Chapter 16- "You idiot."
A world full of twisted colours surrounded a dark figure, crouched against the ground, purple eyes wide as she stared at her pale hands clasped against the pavement.
Where am I?
She stood up, trying to take in her surroundings, when all she saw was the contorted colours of red and black, a midnight blue overtaking it, and a hint of silver.
What is this?
When she stepped, her high heel black shoes made loud echoing sounds against the ground. Snap, snap, snap, snap, snap.
"It seemed it worked, Incubator."
Gasping, she turned around, her raven hair turning with her, whipping across the strange environment. "Who's there?" She half whispered, her widened eyes scanned the space around her, until suddenly a cloaked figure formed in front of her.
"Reaper." She whispered, almost growled.
"Akemi Homura. I was expecting you." The Reaper stepped out, revealing his face.
"Explain." Homura demanded, her posture not wavering as she glared at the man in front of her. "Where are Sakura Kyoko and Tomoe Mami?"
Sighing, the Reaper pulled back his hood, as a white creature with dark pink beaded eyes stepped out behind him.
"Incubator." Homura said, and Kyubey smiled in response. "It's been a while, Akemi Homura."
"If you want us to explain." The Reaper said, as he flexed his hand. "You'll have to fight me."
The sky warped unnatural colours around the blonde as she walked through the deserted street, taking in the atmosphere as she held her silver musket in her left hand. Frowning as she glanced around, she noticed the deep cracks etched into the ground.
"What did he do?" Mami said to herself, stepping over the crack. "He separated us, but how?"
Hearing the crack behind her, Mami whirled around as she sound of a bullet resonated through the environment; it hit a stray building behind her, causing the glass to break in one clean movement.
With a sharp eye, Mami noticed a caped figure leap from the spot, jumping onto the top of the building before soaring across the sky.
Narrowing her amber eyes, she took off after the girl, noticing her shoulder length blue hair waving in the wind.
Mami's stern expression faltered. "Miki-san?"
Kyoko sped through the alleyway, red hair flying behind her. She jumped and raced across the walls, dodging pipes and gushing water. She leapt up as she hit the ground in one movement and crouched down as she swept her spear across the air in front of her.
Biting her lip, Kyoko straightened up and started walking slowly towards the corner, spying a faint blue light appearing from around the bend.
The redhead edged around the corner to see the usual faint glow of the alleyway. "Wha-?"
Suddenly her vision was cut off by a flash of silver covering her view. A blade?! Cursing, Kyoko jumped back, skidding across the ground before coming to a stop at the wall, her head was lowered.
Kyoko lifted her head and half-gasped at what was before her.
Standing in front of her was a rugged Sayaka, her figure was slumped. Her blue fringe covered her dark face, and her now faded cape fell over her drooping shoulders. She hardly held her ground, her legs were buckled at the knees, and her body's frame had a slow up and down movement her deep and ragged breaths.
"S-Sayaka." Kyoko almost stammered, a bead of sweat ran down her face, her breaths taking somewhat of a nervous turn after seeing her so called 'comrade' in the state she was in.
Sayaka lifted up her head, revealing her dark and hollow blue eyes. Her voice was gloomy and rasped when she spoke. "Fight me."
"What?" Kyoko said softly, letting her crimson eyes widen slightly. "Fight you?"
Wielding her sharp silver cutlass in one gloved hand, Sayaka let the sword's tip run over the ground, she straightened up her back and her eyes clouded over again. "Stand-."
She was cut off by the tip of a spear lodging into her abdomen, blood dripped out of her lips and down her chin as she choked. Sayaka lifted up her head and gasped to see the glaring face of Kyoko fight in front of hers.
"With pleasure."
Pulling her spear out, Kyoko flipped over Sayaka and plunged the spear right through her chest. She held up the limp body like an old doll before tossing it, Sayaka slammed into the wall, and she slumped against the ground, blood stained her white uniform.
Kyoko narrowed her red eyes as she walked towards Sayaka, her foe's blood dripping off her spear. "You aren't even trying." She said darkly. "You shouldn't start a fight without knowing what you're doing."
Sayaka spat out blood. "S-Shut up." She whispered harshly at the redhead, who raised an eyebrow. "What's this? Change in attitude?"
"I'm just as good as you."
"Don't be an idiot. You and I both know that's not true."
Growling, Sayaka tried to stand, using the hilt of her sword as a cane to will herself up.
Kyoko rolled her eyes. "Why are you picking a fight with me? You can't even stand."
"Shut up bitch!" Sayaka screamed at her, the sudden outburst surprised the redhead a little, but she did not waver.
"Fine." Kyoko spun her spear masterfully with both hands as she watched Sayaka regain her ground.
The two launched at each other, their weapons clashing. Kyoko pulled her spear up, making the bluenette trip from the loss of pressure, and Kyoko willed the spear to part, before slamming it onto her opponent.
After taking the ferocious hit, Sayaka jumped up and landed on a trail of blue notes, soaring above Kyoko. She formed another two swords with the flip of her cape, and threw them at the redhead who dodged.
Kyoko ran up the wall before launching herself at Sayaka, knocking her down as the trail of music notes disappeared. She pinned her opponent to the ground, listening to her yelp in pain as the bluenette's back snapped internally.
The redhead watched her rivals body go limp under her, lifted herself off Sayaka while still keeping her arms pinned.
Kyoko had barely broken a sweat, she glared at Sayaka, whose face was shadowed over. "Happy now? You've had a fight with me, so tell me why you're here."
"I… was looking for someone." Sayaka barely whispered.
"Who?"
"I don't have a reason why I should tell you."
Kyoko growled, before plummeting her spear straight down Sayaka's shoulder. The bluenette screamed before reducing it to a whimper.
The redhead leaned close to Sayaka and whispered softly but harshly in her ear. "Tell me."
Sayaka yelped when Kyoko twisted the spear through her shoulder, letting the blood fill the ground. "F-Fine!"
Kyoko paused, lifting her spear and watched the blood drip off it before tossing it away.
"I was looking…" Sayaka trailed off slightly. "… For you."
Before Kyoko could react a sharp kick to her stomach sent her flying across the alleyway. Cursing once again she flipped and slammed her foot into the wall, stopping her fall as she crouched against the ground.
"Not bad." Kyoko grumbled, standing up. A spear materialised in her hand and she spun it.
Sayaka stood once again, she held up her sword with both hands in front of her, a determined expression showing in her dark blue eyes. Blood stained her chin, cheek, torso and abdomen, but she stood, snapping her spine back into place with no look of pain whatsoever.
Kyoko frowned slightly at her opponents resolve. "Now what were you saying about looking for me?"
"Nothing." Sayaka lied, gripping her cutlass handle tighter. "You caught yourself off guard, that's how I kicked you."
"How can you get your spine back into place without having any pain huh?"
"I have learned to block the pain."
Kyoko scowled. What is she talking about? She thought. "Whatever." She gripped her spear as multiple copies of herself formed beside her. "You asked for a fight, you're getting one."
Sayaka smirked.
The sound of a single bullet piercing rock crashed throughout the area of the cell. Homura lunged towards the Reaper, pulling out a gun and firing at him, who dodged with ease.
Scowling, Homura jumped up, watching The Reaper with a sharp purple eye. A bow formed while a violet light sprung from it, Homura pulled back the string and let the arrow fly in the contorted sky.
In a flash of light a rain of arrows were sent down on the Incubator and the Reaper. Homura took cover by spreading her wings out around her, she watched as the Incubator was blown to bits by the falling arrows, but the Reaper was covered by a faint transparent force field, staring at Homura through his narrow eyes.
Homura fired another arrow at the Reaper, who batted it away. The dark haired girl sped up towards him, forming a gun while tossing the bow away. She fired a number of bullets at the Reaper, but he dodged in what looked like he was flash stepping.
Homura gasped. It's like my old power? Leaping up, a glowing arrow materialised in her other hand and she swung it at the Reaper like a sword.
Her arrow was stopped, The Reaper had blocked it with his hand as it was centimetres away from hitting his blue eye. Homura's breath hitched as The Reaper glared at her while her body was still.
"Enough." He growled.
A potent force pushed harshly against Homura's body, hurling her across the area in one sturdy stride. In a pained gasp, she hit something that caused the breath to be knocked out of her lungs.
She slumped against the ground, eyes wide. "What?" Homura felt around her, and her hand found an invisible wall behind her. "A barrier?"
The Reaper's eyes narrowed as Homura found her way to the barrier, he frowned. "She's found it. It's no surprise." He turned his head. "Incubator."
Kyubey came out behind him, eating his rotten remains. "We'll have to tell her soon, Reaper."
"I know, but she can't even land a scratch on me."
Meanwhile, Homura ran her hands over the barrier, watching the various colours that surrounded her contort constantly. Frowning, she faced The Reaper again, seeing him casually talking to Kyubey made her scowl in displeasure.
"Reaper!" She yelled, and The Reaper turned to her. Homura gestured to the invisible wall. "What is this?"
"It's a barrier." The Reaper answered casually.
"I can see that, why is it here? What did you do to the town?"
He narrowed his eyes again. "Didn't I say that we would explain after you beat me?"
"But that's…."
"Impossible?"
Homura clenched her fist. "Nobody is impossible to beat."
The Reaper smirked, his eyes flashing. "Not even the Law of Cycles?"
The dark haired girl found herself gasping. "I…"
"Lost for words?"
Unresponsive, Homura formed a bow in her right hand, the violet glow of it casting a ghastly shadow across her face.
The two leapt towards each other in battle, Homura aimed her bow, now with multiple arrows, and fired it at the Reaper, who blocked them with his arm. Homura cast-off the bow and willed a machine gun to materialize in her hand. She shot continuously at him, while the Reaper dodged with ease, and Homura jumped up. Suddenly her mind clicked.
He's hardly making any attempts to hit me? She narrowed her eyes as she thought. Does he want me to win?
Landing back down, Homura discarded her weapons, and sprinted towards the Reaper
The Reaper turned, unknown of her location; he looked around swiftly for any indication of where she was.
Homura quickly materialized a glowing violet arrow, and swung it.
Everything fell silent after that, a faint breeze whisked past the two. Homura was crouched, and held the very tip of the arrow to The Reaper's neck. A trickle of blood fell down the pale skin, and the Reaper's eyes closed.
Homura lowered her arrow when The Reaper stepped back, holding up his hands in defeat. "I'll tell you, fine."
"I know you let me win." Homura said bluntly, causing the Reaper to chuckle slightly. "I figured you would know that."
"Any idiot would figure that out, but why did you let me win?"
The Reaper's expression turned cold instantly, facing the stoic girl while she eyed him suspiciously. The black spiked hair fell around his face. "I need to tell you, so that this world will stay in balance."
Homura stood, her face stained in disbelief at what The Reaper had just said. "W-What?"
"If I don't tell you seen enough, this world is going to tear apart."
Homura held up her hands, as a gesture for him to stop. "Start from the start, why is this-." She gestured towards the sky and the land around her. "Like this?"
The Reaper sighed slightly. "The reason you were feeling an immense amount of pain just before, was because I was personally transporting you here. You cannot get out of this barrier."
"Why did you bring just me here?"
"I need to make sure that Miki Sayaka is preoccupied."
Homura narrowed her purple eyes. "What?"
"Miki Sayaka…" The Reaper paused. "… Has regained her memories."
Sayaka delivered strike after strike to Kyoko, who dodged them masterfully. Sneering, the redhead blocked Sayaka's next attack with a spear before kicking her in the chest. The bluenette skidded back a few feet, breathing deeply.
Sayaka's mind was clouded, visions raced through her head, her soul felt like it was being overwhelmed with memories and reminders.
I did want to look for Kyoko, she thought, lunging herself at the redhead again, cutlass armed at the ready. But why though?
Kyoko pushed her back quickly as her spear parted. Still holding the end, the redhead spun the long weapon around while walking towards Sayaka; the ground was being tore apart by the blade.
While Sayaka barely dodged the attacks, she glanced at Kyoko's expression. The top of her face was covered by a shadow, and her eyes were dark. She was not glaring or smirking, it was completely neutral.
While Sayaka was distracted, she was hit by flying rock, and was hurled into the wall. She hit a pipe, smashing it open and water sprayed out onto the bluenette.
Kyoko's spear movements calmed down and she strode towards Sayaka. "Out of my way." She stated darkly. "I need to find Mami and Homura."
Sayaka lay on the ground face down; her body was limp and ragged. Her clothes were torn and blood smeared her body. Her form fell up and down with the movements of her deep breaths.
Kyoko stared down at her opponent, almost in pity. "You shouldn't have come here." She turned away. "Goodbye, Sayaka."
Sayaka lifted her head from the ground slightly to glance at the redhead walking away from her. Her stride was strong, and her long hair batted sideways with each step.
With her hand moving on its own, she reached out and tenderly grabbed the edge of Kyoko's dress from behind.
Kyoko immediately stopped walking. "Sayaka..." She whispered, closing her eyes as her expression changed to a saddened frown.
Sayaka blinked slowly, not sure why the redhead wasn't shrugging her off. "I…" She said softly. "You…."
"Sayaka." Kyoko stated, making the bluenette look up fully, she lifted herself up and rested on one arm. Kyoko lowered her head, letting some of her red hair fall past her bare shoulders.
And then she said softly, in a kind tone. "I know you don't want to be alone."
Sayaka gasped suddenly at the words, her pupils dilated and a single tear fell from her eye. "I…"
Visions flashed through her head, her subconscious was interrupted by the pulse and racing of memories appearing in her mind one after the other.
"Kyoko…"
A redhead sitting in a praying position against the ground, her hair flowed along her back as she clasped the gem in her hands. After a spear lifted her up, she placed a light kiss on the gem, and handed it to the air.
"You…"
It smashed, and those words echoed in Sayaka's mind as her brain finally calmed.
'Don't worry Sayaka; I know it sucks to be alone. But don't worry; I'll be here for you, Sayaka.'
Sayaka froze instantly, her body became rigid and a gloved hand fell from the hem of the red dress. Her expression contorted into sadness, regret and unease, and she choked out a sob.
Kyoko flinched when she heard it, and she turned around slightly. "O-Oi." She stammered, turning fully. "What's wro- "
Kyoko gasped when arms were wrapped around her neck that pulled her close, the owner of those arms buried her head into Kyoko's shoulder.
The redhead felt like pushing her away, put paused when she heard Sayaka sob. "I'm sorry..." She said quietly, holding the embrace.
Sayaka's cape flowed beside her, and brushed against Kyoko's leg. She squeezed the redhead tight.
"What..." Kyoko said softly, her arms laid by her side. "… Are you sorry for?"
Wet tears fell onto Kyoko's bare shoulder as Sayaka cried. "I'm sorry for leaving you, I regret it so much."
"When did you leave me?"
"So many times… but…" Sayaka pulled away slightly so Kyoko could see her tear stricken face, a saddened expression was stained there, her bright azure eyes made holes through Kyoko's heart.
"You don't remember anything, do you?"
Kyoko flinched in Sayaka's hold. "What?"
"You don't remember…" The bluenette whimpered, tears falling from her eyes again. "… All those times you fought with me, the times you reached out to me but I just ignored you… believing that you had been through nothing.
"But that…was wrong." Sayaka's voice shook tremendously. "I can't believe I thought something so ridiculous."
Through all of those timelines, I could never understand her. She thought, sobbing. I always cast her off, she would sacrifice herself for me, and I would never know. She glanced up at the redhead, who was now wearing a worried expression. But now…
Sayaka brought a hand up and pulled a piece of Kyoko's dark crimson hair away from her eyes, and the redhead's breathing hitched.
In the middle of sobs, Sayaka smiled. "So we were able to meet again… in this world…"
Kyoko's eyes widened at that comment. "Sa-Sayaka."
Kyoko snapped her eyes open. Everything around her was twisting and turning, like passing dimensions. She spun her head in various directions. "What's happening?! Sayaka! Sayaka!"
"I'm right here."
Kyoko gasped to see Sayaka in front of her again. "You did it Kyoko." The bluenette' body was slowly dissolving in thin air. "You found a reason." Kyoko became horrified. "Sayaka! Don't go!"
Sayaka smiled warmly. "Don't worry dummy, I'll come back. Just wait okay?"
"You…" Kyoko's face became pained, and she embraced Sayaka as a single tear fell down her cheek. "… You idiot."
The two knelt down on the ground, still clasping each other. Kyoko dropped her head on Sayaka's shoulder and breathed heavily.
"What's wrong?" Sayaka asked softly.
"The battle we just had, you're stronger now, aren't you?"
The bluenette scowled slightly. "Of course I've gotten better, dummy." Kyoko chuckled.
The two remained in silence for a moment, and Kyoko lifted up her head and pulled away from Sayaka, although still holding her shoulders. "Sayaka." She said softly, and Sayaka glanced at her. "What is it?"
"When you came back to life…" Kyoko started. ".. I didn't know what to feel. Angry, shocked, or in disbelief. I didn't know how I would act around you. And when you didn't remember I…"
Sayaka looked concerned, and stroked Kyoko's hair. "Don't worry, it's fine. Covering up your emotions is one of the things you do best." She grinned.
Kyoko smiled slightly, and wrapped her arms around the bluenette's thin and bloodied body. The two were enjoying each other's company.
Standing from a tower, Tomoe Mami watched the scene from afar. A smile graced her thin lips.
"Those two…" She whispered to herself.
A sudden feeling overtook Mami's mind and she flinched. What? She turned, pulling the ribbon from her dress, a musket materialised her hand and she clasped it tight, her finger hovering over the trigger.
Reaper. Mami tried to send a telepathic message to him. Since he knows about magical girls, he might have that power. She thought to herself.
Tomoe Mami. A familiar voice echoed in her mind. Taken by surprise, Mami clenched her gun. What?
If you want to find out everything and save Akemi Homura, you need to come to where we are.
And where's that?
The Reaper was unresponsive, and Mami frowned.
Turning around, she took one step off the tower and took off at abnormal speed
A/N: This was my favourite chapter to write. Not because of the fights, they were the second hardest.
You know what was the hardest? Trying to not get Kyoko and Sayaka to kiss in last second to last scene! Kyosaya is my favourite pairing in the whole franchise of PMMM and I am a sucker for it.
I was originally planning to get the Reaper to explain everything in this chapter, but that would make the chapter too long, since there's a lot to explain.
In case you're wondering why the hell Mami didn't intervene in the Kyoko vs Sayaka fight since she was watching the entire time, it's just the rule of this chapter.
Having Mami in the KyoSaya moments spoil everything, it'd be just rules. I like Mami, but I wanted the two to be by themselves.
I forgot to mention Homura didn't I? Well she's basically a prisoner in that barrier until their 'plan' has succeeded. And there's gonna be something surprising later, so watch out for it.
I hope you enjoyed this chapter, reviews are welcome!
-Otaku4eva99