DATE A LIVE BIG FANFIC COLLECTION

by APTX1412

Fanfic collection of Date A Live. The story is not mine. Each chapter is not related to the other chapters. Author credits will appear in the story.

7. Charlotte - Opposite of Every Thing 9-11

Opposite of Every Thing

Chapter 09 - Chapter 11 (END)

By : Charlotte Eraviel

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Summary

When good things go south, people show their other selves. A change of heart, is something that triggers when people witnesses something they do not want to see ever in their lives. A kind person can lose their kindness, and the worst person can actually be the kindest person you'll ever see... AU

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Chapter 09: Lost (Epilogue Part 1)

(*SOMEONE'S POINT OF VIEW, UNKNOWN TIME*)

"Huh…?" I opened my eyes as I gained consciousness. I looked around me once my blurry vision became clear. My strength and energy hasn't come back to me at the moment, and I feel very tired.

I saw nobody. Not a single soul could be seen from this place. Weird, waking up in a place like this.

"Huh…?!" I said that out loud. I woke up standing on my two feet. Did I just sleep while standing? That's ridiculous.

I tried to figure out where I am, but so far, I could deduce that I am NOT in Tenguu City. This place's not very familiar to me.

"Where am I…?" I asked myself as I wandered around. There are a lot of houses and construction sites around, but nobody, yes, no one aside myself was present.

I could feel my energy flowing back to me as I continued to walk. My feet was burning, wanting to jump as high as I could.

I decided to get on a high place to get a better view. In that way, I might be able to figure out where I am. I jumped to the roof of a house to see if it's enough to view the entire place, but it wasn't. I jumped and jumped again from roof to roof, looking for the highest place. After a few minutes, I finally found the highest structure.

I observed first on what's in front of me. There seems to be nothing sort of mentioning here, as I could just see normal houses, but inhabited one. With that said, I can only deduce my situation in one thing.

Someone's at work in here, and I'm under their illusion right now. Well, imagine an inhabited city, at this era? That's hardly something that can exist right now. And what's more, there seems to be no conflict that happened in this place, as the buildings and houses were undamaged.

"In that case, who could've done this…?" I said out. I tried to figure out who could do that, but as I tried, I felt a stinging pain through my head, and I just realized something.

"I… don't remember anything…?" I said again and my chest suddenly started pounding. I clenched it with my fists and took deep breaths to keep myself in check.

"Calm down…" I said between my breaths. After a few minutes, my heartbeat went back to normal, and the pain in my head disappeared too. First things first.

"Let's see… ah, my name…" I tried to recall my own name.

"…"

It seems that I still remember it, and I sighed in relief. At least I still know who I am. It would be bad if I can't remember myself and then I'm stuck in this place.

Now that I got a good sight on this portion of the place, I turn around to see the other half of the place. It's like a carbon copy of the other half, but there's something that seems to be off, or rather, it's something that's hard to ignore.

"What's that…?" I asked no one as I saw that 'something' at the far distance from where I was standing.

The other end of the place has only black, like there's nothing in there. And my heart started racing again as that black thing wasn't just there for show.

It's eating away everything it touches, disappearing like they didn't even exist.

My breathing started to get heavy.

"I… need to get out of here." I said as I turned around, but my nervousness increased. It's the same as the other one. It seems like this void's heading towards me.

"I… just can't get a break… can I?" I said to nobody as I gave up hope on escaping. I just stood there, waiting for that void to eat me away. Truth to be told, I really don't want to give up, but there's nothing I could do in this situation.

As soon as the void ate everything, there's nothing left around me aside from black. I guess I was dragged into nothingness. But it feels weird, my consciousness remained in me.

After a few minutes, no, I don't think it's just minutes in here, I saw a faint light from afar. I headed there as fast as I could and as I get closer, the light's also glowing brighter.

I stopped running as I got a good vision on the light. It seems like it's no ordinary light, it's like what the TV channels show whenever there's no signal or broadcast. I waited in front of that thing to see what's going to happen.

I waited, and waited… and waited.

I still waited for god knows how long until something happened. The thing in front of me suddenly changed. It showed a person, and that person's looking directly to me from the screen or light, shouting something but there's no voice coming out.

"..mi!" I heard a faint voice. I looked around but then again I remembered that there's nothing anymore around me. So that sound must've came from the thing in front of me.

"Do…t…. ie!" The voice's volume is growing gradually. And it seems like that voice's coming from the person in front of me.

"Ku…i…! No…!" The voice's growing louder. Seems like this person's calling someone. I started to get shivers down to my spine. I don't know why, but I feel like something's gonna happen.

"Ku...u…! Plea…! St… th… me!" My heart started to pound harder. That person's voice was getting clearer and clearer. I started to get nervous as I listened and watched that person. Not because of his unclear voice, but he was crying, and it wasn't tears of joy... but instead, tears of despair.

"NO! PLE…E! D…T… DIE!" My nervousness grew and fear started to build up in me as that person's voice was getting clear by the moment.

I don't want to listen anymore.

I don't want to watch that person anymore.

I want to run away.

Run away…? Where am I supposed to run away?

I just stood there, and didn't do a thing. The screen-like thing in front of me was in a repetitive manner, but every time it repeats, the voice was getting clearer and clearer. Until…

"DON'T DIE! PLEASE! STAY WITH ME ….!" I froze and my heart seems like it has stopped for a brief moment as I heard 'him' call a name.

After that, tons of images suddenly appeared around me in this dark area. I can see myself in these images, with a certain someone.

"Are these… my memories…?" I asked myself as I kept looking at the images that were flowing above me like a river. The images continued to flow smoothly, until they started to move slowly when the images that were very unpleasant appeared.

"What… is this…?" I asked nobody as I saw these images. I can see myself fighting someone, but I couldn't recognize who that person was. Until again…

"…!" I gasped as I saw something very familiar. It's not really the same as what I've seen earlier but I am sure that scene happened in that image was the same. My breathing got heavier and my chills grew intensely.

I saw myself lying on the ground, with the same person earlier beside me, holding my body. It seems like that person was calling me while I was lying down.

The other images disappeared and that certain image kept on flowing repeatedly. I thought that it was just the same but I noticed that gradual changes were happening as the flow continued.

"Huh…?" I said as I saw blood on the images, which I didn't notice earlier. It was specifically on my body. By the time I realized what had happened, I fell down on my knees, along with my tears falling down from my eyes. I didn't even know that I was crying already.

"I… see." I said while smiling and staring at the person on the screen, with my tears continually falling down from my eyes. That person was a boy with blue hair, and I know who he is. This person's very important to me, the very same person who changed my whole life.

"Shidou…" I muttered a person's name, along with my cries. All of the images earlier sunk inside my mind and became my 'memories'.

"I'm… dead, right…?"

~o~O~o~

"Have we had contact with Shidou yet?" a redhead twin-tailed girl asked the people below her, who were assigned in different positions. They were inside the command room of Fraxinus, a ship that belongs to the organization called Ratatoskr, who resolves issues with spirits in a peaceful way.

"The jamming system's still up, until it's taken down, we'll have no contact with Shidou-kun." A voice that belonged to a female, replied. That person was Shiizaki Hinako, one of the several female crew inside the Fraxinus.

The twin-tailed girl, Itsuka Kotori, the little sister of Itsuka Shidou, and the commander of the Fraxinus, clicked her tongue as she heard the reply. She kinda expected this answer, but couldn't do something about it as taking a risk in this situation is not an equal trade.

"…Don't even think about obliterating the upper part of the building…" a woman with a weak and tired voice, said as she walked beside Kotori. It was Murasame Reine.

"I know, we can't risk our cover getting compromised." Kotori replied. "Kannazuki, I have something for you to do." She called the attention of the man named Kannazuki, who was standing beside her all the time.

"Ah, commander! Is it time for m-" His uncaring actions was interrupted by a kick to his gut from Kotori. "Aaaahhhh….!"

"GET REAL FOR SAINT PETER'S SAKE!" Kotori snapped. "Anyways, I need you to prepare for something." She said as she threw a PDA to him, which he caught without a flinch.

"Everything's in there." Kotori said.

Kannazuki straightened up and fixed his clothes after looking at the PDA that just got thrown at him. His expression changed from silly to dead serious.

"Leave it to me, Commander." He said and left the command room.

Kotori went back to her previous activity and watched the different feeds broadcasted outside the Fraxinus to see if there's any changes.

~o~O~o~

'Am I going to die here, even after saying those words to Tohka…?' I said to myself as the blade of the strongest Wizard slowly heading towards my neck. 'Is this the end for me…?'

The time seemed to have been moving slowly, as my heart was beating faster than normal. I guess I'm really afraid to die.

'Is there nothing I could do…?'

"Your Life Energy and the Spirit's Reiryoku might be flowing in opposite directions, so you need to control them."

I remembered what Kotori said before. I could completely summon Sandalphon at my will now, so I guess…

'Wait, Sandalphon only…?' I thought to myself.

That's when it hit me. I've always thought that I've controlled it, but I finally understood that I was wrong all along.

And I know the very fact about one thing, but I completely rejected it, and was still rejecting it until now, and that's the very foundation of my failure.

I need to accept it…

I must accept it…

That…

'…I am no longer human…'

~o~O~o~

"Wha-!" Ellen immediately withdrew her blade before getting in contact with Shidou and lifted her territory as half of the room, where she and a certain boy were separated by a transparent wall, suddenly got incinerated by flames.

The territory protected Ellen from the angry flames that just kept on swirling around the room. What she didn't expect was where these flames came from.

She saw this certain blue-haired boy, as the flames continued to burn the place and while revealing himself to her.

"Shidou…!" A certain dark-night haired girl, from the other side of the wall, said as she saw the person named Shidou surrounded by flames.

Yes, it was Itsuka Shidou, the boy who holds the power of five spirits, and the person who caused the flames.

"Tohka, thank you." Shidou said as he stood up and looked at her. "Thanks to you, I finally realized everything."

Tohka was dumbfounded with what Shidou said to her. She didn't get anything. She was completely in the dark. But what's more, there was a huge change that happened to him. His eye color changed from brown to gold completely.

"Shidou… what do you mean…? And what happened to you…? Are you alright…?" Tohka said as her tears fell down on her cheeks. She's relieved that he seemed to be fine.

"I'm fine, I got my wounds completely healed." He said. Tohka observed him, and he seemed to be telling the truth, but his wounds aren't just the ones that got healed, his clothes were also fixed. "Leave everything to me, I'll be there in a few moment." He continued as he took a step forward.

He stopped walking as the flames suddenly got blown away, revealing Ellen in front of him.

"Wow, you might really be the strongest wizard." Shidou said as he saw Ellen blew away the flames. The fires immediately returned and circled around him.

"Well, of course I am." Ellen said as she readied her blade.

Shidou didn't say a word and raised his right arm. The flames on him gathered and circled around his arm as he lifted it.

"Scorch, Camael!" He shouted and a burning halberd suddenly appeared above him. He grabbed Camael and held it with his two hands, while the flames spread out of the room.

"That's…!" Tohka was surprised as she saw what Shidou did in front of her. She recognized that angel, and she completely know the owner of that blazing weapon.

"Even if you use another Angel, it won't change a thing!" Ellen said as dashed towards Shidou and gave him a heavy slash as she got near him.

"…!" Shidou instinctively blocked Ellen's attack. Their exchange of attacks continued for a while. Sparks of blades contacting could be seen around.

"…" Ellen backed away after an attack of hers was repelled, but Shidou gave a chase.

Shidou spun around and angry flames emitted on Camael's blade. He then gave her a soaring slash, only to get parried by Ellen's blade, fending off his attack.

"…Kuh…!" Shidou gritted his teeth as his attack was parried, and gave extra force on Camael, trying to break Ellen's defences, but he knew that he cannot break Ellen's guard on his current state.

Ellen pushed up Shidou's weapon using her blade and then immediately kicked him on his stomach, crashing him to the wall.

"Agh…!" Shidou grunted in pain as his back crashed on the wall and vomited blood. Instantly, bluish haze flames appeared on his back, healing his wounds internally and externally, but the pain didn't disappear immediately.

Without wasting any time, Ellen immediately dashed to Shidou, with the tip of her blade in front. Shidou saw Ellen heading towards his way, and immediately lifted Camael up. As soon as Ellen's blade got close to him, he refracted it using Camael's handle by sliding the blade through it, but got blown away again as Ellen pushed him using her blade while it was sliding.

"Shidou…!" Tohka shouted his name as she saw him knocked away. She wanted to help him but she couldn't do a thing because of the transparent wall that separates her from him. "Why, you…!" Tohka started slamming the wall in front of her.

"Are you done fooling around now?" Ellen asked Shidou who was standing up after getting blown away. "If you'd just stay still, you might experience a painless death."

Shidou stood up with Camael's support while blue flames kept on appearing and disappearing around his body, healing his wounds.

"Sorry, no can do. I still have to prepare breakfast for the girls later." Shidou said as he lifted his weapon up.

"I see." Ellen said and smiled, then an armament from her back went to her front, pointed directly to Shidou. "Farewell, then." Her armament started charging.

"Ngh…!" Shidou couldn't move. His wounds might've healed but the pain's still lingering in his body.

"Shidou!" Tohka shouted his name again but he was way too far for him to hear her voice. She looked around her, trying to find a way back to Shidou, but all she saw was Isaac with his usual sinister smile. His attention was pinned directly to Shidou, obviously showing an interest.

"Sandalphon!" She shouted and a giant sword appeared on her hands.

Ellen looked to Tohka as she heard her shout. She then saw her aiming for Isaac, attempting to throw her Angel directly to him.

Tohka then threw Sandalphon.

"Ike!" Ellen panicked, cancelling Shidou's execution and instantly headed to Isaac by breaking the transparent wall and deflecting Tohka's Angel. She did it just about a second or two only.

"Ah, you saved me." Isaac said as he sighed in relief.

"You're welcome. I can't have you dying right now." Ellen said.

Tohka and Shidou finally reunited after the transparent wall got broken. They're still holding their Angels, ready to fight Ellen again, together.

"Ellen, let's retreat for now." Isaac ordered.

"But-!" Ellen protested, but she was interrupted.

"It's okay, we're not in a rush. Besides, we've seen something rather interesting." Isaac said and then looked straight to Shidou.

"Sorry, but you'll have to excuse us here." Isaac said in a louder volume, enough for Shidou and Tohka to hear. "Let us meet again, Takamiya… I mean, Itsuka Shidou."

"W-wait! Do you know about me?!" Shidou asked in confusion.

Isaac chuckled.

"Not in a tiniest bit." He replied to him as some lights and sparks appeared around him and Ellen. "Not about Itsuka Shidou, at least."

"Hey!" Shidou said as he threw Camael to them, but they disappeared before it hits them. "Dammit!" He stomped the ground with anger.

He then heard something that's like something dropping on the floor. He turned around and saw Tohka collapsed on the ground.

"Tohka!" He called her name as he lifted her up. "Tohka! Are you okay?!"

Tohka slowly opened her eyes. Seems like her energy's drained out from her.

"Ah… y-yeah. I'm just... a little… tired." She replied as she tried to beam a smile.

Shidou sighed in relief. She seemed okay. He then carried Tohka back to where he was restrained and let her sat down on it. He checked the other girls beside her to see if they're okay, and it seems like they're just fine.

After a few moments. Three men clothed in black went inside the room. Shidou noticed them and raised his guard up.

"We're here by abiding our commander's orders by retrieving the spirits back." The three man said as they raised their arms up.

"Are you… from Ratatoskr?" He asked them. They gave him a nod as a response. Shidou then nodded back to them as an approval.

Few moments later, a medical team appeared inside the room, bringing stretchers and other stuff. They transferred the unconscious spirits, including Tohka, who's still trying to stay conscious.

"Shidou…" She called. He heard her call and went beside her, grasping her hand.

"Don't worry, you'll be fine, I'll be fine, everything's gonna be fine." He reassured her with a smile.

"Mmhhm…!" Tohka replied with a smile and finally closed her eyes, taking a rest.

The medical team left the scene as they bid goodbye to him while Shidou stayed behind. It was his purpose all along. He knew that this isn't over yet, as he could still hear some conflicts outside the building, and then he remembered something, no, someone.

"Kurumi…" He muttered a name and can't help but start to worry. He then made his way out of this hellhole and headed to where Kurumi is.

She may be strong and overpowered, but that doesn't mean that she's unbeatable.

~o~O~o~

Outside the vicinity of DEM Industries, there were two people fighting each other on mid-air. One is a wizard of DEM, wearing an unusual battle suit which seems to be different apart from the normal wizards, and the other one is a spirit, wearing a frilly vermilion Gothic Lolita Dress, fending off the Wizard's attacks.

The wizard continually dashed and slashed her enemy, while the Spirit was just keeping on avoiding the wizard's attack and distancing from her. Their fight seemed to be going on for a while now.

"Come on, what happened to your confidence?" The wizard, Takamiya Mana, the Adeptus 2 of DEM, said as she kept on getting a close distance with her enemy.

"…" The spirit girl, Tokisaki Kurumi, or also known as Nightmare, didn't reply a single word to her provocations.

'This is bad, I can't use anymore of Zaphkiel's abilities.' Kurumi thought to herself as she kept on shooting Mana to fend off her attacks.

The main reason why she can't use Zaphkiel's abilities anymore, is not because she's afraid of dying. Yes, when she ran out of time, she'll disappear, and she doesn't care a bit about it, but its effect on the world is what she's afraid of.

Her whole existence will also disappear.

When that happens, not only she'll cease to exist physically, but also the memories of her in the people she made contact with will also disappear. Basically, her existence will be forgotten, or erased, or maybe both.

And she cannot accept that. When the special people in her life forgets her, is something that she cannot stand. She'd rather die in a brutal death than disappearing and be forgotten.

Kurumi continued to keep her distance from her enemy, while Mana just kept on filling the gap between them.

'This is bad…' Kurumi said to herself. She then saw a bunch of wizards fighting off against her clones, and an idea popped inside her mind.

She immediately headed to the group of wizards and activated a Time-Eating Castle around her, draining the 'time' of those people around her. Mana instinctively stopped chasing her as she saw a dark and malicious aura emitting around Kurumi.

Kurumi completely drained the wizards' time and knocking them off the sky. She gained plenty of time, but still not enough to use some of Zaphkiel's abilities. At most, she can only use her acquired time to gain more clones.

As Kurumi brought the Time-Eating Castle down, Mana threw a binding thread to Kurumi, tying her hand and immediately flashed to her, who're still defenceless.

"Wha-" Kurumi was startled as her left hand got immobilized.

"I got you." Mana said as she got close to Kurumi and brought her sword down to her, tried to slash her into two.

"…!" Kurumi instinctively used her guns to block Mana's attack, but she got pushed back, crashing on a nearby building, just beside DEM.

"Ngh…!" Kurumi felt an intense pain as she crashed hard onto the building, rebounding on it and fell down on the ground. The building crashed to the ground as well.

"Agh…!" She coughed blood, her internals have been injured clearly.

Kurumi rolled and faced the skies. She then saw Mana slowly descending to the ground. She can't move her body anymore due to the strong impact she just received, and Mana's attack had a shockwave, somewhat paralyzing her when she received the blow from her.

Her vision's starting to turn a little red. She's bleeding from her head, covering her eyes with her own blood.

'I… guess this it… for me…' Kurumi thought to herself as she slowly closed her eyes. She's feeling a little painless, and her consciousness' starting to slip away from her.

'Shi…dou…' Kurumi thought of a single person. She's wondering what he would feel if he saw her in this state.

Mana got down and walked towards Kurumi who was lying on the floor, seemingly mortally injured.

"At last…" Mana said as her tears started to fall down from her eyes while laughing weakly. "I finally did it…!" She said again and picked Kurumi's limp body using her left hand, with her sword on her right hand.

She then started to rise up in mid-air slowly while grabbing Kurumi on her neck.

"Any last words… Nightmare…?" Mana asked as she readied her energized sword and pointed it on Kurumi's center chest.

The spirit didn't answer her and instead she opened eyes a little with a small smile on her lips.

"Hah… Even spirits are prone to mental breakdown." Mana said as she made a smirk. Her smirk disappeared as she saw Kurumi's expression changed into a surprised one, like she had seen something very unusual. But nonetheless, she didn't care a bit.

"Farewell, Nightmare, no, Tokisaki Kurumi." She said and pulled her sword back for a little momentum.

"Shi…" Kurumi mumbled between her chokes. "…dou…" Her eyes then closed.

Mana felt an intense rage inside her as she heard what Kurumi just said.

"DON'T YOU EVER SAY NII-SAMA'S NAME AGAIN…!" Her anger took over her and then stabbed Kurumi's center chest, where her heart lies.

Blood has been spilled out of Kurumi's chest as she got stabbed up to her back. Her blood also dripped down to Mana's blade from the spot where it was stuck.

Mana then lifted Kurumi's body using her blade and said, "Nightmare, you lose." She then threw her body down to the ground

But what she had witnessed after that was something that she didn't expect. Her face turned in to a horror one as she saw him rushing towards the body she just threw.

~o~O~o~

"No…!" A certain blue-haired boy said to himself as he witnessed something that he's certainly not expecting to happen, and his expression changed into something that he had few days ago.

That boy was Itsuka Shidou, the person who can seal and control the power of the Spirits. He just got out of DEM Industries as their mission was successful, but it turned out to be a failure, to him at least.

The reason why he was on that state right now was she, of all people that he wasn't expecting that to happen to them, happened to her. And that "her" was Tokisaki Kurumi. And the person who did that to her was someone he know more than anyone.

"Kurumi…!" He shouted her name as he jumped up high, tried to catch her falling body. He successfully caught her but he felt more fear as his arms made contact with her.

She'd already gone cold, like there's no more life remaining on her anymore.

He landed on the ground, while his mind still cannot accept what just happened to her.

"Why…?" Shidou asked her even though Kurumi couldn't hear him anymore. "Why didn't you flee away…?" He asked again as his tears started to fall from his eyes.

"Why! Why! Why! WHY!" Shidou cried louder and kept shaking Kurumi's cold body. "Kurumi…! Don't die…!" His cries grew louder and louder.

Kurumi's body suddenly glowed, her astral dress started to dissipate very slowly.

"Kurumi…! No…!" He kept on shaking her body. His fear started to grow stronger and stronger as the second passes by. "Kurumi…! Please…! Stay with me…!" Despair had enveloped his being.

"Nii…-sama…?" A girl walked to the crying Shidou, but she was ignored.

It was Mana. The culprit. And the person that Shidou saw kill Kurumi using her blade.

"Don't die…! Please…! STAY WITH ME…!" Shidou then hugged Kurumi's "dead" body. He couldn't take it anymore. He wished that this reality wasn't real, but some wishes were bound not to be heard at all.

"…Nii-sama…?" Mana said as she almost tapped Shidou's shoulder but instinctively flew upwards because of an anomaly.

"KURUMIII…!" Shidou shouted at the top of his lungs, and suddenly the whole place around him was incinerated by bluish haze flames.

"Nii-sama…?" Mana was shocked with what she had witnessed. She didn't expect that he, of all people, will possess the very same powers with the person she just killed. "What…? You're also a…?" She tried not to accept it, but witnessing it before her very eyes, her denial grew weaker and weaker.

Half a kilometre radius around Shidou was incinerated by the bluish haze flames, but it weren't flames of destruction. Those flames were the same as Shidou's regeneration ability, it regenerates anything it came contact with. The roads and building that just got destroyed were fixed in an instant.

Shidou laid Kurumi's body down on the ground and faced Mana, who was in mid-air. He glared at her with obvious aura of anger.

"Did you… do this to her…?" Shidou asked her straight.

Mana couldn't think properly. She started to feel afraid of him.

"Nii-sama… I-"

"ANSWER ME!" He roared in anger. The flames around him expanded and "burned" the streets, and then immediately went back to him. "Did… You… Do… This… To… HER…?" He asked her again, emphasizing every word.

Mana gulped. She then opened her mouth, only to find out that she cannot utter a single word. She was completely frozen on the spot.

"I see…" The flames around Shidou suddenly spun around and dissipated into thin air, and then a huge gust of wind replaced it. "In that case… then…"

"Nii-sama! Wait-" Mana dashed to Shidou, but then was pushed away by a strong wind force.

Shidou then looked back to Kurumi, who was lying on the ground. He kneeled down and touched her cheek. The coldness of her body decreased, but still, no signs of life were found in her.

"Kurumi…" Shidou's tears attempted to break down, but he held it. "I'll be right back."

Shidou then turned to Mana again. His expression couldn't be described by other words than being vague.

"Nii-sama…" Mana called again, in hopes that he would hear her.

"…"

Shidou muttered something, then after a few moments, a pair of steel wings on his back, a giant lance on his right hand, and a chained pendulum, appeared around him. It was none other than the…

.

.

.

Chapter 10: Miracle (Epilogue Part 2)

"Raphael…" Shidou muttered something, and after a few seconds, the gusts of wind around him rigorously increased its intensity. "El Re'em… El Nahash…"

After saying those words, a pair of steel wings on his back, and giant lance on his right hand, and a chained pendulum around him, appeared. It was none other than the Angel of Yamai Kaguya and Yuzuru, the Berserk Twins.

"Nii-sama…! Are you… a Spirit too…?!" Mana asked him, in a volume enough for Shidou to hear even when they're a little far from each other. Though she cannot believe herself, as all known spirits were females.

Shidou glared at Mana after hearing her question. He then flew towards her, thanks to Raphael's ability, and stopped few meters in front of her.

"What do you think?" Shidou asked her with a straight look.

"Nii-sama, I-" She stopped as she felt her throat went dry.

His words seemed to be an unlimited blades that kept on piercing her body. She was frozen of the spot, seemingly afraid of the boy who wields an incredible amount of power who was in front of her.

"Well, think of whatever and we'll roll with that." Shidou shrugged. He flew closer to her, but Mana instinctively stayed away from him. He sighed and stopped getting closer to her.

"Now, it's my turn to ask a question…" Shidou said. The gusts of wind around him dissipated at the moment he finished his statement.

"Why did you kill her…?" Shidou asked his sister. "Why did you kill Kurumi?!" Shidou continued his question, but in a louder volume, enough to shake the wizard in front of him.

"Why… you ask…" Mana managed to find her voice again. "She killed many people before…!"

Shidou gripped the lance on his right hand. He seemed to be not satisfied, or rather, he was disappointed with Mana's answer.

"Is that your only reason?" He asked her again and narrowed his eyes. It's obvious that he didn't like her answer.

"My only what…?" Mana was surprised. She didn't expect that kind of reply from her brother.

To her, he seemed different from the time she met him before.

"Only reason?! She's a killer! She killed people! That's the more reason!" The blue-haired wizard replied. "Spirits like her must disappear from this world!" Mana continued as she held her tears. She doesn't like the feeling of her brother getting angry at her. Well, nobody does.

In an instant, Shidou dashed to Mana, tried to cut her into two with El Re'em on his right hand. Mana blocked the attack using her blade, stopping the attack. Their weapons were in contact and sparks of the blades could be seen from afar.

"If that's how you see it, then you're no different from them." Shidou said as he moved his left hand from El Re'em's handle, and then El Nahash started to circle around him. "In fact, you're worse than them." He continued and the chained pendulum went to mana, tying her whole body up.

"Wha-?!"

Without wasting any time, Shidou backed away and pulled the chains, dragging Mana out of her composure and crashing her down to the ground.

"Ngh-!" Mana grunted in pain as she was thrown down.

A loud crashing to the ground could be heard and thick dusts could be seen after Mana was dropped down to earth. She crashed on to the ground with a ridiculous speed, after all.

Shidou slowly descended to the ground and threw away El Re'em which was on his right hand. The giant lance disappeared to thin air as it lost physical contact with Shidou. In a moment, flames started to emit around him again.

Mana slowly stood up. She could feel her whole body in pain but that doesn't matter to her a bit. Her top priority was stopping her brother's berserk.

She opened her eyes and saw her brother few meters away from her, but she felt more fear than before after seeing him manifest another anomaly.

"Scorch, Camael!" Shidou raised his right hand and a burning halberd appeared.

But it didn't end there. The flames around him gathered on the halberd he was holding, completely covering it.

"Megiddo!" He shouted and the burning halberd on his right hand shrunk, then the blades disappeared, and it completely transformed into something else. Something that is not for close range combat weapon.

It's a cannon, Camael's another form, Megiddo.

"Nii-sama… stop it…!" Mana pleaded, but she knew pleading on him was futile.

"You people made the people dearest to me suffer, and you even killed one of them!" He said.

Immediately, the El Nahash, which was circling around him, transferred to Camael and tied itself on it. The cannon's flames intensified as the wind of the chained pendulum manifested around it. Fire and wind complement each other after all.

"You brought this to yourself, not me!" Shidou shouted and fired a single shot to Mana.

"-Ah!" Mana barely evaded Shidou's attack by flying upwards. She looked back to where the projectile headed through, and felt a shiver as she saw where it landed.

It hit a building 5 blocks from DEM, and it was instantly turned to ashes.

"Don't take your eyes off from your opponent!" Shidou fired another shot to Mana. He continued firing as Mana kept on evading it. Megiddo should have a slow firing rate but thanks to his idea by combining the wind of Raphael and the flames of Camael, the charging is faster than usual.

Mana flew away and kept her distance from his brother but Shidou didn't back down and gave her a chase while continuously firing Megiddo. They were flying in circles inside the half mile radius of DEM.

"Nii-sama, stop it, please! I beg you!" Mana shouted at her loudest volume for Shidou to hear while she kept on dodging Shidou's ridiculously fast firing shots.

She knew that she can evade Shidou's attacks as they're just projectiles, but she completely forgot the fact that he has some sort of anomaly and unexpected things were bound to happen.

Shidou analyzed her flying speed and pathway and fired at a location where she would be at a certain time.

"Wha-!" Mana stopped moving away and instinctively blocked the big ball of flame that was about to hit her using her blade. She didn't expect that his attacks would hit her, as her speed was almost her fastest already.

"Ngggghhhh…!" She continued to increase the force on her blade to cut the ball of flame into two. "Yaaaaahhhhh!" She succeeded in cutting it but she met her another nightmare.

Another ball of flame, but a little larger than the previous one, was heading on her direction, and she had zero time to block it nor fly away as it was just a few meters away from her while traveling in a fast speed. It was caused by none other than Shidou. He was charging Camael while Mana was busy trying to slice the ball of fire in front of her.

"Aaaahhhh…!" Mana got hit by the attack and exploded right on her. She lost her ability to fly and fell down on the ground.

Shidou descended to the ground and slowly walked towards Mana, who was lying down.

She slowly opened her eyes. She could feel the pain throughout her body but she still had the strength to stand up. Thanks to her realizer absorbing most of the impact.

She could see the dark skies, with the stars glittering all over. It was so peaceful on the heavens above, but it was the complete opposite on the land.

"Why…" she muttered while she was still lying on the ground. She lost her will to fight. She knew that she cannot overpower his brother. She knew that she can't defeat him. And she knew from the very start that it was her fault all along. But she had no choice, she had to do it.

But still, she kept on asking, "Why…"

"…Do you want me to tell you why?" Shidou said as he got close to her, a few meters away from his sister, and just remained standing on the spot.

Mana slowly sat up but she immediately lost her composure as she cringed in pain.

"You wouldn't feel the importance of something before it is taken from you…" He said. But truth to be told, it was just an excuse, as Shidou considered all of them important to him, even before he temporarily lost them.

"But still… why would you go as far as this…?" Mana asked him again as she completely gave up on standing up. Her fighting spirit left her, ever her determination was no longer in her.

"I am not obliged to answer that question to someone who doesn't understand the Spirits' feelings." Shidou said as he threw away Camael and it dissipated into thin air.

"Ah…" was all she could say.

Mana slowly closed her eyes. Tears slowly fell down from her eyes. She accepted that this might be her retribution after doing those things in the past.

She could feel the temperature going down but she cared less about it. She couldn't fight it anyway, nor even fight him.

Shidou kneeled down, with his right hand touching the ground. After a few seconds, he muttered something.

"Zadkiel…"

In an instant, about a quarter mile radius around him was covered in mist, and a huge rabbit manifested from nowhere. Mana opened her eyes slowly, and widened up as she saw the creature in front of her. She could see Shidou at the nape of the bunny, with his right hand stuck inside. Mana crawled back a little using her elbows due to mixed surprise and fear.

She's afraid to die, after all.

She could see that it was starting to snow, but it's no ordinary one. The snow were quite violent, and the winds were raging. She could feel her consciousness slipping away from her due to the massive snowstorm that's unusually happening.

In a few moments, her vision's starting to go dark, but she could still feel her consciousness. Then she realized, it wasn't her vision that was going dark, it was the skies above.

"…?!" She couldn't feel the cold anymore, thinking that because her body might be completely frozen.

But it wasn't.

She slowly sat up using her little strength, and realized that it also wasn't the skies that went pitch black. She learned that she's inside a barrier. She then looked for the source of Reiryoku, and it was coming from the giant rabbit few meters away from him, or no, it was coming from the person who was on that giant rabbit.

Shidou jumped down from the rabbit's back and slowly walked towards Mana who was sitting on the ground. She still had her blade on her right hand, giving Shidou a thought that she still had a will to fight.

But Mana didn't even fight him, she just evaded his attacks.

"…Nii-sama…" Mana's tears started to fall from her eyes. The one thing that she really cannot understand was why Shidou's fighting for the spirits. She now began to question herself.

'What have I been doing all the time…?' She asked herself. 'Am I doing the right thing…?'

'Did I do the right thing…?'

There's just no way that Shidou would act like this without a reason, even if just out of rage.

These questions kept on circling inside Mana's head. Doubt has started to build inside her, and not just directed to anything. It was directed to herself. She doubts herself, whether she did right thing or what she was doing was right.

"El Nahash…"

The injured wizard snapped back as she heard her brother mutter something. She then saw the chains around Shidou split into three, and headed through her way.

"…!" Mana wasn't able to protest nor defend herself as the chains tied her hands and feet. But not in a subtle manner, in fact, anyone could recognize how she was tied.

Her feet was tied by a single chain, while the other two was tied on each of her wrist. In short, she was crucified.

Her tears didn't stop and was visible to Shidou but it didn't help in changing his mind. Her thoughts were full of Shidou dead-on killing her right on the spot.

"…Nii…-sama…" Mana muttered between her cries.

Shidou ignored her call. He stepped back a bit as he gained independence from El Nahash, which was encircled around him, and now it was around Mana, restraining her.

"Sandalphon…!" Shidou said and stomped his right foot. In an instant, a golden seat, or let's say, a golden throne emerged from the ground beside him.

He walked behind it and grabbed a handle inside the backrest of the throne, and pulled it up by jumping up to the front, revealing a greatsword.

"…" Mana was speechless. She could feel more danger with the weapon Shidou just manifested. It has a different aura from the other Angels he used earlier.

After a few moments, Shidou sliced the throne in half, breaking it into shards. Those pieces didn't fall to the ground and instead, it covered Shidou's weapon, increasing its size and length.

"Halvanhelev." Shidou said as the final transformation of Sandalphon was attained.

Mana gasped after witnessing Shidou's actions. She couldn't believe what she just saw. And she could feel her fear growing by the second by just looking at the giant sword that Shidou's holding with his two hands, as the blades were emitting ominous energy.

'If it's Nii-sama, then I don't mind…' Mana thought to herself as she slowly closed her eyes. 'This is my retribution, after all.'

Shidou pointed Halvanhelev to Mana who was crucified few meters away from her, but the blade could reach her body from where he was standing. His hands were shaking, obviously because he was about to take a person's life, and it's not just anyone's life.

'…Don't falter now…!' Shidou said to himself as he narrowed his eyes and gritted his teeth. He was fighting his greatest opponent, who was none other than himself.

He tightened his grip on Halvanhelev's handle, fighting the hesitation inside him. He lifted the enormous sword above him, gaining momentum and Reiryoku.

"…This is for Kurumi…" Shidou muttered as he brought the blade down, on a path where Mana would sliced in half.

But suddenly…

*KACHING!*

Something stopped Halvanhelev before getting in contact with Mana's body. The thing that blocked the huge blade was covered in flames.

"Wha-?!" Shidou was surprised.

After a few moments, the flames dissipated, revealing a girl wearing a traditional Japanese dress, with a floating sash around her. The girl seemed to be in her adolescent years, having a crimson red hair that's almost matching with the flames around her. She's holding a burning black halberd, and it was the thing that stopped Shidou from killing Mana.

"Kotori…?" Shidou was surprised more after seeing his foster sister in this place. He made sure that the barrier was cut off from the outside, yet her little sister managed to come inside.

"What… are you doing?!" Shidou asked Kotori in a louder tone, not because he's mad or angry, but he was afraid.

Kotori pushed Shidou's blade and blew it away using his halberd, Camael. But Shidou didn't let go of the sword and he was also pushed back.

"…Itsuka… Kotori…?" Mana called her name after opening her eyes as she learned that Kotori's here.

Kotori glanced behind her and glared to the person who was crucified by El Nahash. She just smirked at Mana, implying that she'll take care of the rest.

'…Itsuka… Kotori… is a spirit too…?' Mana thought. Somehow, she felt relieved that she was protected by Kotori.

'…Ah, this is probably what Nii-sama meant…' Mana slowly closed her eyes, her consciousness was drifting away from her. '…Ah, I get it now…'

She then lost consciousness. Her head bowed down independently.

Kotori looked back to Shidou after Mana lost her sensibility.

"That should be my God-forsaken line!" Kotori shouted and the flames around her got stronger. "You're about to kill your SISTER!" She hated emphasizing the word sister, but she doesn't have a choice. If it means to stop his brother from running amok, then it's just a small pinch.

"I know exactly what I am doing…!" Shidou replied and dashed to Kotori. Seems like he's eager to fight her little sister.

Kotori was surprised with his reply. She thought that Shidou had gone berserk, but he was completely sane. He was dead serious on killing Mana.

But she couldn't allow it. No matter what, Takamiya Mana has to live. And she cannot let Shidou, of all people, kill her. The result would be worse than 5 spirits going berserk in Tenguu City.

Kotori blocked the massive sword as it tried to cut her in to two using Camael. The blades of the two Angels sparked and released different energy, destroying the barrier of Zadkiel, along with the giant rabbit disappearing on scene. They backed away from each other to get some breathing room after a minute of clashing.

"How did you get inside Zadkiel's barrier?" Shidou asked Kotori, who was in front of him.

"You're the one who did it first. You should know why." Kotori replied.

Shidou remembered his first encounter with Yoshino. What she said was true, he was the one who entered Yoshino's barrier, after all. But it took all of his energy just to enter because Efreet's Reiryoku was acting passively at that time.

"Now it's time for me to ask a question." Kotori said as she loosened her grip with Camael. "Why are you trying to kill Mana? Have you forgotten our agreement?" She asked.

Shidou froze. Yes, they did have an agreement that they should capture Mana alive. And now he's trying to kill her, which was the opposite of their objective.

"…" he didn't reply.

"Hnnn?" Kotori hummed. She probably guessed what he was thinking.

But what she guessed was dead true. And she didn't expect it to be true.

"She killed Kurumi. That's why."

Kotori's eyes widened.

"Where is she?" Kotori asked her. There's something that's bugging her mind, and she's about to confirm it.

Shidou pointed his finger on the building that had fallen. From there, Kotori could see a person with vermillion Gothic Lolita dress, lying on the ground.

Kotori descended to the ground and walked towards Kurumi. She inspected the body if it really belongs to the Nightmare, or if it's really Kurumi, and not just a clone. Shidou followed her, with Halvanhelev still on his right hand.

She dematerialized Camael and kneeled down beside the unconscious spirit. She then lifted her right arm, with bluish haze flames covered it afterwards. She placed her hand on top of Kurumi's head, and ran down through her body.

"What… are you doing…?" Shidou asked her little sister.

Kotori didn't reply to him and just continued what she was doing. She repeated it for about 5 times before standing up with a shocked expression.

"Kurumi still have vital signs but they're weak." She said as she turned to Shidou. He seemed to be surprised with what she just discovered.

"Then…?"

"Yes, she's still alive but her life is in danger. She won't last without proper attention." Kotori said as her astral dress disappeared and returned to her usual uniform. "She might die if she's not treated immediately."

Shidou kneeled down as the sword on his right dematerialized. He seemed to be relieved, that Kurumi's still alive. At the same time, his fear was still in him, as he learned that she could really die at any moment.

"I've contacted the medical team, they should be here in a few moments." Kotori said.

"Thanks… and I'm sorry." Shidou said and looked away from his sister.

The twin-tailed girl walked up to him and hit his head.

"Ow…!" Shidou cried in pain.

"Learn to control yourself, you idiot! If you went berserk back there, I might be forced to do something that I do not want to do ever." Kotori said as she crossed her arms. "I don't want that to happen… You know." The little sister's tears started to fall from her eyes, but she wiped it immediately as she looked away from him

Shidou patted her head and said, "I'm sorry. This won't happen again, I promise."

After that, a bunch of people with stretchers appeared on scene, with a person that is familiar to Shidou. He took his hand back from Kotori's head.

"Commander! Are you okay?!" The person asked as she approached Kotori. That person was the second-in-command of Fraxinus, Kyouhei Kannazuki.

Kotori just nodded as a reply. "Shidou, bring Mana down." Kotori ordered.

"Ah…" Shidou totally forgot about his other sister, who was still tied up and unconscious. He took El Nahash back and caught her down.

Shidou walked back to Kotori and laid down Mana beside Kurumi.

"Kannazuki, bring Kurumi back to Fraxinus for temporary treatment. She's our top priority for now." Kotori ordered. "After that, we'll transfer her to the hospital."

"Yes!" Kannazuki replied. "Um, what about Takamiya Mana?" He asked.

"We'll take her in custody." Kotori replied. "Give her some treatment too. Can't have her dying right now."

He nodded as a reply. "Commander, this is for you. From Head Analyst Murasame." He said and handed a paper bag. "I didn't look at the contents, I promise."

Kotori took the paper bag and took a look inside. There's another thing inside which was covered by some wrapper. She then tore the wrapper up without taking it out and saw another set of her uniform.

'That Reine.' She thought and sighed.

"I'll be off now, Commander." Kannazuki said and got to work.

~o~O~o~

After a few minutes, the team left the scene, leaving Kotori and Shidou alone. They deliberately let themselves be left behind because they still have something to do. Something that they cannot show when there're people around them.

"So tell me Shidou, what did you do?" Kotori said bluntly.

The blue haired boy was confused with her sudden question. "What did I do what?"

"Kurumi's supposedly dead, judging from the wound she had in her heart." Kotori said.

Shidou was confused even more. "Wait, how did you know?" Shidou asked in confusion.

"I learned that when I examined her body earlier. That's why." The redhead explained. "And also…"

"Hmm?"

"I've discovered large traces of my Reiryoku inside her body. It was the one holding her life." Kotori said with a serious look. "What did you do?"

Shidou was surprised with what Kotori just explained to him. He had no idea about what she's saying.

"I have no idea." Shidou replied.

Kotori narrowed her eyes. She seemed to be unsatisfied with his answers. She got this feeling that he's hiding something, something that she doesn't know about the Fire Spirit's abilities.

"If you say so." She replied and looked away. A shade of pink could be seen on her cheeks. "Hey, uhm…"

"What is it now?" Shidou asked. He's getting pretty nervous with Kotori's actions.

"You know… that." Kotori said, emphasizing the word 'that'. Her blushes are getting intense. Though Shidou didn't know the reason why she's at that state right now.

"What's that?" Shidou asked again.

Kotori was getting flustered every second. She cannot bring herself to say it. It's just too embarrassing.

If you're wondering what that is, it's about sealing her powers. Yes, she just reclaimed her Reiryoku which was sealed inside Shidou, completely. And now it must be sealed again, and there's only one method to do it.

"Ah, Mou! Learn to be sensitive!" Kotori said as she rubbed her hair in irritation. "My Reiryoku! You have to seal it again!"

It took Shidou 10 seconds to process what she just said. He had totally forgotten about sealing her powers. And what's more, the method used to seal it.

"I, uh-" Shidou suddenly turned red.

Kotori didn't say a word and just crossed her arms without looking at him. It's clear as the day that she's embarrassed too.

"Alright." Shidou said as he composed himself.

"Elohim Gibor!" Kotori called and she was instantly covered in flames, transforming her current clothes into a traditional Japanese dress, with a floating sash around her. The usual twin-tail hairstyle of hers was no more as her hair's down straight.

"Now Shi-!" She didn't manage to complete her call because she saw Shidou already walking towards her. She was startled, and her flustered face became more flustered.

Shidou grabbed Kotori's shoulders as he got closer to her. He stared deeply in her crimson red eyes that has a matching color with her hair. They were covered in flames, seemingly giving off a romantic atmosphere.

"Kotori…" Shidou called.

"W-what i-iss it…?" Kotori stuttered.

"Kotori…!" Shidou called again, but in a higher volume.

"I c-can hear y-you clearly! No need to s-shout!" she replied again.

"Do you l-" Shidou was interrupted when something made contact with his lips.

To his shock, Kotori initiated the kiss. She had her eyes closed, as she was totally embarrassed, yet happy at the same time.

There's no way in hell that she's gonna repeat what she said back then when she first reclaimed her Reiryoku from Shidou.

After a few moments, her astral dress started to glow and dissipated slowly, implying that her Reiryoku's going back to Shidou. When the sealing was complete, her dress was gone, and she's completely naked.

She then broke away the kiss and threw herself onto her brother.

"Kotori…" Shidou called again.

"Don't…look" She said as she buried her face on Shidou's chest. "Onii…-chan… could you… turn around…?" She asked.

Shidou was surprised by her sudden change of personality. He then patted her head, and learned that she's not wearing any ribbon, as the ribbon fell down on the ground.

"I got it." Shidou said and abided with her request.

Kotori took the clothes out from the paper bag that she got from Kannazuki, err, mainly from Reine. She wore it one by one, from her undergarments up to her uniform. Duh, it's obvious. Unless someone wears clothes first before undergarments. She then picked up the black ribbons on the ground and tied it to her usual twin-tail style.

"Alright, we're good." Kotori said as she took a chupa chups from the pocket of her uniform and ate it. That lollipop was included in the package.

Shidou turned to Kotori and saw her in her usual uniform. At least she's not wearing something unusual.

"Come on, you want to see her, right?" Kotori said, emphasizing the word her.

Shidou didn't say a word and just nodded as a reply.

~o~O~o~

Inside the Fraxinus, there were two siblings walking down on the corridors, seemingly heading towards a certain room. A redhead twin-tailed girl, wearing a red uniform on top of her white collar shirt, with pairing red skirt, and a blue-haired boy wearing his usual jacket and white T-Shirt.

"It's here." The girl said as they arrived on a certain door that has a sign above it as "Infirmary".

The boy didn't say anything and just followed his sister as she went inside the room.

"We're not allowing any visitors, so you can stay here in the lounge, Shidou." The girl said to him.

Shidou didn't reply and looked through the glass window. Inside, he saw five girls lying on the bed, with electrodes attached on their bodies. They seem to not have come yet into their senses.

"Kotori, how are they?" Shidou asked his sister, Itsuka Kotori.

"We've just given them temporary medications for now, so I can't say anything yet." Kotori said. "We will move them to the hospital in six hours to have proper medication, so I'll inform you later."

Shidou didn't reply a word and stared through the window. They just look fine in plain sight but they're seriously not okay, especially a certain dark black-haired girl, who got Shidou's attention mostly. The girl who just got stabbed in her heart and still miraculously survived, but at the same time, she's also at death's door.

"Kurumi…" Shidou muttered the name of the girl and touched the glass window. "I'm sorry…! I didn't make it in time…"

Kotori heard what he just murmured and sighed in disappointment.

"It's not my place to say this, but do you think she would be happy if she saw you in that state?" Kotori said, trying to knock some sense on him. "You should focus on whatever you can do for now, and be there when she wakes up. Moping over her right now won't do any good for her and for yourself." She said.

"But… there's a high chance that she won't wake up…" Shidou said dejectedly. Depressed aura obviously surrounds Shidou.

"And I didn't say that there's no chance of her waking up!" Kotori said in a louder voice due to irritation. "How pessimistic can you be?" Kotori continued her rant.

"But…" Shidou didn't even manage to finish his statement.

"I'm doing everything I can to save her, because I owe her A LOT this time!" Kotori said. "If it wasn't for her, you would be dead right before you stepped on DEM's territory!"

"That's why I'm here, giving her my full attention and doing my best to keep her alive, even though I really do not like it!"

"So wipe that depressed look off your face and get a hold of yourself! You're not helping anyone when you're back in that state!"

Shidou was frozen on the spot. He wasn't expecting her to care about Kurumi, but nonetheless, he was happy, happy that she finally accepted the Spirit who was deemed to be the cruelest among all spirits.

"D-don't get me wrong, I'm just repaying my d-debt to her, that's all." Kotori said as she looked away in embarrassment.

"I know." Shidou said, even know he knew that she was lying. "You're right, Kotori. I can't stay like this forever."

"As long as you understand, then it's fine." Kotori said and flashed a smile. "I've prepared a room for you here, so you-" She was interrupted.

"No, I'd rather stay in the house." Shidou said as he swung his head. "Or else, I won't be able to sleep because for sure, I'll have the urge to stay here." He continued.

"If you say so…" Kotori said and walked away. "I've got things to do, so I'll see you later."

"Yeah." Shidou said as he followed her out of the room and headed out of the Fraxinus.

~o~O~o~

Shidou was ported out of the Fraxinus, and landed in a dark alley. There's still few hours before morning kicks in. The streets were empty, and some shops were closed already. It's still dawn, after all, or more likely, because of the spacequake alarm earlier. He's feeling hungry, but nothing's available right now as even the convenience stores and vending machines were not operational.

"I guess I'll just cook something at home…" Shidou said to himself.

He just remembered yesterday, before everything of these happened. He was on a date with Tokisaki Kurumi, the person who was with him almost all the time in the past few days. Now that she's not beside him, Shidou feels different.

"Kurumi…" He muttered her name as he kept on walking down the streets.

He wondered about these feelings lingering inside him. He actually felt this before, but he didn't know what it was. Now that Kurumi's not beside him, these feelings grew more intense, but painful that makes him feel restless.

He clenched his chest tightly, but it didn't help on easing the pain. He took few deep breaths and it calmed him down, but only a little.

He sighed and increased his walking speed. After a few minutes, he arrived at the gates of their home. His hand stopped before it made contact with the gate. A thought of 'everything of it was just a dream' popped inside his mind.

But he himself knew that this was reality. The truth. Defined by some people as the first casualty of war.

He hit his cheeks with his two hands and opened the gates. He then headed straight inside the house without thinking of anything that could distract him.

He arrived at the living room. He somewhat felt a feeling of déjà vu as he walked around it. It was the same feeling few days ago after he got back from the ambush.

But it was different today.

'Shidou…' His mind got ahead of him and saw a projection of Kurumi sitting on the chair at the dining table, calling his name with a smile.

Of course, he completely knew that it was just his imaginations. He won't stoop that low that he'll relieve himself with delusions. This is reality, after all.

He looked away from his hallucinations and went upstairs. He headed straight to his room and threw himself on his bed as he got inside.

He totally forgot about food.

"Kurumi…" He muttered while his face was buried on the sheets.

He sat up and placed his head on his hands, with his elbow on his knees. He cannot hold his tears anymore. His emotions were about to break.

"I shouldn't…." He murmured between his soft cries as he wiped his tears but they kept on flowing down.

"I… know I shouldn't be like… this…" He continued to speak between his cries. "But, it's alright for me… to cry for now… right…?"

He let all of his emotions out and cried as much as he could. The feelings he had for Kurumi were getting more and more intense.

He was saved by her. She was there when he needed a companion. He got her full support, from his daily activities up to the suicide mission he just did. Even if it was just for a few days. She gave her everything for him.

"…Kurumi…!" He called her name as his cries were getting intense, but he kept his voice down.

He now completely realize all of the uncertain feelings he had for Kurumi. And he regretted it for not realizing it sooner, as it took this much sacrifice in order for him to recognize these feelings.

"…I love you… Kurumi…"

.

.

.

Chapter 11: Forgiveness (Epilogue Part 3)

Monday. Yes, Monday. First day of the week.

A certain blue-haired boy walked outside of the Itsuka residence before seven in the morning. It's been almost two weeks since the incident in DEM industries, nearly two weeks since they retrieved the 5 captured spirits. There was a news the next day after that all over the net and media, but it was covered as a result of a small spacequake hitting the area. Probably DEM's or Ratatoskr's work, but none of it concerned him anyway.

He was walking down the streets, with three girls with him. Yes, those three girls were Yatogami Tohka and the Yamai sisters, Kaguya and Yuzuru. They got discharged the day before yesterday, as their injuries were not worse than someone else. Thanks their small and passive Reiryoku inside them, their recovery was fast enough. The girls were advised not to go to school for now but they insisted in going. After all, school is one of the most important reason that they're living a normal life now.

"Say, Shidou, do you have plans this afternoon?" The dark night-haired girl, Tohka, asked as she tilted her head.

"Ah… I've got something to do later, grocery and stuff." He said.

"Then we'll lend you our company, Shidou!" One of the orange-haired twins, Kaguya, said as she puffed her chest out.

"Look, now…" Shidou said as he sighed. "Don't worry about me, I can do it. I'll make lots at dinner later, so look forward to it." He said and smiled at them.

The girls glittered in excitement. Of course, his cooking was something they're looking forward to.

"Accept. We'll look forward to it." The other orange-haired girl, Yuzuru, spoke and hugged Shidou's left arm.

"O-oi, Yuzuru…!" Shidou blushed as the valleys of heaven made contact with his arm.

"Yuzuru! That's not fair!" Kaguya said as he pushed Tohka aside and hugged his right arm.

Shidou's blushes grew more as he felt another pair of hills on his right arm. Though that's not the main reason why he's flustered, it's because of the attention he's getting from the people passing by them.

"O-Oi! What are you two doing?!" The girl who was just pushed away said as she stopped the three from walking.

"We're walking, can't you tell by just looking?" Kaguya said as she leaned her head on Shidou.

"Ugh…!" Tohka couldn't contain her jealousy anymore.

The dark night-haired girl grabbed Shidou's left hand and dashed away from the twins, who unexpectedly let go of Shidou's arm as they darted out.

"T-Tohka! Slow down!" Shidou said as his feet could barely catch up with Tohka's pacing.

"I'm sorry Shidou, but we need to get away from them as far as we can, as fast as we can!" Tohka said while running, dragging Shidou away.

"Huhh?! Shidou said in confusion.

"Shidou, get back here!" Kaguya shouted and gave a chase. Yuzuru followed her sister afterwards.

"Say that to Tohka, not me!" Shidou shouted back as he almost tripped.

~o~O~o~

After five minutes of running, Shidou and the three girls arrived in front of the gates of Raizen High School, the school where they attend to. They seemed to have attracted some attention from the other students, seeing as they left a trail of dust behind them.

"Haah… Tohka…" Shidou called the dark night-haired spirit girl as he tried to catch his breath.

"Hnn? What is it, Shidou?" Tohka asked him. She seemed to have not broken a sweat.

'Remind me to break away from her when I get dragged.' Shidou thought to himself and took few deep breaths, and finally calmed himself down.

"Shidou? You okay there?" Kaguya asked him as she arrived at the gates with her twin sister. "We're going ahead, see you later!" She said and walked away while waving, as if nothing happened earlier. "Let's go, Yuzuru."

Yuzuru followed her sister and disappeared inside the school building. Tohka and Shidou remained outside for a few moments and decided to go inside the building.

"Are you alright, Shidou?" Tohka asked as she noticed Shidou's breathing was swaying.

"Ah… Yeah, don't worry about me." Shidou said as she reassured the spirit girl. "Just don't do that again, okay?"

"It just seems like you're getting a lot of attention earlier… so I decided to get you out of there immediately." She said. "But, I promise, I won't do it again!" She continued as she folded her hands.

'She has changed. I wonder why.' Shidou though as he saw a different side of Tohka.

"Thanks, now let's go to the classroom." Shidou said as he patted her head.

"Umu! Let's go!"

~o~O~o~

School ended without a hitch. Everybody in Shidou's class were packing their things off and left the classroom one by one. He made his cleaning pace very slow, in order for the other students to leave the room immediately. He was on the cleaning duty, by the way. Cleaning duties were done by pairs, but somehow, his partner was not present.

'Why did she have to be absent today, of all times…' Shidou thought to himself and sighed.

If you're wondering who his partner was, it was Tobiichi Origami. Well, somehow, he's feeling relieved, as he knew that Origami will have some kind of dangerous motive when they're alone.

"Shidou, want me to help you?" A girl approached him while he was erasing the blackboard. She had a long, midnight-color hair and a portion of it was tied in a ponytail style.

"Nah, don't worry about me, Tohka." He replied to the girl beside him. "You should meet up with Kaguya and Yuzuru, I'll give you a call when dinner's ready.

Somehow, Tohka was feeling depressed, but she decided to let Shidou do what he wanted for now, as she owed him a lot this time.

"If you say so, Shidou." Tohka said and beamed a smile. But it died down as she somewhat remembered what she just heard this lunch break. "Ne, Shidou…"

"Hmm?"

"Ai, Mai, and Mii told me that Tokisaki Kurumi attended classes here last week, and they said that you two were very close… is that true…?" Tohka asked as she had this worried look on her face.

Shidou froze on the spot. He can't think of an answer to give to her.

"Uhm… Tohka, can we not talk about her right now…?" Shidou said as he turned around. His tears almost fell down from his eyes, but he successfully held it back.

"But Shi-"

"Please, Tohka?" Shidou said as he turned back to her, with a fake smile. "I promise to tell you, when the time comes. But please, not right now."

"Okay, then." She gave up. "See ya, Shidou! I'm looking forward to dinner later!" She continued as she waved to him and went out of the room.

"Yeah, look forward to it." Shidou said and made a weak smile.

After a few minutes, Shidou left the classroom and walked outside the school building. As he got out of the school gates, three shadowy figures from the school building entrance followed him. They were a trio of girls, with the two of them looks identical.

"Should we be really doing this…? What if Shidou catches us…?" One of the girls who doesn't look identical to the other two, said in nervousness.

"Then all we have to do is to not get caught by him, simple!" The other girl, who had her hair tied and braided, said as she peeked to where Shidou was heading. "Something's fishy about his actions!"

"Agree. I am curious too." The last girl, who had her hair also braided, but not tied, said as she also peeked above the previous girl.

The first girl, Yatogami Tohka, gave up on arguing with the twins, the Yamai sisters. She just walked away from them but her arm was grabbed by Kaguya.

"You will come with us!" She ordered.

"Why should I?!" Tohka asked her while trying to break free from Kaguya's grip.

"Inquire. Are you not curious too?" Yuzuru asked her as she grabbed Tohka's other arm.

Yes, it's somewhat true that Tohka was curious about Shidou's actions today. She knew that he's up to something, but his personal activities was beyond her jurisdiction.

"Shidou's personal matters, is something that I cannot step in to, without his permission." Tohka said to the twins as she made a serious look. "If he said that he's fine, then I'll respect his decisions."

The Yamai twins were surprised with Tohka's sudden change of personality. Or let's say, the Tohka in front of them wasn't the Tohka they knew. She's a complete different person.

But, they didn't give up.

"Whatever! Just come with us! He's getting away!" Kaguya rolled her eyes and they started following Shidou while dragging Tohka.

"Wai-!" Tohka didn't have the time to protest as she got pulled by two strong grips by her arms.

~o~O~o~

After half an hour of tailing Shidou, they arrived at a certain hospital which they recognize clearly. They've been here before, and it was just few days ago.

"Confirm. This is…" Yuzuru said as she saw the infrastructure in front of her.

"Yes, no mistaking it." Her sister said as she stared on the building.

"This was the hospital where we were confined, right?" Tohka asked the two. "Look, Shidou went inside."

The three of them nodded in unison and followed him inside the hospital. They saw him talking to a person in the reception and later went upstairs. The trio went in front of the reception and talked to the person in-charge.

"Oh, hello, Yatogami-san and, uh, Yamai Kaguya-san and Yuzuru-san!" The person, who was a woman, in the reception almost forgot the twin's names, which irked the twins, but they let it slide for now. They can't make a ruckus in the hospital, after all.

"Uhm, we've heard that Shidou came here today." Tohka said.

"Hmm, Shidou… Oh, Itsuka-kun!" The woman in the reception said. "Yes, he just arrived, and he's at room three-one-four at the third floor. He's-" She didn't manage to finish her sentence as she was interrupted by the three walking away from the reception.

"Thank you very much!" Kaguya said and they went upstairs.

"Those girls…" The woman in the reception said to herself as she sighed. "That boy must be lucky to have them, but at the same time, unfortunate… Oh I forgot the order to not allow any visitors there aside from Itsuka-kun."

She sighed. "I guess it's ok if it's them."

~o~O~o~

The three girls climbed the stairs and shortly arrived on the third floor. They walked down on the corridors and checked the numbers of each room if they have 314 on it.

"This is it." Kaguya said as stopped in front of a certain door with the matching number that they're looking for. "What's this…?" She asked as she saw something attached on the door.

"No disturbance…? What does that mean?" Tohka asked as she was confused.

"Suggest. Only one way to find out, is to see what's inside." Yuzuru said with a poker face.

"Hey, now! This is a hospital!" Tohka said as she pulled the two away from the door to prevent them from opening it.

Kaguya sighed in disappointment. "Come on, we're just gonna have a peek on what's inside." She said.

"Agree. We're not going to do anything aside from peeking." Yuzuru followed.

She then let go of the two. Good thing that the third floor was somewhat deserted, so they're not attracting any attention.

Kaguya slid the door slightly open, like 5 centimeters or lesser than that. She and Yuzuru peeked on the small gap to see what's going on inside, or what's inside.

"Who's that…?" Kaguya asked as she saw someone inside aside from Shidou.

"Question. Who was that girl on the bed…?" Yuzuru completed Kaguya's question.

Tohka was confused with what the twins just asked. Somehow, she's feeling uncomfortable.

"Let me see." Tohka said and stepped forward.

The sisters moved away from the door and Tohka substituted them. She then peeked on the gap on the door and immediately backed away after five seconds.

"Wh-What's she… doing here…? Tohka said as she leaned on the wall, with a surprised look on her face.

The twins went to her aid. "Do you know her?" Kaguya asked her.

"Yeah, she's-"

Before she could finish her sentence, the door slid open, with a certain blue haired boy exiting the room.

"Oh, it was just you girls." Shidou said as he sighed in relief. "Seriously, what are you doing out here? Don't tell me that you tailed me?" He asked them.

"Shidou, are you mad that we followed you?" Tohka asked him.

He sighed again. "I'm not mad or anything. Why would I be?" He said to her.

"Anyways, Shidou, why did you lie to us about going to do groceries?" Kaguya asked.

"I didn't lie to you girls." He said in honesty. "I'm planning to go to the supermarket after I visit here."

"Surprise. I see…" Yuzuru said and sighed in relief.

"But why didn't you tell us that you're gonna visit here?" Tohka asked him again.

Shidou didn't say a word and just pointed at the notice attached on the door. The three of them stared at the words "No Disturbance". They had this confused look on their faces after staring at it for about ten seconds, as they didn't know what that sign mean.

"Look around you. What did you notice?" Shidou asked them again.

The three girls looked around and now they realize why there's nobody on this floor.

"No one's on this floor aside from us…" Kaguya said.

"That's the reason why." Shidou said to them.

"So, you're saying that we're noisy?" Kaguya asked him in a joking manner.

Shidou ignored her.

Tohka stood up and faced Shidou. "But, what is she doing there, Shidou?" She asked with a serious look.

The blue-haired boy didn't reply a word and just sighed in defeat. Seems like they found out.

"Let's go inside, but be sure to keep your voices down." He said and opened the door for them.

One by one, the girls entered the room, with Shidou entering last, closing and locking the door afterwards.

~o~O~o~

The three girls went beside the girl who was lying on the bed, with several wires attached on her body. They had different expression as they saw her, Tohka had this surprised look on her face while Kaguya and Yuzuru had confused looks.

"Shidou, who's this girl?" Kaguya asked immediately to know the identity of the patient. Somehow, she could feel something different from the unconscious girl. Something unearthly.

"Request. I want to know her too." Yuzuru said.

"Ah, yeah, you haven't met her yet." Shidou said as he sat down on the chair at the bed. "She's-"

"Tokisaki Kurumi…" Tohka intervened and the twins looked at her.

"You know her?" Kaguya asked.

"Yes, and she's a spirit too." Tohka added as she looked away. There's a hint of anger on her actions, but none of them noticed it.

"I knew it." Kaguya said as she got a confirmation of her hypothesis. "She had this unearthly aura around her."

"Also, she's-"

"Stop right there." Shidou interrupted Tohka as he knew what she was going to say afterwards. Something that he's not gonna like. "Don't say it, please? Kaguya and Yuzuru doesn't need to hear it."

The twins were dumbfounded with what they were discussing. They just stared at the two while they were bickering with each other.

"But tell me, Shidou, is she the reason why you didn't tell us about visiting here?" Tohka asked him again.

"…" Shidou became silent for a moment and then spoke again. "Yeah. I knew that you're in bad terms with her."

"…" Tohka was speechless.

"And if you're wondering why she's here…" Shidou said while he stared at Kurumi, with a sad look on his face, which was very obvious to the trio. "If it wasn't for her, we wouldn't be here anymore."

The three gasped as they heard what Shidou just said. They suddenly felt uncomfortable from where they were standing. Of course, they'll feel like that as it looked like they had a big debt of gratitude to the girl who was unconscious on the bed. They owed her their lives, in short.

"…I'm sorry… I didn't know a thing." Tohka apologized as she looked away from Shidou. She's feeling guiltier if she looked at him or to Kurumi more.

Shidou made a weak smile and said to her, "No need to apologize. I said that I'm going to tell you about this sooner or later anyways. But supposedly not before she wakes up."

There's an awkward silence around them for a minute, then a certain orange-haired girl broke it.

"Umm, Shidou, we'll just wait outside…" Kaguya said and walked to the door.

"Sure, I'll be out in a few minutes." He said and brought his attention back to Kurumi.

The three girls stepped out of the room and left Shidou inside. They knew that he wanted, no, needed some time alone with Kurumi.

Though Tohka suspected that something deeper was between Shidou and Kurumi, but she threw that thought out of her mind.

Shidou took the unconscious spirit girl's hand and held it with his two hands tightly. Her hands were a little cold, and her skin was pale.

"Kurumi…" He called her name.

He kept on calling her name, in hopes that a miracle would happen. He was afraid, afraid of being alone. Afraid of losing Kurumi. He loves her, after all. And it would totally devastate him if she dies without him telling her how he feels.

"Kurumi… please wake up…" He said in a lower voice as he lowered his head. His tears were about to fall down from his eyes, but he held it back and stood up from the chair. He does this every time he's about to cry, for him not to be devoured by despair. And he leaves the room before it happens.

But, he didn't lose hope once. As long as there's life inside her, the possibility of her waking up is not zero. Even if it's one percent, that small rate could bring miracle.

"I'll be leaving now…" He said to the unconscious girl, even though she can't hear him.

He stepped out of the room after saying that, for him not to be depressed anymore. As he closed and locked the door, he was met with three bright smiles that came from three girls.

"Well then, shall we go to the supermarket?" Kaguya asked Shidou, trying to cheer him up.

"I told you, I can-"

"We're here already, so it would be a waste if we'll just go home and leave you alone!" Tohka said to him. She seemed to be back on her usual personality.

"Agree. Let's go and have some fun." Yuzuru said with a straight face.

"We're going to buy ingredients for dinner." Shidou corrected her and sighed. "Alright, let's go."

The three girls nodded with a beaming smile and left the hospital with Shidou.

~o~O~o~

After an hour of groceries, the three spirits with a boy arrived back at the Itsuka Residence and went inside the house without further ado. Shidou headed straight to the kitchen, while the twins sat down on the sofa and turned the TV on, with Tohka helping Shidou take care of extra groceries.

"Say, Shidou. What're you making?" Tohka said after taking care of the groceries as she sat down on the high stool behind Shidou.

"You'll see." Shidou said bluntly and started preparing their dinner.

"Hehe…" Even though she didn't know what Shidou was cooking, she could smell something good that's coming from the kitchen. She's drooling a little.

After fifteen minutes, everything was prepared. Shidou called the twins who were anchored by the TV in the living room. Kaguya and Yuzuru stood up and headed to the table, it's something that they've been waiting for anyways.

"Alright. Itada-"

*DING DONG*

Someone rang the doorbell before they could finish their food thanksgiving. Shidou told the three to start ahead and he walked to the door. He turned the doorknob and me two people outside, a young sky blue-haired girl and a silverish purple-haired mature woman.

"Reine-san, Yoshino!" Shidou called their names as he saw them. "You're just in time."

"G-Good evening, Shidou-san…" Yoshino said shyly.

"Hello, Shidou-kun! I see you're lively today." The puppet on Yoshino's left hand, Yoshinon, greeted.

"Hello, Yoshino, Yoshinon. Are you feeling okay now?" Shidou asked her as he patted her head. Yoshino blushed and nodded as a response, which made Shidou smile as well.

He led them inside the house after. Shidou asked Reine about Kotori's whereabouts, but Reine just told him that she was busy taking care of things he didn't have to worry about. The blue-haired boy just let the subject go and didn't pry on it anymore.

He was about to sit down on his chair when another ringing of the doorbell happened.

"Who is it this time?!" Shidou said in irritation. The four spirits at the table just chuckled at him.

Shidou sighed and walked to the door. He was greeted by a certain man holding two wrapped boxes

"Umm, for Itsuka… Shidou…" The man said as he read a slip of paper. "From Vicky's Dress Customs…" He continued reading the paper.

Shidou beamed a smile after hearing that. It was something that he ordered online a week ago. A dress shop that accepts customer-designed orders.

"Yes, that's me." He replied. The man stared at him with a weird look as he gave the slip of paper that he was holding with a pen and Shidou signed it as he received the package. Shidou thanked the delivery man while ignoring his weird look and went back inside the house as the man left the Itsuka residence.

He was spotted by Tohka as he went to the stairs and called him, "Shidou, what's that?"

The blue-haired boy stopped on his tracks and replied to Tohka who was eating, "Ah, it's something that I bought online."

He then hurried back to his room to avoid any more incoming questions. He placed the package inside his closet and went back downstairs to resume, no, start his late dinner with everyone.

~o~O~o~

The next day, Shidou woke up ten minutes before the alarm clock rings. He still can't get used to waking up alone. It's either Kurumi snuggling at him or Kotori wearing her white ribbon, shouting at Kurumi, or either kicking him on his gut.

He discarded those thoughts and got up from bed after turning the off the alarm clock before it goes off. He took a shower before making his own breakfast. He's alone in the house after all, as Tohka, Yoshino and the Yamai sisters were living on an apartment beside their house.

He walked out of the house a little after seven and was greeted by a smiling dark night-haired girl, with a portion of hair tied in a ponytail, seemingly calling Shidou's name while waving her right arm.

"Shidou, Shidou! Let's walk to school together!" The girl said from outside the gates.

Shidou saw the girl waving to him, and immediately opened the gates.

"Ah, Tohka. Let's go." He said. "Where's Kaguya and Yuzuru?"

"They went off ahead already." Tohka replied.

"I see." Shidou said and started walking with Tohka.

There's an awkward silence between the two as they strolled down the streets. They didn't talk about anything, as there's nothing good to talk about.

"Say, Shidou…" Tohka called.

"Not right now, Tohka." Shidou interrupted her, as he somewhat knew what she was going to ask him.

"Okay, but tell me, who she fought against…?" Tohka asked.

"…" Shidou was hesitant at first, but he thought that it's okay to tell her. "Mana."

Tohka was surprised.

"How…?" She asked again.

"That's something I do not know." Shidou said and sighed. "Anyways, let's not talk about it anymore."

"Okay." Tohka said. She understood that Shidou feels uncomfortable whenever a subject with Kurumi in it is brought up, as she knew that he witnessed what happened to the black-haired spirit.

Since when did Tohka became an understanding person? Not like it matters.

~o~O~o~

School ended the same as yesterday, but without Tohka bugging Shidou to go home with her, as she knew that he's going to visit the hospital again, but either way, she still asked him.

"Hey, Shidou. Are you going to the hospital again?" She asked him as she walked towards his desk. It hurts her, that Shidou's paying much more attention to Kurumi than her.

"Uhm, yeah. Sorry." Shidou said apologetically while taking care of his things. "I kinda have, no, want to do this everyday."

"Alright, I understand." Tohka said as she beamed her best smile. "I'll see you around!" She said and walked out of the room with a small tear on her eyes, which she immediately wiped as she got out of the room.

Shidou somewhat knew that Tohka wasn't happy, but he can't do anything about it right now. He had nothing in his mind other than Kurumi's condition. It's better to play dumb about it rather than tell lies to her to make her feel better.

More importantly, the way she'll react when she finds out that Shidou's heart beats for Kurumi.

"I'm sorry, Tohka…" Was all he could say before leaving the room.

~o~O~o~

A certain dark night-haired girl was running on the empty streets, seemingly heading towards home. Her tears won't stop from falling from her eyes.

'What is this feeling…' The girl, named as a spirit as Princess, Yatogami Tohka, thought while gripping her chest tightly as she ran. Her heart was in pain, and much more painful than the times when she sees Kaguya and Yuzuru clinging onto him.

She headed straight to her room as she entered the apartment. She threw herself on her bed, without changing her clothes. With that, she didn't even stop her tears from falling.

'I know I have no right to feel jealous…' She thought again to herself.

"But… I can't help it… I love Shidou…" She said as she buried her face on the pillow. Her emotions were getting unstable. But she had it under control. She knew what will happen if she put her emotions above herself.

She cannot stay like this forever.

Moreover, she has to tell Shidou how she feels about him.

She immediately grabbed her phone, and dialled a number.

~o~O~o~

*PHONE VIBRATES*

Shidou's phone suddenly vibrated as he was walking down the streets. He took it and saw an incoming call from someone he knew very well.

"Tohka?" He said the name of the caller before accepting the call. "Hello. What's up, Tohka?"

"Ummm…" Tohka, on the other line, hesitated to talk for a moment before speaking, "Shidou, can we meet at the park now? I have something to tell you…"

"Eh, can't you just say it-"

"No, I have to tell you this in person." She said.

Shidou sighed. "Alright. Meet you there."

"Thanks, I'll be on my way now." Tohka said and cut the line.

Shidou had no clue about what's going on with Tohka right now. He had no choice but to go or else their current relationship might worsen.

Which is probably inevitable, depending on his words.

He turned around and walked back as he placed his phone back in his pocket. He headed straight to the park without any detours. He arrived there after ten minutes of walking, but Tohka was nowhere to be seen.

He sat down on a nearby bench and tried to calm himself down. His thoughts were filled with questions on what Tohka was going to tell him, but nothing came to mind.

After a few moments, a certain girl arrived on scene.

"Sorry, I was late." The girl said to Shidou. It was Tohka.

"No, I just got here." He replied to her, reassuring the spirit girl as he stood up. "Besides, there's no time set, so no harm done."

"Mhhm." Tohka nodded. She then turned around and looked up to the auburn skies before speaking again, "How long have we been together…"

"…" Shidou was speechless with her sudden question. "I forgot how long it was already. Time seems to be flying so fast when you're not paying attention to it."

"Yeah." Tohka replied without looking at him. "Shidou, even though you might not accept this, or return this, I have to tell you."

Shidou was dumbfounded with her sudden speech.

"What are you-"

"Shidou… I love you." Tohka confessed as she turned back to Shidou.

Shidou was rendered speechless with her confession. While he knew that Tohka has feelings for him because of his mission, her saying that in front of him had a different vibe.

"Tohka… I, uh-"

"Figures." Tohka interrupted him as she made a weak smile. "I already knew that your heart belongs to someone else…" She said as she turned back around. Her tears were already falling down from her eyes.

"Tohka…" Shidou called her name.

"I knew that you'll choose her, but still…" Tohka paused for a while before speaking again, "I have to tell you how I feel."

Shidou was silent. He was thinking of the right words for her as a reply after hearing her confession. He cannot mess this up, as Tohka's feelings were at stake here. One wrong move and it's all over for him and for her.

He made up his mind. He had to do this. Standing here and waiting for another word from Tohka won't do any good for them.

"Tohka…" Shidou called her again as he walked closer to her slowly. "Look at me."

Tohka abided with his request and turned to him. Shidou felt horrible as he saw her crying face.

But he can't falter now.

He pulled her closer to him and gave her a tight hug, which surprised the spirit girl.

"Shi…dou…?"

"You don't know how happy I am hearing that from you." He said, while hugging her a little tighter, not wanting to let her go.

"Thank you, Tohka." He said. "Thank you very much."

"Shidou…" Tohka called her name while her face was buried on his chest.

"Everything that I am now, will be for nothing if it wasn't for you. I won't be who and what I am right now, if I hadn't met you." Shidou said as he pushed her a little and held her by her shoulders.

"So, again, Tohka…" He paused.

"Thank you very much."

The pain inside the spirit girl's heart subsided after hearing those words from him. Her tears continued to fall down, but it wasn't tears of pain anymore.

"Tohka…" He called her name again. "I hope nothing will change between us after this."

Tohka wiped her tears and kissed Shidou, catching him off-guard.

"…!" Shidou was surprised by her sudden actions.

"That would be the last kiss I'll ever get from you." She said after breaking the kiss. "As long as you pay attention to me, that's all that matters."

"Now go, she's waiting for you." Tohka said and gave him her best smile.

Shidou was hesitant at first, but he decided to respect her decisions. He promised to himself that he will never neglect her.

"Okay." Shidou said and gave her a smile. "Thank you very much again, Tohka." He bowed and ran away.

Tohka just stood there, watching Shidou get smaller as the distance between them was increasing. Honestly, she could still feel a hole in her heart, but she knew that she cannot force herself to Shidou. That's one of the worst thing a person can do to another.

"Are you sure about this?" A voice spoke from behind after Shidou disappeared in sight. Tohka knew whose voice that was as she didn't even need to look back to know who it was.

"Yeah, I am very sure." She said. "His happiness is what matters most." She continued and turned around, seeing two identical girls.

"Kaguya, Yuzuru…!" Tohka called their name and threw herself to them. The twins hugged her and comforted the crying spirit girl.

"It's okay, you can let it out for now." Kaguya said as she caressed the Princess' hair. Yuzuru didn't say anything, as she couldn't find the right words to say.

"Waaahhh…!" Her cries got louder as they led her to the bench and sat down with her.

"When you're done letting your emotions out, you should focus on your new goals."

Though that suggestion wasn't appropriate with Tohka's current situation.

Tohka just nodded as she kept on crying on the twins.

She cried for nearly half an hour, before calming down.

"You feeling okay now?" Kaguya said as she tapped Tohka's back. Tohka nodded as a response.

"Request. Come with us. We'll take you to somewhere fun." Yuzuru said as she pulled Tohka up.

Before Tohka could protest, Yuzuru and Kaguya was dragging her away from the park.

~o~O~o~

Shidou arrived at the hospital ten minutes after he left the park. He walked to the reception and talked to the person in-charged.

"Good afternoon, Itsuka-kun." The person in-charge greeted him as he appeared.

"Hello, Saaya-san." Shidou greeted the person in the reception. "I'll log, as usual."

"Here." Saaya brought a logbook up and Shidou signed on it.

Shidou gave the logbook back and bowed down to her. He immediately went upstairs to where a certain someone was confined.

Meanwhile, in the reception, Saaya just remembered something.

"Oh, I forgot to tell him that…" She paused. "Nevermind, he'll know it anyways."

Just who is this person?

~o~O~o~

Shidou arrived at the third floor and headed straight to Room three-one-four. As he arrived in front of the door, his hand stopped before getting in contact with the doorknob, as he felt a slight shiver.

'What is this feeling…' Shidou thought to himself as his hand was shaking.

He hit his cheeks to calm himself down and immediately turned the doorknob. As he opened the door, his heart rate increased.

"…Kurumi…?" He called, but he got no reply.

He was looking straight to the bed, but nobody's in there. Not a single trace of Kurumi could be seen inside the room. In short, she's not here. He then placed his hand on his pocket, touching a certain item inside.

Shidou immediately raced downstairs and talked to Saaya.

"Saaya-san!" Shidou said as he arrived at the reception. "Where's Kurumi…?!"

"Isn't she in her room?" Saaya replied to her with a confused look.

"I won't be here if she's in there, you know." Shidou said. He's getting attention from the people in the lobby, due to his voice was a little loud, but he cared less about it.

"I'll inform the staff." Saaya said as she pulled the telephone behind her.

"Please do." Shidou said and ran back upstairs.

He searched every floor of the hospital, from the ground floor up to the top floor. He didn't let a single room or place pass by him, even the comfort rooms, wasn't excluded.

'Kurumi… where are you…' Shidou thought to himself as he looked around him. He was afraid that she might've left her room because he wasn't there when she woke up.

He went back to the ground floor and inspected every room up to the top floor again, but still he couldn't find Kurumi.

Shidou was getting nervous as the time passes by. He couldn't think of her leaving the hospital alone. Then he suddenly realized something.

'The rooftop…' He thought.

Yes, that's the only place that he hasn't visited yet. But having thoughts of her in the rooftop gave him another fear, but he hoped that she's not going to do what he thought.

He rushed to the stairs leading to the rooftop and touched the doorknob. He felt a small warmth on it, giving him a thought that he's right on track.

He turned the doorknob and opened the door. He met a strong wind as he entered the rooftop, but more importantly, he saw a girl sitting by the edge, wearing a white coat, with a small tube of dextrose attached on her right hand. She had a black hair tied in a twin-tail with uneven length, with a vermillion-colored headband.

Shidou's heart fluttered as he realized who the girl was. It was person he had been waiting for to wake up after a long slumber.

He walked to her and called her name,

"Kurumi…"

The girl turned to her, with a smile on her face as she saw Shidou standing beside her.

"Shidou..."

Shidou kneeled down and cried on her lap. Kurumi caressed his hair while her smile was slowly turning into a frown.

"Thank… goodness…!" Shidou said between his cries.

"It's alright now, Shidou… I'm here." Kurumi said as she lifted his head up. "Wipe that tears of yours please, it doesn't suit you." She said and smiled at him again.

"Sorry… I was just happy, and relieved." Shidou said as he stood up, wiping his tears away, and sat down beside Kurumi.

There was a silence between them for a few minute, thinking of what to say to the other.

"So, uhm." Kurumi initiated a conversation. "What happened, Shidou…?" She asked bluntly.

"About what?"

"To me. I'm pretty sure that Mana stabbed me right through here." She said as she pointed to her center chest.

"I, uh…" Shidou didn't exactly know what happened at that time. "I don't really know exactly, but Kotori told me that there were traces of Efreet's Reiryoku inside you."

"I see…" She didn't seem to be surprised after hearing that, in fact, she already knew who did it. "I'm sorry, Shidou, I might've given you a lot of worry."

"It doesn't matter anymore." He said and smiled at her. "You're here with me, alive and well. That's all that matters." He then hugged her.

Kurumi's tears were already falling down as she hugged the blue-haired boy back, her savior. He broke the hug and saw Kurumi crying. He wiped the tears on her face using his handkerchief and said,

"Don't cry, it doesn't suit you." He said.

Kurumi chuckled a little. "You reused what I said earlier." She then smiled at him.

"Doesn't matter, if it's a means to stop you from crying." He said. The spirit girl's heart skipped a beat after hearing that comment from him, and she blushed a little.

"Kurumi, close your eyes." Shidou said with a serious look.

Kurumi's heart thumped as she heard his request. Different thoughts entered her mind, but nonetheless, she closed her eyes.

After half a minute, Shidou spoke again. "You can open your eyes now."

She opened her eyes and saw Shidou in front her, very close to her.

"That looks good on you." Shidou commented as he pointed at her chest. Kurumi looked to where Shidou was pointing and saw a crystal necklace attached around her.

"Shidou…!" She was delighted with the present she received from him. "Thank you very much!"

"It's a locket, try opening it." Shidou said with a smile. Kurumi pressed something on the side and the crystal opened, revealing an image of two persons, who were known to her very well.

"This is…" She was surprised. The people in the image was Shidou and her making a peace sign.

"Yes, it's when took a picture during our date." He said. "Liked it?"

"Very!" She said and pulled Shidou for a hug.

Mere words cannot explain Shidou's happiness as he stared at the spirit girl who was clinging on her. At the same time, he was thinking if it's the right time to tell her everything he had in mind.

They broke the hug and stared at each other for a brief moment. Shidou had this blush on his cheeks as he was attracted to the beauty in front of him, especially that golden clock eye of hers that captured most of his attention.

Kurumi could see him blushing, obvious to her that he's getting flustered around her.

Kurumi threw herself to him and wrapped her arms around his neck, and leaned closer to him. Her forehead was in contact with Shidou's.

"Kurumi…" Shidou called as he stared at Kurumi's eyes.

"Shidou…" Kurumi called as she did the same.

They could feel each other's breaths, it's clear as the day that they both wanted the same thing from each other.

Kurumi closed her eyes, implying that she's leaving everything to Shidou. He knew it very well also, but he can't decide if it's the right thing to do.

Their lips were about an inch apart already, and their heartbeats were getting faster as each second passed by. Kurumi was ready to accept him, but Shidou was still debating with himself.

"Kurumi… I-" He was interrupted as Kurumi held him tighter, not wanting to let him go.

A second has passed, Shidou still haven't moved a centimetre. He knew that this was an opportunity to tell her how he feels and also seal her powers, but there's something inside him that tells him that it's not the right time for it yet.

'What should I do…?' He got this question circling inside his mind.

Kurumi was getting impatient and moved a little closer to him, their lips were almost touching already as Shidou could feel her breath got warmer. He was about to move but he heard a voice inside his mind.

"Why were you after me…?"

He knew it pretty well. He just forgot it, but now he remembered it, and that voice helped him come up with a decision.

Shidou grabbed her both arms, pushed her a little and leaned his head on her shoulders while panting very hard.

"I… can't…" Shidou said as he was about to cry, but he held it back.

"Shi…dou…?" Kurumi was surprised, and hurt with his actions.

Shidou held her tighter.

"I… can't bring myself to save you…" He said while his hands were shaking. "Not when you still have a goal to achieve…"

'Save you.'

She heard those two words from him before.

"You, too, might enjoy living a normal life!" She could remember what Shidou was saying back at the rooftop of Raizen High.

"But Kurumi, I don't care about how many sins you've committed!"

"Because I will stop at nothing to save you!"

'Ah, so that's what he meant by that…' She thought to herself and smiled. She realized that saving a spirit like her is her losing her Spirit powers, but in exchange of living a normal life like a human. And the kiss is the key for it to happen.

And Shidou cannot do it, because he knew that Kurumi still had a goal to accomplish, that's why she's after the Reiryoku inside him.

"Shidou, look at me." Kurumi tried to get his attention by calling his name.

Shidou reluctantly abided with her request, but before he could even see her face, he felt something on his lips.

"…!" He opened his eyes and saw Kurumi kissing him, with her eyes closed.

Kurumi's hairband started to glow and dissipated slowly to thin air. As soon as her hairband disappeared, she broke the kiss away, with her hair down straight. This was the first time that Shidou saw her with an untied hair.

"Kurumi…" Shidou called her name.

The spirit girl opened her eyes, with her left eye covered by her straight hair. She looked ten times more attractive to Shidou, with him blushing all the way.

"That doesn't matter anymore." Kurumi said as she smiled at him. "As long as I get to stay with you, that goal would be a mere dream that didn't come true only."

"Because, Shidou…" Kurumi leaned on his chest.

"I love you."

The blue-haired boy's heart skipped a beat after hearing her confession.

"…" Shidou had this shocked expression on his face and was frozen on the spot.

Kurumi pulled away from him and beamed a smile, waiting for his response.

"Kurumi…" He called. He decided that it's the right time to tell her how he really feels towards her. "I love you too…" He confessed.

"Ever since the day that you offered your hand to me when I was in the verge of despair…"

"I was captivated by your charm, your beauty…"

"And more importantly, your kindness."

Shidou pulled her back for a tender hug. "I love you, Kurumi. I will never let you go." He said with full of passion.

"Yes…" The spirit girl said as she closed her eyes and enjoyed Shidou's company.

The sunset light was directed towards them, almost symbolizing unison. There's nothing that could separate the two hearts that united.

~o~O~o~

Shidou stayed with Kurumi on the rooftop until she fell asleep. She still haven't fully recovered, after all. He brought her back to her room and informed the staff that Kurumi's safe and sound. The doctor immediately went to her room and did a check-up on her.

After the check-up, the doctor told Shidou that she can be discharged on the next day, which delighted the young boy. He had been advised to go home for now and return tomorrow morning to pick her up. He abided with the doctor's advice and went home at once. He's planning to skip school tomorrow, to be with Kurumi.

As he got home, he saw a piece of paper sticking out of the mailbox. He took it and checked who the sender of the note was.

We won't be home for dinner, we're going out tonight.

-Tohka, Kaguya, Yuzuru

He sighed and smiled at the same time. They're being considerate, was what Shidou thought at that time.

~o~O~o~

The next day, Shidou woke up five minutes before the alarm goes off, as it usually rings at six in the morning. He now wondered about the purpose of this alarm clock, if he wakes up before it rings off. Nevertheless, he got up and prepared breakfast for himself.

Shidou went out of the house fifteen minutes before seven. He expected Tohka to be waiting for him outside but she's nowhere to be seen. But it worked out for him as he doesn't want to bump into anyone because he's skipping school today.

He stopped in a certain flower shop and bought few flowers as a gift for his lover. He headed straight to the hospital without further delays after paying the person in-charge in the shop, as he's excited to see his beloved again. As he arrived at the hospital, he saw a black-haired girl wearing a white patient clothing on a wheelchair, with two people beside her.

He kept the flowers hidden behind him as he walked towards the three people waiting for him at the entrance of the hospital.

"Good Morning, Itsuka-kun." The two people, one was the doctor, and the other was Saaya, said as they saw him.

"Good Morning." Shidou said and bowed a little. "Good Morning to you too, Kurumi."

The black-haired spirit gave him a soft smile. "Good Morning, Shidou. I bet you have something to give me." She said as she noticed that his right hand was behind his back.

"You got me." Shidou chuckled a little. "Congratulations on your recovery!" He said and revealed the flowers hidden on his back.

Kurumi was caught off-guard with Shidou's present. Her cheeks had gone red from embarrassment and delight.

"Ara, Thank you." Kurumi said and took the flowers from Shidou.

The doctor walked to Shidou and spoke to him, "You should take her home so she can rest more. I already informed your sister."

"Thanks." Shidou said and bowed down. "We'll be off now."

He walked behind Kurumi and pushed the wheelchair. He waved back to the two people left at the hospital's entrance, receiving a wave from them too as a reply.

Shidou walked down the streets while pushing Kurumi's wheelchair. The people greets them good morning and congratulates the spirit girl on her recovery as they passed by.

"The people here sure is kind." Kurumi said while looking around.

Shidou smiled from her remark. "Yeah, they sure is."

They wandered around in silence, as the company of each other was enough for them to have a blissful moment.

"Say, Shidou…" Kurumi called as she turned her attention towards Shidou by tilting her head backwards. "What's gonna happen to us now?"

Shidou reassured the spirit girl, "Don't worry, nothing bad will happen to us. I'll see it to it." He said and kissed her forehead.

~o~O~o~

Aaaaaaaand, HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE! Thank you for your 8 months of wonderful support!

I'm sorry again that it was late, I promised that it wouldn't take 2015 before I update, but it didn't go as planned as this chapter was LONG as heck! I always get a lot of interruption whenever I'm typing this, like errand here, errand there. Then after doing that errand, they'll drag me out of the house to go somewhere else. It's vacation, after all.

Anyways, I'm off to my next story. I'm sure most of you know it already, but I'm gonna say it otherwise. The title is Separate. Though my theories on that story isn't finalized yet, so it's still on hold. But worry not, I'll get to it once I'm done with the ideas.

I've decided to wander around the Love Live! School Idol Project archive as I've made a Love Live! Fanfic also, feel free to read when it's up on the site.

Again, thank you for the wonderful support you gave me! You thought the chapter's done? Not yet! Here's the afterstory!

~o~O~o~

Shidou and Kurumi arrived at the Itsuka residence after a half an hour of journey from the hospital. They went inside the house and led her to the living room.

"Say, Shidou, don't you have school today?" Kurumi asked him as Shidou helped her sit down on the sofa from her wheelchair. She may be able to stand, but still unstable and cannot keep her balance alone.

"I skipped." He said as he took some teabags out of the cabinet prepared it. "One day wouldn't hurt anyways."

Kurumi chuckled a little. "Not like my skipping anyways." She joked.

"You betcha." Shidou said as he served the tea to his lover. "Here, have some tea."

"Thank you." The black-haired spirit said as she took a cup of tea and sipped on it. "This is delicious."

Shidou smiled at her comment. "I'm glad."

They drank their tea in silence for a while, before Shidou remembered something very important.

"Ah, I forgot." Shidou said as he placed his cup on the table. "I'll be right back." He said as he walked upstairs.

Kurumi was left dumbfounded with Shidou's sudden actions. After a few moments, Shidou went back, holding two wrapped boxes. She had the feeling that it's gonna be one of his surprises.

"This is for you, Kurumi." He said and handed the boxes to her.

The spirit girl was delighted with the gift she received. Though she didn't know the contents of the package yet, Shidou knew that she's gonna be happier once she sees it.

"Can I open it…?" She asked Shidou.

"You don't need my permission, it's for you, after all." Shidou said and smiled.

Kurumi nodded and laid the other box beside her before opening one box. She gasped as she saw the content of the gift she just received. This item was very familiar to her, or, she completely knew what it was.

"This is…"

It was a vermillion-colored dress, in a gothic Lolita style, with a matching hairband and arm warmers.

It was the design of Elohim, her Astral Dress.

"How did you get something like this, Shidou…?" Kurumi asked him, as traces of happiness could be seen on her.

"I tried to replicate the design of your dress, and then placed as an order in a certain shop." He said.

Kurumi just stared at the dress she got from Shidou with happiness. She then remembered that there's another unopened box beside her. She reached for it and removed the wrapper.

"And this is…"

It was a pair of boots, but no ordinary one. She knew the design pretty well, and it's pretty obvious where it came from.

"It's a pair with your dress, right? I don't know if it's exactly the same." Shidou said. "I hope you liked my gift."

Kurumi threw herself to Shidou and gave him a tight, lovely hug. Mere words cannot explain the joy she's feeling in her heart.

"How could I not?" She said while snuggling on Shidou.

The blue-haired boy smiled and patted her head as she purred on it. After a few moments of their quality time together, the doorbell rang.

"There should be… oh crap." Shidou freaked out as he remembered something very important.

"Shidou?" Kurumi called.

"I forgot, I skipped school today, and I didn't inform Tohka about it. She must be the one at the door." He said as he kept on thinking about excuses that he should give.

"Let her in, I want to talk to her too." Kurumi smiled at him as she gave a brave suggestion.

Shidou was reluctant on agreeing at her decision and went to the door. What he didn't expect was something that he should've expected.

He opened the door and saw Tohka outside the door, but she's not alone. There were two identical ginger-haired girls accompanying her. It was the Yamai sisters.

Shidou didn't manage to find the right words for his excuse.

"Shidou…" Kaguya called as she raised an eyebrow.

"Shidou…" Yuzuru called with a vague expression on her face.

"Shidou…" Tohka called his name with an unamused look. "Why didn't you come to school?"

"Ah, about tha-" He was interrupted as a voice inside the house spoke.

"Shidou, let her in. I told you wanted to talk to her, right?"

"That was…?" Tohka was surprised as she heard the voice. He looked directly at Shidou and her suspicions were correct.

"Yeah, you're right about that." He said and sighed. "Let's go in." He said as he led the three girls inside the room.

As they arrived in the living room, the three girls saw a smiling Kurumi with a dress on her lap. Tohka and Kurumi stared at each other while the twins just watched the two.

"You must be Tokisaki Kurumi." Kaguya spoke up to break the silent atmosphere. "Nice to meet you, I'm Yamai Kaguya." She introduced.

"This is my sister, Yamai Yuzuru." Kaguya continued as she introduced her twin.

Kurumi's smile never left her lips as she spoke, "Nice to meet you too. I hope we'll get along."

She then directed her attention to Tohka, who was standing beside Shidou. She still had this smile on her, feeling confident with her decisions.

"Yatogami Tohka-san…" The black-haired spirit girl called before slowly standing up. Her legs were shaking, and she was about to lose balance but Shidou rushed to her side and assisted her.

"Thank you." Kurumi said as she managed to stand up.

"Don't force yourself." Shidou said with worry.

Kurumi brought her attention back to Tohka, whose expression didn't change after witnessing her and Shidou get close with each other, giving her a thought she might've already known their relationship.

"Yato… I mean, Tohka-san…" She called again and bowed down. "I apologize for everything I've done before."

"Nuu-!"

Tohka was caught off-guard with the Nightmare's sudden actions. She didn't expect this kind of action coming from her. The ruthless and merciless spirit that she'd ever known was there in front of her, amending for the actions she'd done before.

"Why…" Tohka asked her. She's still doubted her, even though Shidou chose her.

"Because I want us to get along." Kurumi said as she smiled, but it disappeared afterwards. "Can we?"

Tohka blushed. She doesn't know what kind of response she should give her, as this was too much for her to handle. She didn't kinda expect this side of Kurumi displayed in front of her.

She looked to Shidou, only to see a smile from him, indicating that it's okay.

"A-Alright…" Tohka replied with an awkward smile. "But so you know, if you try to assault us again like that, I won't back down!" She continued as made a battle stance with her hands.

Kurumi stared at her for five seconds before bursting out in laughter.

"Hahaha…!" Kurumi held her stomach to calm herself down but she seemed to fail.

"Wha… what's so funny?!" Tohka asked.

"I would be glad… to do so, but…" Kurumi replied as she slowly calmed herself down from laughing out loud. "I don't think I can do that anymore." She said and sighed in relief.

"Eh?"

Kurumi didn't reply to her, but instead, she revealed her left eye which was covered by her hair.

"…!" Tohka was surprised with what she discovered.

The golden clock eye of hers wasn't there anymore and instead, it's just gold in color. She's just a normal heterochromatic girl now.

Shidou revealed his left eye covered by few strands of his hair, showing a clock-patterned on it. It's not noticeable unless you get closer to him, as both of his eyes were already gold.

"O-Okay… You pass!" Tohka said as she tried to wipe her embarrassment away.

"Ah… Thank you!" Kurumi said and then tried to walk towards her slowly. Tohka stepped backwards, feeling nervous with her actions.

"W-what is it…?" The nervous spirit girl asked as Kurumi was walking towards her.

"Don't move please, it's hard to walk alone." The black-haired spirit said as she walked slowly. Her legs were shaking a little.

Tohka gave up and stood still. What she didn't expect afterwards was again something she wasn't expecting Kurumi will do.

"…!" Kurumi pulled her into a hug and loosened on her as she gained support.

"Thank you again…" The heterochromatic girl said.

Tohka felt like crying now.

*DOORBELL RINGS*

"I'll get that. Enjoy your time." Shidou said and headed to the door.

He opened the door as he arrived in front of it and was greeted by three people, three well-known people to him. A young sky blue-haired girl with matching color of eyes; a redhead twin-tailed girl, with a chupa chups on her mouth; a mature silverish purple-haired woman, who seemed to be weak and sleepy; and lastly, a puppet.

"G-Good Morning, Shidou-san." The young girl greeted him. Shidou greeted her back with a pat on her head.

"Iyaa, Shidou-kun. It's been a while!" The puppet, Yoshinon, greeted.

"You know, you were here last night." He said jokingly.

"…Good morning, Shin." The mature woman, Murasame Reine, greeted.

"Good Morning, Reine-san." He greeted back. Reine led Yoshino inside the house, leaving the siblings at the front door.

"I bet there's a party inside? We have too many guests here." The redhead, named as Itsuka Kotori, Shidou's little sister, said as she noticed that there's more than one pair of shoes on the floor.

"Well, we'll have later." Shidou said. "Where's Mana? I had a thought that she's gonna be with you." He asked.

"Well, she'll be here in a few moments. She's still sorting herself out." Kotori said as she glanced behind her and then went inside, leaving Shidou alone.

The blue-haired boy walked to the gates and saw a girl leaning on the wall, fidgeting her fingers.

"What are you doing out here? You should go inside." Shidou said as he leaned beside her, without being noticed by the girl.

"Kyaa…! Nii-sama?" The girl was startled with his sudden appearance.

It was his another little sister, Takamiya Mana.

"I, uh…" She suddenly felt humiliation in her.

"If you're still thinking about what happened that day, don't worry. I'm over it." He said as he patted her head.

"…Nii-sama…!" Mana cried and threw herself to her brother, giving him a hug. "I'm so sorry…! Sorry for not understanding you…! I even called myself your sister!" She apologized as she kept on crying.

"Now, now. Let's go inside." He said.

~o~O~o~

Shidou walked inside the house, with Mana behind her. She still seemed to be nervous to face them, as she took the antagonizing roll that day.

"You don't have to worry about it, I'm sure they'll accept you." Shidou reassured his little sister.

The blue-haired little sister nodded, but still wasn't fully convinced. She's meeting a lot of spirits, after all.

"Wait here." Shidou said as he stepped in the living room, leaving Mana at the entrance. She could hear a lot of voices inside, and seems to be in joyful atmosphere.

"Guys, we have a guest today." Shidou said as he tried to get their attention. He was happy with what he just witnessed. Kurumi were getting along with the others, and seems like enjoying their company. More importantly, Tohka was sitting beside her, with a happy face.

Few seconds later, Mana entered the living room, with the whole group suddenly went silent.

"H-Hi…! The name's Takamiya Mana…" The blue-haired girl introduced.

Mana felt tension building up in her. She had 6 spirits looking at her, after all.

"Hey, Shidou…" Kaguya spoke up. Mana shivered.

"…" She stared at the blue-haired little girl.

"Who's she?" She asked. Shidou almost lost his balance after hearing that question. "Is she one of your girlfriends? You're a beast one, huh."

"Wha-!" Shidou suddenly turned a little red. "She's my sister, you idiot!"

"Oh, is that so?" Kaguya seemed to be disappointed. She then stood up and walked in front of Mana. "Let's get along, Mana-chan!" She said and patted her head.

Mana made small smile. Her brother was totally right.

Her smile disappeared as her attention were drawn to a certain spirit girl. She stepped away from Kaguya and walked in front of her.

"Tokisaki Kurumi…" She called her name as she stopped in front of her. Kurumi didn't say a word and just stared at her without any expressions on her face.

The black-haired heterochromatic girl's eyes widened as she saw what happened afterwards.

"I am terribly sorry!" Mana apologized and bowed down. "I was deceived, and wasn't aware of anything!"

Kurumi was silent.

"I didn't know exactly what DEM was planning at that time…" She continued while the upper half of her body was lowered down. "So, I'm sorry!" She then closed her eyes and waited for the Nightmare's response.

Kurumi was speechless. She looked to Shidou for advice, but got only a smile as a response. She then looked at each and every one in the room, only receiving a smile as a reply.

They were saying that, it's alright. Everything's going to be fine.

The heterochromatic girl brought her attention back to the apologizing little sister and said, "It's alright."

Mana rose up with a surprised expression.

"What's done is done. Slapping you right now for that will just make me feel worse." Kurumi said as she smiled at her. "Let's just get along with each other, is that okay with you?"

Mana beamed a smile after hearing her request. "Yes!" She then threw herself to Kurumi, giving her a soft hug.

Everyone in the room smiled at the two people making up after a conflict.

'Nii-sama was totally right…' Mana thought. 'They really aren't what they seemed to be…'

It was still morning, and the sun's so bright already. It gave illumination to the world, symbolizing a new beginning.

When people really witnesses something that they cannot imagine to happen, a change of heart will definitely occur.

But… not all change of hearts are bad, after all.

THE END