An hour after school classes actually ended, Mamoru, Takuya, Tomura and Sanbey were now heading back to the two brother's homestead to rest for the rest of the afternoon. The two older boys' faces, hands and uniforms were stained to them brim with car oil, as Teacher Saotome had Mamoru and Takuya fix up her car engine during lunch break. After that, the two spent a few more minutes in real time training in The Centre with Sanbey. Needless to say, they were completely drained and just wanted a nice, hot shower.

Takuya held onto his little brother's hand as they walked, the younger Fujimaki still getting used to his new legs as Sanbey sat on Mamoru's shoulder with his tails swaying left and right in the air. The empty streets were bathed in the yellow light of the sunset and as Mamoru rubbed his hands together from the chilly wind, the two brothers talked to each other on the way back home.

"Teacher Saotome really put you two through the wringer," Tomura pointed out, "She's not having relationship problems again, is she?"

"Dunno. She did look kinda angry, though," Takuya laughed with an oil-stained smile, "It's been a while since we've done any freelance jobs for the school. Right, Mamoru?"

The green-haired boy groaned in response, visibly unhappy with the oil stains that stuck to his body and most especially, his hair, "I'd prefer it when we didn't have work at all. Training in the Centre would be more tolerable," the boy muttered that last sentence under his breath and it got a small laugh out of Sanbey. The Incubator found it curious how life-and-death simulations would be more enjoyable than manual labor.

Finally reaching their modest homestead, Takuya took out his keys from his bag and unlocked the front door. They dumped their school bags on the floor and Tomura dropped himself onto the couch with a relieved sigh escaping him as the two older boys went straight into the kitchen. Taking off his uniform's jacket, Tomura hung it on the coat hanger and switched on the TV, "I'll be watering the plants in a few minutes. Can you make some drinks?"

"Sure!" he heard his older brother reply.

In the kitchen, Mamoru quickly turned on the sink to wash off all the oil on his hands and face. Behind him, Takuya took out some cups from the cupboards and a pitcher of home-made juice from the fridge, "You think Hideki and 'Teyama caught a Witch today?" the brunette spoke up, lining three cups on the table side-by-side.

Mamoru rinsed his sweaty, oily face in the cold water and could feel his fatigue wash away. When he reached for something to scrub off all the oil stains, Sanbey handed him a nearby towel, "Maybe. I'm sure that with Tomoe, they would have caught one by now. Tomoe is better than us at this, after all," Mamoru replied, scrubbing his arms with the towel before rinsing once more and drying himself clean, "Meanwhile, we need to focus on the Warlocks. The Witches are their problem, and the Warlocks are ours," once he was done, Mamoru took over making the drinks while the brunette took his turn cleaning himself.

"The Warlocks can arrive anytime," Sanbey reminded them, sitting down on the kitchen table, "Always be careful whenever you head out at night. If Zed the Warlock was bold enough to launch a devastating attack during the day, then who knows what they would do at night?"

As his scrapped the black stains off his hands, Takuya felt his hand suddenly shiver under the touch of the cold water. At the mention of that name, Takuya froze and unknowingly began staring blankly at his wet hands while the water tap continued to run freely. But his thoughts were interrupted by the sound of Mamoru calling his name twice and snapping his fingers in front of his face, "Eh?" Takuya tuned back to reality and looked back to his friend, water dripping off his hands and onto the floor.

"Just now, at school. You wanted to tell me something."

"Oh... r-right," Takuya let out a uncharacteristically nervous laugh, wondering why he even just froze like that for a second, "I was... I was just wondering if we could hang out with Mirai and those two Morikawa sisters tonight. I mean, you did say Yuri wanted to hang out with Tomura, right?" drying his face and hands with a towel, both Mamoru and Sanbey shared a worried thought for the boy as turned off the sink.

Mamoru opened his mouth to ask a question, but dropped it instead for later time, "I suppose we could," he smiled and looked back at Sanbey, "Do you want to come along?"

"Umm, I think I'll stay by at your place. I don't want to get in your way while you two have fun," the Incubator replied while respectively lowering his head.

Before they could discuss the topic any further, Takuya heard his brother calling to him from their garden outside about a visitor, "I'll be back in a jiffy," Takuya told the two, clapping Mamoru on the shoulder and then leaving the kitchen for the front door. Outside, Tomura was watering the flowers in the front yard as he was talking to a girl Takuya couldn't recognize: black, unkempt hair, mix-and-match clothing held together by lots of belts and a uncanny smile that noticeably made his brother very uncomfortable. Despite that, Takuya approached her as friendly as he could, "Who's this?" he asked his brother, walking up to the two.

Tomura settled down the pitcher of water he was holding and dried his hands on his shirt before answering, but the girl cut him off quickly to speak for herself, "I'm looking for directions to the cemetery," she told them without looking at their direction or giving her name, "I'm in a hurry, so it'd be great if you could tell me fast."

The two brothers looked at each other and it was clear that Tomura wanted her to leave as soon as possible. Besides her looks, there was just something unnerving about the girl that made Takuya feel unnerved, "Just follow down that road," Takuya pointed in the direction of their school, "It's not far from here, since it's pretty close to the nearest retail block. You need help with anything else?" as soon as he gave that question, the girl then stared at him for a few seconds, shooting an intense glare that made Takuya backpedal out of pure reflex.

Looking away, the girl gave a casual shrug and placed her hands in her pockets, "Nah, I'm good. Ciao," without even thanking them, the girl then headed in the direction of the cemetery and slowly went out of their sight. Tomura sighed in relief and Takuya didn't even notice that his shoulders had been tensed until now. He hadn't felt this nervous ever since he fought that Warlock, and for a moment there, Takuya swore that girl was wearing a Puella Magi ring.

Takuya put a hand on Tomura's shoulder, hoping that was the last he saw of that girl, "Come on, let's grab a drink."

Back in Tomoe Mami's apartment stead, Kaname Madoka and Miki Sayaka were undergoing a basic explanation from Tomoe herself about the world they had now discovered an hour ago. She gave them a basic explanation of everything, ranging from the Witches and their Barriers, to the concepts of Magical Girls and even some of Tomoe's own feats as one. In her kitchen, Hideki and Tateyama were busy preparing some tea and cakes for the girls as they had offered to do so. They could hear Sayaka and getting all excited about Tomoe's Witch-Hunting stories while Madoka tried calming her down, to no success.

"They sound like they're having fun," Hideki remarked, placing a hot pot of tea on a tray next to a few plates of cakes and feeling satisfied with their organization, "Still, it's only the first day of Witch hunting, 'Teyama, and yet you saved two people already. Kaname and Miki at that. You're making me look sloppy, you know?" he jokingly said to his friend and got a small, modest laugh in response.

"I always do when I try," Tateyama remarked as he placed the utensils on the plates and carefully picked up the tray in both hands to bring it over to the girls after making sure that his grip was solid, "But, I don't think running into a Witch's Barrier is lucky, Hideki. I just did what you or Tomoe would've done. That's all," after getting a small pat in the back from Hideki, Tateyama brought the tray of snacks over to the girls while Hideki disposed of the empty cake boxes.

The three girls were completely engrossed in their discussion in the living room and Tateyama made sure not to disturb them as he quietly placed the tray on the table, getting a small "Thank you" from Tomoe. Passing cakes and cups of tea all around, Tateyama took a plate of his own and sat in the corner to observe the girls as they talked. Tomoe looked completely happy to have someone to befriend and talk to about Magical Girls stuff.

"Man, to think that stuff like magic, monsters and magical girls existed!" Sayaka's excitement could lit up the room as she spoke, "Madoka, what do you think of this? Pretty cool, right?"

"Eh? I-I mean, it's pretty interesting. But, it sounds pretty dangerous, too," her pink-haired friend meekly replied to her friend's enthusiasm.

"She's right about that, actually," Hideki agreed with Madoka as he came out of the kitchen and sat down next to Tateyama, who passed him his own plate of cake, "This kind of stuff really pushes you to the limit, even with the simply small fry. Anyways, we'd appreciate it if you two don't tell anyone about this. This is the kind of the stuff that needs to be kept under wraps at all times, after all."

"O-Of course. But, how long have you all been doing this?" Madoka asked while lifting a spoonful of cake to her mouth and taking a bite, "Oh, this is really good!"

Tomoe giggled, happy that her guests also found her food satisfying, "As far as I can remember, I've been doing this for quite a few years now. Although, Hakamichi and Ikezawa here have just started from what they told me. Am I correct?" she inquired the two boys sitting in the corner with cake in their hands.

"Pretty much," Hideki said with a light shrug while Tateyama simply nodded due to having a mouthful of cake. Hideki was about to mention Mamoru and Takuya being Puerum Magi as well, but when the shape of a cat-like creature suddenly appeared on a nearby windowsill, suddenly, Hideki turned silent as this creature grabbed the attention of everyone in the room. Hideki turned away and drank his tea while Tateyama's eyes stuck to the beady-eyed creature that walked into the living room. Very suddenly, the room became very uncomfortable to be in for the boys.

"Oh, Kyubey! There you are," Tomoe sighed in relief with a hand on her chest, "I've been wondering where you've been all this time."

Kyubey hopped onto the table and immediately, Tateyama didn't like the interested glance that Kyubey was casting in Madoka's direction before it replied to Tomoe, "Sorry, Mami! I was just working at the other cities for a bit to help out some other Puella Magi. It's been pretty hectic lately."

"Woah, it talked!" Sayaka exclaimed.

In contrast to Sanbey's more wise and modest voice, Kyubey's child-like tone didn't do anything but bring further unease and discomfort to Hideki and Tateyama. The fact that this thing showed itself as having emotions, despite truly not having any really as Sanbey told them, only brought a feeling of uncanny valley. Either way, the boys simply kept quiet as Sayaka and Madoka on the other hand, found him to be adorable.

"Wow, first walking cotton balls with Pringles mustaches and scissors, now a talking cat. I've see everything by now," Sayaka laughed.

"So you're Kyubey?" Madoka curiously asked, leaning forward.

"That's right!" Kyubey happily answered as he looked at Madoka. It didn't seem to pay any attention or acknowledge the presence of the two Puerum Magi in the room at all and seemed completely focused on Madoka, "So, if you two have any wishes you two want granted, feel free to make a contract with me any time and become a Magical Girl!"

Hideki suddenly spewed out his tea, causing everyone in the room to look at him while he embarrassingly tried to pretend that he had choked on his drink. While Hideki immediately went to get fetch something to clean up the mess, Tateyama got up and whispered to Tomoe that he wanted to talk in private for a few minutes. Tomoe nodded and gestured to the girls to wait for a bit before following Tateyama to her room.

Closing the door behind them, they waited until Hideki came along as well and so Tomoe sat on her bed, waiting for the two to explain themselves.

"What is this all about?" Tomoe inquired, her tone indicating that she didn't fall of Hideki's ruse just now, nor was she amused by it.

Hideki scratched the back of his head, feeling nervous under Tomoe's inquisitive tone and gaze. Standing in front of the door with Tateyama, there was a decent amount of distance between Tomoe and the two boys for Hideki to whisper, "Should we tell her... about... you know...?" he folded his arms across his chest and scowled, not knowing what to do know that they were alone with her, "I know we saw this coming, but, what are supposed to not tell her? That her little friend isn't as friendly as it seems and that it has ulterior motives?"

Tateyama took his time to think, his face unchanging in its expression. With their enhanced senses, they could hear Kyubey talking with Madoka and Sayaka outside, "Go talk to them," Tateyama told him, "Keep them busy and make sure Kyubey doesn't try anything."

Hideki was hesitant to do it since he would be alone with Sayaka of all people in there, but since they couldn't let Madoka fall to Kyubey's words, the blue-haired boy sighed in defeat and ruffled his hair in frustration, "Alright. I'm leaving Tomoe to you then. Good luck," he gave Tateyama an encouraging pat on the back and his usual smirk before exiting the room and leaving the two inside alone.

Tateyama could already feel Tomoe's gaze on his back, and the sheer intensity made a beads of sweats appear on his face.

"... Tomoe... I have a request," Tateyama tried his best to sound formal for once, but it ended up sounding more awkward than it should've been, "It's about Kaname."

Tomoe raised a brow, "Is that so?"

"Yes," he quickly said and turned around to face Tomoe as he spoke.

Then, he wondered about what to say next. His throat was suddenly parched, and while Tomoe looked at him, the boy pondered about what information he should withheld and which he should tell her. Tomoe wasn't the most emotionally strong person he knew, but he knew that poor choice of words would end bandly. But, as it was Tomoe, he was at least willing to give more information than he normally would.

"Yesterday, we told you that a friend helped to give us our powers. This friend... she was close with Kaname. S-She told us to watch over her and made us swear that... that Kaname does not become a Puella Magi," Tateyama closed his hands tight, and with a deep bow he requested, "We made this promise with as she died. Please, Tomoe, don't bring Kaname into this. This is all I want to ask."

He heard nothing in reply. Lifting his head up again, Tateyama saw that Tomoe was now thinking of an answer with her hand on her mouth. He couldn't tell what kind of expression she was making.

"I... see."

He gulped, praying that she'd understand.

Getting up from her bed, Tomoe silently approached him for what seemed like ages to Tateyama. With a calm expression and her hands behind her back, Tomoe answered, "... If you're this adamant on Kaname not becoming a Puella Magi, then, I suppose I would have no choice but to say 'yes'. But-" she added with a raised finger, her tone as she said this being the most serious Tomoe had ever sounded, "If Kaname were to decide for herself to become a Puella Magi, just to save another person's life or her own... would you understand?"

Tateyama pursed his lips, "I... I would."

Looking back at her face-to-face, that warm smile of hers quickly came back and did much to ease up the boy, "But then you wouldn't mind if Kaname and Miki were to come over to my place for simply tea and cake now and then, right?" she requested with a playful smile and tented fingers, "You and Hakamichi could come along, too."

Her smile was infectious as always as Tatayama couldn't help but break into a small one, too, "S-Sure."

"Then it's settled!" Tomoe beamed, "Come, we have guests to tend to."

As he followed her out of the room and loosened his tense body, Tateyama let out a long sigh of relief as if something had been taken off his chest and shoulders. But upon heading back into the living room, he could feel Kyubey give the closest thing to a glare an expressionless being could give. Tateyama simply pretended that he didn't notice, but he still kept an eye on the Incubator as he sat back down next to Hideki and gave his friend a small nod that he had succeeded.

Oriko always found a certain sort of beauty when it came to death. A person could be the happiest man on Earth or the most despair-ridden thing to ever exist, and any day, out of nowhere, their life could just be extinguished like the the flames of a candle that had been blown away by the winds of fate. No one could escape the grip of death, only run, and those that try always found themselves in its angry grip before they met a gruesome end.

Standing among the graves and headstones in the Mitakihara cemetery, Oriko found it poetic that the best place to view the sunset in Mitakihara would be here: the place where everyone came to rest in the end. The whistling of the trees sounding akin to a chorus of flutes and pipes, the chilly breeze made the white dress Oriko wore flutter in the wind with her snow-white hair. Oriko stood at the grave of Akemi Homura, and casted a small smirk at it before continuing to enjoy the view of the sunset.

Oriko wondered if the Kazamino cemetery had a similar sight. Her father would have loved to seen this kind of view.

"Oriko!"

The white oracle turned around to see her black-haired friend running alongside the cemetery's metal fencing. She must have gotten lost again if she was this late, Oriko thought, making a mental note to make sure Kirika remembers where the cemetery was before turning on her heel to meet with her friend. Aiming one last gaze at the sunset, and then at Akemi Homura's grave, Oriko walked in-between the rows of headstones and dusted the leaves off her dress as she stepped through the cemetery's gates.

"It's not nice to keep someone waiting, Kirika," Oriko told her in a mild scolding tone.

"Sorry, sorry! I got lost on the way, but I had some help," Kirika laughed, skipping towards Oriko who simply shook her head disapprovingly at her friend's behavior, "Oh, come on, Oriko! This place gets confusing sometimes," Kirika pouted while giving her best attempt at puppy-dog eyes. It had little to no effect, until Oriko just gave in and wagged a finger.

"Alright, I forgive you this time. But next time, I won't be so forgiving. Now come along, we have a meeting to attend."

"Yay!"

And as the two finished up their daily banter, it was now time to get to work as the pair looked across the empty street and saw the remains of the Mitakihara Opera-house looming a dark shadow on the road. With its boarded-up windows, torn wallpapers and decaying walls, its main double-doors had their chains released once more as the two Puella Magi walked across the street. They slowly stepped out of the sunset's light and now stood in front of the doors underneath the opera-house's dark, foreboding shadow.

Kirika opened the doors and let Oriko step in before following and closing the doors behind them. Stepping through the cobwebs on the walls and the cracks on the floorboards, the two made their way through the darkness of the opera-house with each step creating large creaking noises. The place felt colder than last night, Oriko breathing into her hands to keep them warm. Looking behind her, Kirika's eyes scanned the torn walls as if something was watching them, so Oriko tried to ease her friend by holding her hand tightly.

Kirika never liked the look of this place, no matter how many times they would have to visit.

Within minutes, they finally reached the hallway which led to the main theatre hall and in front of them, stood the possessed suit of armor that continued its role as the opera-house's guardian: Ares. The Warlock simply raised his head to examine the two Puella Magi, before stepping aside as the doors behind him and the force-field protecting them opened up, "Before you enter-" he said, outstretching his large hand, "Your weapons."

Kirika scowled, but a small, insistent gaze form Oriko caused her to give in as she materialized her hook swords into her hands and gave them to the Warlock. He took them and finally allowed them to pass. The Warlock must have not appreciated last night's skirmish between Kirika and Clyde.

The doors closed behind them and were sealed once more once Oriko and Kirika had entered the hall. Strangely, the two noticed the absence of flying instruments hovering through the air to perform music. There wasn't any sort of music playing at all, leaving the theater hall dead silent as the rows upon rows of seats remained empty as before. Ahead of them, the chairs and table that had been destroyed during last night's talk had been perfectly replaced with new ones, and on the stage, the Warlock leader's smoking form hummed quietly to himself as he calmly stroked a paint brush onto an empty canvas that sat under the giant, chained coffin held in the air.

The door closing and echoing of their footsteps as they approached the table below alerted Phantom to their presence as the Warlock greeted them without looking, "Evening, Mikune," his echo-filled voice filled the room, "Don't mind me. I was just passing the time while waiting for you two. Clyde's too busy right now to keep me company, and it gets rather boring being alone here."

Oriko and Kirika stopped at the faint sound of an agonizing scream echoing seemingly beneath their feet. They wouldn't have heard it if not if not for the sheer silence of the theatre hall, as the screaming continued and continued while being accompanied by the sadistic cackling of the Warlock leader's left-hand man. But, it didn't faze Oriko in the slightest, while Kirika very much did not like the unnerving atmosphere of this place.

"That would be Clyde entertaining some... guests," Phantom explained, waving the hand that held his brush. Picking up a metal paint bucket at his feet and ripping open the lid, he dipped his brush into the can and placed it on the floor once more, "Don't worry. I didn't call you two here to do much. I've left something on the table there for you two; a small gift between partners."

Kirika walked up to the tea table ahead of them and picked up something that looked like a pen-drive of sorts.

"What's in this?" Oriko inquired as Kirika showed the drive to her.

"It's a data drive. One that contains every information regarding us Warlocks," Phantom casually answered as the two gazed at him with surprise, "Well, everything you're allowed to know for now," he added with an amused chuckle, "In it, I've listed down all known surviving Warlocks and their abilities to let you know just what we can do. It's only fair, considering I had Clyde dig up everything about two and your abilities, correct?"

"And you think this will get us to trust you immediately?" Kirika spat, earning a scolding glare from Oriko.

"Let her speak, Mikune," Phantom insisted, his back still turned to them as he continued painting, "I'd prefer to hear any complaints you two have regarding our partnership."

Kirika stepped forward and took a seat on a chair in front of her as Oriko sighed and did the same. Kirika straddled the chair and waved the pen drive in the air as she spoke, "No matter what fancy stuff you try and do to get us to trust you, I still think that a bunch of freaks who won't tell us what they are would be the last thing I would trust with my life. Look at this place," Kirika gestured to the opera-house around them, "All this time, you Warlocks existed and the first thing you wanna do is partner up with us? Heh. I'd rather-"

"Would you like to know then, Kirika Kure?" Phantom cut her off, putting down his paint brush and turning around to cast his red, glowing eyes on the two girls. A shiver ran up Kirika's spine and she suddenly lost the words she was about to say, "Would you two really like to know just what we are?"

"We'd appreciate it, if you could," Oriko calmly answered, unaffected by Phantom's intimidating glare.

Impressed by how much control the girl had of her emotions, Phantom let out a low chuckle, "Very well," the Warlock leader then looked up at the black coffin containing his physical remains above his head. He had an almost wistful tone, as the smoking manifestation of the Warlock leader's conscious began with one simple question: "Have you ever been promised something... promised to believe that what you're doing is for the greater good... only to watch everything crumble around you as everything you've done and worked hard for... simply be deemed by others as sinful and heretical?"

Oriko nodded, her hands folded in her lap, "You could assume that."

"Hmph. You two said it yourself: The Witches were born into this world naturally - we were not," Phantom gestured to his coffin and ran a hand on the ebony chains holding it up, "Before this... this crude form, I believed that my attempts in achieving a power higher than Puella Magi would bring light into this dark world. This despair-ridden world that Puerum Magi believe is worth protecting after all its been through. I spent many years, hoping to do something that would help Humanity simply grow."

"And now you want to destroy this world with the power of Walpurgisnacht?' Oriko inquired, "Is that why you're so interested in it?"

"No. I want to save it," Phantom quickly corrected her with a tone that Kirika didn't like until Oriko gestured her to remain quiet. Waving one hand in the air, Phantom paced the stage, his footsteps echoing loudly through the theater hall, "I first saw us Warlocks as a mistake, but years of probing my own mind made me realize that God had gifted me with this form. He chose me to be the shepherd that leads Humanity away from the possessive grip of the Incubators and save this world," suddenly, Phantom raised a fist and struck the canvas beside him, smashing it against the wall into pieces, "Look at this world! Relying on those white demons and this vicious cycle of Puella Magi and Witches to even survive. It disgusts me. It makes me despise just how weak Humanity truly is! You two have a similar goal, do you not...? To save this world from the one you fear more than Walpurgisnacht."

As Phantom finished his long tirade, Oriko closed her eyes, unsure of what to answer his question with aside from a calm, "Of course. I too very much intend to save this world. But, do you intend to follow your goals to the end?"

"No matter the cost," Phantom declared, "Whatever I may do, the end justifies the means."

Oriko opened her eyes and was about to speak when she suddenly kept quiet. Then, Oriko did nothing but gaze blankly at the table in front of her as before her eyes, a vision of the future flashed rapidly but slowly enough for her to make out: Tezuka Mamoru, the leader of the Protector Servorum knows of their plans to assassinate Kaname Madoka. They had to remedy this problem, and Oriko knew just the cure as she got up from her seat and gestured to Kirika that they were leaving.

"Your goals are admirable, but it seems this conversation has to be cut short. The Protector Servorum's leader is going to be a problem, and tonight, I foresee a chance for you to eliminate him with one of your Warlocks. You said you'd do anything, no matter the cost, correct? Prove it to me."

"I'll make sure it happens," Phantom promised her with a bow.

Then, Oriko turned around and went up the steps with Kirika right behind her.

Soon, they left the darkness of the opera-house and came out to finally stand once more in the yellow light of the setting sun. Looking back at her friend, Oriko could tell that the distrust Kirika had of the Warlocks still remained, and with a smile, Oriko assured her, "Don't worry, Kirika," she took her hand, "I don't intend to follow them wholly. As of now, it's best that we use them to our advantage."

Kirika hesitantly nodded, "Right..."

Oriko smiled sweetly at her friend, and they were about to head home, when the two saw the doors to the opera-house suddenly burst open by themselves once more. Kirika shielded Oriko with her body as she pulled out her hook swords, only to see nothing more than a cloaked figure appear under the doorframe. It was one of Phantom's Warlocks they had seen last night, and the Warlock knelt in respect to the two girls before announcing his presence, "I am Lucio, one of the Warlocks assigned to you. I assure you that we will not disappoint."

"'We'?" Kirika snarled.

As soon as she said that, Kirika's hook swords were suddenly seized by an invisible force and forcefully pulled out from her hands. They floated in the air and were promptly bent and crumpled like paper before shattering into bits and pieces of metal. Falling onto the granite, her hook swords dematerialized into nothing as the cloaked figure got back on both feet, "That would be my accomplice, Simplico," the Warlock pointed out, "We look forward to hunting our target."

It had been a few hours since the sun had finally set, with the moon now visible in the clear, night skies for all to see. There was a loud ring of a bell echoing from the city, coming from the main town's grand clock-tower that had been recently finished. It was loud enough that even people outside the main city could hear it as it reverberated through all of Mitakihara. Two of these people were Takuya and Mamoru, and after the two had finished their late night stroll in the city with Tomura, Mirai and the Morikawa sisters, the two were hanging out in a park to rest. They didn't care how late they would go home on a school night, since after today, Mamoru would be spending most of his time outside of school with his father in Kazamino.

Takuya played around with his cell phone as he sat on a bench, a lamp post next to him shedding some light on him while Mamoru stood in front of a vending machine placed beside the wooden bench. As the cold wind made Mamoru tighten his scarf's grip on his neck and his jacket, he took out some change from his pocket and inserted them into the machine while they spoke.

"Your brother seems to be really enjoying himself," Mamoru mused, picking out some drinks for the two, "Ever since he got his legs, he seems to be a lot more happier than usual."

Takuya gave a measly laugh, lying back on the bench and gazing up at the night sky. At this distance from city, it was easy to see the stars shimmering above as the night sky tonight was like a black sheet of paper decorated with hundreds of glitter, "Yeah, he deserves to be happy. Heh. I wouldn't have it any other way," Takuya murmured with less enthusiasm in his voice than usual.

Hearing one can drop into the vending machine dispenser before another, Takuya closed his eyes for a bit and relaxed. In the past few days, Takuya felt like he had been able to do everything but relax, so when he finally did, his shoulders just slumped and the brunette began to listen to everything his hearing could pick up: the sounds of the cars driving in the distance, shop owners closing down the shutters to their stores, crickets all around them letting out their shrill chirping. For once, all felt right in the world.

But in the back of his mind, Takuya couldn't help but think of their previous battle against Zed the Warlock, and be reminded of all the civilian casualties that were reported during the television broadcast yesterday morning. He knew most of them were caused by the Warlock possessing them, but he couldn't help but still feel guilt from the blood that now stained his hands as he had to put down every single person that had been infected by that Warlock. Takuya could still remember the vacant stares they had, especially when they had already been put down.

Takuya broke out of his thoughts from having an ice cold drink press against his cheek and recoiled in his seat, "Gosh, that's cold!" Takuya exclaimed, rubbing his cheek with one hand. He then noticed the worried look Mamoru was giving him and he could tell that he was going to ask once more if anything was wrong. He had been worried about him ever since this afternoon.

"Is there anything wrong, Takuya?" Mamoru quietly spoke, handing him his drink and sitting down next to him.

"What do you mean by that?" Takuya forced a laugh, hoping that Mamoru would change the subject.

"Don't give me that. I know very well when something is bothering you," Mamoru popped open his canned drink and took a slow slip to quench his thirst, "You've looked troubled ever since yesterday. So, please, just tell me what's bothering you," the low tone of his voice made it hard to deflect the subject, and Takuya remained silent for a bit as he also opened his drink. He could never refuse something from Mamoru whenever his friend sounded like he was begging.

As the two sat underneath the warm, flickering light of the lamp post, the two were all alone in the park, all to themselves with no one else to hear their conversation. The sound of nothing but the crickets chirping in the background made the awkwardness all the more palpable as Mamoru could hear the fluids in Takuya's can starting to shake from Takuya's shivering hand, "Mamoru," the brunette slowly began, "Do you... remember two days ago, when we fought that Warlock? When he made those innocent people fight us?"

Mamoru quietly nodded, listening as Takuya went on, "You didn't want to fight them, did you?"

"Yeah... I... I guess I kept thinking that those were just innocent people, you know? I kept thinking that I could save them if I come up with something. But in the end, I still fought them, because I knew that a silly thought like that would just get me killed in the end," bringing his legs to his chest, Takuya leaned on Mamoru a bit and huddled his legs together, "But that's not what scared me the most, Mamoru. What scared me was... was that it felt easier the more I killed. It felt so easy... taking a person's life... and it made me feel like a monster."

In the cold weather, Mamoru's hand felt warm as he suddenly ruffled Takuya's hair out of comfort. Knowing that Takuya would eventually feel this way, Mamoru already had prepared himself for something like this. Mamoru himself felt like this a long time ago, before he had become all too numb to respond to violence like this anymore. Taking the lives of those guards felt easy to Mamoru, but he knew he wasn't a monster. At least, that's what he always told himself.

"It's natural to feel that way. No matter what you do, you did it to survive, not because you enjoyed it. Everything becomes easy in the end, whether you like it or not," getting up from the bench, Mamoru finished the last of his drink and tossed it into the nearby trash can before turning back to the brunette with a smile, "Don't worry, Takuya," his voice was softer than usual, "The fact that you feel this way... It means that you still got a good heart, despite all we've gone through before and after we've become Puerum Magi. You still care about people, no matter what happens."

Despite hearing those warm words, not all the doubt in him had been wiped away. Takuya himself wondered if he really did still have a heart or just pretended that he did nowadays. Still, hearing all of this from Mamoru was enough to bring back that smile of his, even for a bit, "Hehe. Thanks, Mamoru. I'll... I'll think about what you said."

Mamoru knew it would take a while for him to get better, and since it was getting late already, it sounded like a good idea to just head home and have a good night's rest. Maybe it would be a good idea if Takuya slept over his place for the night. Then, when Mamoru took a step forward, he suddenly found himself breathless while his body felt numb from shock all of a sudden. But as the numbness made the way for pain, the two gasped at the sight of a Warlock's blood-drenched hand that had suddenly impaled Mamoru's abdomen from behind. Neither of them could even sense the Warlock's presence, even when it was right in front of them.

"Mamoru!"

Puerum Magi Stats Sheet

Name: Takuya Fujimaki

Destructive Power: C

Speed: A

Range: A

Durability: B

Abilities: Takuya's ability is to restore or revert objects or organisms to any previous state. He can repair damage, heal injuries and break down complex structures to their raw components. Takuya can use it on everything except himself and cannot bring back life to the dead.

Weapons, Gadgets and Tools: Takuya wields a glove capable of creating a bow of pure energy, deadly to the touch to the point that the bow itself can be used to clash with blades. On his right arm, he carries a grappling look also capable of being used as a weapon due to its wire that can vary in its thickness and its sharp spear-end. Lastly, Takuya wears a pair of boots that can increase the amount of friction his feet creates and magnetize to surfaces, allowing him to stick to walls.

P. Magi Uniform: Takuya wears a set of light leather armor with a pair of aviator goggles wrapped around a high-bill cap. The googles are meant to shield his eyes from most attacks and he also wear gloves that keep Takuya from cutting himself on the intense energy of his bowstring.