Date A Re:Live
S2 Chapter 29: Natsumi Inverse, 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]
Before we begin, to anyone who reads this story but also reads A Dragon's Heavenly Bonds... it may be a while before I can get another chapter up, my Grandma's funeral was the day I put up the previous chapter, and I went to pay my respects.
As a result, anything related to Christianity such as the DxD series is touchy for me right now, so I can't bring myself to update it for a while, meaning until further notice, this is the only story I will be updating. I apologize for this and hopefully the next chapter will be up eventually.
Also, here's an addition I had to make while writing because I didn't see it coming, but do any of you remember when I said that there were at least two fanfics that inspired me to have Tohka in her Inverse Form at the very start? Its fine if you don't, but... the author of one of those two stories actually found my story! *goes into fan girl mode* So I'd like to give a shout out to Jackie Avocado and his story "Date A Dreamer" which is one of the two said stories.
Anyways, for now it's time to see how Natsumi's murderous game of hide and seek will turn out, Shido's got less than 11 hours and Origami's already disappeared, and unlike canon we now lack Yoshinon as the one Natsumi disguised herself as due to her death in the previous arc, so that alone has already made it harder to pinpoint Natsumi's chosen disguise. I will say this however... in the last chapter, I actually gave everyone a small but hard to find hint :3
Now for a big surprise, we have a pair of guests coming in this chapter who we met two chapters ago. They'll be giving Shido some solid advice, and we'll be learning a few things about some characters who were unfortunately very inactive last season due to the Arbitel being under repairs. Now, without further ado... time to kick things into high gear!
Natsumi's hiding, and now we will seek her, and when she's found we'll find the answer to her little game B3
Overhead in the skies of Tokyo Prefecture, a small two person ship currently belonging to Ratatoskr was seen flying overhead while hidden through the use of an Invisible Realizer, and riding inside was Elliot who was resting against a special seat that was made to hold his wheelchair while Karen was the one piloting the ship. The crater that housed Tenguu City soon entered the distance.
"Elliot, we will be arriving at Tenguu City in 5 minutes." Karen stated, causing Elliot to smile a bit. At that moment however, she noticed the ship's communication line ring and soon answers it. "This is Karen Nora Mathers speaking, what do you need?"
Soon Ryouko's face formed on the screen.
"This is Captain Ryouko of the AST speaking, we have a situation... and unfortunately, this one's incredibly serious. Bad enough that Commander Murasame and the Vice-Commander, along with all the Spirits and Maria have been forced to stay outside of all Fraxinus facilities until the time of 6 PM." Ryouko replied, catching Karen's attention.
"Right, allow me to explain. Right after the commander's call to you, we got a Spacequake alarm, and Spirit No. 7 made an appearance. Unfortunately, she has some secret she assumed Shido Takamiya saw and now she's put everyone I just mentioned in a dangerous game. She's replaced one of them, and should we not find the fake by the end of these 11 hours... everyone will disappear for good."
Karen's eyes widen slightly at that.
"That's not good, and I'm assuming that you have no idea who the fake actually is?" Karen asked, nodding in reply. "Understood. We're arriving in less than 4 minutes, we'll try and help out best we can once we make it. Karen out."
Soon the video chat ended, and Elliot hummed a bit.
"...It seems we've gotten caught in a difficult situation, haven't we?" Elliot wondered aloud. 'I think he can find a way though, after all... he is your son Seigo.'
~Natsumi's game countdown: 10 hours left
Shido sweated as he had kept going through all of his notes so far, trying to find some clue to who the fake was among the group which included those absent from the initial reveal so Natsumi was guaranteed to be away from Ratatoskr. Unfortunately, he had only been able to come up to one conclusion so far, it wasn't Tohka.
Even if Natsumi could mimic someone's skills, the fact he couldn't completely copy his scent gave him a good idea she couldn't mimic something body specific like one's sense of smell, so that at least lowered his options to the others still present or Origami who had already vanished.
'Come on, there's gotta be some other clue, or something like Tohka's that I can use to strike out someone else!' Shido thought, and soon at that moment... a clock sound rung off to announce another hour had, and the Izanami appeared once again.
"So tell me Shido, do you think you know or have you washed out this hour?" Natsumi asked, her silhouette's smirk could be seen in the mirror.
"...Tell me something, is it possible for me to tell you who I don't think you are?" Shido asked, sweating with worry.
"Hmm... you did miss the first time so I guess you could, but to make it fair you have to give me evidence to proof it. Otherwise you'll just waste your round." Natsumi replied, smirking at him. "So, who do you think I didn't replace?"
Shido looks at Tohka.
"It's Tohka, you couldn't change your scent when you took my form, so if you were Tohka then lacking her strong sense of smell would get you caught too easily. Whoever you are can't have something so obvious." Shido answered, making Natsumi sigh.
"Dang, unfortunately for me that's right. Though the fact you asked me about her tells me you still don't have a clue." Natsumi smirked, soon looked at the others. "Plus, since you still haven't found the real me, someone else has to go. The unlucky winner is... her!"
Mayuri suddenly saw herself glowing with green light and panicked before she disappeared, making Rio shake as she hugged Rinne tightly.
"Ten hours left Shido, you better hurry."
The Izanami mirror disappeared, and everyone sweated as now only 10 of them remained, with the only evidence they had being Tohka wasn't the doppelganger among them and that Origami and Mayuri, despite being sealed in the mirror, were still possible fakes.
"Shido?" Tohka asked, worried about what was happening. "What are we gonna do?"
"Tohka, I'm sorry but... I don't know" Shido answered grimly, as even he didn't know the solution. How could they defeat someone who could perfectly mimic anyone else? 'But now that I think about it... why didn't Natsumi make Tohka disappear first? She should have known the worry would have worsened my chances.'
Shido bit his lip as he kept thinking.
'Damn it... what am I missing? Who did Natsumi transform into!? She could have done it when the one she replaced was alone, so I can't use alibis to disprove or prove who she isn't. Even if Tohka smelled them, without Natsumi and the real present she might not be able to figure out. Damn it, Natsumi's figured out how to trap me completely! What can I do!?'
Inside the mirror realm, Natsumi laughs again as Shido's plight as she realized from his facial expressions that she had completely stumped him.
"He has no idea, and there's no way for him to figure it out. All that's left is to wait for the remaining time to elapse." Natsumi said, giving a giggle like chuckle at his frustrations while looking at Origami and Mayuri in stasis behind her. "And I have a very interesting reason on why I've taken away the two you least expected Shido."
Natsumi laughs again as the mirror briefly shows the culprit's head, but oddly seemed to focus on the head itself. The mirror's current timer saying 9:57:24
The personal ship that had Karen and Elliot soon landed inside the hidden docking bay of Ratatoskr, and soon upon landing, Karen grabbed Elliot's wheelchair and pushed him out of the ship as Ryouko stood before them and saluted.
"Chairman Elliot, Vice-Chairman Mathers, welcome to the Tenguu City branch." Ryouko replied.
"You can drop the formalities Captain, I think this situation you mentioned requires our attention right now." Karen asked, making Ryouko nod. "Alright, what's the current situation then."
"Right." Ryouko nodded once more, soon bringing out a tablet showing everyone in Natsumi's pictures, though currently Mayuri and Origami's were grayed out while a Ratatoskr symbol was placed by Tohka's.
"Currently, Shido's managed to confirm Tohka isn't the doppelganger, but every hour we fail she makes someone disappear. Once we reached 11 hours it was Origami, and just a few minutes ago we had Mayuri taken once the timer was left at 10 hours. The worst part of it? Shido can't figure out anything, and Natsumi could have replaced anyone at any time they were alone and we weren't watching, so we don't have an alibi for anyone."
Karen nods, soon noticing Tohka's picture.
"How did Shido confirm that Tohka wasn't the doppelganger if I may ask?" Karen asked.
"When Natsumi took on Shido's form the day prior, Tohka managed to realize Natsumi was a fact by realizing that Natsumi's scent didn't match Shido's and still smelled like a girl's. So it's very likely she can't copy something specific to an individual's physiology." Ryouko explained, making Karen think.
"And we don't know how much her Spirit powers can copy in terms of another spirit, so I'm guessing that doesn't help prove anything further?" Karen asked, making Ryouko nod. "I'm also guessing we can't risk the Murakumo since it might think Natsumi is her as well..."
Ryouko sighed, confirming Karen's thoughts.
"Seems like Shido's in a pickle, aside from Tohka and everyone not on those pictures, he has no way to prove who's real and has no one else he can trust. Not even the others can trust themselves or the other suspects. Hmm..." Elliot sighed, looking at Ryouko.
"While I can't give him any ideas or clues that may help, I do think I can at least give him something that should give him a push on where to go. Have him and Tohka meet me at Tenguu Park as soon as they can. Karen?"
Karen nods and pushes his wheelchair to a secret passageway, taking them both to the surface.
"...I hope what you tell him works. Shido, I wish we could do more to help you on this but... good luck." Ryouko told herself, holding a hand near her chest as tightly grabs her shirt. "We're not gonna get away on pure luck this time. Come on Shido, find the way before it's too late!
~Natsumi's game countdown: 9 hours, 30 minutes left
Meanwhile at Tenguu Park, both Shido and Tohka had both come over upon request of Ryouko who called them and asked them to head over, saying they may have something to help them in trying to find the culprit. At the moment, Tohka watched as her boyfriend kept pacing, his usual calm self anywhere but in Tenguu City right now.
"Maybe their Spirit powers are what... no, I don't have proof she can't copy those too! Even Kotori's healing powers could still work if Natsumi copies them!" Shido yelled aloud, scratching his head in frustration. "Wait, Reine can't sleep so... oh who am I kidding! To prove that I'd have to risk sleep medicine that could be too dangerous for her!"
"Uh... Shido?" Tohka called out, trying to get his attention, but to no avail.
"Maybe the whole thing about those she's taken away not being her is just a trick and... no! She was honest about her not being Tohka, she's still playing fair, if she said it then it's likely still true!" Shido screamed in a panic, shaking his head heavily.
At that point, Tohka sighed and walked up to Shido and grabbed his face.
"Shido, look at me real quick." Tohka said, making Shido do just that. After that... Tohka slapped him across the face multiple times like in a cartoon. "Calm down already and stop panicking and shout and stuff! Not only is it making me more worried, you're not helping anyone like that!"
Tohka stops, and soon sees how red she left Shido's face, having forgotten how incredibly strong she was.
"Ah! Whoops, I'm so sorry Shido!" Tohka panicked, though luckily Shido's healing ability lent by Kotori helped fix his face up really fast.
"No biggie, next time just use a newspaper or something." Shido replied, a little dazed from his head being shaken around. Soon at that moment, Elliot and Karen had come into the park. "Huh?"
Elliot waves at them, and Tohka gasps.
"Hey, that's... uh..." Tohka began, though she quickly sweat a bit as she realized she forgot their names. She looked left and right to Shido's surprise before she bopped her fist into her hand. "That guy who Reine says founded Ratatoskr and I totally didn't forget the name of and his lady assistant I also didn't forget the name of!"
Shido and Karen both sweated dropped at that, while Elliot lightly snickers at that. Tohka goes a bit red in the face as she realized what she just said.
"Uh... I'm so sorry!" Tohka bowed apologetically, and once Elliot got close enough, he pets her on the head to her surprise.
"Oh, don't mind it too much, we haven't exactly met too many times for you to automatically be able to know our names. Not to mention this is our first meeting in person." Elliot replied, making Tohka rub her head and giggle a bit.
"Hey wait, why exactly are you here Mr. Woodman, and Miss... Karen, right?" Shido asked.
"Your aunt Reine asked us to come, with recent developments we came to the agreement to make Tenguu City's branch the new HQ of Ratatoskr. I'm assuming that was the same day that Natsumi showed up so you never had the chance to be told about it." Karen explained, soon noticing Tohka staring at her. "Yes?"
Tohka blushed a bit and chuckled.
"Uh... sorry, I just noticed you look like this Ellen girl I fought while I was Inverted." Tohka replied embarrassingly.
"Well that would make sense, after all... she is my older sister." Karen admitted, making Tohka and Shido's eyes widen in response to that.
"Yes, you actually heard that right. We're quite similar yet different in many ways. While I'd be more of the Blue Oni to her Red one in personality, we're both the highest ranked wizards in our respective groups, the number 2's to our respective chairmen, and both married to them. Quite an odd list of similarities considering how our path divided."
Tohka's ribbon flapped in a flailing like manner from her shock.
"Wait, you're... but he's... and you're... and your last names are-" Tohka mumbled in shock, making Shido have to hold her steady.
"Don't let it fool you, like your aunt we stopped aging from the original wave of Spacequakes' residue. I'm only 32 biologically, and she's only 28!" Elliot chuckled, at that point Shido had to help Tohka sit on the bench to keep her from fainting.
"And the only reason we don't share a last name was to respect Seigo, he and Rinne never got to officially marry and share their last name. He was a great man, it only felt fair I'd honor him that way, so we kept our last names unchanged."
Shido showed surprise at that.
"Wait, you knew my father?" Shido asked, while he was sure Seigo was known by some of Ratatoskr's founding staff, Elliot had implied he knew him before that.
"I did, truth is we knew each other back from our High School years, I'm the one who convinced him that he should be an Explorer. So in a sense, you could say I'm the one that led him on the path to meeting your mother." Elliot revealed, scratching his head. "And by extension, the reason you and Mana were born."
"Aww! That's so sweet, thank you!" Tohka replied, hugging Shido close. He blushed in embarrassment at the situation.
Elliot smiled at the two, he remembered seeing them as children and the bond they shared before everything in the world had gone wrong due to Westcott. Seeing these two still holding their hopes, their smiles, and their feelings was proof that everything he made Ratatoskr for hadn't been for naught.
"Shido, I've been told of your troubles with Natsumi's little game. I can't give you any ideas to who the doppelganger is, but I can do something to help you, two pieces of advice that I think can help you relax and look at another angle for the answer." Elliot stated, making Shido nod.
"The first piece of advice, based on what I read on Natsumi's letter, there's something about the wording that strikes me as odd, like she hid another message in it. I'd take another look at it when you get the chance. For the second piece of advice, adventurers don't get too far in life by trying to act all cool, they get far by trying to stay alive."
"Huh?" Shido asked.
"I'm talking about how Seigo got where he did, he focused on growing and always being able to assure he'd be able to come back home for his sister's sake, most people don't do that or try too early to do something fancy." Elliot explained, making Shido's eyes widen a bit.
"It's always best to remember the reasons you took your path, focus on what you want to accomplish, not who to impress. Right now, that's what this game is about, finding the way to make sure you all make it back alive over impressing or trying to show up Natsumi."
"That's right. The people I care for are who are important to me, I can't give up on them. Thank you Mr. Woodman, I was so jumpy, but I think that's all I needed to hear." Shido smiled, making Elliot chuckle. "Come on Tohka, we've only got about 9 more hours, let's make sure we save everyone."
Tohka giggled at that.
"Yeah! Though do you mind if I meet you back at the house, I'd like to ask Mr. Elliot something real quick." Tohka replied, and Shido gave a nod before he headed back. Tohka soon turned at Elliot. "Hey Mr. Elliot, Ms. Karen... is it wrong to feel you're too weak to do anything to help the people you love and want to protect?"
Karen blinks before smiling.
"Tohka, I'd say that's one of the biggest signs of maturity." Karen replied, making Tohka look at her surprised. "Take Shido's mom for an example, she isn't perfect, and she became aware of that in a big way. There are times one will feel weak and there's nothing wrong with that. It's not accepting where you're weak that's a true weakness."
Tohka blinked and looked at Elliot.
"So, feeling I haven't done much is alright?" Tohka asked, making Elliot rub her head.
"If anything, realizing that your weak is how you grow stronger. No matter how weak you are, how many people make fun of you or how many times you end up falling, one thing never changes. It's the one who stands up after they're knocked down that get stronger, and that's why accepting where your weak makes you the real winner." Elliot smiled.
Tohka smiled at that, and nodded.
"Thank you, I'm gonna make sure I'll be strong enough for Shido and everyone else!" Tohka exclaimed, soon running back home to the Takamiya Household. 'And also... because I want to save Natsumi from that pain in her eyes.'
As she was running, Tohka's mind wandered a bit.
"Hey wait, if Ellen's actually married to that Westcott jerk... then does that make that her that Marina AI's mother?" Tohka wondered.
Ellen was sitting in a waiting room with only Marina's hologram keeping her company when she suddenly sneezed out of nowhere. Marina suddenly turned at that and blinked, Ellen rubbing her nose in surprise.
"Where did that come from?" Marina asked.
"I have no idea, I didn't even feel my nose itch or get funny." Ellen replied, grabbing a tissue and blowing into it. "I mean it's not like that thing about you sneezing if someone talks about you is true."
Marina gives an odd smirk at Ellen who raised and eye before sweating a bit.
"...Marina, why are you looking at me like that?" Ellen asked fearfully.
"Oh nothing, nothing at all... mother." Marina stated playfully, making Ellen flinch at that. "What's wrong mother?"
"Stop! I told you not to call me that!" Ellen shouted, covering her ears. Marina laughed at that before Ellen shook her head. "I can't hear you!"
Ellen goes "la, la, la, la, la" over and over to block out Marina's voice.
"Man, teasing you is so fun mother!" Marina laughed, her hologram pointing at Ellen as she kept trying to block her out. "I still don't know how father finds that attractive or cute, and that makes my teasing even better!"
Ellen slammed her head on the desk right as Jessica walked in, making the current Adeptus 2 stare at the scene for a few seconds before she slowly walked back out.
~Natsumi's game countdown: 4 hours, 2 minutes left
Shido sweated as he and Tohka looked at the information they had managed to gather so far. They had managed to conclude those Natsumi couldn't be were Yoshino, as she was still suffering slightly over Yoshinon's death, and it would be hard to completely mimic that accurately for Natsumi. Kurumi was also exempt, because Saya knew her too well and would have likely noticed.
Rinne and Rio were both exempted as well, due to how Rio was born, if one of them had been replaced, then the other would have realized that Natsumi had switched with them instantly. Then lastly, it couldn't be Reine because her lack of sleep led to random fainting spells, something Natsumi would have trouble predicting. However, taking out 5 suspects didn't still wasn't enough to decide who among the remaining six was their doppelganger.
"Just who could it be?" Tohka wondered, sweating a bit. In the last few hours trying to figure out who the doppelganger was, Natsumi had kept making the others disappear until only herself, Mana, Rinne, Rio and Kotori were left. "We're running out of time and it's getting harder with how many of us are left."
Suddenly the clock sound rings again as the timer hit the remaining 4 hours, and the Izanami mirror makes its reappearance.
"So, have you managed to figure it out? Or have I come to you with no answers in sight?" Natsumi asked mockingly, and after no one spoke up for a while she sighed. "No answer then, well... then goodbye to you!"
Mana soon saw herself glowing.
"Please everyone, don't give-" Mana said, but she disappeared before she could finish speaking. Shido panics as his sister disappears and Natsumi gave a witch like laugh in response.
"Now then, I'll see you all again when-"
"WAIT!" Tohka called out, suddenly surprising everyone. "Don't leave yet, I actually do have a guess so you let me use it before you leave again!"
Natsumi sighed in annoyance.
"Fine, go ahead. Not like it'll matter." Natsumi waved, yawning as the Izanami mirror floated higher to avoid anyone reaching it. Tohka sweat a bit and soon breathed.
"OK... but before I guess, I want you to have this Shido!" Tohka shouted, taking off her hair ribbon and handing it to Shido to his surprise.
"I don't want to think about it, but if the worst somehow happens... I want you to have something to always remember me by! It's only fair, you woke up so early to leave it in my room after cleaning it."
At that moment, Shido blinked at that and rubbed his head confused.
"Huh? What do you mean by that? I didn't wake up until after you did, I was exhausted last night." Shido stated, suddenly making Tohka's eyes widen at that before she suddenly gasped. "Uh... Tohka? Are you alright?"
'Wait a second... Shido didn't wake up until after me today, and yet when I woke up my ribbon was-' Tohka thought, soon rushing over to the letter and the pictures again. Re-reading the message left on the letter.
[I am inside one of these. So, can you guess which one am I?
You better hurry and guess right, because if you don't... then you and everyone here disappears.
~Your Enemy, Natsumi]
"I am inside one of these... guess which one I am." Tohka said to herself, a then that's when she remembered Elliot's words.
-Flashback Start-
Shido and Tohka looked at Elliot has he prepared to share his advice.
"Based on what I read on Natsumi's letter, there's something about the wording that strikes me as odd, like she hid another message in it. I'd take another look at it when you get the chance." Elliot's stated.
'A hidden message? What does that mean?' Tohka wondered.
-End Flashback-
"That's it!" Tohka shouted, surprising everyone as she turned around. "We've been focusing too much on one thing! Natsumi's message said she was inside one of these pictures, but where on this did she say she was one of the people in the pictures?"
"Wait a second, you're right! The letter didn't say that at all!" Shido gasped, and from the Izanami mirror... Natsumi's silhouette suddenly sweated.
'Oh no... wait, don't worry Natsumi! I mean yeah, they've found you're not a person. That doesn't mean they know what you actually hid as. I could easily be that little cat of theirs.' Natsumi thought, making Macaron blink as he scratched his ear. 'I'm still perfectly fine!'
Rinne blinks as she looks at the photos again.
"But... wait, doesn't this mean now we have less of an idea of who, or rather what she might be? I mean how do we prove she's any bit of furniture or something else?"
"We don't need to, because I think I've realized what Natsumi's been hiding as, and it's been around us all along! In fact... it's been on my head!" Tohka declared, reaching into Shido's pocket, only to pull out her signature ribbon! Everyone gasped as now there were two ribbons, and Natsumi silently gasped.
'NO!' Natsumi mentally screamed, knowing what was about to happen. 'Please, don't you dare say-'
"She's been the ribbon I've been wearing since this morning, Shido had my real one the whole time!" Tohka declared, soon looking at Natsumi's mirror. "So tell us Natsumi, am I right?"
The Izanami mirror kept shaking from its spot in the air, and soon... the timer stopped and glowed before vanishing, meaning that the guess had been correct!
"THIS ISN'T POSSIBLE!" Natsumi screamed, the Izanami mirror falling to the ground before shattering into pieces. It only took a few moments before everyone that Natsumi had trapped in the mirror all reappeared where they had been when Natsumi had made them disappear, all of them waking up the instant they did.
"Hey, I'm back... that means you solved it!" Mana cheered, and Tohka hugged her. "By the way you're hugging me I'm guessing you did, who was she?"
Tohka holds up her two ribbons, surprising Mana.
"What she was this whole time ended up being my ribbon, Shido had the real one in his pocket." Tohka replied, and soon the fake one began glowing as Natsumi suddenly changed back to normal. "And there she is."
Natsumi growled at everyone.
"This isn't fair you cheaters, there's no way you could have-" Natsumi began, only for her body to start glowing to her horror. She panicked to everyone's surprise. "No! Don't, don't release it here! Don't show everyone my secret!"
Suddenly Natsumi's body released a green light, and soon... everyone stared in shock and horror. Natsumi's secret had finally been revealed, and now Shido suddenly understood Natsumi's questions about her beauty, and why she was so angry about her secret.
Everyone looked to see Natsumi's true form was none other than... a little girl around the same age as Rio and Yoshino's de-aged form! She has a thin and small body with pale skin that was way too pale to be called anything but quite unhealthy.
Her eyes, which were still green, were distorted and gloomy looking, there were no traces of her other form's confidence in her expression. While her also same colored hair was still long, but not the silky hair that Shido remembered, being a messy mop of hair that hadn't been tended to.
However, the biggest change came from her Astral Dress... or rather its Inverted form. Her scary looking witch hat now had a more saddened look, a tuff of fur on its tip, and was a bit wrinkly. A small cloth wrapped around her chest was all that covered it now, and she was wearing what looked like a school's gym shorts with bat wings on each side, finally ending with shoe versions of her toe-less boots.
"That was her secret? That was actually wasn't an adult, is that what you forgot Rio?" Tohka asked, looking at the young Spirit.
"Hmm... Rio's not sure, Rio thinks its somethings else, at least... Rio thinks it is?" Rio said, for some reason seeing Natsumi's true form didn't click with her at all. "Rio thinks we should ask Natsumi-"
Suddenly everyone felt Natsumi's spirit power flare out, as Natsumi's eyes shook intensely. She was clearly enraged, but also extremely upset, if she hadn't been in the room then none of them would have seen the truth, the true form she hated so much.
"You found out... You found out!" Natsumi said quietly, soon going into a roaring scream. "You found out! You found out! You found out! I can't believe you... found... out!"
Everyone stepped back a bit as Baal barely began flailing its broom crystals around the room.
"How dare you! How dare you do this, how dare you make me reveal my secret!" Natsumi screamed, though for a brief moment... Tohka gasped as she noticed tears. "I-I won't forgive you, I will never forgive you! Every one of you, I won't let any of you off the hook!"
Natsumi soon aimed Baal at everyone.
"Now, change them all Baal! Punish them! Let them see how it feels!"
Suddenly Baal fired off at everyone, and soon with the exception of Rinne because she was the First Spirit, and Rio because she was already a child... everyone was regressed to the same age as her, Yoshino looking like her de-aged form one again.
"Suffer as children forever!" Natsumi declared, soon changing back into her adult form and leaving the area instantly. Rinne looked at everyone and soon gulped as they all looked at her.
"Mom, I'm hungry!" Shido demanded, grabbing her left leg.
"Me too! Feed me!" Mana demanded, grabbing the right leg. "Give us food!"
Rinne began to sweat, soon seeing Kotori crying as Mayuri kept poking her out of unknowing curiosity.
"Miss Takamiya... I need to use the bathroom." Origami whimpered, holding her hands by her legs as she struggled to hold it in.
Yoshino and Kurumi ran away scared as Kannazuki playfully chased after the two of them, while Reine was sleeping on the floor, holding a white orb that was an infant Maria to the surprise of Rio.
"...Rio doesn't get it." Rio stated, confused about the younger Maria.
"Oh my god... I only know how to handle four of you at this age! What do I do!?" Rinne panicked, only being familiar with Shido, Mana, Tohka and Rio's habits at this age. That's when she suddenly noticed Tohka was missing. "Wait, where's Tohka!?"
At that moment, she saw Tohka had ran out of the room. She gasped and tried to chase her, but soon every kid that was still awake and moving, minus Rio who was just staring and Maria who couldn't actually move at the moment, ended up dog piling her and dragging her a bit.
"HELP ME!" Rinne begged, reaching for the door and then the phone in vain as the kids all pulled her away.
Natsumi panted as she reappeared in a random alleyway and made an angry face, holding her hand up to start a familiar alarm.
[WARNING! THERE HAVE BEEN PRECURSORY SIGNS OF AN IMPENDING SPACEQUAKE!]
With that, everyone ran for shelter while Natsumi took a moment to slump on a wall and recover her energy.
"They saw... everyone one of them, I don't care how but I'll ruin every one of their lives!" Natsumi panted, her eyes tearing up and looking incredibly pained.
"Look at her, and you're proud to look like that?"
"Freak!"
"Go be with the other irregulars like yourself!"
"Be friends with us, don't lie! You just want to mock us with that form!"
Natsumi screamed and hit the wall as those memories came back, panting angrily as she managed to silence them.
"They're just like everyone else... everyone who made fun of me for my true form's ugliness!" Natsumi screamed, slightly crying with an angry face. "Now it's time I think of what I'll be doing to them next. Maybe I should-"
Suddenly Natsumi felt a shot hit her arm, and she yelled in pain before she turned to see Adeptus 4 had shot her, making her look in surprise. That's when she remembered... because the rest of her transformations dispelled alongside her own, they changed back to normal.
"Damn it, I forgot about them!" Natsumi winced, her arm still burning.
"You really thought we'd just stay down and trapped as animals forever? Poor little Spirit, you're so stupid." Adeptus 4 declared, readying her sword with the others. "Not even your Inversion will save you now. So just let us kill you and avoid the hard part."
"Never!" Natsumi roared, aiming Baal at them and shooting off her dark spirit power to transform them again. This time they all moved out of the way, and Natsumi dodged their incoming sword strikes and laser fire. "That won't hurt me! Now, it's time to face my Shiniga-"
Suddenly a bunch of ant-like automatons suddenly dropped from the rooftops and clamped onto Natsumi, surprising her as her movements were locked.
"What are these? Get them off me!" Natsumi panicked, but it was useless. The ant-like automatons, or Myrmidon units as they would be later known as, held on tightly as a stomping sound was heard. Soon a roar was heard from the opposing side of the stomps. "W-what is that?"
Before Natsumi could even react, the roar like sound neared her as a small quintet of bipedal bull like automatons suddenly appeared and swung their arms, equipped with axe-like sword blades as they smashed and slashed into Natsumi.
The Mimicry Spirit screamed in pain as she was shot through a few walls and caused some buildings. Once she did, she tried to get back on her feet, but soon she felt her transformation come undone again, her Inverse Form shook a bit before it suddenly reverted back to her normal form.
In her true form's normal Astral Dress, she now had a hat like her Inverse form's older Astral Dress, but with the tuff of fur present at a point where black bandages wrapped by it, and the rimmed areas of her hat were orange instead of green and had a necklace of sorts made from giant green emeralds and smaller bits of gold acting as the chain.
Her gym shorts were now normal shorts with overalls, and an orange cloth that wasn't as specifically attached to her body, but still was all that covered her chest, though now also with gold star emblems on the front, was wrapped around her, a few dark purple stitched mouth designs and edges on it and some sleeves made of light to cover her arms up to her hands. Finally, she had black and orange socks, the right one being longer, and witch like shoes.
"Oh? Hey everyone, look at this! The brat really is a brat!" Adeptus 8 declared, the other eight Adeptus wizards all saw and laughed at this as Natsumi began to tear up at the sight before her.
Tohka in her younger form, her speed being limited slightly by her clothes nearly coming off and having trouble holding them up, ran through the city in an attempt to find Natsumi before it was too late. She had gotten a bad gut feeling.
"Come on, I've gotta find her!" Tohka said, and soon she felt a bit funny as she glowed. "Huh, why do I feel-"
Suddenly Tohka nearly tripped as her age doubled and she became 16 again.
"Hey, I'm normal again!" Tohka exclaimed, only to gasp as she realized what that meant. "Oh my god, my gut was right! Where is she?"
Soon she got a feeling and stopped before looking left as some buildings broke.
"There!" Tohka declared, assuming her Astral Dress and flying straight at that area with every bit of speed she could muster. Sandalphon forming in her hand as she cut through some buildings herself.
Natsumi stared at the sight around her, the Adeptus wizards with their swords, the Myrmidon units and the bull like Automatons that would be later labeled Minotaur units surrounding her, finally ending with her hearing from the stomps from another automaton she couldn't see yet.
'What else would I expect from people who saw me like this? From assholes in the DEM like all of you, this feeling... this is fear, isn't it?' Natsumi thought, her hands shaking as she began to tear up. 'Then again, this is probably what I get for deceiving Shido... that's it, I give up.'
Natsumi lies immobile, no longer having the strength to move.
'Please Gods, tell me why... why was I made to be this way!?' Natsumi mentally begged, assured she was in her final moments. 'So tiny... so weak... so pathetic... so ugly! And worst of all... alone.'
-Flashback Start-
Natsumi in her true form was seen, in an alleyway and holding a single dandelion in her hands, dropping it in the water as its last petal flew off. Soon she noticed a local pub, and while inside she saw a table full of people, she walked over and held up her hands, making a man look at her.
"Aww, poor thing..." The man said, only to hit her into the wall before tossing a chicken wing at her. "Here, maybe if you eat that you wouldn't look so pathetic!"
Natsumi stared at the chicken wing with cruelty, and the next thing anyone knew, the whole pub went on fire and everyone ran out. Natsumi took any food and money left before and went somewhere else. She started scarfing the food as she cried.
"...Who needs friends, I'm better off by myself!" Natsumi yelled as she ate more, still shedding tears.
Natsumi soon walked through another city, and eventually saw some pretty looking girls at a photo shoot and how much the people snapping photos loved them. Suddenly taking a look at herself.
"Like them... yeah, I just need to look like that!" Natsumi told herself, soon using her powers to make the adult form she disguised herself as. "Yes... this is a beautiful me, the me I should be."
Natsumi walked around, many people adoring her looks... and yet Natsumi felt hollow each time.
'And yet... why does it feel so empty?' Natsumi thought.
-End Flashback-
Natsumi cried more.
'All I wanted... was to be needed by someone, and just when I thought I found that person...' Natsumi thought, thinking of Shido. Now realizing how stupid she had been. 'If I had just been able to stop my anger, I could have found it. Now I'm going to die.'
Soon the Adeptus wizards began to swing their swords down.
'After a lifetime of betrayals, stupidity, and loneliness... I'm going to die! I know I don't deserve this, I know of everything I've done, but please...' Natsumi thought, her eyes widening as the swords were about to strike. "...I beg of you, someone please save me!"
"SANDALPHON!"
Suddenly before any of the Adeptus Wizards realized it, a purple energy wave was slashed at them, causing Natsumi to stare in shock as a purple glow passed her eyes briefly. She lifted her head up to see Tohka holding Sandalphon in her hand.
"T-Tohka?" Natsumi breathed in shock, slowly getting up to see Tohka stare at the DEM forces with an angry look. 'No way, did she just...'
"What the hell, how'd Princes get here!?" Adeptus 11 questioned angrily.
"That doesn't matter! Myrmidon units, Minotaur units, by time for the Tarasque unit to attack!" Adeptus 6 declared, everyone rushing at Tohka at once. "Even she can't handle us all at once!"
Tohka shouted as she charged an energy blast, and in moments the Myrmidon units were all destroyed. The Adeptus numbers all soon were blinded by the smoke, and in moments... Tohka swung Sandalphon a certain way, and they felt all their CR-Units and weaponry get cut apart.
"No... impossible..." Adeptus 4 declared as she and the other eight DEM wizards fell to the ground with their damaged CR-Units sparking. "Damn it... retreat now! Let the automatons rip them both!"
They all growled and flew off, Tohka looking at them before turning back at the machines before her.
"OK, who's next?" Tohka requested, and soon all of the Minotaur units roared as they charged at her. Tohka rushed forward, skidding across the ground slightly as she slashed through the side of one. "They're not like Jabberwockies, they have the strength and speed, but no armor. I just gotta get through!"
Tohka spun and cut the first of the five Minotaur automatons down. Soon the next two came, and she held up Sandalphon to parry and pushed forward to knock them back. However, the other two swung at her, forcing her to move a hand to form a barrier against them.
"Not... this time! I... will not let myself... contribute to nothing here!" Tohka screamed, pushing her arms out, knocking three of the automatons away. As the last one charged her, Tohka yelled and stomped the ground... and suddenly part of it shot out as a sharp rock and pierced right through, making it explode to her shock. "What the? Did... I do that?"
Tohka suddenly gasped, remember what Rinne said.
" I do think Tohka's seismic waves and creating Sandalphon's throne from the ground are both clues to parts of her powers she might not be using. " Rinne's voice echoed.
"The ground... of course, that's why Sandalphon's throne forms from it! I have Earth powers!" Tohka exclaimed happily, giving a determined smile at the remaining three Minotaur units.
She jumped ahead, and tried something else, and soon she managed to create a rain of crystals that struck all three automatons, but only cut through one of them enough to make it explode. Tohka landed as looked at her hands again, and soon spun with Sandalphon, creating a sandstorm to blind the remaining two.
'Why is she fighting so hard? No, why did she even come here, why... is she trying to protect me?' Natsumi thought, unable to believe what she was seeing.
"To think I could do all this, energy and earth... now that I know I'm gonna use it fully!" Soon she manages to pierce one of one of the Minotaur's armor, soon digging Sandalphon into it more, and then twisting the blade, ripping it apart from within before it exploded.
Soon the last Minotaur and Tohka had a stare down with each other, the automaton got on its arms and prepared to charge Tohka like a real Ox, and Tohka ran at it shouting as she held Sandalphon out to swing at it.
"Tohka, no!" Natsumi cried out, knowing that was a bad idea. She was too late to warn her. However, to her surprise... Tohka stopped and released Sandalphon, causing it to crash into the Minotaur and throw him off.
[Now master!]
"Take this!" Tohka yelled, grabbing Sandalphon and slashing through the last Minotaur. Right afterwards, she heard stomping, and soon a giant turtle automaton came into view. This was the Tarasque automaton. "OK, last one... I can do this!"
-Flashback Start-
Tohka and Kotori were seen training, and Tohka was being pushed back as Camael's blade crossed with Sandalphon's, Tohka tried to hold it back but was slipping.
"Come on Tohka! This isn't all your capable of, call it out and use it! Now believe!" Origami shouted from the side, making Tohka look at her. "Believe in your Angel, believe in your power, and believe in yourself!"
"Believe..." Tohka muttered, soon standing her ground. "I can do this... I can do this!"
Tohka began, starting to push Camael back, surprising Kotori before she smiled.
-End Flashback-
Tohka ran forward, the Tarasque noticing her before attempting to stomp on her, smashing the ground into shards as it did. Tohka jumped to avoid it, and when its tail swiped at her, Tohka held up her barrier to block it.
"Amazing..." Natsumi breathed, watching Tohka rush forward and slashed at the Tarasque slightly, but couldn't cut though its thick armor.
"Dang it..." Tohka grunted, but soon got an idea as she noticed a nearby cable line above her and smirked.
She ran forward, and soon the automaton's tail got her... but she quickly used it to launch herself without the Tarasque noticing her real plan. She soon was flung by the cable line and grabbed it.
"Wait a minute, don't tell me. Is she going too..." Natsumi gasped, realizing her strategy.
"You told me to believe, right Origami?" Tohka asked herself, giving a focused look as the cable took the force that flung her the best it could. "Well be proud, because I believe!"
Tohka let go as she was flung forward, and soon thrust Sandalphon forward as she smashed the Tarasque's armor apart like a hot knife through butter. The automaton was still kicking though, and looked at her angrily.
"HALVANHELEV!" Tohka screamed, forming her throne and shattering it to make the giant broadsword in her hands. As the Tarasque jumped at her, Tohka shouted and swung Halvanhelev down on the automaton. The machine was cut in half, both halves flying past her and Natsumi before exploding. "I did it... I did it!"
Tohka cheered, soon realizing Natsumi was behind her and blushing with embarrassment. She cleared her throat and walked near her.
"Natsumi, are you alright?" Tohka inquired.
"How Tohka... how did you find me? How did you make it in time?" Natsumi asked.
"Well, when you left I had a feeling and my instincts brought me here. Then I noticed some buildings breaking, so I ran straight over. I'm glad I made it." Tohka answered, soon noticing Natsumi shaking. "Natsumi?"
Natsumi slapped her in the face.
"Why? Why did you come back to save me, you had every reason to let me die!" Natsumi screamed, surprising Tohka for the slap and scream. "I know you're not stupid! I tricked you, I tried to hurt your friend Shido just because I was angry! I turned you all into kids just because you saw I was really one! I don't understand!"
"Whoa... calm down-" Tohka tried to say.
"I can't! Why would you do this, Shido was nice enough to talk to me and I treated his kindness with cruelty! I barely knew any of you and put you in the same boat! I said awful and cruel things about all of you behind your backs and laughed at you like a criminal!" Natsumi screamed, grabbing Tohka by the shoulders.
"Don't you get it! I'm an awful person, I'm a terrible girl! I only lied, hurt, mocked, attacked, yelled and was completely jealous of all of you because you're all so beautiful and I'm just an ugly looking girl! My god!"
Natsumi soon began to cry.
"And despite all of that... despite all of that... you still saved my life! Why!? Why would you do that, tell me!"
Natsumi cried more, unable to understand it.
"...Because I know what it's like to feel alone." Tohka stated, making Natsumi look at her in shock. "I lost my memories, I had no name, no identity, and no one to be there for me. Not until I met Shido, and remembered he was always there."
Natsumi kept crying as she listened.
"And he was there even when I learned my parents were dead, that made me want to help you, I saw that same pain in your eyes. Not to mention you aren't as horrible as you think, because a good person cries when they feel guilty over what they've done."
"T-Tohka..." Natsumi sobbed.
"I wish I could have told you this earlier, but if you're ever in trouble just tell me. Because I will always be here for you. I don't care for what you look like, what matter sis the person I see on the inside, and I see a girl who just wants a friend to quell her loneliness." Tohka smiled, and with that moment... Natsumi's wall finally came crashing down as she hugged Tohka and cried loudly.
"There you go, it's OK. Let it all out. You don't hold it in anymore, never again."
Tohka sat there, rubbing Natsumi's head as the latter kept holding her close, because for the first time in as long as she could remember... she wasn't alone anymore, and someone didn't care how ugly or beautiful she looked, she cared that she was just Natsumi.
Soon Tohka got up, carrying Natsumi in her arms.
"Now come on, time to head back." Tohka smiled, confusing Natsumi with her reply.
"Go... where?" Natsumi asked.
"That's simple Natsumi..." Tohka replied, soon walking as she held Natsumi close. "...we're going home, to my home and yours."
Natsumi's eyes got misty again, and soon she just rested in Tohka's arms as she closed her eyes and rested, finally finding a small bit of piece for the first time she could remember. Tohka smiled again, knowing everything worked out.
Murdoch noticed on a tablet of his the Adeptus numbers all had returned to the DEM, and he smirked smugly as the other board of director members all noticed his smile and gave a hopeful look at him. He turned and smiled.
"Westcott's attempt failed as usual, which means now it's my turn." Murdoch announced, surprising everyone.
"OK, but... what do you plan to do? How can we top what he just pulled?" Simpson asked, Russell nodded to show he had the same question. Soon Murdoch moved the screen on his tablet. "Murdoch?"
Murdoch chuckled as he showed everyone the tablet screen on the table, shocking them all.
"We have a few Humpty Dumpty's sitting on a wall, so..." Murdoch smirked with a dark look, his teeth showing as his grin widened. "Since they're set to be disposed of, how about we have each of them instead have a great fall? Namely, a fall on Tenguu City."
Everyone stared at that and gasped, while Murdoch kept the same face as his master plan finally sunk in. After a while the other board of director members looked at each and then...
"...We approve." Russell answered for them all.
Aww! Now how's that for a sweet ending... followed by the grim premise of the second half of the Natsumi arc that is ^^;
I did wanna show more of the Natsumi game, but unlike the Light Novel, that felt like it would be forced, plus Miku and the Yamai twins are absent so a lot of scenes weren't possible. That hint I had mentioned? It was Tohka's ribbon, recall how I had the scene where it got dirty and needed washed? Exactly. That's why I even put it there.
Congrats for Tohka on finally picking up on the Earth half of her powers, Energy/Magic's still her main element, but now she's actually physically using the latter beyond seismic shocks when she gets too emotional. Also, is her and Natsumi's friendship will be stronger in this fanfic compared to canon? Why yes, yes it will, for now Tohka's the only one she trusts, so she's not able to be sealed just yet.
If you're not familiar with anything beyond the anime, know that Humpty Dumpty name is actually canon, and ironically its usage made that name a perfect choice. What they are? Well... I'll let you find out when we get there, just to help make things more exciting, for all you know I'm not making them the same as canon anyways so that might be one of my usual twists I pull :3
Now you may have noticed, I didn't show you how Natsumi got her Sephira Crystal in the flashback right? Well the reason for that is simple. Because there's a spoiler for the second half of Natsumi's arc, so I can't show you it now, when I do though it'll make sense to why I hid it, so for now just be a bit patient on seeing how Rio gave her the Haniel Crystal ^^
Now get ready for next time, when we finally start the second half of the Natsumi arc and see how Natsumi bonds with the others, so stay awesome!
-Spirit Bond Levels-
Tohka - 86%
Origami - 80%
Yoshino - 78%
Kotori - 79%
Kurumi - 72%