I'm not dead.

A familiar voice piped up in her mind.

Miku froze in mid-step, immediately looking down at the body she held.

That's just an empty shell. Don't worry about it.

Something warm and furry brushed past her leg, and Miku jumped.

I have a number of bodies. Infinite, almost.

Red eyes blinked up at her as Kyubey seemed to smile at her.

Kyubey?

Put that body on the ground.

Slowly, Miku followed the incubator's orders, unable to talk.

There was another incubator?

No, was it the same incubator?

But Kyubey was dead-

Glancing down at Kyubey's dead body, Miku's insides churned when she realised what was happening.

"No, you can't do that!" Reaching out, she pushed the second incubator from the corpse. "Why are you eating it?!"

I'm just consuming what remains, the incubator ducked past her hand and bent down to resume eating the deceased incubator. Miku realised that the body was slowly darkening and dissolving, turning into a black, gooey mess as the second incubator continued to eat.

"Ew," Miku tried not to look at the sight. "That's so gross. And what's the point of it?"

Nothing much. With the mess all cleared, the incubator sat back and scratched its forehead with a paw. It would just be a shame to leave it lying around. And it is quite nutritious for us incubators.

"Oh," Miku was stunned. Then she tried again. "Are you Kyubey?"

Yes, the incubator nodded its affirmation, like I said, this is just another body of the countless ones I have.

"In case people try to kill you?" Miku asked.

Just like that, the incubator nodded. And in case we need more incubators.

"Okay," Miku tried not to think of Kyubey getting killed countless more times. Once had already shaken her enough.

And so soon after her parents.

"Hold on, you haven't said a word out loud," Miku realised. "Are you talking to me in my mind?"

If you mean telepathy, the incubator leapt onto her shoulder, then yes. You can reply the same way if you want to.

Like this? Miku asked as she straightened up, beginning to walk in a random direction.

Just like that, the incubcator replied.

Cool! Miku beamed. I have superpowers now.

Don't forget your magic as well, Kyubey's fluffy tail tapped her on her other shoulder. You're a magical girl, now.

Ah, yes, Miku remembered Amaya's furious reaction to her contract. Will Amaya hate me now?

That's for you to see, Kyubey replied simply. Let's go home now.

Okay, Miku turned around. She hadn't walked far from their apartment - just down the hall way and up to the third floor. No one else had passed her so far, making Miku wonder if she even had neighbours.

As she turned the knob to their apartment, Miku realised that Amaya might just kill Kyubey at first sight if she saw it.

Can you hide? Miku thought to the incubator curled up on her shoulder. Amaya might not want you here.

That's no problem, the incubator leapt down from her shoulders. Just leave me out here and I'll find a way to get in without Amaya noticing.

Okay, then, Miku responded, pushing open the door. Through the door to her left, she could see Amaya preparing the pasta, and hesitated.

What should she do? Amaya was angry at her. What if she didn't want Miku to stay with her anymore?

The thought made Miku gulp. Would she be homeless? Forced to live on the streets? Maybe she would-

"Miku?" Amaya looked up, pausing in chopping. "You're back." Without another word, she looked back down to her cooking, ignoring Miku.

"I'm back," Miku mumbled under her breath.

"Lunch is ready," Amaya said coolly, placing two plates on the table. "What drink do you want?"

"Water, please," Miku replied hesitantly, taking a seat.

Amaya filled a glass with water and handed it to her without a word. The two of them ate in silence, the only sounds in the room being the clinking of cutlery.

"What wish did it grant you?" Amaya finally broke the silence.

"Huh?" Miku paused in eating. "My wish?"

"Yes," Amaya continued to eat, not meeting Miku's eyes.

"I...wished I could destroy anything that hurt me or anyone else," Miku admitted, feeling slightly embarrassed. She had wanted power, hadn't she? Would she become one of those power-hungry villains like that?

"I see," Amaya replied. Silence followed her words. Finally, Amaya set her cutlery down on the table, staring at Miku directly.

"Why did you do that?"

"Why?" Miku felt intimidated by Amaya's gaze. She let her cutlery drop to the table as well, but held onto it, as something to grasp.

"Why did you become a magical girl?" Amaya's eyes were hard as flint, and Miku couldn't tell what was in those eyes except anger.

"I was...scared," Miku looked down at the pasta in front of her. "I wanted to be able to defend myself. Or somebody else. I hate being weak." Her hands balled into fists as she remembered her world being turned into a screaming whirlwind of chaos during the accident. She couldn't do anything then.

"It's not a bad thing," Amaya informed her. "But you're 8 years old. It's unheard of. You're too young. How would you expect to defend anyone if you're too little to fight? Eight! That's half my age, and witches are dangerous. They are fatal."

By now, Amaya was standing up, her hands on the table as she stared down at Miku grimly.

"One mistake could kill you. One slip could make you lose your life. And if you die in a labyrinth, your body will never be found. No one will ever know you existed. You're 8, Miku. You're too young to live this sort of life."

"But you're a magical gir-"

"I'm 16," Amaya broke in. "And I had no choice. You could have lived a normal life but I couldn't."

Miku understood what she was saying, but she didn't know how to reply. It was too late, right? She couldn't reverse the contract or anything. But Amaya would only get angry at her if she said that.

"It's too late now," Amaya finally sighed. "I should have warned you more. Kyubey's a bastard."

Miku flinched at such a strong word.

"I'll take you witch-hunting after lunch," Amaya picked up her plate, and moved to stand up. "There aren't that many witches during the day, but it makes it a bit safer then."

"Witch-hunting?" Miku wasn't sure what to be surprised about. The fact that the problem was resolved so quickly or that Amaya was already training her to fight witches.

"The only thing I can do now is to train you so you're strong enough to defend yourself. You've already contracted, there's nothing more to it," Amaya reached for Miku's plate. "Are you done?"

Silently, Miku nodded, leaning back so Amaya could take her plate. She was still overwhelmed by the sudden change of events.

"Well, get changed if you want to, we'll leave soon," Amaya turned to place the plates in the sink.