A/N: This chapter is dedicated to the little hellions on the surprise ANAI Discord server who fed me a steady stream of wholesomeness and crack for three days and got my brain really working again. You have them to thank for this lol.
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NEUNUNDSIEBZIG
TIMELINE X + N + 1
Kisuke basically threw Rin into the control room for his various sensor networks with a command to study them and assess functionality. It was probably best to assume his pigeons lost; whatever was salvageable would then be good news. And Kisuke needed good news.
Well, all their allies were in protective custody. That was good news. Kinda. Sorta. At least they couldn't get killed? Well, unless they killed each other.
Yeahhh, he was delegating crowd control to Tessai, Isshin, Junko, and Tomohisa. Let them keep all the teenagers from destroying the building. He had work to do.
There was so much new information to add to the information he was already juggling. His respect for Homura Akemi maintaining her sanity and conviction across innumerable timelines increased practically by the hour. It was all monstrously overwhelming— and he was an experienced former Special Ops and R&D military officer who had plotted the downfall of a megalomaniac with a god complex over the course of a century, not a random schoolgirl.
You must admit that to her, Kisuke, Benihime said matter-of-factly as she brushed silk cocoons and snagged filaments from them in preparation to unravel them. The plink-plink of plucked string mirrored the tap-tap of his typing. She needs to know you that respect her accomplishments and that you are humbled by the scale of the plot she has been fighting by herself for so long.
Kisuke knew his zanpakutō spirit was right. The question would be when the two of them would actually have a spare moment of privacy to chat one-on-one. Especially with even more people checking into Hotel Urahara.
Leave that for Tessai and the others. Set that aside. Focus.
Right. So. The biggest thing up in the air was how much Homura would divulge. How much she said could send his course in several different directions, which he should prepare for accordingly. He and the others had to help her navigate the fallout without shutting down so she could participate in unpacking the bodies and figuring out what the hell was going on in Asunaro. He needed to think of a more permanent solution to the bandage he'd slapped on the crater; humans were going to go poking in there sooner than later and he needed more than illusions over ice. He also needed to know what the hell had happened with Momoe. Shop surveillance showed the kid had been sedated, so she'd be no help for now. So Kisuke left his door ajar while typing and waited for his oldest friend.
"You reek of stress, smoke, and sewage, Kisuke," Yoruichi's low cat voice eventually drawled. "You owe me an explanation."
Kisuke turned to see the cat nudge the door closed. Tension in his shoulders relaxed. "Yoruichi," he sighed with relief. "I'm sorry to leave you in the cold. Things have been so—"
"Shut it," Yoruichi said with a dismissive wave of her paw. "You'd've done better if you could've. That's done. I just want an update on facts." She smoothly shifted into human form, stretched, and threw herself into a chair. Gold eyes evaluated him. "You're not taking care of yourself, Kisuke."
Kisuke pouted. "I will have you know that Tessai and Isshin have been ensuring I get sleep and food these last few days."
Yoruichi just gave him a skeptical look.
"I've been a tad busy," he said drily.
"Hmph. No shit." Yoruichi slouched to one side and propped her chin on her elbow. "I have some very important features to demand for this collar," she said, fingers ghosting against it at her neck. "We probably could've prevented the fight down yonder."
Ah, another failure. Great.
Sharp as ever, Yoruichi narrowed her eyes— damn, which tell was he letting slip?— and said, "But that can wait. I heard a sparing version of what happened today. What's your action plan?"
"Sent Twelfth to make a scripted appearance to throw the Incubator off the trail of thinking they know anything or know us," Kisuke replied. "Gotta figure out a better way to hide a... I guess you could say a crime scene. Ahhhh, if only I could just pick it— oh."
Yoruichi raised a brow. "Oh?"
"OH!" Kisuke shouted as he jumped up from his seat and slammed a palm into his forehead. "I'm an idiot!"
"Are those words immortalized on surveillance?" Yoruichi drawled as he scrabbled around in his pocket for his phone.
He ignored the question and dialed his shop. His real shop in Karakura. Jinta picked up and boredly said, "Urahara Shop. Whaddaya want?"
"Jinta!"
"B-Boss?"
Kisuke leaned in close to his phone and commanded, "I need you and Ururu to get something out of storage for me."
"Oh, God," Jinta groaned. "What?"
"The modified Tenkai Kecchū*."
Yoruichi crooned her understanding.
Jinta balked. "The say what now?!"
"The—"
"I heard you the first time!" Jinta shouted. "The hell you want those for?! We just put 'em away!"
"Do it." Boop. Kisuke hung up. He immediately dialed Twelfth Division.
Akon picked up. "How may I be of assistance, sir?"
"I have a project for you guys," Kisuke said.
Yes. He had a direction. For now. A plan began to block together in his head. It wouldn't solve a lot of his problems, but it could help.
Yoruichi listened to him lay out the plan to Akon, face set in something of an affectionate smirk. When he hung up and stood staring at nothing for a couple minutes, she stayed silent to let him think.
Kisuke breathed deeply and looked to Yoruichi. "Is there any intel from your end?"
Yoruichi sighed. "First: Your shield worked beautifully. But Nagisa saw that other girl turn into a Witch. So we have that to deal with."
"Why do I even bother wondering if things can get worse anymore," Kisuke droned.
"Pretty damn sure our friendly neighborhood albino plague rat set that corrupted magical girl on Nagisa," Yoruichi continued. "It also attempted a ruse to lure me away from Nagisa, probably so she'd chase me and be easily ambushed."
Kisuke frowned and thought. "...A diversion for us? Or for the girls, since they were closer to Momoe's place while at school? To keep them from backing up Tessai and me?"
Yoruichi threw her arms up in a sarcastically clueless shrug. "The girl stalked us overnight, but stayed hidden until Asunaro went to Hell in a handbasket. Timing is suspicious to me. Especially since she also used gas line explosions as a distraction."
Kisuke's frown turned hard. "Coordinated attacks?"
"Damned if I know," Yoruichi replied with another shrug. "Couldn't find her body, but we do have her Grief Seed. If we really want to know, we could purify her and shove her in a gigai for questioning."
So tempting. "Maybe."
Yoruichi looked at him for awhile. Kisuke realized he had been pacing and stopped. Yoruichi's lips quirked up. "Go do your thinking in the shower and burn your clothes," she said.
"What?"
"You reek. That wasn't just mud you were in, dumbass. The others got cleaned up; now it's your turn." She leaned forward aggressively, eyes threatening. "Then you will sleep or Soul King as my witness I will tie your ass up and throw you in bed."
Kisuke's world stabilized with beautiful suddenness. He dropped his fan out of his sleeve and fluttered it in front of his face. "Oh, my, Milady Shihoin! Princess of my heart! Shibari is delightful but I have standards! You need to take me to dinner first!"
Yoruichi's feral grin cheered him immensely.
§ x § x §
Madoka was anxious. Her parents were doing much better, but were tired. Yuzu and her family wouldn't let Papa cook dinner, so Madoka's family huddled to watch the TV with Sayaka and Kyōko. The images on the screen broke Madoka's heart, but she was also angry. Sayaka and Kyōko had repeated what they had heard Mr. Urahara say about what happened. They had all pieced together some of what happened to Nagisa. It had all been Witch-related, but the normal people didn't know that. The news was full of worries about terrorism and people were scared that there would be more any minute. There was no way to tell them the beings responsible for the destruction had been dealt with. It was frustrating. And it all tied back to the Incubator's system.
She thought she might be starting to understand the word "hate."
Mama told Sayaka to text her parents that she was safe before she ended up reported missing. Sayaka obeyed, but kept making sulky faces at whatever her parents were replying. Dinner was subdued; most speech was things like pass the soy sauce, please, and sorry, I don't think I can eat anymore. Madoka joined all the other teens to do cleanup; it felt like everyone went deliberately slow to put off going back to the TV room to wait for the others' safe return.
"The death toll in Asunaro continues to rise," the anchors said at the top of every hour. "Hospitals in the greater Mitakihara metropolitan area are overwhelmed. Asunaro Dome has become a staging ground for emergency services, shelter, non-life-threatening medical treatment, and temporary morgue. Off-duty doctors, nurses, and anyone with any kind of medical training, medical facility maintenance training, or those who have spare medical supplies to donate are requested to gather there or at nearby hospitals. To quote: even veterinarians can screen and treat many superficial injuries in humans, freeing specialists to do more intricate work. To join the effort, please go to one of the checkpoints on the screen with supplies or proof of certifications to provide medical treatment to be escorted in. Medical-field employment badges stating your position will be sufficient—"
Madoka wanted to do something. They all did. Dr. Kurosaki in particular looked distraught every time the call for doctors was repeated.
At least whatever the damage control team was doing started to have a noticeable effect. Mention of unexpected change of weather and its effect of slowing fires without causing more danger was delivered by newly-hopeful anchors and baffled meteorologists. The tide started to turn in the firefighters' favor. Yes!
Their morbid watch party was drowsy and fading when the sooty team returned after two in the morning. The soot and ash that had fallen on them made them look like walking stone statues. All but Mr. Hitsugaya were blatantly exhausted, but Hitsugaya and Rukia were being half-supported by Mr. Hitsugaya and Tessai, respectively. They seemed to be struggling to remain conscious. The adults steered them to the table, let them flop down by it, and asked for food and wet cloths; once leftovers were brought in, the adults washed their faces and cajoled the two to eat and kept them from falling asleep on their plates.
Madoka did not like Mr. Hitsugaya's coughing fits. They sounded deep and painful. If they were, he didn't let it show on his face. But still. Didn't he have a heart condition? Or was it lungs?
Mr. Urahara appeared when they were done eating and Hitsugaya and Rukia were being pulled up to their feet to get dragged to bed filthy because they'd probably pass out in a shower and said, "Tessai. Homura. I'm terribly sorry, but I need your help for an urgent project."
Homura sighed tiredly. Tessai passed Rukia off to Ichigo. Dr. Kurosaki nudged Mr. Hitsugaya aside and took Tōshirō with a sharp hand gesture insisting Mr. Hitsugaya sit. Homura and Tessai followed Mr. Urahara down the hall.
After a long minute of awkward silence, Mama stretched and said, "I think we all need to crash. Everyone's safe now and we obviously can't get explanations yet. Mami, take a shower if you're awake enough; if you can't, don't worry about ruining sheets and just wash tomorrow. Let's get some rest and look at everything fresh in the morning."
"That sounds like a plan," Tessai said.
Everyone glanced at the door to the hallway. Tessai and Homura reentered the room looking even more tired than before.
"Wait, what?" Sayaka said. "That was quick."
Homura raised her arm and waved her shield a bit before dropping her arm and yawning.
"Oh, right, time shenanigans," Karin said.
"What'd ya do?" Kyōko asked.
"We used an advanced technique to remove the evidence we need and alter the part of the blast crater we disguised so— people without powers can investigate and find nothing magical," Tessai explained.
The redhead looked skeptical. "That gonna be part of whatever explanation you give us?"
"It can be," Tessai said with a shrug.
"Explanations later. Bedtime now," Mama declared.
"But Homura should eat something first, right?" Madoka objected. "She just used a lot of magic for Mr. Urahara, didn't she?"
Mama nodded. "Take her to the kitchen and get her something. We'll break this room down for a sleepover."
Madoka hurried to Homura's side, grabbed her hand, and gently tugged her down the hall and into the kitchen as the others shoved furniture around. She guided Homura into a chair, got her a glass of water, and bustled in the dimmed kitchen, filling a dish with food from the pots the Kurosakis had cooked in. When she brought it to the table, Homura's water glass was empty and her friend was staring into space. She was ghostly gray with ash except for her face, looked weary, and even seemed to have forgotten to transform back into her normal clothes. Madoka peered at the girl's left hand to check her diamond-shaped Soul Gem.
Dim.
Madoka bit her lip.
"Do not worry," Homura said quietly. "I am nowhere near turning."
"Oh— oh," Madoka said with a nervous laugh. "Caught me." She shifted uncomfortably and suddenly grabbed the empty glass. "Re— Refill, coming right up!"
She hustled into the kitchen and fumbled the glass three times before she managed to fill it. What was she supposed to do? To say?
When she returned to the table, Homura was slowly eating with one hand and had her shield arm draped on the table. Madoka set down the glass and looked at the shield curiously. The swirling pattern was really interesting and reminded her of something, though she couldn't say wha—
Spinning black and whi—
Madoka shook her head. What had that been?
"Are you all right?"
Madoka looked down at Homura's worried face and gave an embarrassed laugh. "Just— just lost in thought, you know? It's— it's been a long day, right? Well, night. Morning. Ahhhhhh—"
Homura smiled softly. Even though it was still quite melancholy, it made Madoka's heart skip a beat. It felt like nostalgia, like she could count on her fingers the number of times she had seen her dear friend make that face over the last few years and she had really accomplished something by causing her to make it. Especially so soon after the ones at Homura's house during their sleepover with guns and that one afternoon with Sayaka when Homura had said, "You are truly kindhearted," and the ones at Madoka's house when—
...Wait.
"You should go to bed," Homura said tiredly.
Madoka jumped a bit and pouted stubbornly. "Not yet. Not until you do. You've been up just as long as me and you were actually doing things the whole time."
Homura sighed and went back to eating. Madoka fidgeted, then sat across from her. And fidgeted some more. She didn't know what to say. She didn't want to press her friend for answers, but she didn't know what to say besides questions. And even then, she didn't know what questions. So she sat in awkward silence and stared down at the table because staring at Homura eating would be weird and—
"Mado... ka?" Homura asked slowly.
Madoka jerked her head up. "Y-yes?"
Homura was looking at her but looking through her. Like her eyes weren't quite focused. She looked uncertain and like she was thinking really hard or trying to read Madoka's mind or something. It was a long minute before she spoke. "Tomorrow, when I tell... everyone. I... want to tell everything. But..."
Madoka looked at her encouragingly. "But?"
"But the truth would be that I... lied to you," Homura finished.
"Ummm... so?"
Homura drew up short and furrowed her brow. "So?"
"I mean," Madoka paused and gathered herself, then looked up again. "I mean, that's— that's— already kinda obvious, isn't it? I mean, you didn't tell us about time magic or anything. And that's— that's okay."
Homura's baffled face was funny but Madoka would not laugh. "It is?"
Madoka sat straighter and lifted her chin. "Kyōko and Sayaka were kinda making a big deal about it and Mama asked them if they'd want just anyone to know if they could do that and especially if they would want it to get back to their enemies and, ummm... so hiding it makes sense to me."
Homura stared in silence for a long minute. "And... the others?"
"They're... not happy, but I think they're not as angry," Madoka said after taking a deep breath.
The magical girl sighed, looked at her empty bowl, and mumbled, "What if there is... far, far more to my secret than just stopping time?"
"...Just?" Like, that stopping time was a minor thing in comparison?
Homura looked aside guiltily, then met Madoka's eyes. "Just."
Madoka felt like time stopped for her even though Homura's shield lay still and silent. She had an overwhelming instinct that her answer would be extremely important. Like she had to stand on tiptoe and dance around landmines. That crucial. She was a bit more aware of magic now; Madoka thought it seemed like Homura's magic was... trembling.
"Is it... something... bad?" Madoka asked hesitantly.
Homura looked away and shrugged. "I don't know."
Weird. "But all the others know. And they're still with you," Madoka said slowly.
Homura pursed her lips in thought, then said, "They have outside context from an unrelated... spiritual war... that makes my actions... less..." She waved a hand vaguely, grasping for words. "More... understandable."
Madoka tilted her head and frowned curiously. "So it's... something that people who've fought... wars... can understand, but... people who haven't fought in wars... might not?"
Homura nodded and looked wary.
"Does that mean... you've fought in wars, Homura? I mean, like... is it a war against the Incubator?"
Her friend blinked in surprise, then frowned in thought. "I suppose... in a sense, that could be true."
Madoka tried to puzzled through it all for awhile. Homura avoided her eyes. "Why... would you be afraid of us not understanding when we wanna fight it, too?"
Homura's face tightened. "Things... happen in wars. People... do things in wars." She met Madoka's eyes and looked away again, eyes distant. "Terrible things."
"Terrible things have been done to you, though," Madoka said.
Homura's eyes fluttered closed. She looked pained. Like she was trying not to cry.
Rain on her face sparking black shaking shaking shaking gun—
Madoka closed her eyes and steadied herself. She felt disoriented. Had since Homura pulled her into stopped time eons ago, but it was feeling different now. Different. She couldn't put another word to it. Different. Like she was floating a centimeter above and to the left of her body, not quite right, not aligned with her own skin.
"I apologize for keeping you up," Homura said, voice transforming into cool politeness. "Please, go to bed before you fall asleep upright."
Eyes fluttering open, Madoka said, "Huh?"
"You wobbled," Homura said. Her face was going neutral, she was withdrawing, disappearing, retreating back down a tunnel. "You—"
"Don't go away!"
Startlement broke the blankness of Homura's face. "...What?"
Madoka leaned forward desperately and slapped her hands on the tabletop. "Don't pull away like that! Stop it!"
Homura's eyes went wide.
Something welled up in Madoka and spilled from her eyes as tears. She stood so fast that her chair screeched out from under her as she jerked forward to clasp Homura's hands across the table. Madoka tried to make her face as fierce as possible. "If you pull away again I'm gonna follow you! I'm with you! You've always done your best to help me and— and—"
...Always?
"And I— it's my turn to help you! So you— you just— don't you dare run away!" Madoka cried. "In— in your head, I mean," she faltered, realizing how weird she was acting. What was she even saying? "Don't— I—"
How was she supposed to recover from this babble? What was she saying?
"You may change your mind," Homura said solemnly. "I have done terrible things in my fight against the Incubator. I—"
"Did you want to?" Madoka blurted.
"What?"
"Did— did you want to do... whatever things?"
Homura met her eyes cautiously. After a long pause, she answered, "No."
"Did you like doing the things?"
"No," Homura answered immediately.
Madoka took a deep breath and squeezed her friend's hands. "Then we'll figure it out."
Homura stared up at her for a long time. Eventually, she whispered, "We?"
"We," Madoka declared fiercely.
§ x § x §
Running and breathing, running and breathing. Again. Tap-tap-tap-tap shoes on the tile, black and white, black and white. Again, running and breathing. Spinning black and white. How many times had she done this? Running and breathing. Climbing stairs and breathing, black and white, spinning, opening a door and breathing, way too high and breathing, buildings aren't supposed to float in pieces like that and breathing, brave girl jumping from the building flying up at the— breathing, brave girl is being tossed around like a rag doll— breathing, have to help her— breathing, brave girl falling falling falling out of the sky in the distance reaching for Madoka hoarsely screaming screaming screaming desperation as red eyes pink light—
City in burning ruins—
Brave girl jumping from the building flying up at the—
Falling falling falling screaming screaming screaming
Red eyes pink light—
City in burning ruins—
Rain on her face sparking black shaking shaking shaking gun—
City in burning ruins—
Brave Homura jumping— flying back— hitting a building—
Falling falling falling screaming screaming screaming
Red eyes pink light—
"MADOKAAAAAAAAAA!"
Madoka jolted awake and snapped upright in her sleeping bag, gasping for breath as though surfacing from a deep dive. She couldn't draw enough air into her lungs, couldn't breathe— crunch crunch?— eyesight only flashes, falling, sleeping bags, red eyes, smoke haze, screaming, sleeping friends, pink light, vision fractured kaleidoscope, shaking gun, gonna throw up if it didn't stop spinning spinning spinning spinning spinning—
The morning sunlight was weak and orange and wrong, the pigeons out in the coop were making a racket, everyone was alive again, and Madoka was having a panic attack over a dream she could barely remember.
A warm hand brushed against her wrist. Madoka startled and gave a little shriek. The hand squeezed gently.
"Lay back down," Homura said, voice thick with sleepiness. "On your back." Her sleeping bag rustled as she rolled over and pulled herself up on all fours, then into a kneeling position. "Now."
Madoka squeezed her eyes shut and obeyed, desperate for guidance she hadn't felt this way in a long ti wait when had she ever—?
"Arms up on your pillow," Homura near-slurred. "Open up your chest and take deeper breaths. You're hyperventilating."
"Hmmmm?" someone off to her left.
"Wassappennin?" Kyōko's voice mumbled off to Madoka's right.
Lots of rustling around her. Waking everyone up nooooooooo—
"Nightmaaa—" Homura's answer trailed off into a yawn.
"Madoka, sweetheart? What's wrong?" Papa's voice said somewhere. Hallway?
A hand brushed aside her sweaty bangs. Madoka opened her eyes and saw Homura's concerned face hovering over her, hair still sooty from— from— the night before. Madoka was overwhelmed with relief that Homura was alive. Madoka dragged herself up, threw herself at Homura's waist, clung to her tightly, and bawled. Homura went stiff, then relaxed and started carding fingers through Madoka's hair.
Madoka finally started to calm. She felt safe.
Safe from what?
...Couldn't remember.
Tap-tap-tap-tap shoes on the tile, black and white, black and white. Again, running and breathing. Spinning black and white. How many times had she done this?
"MADOKAAAAAAAAAA!"
"Madoka," Homura said gently. "Madoka. Come back."
"Kyōko, go get Tatsuya," Papa said from— right beside her? When did that happen? "Tell him Madoka needs hugs."
A rustle of a sleeping bag and the light rhythm of footsteps jogging away down the hall as Papa's hand rubbed her back.
Madoka tried to focus, tried to anchor herself to reality, to Homura's fingers in her hair, Papa's palm on her back, the smell of the laundry detergent on Homura's nightgown combined with soot and ash, the cloth's texture, here and now and here and now, reality. She slowly settled down.
Tatsuya trotted into the room. "Ma-do-ka, Ma-do-ka!"
Very faintly, "MADOKAAAAAAAAAA!"
City in burning ruins—
How many times had she done this?
"I hugs!"
And then Tatsuya was stubbornly squirming between her and Homura to get into her lap and hug her. Madoka released Homura, wrapped her arms around her baby brother, and flopped back onto her sleeping bag. He threw his pudgy little arms around her neck on the way down and hugged. His warm weight on her chest was soothing.
"Uh, hey, Madoka?" Sayaka said hesitantly. "Can you breathe under him?"
Madoka opened her mouth but gave up and nodded. Hugging. Hugging was her priority right now. Tatsuya was warm in more than a physical sense. Like a stronger version of how a cup of hot soup Papa made her when she was sick soothed more than her throat; it made her feel loved and safe. Her world stabilized.
Papa leaned over her and pushed her hair behind her ear. Nice. "What was it, sweetie?"
City in burning ruins—
"The— the city," Madoka stammered.
Papa sighed. "Maybe watching all that coverage wasn't such a good idea. A lot of us had trouble sleeping."
That wasn't it. She thought. Maybe?
There was more talking around her but she didn't really absorb it. She just cuddled her brother until she felt more normal, then let herself be guided to the breakfast table and held Tatsuya on her lap for a bit.
Everyone looked haggard. Mama and Papa still looked kinda hungover even though they hadn't drunk anything the night before. Mami looked haunted and Kyōko looked edgy. Hitsugaya and Rukia still looked exhausted and were red from scrubbing themselves raw to get the soot off of them after sleeping dirty all night. Homura was missing, taking her turn to scour herself somewhere in the shop. Tessai and Mr. Hitsugaya looked tired but clean and alert. Mr. Hitsugaya was wearing a surgical mask and still having frightening coughing fits; it didn't help that the smoke from the ruins of Asunaro had penetrated the building. The air felt thin; Madoka's chest felt constricted and dry. Tatsuya gave a little cough now and then.
"Everyone's putting a mask on after we eat," Dr. Kurosaki declared with no room for argument as he helped put food on the table. No one objected.
Mr. Urahara clattered into the room with feathers and ash clinging to his clothes and tiredly said, "That's the last of the pigeons moved inside. Brought in the turtles but the koi are a complete loss. Too much ashfall."
"Awwww," Sayaka said. "Feeding them was relaxing."
Mr. Urahara disappeared down a hall to clean up and reappeared with the science boy who had come the previous night. He looked stressed and nervous, so Madoka gave him an encouraging smile. He meeped and fidgeted awkwardly, then took a seat and fumbled with his utensils when trying to get food off the platters.
Breakfast was tense. There were a few attempts at conversation, but they faltered. It was quiet save for clinking cutlery, occasional coughs, and distant sirens. The weight of innumerable unspoken questions pressed down on them all.
Then Homura appeared in the doorway wearing a somber gray dress. She, too, was scrubbed raw. Her hair was in two rough, wet twintails resting on a big towel draped over her shoulders like a shawl.
They stared at Homura. Homura stared at them.
"Come sit by me, Homura," Madoka ordered.
Homura drifted to her side and cautiously sat in the chair Madoka had saved for her.
People gave Homura furtive looks between bites of food. Madoka frowned at them in disapproval and Homura ignored them to daintily eat her breakfast. Mama caught Madoka's eye and gave her a warm, proud smile. Madoka's face heated.
Orihime seemed to startle herself, then clapped her hands. "Oh! Let me see Soul Gems!" Those cute fairies sparked and darted from her hairpins.
Mama jolted and stared as they fluttered over to Homura first. "What?!"
Every head turned to her, stares redirected from Homura to a new weird thing.
"You... can see them?" Mr. Urahara asked, face blank in surprise.
"Yes!" Mama blurted, eyes wide as the fairies made their little gold shield-thing. Even Homura looked stunned. "How?! I don't have powers!"
Homura suddenly transformed in her seat with a flash of violet light. Mama gasped and jumped again. Homura's head tilted to one side and she looked fascinated. "Did you see the light?"
Mama nodded mutely.
Homura gave Mr. Urahara a very concerned, searching look, brow raised in search of answers. Mr. Urahara looked like his brain had died. He blinked back to awareness, said, "Hey, Isshin," and suddenly jabbed Dr. Kurosaki in the chest with the tip of his cane.
The cane went through Dr. Kurosaki's chest and pushed out an exact copy of him in black clothes. The original him slumped forward onto the table with a rattle of cutlery and flatware and the new him fell back onto the floor.
There was a lot of screaming.
Mr. Urahara's eyes drilled into Mama. "Do you see him?"
Mama sputtered at Dr. Kurosaki as he stood, then shrilled, "WHY ARE THERE TWO OF HIM?!"
Mr. Urahara's eyes went unfocused and he started making random grasping movements like he was blindly searching for something on the table. Homura reached into her shield, produced a pen and notebook, and passed them down along the table. Ichigo handed them to Mr. Urahara and he immediately started scribbling faster than Madoka knew anyone could write. Then Homura pulled a second notebook and pen from her shield and started scribbling herself.
Rin looked at Mama curiously then glanced at Tessai and Dr. Kurosaki. The second Dr. Kurosaki. "You mentioned spiritual flash exposure, right? To that massive reiatsu spike we detected?"
They nodded and Mr. Urahara leaned in even closer to his notepad and somehow managed to scribble faster.
"Do...," Mr. Hitsugaya started. He paused in apprehension, then hesitantly asked, "Do we have an entire city of newly spiritually aware humans to handle?"
Mr. Urahara bolted from his chair with his notepad and blurred down the hall. Tessai and Rukia ran after him, as did both Hitsugayas. Dr. Kurosaki did, too, chanting panicked profanity. Rin stood and trailed after them, moaning, "Oh no oh no oh no oh no ohhh noooooooo."
The original Dr. Kurosaki was still slumped with his face in his rice.
Shocked silence reigned for a long time, the only sounds Homura slapping to another page in her notebook, Tatsuya giving another little cough, and Karin casually hauling her father's body up by the collar, pushing his plate aside, and letting his head thump back onto the table.
"What the hell just happened?" Kyōko wondered dully.
"Things got worse," Uryū said, voice equally flat.
§ x § x §
A soot-camouflaged Incubator terminal sat beside the miniature warded dome around its two broken terminals outside the wards around Akemi's base. Inspection proved it to be far less complex than the other wards. It at least appeared to be free of alarm or trigger mechanisms; a simple barrier. A strong one, but fairly straightforward. Still, caution was warranted with these humans.
Four more terminals perched on nearby buildings to observe from a safe distance. The Incubator used the lone terminal to defuse the wards like a human explosive device. It was more complex than at first glance. Their ward techniques were fascin—
The terminal's input cut as the breach of the wards caused a small explosion.
One terminal remained aloft to watch for threats as three flash-stepped to the blast site. Each clasped a defunct terminal in its cranial appendages. The fourth terminal led them to a small, unoccupied parcel of land so deep within Asunaro that hardly any sunlight filtered through the smoke. The functional terminals gathered the defunct terminals between them and proceeded to reclaim their raw materials.
The Incubator ignored the sound of approaching human footsteps, as usual. Until the shuffling stopped nearby and a human gasped. The four terminals turned as one to look at the human. It wore the bulky garments and respiratory devices common to those humans who specialized in extinguishing flames.
It saw them. And the gory remains of the three defunct terminals.
The human did the repetitive horizontal head rotation humans tended to use when they doubted their vision and used a gloved hand to remove some of the ash on its protective mask. The Incubator used its power to intensify the illumination of its terminals' eyes by three hundred percent and tilt their heads forty-five degrees left in unison, exploiting the human evolutionary wariness of predators with glowing eyes and unnaturally synchronous movement.
The human staggered back, shook its entire body in rejection of reality, and stumbled past the parcel of land into the darkness of the smoky city. It did not travel far; it must have been just out of sight because the terminals registered a human male voice using a respiratory device and communication aid to rasp, "HQ, Uchida reporting. Lost, can't read ash— ashy signs, everything looks— looks the same, O2 low. Think— think I'm hallucinating. Orders?"
The human's shuffling movement away from the terminals was slow, scraping, and ended with a quiet impact as it appeared to lose consciousness and fall to the ash-covered pavement.
The Incubator terminals returned to their meal.
Curious.
Useful, perhaps.
§ x § x §
Madoka tried to keep her anxiety suppressed, tried to focus on the feel of the filter mask on her face and her half of Homura's hair in her hands as she and Yuzu worked on it and tried to ignore the TV screen. Everyone wanted answers but everyone understood there was some other kind of emergency happening and they had apparently been clued in on more than they were initially intended to have been.
Everyone from Mitakihara wanted to know why everyone else who knew Homura was so accepting of Mr. Urahara shoving Dr. Kurosaki's soul out of his body. Because that was what the cane did. Shoved his soul. Out. Of his body. The people who knew would only say that much as Ichigo hauled his father's empty body up over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes and carried him down the hall, grumbling.
It was all so very confusing. And that didn't even touch on how they were still keeping the Momoes and the detective sedated for lack of plans about what to do with them.
Madoka had just tied off Homura's second braid when there was a sharp crack-boom outside. Everyone went very still and listened, but there was only silence.
"Thunder?" Sayaka wondered.
"Sounded like an explosion," Kyōko said suspiciously as she stood.
Homura stood swiftly and transformed. "Mami, come with me to look." She darted a glare at Kyōko and snapped, "Stay in the wards. You're supposed to be dead."
They all still followed the two out onto the front veranda. Mami stood with a rifle aimed out the gate as Homura pulled something like a mirror on a selfie-stick from her shield and leaned against first one gate post then the other to look outside without leaving the wards. She nodded briskly, kept the mirror in her shield hand, and pulled—
"Is... is that a grenade?" Papa asked.
"Yep!" Karin said brightly.
Both girls disappeared.
"What," Sayaka blurted.
Both girls reappeared, facing the opposite direction.
"What," Kyōko said dully.
It would have been funny if Homura wasn't so intensely furious her eyes were flickering violet and Mami didn't look pale and disturbed.
Homura ignored questions and stomped past everyone and into the depths of the shop. Everyone turned to Mami.
"They— the Kyubeys. The Incubator terminals, I mean," Mami said, looking confused. "The dead ones that were warded outside. They're gone."
Everyone stared, then Karin lightly said, "Oh. Well, that's not good."
"Urahara's gonna be pissed," Ichigo muttered.
Hours passed. They watched the emergency coverage of Asunaro despite knowing they'd regret it in their nightmares. Madoka felt obligated to do so; something like penance for being so near the horror and not helping. If she couldn't help the victims, she'd suffer with them to some small extent.
"The death toll in Asunaro continues to rise," the anchors still said at the top of every hour.
Hours.
"Twenty-four hours after the initial blast, Asunaro is a gray ghost town populated by emergency personnel, the trapped, and the dead. Though many structural fires have been subdued, three chemical plants continue to burn. The oil refinery in Mitakihara remains shut down as a precaution. Toxic ash continues to fall. All residents of Asunaro, Mitakihara, Kazamino, and surrounding areas are strongly urged to wear filter masks to avoid respiratory illness or absorption of chemicals; some victims and rescuers are reporting hallucinatory effects. Mandatory evacuation is in effect for the following wards."
Helplessness.
"Subway service is expected to remain suspended indefinitely for all surrounding cities as the extent of chemical infiltration and structural damage require extensive inspection. If your place of work remains open for business, please plan your commute accordingly."
Madness.
"The site of the apartment complex explosion in southwest Mitakihara remains under investigation, but arson is strongly suspected. At least a dozen residents remain unaccounted for. Eight are confirmed dead. JSDF reasserts that no ties to terrorism have currently been found, but information is being sought from intelligence agencies worldwide."
Frustration.
"Even hospitals in Mitakihara are now running low on supplies. Relief is being airlifted in sporadically as aerial visibility allows helicopters to maneuver safely. Officials are contemplating expansion of mandatory evacuations due to extremely poor air quality. Multiple deaths of respiratory distress have been reported."
Despair.
Eight words seared into Madoka's soul: The death toll in Asunaro continues to rise.
Everyone but Rin reappeared when the clock claimed it was early evening, though the flat orange twilight outside hadn't changed since morning. Dr. Kurosaki asked where his body was; all three of his children casually pointed down a hall like it was a perfectly normal question and he wandered off to repossess himself.
Madoka wondered if her world would ever feel normal again. Her life used to be so... easy. Had it really only been like four weeks since Homura strolled into her life in the hallway at school? It felt like four years.
"All right!" Mr. Urahara shouted. "We are going to eat dinner and then we will have a board meeting!"
"Oh! We haven't cooked!" Yuzu cried in dismay.
"DID SOMEONE SAY PIIIZZAAAAAA?!" a tall man with bright red hair and black tattoos on his brow roared as he emerged from the hall.
"Pizza! Pizza!" sang the bouncy blonde woman behind him.
Both were carrying towers of pizza boxes over their heads. A dignified dark-haired man behind them looked like he deeply regretted his presence.
"Yo, Renji!" Ichigo called with a grin. "Ran! Byakuya!"
Kyōko threw her arms in the air and shouted, "PIZZA!"
"That was easy," Karin said blandly.
"How did you get that many pizzas in here?" Sayaka wondered. "Everything's closed."
"Magic!" the blonde trilled with laughter.
They turned off the TV, stacked pizza boxes on the table, and sprawled around on the floor and furniture. The blonde woman was introduced as Hitsugaya's aunt on his mother's side, younger sister to Mr. Urahara; Madoka still wasn't sure if Hitsugaya's mother was dead or not around or what, but it would be rude to ask. The distinguished gentleman was introduced as Rukia's elder brother; Rukia's speech and body language became far more formal in his presence. The redhead was introduced as Mr. Kuchiki's assistant in the same way Rukia was Mr. Hitsugaya's. He seemed to be really good friends with Ichigo and Rukia.
Renji and Rangiku were obviously trying to cheer them all up. Karin gleefully waved Rangiku over to her; Hitsugaya watched from his father's side with a face of utter defeat and dread as they summoned Sayaka and Kyōko. Renji started a rowdy talk with Ichigo that gradually dragged in Rukia and Ishida and got loud. Madoka didn't understand any of the context but they were having fun, if Orihime and Sado's light amusement was to be trusted. Madoka dragged Mami and Homura over to sit by her family.
"You can eat it with your hands, Byakuya," Ichigo drawled with laughter in his voice.
Mr. Kuchiki raised a brow at him in disdain and looked back at his plate as everyone's attention was drawn to him. He was seated in perfect seiza and had paused with his chopsticks over the slice of pizza. Even though he was dressed like a businessman, Madoka thought he wouldn't look out of place in Imperial regalia. He was just that... regal. Then he positioned his chopsticks over the pizza as though he was going to pinch off bites like a soft dessert.
"Dude, that's not gonna work," Kyōko laughed mockingly. "It's too tough t—"
Mr. Kuchiki succeeded.
"What," Kyōko blurted.
Mr. Kuchiki ignored her and serenely ate his slice of pizza in tiny pieces with a politely neutral look on his face.
Astounded teenagers and young adults ended all their conversations and made a game of attempting the same feat. Mr. Kuchiki eyed their messy attempts with the thinly-veiled disapproval of an etiquette instructor. Madoka thought his magic felt highly amused, though. He kinda reminded her of Homura that way.
It felt like a party. Madoka didn't want it to end. She tried her best to keep it going, but the weight of the discussion to come was too much to hold off for long.
When they all returned to the dining table, their arrangement and seriousness really did feel like the board meeting Mr. Urahara had joked about. Homura carefully sat at the head of the table as though perching in an electric chair. Ichigo resolutely claimed the chair to her left and Madoka slipped into the one to her right. She could see the same things Homura saw this way and stop people from being mean. Ichigo seemed to have the same idea.
Mr. Urahara sat at the far end of the table and silently thought while watching Homura over his folded hands. Tessai served tea and sat by his boss. Everyone was silent for ages. No one knew how to start. Everyone but Mr. Hitsugaya gradually removed their filter masks again and messed around with their tea.
Except for Homura, who seemed to be staring at her reflection in her cup as if it held answers.
Eventually, Mr. Urahara drew a deep breath and said, "So."
All eyes turned to him. Except for Homura's.
"To recap," Mr. Urahara said matter-of-factly, "The Asunaro barrier shattered, something caused catastrophic explosions, a giant Witch pulled survivors into her labyrinth, the Asunaro magical girls we wanted to interview died to defeat it, the survivors may manifest powers, the detective who was investigating the Asunaro mess is in our custody with all her data, we confiscated all evidence from Ground Zero and disguised parts of the crater, the Incubator terminals we secured have gone missing, Miss Momoe may have been ambushed in a coordinated attack, and Miss Akemi can stop time." He looked around as several people snorted or scoffed. "Are we all on the same page?"
Sayaka looked like she was going to sass something but Mama cut her off.
"In words, yes," Mama answered sharply. She was in executive mode. "I have no memory beyond the... surge."
"Perhaps a demonstration of Miss Akemi's ability is warranted here," Mr. Urahara said mildly.
"Ya think?" Kyōko muttered.
"Oooooooo, can we play the tea game?" Karin crooned. "And by we I mean me."
Homura snorted and made a halfhearted smile.
Karin abruptly stood from her chair and threw her arms wide. "LLLLLADIES AND LADIES AND LADIES ANNND GENTLEMEN! Prepare yourselves for a wondrous feat!" she shouted like a carnival barker.
Yuzu pouted up at her. "I'm the one with the ringmaster theme."
Karin swung an arm around to point at her. "TOO SLOW!"
"And she says she's not like the old man," Ichigo muttered.
"Duuuuuuuuue to the nature of the Magnificent Akemi's powerrrrr," Karin blithely continued, "we shall have to take measures to ensure our puny little minds can merely perceive its existence!"
Homura put her face in her hands.
Madoka got the feeling they had completely jumped the tracks.
Karin gestured grandly at Hitsugaya. "Tōshirō! My lovely assistant!"
"No," Hitsugaya said flatly.
Karin gestured at Tessai. "Tessai! My lovely assistant!"
Tessai smiled and inclined his chin. The light flashed off his glasses. "Yes, madam?"
"We must all have some form of contact with the Magnificent Akemi in order to defy time beside her!" Karin threw her arms wide. "Tessai! If you would! Please link us with your fantastic Hainawa!"
Tessai held his hands up, made a small gesture, and the crackling yellow rope spell Hitsugaya had used at school snaked around the table, looping around wrists. Mama didn't jump at the magic this time, just stared at her wrist with a coolly analytical expression. Kyōko obviously hated it and tried to shrug it off like a cat on a leash.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" Karin shouted. She turned to gesture grandly at Homura. "Now for the main event! Costume change time!"
Homura still had her face in her hands. She transformed without a word.
"BEHOLD!" Karin shouted. "THE SHIELD! OF! TIME!" After a pause, she quietly scolded, "You're supposed to make it glow and make sounds when I introduce it, Homura!"
Madoka wasn't sure exactly what Homura was feeling aside from probably wanting to melt into the floor and disappear. Wait. Dismay, perhaps? But also... strange... relief? Madoka looked around while she pondered that.
Oh. Everyone was looking at Karin, not Homura. They glanced at Homura, but seemed to be drawn to Karin like passersby to a train wreck. Karin was making a spectacle of herself as a buffer for Homura.
Madoka couldn't help but beam at Karin, who saw and tossed her hair proudly as she turned away.
Karin cleared her through loudly. "I said— BEHOLD! THE SHIELD! OF! TIME!"
Face still in her hands and shoulders trembling, Homura somehow made her shield whir. Three little circles opened, displaying two glass orbs filled with brilliant fuchsia sand and a center window full of gears.
How many times had she done this?
Madoka blinked hard. What an odd feeling.
"Now! The main event!"
"You already said that," Hitsugaya muttered.
"Shut it, spoilsport!" Karin snapped. She lashed out at him across the table and— stole his teacup? Then she tossed the remaining tea down her throat in one gulp.
Mr. Kuchiki's brow pinched in subtle disgust.
"Excuse me?" Hitsugaya blurted, appalled.
"You are excused!" Karin trilled.
Hitsugaya looked offended. "That was my tea!"
"It was delicious!"
Hitsugaya's aunt Rangiku giggled and cooed, "You asked for that, Tō-shi-rō!"
Hitsugaya's breath hissed through his teeth as he reined in his temper.
Renji failed to suppress an ugly cackle. Rukia swatted him up the back of his head.
Nearby, Kyōko had stopped creatively thrashing her arm and seemed about to dislocate her thumb the way Mama had taught Madoka.
Mama quietly said, "I don't think you can slip 'em like 'cuffs, Kyōko."
"Do you want to hold hands like a séance instead?" Orihime asked cheerfully.
Kyōko huffed and sulked with her arms crossed, face sour.
"Why— why do you both know how to remove handcuffs?" Ishida asked warily.
Mama and Kyōko stared at him, expressions completely flat.
"Forget I asked," Ishida muttered as he quickly looked away.
Homura made a muffled sound. Madoka couldn't identify it. Something with a screechy keen? Ichigo looked worried.
"WithOUT any further INTERRUPTIONS!" Karin yelled in annoyance. She held up Hitsugaya's empty teacup. "Behold! A teacup!" Her other hand swooped down and snatched up her own teacup, which still contained tea. "Behold! A second teacup!"
"Duh?" Sayaka said blandly, unimpressed.
"Observe!" Karin ordered. She started pouring the tea back and forth between cups. "Totally well-behaved tea obeying gravity like a good boy!"
Homura choked. Well. Sounded like it. She was still hiding her face, curled in on herself. Madoka wondered if she still had heart problems after all.
When Karin finished pouring one last time, she threw her arms wide. Tea sloshed in her father's face but he just kept beaming up at her like she was a celebrity at a stage show. Karin held both cups up high and shouted, "Homura! SPECIAL EFFECTS!"
Click-click-whirrrrrr, went Homura's shield as the tension snapped and she broke down and laugh-cried uncontrollably.
The color of their surroundings faded, washed out and bluish.
Homura held her ribs and shook with the force of her sobbing laughter.
There were a lot of emotions in her voice and her magic... feelings...? Madoka sensed a chaotic jumble there, too. Ichigo rubbed soothing circles into Homura's back. Madoka slipped an arm through Homura's and leaned in close and just... she wasn't sure. She willed Homura to feel the support Madoka couldn't put in words. Unseen, one of Homura's hands grasped her forearm and squeezed so tightly Madoka expected to bruise later. But that was fine. If Homura needed a rock to cling to, Madoka would be that rock.
I get the feeling... that we've done this before?
The fit went on for several minutes. Others looked concerned or awkward or tactfully just didn't look at Homura, eyes wandering the washed-out stillness between sips of tea until Homura put her head down on the table with her arms folded up over it and seemed to do breathing exercises.
"IIIIIIIIN my right hand, an empty cup!" Karin declared as if the long pause hadn't happened, trying to draw attention away from Homura again.
"So we saw," Sayaka drawled as she looked around the room uncomfortably. Homura's fit seemed to have disturbed her.
"Eyes front!" Karin snapped. As soon as Sayaka glanced back, Karin tossed the cup at her with a flick of her wrist. Sayaka squealed and fell out of her chair to dodge it.
The cup went utterly still in midair a few handspans from Karin's fingers.
"Whoa," Kyōko breathed.
"That will never get old," Karin gloated as Sayaka slipped back into her chair with a pout. Karin directed a lazy grin at Homura and added, "Homura's a saint. Do you know how hard I would troll everyone if I could do this on demand?"
Several of the out-of-town allies visibly shuddered.
Karin stretched and stuck her little finger into the loop of the teacup's handle; when her skin touched it, it reanimated and spun like it had been successfully thrown in a ring toss game. She held up both cups. "All right! Watch what happens to the tea if I make sure it's still touching the cups I'm touching while I'm touching Homura. Kinda." She slowly poured half tea from one cup to the other. It looked normal. "NOW!" she shouted. "Watch what happens if the tea doesn't maintain contact!" She held one of the cups up really high and quickly sloshed some tea over its rim, then immediately pulled the cup away.
Globs of tea froze in midair. It reminded Madoka of photos she had seen of astronauts playing with water in space.
Kyōko threw herself forward into the table and gaped in awe. Mama and Papa weren't as dramatic about it, but looked stunned.
"Is everyone satisfied that Homura's magic is awesome?" Karin asked assertively.
Homura's shoulders shook with a sound like she was giggling through tears. Madoka squeezed her hand and Ichigo gave her shoulder a reassuring squeeze.
"With that, I cede the floor to Homura," Karin said smugly, then flopped down into her chair.
Homura took a deep breath and sat upright. She met Karin's eyes and Madoka could feel her bittersweet gratitude toward her friend.
Karin grinned widely as Homura scrubbed tears from her cheeks. Everyone stayed quiet and let her collect herself.
Madoka thought back to the argument about Homura's powers that Mama had mediated the night before. All the reasons Mama and Papa had come up with off the top of their heads for why she would hide this from them and why explaining would probably terrify her. Karin and the other allies had heard but mostly stayed quiet and let them work it out themselves; Karin in particular used that knowledge to position herself to break the ice and reduce pressure on Homura— to make it so her friend wouldn't have to struggle with how to start. Madoka knew from experience how starting a heavy talk was the hardest part.
She really needed to find a way to thank Karin.
Homura breathed deeply with her eyes closed for a full minute, plainly arranging her thoughts. Eventually, she opened her eyes and frankly said, "I apologize for keeping this ability secret. I— I just—"
"I get it," Sayaka blurted. Everyone looked at her. She was frowning in... concern? "We talked with Madoka's mom last night and I've been thinking about it. It's like with the gate thingy and allies and stuff, right? Not telling us so we don't mess up and blab something when talking to each other outside, right?"
Homura blinked dumbly.
"I just— is it okay for you to do this?" Sayaka asked.
"What," Homura said flatly.
"This," Sayaka said with a wave at the floating tea globules. "Is it safe?"
"Y-yes. Why— why wouldn't it be?" Homura asked, baffled.
Sayaka folded her arms and looked even more worried. "I mean, Time Stop kills Sailor Pluto if she uses it."
"Oh!" Madoka, Yuzu, Mami, and Orihime cried, suddenly worried themselves. That was true! Madoka hadn't thought of that!
Everyone else stared.
"What," said multiple people.
Sayaka looked at them like they were being deliberately slow. "In Sailor Moon? Sailor Pluto? The Guardian of Space-Time? Carries a giant key-shaped staff with a Garnet Orb on top?"
They all stared.
"Oh, come on! This is basic Sailor Moon, people!" Sayaka scoffed with a roll of her eyes. She looked at Homura and slowly explained, "Time Stop was the third Taboo of time Queen Serenity told Sailor Pluto about when she stationed her at the Space-Time Door when she was little."
"This— this isn't an anime," Ishida objected halfheartedly. Like he expected to be ignored. Which he was.
"And she said if she— Pluto— if Pluto ever used it, she'd die. But she did it anyway in the Black Moon arc when Prince Demande was about to touch the Silver Crystals from the past and the future together to cause a time paradox and destroy... the universe, or something. 'Cause she thought it was better to sacrifice her life to save everyone else's."
Karin made a kinda strangled gurgle. Homura just kept staring at Sayaka.
"I got that reference!" Renji blurted in disbelief.
"I'm lost," Hitsugaya said dully.
Sayaka huffed and said, "Homura. Do you get this reference or...?"
"I— I get it," Homura stammered. "It just— no one has ever brought this up before?"
"How? It's so obvious!" Sayaka declared with a roll of her eyes. "Anyway, if you get it: Pluto didn't... what's the word... advertise that she could stop time."
Homura nodded slowly.
"And even when she was reincarnated, Setsuna and the others never really talked about it. It was Taboo. Right?"
Homura nodded. Madoka thought her magic felt... dizzy?
"So, yeah, I see why you wouldn't blab about it," Sayaka continued earnestly. "And, like... no one was even really mad when they found out Chibi-usa was Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Mask's time-traveling daughter, and she had hidden it from them until it bit them in the ass, so there's that, too."
Screaming laughter burst from Karin's mouth.
Sayaka furrowed her brow and looked at her. "What? What did I say?"
Homura stared at Sayaka with her lips parted. It looked like her brain had shut down.
Karin slapped one hand over her mouth and jabbed her other out to point at Sayaka. She kept shriek-laughing; soon, tears streamed down her face. Beside her, Yuzu stared with her mouth hanging open, wide eyes blinking slowly.
"The hell is wrong with you?" Kyōko muttered warily.
Mr. Urahara hid his face with his fan and started giggling. Ishida clunked his elbows on the table and put his face in his hands like he wanted to escape this reality. Mama slowly turned to look at Homura, speculative. Homura noticed and swallowed hard.
"What? What is it?" Sayaka asked, baffled. "What's so funny about Chibi-usa?"
Homura brought a hand up to pinch the bridge of her nose and rub her eyes, then looked up with a sigh and squared her shoulders. "I am a time-traveler."
Silence for the space of a breath; Madoka's mind slowed to a near-standstill.
How many times had she done this?
"I get the feeling... that we've... done this before?"
Then Sayaka blankly said, "What," and Karin and Mr. Urahara were lost to cackling again.
"No fuckin' way," Kyōko sneered. "You really expect us to believe that?"
Karin wordlessly picked up her saucer and casually slung it at Kyōko like a frisbee. Kyōko threw herself from her chair dodging like Sayaka had before her. Well, with far more grace. As before, the item froze in midair before it got far.
"Yeah, we expect you to believe it," Karin mocked through her giggles. "Have you forgotten the stopping time thing already? You know: time magic? Is it really that far of a stretch to time travel?"
"For real?" Sayaka gasped, stars in her eyes. "You're like— like Sailor Pluto and Sailor Chibi Moon at the same time?!"
"No," Homura said dourly.
"Whose KID are you?!" Sayaka plowed on delightedly.
Madoka's head spun with her sense of Homura's magic. Of course! Chibi-usa had traveled back in time to get her parents' younger selves to help her because she accidentally got their future selves rendered comatose!
...Wait.
That... that was probably a bad thing they should hope was not true.
Sayaka clapped her hands and bounced in her seat as she looked around the table. "Are you Rukia's kid? Your coloring's right..."
Rukia sprayed tea from her mouth and nose; the fine mist froze in midair like a cloud. Renji laughed at her.
"Wait! Are you Rukia's kid with Ichigo?! Is that why he's so protective of you?!"
Mr. Kuchiki's eyes narrowed. Renji's laugh turned hyena-like. Orihime went red for some reason.
"What?!" Ichigo shrilled.
Karin's laughter rose into an airless whine and she weakly melted out of her chair. Isshin looked gleeful. Sado looked between the proposed parents in consideration.
"Don't gimme that look, Chad!" Ichigo snarled, face aflame. "You know damn well it's not true!"
"Do we though?" Sado said quietly with a completely straight face.
Sayaka ignored them. "No, wait— maybe with Ishida?!"
Ishida abruptly stood and held up the wrist with the rope spell on it. "Let me leave," he said dully. "I'm done."
"If we have to suffer, so do you," Hitsugaya deadpanned as his aunt laughed joyfully and Sado pulled Ishida back down into his chair.
Homura finally found her voice and near-screamed, "I'm not anyone's child!"
Sayaka frowned. "Huh? But you were born? Unless you're a clone, you should have paren—"
"My parents are dead!"
"Oh, yeah, right. Sorry," Sayaka said, crestfallen. Then she jolted and gasped, "Did they die in the future? Are you here to save them?! HOW CAN I HELP?!"
Homura made a sound of frustrated rage and threw her teacup at Sayaka. It froze in the air. Sayaka didn't dodge this time, though.
There was some kind of pain in that rage. Something hit close to home. Some wound had been prodded. Madoka could feel the ache in Homura's magic. Like... that someone was making light of her suffering? But that really wasn't Sayaka's intent, so...
Madoka tugged on Homura's arm and soothed, "She's not teasing, Homura. She's really worried."
"Yeah," Sayaka said with an earnest nod. "People don't time travel for just any reason, y'know? What happened?"
"Are we really just believing this?" Kyōko said skeptically.
"Give her the benefit of the doubt for now," Mama said evenly. She didn't take her eyes off Homura, though. "How far in the future do you come from?" she asked.
Homura visibly forced herself to relax. "From May first."
"Of this year?" Mama asked with a brow raised.
"Yes."
"That's not very far," Papa gently prompted.
"A lot can go wrong in a short span of time," Homura said mournfully. "Asunaro, for example."
"Did you... come back... to try to save Asunaro?" Mami asked hesitantly. She looked like she was fighting doubt.
Homura looked her way. "No. This is the first timeline in which Asunaro was destroyed instead of Mitakihara."
"First?" Papa asked with dread.
"Instead of?" Mami echoed.
"This... is not the first time I have repeated the last... the six weeks leading up to May first," Homura said carefully. "Usually, Mitakihara is... all but wiped off the map by a giant Witch on the morning of May first. And nearly everyone dies."
Sayaka went white.
"Walpurgisnacht?" Mami breathed in horrified understanding.
Madoka had a sudden sensation of vertigo.
way too high— buildings aren't supposed to float in pieces like that— brave girl jumping from the building flying up at the—
Nausea made Madoka's stomach roll like she was on an airplane. It even felt like her ears had popped. Dizzy, dizzy, dizzy.
spinning black and white—
It lasted for mere moments, but was like the dropping sensation of a Ferris wheel gondola descending too fast and jolting to a stop.
"Usually?" Papa asked.
"Every time," Homura amended.
There was a long silence.
"How many... times... have you done... this?" Mama asked carefully. Like preparing to take cheese from a mousetrap.
How many times had she done this?
Madoka briefly felt dizzy, but it passed.
Homura sighed and tiredly rubbed one temple. "I am no longer certain. I lost count in the forties."
"No way," Kyōko muttered. She looked spooked, though.
"Why so many?" Sayaka asked in confusion.
Homura paused and carefully looked away from Sayaka- avoided all eye contact with everyone present- before slowly answering, "People rarely believe what I say and do not heed my warnings. This timeline has been... an anomaly in that way."
Sayaka looked pained.
"This is... not the first time I have met you," Homura continued as though the question had not been asked. "Those of you from Mitakihara, I mean."
Kyōko scowled and snapped, "Bullshit."
Madoka could feel Homura withdraw a bit. Her friend looked at Kyōko with heavy-lidded eyes and said, "You tend to choke those who waste food in your presence. You hate to leave your boots out of your sight and refuse to replace them even though they are becoming snug as you grow because your mother bought them for you just before... the end. You once had an enchantment technique Mami named Rosso Fantasma, but you have been unable to consciously use it since... the end. You hate the smell of sake and the phrase give them enough rope to hang themselves with." Homura tilted her head and eyed Kyōko's shaken pallor, then softly added, "There was a reason I had your favorite flavor of Pocky on hand when you woke."
Homura turned to Mami. "Your wish was to survive a car accident in which your parents died. Your father gave you your flower hair clips as a gift when he returned from a long business trip. Your mother was a fashion designer and made you costumes to play dress-up. You still have them. You would say that it was in case you have a daughter someday, but you would keep them even if you knew for a fact that you would never have children."
Homura turned from Mami's stricken face to look at Sayaka. "You did not tell me in this timeline about your vow to not attend the symphony until Kyōsuke Kamijō could return to the stage. Other iterations of you confessed it in a handful of timelines. In the vast majority of the timelines in which you contracted, your wish was to heal his hand."
"I— I con—?" Sayaka sputtered, shaken. "But— but his hand— it's getting better?"
Homura stared at her expressionlessly.
"Why do you think that is, Miss Miki?" Mr. Urahara asked gently.
Sayaka blinked slowly at him, then slowly turned back to stare at Homura. Her brow furrowed in thought, then she startled and gasped, "The charts!"
"What?" several people said.
"The charts! On your desk!" Sayaka cried. "At your house! Of arms and hands!"
Homura glanced away uncomfortably.
"I saw you working on Hitsugaya's arm after that fight!" Sayaka continued. "Did— did you help Kyōsuke?!"
Homura avoided her eyes, twirled a lock of hair around one finger, and quietly said, "For your sake. To keep you from contracting. I am so... tired... of seeing you die."
Sayaka stared in mute astonishment, mouth hanging open.
Madoka knew tired was not the word Homura truly meant. It was something deeper than that, an intense ache that brought tears to her eyes.
"When—!" Mami blurted. Everyone looked at her. She seemed to be choking on her words in distress. "When— when you say— you say that—" her face contorted in fear— "that you've seen too— too many— too many magical girls— die— is— do you— are—?!"
"I get the feeling... that we've... done this before?"
"—we have no choice but to—!"
Madoka's breath hitched.
Homura bent her head low and closed her eyes. "That includes all four of you. And Karin and Yuzu. And others."
Mami burst into sobbing tears. Hitsugaya's aunt cooed, "Oh, honey," and hugged and rocked her.
"Homura," Mama said seriously. When Homura looked at her, she asked, "Has Madoka contracted before?"
Homura nodded heavily. Madoka felt a yawning void of grief that made her tremble.
brave girl falling falling falling out of the sky in the distance reaching for Madoka hoarsely screaming screaming screaming desperation as red eyes pink light—
Papa shook. Mama grasped his hand; both where white-knuckled and tight-faced.
"Has— has Madoka—" Papa's voice broke— "died? Before?"
spinning spinning spinning dizzy dizzy dizzy—
Homura screwed her eyes shut and stammered through sudden tears and a rough sob. "Ev—! Ev-ery! Time!"
"I get the feeling... that we've... done this before?"
"MADOKAAAAAAAAAA!"
"Madoka!" Mama and Papa
Wood scrape— tick-click-whirrrrrr— clink-crash of falling china splashing tea—
"Stop!"
"—Careful! They—"
"Feedback loop—" Mr. Urahara.
Dizzy dizzy spinning— screaming screaming shaking—
Crying crying sparking—
"What— do—?"
"Both—?"
Louder: "Hey. Hey." Ichigo's voice, thick with emotion, right beside her. Them. "Listen. Hey, c'mon, you two. Focus. Look at me."
Madoka realized she was leaning heavily into Homura's side. So disoriented. Did she still have a body?So much pain. Overwhelming. Overwhelming. Overwhelmi—
Warm protection. Moonlight. Overwhelming. Warm. Protection. Burning moonlight. Overwh—
"Hey. We're gonna stop it." A strong shake. "Look at me!"
Madoka turned blindly toward him. Couldn't see past pink and purp—
"—Happeni— my daught—?!" Mama scream.
Burning moonlight— protection— safe moonlight bonfire— safe
Despair
Safe
Cold
"I— I don't want— to— become—"
Grief
Safe! Warm!
"—Have no choice but to—"
"—die!"
"—sedate them."
Warm darkness, sleepy-safe, cherry blossoms weren't supposed to dark purple but they smelled nice so—
§ x § x §
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* Tenkai Kecchū (転界結柱, World-Shifting Binding-Posts): A device which creates an enormous, one spiritual unit of area radius Senkaimon bound by four linked points. When activated, the device swaps something that it encircles with something else in Soul Society.
A scene of them all having discussions and swapping out bare land into the Asunaro crater between carefully-timed stops didn't flow well and wasn't very important. I might finish it and shove it in Polynomial Expansion someday.
A/N: Feedback fuels me.
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This chapter was replaced with an edited version on November 1, 2019. Reviews with timestamps before that date refer to a slightly different version of the chapter.