Memento - English Edition

by Jafs

Between the walls of past, the future will be defied.

8. Memento

Memento

Under clouds of floating chairs, an army of magical girls camped on prairies of pure white. Many of them stopped their conversations and activities, getting up to those who had arrived.

In her wondrous divine attire, Madoka floated slowly between them, her endless strands of hair toward the sky.

She was accompanied by two experienced girls. One was blonde with rust-colored eyes, wearing a red uniform with rich golden trim, with a dragon symbol engraved on the fabric. She carried with great pride a rifle with a bayonet that could be used as an alabard. "1260 'pacified' witches... Madoka, what do you think of that number?"

"Actually 1272 and why do you use that word with irony, Elisa?" The other, except the skin, was predominantly gray, giving the air of maturity and wisdom she could express, while the small form of her body hid under her tunic. "They are alive and, indeed, have received from Madoka some peace of spirit."

"Pernelle..." With a mocking smile, Elisa aimed the rifle. "When I use this weapon you gave me against witches, it's always a hunt."

Pernelle adjusted her glasses. "Speak as if you made a major contribution to this campaign."

"I defeated two witches." Elisa looked away and played with her little ponytail. "Well... at least I hit them. It's not easy with so many magical girls acting together, there are colorful explosions everywhere."

"All the contribution is worth," Madoka stated, "even for those who don't fight."

"But the end result is the same, isn't it? A lot of grief seeds..." Elisa made an extravagant gesture to herself. "So, goddess, I'm sure we faced witches we've already encountered in other campaigns. Are you bringing them back to life to entertain us, hmmm?"

Pernelle was not a person who displayed expressions, including that of annoyance with the questioning of her acquaintance.

Madoka crossed her open hands over her five gems on her chest. "I seek to carry their curses on me for a while so the girls can have the opportunity to see a future and fill themselves with hope. Unfortunately, some return to tread paths of vices and destruction."

Elisa let her gun rest on her shoulders. "That's the way it is. Some people have such weak hearts and minds that they would throw away their own salvation."

"I don't know which one would fit in with what you say." Madoka's countenance grew firm. "However, the certainty that can help them is that I'll never give up."

"That's why you're a goddess," Pernelle added, with a sharp look toward Elisa.

"What are you implying?" In a more defensive posture, the blonde lifted her chin, but that changed when she saw who was coming. "Ah! There she is!"

It was another blonde, but with Green eyes and wearing pink armor. She came running and knelt before Madoka before she even stopped, almost falling with her face on the 'ground'. That did not shake the girl, who lowered her head and clasped her hands together. "Holy Maiden... I'm sorry. I didn't realize you're still with us."

A shadow came out from beneath the kneeling girl and rose, taking on the ethereal form of a magical girl with long hair, black like her cloak and robes. She was very serious. "Tart, how many times must I remind you that you don't have to do all this?"

"Oooh ho ho ho ho..." Elisa giggled, covering her mouth. "Leave her Riz, it's the plebeian blood that compels her."

Pernelle wasted no time retorting the assertion of the girl with rifle, "Humility and respect are virtues, princess."

Elisa flinched and turned her face. "P-Please... You're nagging me today..."

"When I see the Holy Maiden, I feel like I have to do this. My chest burns deep inside." Tart slowly stood up. "I knew that He would send someone to intercede for the magical girls."

Faced with this important historical figure, but still an innocent and hopeful girl, Madoka looked at the other girls in the camp. "I'm so used to it... that I sometimes forget the scale and importance of this endless work. Thank you, Tart. Thank you all for helping me."

Smiling, Pernelle conjured her staff. "They deserve this rest." Then an aura with alchemical symbols covered her. "In the meantime I'll take my time to try out some of the ingredients I've collected on the barriers. Au revoir!" And then she disappeared.

Riz frowned. "Rest?"

Elisa replied, "After so many fights, don't you think we should take a break? Even I know there are other important things to occupy our minds beside the next battlefield. The demons will keep the peace during our absence."

"Demons..." Riz crossed her arms. "Can we trust that?"

"I trust Madoka," Elisa consulted her.

The goddess' golden gaze flickered. "Out of control, witches are a source of imbalance that will be fought by them."

"We shouldn't call them demons anymore!"

Everyone redirected their attention to Tart.

The girl carried a determined face, one hand closed on her chest. "They're cast into hell because they're against our Lord, but His piety has no end. This work is their redemption and so we must call them angels again."

Seeing Tart's posture, Riz felt compelled. "You're right, after all we had no incidents with them..."

"It's all under control," Madoka said.

"Hahaha!" Elisa approached her two companions, using one arm to embrace Tart and the other one to pretend she could do the same with Riz. "Enough of worry, let's go to my barrier! I'll prepare a dragon steak for you guys."

Madoka took the opportunity to fly higher, saying goodbye, "Have fun. Rejoice. The Law of Cycles exists to heal the spirit and it's true for everyone. Thanks again!"

Tart watched her rise as she made the cross sing, while other girls from the camp waved.

All that faded into the white background. Madoka rised higher, past a few clouds of chairs, then stopped and looked around to see if anyone was there.

In fact there was a gray girl sitting in one of the chairs.

"Pernelle?" Madoka was surprised.

"I felt it was better to talk about it only with you," she said, "you're hiding your anxiety well, but normally you'd take more of your time to talk to the other girls."

Feeling exposed, Madoka gave a faint smile and sat in a chair, while her long strands of hair rested on nearby ones.

"How's Homura?" Pernelle asked.

Madoka sighed. "We're in a delicate moment."

The alchemist sought to know more. "Did she do something?"

Madoka shook her head. "I did painful things, but she was already in pain."

"I see..." Pernelle poked her own cheek, analyzing the statement. "A medicine is nothing more than a poison at the right dosage."

"I need to do this," Madoka said, not only to the other girl but to herself, "but Homura hasn't given me an answer yet."

Pernelle raised an eyebrow. "What if she doesn't...?"

"She's going to make a decision." Madoka nodded. "And we'll have a proper conversation. I trust that."

"You hope..." Pernelle looked at the inside of the goddess' skirt and its opressive darkness. "You have made great sacrifices to change the story of all magical girls, but changing the destiny of a specific person is beyond your wish."

"But it's not beyond me," Madoka replied with conviction.

And so fiercely that Pernelle was impressed.

The golden tones gave way to pink in the eyes of the goddess, now a girl crestfallen in the chair. "When Homura is confused, she always seeks in me a path to continue. I have this responsibility, since I took the first step to form the relationship we have today."

Pernelle smiled. "I'm a counselor, that's all. I can only say things like 'Don't let anyone see you like that'."

Madoka lifted her head and the golden glow in her eyes returned.

"I don't doubt you're the most capable person to take care of her." Pernelle rose from her chair, walking on a magic platform she had conjured. "Just be careful while expecting results, I've blown up my home a few times because of this."

Madoka nodded.

The gray girl made a gesture and the platform began to rise, traversing her body and making it disappear. "If I manage to distill a potion of true happiness, you'll be the first to know."

Then the silence of being alone and surrounded by empty chairs. Even in that world, where anyone was within the reach of a mere will, Madoka had this human feeling. She valued it, learning from whom she wanted to help, whom she wanted to see soon.

She closed her eyes and forgot that world, it was easy when there was no interference. Colors permeated beneath her eyelids as her body floated in a gentle embrace.

Until she felt a cold squeeze on her right shin.

The first thing she saw was the ceiling of the bedroom where she was in the mansion. It was still night and the moonlight invaded the room through the window. Madoka noticed who was holding her shin, kneeling beside her bed. The light reflected vibrantly on the hard, smooth white surface of the face and on the glass eyes.

Madoka recognized the coif that doll wore. "Manuke? Why aren't you with Homura? Do you want to sleep with me?"

The doll released the shin in a fright and hugged herself, head down, not looking at the girl. "No... I came here to call you."

Madoka froze, she did not expect the doll to speak, let alone hear the innocent voice of Homura. "Where are the others?"

"Outside..." Manuke looked up to see the window. "They didn't want me to participate in the executions, I look silly, someone might find it funny." Then she consulted Madoka. "Executions aren't funny, are they?" However, she did not wait for an answer to continue. "So they asked me to call you so I wouldn't be a dead weight, I guess..."

The girl jumped out of bed and approached the doll, offering her hand to help the other get up. "Show me the way."

Barefoot and in a white nightgown, Madoka walked through the long corridors holding hands with Manuke. There was a pressure that could be felt in the ears and wood cracklings came from all sides. Mechanical sounds were amplified, like those coming from the doll's joints and distant ones from old clocks scattered around the house. They went downstairs and Madoka saw through the window, in the trees bathed by the full moon there are flocks of owls with their eyes fixed on her.

They continued to the main entrance, where stood two lead soldiers with a similar appearance to Homura, but with bulky heads. As soon as they saw Madoka, they pointed at their spears and ran toward her.

The girl took the front of the doll and reached out her left arm as she pulled the right one. Like a blossoming rose, a long bow and an arrow of energy arose in her hands, which was fired.

The arrow split in two and coil around the soldiers, tying them. They rolled on the floor, neutralized.

Madoka kept walking to the door, which opened itself for her. The courtyard lights were out, it would be pitch black if it was not for the moon, a warm breeze caressed her skin.

"Now our mistress knows you're coming."

Madoka turned, seeing that Manuke was still inside the house.

"I did a good job." The doll was smiling. "After, can you tell me everything you've seen?"

Madoka also smiled as her bow evaporated into tiny pink dots. "I'll bring Homura and she'll tell you."

With the sole of her feet feeling the gravel and then the grass, she left Manuke behind. Was it too late? Madoka ignored the doubts, after all if she wanted an answer from Homura, she now had.

She reached one side of the mansion and noticed a warm light projecting into the trees in the area behind the building. She continued, certain that she would find Homura soon.

On the yard were dozens of lead soldiers carrying torches. They surrounded a large wooden platform with dolls and four guillotines lined up, the blades still hanging.

Among the dolls was Homulilly, approaching the first apparatus where a person had his head stuck. With her sewn leather hand, she rubbed the boy's pink hair. ".noos nettogrof eb ti tsel ,shtped renni ruoy erahS .sselthgiew era shturt dna sselgninaem era seil ,su nopu sniar htaed nehW"

With rolling eyes, only showing the sclera, and the witch's Kiss mark on the neck, Udo gritted his teeth and exalted in fury, "!oot eno evah ton dluohs uoy ,erutuf a evah ton od I ,derettahs erew smaerd ym dna deid rehtom yM .efil ruoy fo yad yna evresed ton od uoY !erutuf a evresed ton od uoY"

Homulilly went to the next guillotine.

In the same situation as his brother, but with a more melancholic appearance, Ichiro began to confess as the shadow of the witch was on him, ".dlrow ruoy fo sgniht dab eht lla yortsed ot ydaer ,ssenrettib fo lluf ,denruter uoy tuB .enoyreve rof retteb eb dluow yaw taht thguoht I .flesruoy llik dluow uoy ,tsrif pots ton did traeh ruoy fI .evila kcab emoc ton dluow uoy thguoht I ,arahikatiM ot tnes erew uoy nehW"

She kept walking.

Hiroshi struggled. He breathed through his mouth and salivated a lot as he said broken sentences, "...dlrow siht ot emoc ot denitsed ton erew uoY ...arumoH ...yrroS ...yrroS ...decnivnoc eb ot dedeen ehS ...erom eb dluohs I ...noitroba ...iA"

Then Homulilly reached the last execution device, where there was a woman.

"...uoY" Gritting her teeth, Chiharu tried to raise her head more, but in vain. ".sfeirg fo tsap a ni uoy htiw mih nword dna efiw sih rebmemer mih ekam ot dah uoy ,efil htiw no og mih tel ton dluoc uoY .tellab od ot dah uoy ,on tub ,dedeen eh namow eht eb dluoc I ,sdnuow s'amas-ihsoriH laeh dluoc I .elcatsbo na eb dluow uoy wenk I ,rehtom ruoy ekil dekool uoy erom eht ,werg uoy erom ehT !gnihtyreve deniur uoY"

A spit of the woman hit the witch's feet.

".yresim siht ot dne na tup ot tnaw uoy woN" Chiharu's eyes rolled and her irises and pupils appeared. The pupils pulsed alternately and in a rhythm as if it were an engine. ".egaruoc evah ton od uoy tuB"

Behind the mask of Homulilly remained empty and dark as her fists clenched.

".sattednev yttep ruoy yfsitas ot segufretbus fo evil uoy yhw si tahT .nettogrof eb noos lliw uoy ro yrots eht fo mitciv eht eb ot deen uoY" The skin of the woman's face stretched to the limit in a big smile. "!won meht esaeleR .sedalb eht esaeler nehT ?gnorw I mA"

"HOMURA!"

Chiharu's eyes were once again just the sclera, and the tension in her face was gone, as if she had lost her life, while the witch looked at the one who had shouted.

Still on the lawn, Madoka had a stern expression.

The soldiers prepared their spears and the dolls surrounded the guillotines to guard them. Meanwhile, Homulilly flexed her legs and took a great leap into the sky.

Madoka tried to follow her with her eyes and saw a shadow on the moon.

Suddenly, Homulilly landed in front of the girl.

The air was pushed with the shock, making the nightgown and the loose hair of Madoka flutter.

However, Homulilly remained as static as a statue. Not even her white braids respected the principle of causality.

None of this made Madoka retreat. "I'm not afraid of you, stop this."

As if that sentence was a trigger, Homulilly opened her hand and hit the girl's chest.

"Uck!"

The sound of tearing flesh and ribs breaking can be heard when a large black needle impaled Madoka.

Homulilly pulled her arm back and when the needle left the wound, a red thread quickly descended through the nightgown and blood poured on the girl's feet.

Wide-eyed and shaking hands, Madoka could not hold the blood in her mouth.

While the witch was contemplating her needle, which had sprouted from one of her seams. The bright red blood on the black metal glittered in the moonlight.

After that moment, the girl's countenance was as it had been before.

With the pair of hollow holes, Homulilly looked at her.

The red line in her nightgown gradually darkened until it was completely black and her feet were covered with tar.

The witch quickly returned her attention to the needle. The blood had turned black as the metal and squirmed like tentacles. She extended her arm and fired the needle, hitting the lawn. The 'blood' left the needle and covered the leaves, blackening them.

Madoka's eyes turned golden, as the black viscous liquid coming from her mouth dirtied her pale skin.

Seeing this, Homulilly, with the back of her closed fist, slapped the girl's face.

Madoka spun in the air and fell on her stomach.

"?won tnatropmi gnileef uoy erA"

Still down, Madoka rubbed her face and felt some cracks. She then began to crawl.

"...raf os enog evah ot eb tsum uoY" Homulilly followed, conjuring a black pin. ".ecalp siht ot gnimoc ni detseretni os gnieb uoy rof gnihtemos saw ereht wenk I"

The dolls spun their pins in a choreography, forming a disciplined cheer.

And Homulilly danced and twirled and whirled her pin masterfully. "?meht ot gninetsil ni tseretni hcum os yhw os ,evah uoy wonk I ,seiromem ym lla evah uoY :noitseuq a emac taht htiw tub ,tsap ym tuoba klat ot elpoep eseht htiw flesruoy detalosi uoy nehw reraelc emoceb ot detrats sgnihT"

Madoka stopped crawling.

".taht detcepxe uoY ...oN .emit siht lla spets ruoy gnihctaw saw I wenk uoY .em ot tub ,uoy ot ton saw ,drow yreve ,meht yb dias saw tahW .tuo dnuof I"

Slowly, she tried to stand. "Homura..." She was then violently hit by the head of Homulilly's pin and flew for a dozen meters. Her twisted body rolled over the grass and ended with her broken face facing the witch.

".'sterger' rieht ot gninetsil ,sdrow teews rieht yb netfos ot traeh ym detnaw uoY" Wings of dark energy grew behind Homulilly. "!ycrem ym rof ksa uoy ,sllaw eseht ni sraey rof tlef I tahw gniwonk nevE"

Madoka continued to stare at her, without any reaction, lifeless.

But the golden gaze was enough to annoy Homulilly. "?gnihtyna yas ot gniog ton uoy erA" The wings became giant hands and the arms of energy lengthened toward the girl.

Madoka was grabbed and lifted by one hand, only her head was out of the fingers.

"?em ot siht gniod uoy era yhW ?uoy yhW"

Images formed in the Homulilly's hands and arms of energy, flashes where Madoka appeared in her worldly life. Waking disheveled, wishing she could get some more sleep; waking her mother, greeting her little brother and father; running to school, late; meeting her friends, smiling, playing.

The images danced around Madoka's head as she continued with her expressionless golden gaze, stained by the black liquid.

Now inside the school. Madoka's face was very close, like a sunshine that does not hurt, it would never hurt. She held a person's hand as she introduced it to her friends; when she accepted the handkerchief of this person, for she had drunk the glass of juice too quickly; when she lent her homework, embarrassed, since she was almost certain that not all the answers were correct; yet, until the sunshine was gone, there was no rain.

"!em rewsnA"

Looking at the witch bellow, Madoka smiled. With serenity she replied, "Because you gave me a chance."

Homulilly dropped her pin. She did not realize that, because she had just used her other giant hand to crush her sunshine. Without hesitation. She squeezed both hands with all her might.

The black liquid dripped between her fingers and descended like a torrent on the grass, forming a large puddle.

Seeing this, Homulilly stopped and opened her hands. There was nothing beyond that liquid.

The surface of the pool vibrated and a large blob rose. It squirmed and deformed, surging a pair of large inhuman eyes.

Homulilly closed her hands again.

The blob was stabilizing, with the eyes and the shape of Madoka.

"!HHHHHHHHAAA" Homulilly smashed the blob, splashing the liquid from the puddle away.

More blobs rose, each one becoming a copy of Madoka and her smile.

"!HHHHAAAA !HHHHAAAA !HHA !HHIII !HHHHIII" Homulilly slammed the blobs non-stop.

The puddle grew more and more. Despite the fury of the blows, the attacks were losing pace and the witch was unable to deal with so many Madokas. The puddle threatened to overtake her as she dropped to her knees and bowed her head. "...emehcs ,evieced ,etalupinam uoY" Then a shadow loomed over her.

Madoka was standing in front of the witch in her white nightgown, as if nothing had happened, there was no more puddle or black liquid. Her eyes were wide open, unblinking, the golden glow competing with the moonlight.

"...eniF ... eb reve dluow I naht retteb era uoy ,os nevE"

Madoka was between the arms of energy and watched them withdraw until they disappeared behind the witch.

".ti ecarbme I dna em si tahT" Homulilly lifted her head, facing the goddess. ".deneppah gnihton taht dneterp dna meht htiw evil ton lliw I .meht evigrof ton lliw I"

"I don't want forgiveness," Madoka affirmed, "I want you to recognize that your family did this. Your father wished you had been aborted. Your brothers accused you of being a murderer. They got rid of you whenever is possible, like a nuisance."

"?uoy ot rettam ti seod yhW"

"It's not for me..." Madoka's expression relaxed and she knelt down. "Homura, don't run away. You're ready to put an end to it, with dignity, as daughter and sister." Then her hands went to the witch's mask. "Bring peace to the doubts you carry."

"!oN" Homulilly turned her face and recoiled. "!potS" But the hands reached her.

"I'm not afraid of you, I told you..." Gently, without any effort, Madoka took the mask for herself.

Under the shadow of the hat, a pair of glass eyes, with blue and white concentric circles, smooth as the white skin of wax.

"Can you see now, Homura?" Madoka reached out again. "Maybe this will help you give a clear answer."

Homulilly felt the pull and the seam ripping. The leather straps opened, revealing her doll's mouth.

Madoka took the opportunity to remove the hat too, since its shadow concealed all the beauty.

Long strands of black hair, which were trapped inside her hat, came down and covered Homulilly's back. She was examining her hands, seeing the seams breaking. In a burst, the leather straps flew away, leaving behind wax and mechanical joints.

Madoka was pleased with the result. "Go forth, witch of progression, now you are truly free to decide."

／人◕‿‿◕人＼

Walking like zombies, the four convicts were escorted back to the mansion by the lead soldiers, while the guillotines and the platform were dismantled by the dolls.

Supervising that, Homura and Madoka were sitting on the lawn. They had not exchanged more words.

Madoka appreciated the doll that was sitting next to her. The features were almost identical to those of Homura, though the waxen skin did not appear to be so supple and the eyes are larger, more vivid. Her eyelids made a distinctive clicking sound as she blinked.

Under the golden gaze of the goddess, Homura cringed. "Madoka..."

"Yes?"

"How much have you changed?"

Madoka looked at the moon, nudging her chin. "Hmmm... I wonder if there is a measure for this..."

Homura glanced at her.

Realizing, Madoka smiled and said, "My mom will be the first to die."

Now Homura was looking.

"About two and a half decades from now. She always jokes that her liver will not make it... Unfortunately it'll be the pancreas. When she find out, it'll be too late." Her gaze lost, but she continued to smile, nodding to herself. "But she'll see Takkun play baseball. Well, it'll be dad's idea. He'll want to sell his diet to athletes and will use my brother as a propaganda boy. This isn't going to work, because he has no talent for the sport."

Homura was so perplexed that now she really was as static as a doll.

"Wehihi... but his baseball stories will be a hit with the girls. He's going to have kids and get married, in that order. Bad boy... He's going to live a lot, but not as much as our dad. The diet really paid off and he'll get famous, especially among the elderly, he'll sell many books. They'll notice when he's gone..." Madoka sighed and turned her attention back to her companion, now with a more melancholic smile. "A daughter shouldn't know these things about her family, right? Sorry, things can't be like they used to be. The first time I witnessed this, I cried, but aware that this is the natural course of events."

The circles of Homura's eyes changed to the green and red tones and she showed her sharp teeth. "Do you consider natural what we have become?"

Madoka stopped smiling and turned her face, more thoughtful. "I have fear."

"Fear? From what? "Homura's gaze narrowed. "From who?"

"No, it's good for me to have fear." Madoka stretched out her arms, leaving one hand palm over the other and separated them away.

Homura noticed black veins arising in the upper palm and soon a line of black liquid flowed continuously, being absorbed by the lower palm.

Madoka seemed mesmerized by it. "It was this which made me think calmly and carefully, so I had the courage to make my wish."

Homura blinked as the other clapped her palms together.

"I have fear of forgetting this feeling, just like others." Madoka turned to Homura and grabbed her shoulders. "That's why I need you to remind me!"

Her eyes went back to the way it was before, and the teeth were gone. Homura looked away, not knowing what to say.

"I love my family, but now you know I feel detached from them." Madoka's hands slid up her neck and touched the doll's cold, smooth cheeks. "Let us become adults and go somewhere in this world, together."

Homura held the hands. "You intend to stay here so long?"

"Madoka Kaname is still part of this timeline. I can't know what's going to happen from now on, I can only compare with what I've seen in other universes." Madoka leaned her forehead on Homura's. "There must be surprises and I couldn't miss the opportunity to share them with you."

The golden glow gleamed on the wax skin and Homura's glass eyes ran, not knowing where to look. "If-If I agree with you, not... not my wildest dreams came close, it can't be true..."

"It will be true." Madoka came close to her ear and whispered, "but you still have a step to take."

Homura shuddered in a subtle cacophony of mechanical sounds, barely noticing that Madoka had stood up and reached out for her.

"Come."

Homura did not know where that hand would take her, but she did not care anymore about what she would leave behind.

Then the wax hand joined with that of a goddess in a firm grip.

／人◕‿‿◕人＼

The day broke with well-dressed men coming down the stairs with travel bags, followed by the two girls.

"The car has arrived, you can put it there." Chiharu was there to give instructions.

While Ichiro, near the entrance of the house, was stretching his neck. "Ahh... We should have checked earlier when the train with connection to Mitakihara would leave. On holidays the schedules always get complicated."

"No problem." Madoka stopped in front of him, followed by Homura. "We'll buy something at the station to eat on the train."

"Hey!" Udo came running. "Are you guys leaving already?"

Ichiro replied, "No one will be waiting for you to finish dyeing your hair."

"C'mon! I did it last night." Udo rubbed his pink hair. "Madoka, what do you think?"

"Ehhh..." The girl smiled. "It's cool."

Chiharu looked at the boy for a moment and returned to the tasks shaking her head.

Udo was very excited. "Did you see anything sinister during the night?"

"Something... sinister?" Madoka exchanged glances with Homura.

The girl with braids and glasses was quick to answer, "We were sleeping, we didn't see anything."

Ichiro was more annoyed. "They didn't need to know that..."

Madoka raised her eyebrows. "Hmmm... What did you see?"

"We didn't see anything," Ichiro spoke, "but today we find the lawn crumpled at certain spots, forming a pattern. There should be a structure set up there."

Udo nodded. "Like an alien spaceship, they might be planning on abducting us."

Madoka's gaze grew. "Aliens? Abduct?"

"Have you ever seen news of strange markings on crops? This is a new case! Come and see with your ow-"

"Stop this nonsense!" Ichiro cut off his brother. "It's just thugs who decided to camp on our land. This place is isolated but has no... security..."

Everyone saw the man looking in one direction.

It was Hiroshi who was coming in slow steps, rubbing his neck as he did not take his eyes off Homura.

The girl stood tense, lifting her chin.

He took his glasses and wiped the lenses. His voice was cold, "You're going back to Mitakihara, right?"

"Yes..."

"Could you try not to disappear this time?" He put his glasses back, waiting for a confirmation.

Homura gulped and lowered her gaze. "Father..."

Hiroshi blinked and the silence in the room intensified. Chiharu frowned, unable to contain her expression.

"In this time I've been away from here, I've learned to love... and I've learned to hate too."

Madoka did not look at, just heard her, almost smiling.

"My brother talked to me..." Homura glanced at Ichiro.

The young man nodded.

She then looked at her father. "And my answer is no, I'm not going to work on our family company. I won't share my future with you. Nothing, let alone our blood ties, will make me change my mind."

The silence was back and everyone turned their attention to Hiroshi.

He remained impassive and spoke with the same coolness, "Very well... You're my daughter, I have responsibilities, I expect you to understand."

Homura said nothing.

He continued, "You'll continue your studies in Mitakihara, I'll be paying your expenses until you finish high school. After that, you can go wherever you want without giving satisfaction to anyone, with a condition."

This time Homura questioned with some anxiety, "Which one?"

"Don't bring shame," said the father, rising his tone, "for when someone asks about your family, no matter how much you hate, you will say that your father is Hiroshi Akemi!"

She averted her gaze and pressed her lips together.

Hiroshi kept staring at her without moving a muscle.

Then Homura nodded, quickly and exaggeratedly, and left the house.

"Hmmm..." Madoka bowed to the hosts. "I'm so grateful for the opportunity to meet you all and to stay in this wonderful ambient."

"You're a wonderful person," Ichiro replied, quite friendly, seeking to bury the tension, "we all agree."

Chiharu took a deep breath.

"Yeah!" Udo made a thumb up. "If you did shows, you would be idolized!"

Madoka put her hand on her chest. "Me?! Idolized? Wehihii... I think that's an exaggeration."

Hiroshi said, "If you come again, bring your family, everyone will be welcomed."

"So..." Madoka nodded at them, smiling. "See you."

"Bye, take care!"

Leaving, she noticed Homura standing beside the car, staring at her own the reflection in the door window. She came over and touched her. "Are you alright?"

Homura turned to her and said calmly, "Yes, I'm great."

"Homura-san!"

They saw Chiharu coming.

The housekeeper asked Homura, looking at Madoka, "Are you sure about that?"

"We've always been sure, haven't we? It's me who was being a coward..."

The woman opened her mouth to speak, but she had no words.

Homura did not wait, she went to open the door of the vehicle. "Chiharu-san..."

Surprised, she then stammered, "Y-Yes..."

Homura turned her head to see her. "Help him." Then she went inside.

Madoka entered through another door, but not before nodding to the housekeeper.

Chiharu watched the car move across the courtyard and through the gate, then disappearing in the first curve.

Solitary, with the sound of the breeze mingling with the words she had just heard, she returned to the mansion, where she saw Hiroshi talking to his eldest son.

"I'll check the helicopter," Ichiro said, "I want to make sure no one messed with it."

"Do it," the father agreed, "this invasion was something serious, I should have installed surveillance cameras a long time ago."

Ichiro was leaving the room when Udo accompanied him.

"Damn... I think I should have asked for her number."

"It's better this way."

Udo smirked. "Hey, you got the address of her family, didn't you?"

Ichiro half closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "Don't even think about it."

"Meh..." The other shrugged. "I bet she has a personal page on the Internet."

"You'll forget her in a week."

"Nah, she's special, you felt that too."

"Oh yes..." This time it was Ichiro who smiled. "Then I'll give you a week to find something else special and one more to forget."

"Fuck off!"

Even with the two already distant, Hiroshi heard that. "I should focus on Udo now."

"Ichiro has been a good influence on him."

He saw that Chiharu was at his side.

She promptly bowed. "Hiroshi-sama, do you want me to leave the breakfast in the library?"

He continued to stare.

The woman glanced for an instant.

Finally he commented, "You're wearing lipstick today."

A new, quick glance, Chiharu replied, "I always wear it."

"Hmmm..." Hiroshi stopped looking at her, turning his attention to where he wanted to go. "No, I've spent enough time in the library. I'll be on the veranda, bring it to me."

"Yes." The housekeeper bowed more and left him.

Hiroshi did not move. The joints ached, the back and neck as well. He examined the bleached top of his hands, details that came with sobriety.

But there was something new.

"Ai... I feel empty inside. This is a good thing?"

／人◕‿‿◕人＼

Through the train window, the last tall buildings were falling behind. Homura expected to miss this, but that was not the case, perhaps because she would soon be back in the city where she had spent most of her life.

"Spy mission complete!"

She saw her seat companion using the smartphone.

Madoka began to show the photos. "Mom will love these with us and your brothers in Tokyo. Tell her no one flirted with me, okay?"

More photos were showed, including some inside the mansion. Some were works of art, but most were people posing; Ichiro, Udo, Chiharu and the staff; there were few of Hiroshi when he was not looking.

Madoka's smile faded a little. "Ahh... We could have more photos... If you had left your room more..."

Homura removed her glasses and crunched in her fist.

Madoka paid attention.

She opened her hand and the object evaporated into a yellowish cloud of luminous flower shaped particles, which soon disappeared. Homura then picked up her braids and untied the purple bows, letting her hair unravel slowly. She left the ribbons in her open palm and stared at them.

"Uh-huh..." Madoka brought a hand to her red bows. She untied them, letting her hair fall.

Homura noticed that her hair seemed longer than usual.

Madoka left her ribbons in the palm of Homura, along with the other pair, and then covered with her own hand. "Here's our past kept..."

Homura closed her palm, interlacing the fingers with Madoka. "... and that's where they'll stay."

And the train went to the next station.

---

Next chapter: Epilogue