Jujutsu Kaisen: The Forgotten Clan

Chapter 21- Discounted Assistance

A breath from the deepest part of my soul reaches my mouth. The moonlight pours through the window, creating an ominous setting. Four candles light up, casting six shadows on the ground.

"Humph, it is quite uncommon for a person with ocular powers to willingly change their eye color. Elaborate on your ability for us."

I stay silent and look at Kamo through a cold squint. They are going to play a game of getting to know me better while putting me in my place. Right, not on my watch Jujutsu Tech! It will take 1000 years to get me to budge.

"Who, said I changed the color on purpose? My blood sugar is running low, and so is my patience!"

"How about you watch your tone, Santa-Clara. We would hate for you to be expelled from Jujutsu Tech and ruin your chances at a prolific sorcery career."

Gakuganji and his threats make my blood boil. It must be nice serving as the principal of the Kyoto branch. If he were the principal of the Tokyo branch, I would make his life a living hell on earth. I smile to the ground and bare my teeth.

"Is this how you treated my parents when they were students? Bring them in for late-night interviews, attempt to separate them at all costs, and cause havoc on their personal lives."

I brush Suguru's hand away without a second thought. The silence rings loudly through the room.

"We are not here to discuss your parents' exhibitions as Jujutsu Tech students. We are here to discuss your mission from last month." Elder Two

"My understanding is we, the person sitting to my left and everyone else, received high marks for completing the mission."

"Gojo, Geto, Haibara, Ijichi, and Nanami received high accolades for their teamwork. You, on the other hand, received multiple complaints from Sir Shingo. Destruction of property, inability to subdue a target without lethal means, ruthless abandonment, and allowing a curse to escape."

This meeting is about the finger from Disneyland.

"And it was necessary to bring the clan heads in to scold me for my performance on a mission?" I say sarcastically.

Kamo, Zen'In, Gakuganji, and Elder Two all shake their heads yes. Suguru looks at me with concern, while Gojo stares at the wall in front of him. I start cackling like a mad person.

"And what is so funny? Did Gakuganji crack a joke that we all missed? Maintaining professionalism is essential for a sorcerer."

I stop laughing and catch my breath.

"I understand the bit of being professional, Zen'In. I also understand certain levels of property damage are unavoidable in our line of work, and protecting a comrade is something I take seriously. Had I not stepped up and used lethal force, Jujutsu Tech would have three additional corpses to deal with. You all understand where I am going with this statement."

Now all eyes are on me. I lean in towards the table, putting my fingers in a steeple pose. Elder Two starts talking.

"With regards to the curse, why were you unable to exorcise it? And what happened to the sixth civilian. According to your written report, the civilian ran away and has not been recovered."

The breath from earlier escapes my lips.

"Hey, I met my match at the Jungle Cruise. The sneaky curse nearly drowned my coworker and left without a trace."

I am sitting back in my chair, arms folded across my chest.

"You are a Special Grade sorcerer, and the curse was Grade-Two" Gakuganji states without expression.

I look at him without saying a word. His eyebrows have grown since the meeting began.

"You can wipe that look off your face. Taking out a Grade-Two curse should not be an issue for a Special Grade sorcerer."

"With all due respect, Kamo, expecting us Special Grades to exorcise everything (including Special Grade curses) is a bit much."

"My comment was not directed at you, Geto. Kindly stay out of the conversation."

"I would have to agree with Geto on this one, Kamo."

(Gojo has entered the chat room)

"Of course, you would side with the curse user! He is your grandson's friend!" Zen'In barks.

"What is your point, Zen'In? That I should side with you and Kamo on everything? And stop referring to Geto as a curse user. He possess Cursed-Spirit m.a.n.i.p.u.l. ."

(The sass is strong with grandpa Gojo y'all.)

I turn my gaze to the clock above the door. Seven, twenty-three is the time.

"Stop checking the clock, Santa-Clara, and pay attention to what is going in front of you." Elder Two states with a stern tone. Kamo, Gojo, and Zen'In are bickering again.

"Everyone, stop talking!" I yell this at a decibel that could raise the dead.

At this point, my eyes are a faint purple, to the point of looking white.

"This meeting has nothing to do with my performance. It has to do with the Special Grade finger from Disneyland. Like the one I recovered at Abitha."

My statement makes Gakuganji bulge his left eye out from under his bushy brows, Elder Two to do a double-take, and Gojo to run a hand over his face. Suguru closes his eyes and grits his teeth, while Kamo and Zen'In smile from ear to ear. I continue talking.

"It is obvious why you brought me to Jujutsu Tech. The Special Grade fingers are causing worldwide chaos. Collecting the fingers is Jujutsu Tech's top priority...I am your finger locator. In addition, you expect me to exorcise the curse from the fingers."

I pause for a minute and look at everyone's faces. Zen'In takes it upon himself to talk.

"When you phrase it like that, you make it sound as though we are forcing your hand. Last time I checked we have been nothing but hospitable towards you."

"Being hospitable towards me, Zen'In? Yah right! If your definition of being hospitable includes open threats and unwarranted attention from your offspring, then yes, you have been hospitable."

I am giving myself five minutes before leaving. I need food, and I need it now!

"Wait, I am not done talking. If you think I am going to sit around and let you all control my life, think again. I have kept myself alive and thriving for eight years now. You know, since my parents are dead."

"That is a shame, Sharah, and Jorgen, dying so young and with a lot of talent. What a shame you will never live up to their reputations." Zen'In and his smug face had better watch it.

I am growing antsier by the minute and need to get out of this room!

A Warehouse Basement at Jujutsu: Shoko's Morgue

"Is there a way for us to see how she is doing? I want to know she is safe...oh my goodness."

Sakura is pacing back and forth, while Shoko and Gojo are off to the sides.Neither sorcerer answersSakura.

"Are you two going to sit there in silence? If so, I will go by myself."

Before reaching the door, Satoru blocks Sakura's exit. She places her hands on his shoulders and tries shoving him out of the way.

"We are not going anywhere, Sakura. I have told you five times already to stop worrying about the kid! She will not disclose information about you that has not been disclosed already."

"You sound so confident, Satoru, but I am having a hard time believing you! Now move out of my way. That is not the only thing I am worried about."

Back Inside the Interrogation Room

"The way you talk about my parents makes me think you did not care for their presence. Now, are we finished here or not?"

"Answer my question from before, regarding the missing civilian, then we will dismiss."

My hands are curled into fists and resting on my lap. The time is eight o clock.

"As my report states, the civilian ran away from the park. If they wanted to be found, I would have found them already. Sometimes when people run away, they don't want to be found."

"It sounds as though you are speaking from personal experience."

(Shut your face Zen'In or the next person who will wind up on the other side is you!)

"Should you lot have lingering questions regarding my techniques and exploiting them, Head Quarters can assist you. After all, prying into someone's personal life is how Jujutsu Tech runs."

I stand up, walk around the Elders, and head out the door. The hallway is illuminated by two rows of candles, highlighting the dark ambiance of the building. My face heats up, but I suppress my tears when I hear the door behind me open. I continue walking until I am standing outside.

Outside the Interrogation Building

(I need to figure something out. Ever since THAT vampire bit me, I have been acting strangely: vivid nightmares, worrying about other people more than usual, and random cravings for blood. If Sakura and I stay on this campus overnight, we will wind up hurting someone. Shoot, my heart rate is increasing!)

"What are you thinking about doing, Blaze?"

I have my back turned to whoever is addressing me. The moonlight is beautiful, and I am basking in its warmth.

"Look it is not my..." Suguru is cut off by someone else.

"Good, you have not gone far Santa-Clara. Geto, I see you are still around, how about the three of us catch up with my grandson?"

"They are in the morgue, you two go on ahead, I am running a personal errand."

"Whatever it is you want to do, I advise you to wait until the Elders and clan leaders leave. Doing anything rash might backfire, my dear."

(Grr!)

"Kindly refrain from using pet names with me. This is our first meeting, and we are not blood relatives. Come on, before I head back inside the interrogation room, and rip someone's face off."

Grandpa Gojo, Suguru, and I make it to the morgue. Satoru and Shoko are nodding off to sleep, while Sakura is curled up in a corner.

"They finally made it! How was your meeting...grandfather?!"

I storm past Satoru, nearly crash into a metal dissection table, and kneel next to Sakura. We exchange a few words, then head towards the exit.

"Oy, where do you think you are going, newbie?"

"Satoru, do not start with me! If I don't get off this campus soon, I will hurt someone. Good night. Do not follow us."

8:45 pm: Seven-Eleven Twelve Blocks from Campus

Thump, thump. Thump, thump. Thump, thump. Ring, a ding. Swoosh, swoosh.

"Blaze? Hey, look at me, please."

Thump, swoosh, swoosh. A pair of hands touch my face, causing me to jump back.

"There, it is alright. Come here, stop resisting and let me hold you."

The snot running out of my nose, and the heat radiating from my face tell me I am crying. I bury my face into Sakura's shirt to hide my embarrassment. What do I have to cry about?

"Take a few deep breaths for me, in and out."

"Sakura, what the heck is wrong with me? I felt fine this morning and now I am crying in a convenience store!"

"You are human, cut yourself a break. Today has also been taxing, between the fire and your meeting...you are handling today like a pro."

(I feel you are just saying this to make me feel better. My voice is horse too.)

Sakura squeezes me tightly, then lets me go after a minute-and-a-half.

"Better?"

"Yes, we should get our stuff and go. I don't want to stay here longer than..."

"What is this? Purple eyes, are you crying? Ladies and gentlemen, the cold hearted demon is nothing more than a spineless softie. And who is your pretty little friend?"

Grab me by the face and call me cute.

"What do you want, Ryo and Ayumi?"

I wipe the tears from my face, push Sakura behind me, and stand up straight. The clerk is far too far away to see what is going on in the soda aisle, but I can always scream.

"Blaze, who are these people?"

"Trouble, the kind of trouble that harasses and picks on others."

"Such strong words for someone who was just crying. Where have you been? We have missed you around campus." Ayumi.

"I transferred out last month. Now turn around and leave, I do not want to fight you two."

"Norika told us what you did to Naomi out in the parking lot. Punched the lights out of him...we can't have you ruin someone's reputation like that, can we?" Ryo

"She said to leave her alone, individuals whose names I do not know."

Ryo and Ayumi turn around and come face-to-face with...

"And who are you?" Ryo

"Haibara, Yu. I would appreciate you leaving now before things escalate." Yu is smiling and gives me a wink. I make a face.

"Is this your boyfriend, Purple Eyes? He seems like someone to fall for the likes of you." Ryo

"That is none of your business, Ryo. Now move."

I grab the handbasket, Sakura's arm, and walk past Ryo, Ayumi, and Yu. Ryo attempts to grab my arm, but Sakura kicks him in the shin. Yu catches up to Sakura and me once we have reached the checkout stand.

I take out my phone and scroll through my messages while waiting in line. Sakura taps my shoulder and points outside. I see the outline of two sorcerers, turn around, and see Yu's smiling face.

"Please, don't get mad at them. They tried getting Kento to help out, but he refused. Said he needed some rest."

"Thank you, Haibara. I appreciate the explanation."

"Plus, three of us are going on a mission. Tonight!"

(What the?)

"Grr! Eff you Higher-Ups!"

"Next in line please."

The twenty-something-year-old clerk gives me a sheepish smile and starts ringing up my items. While punching in the number of sour gummy worms into the computer, she starts talking.

"Rough night?"

"You can say that, yes. I don't need a bag, thank you."

I hand her my credit card, sign the receipt, and let out a sigh.

Sidewalk Near Seven-Eleven

"I don't see why Gojo did not come himself."

"Come now, Utahime, he said we would pay us for doing this small favor. Money talks and I listen."