Chapter 4 - Date A Dream
...
After Kurumi eventually calmed down we both decided to go to sleep. Fortunately, her apartment has 2 bathrooms and I can use my angel to make a toothbrush and toothpaste. Spitting out some mouthwash, I take a second to better look at my new face.
I've got short, dark brown hair and dark red eyes, a shade closer to burgundy. I'm still 6' tall as I was before, it was really easy to tell since Kurumi was nearly a head shorter than me. If I recall she's around 160 cm tall, which is just above 5'.
I rinse my face with some water and dry with a towel.
"Man, this all still is so damn surreal..."
How the hell did I end up here? No way Mio would've brought me here, she probably would think of me as a threat due to me foreknowledge of the series. This world has a small connection to the Neighboring World due to Wescott summoning Mio 30 years ago, it shouldn't be connected to mine.
Returning to my room, I close the door and start getting undressed. Kurumi and I said goodnight to each other, so there's nothing left to do but sleep.
Laying on the bed, wearing just some light pants made of some cotton material, I get a better look at my body. I was never a muscular person, always very thin, but now I'm built like a swimmer. Lots of muscle, hidden under a thin frame. A new body, yet another curiosity.
"Issei-kun? May I come in?"
My thoughts are broken by Kurumi's voice from outside my door. What could she want?
"Yeah, sure."
The door opens and- HOLY SHIT!
Kurumi is clad in a short, black nightgown, held on her shoulders with spaghetti straps, similarly to her Astral Dress. The gown ends in a skirt that comes to her mid-thigh. If I didn't think that she was beautiful, this would've fucking changed my mind.
"Ara ara~ you're staring quite hard at me. A girl might get the wrong idea." Flirting again huh? Well two can play at that game.
"Maybe I want you to have the wrong idea, Kurumin~"
A blush appears on her face as I say this. She really is weak to that nickname, huh?
"Anyways, whaddya need? I thought you were going to bed?"
"Well, I needed some way to thank you for earlier and I figured you might like it if I slept next to you."
Wha? Sleep next to me? How forward is this girl?
"Kurumi, why... would you seriously be comfortable sleeping next to a guy you just met?"
"Well I'd say we're quite close after you connected our hearts earlier~"
"I connected to your Sephira Crystal, not your heart." I say, deadpan. "Besides, you don't need to thank me, you deserved to be saved from that shit."
Kurumi only had one way to kill Mio, and that was kill people by taking their time. Anyone would've helped her find a way to not kill people after learning of her situation. Though, most people would rather dissuade her from killing Mio as well, but I suppose it is justified. Dammit, I really need to find a way to change her mind about that. Her going back in time and killing Mio might make a worse timeline than this one.
" *sigh* Fine, if you want to sleep next to me, then go ahead, BUT!" I point my finger at her for emphasis. "Don't do it because you want to thank me, so it because you want to do it."
Kurumi and I stare at each other for a moment before she giggles.
"Ufufufu~ alright then. I won't thank you, but I will take up your offer." I scooch over and make room on the bed for her.
Kurumi begins to lay down and- my thoughts are overwhelmed by immeasurable softness.
"...Kurumi?"
"Yes, Issei-kun?"
"When you said you wanted to sleep next to me, I figured you meant you'd sleep next to me, not use me like a damn body pillow!"
"Hmph. I can't help it." She snakes her arms around me. "I need something to hold onto when I sleep~"
This girl... There's no winning this is there?
"Fuck it, fine."
"Thanks Issei-kun."
With that said, I turn off the lamp, allowing darkness to enshroud the room.
"Hey, Kurumi?"
"Yes?"
"Sweet dreams."
Her body stiffens around me. That's right, she's been alone for years. When was the last time someone told her that? When was the last time she had any kind of positive human interaction?
"Fufu~ sweet dreams, Issei."
I quickly and peacefully fall into the realm of Morpheus soon after.
Opening my eyes, I'm treated to the sight of a strange place. I'm standing on a large, round platform. The floor is grey, like concrete. Around is an endless light blue void. It's reminiscent of the Hunter's Dream from Bloodborne, only without the trees. In the center is a golden yellow crystal, floating above a pedestal. It glimmers and gives off an equally good light.
"Welcome, my Host."
A monotone, feminine voice comes from the crystal and surprises me.
"Uh, hey. Who, or what are you?"
"I am the angel contained within the Sephira Crystal contained within your body. My name is Helel."
Helel? Don't remember this in the light novel.
"Helel? Well, it's nice to meet you, but ive never heard of you before."
"That makes sense, I wasn't shown in Date A Live."
"Huh!?" How did she-?
"When we bonded, I viewed your memories. I apologize if this upsets you, Host."
"Er, no, it's fine. This saves me a lot of explaining." Still, Helel, the first angel of God? Wonder if that has anything to do with her?
"As for why you have never heard of me, I was discarded by me Creator."
"Mio? Why would she do that?"
"I was considered 'defective' and unsuitable for her plans regarding Takamiya Shinji, thus I was discarded."
"...Shinji really never taught that woman empathy, did he?"
"Most likely not. I was originally powerless, so my Creator gave me a weaker version of the power of her strongest angel, Ain."
"Makes sense, Ain turns her into a God wherever it's light shines. Though, could you do something that extreme?"
"No, while my Reiryoku is stronger than Inverse Reiryoku, it is nowhere near as powerful as my Creator's Pure Reiryoku."
"Pure Reiryoku? The hell's that?" Mio's special power source? It makes sense, she is a True Spirit.
"Let me explain. Let us compare regular Reiryoku to water, in terms of its density. Inverse Reiryoku would be comparable to maple syrup, and therefore much stronger due to being compressed. The Reiryoku I use is far denser than Inversed, and therefore allows a much higher power output. In exchange, my power cannot Inverse. Pure Reiryoku would be comparable to the densest liquid possible. If poured it would move at a single Planck Length per hour."
"1 Planck Length per hour!? Fuck, that's slow."
"Indeed, while it's not a strong as my Creator's, my 'Semi-Pure' Reiryoku is still stronger than Inversed Reiryoku."
"Huh. Okay so this makes me super strong an all that, but how did you even get to me in the first place?"
"Ah well, that's a long story. After granting me a weaker version of Ain's power, my Creator discovered I was incapable of bonding with any human. Or rather, it was possible, only the chances were so low, it would be nigh impossible. One she realized this, she discarded me into the void between worlds."
"!! The same place she chucked Ren."
"Yes, though I was in a completely different area, nowhere near Ren. Some time later, I found a tear in the void. I figured it would lead to either this world of the Neighboring one, but instead, it lead to yours. Unfortunately, the voids pulled me back before I could do much.
Upon entering a second time, I made it much farther, but was ultimately sucked back in. Before that, I sensed a human I was comparable with, if only briefly."
"Me."
"Yes. I entered your world again and again and again. Eventually, I made it to you, but was sucked back once more. Then, upon returning, I managed to bond with you. Your body, however, could not handle the strain of my Semi-Pure Reiryoku turning you into a Spirit, so I had to strengthen your body.
After that we were sucked back into the void. Ren might have been able to find you, as a Spirit, and the Neighboring World would be dangerous for you, as a new Spirit. After looking through your memories, I decided it would be best to send you to this one."
"That still doesn't explain why you wanted to bond with a host in the first place?"
"It was a selfish desire of mine. My Creator intended to place us in humans for her plans, but I was merely discarded."
"You wanted to make her proud."
"Something like that... In my desire to bond, I neglected to acknowledge your feelings on the matter. For that, I apologize, my Host."
Well this fills up a lot of gaps, but...
"You've got nothing to apologize for."
"But-" I cut her off before she can finish.
"No. Me coming her was sudden, yes, but I'm not upset. I was always a pretty weak guy, now look at me!" I flex my arm muscles of emphasis. "It's a new me in a new world! It's like I've been given a second chance at life! You don't need to apologize. Rather, I should be thanking for giving me a second chance.
So thank you, Helel."
"!!" Helel lets out a gasp in surprise.
"Thank you, my Host."
"No problem. That begs the question, can the other angels talk like you?"
"No. I am the only one of my siblings to have this advanced level of consciousness. The others can do basic things, but nothing more."
"Ah. But how come you can talk and stuff."
"Most likely due to my Creator giving me a weaker version of her power, as opposed to my siblings, who were 'born' with their power."
Of course Mio's power would do something like this. It works completely differently from regular angels.
"Will... will be be able to talk like this often?"
"Only in your dreams."
"Not when I'm awake?"
"No. I have to force the connection. When you are awake, your mind is too guarded for me and I cannot force the connection. When you are asleep, your mind is unguarded, and can be overpowered easily."
"That's a bit concerning..."
"Not to worry, my Host. I'm able to do this due to our connection. I provide a passive protection to your mind to guard from outside forces. I wouldn't want to lose my Host so easily."
Well, that's one worry gone. Wouldn't want to get nabbed by DEM and have them fuck with my mind.
A wave of vertigo hits me out of nowhere.
"Ah, it appears you are waking up."
"Already?"
"Time moves differently here, I suppose. I hope you enjoy the rest of your day, my Host. If you have anymore questions for me, you can ask them tonight."
"...thanks Helel." I say with a smile.
"Anytime, my Host."
The void, along with the platform and Helel's crystal vanish from sight as all fades to black.
AN
I noticed in Date A Live, there's no mention of Helel anywhere. If I recall, there is a Demon King named Lucifer, but that was... the inverse of Metatron, though I could be wrong there. In the end, I decided on Helel. I could've used others like Galgaliel or Ezrael or something else from Eva. (I've been getting recommended clips of Rasiel on YouTube. Screaming 4th dimensional shape of death!)
Not much else to say.
Edit: June 30, 2022: Helel said 'host', instead of 'Creator' when referring to Mio.
I hope you all enjoyed this chapter, and look forward to the next!