Hibusa Town slept. Shadows stretched long, reaching towards each other inch by inch as the Sun cast its last rays from above the horizon. Its radiance shifted from clear white to dangerous read as the minutes passed by, windows along with lights on the streets trying to replace its influence. Trying to bring light into the world of shadows. And yet, as Shuuko knew very well, the shadows would triumph eventually, just as light would at dawn, the two forever engaged in an endless contest. Just like her kind and the magical girls of light... the bastards who never reached out to Chiaki.

[color=red][i]"Why are you always thinking of them, Sylvia?"[/i][/color] Ember asked, her voice quiet even though nobody could hear her like this. [color=red][i]"You're in a much better place now. I've made sure of it."[/i][/color] Wrapping her hands around Sylvia's shoulders, reaching towards her shoulderblades as much as possible, she drew the other girl into a tight hug.

[color=teal][i]"You're right... but I wish I could let Chiaki out more often. She doesn't deserve this."[/i][/color] Sylvia carried a heavy burden as she spoke, averting her eyes and not returning Ember's gesture. The red-head did not seem bothered by it. She merely drew her embrace tighter before she let go, wearing a genuine smile on her face.

[color=red][i]"For whatever it's worth, I'm proud of you. All of you. I hate that we have to do this, but we can't let her get hurt."[/i][/color]

[color=#D8CD9F][i]"She is right."[/i][/color] Hotaru too, spoke up, joining in on the hug. [color=#D8CD9F][i]"Chiaki can play in the light. But night is our time... my time."[/i][/color]

Indeed. Evil - and not the kind that Shuuko represented - stirred within the city. Eyes started to appear within shadows, invisible to those without the gift of magic, yet so obvious to her. They grew on every available surface as grotesque grapes burdened with many, tiny vines that bulged and pulsed. It would not be long before the Miseria made their appearance, so Hotaru stepped forward. She called upon her experience, then nodded towards one of Kiyo's many hidden eyes. She would be accompanying her as usual.

Having grown used to being fashionably late, Shuuko rested her hands on Kiyo's shoulders as she kept a respectable distance between the two. She always rode on the motorcycle like that, their bodies just too far apart to touch, save for a sudden brake or turn from Kiyo, at least until she revealed her tattoo across her back.

Because for that, Hotaru leaned forward and pressed a chaste kiss to Kiyo's skin right where the tattoo lay.

[color=#D8CD9F][b]"Thank you."[/b][/color] From the bottom of her heart, she expessed gratitude for Kiyo's... no, Evil Eye's trust. Even if it was unclear, even if she never gave straight answers, Hotaru never left such things without acknowledging them. She knew the pain of being ignored all too well, the sheer agony of solitude eating away at a soul until the inevitable happened and so even as heavy gauntlets formed around her hands, she let her warmth speak for itself. She could only do it for a few seconds, but she always did it when Evil Eye made herself so vulnerable, just before her role was over for the night.

Hotaru stepped back. Sylvia stepped back. Ember stepped back.

Shatterscape stepped forward, smiling and holding onto Evil Eye just a little tighter than before.

[color=gold][b]"She is as free as she can be. Should we pick up Oros' slack? Or maybe we could teach a lesson to her."[/b][/color] The steel nail of her gauntlet gestured towards Nyxia at the last sentence, seeing the magical girl wreak havoc regardless of her surroundings. True, Evil Eye's minions were not precious unlike her bodies, but the attitude did not sit well with her, for Nyxia behaved like a psychopath on the loose. What if those had been one of Shatterscape's precious Khir? Or even an Oss? It did not sit well with her, and besides, it had hurt Kiyo. One of the girls she protected. And so she would have a couple of unpleasant words for Nyxia when the night finished.

Or at least she would have, had not the light girls entered their territory again. The frown on Shatterscape's face grew more fierce as she saw them go about their duty. Especially that short-haired, blonde one. She seemed filled with contempt for the people she rescued - was that why her comrades never reached out to Chiaki? - behaving almost as though she were a dark girl instead of a light one. Shatterscape's teeth ground against each other with a high, metallic keen before she nodded to Kiyu's suggestion.

[color=gold][b]"But before that, you are correct. We do have to teach these sparkle-eyed do-gooders a lesson. Evil Eye, please watch me from the skies."[/b][/color]

And with that, the body behind Evil Eye lost its strength. Its gauntlets along with its Emblem vanished as though it were never in place, travelling across a complex chain of bodies to end near their meeting spot. Covering several hundred metres in but a blink of an eye, Shatterscape plopped beside a Miseria so she could rip it to shreds, then she sprinted into a position she got from Mogall. She angled herself to emerge from within the shadows from Homura's perspective and when she got close enough, she deliberately slammed her foot against the ground.

The asphalt cracked. Huge, metal gauntlets that dripped with the material of Miseria revealed themselves first, followed by a splattered dress. A cold, distant sneer and a pair of piercing, red eyes were the last to be revealed as Shatterscape made her presence known.

[color=gold][b]"This shrine had not been fashioned for your kind. Leave."[/b][/color]