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Kyoko stalked through the park, muttering angrily to herself. Her right hand was wrapped around a grief seed, barely noticing the pain as the metal dug into the soft flesh of her palm. She remembered the look on the Kamijo boy's face when she'd smashed the violin. The revenge she'd planned hadn't felt cathartic or satisfying, it had just made her feel petty and small. What was the point of punishing him for a crime he didn't even know he'd committed? Her foot steps sped up as she pounded the gravel and grass beneath her feet with furious stomps.
After knocking him unconscious she'd left Kyosuke locked up in the bell tower, then gone to pick up the grief seed from the pile she kept under a loose flagstone. Akemi had arranged to meet her at the park bench; it was the same bench in fact she'd had her encounter with Sayaka earlier today. The sun had set now, and the park was lit by the soft ambience of the lamps dotted along the gravel path; a moth danced back and forth in and out of the light of the nearest. Kyoko watched it's progress, it would move into the light, darting away back into the darkness just in time to avoid being burnt, but never able to remain there. It could not keep the dangerous game up forever though. There was a fizzling noise and the moth's body fell broken to the ground.
"Sakura Kyoko."
Kyoko yelped with surprise, jumping almost a foot in the air. She looked around to see Akemi Homura looking expectingly at her.
"Are you injured?" asked Akemi.
"W-what?" Kyoko still felt off-balance.
"You screamed," Akemi explained.
"I didn't scream. Just...don't sneak up on me like that, okay."
"It would have been difficult to make myself heard over the noise you were making with your own approach, I could hear you across the park. Unless of course your intention is to confront Miki Sayaka here, in which case I would struggle to think of a better way to attract her attention."
"Y'know, I think I liked ya better when you kept your mouth shut," grumbled Kyoko.
"How regrettable," said Akemi, not sounding at all regretful. "Have you brought the package?"
Kyoko fought down the urge to strangle the raven haired girl. "Here's your grief seed," she said through gritted teeth, chucking the gem at Akemi, who caught the haphazard throw easily.
"I will pass this on to Miki Sayaka." Akemi turned to leave but Kyoko stopped her, putting a hand on her shoulder.
"Wait just a sec. Ya can't just pass it to her, she's gotta accept it from you as well. Are you sure you can convince her?"
Akemi shrugged free of Kyoko's grip. "We have discussed this several times already, Sakura Kyoko. I will inform her we share a mutual enemy in you. Your disruption will leave the city ill-prepared to face against the witches and that we should work together to destroy you."
"That's what I mean. Sayaka's a proud, stubborn idiot but she ain't stupid." Akemi raised an eyebrow at the contradiction, but Kyoko pressed on. "If you talk to her like that she'll know you're trying to use her and she won't take any help."
"But I am trying to use her," said Akemi patiently. "Sayaka had little regard for me, if I tried to present myself as genuine she would likely have less cause to trust me."
"Look, I ain't saying you gotta try and pretend to be noble. God knows we're anything but that." Kyoko snorted. "But can ya at least try and act like you're pissed at me. That girl understands anger well enough."
"You want me to feign anger at you? That will be a difficult task when you consider how cordial our relationship has been up until now." Akemi's monotone only added to her sarcasm.
"Okay, that's a good start," Kyoko admitted. "Just try and work on it a bit more before you meet with Sayaka."
Akemi was silent for a time, examining the black jewel in her hand. "You would be better off not wasting this," she said finally.
Kyoko sighed. "Not this bullshit again. Are you still trying to back out?"
"No matter how hard you struggle, no matter what you do, you won't be able to save her from her fate. If you truly wanted to be merciful you'd cut her down now before-"
She didn't get a chance to finish. Kyoko grabbed Akemi by the lapel of her uniform, roughly pulling her forward. The redhead's face was contorted with rage as she raised her other hand to strike Akemi.
"Homura-chan? Sakura-san?" a familiar, gentle voice interrupted them.
Both of the magical girls looked around to see a small, pink-haired girl looking up at them. Her eyes were lined and red, it was hard to tell whether it came from grief or exhaustion. Kyoko recognised her as the girl always standing next to Sayaka like a very florescent shadow. Kyoko let go of Akemi and slowly lowered her fist. What was the girl's name? Kaname...something or the other.
"Kaname Madoka," said Akemi. That was it, thought Kyoko.
"You know Pinky?" Kyoko turned to Akemi, her anger temporarily abated by her surprise.
"We share a class," Akemi explained reluctantly.
"You goto school?"
"I am wearing a school uniform. That cannot have escaped even your dull notice."
Kyoko shrugged. "Not like its the same as Sayaka's her." She aimed a thumb at Madoka. "I just thought you liked how fancy they looked or something. Seriously though, why do you even bother going?"
"I was considering abandoning it." Akemi looked directly at Kyoko, "But then I saw the alternative."
"Oi, oi," Kyoko gave a very clenched smile, "You got something to say, say it straight you arrogant, stuck-up b-"
"May I remind you we have company," Akemi cut across her sharply.
Kyoko's mouth snapped shut, out of bewilderment more than anything. When they'd first met she'd thought a prim and proper girl like Akemi would be bothered by her rough way of speaking and in the early days had gone out her way to be as coarse as possible, but she'd never drawn out a reaction. Now Kyoko was just as surprised; the robot had been the last person she'd thought would reprimand her on her language.
Looking at Madoka (She just couldn't think of her by her surname) she could sort of understand why. The girl looked like she'd blush at saying gosh. Despite her rather delicate outward appearance Kyoko had begrudgingly found she didn't mind the pink-haired girl. She may not have their powers but she knew their pain; She was one of them. True, she and Sayaka made a disgustingly naïve pair, but Madoka's brand of ignorance was a lot less grating. If nothing else Kyoko had to respect somebody gutsy or stupid to step in the middle of a fight between two magical girls like Madoka had on the bridge that fateful night when they'd discovered their true identity. That night seemed like a century ago now.
"Why are you here?" Akemi asked.
"I'm looking for Sayaka. Hitomi said she she was sure she saw her in the park earlier this afternoon. I heard you both talking about her, do you know where she is?"
"Sayaka is a magical girl. Whatever she's doing is none of your concern." Akemi said.
Madoka looked taken aback at Akemi's harshness, but pressed on, "Don't say that Homura-chan. Sayaka is my friend. Kyuubey told me she's really in trouble-"
"I said it was none of your concern!" Akemi snapped. "Why must you always involve yourself."
"Akemi..." Kyoko said, surprised at the outburst. She looked sidelong at the girl, her pale fist were clenched hard, while Madoka was gazing at the ground, clutching herself and trembling. What was Akemi getting so uncharacteristically worked up about? Suddenly their earlier conversation came flooding back. You would not be the only one who mourned Miki Sayaka's loss. Kyoko couldn't help but grin as it all clicked into place.
"Hey, Madoka, do ya really want to help Sayaka? Because if you are, there's something only you can do." Madoka looked up at Kyoko's words, eyes that had been sparkling with unshed tears now sparkled with hope.
"Yes, I'll do whatever it takes," promised Madoka.
"What are you doing?" Akemi hissed.
"I know why you're helping me," crowed Kyoko. Akemi's response was a silent glare. Kyoko considered dropping the matter for a moment - If you truly wanted to be merciful you'd cut her down now – but she didn't. "Y'know I must've dropped every foul word in the Japanese dictionary around you, but that's the first time you've looked upset about it. Is it because you don't want me to embarrass your friend?" She nodded towards Madoka. "She's friends with Sayaka too ain't she? I bet she'd be pretty, I dunno...mournful say if something were to happen to her." Kyoko was definitely enjoying ruffling the feathers of her normally imperturbable companion.
"I would choose your next words with exceptional care, Sakura Kyoko," Akemi warned her with such coldness, Kyoko took pause despite her anger.
Kyoko held up her hands defensively "I ain't gonna say nothing. I suppose I should congratulate you though. I didn't realise you were capable of giving a toss about anyone else."
"Unlike you?" Akemi shot back.
"I ain't a robot like you. I can care if I want to." Kyoko gave a half-grin. "I just don't want to."
"What are you both talking about?" Kyoko and Akemi both turned to their attention back to an increasingly upset Madoka. "Sakura-san, you said I could help Sayaka! You know what's happening to her don't you? Please, tell me. She's my friend," Madoka pleaded.
"Sorry, I dunno where she is and I ain't exactly sure what's happening, but I got an idea of how to help her. You said you were ready to do whatever it takes, right?"
Madoka nodded.
"In that case, grit your teeth." With that Kyoko punched Madoka square in the face.
Kyoko immediately felt a massive surge of guilt. The impact of the blow had sent Madoka stumbling backwards onto the ground. She sat on the grass, staring up at Kyoko, with a face like a kicked puppy. Kyoko risked a glance at Akemi, who's mouth was opening and closing like a grounded fish. In different circumstances would have made her laugh, but right now she just felt disgusted at herself.
"Remember," Kyoko said to Akemi quickly, "When you pass the grief seed over, you gotta be mad." With that she began to quickly walked away. When she was out of sight she started to run. Something told her she really didn't want to be anywhere close when Akemi recovered her wits.
The evening air was cool and helped calm her down. Her pace slowed down until she came to a stop. She'd let herself lose control again, just like with the violin. If you truly wanted to be merciful you'd cut her down now. She'd wanted to hurt Akemi, but knew her fists wouldn't be able to reach her, so she'd gone for a different target. Except this time the one she'd attacked hadn't been an inanimate object, but a person.
"What the hell am I doing?" Kyoko said to herself eventually.
Madoka was the not the only one who'd been without rest. Sayaka had been searching relentlessly since the afternoon for some sign of Kyosuke or Kyoko. She'd started with all of Kyoko's old haunts: the church, the amusement arcade and observation tower, but each time she'd come up empty. She'd moved onto other likely spots: old abandoned warehouses and condemned buildings, but had little luck there either. She'd finally resorted to wondering the streets, hoping for some small sign or clue which would lead her to her childhood friend.
She'd got distracted when she'd come across a witch's familiar. So caught up in her worry over Kyosuke she'd been tempted to ignore it, but the moment of weakness had passed. She'd promised herself she was going to be a different kind of magical girl from Kyoko or the Akemi girl. She was going to be strong like Mami had been and defend people's happiness without any need for reward. Killing witches was all she was good for now anyway.
This familiar was elusive and Sayaka was exhausted, but she was sure she had it cornered. She raised her sword to cut it down when it suddenly shot towards her. Sayaka braced herself but before it could reach her a succession of shots ran out and the familiar disappeared into a cloud of butterflies before her eyes.
She looked round and felt a flash of anger when she saw it was Akemi Homura. Her fight and her frantic search had left her drained and all Sayaka could do was sink to her knees as the cold, raven-haired girl approached. Akemi tossed an object onto the ground in front of her; it was a grief seed.
"Use this," Akemi instructed. "You're almost at your limit."
Sayaka left it on the ground. "What are you scheming this time?"
Akemi sighed. "Enough. If you keep this up you'll die. Why can't you just trust me?"
"Because you're a liar. Everything you say is empty and hollow. You say you want to help me, but I know you're thinking something different." Sayaka raised her eyes, glaring at Akemi. "What can you call that but deception?"
Sayaka had seen many terrible things since she'd become a magical girl, but few of them matched Akemi Homura's smile. It was only when she smiled Sayaka really saw how black and dead her eyes were, like twin black-holes, sucking in all the light around them.
"You're quite sharp," Akemi said. Her hand went to her soul gem and for a moment it looked as if she was going to transform, but she stopped. "Sakura Kyoko needs to be stopped or it is likely Mitakihara will be destroyed. I require you to be alive and fit for battle."
"You want us to...team up." Sayaka gave a burst of incredulous laughter. "Your lies are getting worse and worse."
"I cannot be assured of victory on my own. You have an interest in stopping her as well do you not, Miki Sayaka? Or is your pride worth more than the life of Kamijo Kyosuke?"
"How do you know -" Sayaka began. Her surprise soon morphed into anger. She slowly rose to her feet once more. "How dare you of all people use his name. You don't even know what it means to love another person!"
Akemi regarded her with an expression Sayaka couldn't quite describe, but the moment quickly passed. "So I've been informed," Akemi said. "And I will use whatever is necessary, even if it means having to rely on you. Sakura Kyoko must be brought down. Take the grief seed, Miki Sayaka, and cleanse your taint."
Sayaka was tempted to throw it back in her face, but something stopped her. When she spoke of Kyoko Akemi's dark eyes had lit up faintly with an emotion Sayaka recognised all too well: anger. Whatever else she was scheming, Akemi seemed to be sincere in wanting to stop Kyoko.
Sayaka bent down and picked up the grief seed. Akemi said nothing, but Sayaka still shot her a rather defiant glare as she pocketed the small jewel.
"Just because I'm taking this doesn't mean I'm going to use it," she told Akemi rather redundantly.
Akemi shrugged her shoulders in response. "As you will. I have some leads on Sakura Kyoko. She's been moving across town, but I'm certain the base of her operations is the church."
The church had been empty earlier, but what Akemi said made sense. "Is she there now?"
"Most likely. However we should rest for tonight and coordinate an assault tomorrow once we've gathered more intelligence."
Sayaka had no intention of waiting, or if she could help it, trust Kyosuke's life in Akemi Homura's cold hands. However she nodded in agreement.
"I will meet you tomorrow at the park at four pm. Farewell, Miki Sayaka."
As soon as she was sure Akemi was gone, Sayaka summoned her energy and bound into action. Her destination was the shadowy spire among the blocky silhouettes of Mitakihara's cityscape.
Hidden a little way away Homura watched Miki Sayaka leap through the air towards the church. The bluenette was sadly predictable in many regards, all Homura had had to do was plant the information and Sayaka had bit onto the bait like she wanted to get caught. At least, Homura thought, her own part in this farce was over for the moment. It was time for Sakura Kyoko to step up to the stage. She remembered Madoka's tears when Sakura Kyoko had struck her, and while she knew it was in all their interests for the redhead to win the coming confrontation, she sincerely hoped Miki Sayaka would give a suitable account of herself. Regardless, all she could do now was wait.
Next chapter: Sayaka and Kyoko face off at last