Homura looked down from a lamppost at the arguing Sayaka and Kyoko on the bridge with a sigh. Madoka was approaching the duo trying to get them to calm down and soon reached for Sayaka's soul gem. It looked like this was the way the others would find out about their souls being in their soul gems this time around. Hopefully it wouldn't land in a dump truck this time. Homura suppressed a sigh of frustration only thanks to many time loops of experience.

She silently leaped down from the lamppost and brushed against the roofs of cars as she hopped from roof to roof towards the dump truck. It would be easier for her to fly, but then that would reveal more than the girls might be ready for tonight. Homura boarded the trunk and started to scan for the soul gem. She found it sitting on in open trash bag filled with old magical girl mangas. A smirk flickered across her lips for a second as she picked up the soul gem.

Ranma's queen left the truck and returned to the bridge to assess the situation. Kyoko was holding Kyubey looking like she wanted to roast the little rat. Madoka was holding Sayaka's body with horror written on her face. Both girls turned to face Homura surprised to see her there with them. Homura looked at Kyoko and said, "Drop it."

Kyoko blinked her eyes in shock, but did as she was commanded.

Kyubey didn't land on the ground like it was expecting. Homura kicked it into low earth orbit saying. "Get lost for the evening." Madoka and Kyoko were shocked to see Kyubey disappear over the horizon.

Kyoko dropped the yakatori stick from her mouth and whistled. "Remind me not to get you angry."

Madoka stammered, "Homura do you know what going on?"

Homura nodded her head and said, "Let me reestablish Sayaka's connection to her body so I only have to explain things once." She then placed the soul gem in the palm of Sayaka's hand and pushed a pinch of magical power into the gem.

The connection was restored as Sayaka blinked her eyes. "Huh. Why am I on the ground? Why are you crying Madoka?"

Homura firmly said, "Madoka's crying because your soul gem's connection to your body was broken making it look like you died. Both Kyoko and Madoka can confirm that Kyubey admitted to placing your soul into your soul gem when he granted your wish. The real you is currently just that gem you're holding. Let it get around 100 meters from your body and the connection is broken again."

Sayaka's face lost all its blood when she heard those words. Terror pierced her heart as the looks on Kyoko's and Madoka's faces confirmed Homura's words. Sayaka started to mutter, "But that's not, I didn't know, no one told."

Homura cut Sayaka off. "Alright listen up girls. The simple and hard truth of the matter is that the fairy tale story is over. Everyone who has ever made a deal with Kyubey has made a deal with a proverbial devil including myself. Kyubey doesn't actually lie. However, it will purposefully give you information in a misleading manner to cause you to come to the wrong conclusion or it will hide important information from you until it's too late. In fact, I will tell you right now that it is hiding a very important piece of information from you. I will eventually tell you all it, but you need to wait until you're all calmed down and can handle it. Mami is still coming to terms with that piece of information."

That was a slight misdirection on Homura's part. Mami was probably unconscious and buck naked in bed with Botan to help her recover from the reincarnation process. Not a bad way to start your life as a devil as Botan loved to cuddle.

Madoka gasped in surprised. "Mami is alive?"

"Magical girls are their soul gems Madoka. The body you saw get eaten that day might as well have been a wooden puppet for Mami even if she didn't know it. I recovered her soul gem before it could be destroyed."

All the other girls looked at Homura in shock and faint hope. Mami was still alive? Kyoko blurted out, "Where is Mami?" The aggressive girl couldn't help wondering where her mentor was.

Homura continued, "Mami is currently safe and recovering from injuries she took in her last battle. She will be able to return soon. However, in order to return she had to make a similar deal to the one I made."

Sayaka shook with hope and fear as she looked at girl she was paradoxically thankful for and almost despised. Homura did not fit into any of the views Sayaka had on how things should go in the real world or in magic. She was cold and aloof trying to chase them away from protecting others. Yet, Homura also protected them in her own way. She knew more about magical girls than anyone else Sayaka knew. It was also obvious to her that it was Homura who had retrieved her soul gem just like she apparently saved Mami's.

She whispered, "What deal?" The bluenet stood up and inquired louder. "What was the deal you made Homura?"

A cold and somewhat sinister air surrounded the girls as Homura let out some of her devil energy for the effect. "The deal I made? That really doesn't matter for all of you at the moment. Who I made the deal with is what matters. Follow me if you want to know more. However, before you do I want you to consider the following closely. There are secrets and terrors out there unrelated to Kyubey that will freeze your blood in your veins. Learning about these things makes living life as a normal girl or even as a magical girl impossible. The knowledge of who I made my deal with is a key and a gateway to those terrors."

"Do not follow me if you cannot accept these facts. To walk the path I walk is to know that every action you take, every word you said, and every gesture you make can potentially have major unforeseen consequences. There will be times you'll go into a situation blind and end up in an even worse position than magical girls are in. The only comfort you will find on this path is that of the companions you allowed to follow you on it. If you still want to know who I made a deal with then come."

Homura slowly started to walk off the bridge leaving the girls staring at her. Madoka was the first to respond calling out, "Homura wait!" Sayaka and Kyoko stared at each other for a second trying to remember what they had been so passionately arguing about before this all started. They could still remember, but it seemed like nonsense to them given the revelations they had. Both girls nodded their heads and then headed after Madoka.

The devil led the trio to the seedier side of town to see how committed the girls were to their chosen path. Gangsters, hookers, dealers, and even worse human predators gazed at the girls as they were lead through rows of rundown and broken tenements surrounding cracked streets. Homura used a minor spell to keep the filth away from her companions. The spell has had the useful side effect of making those being kept away seem even more terrible than they already where. All of Homura's companions shivered at different times from fright as they walked. However, they contained their fear and continued following the devil. They passed Homura's test and she led them into an alley while creating an illusion that the alley did not exist to hide the group.

Homura turned around and spoke. "As I stated earlier, who I made the deal with matters over what the deal I made was. You're now starting to see that making a deal with Kyubey is like making a figurative deal with the devil. If you don't carefully check everything in the deal and guard against Kyubey twisting the deal you will be destroyed by it. However, the genuine article trumps a fake when put to the test."

Kyoko felt a lump form in her throat as she remembered her father's old sermons. Chills ran down her spine as she whispered, "Genuine article?" The chills got worse as a blue circle of light suddenly appeared floating off the floor next to Homura and a gleam appeared in the time girl's eyes.

"That's right Kyoko," Homura said as her hair started to whip around from the theatrical wind the transport circle was creating. "To escape the consequences of my deal with a false devil I made a deal with a real devil."

Ranma took his que and teleported to the circle having it look like he rose from a geyser of glowing water. He was his mother's son and the chance for theatrics that didn't interfere with business was just too much to resist. Ranma had his wings out without their illusion wearing his battle outfit. Said outfit looked like his regular red shirt and black pants only the clothes were made out of fine scale armor. A person got the most bang for their buck out of protective spells if the item the spell was placed on was a form of protection.

The young king looked at the trio taking in their actions. Sayaka seemed to need a mental reboot. Kyoko looked like she was on the edge of relieving herself. Their reactions were rather predictable. However, Madoka surprised Ranma. She looked at him with curiosity and without fear. That was odd since people typically were a little afraid at the thought of meeting a devil if they didn't think a devil flyer was a joke.

Turning to Homura Ranma said, "Why have you called me here this night?"

Homura replied, "I called you hear because my companions have started to learn the truth about Kyubey. They wanted to know how I escaped the trap that Kyubey laid for all magical girls even if they don't know the full horrors of that trap."

That tidbit caused the blood to drain from all the present magical girls. What was the information that Homura deemed them unable to handle now? Did they really want to know what was worse than finding out that you're a lich?

Ranma looked at the frightened girls and said, "Homura has stated to all of you when applicable that it is better to remain as a regular girl than to become a magical girl with Kyubey's wishes. I found Homura in the aftermath of a battle with a witch that was going to end her after the group of magical girls she had joined were all killed. The Incubator present there wrote Homura and her companions off as used up and moved on to find the next girl it could make a contract with. I gave Homura a simple offer: life for loyalty."

Homura spoke up as she moved closer to Ranma. "May I explain this to my friends my lord?" Ranma nodded his head and let his queen continued as she turned to face the girls. "Ranma used his powers to transform me into a devil granting me new life and far more strength than I ever had. In return, I pledged my eternal loyalty and service to him."

Sayaka and Kyoko both started mumbling, "Eternal loyalty and service?" There was a faint blush on Sayaka's face and bewilderment on Kyoko's.

Homura nodded her head clarifying. "It's somewhat like the oath between a samurai and a daimyo with me as the samurai and Ranma as the daimyo."

Kyoko tried to regain her mental balance and challenged Homura. "No way that what you just told us is everything to this deal of yours Homura. I'm not buying that if Ranma here is really a devil given what Kyubey did to us."

"What would you have me explain Kyoko," Homura asked coldly. "Do you want me to explain how I am now reviled and mistrusted by most of the Moonlight World? How about I talk about how I shall be forced one day to abandon Earth to protect the secrets of the supernatural? Must I go into detail how I will have to keep my oath for hundreds if not thousands of years? That everything and everyone I ever know except for those connected to Ranma will vanish before my eyes due to time?"

"Understand this you three, there is a massive difference in Ranma's and Kyubey's offers to me even if they seem similar at first. Ranma explained what would happen to me thoroughly. Kyubey tries to keep the details of its deal secret and will only give the bare minimum it can get away with when forced to speak on these matters. I have been given no reason to regret taking Ranma's offer."

Ranma chose this moment to cut in. "I think that your friends have had enough revelations for the evening Homura. They need time to process all that they've learned right now and there is still much for them still to learn. Guide them to a safer neighborhood and then return to me." With that said Ranma teleported away from the girls.

Mami slowly woke up even though she wanted to go back to sleep and cuddle. It had been over a year since she had been able to enjoy a slumber party. That thought caused a flood of memories to hit her mind. This wasn't a slumber party. Mami cracked open an eyelid a saw a blue haired girl cuddling her. Botan was the girl's name if she remembered correctly that was now her fellow pawn. A slight breeze from the fans ran down Mami's back.

A quick look with her eyes informed Mami that Botan was nude as well. It was expected given how Homura explained the necessities for devils to transfer their energy to each other. What Mami was not expecting was just how blasé she was at the thought. It hadn't been like this when she had just been a magical girl. Mami closed her eyes and thought back to her transformation into a devil.

She had Ranma resurrect her while she was nude. Her standing naked before Ranma so he could resurrect her had been mortifying. However, the thought of someone stripping her while she was unconscious had terrified her more. Mami had only been able to go through with it since it was just Ranma, Botan, and her in Botan's room with several privacy spells in place. Ranma had also been wearing a blindfold for the ceremony.

Botan started to stir and her adjusting limbs felt shockingly good to Mami. It was as if her ability to feel pleasure had been increased an unbelievable amount. Mami resisted the urge to pout and groan in disappointment when Botan let go of her. Botan stretched and then looked at Mami.

A smile appeared on Botan's face as she looked a Mami and said, "Good morning to you Mami. I must say that you're handling your first wakeup as a devil better than I did."

"Oh? How is that Botan?"

"I fell out of bed and woke up Ranma's mother who had volunteered to help me. In my defense, I was dying from being shot when Ranma made his offer to resurrect me.

The image Botan's words conjured in Mami's mind caused her to chuckle. "I bet that went over well with her."

Botan grinned as she replied, "You'd be surprised Mami. She actually started giving me advice and encouragement on how to seduce Ranma."

"What! You mean his mother wants you to sleep with Ranma? Is that normal for devil parents?" Mami couldn't ever imagine her mother encouraging such a thing. Why she'd have grounded Mami for sleeping next to Botan like she had since it wasn't what a lady should do.

Botan got off the bed and continued the conversation. "You truly don't know much about the supernatural world. Sorry, it's just rather surprising given that you had magical powers for a couple of months before your reincarnation. Devils are one of the Biblical Factions along with Fallen Angels and Heaven. The trio is collectively known in the wider supernatural world as the Three Factions and also as the Three Great Powers. They're the big boys and the general strategy of all the other supernatural powers has been to keep the trio focused on each other. I can explain more to you while we take a bath if you want to join me?"

Mami nodded her head and followed Botan into the bathroom that had a bath that could double as a hot tub. The rest of the room looked like something out of penthouse suite at a 5 star hotel. Botan cheerfully selected several sinful bath soaps to get the tub bubbling. She also lit several aromatic candles and turned on her stereo to play some traditional Japanese folk music.

Botan turned to look at the surprised Mami and smiled, "Surprised that a mere pawn rates a suite like this? The Sitri are one of the top clans among the devils and Ranma is very highly placed in the clan through blood and his own efforts. Something like this is roughing it as far as the clan is concerned and that's only because Ranma likes things Spartan for a devil. It's hard to imagine the word Spartan used to describe a place such as this."

Mami looked at the room with wide eyes. Even the simplest things in this room were more than what her trust fund budget allowed. The thought that things such as this were now hers because of her oath to Ranma brought a cautious sense of joy to her. Mami couldn't put it into words, but she had instinctively realized that these trappings were a subtle form of control used by Clan Sitri on their servants. It was a reminder to all servants; most of whom came from desperate backgrounds, that loyalty and service to the clan was rewarded. While mind boggling expensive to regular humans, the cost was nothing for devils compared to the loyalty it helped maintain. Loyalty was truly one of the greatest treasures one could possess in a culture with 66 different words for treachery.

Shiori looked up from the stove and turned to see her son Shuichi teleporting into the house. It was almost humorous how such a shocking mystical sight could become so ordinary. Her son was home from his regular afterschool activities. It honestly made no difference whether he walked in the door from the poetry club or teleported in from meeting with the rest of the peerage. Shuichi was happy and healthy which was all that truly mattered.

Shuichi bowed his head politely and said, "I'm home mother. How was your day?"

Cheerfully Shiori replied, "Welcome home son. I had good day at work as there weren't any unexpected tasks for the school office to handle. How are things going for you? Is anything new happening with the peerage?"

Shuichi paused for just a second as he thought about the Kurama side of his life. It wasn't that he thought his mother couldn't handle the mystic side of things. He just didn't want her to have to handle them. Casually he said, "Ranma added another member to the peerage today."

"Oh? And who did Ranma add?"

"Her name is Mami. She's an acquaintance of Homura and she's now a pawn."

Shiori thought for a moment as she stirred the stew. "Homura, that's Ranma's queen. Isn't she the one who had the incident with time travel and ended up traveling back in time before Ranma met her right?"

"Yes mother that is correct." Shuichi felt a little guilty over misleading his mother with Homura's situation. He never lied to her about it; that was something he just couldn't bring himself to do. However, Shuichi never gave all the details to his mother. It wasn't like he needed to correct his mother's assumption that Homura had accidentally sent herself back in time.

After grabbing a few spices, Shiori decided to prod her son more about his new friend. "So what do you think about Mami joining the peerage son?"

Shuichi looked at his mother and replied, "I have not thought about her addition very much mother. We haven't been formally introduced yet so I cannot say about her personality. I understand that she has several months of experience working handling supernatural situations. I will probably meet her tomorrow when we have the group training exercise. "

Both Shuichi and Shiori's attention was grabbed when another Sitri teleport sigil appeared on the floor. Hiei appeared in the room looking dead on his feet from mental exhaustion. Shuichi ran over to the knight and exclaimed, "What happened Hiei?"

Hiei looked at companion with a blank stare and muttered, "It was a nightmare Kurama. Lady Sitri just had to prove why she is the mother of a satan. History, Art, Language, Mathematics, Magic Theory, and there were even more subjects covered. The testing never seemed to end. Every time I finished one paper she would have another two waiting for me along with a running tally of my score."

Shiori watched her son kneeling next to his dazed friend. She worriedly asked, "Is everything alright son?"

Shuichi turned to face his mother and replied, "I think things will be fine. Hiei apparently had a full day of testing in his education and is exhausted from the effort."

That puzzled Shiori for a moment and then she stated, "I know testing can be rough on students. However, Hiei is acting like he's never had a test before in his life."

"That is because he has never had an academic test before in his life mother. Formal education is sadly one of the lesser needed skills in Makai where Hiei grew up."

A blush covered Shiori's cheeks as she gave a polite bow to Hiei. "I am sorry for making the assumptions I did Hiei." Part of Shiori was aghast at the idea of children not being able to get an education like what happened to Hiei. Another part of Shiori was proud that her son was associated with someone who was willing to face a challenge like Hiei was. She had seen far too many teens who decided to run away from their problems in school by dropping out or using the excuse that high school wasn't mandatory to quit their education.

Hiei blinked his eyes in stunned surprise at Shiori's apology. This wasn't something he had ever experienced before. The closest thing he had ever experienced to this was the rare time a demon coward before him begging for mercy. However, it was obvious that Shiori wasn't afraid of him or concerned about her life. Hiei desperately drew upon the etiquette lessons Lady Sitri had drilled into his head to come up with a response. Somewhat nervously Hiei replied, "Apology accepted."

Shiori smiled and said, "Hiei would you care to join my son and I for some dinner? We have plenty of beef stew."

Hiei nervously bowed his head as he spoke. "I gratefully accept the invitation."

Shuichi said as he moved to the cabinet. "I will set up the extra place setting mother." Inwardly the reborn kitsune bishop was a nervous wreck. He had been trying to keep his life as Shuichi and his life as Kurama as separate as possible. Now those to aspects of his life were going to have a collision. At least he could pray to the kami for good fortune in this. They didn't care too much that he was a devil.

Sona was lying on a reclining couch in her room tuning her oud. All homework and peerage assignments had been completed and now she just wanted to relax. Part of her wanted to smack herself for giving Mami over to Ranma. She now had the inferior peerage in terms of battle strength and now quantity. The political maneuvering necessary because of this had been handled. However, it was more draining then Sona had hoped it would be.

The best remedy for her situation would be to find high quality people and recruit them into her peerage. However, Sona's options weren't too good at the moment. Kuoh was not brimming with loads of hidden potential in terms of fighters. Rias also had rights of first refusal between the two in Kuoh while they were in school because of a forfeit Sona paid two years ago. Sona couldn't go looking across Japan in general because of the treaties leasing Kuoh from the Shinto Faction. She didn't have direct blood ties to Japan like Ranma did allowing her to travel wherever she blessed well pleased.

These thoughts came to a halt when one of Sona's proximity wards went off. Sona put her Oud away on its stand and straightened her dress. There was a knock on the door and Sona called out, "You may enter."

Her heart started to pound as Ranma walked in alone and closed the door behind him. Ranma locked onto Sona lying on her couch like an ancient princess cosplaying as a school girl. He walked over and stood a few feet away from Sona. Ranma kept his hands behind his back to hide how sweaty they had become. "I believe it's time that the two of us discuss something of mine Sona."

It took all of Sona's training to keep the hope and fear she felt from showing. Sona spoke in a pleasantly neutral tone. "What is this thing of yours that you feel we need to discuss Ranma?"

Silence reigned for a moment as Ranma tried to get the words to form. He then said, "My mistress. We need to talk about our relationship Sona."

Sona wanted to leap up and ravish Ranma when she heard those words. But, Sona had given Ranma instructions on what he needed to do in this situation and he wasn't following them. She made it a point of pride to follow through when she said something. That her instructions came out of a frequent fantasy of hers had nothing to do with anything. Coyly Sona said, "As I recall you were told that, 'if you are interested, come to my room and take me.' I will admit that I'm not comfortable yet with the idea of you just bending me over and using me as a cheap whore. However, I also don't see you acting like you want a potentially dangerous and illicit affair."

Something in Ranma snapped and he bolted towards Sona capturing her lips. The couple's arms curled around each other as the floodgates of their feelings were opened. Both Ranma and Sona started to struggle for dominance and they rolled off of the couch. The kiss wasn't broken as Ranma shifted so that he hit the floor protecting Sona from the fall. Sona tried to use fall to keep herself on top but Ranma quickly rolled them so he was on top.

Once Ranma was firmly on top Sona stopped trying to be in charge. She became tenderer in her caresses and her kisses became softer. Ranma pulled away from the kiss for a second and whispered, "You're mine."

Sona smiled and replied, "I'm yours." Here alone with Ranma, Sona could be honest with herself. She didn't need to be the calm and confident heiress she showed to the world. Here with Ranma she could just be herself. Ranma would protect her from all those who threatened her. She also knew that he would let her protect herself when she wanted. Unlike others who might want to keep her weak, Ranma would be happy to let her resume her burdens when she decided to assume them.

Ranma looked down at Sona still trying to sure this wasn't a dream. He had always loved Sona for as long as he could remember. It was just the nature of that love had shifted over the past several months. Of course like any boy his age, Ranma had needed someone to hit him with the proverbial clue bat to understand how his affections for Sona had changed.

Working up the courage to act on his feelings had not been easy for Ranma even when he knew that Sona was romantically interested in him. It wasn't because of any guilt or shame at the thought of pursuing a close relative. Ranma was too immersed in devil culture to give a blessing about what humans considered 'morally acceptable'; especially about something some human cultures had viewed as tolerable at different times. His hesitation was because he never had a romantic relationship before.

Dealing with romantic issues was some scary stuff. Ranma would much rather risk his life against a horde of stray devils than his heart against a girl's emotions. Brawls were so much simpler and cleaner then romantic issues. One could also heal faster from fights than from broken hearts.

Ironically enough, it was Walpurgisnacht's approach that gave Ranma the courage to move forward with Sona. Walpurgisnacht would arrive within days give or take a few hours variance and that would signal endgame against the Incubator threat. Ranma and his peerage were going to have to play a pivotal part in setting things along an acceptable path. That part carried a real risk of life and limb for everyone involved.

Ranma could accept the risk to himself for his upcoming part. Heaven, it was basically the job he had been trained for all his life. What Ranma couldn't accept was leaving things unresolved between him and Sona. Now he had resolved the issue and gained an immeasurably important reason to succeed against the Incubators.