Chapter 20

Itadori laid in the hospital bed. He has been asleep for the past two days straight. Gojo has been watching it all from afar as every day on the hour, every hour. Suiryu would go in and try something, anything to heal the cracks. They weren't visible at first, but by today, they started to show up. Thick, black veins began had appeared throughout the core of his body and were starting to spread.

Suiryu was getting frustrated as he tried time and time again to suppress the flaws, heal the wounds or just anything in general to prevent Yuuji from losing all his energy. He hates to admit it though, had it not been for Sukuna and his power. Itadori would have died the moment it happened. But with all the curse energy in his body, it has delayed it greatly.

Kitsune has even been trying to assist in the matter, but this was getting more and more complicated. "I don't understand what I am doing wrong…" Suiryu muttered the moment he got out of the room. "Reverse jujutsu should work! I'm strong enough to heal that kind of wound!" he protested to Gojo.

"It's not easy is it? Considering this was a divine weapon used against him, not to mention, the power the thief was using against Yuuji… was curse wasn't it?"

Suiryu froze. "Fuck, I forgot about that… still… why aren't the wounds healing?" he muttered.

The more Gojo peered over at Itadori, the more he saw the cracks spread and grow throughout the body. "Perhaps this was designed so he couldn't be healed." He whispered.

Suiryu paused to the news. "But it's impossible to do something on that scale to him… to me for that matter."

"This happened inside his body, containing the body thief. We know for certain this was the final option that the Divine Oracle had planned if the thief didn't work. One way or another, they want their dragon. Even if they have to go hunt for it all over again…"

They fell silent to each other as they continued to peer into the room. Kitsune was at work now, her hands on fire as she began to press them over the veins and cracks of the body in hopes of healing and sealing them closed. But so far, she too has not had luck. There was a look of frustration in her eyes as well as she appeared lost. When she took notice of them looking, she came out of the room.

"I fear the worst for this," she said offhandedly.

"Jujutsu, reverse jujutsu and divine energy are having no effect. How is that even possible?" Suiryu muttered.

"Because the device they used was made from a dragon," she said.

This got everyone's attention. "Wait, what?" demanded Gojo. "It was made from a dragon? So what?"

She sighed aloud. "The dragons that were slayed on earth in physical form, had their bodies taken apart and used for various weapons and devices. This is a new one, for I have never seen the likes of it before. A divine bomb." She said. "When dragon material is used… it's impossible to heal from. Especially when young master was using his curse power against the body thief, that device was divine energy… we should consider ourselves lucky that it didn't kill him. But at this rate, he will be gone in a week."

"Then what do we do? What can Ryujin do?" Suiryu asked.

She fell oddly silent.

Gojo was even startled by it. "Can he help?"

She kept silent.

Suiryu then paused. "Are you fucking kidding me?" he demanded.

"What?" Gojo asked.

Suiryu let out a tried sigh. "Ryujin can't help him, since he's dying too."

Kitsune froze as she stared at Suiryu. "How did you…"

"It's obvious isn't it? Ryujin would have kicked the bastard out long before he blew up, but there wasn't the energy to do it… which is why Yuuji has been absorbing a lot of it as of late. Not for his benefit but the dragon's. At this rate… Ryujin will be starved out of Yuuji, but at the same time… he will die."

Gojo turned to Kitsune, who merely nodded her head. "He's been trying to help young master from the inside, but he too is at a loss. Despite being a dragon himself, if he uses too much power, he could kill Yuuji by accident. He is still human in a sense, but there are so many other factors going on…"

Gojo began to feel frustrated himself. There was nothing that could be done to save him? Who else could they turn to for help? What else could be done?

Tap, tap, tap.

The three jumped as they saw Itadori out of bed… but on fire!

"Ryujin?" Gojo whispered.

They three rushed into the room, the made certain to lock the door behind them. When they faced him again, Ryujin lowered his head. "I'm sorry… I promised to protect this child and I didn't."

"Ryujin, what can we do?" demanded Suiryu. "There HAS to be something we can do!"

He was silent for the most part, but then sighed aloud. "The damage is done. There isn't much that can heal him at this point, but if we were to try something…" he paused to think about it. "Perhaps… but it's risky too, it could also kill him as well…"

"What could?" asked Gojo.

"His body needs to cultivate to another level of being, a heavenly body, demonic vessel, dragon vessel… but there is one other stage I can try and bring him to. If I do so, we elevate him to the next level… it will heal him…"

"Next level?" Suiryu whispered. "Has Sukuna managed to reach this level you speak of?"

"No," Ryujin said flat out. "Which is why it will be dangerous, you will all be going into this blind to say the least, but this is but one option… perhaps the only option we have. The other is attempting to swap his mind into another. I will personally take responsibility for the death of this body… but if I can spare him, I will certainly do so."

"Another body…" Suiryu paused and nodded. "I think we can do that," he whispered.

"Just where are we going to find one?" Gojo asked.

But Suiryu was already in his deep thinking mode. He wondered out of the room without speaking another word. Ryujin sighed aloud to it all. "I fear I already know what he wishes to do… I doubt it will work though."

Gojo turned to Ryujin. "What is he planning on doing?" but then paused before he turned back. Suiryu was already gone. "Wait, he isn't thinking…"

Kitsune even paused. "Master?" she asked in a bewildered tone.

He merely smiled to Kitsune. "If you believe he is nothing more than Sukuna… I do believe your opinion will change after his attempts to help and save Itadori…" Ryujin paused as he peered down at his hands. "I wish to have some time alone if that is possible? May I possess him for a short while? I will return him to the bed the moment I am done."

Gojo was uncertain, but due to the circumstance, he nodded in agreement. "Don't be too long, the more he moves…"

"Yes, I am aware. I will not be long."

He disappeared.

Just like that, he vanished out of the room!

"Since when…"

Kitsune herself was even stunned. "I… never knew he could do such a thing."