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When Kyoko had stepped into the arcade, she'd hoped the neon glare and ear-splitting jingles would shake loose her jumbled feelings. Instead, her head had only become more cluttered as her conversation with Madoka continued.

Clawing to the top of the jumble was an urgent need to find out how the hell Madoka had managed to unpick her entire scheme in less than a day. Aside from her panic over the lethal consequences Madoka's sleuthing could have for Sayaka, the turn of events was a gut punch to Kyoko's pride.

If it were Akemi, Kyoko wouldn't have minded so much; though she knew the dark-haired girl would have been insufferably smug afterwards. But no, she had been seen through by Madoka of all people - the clueless, cotton-candy haired goofball who could barely walk two steps without tripping up over her own feet. Even with Kyuubey's help, surely Madoka shouldn't have been able to figure out her plot so easily?

Following closely behind her disbelief was Kyoko's rising reaction to the last thing Madoka had said about Sayaka: Because she's a hero...But you already know that, don't you, Kyoko.

Kyoko had previously been listening to Madoka's story with - by her standards - fairly good grace. She'd kept quiet as Madoka talked, partly to give herself more time to think up a decent lie to get the surprisingly dogged girl off her trail, and partly because she was genuinely curious about Sayaka's past – up until she'd heard Madoka utter those four damning words.

Because she's a hero.

"Shut up," Kyoko's spat.

"W-what," Madoka stammered.

"I said, shut the fuck up. You don't know shit." Kyoko kept her tone low so not to attract attention, but every word was injected with venomous fury. Madoka practically wilted under the force of her voice.

Which made the other girl's next words all the more unexpected. "No," Madoka whispered. "No I won't. Sayaka-chan is a hero and you know she is...and I'm not going to stop saying it even if you are being scary!" Madoka declared, eyes screwed up as if expecting another punch.

Kyoko couldn't deny she was tempted. It didn't help even when Madoka was being brave, she still managed to be irritatingly pathetic. Unshed tears squeezed out of the corner of her tightly closed eyes, and her scrunched up face only accented her swollen red nose. Well, what Kyoko could see of her nose under the flower patterned plaster. She noted, with faint disgust, there was an obnoxiously cheerful smiley face drawn on the centre of each flower.

Had Madoka patched herself up? Kyoko doubted that. The dressing was applied far too neatly, and even Madoka seemed likely to have grown past the point of buying smiley flower-patterned bandages. It must have been her parents. What would they have thought, Kyoko wondered, when their daughter had turned up late at their doorstep, battered and bleeding. All because it had been easier for Kyoko to have someone to hurt...

Kyoko lowered her fist and took a deep breath. She let it out as an angry snort. "Fine. You wanna talk heroes do you? Well, lets goddamn talk. Do you know what a hero is? Huh? Do you?"

Madoka cautiously reopened her eyes but kept her mouth shut.

"What's wrong?" Kyoko demanded, her voice rising. "Have you taken a vow of silence? I asked you a fucking question. Do you know what a hero is?"

"Why are you getting so mad at me, Kyoko?"

"I'm not mad at you!" Kyoko yelled angrily at Madoka, "I just want you to hurry up and give me a damn answer. Do you know what a hero is or don't you!?"

"P-Please stop shouting at me. That's...that's not how friends should speak to each other," Madoka protested. Brave, but so very goddamn pathetic.

"I'll talk however I fucking want to! You're pissing me off!" Kyoko screamed in her face.

There was silence, not only from Madoka this time, but from the entire arcade. Kyoko became acutely aware that the eyes of crowd were on them for the second time that evening. Several parents were glaring, a gaggle of high-school girls were nervously giggling and a gangly employee with acne on his cheeks and a badge on his chest declaring 'My name is Kento' was walking towards them with an air of awkward self-importance. So much for not attracting attention...

"C'mon, lets go." Kyoko grabbed Madoka by the sleeve and roughly pulled her up. Madoka squeaked with dismay, barely having time to reach for her school bag and duffel coat.

"Kyoko, slow down. Where are we going?" Madoka asked as Kyoko dragged her along.

"Somewhere we can talk without the damn puppet show," Kyoko muttered darkly.

Kyoko pulled them both behind a bulky racing game, putting them out of sight of 'My name is Kento'. Staying low she rushed ahead to a door with Staff Only written out in neat stencilled letters. The door had a sophisticated DNA lock, ubiquitous to Mitakihara city, which should have been unyielding to anyone not bearing the correct genetic material. Kyoko had brute force and dollops of ignorance. One magically enhanced push later and they were both through.

Kyoko quickly shut the door behind her. Peeping through the small square window set in the door, she saw 'My name is Kento' look around haplessly, then walk off out of sight, she guessed to continue the search in another part of the arcade. Kyoko allowed herself a brief smirk as she estimated how long it would take the dumb jobsworth to realise they'd both vanished.

With the coast clear Kyoko went to make a beeline for the nearby stairs, but felt a tug against her arm. Madoka had set her heels into the cheap beige carpet and was straining backwards as she vainly tried to resist Kyoko's pull. "Kyoko! Will you please slow down and tell me where we're going?"

They both knew Madoka didn't have the strength to hold her back, but Kyoko stopped anyway. "We're going to the roof. I wanna talk in private and I need some fresh air." Kyoko said curtly.

"If you wanted to go outside why didn't we just go back through the front door? We're not supposed to be here. Ohh, I'm going to get into so much trouble if Mama finds out," Madoka whined.

Kyoko stared at her in disbelief. They were fighting for their lives against unholy creatures spawned from humanity's nightmares on a daily basis, and Madoka was worried about being on the wrong end of a lecture. It was so fucking stupid.

Just like that Kyoko felt her anger slipping away like air wheezing from a deflating balloon. She realised she'd forgotten something very important about Madoka. She wasn't sure why it had slipped her mind, maybe because she'd been taken off-guard by Madoka's unexpected perception or the surprising calmness she'd exuded. Regardless, it was something Kyoko knew she should have kept in mind from the beginning.

Kaname Madoka was a fucking idiot.

True, Madoka wasn't as big a fool as Sayaka, and the girl was definitely no mindless doll, but she remained an idiot. A dumb, naïve idiot who hadn't spent enough time in the real world to get how things worked yet. And there was no point getting mad at an idiot for saying stupid things like 'hero'.

Unless that idiot's name was Miki Sayaka, then Kyoko could get plenty angry. Stupidity had limits after all.

Kyoko shook her head in exasperation."We can't go through the front door, your friend's waiting outside, remember? Besides, my way's more fun," she finished with a wink and a grin at the other girl.

Judging by the pout, Madoka was not wholly convinced, but she let Kyoko resume dragging her up the stairs to the roof.

As Kyoko stepped outside, she left the last of her anger at the stairwell door. The early evening grey Kyoko passed through on her way to the arcade had given way to the velvet navy of true night. Kyoko took in a refreshing gulp of the crisp cool air.

Kyoko always felt more at ease outdoors. Maybe it came from growing up in a church, but she was never wholly comfortable indoors. She remembered the heady sense of vertigo which came whenever she'd stared upwards for too long, the church's slanted ceiling seeming to reach higher than the heavens above. It had ruined her for school. She'd felt trapped and hemmed in whenever she'd stepped into a classroom, and in her early years Kyoko had been an irrepressible fidget. She'd once seen an old foreign film about German submariners in World War II and had experienced an odd sense of kinship with the crew. She'd compensated by spending as much time as she could outside when she wasn't at home.

Kyoko enjoyed the freedom now as well. Nothing but sky above and not a soul in sight aside from her and Madoka. She eyed the nearby rooftops stretching out around her and wondered if she should just run and leave Madoka behind. One quick leap to a nearby building or to the ground below and she'd be free of the girl and her questions.

A gust of wind blew by, the chill amplified by their height. Kyoko clutched herself, shivering as she was sharply reminded of the cold. They were in the middle of a fairly mild spring, but it still wasn't close enough to summer yet for comfortably going around town at night in shorts and a thin tank top.

Warmth suddenly enveloped her back and shoulders. Kyoko looked around to find Madoka had draped her coat around her. Kyoko's and Madoka's eyes met, both wide with surprise, Kyoko at the unexpected gesture and Madoka as if she'd only now realised what she was doing. The other girl suddenly leapt back as if she'd been bitten. Kyoko continued to stare at her, wide-eyed and uncomprehending.

"Sorry! I'm so sorry!" Madoka threw up her arms in front of her face as if to ward Kyoko off. "You looked cold, so..."

"S'fine," Kyoko muttered, scratching her cheek. Despite the cold she suddenly felt hot and itchy. She searched for the right words. "Thanks."

Madoka smiled warmly, causing Kyoko to quickly look away. She turned her gaze upwards, suddenly finding she had a deep interest in the night sky.

There was only darkness above, the uniform glow from Mitakihara's lights wiping the stars clean off the sky. Kyoko hadn't expected anything different, but she felt a little let down. She blamed Madoka for her moment of childish disappointment, the girl having managed to catch her off-guard again. Was the mask she wore so fragile it only took one small act of kindness to leave it in tatters?

She pulled the borrowed duffel coat a little tighter around her shoulders and turned to face Madoka, who was looking at Kyoko expectantly.

"So, we were talking about heroes," Kyoko said, making Madoka to flinch. "Relax, I'm not gonna yell at you again. Probably," Kyoko added. "Pretty stupid of me getting angry in the first place, given you'd already answered my question. A hero's someone who lives for everyone and never gives up, right?"

Seeing Kyoko had calmed down seemed to give Madoka courage to speak. ""I guess. I know you probably think its really childish, but when I think of Sayaka-chan or...or M-Mami-san, I can't help but think of them as heroes. I wouldn't know what else to call them."

Kyoko kept her face carefully neutral when Mami's name was mentioned. Kyoko had picked up a vague outline about the fate of her former partner, but not the full details. She hadn't made a lot effort to find out either. The distance made thing...easier.

"How about 'a huge pain in the ass?'" Kyoko responded tersely, her voice a little horse. "That would suit Sayaka perfectly. Dunno about this Memi, or whatever she's called. She sounds almost as annoying," Kyoko lied, swallowing to clear the tightness in her throat. "But I ain't gonna call Sayaka a hero. Even I don't hate her that much."

"I don't hate Sayaka-chan!" Madoka cried out. "And please don't talk about Mami-san that way, she's -"

"I know you don't hate her, Madoka," Kyoko interrupted quickly. "Just listen for a second, okay?" Kyoko held up two fingers. "You gotta understand something important. There's two kinds of people in the world who use the word hero. The first are ignorant jackasses like Sayaka who actually believe they can become one." She lowered one finger. "The second are manipulative assholes like that bastard, Kyuubey who encourage said ignorant jackasses." Kyoko lowered the second finger.

Madoka looked uncertain, but Kyoko was only beginning to warm to her topic. "You don't believe me do you? Of course you don't. That's 'cause you don't know the true meaning of 'Hero'. I ain't blaming you, the word's got a real heavenly ring to it on the surface. Protecting the weak, casting down the wicked, all that song and dance - everybody wanna be a hero don't they? God knows, I did when I was first starting out this gig. I think I might have been dumber than Sayaka back then. You listen to that word hard though and you'll hear the sour note behind it. A hero ain't nothing but a silver-tongued devil leading you down to damnation."

"Is it really so bad?" said Madoka.

Kyoko began to pace from side to side, her gestures becoming more animated as she spoke. "Think about about what you were saying earlier. A hero's someone who can sacrifice their own happiness for the sake of others. There's no human alive who exists like that! And if there were, they'd be nothing but an empty doll. Yet we all pretend like being a hero is some great thing we should be striving towards. Its bullshit!

"Do you know what I really hate about that word though? What I absolutely despise?" Kyoko asked, more to herself than Madoka. "It takes away from people, it...it lessens them. The thing with the dog. Sayaka wasn't being heroic then, she was being, I dunno, brave. You can be afraid or uncertain or a whole mess of things and still be brave. That's human. You sure as hell can't have those feelings as a hero. When you're a hero, all you're allowed to be is perfect and nobody's goddamn perfect. You try and be a hero, and it'll take and take from you until there ain't nothing left but despair. Fuck heroes!" Kyoko spat on the ground.

Madoka was silent for a time. Then she took a very deep breath and said quietly, "I don't think that's right. Being brave and being a hero are the same thing. It doesn't mean you have to be perfect."

Kyoko's breath hitched sharply, but she kept herself under control. "It does to Sayaka. I bet it did to Mami too. And they're the ones you think are heroes," Kyoko retorted. She was about to say something else, but stopped. Why was she even arguing about this, she wondered to herself. She already knew Madoka was an idiot. "Feh. Think what you like. Just don't use that word in front of me again. Got it?"

Madoka gave a meek little nod, the weak gesture only fanning the smouldering ashes of Kyoko's temper. "I don't get you," Kyoko said.

"Oh...um...sorry?" Madoka offered.

"You're doing it again," Kyoko said. "I don't get you at all. You'll run through a witch's barrier, fierce as a lion, then I throw out a few harsh words and you're as meek as a newborn lamb."

"I...I wasn't being fierce then, I just felt scared," Madoka said quietly.

"Cut the crap," interjected Kyoko. "Sure, you like you're gonna burst into tears half the time, but you were still there. You were there when me and our Sayaka had our second little tiff on the bridge. I coulda cut you in half, but you jumped right in the middle anyway. And you're here now. Y'know I thought you'd break, like Sayaka did, like I...like we all have, but you're still so strong. How?"

"I'm not strong. I'm nothing but a coward." Madoka said, eyes downcast. "Even though I've got the power to make a difference, all I've done is watch from the sidelines while my friends get hurt."

"Who spun you that crock of crap?" Madoka opened her mouth to speak, but Kyoko held up a hand. "Nah, don't tell me, I can hazard a guess. Was it our very own white and fluffy Lucifer?"

Madoka hesitated, then nodded. "Apparently Kyuubey said I had the potential to become a splendid magical girl." Madoka noticed Kyoko rolling her eyes and gave a small, self-deprecating smile. "I know, I think its silly too. There's no way someone like me could be so strong. But I could become a magical girl. That way I wouldn't be so helpless anymore."

"If you're looking for absolution, I ain't no priest," Kyoko said, shrugging her shoulders. "If you wanna take the little bastard up on his offer and become a 'splendid magical girl', knock yourself out. You know the risks better than we ever did. If you don't, then don't. I couldn't care less." Her voice turned cold. "Just make sure you use your wish for yourself. If you don't, the next time we meet, there ain't gonna be a happy ending."

Madoka paused. "There was something else Kyuubey told me, when he came to see me last night," she said quietly. "He told me Sayaka-chan's really sick...and that if I formed a contract with him I could cure her."

Kyoko laughed bitterly. "Of course the little bastard did. So, then what? I can see ya turned him down."

"Yes, I did," said Madoka. "I think Kyuubey is telling the truth about Sayaka-chan. I know he hasn't told us a lot of things he ought to have done, but he's never lied to us either. I just don't know whether it would work. I mean, if I do use my wish to save Sayaka-chan, if nothing changes, she'll get sick again. I've got to help her properly."

"Why bother now? I thought you were helpless unless you became a magical girl?" Kyoko needled. "If you ain't gonna make a contract, wouldn't you be better off running home, locking yourself in your room and praying it all goes away?

"That's what I think about doing most of the time," Madoka confessed with another self-deprecating smile. "I get so scared, but doing nothing is even scarier. Even if its something tiny, I want to do everything I can to help Sayaka-chan. And if that doesn't work I can buy her some more time by using my wish."

"Oi," said Kyoko irritably. "I thought I warned you. Don't even think of sacrificing your wish for another's happiness."

"If that's the only way to save Sayaka-chan I'll do it. Besides, its not for her happiness, its just me being selfish. Even...even if she doesn't want me to, I'm going to save her. That's what I decided," Madoka said firmly.

There it was, Kyoko thought, that same gentle courage Madoka had displayed earlier when she'd questioned Kyoko in the arcade. Where did she draw it from?

"So what are you gonna do?" asked Kyoko, half mocking, half curious.

"I'm going to find Sayaka, and then...I'm going to talk to her!" Madoka said proudly.

Kyoko's raised eyebrows conveyed her reaction better than any words.

Madoka blushed, pressing her fingers together. "It sounded better in my head," she mumbled.

"It couldn't have sounded any worse," Kyoko said.

"Last time I talked to Sayaka she was hurt and crying and I couldn't reach her at all. I've been thinking a lot and I know what I want to say now. If I can find her again, I'm sure I'll be able to reach her this time and get her to stop running."

"Very touching, but if you're so desperate to save her, why are ya wasting your time here chattering away at me?" Kyoko made a shooing motion. "Go find her."

"Because you know where Sayaka-chan is...and you're trying to save her too," Madoka said boldly.

Kyoko knew it was coming. She had known from the near beginning of their conversation what Madoka was building towards. It didn't change the fact she had no idea what the hell she was going to say. She needed a smart, watertight lie and she needed it now.

"Huh?" Kyoko said.

Or she spectacularly fuck everything up. Both worked.

"You're doing all these mean things, like kidnapping Kamijo-kun, to give Sayaka-chan a reason to fight, aren't you? That's why Homura-chan's helping you too, I don't think she wants Sayaka-chan to...to get hurt either. If you're the villain, then Sayaka-chan won't...no, she can't give up until she's stopped you."

Kyoko twisted her face into an expression of cruel contempt. "You're right. I'm not ready to let Sayaka die yet, because there's no way I'm finished with her yet. Do you have any idea how...righteous its felt breaking that arrogant, self-absorbed bitch? Her boyfriend too." Kyoko forced a laugh when she saw Madoka's shock. "What, you don't think I could resist having a little fun? I took what was important to him and I destroyed it in front of his eyes. You should have seen him! The proud Kamijo Kyosuke crawling through the dirt, snivelling for his life. I'll have to be more careful though. Humans are so fragile. If I'd squeezed any harder I think his poor neck would have popped."

The mask was crude, but it was working. Madoka had began to back away on trembling legs, her face pale. Kyoko started to advance on her, pouring all of her pent-up disgust and hatred into her voice. "Sayaka though, she was the fucking best! I tried to take my time with her, but y'know me, I've always been a messy eater. I tore her apart, Madoka, I bled your friend across the stones." Kyoko licked her lips. "Her despair, her pain, her screams...it was glorious. I dunno why Akemi wanted to save her – we'd only agreed to team up to fight some super-witch - but I wasn't gonna stop her. Now I get to break Sayaka all over again," Kyoko said gleefully.

Madoka, her attention fully taken up by Kyoko, didn't notice the wall of the rooftop access until she bumped into it. She edged to the side, hands scrabbling for the door handle. Kyoko grabbed Madoka by the lapels of her school blazer and slammed her hard into the rough concrete wall. The sudden movement shook off the coat Madoka had lent her and sent it fluttering to the ground.

Kyoko ignored Madoka's cry of pain and continued to talk. "She might need a bit of motivation to get past the fear I put in her, though. Oi, tell me, Madoka, what kinda expression do ya think Sayaka willl make when I dump your body at her feet? I can't wait to find out."

"I don't believe you!" Madoka pleaded. "You're our friend."

The incredulity in Kyoko's voice wasn't entirely feigned this time. "I insult you. I nearly kill your best friend. I punch you in the face. And you think we're friends?"

Madoka went still. "I was so frightened of you before. You kept saying all those horrible things and getting in fights with Sayaka-chan." She sniffed. "Then, when Sayaka was fighting that witch on the grey hill Kyuubey called Elsa Maria, you saved her."

"I didn't save her. All I wanted was the grief seed," Kyoko said coldly.

Madoka shook her head weakly. "That's not it. When Sayaka-chan lost herself in the fight, when she gave up the grief seed she needed, when she refused to let us help her...you were just as scared as I was..." Madoka started to cry, fat tears rolled down her cheeks.

For once Kyoko found herself at a loss for words. What was there left to say? In order to destroy Madoka's belief in her, her only option left to was to follow through with her threat. Could she though? Not minding Akemi's reaction, or the effect it would have on Sayaka, Kyoko didn't want to hurt Madoka again.

Kyoko screwed her eyes shut and pulled one arm back, her hand clenching into a fist. Under her other hand she could still feel the Madoka's small body shuddering in her hand as she wept. What choice did she have? If she let Madoka in on the plan she could destroy everything Kyoko had worked towards.

On the other hand, Kaname Madoka could well be Sayaka's salvation.

Kyoko didn't know all the facts, but it was clear from what she'd observed and Madoka had said that Sayaka had cut herself off from everybody, including her best friend. Kyoko was fine alone, but Sayaka was the type who needed other people to cling to. If Sayaka and Madoka were to re-establish their friendship it could become her anchor to the world.

Madoka wouldn't be like Akemi - Kyoko could work alongside the latter without actually needing to trust her. With Madoka she wouldn't have the comforting predictability of knowing the other girl would act entirely out of self-interest.

Was it a gamble she could afford? Not if it required putting her faith in someone else. Madoka has faith in her though, Kyoko thought. Maybe that was enough.

Yes, Madoka trusted her didn't she? Kyoko could spin that trust into the threads she needed to move Madoka how she wished. Akemi still probably wouldn't like it, but it wasn't Kyoko's fault Madoka had chosen to get herself involved.

If Kyoko was honest with herself, part of her didn't like the idea of using the girl either. This...weakness, as Kyoko regarded it, whispered to her to give in and confess everything, to unload her pain and share her burden with Madoka. Kyoko quickly and ruthlessly killed the notion. All she could truly count on was her own power.

"You win," Kyoko said. She let Madoka go, the girl sliding down the wall onto the ground.

"Kyoko?" said Madoka, her voice shaky.

"I said you win, dammit. All that stuff I was mouthing off about earlier was a bunch of horsecrap. Its just like you said, everything I've done...its all to save Sayaka."

Madoka wiped her eyes with the back of her sleeve. When her arm came away, Kyoko saw Madoka's face had split into the biggest, goofiest smile she'd ever seen on the girl. Kyoko couldn't help but feel it suited her a lot better than the quiet, suffocating sadness she usually carried with her.

"Don't look too happy. My plan does involve beating up Sayaka again." Kyoko said, reaching out her hand to Madoka. The other girl hesitated at first, then took Kyoko's hand, pulling herself up.

Kyoko looked Madoka in the eye. "One more thing. You can't tell anyone what we talked about, especially not Sayaka or Kyuubey. If you do, it could kill Sayaka. Are we clear?"

Madoka nodded solemnly, "I understand. Would I still be able to see Sayaka-chan?" she asked hopefully.

"Sure. I was thinking it might be good if you two patch things up. But if you're gonna do that, you gotta follow my instructions to the letter."

Madoka gave another nod. "When can I see her?"

Kyoko tapped her chin pensively. "Maybe in a day or two. If we're gonna set up a meeting, we've got to be sure there's no chance of Kyuubey interfering. Besides, we're in a tricky phase of the plan at the moment, can't afford any more variables. Don't worry though, Sayaka's safe."

"Is Homura-chan looking after her?"

"Madoka," Kyoko chastened. "Y'know that whole 'follow my instructions' thing, here's the first commandant: No questions. Nothing personal, but the more people in the know, the more chance this whole thing goes tits-up."

"I'm sorry. I won't ask about anything else," Madoka said meekly. "Is there anything else I can do to help in the meantime?"

"Just make sure you've got what you want to say to Sayaka straight. That's your job. I'll contact you when I've set up a meeting. Gimme your phone."

Madoka handed over her phone obediently. It was almost too easy. Now Madoka trusted her, she'd turned into such a well-behaved puppet. No. She wasn't a puppet, Kyoko corrected herself. She was just desperate and willing to do anything to save her best friend.

Kyoko quickly typed in a number belonging to a mobile she'd stolen two days ago. She paused as she considered what name to use. She clearly couldn't use her own name. It was an infinitesimal risk, but there was still a tiny chance Sayaka could see Madoka's phone. Inspiration struck. A few taps later and she passed the phone back to Madoka.

Madoka took it, saw the name and giggled slightly, "Kento, huh?"

"I spent enough time here, they ought to employ me," Kyoko quipped. "One more thing," she said rummaging in her short pockets. Her hand withdrew clutching a slightly squished packet of pocky. She took one for herself and offered another to Madoka.

Madoka eyed it a little warily. "Where did you get those from?" she asked, eerily reminiscent of Sayaka.

"I stole them," said Kyoko bluntly. She bit down on her stick. "That a problem?"

"Where from?"

That was not the response Kyoko had expected."I dunno, that old geezer's corner shop off Temple Street I think."

"Oh, Satomi-san's shop," said Madoka. Then to Kyoko's surprise she took the offered pocky and bit off the end.

"What, you and Satomi don't get along or something?" said Kyoko, amused.

"No, we get on very well," said Madoka, seriously. "So when I go round tomorrow morning and pay him for this, he'll believe me when I tell him its because I forgot earlier."

Kyoko scowled. "If you're gonna get all moral, wouldn't it have been better not to accept this in the first place?"

"Maybe. Stealing is bad," admitted Madoka, then she smiled, "But I think turning down a friend is even worse."

Madoka really was an idiot, thought Kyoko, but this time she couldn't help returning Madoka's smile. "Partners then?"

"Partners," said Madoka happily.

"Well, partner, we'd better call it a night. I'm sure your pal is wondering where you got to." Kyoko picked up Madoka's fallen duffel coat from the floor and dusted it off, before handing it back to her.

Madoka shook her head. "You can borrow it a for tonight, its still cold out. You can give it back to me the next time we meet." Madoka spoke lightly, but her eyes were oddly serious.

Kyoko nodded slowly. "Sure, the next time we meet," she replied casually. She slipped her arms through the coat sleeves and fastened the togs. She took a moment to appreciate the sensation of wearing an item of clothing which wasn't threadbare and didn't stink. She approved of the colour too; it was green like her hoodie, but a darker and richer shade. Most of all though, she enjoyed the warmth, it was as good as slipping into a hot bath. "C'mon, lets go," she said, "I'll give you a lift."

"Ehhh? What do you mean -" Madoka was cut off as Kyoko swept her up in her arms, carrying the pink-haired girl bridal style. Madoka's face paled when Kyoko walked to the edge of the rooftop and tensed her legs. "Kyoko, waiiaaaAAAAAHHH!"

"Oh, stop making such a fuss, you big baby, we've landed," said Kyoko.

Madoka, who's eyes had been tightly shut as soon as Kyoko had jumped, looked around disbelieving, her brain seeming to need a few seconds to catch up to the fact they were standing on the pavement after their five-storey descent, rather than splattered across it.

Kyoko gently set her down. "Your friends waiting for you at the front. I'll text you tonight. Later."

"Ah, Kyoko, wait!" Madoka called out.

"What is it?"

Madoka went quiet. She looked oddly nervous, almost as nervous as when Kyoko had threatened her. Suddenly she darted forwards and wrapped her arms round Kyoko.

Kyoko felt her breath against her ear. "Thank you, Kyoko. For everything."

The hug was over in an instant, leaving nothing behind except a faint smell of peaches. Madoka gave Kyoko a little wave goodbye, then ran off to join Hitomi.

Kyoko didn't return to the gesture, remaining rooted to the spot as Madoka went around the corner of the arcade. Her only movement was to blink several times while her brain furiously attempted to reboot.

What. The. Hell?

In her current state she was blind to her surroundings. Which was a pity. Had Kyoko been paying attention she might have noticed the flash of white fur on the arcade rooftop. Or the pair of the red eyes gleaming in the darkness.

Kyoko was laid back on the church roof, munching down on the remainder of the pocky she'd shared with Madoka, when Akemi found her. One moment Kyoko was gazing up contemplatively at the empty night sky, the next she felt as if she had been plunged into ice water - there was nothing around her but inky blackness and an Arctic chill which tore through her body.

When she blinked she saw Akemi Homura standing over her, her dark eyes empty and cold.

"Jesus, Akemi, what's your deal?" Kyoko said. "I've fought witches with less killing intent."

"Sakura Kyoko," Akemi said very softly, "Why are you wearing Madoka's coat?"

Oh. Shit.

Kyoko considered her next words extremely carefully. "Because Madoka gave it to me."

"Madoka...gave it you?" Akemi repeated back. She spoke in her usual monotone, but her scepticism was clear. Kyoko sensed if she didn't explain herself quickly she would soon be fighting for her life.

"That's right. She give it to me. I was pissed off after our last talk so I went to the arcade. Madoka was there as well, looking for Sayaka, and she came over to talk to me. We went outside, and she lent me her coat because it was cold. That's all there was to it."

Kyoko felt the pressure ease off her slightly. "So, what exactly did the two of you have to discuss?"

Kyoko explained. As she expected, Akemi wasn't happy. When Kyoko mentioned Kyuubey offering Madoka a contract, a shadow passed across Akemi's face which made Kyoko reach unconsciously for her soul gem.

"I did not wish for her to get further involved," Akemi said, after Kyoko had finished.

Kyoko scowled. "Look, I didn't have a lot of options going. At least this way we can keep Madoka out of trouble. It beats her going off on her own and doing something dumb."

"That is true. But know this, Sakura Kyoko," Akemi said, her voice as as cold and hard as ice. "You are aware by now of how important Kaname Madoka is to me. If you abuse her trust in you, I will kill you myself."

Kyoko had never reacted well to threats. "You can try," she growled, her own aura flaring hot.

Akemi seemed satisfied her point was made though. "And ensure you clean that coat before you return it to Madoka," she added.

"How about I shove it down your throat instead," Kyoko muttered, but not too loudly. She didn't feel like starting a fight tonight. In fact, before Akemi had arrived, Kyoko had been half-thinking about trying to reach a cease-fire with her erstwhile ally. Their current antagonism would only damage the plan. Besides, she was keen for a proper update on Sayaka.

Maybe Madoka would make a good olive branch? "So, that Madoka, she's a good girl. I can see why you wanna protect her," Kyoko said, testing the waters.

"She is," said Akemi.

"Yeah, she's real nice ain't she? Even after what happened she said we were friends and lent me her coat. She even hugged me goodbye." Kyoko laughed awkwardly. "Can you believe that?"

Kyoko guessed that must have worked because all of the tension Akemi had been generating evaporated into thin air. If Kyoko hadn't known her better, she might have guessed, from the vacant look in Akemi's eyes and the way she had gone completely still, the raven-haired girl was as dumbstruck as Kyoko had been earlier.

"Miki Sayaka and I went for dinner together. We also shook hands," Akemi blurted out suddenly.

"Great, you and the idiot are getting along. I was worried that was gonna be impossible," said Kyoko enthusiastically.

Akemi looked oddly unsatisfied. "Tch."

Kyoko looked at her quizzically. "What's the matter with you?"

Akemi flicked back her hair and seemed to regain her usual composure. "Nothing that concerns you, Sakura Kyoko. Now, do you wish to hear my report of Sayaka's training or will you continue to ask me meaningless questions?"

"I thought you were gonna do what you wanted with Sayaka's training?" said Kyoko, suppressing a grin.

"I am, but I still intend to keep you updated. There is a small chance you may have beneficial input, provided you can manage not to let your emotions interfere with your judgement," Akemi said haughtily.

Kyoko patted the tiles next to her. "Lets hear it then. Take a seat."

Akemi eyed the mould which came away under Kyoko's hand and choose to remain standing. She did begin to talk though. The first part of Akemi's report was as Kyoko expected. Kyoko had been the one to find the clockwork witch after all. She did, however, feel a pang of frustration at the idiotic manner Sayaka had chosen to go around fighting it. Was that moron ever going to learn?

Sayaka and Akemi's dinner and their subsequent conversation was not something Kyoko could have predicted though. "So, the two of you fighting a heroic last stand to stop the super-witch, huh? How very noble," Kyoko said sarcastically.

"You do not approve?"

"Nah, I do not fucking approve. You shoulda kept her out of it."

"I did not have many other options," Akemi parroted Kyoko's words back at her. "Informing Miki Sayaka of Walpurgisnacht achieves two of our goals: Miki Sayaka now trusts me enough for her training to advance effectively, and she has been bestowed another reason to fight."

Kyoko gave Akemi a sideways glance "Our goals, huh? Sure, whatever. It'll have to do for now." Kyoko sighed. "How long do ya think you'll need to whip her into shape?"

Akemi paused. "Seven days, at the minimum. And Walpurgisnacht arrives in-"

"-Eight days, I know. This is gonna get interesting," Kyoko observed.

"The timing may prove...difficult. We shall need to act with precision," Akemi said.

"What we need to do is act fast," said Kyoko. "If we wait seven days and something goes wrong, we're not gonna have a hell of a lotta time left to improvise. I'll face her again in five days."

"That will not be sufficient time," Akemi warned.

"Maybe not for the physical training, but what counts is whether or not Sayaka's got the will to fight for herself. Is five days long enough for that?"

Akemi paused. "Six days," she stated.

Kyoko nodded. "Alright. Six."

"Very well. If there is nothing further to discuss, there are some matters to which I must attend. I will update you tomorrow evening on our progress." Akemi turned on her heel to leave.

"Hey, Akemi!" Kyoko called out, just as the other girl was about to jump. "About Madoka-"

Akemi stopped. "What about her?"

"You're a transfer student right? When did you transfer in. I'm guessing start of the spring term?"

"How is this relevant?"

"You act like Madoka's the most important person in the world to you, but you can't have known her for more than a month. What makes her so special?" Kyoko asked seriously.

"I could ask the same about you and Miki Sayaka, and you've barely known her for a week," Akemi shot back.

"Hah. You got me there. I'm not sure myself sometimes." Kyoko shook her head ruefully. "Forget I asked."

"Already done. If there is nothing else...?"

"Yeah. Yeah. I'll stop bothering you." Kyoko gave a crooked half-smile. "Good luck, Homura."

Homura blinked. For a second she looked like she was going to say something, but in the end she vanished in silence.

Kyoko leaned back against the rooftop and resumed her vigil of the night sky. It may have been her imagination but she was sure she could make out a patch of black shadow against the already dark sky.

It looked like a storm was coming.

We're now officially a third of the way through Decretum. Huzzah :D Thank you all for your continued support. As usual, I'd love to know what you guys think. How were Madoka and Kyoko's interactions, and where do you see the story going forward from here? Next chapter you can expect a small time skip of two days.