A harsh bright light shone on Nemo and Matama as they looked up at their captors. The intimidating figures of Baiser, Leopard, and Alice looked at them from the shadows beyond the lamp on the table. The two girls tugged at the handcuffs chaining them to the metal table in front of them. They were trapped, bound and at the mercy of the three dark magical girls.
Baiser, Leopard, and Alice stood on the other side of the table, but not as they had ever seen them before. Each was clad in a provocative take on a police uniform - all short skirts, tight low-cut shirts, and gleaming badges that caught the light with every movement.
Baiser's violet hair was pulled back into a severe bun, a few loose strands framing her face in a way that was both commanding and alluring. Her uniform was a masterpiece of seductive
A harsh bright light shone on Nemo and Matama as they looked up at their captors. The intimidating figures of Baiser, Leopard, and Alice looked at them from the shadows beyond the lamp on the table. The two girls tugged at the handcuffs chaining them to the metal table in front of them. They were trapped, bound and at the mercy of the three dark magical girls.
Baiser, Leopard, and Alice stood on the other side of the table, but not as they had ever seen them before. Each was clad in a provocative take on a police uniform - all short skirts, tight low-cut shirts, and gleaming badges that caught the light with every movement.
Baiser's violet hair was pulled back into a severe bun, a few loose strands framing her face in a way that was both commanding and alluring. Her uniform was a masterpiece of seductive authority - a crisp white blouse unbuttoned dangerously low, revealing tantalizing glimpses of black lace underneath. The shirt was tucked into a short navy skirt that hugged her curves, the hem riding high on her thighs.
Thigh-high black boots with wicked stiletto heels completed the ensemble, the polished leather gleaming under the interrogation room lights. Baiser's golden eyes, with their star-shaped pupils, gleamed with predatory intensity as she regarded Nemo and Matama. Her full lips were painted a deep, dark purple, and curled into a smirk. In one hand, she held her riding crop, tapping it rhythmically against her hand as she gazed at her prisoners.
To her right stood Leopard, her top open down the first several buttons to show a valley of pale cleavage and display the three star tattoos running across the top of her chest. Her wine-red eyes sparkled with a mixture of excitement and fury, like a cat ready to toy with its prey. She twirled a pair of handcuffs around one finger, while the other hand held her derringer pointed at them.
On Baiser's left was Alice, her long blonde hair cascading over her shoulders in stark contrast to her dark uniform. Her bright red eyes were hidden behind a pair of dark sunglasses as she regarded Nemo and Matama coldly with arms crossed over her chest. Behind her loomed the form of her cheshire cat doll, towering at almost ten feet tall. It mimicked its master, arms crossed and wearing a giant pair of matching sunglasses.
"Now then," Baiser said as her golden eyes with their star-shaped pupils bored into Nemo and Matama. She raised a hand and brought her start tipped riding crop down with a crack against the palm of her other hand."I believe we have some questions for the two of you."
Nemo's breath hitched as Baiser stalked closer, the sound of her heels clicking against the cold floor reverberated through the oppressive silence. The imposing figure leaned forward just enough for her shadow to fall over Nemo and Matama, cloaking them in its weight.
Matama's trembling became almost imperceptible as her breathing quickened, her wide teal eyes darting toward Nemo, desperate for reassurance. But Nemo was frozen, her pink eyes locked on Utena—no, Baiser. This version of Utena wasn't the shy girl they'd seen at karaoke; this creature was something else entirely. A force of dominance and raw power wrapped in predatory allure.
"Let's start," Baiser murmured, each word dripping with a mixture of amusement and menace, "with why you thought it would be wise—" she punctuated the word by leaning in closer, allowing an edge of feral sharpness to slide into her smile "—to come crawling to me."
Leopard snickered at Baiser's side, resting her chin on one hand as she twirled her gun lazily in the other. "Yeah, 'cause, like... I'm real curious too," she cooed mockingly. Her wine-red eyes gleamed like polished rubies as she leaned forward far enough for her open blouse to dip scandalously low. "Did you think we'd just forget what you did?"
Nemo swallowed hard at Leopard's venomous taunt but forced herself to maintain eye contact with Baiser. If she faltered now, if she gave into the swirling maelstrom of fear threatening to crush her lungs, it would all be over before it began.
"I—" Nemo faltered for half a second before gripping the edges of the table tightly, her fingers whitening against the cold metal surface. "I didn't have a choice back then! None of us did!"
Baiser tilted her head ever so slightly as though considering this response—or perhaps savoring it. A strand of violet hair slipped from its meticulous bun to frame one sharp cheekbone. There was something almost playful in how slow she allowed her smirk to grow wider.
"No choice?" she purred dangerously, pressing both palms flat onto the table so that she loomed closer still. Her golden gaze bore into Nemo like molten fire melting through armor. "Do you think that excuses you? Do you think that absolves you? Tell me... how many magical girls begged for their lives before you struck them down?"
The words slammed into Nemo with all the subtlety of a sledgehammer. She flinched visibly, and across from her, Matama whimpered aloud—a small, involuntary noise that brought Leopard's laughter bubbling forth again.
"Ohhh," Leopard teased cruelly, pushing herself off the wall and sauntering around behind them now with languid movements that somehow felt suffocating in their deliberateness. She trailed a finger carelessly along the back of Nemo's chair. "Aww, do you think crying about it makes you any less guilty? It's adorable, honestly. The big bad Leberblume and Loco Musica want to play the poor little victims now, huh?"
Matama jerked her head toward Leopard, her voice shaking but edged with defiance. "We didn't want to do any of it! You don't know what it's like—what happens if you disobey Lord Enorme!" Her breath hitched as Leopard's wine-red eyes locked onto hers, the mocking gleam replaced by something sharper.
"Tisk tisk," Leopard murmured, leaning low so that her face was level with Matama's, their noses almost brushing. A sinister grin played on her lips. "You think you're really going to pull the 'just following orders' routine?" Leopard raised her derringer and played with it, bringing its barrel close to Matama's face. "That ain't gonna work here." Her voice dropped low and cold. "Not after what you lot did to Baiser."
Nemo's heart thundered in her chest as she tugged futilely at her restraints. Baiser's gaze never wavered from hers, and there was something in those golden eyes—something sharp and predatory but layered beneath a storm of emotions Nemo couldn't untangle. Rage. Betrayal. But she was sure there was also curiosity and... an ache? A yearning?
Baiser straightened slowly, dragging her riding crop across the table as she moved to circle them now, a predator sizing up its cornered prey. Her boots clicked against the cold floor in measured steps that hammered into the silence like a countdown ticking toward destruction.
"You came to me," Baiser said, her voice molten silk wrapped around razor-wire, "begging for sanctuary after helping destroy everything I care about." She stopped behind Nemo now, leaning down so that her breath ghosted against the nape of Nemo's neck. The turquoise-haired girl stiffened as a shiver rippled down her spine.
Baiser tilted her head slightly, inhaling deeply through her nose as though savoring Nemo's scent—and by extension, the depth of her emotions. Fear was thick in the air—sour and metallic—but there was something else beneath it: guilt, raw and suffocating, paired with... desperation. It clung to Nemo like damp fog and coated Baiser's senses until she could almost taste it—acrid yet tantalizing.
Her purple painted lips brushed close to Nemo's ear as she whispered, "Tell me why I shouldn't unleash every ounce of fury you've earned here and now." The magic in the room spiked as the words left her lips. Baiser's magic fizzed and popped as it boiled just under her skin, barely contained.
Nemo's voice trembled as she forced out a response, though each word felt like pulling glass shards from her throat. "Because we're not asking for forgiveness," she said shakily but with a flicker of resolve that surprised even herself. "We know what we've done—what I've done—and we can't fix it or make up for it. But I can stop doing it." She lifted her head despite every instinct screaming at her to cower beneath Baiser's predatory presence.
"I can stop hurting people," Nemo continued more firmly now, meeting Baiser's gaze even as tears welled up in her pink eyes.
Baiser's eyes narrowed as she studied Nemo's face, searching for any hint of deception. The turquoise-haired girl's emotions were a tumultuous storm - fear and desperation intermingled with a flicker of hope and determination. It was intoxicating, that cocktail of vulnerability and resolve.
"Stop hurting people?" Baiser repeated, her voice a low purr. She trailed the tip of her riding crop along Nemo's jawline, watching as the girl shivered at the touch. "And what makes you think I'd believe that? What makes you think I'd trust either of you?"
Matama spoke up, her voice trembling but determined. "Because we have information. About Enormita, about Lord Enorme's plans. We can help you stop them."
Leopard scoffed, rolling her eyes dramatically. "Oh please, as if we'd fall for that. You're probably here to feed us false intel, get us to lower our guard."
Alice remained silent, but her red eyes gleamed behind her sunglasses as she watched the exchange intently.
Nemo shook her head vehemently, causing Baiser's crop to press more firmly against her skin. "No, it's true! We know things - important things. About Enorme's plans, about her powers. Please, you have to believe us!"
Baiser pulled back slightly, her golden eyes flickering between Nemo and Matama. She could taste the desperation rolling off them in waves, thick and cloying. But beneath that was something else - a kernel of truth that piqued her interest.
"Alright then," Baiser said, her voice deceptively soft. "Let's say I'm interested in this... information. What exactly are you offering? And what do you want in return?"
Nemo and Matama exchanged a quick glance before Nemo spoke again. "We want out. From Enormita, from Lord Enorme. And..." she hesitated, her pink eyes pleading as she looked up at Baiser. "We want a chance. To make things right, to help instead of hurt."
Baiser's lips curled into a predatory smile. "Oh, my dears," she purred, leaning in close once more. "If you think earning my trust will be easy, you're sorely mistaken. But I'm willing to... entertain the possibility."
The dark magical girl leaned back, her golden eyes gleaming with a mix of curiosity and predatory intent. She tapped her riding crop against her palm, the soft thud echoing in the tense silence of the interrogation room. The harsh overhead light cast deep shadows across her face, accentuating the sharp angles of her cheekbones and the curve of her full lips.
"Let's start at the beginning, shall we?" Baiser's voice was velvet-soft, a stark contrast to the steel in her gaze. "Tell me, why did you join Enormita in the first place?"
Nemo and Matama exchanged a nervous glance, the clink of their handcuffs against the metal table a harsh reminder of their precarious situation. Matama's lower lip trembled slightly, and Nemo took a deep breath, steeling herself to answer.
"I... I wanted to be an idol," Matama confessed, her voice barely above a whisper. Her teal eyes shimmered with unshed tears as she continued, "Enorme promised me fame, adoration. She said I'd be the only idol everyone had to watch and listen to. It sounded like a dream come true."
Nemo nodded, her turquoise hair falling forward to partially obscure her face. "I…I joined to protect Matama," she added, her pink eyes flickering towards her friend. "We've been together our whole lives. I couldn't let her go alone, even if I had my doubts."
Baiser's eyebrow arched elegantly as she absorbed this information. She circled the table slowly, her heels clicking against the floor in a hypnotic rhythm.
"How touching," Baiser purred, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "And tell me, when did you realize that your dream had turned into a nightmare?"
Matama flinched at the question, her shoulders hunching as if trying to make herself smaller. "It... it was gradual," she admitted, her voice quavering. "At first, everything seemed amazing. The power, the adoration. But then..."
"Then the orders started coming," Nemo finished, her voice hard. "Hunt down magical girls. Destroy their transformation items. Kill them if necessary."
The room fell silent for a moment, the weight of Nemo's words hanging heavy in the air. Leopard's wine-red eyes narrowed dangerously, her finger tightening on the trigger of her derringer. Alice remained impassive behind her sunglasses, but the purple Cheshire cat behind her seemed to grin even wider, its razor-sharp claws growing just a little longer.
Baiser leaned in close, her face mere inches from Nemo's. "And you followed those orders without hesitation, didn't you?" Her voice was a low, venomous hiss, each word sharpened to draw blood.
Nemo's breath hitched, her shoulders tensing as Baiser's predatory gaze bored into her. The moments stretched into agonizing eternity as the weight of her sins pressed down on her. Her lips parted, trembling with the fight between the truth and the excuses she wanted to give.
"I... I had to," Nemo whispered finally, her voice cracking under the strain. "There was hesitation… at first… She… She does not take disobedience well. She likes to use her whip on you…and that's just strike one. If I didn't... if I disobeyed..." Her fists clenched against the table edge, nails digging into her palms until it hurt. "Lord Enorme doesn't show mercy. She would have killed me or worse—Matama. And Matama... she couldn't do it. I couldn't let her hands be stained like mine. So I did it for her… I always stepped up and did it so she didn't have to."
Matama gasped softly at Nemo's admission, her teal eyes widening as tears began to trail silently down her cheeks. "N-Nemo..." she murmured, barely audible.
Baiser paused, her golden eyes widening slightly as she focused her empathetic senses on Nemo. Beneath the thick layers of fear, desperation, and guilt, there was something else - a deep, pulsing warmth that seemed to glow like an ember in the depths of Nemo's soul. It was love, pure and unwavering, a bond that had been forged over a lifetime of shared experiences and unbreakable trust.
But more than that, she felt the fierce protectiveness that radiated from Nemo like a shield, the unshakable resolve to stand between Matama and any harm that might come her way. It was a love that burned bright and strong, a love that had driven Nemo to stain her hands with blood, to take on the burden of guilt so that Matama might remain pure and untainted.
It was a feeling she was familiar with, after all, she herself would do anything for her loves, for her magical girls.
Baiser straightened slightly but didn't step back, her golden eyes still locked onto Nemo like a hunter regarding its prey. But something flickered in their depths—not forgiveness, not yet—but a glimmer of understanding.
"I see," Baiser said coldly, though the venom in her voice had subsided. She turned slowly on her heel and began pacing behind them once more, the measured cadence of her steps echoing ominously in the confined space. "So instead of standing up for what's right, instead of protecting other innocent girls from suffering as you did, you chose to become an instrument of destruction."
The words slammed into Nemo like thunderclaps and left deep cracks in the fragile armor she'd built around herself. Her vision blurred with unshed tears as guilt churned violently inside her—a storm that no amount of resolve could quiet.
Before she could find the strength to respond, Matama spoke up again. This time there was no hesitation in her voice—only raw emotion etched with desperation. "It wasn't just about survival! I thought—at least at first I thought that it would all work out, that it would all be worth it in the end…"
Leopard snorted derisively from where she now leaned casually against Alice's giant Cheshire cat doll. "Oh yeah? And how'd that plan work out for ya? 'Cause last I checked," she gestured exaggeratedly toward Baiser without breaking eye contact with Matama, "she's here bleeding for magical girls while you're over there begging for scraps."
A dagger of guilt and shame pierced through Matama at Leopard's words; even Alice tilted her head ever so slightly as though waiting for either girl to attempt some sort of defense—a justification amidst their crumbling excuses.
"We fucked up," Nemo admitted softly but with undeniable clarity—a confession spoken not just to their captors but seemingly also herself.
Baiser's eyes narrowed at Nemo's admission, her purple lips curling into a predatory smile that revealed the sharp points of her fangs. She leaned in close, her breath ghosting over Nemo's ear as she all but purred. "Fucked up? Oh my dear, you've done so much more than simply fail."
The succubus straightened, her golden eyes gleaming with a mixture of fury and something darker, more primal. She tapped her riding crop against her palm, the soft thud echoing in the tense silence of the interrogation room.
"You've destroyed things that I hold oh so dear," Baiser continued, her voice low and dangerous. "You've hunted glittering stars full of hope, destroyed lives, shattered dreams. And for what? To save your own skins?"
Nemo flinched at the accusation, her pink eyes brimming with unshed tears. "It's not that simple," she whispered, her voice cracking. "We didn't have a choice. Enorme, she—"
"There's always a choice," Baiser cut her off sharply. She circled around the table, her heels clicking ominously against the floor. "You could have run. You could have fought back. You could have reached out to other magical girls for help. But instead, you chose the easy path. The coward's path."
Matama let out a choked sob, her teal eyes wide with fear and guilt. "We were scared, okay," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "Enorme, she's... she's terrifying. The things she can do, the power she has..."
Leopard scoffed, rolling her eyes dramatically. "Oh, boo-hoo. You think we don't know how scary Enorme is? We've faced her too, you know. The difference is, we didn't roll over and become her lapdogs."
Baiser stopped her pacing, coming to stand directly behind Nemo and Matama. She leaned down and slid her hands gently over their shoulders before slowly bringing the two girls closer together. The succubi grinned as she whispered close to their ears, "Tell me, how many magical girls begged for their lives before you struck them down? How many dreams did you shatter with your own hands?"
Nemo's breath hitched, her body trembling as the weight of her actions crashed down upon her. Memories flashed through her mind - terrified faces, desperate pleas, the sickening crunch of transformation items being crushed beneath her feet, the blood. She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to block out the images, but they kept coming, relentless and merciless.
"I... I don't know," she admitted, her voice barely audible. "Too many. Far too many."
Baiser inhaled deeply, savoring the storm of emotions radiating from Nemo. The fear was palpable, a sour tang that coated her tongue and made her teeth ache. But beneath it lay deeper, more complex flavors - the bitter ash of regret, the cloying sweetness of self-pity, and the sharp, metallic bite of remorse.
Nemo's shoulders shook as silent sobs wracked her body. Her turquoise hair fell forward, obscuring her face, but Baiser could still see the tears that splashed onto the metal table. The girl's slender fingers curled into tight fists, nails digging crescents into her palms.
"I don't sleep well any more, I see their faces," Nemo whispered, her voice raw and broken. "Every night when I close my eyes. I hear their screams, their pleas for mercy. I feel the weight of their shattered dreams in my hands."
The words hung heavy in the air, each syllable dripping with anguish. Baiser could almost taste the salt of Nemo's tears, the copper of blood from where she'd bitten her lip to stifle herself.
"I told myself it was necessary," Nemo continued, her voice gaining strength even as it trembled with emotion. "That I was protecting Matama, that one day we'd find a way to make it right. But every time I struck down another magical girl, every time I stole or destroyed a Magia Heart, a piece of me died with them."
The regret rolled off Nemo in waves, thick and suffocating. It clung to Baiser's skin like a damp fog, seeping into her pores and settling heavy in her lungs. The sheer weight of it was almost overwhelming, a tsunami of guilt threatening to drown them all.
Beneath the regret, Baiser could sense the insidious tendrils of self-pity. It was a sickly-sweet aroma, cloying and repulsive. Nemo's hunched posture, the way she seemed to curl in on herself, spoke volumes about the self-loathing that gnawed at her very core.
"I don't deserve forgiveness," Nemo murmured, her words barely audible. "I know that. But I can't... I can't keep doing this. The weight of it all, it's crushing me. Every day it gets harder to breathe, to live with what I've done."
The remorse hit Baiser like a physical blow, sharp and biting. It tasted of iron and salt, of sleepless nights and silent screams into pillows. Nemo's body trembled with the force of it, years of suppressed guilt finally breaking free.
"I'm sorry," Nemo choked out, lifting her tear-stained face to meet Baiser's gaze. Her voice cracked under the weight of confessions she'd long buried, "I'm… I'm so sorry. For all of it. For everyone."
The words hung in the air like shattered glass, sharp and fragile against the oppressive silence that had settled in Alice's dollhouse domain. The eerie interrogation room seemed to close in tighter around them, the single harsh light above Nemo and Matama casting stark shadows across their faces. The dim edges of the space felt endless but suffocating, like an abyss stretching beyond reason.
Baiser remained still, golden eyes fixed on Nemo with an intensity that burned. Her riding crop slowed its rhythmic tapping against her palm, halting mid-air as if frozen by the pure depth of Nemo's admission. Something flickered within those star-shaped pupils—an emotion neither anger nor pity, yet something raw that churned beneath the surface.
Matama sniffled softly beside Nemo, her maroon hair falling forward to obscure her expression as she jerked her hands back against her restraints. "We didn't…" Her voice broke momentarily as she fought to control herself, "We didn't know who else to turn to. But you—you defied Enorme... you stood up to her when no one else could. Utena, please… help us."
For a long moment, Baiser said nothing. She simply stared down at the two trembling girls before her, bound and vulnerable yet radiating desperation so thick she could taste it on her tongue—bitter and cloying with undertones of hope that left an uncomfortable ache in her chest.
Leopard made a low clicking sound with her tongue, breaking the tension only slightly as she paced behind Baiser with casual laziness that belied how tightly wound she truly was. "This is pathetic," Leopard drawled, though there was less bite in her tone than before—just weariness layered over frustration. "They're crying like kids and expecting us to just forget they were out there ruining lives three weeks ago? Come ON."
Alice remained silent where she stood off to the side, arms crossed over her chest as the flickering lamplight glinted off her dark sunglasses. She looked up at Baiser, troubled.
But Baiser ignored them both as she leaned forward once more, resting both palms flat against the cold steel table between them. The deliberate slowness of her movements sent an involuntary shiver racing down Nemo's spine.
"You're sorry," Baiser repeated softly—too softly—as though tasting every syllable on her tongue for poison. She tilted her head slightly, letting strands of violet hair fall loose from its tight bun to frame one side of her sharp face. "Sorry, doesn't bring back MY magical girls"
Baiser's golden eyes narrowed dangerously as she leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a low growl. "Sorry doesn't erase the pain and suffering you've caused. Sorry doesn't undo the damage you've done."
Nemo flinched at the venom in Baiser's words, her pink eyes wide with fear and guilt. She opened her mouth to speak, but no sound came out.
Matama trembled beside her, tears streaming down her face. "We know," she whispered brokenly. "We know it doesn't make up for what we did. But we want to try. We want to make things right, somehow."
Baiser straightened slowly, her gaze never leaving Nemo and Matama. The tension in the room was palpable, thick enough to choke on. Even Leopard had fallen silent, her wine-red eyes darting between Baiser and the captives.
"Make things right?" Baiser repeated, her voice deceptively soft. She tapped her riding crop against her palm, the soft thud echoing in the silence. "And how exactly do you propose to do that? How can you possibly atone for the lives you've destroyed?"
She reached out and grabbed the two girls by the collars of their clothes and pulled them bodily over the table to bring them close. "If you truly want to make amends," she said, her breath hot against their faces, "you'll have to prove your loyalty. Your dedication. Your willingness to do whatever it takes to right your wrongs."
Nemo shivered at the proximity, her heart pounding in her chest. "Anything," she breathed. "We'll do anything."
Baiser's lips curled into a predatory smile, revealing the sharp points of her fangs. "Anything?" she repeated, her voice dripping with dark promise. "Be careful what you offer, little shadow. You might find the price of redemption higher than you're willing to pay."
Baiser's words hung in the air, heavy with implication. The harsh fluorescent light of the room flickered as if in response to Baiser's tumultuous emotions and cast eerie shadows across the interrogation room. Nemo and Matama exchanged a nervous glance, their handcuffs clinking softly against the metal table as they silently debated on going forward, but there was no turning back anymore.
Nemo took a shaky breath, her pink eyes darting between Baiser's predatory gaze and Leopard's watchful stare. The weight of their sins pressed down on her shoulders, threatening to crush her beneath its immense burden. But there was something else now, a tiny spark of hope kindling in her chest.
"We..." Nemo began, her voice barely above a whisper. She swallowed hard, gathering her courage. "We have information. Important information that could help you."
Baiser's golden eyes narrowed, her interest piqued despite herself. She leaned in closer, the scent of her perfume - dark and intoxicating - enveloping Nemo like a seductive fog. "Go on," she purred, her voice a dangerous caress.
Matama nodded vigorously, her maroon hair bouncing with the movement. "It's about the magical girl hunts," she added, her teal eyes wide and earnest. "Not all of them ended the way you think."
Leopard scoffed, rolling her eyes dramatically. "Oh please, as if we don't know about the hunts. We've seen the aftermath, remember? We got a good look at Enorme's throne room and all the Magia Hearts hanging from the ceiling."
But Baiser held up a hand, silencing her companion. There was something in Nemo and Matama's demeanor, a nervous energy that hinted at a secret too big to contain. "Let them speak," she commanded, her voice soft but brooking no argument.
Nemo took a deep breath, her fingers twisting anxiously in her lap. "The Cute Creamery," she said, the words tumbling out in a rush. "They're alive."
The room fell deathly silent. Even the constant hum of the fluorescent light seemed to dim for a moment. Baiser's eyes widened fractionally, the only visible sign of her shock.
"Impossible," Baiser breathed, her quietly seething rage faltering. "I saw the news reports. Sapporo was..." she trailed off, unable to finish the sentence.
Matama shook her head vehemently. "No, it's true! The battle in Sapporo, it wasn't what it seemed! Cute Creamery, they weren't killed in the hunt! They were taken prisoner!"
Nemo nodded, her voice gaining strength as she continued. "Lord Enorme, she... she has plans for them, I'm not sure what they are exactly. But I know that they're being held in Nacht Base."
Baiser said nothing as she leaned closer to Nemo, so close Nemo swore she could feel the heat radiating from her body. The tension between them was unbearable, and yet it burned like a live wire threading through Nemo's veins. When Baiser finally spoke, her voice was low and cold enough to freeze fire.
"Tell…me…everything," Baiser demanded, each word delivered with deliberate precision, like the edge of a blade sliding across skin. "Leave…out…nothing."
They all felt the spike in magical pressure in the room and the teal haired teen watched as a fourth star just appeared on Baiser's cheek. The dark purple of the mark bleeding like ink against her pale skin.
Nemo's eyes widened and darted nervously to Matama before she took a shaky breath and began to speak. "Normally, the hunts were... straightforward. We'd track down magical girls, overpower them, and take their Magia Hearts. Sometimes they'd escape, but others..." She trailed off, unable to finish the sentence.
Matama picked up where Nemo left off, her voice barely above a whisper. "But Cute Creamery was different. Lord Enorme gave us specific orders. She wanted them alive."
Baiser's golden eyes narrowed dangerously. "Explain," she commanded, her voice as sharp as a whip crack.
Nemo nodded, her words tumbling out in a rush. "The attack on Sapporo went like normal. We scouted the…targets… then made a plan to fight them. We baited them out with Enorme's monsters, basic procedure, then we attacked. We fought and they gave us a good show all things considered. But at the end when we took their Magia Hearts, Enorme told us to gather them up and take them back with us."
Matama leaned forward, her teal eyes wide and earnest. "We don't know exactly why Lord Enorme wanted them alive, but we have some ideas."
Baiser's grip on her riding crop tightened, the leather creaking under the pressure. "What kind of ideas?" she asked, her voice dangerously soft.
Nemo swallowed hard. "They were pretty strong compared to most of the magical girls we have…dealt with… So she probably wants to…convert them," she said, the word hanging heavy in the air.
The room fell silent as the implications of Nemo's words sank in. Baiser's face was a mask of barely contained fury, her golden eyes blazing with an inner fire that threatened to consume everything in its path.
"She wants to turn them," Baiser growled, her voice low and filled with venom. "To corrupt the very essence of what makes them magical girls."
Matama nodded. "Y-Yeah… We think... we think she wants to break them, and turn them into dark magical girls… probably anyway."
The air in the room grew heavier, suffused with a tension so thick it felt like the walls themselves were holding their breath. Baiser inhaled deeply, her golden eyes narrowed to slits as she processed what she had just heard. A sharp pang of rage lanced through her chest, not just at Lord Enorme but at the very thought of those girls—those bright, hopeful girls—being dragged into the darkness. Her fingers flexed around the handle of her riding crop until her knuckles turned white as her magic fizzed and popped against her skin.
Leopard and Alice exchanged a concerned glance as they watched Baiser's rage build. With a subtle nod, they moved in tandem, gently but firmly guiding Baiser away from the table.
"Come on, boss," Leopard murmured, her usual mocking tone replaced by something softer. "Let's take a breather, yeah?"
Alice said nothing, but she reached up and took Baiser's hand with hers, her presence was a steady, calming force as they led Baiser to the far corner of the interrogation room. The harsh fluorescent light seemed to dim around them, creating a pocket of shadow that felt almost intimate.
Baiser's chest heaved with barely contained fury, her golden eyes still fixed on Nemo and Matama. The air around her crackled with suppressed magical energy, making the hairs on the back of Leopard's neck stand on end.
Leopard placed a hand on Baiser's shoulder, squeezing gently. "Hey," she said, her wine-red eyes searching Baiser's face. "You okay?"
Baiser closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. The burning fury in her veins pulsed with the angry fizz of her magic. It took several moments for her to just breath and try to force calm upon herself.
"I'm fine," Baiser said, her voice low and controlled. She ran a hand through her violet hair, popping her bun and letting her violet hair spill down around her face. "It's just... the thought of those girls being corrupted..."
Leo gave Baiser a flat look at her fretting over magical girls being corrupted. 'Giiiirrrl… You're one to talk.'She looked at her girlfriend, her eyes roaming over her hair, now reaching to her shoulder blades. Baiser was different, but the why escaped her. The questions could wait for now, there were more important things to think about than changing appearances.
Alice nodded, her expression hidden behind her dark sunglasses. She reached out and took Baiser's hand, squeezing it gently.
Leopard sighed and leaned against the wall, twirling her derringer absently. "So," she said, her voice pitched low enough that Nemo and Matama couldn't overhear. "You think they were telling the truth? About Cute Creamery being alive and you know. Think they really mean to defect, and that they are sorry about everything?"
Baiser nodded slowly, her gaze distant as she recalled the interrogation. "Yes," she said with certainty. "I could sense their emotions the whole time. The fear, the guilt, the desperation... it was all genuine."
She closed her eyes again, remembering the complex cocktail of emotions that had radiated from Nemo and Matama. The bitter tang of regret, the sour note of fear, the cloying sweetness of hope... it had all mixed together into a potent brew that still lingered on her tongue.
"They weren't lying," Baiser continued, her voice barely above a whisper. "Not about Cute Creamery, and not about wanting to make amends. Their remorse... it was almost overwhelming."
Leopard whistled low, shaking her head. "Well, damn," she muttered. "That changes things, doesn't it?" She looked at her girlfriend's face and glanced back over her shoulder to the two girls handcuffed to the table. They may have been bound but they still had their stars. They could have transformed and tried to make a break for it as soon as their backs were turned, but they didn't.
Baiser ran her fingers through her loose violet hair, her golden eyes distant as she considered the situation.
For her the air was thick with tension, a heady mix of fear, hope, and desperation that clung to every surface like a fine mist. Baiser could taste it on her tongue, a complex blend of flavors that told a story of guilt, remorse, and a desperate desire for redemption.
She glanced back at Nemo and Matama, still handcuffed to the table. Their postures were hunched, defeated, yet there was a glimmer of something in their eyes - a tiny spark of hope that refused to be extinguished. Nemo's turquoise hair fell in messy curls around her face, partially obscuring her pink eyes that were red-rimmed from crying. Beside her, Matama's maroon and cyan-streaked hair was tangled and disheveled, her teal eyes wide and pleading.
Leopard watched Baiser carefully, her wine-red eyes searching her girlfriend's face. She could see the conflict raging behind those golden eyes, the battle between fury and compassion. Finally, she broke the silence, her voice gentle.
"So, are you gonna help them?" Leopard asked, gesturing towards Nemo and Matama with a tilt of her head.
Baiser was quiet for a long moment, her gaze fixed on some distant point. When she spoke, her voice was low and measured, each word carefully chosen.
"I haven't forgiven them," she said, her tone hard as steel. "What they've done... the lives they've ruined, the pain they've caused... it's not something that can be wiped away with a few tears and an apology."
She paused, her golden eyes flickering with an inner fire. "But their plea for help is genuine. I can sense it."
Baiser turned to face Nemo and Matama fully, her posture straight and regal. The air around her seemed to shimmer, her dark magical energy pulsing in waves that made the fluorescent light flicker.
"At the end of the day," she continued, her voice softening slightly, "even if they are dark, they are still magical girls. And they clearly need saving. But they'll have to earn every ounce of trust back, one step at a time."
Leopard arched an eyebrow, her smirk returning, albeit tempered with something softer. "Well, aren't you just the bleeding heart tonight? That's why I love you though." She crossed her arms and leaned fully against the wall. "Alright, baby. What's the move?"
Baiser strode back toward the table, each step deliberate, her boots clicking against the tiled floor with a metronomic precision that seemed to amplify the tension in the room. The shadows rippled behind her like living things, responding to her simmering magic as she came to a stop directly in front of Nemo and Matama. Her golden gaze bore into them with an intensity that made both girls flinch.
"You want my help," Baiser began, her voice low and commanding. "And you claim you're willing to do anything to prove your sincerity. Then listen carefully—this is not forgiveness. This is not absolution. If you truly wish to atone for your crimes and escape Enorme's grasp, you will follow my lead without question."
Nemo swallowed hard but nodded resolutely. Beside her, Matama hesitated for a fraction of a second before doing the same.
"Good," Baiser said curtly before leaning down until her face was mere inches from Matama's. Her breath was warm against Matama's chilled skin as she spoke in barely more than a whisper, yet every word carried the weight of an unbreakable vow. "You're on probation now—both of you. And if either one of you so much as thinks about betraying me..."
The succubus trailed off and looked to Nemo. She let her crop glide along the edge of Nemo's jawline in a slow, calculated movement before snapping it down onto the table beside her hand with a sharp crack that echoed through the room. Nemo tensed instinctively but held herself still under that predatory glare.
"You'll wish Enorme had gotten to you first," Baiser finished softly but with unmistakable menace.
Matama whimpered softly, but managed a nod despite how tightly she clutched at her trembling hands.
Satisfied for now, Baiser straightened up and glanced over at Alice who remained silent throughout; however, subtle changes in Alice's stance made it clear she was closely monitoring everyone present—including Baiser herself.
"Alice," Baiser said calmly without turning away from their captives yet somehow managing to convey implicit trust through such minimal acknowledgement alone. "Release them from their restraints."
Alice tilted her head slightly as though considering whether she should question this order; then without comment or hesitation gestured toward invisible threads controlling every aspect within her domain's architecture.
The metal cuffs binding Nemo and Matama clicked open simultaneously, releasing their hands from the table. The pair let out relieved gasps and gently massaged the tender flesh around their wrists, the cuffs had been cold and very tight.
Baiser slipped her crop into her thigh high stocking and leaned over the table. Her top drooped and its open front showed a lovely line of pale flesh. The succubi's eyes bored into the two girls. "You two are very very lucky that I can taste your emotions, all your fear and desperation, and your earnest desire to be free and to atone." She smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes, just a show of fangs. "You two are mine now. Do you understand? You both belong to me. Serve well and faithfully, and you will find my hand to be far softer than Enorme's. I take care of my girls."
Nemo and Matama nodded solemnly, their eyes wide as they absorbed Baiser's words. The weight of their new allegiance settled over them like a heavy cloak, both terrifying and oddly comforting.
"We understand," Nemo said softly, her pink eyes meeting Baiser's golden gaze. "We... we won't let you down."
Matama nodded vigorously beside her, her teal eyes shimmering with a mix of fear and hope. "Thank you," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "For giving us this chance."
Nemo's fingers twisted nervously in her lap, her gaze darting between Baiser's imposing figure and the cold metal table before her. Swallowing hard, she gathered her courage and spoke, her voice barely above a whisper. "I... I know we have no right to ask for anything more, but..." She trailed off, her pink eyes wide and pleading as she looked up at Baiser.
Baiser arched an eyebrow, her golden eyes gleaming with curiosity. "Go on," she purred, her voice a low, dangerous caress.
Nemo took a shaky breath, the words tumbling out in a rush. "We don't have anywhere to go. When we joined Enormita, we... We left everything behind. Our homes, our families, she made us give it all up. And now we can't go back to Nacht Base. We don't have anywhere to sleep tonight."
Beside her, Matama nodded vigorously, her maroon hair bouncing with the movement. "We've been living in Nacht Base for months," she added, her teal eyes wide and earnest. "It was all we had. We gambled everything left on this, on you."
The room fell silent as Baiser considered their words. Leopard and Alice exchanged a glance, their expressions unreadable behind their carefully neutral masks.
Baiser's golden eyes narrowed as she studied the two girls before her. She could sense the truth in their words, the genuine fear and uncertainty radiating from them.
For a long moment, Baiser said nothing. She simply stood there, her violet hair cascading over her shoulders in a silken waterfall, her fingers tapping a slow, deliberate rhythm against the handle of her riding crop. The sound echoed in the silence, each tap like a thunderclap in the oppressive quiet.
Finally, Baiser spoke, her voice low and measured. "The hideout," she mused, more to herself than to the others. "It's not much, but it's secure. And it would keep you close... under my watchful eye."
Leopard stepped forward, her wine-red eyes wide with surprise. "Baiser, are you sure?"
Baiser held up a hand, silencing her companion. "They've given us valuable information," she said, her gaze never leaving Nemo and Matama. "And they've placed themselves entirely at our mercy. If we turn them away now, we would be no better than that whore Enorme."
Baiser's golden eyes flickered with dark amusement as she regarded Nemo and Matama. "Very well," she purred, her voice low and seductive. "You may stay at my hideout... for now."
Relief washed over Nemo and Matama's faces, their shoulders sagging as some of the tension drained from their bodies. But Baiser wasn't finished.
"However," she continued, leaning in close, her breath hot against their skin, "do not mistake this for kindness. You are still on probation, and you will earn your keep."
Nemo nodded vigorously, her pink eyes wide. "Of course," she said quickly. "We'll do whatever you need us to do."
Matama echoed the sentiment, her teal gaze fixed on Baiser with a mixture of fear and hope. "We won't let you down," she added softly.
Baiser's lips curled into a predatory smile. "See that you don't," she murmured. With a flick of her wrist, she gestured to Alice. "Release the domain. It's time we showed our new... recruits... to their temporary home."
Alice nodded, her red eyes gleaming behind her dark glasses. With a wave of her hand, the interrogation room began to dissolve around them, melting away like mist in the morning sun.
As the last vestiges of Alice's dollhouse domain faded, they found themselves once more standing on the concert stage at Sendai Dreamland.
Baiser stepped forward, her heels clicking against the stage under her. "Follow me," she commanded, not bothering to look back to see if Nemo and Matama obeyed. She knew they would - they had no choice now. She snapped her fingers and manifested a swirling portal of black and purple mist.
Leopard fell into step beside the two former Enormita members, her wine-red eyes gleaming with mischief. "Welcome to the family, kittens," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Hope you're ready for a wild ride."
As they stepped toward the portal, Nemo and Matama exchanged a nervous glance. They had escaped one master only to fall into the hands of another. But as they watched Baiser's confident stride ahead of them, they couldn't help but feel a flicker of hope. Perhaps here, under Baiser's watchful eye, they could finally find a path to redemption.
—
The portal swirled and pulsed, its inky depths seeming to draw them in. Baiser stepped through without hesitation, her violet hair streaming behind her like a banner. Nemo and Matama followed, their steps hesitant but determined, with Leopard and Alice bringing up the rear.
As they emerged on the other side, the familiar scent of musty air and incense washed over them. Nemo and Matama blinked, their eyes adjusting to the dim fluorescent lighting that cast long shadows across the metal walls of the hideout. The space was exactly as they remembered it from their previous clandestine visit, though they were careful to keep their faces neutral, not wanting Baiser to know they had been skulking around.
Baiser strode into the center of the room, her heels clicking against the concrete floor. She turned to face them, her golden eyes gleaming in the low light. "Welcome to your new temporary home."
Nemo and Matama glanced around, taking in the details they had only glimpsed before. The ground floor was a multi-use space, dominated by a small kitchenette tucked into one corner. Two propane camping stoves sat atop a counter, flanked by a compact refrigerator. Cabinets lined the wall above, their contents hidden behind closed doors.
Opposite the kitchenette, a common area sprawled out, centered around a battered but comfortable-looking couch. A TV hung on the wall it's dark screen reflecting the fluorescent lights. A coffee table, its surface scarred and stained, sat before the couch, littered with a few dog-eared magazines.
Baiser gestured towards the kitchenette. "You're welcome to whatever is in the fridge," she said, her tone casual but her eyes sharp. "Just don't expect gourmet cuisine, it's mostly convenience store food and the cupboards are full of canned goods."
Matama's stomach growled audibly at the mention of food, and she blushed, ducking her head in embarrassment. Those waffles from before were a nice snack but after that interrogation she was starving. Nemo placed a comforting hand on her friend's shoulder, her pink eyes darting nervously between Matama and Baiser.
"Thank you," Nemo murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.
Baiser's lips curled into a smirk. "Don't thank me yet," she said, her voice tinged with dark amusement. She pointed towards the far end of the room, where a curtain hung, partially obscuring a makeshift bathroom. "Shower's over there. I suggest you use it."
Nemo and Matama nodded, suddenly acutely aware of their disheveled state. The events of the past few days had left them grimy and exhausted, their clothes wrinkled and stained.
"As for sleeping arrangements," Baiser continued, gesturing towards a metal staircase that led to a loft area above, "there are beds upstairs. Simple, but they'll do for now."
Nemo and Matama followed Baiser's gaze to the loft. From their vantage point, they could just make out the edges of a few beds, each separated by thin curtains for a semblance of privacy. The space was utilitarian, but it had an eclectic lived in atmosphere. Compared to the cold, sterile rooms of Nacht Base, it seemed almost cozy.
Leopard sauntered over to the kitchenette, opening the fridge and pulling out a can of soda. She popped the tab with a sharp hiss, her wine-red eyes never leaving Nemo and Matama. "Don't get too comfortable, kittens," she drawled, taking a long sip. "This isn't a vacation."
Baiser's golden eyes flickered over Nemo and Matama, taking in their bedraggled appearance and the way they huddled close together, as if seeking comfort in each other's presence. A flicker of something - not quite sympathy, but perhaps understanding - crossed her face.
With a fluid motion, she reached into the nowhere space within her magic outfit and pulled out a sleek, silver money clip. The metal gleamed in the dim fluorescent light, catching flashes of purple as she turned it over in her hand.
"Here," Baiser said, her voice sounding tired as she held out the money clip. "This should cover your expenses for now."
Nemo's eyes widened as she took in the sight of the bills nestled in the clip. Even from where she stood, she could make out the denominations - a mix of 10,000, 5,000, and 1,000 yen notes, crisp and new as if freshly withdrawn from a bank.
With trembling fingers, Nemo reached out to accept the offered money. As her hand brushed against Baiser's, she felt a jolt of electricity race up her arm, leaving goosebumps in its wake. Whether it was from fear, excitement, or something else entirely, she couldn't say.
"Th-thank you," Nemo stammered, clutching the money clip to her chest as if it were a lifeline. "This is... this is very generous."
Matama peered over Nemo's shoulder, her teal eyes widening as she took in the amount. "That's a lot," she breathed, her voice a mix of awe and gratitude.
Baiser's lips curled into a smirk, her golden eyes glinting with amusement. "Don't get too excited. This isn't a gift. Consider it an advance on your future services."
She leaned in close, her breath hot against Nemo's ear as she whispered, "And I expect to be repaid... with interest."
The implications hung heavy in the air, thick with promise and threat in equal measure. Nemo swallowed hard, her throat suddenly dry as she nodded her understanding.
"Of course," she managed to say, her voice barely above a whisper. "We won't forget your kindness."
Baiser straightened, satisfaction evident in the curve of her smile. "See that you don't," she said, her tone deceptively light. "Now, I suggest you two get cleaned up and get some rest. The next time we meet, your trial will begin."
Baiser turned on her heel, her violet hair swirling behind her like a cape. "Leopard, Alice, we're leaving," she commanded, her voice brooking no argument. With a flick of her wrist, she summoned another swirling portal of dark energy.
As Leopard sauntered towards the portal, she couldn't contain her excitement any longer. "Oh my god, Baiser!" she squealed, her wine-red eyes sparkling with admiration. "You were so fucking hot back there! That whole dommy police mommy vibe? Unf!" She fanned herself dramatically, her cheeks flushed. "You can arrest me anytime you want, babe. I'll even resist a little, make it fun for you."
Alice rolled her eyes, but a small smile tugged at the corners of her lips. She gave a slight nod to Nemo and Matama before following Leopard through the portal.
Baiser paused at the threshold, looking back over her shoulder at Nemo and Matama. Her golden eyes gleamed with an unspoken warning, a reminder of the precarious position they now found themselves in. Without another word, she stepped through the portal, which winked out of existence behind her with a soft whoosh.
The sudden silence in the hideout was deafening. Nemo and Matama stood frozen for a moment, the events of the day crashing over them like a tidal wave. Then, as if their strings had been cut, they stumbled towards the couch and collapsed onto it in unison.
Nemo let out a long, shuddering breath, her turquoise hair falling in messy curls around her face. She turned to look at Matama, her pink eyes filled with a mixture of relief and trepidation. "We made it," she whispered, her voice hoarse with exhaustion. "We actually made it out."
Matama nodded weakly, her maroon hair looked tangled and disheveled. She leaned her head back against the couch, closing her teal eyes as tears of relief began to trickle down her cheeks. "I can't believe it," she murmured. "I thought... I thought for sure we were done for."
The adrenaline that had been coursing through their veins for hours finally began to ebb, leaving them feeling hollow and drained. The couch, despite its worn appearance, felt like the softest cloud after the tension of the interrogation room.
Nemo reached out and took Matama's hand, squeezing it gently. "We're not out of the woods yet," she said softly, her thumb tracing soothing circles on Matama's palm. "But we're not alone anymore. We have a chance now."
Matama squeezed Nemo's hand tightly, drawing comfort from her friend's presence. "You're right," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "We have a chance now. But Nemo... what do you think Baiser meant by our 'trial'? And repaying her with interest?"