Chapter 3

The whole restaurant paused.

No one could believe a mere teenage boy could pack away that much food in such a short time. Ryujin was eating the place out of business, he just finished his 20th helping before he leaned back and savored the meal. "I do admit this fledgling can hold quite a bit in him!" he muttered to Kitsune.

She merely snickered. She was glad to see her master so content. But at the same time the attention was becoming unwanted. "Perhaps it is best we move on master, I do believe we are drawing a crowd…" she whispered.

He nodded in agreement. Kitsune was quick to pay the bill and did a little extra to make up for Ryujin's appetite. When they left, he was picking his teeth rather contently. "That was a good meal, but it makes me wonder if that is considered fast food, then what are the more elegant ones like?"

"Master, I do believe humans pay a lot more for a more lavishing meal, but the portions are rather pathetic. If anything, I do suggest you visit the curse wombs that have taken up residence near the school. One of them make a great meal, and I hear he is combining ingredients in such a way that it's a surprise for one's taste buds."

He paused for a moment. "Are they doing well? The curse wombs?" he asked.

Kitsune nodded to him. "They are content and happy to be a family. Suiryu has been taking care of their needs and helping them if they wish to pursue a hobby of some sort. He's done very well tending to the brothers… I am curious though, you wanted to bring them to life didn't you?"

Ryujin bore a smirk of guilt. "Yes," he said. "I have gone through all of Itadori's memories and found that these poor souls… they never wanted to be what they are, they were experiments and yet, forced to suffer such a fate. I also saw they are capable of compassion and care. Curses aren't known for such a thing, but there was something in them that made me see they needed a chance."

She appeared rather surprised to the confession. "What would have happened if they ended up causing damage and pain?"

"You don't need to ask such a thing of me, I take responsibilities for my actions… I would have destroyed them myself." When he spoke, it was so cold and callous. As if he bore no connection to them at all.

Kitsune sighed aloud rather contently. "So, what else would you like to do Master?"

He didn't know himself. "I haven't really appreciated this world as much as I would like to, also, so much has chanced in a thousand years. I don't quite know what to expect of it anymore…" he suddenly paused as his eyes caught something. People were gathered around a music store, mainly teenagers as they listened to a rather aggressive song. He smirked though, as Kitsune peered through the crowd.

"Oh my God, have you seen such a perfect figure?!"

"Look at those markings on him… MMm wouldn't you just love to trace your fingers down all of them?"

"Oh, he could sing me the phone book…"

"He could READ me the phone book"

Kitsune however sneered. "Ugh, it's the Sukuna clone…" she muttered and turned her nose away.

Ryujin however peered a little closer and smiled. The store was playing a music video and Suiryu was out, front and center in it all, singing yet he appears to be happy doing so. "He's enjoying himself." He said offhandedly. "It's nice to see…"

"I still don't understand what you were thinking when it came to that!" she protested. "To allow that bit of him to live, now, wonder the world!" she protested. "I don't care for him at all, I don't care about what you say of it either… he is Sukuna to me, nothing more." She said defiantly.

Ryujin snickered as they continued on. "Why, do you think I saved Sukuna or something?"

"You let THAT live, every bit of him should have been purged!" she protested. "The fact that a grain that big was found in his soul is rather shocking. I didn't think he had any of that in him…"

"In truth, he didn't." Ryujin said bluntly. "Yes, what he did that is considered an act of kindness was out of his own greedy intentions. He was obsessed with Megumi Fushiguro, and yet… he saved his life when he could have been left to die…" Ryujin paused. "In that speck, I saw something I never though I would see."

Kitsune froze as she turned to him, Ryujin appeared to be thinking deeply about it all. "Master?"

"Who would have though something like Suiryu would have come from a evil creature like Sukuna… but also look how far Suiryu has come, what he has done. He is taking the opposite path of his origins. Can you look me in the eyes and tell me he has done nothing for those around him and satisfied his own ambitions?" he asked oddly.

Kitsune froze as Ryujin's eyes locked on to hers. She couldn't bring herself to speak, let alone defy his question. Instead, she turned away bitterly. She has kept a close eye on Suiryu herself, to make certain that he does no wrong to her young master. But, every time she goes to see him, she watches on as he attempts to either cheer Yuuji up, or snap him out of a rut. He protects him fiercely; at the same time he has become a rather… unusual person to make sense of.

She only snapped out of her train of thought when Ryujin snickered to her. "It's okay to feel that way Kitsune, it's best we have someone to keep our guard up in case something occurs. At the same time, try and keep an open mind about this too."

"Humph! I make no promises!" she protested.

"Still, he became a rock star… interesting… Sukuna always complained about being board, I wonder if this is Suiryu's way of combating it…"

"Master…" Kitsune said. "If I may ask… if you were to leave Itadori, what would become of him?"

Ryujin fell silent on the question. "I don't know," he said bluntly. "I wish to know, but I doubt we would know the answer should the day come that I leave him. At the same time, something is forcing me to stay. I have gathered up a great amount of energy, I think I may nearly have enough to leave, yet at the same time… I don't believe I can…"

"Why is that?"

Ryujin was oddly silent. Kitsune didn't like it the least bit. "Master?" she asked once more. But he said nothing. Suddenly, she froze in her steps. "Are you dying?"

He turned to her and merely nodded his head.

She started to tremble at the news. "No… no I will have young master cultivate the moment he takes over once more!" she protested.

"Kitsune… no amount of energy from either source will be enough to save me." He said gently to her. "This… is something that has been happening for some time, when I was given a new host, some of my soul had to go into their so they could possess me for as long as they did. I've been alive for over 10,000 years. Longer than most dragons who remained on earth…"

"Actually, you are the longest living dragon on earth," she said offhandedly. "Everyone else went to their spirit forms so they wouldn't be hunted and stayed off the mortal plain."

"I didn't quite have a choice in the matter. Knowing if I ever returned I would be killed…" he said. "But, I am at peace with the notion. The fact I could save an innocent life that will turn and save thousands in my place… I do not regret dying such a death. It's most fitting and honorable if you consider it."

She wept though at the thought of it all. Ryujin… dying.

"Then… Young master…"

He paused. "That's the thing…" he whispered. "I don't know what will happen to the fledgling if I die in his body…" he said to her. "I've… been trying to escape, so I do not bring about his death along with mine. That or I find another way…"

She paused. "Find another way?"

He turned to her. "An old ritual, one that hasn't been done due to the complications of it. Soul fusion." He said. "My soul will fuse with another, but the problem it, the soul can't be complete."

Kitsune was confused. "How on earth do you find an incomplete soul?" she demanded of him. "Master, it's like a wild goose chase!"

He nodded in agreement. "I know, I cannot fuse with the fledgling, his soul is too powerful, as well, I fear I would corrupt it if I attempt such a thing. But there has to be one out there, and my time is limited… I am sustained on the child's energy, both curse and divine. He is able to keep me alive in such a way I never thought possible. Even if it bides me a little more time…"

"How much time do we have?" Kitsune asked. "I will start searching right away!"

"We may have a year or two," he said. "But I don't know… I never experienced this before…"

Kitsune paused. "Would you not reincarnate? I mean, you've done it before!"

He shook his head. "I won't have the strength to, if I do not find a soul to combine with, it will be the end for me… pity… I wanted to see mother one more time…"

Kitsune sighed aloud to her task, but she will do everything possible to find the right body for her master to merge to. "In that case master, let's continue to indulge you!" she announced.

He smiled to her. "Very well then, this walk has stimulated by appetite once more…"

"You just ate an hour ago…"

"Yes, but Itadori was such a kind soul, that he fasted yesterday so I could enjoy myself… hmm… I wonder where would be a good place…" suddenly he paused oddly. "What is this odd sensation on the side of my leg?"

Kitsune giggled. "Yuuji's phone." She said.

"Ah," he reached into the pocket and took it out. He was amazingly good at using it. "Greetings?"

"Yuuji?!"

He paused to the voice oddly. "Something close to it…"

"Oh right, Suiryu told me. Ryujin, correct? I'm Junpei"

"Ah yes, I recall now! Did you wish to speak with Itadori or me?"

There was an odd pause. "Actually, I wanted to speak with you. We were informed of your day out and were wondering if you wish to join us for dinner. Eso is promising a grand feast, Suiryu suggested it, so you wish to join us…"

"When?"

"Seven tonight?"

"I would be delighted, until then,"

He hung up and smiled. "I will get to see the curse wombs first hand tonight. I am being promised a grand feast."

"Well you may want to have a light lunch, Eso's food is remarkable… he's been making sweets for us at young master's request… they are better than anything bought at a store." She said and sighed to the thought of them. "Mmm sweets…" she swooned.

"Very well then…" he paused oddly. Grabbing Kitsune by the arm he pulled her into the alleyway, but was quick to leap up and to land on the rooftop of a small office building!

She was taken aback by his action when he peered over the rooftop. His eyes narrowed down at someone. Kitsune took a look herself and found a strange woman with divine energy peering about the streets. "Did they…"

"Yes," he said bluntly. "But feel that energy within them… it's not their own, nor is the body."

She appeared disgusted by the notion. "Ugh, body thieves…" she muttered. Yet the more she stared at this person, the more disgusted she felt. "They are over 400 years old…" she said in a stunned tone.

He nodded to her. "They are… I have little doubt this is our next adversary to say the least." Ryujin paused. "I sense they are going to try and take this body…"

"Shall I kill them?" she asked.

Ryujin appeared to be thinking it over, but then a coy grin came over him. "I have another idea… but also… they are looking for something else too…" he paused. "How is Yuko Ozawa?"

Kitsune paused. "She is with child, it's young master's. My brother has kept me informed and has stated she is in good health right now… but is worried for her child's future should they be prone to the father's situation…"

He nodded. "We cannot allow this one to find her, if they see your brother. If they sense him…"

"I will inform him at once."

"Do that but do not engage this body thief. I wish to deal with them myself, at the same time… I wish to torment them."

Kitsune was stunned to the decree. "Torment them? Master?" she asked curiously.

He merely smiled to her. "I will explain it over dinner tonight. Please, go warn your brother… as for me. I do believe a light lunch is in order… Is there something called a sushi bar that I could go to?"

She giggled once more. "Let me bring you there, I'll pick you up when you are done."