Epilogue
"Helloooo people who are with us at FM 76.5! I'm Yoshikazu 'Yoshi' Fujioka.
And I'm Takeji 'Takou' Kouta! Together we bring...
ALL MITAKIHARA FOR YOU!
Hey Yoshi.
Speak.
I think we should change the name of our program to 'Half of Mitakihara for you.'
Be serious Takou! We can't joke about that. The right would be 'One third of Mitakihara for you.'
Hahahaha... You're sick.
Remember that it might be these guys sell the city to pay the bill.
Indeed, since the insurance companies are not paying...
Yes! When was the storm? Two months ago, right?
It'll be two months next week.
So Takou! No money for the families yet, who they think can rebuild this city?
They think JSDF will pay.
HAHAHA! You'll kill me with that.
I don't know how they can have such chutzpah to deny involvement after they found that missile platform in the middle of the channel. Not to mention the traces of C-4 they found at the crater in the industrial zone.
Also rocket launchers and mortars.
Yeah! I almost forgot.
They say it was a terrorist attack, they say that the wind brought down the buildings.
A tornado can do this.
Yes Takou, but it would be a destruction more localized, a path well defined by where it or they passed, could not have such extension it had. Only if the whole city is made of paper.
Yes, yes. You're right, Yoshi.
Even worse is this leaked video on the Internet of the military base where the weapons were stolen. You can see the exact moment that the missile platform simply disappears and the clock still marking time normally.
It's edited, it's false.
Yes, they're assholes. They think will escape from the process with this evidence. Mark my words, someone will say that has aliens involved in it.
Heads will roll.
How they will! But I think there's something more sinister...
What Yoshi? Is it about that theory of conspiracy between insurers and the army?
No, it's something much worse, but it's good to have remembered that. For our listeners who tuned in our program for the first time, I'll say: YOU ARE BEING STOLEN. My money, your money, our money is on hand of these CRIMINALS, corrupt people of the worst kind.
That's it!
And it's easy to see, isn't Kouta? Just stop and think a bit. With all this slowness and confusion in the investigations of army's involvement in this disaster, who's being the main beneficiary? Insurance companies do not cover cases of treason, right?
Who would have imagined?
Yes, just that it made me more worried. For those who have heard me, they know very well about my explorations in conspiracy theories.
And for those who never heard Yoshi ramble, now it's time.
Hahaha. But is something very coherent, you know? Because such plot would only be possible with planning, but how to plan a storm?
Oh... I know where you're going.
Yes Kouta, but you have to see that this storm started strangely and ended even more.
Uhum... The weather cleared all of a sudden.
Got it? This can only be a case of what I talked about geo... geo... hmmm...
Geoengineering?
This Kouta! Geoengineering.
HAARP, SURA of Russians, Woodpecker project...
This, this. But let's talk more about transforming cities in guinea pigs to test climate weapons after the commercials. Stay tuned!
In ALL MITAKIHARA FOR YOU!"
"Morning rescuuue! Moooorning rescue! Morning rescuuue! UOOOUOOOUUUO..."
／人◕‿‿◕人＼
Under a post-impressionist oil painting of an evening sky, Madoka was sitting on a round hill, surrounded by tombstones. Her long white skirt covered the cubist and surrealist art painted in black and white on the ground.
Her golden eyes were static, as well as her entire body.
The artist, at least, had allowed her to move her mouth.
"I'm almost done, Madoka-san. Only missing a few finishing touches." Said the girl who sat next to her, drawing on a paper canvas with graphite and chalk pastels. She dressed like a real queen, with an orange dress with full skirt, adorned with black laces. Her orange hair was shaved, offering their space for a crown with a central gem in the form of a trophy of similar color. Her black eyes matched with the excessive makeup around them.
"Take your time, Shiori-chan."
Shiori stopped and examined her drawing. "Yes... You've changed a lot."
Madoka lowered her eyebrows. "Really..."
"Don't move yet." Shiori returned to work. "Well... I can understand if some girls were worried about all this. Many of them must have some unresolved feud with demons."
"They should not be destroyed by the evil they have done, instead we should make them compensate for everything." Madoka replied.
"That sounds more fair." Shiori smiled. "Besides, I was getting bored. It's good to know that this place isn't immutable."
"Wehihi. Yes..."
"Madoka, I just won't reprimand you for laughing because it's finished." The girl left the drawing material on the floor and picked up the canvas.
"I'm glad I can move again. Let's see how it became..." Madoka looked at the drawing. It was a precise outline of her sitting profile, unlike the content, where it was painted with yellow and numerous aggressive scribbles. Black and wavy lines crossed, being very difficult to discern its beginning and end.
"Sorry." Shiori pointed to the drawing. "It's quite different from past times. The lines formed something more consistent."
Madoka was more serious. "You said that your art represents the person's state of mind at the time you drew."
"Yes, yes..." Shiori turned away with the canvas. "Not that this is true, I just draw what I feel and I'm far from being a great artist..."
"Don't say that." Madoka rose.
"You know my story better than me. I thought my art would triumph, I thought I only needed to dedicate all my time for it, without the fetters that our worldly condition imposes on us." Shiori saw a hand reach out to her.
"You have time now." Said Madoka. "And have you not received visits? Don't they appreciate your art?"
"Only being polite and never see them anymore, although, yes, a few girls have visited me more than once." The girl stood up with the help of the other. "Ah... I shouldn't complain so much, after all how many artists had the opportunity to do a portrait of a goddess?"
"True... Wehihi..." Madoka smiled broadly. "We can do the following: Why don't you visit some girls and demonstrates your art? I can then arrange an exhibition of your work."
"Really?!" Shiori gave a little jump.
"It wouldn't be a bit difficult."
"Of course not, why I thought it? Hahaha..." Shiori straightened her crown that was out of place. "Thanks Madoka! Thank you! I knew that your visit would bring something good."
"Keep this idea, it will save you." Madoka then walked away. "I need to go."
"Bye." The queen leaned her torso. "I'm already getting anxious for your next visit."
"Bye Shiori-chan, the next time we will increase more your collection." With that, the barrier began to disappear before Madoka, staying in place for a brief moment the hologram of the witch's kiss.
Now in her reality, the girl with long pink strands was surrounded by her familiars, with their faces covered by miasma.
"She no longer needs you, for now..." Madoka pronounced, when she felt a presence. As she turned, she came across a girl with her back turned.
It was exactly like her, but wore her pink and white magical girl uniform, with the characteristic opening in the form of heart on the superior part. She was head down, clutching the skirt tightly in distress.
However, Madoka had no compassion in her words. "I will not fail with Homura."
The girl raised her head suddenly when heard this and began to turn it slowly...
The upper frame of a bunk bed was all she saw. Realizing, Madoka threw the blanket away and sit, feeling the cold floor under her feet.
The room was already lit by the morning light from the window, but the gray and peeling paint on the walls made it darker. An increasing sound of a pile drivers and the roar of engines could be heard from outside.
Madoka rose to part the curtains and make the atmosphere a little more bearable. It was quite cloudy, the brightness of the sun partially visible between the clouds and the tall buildings of downtown, yet she felt it would be a hot and humid day. Dozen of meters below, on the other side of the street, men worked nonstop on the reconstruction.
Walking across the room, she stopped to look at her reflection in the vanity mirror, wearing a white gown with a black bow tied at collar. She smiled. Her hair was not as tousled as usual.
"AIE!"
"Mom?" Hearing the cry of pain, Madoka ran to the door to open it.
Junko was in the hallway, still in pajamas, jumping on one foot.
Madoka frowned. "Stub your toe again?"
"Course! Ouch, ouuuuch..." The woman set foot gently back to the floor. "The corridors of this apartment is getting narrower each day."
Tomohisa's voice was heard. "If you didn't try to walk it with your eyes closed, you'd know this is not true."
"But how can I keep them open if I can't sleep!" Junko brought her hands to her head. "All this noise... that's why I never wanted to live in downtown. Why... Why a truck had to just land on our house. Uuuuu..."
"Stay calm mom..." Madoka forced a smile. "We'll just stay here for a little while."
Tomohisa added. "When the situation of insurers resolves, we will restore our home. We've talked about this."
"When the situation resolves?!" Junko shook her head in denial and turned to walk. "You all are very optimistic..." To reach the bathroom door and open it. "Oh! Sorry... I did not know you had already awake."
Homura in a violet pajamas and her long flowing hair, was looking at the mirror. "No need to apologize, I was just leaving." She turned, with a slight smile. "And good morning."
Junko was almost with her eyes closed again. "Ah... hmmm... Good morning..."
Madoka was already in the hall when she saw Homura coming out, greeted when she crossed her way. "Good Morning!"
"Good morning." Homura continued into the bedroom.
Unlike the old house, the bathroom was too small for mother and daughter share. Madoka waited for long minutes, but at least when Junko left, she seemed another person. "Do you fell better?"
"I'm obliged." Junko stretched her neck. "I must have scared your friend."
"Wehihi. No."
With the laughter of her daughter, she said. "After everything that happened with your old friend..."
Madoka raised her eyebrows and her smile faded.
"See you like this now..." Junko continued. "I think a lot is due to this new girl."
The girl looked away. "Could be..."
Junko then turned and left, toward the kitchen. "And comb well this hair."
"Huh?!" Madoka blinked. "But... But it's not so bad."
"Yes, it is."
There were another long minutes in the bathroom, so much time passed that when Madoka returned to the bedroom, she saw Homura already with summer school uniform, sitting in front of the dressing table. It was a sleeveless beige sweater, over a short-sleeved white shirt with a red bow tied at the neck. The girl was brushing her dark hair.
What made the eyes of Madoka shine in a non-literal way. "Ah! Can I make your braids today?"
Homura glanced at the other. "Go on."
"Thanks!" Madoka was already behind her, as if the answer was already expected.
Leaving the comb, Homura began. "Madoka, I think I shouldn't keep living with you."
"My mother was right, she scared you." Madoka said. "But don't worry about it. Just like you and us, many people lost their homes and are sharing the same roof. My parents would be sad if you left us, Takkun too."
Homura felt her hair being pulled. "The day will come where you'll leave this place."
"True, but your house is in the old part of town. I think that the reconstruction will take longer to reach there. So you can accompany us." Madoka then tied the violet tie at the end of the braid. "One is done!"
"You're increasingly getting faster." Homura smiled.
"I have to be or we'll be super late for class. I'm not even in uniform yet!" Exclaimed Madoka, further accelerating her work.
In the mirror, Homura saw the other girl showing the braids finished.
"How are they?"
"They're great." The girl hid her violet eyes under the eyelids and sighed. "Madoka..."
"Yes?"
"Could you lock the door?"
Madoka stood for a moment before answering the request. "Homura... but we've done it this week already."
"I know." The sitting girl rubbed her hands. "But I want to feel..."
Madoka returned, holding her grief seed. "Here."
Homura slid her fingers over the object.
"No, take it. I have to change my clothes." After delivering it, Madoka was at the wardrobe next to the dresser and pulled out the uniform, leaving on the bunk. "Do you feel anything different? My curse?"
Homura felt the cold embossings of the seed. "No." When she looked back to the mirror, the reflection showed the bare back of the pinkette. "It seems... inert."
"I know you're worried, but trust me. If anything happens, I'll guarantee that you'll be the first to know." Before wearing the shirt, Madoka slapped her forehead. "Oh! I almost forgot!" She ran back to the wardrobe.
Curious, Homura turned to see Madoka walking backward to her, wearing a bra.
"Can you close it?"
"Hmmm... Sure." After helping, the raven-haired girl returned to the subject. "But you don't know the future of this world."
"Yes! Yes! But I'm cautious." Flustered, Madoka put on her uniform and skirt without care, arranging them on the way to get the red ribbons for hair. After tying them, she found herself in the mirror and slapped her cheeks twice. "OK! So Homura? It's fine?"
The girl returned the seed with a smile.
"Wehihi. I guess so."
Tomohisa announced. "Madoka! The breakfast."
"But I didn't put the socks yet." Madoka took the seed. "I do it after. Let's go!"
／人◕‿‿◕人＼
The way to school was quite different from the past. Instead of suburban homes, the landscape was composed of skyscrapers and construction fields. Dodging cones and makeshift blockades was commonplace.
Not that bothered Madoka. "Today we'll have history..."
Or Homura. "Yes, don't try to correct the teacher."
"I-I won't do it!" Said Madoka. "It was... only at that time because the date was wrong..."
"And try to pretend that your English is not so good."
"Okaaay..." Madoka agreed, sulking. "By the way, I heard some colleagues talking about your hair."
Homura remained silent.
This always made Madoka embarrassed, always. "About your braids..."
"I thought my loose hair called more attention." Homura commented.
"I think you will always draw atten..." Madoka put her hand to her mouth.
Homura looked at other frowning, but then turned her attention to the route. "I can't help, I left a first impression. At least, people are stopping to talk about Shizuki-san."
"You're right..." Madoka lowered her head. "After what happened to Sayaka-chan, the relationship between the two was difficult. Now that Kamijou-kun left the school..."
Homura delivered at once. "The relationship between the two was impossible anyway and you are aware of it."
"I am." Madoka then looked at her companion. "Homura, you could be a friend of Hitomi-chan too."
"I can not." Homura held the strap of her bag more firmly. "My focus is the magical girls and witches."
"But Mami-san is working on it." Madoka looked at the sky. "Ah... I misjudged, did not take into account how much her reputation could speed things up."
Homura said. "She told me that a group called 'Pleiades Witches', who is working in one of the cities she visited, volunteered to help."
Madoka nodded. "Yes! And if we follow her in the weekends, we can convince even more girls."
The two crossed the street, entering one of the bridges over the Mitakihara channel that survived the destruction.
"But there is a big difference between passing the message to the neighboring cities and throughout Japan. It should take years, if we succeed..." Homura pondered. "Not to mention the whole world."
"I know it'll be difficult, but if there's girl to be saved, I won't give up." Madoka clenched her fist. "Fortunately, Incubator is doing his part. He has brought the grief seeds to me."
Hearing that name made Homura to press her lips. "You are depositing too much reliance on him."
"What my wish did has no precedent for him and you helped me to convince that the risk is too great if he attempt against us." Madoka smiled.
"Know that for him it doesn't mean to be afraid of us, just a conclusion of a fact." Homura began mulling over the ideas aloud. "Even if he didn't try anything, he could be deceiving us. We have no guarantee that he's not doing contracts or even if he's really delivering all the seeds... hmmm..."
Madoka leaned over. "Homuuu~ ..."
Surprising Homura. "Madoka?! Y-You're pushing me..."
"You have to relax! I'm taking care of it."
"I know... I need to trust..." To Homura was difficult, even more that it was a complete mystery about what Madoka could do. There was a lot of fear for what tomorrow reserved, but behind it there was a significance of value. The girl who saved her life, for which she fought and shaped her being, was at her side. They could now share a smile together.
Before they get to the other side of the bridge, Madoka stopped.
"What's it?"
The girl's pink eyes were almost golden, as she turned in one direction. Her hands trembled. "A soul gem..."
Homura, more attentive, felt traces of magic from a magical girl. "Don't tell me that..."
Madoka pulled herself together with a more determined look. "We must go... Huh?!" At least until she received the bag from Homura.
"Leave it with me. You can tell at school I had a palpitation and was indisposed. No one should suspect." She turned and started to run. "I'll be back as soon as possible."
Leaving a stunned Madoka behind. "Homura..."
Her braids fluttered with every step, her expression was of suspicion. Maybe it was her experience or even her nature, but there was something else in those traces, a familiar and repulsive presence.
／人◕‿‿◕人＼
A young girl was walking through the city streets. Her light brown smooth hair was long enough to use a braid at the height of her chest. Her lime green eyes were half open, tired. It would be normal for someone who was going to school at morning.
But she was not in uniform. "Do I have to walk much further?"
On the shoulder of her yellow blouse, a curious creature of white fur said. [This will depend on finding an ideal place.]
The girl sighed. "You didn't tell me that this could bring risk to people."
[True, but I saw no need to let you worried about it ahead of time. You would have more difficulty in acting naturally knowing that, no?] The long bushy tail of the creature stroked the girl's head.
"Yeah... I would." She smiled. "Thanks Kyuubey."
[Look. Here seems good.]
The place was a lot that was being used for temporary disposal of debris and rubble of the destroyed city.
"Yes, I think there's no one..." The girl entered, passing between pieces of furniture and vehicles.
[We have to find a place that no one can see you.]
"R-Right..." The girl then pointed to a piece of a concrete wall that was leaning on a pile of rubble. "Is there okay?"
[Perfect.] With agility, Kyuubey jumped from the shoulder of the girl to the ground covered in dust.
"Finally..." With the body so tired, she did not complain about the dirt. Straightening her jeans capri pants, she sat up and leaned against the wall. Seizing the moment, she opened her left hand and examined her soul gem.
Kyuubey too. [It is very dark, there is no much time left. Are you feeling something?]
"Fatigue... a little pain... is like that, isn't it?" The girl lowered her head. "Kyuubey, will it take too long to find my body here?"
Kyuubey sat in front of her. [There are variables, but I doubt it. Is there a problem?]
"No... I think..." She felt her heart beat faster with anguish. "Have you ever felt afraid to die? I think I can't help it in the end..."
Kyuubey shook his head. [No, I am replaceable.]
"Replaceable?" She raised her eyebrows. "I think no one should be."
[Is that what you really want?] Kyuubey focused deep into her eyes. [Did you regret your contract?]
"No! Definitely not... I... I..." The girl stopped talking, surprised at the sight of another girl approaching. She wore a black dress and leather on her arms and legs. The pale skin and her cool look only reinforced that she was in front of an angel of death.
Kyuubey turned. [Homura Akemi. Where is Madoka?]
"I don't recognize this magical girl." Homura stood before the creature. "A recent contract?"
Realizing that she was not willing to answer, Kyuubey spoke. [I would not say she is a magical girl.]
"Magical girl?" What was sitting said, confused. "What is it? W-Who are you?"
Homura narrowed her gaze. "Explain..."
[I made a contract, but she never manifested her magic. She is not even aware of it.] Kyuubey continued. [So it does not hurt our agreement. In fact, we are more than honoring it.]
"I doubt it."
With the succinct response of Homura, Kyuubey looked back at the other girl. [Itsuko Fujita wanted to cure her younger brother from a terminal illness. Our analysis indicated an intellectual capacity well above average in him.]
Itsuko gaped. "You know about my brother..."
"He's just beginning..." Homura said.
[Understand Itsuko, despite the possibility of you generate a offspring superior than your brother, this would be very small.]
"What...?" Now were the eyes of Itsuko that widened.
"What are you planning?" Inquired Homura.
[Do you not see? We are helping humanity to progress.] Kyuubey stretched his body. [Maybe one day you can become active allies in the fight against entropy. I believe Madoka approves it.]
"Approve?" Homura said incredulously. "You continuing to deceive?"
[No. We adapted our methodology. We only work with very specific contracts, reducing our activity on this planet to only 6.66%. I should point out that this is insufficient for minimum energy gathering if you are still wary.] Kyuubey circulated Homura and stopped beside her. [She knows the price of her wish.]
"Really?" The girl with long dark braids directed her word to the other one. "You, tell me about it."
Itsuko had her hand on her head, still trying to understand the situation.
"Now!"
But the other girl would not wait. "He... He told me that when this gem get too much polluted, I will leave this body. I-I will... die..."
Homura sighed and clenched her fists.
[Do you understand now, do you not? Few girls would make a contract under these conditions, this is one more factor in reducing our activity.] Kyuubey closed his eyes. [Well... Now that is all right, I take the chance to talk with you without Madoka around.]
The anger of Homura was toned down by curiosity. "What is it?"
[We have observed you over that time. It is still a preliminary finding, but these bodies seem to contain your souls...] Kyuubey tilted his head toward Homura. [From an empirical point of view, we are interested to know if you can feel your curse as well.]
"I'm not interested in sharing..."
[This is already an answer.] Kyuubey opened his eyes. [We assume that you can not feel, but still you can notice changes in behavior, like how we perceived in Madoka.]
Homura looked at the creature, raising an eyebrow. "Are you... affraid?"
[Just conjecturing. She represents a risk beyond this world and our only evidence of her real intentions is the relationship between you two.]
"Our relationship?" Homura had no idea about where the creature was getting at.
[Homura... Madoka can manifest in this world and bring magical girls, as many as she desires. Have no doubt, many are more powerful than you.] Kyuubey shook his tail from side to side. [The question to ask is: Why Madoka chose you to be closer to her?]
"Fool..." Homura grinned. "This is beyond your comprehension."
[Are you only based on emotions? They are the only valid explanation? Is this enough for you to feel satisfied?]
"Satisfied? What..." Homura asked with clear irritation, but came a realization that made her even angrier. "Have you the courage to say that she's doing this only because of me?"
[Conjectures, Homura Akemi, conjectures...] The image of the angry girl reflected in the static red eyes of the creature. [Want to know ours? We believe she is doing this because you are the only one who is still able to stop her.]
"Stop her..." Homura looked at her black stitched leather hand and then at Itsuko, who was frightened. The silence was long enough for her to notice the distant sounds of vehicles.
Kyuubey kept looking at her with great interest.
Homura could not stand, turning her face and talking softly. "I don't think so..."
[Are you sure?] Kyuubey blinked again, before his body exploded, accompanied by a distant sound of gunfire.
A portion of his flesh splattered on Itsuko's face. "Huh?! Ah... Ahhh!"
"What?!" Still amazed, Homura saw two magical girls come to her in a big jump. "You..."
"Madoka-san called us telling about what was going on." Mami said, carrying a musket with a telescopic sight. Smoke still coming out from the muzzle.
"She was super! Hyper worried!" Exclaimed Nagisa.
"Madoka..." Homura breathed deeply. "By the way, nice shot. It was more than two hundred meters, right?"
"Yes, but I was lucky. Making lens of good quality is very difficult..." Even with the praise, Mami was still serious. "I saw that you were talking with Incubator. You should not listen to him. What did he say?"
Homura looked to Itsuko, who was in shock. "Nothing relevant beyond this girl."
Nagisa too. "Her gem..." With apprehension, she approached and crouched beside her. "Hi."
Itsuko could not stop shaking.
"So he's still making contracts." Mami said.
Homura crossed her arms. "True, but this one has never been a magical girl."
"Huh?"
Nagisa wiped the face of the other girl with her glove. "It's okay, we're here to help. My name is Nagisa Momoe. What is yours?"
The world had turned upside down to Itsuko and only now she had realized. Maybe she should have known more when a strange creature gave her the opportunity of a wish. There should be no turning back, as in the books, not that she wanted. All those girls wore outlandish costumes, but at least the two new ones that appeared were not so frightening. "Oh... hmmm... Itsuko... Itsuko Fujita."
"Itsuko is a cool name, can I call you by that? You can also call me by my first name." Nagisa smiled. "You seem to be my age..."
"Y-You can... I'm twelve." Itsuko replied shyly.
"Ah! I almost got it right." Nagisa pretended to be disappointed. "I'll become twelve in the end of year."
"I'll be thirteen." Itsuko looked away. "I mean... I would be."
"B-But you will!"
Itsuko not listened to Nagisa, because faced with something completely unexpected.
Another Kyuubey reached the remains of the other one and ate it. [This is a waste of time.]
"I rediscovered that isn't." Homura said, without looking at the creature.
[Could you better elaborate this conclusion?] Kyuubey then noticed that Itsuko pointed to him. [This is your expression of someone scared? Did I not told you that I am replaceable?]
"She's not scared because of it." Homura stated.
[So what...] Kyuubey got the answer before he finished asking, because he was caught from behind. When turned his head, he saw the face of a white wax doll, with sharp teeth. [I do not understand why cont...]
The doll caught him by the tail and began to spin him fast over her head. But another doll also wanted to participate in the game and the two began to fight for the toy until it tore.
Mami watched, impassive, other dolls came like vultures and ripped off a part too.
The children ran through the rubble, throwing one against other pieces of twisted flesh and fur. The laughter of them raised the tips of Homura's lips. "Because it's fun."
Nagisa tried to calm. "Itsuko-chan, don't worry, they will not hurt you."
When the laughter became very distant, Homura again was serious. "Right. Listen, girl."
Not only Itsuko, but Nagisa and Mami also paid attention.
Homura continued. "When your gem is too corrupted, there will come a time that you will leave your body, yes, but to become a witch."
"W-Witch?"
"She really doesn't know." Mami commented.
Homura uncrossed her arms and stretched her fingers. "We'll have to show to her."
"Should we?" Mami questioned. "How..."
Homura, in a quick strike, pierced and tore the blonde's abdomen with her open hand. The girl dropped the musket on the floor while her torso was hanging forward.
Nagisa and Itsuko widened their eyes.
"Don't try to hide." Homura shoved deeper her arm in the opening she had made, where no blood was pouring, actually seemed hollow. "Got you!" She then withdrew her arm and showed it to the other two. "THAT is a witch! If you're lucky..."
Itsuko saw in that hand there was a little rag doll, but she did not keep looking at it, because soon her eyes followed the yellow laces that came out of that doll to where they were connected...
The body of Mami was squirming and gradually part was separating in the form of ribbons. The expression of her face was erratic, her mouth making unintelligible grunts, her eyes rolling back incessantly.
Before sordid vision, Itsuko was taken by dread. "KYYAAAAAHHH! NOOOOOO!"
"Homura-chan, stop it!" Nagisa shouted angrily. "PUT MAMI BACK!"
Homura merely dropped the doll and it returned to Mami's body like a rubber band.
The blonde again doubled over as if she had taken a punch and ribbons began to return to their places. Where it had been torn, new ties are intertwined to close it. When she finally recovered, she hugged herself and came with a dismay look at Homura. "Why... scare her?"
"Scare? If I wanted to scare, I would have shown it myself." Homura rubbed her leather hands. "Or maybe Charlotte could reveal her face."
Itsuko looked at her gem. "No..." And despaired again. "NO! I DON'T WANT IT!"
"Itsuko-chan!" The irritation of Nagisa converted to concern when embraced the girl. "Look at me! Look! Do I appear like a witch to you?"
She stopped and looked scared to Nagisa, but Itsuko then denied with a gesture of her head.
"See? I even forget that I'm one sometimes." Nagisa smiled again. "It's not that bad."
"Don't try to make it appear that there are no consequences." Homura said.
Mami still disapproved the attitude of the other, but she had to agree. "True. It requires responsibility and care, but you'll learn and I'm sure you can achieve it. It's better than dying, right?"
"But..." Itsuko panted. "But I want to die!"
"Why?!" Mami shook her head, unable to comprehend. "Why do you want to die?"
"The right question would be..." Homura smiled. "... what she gain out of it?"
Mami and Nagisa exchanged confused looks.
"You saved the life of your brother with your wish, believing that you would die in his place." Homura continued in a more malicious tone. "You must have parents, right? They would be sad to lose their daughter..."
Itsuko gulped.
Homura opened an even bigger smile. "It was exactly what you wanted."
Mami asked. "Akemi-san?"
Homura gestured to the blonde remain silent. "Your parents must really love your brother, he is a prodigy. In reality, what matters is that they love him more than you."
"You don't know anything about me!" Itsuko retorted angrily.
"Wrong! I know well what it is to be inferior." Homura brought her fingers to her chin. "It's not something explicit, right? It's the way they look, the voice, one momentary expression that registered as hot iron in your memory. Perhaps something more blatant, a conversation muffled by the walls."
The sitting girl gritted her teeth. "Shut up! That's a lie!"
"There's the patterns, routines... when your name was mentioned, you had no doubt that your brother's would come soon after. You're just a detail, the frame of a masterpiece. Fufufufu..." Homura continued. "In the end, there's no more space within us to save these small grudges that build up, so we started to use our room for it. There we continue to nourish them while at same time consuming them until we choke, while we hide our depravities outside."
Itsuko touched her head. "M-Make it stop! Make it STOP!"
But Mami and Nagisa lowered her gaze and continued to listen.
"Unfortunately, every day we are more afraid that all this will overflow. A definitive solution must be found and you found it, but your brother managed to ruin everything again with his disease." Homura threw one of her braids back. "The appearance of Kyuubey was very convenient, it's always. If your brother died, his reputation would become unshakable and his parents would ask why could not have been you. But what if it was the opposite?"
Itsuko held her gem more firmly.
"Your parents would remember they had a daughter, the brother of his sister. They would feel guilty, of course... her name would become a frequent dedication in the work of her brother. No one would notice the dirt she left behind." Homura narrowed her eyes. "That if you made a 'noble' anonymous sacrifice, which I doubt very much. Your little plan is a complete failure, girl."
Tears ran down Itsuko's hateful face. "You..." With difficulty, but with will, she raised. "You are the most disgusting thing ever!"
Homura opened her arms and, in one hand, a black energy aura conjured a hourglass. "No... I'm just your reflection."
Mami and Nagisa were surprised by the fury in the movement of Itsuko.
"NEVER!" She threw her gem with all force against the wicked smile of that girl. Almost in the same instant, she felt a cold embrace.
Homura wrapped her with one arm, while the other was holding the lying hourglass.
"Let me go!" Itsuko punched the chest of the other, but without strength.
"Look at your gem." Ordered Homura, now more serious.
Itsuko at first did not understand, but noted that the world around her had lost the colors in an almost black and white. The other two girls were completely frozen, gaping. Following what had been requested, she found her gem standing in the air. Was cracked, some fragments had been left behind in the form of a trail.
Homura declared. "When the time returns to normal, you will be a witch."
Now sure she could not escape that fate, Itsuko slowly lowered her head and returned to cry. "I'm horrible... horrible... please kill me."
"Fujita-san."
It was the first she had mentioned her name.
"Do not give up. Can be a day you will find someone who will remember you always." Homura hugged her tighter. "So I ask you to never give up."
"How can you be so sure?" Itsuko asked, still tearful.
"I said I'm your reflection." Homura spoke. "It will be as if you had returned to that room to drown in your sorrows again. There is no water, only a sea of mud. However, someone will offer you a hand, and if you fight, they will be able to bring you back to the surface."
Itsuko looked at Homura.
"I will not admit that the situation with your family could improve, but you don't depend on them." She then asked. "Do you still want to die?"
Itsuko sniffed her nose and left the last tears flow before uttering. "No..."
"Great." Homura smiled. "I will be quick with you."
"What do you..."
The time returned to its normal flow.
While the world has regained its colors, the lifeless body of Itsuko collapsed.
"Ah!" Nagisa rose in fright.
The grief seed bounced off a pile of rubble and stuck on the ground.
While Mami watched. "You said those horrible things just so she despaired, right?"
Homura, who was beside her, said. "Obviously, I would not wait."
At the ground around the seed, sprouted grass that quickly spread.
"Here she comes." Homura watched the world shift. The city disappeared to give way to a dark and empty blue sky. The grass around the girls was gaining size, enclosing them. Like birds, a set of books with covers which referred to fairy tales flew toward the seed and began to circulate it, while it rose from the ground.
Mami prepared her muskets when a luminescence arose within the area where the books was circulating. They then flew against each other, burying the seed within a structure that resembled the trunk of a tree.
"Ah? Ah?!" Nagisa saw the body of Itsuko rise again, but because of the roots that penetrated its flesh. Blood still fresh fell to the ground with each new tearing and they began to come out from the mouth and other holes they found.
"Good... The barrier already claimed its prize." Homura conjured a large black pin in her free hand.
The witch revealed herself completely when from the top of the trunk made of books came out giant spindly legs of metal. The tips of the legs gained width and aspect of sharp scalpels. The blades did not reflect the space around it, but the images of mouths, which opened in a cacophony of screams.
Until the time stand still.
In her world, Homura launched her pin against the witch and summoned another soon after. So she did until she was satisfied with the amount, then hurled her hourglass. "Do not give up..."
Once the hourglass left those hand of leather, time moved again and the pins hit the tree's trunk. The hourglass arrived soon after and, in a flash of violet light, exploded. The shock wave set off the heads of the pins in a destructive chain reaction.
Mami and Nagisa protected themselves from the massive explosion.
The barrier crumbled as quickly as it formed and the seed bounced off through debris.
Mami then noticed that Homura was leaving. "Where are you going?"
"School. Why do you ask?" The girl did not stop. "I will let the seed with you. Deliver to Madoka at the end of the day."
With Homura out of sight, Nagisa looked at the concrete wall with no trace of a person that was there. "Itsuko-chan..."
／人◕‿‿◕人＼
Homura walked slowly down the sidewalk on the banks of Mitakihara channel. That was indeed the way to school, but she was not sure if this would be her destination.
Not wanting to keep fooling herself, she stopped and looked at the water between high metal fences. They shone, even with the weak sunlight in that morning. When was the last time she admired it?
Black birds landed on the fence, from close it was possible to note that the violet caps they wore covered their eyes.
"I didn't call you." In a surge of light, the black garments of Homura gave way to her old uniform of magical girl, sending her familiars away.
Then newspaper sheets carried by the breeze touched her shin. Homura stiffened momentarily and looked back.
Standing on the grass embankment, Oriko was dressed in the school uniform of Shirome, carrying a bag. A polite smile on her lips.
Homura looked back to the channel. "It seems that today everyone decided to kill class."
"Yes, but for different reasons..." Oriko placed the bag on the ground and began to open it. "... and consequences. My classmates should be celebrating."
"Why are you here?"
Oriko pulled the bag a bottle and mugs, and two towels that she laid out on the lawn side by side. "I wanted to share with you some iced tea."
Homura turned and, seeing what the other had prepared, approached. "Should I consider this is a coincidence?"
Oriko sat on one of the towels. "I do not trust in my visions as before, but sometimes I still venture."
Homura stood for a moment before sitting down too.
"Here." Oriko offered a mug filled with tea.
Homura took it. "How are the other two?"
"It is strange..." Oriko sipped tea, watching the city beyond the channel. "The more the gem is corrupted, more Kirika is excited. I think this can help her when the time comes, but I am sure she will be disappointed."
"What about the other one?"
"She is fine." Said Oriko.
Which left Homura confused. "But her gem should be at its limit as well."
"She is fine."
The statement cut the air in a sharper form than the first. Homura went silent and decided to take a sip of that tea.
Oriko took a deep breath, followed by a long sigh. "You know. We got what we wanted. I, the world, and you, Madoka..."
Homura took another sip.
"However, not as we would like."
She remained quiet.
Oriko then looked to her. "Is this the difference between dream and reality?"
Homura replied. "We live in a world where dreams are within reach of a wish."
"Maybe even in this world some ideals are impossible." Oriko poured some more tea.
"You will only know it's impossible when you quit."
"It's not a matter of giving up, but to stop and feel." Said Oriko. "Maybe you achieved something better than imagined."
Homura glanced at the other. "Do you think such a world exists?"
"I would protect it."
Homura then returned the mug. "Thanks for the tea."
Oriko raised her eyebrows and lowered her head, after a moment, she smiled. "I am glad you liked." Then she began to put things back.
Homura rose and commented. "You will go to school."
"Yes." Oriko folded the towels and placed in the bag.
"Have a nice day." She went down the slope to reach the sidewalk.
"I say the same." Oriko stood with her bag in hand. "Do not take a hasty decision. If I see something, I will let you know."
"Really?" Homura asked. "Do you want to take the risk?"
"Precisely." Oriko started to climb up the embankment.
Homura raised her head, contracting the face. "Are we allies now? Why should I trust you?"
"Because we should not trust in ourselves."
Then came the silence, bringing with it the confirmation that Homura was alone again, despite the words of Oriko echoing in her mind, as if she were still there.
Under this atmosphere, Homura raised her left arm at chest height. Arising in a spiral, her metallic shield reflected the sunlight that gained intensity and open space among the clouds.
She examined the apparatus. The upper compartment was empty, while the bottom was completely filled with the violet sand. By placing the right hand on the edge of the shield, she made a mention to turn it, sensing then that was loose.
The cold of the metal seemed to have accelerated her heart. Homura did not understand, how she could have one? Her body should be empty, like the answers she had.
Would she find?
Would she need to find?
Would she have a meaning to find?
The channel's waters followed their uninterrupted flow.
On that morning, the hand pulled away.
Jafs: Somewhat big for an epilogue... but oh well... Anyway, thank you for reading 'Visionary'. This one required more words and time to pull out and I'm quite proud that I managed to accomplish.
Unfortunately, this fanfic has not received much attention compared to "Disconnection". Actually, at the moment and considering the word count, this one is the least popular fanfic in this fandom. One obvious factor for this is because it is a sequel. If there is another... I do not know.
The ending of this work opened a new world. I have several plotlines ready to be explored, but I fear that my next work I would be just writing for myself... As I have a policy to finish anything I start, I will have to think well about it.
In respect to my few readers, there will be a special chapter with some removed scenes . There I will announce my decision.