Chapter 37
Suiryu's method worked well…
A little too well.
Junpei's confidence grew to new heights. It only spiked even more during the goodwill event.
He came face to face with a direct blood descendent of the Kamo clan, who sadly was named after the very same man who created the curse wombs. Once he learned of Junpei's ability in blood manipulation, he challenged him.
"How can one have the precious technique of my family that is not family!" he demanded.
Junpei didn't know how to really answer him. It wasn't a lie. He wasn't really related to the family, merely just an after product in a sense. However, it was that one battle that proved to him that he was far stronger than before. After all. Kamo has been training his whole life on his family's technique. Junpei has been working on it since his return to life.
The difference between them was rather startling.
He had no idea he was that over powering. Kamo did try his best, however, the methods he used were easily avoided with the new ones Junpei made up on the go. It wasn't long until the battle ended.
Even more shocking was that the brothers came to watch the goodwill event!
When it was all said and done. The confidence in him just kept growing. But so did something else. If he was THIS strong now, why did he still look the same as before?
He had begun to look himself in the mirror and wondered about changing. His stage person was a strong, powerful and confident person. However, that didn't transfer over when he turned back. He always felt himself lacking in a sense. He has the power, but not the look for it.
It was when he decided to try and become Kechizu from that moment on.
At first, he felt great about it. He stood taller, felt stronger and was in control of how he looked. And yet at the same time, the brothers were not pleased with his sudden change.
"Why are you doing this? Junpei, this isn't who you are." Choso scolded gently. "You are still young and trying to figure things out…"
"I've figured this out for me, Choso, look at me. I'm happy!" he said and smiled.
He had returned home from school for a little while, apparently there was something happening with a group of divine jujutsu users and the principal wanted it investigated before going farther.
So in that time, Junpei tested on himself.
He could keep his appearance the way it was, but after three days, the blood ran out and he had to rebuff himself again. Over and over until his supply of curse blood went dry.
"Why am I going through so much blood?" he asked himself one morning. But he didn't care, he could hunt down more curses later, perhaps if he can luck out and find a special grade, those tend to last longer than others. "For that matter, why just be Junpei, I could really fit in with the brothers if I took the youngest brother's name right? I could be Kechizu from now on!" he decreed.
However his declaration went over like a led balloon to the older siblings. In fact, they were upset with him! "I thought you would be happy! I could finally be like you guys, I would finally be worthy to call myself your younger brother!" he protested.
They were stunned at first, Tanso stood and said. 'You always have been, nothing was going to change that. Why are you acting like this?'
"I have to agree with Tanso, your actions are not befitting of you," Choso said in a stern tone. "I have told you this before, you are still figuring out who you are, at the same time, when you are older and if there is a way to change your appearance permanently. I would assist you and help you do so. But right now, it is not a good time to decide if this is what you want!"
He shook his head in disbelief, he thought they would have supported him through and through. He began to obsess over it. If the brothers won't accept him, he will keep up the appearance until they do!
#
The situation didn't get any better with the brothers. In fact they called in for reinforcements… Yuuji.
There was a small cliff Junpei liked to go to just to think things over and get some alone time. He encountered Yuuji there a few days later, trying to talk some sort of sense into him. Despite his hardships, they fell on deaf ears. Junpei didn't care about the past, he wanted to focus on the future where he didn't appear weak. Not even Itadori will convince him otherwise!
Since then, he put all of his efforts in getting the brothers to acknowledge him as Kechizu, and not Junpei
#
Such an idea sounded good in his head. Yet as the days drifted by, Junpei felt himself become more… unhinged.
First of all, the blood he had been gathering from hunting curses, was barely enough to maintain his form. Second, he has gone out with Choso a few times, yet, in their ventures, he has become drawn to the smell and sight of blood.
They walked pass butcher shops where he could smell it. He nearly turned to go in just to obtain blood when Choso quickly moved him along. When they walked the streets, he saw some kids running, one took a nasty fall and skimmed their knees.
So much blood came from that alone, it made him lick his lips at the sight of it. "It's just a little… not a lot of it, I just need a little…"
Only to have Choso grab him by the ear and drag him off!
Despite how embarrassing that was, Choso had no shame doing so in public. He refused to let go of Junpei's ear until they got back home, that was when they had the 'talk.'
Choso stood firmly. "Enough of this, right now Junpei!"
"It's Kechizu!" he snapped back. "I'm your younger brother!" he protested.
"You are NOT KECHIZU!" he said in the most stern and serious voice he could muster.
It took Junpei aback, in fact, Choso's markings were spreading on his face, his eyes flared with anger as the blood began to cascade down his marks. "I have had enough of your backtalk, and I am up to HERE with you on your attitude towards the brothers and I. We are trying to be understanding, we are trying to help you. But you will not speak to us on the matter at hand. You believe your method is the way you wish to go, but it isn't!"
Junpei glared at him. "What if I want this though? Have you ever asked me what I went through? Why I want to be different? Why I want this change?!" he demanded.
Choso glared at him. "You ought to be grateful you got to know your mother, where we didn't."
He froze.
That was a shot to the gut, at the same time that was a cheap shot. "That's not fair to bring up…"
"Oh? Isn't it? If you felt your life was so unsatisfactory, consider this… you got to live the first time without having to take another's life to do so!"
"This isn't fair Choso!"
"You got to understand and see the world for what it was, you got a mother to raise and love you to the best of her abilities…"
"Shut up!"
"You met Yuuji long before I ever could, and he even offered to be your friend to help you through your difficult times… he still doesn't see me as a true brother to him…"
"That's enough!" he yelled. "Quite it with that, that's not fair for you to bring up!"
"You started it, it's about time you understood how blessed you were. I understand your hardships, I know those who you were forced to endure to attend school with harmed you in ways I couldn't imagine. But know that the brothers and I endured far worst than what you have suffered through. If you wish to believe you are the victim of this, then tell the brothers and I that our suffering is nothing compared to yours!"
Silence.
He couldn't speak or utter a single word back to him.
How could he?
Instead, Junpei stormed back into the dorm, went to his room and slammed the door. He made sure everyone heard it too, he didn't care if it bothered the brothers. He was pissed off that they won't accept him. "This is who I am now…" he muttered as he looked into the mirror once more.
However, he found it odd.
The greenish skin on his right side, was starting to spread farther down his face. Nearly too far for his bangs to cover, that and his back began to appear a little more ridged. Why? He didn't know or care. But he refused to go back to that weak and pathetic kid he once was.
