Justice's tears

She adjusted her glasses and pointed to one of the students, a boy of light brown hair and eyes.

"Nakazawa-kun!"

"Y-yes sensei?"

"What is the ideal age to get married?"

Jeez, it begins.

Kyouko knew where this conversation was going. The lessons with Kazuko Saotome was a torture. The woman should be in her forties and the only thing right on, or in, her head was her haircut.

Nakazawa thought and thought, but in the end shook his head. "I don't know."

"THAT!" Saotome aggressively pointed to Nakazawa, then pronounced to the classroom. "So girls, if your mother call you about men, do not feel pressured. I'm 99.99% sure that she does not know that answer too."

"And for you boys..." She continued. "Just because a woman arrived at a certain age, does not mean she is not single. Do you understand?"

In the first few days she laughed about it, but Kyouko Sakura was not known for her tolerance.

"Hey you there." Kyouko reached up for Saotome.

Saotome raised her eyebrows. "Saotome-sensei for you, Sakura-san."

Sayaka, who sat at the desk next to her, was surprised by the attitude of Kyouko.

"Okay." Kyouko rolled her eyes. "Sensei, tell me one thing, why don't you find a woman?"

"What'd you say?!" Saotome was astonished.

Sayaka took the book that was on her desk, left it standing and stuck her face in it.

Kyouko opened her arms. "You know, I hear that litany of yours all the time. If you really want some company and can't get a man, then try your luck with a woman."

A commotion began to form in the classroom.

Madoka began to feel uncomfortable with that subject.

Saotome seemed to be in shock. "B-But that's... that's..."

Hitomi rose from her chair. "Forbidden love, sensei!"

Saotome pointed. "T-That's i-it, Shizuki-san!"

"Forbidden love? Heh. "Kyouko closed her eyes and spoke calmly. "Well... If you don't like the 'fruit', always there's a man willing for an adventure."

Saotome was speechless and even if she had spoken, would be just another sound in the middle of the immense buzz installed between students.

"Sensei! SAOTOME-SENSEI!" But a girl managed to draw attention.

"S-Shizuki-san..." That name left Saotome's mouth barely audible.

Hitomi expressed with all the education she had learned. "Sorry if I am being too nosy, but what is the fruit that you do not like?"

Madoka was completely red with embarrassment. She tried to hide pulling her ponytails in front of her face.

"EEEhhh...?!" Saotome had just become a living statue.

"Ufufu..."

Hitomi and students nearby looked at Homura.

"What are you looking at?" Homura answered with her neutral expression.

"Sensei!" Sayaka rose up.

This had broken the spell on Saotome. She raised her arms. "Ahhh! I don't know about any fruit!"

"That's not it... hehe." Sayaka scratched her head. "I'm just asking for permission to go to the bathroom."

"Of course Miki-san. Of course." Saotome adjusted her glasses, which had been moved. "Provided that you don't come back talking about fruits..."

"Thank you, sensei!" Sayaka left running.

"Don't ru..." Saotome did not finish, seeing that Sayaka was long gone.

Kyouko narrowed her eyes and smiled.

5

Saotome turned her attention to the classroom, which was now in silence. "Well..."

4

"...the class is almost over,..."

3

"...let's change the subject. Yes?... "

2

"...Let's talk about the homework for the next class..."

1

"Sensei." Homura stood.

"Akemi-san?" Asked Saotome.

"I request permission to go to the bathroom." Homura flipped through the book on the desk. "The task involves this book, am I right? I could get more details with the other students when I return."

"Yes, that's right." Saotome shook her head, confirming. "But I see no need to convince me. You are an exemplary student. Permission granted."

"Thank you, sensei." Homura left the room out in a fast and steady march.

"Okay." Saotome spoke again with the classroom. "I want everyone to visit the page..."

But Kyouko had her attention on Homura walking down the hall, while she nibbled her lip with her canine tooth.

"Heh."

／人 ◕‿‿◕ 人＼

I liked it more when you played hide-and-seek with me, Sayaka.

Homura was smiling when she reached the bathroom. No matter where Sayaka had gone, at that distance Homura would always be able to feel...

When Homura opened the door, she came across a girl with short hair above the shoulder line, looking bored at the mirror. But the hair color was not blue but black as coal, eyes are like citrine gems.

The heart of Homura began to beat faster.

The girl looked at Homura, which stood as the door closed on its own. She was weirded out by that. "Hi..."

Homura stared at the girl, giving off a hostile aura.

The girl turned to the only stall that was closed and then to Homura. "Are you two together?"

Homura clenched her fists. The silence seemed to made the air heavier.

"Are you mute?" Girl asked suspiciously.

Homura answered that question with another. "Killing the class again, Kirika Kure?"

Kirika's eyes widened. "How you..."

"GET OUT!" Homura demanded.

Kirika hesitated, completely confused. She had never seen that girl before, but acted as if she was a long-standing enemy.

"Hurry up!"

That new demand shuddered Kirika altogether. Now she embraced the idea of Homura being her enemy, just as she had embraced for so many others. This world is stupid.

Kirika left the bathroom, but not before staring with hatred at Homura as she passed her.

The bell rang.

Homura wasted no time: a violet, diamond-shaped, gem appeared on her left hand. Then she held the knob with that hand, causing it to glow with magic. The characteristic sound of locking is heard.

I must finish this quickly.

She went to the sink that was in front of the stall with the door closed. In the mirror it was possible to see the gap under the door, which revealed someone's shadow inside the stall.

Then Homura realized how was horrible her condition. Although she was able to suppress the feeling of sleep with magic, her swollen eyelids gave hard evidence of her long nights hunting worldwide.

She washed her face, even though that would not be enough. Then looked back at the mirror, her eyes now shone along with the gem in her earring.

The sound of the doorknob turning in vain and the talking outside called her back to reality. She had a job to do.

Homura then turned and held out her left hand to the closed stall. Soon a black steam started to emerge in the stall, going through the door, and spiraling toward the gem on her hand.

She counted each second.

Her grief is higher than average today.

But she was certain that the process would end before anyone get too much suspicious about the bathroom. Not that she could not manipulate the memories in the worst...

".akodaM"

Homura, shocked, immediately stopped what she was doing and gritted the teeth. Her breathing quickened.

The black steam that was not absorbed returned to its origin.

Homura stood before the stall's door. "Don't forget... wash and dry well that face before returning to the classroom." Then unlocked and left the bathroom, ignoring the witnesses. There was something more urgent.

She walked quickly and accurately. She made so abrupt curves at the corners that her long dark hair whipped whoever was on the way.

"Hey! Watch out!" "Ouch..." "Whoa!"

Clenched her fists. None of that mattered, there was only one objective to be achieved. And there it was, in the hallway, next to the classroom.

Madoka Kaname, slight blushing and inhibited, was talking with Kyouko Sakura, who had a bag of potato chips in hand.

The rusted but experienced senses of Kyouko were the first to notice the newcomer. "Yo! If isn't our miss sympathy!"

Homura sought to maintain her composure. "Sakura-san. Kaname-san."

Madoka was further inhibited by the presence of Homura. She just stared at the floor.

Aware that she could be frightening with her sudden arrival, Homura sought to compensate forcing a smile and soothing the tone of voice she used. "Hello there. What are you talking about?"

"Nothing special. Just girl's talk. Right?" Kyouko winked at Madoka before consuming a chip.

"Um... yeah..." Madoka blushed more and hugged herself. Then giggled. "Wehihi... I... I think I'll go back to the classroom ... yeah ... I will..."

Madoka passed between Homura and Kyouko.

Kyouko picked up another chip. "Well... I think I will too. Heh."

Homura held the arm of Kyouko.

"Hmmm... You're very curious." Kyouko smiled.

Without exchanging glances, Homura said. "Come with me."

Kyouko followed Homura in the school hallway. For her it will always be a maze and the transparent glass walls more confused than helped. However, they reached a masonry block of rooms.

Kyouko now had an idea where Homura was taking her.

"Come in." Homura said as she opened one of these rooms.

Kyouko entered a room that has no one, with several counters with sinks. In the middle of each branch there was a set of empty test tubes. In the back there were lockers containing cataloged pots according to the chemical they contained. The whiteboard still had things written of the last class that had been in this lab.

Homura came in and closed the door.

Kyouko turned to her. "I don't know why all this. That transfer student didn't request to keep a secret... yet."

"Transfer student?" Homura was confused at first, but then realized the mistake she made. "Oh right."

Kyouko put a handful of chips in her mouth and then offered the package to Homura. "Mmmhhh... Want soffe? Itff isff... mmmhhh... very cruffchy."

Due to talking with the mouth full, small pieces of potato ended up in Homura's face.

"Myff bafffd."

Homura closed her eyes and rubbed her face to clean it. "Just tell me what you were talking about."

"It's like I said, girl's talk." Noting the refusal of the offer, Kyouko again took up more chips from the package. "I told to that transfer student about a boy interested in her."

"H-How?! A boy?" Homura was surprised. "I want details."

Kyouko crumpled the empty package and hurled toward the trash. It entered without knocking on the edge. "Yay! Three points."

Homura was more tense. "Tell me! Who is it?"

Kyouko was poking her chin. "You know that one who Saotome is always pestering during class? Damn! His name is on the tip of my tongue, but doesn't want to leave..."

"Nakazawa?" Homura questioned.

"Yeah! That's it!" Kyouko pointed to Homura.

"You... you're lying." Homura said as she pulled her hair back.

"Don't believe me?" Kyouko smirked. "Or is it jealousy?"

"Jealous?" Homura turned her body slightly to the left trying to hide the hand of that side behind her. The diamond-shaped gem appeared on top of the hand.

Kyouko noticed a slight flutter in the test tubes. "Why not? That boy isn't something to throw away. Huh?"

"That's not it." The gem was gone. "But this story coming from you..."

Kyouko put her hands behind her head. "Oh. I'm not really sure, but I sit next to him and saw the boy staring at her. She can confirm this."

Homura was thoughtful.

Kyouko continued. "These men of today. Only want girls that are innocent, sweet, silly or soppy... They would never dare to deal with tough and independent women like me and you."

"Me?" Homura pointed to herself.

"Of course." Kyouko put her hand on the right shoulder of Homura. "I can see in your face that you have been through a lot."

"Maybe." Homura slapped Kyouko's arm.

"Hey!"

Homura then looked into Kyouko's eyes and spoke threateningly. "Sakura-san, stay away from Kaname-san."

"Oh yeah?" Kyouko said defiantly. "And if not?"

"You will." Homura said, sure of herself. "Our conversation has ended."

"It's not!" Kyouko's anger rose up. "Don't you think you're being too harsh?"

"Too... harsh?" Homura only repeated, without understanding the meaning of it.

"Yep. To the transfer kid." Kyouko opened her arms. "I shouldn't even call her that anymore, she's been here for months." Then she pointed to Homura. "But you don't let her blend in with the crowd."

Homura remained silent.

"I just went to exchange some ideas with her and you already come acting all threatening. You look like a guard dog." Kyouko crossed her arms. "In the early days here, it would even be good to protect her, but now it's too much. Why continue with this? Huh?"

Homura smiled. "As yourself said. She is innocent, sweet, kind... They are qualities that I admire, but are also qualities that others will use to take advantage of."

"Is that it? Heh." Kyouko smiled. "Then I'll invite her to hang out around the city. I gonna have to teach her how..."

Kyouko was interrupted by a precise punch in her solar plexus. The movement was so fast that even facing Homura, she failed to made any reaction.

"Ahhgggnnnnn... ghghg..." With the air escaping her lungs, Kyouko knelt down and hugged in pain.

"I'd never impede her from having friends." Homura continued, with a broad smile. "I just don't want her to be target of bad influences like yours, delinquent. Fufu." Then she went to the door.

"Agh...Ah..." Kyouko then looked up. "...Ah...tough... bitch...gnnn"

Homura stopped for a moment, before leaving.

／人 ◕‿‿◕ 人＼

"ARE YOU CRAZY?!"

Kyouko, in Sayaka's room and ready to sleep, had just told to her 'cousin' about her conversation with Homura and Madoka.

Kyouko said to the reaction of Sayaka. "Nah! She remains the same girl, playing the role of a smartass, but has no cunning..."

Sayaka, who was sitting at the dresser and wearing a blue nightgown, got up and hurled her hairclip against Kyouko. "You were very lucky to not screw it up!"

Kyouko got up and sat on the mattress. "Lucky? I played safe. Heh."

"Played safe, is it?" Sayaka was ironic. "Thinking that this is a joke, is it? Are you having a great time, yeah?"

"And you don't?" Kyouko snapped.

"How?"

"Oh yeah!" Kyouko slapped her forehead. "We only go around and have fun because we have to keep the routine and, of course, you're a great actress. Uh-huh... uh-huh..."

"I... I'm happy with the times we've spent together." Sayaka lowered her head. "But this can't continue."

"Can't?" Kyouko shrugged. "For me it can go on forever."

Sayaka began gesticulating, agitated. "How can you say that? Was it not you who said she went insane?"

"Yep. I thought she fucked up." Kyouko looked through the window at the moon split in half. "But now I put everything in perspective: living with you and, despite the lessons being a bother, it's better to be fried by a demon. Sayaka... did you ever see that white pest, Kyuubey, around?"

Sayaka said sulkily. "I didn't..."

"There it is!" Kyouko pointed to Sayaka. "One more proof that she did everything right."

Sayaka put the hands on her hips. "Yeah! And the lobotomizing?"

"That 'lobosomething' isn't cool..." Kyouko said. "...but Homura never trusted in anyone and I understand this very well. And I also know that this doesn't mean that she's evil. Wasn't you who said that Mami was fine?"

Sayaka winced at that question. "Yes... She's fine." Then her body tensed. "And Madoka?"

Kyouko smiled. "The pinky is just fine. She's still the little silly I remember. I just thought she was isolated, but Homura should take care of it."

Sayaka made a disgusted expression. "Frankly Kyouko." After that, tapped her chest and snapped. "I aM hEr fRiend. mE!"

Kyouko nodded. "Knowing how you are, I bet that you challenged Homura at first chance and she gave you a lesson. You thought she was going to let you get closer to Madoka after that. Huh?"

Sayaka pulled down on the skin of her face. "No. No. No. You have no idea..."

Kyouko punched the mattress. "Blockhead! You're not seeing that it's a second chance? A second chance for all of us?"

"Second chance?" Sayaka did not even want to look at Kyouko.

"Yeah..." Kyouko continued. "If I were you, I would dump that green haired girl. That would also be enough to be a declaration of love for that boy."

"Don't be ridiculous. Haha." Sayaka gave laugh with a disappointed tone. "I don't have anything with him. My wish was fulfilled and he'll be happy with Hitomi."

"Oh yeah?" Kyouko was not convinced.

"Kyouko..." Sayaka looked back at Kyouko and spoke in a serene tone. "Didn't I tell you that I don't regret anything? That the only thing I wanted was to see you again?"

"Wow!" Kyouko closed her eyes. "I think I forgot before with so much going on." Then she got up from the mattress and looked to Sayaka, smiling. "Thanks for reminding me of that."

Kyouko started walking toward Sayaka.

"Kyouko?" Sayaka gave a simple smile with the reaction of Kyouko.

The smiling face of Kyouko had been replaced by a more serious one. She advanced against Sayaka, pushing and pressing the bluenette against the wall with both arms.

"K-Kyouko?!"

"ARE YOU A RETARD?" Kyouko snapped, her saliva hitting the face of Sayaka.

Sayaka tried to push against, but Kyouko threw her back against the wall.

"Don't regret anything? Idiot!" Kyouko's lips trembled. "You know what happened when you were taken away?"

Sayaka lowered her head.

"You left nothing behind. Not a single thread of hair!" Kyouko was lowering her voice. "You were reported as missing."

"I walked down the streets and faced your image all over the place. The posts, in shop windows, on television..."

Kyouko swallowed hard, trying to hold her voice which was getting weepy. "Your father appeared on TV calling for you. They said you have been kidnapped by women traffickers looking for East Asian supply."

Tears started streaming down Sayaka's face.

"But like all news..." Kyouko gritted her teeth. "...they are only good while they are fresh. Gradually you had been forgotten."

"But your parents didn't give up. They hired investigators." So Kyouko pointed to the walls. "They came to sell this house to pay off debts and you have the courage to say you don't regret anything?"

Kyouko pointed to herself. "I was supposed to have been taken. The world doesn't need me."

Sayaka was crestfallen and static. The tears watered the blue gown she wore. However, Kyouko was still pressing her against the wall.

"Shortly after you were taken, Homura left us and later she vanished from the city. If not for Mami I..."

Kyouko's face contorted and her eyes reddened.

"I would have given up everything and you have the courage to say you don't regret anything?"

Considering the lack of reaction of Sayaka, Kyouko was calming. "All because of this stupid obsession over one person. Tch... you know, you look like Homura."

"...Haha...hahahaha..hahahahahahahahahahaha..." Sayaka started laughing.

"Sayaka?"

"...hahahahAhaHahAhAHAhahaHahaHahaHAhaHahaHahahaHa..."

The voice Sayaka was distorted, as if her voice was heard through a long tube of metal.

"Sayaka!" Kyouko noticed the gown that Sayaka was wearing was getting wetter. This could not be possible only with tears. Her skin was getting humid and her blue hair was also darker due to being soaked.

"lOoK aT Me!"

Kyouko gasped before the face Sayaka revealed. It was not tears but water that poured from her pores. Nostril, mouth, ears, all of them were like taps. Her blue eyes now were a raging sea, with a large swirl in the center. Her clothes and hair dripping wet.

"i LoOk lIkE hOmURa nOW?"

Kyouko felt her bare feet in the puddle that was forming and expanding throughout the room. The wall where Sayaka was leaning was like a waterfall. Then she was surprised by gauntlets of iron that gripped her wrists.

"S-Sayaka."

They began to crush them.

"SayaaaAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!"

Sayaka contorted her face. "AgH... yoU are OUt oF tUnE!"

Sayaka released her wrists, but before she could feel any relief, Kyouko received a strong blow in her abdomen. She flew and fell on her mattress that was already floating. The sound of an orchestra could be heard.

Still lying, Kyouko rose her head and had an idea of what had hit her: A long fish tail replaced the legs of Sayaka, who now towered at three meters high. She wore full iron armor with a drawing of a cutlass puncturing a stylized heart on her waist and a huge red bow tied at the collar. A navy blue cape fluttering in her back. Only the face and hair were still recognizable.

The reflection of everything in the room featured the image of that mermaid knight. The light went out and then the walls and the ceiling revealed musical scores, written with a blue phosphorescent ink. The stuffed fishes came alive and desperately struggled in search of water. The frog was jumping toward the witch, to crown her.

Oktavia Von Seckendorff removed a cutlass from the water, revealing to be one meter and a half long, and pointed it against Kyouko, ready for the trial. "Who dAreS To cOMpARe ME tO A TRaItOr?"

Kyouko rolled across the mattress into the water and then said as she tried to get up. "L-Lower your sword Sayaka! It's me!"

But Oktavia ignored the words and continued her performance. "sHe nEVer sHouLD HaVE bEEn rEscUeD aFtEr wHaT SHe DId."

"Wake up Sayaka!"

"bUt HoPe hAd tO Do iTs fUncTion..."

Oktavia began to move toward Kyouko with the blade ready.

Kyouko backed away, shaking her head. "Please... I don't want to fight you."

"i sHouLd HavE eXecuteD HeR WhEn I hAD The cHAncE! WhEN ShE wAs uNAwaRe oF hEr ViLe NAtUrE."

The water was reaching to the knee. The bedroom door was closed.

If I open the door, the water will spread throughout the entire condominium quickly. This will draw a lot of attention. Damn! Kyouko thought.

"hOpe SAId sHE WorKeD HArd, ShE deSerVEd FoRgiVenESs."

Kyouko leaned against the wall, the blade was getting closer. The ring on her middle finger seemed to weigh more and more.

"HoW fOolIsH! The GuIlTY WiLl aLwAys bE gUIltY. tHIs TiME ThERe wIll Be NO mErCY."

The face of the witch, once of Sayaka, contorted in hatred.

"HeRe IS mY DeCRee!"

The waters churned as if they had been hit by a thunderous sound wave.

"fOR THe UNiVeRsE tO LiVe, THE dEVIl MusT DiE!"

At the end of that statement, a helmet appeared, involving the head of Ocktavia.

Kyouko, fearing she was about to lose her friend completely, cried with all her might. "MORON! I AM NOT THE DEVIL! I AM KYOUKO SAKURAAAAAA!"

The witch stopped, with the blade next to Kyouko's neck, and looked at the palm of her other gauntlet. She clenched her fists saying.

"kuoKyO SkArUA sRrOy."

Her armor and weapon began to liquefy. At first the liquid had metallic appearance, such as mercury, but then became transparent. The huge figure was gradually sinking and disappeared under the water.

The light turned back on.

From the water emerged Sayaka in her soaked gown, floating in a fetal position. "sorrysorrysorrysorry..."

"Hey! HEY!" Kyouko ran up to Sayaka and bent down to hug her. "It's all right. It's all right..."

Sayaka trembled as she stared at her flooded room. The stuffed animals floated, now lifeless. "I...almost killed you..."

"Kill me?" Kyouko asked incredulously. "I'm a diehard girl."

Sayaka ran her hand on the wrist of Kyouko that was stained with dark red. She knew that tomorrow would be purple and swollen.

Kyouko said. "Oh... I've had worse. Don't forget I'm a magical girl too, this bruise won't last more than a day."

"Do you understand now? I don't have a second chance." Sayaka hid her face. "I'm not the same one you know anymore."

"Yeah. You may have changed, but it's still Sayaka. Get up!" Kyouko forced Sayaka to stand.

The water line now hit on level with their shins.

"We have to fix that or the entire condominium will know." Kyouko was emphatic.

"The water should be running down the bathroom drain. This will be no problem." Sayaka watched the door.

"Really? I didn't think about that." Kyouko said.

"But we need mops, rags and buckets." Sayaka pointed to the mattress. "And hair dryers."

"And a change of clothes too." Kyouko complemented smiling.

Sayaka looked at her wet gown, glued to her body, revealing her feminine form. "Y-Yeah, you're right..."

Kyouko put the hands on her hips and looked around. "Will we be able to arrange everything before your mother comes back?"

That question was like a needle puncturing Sayaka. "Look Kyouko... I didn't know about my parents. Madoka never showed that to me. But when I decided to become magical girl, I was aware that I would be further away from them. I didn't know it would be so much, but... it's..."

Kyouko lowered her head slightly and spoke in a very low tone. "Is it always like this?"

"I don't know..." Sayaka nodded.

"And what about what you said before?"

Sayaka was confused by the question of Kyouko. "Before?"

"Yep. When you turned in that mermaid, you began to speak about the betrayal of Homura." Kyouko began to remove the excess water in her ponytail. "But you spoke as if she had betrayed us before. It wasn't only when she was gonna be taken away?"

Bitterness was now stamped on Sayaka face. "This Madoka told me. That's why that monster left you. She knew you and Mami-san would fight against her if you discovered it."

"Jeez!" Kyouko felt the weight of those statements.

"If everything was ok, Madoka would've revealed this one day, when you reached the Law of Cycles. However, now I'll tell you."

The night would be long.

Disclaimer: I do not own Mahou Shoujo Oriko Magica and their characters.

Next chapter: Blessed are we all