Disclaimer: I do not own anything related to Date a Live.
Tohka's POV:
With a groan, I slowly open my eyes and find myself in a weird room. What happened? We were fighting DEM, and then Shido ran in front of Miku to protect her from an exploding robot. I was worried about him, but the moment I turned around I felt something hit me...
I grit my teeth, realizing I let my guard down and was captured by DEM. I try to get up, but find myself strapped to a chair, and there were these weird cables on me. Looks like I'm stuck.
I hear a moan from my left and look to see Origami strapped in another chair. "Origami!"
"Tohka-chan?" Origami moans groggily as she wakes up. "What happened?"
"We got captured by DEM." I tell her simply.
Origami grits her teeth. "So, they managed to get the jump on us with those Bandersnatch. I just hope Itsuka-kun and Miku-chan are okay."
"Ugh..." I hear groaning to right and look to other side to she Kaguya, also strapped like the two of us. "Seems we've been taken captive by the enemy."
"Kaguya, you too?" I ask.
"Did they also get Yuzuru?" Origami asks.
"Regret: Yes, I'm here, too." Yuzuru calls out.
"Looks like the four of us were all captured by DEM." Kaguya asks. "I worry about our other companions, though I doubt the Great Sage would be caught so easily." Yeah! Yoshino's too strong to be caught as well!"
We suddenly hear a door open in front of us and look to see a white-haired man walking in, followed by Ellen and Siren. "Ah, it seems our guests our awake." The man says with a creepy smile. "I welcome you all to DEM."
"Isaac Wescott." Origami growls. So, this is Wescott, the man who's after our power.
Wescott looks at Origami with a smirk. "Hello again, Origami Tobiichi. I anticipated our next meeting, though I never expected you to become a Spirit in the time you were gone, let alone [Angel]. It seems [Hermit] has killed Minerva and decided to give her crystal to you."
"It was my choice to accept it." Origami says firmly.
"Wanting to gain power to avenge your parents? I see." Hearing this man talk about Origami's parent makes me remember that he gave the order to kill them, and I glare angrily at him.
"What do you plan to do with us?" I ask. "Are you just gonna kill and take our powers?"
"It would be easy to just take your crystals now." He hums. "But not yet. I want to make you all Inverse first."
"Inverse?" Kaguya questions, not knowing what he's talking about. Neither do I, admittedly, but it sounds important if it's related to us.
"So that's it." Origami mutters, getting our attention.
"Origami?" I ask.
"Yoshino told me about Inverse once." She starts to explain. "She said that it's a transformation that happens when a Spirit has fallen into despair. The negative emotions cause the Sephira Crystal to revert back to a Qlipha Crystal, resulting in the Spirit undertaking what is essentially their true form. It's a powerful transforming, but also a very dangerous one, as the Spirit is not actually in control of themselves. Rather, a second personality forms that takes over upon Inversion, basically making them a completely different person." I could feel chills run down my spine. Inverse sounds... scary.
We hear applause and look to see Wescott clapping his hands. "Very good, Origami! It seems Yoshino [Hermit] has taught you well." He says, applauding Origami.
"Irritation: So you plan to make us Inverse first, then steal our powers?" Yuzuru asks.
"Correct. And to do that, I'll need to find the perfect trigger to push you all towards despair." He looks over to Ellen. "What do you think, Ellen? Physical pain is probably the fastest way, wouldn't you agree?" He looks at us with a cruel smirk. "Electric shock, oxygen deprivation... Pulling your toenails off might work. We could always grind out your teeth." He's listing off various ways to torture us like it's some common activity. I'm feeling scared being around this dangerous man, but I harden my expression to keep myself from looking weak.
Think of whatever torture you want, nothing will make me fall to despair! Well... maybe one thing, but I'm certain that won't happen!
"Don't even get me started when it comes to completely destroying your dignity as women." Now he's suggesting putting us through rape? This guy really is insane! "Perhaps either of you have any other friends or lovers out there? I wonder how you'd feel if we killed someone close to you right in front of your eyes." The moment he mentions that, my mind flashes back to my uncontrollable powers killing Shido on the rooftop, as well as Rinne killing both of us in the first few loops back in Eden. I couldn't hold back my gasp of dread, my tough façade breaking and showing terror, and I could hear Origami gasp with me, remembering herself and Shido also dying in Eden.
Wescott catches our terrified expressions and gives a wicked grin. "Who's out there?" He questions.
"There is a boy out there named Shido Itsuka, the one who we dubbed [Samurai]." Ellen tells him about Shido. "During my mission on Arubi Island, I observed him spending time with each of the Spirits, leading me to believe that he is a shared target of affection for all of them, including [Hermit] and [Ruler]." I start to feel concerned about my husband's safety.
"Very good." The man speaks, sounding pleased.
"Don't think you can just easily kill Itsuka-kun." Origami warns him. "We've each been training, and Yoshino and Rinne are still with him." That's right! Shido's still being protected by Yoshino and Rinne, and they're stronger than all of us!
"Hmph, I was merely testing you all last time." Ellen says cockily. "He won't survive me once I'm serious."
"Perhaps, Ellen, but Origami Tobiichi does have a point." Wescott says. "[Hermit] and [Ruler] will both be helping him, and our dear Project: Siren can only keep the former occupied for so long while..." He suddenly pauses, looking like he has an idea, and then a creepy smile forms on his face. "I just had a brilliant idea."
"What is it, Ike?" Ellen asks. Why is she calling him 'Ike'? Is that a nickname?
"We'll have Project: Siren fight [Hermit] as planned, and you can fight [Ruler], Ellen. As for Shido Itsuka..." He looks at us with a sinister smile. "Well, nothing's more despair-inducing than not realizing you've killed your loved one until the last minute." Why do I have a very bad feeling about those words?
Ellen's eyes widen. "You plan to brainwash the Spirits into killing Shido Itsuka?" Her question makes all four of us gasp in horror.
"Exactly! We'll use Project: Siren to command them to kill the boy, then snap them out of it once the deed is done. Seeing their shared loved one dead by their own hands will undoubtedly make them Inverse all at once." He plans to control us into killing Shido?!
"You monster!" Origami shouts in outrage.
"How dare you speak your heinous plan to our faces?!" Kaguya shouts as well.
"Threat: We won't let you get away with this!" Yuzuru threatens him.
I share their feelings of hatred towards this man. Making people who love each other fight to kill is just awful. "You bastard! I won't let you hurt my hus-" I couldn't finish my own threat as I suddenly feel like I'm being crushed. I could hear the girls groaning in pain as they feel the same pressure I am.
"Don't struggle. You'll only make it worse for yourselves." I could barely hear Ellen say as we lose consciousness.
No... Shido...
Shido's POV:
After DEM's attack on the Tenou Festival in which they kidnapped Tohka, Origami, Kaguya and Yuzuru, the remaining Spirits and I were teleported to Fraxinus to plan their rescue.
Though it's going to be tough, we at least have our strongest available for the rescue operation, and even Miku, despite not having her full powers wants to help us out, saying that she feels responsible because this is her power being used.
On top of that, we then learn that Mana has decided to leave DEM and join our side, and that she'll also be helping us, and then Kurumi suddenly appeared offering to help us rescue our friends. Mana was against it, probably due to the long history between them, but reluctantly agrees when Kurumi reveals that she a had clone follow DEM to where they took the captured Spirits and knows where they are. So, after devising a plan, the six of us went to the DEM base our friends were taken to.
"Is this the place?" I ask Kurumi, looking at the tall building up ahead.
"Yes. That building is where DEM is holding our fellow Spirits." Kurumi replies.
"She's right, Shido. I can sense their Reiryoku signatures in there." Rinne confirms.
"Alright." Yoshino speaks up. "Remember the plan?"
I nod and review the plan. "Mana and Kurumi will be causing a ruckus to attract attention outside, alongside the Guardian Angels Rinne summons, while you, Rinne, Miku and I will be infiltrating the building to save Tohka, Origami, Kaguya and Yuzuru." Yoshino gives a nod...
*BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR*
...and no soon after that, the Spacequake alarm goes off.
"The Spacequake alarm?" I say in surprise.
"Is a new Spirit coming now?" Rinne asks.
"No. They must've sounded it to clear the area of civilians." Mana replies.
"So, they were expecting us." Yoshinon says, still in her scythe form. "Guess we won't have to hold back as much now."
"It's go time." Yoshino says. "Rinne!"
Rinne nods. "Come! Guardian Angels!" She summons an army of Guardian Angels into the air.
"Not bad, Rinne-san." Kurumi says. "But, you're not the only one who can call an army. Come and play, girls!" As soon as she says that, her shadow expands, and a bunch more Kurumis come out of it.
"Alright." I nod seriously. "Time to save our friends!"
Thanks to Kurumi, Mana and Rinne's Guardian Angels causing a ruckus outside, it was easy to sneak in and enter the building. Now it's just a matter of fighting to where the others are.
"Their signatures are on the 15th floor." Yoshino informs us. "Wescott, Ellen and Siren are likely to be there as well. Be ready for a fight."
"Um..." Miku speaks up nervously, earning our attention. "You don't think... DEM has controlled them by now... do you?" My eyes widen as Miku brings up a worrying point. Siren still has her stolen power, so it's likely Tohka, Origami and the twins have been brainwashed.
"...More than likely." Yoshino answers truthfully with a frown. "And if I know Wescott, he plans to have them try to kill you, Shido, while Rinne and I are busy with Ellen and Siren. This may be a true test of your training." I grit my teeth at that. I've had mock battles with everyone at least once, but being forced to fight them for real is a different matter. But I will save them!
There were still some Wizards in the building that weren't baited out by Kurumi and the Guardian Angels, but they were pretty much grunts and weren't that much trouble to take down. Miku even managed to take down a few herself. Eventually, we make it to the target floor, as well as the room our friends are in.
"They're behind this door." Yoshino says, looking at the three of us. "Be ready for anything." Rinne, Miku and I nod, and the four of us enter the room, where we see Ellen and Project: Siren standing on both sides of an albino-haired man.
"Well, this is a familiar scenario." The man muses as he looks at Yoshino with a smile. "Long time no see, [Hermit]. I see you've found some new friends this time."
"Yeah, and your Wizards kidnapped four of them, Wescott." Yoshino replies coolly. So, that's Isaac Wescott, the CEO of DEM.
I immediately notice Tohka, Origami, Kaguya and Yuzuru standing with blank expression. "Tohka! Origami! Kaguya! Yuzuru!" I call out to each of them, but got no response. Looks like they really have been brainwashed.
"Are they important to you, young man?" Wescott asks me with a smirk, making me glare at him. "You must be Shido Itsuka, then-" He stops when he looks directly at me, his eyes widening. "Wait... You're..." He mutters in disbelief. I look at him with a raised eyebrow.
"What's he... talking about?" Miku wonders in confusion.
"Shido, do you know him from somewhere?" Rinne asks me.
"This is the first time I've actually met him." I answer. "I first heard about him from Kotori, but that's it." Wescott continues to look at me, and then he smiles as if he just solved a great mystery... and starts laughing.
"Ike?" Ellen looks at Wescott with surprise, along with the rest of us.
"I see now! I understand now! How incredibly funny this is! Everything is going precisely according to that woman's plan!" He laughs out. I blink in confusion, but don't drop my stance. Who is this woman Wescott is referring to?
"Look, I don't know what you're talking about, but you better return my wife and friends, or things are about to get ugly!" I threaten him while placing a hand on Soul Steel's handle, ready to draw it.
My threat makes Ellen stand in attention, while Wescott stop laughing and blinks. "Wife?" He repeats, looking back at Tohka, Origami, Kaguya and Yuzuru. "One of these four is your wife?" He starts to smirk, and I can feel the sinister intent behind it. "How unexpected. I wonder how she'll feel when she sees you cold and lifeless." I glare angrily at him for suggesting exactly what Yoshino warned about. "In fact, since these Spirits are currently under my command, why don't we see right now?" I begin to tense. "Now, Spirits. Kill Shido Itsuka."
"Yes sir." Origami blankly responds as the four step in front of them to face us, summoning their Angels and Limited Astral Dresses.
"Girls, please! You have to snap out of it!" I plead, hoping to get through to them.
"Be silent." Tohka says, raising Sandalphon above her head. "It's time for you to die." She starts charging Sandalphon with energy, and I grit my teeth and fix my stance to prepare to defend...
"SIKE!"
...only for her to turn around and send the slash wave at Wescott instead! Not only that, but Origami, Kaguya and Yuzuru also turn around and attack him!
"Ike!" Ellen shouts, both in alarm that he was attacked and shock that the seemingly-controlled Spirits attacked him instead, as she uses her Territory to block the attacks.
I also am surprised that they attacked him instead. "Tohka?" I call to Tohka to make sure, and she looks back me with a smile.
"What? Did you think I would willingly attack my own husband?" She asks. So, she wasn't actually controlled?
"How?!" Ellen demands. "You had fallen under [Diva]'s power before! Why are you able to resist it now?!"
"Exactly." Origami answers with a smirk. "You used Miku's control back on Arubi Island. Did you think we wouldn't have a plan for next time?" Origami's question makes me remember back during our rehearsals for the musical competition.
Flashback:
"Everyone, if I may speak with you for a moment?" Yoshino calls for us.
"Well, we need to take a break anyway, so no better time than now." I reply as we set down our instruments. "What's up?"
"It's very likely that DEM is going to attack the Tenou Festival in an attempt to capture you all. Or at the very least, the ones that they can control with Miku's stolen power." Yoshino's warning makes us all grimace.
"Worry: What do we do if we fall under their control?" Yuzuru asks worriedly.
"Don't worry. Kotori and I have already prepared countermeasures for next time we face Project: Siren." Yoshino hands the sealed Spirits ear buds. "One way to resist Gabriel's mind control is by blocking out the sound. If you can't hear anything, the power can't affect you. So, Ratatoskr's mechanics developed special noise cancellers for you all to wear. These are designed to shield the wearer's mind from mana-powered abilities related to mind control, so even while wearing them you can still hear just fine."
"Wow." Origami says, amazed that they were able to make something like this.
"With this, you all should be safe from the mind control." Yoshino says, before smirking. "And perhaps, you can even trick them."
That's right! The noise cancellers! They blocked out Gabriel's mind control, but Tohka, Origami, Kaguya and Yuzuru acted like it did work to fool them into letting them go!
"I see. You must be wearing noise cancellers." Wescott realizes with a frown.
"But then why did [Diva] block Project: Siren's attempt last time?" Ellen asks, now confused as to why Miku protected them last time.
"Admittedly, I didn't tell Miku about the noise cancellers." Yoshino admits. "However, thanks to that, we were able to shield the fact that we had noise cancellers.
"Because if we had known, we would've taken them out after capture." Wescott finishes. " Well played, everyone."
"Honestly, we have Miku to thank for making this deception possible." Kaguya says, thanking Miku.
"Gratitude: She really saved us." Yuzuru also thanks the idol, making her blush from the praise.
Ellen clicks her teeth in annoyance. "Then we have no choice but to take you all by force." She declares. "Project: Siren!" Siren moves to act, but Yoshino acts faster, outstretching her free hand and using her strings to fling her into the wall. Origami takes the chance to blast her with Metatron, sending her flying out the building.
"I'll take care of Project: Siren. You guys handle Ellen." Yoshino tells us.
"Got it!" I reply. She flies out the hole in the wall to pursue Siren as we all face Ellen.
"Planning to face me all at once?" Ellen questions. "As the Strongest Wizard, I'll take you all on!"
"Let's not be too hasty, Ellen." Wescott stops her. "Yes, you are my strongest, but Shido Itsuka and [Ruler], like [Hermit], can use that woman's power, and it'll be tough for even you to take on them along with the other Spirits." He smirks. "That's why I decided to call a bit of backup." Backup? Are reinforcements coming?
I feel my danger senses warning me of an attack from behind and quickly unsheathe Soul Steel to block a sword slash from behind me, gritting my teeth as I feel the slash being supported by a powerful Territory. Looking at the attacker, I see a woman I've never met, with orange hair and blue eyes. "You sensed my attack." The woman says, sounding impressed. "Not bad, [Samurai]."
"Who are you?!" I demand, mustering enough strength to push her back as she jumps up and lands next to Ellen.
"I had anticipated that Mana Takamiya would one day betray us after meeting you." Wescott smirks. "However, I had already planned the perfect replacement. Allow me to introduce my new Adeptus 2, Artemisia Bell Ashcroft." He introduces the newcomer.
"The fuck?! What's Artemisia doing here?!" I hear Miyoi shout from my ear piece. "Shido, be careful with her! She's the one who beat Minerva Riddell for the position of leader of the SSS and is the strongest Wizard of the United Kingdom!"
Minerva's warning made me tense as I realize who I'm dealing with. This is someone who's on the same level as Ellen, Mana and even Project: Siren!
"We had to rush development a bit, but we made it in time in the end." Wescott smirks. "Now let's see how you fare against our new friend."
I grit my teeth, knowing that this will be a tough battle.
Yoshino's POV:
I catch up to Project: Siren, who is now floating in the air. "It's just you and me, now." I say as I face her. "It's time we finish what we started on Arubi Island! Zadkiel! Shiryon!" A whirlwind of ice forms around me as I summon my Shiryon Armor, ready for battle.
Project: Siren's response is screaming a sound blast at me, but I cut it apart with Yoshinon. "Chilling Breath!" Taking a deep breath, I counter by blowing cold air at Siren, who spins her polearm in front of her to block, aided by her Territory. I cancel my attack and use Mist Dash to quickly move above her, and then use Chilling Breath again to knock her down to the ground.
Flying down after her, I land on the ground and rush to slash at her, but she blocks with her polearm, leading to our blades clashing. She screams another sound blast at me from point-blank, but I quickly turn to mist to negate the damage from the attack, and the reform behind her. "Hail Storm!" The blade of my scythe glows an icy blue as I perform a spin slash, sending a barrage of slash waves of the same color at Siren, who manages to block them with slashes of her polearm, but then I quickly close the distance and perform an uppercut slash, causing a water geyser to erupt under her and send her flying.
"Yoshino, we have a problem!" Kotori suddenly calls me from my ear piece.
"What is it?" I ask.
"Wescott found another powerful Wizard to replace Mana as Adeptus 2! Shido and the others are fighting her and Ellen right now!" She reports. A Wizard to replace Mana? But could be powerful enough to... No way.
"Incoming, partner!" Yoshinon warns me, and I quickly turn to mist to dodge a thrust from Siren's polearm and enter another blade clash with her.
"By any chance, is this Wizard named Artemisia Bell Ashcroft?" I quickly ask Kotori, keeping my focus on Siren.
"Yeah. Should've figured you've heard of her."
"Consider she's the one who beat Minerva for the #1 spot on the SSS, it's hard not to." Well, truthfully, I know her because of other reasons, but that's a good enough cover-up.
"Well, you better finish up with Siren quickly and come back to help. Shido is really gonna need it!" Agreed. Artemisia's a whole different problem to fight against, mainly because of how unique her Territory is.
I parry another thrust and fly into the air. I close my eyes and convert my Reiryoku into Pure Reiryoku, entering Origin Mode to get ready to end this. Siren flies up for another thrust, but with the blade of my scythe charged with Pure Reiryoku, I counter her attack with a slash that destroys her Territory, making her stagger, and then following it up with a blast of mist to send her back down to the ground.
Siren tries to get up, but I trap her in a rainbow Territory and bind her with strings, then hold Yoshinon up on my shoulders, pointing the blade end at her. "Shinigami of Pure Mist." My body turns into mist and I circle around Siren, wrapping around her as I cut her again and again, before finally ending it with a powerful slash across her front torso, dispersing the mist.
Project: Siren finally falls down in defeat, and I reform in front of her. I look down at my fallen opponent. I should finish her off now and take back Miku's stolen power, but... this feeling in my heart is making me hesitate.
"Who are you?" I ask no one in particular, kneeling down to place a hand on Siren's helmet. Using my powers, I freeze the helmet with my ice and force it to shatter, revealing her face.
... And my eyes widen at the face I revealed.
"No..." I whisper in disbelief. "It... It can't be..."
The true face of Project: Siren... the one DEM used as the receptacle for Miku's stolen power... is a woman with blue hair that matches mine. I almost thought my eyes were playing tricks on me, but my inherited memories from Yoshino and the familial feeling in my heart confirm it.
This is my-no... Yoshino's mother, Nagisa Himekawa.
A feeling of horror begins to creep in my heart, knowing that I just struck down my own my mother.
"Yoshino!" I could barely hear Kotori's alarmed shout. "We're detecting a spike of emotion from you! What happened?!"
"Project: Siren... is... my mom." I barely get out.
I could hear the entire crew gasp. "What?! How can that be?! Didn't your mother die 26 years ago?!"
"That's what my doctors told me... But, this is her. I'm sure of it! I could never forget her face!"
"... Damn it. They're making you have to kill your mom to help Miku. Those bastards!"
Tears begin to well up in my eyes. I... I don't know what to do... I want to help Miku, but... for it to be at the cost of my own mom... I start to cry and feel myself begin to despair at the weight of the situation, stuck having to choose between my family and the people I love. How could this happen? Why is this happening?
"Yoshino, listen to me." I hear Reine call to me. "We'll transport her to Fraxinus and see if we can find a way to preserve her life. You've done so much for us, and we're not gonna let you suffer losing your only remaining blood relative."
"Please..." I weakly plead to them. Please, anything to save my mom.
As I see my mom get teleported away with hopes of saving her, the sadness in my heart begins to turn into rage, all aimed towards one person.
Wescott. This is all his fault!
He took my mother, who I believed to have died, and turned her into another one of his pawns!
I'll never forgive him. I'll make him PAY!
Shido's POV:
Gritting my teeth as I use Soul Steel to block another slash from Artemisia, I imbue my Pure Reiryoku into Sandalphon and perform a counter slash, forcing her to dodge back.
Artemisia joining the fight has made this battle really difficult. She may not be like Ellen in terms of power, but there's something about her Territory that really makes up the difference. It almost feels like its own separate entity, and it's making it harder to disrupt it with my Pseudo-Territory.
Rinne, at least, is handling Ellen just fine as my childhood friend manages to push her back as well. The other girls are providing supportive fire, but it's mostly Rinne and I fighting.
However, I did feel Yoshino entering Origin Mode, so she may be coming to help us soon.
*BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR*
Right as I say that, though, the Spacequake alarm suddenly goes off, and I sense a powerful surge of Reiryoku from outside. Looking out from the hole in the wall, I and everyone else see a powerful blizzard forming in the distance.
"Is that... Yoshino?" Origami asks, though the answer is probably obvious.
"Hoh, that's quite the display of power." Wescott looks at the blizzard in amusement. "I wonder if she's found out Project: Siren's true identity." Siren's true identity? What is he talking about? Why would that matter?
Before I could think about it any more, a swirl of mist appears in front of the hole, and Yoshino forms from it... with a look on her face that sends chills down our spines. She's glaring at Wescott as if wishing he was dead, and her glowing blue eyes and Reiryoku surging around her further amplify the effect.
One thing is for sure. She. Is. PISSED.
Oh boy. Project: Siren's true identity is revealed, and our Water Spirit is NOT happy!