AN: Happy (Belated) Birthday, Kaname Madoka!
She doesn't even try to hide it; Madoka is all-seeing, after all.
There's scraps of paper scattered, and dusts of glitter in her hair when she feels her sweep through the room.
One glance up for confirmation, before she turns her attention back to her hands, where she's folding a small origami crane; pink, half finished, that will soon join the large pile to her side.
Lips twist into a frown, and hands are around her waist in another moment.
Warm breath against her neck. "I know you saw me, Homura-chan."
Her own lips twitch, and she barely manages to hold back her amusement at the whine she can hear in Madoka's voice.
"Mm," she replies, eyes still concentrated on her task, "welcome back, Madoka."
Three...
Two...
On—
She's turned around, and her protest is cut off as lips press into her own.
Her eyes flutter close, because she could never get tired of this.
Seconds, and she's pulled closer; kissed deeper. Until she pushes away, gasping for air.
"M-Madoka...!"
Madoka smiles in response, her own breathing elevated. "That'll teach you to ignore me, Homura-chan..."
Pink blooms on Homura's cheeks as she acknowledges Madoka's grin.
"..." She lowers her gaze to the floor, searching for that incomplete crane she had dropped, trying to hide her embarrassment.
A finger pokes her cheek, and she glances out of the corner of her eye as Madoka settles in besides her, ever careful of the neat pile of cranes nearby.
"Even after all this time, you're still so shy, Homura-chan."
"Mm..."
She finds the wayward origami half submerged in the folds of her dress. Before she can reach for it, it's grasped in deft fingers, and when she raises her head, Madoka is smiling as she holds the crane out to her.
"Here you go, Homura-chan."
"...Thank you, Madoka."
An almost indiscernible weight is placed in her palm. Her eyes flicker down, but there's a gaze still burning into her that forces her to look back up.
"...Did you need something?"
"Hm." Madoka taps her chin with a finger, before her smile widens. "Well..."
Some maneuvering, until Homura now sits in Madoka's lap; it's nothing new, but she still feels it's strange—because she sometimes remembers Madoka as smaller—shorter.
Fourt—
Madoka buries her face into Homura's neck, the soft threads of her pink hair tickling Homura's sensitive skin.
"You smell like cookies, Homura-chan..."
Homura shivers, trying to suppress her reaction; she knows that Madoka is deliberately teasing her.
"I baked, earlier," she responds, leaning back in hopes that Madoka will change gears.
She does.
Light pressure against her head, followed by a soft sigh whispered into her ear. "Really...? You always smell like cookies though... Chocolate, sometimes... Strawberry, if I'm lucky..."
Homura hums in agreement. They fall into silence as she's held, and the gentle breathing heard slows down.
She turns her head: pink strands, and a sharp face lined with fatigue. Her hand creeps up, and she brushes her fingers against Madoka's cheek. Feather light touches, until finally one golden eye cracks open.
"Let's trade spots, Madoka," she says softly.
Arms tighten around her waist as she feels Madoka bury her face into her shoulder. "Nn, but I like holding onto you like this, Homura-chan..."
"You should lie down if you're tired. You can use my lap as a pillow."
"That sounds good too..." Madoka murmurs.
She waits for her to move. "...Madoka?"
"Shhh, teddy bears don't speak, Homura-chan..."
Her lips tug into a small smile. "Okay. Sleep well, Madoka."
"Shhh..."
She turns her attention back to the unfinished crane.
/
Fall, and the seasons are no longer limited to just their private garden.
The area outside is lit with red leaves; like crimson waves hanging in the sky; like fire carpeting the ground.
The telltale crunch with every step.
Sweet potatoes are toasting in layered foliage, and girls are searching for chestnuts that have fallen amongst the sea of acorns.
She's one of the few stoking, and watching the fires. She doesn't feel like running around, and it's chilly enough outside that she's using the fire to keep warm.
She's kneeling, hands held close to the burning leaves when someone joins her.
Her reputation still proceeds her, and there's only a handful of girls who will actually stand next to her.
"The temperature sure has dropped rather quickly," Mami comments as she mimics Homura's actions.
"Mmhmm."
Loud laughter off to their side, and they both turn just in time to see Sayaka dive after Kyouko. She misses, only to slip, and scatter leaves into the air as her body hits the floor. Kyouko's laughing the loudest when an embarrassed Sayaka slowly sits up.
Laughter continues as a few witnesses help Sayaka to her feet.
"You're not going to join them?"
Homura blinks, and turns back to Mami. "...Why would I?"
A smile is offered. "You seem interested."
Another blink, before she reaches for one of the slightly charred sticks resting at her feet. A light shift of the leaves as the fire crackles, as smoke continues to rise.
"...No thanks," she murmurs after she realizes she has yet to respond.
"You should start wearing something warmer soon. It seems the temperature will continue to drop."
She glances down to her light dress: a variation of the one she had worn when she first arrived. Something made for summer.
A gust of wind reminds her of the chill in the air.
"...I should be okay for a bit longer."
A knowing look cast her way that she ignores. "Alright. I'm going to go check on how the chestnut gathering is coming along; hopefully there's more in those baskets than what they're throwing back out. Will you be alright watching the fires by yourself?"
Her grip on the stick slackens as she blinks in surprise. She glances around.
It's just her and Mami, surrounded by burning leaves.
"...Weren't there more girls earlier?"
Mami straightens out to stretch her back. "Yes, but most of them have either gone back inside due to the cold, or have joined Kyouko and Sakura in their chestnut war."
"I see..." Her voice trails off as she turns towards the buildings.
"Ah." Mami smiles. "Well, I can leave then, knowing you won't be by yourself."
When Madoka glides in, dress pulling red leaves to trail after her, Mami has already disappeared through the trees.
"I'm back, Homura-chan."
She stands to accept Madoka in her arms. "Welcome back, Madoka."
She leans forward, kissing Madoka for their usual greeting. She starts pulling away, but stops when Madoka continues to hug her close.
Madoka breathes in deeply: crisp air, mixed with smoke, leaves, and the scent of baked goods that seems to follow Homura around.
She grins, committing the smells to memory. "Sweet potatoes?"
Homura nods. "Yes. They're collecting chestnuts for dinner tonight as well. I requested some to make Mont Blanc later..."
Madoka rests her head on Homura's shoulder and closes her eyes. "Sounds delicious."
"Mmhmm..." Madoka is warm, and she doesn't mind holding her, but the mental clock in her head tells her that the earlier batches are close to being done.
Before she can ask her to move, Madoka extracts herself out of her arms. "I'll help," she tells her with a smile.
"Thank you."
Homura approaches the first pile armed with a stick in her hand. She stares at it blankly; she's never actually roasted sweet potatoes this way, ever, and hadn't been present for the setup.
A small tilt of her head.
Smile still on her lips, Madoka presses a kiss to the side of her cheek. "Here, I'll show you."
"...Thank you." She hands Madoka the branch.
The leaves are gently pushed away, parting as gray smoke billows out. Ash, and burnt dust scatter as she continues to dig through, until the small, concrete enclosure buried beneath the leaves is revealed. The stick brushes against something solid, and they can see the shine of silver peeking out from black soot.
"Aha! There they are!" Madoka grins as she trades the stick for a skewer. "Now, we just need to check if it's cooked..." She glances at Homura. "It's kind of like how you check when cakes are done."
Homura nods.
The sweet potato is soft enough that the skewer passes through the center easily.
"Perfect! I call the first one~!"
Homura smiles when she sees Madoka's brow furrow, obviously trying to figure out which one is the largest.
"Mm, which one, Homura-chan?"
"...You can eat more than one, Madoka."
Madoka bumps her hip. "Which one, Homura-chan?"
She regains her balance, before sighing softly. "Hm."
Lavender roves around, until it lands on a particular large bundle in the corner. She blinks as she remembers something.
She points. "That one."
Madoka does a quick test of the metal tongs now in her hands. "Okay."
She reaches for the one singled out by Homura. Once successfully retrieved, she grins, and brandishes her prize.
Homura holds out a plate, and she places it down.
"Thank you, Homura-chan."
Homura nods, accepting the tongs as she hands Madoka her food.
Madoka's already moving to peel off the foil, when Homura turns to her with a raised eyebrow.
"...Weren't you going to help me?"
"Ouch! Hot!" The heat reaches past her gloves, and Madoka blows air on her fingers to lessen the pain.
"...Never mind."
Madoka pouts. "I-I'll help you after I take a bite!"
A metal snap of the tongs as her reply, before Homura starts transferring the rest of sweet potatoes to empty plates.
She's settling the last one on top when she feels a tug on her dress. Once she's sure it's secure, she turns around to face Madoka.
"Say 'ah', Homura-chan."
She opens her mouth as Madoka tries to feed her.
"Hot!" She pulls back, hand already moving to press into her burned lips.
"Sorry! Are you alright, Homura-chan?"
She licks her lips, feeling the heat, and a small sting. "Yes, I'm fine. I just—didn't expect it to be that hot."
"I'm sorry, I thought I had cooled it down enough. Here, let me see."
She lowers her hand as Madoka leans forward. "I'm fine."
"Looks a bit red. We'll need to apply medicine to it."
She blinks. "Medi—"
A hand against her cheek, before Madoka captures her lips against hers. "Mm..." She smiles, pulling away slightly. "All better?"
Homura clears her throat, moving away as she fixes her glasses back into place. "Y-Yes. A-All better..."
Madoka grins. "Good. Okay, let's try that again."
Homura watches, amused, as Madoka continues to huff and puff onto the sweet potato.
"...I think that should be fine, Madoka."
One last blow of air, before Madoka holds out her hand again. "Say 'ah', Homura-chan."
She opens her mouth, and this time manages to take a bite from the fairly cooled down section.
As soon as Homura is done, Madoka brings the sweet potato back to her mouth.
Mouth full, Madoka looks at her expectantly. "Howswit?"
A slow chew. "Sweet. Potato."
"Ahh! No fair, you two started eating without us! Homura! We had a deal! You said you'd call me as soon as they were done!"
She swallows her bite, ignoring Kyouko. A glance up, and she smiles at Madoka. She reaches over to wipe the stray crumbs from Madoka's lips with her thumb. A lick of her finger, before she turns to Kyouko, who is scouring through the stacks on the plates.
"Hey! Where's mine? I had my name on it!"
Madoka blinks. She lifts the sweet potato in her hand, to where there's half of Kyouko's name still visible on the remaining foil.
"Uhm... Sorry, Kyouko!"
Homura clicks the tongs once more. "It doesn't matter, Madoka. She'll eat more than her fair share, anyways."
Kyouko scowls at Homura. She then turns to Madoka. "S'okay, Madoka. I mean, it's not like you knew..."
Madoka glances to Homura, who's trying her best to hide her smile. Lavender meets gold; raised eyes, and Homura loses the battle.
She quickly turns around with a cough.
"Ouch! Hot!" Kyouko pulls her hand away, shaking it to try and cool it down.
One last look at the sweet potato in her hand, before Madoka shrugs. She takes a big bite, deliberately sticking crumbs to her lips. She reaches out, her fingers once more grasping around white cloth as she tugs Homura's dress.
/
"How about this one, Homura-chan?"
"...Why do you keep choosing such short skirts, Madoka? I'm supposed to be dressing warmer."
Madoka pouts as she slips her arms around Homura's waist. The mirror in front of them shows off Homura's new outfit, and golden eyes trail down.
"But this way you can wear those black tights of yours." She leans forward. "...I like when you wear those tights..."
She's expecting a squeak, or a protest, but when Homura remains quiet, Madoka looks up.
She grins: Homura's frozen in place.
Only when Madoka's hands start moving down, does Homura jump away, face red, all the way to her ears.
"M-Madoka!"
She smiles innocently. "What? I can't appreciate them? I know that sometimes your eyes wander..."
She lifts her leg slightly, and watches as Homura follows her movements.
"See?"
Homura quickly glances away. "T-That..."
"...We're practically married by now, Homura-chan," she says softly, stepping forward until she's close enough to hold Homura close. "...Maybe we should have a wedding ceremony. Make it official." She closes her eyes. "Kaname Homura. Has a nice ring to it, don't you think?"
Arms rope around her waist. "...I-Is... I mean, d-do... A-Are..."
She can feel Homura shaking in her arms. She opens her eyes, and lifts her hand, gentle, as she presses it into the small of Homura's back.
"You're the only person I'd want to marry, Homura-chan."
"Y-You're..."
Homura buries her face in Madoka's neck, and she's not surprised when she can feel something damp against her skin.
She gently strokes Homura's head. "Is that a no, Homura-chan?"
"O-Of course not!" Homura pulls away.
Gloved hands cup Homura's face. "Of course you won't marry me?"
Hands roughly grip Madoka's as fingers tighten. "O-Of course I'll marry you!"
Madoka smiles. "You will?"
The temperature in the room has risen, and Homura can feel heat creep up her neck. She shyly looks away. "Y-Yes..."
Madoka grins as she throws her arms around her. "Homura-chan."
Homura turns her head just in time to catch Madoka's lips against hers.
Like always, Madoka presses herself closer.
When she finally pulls away, her glasses are crooked, she's breathing heavily, and she feels herself lost in a daze.
"I love you, Homura-chan."
She focuses her eyes, letting them adjust as Madoka fixes her glasses.
Gold, with pink, framing that familiar face.
The same face that haunts her dreams; the one that resides in her nightmares.
She reaches up, her one hand gently placed on Madoka's cheek.
A soft smile, and with tears in her eyes, "I love you, Madoka. I love you, so, so much."
Madoka hugs her close. "Homura-chan..." Her smile warps into a grin. "...Does this mean you'll keep this outfit?"
"...Madoka."
"What? They make your legs look really nice!"
"...Throw in a scarf at least, please."
"Deal!"
\\
She's outside, helping to set up the canopies, and is in the process of tying down one of the posts when a hand slaps her back.
There's more than enough strength behind that hit, and she barrels forward, tripping, and bringing down the rest of the tent with her as she falls.
In between fits of laughter with half hearted apologies, Kyouko digs her out from the wreckage, and sets her to her feet.
"Geez, you'd think with all that baking, you'd add a bit of weight to your body."
Homura readjusts her scarf, trying to force her ears to not turn that shade of red that she just knows they're turning, but the giggles heard nearby, and the looks cast their way makes it hard to do so.
She readjusts her glasses, before showing Kyouko her annoyance as her lips dip into a frown. "Sakura Kyouko."
Hands are held out. "Nevermind that! That was a congratulatory slap!"
"...A what?"
"A congratulatory slap! Because you two will finally tie the knot," Kyouko grins, "and stop living in sin."
Homura rolls her eyes. "How long were you waiting to use that line?" she asks dryly as she crouches, reaching for the canopy once more. "You're helping me set this one back up, by the way."
"Yeah, yeah."
They work in tandem, Kyouko setting the poles as Homura ties them down.
"There, good as new." Kyouko tests their weight, shaking it roughly.
To Homura's relief, it remains standing.
"Anyways, the news is slowly making its way down the grapevine; I'd say you have until dinner, before everyone knows."
Homura starts unraveling another canopy to set up. "That's... well, I expected it."
Kyouko joins her side, helping to unroll the cloth tarp. "Y'know, I'm surprised you two didn't marry earlier. Put those rumors to rest. Who popped the question, anyways?" She glances over, and Homura is keeping her eyes glued to the floor.
"...Madoka."
"Well, can't say I'm surprised. Even after everything, you're still the same, shy little geek on the inside."
Homura shoots her a glare. She remains quiet, because she can't deny that fact.
Kyouko flashes her a fanged grin. "But, yeah, Mami is busy tripping all over herself; I think she's more excited than you about this."
"Mm..."
Kyouko's hands pause. "Hey, you do want to marry her, right?"
Homura blinks. "What? Why wouldn't I?"
Kyouko shrugs, before standing as she holds two poles in her arms. "Call it a hunch, but it's probably the same reason why you're always afraid to make the first move."
Back facing her, Kyouko doesn't see Homura bow her head.
"Well, whatever problems you got, it doesn't really matter, 'cause you already said yes, and you two are already married, anyways." Kyouko steps forward, but suddenly turns back. "Oh, by the way, Sayaka doesn't approve."
Homura raises an eyebrow as she stands. "What?"
"That's what she says, anyways. Y'know, that whole thing, with Madoka being her wife, or whatever. She just wants to mess with you."
"Oh. Uhm... alright, thanks, for the heads up..."
"Though, she's kind of serious. So, maybe you should start practicing or something."
"...for what?"
Kyouko grins. "She's gonna challenge you to win the Goddess' hand in marriage."
Homura places a hand to her forehead. "...Let me guess, she's going to do this during the festival."
"You got less than a week, and judging by how easily I slapped you, I'd say you should fill up on cakes, or at least get Madoka to enchant you or something, otherwise you're gonna get your butt kicked."
A small sigh. "...so, magic will be allowed?"
Kyouko shrugs. "No idea, but I won't say anything."
"...Great."
\\
She's waiting as the chestnuts boil when Mami storms in.
"Homura! Great! You're here today! Listen, I brought some references for you to go through."
She blinks as a stack of books are dropped on top of the small glass table.
"Uhm, references for what?"
Mami pulls the first book over. "Dresses, silly. And for decorations, center pieces, flowers, things like that."
"Wha—"
The cover is flipped open, and Homura pales when she sees an alarming number of coloured papers on the edges of every book.
"Uhm, it's—"
"Now, first off, what kind of wedding do you plan to have?"
"W-What?"
Mami turns to her with a small huff. "Homura! Haven't you looked into this at all? Western style, or a more traditional style?"
"Uhm," her brow furrows, "I-I'm sure Madoka wants to wear a dress...?"
"Excellent! I was thinking the same, but I wanted to make sure first." She flips a few pages. "Now, this one here," her finger points to a dress in the corner, "seems like it would go along with your body line. A simple cut, but still stylish."
"U-Uh huh...?"
"Or maybe this one." Mami taps on a dress pictured on the next page. "I really like how the sleeves flare out here, don't you agree?"
"Uhm..."
"This one seems to be really popular; I took a few polls, and so far this seems to be the one the other girls want to see you wearing."
"Polls...?"
"And this one, over here, is the one they want to see Madoka wearing. Of course, it doesn't mean that you two won't have a choice, just that I think you'd agree that both these dresses seem to almost fit you two perfectly."
Her mental clock tells her the chestnuts are done, and she quickly stands to her feet. "Uhm, t-there's, I need to c-check on something..."
Mami shadows her, following her into the kitchen, and continues to rattle into her ear as she sets about her preparations.
When she feels Madoka enter the room, she rushes towards her, hands still covered in flour.
"W-Welcome back, Madoka!"
"I'm back, Homu—Oof!"
"Save me," Homura whispers into her ear.
"Homura-chan?"
Homura turns, and nods towards Mami who has two books clutched in her hands as she emerges from the kitchen.
"Madoka! Good, you're back! I was just discussing with Homura the coloured streamers you should place above the columned pillars."
"The what?" Madoka briefly glances to Homura, who merely shakes her head.
"The columned pillars that you will set up along the aisle! It'll go great with the marble flooring for the dance area."
"Uhm..."
Homura hugs Madoka close. "I-It's been an hour now; she's shown me 10 different dresses, but they all look the same..."
Madoka grins, looping her arm around Homura's waist. She presses a kiss to the side of her head. "Alright, leave this to me," she murmurs.
She straightens out.
"...and I was thinking of having a sort of, 'Goddess' theme, mixed with—"
Madoka clears her throat, effectively cutting Mami off. "Mami?"
"Yes?"
"...Uhm, seeing as you're already so... well-versed in wedding planning, I'll leave most of the things to you."
Homura buries her face into Madoka's shoulder, prompting Madoka to press her hand against her back.
"The only things that I want control of, are our wedding dresses, our vows, and the song chosen for the first dance. You can have free reign over everything else; I leave the wedding plans to you."
Mami blinks rapidly. "Are you sure, Madoka?
She nods. "I know you're perfectly capable of planning something amazing."
Homura lifts her head—and isn't surprised to find Mami beaming.
"Oh, thank you, Madoka! I definitely won't let you down! This is—I just—"
With a grin, Madoka holds out her free hand. "Calm down, Mami. Take a deep breath," she gestures, and Mami does as told, "okay, now exhale."
Mami breathes out.
Madoka nods. "Good. Anyways, you, can uhm, go do your planning, and you can get any of the other girls to help you as well."
Homura presses her face against Madoka when she sees how ecstatic Mami looks.
"Of course!" Mami gushes, immediately reaching for Madoka's hand. She grips it tightly, her own lighter eyes shining. "You two will have the absolute, most beautiful wedding possible!"
Madoka smiles. "Thank you, Mami." She gently nudges Homura.
"...Thanks."
"Oh, I need to go talk with the others, and—and I need to—"
Madoka nods, gently extracting her hand. "If there's anything you need to bring up to us, you can send me a message. But, Homura and I will be a bit busy in the mean time, so can you tell the others that our room will be off limits for a while?"
"Oh, of course! I'll leave those books over there for you to browse through!" Mami points to the large stack. "They're marked, and I have notes written down for references."
"Thank you again, Mami."
"Yes, of course," Mami responds.
To their surprise, she suddenly rockets forward and her arms surround the both of them.
"I'm really, really happy for you two," she whispers softly.
Madoka smiles, and returns the hug as Homura awkwardly remains squished in between.
Mami pulls away, and she and Madoka share a grin. "Congratulations, you two."
"Thank you."
The clicks of her heels as she leaves the room, and Homura finally moves away from Madoka with a sigh of relief.
"That was..."
Madoka grins. "Intense? Have you forgotten how passionate Mami gets when she's in 'senpai' mode?" she teases.
Homura shakes her head.
"Aw, was my poor little Homura-chan scared?"
A small sigh as Homura brushes her hair back.
"Mm, anyways..." Madoka's grin softens into a smile as she slips her arms around Homura's waist. "I'm back, Homura-chan."
Homura leans forward, her lips meeting Madoka's halfway. "Welcome back, Madoka," she murmurs.
Madoka rests her forehead against hers, their noses barely touching. "Homura-chan?"
"Hm?"
"...I'm sorry, was that alright?"
She blinks, pulling away. "What?"
"I mean, giving Mami control over our wedding. I'm not... I mean, it's..."
"Oh." She shakes her head. "That's fine. It's... more than perfectly fine, actually. Saves us the trouble of having to look through everything..."
"Mm... but that's supposed to be one of those things that people look forward to. Planning the wedding... settling on the cake, compromising on the decorations... Matching colour schemes, and..." Madoka trails off, finding Homura now watching her closely.
"...Did you want to do all that, Madoka?" she asks quietly.
Madoka smiles, gathering Homura's hands in hers. She lifts her left arm, stretching it out to the side, Homura's arm against hers as she continues to hold Homura's hand. She places Homura's right hand onto her shoulder, before sliding hers down to rest against Homura's back.
Wordlessly, she glides to the side, smiling wider when Homura follows without protest.
"I remember," she says softly, body now swaying with music only she can hear, "when I was younger, looking through photo albums with Mama... I remember how happy Mama looked as she explained each photograph of their wedding."
She closes her eyes, continuing to move with Homura as they lazily dance across the floor.
"A special day, dedicated to just the two of them. To celebrate their marriage."
She opens her eyes, smiling at Homura who's still staring.
She leans forward. "But... every day here is special. Because I'm with you, Homura-chan."
Homura blushes at her honest words. "Madoka..." She averts her eyes. "Y-You're..."
"Mama always did say that one of the biggest dreams a girl could ever have was to plan her own wedding..."
Homura glances up, eyes searching Madoka's face.
And it's not the first time she sees something that's usually buried deep inside.
"Madoka..."
Golden eyes flicker to lavender, before Madoka closes the distance in between them, capturing Homura's lips in her own. Hands tug her closer, and Homura can feel something almost desperate in her kiss; seeking reassurance, wanting the comfort that she's here.
She presses back, and Madoka matches her intensity, unwilling to submit.
Arms loops around her waist, and Homura vaguely realizes she's being lifted.
A gasp for breath as she finds herself lowered to the floor.
"Homura-chan..."
Hands trail down her body, fingers seeking skin.
Golden eyes, almost shining darker—like light amber.
Homura reaches forward, hand gently cupping Madoka's face. "I love you."
Madoka smiles, her hand wrapping around Homura's. "I know. I love you too, Homura-chan."
She leans down, eyes half closed.
A gentle breath against her cheek, disappearing as lips press into hers.
/
It's a clear autumn day.
Blue skies dotted with scattered clouds.
Red still blankets the trees; still lines the ground.
The air is cool against her skin, and she readjusts her jersey collar, before pushing her ponytail back.
"Homura, catch!"
She turns as a flash of white is thrown at her. She catches cloth in her hands, blinking as the owner of a familiar shade of blue saunters to her side.
"Yo! Practicing hard, I see," Sayaka says as she offers her a water bottle.
"Mm," she replies, accepting the drink even though the water station is a small distance away. "Thanks," she murmurs, fingers already moving to untwist the cap.
"Yeah." Sayaka turns to her own opened bottle, and they both chug down their water in silence.
As soon as she sees Homura lower her drink, Sayaka glances to her.
"Kyouko told you, right?"
Homura replaces the cap, eyes staring at the bottle. Finally, she looks up to match that crystal blue gaze.
"Yes."
"I'm serious, you know? Madoka..."
She wraps the towel around her neck, head tilting up, towards the sky. "Yes."
There's a hand gripping her arm, forcing her attention back down. "...We had our problems, back then."
Back then, and so long ago.
"And, I know, she's happy with you. That you're," Sayaka sighs, "...maybe you're the only one here, that really understands what she's going through."
She continues staring. Waiting.
"But," Sayaka shakes her head, "...I just want to make sure."
"...That?"
Sayaka lets go. "We'll be divided into teams, and most of the groups will be randomly selected. There will be individual scores though. If you're even 100 points close to mine, I'll accept you."
Homura blinks, but Sayaka is already turning around with a wave.
She stops, glancing over her shoulder. "At your current rate, I'd say you'd be lucky to even be close to 500 points."
Homura's fingers tighten, and plastic crinkles under her grip.
She turns, and stares towards the tracks for a moment, watching as others racers circle along the course.
Her best time is still too many seconds behind Sayaka's.
She deposits her belongings off to the side, before she approaches the starting line once more.
Whether or not she thinks this competition is ridiculous, she knows that she still has something to prove.
A slow count in her mind as she lowers her body to ready position.
Three—
Two—
She sends her body forward, feet pounding on the ground.
And maybe—
—and she knows this, deep, deep down—
that just maybe, she's not good enough, after all.
/
It's more than a change of seasons, and more like a month long celebration.
The hallways in particular are decorated with pink, and accented with purple.
In dedication; in reminder.
There's an informal party held in one of the new banquet halls.
Tables overflowing with food.
Praises ever flowing; a constant stream as they bow in front of their Goddess.
She has her rightful place against her side, and more often than not, the words are directed towards her as well.
She offers a polite smile that slowly wanes as the night continues; that all but fades when Madoka disappears to fulfill her duties.
There's a tap against her head, and she's not surprised when she turns to see a Kyouko with her mouth full. Kyouko swallows her food, before wiping her mouth with the back of her hand.
"You know, after this summer, I thought you were really starting to warm up to everyone."
Homura pokes at her half eaten pudding with her spoon, merely responding with a slight shift of her shoulders.
"...It seemed like you were really starting to fit in. So, what's up?"
She shoves a spoonful of dessert into her mouth to avoid a response.
"What's it? Pre-wedding jitters? The Goddess' soon to be wife has cold feet?"
She forces down the bite, washing it down with water.
A hand is roughly on her shoulder, gripping her dress tightly enough that the one sleeve slips off.
"Seriously, Homura. I thought you were past this."
"Past what?"
Calmly, Kyouko removes the pudding and spoon from her hands to place them on the table.
Not a second later, she shoves Homura, and there's a rattle as her back hits the chair.
She knows that everyone's watching; can feel as Mami's presence steps closer.
"How the hell should I know what goes on in that stupid little head of yours?"
Kyouko is now griping her dress front, and she finds herself lifted off her seat.
"Back then, it was always something. Even not too long ago, you were getting lost in your mind. You two love each other so much—it's almost suffocating to be in the same room. So why are you always—"
"Kyouko."
Kyouko growls, trying to shrug off the hand on her shoulder. "Not now, Mami."
"Not here," Mami hisses.
It's enough of a distraction, and she's long gone before they even realize that she had activated her magic.
The hallways are empty, and her footsteps echo behind her as she walks through.
A celebration.
She presses her hand into her sternum, forcing her tears back.
Happy B—
\\
She knows, really, that the problem is her all along.
But she's the only one who sees it—those traces of lingering sadness behind Madoka's eyes.
That yearning for something that she can taste on her lips.
Months—maybe years, and she still knows that if she had the choice, she'd give this all up for her.
But the problem is, she can't become a Devil.
She's still too weak on the inside; too clingy; too dependent on this Goddess that rules this eternity.
The Madoka that rules her heart.
She glides into their shared room, footsteps not slowing as she heads towards the kitchen, her goal, her mind on one single thing.
Two glasses are pulled out, followed by a familiar bottle that has remained untouched to this day.
She stomps towards the table, and all but slams the cups down when she takes a seat.
Eternity is happiness, yet happiness is still bitter.
She pours herself a glass, filling the one next to it once it's full.
A toast as glasses clink together, before she tilts her head back and downs everything in one single gulp.
She chokes, the alcohol burning her throat, stray droplets running down her chin.
She ignores it, and pours herself another one.
Two.
Three.
Four.
She'd be eighteen today.
Five.
Six.
Sev—
/
She already knows that something's wrong; had felt it even before whatever had happened.
There are no pit stops when she returns, and their room is her first destination.
Through the doorway, and the sweet smell that she has come to think of as 'home,' is drowned out by the stench of alcohol.
She can see her figure lying besides the table, black hair pooled around her, a small glimpse of red hidden beneath.
She pauses as a memory hits her.
But it's not her Mama in front of her house, and her Papa isn't there, asking her to help carry her inside.
It's Homura, and something clenches her heart as she continues to walk closer.
"Homura-chan?"
She doesn't stir, and golden eyes flicker to the table: one empty glass, one full. A bottle that's almost empty.
She breathes out slowly.
When she's beside her, she lowers herself to the ground, before easily lifting Homura's head, to place it into her lap.
"Homura-chan?" Her hands gently fix her hair back into place. "Homura-chan?" she strokes her cheek lightly, blinking back her own tears. "Homura-chan...?" her voice cracks at the end, and she stubbornly wipes at her eyes.
Homura moves, and finally, unfocused eyes open. "...Madoka?"
Homura, who should smell like cookies, and cake, and chocolate, and strawberry.
She fixes Homura's glasses. "It's me, Homura-chan."
"Madoka...?" Homura reaches out clumsily, eyes squinting as she tries to distinguish pink from gold. "Y-You're back..."
She intercepts Homura's hand, gripping it tightly. "Of course, Homura-chan. Why wouldn't I be?"
"I dreamt..." Homura whispers softly, "I dreamt you disappeared... t-that you left me, all alone... N-No one else remembered you, n-not even your family..."
Madoka brings her hand to her cheek, before kissing her fingertips. "Don't be silly, Homura-chan. I'd never leave you."
"...P-Promise?"
"Of course."
Homura pulls her hand away, only to hold up a trembling pinky towards her face. "P-Pinky promise!"
Madoka smiles, and connects her pinky with Homura's. "'Pinky promise, if I lie, I will drink 1000 needles, and cut my pinky.'"
Homura tries to repeat her words, slurring and mixing them instead.
Madoka understands though, and gently runs her hands through Homura's hair. "Homura-chan?"
"H-Hm...?"
"...I'm sorry."
Even through her haze, Homura shifts, trying to sit up, and fails miserably. "W-Why? Y-You h-have nothing to apologize f-for, Madoka."
"...Don't I, though?"
Homura tries to reach for her cheek and misses, catching air instead. She frowns, eyes squinting as she tries to focus. "Y-You're... I s-should... e-everything's my fault..."
"Homura-chan?"
"I-If I had been strong enough-I c-could have, I s-should've been the one—" she chokes down her sob. "I-I'm sorry, Madoka. I-I couldn't s-save you..."
"Shhh." Madoka leans down, until her forehead presses against Homura's. "You have nothing to apologize for, Homura-chan."
"I-I w-wanted to wish you a Happy Birthday. I n-never got the chance to. I-I'm sorry."
"Shhh." Madoka places a hand on Homura's cheek. "You did, Homura-chan. This morning, you wished me a Happy Birthday. Don't you remember?"
"I'm sorry," Homura whispers, her eyes closing, "I'm s-sorry."
Madoka knows that Homura isn't apologizing to her; that she sees Madoka, the first Madoka. The one Madoka that still holds her heart.
They are the same, and yet they are not.
She presses a kiss to Homura's forehead, before straightening up. "Go to sleep, Homura-chan."
Lavender struggles to remain open. "W-Will... w-will you be here, when I wake up...?"
She brushes the bangs from Homura's face. "I will."
"P-Promise...?"
"I promise."
Homura's eyes slowly droop close. "Y-You promised, o-okay...?"
"I promise."
"O-Okay... d-don't forget..."
"I won't, Homura-chan. I promise."
"O-Okay..."
Once she's sure that Homura's asleep, does she finally let her own shoulders slump.
She grits her teeth, hands brushing away the tears.
"I'm sorry, Homura-chan."
/
She wakes to a pounding headache, and to warmth pressed close against her.
A gentle breath against her neck, and she forces her eyes open, trying to push past the fog in her mind.
It's Madoka wrapped around her, and yet, fear grips her heart as she pats her back, touching her, making sure she's real.
Madoka stirs, pink strands moving with her as she opens her eyes.
"Homura-chan?"
"M-M—" Her throat feels like sandpaper. She winces, eyes furrowing at the bitter taste still lingering in her mouth.
"How are you feeling?" A breathy whisper against her ear.
"L-Like..." Her head protests, and she closes her eyes, burying her face into Madoka's neck.
A soft laugh. "Mama always did say that hangovers are the worst. Here, let me help."
Hands are against her back, and Homura sighs in relief when most of the pain disappears. "T-Thank you..."
"Mmhmm..."
They remain lying there, Homura, trying to remember yesterday, Madoka, patiently waiting.
Homura sighs. "I'm sorry..."
Madoka runs her hands through Homura's hair. "For what, Homura-chan?"
"F-For..." There's large gaps in her mind, which scares her more than anything. She's used to large holes in her memories, but these are empty ones that are recent, of yesterday.
She swallows the lump in her throat.
"F-For..."
"Mm. It was kind of interesting, seeing a drunk Homura-chan."
She tenses, afraid of what she had done. "I—"
"It was kind of cute though, when you kept telling me that I was small enough to keep in your pocket."
She sits up, and Madoka is smiling at her, her face reflecting the amusement in her voice.
"...Until I realized you were trying to summon your buckler, and you wanted to keep me inside it."
Her cheeks colour. "I'm so sorry, Madoka. W-Whatever I did yesterday, or whatever I said, I apologize."
Madoka sits up. "Homura-chan."
"Y-Yes?"
"You drank, last night."
She bows her head. "...Yes."
"...Can I ask why?"
Her hands are in her lap, and she grips her dress in shaky hands. "I-I don't remember," she lies as she glances away.
"You don't?"
She keeps her mouth closed as Madoka leans closer.
"You finished off most of the bottle, Homura-chan."
Her fingers tighten.
"...Did it help, Homura-chan?"
She sucks in a breath, before she slowly shakes her head. "N-No..."
"...Do you not want to marry me?"
"N-No! Y-Yes! I mean, I-I don't—" she closes her eyes, head now bowed. "I want to marry you, Madoka! I-I want to marry you, s-so much! I w-want to be w-with you, f-forever, and I—" she hiccups, her hands angrily wiping at her tears, "b-but I don't deserve you. I d-don't deserve to marry you!"
Madoka tries to grab her hands, and Homura pushes her away.
"I d-don't deserve t-this! I d-don't deserve a-anything, o-or anyone—"
It's rare, that Madoka shows her powers towards Homura. Rarer for her to be angry.
But there's strength behind her eyes as she grips Homura's wrists roughly, and forces her to the floor.
"Homura-chan, look at me. Look at me."
Homura is shaking underneath her, and it breaks her heart to see—to be reminded of just how broken she is, and that no matter what she has done—she still can't fix her.
"You," she grits her teeth as her own tears fall, "how can you say that?" she whispers, her own voice catching in her throat. "How can you say that about yourself? T-That you don't deserve to be happy? I know you're happy here, Homura-chan! You make me happy! W-We're," she lets go, bowing her head until it's resting against Homura's shoulders, "w-we're happy here, aren't we, Homura-chan...?"
"M-Madoka...?"
"I-I want to believe that everyone's happy here, but I-I know, some of the girls still cry at night. I c-can change the time, and I c-can change the weather... I c-can make everything how I want it to be. T-This is supposed to be paradise, but lately, i-it feels more like a prison, than a home."
Homura tentatively lifts her arms, until they're wrapped around Madoka's waist. "M-Madoka...?"
Madoka sobs loudly. "I-I'm not a Goddess. I'm just—some stupid girl, who thought she could save everyone."
Homura tries to sit up, even though Madoka is on top of her.
It doesn't work.
She instead tries to settle Madoka down to rest against her, holding her close.
"D-Don't say that, Madoka! Y-You're not—"
"I can't e-even save you, Homura-chan."
"I'm—"
"Sayaka, and Kyouko and Mami... Everyone... I'm... I'm not... I—"
"S-Stop it! Stop talking about yourself that way! Y-You're supposed—"
"What, Homura-chan?! What am I supposed to be?! What am I supposed to do?! What—"
Homura grips her tightly. "I-I don't know! Y-You're K-Kaname Mado—"
"Kaname Madoka doesn't exist anymore!" One hand pounds on Homura's chest, but the dull pain is nothing compared to the one in her heart. "K-Kaname Madoka—doesn't exist anymore..."
Homura tries again, and this time manages to sit up. She pulls Madoka into her lap. "T-Then..." She hugs Madoka close. "T-Then you're not her."
Madoka lifts her head, golden eyes filled with tears as she stares at Homura. "W-What...?"
"Y-You're not Kaname Madoka... a-and, m-maybe I'm—I'm not Akemi Homura."
"Homura-chan...?"
"T-The Kaname Madoka I knew," Homura swallows heavily, "...is not you."
Madoka presses her hands against her. "I k-know that! I know—I'm not the s-sa—"
"But..." Homura gently strokes her head, "the one that I love, t-the one I see in front of me," she leans forward, kissing Madoka's forehead, "is you."
"H-Homura-chan...?"
"A-Akemi Homura stopped existing, a long, long time ago. I'm no longer that girl, e-even though she's still a part of me." Homura gives her a small smile. "It's... the same with you too, Madoka." She gently cups Madoka's cheek, her thumb gently stroking her face. "Kaname Madoka stopped existing, but," she lowers her hand to rest against Madoka's chest, "she's still a part of you."
Madoka blinks, her eyes shining with unshed tears.
"I'm..." Homura takes a deep breath, "I'm, s-slow, and clumsy, a-and, prone to loneliness and self doubt... b-but," she glances away, cheeks turning pink before she turns back, "...I'm confident, in the fact that I love you the most."
"Homura-chan..."
"And, maybe i-it's time I started living again, not as who I've become, but to who I want to be." Homura reaches forward, both hands now resting on the side of Madoka's face. "Madoka, w-will you marry me?"
Madoka's eyes widen.
"W-We'll start over. W-Will you," Homura licks her lips nervously, "w-will you become my wife? B-Become Akemi Madoka...?"
Madoka lifts her hand, placing it on Homura's as her eyes close. Tears slowly trickle down as a smile blooms across her lips.
She opens her eyes. "Yes, I'll marry you, Homura-chan." She leans forward, sealing her proposal with a kiss. "I'll," she breathes out, eyes opening briefly, before they once again close, "I'll gladly become Akemi Madoka."
"Mado—mmfh!"
Madoka grins, pushing Homura down. "I love you, Homura-chan."
"I love y—mmph! M-Mado—!"
"Less talking, Homura-chan..."
\\
She's stretching her legs, trying her best to ignore the eyes that are watching her every move.
Madoka is next to her, and she knows half the attention is concentrated on her as well.
She glances to her side, smiling at the strange sight of Madoka dressed in something other than her all encompassing white dress.
She does miss that ever visible section of skin, but her eyes wander down, to where most of Madoka's legs are exposed beneath her shorts. Smooth, and a tad shade darker than hers...
"Ahem."
Lavender quickly shoots up, her ears turning pink as she realizes she had been caught staring.
"Like what you see, Homura-chan?" Madoka places a hand on her hip, waggling her eyebrows as she straightens her back.
For once, her long, pink hair is tied in a ponytail, and there's a white headband tied around her head. A white t-shirt, topped with a red jacket, and red shorts that leave very little to the imagination.
Homura blinks as she's tapped lightly on her forehead.
Madoka laughs softly as Homura turns that adorable shade of red. She reaches forward, pressing her body against Homura's.
"But, I like what I see, too," Madoka whispers into her ear.
Homura squeaks when a hand is placed a bit lower than her liking.
She jumps away as Madoka grins.
"M-Madoka!"
"What?"
"W-We're, there's," Homura glances around, "t-there's—"
Madoka steps forward. "There's what, Homura-chan...?"
Homura recognizes that look. She takes a step back. "W-We're in public...?" her eyes nervously dart around, trying to find the easiest escape.
"Uh huh...?"
Homura swallows heavily. "A-And I love you...?"
Madoka smiles even as she takes another step forward. "I love you too, Homura-chan."
Homura dashes away, trying to throw Madoka off by feigning to the right, before running to the left.
Madoka easily changes direction, and chases after her.
Everyone watches—and everyone winces when Madoka tackles Homura, their bodies crashing into a pile of leaves that had been swept off to the side.
"M-Madoka-! T-That's, s-stop!"
Kyouko coughs into her hand, before she tilts her head at Sayaka. "You sure you want to get in between that?"
"W-What are—d-don't—pull—on my jacket!"
Sayaka sighs. "What happened to my innocent little Madoka...?"
"M-Madoka! G-Give me back my—W-What are—STOP THAT!"
Mami clears her throat. "Perhaps, we should give them a bit of privacy...?"
Kyouko points her thumb towards the other girls who are watching very closely. "Tell that to those voyeurs over there."
Sayaka sighs, before she claps once. "Alright, there's nothing to see here! Wait—are you taking pictures?!"
/
She curls her body in, trying to minimize exposed skin against the biting cold.
Madoka hugs her closer, smiling down at Homura who she can tell is already half asleep.
The large bonfire in front of them burns brightly, shadowed figures surrounding it, some watching, some dancing.
It had been a day filled with nostalgia; a day where she actually felt almost normal for once.
"Here you go, Madoka."
Madoka turns to accepts the cup of tea from Sayaka. "Thank you, Sayaka."
Sayaka settles besides her, glancing down at Homura who acknowledges her with a brief glance, before burying her face in Madoka's chest.
Madoka is watching her, and Sayaka sighs.
"She won," Madoka tells her.
"...Only because they combined your scores."
Madoka grins behind her cup. "Homura-chan's not exactly the athletic type, Sayaka." She takes a sip.
"...Neither were you."
"Mmhmm," she agrees easily. "But we still won. And, even if they hadn't averaged my score with Homura-chan's, she was only 200 points behind you."
Sayaka sips at her own drink, letting the tea warm her against the autumn evening. "...True."
Madoka turns to her, and Sayaka can see the fire dancing in her eyes. "Does that mean you'll let me marry her?"
She exhales, knowing it's not the reflection from the bonfire she sees. "...Are you happy with her, Madoka?"
Madoka hugs Homura tightly. "Very."
"Then, yes, you have my permission." She closes her eyes, tilting her head back. "I, Miki Sayaka, relinquish all claims to making you my wife, Madoka."
Madoka smiles. "Sayaka-chan?"
Her eyes open at the familiar nickname. "Yeah?"
"It's... I've known you the longest... and..."
Sayaka gently taps her on the arm. "Come on, what are you acting so shy for? You know you can ask me anything."
"...Would you walk me down the aisle? For our wedding, I mean?"
Sayaka blinks. "Y-You want me to walk you down the aisle...?"
Madoka offers her a sheepish grin. "Well, I mean, you kind of fit the role...?"
Sayaka ropes her arm around her shoulder. "Yeah, of course I'll walk you down the aisle!" She glances down to Homura, who's obviously asleep. "She's a lucky girl to have you, you know."
"I'm lucky too."
Sayaka leans her head against Madoka's. "...There was a point in time when I'd be denying it, but... Yeah. You too."
Madoka grins, waiting until she sees Sayaka taking another sip, before dropping her question.
"...So, how are things going with Kyouko?"
Sayaka chokes on her tea, sputtering as liquid dribbles down her chin. She quickly wipes it away with her hand.
"W-What—"
Madoka hums, closing her eyes. "Even though Homura-chan and I will be the first to be married here, it doesn't mean we'll be the last." She opens her eyes, grinning, as Sayaka's face seems to be dyed redder than the fire's light. "If you want, Sayaka-chan, I'll walk you down the aisle, too."
"Sayaka!"
They both turn, to where Kyouko is waving at them, trying to gesture Sayaka over.
Madoka bumps her shoulder. "Go get 'er, tiger."
Sayaka throws her a glare. "I-It's not like that!"
Madoka raises her eyebrows. "It's not?"
"No!"
She leans closer. "Are you sure?"
Sayaka sputters once more. "Y-Yes! Me, and Kyouko... we're—"
"...If you're worried about Mami, I think you have an equal chance with her as well."
Sayaka whirls on her, eyes wide. "Madoka!"
Homura covers her ears with her hands. "...You're so loud..."
Madoka smiles. "Sorry, Homura-chan."
One lavender eye cracks open to survey her surroundings, before it closes once more. "...What's Miki Sayaka whining about now?"
"I'm not whining!"
"She says that she and Kyouko aren't 'like that.'"
"Mm..." Homura presses her face against Madoka's chest. "...They aren't? Because of Tomoe Mami?"
"T-There's nothing between us!"
"...You do know that Madoka knows everything, right?"
"Y-Yeah? Well, she's wrong about me and Kyouko! And wrong about me and Mami!"
"...You hear that, Madoka...? You're wrong about them..." Homura murmurs, voice getting softer.
Madoka grins. "I heard, Homura-chan."
"...Maybe, they need to recheck your Goddess license..."
Madoka strokes her head, smiling in amusement. "Goodnight, Homura-chan."
"...Good...night..."
Sayaka huffs loudly.
"...Shhh..."
"Whatever."
"Hey, we gonna dance, or what?"
Sayaka jumps with a loud scream as Kyouko appears besides them.
"Nn..." Homura clumsily reaches for Madoka's arm, trying to use it to block out the sound.
"K-Kyouko!"
Kyouko raises her hands. "S-Sayaka!" she drawls out.
Madoka leans down to hide her laugh.
Sayaka quickly clears hear throat. "D-Did you need something?"
"Yeah, they're short on dance partners, so I volunteered you." Kyouko grabs her arm, pulling her to her feet.
"...Oh."
Crimson flickers over briefly. "Uh, but, I don't really remember this dancing stuff, so uh, could you teach me how it goes first? B-Before, you know...?"
A small grin appears on Sayaka's face as she gives Kyouko a smug expression. "What? The great Kyouko doesn't know how to folk dance?"
"S-Shut up! It's not like I really had the chance to do this kind of stuff..."
Sayaka links their elbows together. "Yeah, I'll teach you. Come on." She starts dragging Kyouko away.
"Uh—h-hey, I can walk by myself—"
"Oh, stop complaining! Knowing you, you'll try and run once you trip over your feet or something!"
"Will not!"
"Will too!"
"Will not!"
"Will too!"
Homura sighs, her eyes opening as she listens to their bickering fade away. "...Do they not realize they're the next couple on the poll named 'most likely to be married'?"
Madoka grins. "...I placed a bet that their wedding would be in February."
Homura rubs her eyes, slowly sitting up, before she rests her head on Madoka's shoulder. "Mm, isn't that against the rules...?"
"Well, it's not like I actually added to the pool; everyone would end up changing theirs to match mine. If no one wins though, I get half the winnings."
"...Shouldn't that be against the rules?"
Madoka slips her arm around Homura's waist. "Mm, my paradise, my rules."
"You're going to turn into a dictatorship with that kind of thinking, Madoka."
"You're saying that like it's a bad thing, Homura-chan."
Homura closes her eyes. "...Yeah, that wouldn't be that bad at all..." She gently nudges Madoka's shoulder with her face, ignoring how her glasses are now lopsided. "Today was fun, minus all the running."
Madoka laughs. "There was only running, Homura-chan!"
"Not true. The ball toss was fun."
"Only because you starting throwing them at Sayaka-chan."
"She started it."
"We're both on the same team, Homura-chan!"
"You joined in though..."
Madoka tightens her arms around her. "Because you were losing! I couldn't leave my fiancee to fend for herself."
Homura glances at her. "...But, today was fun."
Madoka nods, closing her eyes as she presses her face against Homura's head. "Uh huh. Really, really fun."
"...Can I just sleep in tomorrow?"
Madoka grins, her eyes opening. She pulls away to show Homura her raised eyebrow. "Homura-chan."
"We're not even participating in anything tomorrow," Homura protests weakly. "Autumn's the season of books, but I haven't read a single one."
"Just bring one with you; I'll let you rest in my lap as we watch."
Homura groans.
"Shush you little grouch. It's your responsibility to watch over everyone with me. Especially when I'm called away."
"...I'll trade places with you."
Madoka leans down. "You will, will you?"
Homura nods. "Yes."
"And, how exactly will that work?"
"...Magic?"
"Whose...?"
"Uhm... n-not mine...?"
Madoka squeezes Homura's side, and she jumps in response.
"I was kidding!"
Madoka kisses the top of her head. "I know you weren't, Homura-chan."
Homura settles back into her spot in Madoka's lap. "I'd gladly trade places with you, Madoka."
Madoka smiles. "I know you would, Homura-chan. But," she gently taps her on the nose, before fixing her glasses, "something tells me that if I gave you too much power, you'd do something stupid with it."
Homura huffs. "Don't confuse me with Miki Sayaka."
Madoka leans in close, until Homura can feel her breath against her face. "...You know that's impossible, Homura-chan," she whispers, her voice low.
Homura lifts her head, closing the small gap in between to kiss her.
She pulls away. "Madoka?"
"Hmm?"
"I never gave you your birthday present."
"You didn't."
"...You peeked, didn't you?"
Madoka smiles innocently. "...No?"
Homura sighs. "Well, it's not like I really hid it. But... later today, will you come with me to the garden?"
Madoka lifts her hand, placing it on the side of Homura's face. "Sure, Homura-chan. I'll go wherever you want me to. And no, it still doesn't excuse you from tomorrow's festival."
Homura becomes limp against her body, and Madoka barely manages to catch her before she falls.
"Homura-chan!"
"I can't move, Madoka. You'll have to carry me."
Madoka laughs, easily pulling Homura against her. "I don't mind."
"You're not supposed to agree," Homura whines.
She grins. "I know."
\\
Hand in hand, Homura leads her through their private garden. Heels tap against wood as they cross the familiar bridge, stopping briefly to watch as cherry blossoms flutter down.
A few lands on Madoka's head, and Homura gently brushes them away.
They share a smile, before they continue.
Green in Spring, and past the cobblestone path. Her eyes flicker towards the familiar trail, already knowing her piano no longer sits at the end; it's in the banquet hall, moved, in preparation for their wedding.
Madoka squeezes her hand, and Homura glances at her with a smile as they glide on by.
Summer, and the sun bears down against their backs. She loosens her scarf as Madoka fans herself against the heat.
Past the familiar gazebo; beyond the wildflowers. She stops in front of the large patch of dirt, no longer empty, and still overgrown with prickly brambles.
"Another half year," Madoka murmurs as she stares.
She squeezes Madoka's hand this time, and Madoka responds with a smile, before she's the one leading them away.
Further, and they enter Fall with blankets of red that reminds her of outside.
She watches as leaves drift through the air; watching as they fall, as they disappear.
A familiar feeling, but, she lifts Madoka's hand, kissing it softly.
Things aren't the same.
They continue, the crunch signaling their footsteps as they walk past the line of trees.
The temperature drops, and she shares her scarf with Madoka, wrapping it around her neck when she sees the first sign of a shiver.
Winter, white, and mist exhaled with every breath.
A different, crisp sound as they step; a different kind of wonderland.
She holds Madoka's hands in hers, occasionally blowing on them, keeping them warm.
Madoka smiles fondly, the sight reminding her just how much she's loved.
The path behind them disappears as flurries continue to fall, but Homura ignores it, already knowing the way by heart.
They continue to walk, until they're both shivering, pressing close to stay warm.
"H-Homura-chan...?"
"Almost there," she murmurs, her hands rubbing Madoka's arms to keep the goosebumps down. "I told you you should've dressed warmer."
Madoka pouts as Homura smiles.
She spots the red ribbon tied around one of the branches, and increases her pace, pulling Madoka along with her.
"We're here," she whispers.
They duck under a low hanging branch, and golden eyes flicker to the familiar red as they pass.
"Madoka."
She turns back, and her eyes widen at the sight before them.
A small clearing, lined with strings of origami tied all around. Pink, and purple; blue, and red, and yellow.
She smiles as the cold vanishes.
Homura takes her hand, gentle, as they continue inside.
She looks around, realizing that it's more than just folded flowers; there's animals too, and she grins when she realizes Homura has arranged them by habitat.
She turns, seeking lavender in the sea of the colours.
Homura smiles at her, and they stop in front of one of the larger trees.
"Homura-chan... Thank you."
Homura steps closer to slip her arms around Madoka's waist. "Madoka. Look up."
She does as told, her smile widening when she spots the bundle of cranes hanging from one of the taller branches. Long enough and filled with enough cranes that if she reached out, she could touch them.
Already knowing there's 1000 of them up above without having to count.
Homura hugs her close. "Happy Birthday, Madoka. Make a wish."
Madoka knows—can appreciate the humor in Homura's statement. She laughs softly, her tears finally falling as she tries to find the words.
"Homura-chan..."
"Hmm?"
She presses her hands against Homura's back, holding her tightly.
Homura continues to hold her as she cries, rubbing her back, whispering reassures into her ear.
Finally, she pulls away with a small sniffle. "I wish," she wipes at her eyes, wanting to see Homura clearly, "I wish to be with you forever, Homura-chan. That we'll be happy, together, as Akemi Homura, and Akemi Madoka."
Homura hums softly. She gently pushes Madoka back, only to place her hands on her shoulders.
With a smile, she leans forward, eyes closing as she brushes her lips against Madoka's.
When her eyes open, she's crying just as hard as Madoka is.
"Done," she whispers.
Madoka grins, before she tackles her, and they both fall onto the snowy floor.
Madoka straddles her, smiling at Homura's crooked glasses, and knows her own face is just as flushed, just as red.
"Homura-chan... I'm cold."
Homura reaches out, snow covered fingers gently brushing Madoka's face. "You are?"
Madoka nods, leaning close. "Uh huh..."
"Maybe I should warm you up then...?"
"Will you?" Madoka asks as she tugs Homura's glasses off.
"I'll try...?"
Madoka smiles, her lips barely touching Homura's. "Okay... try your best, Homura-chan..."
"O-Okay..."
AN: ... Or should I say Akemi Madoka :)))) I was originally not going to write anything for Madoka's birthday, but I had a stray thought. This fic is seriously like, super MadoHomu. The super-est MadoHomu, ever. I don't know, I don't even like romance that much, but apparently I'm a romantic at heart.