Date A Re:Live
S2 Chapter 39: Miku Fantasia, 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]
I am on a roll today, three chapters in one! I think I'm just that excited to finally reach this scene I pushed through most of my boundaries. That... and I had a whole box of glazed donuts, so maybe I'm a wee bit hyper ^^;
Goodness, I can't believe I finally got to this point of the story, I've been wanting to reach this moment since like... well I actually forgot, but I've really wanted to reach it because of the idea I've had for it and can finally initiate! The only reason we're still continuing this performance of Miku's arc is because before anything else, while she can't be sealed, the Miku problem still needs to be taken care of.
That... and if I mentioned the final arc's name now, anyone versed in the Qliphoth will know what the surprise is, ruining the suspense for the scene in question ^^; *chuckles* Well, anyways... Tohka's gotta take the leader role due to Shido's kidnapping, and only she and the other Spirits will be able to do anything against the DEM because the rest of their forces are either inaccessible, inoperable, or injured due to the DEM's attack.
It's an interesting twist, having to make Tohka be the one to go and save Shido from the DEM, maybe I might make a separate story about that since Ellen was supposed to capture both of them. *shrugs* Eh, I'll think on it. There are some big surprises in this chapter I can't mention for the sake of suspense, but what I can say is I think one in particular will shock you. Not due to what the idea is, but how it shows up.
Well either way, time for the grand finale of Miku Fantasia and then... the final arc! *grabs the megaphone one last time* And... ACTION!
High up in the sky, Artemisia and Karen were dealing with Jessica, Chinami, the other remaining Adeptus and DEM wizards, and their automaton units as they battled within the Medusa's territory barrier. Artemisia swings the Nandaka, cutting through the remaining Medusa's and shattering the barrier to pieces.
"Damn it, they broke through!" Jessica growled, noticing Artemisia user her own territory to safely catch those who began falling in midair. At that moment, she and Chinami noticed Ellen flying out of Tenguu Square. "Wait, is that... yes! Mission success, all units disengage now!"
"What?" Karen said surprised, and soon turned to see all the Spirits across the ground outside while Ellen had Shido in hand. "They've captured Shido! Artemisia, we gotta stop her!"
Artemisia nodded as she moved the injured AST she caught to the ground, swinging her sword to scatter the other DEM wizards as she and Karen flew after Ellen. The fabled Adeptus 1 noticed them coming.
"Let Shido go!" Artemisia shouted, her and Karen swing their weapons down on Ellen, but the DEM's greatest wizard simply swiped Caliburn at their blades, blocking both of them in their tracks. "What!?"
"It's cute how you expected that to work. Admittedly Artemisia, you could have given me trouble if you were fresh instead of the sorry state the others left you in. While you, little sister, on the other hand?" Ellen replied, soon smirking. "You were always second to me!"
Suddenly, Caliburn emits a flash and the two were shot into the Tengu Square building, left in the same state the rest of the AST was. Meanwhile from the Fraxinus, Mayuri was pouring the bit of electricity she had from spare batteries she was carrying to show the visual screen best she could.
"My god, this is... I haven't seen us in such an awful state since 12 years ago, and that's when the DEM was clearly above us. To see this after how we've been able to fight back... it's a nightmare." Reine replied, the sight of the entire AST put out of commission, the Fraxinus inoperable and based on Maria's attempt to contact the base?
Well... they didn't seem to have access to anything or anyone still there, there was only one group who wasn't down and even they weren't in the best condition. The only thing Ratatoskr had left as of this moment, was the Spirits minus Miku and Nia who had fled and had unknown whereabouts respectively.
"Hey sis? Me, Rio, Maria and Mayuri are gonna go down there and try to help them. Right now, they need us." Rinne stated, and Reine nodded. Normally she'd advice Rinne to stay on the ship, but this situation was just too serious. "Thank you, and please make sure Mana's OK."
Rinne teleported the four off the ship, leaving Reine to sweat in worry.
"...Just what did they want Shido for that Westcott would actually ignore every other Spirit he's worked so hard to try and capture up until now? Just what's going on?" Reine asked herself, biting her nails slightly.
The other Spirits groaned as they fully regained consciousness and took a look around, noticing they were all outside.
"Huh? Hey, anyone know how we got here? I remember Miku Inverting and then... that's it." Kotori asked, the others all looked at each other showing similar confusion and uncertainty.
"Uh... I think Miku screamed and then, that's all I can think of. No wait, something about us falling to the ground?" Natsumi answered, not even fully sure of her answer. Suddenly the sound of Tohka's crying reached her ears. "Wait, I hear Tohka, and she's crying! Anyone see her?"
Everyone looks, and then Yoshino spots her.
"She's over there." Yoshino said, pointing towards her. The others all rush over, and soon Yoshino puts a hand on Tohka, making the purple haired look at her with her eyes still sobbing like waterfalls. "What's wrong Tohka, why are you crying?"
"Actually, where's Shido at?" Kurumi asked, looking around. Everyone heard Tohka's crying get louder as she pointed at the sky. "The sky? Why would... wait a moment... We can't remember how we got here, were all outside on the ground, Tohka's crying, Shido's not here and she points at the-"
At that moment, all the Spirits pale, putting two and two together.
"Shido was kidnapped!?" Kaguya screamed in shock.
"This is serious, and I still don't recall all the details of what happened. Though it seems Tohka is aware... although I doubt we'll get her to talk about it any time soon." Yuzuru replied, a worried look on her face. "What do we do now?"
At that moment, Rinne and the non-Sephira Spirits all appear alongside Maria.
"Guys, follow me. I'll explain everything... when we escape Miku's hypnotized mob!" Rinne shouted, pointing to the people coming out of Tenguu Square who still had the glowing eyes despite Miku's Inversion had already faded off. Everyone panics and runs, with Origami having to run back briefly and grab the partially catatonic Tohka.
Meanwhile, in a room at DEM Industries' Main Branch, Shido found himself slowly waking up and only able to see white briefly.
"Huh? What... what happened, why does it feel like I'm suffering a hangover?" Shido asked groggily, soon blinking enough to see he was in some kind of building. While initially he was confused to where he was... it only took a few moments for his memories to remind him. "No... this is..."
It was the same building he, Mana and Tohka had been captured in over 30 years ago... the original building that the DEM began from. He saw himself bound to a chair by cuffs and a few wires, he tried to break them free one.
"I don't think so." Ellen's voice stated.
Suddenly he felt Ellen's territory hit him, before additional territories created by Medusa units kept him down as well.
"Don't think we're foolish, we know how easily you'd be able to escape if we let that trick you apparently call Over-Limit Spirit Ascension be used. We have every intent to hold you down." Ellen continued, soon walking into view alongside the Medusa units as Shido stared at her angrily. "Ike, why don't you tell him why he's here?"
Shido looked to see Westcott enter the room as the walls suddenly spread apart, his usual smug look on his face.
"Well, well. It's nice to finally meet you face to face. I don't believe we got that chance when you were last here 30 years ago, such a shame." Westcott greeted, Shido stared at him angrily. "You know, I can't tell. Is it him or that younger sister of his that's more stubborn in defying me?"
"If you want my personal opinion, its Tohka Yatogami that fits that. To have become the Spirit known as [Princess] just to oppose you with him." Ellen answered, getting Westcott's attention at that. "She was also a captive alongside them 30 years ago, how ironic fate was."
Westcott suddenly began chuckling.
"So [Princess] was the child of those two naive fools we had killed? Amazing!" Westcott replied, chuckling a bit. "How incredibly funny this is. For someone who claimed everything was going to her plan, that mother of yours doesn't have a clue on what's actually going on!"
"You scum, don't you dare talk about my-" Shido exclaimed, only for Ellen to increase the Medusa's territories on him. Westcott gives him a dark stare after that.
"You're in no mood to talk, especially since by all means you've stolen from me in a sense. Your father took something from me when he met his grave here, and you have something I want." Westcott stated, making Shido growl at him. "Now what is it I wonder?"
Shido didn't say anything, and Westcott smirked.
"Be silent all you want, it'll mean nothing when faced with this realizer. So... tell me if it tickles, or makes you scream in agony."
Shido feels himself being shocked heavily, and suddenly...
"It's gotta be some materials that let him pass on the ability to seal Spirits to me!" Shido shouted, suddenly gasping as he somehow answered the question he refused to give Westcott an answer to.
"Look at that, it works and is painful. So that's how you do it." Westcott smirked, making Shido scowl at him. "Shame we lost that, though it looks like ultimately Seigo gave it to a better candidate. Someone who could wrap the Spirits under his thumb and gather all their power into one container."
Shido's eyes widened at that.
"What do you intend to do?" Shido demanded.
"Hmm... that's a good question." Westcott stated, soon walking out of the area with Ellen as a clear wall of some unknown yet strong polymer fibers formed. After passing one, Westcott turned around as he stood by the door and hit a button. "Why don't you ask her?"
Shido was confused, unaware of the wires attached to him injecting some kind of hallucinogenic fluid, until the sight of Tohka suddenly being thrown in came into his view. Another glass wall forming as the hallucination of Tohka looked at him.
"Shido! Don't worry, I'll get you out of here!" 'Tohka' shouted, preparing to form her Astral Dress when Shido saw something behind her.
"TOHKA, LOOK OUT!" Shido screamed, and the illusionary Tohka looked at Shido confused until an unknown yet massive DEM automaton suddenly grabbed Tohka and stretched her body, making her scream in pain. "Stop this... don't! Don't do this!"
His words wouldn't be answered, and at that moment... a loud sounding snap was heard, as were many other horrible noises Shido refused to properly identity. He didn't see what happened, almost like his body blinded him temporarily so he wouldn't... but his ears didn't decide to block out his hearing.
Unaware it was just a hallucination, oblivious to the fact that Tohka wasn't anywhere close to the building or aware Shido was at it, unaware that the automaton he saw didn't exist... Shido's whole body shook at the false reality of hearing Tohka's death.
"No... this can't... please say it's a bad dream!" Shido's stated, his voice shaking with horror and sadness. His eyes shedding tears as he began to cry. "Tohka..."
Memories of the two flash through his mind. When they first met 30 years ago, when he met Tohka again in her Inverse Form and named her Mio while both didn't remember each other, their first kiss after he saved her, their life at the Takamiya household, their first date, each time she was there to help him with the spirits.
The good and bad times, the happy and sad times, moments Tohka got angry or scared... her huge appetite and all the odd reactions, her innocent and naivete and how it made things funny yet had her seem so cute... and how it was now all cut down in a single moment.
"Tohka..." Shido gasped, his eyes faded into pools of darkness. "TOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHKAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"
Suddenly dark spirit power flares off of Shido, manifesting as a dark pink color. Westcott laughs as he saw it come out.
"Finally, this is what I wanted to see! [Ruler] may not be able to undergo an Inversion, but someone with her power and the power of Spirits with the taint allows their inversion, we have finally done it! The Domain of Knowledge, it has inverted!" Westcott cackled, seeing the power flowing out. "Now, the question is how to make it-"
Suddenly Marina rushes in, panting heavily.
"GET OUT OF HERE, NOW!" Marina screamed, causing Westcott and Ellen to turn confused... only for the highest level warning signs to go off in DEM as Shido screams loudly, shattering the territories binding.
The sight of dark spirit power in not just dark pink, but the colors of dark purple, tainted white, dark blue, dark red, deep black, dark green and dark orange also flare off him and actually shatter the supposedly unbreakable walls, destroying every Medusa, and damaging Marina's android body as she jumped ahead and took a blow meant for Westcott and Ellen.
"What's going on here!?" Ellen asked, suddenly feeling fear.
"This is... this wasn't supposed to happen, the only powers that should react to him are-"
"For some so called genius, you are nothing more than a fool!" A dark voice spoke, coming from Shido's body, but not his mouth. The sight of a pink serpent like eye forms on Shido's chest. "Isn't this what wanted? Well, you got what you want... the Devil has been born!"
Soon from outside, a bright flash went off as most of the DEM's Main HQ exploded! The people of England all looked in horror as they saw what was going on, and dark tendrils take root in the ground as disasters based on the elements of the sealed Spirits began to manifest and form.
Meanwhile back in Ratatoskr's base, the alarms went off as everyone trapped within suddenly heard it. Elliot rolled his wheelchair into view as he turned to Matthew and Mildred, the only one who could check the readings that set the alarms off.
"Matthew, Mildred, what's going on!? Hurry!" Elliot ordered, and Matthew checked to his horror. "What is it!?"
"Sir, I'm getting some strange reading... what's this [Category F] we're getting?" Matthews asked, making Elliot's eyes widen and worrying everyone. "S-Sir... what's going on? What is this?"
Elliot's whole body shook, the very thing he and Rinne feared was now a reality... the beginning of the end.
"Westcott... you damn fool you've actually caused it? Now everyone is doomed!" Elliot stated, shocking everyone.
"What do you mean, tell us?" Mildred asked worriedly.
"...I need to be honest with you, when we claimed the Spirit Dimension was destroyed, we didn't say the full truth. True there's a void where it used to be, but... the fact magic came to our world. The fact people were born with it, and those magical cores give a taste of the power of a Spirit." Elliot began, sweating in pure terror.
"The Spirit Dimension... it still lives, because the energy that flooded out with Rinne fused into ours. For that very reason, upon learning of the Inversions there was something we could never let happen. Something... that Shido had the power to be the harbinger of."
Everyone stared, the revelation shocking them... but Elliot pretty much said it got worse.
"That's what [Category F], because..." Elliot answered, looking up as his sweat starts to drip of his face and to the ground. "...It's Shido's Inversion!"
Everyone gasped at that.
Soon back at the sight of the DEM building, Westcott was seen on the ground, the partially damaged android of Marina and Ellen both shake him as the sight of his injured bloodied form worried them he had been killed.
"Father, wake up! Wake up damn it!" Marina screamed, accidentally punching his gut and making him shoot up. "You're alive! And... sorry about that! Oh, and you might wanna see this."
"What is..." Westcott asked, but stopped as he saw it.
Soon the sight of evil laughter was heard, and the metal tree first seen when Rinne's powers went out of control had made a reappearance... but this time it was black and more twisted.
The gems on its body had the gold/yellow, indigo and silver spots were dimmed and each was like a serpent's eye with the pink one being largest, its roots continued spreading as the elements of the Spirits that Shido sealed continued to begin plaguing the world.
"Get ready Humanity, our revenge is now! I am the one who shall cast judgment on you... I am the true Demon King! The soul and will of the Qliphoth! I am... Choronzon!" The newly christened Choronzon screamed maniacally as he announced himself to the world.
Back in Tenguu City, the Spirits had all gathered in an unfinished construction site, all of them taking a moment to stop and rest as Rinne nudges Mayuri, causing the Electric spirit to take out her phone.
"First thing's first, let me explain the situation starting with what's going on with those people. Cause technically it started from that point. Mayuri?" Rinne asked.
"Right, tapping into the broadcast now." Mayuri replied.
Soon the video begins playing as everyone but Tohka begins to watch it and learn what was going on outside currently.
"The sight of many with glowing indigo eyes acting strange as if they were searching for something specific is currently plaguing all of Tenguu City, all we can confirm is around 5 PM this afternoon around Tenguu Square... the building took damage an unknown hallucinogen began to affect everyone within." The reporter stated, showing video.
"The method behind using it and the damage prior to its administration, as for how it was administered at all is still unknown and evidence has shown no results. However, it spread like a wildfire and shows no times of fading in the immediate future, and the number of affected is at least in the tens of thousands!"
"My god... and Miku's voice did this when she Inverted?" Origami asked, shaking slightly.
"Well, technically her voice and the stage's speakers did it, but the glowing eyes are all her... you guys were enthralled by it as well." Mayuri answered, making them all gasp. "It seems without an Astral Dress on or your eyes blocked from any sound, both confirmed through Tohka, a Spirit can fall to her voice."
Everyone showed shock and horror to this.
"Wait, so that would mean... did we attack Shido and Tohka?" Kotori asked, and Rinne nodded. "Oh my god, I feel so awful and I don't even remember what I did!"
"Rio was scared too, Mama's power kept us safe from it, but Rio was still scared." Rio replied, hugging Rinne close. "Though Rio was happy when Tohka saved everyone."
"Yeah, Tohka realized Miku's Demon King would free you if she gave it a good slash in the frame structure. Took all she had for her just to reach it." Maria answered, soon giving her a somber look. "However, regardless of Miku's inversion had a role... the DEM planned for the whole situation."
All of Shido's harem began to sweat.
"First, they got the AST's attention and then once they made sure everyone was present, trapped them using new automatons. Ellen snuck it right as Tohka freed you... but she was too weak, and Ellen revealed her somewhat immunity to certain Spirit powers as Miku failed to control her." Maria continued, her hand tightening.
"She claimed she'd capture all of you and Tohka, and in response that made Tohka throw Shido to safety for an attack... that was the feint. Shido was her only target, he was KOd, and Tohka couldn't do anything. The moment you woke up was after Ellen literally slammed you all outside. Miku ran off after that. So... that's how Shido got kidnapped and we all got here."
Everyone gasped.
"No... Shido!" Yoshino whispered, suddenly crying a bit.
"I can't believe we let this all happen... we're supposed to be Spirits damn it!" Kaguya shouted, punching the wall. "Where is he, we gotta save him!"
Rinne sighed.
"We don't know, it has to be a DEM facility but we don't know which one. It could be any." Rinne answered, soon standing up and turning her back to everyone. "Worse? All access to Ratatoskr's base is gone, everyone within it is trapped. The Fraxinus' systems was fried by Miku's voice, and... the entire AST is injured and unable to fight."
"What, the whole AST? Are you serious?" Yuzuru asked in surprise.
"I am... take a look at yourselves everyone, the only people left in Ratatoskr who can do anything right now is us. The DEM had a major victory against us, and put us in our darkest hour." Rinne said, barely holding herself together. "The only ones who can save Shido are us. Yet, I'm so lost, and worse... look at Tohka."
Everyone did, seeing how unresponsive she was from what happened, she was blaming herself entirely for letting Shido get captured... and who could blame her? She couldn't have known, but throwing Shido had been the nail in the coffin for the success of the DEM's plan.
"If only we had someone to help us find him, but who!?" Kurumi grunted, feeling helpless.
"Did someone ask for help?"
Everyone's eyes widened at that, and soon enough a familiar silver haired spirit walked into view. It was the Spirit known as the Imagination Spirit, or the code name [Sister] by Ratatoskr and the DEM... Nia Honjou.
"Nia, why are you here!?" Mayuri asked, surprised she even showed up.
"Well for one, since she's not able to reach anyone who could tell her and because none of you seem to be able to sense it. Not to mention it seemed to have failed to reach Tenguu City yet..." Nia answered, opening Raziel as text formed. "I think Ms. First Spirit over here would like to know this."
Rinne looked as she saw the page's text... only to pale at the mention of [Category F]'s activation having been achieved.
"No... Westcott, that bastard! He actually managed to do it! Damn it, now it's likely we've entered Armageddon!" Rinne screamed, smashing her fist into the wall.
"Mama, what's this... F thing?" Rio said, unable to pronounced the word category.
"...Its Shido's Inversion." Rinne answered, getting the others' attention as their faces showed shock and horror. "And worse is all the power within Shido inverts with him. Right now, he's essentially nine Inverse Spirits in one. Worse is right now, his powers and ripping the world apart. That tells us where he is... and ow long before it reaches here."
Before anyone could ask more, Tohka finally gets up and responds, only to suddenly rush at Nia and grab her Astral Dress as she stared angrily at her with tear eyes, the others tried to stop her but Nia held a hand up to prevent them.
"This is your fault, all of it! You're the one who sent Miku here and lead to all of this! You trained her to be a threat to us, and made it so we had to try when we were already in a dire situation with what he had to deal with!" Tohka screamed, crying as she did.
"You think this is some kinda game? Well it's not! All of us love Shido, I've always loved Shido! Now what you've caused has only hurt the entire world, and Shido's been risking his life, even when the Spirits are ungrateful brats like you! Maybe we should let your crystal go to someone else and-"
Nia slaps Tohka right at that moment, knocking her into the wall to everyone's surprise.
"You really think I intended this!?" Nia asked, making Tohka look at her as she held her slapped cheek. "What's happening to the world affects me too, if there's anyone to blame it's the DEM who outsmarted us all yet didn't know the fire they were burning with. Go ahead and be mad... but is it going to help you save him!?"
Tohka's eyes widened.
"If anything, this is why I told Shido he wasn't ready to seal me, look at this whole situation. The DEM finally achieved victory after suffering constant defeats from you. You've succeeded a lot, and losing can be beneficial... but so is knowing what loss is an acceptable one. I had Miku show up, I'll admit it, but it was to teach you that you have to adapt to unexpected and you didn't do that with the DEM's plans, in fact they adapted to you."
All of the Spirits stared before they hung their heads down, and Nia was right... their strategies kept working, they didn't change them. The DEM eventually knew them too well and they paid for it, and this was their payment. Nia soon kneeled down to Tohka.
"So, what are you gonna do about this? The boy you love is trapped in a monster born of his own power, and by all means you're the leader of the Spirits considering your experience with Shido." Nia asked, making Shido's eyes widen.
" What I want most in life is to protect you, so I can always hold you close like right now. " Tohka's 7-year old self exclaimed, smiling at Shido.
Tohka's mouth quivered before she stood up and gave a serious look, making the others turn to shock.
"I'm going to save Shido, even if I have to do it alone! I promised him I'd protect him and I'm not going back on that promise now!" Tohka exclaimed, tightening her fist as she Nia smirked at her determination. "All the training I've done, everything I've worked forward recently. I'm going to prove Sandalphon was right to choose me!"
"There it is, the passionate flare in your eyes." Nia smiled, soon turning as she opened Raziel. "Now I guess all that's left is to get Miku on your side, then all the Spirits will be gathered to rescue Shido from that best sitting on what used to be the main branch of DEM."
Rinne showed surprised.
"Wait, but there's only-" Rinne interjected, only for Nia to wag her finger. "Huh?
"Simple, I can get in contact with the final Spirit. She'd only be aiding us indirectly from where she is, but we'd still get her aid, plus this beast only has the powers of the sealed Spirits. Having three it lacks is better than just two." Nia answered, making everyone gasp.
"Wait, you mean..." Kotori asked.
"Well duh? This is my home too, and I'd like to keep making my manga series. I ain't a fan of the world being destroyed." Nia answered, smirking a bit. "That makes getting Miku all we have left, so how about you and I gather some info and take care of that Tohka?"
Tohka blinks at that.
"Huh?" Tohka wondered.
"You got Natsumi and the Yamai twins on Shido's side, I think you'll do well if you went three for three." Nia answered, crossing her arms behind her head. "Though if you rely on Raziel to get all the answers about her I don't have any reason to believe you'll seal me later. So... show me you can discover her story without it."
Rinne sighs.
"You really have to pull this now? Well, I guess we would need every hand since we're literally all that can save my son now." Rinne stated, soon holding a hand out. "Fine, we'll agree to your term. Just keep your word."
"Wouldn't dream of breaking Ms. First, I'm a spirit of my word." Nia replied, shaking Rinne's hand. "Now I can at least tell you where to start looking, the one place a person can't hide their true self is their room. Figure that out and I'll bring Tohka to where Miku's hidden herself."
Around 5 minutes after Nia's task to discover the truth about Miku's past themselves, everyone went out to do something.
While Tohka waited with Nia, and the others went to get any provisions, materials and what not they could, Natsumi and Kurumi were using the latter's shadow to sneak past the still hypnotized people.
"You pretty sure you figured out Miku's residence?" Kurumi asked, and Natsumi nodded.
"Yeah, my brief transformation into her shows she was there before she came to the Ten-Oh Festival. Should be right over... found out!" Natsumi stated, pointing to a small mansion with a gate. 'Admittedly, getting to Rindouji from this place would take forever. Wonder why she doesn't attend Raizen aside from the boy thing?"
Kurumi uses her shadows to slide them under the gate, and soon they reach the door.
"Alright, let's hope the alarm doesn't trip off or we'll get some crazy fans over here." Kurumi breathed, firing Zafkiel at the door lock... nothing. "OK, we're safe."
Kurumi opens it, and soon they walk through the house until they find Miku's personal room. While looking around for something, Natsumi gasped as she pulled something out of the dresser.
"Oh wow, take a look at this Kurumi!" Natsumi giggles, showing a very... bold bra, making Kurumi blush red. "I know Miku and I are just as humongous when it comes to our bust lines, but she's so daring. I could almost fit my face into one of these crazy cups."
"Natsumi, be serious! We're facing a possible end of the world if we can't save Shido!" Kurumi shouted, still blushing. Natsumi pouted playfully and put it back, knocking over a CD case.
"I think I found something." Natsumi replied, soon picking it up. She showed it to Kurumi who took a look before holding it by a picture she had found. "Tsukino Yoimachi... looks just like Miku without the spirit eyes. Though why that name?"
Kurumi hummed a bit, soon holding the two objects to her head as she loaded a shot form Zafkiel.
[Alright Master, let's take a peek into the past!]
Kurumi fired, making her head ring as she saw the memory, blinking a bit,
"Looks like Miku's been on the stage for more than just a single year like we thought she was." Kurumi replied, soon kneeling by her shadow. "Shincho, send this over to Tohka and Nia, would you?"
"You got it Kurumi!" Shincho replied from within her shadow, the clone soon breaking off to find them.
Soon enough, Tohka saw Shincho form before her and Nia.
"I think we've got our answer, let me share it with you." Shincho stated, moving by Tohka before aiming Zafkiel at both their heads, and firing a shot that makes Tohka's eyes roll. "Use it well, I better get back to Kurumi for now."
Shincho sinks back into her shadow and heads back to Miku.
"So let's see, tell me what you learned." Nia asked, and soon Tohka whispers to her and then... she smirks. "Impressive, I can say right now that's exactly what her story is. Now... show me you can open her heart, I'll send you over to her, after that, I'll finally get in contact with our final Spirit."
Nia grabs Tohka, and teleports her over to... Tenguu Square?
"Huh, what the- what are we here?" Tohka wondered.
"That's the funny part, seems after you all left she came back to hide out. I guess it's the logic that often one won't check the place they leave, making it the best place to go because you'll be hiding in plain sight." Nia answered, making Tohka blink. "Don't worry about it, it's not the point behind you being here anyways."
Suddenly the two hear a voice on the loud speaker, and soon a familiar songstress' voice picked up.
"[You... the girl that was with that pig Shido Takamiya! Why are you here? Whatever the reason, I'm going to ask you to leave now, if you don't... I'll make you regret it by forcing you to leave!]" Miku declared, causing the mind controlled people to suddenly start swarming them. "[Get that girl!]"
"Oh boy, how do I deal with this? I can't heart innocent people!" Tohka said worriedly, making Nia tap her shoulder. "Nia?"
Nia opens her book and writes something before ripping copies of the pages out with spirit mana.
"Not to worry, I'll get them to fold their efforts. After all... I've already folded there. Go my Kirigami!" Nia declared, tossing the papers out.
The papers all grow and transform into waters made of paper. They all grab a person, and soon gave them a sleeper hold before binding them with their bodies. Tohka watched as they were harmless beaten.
"This is Raziel's special form I call the Kirigami, it lets me write a command and my paper soldiers follow it without question or hesitation." Nia answer, smirking as she was sure Miku noticed her by now. Inside the building, Miku finally does.
"Wait, who is that with her?" Miku asked, looking closer... and recognizing Nia. "T-That... that's the Spirit who showed me how to use my powers, why's she helping this girl!? Why is she even here?"
Miku sweated, soon trying to find a way to escape as she began running, after a few minutes she reaches the stage area... only for Tohka to cut the wall down, but she quickly noticed she only had her Limit Astral Dress.
"Wait, why's my power weakened?" Tohka inquired.
"It's possible it's the effect of Shido's Inversion, it must have taken more power from you all than you realized. Aside from those not sealed, you're not at your strongest right now." Nia answered, making Tohka sweat.
"Now you see why we need to do this? Nine weakened spirits and, a Spirit based AI, a defensive spirit and a spirit who requires lightning will have a disadvantage. You need more diversity in your team."
Tohka chuckles nervously and nods, soon looking at Miku.
"Miku! I came here to talk with you, please listen to me! My name's Tohka Yatogami and-" Tohka began, only for a sonic blast to narrowly miss her and Nia.
"Shut your mouth! Come... Gabriel!"
Gabriel manifested as a translucent floating keyboard, and soon some fans began moving from the ground, prepared to subdue the two.
"I've got this. Kirigami!" Nia shouted, writing a sentence ripping page copies. This time the order was to restrain everyone, making the paper soldiers cross their arms and lock the movements of the hypnotized civilians to Miku's shock. "Come now Miku, I helped you learn how to use these powers. Due to that, I know their weaknesses too."
"No! Stop this, stay away!" Miku shouted, almost begging.
"Tohka, this is likely your only chance, you need to reach her now or we won't have the time to track her again." Nia reasoned, making Tohka nod as she jumped closer. 'I just hope she can do it... Miku's heart became so hardened for a strong reason.'
Gabriel screamed out a sonic blast, knocking Tohka back again. Just as Miku prepared another blast.
"RAPHAEL!"
Miku suddenly saw two arrows fly at her, she moved back as they exploded on the ground. Tohka saw Kaguya and Yuzuru float from above, smiling at her in their own ways.
"You guys made, it but... wait then does that mean?" Tohka asked, soon seeing lightning storm by as Mayuri appeared behind Miku.
"You got it Tohka, Nia alerted all of us." Mayuri smiled, and soon Miku turned to see the rest of the Spirits corner her from all sides, blocking every path of escape she could have used to get away. "We wanna talk Miku, so actually listen!"
Miku's body shook before she prepared to shout another sonic scream.
"Kurumi, her mouth! Cover it and she's defenseless" Tohka warned.
Kurumi had her shadows constrict Miku's mouth, rendering her powers useless as her voice couldn't be projected, and soon Tohka felt herself and Miku sink into Kurumi's shadow.
"Use my realm of shadows to talk with her, she'll be forced to listen while she's trapped inside of it." Kurumi stated, making Tohka nod before she and Miku fully sink in. "Good luck Tohka, we're all counting on you."
"Yeah... and you know, that's probably why she's the number one girl in the whole harem here." Natsumi stated, making the others sweat drop at the obvious. "What?"
Tohka soon feels herself fall on her face, soon getting up and shaking it as she saw Miku stand in front of her with her back turned.
"Miku-"
"I have nothing to discuss with you, do you hear me! It's already bad enough I'm in this strange place and can't use my powers! Just go away, stay back!" Miku screamed, still having her back turned.
"Please Miku, you need to hear me out. You don't know what's-" Tohka tried to reply, and Miku screamed in response. "...going on?"
Miku's fists tightened.
"Shut your mouth! Just be quiet!" Miku screamed again, her eyes closed. "Not a single word, the last thing I want is to talk to you or anyone else! Especially after you humiliated me!"
Tohka had a [?] form over her head, confused what Miku meant by that.
"...Then you can stay made at me, just listen!" Tohka exclaimed, and Miku didn't say anything so she took it as a green light. "You remember Shido right? During the uproar, a wizard from DEM who's got a vendetta for me, she captured him, and now he's undergone an Inversion. One that could destroy the whole world!"
Miku's eyes opened at that, but she didn't turn. At the very least she kept listening as to make that kind of claim, it had to be serious.
"I'm going to do everything I can to save him and the Earth, and I'm not alone. My friends, the other Spirits, Nia, and another are all going to do this, but I don't think we'll be enough on your own. Miku... I'm begging you, please help me!" Tohka begged, making Miku finally turn around.
"What?" Miku gasped.
"Shido's Inversion has all the powers of the Spirits that Shido's sealed. Even if Rinne, Rio, Mayuri and Maria, not to mention Nia and the remaining Spirit... that may not be enough to save him and save the world. If you join us, we might-"
Miku screamed again, throwing Tohka off.
"I refuse! Why would I do anything for someone like you!?" Miku seethed. "Stop it with your nonsense, with your lies! I know you have an ulterior motive! Humans beings are all selfish, none of you are capable of caring about someone the way you claim to!"
Tohka stared at that, and soon knew she had to drop the bomb.
"...I get it, you've been burned before, haven't you Tsukino Yoimachi?" Tohka said, making Miku's eyes widen as she heard Tohka say her old stage name.
"Yeah... I've heard your old name, and I know the truth too. You were a human once just like the rest of us Spirits... well excluding Rinne, Maria and I guess Rio but that's not the point. Do you really hate humans, or is that how you hide you hate yourself? I can't claim I understand it, but... I'd like to if you'd tell me."
Miku went silent for a moment, and turned her head away.
"Fine, you win... I'll tell you everything. Until a year ago I was a normal girl who just loved music more than anything." Miku answered, starting to reminisce.
The sight of Miku, before her days as a Spirit and on the stage as an idol, the same smile everyone saw her show when she sang in the Ten-Oh festival on her face but with a radiance showing it was always there.
"My songs were all I had growing up, and I wanted nothing more to be able to make a career out of it and reach so many people. When I became 15... that dream finally came true. Everyone loved my songs, and it gave me great joy." Miku explained.
The sight of Miku waving to all her fans as they cheered her on appeared, her smile still as bright as ever.
"However, things changed the day my first album dropped. My manager set me up with a producer from a TV station, something about a decent opportunity. At one point, however that producer asked me to be extra nice with him." Miku stated, a somber tone in her words.
"Uh... sorry, I'm not sure what that means. Is it a bad thing?" Tohka asked.
"In this particular situation, it was. I refused him of course, but only because I didn't want to be a TV Star anyways. Just make music for myself and the people who loved it." Miku answered, and then... Tohka heard her voice trembling. "...that's when it all went wrong."
The sight of a magazine stating {Tsukino Yoimachi - "Days filled with men, money and drugs. What is the truth hidden in the shadows of innocent?"}, a complete scandal mentioning the producer in question caught Miku's eye to her horror.
"The producer create a whole scandal about me in a weekly magazine. No one, not even my agency was there to protect me." Miku revealed, and Tohka gasped as she saw the extension in what she learned through Shincho. "What hurt me the most though? It was the brutal reaction of people I thought had been my fans was the worst."
Miku watched as someone smashed one of her album's CDs onto a table, breaking it into pieces as her eyes could only shake at the sight.
"I tried to take comfort in my music, hoped that maybe... listening to it would make them come around and see the truth that the scandal was a lie. That's when the worst happened..." Miku continued.
Miku was seen holding a concert as everyone stared, and she tried to sing... only for her eyes to widen as she realized her voice failed to project.
"...The stress became too much, and I was diagnosed with psychological aphonia. In other words, all the suffering made me mute." Miku replied, her voice shaking as Tohka stared in shock. "Soon enough, I was at home... and I finally broke down in tears with a silent scream, and all I could think from there... was suicide."
Miku was seen with a knife, and just as she was about to end it... suddenly saw the sight of Rio, in her disguise of Phantom, stopping her.
"But it didn't happen, someone calling themselves the Phantom came to me, and offered me the Gabriel Crystal. When I heard I could have my voice restored, I didn't care about anything else. I just wanted to sing again!" Miku cried.
Miku's transformation into Diva was seen, and eventually... the slow process of her becoming a horrible person without even realizing the change.
Tohka stared as Miku, her hair shadowing her eyes.
"You see? I stood up for myself, for my pride... and all it left me with was those evil men nearly stealing my voice forever!" Miku cried, her whole body shaking.
"That's awful, it still surprises me how even the minority of bad people left after the Spacequakes... can do so much damage. No one should turn their back on someone suffering like that, it isn't right!" Tohka exclaimed, making Miku look at her surprised. "But you can't blame everyone for what a few people did."
"And what would you know about it!?" Miku asked, sure she'd have no answer.
"...More than you realize, because around 8 months ago I didn't even have an identity." Tohka answered, making Miku gasp silently. "I lost all my memories, all I ever knew was being attacked and defending myself. Then when I found another Spirit, instead of trying to be friends, it attacked me... and I inverted."
Miku went silent at that.
"I was sure that was it, nothing was left for me. I was so close to being willing in taking lives by the time of 5 months ago. However, that's when I met Shido, he told me he wouldn't reject me even if the world then. Slowly but surely, I remembered I knew him, that I loved him. So trust me Miku, there are plenty of people out there who love listening to your music, why else would you not you use your powers at the Ten-Oh Festival?"
"No... no, you're wrong!" Miku exclaimed, shaking her head.
I'm not, you just can't see that because you're too scared to walk back out and see it! I get it... something like that effects your trust in people, but you'll be afraid the rest of your life if you can't face your fears! And I want to hear your real voice, the one that isn't carrying the burden you have now!" Tohka declared.
Miku stared in shock at that.
"No... without this power, who'd listen to me!? I'm nothing without my-"
"I'd listen to you Miku! Shido would! All of us would!" Tohka screamed, making Miku freeze up. "In fact, I did listen, I didn't realize it was you... but I bought that CD 3 months ago. I started with one song, but I found myself listening to every song before I knew it. I heard your passion, I even heard it during the festival!"
Miku's eyes shake.
"No... I won't believe it, if that was true then why did no one come to my defense? I was alone with my back against the wall!" Miku demanded.
"I don't know... but know this, at the very least I'm going to be here! If you say you'd have nothing without your power, then know you have me! If you still can't believe, then I'll prove it... if you got into a situation like the one Shido's in, I'll save you without hesitation!"
Miku stared in shock.
'Why? Why is she so determined to prove something... she'll just break her promise, I know it!' Miku thought.
Suddenly the two felt the realm shake, and suddenly both were forced out. When Tohka came to, she gasped as everyone kneeling or laying across the ground, having just been hit by something.
"What... what just happened!?" Tohka breathed.
"Nahemah."
Tohka was suddenly hit by a dark purple wave of energy, only barely managing to defend against it by pulling out Sandalphon at the last moment. She pants a bit before looking and her eyes widening in horror at what she saw.
"No... that's impossible! Tohka gasped.
The others soon got up, but aside from Rinne, Kotori and Origami, the sight before them wasn't as familiar. Floating towards the ground stood a teenage girl the same age as Tohka with very long, dark purple-to-white gradient hair tied back with a ribbon that looked like an evil dark violet butterfly with point edges, but a large portion of her hair remained untied as well.
Her eyes were a soft pink color with white irises, and she wore a dark violet dress attached with black laces and a set of grayish magenta-and-dark pink plated armor which adorned her shoulders and waist. The dress was open at the back and the front, in which exposed most of her skin and a two-layered, knee-length skirt.
"Sandalphon? Nahemah, why does this person have that Angel?" The girl asked her Demon King.
[I am unsure, but the fact she possesses my other side at all is insulting to me. We should eliminate her now to cleanse us of this mockery.]
Tohka shook, recognizing the person before her all too well? Because this person before her was...
"No way... why? You and I are supposed to share the same form, how are you here!?" Tohka stuttered, soon holding Sandalphon out defensively. "Why are you here... Inverse Tohka!?"
...herself, her dark self! Everyone stared in shock and horror, an Inverse Form stood before them, but now as a separate being.
Oh! That nightmare did become a reality, but just not in the way you might have expected it to manifest! Its Inverse Tohka, and with a Nahemah that has its own, and also much more sinister, personality! Also for once... Westcott's learned the hard way that he played with something he should have, and by breaking it he did more damage than what first glance implied.
There it is everyone, the big surprise I was waiting for all this time to drop on you? Shido's Inversion, I had this planned since the fanfic itself began, and I'd like to give out to the story "Shido and his Electrifying Spirits" which helped inspire this idea. It's the biggest threat to date, so big not even Corrupted Inverse Kurumi was anywhere close to Inverse Shido... or rather Choronzon's threat. Oh, and if anyone asks? Yes, Choronzon is indeed the Qliphoth opposite to Da'at, or more specially to Uriel when applied to it.
With this, the Miku arc is officially over... but! Similar to Natsumi's arc, rather than restarting at part 1, the next arc (which will be called Choronzon Mayhem) will be part 5 as its extending from the Miku arc. After all, while it'll be a while before Miku can be sealed due to Shido's absence, Miku still hasn't completely swapped sides as of this chapter.
Well, get ready for next time everyone, it's time for the Shido most of you have likely wanted to see since Tohka's nightmare brought it up... Tohka vs Inverse Tohka! Though how can Tohka beat a stronger version of herself while she's in her Limited Astral Dress? How will she do it? Better yet, the biggest question is why Inverse Tohka present as a separate being? Did Choronzon have a hand in this... or was it something else?
Find out next time as the final arc of Season 2 begins, until then... stay awesome everyone!
-Spirit Bond Levels & Passive Abilities-
Tohka - 99% ( Form a mana barrier automatically )
Origami - 95% ( Teleport Dodging )
Yoshino - 90% ( Dampen enemy territories )
Kotori - 92% ( Healing from fatal wounds minus losing his head, doesn't work on wounds caused by blunt force )
Kurumi - 87% ( Hide in his shadow, and only his )
Rinne - (Summon a weakened copy of Uriel)
Natsumi - 84% ( Transform into Shiori )
Kaguya - 78% ( Flight )
Yuzuru - 78% ( Weight Manipulation )