A/N: So this chapter was supposed to be twice as long, but I ran into writer's block for a year. So I capped it off and went "SCREW IT" and now you have Part One. Hopefully Part Two won't take as long. Sorry for the wait.

Well don't lean on me 'cause I am falling, please don't fall with me.
I really need you here, yeah I need you so don't leave.
And don't count on me 'cause I am drowning,
please don't drown with me.
Just hold me in your heart, let the ocean take me.
Let the ocean take me.

Excerpt from "Don't Lean On Me" by the Amity Affliction

Puella Magi Fuhai Magica

Chapter Two: Gute Nacht, Schwester (Part One)

Mami Tomoe shifted her schoolbag, sighing in exasperation.

Homura said she was going to go pick up Nagisa from her school. Homura had looked up to the task, even with her earlier… lapse, and Mami trusted the ebony-haired girl, but still, sometimes she worried for her friend.

Homura didn't have a stabilizing element in her life, like Mami did with Nagisa. Cute, little Nagisa. Affectionately known as Charlotte. Without her, Mami was sure that she would have snapped long ago. she almost had in Tokyo. she remembered the anger, the uncontrollable rage that had overtook her mind as she shot, tore, and ripped apart the people who had dared to destroy her hard-won comfortable life in Mitakihara. It had all been perfect, she had a nice home, friends, she had a life. A life that she had built up from the ashes after the accident that had taken away everything that she had held dear. Just as Mami thought everything was well again, her life had been destroyed. Again. The rage, the sheer anger that had stemmed from that, once she became a Demon, it all had rushed back in force.

Mami tried to put on a smiling face, a strong front for her juniors. she had to be unwavering, untouchable. Big Sister Mami, that's what they called her. In Hanran, all of the younger Magical Girls had looked up to her as their protector, as their senior.

Big Sister Mami, Mami-senpai, Mami-sama... she had gained a sense of security, a sense of pride.

That had been utterly shattered when Hanran was ripped apart by the JSDF. Everyone who had trusted her to keep them safe, dead. She'd be dead too if it wasn't for Homura.

Trying to remember what life was like after that was like trying to peer through broken glass. You're pretty sure that you know what's on the other side, but the image is distorted, unclear, and imperfect.

All she knew was that her clarity had returned to her the moment she found Nagisa. There was no doubt in her mind now. Mami may have failed everyone in Hanran, but she would never fail Nagisa. She would protect that little girl with her life. Maybe then she could atone for her failures...

With the distinctive clicking of gears, Homura materialized right next to Mami, holding Nagisa's hand gently. The little girl looked downcast, and had clearly cried recently.

Mami was instantly by her side, "Charlotte, what's wrong?" the blonde whispered soothingly, pulling the small girl into a hug.

"The other kids m-made fun of me," Nagisa sniffled, eyes wet, "they said you were bad and evil! When I said you weren't, they made fun of me too!"

She burst into tears, pulling herself closer to Mami, even as the older girl bristled with anger.

The other children at Nagisa's school were bullying her?

UNACCEPTABLE.

"Charlotte, my sweet," Mami crooned, "Can you tell me the names of the children who insulted you?"

"Wh-Why?" Nagisa looked up at Mami, "What are you going to d-do?"

"I'm going to... teach them a lesson," Mami pat Nagisa's head, "They won't bother you anymore, okay?"

"No!" Nagisa suddenly shouted, tearing up even more, "Don't kill them, Big Sister! Killing is bad!"

"I... I wasn't going to kill them," Mami half-heartedly objected, but she knew what she was going to do, and Nagisa knew as well.

She really did intend to kill them. After all, she had to protect Nagisa.

"No killing!" Nagisa hugged Mami closer, "Promise!"

Promise not to kill? That was a rather tall order. True, Mami didn't start her day putting "Kill Someone" on her schedule, but there were just so much scum in this world and sometimes she couldn't resist that urge to rid the world of some rotten piece of filth.

But... she had to get better for Nagisa. Not just because the little girl was her Anchor... but because Nagisa relied on Mami as her protector, her Big Sister...

Nagisa deserved better... so Mami would try to become better.

"All right," Mami sighed, "I promise."

"Promise what?" Nagisa stared at Mami with expectant eyes.

"I promise that I won't kill anyone, Charlotte," Mami smiled, "All right?"

"Yay!" Nagisa hugged Mami tightly.

Homura raised an eyebrow at Mami, giving the blonde a questioning look. Mami met the raven-haired girl's gaze, sent her a quick telepathic response to the unspoken question. Satisfied, Homura leaned against the school wall, waiting for Madoka to leave the building.

Mami gave Nagisa a small cheese snack she had been saving for the little girl, smiling genuinely at the exclamation of surprise and joy that the treat prompted.

Mami would try her best to keep her promise, but like she told Homura, there would most likely come a time where she would have to kill again, and if she did, well...

Nagisa didn't have to know.

"Homura-chan! Mami-san!" A familiar pinkette waved from the school gates. Homura returned the wave hesitantly. Mami gave the approaching pink and blue-haired girls a nod.

"You're feeling better, Homura-chan?" Madoka asked her friend in concern.

"I'm... I'm fine now, Madoka," Homura replied softly, a bit unsure of herself, "Thank you for asking."

"You don't have a fever or anything, do you?" Madoka put her hand to Homura's forehead, causing the older girl to flush with embarrasment and a bit of excitement.

Mami knew that Homura had quite a crush on Madoka, and the effects of the pinkette's innocent touch on the dark-haired girl were fairly obvious to the blonde.

Deciding to rescue her comrade, Mami spoke up, "Kaname-san, perhaps you could give Akemi-chan some space?"

"Ah!" Madoka stepped back, "Sorry, Homura-chan!"

"I-It's fine, Madoka," Homura stuttered, mind roiling. Dear god, she'd jump Madoka right here and now if they weren't in public and she was a bit more unstable. As it was, she had just enough self-control not to do that.

"Well, shall we get going?" Mami asked the three, eager to begin what was sure to be an enjoyable night… hopefully.

"Yeah, about that," Sayaka rubbed the back of her head in embarrassment, "I had something I needed to do with my parents… so I can't-"

Mami's eye twitched. Was Sayaka turning down her request? No, that would not do.

That would not do at all.

"Call your parents and explain that I invited you," Mami cut Sayaka off with a smile that did not reach her eyes, "They will likely excuse you. If they do not, I will personally convince them."

Sayaka recoiled as if struck. This was not the Mami she knew. Madoka was likewise startled.

"Big Sister Mami, stop!" Nagisa pleaded, "No means no! Don't threaten people!"

Mami blinked in surprise. Did she just?... yes, she did. She was far too used to having to threaten people to get what she wanted, and was not used to people rejecting her.

In fact, it made her feel lonely… but she had to remember that that sort of approach would only isolate her further.

"Oh, I'm sorry, Miki-san," Mami sighed, "You do not have to come with us if you do not want to."

"No, no," Sayaka stepped closer to Madoka protectively, "I'll come, and deal with my parents later." There was no way Sayaka was going to leave Madoka alone with those two anymore, not after what they said.

/人 ◕ ‿‿ ◕ 人\

Madoka apprehensively took a bite of the offered cheesecake. It was just as good as she remembered it; in fact it hadn't changed at all.

The person who made it, however, had definitely changed.

Homura, Mami, the two of them had been through so much. Homura hadn't changed too much, as far as Madoka could tell. Homura-chan was Homura-chan, even though she was a little bit scarier now… Still, Madoka knew that Homura would never harm her.

Sayaka sat frozen like a statue, her posture tense and gaze accusing. She didn't trust Mami, and wasn't too sure about Homura. They had both changed, very much so. The two girls who left… and the two monsters that came back were entirely different. She didn't understand why Madoka felt so comfortable around the black-haired Demon. Sure, Sayaka had put on a brave face earlier, but Homura had been right. Just because they knew Homura and Mami two years ago, that didn't mean that they knew them now. The blonde and black-haired girls were mass-murderers, and here Madoka and Sayaka were, eating cake and drinking tea with them! It was ridiculous!

"Now," Mami broke the silence, "I am sure that you two understand that this is not a mere social call."

"I kind of figured that," Sayaka replied before Madoka could, "especially when you threatened me over it."

"Miki-san," Mami sighed regretfully, "I am truly sorry for that. Sometimes I am… not quite myself."

"I don't understand, Mami-san," Madoka cut in, "Is there something wrong? Can we help?"

Mami smiled sadly, "Maybe, but not for me… however, you can help Akemi-chan."

"E-Eh?" Madoka turned to Homura, who couldn't return the gaze, "What's wrong with Homura-chan?"

"…Perhaps we should start at the beginning, Mami-san," Homura looked away, "Would you please?..."

Mami sighed. This was still a rather touchy subject for both of them. Anchors. It was hard explaining the concept to others without making it sound… unpleasant.

"Do you remember how we needed Grief Seeds to purify our Soul Gems, Miki-san?" Mami started the sure-to-be-lengthy explanation.

"Yes, you explained that to us two years ago," Sayaka replied, "I don't think we can help you with that. We aren't Magical Girls."

"We aren't Magical Girls any longer, Miki-san," Mami pointed out, "but we still need something… like a Grief Seed. Similar in function."

"What is it?" Madoka cut in, eager to hear how she could help Homura.

"We need what we call, Anchors," Mami set down her cup of tea, "They can be an object, concept, person, or place that keep us emotionally grounded. Without one, we can… lose touch with reality."

"Do you have an Anchor, Mami-san?" Madoka asked curiously.

Mami just smiled and ruffled Nagisa's hair, "Charlotte here is my Anchor. I would be much worse off if I didn't find her."

"What about transfer student?" Sayaka inquired, looking to Homura, "Do she have an Anchor?"

"… No," Homura shook her head slowly, "I don't."

"That is the reason we asked you here today," Mami cut in, turning to Madoka, "Kaname-san, we have reason to believe that you could serve as Akemi-chan's Anchor."

"Wh-What?" Madoka started in surprise, "Me? Why?"

"You don't have to if you don't want to, Madoka," Homura muttered, a bit crestfallen as she took Madoka's reaction to be one of reluctance.

"No, it's not that," Madoka quickly clarified, "I just… why me?"

"Yeah," Sayaka cut in, "Why her? Can't Homura just pick anybody she's friends with, like you, Mami-san?"

"Well," Mami tried to explain in a way that didn't sound awkward, "In order for a person to act as an Anchor for one of us, there needs to exist a relationship. The stronger the relationship, the more potent the effects. While I suppose that I could serve as Akemi-chan's Anchor, I would not be a very effective one. We are just friends."

"And Madoka isn't just Homura's friend?" Sayaka asked, moving protectively in front of her childhood friend.

"Well," Mami looked expectantly to Homura, who blushed while looking away.

"Um…" Homura mumbled softly, "I… well…."

"It's fine, Sayaka-chan," Madoka gently pushed Sayaka out of the way, "I want to help Homura-chan in any way I can… I'll do it."

"Just like that?" the blunette protested, leaning in to whisper to the pinkette, "Can we really trust them?"

Completely blowing Sayaka's attempt at subtlety out of the water, Madoka loudly and indignantly replied, "Sayaka-chan, even if you don't, I trust Homura-chan."

Sayaka cringed. Well, so much for whispering. Madoka could be so blunt sometimes.

If Homura heard that Sayaka didn't trust her, the raven-haired Demon certainly didn't show it. She was awash with ecstatic relief, a genuine smile gracing her face.
"Th-Thank you, Madoka," Homura let out a breath that she had been holding, "I… You don't know how much this means to me…"

Mami was pleased. Homura hadn't looked this happy in a while, and hopefully now that Madoka would be her Anchor, things would only get better.

After a few moment's silence, Madoka spoke up uncertainly, "Eh… Mami-san, Homura-chan, how exactly do I be an 'Anchor'?"

"Oh, leave that to me!" Homura scooted closer to the pinkette, "Just relax and if you feel a bit tired, that's normal."

"Uh…" Madoka tried to relax as Homura gently took her hand, "Alright."

"Remember, Akemi-chan," Mami gently instructed Homura, "Slowly. Don't go too fast."

Homura nodded in affirmation, before starting.

It felt like… there really was no way to accurately describe it to a person who's never actually done it. If Homura had to, she would say that it would be like laying on your bed, trying to find a really soft blanket, and once you find it, you drag it closer to yourself, as close as you can, not letting go.

Madoka gasped softly as she felt her hand begin to tingle. If she looked closely, she could see some sort of faint light emanating from where her hand met Homura's. The overall sensation was not quite unpleasant, but it was certainly unsettling. It felt as though she were being held in a tight embrace, coupled with a sort of prickling feeling around her heart.

As the seconds passed, Madoka could see Homura visibly relax. The pinkette didn't notice quite how pale Homura was, but it was now evident by the color returning to the girl's cheeks that whatever she was doing was making her well again.

Madoka yawned involuntarily, strange. Why was she so tired?

Homura, on the other hand, felt great. In fact, this was the best she had felt in months. It was as if all her fears, her insecurities, all those random horrible impulses were being drained… no, not quite, being shoved back into a little corner in her mind, right where they belonged. She felt herself relaxing, something she hadn't truly done ever since she left Mitakihara. She wanted more of this secure, warm, relaxing feeling…

"Akemi-chan," Mami gently warned Homura, "That's enough."

Homura suddenly jerked her hands away from Madoka's. That… That was dangerous. Mami gave her comrade a disapproving glare.

'I know that it can be difficult to regulate feeding off of your Anchor,' Mami telepathically admonished Homura, 'but do try to keep from killing Madoka.'

'I wasn't going to!' Homura shot a glare at Mami, 'Madoka is my friend!'

"Madoka, are you alright?!" Sayaka moved to steady the pinkette, who was waving like a sapling in the wind.

"I'm tired, Sayaka-chan…" Madoka mumbled, "I kind of want to take a nap…"

"What did you do to her?!" Sayaka shouted at Homura as Mami gestured for her to quiet down.

"Miki-san, Kaname-san is fine!" Mami hissed under her breath, "This is perfectly normal!"

Nagisa, who had been sitting silently on the couch, suddenly hopped off, chiming in, "Big Sister Madoka is tired! I'll get her some warm milk like you do for me, Big Sister Mami!"

With that, the cute girl ran off into the kitchen, leaving an awkward silence.

"Miki-san," Mami ended the uneasy silence, calm and collected as if nothing had happened, "Do you still have a wish?"

"What?" Sayaka blinked in surprise. What did that have to do with anything?

"We know what happened with Kyousuke Kamijou," Homura stated simply, "You do not understand what we are, what we have to do… but perhaps there's a way we can show you."

"Wait," Sayaka paused, were they asking her?...

"Yes," Mami answered with a smile that did not reach her eyes, "Miki-san…"

"How would you like to become a Magical Girl?"