"And you've really found no sight of her?" Emiyo asked, pacing across the room. It was already an hour past the planned rendezvous time.
"…"
"Me neither!" Chō's partner added.
"Okay," Emiyo said, unsatisfied. While it'd been a hectic battle, Miko had been alive when she'd last seen her. This nagging question worried her, fearing for her subordinate's safety. While somewhat flaky, Miko was always dependable.
"…"
This earned a groan, wondering if the other magical girl might have a point. While Seina was a softhearted fool, her less scrupulous team might have stolen away Miko. Heck, they'd somehow convinced Jin to betray poor Miko. Emiyo stroked her own partner, Nyx, while pondering this.
"She should do a full-frontal assault! Demand that Seina returns her!" Kelv said, stomping a paw.
"…"
"I know she's strong, but still! It isn't right to keep her captive!" Kelv said, shooting back.
Strong wasn't the half of it. Somehow Seina had defeated the mad Devil Princess, ending a powerful force in the cosmos. Even the thought of confronting her brought a shiver down Emiyo's spine. How the heck had she gotten so powerful? What a nightmare!
Despite the risks, Emiyo was hesitant to leave this universe until they recovered Miko. The girl had risked much to recover her boss from danger. Emiyo felt she owed something to the girl.
After Yuuka's death, can I return to Starlight Dream and pretend nothing had happened? And a nagging doubt prodded her brain, making her wonder if serving the Devil Princesses was even worth it.
Dammit! I only want to return to my paperwork and figures! Not question my life choices! Numbers never lied or asked questions. They obeyed consistent rules that never changed on a whim, unlike people.
"…"
"Nothing," Emiyo said, sighing. "But we can't leave without Miko. Kelv's idea has merit. I'll speak with Seina and probe what she knows. I doubt she has Miko hostage, but we'll see."
"…"
"That works. Hopefully, we can sort this out soon." Emiyo said. "Let's go."
---
"I'm so sore!" Seina said, dragging her limbs. "Mr. Kiyojiro is too harsh!"
"I think it's a good pain! It makes me feel I've gotten stronger!" Seina's blasphemous partner replied, flexing a leg. Emiyo smirked in amusement at Seina's displeasure. From her hiding spot in a tree, she could hear Seina's latest grumbling about her training session.
But no talk about Miko. Emiyo thought, frowning. It strengthened her theory that Seina had nothing to do with her assistant.
"Let's try the front door." It'd be friendlier and take her enemies off guard. With Seina so sore and Takako elsewhere, Emiyo couldn't think of a better situation to confront her enemy. As her feet touched the ground, the rustling of a nearby bush caught her attention.
"Huh?" Emiyo's leg screamed in pain as a kunai knife slashed across her leg, drawing a trickle of blood.
"What the?" Emiyo stared at the thrown weapon in astonishment, unable to believe her eyes. That was Miko's trademark weapon. What the heck was going on?
"Miko?!" But the figure vanished before Emiyo could get a clean line of sight on them.
"Change Change, Magical Love Genocide Dress Up!" In a dash, she chased after her attacker, mind reeling. That'd been Miko's knife, but why attack her? Why stay in the darkness? They darted around the city, Emiyo always just missing sight of her target.
Then the figure took a sudden right turn, disappearing into an abandoned warehouse. Emiyo wondered if this stupid game of cat-and-mouse had finally finished, but cursed before entering the building. Chō was still back at Seina's place ready to act as backup. If Emiyo entered, she'd be all alone.
Chō can track my magical signature. Somewhat relieved, Emiyo slipped inside.
"Miko?"
"She's dead and buried." A voice responded, coming from everywhere, yet nowhere.
"Show yourself!" Emiyo didn't allow the shock of this pronouncement to show on her features, keeping her stony exterior.
Then a blade slashed out. Only Emiyo's time-skipping powers kept it from piercing her heart. Through the gloom, a colorful figure presented itself for a second before they dashed back after their initial strike had failed.
"Who the hell are you?" Her attacker wasn't any magical girl she'd ever met before. Much to Emiyo's confusion, she bore Miko's trademark kunai knives.
"Call me Bathiko, Gladiolus Glorious!" The girl said with a flourish of her polychromatic dress, dancing through the air in a dizzying display of color. "And I'm here to finish what Yuuka started."
"So, you're with the Devil Princesses?" Emiyo grew more confused, stunned by the similarities between her attacker and Miko. They could be sisters. "I'm loyal to Starlight Dream!"
Another knife slashed at her chest, Emiyo wincing as it drew a trickle of blood. "Like I care about that. Justice is all I care about. Justice for fairykind!"
"What?" Pain screamed across her middle as a lucky throw caught Emiyo between the ribs. She clutched at her wound, dodging another impossibly quick stab. How was she doing this? Even with Emiyo's time powers assisting her, her attacker seemed to predict her every moment.
"My dream is a Starlight Dream free of you scum. Starlight Dream will rain your blood!" Bathiko said, her eyes alight with malevolence.
"So you killed Miko for this dream?" Emiyo said, not hiding her derision.
Whoever this magical girl was, she was clearly insane. She'd pay for Miko's death! But liquid pain across her arm reminded Emiyo that this didn't make Bathiko any less dangerous. Damn, it was like fighting Miko's ability to always find weaknesses. Did they share a similar power? They shared the same pink eyes, at least.
"Enough." Emiyo was finished playing around. She'd show this doomed fool the true strength of a lieutenant of Starlight Dream. Instead of dodging around, Emiyo stayed put, allowing her enemy to come to her. And Bathiko took the bait, slashing forward with her kunai knife.
"What?" Bathiko coughed blood, shocked to find Emiyo's sickle impaled deep in her chest. "But you didn't even move."
"I am the master of time!" Emiyo said, using her time magic to accelerate her healing to the point her wounds vanished. "Nothing happens unless I allow it!"
Bathiko had been so focused on her opponent, she hadn't noticed Emiyo throwing her sickle milliseconds ahead. Only a lucky duck saved Bathiko's neck as Emiyo slashed forward. The girl's eyes flashed with sudden surprise and fear, realizing just who she'd picked a fight with.
But then the girl broke into a wolfish grin. "Of course, you're a lieutenant. You won't be an easy foe. No matter! I'll face a thousand deaths if it means freeing fairykind!"
"So fast." Emiyo's bones rattled as she intercepted the next blow, astonished by the sudden burst of speed. To her dawning horror, she realized Bathiko had only been testing her abilities. Now she was playing for real and sweat beaded down Emiyo's brow.
Even with her time-skipping ability, Emiyo had incredible difficulty keeping up as her opponent pressed her harder. Burning pain stabbed her leg as she suddenly found a knife buried in its depths. No matter how hard she fought, her opponent seemed to know how to counter her every attack.
I'm in trouble. It wasn't hard to discern Bathiko completely outmatched her, leaving her only one other option against the murderous magical girl.
"Oh no, you don't!" Bathiko said.
And Emiyo jerked back in shock as Bathiko suddenly appeared to block her escape route, eyes gleaming in satisfaction. No, she couldn't die here! Not without Miko unavenged!
"What's going on here?" A familiar voice said, bringing unexpected relief to Emiyo.
"Who are you?" Seina said, darting into the warehouse.
"Tsk. You're faster than I thought." Bathiko said, annoyed. To further her irritation, Seina moved to defend Emiyo. While this raised her hackles, Emiyo found no logical reason to protest this action.
"Why are you defending her?" Bathiko said, teeth extending into a snarl.
"There's been enough bloodshed," Seina replied.
"Do you realize what she's done?" Bathiko said. "She's a monster like all the rest! Starlight Dream won't be free until all magical girls like her are dead!"
But Seina only shook her head. "No, my friend Himari taught me something. To stop Starlight Dream, we must change their hearts, not destroy them. It's the Devil Princesses who are the real enemy. Free from their influence, they'll turn for the better!"
This only earned a derisive snort from Bathiko, and Emiyo mirrored her incredulity. Change Starlight Dream's heart? What naïve nonsense! They were magical girls! Their duty was to spread suffering. Anything else would be ridiculous!
"We have the same enemy! We should be working together!" Seina said, adding passion to her voice. "Not squabbling over unimportant stuff."
Did she just call me unimportant? Emiyo thought, fuming. The nerve!
"Whatever! Think such foolishness. You're correct in one regard. The other Devil Princesses must die. I won't get in your way, but don't get into mine! There's nowhere you can hide Emiyo. With my power, you'll never escape me!" With that, Bathiko vanished.
Seina blinked. "What's her problem? Who was that?"
"She calls herself Bathiko. Anything else, no clue." Emiyo replied, leaning against a wall to rest.
"Are you badly hurt?" Seina asked with concern. "Takako isn't far away. She can help."
"No need. They'll heal." Seina's concern made Emiyo somewhat ill. Didn't she realize they were enemies? Emiyo motioned to go, but Seina stopped her.
"Wait, we need to talk," Seina said, stopping the other magical girl.
"I'm not betraying Starlight Dream!" Emiyo said with a little too much force. Seina didn't reply, only studying her instead.
"I don't need your help or pity," Emiyo said, turning away.
"I don't want to see you hurt. Too many people have already died. The fighting needs to stop."
Seina's kindness made Emiyo's insides turn. It irked her that Seina kept fighting to protect her. What did the girl want from her?!
Inwardly, Emiyo stewed, uncertain how to proceed. A brewing fear built up inside her, worrying about Bathiko's threat. If she did instead share the late Miko's power, nowhere in the multiverse was safe. Starlight Dream couldn't protect her. They might ask questions about where she'd been. If any magical girl divined she was involved in Yuuka's death, then death right now would be preferable. Could she even pretend everything was alright if she returned? Besides, could she leave without destroying Miko's killer? Much to her growing dread, Emiyo realized there might be nowhere safe for her anymore. But a sudden thought gave her an alternative.
No! I can't do that! What would Chō and Nyx say? Miko would turn in her grave! But it might just save her.
"If I join your side, would you protect me?" Emiyo asked, her body trembling.
"Of course," Seina said without guile. Dear goodness, the girl really was only a child. But Emiyo knew the girl was trustworthy. She'd be a useful tool against Bathiko.
"Let's get Chō. Then we can talk this over further." Emiyo scowled at Seina's reaction. "Don't look so excited. We're just talking. We might gang up and kill you!" But the threat was hollow, even to Emiyo's ears.
"Lead the way."
"Let's get this over with," Emiyo said, gilding Seina to their rendezvous point.
---
"Yes, I know," Emiyo flinched at her friends' glares.
"..."
"No kidding! After everything, really?" Emiyo's partner said, throwing up her paws in disgust.
"I'm not happy either," Emiyo said, taking a breath before continuing. "They're our best chance for survival and to avenge Miko!"
"They're friends with Jin! She's the one who stuck me in a crawl space for days! It ruined my poor coat!" Nyx shot back.
"She was just trying to do her best to fight evil." Seina grimaced, realizing defending Jin's actions was a mistake.
"I know, poor thing," Emiyo said, stroking her partner's fluffy head. "But bad old Jin is dead. That Bathiko girl killed her."
"..."
"Yeah, who is she? I've never heard of any magical girl with that name! She's one of your lot?" Nyx said, glaring at Seina.
"She's no friend of mine," Seina replied quickly. For whatever reason, Bathiko seemed to hate her right on the spot. What was her story?
Whatever the case, I'll get through to her. Ume listened well enough and became a friend! "But I promise I'll stop her if she tries to hurt you."
"..."
"Likely story!" Nyx said, agreeing with whatever Chō had said. Seina furrowed her brow wondering how she could possibly understand her colleague.
"Regardless, she's dangerous!" Emiyo proclaimed, trying to get the conversation back on track. "Her power was insane! Comparable to a lieutenant, at least."
"Okay, now I'm really not understanding this," Nyx replied. "People that powerful don't appear from nowhere. Even baby Seina here was a chump compared to you when you first met."
Hey! But Seina, for the sake of diplomacy, kept her mouth shut.
"And there was something else." Emiyo grimaced like she'd just bathed in filth. "Somethings wrong. I can't place it. Well, whatever. We will stick with Seina for now."
"Fine," Nyx said, agreeing with her partner. Chō seemed less amiable, but she'd go along for now.
"Excellent! And to celebrate, we'll have a sleepover!" Seina said, bursting with energy. In her opinion, it was the ideal way to learn about someone. It was how she'd become best friends with Takako.
"Sorry?" Emiyo blinked, uncertain she'd heard the other girl correctly.
"Have you ever seen a movie before?" Seina said, undeterred by her audience's confused stares. "My Aiko is a genius at scrounging up stuff many thought lost to time! The recent one she's found sounds interesting, though I doubt you've heard it. It's called the Little Mermaid. It was made overseas! How exotic, right?"
Nyx gave her partner a look, wondering if this girl was for real. Emiyo could only sigh. "Remember, she's only ten."
"No! I'm getting close to eleven! My birthday's coming up in a couple of weeks." Seina said, puffing out her chest. She wasn't a child, darn it!
"I'm putting my life in the hands of this girl?" Already, Emiyo had buyer's remorse over this deal.
"…"
"Indeed," Nyx said, nodding. "After Miko's death, is this really the time for this?"
Seina cursed. In her excitement to make friends, she'd forgotten about that. Undeterred, she continued. "And there'll be apple juice and tea," Those were still rare drinks! Her audience, however, still seemed less than impressed. What a stingy bunch.
"Okay, I guess we'll come." But Emiyo said this without any enthusiasm.
Well, whatever! It's a start! And that meant they were possibly on a path to actual friendship! With Mr. Kiyojiro's help, she'd make this sleepover an event for the ages! It'd surely win them over and turn Emiyo and Chō from evil! Seina couldn't wait.