I smile a little as I watch Homura drink her hot chocolate. People probably think she goes as bitter as possible with her drinks.

"The truth is I can't stand bitter drinks." I hear Homura say. As if she couldn't get any cuter, she sounds so shy when she talks about herself. "I can force it down, but I can taste that kind of thing right away, and I absolutely hate it."

"I'm a little shocked." I shrug and smile at her. "Though I kind of like finding out more about you. I'll have to remember that Homura Akemi has a sweet tooth."

My friend and I chat about little things. How long has it been since she came to me? I honestly don't know. But I can tell she's opening up more and more to me. She smiles a lot more often now, which I'm so happy about. She doesn't realize just how similar she and Madoka are. I sigh as I think about my old friend. Yes, I do have a lot to talk to Homura about. The more she discusses the girl who's clearly Madoka, the more I want to tell her the truth. The way she makes it sound, I'm not supposed to remember. But she trusts me so much. She just gives so much, not realizing it only makes me love her more. It's only fair for me to repay the favor.

"Homura?" I ask.

"Hm?" She tilts her head.

"I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry." I sob a little.

"What's wrong? You didn't do anything!" So concerned. While I'm happy I can get her voice beyond that monotone of hers, I hate seeing her so sad.

I lunge for her, holding her tightly. "I haven't been completely honest with you," I whisper.

I feel her embrace me in her usual shy way. A sniffle. Which one of us was it? "What do you mean?"

"Homura." I lean back to look at her. She's such a beautiful, kind-hearted girl, and she doesn't even realize it. Maybe that's why she's always brought to tears when she's concerned. "Promise me you won't think I'm crazy or hate me."

"How…could I hate you? You've been nothing but kind to me. You've eased my lonely burden. And you'd have to tell a pretty ridiculous story for me not to believe you."

I shake my head. "Thank you." I sigh. How do I even tell her? "Homura? Is it normal to see a white talking cat?"

As I look at Homura, I see something I've never seen before. Her mouth opens. Her eyes widen. Is she hyperventilating? I swear she looks paler than normal after I asked that.

"W…What?" A whisper. I could barely hear her. "What did you say?"

"A white cat. Little rings in its…ears? I think they're ears. They're way longer than any cat's ears I've ever seen."

"A…And it…talked?"

"Yeah. It was…It was so weird. It asked me to…make a contract? It said it could…make me a Magical Girl if I made a wish."

I look at Homura. She's still breathing rapidly with that…that haunted, terrified look. I thought it couldn't get any worse than to see her like this. As I see her clutch her chest, I realize I was horribly wrong. She told me about her heart condition. Yes, she says she got that cured. Is she…Is she having a panic attack? "Homura?"

"Hitomi…" She sounds just so…scared. So vulnerable. "You didn't…you didn't let it…did you?"

I shake my head. "I told it…I had to think about it."

I feel her tighten her hold on me. Now, she's sobbing. "Hitomi, you can't! You can't let that…that thing get you! No matter what! You can't!"

"What? What's wrong, Homura?" I have never seen Homura freak out like this.

A sigh. I feel her back away, and I see her stand. "I suppose it was a matter of time," she said. She takes her ring off, and I see it turn into some…egg thing? Then, I see her enveloped in a bright violet light. When I open my eyes, I see her, only her outfit is a bit different. Where there was her school uniforn, there are now grays and whites. My gaze is drawn to some purple jewel thing on her hand.

"A long time ago, I made a contract with that…thing. It…cost me everything, Hitomi. This…" She shows me the jewel, which returns to its egg shape. "This is called a Soul Gem. This is what that monster wants out of you."

"What it…wants?"

She nods. "It hides certain aspects of the deal. A creature named Kyubey approaches a girl it feels has potential. It measures this…based on how deeply one feels emotions like hope. It feels that the more one can feel hope, and the more lives that person can touch…the deeper the despair."

"Despair…" I whisper.

"Don't think for a second this creature does this out of the goodness of its heart. It doesn't care about us. In fact, it feels that death would be more…efficient. At least, death in a specific way." She pulls out a strange black cube and touches it to her…soul. I gasp as the purple becomes brighter.

"We fight monsters called Wraiths. Embodiments of human curses given physical form. Normally, humans can't see them. When we defeat them, we get these cubes. For you see, when I use magic, it clouds my Soul Gem. If it turns completely black…" A sigh. "Magical Girls have a goddess that comes for them. That comforts them in the end. They vanish with her. This gives Kyubey the energy it wants. That it travels across the universe for. Until then, we're all doomed to fight. These monsters. The Magical Girls who want our resources. And indeed, our own despair. A Soul Gem is literally my soul, you see. Given physical form. If it is…compromised…I die. Any magic used clouds it. If it gets too far away from me, I…my body acts like its dead. You see, it rips your soul out of your body, and you're doomed to an early death no one will know the truth about.

I hold my head. Wow, this is a lot to take in. "You said it doesn't…care about humans?"

"That's right. It sees everything in terms of logic, Hitomi." A sigh. "At least, it's supposed to."

"It…mentioned you." I whisper. "It said you weren't to be trusted."

Oh. Less terror and more shock. "That's not normal, Hitomi."

I smile a little. "An evil talking cat that wants to steal my soul for itself isn't normal?"

I can tell she's still freaking out, but I'm glad when she lets out a small chuckle. "Generally, Hitomi, I have a pretty good idea how it operates. When it approaches a girl on her own, it doesn't start by mentioning another girl. Unless…" She trails off.

"Unless?"

She sighs. "There are some cases I've heard about where the Incubator, this creature, encourages Magical Girls to be…wary."

"It didn't sound…like that. It sounded more like…'This girl is dangerous to me.' And it sounded almost…hateful when it mentioned you."

"…Hateful? Hitomi, that really isn't normal. When an Incubator feels such things, it usually doesn't last long enough for us to find out about it. But why would it…? Oh…Oh no…" I can't look. Poor Homura looks so hurt and scared.

"What…What is it?" I ask.

She shakes her head, then looks at me. "Promise me you won't hate me?"

"You were there for me when no one else was. I'll hear you out."

I hear her sigh…and she tells me a story. Apparently, she had wished to save Madoka…save her friend. This sent her back in time. She woke up, she lived through the month, she met her friends, and she had to watch them all die. Again and again and again. She doesn't focus much on it, but just from her tone, I could tell it tore her apart every time, but she had to pretend otherwise. She could not do that every time Madoka died. Then, Madoka's last wish…was to save Magical Girls and make their fate better.

"That's why I'm the only one who can remember her," she admits softly. "To everyone else, it was like she was never born."

When she says that, suddenly, it all makes sense. Why Madoka vanished. Why no one else even remembers her. Again, I feel my heart go out to Homura. Madoka was my friend for so long, but Homura…I can tell just how much Homura loved her. She must have been in so much pain! Still, I can't help but ask. "Homura? You're acting like…she's not your friend anymore. Like you're somehow…Like even this goddess won't save you or…love you?"

She laughs, but I can tell this laugh is empty. Broken. Then, she continues the story. How she told this Incubator about the old world, and how this got her in trouble.

"Hitomi, when I wasn't expecting it, it…captured me. It did…horrible things to me. I couldn't wake up, and it was like I was dreaming." I can see a twinge of guilt. "Remember what I said about the Witches?"

I simply nod.

She looks down. "Somehow, this creature…turned me into one, despite that being impossible. It was…awful. I managed to hold onto myself for a while, but when I realized the truth…It was like a nightmare…all I could think about was my…my despair." She shudders, and I hug her for a bit. When she calms down, I let her go, encouraging her to continue.

Homura then told me about how her Familiars kidnapped everyone she remembered. Altered their memories so they wouldn't realize the Mitakihara she was in wasn't real. Altered…my memories. "I wasn't aware of myself or what I was doing. I was just so…so lonely. However," she whispered. "Some people were already gone. I had thought my mind had recreated Sayaka and…" A sob. "And Madoka. But it turns out they were really there. They went there to save me."

"What…happened?"

"They succeeded. They saved me. At least, that's what they thought. But I had heard the wrong things from Madoka, and I came to the worst possible conclusion."

"Homura?"

I see tears start flowing more and more from her eyes. "Madoka was so happy. She almost acted like she wanted to save me. But I…had…other plans…"

Before I knew it, I woke up in some strange place. Laying down. Only it isn't me. I realize…this was Homura's memory. I see Madoka, every bit the goddess Homura described. But…I…Homura…latched onto her. Said she wasn't going to let her go. I could see the agony in her eyes, but Homura wouldn't stop, simply saying she'll never…let anything hurt her again. Then…she tore the goddess in two. The screams. And the sheer horror Homura's feeling that she's doing this. And then, everything goes dark. When I open my eyes, I'm back home, and Homura's sobbing. "I became the demon to her goddess. I became a monster. I thought I was helping her." She tries to wipe her tears, but she keeps crying. Every sob just breaks my heart.

"All I wanted was for her to be happy! I thought she was suffering! I kept telling myself that, at least. The truth was…I couldn't accept that she was happy…unless I saw it. And I thought that I had to be her enemy. I thought she had to…to kill me."

"She didn't, though. She didn't kill you! She must have forgiven you!" I hug Homura tightly, this time not planning on letting go.

"I…don't know about that…" More sobbing. "All I know is that she left me here again, and I don't know why!"

"Maybe she wants to give you another chance," I whisper. "And I think you know that too. Otherwise…well…you wouldn't be here."

"I'm a monster! I'm a hideous, disgusting monster!"

"Homura Akemi, you know I don't think that! And Madoka doesn't think that either!"

"How can you sound so sure?" She snapped at me. "You don't remember her! You don't remember how she was yours and Sayaka's best friend! How you three did everything together!"

"How do you know that? Maybe I DO remember Madoka! Maybe I remember how much she meant to me, and maybe I know full well how you could come to love her so much! Maybe all I can think about is how you and her just have so much in common!" Now, I'm crying on her. "Maybe I'm the only one who understands how you feel. I was so mad, knowing that Kyousuke couldn't remember Madoka! Hehe. You know, she'd always gush about you."

"You…remember her?" I can hear the sheer pleading in her voice, wishing so hard that she isn't losing her mind.

"I do, Homura. I wanted to tell you. I wanted to show you that I understand. Homura, you can talk about her with me. You can talk about anything with me. When you gushed about the girl you loved, I had a feeling it was her. I can just…tell."

"You don't think I'm crazy or…or creepy?"

I shake my head. "I'll admit that you've done things that are…hard to understand. But I can see it all over your face when I look at you. You hate what you did. And you just…love Madoka so, so much." I laugh a little. "If I loved Kyousuke half as much as you love Madoka, things would have probably worked out better."

"Hitomi, he'd have to be the one loving you more. But it's true. I love her. Even though I can never see her again, I can't help but love her. Every single day, I find myself…fantasizing. Needing her. Being her lover. It'd be wonderful. But it'd be so…so painful." She whimpers.

"Painful?"

"You saw what I did to her. Even if I believed she could forgive me, how could I believe she loves me?!"

I can't help it. I sob on her. "If I can see how much you regret your actions and…and want to be better, I'm sure she can! Maybe she thinks you're just so kind, beautiful, and strong. You two would be so cute together! And…I can tell you want to help her. I know she says…similar things."

"What?"

"For as long as I can remember, Madoka would always say she's so bland and forgettable. That…that no one would ever fall in love with her." 'That you would never fall in love with her,' I think.

"That's completely ridiculous! Why could she never see how beautiful and sweet she is?! How her smile and giggle are just so cute, or how endearing she is when she gushes about food, or just how you want to encourage her when she says her creative things aren't that good all embarrassed! Why?"

"Maybe," I whisper to her, still holding her tight. "She's thinking like you are. And no, it doesn't make it better if you think it's totally okay for you to think that about yourself!"

I feel her sob more. "Did she…have anything to do with…?"

"No," I reply. "She didn't appear in a dream or alley or anywhere to make me be your friend. I'm your friend because I want to be your friend. It's that simple!"

"You…You really mean it?" When you sound like that, Homura, it only makes me love you more. But I know your heart is hers.

"Of course I mean it!" I smile at her, pulling back to gaze at her, her eyes being red. This girl has been through so much.

"Even after everything I told you?"

"As I said, I can tell you want to be a better person. Let me help you, Homura."

"You're too kind to me, Hitomi. You give and give, and I can't do anything in return."

"What are you talking about? When I needed someone to talk to, you were there! You're probably one of the few people who know just how much I…really don't like everything I have to do." I laugh a little. "You're wonderful, and you just don't realize it."

She wipes away her tears, and I see her look at me all determined. This side of her, too, is beautiful. I just wish I could tell her just how beautiful she is to me. "That rat won't get you."

"Huh?"

"The Incubator. That rat that wants to make a contract with you. I won't let it. I don't care if it kills me. I will protect you. You won't be tricked."

"I…no one's ever promised me something like that."

She smiles a little. "It's the least I can do. Besides, I failed to protect anyone else. I'd like to at least protect you."

Homura and I continue to hold each other the rest of the night, and I make sure she goes to sleep before going to my room, thinking about how lucky I am. Though if what she says is true, and if she does have to give her life to keep Kyubey from…from getting me? I have to save her. But what would I wish for for that? I hope I never have to find an answer.