A/N: I'm back! I am quite pleased when I find Rio's debut is received quite well by you!
Now with Chapter 7, "Her Name Is Rio".
"Papa?"
As the little girl in front of him asked, she leaned her petite body closer to Shido.
"Are you okay?"
Hearing the question, Shido snapped back to reality.
"Uh, um... yeah, I think I'm okay.
"Wait, no!"
He immediately recalled what was happening in front of his eyes.
"Wait, wait, wait..."
Shido closed his eyes as he frantically moved his hands in front of him as to tell the girl not to get closer.
"Papa...?"
As the girl spoke again, more concerned this time, Shido opened his eyes slightly, taking a peek at the little girl.
"She really does look like her... Sonogami Rinne..."
Shido could tell his brain was overloading again. He was already confused with the events of this evening, then losing consciousness tonight. And it was topped of by this.
But since he didn't pass out again, he supposed he could at least talk with the girl.
"Okay... first of all, who are you?"
The girl titled her head to her side, as if confused.
"Um... Papa's daughter?"
Shido blushed a little. He was embarrassed of being referred to as Papa, but it confused him just as much.
"And... why do you call me 'Papa'?"
"Because I was born from Papa."
"Eh?"
Shido raised his brow at that statement. His attention was fully on her now.
"Born from me? What is she talking about?"
"Okay, can you explain about that? What did I do to give birth to you?"
The girl seemed to be slightly upset from Shido's words.
"Papa, you didn't create me alone. There's Mama, too!"
"Ma, Mama? Who?"
Although asking, somewhere in his mind Shido already had a vague idea of the mother of this girl.
"Don't tell me...it's Rinne?"
"Yeah! Papa shouldn't forget about Mama!"
Shido put a palm on his face. He was processing the situation.
"Okay. What kind of situation I'm trapped in, now?"
After a moment, Shido tossed his blanket aside and stood up from the bed.
"Papa? Where are you going?"
"Kotori and Reine-san. I'm sure they can explain about you."
"I'm done with the reports."
Origami's voice sounded like she was still in the AST, reporting to her higher ups.
"I see. Good work, Origami. How's the others?"
"Yatogami Tohka, Yoshino and Natsumi have fallen asleep. The Yamais are in their room, although considering the noise they are probably not asleep yet. Izayoi Miku have returned to her home."
Even though Origami explained in a matter-of-fact manner, Kotori didn't pay much attention to the status report as she was pondering about the stalking mission results.
Tokisaki Kurumi and Sonogami Rinne were just enjoying the festival for fun. That was the conclusion the stalkers reached to.
It was supposed to be normal, since they were both girls. But the problem with this theory was how abnormal both the targets were.
Even though Nia said that each and every Spirit used to be human, Kotori could barely believe that's the case with the Nightmare Spirit. She had not shown a single humanizing emotion or action in all her appearances before.
But this mission proved otherwise. Although Kotori didn't like it, Shido was right. Perhaps she wasn't beyond salvation.
As for Rinne... whom the Ratatoskr had given the code-name [Ruler] befitting her appearance, Kotori couldn't say anything. They had too little information about her, let alone evaluate whether her actions were normal or not.
On the plus side, she seemed much less threatening than Kurumi. From Shido's report and the stalking today, her actions and temper were easily the most stable among Spirits known so far.
On the other hand, she couldn't get why would such a person hang out with... heck, even getting along well with Kurumi. They were almost polar opposites, and yet their friendship appeared too natural to be faked.
"And then there's this... fear coming from her... just what the heck is up with her?"
"Itsuka Kotori?"
"Huh? Yeah?"
As soon as she heard Origami called her name, Kotori's mind was snapped back to reality.
"Have you seen Ruler's face?"
"Yeah, I did. What about it?"
At the other side, Origami seemed to hesitate for a moment, but she continued.
"...Do you feel anything from her?"
Kotori raised an eyebrow. Yeah, she did feel weird seeing her, but she hadn't told anyone about it.
"Oh, then Origami too..."
"Are you saying some sort of fear? Yeah, I did. You too?"
"So you also felt it. May I ask another question then? Do you know what it is?"
Kotori scratched the back of her head.
"No, actually... it might be related to her powers, or some other unseen factors entirely."
"I see..."
Kotori wanted to say more, but it was then that she realized just how tired she was, as she let out a yawn.
"I suppose let's call it a night. Good work, and have some rest. You still have school tomorrow, after all."
"I could say the same to you. I was a soldier, and I'm more used to sleepless nights. Sleep well."
After she cut off the communication line, Kotori left the chair and subsequently, the room.
As she went out of the Fraxinus' hangar, she walked down the underground hallway leading to the medical rooms.
"Is he up, yet?"
Thinking about Shido, Kotori wondered as she walked slowly.
However, as soon as she turned right past a corner, she found the person she was looking for.
With a familiar-looking girl on his back, riding him piggyback style.
Kotori widened her eyes, and immediately raised her guard.
"Shi... Shido?"
"Kotori?"
"Wh, who is that girl behind you?"
"Err... I can't explain about that."
However, the girl on his back interjected.
"Papa, you are so mean! I'm Papa's daughter!"
Shido's expression turned into one of horror as Kotori threw him a death glare.
"What did she say...? Daughter...? Shido had done that...?"
Kotori took a look at the girl on his back. Young, but not infant. Which meant Shido had been hiding her for years.
All of Kotori's concern for Shido a few moments ago was replaced by flames of anger. And probably jealousy too a bit.
"Shido... you had a daughter?"
"Wa, wait, no, she doesn't mean it that way! Oh my-"
"You monster!"
Not giving Shido a chance to say anything, Kotori spun around to land one of her feet on Shido's jaw.
However, after a few moments her foot didn't feel like it had hit a hard surface.
Kotori found that the girl on Shido's back had effortlessly caught her kick, while still holding on Shido.
Both Kotori and Shido himself widened their eyes in surprise, especially since she didn't look strong enough to do so.
"No one hurts Papa when I'm around."
The little girl said in a threatening tone. Her eyes were staring daggers at Kotori.
Kotori wanted to pull her foot back, but the little girl wasn't letting her go.
"What kind of strength this kid had? Only Spirits could have this kind of power!"
"Apologize to Papa! Then I'll let you go!"
As surprised as she was, Kotori didn't expect that from the little girl.
"What? Why?"
"You were about to hurt Papa, so shouldn't you be sorry?"
"Urg..."
As much as she would hate to admit it, this girl was right. Kotori didn't give Shido any chance to explain before she tried to kick him.
"I suppose she is right... I let my temper got the best out of me again."
Kotori bowed her head as much as she could with one leg.
"I'm sorry, Shido."
"Ah, it's fine."
The little girl smiled at the exchange, and let Kotori's foot go.
As Kotori was back to her two feet, she inhaled a deep breath to calm herself down.
"So, Shido, do you have anything to explain to me?"
Back to her usual commander persona, Kotori spoke with a professional tone.
Shido sighed.
"I said it... I can't."
"Sorry, did I make you wait?"
Reine said that as the Fraxinus control room's door opened before her.
She was clad in her usual Ratatoskr uniform. The analyst was rarely called by Kotori through a message this late, so she figured it would be duty-related.
As soon as she was inside, she quickly scanned the room.
Kotori was sitting on her captain chair, while Shido, and a little girl on her back, was beside the captain's seat.
Reine squinted her eyes.
"Who is this...?"
"Ah, Reine. Sorry to call you at this hour, but you didn't sleep, right?"
"It's part of my job. Pay no heed."
As soon as she and Kotori exchanged the initial greeting, Reine turned her gaze to Shido, or rather, the girl with him.
"And who is this?"
It was Kotori who answered the question.
"And that's what we want you to analyze."
Shido went on explaining about what had been happening since he woke up until now.
Kotori frowned more and more as she listened to the story while the girl they had been talking about seemed to be utterly confused... about what should be confused over.
"I see..."
The analyst touched her chin with her hand, processing the whole information.
"So, could you please run a check on her?"
"Of course."
As Kotori asked her the obvious, Reine then quickly approached Shido, a move which neither Shido or Kotori were expecting.
Her face was a few centimeters away from Shido's, prompting Shido to lose his composure in embarrassment.
"Um, Reine-san?"
"Shin's daughter, I take it?"
Seeing as Reine ignored Shido, the Itsuka siblings then understood her intentions. She was focusing on the girl, not him.
Kotori didn't appear to like it when Reine acknowledged her as Shido's daughter, though.
"Yeah?" The little girl responded to Reine's call.
"May I run a few checks on your body? I promise it won't hurt." Reine asked.
"Um, I think? Papa, may I?"
The little girl whispered to Shido's ears in front of her.
"A-ah, you may."
Clearly not ready to act as a father, Shido merely gave an awkward permission. Reine smiled a bit at that.
Shido knelt as to allow the girl's short legs to reach the floor comfortably.
"Uh, Reine-san, may I go with you?"
"I suppose it's fine. Captain?"
"I'll go, too."
The midnight had passed and the anime festival had ended half an hour ago.
Having nothing more to do, Rinne and Kurumi found themselves returning to the cemetery of Tenguu City once more.
Even though it was the darkest hour of the day, with the moon hidden by the clouds, the two Spirits didn't have a problem with walking around. Mostly because their glowing red eyes were more than enough to give them sight.
Kurumi was clad in her Astral Dress once more, stepping on top of a grave. Her clock eye was looking around, staring at the Web of Causality she wished she could read. Meanwhile, Rinne was concentrating on reading the Strings, deep in thought.
"Okay... so, you said something was born from Shido-san. What?"
"I can't quite explain it. The readings indicate it is a Spirit, but..."
Rinne hesitated to continue, confused by the events she was reading. Meanwhile, Kurumi raised a brow.
"Spirit? How does he produce a Spirit?"
"I'm not quite sure about the cause, but I think I can explain the process."
"Enlighten me, then."
Kurumi then put her hands on an akimbo, while Rinne turned from the dark hole where the Strings of Fate emerged to Kurumi's direction.
"Kurumi, you do remember that the powers of every Spirit Shido sealed are stored within him, right?"
"Of course. That's the reason why I want to eat him, after all."
Despite sounding ominous, and was complemented by Kurumi's devious smirk, Rinne merely chuckled at that.
"You just wanted his power, all right."
Rinne decided to continue. "You know, Spirit powers are extremely reactive to emotions. Do you remember how much trouble Shido gets into -multiple times- because of his harem's instability?"
"Now that you mention it, even Westcott discovered Tohka-san because of Yoshino-san was watching a stupid drama and Origami-san being so possessive of Shido-san." Kurumi put a finger on her chin.
Rinne laughed in response. She remembered, of course, just a few days before Shido met the Yamais. Although that led to Westcott and Ellen noticing Shido's existence, Rinne was thoroughly amused by how Fate played their hands that day. It was almost too ridiculous to believe.
Fortunately for Rinne, Kurumi seemed to already understand what she was about to explain.
"Oh, I see... you are saying, that if a single Spirit could cause rains and storms when they lose control over their powers, then Shido-san with 8 Spirits would be..."
"Devastating, of course."
Rinne smiled nervously, while Kurumi rolled her eyes, as if saying 'I should have thought of this before.'
However, the Nightmare Spirit then questioned again.
"But then a really massive disaster should happen. Why producing a Spirit, instead?"
"Most likely because Shido is a special case. He isn't a Spirit. Just a human that could contain Spirit powers within. Remember when he went berserk?"
Rinne was referring to the disaster that Shido caused, when his powers made his body overheat.
"Ah, yes, my clones saw it. His personality... changed, didn't it?"
"That's where my speculation came from. If he could produce an alternate personality when losing control of his powers... I would not be surprised if he could produce an entirely separate identity."
"But instead of taking over, this new identity surfaced as a Spirit, is that what you are saying?"
"Pretty much."
Kurumi began to twirl her body in one heel hearing that. It might look odd, but Rinne knew that it was a sign of her processing an information.
"It doesn't seem to contradict our understanding about Spirit powers and Shido-san so far. But what kind of emotional turmoil could possibly be the cause for this? We can't find out about it at this point."
Kurumi frowned as she complained, while gradually spinning in place faster. Hearing this, Rinne was surprised.
"Hah? Kurumi, did you forget? You can use [Yod] and I can use [Fate Connection] on him. It's just a matter of who will-"
"No."
Kurumi sharply cut Rinne off as she stopped twirling in place, and stared at her directly in the eyes.
The atmosphere of the conversation suddenly changed. Rinne knew that Kurumi was serious now.
"Ku, Kurumi?"
"Are you stupid? Whatever happened to him, it drove Shido-san, of all people, to an edge. If it is so bad that it can cause him to lose control over his Spirit mana, what do you think will happen to us when we relive that moment in our head with our powers?"
Kurumi raised the tone of her voice, but Rinne merely tilted her head in confusion. Rinne honestly didn't understand what Kurumi was implying.
Impatient, Kurumi sighed, anger clear in her face.
"Rinne... you really don't understand? We might go Inverse from his emotional trauma! Do you really want to see our Demon Kings that badly!?"
The Nightmare Spirit yelled now, startling her.
Rinne instantly felt a chill ran down her spine the moment Kurumi mentioned the possibility of Inversion.
Now that Rinne thought about it, Kurumi was right- the power to see through someone's memories, carried the risk of bearing that person's despair. Both Zafkiel and Cassiel had that problem.
"I... I'm sorry..."
Feeling bad for angering her friend, Rinne apologized. However, that didn't mean she agreed with Kurumi's point.
"But Kurumi, no one knows what will happen, right? Do you think it's wise not to take a risk to find answers?"
The Ruler wanted to see what caused Shido to collapse into a coma. More than that, she needed to know. So she tried to argue realistically now.
Unfortunately for Rinne, her partner didn't seem to be amused by her argument.
If anything, Kurumi seemed to be angrier.
"You have seen three Demon Kings so far. And that's more than enough times to learn that any gains involving them is not worth anything!"
Kurumi's crimson eye glowed brightly, reflecting her irritation.
Rinne flinched seeing that, but she couldn't accept giving up that easily.
"But... we could manage it. Suppose one of us did go Inverse, the other can ask Shido for help. Isn't that why you and I have been helping him? To build enough trust so that we can ask for his help when necessary?"
"Idiot! That's a back-up plan! Why would you trust him with our sanity so easily!?"
"Because if it's him he can manage it!"
"You..."
Kurumi gritted her teeth. At this point Rinne knew she was really mad.
But she couldn't give up about this. There was no other way.
"Kurumi... this might lead us the answers I have been looking for three years. Please, let's take this risk."
Kurumi stared down at her for several moments, before finally turned around and took a deep breath. For a moment, Rinne was hopeful that she would accept.
What came next was not what Rinne expected.
"Huh... you know, the only reason why you don't fear Inverse Spirits now is because you haven't seen yourself in that form."
"...!"
Rinne's eyes grew wide.
"No..."
"Not that... please don't bring that up..."
That moment, all of Rinne's desire to argue was gone.
All that was left was pain.
"Did I instill that much fear into you... or you just don't want to see me like that again, Kurumi...?"
"What?"
"Reine, are you serious?"
Shido found himself raising his voice in disbelief. Likewise, Kotori couldn't help but voice her disbelief.
On the other side, Reine spoke in her usual tone.
"I'm serious. In a sense, this girl is Shin's daughter."
The three of them were inside a large room with a lot of Realizer equipments, while the little girl they were talking about was inside a wall made of glass.
It was very similar to the confinement Kotori was subjected to when her Spirit powers returned completely. She didn't appear to object though, as she was busy with a tablet Reine gave to her.
Kotori and Shido were beside themselves on a sofa while Reine was drinking a coffee on a sofa in front of them.
"So you are saying that because I can't control my powers, that girl is born?"
"To be precise, you lost control over your powers due to a disturbance in your mental state, and that produced her."
Reine corrected Shido's understanding.
Hearing this, he took a glance at the Spirit who was locked within the glass room.
Honestly, Shido didn't know how to respond to what he just heard.
He created the girl. With no intention to, but still, he did.
What should he do about that? How should he react to it?
He felt it was the first time he thought a responsibility was beyond him.
As Shido was deep in thought, he was not paying attention while Kotori and Reine continued to discuss.
"How much threat does this [Irregular] pose?"
"At least as dangerous as Shin when he went berserk. Likely even more so, since she is an actual Spirit, and are much more used to using Spirit powers than Shin."
"I thought as much... then, we can't afford to make a mistake here."
As Kotori clasped her hands under her chin, deep into thought, a thought crossed Shido's mind.
"Um...Reine-san?"
"Yes, Shin?"
"Can I... seal her powers like I do with other Spirits?"
"Theoretically, it is possible once her affection rises high enough. But..."
Reine paused, causing Shido to raise a brow.
"But?"
"That girl... will disappear."
Shido and Kotori gasped in surprise.
"Wh, what..?"
"Why?!"
Kotori was surprised, but Shido found himself raising his tone at the possibility he never even thought before.
"Calm down, Shin. She doesn't have a physical body like other Spirits, and everything about her existence all came from the Spirit mana provided by yourself. When you seal her powers, you are cutting her off of the source of energy needed for her to continue existing."
Shido's eyes grew wide as he understood what that meant.
"And... she will disappear?"
"In a sense. Her body will dissolve back to being Spirit energy, and her mind will disappear into the fabric of your consciousness."
Silence filled the atmosphere between them.
Before it went on any longer though, suddenly, they heard a pleasant sound.
"Eh?"
All three turned to the source of the sound. Inside the glass confinement.
Much to their surprise, the girl was playing on a piano.
It was a vertical-type piano, made from what seemed to be golden metal, similar to what formed the emblem on her red dress.
"What? Where did she get that? Did you create one with a Realizer?"
"No, I didn't provide her with a piano."
As Kotori and Reine were speaking however, Shido didn't say a word. Instead he stood, and found himself memerized by the music.
He then into the glass room. Inside, the music was much more audible.
The slow, relaxing notes gave Shido comfort.
As Shido slowly walked to the seat where the little girl was playing, the girl spoke.
"Have you calmed down, Papa?"
"Eh?"
Not expecting the girl to realize that he was there, Shido found himself unable to respond.
While still playing, the girl continued to talk.
"I feel something unpleasant in Papa's heart... but Sleepy Miss told me not to leave this room."
The little girl then let out a huff, pausing for a moment.
"When thinking on how to comfort Papa, I was playing with the tablet. There, I found a really kind thing who was playing music to soothe a little girl."
The piano player then giggled lightly.
"I thought, 'that works!' so I created one of my own, and played one of his music!"
Shido was surprised by her explanation. He thought he recognized the music, he was right.
The girl then stopped playing, hopped off of her chair, and turned to Shido.
"And it really works! Papa, I feel warmth in your heart!"
The little girl smiled brightly. A very warm, sincere smile. Not unlike the one he saw yesterday.
Facing that, Shido couldn't agree more to her words if he could.
Shido smiled, and knelt in front of her.
"Papa?"
Shido patted her head. His hand gently rubbing on her plum hairs.
"Thank you. I need that."
"Eh, hee hee hee..."
As Shido was done patting her and stood back up however, she tugged on Shido's trouser.
"Hmm?"
"Papa, I want a reward!"
"Eh? Reward?"
"Yeah!"
"Fine, I guess. What kind of reward you want?"
"Give me a name!"
"Eh? You don't have one?"
Shido was kind of surprised at how cheerful she was at asking her name.
But it made sense. She couldn't have a name, could she? She was born from him after all.
"I don't! Papa hasn't given me one, and I haven't seen Mama around so I can't ask her. Please?"
As she began asking with a pleading tone, Shido scratched the back of his head.
"A name? What kind of name should I give her?"
He remembered the last time he made a name, he was inspired by the date. He couldn't use that again, so he looked around to find an idea.
Behind him, outside the glass wall, Shido found that Kotori was holding another tablet, displaying choices for names. Of course, the familiar 'Tome' was written on them.
"That again!? You can't be serious!"
He had to think up a name. And fast.
"Wait... is it fine if I combined some syllables from my name with Rinne's?"
Rinne and Shido. The syllables were...ri, n, ne, shi, do, and o.
Shinne? Shiri? Rishi? Rido? Nope, no good.
"Oh, how about..."
"Rio?"
As Shido said that, the little girl looked surprised.
"Huh? Rio?"
The girl put a finger under her chin. For a moment, she appeared to be considering it.
She then smiled.
"Rio! Rio likes it!"
Phew, this chapter was tough to write. Leave your thoughts in the reviews! If it's weird in anyway, just tell me and I'm editing it!
Thank you for following "Alternate Reincarnation" so far!