Chapter 23

The day was lack luster in Sukuna's mind.

Despite the little… playdate he had, the day was nothing to him. However, as night fell, he dreaded what was to come.

Sleep.

It all happens just as the domain goes in for the night, those living here called it a day and it was time for rest… Sukuna has been dreading this part of the day.

He paused before his little… dog house as he put it. It's just large enough for him to sleep comfortably and yet not really live in there. It's cramp, small and at the same time not befitting of him and his stature. But it's a place to sleep.

"You either accept what we offer or sleep outside, I could give a shit." Were the words from Suiryu after he protested his accommodations after a while. Yet, as of late, when he goes to sleep, things… come into his mind.

Nothing good either.

"Go to bed!" he jumped as Suiryu shouted from the back of his house. "Seriously! GO TO BED!" he ordered.

As such the collar compelled him to go into the small hut and forced him to lie in bed. "I don't want to go to sleep…" he muttered to himself, and yet, every time he goes to bed, he tends to sleep rather easily.

Then the dream begins.

"Ryomen…. Ryomen…"

He hears the voice of someone familiar, calling out to him. "Shut up…" he growled back.

"That's no way to talk to me Ryomen, you know better than that! And it appears you have been able to hear me all along, haven't you?"

A chill when down his spine at the tone… he hasn't had that since… since…

"GAH! Why can't I remember?!"

The voice snickered. "Oh Ryomen, it's going to be okay…"

"SHUT UP! WHO THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU ARE!"

The voice went silent for a moment, but a gentle snicker was heard. "The one who will help you remember, and not just me… We know Ryomen… we know all about you… we know you are struggling with yourself and we have come to help. Besides, did you really think we would allow you to do what you did without reason?"

Suddenly, he sat up in his bed. Breaking out into a cold sweat, and yet, his heart… his heart was beating like crazy! "What the hell kind of curse is this?" he muttered to himself.

He knows them all practically. And yet, this one has him rather worried. No doubt it's a mind curse, made to reek havoc with his thoughts and processing. But why did such a voice send a chill down his spine? It spoke softly to him and yet…

"What have those brats done to me!" he growled.

"SUKUNA…. HERE BOY! BREAKFAST!"

"Damn it…"

The knockoff has called for him, once more he is compelled to obey the order.

He walked out, and found his meal was outside of his poor excuse of a home. Bacon and eggs apparently. "I still wonder why they are treating me like this, I should be tormented day in and out… what's Tooru's angle?" he muttered as he ate with discontent.

There is more to this, he knows it, same with the brat and knockoff. Both of them have gained power, what kind? He isn't certain, and yet, it can beat him at his prime with curse energy. "Something must have happened after the trial of body and soul… wait… the brat was rendered an infant… But then…" he tried to figure things out, even in a state of dormancy, he could sense the flow of curse energy, he knows the brat was rendered an infant, but then, after a while, he completely vanished, same with the knockoff. For three years and even now, he doesn't sense their energy, and yet, they can beat him with ease.

"I have to learn what they did, then I can break this damn collar off… and then…" his eyes peered at the cuffs on his wrists. "Why bind me to a Tooru?" he wondered. Although this is a precaution to ensure he cannot harm her, the knockoff knew that she didn't even want this to happen. Yet, the creature named Suiryu made certain it took place. Perhaps it is another lay of protection for Tooru, at the same time, do the brats not think they could handle him?

Curiouser still.

"I should bide my time here, despite how it is, it's not all that bad… as well, I can gain insight as to what is going on. How those two became stronger and…" he saw it from the corner of his right demon eye. The brat was out with his brat. "If my former vessel has had a child… there is a greater chance that his child is able to contain another as well… I could have a new vessel…" he thought and then smiled wickedly at the notion.

After all, the brat is so soft hearted, he wouldn't dare try and put down his own child if he became possessed now, would he?

A new plan was made, but it would require some acting on his part. "I maybe going about this all wrong… Perhaps it's time I see who is capable of what… and then prepare a counterstrike for when the time comes…"

He has bided his time for over a thousand years, what's a few more?

#

Meanwhile…

"BLEH!"

"Ooo, that was breakfast wasn't it?"

"Please, stop talking…" Yua muttered. She was hung over the toilet once more, the morning sickness is getting worst by the day. Not even the tea is helping anymore. She lives off of the rice soup that she got the recipe from the divine, Eso has been more than gracious to make it for her whenever she asks, but she would like a decent, solid meal.

"Uh, you did this to me!" she scolded Gojo.

"I think that was a group effort." He protested. "Besides, don't blame me since you're hot!"

She forced a smile but still, felt disgusted. "I just want to not throw up every morning, is it too much to ask?"

"Apparently so,"

"Please, shut up"

Gojo only smiled, he has been at her side each morning when she's sick, in fact, he has gone as far as holding back her hair as she throws up every morning, and she never thought he would do such a thing for her. And yet, he does.

When she was well enough to move again, Gojo lifted her off the ground and brought her back to bed. "Try and rest up today, I'll ask Eso to make you soup."

She merely nodded to him and tried to rest her eyes.

Yua sighed aloud to the quiet, but she felt her skin crawl suddenly. Curious, she peered about the room but saw something odd at the corner of her table.

A warm cup of tea?

"Choso…" she muttered. Slowly, she sat up and took the tea, she inhaled the vapor, but paused. "This… this isn't the usual tea I drink…" there was an odd aroma coming from the cup, normally it would have a strong peppermint flavor to it, but this had a very faint smell, but she picked up other odd scents she has never smelt before. Cautiously, she took a sip.

It was warm as it trickled down her throat, the spice was rather strong and a little bitter, but manageable. She cleaned the cup before resting again, yet the moment she fell back on her pillow, her stomach moaned oddly.

"Huh?"

It gargled and moaned before settling once again. She sighed aloud, but then felt her nauseating feeling… vanish! "I… don't feel sick anymore?" then her stomach roared in hunger! "Food…" shifting herself from the bed, she went to the fridge, there were plenty of leftovers and for once, she wanted it all!