Date A Re:Live

S1 Chapter 12: Kotori Possessed, Part 3

By : Tohka_Yatogami

...

Summary

Even a similar story can take it's own path. Shido and Mana are amnesiac siblings living with their friend Kotori, however the past catches up to Shido when he nearly runs into a space quake, and his world changes as one girl asks... "Are you here to kill me?" (Stronger Ratatoskr, weaker DEM, games & movie are canon to story) [Shido/Tohka/Harem]

Alright everyone, we're back and it's time to... NOT finish the Kotori arc yet! That's right, there's still another chapter left to go after this one, and when you'll see it you'll be amazed. For now, this chapter is Mana's to shine in, and it'll help link up to Date A Re:Strike since Minerva's gonna get a reason to hate her as much as she despises Artemisia.

Since we finally introduced Saya as the other personality in Kotori last chapter, I'm gonna reveal something I haven't been able to until now. Kotori won't be showing any Commander mode traits in the story, and any times she has or was close showing them, that wasn't actually her. That's actually Saya indirectly influencing her while Kotori had been holding her back. For why Saya acts like that? I won't explain it because this chapter's first scene is a dream scene that will explain it, so mentioning it here would just be repeating myself.

Now to finally answer if Kotori's body getting its appearance aged up due to the regeneration is permanent or temporary? The answer is... *drumrolls* is permanently! Aside from the fact I write a DxD story and anyone who likes that series is admittedly 'kinda' like Issei... *snickers*, it's also cause due to this story being a harem. Now you might be wonder, other than it being my fanfic, how exactly is that an explanation?

Kotori's slightly better because she looks a bit older, she along with Yoshino and Natsumi despite understanding love and being teenagers (The Yoshino Experience side story has them in class with Kotori, implying they're about the same age) all look like they're kids. Since Spirits have the slowed/stopped aging problem... yeah, we don't want Shido to be labeled a cradle robber. While it'll be different for Yoshino and Natsumi, eventually they'll end up looking more like high schoolers like the others.

One last thing before we start. No one asked, but I bet some of you were wondering how Kotori/Saya was able to revive when she wasn't Inverted yet? Simple, because she was beginning to Inverse when Minerva shot her, so some of her Spirit power had already changed enough that it saved her life, basically... Minerva screwed herself by making the costly mistake of waiting too long to make the shot.

Alright, now that I've got all of that finally finished... let the chapter begin!

S1 Chapter 12: Kotori Possessed, Part 3

Saya sighed, walking through the streets of her home neighborhood in Tenguu City by herself as she left Rindouji High. She had been experiencing this fairly recently as her best friend _, had suddenly become incredibly without explanation, or rather... _ mentioned she couldn't really explain it to her.

"I just wish I knew a bit about what was going on _, I'm starting to worry you just don't wanna hang out with me." Saya lamented, sighing as kept walking. Suddenly the sound of something metallic falling caught her ears. "Hmm?"

She turned and while brief, swear she saw something briefly fall before vanishing.

"What the... am I seeing things?" Saya wondered, soon rushing over to check out the scene. Eventually, she entered the nearby forest, and after walking a bit she noticed a sparking cat like robot on the ground... a Cheshire unit. She gasped at the sight, soon noticing the robot stare at her with its unsteady eye.

"Uh... why are you looking at me that way?"

The Cheshire's readings analyzed her, and due to the damage, it had received... incorrectly identified her as a Spirit. It rushed at her and turned invisible to her surprise, making her fall onto her butt.

"Uh... what the heck? Wait, I know. This is a dream! I'm having a horrible dream." Saya reasoned, laughing in a scared manner. Soon she felt a strong wind blow to her side and moved before she felt a cut on her cheek and paled. "Oh god... not a dream!"

Saya began to run, despite she couldn't even see the Cheshire unit chasing her, eventually during the chase she had her leg stabbed into and she screamed. The Cheshire began pulling her close as it came back into view. Saya began to hyperventilate as she felt her life flash before her eyes.

"HELP ME!" Saya screamed.

The Cheshire raises its claw to kill her, but it would never get the chance as a gunshot fired and a bullet suddenly pierces its eye. Saya gasped as the machine stayed still, soon moving as it fell, narrowly avoiding having it land on her.

"Wait a minute, Saya?" A familiar voice asked, making Saya's eyes widen.

Saya turned to see a familiar figure whose physical view was distorted to all but her sight, wearing an outfit she had never seen her in. Saya's eyes shook at the sight of her best friend holding the gun that saved her. Beside her was a person who looked like a child, strangely hidden by a mosaic.

"_? W-why are you here, who is that, and what's with that outfit?" Saya questioned, confused on what was happening.

"Uh... well, you see-" Saya's friend tried to explain, but Phantom held out a hand.

"(Allow me, it'll probably easier this way.)" Phantom replied, making the girl nod her head. "(Greeting young girl, I am a being known as a Spirit. My true name I don't wish to reveal, but as I am now, you may call me Phantom.)"

"Phantom... Spirit? What are you talking about?" Saya asked, freaking out over the idea she had just gone insane and this was just a figment of her mind. "Why's _ with you?"

"Because, I'm helping her protect the power of Spirits. Making sure the DEM doesn't take them for their twisted goals." The girl answered, making Saya look at her in shock. Did she just call DEM Industries evil?

"I know what you're thinking but that robot that attacked you? It's a DEM weapon, and one of many. Phantom and I have to fight them off as they come to claim the power of the Spirits. The price... I'm not a human anymore, but a Spirit, and as a result that makes one of their targets."

Saya gasped, suddenly noticing _ get closer to show her eyes.

"T-this is crazy, and yet it's all real?" Saya breathed, suddenly widened her eyes. "This is why you haven't been able to walk home with me lately, isn't it?"

_ nodded to Saya, and she looked down at the ground.

"...I can't let you do this anymore, I can't let you risk your life!" Saya shouted, surprising Phantom a bit.

"(I'm sorry, but I can't change her back and have the DEM leave her alone now. There's nothing that can be done since she-)"

"Not on your own!"

Phantom stopped in her tracks, her unseen eyes blinking while _ gasped at that.

"Saya?" The girl asked.

"If you're going to be fighting, then... at least allow me to fight with you and protect you!" Saya declared, more serious than _ had ever remembered seeing her. "So please, let me fight with you!"

"...Phantom, is it possible?" The girl asked.

"(Well you decided to help me of your own choice, the question is if she's compatible to a Sephira Crystal. Let's check.)" Phantom answered, soon catching Saya's attention as she pulls out a few gems. She noticed a purple, indigo, white and red gem in the mix. Phantom walks close and holds them near, and soon notices the red one glow.

"(Camael huh? Hmm... you don't seem like the best match, but if it can bond with you then something's gotta be clicking. Maybe I just don't know what that is yet. Tell me, what's your name?)"

"Uh... Saya Yamada."

"(Saya, so you're the one that _'s told me about. I get it. It must be your courage.)" Phantom giggled, making Saya blushed. She put all the gems, except for the red one, away. Soon she held it up by Saya. "(Touch it, the gem will bond to you and make you a Spirit. I warn your though... once you do, there's no going back.)"

Saya stared at it, the gem that would change her life if she touched it... she only needed a moment before tapping it. Saya gasped as it went into her body and her pupils whitened. She grunted in pain before a kimono appeared on her form, and a red axe in your hand.

"It's official now Saya, you are now the Spirit known as Efreet." The girl stated.

Saya shouted as she slammed Camael across a Jabberwocky, incinerating the heavy machine's armor before _ fired multiple bullets at it and made it explode. Saya landed by her and raised her arms up.

"Hah! My first battle's a victory! How was that _, we owned that pile of scrap, maybe it should have stayed in its diapers a bit longer before trying to walk?" Saya laughed, surprising _ a bit with her choice of words. "What?"

"Nothing, it's just... I've never heard you talk that way before. It surprised me." The girl answered, and Saya sighed before crossing her arms behind her neck.

"That's because I've never been allowed to unload the shit ton of stress on my mind. Seriously, maybe it's easier for your family, but being a rich girl is just so stressful at times. I can't ever properly let it out." Saya explained, yelling a bit after she did.

"I don't have to deal with that here, it's just you me and Phantom. I can finally let loose and blow off this steam! Oh, hell yeah, I knew I made the right choice. From here on out... you, me and Phantom are doing this together!"

"...That's right, together. We'll make it to the end of this fight Saya." The girl smiled, and Saya smiled back. Soon Phantom landed by them.

"(We got another group on the way, get ready!)" Phantom shouted, and both Saya and _ got ready to fight against them.

Minerva stared in shock as Saya, who had regenerated from her attack like it was just a slap on the wrist, glared at her a sadistic smile and a dark chuckle.

"I am no longer the Spirit known as Efreet." Saya declared, holding out her hand.

"ASMODEUS!"

A black colored axe with red trim and a serrated blade formed in Saya's hands, emitting intense heat just by its physical form merely existing.

"I am the spirit known as Phoenix!" Saya yelled, making Minerva growl at her.

"A mere custom change won't do you anything! So what if you can heal, you're still the same pathetic dead soul you were mere seconds ago!" Minerva quickly cackled, Saya teleporting in front of her with a dark grin.

"Then I'll just take this body for myself, then I won't be dead anymore you stupid bastard!" Saya replied, soon holding up her hand. "FIRE BOLT!"

A blast of lightning suddenly fired out and rocketed Minerva across the area, the others who still didn't have enough strength to get back up yet were all surprised by this.

"She can use lightning now!?" Mana gasped.

Minerva was soon flung into a building wall, growling angrily as she got free and Saya flying at her at incredible speeds. She put up her territory, and Saya simply smirked as she swung Asmodeus, setting the building ablaze as she hit her territory hard.

"You won't get the best of me! Now, try my Galahad!" Minerva called out as she summoned a chainsaw like sword and began thrusting at Saya, but she just laughed as she let the sword stab her and just regenerated each time. "Don't you dare mock me!"

Minerva jumped back and readied her sword again, making Saya laugh a bit.

"Oh, so you're allowed to mock me? Well then... how about I reap instead of mock? LABRYS!" Saya shouted, swinging Asmodeus back and then quickly forward, the serrated edges of the blade shifting and the axe bending back 90 degrees to take the shape of a scythe.

Minerva screamed as she swung the Galahad sword at Saya, but [Phoenix] simply shifting to dodge her before quickly zooming behind and aiming her scythe.

"Reap them to ashes, Asmodeus!" Saya screamed, swinging the scythe down.

Minerva swings to counter... but her sword shatters as the scythe's quick speed cuts through it. Minerva stared in anger before shouting and attacking the Tathlum to the destroyed blade.

"Alright, let's see how you like this!" Minerva screamed as she formed a pole and formed a few territories, aiming at them like a billiards shot. "EAT THIS!"

Minerva shoots them and they fly out at Saya like billiards, Saya quickly dodged them before she noticed them turn back to make a return trip.

"Heat seekers huh? Oh the irony, but the bigger they are... the harder they hit back!" Saya declared, her blue eyes glowing dangerously as she spun Asmodeus. "Asmodeus... VAJRA!"

Asmodeus reverted to its normal axe shape before shifting between what was the process Camael used to become Megiddo. However, it stopped halfway and the axe blades reformed from the sides. Plasma poured out around the blades and then additional plating appeared as Asmodeus turned into a hammer.

"Now if you wanna play billiards, then I'll just make it a game of break the piñata!" Saya cackled, swinging back, having to deal with the shift of weight before swinging forward and smashing into the territories. Saya smirked as she broke each one to Minerva's surprise, the shards flying by and cutting into her.

"Now for the finale. Do it Asmodeus, do it now... GUNGNIR!" Saya shouted, giving a mighty yell as she infused lightning into it and the plasma breaks off, the blades retracting as Asmodeus becomes the true inverse counterpart to the Megiddo. Soon an additional eight slots open up and charge.

"If she doesn't stop this then... everything will be destroyed, and Kotori will disappear." Mana breathed, struggling to move from the lack of energy and her own wounds. "Come on... move. MOVE!"

Saya charges fire in the small slots while lightning gathered in the main cannon.

"FIRE!" Saya screamed, blasting all nine beams, all of which congregated into a giant plasma shot. Minerva saw it coming and chuckled.

"Oh please, I just need to-"

Minerva had tried to deploy her territory but saw it failed as the beams neared.

"What the hell-" Minerva began, soon being slammed by the full force of the beam. The building she hit shattered like glass, and she fell to the ground, landing on the newly formed bed of glass with only her CR-Unit keeping it from cutting her skin.

"My territory didn't deploy, what did you do!? You cheated somehow didn't you coward!"

"Wow, a whiny floozy. I didn't cheat at all. The electrical discharge was just so strong that your territory couldn't work when you chose to deploy it after it got so close to you. So take that you stupid bimbo!" Saya smirked, and Minerva growled at her. Saya soon flew over and prepared to fire again. "Now just cease to exist and die!"

At that moment, Mana finally gained the strength to rush forward and decked Saya in the face. The Flame Spirit staggered a bit from the force, soon glaring at her as she held her swollen cheek. Unfortunately, unlike other wounds, even as [Phoenix] her healing powers didn't work on blunt strikes.

"Damn you, getting in my way again!" Saya declared, preparing to fire at her instead, only for Tohka to slash her Demon King apart as she swung from above. Saya growled and dispelled the broken Asmodeus before reforming it in its normal form.

"So, you're gonna get in my way too? Fine then, I'll just have to destroy you all! I will not let myself be stopped by all of you!"

"Bring it on!" Tohka exclaimed, jumping at her.

The two clash before flying into the air, as they did, Saya and Tohka bounced away from each other before Origami dashed behind and aimed Metatron at her. Saya turned to see a swarm of light beams fire and hit her.

"Now! Artelif - Crown Cannon" Origami shouted, the pillars taking on a circular formation and pointing their tips in the same direction, shooting out a beam of pure shining light. Saya held up Asmodeus to shield herself from it, being pushed back a bit.

"Yoshino!" Yoshinon said, making a determined face.

"R-Right!" Yoshino nodded, soon jumping off Zadkiel and flipping in midair before bopping Yoshinon on her forehead. A blue sphere surrounding her before going dark blue and switching her to her Inverse Form. Zadkiel shifting into Astaroth in response. "Good luck Yoshinon."

"You got it, go Astaroth!" Yoshino yelled.

Astaroth roared as a powerful blast of ice spewed from its mouth and struck Saya back. The Inverse Flame Spirit grunted as she looked at all three of them, holding Asmodeus tightly while her regeneration powers healed the few wounds she had received.

"I don't have time to screw around with all of you!" Saya seethed, electricity crackling around her body.

"SANDALPHON!" Tohka shouted as she swung a powerful energy wave.

"Gather to me, Mal'akh - Heavenly Wings!" Origami declared, the pillars taking on a wing-like formation and folding the pillars behind her back and enhancing her speed as she zoomed overhead and her pillars spread apart and regather in a circle formation spinning above her, charging light beams again. "Go, Shemesh - The Sun!"

The beams fire down at Saya.

"Hraesvelgr!" Yoshino yelled, and Astaroth's armor split apart and formed the Hraesvelgr puppets as she directed them towards Saya. Soon Astaroth charged a water blast and fired it at the Flame Spirit.

"Back... OFF!" Saya screamed, swinging around. "ASMODEUS!"

Asmodeus sparks off lightning around her, Tohka barely made it away while Origami and Yoshinon both scream as it hit, the latter taking it wore due to Astaroth firing off a current of water. Tohka gasped as they both crashed onto a building top, and she zoomed towards Saya before clashing her Angel with her Demon King again.

"Come on Saya, you have to stop this! Give that body back to Kotori! There's no point in taking it from her!" Tohka screamed.

"You don't know what you're talking about!" Saya screamed back.

"Yes I do! I nearly died from the same wizard, and from someone who's a friend to me now! Shido saved me though!" Tohka replied, her face getting more determined.

"And now you're taking someone he sees as a sister from him, just like they took your friend! Do you really wanna put him through that kind of pain because it's not fair! If you take Kotori's life away, then you're being selfish! Do you really want to be the same as the one who killed you!?"

Saya's eyes flashed, and then she screams as she slams one of her hands onto Tohka, making the purple haired Spirit scream as she was burned and electrocuted simultaneously. The Inverse Flame Spirit soon swung Camael down and knocked her towards the others, unaware one of her ribbons had been shredded by her actions.

"Shut up... SHUT UP!" Saya screamed, soon readying Asmodeus again as the three weakly got back up. As she was about to swing down at them, Shido suddenly appeared holding a copy of Sandalphon.

"You'll have to go through me first!" Shido exclaimed, looking at Saya directly. "Kotori! Don't worry, we're coming to save you!"

"...I know you will, I trust you big bro!" Kotori said through Saya, shocking the latter before her control came back. Saya gritted her teeth as she readied Asmodeus again and screamed before rushing at the quartet.

Mana shouted as she flew at Minerva, slashing Murakumo's blades at the insane wizard as she formed a territory to defend against her blows. Mana screamed as she kept slashing aiming her blasts to do more damage.

"You think you can do anything to me? Hah! You're a bigger idiot then I thought then!" Minerva cackled, soon having the Manticore's tail rush out and cut her other side. Mana screamed as she fell down, Minerva grabbed Mana by her hair and smashed her face into a wall. "As if a little brat like you could take me out!"

Minerva smashed Mana's face into the again and again, and Mana nearly felt herself losing consciousness.

"I... can't fall here, I..." Mana gasped out.

"Too bad... you just did!" Minerva cackled, soon stabbing the Manticore's tail through her, Mana gasped as it did and she fell to the ground. Coughing as she felt herself bleeding from her lower abdomen's center. "Now... how many more wounds can you handle before I kill you? Let's find out."

Minerva takes a bloodied knife from the side of Manticore's tail and held it up over Mana, the young wizard beginning to slowly black out.

Mana watched members of the AST during their training, the time being only shortly after she, her brother, Kotori and Tohka had signed up with Ratatoskr. Mikie was in her Sphinx uniform as she swiped her hands and legs at a reinforced punching bag. Sending it back slightly as she did, the lock being the only reason it didn't go flying.

"She's amazing." Mana noted, unable to believe how much power she had.

"Hey Mana, you mind giving me a hand?" Katie asked, getting Mana's attention as she was handed a heavy ball, and Katie laid on the ground. "Just lightly toss it at me."

"Oh, OK." Mana nodded.

She tossed it Katie, who caught it slightly as it impacted on her chest. Surprising Mana how resilient she was, the ball was so heavy and yet in a position like this she barely felt the weight drop on her. Mana sighed a bit at the sight, getting Ryouko's attention.

'Hmm...' The AST captain took a good look at her, soon slightly widened her eyes as she noticed something. 'I think I know what to do.'

A while later as she saw some of the training equipment, she heard something as Ryouko walked behind her, holding two strike pads in her hands.

"Try kicking these, you'll see something eventually." Ryouko asked, getting Mana's attention as her eyes widened at what Ryouko was implying.

Mana was soon seen exercising heavily on a treadmill, running faster than she ever had before and feeling her lungs on fire.

"Don't slow down, keep going. You can do it!" Ryouko cheered, making Mana look before pushing herself a bit further. After a few more minutes she stopped, and soon found herself puking in a bucket from the stress. She panted a bit, soon getting a water bottle from Ryouko.

"Here, rinse your mouth with this."

Mana takes it and does so, soon wiping her forehead. She took a look at the AST captain.

"Why did you decide to train me?" Mana wondered. "I'm not that good at sports, I'm not the smartest. All I really seem to have is a bunch of energy. Everyone else here is so..."

"Let's get you stretched out, I'll tell you more as you do." Ryouko answered. Soon Mana sat down, feeling Ryouko stretch out her body and wincing at some points where she wasn't sure she even could stretch as Ryouko had made her.

"When I was around your age and joined the AST, I was small and powerless. It constantly frustrated me to no end. There were times I'd get so full of injuries it felt like I just wanted to throw in the towel and just sleep forever. At the time, Vice-Commander Kannazuki was the captain instead of me."

Ryouko looked at a picture of the younger AST, most of its members now higher Ratatoskr staff or wizards in the other AST branches around the world. She and Kannazuki were both in the picture alongside Reine.

"By the time I was 15 however, I noticed Kannazuki's methods of training had an effect on me. Then I realized... I was the reason I was being held back. I felt I couldn't grow, and not just the fact I waited, but didn't try that I never got that far. However, I polished on techniques and theories on what to do, how to help future member's talents grow and properly form. As well as spot them."

Mana gasped.

"Wait, are you saying..." Mana asked, wondering if she had just implied what she thought.

"The day I was 18, Kannazuki told me I would be captain upon my promotion. I've trained anyone who chose to join the AST since. I can see something in you that's different, you seem frail on the outside, but I can see there's a hidden steel within your spirit." Ryouko continued, helping Mana stretch out further.

"Right now, your body simply needs to learn these technique and theories I've begun training you in. If you let that potential flourish, I know it, you'll fight by your brother's side and protect him. Be he faces a Human, or a Spirit."

Mana's eyes shake in surprise.

"...Give me all you have, no matter how brutal the training!" Mana demanded, making Ryouko smirk a bit.

Mana was seen going through some training like weight lifting, shadow boxing, fighting a moving dummy while she was forced to use a specific fighting style, and even some heavy exercises. She puked a few times during it, and even eventually blacked out.

*splash!*

Mana gasped as she felt some water on her, waking her up. She saw Ryouko holding a water bottle in her hands.

"Come on Mana, you wanna stand by him, right?" Ryouko questioned, making Mana give a determined face as she managed to get herself back on her feet. "That's it girl, let's keep going!"

Mana began moving left and right quickly as she began striking a punching bag hard, the members of the AST were all watching in surprise as Ryouko keeps an eye on how many trikes while holding a stop watch.

"Stop!" Ryouko shouted, making Mana strike her final punch as she looks at her. "It took you 19 seconds to 80 strikes, nice job. I think it's time we get you a CR-Unit. Congrats Mana, you're a Wizard now."

Mana smiled a bit as she panted.

After a bit, Reine walks to her and hands her the Murakumo, making her stare at it.

"This is my CR-Unit?" Mana asked, looking at Reine.

"Yes, we call it the Murakumo." Reine answered, getting Mana's attention.

"Murakumo? Like the Ama-no-Murakumo-no-Tsurugi, the blade Susanoo gained from Orochi?" Mana asked. "Why give it such a name?"

"That sword was gained from the result of Susanoo saving the remaining daughter of a family from a monster. You too will protect the Spirits and your brother from monsters." Reine answered, smiling as Mana stared at her. "Use it well. It has the ability to switch between blasters and swords, but I think you can use it to its fullest."

"I will, I promise!" Mana exclaimed.

Soon Mana set up the Murakumo and soon manifested it for the first time, looking at it. Soon she looks at the others and gets ready to begin the next step of her training.

"...No, this isn't the end!" Mana suddenly shouted before flinging her fist at Minerva's face, knocking her back. The scarred wizard gasped as Mana managed to get back up despite her injuries. Minerva growled.

"I'll kill you!" Minerva growled, rushing at Mana.

At that moment, Mana motioned her body a certain way as Murakumo's swords attached to her arms, and as she rushed past her... she suddenly made Minerva gasp. Minerva soon felt herself cut in the arm and her dagger flying to the side as she turned backed, soon seeing the silhouette of a girl with long blonde hair worn in a semi-braid, light skin and blue eyes.

That girl? She was the DEM's second most powerful Wizard, the one known as Adeptus 2, she was...

"Artemisia!" Minerva growled, ignoring the bleeding she was facing in her arm. "To think I'd see you through her, I'm really gonna kill you now! Manticore, assume battle mode!"

Manticore dug into Minerva's skin, causing veins to form as it enhanced her strength and soon unlocked a compartment holding two swords.

"Let's see how you do now against the cursed sword, Muramasa!" Minerva said, her veins pulsating even more now. She rushed at Mana who deployed her territory, and Mana gasped as it began to crack, and she felt her leg nearly collapse. "See that? You're too weak, and now you'll die for it!"

Minerva thrust her swords forward to shatter Mana's barrier, Mana was struck hard, and her eyes were shadowed as she began to fall back. Minerva cackled as she prepared for a final swing, Shido noticing this.

"MANA!"

'Big brother... you're fighting with all you have. No matter what, so will I, so I will not lose!' Mana thought, suddenly shouting as she managed to parry and counter Minerva. The insane wizard surprised by this act. "For everyone that believes in me!"

Mana screamed, and suddenly her eyes turned gold, her pupils whitening a bit as the Murakumo begins to glow as it reacts to this. Shido's eyes widen at the sight... those were the same eyes he gained after grabbing Sandalphon the first time.

"Mana... has spirit powers!?" Shido breathed, seeing Mana's wounds slowly heal. Minerva's eyes widened in shock.

"No! I won't let you insult me like this, so prepare to die!" Minerva screamed, rushing at Mana. Mana on the other hand motioned herself before kicking off and punching her in the face, knocking the insane wizard back. "What!?"

"Time to end this, your fight is done!" Mana yelled, shouting as she rushed forward fast and then slashing at Minerva.

Minerva was pushed back as the Manticore's tail was slashed off, meanwhile behind her, Mana slid to a stop before using the same power she was emitting to instantly rush the other way and strike again. Mana began to do this repeatedly, damaging the Manticore CR-Unit further and further.

"No!" Minerva shouted as Mana neared her one last time.

With a powerful scream, Mana swung down one of Murakumo's blades... and it cut across Minerva's left eye, making her scream in pain as now both sides of her face had her eyelids forever marked by a blade slash.

"You... you! I hope your happy, the person who gave me my first scar is my most hated person. Now I hate you as much as I hate her!" Minerva screamed, soon using a Territory like a smoke bomb, blinding Mana who coughed as she flew off. "Next time we meet, I'll murder you beyond recognition!"

Mana pants as she saw her fly off, and soon turned to the battle on the rooftop as she noticed the others all on fumes except for Shido who was having trouble to hurt Saya in the first place. Saya smirked as she neared him.

"With you out of the way, keeping this body will be-" Saya suddenly felt a pain go off in her head, holding it. "Wait, what's this?"

Saya felt her head, and panted as she held it before shaking it off.

"Forget that! It's time I finally end this, now it's time you-"

"KOTORI!"

Saya growled as she looked at Mana who slowly flew up to face her, clenching her fist until she drew blood, she glared at the wizard.

"Or should I call you Saya now? The girl you're holding onto, that's my sister. I'm making you give her back!" Mana declared, making Saya grow angrily!

[Master, let me murder her-]

"No, she's pissed me off too much. I'm doing this myself!" Saya said, dispelling her Demon King and rushing at her, knocking Mana into the ground. Before they hit, Mana stomped into it and held her back.

"Alright, if that's how you want it, then let's fight with nothing but our fists!" Mana exclaimed as she dispelled her swords and blasters, readying her fists. "You can't heal from blunt blows, right? Then prove you can claim that body with your fist instead of your words!"

"...Alright, if that's the way you want it then I'll make you eat my fist!" Saya replied.

The others all watch as they slowly descend, barely supporting each other.

"Do your best... Mana." Yoshinon replied.

"Mana..." Shido breathed, wishing her luck.

"P-Please... don't give up." Origami nervously replied, hoping Kotori would come back.

"You can do it, don't lose!" Tohka exclaimed.

Mana and Saya both rush forward, both swinging a fist at each other before feeling them smash into each other's faces, they both stagger before Saya kicks off the ground and smashed two right hooks and another left hook at her. Mana gasps and coughs out some blade before blocking her next strike and thrusting her fist directly into Saya's stomach.

'This girl... why won't she fall?' Saya mentally breathed, holding onto her stomach as she rushed forward can, this time launching a barrage of punches. Mana blocked them as they storm onto her body.

'Kotori... I'll never forget the kindness you gave me!' Mana thought, giving Saya an uppercut to the chin.

The scene of a young Kotori hugging Mana after her family chose to take Shido and Mana in flashes by her, reminding Mana how she began smiling again after losing their memories.

"Let's always be friends Mana!" Kotori smiled, making Mana tear up a bit.

"No, let's be sisters." Mana replied, and Kotori smiles brighter as they make a pinkie promise. The two giggling together.

Saya's eyes widen as she sees and hears this memory after the uppercut strikes her.

"This is..." Saya whispered.

Soon more memories flash through Saya's head, all showing Shido, Mana and Kotori together in some ways through them. Most of all... the memory of the fire that she caused and made Kotori suffer over. She mentally gasped.

-Flashback Start-

Saya was in her school's Home Economics class, wearing the cooking uniform as she backed up to turn... only to bump into someone who dropped all of the veggies she had in her strainer.

"Oh no!" The girl panicked, beginning to pick them up. Saya saw her and began helping her. "Huh?"

"Sorry for being a klutz there, should have turned before I backed up." Saya replied, soon noticing one of her tomatoes. "Wow, these tomatoes look great. It's so fresh and red."

"Oh, well... that's because I grew that one myself." The girl blushed, Saya looked at _ in surprise. "My family has a garden and I like tending to it when I can. Oh, forgive my manners, my name is _ _, what's yours?"

"I'm Saya, Saya Yamada." Saya replied.

-End Flashback-

'She's... fighting for her friend. No, for her sister, just like me and...' Saya thought, suddenly gasping as she realized something. If she was dead, then wouldn't that mean Ellen had... 'No, am I already too late? How long has it been? I... I...'

As Mana stopped to breathe, she and everyone else noticed Saya crying using Kotori's tears, no longer moving.

"She's... already dead!" Saya sobbed, soon feeling her head in pain. "My... my head..."

Saya looks at herself, her vision blurring.

"Of course, if I'm already dead, then the fact I've even been here. I'm just a ghost, and ghosts... eventually get put to rest." Saya cried more, soon just standing there. "You, end it. End this fight... if my friend is already dead, then I'd rather move on and join her."

"Saya..." Mana said, tearing up before closing her eyes and nodded.

With one last shout... she rushed forward and punched Saya hard, making her blue eyes widen before they turned lifeless. Dark red spirit power surrounded her before becoming red, and Saya fell as her eyes reverted to red, and Mana caught her in her arms as Kotori groaned.

"...M-Mana?" Kotori asked, looking at her and then the others as they cried happily. "I'm... I'm back. This is real, I'm... really still here!"

Soon everyone gave Kotori a group hug, crying happily as they got her back.

[I wish I had arms to actually hug you with. Shido, you better hug her twice as hard for me!]

Shido nods, and Kotori soon cries happily with her.

"You've got great people in your life... Kotori Itsuka." Saya answered, getting everyone's attention. "Don't worry, I'm not gonna try anything anymore... I'll just stay here... until the day my consciousness finally fades away."

"...Saya, why did you want to take Kotori's body as your own so much?" Shido asked.

"...Because I couldn't accept I was dead, not while my friend could still be out there." Saya answered, her voice shaky. "But if I was killed... then why would she have been spared. She asked me to run and I just got myself murdered!"

"Your friend was a Spirit too? Which one, and when did you die?" Tohka wondered.

"I think... dang it, I can't fully recognize things due to Kotori and I having different memories- Oh wait... Nightmare, yes! She was the Spirit code named Nightmare!" Saya replied, and then began to think. "My death was... the date I don't remember, but it was 10 years ago."

"Wait a second, 10?" Maria repeated, soon checking her data. "Saya... you're friend, she's still alive!"

"What!?" Saya gasped.

"The last time a Nightmare was killed was 15 years ago, but if you were killed over 10... then she's still alive. You can at least tell her goodbye before you disappear Saya!" Maria replied, and Saya's voice shook.

"No way, so...'s still here?" Saya choked out, soon sobbing heavily. "She... she escaped, she made it out. Kotori, please... for now, let me stay... just long enough I can talk to her one last time before I fade away."

Kotori who had been shedding Saya's tear for her nods.

"Thank you, now... for the time being, let me sleep." Saya quietly said, soon having her consciousness rest until the day she'd see _ again.

"I promise Saya, you will see her again." Kotori sniffled, wiping her eyes. "Shido... it's time."

"Huh?" Shido wondered, Kotori gives her a blank stare and points at her lips. "...O-Oh! Sorry, the moment threw me off!"

The other girls, including Mana out of respect, all looked away and blushed as Shido kissed Kotori. His eyes were closed so he didn't notice Kotori's red face during the process. After it was done, he quickly took out a spare shirt and pulled it over Kotori before her Astral Dress vanished and her remaining ribbon fell into her hands.

"...My ribbon." Kotori frowned a bit, recalling how Saya's one attack on Tohka shredded the other.

"Hey, don't cry Kotori, we can always get you a-"

Suddenly a crash happens nearby, surprising everyone as some kind of metal pod dropped into view. Soon it opened up and revealed itself as a robot with three snaked head sand 5 optical sensors with a single tail that had a drill for a tip. Minerva's voice cackles from a protected broadcast screen on its chest.

"Get ready, everything for you will end with this one little machine!" Minerva's voice echoed, making the whole group stare at it in anger. "Because this machine is known as..."

"Just shut up already!" Tohka shouted, slashing Sandalphon down.

A purple wave of spirit energy slashed through the machine's heads, and everyone thought that was it... until the beheaded machine's cut off craniums melted and the amputated necks regrew them alongside two new heads each, giving it 9.

"What!?" Tohka gasped, now terrified.

"You cut off a head, and two more regrew alongside it from the neck..." Maria breathed, suddenly realizing the machine's basis. The said machine's nine heads roared as they launched at the group and Minerva's cackles are heard from it.

"...That's right little AI, prepare to face the might of the Hydra!"

TO BE CONTINUED...

Saya's rage been quelled, learned her best friend is still out there, and Kotori's powers have finally been sealed. However... now the group must fight the DEM machine weapon Hydra, but how will they fight a machine that grows stronger if you destroy any of its heads? Hercules knew how to beat it as part of his many labors, but Hercules isn't here to help them this time... :I

Poor Saya though, her consciousness may have managed to avoid death, but it won't matter much longer. Despite how her soul still lives, without her body she can't support and eventually she'll fade away. The only thing that's going to help her find peace is to see her best friend one last time before she finally fades away and ascends for good.

And there's how Mana shined, like Shido she has spirit powers, but not in the same manner. Since she's a girl she's able to simply manifest them as strength rather than a sealing ability that lets her empower herself like her older brother. There is a downside though, she can't use them unless she's wearing the Murakumo. Good news is now she's officially as strong as her canon self, and she didn't need to reduce her lifespan.

Now there's only one chapter left in the Kotori arc, so get ready as Shido reveals a new trick, Kotori finally resolves things with herself, and we get a certain Spirit we all know and love as guest as we finally start bringing Season 1 to an end with the Kurumi arc! Get ready, if you thought Kotori's arc getting four chapters is big... the Kurumi's arc I can guarantee has such a long script, that it will be the biggest arc yet!

I hope you all enjoyed this chapter everyone. Stay tuned, and everyone stay awesome.

Also, now that the spoiler of Mana's spirit powers have been revealed, here's her data sheet! I had this one at the end notes because had I placed it at the top... well, you would have known what this chapter would have revealed.

-Mana Takamiya, Spirit Powered State-

Angel: None

- Powers: Mana doesn't gain any powers like her brother does, but as the Murakumo needs to be equipped in other for Mana to draw on her Spirit Mana, the CR-Unit's powers are enhanced to the point she can attack and defend just like a Spirit can.

Risk Factors: SS

Spacequake: None

Spirit's Astral Dress: None

Angel Rank: None

Strength: 180

Consistency: 110

Spiritual Power: 101

Agility: 210

Intelligence: 135

-Spirit Bond Levels-

Tohka - 72%

Origami - 47%

Yoshino - 30%

Kotori - 61%