Chapter 32: D.E.M vs Yggdrasil Part 2: Reconciliation
I don't own Date A Live or the characters in it. Anything I use is property of the owner. Other references will also appear. I take no ownership of these references and I'm thrilled to use them.
RECAP: Greetings humans. I am Yggdrasil, the tree that resides inside Itsuka Shido and the source of his power. Last time the foolish idol met me and I explained why I saved her. Then she was met by Omni, my avatar. Meanwhile the brat prepared for battle even though he was aware of the dangers that lie ahead. What will happen this time?
CHAPTER 32: START
"What was that?" Miku exclaimed as she could feel the vibrations coming from outside. The spirit wondered just what was happening to her.
"That would be Kurumi. She's quite good at rampaging. So we sent her out as a distraction" Shido said appearing in front of Miku already clad in his astral dress. The way he was smiling at everything confused the idol even more.
"What the hell is going on? Why are the walls vibrating and why is it that I was one minute away from being raped before that shield got in the way?" Miku demanded. She wanted answers and she wanted them now
"She really needs to relax, doesn't she?" Shido taunted.
"I guess she's stressed because, for once, things aren't going her way." C.C. teased as well.
"ANSWER ME!" Miku screamed in anger.
Since he was running short on time Shido decided to stop messing with the idol and explain what was going on. "Listen carefully, because I'm only gonna explain this once." Shido said calmly. "Thirty years ago, D.E.M tried to attack a giant tree known as Yggdrasil for the powerful crystals that were found on its branches. One of those crystals is inside you actually.
"You don't mean…." Miku said shocked.
"That's right. The source of your spirit power stems from one of Yggdrasil's crystals. Those two, along with the leader of Ratatoskr, another organization in the know, sought out the crystals. When the attack failed the crystals were taken by me, and given to girls like you to keep them safe" C.C revealed.
"So what are you doing now?" Miku asked confused.
"C.C. and I are tasked with retrieving the crystals from the girls and returning them to Yggdrasil. My power was given directly from Yggdrasil's own source of energy. It would be child's play to take the crystal from you but for some reason I chose not to." Shido explained.
"So let me guess, you're saving me because I have this crystal. You wouldn't care otherwise." Miku wondered.
"Pretty much, then again Ellen manipulated you into dragging us here and that helps us. So we're going to use this time to crush her and save you. The other spirits in the boy's possession are helping us fight right now. I must admit I don't personally care what happens to you. Shido, however, decided to save you." C.C. admitted with a hint of amusement.
Miku was shocked. Considering the relationship between the two of them, she couldn't believe he would try to help her. "But why? Why would you help me? Considering everything that's happened, you should hate me?"
Shido looked at the confused idol with a calm expression. "It's simple. I know a few people who were fans of your music. I got a buddy, Tonomachi, who would go crazy if you stopped performing." Shido said calmly. He would never reveal this but Kotori was a fan of Tsukino's and he remembered his adopted sister cried for weeks after her disappearance. Plus the Ai Mii Mai trio liked Miku as well. All in all he was helping his girls out.
"I see. Well let's go. I take it you're going to confront Ellen Mathers next." Miku insisted.
"That's right." Shido said calmly as the group went towards Ellen.
(Outside)
While inside Shido and C.C. were making their way towards where they knew Ellen was waiting, outside Kurumi and the other spirits were causing chaos. The two Yamai and Tohka each went crazy attacking guards but making sure to just knock them out. Kurumi in particular was having fun due to the fact she had faced off against D.E.M many times before her conversion by Shido.
"Ahh! This brings me back to the old days. Fighting with D.E.M, going crazy…." Kurumi trailed off as she hit one of the soldiers with her time freezing bullet."
"Maybe, but the fact is Shido has made things so much better for us." Kaguya said happily. She may not have fought against D.E.M, but she did enjoy a good rampage.
"Agreed. Shido is our savior." Yuzuru said with a smile.
"Hmm, I thought Shido got you to stop that habit of yours, Yuzuru." Kurumi teased.
"Gasp. He did, but he's not around right now." Yuzuru replied. The fun was interrupted when a very familiar face interrupted them.
"So, it's really you, Nightmare. I wondered where you went after all this time." Ryoko, the captain of the AST said sternly. Most of her team was flying next to her, but in truth Ryoko didn't want to fight her at the moment.
"Yes, I've been relaxing thanks to a certain person. He taught me that I can use my powers to protect instead of destroy. That's why I haven't used my best weapon." Kurumi admitted.
"So, somebody managed to tame the mighty Nightmare after all. What kind of person could do that?" Ryoko said snidely.
"That would be me, Ryoko. It's been a while, hasn't it?" Shido said calmly as one of his clones appeared in front of the girls. He soon flew up next to the girls and Ryoko couldn't believe what was happening.
"Shido, what are you doing here?" Ryoko said nervously. Due to her past relations with Shido, plus his connection to Origami, Ryoko wasn't sure what to do.
Flying up to Ryoko, Shido calmly explained what was going on. "Simple version; I'm actually a spirit and I'm the person who stopped the girls and has been trying to help the spirits live a normal life. Well as normal as it is to be a super powered girl. Before you ask, Origami knows what's going on and she understands." Shido explained calmly.
"Why would you work with them? You know what a danger these girls are!" Ryoko pleaded. Despite the situation she kept her weapons down, hoping not to fight against the man who she fell for and that Origami loved.
Flying closer to Ryoko, Shido smiled and revealed a surprising secret. "Ryoko, you may not believe me, but these girls are harmless. In fact it's your masters who are more dangerous."
"Prove it. Prove to me that these girls aren't trying to destroy the world!" Ryoko insisted.
"Very well, just wait patiently." Shido said before kissing her on the lips. Everyone was shocked, both the spirits and the rest of the AST.
"Really Shido? Did you have to kiss her?" Kurumi said teasingly.
"She's so lucky." Kaguya said out loud.
"I agree, Kaguya." Yuzuru responded.
'Oh my god! Origami's boyfriend is kissing me!' Ryoko thought stunned. As they kissed memories started flowing into her mind. She saw memories of the four spirits who were in front of her. She realized that the girls were innocent and simply looking for their place in the world. As the memories stopped, Ryoko looked on stunned at Shido and the girls.
"So now you see what I'm talking about. These girls will stop the minute I ask them to. Right now they're a distraction. The real me is inside rescuing Miku."
"Wait! Miku Izayoi the idol? I thought we were protecting her?" Ryoko said stunned yet again.
"That's what you were told, but it's not the truth; Ellen tricked her, hoping to lure me to this base. For now we'll retreat because by now my real body has reached Ellen. Things are about to end actually" Shido said calmly. Right on cue the spirits dropped their guard. It was an action that proved these girls were harmless. Unfortunately one more person arrived to interrupt the proceedings.
"Hah! I knew that you girls couldn't cut it. That's why Ike sent me over just in case." A young red-headed woman said with a berserk look in her eyes. She was wearing a realizer just like the one Origami used at the pool but this one was red.
"Hmm….so who's this nutcase?" Shido said annoyed.
"Her name is Jessica. She's one of the tougher pilots in the organization. Though you should let me deal with this one, big brother." Mana Takamiya said arriving on a similar mech, but was the version Origami used before.
"Hah! I never thought I'd see the day that I was being protected by you, Mana." Kurumi said sarcastically.
"For once we agree. Now get out of here Kurumi!" Mana ordered.
"Fine, but only because you used my actual name." Kurumi teased as she and the other spirits started to fly away.
"GET BACK HERE!" Jessica shouted firing missiles at the girls. Fortunately for the girls, Shido blocked them with an electromagnetic pulse.
"Not gonna work. Now, little sis, you'll get first crack, but if you fail I'm taking her out" Shido said insistently.
"Fine, big bro but, I won't fail." Mana said as the battle between the two roared to life.
(Inside)
"So the battles outside have gotten fun." Shido said with a smile having heard what happened. Shido, CC, and Miku were on their way up towards where Ellen was staying, and to Shido's surprise nobody was opposing them.
"Wait a minute, why is nobody coming to stop us?" Miku said worriedly.
"The idol has a point, and we need to stop for a second because we have other things to discuss." C.C. said calmly. Something had been bothering her for a while and it seemed it was time to address them.
"What's wrong, C.C.? There's something you're not telling us, isn't there?" Shido said sternly.
"It's something I need to ask our idol friend." C.C. said turning to Miku with a suspicious eye.
"What do you want to know Omni?" Miku asked angrily. She was still hesitant in trusting the two but the fact that they were helping her made her give them the benefit of the doubt.
"How many people outside of Shido here know that you are the revived Tsukino?" C.C. asked with a concern.
"What in the world do you mean by that. The only person who knows that I'm Tsukino is that bastard producer and whoever he's told. I'm guessing Shido here told the other spirits so that's it." Miku said angrily.
When C.C. heard that news she instantly got nervous. Something had been bothering C.C. ever since before she attacked her as Omni, and although she didn't know what it was now she realized what it was. "Listen, before we confront Ellen, we need to get Miku out of here." C.C. said sternly.
"What's wrong, C.C.? What are you thinking?" Shido asked curiously.
"I'm thinking that what Ellen did made no sense." C.C. said carefully.
Shido thought for a second and his eyes widened upon a realization. "Miku, you said Ellen made a deal with you. Where did she make that deal?" Shido said sternly.
"She was in my apartment waiting for me." Miku said carefully.
"Who else knows where you live?" Shido asked sternly. Shido began to realize just what was bugging C.C. and he also began to freak out.
"My assistant, Clarissa. She's the only one who's allowed into my house" Miku said sternly.
"That clinches it. I'm taking her home." C.C. said sternly before grabbing the idol and holding her tightly.. Something was very wrong and if she was right having Miku here would be a disaster.
"Why are you doing this? Why are you taking me away?" Miku said struggling to break free. Her distrust of the two returned and the fact that they were hiding something was a massive concern.
C.C. paused because she figured the idol deserved an explanation. "Because little girl, that means that assistant of yours is a spy for D.E.M." C.C. said to Miku's shock.
"You're lying. You're just saying that so I'll drop my guard and you can have your way with me." Miku said angrily.
"How many times have I told you Miku? If I wanted to fuck you, I would've done it by now. I'm starting to think you want me to do it." Shido said sternly causing C.C. to chuckle and Miku to blush. "Tell me this, Miku; if the only person who knows your secret is me, how did Ellen know to use the producer who caused your trouble back as an idol? Even I wasn't aware of that little detail." Shido paused letting Miku realize the importance of what he said. "You get it now? D.E.M is smart enough to know that the spirits are almost all women. They probably have sleeper agents in the schools in case of situations like yours. They probably recognized you were a spirit a long time ago and they prepared for that."
Miku paused as what Shido had said made far more sense. The fact is, Clarissa could've found out the truth. It would be very easy to do the rest. "Why though? Why would Clarissa do this to me?"
"Don't worry about that, let us deal with D.E.M and then you can discuss all the other stuff later" C.C. said grabbing her and this time she wasn't stopping until the idol was back at Shido's house.
"Wait C.C., don't do it." Shido said sternly. He had a plan and it was very risky but it could clinch things.
"Are you insane? If we bring her along, you will regret it." C.C. said calmly. Now it was clear that C.C. was the one hiding something.
"Maybe so, but Miku is the stubborn type. A lesson in pain will be good for her." Shido said with a cold expression.
"Fine! But WHEN this goes wrong, I'm going to say "I told you so."." C.C. said as she let the idol go.
"Alright then, let's get going. We have an organization to destroy." Shido said happily. The group kept walking and finally made their way to the floor where Shido sensed Ellen was waiting. To Shido's surprise the metal door was open as though they were expected and he walked through. Unsurprisingly Ellen was waiting for him in the clear room with her battle suit on.
"Hello there, Shido. Have you missed me?" Ellen said happily.
"Not at all. Though I must admit, I think Tonomachi does. He kept bragging about how he fucked you silly during the trip." Shido said with a smirk.
"You damn bastard!" Ellen cursed angrily. Her anger faded when she noticed that he had brought Miku along "Ah, Miku, I'm glad you're doing okay." Ellen said with a sarcastic smile.
"Spare me, you witch. You lied to me, you tricked me. I was nearly raped by that bastard thanks to you!" Miku cursed.
Ellen smiled to herself realizing what had happened. She was caught so she decided to have her fun. "Well I did lie, and I did trick you. It's amazing that somebody could be so naive." Ellen laughed.
"Oh, come on Ellen, it's not her fault. Miku always has been gullible. Her power made her arrogant, and thanks to that, she never expected somebody to catch her off guard." a voice said walking into the room nearby Ellen. Miku was shocked when she recognized the person.
"It can't be? What are you doing here, Clarissa?" Miku asked shaking in her boots. The person who walked into the room in full battle gear was her assistant Clarissa.
That's it for Chapter 32 and this one was fun. Clarissa being a spy for D.E.M is one of those twists and I hoped you enjoyed it. But there's far more to come. Next chapter Clarissa's betrayal leads to devastating consequences for Shido and gang.