In the Name of Love and Hatred! [PMMM / LoR]

While Hitomi carefully dries her eyes with a handkerchief, Ai turns to everyone else. "Really, thank you. All of you. For not giving up on me." She then proceeds to give every single member of their odd group a big hug. Starting with Kyoko and ending with Madoka.

Through the general air of relief however, the pinkette in particular is forlorn. She still sniffles softly, all but hanging in Ai's arms. "But I didn't do anything," she whines. "At all. The Magical Girls fought, and, and Hitomi helped you figure stuff out, but I couldn't... I'm so sorry."

"Hey, none of that." Ai pulls back to hold Madoka at arm's length, smile bright. "None of this would have happened without you. Without your power, they couldn't have faced me like they did. I would still go in circles, trying to forget or drown in my own emotions until I know no more. You made it all possible, and I am forever grateful for that."

Madoka averts her gaze from the honest praise. "I guess?" she murmurs. "It just feels like I did nothing. And the power isn't even really mine. Anyone who had it could've done the same thing, right?"

"Just like anyone who has Mami's powers could do what she does?" Ai questions jovially. Then she ruffles Madoka's hair. The shorter girl squeaks and swats her hands off. "Don't beat yourself up about it. I say you did more than enough, and that's what's important, no?"

"Well," Hitomi muses indulgently, "it seems you are back to normal after all. This suits you much better than the last week's brooding."

Ai nods along, idly running a finger over the cross once more on her bow. It returned as soon as the pseudo-barrier vanished. "I like this me better too," she agrees readily. Then, seeing how weary the combat team is, she decides to stage an intervention: "Now, how about I treat the lot of you to a lot of ice cream? You definitely earned it."

At first she gets dubious and dumbfounded looks. Then Kyoko laughs and gets up, an excited Yuma following right behind. "You make it sound like we didn't just fight for our lives four times in a row. Seriously, that dude was something. And there's more like him in the City?"

"Stronger," Ai retorts cheerfully; she pays no mind to the gasps and exclamations all around. Even Kyoko is stumped. "That was just a memory. The real Roland wouldn't die so easily. Or fail to actually destroy your Soul Gems."

A beat. Looks of disbelief are exchanged.

Then Hitomi heaves a sigh and steps to Ai's side. "I do wonder where in the world such a man would live. Or others like him. After this ordeal, it is high time you talk a bit more about yourself. Over ice cream," she adds, eliciting cheers from Yuma and Sayaka.

"Oh, sure." Ai scratches her cheek in thought, a little embarassed. "But it will be a long story. Should I really tell it in public."

"Oh, not to worry. People will believe you are delusional, or talking about some sort of game."

"Okay then! To the ice cream parlour! My treat!"

Yuma grabs Ai's hand along the way, morbidly curious. "So the Red Mist is even stronger than this guy? She must be super strong!"

Her exclamation draws some interest from the group, but also a chuckle from Ai. She has to explain that bit to them as well.

So it is that after a lengthy tale that Kyoko already heard, as well as follow-up questions she can answer only every third of, the team splits up for the day. Kyubey joined them partway through, noting they could not enter the pseudo-barrier once it was created. They do congratulate Ai on figuring out her way forward, though. Alas, even though she smiles, Ai knows there are several things that need doing. They swirl through her mind like flies around a cadaver; the comparison is related to some of these subjects, too.

When she and Hitomi return to the Shizuki residence, both Reiji and Saki get hugs as well. Then Ai sits them down in the living room. The entire family watches a little worried while she takes a few steps back and leans against the wall.

"Now," she starts slowly, uncertain how to address the matter. "You are Yakuza. All of you?"

A questioning glance goes to Saki, who nods wordlessly. Reiji takes a calming breath, hands folded in his lap. "We are. I guess we shouldn't have kept the secret from you after the hospital incident, but at this point it became second nature. I try to keep business away from my family, at least until Hitomi finished her education. She could not have many friends if... this, were better known. Regardless, I apologise."

He bows his head while Ai shakes hers. "No, no. You did right, I think. The way I was, I would have killed you without a second thought. After someone explained what Yakuza do, at least." She heaves a sigh and studies the three; neither seems frightened, but all of them display clear worry in their little tics. Saki crumples her skirt between each hand, Reiji's foot shifts ever so slightly, and Hitomi is openly frowning. This time it is not a part of Ai that wants to kill them, but she wonders if maybe she should. There is no urgency to the thought, merely consideration.

"The way you were?" Saki inquires after a moment, both curious and hoping to break the silence. Ai nods.

"The way I was. I had an... epiphany of sorts, earlier today. A quite brutal one at that." Her choice of words draws an unladylike snort from Hitomi, but Ai continues before her parents can ask: "So I won't do anything to you. But I want to know the truth: what exactly do you do? And how far up the ladder are you, Reiji?"

He meets her gaze evenly for a moment, then nods. "Fair is fair. I'm the man in charge of the Shizuki family. We're mainly investing in local businesses of all sorts. Yes, this includes protection money. We keep the streets of Mitakihara clean of other trash. Due to recent events, we're also expanding into Kazamino before the power vacuum there causes trouble." He keeps a straight face, but Ai winces at the reminder. That does not mean she is distracted for long, though.

"Abductions? Organ theft?"

Those few words makes him wince in turn. He slowly shakes his head. "Rarely, if ever. We used to, but I put a stop to it when Hitomi was born. An epiphany of my own, if you want." He gently pulls his daughter closer, who looks up at him in interest. "I realised that many an unfortunate soul could lose their child like this, even if we only ever go after adults. It did not sit right with me ever since. We do what must be done, but we rarely need to go this far anymore." He chuckles mirthlessly. "Of course, the Kurosawas in Kazamino weren't the only ones who called me weak for it. Thought they could take me. If there's one good thing to what you did, it's that they will think I'm the one who ordered it. And I am planning to imply as much if anyone asks. Might as well make use of it, you know?"

Ai nods slowly. "I don't like it," she admits, "but I can see what you mean." It also tastes a little bitter to not so much as administer a slap on the wrist, but Reiji makes a good case. If only she had given those now dead the chance to do the same. Then again, Reiji is also in her debt. "And I need something from you."

"Anything," he says immediately, only to blink in surprise when Ai tells him.

Over the next three days, she quietly spends the time her friends are in school by visiting others. Kazamino has several cemeteries, and each one had to run double duty the previous week. Reiji dutifully digs up information on every single person Ai killed that night. She can not return them from the dead. The least she feels she should do is apologise.

So it is that a lone young woman is seen across Kazamino. She approaches various family graves quietly, speaks to them with her head bowed, and moves on after several minutes. Every single headstone is magically freed of dust, dirt, and plants once Ai leaves.

On the third day however, just as she rises from the third headstone on her track, a voice snaps her from the whispered apology: "You! Magical Girl Ai! Or Witch, I don't care!"

The shout sends a shiver down her spine. Standing to look, Ai finds herself confronted by a girl around Homura's size. The taciturn girl comes to mind because this one also has raven hair. She wears all black, a silver cross necklace hanging out the front of her shirt. Her short hair is bound into a messy sidetail, amber eyes slightly red. The colour only highlights the bags under them. And in her hand is an equally amber Soul Gem, shining brightly.

"I am Hana Kurosawa," she introduces herself sharply. "You killed my father. Prepare to die!"

Kyubey settled on a gravestone nearby. "I tried to explain this will not work, but she refuses to listen," they explain to Ai alone.

Meanwhile, Hana glows black and is wrapped in shadows. A crop top and shorts of liquid darkness flow around her, then more streamers form into a mace.

Ai just stares at her transforming. The lump in her gut grew ten times heavier. Just like Roland in his rage, she created monsters to follow in her wake. Monsters that hate her, and for good reason. She does not want to fight. But if she does not, this girl will hurt her friends instead.

There is no one here but them and the dead.

---

What do?

[] Try to talk her down?
-[] write-in how?
Weight: x1.5

[] Take her down
-[] Lethally
weight: x0.75

-[] Non-lethally
weight: x1

[] write-in another idea?

---

Kurosawa Hana
Threat Rating: HE
Threat Assessment: Newly contracted, grieving daughter. Wields shadow-themed magic and seems to mix mobility with physical prowess.