Disclaimer: I do not own anything related to Date A Live.
Shido's POV:
The bell rang for lunch, but for some reason, Kotori wanted me and Origami to come to the physics room. So, after telling Tohka and Kurumi that we'll be back, the two of us head over to the physics room. When we got there, Kotori and Reine were in their seats, along with...
"Yoshino?" I blink, surprised that the Strongest Spirit is in my school.
"I called her here for this meeting." Kotori explains.
"Good, we're all here." Reine greets us as she began to boot up the computer. A screen pops up with a game labeled as... "My Little Shido 2"?!
"There's a sequel!?" I shout, blushing madly.
"There's made a dating sim about Itsuka-kun?!" Origami asks with a blush.
"Are there copies of this game?" Yoshinon asks teasingly, much to my embarrassment.
"Yoshinon..." Yoshino sighs at her puppet friend.
"Oops, my bad. Wrong window." Reine says, sounding more casual than apologetic as she closes the game, then switches to show something else.
It looks like some sort of security footage, and it's showing Kurumi and Mana in a bloody alleyway.
"Mana and Kurumi?" I ask, confused why they're being shown. There's also the AST, but that makes sense since Kurumi is a Spirit.
I continue watching the footage as it shows Kurumi changing into a gothic dress, most likely her Astral Dress, and Mana follows suit by changing into what is probably her Realizer. Kurumi lifts her right arm, looking like she's trying to call out her Angel, but was met with a blast of energy piercing through her chest, knocking her down. She tries to get up, but was met with the same attack. With Kurumi staying on the ground, Mana approaches her body, her blade at the ready as she...
I feel myself start to turn green. Mana just literally sliced Kurumi's head off!
"Wh-What is this?" I manage to say while feeling sick to my stomach.
"As you can see, yesterday, Kurumi Tokisaki was killed by the AST and Mana was the one who put her out of commission." Reine states. I place my right hand over my mouth in shock. "Videos don't lie, Shin. Kurumi Tokisaki should be dead."
"But how? No, it can't be. She was alright when she came to class."
"And that is why we called Origami and Yoshino here." Kotori says calmly. "Since they're friends with Kurumi, they may be able to shed some light on this."
"Um, I don't really know much about Kurumi-san's abilities." Origami admits, a bit shaken after seeing one of her friends killed on camera. "I only met her once four years ago when Yoshino saved me, and I haven't seen her since until yesterday."
All eyes turn to Yoshino, who didn't look as disturbed. In fact, she looked as calm as Kotori, which my sister noted. "Judging by how calm you are, I take it you have an explanation?"
"It's one of the abilities of her Angel." Yoshino explains. "She's able to make clones of herself to act in her place, or as she calls them, her "past selves", since her abilities relate to time."
"So, the Kurumi that was killed was actually a clone?" I ask. I feel a little relief since it means the real one is still alive, but at the same time, it was still a Kurumi that was killed. "Does that mean the Kurumi that came to class is a clone as well?"
"Perhaps, but you won't be able to tell unless you can sense her Reiryoku. The real one's is far more potent."
"Clones, huh?" Kotori hums, frowning. "That might be a problem. We don't know if Shido's sealing ability can even work on a clone."
"And being able to make clones means that she can hide in the shadows, quite literally since that's another one of her abilities, while her clones perform reconnaissance for her. She basically has her own massive information network."
"Man, Zafkiel sounds really powerful." I say, honestly impressed by Kurumi's abilities.
"It is." Yoshino replies, before looking serious. "However, that power also comes with a heavy cost."
"What do you mean?" Origami asks nervously.
"As Spirits, our Sephira Crystals are our main source of power. However, our Angels actually help provide that power. They passively collect mana and send it to the crystals, which then turn it into Reiryoku for us to use to physically manifest our Angels and use their abilities."
"So, they're not just weapons, but also batteries?" Kotori asks.
"You can say that. Our angels collect mana constantly at a certain pace, and Zafkiel is no different. However, the way it works is different. With her shadow abilities, she uses the Reiryoku she's given just fine. However, when it comes to her time abilities, using them actually consumes her time. And by time, I mean her life force."
My eyes widen at that last bit. "Are you saying using Zafkiel's time powers drains her life!?" I shout.
Yoshino nods. "Zafkiel gives Kurumi access to twelve special bullets. These bullets don't actually hurt anyone, but they allow Kurumi to manipulate time in a variety of ways, but at the cost of consuming a bit of her life force each time. Because of this, she has no other choice but to kill, feeding off the time of her victims in order to replenish her own. The blood from before the battle started was the blood of her victims after her most recent feeding."
I can't believe what I'm hearing. Kurumi's Angel is forcing her to kill people. She's forced to become a murderer in order to stay alive.
"An Angel that feeds off of its own master..." Origami whispers, also terrified. "I can't believe the Spirit of Origin would make an Angel like that."
"You and me both, Origami." I say, gritting my teeth. "Kurumi shouldn't be forced to kill just to stay alive. It's not right!"
"The only way you can free Kurumi from her cycle of death is to seal her, Shin." Reine reminds me of my job. "As such, it is highly suggested that you take her on a date tomorrow since it's a holiday. This one might end up being another clone, but if you make her fall in love with you, she may point you to the real one."
I agree that it's worth a shot. "Alright. I understand. I'll take her out on a date."
"Good. That is all. You should head back to class. We'll make preparations for tomorrow." Kotori says.
School is finally over and gym class... well, it was something.
We ended up playing soccer today, with Tohka and I being on one team while Kurumi and Origami were on the other. With there being a Spirit on both teams, it ended up being a draw. At least it wasn't Tohka and Kurumi on the team versus me and Origami, or worse, all three girls against me. It wouldn't been a curb stomp.
Anyway, I decided that now was the time to ask Kurumi out. "Hey, Kurumi." I call to her, and she looks at me with interest. "Since tomorrow is a holiday, why don't I show you around town?"
"Ara~ Are you asking me out on a date?" She asks teasingly.
"I guess you can say that." I reply nervously.
Kurumi giggles. "Alright. I'll go on a date with you."
"Sweet." I smile. "Does 10:30 sound good? We could meet by the station gates."
"Okay. I'll see you there. I'm looking forward to it." She then skips out of the school entrance.
Okay. Step one done. Now to make her fall for me!
Yoshino's POV:
"So, Shido has to date both Kurumi AND Tohka tomorrow." I deadpan at the news from Kotori.
"Yep." Kotori sighs. "It's my idiot brother's fault for agreeing to date Tohka on the same exact day. He could've done it the day after, but now he has to juggle between dating two Spirits." Well, at least it's not a triple date this time. As soon as I think that, though, Kotori looks at me. "Actually, do you-"
"Are you trying to work your brother to death?" Yoshinon interrupts her. "Two dates is already enough for the poor dude!"
Kotori thinks it over. "You're right. There's no way he can handle dating three Spirits simultaneously. Plus, Yoshino can keep her powers perfectly stable already." Thankfully, she realizes.
However, even though it's only a double date this time, I knew things were gonna end the same way.
Today is a holiday, which means Origami doesn't have school. So instead, the two of us and Miyoi decided to hang out around town.
"I wonder how Itsuka-kun is doing." Origami hums as we walk down the shopping district. "Having to go back and forth dating two Spirits isn't easy."
"The guy's probably exhausted at this point." Yoshinon says, pitying Shido's current dilemma.
"And it's not like he'll be given any breaks either." Miyoi sighs. "Being a harem king sure is rough."
"Boys don't realize how taxing it is handling multiple girls at once until they've actually experienced it." I say my piece. Seriously, harem animes usually show why trying for a harem won't work in real life. You have to deal with girls always fighting for your affection, or in some cases, an over possessive one who keeps shutting down other girls attempts to get close to you. Not to mention the misunderstandings that come if you're caught in suggestive scenerios.
"Huh? Isn't that Tohka?" Miyoi asks, catching our attention. We look in the same direction she is looking and see the Spirit of Malkuth a few feet away.
Tohka happens to look in our direction, and her eyes widen when she sees us. "Origami! Yoshino! Yoshinon! Miyoi!"
"Yo, Tohka!" Yoshinon greets as we walk up to her. "Surprised to see you here."
"Are you waiting for Itsuka-kun?" Origami asks.
"Mm! Shido left just earlier, so I decided to wait for him here." Tohka replies. He just left? That would mean...
"If it's alright, there's somewhere I need to go." I tell everyone.
"Well, don't let us stop you." Miyoi says. With a nod, I break from the group and head to an alleyway. Checking that no one was looking, I disperse into mist and head to the park.
Shido's POV:
"Mana, don't kill her!" I shout at Mana, trying to reason with her, but she ignores me as she raises her blade to kill Kurumi, who was bleeding on the ground.
Kurumi coughs as she looks at me with a weak smile. "As I thought... Shido... you're too kind-" Those were her last words as Mana slices her head off her body. I could only stand horrified at the scene before me.
"Seems I was a little late." A familiar voice rings out. I quickly look behind me as mist appears and Yoshino forms from it. She was also wearing her Astral Dress.
"Yoshino! Kurumi is...! Mana just...!" I try to say, but couldn't get the words out.
"I can see that." Yoshino says calmly... a little too calmly, which is unnerving.
"You don't seem that bothered that I just killed your partner, [Hermit]." Mana notes as well.
"Maybe I just know some things about Kurumi that you don't." Yoshino replies. Hearing that makes me think back our talk at my school about Kurumi's powers, and that she's able to make clones of herself to act in her place.
But, even if the Kurumi that died was actually a clone, she was still Kurumi!
"Oh really? I've been doing this for a while, so I'm curious what you know that I don't." Mana says, as if humored by Yoshino's response, before focusing on me. "Now, Nii-sama, it would be best for you to pretend that this was a bad dream and forget it ever happened."
"More like a nightmare, am I right?" Yoshinon asks, making Yoshino and Mana look at the sentient puppet in disapproval.
"How could I forget this horrific experience, Mana!?" I shout in outrage. There was no way I could forget the sight of someone getting beheaded!
"She won't die. You'll see." Mana tells me, making me look at her with shock. "[Nightmare], Kurumi Tokisaki, is a special Spirit. No matter how many times she's killed, or how she's killed, this woman appears again somewhere else and kills more people as if nothing happened. That's why I will keep killing her as many times as necessary. Over and over and over..."
"Please stop!" I shout, unable to bear hearing Mana talk about constantly killing Kurumi.
"I would have to agree. That mindset is very unhealthy. If you keep that mentality, you will eventually lose yourself." Yoshino warns her.
"Yoshino's right! Stop doing this!"
"Look, this is something only I can do." Mana says, before holding out her hand. Next thing I knew, I was knocked away by barrier of some sort.
I get up and try to go back, but the barrier prevents me from doing so. I then realize I was the only one here. Yoshino must still be inside!
Yoshino's POV:
Shido was pushed out by Mana's Territory, but I was able to hold my ground thanks to my Pure Reiryoku, meaning it was now just the two of us in this bloodied park. "You're still here, [Hermit]." Mana says. "Honestly, I cannot believe my brother would also himself with such a dangerous Spirit." She then kneels down and picks up the ear piece Shido dropped. "Not only that, but working with such a twisted organization."
"Hmph, you call Ratatoskr twisted, but your organization, Deus Ex Machina, sent their strongest Wizard to kill a human girl's parents and kidnap said girl all because I saved her during the Tengu Fire." I say coldly. "I wonder which organization is more twisted, in that case?"
Mana glares at me and activates her shoulder blasters to fire at me, but I freeze the laser shots and make them shatter. She rushes at me with her blades as Yoshinon flies into my hand, transforming into her scythe form as we locked blades. "I refuse to let you get away with calling us corrupt!"
"We called you 'twisted', but that also works." Yoshinon rebukes. That makes Mana angrier as she breaks the clash and slashes at me, but I counter her with a spin slash and use the pole of my scythe to hit the arm that was holding Shido's ear piece, knocking it out of her hand, before kicking her in the stomach to knock her away. I also infused Pure Reiryoku into the kick for good measure.
As she picks herself up off the ground, clearly winded from my attack, I calm walk to where Shido's ear piece ended up and pick it up. "You know nothing about DEM! That place gave me a reason to live after I lost my memories! I can't thank them enough for their help!" The currently DEM Wizard shouts at me. Oh, you foolish girl. I know far more than you do. For example...
"Even after what they've done to your body?" The fact that they've fucked with your body with science and magic, giving you only thirty years to live. However, I only elude to it, making her look confused.
"What do you mean by that?"
I chuckle. "Of course you don't know. It's been a long time since it happened, and you only remember the past two or three years." I form my instant transmission mist, giving Mana one last look. "All I can say is this: You're working for the wrong side." With those parting words, I vanish into the mist.
Reappearing in an alleyway, I dispel my Astral Dress and make my way to Shido's house. As I do, I hear a voice from the earpiece in my hand. "So, you know about her condition." Kotori says. I knew from her tone that it wasn't a question, but a statement.
I put the earpiece on to properly talk to her. "About how DEM fucked up her body with science and magic, turning her into an un-aging superhuman with a limited life span? Yeah, I know."
"Hmph, she calls herself Shido's little sister, but she doesn't know the truth about the people she works for. It's honestly sad." I agree, but thankfully, she'll switch to our side later. "Anyways, Origami and Miyoi are already at my place, so you might as well come along, too. Oh, and don't worry about giving Shido his earpiece back. I'll give him a new one, as well as lecture him not to lose it next time." I couldn't help but smile. Of course Kotori would use this to make her own "Shido bonding" time.
Still, tomorrow is when Shido will confront the real Kurumi, as well as learn about Kotori being a Spirit. I should prepare myself for whatever happens.
Kurumi Killer is about to come to a close!
Also a brief spat between Mana and Yoshino, though the reincarnated Water Spirit wasn't really trying. If it was a fight, however, Yoshino would use Origin Mode and spank Mana's ass.
Next chapter will be the end of Kurumi's arc, which will also transition into Kotori's.
See you guys then!