Chapter 26

"I'm not going…"

"Yeah, you are!"

"Suiryu, this is really unnecessary…"

Yua was about to go into the village for some supplies. However, Suiryu is insisting on having a manservant go with her. He instantly volunteered Sukuna since he wasn't doing anything.

"You expect me to go out in public looking like this? You are just as dumb as the brat!"

Suiryu smirked as he held up a plain white mask. "You remember this? We got this from Kitsune, this time though, you are going to put it on."

"Like hell I will…"

However the smile on Suiryu's face only grew. "I was hoping you would say that…" He held the mask in a single hand, from there, he held it out and infused it with power. Yua knew he was, since the air went heavy rather suddenly, but it wasn't curse energy he was using either. When finished, he released the mask and it began to float in place.

"What the hell…" Sukuna muttered.

"Mask, lock on target," Suiryu said as the mask suddenly turned and appeared to be staring at Sukuna. "Attach"

It flew itself at him! Latching on to his face and refusing to leave it!

"GAAAHHH! GET IT OFF, GET IT OFF OF ME!"

"Suiryu…" Yua said in a worrying tone.

"Relax, it shouldn't hurt him… much," he said offhandedly.

However, his screaming was saying other wise.

Yua jumped when she heard bones cracking and realigning themselves. "That's just for flair, they aren't breaking, merely shrinking."

She was rather surprised as Suiryu explained everything that was happening, a mere mask was reconfiguring Sukuna's whole being! When it was said and done, his body appeared to be smoldering. He looked up and glared at Suiryu.

Yua… was taken aback by his appearance.

"What did that knockoff do to me!?" he demanded.

From where she stood, Sukuna stood tall once more, but was shortened in height. He went from being over nine feet to seven foot seven. He had a strong build still but no longer had his marks all over his body. His face became whole and young and his extra arms and demonic mouth were gone from sight. He was even stunned to the lack of his usual features!

"Perfect, now you look presentable!" Suiryu said proudly.

Sukuna then felt his face, but was startled to not feel the rough texture on the one side. "I'm whole?" he muttered.

"Temporarily. Kitsune wasn't sure if the mask would work, so I gave it a little boost. I can't have you turn into yourself in public, especially around Yua. She doesn't need that kind of stress. So, with that being said, off you go and be a good man servant!"

He sneered at him, yet he complied since it was an order. "Get this over with Tooru," he growled lowly to her.

"You need to cover up still, you are only wearing half your robe…" she said gently.

In fact, he was swimming in the robe he wore now!

Suiryu was quick to fix that, a snap of his fingers and he was dressed in servant like clothing! "What the hell is this!" he demanded.

"Dress the part, asshole. Yua, take your time. Have fun and make sure he comes back with arms full of stuff!" Suiryu decreed.

He left shortly after, at the same time, Sukuna kept looking over himself. "How… is this even possible?" she heard him whisper.

Yua sighed aloud. "I won't make you come with me," she said. "Quite frankly, you following me is a little creepy."

He suddenly smiled to that little tidbit. "Then I shall go with you!" and bore a disturbing grin.

"I think you were going to anyways, Suiryu already ordered it…" she muttered.

They took the passage down the mountainside, Sukuna appeared to ignore everything around him until they came to the village. That was when he paused oddly. Peering about, Yua saw his eyes widened; he fell silent once more as he took it all in. "Tooru-Chan!"

She ignored his blank look as Yua approached some of the merchants. They were all smiles when they saw her, the woman stated how wonderful she appeared to be, the men all encouraging her. "You have grown out well haven't you Tooru chan! You are well taken care of I see!" one merchant said with a grin. "How much longer?"

"I just passed five months… so it won't be long now."

Suddenly, one of the women peered behind her. They blushed at the sight, she turned and saw Sukuna had regained himself and was approaching now. "Oh? Is this a friend of yours?" one woman asked with a coy grin.

"This is Uba…" she paused. She didn't want to say Sukuna, she was simply going to call him Ryomen, but Uba just flew out of her mouth!

"Uba?" the women asked and giggled.

"Shut up!" he snapped at them.

They jumped from his tone. "What did we say about that?" Yua scolded. She even whispered. "Do you want to lose pork privileges?"

He sneered at her. It's bad enough he has endured the training lessons with Gojo. He was more willing to since he was using all beef hot dogs for said sessions… that is if she chooses to believe that is what is happening. Gojo likes to make up stories just to get her to laugh.

Then again…

Sukuna cleared his throat, and lowered his head slightly. "Pardon… my rudeness…" he said offhandedly. "I will… be more mindful of my tongue…"

She didn't quite know how to take that… he was acting rather sincere… then again, a good meal is on the line, he's been deprived of human flesh and now beef, Suiryu was right… he keeps acting out, he will be vegan by the end of all of this.

She was able to buy want she wanted, and even got some fancy soaps for herself from a craftsman. Yet, as they walked, there was a small shop that Sukuna paused at.

"You smell that?"

Yua paused. She smelt booze.

"Oh, this is the Sake shop. Geto comes here, Nanami is one of their best customers…"

She saw him gulp.

"Do you like Sake?"

"Of course I do!" he protested. "Nectar of the gods… perfect for the likes of me" he said with a coy grin.

"You're no god," she snapped back. Yet sighed aloud. She stepped into the store and he followed suit. For once, he appeared interested in his surroundings.

"Young lady, you better not be partaking in these drinks with your condition!" the shopkeeper warned.

She laughed it off. "No, of course not. But my… friend here is. He's a rather connoisseur of such drinks. I think I'll get him three."

Sukuna peered at her oddly. "Only three?"

"You acted out earlier," she scolded.

"Tch, fine, three…" he muttered.

"What does the young man like?"

Sukuna bore a grin. "Your best aged Sake, your chilled aged sake and finally… your strongest sake." He decreed.

The shopkeeper paused. "Interesting you know the different methods of brewing and aging… very well then." He picked out three bottles, and threw in a fourth on the house. "You must be new around here, since I see you are at the service of our Tooru-chan!"

"You're Tooru-chan?" Sukuna asked curiously.

Yua felt rather embarrassed about it. The townspeople here have been rather affectionate to her. They are always concerned about her well-being and what not, she never understood why. But, she remembered the day she told them that her name was Tooru. Their eyes widened in shock, they appeared to be thrilled by the notions. But, she doesn't pry into it. After all, it would make it look like she is seeking something else from them, right? Also too much attention could bring back the council to the land…

Strange, why haven't they tried to come back and attack here?

With the sake bagged up and paid for. Yua thanked the shopkeeper and decided to call it an afternoon.

"Why?" Sukuna asked of her as they made their way back to the domain. "Why get this for me?"

She shrugged her shoulders. "I am still trying to figure it out myself."

"Tch, you're playing mind games with me Tooru! The brat and knockoff don't hesitate to torment me. But you… You should be worst than those two put together! I should be suffering now under your command, hell those two would do it for you if you asked of them!" he protested. "So, why are you doing this? Why haven't you tortured me?"

She paused in her steps, slowly, Yua turned and said without stuttering. "Because, I think in the end, the only one who will torment you the worst, is yourself."

He fell oddly silent. In fact, he appeared caught off guard by the notion. "What?" he demanded.

"In the end… you will torment yourself far worst than whatever I could do to you. For the time being, I am merely waiting for that moment to happen. I can't explain how I know it will happen if at all, but I know it is coming and I will wait for it. Until then, enjoy your sake…" she took back everything she bought today, although it was very little, she carried it on her own the moment they passed the barrier.

Sukuna didn't speak to her any more that day.

He became oddly quiet…