Special Grades and the Commissioners of Ginza:
RENDER PART 2
Author's Note: Thank you so much for coming back!
Shout-outs to VampireSiren my bff, Max Oliver and to my new readers. ^^
Reminder that the full art for this fic is available on my Ao3 and Twitter ^^ (same handle /MiuraChronicler)
Hope you enjoy!
Summary:
The Special Grades head off to face the Scrybe. before they face their fates that await at the door of the Seers.
"Suguru!"
Sachiko and Satoru were running towards the cursed spirit manipulator making him turn and finally smile, candidly.
His two friends looked like they were about to initiate a hug in celebration of their reunion, but Suguru opted to focus on lacing his arms around an unguarded Sachiko before he let go and gave his best friend a quick slap on the back.
Satoru raised his shades and cocked a brow at him, "Where the hell have you been?" he barked.
"Here, evidently," Suguru shifted his head from one friend to the other in an attempt to make his sarcastic remark lighten their mood to which he ended up to no avail.
Sachiko began checking on his whole form making Suguru smile wider, "We were worried something bad happened, good thing that you look alright,"
His eyes squinted towards her glamour making her step back from the sudden intrusion of her space, "More importantly, what's wrong with your eyes? Are you wearing glamours?"
Satoru stood beside Sachiko in an attempt to widen their distance, "Oh, yeah, right, the kid's handiwork,"
Suguru nodded, "So, before we all get sentimental, shall we get rid of this damn Scrybe?"
"Getou-san!"
The three sorcerers turned towards the boy.
"Jan? What are you doing here? It's dangerous,"
Jan clutched his legs and half bent to catch his breath, "I'm sorry but, the Seers, they told me to inform you that you have to get rid the core of the domain or else the Scrybe will be impenetrable,"
Jan hurriedly told them that the core would probably be located inside the divination room as it is the most heavily guarded area of the club. Without discussing among them, Sachiko had volunteered to go back and destroy the blue print.
"I saw sigils there, I think I can destroy it," she turned towards her friends, "I'll leave the Scrybe to you both,"
They nod in unison making her loosen the knots behind her back, "You two do a good job and take care,"
"Leave it to us," Suguru replied, Satoru smirking beside him.
She gave them one last wave and left along with Jan and waited until the last of her shadow left the room.
Gojo turned towards Getou and offered his fist, "Guess this is just like old times, eh?"
He knocked his fist against his, "Guess so, let's smoke that bastard,"
Scrybe's Gallery, Room of Binding
"Ah, finally, welcome to my gallery Special Grades, hm? I see that you are short of one of my guests," the Scrybe descended from his podium, his crow-like eyes cascading over the young sorcerers as he approached. His Cheshire grin was glued firmly on his face that the two couldn't help but exchange glances to signal their guard.
"We're plenty company, old man," Gojo began, one hand raised with a ball of his cursed energy.
Suguru was already summoning one of his captures that the shirtless man with the tattooed body bared his excruciatingly symmetrical white teeth.
Suguru took a step forward, "Normally, we'd give you one last chance to surrender but we've given you enough, don't you think?"
Saijo placed both his hands on each side of his waist as he puffed his chest forward, "Maybe, although, I guess, it wouldn't matter. You'll be joining my troupe soon and then your abilities, will all be mine,"
The Scrybe lifted his arms and released a swarm of his cursed energy over his tattoos that one by one it outlined each of the beasts and animated in front of him. As the illustration left his skin, the cursed spirits achieved completion and much like how Suguru is able to manipulate the curses he captured.
Gojo clicked his tongue, "He's a Kusozu incarnate, did your Seer tell you?"
"Yes, he's not gonna be easy to exorcise but I think we can manage it,"
Gojo scoffed, "Yeah, but, I'm getting tired of this place so, divide and conquer?"
Suguru raised his hand to summon a winged creature, "Whatever you say, partner,"
The Scrybe's leonine curses attacked the young sorcerers almost immediately as they lunged forward. Suguru directed his fire-breathing harpy towards the creature blocking his way towards the Scrybe and rushed over to land his own blow on him but as he jerked backwards to check if he had dealt any damage to either of the two, the burn marks on both Saijo's and the lion's skin were already being completely redrawn and healed.
Shit. The Seers techniques are still intact.
Satoru was able to suppress the other lion but only momentarily that Saijo burst out in condescension, "You didn't think it will be that easy, did you?"
He beat on his chest and summoned more beasts that were previously etched on his skin that Gojo's forehead creased over the sweat that dripped harshly on the side of his face. He gripped Suguru by his shoulder and gave him a reassuring side-glance, "I'll buy you time, go after that bastard!"
Getou took a moment to assess the number of creatures inside the room but as the Scrybe had slipped out of his gallery, he knew that he had no choice but go with his suggestion. He folded his lips and nodded as he hauled his feet away from his friend,
"Right, don't die idiot!"
Satoru shouted back, "If I do, it's your fault so make sure you dragged us here for good reason!"
The Scrybe had led Suguru to the hall of mirrors. It felt like he was trapped in one of those circus mazes where a killer clown would show up behind your reflection. The way that it was designed was meant to make the whole room look bigger but in reality, the Scrybe just orchestrated the whole thing so he could hind behind the glass.
Without the spirits he captured, Saijo didn't pose much of a threat. The mirrors were meant to distract Suguru from his tactic because it was obvious that he aimed to ink him within this domain.
Suguru summoned the parasitic yokai that the sorcerer slayer once wielded and wound it around his shoulder. Giving it a pat on its slithering head, the yokai opened its mouth and choked out the playful cloud.
He flipped the longer end over his shoulder and darted his lilac eyes unto the mirrors, outlining his movements inside his head before he ransacked his way through the hall, smashing one mirror after the other. He was right to do so as the Scrybe used the reflections to project more than one image of his remaining yokais that was meant to tire the young, cursed spirit manipulator.
At his periphery, Suguru saw that Saijo had pushed him unto a corner where his image would reflect on his bare skin, seemingly making it easy for him to transfer Suguru's cursed energy onto his body and even though he was able to destroy the mirror before he finished inking himself, Suguru's reflection stepped out of the last reflective piece in front of him and began to animate.
"I am my own worst enemy huh?" he mouthed.
The mirror image of Suguru matched his movements well under the Scrybe's control. It was difficult to navigate precise attacks as his fake self could easily read through him. Again, the Scrybe made another attempt at stabbing Suguru with his ink-pen but he was lucky to only get grazed by the blade. When he forced another attack on him, the Scrybe mistakenly exorcised Suguru's mirror image, giving him an opportunity to hit the Scrybe on the face.
The blow seemed to effectively make him bleed but not to the extent he wanted. Unfazed by Suguru's offensive stance, the Scrybe brought out his ink and used the pen that dripped with Suguru's blood to write on his hand. Suguru felt his head pulsate that his sight turned out-of-focus. His hands began to tremble as the Scrybe continued to pen his and his friends' names on his skin.
The cut on his lifeline turned black and soon floral markings bloomed all over his face and arms, making him writhe in pain.
Blood magic…this-this is-
"Poison?" Satoru hissed.
He swayed in his stance as the creatures surrounded him. Again and again, they would reanimate despite his easy methods of killing the beasts but now that he was made to move faster to deflect their attacks, his head felt like it was about to explode and the stinging sensation on his palms where the floral markings of the curse only increased with each flicker of his muscle.
"Wrong move with trusting my Seers, they're all under my control. You have only 2 minutes left to live," he knelt beside Suguru now, "If you move, the poison will only corrupt your bloodstream faster,"
His breathing tightened, "So you're saying that because we're all primaries, we're connected through your Seers, the complements?"
Saijo jabbed his finger towards Suguru's forehead as he began to choose where he would mark him, "My poison only needs a sample of your blood to deliver its effect, their silly domain was a pleasant surprise,"
Instead of worrying about how the other two were fairing, Suguru gave out a harsh cackle which angered the Scrybe, "Well then, I guess, you're as much as a sucker as we are, you forgot, the primaries are connected as well,"
Gojo removed his glasses and placed it on top of his head as he positioned his hands into a benediction and with his next breath, he gave the beasts a rather sinister grin, "I see, so, this is Kusozu blood magic…well, there's absolutely nothing to worry about. Right 'Chi?"
Kitsune markings appeared over Sachiko's limbs and neck around the same time the Scrybe had activated his poison. A sharp searing sensation wound around her hands and wrist leaving an imprint of the strings she had given to her friends.
They're in trouble.
Jan and Sachiko had already begun tracing the runes inside the divination room but as soon as Jan pointed out that floral markings appeared on her skin, Sachiko felt the poison pulse through her.
The tug of the strings intensified that for a moment she felt her chest tighten. She didn't wait for another minute to pass and went on to activate her anti-toxin technique. She quickly created a healing bead and which she spread over the scar she obtained from Saya's incision. A white thread of smoke floated above her wound which contained the toxic elements of the poison. She sucked in the mist and allowed the Kitsune part of her blood to eliminate the toxin. The poison markings on her skin began to disintegrate, unlike before, the reverberations for toxic substances made her too weak to use her other techniques but throughout the years, she has finally proven that she has mastered that tail.
"Sachiko-san, are you okay?" Jan asked as he helped her stand.
The six-tailed Kitsune gave him a confident smile, "Don't worry Jan, everything's gonna be fine," Sachiko motioned for him to provide her some distance as she summoned her white fox-fire and without hesitation she set the sigils inside the room ablaze, severing the tie of the Scrybe from the Seer's domain, rendering him vulnerable to their attacks.
The floral ink that decorated Gojo and Getou's skin faded quickly alerting the Scrybe that the girl's level was beyond his expectation.
What made him more troubled was the fact that the poison didn't resurface making him realize that the core of his domain was effectively vanquished.
Satoru balled is hands into a fist and grimaced as he positioned his other free hand to send a wave of his cursed energy towards the last lion standing. As it pounced forward towards the boy with the Six-eyes, Satoru unleashed a flash of red towards the lion's head and smiled with his teeth, "Goodbye Simba!"
Suguru gave a wide smile as his skin cleared. The pride he felt for Sachi being able to reach this level of skill of indirect elemental manipulation made her truly worthy of her title as special grade. He couldn't help but catch a glimpse of the rope imprints on his arm where the strings used to attach and came to realize that perhaps it was their actual borrowed lifeline that saved them from death a few seconds ago.
"Lucky for you, Sachi isn't here," Suguru scowled, "I guess, I can still give you a few extra minutes to breath,"
"The Kitsune!" Saijo considered, "I guess, there's no holding back," Saijo placed both of his hands on his face and began stripping off the flesh that hung on his skull, then he proceeded to do the same with his arm, molding the detached flesh until his skeletal hands formed scythes.
"How scary," Suguru said sarcastically, gripping both ends of the playful cloud.
Saijo attacked him head on with his newly formed weapons for hands. Suguru, adept to close combat was able to land a hard blow on the Scrybe's skull and proceeded to inflict damage until he cracked open to bleed profusely. As he had expected, Saijo's defenses crumbled as soon as they severed the seer's binding. Saijo wasn't much of a challenge now and with one last clash of his cursed energy towards Saijo's skull, he plummeted face first towards the other end of the room.
Saijo's tongue poked through his broken jaw as he coughed up blood.
Suguru stood over him, one hand clasped with a ball of his technique and set his eyes on the withering Scrybe, "Any last words?"
Saijo's chest rose with his staggered breaths, "Enjoy my accumulated nightmares, cursed spirit manipulator,"
Suguru covered Saijo with his cursed energy, extinguishing him with the blaze which allowed the spirits trapped inside his tattoos to finally detach from his grasp. One by one, Suguru exorcised the poor souls, and when he finally found traces of the Seer's stolen fragments, he created orbs for each of them which he kept in his pocket.
It was a little unnerving that despite his dispossession, Saijo's lifeless body remained intact but seeing as it might be used by other curse users, he took the liberty of sealing it as well.
Satoru's voice soon broke the silence, "Hey! Suguru! You alive?"
"Took 'ya long enough,"
Satoru couldn't divert away from the Scrybe's corpse what he let out a whistle, "Damn, you roasted the Scrybe,"
Suguru shrugged, "I did what I had to do. How's your wound?"
Satoru raised his palms, "Good as new, poison didn't fully kick in. We're lucky 'Chi was part of the primaries,"
"No kidding felt like I was decaying the first few minutes," he gulped.
Satoru pointed towards the orbs in Suguru's hand, "What the hell are you holding anyway?"
"The Seers," he said bluntly making Satoru wince.
"You got their souls?"
"Yup,"
"Damn, they're really spirits now huh?"
Sachiko soon came to join the duo, calling out to check if they've been hurt giving her reassurance that they were in tip-top shape making her sigh in relief. The presence of the small markings on her hands however did earn her some side glances from the boys. Even if she spent less of her curse energy to cure the poison, consumption still took place.
Sensing their unease, Sachiko ushered them to go back to the Seers to free them at last.
Jinx's Gallery
Satoru juggled the orb with one hand as he waited for Jinx to finish her painting. When he aligned it towards the light, there was a glint of gold that swam inside the spherical object. The more he looked inside it, the heavier the registry of the spirit he detected with his Six-eyes. It made him a little uneasy to think that Suguru was always carrying around ferried souls in his pocket like they were just sticks of gum he'd later be forced to swallow.
Damn. His technique is perverse.
Satoru asked Jinx how long they have been trapped and she tells him that she had been imprisoned for over 30 years, Saya for 15 years and Tsukasa for 10 years. Jan had only been in their service for a few weeks.
He knew that there was a disconnect with their appearances and with the evidence in his hands, he knew that they took the form they had when they were captured before they were turned into spirits.
"We are merely incomplete projects. Our bodies have withered away into dust but, thanks to you, we can finally ascend," Jinx approached him now with her watercolor painting that depicted the present that Gojo wanted to confirm.
His hands were a little unsteady as he opened the half-folded poster that he had to take a deep breath before opening up the image. Warmth bloomed in his chest as he took in all of the details that Jinx had drawn. It was very striking. He felt a little scared and yet optimistic with what he was presented that Jinx found herself feeling a little bit emotional as she watched the boy from the side.
Jinx gave him a cautious look, "Are you satisfied with the answer I gave you?"
Satoru carefully folded the painting and placed it inside his pocket. Before he responded, he took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes, "I'm not sure yet, but I guess, I'll just have to take it one day at a time,"
"As you should,"
Satoru showed her the orb which contained the very last remnant of her existence that she couldn't help but shed a tear that it took a few seconds for him to intercept her sobbing, "Jinx, is there anything else I can do for you?"
She wiped away her tears with her sleeves and shook her head but still, she kept a small smile, "I would have loved to be reunited with my beloved but, he's probably far away now or gone,"
"You'll be reunited soon," he soothed.
Jinx gave him a singular yet hopeful nod before clasping the hand that held her orb, "Remember that some ambitions hinder the greater gift of reality, cherish the beauty than can only be seen through your eyes, cherish what you have now,"
Gojo knew exactly what she was referring to. Going through his thoughts, it was hard to miss something as important as his most cherished person that even if he made extra effort to bury the fear of losing her soon, it was comforting and a little bit rewarding to have that reminder, "See 'ya Jinx,"
"Don't forget what I told you,"
"I will,"
Satoru shattered her orb and watched as Jinx slowly faded. The Seer looked very content and happy as she waved goodbye that Satoru left the room feeling more motivated and excited to make each day more meaningful than before.
I will live in the now.
I'll make each day, count.
Saya's Gallery
"Welcome back, Sachiko-san, are you alright?" his lavender eyes scattered all over her entirety especially on her marked hand, searching for any trace of wounds. The way he looked at her with disquiet reminded her a little bit of her friend with the same hue for eyes. How he always looked at her like she was a fragile little doll that needed to be cradled. Somehow, it kind of made her uncomfortable yet a little glad that someone actually gave a damn about her well-being.
Although she appreciated the concern, she did prefer to just be treated as an equal.
Just like my little weirdo. He'd always ask about how I was but wouldn't smother me with too much unnecessary coddling.
"Yes, I'm alright, thank you,"
He exhaled sharply, "Thank goodness," his head jerked backwards as he saw how she looked at him expectantly. She was very adamant to get answers that Saya knew he couldn't deviate any longer.
He withdrew the tarot card from the table and handed it to her gently. As her small fingers balanced the card, Saya's ring decorated fingers tapped on it and revealed the depiction of her future.
Her head was moving linearly as the image began to project itself on the card that all Saya could register from expression was shock and confusion. Her mouth twitched as the illustration completed before her eyes that she spoke, "What does this mean?"
Saya stood beside her now and placed both hands on her shoulders as if to steady her, "I'm afraid only time can give you the answers. But I do hope, you will get to live long enough to see if your fortune was read right," he said apologetically.
"I see…" her voice trailed off.
Saya soothed the side of her shoulders before stepping to the side to give her space. He took a few minutes to just look through the glamour plastered in her eyes. Despite the trapped flames it had in color, Saya saw too much water under her gaze, "It's too bad we didn't meet sooner, I feel like we could've been good friends,"
Sachiko lowered the card and turned to the Seer and smiled, "Yes, me too. I hope you find peace Saya, thank you for everything,"
Saya lifted her chin gently and caressed the side of her face earning him a response as a scarlet band appeared in front of her cheeks,
"If time is not granted for you then I hope you live the life and find the love that you deserve, Afterall, that's what you truly wanted to ask right?"
"I-" she looked away.
Saya's lips turned upwards as he withdrew his hand on her chin, "You are someone's muse, that's for sure,"
"Can I ask you one more thing? In that future of me that you saw…what did I look like? Did I look mature? Wrinkly? Grey hair? Anything?" she spoke with much haste.
Saya laughed, "I'm sorry but if I give anything more away, it might not come true. But I will tell you this, in that future version of you, you looked happy. Which should be enough right? Whether it's a future of tomorrow or a distant one, that's all that matters,"
It was the best answer that anyone could ever give her. It wasn't a grim statement and even though she prepared to receive bad news, he at least gave her a little bit of faith. If only she could fight off her pessimism.
Sachiko gave out a breathy sigh, "This is bad, you've given me hope Saya,"
He winked at her, "Hold on to that hope, that's the only thing in our world that's free,"
"I'll do my best,"
Sachiko took out Saya's orb and began to cast her flames around it. As soon as the orb started to crack, Saya's face finally showed a complete image. He looked more at peace as his hands traced over his eyes and ears. His smile was finally restful that he couldn't help but be grateful as he drew closer to her despite fading rapidly.
"Itsuki," he blurted out, "My real name is Itsuki Fujimoto,"
"Itsuki, I like that name, a sturdy tree, a servant of God," she ruminated.
He snorted, "Is it your hobby to give meaning to names Sachiko-san?"
"I'm sorry," she giggled, "Thank you for trusting me with your name,"
He held out his hands to Sachiko and wound his now transparent arms around her to whisper,
"Can I ask you one more thing?"
"Of course,"
"Don't forget me Miura Sachiko. Don't forget any of us..."
"Never, Itsuki-kun"
"Thank you…" the last of his breath was spent on thanking her that soon, all she was left with was the memory of her new friend, Itsuki.
Memories after all, are the greatest, most important images that won't fade.
Tsukasa's Gallery
Suguru felt the nerves creep in as soon as he opened the door to the Past Seer's library. As far as he knew, Tsukasa probably read through his lamentations about non-sorcerers and if he could any sort of hint about what's to come or if there are things that he can still change to make good of his name from now on, then, it was worth all the trouble keeping his orb.
Tsukasa kept the photograph in between their index and middle finger and rested it on their lip and hummed at Suguru who was growing a little impatient as they held on to his prophecy, "Are you sure you want to know?"
Suguru clenched his jaw, "Positive,"
Tsukasa covered their right eye with the photograph and grinned, "Okay then, Suguru Getou, I present to you, a moment in time,"
His palms were already a little sweaty and pale from gripping his arm to contain his nerves that the photo seemed to weigh like a ton as he flipped the polaroid over.
The Past seer circled around him as Suguru's lilac eyes burned through the image in his hand. It amused him at how calm and yet restrained his reaction was to what he divined. It was a ruthless photo, but it wasn't a violent one still, after a few minutes, Suguru finally lifted his head and bowed towards the Seer, "Thank you, Tsukasa,"
"It was my pleasure," they tucked their paper white hair behind their ears and clasped their hands together to point towards the orb in Suguru's hand, "Is that for me?"
Suguru nodded, "Yes, I've come to return this to you. Sorry, there's nothing much else I can do for you though,"
Tsukasa snickered and waved their head side to side, "You did everything you could. I'm just grateful to be free. Though," they pursed their lips forward, "May I give you one last unsolicited advice?"
"Why not?"
Tsukasa crossed their arms and went towards him, "You know the saying a picture says a thousand words? Well, I hope you use the right ones to describe your own."
"I hope so too."
Tsukasa held out their painted fingers towards Suguru to which he overlapped with a shake that balanced the orb in between their grasp, "You're a good person, Getou Suguru, don't forget that,"
Suguru snorted, brows misaligning at Tsukasa misdirected complimented, "How can you even say that? You barely know who I am,"
Tsukasa jabbed on his chest before grabbing the sketch Suguru brought with him when he first arrived at the club. He unfolded the page which showed their time at the beach.
The last time they ever felt truly as peace as just four teenagers on vacation, making moments to be added in their memories.
Getou took his illustration and waited for Tsukasa to continue,
"I know, because only a good person can draw such kind eyes and happy moments,"
Suguru's old self reflected on his original work. It quite overwhelming to realize that he had the affinity to create something so pure and so very much attune to himself. It was proof that the person he thought he had lost was still inside of him. And this reminder finally gave him some courage to face the uncertainty he left in Tokyo.
Tsukasa pressed on the orb now, the pressure creating a crack that allowed some of the light inside the orb to slip through, "I hope you find solace in whatever you make of this photo,"
"I hope so too," Suguru smiled.
"Thank you for saving us, I'm ready to rest now,"
Suguru crushed the remaining sides of the orb making Tsukasa wither ever so slowly before his eyes, "It was nice meeting you Tsukasa,"
"Goodbye, Getou Suguru,"
Three fortunes were presented, the owners of which is left unknown:
One image was that of a small pair of hands and an outline of a what seemed to look like a child.
The other was an image of a person deep in slumber, looking very content and at peace surrounded by smiling figures.
The last image was a pair of shadows, walking hand in hand under the sun.
As promised by Suguru, Jan and his mother were escorted safely to their safehouse to discuss his future as a Jujutsu sorcerer. He bid the three of them goodbye and handed Suguru a binder filled with his drawings he accumulated inside the Time Lapse.
Satoru and Suguru went on ahead as Jan removed Sachiko's glamour.
It had been a while since the three of them went on a mission together and it had been too long that they would go home as a trio. Still, as they left the vicinity, none of them spoke of the fortunes they received.
Still, Suguru had that despondent look to him, but Satoru knew better than to ask him to elaborate. They were all exhausted and clearly whatever the Seer had told him was something that he didn't intend to share, so, instead of probing, Gojo nudged on his shoulder, "Thanks for your hard work,"
Getou snarled, "Yeah, thank you as well,"
It was nice for Sachiko to finally catch them chatting as they usually did. For weeks, she and Shouko had done their utmost best to bring their group closer, starting with the two boys. Even if they didn't elaborate on what caused their rift, Gojo had hinted to her that he had been so affected by their failure in Okinawa, but she didn't like prying on Suguru. He was a private person, but it was important to make him realize that he at least had his brother figure around.
She allowed a few more minutes for them to converse but relished in their exchange of laughter that she slowed her footing just until they took notice of her from behind.
"We thought you were dead jackass!"
"Jeez, what a way to insult me,"
Sachiko placed one hand on each shoulder and lightly tapped them to halt their bickering, "Alright, that's enough, this cycle of making each other worry really should stop soon. I'll be first to apologize and make an even bigger effort to do so, so you two, stop your squabbling, okay?"
Gojo and Getou patted her on the head and smiled with their teeth, "Yes, dear," earning them an eye-roll before she forced her way out of their reach.
Satoru was quick to notice that Sachi wrapped herself with her arm as they continued their walk. She was unable to retrieve her coat from the now rubbled up club.
Getou was already unzipping his bomber jacket as he went to her side and even though Gojo wanted to be generous with him, he had to set some boundaries.
Satoru's coat found itself framed in her shoulders before Getou could even ask her If she was cold. He didn't turn to examine his best friend's expression and instead proceeded to walk side by side with her, making small talk after she thanked him for being considerate of her needs.
It didn't surprise Getou one bit. After all, they had a not-so silent rivalry. As he zipped back his jacket, he sighed in small defeat, inwardly plotting his next move.
It wasn't about that today anyway.
"So, where are we going?" Getou asked, keeping himself aligned with his friends.
Sachiko tucked her hands inside her borrowed coat and shrugged, "I think we should get something for Ieiri before we go back. I feel bad that she got left out after a certain somebody went AWOL,"
Getou gave her a rueful smile.
Gojo flipped his phone open and began searching for recommended souvenir places near their area but before they reached the train station, Sachiko suddenly halted as her wrist enveloped itself with foxfire in the outline of the strings.
Her chest pounded and her eyes shifted into their Kitsune form.
The string is broken!
Satoru went in front of her, "What's the matter?"
Sachiko clasped her hands together and positioned her hands in a joint benediction, fierceness unleaving her eyes, "Shouko's string is activated,"
Getou and Gojo jerked in alarm but could only watch as Sachiko had opened a portal. She lifted her left hand and tilted it to the side where ghost-like hands covered with the same red velvet bandages hooked on her arm. She turned to her friends now, "Are you coming?"
They nodded in unison.
The portal sucked the three of them in as fox-fire ferried their transport to the other side and with the next blink, they were back at the institute in Tokyo.
The pull made Gojo and Getou a little queasy, but Sachiko remained alert. Her whole body was covered with her cursed energy, her crimson eyes glowed harshly as she scanned the room. The imprint of the strings tightened on her wrist and extended to where Shouko should be found. Tugging on the strings to compel Shouko to locate herself, the three special grades were found disillusioned at the sight of a wide-eyed, unscathed reverse-jujutsu practitioner a few feet away from where they stood.
"Oh shit, it really worked!" Ieiri said casually.
Sachiko went a little limp as she deactivated her bind from her friend, "Sh-shouko? You're, okay?"
She blinked owlishly at two very irritated boys, "Yeah, I am!"
Satoru clicked his tongue and rose his tone, "What the hell Shouko! We thought you were dying!"
Suguru went to Sachiko's side to stabilize her, "That's not cool of you to play a trick like that, look at Sachiko,"
Sachiko felt like her energy and color had left her. She was too stunned and relieved at the same time that she didn't even want to waste what was left of her energy to argue with her.
Shouko pouted, "Well if you three had any decency to update me if you were dead or alive, I wouldn't have to resort to desperate means!"
The way she yelled at them with moistened eyes made them realize how selfish and neglectful they had been to their friend who always tended to their wounds that none of them had the courage to talk back. So, in the end, they ended up apologizing to her which didn't do much to lighten her mood.
"We're sorry Ieiri," Sachiko said, giving her friend a solid hug.
She sighed, "Yeah, yeah, but now that you're here, we might as well hang out. It's the weekend anyway!"
Satoru groaned, "You do know that we just got this guy," he jerked his head towards a yawning Suguru, "-out of the woods…we're exhausted!"
It was actually Satoru's attempt to buy time for Sachiko to recover. A long silver and thick lock had appeared the moment the string was activated. The consumption she would have to endure from destroying the core of the domain on top of the string had the potential to knock her out. He hoped that Shouko would take a hint but seeing as his girl didn't show any signs of fatigue, he didn't reiterate his protest.
Ieiri lowered her eyes at Suguru and pointed towards his direction, "To hell with you and your disappearance, you owe us this time, so you're coming!"
Suguru rubbed his eyes and gave out another yawn, "I don't have much a of choice anyway,"
Ieiri smiled and gave him a thumb's up, "By the way, what the hell are you guys wearing? Why is everyone so fancy?"
Sachiko laughed nervously, "Oh uhm, we were in disguise,"
She squinted her eyes at Sachiko's fully made-up face and did her a one over making her take a few steps back, but Shouko wasn't done with her interrogating. Removing all inhibitions, Shouko pressed one finger over one side of Sachiko's boob and slapped her butt, making the boys howl in shock as they turned around to cover their red faces after witnessing Shouko's vulgar display.
"WOW!" Shouko exclaimed, "You're freaking sexy bestie!"
Sachiko turned white from horror and found herself closing the coat over her body as protection from any more of Shouko's inappropriate physical examinations.
"Cut it out, please Ieiri!" she said, a little peeved.
Gojo was grinding his teeth but still couldn't bring himself to turn around. He was parched. Even if he was dating Sachiko, he wouldn't even dare to put on such an act, "Oi! Ieiri! Get your mitts off her!"
Ieiri looped her arms around Sachiko's shoulder, "Why don't you come here and say that?"
Suguru was still wide-eyed and had covered half of his face with his hand when he tried his best to calmly support Satoru's statement despite his heart banging loudly through his chest, "Please Ieiri, what you did wasn't appropriate…"
Ieiri grouched, "God, you guys are no fun! Anyway! Imma bring Sachiko to her dorm to change, let's meet there in an hour, got it?"
The two boys' eyes met in a rather heated but silent exchange as they walked back towards the door. None of them wanted to comment on what they had witnessed, so as soon as they entered their dorm rooms, they both headed to get a cold shower.
Suguru had already changed into comfortable clothing when he forced himself to tidy up the clothes he wore from the mission. Setting them aside for laundry, an onyx sphere fell off on one of his jacket pockets. Picking it up, he looked through it to define who owned the registry.
I forgot about the Scrybe.
For a moment, Suguru just stared at the cursed spirit trapped inside the sphere, contemplating on adding him into his collection seeing as its technique could prove useful in the future. Powerful in fact. The ability to engrave one's life and to utilize a cursed technique of another sorcerer would surely make him a noteworthy adversary.
His mouth was already propped open when he remembered Tsukasa's words as he saw himself in the mirror,
"I hope you use the right ones to describe your own,"
Taking a deep breath, Suguru gulped and proceeded to open his cabinet where a small, sealed box was kept alongside the plant he was growing. Suguru dropped the orb inside the box and wrapped it in talismans, each layer providing him security and pride that he was sure, he made the right choice.
He checked the jacket to see if he had forgotten anything else and discovered a half-crumpled sheet of paper. He smoothened it over his desk and found himself beaming at the illustration he made of him and his friends at the beach. Grabbing his journal, he opened it to the page where the photograph Tsukasa had divined was neatly kept and inserted the illustration alongside it.
A knock came from his door then, followed by a few messages popping on the screen of his phone coming from the two girls they were about to meet.
Satoru flung the door open and gave him a nod,
"Yo, took ya long enough, let's go!"
"Right,"
And for the first time in a long time, Suguru felt happy that he was back at the institute and he was sure, that this is where he truly wanted to be and where he belonged.
No regrets.
I am not alone.
I really hope it stays this way.
END OF COMMISSIONERS OF GINZA
NEXT CHAPTER: REKINDLING
GOOD JUJU
"You mean, someone actually wants to buy my painting?"
"Yeah, kid and it's not because the buyer was influenced by your cursed technique. We had windows test it, you didn't leave any remnants. All that you left is your skill and talent. This is all you Jan,"
Jan found himself rubbing his eyes with his arm as tears flowed out profusely. Getou had told him that he the painting remained in the gallery and a curator took interest in his work.
Getou knew that that kind of news warranted a personal appearance and seeing as how relieved and happy the kid was, he knew his travel was worth it. The kid had to believe that all his efforts meant something. He had so much potential, but training is different from passion.
He wanted to return something that Jan had lost working under the Scrybe.
"Thank you, Getou-san!" Jan gave him a 45 degree bow to which the older boy hurriedly dismissed, "Please! If there's anything I can do to help! Let me know!"
Getou scratched his face and gave a shaky laugh, "Actually I do have one favor,"
"Of course, what can I do for you?"
"Hm, you see, my friend lost something a while back and I can't seem to find anything that resembles what I gave her, so I was wondering if you could help me modify it with your technique?"
Jan nodded excitedly, "Of course! May I see the object?"
Suguru grabbed a purple hair tie from his pocket and dropped it on Jan's palm, followed by an illustration of what he wanted it to look like, "Do you think it's something you can manage?"
Jan grinned at him. Suguru once drew her with her braided hair tied in the very same ribbon, so he didn't need for him to explain further, "I accept this commission Getou-san, leave it to me,"
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Phew! Another long one ^^ Hope you guys enjoyed! The next chapter will be a little lighter before we finally inch closer to the Cursed Child Arc. Updates may be in 1-2 weeks as per usual. Thanks for understanding!
Result of the divinations
I purposefully didn't specify who got the specific illustrations, I'll let you guys make your own theories hehe. Honestly could be anyone's. As for the meaning? Feel free to theorize as well, can't spoil too much. I will tell you now that revelations will probably happen when the story reaches the arc in the anime hehe.
The next chapter will be more light hearted ^^ Time to spread some joy!
Leave your theories on my DMs, comments or twts. I'd love to read about your thoughts.
Also, if you have time, kindly drop by my AO3 to view the awesome art for the chapter by Elz ^^ so many easter eggs!