Puella Magi Falsus Magica (A PMMM Quest)

"It's not much but make yourself at home," the odd girl said as she opened up the lights. The interior of the apartment was bare and dull but there was a small television and futon already prepared.

The amber haired girl stepped in and took off her shoes before looking around. She found that her guest was still standing by the door with a listless look on her face. The dark jewel stuck at the back of her left hand becoming darker.

She didn't mind though. That could be fixed later.

"This is your home?" The silent girl asked with a dull tone.

"Well no. It's more of a hideout. You know just in case my house burns," the taller girl said with an embarrassed tone, "So you'll be staying here. Don't worry, I won't leave you alone."

Is that so?

The dark haired girl stepped in but didn't take her shoes off. She looked around at the rather cramped space that was for her use and felt that it could be more secure, better protected... But from what?

The amber haired girl was already filling up some cup noodles with hot water. She left the noodles on the counter before pulling out a small table from the closet and setting it in the middle of the room. It was a warm place, better than the chill that was the outside.

"Hey. Can you hear me?" The girl snapped her fingers to get the other's attention, "I was introducing myself."

"Oh," the dark haired girl replied.

"Right. My name's Yukina. Uchida Yukina and I'm this city's... Santa. I guess," Yukina hummed as she scratched her cheek, "Though, you did say you didn't remember your name so this poses a problem."

"What sort of problem?" The dark haired girl asked.

"I don't know what to call you," Yukina shrugged as she set down the noodles on the table and sat down, "Hey, you should eat. It'll warm your insides."

The girl stared at her before sitting down. Yukina had a kind smile as she watched across the table. It was more like getting a cat to trust her. Though thinking back, it's almost like this girl was cat girl. Distrusting and stuck in a box out in the cold.

"You can call me whatever. I... Don't really remember anything," the girl whispered as she stared at the noodles.

Yukina nodded as she took a bit and started eating. She chewed and swallowed as she spoke, "Well... Let's call you Reindeer for now."

"Reindeer?" The girl frowned.

"Well yeah. I'm not good with names. And I am this town's Santa, spreading joy and cheer wherever I go," Yukina said as she waved her chopstick up the air, "I'll need a reindeer to help me out. Got it?"

"I see. Where is this place anyway?" The girl asked as she looked around.

"We're at a small suburban area deep south of Kyoto. A bit far from my own home but it works. I can always come back fast if I want," Yukina said she set aside her food, "Now I don't know what your circumstances are but I am willing to help. Can't leave a girl like you out in the cold like that. That's just cruel if you ask me."

"I honestly don't know how I got here. I was... At a different place," the dark haired girl said as she held her head, "I don't... Remember."

She looked down at her hand to see the jewel Darken. It was getting so murky that the shine of violet can no longer be seen. However Yukina tossed something at her which she caught on reflex.

She looked down to find a pointed bauble.

"Use it on that gem. It should make you feel better," Yukina advised with a small smile.

How would she know that? The girl had little choice but to do it and when she clinked the jewel and the bauble together, the darkness was sucked in by the latter. She felt... Relieved. Better.

She...

Could see a memory.

"I wish..."

A wish. The girl dropped the corrupted bauble and recomposed herself.

"I... Sorry," she picked up the bauble and handed it back, "How did you know that would make me better?"

"Seems like you had a real bad knock on the head if you don't know. Well then, let me explain... You're a magical girl," Yukina said as she transformed her hand. It was encased in a metallic blue glove, "And so am I. That corruption, if it darkens your gem entirely you're going to die. So don't let it go dark."

"I'm... I see. Yes. I think I recall that information," she breathed while looking down her hands, "I was..."

"Well that saves me from explaining the basics," Yukina said as she crossed her arms, "Still, you doing all right?"

"I don't know. I can't remember anything. I feel like I had a purpose but I can't recall," the girl admitted as she held her shoulder, "It's not coming back. Nothing is. There's no memory."

"I think you should eat," Yukina advised.

"Eat? I don't know who I am or where I am! I... I don't know what to do and it's crushing me," the girl insisted as her sharp violet gaze fell upon the magical girl before her, "How could I be calm enough to do anything?"

"Well... Maybe you should eat first. If you don't know what to do then do something normal. Something that would make you feel human. Eat, sleep, wake up and shower. Maybe take a walk," Yukina said as she met the girl's gaze, "Maybe then you'll be calm. You might even think of a solution. But lashing out a panicking, that won't do anything. You may not be emotive but your heart is transparent."

The girl glared at her before taking her chopsticks and eating. Her shoulders relaxed as she hung her head low.

Yukina simply ate with her as silenced passed over them. But it was a comfortable silence. Eventually the two of them finished as the dark haired girl stared at the cup before her. It was taken away by Yukina and tossed into the trash.

"I've got some spare pajamas here. You're just the same size as my sister so it should be enough," Yukina said as she looked through the closet, "You should sleep while you can. Maybe you'll have a cooler head in the morning."

"Understood," the girl replied in a quiet tone as she soon came to relax.

.....
....
...

The bath was warm. It was spacious and easy to move in. The tub was greatly appreciated as she sank into the water, her dark hair spreading like tendrils beneath her.

Her purple eyes held out her hand to inspect the gem which appeared between her fingers. It was a glittering color of purple reflected in her eyes.

She sighed as she knew nothing. She recalled nothing. She had... Nothing at all.

A good for nothing.

Rising up the water, she grimaced. That was a bad thought. She got up the bath and stepped past the mirror. Her own reflection looked straight back at her. It was her, whoever she may be. Her purple gaze stared right back at her as she placed her palm against the mirror.

Good for nothing.

The shadows of six wings loomed behind her as she pressed on the mirror. The cracks running across her face looking back.