Chapter 32

Earlier that day…

The council snickered as they had in their arms the infamous 'baby dragon'. The looks of greed on their faces couldn't be contained. However, they were debating as to what to do with him now. "The jujutsu society wants him dead, at the same time we could obtain a great deal of funding… but that is the problem we face…" one councilman stated.

"At the same time, if we do obtain the money, the demon vessel will still be alive. I think we can all agree he is better off dead than alive…"

There came solemn nods from the others. Out of the seven of them, they agreed, the vessel should be killed. And at the moment, they have the perfect opportunity to do so! "Didn't Gojo say if we leave him out here in the cold he will die?" one asked offhandedly.

They smirked. They wouldn't have to waste curse energy or use tools from the three great families for the job. So they began to carry the vessel back to their lodging, but they left him outside. The little bastards couldn't move in the suit so death will be swift for him!

They retreated indoors to warm up. One kept a close eye on the time as they waited for it to pass. Yet, there was something wrong.

They waited half and hour to destroy the demon vessel when suddenly… SHE appeared.

The fox woman suddenly came before them. "I am to understand that Satoru Gojo has left my young master in your care… where is he?" she asked gently. However, despite how gentle of a tone she spoke, there was a hint of venom in her words.

"Oh, we have a councilman playing with him outside." They lied.

"How long ago was that?" she asked as her tone suddenly went dark.

They gulped nervously. "Uh, no just ten minutes ago!" one blurted out.

She nodded. "Very well then. I will check up on him later, be sure he isn't outside for more than twenty minutes… even with the jacket he will freeze to death… if that happens… well… let's just say even if you sold your souls to the devil, you won't be safe from me…" that grin at the end… it was twisted like Sukuna's! But she vanished in a puff of red fire before the council rushed outside to retrieve the demon vessel. They ran him back in and inspected him… but there was nothing inside.

"There… is no child?" one muttered.

"Gentlemen… correct me if I am wrong, but is a dragon not a divine creature? If so, if they die… they tend to just… vanish like a curse after being dispelled?"

The room became dead silent.

Their faces turned pale as they realized the error of their ways.

The demon vessel is gone.

"Did… did that Kitsune woman not threaten us before… if anything happens to her young master it is returned nine folds upon us?" one whispered nervously. They all remember the underlings they had sent before to destroy the demon vessel when he was somehow planted. When they were punished, they had to endure third degree burns all over their bodies for the length of time the vessel was stuck being planted. That was over a month! None healed them, relieved their pain until the very end… after that, those men transferred to Kyoto to be 'safe' than sorry.

"We… must hide this… somehow…" one uttered.

But how does one hide a dead, infant dragon?

#

"Oh, they are scared!"

Kitsune returned to the others a short time later, she was smiling wickedly as she explained that the council left the empty snow suit outside for half an hour. After she visited them, she went invisible and watched them run out and inspect the snowsuit, only to find it empty. They have assumed Yuuji is dead and are now trying to bide their time.

"Oh this is TOO good." Suiryu snickered aloud. "So how are we going to tease them?"

"Oh please, leave that to me." Kitsune insisted. "I'll make them squirm…"

"I can do that too you know…" Suiryu muttered. "Then again, you don't get a chance to mess with them as much as I do, so… go ahead, this one is all yours." He insisted.

"Why is it that you two can argue over everything, yet with it comes to tormenting the elders, you are on the same page?" Fushiguro asked aloud.

Suiryu smirked to him. "Are you asking just out of curiosity or are you afraid of the answer?"

"Just confirming it in my mind here…" he said offhandedly.

"AHEM" came out of Kitsune. "Despite our… differences. We both feel the same about the council and know that they need to have the shit scared out of them from time to time. Suiryu does it on a regular bases, but I rarely get the chance to!" she protested.

Suiryu sighed aloud and nodded in agreement. "I get spoiled from time to time, so it's only fair she gets a turn to torment them…"

"Besides, I've already started!" Kitsune said with pride.

Fushiguro paused, as did Suiryu. "Did you now?"

"Well, they are not aware that I know there is no baby dragon in that snowsuit, at the same time… my sisters are keeping a very close eye on them… and they aren't hiding themselves either. Have you heard of a movie called 'The Birds'?" she asked curiously.

Suiryu smirked, he could already envision a row full of foxes, keeping a close eye on the councilmen as they walked about with a so called 'baby dragon' in their possession. They will be too scared to do anything too sudden!

"So how long are you going to torment them?" Megumi asked. "I doubt Choso could keep Yuuji distracted all day."

"You underestimate Choso" Suiryu said and grinned. "Besides, the older brothers are complaining they aren't getting enough time with Yuuji. I even over heard them talk about plans. Tanso has been making a lot of wolf familiars but he wants to use them as dog sleds for Yuuji…"

Kitsune giggled at the notion. "That one has me perplexed, despite his familiars and… various other creations. He does have quite the respect for life, even those he has created. Despite the fact he can easily replace them, he still cares greatly for what he has and who are part of his legions."

"He's not greedy, had he been more like Sukuna, he would have turned nearly half the population by now into zombies." Suiryu said offhandedly.

Megumi froze and shuttered at the thought. "I never considered that…" he muttered.

"Consider that? All the brothers have the power to cause damage, like Shibuya worthy damage, but do they? No, because why? They are a family, they get to stay together and no one attacks them. The day someone does… is the day they die." Suiryu said offhandedly.

Suddenly, no one moved. "What!?" he demanded.

"You knew they were that powerful?" Kitsune asked.

He rolled his eyes to it all. "Like it or not, they got transfigured out of Yuuji, who has Sukuna's power, some of that is absorbed into them. Making them stronger than what they were before and for those who didn't have a body before, it allowed them to understand and control their curse energy better. You have seen Junpei in action right? He's the youngest, yet can cause some devastating damage if you push him too far. Hell, he already made a domain and he barely had use of his curse abilities when he first came back!"

The room became oddly silent. "Never thought about that." Fushiguro muttered. Then again, the way Junpei learned so fast perhaps his mind was thinking it was either sink or swim.

"Well, with that being said, I am going to let Kitsune do her thing… keep me posted if you need me to really put the scare into them."

"Where are you going?" Fushiguro demanded.

He shrugged. "Perhaps help Tanso with that dog sled?"