Date A Re:Live

S2 Chapter 30: Natsumi Refresh, Part 4

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]

Welcome everyone, to the second half of the Natsumi arc! The first half was called Natsumi Inverse, while this half will be called Natsumi Refresh, there's a double meaning to this title like how Inverse reflected both Natsumi's inversion and the fact Tohka has temporarily swapped the protagonist role with Shido for the fanfic's second season. The obvious part I can tell you though, its essentially reflecting Natsumi starting over with the group.

Also, to reflect how the light novels for two volume characters start at chapter 6 for the second half, despite Natsumi Refresh is a new name, it's part 4 of Natsumi's arc rather than a new arc despite Natsumi Inversion is over. Man, that'll get weird for the Yamai twins' arc since their story arc is only a single volume, and I don't think I can double up on that without stretching things out ^^;

The part you'll probably like best is Natsumi Refresh will be revealing the surprise twist I've made for Natsumi, a twist that explains why I didn't show how she gained her Sephira Crystal from Rio despite the scenes that left a good opportunity to bring up that flashback. Most of all, we're finally going to see Murdoch start his plans, that so called "Humpty Dumpty had a great fall" line he ended last chapter with B)

So, let's get this chapter started and kicking! *hits a button that plays off a crowd cheer* Man, I love what I think for the start notes sometimes! ^^

Tohka and Natsumi, the former back in her original outfit and Natsumi having simply morphed her Astral Dress into a casual outfit to look more natural out in public. Tohka looked at her briefly which confused the Mimicry Spirit.

"What?" Natsumi asked, feeling a bit weirded out.

"Nothing, I'm just kinda surprised you didn't shift back into your older form before we came out in public." Tohka answered honestly, making Natsumi blush a bit. "Natsumi?"

Natsumi blushed a bit more before looking away and holding Tohka's arm close.

"...It's fine if it's just you and mine, I'll probably just change back when we meet the others." Natsumi mumbled, nearly making Tohka fail to hear it. The Energy Spirit giggled and pet Natsumi's head, and Natsumi's eyes widened a bit before relaxing and smiling a bit. "So... how do we actually get there?"

"Wait, you don't know? But didn't you tell me you could see the recent memories of someone you transform into?" Tohka asked confused.

"Well... I can, but I don't always actually look at them. I mean if I actually had, I could have... you know... probably realized Shido never saw my secret and avoided the whole mess in the first place." Natsumi replied, dropping her face slightly. "I'm sorry..."

"Hey, it's OK. I do always hear Origami telling Saya that anger makes you dumb as a warning. It isn't our fault you were a bit too pissed to check." Tohka replied, soon finding a hidden spot in the alley. After looking to see if anyone was nearby... "OK, prepare to hold on tight."

Natsumi blinked as Tohka opened a secret passageway and pulled her in, after a few seconds she felt nothing.

"I don't get why I need to hold on tight-" Natsumi began, only for the secret passageway to suddenly drop into the ground. She screamed as she held Tohka's arm tightly from the sudden drop. "I take it back, I get why!"

As they dropped down, a girl wearing spectacles watched the sight without being noticed from afar, looking intrigued as she held a book in her hands. She removed her glasses revealing whitened pupils hidden behind the lenses.

"So, Spirit No. 10 has managed to form a friendship with Spirit No. 7, I wonder..." The silver haired Spirit said, looking at the book she held which she opened to reveal it was blank. "Will they solve the true mystery behind her powers' origins? Her true story even she's forgotten?"

Soon text appears on the book, making its owner look surprised before smiling.

"I see, I guess the question is how will they do it?" The Spirit wondered before she walked off and teleported somewhere.

Soon they make it to the Ratatoskr base, and Natsumi wobbles out with a face as green as her hair, soon putting a hand to it as she nearly vomits. Tohka holds her steady as she tries to breath.

"You doing OK, or do you need a trash bin?" Tohka asked, Natsumi gives a shaky thumb's up as her face regains its normal pale skin tone. "That's good."

"Tohka!"

Tohka turns to see everyone else, all of them back to their normal age (minus Rio and Rinne who didn't change ages) and winced as she saw Rinne's hair without its braid and all messy from the brutal fight she faced against the child version of all the Spirits and her own children. Tohka and Natsumi gave the same reaction as the rest of Ratatoskr's member.

"Tohka, I can't believe you ran out and left me with everyone! I know you were a kid at the time but what were you thinking!?" Rinne complained, panting heavily from the stress she just had to deal with.

"Uh... Rinne, you do remember I'm only mentally 7 due to Rio's stasis field, right? I only got physically younger." Tohka answered nervously, making Natsumi's eyes widen before she blinked while Rinne's whole body went white. "...Is that a no?"

'That explains a lot of what I saw in Shido's memories.' Natsumi thought, soon hearing Rinne sigh as she just hung her head in defeat.

"Hey, don't feel too bad mom." Shido replied, patting her back. Soon he looks at Natsumi. "And good to see you too Natsumi."

Natsumi hid behind Tohka, attempting to transform to her older form, but Tohka stopped her with a petting.

"Come on, try to talk to them in this form just so they know you're truly sorry. You can always change after if you're feel uncomfortable." Tohka requested, Natsumi looked nervous for a moment but nodded. Soon Rinne walks in front of the others.

"Let me start everyone, I have something important to say." Rinne stated, making everyone quiet as she bent closer to Natsumi. "Do you swear you'll never pull a stunt like the one you did ever again?"

Natsumi sweated a bit, but soon breathed.

"Yes, I swear. All of you and Tohka... you won't have to worry about it ever again." Natsumi answered, her eyes shining with her seriousness. "You see... Tohka saved my life, so I won't ever betray that trust."

Rinne showed some surprise at that, but soon nodded. Now she knew why Tohka left. Tohka had a sixth sense for this sort of stuff, and it explained how a Spacequake alarm went off.

"Fine, I'll take your word on it." Rinne replied, making Natsumi smile a bit before Rinne got closer "I'll be honest with you, right now I don't like you one bit."

Natsumi made a sad looking face at that.

"Why would I? You played us all for fools, threatened to kill us going by your words, and all because you were ashamed of being seen for what you really are. Not even explaining way and just assuming my son saw your secret despite he said otherwise." Rinne reasoned, making Natsumi turn away slightly.

"Now you're here, you have some nerve you know. Also, what's with that face? Oh wait, I bet you feel guilty because Tohka won't blame you, she's not stupid but she's definitely naive. So if she won't hold you responsible then I'll have to. I am the First Spirit, so I have the bigger right to anyways."

Natsumi shook at that, and soon closed her eyes, Tohka was about to interject when...

"I order you to protect Shido and his harem from now on, that includes Tohka." Rinne stated, making Natsumi look at her in shock. "You make sure the both of them and everyone else here stays safe."

"What, but... why would-" Natsumi asked, and Rinne sighs.

"Because I know my children and everyone else here too well, and if no one's watching them..." Rinne began, soon starting to tear up. "...If no one's watching them, they'll fall into something dangerous! Besides, you're only one who can get rid of your guilt. If you truly have had a change of heart, prove it not by what you say, but with what you'll do."

Rinne smiles.

"Can you promise me that?" Rinne asked.

"Yes, I will First Spirit... no, Rinne Sonogami. I won't waste this chance you've given me." Natsumi replied, sniffling a bit as she smiled. Tohka sighed in relief before she smiled at the sight.

'I should have known, you're not the kind of person who brings others down Rinne.' Tohka thought, still smiling brightly. "Guess it's official Natsumi, your part of the family now."

Natsumi blushed a bit, rubbing her arm bashfully.

"Now we've just got one last thing to take care of, sealing away her powers so the DEM won't be able to search for her anymore." Reine stated, making Natsumi confused.

"Seal?" Natsumi asked.

"Oh right, guess we should explain this. Me, Origami, Yoshino, Kotori and Kurumi all had our powers sealed by Shido." Tohka explained, soon thinking for a second.

"Though I think sealing in this case would be more like blocking out evil spirits. As you saw with me, I can still use my powers, but officially they're inside Shido's body and he can use them too. Though if a DEM automaton sees me or someone tries to sense my Spirit powers, they won't be able to register it as me."

"So basically, it's like cloaking device?" Natsumi asked, making Tohka blink before nodding a bit. "OK, so... how do we do it?"

All of the Spirits suddenly go quiet, and Tohka suddenly chuckles oddly to Natsumi's surprise.

"Well... you sorta, kinda, have to... fall in love with Shido and then kiss him." Tohka replied, sweating a bit as she did. Natsumi stares for a moment... and screams so loudly the entire base shakes.

"WHAT!?"

One of the faculty at Raizen High was stacking something, when suddenly...

"WHAT!?" Natsumi's voice echoed.

It falls over to his surprise, wondering where that sound had suddenly come from as she somberly picked up the fallen pieces of his formerly stacked worked.

Natsumi breathed as everyone either rubbed their ears or unplugged their fingers form it.

"I have to fall in love with this guy, the one who's your and four others' boyfriend!?" Natsumi repeatedly hysterically, pointing at him. "Seriously!? Was that the whole reason he was there when I first met him? This sounds like something out of a cheesy anime, yet its real!"

Natsumi pants, and soon Tohka blinks as she kneels by her.

"...Did you get it out of your system?" Tohka asked.

"Yeah, I'm clear now." Natsumi replied, soon looking down. "Why would it matter though, I mean... I'm ugly, who'd wanna fall in love with me?"

Everyone blinked at that.

"She really thinks she's ugly? She looks cute to me, and I mean it." Kurumi stated.

"Yeah, and plus she's like me. We're cute with small boobs!" Mana said, making everyone sweat drop as she bought up that subject again. Natsumi hung her head down at that and made Mana realize how much smaller she was. "Oh... sorry about that. Didn't realize you had that complex too."

Natsumi held her complete absence of a chest.

"...Stupid 69cm bust line." Natsumi muttered too quietly to be heard.

"Yeah, she's adorable... I'd be willing to marry her if she was a boy." Yoshino replied, making Mana and Kotori stare at her in shock. Natsumi even blushed a little after she heard it and her face emitted some steam.

"...You're all just saying that, I know I'm ugly." Natsumi stated, surprising everyone by how much she couldn't see herself as anything but ugly.

"Uh... Natsumi, is there a reason you think that?" Tohka asked curiously, making Natsumi throw her head on her abdomen. "By that reaction, that's a... yes?"

Natsumi nodded.

"Proof is why I think that, everyone always called me that." Natsumi admitted, surprising the entire group. "They said it, hurt me, and payed attention to other girls. See? I'm ugly, don't try to hide it."

"...OK, now I think her reaction to not wanting anyone to see her like this is more justified. She has a psychological scar in her mind. One that made her feel a trauma based panic attack if it was seen, and likely why she stayed in her older form." Reine said, rubbing Natsumi's head.

...So that's why she was so lonely." Tohka said sadly, hugging Natsumi. "I bet she so happy to meet Shido until that one moment, she was so afraid to experience it all over again. No wonder she inverted."

Natsumi sniffled a bit, and Tohka rubbed her back. Rio thought for a moment, and soon gasped as she got an idea.

"What is it Rio?"

"Rio has an idea! Rio thinks if Natsumi doesn't think she looks pretty right now, let's show her how pretty she can look!" Rio said cheerfully, making Reine think.

"It won't solve the problem, but maybe a small makeover might help if she sees her current form differently. We'll try it." Reine replied, making Rio giggle and hug Natsumi to the latter's surprise as she was knocked to the floor. "Looks like Rio's happy her idea can help."

Rio nods and smiles.

"...Rio is happy! Natsumi, Rio may not remember how Rio gave Natsumi a Sephira crystal, but Rio's gonna Natsumi now." Rio said cheerfully, confusing Natsumi.

"Uh... what are you talking about? I got my powers by someone calling themselves Phantom." Natsumi corrected, making Rio look at herself.

"Oh right, Rio forgot about that!" Rio giggled, soon putting her noise mosaic up to Natsumi's surprise. "(Recognize me now? My normal identity is Rio Sonogami, but as enigmatic the holder of the Sephira Crystals, I was known as the Phantom!)"

Rio removes the mosaic and giggles before Natsumi suddenly faints.

"...Did Rio break Natsumi?" Rio asked worriedly.

"No sweetie, that's what we call fainting." Rinne replied, sweat dropping with a smile at the scenario that just happened.

Natsumi soon felt herself regain consciousness on a massage table, blinking oddly at the sudden location she had appeared in and sweating worried.

"Uh... hello? Where am I?" Natsumi asked, shaking. "Tohka!?"

"Over here!" Tohka called out, making Natsumi look as Tohka rose up from the side of the massage table. "Sorry about that, I think I fell asleep waiting for you to wake up. My bad."

Natsumi sweat dropped at that.

"Uh... so where am I exactly?" Natsumi asked.

"You're still in the Ratatoskr base, we just shifted to some hidden alternate room that... they had for some strange reason." Tohka replied, realizing the oddity of what they were in as she did. "Anyways, just relax for right now. We're gonna help you make you feel more confident over how you look."

"Huh, how are you-"

Suddenly Natsumi feels something cold on her back, and looks behind her to notice that her Astral Dress had been dispelled (courtesy of Rinne) and she wasn't wearing any clothes, making her turn slightly red.

"Sorry about that, but I can't properly do this if you're wearing clothes. Don't worry, this is some good aroma oil." Tohka replied, and soon Natsumi felt the Energy Spirit's fingers dig into her back. Natsumi twitched briefly before suddenly collapsing as she felt strangely relaxed.

"W-why does that feel so good?" Natsumi asked quietly, almost like in a trance.

"Wow, I knew you'd have muscle knots but... ouch." Tohka noted, Natsumi's true form already showed she had trouble with, couldn't or didn't take care of it, but she didn't think it would be this bad. "Don't worry, Tohka Yatogami swears on her honor to untie every one of them!"

Natsumi suddenly felt herself struggling to stay awake as Tohka dug further into her skin. In moments, she suddenly felt herself pass out and fall asleep. After about another 30 minutes, she felt her cheek getting poked and woke up to see Tohka doing it.

"Huh, what? Who is..." Natsumi said, still all groggy. Soon she blinked and shook herself awake. "Did I fall asleep?"

"Yeah, that'll happen. Either way I think you should see you skin now." Tohka said, holding up a mirror. Natsumi's eyes widened a bit as her skin didn't seem so dry and rough anymore, she felt it and it was smooth like a baby's bottom. She was still pale skinned, but now it didn't look unhealthily pale. "Ta-Da!"

"H-How did..." Natsumi stuttered, shocked at the sight until she felt Tohka wrap the blanket she had over her around her. "Huh?"

"Come on, now it's time to get you a haircut." Tohka stated, making Natsumi blink in surprise and confusion.

Tohka lead Natsumi into the next room, where Origami was wearing a barber's outfit and had her hair tied into a ponytail.

"So you're doing this Origami? I didn't know you knew how to cut hair, that another 'super genius' thing?" Tohka asked.

"Eh... kinda, I know a little on how to do it." Kurumi answered, suddenly making a face at that last part to Tohka's confusion. "Guess it's kinda hard to believe since my hair's long though, so I don't blame you."

Tohka giggled at that, and soon Origami joined her as the former seated Natsumi the barber chair.

"So Natsumi, do you prefer your hair long or do you want it short?" Origami asked.

"Uh... I guess I'm used to it being long, though this is too long." Natsumi admitted, and soon she felt Origami pour some water on her hair before lathering it. "Wait, what are you doing?"

"I'm gonna wash and lather it first, gotta make it nice and most so I don't cut any unnecessary locks." Origami answered.

Natsumi covered her eyes a bit as Origami began digging her hands onto her scalp, Natsumi winced a bit before it felt oddly relaxing, like her head's weight had its equilibrium adjusted. After that, Origami rinsed her hair before drying it off and grabbing the scissors.

"Alright, now time to get off all that extra hair." Origami warned, making Natsumi close her eyes as Origami quickly began snipping as a lot of unnecessary hair fell off Natsumi's head, soon all the split ends, certain hair tips and heavy bundles were all on the floor. Origami dried it off and soon... "There we go."

Natsumi soon opened her eyes to look at the mirror, and to her surprise her hair looked pretty similar, but didn't reach to knees anymore, just above her waist. It also seemed normal rather than a tangled mess of bed head. It was if Origami knew how she'd prefer it if she could have fixed it herself.

"I'm gonna read that as you being satisfied." Origami smiled, looking at Tohka. "Alright Tohka, while I clean all this hair up, you go take her the boutique."

"Aye, aye!" Tohka saluted, making Origami blink and tilt her head at her. "Eh... sorry, I don't know why but I got the feeling you were speaking like military personal with that. Just ignore me."

Tohka takes Natsumi ahead while Origami shrugged and began sweeping the hair up.

Soon Natsumi and Tohka appeared in a room full of clothes, almost like a small store, and Kurumi was seen humming as she was considering the clothes options and then noticed the two come in.

"Oh, Origami finished faster than I expected. Well welcome to Boutique Kurumi where I'll be helping you with clothes." Kurumi smiled, Natsumi and Tohka suddenly snorted at that and soon laughed. "Hey, don't laugh. I thought that sounded cute."

Kurumi pouted playfully until they finally stopped.

"Alright, let's see how these clothes work. Come on in Natsumi." Kurumi said as she took Natsumi by the hand, and soon Tohka heard the latter scream.

"Tohka, save me!" Natsumi exclaimed, reaching her hand out as Kurumi dragged her back in. Tohka panicked at how she should respond.

"Uh... I will, just let me figure out how I'm supposed to do that here!" Tohka sweated, unsure how to react without Kurumi catching her too. She breathes and soon prepares to rush in... only for the dressing room cover to open up. "...Or be too late cause Kurumi finished."

Tohka sees Natsumi had a bag over her head.

"Why is there-" Tohka asked, but Kurumi held out her hand.

"I figured she should see it together with all of us. Now come on, it's time for us to make the grand reveal." Kurumi smiled, a small giggle ending her sentence. She and Tohka guide Natsumi back into the main room. Origami soon left the barber shop rook, which left everyone in a single room together.

"Uh... am I allowed to take this off yet? I'm having trouble breathing in it." Natsumi said, and soon enough Kurumi grabbed the bag before taking it off. At that moment, she saw herself in the mirror before her. "What the? Is... is that?"

Natsumi had reason to be shocked, there wasn't anyone else in Ratatoskr that had green hair but herself, and she lost her words in an instant. Her hair which was once bulging uncouthly was beautifully settled with the natural habits remaining and was dazzling from the bathing light.

As if she was mistaken with her skin, her skin with bad complexion was glossy and was coupled together with cute clothes. Her appearance made her think of a young woman prided with grace. No matter how she looked at the mirror, she couldn't say this was just a screen projecting another image instead of a mirror.

"T-this is... really me?" Natsumi asked, almost to try and confirm if she was dreaming or not.

"Yep! Without a doubt, that's you see in the mirror Natsumi!" Tohka smiled cheerfully.

In a manner of looking at something unbelievable, Natsumi kept touching the mirror while muttering dumbfounded, Shido then placed his hand on her small shoulder. As if to continue from that, the others gave their own opinions.

"Y-you're really pretty!" Yoshino stated, blushing a bit.

"It's lovely, you look nice Natsumi." Origami smiled.

"I give it a 10 out of 10!" Kotori said, raising her first up for emphasis. "If I could vote higher... 100 out of 10!"

In a certain extent, she felt that only one person was dazzling in her eyes compared to the others but, Natsumi was standing rock still there dumbfounded and still unsure of what she was seeing.

"How is it Natsumi?" Shido asked.

"Yeah, the one who set up everything we had to do was Shido. Kinda strange he knows so much girly knowledge." Kurumi giggled, making Shido blush.

"Hey! That's not funny, I grew up raising Kotori and my sister! It's not like I have some secret fantasy to be female!" Shido exclaimed, and Kurumi only giggled at that as he gave a playful annoyed look. "Stop teasing me Kurumi!"

After saying that, Shido looked at Natsumi's eyes from the mirror... and Natsumi heard herself gasp unintentionally. Just now for an instant, Natsumi thought of the girl in the mirror, of herself, as... cute.

'I... I...' Natsumi thought, however at that moment.

"You freak!"

Natsumi's eyes spun round and round, and her legs trembled. She should be happy. She should be in joy. She never would have thought that her appearance which she has hated a lot would change this much... but her mouth and mind refused to cooperate.

Was it just because within that short time, and because of such an unexpected event that just happened, that she was unable to process the situation in her mind.

"Uh... Natsumi?" Tohka asked, worried about Natsumi's silence.

"U-a-a-aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh!"

Natsumi suddenly began crying, surprising everyone a bit by her choice of a reaction.

"Uh... is that a good or a bad sign!?" Rinne asked.

"I think that's an... overwhelmed sign?" Mayuri replied, unsure of herself. "Maybe we're crowding her too much? I know, everyone clear the room a bit!"

Everyone does so, soon leaving the room and leaving only Shido, Mana and all the Spirits with Natsumi as her cries died down.

"What's wrong Natsumi, do you not like it?" Tohka asked worriedly.

"No, I do... I really do, but I can't bring myself to say anything good about it. All I can say is I'm not ugly." Natsumi sniffled, rubbing her eyes. "I... I don't understand why, am I scared? Am I lying to myself? I... I can't tell what I'm saying now!"

Rinne looked at Natsumi and put a finger to her mouth as she looked up and began thinking. After a bit... she gasped and went to get Reine, confusing everyone. Reine soon checked had Maria check Natsumi's readings.

"Let's see..." Rinne said, looking at them, and then noticing what she had expected. "Ah! There it is, I think I see an irregularity in Natsumi's Sephira Crystal. The Haniel Crystal's causing some side effect we can't recognize, I'm not sure why... but I think it may be representing something about Natsumi's confidence."

"Huh?" Natsumi asked, confused.

"Well, for some reason the Sephira Crystals sometimes cause strange side effects in us based on situations." Tohka explained, scratching her head. "Some of us have had it, so... guys?"

Everyone looks at Origami, making herself get nervous.

"Why am I always the first when it isn't Tohka?" Origami said, biting her nails a bit. "Uh... well, when I first Inverted, Rio locked my powers away for a bit. Yet if I sensed Spirit mana they flowed back and I instinctively tried to purge it... and led to Tohka's inversion. Yet we ended up best friends after."

Tohka smiled and shrugged at that, making Origami shake her head and smile a bit.

"Uh... well, for me I made a second personality named Yoshinon because I felt alone unconsciously. She was a rabbit puppet I wore on my left hand." Yoshino shyly admitted, surprising Natsumi a bit since she never had that result despite feeling lonely. "It made me 5 years younger though, and after I made friends... Yoshino eventually died."

"Oh my... how long ago?" Natsumi asked.

"The day before you met Shido." Tohka answered, making Natsumi's eyes widen as she looked at her. "Yeah, not kidding there."

Kotori noticing Yoshino was getting a bit somber cleared her throat.

"I had my past possessor's consciousness stuck in mine, so Rio had to lock up my powers too." Kotori quickly stated, Natsumi stared at her oddly. "And now she's alive again, and with Ratatoskr too. You know Saya, the girl with brown hair and three braids? That's her. She tried to take over my body, didn't work... and now this just got awkward."

"Mine was more artificial, but the guy who runs DEM attached an automaton to my back, changed my powers and he influenced me in a bad way... OK I can't talk about it anymore." Kurumi said, soon shaking her head. Natsumi soon looked at herself.

"...Is it wrong I feel mine is the normal one?" Natsumi asked, and Tohka shrugged. "Close enough, so... do we have a room here or do I just go somewhere? Cause I need to think."

Everyone saw Natsumi about to walk off, and Tohka grabs her hand.

"It's not here, but we do have a room we can give you." Tohka answered, soon noticing Natsumi's hair and then Kurumi's. "Why'd you give Natsumi your hairstyle?"

Natsumi's eyes widen before she looks at Kurumi funny, and the Shadow Spirit looks left and right before whistling and heading to where Saya went. Mana rolled her eyes as Nasumi removed the scrunchies from her hair.

At the DEM headquarters, Marina was seen in her android body as she was looking up information about Murdoch's plan to show the others via a tablet connected to the DEM's archives, and soon her eyes widen.

"Oh my god! Father, that man is a lunatic... and I thought you and I were the only ones who I could define as that!" Marina exclaimed, making Jessica look at Westcott oddly as he simply shrugged at that.

"So, what makes him a lunatic out of curiosity?" Jessica asked.

"Remember the old Humpty Dumpty trio that we've recently decided to decommission?" Marina asked, everyone nods. "...You know what, saying it doesn't do justice. Just read the tablet."

Marina slides it over to Ellen, after reading it she suddenly spits her drink out and soaks Marina with the spray.

"...Thank you for spraying your carbonated beverage on me. You know what, for that I'm only calling mother from now on." Marina said, making Ellen about to say something until she turned to Westcott. "You have a problem with it father?"

"Nope." Westcott said, making Ellen stare at him. "What? Its technically correct since she calls me father, and you and I are legally married despite the different surnames."

"Ike!" Ellen groaned, Marina laughed at her before she threw a pillow at her. Marina blocked it easily. "Stop laughing at Marina!"

Jessica looked at the situation before grabbing her latte and just walking out of the room again, Westcott just ignored the event as he read the local newspaper.

The following morning in the Takamiya House, Natsumi was seen already with her room filled with her all her stuff, Tohka knocked on the door.

"I'm awake, and have been since 6. Come in." Natsumi replied, making a socked Tohka walk in.

"Wow, talk about an early- Holy!" Tohka shouted, seeing everything in the room. "Did you either transform the room, or did you somehow get all this in here while we weren't looking?"

Natsumi holds up Haniel's mirror form.

"Oh yeah, I forgot there's a pocket dimension in that. Dang! Why are all the good not combat abilities part of everyone else's powers?" Tohka asked herself.

"Why, what are yours?" Natsumi asked.

"...None." Tohka admittedly sadly, and as Natsumi tried to mention her strong smell. "No, that didn't come from my powers. Not did my strength for that matter. I think I accidentally broke the fridge in my house when I was 5."

Natsumi stared at that.

"...OK, I'm just gonna take your word for it." Natsumi replied, looking forward worriedly. "So, why'd you come in?"

"Thought you'd wanna know Shido made breakfast, its salad and pancakes." Tohka replied, and Natsumi nodded before Tohka frowned a bit. "What's wrong?"

"I don't know, I mean... it's nice to have a place and friends, but I just feel like something's gonna go bad or wrong at any moment." Natsumi sighed, falling flat on the bad. "To tell the truth... I just can't think of something good, my mind just feels the need to always assume the worst."

Tohka blinks at that, unsure of what to say.

"It can't be that bad, can it?" Tohka asked.

"Tohka, I once heard someone say while I was present that they got dizzy." Natsumi stated, making Tohka confused. "I went from that, to thinking 'To get dizzy... Meaning: Close to collapsing from dizziness', then 'I am about to collapse from dizziness by looking at you!', and finally end on 'I feel sick just by looking at you, ugly!' somehow."

Tohka suddenly blinked.

"...OK, I guess it is that bad." Tohka thought, looking to the side as she tried processing that sentence again. "OK, I'm not the brightest or smartest. I don't even go to school for one. Though what I'm getting based on what you're saying, you're afraid that you might wake up and suddenly you lost all of this?"

"...Yeah, I think that's a good way to define it." Natsumi sighed, holding a stuffed bat plushie of hers close. "I sometimes get the feeling it relates to my lost memories."

Tohka suddenly flinches at that before turning, getting Natsumi's attention.

"Wait, you don't remember a period of your life? When's that exactly?" Tohka asked.

"Well... to be honest, I don't remember up to a certain point after I became a Spirit. The only things from before then that I do remember are that Phantom... or I guess Rio gave me the Haniel Crystal, that I was human once, and that my wish when I agreed to take the crystal was 'to be accepted by the world', the rest is a blank."

Tohka thinks on that a bit.

'She doesn't remember meeting Rio in her Phantom disguise, and yet she knows she did. Something about that just doesn't add up.' Tohka thought, soon thinking a bit. "Hmm... I think I know how to help you ease your worries. For now, let's get some breakfast."

Natsumi wanted to say she wasn't hungry, but her stomach grumbled and made her blush.

"I knew it, a stomach doesn't lie." Tohka giggled, making Natsumi blush more before she followed Tohka to the kitchen.

Meanwhile at DEM Industries, Murdoch was watching a video feed showing Tenguu City, while also a secondary feed from deep in space the sight of three satellites moving was also being watched while a data screen had him set and control their movements.

"Alright, it's time to begin. Sorry Tenguu City... I have to wipe you off the map and the face of the Earth. I hope all the innocent people living inside don't mind I'll be sending them to their demise." Murdoch said, soon giving a cruel smirk.

'You'll thank me when Westcott's only link to power is severed. The word needs a Demon to burn into it so they can destroy the gate that summons the Devil before he ever comes. Sometimes you must sacrifice others for the sake of many more. I'm not afraid to do it.'

Soon, Murdoch sees the satellites fly over position... and presses the drop button as the parts latching them in orbit fire off, sending them to the ground before the atmospheric grip of gravity pulls them in.

Meanwhile in space, a familiar blonde Spirit opens her eyes as she turned to look and see the Humpty Dumpty satellites as they began falling towards Earth.

"Hmm... how strange, what oddity am I witnessing?" The emotionless Spirit wondered as she watched, soon quickly ignoring it and resuming her endless drifting. "It seems that there is an unfortunate fate that shall befall the world below that location."

She closes her eyes once more, resuming her endless drifting in her curled position.

Natsumi stared at her breakfast, blinking as she saw Tohka devour her 15th plate.

"Uh... Natsumi, you might wanna start or she may eat your share." Mana chuckled, soon getting closer. "And yeah, she eats that much almost daily. I think it's the fact her elemental power is energy."

"Yeah, I think I saw that when she saved me. That was before she started kicking stones, throwing crystals and blowing sand." Natsumi sweat dropped, soon taking a bit of her pancakes as the others all looked at Tohka.

"Oh, did I forget to mention that? It turns out I also have Earth powers too!" Tohka giggled, making Rinne bop her head lightly and chuckle.

"That's what I forgot about the Sandalphon region spirits! Of course, can't believe I forgot that. There was already fire, water and air, there had to be earth too." Rinne giggled, rubbing her head. "Sorry I didn't realize that earlier Tohka, but I guess figuring it out on your own helped your confidence."

Tohka blushed a bit, and soon Natsumi shook a bit as she teared up.

"This food... it's delicious." Natsumi cried, having not had anything so yummy in years. "And you cooked these Shido?"

"Yeah, glad to see you're enjoying them." Shido smiled, Natsumi blushed lightly before looking away. "Oh yeah, Reine wanted me to ask you this. Do you have a last name Natsumi?"

"Uh... no, why do you ask?" Natsumi wondered.

"Well, we need to register your citizenship status and you'll need a last name to avoid looking odd. We just wanted to make sure you had one first." Shido answered, soon thinking. "I guess we need to give you one, but what should it be?"

As everyone thinks, Tohka raises her hand.

"I'm guessing Tohka's got an idea, let's hear it." Rinne giggled.

"Right! I'm thinking her last name should be Itsuwari, it has a few meanings that relate to her powers. Those are False, Fiction, and Fabrication." Tohka stated, holding up her three fingers.

"She can be someone else which makes her a false version of them, when she transforms something she makes it a fabrication, and her powers are pretty much able to make something fictional real if she wanted. So... how about it Natsumi?"

Natsumi blinked for a moment and then...

"Natsumi Itsuwari... that name feels, right." Natsumi stated, soon smiling. "Yeah, I like it. My new last name."

"Didn't we name Yoshino a similar way? Eh, what the heck, if she's happy with it then why should I care about that detail?" Mana stated, waving her hand at her earlier comment. "Hey Natsumi, are you ready for what we've got planned today?"

"Uh... that depends, because I don't know what it is?" Natsumi asked, suddenly Mana snickers which worried Natsumi. "...Why do I suddenly have a bad feeling about this now? Mana, what are you planning to do!?"

Rinne sighs and pinches Mana's ear.

"Ow! Mom, stop it! It's not like I was trying to scare her into thinking it was something evil!" Mana cried, soon falling over as Rinne releases her ear. "OK, maybe that tone of laughter was kinda unnecessary."

"It's simple Natsumi, Shido's going to take you out on a date." Mayuri replied, finishing her salad. "That's all there is to it, the sooner you get your powers sealed the sooner the DEM loses all ways to trace where you are."

Natsumi blushes at the date aspect.

"OK... this is gonna feel weird, I don't think I'm ready for it." Natsumi stuttered, soon looking at Rio, Rinne and Mayuri while blinking. "Hey, wait a second... Tohka, didn't you say the only ones sealed were you, Origami, Yoshino, Kotori and Kurumi?"

"That's right, why?" Tohka asked.

"Then what about the rest of you? Rinne, Mayuri and Rio are all Spirits too." Natsumi inquired.

"We're a bit different Natsumi, I'm sorta technically sealed but not exactly due to Shido. Also, my seal is an actual limited. I can't really aid the others' in a fight right now if I wanted to." Rinne answered, loon petting Rio's head. "Rio here was born from my power, so she doesn't have a Sephira Crystal to seal."

Mayuri soon focuses her powers to show her disfigured and oddly shaped artificial Sephira Crystal inside her.

"And my Sephira Crystal was artificially made by Rio, so it's not like the ones you and the others have. Only the ten Spirits born from the genuine Sephira Crystals can be sealed, they're also the only Spirits that the DEM cares about." Mayuri answered, making Natsumi feel her heart where the Haniel Crystal was present.

"Is that why you're so important Haniel?" Natsumi asked.

[Aye Master, I'll go whatever road you want, but I would prefer you were safe. I don't want to see another host of mine die on me again.]

Natsumi smiled at that, no matter what she always at least had Haniel with her for all her years as a Spirit. Soon she noticed Mayuri and Rio both get up, Rio piggybacking on Mayuri's back.

"A little warning next time?" Mayuri winced, her back slightly in pain. "Well we're off Miss Rinne, hopefully we'll visit again soon once we actually get a clue on where Zodiac's at. By for now everyone!"

"Bye mama! Bye everyone, Rio and Mayuri promise to come back soon!" Rio smiled, waving as she and Mayuri disappeared.

"Huh?" Natsumi wondered confused.

"Rio and Mayuri are looking around the world for the remaining four Spirits, they found one but the one they're trying to find seems to have disappeared. They only come back home every once in a while." Shido answered, making Natsumi blink.

"...I guess I'll believe you on that." Natsumi replied, soon scratching her head. "So, uh... what are we doing for our date?"

Aww, that's so sweet! Natsumi's finally gotten on a somewhat friendly relationship with the others, but right now it's still awkward for her unless she's talking with Tohka, let's wish her luck in overcoming this everyone. She's already made some progress by being willing to stay in her true form around everyone, even though it's clear she's uncomfortable with it.

So it seems that the Haniel Crystal has an irregularity right now that's affecting her confidence and apparently making her only able to have doubts and negative thinking regardless of a situation, and at the same time that Natsumi claims she can't remember a period of life that includes the exact scenario of when she received her Sephira Crystal. How peculiar, what does this mean? Only I know... for now :3

Now it's time for Shido and Natsumi to begin their date, and yet at the same time we just saw Murdoch drop the Humpty Dumpty satellites over Tenguu City, how will Shido and the others deal with them once they finally get close enough to threaten the city? Worse, how will they do it now that Mayuri and Rio have left to resume their search for Mukuro who they still don't know actually isn't on Earth?

Hey, wait a second... was that Nia we just saw present in Tenguu City? We've seen her cameo a few times already, but we never saw where she is, just what is that Spirit up to? Not to mention how come no one's aware she's in there, something smells fishy right now with her, but for now it doesn't seem like we'll be getting any answers about what her reasons are.

Well, guess we'll see where things go next time as the remaining questions about Natsumi slowly come to light and everyone fights to stop the satellites from destroying the city. Oh, and yes, Marina calling Ellen "mother" is going to be a running gag from now. *chuckles* No offense Ellen, but you did kinda walk into that ^^;

Until next time everyone, stay awesome!

-Spirit Bond Levels-

Tohka - 86%

Origami - 83%

Yoshino - 78%

Kotori - 80%

Kurumi - 75%