Your lips press to mine
You kiss me passionately
Yet gently
Your hands around my waist
My hands around your neck
You part for a second
Moving your lips to my neck
Once they make contact
I feel a shiver
And I pull you closer
I kiss your forehead
You pull away and look at me
Our eyes meet
And we kiss again
My red lips on your soft ones
My blush grows
My face gets hotter than usual
You pined me to the wall
The moons light shining on us
Making your dark blue hair hair glow
Your amazing blue eyes glow in the dim moonlight
My pink hair shines
And my clear sapphire eyes shine  
As your hand makes contact with my skin
I can't help but kiss you
You make me feel more about you than I usually do
You make me feel like your princess
You tell me 'You love me'
And I tell you 'I love you'
Then you pull me back in your grasp
And kiss me once again...

Chapter 1: A Blind Date?!

Lightning was sitting on her couch watching television- with boredom. Things have been a lot calmer ever since Cocoon was saved from the Sanctum. Her younger sister, Serah, was still engaged to Snow Villiers, and they would get married in a few months. Serah suddenly came walking in and said to Lightning's face, "Lightning. You need a boyfriend!" "What?! Where did that come from?! That was so out of the blue!" exclaimed Lightning.

"Well," said Serah, "I'm getting married in a few months"

"Why do you need to remind me of that? I already know."

"Well, isn't it strange-"

"You getting married to Snow- yeah, that's very strange."

"No, not that. I'm 18, and you're 21. Also I'm getting married before you. Don't you feel sad in any way?"

"No. You know Serah, I don't need a man to make my life complete." said Lightning trying to see the television past Serah's head.

"But Lightning," said Serah, "I want you to be happy and not die alone!"

"I'm already happy being single."

"But before mom and dad died, you were dating like, all the time! Can't you try again?"

"No."

"For me?"

"No."

"Once? Please?" asked Serah making a puppy face.

"… Fine…" After Lightning saying that, Serah's face lit up. "Whew. I thought you would never say yes!" said Serah. "Why?" asked Lightning. "Because I already set you up on a blind date tonight!" said Serah showing a cut red dress. "You say what now?!?!"

"Now, go get changed! You don't want to keep him waiting!" said Serah while pushing Lightning into her room. After waiting, Lightning came out in the red dress- embarrassed. "You look beautiful!" said Serah. "I feel weird." said Lightning bluntly. "Don't worry. You'll adjust." "I don't know..." said Lightning looking in the mirror. Then, Serah noticed something, "Hey, is it me, or is there something wrong with your thigh?"

"Oh," said Lightning, "nothing's wrong. I'm just bringing Blaze Edge with me."

"What?! Why are you taking Blaze Edge to a blind date?!"

"Well, this is a BLIND date. I have to be prepared if this guy is a weirdo." said Lightning as her sister sweat dropped.


Lightning has now arrived at the restaurant.

"This looks expensive." said Lightning to herself. She entered the restaurant looking a bit lost. "Um," said Lightning to the wait at the podium, "I have a reservation. One of the names is 'Farron'." The waiter looks at the list and says, "Yes, right here. Let me lead you to your table."

While she was lead to her table, she looked around at how sophisticated the place and the people were. "Here's your table, ma'am." said the waiter. "Thank you." said Lightning as she sat down. She then looks down at the tableware. 'This looks REALLY expensive.' She then looks at the other tables. She then sees a man with black hair sitting at a table with a blond haired girl. 'That guy must be really annoyed with that girl talking his ear off. Speaking of a guy, where is my date? Does he like to arrive fashionably late? I just hope he's not a snob or anything.'

She then sees a blond, spikey haired man who is very handsome walk toward her table. 'I-Is that him? Wh-Why is my heart beating so fast?' The man comes over and says," Excuse me. Are you the older sister of Serah Farron?" "Ye-Yes." stuttered Lightning along with some blushing. 'I just know my face is red right now!'

"Serah told me that you two look alike; and so that made it easier for me to find you. Oh, by the way, my name is Cloud. Cloud Strife." he said while reaching his hand over. "My name is Lightning." she said while shaking his hand. "So," said Lightning, "how do you know my sister?"

"My friend Yuffie introduced me to her. Apparently, they both set us up with this unexpected blind date." said Cloud. The waiter comes over and says, "Would you two like something to drink?" "Sure. To keep it simple, I'll have water." said Lightning. "Same here." said Cloud. "Yes, sir. Yes, ma'am." said the waiter before he walks away. "Just asking," asked Cloud," are you some type of athlete in any way?"

"Wh-Why do you ask?" asked a blushing Lightning. "Well, I'm guessing that because that you drink water and women at your age would probably buy an alcoholic drink. Also, you have a nice athletic body that is balanced with femininity along with it being beautiful and attractive." said Cloud. Lightning started to blush harder. "Um, thank you. Well, I'm actually an ex-soldier of the Guardian Corps." responded Lightning. "You're an ex-soldier, too? I'm an ex-soldier of SOLDIER!"

"Wow! Actually, right now I have my Blaze Edge with me." said Lightning. "Is that a gun?" asked Cloud. "Yeah. It can also turn into a sword. I brought it because I thought you might've probably been a weirdo or a pervert or something. But I don't need it now."

"We sure do think alike, Lightning." said Cloud. "Why?" asked Lightning. "I brought a weapon for the same reason you did. I would've brought the Buster Sword, but it is too big. But, I brought a pocket knife instead." They began to laugh and blushed a little at each other. The waiter came back and asked, "Are you two ready to order?" "Yes." said Lightning. "Sure." said Cloud. "What would you like?" "Spaghetti and meatballs." both Cloud and Lightning said at the same time. They looked at each other and blushed again. "Sure. It's coming right up." said the waiter.

They both started to talk then the food came. The spaghetti and meatballs were all in one, big bowl. "Excuse me," said Cloud, "we both ordered spaghetti and meatballs." "I know." said the waiter before he left. "I guess… we're supposed to… share." said Lightning while blushing. "I guess so. Let's eat." said Cloud.

They both started to eat the noodles that were in the huge bowl. While they were eating, they both had the same noodle in their mouth at the same time. They were getting too close then Lightning bit the noodle and went back- while blushing, of course! Cloud had the noodle hanging out of his mouth. Lightning started to laugh. Cloud blushed, slurped up his noodle, and then laughed, too.

A man barged through the doors and held a gun at the black haired man Lightning saw earlier. "This is a robbery! I'm mostly here for you." he said then looked at the man. "You're just lucky that I don't have my swords with me, or you'd be scared right now." said the black haired man.

"Looks like there's a commotion going on over there." said Cloud as he turned around. "A guy is trying to rob someone." said a woman sitting at a nearby table. "I'll take care of him." said Lightning. "Good," said Cloud, "now I can see your skills." They both smiled at each other. Lightning walks over fast, not wobbling in her heels. The robber spots her and says, Hey, pretty girl. Leave, or get shot." "I won't leave unless you leave." said Lightning. "Heh. I'm not scared of a pretty lady." said the robber.

"But, are you scared of a pretty lady with a weapon?" asked Lightning. "Huh?" "Which would you prefer: gun or sword?" "..." "Fine. How about both?" said Lightning while taking out Blaze Edge. "What?!" exclaimed the robber. "Everyone, get down!" exclaimed Cloud.

Lightning ran forward. Just right before the robber fired his first shot, Lightning snapped her fingers to use her gravity powers. She jumped over the robber's head while being upside down; thanks to her powers. While being upside down, she shot him the leg. "Ah!" yelled the robber. Lightning landed on her feet and quickly had Blaze Edge turn into a sword. The robber kept shooting and Lightning kept blocking them with Blaze Edge.

The robber has now suddenly run out of bullets. "What's wrong? Ran out of ammo?" asked Lightning sarcastically. "Uh... Erm..." The police suddenly come in. "Put your hands up!" "Here's the robber. He was unable to actually tale any money. I was able to subdue him by shooting him in the leg. Don't worry about me. I'm an ex-soldier of PSICOM." said Lightning to the police. Cloud comes up and says to Lightning, "C'mon. I already paid. Let's go before a fiasco happens." "Sure." said Lightning. They exit the restaurant.

Lightning and Cloud are now outside the restaurant. "You were great in there." said Cloud. "Thanks." responded a blushing Lightning. Lightning looked a little passed Cloud's shoulder and noticed Serah. 'Serah?! What the heck is she doing here?!' Lightning's facial expression showed her thoughts. "Is there something back there?" asking Cloud as he turned around. "I guess not." said Cloud. "Phew. She hid just in time!' "Well," said Cloud, "I really enjoyed this night." "Me too." said Lightning. She took a quick look at Serah. Serah made a kissy face implying that she wants them to kiss.

'She wants me to do what now?!'

Then she gave them the hand movements of "go on, go on."

'Okay. You can do this Lightning.'

Cloud and Lightning are now staring at each other (while blushing, of course!). Lightning put her right pointer and middle fingers to her lips. She then kisses them and puts her fingers on Cloud's cheek. "Thank you for this wonderful night. Let's hang out sometime." said Lightning. "Yeah." said Cloud with a warm smile. "Bye." they both say to each other.

Lightning walked toward Serah with a blushing face. "Lightning, what was THAT?!"

"You wanted a kiss, and I gave him one."

"Not like that! I thought you like him!"

"I do. But you can't force someone to kiss someone else on their first date in a long time. Especially when its a blind date."

"Fine. But can you tell me what happened? I only came when the police arrived. Why did the police come? And what do you think of Cloud?"

"I'll tell you tomorrow."

"Awwww. Okay."

'Cloud. He's really cool. I'm glad I met him.'

I'm about to collapse in this hour of darkness. I'm about to give up and the cause of it is this sadness.

Now I realized I took the never ending path of suffering, I'm walking through shadows and fire. I won't be rescued, because of my stupid pride and imaginary nemesis I'd rather kill myself than look over my shoulder, turn my sight to that helpful hand and give up.

Tears are rolling, what a river of desperation and uncertainty I've painted! My weakness is what I've met today! It's just that feeling, terrible one which talks to you and says… you are not enough. It overwhelms me while I'm in doubt of my strong power of will which has now decayed, hasn't it? Still, I believe, I'm trying to keep my head upright; I'm trying to survive and not to let you know I can cry.

Time's up! It was from the very moment I chose between the wide and the narrow road. I took the narrow darken lane, now it's time to fight. This is it! The shot to prove my strength and my value in gold, the chance to show you what an artwork I am! Yeah! I'm talking to you… WORLD!

I'm about to get my courage back in this outburst of bravery! I'm about to realize I was meant to reach the top, to conquer my dreams.

It’s 3am, and you furiously type out the last few sentences of the 2000 word history essay. Red-eyed, you swear as you continuously misspell words. Every back space is another second you don’t get sleep. You finish close up the last sentence and click word-count: 1957 words. Saving the document, you say a little prayer that there aren’t any typos in your paper, after all, it is due in 5 hours, so you don’t have any time to proof read your work. Then, you become angry at yourself for waiting this late to write the essay. Seriously, you think, I’ve known about this for months, why did I wait until just now to write it. Shrugging, you fall into bed, too tired to change into pajamas. Slowly sleep begins to take over your mind, until something starts you awake once again: World Literature Paper 1. It’s due in a month… You close your eyes once again and sigh: “I’ll start it this weekend.”

Boiling pot brains,
how you toil yourselves!

Watchword, between thinking I count the fingers grow on my days,
and delight in grass children, do watch them flourish
as they tilt their heads to the sun;
yet you, hardly ceasing to breathe,
are engaged solely in the catching of thoughts,
tangled in your grey meat traps -  
I doff my scalp to thee, and hope the exposure not indecent.

Jealous stealing tinkerers, all moonshine thoughts pour from your heads,
but burn brightest when others see;
for you, they lack lustre, and their afterbirth is sorrow.
Wherefore this morass, of such inferior superiors?
Mired in a fen, penned in a bog, lost widely across this wide and subtle expanse
of timed living and free-hand writing,
you are so very fig.

Loligag, I wonder - art thou wiser
than I, poor sprout of gibber wishes,
drinker of tea and lemons beneath a tree’s spread,
whiles you bury in pulp and chew on words,
like worms?

Hello, Roxas, hoping you're ok. How've you been?

I'm so lonely here, no one ever speaks to me. It's like, they abandon me every day just so they can reach their goal. I still don't really understand what they want to do here. Occasionally Axel comes to see me, but we hardly say much. I can see why he's your friend, he's a kind person, he's just a little shy around me I guess. Larxene sometimes comes to see me, but I don't really like her, she's snappy and snooty, she's just a very spiteful person. Vexen never comes to see me, although I'm lucky there, he's real creepy to me. There's still people I don't really know, all I know is that there's a man called Marluxia leading them, who made me his prisoner here. Do you know him?

Oh, listen to me, being so selfish, I want to know what you've been up to. I've heard you've made friends with someone called Xion, how is she? I hope she's nice to you.

I hope you can come to see me soon, I'm really missing you. I just wish I could hold you in my arms again, my dearest. Ever since I've been here, I've only been able to think of you. I really want to see you again, and I wish we could soon but...obviously we can't.

Roxas...there's something I need to tell you...I....no, I'll tell you when we see eachother again.

Farewell Roxas, missing you so much.

"But it's too late to say you're sorry
How would I know? Why should I care?"

Continuing on her way, she soon made it to a graveyard. A lone raven sat on a branch not so far away, staring at the woman upon her arrival. She looked back at it, then held out her hand. The raven did not hesitate to fly over; after landing, she gently pet it.

"Where is she?"

The bird sat there for a moment, then flew off. She followed it, soon stopping in front of a grave. There was a long silence as she only stared, the memories flashing before her eyes. The good, the bad...the absolutely unspeakable. Too many changes had occured; too many for her taste. She put her briefcase down beside her, then touched her shoulder. A burning feeling suddenly occured, stretching all across her back. She growled a bit from remembering what happened, looking away for a moment. Then she looked back at the grave.

"I trusted you."

"Please, don't bother trying to find her
She's not there..."

<sub>I think he knows me. He knows of my stumble-tongue in regards to spoken words in the moment. I can not help but to apologize for that fault; I have never been good with words other than the tangible ones. Even though I have told him so, I'm not sure if he knows.

There is never enough to be said. A picture may be worth a thousand words but a thought can be told in a million ways. A single tongue can only know so many words, and it has always been difficult to find just the right ones that would help him understand, ones that would even help me to know just exactly what I mean. So I tell myself what I think I know, or what I want to think, or know to have thought. I tell myself of the thoughts thought, the thoughts that dwelled, and the thoughts known. Here is what I know.

We are not alone. I can not single you out, because it isn't only you that feels this way. We are not alone. Through your Iris the truth attempts to defy itself. It speaks to you in words that call you a Nobody, a Nothing, a Misunderstanding. Stabbing whispers pierce deeper than the cold blade that drips of your dark blood. Not even the remedy of salty tears can cleanse these wounds, not when they are bound within the depths of the heart. The lies whisper sounds inaudible, calling their mocking laugh, yet there is only one thing to be heard…you are forever trapped in your despair of sin.

This can't become honesty, it is merely depravity, despondency, distress, anguish, misery, sorrow, tribulation, calamity, anxiety, agony…sadness…loneliness. These can speak louder than any truth when you allow it. When you fall to the ground in your own blood, sweat and tears, you're not the only Nobody down there. When you fall, we fall together, in an embrace of anguish, so defiant to ignore the lies that cloud our judgment and perception of what we know as reality, to overrule. We turn to the same truth that murders the deception, the same thought we know as one trustworthy honesty. We are not alone.

The truth our Iris' perceive is the one we share. I will always be there for you.</sub>

CHAPTER 19: I Think Have an Answer

Hiiragi Household, Takanomiya

"Do you understand now?" said Homura softly when she had finished.

Kagami sat in stunned silence. She had listened first with interest, then with horror, then in tears as Homura Akemi told the story. That story was unlike anything she could have imagined, more beautiful and terrible and sad than she had the words to express. Did she understand? It was difficult if not impossible to answer. "I…" She swallowed heavily. Could she ever fully understand the black-haired girl sitting across the table, understand her sorrows, her guilt, her grief? Could she ever comprehend the depth of the friendship Homura had fought to protect, and the one selfless wish that had saved her and countless others from dying in despair? A full and perfect sacrifice for the whole world. The phrase floated through her mind; she had heard it many times before, at the Christian church where she and Tsukasa sang Christmas carols every winter. "I don't really know what to think," admitted Kagami, clenching her hands in her lap. "What you've gone through, it's… It's more than anyone should bear. But… what she did for you…" She drew in a breath, feeling her eyes sting again. "I know you loved her, I understand why... and I understand now why it would hurt to… to have feelings for me, after all you went through together." A shaky little laugh escaped her lips before she could stop it. "H-Hell, I don't even know if I'm worthy of those feelings. I told you before, I'm not that special-"

"That's not true." Homura shook her head. "You're more than you think you are, Kagami, more than I'm able to explain…"

"But why, though?" The question felt somewhat ingratiating to her, but she had to ask it anyway. "After her, out of all people… why me?"

Homura started to speak, then paused, fidgeting uncomfortably.

"No, never mind," said Kagami quickly, waving a hand. "You don't have to say anything more tonight. It's really late, and we should try to get some rest."

Homura's face fell into that neutral mask of hers. The door to her heart had closed, just like that… Kagami found it a little disconcerting. "If you want, I can cast a spell to help…"

"I was hoping you had something like that." Kagami breathed a sigh of relief. "I'll take whatever help you can give."

---

An hour later, washed, changed, and under the blankets, Kagami was still wide awake. Perhaps it was the repulsion effect that Kyubey told her about earlier, or perhaps sleep was simply impossible, magic or no magic. Or, she thought, perhaps it was the warm body next to her in bed, breathing softly in a mercifully dreamless slumber, her face angelic in the moonlight.

Damn it.

For the sixth time in an hour, Kagami turned over to look at her. Right now, her feelings for Homura were so tangled that she doubted she could ever unravel them. She wanted… she didn't know precisely what she wanted. Lots of things, a few of them things that wouldn't help in the least, like embracing her, telling her things would be okay, running her fingers through that long, silky black hair-

Stop that, she thought savagely to herself, her cheeks burning. There's no way you should be thinking of that right now. Show some self-control, for God's sake.

The kiss, though… just remembering it made her feel a warmth inside that had nothing to do with the blankets or the still summer night air. For just a moment, they had left everything behind and come together, melding at the lips, and it was wonderful…

Kagami sighed and flopped back into her pillow, wondering if these feelings sometimes kept Tsukasa awake as well.

---

Takara Household, Tokyo Metropolitan Area

Damn her. It's all her fault.

Desideria stared angrily at her reflection in Miyuki Takara's vanity mirror. She was naked again; clothing seemed too confining right now. From this angle, she couldn't see the wound on the back of her leg, but it was still there. It had closed quickly enough, but it hurt, and the mark remained… which was impossible, it should have faded long before now. No mere wooden sword should have been able to scratch her, let alone leave a lingering scar. Worse still, the mark remained no matter what shape she took, always in the same spot.

Damn her. It's all her fault.

"Did you know, Miyuki?" she whispered to the girl's reflection. Miyuki's glasses, with the Lair and its prisoner still tucked safely inside, were neatly folded and resting on the vanity. "Did you know Kagami Hiiragi was capable of hurting me?" The question was rhetorical; of course Miyuki didn't know. Kagami herself didn't know how deeply her sword had cut. The Second was feeling pain for the first time in her existence… and she hated it, despised it with a fiery passion. However, hatred did her no good now. The mark was still there, the pain was still there, and to her frustration she couldn't make either go away.

Damn her. It's all her fault.

There was only one thing to do. It was dangerous, and it might well blow her cover, but her disguise would be worthless anyway if someone saw the mark and started asking questions…

There was no other choice. She would have to feed.

---

Hiiragi Household

The tinny strains of Pachabel's Canon in D woke Tsukasa from a pleasant dream… something about a large, friendly hippo and a man in a suit saying very strange things about cheese. "Uwaah!" She squeaked and flailed at her bedside table, still half-asleep, her fingers closing around her little clamshell cell phone more by luck than skill. Briefly she panicked, hoping that the ringtone hadn't woken anyone else in the house…

She needn't have worried. A huge, rumbling snore drifted up from the futon on the floor next to her bed. Konata lay sprawled across it at an odd angle, her mouth wide open, a thread of drool hanging from her lower lip. Whatever noise the phone made, Konata drowned it out.

Konata had grilled her mercilessly, of course. The moment they were safely inside Tsukasa's room with the door shut, she demanded details on how she and Miyuki had started out, what led to it, what Tsukasa's first reaction was, and how far they had gone, squealing with surprise and delight at each new revelation. Only by making her swear up and down not to disclose said details to anyone else was Tsukasa able to relax enough to even think about sleep… thankfully, Konata pledged to be true to her word.

Even so, sleep had been hard in coming. Knowing that on the other side of the wall, Kagami and Homura were together, in the same bed… It was hypocritical of her to be so concerned, she knew, but she couldn't help it. Despite them coming clean, despite now knowing everything, trusting Homura Akemi with her sister was still too much to ask. There was something about the Puella Magi that made Tsukasa shiver.

Presently, her attention was called back to the phone. Puzzled as to who could be calling at such a late hour, Tsukasa checked the cell's screen. It was Miyuki's number… The faint electronic light cast a pale blue glow over her face as she flipped it open and read the simple text message: I need you now.

Fumbling with the buttons, Tsukasa slowly padded out a reply with her thumbs: yuki-chan, u ok? what's wrong? (;° _°)

In a few moments came another text. I'm scared. I heard what happened tonight, and I need to see you. I know it's far too late to meet at home, can you please come to a hotel?

Hotel? Did she mean… But of course she did, why else would she specify? Her eyes widening at Miyuki's boldness, Tsukasa typed another reply, even slower this time, as her hands were shaking. hotel? u sure?

Yes, said the next text. I will wait for you. There followed an address, of a place in the next district over. Please hurry.

OK. \(^_^) Tsukasa hit the "send" button and clicked the phone shut. Silently she slipped out of bed and tiptoed past Konata to her closet. Miyuki needed her, so she had to go, it was simple as that. Still, as she unbuttoned her pajamas and let them fall to the floor, a single doubting thought pierced through her concern for her lover: I can't believe I'm doing this.

Quickly she dressed and retrieved her wallet, stuffing it into her handbag. She would need money for the bus… she hoped the fares didn't increase this late at night. Tsukasa stole a backwards glance at her alarm clock as she pried her bedroom door open, praying it wouldn't creak: the clock read 2:28 AM. She swallowed heavily and stepped out, easing it closed behind her.

---

Two Hours Later

"Ahhh… oh God…" Tsukasa's hips bucked, and a wave of bliss spread outward from somewhere below her tummy to the very tips of her fingers and toes, leaving her flesh tingling… She fell forward on the hotel bed, collapsing between Miyuki's splayed legs, ridiculously happy. Whatever doubts she had were swept away by that wave… Miyuki needed her. She needed Miyuki. So what if it was late?

"I'm so glad you're safe, Tsukasa-chan. I was so worried…" Miyuki's voice was heavy, down at her midsection.

Tsukasa-chan. Isn't that nice. She giggled drowsily and patted Miyuki's knee. "S'aright, Yuki-chan. We'll be fine. We'll be okay." Then she frowned, noticing something strange. "Yuki-chan…" she said, "Where did you get this scar?"

"Scar?" There was a sharp intake of breath that Tsukasa didn't hear.

"Right here." Still frowning, Tsukasa traced the long, thin line that ran from the back of Miyuki's knee to her calf. "I've never noticed it before."

The sheets rustled as Miyuki shifted position, turning around. "It's nothing, Tsukasa-chan," she whispered as she caressed Tsukasa's face, but her eyes were troubled. "It's nothing."

"I don't understand." Tsukasa's lower lip trembled. "Did you get hurt? Maybe we should get you to a doc… tor…"

Her voice trailed off as Miyuki's delicate fingertip pressed against a particular spot on the back of her neck. She felt something wet, and all of a sudden the scar didn't matter anymore… Miyuki was all right, everything was fine. Tsukasa's face slid into a dreamy smile as her blue eyes glazed over slightly. Miyuki was making strange noises, almost like she was coming again, but it was all right, everything was fine.

In a few moments, Miyuki's finger went away, and Tsukasa collapsed against her, resting her cheek against her breast. "All better now," Miyuki whispered, tracing her fingertip over her lover's ear. "There's no need to worry."

"No need to worry," repeated Tsukasa, closing her eyes and melting into the other girl's touch. "All better now."

"That's right, Tsukasa-chan." Miyuki leaned down and planted a kiss on her head. She stretched out her long, shapely leg, admiring its curves and now-flawless pale skin. "Thank you."

"Anything for you, Yuki-chan," said Tsukasa, nuzzling her gently. "I love you."

"I love you too. Now, we'd better get dressed… we both need to get home before our families notice that we're missing. We don't want them to worry."

"No, no we don't…"

---

Four Hours Later

"Kagami?"

Her eyelids fluttered. She sat up and stretched, surprised that she had somehow fallen asleep. "Yeah, I'm up," Kagami said, punctuating it with a yawn. "Looks like we made it through the night…"

"We did," said Homura, as if she could scarcely believe it herself.

They couldn't have asked for a better morning. Columns of golden sunlight streamed through the windows, making the horror of last night seem less like reality and more like a bad dream… Kagami could already hear the song of cicadas mixing with faint chopping and bubbling noises… the sweet, slightly greasy aroma of frying sausage was drifting up from downstairs. Someone was making breakfast. "What time is it?"

"Half-past eight."

"Good thing it's Sunday… I don't think I could face school today."

Homura stood patiently by the bedside with her hands clasped behind her back. She was changed into her school uniform, which looked fresh and immaculate as ever... one would think she never slept.

"You don't have to wear that, you know," said Kagami, looking her over with one eye as she rubbed sleep out of the other. "I'm sure either Tsukasa or I have something in your size that you can borrow…"

"I don't want to impose-"

"Stop it. It's fine, just as long as you don't take one of my ratty old t-shirts this time."

Homura fidgeted. "Kagami, I-"

"Wait," said Kagami, holding up a hand. "Before you say anything… there's something I wanted to ask you last night. I didn't really know how…" A blush crept up from her cheeks. "And I didn't want to make you feel any worse after… you know."

"What is it?" Homura tilted her head to one side.

Kagami took a deep breath and forged ahead. "It's about your Soul Gem," she said, determined to get this out. "Is it really… you?"

There was a long, dreadful moment of silence, during which Kagami feared that Homura would disappear again. She could almost see that temptation on the other girl's face… but then…

"It's true," she said, barely above a whisper. Her eyes disappeared into shadow beneath her bangs. "This body…" Her voice began to tremble slightly. "It's a fake, a construct of magic, created when I made my contract."

"And that's why you don't want me or Tsukasa or Konata to become magical girls," said Kagami, understanding at last. "You didn't tell them why, because-"

It was only a slight movement, but Homura cringed.

"Because Tsukasa and I are the focal points, and that would ruin everything, right? But it's more than that, you're scared they won't believe you, or… or they'll hate you because of it. Like you were scared I would… Homura…"

The Puella Magi started to turn around. "Please, don't. Don't look at me that way-"

Again, Kagami started to reach for her by instinct, then thought the better of it. "Homura, I don't care what your body is, whether it's fake or not. When we kissed last night…" Her blush returned, and the words tumbled out in a rush. "It was real. I care about you, not contracts or magic or anything like that! Please, believe me…"

Homura bowed her head slightly. Her left hand rose up to her face; she was studying the amethyst stone in her ring as if memorizing its appearance. "It's confusing…" Her voice was so quiet that Kagami had to lean forward to hear her. "Feeling this way, caring for you… it's so different from how I cared for her… but in so many ways it's the same. I don't-" She paused, dropping her hand and clenching her fist. "I don't know how to do this. I don't know how to act when I'm around you, or when you're so kind to me, and I'm still afraid of what the Demon did to me… but…"

Homura trembled as she turned around and took a seat on the bed, her eyes still hidden. She trembled as she uncurled the fingers of her left hand, and slowly, slowly reached for Kagami's hand. "But I swear to you, I'll try."

Their fingers touched and intertwined.

"Thank you, Homura," said Kagami, moved by the gesture.

The Puella Magi's eyes met hers. "I think I have an answer," she said softly.

"An answer?"

"'Why me?' You asked that last night. I think I can answer you now."

"Ho-Homura, th-that's okay, you d-don't have to-"

"You listened," said Homura, starting to smile, just a bit. It was enough. "You've always listened to me, believed what I had to say… believed in me, even when you had every right not to. That's why."

By now Kagami's face was glowing scarlet, and deepening by the second. It was the nicest thing anyone had ever said to her… how on earth could she respond? "Th-thank you, I, uh… I don't really know what to say-"

Her stomach let out a growl so loud that Homura drew back in shock.

Laughing with embarrassment, Kagami rubbed the back of her head. "… except maybe that we should go downstairs and get breakfast."

When Kagami turned the corner into the kitchen, her brain stopped working for a moment. She had been prepared to see her mother or father, or maybe Inori or Matsuri, or hell, even Konata standing in front of the stove fixing breakfast, but… "Tsukasa?!" She gaped, she couldn't help it. "You're awake… on a Sunday…"

Her sister giggled and waved a spoon in a nonchalant way. "G'morning, onee-chan, Akemi-san. Surprise!"

Already seated at the table, Konata beamed her cat-smile at them. "Sleep well, you two?"

That brought Kagami out of her daze. "Oi, you…" she started, then she sighed and shook her head. "Never mind, it can wait. Where's everybody else?"

"They ate already, they wanted to let us sleep in. Yui-nee-san took Yu-chan home and drove Dad to the police station… I think he's going to help set up a neighborhood watch or something, in case we have more 'delinquents', you know." She clicked her chopsticks together for emphasis. "I think your mom and dad and sisters are at the shrine."

"Kyubey, is everything quiet?" said Homura as she sat down, folding her hands in her lap.

Yes, said Kyubey. He was perched on the counter, watching Tsukasa cook with some interest. I detected no unusual energy signatures. You know… He tilted his head and stared at the pork links that were sizzling in a frying pan. I find it very unusual how you humans choose which animals to eat and which to keep as pets. You eat pigs, cows, birds, and fish, but why not eat dogs or rats? The choice of which meat to consume seems somewhat arbitrary.

"Bleah!" Kagami made a revolted face as she took her own seat. "Please don't be creepy until we've had our breakfast, okay?"

Abruptly Tsukasa burst into laughter, almost slicing open her fingers with the knife she was using to chop vegetables for the omlettes. Everyone stared at her in confusion.

"Hey, Tsukasa, what's up? Are you okay?" said Konata, starting to stand up.

"Hee hee… I-I'm fine… ha ha ha… it's just…" gasped Tsukasa, who had dropped the knife and was leaning over the cutting board, trying to catch her breath. "I never noticed it until just now… ha ha… Onee-chan, y-you and Kyubey…"

Baffled, Kagami raised an eyebrow. "What about me and the furball?"

The answer was muffled as Tsukasa clapped a hand over her mouth. "You… your voices sound the same! You talk so differently, but you sound alike…"

"What?!" Flustered at the very idea, Kagami turned a spectacular shade of beet red. "We do not!"

Do we? Kyubey tilted in the opposite direction, turning his stare on Kagami.

"You know, you're right, now that I think about it!" Looking back and forth from one to the other, Konata grinned even wider and started tittering. "That's so weird!"

"Sh-shut up! Tsukasa, that's crazy, there's no way-"

How very fascinating. Human ears must be tuned to different harmonics, I don't hear a resemblance at all.

"There is no resemblance! Homura, talk some sense into them!"

Homura was lost for words. After giving Kagami a helpless, apologetic glance, she merely sat back and watched, sipping her tea as Konata and Tsukasa dissolved into gales of laughter, Kagami's protests grew louder and louder, the omlettes began to burn, and Kyubey sat watching it all with the same frozen expression.

"Huwaaah~," sighed Konata after they had finished, leaning back from the table and patting her belly. "Gochisousama… that was terrific, Tsukasa."

"I bet anything tastes terrific when you live on chocolate cornets," sniped Kagami, jabbing a chopstick in her direction.

Tsukasa bowed slightly. "I'm sorry I burnt some of the eggs…"

"That's all right, I like 'em that way. So, down to business!"

"Business?" said Homura, setting down her empty bowl. The omlettes were delicious; she made a mental note to ask Tsukasa for the recipe.

"Yeah. I figure we all need to decide what comes next. For starters… what do we tell Miyuki-san about all this?"

The Hiiragi sisters' faces fell.

"Miyuki has a right to know," said Kagami, feeling the happiness of the meal start to fade away as reality set in.

"She does, but…" Tsukasa stuck out her lip. "Yuki-chan's so, well, skittish. Do you think she can handle something like this?"

"I'd advise against telling her unless it's absolutely necessary," said Homura. "The fewer people know the truth, the easier it is to keep what's happening a secret."

"But shouldn't we at least tell her something, so she doesn't worry? I mean, she might notice the four of us acting strangely..."

Kagami looked Homura in the eye. "This is your mission, it's your call."

Homura thought for a moment, then nodded. "When the time is right, we'll let her know… just enough to understand the danger. Let's hope it doesn't come to that."

"Mmm-hmm," said Konata, folding her arms across her chest. "And obviously we can't tell our parents. They'd never understand, and I already gave them a cover story…"

"Yeah, Bomber Bikers of Shonan, where did you come up with that? Wasn't that show on before any of us were born?"

"Shush, Kagamin, it's a classic."

Tsukasa fidgeted, somewhat downcast. "I feel bad lying to them, though…"

"I do too, but it's necessary," said Kagami, patting her sister on the shoulder. "At least there's not too many left… just four, right?"

"If the Second was telling the truth." Homura's gaze grew dark.

"I wish I could have killed her when I had the chance," Kagami growled, clenching her fists.

"You'll get another chance, Kagamin, I know you will. And when you do, I wanna watch you go all kendo badass on her." Konata swung her uninjured hand around in an approximation of swordfighting. "Chan chanbara~! I wish I could give her one myself…"

Kyubey's ears perked up at that, but at a withering glare from Homura he shrank back down.

"Anyway. Let's talk about something more fun," said Konata, with an excited gleam in her eye.

Kagami knew that gleam, and suppressed a shudder of dread. "Oh no, what are you plotting…?"

"Fufufu~," the smalled girl chuckled. "Come on, Kagamin! It's Sunday, it's a beautiful day, and Akemi-san needs an education."

Homura stared at her, completely at a loss. "'Education?'"

"About your sempai, your fellow magical girls!" Konata clapped a hand on her shoulder, making her start. "You've gotta learn about them, it's your heritage! And I know the best place in the world to start you off…"

"Oh dear God," moaned Kagami. "Please tell me you don't mean-"

"Akihabara," whispered Konata, her eyes shining with reverence.

END OF CHAPTER 19

I couldn't do it.

There I stood, knees wobbling, fingers trembling by the door of the room I couldn't bear to enter. It was difficult enough to keep myself from sobbing at the sight of his name on the plate by the door, written by a dying pen with an endeavor to perform the complete opposite of clarification, but I already understood it as it was plainly written. Did the color fade in correspondence with the pace of his life avulsion? I despised these thought spates. My mind would soon be flooded with questions. Why couldn't it have been me? A voice inside screamed as it kicked the walls of my mind, that shock pulsing through to my stomach and almost back up to my throat, but I wouldn't let it, not now.

I had to do it.

I peered around the door into the room, just enough to see him lying in bed as peacefully as he had ever seemed, his silent breathing calming my aching nerves. His back was turned to me; he was clutching the sheets to the point where his knuckles had been drained of all color, but I didn't notice until I was actually paying attention to something other than my own fear. He's not dead yet you idiot, that voice shouted. You still have your chance.

He slowly turned his head. I froze when his brown eyes met mine. They had never before been so dark. Never had his skin been so pale and fragile.

My heart sank when he forced a smile.

"Hi."

It was a struggle to make my way over to his bedside. The grip of reality was beginning to loosen itself of me. "Hi."

"How are you?" He whispered.

I laughed. "To hell with me, how are you feeling?" I asked as I touched the hand that had been so tightly clasped around the sheet. He released it enough to hold mine. I had never quite felt something so cold.

"I don't know. I can hardly feel anything." He laughed. My vision began to blur at the sound of his soft aching voice. My heart was breaking.

His smile faded. "Please don't be sad, I'll be alright." He tightened his grip on my hand. It had never shaken so much before.

"Yes, you will. You'll be just fine."

I stared at the enormous bandage that covered over most of the left side of his chest. It was still bloodstained. I'll never lie to you. I'll never hurt you in a way that will scar your heart. I had promised just as much. I was not always fond of keeping a promise that should have never been made, even if it was against my will.

I was there when the doctors told his parents the news, the terrible 'what-if' that gave me nightmares on cold rainy nights. He had always been there for me in one way or another when those stormy, eradicating nightmares occurred. After this day…not anymore. How could you be so selfish? That voice scolded inside my head. You've lost everyone you have ever loved; you've condemned him to death.

My reality trip was coming to an end, and so did the tears. I could not accept this. It would follow through just as whatever fate intended, and after everything was over I would watch time pass by aimlessly before my eyes without blinking or giving it a second thought. I could not decipher what was real anymore. He would be gone soon, and so I had to convince myself that he had never existed.

"Can I ask you something?"

His voice was hardly more than a hoarse whisper. I forced myself to nod.

"Can I see a smile?"

I don't know what made me so happy, but a wave of pure satisfaction swept over me in that moment. I held his hand up to my face, an icy sensation against my hot cheeks burning from the red of my guilt, remorse, regret. My tears dripped red with shame.

"If there is anything I'd want before I…well…it would be to see your face, to kiss you, and to say a prayer with you. There's nothing that would make me happier. I'm sorry if that was inappropriate."

"No, you're just being honest, it's okay."

The voice inside my head whispered those words over and over again like a curse forever engraved within the most treasured and most despised depths of my memory. I remember the day he spoke them to me, and I had never forgotten them.

My hand was shaking furiously while gripping his, and I bowed my head. Forgive me, God, forgive me for throwing away the gift you have given me.

His smile faded. He knew exactly what I had done.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." My voice cracked through the tears.

"For what?"

"I did this."

"No you didn't. I did. For you."

How could he smile through the agony? Of course, it wasn't his.

"You shouldn't of. You should have let me take responsibility for my own mistakes."

"But you know me, I'm selfish. I don't want to see you hurt. I want you perfect."

I lost it. Both my reality, and my best friend.

"Please don't ever leave me." He whispered as he stroked my dark hair.

I managed a small smile. "I can't. You're always with me. Even when your heart is damaged, I'll always find my way into it."

I would not recall the tears as they rolled down my cheeks. I ignored what I was doing, I had forgotten the spark that brimmed from his iris' as I leaned closer, I could not recall that there really was life in them as I felt his soft, faint breath upon my skin, and I could see nothing, control nothing more. His heart drew me in; my own beat furiously, knowing he was crawling further and further inside, transcending all throughout the entire expanse of it. My free will had been cut off. I was all for him. I gently touched his soft lips with my own. The bond that lasted to infinity.

He knew he was going to die. He didn't care. He had me.