Chapter 44
So… Itadori has 2 favorite new games he likes to play. Hide and seek, and the wrecking ball…
Everyone learned that day, never… EVER say wrecking ball in front of Itadori unless you want to get gut checked!
Also, one needs to keep a close eye on a baby dragon when playing hide and seek, their idea of a tag is apparently to put you through a wall, just like Suiryu endured… the brothers cringed when one moment, Suiryu was trying to calm the councilmen and the family heads. The next… he is plowed through a wall very suddenly gust of wind that followed!
Junpei couldn't believe the backdraft that came from Yuuji when he took out Suiryu!
The families froze.
The councilmen froze as well.
"What the hell… was that?!" one councilman shouted.
Gojo was already snickering at it all, but wasn't the point to try and HIDE Itadori from being seen? For that matter, he should have excused himself to shape shift just in case.
Yet then, the sound of a baby dragon chirping proudly was soon heard. "HEY! Get back here!" Suiryu shouted.
RRRRIIIIPPPP!
The sound of clothing being torn was heard, and then, Itadori come stumbling out, wearing only a diaper!
He crawled back to the brothers where his chest puffed out proudly, as if it say 'I got him good!' Itadori then turned to the families and councilmen, he chirped happily at them too!
"What the hell… is that?" demanded Naoya Zenin.
"What curse is that?!" shouted an elder from the Kamo clan.
Suiryu, by this time, managed to pry himself out of the wall he was put through. He approached everyone more but his eyes shifted to Yuuji.
"Yuuji Itadori!" he stated.
Instantly, Yuuji peered over at him and smiled. "Yeah, I am talking to you, how could you make the brothers worry? Also, that's NOT COOL putting me through a wall! Had it been anyone else, they would be dead!" he scolded.
Itadori pouted before he turned his back to Suiryu.
The clans began to think that this was a chance to take out Yuuji… to which they were proven wrong later. But at the same time, the Kamo clan came to avenge themselves from a loss they suffered at the hands of Junpei.
"Who is the student with the blood manipulation technique?" one of the Kamo elders demanded.
Junpei stepped forward. But Choso also did as well. "Are you upset that we possess it? Or are you upset that we can use the technique better than you?" Choso questioned.
The elders of the Kamo clan sneered, however the future head. Noritoshi Kamo kept his opinion reserved for the time being, that is, until the elders of his family insisted he do something about it.
Junpei couldn't explain it, but he could feel a level of respect come from this sorcerer as he glazed towards him, however, it was Suiryu who pushed him to make a choice and to think for himself.
"They want you to avenge the family name? Are you going to be a man about it? Or are you going to be a lackey?" Suiryu asked of him.
Noritoshi told his elders to fight their own battles.
"If you believe our family honor was tainted, then by all means, you may fight for it." He stated.
It made Suiryu grin an evil smile, but the elders refused to back down. "Fine then, we will show the head of the family what a fine boy you turned out to be… you REFUSE to fight for family honor!"
"It is you who refuses to fight for honor. Had you, I am certain our mother wouldn't have suffered at the hands of your ancestor…" Choso said in a venomous tone.
All the brothers shuttered from that alone. Despite how calm he can speak, when it's damning against someone's character, those words hurt! However it all changed the moment Junpei showed off what he could do. After all, he found that blood is just like water. Water bending was cool when he watched the last Avatar. At the same time, it meant that it could be altered and played with. He has been strengthening his abilities with the blood, oddly enough, it came along the same time he was able to transfigure into Itadori. The battle he was challenged too didn't even last a minute.
The elders of the Kamo clan don't possess the blood technique, in fact, he did even see what they were capable of when he trapped them in a crimson prison. It appeared like ice upon closer inspection. When the elders realized they couldn't move and were trapped. Junpei was satisfied with the humiliation and released them.
That was when that Zenin… Naoya said that it would be easier to kill Itadori now than it was before.
Everyone who didn't understand or saw the signs, realized how dangerous of a game wrecking ball is when playing with a baby dragon!
#
Falling back on to his bed. Junpei peered up at the roof of his new room. His thoughts of the past made him realize how blessed he was. Despite it all, he has a good family, he has friends to count on and help as well. More importantly, he is able to help protect those around him.
However, he has thought about one thing as of late.
The great lady.
Her appearance doesn't come to his mind that easily, however he is aware of her and knows who she is when she comes to them. At the same time, he couldn't help but try and discover who she really is.
She comes once a week, without question to feed Yuuji. That alone makes him shutter as he wonders why she would go such lengths to do so. Itadori isn't her child and yet, she cares for him as if he were.
Second, she graciously warns them of things to come. She predicted Sukuna's return, she knew the Kamos were eyeing the brothers with vengeful glares, and the questions they wish to ask of her she already knows and answers them before it even escapes their lips.
He had wondered if it was her who saved his life back when he was stabbed with the blade coated in Basilisk venom. But Suiryu told him when they got here, it was D'angelo and one of his many familiars who did.
Who the hell and how does one make a pact with a Basilisk snake?!
Anyway.
She has helped them all greatly, and yet, no one can speak of her, no one can remember her. In fact, Choso still chuckles at the notion that she freaked out Satoru Gojo when he saw her for the first time!
"It was quite the spectacle." Choso said as he tried to muffle his chuckling. "He tried to see the great Lady for who she really was, and she called him on it with her back turned. She knew what he was doing…"
Still, it is strange for her to be coming here to tend to Itadori. Does she gain something out of this? He didn't know for certain, at the same time, he began to worry for what is to come.
With the so called oldest brother on their tails. The council and the elders from the jujutsu world will be coming for them soon. They can't stay here much longer, unless this place becomes their line in the sand.
"There's nowhere else for us to go…" Junpei thought. He took a moment to peer out his window, everyone was walking about rather casually, it was a relaxed atmosphere, even more so from when they were at the school. And yet, it could all be lost in a matter of seconds.
How many can the council call upon to fight? Who will answer that call and how long will it be before they make their move?
He didn't have the answers, however, he knew he could get himself ready for the fight to come. If anything, the seal on this place that limits the expulsion of curse energy maybe the handicap he needs to grow stronger.
With that, he left his room and found the one man he has yet to train with.
"GOJO SENSEI!" he called.
Gojo paused from his walk, he turned and smiled to Junpei. "Hey!" he said.
"Gojo sensei… can you and I spar?" he asked.
His teacher's smile grew. "Ooo I've been waiting for this… come on, let's go over here and show me what you got!"
Junpei nodded. He will make sure he is ready for the fight to come, come hell or high water, he will do whatever he can to protect his family…
