Chapter Ten – "I'll get stronger again."
Mami was amazed with how much time it took.
One week and Kyoko was back on her feet again.
When she'd gotten back, the redhead had eaten mountains of food.
But then again, that's a lot like her. Mami thought.
Kyoko once again stuffed her face with a cheeseburger, she chewed happily.
"Mami this is delicious!" She said through a mouthful of food.
Mami sweat dropped. "I know Kyoko."
It had taken a little while for Mami to get used to saying Kyoko's given name and not her surname. But she had gotten in eventually; it was a habit to say 'Sakura-san' but she got over that.
"Are you all healthy now?"
"Yep!" Kyoko punched the air. "Now we have to go back to fighting those stupid wraiths again."
Mami shook her head. "No, that's not it."
"Huh? What do you mean?"
The blonde stared sternly. "You have to tell us all about what happened while you were in that gem."
Kyoko's eyes darkened slightly, she bowed her head and her face was cast over. "Right." She said quietly.
Mami smiled at her companion. "Now, don't lose hope, Akemi-san and I will understand."
"Homura?" The redhead raised an eyebrow. "You sure she'll understand?"
"I'm sure." Mami smiled softly and glanced out the window of her apartment. "I can tell that she's been through a lot in her lifetime. So Akemi-san will understand."
Homura eyed the city. It seemed well enough. Her dark hair whipped back and forward from the intensity of her enormous flapping wings. She looked up at the sky. There was a faint yellow glow.
"It's still there." Homura whispered, her eyes narrowed. "That faint golden glow."
The dark haired girl ran her finger over the tough texture of the diamond shaped soul on her hand. She glanced at it sadly.
That man… He altered the way magical girls die. She thought. So if I die. My subconious will end up in my soul as well?
She shook her head. "That is bad thinking." She said sternly.
Homura walked up to the door. She hesitated slightly before knocking.
She was silent.
"I think that's Akemi-san, I'll get the door." Came the muffled voice of Mami.
Homura remembered the last time she was at Mami's door. She was holding the drained Kyoko in her arms, getting Mami to come to the door. Then the blonde opened the door, her horrified expression filled with anxiety was…
"Akemi-san?"
Homura snapped out of her trance to see Mami smiling cheerfully at her. "Good afternoon!" She gestured to come inside the house. "Come in."
"You seem to be in a good mood today Tomoe-san." Homura said casually while walking into the house.
"Yes well, I feel a lot better now."
"Were you sick?"
"No, just I just feel….. better, you know?"
Homura stared at Mami for a few seconds with sad eyes before turning and walking into the Dining room.
She stopped in her tracks when she saw Kyoko sitting at the table. She was leaning back on her chair, arms behind her head and feet on the table, she was chewing a piece of strawberry pocky like it was a cigarette.
"Tomoe-san."
Mami walked up beside her. "What is it?"
Homura pointed to Kyoko. "Are you allowing that do happen to your clean table?"
"What do you-?" She saw Kyoko. "Ahhh! Kyoko!"
Kyoko gasped when she saw Mami. "Ummm…. Mami…"
"Get your feet off the table!" She ordered angrily.
"Ok! Ok!" Kyoko pulled her feet off the table and sat up normally. "Sorry."
Mami breathed deeply. "Never mind." She said tiredly before straightening up. "Akemi-san's here."
Kyoko moved her eyes to the dark haired girl, her eyes narrowed. "Homura."
"Nice to see you Kyoko." Homura said plainly.
The redhead crossed her arms and turned her head to the side. "If we're going to talk about that thing then we might as well get it over with!" She said arrogantly.
"I'm fine with that." Homura walked to the table, pulled out a chair and sat down.
Mami smiled. "I'll go make some tea!" And with that she rushed off to the kitchen.
When Mami was gone, all was silent between Homura and Kyoko.
"Well." Kyoko started. "Aren't you going to say something?"
"I thought you would." Homura said calmly.
"Don't start that with me!" The redhead shouted, before calming down. "Anyway, have you come to get me to talk about that situation that happened a week ago?"
"Why else would I come here? Other than school I haven't seen you all week."
Kyoko scowled. "Don't be a smartass."
"I'm not. I haven't seen you all week. I have no reason to come to this flat (1) because I have other things to take care of." Homura retorted.
"Well-"
"Tea's ready!"
Kyoko and Homura turned to look at Mami, who placed the tea down on the table. Mami pulled out a chair and sat down, but her smile disappeared when she immediately notices the tension between the two.
"Is something going on?" She asked.
"Nothing." Kyoko muttered.
Mami glanced at Homura, who was sipping her tea calmly.
Silence.
"Let's start." Mami stated sternly, her eyes became cold and demanding, stared at Kyoko, who nearly spat out her drink in surprise at her Senpai' s sudden change of personality.
"Start what?" The redhead asked innocently.
"Explaining." Homura answered for Mami, who as well stared at Kyoko with icy cold eyes. "What happened?"
Kyoko started sipping her tea. "Not to be a pain, but I'd really rather not talk about this no-."
"Tell us." Mami and Homura said in unison. The redhead gulped.
"You've had enough time to think about it, now tell us." Homura stated firmly.
"So tell us."
Kyoko stared at the two. Before bowing her head, clenching her shaking hands into fists. "I really don't…. want to talk about it…."
Mami's gaze softened. "Sorry but we can't be easy to you on this. We know this isn't easy for you to talk about. Just start from the start."
"Fine." Kyoko stated, she lifted up her head. Eyes dark.
"I remember first waking up in this white place. I thought I was in heaven. Then I saw that man. He was tall, and wore a white cloak. He also had a glass staff." She explained.
"You didn't know who he was?" Homura asked.
"No. Anyway, he knew my name, and my past." She said bitterly. "And then he did this magic spell or something."
"A magic spell?" Mami raised an eyebrow.
"Yes, but then I think one of his eyes were blue, and one red. And then he said 'sacrifice.'"
"Sacrifice?"
"Sacrifice?"
Kyoko nodded. "And that's all I remembered of that bit. Until I found myself looking at the church. You two walked in front of me, I called out of you but you didn't answer. But then that guy answered me again. He then explained that my body disappeared and my subconscious was transferred to my soul."
"How does he do that?" Homura asked herself.
"Then he said something about something and then said that he knows about magical girls, and knows all our fates."
"That's ridiculous." Mami stated, sipping her tea.
"I know." Kyoko continued. "Then he showed you guys that vision…" She paused. "About my families' death."
The three fell silent. Until Homura spoke up.
"Yes, continue."
Kyoko lifted up her head and hesitated before continuing. "Then I yelled at him. And he said something like… 'if you had suffered enough, then something would have happened to you right when your family died.' But I don't understand."
Homura's eyes widened. She did understand. She would've turned into a witch. She clenched her fist. But I don't need to tell her that.
"Homura?"
Homura glanced up, to see Kyoko looking at her. "What's up?" Homura shook her head calmly. "Nothing."
"Continue Kyoko." Mami said.
Kyoko nodded again. "Then I heard you guys again. After that he explained to me that you guys have to find my body."
"That's where I'm confused." Mami said. "We already searched in the Sakura Church, but your body wasn't there. Next time we went, it was. Why is that?"
"Maybe that cloaked guy transported it there?" Kyoko suggested.
"What happened next?" Homura asked.
"I remember seeing white again, then he told me that if I saw what was happening then I would suffer too much emotional trauma for him to keep me in the gem."
"Emotional Trauma?"
Suddenly Mami remembered something. "That's right! While searching for your body, we went into a warehouse. We saw a scratched desk. One note said: I will come back, this world may seem empty now, but many years is not as many as it seems. Goodbye, Cherry Blossom. Then the other one said: 'Lair', do you know about this Kyoko?"
Kyoko's eyes went wide, her whole body started to shake, she put her head in her hands and ran them through her hair. "No…." She answered.
"We're not stupid." Homura stated harshly, Kyoko whipped her head up to stare at Homura. "If it's too personal, you don't have to tell us."
Kyoko's gaze softened. "Thanks Homura."
"Would you like to continue Kyoko?" Mami asked, the redhead nodded.
"He told me that it was my fault that I was put here. He gave me nightmares-"
"Nightmares?" Mami interrupted.
"I'll tell you later Tomoe-san." Homura said. "Continue Kyoko."
She hesitated. "Apparently I gave myself distress and was corrupted by my own thoughts, and then everything went blurred after that."
"What else happened?"
"After that then…" He eyes shadowed over and she clenched her fist. "I got a memory of when I was in the church. Papa was ruining himself. I said that the magical girls and slowly destroying sadness. Then I said that I always loved his preaches, and that I always wanted him to be happy. Then my Papa accused it of being an illusion. Then he said that his followers had been led astray by the powers of a daemon. He pitied the people, he thought they were the sacrifices for my contract… Then I said that magical girls and demons are different. And he accused me of thinking that his preaching's were mad ramblings. He blamed himself for letting a demon take advantage of him…."
She remembered her father's words, and spoke them telepathically to the two.
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.
Mami gasped. This is what she's going through?
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.
Homura listened intently. She never really knew a lot about Kyoko's past as this.
What should I call you if not a demon?
"And that's it." Kyoko said bitterly. "Then I woke up, I heard the voices of my father, and felt myself breaking down. I think I started crying. And then I heard….."
Kyoko remembered.
I know! Since I met you at the Sakura Church I'll call you Cherry Blossom!
That's my last name.
Ehh?! That means… are you the daughter of Mr Sakura?
I look up to your father a lot.
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.
The redhead managed to keep her composure.
"Nothing. I don't know what happened after that."
Homura narrowed her eyes. She knew that her companion was hiding something from her, and Mami noticed this as well. But they decided to let it slide.
"What else happened?"
"I was really depressed. The next time that guy came he said that I was useless or something. I think…" She paused. "I think I asked him to kill me."
"What?!" Mami slammed her fists against the table. Kyoko glanced at the blonde, whose hands were shaking. "Mami?"
"You were suicidal…." Mami whispered. "Why?"
"I'm not sure. I guess, I didn't think I was going to get back in my body again. I couldn't find a reason to live anymore." She explained bitterly.
The distressed blonde pulled her hands away from the table and put them on her lap, face shadowed over. "Continue."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes." Mami said sternly.
Homura glanced at Mami. She must be upset.
"I remember still lying in that white place. And then I heard somebody say my name. I turned around and it was…" Kyoko fell silent.
"Who was it?" Homura asked.
"….. Sayaka."
Both Mami and Homura were surprised now.
"Miki-san?!" They exclaimed.
Kyoko nodded. "She said to me that feeling sorry about myself isn't going to help anybody."
"Wait." Homura commanded. "How was she there? She's dead!"
"I don't know how. She just appeared."
"That's very disturbing." Mami noted. "What if she's working for that cloaked man?"
Kyoko shook her head. "No way. She was against his plans."
"How do you know that?" Homura asked.
"She said that my body was on the altar of my church. She said I couldn't go back to it because I've denied it. She said that my subconscious can't go back to a body that doesn't want to live. I can't remember most of it. But she said that I need to find hope inside myself."
"So you couldn't find any hope on living." Mami stated darkly.
"I…. don't know. Maybe. I can't…. remember."
"What else happened?" Homura beckoned her to go on. She needed to know all about this.
Kyoko nodded warily. "I think I said that I thought she hated me. And I asked why she's helping me. She said….." The redhead put her head down and smiled softly. "She wants to meet me again, in this world."
Mami gasped. She didn't realise that Sayaka was that close to Kyoko. She, herself thought that Sayaka despised her. But it seemed that she thought wrong.
Homura was confused too. Sayaka never seemed to care about Kyoko. Maybe she remembered Kyoko's sacrifice. She thought.
"Anyway," Kyoko started, trying to hide her slightly red face. "She said to think about what I want to come back to, and then I would go back to my body. So I thought. And….. I don't remember what happened next. I woke up."
The three fell silent; Mami and Homura were trying to figure out the vast expense of information that had been given to them by their companion. Kyoko eyed them. They looked so focused. It wasn't that interesting, was it?
"I'm sorry."
Kyoko lifted her head in surprise, at Mami, who had her hands curled up on her lap. She was shaking. "I'm sorry." She repeated. "Kyoko, if I had kept a better eye on you, then you wouldn't of had to suffer so much. And you… I-."
"That's ridiculous." The redhead interrupted. "Let's not go on a guilt trip Mami. It's alright, it's not your fault, okay?"
Homura widened her eyes. Since when had Kyoko been so comforting?
"But…" Kyoko continued. Her tone darkened, but her eyes were not clouded over. "I was too weak. Too much focused on this collapsing and strange world to realise that I was causing trouble for people. When I had nightmares, I cracked and made it worse. So eventually the guilt caught up to me. If I had been stronger, I wouldn't have suffered before and after I was put in that gem. So…. I'll get stronger again."
Mami stared wide eyed at her kohai. Before nodding. "I'm fine with that, right Homura?" She turned to the dark haired girl. Who narrowed her eyes.
"It is not my job to pity. It is either feel guilt and suffer, or get over it and become stronger. All my life I have gone for the second option. I suggest that you do the same."
Kyoko grinned, bearing her fang which was glinting in the sunlight. Her eyes held new found determination, the spark turned into a blazing flame. "Of course."
In the courtyard, the scenery was dark, the moon was full and above thousands of shining stars. It seemed a lot brighter than it used to be. Silver muskets spun through the air, shooting bullets of magical energy from each side. Blonde curls bounced up around yellow and narrowed eyes.
Wraiths disappeared in smoke, the grey air moving around the veteran's feet before disappearing into the wind.
Mami groaned in pain as her hands ran over a new cut that had formed over her thigh. Blood ran down before the wound closed up. "They have gotten stronger haven't they? I could have stopped that. But then again…." She chuckled quietly. "If I had been any more reckless it would have cut off my leg." Mami sighed.
The blonde walked away from the battlefield, letting her hair get caught in the wind and brushing her fringe away from her face, in which her yellow eyes caught sight of a figure standing near her.
"Good evening Tomoe-san."
He spoke! Mami acted instantly and spun around, forming a musket in her right hand and aiming it at the man. The pulled the trigger.
BANG!
The man held up his hand and suddenly the magical bullet slowed in mid-air. Mami gasped. "What?!" She exclaimed.
Mami examined him, he wore a cloak in which the hood was over his head, covering his face. She immediately recognised him. "It's you!"
"Indeed." He answered calmly.
Mami immediately aimed a musket at him.
"Calm down Tomoe-san."
"Explain!" She demanded.
"Please don't shoot." The cloaked man said. He smirked under his cloak hood. Mami didn't waver.
"I'm here to negotiate."
(1) In Australia we call them flats, not apartments, in case of any confusing
A/N: Yes! I ended on a cliff hanger! *high-fives imagination*
Anyway, Kyoko's explanation was basically a recap. For those who didn't want to read the whole thing again to just figure out what's happened. Yep. I'm so nice haha.
The next chapter will definitely be an interesting one. Most things will be revealed, but I'm not going to explain a lot. Thanks to the people who like my story because this is just for fun! I love all my reviewers, favouriters and followers! Even the people who don't do either and just read this I still WUV YOU!
Anyone who sneezed in this chapter bless you! (Tobuscus reference XD)
-Otaku4eva99