Day 5
Two days.
Two days of tracking trails, of stalking the city streets, of following faint traces of Magical Girls while striking down wrathful Witches.
It took two days for Homura to find Oriko and Kirika.
Or maybe it would be more accurate to say that it took two days for Homura to place herself in a position where the hostile duo were willing to reveal themselves to her. Oriko would never strike from a position of weakness after all. Not if she could prevent it (and she almost always could). She must not be aware that any position where Homura could fight back would be a position of weakness.
Either way, beneath a grey and cloudy sky, walking down roadways slick with rain... they came close. As close as they dared. Homura sensed them well before she could see them, two familiar jolts of energy running through her Soul Gem. While, to her frustration, it wasn't possible to sense out specific Magical Girls, she knew it had to be the two of them. By this point, Mami was living alone, and no one else would have come from elsewhere to be by her side, not even Kyoko.
Any doubts that Homura might have had in her heart were slashed in half just the same as Kirika Kure just tried to do to her.
"I've got..."
Launching herself from a dark alleyway, the black-clad Magical Girl with long red-tipped black sickle claws bared tried to slash Homura's head clean off. But...
...with a click and a clack, Homura froze time, walked a few steps away, unfroze time, and allowed Kirika to completely pass by her.
"...you!?"
Kirika nearly fell over in shock.
Not so much for her companion. Only moments later, silver spheres, laden with vines and cloaked in a golden aura, came flying out of that same alleyway towards her. Homura, once again, retreated to her own time-space to avoid them, effortlessly. She then pulled out a gun from her shield and started shooting them down once Oriko started attacking with her spheres as a mass rather than individually.
"Kirika!" shouted the white-clad Oriko Mikuni to her companion. "Get back in there, now!"
"Ah, right! You got it, Lady Oriko!"
Kirika went in for another slash, but it was for nothing. Even if this wasn't something that Homura had known would happen, Kirika was simply too straightforward. It might be an admirable quality at another time, but here it made her predictable and easy to handle. Homura made her gears whirl and spin, aiming to stop time once more. Oriko surrounding her and striking at her with her crystal balls was only a minor inconvenience. They could be dodged even without the benefit of time-stop.
And with it...
"Kirika, now!"
...there was nothing-!!
Last time they met, in a prior try for Madoka's salvation, Kirika had the ability to slow time down. She was still no match for Homura, of course, but it was quite an annoying ability to work around. Here, Kirika had gained a new ability. A black mist exploded out of Kirika's body, and her aura obscured her, the street, and everything else. Homura couldn't even sense them out anymore.
This is... so far, similar to what she foresaw, though the details have changed. Perhaps her own sight is not perfect, or perhaps Oriko's own future sight is interfering with it. No matter, all she needs to do is...
"Got you!!"
...go on the attack!
Homura, with her own foresight, knew full well that Kirika would attempt approach her through the concealing black mist. Had she reacted faster, she could have escaped through stopped time and slipped away. Indeed, if she had no interest in settling this matter with the two of them and simply escaping from this battle, she could have done just that. But it would have solved nothing. Oriko, with her loyal Kirika's help, would simply keep trying again and again and again, until either Madoka was dead or they were. Or both, as had happened last time.
Homura had no interest in letting that fatal finale repeat.
So, it was time for a counterattacking push. Get these two out of here and out of her life, one way or another...
Homura stopped time. All she could see was a heavy grey-cloud. But here, in her isolated space, Kirika's ability no longer applied. She was no longer hidden. The blades that would have crashed down on Homura's head still could not be seen, but their pressure could be felt, looming above her.
Homura slid backwards and let Kirika crash down into the pavement.
That sound was all she needed.
More clicks and clacks. Weapons suddenly in her hands – grenades, ready to blow.
She stopped time and stepped away, letting her bombs do the work for her.
Only moments later...
"Gah!?"
...the mist was blown away, as was Kirika. But she wasn't hurt enough to stop, and Oriko was already launching her next attack. They're as persistent as ever. Each time they've appeared before Homura, it's been as another series of obstacles to fail to overcome. But this time, she's striking first. With them out of the way, she'll be able to focus on these mysteries and her Madoka in front of her.
In a sudden flash (to them), Homura appears directly in front of Oriko, gun raised and ready at her chest.
Oriko freezes. So does Kirika.
This is the moment Homura's been waiting for.
"Stop this. Both of you. I don't know why you're pursuing me and I don't care. Leave and don't return."
She did in fact know why, but there was no need to bring that up.
Oriko's eyes stayed wide, glancing between Homura and Kirika. Her breath was short. So, she knew what this meant. Then she ought to know that surrendering was her best way to leave here alive.
But nothing like that happened.
Instead, she closed her eyes and forced herself to calm down, stabilizing the taint in her Soul Gem. She had yet to respond to Homura's demand. Just what could she be thinking about? She has to realize she has no way out of this – Kirika had no way of sneaking up on Homura, and Oriko had no attacks at the ready. So, her only way out is...
"Kirika, do it!"
...giving up-!?
"B-but, Lady Oriko..."
"Don't worry about me!"
Homura stays focused on Oriko, knowing full well that Kirika won't attack if it risks her partner.
"You'd have nothing to worry about if you both left me alone..."
This prompts a response, a hateful glare.
"As if I could!" shrieks Oriko. "I've seen your future, Akemi Homura... you're the cause of a great calamity! You'll bring doom upon us all! I'll sacrifice anything to stop you, even my own future sight!"
Homura blinks, confused. Even her own-!?
And that moment of hesitation was all Kirika needed, as the world suddenly became enshrouded in a black and white thick fog. Homura, choking, backed away from Oriko – or maybe Oriko slipped away from her – regardless, she lost track of the white-clad girl. She then tried to stop time and sneak her way out...
"...!?"
...only to find the gears in her shield completely unresponsive.
She froze.
Gone.
It was gone.
She had no way of going back now.
Her breath caught in her throat.
No.
No. How-!?
How did Kirika get an ability like this!?
Her mind swirls as her breath stills. Panic sets in.
Thus, she barely registered Oriko's continued assault, twisting out of the way of a sphere aimed at her head only at the last second. She flopped over almost into the path of another one, turning away and getting up just in time to avoid it smashing into her arm. The third one is the one that gets her, crashing into her stomach instead and sending back down to the ground.
This pain... she couldn't let it stop her. She needed to find a way out of this!
Homura knows that it must exist. She's seen herself in Kamihama, a place she hasn't been since her hospital visit. It's in her future. She'll definitely reach it!
Now if only she didn't have to deal with all of these
silver spheres-!!
Tense, she barely notices the implements of her growing wrath appearing in her hands. But she feels their weight and knows what to do.
With a mirror in one hand, she swings at the flying orbs. They're all absorbed into it, one by one.
With a mirror in the other hand, she swings again. The silver spheres fly freely into the swirling mist.
She follows behind.
'Oriko Mikuni... I'm coming for your head!' so Homura thinks.
"Lady Oriko! Look out!"
Kirika's somewhere to her right now, and up ahead.
"Ahhh!?"
And Oriko is just ahead, coming plain into view once Homura finally escapes the fog. The white-clad girl stares at her in disbelief, stunned. If it wasn't for Kirika's timely intervention, she would have been doomed.
But as it stood, Homura was forced to stop and clash Kirika's claws with her hand-mirrors.
"Get out of my way...!!" she demanded, as she switched from a defensive posture to an offensive one. It's strange. She's never fought with anything like these weapons before, nor would she call herself much of an expert in close-quarters combat (that was always Kyoko's specialty). But here, none of that mattered. It's like there's a current running through her, and she's a live wire channeling it.
All she needs to do is strike and strike and strike until these two finally fall down-!!
With a precise swing, she smashes her mirrors into Kirika's claws, and then
twists.
She shatters them in an instant, in front of a bewildered Kirika's eyes.
And in the very next moment, Homura presses forward, kicking Kirika in the stomach and towards her
oh-so-precious Oriko. Said Oriko shakes herself from her stupor once she sees her partner in danger, sending more silver spheres out to shield them from Homura's rampage. But they're cast aside, dodged, or returned to sender one by one.
Homura has found her footing and she'll have their heads.
At least, that's what she thought would happen. The two were in danger of Grief corruption, while Homura, enchanted by her anger and unbound by Kyubey's restrictions, no longer had to worry about such things. And two themselves were no match for her. No, if
she hadn't shown up, things would have ended here.
"Magical Girls shouldn't fight like this...! Please stop."
But she had.
None other than Mami Tomoe, having finally overheard the growing calamity, entered the scene. She was in her Magical Girl outfit, of course, and despite the tense atmosphere she also wore a smile. She appeared unarmed, but Mami was never truly unarmed, not with her ability to conjure ribbons and muskets from nowhere. Homura had learned that the hard way before.
Her sudden appearance broke Homura out of her incensed state to mere annoyance.
"...They came here to kill me," Homura stated as calmly as she could. Her body was buzzing with energy still. Her skin itched. Her eyes twitched. Guess this power came with side effects after all...
Mami turned her smile down at that news. "Is that so...?"
"Indeed. I had warned Oriko Mikuni against attempting this attack, but she chose not to listen..."
And Kyubey's sudden appearance atop a nearby lamppost almost drove Homura back into her state of rage. The Incubator, in his deceptive appearance as a white cat-like creature with long golden-eared rings and red impassive eyes, looked down upon them all. That it chose now to appear meant that it must want something from one of them. Or perhaps it sees an opportunity to drive Oriko and Kirika deep into despair...!
"You're the one who chose not to listen, Kyubey..." grumbled Oriko as Kirika helped her up. "Homura is a danger to us all! I told you about my vision and you agreed that something needed to be done!"
"That is so. I don't recall agreeing to you assaulting your fellow Magical Girl, however."
Ah, the Incubator classic. Mislead to succeed.
Homura chose to remain silent as Mami tried to reach an understanding with a fuming Oriko. "Miss Oriko... surely, Miss Homura doesn't mean to cause problems for us. Whatever you saw, maybe we can resolve it by working together? We Magical Girls ought to stick together after all."
Homura titled her head curiously at that. Oh? Was Mami not alone this time? It'd surely be a help if she and Kyoko had resolved their issues already. She'd have to ask Mami about it later. This time, Mami would likely be inclined to see her positively... at least for now. Things could always change thanks to that meddling Incubator. Speaking of...
"Indeed. Is that what's happening in Kamihama?"
Homura blinked and betrayed herself with a curious question. "Do you not know?"
"I do not. A mysterious force bars me from entry. So, I asked Mami to investigate for me."
Mysterious... what? Something powerful enough to stop the Incubator in its tracks!? How could she not have noticed it!? And who put it there in the first place!?
Homura doesn't ask any of the questions burning in her mind, instead allowing Mami to speak. As it turns out, she has yet to find the cause of Kyubey's malady. However, she has run into Magical Girls that call themselves the 'Wings of the Magius' and is currently looking more into them. This weekend, she ought to be able to get actual answers, having been offered a meeting with one of their leaders.
"In the meantime... Miss Oriko, Miss Kirika, if you could come with me and leave Miss Homura be for the moment... please."
Oriko, battered and bruised, gave Homura one last grim glare before accepting Mami's request.
"But don't think... this is over... Homura Akemi... for the sake of the future... you will..."
She's promptly cut off by hacking coughs and searing pain, prompting Kirika to take her side and treat them both to a Grief Seed. They then are escorted away by Mami, but not before she exchanged numbers with Homura. The Incubator departs as well, though not before commenting that they'll talk later. Most likely whenever would be least convenient for Homura.
Homura glanced at her Soul Gem. It was almost fully orange, accompanied only by small sections of dull purple and shining yellow. She wonders briefly what might have happened if it had become fully orange. It was likely a transformation, but would it be permanent...?
She had no desire to find out.
She does, however, desire to have her time-stop restored. Despite returning to her usual outfit, her shield was non-functional. She even waited to make sure that Oriko and Kirika were at least 100 m away before trying it. No luck... this can't be permanent; nothing is when magic is involved. But if Kirika won't fix her, then who can she turn to...?
Well, there's one place she can try.
Kamihama, the anomalous city.
She'd have to return there soon, maybe with Mami by her side. It'd be good to make a genuine connection with her this time.
Author's Note: This was actually done earlier in the week, but I got busy and ended up just posting it now. See you in the next part for a return to Kamihama!