*yo ho ho*

A hand reached out and grazed her cheek, like many times before.

By second nature, she put her own hand against silken skin and leaned further into the warmth it provided, staring at her beloved.

Indeed, it was not a groundbreaking revelation or a once-in-a-lifetime event. Nonetheless, it never failed to rekindle something within the young girl, bringing her into an almost feverish stupor and flooding her heart with a sudden torrent of emotions.

A rush of nervousness. A dose of adrenaline. A whisper of doubt. A glimmer of hope.

Apprehension. Euphoria. Uncertainty. Reverence.

Love.

Alas, it seemed the only emotion that currently permeated through her core was terror.

"Don't do this to me," she exclaimed urged begged.

"Don't you dare. Don't—Just—" A traitorous sob came out of her lips. "Please, you can't leave me. Not again."

Oh, how cruel was her dearest.

How cruel was she for possessing her entirety, consuming all her will and thought, only to don melancholic eyes and a feeble smile whilst seizing her heart and wrenching it taut and aching and bleeding, without hesitation or reluctance, just flowing and seeping through—

Her lover's shirt, even as she practically submerged her other palm with that grotesque red in her efforts to apply pressure and bandage with what she had, the wound refused to stop bleeding—

She almost didn't catch it, but in all honesty there would never be a world where she dared not stop and listen to the sound of her dear's voice. It was a melodious timbre of sunlight, birdsong, and everything in between. Now however, that heavenly voice seemed adamant on spewing out the most vexing things.

"Stop it," the heavens murmured. "You have to leave—"

"No," The devotee snarled.

"They're still after us—"

"We'll deal with them later. You're the main priority right now—"

"HOMURA!"

Homura stopped.

That was the first time Madoka ever raised her voice at her.

"Please...I don't want this anymore. I don't—I don't want to see you suffer anymore in vain."

A rueful laugh sputtered out from Homura's mouth. "Then what shall you have me do?"

"...Stay.

That's all l...ask..."

Her darling's rosy eyes filled with tears. Instinctively the dark-haired girl went to wipe them away, but she found her unblemished hand intertwined with another. She looked away, blinking back tears, and yet Madoka's hand turned her head and so she was caught in her lover's gaze again.

It must have been mere seconds. Minutes…felt like centuries. She did not know. The passage of time held no worth for her, fruitless as it was.

But she knew that even eternity would not be enough, for it was all too quick and all too soon.

Warmth left the hand that graced her form.

Like a leaf straying from the branch, like rain descending from the skies... the hand fell to the ground, and with it all reason to live.

The goddess had forsaken her acolyte.

No.

She knew better than that.

The acolyte had failed her goddess. And by due punishment, the disciple shall never be graced by her deity's presence again in this lifetime.

She no longer adhered to religion. And yet, she cast her eyes above and cursed out whoever would listen, for what was perfection and divine incarnate was taken from her once again.

"Have I not done enough?" The girl demanded. "Have I not given enough? WHAT MORE DO YOU WANT FROM ME?"

She screamed and shouted and cried out until all was left of her was a husk, an empty shell, and even then.

The gods did not answer.

Well.

The girl's eyes narrowed and her heart hardened to stone. As solemn as one would in a ceremony, in sacred rituals and sanctimonious matrimony...Homura pressed a kiss to her love's forehead and gently closed Madoka's eyes.

There would be time for mourning. There would be time for a proper send-off. But now...

The echo of footsteps emerged from behind. Unsurprised, she turned her head to the herald of girls marching their way.

The so-called heroes that failed them.

And so, just like many times before, the faithful devotee did everything to reach for her goddess against all odds, no matter the cost.