"I was trying to hide it from you.  I was - "

" - the only reason I made that wish is because - when you saved me from that witch - the first witch - "

" - I didn't think - I don't think I'd've been brave enough to go in after you.  The way you did, I mean."

" - That's okay. It's - most people aren't stupidly brave like me. Most people don't need to be, and..."

"I'm okay, being - the braver one."

...hug?

Hug!

"I know it's not my fault Kyubey fooled me, really," she says, "but - I still - I'm scared of myself, now.  Even if there's a sense in which I'm the victim, or a victim, I'm still somebody who might hurt people, now, and I don't want to, but - "

" - I won't let you hurt people, not - when it isn't absolutely necessary."

She shudders.

"I think - if I need you to stop me - maybe I should just - not try to fight, just run if someone attacks us.  I don't want to be - someone you have to protect, and someone you have to - rein in - "

Hug. "I - maybe you can learn to control it? But... I wouldn't object to staying out of fights, more."

She breathes.

"I think I can.  Eventually.  - I talked to Mal about it some, last night, and she gave me some advice.  Just - "

"I guess I keep imagining - that I can have a big tough conversation about this with someone, and it'll be awful and I'll cry, but then it'll be over.  And intellectually I know that's silly but - some part of me keeps expecting it.  And then you said, okay I'll keep an eye on you to make sure you don't hurt anyone, and - "

" - I've been halfway in denial about it this whole time, or - compartmentalizing it away - and that made it really real, like, okay, this is something that's gonna be true about me for the rest of my life.  And I started freaking out all over again, a little."

" - I'm sorry."

"It's - maybe there's a way to change it. Like... An addiction, or a bad habit."

"No, no, it's okay - I think it's - sort of something that had to happen to me."

"I think there's probably things I can do.  Mal gave me some advice, some recommendations, like I said.  Just - it's going to be - a process."

"I'll help. However I can."

"Thanks, Lianne."

Kiss. "It's no problem."

Grin.

Her face turns somber again.  "I think - not fighting other magical girls, for a bit, might be a good idea.  At least until I have a better idea of - things."

"Yeah."

"Thanks for - not running away."

"It's - no problem."

" - Jeez, I'm a mess - " she wipes at her eyes, cheeks still damp with shed tears.  "Do you have a tissue?"

"Uh... Yeah, here - "

"Thanks."  She cleans herself up a bit.

"I think... I'd like to just walk.  Some more.  For a while."

"That works for me." Holding hands?

Yes Absolutely.