Ranbu Escalation (PMMM/Gaim)

[X] Asked Hitomi to reconsider.

"...Hitomi." Madoka decided, eventually.

The green-haired girl looked over at Madoka, and by the looks of her face, knew exactly where her friend was going with this.

She stayed silent for a moment longer than Madoka would have expected, so Madoka took that as her cue to elaborate.

"...Duke already demonstrated that he can defeat a Magical Girl pretty much instantly." Madoka explained. "It's already bad enough that Sayaka's going to be at risk of fighting him, after what happened to Homura. I know you want to help, but I don't want to see you in danger, Hitomi."

There was silence for a moment, as everyone looked over at Madoka.

"...Are you sure?" Mami asked, from the side. "I mean, the main danger is our Soul Gems, and we will need to come up with-"

"No, I get it." Hitomi interrupted. "Thank you for the support, Miss Tomoe, but Madoka's doing a lot as it is. If it's better for her state of mind for me to sit at the sidelines, then I'll do it."

"I mean..." Madoka spoke up again, trying to think of how to phrase it. "It's... If you think you might be able to think of a Wish that could help, I wouldn't stop you from making it, but your wish right now is just to be in a position to fight. And I don't want that."

Kyubey's tail swished just a touch oddly, and Madoka found her gaze drawn back towards it. The creature was staring at her, but didn't make any noise.

"...I can't say I'm happy about this, though." Hitomi admitted. "Madoka... I know you don't want to see me in any danger. You understand, then, that I feel the same way?"

"...Yeah." Madoka admitted. "I'm being selfish, aren't I? Making you worry too. But... I'm already involved. I have a Driver that doesn't work for anyone but me. If I stepped down, that's one belt that's become useless. You aren't involved yet, Hitomi. Not really."

"...Well now I'm feeling kind of guilty." Sayaka spoke up, from the side. "Hope I don't worry you too much when this really gets started, right, Madoka?"

Madoka took a moment, to think of her reply to that.

Sayaka probably didn't mean anything by it, but now Madoka couldn't help but think of it. Sayaka was involved. She was going to end up in a position where, if things go wrong, she could end up fighting Duke or Zangetsu. Both of which were likely to...

No, don't think about it.

And... Sayaka probably hadn't intended to worsen Madoka's mood when she had spoken, so for now, Madoka may as well hide that, and not bring down Sayaka's mood in turn.

"Hopefully." Madoka replied, forcing a smile. "Promise not to worry too much about me either?"

"Of course." Sayaka replied.

"So, what is the plan for today, then?" Hitomi asked. "Madoka intended to talk with Team Baron, I believe?"

Madoka nodded. "I want to get Kumon on our side, at least. They have an Armoured Rider. Plus, they always seemed to have the best Lockseeds before I got the Strawberry. They have to be earning their Lockseeds from Sid somehow. If they have enough money to buy the top of the range Lockseeds, maybe we can get some more if we team up with them."

"Sayaka should spend the day with me." Mami spoke up, from the side. "We'll hunt some Witches. I can teach Sayaka the basics of being a Magical Girl."

"And that leaves just me, then?" Hitomi asked, sadly. "I can hardly go around challenging people. Madoka needs our one good Lockseed."

"Perhaps I could be of some assistance." Kyubey spoke up, from his perch. "Lockseed Dealer Sid is willing to trade Lockseeds for monetary gain, and does not care for the source of the payment. There are certain recently deceased people in the city who's deaths have not been reported yet. While it will be suspicious eventually, it will also be impossible to trace, if their bank accounts had large sums of money withdrawn suddenly."

"...Isn't that fraud?" Sayaka asked. "I mean, you're saying their dead, but-"

"The deceased do not have anyone related to them desperately in need of the money, and when suspicions are raised, the banks are likely to cover the loss of any relatives of the deceased to a meaningful degree. And if it is to oppose Yggdrassil, any minor advantage may be necessary."

"...I'm not sure how to feel about how easy it is for you to just scam some money." Sayaka continued, frowning.

"If you are concerned with having to handle the money, I could manipulate the accounts into making a payment towards a former soldier who might be convinced to do some mercenary wo-"

"I prefer the Lockseed idea." Hitomi spoke up, suddenly. "Not the least because a mercenary would probably be able to be bought out by Yggdrasil."

"And in what world is that better?" Sayaka asked, before shaking her head. "Ugh. If you can make sure nobody ends up in a bad state over this, I'm fine with it, I guess."

"So, that's everyone, then?" Madoka asked, looking around. "Mami and Sayaka hunt Witches, Hitomi and Kyubey get money to buy Lockseeds, and I deal with Team Baron."

"That sounds like a plan, then." Mami noted. "If anything goes wrong for anyone, just think about it really loudly and Kyubey will pick it up. Madoka, especially. If Kumon starts another fight, just call for me and I'll hurry over."

"...I don't know." Madoka admitted. "I feel like, even if it comes to a fight, I might be able to convince Kumon to co-ordinate his efforts against Yggdrasil with ours, as long as I don't show weakness."

"Hm." Mami mused. "I suppose there is something to be said, for playing along with his philosiphy. That said, wouldn't it work just as well to prove him wrong? After all, even if he sees himself as strong and you as weak, if you can call on someone, or multiple someones, who are even stronger? I don't think that really counts as weakness, after that. There's strength in having friends who can help you out, I feel."

Madoka blinked, and smiled.

"Hopefully, it doesn't come to that." She stated. "But... I'll keep it in mi-"

The school bell blared suddenly, cutting Madoka off as lunch time came to an end.

"...Oh dear." Mami noted. "We didn't have anything to eat, did we?"

"You did not consume anything." Kyubey confirmed.

"We really shouldn't make that a habit..." The older girl sighed. "Oh well. Class is beginning, now."

Madoka nodded, as she turned away from the group. Then, she paused.

"It occurs to me." She noted. "That I have no idea where I could find Team Baron."

"That issue is easily resolved." Kyubey spoke up. "One of the members of Team Baron is younger than the rest, and is just the right age to still be in high school. I will direct you towards him when school ends, and you merely need to follow him."

...That worked. Even if it felt kind of stalker-ish.

But with that done, the plan was made.

"Just keeping in touch." Madoka broadcasted, as she stood out the front of the building. "I've followed the Baron member to what I assume is their base. Going in now."

"Be safe." Sayaka and Hitomi chimed in, in unison. A moment of silence passed, before Madoka heard a vague mental chuckle.

Putting that aside for now, she stepped into the building, and entered. The building she stepped into was one big room, from the looks of things, and Madoka took a breath as the door creaked from her entrance.

Team Baron turned towards the door as Madoka walked in, and Madoka decided to act before they could.

"Kumon Kaito." She called, looking into the group. There he was, sitting on a chair in the middle, shuffling a deck of cards. "There you are."

"Kaname." Kumon replied, putting the deck of cards down. He stood from his seat, and drew a card from the top of the deck.

"What are you doing here?" The boy Madoka had followed called out. "Not satisfied with yesterday? Need Kaito to beat you up again, little-"

"Peko." Another boy said, putting a hand on the previous speaker's shoulder. "Let them play it out."

The first boy looked like he was going to say something, but Madoka decided to speak again before he could.

"You were in the forest, Kumon." Madoka continued. If all went well, she was hoping to get all of Team Baron behind her after this, so there was no point beating around the bush. "You fought the Armoured Rider who was already there. And I'm guessing that you didn't appreciate the way he beat you."

The boy that had been called Peko stepped forward again, an angry expression on his face, but Kumon held his hand up towards him, and the boy stopped.

"So you intend to fight the white Armoured Rider." Kumon noted. "Explain."

...He wouldn't have known much, would he?

"He's called Zangetsu." Madoka explained. "One of two Armoured Riders who work for Yggdrasil. The other being Duke."

"Yggdrasil?" One of the members of Team Baron in the background asked. The rest of the team discussed it for a moment, before Madoka continued on.

"Yggdrasil made the Drivers." Madoka explained. "I don't know why, but Sid's on their payroll. It's some kind of conspiracy, and they're using us, the Beat Riders, for something."

Kumon spun the card in his hand between two fingers, as he spoke. "I saw how you acted in the forest. You disappeared when this 'Zangetsu' appeared. You and your friend."

"And that was a mistake that got her captured." Madoka explained, laying all her cards on the table. "Yggdrasil wants something out of Magical Girls too. The one you didn't see, Duke, he has a sword which knocks Magical Girls out if he hits them right. One tap, they're out. They got Akemi, and now I'm going to save her."

Madoka stared Kumon right in the eye, as she continued.

"I'm here because you're the other Beat Rider with a Driver." Madoka continued. "And you saw Zangetsu. I've already found some people who are going to help me save Homura, and if you're going to face Zangetsu, we would be better together. Or, at least, if we coordinated our efforts."

Kumon met Madoka's gaze, as he stopped spinning the card between his fingers.

"You seek an alliance." He recapped, putting his empty hand in his pocket. "And why, exactly, should I consider it? You are hardly a worthwhile ally. You are too weak to be worth my time."

"I nearly beat you in the forest." Madoka interrupted. "I'm-"

Kumon flung the card in his hand, and the window behind Madoka shattered. The pink haired girl jumped away with it, as her head turned on instinct to watch the edge of the card cleave through glass like it was nothing.

...What.

Madoka turned back to Team Baron, and stared at Kaito's hand.

How had he thrown a playing card with that much force? With those results?

"Most would consider that a hostile act." Kumon explained, as he put his other hand in a pocket. "Or, at least, be angry. Question the necessity of the act, wonder what would have happened if they had been hit, demand to know my intentions. You have not spoken yet, Kaname. Your will to act is too easily overpowered by something you cannot understand."

He pulled his hands out of his pockets, revealing two Lockseeds. Pineapple, and Mango.

"You lack the strength to be a worthwhile ally, Kaname." Kumon Kaito declared. "Your Driver gives you the power to fight, but it is wasted on you. You lack the strength to make use of it. Even your will to fight Yggdrasil has nothing to do with your own strength. If the Magical Girl was not being held captive, you would never be opposing Yggdrasil, and we would not be having this conversation."

He stepped forward, still several metres from Madoka, but close enough for it to be clear that he had his Driver on his waist, underneath his coat. Madoka had hers on as well, and both Beat Riders already had their Lockseeds inserted, ready to be activated.

"You want to consolidate your power behind mine, to fight Yggdrasil?" Kumon asked. "Then become my vassal. Pledge loyalty to me. Team Berry would be subservient to Team Baron, and you would do as I command in fighting Yggdrasil. You would get your Lockseeds from me, rather than Sid. You will not be able to fight Yggdrasil as weak as you are, so become an extension of my resistance."

Madoka stared at Kaito, stunned for the moment.

Was he...

Was he actually refusing to help, unless Madoka pledges to serve him?

What the hell would that even mean? Beyond letting him be the leader in organising how Yggdrasil was fought. It...

Well, it was exactly the kind of thing that would appease his own ego and philosophy, perhaps. The only other Armoured Rider amongst the Beat Riders taking a knee against his strength, that would be the kind of thing Kumon Kaito would strive for.

...Going along with it would be the easiest thing to do here. There'd be some down side, he'd probably make Madoka do things she didn't want to do, and who knows how Madoka's friends might react. But it'd still be enough to get Armoured Rider Baron fighting Yggdrasil, alongside the rest of the force Madoka gathered.

...It...

[X] ...It didn't mean anything, really. If it meant saving Homura sooner, Madoka didn't care if she looked weak to him. Pledge loyalty.
[X] ...It was a dumb idea. Kumon Kaito only respects strength. If he doubted Madoka's, she'd have to give him a demonstration. Attack.
[X] ...Kaito was too unreasonable. If he was going to make demands like this, there was no point talking with him. Leave.