Chapter 27

Yuuji felt… betrayed.

However, he turned to Yua… who appeared just as devastated as he was. Was her family used by Ryujin and Sukuna?

The swirling emotions in his stomach, the fact that his son was in harms way because of the bastard who was suppose to be dead by now, and yet… Why… what did mom say such a thing?

"Mom… what are you saying!" Yuuji demanded. "Did you just say… Sukuna and Ryujin… were FRIENDS!?" he demanded.

She turned to Yuuji and nodded. "There is much to explain…"

"OF COURSE THERE IS MUCH TO EXPLAIN! HOW COULD RYUJIN HAVE BEEN FRIEND WITH A BASTARD LIKE HIM!" he demanded.

He saw how calm mom was to it all, but she sighed aloud. "I have much to tell you and now is as good of time as ever to do so… for soon, he will remember his past." She said and looked to Sukuna once more. "You knew he was considered a dragon among sorcerers right? A hidden nickname he obtained, but he gained that through his friendship with Ryujin when he was still sane... in a sense. Yuuji, there is much I have to explain…" she paused as her sights then turned to Yua. "And to you as well… you have no idea how closely linked you are to him." she said and pointed to King of curses once more.

Yua was taken aback. "He killed my family, he had my own… Lady Tiamat… what are you trying to tell us?"

She sighed aloud. "Your history, his history… our history…" she turned to Suiryu next. "He always favored you, Ryujin did. For you reminded him of what Sukuna was like before he was cursed."

He was startled to the decreed. "Wait, what…"

Mom turned to Yua. "Why is it that Ryujin wanted you to judge Suiryu's character? Why did he need a second opinion on the matter? It was because of that, he saw Suiryu as his friend from the past, because of that, and he couldn't make an informed decision. And needed your input, Yua."

This was getting stranger and stranger. "Is no one going to kill me?" Sukuna demanded.

Tiamat chuckled. "Oh rest assured, you are going to wish you were dead soon enough. For now Sukuna, enjoy your moment of clarity. It won't be long now until your memories return. Before you became such a curse on this world."

Suddenly, the look of fear etched on his face. "What… I HAVE NO SUCH MEMORIES!" he protested.

"You have been purified, and some of those memories are unlocking now. Unfortunately not all of them nor the full picture be revealed to you just yet. This is part of a binding vow that has been broken. But until the memories have gathered, you won't recall them. Besides, I have a special place for you to consider everything you have done. And reminiscence those thoughts in a safe manner."

"So you're helping him now?" Yuuji demanded.

"Ryujin asked me to, I will honor my son's final request. But it will all depend on what happens to him after the recall."

There was an awkward silence until Yua asked. "How am I closely connected to him?" she dared to question.

Mom nodded to her. "In truth Yua… Sukuna's rise to power, the reason why the jujutsu society had always shunned your family… it all connects. And as part of my binding vow to your family, I cannot lie to you. I cannot hide the truth. So. If you wish to know the answer, I suggest you get comfortable… this will take time to explain… but first…" She grabbed Sukuna and vanished with him! Much to Yuuji shock.

No one said a word as he vanished with mom.

Yuuji was stunned most of all out of everyone here, why… why did mom say such a thing. "Yua…" he began to ask.

But even she shook her head. "I never knew," she whispered. "How could I have known… no one in my family ever mentioned this before, perhaps… it was a dark secret…" she appeared to be more shamed of her clan now than before.

Suiryu himself appeared at a loss. "Was that the reason why I was saved?" he whispered. "Was I… the friend Ryujin had that he wanted to try and rescue from himself? But… if that's the case and that is put back into him… who am I?"

There was more confusion than ever before. Things were not adding up, and yet, the connection to it all… it began to hurt Yuuji's head as he tried to find the logic of it.

Yua appeared worried. "Did… all this happen because of my family?" she whispered.

Gojo was quick to wrap his arms around her. "No, don't think that!" he protested. "Your family resisted him the most, refusing to let the matter settle, you are not part of his rise to power!" he said defiantly.

"What is mom talking about…" Yuuji whispered to Suiryu. "Why would she…" but then he noticed the look on his brother's face. "Suiryu?"

He had zoned out, almost thinking something over. "Perhaps that's why…" he muttered to himself.

"Suiryu?" Yuuji asked again.

"I'm just thinking aloud here. Why I could never gain his 'human' memories. I had most of his previous memories but not all of them… when I tried to obtain them recently… I couldn't. In fact, all his recollections are gone from my mind, but the lessons and technique remain. That I retained. Still… but I think the reason for this is simple. I am not part of him anymore. I am my own being and your brother." But he paused, that moment of hesitation where he stopped Yuuji from killing Sukuna just a moment ago. Yuuji wondered why he stopped him, but then Suiryu appeared to realize his own actions. "Ryujin's soul…" he whispered. "I possess it, did that stop me from stopping you from killing him?" he asked aloud.

Yuuji didn't quite understand it himself, yet as mom returned she looked about and nodded. "I know… my actions must have startled some of you. But, I made a promise to Ryujin, it was his dying wish and I intend to honor it…" she paused oddly as she looked to everyone. "You have no idea how long it took for this to come together in such a manner. In fact… I find it is very fitting to be honest with you."

"Lady Tiamat…" Yua began to say.

"Let me be clear, Yua. You have no shame in your clan name, I assure you. However, if you wish to know the truth, then I will speak it. But I will let you decide. For once you give me your answer, to know it, you must know the past, and that in itself is as twisted as Sukuna's mind when he fell into madness. But once more, this is your choice to make."

"Why can't we ask?" Yuuji demanded. "Mom… he TORMENTED us, Suiryu and I! He killed people when he possessed MY body!" he shouted. "How is it fair that this all hinges on Yua's choice?" he froze before realizing the words had came out of him in such a cold and heartless tone. "Yua… I'm sorry." He said.

"You have a right to know as well Yuuji, it's okay. I understand completely. But, this is something that everyone should know, correct? If my family has done wrong, I want to know about it. I am the last Tooru and if this secret was suppose to die with the family name…" she shook her head. "How shameful would it be for my clan, we had skeletons but were never made to know about them in our closet…"

Lady Tiamat giggled. "Oh child, your family has done no wrong here. If anything… they prevented Sukuna's rise to power from happening far sooner than it did. Had they been successful… he never would have fallen into the madness that possessed him into the vile being you all knew." She tilted her head to the side as she looked to Yua. "Your family were like guardians to Sukuna… for they kept him sane."

Everyone went pale oddly, Yua felt sick. "We… served him!?"

"No," she said bluntly. "The Tooru clan and Sukuna… had a mutual understanding and respect for each other. He held your family in the highest regard."

Yuuji was confused. "Then… why did he target them the moment he went mad?" he asked.

"That's what needs to be explained… But even now, I may not be able to. We are only able to look into the memories that Sukuna has regained. Until he remembers more, everyone here will know as much about his past, as himself. You are connected to all this as well Yuuji… did you know of the curse of the Tooru family?" she asked.

"There's a curse on my family!?" Yua demanded.

Lady Tiamat nodded. "Those who do not respect the Tooru name, will never listen nor take their words seriously. Your family always had an uphill battle to fight, you were barely listened to for your clan was older than the three great families. Yet, due to this curse, no one ever took your words seriously, unless, they respected the family, or had come from the family." She turned back to Yuuji. "I will clarify this soon, but for now, it's best we get started to explain what happened. You will all better understand the situation… well… I hope you see how amazing this journey has been, for I find it remarkable that it has come together so soon. As well, as to how it all intertwines with each other."

She looked to Yua. "But this is your choice, do you want to know the truth? For I cannot lie to you."

She appeared uncertain, however noticing the looks around her that everyone was giving Yua, she took a deep breath and nodded. "If my family hid something like this, I would want to know the reason for it as well. Please, Lady Tiamat, tell us what happened."

"Let me be clear about one thing to you, despite what you learn, those in the past are responsible for their actions, not their descendants. As well, it may explain a few things about yourself that you may not have know, for example… why is it out of the three who gain his power, that you control it the easiest among them?"

Yua froze to the question.

Lady Tiamat giggled. "Perhaps it's best I start. But first, you need to know the real story of the so called 'King of Curses'. I will warn you now as well, what we see, is just what he can recall for the time being, it may not all be true. However, until he can remember for certain, this is all we know. As for Sukuna himself, you were only told half truths by the elders and council, from the moment he went insane with power and became corrupted by it…"

Yuuji found everyone taking a seat. He was reluctant to listen, after all, he dealt with that bastard quite often, he wants nothing more than to see him as a monster, but, he worries with what mom will say. Will change his mind.

Grandpa always told him there are two sides to every story. As well, the elders aren't always upfront with information. With a defeated sigh, he sat on the ground, everyone gathered around mom as she stated to explain what happened, she went one farther and casted a powerful jujutsu in the sky, showing those events without hindrance as she explained the past…