A/N: I think – according to the publishing date on the summary – that it's over a year since I started this fanfic! This is weird because it hasn't felt like that long XD, but I have a NEW chapter (gasp) for your 33 favouriters and 43 followers to celebrate the 1 year anniversary of FAAD!
Now, ONWARDS!
Chapter 24- "They're precious to me."
"Daddy!" A little girl cried out happily, her silver pigtails bobbed up and down as she jumped.
A young looking man with dark brown hair glanced at the little girl. "What is it?"
The girl raised her hand and pointed to an ice cream truck across the street. "Can I have an ice cream Daddy?"
The man smiled. "Of course." He grabbed onto her small hand and squeezed it. "Hold my hand as we cross the road darling."
The silver haired girl nodded and squeezed her father's hand as they walked across the road.
As the two reached the ice cream truck the man let go of the little girl's hand and she felt a particular warmth leave it. But she was too distracted to focus on it.
The little girl giggled happily when she saw a woman with kind eyes smiling at her through the window of the van, she wore a white uniform and hat.
"Daddy Daddy!"
The girl's father walked up to the counter and the woman greeted him.
"Hello, how are you today?"
"I'm fine thanks, you?"
"Good thank you, is there something you want today?"
"Just something for my daughter." The dark haired man faced the little girl. "What flavour would you like dear?"
The girl grabbed onto the counter and boosted herself up; she glanced at the range of flavours before looking at her father again.
"I want vanilla Daddy!"
Her father smiled. "Colour of the stars right? Great choice." He faced the kind looking woman and made the order.
Within a matter of minutes there was a single scoop vanilla ice cream in her grasp. The little girl's hazel eyes were bright with happiness against her pale skin. She stared at the ice cream as she crossed the road again with her father.
"Thanks Daddy!" The silver haired girl said, licking the ice cream cheerfully.
"It's no problem." Her father said, ruffling her hair.
While she was eating, her father was gazing down at her like a god, with kind and protective eyes.
"Ah!" The girl cried out as the ice cream dropped to the ground, the white substance being coated with dirt from the pavement. "No…" Tears welled up in her hazel eyes as she sobbed hard.
"I'm sorry… Daddy…"
The man knelt down and put a hand on her shoulder, making her glance up at him through tear filled eyes.
"It's alright darling, it doesn't matter." He paused. "But…"
The air around them turned cold, and the bright sky turned dark with black storm clouds. A shiver ran down the girl's spine.
"Daddy?"
The man stood as tears fell from his eyes.
"Why… would you do something like that to me?"
In an instant a lightning bolt struck, and the girl's father's body was sliced in half.
And as blood splattered across her face, the girl screamed.
Hazel eyes snapped open, and Hoshi sat up in bed quickly in a swift movement. Frozen in place, the silver haired girl clasped the doona of her bed with shaking hands, her breath shuddering as sweat dripped down her neck.
Taking deep breaths, Hoshi put her face in her hands and arched her back forwards. She wiped her pale face by moving her hands upwards which then ended up with her fingers being run through her hair.
Hoshi's dry throat took in pained gasps and she blinked continuously to get the tears from her eyes to disappear.
"I can't cry… I'll be weak." Hoshi choked out, her voice was thick and filled with sadness. Her throat started to ache from her holding back her tears until finally she let out a few sobs. In a matter of seconds she was sobbing hard until it was almost hysterical, she held her knees to her chest and buried her face in the blanket. Hoshi let the blanket be soaked with her tears as she cried.
"Hoshi?"
Recognising the voice, Hoshi's eyes opened and her breath halted. She regained her composure and cleared her throat with a quiet cough before she swallowed. I hope she didn't hear any of it…
"Come in Mother."
The door creaked as it opened slowly. Aoi stood there with a hand to her chest, her expression was worried.
"What's wrong Hoshi?"
Dammit, she heard.
"Nothing's wrong." Hoshi lied.
Aoi walked over and sat on the bed; she placed a hand on her daughters head and stroked her silver hair. "You can tell me dear, I'll be here for you."
Hearing those words, Hoshi felt like jumping into her mother's arms and crying until there were no tears left to shed, but she couldn't do that.
I guess I could tell the half-truth…
"I had a bad dream…"
"About what?" Aoi asked.
"… It was about Father…"
Hoshi's mother's eyes softened in empathy. "Oh darling, it wasn't your fault that he passed away…"
"I know that."
Aoi blinked. "But- I thought that you blamed yourself…"
Hoshi hugged the blankets tighter. "No, it's about something else…"
Honestly, Mami had always never been fond of waking up in the morning. Falling asleep perhaps, but not waking. Of course she knew that most people didn't either, but she had this strange feeling about it. The way her amber eyes softly opened and light streamed into them, causing her to squint as she adjusted made a feeling that was familiar to dread stir up in her stomach.
Mami knew – out of all odds – that she had another day forced to live until she was able to fall asleep again.
Mami didn't feel suicidal, but she knew that she had to get up and fight for others. This wasn't a bad thing and she never got tired of it. It gave her a good feeling in fact. It was just getting up and doing it, because once it was done she felt much better. Sometimes Mami felt that there were some days she needed to just stay in bed.
But she needed to do things. Be a magical girl. Fight Wraiths. Be a role model to her pupil's magical girl wise and school wise as well.
Mami had felt particularly bad this morning as well, as Kyoko had woken her up. It was usually vice-versa, but she had a late night. And especially after the events of the last couple of days, she didn't feel like getting up and being happy. Because of course she needed to process the information and meet the new magical girl and-
Wait. A new Magical Girl?
"Musoka-san!" Mami shouted with a jerked reaction. After she had sat up in a snapping fashion her bouncing curls fell over her shoulder. Her amber eyes were widened as she remembered what happened.
Beside her, Kyoko had drawn back her hand when she was startled. But now an eyebrow was raised in confusion. "Haa? Geez Mami, don't be so damn stressed."
Catching her breath, Mami sighed as she held a hand to her chest and smiled. "I'm sorry Kyoko, I just remembered something."
Kyoko rolled her eyes and sat on the side of Mami's bed. She took out a piece of old pocky and bit into it harshly, grinding her teeth together. "You mean that Hoshi girl? She's pretty weird."
The smile slipped off Mami's face and was quickly replaced with a frown of reminiscence, her lips opened slightly as if to say something but she quickly closed it back up again. Her eyelids lowered and her eyebrows furrowed together, almost in regret. "Her personality changed so quickly, it was strange."
"Yep. One minute stoic, next minute cheerful. Weird alright." Kyoko's gazes lowered to the blankets as she listened to Mami speak with her eyebrows furrowed.
"That smile though…" Mami frowned.
"It might not be noticeable by normal eyes, but for us it was obvious that those smiles for fake."
"Yes… Musoka-san must have been through a lot to end up like that."
Kyoko retraced the blonde's words and blinked, she looked up at Mami with curious eyes. Like you? She thought as her mouth opened, but as she took a second to realise what she was about to say she closed her mouth again, taking another bite of her pocky.
"… Yeah."
The sun shone through the partly opened beige curtains, coating the kitchen in a dim light that was bright yet small. The light contrasted with a girl who was standing near at the corner of the room, her back leaning against the wall. Her dark hair drifting against her forehead and above her purple narrowed eyes.
Homura lifted her head slightly which caused her to squint her eyes against the light. Her eyelids lowered softly to the point where she could hardly think anything. She ran a hand through her hair in thought as her mind focussed on different things than the sun.
"We're travelling for very important reasons, involving magical girls. If we offer something to you, will you accept?"
"Not until I know what it is of course. The guidelines are important too. If I don't ask if anything harsh comes with the price, I might get hit with it."
Homura clenched her fist slightly, her fingers curling to her palm and her nails digging into her skin. "Did I really sound like the Incubator?" She whispered to herself, her voice neutral.
Her mind switched to the magical girl she had met last night. Musoka Hoshi. Apparently her mother was angry with her about leaving every night to go and hunt wraiths. And that was normal but – was that bad enough to make Hoshi give fake smiles?
Homura didn't think it was possible in a way. But then again some of her smiles were fakery…
Shaking her head, Homura swapped her thoughts to the matter at hand. The War. Due to the Reaper's powers, Homura assumed that he figured out about the war already, and she hoped that he didn't know the conclusion. Something about that mysterious and cliché man who claimed he was born a reality warper bothered her. So her pressure of actually declaring the war to him was lifted.
But the other thing she was worried about was actually finding magical girls who would help them with fighting the Reaper. First she had to find them, get them to talk to her, Mami and Kyoko without starting a territory war. Then the pressure of telling them her past so they actually could understand why the Reaper needed to be brought down, and hoping that they believe her. Then the hardest part was convincing them to risk their lives to fight in a war that – if they won – would end in nothing benefitting them except for the fact that they had to keep fighting wraiths.
But it was better than falling into despair and turning into witches right? Right?
Sighing, Homura crossed her arms and leant her head backwards. She closed her eyes so that the light hit her eyelids, then she took a single step forward she was eventually pacing the kitchen in thought.
"I'll have to tell Musoka Hoshi my past, won't I?"
As the words slipped from her lips, Homura opened her eyes to see the fluffy clouds that floated in the bright blue sky like they were hanging off a thin thread of silver string. As the vision reflected off her eyes, Homura was not overly amazed by the sight of day and closed her eyes again. She held a hand to her chin and turned in a swift movement, only to be surprised when she saw Mami standing in the doorway.
"Good morning Akemi-san."
Homura lowered her arms to her side and bowed her head in greeting. "Good morning Tomoe-san, did you sleep well?"
"Fine, thank you." Mami smiled before walking over to the bench. She reached for a teabag but her hand fell limp once her fingers brushed it. Homura felt a pang of something resembling concern when Mami placed her head in her hands and exhaled in a tired voice.
"Are you okay Tomoe-san?" Homura asked, her gaze running over the dark bags under the usually cheerful blonde's eyes. "Did you really sleep well?"
Mami lifted her head and smiled wearily at the dark haired girl. "I really did, but-just…" The smile disappeared as she turned her head back to the bench and took her face in her hands, running her fingers down her face in an expression of exhaustion until they were cupped on the edge of the bench, a sigh accompanied that action. "You know, with everything that's happened…"
Homura's eyes softened. "I understand, everything that's happened since we've been here is ungodly but-"
"I didn't mean that." Mami interrupted. "I meant everything that's happened. The incident with Kyoko and her soul gem, with Miki-san coming back to life then disappearing with the Reaper trying to bring down Kaname-san, and now we're in a war. I've learnt about your past and about witches. And all that…" The blonde sighed, her eyebrows furrowing. "… Is hard to process."
Homura closed her eyes, feeling calm yet conflicted. Making sure not to look worried, she opened her eyes to Mami. "So it's finally gotten to you." She paused. "What about Sakura-san?"
Mami blinked, her eyes clearing as she turned her head to Homura in curiosity. "'Sakura-san?'" She repeated. "You're not calling her by her first name?"
Homura's eyes widened slightly. "I…" She turned her head away from Mami, her fringe falling over her eyes.
For a moment Mami looked surprised. But that wonder was quickly replaced with a warm and understanding smile. "Do you want to distance her after the recent incident that happened due to your misunderstanding?"
Homura felt a blush creep up onto her face at the very comment; she knew that trying to hide it would make the fact that she was embarrassed more obvious. And she could feel the heat emitting from her face like an oven so she knew she couldn't stop it. "No… I-"
"It doesn't matter Akemi-san. I'm sure Kyoko understands that you thought it was Kaname-san and that it was an accident. She'll most likely wave it out of the way like a slap on the wrist, that's just the person she is. There's no need to be embarrassed. But I understand that you can't help it, paranoia is a powerful thing."
Homura glared at the blonde through the rage of red on her face. But eventually the warmth faded away and the calmness appeared again. "So I should call her Kyoko?"
Mami smiled. "Of course. She told she doesn't like to be called 'Sakura-san', so please call her by her first name."
Homura didn't respond except for a nod of the head. And for a moment everything was silent. A faint breeze drifted into the room, causing Mami's hair to blow slightly to the side along with her own. And as the sun went behind the clouds Homura was reminded of the event a couple of nights ago, the battle that made dread churn in her stomach.
"I need to change the subject to something more serious though Akemi-san."
Homura lifted her head to see that Mami's expression had changed. Her eyelids were lowered and that previous warm and motherly smile had disappeared from her face. Her eyes gave off an expression of seriousness with a single part of bitterness that was so small it was traced like a stroke of a tiny paintbrush that was only white against the amber pools.
"You're planning to get Musoka-san to join us in this war aren't you?"
Homura didn't hesitate and nodded, her purple eyes giving off determination and an overall stern aura.
"And do you know what that means?"
"When she comes over here today, I will have to tell her about the previous world and the witches."
Mami closed her eyes and her eyebrows furrowed with the new memory resurfacing once again. "Yes, that…" Once she opened her eyes, they were staring right into Homura's. "Are you okay with it?"
Homura nodded. "As long as the Reaper is defeated, I don't care about my personal worries."
Mami narrowed her eyes. "You know Akemi-san, I've been thinking."
"About what?"
"You're willing to sacrifice your feelings, your unknown emotion similar to happiness and your own sense of self in order to keep Kaname-san from being overruled. Knowing you, you would never be that selfless, is there a reason behind this, your own desires?"
Homura hesitated, and as she moved a pair of shadows formed under her eyes. "Yes. I want to put Madoka's safety before my own."
"That's your desire?" Mami's eyes narrowed further in accusation. "But why would you do that? There has to be a reason behind such self-sacrificing such as thi-"
"Because I knew someone who sacrificed their existence for others."
The room grew silent once again; the curtains blew to the side and brushed a spare space of light closed. As Mami watched Homura, she could almost feel the latter's eyes glowing with determination.
Eventually Mami's expression calmed in acceptance. "I guess you're right. Of course, who wouldn't sacrifice something for the one you care about most?" She smiled. "If I had somebody I cared about most I would surely sacrifice myself for them."
Homura momentarily looked surprised before her expression falling into a small sympathetic and empathetic smile. "But you have Kyoko don't you? You care about her very much."
Mami closed her eyes and smiled softly. "Of course I care for her very much. But I would be sure that the one I care about most is I…" Her smile disappeared. "… Because I wasted my wish on myself…"
Homura's smile disappeared as well, and that feeling that resembled concern fluttered in her stomach again. "Tomoe-san…"
"But it's okay." Mami smiled, a hand reaching up to wipe a single tear from her eye. "I've gotten over that."
You're lying. Homura thought, but not telepathically as she blinked slowly. After another moment of silence she spoke up again.
"Now, about how we're going to tell her…"
"Where are they again?"
In the bright afternoon in the bustling city of Tokyo, Hoshi had gotten herself lost. The skyscrapers and streets all looked the same to her, and the path always seemed to lead only one way. Hoshi wondered why didn't have a GPS or something with her.
Hoshi stood on the familiar bridge where she was yesterday when she caught the wraiths. Going on her toes, Hoshi leaned over to look at the water. A few strands of her silver hair fell in front of her face, and with a swift movement she tucked them uncomfortably behind her ears. She was not at all fazed by how different the river looked in the day, how beautiful it was seeing different shades of blue hit the pebbles in a rushing motion and the way the water sparkled when the sun reflected off it.
Lowering her eyelids, it gave her dark hazel eyes a less widened look as she gazed out into the river. She was not transfixed but had this feeling that she couldn't move, like beautiful things couldn't faze her anymore.
Finally snapping away from the water, she clenched her fingers around a map she didn't know she was carrying and leant away from the edge. Hoshi sighed. The last time I saw them they were near this bridge, so they must be this way… She let her memories lead her as she walked off the bridge and up the pathway.
Hoshi took in the scenery, watching the leaves on the trees float by on the thick brown branches as the wind picked up. Her hair blew out of her face and she kept her eyes on the map. She ignored the way her dull eyes stung when the wind got in and kept walking, her footsteps seemed to echo in her ears whenever the sneakers hit the ground. While Hoshi gripped the map tighter she caught sight of the ring on her finger. It glinted silver when the light hit it and held a midnight gem inside, and if she turned it she could see her name written in black runes.
"What is that Hoshi?"
"Mother! Um- this is a ring that I got from a friend of mine."
"I was going to say… it's gorgeous!"
"Really? We-well I think so too…"
"What does the writing say?"
"It says my name in a different language."
"That's so pretty! I'm guessing you got it from one of those racks in the store."
"Yes, I don't like it very much though..."
Hoshi closed her eyes and halted in her steps. The breeze drifted her hair backwards so that both of her eyes could be seen. The brightness that was once stored in there with so much light had been hidden away, and was now covered over with a thick layer of darkness which made them seem dull and cold to the human eye. Hoshi remembered the time that her Mother had asked her about it, and that she'd gotten contacts. She had replied – not even trying to keep a fake smile – tiredly that that wasn't it.
She only hoped that her fake smiles were not easily seen by her Mother.
Hoshi sighed again, lowering her eyelids and running a hand through her fringe to keep it in place over one eye. I need to stop thinking about it; if I keep thinking then it'll become more obvious.
In a few moments she found her feet hitting grass again. Hoshi looked up from the map, loosening the collar of her top and the breeze wandered past her neck and down her waist. Before her was a familiar building which had a sign that read 'Tokyo Motel'.
Hoshi felt the sudden urge to smile in satisfaction, but she couldn't quirk the corners of her pale lips up. The silver haired girl knew that it must have looked lopsided so she left it to fall. With a completely neutral expression she muttered to herself.
"I'm here."
Knock! Knock!
Kyoko's ears perked up at the sound. She sunk her teeth into an apple and lazily lolled her head back while she leaned backwards on the chair, her feet resting cross-legged on the dining table.
"She's here!"
An almighty crash sounded from the kitchen and Kyoko winced. She heard Mami cry out in surprise and her footsteps coming closer to the dining room.
Out of nowhere, Homura emerged from the corridor beside Kyoko. This caused the redhead to nearly fall off the chair in shock.
"How'd you get here?!"
Homura's expression was neutral. "You've asked me that question too many times…" She paused, "…Kyoko."
Kyoko raised an eyebrow in confusion. "Haa? Whaddya me-"
"Hello?" Came a muffled and familiar voice from the front of the room. "It's Musoka Hoshi."
"Hold on Musoka-san!" Mami yelled from the kitchen. "I'm coming!"
"What's she been doing?" Kyoko whispered.
"Planning weapon storage." Homura replied.
"And you've been helping how?"
"With the weapons."
Kyoko rolled her eyes and then winced again when she heard Mami yell.
"Please don't go-"
"The doors open!" Kyoko interrupted, smirking. Now Homura rolled her eyes.
The scrambling of doorknobs came muffled from their side of the door, and Homura had the urge to open the door for the girl, but she wanted to not look desperate for all that's worth.
In a few moments of scuffling and footsteps the door flung wide open and a girl stumbled inside. Her hazel eyes were widened in surprise and her short silver hair was out of place. Clearing her throat, Hoshi straightened herself up and flattened her hair. After a moment of silence she took a deep breath and smiled.
"I'm sorry for intruding!"
Kyoko's eyes widened and she faced away, her teeth grinding together as she spoke out. "It's nothing."
Homura walked up to Hoshi and bowed in greeting. "Good afternoon Musoka-san, I apologise about Tomoe-san, she's been stressed."
"Oh it's okay!" Hoshi waved it off cheerfully, beaming at the stoic magical girl. "Akemi Homura-san right? It's nice to meet you."
Homura frowned. "It's nice to meet you as well Musoka Hoshi-san."
Hoshi walked over to Kyoko, grinning. "Sakura Kyoko-san, it's nice to meet you."
Kyoko suddenly shot up, the chair clattered to the ground and Hoshi's smile disappeared in a form of surprise when the redhead glared at her furiously with an irate glint in her eyes.
"Shut up." Kyoko growled.
Hoshi's eyebrows furrowed together in confusion and hurt. "Oh- I'm sorry, but-"
Kyoko slammed her foot into the ground and turned around, interrupting her. With a growl of displeasure the redhead exited the room with loud and irritated steps.
Mami entered the room in a flustered fashion, frowning when Kyoko stomped past her. Taking the doorknob of the corridor door in her hands Kyoko flung the door closed.
SLAM!
After a moment of silence Mami rushed over to Hoshi and smiled warmly and apologetically. "I'm sorry about Kyoko, she gets upset easily."
Hoshi looked up at Mami and smiled softly back. "Did I do something wrong?"
Something snapped inside Mami once she was greeted with the faked smile Hoshi was giving off but she didn't let it show. "No, she overreacts a lot. It's okay."
"That's good; I hope she isn't upset for long."
Watching the scene, Homura grit her teeth and clenched her fists. She averted her gaze to the ground slowly.
Mami led Hoshi to the kitchen while chatting away, and Homura absentmindedly followed them.
Hoshi, are you willing to give up your soul for this wish?
"Musoka-san?"
Hoshi blinked and lifted her head. Before her there were three people staring at her. Mami looked concerned, while Homura was frowning in confusion and Kyoko raised an eyebrow.
"Ah!" Hoshi's shoulder's tensed and she remembered where she was. "I'm sorry! I was staring into space."
Kyoko rolled her eyes and leaned back in the chair, taking a bite of pocky.
Hoshi bowed in apology, almost hitting her head in the process. "Did you say something?"
"I was just going to start telling you about what I wanted to talk about." Homura said, sitting down and calmly placing her hands on the table. "You started to faze off."
"Again, I'm sorry." Hoshi bowed again. "Can you tell me now?"
Concern faded slightly off her face, Mami sat down as well, staring into Hoshi's dull hazel eyes.
Homura cleared her throat. "Well…"
There used to be a different world. In this world there were creatures called witches – beings that would spread despair and curses. I was a time traveller and used to go across various timelines trying to save my only friend from making a contract.
In the final timeline this girl made a wish she erase all witches before they are born, she twisted the laws of causality and was sent to a different plane of existence as the concept of hope. A new world was created – this one – that has no witches and wraiths.
A man named the Reaper, an irregular being who has said he is the son of the Grim Reaper and was born a reality warper, is trying to overrule this girl. We have teamed up and declared war on him in order to stop him.
Will you join us?*
Finding some space outside of the building, Hoshi sat at the edge of the river. The sun shone on her and she had to shield her eyes from the light, she watched the water flow relentlessly and the sparkles of light drift across the liquid's surface.
Once her eyes adjusted to the light Hoshi watched the water with a dull expression. Her mind was spinning with thoughts and things similar to eclipses burnt her mind. Confusion and disorder, misunderstanding and reluctance.
Closing her eyes, Hoshi inhaled deeply before noticing the rustling of grass behind her. She blinked to clear her eyesight and turned, only to see the familiar Homura standing before her.
"Akemi-san?" The faint colour came back into Hoshi's face as she said the words. But her skin remained white.
Homura did not respond and instead took a seat beside Hoshi, wrapping her hands around her slim legs that held black stockings.
Hoshi's face calmed and she turned to look back at the river, a few moments of silence passing them.
"Akemi-san, you weren't lying to me about everything were you?"
Homura shook her head, strands of her dark hair fell off her shoulder. "I have a tendency not to lie or joke about serious things in serious situations."
Hoshi's eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "But it seems so… hard to believe."
"I can understand that. Sometimes I find it hard to believe myself."
Hoshi blinked. "What do you mean?"
Homura's purple eyes flickered with pain. "Sometimes I doubt my own memories, I sometimes think that Madoka is somebody I made up and she never existed. It troubles me."
The silver haired girl's face softened in sympathy. "You shouldn't do that Akemi-san, I believe what you said, and it is just hard to process. I'm sure that Kaname-san is watching you."
Homura blinked and turned to head to Hoshi, she frowned when she saw something that she couldn't understand. Hoshi's smile. This one wasn't fake, well most of it, but half of it was sincere.
What's wrong with you?
Homura hesitated for a moment. "Have you decided yet?"
Hoshi shook her head. "You can't honestly expect me to decide this quickly can you? This is a War we're talking about."
"I apologise, I was being impatient." Homura replied.
Hoshi sighed. "Do you always act this formal around your friends?"
Homura frowned as the word 'friends' echoed in her mind. "Yes. If I have a goal nothing will stop me from doing it."
"But you want comrades to join you right? Honestly, you personality isn't very welcoming. It's saying 'leave me alone to do your things' and not 'I want you to fight with me'."
The stoic girl raised an eyebrow almost in accusation. "You sound like Kyoko, Musoka-san."
Hoshi blinked. "Sakura-san?" She smiled bashfully and raised a hand to scratch behind her head. "Well…"
Homura tilted her head. "Do you not like her?"
"That's not it." Hoshi assured, shaking her head. "I don't think she likes me, that's all."
Homura had the feeling to laugh at the latter's naivety, but that was something distant. "You are not the type of person that Kyoko would dislike, I don't think. Maybe if you act differently, she'll like you more."
Hazel eyes blinked, looking Homura with expressive curiosity. "Am I acting weird?"
The smile that Homura didn't know that she had disappeared from her face. Turning her head, she lowered her eyes and her expression at the thought of her redhead companion being… heartfelt, nice even.
"Kyoko may not show it, but she loves her friends very much. She cares for Tomoe-san, Miki-san and…" Homura paused and added softly, "… Me."
Hoshi smiled warmly, the sunlight shining thoroughly on her face made her pale face glow and her short silver hair sparkle. "I see."
Homura closed her eyes calmly, but her face showed sincerity. "She is hostile – like me – around people she doesn't know completely. But once Kyoko makes a friend she never wants to abandon them. Of course I didn't figure this out myself, Tomoe-san told me. But you did something to upset her."
Hoshi's eyebrows furrowed in worry. "What was it?"
Homura's forehead creased with irritation. "Don't you look in the mirror and realise it yourself?" She whispered.
"Pardon?"
The dark haired girl shook her head. "It doesn't matter."
Hoshi frowned, and Homura finally saw some real emotion on her face. Fear, self-consciousness, something like wrath which was covered with self-loathe. Her eyes screamed, 'I've done something wrong again haven't I?' Suddenly something about the silver haired girl's face as well struck her, with all those emotions merged together it created something Homura couldn't comprehend and caused her eyes to widen temporarily.
Is she suicidal?
Homura realised she must have looked something next to scared and turned her head away, clenching her fist.
"Is something wrong?"
Homura for a moment did not respond. Then she lifted up her head and faced the latter.
"I need you to tell me something Musoka-san."
Hoshi snapped out her current expression and instead looked troubled and unsure. "What… what is it?"
Briefly Homura thought about it. Considering the two had just met, she refrained from saying anything confronting out of the blue. She didn't want to scare the unstable girl as Homura needed her help in the future. Despite her hidden mental difficulties, she wasn't insane, and was in fact skilled when it came to strategy and combat. Something she needed more of. But since they barely knew each other, Homura needed to know about Hoshi if they were going to hopefully fight together one day.
"I need to know what you wished for."
Hoshi's eyes widened and her face paled considerably so that her skin looked like it was bleached. "Eh? W-Why?"
It seemed that what she had was confronting. Homura felt like sighing in frustration at her own sudden absurdity , but she knew it would only lower Hoshi's self-esteem further. Instead, she stared at the girl with neutral eyes.
"If I'm going to fight with you, then I need to know more about you."
Hoshi raised a hand defensively. "But I haven't decided yet-"
She had no time for this. "Just tell me!" Homura snapped.
The silver haired girl immediately drew back her hand in surprise and fright. Then her eyes narrowed slightly in resentment. "No." She said, causing Homura to blink because of the unexpected event. "That isn't a good enough reason."
Homura's her expression relaxed in sincerity and she closed her eyes. "I apologise, I've been unlike myself lately. But it's fair… I had to tell you my wish even though I only met you yesterday, so it's reasonable that you tell me yours."
Hoshi looked astonished. Then her expression softened, her hands clenching and unclenching. She smiled but her face was still white. "Okay, I'll tell you."
Homura nodded and the corners of her lips quirked up slightly in gratitude, she remained silent.
The smile disappeared off the pale girl's face and her eyelids lowered, her hazel eyes glinted with the unpleasant kind of nostalgia as she moved her head away from Homura's gaze and to the sun where the light reflected off her eyes.
Silence befell the two. With the leaves running along the grass with the current of air and the grass drifting in rhythm. Hoshi brought her legs to her chest and wrapped her arms around them, placing her chin on her knees.
"A few years back, my father died of lung cancer."
Homura's eyes widened slightly at how calmly and protectively she was saying it, but also in empathy, but she didn't say anything.
"My father was the executive manager of a large manufacturing company, and he had many friends there. But despite his importance neither the owner of the company or his friends would give us money for his funeral. My mother was depressed enough over it, but this just made it worse. We could only pay for a small funeral and few people came. It was so... frustrating."
Hoshi exhaled for a moment with a breath she didn't know she was holding, her face was frozen into that one saddened expression and her body was unmoving except her faintly trembling hands.
"I was a subject of verbal and physical abuse back at school so I was depressed about that too. When the word spread that Father was dead they said things like 'maybe he killed himself because how much a slut his daughter is' and 'maybe Hoshi killed him." Hoshi spoke with bitterness and sorrow that didn't show on her face, her face paled further.
"I had nearly gone over the edge, and then.." Hoshi's eyelids lowered further so that they were nearly closed, and her face gave a solemn expression. "… Kyubey came."
Homura narrowed her eyes, her mind working like a puzzle forming the pieces together with Hoshi's words. She didn't respond to her words, so Hoshi continued.
"He gave me the chance to make a wish and I jumped at the chance. I didn't see any suspicion and I didn't ask him anything about it. I was just so upset about everything. The bullying had gotten worse since Father went away, and Mother was depressed as anything. It only took me a moment to realise what I had when it was gone. So I thought that if Father came back then…"
Homura's eyes widened when the puzzle pieces fit together, forming a picture of fate. Her wish.
"You wished for your father to come back to life."
"Yes."
Homura's face paled. "He hasn't come back." **
Hoshi smiled softly, closed her eyes and nodded, her eyebrows furrowed to pain her face look pained. "He hasn't."
"… Musoka-san, what happened…?"
"Nothing happened after I made my wish, after I asked him what happened he informed me that he can't bring people back to life. Due to my wish my Father's disappeared soul was forced to try and recreate. But in the end of it his soul ended up stuck in between the mortal world and the afterlife, forced to never rest in peace, no matter what I do when I die."
Homura's eyes softened, and she tenderly questioned, "Stuck in between?"
Hoshi nodded. The phony smile and frozen expression had disappeared from her face. Now she looked hurt, the colour had gone back into her face but she still had that unnatural ghostly white shade to it. Her hazel eyes were clouded over with hurt and a shaking hand met her face, she inhaled sharply and drew her knees closer.
Homura wondered if she was finally seeing the real Hoshi. A poor, deprived, broken girl who was smiling on the outside but crying on the outside. Somebody who was wrecked by guilt over what she'd done to her late Father and how much pain, sadness and unwanted rejection she'd caused her Mother. A girl who had been already suicidal because of being bullied but was now even more because of her immense fault. The withering girl who considered herself a menace and a coward who secretly just wanted to be held in her Father's arms again.
As Homura was thinking about it, it took her a moment to realise that Hoshi was crying.
With the sobs escaping her throat, Hoshi buried her face in her hands. The cries of sorrow became muffled as did her voice. "It's all my fault… all of it. He- he shouldn't have ended up like that. Why must I ruin-" she sniffled, "-everything? Father, he shouldn't have ended up like th-that, nobody sh-should. It's cruel… why… why did this happen?"
Homura watched with empathic eyes. She wanted to do something. But Hoshi was too weak, much too weak. One sentence could send the girl spiralling into the depths of despair, and for a moment Homura wondered something, and instead of thinking it-
"If you're like this than why aren't you dead yet?"
Hoshi paused, her eyes widened and brimming with moisture with her hands inches from her tear-stricken face.
"Why… aren't I dead yet?" Hoshi said softly.
Homura internally flinched at the sound of vulnerability in her voice.
Hoshi's legs left her chest and her arms fell limply by her side. She lowered her head so that her fringe covered both of her eyes. Her movements when she faced Homura were slow, uneven and ragged like a puppet whose strings were about to snap. When she looked up her dread filled eyes met Homura's stable ones which contrasted against the fake smile she was wearing.
"I don't want to die."
Homura frowned. This action made her want to raise an eyebrow, but that would make her look like she was mocking Hoshi and she didn't want that. She's hiding something, Homura thought.
But Homura discarded the thought and accepted it. She didn't want Hoshi to break now, not after all that had happened. She closed her eyes.
After a moment of silence Homura stood and bowed. "Thank you for telling me, it must have been hard for you."
Hoshi smiled. "It's okay, it was only fair."
Homura found herself clenching her fist in irritation. She turned to avoid Hoshi seeing her annoyed expression.
"So, have you decided?"
Hoshi shook her head. "It will take me a while. Sorry."
"Please hurry up with that, we plan to not spend much more time in this place."
Wordlessly, Homura ran a hair through her hair, and it seemed to float along with the breeze.
"I will see you tomorrow, Musoka-san."
The Reaper took long strides, the edge of his cloak brushing against the unknown sense of ground. Ripples spread at his feet when he took another step, the substance beneath his feet felt watery and moist.
Slowly the darkness lowered and buildings formed sloppily in the never-ending sea of black. The cityscape was filled with waves of grey but the windows were white. The sky faded to black and no stars were seen throughout it as it was thick and impenetrable.
The Reaper's hood covered his crimson and bright blue eyes; the whiteness of his skin glowed through the darkness and as he parted his lips slightly there was a glint in his razor sharp beast-like teeth.
Out of nowhere a rosy pink light shined in front of the Reaper. Lifting his head, the Reaper did not turn away at the bright light that was penetrating his eyes. Instead he stood and stared with a neutral expression while he took in what was about to happen.
When the light faded a girl – or rather an entity – stood in its place. Her golden eyes glowed with extreme intensity and her glorious white gown that was filled with – what looked like – the universe floated while she stood. On her feet were heels that held wings, and her own transparent wings spread out. Her long flowing pink hair hovered in rhythm with her dress, and her pigtails where held by white ribbons. On her chest give gems were embedded, the middle one slightly bigger than the others. Her eyes held wrath and were narrowed in accusation.
"Reaper-san." She said, her voice was soft and high pitched, but critical.
The Reaper lifted his hands and placed them on hips, tilting his head. "Did I upset you Kaname Madoka?"
Madoka narrowed her golden eyes further. "You've blocked my omniscience, how?"
"I have power that even surprises me Kaname-san."
"But you're less powerful than me."
"But there's a point." The Reaper lifted his head and smirked, a glint shown in his blue eye. "You became a reality warper when you were a human before, I was born one."
Madoka's eyes widened. "So you are more powerful than me."
The Reaper shrugged. "Not really. But since I was born an inhuman being, my powers of omniscience are stronger."
"But you can't see into the future without using a spell that drains most of your power."
"That is a spell that I created."
Madoka sighed, closing her eyes in process. When she opened them, they were laid on thick with determination. "Reaper-san, where are they?"
"You mean your magical girl friends that you failed to collect the souls of?" The Reaper spoke with traces of mocking, and then he gestured to the darkness. "Over there, but you'll have to get past me to do that."
Madoka's expression did not waver. She bent her knees and jumped, her wings flapping. The Reaper scoffed and shot up to join her, standing on thin air.
Madoka raised her arm to face the sky and opened her hand, in a flash of pink light a large bow formed, this brown bow held a pink rose that was close to blooming on its tip. Closing one eye, Madoka moved the bow in front of her and pulled the silver string, an arrow materializing along with it as the bow lit up. The Goddess glared at the Reaper as she spoke.
"Then I'll have to fight you, won't I?"
The Reaper smirked. "You really have matured Kaname-san; in your human form you would never have picked a fight with somebody this powerful."
"That's wrong." Madoka said. "I will do anything to save and protect my friends."
The Reaper momentarily frowned at that, his eyes turning cold and hardened. But then the corners of his pale lips quirked up and her chuckled humourlessly. "I guess it wouldn't be fair if I fought without a weapon would it?" He opened a hand and a katana formed, weaving the material slowly. When it was done the Reaper steadied his grip on the hilt and pointed it at the Goddess.
"I'm ready when you are."
Narrowing her eyes, Madoka nodded.
The space fell into silence, the Reaper's words echoing across the non-existent walls. The Reaper and the Goddess stared at each other in expectance, golden eyes staring into red and blue ones. Anticipation spread in the Reaper's veins even though he already knew who would win the battle, and he felt the fierce yet sincere warmth emitting from the Goddess as he inhaled a sharp breath.
A faint sparkle of light floated in between the two pointed weapons.
The Reaper pulled back his sword and flung at the goddess the same time Madoka let go of the string and the arrow went flying. The two dodged each other's attacks by flying in mid-air further. Madoka flapped her wings and soared at the Reaper, forming three arrows on the string. Materialised in his hands were three more katanas that he held in his fingers carefully.
As Madoka let the arrows fly the Reaper moved his swords in a swift motion and knocked them away. But when he noticed Madoka didn't move from her position he raised an eyebrow. Suddenly a flash of pink caught his eye and a sharp pain was sent up his left arm.
Madoka winced as the arrow heads pierced the outer layer of the Reaper's skin and ripped the sleeve of his cloak, her golden eyes gazed over the blood that soaked through the fabric. Projectile arrows. Madoka thought, telepathically sending it to the Reaper who listened while pulling the arrows out. The follow the person I was trying to shoot at. You're lucky that I didn't use the powerful ones; you would have been wiped out.
As the Reaper's skin was woven back together he smirked. "It won't be that easy Kaname-san, trust me."
Madoka glared. She discarded her bow and held her hands out in front of her, another arrow materialised in her hands and she clasped the hilt. The shaft of the arrow transformed into the silver blade of a sword with the glowing of rosy pink light.
After another moment of silence the two launched at each other again, metal clashing metal and sparks flying as their weapons scraped. While Madoka looked frustrated and flustered with the gritting of teeth the Reaper looked calm and collected while he held onto the hilt of his katana.
The two pulled their swords away before they clashed again twice in swift movements. Madoka drew her sword back before thrusting the sword point hard against the fuller of the Reaper's katana. The Reaper lost his grip of the blade and his hands left the hilt as it spun to it the ground. Without any hesitation Madoka raised the central ridge of the sword under the Reaper's chin and lifted his head up so his eyes were staring into hers.
"Take me to them."
The Reaper's expression didn't faze, and Madoka thought for a moment that he looked bored. She blinked and an axe was in his hands, the silver edge dripping with blood. Madoka glanced down and as she watched her limp arm fall to the ground the pain registered.
She screeched, part in pain and part in terror. Where her arm used to be hovered a thin layer of oxygen and Madoka's throat clenched. With shuddering breaths she turned her head back to the Reaper with shaky movements and her eyes widened in terror again. The Reaper's eyes were cold and unjaded, his eyebrows were slanted in irritation and her own blood was splattered against his face. And as Madoka's golden eyes ran over his pale skin her skin paled considerably.
"You know…" The Reaper rasped out, the corners of his lips quirked up. "I won't."
For a moment Madoka was struck in a state of fear. When she snapped out of it she narrowed her eyes in anger and gritted her teeth together. Her arm regenerated instantly with the skin and white fabric sowing together. She raised her arm again and summoned her bow, pointing it at the Reaper as another arrow formed.
"Stop using those weapons on me, you show me your full power and I'll show you mine." Madoka said coldly.
The Reaper raised an eyebrow. "And if I don't?"
"That wasn't a request."
He closed his eyes and furrowed his eyebrows in frustration. With a swift movement of his fingers his blood soaked axe dissolved. It its place a raging ball of magical energy pulsed in his hand. "Fine. Get ready Goddess."
The Reaper held both of his hands out in front of him like claws, the magical energy pulsed through his veins rapidly like an electric shock, throbbing and pounding through his whole being as the black ball of energy grew so large it was bigger than him. He raised it above his head calmly with closed his eyes. The fabric of his cloak flapped around him and his hood fell from his head, revealing his young looking face.
Madoka's eyes narrowed and she started to glow, her bow and arrow lit up in a dazzling pink light that gave off smoke with the same colour. Behind her a large array of pink circles formed, each connecting with a single line. This symbol simply said 'the Law of Cycles' in all its power. Madoka closed her eyes and she lit up in hot pink flames and her hair floated up in waves, the ruffles on her gown flowed and the inside of her dress that showed something similar to a galaxy became brighter.
The Reaper opened his red and blue eyes calmly and the energy ball shot from his hands.
Kaname Madoka opened her golden eyes firmly and let go of the string.
The flaming arrow shot towards the Reaper like a speeding bullet heading straight to his heart, and the large energy ball glided quickly towards Madoka.
Everything suddenly seemed to in slow motion. Twisting his back, the Reaper moved to the side and the arrow flew past him, the flames scorching the side of his cloak. Madoka gasped and before she knew it the energy ball had hit her. The hot pink flames extinguished and the glowing circle array disappeared in an instant. Ropes of thick black goo wrapped around Madoka's torso, neck, limbs and wings, preventing any movement. The goo became solid and Madoka plummeted to the ground, she caught a glimpse of the Reaper being pierced with the now powered down arrow before she went face first into the ground.
The Reaper pulled the ordinary arrow from his chest and his blood sprayed for a moment. He looked down at the Goddess with cold eyes before hovering to the ground.
When his feet touched the cement the city scape disappeared, the buildings turned into waterfalls of black and splashed into the pool of the murky substance, ripples appeared at his feet and she two were plunged into darkness.
The Reaper walked over to the Goddess and raised a hand. Madoka was lifted and hovered in the air. Her long pink hair and wings were held under by the goo, her arms were seized by her side and her legs were pressed together, she could only move her head. The glow in her had gone and her gown was crumpled against her legs. With various grunts, Madoka struggled relentlessly against the trap.
"Don't bother to struggle Kaname-san, they'll only get tighter."
Madoka grit her teeth together and faced the Reaper, her dull golden eyes flashing with anger. "You shouldn't be able to trap me, you're not powerful enough for that!"
"You're right, I'm not." The Reaper said calmly. "But my father – who you know – gave me extra power in order to trap you."
"T-The Grim Reaper?" Madoka gasped. "Don't tell me you're going to send him out?!"
The Reaper nodded and smirked, he leant forward and lifted up Madoka's head with his index finger. "You don't know this, but your little friends – Time, Sacrifice and Guidance – have started a war on me to stop me from overruling you."
Madoka's eyes widened. "Homura-chan, Kyoko-chan and Mami-san? A war for me?"
The Reaper frowned. "Back when you became the concept of hope, you chose five people powerful enough to stop my plans right? You and Miki-san are one of them right? Now Tomoe-san has awakened, and Akemi-san was close to when I told her about my real intentions for reviving Miki Sayaka. I know when Sakura-san is going to, but you don't do you?"
Madoka couldn't bring herself to shake her head. "N-No." She gulped. "Please don't do anything to them! They're precious to me!"
"But you would like them to be with you in your world with the other deceased magical girl's right?"
Madoka's eyes calmed. "It is not their time yet, when their time comes I will bring them back up with me, I do not wish for them to come with me yet."
The Reaper narrowed his multi-coloured eyes. "Goddess, your plans are much less efficient. My Father gave me half of his power and you didn't see this?" He paused. "You know, since you tried so hard, I might as well show you where your magical girl friends are."
Madoka gasped and smiled in relief. "Thank you!"
The Reaper smirked. He turned away from her and gestured to the darkness, and in a single spot a few meters away from them a light appeared like a spotlight.
The Goddess gasped and the smile disappeared from her face.
Under the light were a stack of soul gems, a few hundred at least. Each were once so bright but had been faded with corruption, a small white light was bottled up inside each one of them and drifted around in the sea of darkness.
"No…" Madoka rasped out, voice quiet and soft.
"These are the souls of all the magical girls that you failed to save." The Reaper spoke mercilessly without any trace of regret or sadness in his tone. "I got to them faster than you and you lost all trace of them, basically forgetting they existed. Your process is that the magical girls soul gets corrupted to where they're on the brink of turning into a witch, and you get there and bring their soul up to your plane of existence, where they live happily in your new world.
"What's happened here is that I've taken them before you and stored them here on this plane of existence where they are unaffected. But if I take them out in your new world without your new laws they will turn into witches and you will not be able to save them. They will be my soldiers and kill Akemi-san, Sakura-san, Tomoe-san and their future companions with ease as they will be powered up with parts of my magic."
Madoka took a moment to register the information and her eyes widened more. But once she realised something her eyes calmed slightly. "But you said you will bring them to their world without my laws, how are you going to get rid of my laws?"
"I cannot get rid of the Law of Cycles." The Reaper said, and smirked. "But my Father gave me some of the stored energy the Incubators collected in the previous world by turning you magical girls into witches. So I cannot get rid of your laws, but I can supress them."
The Reaper raised his hand and made a gesture of a spell, and it took Madoka a moment to realise what was happening.
"Stop!"
Suddenly Madoka's body lit up in familiar flames, but this time they were black. Madoka shrieked in terror as she started to change. Her hair started to shorten until it was just her pigtails and her puffy white ribbons changed to red, her wings disappeared and her gown was quickly replaced by a pink, yellow and white dress with a bubble skirt and puffy sleeves. The gems on her chest disappeared until only one remained in a golden frame and her white heels were changed into pink heels with high socks. The golden of her eyes faded until they were shining with a dull rosy pink.
Satisfied with his work, the Reaper lowered his hand and the flames disappeared. Madoka gasped in exhaustion and her head fell, pink bangs covering her eyes.
The Reaper walked to the Goddess and lifted up her head. He frowned to find that Madoka had fallen unconscious, a single tear fell down her pale cheeks and the pink haired girl whimpered.
"Even though I've supressed your powers you are still very strong. I will eventually lose this power and you will come to kill me." He whispered. "The Incubators energy had lost most of its power over time due to this new world, and can only manage to be able to send these souls into the world to turn into witches, but I am not able to boost their strength with my power. But you – Kaname Madoka, or the Law of Cycles – do not need to know that."
For a small moment as he watched the girl the Reaper felt something tug inside him, something strange to him, maybe even fatherly. But he shook his head, refusing to let it get to him.
The Reaper turned away and summoned his staff at his side, and as the area was plunged into darkness again his words echoed.
"You can have a rest for a while, Goddess."
*That was the shortened explanation of what Homura and Mami actually said, Kyoko did nothing.
** Imagine 'Terror adhaerens' playing right after Homura said that, look it up
A/N: I'm sorry if Madoka is OOC, she's just really badass when she's angry.
During this long break between chapters I decided to merge chapters together to make them either 10,000, 8,000 or 9,000 words long. Until I realised that the arc with Kyoko with the Soul Gem and stuff only took up three chapters. And I realised that I hate this fanfic so much.
The plot is so far-fetched, early chapters contain many OOC moments, cliché OC's and not to mention bad writing. For a moment I thought of not continuing this, but then my love for my Magical Girl OC's grew (I even ship them, yuri~ .) and I decided to continue this just for the sake of my OC's. So I will officially we rewriting most chapters except the ones I am happy with, this will lead to a longer break :(
Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this chapter and please R&R!