Last rites

The clothes dryer was doing a lot of noise.

Mami was already used to it and, luckily, she had not received any complaints from neighboring apartments. The sound was also useful to warn that the machine was working while she was distracted by other tasks, or even to camouflage her musical adventures.

While she ironed and folded the clothes to put in a basket, usually Mami take advantage of that time to croon. However, her concerns spoke louder.

It had been an unexpected morning.

／人◕‿‿◕人＼

The doorbell rang in Tomoe's apartment.

"Huh?!" Mami was going to the kitchen. Already dressed up, but sleepy, she was still thinking about what would be for breakfast.

The doorbell rang again.

Mami hurried her step toward the door. "I'm coming... I'm coming..." She opened it slight to see who it was.

"Good morning, Mami-san." Oriko greeted. Carried with her a handbag. "I knew you would be awake by now."

"Oriko-san?" Mami opened the door completely, realizing that the other girl was alone. "H-Has something happened?"

Oriko gestured with her head in confirmation. "Yes, it is about Kyuubey."

"Ah..." Mami rubbed her hair, remembering that she had not combet it yet. "It's about the areas that we'll revisit today in the daylight? Or is about the schedule?"

"I think it will not be necessary anymore." Oriko opened her bag.

Mami's eyes widened when she saw what was inside.

"May I come in?" Oriko looked around, searching for some unlikely witness of that reaction. "I must be brief. I want to return before Yuma wake up."

Mami, astonished, took some time to respond. "Oh... yes... of course! Of course! Please..." She led Oriko into the living room.

Then Kyouko left her bedroom in her pajamas and with her long hair loose. She rubbed her eyes as she yawned. "Uuuuuuaaahhh... Hey Mami. Who was bothering with the bell?"

Oriko answered. "It was me, Sakura-san. Oh... and good morning to you too."

Kyouko squinted. "Huh? What are you doing here?"

Smiling, Oriko reached inside of her bag and from there took the head of Kyuubey.

Mami seeing it again, she realized that because of the impassive expression and look of that creature, it was difficult to discern whether he was alive or dead. It made her even more troubled.

"Whoa!" The sleep of Kyouko went away immediately. "Where did you find this bastard?"

Oriko put the head back into the bag. "This is the evidence that confirms my fears. He is really following us, watching us."

"Shit..." Kyouko clenched her fists.

"You met him yesterday?" Mami asked.

"Yes." Oriko sighed. "Kirika should have informed you that I was resolving outstanding issues in Shirome."

"Uh-huh." Mami confirmed.

"I should have been able to feel them with my telepathic connection..." Oriko pursed her lips, as well as the hand holding the handle of the bag. "They should be able to camouflage before my power, but yesterday there was a routine break when I separated from Kirika and Yuma and he must have been careless. I tried to capture, but ended up killing him."

Kyouko smiled. "Heh. As if that was bad."

"Kyouko, it IS bad." Mami said. "This may have been our only chance to find out where he's and what he's doing."

"No. Nothing is lost." Oriko exchanged glances with Mami and Kyouko. "While chasing him, I managed to get into his mind. I got several images, not very clear, but that should be valuable clues about where he has been or may still be."

"I see, that's why you came. You'll describe me what you saw and you think I'll be able to find out where he's." Mami affirmed.

Oriko nodded. "Perfectly. I trust you, Mami-san."

Then the silence filled the room, which soon Mami tried to break it. "So... why don't you sit on the couch? I can prepare some tea while you tell me more."

"No. I said I have to be brief."

Kyouko agreed. "Yeah, speak."

Oriko took a deep breath before continuing. "I saw... tunnels made of concrete, on the walls were metal pipes. The place seems to be underground, damp, floodlit. I also saw that these tunnels interconnect gigantic galleries, it would certainly be possible to put a large ship inside them. I glimpsed the wall of one of these galleries and there was painted the name of our city along with a number and ... that is what I saw..."

"Hah!" Kyouko bit her lip. "I knew we should have looked harder in the sewers. Of course it would be the natural habitat of these little shits."

"No, I don't think that's the sewers..." Mami frowned as she pondered... "Hmmm... Oriko-san, are you sure that the galleries are that big?"

"Yes. But I... can not imagine for what purpose there is all that space." Oriko spoke. "The most amazing thing is that it seems that was built by human hands."

"Uh-huh. If the place is underground, to contain galleries of that size would need to be a hundred meters below ground. Certainly not the sewers." Mami clasped her hands, her eyes seemed to glow with epiphany. "But I think I know where this place could exist."

Oriko lowered her gaze. "Really Mami-san..."

"It's somewhere we have visited?" Kyouko asked.

"No, and it would certainly be one of the last places we would look for." Mami continued. "Oriko-san, perhaps you're aware of the flood prevention system that had been built years ago."

"Oh? Yes... It is almost outside the city limits, near the canal."

"I remember at the time it was announced about the works to built it." Mami swallowed slowly. "I... was with my parents watching TV. The main reason was that there was dams upstream and, in the case of rupture of one of them, it would be possible to divert some of the canal water to a temporary location. With this, the authorities would gain valuable time for evacuation. Of course it could also be used in case of too much rain."

"So those galleries are like cisterns." Oriko added. "Especially with those pipes, it makes sense. Since the place is underground, this also explains why my telepathic connection has not been able to locate them."

"Hey. You sure about that Mami?" Kyouko raised an eyebrow.

Mami smiled. "I've never been there, but I saw in a documentary of engineering that Tokyo has something similar to what Oriko described. Of course there must be much larger than this one in Mitakihara."

"If this is true, then we are in an even more dangerous situation."

Mami and Kyouko turned their attention to Oriko.

"Now we know Kyuubey is watching us." Oriko continued. "And speculating on which reasons for him to stop contacting us and need such space..." She shook her head in denial. "I think he will not be willing to receive visitors."

"Unfortunately, you must be right." Mami sighed. "We must make preparations."

"We have no time for that." Oriko replied seriously. "Now that I killed one of them, they should not stay there much longer and even if they stay..." She pressed her lips. "The world needs that we take action."

"And soon, huh?" Kyouko manifested. "They already have announced that it'll have a curfew."

"Though Mitakihara and Kazamino have not suffered many attacks, they will send soldiers here." Oriko closed her eyes. Her voice revealed how much was shaken at that time. "They will be under the mercy of demons. Once the first weapon fires..." Then she opened them in a expression of conviction. "We will go today."

"Today?!" Mami said in surprise.

Even in front of that reaction, Oriko was still determined. "Sorry Mami-san, but we are really losing this war." She turned and started walking toward the exit. "I will talk to Kirika and Yuma about it and come back here at night. Then you will lead us to the location. Let's finish this once and for all."

"Hey girl."

Oriko stopped and answered the call of Kyouko.

"You and I have an eventful history, isn't it?" The redhead smiled. "But I'm enjoying your way to handle things. Not afraid to get your hands dirty."

Noting that Kyouko looked at the bag she was carrying, Oriko said. "Like you, I and Kirika are aware of the nature of Kyuubey. He is not of this world and their intentions are not the most noble."

Kyouko agreed. "You can bet on all that you spoke now."

"Unlike you, however, I never considered him as an enemy." Oriko was crestfallen. "At least I always nourished hopes that I would not be mistaken."

"Oriko-san..." Mami put a hand on her chest. "I know it must have been difficult. I was very close to him before discovering."

"I see. So could you do me a favor?"

"Bring it on." Kyouko winked.

"Yuma has a certain attachment to Kyuubey." Oriko continued. "Could you keep the fact that I killed one of them in secret? I think it would be devastating."

"You know what I think?" Kyouko spoke in more serious tone. "That you should keep her out of it."

"That would be even worse, then I would be betraying her..." Oriko spoke in a low voice, almost a whisper.

"But Kyouko is right." Mami said. "If we confront Kyuubey, you won't be able to hide it anymore."

"I know..." Oriko took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the dilemma. "Although I still hope that we can convince him with words, she will be on our side if he takes any hostile attitude, on the side of those who want to protect this world. Do not worry about this."

／人◕‿‿◕人＼

The sound of the clothes dryer, or rather, the lack thereof, snapped Mami out of her trance. Fortunately the iron was not on some clothes, still the blonde put both hands over her face.

A few hours from here, they would be risking their lives in an only possible chance that the world would have to get out of this crisis.

Maybe we should have looked for other magical girls to help us...

However Oriko had made it clear that Kyuubey was watching them.

We just have this chance to find him because of a stroke of luck. If we had searched for help from more girls, he would just run away. Not to mention that other locations would be unprotected.

Pulling the skin of the face while her hands descended, Mami sighed. She needed to distract that anxiety.

Returning to her duties in the laundry, Mami began to take off the clothes from inside the machine. The days were getting colder and consequently the clothes that was being used were thicker and more difficult to dry. She carefully checked the collars and ends, as well as pockets, looking for any trace of dampness.

Until she put her hands on a green jacket with hood. Mami noted how it was well worn, could not be different, was one of the few pieces of clothing that Kyouko had when she returned to Mitakihara.

It looked like it had happened yesterday, but that cold morning was much more distant.

／人◕‿‿◕人＼

Mami, in her magical girl suit, jumped across the tops of buildings in Kazamino. "Are you sure she's still there?"

[Yes. She spent the whole night sitting there.] Kyuubey was clinging on the blonde's shoulder.

It was winter and cloudy. Although it had not ocurred snow, the cold was intense. Mami was aware that a magical girl could keep warm with magic, but she also knew that to do it for so long would be costly. Her heart squeezed.

[On that building.]

Mami reached the top of the place that Kyuubey had indicated and there she was, Kyouko, also using her magical garments and with her trusty spear lying at her side, sitting on the edge and looking at what was below. Mami decided to approach more before saying anything.

But who broke the silence was the redhead with long hair. "Kyuubey told you I was here?"

Kyuubey jumped from Mami's shoulder to the ground. [I could not help. You ignored your duties.]

"Tch..." Kyouko shook her head slowly in denial.

"Kyuubey, let me talk to her." Said Mami. "Kyouko-san, what happened? It's been a few weeks since you stopped to visit me in Mitakihara. Kyuubey informed that you wanted to be alone and I respected it, but now he told me that you're not even more hunting demons."

"Yeah..." Kyouko continued to look down.

Mami noticed how Kyouko's hands were shaking, that breeze was chilly. "Tell me what ails you. Please."

Kyouko let out steam through her mouth for a moment before speaking. "My father found out."

"About what?"

"'About what?'"Kyouko repeated the question incredulously. "My escapades at night, about me being a magical girl and my wish. Everything."

Mami heard a deep despair in those last words.

"My father told me that I cursed him. He even convinced everyone that I was a witch. Witches don't hunt demons, right Mami-san? Hahaha..."

Mami saw a single drop forming on the chin of the girl who still had her back to her. "Kyouko..."

"He sent all the faithful away, became violent." Kyouko continued. "I tried to show him what I was doing, but my father didn't hear me..."

Mami empathized with the grief of her apprentice and companion. "Kyouko-san. Let's settle this, allow me to help."

"HELP?!" Kyouko turned.

Mami's heart stopped beating when she saw the other girl's darkened oval soul gem.

"My father KILLED HIMSELF!"

Mami stepped back.

"But not before persuading my mother and my little sister to do the SAME!" Kyouko gritted her teeth. "MY WISH KILLED ALL MY FAMILY! How will you help me, huh? With tea and biscuits, HUH?!"

Mami could barely breathe, let alone continue to face that furious glare. "Ky... Kyuubey, why... why didn't you warn me that the situation was so serious?"

[You always asked about Kyouko, never her family.] Kyuubey looked at Mami. [Moreover, I am not convinced how you intervention could have changed something.]

"You know." Kyouko's voice grew quieter as she turned to look at what had dozens of stories below. "I stayed here for hours thinking if I should die, if that could ease my guilt."

Kyuubey manifested. [If you pretend to jump, I must warn you that you being a magical girl, your chances of survival are quite significant.]

"I know that, you moron." Kyouko replied. "But it wouldn't hurt to try, right?"

"Don't do it!" Mami pleaded.

"Relax girl. Hehheheheeeuuuhh..." The lifeless laughter of Kyouko ended in a sob. She sniffed her nose. "I thought well about it. For what I did, the only place that is reserved for me is hell and even if I review my family, they would never forgive me." And then got up, carrying her spear. "Yeah... I need to live with it."

The emotional integrity of Kyouko was collapsing, Mami knew she needed to do something. "Kyouko-san... come with me to my apartment."

"How SO?!" Kyouko pointed the spear toward Mami. "After what you heard, still think that things can be as they were before?"

"No! That's not it!" Mami gestured. "I lost my family too, I know..."

"Stop talking shit." Kyouko interrupted, then turned her attention to Kyuubey. "Hey. I don't need to kill all the demons, right? Just enough for my gem to stay clean."

[You are correct.] Kyuubey affirmed. [Although the population of demons will tend to grow and turn the place more dangerous.]

"Hmmmm..." Kyouko pondered. "I just need to play safe, it's not a big deal."

"What are you saying?" Mami was dumbfounded. "You can't do that!"

"What I can't continue is being stupid like you." Kyouko answered. "Keep wasting time every night and take risks just to leave no demon behind. That's why my father found out and that's why I wasn't there when he... he..." Her arm weakened, to the point of lowering her weapon.

Mami then turned to approach. "You... you're wrong."

"And you think you're doing the right thing." Kyouko smiled. "The truth is that you do it in a pursuit of some kind of redemption and thinks I should do the same. I'll tell you a little secret: that's BULLSHIT!"

"We are magical girls!" Mami exalted, feeling her wounded pride. "For one wish, no matter the consequences, we received the duty and the fate to protect the world from demons."

Kyouko scowled in disdain. "Nah... We make a wish and become magical girl. That's it. We can do what it pleases with our magic. The demons are there for us to 'fill the tank', we don't need to save everyone, Mami Tomoe."

"And will you let them torment the people?" Mami replied.

"And you believe that saved a lot of people, huh?" Kyouko pointed toward the city. "Don't you realize how were the people under the demons's possesion? Madness, depression, misery... that's what I saw in all of them." She spun her spear and left it standing. "So the two idiots here go there, kill all the demons and leave it at that. Hmm? And the next day these people still decide to kill themselves or perhaps taking other lives. I don't blame them, because I felt in my skin the tribulations in which they're going through."

Mami looked away.

"Because of that I did that damn contract for my father, because he really wanted to save someone. You... you're just a farce." Kyouko hawked and spat on the ground. "But don't worry. You can play superhero all you want in Mitakihara, I don't intend to return to set foot there." Then she turned.

"Kyouko?" Mami asked when noticed the intentions of the other one. "You can't leave like that. You're too much disturbed, is not taking into account your statements."

"Blah... blah... blah..."

"Kyouko..." Mami looked around, searching for anything she could say. "Y-Your gem is very corrupted. I brought some cubes with me..."

"The sun rose not long ago, it must have some demons still roaming in the shadows of the city. I can take care of myself. It's best to you go back, there's nothing for you here anymore." Kyouko then took a high jump.

"Kyouko!" Mami reached out. From her glove came a ribbon that reached and held the leg of the girl who was in the air.

When Kyouko felt the tug, she immediately turned around, cutting the ribbon with the blade of her spear. Using magic, she stopped in the air, pointing the spear toward Mami and dove.

Seeing in the expression of fury of her companion her intentions, Mami stepped back with a long jump backwards.

The tip of the spear touched the ground, releasing a wave of red energy.

Opening her arms and hands, Mami formed a barrier of interlocking ribbons that disintegrated to block the attack. "Wait Kyouko-san! I don't want to fight, just we need to talk more!"

Kyouko was already on the ground when she exasperated. "NO MORE TALK!" Then she charged.

Mami was even more scared. Seeking to contain Kyouko, she extended her hand.

But the redhead knew the modus operandi of that person, her senpai. She made her spear to subdivide and surround her, ordering that the tip to cut the ribbons that sprouted from the ground trying to arrest her.

"Stop!" Mami turned to retreat, while creating a musket in each hand.

Kyouko smiled. She also knew the heart of that person. Hurled the metal part in the base of her baton, accompanied by a chain, and captured one of the muskets even before Mami could move it.

The blonde pointed the other musket against Kyouko, but the finger on the trigger shuddered and hesitated, long enough to her be flanked by the tip of the spear. Using the body of her gun, she was able to block.

With such move leaving Mami completely exposed, Kyouko ended her run with a flying kick, with her foot going through a space left by the subdivisions of her spear.

"Ugh!" Being hit at several points by the subdivisions and with a kick in her torso, Mami was thrown back by several meters, with grief cubes falling from the pouch strapped to her thigh along the way. She ended up with her back lying on the ground.

Seeing that the other remained motionless, Kyouko held one of the subdivisions and the spear returned to its original shape from that point. She was panting, knowing that was her limit.

[Why did that?]

She was also aware that had forgotten Kyuubey.

[Why did you decide to fight Mami? In your present condition, she can defeat you easily, not to mention that it was much more costly for your scarse magical reserves.] His gaze was focused on Kyouko. [Why did not use one of your illusions to escape? It would be easier and safer.]

Kyouko lowered her head and leaned on her spear.

Kyuubey, in response, lowered his head as well. [I see... so you can not do this anymore. You denied your own...]

"It's better you shut up..." Kyouko said in a threatening tone. "... If you don't want me to rip these ears." Her soul gem was weighing like lead. Mami spoke about the Law of Cycles, like her father preached about Heaven.

God, I am not worthy to enter in Thy abode, as I am not worthy that Thou enter in mine. I am not even worthy of that soil that I put my foot on, that is the curse that I will bear.

Kyouko picked up the cubes that were scattered and began to purify her gem, as she approached the fallen girl.

Mami tried to lift her torso, but was taken by a sharp pain in her chest that made her to cough up blood on her uniform.

"Oops! It seems that you broke a rib." Kyouko grinned aside. "Now you'll take longer to get back to your home." She then looked at her hand that was carrying the cubes. "Yeah... I should say it was good that you killed more demons than needed this time." And she hurled them against the face of the other girl.

"Kyou... ko... no." Mami closed her eyes tightly, letting out tears.

"If you want to mess with me now, you better be prepared." Kyouko touched the tip of the spear on the chin of Mami. "If you follow me, one of us will die."

Still with eyes closed, Mami then ceased to feel the cold blade and heard the footsteps getting away. "Please... don't go..." In response to her cry, only the feeling of being immersed in sea cold and pain, until paws were over her belly.

[Mami, she is gone. You are hurt, it's best you to heal. I have collected the cubes that Kyouko used, there is no risk of them hatch demons now.]

Mami opened her eyes, letting the tears warm her cold face. "And what will happen to her?"

[Since she completely purified her gem and has no self-destructive intentions, she must survive.]

"But she'll be alone..."

Kyuubey returned to the ground. [Just like you have been before and taught everything you knew about to her. You two were very effective together, but with each acting in different places independently, we can cover a larger area.]

That was not the reason for her question, but Mami acknowledged that might be asking too much to Kyuubey. She rose with difficulty, managed to sit. She brought her hand to the gem in her hair clip and made it shine. The physical pain was gone and soon she could stand up. "If possible, could you let me informed about her?"

Kyuubey raised his ears. [If possible... of course, Mami.]

／人◕‿‿◕人＼

Mami clenched her hands, still holding that jacket.

The first few times she received the news, she felt her heart race. But soon sorrow was reaffirmed when was informed of the attitudes of Kyouko. Finally, her feelings stopped to respond on the information that Kyuubey gave, it was just a news story, like so many others on television or the Internet.

Mami put it together with the rest of the clothes in a pile, there was still much to iron and fold.

The only thing left was the sense of failure, but not guilty. The terrible event with Kyouko was inherent with her wish, something that Mami knew she could never interfere or change. A fatality.

She turned her attention to the basket of folded clothes, it was better to store them before taking care of the rest.

When Kyuubey came with a new information, not about Kyouko but a new magical girl in town, hope rekindled inside her. Evil is abundant and is found in every dark corner of this world. This would be a new opportunity, a new chance to teach someone the use of magic for what is just and good.

While going through the living room with the basket, Mami stopped to contemplate the sunlight that entered through the large windows, bringing with it some of its heat.

Nothing happened as she wanted. Homura Akemi, the new girl, had memory problems and a melancholy aura. It was as if she was tired, as someone who reached the end of a long journey. But this was not reflected in her potential, in which Kyuubey liked to refer it as 'anomalous' or 'outside the range'. Biggest surprise was that Homura would study in the same school as her and that she became the center of attention of a colleague in the same classroom, Sayaka Miki.

The ball of light soon would touch the horizon, offering its reign to the other stars in the dark hours that were to come.

Sayaka soon met Kyuubey and was introduced to the world of magic. For Mami, it was frightening to have two girls on her tutelage so suddenly, but she did not give in. The case of Sayaka was even more special because she could warn her about the importance of thinking hard about what to wish and the burden it would bring in their life. When she finally did the contract, the brand new magical girl even thanked her and said she would never regret.

Slowly the shadows of the furniture and walls were covering the room space.

Kyouko then surprised her with her reappearance. Being so busy with new girls, Mami had not even consulted Kyuubey anymore about her ex-partner. She had changed completely and her clear intentions was to preach her anger and bitterness like a lifestyle. However, the announced conflict changed its course with Sayaka's behavior change, taken by a great grief. Kyuubey even compared it as a curse.

Mami smiled slightly and returned to walk. That sky was not overcast like that winter morning.

When Kyouko approached Sayaka, when she demonstrated empathy, it was then that she learned that her ex-partner was not lost. For a moment, the dream of forming a pantheon of defenders of the city did not seem to be so distant. But it was only a moment, who disappeared along with Sayaka in that metro station, followed by the departure of Homura.

Arriving at the door to the room that Kyouko used, Mami stopped again. From inside only came silence, the blonde soon concluded that the other would be sleeping.

She could never imagine that all those events, finally culminated into something extraordinary. The confirmation that all of them would be saved one day, no matter what forces that fought against, and their accepting of it would suffice.

Opening the door, Mami faced Kyouko in a curious position: she was on her knees, resting her elbows on the bed. Among the questions that populated her mind about what the other was doing, Mami remembered what it meant. Hopeful that the redhead had not noticed, she started to close the door carefully and quietly.

"What was Mami?"

Unfortunately, she was wrong. "I just wanted to store some clothes. Sorry for interrupting you."

"Come in." Kyouko turned her head. "I'm not doing anything..."

Mami was puzzled by that answer, but chose not to ask more questions. She entered the room with the basket and went to the closet. While putting the clothes in, she glanced at the other girl, who was head down, staring at the bed mattress.

Until she said. "Mami, I'm jealous of you."

"Huh?" Mami stopped what she was doing.

"You hide well your concerns. Heh." Kyouko revealed a shy smile.

"Ah." Mami smiled. "I try to distract myself."

"Be serious. Do you really think we'll achieve anything?" Kyouko turned to Mami. "You think that Kyuubey will come back to visit us and accept our cubes and everything went just fine. That's it?"

"We'll do everything we can to convince him." Mami assured.

Kyouko closed her eyes and shook her head in denial. "I understand if that Oriko still have hope, but you? It's very stupid to believe, knowing what that bastard did to Homura." She put her hands to her chest.

Mami noticed how they were trembling.

"He doesn't give a damn about us. He abandoned us, Mami. All of us. And I made jokes about it." Kyouko contracted her face, which was red, trying to hold a cry. "Many people... are dying. Curfew has no use here, because the streets are all almost empty already, no one wants to leave their homes. There's so much fear... so much..."

It had been a long time since Mami saw Kyouko like that. Her partner of many battles could not know, but Mami was convinced that she also knew how to hide.

"Mami, let's stay here? We aren't obliged to do it, we shouldn't risk our lives more than we already did."

She was her partner, even if she did not share the same ideals, that most helped in this long, endless work, which she could not let end in vain. "You already know my answer."

Kyouko again contracted the face, but not in a sad expression. "AAAAHHHHH!" She hit the mattress with both arms, with such force that almost broke the bed in two.

But Mami was not intimidated. "You say Kyuubey abandoned all of us, want us to do the same as HIM?!" Exalted. "Think of Madoka, Sayaka! They are watching us. We must believe until the end! It's like this word you said... faith... is not because of that you were praying right now?"

"I wasn't praying."

Mami was speechless with such dryly reply.

"I stopped to pray long time ago..." Kyouko leaned her body on the bed. "I... just wanted to talk to my family."

Mami gasped, what to say to that?

Kyouko started to sob. "Each day the situation is getting uglier. If this keeps up..."

"Kyouko..."

"Ah... what if... what if we find Kyuubey and he do something with us. If he manage to..." Kyouko continued with her fragile voice.

Mami shook her head. "No! Don't think like that..."

"I just wanted to ask if they at least still consider me as part of their family, but I can't say anything. I know... that they will not listen to me, even if they can. Uuuhhh..." Kyouko gritted teeth, she did not want to scream, but it was a matter of time. But great was her surprise when Mami knelt beside her.

"Kyouko. I don't know how to pray, but about that I can help you." Said the blonde. "Let's do this: I talk to your family on your behalf. I'll talk about all the good deeds you've done."

Kyouko sniffed her nose before uttering. "No, Mami..."

"Ah... Let me finish. Will be fair." Mami said in a soft voice, as she placed a hand on Kyouko's one which was on the bed. "For I want you to do the same for me. Talk with my parents on my behalf. Okay?"

"Huh?!"

Mami closed her eyes and forced a smile. "I talk to them almost every day, but I never received a reply, you know?" With the other hand, she removed carefully small droplets that have arisen between the lashes.

"But, Mami..." Kyouko sighed. "You're not guilt for what happened to them."

"I had a chance to save them." Mami opened her eyes, which were bloodshot. "It was my responsibility. This is what I feel and that's what matters." Then she interwined her fingers with the hand of the other girl. "Let's do it? Together?"

Kyouko got into a brief silence, pursing her lips, before shaking her head in confirmation.

"Good." Mami looked up. There would be the people we miss? She had no answers, only hope.

However, before they could begin, Kyouko interrupted. "I wanted to say something."

"Yes?"

"If we didn't make it..."

Mami made an expression of disappointment. "I already told you..."

"Just listen." Kyouko continued. "If we didn't, yeah? I think it would not be so bad."

"Why do you think that?" Mami felt curiosity.

"At least none of us would be left behind, right?"

"Right." Mami smiled again. "There would be no one with regrets."

／人◕‿‿◕人＼

"This way!"

Under the leadership of Mami and the veil of the night, the quintet of magical girls jumped over the fence of the facility.

"I think we didn't need all this." Kirika looked around. "This place is so far from the city... should have no living soul around here with this crisis."

"A little caution never hurts." After answering, Mami indicated. "See those big tubes coming out of that building? If there is a form of access to the underground, should be inside. We have to..."

Kyouko just stopped what Mami was saying to offer a Pocky box. The two looked at each other for a brief moment.

So Mami smiled and, still silent, took a candy stick.

Then Kyouko offered to the others. "Hey, want some?"

Cheerful, Yuma was the first to pick.

"Yay!" Followed by Kirika.

Kyouko finally looked at Oriko and shook the box, insisting on the offer.

But the white magic girl refused. "No... thanks."

Those words sounded sadly, but Kyouko did not find it strange, since the situation was not encouraging. "Cool." She then picked up from the box a handful of sticks with her mouth.

Oriko spoke again. "It is better not to waste time."

"Yeffs... hmm!" Mami said, but nearly dropping the stick of her mouth. How Kyouko can talk with that?

They reached the building where the pipes come from. From the windows was possible to see that all lights were out. The double door at entrance was locked with chain and padlock.

"Well... it seems that we'll have to look for another way in." Mami said.

"I've already found it!"

"Huh?!" Mami was a little surprised with the statement of Kyouko. "What..." Before she could ask, the redhead had conjured her spear and cut the chain with a single blow. "K-Kyouko! We shouldn't break!"

"With what's going on, no one will worry about it. Heh."

"Mami-san." Oriko intervened. "As much as I condemn such attitude, she is really right. We have more urgent priorities."

Mami nodded. "Sure."

With the door open, an even darker environment has been revealed.

Kirika squinted. "Wow! I can't see anything! Must have a light switch around."

"No. This can draw attention." Oriko conjured a sphere to emit light. "I will take the lead from now on."

As they walked inside, Yuma was stunned by what she saw. "What big machines..."

"This should be used to pump water that is stored." Mami wondered. "They go through the tubes until it flows into the canal."

Oriko stopped. "We have found it."

The girls had come across an elevator, which looked more like a cage.

Kyouko pointed. "Hey! That's stuff looks like the ones they use in mines."

Kirika raised her eyebrows. "And what you thought it would be like, know-it-all?"

"Tch..." Kyouko looked away. "Having tons of rock over my head was not my plans for today."

Fortunately, the door that led into the elevator was not locked. That is what Oriko found. "Come in."

With the push of a button on a panel, the elevator started to go down.

During the descent, Kyouko observed numbers painted in white on the walls of the pit, indicating the depth. She wondered when they would cease growing.

Until, in a thud, the elevator stopped.

"Look! We're not a hundred meters below, only ninety."

Ignoring the sarcasm of Kyouko, Oriko asked. "You both brought grief cubes with you?"

"Yes." Mami replied. "You too, no?"

Oriko just nodded to confirm before opening the elevator door.

They are faced with another door, made of steel, with a wheelhandle. It was already possible to feel a heavier, confined air.

When Oriko started to open it, Kyouko manifested. "Are you sure it isn't full of water on the other side?"

"Are you scared, Sakura-san?"

"Tch." With the questioning of Oriko, Kyouko sighed. There was no way to disprove what she is feeling. Then she felt someone holding her hand.

Yuma's blue eyes were on her. "Will be all right!"

"Ahhh..." Kyouko sighed again. "Being comforted by a little girl."

Yuma puffed her cheeks. "Magical little girl!"

"Huhuhu..." Mami laughed.

"Absolutely sure? I do not." Said Oriko. "But as Yuma remembered very well, we can handle it." She then proceeded to turn the wheel, causing the door to unlock. If for Kyouko fears to be confirmed, she would now be thrown back by the overwhelming force of water.

But she knew this would not happen.

After passing through the door, they were in a tunnel. The light from fluorescent lamps revealed reinforced concrete walls, accompanied by metal tubes.

Mami noticed the humidity on the floor and walls. "This place may have been flooded at least once. Probably a portion of the water they should not able to pump."

"Yes and it evaporates, condensing on the ceiling and walls." Oriko followed the reasoning of the other girl. "It is like a cave... just as I had seen."

"And it's normal lamps are lit around here?" Asked Kyouko.

Oriko made her sphere disappear. "If someone has been here before us..."

Mami perfectly understood that statement. [Kyouko, you better get rid of your spear.]

[Because?]

[Even if we have to fight, I would rather have an opportunity to talk to Kyuubey beforehand.] Mami continued with the telepathy. [If we walk with weapons in hand, will be much more difficult of that happening.]

Yuma hugged herself, somewhat frightened with the environment. "Does Kyukyu is really here?"

"Don't worry little love." Kirika winked. "Mama knows what she's doing."

[Still think we will have a nice chat after Oriko killed one of them.] Kyouko smiled and her spear evaporated. [I'll warn you, the first sign of trouble, I won't hesitate.]

Oriko pointed. "The exit of this tunnel should be close. Follow me."

The girl who wore a mitre was right and what lay beyond left the group stunned.

"WHAT. THE. FUCK." Kyouko stopped blinking her eyes.

The tunnel led into a huge gallery, with extremely high ceiling. The girls looked like ants in proportion to that place.

"And to imagine that exist such place in our city." Mami commented.

On a wall, a large text was painted in white:

MITAKIHARA 01

"You were right Mami-san." Spoke Oriko. "This is the place."

Kyouko looked around. "But no sing of Kyuubey."

"There's still to explore." Oriko looked at the entrance of another tunnel, which was on the other side of the gallery. "Let's continue."

Kirika grinned. "Can you imagine if the water starts to invade."

"Jeez!" Kyouko felt a chill.

"Unlike yesterday, the weather is good today. I hope we do not have this problem." Mami contemplated that space. "The truth is that few people would walk around here. A perfect place for him to hide."

When they entered the next tunnel, Kyouko made an observation. "These tunnels make a curve."

"It seems that the galleries were arranged in a circle." Mami answered to her colleague. "Who built this should have a delimited area and this was the solution."

"Crazy stuff."

After a good walk, they reached a new gallery.

"And nothing of Kyuubey here too..." Kyouko said, frustrated.

Oriko stopped, along with the group in front of the text on the wall:

MITAKIHARA 02

Her heart began to pound, breathing seemed to be a burden.

It was all real.

Kirika then approached her. [Is here?]

Oriko glanced down. [Yes, here is enough.]

The girl with eyepatch smiled. She stretched her neck, shook both arms and clenched her fists. [And then big love? Want me to do by the clean or dirty way?]

[Do not treat it as a joke!] Oriko tensed the muscles of her face. [Do as I instructed.]

"Oriko-san, why we stopped?" Mami asked. "You felt something?"

"Huh? Oh yes..." Oriko turned her head. "It is my telepathic connection."

"Heh." Kyouko poked her lip with her canine tooth. "I keep forgetting of this thing."

"Could you wait here with Kirika?" Oriko looked toward the next tunnel. "I think Kyuubey is near. I want to get closer, but without risking him to found us."

Mami raised an eyebrow. "Hmmm... okay?"

Oriko extended a hand. "Come Yuma."

"Mama?" That the little girl held, before they leave towards the tunnel.

Kyouko grimaced. "Hey! Why taking Yuma with you?"

"For... safety." Oriko walked faster.

"Huh? But what will you do isn't dangerous? Hey!" Kyouko again called for attention.

Oriko started running. Yuma took one last look back before two were out of sight.

"O-Oriko-san?!" Mami frowned, completely confused. "Kirika-san, what-what..."

Kirika had a smile that was growing. Her neck tensed while her face was turning red.

"K-Kirika...?" Mami was even more perplexed.

"Kuu... kuku... kukukukuku..."

Kyouko narrowed her eyes. "Oooh nooo..."

"...kukuKUKUKUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA ..." Kirika opened a hearty laugh, throwing her head back.

"After everything! Especially with what's going on!" Kyouko gritted her teeth. "Really have the nerve to do that?"

"...hahahaaa." Kirika pulled herself together, but still smiling. "What a pity, no? But it was funny to see that face of yours, it really was."

Mami addressed Kyouko. "What does that mean?"

"Ah!" But it was Kirika who answered. "It means that this is the end of line for you two."

／人◕‿‿◕人＼

"Mama!" Yuma called for Oriko, who continued to pull her through the tunnel, with hurried steps. "Why did you lie again?"

"It was necessary." Said the other.

"Necessary? Leave papa with them behind?"

"You will soon understand."

"No. Stop!" Yuma resisted.

Oriko continued to pull, causing the little girl's feet to drag across the floor. "We have no time! Come with me. You will understand."

"STOOOOP!" Yuma pulled the arm with full force, managing to free herself.

Oriko brought her sore hand closer. She had forgotten the power that a magical girl can exert.

Yuma began to retreat. "You... are lying to me."

Oriko gulped.

"Are we still looking for Kyukyu?" Yuma began to cry. "What will happen to papa? Mami-senpai? Kyouko-neechan?"

Oriko winced and looked away.

"Mama, why are you doing this?"

She lowered her head.

"Aren't they our friends? Why can't we stay together? WHY?"

The breathing Oriko was short. Her legs were wobbly. She had kept it for so long, was now embedded within her. It could only come out as a cry of pain. "BECAUSE YOU WILL DIE!"

"Eh?!" Catatonic, the eyes of Yuma grew. Hearing it, no, hearing it from Oriko was certainly frightening.

Without a reaction of the little girl, Oriko dropped to the knees and hugged her. Her white skirt got wet, as the face was already. Her head leaned on that little shoulder and, between sobs, her voice was heard.

"You will die... you will die... you will die..."

Next chapter: Visionary