Reaching Forward | Madoka Magica

Mom...

Pain. It was just too much, with searing flashes and aches. It's only been 3 minutes since I recieved that blow, and my head was already beginning to get dizzy.

Homura shoots the witch, causing it to implode with ribbons of the deepest of black. I just barely manage to keep my eyes open as Homura takes the seed, and rushes over to me. I was starting to see spots come across my vision.

"Akira!" she yells, kneeling next to me with her black hair flying around her face. "Akira, are you okay!? Please! Tell me your okay!"

"Can't do that," I mumble, my words slurring together. It was beginning to become difficult to speak; I seem to have forgotten how. "Can't lie."

Homura's deep purple eyes fill with tears, and I close my own so as not to see her cry. Of course, I felt guilty. What kind of horrible person am I, making her cry?

"Don't close your eyes!" she screams, and I open them slowly. To my horror, it was getting harder to see. Everything was beginning to disappear in the white. "Don't go to sleep. I don't think you'll be able to wake up if you do."

I don't say anything; I can't. I don't know how to use my words as expressions out loud anymore. I can't speak. I can only just sit and watch as she tries to press cloth from her torn shirt to my wound, causing more pain to shoot through my body.

"No..." I whimper, that being all I could manage. Homura's eyes brim with tears.

"It's beyond healing power," she whispers, voice cracking. "Oh Akira. I'm....I'm so sorry." She clenches her fist, and closes her eyes. "WHY CAN'T I EVER BE STRONG ENOUGH TO BE THE ONE PROTECTING!?" she bursts, tears cascading down her cheeks.

"I protect you..." I exhale, sounding unintelligent. I was beginning to talk as if I were suffering from stroke. "Thanks for help..."

Homura allows a strangled cry to escape her throat, and I start to feel like I should just go to sleep. I'm tired. I feel a pulling on my eyelids. I need to sleep...

Sleep.

I just need to sleep.

The pain was gone, anyways. It hurt so bad, I couldn't even feel it anymore. I quickly glance over at Homura, then feel darkness start to swirl around me. Muffled sounds above my head called out my name faintly, but I didn't answer.

I was falling.

Falling fast.

Falling free.

I was going to sleep, and I didn't know if I would ever wake up. The strange thing was...

I'm okay with that.

****

When I finally come to, I look around in surprise. I didn't think I'd be waking up, but I did. I also didn't think I'd ever find myself at the place I dreamt of constantly. At least, I saw the woman I seemed to meet each night.

And suddenly, it clicked. This woman was this Madoka Kaname I was told of.

My mother.

"My sweet child," she smiles. "At last. I've had the chance to encounter you in person."

I look down to assess myself, and find that my body seemed to be getting engulfed in starry shapes and figures. So did Madoka's. When I look at her, I find that I was the spitting image. Pink hair. Small frame. Large eyes. Only difference, hers were a vibrant gold.

"M-mom..." I stammer, feeling awkward. What do I say to the woman who I've been hearing so much of-my mother, to be exact-but haven't ever met?

"I hardly think I deserve that title," she frowns, yet pulls me into a soft and gentle hug anyways. "Oh child...I missed you..."

"We haven't even met before," I mumble, more to myself than to her, but she heard me anyways. 

"But I know you," she retorts, and I resist the urge to cry. I didn't know what my particular emotions were. Was I sad? Happy? Angry? All?

"It looks as if we have another visitor," Madoka smiles warmly, and glances over in the other direction. "Homura-Chan."

I whip my head to find Homura, who had tears in her eyes.

"Madoka..." she whispers. "I failed you. I failed. Please...forgive me."

"You didn't fail," Madoka comforts, taking the woman and pulling her into a hug. They embrace each other for minutes, heads on each others shoulders. I watch them awkwardly as they cry tears of joy.

When they finally stop, they seem to realize that I'm still here. I clear my throat, feeling stupid, and Madoka smiles. Homura bites her lip, a guilty expression coming across her face.

"I'm sorry Akira," she whispers. "That's what eats me away the most. The fact that I couldn't protect you, when I promised that I would."

"You've already done so much for me," I say gratefully, and Homura looks relieved that I didn't hate her. I could never hate her. Not when she basically took me under her wing.

"Now," Madoka begins. "Akira. Homura. You both need to decide something. Will you stay here, with me for eturnity? Or will you allow me to reset your lives?"

"I'm staying," Homura decides automatically. "I will be by your side, Madoka. Always."

"Wonderful," Madoka smiles. "What about you, Akira? What will you decide?" She softens at my bewildered expression from being put on the spot. "Whatever you decide, there are no wrong answers."

"I..." I think for a moment, recalling my old life. My parents. My brothers, my sister. I think of Kagemi, and the grades I'd always get. I think of everything I loved.

I do, also, love Homura and Madoka as well. But they are not as familiar to me as my old life. This was too hard...

Suddenly, I know what I'm about to do.

I touch my hair, and feel a single rose in it. Then, I take it in my hand, looking at the delicate flower. It was the lightest of pink, each of its petals as fragile as porcelin.

The most beatiful flower I've seen.