The Promise of Tomorrow

Chapter 18

"Y-you..." Shido was horrified and angered on Kurumi's actions as Kurumi held Tohka's life captive. "What do you want with us?" he asked Kurumi, who giggled as if all of this was just for fun. "Well, that's why I want you to come outside. You don't want your precious girlfriend's head to be blown to bits, right?" she threatened Tohka's life putting the gun closer to her head. 

"I understand! Please, just let her go!" Shido begged, and approached Kurumi who giggled and caressed Shido's face as soon as she threw Tohka to the floor. The two then left, heading towards the backyard with Kurumi ordering two of the clones to guard Tohka, who is left defenseless and helpless while she watched Kurumi and Shido talk at the backyard.

"Why do you need me and the pendant? What is your reason for it?" Shido demanded, angered by what she wanted from Kurumi, who had then entertained his question. "Tell me, what do you know of the Eurasian Sky Disaster thirty years ago? the Spirit asked, to which Shido replied, "It was the very first spacequake that occurred, costing the million lives of people."

"Correct! Now the cause of that and the following Spacequakes were caused and influenced by one Spirit alone. The First Spirit" Kurumi's voice then became laced with hate as soon as she mentioned the First Spirit. "Now, the only reason why I need you and the pendant is because your abilities and life energy will be enough for me to send myself back to the past and kill her, undoing everything she has done.

Think about it, we could save so many lives together Shido. You will be able to live a life without having to worry about Spacequakes and sealing Spirits any longer. Isn't that what you want?" 

Like a temptress enticing someone with things an individual would specifically want, Kurumi wanted to persuade Shido into sacrificing his life as well as giving up his friend's pendant. "Do you think that justifies the lives that you had taken before and what you will take right now?" Shido questioned to which Kurumi scoffed at. "Don't be such a downer, the ones who I killed were irredeemable, and no one would miss those criminals anyway! Besides, all who I would kill would be brought back since I wouldn't be a Spirit by then once I kill the one who started it all." she reasoned.

Shido went silent, and went in deep thought. "So, finally agreeing to come to terms with me? I mean, you have no choice, as if you don't... I will just end your girlfriend's life." Kurumi threatened, giving him a situation where he can't refuse or walk away. 'Please...do not accept it... I don't want you to die... Please!' Tohka pleaded in her head, silenced by the two clones as Shido was about to say something.

Suddenly, the Spacequake alarm blared out, making Kurumi hiss as she heard the sound of machines flying by. "Even if he is not around, he is a literal pain..." Kurumi ranted before turning to Shido and was about to shoot her pistol at him if it weren't for someone intervening, cutting off the arm Kurumi used to attempt shooting Shido. 

Blue hair, hazel eyes, and a cute face, there was no mistaking it. Mana Takamiya came to the scene and arrived just in time to save Shido. "Are you okay, big brother?" she asked, leaving Shido confused to what Mana had meant. "Big brother?" Shido repeated her words, to which Mana responded:

"Long story, but for now just leave this to me, go!"

Shido then ran, but didn't intend to escape the battlefield. He was determined to return back to his house and save Tohka. Kurumi grinned, and uttering, "Fool." before summoning a horde of clones in front of the door. 'Crap! She is heading for Shido!' Mana cursed and flew towards the horde.