The finale of Rinne Utopia!

Disclaimer: I do not own anything related to Date a Live.

Yoshino's POV:

We make our way towards the entrance of Eden, but are soon greeted by... basically a small army of Guardian Angels appearing in front of and above the tower.

My fellow Spirts and I have our weapons ready. "Shido, your top priority is Rinne! Go! We'll handle this!" I tell Shido. The Sealer nods and makes a run towards the entrance of Eden, allowing me to focus on the angels. "You girls ready?" I ask the others.

"I'm always ready to help Shido!" Tohka replies.

"I've got your back, Yoshino!" Origami assures me.

"All of you better keep up." Kurumi mocks, her words aimed more at the others than me.

"Alright then, let's roll everyone!" Kotori calls.

Each of us burst from the center, fighting our own group of Angels.

You know, compared to the ones I've faced while destroying the power sources, these angels were pretty damn easy. It didn't take much effort to cut down multiple of them in a single attack.

However, where these angels lack power, they make up for in their numbers, which is increasing as time passes.

Tohka's swinging Sandalphon around, cutting them to bits, Kurumi's gunning them down with her clones, Origami's either blasting them with Metatron or cutting them with her spear, and Kotori's burning down multiple of them with Camael. Luckily, she's yet to go berserk.

However, it feels like for everyone one angel we defeat, two more join the battle in its place. At this rate, we will be overwhelmed.

"They just keep coming!" Kotori growls in annoyance.

"We won't be able to help Shido if this keeps up." Tohka says.

"Then I'll just have to take them all on." I decide to end this.

The other four Spirits look at me. "Eh, not that I doubt your strength, Yoshino, but can you really beat all of them by yourself?" Kotori asks with some doubt.

I smirk in response. "These Guardian Angels are merely mana constructs, and not to mention, are considerably weaker than the ones that were guarding the shrines." I look at the Guardian Angels. "My Pure Reiryoku will easily dispatch them."

I begin focusing my Pure Reiryoku, forming a small blizzard around me that makes the others step back as I raise my hand. "Freeze." With a single word command, I send the blizzard at the horde of angels, freezing them solid as they all shatter into dust.

With the angels taken care of, I turn my head to the others. Tohka and Origami have their mouths open, Kurumi is smiling expectantly, and Kotori has a look that asks why I didn't do that to start with. "Let's go. Shido will need our help."

Shido's POV:

Whoa. Surprisingly, the inside is incredible. Kind of a frozen them, since all I see are ice decorations. Even the background had a mountain view. Fancy.

I quickly notice a staircase in the middle of the lobby and decide to take it.

...

...

...

God, these are a lot of stairs. My legs and feet are killing me. I finally reach the top and... whoa.

The top is... I don't know how to describe it, but it looks very otherworldly. There's a huge orb at the middle of the room and this beacon reaching it. I'm guessing that's Eden. So, now what?

"I knew it." I hear a voice that I've become very familiar with at this point.

"Rinne?" I look to see Rinne, now in her human appearance, wearing her school uniform.

"You've finally come, Shido." She smiles sheepishly. "I know you've already figured it out earlier, but... I am [Ruler]." She transforms into her Spirit Form, revealing the same woman from a few hours ago.

"Why... Why?!"

"There is no reason. My purpose was determined for me at birth." Rinne says. "I am the ruler of Eden, and Shido Itsuka... I am the one who trapped you inside this world."

"Why? WHY?! Why would you do that, Rinne?!" I shout in frustration.

"From the beginning, I was never your childhood friend. It was all fake. I implanted my existence into your and everyone else's minds." She explains. Admittedly, I kinda already knew that because of Yoshino's suspicions. "It's obvious that you realized it thanks to Yoshino Himekawa. I wish you never had. That way, we could live in Eden forever... A happy and just world, right Shido? Isn't that what you wanted too?"

What I wanted...

... That's right. What I wanted...

"Rinne, listen to me." I say seriously. "While Eden granting any wish I want is nice and all, there's one wish I could never fulfill if I remain trapped here."

Rinne raises an eyebrow. "And what wish do you believe is beyond Eden's power?"

"My wish... is to save all the Spirits!"

Rinne stares at me before shaking her head. "Is that it? Perhaps you have yet to save Kurumi, but that is not something beyond Eden's power."

... Wait. She thinks it's just Kurumi I haven't sealed?

"Rinne." I say slowly. "How many Spirits do you think there are, besides you?"

Rinne once again raises an eyebrow at my question. "Besides myself, there is Tohka Yatogami, Origami Tobiichi, Yoshino Himekawa, Kurumi Tokisaki, and Kotori Itsuka." She only the five that I know personally.

"So that's it."

"Hm?"

"Rinne, the girls that you mentioned are indeed Spirits... but they're not the only ones."

"...What?" Rinne looks at me with surprise. So she really doesn't know...

"Tohka, Origami, Yoshino, Kurumi and Kotori aren't the only other Spirits." I repeat. "There are still five-no, six other Spirits out there that are still suffering because of their pasts. Six others that I've yet to meet, but I know I will grow close it." Rinne stares at me with shocked silence, urging me to continue. "My wish is to save them from the suffering of their pasts and help them live normal lives again! That's the promise I made to Tohka before I sealed her, and I can't do that if I'm stuck looping my days inside Eden! In a way, this world is actually keeping me from fulfilling my true wish!"

My last words make Rinne let out a horrified gasp. I can understand why. She said that her purpose is to help fulfill all my wishes, and she's just been told by ME that she's doing the opposite. "I... I didn't know... I didn't realize..." Her voice sounded shaky as she looks like she about to break down in tears. Clutching her hands to her chest, she falls onto her while sobbing. "I'm sorry, Shido... I'm sorry..."

I feel a pang in my heart looking at Rinne starting to cry, knowing that I caused this by telling her that she failed at doing her job. Maybe it's because Rinne is my childhood friend. I know she said that these memories are fake, but they felt real to me.

Walking up to her, I kneel down and pull her into a hug, feeling her flinch in surprise as I embrace her. "It's okay, Rinne." I softly comfort her. "It's okay. You didn't know."

"Wh-Why are you comforting me...?" She looks up at me with teary eyes. "I trapped you in here... I've been keeping you from fulfilling your wish as you said..."

"I guess it's because I feel bad for making my childhood friend cry."

"But I told you that I'm not actually your childhood friend..."

"You may have implanted those memories into me and everyone else, but to me, they still feel real. The time we spent together was real." I look at her with a kind smile. "To me, you'll always be my childhood friend."

My words make Rinne widen her eyes, and I can see her blushing behind her veil. "Shido..."

That look in her eyes... I may not have Reine to tell me my progress, but I'm pretty sure I've reached the point where I can seal Rinne. So, I just need to kiss her, and everything will be done, right?

"Rinne." I speak up. "I want to save all the Spirits, and that includes you, too." She gasps when I say that. "So please, come with me and everyone else, Rinne. Let's all leave Eden together."

She gives me a sad smile. "Shido, you're always so honest... Listening to you makes me believe that it's possible." She then looks discouraged. "But I'm afraid... that future is impossible."

What?! How?!

"Why?!"

"Shido, you have the power to seal Spirit, correct?" I nod at her question. "The moment a Spirit is sealed, the Reiryoku that makes their power disappears. But, what would happen if you seal a Spirit whose entire existence is their Reiryoku?"

... You know, I never thought about that, because I never knew that there could be Spirits like that. But if a Spirit is nothing but Reiryoku, then I'd imagine they...!

"They... They'd disappear..." The realization horrifies me.

Rinne smiles sadly. "Yes. They disappear, and their existence fades away. Tohka and the others you managed to seal stayed because they had physical vessels to keep them anchored to the world. I, however, have no such vessel. I'm just a culmination of Reiryoku that gained a conscience of its own."

The revelation leaves me horrified. This means if I seal Rinne... I would be basically be killing her!

"It is as you are thinking. If you seal me, then I would die." Rinne unfortunately confirms my thoughts. "But it is as I said earlier: If you truly wish to leave, you must kill me before Eden meets its end." She looks at me with a teary-eyed smile. "So go on, Shido. Seal me and escape Eden. I pray that you will succeed in saving the other Spirits..."

No... I can't accept this! There has to be a way for Rinne to stick around!

I take out the vacant Sephira Crystal that Yoshino gave me before I went in. She said that this would be the key to saving Rinne, right? Do I give it to Rinne? Maybe this could be her physical vessel!

"Shido..." I hear Rinne speak my name and look at her, seeing her stare at the crystal with wide eyes. "Is that what I think it is?"

"Oh, this is a Sephira Crystal." I tell her. "Yoshino actually made this two days ago."

She looks shocked to hear that. "Yoshino made it? But I thought only she could make the crystals..."

"You mean the Spirit of Origin? Well, she did bless Yoshino to let her use some of her power. That's why she was able to make this."

Rinne is once again surprised. "That explains so much..."

"Yeah. Anyways, she said that this would be the key to saving you."

Rinne inspects the Sephira Crystal in my hand. "Hmm, it truly is a Sephira Crystal. I'm amazed Yoshino was able to make this." She says. "However, it is only a vacant Sephira Crystal. It doesn't possess an Angel to supply it power." It's missing an Angel?

"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 crystal, which then turn it into Reiryoku for us to use to physically manifest our Angels and use their abilities."

Oh yeah. Yoshino did say that the Angels are basically like batteries for the Sephira Crystals. So all it's missing is an Angel to give it Reiryoku?

...! Wait, that's it!

"That's it!"

"Huh?" Rinne looks surprised by my outburst.

"It needs an Angel to give it Reiryoku, right? We can just use Eden!" Rinne's eyes widen at my suggestion. "If we seal Eden inside this, that'll make it into a complete Sephira Crystal! Then, you can bind yourself to it after it's completed, and it'll become your physical vessel, making it so you won't disappear!"

"That... That could actually work!" Rinne says, her eyes filled with renewed hope.

I smirk, unable to hold my excitement. So, this is why Yoshino made the vacant Sephira Crystal! It's like she knew that this situation would pop up and thought ahead! "Alright! Let's do it-"

Before I could do anything else, however, the ground suddenly starts shaking. "Wh-Whoa! What's going on?!" I ask.

"It's... my powers..." Rinne says, panting. "Eden is starting to act on its own...! I can no longer control it...!"

"What?!" That's a thing that can happen?!

"It's going to activate Paradise Lost!" Rinne urgently warns me. "This is too dangerous, Shido! Please, you must run!"

Before I could even ask her what she meant, a bright light flashes for just a brief moment, and as it dies down, I see something that shocks me.

It's Rinne, but she... well, she's naked for one, but she's also wrapped in these vines. Did her Angel do this? Is Eden doing this to trap her, and also me?

"RINNE!" I call out to her, but she doesn't respond. She looks like she's out cold.

Damn it! If I had my powers, I would use Camael to burn these vines! On top of that, I'm a few meters away from her, and the vines are moving dangerously. Wait... crap! One of them is about to grab me!

Before it could, though, it suddenly freezes solid before shattering.

"That was close. Are you okay, Shido?" Thankfully, help came in the arrival of Yoshino and the others.

"How many times do I have to tell you not to overdo it, Onii-chan?" Kotori asks with her axe ready. I couldn't answer as three more vines come right at us, but one is cut by Tohka while the other two are blasted by Origami's lasers.

"Shido, sorry we're late!" Tohka says.

"Are you okay?" Origami asks. "Did something happen with Rinne-chan?"

Origami's question reminded me of the situation. "Right! Rinne! I had managed to convince her, but then Eden started acting on its own!" I tell them, the news shocking Tohka, Origami and Kotori while Yoshino grimaces.

"An Angel acting against its Master's wishes." I hear say as she appears, shooting two another vine that was coming for us. "How unexpected."

"Maybe it didn't like being told that it's not doing its job right." Yoshinon jokes.

"Eden's out of control right now! I know how to stop it, but I have to get to Rinne!" I tell them.

"Then you better be ready to push!" Yoshino replies, scythe at the ready. "Here comes another wave!"

Yoshino's POV:

I was expecting to have to deal with Paradise Lost, but I didn't expect Eden to activate it on its own volition without Rinne's prompting. Eden has gone berserk, just like Kerubiel with Mayuri, and it plans to keep us all trapped here.

The next wave of vines comes in, and I quickly get to work, freezing any vines coming our way while slicing the ones that get too close. "Shido, go! We'll cover you!" I shout. Shido nods and starts moving towards Rinne.

Of course, with how relentless these vines are, it was only a matter of time before they manage to grab us. The others start feeling the draining effect of the vines, their eyes becoming blank, and even I'm starting to feel the effect, albeit at a slower rate. Inevitably, we were captured one by one. First Kurumi, then Kotori, Tohka, and now Origami. Shido and I were the only ones left, but the vines were growing so fast that I couldn't keep up due to my power being drained.

"SHIDO, GO!" With the last of my strength, I urge Shido to keep pushing to Rinne as the vines grab me, my consciousness being pulled into Paradise Lost.

Unknown POV:

"I'm back!" I announce as I enter the house.

"Welcome home, Fuyu!" My mother greets me. "Did you remember to get the groceries?"

"Yep." I show her the grocery bags. "Got everything on the list."

Mom smiles. "Wonderful. You can place them on the counter. I'll call you when dinner is ready." I nod and place them on the counter as she said before heading up to my room.

I just came back from my swimming practice when Mom asked me to get some food items for dinner. Now that that's done, I'm finally free to do my own thing. Good thing, too, because I need to catch up on that anime I've been watching.

As I enter my room, however, I'm shocked to see someone already in here. Hearing me enter the room, they turn to look at me.

"Fuyu-san."

Yoshino? Why is she here? She's a fictional character!

"Your home is really peaceful." She says. "But, are you sure this is your real home?"

My real home? What is she talking about? This is my real home... isn't it?

She walks up to me and gives me a hug. "Please, Fuyu-san. Remember your promise?" My... promise...?

Suddenly, I feel a rush of memories return to me. My time with Shido... and everyone...

That's right. How could I forget? My promise to Yoshino... to bring everyone a happier ending.

"Yoshino." I begin to tear up as I embrace Yoshino.

"I'm glad you came back to your senses." She smiles.

The two of us embrace each other as my room distorts, my dream turning into a white abyss. "PARTNER!" We both hear another voice and look to see Yoshinon flying at us. She then stops to look at me in confusion. "Um, who are you?"

I giggle. "I guess this is your first time seeing me like this." I smile. "Yoshinon, this is the old me. Do you remember what I told you when we first met?"

Yoshinon's eye widens. "Oh! Yeah, I remember! So you're Fuyu Hana!" She looks at Yoshino. "Which means you're Yoshino Himekawa!"

"Yes." Yoshino smiles as she pats Yoshinon on the head. "I'm happy to finally meet you, Yoshinon."

"Same here." I smile as the two finally got to meet.

Yoshino looks at me. "As much as I would like to keep talking with you both, you need to head back." She says seriously.

"That's right, partner! Shido actually managed to reach Rinne! He somehow managed to summon that samurai's sword and used it to cut through the vines and save Rinne!" Yoshinon reports. The samurai's sword... So, that's your plan, Mio. "They're trying to cut through to Eden's core now, but they need our help!"

"Right! Then let's get out of here!" I say as Yoshinon floats up to me.

As the two of us escape Paradise Lost, Yoshino gives us one last parting smile. "Go and save everyone... Onee-chan."

My eyes widen when she called me that, but I find myself smiling. "I will... Imouto-san."

Shido's POV:

"SHIDO, GO!"

Yoshino shouts at me before she, too, is caught by the vines. Damn it... Even Yoshino got captured...!

I then see the vines start making their way towards me. They were gonna get me!

No... Rinne is so close!

I can't let myself get captured here! I can't let Rinne disappear!

I told Rinne I would save her, and I'm going to keep that promise! I won't let Yoshino's efforts be for naught!

For everyone's sake... I WON'T FALL HERE!

I suddenly feel something appear in my left hand, and on instinct, I grab it with my right and swung around me... and all the approaching vines were immediately cut down.

I blink in surprise before looking in my right hand, seeing that I'm holding a sword, but not Sandalphon. Looking at my left, I'm also holding a sheath.

Did I summon the samurai's sword?

Realizing this is no time for questions, I use the sword to keep cutting through the vines, making it to Rinne. Letting out a war cry, I slash at the vines binding her, freeing her as she drops to the ground. "Rinne!" I call out as I kneel down to her.

Rinne moans as she begins to wake up and looks at me. "Shido..." She says softly with wide eyes. "You actually broke through..."

I smile. "Of course. I won't let anything stop me from saving you." Rinne blushes at my words.

We couldn't stay still for long as more vines start coming our way. I start swinging my new sword to cut them away, but then I hear a flash from behind me, and the next moment, the vines were blasted away by fire.

"Eden's core is a little farther ahead." Rinne says, now in her Spirit Form. "We must keep going! I'll help you, Shido!"

"Right!" I say in response and start cutting the vines.

While I'm glad to have a weapon to cut these vines down, it would've been real great if I had access to my powers as well. Even with Rinne helping me, these vines just won't stop! No matter how many Rinne and I bring down, more come to replace them. It was getting to a point where it looked like we were both about to get caught... when suddenly, a powerful gust of cold wind blows. The wind doesn't effect me or Rinne, but the vines all freeze before shattering.

Knowing only one person who could pull that off, Rinne and I look back to see Yoshino standing behind us. "Yoshino! You're okay!" I smile, relieved that she was free from the vines. She has a rainbow aura around her, though, and her eyes are now an... oddly familiar bright blue. But either way, I'm glad she's alright.

"Incredible... She broke free from Paradise Lost..." Rinne says with amazement.

"Don't stop now, you two!" Yoshino shouts at us. "Keep cutting through to the core!"

I nod. "Here, Rinne." I hand my childhood friend the vacant Sephira Crystal. "Yoshino and I will cut a path. You use this to contain Eden." Rinne looks at the crystal before taking it with a nod.

With renewed vigor, the three of us fight through Eden's vines. Even with their growing numbers, we still manage to cut through them, mainly thanks to Yoshino and her power boost, which is probably that Origin Mode I heard about.

"The core is just past there!" Rinne tells us, pointing to a wall of vines.

"Alright! Shido!" Yoshino calls me, and I nod. Yoshino moves first, using her speed to cut down the vines that try to grab us as I run towards the wall of vines. Once I was close enough, the two of us cut the vines together, and they fall down to reveal the huge orb from before. There's the core!

"RINNE, NOW!" We both shout at her.

Rinne quickly flies forward, reaching the core before the vines can regrow as she holds out her hand with the Sephira Crystal. "That is ENOUGH!" She says as she thrusts her hand forward, shoving the crystal into the core.

After that, everything is suddenly engulfed in a bright light.

Third POV:

Lowering her free arm, Yoshino opens her eyes to see that they're back outside. The root tower that represented Eden could no longer be seen, and she cannot sense any barrier surrounding the entire city.

Looking around, she sees Shido also regain his bearings and look around before locking eyes with her. "Yoshino, are we...?"

"Yes." She answers his unfinished question. "We're back home."

"Thank goodness." He sighs with relief, but then the next second, his eyes widen. "Wait a minute! What about Rinne?! What happened to her?!"

'He still remembers everything that happened in Eden.' Yoshino thinks. 'Which means... my plan worked?' Looking around again, the Water Spirit sees something in the air that makes her smile. "There." She points up into the air.

Shido follows where her finger is pointing and sees a Sephira Crystal floating in the air. This one is pink in color, but he feels a sense of familiarity looking at it. "Is that the crystal I gave Rinne?" He asks. "But, it's pink this time."

Yoshino nods, and then she hears groaning behind her and turns to see the others waking up. She notices that, except for Kuirumi, they were back in their normal clothes, and upon looking at herself, she sees she's back in her Commander outfit.

"What happened?" Origami asks.

"It seems that Shido-san and Yoshino managed to do it." Kurumi says. "A pity that the rest of us were caught by those vines."

"Admittedly, I was also caught, but I managed to break out of it and help Shido." Yoshino admits.

"Well, at least one of us was able to." Kotori sighs.

Tohka looks up, and her eyes widen when she sees the Sephira Crystal. "Look up there!" She points to the crystal, and the other Spirits notice it.

"A Sephira Crystal." Origami gasps. "Could it be... Rinne-chan's?"

"No way... Is she...?" Kotori begins to assume the worst.

"Quite the opposite, actually." Yoshino smiles. "Rinne's perfectly fine."

Before anything could ask what she meant, the Sephira Crystal begins glowing brightly, grabbing everyone's attention. The glow begins to take the shape of a human figure, before forming into Rinne Sonogami in her Spirit Form, drawing gasps from everyone except Yoshino and Kurumi.

"The Sephira Crystal..." Tohka starts.

"Became Rinne-chan." Origami finishes.

'So she's done it.' Kurumi thinks with a smile.

Rinne gently floats down to the ground, and Shido slowly walks up to her. "Rinne...?" He catiously calls out to her.

Upon hearing her name, the [Ruler] opens her eyes. "Shido..."

"You're still here. Does that mean it worked?"

"Yes... Eden has sealed within the crystal, and my existence has bonded to it..." She smiles, so happy that tears were starting to form in her eyes. "It really worked... I can stay with you now..." Unable to contain his own happiness, Shido runs up to hug Rinne, who immediately returns it.

Yoshino smiles at the two embrace each other, feeling proud that her efforts allowed Rinne to stay with them.

"Um, what do they mean by Rinne staying with us?" Tohka asks.

Turning to the others, Yoshino explains, "You see, the truth about Rinne is that she wasn't an ordinary Spirit like the rest of us. She's actually a culmination of Reiryoku that just so happened to gain a conscience of its own. She didn't have a proper vessel, and Shido sealed her in that state... it would've meant the end of her life." Tohka, Origami and Kotori gasp at the news.

"I didn't think there would be a Spirit like that." The Flame Spirit whispers.

"I don't blame you. Rinne's actually the first Spirit to be born such." Yoshino replies. "It is possible for her to not disappear, but it would require giving her a physical vessel to keep her anchored to the world."

Origami's eyes widen in realization. "That's why you made the Sephira Crystal!"

Yoshino nods. "Yes. By giving Rinne the Sephira Crystal, she would become a Pure Spirit- a Spirit whose true body is actually the crystal that empowers them. The only problem was that the Sephira Crystal I made was a vacant one. It needed an Angel to be complete and become Rinne's vessel.

"An Angel... Eden!" Tohka realizes. "So you had Rinne use the crystal to seal Eden inside of it!"

"And in the process, Rinne's existence was bound to the crystal. Her conscience was transferred into it, and it became her vessel." Yoshino finishes.

"So, all this time, you were planning on how to allow Onii-chan to safely Rinne-onee-chan without her disappearing." Kotori summarizes.

"And it all hinged on Shido's own efforts." Yoshino looks to the two with a smile. "I made a big gamble, and it payed off."

The two childhood friends finally part from the hug. "Rinne..." Shido speaks.

Knowing what he meant, Rinne nods with a smile. "I know, Shido. It time to seal the deal." Shido catches the pun on his powers and chuckles lightly. Rinne's veil disappears, and Shido moves in for the kiss.

Had this been before Rinne received her Sephira Crystal, she would've disappeared after the sealing, as Yoshino said. Instead, thanks to the crystal, Rinne instead reverts back to her human appearance, but she was also left naked.

With the sealing complete, Shido and Rinne embrace one more, the latter looking up at him with human light brown eyes. "Welcome home, Rinne." The [Sealer] welcomes her with a smile.

Eden's Empress smiles back. "Yeah. I'm home." She says. This is the start of a new chapter in her life, one that she will happily spend with Shido and her friends.

The other Spirits look on with a smile, happy that their friend can stay with them. Yoshino, especially, as this was an ending that she dreamed would happen.

This is Rinne's Golden Ending.

The gamble pays off, and Rinne lives on to stay with everyone! How will her presence affect the later arcs? We'll just have to find out.

But first, there will be a bit of an epilogue for Rinne's Arc. After all, Yoshino still has to address the matter of Shido knowing her old name and past. There's also the matter of how Rinne is affected by her now Sephira Crystal and the sealing.

Stay tuned for both of those, as well as one other surprise!