Chapter 2
He could recall a little before being reincarnated. In fact, it was strange that he could remember so much after his own death. His soul lingered, restless for what happened, how he was killed and why. Worst still, it was the guilt of betraying Yuuji that made him stay earth bound. He merely wandered the halls like smoke, students stepped on him, walked through him without even batting an eye or noticing he was there. Yet, when he was human, this was nothing out of the ordinary. He never felt pain from it, yet at the same time, there was an urge growing within him, to form and take shape.
Junpei lingered, what felt like years… really was years that had passed. Not many though, but enough to take notice. At the same time, he could feel himself grow restless. Teenagers carried so much curse energy in them. Between the bullying, the nervousness, uncertainty and fear of growing up. Junpei could feed off of this fear. And yet, he didn't want to. It was an involuntary thing, but, there was also competition too. Other curses lingered the halls, but they weren't strong. Very similar to his situation, they were merely feeding until they could take form.
He nearly did so one night, until he felt his essence get pulled. Never has he felt such power overcome him before, yet as it pulled, he tried to resist. 'What is doing this? Why is it doing this?' he thought, until the sensation of being dragged across the floor came over him, there was nothing he could do to stop this unearthly pull! He was torn from the school and whatever was left of him went over the city until he felt himself come to a dramatic stop! He was concealed in something, and yet he heard an odd voice.
"How the hell am I suppose to get it to him?!" The voice was familiar, but also not to him.
It only got stranger from there. Junpei remembered leaving the firm grasps of his person, only to be tossed into the mouth and swallowed by another! Yet once he hit the stomach, he didn't stay there. Instead, he ended up in another's hand. An open palm that carefully held him, he couldn't make sense of the world around him, yet he felt oddly safe. "What a poor soul…" said a deep and yet gentle voice. "You must be Junpei from Itadori's memories… yes… you had a terrible death, I am amazed Suiryu was able to find you."
Junpei didn't understand it, nothing around him was a solid image, he couldn't put a face to the voice if he tried. Yet at the same time, he began to feel himself fading. The world was getting rather light, he couldn't see anything or anyone, and at the same time, it was as if he were just fading away. 'What's happening now? Why… why do I feel like this?' was it weakness? He didn't know anymore, but he felt that he couldn't carry on in this state.
He merely lay there until he heard a new and different voice. 'Hey… you… kid!'
Across from him was a glowing orb. Was this speaking to him? 'Who are you?' he thought.
'Not important right now, you don't look so good.'
'I… feel… tired…'
'Me too, probably not strong enough… make you a deal here. I'll give you power to be stronger, if you do me a favor?'
'A favor? What kind of favor?'
'My brothers… you see them over there, they are worried about me. But I won't survive this, but… you can. So how about this, you take what strength I have, and become their brother. Sounds good?'
Brothers…
Junpei never really thought much of it, but he agreed. 'Okay, what do I have to do?' He didn't know how it happened, but he felt the orb fuse into him. He got flashes of memories, but cringed when he saw the curse that killed him in these thoughts. Did… whoever this is… did he know Mahito too?
The images were fleeting, they became faster and faster until he saw darkness once more. Yet in that darkness, Junpei began to grow stronger, the moment he felt strength again, the voice vanished and the glowing orb was gone. 'What… what just happened?'
He began to see clearly. He was in a rather lush looking land that had a single cherry blossom tree. He lingered under it with this massive being who tended to two other orbs that floated around him. "You have all been given a very crud hand in life. I can tell by your auras, but also by the memories I have seen in my vessel. There is great potential for you all, but I know it will be greater when you are united as you should be. Just a while longer, okay?" Junpei was able to put a face to the voice, it was oddly familiar but had rather broad features.
'Strange, this guy looks like Yuuji…' Junpei thought
He waited with them, until the day occurred, the figure had vanished for some time, yet when he returned, there were six other orbs floating around him. The other two began to glow like crazy until they were swept up in excitement, floating around each other as if they knew what they were! Junpei merely watched it all, until they started to gravitate towards him. 'Brother?' he heard different voice ask.
'He is, he is a brother' said another.
'Brother!' eight unknown voices called out to him.
"Now that you are all here, I have already informed the one who will help return you to life. I ask one favor of you all, please, look after Yuuji Itadori and his friends. I know you will do me proud and may this life be good for you."
It then all went dark.
Junpei didn't know how or what happened, but he suddenly began to feel again, yet was in a cramp space. He felt himself getting pushed and shoved from different sides until finally, he heard screaming! Someone was in utter agony, and yet he felt there was more room being given to him.
'What's happening? What's going on now…' his mind kept coming and going, memories began to come into his head but the one that dominated his mind was when he was transfigured. He forgot what he looked like; he couldn't remember his own face let alone who he was at the moment. The world trembled, he felt himself attempt to break free from such a confined space, yet Junpei felt sluggish. As he pushed himself forward, he was drawn back in.
"THAT'S NOT HIM!" he heard someone yell.
That voice…
Yuuji?
He then began to remember the meal they shared together, how they bonded over movies and for the first time, Junpei felt he had a friend to talk to. When he was pulled back in, he began to remember who he was. Then, that sluggish feeling vanished. With desperation he pushed his way through and suddenly came into an open world.
His mind a blur, yet as soon as he regained his sight. He felt powerful energies around him. Eleven in total and they were overwhelming him. 'I have to run' were his first thoughts. He crawled across the ground ensuring no one peered over at him until he felt he had enough of a head start, after that, he forced himself to his feet and ran off into the woods in hopes of getting away in time.
