-Ayako's POV-
"Kotori! Kotori!" Shido screams as the Inverse Origami blasts the Fraxinus, causing it to fall from the sky. He moves to step forward, but gasps in surprise as he almost falls and starts to sink into the ground. "What is this?" He starts to struggle against the red and black form he is slowly sinking into.
A wicked giggle sounds behind him. "Why hello, long time no see Shido."
"Kurumi! What are you trying to pull at a time like this?!" He demands as she walks past him, ignoring his struggles.
"Oh my, could it be that you've forgotten what my personal goal actually is?" She asks, a devious grin on her face. "At a time like this you say, well if you think about it, what better time is there, right? I can't be expected to let an opportunity like this just slip away."
"I'm begging you Kurumi, please don't get in my way." He says, still struggling to pull himself off the ground. "I have to save them, I have to get up there and save Origami!"
"Let it go Shido, you can't save Origami, not as she is now." I tell him, finally making myself known as I walk around in front of him.
"Ayako? What are you doing here, and why are you with Kurumi?" He asks, struggling more forcefully. "Please you have to help me, with you two we should be able to stop Origami and get her back to normal."
"No one's voice is going to reach her as she is now Shido, including you. I wonder what she saw on her little trip through time." Kurumi muses while we both ignore Shido's struggling.
"It doesn't matter Kurumi, we've wasted enough time standing around here talking. Do what needs to be done."
"Alright alright, let's get this party started, Zafkiel!" Her clock appears behind her and she points her gun at Shido.
"Ayako stop her, this is crazy!" Shido begs, but he finally stops struggling as he realises he has no chance of escaping Kurumi's shadow. I ignore his pleas for help as Kurumi shoots herself, causing Shido to flinch in surprise, she then points her guns at us. Shido screams at the guns fire, pitching us both into darkness.
Shido pulls himself to his feet with a pained groan and looks around in confusion at the sudden change of scenery. "What's going on? Shouldn't all the buildings be destroyed?" He starts walking toward the exit of the park he found himself in but stops as he sees Miss Tamae. "Miss Tamae!" He calls out and runs over to her, startling her a bit.
"Uh hi. How is it exactly that you know my name?" She asks with uncertainty.
"What are you talking about? It's me, Shido Itsuka."
"Oh wait, are you actually trying to hit on me? That's very flattering, but I'm busy and need to go now. Have a good day." She turns and walks away, leaving Shido watching her, speechless at what just happened.
"I don't get it, that was her."
"Looks like he's as confused as I thought he'd be, I win the bet Ayako." Kurumi's teasing voice sounds inside Shido's head.
I land next to him, startling him a bit as I grumble softly. "We didn't bet on anything, Kurumi. I agreed that he would have no idea what's going on, so I don't owe you anything." I tell her angrily and she just cackles with glee.
"Hold on, what's going on here? Why did you show up together at the hospital and where are we? That was Miss Tamae but she didn't recognize me."
"Shido, the reason Origami went Inverse was because Kurumi sent her into the past. She came back to try to stop her parents from being killed by a Spirit." I explain to him. "The way she was in our time, there was no way to stop her unless we killed her. So instead of that, I made Kurumi send us both back to the great fire 5 years ago. The only way to deal with what's happening in the present, is to help Origami here and now."
"Exactly right! Not a bad summary Ayako." Kurumi applauds me mockingly. "You don't have long, so I suggest you split up and search for Origami." She advises.
"Considering her parents died in the fire, the residential district would be the best place for you to look, Shido. I'm going to see if there isn't something I can do about Origami, from our time, coming here."
"Right, be careful Ayako." I give him a high five before he runs off.
"Now where should I begin." I wonder aloud before turning to walk away and run face first into something warm and soft. It has a comforting and familiar scent and made me relax almost instantly.
Familiar arms wrap me in a tight embrace, pulling me close into their chest. "I don't know how, but you're here, you're ok." Tsubasa says, her voice choked with emotion.
"O-Onee-sama!" I wiggle around a bit so I can look up at her. I stare up at her, completely overwhelmed by the look of pure joy and relief on her face as she holds me tight against her.
She rests her head on top of mine and rocks us together gently, not saying a word as she just enjoys holding me. "Let's go somewhere quiet to talk." She mumbles. I nod my head and she blips us back to our house and she has me sit down at the dining room table. "Would you like something to drink, tea, water?" She offers.
"Water please." I ask, somewhat awkwardly. This is weird, it's Onee-sama, but it feels so different. She gives off a different vibe then in my time, even before she started fucking me. I wonder if it's because I'm here.
Tsubasa places a cup in front of me then sits down across from me, a fresh cup of tea in her hands. We sit quietly for a moment as she slowly sips her tea, before finally returning her attention to me. "There's no doubt in my mind you are Ayako, I could tell the instant I saw you you were her, but how is that possible? She is still unconscious in her room."
I stare at her for a moment then start to giggle. "As expected from Onee-sama, you know I'm really me and yet you aren't freaking out." I take a moment to get over my laughing fit. "To answer your question, I'm Ayako from 5 years in the future."
She stares at me thoughtfully for a moment and I can't decide if she believes me or not before she seems to realize something. "I see, you convinced Kurumin to let you use her powers of time manipulation and travel back into the past." She summarizes.
"You know Kurumi already?" I blink in surprise at how accurate she was in her guess.
"Kurumin and I have been acquainted for some time, though our relationship hasn't always been so… friendly. Recently though we have warmed up to each other more. Though she'd never admit it, I'd say we are friends now. It's curious she would help you out though." She peers at me intently. "Tell me, when do you wake up?"
I give an apologetic sigh. "It'll be another 2 years or so before I wake up unfortunately." I tell her, but she smiles happily.
"That's wonderful. Honestly you coming here is the best news I've ever gotten. I was worried you would never wake up, but now I'm relieved. You look healthy and happy." She takes a long drink of her tea. "Now then, why did you come back 5 years?"
I quickly explain to Tsubasa about Shido and his ability to seal Spirits. "One of his friends became a Spirit to get revenge on all Spirits for her parents getting killed by one today. She came back in time and something happened, causing her to Inverse and now she is going wild and hurting our friends, so we came back to help fix things."
"Ayako." She says sharply, causing me to sit up straight in attention. I stare at her, worried by the stern expression on her face. "Time travel is no joke, coming back here could be a very dangerous mistake. You could very well change the future in unimaginable ways by coming back here. For all you know you could have increased your own coma!" She reprimands me and I shrink back in my chair.
"Hold on! I couldn't kill one of my friends, no matter what! You sent me to school, knowing full well I didn't need to go so I could make friends with others. If there is a way for me to save Origami I'm going to do it! And even if I didn't Shido would have come without me. Honestly the only reason I've spent so much time with you rather than helping him is because I trust that he will get the job done with or without me. So either take me to the epicenter of all this, or let me go without any trouble." I lock my gaze with hers, trying to convey my seriousness and conviction.
She holds my gaze silently for several moments before sighing and shaking her head. "It seems making you go to school was the right choice after all." She starts to laugh, and I relax as I see the serious tension leave her. "Before, you'd never talk back to me like that, you were the sweetest angel." She pauses and I flinch a little waiting for the 'but'. "And you still are, but it makes me feel good that you are thinking about your friends and yourself so much now. It makes me proud to see how much you've grown just 5 years from now."
"Onee-sama…" I stare at her, a loss for words as she stands up and puts our cup in the sink.
She walks over and holds out her hand, which I take and she pulls me to my feet. "Alright, have it your way you selfish little girl." Despite her words, she is smiling at me. She pulls me into a hug and warps us over the residential district, which is already on fire. "I've been keeping an eye on what's going on. From everything you've explained the first Spirit has just made your friend's sister into a Spirit, and it looks like your other friend is battling first now, not that she'll win." With a wave of her hand she opens several viewing ports, showing Origami fighting Phantom, and Shido rushing through the streets looking for Origami and her parents. "The most I can do is help you direct your friend to the right place, I don't want you getting involved in this. If you change something it could affect you in the future, and I can't allow that."
I nod in understanding and call Shido. "Shido, I've located Origami's parents, and our Origami is fighting Phantom. I've run into some difficulties so I can't do anything, but I can direct you to where Origami's parents are." I quickly give him instructions before hanging up. "Thanks for letting me do that at least, Onee-sama."
"If I hadn't agreed to that much, I'm pretty sure we'd be fighting not talking right now." She chuckles.
"No way, I'd never fight you Onee-sama." I tell her waving the idea away with my hand.
"Ayako, times almost up. You'd better say goodbye to Tsubasa now, you're going to return to your time momentarily." Kurumi's voice chirps in my head. "Also you didn't see it, but Shido saved Origami's parents from a stray lazer from Spirit Origami, however it obliterated him. I wouldn't worry about him too much though, his past self is fine so he'll be ok." She informs me.
I let out a sigh and move so I'm floating in front of Tsubasa. "Seems my time here is just about over. I'll be returning shortly."
"Did your friend complete his mission?" She asks
"Seems like it. I'll see you soon Onee-sama. Take care of yourself for the next few years, we both know you're helpless without me." I joke. I lean in and kiss her softly, much to her surprise then fade away, leaving Tsubasa floating there alone.
"Ara ara, I wonder, just what kind of relationship do we have in the future." She ponders aloud, a sly smile on her face.
