Hello guys! Time for Chapter 7!
Well, I understand why I'm getting so few feedbacks every chappie, xD I don't mind, as long as someone's giving their opinions and criticisms about the chapter, it's more than enough for me to finish this fic. (Though I gotta finish this quick because I still have a pending Love Live! Fic next)
Sorry for my very slow updating. God damnit I just got my hands on Hyperdimension Neptunia Re;Birth 1 to 3, plus the Neptunia U: Action Unleashed and Hyperdevotion Noire: Goddess Black Heart; and Jesus, it's taking away all of my time. (I cleared almost everything on Re;Birth 1, acquired all dungeons, characters, maxed all of them at 999, etc.)
So, anyways, after this chappie, there might be a huge timeskip, sorry about that. I just don't want to add more filler chapters if I can help it. And it's probably going to be the last or second to the last chappie :(
One more thing, I don't know if the novels mention about Kurumi's time consumption when using Zaphkiel (Is there?), so I'll be pretty much making things up about it.
Onto the chappie now~ Enjoy! Khorosho~
5:00AM.
Shidou woke up earlier than usual. His room's still dark, and the sun outside doesn't seem to be up yet. He closed his eyes again and tried to go back to sleep, but no, it seems like he couldn't.
Being a morning person does have its perks, but losses as well. Take this one as an example.
He sat up on his bed and stretched his arms up to ease the stiffness of his body from sleep. He can't afford to have body pains today because they have a big day ahead of them.
He was about to get out of his bed when he felt something block his lower body from under the sheets. He grabbed that something from above the sheets and felt a soft sensation on his palm.
"Huh?"
At the same moment, he heard something, like a moan. He squeezed whatever he was touching on his palm to check it once more.
"Ahn~"
In an instant, he took his hand back and pulled the sheets out of the bed. And there, he saw someone else than him on the bed.
"K-K-K-K-Kurumi?!"
Shidou instinctively jumped out of the bed.
The girl named Kurumi slowly sat up on the bed as she rubbed her eyes and yawned. "Oh, it's morning already?" She then directed her attention to Shidou.
"Good morning, Shidou-san~" Kurumi greeted.
"Good Morning too… NOT! What the heck are you doing here again?! And why were you sleeping next to me?!"
Kurumi chuckled.
"Now, now, spare me the little details, Shidou-san. As far as I'm concerned, you did good last night~" She said and winked at the flustered boy.
"Screw your teasing because I remember everything last night, so you're not tricking me today." Shidou said as he crossed his arms and sighed.
Kurumi clicked her tongue. "You're no fun, Shidou-san."
"Your fun is giving me a heart attack, in case you didn't know." Shidou said. "So, what's your business here again? I hope that you're not going to say that it's a hobby for you now to hang around here."
Kurumi chuckled a little. "Well, you're half-correct, but I have a different thing to discuss with you today."
Shidou decided to let 'that one' slide for now, and listened to whatever Kurumi's about to say. It seems pretty important, unless it's going to be another prank of hers, then he'll throw her out of the room for good.
"Mind if you accompany me to a walk, Shidou-san?" Kurumi requested.
Shidou hesitated for a bit, but decided to comply with her request.
"Okay, give me a minute."
~o~O~o~
Around five-thirty in the morning, Shidou and Kurumi went out of the hotel. The staff didn't even question Kurumi for leaving the hotel without logging out, making Shidou wonder why.
The skies were still a little dark, but the sun seems to be rising already. They were walking down the streets, not saying a word to each other. Kurumi's leading the way, while Shidou's just following her, not knowing where their destination is.
"Hey, Kurumi, where are we going?" Shidou asked.
Kurumi didn't reply as she just kept her pace with a smile on her lips. Shidou knew that Kurumi wouldn't tell her anything, so he gave up on that idea and just stayed behind her.
After a short moment, they arrived at a nearby park. It's still early in the morning so there's nobody around them yet.
Kurumi sat down on a bench, with Shidou following her and sat down beside her. Shidou turned to Kurumi and saw that her eyes were closed, almost like she's asleep.
"Hey, don't fall asleep on me now!" Shidou said as he shook the inattentive girl.
Kurumi pushed Shidou away in an instant. "I am not asleep, Shidou-san."
Shidou sighed in disbelief. He was wondering if Kurumi's tired, but immediately disregarded that thought because he knew that spirits don't get tired that easily.
"So, what did you want to talk about?" Shidou decided to break the ice.
The place turned silent as Kurumi didn't answer in return. Shidou didn't say anything and just waited for Kurumi to speak. The girl was just looking at the not-so-dark skies, like admiring the scenery above her.
"Say, Shidou, did I ever mention to you what my goal is?" Kurumi asked while staring above the skies.
Shidou tried to recall if she ever mentioned anything like that. As far as he could remember, she did mention that she had a goal, which she wanted to devour him because of his power, but she didn't say any details about it.
"Well, I only remember you saying that you have one, but you never mentioned anything about it." Shidou said.
Kurumi smiled.
"Well, then, Shidou-san, please listen carefully to what I'm going to say."
Shidou gulped. Seems like that he's about to discover something big.
"My goal is, to travel back 30 years in time to kill the first spirit who appeared in the world, the very same spirit that brought about every spirit that has followed."
Shidou's sweat dropped. He couldn't believe what he just heard. Kurumi travelling back to the past? That's something he thought to be absurd, but judging that her angel's power is related to time, that thought was overruled.
"For what reason…?" Shidou asked.
Kurumi didn't answer that one. It seems like she's having doubts about telling Shidou the reason, as she knew that he would definitely interfere with her plans.
"I… I'll tell you some other time, Shidou-san. Now's not a good time." She replied as she looked away from the blue-haired boy.
"O-Okay." Shidou said nervously. "Anyway, how are you going to do that?"
"Zaphkiel's twelfth bullet, Yud Bet, has the ability to allow me or someone to travel back in the past." Kurumi said. "But of course, it doesn't come for free. It consumes a great amount of time that I have in stock."
"I see…" Shidou quietly said. He gave a simple thinking about Kurumi what just said, and realized what she was implying. "Then, the 'you' in the future used that power to send Shiori in here?"
"Yes, and that's why it bothers me too much." Kurumi said.
Shidou didn't quite get why. "Why so?"
"Sending someone to the past with Yud Bet requires a lot of time in my part, and so keeping them in that time as well." Kurumi explained. "Like I said, it doesn't come for free. You don't get to stay there for too long."
"So, when you run out of time for that ability, that person will be sent back to the present?" Shidou asked.
Kurumi nodded. Shidou tried to give more thoughts about Kurumi's explanation. He couldn't seem to get the Easter egg in her story, and Kurumi realized this as well.
"Can I ask something, Shidou-san?" Kurumi said. Shidou gave his consent to her by nodding. "When did Shiori appear before you…?"
Shidou dived in his memories to recall the answer. As far as he remembers, Shiori transferred to Raizen two days before their summer vacation starts, but she said that she arrived at Tenguu City three days prior to that day, so she's already in this timeline for two weeks.
"She transferred to Raizen two days before summer vacation starts, which is last two Thursdays, but she arrived at Tenguu City three days prior to that, which is Monday."
Kurumi was surprised with Shidou's answer. She didn't expect that Shiori was already in this timeline for too long.
"She's already staying in this world for that long?!" Kurumi said like she couldn't believe what she just said.
Shidou raised an eyebrow. "What's the matter?"
"Are you even listening to what I said earlier, Shidou-san? That sending someone to the past and letting them stay there doesn't come for free?"
It was the time when Shidou realized what Kurumi was saying, and the main topic of what they're discussing. Shiori is already in this timeline for two weeks, so that means, the 'Kurumi' who sent her here must be continuously expending her time to keep her in here. Which is why Kurumi couldn't believe it.
"Then, does that mean, the 'you' in the future is continuously using her own time to keep Shiori here?" Shidou asked.
Kurumi nodded. "Exactly, but that's not the main issue here, Shidou-san. For two weeks and continuously using Yud Bet, even if I swallow all the people in Japan, no, in the whole continent, is not enough to sustain that time."
Even for Shidou, he knew what Kurumi was saying. But what bothered him was where the 'Kurumi' from the future got the time to keep Shiori in this timeline, not to mention for two weeks and counting.
"Couldn't the 'you' from the future sent her here permanently?" Shidou speculated.
Kurumi looked away. That thought didn't cross her mind, because all she knew was Yud Bet only sends someone to the past temporarily.
"Well, I can't say that it's impossible. It's just… even I myself don't know how to-" Kurumi's eyes widened as if she saw something unexpected and in an instant, she disappeared.
"Kurumi?!" Shidou called out, but Kurumi didn't show up.
He didn't know why Kurumi suddenly ditched him out like that until he heard a voice coming from behind him.
"Shidou?"
Shidou turned around and saw a girl with long, blue hair, wearing a casual yellow one piece dress. She was wearing a hat, supposedly to protect herself from the sun, but it's yet to rise up.
"Shiori? What are you doing here?" Shidou asked.
Shiori walked closer. "Well, I was just taking a morning walk; I didn't expect to bump on you here though." She said and sat down beside Shidou. "More importantly, was someone in here? It seems like you were talking to someone earlier."
Shidou was about to say yes when he suddenly felt nervous about it. Yes, there's nothing wrong about him revealing that he was with someone but for some reason, he didn't feel comfortable with it.
"A-Ah, no, I was alone." Shidou said.
Shiori looked at him suspiciously, which unnerved Shidou a little.
"Alright, then." Shiori said. "What are you doing here anyway? It's still early in the morning."
"I just happen to wake up early, and I didn't want to go back to sleep, so I decided to get some fresh air."
It was the truth. Except for the last part though, probably.
"Is that so? What a coincidence then, I happen to do the same." Shiori said and smiled at Shidou.
Shidou laughed out nervously. He just dodged one bullet. He had a feeling that he should keep his current relationship, not in a romantic way, with Kurumi for now.
~o~O~o~
It was already around seven in the morning when they got back to the hotel. Tohka and the others didn't seem to be awake yet, so Shidou and Shiori decided to stay in the hotel's cafeteria for breakfast. They didn't talk that much; mostly only about what to do later when Tohka and the others are ready to go.
And judging those girls, they would probably get up around nine or ten. Shidou and Shiori both know it.
"Say, Shiori…" Shidou called in a low voice.
"What's up, Shidou?"
Shidou bit his lip for a moment, hesitating to ask the question he had in mind. Shiori noticed it and decided to encourage him.
"You can ask me anything, I won't get mad, I promise." Shiori said, almost like she knew what Shidou was about to ask.
Shidou sighed in relief.
"Say, hypothetically, if you learned that you're not from this world… what would you do…?"
Shiori remained silent and just stared at Shidou.
"A-Ah, it's just a hypothesis… so-"
"See, that was easy, right?" Shiori then gave him a smile.
Shidou didn't get what she meant. No, he probably did, but he just mistook it for something else.
"Of course, that thought crossed my mind already. If I had to piece everything that happened in the past days, that's the only conclusion I could get."
Shidou's eyes widened in surprise.
"But of course, me coming from another world is not the problem." Shiori said. "You probably know what I'm trying to say, right?"
Shidou nodded. "It's how you got in to this world, right?"
"Exactly, and that's why I need my memories back to know what happened in my world." Shiori said and smiled. "So I'll be counting on you, Shidou!"
Seeing Shiori brightened up, all of Shidou's worry got flushed away like a river. In fact, he was worrying over nothing. But now, he wouldn't hesitate, and will do everything just to bring her memories back.
"Of course, you can count on me."
~o~O~o~
On the rooftop of the hotel where Shidou and the others were staying, there's a girl, wearing a black, one piece dress, with her tied in two locks down straight, staring at the rising sun from where she's standing. Clichéd it might be, she actually likes this kind of view, especially if she's with a certain someone. But that's not going to happen right now.
She sighed.
"…You know, you're letting half of your happiness out if you sigh that long." A voice suddenly spoke from behind her.
The girl turned around and saw a woman with silverish-purple hair who seemed to be in her late thirties, wearing some sort of uniform in which she didn't identify, standing few meters behind her.
"Ara, if I may ask, who might you be?"
"…Murasame Reine. I'm a friend of Shin... or should I say, Shidou." The older woman introduced. "…No need to introduce yourself, I already know who you are, Tokisaki Kurumi."
Yes, the girl is Tokisaki Kurumi. Codenamed by the AST and Ratatoskr as Nightmare, deemed to be the cruelest spirit of all times.
"Okay then." Kurumi said. "So, what do you want from me?"
Reine opened her PDA before talking again. "…I overheard your conversation with Shin earlier, and I want you to look at this." She then handed her PDA to Kurumi.
Kurumi accepted the PDA and took a look on what's inside. It shows an image of Shiori and various types of graphs, in which she didn't really get what it was.
"I don't get a single thing about this." Kurumi said as she gave the PDA back to Reine.
"…Figures." Reine said as she took the PDA back. "…In a nutshell, the information you saw in this device was everything to know about Shiori."
Kurumi remained silent.
"…It has many things to mention, but if I were to point out the most important thing, it would be that Shiori didn't have any traces of Reiryoku in her, or so I should assume."
Kurumi's eyes widened, unbelievably surprised.
"Then, does that mean, she's not really from another world, but in here?" Kurumi asked.
Reine swung her head. "…I won't jump to any conclusions. There are other possibilities."
"Did you tell Shidou-san about this?"
Reine swung her head once more.
"Mysteries are popping one after another, huh…?" Kurumi said to herself. "Will you continue to investigate this matter?"
Reine smiled at the spirit girl. "…Of course. I plan to unveil this mystery, for Shidou and Shiori's sake."
"I appreciate it."
~o~O~o~
It was already around 10:00AM when Shidou and the others got out for their sightseeing. They're seeing a lot of people on streets carrying stuff like decorations and lightings. Some of them were hanging lanterns on the sidewalk.
"The people here sure are busy…" Tohka said as she observed the people around them. "I wonder what's going on."
"Ah, that? There's a festival tonight, that's why." Shidou said.
Tohka's eyes sparkled. Oh no, not just Tohka. Kaguya and the others except for Shiori and Yoshino did as well. Shidou knew what they wanted from him.
Though they came unprepared for that event, there's always some hacks to get over with it.
"Okay, okay, we can go tonight." Shidou said.
"Yay!"
Shidou just sighed at them. Not like he's opposed to that idea though. In fact, he kinda saw that coming. They still have a lot of time before the festival starts, but it's not enough for the plans that he came up yesterday. The island is huge, and if they move in a single party, there won't be enough time to visit all the places that he planned to visit. Add that the girls might have a place that they wanted to go to that could not be in his list.
"So guys… I've made plans for us today, but if there's somewhere you-"
He didn't manage to end his sentence.
"They already left, Shidou." Tohka said. There's just three of them on the spot; Him, Tohka, and Shiori.
Well he somehow expected it.
"I could understand Kaguya and Yuzuru, but Miku and Yoshino?" Shiori asked.
Tohka scratched her cheek. "A-Ah, that… Kaguya dragged her away… for some reason."
"I-I see…" Shiori chuckled nervously, as if she knew what Tohka was talking about. Actually, she indeed knew about it.
"Yoshino seemed to be pretty close with Miku. She followed her on her own will." Tohka said.
Shidou wondered how, or when did that happen, but he couldn't guess. Not like he's opposed to the thought though. In fact, he's happy for Yoshino.
"Alright then, it's a waste of time to stay here. Any places you want to visit?" Shidou asked.
Shiori shrugged. "I'm unfamiliar with this place, so I'll let you lead the way." She then chuckled a little.
"Aye! I saw an amusement park earlier! Let's go there!" Tohka said as she dragged Shiori with her.
"A-Ah, wai-" Shiori didn't manage to end her protests as Tohka dragged her.
Shidou just sighed and then smiled at the two girls running away. He didn't bother chasing them as he knew where the place Tohka mentioned earlier.
~o~O~o~
"Shidou! You're slow!" Tohka pouted as Shidou appeared in front of the Amusement park's entrance. Shiori's still trying to catch her breathing; well, who wouldn't get tired after getting dragged by a supernatural strength.
"You're just too fast. Look at Shiori, she couldn't even breathe properly."
Shiori raised her hand and smiled awkwardly at the two. "I… I'm f-fine…"
"Your face says the otherwise." Shidou remarked.
Tohka coughed to get their attention. "Anyways, let's go inside!"
This time, she didn't just drag Shiori; Shidou was included. Good thing that Tohka didn't need to run as the entrance's just right before them.
"Woah, this place is packed." Shidou said as he entered the area.
Yep, the place is crowded. But not at the point that the rides had very long lines. Most people were just wandering around, taking pictures or something like that.
"Shidou, Shidou! Let's ride that!" Tohka said as she kept on pointing to a certain ride.
Shidou turned to whatever Tohka was pointing to and learned that it was the roller coaster. Shiori's face turned blue after seeing the ride as she was awkwardly smiling at the ride.
"Roller coaster right off the bat?" Shidou asked. Well, this is Tohka we're talking about. Her crazy antics are unstoppable. "What about you Shi-"
Shidou didn't even complete his sentence as the answer he was looking for was written all over Shiori's face. He couldn't describe it with longer words other than "She's screwed".
"O-Oi, Tohka-"
"Hey, what are you two waiting for? Let's go, or the line will get longer!" Tohka said as she grabbed Shidou and Shiori by their hands and dragged them with her towards the said ride before they could protest for their safety.
~o~O~o~
After around fifteen minutes of waiting on line, the three high schoolers got in the coaster. Shidou and Shiori was sitting together while Tohka was in front of them. Shidou turned to Shiori, and noticed that her blue face was already purple, ready to faint at any moment.
"T-Tohka, this looks like a bad idea…" Shidou whispered to the girl in front of her.
"What, Shidou? You're scared or something?" Tohka said with a poker face.
"Please don't say that with that kind of face."
Shiori didn't say anything. She was mumbling stuff that seemed to be incomprehensible for humans.
After a few moments, the operator signalled them that they will start in a short while. Hearing this, Shiori froze like a statue, with her hands clasped tightly on the armrest of the seat. It's obvious that she's nervous, in a level off the charts.
"T-Tohka, Shiori doesn't look too well…" Shidou warned.
Tohka turned to Shiori and saw what Shidou described Shiori as. "E-Eh… you should've told me earlier! We can't get off now."
"You of all people should know that you dragged us he-"
Shidou was interrupted as the ride started. The people around them cheered, ready to have a blast with this intensively massive attraction. As for Shiori, well, let's just say she's not doing well.
And in a few moments…
"WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"
Everyone who were riding with them screamed like there's no tomorrow as the coaster ran down in a ridiculous speed. Shidou grabbed on the armrest tighter as he felt the intense sensation of the shaking, the wind hitting his face, and the insane speed of the coaster. In all honesty, he's not fond of these rides, but that doesn't mean he hates it. It's just, he never got the chance, nor bothered to ride one, until Tohka dragged him.
As the ride continued, he felt something grab onto his hand. He turned his attention to it and saw Shiori gripping on him tightly, with her eyes closed.
'Shiori?' Shidou wondered as he stared at the blue-haired girl beside him. In his perspective, Shiori would pass out at any moment.
But there's nothing that could help her aside from the ride finishing its course.
~o~O~o~
"Woooh, that was a blast!" Tohka said as she stepped out of the coaster.
Shidou got out of the ride while assisting Shiori. She looked like a withered vegetable, and her soul's almost leaving out of her body.
"I'mneverridingthisthingagain… I'mneverridingthisthingagain… I'mneverridingthisthingagain…"
Shidou could hear Shiori's silent mumbling and just sighed in disbelief. He felt bad for Shiori, really. Anyone would, except for Tohka, probably.
Not only that, Shiori looks like she's about throw up.
"Ugh…" At the same moment, Shiori passed out.
"Shiori seems to be out of the game already." Shidou said as he led Shiori to a bench and lied her down slowly.
"What should we do? We can't leave Shiori here all alone." Shidou said.
Tohka crossed her arms. "Hmmm, if only Kaguya and the others were here-"
She interrupted herself as she saw a group of four girls wandering around. And not just random girls, Tohka knew them well.
"Kaguya! Yuzuru! Yoshino! Miku!" Tohka called as she waved her arms upward, which got the group's attention.
'That was surprisingly convenient.' Shidou thought and sighed awkwardly in relief.
The four girls approached them and greeted them.
"Woah, Shidou, Tohka, and Shiori!" Kaguya said as she saw them. "I was wondering where you guys disappeared earlier."
Shidou almost popped a nerve from her comment. "You were the ones who left us behind, if I may correct you."
Kaguya stuck her tongue out. Obviously, she's messing with him.
"Ask. What happened to Shiori?" Yuzuru asked as she stared at the soulless girl on the bench.
"A-Ah, we just got out of the roller coaster." Shidou pointed at the ride they just cleared. "You know what that means."
In a brief moment, Kaguya and Yuzuru's eyes sparkled, and Shidou noticed it. He's got a bad feeling about it, since these two have the same crazy tendencies like Tohka.
Either way, he didn't stop them. He doesn't have a right to do so since it's their fun, not his.
"Want to give it a go?" Kaguya asked the group.
"I'm up for another round!" Tohka said.
"Accept. Bring it on." Yuzuru said.
Yoshino and Miku looked opposed to the thought, but they didn't decline. They did come here in the amusement park for these attractions, and it would be a waste not to enjoy them.
"You guys have fun around here. I'll keep an eye out on Shiori." Shidou said as he sat down on the space on the bench that Shiori didn't occupy. She's still out cold, by the way.
"Geh, she looks like crap. Is she bad at these rides?" Kaguya asked.
"Seems like it. Even I wouldn't recommend something like this right away."
Tohka chuckled nervously after Shidou's comment.
~o~O~o~
Flames.
Fires everywhere.
I'm back at this scenery. Yes, this is not the first time that I've seen something like this. It may be a little vivid, but I remember this event.
This is a dream. A dream that I've seen before, but in a different location.
The cause of the fire? I don't remember. That information slipped out of my mind long ago.
But maybe, I can recover it right here.
I look around, and found out that nobody aside I is here. Figured that much. I won't be able to know what I want to know that easily.
I stood up and walked around. The flames are eating away the things they touch until they are reduced to ashes. No soul could be found around aside my own.
This place is devoid of life.
I looked up to the skies; the stars could not be seen even though it's already night time. Instead, the only things I see are falling stars.
Falling stars, yes. But now I took a closer look to it, they're no ordinary falling stars. In fact, they are NOT falling stars.
Burning planes, meteors, etc.
Countless burning objects are falling from the sky, but it never hit me.
I tried to run away, but I suddenly feel like my body is not cooperating with me completely. My pace remained the same. And that's when I realized that I have no control over my body. The only thing I could do is watch the scene playing in front of me. This is like, reminiscing the memories.
But, could I really call this a memory? What if, this event is just an illusion played by my own doubts and uncertainties?
Several questions popped one after another inside my mind, and I couldn't think of anything. Add that I even can't move my arms to grip my head nor cover my vision, it's a complete torture.
Before I knew it, I found myself in a familiar place. The place where my previous dream has started. This is a complete replay of the dream.
And I knew that, there is someone behind me right now.
My body turned around, and indeed, there is someone. She wears the same outfit, and doing the same action as before. She's pointing her gun towards me.
I know what will happen. I completely know it.
Her lips started to move. Of course, I expected that the same thing will happen as well. I can't possibly hope for a better outcome.
But, the next event completely blew my entire expectations.
"Don't worry…"
I could hear her voice as she speaks. This is something new.
I wanted to say something, but I couldn't.
"No matter what happens… No matter what you will do… I will always be on your side…"
What?
On my side? I could understand it if she said 'by your side', but I'm sure I didn't hear it wrong.
I really want to say something, damnit! I have too many questions to ask her, but nothing here is in favour of me.
"I will always, always choose to be your ally…"
…
"Like how you chose me… over the world."
Alright guys! Chapter 7 is done! Whew. I can't find much time to write. I have tons of games to play as I mentioned above xD
And now, Megadimension Neptunia VII got released on Steam! YAY! I just finished everything in Hyperdimension Neptunia Re;Birth 2, on my way to Re;Birth 3, so it's going to a lot of my time xD my gamer blood is boiling.
I don't know how long chapter 8 would take. I seriously have no more attachments to Date A Live, and it's killing me D:
Anyways, please drop your reviews/comments/suggestions/violent reactions! It encourages me to write more x3
Until next time, see ya guys~ Thanks for your continuous support to my story!