CHAPTER 4: I'M WILLING TO BELIEVE YOU

"I know it's around here, somewhere," Kairi says as she wonders through a familiar alley. The sky is clear, and the sun is shining bright. Kairi continues looking around. After a minute, Kairi smiles, "There it is." She finds a blue gem between two buildings. Kairi kneels down in order to touch it. With a simple tap the gem glows.

Seconds later, a familiar projection pops out, "Welcome, how can I help you today, kupo?"

"Hi there, Mog," Kairi says with a smile.

"Oh, I didn't expect to see you again so soon. So what do need today, kupo?"

"You wouldn't happen to have any magical staffs now would you?"

"I have plenty, anything in particular, kupo?"

Kairi hums as she brings a finger to her chin while looking up. It didn't take her long to describe what she needs, "I'm looking something for an absolute beginner. But she has great potential , so something that can help her tap into that potential easily."

"Hmm…I think I have something like that, kupo." The Moogle raises an arm and a holographic screen appears and shows Kairi a unique staff.

The length is similar to the Dream Wand. This one however is a silver rod, and on top of that rod is a yellow sphere with a smiley face. Kairi giggles at it. After looking at it for a few seconds she nods with a smile, "I'll take it, how much is it?"

"That'll be ten thousand Munny, kupo."

Nothing is said for a few seconds, "I'm sorry, how much was it again?" she said with a disbelieving expression.

"Ten thousand Munny, kupo!" the seller immediately responds.

Kairi sighs after a few seconds pass, "Fine. Don't have much of a choice," She hands out a ten thousand yen bill, and just like yesterday, the Moogle turns the bill into Munny, which goes into the gem. Immediately, the staff appears in front of Kairi in a flash of light. Kairi grabs hold of it and the staff turns into light before disappearing. "Thanks,"

"No problem. By the way, are you from this world, kupo?"

"No, I'm here on important business. Why do you ask?"

"Well, I was talking with some of my buddies yesterday about how I finally have a customer in this world and one of them told me an interesting rumor, kupo."

"A rumor?"

"Yep, word is that there's a strange creature in the world you're in. Turns out he's from a different world, kupo."

Kairi's eyes widen, "Wait, are you sure?"

"That's what the rumor says, kupo."

"I see. Thanks for telling me about it. I'll probably might drop in again,"

Mog nods before waving, "Have a good day, kupo," the projection disappears before Kairi walks away.

School is now out. Madoka sits on the side of a green hill, looking at the river at the foot of the hill. Next to her, Sayaka feels relaxed as she is lying a few feet from Madoka. "Aren't you scared," Madoka asks, looking at her friend.

"Well", Sayaka says before standing up, "I'll be lying if I said I wasn't." She looks at the pinkette with a confident smile, "But there shouldn't be anything to worry about. With me, Mami, and Kairi here, those Witches will think twice of coming to Mitakahira!"

"But aren't you all going to take different routes?" Madoka asks, recalling the conversation they had with Mami and Kairi the night before. They discussed that the three of them will spread out throughout the city during Witch hunts. The only one who originally opposed the plan was Kairi for she felt it is best they stick together. However, since Madoka woke up this morning, she feels that Kairi may had a point.

"Don't worry. Mami is a veteran and Kairi is a pretty strong fighter, though she can be a little crazy," she said the last part with a sheepish smile, remembering how Kairi jumped straight into that one Witch's mouth.

"Who's crazy?" a voice calls from behind with an offended tone.

Sayaka jumps, before turning around, "Sheesh, don't scare me like that," she said with an embarrassed blush as she looks at Kairi, who is giving an 'innocent' smile.

"Sorry about that," Kairi says before peeking her head to the side to see Madoka. "Hey Madoka."

"Hi Kairi," Madoka responds cheerfully, before noticing that Kairi wants to ask her something. "What is it?"

"Do you have some free time? There's something I want to show you."

"Well," Madoka says before slightly looking to her left, "I don't have any plans for today."

"Great! How about we go right now?" Kairi asks in an upbeat tone.

"Umm…Sure!" She answers with a nod.

"Hey, what about me?" Sayaka asks.

Kairi looks at her sheepishly, "Sorry, it's just Madoka I want to have a talk with. Besides don't you have something planned for a certain someone?" She asks with a teasing tone.

Sayaka looks at her with a blush, "It's not a date!"

"Don't worry, just kidding with you," Kairi says with a dismissive wave. "Could you do me a favor though?"

"What is it?" she asks with a curious tone.

"Can you drop by Mami's apartment and tell her that I probably might not go to the meeting later today?

"I guess…"

"Thanks," Kairi said before she walks to Madoka and grabs her wrist, "Come on, let's go!" And with that Kairi drags Madoka to the place Kairi wants to show her.

"Uhh…" Madoka starts to say, "Where are we?" They are now in a fenced in location near a construction area. In the middle of the area, there are a few small logs, standing upright, with empty cans on them. There are also a bunch of rocks, and the ground appears dry and rough.

"The perfect place for practice," said Kairi, hands on her hips.

"Practice?" Madoka asks with a confused expression, "Practice for what?"

Kairi turns to her with a smile. "Magic," she says with a wave of a finger as she winks.

"Magic!?" Madoka is astonished by what Kairi said. "But I'm not a Magical Girl."

Kairi still smiles before leaning forward to look at Madoka at eye level, "Let me tell you a little secret. Truth is I use a different kind of magic than the type Magical Girls use."

"A different type?" Madoka asks with wide eyes.

Kairi nods before straightening herself out. She summons the Keyblade and raises it horizontally, "This is my real power," referencing to her weapon, implying that this is her power as a 'Magical Girl'. "The magic I use can be learned if you have magical potential. And from what I heard from Mami, you have a lot of potential, so I figure why not we tap into that potential."

"You can really teach me magic?" Madoka says with a wide, hopeful smile. If she can learn magic, then she wouldn't be a bother to the others.

"You bet," Kairi answers as she dismisses her weapon. "However, there are going to be a few conditions if I'm going to teach you."

"What conditions?" Madoka asks, slightly tilting her head.

"One," Kairi says, holding up one finger, "You can't tell anyone that I'm teaching you magic."

"No one?" Madoka responds for clarification.

"Yes, no one," Kairi says with a stern voice, "especially Kyubey. This whole thing will just be between me and you; understand?" Madoka nods. Kairi holds up two fingers, "Two, Do not use this magic for Witch Hunting. Even if you can use magic, it'll be useless since you can easily get knocked out or worse," Madoka nods, even if she can use magic, she is really not up to going against a Witch alone, "Third, I want you to make me a promise."

"Promise?" Madoka questions.

Kairi nods with a serious face, before leaning forward. "I want you to promise me one thing."

"What is it?" Madoka says bringing her hands to her chest.

"Do not, under any circumstances, make a contract with Kyubey."

#SIS PUELLA MAGICA#

Madoka was taken aback by what Kairi just said, "What…Why?" is all she could say. She can't believe what Kairi is saying.

"Trust me. If you make a contract with Kyubey, you'll lose more than you'll gain."

"What are you saying?"

Kairi closes her eyes. She needs Madoka to understand. She is not going to say anything about how a girl's soul becomes trapped in the Soul Gem. "Kyubey, I know that he can grant miracles. But are they truly miracles?" Madoka simply stares at Kairi, "If you truly wish for a miracle, something that you want to happen but is deemed nearly impossible; don't just wait for something to happen." Kairi looks at Madoka in the eyes, the latter now as Kairi's undivided attention, "The only thing you can do is walk forward. If you keep going forward, as long as you don't give in, and keep your eyes towards the miracle you seek. Then one day, you will find it."

"But what about you? I mean, you made your wish so you can help your friends, right?" Madoka asks.

Kairi gives a small smile before looking to the side, "Remember what I said about my friends." Madoka nods. "One time, one of them was willing to make a sacrifice in order to help me. I thought…I would lose that person. I just couldn't let that person go." Kairi closes her hands, clenching them tightly.

"You mean…" Madoka said, holding her breath.

"No, he's still alive. That's because I never gave up on him. If it weren't for him, I wouldn't be here now."

"Him?" Madoka asks. She always thought that the friends Kairi want to help are girls.

Kairi nods before she looks up to Madoka, "Tell me, are you willing to sacrifice yourself?"

"What do you mean?"

"Are you willing to make a sacrifice in order to help others? At first it seems like a noble act. But… do you also want to inflict pain on others?" Madoka holds her breath, starting to get a sense of where Kairi is going with this. "Do you want your friends or even your family to be sad? Sad that they'll never see you smile again?" Kairi grabs Madoka's hands between hers, "Sad that they'll never feel the warmth of your hands again?"

Madoka looks down. Though she wants to help others, if it means that it can hurt others as well, how can she go on knowing that? Madoka looks up with solemn face, "I understand. I promise… I won't make the contract."

Kairi nods with an appreciative smile before straightening herself up, "Remember, do not say anything about this. Whatever happens here, stays here, understand?" Madoka nods with a determined smile.

"Okay then!" Kairi said with an upbeat attitude. Kairi raises a hand and calls out the staff she purchased. She extends the staff to Madoka, "Here," Kairi says and Madoka grasps it with both hands before bringing the rod towards her.

"Is this is a magical staff?" she says with astonishment as she examines it.

"That's right."

"Where did you find it?"

Kairi raises a finger in front of her face, "Let's just say I know a market or two that deals with this sort of thing." Kairi sits on the ground in a cross-legged position. She looks up at Madoka, who is confused. Seconds later, she understands Kairi's gesture before sitting in the rough ground in the same manner. Kairi tells Madoka to hold the staff near the two ends hand have it rest on her legs. "Now imagine a river."

"A river?"

Kairi nods, "Close your eyes and imagine a river that ebbs and flows without restriction," The student closes her eyes. After a few seconds, the teacher can see that Madoka has a calm face, "Now imagine that river flowing through your entire being. But don't let yourself be carried away by it." Madoka nods before following the instructions. Two minutes have passed. Madoka looks calm, relaxed. She has been like that the entire time. It wasn't long before Kairi notices something about Madoka. A thin aura outlines her body along with the staff. Just as the aura disappears, Madoka snaps her eyes open with a small gasp. "You felt it. Didn't you?"

Madoka nods, "I…I can't describe how it felt."

"But you know how it felt, right?" Kairi asks and Madoka nods her head with a smile. They continued this practice for another fifteen minutes.

"Now then," Kairi said as she stands up, quickly followed by Madoka. "Here's your first spell." Kairi summons the Keyblade. She aims it at one of the cans in the middle before casting Fire. The small fireball makes a soft explosion, knocking the can thirty feet away. Kairi looks at Madoka, "Now think about taking a small amount of that river, transform it into fire. And when you think you're ready, focus that energy into the staff, pick out any one of those cans, then as you swing the staff towards the target, mentally release that fire. Think you got all that?" Madoka nods with a determined smile. She aims for the can on the far right as she does everything that Kairi told her do to. Madoka, with both hands, raises the staff above her head.

A few seconds later, a large explosion occurs. Catching the attention of several workers of the nearby construction site. Back in the practice area, both Kairi and Madoka have astonished faces as they stare into the plume of black smoke. "Oops." Madoka is all she could say.

"Well, that was… something." Kairi said. Nothing is said for another few seconds before Kairi looks at her student, "How about we get out of here?" Madoka nods, still staring at the explosion she created.

The sun begins to set into the horizon, casting the city into twilight. "I'm sorry," Madoka says, looking towards the ground, as she and Kairi walk back to the others.

"No, it's not your fault," Kairi says with an encouraging, yet sheepish smile. "You just need to put less power into those spells." Kairi is amazed with Madoka's potential. Kairi knew that Madoka casted Fire, yet the explosion was like a bomb went off. Kairi notices Madoka looking a little tired. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, but I feel a little funny," says with a weak smile.

"You're just probably drained from casting that spell. When casting magic, don't put a lot of power into it. You need to use it sparingly." Kairi takes out an ether out of her pocket. "Drink this," she says as she gives it to Madoka.

After Madoka drinks it, the feeling she had vanished almost immediately, "What is this?" she asks with a curious tone.

"That's an ether. When you drink it, it restores your magical power,"

"Then can Mami and Sayaka use these as well?"

Kairi gives Madoka a sad smile, "Remember how I said that the magic I use is different from the magic that Magical Girls use," Madoka nods with curious eyes, "I don't know if it will work. From what I've seen, a Grief Seed absorbs those dark specks from a Soul Gem. Meaning those specks may act as a form of limitation to their magic. So I don't think that it could work."

"I see," Madoka responds with a frown. "It would have been very useful if the others can use them."

"I agree." Kairi says as she looks forward she notices someone. "Homura," she says as she stops. Madoka looks to the direction Kairi is looking at. Ahead of them, on the other side of the street, Homura is seen looking at them with her passive gaze.

"So, that's her, huh" said a girl looking through a pair of magical binoculars from inside an observation deck at the top of a tall building. The girl has red hair, tied in a pony tail. She wears a blue, long sleeved shirt, blue denim shorts, and knee high boots. She is looking towards a hospital, spying on the newest Magical Girl.

"Correct, Kyoko," Kyubey said behind her, who is now chomping on a crisp waffle. "Are you really going to fight her?" the creature asks, tilting its head.

"Why not? Looks like an easy win," Kyoko says dismissing the binoculars, as she turns around. "If she really is friends with Mami, then taking her out should give Mami the message." She smirks at the creature, "What? Got a problem with that?"

"It might not be that easy. Other than Mami, there are two more Magical Girls."

"Really, so who are they?"

"In truth, I am not sure of both of them. I could best describe them as anomalies."

"Huh?" Kyoko stares at Kyubey with a disbelieving expression, "What are you talking about?"

"Well, Homura is clearly a Magical Girl, so she must have made a contract. However, I have no recollection of making a contract with her. As for the other one, Kairi, she is even more of an anomaly. Again I don't have recollecting a contract with her. Not only that, she is able to use more than one type of magic."

"What do you mean?"

"Most Magical Girls' magic are solely focused on a certain theme or element, depending on the wish. However, Kairi has magic of both fire and ice. On top of that, not once I have seen her transform, though the clothes she wears all the time resembles those that a Magical Girl would wear."

"Doesn't matter," she says cockily, "I'm pretty sure I can take care of either of them,"

"By the way, I'm just curious. What brings you all the way here to Mitakahira?"

Kyoko hesitates before turning to the side, "I have been having problems with my territory. Besides, ever since you told me that Mami nearly lost her head, literally, I've been thinking that she is not worthy of the prey here." The girl's smile grows wider after she finished eating her waffle, "With all these Magical Girls fighting in the same territory, this looks like the best place to have some fun."

Meanwhile…

Kairi and Madoka are talking with Homura at a café near where they saw each other. The two friends sit across from the mysterious girl.

"So, in short, you want me to join you?" Homura says in her usual, cold tone.

"That's right," Kairi responds, "Right now there are four Magical Girls, in this city. So if we do our hunts in pairs, we can take out more Witches, meaning more Grief Seeds for everyone."

"There is one flaw with that plan," Homura states, "If we were to only find one Witch, then who will get the Grief Seed, after the hunt is over?"

"Well," Kairi says, trying to find a counterargument.

"Another problem arises. Though we can pick up more Grief Seeds, it will eventually lead to fewer Witches for us to hunt. If we follow your plan exactly, I fear that there won't be any Witches left for us to hunt and we may have to move to another city before a new Witch can come here."

Kairi sighs, Homura does raise a good point. Kairi wants to counter it but she can't do that without revealing who she truly is. Madoka speaks up, "Well, what if everyone take turns. Surely then there would be enough for everyone."

"That's a possibility. However, I doubt Mami and Sayaka will approve, due to their belief in how Magical Girls should be 'messengers of justice.'" Now Madoka is the one that can't find a counterargument.

"Still, I should apologize,"

"What do you mean?" Madoka asks curiously.

"I thought that since you have given up being a Magical Girl, Kyubey would leave. I should have kept a closer eye on Sayaka, however."

"But Mami's here, so surely she will be okay." Madoka says hopefully.

"Perhaps. However, there is one thing. Anyone who makes a contract with Kyubey, their fate is already sealed. And Sayaka is no exception." Homura gets up, "I'm sorry that I wasted your time," she says before leaving for the doors.

Kairi however has not given up. She turns to Madoka with a smile as she places money on the table, "I'm going to on ahead."

"Where are you going?"

"I'll see if I can convince Homura to join us." Kairi winks at the pinkette, "Tell the others that I'll be patrolling as well. And remember to keep 'that' a secret." The pinkette nods with a smile before Kairi heads out.

It didn't take long for Kairi to catch up, "Homura, wait up!" The said girl stops to look behind her shoulder. Kairi slows to a stop.

"I thought I told you my answer," Homura coldly states.

"Just hear me out," Kairi responds. "I know you want to do things on your own. But it can be easier with working alongside others."

"Why?" Homura states before pausing. "In the end, everyone will die in the end."

Kairi holds her breath, wondering if Homura is no stranger to death. "How many Magical Girls have you seen died in front of you?"

"Too many to count,"

"I see…Even so, you shouldn't give up on everyone else that's still alive."

"It hardly matters. I have no reason to work alongside with anyone again," Homura says before walking forward.

"Is it because no one believes you?" Kairi says in a soft tone. The black-haired girl stops with a small gasp, eyes slightly widened. "If it means anything…I'm willing to believe you."

Homura slowly turns her head, eyes showing a hint of emotion, "What?" she asks with a hint of hope.

Kairi sympathetically smiles, "I believe you. Besides, we're the only ones that know about what happens to the souls of Magical Girls. So it's up to us, to keep an eye out for the others, especially Madoka. So how about it?" Kairi extends a hand to Homura.

Homura slowly turns around, her gaze still fixed on Kairi. Slowly she extends her own hand. Just as her hand is above Kairi's, she hesitates before withdrawing it. Kairi's eyes widen before Homura regains her composer with a deep breath. Homura stares at Kairi, "I understand what you are saying. But know this, what I want is completely different from what you're seeking. And if I'm to achieve my goal, I must do this alone." Homura turns back around before walking forward again.

*TREASURED MEMORIES*

"You remind me of him…" Kairi mutters out with a smile.

Homura is able to catch what Kairi said. "What?" she says as turns back with curious, yet cold eyes.

"A friend of mine," Kairi says, looking at the ground, arms behind her back, before looking back up. "He tried to do everything all by himself," Kairi says as she walks past Homura before stopping. Homura not leaving her eyes on Kairi. "He… made some mistakes. And thought that if he tried to rectify those mistakes all by himself, no matter the price, then everything will turn alright. He was even willing to live in a place where no one could see him again. Nor will he be able to see me or the rest of his friends again. But a friend of ours, convinced him that he doesn't have to do things all alone." As Kairi continues her story, excluding the names of her friends, the enemies they faced, and the fact of other worlds, Homura can't comprehend what's happening to her. She understands what Kairi is saying and with each word Kairi speaks, something inside of Homura is changing. A feeling she hasn't felt since she began her mission, a rising feeling of hope. Somehow, she feels that she can tell Kairi everything, the one person here who is willing to believe her. Kairi turns around, "As you can see, it's better if we work together," Kairi finishes as she extends her hand to Homura once more.

Homura slowly extends her hand, hesitating at first. Eventually, her hand is wrapped by Kairi's. Kairi softly smiles as Homura's eyes glimmer with hope. After a few seconds, both girls slowly take back their hands. Homura looks down, closing her eyes. A second later she looks back up to Kairi, "You'll truly believe anything I say?" Kairi nods with a smile. "What would you like to know?"

Kairi's expression turns serious, "Kyubey. What is he exactly?"

Homura closes her eyes for a few seconds, regaining her composure, "Kyubey," she says in a calm tone, "is a being known as an Incubator."

"Incubator…" Kairi mutters. "Is Kyubey from around here?"

Homura shakes her head, "Kyubey… is not from this world."

Kairi's eyes tighten, "You mean… he's from a different world?" Homura answers with a nod. "Then, why is Kyubey here?"

"Have you heard of entropy?"

"I've heard of it before," bringing a hand to her chin gazing towards the ground, "Isn't that the possibility where the universe runs out of energy and dies?"

Homura nods. "Kyubey is here to collect a type of energy that can be used to prevent entropy."

"And what is this energy?" Kairi asks after looking back up.

Nothing is said for a few seconds, "Kyubey gathers this energy when Magical Girls fight against Witches and through Grief Seeds. When a Magical Girl purifies her Soul Gem with a Grief Seed, if the Grief Seed does not have any more uses, it is given to Kyubey. If the Grief Seed is not given to him in time, the Witch that contained it will eventually return."

"And Witches? Where do they come from exactly?"

Homura eyes narrow with a sound of disgust, clenching her teeth. Kairi's eyes narrow to this reacation. "If you truly want to know the answer to that," Homura says, "Then you have to discover it for yourself." Kairi's eyes widen in confusion. "But I should warn you. If you do find out, your views on everything in this world will never be the same."

"That bad, huh?" Kairi says in a calm, yet serious tone. Kairi may not understand Homura's reasoning for not telling her. But based on the warning, the birth of a Witch must involve something terrible to occur. After taking in a small breath, she softly smiles at Homura. "Thanks for telling me, so should we hunt together tonight?"

"I'll cooperate with you and the others only in one condition," Homura says before glaring at Kairi. "Madoka must never make the contract. If she does, I'll finish you off personally."

Kairi smiles, though she is slightly scared of Homura's threat. But Kairi smiles because she understands Homura better. "Deal," Kairi says with a nod. Kairi place her arms behind her, "Well, your lead." Homura nods before the two begin their hunt.

#SALVE, TERRAE MAGICAE#

As the sky continues to glow with a golden hue, Homura and Kairi walk along the main streets. Homura has her violet Soul Gem out in her hand, while Kairi walks behind her. After awhile, the Soul Gem glows and the two notice it. They walk into a nearby alley. After five minutes, navigating through the maze of alleys, Kairi senses something ahead. It's coming… Kairi wonders. A black wave washes over them from the front and the scenery immediately turns into someplace reminiscent of a nursery room. Haggling laughter fills the air, as a girl's head coming out of a propeller plane flies towards them. "I'm guessing that's a deviated Familiar," Kairi says. The amount of darkness she senses from it is not strong as a Witch.

"Correct," Homura says.

"If we can stop it here, it won't kill anyone," Kairi states.

"But it won't produce a Grief Seed,"

"You may be interested in them," Kairi says, looking at Homura with a disapproving expression, "but I'm more concerned about the people it can attack."

"Relax, as I said before; I'll cooperate." Homura's shield glows before clicking. The next moment later Homura appears behind the Familiar, facing the direction the target came from. At that same moment, five gunshots ring out. At that time the Familiar spins out of control, going down. Homura flips her hair before looking at Kairi, "Now," she says with a tone just shy of commanding.

"Right." Kairi states, summons her Keyblade. She crouches forward before jumping at the falling Familiar at high speed. Kairi slashes through her target. Moments later, the Familiar explodes into dust. A second later, Kairi descends towards the ground. The moment she touches the ground, the barrier disappears. Kairi dismisses her Keyblade, "That was quick."

Homura studies Kairi for a few seconds, "I'm curious," Homura says, catching Kairi's attention. "What kind of weapon is that?"

"My weapon," Kairi responds with a hesitant tone. She has answers for certain questions, but this is one she hasn't prepared for. She is hoping that since the Keyblade is truly a unique weapon, no one would ask about it since she uses it as a sword. Not only that, she can't just talk about the Keyblade in the open. "Well…" Kairi starts before a gunshot goes off. She looks towards her right as Homura looks in the same direction. The girls look at each other before nodding. Homura turns around, taking the lead with Kairi right behind her.

Riku's Log 3

I made contact with Yen Sid for what I will make the last time. It is not that I am deviating from my mission, but as a means of precaution. Kairi and I are both Keyblade Wielders and having two Keyblade Wielders in the same world would arouse suspicion. Our enemies, namely Master Xehanort, would eventually catch wind of our investigation in this world. By breaking my contact with Yen Sid, hopefully less information will be leaked to our adversaries and best case scenario: our activities here will not be noticed.

During my final conversation with Yen Sid for the time being, I was given some disturbing details. As I mentioned in my earlier logs, Witches haunt this world, preying on innocent people, are hunted down by Magical Girls in order to prevent them from doing any damage. Magical Girls are created when an ordinary girl makes a contract with a creature simply known as Kyubey. The contract is fairly simple, the girl makes a wish, Kyubey grants that wish, and in turn transforms them into a Magical Girl, to hunt down Witches.

Normally, this wouldn't sound like a bad deal. However, Kairi found out that the real price of the wish is not to hunt down Witches as a Magical Girl. The true price is actually the girl's soul. I won't go into details of Kyubey's reasoning of this price; only that the soul is transferred to the item known as a Soul Gem, thus giving its name. Apparently Kyubey does not mention this part of the contract. The first reaction I have is "Why?" Why hide this detail? More than likely, if the girls knew about this fine detail, they would not make the contract.

I admit that I am already suspicious of this character. However, based on my investigations regarding to the records of unusual murders, suicides, or even attempts of these incidents, these Witches have been existing far longer than me or anyone else I know. And if this Kyubey has been around since the Witches have first appeared in this world, is he here as a means of counter offensive against the Witches? Or has he been around longer than them? Either way, I doubt this Kyubey is the "great disturbance" Yen Sid sent us to investigate. Yet, I believe Kyubey holds the key to this mystery. However, I will leave this to Kairi. I have a feeling that she is closer to our main objective than I am.

Author's Note: Another chapter done.

To answer someone's question regarding about Kairi sensing Witches and Sayaka's heart.

As a Princess of Heart, Kairi is able to sense darkness in general. Witches themselves, I perceive, are entities of darkness themselves, similar to Heartless.

As with Sayaka's heart, Kairi doesn't literally hear Sayaka's heart "weeping", she just senses something happened to it. In this case, the heart getting separated from the soul.

I hope this clarifies that question.

Don't know when I'll post the next chapter, since I'll be busy reading and writing for school.

Until then, I hope all of you are enjoying this.