Date A Re:Live
Chapter 23: Movie Chapter: Rinne Utopia, Part 1
By : Tohka_Yatogami
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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]
Man! It's good to be back in this story, admittedly the hiatus didn't go the way I had planned, I wanted to get some of my side stories, such as the Kotori story in the Date Another Origin series. *shrugs* Eh, I guess I'll just start it when it finally comes to me. Guess a writer's just gotta know when their ready, it did take me a bit longer than I expected to get Date A Re:Live - Encore's first story done.
Well, I hope you like things big, because now it's time for one of the biggest parts of this story. The Rinne arc, or more specifically... the first "movie" of Date A Re:Live's story line! Unlike most of the arcs, I'm keeping true to the name because Utopia actually works to a degree, that and I really don't feel like using a different word in this case because it's a "movie". Why am I calling it that? Well, if you've known me long enough, I like being a little bit dramatic with my fanfic definitions, freedom to a writer after all :3
Rinne's arc is special, while we get another big event that involves Rinne, you'll finally get to see something I've been wanting to have the fanfic show for a while now... we're going to get to see the Spirit Dimension! That's right, this is also gonna show everyone the story of how Rinne met and fell in love with Shido and Mana's father, Seigo Takamiya! Also, it's going to answer how Shido can seal spirits, but why Mana doesn't have this same ability. The most important thing you should all know for this this part of the story? Simple... grab your tissues.
I think anyone who's seen Rinne's path in the Rinne Utopia game know this arc is gonna bring a few tears, as for how it's actually gonna end? That's a secret until it happens, but you'll probably see it quickly, Kurumi's arc likely won't face any competition lengthwise unless it's a two volume arc adaption, or the movie versions of Rio Reincarnation and the Mayuri Judgment movie, this movie's only based on the Rinne route rather than the entire game after all.
I can say as this arc will be treated like a movie, the chapters will be a lot longer than usual to give that movie feel. In all the arcs before now, I only told a story, but this movie? It's going to clear every secret the first season has left lingering, while I've given you the answers, you haven't truly seen the roots to everything.
Most of all? This arc has a very powerful feeling behind it, because the emotion of this arc is... Loneliness, and it will show because unlike the upbeat feeling the rest of Season 1 had, this arc is going to have a depressing atmosphere. This time, I'm writing a story arc with the intent of making you feel that atmosphere and truly understanding the power behind it.
Also, as a quick reminder. Once the movie chapters are done, the story will be on pause, but not as a hiatus. It's simply because the next chronological part of the series will be in a different story, the fabled Date AST Re:Strike story that'll finish the bridge between Seasons 1 and 2.
Phew! Man, I said a lot, so now that I'm done... let me show you all Kurumi's data sheet for her purified form and then we can get started! ^^
-Kurumi Tokisaki (Purified State), Code Name: [Nightmare]-
Angel: Zafkiel, the "Emperor of Shadowed Time" - In its purified form, Zafkiel is a pair of black guns with a more otherworldly appearance like its fellow Angels, one being longer and the other shorter with the addition of small spherical gems on the sides that show clocks. Zafkiel's time manipulation powers all have a maximum of a one hour effect range. While Zafkiel does have some alternate forms, some of them are just its special attacks.
- Alternate Form: Andromeda - By activating the clocks on both Zafkiel guns, Kurumi can manipulate the 4th dimension and bend time. Unlike her corrupted state, Kurumi's only able to accelerate, slow, stop and rewind time, recreate a fallen clone and link her mind to it, get a vision of the future, and see past memories. These abilities are assigned to all the numbers on Zafkiel's clock gems except III, VI, IX and XII in the mentioned order.
- Alternate Form: Bahamut - By combining both guns together, Kurumi transforms Zafkiel into a sniper rifle which she can use to fire what she claims are fragmentation of her shadow as silhouettes to attack a specific area. These fragments of her shadows aren't her clones as they disappear upon making collision with anything, or evaporating after a while of hitting nothing.
- Alternate Form: Carnwennan - Zafkiel's body shifts out and light blue energy comes out, taking a spiked form of sorts. As a result, Zafkiel transforms into something like a pair of daggers for close combat situations (A/N: Think of Cross Mirage's Dagger mode from Nanoha StrikerS). Kurumi states this is her least used form of Zafkiel, due to her powers' nature preferring to avoid such kind of combat.
- Alternate Form: Nibellcole - Summons one to four powerful clones of Kurumi assigned to the remaining four numbers not used by Andromeda. Each clone has its own personality, and to Kurumi's embarrassment they all take the form of a time Kurumi was a big anime fan and cosplayed as such (These are the Kurumi clones showcased on the Kurumi Valentine SS illustration). The clones are named Shincho, Masayoshi (Yoshi for short), Kinshu and Yuuki after the Four Cardinal virtues' kanji.
- Alternate Form: Astra - Kurumi's shadow takes the form of a spiky black sun, and soon a light blue arrow forms, beginning a countdown like a clock until it "reaches midnight" for a supercharged gunshot. Kurumi is left vulnerable while using this attack and if attacked, will have to redo the entire countdown from the start. As such, she often calls out the Nibellcole clones or has others aid her while she charges it.
- Powers: With her powers purified, Kurumi's shadow element finally actually acts as her primary element with her time powers being the more obscure, Kurumi even admitted she'd rather only use them when necessary because she doesn't like having to shoot herself to use most of them. Her City of Devouring Time is changed into the City of Silenced Shadow, which simply knocks out people under the same conditions but without sapping their life force. Some of Kurumi's new shadow abilities allow her to spy on multiple areas at once, hiding within another's shadow, making shadow tendrils to bind someone and turning herself invisible.
Risk Factors: S
Spacequake: C
Spirit's Astral Dress: A
Angel Rank: S
Strength: 179
Consistency: 158
Spiritual Power: 190
Agility: 153
Intelligence: 201
Rinne Sonogami's astral form sat on top of the Takamiya household, staring at the horizon as the sunrise began to come into view of Tenguu City as Rinne's mouth quivered and she becomes misty eyed.
"...It's beautiful, just like you told me. I just wish I had gotten to see one with you." Rinne said, a tear streaming down her face.
[They say a story's basis comes from the origin that it all begins, not necessarily the start, but what walls its intro to even be set into motion. Destiny and fate, dreams and reality, hope and despair, fear and courage... so many things opposing one another in combination to a chain of events that allow a story to begin. This isn't just fiction this applies to, but the story of life. I know the story of one man who became part of my story, a man I loved and I met by chance. His name was...]
~40 Years ago
On the grassy edge of a large cliff face that faced itself towards a large and deep cannon, a man with blue hair, brown eyes, a beauty mark under his right eye, and a muscular physique as he wore travelling clothes with a large backpack full of exploration gear on his back. He gave a smile as he held a hand by his eyes to look ahead at the scenery without the sunlight impeding his view.
[...Seigo Takamiya!]
"So, this is it, the Valley of Enigmas. I can't believe I've finally made it here. A land full of uncharted mysteries." Seigo told himself, feeling really excited at the area he would be exploring. "Kinda surprising though, based on what the boss told me, I expected to have noticed something odd or scary here."
Seigo looks behind him at the sky, remembering the event that brought him here.
-Flashback Start-
Seigo walked into a small office that belonged to the boss of the agency he worked for, once he came in he stood in place and waited. The boss in question soon noticed he had come in, and smirked at the fact he chose to wait for him to speak on his terms rather than force the conversation to start.
"You're quite interesting Seigo Takamiya, have I ever told you that?" The man replied, soon turning to reveal a tall man wearing a formal jet black suit. His hair a vivid brown color, and his eyes being blue in color. With the familiarity of his suit, you might think he was a certain man, but he couldn't be... could he?
"Not really sir, but considering this is professional work I don't really mind. We're all just doing our jobs Mr. Westcott." Seigo replied, making Westcott chuckle.
...It was, while he was younger and lacking the whitened hair and lifeless eyes he was known for in the present, this brown haired man was the same madman who ran the DEM in the present.
"So why did you need me exactly boss? It seems like this is a serious job if you needed me directly, or at least something not exactly meant to be public." Seigo chuckled, sweat dropping oddly at his latter suggestion. Westcott quickly stood up and walked near one of his picture frames, getting Seigo's attention.
"Tell me something Seigo, if you defined how much we've seen if the world by the smallest of areas that can even slip between the cracks of maps. Just how much of it do you believe we've honestly explored as of only the 21st's century's second decade?" Westcott inquired.
"Well... if I were to be honest, including ancient civilizations and other mysteries we don't fully understand yet. I'd say it would range between 60 to 70 percent?" Seigo guessed, and Westcott clapped at that at that. "So that's a good estimate?"
Westcott chuckled.
"Quite, most are too generous and have told me 80% in the past. That is far from correct for many reasons. However... this is the one that I believe matters most." Westcott answered, soon moving the picture frame like opening a door. Behind it, Westcott revealed a section of a map deep in Seigo's home region of Japan.
"This Seigo is a spot of land that has been hidden from the public. Over a decade, at the beginning of this century, we found this spot of land due to the new technology we had created at the time. However, when there were people sent to explore it... nothing, the people who fell in never returned."
Seigo's eyes widened.
"There's something about this place we don't know anything about, it's the Bermuda Triangle all over again. The difference is none of the conditions or oddities are the issue we have here. Some of the latter disappearances have shown the ones we've lost are still present. We just lack the internet or connections to reach them." Westcott replied, soon walking up to Seigo directly.
"That is why I've called you here, we've considered sending another to try checking out with the best gear we have. Hopefully this time we'll get the answers we seek. One that may change the course of history for the better. Would you like to be the adventurer who's willing to risk it? You have every right to say no, I just need you to swear that you won't expose this to the public."
Seigo thought for a bit, looking at the uncharted land shown on the map before him.
'It's a whole area of this world no one understands, so many have vanished... yet this is what I wanted to see when I became an explorer. I'm gonna go see what this mystery is and when I do, I can't wait to tell Reine what I found when I have my next chance to visit.' Seigo thought, soon making a determined look on his face.
"Mr. Westcott, I'll accept your offer! I'll find out just what's hiding within that hidden land!"
"Very well then, you'll be flying there tomorrow, so get your things ready. After all... we'd like to try guaranteeing you as the first one to make it back." Westcott replied, smirking as he walked out of his office. 'That optimistic fool, he's annoying... but he might just be the one who gets the result I want.'
-End Flashback-
Seigo breathes and turns back with a wide open grin on his face.
"No time to consider that now, let's go take a look at this hidden land!" Seigo declared with vigor, soon readying his climb down as he hangs on tightly to the rope and slowly jumps down. "Let's see, so far I see..."
Right as he makes a certain step, suddenly the part of the rocky surface he touched suddenly collapsed, as did the area where his rope was connected. Making him suddenly gasp at the suddenly rock slide he got caught in.
"No!" Seigo shouted, he began falling towards the unseen chasm of the canyon before him. He twisted and turned as he dodged the rocks before him. "Damn it, I can't let it end like this! I have to make it back!"
The sight of his little sister, a young teenage girl with silvery hair that had a slight blue tint that she wore in a side ponytail entered his view, the illusion turning towards him with a smile on her face.
"Reine..."
Seigo soon began to black out, unaware of the flash that soon encompassed his entire body as he fell through a certain area of the chasm below. He had no idea what was about to happen to him, or how much it was going to change his life.
The sight of a sky that seemed like a permanent aurora filled the sky of a world that had energy suddenly flowing everywhere, at the slime shining clear water that glowed a bright pale blue, vibrant green fields and beautiful flowers that actually lit up filled the area.
Within this beautiful world, the sight of human like beings existed, only two things about them kept them from being identical to humans, their eyes which had whitened pupils compared to a Human's usual black, and the fact the clothing they wore all had physical light making them, and it shined brightly.
In one section of this world were the color purple was more prominent, the sight of a beautiful girl with long light pink hair, two long braids at a length that was approaching her legs, intense pink eyes that were almost red in color wearing a purple empress-like outfit with golden extensions on her shoulders and hips, and a decorated headdress with a golden emblem at the center resting on top of her head was seen playing some kind of instrument that wasn't human in origin.
"...And you'll always be in my heart." The girl sang, soon finishing her melody before standing up. As she did, a normal human woman carrying a basket of food walked by.
"Wow, that song was beautiful Rinne. Is that the one Robert taught you?" The woman asked, Rinne give a smile, though her eyes gave a saddened look so it was hard to tell which emotion she was genuinely showing.
"Oh, it wasn't anything special. It was just a song." Rinne replied, honestly not feeling she deserved the praise she got. Suddenly at that moment, the two noticed something glowing in the air. "That light, isn't it..."
"No way, did someone else visit that forsaken land!?" The woman gasped.
They both got their answer as that light spiraled wide and soon moved forward before twirling and changing into the falling form of Seigo, the man still completely unconscious as he began aiming towards the ground.
"Oh no, he's gonna smash head first!" The woman gasped.
At that moment Rinne took action and with inhumane speed, burst forward towards the area where Seigo was falling. What would seem like a vain effort to reach him by a human's view was shown to be no issue to this woman who managed to reach him large enough of an opening to spare.
"Oh thank god!" The woman sighed in relief, soon getting a bit closer to Rinne as she poked Seigo's cheek slightly, trying to nudge him away.
"Come one. You need to wake up already, show us your still alive." Rinne pleaded, hoping for a reaction.
Seigo soon grunted a bit, and he looked up as he slowly regained consciousness. Before him he saw a beautiful girl with pink hair and red eyes, he noticed her pupils were white rather than black unlike a normal human. Beside her he noticed an actual human woman.
"You woke up, thank goodness." The woman smiled, feeling relieved.
"Hey, who are you?" Rinne asked, Seigo looked around him and noticed the strange world he was in. You might have expected him to freak out, but Seigo's actual reaction?
"My name is Seigo, Seigo Takamiya. Who are you miss?" Seigo asked, surprising the girl a bit. He clearly noticed he wasn't in the world he had come to know, but he didn't even freak out. He answered her question without any hesitation whatsoever.
"My name is..." Rinne began, but once she took a good look at her outfit compared to his, she suddenly decided to help him to his feet briefly before she raised her hand.
Seigo gasped a bit as for a brief moment her outfit vanished into sparkles of light, but quickly reforming into a white t-shirt with a sleeveless beige colored sweater, a blue skirt, white socks and brown colored sneakers.
"...Rinne Sonogami, it's a pleasure to meet you Seigo." Rinne smiled, introducing herself, and one that clearly showed her being happy without any doubt. Rinne's human friend showed shock, she had never seen Rinne show such a... what was the word, definiteexpression before.
"Same to you Rinne." Seigo smiled, giving her a handshake to Rinne's surprise. She blushed a bit before pulling it away. Seigo blinked and then chuckled oddly. "Oops, guess that was a bit too much. Now that I've cleared that up, time for the elephant in the room... where am I?"
"You're in another world entirely. A land that exists in a plane beyond the one Humanity's always set foot on, this land is..." The woman began, and as she did, Seigo's attention extended to the rest of the realm he saw before him. A place just like Earth but even more beautiful. "...The Spirit Dimension!"
Seigo stared in silent shock, the truth of this mysterious disappearance to all who came to that uncharted land. It was somehow connected to what ended up being a brand new world, and now he was here, a place that few humans had ever gotten to see.
"The Spirit Dimension... incredible!" Seigo gasped.
[And that was our first meeting, one that would forever change my life for both better and for worse.]
*Date A Utopia plays*
(Guitar strings strumming) The sight of Tohka, Origami, Yoshino, Kotori and Kurumi pass by before their Inverse Form appearances do the same.
Soon the sight of Earth comes into view before a fluctuation of spirit energy appears and opens a tunnel to another world. Various Spirits look forward and smile, the Sephira Crystals sparkling at ten various points in this world, the Spirit Dimension. Rinne herself smiling in the area where the Sandalphon Crystal was nearest as she hugs Seigo's arm close, making him smile back.
(Guitar solo wailing) The words "デート・ア・ライブ - DATE A RE:LIVE - Rinne Utopia" appear on the blackened screen, and soon a brief pause comes up before the colors invert showing a white screen with the same text now black.
(In a time where everything's spiraling back around... it's [Dead or Alive]!) Seigo Takamiya walked across a world of blue, each step causing a ripple as a brown haired Westcott grinned wickedly from behind before changing into his current appearance.
(An impending is lurking, and it overwhelms my eyes.) Rinne Sonogami stared at a cliff face on Earth, making a pray motion with her hands before looking up and giving a somber look to the side.
(This repeating pain we see across the horizon... it's [Dead or Alive]!) Shido and Mana are both seen running through the same blue world as children before tumbling into somersaults and appearing on Earth as teenagers. Suddenly stopping to look back and seeing neither Seigo or Rinne present.
(As I search for my earthly paradise!) A mosaic flies by, soon spinning before showing Rio landing near a tree with a blooming samsara she takes and holds close. Soon looking behind her as the wind blows, hinting a lock of pink hair.
(What is it I wish for from the bottom of my heart? Is it your happiness, or maybe... a repeat of my truth and lies?) A teenage Reine Murasame runs around until she notices Seigo before her, and soon sprints over towards him.
(If it is, then this endless twisted Utopia... never let it repeat itself again!) Reine's form ages until its current self as Seigo somberly reaches out, his body moving away and slowly disappearing as it does. Making Reine shed tears as he did.
(Distorted glass breaking sound) Soon the entire Spirit Dimension explodes, annihilating it and everything within it from the world. Rinne's eyes staring at the homeland's destruction as a bunch of power flows into her, and she falls towards Earth before dozens Spacequakes go off across its surface.
(We live in a false Eden! So as we encounter, let our emotions collide and fight!) A group of DEM wizards fly into view as Tohka standing in a crater holds Sandalphon tight and gives a mighty swing, creating a slash wave at them. At the same time, Origami flies through the incoming fire before using Metatron to fire beams of light at the ones firing at her.
(Let us make a foolish wish born of our ideals or dreams, and then... we'll save the world!) Yoshino while riding on Zadkiel rushes by the DEM wizards as the area around her freezes, followed by Kotori who was riding on its back before jumping and swinging down Camael, sending waves of fire across the ground. Kurumi and her Nibellcole clones all rise out from the shadows and manipulating shadows at those who avoided the ice.
(Our glances look and the cross intentions! Facing it's dead or alive to reject walls blocking the prohibited Garden!) Shido joins in using Kurumi's powers in his Spirit Ascension, while Mana flies by wearing the Murakumo. Mayuri and Rio soon land to the sides of them, and all of them gasp as a large metal tree forms in the city's center.
(For you to be happy forever, that's my-) The nine of them all ready themselves as the tree's guardians all form and begin flying out to attack them and the DEM wizards in the area, while within the tree itself, an unconscious Rinne say before looking up with saddened eyes.
DATE A LIVE!
(Guitar instrumental) A green, two orange, indigo, silver gray and golden yellow silhouette all pass by the area, with Maria and Marina standing across the two sides, giving a kind smile and a wicked grin respectively.
(Heavy and fast guitar instrumental) Shido gives a determined look before his gold eyes close, opening to an intense pink red as he holds his hand up and summons Uriel and his hair grows longer and takes a pink tone as he takes on his Over-Limit Spirit Ascension and swings the strongest Angel forward, cutting into the tree from a distance.
Tohka, Origami, Yoshino, Kotori, Kurumi, Mana, Rio, Mayuri and Maria all free fall from the sky and towards the ground. Shido turned to see them, and soon reached out to grab Tohka's hand before the others grabbed hers in a chain link, and Shido flies forward with all of them rushing towards the tree, preparing for the scar eyed wizard before them as she gives a deranged smile.
It had been a few months since Seigo had found himself in the Spirit Dimension, and he had learned a few details about the realm since he had been dropped into it. First and most important, the world was made completely from energy and inhabited by a race of all female energy beings known as Spirits. Beings in Human myths such as Undines, Sylphs, and any similar being existed in this world in the form of Spirits who matched their abilities easily.
The world was also divided into ten sections, each one was a region that was influenced by the world's sacred treasures, the Sephira Crystals, gems that were stated to hold the souls of Angels that helped create the entire Spirit Dimension long ago. Each one represented the elements that made up that part of the world. The one he first came to the world in, and the one he had come to form a residence at.
The Spirits themselves also seemed to be linked towards their birth region, as most of those in the "Sandalphon" region had a small link to nature. Rinne herself was born in the Sandalphon region, but she was one of the occasional rarity that had powers not related to any of the Sephira Crystal influenced regions. Luckily, it didn't seem this lead to discrimination, it just made such Spirits feel like third wheels to their kind, but the few humans who had become trapped and set a life up in the world were much easier for them to relate to.
The humans themselves had been accepted into the Spirit's world, their kind being understanding over the fact they didn't intentionally come to their world, nor did they know how to return to their own. Currently, in the Metatron region, Seigo was writing down notes of what he was seeing and experiencing. He figured if he ever got home, he wanted his sister to know everything he saw, just how truly magnificent of a world he saw and wanted her to one day see for herself if she ever could.
"Hmm... I wonder how she's doing? Maybe Isamu are finally actually accepting their feelings, shared grieving would do that." Seigo chuckled, soon sighing a bit as he remembered his sister and best friend were the one thing this world was lacking in. "...I miss them, I just wish I had a way to go back there, but still visit here."
"...You're home, what's it like?"
Seigo blinked to see Rinne behind him, wearing her Astral Dress, apparently what the clothing that all Spirits wore was called. It was quite useful in Seigo's opinion, especially the ability to alter their appearance from its true form to suit any given situation. The Spirits were interesting creatures, they were powerful, but their kind was also fairly peaceful and hated conflict. It was what many Humans wished their society could one day be.
"Oh, hey Rinne. What do you want to know?" Seigo asked.
"Well... everything you can think of, the Humans who've come here tend to ignore their world because they don't want to think about what they can't return to until the day they hear there's a way back." Rinne replied, scratching her cheek a bit. Seigo blinks and then giggles, making Rinne blush. "W-why are you laughing!"
"I'm sorry, you just looked really cute when you asked me like that." Seigo replied, calming down a bit as Rinne blushed more.
"Well, let's see... there's all kinds of people, so many forms of life. Humans are ultimately small and weak creatures, especially compared to you all, but we work together and accomplish some big things. Some are good, some are bad, but we don't give up. I myself became an explorer to experience all these hidden wonders no matter the risk I'd face. To me, this world is a hidden wonder I was lucky to find."
Rinne's eyes sparkled a bit, the little bit she was hearing, just hearing a little bit about Humans had made her want to know even more. A lot of nearby spirits all looked, having never seen Rinne show such a powerful interest.
"Please, tell me more!" Rinne begged, and Seigo blinked before smiling and nodding. Continuing his stories.
[Just one story and the next thing I knew it, there was almost no moment I didn't want to know just what Humans were like. Seigo told me of their culture, their lives, their history and so much more. While Humanity wasn't perfect, not even us Spirits were, and in the end, it wasn't just the good in them that made me so interested... it was the potential that I could just sense from Seigo's words. I wanted nothing more to go and see his world. Maybe in the end, that's how that fateful day happened.]
Around a year and a half after coming to the Spirit Dimension, Seigo was seen sweating bullets as he tried to gather his courage for something. This wasn't like his world, he didn't have any of the things a guy like him would normally be in possession of by this moment... most of all by all means, the girl in question may look human, and may not be from a different planet... but she was technically an alien by human definition.
'Come on Seigo, you can do it! At least be man enough to do it and never regret you had a chance but blew it!' Seigo thought, soon gaining a focused and determined look before he walked up to a field area as Rinne had finished playing a song on her unknown instrument. As she finished, she noticed Seigo come up and blushed a bit before standing up and clearing her throat.
"Oh hey Seigo, do you need something?" Rinne asked, she noticed Seigo staring at her unusually silent to her worry. "...Seigo?"
"Can I get everyone's attention please!" Seigo shouted, getting every nearby human and Spirit's attention. Rinne's eyes widen as she noticed everyone's attention suddenly focus on the two of them. Seigo breathed before lightly punching himself in the face.
"...Rinne, you and I first met in a circumstance most wouldn't believe. I had fallen into this world from my own. I didn't know anything about it, or about you, nor did you about mine or myself, and you still saved me without questioning the choice. I got to know you, and you got to know me in all of that time."
"Seigo?" Rinne questioned, a bit confused at his words. To the humans spectating, they suddenly began to realize what Seigo was doing.
"No way, he's actually going to say it? And to a Spirit no less?" A human man questioned.
"A Spirit and a Human... is it possible? The only thing standing in the way of this is if she'll say no or yes." A human woman replied, making Rinne turn her head confused.
Seigo felt his entire body shake and his hand twitch, but he wouldn't falter here.
"Before I knew it, we've reached the here and now. I've gotten to know you so much that I've gotten to know something that neither us ever could have, I don't know how much you'll accept it, but I refuse to just think it can't happen. Even if it hurts me I'm going to say it!" Seigo said, blushing as he takes Rinne's hands close.
"...Rinne Sonogami, I love you! So... will you stay with me? Will you follow the journey I'll be walking, from here until the rest of our lives?"
Rinne's eyes suddenly widened at that declaration, did Seigo just say... he loved her?
"Seigo..." Rinne breathed.
All the spectators all gasped as they heard Seigo's confession, they were truly seeing what may be a once in a life time thing, to see a Human had his heart won by a Spirit. Rinne just stood there, thinking of all the time they had spent together, every story he heard from her, and all the times he had been there and the two of them helped each other out... the pink haired girl before him began tear up.
'Can it really be, do I... is it really possible that I've fallen in love with him after all this time?' Rinne thought, her misty eyes still having yet to shed their tears. It took her a moment until she recalled how they first met, at that moment... her answer became clear. 'It is, I don't know how... but he's made me fall in love with him!'
Everyone nearby continued to watch, wondering just what her answer would be, would she say no and keep the status quo everyone had come to know... or would everything change with the simple words of yes? The wait was short as Rinne smiled, her eyes finally shedding her tears, having now becoming those of happiness.
"...I will, of course I will Seigo!" Rinne answered, making everyone cheer happily. Seigo gasped before smiling. He soon hugged Rinne close and kissed her deeply, surprising the pink haired spirit as her face ends up becoming the same color, but soon kissing back as her tears kept flowing out.
[It was the happiest day of my life, this one woman had stolen my heart, and wouldn't have wanted it any other way. After all... what happened next was a risk I chose to bear because it was the proof of your love. Not just that, it was a miracle born of both our worlds.]
It had been three years since Seigo had fallen into the Spirit Dimension, and based on what his phone (which somehow the Spirit Dimension at least had a way to restore the battery power of to his confusion) said, it was currently March 5th.
Right now, the date itself wasn't important, but what was happening on this day, inside a certain house, Rinne was seen screaming in pain as she laid on the ground and held Seigo's hand tightly. A human woman with some experience as a mid-wife was present as Rinne was about give birth to a baby boy, or a baby girl, the first Human/Spirit hybrid in the world.
"Hang on Rinne, don't give up!" Seigo shouted, terrified but trying to stay strong for his wife's sake.
And he had every reason to be scared to death right now, because Spirits were an all female race, the way they reproduced was quite different and represented their nature as energy beings. Rinne however? Even though no human who had fallen into the Spirit Dimension could officially have her and Seigo married, she wanted have proof of their love with a child.
However, she was told this could be very dangerous, Humans and Spirits were fundamentally different life forms, and there's a chance that trying to have the child might end up killing her... and she still chose to take the risk. After carrying the child for nine months, her body was finally starting to feel the clash of the two species' physiologies threatened to rip her apart, her own spirit power already violently flooding out of her.
Luckily for everyone, in a moment the signs it would work came.
"I see the head, your gonna do it Rinne! Push a little more!" The midwife shouted, and Rinne nodded as she screamed again, Seigo holding her hand tighter.
She soon gave an even mightier scream afterwards, and at that very moment... the aurora like sky glowed brighter than ever! Around the ten regions, the Spirits who guarded the Sephira Crystals all saw their region's respective gems shine brightly as if responding to the birth of this child.
"What is this feeling? It's as if... the horizon itself is welcoming a strange power!" The guardian of the Zafkiel region gasped, noticing the shadows gaining a gentle dim glow.
"This is incredible, I've never seen the Sephira Crystal resonate to anything before since the times of legend and myth!" The guardian of the Metatron region breathed, seeing the orbs of light spin around everyone like happy fireflies.
"Is it truly possible? Today is the day that child is being born, is this strange nostalgia connected to it!?" The guardian of the Michael region questioned, seeing spatial fluxes that flung into the air like shooting stars.
Meanwhile across the other realms, children both Human and Spirit alike all show joy at the beautiful sights the world was suddenly experiencing. The guardian of the Haniel region soon laughed happily as she held the Haniel Crystal close.
"This is amazing, the child of the two worlds... to think it would have so much potential! We're witnessing a miracle, one that may just bring a new future for this world." The Haniel guardian smiled.
Soon back at the house, the aurora sky took on a lighter color, signifying it was daytime in the Spirit Dimension, and after one last scream... Rinne's screams were silenced, she panted as the sound of crying was heard. Seigo smiled and began to tear up, the midwife gave him a smile.
"Congratulations, you have a healthy baby boy!" The midwife announced, handing the blue haired baby to his father. Seigo finally shed his tears as he looked at his son, he was still crying but seem calmer now that he was in the arms of one of his parents.
"Rinne... Look, he's finally here!" Seigo said, tears of joy in his eyes as he held a baby boy in his hand. Rinne's tired form turned to look, and a smile came as she shed her own tears and raised her hand, her fingers touching her son's hand before he grabs it, soon calming down as his cries quieted into small whimpers. "This is our son."
"I don't believe it..." Rinne cried happily, soon holding her new son as Seigo passed him over to her. "Our little boy, he's finally here. We all made it."
Seigo nodded happily.
"Now all he needs is a name, one that will carry all the hopes and dreams he's been born to carry out." Seigo replied, and after looking at him a bit longer. Rinne decided on the perfect name, one that represented his future dedication in the present.
"Welcome to the world... my little Shido." Rinne smiled, and the now newly christened Shido stopped crying and babbled a bit before opening his brown eyes and seeing his mother, he smiled happily as he reached out for her.
[It was such a happy time, falling in love with Seigo... the birth of my children Shido and Mana, even if we hadn't been officially married, even if our time was short... I can't ever make myself wish for it to change no matter how much I'd beg for it. I may not know what it means to actually be human like them, but... I know what it means to have a family through them. I intend to at least amend that, and heal the damage to the world, in honor of the one I came from.]
~Present Day
Rinne takes another look at the sunset before standing up, she breathes before smiling.
"But that will change soon Seigo, any day now you and I will be reunited. I just need to wait for the confirmation I'm seeking. Then we can be a family again." Rinne replied, soon flying up high before diving into the ground and phasing through it as she landed into the Ratatoskr base. She looked to see Reine explaining to Shido what she had told Mana and Kotori, the other Spirits all listening.
"...and that's how eventually you were left in custody of Kotori's parents. While Mana may have forgiven me, if you don't have it in your heart to trust me after this, I won't blame you." Reine finished, making Rinne look as she waited to hear Shido's answer. Shido breathed before looking at her.
"...I get it." Shido replied, making Reine look at her in surprise. "Plus, you were doing what you thought was right based on the situation and conditions before you. What happened to 30 years affected so many, and you still stayed strong. Most of all, you still ended up looking out for us here, right?"
Reine gasped before tearing up and crying a bit.
"I'll never know what I did to deserve such a forgiving nephew and niece, but... thank you." Reine sniffled, smiling a bit. Saya blinked as she looked at Reine's closer having just noticed something.
"Uh... not to be off topic or drop a dead horse anywhere, but your dark spots are disappearing. Didn't you say you couldn't sleep? You finally fixing that or something?" Saya asked, making Reine suddenly blush a bit. "I already figured out that Rinne and Seigo never got to marry for that whole last name thing, but... your case is something else."
"Uh... my dark spots weren't caused by my inability to sleep." Reine replied, trying to dodge the question a bit. 'I can't admit that, it's too embarrassing!'
Rinne smirked, deciding to be a bit playful.
"She's right, it was due to constantly crying every night until Mana gave her some closure with what she told Reine." Rinne giggled, causing the Ratatoskr Commander to blush in embarrassment.
"RINNE!" Reine yelled, the First Spirit only giggled at her unofficial sister-in-law's reaction.
"Oh hey mom, where have you been?" Mana asked.
"Oh me? I was just watching the sunrise, been a while since I could actually feel the sun on my skin... well, at least the best an intangible body can." Rinne commented, sweat dropping a bit. "Hope that ends sooner than later."
Saya nodded.
'I agree because I want you to stop talking about your lack of a body. Its freaking annoying!' Saya thought, Kurumi sweat dropped as she noticed the vein that suddenly appeared on her forehead.
"Oh yeah, I got a question for you sis." Rinne said, suddenly freaking Reine out as she suddenly appeared beside her. "Have you heard anything about Isamu or Seigo's whereabouts yet? You've had to have heard something by now."
Everyone's eyes widened at the latter name, and while not knowing the former, it didn't take too much guessing to guess that was the name of Reine's deceased husband. Reine stared at her as if she was crazy.
"What? I used the revival wave on them too, I had two revives left by the time I brought Saya and all of the ex-Sephira host back to life so I used it on them. It was only fair, and you've had to get records on them anyways." Rinne explained, with Reine still fairly silent. "So, where's Kannazuki? He's the one who pretty much told us Saya came back."
"Then that means we'll get to meet Shido's father, I'm excited." Yoshino replied. Yoshino, who's body looked a bit wrinkly and withered since the hot spring trip, gave a shaky thumb's up. "Y-yeah, it... sounds like... it'll be exciting..."
Reine stayed silent before contacting Kannazuki.
'If this is true, then... I'll see Isamu again.' Reine thought before beginning her words. "Kannazuki, we need you to bring the records of all the people who suddenly revived due to Rinne's powers. There's something we need to check."
"I'm on my way now." Kannazuki replied.
Kannazuki soon comes in from a hallway with all of the holo-records to Saya's surprise.
"That took him just a few seconds!" Saya exclaimed, Kannazuki laying all the records across the nearest table.
"Alright, here they are Commander. So, what do you need-"
"Let me look!" Rinne shouted, surprising the Vice-Commander as Rinne's eyes darted across every holo-record the point if anyone had seen her looking from the opposite side of the table, you'd think her eyes were just shaking in place rather than actually moving.
After about two minutes of looking, and even seeing Saya's data, Rinne noticed something wrong...
"What? How can... this can't be right, why aren't either of them here?" Reine wondered worriedly, getting everyone's attention. Rinne sweated a bit. "Kannazuki, please tell me you may have been so fast in common you might have forgotten one or two by mistake, right?"
"No, that's everyone. Are you looking for someone specific?" Kannazuki asked.
"Yeah, Seigo and Isamu! You should know them both. After all they're Rinne's-"
Kannazuki suddenly slammed his hand on the table, making Rinne suddenly shut up from the sudden act. Her eyes shook, begging reality to not have Kannazuki mention or even imply anything of the sort to what she expected he might say.
"...That's impossible, every one that was revived was registered as a female. Not a single man could be present in this information. If you did try to revive such people, even if you're truly considered a god or not with your powers, they didn't come back. I'm sorry, but those are the facts." Kannazuki bluntly answered.
The top of Rinne's face suddenly went dark as the cruel hammer of reality smashed into her. She briefly took a few steps back and looked at her shaking hands. Kannazuki had just said the last thing she wanted to hear... Seigo didn't come back to life, even though she had targeted him for revival.
"No..." Rinne breathed, breathing heavily in shock. "That can't be possible, everyone else who revived were more powerful than humans at their deaths, how could it fail to work on two normal humans? The gender can't be the reason... you're lying to me."
Kannazuki tried to speak up but soon Rinne rushed in front of him, a piercing gaze keeping him completely silent.
"Don't you even dare tell me something about reality or some other kind of bullshit! You, you're just a normal human who's never even brought the dead back to life! You don't have the right to claim anything like that! I don't care how intangible I am, even begin that sentence and I'll find a way to make you feel my wrath physically!" Reine roared.
Tears were streaming down the First Spirit's face before she flew up and went somewhere without warning, the sudden burst blinding everyone in the room. Once everyone's vision cleared up, everyone just stared sadly. Reine's hair covered her eye, she tried not getting her hopes up but the truth stung her just as badly.
"Hey wait, she suddenly just felt despair, right? What if she has an Inversion! What if that Inversion lets her body be restored and destroy the world!?" Kannazuki suddenly panicked.
"No worries there Kannazuki, she can't even if she wanted to." Shido replied, confusing the Vice-Commander.
"When Westcott forced me to Invert, he mentioned that the Inverse Form was indirectly created by him the moment Rinne scattered the Sephira Crystals. He tainted them, that's how he even forced it most likely, it was his own essence and the Cassiopeia had the right means to exploit it." Kurumi explained.
"Since this happened when Rinne ejected her powers, the only thing that could have been hit were the Sephira Crystals. So only Spirits who were born from them have it. Rinne, Mayuri and Rio? The three of them are all Spirits too, but I guarantee with full certainty not a single one of them can undergo an Inversion."
Everyone sighs in relief, if there was any Spirit that no one wanted to Inverse, Rinne was easily that spirit for the obvious reason of what happened 30 years ago on an even larger scale.
"Come on Mana, we should go find her. Even if not as bad... I think we're the only people that close enough to her to help her grieve and find some closure to accept this." Shido stated, looking at his little sister.
"...Yeah, hearing that hurt us too. So let's be hurt with her so she doesn't have to take that pain alone." Mana nodded, and the two soon took one of the base's secret entrances to head outside and find their mother.
After they left, Kannazuki looked at Reine.
"Commander... I'm sorry that-"
"Don't apologize Kannazuki, I had actually suspected as such. If either of them had been revived, I'm pretty sure I'd have gotten a call by now, we had all that time between Saya returning and today, I didn't set the chance they'd be back too high." Reine sighed, she was sad... but at least knew it may not end the way she wanted.
"...It's awful, it's just so awful, to lose someone you love. Family, friends, lovers or anything similar. It can feel like you've died alongside the one you lost." Kurumi replied, getting everyone's attention. "When Saya died, right in front of me no less, I felt so hollow... it was no wonder the DEM caught me."
-Flashback Start-
Kurumi stared in horror at the sight before her, a bit of blood on her cheek as she shook in fear at the sight of Saya's dead form. Ellen raised Caledfwlch as the Camael Crystal soon bouncing away from its now deceased host.
"Saya!" Kurumi cried, soon grabbing Zafkiel and preparing to shoot Ellen. As much as she was against killing, she couldn't let Ellen live after what she had just done, setting her aim in sights she prepared to fire. "BAHA-"
Suddenly a laser blast shot through Kurumi's abdomen, making her eyes widen and freeze up, their light vanishing.
[No... Master!]
Kurumi fell forward onto the ground, a whispering light gasp as she landed on her back, she motioned her eyes as they blurred to see Artemisia giving her a somber stare ash she held a smoking Masamune in her hand.
"I knew it... there was no way for us to win." Kurumi breathed, soon blacking out as she fully collapsed on the ground.
Artemisia grimaced as she prepared to finish Kurumi off...
"Drop your sword Adeptus 2." Ellen suddenly said, surprising Artemisia. "Ike wants to take a closer look at this one first, she is considered a lot more dangerous than the rest right now. Besides, we've already got one of the prizes now that the Phantom's distracted."
Ellen rushed to grab the Camael Crystal, however moments before reaching it, a barrier suddenly knocked her back as Rio, currently in her Phantom disguise, suddenly drops into view and grabs the Camael Crystal before hiding it where she kept the others.
"(You killed her... you killed my friend, she was innocent and you killed her just because she had something you so greedy you'd go to unjust murder! I'll never forgive you, but first I'll save Kurumi from you murderers!)" Phantom roared, rushing at them.
'Killed a... innocent? M-murderers?' Artemisia thought, feeling her head in pain. Ellen gritted her teeth and grabbed her other weapon.
"Rhongomiant!" Ellen shouted.
Phantom was blinded as the blast, and Ellen retreated with Artemisia and Kurumi in tow. Phantom weakly got up, reaching out to Kurumi in vain.
"(No... Kurumi, I wasn't strong enough. I'm so... sorry...)" Phantom cried, soon blacking out.
-End Flashback-
"And in the end... I was lucky, Saya came back by nothing less than a miracle that Shido made possible. That doesn't mean I've forgotten the pain. Even if heal from a scar, the memory of it can't fade away as much as a traumatic nightmare." Kurumi finished, soon shaking a bit as Saya hugged her.
"Kurumi... it's OK now, don't cry." Saya soothed, Kurumi turned to rest her head on her shoulder. "Hey Reine, you experienced what that's like for three decades... how'd you get... I don't know, used to it?"
Reine looked to the left for a bit, giving some thought before turning back.
"To be honest with you, I didn't get used to it... or rather I myself didn't try to get used to it. Time can heal pain, it can be the cruelest monster, but also the kindest maiden. Separation from someone across the world can hurt, but losing a loved one can slowly dull over time." Reine answered, making everyone look at her.
"I kept crying every night, I had to if I wanted to stay sane, know I was humane enough to do it. Yet be strong when everyone watched... so I'd cry myself to sleep. Over time, it still hurt, but what began as unbearable became manageable. I'd wager that's what Yoshino went through."
Yoshino blinked in surprise at that.
"You didn't always have Yoshinon, right? You somehow gave that little puppet its own life. You made yourself a friend after years of loneliness so you wouldn't be." Reine explained, making Yoshino gasp. "Exactly Yoshino, for me I guess I realized I knew he existed, and I remembered... so I chose to keep them alive in memory."
Reine sighed before smiling a bit.
"But I think most of all, I knew that even if I was responsible for what caused them to die... I had to make sure Westcott couldn't take others away. I let what happened to them motivate me to prevent it for others. You need to know how to stand even after you fall."
"Um..." Tohka hummed, suddenly raising her hand. "You've mentioned you were responsible for sending them to what got them dead before, but what exactly was it that killed them? I think that's something we might wanna know."
Reine stares at the group, and that alone gave them a bad feeling at her answer. She soon tapped part of her phone. Maria appeared and she nodded, and soon gasped as she nodded back.
"Understood, allowing all Ratatoskr members of Tenguu City to listen... are you sure about this though?" Maria asked, and Reine nodded. "...Very well Commander Reine."
Reine soon breathes and clasped her hands, soon everyone began listening as Maria opened the link.
"... I knew I'd share this eventually, and it's one that you won't like hearing. I guess it's better Shido and Mana left for it." Reine answered, gulping as her hands gripped the eat she was in tightly. "The mission... was to save you, Shido and Mana from the DEM. It was their attempt to rescue them that ended with them killed."
Everyone gasped.
"Also, I should explain everything about how Westcott caused what he did, and how you were even captured. So forgive me for this Tohka... I'm afraid now you'll be learning a truth you'll hate hearing." Reine answered, making Tohka's eyes show worry while Kotori grimaced, knowing what that truth was.
"It all began after we managed to finally get my brother home. At first, everything was fine, Seigo said that his wife would be coming soon and we heard mentions one of the Spirit Dimension's inhabitants wanted to see the world. However, during their travel through the gate... Westcott did something that makes the Eurasian Sky Disaster and the fire wave of quakes seem like a joke. Using some strange weapon, he fired into another part of the gate he had for himself... and destroyed the entire Spirit Dimension, everything and everyone there was killed."
Everyone stared silently, even Kotori despite already haring it as she didn't know how he did it just yet.
"How did he do it you might ask? It's simple, but to truly explain it... Origami, what makes matter and energy different from each other when it comes to their structure?" Reine asked, making Origami panic a bit at the sudden question.
"U-Uh... well, if I recall correctly it's that matter is focused more on atoms, but energy is focused more on molecules. That makes energy slightly less stable because molecules are atoms bonded together." Origami answered, sweating a bit. Reine nodded.
"That's right, and that's how he did it. True spirits like Rinne and the entire Spirit Dimension are made of energy, not matter and mass like our own world." Reine continued, surprising everyone listening.
"Because of that, it's much more unstable, Westcott used a device that created an opposing wavelength to the Spirit World, the frequency and the energy behind it collided and clashed like matter and antimatter. It was mere moments before the world and its people were annihilated, a true genocide of an entire world. Rinne was traveling the gate and survived, but I bet she felt it, especially since all the power that made the Spirit Dimension and its people only had one part of it left to go."
"Wait a second, are you saying that it all went into..." Yoshinon asked, shaking heavily. Reine nodded.
"Rinne was forced to take all that power, or in another sense of words... a mortal was forced to become a god. My brother stated the Sephira Crystals were treasures of Rinne's world, so that included them. However all that power, it was just too much, so the moment she finally arrived in our world..." Reine answered.
Everyone's minds suddenly remembered the video feeds of the first wave of space quakes, and suddenly now that disaster felt all the more tragic... it was no accident, because a single man had destroyed one world and damaged another.
"That... bastard!" Saya growled, his fist shaking.
"And worse is how little Westcott's truly known, a true dirty politician, mastermind, and worst of all... the one thing I did found out why the man's bat shit insane in that law of the jungle belief. When he was a child, he was in a war zone, tell me... what do you think that did to him?" Reine asked, but in a manner that clearly said don't reply.
"You might think 'was he traumatized into this way?', or maybe 'does he want power to get revenge on this world and make it suffer?', no... none of those. It's worse. Westcott saw all of that, and fell in love with it. He knows the cruelest parts of human nature because to him, that's what humans are supposed to be. How one child grew into such a monster, it just shows what he plans and what sacrifices he'll make. Including the one he made to take Shido, Mana and Tohka as prisoners."
Reine hung her head down, letting her hair obscure her view.
"Due to the danger, Tohka's parents took Shido and Mana to watch them, keep them safe. We didn't think he'd know about you and you'd be safe until it ended... we were so wrong. In fact, we didn't even realize their existence was how he did it, not until Rinne said she was your mom. Children born of a Human and a Spirit's union... his hole plan was to keep sending people until a Spirit fell in love with a human. Hoping their children could somehow allow a gate between the worlds. Around that same time, the DEM came and Tohka's parents tried to defend you all... only to be killed."
Tohka's eyes suddenly shook in horror, suddenly recalling seeing her parents on the ground as she, Shido and Mana got taken from her house by strange people.
"Tohka was probably taken by a mere accident, Westcott likely didn't bother to check how many children were actually Seigo's. You never even realized it because you didn't see them deal the killing blow." Reine continued, barely holding her emotions back as she tried to finish.
"That's when I had no choice... I sent Seigo and Isamu over to rescue you three and they attacked, giving you a chance to escape. I was so dumb, the DEM's technology was too great, the earliest Realizers slaughtered them. Shido and Mana managed to get out, and Tohka was recaptured, and Tohka... I think its time you learned how you got away. Around that same time, you managed to escape because someone else freed you."
Tohka was covering her head, she tried to block the info out but it couldn't work, it was as if her mind told he she must hear it all.
"Apparently as you escaped into the elements, she got injured badly, enough she started dying. Rio managed to find you and tried her best to save your life, putting you in a time stasis like Mana and Shido, but yours still let you age slowly. Rio knew you could inherit Sandalphon but refused and tried everything else, it wasn't until 3 months before you met Shido again she realized you would die if you didn't become a Spirit."
Reine stands up.
"And that's it, you wanted answers. Well now I've nothing left to say... if there's any other truths, I don't know the answers." Reine said, looking away out of respect.
Tohka's hands move to her face, digging into her skin as the cold reality sinks into her mind. She had told it to Origami, she was always aware of it, in fact neither of them being here in Ratatoskr even implied it. No matter what, she wanted to believe they weren't died. Now she couldn't say otherwise...
...Her parents had already been dead since long ago.
"NOOOOO!" Tohka screamed, soon getting up and crying as she left the base as well.
"Wait, where are you going Tohka-" Origami called out, but Reine stopped her. "...Reine? What are you doing, we need to-"
"No, she needs to be alone. That girl just got told her parents are confirmed dead. Like Rinne... she needs to be alone. She needs to process it, needs to properly grieve. Everyone connected to 30 years ago has some form of loss." Reine answered, and Origami's eye widened before she slumped and nodded.
"Don't forget, Shido and Mana are there. I'm sure if she needs it then Shido will give her the comfort she needs. Just be patient for now." Reine replied, rubbing her head. As she did, she looked up. 'We all share this burden, so we need to find the strength to face it. It's not an easy path.'
Back on the surface, Shido and Mana kept looking around for their mother without any luck, soon after splitting up to cover more ground they both meet back up near the park entrance as they both pant.
"And luck big brother?" Mana asked.
"No, if I had then I'd have come here before we both planned to." Shido sighed.
"Yeah, good point." Mana reasoned.
Right at that moment, the two caught their breaths and finally managed to hear crying that their panting had kept them from hearing. Shido quickly realized who's cries they were, he knew it by instinct at this point.
"Tohka?" Shido gasped.
Shido ran into the park, making a tired Mana groan as she ran after him. Soon Shido saw her on a park branch, crying her eyes out as she kept wiping her tears the whole time as she did, soon hiccupping a bit as she sniffles.
"Tohka?"
Tohka's eyes widen as she turned to see Shido and Mana, tearing up more, she runs up to him and hugs him close.
"What's wrong Tohka?" Shido asked, clearly telling something had really upset her.
"Reine... she told us a bit more about everything, and... and..." Tohka hiccupped a bit, crying more. "I wanted to believe, but it was a doomed effort... my mom, and my dad... they've been dead since 30 years ago!"
Shido soon simply hugged her and let her cry, Mana walked behind her and put a hand on her back.
"Your... your father died trying to get us free from them. Worse is I nearly didn't make it, Rio saved me and even tried to not make me a Spirit until she had no choice." Tohka whimpered, her sobs become labored with her shaky breathing in her current hysteric state. Shido tightens his hug, and soon she calms down. "I feel so alone right now Shido..."
"You're not alone Tohka, that's a burden we'll take on together. So don't be afraid to cry." Shido replied, tearing up slightly himself. Tohka nods and sniffles as Mana gets a little misty eyed herself.
Sitting on top of Tenguu Tower, Rinne was seen curled up crying her eyes out and whimpering loudly as she did. Her tears turning into sparkles as they phased through the metal surface she was seated on.
"Damn it... all that hope, all that waiting, all that anticipation... and it wasn't worth a single thing!" Rinne cried.
As Rinne kept crying, she suddenly felt a strange bit of energy suddenly fly by and soon she felt herself locked to the walls of Tenguu Tower's tip.
"Huh, what the heck? What's happening?" Rinne wondered, suddenly she noticed her hand shake before becoming slightly physical for a moment. "M-my arm... it was just for a moment, but did it just become tangible!?"
Rinne gasped.
"...I need to contact Shido." Rinne breathed, soon closing her eyes and focusing.
Suddenly back at the park, Shido and Tohka both feel some kind of power resonating with their own, Mana didn't sense resonating feeling like them, but could clearly notice something was reacting to them through their auras.
"What are you sensing guys? I don't feel it, but I don't think this is small either!" Mana asked.
"I'm not sure, but it feels so... overwhelming!" Tohka gasped.
"[Shido, you read me?]" Rinne asked.
"Mom? What is it, what's going on?" Shido asked, both Tohka and Mana listening close to Rinne's words.
"[I feel something strange. I'm not sure what, but something's locking me onto Tenguu Tower, I can't move from it... but I think my arm regained tangibility for a brief moment!]" Rinne replied, surprising the three. "[Go see Reine and tell her, I get the feeling this is connect to me in some manner!]"
The three nodded and rushed back to the base.
Reine typed on a computer while Maria analyzed all the data she could, and then... Maria gasped as an image representing the revival wave energy appeared on a global map, with two streams of energy missing their targets and slamming Tenguu Tower... at the moment Rinne was on it!
"No way, this is..." Reine gasped.
"The last two surges of the revival wave meant for Seigo and Isamu, there's only one explanation I can think of. Because of Rinne's current incorporeal state she's not fully alive at the moment, so since the revival waves didn't revive who she had them intend to..." Maria wondered.
"Rinne was the target they both chose, I think right now they're trying to revive Rinne!" Reine finished, surprising everyone. "Kids, this might just be the chance we need. Think about it, if we have Rinne's physical form restored, we have all her power with us. This might just be what we need to turn the tides against Westcott."
Maria nods.
"Of course, her powers so overwhelming that even with half of us we could destroy the DEM for good. That means we'd just need to find the other five Spirits to seal them and nothing more!" Kotori exclaimed, pumping her fists confidently.
"Yeah, this is a one time chance, if it works then we can end this all here!" Origami replied, her usual shyness disappearing for the moment.
"Quick, everyone get to Tenguu Tower. We have to let this work." Reine replied, and everyone nods. Shido, Mana and all the Spirits run off. Saya prepares to follow them as well until...
"...Oh wait, I can't really help them since Camael's not mine anymore, can I?" Saya blushed, sweat dropping a bit. Maria and Reine chuckle embarrassingly at that.
Back at the DEM's Arubi Island base, Minerva walked into a room that Westcott used as his office building. Once she walked in...
"So this mean I'm finally being deployed on that mission you wanted me on?" Minerva smirked, hoping for some excitement.
"Unfortunately no, but it is a mission. One that I created as of only moments ago." Westcott replied, showing a computer screen with Marina's face at the corner. "Take a look at this."
The screen shows the revival wave energy.
"This is some kind of special energy wave that's reacting to the wavelength of the First Spirit, or rather the Spirit known as [Ruler] if you wanna go technical. She's currently in a broken state, her essence is alive but no body to use it. Intangible in a sense." Marina explained, showing Rinne's picture.
"That's changing however, this energy's making her wavelength more like her fellow Spirits. So, using the Goetia and the DEM's board of director who will be piloting you over. We need you to make it fail, possibly kill her off if needed. We'd send Ellen and Jessica to aid you, but the former's CR-Unit was postponed on completion due to the Deus' construction and Jessica's recovering. Besides, you're ruthless enough."
Minerva gives a wide smirk.
"Tenguu City eh? Good, I have a little bitch there that I promised to murder, two birds with one stone I say. Send me over right now, I'm hungry for some death." Minerva cackled, her eyes glowing with blood lust. "And my appetite's pretty large today."
Westcott smirked at that.
"Then give them your best blood bath."
Well there you have it. How the Spirit Dimension got destroyed, how the DEM kidnapped Shido, Mana and Tohka when they were children, what mission killed Seigo and Reine's husband (or Isamu as just revealed), how Rinne gained the power she has now, what led to Tohka's escape from the DEM and transformation into a Spirit and avoided aging so long, and most of all... Seigo used to work under Westcott without knowing the madman's true colors.
I even expanded a bit on Seigo and Rinne's backstory, showing a bit more and expanding those brief scenes from her memories in Chapter 21. Before I go any further, I'm just gonna confirm this now due to what happened with Saya... no matter what happens, Seigo and Isamu will never come back to life. Their role in the story of being deceased is too important, and I can't let everything go the heroes' way, this is one of them. The reason Rinne couldn't revive them? That's next chapter with any remaining answers.
The things mentioned about Westcott's backstory? I figured that since Rinne believes and saw Humanity's best, Westcott fell in love with the worst aspects of it, he's a complete foil to Seigo and the evil counterpart to Rinne in every way, plus I felt I'd never stay true to canon if I made him one of those affected by war trauma types. Now falling in love with the war you live in? I don't see that backstory too often nowadays, and it fits Westcott perfectly.
Now comes the big part, what's going to happen next? Get ready for the last few secrets of Season 1 to be exposed as the Rinne Utopia movie hits its grand finale!
-Spirit Bond Levels-
Tohka - 84%
Origami - 78%
Yoshino - 73%
Kotori - 79%
Kurumi - 69%