Story 09: Sunshine

"You did it, Homura!" Midori excitedly grabbed Homura Akemi and hugged her. The short haired magical girl stared at the form laying on the ground. Pinky was gone, the insane daemon banished to the ninth circle of hell. What laid there was Madoka Kaname, slumbering to the ochre shore.

She had saved her.

She.

Saved.

Her.

Pinky was definitely gone. Madoka was definitely there. Homura felt this in her gut. Murderface took Pinky to hell, both personalities were rotting there, forever trapped.

Homura disengaged from the hugging Midori and knelt down, wincing as her aching body and seeping wounds screamed agony, but she kept on going. She was Homura Akemi, time traveler, a magical girl, and these wounds were nothing to her. Sliding her arms under Madoka's neck and knees, Homura lifted her off the ground.

Craddled in her arms, safe, Madoka nestled closer to Homura, breathing light. Good. She hadn't disturbed her. Letting out a exhale, Homura turned her attention to Midori. She sported the same wounds as Homura did, but far less in quantity. Homura was the only one that grappled the clawing banshee, after all.

"My hands are full... can you call QB and tell him to bring transportation to Yggdrasil Limited, Midori?" Homura asked her former subordinate now turned friend. Midori, smiling radiantly at Homura, nodded and rummaged through her outfit for her cell. Soon dialing could be heard then a hello. Kyubey was always right on the ball when it came to phone calls.

Homura stared at the person in her arms. Warmth filled her gut, a warm fuzziness called affection as well as Madoka's body heat seeping through. She remained that way, waiting for Midori to finish the phone call, staring at her prize. Yes, all the angst and despair was worth this. Her arms tightened a tiny bit.

No one would take this away from her again.

"He says he's going to bring an armored limousine. I suppose we should go to the lobby and wait for it out front." Midori reported.

"I agree," Homura nodded and turned around. Midori appeared by her side and the two of them traveled over to the nearest elevator. They didn't have to click it open, for the doors were already opening. Inside were Mami Tomoe, Sayaka Miki, and Kyoko Sakura, posing at various angles of ease, all smiling or grinning in their own ways. Everyone was injured, but Sayaka was the worst.

"Is that the Madoka you've told us about, Akemi-san?" Mami piped up, seeing the scooped up girl. Homura nodded.
"Well done, 'Murderface'." Kyoko spoke, making way for her to enter.
"Get in, Midori. I rather be out of here now." Sayaka grabbed Midori, pulling her in and pushing the button. The semi full elevator descended to the lobby.

Bodies lay slumped all over the lobby, blood stained the wall. The doors were smashed open, glass lay scattered everywhere. Getting in proved hard for them, but some ordinance from QB Heavy Industries came in handy. Homura became a believer of the company slogan.

It was mid morning, the sun was shinning bright, and the city looked clean, beautiful. For once, Homura saw things without sunglasses filtering.

"Nnn... Homura..?" Madoka's voice squeaked out, squinting her eyes in the intense sunlight. "Is that you? Wh.. what happened to your hair?"

You laughed, telling her that it was a long, long story.