Chapter 23

—-Tsubasa's POV—-

"Hey Onee-sama I got you the tea you wanted." Ayako says, trotting over with a can in each hand.

I smile down at her and pat her head, which she nuzzles against happily. Chuckling softly and I take the can from her and walk toward one of the empty benches in the park and sit down, patting the seat next to me for Ayako to sit in. She settles down next to me and I pop my can open then reach around her and pull her closer to me. "Don't tell me you're too embarrassed to sit next to your Onee-sama." I tease her a bit before taking a sip. "Thanks for coming with me today Ayako, it's a lot nicer to have company with me than doing this alone."

"It's no problem Onee-sama. There's no school today so I'd just be working on my VR set. Going out with Onee-sama is way better than staying in my workshop all day." She replies and opens up her can of soda.

I frown a little and take another sip. "Huh, I thought you were gonna get some juice. Aren't you supposed to ask if you can have soda?"

"Oh come on Onee-sama, I'm not a little kid. There's nothing wrong with me having soda when I want." She scoffs and takes another sip. I reach up and pinch her cheek, giving it a little pull which causes her to flail and whine in response.

"You know better than that Ayako. If you had asked I would have let you have soda, but you have to remember to ask ok? If not, you know bad girls get punishment." I tell her sternly. She rubs her cheek and nods her head apologetically to which I lean in and kiss the top of her head. "Good girl, now what shall we do first? We have clothes shopping or the hardware store."

She leans her head against me and hums quietly to herself for a moment. "As much as I want to go to the hardware store and pick up my parts that we ordered, I don't wanna carry it all day, so the clothing store would probably be better."

"I can always send them home, so how about we go to the hardware store first? That way we can make sure all the parts are there. Also I'm going to find you a few new outfits when we get there. The weather is getting a bit cooler and it's almost time for winter. So be ready to try on some clothes yourself." She groans, causing me to laugh and hug her tightly.

"Onee-sama my clothes from last year fit fine." She complains.

"Now now, let me spoil you Ayako. If you agree to try on whatever I pick out for you we can share a changing room, deal?" I smirk as she gasps in excitement and nods her head quickly. "Good, let's get going." She hops to her feet and I give her a playful smack on the ass as I get up too.

She latches onto my arm, pouting up at me for smacking her but I just smile back, knowing full well she liked it. She clings to me the whole way to the store, only letting go when we step foot inside and an employee approaches us. "Thank you for coming to Brainwave PC. Is there anything in particular you are looking for?" The man asks.

"Yes, we actually placed an order online to have some specialty parts delivered to your store for pickup. It should be under the name Tenshima." I tell him as Ayako slips away to peruse the rest of the small specialty store.

"Ahh, I remember your name now. You ordered a lot of specific parts. I can't help but wonder what you're gonna do with them." He comments as he pulls up the order list on his computer.

"I wish I could tell you, but they aren't for me, they're for my little sister." I explain, causing him to look up at me from his computer before directing his gaze to Ayako, who is checking out a particularly large custom PC build.

"Miss, you do realize how expensive these parts are right? I understand kids wanting to build computers, but some of these pieces don't belong in computers, and others are so expensive and powerful that it's a bit ridiculous to put them in a home computer. What I'm getting at is, are you sure you want to spend this much for parts for your little sister?" He asks, obviously confused.

"Trust me, my sister will put these to good use. Ayako, the clerk thinks it's a mistake to buy these parts, do you want to tell him what you're gonna use it for?" She trots over as I call out to her and glances from me to the clerk.

She gives a small shrug. "I'm using these parts to build the last part of my Full Dive VR machine. We'll probably come back for more parts at some point, it's not done yet."

"That's a pretty good joke, but that kinda technology doesn't exist."

"It doesn't exist right now. I'm thinking another month or so and I think I might have it. Of course I won't be able to mass produce it for a long time. I gotta test run it and work out all the bugs. Once that's done I have to upgrade and improve. After that I suppose I could consider actually getting it made enmass." She finishes explaining and I have to stifle my laugh at his dumbfounded face.

"Come on Ayako, let's get going, we still have one more stop." I hold out my hand and she holds it, lacing her fingers with mine. Before we get out of the store the Spatial Quake alarm goes off.

Ayako looks at me sharply and I shake my head, indicating that there aren't any Spatial Disturbances happening anywhere. She pulls out her phone and quickly dials Kotori. "Hey what's going on? Is there another Spirit appearing?" She asks, I lean in to listen as we make for the nearest shelter.

"Good timing Ayako. No there isn't a Spirit. It seems that Origami did this herself to empty the city. She's currently attacking Tohka and the Yamai sisters in the forest outside of town. Is there any chance you can go give them a hand? The Fraxinus is currently engaged with one of DEM's ships and can't get to them." Kotori says quickly before Ayako can fully comprehend what's being told to her.

"Hold on, slow down Kotori. It's just Origami, there's no way she'll be able to beat the three of them by herself, even in their weakened state."

"Origami's magic power has increased a lot somehow, she also has new armor from DEM. The girls just aren't safe dealing with her alone right now."

"Alright, where is Shido, Yoshino, and Natsumi?"

"We don't know where Shido is, he went missing earlier today, though I assume it's because of Origami. As for Yoshino and Natsumi, they made their way to one of the shelters when the alarms went off, they should be safe. So can you go stop Origami?" She asks again.

Ayako glances over at me and I nod my head. I portal our bag of parts back to the house. "Yea I'll head over there right now." She hangs up the phone. "Can I get a ride Onee-sama?"

"No can do. We both know that I can't send you there right now, not with so much attention on them. Now come hug me and fly us there." I instruct her.

"Wait you're coming with?" She asks, surprised.

"Of course. Today is our day out together so I'm going with you. Now come on we have to stop Origami before she seriously hurts any of them." With that prompting Ayako grabs me and takes off, flying through the air as fast as she can as I direct her on the fastest way to get there with the help of my remote viewing.

"How's the battle going Onee-sama?" She asks.

"Tohka and the others are pretty battered and banged up, but it seems Tohka managed to steal most of her power back from Shido and is fighting with Origami. They're surprisingly evenly matched, however I feel with how long this battle has dragged on, Origami will reach her limit soon." I inform Ayako right before Tohka hits Origami out of the air and through the forest.

"So then there's no reason to go anymore right? The fighting is just about done."

"Ayako, you need to pick up the pace now. Full speed if you can, something bad is about to happen." I tell her ominously as I watch Origami laying on the ground. Damn it, why is she here now? Phantom just what are you doing with Origami? I bite my lip as a large crystal appears over Origami and I hear the distorted voice of Phantom promising power to the beaten down girl. "Drop me and get ready for a fight. A powerful Spirit is about to appear." I warn as powerful Spirit Waves reach us both. I break Ayako's hold on me and drop safely to the forest below as Ayako rushes toward the girls.

I watch with my remote viewing as Origami appears once again, this time clad in an Astral Dress. "Tohka Yatogami, I will defeat you. Metatron."

"Origami, how did you become a Spirit?" Tohka demands as mechanical bits appear around Origami.

"A Spirit? This changes nothing, I'll use this power to wipe out all Spirits, and once I'm done, I'll kill myself." She says matter of factly. "Metatron, Shemesh!"

Her bits swirl around her, gathering light particles to unleash a torrent of energy at Tohka right as Ayako arrives. "Origami!" Ayako fires a bolt of electricity at the newly born spirit, cutting her attack off as she defends herself.

"It looks like I don't have to hunt you down Ayako. Now I'll wipe you and Tohka out together." Origami declares.

"Tohka stay back, I'll deal with Origami." Ayako tells Tohka, noticing that the other Spirit is already fairly exhausted.

I watch as Ayako and Origami battle in the skies over the forest, a prideful smile on my face. "Aren't you worried Ayako can't win? Origami seems quite powerful now." The teasing voice of Kurumi sounds behind.

For once I don't turn to acknowledge my adorable psychopath, instead keeping my eyes on the battle between Ayako and Origami, which mainly consisted of Ayako blocking every attack Origami threw at her with ease. "You shouldn't be here Kurumi, especially not where people can see you with me."

"Aww don't be like that Tsubasa. I'm bored and the only interesting thing going on is this battle over here." I can hear the pout in Kurumi's voice and resist the urge to chuckle.

"I'm serious Kurumi, you need to get out of here. If you don't then I'll have to punish you accordingly." I warn her.

"Fine, I'll see you tonight then." With barely a whisper Kurumi vanishes into her shadow, leaving me alone again to watch the fight unfold. Thanks to Ayako's experience with her powers the battle was fairly one sided with Origami getting frustrated by the fact no matter what she did Ayako made her attacks ineffective.

Ayako is almost like her natural enemy. Remote turrets vs remote shields it comes down to skill. Sure Origami is strong, but Ayako is too quick for her.

Shido brings the fight to a halt right as Ayako and Origami are charging up their powerful attacks. "Ayako, Origami, stop this!" His cries cause them to hesitate and Origami quickly flees the area. "What's gotten into her…" I walk toward them as Ayako lands beside Shido.

"I don't know, but she certainly didn't seem like herself. She was fighting to kill, but she is the least of your worries right now. You should focus on getting these three to the hospital right now." She advises him. He agreed, giving a brief thanks before saying goodbye to Ayako and giving me a quick wave then leaves.

"You did pretty good Ayako. Origami couldn't find any opening in your battle. I'm impressed." I ruffle her air and she giggles in response.

"Honestly it wasn't that hard, just my shields were enough to keep her in check. Even though she was new to her power she was pretty good with it. Not as good as me, but enough that I was surprised." She confesses.

"It's not a surprise. She has experience fighting and she is pretty smart." I comment as we start making our way back to the city.

"Onee-sama, do you know how Origami became a Spirit all of a sudden?" She asks.

"Yea, right before I had you drop me I located Origami in the woods. While I was watching her the first Spirit, Phantom, appeared before her and gave her a Sephira Crystal." I look around before blipping us back home.

"Onee-sama, what do you know about Phantom? Do you know where she came from?" Ayako sits down next to me and I reach over and pull her into my lap.

"I do, I was there when she first appeared." I answer her, petting her hair absentmindedly. "How about instead of some TV I tell you that story? It happened when you were still in your coma, but it's something you should know." She nods and rests her head against my shoulder as I close my eyes.

I stepped out of the warm room and sighed softly to myself. Still no changes with Ayako, though I guess that's to be expected. It's not like there have been any noticeable changes since we arrived, but I hope she doesn't keep me waiting too long. I shook my head and made my way outside into the cool night. It's certainly lovely tonight. I smiled and turned my gaze to the starry sky.

A ripple of Spatial energy tore through the air and I spun around in the direction it originated from. What the hell is going on? I've never felt anything like this before. I zeroed in on the epicenter of the disturbance and blip to that location. I hid in the shadows as I watched.

"It's working! The Spirit Formula is working!" I narrowed my eyes as I picked Westcott out in the darkness with two others with him.

So he ended up using the Spirit Formula that I helped him make. That fool, but it's too late to stop it from happening now. I probably could've stopped him, but I couldn't endanger Ayako…

The space continued to warp and distort in front of them until an entity appeared, a lone woman, the birth of the first Spirit.

I took a deep breath and warped back to my home before anyone would notice me. She was strong, dangerously so. There's no telling what would have happened if we fought now. I'm sure I could take her, but there's no telling the repercussions of a confrontation of that magnitude. I walked back into Ayako's room and gently brushed some hair from her face. And there's no telling what would happen to Ayako if I fought that being. For now it's best if I just keep an eye on her from a distance. No need for me to take unnecessary risks for now.

I open my eyes and look down at Ayako, who is almost purring in satisfaction as I subconsciously scratched her head while recounting the story. I smile down at her affectionately and tilt her head back. Her eyes crack open a bit at the readjustment to see me lean down and capture her lips in a warm kiss. It only lasts for a second before I straighten up. "That's how Phantom came to be. It was my fault, I could have stopped all of this, but I was more concerned for us."

"Well I don't think it matters now. You did what you thought was best Onee-sama, so there's no point in worrying about it." She responds and snuggles against me harder.

I chuckle softly. "I wouldn't change what I did even if I could, because what I chose was to protect you." I shift her up higher in my lap and nuzzle my face into her neck as we continue to cuddle.