Chapter 43
When he woke up again, he was back to normal. However the mystery remains as to how he was able to transfigure himself like that. Was it the blood? Did that do something? Either way, Junpei took his time in training himself to turn at will and without passing out. That took a few days. Then, he tested how long he could hold the form. He went from five minutes, to an hour to three hours and then, his limit of ten. When he goes to ten it's a lot harder for him to turn back, as well as painful.
He never thought it would be that difficult, then again, considering him and Itadori are completely different body types…
After he had to perfect Itadori's tone, mannerisms and quirks. Thankfully, the brothers helped him with that. "Too meek," chimed Eso. "You need more confidence when you speak. You need that tone when you have done something wrong or are nervous."
"Your angry look is perfect though. You nailed the confused look perfectly." Snickered Sho.
It took a few hours, until he felt comfortable to pass as Yuuji. He went as far as going out into the city and walk about, knowing he was being followed my legions of the councilmen and elders. He would go to usual stores Yuuji liked to, he got some of his favorite snacks and even dared go to the small gambling place Itadori use to go and spent a little time there.
When he returned home, that was when Suiryu saw him for the first time, transfigured.
Finally, he was able to surprise and catch him off guard. When Junpei was out and about to keep up appearances, he came home to see Suiryu speaking with Choso on the very matter of hiding Yuuji. And yet, at the same time, make it look like everything was normal. When their eyes locked. Suiryu's demon eyes shot open in surprise. "What the fuck!?" he demanded.
"Hey Suiryu…" Junpei said in Yuuji's meek tone.
"Seriously, Choso… WHAT THE FUCK" he demanded.
Junpei snickered, as did Choso before turning back to normal. It was fun for a while, but eventually things catch up to them. One, the council began to suspect he wasn't really Itadori. Those who trailed him became more bold as they even confronted him on various missions. Second, the council tried to call his bluff one day too, Junpei was forced to eat a curse before them, but did so without any hesitation. It stunned Fushiguro but his stomach was a mess for the rest of the day.
Lastly…
He prepared himself just in case, after all, it wasn't long until they announced that the meeting of the three great families was going to be happening soon!
#
The morning of that was… memorable.
Suiryu had left Yuuji overnight with Choso, much to his delight of course, and yet, there was this odd look in Itadori's eyes when he came over. They were wide, as if he just ate a bag of sugar or something. "What's with him, he's… overly excited about something…" Junpei asked as Suiryu passed him off to Choso.
"Fuck if I know, Gojo has spent the day with him. I don't know where they went to…"
His phone dinged.
Curious, Suiryu reached into his pocket to check, and froze. "That son of a bitch…" he muttered.
"What is it?"
Junpei peered over the phone. Gojo took Itadori to a small carnival. They went on all the rides and Gojo ate all the sweets he could get his hands on, and yet. Judging by the look on Yuuji's face, he appeared to be just as hopped up on sugar as sensei was!
"What the hell…" Junpei whispered as he peered over the photos. He couldn't help but laugh at some of them. One was Itadori trying to drive the bumper cars. He sat on Gojo's lap but held on to the wheel as if he were the one driving the damn thing!
"No wonder, he just experienced something new in his baby dragon state… it excited him…" Junpei snickered.
"Well, try and make sure he doesn't expose that excitement when the families are here. No doubt they are going to be asking all about him, Satoru already warned me that some of the families still believe he need to die… if they suggest that, I think they will be the ones in the grave before him!" Suiryu said in a warning tone.
It only made Junpei shutter and Choso smile with pride.
That was the day before.
The morning of the meeting…
FLOP!
The kitchen burst with flour!
The brothers coughed aloud as they tried to clear away the floating particles, When it settled though, all eyes came on Eso. His face, covered in flour, in his hands, a very proud looking Yuuji!
"What the hell!" Junpei protested. "Itadori, what's with you?" he took him from Eso who sneezed aloud. He was completely white from the chest up. Flour was in his hair, eye brows and up his nose.
"Indeed, what were you thinking?" he asked Yuuji.
But still, his little chest was puffed out proudly as he chirped happily to his accomplishment.
"It appears little brother is getting rather bold." Choso decreed. "I am certain he is getting to an age where a dragon hunts, correct?"
"So we're hunting practice now?" Eso demanded. "Choso, I know he's little…"
"I am aware, this was very uncalled for. Little one, why did you jump on Eso?" Choso asked gently.
But the one he spoke, Yuuji instantly curled up. He knows when Choso is speaking seriously and tried to make himself as small and cute as possible. "He has a strategy I'll give him that…" Eso muttered.
Choso however wasn't so easily swayed by his antics. Sure they worked a few times in the past, however when it's to the point that someone could get hurt, he draws the line. "Little brother… I know you wish to play, but you are a lot stronger than you look, someone could get hurt, do you understand me?" he asked once more.
A very disheartened "Umph" came out of Itadori. He appears to know he understand what he did was wrong, but at the same time it was a new game for him.
Choso sighed. "I'll help you clean up Eso, Junpei do you mind…"
"Not at all, I'll take him to my room for a bit," He managed to distract Yuuji for a little while, but before long, Itadori began to go stir crazy, he wanted to go outside and fly about. That alone was a risky move considering who is at the school now. However, they cannot keep him cooped up all day.
"We will all take care of little brother," Choso decreed.
They walked out.
Junpei held Yuuji in his arms until he squirmed out. "Hey, Itadori!" he protested.
Yuuji took to the skies, and then… vanished… disappeared.
Choso and the brothers froze after realizing they had lost Yuuji!
