Chapter Seven- "I'll fight my own way."

Homura ran her hands through her thick black hair, feeling the slight breeze through it as she watched autumn leaves lowering faintly to the ground. She stepped on one and kept on walking, not noticing anything as a purple glow showered her body, changing her into her ordinary attire in an instant, she recognised a bright yellow light beside her fade away.

Mami walked in front of Homura and picked up the scattered grief seeds on the gravel, ignoring the curious onlookers walking to work.

"Akemi-san."

Homura turned her gaze to Mami, who had her back facing her. "What?"

The blonde stayed silent for a few seconds while looking up, seemingly admiring the golden light of dawn, she turned to the sad as a sad look crossed her eyes, her facial features losing light. "Do you think... We should go back to school?"

The dark haired girl said nothing, as she knew that her companion was giving up hope, she couldn't blame her though, the two had been looking for Kyoko's body for over a week now and there had been no hints. Homura knew Mami long enough to know that her veteran personality and partly held onto hope could only last for so long.

Refusing to answer, Homura moved her head to face the ground. She then lifted her arm and threw something into the air. Mami turned swiftly as her eyes went wide, she ran and caught it but collapsed. Kneeling against the ground, the blonde faced her head down, as she opened her cupped hands to reveal Kyoko's still darkened soul gem.

Mami grunted and stayed kneeling. ".. Why... Did you do that?"

Homura lifted her head. "You should have it."

"Her."

Mami stood up, glancing at Homura. "It's not 'it', it's 'her'."

Homura nodded slowly. "My mistake."

It was silent again, Mami got sick of it, and threw Kyoko's soul gem into the air, and then everything seemed to slow down. Mami held her own soul gem out as a musket formed, and she aimed it at the red gem glittering in the air.

Homura gasped and ran in front of Mami, startling the blonde and caused her to accidentally pull the trigger.

BANG!

The dark haired girl caught Kyoko's soul gem as Mami hit the ground, Homura formed a glowing purple arrow from her own soul gem and aimed it at Mami like it was a sword.

"What did you think you were doing?" Homura said coldly, narrowing her purple eyes and Mami sitting on the ground, partly shocked.

"I... Don't know..."

"You don't know?" Homura aimed her bow closer. "You were about to kill Kyoko. If you've finally lost it that doesn't mean that you kill somebody you care about the most, even if they want to..." She found her words stumbling over themselves, as her own horrible memories appeared before her.

Mami stayed silent, and then she stood up, trying to regain her balance. "Sorry, but I can't do this."

"What do you-?"

"I can't save her." Mami turned, obvious sound of regret pounding in her voice. "I can't save Sakura-san." She walked away into the dawn, as Homura's arrow disappeared, the stoic girl eyed her coldly

"So you're giving up?" She stated boldly.

Mami stopped walking for a second, but didn't face Homura.

"Yes."

"Akemi-san?" Said a nervous voice, a girl walked out from behind a wall. She had green hair and green eyes, and leaned closer and closer to the door of Homura's apartment.

"It's Shizuki Hitomi."

Silence.

Maybe she can't hear me, Hitomi thought, she nervously knocked. Hitomi built up her nearly non existent courage and opened the door. It made an ominous creaking sound as Hitomi walked into the room, she gasped.

The room was white and nearly vivid of furniture, the only furniture was shaped in a circle pattern. Large pictures with cryptic messages on them floated around the room, and there was a giant swinging pendulum on the roof, creating a huge shadow.

"What in the world...?" Hitomi whispered softly as she walked. Her footsteps making a haunting echoing sound. She scanned the room, unable to see if it was even a part of earth she walking through. "Is this really Akemi-san's apartment?"

Hitomi then eyed a small red light on a table and walked towards it, keeping in mind that this was not her place. On the table was a pretty red gem, but it was also surrounded in a wavering black that were leaving specks of red. "How... Eerie." She picked up tenderly, feeling the cold surface against her fingers. She examined it closely. "Is this hers?"

"Shizuki Hitomi."

Hitomi's heart skipped a beat as she whirled around in surprise, shocked at the sudden voice. "W-what is it?"

Out of the shadows walked Homura, her face held a cold expression and her dark purple eyes narrowed. "Put that down." She said sturdily and coldly. Hitomi had never heard this tone from the mysterious transfer student before, she lay the dark gem down, hands shaking while Homura continued to stare down on her. "What are you doing here,"

Oh no! She'll think I was stalking! "I-I was looking for you, A-Akemi-san."

Homura stayed the same expression. "What for?"

Hitomi started to shake lightly, largely intimidated by Homura's non-wavering cold stare. "I wanted... to talk to you."

"About what?"

The emerald haired girl found herself pointing at a gem on a table, her body stopped shaking. "Is this yours?"

"No it's not."

"W-whose it it?"

Homura's answer was delayed. "Sakura Kyoko's."

"Oh! Is she the new girl in the senior class?"

The stoic girl nodded.

"Why is it here?"

"That is none of your concern "

Hitomi laughed nervously, an obvious bead of sweat ran down her head. "Oh yeah, I'm very sorry Akemi-san." Homura watched the nervous girl. "There is no need to be anxious around me Shizuki-san." Her tone became warmer, causing Hitomi to calm down. "I wasn't anxious Akemi-san!"

"I'm not stupid."

Her response caught Hitomi off guard, she stepped back slightly at the girl's words. "Is.. There something on your mind? Is something wrong?"

"?" Homura glanced at her, turned her head to the side, her dark fringe covering one of her eyes. "What makes you think that?" She said in a cold tone.

"It's just..." Hitomi fiddled with her fingers. "Your aura c-changes a lot... something always seems to be on your mind, it is very strange." She noticed the dark haired girl narrow her eyes, in somewhat irritation, which made Hitomi take another step back, Homura faced away. "Sorry, may you please leave?"

Hitomi bowed swiftly and in distress. "Of course, see you at school."

After the room was silent. Homura stood there, she reached a hand up to her ribbon and stroked it slightly, casting a shadow over her face. "Nothing..." She glanced up again, "Is on my mind..."

Kyoko opened the shadowy doors of the church, letting the nostalgic feeling fill her heart with dread, she walked straight, ignoring the pensioners outside as she reached a door that was an office for her father. She opened it, aware that it was the darkest room in the house.

"I'm home." Kyoko said quietly. Before her was her father sitting on a wooden chair and leaning against a table, bottles and glasses everywhere, Kyoko let her eyes pass over them. "Even more sake today, you'll ruin your health." Her father didn't say anything. The saddened red head built her courage and spoke in more controlled tone.

"Listen Papa, I defeated another demon today, I saved someone who was going to commit suicide." Again silence, so Kyoko continues. "You wanted to destroy the root of all misfortune and sadness in the world. We magical girls are steadily cutting away at that root. That can't be a bad thing right?'

Kyoko heard silence again, she softly held her hands together, touching her ring. "You know Papa; I still love everything you preached. That's why I was so glad when people began listening to what you had to say. After all, you had always been saddened by the misfortune of the world, and I finally got to see you happy. I..."

"That's all an illusion you created isn't it?"

Kyoko was caught off guard by those words. "Papa. What do you-?"

"Everyone who came to this church was not there because of their fate, but because they had been lead astray by the powers of a demon."

The redhead's eyes widened and her face fell into a contorted emotion between troubled and shocked.

"Those poor souls. Did you plan to take the lives of those you had bewitched? Were they the sacrifices for your contract with the devil? That you, daughter of a clergyman, would sell your soul to the devil..."

Kyoko the took a step forward in anguish and started to yell. "Like I keep telling you demons and magical girls are different! We don't kill anyone! Please, listen to what I'm saying!" Then in a softer and more frightened tone. "I'm not a demon..."

"From the very beginning.." Her father paid no attention to his daughter, and stared blankly at the alcohol on the table in front of him. "You paid no heed to my teachings. You thought that my teaching were mad ramblings that would save no one, did you not?" Kyoko was now lost for words.

"Ah, indeed. That's just right. I have not the power to bring salvation to the world. I gave a demon the chance to take advantage of me. It's not your fault, all the blame rests with me."

Kyoko leaned back a bit and tried to conceal her completely frightened expression. "What do you... Thats not... Papa that-."

The man then pulled back a chair and stood up, swiftly facing Kyoko and raised his voice. "What's not?"

He clasped his hand onto the table. "With your power you can cut away the root of misfortune and sadness. If I were to lend my ear to such a suggestion. You may as well vituperate me for being such a useless father."

Then in a more snarky tone. "What are you going to do now? Even without your father, you can bring salvation onto the world. You crush the faith of the people and lead them astray. Is that not the work of a laughing devil? You fail to recognise what you have wrought, merrily telling tales of your exploits."

"What should I call you of not a demon?"

Those last words struck Kyoko so hard that she nearly stopped breathing, she gritted her teeth and took a step forward, before bitterly turning away in disgust and walking out of the room. As her father sat back in his chair and overflowed his glass with sake.

Kyoko's eyes snapped open and she froze, a horrible feeling taking over her body, the fact that she had one frightened her. But what she had seen once before her eyes was even more terrifying.

"Papa..." She whispered, her words coming up nearly in sobbing chokes, before she wiped her face with her arm before staring at it. "I have a body?" Kyoko moves it around before looking down at herself, she had her ordinary clothes on. "How do I have my body?"

You don't

Kyoko gasped in complete shock at the voice inside her head, before calming down. "Did you make me see that vision?

Yes I did

"No suprise there then." She put her hands behind her head, although it was hard to remain her composure with what she had just seen. "How do I have no body but I can see myself with one?"

It's an illusion, if your subconscious mind had stayed in your soul gem any longer you could have gone insane, so I did this.

"How vulnerable do you think I am?" Kyoko sat down and crossed her legs. "I'm not broken, I wouldn't have gone in-."

'Daughter of a clergyman would sell her soul to the devil...'

Kyoko fell silent in an instant as all the memories came flooding back, she held her head as her eyes held brim with held back tears.

'You thought that my teachings were mad ramblings that would save no one, did you not?'

She grunted as a pulsing headache formed in her head.

'I have a demon a chance to take advantage of me...'

'You crush the people of people and lead them astray, is that not the work of a laughing devil?'

"Stop... it.."

'What should I call you if not a demon?'

"STOP!" The distressed red head shouted before collapsing side on as her hair sprayed around, her hands clenched against the floor and tears fell down her face as she closed her eyes tight.

What's wrong? Upset? His tone was snarkier, Kyoko felt as if he was teasing her.

"Piss off." Her tone wasn't threatening, she held back more tears as her voice became more broken.

"Let me out... bastard. Why must you show me all my painful memories?" Tears choked up her voice.

I can't let you out yet, it's impossible until your body is found.

"My body will rot at this rate," she took a breath, "idiot."

I have prevented that from happening

"You can't do that."

Yes I can, I was born a reality Warper

"So you're a god then? The same god that ignored all my family's suffering even though my father preached for your hope and sanity?"

No I am not a God, that is just how I was made.

"Impossib-."

'I know! Since I met you at the Sakura Church I'll call you cherry blossom!'

Kyoko froze

'Thats my last name.'

'Ehh?! That means... are you the daughter of Mr Sakura?'

Pure terror filled her body.

'I look up to your father a lot.'

Kyoko whimpered slightly, her eyes were filled with shock and her pupils were tiny, all the colour drained from her face.

'I'm sorry, I've got to go.'

'Go where?'

'I'm moving, but don't worry I'll be back soon, it's fine.'

Kyoko wrapped her arms around herself again and curled her body into a ball against the floor, shivering, she cast her face down and began sobbing, unbeknownst that the man was still watching her, unsurprised.

As I continue to corrupt her kind, she is growing closer and closer to giving up on her hope

I am going at this too fast. Akemi-san and Tomoe-san need to find her body before Sakura-san loses her mind...

Mami slammed the ebony door and walked straight into the house, cleansing her soul gem with an accurate amount of grief seeds before it turned back into her silver ring, she sat on the couch. The house was drenched with an amber light that created shadows around corners, Mami didn't even glance up as an ominous aura filled the room.

A wave of dread filled the blonde's body. "I just gave up on saving my kohai." She stated out loud.

"Ridiculous." She whispered. "No hope, too long, her body would have rot from having been two days over its limit anyway.

Mami sipped her tea, the warm liquid filling her body with somewhat warmth, she lifted the brim of the cup from her dry lips before putting it back down forcefully. Tears suddenly filled her eyes and she covered her face with her hands.

"Sakura-san's... gone." Mami could hardly even whimper out those words. "It can't be possible." She whispered bitterly. "All of this doesn't make sense, how can this happen?" She then rested her hands around the teacup around and took a few deep breaths.

Mami remembered that day, Kyoko had been acting differently whenever she saw her, she was acting emotionless and dark, her eyes that day caused shivers down Mami's spine. Kyoko had been out late, then Homura contacted her, she had opened the door.

A wave of horror had hit Mami, there in Homura's arms was the limp body of the red head, pale and lifeless, the blonde thought that she was going to faint right there, fall into the darkness so that nobody would grow attatched to her again.

Because if they ever would, they disappeared.

Every single magical girl Mami had encountered and fought with had left her because of her intentions to fight wraiths every night, they thought that she should leave them be for a week or so, let them grow and consume human weaknesses so more grief seeds would pop out when they eventually got killed. Mami didn't believe that.

But when she didn't fall into the darkness, when she stayed awake and shouted at Homura because she was agitated.

She had had enough.

For the next three weeks she was stuck with what felt was like looking after a corpse. Looking at her kohai's lifeless body for almost a month nearly ruined. Mami knew that she would get better, but she didn't.

Mami had been very curious of Kyoko's condition, if she ate or drank, if she ever woke up, she was positive. But that one day when she got a phone call from that man, her emotions were mixed up in a whirl, she felt to helpless as she watched her fiery haired companion struggle against her own emotions as she couldn't do anything about it.

Then Kyoko disappeared.

Mami had turned into a wreck, crying hysterically, Homura would have thought she was crazy, but she seemed as well concerned, Mami thought it wasn't like the stoic dark haired girl to be concerned.

She remembered watching Kyoko's near to black soul gem float onto the empty couch, Mami had stared at it for a few seconds before freaking out.

Now Mami had given up on finding her, all hope was gone. She plainly stroked her curly hair and let her fingers run over the flower clip, a shadow cast over her face.

"Sakura...san, I'm so sorry."

Wind picked up, a strong storm had hit Mitakihara that night, it was tossing tree branches around around and bins down roads, the rain had started and it had gotten harder for the drivers. All civilians were told to stay inside.

However with the sun setting, Homura stood near a bridge, at the edge of the ocean. Mist surrounded around her legs, her dark hair and ribbon whipped around in the strong wind.

"Warplurgisnacht."

As those words slipped out of her mouth, Homura blinked, then she shook her head disbelievingly. I'm so used to these situations I got mixed up. Homura thought, she clenched her fist. "What's wrong with me these days?"

Homura held her hand out and hovered her other hand over her soul gem ring, it glowed purple, she then held out her arm and a bow formed, violet sparkles appearing as her school uniform dissolved and her magical girl attire took its place, her soul gem turning. Into the diamond on her hand. The light faded, she turned her head back and forth to make sure nobody saw.

Homura had gotten used to the fact that a shield was no longer on her arm, and that she didn't have any guns. The next time Homura had found herself in her magical girl form after Madoka disappeared, was that all she could now form was a bow and arrow and she knew how to use it. It gave her strength and hope. Something she thought she lost a long time ago.

The world seemed to darken around Homura as glowing purple wings appeared from her back, covering the view of sight in a purple glow, she parted her wings and stepped before her feet were lifted off the ground, wings flapping hard. She was not struggled by the impending wind and rain; she was not bothered by the waved of the ocean splashing onto her clothes as she soared high into the air.

When Homura reached the sky, clouds were crowded around her, she could see Mitakihara from down below. Rain and hail pelted onto her, she looked up, all she could see was the grey of clouds.

No heaven. No hell

She pushed away a dark thought pursuing in her mind and continued to fly through the clouds. Homura held a rem gem in her hand, not noticing that it was pulsing crimson...

With the storm booming outside, the noise was hard to condense inside, with the sound of pelting rain disturbing Mami's thoughts. She couldn't get to sleep, tossing and turning around in her bed as her hair became messed up. She caught hold of the bed sheets and squeezed them tight.

The smoke died down and disappeared, Mami and Kyoko sat under a bridge. Kyoko leaned against a wall, her eyes blank and slightly shadowed over, just enough to see her now dark red eyes. Mami held Kyoko's arm and put her yellow soul gem up against the red head's deep wound, she watched it heal, the bright golden light shining. "You're not feeling any better." Mami said as the wound closed up.

"This is going to sound harsh but, you're fighting with your life on the life. You have to fight as hard as you can every time."

Kyoko didn't respond, Mami continued. "This one was small, so you got away without any bad injuries. With your enchantment magic, shouldn't you have been able to avoid injury altogether? Why won't you use it?"

Kyoko gritted her teeth. "I can beat wraiths without relying on something like that."

"...?"

The red head stood up, ignoring Mami's words. "Wait Sakura-san, it's not just a matter of merely defeating them..."

"You know, nows a good time." She faced away from the blonde, keeping some calmness in her tone. "I've wanted to... tell you something for a while." Kyoko walked a few steps away, and raised her hands behind her head. "Regarding our battle plans from now on..."

Kyoko faced her again. "Rather than defeating wraiths every night, how about we wait a few days for them to regenerate?"

Mami's bright yellow eyes widened in sheer disbelief and shock.

"If we keep hunting wraiths every night, there's not going to be enough grief seeds for us anyway, there's no point in wasting our magic in something that doesn't even provide us enough residue to live."

The blonde couldn't believe what she was hearing. Of all people... "What's the matter, Sakura-san?"

"I dunno about saving the city or fighting for justice or anything. To be honest, it's getting to be a pain, putting up with your obsessions. I guess this sort of thing doesn't go with me, you know?"

Mami could hardly even hold back the large amounts of worry in her voice. "...what are you saying..?" She stood up swiftly and tried to remain her composure. "But if they aren't dealt with every day, people with die! If we don't defeat them-!"

"I'M TELLING YOU, IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO SAVE EVERYONE!" Kyoko yelled, startling Mami as she took a step back, unable to say anything. Kyoko, whose expression had turned into a dark sneer, continued. "Wether they're possessed by a demon or not, people who want to die will die."

Kyoko smirked and exposed her fang, rubbing her soul gem between her fingers. "Do we really have to put our lives on the line to save them? We ought to let wraiths eat them so they can give out more grief seeds when they're dead."

Mami was speechless, her companions sudden change of attitude made her frightened, she cupped her hands together. "Sakura-san, I understand how you feel about your family, but saying things like that..."

"What the hell do you understand?! Losing your family in a traffic accident is completely different from being the cause of your family' death. It's just like you said, from the beginning I should've made a wish for myself. That way I would've been the only one to get hurt. Because I pushed my own selfish form of happiness without thinking of their desires, my entire family got caught in the misfortune too."

Kyoko stepped away from her again, leaving a heartbroken Mami on the brim of tears. "It serves me right, my magic caused all of it. Deep within you, you're thinking that this was the obvious outcome aren't you?"

"I... Would never..." Tears chocked up the blonde's voice.

"I've made my decision." Kyoko clasped her soul gem in one hand, holding it close to her heart. "I'll never make another person happy. I'll never save somebody else's life. Not using my magic. My magic only for myself."

It was silent for a few seconds as Kyoko's soul gem turned into a silver ring, she stuffed her hands in her pockets and walked faster so that Mami wouldn't notice her pained expression.

"That's enough of that; your disillusioned with me aren't you? You can't fight with me can you? This is for you and-."

Mami then stepped forward and grabbed Kyoko's wrist, pulling the arm out of the pocket. She silently held onto it.

"Wha-?!" Kyoko was startled. "Let go of me!" She yelled. "I won't." The blonde shook while holding onto the red heads arm. "No matter how much pain your in now, you mustn't live like that. You know that acting strong like that's is just going to make you suffer more, I can't let you be alone."

Mami then glanced up, she had a stern expression but tears were now flowing. "I just can't, let you go as you are now."

Kyoko gritted her teeth, "In that case..." Her whole body glowed a bright red colour as vapour flowed as wind, nearly knocking Mami backwards, as Kyoko's magical girl outfit finished forming, and she glared at Mami. "I'll send you flying and be on my way."

Kyoko plunged her spear into the ground and flung herself away from Mami, who was heartbroken. As she watched the red head stand in a stance, obviously picking a fight. Regaining her composure, she wiped her tears away. "I see, I hoped we could handle this through conversation..." Mami then held her soul gem out and transformed in a flash. "You really are.. one handle of a kohai!"

Kyoko then sneered and took a step forward. "Sorry about that," she jumped, "Senpai!" Her spear plunged into the ground with a blinding flash, Kyoko eyes backwards and saw Mami in the air, the blonde held her hand and ribbons formed out of it, the redhead batted them away. "I can see your binding magic coming from a mile away!"

Mami formed a musket in her hand. "And what of you?" She blocked Kyoko's spear. "I've told you so many times not to fight so recklessly but you just won't listen will you?"

Kyoko shot a glare.

Mami pulled another musket out and fired but Kyoko dodged and landed on the ground speedily, the blonde moved her arms gracefully and suddenly smoke cannons appeared from beside her, they fired and just stared as smoke surrounded her.

BANG! A bullet shot past the redhead, Kyoko looked up, many muskets were hovering in the air, aimed at her and controlled by Mami, as they constantly fired, Kyoko ran straight through them. "What the hell are you aiming at?! If you aren't going to try and kill me-" She leapt high in the air. "Then I don't even need to dodge!"

Mami gasped.

A yellow ribbon broke and fell to the ground, a spear was pointed straight at Mami's neck, Kyoko's continuous glare lingered. "If you plan to continue with this, I won't hesitate to take your head next time... Your resolve doesn't compare to mine."

Kyoko' spear lowered and skidded against the ground. "I'm heading back to Kasamino, from now on I'll fight my own way, thank you for helping me until now." She walked past her.

"Sakura-san."

Kyoko paused.

"You were the first... magical girl to share my hopes and ambitions. I believed that you would be different from the others, that's all. You'll be able to deal with the loneliness."

Kyoko hesitated slightly before disappearing from sight.

Mami stood, back in her ordinary clothes before she started crying again, the hot tears falling down her cheeks. "This is terrible... why does it..." She couldn't stop them now. "Have to end this way?"

"I'm back to being alone again..."

Mami's eyes flung open.

Her whole body shivered in pure fright. "What...was?" Sweat beaded down her forehead as blood pumped through her ears. While struggling to realise she wasn't in a dream, she felt her eyes get used to the darkness around her.

She noticed a small yellow light around where her hand was; she lifted her arm and glanced at it. Only to notice the yellow gem on her ring pulsing a bright gold. Mami's eyes turned stern as she remembered her kohai's words.

"I'm heading back to Kasamino, from now on I'll fight my own way, thank to for helping me until now."

Mami clasped a hand over her heart as tears brimmed her eyes, her wavy hair fell over her shoulders as the morning light streamed into the room. She then flung off her bed sheets off and jumped off her bed, she slipped her school uniform and walked straight out of the apartment,m

The morning light shined bright onto Mami's face, however her eyes were hidden. Her soul gem formed in front of her. One thought resonated through her head as her eyes became visible, glowing a bright yellow light, which made it look like the sun was reflecting off them

I have to save Sakura-san

AUTHORS NOTE: Okay officially biggest chapter I've written! Big work out there! Over 5,000 words!

As you might be able to tell that fight scene between Mami and Kyoko was from 'The Different Story', I take most of my flashbacks from there.
Anyway, I can't say anything here or it will spoil it, but I can say one thing. That stuff with the warehouse and the writing on the desk, and the voices in Kyoko's head won't be revealed for quite a while, so don't hold your breath because it won't be revealed in this arc

-Otaku4eva99