Author: It's been a long time since I last updated this story. While it seems coincidental I'm updating this on Christmas Eve, it is the only time I will be able to work on my laptop since I will be away the next day. Other than that, I had to put a little bonus which took some time for me to finalize. I haven't been updated to Date A Live for like 2 years? I lost my interest at the anime, I barely have any motivation at all to work on this story. I'll probably find enough motivation one day...hoepfully.

Note: The extra in the bottom is actually...special. I put it there as a bonus. I just leave it to you guys to guess its significance and what it does mean. As I've said. 'It's special'.

Is the game about to end...or is it just beginning?

While Kotori and the girls devise a plan to deal with Kurumi's current volatile and violent behavior, Shido consults the mysterious Spirit.

"I think I just set my own death flag" He covered his face

"You've come this far and you're still doubting yourself?"

[White] shook her head, disappointed at how Shido spoke with little confidence.

"No. I'm just worried how this will end"

"Me too..."

Every time she would be reminded that the end is approaching, [White] felt a sharp pain in her chest. She couldn't bear to tell Shido what would happen to her once the current timeline changes.

(This is fine. Even if I disappear...he wouldn't be able to remember anyway)

She clenched her fists, barely able to hold down the deep regret inside her. Shido noticed the pain in her eyes, but didn't speak anything about it.

"Other than that, I'm worried about you and Kurumi"

"What about us?"

"I mean she wants to kill you so badly. You're her future self. How would she react to that?"

"Easy. She goes mad and becomes inverse...then we all die"

Shido himself wondered how [White] can say something horrible nonchalantly while wearing an uncaring expression.

"She's unstable right now. If she realizes I'm also Tokisaki Kurumi...then everything will go to a bad ending"

"..." Shido swallowed his breath

"There's no restarting this since I don't have enough power as of the moment to do so"

She looked at her own palms and then gaze at her own reflection. She saw how her slightly younger physique and white hair tied in a ponytail made her unrecognizable as her original self.

"Going back in this past reduced me in this state and drained up a lot of my time, especially during this reset"

"Shiro..."

"I don't want to kill innocent people anymore so I haven't really consumed anyone's Time since I came here"

Their talk got a little deep and this made Shido a little uncomfortable yet sympathizing [White]'s situation.

"Anyway, do you have any plan on telling your friends about me being Kurumi from a near future?"

"It will be problematic if they realize you're also Kurumi"

It's because of the experience with Kurumi that the Spirits are wary and sometimes hostile towards her.

"True. We can't afford any trouble with the gravity of the situation" She crossed her arms

"So what are you planning to do?"

"Support you as usual. I can't directly act much since my past self will definitely find out"

"And she'll try to kill you..."

"Yeah. I don't have enough power to defeat the Kurumi of this past even though I'm her future self because I have yet to recover all my power"

Shido can't really complain [White] isn't doing a lot of things because of how unpredictable the situation is becoming.

"I'll see you later, Shido. Till then...be careful"

"Don't worry. I will"

Yet again, the Spirit in [White] disappeared again and Shido isn't much used to her appearing and leaving like that. She us always enigmatic, yet it differs every time.

Later...

Since tracking Kurumi down is almost impossible with her elusiveness and cunningness, Kotori set her focus on a other thing. Investigating about the other elusive Spirit. The Spirit [White].

"Why is it you're always there? It's not a coincidence, isn't it?"

There were no clear pictures, but she can be recognizable from the photos. She's there, but at the same time she's not. A Spirit that appears and disappears without a trace.

"Just who are you? What do you have to do in this situation?"

A Spirit that appears out of nowhere and is somewhat involved in Shido's situation...it doesn't seem right.

"There must be something...that can at least give me a clue to who you really are"

Kotori played an old feed taken during one of her appearance in Tengu city. The video shows one of the rare times she was engaged with AST. Like any other encounters, she overpowered her pursuers and fended them off.

"Hmm? Something's not right..."

Noticing something strange, Kotori rewinder the video a little bit during the fight with the AST.

"What are you up to...?"

Oddly, she noticed how the surroundings stopped like it was frozen in time. On one frame, when she was bombarded, but somehow took down the AST...the oddity happened. It was like the battle had been cut in the middle as the AST were suddenly defeated.

"That face. Where have I seen it before...?"

Kotori kept tilting her head, trying to remember who had the same resemblance as the Spirit [White]. She slowed down the video even more and paused at a certain frame. Clearing up the image, what she saw made her jolt.

"Could it be...?!"

There is one other person who shares the distinguishable feature and to her, it's not a good sign. She doesn't need more evidence to prove it as the power [White] displays on the few occasions she appears says it all.

"Don't tell me-"

"Commander!"

Kannazuki rushed to her office and while panting, she faced Kotori with a serious expression.

"There's something you need to see!"

She furrowed her eyebrows, sensing it's definitely a serious matter to see her vice commander with serious face.

In an unknown location...

Learning from her previous mistake, Kurumi switched to a more patient and cautious tactic to attain the source of her twisted love. The only problem is that Kurumi herself grew impatient.

"I want him now. I want my Shido-san now!"

"You can't get near him. There are Spirits protecting him" A clone reminded her

"There's also the nuisance [White] who's on constant guard" Another one spoke

"Then there's one way..."

She turned to face her confused and somewhat nervous clones. The original is much more mentally and emotionally unstable after all.

"If I can't get rid of them all at once. I'll just have to kill them...one by one!"

Despite being her clones, they're more concerned about her most certainly reckless plan that agreeing to it.

"I can't wait anymore. I want the man I love back to my side...and I won't let anyone get in my away again!"

Kurumi's pure murderous intent and obsession made the clones even more nervous. They fear the outcome will be horrible, but they're afraid to speak out their opinion, seeing the original Kurumi's dead serious intent.

"Hmm? This is..."

Kurumi detected a presence from the shadows she spread all over the city. Sensing the presence curved her lips on her face, a terrifying smile.

"I found her~"

She giggled maniacally she her clones retreated into the shadows per her order. While Kurumi disappeared in her shadows, [White] wandered around the night covered city.

"Somehow I sense danger..."

Her instincts are ringing her the presence of danger, making her shudder. [White] trusts her instincts and she knew there is an unknown danger lurking danger.

"I have to get out of here"

[White] had been moving all over the city with full caution so she prepares to disappear again.

"Hmm?"

Before she could retreat to a shadow, white pale hand smacked her away, giving her a scratch wound in the process. She regained her balance mid air when the attack sent her flying.

"Fouuund youuuu~"

She froze for a second when a soft yet terrifying voice whisper behind her. Twin guns pointed at her, but she jumped away just as the trigger was pulled.

(Tch! Of all times for her to find me. Just when I decided to move in the open for a while)

"You can't hide from me forever, you little pest!"

"Oh yeah. You have your shadows on constant watch on the city. I forgot you are connected to all of them"

"Oh~ You know my power after all"

Kurumi responded in a sarcastic manner yet she's suspicious to how [White] knew what her power is like she's very familiar with it.

(I can't use too much power here or even Zafkiel. She'll discover who I am)

"What's the matter? You decided to die?"

"No. Just wondering why you suddenly became aggressive all of a sudden"

Both of them are wondering why the other became active, but [White] is concerned to Kurumi suddenly making a move.

"I'm done waiting. I can't let nuisance like take away what's mine!"

(Is this who I really was? Damn. I didn't know I was this crazy and obsessed)

"That's why...I'll start tearing apart those pesky girls and you!"

She fired a barrage and [White] responded by fleeing away. Of course Kurumi gave chase and pursued her on the empty streets.

(There's no way I'll get out of this alive without using Zafkiel)

[White]'s conflicting thoughts grew worse seeing her desperate situation. If she were to use her power, Kurumi will learn the truth and most definitely go even more insane. If she didn't, she has a higher chance of dying than living.

"It can't be helped!"

Her only choice is to use her power without releasing her Angel. That way at least her chance increased to fifty percent.

"A pistol? Quite the modern one, huh~" Kurumi is somewhat impressed

(A Spirit can physically form any weapon of their choice. I have to make sure she won't recognize my weapon)

The two exchanged bullet to bullet, but neither side hit each other.

(Good thing she's my past self. At least I can predict her impulsive movements)

As [White] turned to a corner, a clone emerging out in the shadow ambushed her. She sustained gunshot wounds on non vital spots in her body then her shoulder and arm, but she paid no mind to it.

"Die!"

One pale white hand emerged out of nowhere and impaled her through the chest.

"What?!"

To Kurumi's surprise, the Spirit she thought she had killed...

(A clone?!)

...Turned out to be a clone. The double disintegrated in a matter of seconds. The real [White] had fled somewhere, whose arm is bleeding...reddening her white jacket.

"Crap! My arm is bleeding badly"

Even if her wound isn't severe, the pain stings her badly. She can barely move her left arm. [White] staggers inside an empty building, trying to think of a way to get out of there alive.

"I can't afford to die here...Not just yet. I still have to fix my mistake...even if I will disappear in the end...!"

Unable to bear the pain, she surrendered on her knees while leaning beside a wall. Her fresh blood smeared the wall into a red abstract of a desperate situation.

"Shido...san. I can't lose him again. I don't want that mistake to be repeated...!"

She struggled to move, but she is beginning to succumb to her multiple gunshot wounds. She pointed her own gun at her temple and before she could pull the trigger, her pursuer had already found her and fired a single shot.

"Hmm...bleeding badly, aren't you?"

Kurumi found a wounded [White] and the latter knew she is cornered and is about to die an ironic death.

"After you and the rest of those nuisances are dead. I can finally have Shido-san all for myself...forever"

(I never thought I was this obsessive over a delusional love)

"Oh the things I will do to him. I can't wait to toy him until to my heart's content. He'll love me...because he doesn't a choice~"

"I'm not letting you win this twisted game of yours. Not a chance!"

"You've been so annoying. It's time I get rid of you once and for all"

(I can't afford to die here. I have no choice but to use my Angel even if Kurumi discovers the truth)

Kurumi points her musket at [White] who is left with no choice but to summon her Angel...Zafkiel.

"Come forth..."

"Hmm?"

Before she could say the Angel's name, fire bursted between them...separating the two.

"Well it looks like I made it just in time"

A familiar voice made the two look in one direction. While Kurumi gazed in shock, [White] is barely surprised.

"Hello there, [White]...but that's not your really identity, is it?"

"Itsuka...Kotori"

"We'll talk later. Right now, I have to save your ass"

"You again!"

Kotori is the last person she wants to face, remembering their last encounter and witnessing her power.

"It looks like you got lucky this time, you damn nuisance"

"..."

"She's not lucky. I just happened to find her she moved into the open. It wasn't easy tracking her power keeps misleading Fraxinus"

"Kkh! This isn't over. I'll get rid of you...if it's the last thing I do!"

Reluctantly, Kurumi has no choice but to retreat as she cannot win against Kotori with the sudden interference.

"As for you, fire spirit...I'll deal with you later"

Kotori let Kurumi fled as she has to focus on the wounded and speechless Spirit.

"Now then, [White]...let's get your wound treated"

"No need"

"...?"

"Dalet"

She pointed her pistol at her temple and pulled the trigger. Her left eye changed color. Her wounds started to disappear as if she was never shot.

"That power..."

"I'm sure you already suspected who I am"

"Yeah. I know you're not who you say you are"

"Of course. You're still sharp as ever...just like the Itsuka Kotori I knew"

[White] stood up while her left eye is covered by the good she raised up. Kotori reverted to her ordinary self and faced against the elusive Spirit.

"Now. Tell me who you really are"

"I suppose it's time I tell you the truth now that the situation has became more dangerous"

"Just who are you? I know you're hiding something..."

"Right. I'll tell you who I really am"

She lowered her head as she raised down her hood and showed her full face at her. Kurumi visibly moved, reacting to what she saw.

"I am the S class Spirit [Nightmare]. I am Tokisaki Kurumi" [White] revealed the clock face on her left eye"

"So you really are...Kurumi"

Despite the surprise, Kotori prepared herself for any surprising revelations beforehand. Still, she is in disbelief.

"I never thought you would be her...of all people. Now this is a real surprise"

Kotori wryly smiled as her palm touched her forehead, still in disbelief. The flame spirit then looked back at [White].

"What else are you hiding...?"

"A tragic ending"

[White] responded in such an impassive tone all while still making the clock face on her left eye visible. It seems the two Spirits...have a lot to talk about, starting with [White] confessing the truth.

CHAPTER BONUS

'That was quite a rush' is what an unknown girl wearing a uniform would say to the person she is speaking to. Across the table is another girl that has slight resemblance to her, but her choice of clothing is different and she has somewhat an indifferent expression.

"Now that's a bit of a disappointment. What you were just saying that is" The uncaring looking girl sipped her coffee

"Don't be disappointed. It's not over yet. Not just yet"

"True. If it is...you wouldn't be here drinking coffee with me"

"Don't worry. The highest point is just about to begin"

The girl in a uniform wagged her finger, teasing the other girl, but the person she is speaking to seems uninterested.

"You were the one who wanted to hear what happened so don't look at me like that"

"Still I find it hard to believe such events existed"

"It happened. Just not here"

"Well the similarities are uncanny" She inspected the girl wearing a uniform

"The events unfolded somewhere. I'm just glad it ended the way it should be"

"Oh yeah? How it ended?"

"Aaah. We have yet to reach the ending, but don't worry...I'm almost at that part"

"Alright. Fine"

The impassive looking girl stood up and gave off a sigh expressing her dismay of leaving such thing inconclusive.

"Oh? You're leaving already?"

"I have to go. I can't go in the open for too long with D.E.M being pursuing me"

"Alright then. I understand. So same time again?"

"Yeah. Same time again"

The girl the expressed little emotion and wore a formal like clothing left, with the person she was speaking to waving goodbye.

"This is an interesting place. It's not so different from the one I knew"

With her coffee drinking companion gone, she took her stand and left the scene as well. She enjoyed the peaceful scenery. It's a good place to just sit down on the grass. While passing by near a river, she gazed up into the perfectly blue sky and smiled gladly...content at her surroundings and her existence.

I think I'll be staying here for a while...