A/N : Hey guys, just a heads up : this chapter was written in a crazy mood (after all those previous stressful chapters), it's meant for character exploration, with not much plot expansion (except near the end), and also for a celebratory purpose ^^
I want to thank all you lovely readers for supporting my story all the way, although updates are slow. Without you guys, I would have never reached the unbelievable highest rank of 20 in fanfiction. 20!!!!! (It's at 44 now, but whatever) XD Think of this chapter as my crazy happiness mood taking over, and my way of thanking you all ^^ With that said, I hope you enjoy this chapter~

The pleasant sound of guitar strums floated around the humid air, accompanied by the soft humming of a beautiful voice. Under the summer sun, Tera Aido plucked at her guitar strings, playing the song, 'What do you mean', while her best friend, Rikka Sayuki, gave voice to the melody. They sat side by side on the ledge of the Kazamino School of Music and Arts balcony, which was overlooking the city, enjoying each other's company.

"What do you mean?
When you nod your head yes,
But you wanna say no,
What do you mean?
When you don't want me to move
But you tell me to go
What do you mean?"

As the last chords faded away, Rikka leaned her head onto Tera's shoulder and sighed contentedly. "It's so peaceful, don't you think so, Tera-chan?"

Her American-Japanese friend nodded, putting aside her guitar. "Such a day is hard to come by, huh?" she said, with a light American accent. "We should enjoy it while it lasts."

"Yes, we should..." replied Rikka quietly, nuzzling into Tera."Do you mind if I take a nap on your shoulder?"

Tera smirked. "What? Go to sleep on a ledge and risk plummeting to our doom?" She leaned back on the wide ledge, resting her back on the wall. "Sounds like a very exciting thing to do, actually. I can't object to that, now can I?"

As Rikka closed her eyes, Tera relaxed and allowed her mind to drift off, back to the past. Eight months ago, her life was hell. With Rikka falling into constant, dangerously low depressions that risked turning her into a Witch at any time, it was all Tera and Eruna, Rikka's younger sister, could do to make sure that she didn't succumb to the pain and transform. Kureha Chiaki, another close friend, also played her part by cheering everyone up when times were hard with her amazing musical skills. Give the girl any instrument and she would play it like a seasoned expert although she was only thirteen.

But Rikka had her reasons for being down. Her parents were killed after she had failed to protect them from a Witch's rampage, and Eruna, who wasn't a Puella Magi, could do nothing but watch helplessly as her parents were slaughtered before her eyes. Feeling like a failure to her family, Rikka started to have suicidal thoughts, and everything started to spiral downhill ever since.

And for Tera, her suffering was a hundred times worse than the others. But they didn't know what she had to go through to save Rikka. They would never understand, even if she were to tell them.

For who would believe her if she told them that she had experienced a month-long torture that kept restarting and replaying itself? Who would believe that she was 'stuck in the flow of time', forced to see Rikka fail to save her parents over and over again? And if she herself failed to bring Rikka out of the abyss of despair, she would be forced to witness Rikka transform into a Witch and kill her.

Over and over again.

Pushing the unpleasant thoughts to the back of her mind, Tera tried to dismiss her terrible month-long ordeal as a hallucination.

But she knew it wasn't one. It was real. As real as the sky, earth and wind. As real as her own two hands, which were given to her through her wish in return to becoming a Puella Magi.

She stared out into space, listening to the steady breathing of Rikka. Thankfully, time stopped repeating itself in the month that Tera had managed to save Rikka. If she had failed and Rikka had turned into a Witch... She wouldn't be able to face another day of life without ever forgiving herself.

One day, she will find an explanation as to why she was trapped in that month. She had to find out.

And she will punish the person who made her suffer like this.

Tera was rudely jolted out of her thoughts by Kureha and Eruna, who had ran into the room all a-clutter and were squealing at the top of their voices. "The Water Festival's today! It's today!" shrieked Kureha, bouncing onto the balcony to tug at Tera's shirt. "C'mon, Tera-senpai, we've gotta go now before we miss the opening at four thirty, and it's already four fifteen now!"

Rikka's eyes flew open and she almost toppled over the ledge in surprise. "K-Kureha-chan..! Don't go screaming like that, you almost turned me into flattened pancakes!" she reprimanded, trying to look stern. Kureha just giggled and flounced away, now grabbing Eruna's hand and heading for the doorway.

"C'mon c'mon c'mon! It's gonna start!" she chattered excitedly. "I'll get the pails with Eruna-chan, you two just make sure you turn up there quick!" And with that, she disappeared around the corner, dragging Eruna along, who was smiling in bewilderment.

Tera was stuttering in surprise. "B-b-but there wasn't any news about the festival! How can they just announce it like that?" She looked at Rikka with wide, feline eyes, as if her friend could give her an answer. "I know they change the date and time every year, but this is just crazy! They didn't even give prior notice!"

Rikka laughed sweetly, holding her friend's hands gently. Tera's heart skipped a beat, all the indignation in her evaporating. "We don't need to get all upset, Tera-chan. Maybe we accidentally missed the notice, who knows? After all, we'll still be attending it, won't we, my little tiger?" Rikka liked to call Tera 'tiger', simply because she looked and acted like one.

"Y-yeah... I guess you're right, senpai," shrugged Tera, averting her eyes from Rikka's angelic face, trying not to blush. "I'll... errr... just get some more pails, if you don't mind." She hastily got off the ledge and ran to the nearest bathroom, Rikka's touch still lingering on her hands.

"Goddamit, senpai," she muttered to herself, grabbing all the pails she could see. "Your gaze can be a little bit too intense sometimes, you know? Looking at your eyes are like looking into a frickin' abyss of no return."

"Tera-chan?" called out Rikka from outside. "Are you talking to yourself in the bathroom?"

She jumped violently, dropping all the pails. "E-e-eto...! N-no, I'm definitely not talking to myself, nope, not at all!"

Rikka laughed her angelic laugh, making Tera's knees go into jelly mode. "I'm pretty sure you're not, Tera-chan. You need me to go in there and help?"

"N-no need to, I'm fine, totally fine," she coughed, picking up the dropped pails and hurrying outside. "See, I've got it all under control."

"I am impressed!" exclaimed Rikka teasingly, poking at Tera's tough biceps. "By the way, have I ever told you that you have amazing muscles?"

Tera raised an eyebrow and said in a husky voice, playing along, "You have never yet told me that, my fair lady, and I am happy that you love my hideous biceps."

"Let's go, shall we, my handsome Prince Charming?" said Rikka, smiling.

"Yes we shall, my beautiful Princess," replied Tera flamboyantly. And off they went, joking with one another about biceps and pails.

***

"But I don't want to go!" wailed Shika, grabbing at the door post as Akira tried to pry her off. "It'll be loud, and confusing, and claustrophobic, and terrible, and we're gonna drown in the water-"

Akira gave an exasperated sigh, wrapping her arms around Shika's torso and finally heaving her away. "For the last time, Shika darling, you're not gonna drown," said Akira firmly, turning Shika to face her. Her friend whimpered. "And you need to get out of your house. You've been locking yourself in here for the past three days and I'm pretty sure you'll die of inactivity first before anything else."

Yuki barked and wagged her tail, looking at her mistress with hopeful brown eyes. 'You need some fun, Shika, and I need it as well. But if you don't want to go, I can always chase Akira away for you.'

"See, even Yuki thinks you need to go," beamed Akira, although she had no idea what Yuki had just said. Shika hid a snort of laughter by turning it into a very realistic sneeze. "Playing with water won't kill you Shika," continued Akira, "And looking at the state you are in now, you are in desperate need for some fun. You should just forget about your classmates and move on, it doesn't help to keep mulling over it."

Shika hung her head, suddenly very interested in the blade of grass near her foot, feeling the colour rise to her cheeks. Her classmates had always teased her for going to school in old uniforms and using old books and stationery. And three days ago, during a summer class project, they made up a nasty song about her. She had told herself to not take the lyrics to heart, but she found she couldn't. Shika, Shika, timid little deer. Goes to school in rags, never has money for food, her only friend is a dog; emotionless person, all she feels is, well, nothing!

She bit her lower lip to keep it from trembling.

How did Akira find out?

"You must be wondering how I know about this," said Akira, and Shika looked up at her slowly. "I'm your best friend, Shika. Honestly, don't think I don't know what's going on behind that shy mind of yours. You're mysterious and secretive, yes, but your actions are so transparent, someone who knows you well enough would see straight off the bat that something was up with you."

Shika gave a wry smile, asking softly, "Was it that obvious that I was suffering from depression and feelings of inadequacy...?"

"Yes it was, darling... At least to me, it was..."

"God." Shika smiled sickeningly and looked away. "These thoughts are poisoning my mind. You're right, Akira, I need to go and have some fun and forget about things..."

Akira blinked. She never expected Shika to give in so easily, after all that screaming and tugging and convincing just half an hour ago. Seems like she finally hit a sore spot.

Not that she was proud of making her friend feel even worse than before...

"Shika..." said Akira tentatively, "Stupid question, but are you alright...?"

"I've never felt better," lied Shika, putting on a convincing smile. "Now, let's go to the festival before we miss the opening show."

Yuki gave a joyful yap and bounded out the gates, barking back, "Meet you two there! I'm too excited to wait, haha!"

"Wait, Yuki! You need-!" But her dog was already gone. "... a collar and leash..." she finished lamely.

"C'mon, grab them and we'll chase up with her. Fifteen minutes to the opening show, and the park is fifteen minutes away. Perfect," said Akira sarcastically. She made for the gates, then felt Shika's hand on hers, holding her back. She looked at Shika, seeing a genuine smile on her face now.

"Thanks, Akira... For always being there for me..." Shika murmured.

Without knowing why, Akira pulled Shika into a hug and whispered into her ear, "You know I'm always here for you. Don't be afraid to tell me what's wrong. After all, we're friends, and friends carry each other's burdens, right?"

"Yeah... We carry each other's burdens..." repeated Shika, hugging Akira back. "You're the best friend ever, Akira..."

***

Jostling through the crowd to look for Kureha and Eruna, Tera and Rikka arrived just in time to hear the host booming over the microphone, "And now, without further ado, let the Annual Water Festival begin! Activate the fountaaaaains!"

Three jets of water burst towards the sky from the middle of the lake of Kazamino Central Park, spinning and twirling around like intertwined snakes and sending spray everywhere. Water droplets hung in the air like crystals sparkling against the azure blue sky as the people gathered below oohed and aahed at the stunning spectacle.

But the main attraction was yet to come. The strong sunlight reflected into the spray, shooting rainbows across the whole lake in a beautiful formation of archways. Colours sprang to life over the surface of the lake, and the lotuses floating on it were bathed in iridescent rainbows. The jets of water twisted around and the rainbows followed, spinning in circles until the sky was a blur or colours.

Yuki, with a collar around her neck, wagged her tail animatedly, catching droplets of water on her tongue. Shika, on the other hand, was lost for words, taking in the beauty that man and nature had worked together to create. It had been a very long time since she attended the Water Festival, the last being the year before her whole family had died off, and she had all but forgotten how beautiful the rainbows were.

She had also forgotten how wet this festival was, as the jets suddenly turned rogue and started to shoot everyone on the banks with lake water.

Shika ducked behind a few bodies just in time to save herself from being drenched, but Akira wasn't so lucky. She got a full blast of water in the face and toppled over Yuki, who was barking maniacally, tongue lolling out like a demented Shiba Inu.

Shrieking bodies gleefully pushed her about as the chaos of the Water Festival broke out. People rushed around, grabbing pails, water guns and water balloons, filling them from taps, hoses and even the lake itself. And very soon, the air was hissing with steam, streaked with water jets from the lake and flying water balloons exploding over random festival goers' heads.

Laughing happily, Shika evaded all the water that was being flung at her most skilfully, still miraculously dry even though everyone within a hundred-metre radius of her was sodden to the bone.

Water dripping from her long hair, Akira sloshed a whole pail-full of water over a woman's back, only to get a jet of water shot into her face yet again. Sputtering in glee, she scanned the throng for Shika, and soon saw her skipping amongst them, completely dry.

"That girl is unbelievable," sniggered Akira, refilling her pail with lake water, an evil glint in her blizzard-grey eyes. "Get ready for the biggest dousing of your life, Shika. Ahahahahaha!"

By now, Tera was soaked from head to toe in water. Eruna, Rikka and Kureha ragged her playfully, singing in mock off-key voices. "The Tiger is soaked, its fire put out; the cat is wet, it ears are turning red; Run right now, before it pounces; claws outstretched, rip you to piecesaaaaahhhhhh!"

They broke into a perfect soprano scream as Tera grabbed a water gun from a little boy's hand ("Hey! Give that back to me!") and opened fire, spraying streams of high-pressure water at her gang. They shielded their faces at once, hopping on the spot while shrieking. Hooting uproariously, Tera tossed the gun back at the boy (accidentally hitting him in the head) and leapt towards the three girls, the flame of mischief dancing in her feline eyes.

"This-!" she exclaimed, grabbing all three girls by the ruff of their necks, "Is for dunking three pails of water over my head!" With a powerful heave, she forced them to face the lake jets and shoved them into the heavy torrent of lake water, then let go as they were blasted off their feet into the muddy ground. "Hahaha! This is too amusing!" She chortled, slapping her thighs in glee as they glared at her in unison.

"Girls..." said Rikka, wiping muck off of her cheeks, "We've got a tiger to hunt..."

"Uh oh." Tera's smug look faltered and she started to back away from her three friends, who had acquired the garden hose by pure luck when they were shot down ("Oooh! Look what I found!" cried Kureha, wrenching a long hose from under Eruna's shoulders).

"Revenge is sweet, my little feline friend," purred Rikka as they found the nozzle of the hose and shot the water full in Tera's face. "Fire in the hole!" screeched Kureha, as Eruna doubled up next to her from laughing too much.

"Gaaaaaah! Bleeegh! S-stahp! Stahp ahahagaaakk!" whined Tera, floundering around with her arms flailing wildly. "W-water! Water in my nose! Achoooooh!"

Meanwhile, Shika was still amazingly dry. She had noticed her white-haired friend charging at her with a bucket in hand, the creepiest grin plastered on her face. Yuki was right next to her, jowls flapping and tongue flinging drool everywhere. Akira was hot on her heels, hell bent on making sure that Shika did not escape the festival unscathed.

"You can't run forever, Shika dear!" she called out.

"I can, and you look like a sodden mess!" retorted Shika, snickering as she ducked behind a pillar, narrowly avoiding a water balloon.

"You are such a cheek, darling!" marvelled Akira as a water gun shot her between her shoulder blades. "I'm surprised you have some amount of naughtiness in you, haha!"

Shika stuck out her tongue in such a childish way that Akira had to stop and laugh, clutching at a stitch in her side. Oh, just you wait, Shika! I will drench you with so much water, you'll - "She couldn't finish her sentence because a water bomb landed squarely on her head, muffling her shouts.

Tera had regained the upper hand, and she was bombarding her three friends with a bucketful of water balloons (that she had stolen from a little girl) from on top of a small hill, guffawing raucously. She turned away to avoid a shower of water from Kureha, and smashed right into Shika. She was sprinting away from Akira and couldn't stop herself in time to avoid collision. The two crashed to the ground and rolled downhill in a flurry of grass.

"Hey, watch where you're runnin' at!" snapped Tera as they rolled to a stop, groaning. Her eyes then landed on Shika's dry self, and she whistled in wonder. "Dammit, woman, you're still dry. How did you do that?"

Shika's deep-green eyes darted over Tera, taking in her weird clothes (exposed-shoulder crepe top, black leather skirt and combat boots) and unique looks: Fire-red hair, tiger-like amber eyes, stripes drawn over her face and arms... and were those fangs in her mouth...?

"I... err... just evaded everyone," said Shika cagily, standing up and somehow feeling daunted by this tiger girl.

Tera knife-jacked to her feet and cocked an eyebrow at Shika, impressed. "Evading, huh? I could learn a trick or two from you... But surely, you won't be able to evade me..."

A creepy grin matching that of Akira's spread over the tiger girl's face as she gripped the green-head's wrists with astounding strength, startling Shika.

"W-w-wait!" yelped Shika, panicky. "What are you doing?!"

Tera's feline grin widened perilously. "I'm about to show you that you can't evade getting wet forever."

Shika gave a terrified squeak.

Tera surged towards the lake, muscles showing up like cords as she dragged Shika along with her. Shika, who was actually quite strong herself, couldn't react in time to resist Tera's sinewy strength as she was taken by total surprise.

"Let's go for a dip, stranger!" yelled Tera, simpering like a demon. With a last burst of fierce intensity, she pulled Shika forward and let go of her wrists, creating enough inertia to send the older girl plunging into the lake headfirst.

"Now isn't that a whole load of insane fun?" she smirked as Shika came up, spluttering and looking utterly shocked. "So fun that I think I'll join you down there!" And she leapt in after Shika, landing with a huge splash and sending a tidal wave over Shika's head.

"We shouldn't be in the lake!" cried Shika, wading towards the bank and looking remarkably like a panicked deer. "They'll catch us! We're breaking the rules-"

"Hey, hey! Calm down, woman, we ain't breakin' no rules, so there!" She put a sopping arm around Shika's shoulders, and the green-haired girl shrank visibly. "See there, the signboard says 'No Swimming Allowed', and technically speaking, we ain't swimmin' now are we? We're just havin' a good old dip."

Shika nodded slowly, telling herself that this was all a dream and that she would wake up soon enough and find herself in bed, not standing in the lake with a crazy girl.

"You're kinda rigid, ya know, all scared and terrified of breaking the rules and shit. You should learn to relax, stranger," said Tera nonchalantly. "And by the way, the name's Tera Aido, guitar and piano maestro, manga artist and master of mischief, but you can call me Tera. Nice to meet you!"

She stuck out a hand to Shika, who simply stared at it warily.

"Err... this is the part where you shake my hand and tell me your name, stranger," muttered Tera after a few awkward seconds, whispering out of the corner of her mouth. "Jesus Christ, you're dense, woman."

Shika grabbed Tera's hand and pumped it up and down over-enthusiastically, saying in a strangled voice, "Shika Kiyomizu, my name is Shika Kiyomizu. Nice to meet you, Tera-san, now if you excuse me I'll just get out right now and -"

"Shika Kiyomizu? Your name literally means 'deer' and 'pure water', right?" said Tera, eyes shining as she grabbed Shika, stopping her from getting away. "It's a nice name, and it suits you. You really are like a deer – shy and timid."

Shika gave Tera a weary, sideways glance. "I get that a lot, thank you."

"Well, deer, you've met your mortal enemy, the tiger. But don't worry, my bite is actually worse than my roar, if you get what I mean. And I only bite when I need to. I'm quite sure you're my opposite, aren't you?"

"I don't know if my bite or my bark is worse... Where is this conversation going to, if I may ask?"

Tera smirked. "Nowhere in particular. Hey, up for some mischief? You look like you could use some more fun in your life."

Shika gulped, not sure whether she should commit mischief with this girl. But whether she wanted it or not, Tera was soon dragging her further up the bank like a tiger dragging its prey to its doom. They waded behind a large weeping willow, now thoroughly muddied.

"I don't think we shou-" began Shika, but she may as well talk to the air for all she cared, as Tera had cut through her, her voice excited.

"We pick up mud from the base of the lake, pop out the side of this tree and fling them at people, then dart back behind and hide before they see us. Agreed?"

Shika opened her mouth to protest when Tera beamed disarmingly, her fangs gleaming. "Agreed! I knew you would agree, Shika-senpai!"

Before Shika could stop her, Tera plunged her hand into the water and brought up a ball of mud, flinging it hard at a random person behind the tree. The sound of a squelch and a surprised shout told them her aim was true.

"C'mon, senpai – you are my senpai, aren't you? – have some fun!" she tossed another mudball into the crowd.

"Unless you're older than seventeen, then yes, I am your senpai. And... I'm not sure about this, Tera-san. It seems too... wild," said Shika, brows creasing.

"Exactly!" quipped Tera, "It is wild, and what's life without a bit of wildness in it? And I'm definitely your kouhai because I'm only fourteen. So grab a mudball and join me! It's fun!"

"I will not do that!" huffed Shika stubbornly. "Never in a million years!"

*five minutes later*

"This is the best. Day. Ever!" whooped Shika, hurling a massive mudball at an unsuspecting victim. He gave a gurgle and went down with a stupefied gawk. She ducked behind the tree and hugged her sides, laughing so hard that tears streamed down her cheeks.

"I told you it'd be fun!" cracked Tera, pounding her fist on the tree trunk in absolute mirth. "I swear to God, I'm gonna die from too much laughter, hahaha!"

They doubled over, laughing and clapping each other on the back like long-lost friends. Shika didn't know who she was anymore. Standing waist-deep in churned-up water, streaked with mud and wringing wet, she never imagined a day where she would just lose all her cool and go crazy.

But it felt good. Really good. This was the first time ever since eight months ago that she had felt any real joy, joy that was raw and potent and pleasing.

Giggling like primary school girls, they darted along the tall rushes, slapping heavy mud onto passers-by's shoes and tripping them. Snatching up an abandoned scoop, Shika filled it up with lake water and jumped out at the nearest person, sloshing all the contents over her.

She realised a second too late that the person she attacked was none other than Akira Oda, with Yuki next to her.

Yelping, half-scared, half-delighted, Shika dropped the pail and made to escape, but Akira had seized her by the collar, cracking into a grin. "I never knew you had a crazy persona, Shika Kiyomizu."

Throwing herself onto Shika, the two friends fell with a great squelch into the lake, yelling and screaming as they coated each other in mud. Yuki barked excitedly on the bank, not showing any signs of jumping into the fray.

"Yeah! Gut her, Akira! Show her who's boss! Whoops, I'm supposed to supporting you, Shika, aren't I?"

"Hey, I wanna join too!" declared Tera loudly. Without waiting for approval, she was soon engaged in the watery battle, and all three girls flailed and cudgelled the other with mud. It was ten minutes later before they all gave up, floating on the water like corpses while breathing heavily.

"Dangit, you both are strong," moaned Akira, her hair akin to a bird's nest. "I can get why Shika is strong though, she swings a huge mallet everyw-"

Shika gave an urgent hiss, and Akira shut up immediately. Tera looked at her suspiciously, but thankfully did not press the matter.

"So, your name, white girl?" asked Tera, proffering her hand to Akira, who gripped it without hesitation.

"Akira Oda. And you are?"

"Tera Aido, judo, karate and MMA master, not to mention lover of music and all things weird. Nice to meet you, senpai-of-senpai."

Akira furrowed her brows. "Senpai-of-senpai?"

"You are Shika-senpai's senpai, are you not? You look at least seventeen to me. Thus, senpai-of-senpai. Got a problem with that?" she challenged, licking her fangs.

"I'm eighteen, so yes, I'm the senpai-of-senpai. No objections, because you are totally right," said Akira, feeling awed that this girl wasn't intimidated by her at all. Usually, people would think she looked too imperious and scary to be talked to. But then again, it was hard to look intimidating when you were half-covered by mud, with fronds sticking out of your hair.

"Well then, senpai-of-senpai," (here, Akira snorted in disbelief) "and Shika-senpai, I'll be going back to my friends now to continue the watery assault," beamed Tera, hugging them both in a crushing embrace. "If you ever want to stay in contact, find me at the Kazamino School of Music and Arts. I'll usually be there, practising my piano and guitar. You two seem like awesome people."

Shika blushed. "A-awesome? Really?"

"Of course!" tittered Tera, "You just whacked a bunch of people with mud and water, and that makes you awesome, even though you're shy and timid as shit."

Shika flinched at the word. "You know, you should probably tone down on the profane language..."

Tera leapt onto the ground, shaking her head and smirking, "No can do, woman. I was raised with these words around me my whole life. It has become part of me." And she was gone.

Akira took Shika's hand, leading her out of the lake. "Weird girl, huh?" she remarked. "Anyways, let's go home now. We've had enough fun for one day, haven't we?" She flashed her with a kindly smile, and Shika's heart warmed right up.

Even if everyone looked down on her, made fun of her and thought her unworthy of making friends with, she still had someone to turn to. Akira was the closest thing she had to the family that she had lost, and therefore, she would cherish their friendship forevermore. Nothing and nobody would ever get in the way of their bond.

Shika attached the leash to Yuki's collar, and waved goodbye to Akira, water dripping off of her as she headed home. Akira would have walked her back herself, but her parents had insisted on having her meet the boy from the Ishida clan at six in the evening. It was already five forty-five.

Let him wait, groused Akira as she splashed clear water onto her face to clean off the mud. She usually valued punctuality, but this case was an exception. She absolutely hated that guy and he made her wish she was never born into the Oda clan.

Putting all things aside, Akira was relieved that she had made the right choice in getting Shika to the festival. She hadn't seen Shika laugh or smile genuinely since that fateful eight months ago, where her friend had suddenly distanced herself from her for seemingly no reason. She had tried to ask her what happened, but Shika always changed the topic, eager to not go into that discussion.

That day, after fighting Ciel, Shika had continued her story about Kyubey's plans to murder the Demon, saying that Homura was disrupting some sort of balance and needed to be killed. It was all fine that they knew they were fighting for a 'believably good' cause, but how can they commit to something they didn't know half the details about? Shika then described as much as she knew about Homura to Akira, but after that, she clammed up again. Akira was hoping she may start talking about that mysterious event eight months ago, but it seemed she would have to wait.

No matter. When Shika was ready to tell her, she would be there to listen.

***

From a high vantage point overlooking the festivities, Homura Akemi eyed the crowd for the tiger girl, the one whose death would end a part of her nightmares. She had left Oktavia to hunt down the remaining seven members of the Strike Force, and she was sure the Witch would be capable of doing so.

Straining her vision, she finally saw a flame-headed girl tugging at a green-haired girl, sending the latter into the lake before jumping in herself. Could she be the one?

Stealthily, Homura leapt down from her vantage point, the Kazamino Tower, and crept towards the lake, keeping her eyes on the Fire-Singer.

Is she really the one? Homura questioned herself, feeling unsure of this. What if I accidentally kill the wrong person? The assailants in her dream were generally faceless – she could only see their eyes, and their other physical features where always shifting, making it impossible for her to know who they were.

What if this girl was just an ordinary person, having fun here at the Water Festival..? But what if she really was the Pyromancer in her nightmares, and she willingly let her go due to uncertainty?

Hiding behind a building, but still keeping Tera within sight, she had a mental debate with herself about mindless murders and wanting to stay alive for the sake of Madoka. Surely, being safe than sorry would be a better option now, wouldn't it? Feeling increasingly delusional with every second, she finally made up her mind.

She will kill her.

Summoning her bow and arrows, she nervously placed a shaft onto the bowstring, telling herself that this was the right thing to do. Madoka needed her, and she couldn't afford to be killed by three unknown Puella Magi.

Then, the sight of something odd made her body go rigid with determination. All her doubts were erased when she saw the girl, all alone now, secretly breathing fire onto a mudball to harden it into a firm projectile. The soggy ball of earth dried up under the intense white flames that streamed out of her mouth in a fiery deluge.

No ordinary girl can breathe fire.

Heart steeling, Homura drew the bowstring tight and aimed at the unsuspecting girl's head.

One shot. One shot to end her madness...

She let the arrow fly.

***********************

No matter how much I love you all, I am still cruel enough to make cliffhangers XD 

I will also publish a short character analysis for Homura after this.

And I have a crazy little story for you all that I wrote sometime ago when I was stressed. It helps to keep me sane by writing crazy stuff, you know? X'D

So yes, it's a triple update ^^

~SaitheVivana