'pops' from the guns as they fired their rifles. Cardboard cutouts of Kyubey went down left and right, splattered red by the paint ammunition. Homura looked like she was actually enjoying herself. Madoka glanced shyly at the Magical Girls Mami gathered.
"Doesn't this seem a little…" Madoka struggled to find an inoffensive word. "Morbid?" The Magical Girls tittered at her words.
"Are you kidding?" the girl named Elsa Marie, a girl with long black pigtails and black dress that flared from her hips. "Don't tell anybody, but," she leaned in all conspiratorial and held a hand up to her mouth in secretness. "None of us Magical Girls like Kyubey."
Madoka's gasp of surprise was perfect. "But why? He is so adorable!"
Gertrude shrugged. She had an air of superiority about her, and had many colorful flowers woven into her flowing green hair. "The Owner favors the little creature because it is so rare and so intelligent. Seems like setting him free last night wasn't enough to get rid- OW!" Charlotte sank her teeth into Gertrude's arms, who shrieked and flung the tiny girl from her.
"Company secrets!" Charlotte sprung back and growled with all the threat of a Chihuahua.
"For the love of flowers- You've got to stop biting people!" Gertrude chastised, rubbing at her arm and the ring of teeth marks now present. Charlotte grinned apologetically in a way that wasn't apologetic at all. Their interactions brought an uncertain smile to Madoka's face.
On the battle front- or rather, their shooting contest- Homura and Mami waited for the game worker to tally up their scores. He looked a little distressed, since every single target had been destroyed at the hands of the two magically dressed customers. He finally proclaimed a tie and fetched them his biggest prizes. Mami was handed a large pink plushie of the Witch she had destroyed during the show. Homura was handed a giant stuffed Kyubey. Homura was not pleased.
"Well, that was certainly a close one." Mami breathed. She turned around and offered her plushie to Charlotte. "Would you like this? I think it suits you." Charlotte appeared overjoyed and glomped the toy and Mami at the same time, making the blonde laugh out loud from the other girl's enthusiasm. Homura watched that exchange before turning shy eyes to Madoka. She offered her companion her prize.
"If you like…" Homura trailed off weakly from the force of her sudden shyness. Madoka also blushed and took the offering.
"Thank you, Homura-chan. I love it!" She hugged the stuffed Kyubey about its neck, and Homura breathed easier.
"Well," Mami turned to them gracefully and bestowed the pair with a parting smile. "Since the contest was a draw and Madoka wanted to stay here anyway, I'll leave you with your prize, Akemi-san." Homura nodded. "Do stop by later, Madoka." Mami curtsied, as ladylike and charming as ever before turning on her heel and facing her circus company. "Shall we, ladies?" With friendly waves, the colorful group left, with many heads turning to look after them in wonderment.
Homura watched them leave with a small amount of relief. "You could have gone." she informed the girl standing next to her.
Madoka shook her head. "But then who would protect you, Homura-chan?" Madoka teased, taking a hold of Homura's arm and pulling her along. "Let's go find everyone else; I think they might have gotten lost!"
"That is not cotton candy!" Sayaka accused when she saw the warped abomination in Kyoko's hand. "It's an atrocity!"
"Don't be jealous." Kyoko said back, helping herself to the mountain of rainbow colored fluff that was piled on higher than her head. Sayaka glowered at her before looking mournfully at the normal fluff of pink in her own hand.
"I don't want to be around you when all that sugar kicks in." Sayaka shuddered at the thought. It could only lead to the ultimate destruction!
"You sure know how to keep a girl happy." Kyoko said with a dry grin. "You buy me candy and then get lost. It's like you're reading my mind!"
Sayaka stared ahead of her, imagining Hitomi and Kamijou probably sharing a stick of cotton candy and blushing, or whatever embarrassing stuff it was newlyweds did in public. Embarrassing things she wished she would be the one doing with the young violinist. "I wish I could keep boys happy." she said lowly to herself.
Kyoko snorted when she caught the words. "The only happiness you gotta worry about is your own."
Sayaka looked annoyed that she was overheard. "How can I be happy when people I care about aren't?"
"Who said he wasn't happy? He looked plenty happy to me." Kyoko said around a mouthful of melting sugar. Sayaka reacted as if a bucket of cold water had been emptied over her head and she glared at the ground guiltily.
"All I'm saying is that you should just look out for Number One. Your friend obviously did, and now she's got a man while you're stuck wallowing in your own self pity." Kyoko went on unawares that she had just struck the wrong nerve in Sayaka's sore point.
"I thought we had a deal," Sayaka looked properly upset by Kyoko's comment. "I don't want to listen to your 'number one' crap. And Hitomi isn't like that!" Sayaka threw in the last sentence as an afterthought.
"Right, the deal." Kyoko repeated thoughtfully. "Why had I brought that up again?" she muttered to herself, thinking that dealing with Sayaka's doom and gloom bullshit wasn't exactly appealing to her.
"Because you wanted to run wild without consequence!" Sayaka said loudly with exasperation. She took a deep breath to calm herself down. "But that's okay, because I'm planning to take advantage of this deal myself."
"Oh?" the redhead wondered what exactly Sayaka could do with the deal, and Sayaka looked at her with a devious glint in her blue eyes. "Bring it on if you can." Kyoko challenged with her own glint in her eye.
It wasn't long until they ran into Madoka and Homura and then Kyosuke and Hitomi. There was going to be a bonfire lit on the circus grounds and Madoka was eager to go see it. When they got there was full-blown music and dancing already, citizens and Magical Girls alike, joining arms and twirling around the flames like it really was a festival. By that time all the sugar Kyoko had consumed that day caught up to Kyoko and she showed off her moves with the best of them. She was a natural dancer and show-off, and she goaded the others into joining her. Sayaka, with her natural competitive streak, soon joined her and refused to be outdone in the area of dancing. Kamijou escorted Hitomi off to the side away from the jolly crowds so they could have their own private and romantic dance.
Madoka really wanted to dance herself, but Homura would not budge. "Please, Homura-chan? Please please please!"
"You go if you want to." Homura said resolutely.
"Geez, you won't make any friends if you're so shy all the time!" Madoka insisted, tugging on Homura's hand. The magically dressed girl's cheeks colored. She was indeed uncomfortable with the prospect of doing something in front of others when she didn't have the highest level of confidence in her own skill. Especially in front of Madoka. If that was considered shy, then by all means, Homura was having a shy moment!
Sayaka ran up to the pair, breathless from her physical showdown with Kyoko. She had tried her hardest, but there wasn't much she could do against a sugar-fueled Kyoko, who danced like she was battery powered. "Madoka!" she grabbed the small girl's other hand and tried to pull her along. "C'mon! If Homura won't take care of you," a loaded look was exchanged between Sayaka and Homura. "Then I will."
Homura's jaw tightened at the words and she watched Madoka get dragged away by her insistent best friend. She stared hard as Kyoko and Sayaka got on either side of poor little Madoka and started arguing over who got to dance with her. When they both looked down at Madoka to see who she would choose, the girl looked between them indecisively before shrugging helplessly. Homura had enough.
Kyoko and Sayaka were startled by Homura's sudden and silent appearance next to Madoka, almost as if she teleported there. Homura was the very picture of confidence now that she made her decision to be there. With a dashing flick of her hair, Homura took Madoka's hand delicately in her own and lead her away with a soft, "That won't be necessary." on her lips. Madoka was easily mystified and led away like a helpless sheep. Kyoko and Sayaka watched and waited to see what would happen, mutually knowing this would be interesting.
They weren't quite prepared for just how interesting the sight would really be. The music was loud and upbeat, not the slow music the two girls would have been more comfortable with, and so they had to make do. Madoka had all the grace of someone trying to awkwardly hump an invisible mosquito while waving finger 'v's past her eyes. Homura was really focused on doing the perfect robot. Also, they danced about four feet away from each other.
Sayaka and Kyoko exchanged a horrified look, and when they saw each other's faces they shared a flabbergasted laugh at the anticlimactic sight the two other girls presented to them. "Those two are made for each other!" Kyoko said in outright jest.
After Sayaka was able to calm down her own amusement, she shook her head at Kyoko's words. "I wouldn't say that, exactly." From the corner of her eye she could look over and see Kamijou holding Hitomi in the distance as they swayed together and looked into each other's eyes. Their amorous embrace jarred Sayaka from her previously amused mood to downright sodden. And with it came all the emotions Sayaka had come to loathe; the anger and hostility towards Hitomi and the sense of betrayal, and the profound sense of guilt that came with it since Sayaka's own emotions shamed her. But she couldn't help her emotions. So she watched and allowed her heart to be tortured by the sight as some sort of self-punishment.
"Hey," Kyoko brought Sayaka's attention back to her. "Music's not over yet." the redhead said with a playful grin. Sayaka stared at her. With her bountiful red hair, the yellow dress, the fire roaring behind her to cast her face in that fiery glow that makes everyone ten times more attractive, it somehow eased Sayaka's mind a little. Like she might get over this. And the key was somehow in front of her.
And then Madoka and Homura stumbled by in the most awkward dance ever, and Sayaka felt even better about herself. "Right," Sayaka withheld a smile over seeing Madoka vigorously hopping about after that invisible mosquito. "Let's try to burn out that sugar before going home."
"Just try!" Kyoko said hyperly. Not five minutes later Kyoko collapsed from a major sugar crash after Sayaka had goaded her into attempting a head-spin. Sayaka crouched down in front of the fallen girl and shook her head. "I told you this would happen." She grinned in satisfaction as she said it.
A/N- Once again I sacrificed the length of this chapter for a quicker update! Ugh, I'm so slow ;_;. As a result, y'all got a fluff-filled chapter. Next chapter should be a touch more serious.
