Chapter Eighteen- "Our saviour needs protectors"
The foggy sky was surrounded by the dark night. The cold air blended with the midnight blue sky, the city light detracted the stars brightness, and it was hard for a particular person to see them.
The night sky was like a navy blue blanket that covered the now changed Earth; it was different than last observed by the girl glancing up at it, the bright stars twinkled in all the right places, she looked past the buildings, and observed the stars in their full glory, the bright white light drifting off in numerous places.
A girl stood on the edge of a hill, the long strands of grass drifting around her snow cold bare legs. Her hands fell to her side, dropping her small glistening staff and landing next to her white ballet flats she wore, as her legs shook.
Her body was covered in a knee length silver dress, her light grey shoulder length hair covering her shoulders, which was coated in the dresses separate sleeves, puffy sleeves that led its way up to her elbows. Her light grey hair drifted in the faint breeze, the soft fringe covering one of her bright hazel eyes. She lifted her head and let a faint smile grace her slim and pale lips, and a tear slid down her cheek and fell off her chin. It fell on a star shaped navy blue gem that was encased on a bracelet, but the colour of the gem refused to grow darker, as the girl's grim looking smile still remained.
The faint sparkles fell around her, it was all that remained of her fallen comrades, that had disappeared since that last battle, wearing a faint but sad smile as tears fell down their flushed cheeks. The girl remembered their faces when they died, once their despair filled eyes closed, they wore a peaceful expression, like all their pain was finally over.
But the girl knew she was being selfish, even though she knew they were finally up in the heaven she has always believed, she still missed them, and yearned for them to come back, so she wouldn't be alone, ever again.
Looking up at the sky, glistening tears once again filled the girl's hazel eyes, and she took in the shining stars, and the midnight blue sky, the two contrasted darkness with light, despair with hope.
But then again, there were many stars, but they were small from the girl's eyes, if her vision blurred out, she would see hardly anything but the darkness of the night sky, a symbol of despair, and hopelessness in the face of death, and her fate of continuation.
But the girl knew that she wouldn't give up, holding a clenched hand to her chest, she breathed deeply, letting in the cold air, and once she let her lungs breathe out the air, wisps of cold air appeared from her lips, before disappearing. She smiled affectionately at the sky, and caressed the navy gem.
"The stars guide us through hope, so I will never let it down, Father."
Two girls stood, bewildered at the information that their companion had been telling them, their amber and crimson eyes widening, almost in disbelief.
"What?!" They exclaimed.
Taking in a deep breath, and sticking a finger in an ear, an irritated looking Homura replied. "Yes."
"He was planning on bringing down the Law of Cycles?!" The two exclaimed once again.
Homura shot another annoyed look. "Yes."
"Why didn't you stop him?!"
The dark girl now looked extremely vexed, and narrowed her eyes at last comment. "I was occupied."
Before Mami and Kyoko could have yet another chance at asking, or screaming at Homura to say what she was occupied on, she stopped them. "I was emotionally struggling at the time, I could also not do anything at the time."
Homura's mind drifted back to when she had lost it at the Reaper, her own scream echoed through her fragile mind hidden with a sheath of ice.
"YOU BASTAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRD!"
She stopped herself from shivering by clasping both of her hands and rubbing her silver ring. "I was a fool, I used up most of my energy that night."
Now calmed down, Kyoko and Mami sat back in the futuristic couches of Homura's apartment. Kyoko found a distraction by watching the pendulum swing back and forth, while Mami questioned Homura. "What did you use all that energy on? When we got back to you your Soul Gem was incredibly dark."
"I was battling with The Reaper, you know how powerful he is, and it took the drain out of me."
"But you're surely smart enough not to use most of your magic."
Homura frowned. She's right. "Didn't I say I was emotionally struggling? It was hard for me to focus."
"Emotionally?" Mami questioned, her eyebrows were furrowed. She has seen Homura let down shades of emotion before, anger, surprise, but not enough to make her lose focus. "Did he do something to you?"
"No." Homura answered instantly, she was speaking the half-truth. The Reaper did not do something to me, he talked me into it.
Judging by Mami's expression of sheer solemn disbelief, Homura could tell that she knew she was lying, but the blonde kept her silence.
"Shall I now tell you how the plan failed?" Homura asked, changing the silence into a conversation of meaning. Upon noticing Kyoko's distant expression, she glared daggers to the redhead.
As if she could feel the daggers, Kyoko jumped up, facing Homura. "W-What?"
"You were drifting off during the entire conversation." Homura said calmly, placing her partly shaking hands on top of the table in front of her. Kyoko noticed this and narrowed her eyes. "Sure."
"As you can expect, the plan was not foiled by me, as I was emotionally struggling." Her voice almost shook on the word 'struggling. "I was unable to do anything about it. And The Reaper was about to bring The Law of Cycles down from its higher place."
"How did he do that?" Mami asked.
"I'm not sure. He simply raised his hands, it seems like a space of the universe was opening for him."
"He must be pretty damn powerful." Kyoko said.
"As I was saying," Homura continued. "Along the way, something changed, he brought his hands down and closed that space, and he explained that he was backing out of the plan, he said it was bound to fail."
"The Reaper foiled his own plan?" Kyoko sputtered out in disbelief.
"Yes, after that he disappeared. Then Kyubey explained that since he backed of the plan, Shizuki Hitomi's wish was therefore counted as useless, I believe…" Homura trailed off, clenching a fist against the table. "… That both Shizuki Hitomi, and the creation of her wish, Miki Sayaka…. Died because of this."
Mami gasped, while Kyoko gritted her teeth in frustration. "Dammit Sayaka, she died because of a stupid reason like that… Fuck that Reaper."
Homura frowned. Sayaka had now died twice in this new world, or at least the other two thought so, and Kyoko was obviously emotionally affected heavily because of this, but Homura thought it was strange that Kyoko wasn't incredibly depressed over it. Did Miki-san say something to her?
"Is that all?" Mami broke the silence, and knocking Homura out of her thoughts.
"Yes." The dark haired girl stood up from the couch, and walked away from the two magical girls. Her silver ring turned into her Soul Gem, she observed it, checking it was a bright purple before turning it back, letting a relieved sigh fall loose from her lips. I'm glad those two had spare grief seeds on them. Homura thought.
Homura turned back to Mami and Kyoko. "I'll need you two to leave now, if that's okay."
The two sat up. "Where are you going?" Mami asked casually.
"I need to go out for a little while, to make something clear."
Kyoko eyed her suspiciously, before shrugging. "That's fine with me."
As Homura escorted the two out, she wondered what she was going to do with the current situation.
The city was vibrant. Cars were driving around at full speed, traffic lines moving in unison. Citizens talked cheerfully under the noon sun, casually strolling around as if they had forgotten about the incident a few days ago.
They have.
Homura strode through the crowds, her fringe covering her dark purple eyes. Turning a corner, she walked hurriedly down the steps of a bricked alleyway.
The Reaper must have erased their memories, which is the only logical explanation, I cannot have any more unanswered questions lying around for him to answer. I have to figure them out myself.
Homura finally found a place near the end of an alleyway, she rested her head against the brick wall.
"It's done." She said to herself.
Moving her head, Homura spotted a small radio near where she was standing. Walking over to it, she crouched down and turned it on, changing the radio station to Mitakihara city. The old looking radio picked up static before fading to a faint sound of people talking, and Homura could just pick it up.
"Today a missing person's report had been filed for Mitakihara Middle School student Shizuki Hitomi. It is unknown if she is dead or alive, but police are searching for her. If you happen to find her, call the police immediately."
Homura frowned, before sighing in relief as she switched the radio off and moved back to her old spot.
"Did you make that missing report file Homura?"
Flinching, Homura whirled around, she formed her Soul Gem and a gun formed out of it. Pointing it at where the voice had been heard, Homura spoke in a demanding tone. "Who's there?"
"It's me." A cheerful voice spoke, out of the shadows walked Kyubey, still wearing that same smile, he stared at Homura through its beady dark pink eyes.
Narrowing her eyes, Homura let her gun disappear and her ring form back onto her finger. "Incubator." She said. "What are you doing here?"
"I'm asking you a question Homura. Did you make that missing persons report for Shizuki Hitomi?"
Homura stayed silent, for a moment she considered what she would tell the alien, but then she realised it wouldn't do any harm. "Yes. I did."
"I see." Kyubey titled it's head. "Why didn't you just classify her as dead?"
"Deaths cannot be confirmed until the body is found."
"So Hitomi will always be counted as a missing person."
Homura paused in thought. This situation was familiar to her, after a magical girl died, their body disappeared, and they would forever be said as a missing person.
In a witches barrier. Homura mentally growled to herself. This is similar to before. The Magical Girls are not turning into witches, but they are said to be missing persons, just like before.
"Homura?" The Incubator seemed to notice her silence and walked closer, before sitting down. "Is something wrong?"
"I do not recall you for knowing the feeling of 'sympathy'."
"You are misusing your knowledge, this is not sympathy, I simply recognised that something was on your mind, and asked."
Homura narrowed her eyes. "Back on our subject before, what are you doing here?"
"I clearly came here to ask you if you filed that missing person's repo-"
"No." The stoic girl cut it off. "I mean what are you still doing in Mitakihara after The Reaper foiled your plan? Aren't you supposed to be looking for more girls to get into a contract?"
Kyubey blinked. "I am merely here because I feel the need to observe you, Tomoe Mami and Sakura Kyoko. I feel that you three have something planned for the Reaper."
Homura crossed her arms. "They are not planning something. I am."
"What do you mean by that?" The Incubator questioned casually.
"That is none of your concern." Homura said simply, looking beside her. "Now leave."
Taking her words to heart, Kyubey walked off back into the darkness, leaving Homura to think.
What am I planning anyway? Did I just say that to it without thinking? She narrowed her eyes. Or did I mean it?
"Shizuki Hitomi has been claimed missing, I'm sure you classmates will help find her." Kazuko-sensei said almost grimly.
Homura glanced back at Hitomi's empty seat, it was behind Sayaka's and another student took Madoka's spot.
They're gone. Homura thought grimly. I always saw those three hanging out together, but now… Pushing the uninviting thought away, she faced the class, thinking the entire time of what to do.
Word spread throughout the school, yet another case of missing person since Sayaka died. Mami and Kyoko sat through class thinking why that that happened.
Mami. Kyoko thought to her companion, who eventually gave up on her work, and spoke back.
What is it?
Don't you think Homura is acting a bit strange lately?
Mami paused before answering. A little. How so?
She's been drifting off a lot, she's thinking all the time.
Well, I suppose a lot of things happened to her in her confrontation with The Reaper.
Kyoko frowned. A lot of things happened to me and I haven't been that disturbed.
Really? Mami let a smile pass over her lips. Even after you made up with Miki-san?
What do you-?
I saw everything Kyoko.
Kyoko's cheeks immediately flared up. How?!
I was chasing after Miki-san, and I eventually lost her, but I found her when she was confronting you.
The redhead gulped, almost nervously. Did you… hear anything?
No. I was too far away.
Kyoko breathed a sigh of relief.
Is that a good thing?
What's up with you? You sound so smug.
I do? Mami sounded generally surprised in Kyoko's mind.
Yeah. You do.
Silence occupied the two of them, until Kyoko spoke up.
Mami.
Yes?
Can I talk to you out on the roof during lunch?
Sure. I have nothing better to do.
Thanks.
And with that comment, the conversation was closed for the time being.
The rooftop was a pure white colour. A large building towered over the entrance to the large courtyard. It was lined with tall and white extravagant fences. Doves flew past the two girls sitting ever so casually on the two seater in the middle of the courtyard.
Kyoko informally chucked pieces of chicken into her mouth, not bothering to pick up the chopsticks that laid beside her companion. Mami ate her lunch politely, while eying Kyoko as an awkward silence filled the already tense air.
"So," Mami said after finishing her meal, she dabbed her mouth with a napkin before facing Kyoko. "What did you want to talk about?"
Kyoko glanced over at the blonde from the side, a piece of chicken hanging from her fingers as she was in mid motion to drop it straight into her mouth.
"What?"
Mami sighed. "You brought me to talk up here, because you needed something to talk about."
"Oh." Kyoko said casually, dropping the piece of chicken into her mouth and chewing it messily. "That." Her voice was muffled.
Mami felt like raising an eyebrow at how casual the redhead was being, she had a feeling that it was serious, and by her companion's actions, and the fact that she was sweating slightly, that she was a little nervous because of this conversation.
"You can tell me you know." Mami did her best to sound comforting, but she was quite frustrated at Kyoko's lack of a sincere manner in such a somewhat 'serious' conversation, or that's what Mami thought it was anyway.
"I know." Kyoko immediately stopped eating the chicken, and put her hands behind her head, her expression was somber.
"What is it then?"
"… It's about what Sayaka said to me when we made up."
Mami's eyes widened slightly, before giving off a calm tone of understanding, her hands that rested in her lap started to shake to some extent. "I see." She paused. "Go on."
"Sayaka wanted me to fight her, so I did."
Mami felt like making a stern scolding to her on how to not pick fights, but she knew that Sayaka was actually the one who asked, and Kyoko probably wasn't in the best state to get a scolding at this time.
Noticing Mami's silence, Kyoko went on. "After I bet her, I think I said something that hurt her, or something. I noticed that something was wrong and then she hugged me, she was apologising over and over again. She said she regretted leaving me, and that she was wrong, and then she said that I didn't remember anything."
Mami was intrigued by Kyoko's words, and her telling of Sayaka's actions, she never realised the two were so close. But then again she realised there a few things that made her think a little.
She must have regretted leaving Kyoko when Sayaka died, but she didn't… do it on purpose. Did she?
She thought, and also wondered about the subject of Kyoko not remembering anything, it seemed to be something recurring a lot. The Reaper and Homura know a lot more than they let on, and Sayaka seemed to know more as well. With a gesture, she motioned for Kyoko to go on, and she nodded.
"Sayaka said, that I didn't remember all those times we fought and the times I apparently reached out to her but she pushed me away." Kyoko was honestly surprised with how much she remembered. "And then…" Upon remembering, she lowered her head, and her eyes were cast over. "She said that she was glad we could meet again, in this world."
Gasping, Mami touched one of Kyoko's hands in comfort, and the redhead looked up at her, noticing her concerned expression and worry in her amber eyes.
"So… she remembered?" Mami asked softly, and Kyoko nodded, she blonde's eyes softened, in which Kyoko recognised as pity, and she looked away.
"We had a reconcile, I complimented her, saying she was stronger, and I told her that I didn't know how to act when she came back to life."
Mami didn't know what to think, concerned or pitiful for the saddened redhead. She knew that Kyoko hated pity, so she decided that all that Kyoko needed right now was understanding and comfort. She squeezed her hand in ease, but that did not change the redhead's state as she continued.
"Later… she said she couldn't be with me anymore."
Mami gasped. "No…"
"Sayaka told me that The Reaper's plan had failed, and she was dying. She demanded to me so that I don't die quickly, and asked me if I could not be sad over her death, because she doesn't want me upset."
Mami smiled warmly at Kyoko's words, whatever Sayaka had said, it affected the redhead greatly.
"I wondered why you weren't depressed." Mami said softly, and Kyoko glanced up at her.
"What?"
"I saw the whole thing, and it was emotional, but I didn't see when she died, and I wondered why you wouldn't have been upset because of it, and you decided to cover it." She paused, and smiled. "For her sake."
Kyoko's eyes widened, before softening. "Yeah. I guess you're right."
"I hope this has helped you get your feelings out."
"It has." Kyoko pulled her hands behind her head again, and let her expression fade into a peaceful smile. "Thanks Mami."
Mami smiled. "No, thank you for telling me."
The two glanced up at the bright blue sky, and watched the wind fly by.
Homura's dark purple eyes narrowed as she aimed for her target. As she pulled the trigger, she sent the bullet through the wall of her apartment.
First Homura had been shooting out of training, but after a couple of hours, it had become an effort of sheer frustration, she moved from the shooting grounds to her home, and began shooting there simply because she needed to take out her frustration on something she hated.
Warplurgisnaucht for example.
Although Homura had lost nearly all her pictures and articles of the legendary witch, she discovered some images and copied them. They were all now in frames, and floating around the wall next to the swinging pendulum. Homura used them as target practise.
"Stupid fucking Warplurgisnaucht." She muttered, swearing to herself. Homura felt like a child, when she didn't get something she had thrown a tantrum and taken it out on something she hated.
Warplurgisnaucht was something of her sworn enemy through each timeline she had gone through, it always stopped her from achieving her goal, and she could never beat it, so matter how many times she tried.
So Madoka had to save her. Again.
Homura wondered about her wish, although it was still faint, she remembered wishing to become someone strong enough to protect her. And even then, I never did. She thought bitterly, having another bullet slam into the same picture of Warplurgisnaucht, creating a bullet mark in the picture and the wall.
Maybe I changed because I was sick of being saved. She paused. Or maybe it was because I was sick of being looked down upon. Homura narrowed her eyes at the very thought of it. No. I changed to protect Madoka, and that's it.
Coming to a realisation, Homura let her finger shake over the trigger, as a thought struck her.
If I can't save Madoka anymore, then why am I still acting like this?
She shook the thought away, and pulled the trigger as hard as she could, the bullet sound resonating in her ears. "I changed for survival, and I'll keep it that way."
Next Homura wondered why she was frustrated. She was frustrated, and mostly furious, over several things. Nothing made sense in the new world, and that annoyed her to no end. She couldn't predict what was coming, and that bothered her.
Also, she was frustrated because of the thing that she had that was constantly on her mind since The Reaper's plan, she didn't know what it was. It had been bugging her for a long time, and she just wanted to figure it out.
Cocking her second gun, she aimed both and different pictures, and shot at the same time.
Memories of something echoed in her mind, she had decided something but she didn't know what is was.
"I have decided something, and you cannot change it."
"They are not planning something. I am."
Homura grit her teeth together in irritation, and fell out of focus, one of her bullets slamming into a nearby lamp. "Dammit." She muttered.
What is this? Ever since my confrontation with The Reaper, I felt like I have been planning something for all this time, but what was it? I was so angry then, I felt like he needed to be taught a lesson, of his own. If he kept on messing with Madoka, and trying to make her sacrifice meaningless. Then we need…
Homura's eyes widened as she realised it, dropping her guns out of her now limp hands. After a moment of silence, letting the ring of bullets hum through her ears, her lips curled into a smile, and her expression took on a determined aura.
She sent her comrades a message via telepathy.
Tomoe-san. Kyoko.
What is it? Mami answered.
Come to my flat, I need to discuss something urgent.
Homura formed a bow and arrow from her soul gem, and aimed it at the last floating Warplurgisnaucht picture. This time not out of frustration, but out of triumph.
"Finally." She said, pulling back the string "I finally know what to do now!"
And with that, she let the arrow fly.
Mami wasn't sure why Homura called her and Kyoko to her place, it seemed strange to her. She knew that it wasn't irregular, many serious conversations were held between the three.
But something about the way Homura had said it just concerned her slightly.
Kyoko seemed to notice her unsure looking expression and glanced at her through her eye, her hands held behind her head. "What's up?"
Mami looked at Kyoko, her eyebrows were furrowed. "Did Akemi-san sound a little… off to you?"
Kyoko chuckled. "Yeah, she sounded cheerful." Her reaction cause Mami to frown, unamused.
"That's not what I mean."
"What do you mean then?"
"Is it weird when I say… she sounded content?"
Kyoko raised an eyebrow. "You must be sure as hell observant to notice that in a couple of sentences."
Mami glared. "Will you take this seriously? Do you think something is wrong?"
"Totally, bad things happen whenever Homura is happy."
The blonde eventually gave up, sighing as a sign of the conversation finishing. "I don't think Akemi-san will like you jesting about something like this, she said it was urgent."
"Everything with Homura is urgent." Kyoko joked.
Once the two reached Homura's apartment, and Homura let them inside.
The two sweat dropped immediately once they noticed the many holes were in her walls, and how many pictures were scattered across the ground.
"W-What were you doing?" Mami stammered.
"Target practise." Homura answered simply, sorting the pictures into a pile.
Kyoko ignored them. "So what was the 'urgent' thing you needed to talk about?"
The stoic girl did not frown, much to Kyoko's surprise, as she considered that her normal reaction. Homura's expression was neutral, and it looked like she wasn't stressed at all. "Sit down please, you two." She said politely.
Kyoko and Mami obeyed, sitting down across from each other on the circular couch. Eventually, Homura sat down as well, her eyes closed. When she opened them, her eyes were narrowed and set off something off a determined vibe.
"I need to talk about our conflict with the Reaper."
Mami raised an eyebrow. "What of it?"
"Our relationship with him is getting rather clashed, and I believe something must be done about it."
Kyoko scoffed mockingly. "You think? I thought you would have done something about it by now."
Homura narrowed her eyes in annoyance. "Something has been on my mind lately, but I didn't realise it until today."
"And what's that?" Mami asked, fully intent of knowing what her comrade was planning, she demanded a thorough explanation.
"I believe.." Homura paused, her eyes softening in thought . "That The Reaper has done too much for his own good. I have faith in the concept of him imprisoning many other Magical Girls inside their Soul Gems, and he has also attempted to tear this world apart in order to bring down the Law of Cycles, which has saved us from our previous terrors."
Previous terrors? Mami thought, glaring at her comrade in suspicion. What does she mean?
"Therefore, I think something should be done about it." Homura finished.
"I agree." Kyoko stated. "It's sinful what he has done."
The other two stared at her, and Kyoko raised her hands in innocence. "What? I was formerly a Christian, 'whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of an eternal sin'. People who compare themselves to God even if they are humans is sinful, and stands against everything my father once taught for."
"But you have seen how much power The Reaper has right?" Mami asked sternly. "I believe he has nearly enough power to overcome God, as he is the son of the Grim Reaper."
Kyoko frowned. "I guess you're right."
"Anyway." Homura continued. "He has gone too far, trying to bring down the very concept of what saved us, our hope, and he needs to be punished. Our saviour needs protectors."
"Saviour?" Mami questioned. "What do you mean?"
"Our Saviour saved us from a fate of eternal despair, a wish without meaning, a sacrifice without significance. We finally have a meaning to be magical girls, and I will not let The Reaper stop us."
Mami and Kyoko listened to Homura's words, half of them were intrigued, and believed fully in what she was saying, but another half was confused and doubtful as Homura continued.
"So, I hope you'll help me in my goal, because I cannot do this without relying on other people."
There. She said it. Homura thought she'd never outright say again that she needed other people, especially after she confirmed to herself that she would never rely on others ever again. But she had realised that throughout all of her life in the new world, she had to rely on Kyoko and Mami to not go insane from the pressure and sadness, also to live with the loneliness, and that' s what kept her on.
"What's your goal?" Kyoko asked, slightly surprised at Homura saying what she said, as her companion closed her eyes
"As of this moment…" Homura snapped open her eyes, her expression was nothing but willpower as a fire lit inside her eyes, melting the ice inside, but the water of the glacier did not put out the fire, it stayed burning still on.
"I declare war against The Reaper."
A/N: Ohhh Cliff-hanger again.
Remember how I said in the last chapter things would change in this chapter, well here you go.
I feel like I've finally made some development into Homura's character, her frustration over the world, but she still holds onto the hope.
Now I need to make an important announcement. Because I'm (not deliberately) a cruel person, the next couple of chapters are going to be an interlude of a plot hole I now don't have any space to fill.
It's the plot hole that concerns the scratched note on the desk, with Kyoko and the mystery person. By the time I realised that I had left this out, I had already planned this chapter and the outcome. So I decided to make it an interlude.
Also, it's written entirely by my sister BrokenAngel19, who insisted she wanted too. But don't worry, she's a better writer than me so you'll see better quality in this fanfiction from the interlude.
Oh and that OC in the beginning, she still remains a secret!
On a final note, I might not be able to update for a while, I need to practise for something school related, and school is starting soon. I also might not have much access to the my main source for a while.
See you next chapter!
-Otaku4eva99