CHAPTER FOUR- "That's a secret"
Space reaches the ends of the universe and beyond. The planets and atoms are scattered across the endless collision of stars and that constant blue/purple colour that marks something similar to the night sky. Heaven is different. Heaven is a whole new world in itself. It's like earth, and is hostile for people to live and act like normal people in a world full of ordinary humans.
It wasn't used to be like this; before dying was like sleeping, you don't really know your sleeping, but usually when you wake up and it seems like you've been out for a few minutes, you never woke up.
But that girl made that sacrifice, and everything was changed. That girl became the concept of hope; no longer having a physical form, she's just a ghost really. This girl created a heaven in which her dead allies lived in a world full of happiness.
There was a time in which the spirits in her heaven where aloud to see their loved ones in the human world. At this one special time, the girl asked her friend to see. The girl's friend was young and pretty, she had short blue hair and wore gold clips to pull hair behind her ears. She wore a light blue flowing dress that reached up to her knees and was barefooted.
The girl saw her friend walk up to the mirror. "What did you want me to look at?" The blue haired girl asked. The Goddess smiled. "Touch the mirror, and think of whom you want to see." The bluenette gave her a confused look. "Why?"
"Please, I want you to see something." The Goddess' voice echoed. The bluenette sighed and turned to the mirror. She put her pale hand up against the mirror and closed her eyes. She opened her mouth and whispered a name.
The mirror wavered and the girl was taken aback as her eyes snapped open, but her hand didn't move. It couldn't move. The image in the mirror wavered different colours until it finally set on an image of the human world.
The blue eyes of the girl widened as she saw what was reflecting on the mirror. There was a girl, she had long red hair in a ponytail with a black ribbon, she lay on a couch, her skin was pale and her body was lifeless. The young blue eyed girl's hand turned into a fist against the glass, "Kyoko!" She cried. "She….."
The Goddess' eyes turned to worry. "Kyoko-chan has been asleep for over 3 weeks now, despair has taken her over. She is constantly having nightmares and her spirit had started to disappear."
"What?!" The blue haired girl hit her fist repeatedly against the glass, "Kyoko! Wake up!"
"I'm sorry, she can't hear you."
The bluenette calmed down and faced the Goddess. "Isn't there anything you can do?" She asked.
The Goddess shook her head. "If her destiny is decided. Even I cannot change it." Her long pink hair wavered around in the air, glowing a bright light. The girl noticed her friend looking sad. "What's happening to Mami, and Homura?" She asked.
Suddenly the mirror wavered and turned blank again, and the upset blue haired girl waited for her friend to answer. The Goddess shook her head. "I'm so sorry, you can't see anymore."
The girl's blue eyes widened, and then narrowed in anger. But she knew it wasn't her friends fault. The girl walked out of the lighted room. Leaving the winged Goddess upset. "I am sorry I can't tell you, Sayaka-chan."
Mami's eyes fluttered open. Everything was blurry, but soon came into focus. The ceiling was staring her in the face. Wait. Nope, she was staring at the ceiling. Mami pulled her bed sheets aside and sat up slowly. She put her hand up to her head and felt her hair. It was messy and out of its curls, only just wavy. Her hair was never like this, Mami chuckled faintly and slowly got out of bed. Crossing her fingers before entering the kitchen.
Mami squinted her eyes as light shined in. Still keeping her fingers crossed, she waited until her eyes settled to the light and walked over to the couch. Mami's hope faded when she saw Kyoko still asleep. Why did I think it would get better? Mami thought, she smiled. "Good Morning Sakura-san." Mami knew Kyoko wouldn't answer and sighed.
The kettle boiled, making a loud sound appear around the room. Silent Cooker huh? Mami thought. The sound quietened as the button on the kettle popped up. Mami picked up the kettle and poured hot water into two cups. She held one and walked over to Kyoko. "Open up Sakura-san." Mami brought the cup up to Kyoko's parched lips as the hot liquid disappeared down the redhead's throat.
Suddenly Mami lost grip and the boiling liquid fell out of the cup and onto Kyoko's shoulder, burning it. Mami gasped and raced to the tap, she got a cloth and dampened it, then she raced back and dapped it on Kyoko's wound. "I am so sorry Sakura-san." Mami whispered, "I've been off my guard for all this time."
Kyoko didn't even flinch at her burn; her eyes stayed closed and didn't even notice Mami putting a bandage on her wound. The blonde sighed and slowly sat up. "I'll get you something to eat." Mami opened the cupboard and realised, "Oh, I can't can I? She'll choke." Mami closed the cupboard doors and walked over to Kyoko again.
Mami still couldn't believe how different Kyoko looked when she was asleep. She usually had either a smirk or a glare, sometimes even a smile. But sleeping she looked so innocent. And her hair out didn't make it any better.
Sakura-san, Mami thought, trying to communicate with the sleeping girl, Can you hear me? It's your Senpai, Mami. Mami waited for around ten seconds before giving up. She clenched her fist. "I can't stand this," she muttered, "It's like I'm talking to a corpse."
Mami grabbed a hairbrush and began to brush Kyoko's long red and velvety hair. It was surprisingly thin and easy to brush. Although it was slightly harder with Kyoko hardly ever caring for her hair and it being messy a lot. And with it being in a ponytail most of the time caused a crease in her hair. Something that took Mami a while to straighten out.
Mami wiped her forehead and stood up, putting the hairbrush on the table. She smiled, pleased with her good work. "Your hair is a trouble Sakura-san, it's so long and knotty, but I was able to sort it out!" Mami smiled gently and eyed the red head. "You know, if Miki-san saw you now, I'm sure she would say you looked beautiful."
After Mami did her own hair into her normal curls, had her breakfast and gotten dressed, she picked up her bag and stood at the doorway. But before she went out, she caught one last glance of Kyoko. Mami's eyes widened as suddenly she spotted something change, Kyoko's arm seemed to blend in to be the same colour as the couch. Mami rubbed her eyes and opened them again, and her arm was normal. Mami frowned in suspicion before walking out of the room.
The rain speckled across the concrete, students raced to shelter. Homura didn't know why, it was only little drops. She was used to rain so much that she didn't mind even if it bucketed down. The rain started to pour more harshly, more drops started to appear and Homura's hair was getting wet, the big and heavy rain drops were making her hair straighter than usual. Homura saw some people call her over to the shelter. And she eventually had no choice to go over.
Homura had started to like the rain, she shouldn't though. A lot of her bad memories had happened while it was pouring. Or she was covered in water during her final moments that she would meet her death. Homura liked it though because it brought back her memories. Even though the world before was pure hell, she remembered that in this world she had friends.
Homura stood under the shelter. She didn't know what to do, the rain was now a storm, and Mami wasn't here yet. Where is she? Is Kyoko up yet? She thought.
"Akemi-san?"
Homura turned, there was Hitomi. "What is it Shizuki-san?"
The green haired girl looked slightly nervous. "I was wondering, why were you out in the rain?"
"I like the rain." Homura answered simply, feeling her soaked hair cause a wet mark against her back.
"Really? Even this storm?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
Homura faced away from her, and looked at the glistening drops of rain pour down on the grey concrete. "I guess… they bring back memories, from a time before…" Homura just couldn't stop herself from saying that, no matter how crazy it sounded.
Homura faced Hitomi again to see her green eyes widened. "Shizuki-san?"
Hitomi snapped out of her world and laughed nervously. "Oh sorry," Homura sighed.
It was silent between the two, as the chatter from the students drowned their thoughts. Hitomi decided to break the silence. "Oh, and Akemi-san?"
"What is it?"
Hitomi pointed to Homura's head, and Homura realized she was pointing at the pink ribbon in her hair. "Those ribbons look familiar, where did you get them from?"
Homura felt a pang in her heart; she didn't know what it was. Guilt? Agony? Sadness? Homura reached her hand up and touched the pink ribbon in her hair. The cast her face down to stop herself from crying. "They're… from a friend."
"Really?" Hitomi smiled warmly. "A close friend?"
Homura pulls her ribbon slightly. "A very close friend." She whispers, just enough that Hitomi could hear.
Hitomi's eyes turned to worry, "Did I do something wrong?" Homura shook her head, "No." The upset black haired girl pushed past Hitomi and through the people. Hitomi turned to stop her, "Akemi-san…" She put her hand down to see that Homura had gone. Hitomi sighed. "Sorry Akemi-san."
Mami pulled her chair out and sat down, ignoring the students loud chattering. She put her head down and sighs. She hears steps coming towards her.
"Tomoe-san?"
Mami lifted her head up. It was Mr Ayazawa. He stared at me. "Sakura-san back yet?"
The blonde shook her head. "No sir, still sick."
Mr Ayazawa grunts in frustration and turns from her, muttering swears under his breath. Mami sighed again and put her elbows up against her desk and rests her head against her hands. She catches a glimpse of where Kyoko sat. There was no seat or desk, just a screen on the ground with green letters rolling across it that said 'Sakura Kyoko'
Mami's eyelids closed, to cover the sight of her friend being missed from class again.
"Hey, that Kyoko girl's missing from class again today."
"How long has it been, three weeks?"
"Wow, she must be slacking off."
Mami's eyes flung open.
"I mean seriously, you shouldn't be sick for that long."
"Yeah. It's nearly been a month."
"I bet she's just ditching."
Mami clenched her fist against the table.
"I knew she would be someone like that, she paid no attention."
"Yeah, wasn't she home schooled?"
"I heard rumours that she was homeless for a few years."
One of the girls laughed. "So she's a delinquent!"
A shadow cast across Mami's angry face.
"And I heard Tomoe-san took her in."
"Really? I didn't know Mami-san was the one to take in homeless people."
"She shouldn't really. Why would Tomoe-san take in a delinquent?"
"I hope she didn't, we don't want rats like her infected the class."
The three girls chuckled.
"You know, I bet Sakura ran off on poor Mami-san."
"Yeah, that hobo just ran away from her home, how rude."
"Exactly. Mami-san doesn't deserve that crap. We should teach that delinquent red head a lesson when she comes back."
The other two girls agreed.
Mami held back her anger. Now she finally knew how Kyoko felt. Oh how it must have hurt living on the streets, everybody staring at you and talking about you behind your back. She shouldn't be this angry.
What were those girls saying? Sakura-san wasn't skipping school, she was really sick. More like in a coma. She didn't run away from me. She would never do something like that. She isn't a delinquent. I took her in because she had nowhere else to go. Why don't those girls understand that?
Mami knew that since she was a mature senior she couldn't go over there and yell at the girls, she would get in trouble. So she just sat back as the sound of the bell covered the three girl's voices with ease.
Tomoe-san? It was Homura. Mami had forgotten she was able to hear.
What is it?
Don't worry, Those girls are talking nothing
Mami was surprised at Homura's sudden empathy.
You know Akemi-san.
What?
Mami smiled. You can be really nice sometimes.
Homura said nothing.
Thank you Tomoe-san, we should focus in to class now. See you at lunch
"I'm home." Mami stepped through the door. She walked over to the couch and glanced and Kyoko.
"I'm back Sakura-san." She frowned. "Some girls in class were talking about you today you know. I should have stopped them. But I didn't have the guts to. Sorry."
Mami glanced at Kyoko's burn, it had almost completely healed, except there was a red mark on the skin. "It's good to see you're getting better."
As always Mami felt Kyoko's heartbeat, like she did everyday. She was relieved that it was slow and steady. Mami fed her tea, making sure she didn't spill it this time.
Mami knew that Kyoko hadn't moved an inch because her hair was in the exact same position as she had left it. It was still smooth, usually it would be messed up. Mami was saddened by knowing that her kohai wasn't getting any better.
Suddenly Mami heard the tune of a song coming from her phone coming from her room. It was 'Mirai' by Kalafina. She walked into the room, picked it up and pressed the phone against her ear. "Tomoe Mami speaking."
"Hello Tomoe-san." Said a male voice through the phone.
"Um, who is this?"
"That's a secret." The man's voice had some sort of attitude to it, the way he talked was so soft but so sturdy as well.
"Are you trying to sell me something because whatever it is I won't take it."
The mysterious man laughed over the phone. "I am not one of them, young Magical Girl."
Mami's eyes widened and her voice sturdened. "Who are you? How do you know about Magical Girls?"
"That's a secret too."
Mami growled. This man was annoying her. "What do you want?"
"Nothing right now, I've got to ask you a question."
"What?"
There was silence as Mami waited for his answer. Then her eyes widened and she gasped. The phone dropped to the ground as Mami raced outside into the kitchen. She ran towards the couch and stared at Kyoko.
Kyoko's red hair was now a mess, she was groaning in pain or stress and was tossing and turning in her sleep. Sweat beaded down her forehead, in obvious pain as she clutched the blanket for somewhat 'support'.
Mami kneeled down. "Sakura-san!" She shouted. "What's wrong?"
Kyoko muttered words in her sleep, then clutched her stomach and flipped her head back. She tossed her body back and forth as Mami tried to hold her steady. Kyoko was like a monster, thrashing about, Her eyebrows furrowed and she gave out pained gasps
"Sakura-san! Sakura-san!" Mami yelled. She couldn't help Kyoko; she couldn't calm her down or shout at her to stop. She could just watch. Suddenly Kyoko's soul gem hovered off the table it was on. It was nearly completely black. It started flashing.
Mami gasped and grasped her soul gem. "Sakura-san, your soul gem isn't red anymore." She knew Kyoko wouldn't answer as the distressed red head started hyperventilating as she puts her hand in the sides of the couch, her nails digging into the fabric.
Mami's eyes widened as what she saw next. As Kyoko moved, her body started flickering, then disappearing than appearing again. It was a pattern of turning invisible and visible over and over again. Mami panicked. What's happening to her? A part of her body, where her heart should be, started to light up. And Mami noticed her Soul Gem lightened up as well, she held it out. Kyoko 's body slackened against the couch.
And then she screamed.
A soul-piercing scream that rang through Mami's ears and through the apartment. It was so loud it went past the walls and through the building. Mami held her ears to block the sound as tears started to pour out of Kyoko's eyes as her screams were contorted with sobs. Mami closed her eyes tight as Kyoko's scream ensured.
Then it stopped.
Mami slowly lifted her eyelids. Is it over? She looked over and gasped.
TO BE CONTINUED…..
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Yes! I ended on a cliff hanger! What happened to Kyoko? And who's the man? I know, but you don't! *evil laugh*
Anyway, if you're wondering why there's not much Homura in this chapter. This is more like a Kyoko and Mami arc. But don't worry; they'll be a Homura arc soon!
-Otaku4eva
:)