Closer

"Madoka, you'll be alright."

"I'll protect you, don't worry."

Madoka could smell the scent of medicines suddenly as she forced herself to peel her eyes open. She saw white first, then the colour green, red and blue appeared out of no where. She blinked a few times, and she steadily hear familiar voices in her ears.

"Madoka! You're awake!"

"We're so worried!"

Hitomi adjusted the bed and Madoka comfortably sat up, glancing around. Sayaka, Hitomi were in the ward, along with the redhead she saw at the mall that day. She blinked before cracking her lips to speak.

"Why am I in the hospital?" Madoka said hoarsely.

"We don't know either." Sayaka eyes Kyoko suspiciously as the redhead shrugged. "Kyoko called me that you're here so Hitomi and I rushed over."

"My dad..." Madoka widened her eyes.

"Don't worry, only some of your caretakers know. Your dad was un-contactable anyway, probably in a meeting like always." Hitomi gave a pat on Madoka's shoulder. "It seemed that you're fine, some bruises and scratches only..."

The voices faded and Madoka started to block everyone out. She stared quietly at her feet under the white sheet before lowering her gaze. All she remembered was that Homura fired the gun, but she couldn't seem to recollect anything else. Madoka sadly looked up at Sayaka who seemed to be reprimanding Kyoko about something while the redhead was arguing back too.

'Sayaka is right. Homura... She...' Madoka bit her lips, trying to hold back the tears that are forming in her eyes.

Madoka's chest cringed, just thinking of the mysterious girl that protected her every single day make her heart shattered into pieces. Just when she thought Homura wasn't what Sayaka claimed to be; suspicious, a person with motives up her sleeves, this had to happen to crush all her hope.

"Now that I wonder." Sayaka crossed her arms and stared at the door of the ward. "Akemi didn't seemed to be by Madoka's side for once."

Madoka tensed.

Kyoko glanced at Madoka before rebutting. "You complained that you don't like her around, now you're wondering why she isn't around. What do you want then?"

Hitomi raised both of her hands and tried to calm down the fight, but to no avail. But at that moment, Madoka didn't seem to care anymore. She's tired, since so many things happened today. The failed confession, the realization...

Madoka gave a sidelong glance at the door. Even though she didn't want to see Homura right now, in her heart, she hoped that the door would just slide open to reveal that stoic girl she loved for ages.

"So..."

Homura opened the can of coke as she took a sip, leaning tiredly on the wall outside the hospital. "The criminal's caught. My duty is over."

"The boss even have to go down to close the case for you too. Ya' know, you always give him a heap of trouble every time." Kyoko took the can and drank it before Homura could take another sip.

"You cant expect me to call the police with the gun in my hand. Calling the boss is my only option." Homura scoffed.

"That problems aside. Why didn't you followed Madoka to the hospital? That Sayaka always have so much questions to ask every single time and it's really troublesome ya know." Kyoko returned the coke.

Homura lowered her gaze, taking the drink from Kyoko and left it to sizzle. "It took my entire nerve system to force myself not to board the ambulance with Madoka." She muttered.

Kyoko sighed, ging a few pats on Homura's stiff shoulder. "Alright, lets head home and pack up our things. That rent fee is almost overdue, luckily you finished the mission in time. It's time to head back to the headquarters."

Homura chugged down the entire coke in one go, throwing it smoothly into a trash can nearby. She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand before glancing back at Kyoko. "You head home first. And do me a favor and helped me with the luggage. I'll go to the bathroom for a while."

"Toilet?" Kyoko snickered softly to herself as she watched Homura disappear after entering the hospital. The redhead stuffed both of her hands in her tight shorts before trudging off.

It was suppose to be way past visiting hours. But Homura slipped past the counter easily and swiftly walked towards Madoka's ward. She peeped through the small clear window and noticed Madoka was soundly asleep, just like what Homura was hoping for.

She slided the door open and quietly tiptoed into the room before closing the door behind her. Slowly, she approached the bed in a careful motion not to knock down any things and sighed inwardly after managing to sit down on the chair beside Madoka.

Homura stared at the sleeping figure, watching with a small smile. She then noted Madoka's hand at the side of the bed and her own hands lifted themselves up and attempted to held Madoka's hand. BUt she stopped herself just in time before she touched Madoka. Her hands curled up into a ball of fist and she retreated it back to her lap.

Her eyes averted to Madoka's face and her lips quivered a little.

"I'm sorry. I know I shouldn't have lied to you, for so long." Homura whispered. "But I have to."

There was just silence.

Homura sighed before continuing. "You might not believe me, the truth is., I'm not protecting you because of my job. I'm protecting you... because I want to."

Because I love you.

"Madoka..." Homura slowly cupped her mouth and closed her eyes before standing up quietly. She stared at Madoka for the last time and bowed before leaving.

"Farewell."

As the door closed once again, a small tear run down the side of Madoka's cheek. She opened her eyes and slowly lift herself up from her bed.

She started weeping.

a year later.

Madoka sighed, watching the heavy downpour under the empty busstop shelter. She knew she shouldn't trust the weather teelcast anymore, they're wrong thrice in ten broadcast everytime.

She sat down on the bench and swatted her skirt, trying to brush off the raindrops when she was running so desperately to find shelter a while ago. Today was definitely a bad day for her. Both Sayaka and Hitomi had went out with their dates for some romantic dinner and movie, and both of them forgot their outing they planned for today and she ended up going home now after waiting for around half an hour.

Madoka sighed, again. Soon, it would be their graduation and they'll be going to high schools. A new start, new friends. Madoka wasn't really looking forward to that. Her studies were so-so and her jokes were often childish and lame, no one would want to be her friend.

She stared up at the dark grey sky, estimating the rain wouldn't stop even after half an hour. But well, it isn't that bad. Her weather is chilly and it's quite nice to watch the rain goes pitter patter too.

Her mind slowly drifted off as she swing her legs, and rock her body, softly singing out a tune she made up. She was so distracted by the rain that she didn't noticed several other people were under the same shelter as her too. But no one minded her as well.

"I would love to lend you my umbrella, but it seemed that you don't really need it at the moment."

Madoka blinked and lifted her head up.

A lightning struck, followed by a loud thunder as Madoka shivered in fright. The long-haired girl standing in front of her stared at the sky expressionlessly before waving the umbrella in her hand. "You don't seem to be in a hurry anyway."

The pinkette's eyes widened as her mouth opened and close like a sick goldfish. How long has it been?

"Homura..."

"Let's restart our meeting, shall we?"

end

"Please don't end up falling for a mission. Homura quitted, so please."

"I get it already, sir. You said it every time."

"I don't know, there's just a feeling that you'll leave soon too."

.

"You always eat the same slice of cake."

"Eh?"

"Hi, the name's Kyoko, can I join you?

"Sure. My name is Mami, please to meet you."

really?

A/N: WOW THIS IS SO CLICHE
OHKAY BYE AND REALLY, ITS THE END SO NO MORE AND CASSHBANKY PLEASE LIEK SMILE NOW DUN CRY FOR YOU PILLOW AND HOMURA ANYMORE.