Chapter 17

They summoned Inumaki to break the curse spell on Kazuo.

When he was able to move again, the elder brought the five back to the room. They were in a stunned silence as they looked to each other with worry. "You have no idea what you have in your possession" Kazue stated. "A demon vessel, that can connect to the divine power and see and communicate with the other creatures of the divine… it's… it's unheard of!"

"The fact that a child like him…" muttered Kazuo. "We have to take him to Hong Kong for observation!"

"I am all for it, but he has refused… we do not have the means of making him leave either… not anymore…" the elder muttered.

The five exchanged looks once more. "What if we challenge him to battle? We know he used curse energy against us, but if he battles against us with divine energy, we will surely have the advantage!" Hifumi stated.

"You are welcome to try, but I doubt it will make a difference."

#

"Battle me?"

Yuuji froze as Kitsune confronted him. "Indeed, these sorcerers of the divine wish to battle you, in order to bring you back to Hong Kong with them… Young master… I suggest you accept and make the stipulation that when you win, they leave you alone!"

He agreed to the idea, but now the notion was bothering him. "The other creatures that I saw… what they see… they don't like them… what do they do with divine creatures?" he asked.

Kitsune sighed aloud. "They are used to fight curses as well as other battles for the divine users, however, they can never get strong enough creatures to fight their battles. Which is why they want you. They know of the dragon within you, but they don't know that it's Ryujin. Had they known… their whole organization would come. With Ryujin, you are able to communicate as well as ask for the creatures of the divine for help… they won't refuse you. They cannot refuse a dragon." She explained.

"Part of the reason why they hunted dragons to begin with. If one possesses or beats a great, divine creature, it increases their own power by obtaining the dragon's… they killed many of them for this sake, But they failed to see they could only take a fraction of the power it possessed. They were the main source of divine energy, since they have been killed, the divine users lost a lot of their abilities throughout the centuries. They would have been on par with a curse user if they had maintained their values and lessons."

"Great, being used again…" he muttered and crossed his arms. "I haven't trained on my divine abilities at all, I am still trying to understand my curse power… Not to mention if the two mixed I could blow up…"

Kitsune smiled. "What did I just say, young master?" she asked curiously.

He smiled to her comment, but shook his head. "They want to fight me. I don't want to drag you or the others into this. It would only make them want me more, wouldn't they?" he asked.

She was surprised to his comment.

"I also don't like people fighting for me, especially if those who want me for their own gain, it's not fair to you guys." He said gently.

He began to feel little arms wrapping around his, when he looked the creatures that kept close by to him were embracing Yuuji with all their heart. "It's not fair to you, so don't worry. I won't make any of you fight for me. Instead… Kitsune, please teach me how to use divine energy for battle."

She smiled warmly. "I do believe there is something I can offer you instead, it will help summon and control it… but I do need it back," she said with a devious grin. "But first, let me cut off your curse power for a short while…"

#

Within the hour, Kazuo confronted Yuuji. He was just having lunch when he approached him and shouted. "I CHALLENGE YOU TO BATTLE, DEMON VESSEL YUUJI ITADORI IN A BATTLE OF DIVINE ENERGY!"

The room paused to this outburst until Gojo sensei said. "Who the hell are you?"

Yuuji snickered, but calmed himself. "Very well then, I accept." He said. "HOWEVER, if you win, I will agree to go with you to Hong Kong… WHEN I win… you do not approach me again."

Kazuo smiled wickedly. "Agreed!"

"Good," Yuuji put out a hand, which Kazuo eagerly grabbed.

"WAIT!" the elder shouted.

But the hands came together, a surge went through Kazuo as he stumbled back. "What was that! What did you do?" he demanded.

"Binding vow," Yuuji replied. "It's to ensure you keep your promise, since I am aware… not a lot of people do when it comes to me." He said calmly. "I'm just going to finish lunch first, then we will fight."

He ate rather calmly, he was done his meal within ten minutes before declaring himself full. After, he walked outside and into the open field behind the school. "Is here a good place?" he asked.

Kazuo nodded with rather uncertainty. "How can he be so calm after being challenged?"

Yuuji decided to up his game a little. "Oh right… you can't see curse energy, but I am going to use divine energy… either way…" he stripped off his sweater.

The divine elders from Hong Kong froze as they saw his four arms yet the demon marks were gone. "Wait, how can we see this? He's a curse isn't he?" asked Kazue.

Yuuji smiled. "I focused on using my divine energy, that's why you can see me like this, but not my curse marks… it's a little freaky I know, but you need to know what you are getting into!"

"I will not fail…" growled Kazuo.

"Master… something's not right… his energy is different than from what it was an hour ago!" whispered Mio.

"It's just for show!" Kazuo protested. "He cannot have accumulated that much in a mere hour!"

Yuuji heard it all from where he stood, but he could only bring himself to smile about it. In the distance, he saw his friends waiting, and watching what was about to happen.

Gojo sensei stood there with a bowl of popcorn at the ready.

Yuuji then began to focus. Just like curse energy, divine regulates itself from the heart, not the stomach. It washes over him like a warm blanket, and his power grew once more. He could felt it tingle his skin, but he also had to be careful. He is not well versed in divine energy. Thankfully though Kitsune cut off his curse energy, and he has a tool to help him.

"You ready boy? You are going to love Hong Kong!"

He smiled back. "I'm sure I will… when I decide to go and see it for myself."

Kazuo smirked as he took out a weapon. Like Mika, he used a long spear with a bladed edge.

Yuuji reached behind himself and took out a weapon of his own. Yet as he brandished it, Kazuo laughed. "A FAN?!" he demanded. "YOUR WEAPON IS A FAN!"

Yuuji smiled as he unfurled it. He was ready. After all, he has seen Kitsune use it many times over, and he already felt his power shift into it.

"Contest… BEGIN!" shouted Kazue.

Yuuji kept a close eye on Kazuo, his hand movements were far different than curse users, even stranger still when he called upon for help. "ASSIST ME, CREATURES OF THE DIVINE!" he shouted.

Yuuji paused as he saw little creatures come charging at him! They were no bigger than a small size dog! They looked like gremlins if he were to guess. They bared their teeth and what claws they had, however all he did was showed them the fan. Instantly, they stopped in their tracks and trembled. "Attack him! Do it!" Kazuo ordered.

Yuuji took a more gentle approach. He leaned down to the creatures that shivered before him. "Sorry he's making you fight, tell you what, you don't fight me, I won't harm you. Okay?" he said gently. They nodded in agreement and then vanished as Kazuo froze.

"What did you do to my summons!?"

"What summons?!" shouted Fushiguro. "All I saw was grass moving!"

Yuuji snickered. "Oh right, you can't see can you… Just a second!" He raised the fan and did one downward motion with his arm. The field turned a little hazy, but the creatures of the divine appeared! Yet once more, they were gathered behind Yuuji and refused to leave from his side!

"Holy shit…" Nobara muttered. "What the hell…"

Gojo sensei snickered. "Cool…" he said and munched on the popcorn.

"Funny boy, now, let's see your summons, who do you command!"

"No one," Yuuji said with a grin. "I fight my own battles…"

"So be it boy, we are going to get every secret you have out of you!" He first attacked with the spear. Yuuji avoided it with great ease as he could see it coming a mile away. He was able to catch the spear as he went for a stab, snapping the weapon in two.

Kazuo wasn't discouraged. His fists then caught fire and he was going to use it against Yuuji.

Yet he wondered. 'I think I can absorb that…'

It was sad though, despite this man being a great fighter and all, he could predict his moves coming a mile away. He moved fast for a human, and yet, to Yuuji, he was going in slow motion. Strike after strike he tried to land, Yuuji merely dodged it, shifted himself just slightly to get out of the way or stepped to the side. It was a pitiful sight to say the least. "I really want to get back to my lessons, so I am just going to end it here…" He took the fan but folded it up. As Kazuo went for a strike, Yuuji sidestepped him.

WACK

Right across the top of his head, Kazuo froze… then collapsed to the ground!

"Wanna call it?" he asked aloud.

"The winner… Itadori…" muttered Kazue.

He bowed respectfully. "Thank you, safe trip back to Hong Kong!" and walked away.

#

No one could move from the divine oracle school. "He… barely did anything…" whispered Hideki. "I saw it all, and he barely did a damn thing!"

"He didn't summon the creatures to fight for him… he merely avoided all attacks and struck once… what the hell is he?" demanded Mio.

"You can answer that, you answer many things for me," the elder said with a sigh. "I am sorry I brought you here…"

"I'm not," Kazue stated. "For I saw something amazing… the fan he used… that is not his nor is it of the human realm." She smiled to the notion. "He asked a greater being for help and it was given… he is just want we need."

"The contest is lost though, he refuses to go to Hong Kong, and I doubt forcing him will change his mind. You also entered a binding vow, if broken, the one who breaks it pays the price," the elder warned.

"Yes, we are banned from making contact with him, but, we have other schools and stronger users to battle him… Elder, keep this boy here until we can obtain him for ourselves. Do you mind?" Kazue asked.

"I doubt he is going anywhere," the elder muttered.