Chapter Six- "I'm already dead"
The music quietened down around the witches barrier. Oktavia Von Seckendorff stood, she seemed to be staring at her severed arm.
Homura caught Madoka while falling; she landed, while still holding her tightly, she turned.
A spear clattered on the ground next to a crouching Kyoko, which then disappeared in a flash of violet light.
"Kyoko!" Homura exclaimed.
The wounded red head stood up, clasping her injured arm. "Hey," she whispered.
"Are you-?"
"Take care of that girl, I made her go along with my stupidity."
Homura gasped as a red shield suddenly appeared, separating her from Kyoko.
The red head was now facing her, her expression was different, it had a warm smile and seemed relaxed, her face was scratched. "If you fight and carry her you're just going to get us both killed. It's okay... and you were right."
Homura glanced down at Madoka, her eyes filled with the sudden dread that she thought she could cover, as she listened to Kyoko's words. "Just protect what you want until the very end."
Kyoko chuckled. "It's funny really." She reached her hand to her black ribbon and pulled it, her hair became loose and flowed out. A gold hairpin shaped like a holy cross spun through the air. "This whole time, that's what I thought I was doing."
Kyoko grabbed the hairpin and fell to her knees, clasping the hairpin as if in prayer, as a bright violet light appeared around the red head, engulfing her like flames. "Go, I'll take care of her."
Homura hesitated slightly before bitterly running out of the labyrinth with Madoka in her arms. Many giant spears shot up out of the ground and surrounded Oktavia and Kyoko. One giant spear lifted Kyoko up, and held her up like a scorpions tail.
The praying girl stayed calm, and spoke like there was no pain. "It's alright Sayaka; I know it sucks to be alone." Her voice held no regrets.
Her soul gem and the hairpin finished morphing. "But don't worry, I'll be with you..."
"Sayaka."
Kyoko parted her hands, and placed a light kiss on her red soul gem, before letting it hover in the air. She stood up as a spear formed in her hand, she spun it and pointed it at her gem. Energy radiated from it, Kyoko stayed focused as the powerful magic caused more pressure on the red gem. Kyoko smiled faintly as her life flashed before her eyes.
Then the shining red soul gem shattered, and it was all over as an explosion covered the barrier in a blinding white light.
"Akemi-San?"
Homura jumped back into reality. She turned her head to Mami. "What's wrong?" Homura held her hand to her head as she remembered that memory. "Nothing."
"You seemed a bit zoned out."
"I was... just thinking."
"About what?"
Homura was silent for a moment, the wind catching her hair. "It doesn't matter."
Mami sighed as she threw the topic away.
The two magical girls had been looking for Kyoko's body for days, and nothing had come to them.
It was night again, they were lucky they didn't have any guardians, or they would be worried about them. It was hard not to just give up and claim her dead. But ever since they had gotten in contact with Kyoko again, they knew not to lose hope on it.
It was the middle of the day in Mitakihara city, and it a beautiful day with people stumbling around shops, it was a casual day. Meanwhile in a dark alley, he clasped his staff tight as he watched the cars pass by, the pedestrians not noticing him.
He frowned, his pale skin being seen among the crack of sunlight across his body, one bright red eye shown from the hood of his cloak. Not amused, he muttered. "Where are you?"
There was nothing but silence.
How long had he been waiting? Half an hour? A day? Every second had to meaning to his lost reason for living anymore. He laughed darkly. "I don't care how long it takes."
Silence.
"No matter how long it takes..."
He lifted an arm and touched a sharp piece of glass on his staff, he was unfazed as blood dropped down his already pale finger. Why did he do that? He didn't know.
He heard a step and glanced up. The world around him turned grey, and the man knew what was happening.
He watched as a white car-like creature with beading pink eyes stepped out of the shadows. "Hello, long time no see." It said, it's soulless smile the same as always.
The man smirked. "You too, Incubator."
"I see you're here again." It said in its normally cheerful voice. "What has brought you to Mitakihara?"
"I'm here on business."
"Eh?" It moved its tail. "What kind of business."
"I'm trying to help."
"Of course."
He scowled. "Anyway, I wouldn't expect you to know anything Incubator."
"About what?" It's stare lingered.
The man fell silent, the wind picking up and a breeze blowing his cloak back and forth.
Kyubey's eyes stared. "I thought so, so you're like Akemi Homura?"
"I know."
"I thought Homura was the only one who knew about these so called 'Witches', I've had a feeling from now on that you had just made them up."
"I'm not." His tone was darker.
"Your memories could be fake, just like Akemi Homura's. If you two are the only ones who know about then, they could be fake."
The man laughed darkly. "I am an unearthly being, do you think my memories could be fake. Remember, I was never human."
Kyubey's response was delayed. "What are you doing now?"
"Running a test."
"A test?"
"Yes." He turned, facing his back to the Incubator and letting his spear glow in the now larger sunlight.
"For checking if sacrifice is worthy enough."
Homura ducked, she heard a bang from behind her as one of the wraith's claws struck into a lamp post behind. She jumped up and fired multiple purple arrows while walking sturdily towards them. She then held her bow as she was lifted to her feet and soared up into the air, her glowing purple wings flapping beside her.
Mami pulled off her hat and threw it up into the air, she spun around and she held ribbons in her hands, the ribbons formed into muskets, she threw them as well while catching the hat and held it out in front of her, more muskets appeared glowing from it, she then caught then caught the silver guns and spun them all, bullets firing.
Homura gracefully landed on the ground, her wings disappearing in a flash of light, she then walked over and picked up the grief seeds, tossing them to Mami, who caught them as she placed her hat back on her head.
Smoke bellowed before them as the wraiths that were there were extinguished.
There had been no word of Kyoko ever since that say, and it was unknown if she was still alive or not. Homura frowned. "This is ridiculous."
Mami stayed stern. "What do you mean?"
Homura faced her. "Do you know what happens when Magical girls die?"
"Yes, they disappear, why?"
It was again, silence, until Mami stated: "Sakura-San disappeared."
Homura nodded. "Do you know where Magical Girls go when they die?"
"Nobody does."
"All I know is that when Magical Girls die, their subconscious don't get transferred to their soul gem."
Mami raised an eyebrow, "What happens?"
"I've seen a Magical Girl die before, their soul gem is cleansed, they have a slight smile on their face before disappearing."
"That isn't what happened to Sakura-san."
"I know, her soul gem is still here, and not cleansed."
"This would mean... Sakura-san..."
Homura stood sturdily, her eyes showing no signs of emotions wavering. "That man, he has corrupted the way magical girls die."
The blonde's eyes widened. "You aren't serious."
"You would know by now that I am not the type of person to joke Tomoe-san."
It was silence again, the night sky darkened as the girls knew it was past midnight. A shadow cast across Mami's face. "This can't happen."
Homura remained that same expression across her face. "I believe it is."
Mami clenched her fist so hard her knuckles were white.
A slim girl with short hair short sky blue hair sat crouched in a room full of white.
"I can't believe this." She whispered.
Mist slowly flowed around the girl, her blue dress lifelessly floating on the ground, she stared at it.
She let the new information the had gained from her friend seep into her mind. "This is... Impossible."
The bluenette lifted her head up and again saw her glowing friend standing before her, her golden eyes giving a saddened expression.
"I'm so sorry." She whispered.
The girl jumped up. "Isn't there anything you can do?!"
"No there isn't."
"But you're a God!"
The Goddess glanced at her distressed friend. "He knows... about who I selected."
The bluenette's eyes widened before narrowing. "You haven't even told ME whom you've chosen. How can he know?!"
"He just does."
The blue haired girl didn't know what to say, so she calmed down. "You know anything that's going to happen in the future right? Then tell me... why hasn't Kyoko disappeared yet?"
The Goddess was silent as her hand fell to one of the small dark pink gems on her white dress.
Mami and Homura eventually found themselves at a warehouse, an unused warehouse full of dust and items that had cobwebs covering them. Homura realised the door was locked and slashed it open with an arrow. The two stepped inside; their echoing steps dauntingly receded, one after another.
Dust dinner on the girls' clothes. Homura pulled back a piece of rolled up carpet. "It's is big."
"I can see that." Mami answered, her voice holding a slightly cold tone.
Homura and Mami finally reached the end of the warehouse, nothing had been found.
"From now on we should check if there are any signs of magical whereabouts."
Mami nodded, before noticing something in the corner of her eye, it was a completely dusted out table, as she turned and walked towards it, as Homura faced her. "Have you found anything?" She asked. Mami stayed silent as she reached the table.
Homura walked beside her, as Mami examined the table. It seemed like a table a kid had been using, it had scratches everywhere, used by a knife, and scratched up paper. Mami picked one up and smoothed it out. There was a drawing made of crayons, although none of it was seen, it had all been covered up by the scratches of red crayon. Mami's expression turned to confusion. "What is this?"
Homura brushed the dust off the desk slowly, before seeing what was written on it. "Tomoe-san." She notified the blonde, who forgot about the drawing, and glanced at what Homura had seen. Homura brushed off all the dust off the desk, revealing it to be much dirtier, with some drops of blood. It was only until then when Mami noticed a knife.
But what was really worth noticing was the writing, it had been scratched out by one full line, but Mami could read it aloud:
"I will come back, this world may seem empty now, but many years is not as many as it seems. Goodbye, Cherry Blossom."
Homura stated. "This is cryptic, it doesn't make any sense."
Mami pointed at it. "It's scratched out." But she then noticed another word that was not scratched out, and pointed to that.
"Liar."
Homura then perceived. "This is not written by the same person who wrote that message, their handwriting is different."
Mami nodded, pulled back her hand and thought.
Homura nearly slammed her hand on the table, Mami faced her. "What is it?"
"I should have realised this sooner."
"Realised what?"
"Cherry Blossom, Sakura, Sakura is Kyoko's last name, this message was written to her."
She was here again.
Kyoko sighed in annoyance. "Not this again."
Except this time she wasn't able to see anything, just white again.
"This is different... Dammit I'm talking to myself."
No, you aren't talking.
"You again?"
You aren't pleased to see me?
"Go to hell."
The man's laugh echoed. You're amusing Sakura-san.
"What did you mean by Im not talking?"
If you were talking, you'd have a mouth, you're not talking, you're thinking.
"Great." She said sarcastically. "I think I already know that."
Do you know where you are?
"In the same place I was before dumbass."
Yes, your subconscious is still in your soul gem, but you haven't noticed anything else?
"I can't see the view of my soul gem."
Yes
"Why is that?"
Because... He became silent, his voice turned quieter. If you saw what was happening now, you'd lose it
"What do you mean?"
You would suffer too much emotional trauma for me to keep you here any longer.
"You mean..."
You would die
The thoughts left Kyoko's head, her subconscious filling with dark and unnerving thoughts. She then laughed dryly and darkly.
"I'm already dead."
Silence.
"It was... written to her?" Mami said softly, Homura's words hanging in the cold night air.
"I believe so."
Mami felt the carved message. "This was not done recently, these carvings were done, a few years ago."
Homura nodded. "But who wrote it?"
"The person who wrote the other message was Sakura-san."
"I had a feeling about that." Homura said softly, with more emotion than she had intended.
Mami clenched her fist against the table. She could imagine a younger Kyoko crying furiously, grabbing a knife then cutting herself, while angrily scratching out the note on the table, clutching her darkening soul gem hard.
"This person hurt her."
Homura nodded silently, casting a shadow over her face, while yet another silence filled the air.
Meanwhile, a cloaked figure watched them. "I was right." He said coldly. "If she saw this, it would hurt her too much to bear." He then walked away, stepping over autumn leaves.
Homura felt a sudden presence, she formed a bow and arrow and aimed it, startling Mami. "Akemi-san?!" Homura didn't answer. "I'm sure I heard something." She whispered.
Mami sighed. "You might be paranoid, it's alright though, and this world is getting to me as well."
After a few seconds of checking her surroundings, Homura lowered her bow, the glowing arrow disappeared, leaving only darkness.
After a few minutes Homura and Mami stepped out of the warehouse. It was morning, but still dark, around 2am, and the only light was the full moon, it's bright light creating shadows on the girls' dark expression.
"Let me out."
Nothing
"This is ridiculous." Kyoko muttered. "How long are you going to keep me here huh?"
Silence.
"This is annoying you know."
Annoying?
His voice startled her slightly. "Yes, annoying."
You do realise that it was yourself who put you here Sakura-san?
"Haa?" Kyoko realised his voice had a slight sneer to it.
I was not me who brought you to despair, it was yourself.
Kyoko didn't answer
You don't get it do you?
He took her silence as permission to talk.
I gave you those nightmares, but the rest was up to you, you brought yourself to despair, you darkened your soul gem, you gave yourself distress. You turned dark by your own thoughts. Although I put you to sleep. You gave yourself nightmares, you darkened your soul gem further. Even though I stopped you from dying, you brought yourself here.
Kyoko's mind went blank, every single word that he said corrupted her mind faster and faster.
"It was my fault?" Her voice broke.
Stop thinking that, it was that very thought that got you here.
Kyoko growled in anger before becoming silent, her wind whirling in constant thought.