Disclaimer: I do not own Jujutsu Kaisen. It is property of Akutami Gege. I do however own any original characters appearing in this work.

5th Curse

My Precious Little Sister

僕の大切な妹

boku no taisetsu na imouto

(Gojo Satoru POV)

"Haaaaa…" I let out a deep sigh, staring up in disdain at the house Sato Kiku had been keeping Yukine in for the past five years. Then, I turned to Sawamura-san, the staff that accompanied me here on this mission; "Do we have to do this now?" I asked him again.

He adjusted his glasses, nodding, "We need to investigate the source of the magnetic force which pulled curses to this house, as I've already stated, sir." He answered.

I pouted, "I told you who that girl was to me, didn't I? Why did you just take let that woman take her?!" I complained. For all I know, she could just run off with Yukine, too! She was a friend of the first kidnapper, after all. "I really don't like it." I added, frowning at him.

He looked unnerved, as he should be, but continued, "…I can understand your concern, Gojo-kun, but this is an important part of the mission, too," he said, taking out a slip of paper, "If it makes you feel any better, Hana-san assured me that she would be taking her to her home which isn't far from here. She even provided an address and map—" he said and I stepped forward, snatching the paper from him and looking at it for myself.

"Kotobuki Florist, huh… Fine!" I grumbled, and pocketed it, turning to the house and heading in.

I need to get this over with, quickly, and return to Yukine's side. She must've exhausted her cursed energy, to pass out like that. I'm worried…

I peered around inside Sato Kiku's house as I headed back to the spot that I'd found Yukine in earlier. This was the last place I wanted to be right now…

But at the end of the day, I was still in the middle of a mission as Sawamura-san said. I'll never hear the end of it from the higher ups if I don't complete it. And I really don't feel like putting up with another lecture, especially when I'd finally found Yukine after all these years.

Really, Yaga-sensei at least would be reasonable. After all, he knows just how important finding her has been to me ever since before enrolling at Jujutsu Tech.

Ever since that witch stole her away from me, I'd been waiting for the day I could teach her a lesson.

I glanced at the trail of blood on the floor, heading into the room it led to, noted the pungent smell and felt a little disappointed as I entered the scene. Sure, it was a gruesome sight and all, but nothing I hadn't seen before.

Seeing mutilated corpses isn't something you can always avoid when it comes to curses, after all.

"What a sorry state you're in, huh? Consider yourself lucky I didn't get to you first." I drawled, staring down at the bloody mess lying before me, hands in my pockets.

If Shoko were here maybe she'd have scolded me for being so callous with a dead body, but honestly… I couldn't care less whether Sato Kiku lived or died.

I hated her for what she'd done.

And I'm only mad I didn't get to chew her out and see her rot in jail instead. But what's done is done. And now she can't get in between us anymore, anyway.

…Now that the death is confirmed, all that's left is to confirm the reason why this house was pulling in curses of increasing strength over time. Since this room is the closest to the centre of the house, it's most likely to be here.

With the Six Eyes, it's easier for me than most to locate the origin of the cursed energy so I already had an inkling as to where it could be.

After digging around in the woman's closet, finding it was surprisingly easy. I pulled it out from the back of her sock drawer – a stupid place to hide it, really – and slid back the lid.

Inspecting the talismans sealing the cursed object, one of the fingers of Ryoumen Sukuna, it answered some of my questions. The talismans were very old at this point. The slightest touch to it and these things would just crumble away.

I found myself getting more and more furious as I thought about it, turning to glare down at her.

Where did she get her hands on one of these, and why did she think it was a good idea to bring it into the same house that my little sister sleeps in?!

She must've overheard that cursed objects like this one were sometimes used to fend off other curses, but she wasn't informed well enough. The seal on this finger was particularly ancient and would have become obsolete, soon. If it hadn't been for Yukine keeping the small fry at bay, they'd have been able to fuse together into larger curses, gotten their hands on this and consumed it, evolving into an Special-Grade curse.

Then, the situation would've rapidly become something way out of Yukine's league, and then my little sister would've died a horrible death before I got to see her again…!

"I don't know where you got this from, but it seems you brought this on yourself, Sato Kiku." I commented, glaring icily down at her as I pocketed the finger and left the room, not sparing that fool another glance.

Regardless of her foolishness, I was able to step in before her little theft cost my little sister's life, so all's well that ends well, I guess.

I handed over the house to the police officers and was on my way. Ignoring whatever Sawamura-san was saying and taking out the little map, I began heading over to Kotobuki Florists to be with Yukine again.

I wondered if she was already awake?

It wouldn't surprise me if she wasn't, considering how exhausted she looked. It doesn't matter, as long as I can at least hold her.

We can save catching up and getting to know one another for when she's feeling better!

I felt my heart skip a beat, a grin worming its way onto my face.

'Yukine… I can't believe I really finally found you…!' I thought, picking up my pace; 'I'm so sorry. I missed out on five whole years of your life, but I'm going to do everything I can to make it up to you. Of course, I'll be the best big brother in the whole world! And I won't let anyone or anything stop me this time.' I thought, as the florists became visible in the distance.

(Normal POV)

When I awoke again, I immediately regretted passing out when I was met by an uncomfortable dryness in my eyes and I slowly pulled myself up to sit. As I squinted and looked around, I noticed I was indoors and it was dark outside the window.

Wanting to sort out my contacts first, I began the arduous task of trying to get them out. It was more difficult and a little more painful than usual, since my eyes had dried out a bit and they weren't as slippery.

After finally managing to get them out, I looked around the room again, and belatedly, I also realised this was Hana-san's living room.

I hugged the blanket that had been draped over me closer.

I wondered how I even got here in the first place. The last thing I remembered was being approached by Gojo… sensing something bad at home and rushing over… fighting those curses and… all that blood…!

I gasped, widening my eyes and covering my mouth. My eyes were still dry, so even though I really felt like crying, nothing came out and so I just trembled, curling into myself.

I heard someone else gasp, and soft footsteps starting to pad towards me quickly.

"Himawari-chan, you woke up…!" Hana-san cried, pulling me close into a warm hug before I could even look up at her or reply to her. Feeling her warmth was comforting but it didn't really make me feel better.

"Hana-san… Hana-san…! I-I'm so sorryyyyy…!" I cried into her chest. She rubbed my back gently, hushing and cooing at me.

"What're you apologising for, sweetie? You've gone through quite an ordeal this afternoon as I've heard…!" she soothed, keeping me close to her chest.

"B-But… I couldn't save her… M-Mom's d-dead 'cause I wasn't quick enough…!" I insisted. It was my fault.

I wasn't fast enough. I wasn't strong enough. What had all my self-imposed Jujutsu training been for if I couldn't even protect someone other than myself with it?!

"I-I'm a failu—"

"Hush, now!" Hana-san was firm, stopping me. She pulled away from me and looked down at me in concern, "I don't know where you got the idea that it was your responsibility to protect Kiku, but it's a parent's duty to do that, not the child's." she said to me and I sniffled, looking at her.

Hana-san's eyes softened, looking dewy with her own tears, "What's already happened can't be changed. Kiku would want you to look to the future instead of being stuck in the past and thinking of what could have been. She always wanted the best for you…" she trailed off, looking lost.

I took in her words, looking down at my lap and wringing my fingers.

It's easy to say that… but much harder to do.

If there was something I could have done to change this ending, I would have done whatever it took to save her. Since she made me feel welcome, always, ever since I woke up as Hima…

Ah… But Himawari was never my name, really…

I felt Hana-san's hand touch my face and jumped, startled and I let her guide my eyes up to her again. She was looking into my eyes with a complex look in her own. She looked sad. She looked confused. She looked frustrated with herself.

"They're such a pretty purple… I've never seen a colour like this before. Those men mustn't have been lying, after all. I… had no idea, darling. I'm so sorry," she apologised. But she really didn't need to. Mom… Kiku-san and I had been deceiving her about this, for all of my life here after all.

"I-If anything, I should be the one saying sorry, Hana-san. Sorry, for keeping what I looked like a secret," I nodded to her, apologetic, and licked my lips, "I-I'm okay. But are you feeling okay? After all, your best friend is…" I trailed off.

Her best friend is… what? I don't even know, for sure, what happened to her since I never actually saw her. But from all that blood, and the presence of aggressive curses like that, it wasn't hard to form an image. And that image wasn't nice to think about.

Whatever Kiku-san did, she still didn't deserve to go out like that.

"Well… I'd be telling lies if I said I'm not grieving her. She hid things from me that I had no idea of, but in the end, she was still my friend and she'd been through so much, nearly seven years ago. So, I cannot blame her, truly. What she did was still wrong, regardless…" Hana-san sighed sadly, and pushed on a brave smile, "All we can do now is look back on the good things she did, and remember how much she loved you. Right?" she pulled me in for a hug, and I accepted it, hiding my face in her arms again.

I nodded, "Yeah. No matter what she lied about she never lied about how much she loved me." I agreed, but Hana-san's words still had me curious. What was it that my mother figure had gone through, that drove her to run off with me?

"I imagine if her daughter had survived, she would have been just as sweet and understanding as you are, Hima…Oh… But he told me your name was actually Yukine-chan. Is that right?" Hana-san said warmly, correcting herself at the last second, and I jumped in surprise.

I pulled away from her and looked up at her with wide eyes.

Hana-san simply nodded her head, but didn't say a word because the sound of the door opening distracted the both of us. We heard footsteps padding up the stairs from the flower shop and Hana-san let out a sigh.

"That must be either Sawamura-san or Gojo-kun." She announced, "When I came to check up on Kiku, that's when I found Gojo-kun holding you outside. I saw the state of the outside of the house, and the blood on your knees. After I introduced myself, Sawamura-san asked if I would watch over you while the two of them investigated the house. Gojo-kun seems rather young for a detective, though." Hana-san explained and I blinked, thrown off.

Detective? Is that what they told her? Well, I suppose telling her they exterminated curses for a living would be much harder to believe.

And it seems that I was right about her assumption, as Gojo Satoru stepped into Hana-san's living room, and when he saw that I was awake his eyes lit up and he immediately made his way over to us.

"Yukine. How are you feeling? Any fever, or lasting dizziness?" he asked, crouching down in front of the sofa I was sitting on and putting the back of his hand to my forehead to check my temperature, "Your eyes are just like I remember them… but they look kind of red, too," he added.

"That's 'cause I passed out with my contacts still in. They're dry." I informed him and he nodded, giving an 'ah' in return. We sat in silence for a moment, before I started feeling awkward and spoke up, "Thanks… for taking care of that last monster for me." I decided to thank him.

After all, if he hadn't caught up right at that moment, I might've been attacked while I was at my most vulnerable.

Gojo grinned, and patted my head a little roughly, as if he weren't used to moderating his strength, "No problem! What kinda big brother would I be if I let it touch you?" he said, while Hana-san chided him for being so rough with a six-year-old; he adopted a slightly more serious expression, although he was still smiling, "You have the word of the World's Strongest Sorcerer as your big brother. From this point on, I won't let anyone or anything harm my little sister," he told me with an air of absolute confidence in himself.

It kind of took me aback, how confident he was in himself, but really it shouldn't have. After all, I already knew about how much he thought of himself. That ego of his was out of this world, but it was reassuring to hear all the same.

I gulped, feeling a little overwhelmed, but I knew I had to clarify some things before I got swept up in his rhythm.

"A-About that… How are you so sure that I'm your little sister…? All you saw back at daycare was me using my… special move." I decided I'd avoid using the words relating to curses and cursed techniques. After all, I'd been raised away from that world so it'd be suspicious if I knew the correct terminology already.

"It was because your 'special move' is actually called 'Polarity.' An inherited technique that only a Gojo can develop. Your aunt and great-grandfather also had the same cursed technique! So, when I saw you using the entry-level basics of it, I knew it couldn't be a coincidence." He said.

I blinked at him, trying to take in what he'd just said.

It made sense, but it also didn't make sense.

He could just as easily have been wrong about that. What would he have done if he'd been wrong? How was he so sure that I was… his little sister…

Thinking of that again threw me off and I lost my focus again. I was feeling tired again. Today was truly exhausting…

So, my Magnetism… is actually an inherited technique, huh?

"I-I'm not sure what you two are talking about, but… Hi… Yukine-chan, I mean… Are you feeling okay?" Hana-san asked and I looked over to her, unsure how to reply. I mean… a lot is going on, all of a sudden. It's hard to process.

She clapped her hands together, "You haven't eaten yet, have you? I'll make dinner. Will Gojo-kun be staying, too?" she asked, turning to Satoru for his answer.

"Oh! Thank you! I'll be staying with Yukine, of course!" he said with a grin, and Hana-san nodded and retreated to her kitchenette. And then his phone began ringing and he took one look at it, before cancelling the call and pocketing it without answering it.

Seconds later it started ringing again but he didn't make a move to check it again.

"A-Aren't you going to answer that…?" I asked him.

"Nope~" he chimed, plopping himself down on the sofa next to me, making me bounce a little. I kept eyeing him, as he grinned down at me and his phone kept ringing.

…Is it really alright to just ignore his calls like that…?

I looked away, feeling awkward under his gaze and staring at my lap.

"What's wrong?" I heard him ask me.

I shook my head, lifting my knees to hug them and burying my face in them; "S'nothing… I'm just a little bummed that I didn't end up inventing it…" I mumbled, but he heard me.

"Inventing? You mean your cursed technique?" he asked, and I felt him lean a little bit closer.

Well, duh. It's only natural that I'd be at least a little bummed out about that. Especially after I got so excited over nothing, thinking I managed to invent a new cursed technique all on my own, without any help.

I felt a little silly that I considered myself like an anime protagonist, for once in my two lives… and it'd been a bit of an ego boost for me, but I guess I didn't know Jujutsu Kaisen's world as much as that God had thought I did.

Onigiriri: Sorry there was a bit of a delay on this, I'd been hoping to have this out last week. But I had really bad RSI and had to rest my hands for a while.

This chapter got away from me because I decided to add that Gojo scene at the start, so the ending is a little abrupt this time. On the bright side, though, it means that I already have almost a third of the next chapter done. :)

Please if you're enjoying this fanfic, I'd really appreciate if you left reviews, too. Even though so many people are following, only one person left a review last time. I wanted to hear how you're liking the fanfic so far, is all.

Thanks for reading. xxx