Cinders [Souls Beyond Time Bonus 2]

Hey guys! I've been hard at work with more video content, but I've not forgotten my written work! Hell, this one is especially exciting since it'll be submitted to a competition that might end up with a publishing deal, so I have a LOT riding on it (it's gone through at least five full revisions). Please, give me your feedback; I need every ounce I can get before I send it off with my hopes and dreams. It was written with the intent of needing to know the least about the series (both Madoka Magica and Souls Beyond Time) in order to understand, so please consider it on that level as well as in the greater context of Souls Beyond Time.

Now, onto the show!

O/o\O

Cinders

She took things too far, didn't she?

Sayaka scowled, flipping an egg so the other side of the scramble wouldn't burn. Her eyes drifted to the lone figure sulking on the kitchen table, crossed arms overlapped by a bushel of red hair. She tucked a strand of cornflower hair behind her ear, biting her lip with a huff.

Yeah, okay, she'd definitely taken things too far.

Tonight was supposed to be celebratory, tonight was supposed to be exciting, tonight was supposed to be fun. A day out at the fair with their whole circle of friends, enjoying everything it had to offer, at the end of which she would confess her undying love for the redhead after years of tepidly testing the waters... 

But that hadn't been enough for Sayaka, no, she just had to up the drama, she just had to cling to Madoka, and praise Mami's singing, and drag Homura off to the kareoke stand to sing a romantic duet. She just had to do anything other than giving attention to the one person she had planned her entire scheme around. And of course this wound up biting her in the ass; by the end of the night Kyoko was more than ready to storm off and had it not been for Sayaka's last minute confession the redhead would more than likely gone home and drowned her frustration in chocolate and Pringles.

Of course, that wasn't much worse than what did happen; after leaving together and Sayaka explained her side of the story Kyoko had gone quiet almost entirely, making few if any noises right up until she dropped her head to Sayaka's dormitory table, which left them both trapped in the uncomfortable one-sided exchanges creeping over them now.

Stupid, stupid, she was so goddamned stupid.

Sayaka opened her mouth only to slam it shut and finish preparing the tamagoyaki, dicing the fluff into bite-sized yellow puffs. She divided them between two plates already occupied by small bowls of ramen. Flourishing a bit for show (her apron had frills and she was going to use them, unreceptive audience be damned) she arrived at the table, plates quickly placed and ready for consumption.

Yet the redhead did not stir, not a hair nor errant fang budging so much as a millimeter.

The azulite's brief play at a smile died with the lack of reaction; a Kyoko unstirred by food was a Kyoko unknown. Normally she'd jump at the chance to down Sayaka's cooking. Even on the worst of days her gut had been her guide.

But even after two whole minutes the form did not stir.

Sayaka coughed into her hand, "You're letting it get cold, Kyoko."

No movement.

"It’s gonna go to waste..."

Not a budge.

Sayaka swished her lips and reached for Kyoko's bowl, "Alright, guess I'll just have to eat both..." To her surprise she managed to actually grab the plate and drag it towards her own.With her threat emptied she eased back into her chair, pushing the food back into place. This was more than a little disheartening; she’d take writing term papers five times over if it meant Kyoko’s mood would improve even an inch. Well, okay, maybe four times over, but her point stood.

She sighed, rubbing at a crick in her neck, "I... I don't know how many times I can say I'm sorry..."

A reply finally edged out from the mound of red, though the barrier of hair kept it muffled.

"What did you say?" Sayaka asked. She hazarded forward and lifted the matted ponytail, meeting drawn crimson irises.

"You could stand to say it a few more times."

Sayaka deflated as Kyoko stretched back into her chair, nabbing an omelet slice on her way back up. The redhead's face relaxed for just a moment while she chewed, reverting after swallowing the cooked egg.

"I'll say it as many times as you want me to."

"You'd lose your voice."

"If you won't talk to me what would be the point of having one?"

Kyoko bared her teeth, daggers fallingto the table, "Stop trying to be suave, damnit!"

Sayaka narrowed her gaze, "And you stop trying to be so damn stubborn. I'm trying my best here, how much more do you want?"

"How much do you think I want?!" Kyoko snapped back. "How many apologies do you think I want after all of that? How badly do you think watching all of that hurt, being the butt of all those jokes hurt?!"

"I told you, it was just teasing, I thought you would take it better than this," the azulite countered.

"Well I didn't..."Kyoko whined, her voice drawling to a whimper, "I... You don't play with someone's emotions like that..."

Sayaka exhaled and swept back her bangs, "Kyo..."

"What if Kyosuke did all of that to you, knowing how you felt about him? Did you ever picture yourself on the other end?"

The student choked, fingers curling over the table into halfhearted fists. It was a low blow for Kyoko to dredge him up. Ironically the other girl was usually Sayaka's go-to person for forgetting that long abandoned love, so hearing her use that position as a sword was enough for the azulite's teeth to clench and her knuckles to bleach. 

But any kind of verbal retaliation fizzled when the weight of those words finally landed home. Just imagining Kyosuke berating her for cracking wry jokes made her head spin, seeing him sing a romantic duet with a girl described charitably as ‘unstable’ sent her spine tingling, and any image of another girl hanging off his arm, even his proper girlfriend, made Sayaka queasy. She thought that the atmosphere at the fair would have lent itself to some good natured teasing, but all it did was make her look like she’d gotten swept up in the romantic fancies the event had to offer. All of those thoughts piled into the vat of her mind and she was stricken with fatigue, head slumping as her arms languidly scrambled to catch it.

Almost as quickly those thoughts of Kyosuke were replaced, his visage cut and swapped for Kyoko's, and the nausea only expanded. What she had developed as an emotional defense was now serving only to double down the wrenching boil in her gut.

"I... I... Crap..." Sayaka shuddered, "I mean holy shit... I'm the worst friend in existence..."

Kyoko exhaled through her nose, eyes watery, "No, no... You're just the densest..."

Sayaka dropped her arms and gazed into her ramen, the swirling steam captivating her sinking eyes, "How the hell am I supposed to make it up to you...? Do you... still even want me?"

"Of course I do!"the redhead barked, "You're... I'm not going to give up on you over something so stupid... I just... I'm hurt and I'm probably more lost on this than you are..." Kyoko kicked back in her chair, arms crossed, head lowered. A moment passed and she growled, leaning back over the cooling dishes, "Screw it; eat first, then we'll figure this out. I can't argue on an empty stomach..."

The student allowed herself a wry sigh, her lips heavy as she smiled, "I mean, are we even still arguing if I admit I'm in the wrong?"

The scavenger looked up, her lips already stuffed with noodles by the time Sayaka finished speaking. She slurped I her fill and pincered her chopsticks at her friend, "It'll stay an argument if you let that food go to waste."

Sayaka raised her hands, giving a tepid chuckle, "Alright, alright, though don't be surprised if I balloon out after this. I eat too damn much when you're around..."

Kyoko grinned as another slice of tamagoyaki vanished into her gullet, "And? Just more of you to love. Now shut up and eat so I can go back to being angry at you."

Sayaka sighed and started her own dish, the wriggling python holding her heart in check slowly unwinding as the meal progressed, though never quite letting go entirely. Her reflection stared out of the broth and she gave a brief wonder how anyone could have fallen in love with an idiot like her.

O/o\O

"So... the more I think about this," Kyoko muttered, turning her eyes away from the screen, "I don't think there's really a way to make it up to me."

Sayaka craned her head, sunken lips standing out against the dull glow of the movie. The two had opted to finish dinner and start watching TV, catching an old samurai flick on one of the channels. Despite omnipresent action sequences the film had a number of surprisingly slow moments, leaving quiet drops for the duo to mull over their current dilemma.

"Nothing at all?" the student asked. She let her hand inch across the cushion between them, seeking the warmth of the fiery girl's grip. Her fingers we left empty.

"I just... Because honestly some of the hurt shouldn't be your fault..." the redhead swilled, "Some of this is on me..."

Sayaka cocked her head to the side, her eyebrow borderline skyrocketing from her face, "That sounds kinda like, I don't know, Stockholm syndrome-y? How the hell is any of this your fault?"

"I... Well... I..." Kyoko rocked in her seat, using the momentum to cross her legs and fully face the cornflower girl. "I was jealous, that's how."

"Uh...Yeah..." Sayaka countered, "That was the whole point of the teasing."

The redhead shook her head, "I know, but that doesn't make it right for me to be super possessive of you. Madoka has a good lifetime ahead of me being your quote-unquote 'sister', you've known Mami since high school and even Homura's known you longer than I have. You're... You're close to them and it's on me to not get so riled up when I see you with them. I'm kind of territorial, I know, but I can't pretend it’s okay to keep you for myself."

The azulite's lips slowly sagged as Kyoko spoke, chin sinking into the top curve of the couch. She twisted to match Kyoko's pose, crossing her legs and reaching out to grip the redhead's palms. A brief but satisfying smirk was allowed to spread, "Weren't you the one who always preached the virtues of being selfish?"

To her surprise, Kyoko's fingers curled and the redhead's voice dipped low, "...You know you're one of the exceptions, right? You always have been."

Sayaka felt prickling in the corner of her eyes, subconsciously squeezing back into her girlfriend's grip. She leaned in and brushed her lips to Kyoko's cheek. The redhead leaned in as she pulled back, resting their foreheads together in the dark, "You're really sweet when you want to be..."

"It's too damn easy around you sometimes," Kyoko grunted. "I feel like I’m losing my edge. My dad warned me about succubi, never thought I'd ever actually meet one."

"...Don't succubi do something diff-?"

"It's close enough, don't read into it."

"I'm totally gonna read into it."

"Sayaka..."

"Fine, fine..." Sayaka smiled and leaned back, pulling the redhead with her so they were intertwined among the cushions. "I'll give you the jealousy thing, but I knew you'd be jealous and I played with it. If you want, we can share the blame; we're both goddamed idiots..."

Kyoko paused, her nails biting into Sayaka's shoulder, keeping herself aloft for only a second before she carefully burrowed into the azulite's arms.

"Yeah, yeah I guess we are..." she hummed, nudging closer as Sayaka tightened her hold. A breath, and the thought continued, "Sayaka... I forgive you."

Sayaka pushed her nose into Kyoko's neck, arms constricting tighter and tighter.

"Thank you," she whispered back, letting her words tickle at the redhead's jaw line.

Almost every argument they'd ever had ended with a hold like this; deep, personal, closer than any two 'just friends' should have been. But, with their dynamic change, this embrace felt more deserved, more honest.

"I was scared, you know, anxious," Sayaka admitted, "You'll be the first person I've ever really dated... I mean the closest thing I had to a relationship before this ended with a literal car crash... So I was scared and it made me a little... unstable tonight. I didn't want to screw up with you and I just made things worse by getting riled up."

"Mhhn..." Kyoko nodded into Sayaka's chest. The TV, long since forgotten, burst to life as samurai clashed with samurai, casting the two with the flutter of strobing lights. The redhead lifted her chin and gave Sayaka a half-tired stare. "Hey, Sayaka? Can I kiss you again?"

Sayaka smiled up at her, "You don't have to ask."

Instead of responding Kyoko connected their lips, slowly, yearningly, with the occasional tug or nip at her junior's own pair. A minute passed as the two enjoyed the kiss, a graceless waltz of taste and tongues that only came to an end when they needed to breathe. 

But even without breath Kyoko had something to stay. The minute their faces detached she gripped Sayaka's cheeks, fingers squeezing deep into the supple flesh, "Never do anything like that ever again. Are we clear?"

Sayaka stared into those vibrant red irises, her body catching fire under the scrutinizing crimson gaze.

And then she laughed. Deep and loud and hoarse, she laughed. Even as she felt Kyoko's nails poise themselves across her faceshe kept on laughing, making little attempt to stifle the sound.

"Wow," she barked, snaking an arm around Kyoko, "And you call me melodramatic. That was the best death glare I've ever received in my life!"

Even while speaking her chortle drowning out what little sound from the movie still registered to them.

"Sayaka...!" Kyoko hissed, squeezing tighter.

Almost immediately the laughter quieted, though a few stray giggles slipped through the student's teeth. Sayaka laid her hands over Kyoko's and gently pried them loose, smiling all the way.

"Stupidity is like my lifeblood or something; you wouldn't ask a shark to stop swimming would you? I mean I'd try my best, but I'd most likely end up dead"."

Kyoko frowned, fingers still positioned in optimal face-scratching range despite blue-nailed restraints.

"How about something a little more fair, ey?" Sayaka grinned, "How about I promise to be the best girlfriend I can be, flaws and all?"

Kyoko glared at Sayaka, swatting her shoulder, "Shouldn't that promise be implicit?"

"Apparently not,” the azulite laughed, sinking further into the couch. 

"Sheesh, you're terrible..." Kyoko groaned, falling back down into Sayaka's arms, "Fine, make that promise and I'll match it too... Lord knows I'm going to futz it up somewhere down the line too..."

"I look forward to it," Sayaka giggled, raking her fingers through Kyoko's shaggy mane.

They stayed like that a moment longer, heartbeat matching heartbeat. And then reality set in and Sayaka began to stir.

"Alright, time for bed..."she groaned, flicking off the TV and clicking on a light.

Kyoko sighed and rolled to allow Sayaka an escape, one she took with all the grace of a dead fish. After slamming to the floor the student stood and brushed herself off, giving a few quick stretches before stumbling off towards the bedroom. She stopped, though, and faced Kyoko, whom had sprawled herself across the couch in an alarmingly practiced manner.

"Hey... You comin’?" Sayaka asked, locking her arm in a sidebar pull.

Kyoko blinked, arching her head back over the armrest, "What?"

The azulite motioned to the open door, "Sharing a bed is better than the couch." The savage balked, blood rushing to her face, though most of it was probably from her rather obtuse position. Sayaka groaned and rolled her eyes, "Just sleep, pervert. I don't think I'm ready for the funny business quite yet." She rocked on her haunches and pressed her forefingers together, a dash of pink visiting her cheeks, "But... I've also never had the chance to cuddle, so... You know..."

The redhead scrambled from her spot and was immediately in her girlfriend's arms. An impassioned kiss caught Sayaka off guard, leaving her vision prickled with drowsiness and surprise. Fingers threaded together, Kyoko jumped on her heels, fanged grin radiating like the sun.

"I love you, Sayaka."

Shaking away her stupor, Sayaka smiled back.

"I love you too, Kyoko."

   Sdy