Mika dropped to her knees, oblivious to the red that pooled on the ground, that now stained her legs and the hem of her dress. Her sword fell from her hands, landing with a splash before transforming back to its staff form. As quickly as Mika had dispatched of the demon, she had forgotten it, forgotten the way its head fell from its body, forgotten the feeling of power that sizzled in her veins as her blow struck home. All thoughts of demons and evil vanished, replaced by only one, more pressing matter.

[i]Kiyoko[/i].

Mika felt her heart pounding in her chest and the sting of tears prick hotly behind her eyes. She reached for her friend but had no idea where to put her hands. Should she try to stem the wounds, that were far too grievous for one young girl to treat? Should she stroke her cheek, offer her comfort and a promise of life that she couldn’t keep?

Mika choked back a cry of anguish. Never had she seen anything so visceral; but this was to be her reality now, as a Magical Girl, as a saviour of humanity, despatcher of demons.

[color=a187be]“Kiyoko…”[/color] her words were little more than a whisper and betrayed the helplessness she felt.

Mika clutched a hand to her chest, tearing her gaze from what remained of her friend to stare at Eshu, orange light still bobbing merrily, the jubilant colour at odds with the grimness of the scene. Blood looked nearly black and shone like a moonlit lake.
[color=a187be]“You promise?”[/color] Mika asked, swallowing hard. [color=a187be]“You promise she’ll be seen to?”[/color] Mika knew she couldn’t ask Eshu to promise Kiyoko she would live; Mika didn’t believe even this magical creature could promise that and mean in.

Mika steadied her breath, grabbing the staff at her side and tucked it into a loop at her belt. Then, with the care of a mother attending a new born, Mika gathered Kiyoko in her arms; blood dripped from the body, staining skin and silk alike. Before tonight, Mika would never have been able to carry Kiyoko like this, but now she felt as light as the feathers at her back.

[color=a187be]“Keep her safe, Eshu,”[/color] Mika pleaded, though the look on her face was one of sheer determination. [color=a187be]“Keep her safe, and I will do [i]anything[/i] you ask.”[/color] Casting one last look at the creature, Mika set off at a run, so fast she barely felt her feet hit the ground, headed towards the hospital where she would, as bid by Eshu, leave Kiyoko at the door before returning to the shadows without so much as word.