Part II: RECOVERY

Chapter 13: Shades of Gray

I'm too young for life to be so unfair...

Nine words that seemed etched into Sayaka's mind, carved into the surface of her conscious and reasoning.

Nine words that stared back at her from the tear-stained pages of her diary, barely legible in the dark room. Whatever was scribbled afterwards filled the rest of the pages in an incoherent mess of transcribed emotions.

Sayaka held her hand up, staring at the ceiling framed through the gaps between her small fingers, before letting it limply fall beside her. She couldn't remember when she had first started to feel this way, but now those same nine words kept echoing over and over in her mind, stuck in there like a sick, twisted tune.

No one remembers me.

I'm forgotten.

Worthless.

Alone.

Anguish and deep sadness bubbled up inside of Sayaka like a boiling pot of water, threatening to burst up and overflow. Feeling like shaking uncontrollably, she threw her diary onto the floor and buried her face in her pillow. Her tears had stopped by now, but her broken sleep was still interrupted by the occasional sob that escaped from her sore throat.

I'm so weak.

So stupid.

Sayaka buried herself deeper into the mattress, wrapping the blanket around her and curling up into a tiny ball, trying to find solace in its gentleness and warmth. She thought she was finally over it - that the despair she had felt would never happen again. She thought she had already accepted her fate of fading away from existence into the Law of Cycles.

But she wasn't over it.

Those old wounds had been freshly ripped open again.

Sayaka whimpered, hugging her knees to her chest as if to protect herself from the pain of the outside world.

What did I do to deserve all of this?

She wanted to yell. To scream. To lash out at everything unfair.

It wasn't fair. It never was.

All she had ever wanted was a normal life. All she had ever wanted was for him to notice her. All she had ever wanted was to be wanted. She didn't ask to be caught up in the world of magic, fighting for useless ideals and the lost hope of a better world.

Maybe this was her punishment for trying to bend fate - for making a selfish wish and keeping everything to herself, locking the pain away and pretending it didn't exist.

Stemming the flood of self-deprecating thoughts, Sayaka rolled over and glanced at the clock on her nightstand.

Four-thirty in the morning, the faintly glowing red numbers told her.

Sayaka let out a melancholy sigh, feeling the familiar tears well up again in the corners of her eyes. She didn't move for what seemed like hours. She didn't even try to get up. She had already given up on the day.

Staring at the ceiling in the dark, Sayaka remained in bed, guiltily hoping to fall back asleep to never have to wake up again.

...

Five o'clock.

...

Six o'clock.

...

Seven o'clock.

...

Time continued its relentless march. Despite the fact that she wasn't planning on - or rather, didn't want to be - doing anything today, Sayaka couldn't shake the feeling that moping in bed would only make her feel worse. Contemplating whether an attempt at a socially acceptable daily routine was worth the effort, she gave in to her guilt and eventually managed to drag herself out of bed. Tearing away the blanket, she stumbled towards the bathroom and staggered inside, collapsing limply against the wall and sinking to the cold tiled floor.

In that brief moment of weakness, an unbidden thought crept into her mind.

I became a witch.

Even though Sayaka had already numbed herself to the horrifying thought, she still had nightmares of that experience, waking up in the dead of night with her heart jammed in her throat and her breath catching unevenly, crying uncontrollably into the blankets and whispering broken apologies to people she knew couldn't hear.

I'm so sorry everyone so so sorry that I was stupid and couldn't stop myself-

Sayaka clenched her fists, digging her nails into her palms, and slumped onto the floor. Sweating from the emotional duress, her bangs limply fell against her forehead, matted over her widened eyes.

I was going to KILL everyone.

Suddenly, it all made sense. Being forgotten was her punishment for that unforgivable sin. Succumbing to the pressure, Sayaka couldn't control the laughter that poured from her throat. The shrill, high-pitched sound echoed around the bathroom, escaping into the rest of the apartment. It kept overflowing from her mouth and spilling into the air around her, and she didn't stop until she had exhausted all of her breath.

Her head started to spin, and she felt sick to her stomach. Smiling bitterly, Sayaka resisted the urge to cry again and somehow managed to pull herself into the shower.

As the rivulets of water ran down her downcast face, she couldn't tell how much of it was mingled with her own tears.

I don't deserve to live.

That made her vision start to swim.

"I'm so stupid..." she whispered under her breath, hearing her voice crack. It was barely audible in the rhythmic pitter-patter of the shower droplets, but in the stillness of the apartment, it resonated. More silent tears streamed down Sayaka's face as she sobbed and buried her face in her hands.

This must be my punishment. I've been forgotten by everyone so that I won't hurt anyone anymore.

That realization created a twisted sense of peace within her. The thought that she never existed set off a new freeing, almost-relieving idea. If she didn't exist, she didn't have any relationships with anyone. And if her parents and friends no longer had an emotional attachment to her, it meant that nothing she did would hurt them any longer.

And with the absence of soul gems, her despair couldn't hurt innocent bystanders. She couldn't become a witch.

That brought another grim smile to her lips, which faded away just as quickly as it took her to realize the solemn gravity of never existing.

Keeping her emotions in check by sheer willpower, Sayaka shut off the water, bitterly watching the last of her tears escape into the drain along with the shower water. Running her fingers through her damp hair, she let out a soft sigh. Again, she was uselessly moping around for what felt like the past couple of weeks. In an attempt to achieve some semblance of a normal life, she threw on some warm new clothes and was just about to get a glass of water, treading quietly into the living room when she collided with something in the darkness.

"Ouch, hey! Oh... Sayaka?" The growling voice subsided as the figure flicked on the living room lights. When Sayaka squinted to adjust to the sudden brightness, she saw Kyouko standing before her.

Both of them stilled, rooted to the floor. A full moment of silence passed between the two of them as they stared at each other, suddenly grasping for words as elusive as the expressions that fluttered across their faces.

"I didn't know you were awake..." a frowning Kyouko muttered, looking just as startled and uncomfortable as Sayaka felt to suddenly run into each other. Not usually one for words, she glanced away and didn't say anymore.

Sayaka pointed in the general direction of the kitchen. "I was thirsty," she weakly croaked, clearing her throat after she realized how much it hurt to talk after crying for so long. Great, now Kyouko was beginning to look concerned at her hoarse voice.

Just when she had thought she would stop being a bother to anyone.

"Huh? Oh..." A look of understanding crossed Kyouko's face as she tentatively stepped aside to let Sayaka pass. "Help yourself. The cups are in the pantry next to the fridge."

Sayaka silently nodded her thanks. She hadn't expected to run into Kyouko, and as a result, wasn't prepared for what to say. Then again, it was Kyouko's apartment she was staying in. She couldn't expect to avoid Kyouko forever.

Kyouko shifted uncomfortably when she realized that Sayaka wasn't moving. "...do you need something else?"

"N-No... Um, w-wait! I mean, what day is it today?"

"Today?" Kyouko gave her an odd look, looking like she wanted to ask why Sayaka wanted to know, but deciding not to. "...It's Tuesday morning," Kyouko eventually said, her crimson eyes never leaving Sayaka's face. "Why?"

Sayaka's gaze fell to the floor as she felt her heart sink. So another two days had fallen away. In her depression, she had lost count of time. Was it really only two days ago when she'd realized that she'd been forgotten, even by her closest friends and family? It felt like forever, ages ago.

Feeling Kyouko's gaze linger upon her, Sayaka quickly shook her head. "No reason. I was just curious."

"Right..."

"..." Suddenly feeling self-conscious and awkward by the lapse in conversation, Sayaka noticed the change in Kyouko's apparel and pointed at the school uniform the redhead was currently wearing. "Are you going to school?"

Kyouko jumped, as if just realizing what she was wearing. She winced slightly. "Y-Yeah, so what?"

"Is it fun?"

Kyouko frowned, growing uncertain under Sayaka's blank stare. Her defensive posture relaxed into one of mild confusion. "...not really," she mumbled, glancing away. "I didn't have much of a choice though. And since there aren't any demons... you know..."

"I see." Sayaka succinctly said, leaving the matter at that, much to Kyouko's relief.

Sayaka walked past Kyouko into the kitchen to pour herself a glass of water. She could feel Kyouko's curious gaze following her across the room, but didn't bother to satisfy it. The last thing she wanted was to have to burden someone else with her inner pain, so spilling her emotions was out of the question. And the way conflicted emotions were written all over Kyouko's expression was making her feel even worse.

"By the way... thank you for letting me stay here, Kyouko." Sayaka quietly mumbled. The thank-you was heartfelt, but the words still came out as awkwardly forced.

"Yeah, sure, I guess..." Kyouko looked away, a dark sigh coming from her as she ran a hand through her hair, not even looking at Sayaka anymore. Her surprise and anxiety had disappeared into something that looked like acceptance, Sayaka noted as she glanced down at the tiled floor...

...

Kyouko grimaced, quietly cursing her inability to say anything.

Watching as Sayaka placed the empty cup into the sink, rinsing it and neatly placing it away before turning around to walk back into her room, Kyouko realized that she needed to say something to her. While she could understand Sayaka's reluctance to talk about her depression, it wasn't going to do her any good in the long run.

"You need to talk about this, Sayaka," Kyouko called after the departing blunette with as much sternness as she could muster. "It won't go away if you ignore it."

Sayaka stopped at her voice, but didn't turn around to face her. It took a moment for Kyouko to realize that she was quivering.

How long has she locked herself away and cried?

Kyouko grimaced again. It wasn't going to be easy talking to her. But this had to end at some point.

"Do you think talking is going to change anything?" Sayaka asked once she had regained enough composure. There was a darker, sour edge to her tone that made her entire body rigid. Kyouko didn't have to strain her ears to hear the shaking in her voice. "Do you think it's going to make everything better?"

Shaking her head, Kyouko sighed. She ignored her awkward feeling and shoved her hands into her pockets. She was no good at this - talking and comforting and trying to get people to spill their inner thoughts. It was a skill she mostly lacked by choice, anyways.

No, it wouldn't do either of those things, Kyouko grimly thought, Dying and coming back, only to realize that everyone's forgotten you because you never existed isn't something you just file under 'shit just happens' and move on. But it might help you come to terms with it all.

"I'm not saying that it's me you should talk to, but someone else-"

"I don't care, okay?!" Sayaka spat back at her, whirling around in a flash. Her eyes were brimming with frustration and anguish - and for a second, Kyouko almost thought she was looking at a mirror image of her younger self. "I don't care what everyone else thinks about me or what I should do! It's just not fair. It never is-" Sayaka cut herself off, shaking her head when she stopped being able to express her emotions in words.

Sayaka's breathing grew uneven and she clenched her fists, trembling, but Kyouko stood her ground a minute longer and waited for her to calm.

"Okay, Sayaka," Kyouko said when Sayaka's shoulders had relaxed and her eyes had stopped watering. "Okay."

There was barely a second of silence in which a look passed between them - Sayaka's bitter anguish fading as quickly as she'd let it take over her, and Kyouko attempting to hide her pained expression at seeing it.

...

Don't you get that you're just making me feel worse? Stop trying to sympathize with me.

There was a pregnant pause before anything was said, and Sayaka took the time to breathe in and out heavily before speaking again.

"Hey, Kyouko," Sayaka softly said.

Kyouko reluctantly met her gaze again. "What?"

"Do you remember when I turned into a witch?"

"...what about it?"

"I should have been dead."

"..."

"But I'm not dead."

"..."

"W-Why…" Sayaka clenched her fists, turning her face towards the refrigerator. At this point, seeing Kyouko's worried expression would've made her burst into tears again. "Why did you save me?"

"Huh?" Kyouko was taken aback. "Was that wrong of me?"

Gritting her teeth for feeling weak and helpless, Sayaka shook her head. "No, that's not it. It's just… we haven't known each other for very long. We still don't know anything about each other. And we were supposed to be enemies. So then, why? Why would you try to sacrifice your life for someone like me?!"

Silence. Sayaka could hear Kyouko shifting uncomfortably. Then, "I just did what I wanted. That's all."

It took a second for Kyouko's answer to register in Sayaka's head. Surprise quickly morphed into disbelief as Sayaka let out a bitter laugh. "That's what you wanted? Are you stupid?"

Sayaka felt horrible. She wanted to shut her mouth, but the ugly beast of despair churning inside of her gut made the vile words flow out of her mouth. Everything was crumbling - her emotional barriers, her sanity, her conscious, her moral integrity-

"Yeah, maybe I am stupid!" Suddenly, Kyouko was in her face, glaring daggers at her. Suddenly, all Sayaka wanted to do was whimper and melt into a puddle of guilt, shame, and self-pity. "But I don't care, because I thought you were worth it."

"Don't say that!" Sayaka wanted to scream and cover her ears, blocking out the waves of guilt churning deep inside of her. A monster like her didn't deserve to be saved. "I'm not worth it at all..." she eventually muttered, feeling the shadows grow within her heart.

There's no point in me being alive. I thought it'd be easier if I stayed dead. Don't act without considering my feelings next time.

Kyouko didn't reply. Her expression had since mellowed, and she wasn't looking in Sayaka's direction anymore. Another conflicted, dark look stole over her expression.

You moron.

Sayaka let out a long sigh. "I'm going out." she finally stated, kicking on her shoes.

Like a shadow, Kyouko wordlessly followed her to the front door. She lingered by the foyer, folding her arms as she watched Sayaka step outside. "Are you… coming back?"

Walking with firm steps, Sayaka didn't look back. "Don't hold your breath." was all she muttered before closing the door behind her.

Mitakihara City looks different.

Sayaka didn't remember this place. It was like the world around her had bled out its color into the gray skies.

As she glanced around her surroundings, she realized that she was suddenly alone in a small park. No one else was around, leaving her sitting alone on a park bench near a grassy field, with the air around her eerily quiet and still.

It's grayer, Sayaka eventually decided as she watched the lifeless meadow grass wilt in the shadows. This city is less vibrant. Has it always been like this?

She remembered Mitakihara City as a colorful, vibrant city with neon lights and a bright sky - not the slightly de-saturated scene she saw in front of her. Everything looked grayed out, from the silent park to the drab sky above.

This was the season where the sakura trees were supposed to be in full bloom, showering the earth with ethereal pink petals. Schoolkids would skip past the riverbank with cheerful voices and bright sunlit faces, adding to the colorful melody of spring. But all around her were only shades of gray, from the asphalt stretching into the distance towards the lonely horizon.

It felt off. Wrong. And it left Sayaka wondering if she'd just never noticed it before, as if she hadn't ever looked closely enough to see it. She tilted her gaze upwards, her eyes searching skywards. The gray expanse stretched far over her to infinity, making her feel like she was a small child craning her neck to look up at a huge canvas.

...or is it just me? Am I the only one that sees the city this way?

Sayaka thought back, remembering that she had once learned about something like this in psychology class - something about how perception and emotions could impact the way people see things...

"When people are happy and optimistic," Saotome-sensei explained to the class. "Everything appears bright and vivid. Everything looks and feels the way it should be. When people are angry or frustrated, it feels like everything's out to get them. The sun is too bright, or the weather is too hot, or the people they meet are always rude. And when people feel sad or depressed, it's like the world has lost all of its color and meaning..."

But rather than her emotional state, an even bigger mystery was draped over the forefront of Sayaka's mind. She didn't know why she was here, and that was what her mind was now focused on, going over it again and again, searching for a reason, for a purpose, every time finding none, nothing coming to mind.

That was the source of her pain. There was no reason for her. And as time went on, and Sayaka watched the sun and clouds inch across the sky, she grew more and more restless. The sun had barely moved in the sky, and while Sayaka felt its warmth, there was an inexplicable chill seeping into her bones. One moment, it was because she didn't know why she was here, and next it was the fact that she didn't even know where she was, and then finally, it was-

She didn't even know how she had gotten here.

Thinking about it, the entire walk after leaving Kyouko's apartment had been a blur - everything about it incomprehensible to Sayaka. She didn't remember how she had walked here. She didn't remember the directions. She didn't remember why she was here, or where she was, or when she'd come here.

She couldn't remember anything.

So many things were just at the edge of her memory, begging to be remembered, but she hit a mental block each and every time she tried to recall them. Sayaka involuntarily shivered, wracking her mind as she started to panic.

Was this what it felt like to be forgotten? Outcast? Pushed aside? Left to die, forgotten and alone?

Was this how easy it was to forget her?

Did the world seem so gray, everything in-between forgotten, because she never existed?

Was she nothing but a ghost?

Tears sprung to Sayaka's eyes. No, she firmly told herself.

She was Miki Sayaka.

She had come back into existence when she'd woken up in Kyouko's apartment, though that was days ago. But that was her last "real" memory. That was where her life began, because everything before that, she would just have to accept never existed.

After all, she didn't exist until now.

This moment was where her life started.

Sayaka swallowed hard, feeling cold despite the warmth of the outdoors, shivering from it. "But I did exist," she whispered to herself. "I'm not a ghost."

She was an ordinary middle school girl, with a loving family and friends. No, even more than that, she was an ally of justice – a defender of peace. She was a magical girl. And magical girls were supposed to bring hope. Love and courage were supposed to prevail.

So how did it turn out like this?

Maybe it's me, Sayaka reflected, feeling that small idea worm its way into her reasoning. The more she thought, the more the seeds of doubt began to sprout in her mind. Maybe I'm the one that's wrong. Maybe I never belonged in the first place. Everyone else can get on fine without me anyways.

All of those memories growing up in this city with her family meant nothing anymore.

Why should I care if I existed? Nothing's changed at all. What was I even fighting for by becoming a magical girl? My wish was for nothing.

Kyousuke was still injured. She had confirmed that with her own eyes the other day. Now she couldn't even take slight solace in having helped him.

Nothing's changed. Nothing will change for me. So what's the point of being alive now? Being alive hurts. It hurts...

Her funeral never happened either. It was like she was living in a different world - one in which the young girl known as "Miki Sayaka" never existed.

Is it better to have lived and died, than to never have lived at all?

A shadow fell across Sayaka's face.

...Maybe it's better that I've been forgotten.

Recently, Homura's days had begun to start with pain. Chest pain, to be exact. The past few days, Homura had awoken with her heart throbbing, like a sickening ironic mirror of the figurative heartache she felt towards one person in particular.

It wasn't serious enough to warrant a trip to the hospital, but it was discomforting enough to make her want to stay in bed and rest for the entire day. Yet, at least for the sake of social appearances, she managed to mask her discomfort and trudge towards school day after day. Her mind felt heavy, and she constantly felt weary, but putting up with it was preferable to worrying Madoka. And so far, Madoka hadn't seemed to notice anything amiss.

But today was different.

Homura had managed to leave school early. After hearing about her complaints of the pains in her chest, the school nurse had told Homura to get some rest at home and see a doctor. But Homura knew that she didn't have time for either of those options. That wasn't why she had left.

Madoka was still at school, which made this moment a perfect opportunity to search for answers. As Homura left the school and headed down the street, her mind drifted on the questions that had been gnawing on her conscious. It had been almost two weeks since the events of DAWN, the disappearance of the wraiths in Mitakihara City, and the return of Miki Sayaka and Kaname Madoka, yet answers to all of her questions still eluded Homura.

It was this task that brought her back to the library once more. Homura exhaled, then pushed open the doors of the library and walked inside.

The main study hall was a cavern of marble and wood. Neat rows of long tables filled the large space, with decorated lamps positioned in the center to look down upon those who studied beneath.

As time passed, the afternoon sun painted the spacious main hall in a golden light. Ceiling fans swirled slowly above Homura's head, emitting a slow whine that made the library sound like it was breathing heavy in the late spring heat.

Homura was alone, her research spread out across an oaken table. She sat hunched over, fingers idly toying with the ends of her hair as she stared down into a pile of books about the general affairs and recent problems of various Japanese cities. Surrounding each book were her own notes and annotations that shed little light upon their deeper meaning.

Homura leaned against her chair. She was tired, her shoulders feeling heavy and her eyelids drooping. Time seemed to melt away when she was working. The allure of the spring heat seemed to call out to her, promising to melt away her stress and worries. The dim light of the library embraced Homura, and her eyelids grew heavy as she slumped further into her seat.

"...kemi-san?"

It took a moment to discern who was talking to her. Homura's eyes flickered open and she blinked, instantly met with aureolin-gold eyes looking back at her.

"Hello, Akemi-san." Mami cheerfully greeted her from across the table.

Homura jumped; by this point, her nerves had become weak. She began to stutter, trying to explain herself. "I... I'm not-"

Mami brought a finger to her lips and slowly shook her head. "I understand. I won't stop you, if this is what you think is right."

And with that, Mami took a seat and began idly flipping through the books and papers scattered about, delving into the research as if she was the one who had suggested this idea in the first place.

Suspiciously eyeing Mami, Homura frowned. This was odd. Mami had made it clear before that she didn't like Homura worrying about this. Her immediate inclination was to assume that the golden-haired girl had an ulterior motive for being here. She remained warily silent as if Mami was about to pull something at any moment.

Mami didn't say another word, didn't reprimand Homura or continue their argument about how this work was unnecessarily stressing Homura out, or ask what's been on her mind lately, but Homura got the feeling that she knew anyways.

As Mami continued looking over the papers, Homura glanced around the library. It was just them. She looked back at Mami, scrutinizing her as the latter managed a small smile.

"I thought you should have been at school today."

"I was, but I left early."

"What was so urgent that you needed to leave early?"

"This is serious. I can't sit through class peacefully knowing that at any moment, DAWN could show up when we least expect it and turn our entire world upside down."

"You don't have to be on edge," Mami softly explained, though the look on her face didn't belie what she probably felt. Her calm and even tone helped Homura to settle her nerves. "I'm here to help."

Usually Homura would be slighted, feeling like she was being patronized, but right now, she couldn't bring herself to feel that Mami's company was unwelcome. Homura brought her hands to her face and rubbed the drowsiness from her eyes, stifling a yawn. "Thank you, but currently, there isn't much even your support can do to help. I was just about done here anyways," she said, not bothering to disguise the resignation and sullenness in her tone.

"You're not finding any answers?"

Homura shook her head. "There aren't any leads." She reached across the table, gathering the stray papers and books into a stack. "To explain what I mean, I'll share my thought process so far. First, about two weeks ago, a group of three individuals calling themselves "DAWN" came into Mitakihara City. We don't know if there are any others connected to them. They showed enough power to lead me to believe that they've had experience fighting demons before. But their motive is unclear. They didn't ask for anything, and then they suddenly vanished. This suggests their main purpose must have been to implement that contract."

"And in order to create the power to make the contract, they had to collect enough grief cubes. That's why they asked us to help them in return for killing off the demons in Mitakihara City."

"Precisely. But why were we the ones they decided to approach? Was it a coincidence? Or was there another reason? And on a separate note, we didn't get to know the specifics of the contract that was formed. How was it able to have enough power to eliminate the soul gems of magical girls? And why did DAWN want to do that?"

"I believe I may have an answer to that," Mami quickly said. "Have you heard about the recent hospitalization of young girls in nearby cities?"

Intrigued, Homura shook her head. "No, I haven't."

"I happened to hear about it a couple days ago in the hospital. A few doctors were concerned about the sharp increase in injures among young girls. I don't know any specifics, but this does coincide with the contract. In addition, the fact that the affected demographic is only young girls leads me to believe that magical girls are involved."

Homura slowly nodded, letting the new information slowly sink in for a few moments. "Certainly, without soul gems, magical girls trade succumbing into despair with more physical vulnerability. The recent hospitalizations of young girls seems to support this idea, if they are in fact magical girls."

"It's possible that the increased injuries is because most magical girls are unaware of the fact that their bodies and souls are no longer tied to their soul gems," Mami mused.

"But with the disappearance of the wraiths, why would they need to fight and put themselves in harm? Unless they're fighting each other."

"We don't know that the wraiths in other cities have disappeared as well. Mitakihara City may have been the only city to be cleansed."

Homura bit her lip, blowing out a tense breath before slowly nodding. "It's a possibility," she eventually conceded.

"In addition, the contract also seems to have taken away telepathic communication. However, it did not take away the rest of our magical powers. The only logical explanation from this is that DAWN doesn't want to kill magical girls, but perhaps wants to use them in some way."

"But why did they need to go through all the trouble to eliminate soul gems? There's something I'm missing, and I believe it's tied to the identity of DAWN's leader – Fade. I'd like to find more information about him. Knowing about who we deal with will certainly benefit us. However, I can't say that I know of any other leads…"

And DAWN knew about my time loops and Madoka, Homura inwardly thought, grimacing. That shouldn't have been possible either.

Her mind continued searching for answers, but she found nothing, and in her frustration, shifted into a more comfortable position in her chair to calm her mind.

"There isn't much else we can gleam from the information given to us right now," Homura eventually said, trying not to let her anxiety show. "All we can do is speculate why DAWN targeted us – if there is a certain reason – and what they plan to do. Are they going to threaten us to do something, knowing that we're physically vulnerable?"

"If it comes to that, that's a bridge we'll just have to cross in the future. For now, we should worry about picking up our lives and putting aside the past."

Homura nodded, lapsing into deep thought. Tomoe-san is right. Without the presence of demons - temporary or not - at the very least, we have caught a brief respite. But what was different with this timeline? What made this organization - DAWN - turn their attention towards us this time? Could it have been... Madoka?

She found it hard to believe, but didn't find any reason to refute the possibility either. The next few minutes of their conversation were spent talking about the details of Homura's theories.

Mami was someone who genuinely cared about everyone. Even though Homura wasn't sure she looked up to her as her senpai, there was still a slight sense of respect and gratitude for the show of support. Mami was also fairly perceptive and comforting in her own way.

They weren't necessarily close, but their unspoken alliance and mutual trust kept things comfortable between them. It was a darker part of Homura's mind that was thankful that among everyone else, Mami currently had the most stable emotional state. It was comforting to know that there was one less person to worry about.

But there was no doubt that questions about Homura remained on Mami's mind. There was no way Homura could keep everything a secret from her forever. It was a matter of trying to figure out when and how to explain everything, and dealing with the repercussions that would follow.

Homura snapped back into reality when she felt a hand on her shoulder. Looking around, it dawned on her that they were still in the library, but it was well into the evening. When she checked the clock, it informed her that it a little after five.

"Thinking?"

Homura blinked once, twice, three times before nodding her head awkwardly. "Yes."

"Is it about Kaname-san?"

A hollow feeling began to spread in Homura's chest, and she knew what it was right away.

Guilt.

"Who is Kaname Madoka?" Mami asked, her eyes locking onto Homura's. "You told me that you'd explain everything eventually."

"It's not important right now."

"It's not insignificant. This is serious." Mami's eyes met Homura's again, and this time her exasperation was painted on her face.

"I'll let you know when the time is right." Homura said. She let her statement hang in the air for a moment while she summoned the courage to continue. "For now, it's better that you don't know some parts of your past."

Mami fell back into her seat, frowning and crossing her arms. Homura just let her stew in her seat, sighing inaudibly. She didn't need this stress piled on to what she had to do.

"How am I supposed to help you when I don't know everything?" Mami asked.

Homura glanced at Mami again, and found a worried and confused look on her face. It was obvious that Mami's continued concern about Homura and everyone else delineated her need to be with people. She was lonely. But Homura knew she couldn't tell her the entire truth yet, so she went with the next best answer. "She's... someone that used to be close to all of us."

"Is there a reason you can't tell me more about her?"

"...yes."

"Is there a reason I lost my memories about her?"

"Yes."

Mami nodded, noting her answer with slight dismay. She looked lost in thought for a second. Then, "I see."

"Why do you ask?"

Mami sighed. "I get the feeling that she needs you, Akemi-san. I don't know everything, but enough to know that you need to be there for her."

A heavy feeling began to settle in Homura's stomach. "I've... just been occupied lately," she managed. "There's been a lot on my mind, I haven't had the time..."

There it was again. Her tendency to blame her shortcomings on her surroundings.

Mami just looked at her, keeping her emotions concealed. "I plan on investigating the incidents in Kasamino soon. You'll be on your own during that time. So, before then, I'd like you to resolve your personal issues with Kaname Madoka so I can feel better leaving you here."

Homura nodded. "I was planning to resolve that soon anyways..."

"You have a lock over your heart," Mami gently continued. "Many times, you feel that you've healed your wounds when scars still remain. Even though you think you're over it, don't keep lying to yourself and taking on this burden alone. There's a fine line between the unyielding desire to protect and insanity. I hope you don't end up in the latter."

Mami put her hand on Homura's shoulder, and Homura could feel the warmth from her palm through her uniform. Before she could open her mouth to tell Mami to let go, the latter's hand was off and she had already left, parting quietly. The library's main doors closed with a careful 'thud', and Homura released a breath she had no idea she had been holding.

Homura let her head hang, then let it fall back against the chair. Then her eyes closed. A surge of emotions had them squeezing shut tightly.

The day's heat had already claimed her. A moment passed. Then another.

When the clock read a quarter past five, she left the library.

Homura knew that she was just scared to face Madoka. She felt guilty. That was why she had put a front with her. It would probably be worse to put off the situation for any longer.

But it's hard to do that with the promise of darker skies and storm clouds on the horizon.

Before Homura walked into her house, she took a moment to rest her head on the cool wood of her front door. Her arms dropped to her sides like the limbs of a puppet cut from its string, and her gaze fell to her feet.

During the first couple of weeks after Madoka's return, Homura had been hesitant to talk to her. Of course she had felt so overwhelmingly happy that Madoka was back, just an arm's reach away. But the guilt spreading through her heart had made Homura hesitant and unsure of how to approach Madoka. Her already awkward personality only complicated matters. There were so many things that were still left unresolved.

As Homura entered her house, she drew a deep breath to settle the anxiety that had troubled her through most of her life.

Madoka was waiting for her in the living room. She glanced up, looking surprised at Homura's entrance, but her expression quickly changed into one of delight. "Homura-chan, you're back! Okaeri!" she beamed, walking over to greet Homura.

"Tadaima..." Homura softly said, returning a small smile. A cursory glance around the room told her that the place had been cleaned recently. Was that what Madoka had been up to until now?

Even though Homura knew she had been acting distance, Madoka had been open and caring, like she had always been. Homura glanced away. She didn't deserve this kind of affection.

"Do you want to go out tonight?" Madoka asked, her eyes slightly pleading with Homura. "I know we have school tomorrow, but it's still early in the evening, and there's this new cafe that just opened near the station."

"Ah, not really, sorry... I'm kind of tired," Homura apologized, and Madoka deflated slightly, but a look of understanding overtook her features.

"Oh, okay... were you busy?"

Homura stopped, frozen by the question. The paranoid part of her mind made Homura wonder if Mami had somehow called and told Madoka about what she had been up to, but her rationale told her that no, even Mami wouldn't do something like that.

"Ah... um, a little bit. I'm going to wash up now."

Homura headed to the bathroom to freshen up, betting that she didn't look too good after a long day spent poring over questions. Her suspicion was confirmed when she looked into the mirror above her sink. She was only fourteen, but her deep-set frown, resigned expression, and tired eyes made her look ten years older.

Twisting the cold water tap to a temperature she thought she could bear, Homura cupped her hands under the flow and splashed her face with the water. She was still tired enough to let her head hang in her hands for a few moments, but her exhaustion was already waning with newfound determination. Turning the tap off, Homura kept her head bowed as water dripped down from her face into the sink. She braced herself on the edge, the cold porcelain nearly numbing the pain she felt when she gripped tighter.

"I just need to talk to her. I knew I'd have to at some point."

Homura brought her head back at to look at her reflection again. Sad amethyst eyes stared back, so she squeezed them shut. Feeling a little bit more awake, she headed into her bedroom to change out of her uniform. Once that was done, she took a seat on the edge of her bed and took a deep breath. Her keen eyes darted around the room, absorbing every little detail, until they settled upon her schoolbag.

The only homework due tomorrow is for science. There's a math quiz soon, but I've already been studying for that, so I shouldn't have anything to worry about-

"What are you thinking about?"

The bed creaked as Homura sprang back, startled. Madoka was suddenly sitting right beside her, leaning closer and batting her wide pink eyes at her.

"N-Nothing important," Homura managed. Her insides churned and she felt her face flush.

She didn't want it to be like this. She didn't want such an uncomfortable barrier to form between them. Yet the closer Madoka tried to get to her, the higher her emotional walls rose. "I-It's not like I'm stressed about anything, so you don't have to worry about me," Homura said in an attempt at consolation, but she knew her tone lacked warmth. She wasn't any good at letting her emotion show – even in the rare cases she wanted it to.

"Homura-chan, what would you say if I told you I loved you?"

Homura's neck hurt with how fast she snapped her head up to look at her. "W-W-What?"

Madoka giggled, gently tapping Homura's nose with her index finger. "I knew you'd be easy to tease, Homura-chan. But I'm not kidding, you know."

"A-Ah... U-Um, of course I love you too..." Homura replied with a slight stutter. A surge of social anxiety welled up inside of her, and an awkward frown spread across her blushed face. She couldn't help it – she was always shy when talking to people, Madoka most of all. "...I-It's kind of embarrassing to say that out loud though..." she quietly admitted after a moment's pause.

When Homura glanced at Madoka again, she realized that her cheeks were flushed red as well. "I-It's embarrassing for me too," Madoka softly said, smiling shyly. "But after all we've been through, I want to say it as often as I can."

Another breathtaking smile crossed Madoka's face. Inwardly, Homura wondered if Madoka knew what she was doing to her, with the butterflies fluttering in her chest and making her shiver. Her pulse was racing, but she tried to keep her breathing deep and slow in order to calm herself down.

Curving her lips into a small smile when all she felt was anxiety was difficult. Homura managed because she was tactful. "I want to say it to you as often as I can too..."

I'm not good at expressing myself. I just hope this feeling of mine can reach you.

As if reading Homura's thoughts, Madoka scooted closer and leaned against her. Madoka hummed against her shoulder, the sound reverberating against Homura's skin, and Homura couldn't tell if it was in agreement or acknowledgement of what she had said. Homura felt Madoka's breath on her neck, measured and rhythmic, fooling her into thinking the pinkette was asleep until she actually looked down to see Madoka wide awake and looking up at her with her clear pink eyes.

"Mitakihara City feels different." Madoka finally whispered after what felt like hours.

"How so?" Homura was tempted to ask.

"There's… light. Color. And hope."

Homura shifted so she was more comfortable sitting with Madoka leaning onto her. They looked out through the bedroom window at the city skyline together, watching as the sun dipped beneath the buildings of the city on the horizon, bathing everything in a sea of pink, orange, and purple, night seemingly moments away.

"Do you really believe there's hope in this city?"

Madoka hummed against Homura again, not giving her a definite answer. Her nose was lightly pressed against Homura's skin, and Homura looked down to see her eyes were very bright, gazing out into the horizon. Her youthful hue sparkled on her skin like the morning dew – a stark contrast to the mild calmness of everything else.

Madoka was just as sun-kissed and bright as Homura had always remembered her, sticking out in the midst of her gray world. Homura looked away from Madoka, glancing down at her own lap.

"But what about everything else? What about the forces beyond our control?" There was panic edging at her voice, involuntary. Her muscles had gone rigid, her shoulders tense, her back straight. She didn't understand anything – didn't know what to think of anything – didn't know what to do. "I'm… I'm scared, Madoka. I don't want to lose you again."

Sensing Homura's tensing, Madoka made a slight noise in the back of her throat.

Something changed in Madoka. She stopped being the quiet, soft, slightly coy girl Homura knew to associate her with recently, a more serious air emanating from her instead. Concern flickered deep in her eyes as they narrowed slightly, the smile falling from her lips in an instant. The soft curves of her body leaning against Homura froze into sharp angles, all feelings of carefreeness and relaxation leaving her as if they had never been there all along.

It was obvious they had never shared this problem before. Homura was close enough to see the worry laced in Madoka's eyes. She knew it hurt Madoka to see her so strung-up like this. The guilt pushed its way to her throat, and for a moment, she couldn't speak.

"I don't want to lose you again either." Madoka said, running her hand along Homura's back. Her pink hair nestled against Homura's cheek, flowing freely without her usual hair-ties. "I promise I won't leave you again. So don't worry."

There was so much confidence and comfort in Madoka's tone. It made Homura hesitant to continue, pausing and just looking at Madoka before switching her gaze to the bed again. "But there's still so much evil in this world! There's the Kyubey and the incubators, DAWN, and I don't even know if the wraiths are going to suddenly come back-"

Madoka's other hand found its way to Homura's mouth, pressing a finger against her lips to gently shush her. When Homura looked at Madoka again, she noticed she was smiling.

"Everything will be alright, Homura-chan. Even if times are tough, even if everything is falling down around us, I know we'll find a way. There's always hope."

"I can't find a way!" Homura insisted, blinking rapidly to avoid breaking down right in front of Madoka. "I've failed to save you so many times! I-I was so close to losing you forever... You say we'll find a way, but then why did you make your wish, knowing that you would have to sacrifice yourself?"

This time it was Madoka's turn to look down at her lap. "Because it would be sad if it ended without someone taking on the despair of magical girls, wouldn't it? At the time, I knew it was the right thing to do. I wanted to bring hope to this world. I wanted you to live and be happy, Homura-chan. But now that I'm here with you, can't we both be happy together?"

"But are you really okay with this, Madoka? Being forgotten by your family? Never being able to return to the ones you love?

Madoka nodded and smiled. "Like I said before, it's enough that you remember me, Homura-chan. We can't go back to our simple everyday lives. That is the price we pay for being magical girls. But we can continue to bring hope and happiness to the world."

"But it hurts me," Homura paused, gritting her teeth and feeling her tears well up, brimming dangerously close. "You've done so much for me. But I couldn't do anything for you. And I'm scared that I won't be able to do anything when it matters again. I... I love you so much, Madoka. That's why I'm so scared. I'm not strong enough to protect you."

Madoka opened her mouth, as if to say something, and then didn't, struck wordless by Homura's raw confession. When she spoke up again, her voice was soft as if speaking any louder would break her.

"But we're here together right now, aren't we?" There was no hardness laced in Madoka's voice, only the worry of someone very close. "I'm right here, Homura-chan." Madoka told her with a voice as clear as crystal, offering her hand out to her. "I'm right here. You didn't fail. I believe in you."

Homura held her hand out. Their palms pressed against each other, Madoka's hand warm and completely in her own. The warmth of her hand was pleasant, reassuring. As Madoka affectionately squeezed her hand, Homura glanced down at her lap, resisting the urge to blush.

"...I don't deserve you," Homura brokenly whispered.

Madoka smiled shyly. "Of course you do. You're my very best friend, Homura-chan. No," she shook her head. "You're even more than that. You've always been fighting so hard for me. But I don't want you to hurt yourself. Now it's time for you to come home.

Homura fell silent as Madoka gathered her into her arms, her fingers gently threading through her hair and her lips pressing a kiss to her temple.

"I'm sorry for worrying you," Homura whispered, and she could feel the relief in Madoka's body pressed against her, and in the comforting feeling she felt when they held hands. The change was subtle, yet entrancing. "I couldn't convey my feelings properly before. There was so much on my mind I was trying to bear on my own. This pain without an outlet. The happiness you allowed me to have. I'm sorry for everything."

"It's okay, Homura-chan," Madoka whispered into her hear. "Just don't try to do everything on your own anymore. I'm right here for you. Together, let's embrace whatever the future holds for us."

Nodding, Homura felt her vision start to swim. Choking back a sob, she buried herself into Madoka's arms.

Madoka smiled, wrapping Homura into a warm embrace. Holding her steady amidst her quivering, she affectionately patted Homura and gently ran her fingers through her long hair.

"Okaeri, Homura-chan."

"T-Tadaima, Madoka..."

"Sayaka?"

Night had fallen when Sayaka opened her eyes again. She looked up when she heard her name, and her eyes landed on Kyouko. Seeing the redhead quietly standing in the moonlit park made her look almost mild and gentle. For some reason, the mere sight of her was reassuring. No, not reassuring. Comforting? Sayaka didn't know the word for it.

Kyouko stepped into the dim moonlight in front of her, stopping just beyond arms reach. She didn't approach any closer, and Sayaka hated the fact that she felt relieved by that. Sayaka didn't feel the need to say anything, so the only thing that ate up the silence was the sound of the evening breeze.

Pale moonlight illuminated the air between them beautifully like the shimmering on the clear surface of a lake. The faint yellow glow of nearby streetlights drew circles at their feet. Neither Kyouko nor Sayaka said a word.

Then, Sayaka propped herself off the bench onto her feet when it became clear Kyouko wasn't intent on leaving. "Why are you here?" she demanded, hearing her words pierce through the magical quietness.

In response, Kyouko shrugged. "I could ask the same, y'know."

"I have nowhere to return to anyways." Sayaka bitterly spat, turning around to face away. There was an ugly twist to her lips, not quite a frown nor a sneer, but she was too tired to try and figure it out. It disgusted her - the state she was in made her sick to her stomach. "No one remembers me."

Kyouko took a step closer. "I remember you, Sayaka. So does Mami and Homura," she insisted. "I get that it sucks, but you're not gonna accomplish anything by sitting here."

Sayaka chuckled at that, but it was a pathetic sort of laughter. She knew she looked like a wreck, but still felt her anger and frustration returning to her. "So what? What are you trying to say?"

"Are you fine with this?" Kyouko gestured around the empty park. She took another step closer. And then another. "Are you gonna keep drowning in self-pity, locking yourself away from everyone else forever?"

Sayaka felt herself sharply intake a breath of air. "Yeah, I'm fine." Blinking rapidly, she felt the corners of her lips lift as her gaze rose skywards. "I'm fine..."

She knew it was a blatant lie, but Kyouko merely watched her, her crimson eyes giving nothing away. Recollections of her past kept flashing through her mind so vividly that they left Sayaka shuddering.

"Why do you care anyways?" Sayaka retorted when Kyouko lapsed into silence. "We were always trying to kill each other from the beginning. Why are you trying to help me now?"

Kyouko's expression seemed to soften somewhat at those words. She stopped in place, looking uncertain, and then blew out a tense sigh. "Some things you said and did in the past really pissed me off. There's no doubt I wanted to kill you before." Kyouko guiltily glanced away, before continuing. "But that was before I knew about the truth about magical girls and this world. I was wrong... And before long, I realized that I wasn't able to leave you alone. It sucks to be alone, y'know?"

Sayaka flinched and clenched her fists, digging her nails into her palms. All kinds of emotions were flooding into her mind, and Kyouko's soft words were only stirring her confusion even more. She realized she was breathing hard, feeling as though she couldn't get enough air into her lungs. Feeling panicked and angry all at once, her voice was anything but calm, rising into a yell, each word louder than the next until she was practically screaming.

"You don't understand me!" Sayaka ardently shouted at the top of her lungs, shaking uncontrollably as her voice cracked. "Stop acting like you do!"

Kyouko closed her eyes and nodded. "I know," she whispered. "I didn't know anything."

Frustrated tears streamed down Sayaka's face as her voice trembled even more violently. "I just wanted to be happy! I tried so hard to do the right thing! So why?! Why did it end up like this?! Why-?"

Sayaka's eyes snapped shut and she drew in a quivering breath, feeling like her heart was about to burst when gentle hands suddenly tugged her into a warm hug. Her eyes widened in shock when she felt Kyouko wrap her arms around her from behind. During her tirade, Kyouko had closed the distance between them in a few calculated steps. She felt Kyouko nestling her face against her neck, and suddenly wanted nothing more than to curl up against the redhead's warmth and disappear.

"Life sucks, alright?" Kyouko softly whispered into Sayaka's ears, pulling her even closer into her gentle embrace as the latter softly whimpered her complaint. "I get it. But I don't want you making the same mistakes I did. Just... don't shut yourself out to everyone else. Please."

It was the 'please' that had Sayaka trembling again in Kyouko's arms, all kinds of emotions shooting through her conscious and veins. "Leave me alone..." she mumbled, gently bringing her hands up to rest on Kyouko's arms and feeling a stab of sympathy when she remembered the redhead's story about her family. She hated herself for being so selfish, but she couldn't stop shaking uncontrollably, her arms grasping around Kyouko's back and latching on tightly. "Stop being so kind to me. I'm not worth it..."

She was mad, angry, but most of all, lonely. And here Kyouko was. Kyouko, the only color in her gray life, everything else washed out and dull against her fiery red eyes and vibrant colors.

"You need to stop doing this to yourself. Or else it's going to kill you." Kyouko's ultimatum was expected, but no less shocking.

Feeling lost and confused, Sayaka just wanted things to make sense again. The same rush and wave of emotions from earlier hit again, drowning her in sorrow and self-pity. "Maybe I'm better off dead..." she whispered, feeling her despair coil loosely around her neck like a noose about to choke her of its own accord.

Here, Kyouko paused, closing her eyes and lacing her fingers around Sayaka's waist together hard enough for her knuckles to turn white. "No, you're not." There was real desperation in Kyouko's tone. That was when Sayaka turned to look at Kyouko, and she could see the frustration and desperation glinting in her eyes. "Life is precious. Don't waste yours."

Kyouko's tone rang with finality, and Sayaka grit her teeth because she knew she couldn't refute her. "Why do you keep trying to help me?" Sayaka asked.

"It sucks to be alone, moron."

"You said that before, didn't you? I remember now…" Flashes of turning into a witch formed in Sayaka's mind and memories. She squeezed her eyes shut, shaking her head to clear her mind. "We were enemies," she continued, tears softly slipping from her eyes. "I'm supposed to hate you, yet… for some reason, I don't. You were the one who listened to and comforted me. You were the one who saved me. But why? I'm not worth saving…"

Kyouko scratched her cheek in uncertainty. "Well… you've helped me too, Sayaka," she slowly admitted. "For as long as I can remember, I'd shut out the world too. But then I met you. And you reminded me of how I used to believe that love and courage would always prevail. I… I want to believe that can happen too."

"B-But… y-you… you killed yourself just so I wouldn't be lonely!" Sayaka sobbed, choking on her words. Her heart thudded in her chest like a jackhammer. "Y-You would die for someone like me? A-Are you an idiot?"

Kyouko's lips twitched upwards. "Yeah, I'm an idiot. I just did what I felt like doing. I've decided that I'm going to stay by your side, Sayaka. So come on, when you're done crying, let's go home."

"M-Mm, o-okay…"

With the twilight air thickening, the walk back was a blur, time passing incomprehensibly to Sayaka. Neither of them spoke the entire way, the silence between them reflected in the empty roads and flickering streetlights. The city felt absent, full of buildings that reached into the night sky, completely vacant and empty - holding a potential for life, but instead leaving a city of ghosts in its wake.

Their steps impacted the sidewalk in sync, echoing off the empty city streets. Sayaka was far from being scared out in the city alone at night, but there was still something undeniably eerie about a large dark and empty expanse. For some reason, Kyouko's apartment was in a place she didn't remember, but Kyouko leading her up the stairs to the complex felt familiar, and she could almost – just almost – feel a sense of belonging. She knew the way Kyouko was taking her, leading her down the halls to 'home' - a door to an apartment in the empty complex.

The number on the door was familiar to Sayaka. The place she was standing felt as though she had been here a thousand times. And yet, it was strange and uncomfortable. The lights in the hallways of the apartment complex were off. The only other source of light was from the moonlight behind them, casting their shadows upon the door, leaving them in darkness with just enough light to see the expression on each other's face.

Sayaka stopped, placing her hand on the door before Kyouko could get to it first. She turned towards Kyouko and looked her straight in the eyes.

Kyouko lived here. She lived alone. Sayaka knew she didn't belong here. And yet, she wanted Kyouko to take her inside. More than anything, she wanted to be here, alone with Kyouko. She didn't want to be left alone in this cold and despondent world. She wanted warmth, liveliness, and color.

She didn't want to be alone, and from what she knew about Kyouko, she didn't want that either.

"Can I..?" The question came out of Sayaka's mouth suddenly, the first thing spoken since their walk here, feeling deafening in the silence of the rest of the world. She didn't elaborate, but Kyouko could guess the rest.

"Wasn't planning on leaving you alone, Sayaka." Kyouko looked at her and did the last thing Sayaka expected - she smiled. It was a genuine smile, absent of the mischievous grins and smirks she usually wore.

Kyouko's warm smile seemed private, something Sayaka shouldn't be seeing. Something she didn't deserve.

"Thanks…" Sayaka's hand tightened on the door handle, and she felt the corners of her lips twitch, hoping that Kyouko couldn't see it. "Stop smiling at me. It's creepy."

"I know." Kyouko's smile turned into a full-fledged grin, and for some reason, it felt so natural, like Sayaka had seen it too many times to count. "You've told me before."

"Yeah? Good. Maybe you'll eventually learn to take things more seriously."

Their casual banter felt natural, and the more Sayaka talked to Kyouko, the more she felt like herself. She definitely hadn't before, panicked, scared, and feeling alone in a world that didn't remember her. There was a beat of breath between them, and for the first time, looking at Kyouko's fanged grin, Sayaka wondered if the silence didn't hurt her ears and heart. It was filled with something else – a brief moment in which she felt… remembered.

Remembered by someone else, in a world that had already moved on without her.

Maybe all she wanted was to hear Kyouko's soft voice, and for her to tell her that it would all be okay - even if neither of them knew what the future held in store for them.

"A-ah," Sayaka let out a rueful sigh. "Now I feel ashamed for having to be cheered up by you."

"That's how you thank me?!" Kyouko sputtered. "W-What's your problem?"

"I mean, you're just a moron that likes to say a bunch of nonsense." Sayaka giggled at Kyouko's obviously dejected frown. She clasped her hands behind her back and leaned closer, grinning. "But you know… I just happen to be an idiot that gets really happy about it anyways."

"O-Oh, that so..?" Kyouko glanced away, the tips of her cheeks singed with red. She quickly cleared her throat. "Should we go inside? It's getting really cold," she muttered with an unhappy grimace, rubbing her hands together.

"Yeah. Let's go home, Kyouko."

"Is there anything you can tell me about Akemi-san?"

Kyubey merely glanced at the figure in front of him. "Akemi Homura? I would have thought you would know more about her than myself."

"That's not true. I dislike knowing so little about her past. DAWN's leader, Fade, mentioned something about her time loops. Do you know what he meant?"

Kyubey shook his head. "Are you sure he was not simply making things up?"

The figure frowned. "I doubt it. Fade isn't the only one keeping secrets from us. Akemi-san is also guilty of hiding truths about this world. I'm determined to uncover them for everyone's sake."

"As I'm well aware of." Kyubey agreed. "Fade has shown he knows how to resurrect Puella Magi, though his motive is unclear. I should preface that by mentioning that 'raising individuals from the dead' is not impossible. Some magical girls have previously attempt to do so with their contracts. They simply create a new being, perfectly exact in every way, shape, and form, and implant them with the desired individual's memories. But it is still a copy. Fade's contract does not feel like that. Rather, it is as if he was able to completely erase their deaths. And Akemi Homura has a connection to an unknown girl named-"

"Kaname Madoka." The figure softly spoke.

"However, I suspect it will be a difficult task considering the lengths they go to protect what they know. Neither of them will willingly reveal their secrets. But as they threaten the balance of this universe," here, Kyubey paused, his vermilion red eyes gleaming almost ominously in the darkness of the alleyway. "...perhaps it will be necessary to use force."

"Even without soul gems, the Puella Magi of Mitakihara City are far from weak." The figure clenched its fist, golden hair glinting in the moonlight. "Don't underestimate them."

Kyubey stared back, swishing his tail. "Of course."

A/N: Apologies for the absurdly overdue update!

Any thoughts/comments about this chapter and overall story are greatly welcome! I'd like to know what the general opinion about this story is/gauge everyone's interest moving forward, especially since I'm trying to juggle a couple other stories and have some other things planned for the future.

Thank you for reading, and I hope you have a wonderful day. :)