Chapter 34

Pre-Party

"Kyoko, please?"

"Nah."

"Please."

"Nope."

Sayaka sighed in frustration. She'd imagined that things would get simpler, back in good old Mitakihara. Back home. Instead, she was dealing with some pissed-off parents and a petulant red-haired girlfriend.

"Come on, Kyoko. Why not? It will be fun!"

"Meh, I doubt it. But you go have a good time with your little pinkette friend. I'm sure you'll have fun braiding each other's hair and gossiping about other girls you know. Maybe you'll even get to play a board game! And be sure to say hello to the ice queen for me." Kyoko smirked aggravatingly, her over-sized canines looking particularly vicious in the dying light.

They were outside the mall at the designated meeting place, Kyoko's long legs and short shorts drawing more than their share of stares. It made the blunette feel a mingled sense of outrage and, oddly, something like... pride? It was distracting. "Kyoko, please. I... it sounds stupid, but I miss you already." She paused, watching the older girl's expression soften. Slightly. "Going home was... awkward. Oh my god, my dad was so pissed." She shook her head, amazed at her own stupidity. "I thought today was Saturday... the school called, apparently. Reported all my absences this week... he was saying they're going to expel me-"

Kyoko, who initially had been watching intently for more signs of affection, grew bored almost immediately when the topic of school came up. She made a disgusted noise, interrupting. "Who cares? What do you need stupid school for anyway, Sayaka?" Kyoko looked at her like she was missing the most obvious thing in the world. "What can school do to help you... be what you are?" She grinned. "A badass Magical Girl with the hottest girlfriend in the whole city..."

"There's a fine line between confidence and arrogance," Sayaka mused while glancing around, somehow feeling like she was being watched, judged, now that she was back in her home town. Silly. Stupid, she thought to herself, but nevertheless, the feeling persisted. "I can't just... drop out!"

The red-head snorted loudly, drawing a few curious glances from passers-by. "Why not? I did, and it didn't hurt me none." What is up with this girl and school? she wondered, utterly baffled. She's not even good at it. I saw her grades when I was digging around her room-oops, better keep that bit of information to myself.

Sayaka appeared lost in thought, so Kyoko took out a fresh box of Pocky, tearing back the perforated upper portion. She watched the blunette's contemplation face... the one that made her look like she was sitting on the toilet. Is it weird that I think that's cute? she wondered to herself. Not that she wanted to watch the girl use the bathroom or something deviant like that... Having let her fingers perform their time-honed and efficient unwrapping of the silvery foil, she smiled as she bit down on the chocolate just hard enough that, as she pulled the stick out, some of the delicious coating was shaved off by her teeth.

"Besides, if you're not wasting your entire day at that place, you'll be free to do some actual good, you know, like taking down Witches before they kill innocent humans and all that." She started to work the chocolate off of stick with her tongue, desperately trying to maintain a look of complete innocence.

Sayaka knew when someone was trying to use her own philosophy against her, but increasingly she felt it harder to disagree with the red-head's sentiments. Of course, it had less to do with hunting Witches, and more to do with being able to spend more time with-

But... that meant she'd hardly ever see Madoka and her other frie-. She'd hardly ever see Madoka. Which brought her back to the beginning of this argument.

"Nice try." Suddenly, she had a wicked, marvelous idea. Her face lit up gleefully, and Kyoko was immediately on guard. "I have an idea, Kyoko. A way we could spend more time together, and not be separated by school." The older girl raised her eyebrows expectantly, her face masking the discomfort she felt at the things bouncing around inside her chest. If she chooses me over school, shit that would be hot, Kyoko thought wonderingly. Next step, cutting those parents out of the equation...

A large chunk of cookie stick, mostly devoid of its layer of chocolate, was sucked down Kyoko's windpipe, and she erupted in a series of wracking, painful coughs. Sayaka looked at her in alarm, saying "Kyoko!" with great concern but little actual effect, finally deciding on slapping her partner on the back several times. Red-faced, the older girl recovered, catching yet another descending blow of the blunette's open hand.

"I *cough* I'm fine," muttered the red-head, embarrassed. "Wha... *cough* what the hell did you just say?"

"I said," the blunette replied, her mirth recovered along with her girlfriend's breath, "that you should come to school with me."

Kyoko felt like a two pronged fork was digging its way to her heart. One spike of pain was the disappointment, an almost unbearable anguish at being so wrong, her hopes dashed so violently. The other was a nearly tangible sense of horror at the thought of going back to school. It was something she'd never, ever, even for a moment considered. Well, that's not entirely true, back before our, er, bonding, I did consider it as a way to get more... access. But only temporarily, she assured herself.

"Never. Never in a kabillion years."

"Kabillion isn't a number, Kyoko. I think you'd like school."

"It's hyperbole. It doesn't have to be a number." Crimson eyes narrowed at Sayaka's puzzled expression. "What, I can't know what hyperbole is because I missed one stinking year of sch-"

"No, it's not... what's a hyperbole?"

Kyoko frowned, unsure if she was being mocked, if her intelligence were being tested, or if the blunette honestly didn't know. "It's like, um... exaggeration." Sayaka stared at her, waiting for elaboration. "For effect. Like, your mom saying 'I've told you to clean your room a million times!' There's no way that could happen, a million is a big number."

Sayaka considered. "Like if I were to say, my girlfriend can eat a horse..."

"Hey, that's not funny!" Kyoko's wounded look was clearly mocking, and Sayaka laughed. "You know I like horses."

"I do. You rode me like a horse."

Kyoko could do nothing but stare. Several shoppers paused, overhearing what may have been the most incredible admission they'd ever witnessed.

Sayaka didn't understand the reaction for a moment. Then she blushed. "No, dumbass, when I carried you out of the lake in that Witches' barrier. Even all messed up like that, and dripping wet, your legs were gripping me so tightly-" By this point several of the onlookers, unbeknownst to the blunette, were staring, open mouthed. Kyoko glanced around, feeling slightly ill at ease. Why are we still standing outside of this entrance?

She pulled Sayaka's arm. "Why are we still standing here?" the red-head inquired with a growl.

"It was the only way I knew you were alive," the younger girl continued. "That and your pulse, I thought I could feel it when your chest was pressed up against my back-"

"Do you even hear what you're saying?" Kyoko asked wonderingly, continuing to pull the blunette. "And you, BACK THE FUCK OFF!" she roared, spinning around to address the clean-cut man who had followed them with an amazed grin on his face... a grin that was instantly replaced by a grimace of fear as the fanged, red ponytailed young woman in denim cut-offs and an old green hoodie advanced on him with murder in her eyes.

Kyoko watched him flee, feeling a little better. "So, any more lurid little details you'd like to share with the world? Talking about Witches in public, and... other things, can draw the wrong kind of attention."

Sayaka gazed at her feet as they walked, abashed. "I... sorry. I should have realized... It's just, I guess when I'm around you... sometimes it seems like, well, I'm only around you. Like, there's nobody else, anywhere. Um..." she blushed, falling silent.

"Errrr..." Kyoko responded with all the eloquence she could muster.

They walked for a minute in silence.

"I'll try to be more careful," Sayaka promised earnestly.

"About what you say, or how you say it?" Kyoko wondered aloud, as if to herself, but it was merely an instinctive reaction. Ninety percent of her consciousness was focused on the idea of being the sole object of someone's attention... and a certain incredibly awesome someone, at that.

The comment was delivered with her usual acid, though, and that earned her a dark glance before Sayaka's shoulders sagged as she relented. "Both."

"Good. That's settled, then. And here's another thing: no fucking way I'm going back to school. Consider that matter settled as well," she added over Sayaka's budding protest.

"Kyo-" The blunette didn't get the second syllable out before the red-head sprung, wrapping an arm around Sayaka's neck and covering her mouth with a hand. Sayaka glared, and tried the only defense she knew against such a maneuver: licking her attacker's hand. After all, it had always worked on Hitomi, that little-

Her lips struggled to frown under Kyoko's hand, which was gripping her rather tightly. The veteran hadn't looked the least bit surprised at her ploy. In fact, she was chuckling. "Nice try, rookie." Kyoko laughed again at the furious muffled protests that were tickling the palm of her hand. "What you didn't stop to think about was: where has that hand been recently?"

Bright azure eyes widened in horror, and Kyoko finally let go, clutching her sides as she laughed. It was only a few seconds before Sayaka felt her outrage and disgust disappear, and she could see the humor in it, from Kyoko's perspective at least. If she really tried. She found herself giggling a little, but felt the need for at least some reassurance. "Kyoko, you were just joking, right? About... your hand?" Sayaka paused; if anything, the red-head was laughing even harder. She'd never seen the girl like this before. "Being dirty?" she prompted, and Kyoko fell to the ground, wheezing and trying desperately to gasp for air, cackling.

The blunette's smile faded, and she looked around in embarrassment. It was a minute before the veteran had gotten control of herself. "Ah... whew... hah. I'm sorry, well, no I'm not, that was just too good, baby. Sometimes it's almost too easy..."

You want it hard, Kyoko? Sayaka thought angrily. Fine. You'll get it hard. She paused. That didn't sound right. Her bangs spun through the air as she shook the thoughts out of her head, trying to refocus. There was still one thing she couldn't let go of, however... "Seriously though. You were kidding, right?" Kyoko actually brought her hand up to her mouth, covering the smile that had instantly appeared, and merely nodded.

The blunette tried to hide her sigh of relief. "So, about school..."

Kyoko rolled her eyes, a frown replacing the grin. "Drop it already."

"Okay. I'll never bring it up again."

Kyoko looked at Sayaka in disbelief. It's a trap! she heard Admiral Ackbar's liquidy voice say inside her head, a sure sign of danger if ever there was one. "Uhhmmm... you will?"

"Yes," the blunette smiled, batting her eyelashes innocently. Oh god how does she do this to me, wondered Kyoko as she felt her heart skip a beat. I thought this body was supposed to be just a dead shell or something... some of the things she'd recently been feeling were profoundly distracting. Part of her was worried that she was losing her razor edge.

"If," Sayaka let the word hang. Kyoko looked up, her crimson gaze locking on the younger girl. "YoucometoMadoka'sslumberparty!" the younger girl finished in a rush, almost like she could sneak it past her red-haired partner.

Kyoko didn't immediately say no, and despite the unpleasant expression confronting her, Sayaka continued. "It will be fun, I promise. Madoka really gets into playing the hostess. She invited you specifically! Please, please give her a chance, Kyoko. I'm sure there will be games," the red-head rolled her eyes, "and food," Sayaka tempted, but Kyoko pulled out another stick of Pocky as if to say I already have food.

"It will be good stuff... her dad's a great cook, and he bakes the most amazing desserts..." Sayaka could see it wasn't working. So she changed tactics. "And... I'll be there," she murmured coyly. Kyoko narrowed her eyes, shaking her head. Sayaka's heart plummeted into her stomach, until-

"I can't believe I'm letting you drag me to a... a slumber party!" Perfect, Kyoko thought, her voice dripping with just the right amount of venomous resignation. The blunette hopped around with excitement, bouncing into Kyoko's arms and nearly sending her to the ground.

"Oh thank you thank you Kyoko, you won't regret this!" Sayaka cheered, clinging to the red-head with all her might. "We're going to have so much fun tonight!"

Oh hell yes, we will, Kyoko thought, too breathless by the crushing embrace to speak.

They turned a corner a few minutes later, approaching a park that Kyoko had seen Sayaka hang out around with her pink- and green-haired friends. Out of sight of the mall, Sayaka felt a little more comfortable, slipping her hand into the older girl's. "Well, since you're making me go," Kyoko frowned at the blunette, who smiled joyfully, "there's something I'm curious about. You're not, ah, hesitant about spending a night in the same room as Homura?"

Sayaka's eyes flashed. "Hell no! I'm not afraid of her... and I should probably be there, if for no other reason than to protect Madoka-chan!"

"There's a not so fine line between confidence and arrogance," Kyoko said, parroting an earlier bit of wisdom imparted upon her. The blunette's frown deepened, and she opened her mouth to argue. "Hey, who's the veteran here?" she demanded, and the younger girl's protests died on her lips.

"Yes, sempai, whatever you say," Sayaka muttered, but Kyoko chose to take it at face value and grinned with a sudden sense of superiority. "Is this my next lesson?"

Kyoko stepped up, right next to the blunette, her face mere centimeters away. Her crimson gaze locked onto the blunette's eyes, and Sayaka felt herself almost mesmerized at the closeness of the other girl. They had just approached the small copse of trees at the edge of the park, which the younger girl had immediately noticed was very well hidden from the view on the street.

"No. Your lesson," Kyoko breathed, making Sayaka shiver, "is for tonight." She leaned in, and the younger girl found her eyes closing, head tilting, expecting-

But then Kyoko was talking again. "You should be afraid of Homura, Sayaka. I am. She's dangerous, and even Kyubey finds her impossible to predict. There's something strange about her... it's like..."

"Like she thinks she knows everything?" Sayaka asked bitterly, finding the black-haired girl's insufferable arrogance impossible to tolerate.

The older girl nodded, "Yes, but... she's so confident about it. It's almost like she does know, somehow. Not perfect, since she was wrong about you, but still. "

"Madoka-chan thought we were dead; both of us!" It had bothered the blunette, a vague sense that she was missing something. "I couldn't understand why... She wouldn't jump to that conclusion herself, and even if she did why would she have thought you were dead, too?" She paused, a grim look in her eye. "I can think of only one other person that would have been able to convince her about that."

"For all we know, it could have been Kyubey," Kyoko felt obligated to throw it out.

"I said person. And, you could be right I suppose, but... I think it was Akemi-san."

Kyoko shrugged. "So what if it was? She was wrong."

"She's trying to isolate her, Kyoko! First her friends, what's next? Her parents?" Kyoko swallowed. "I just have a bad feeling about her... she's so cold-hearted and controlling! And she seems to have her sights set on my best friend in the whole world!"

The red-head, despite her best efforts, couldn't keep the flash of hurt off her face at the blunette's words. Sayaka noticed. "Kyoko, this isn't a competition. I've known Madoka-chan for most of my life, but... I don't feel for her what I do for you. You're my g-girlfriend, for god's sake." Kyoko glanced up, looking a little less crushed. "I... I don't have tons of friends, or anything, but I hope you're okay with me and Madoka-chan. I... I think she needs me, you know?"

I need you, Kyoko thought. More. It was disturbing how much she'd missed the blunette in the two hours they'd been apart. She sighed. "Yeah, okay." It didn't sound very accepting even to her own ears, but it was something. "Just... watch out for Homura."

"What's with your sudden concern for her? You were staring at her with your scary face a few hours ago..."

Scary face? "Hey, I got no problem with the girl," she began, but as Sayaka's eyes narrowed she quickly amended, "except of course for her trying to kill you. But if that bitch is gonna give me the evil eye, I'm gonna give it right back." She paused a moment, choosing her next words carefully. "She's dangerous, though. That crazy power of hers..."

"Grab on, I remember."

Kyoko froze. Oh shit, she realized. This was worse than she'd expected. "Are you... planning on fighting her?" she demanded, looking the blunette in the eyes. Sayaka raised her eyebrows once and shrugged with decidedly fake innocence. "Look, just... don't start anything, please. Not yet. There's so much crap that's been thrown around recently... we need to talk to her tonight."

The younger girl looked at her partner skeptically. "Why are you so... I can't think of another way to say it: protective, suddenly, of Akemi Homura?" she questioned.

"I'm protecting you, idiot!" Kyoko snarled. "You're not ready to-"

"I handled myself pretty well, these last couple of days," Sayaka said matter-of-factly. "I think I've proven myself-"

Kyoko took the younger girl's shoulders, shaking her in desperation, forcing herself to ignore the sudden anger in the blue eyes that seemed to pierce her soul. "NO! It's not that, you... you gotta listen to me, Sayaka. It's like... Mami-san, you said she was a powerful Puella Magi, right?" Sayaka looked confused, unsure of how the drill-tailed blonde fit into this argument all of a sudden. "She was strong, skilled, a veteran... and something got her, right? You told me, that caterpillar thing... It wasn't the Witch that killed Mami. It was surprise. The unknown. And her own inability to recognize that uncertainty, the possibility that maybe there were things out there she'd never encountered and couldn't possibly predict or defend against."

The azure eyes had watched her intently, and continued doing so. "You... you shouldn't say stuff like that about her. She was a good person," Sayaka finished, a pathetic eulogy but all she could get out before her throat started to tighten. As the first tear rolled down her cheek, she felt the strong arms of her partner encircle her waist, pulling her close.

"Mami was awesome, you're right. But babe, that's my point. She was pretty badass, and she still died. It can happen to any of us. The important thing to remember is that you're not invincible, and there's always shit out there that can take you down... especially if you help it by running off half cocked!"

"As opposed to your full-cocked approach?" Sayaka couldn't resist adding.

"I... what? Just... let's drop it, for now. We'll learn more tonight, and figure out what to do from there."

"Fine."

"We're still a team, right?" Kyoko asked, a little nervously. She'd worried that it had only been chance, being thrust into such a desperate situation that had led to what felt like a real connection to the blunette. Now that they were back, and Sayaka had her old life calling to her...

The piercing blue eyes were suddenly like chips of ice. "Wha... of course we ?" The look of worry, followed by relief, set the blunette off. Don't you dare fucking doubt me. Lightning quick, she grabbed the older girl's arms, hooking a leg behind her partner's. Kyoko felt the younger girl's amazing strength as she was pushed back, suddenly trying to regain her balance as she started falling-

As the red-head slammed into the ground, Sayaka slammed right down on top of her, pinning the struggling arms as she pushed her lips against the older girl's with a ferocity bordering on violence.

A few minutes later, the girls sat up, red-faced and slightly panting.

Okay. Yay, teamwork! Kyoko thought, trying to still her trembling hands.

She hated to spoil the mood, but Sayaka felt compelled to bring up the issue again. "You're... you're okay with me and Madoka-chan, right? You'll at least try to be... if not nice, at least not mean? I... I won't start anything with Akemi-san. Not tonight, at least."

Kyoko grunted, trying to subtly fan herself with a hand. She was having a hard time refocusing her attention. Without really thinking about it, she said, "You called her your waifu..."

Sayaka stared for a moment, then burst out laughing. "It's... it's a long story. Just a joke, though."

"Well," Kyoko began, trying to sound disinterested, "I'll do my best to be nice, but I want something in return."

The blunette rolled her eyes, a spark of frustration igniting inside her. Even if the "something" Kyoko wanted was something she was very eager to give, the girl's selfishness... or selfish act, it was hard to tell sometimes, could be infuriating. "What?"

"I know I'm not perfect... and one example of that is that I'm a jealous girlfriend. I want her to know she's not your waifu anymore." She paused, took a breath. This is ridiculous, she thought, her heart beating madly.

"I want to be your waifu."

A big, stupid grin split Sayaka's face, and Kyoko cursed herself. The blunette was supposed to be her waifu, not the other way around. Too late now, she consoled herself.

Deep down, it felt just as good.

Thanks as always for the support! Keep those amazing reviews coming, they just fire me up to write more. If you've read up to this point and feel even an inkling of dropping me some feedback, positive, negative, as long as it's constructive I appreciate it.

I hope this didn't disappoint, I know deep down you wanted to read about a slumber party tonight. Maybe next chapter.

No promises, though. Happy weekend (or Happy Wednesday or whenever you're reading this).