KyoSaya

"But the reason I ended up taking this assignment and coming back, was because I actually did have one regret. The fact that I left you behind."

- Sayaka to Kyoko, Madoka Rebellion

KyoSaya is the femslash ship between Kyoko Sakura and Sayaka Miki from the Madoka Magica fandom.

Canon
The two hated each other the first time they met, Kyoko attacked Sayaka because she found the latter annoying for how weak she was. The two fought until Homura intervened and saves Sayaka.

When Madoka throws away Sayaka's soul gem, Kyoka is shocked and concerned when Sayaka kneels over, dead. She demands Kyubey for answers but the Incubator gives her answers that disgust her, she then grabs Kyubey and shakes him but is interrupted by Homura returning and giving Sayaka her soul gem back. Sayaka wakes up and Kyoka lets Kyubey go.

Kyoka brings Sayaka to her father's church, where she tells the latter of her story and why she became a magic girl.

Madoka Rebellion
Kyoko and Sayaka are fighting together, when Kyoko tells Sayaka that she had a "sickening dream" where Sayaka was dead. She asks if their current battle and Sayaka was just a dream and that in reality, they were dead. Back to back, Sayaka takes Kyoko's hand and replies that this wasn't a dream, it was something better.

Nagisa rushes by yelling that she came back just to taste cheese again, causing Sayaka to yell at her "way to run the moment," recognizing that she and Kyoko were having a moment. She jumps down to continue fighting, Kyoko following after a brief pause, she is visibly touched by Sayaka's words, and calls her an "idiot", likely in an affection manner.

Quotes
"It's okay, Sayaka. I know you don't want to be alone. It's okay, I'll be here with you, Sayaka."

- Kyoko to Sayaka before dying with Sayaka, Episode 9

Songs

 * And I'm Home by Eri Kitamuta and Ai Nonaka

Fanon
The ship started in the fandom as a crack ship between two rivals, but after episode 9's airing, the ship quickly gained popularity and became a popular side pairing to HomuMado.

Male!Kyoko is a popular AU in fanworks.

Fandom
FAN FICTION

TUMBLR

Trivia

 * Kyoko is often depicted "drowning" with Sayaka in official works, representing her self-sacrifice so that Sayaka didn't have to die alone.
 * Kyoko's witch form has a candle on its head while Sayaka's is reminiscent of a siren's. As sirens are known to drown people, it refers to the Ending 3 end card, where Kyoko is underwater and "drowning" with Sayaka.
 * Kyoko's witch form's name is Ophelia. Referencing to the Ophelia in Shakespeare's Hamlet who also drowned because of her lover, though it was because of Hamlet's manipulations and not for him, unlike Kyoko; who died for Sayaka.
 * Sayaka prefers close-ranged combat while Kyoko refers long-ranged, they use a sword and spear as their weapons respectively.
 * Sayaka was the reason Kyoko stopped fighting for herself only, and started to care for others, something that even Kyoko's mentor, Mami, was unable to do.
 * They share a character theme song, "And I'm Home", which is sung the voice actors of Kyoko and Sayaka and plays at the end of Episode 9, after Kyoko sacrifices herself.
 * The lyrics of the song are very romantic, containing lines like "I'll always be by your side", "let's smile and gaze at each other," and "let's embrace our disheveled feelings." The song is mostly sung by Kyoko, where she tells Sayaka that she'll be "right here" for her, and that even if she knows it's a mistake, she'll be there for Sayaka no matter what.