Chapter 7

Outside Looking In

As I crouch inside the small copse of trees in this uncomfortable outfit, watching Madoka through the crosshairs of the x6 ACOG scope from approximately fifty meters to the southeast, I'm reminded of a previous occasion. That happens a lot now. I am careful to keep my finger off the trigger-stud, knowing full well just how twitchy the girl could get me.

Its strange, but I could never talk to you like this before, when you were alive. What does it say about me when I can only confide in the dead, Tomoe Mami? Maybe it says more about you... still, I'm certain you'd like to know what was going on down here.

It had been another long, strange day. The conversation with Sakura Kyoko had been promising until the Incubator nosed in. Some of the things it said were... disconcerting. It was almost like the thing knew what was going on-knew that I knew that Miki Sayaka-

[Scowl]

What happened? The stubborn fool had never survived today: one of the few consistently occurring events throughout the myriad timelines had been the failure of the immature girl's will, giving birth to a new Witch. A Witch who had, on every occasion, demonstrated an obsessive focus on her heart's desire: the Kamijo boy she so stupidly sold her soul for, yet couldn't find the courage to talk to once he was no longer confined to a hospital bed.

You've seen it. Couldn't handle it. Not that I blame you.

Kyubey tricked us all.

[Disdainful sneer]

And now Sayaka's leaving corpses behind, which will end up causing a lot of problems if someone doesn't keep cleaning up after her. Dragging those two men, and having to go back and search for the missing head-because that's not the kind of job you can do 90% of and get away with. And she have the temerity to imply something is wrong with me?!

Any wonder the boy doesn't return her affections, that cowardly brat? Always with her criticism and complaining. I'm so tired of watching her pathetic antics unfold. Although the time she went crazy and killed that arrogant snob Shizuki Hitomi had been pretty interesting...

[A small smile plays across lips, disappearing quickly]

I'm not getting callous-thoughts like that are just a coping mechanism. I'm fine. That timeline never occurred, so thinking about the people in them was an act of imagination, not remembrance. They left behind nothing to mourn, nothing to celebrate.

[Sad, blank eyes]

Except for Madoka. She's the reason I'm doing all of this. The reason we still have a chance.

[Clenches fist]

She's over there, miserable. Laying on her bed, curled up in a ball. So precious. Delicate. It tears me up inside, that I can't be there to hold her, to comfort her. I tried to, earlier on the street after Miki-san made her cry, but she seemed startled to see me. Maybe... after our earlier meeting tonight...

[Flushes uncharacteristically, briefly looking down]

All she wanted was to be taken home. Let a girl cry on your shoulder, yearning with all your soul to reach out and grasp the one thing you remain alive and fighting for, the center of your world, the person who makes all the pain worth it... but unable to do so. It hurts. It's so hard. Earlier, I had cried holding on to her-to full of pain and uncertainty that I couldn't get the right words out. Surely, she must have been feeling the same...? The parallels were there, I just... must have squeezed too hard. It was SOOO good to finally hold her again, though, I couldn't help it!

[Knuckles gripping gun turn white]

I can still feel the bobbing of her throat as she swalllowed, sputtering for breath through the worst of the weeping. The soft curves of her cheekbones glistening with tears in the streetlight, rubbing the moisture against the nape of my neck as I held her head on my shoulder. Those eyes aching with anguish.

Thankfully I was wearing my civvies; she was sobbing so hard, she got tears and mucus all over my shoulder. I'm never washing it again.

[Glower]

Damn you, Miki Sayaka, for breaking Madoka's heart. Life is sad enough, without adding to our friends' burdens. Even though what you said was, basically, right... I still will not forgive you. You are a liability, Miki-san, always have been and always will be.

And if you think you have something to say about me, say it to my face.

Madoka must learn to forget her, because one way or the other Sayaka is lost-when will she realize that Sayaka's no good for her? She's so critical, and bossy... trying to control what she does and where she goes. So possessive! Can't Madoka see that what she needs is me?

[Dreamy look]

When she was pressed up against me, those soft bubblegum lips buried in my shirt-I think there's a little stain where her lip gloss rubbed off, if you look at it right-there was a connection between us. That old spark. The red ribbon of fate, binding our souls together, naked and free of the worlds cares and worries, the corruption and sorrow that are otherwise the destiny of all Magical Girls. I could feel it, and I know she could, too. Even if she got all quiet afterwards... it was probably because of the strength of her feeling. I'll just give her time. Its a lot for her to process.

Together, we'll break the cycle of misery.

Maybe... maybe she isn't allowed to have sleepovers? Shoot, I knew I shouldn't have suggested that idea yet, it just kind of popped out while she was in my arms.

[Long, drawn out sigh]

Truth is, I forgot. Where, or when... I guess? I forgot that I was with the Madoka of now; the one who's only been bossed around and intimidated by the girl she knows as Homura-chan. I'm no longer Homura to my best and only friend-so much difference between us now, memories no longer matching up with reality. We've become strangers... that's why I said what I did after shooting the hell out of Kyubey. It just came out all wrong.

Shhhh... She's taking off her socks. Sigh. I miss those tiny pink toes so much; her dainty little feet were so deliciously soft and cute. I could stroke them for hours-they smelled kind of like melon! Just the thought of those little piggies curling up-

[Clears throat, adjusting collar with a finger]

Better scan the perimeter again. No telling when the little white devil will show up, but I'm not going until then. Madoka's too weak right now, vulnerable to the filthy lies it will undoubtedly use to deceive her. I must protect her. She needs me. I have to ensure that she's safe from its machinations before I can go look for Sakura-san. I'm not sure what to make of her...

So many complications. I have to admit, a partner would be nice this Walpurgisnacht. Which I'd like to think will be the last one, with an ending I can live with, allowing me to coexist in happiness and sin with Madoka for the rest of our lives... but somehow I can't muster up the mental energy to make myself believe that. I've seen too many mistakes, repeated again and again. I'm tired of the cyclical idiocy that seems to comprise 95% of human behavior!

[Intense look]

Wait-is that...? False alarm. I wish that creature would show his head already so I can blow it off. Where was I? Something about Miki-san, I think. Regardless... Kyoko would be a powerful asset. She brings a lot of assets to the table... and other places too, one imagines. Or perhaps you don't have to imagine, Tomoe-san. You two were awfully close in previous trips through this nightmarish chain of events. There's definitely something to her, that's for certain-but since I'm spoken for her charms don't work on me.

[Smiles in amused exasperation]

Really, Madoka? Throwing your stuffed animals will not resolve your personal problems-and knowing you, it will just make you feel worse for treating your inanimate companions so poorly. You are such a cutie. I'll protect you, and your innocence-yes, already picking them up, I see-Madoka, are you apologizing to them? Out loud? I wish I could read lips...

[Swivels gun]

[White, catlike shape emerges from a bush near the house, long ears trailing behind it]

There. Lock and load, little "Moe."

[Blur]

Tick, tock, tiiick, toooooooooock, tiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii-

Pffft!, Pffft! ,Pffft! Pffft!

Pffft!

Pffft!

Click.

-iiiiiiiiick, tock, tick...

-there it goes, falling off...

[Reloads fresh magazine]

18 rounds in five point oh four subjective seconds. I continue to improve. Hit it at the perfect moment, up on that railing. The hollow points tore some gaping holes in it, clustered red craters where my tight groupings had laid waste to its eyes, neck, and body. Better safe than sorry, especially with small caliber ammunition.

Stay away from Madoka, Incubator, I've warned you!

[Pushes rifle barrel into the silver shield strapped to her forearm]

Proud of me? None of the shots came even near the house this time: positioning was everything. People tended to notice when a bunch of holes began appearing in the walls of their home. All anyone heard was a single muffled shot-not silenced but quiet enough to be masked by the background noise of the city-a passing bus, or plane overhead were perfect. The only sight was a single brief flash of muzzle flare, already partly compensated.

Plenty of sand left. Who knows, this may be the one. I can't give up hope. I have to help Madoka defeat Walpur-wait, no. That's not right. I have to prevent her from Contracting, her final request to me after wasting her last Grief Seed to...

I'll try to live up to my promise. No-I will live up to it. It's just been... hard. Things never seem to go right, the Incubator is always causing trouble for us, and Madoka... the former one, or the alternate one... it gets rather confusing after a while, but whatever she is... Madoka, my love, I will be there protect you. From Witches, and Incubators, from your friends... and even from yourself.

[Runs hand through long hair, flipping it]

The long-eared white creature waited up the road from the Kaname residence driveway. It watched, with gleaming pink eyes, as the shapeless, camouflaged figure arose from the foliage growing alongside the Madoka girl's home, removing a lumpy mask and flipping its long hair arrogantly.

Clever, Akemi Homura. But a ghillie suit will not trick me again. Enjoy what limited feeling of success you believe yourself to have earned.

Kyubey waved long, ringed ears in concern, one again uneasy about the extreme irregularity of the black haired Magical Girl.

Why is it I am unable to sense Akemi Homura's presence? Even now, though I'm further away from Kaname Madoka, I can sense her clearly. Intriguing. As before, the Madoka girl's aura remains... altered. The potential still great, but... I was sure that before, I'd sensed even more.

And I am never wrong.

Something strange was occurring, that is certain. Akemi Homura was undoubtedly beginning to cause fracturing in the time-space continuum with her childish abuse of temporal mechanics. Tests were being run, but it didn't look promising. The others are beginning to pay attention, and may soon contemplate taking action.

Time to resolve this. The cat-like creature leapt up, dropping over the fence and approached the window of Madoka's bedroom, stealthy paws impossible to hear over the sound of the pink-haired girl sobbing into her pillow. It eyed the remains of its other body regretfully, but time was of the essence.

Emotionless pink eyes glowed in the darkness, slipping through the open window.

The sobbing stopped.

Bit of a change/interlude. Let me know what you thought. Back to team Sayako next chapter. Thanks again to all who've taken the time to read-double thanks to those who've commented.