Chapter 37

"What the fuck is this?"

The next morning, Yua had decided she wanted to go into the village for a few things. It was a small, quite community, but there were goods and foods she obtained through the locals, they have actually come to know her on a first name bases… well… nearly everyone who lives in the mountains are known to the people.

Whenever Yuuji and Suiryu go into town, they appear to pull out all the stops and assist them with whatever they may need. But today, it was Yua's turn. "One of the shop keeps makes amazing soap, I am going to pick up my order today. Kiyoshi is coming along with us, also, I want to show off Shin." She said and smiled. "But, Gojo wants to make certain we are looked after, you haven't really been out so it's a treat day for you."

"I hate this damn thing…" Sukuna muttered as he placed on the white mask.

He sneered once more, yet he placed the mask on. His body transfigured itself! His arms hid, his face became whole and appeared as one. Yua couldn't help but be impressed with how well it worked on him. "With that on, you don't look half bad."

"Shut up and get this over with."

He dressed in a kimono, he was more confortable in those than modern clothing along with sandals. Yua had just walked out of the dorm when Kiyoshi came running. "Yua! Yua! Yua!" he cheered. "We're going out today!? Can I go see…"

"Yes, you can, and someone will go with you too," she said and peered at Sukuna.

Once more he was disgusted with the task before him, but Yua didn't care. She strapped Shin to her chest, she took Kiyoshi by the hand and turned to Sukuna and nudged her head towards the way out of the mountain.

He knew where to go, he made this place after all.

Yet he has started to question, why did he?

They were soon pass the barrier and were already heading into town. She paused as Sukuna froze on the steps towards the village and stared on with almost amazement once more. "Auntie Yua, is he okay?" Kiyoshi whispered.

"He'll be fine, he hasn't left the mountain in a long time. He tends to do this when we let him out" she whispered back. "Oh, you can't forget this."

Reaching into her pocket, she took out a red envelope. His eyes widened as he hugged her tightly. "Thank you auntie Yua!"

"How about you go and take him with you? I am just going to get soap."

Kiyoshi nodded as he ran back to Sukuna and tugged on his kimono. He snapped out of his daze before glaring at the young boy before him. "Come with me, I want to show you something!" he cheered.

He refused to move at first, until Yua glared at him. His cuffs reacted to her glare, he was forced to go along.

Yua on the other hand strolled into town, the people paused and waved hello, but soon their eyes widened when they realized she had someone with her. "Oh! It finally happened! Who is this little angel?" asked one of the farmers.

"Shin," she said proudly. "My son was just born a few days ago…"

They paused to her. "Strange, the midwife never mentioned it…"

She giggled at the notion of Sukuna being a midwife! "No, we have a doctor living with us," she lied… sort of, it wasn't all-true but it wasn't all a lie either. The people soon stopped and stared on as they admired her son Shin. He then opened his eyes to them.

A collective gasp came from them. "His eyes… look at his eyes!" one cooed in amazement.

In truth, Yua hasn't quite seen Shin with his eyes open. As odd as that was, but she took a peek for herself and was stunned. Like his father, his eyes shined unnaturally. But, instead of blue, they were emerald green…

#

"This way! Come this way!"

He had no choice but to follow the brat of the brat. Sukuna was led off a side path as the boy began to jabber on. "I come here all the time, papa doesn't take me, but my uncles do. I think this place is so cool!"

'This little shit is pissing me off…' he thought to himself.

But then he paused as the boy did. He turned and smiled to him. "Isn't it neat?!" he asked with great excitement.

It was an old temple, and yet… he knew it.

Sukuna paused as he stared at it, wondering about how he could recall such a random location, but the fact that it still stood after so long. Over a thousand years in fact. "Oh, it the young boy again… you brought a friend now have you? My goodness he's rather tall!" a young monk approached them as the boy grabbed Sukuna's hand once more and began to led him along.

"Uh huh, I don't think he's been here before. This is my Uba, Papa told me to call him that."

'A fucking nanny?! That bastard is going to pay for all this!' Sukuna thought to himself.

"Well, you have a very strong Uba don't you? So what brings you here today?"

He reached into his pocket and took out a red envelope. "I didn't have money the last time, this time I do! I want to make an offering, please"

The monk nodded and led him. Sukuna was forced to follow suit but his memories were coming back. This place was familiar to him somehow, in someway. But then he paused as the boy and the monk came to an odd statue. There, he made his offering and a small prayer.

"Thank you for your donation," the monk said graciously.

Sukuna peered away until his hand was snagged once more. "Uba, come see!"

Compelled to go along, he was dragged before a statue and stared at it. "Whose this?" he demanded the monk.

"Our great guardian, Ryomen Sukuna."

He paused, guardian?!

"Since when?" he demanded.

"He's always been our guardian here, nearly two thousand years ago, in fact, this very village is safeguarded by more than one of his statues, over there, see, there's one that looks over the village protectively."

He peered and saw it. Just peering out of the green of the forest was another statue… of him. But it wasn't his likeness to say the least. And yet, there was familiarity to it.

"Guardian… Tch, yeah, right. He's a demon," he said defiantly.

The monk paused. "Maybe to outsiders like yourself, the story of Sukuna has long since been debated. However here, without a doubt, we will defend his name." he said in a calm and yet chilling tone. He meant every word of it!

"He tells me stories all the time about him, he sounds cool!" Kiyoshi said with great excitement to his voice. "One time, he slayed a poisonous monster, some say it was a dragon and then, he built a temple on top of it for the people!" he explained. "I haven't seen it yet, but it is near here too!"

"He was portrayed a villain by the emperor at the time, conflict between the two arouse when he refused to do as what was wished of him. He was a feudal lord, and yet he ruled over his people with great kindness." The monk explained. "We have many statues of him throughout our temple…"

"Guardian…" he muttered but shook his head of the notion. "It's hard to believe such a thing. Considering past events."

The monk paused to him oddly, he stared at Sukuna but then turned back to Kiyoshi. "At least the youth keep an open mind."

He was forced to walk along behind the child and monk, all the while he told the boy stories. Sukuna sneered and had to stop himself from laughing at a lot of them, yet, the more he listened, the more his head began to throb. He paused for a moment, leaning against a tree to support himself.

"Are you okay Uba?" the boy asked.

"FINE!" he snapped back. Startling the child, but settled himself. "Fine… go on ahead…"

He saw the dirty look the monk gave him, but continue on showing Kiyoshi around.

Sukuna was fighting a battle his own. His head tried to dredge up memories he has long since ignored and suppressed, but now, they were starting to return and they refuse to be forgotten once more. "I have to get out of here…" he muttered.

As he tried to calm his mind, he heard voices. "There's nothing here! I thought for certain we would find essence!"

"Pitiful, they display master in such a horrific image!"

Sukuna peered around the corner and saw them, some faces he knew well, others are new to the fold. He smiled wickedly to them as he came out of hiding. Instantly, they went on their guard and summoned their attack. "You dare raise your hand against me?" he demanded.

His voice familiar, but only when he removed the mask, did they see the truth.

Instantly, they dropped to the ground. "Master!" they cheered. "We thought… we thought the demon vessel… why hasn't he…. Wait… master why are you not…"

"I cannot…" he said grimly as he shamefully displayed the collar around his neck and the cuffs on his wrists. "They have bounded me, I cannot go against them, I cannot raise my hands in anger nor am I permitted to spill blood. Worst, I can't even escape from this."

"Master?"

"I have tried… countless time to get killed, I cannot even take my own life to free myself from this, death is the only way out but I cannot be done by my hands!" he protested to his legion. "Still, even if I were to have one of you do such a thing for me, reincarnating has become more difficult. You are aware aren't you?"

The most faithful of them all Uraume gasped in shock. "Those low lives! They dare take away master's essence!"

"They are not low lives anymore… if you were to even encounter one of them, your death is certain." He warned. He tried to mention they were dragons, but the collar tightened on his neck, he's forbidden from warning them. But then, he grinned. "There is opportunity though."

Uraume was all ears. "Speak master, and it will be done."

"The essences you have obtained… keep it on hand soon enough. I have the perfect vessel to obtain… granted, it will take time for it to mature to my needs, but I will have a new vessel that not even my former one would go against. When my essence is consumed by this child… one of you must kill me."

They were stunned, yet understood and knew better than to go against his wishes. "Yes, my lord. When?" Uraume asked.

"Soon, but not now, and not yet. I have some… trust to build up first, once I have that, we will have our opportunity. Take rotations, come to this temple and stake it out for when the time comes. One MUST be here at all times!" he ordered.

They nodded to him. It will be done. But now, how long would it take for him to earn the trust of the child named Kiyoshi?