Chapter 15

She saw the news.

Taka-chan was stunned tat Kechizu was attacked in such a manner, but it only made her believe now more than ever, it was because he stood up for her and told her to think for herself.

This is what happens to those who are really trying to look out for her. She kept thinking about her first encounter with him, how he came with his older brother Eso and Ryomen Sukuna for an off the cuff music video. It was him that gave the details for it, he helped with the lyrics as well as suggest how it should be done, while keeping everyone true to themselves in a sense. His insight was great, his patience was second to none as he taught her how to do a thrash dance and yet make it tasteful. "You're really good at this!" she said with amazement.

He smirked to the comment. "I like to watch a lot of movies, sometimes I dabble into the musical ones. Never thought it would come in handy like this!" he laughed.

She cringed a little at the next thought, but then giggled as she remembered a 'trick' he did before her. They were taking a break when Ryomen insisted. "Show her!" he said.

"Oh come on it's not that special!" he protested.

Ryomen leaned over. "Wanna see him do a magic trick?"

"Oooo, okay!"

With a roll of his eyes he stood up. Mockingly pulled out a candy bar and revealed it to everyone. He let her hold it to prove to everyone it's a candy bar. She confirmed it. "Now, open it for me and place it into this mouth." He said and pointed to one of the 'fake mouths' on his torso. The tongue extended from it as it anticipated the candy bar.

'Damn, those mouths really are real…' she thought once more to herself, but then reverted back to her memory.

She did what was asked of her. Putting the candy bar on to the tongue of one of the mouths on his torso. It lapped it up with ease, from there she heard a gulp, then, he coughed but first showing his exposed hands. He had nothing in his hands, he also wasn't wearing a shirt. Suddenly, he reached into his mouth and took out the candy bar wrapper! The chocolate was gone, but the wrapper came out of his normal mouth!

"That's amazing!" she said.

"Taka!"

She snapped out of the moment, turning to her left she remembered why she was here today. It was an old hotel and she was doing pictures for an upcoming magazine. Her photographer, happened to be the same one that Ryomen uses. D'angelo.

"Are you okay sweetie?" he asked gently of her. "You appeared to be out of it."

She sighed aloud. "I… I am worried about Kechizu… I… D'angelo… it was my fault!" she wept.

He put his camera down, gently taking her hand he led her to a small seating area. It was strange, despite the security she has around her constantly, today, it was just the two of them and his staff. "Honey, what happened to him wasn't your fault." He said gently.

But she nodded to him. "It is, D'angelo… I…" she froze, remembering what her super fan Todo said to her.

'We live in secrecy, not a lot of people know about curse, jujutsu or cursed humans. We don't want people to panic. Then again, the world has known, but appears to have turned a blind eye to it all, but please. Don't tell people about this. Especially about Ryomen and Kechizu.'

"Taka?"

She snapped back into reality, but was silent on the matter. "I just know it is. Kechizu stood up for me a while back. I was too blind at the time to see that I was being used and punished for doing something that I had wanted to do. I didn't break any part of my contract… I merely watched the rock opera Ryomen did, and then, the music video."

She stared up to D'angelo who went oddly silent. "Excuse me, what?" he demanded. "You are being punished for those two things? Kechizu knew it and it helped you realize that?" he asked of her.

Taka nodded once more. "Yes," she whispered. "I was too blinded at the time to realize that what it was, when he mentioned it… it made sense. Since then. I have started to stand up more for myself. They have threatened me with more restrictions, but I dared to say that I would go elsewhere if need be…" she froze. "I said I would rather join the Death Paintings, than to listen to their lies and never be an idol again… I have nothing against the Death Paintings..."

A sigh came to D'angelo, he appeared vexed to the whole thing. "You are surrounded by idiots hon, sorry to say. But I promise you, things are going to get better. Also Kechizu is nearly fully recovered, you'll be happy to know that."

She froze. "Wait, how? I over heard them talk about it…"

D'angelo paused. "You know who did this?"

She nodded meekly. "I… tried to report them, no one ever came to arrest the men who did this. They are my current bodyguards. Four of them, they keep talking about it as if they made history happen…"

"Oh really?" D'angelo asked curiously. "Perhaps there's someone I can send to have a little… chat with them shall we say?" he asked in a teasing tone.

Taka froze, but then nodded in agreement. "Well, I hope you aren't attached to them, you are going to need new bodyguards by tomorrow" he whispered.

#

"So, it's going down huh?"

"No shit, who would have thought they wanted revenge like this? After knowing what became of their brother…"

The four bodyguards, considered to be called the four spears among the divine users. Top grade sorcerers with strong summons and abilities, They were called up mainly to ensure Miss. Chan stayed out of trouble, but secondly they were given a secrete mission. "If the opportunity arises, take down the Death Paintings and Ryomen Sukuna. But they have to appear as natural as possible. Do what you need to in order to achieve the results we desire!"

The task was a large one, no doubt about that. And to even go after this clone of Ryomen Sukuna would make one turn tail and run! Yet, they saw it as a challenge. Their confidence only soared after they nearly took down one of the Death paintings. They know well they were creatures of habit. And their new tradition after a concert was to get ramen to celebrate. They kept watch over the Death Paintings in shifts to understand what they do and how. Their chances to attack were slim since they are always together, yet when one goes and get ramen, they are alone.

They thought for certain that the dagger they used would have killed Kechizu. Coated in Basilisk venom, it's an instant kill to most, and yet, somehow, he was rather resilient.

When they learned that he was still alive, it became a rather strange puzzle to them. "How is that even possible?"

"I know that Basilisk venom was over 200 years old, well the snake was. You know hard it is to find a Basilisk?"

"You don't have to tell me, it's even harder to get one as your summons without getting killed first!"

They were given a message from that photographer. D'angelo was with Taka-Chan all day and then passed the message along. "Apparently, he's done letting you hide" was all he said before walking off.

They opened the paper, it was the site of a building getting ready for demolition.

They are to meet him there…

#

There was no hesitation.

The four spears did a quick walk around before they began to set up little traps of their own for the duel later. The four of them have accepted the challenge from Suiryu, who vowed to come alone. Since then, they began to rig the building and have it at the ready.

When night fell, they met at the building by one in the morning. The four spears had come earlier, HE just appeared before them.

"That confident huh?" he asked aloud. "I'll give credit where it's due."

"We're going to take you down, then we are hunting the rest of the Death Paintings, this time… no screw ups!"

The four spears, if one were to look at him would appear to be one in the same, as if a man had split himself in three others… But neither one knew the other all that well. They were brought together by chance, and now have joined forces to achieve wealth beyond their dreams.

No matter who gets in the way.

Yet, why was this clone so calm?

He began to walk forward. And yet, he spoke aloud. "What I want to know is why the hell you assholes target my brothers? They haven't harmed anyone, the divine should have no interest and yet, here you stand before me. With the blood of my brother on your hands, and yet you announce you are going to finish what you started and then kill the rest… How fucking stupid are you!" he shouted in anger.

It was time to trigger the traps. One sent his energy to the one nearest to Suiryu, but as he did, something happened. The divine energy… didn't work.

"What…"

"You think I would be stupid enough to come to this unprepared?" he demanded. "Not to mention… I called in some favors. Foxes are extremely good at finding divine traps…" he swished a finger. They hit the ground and yet, one of the four spears lost his arm!

Before he could shout in pain, Suiryu sent another invisible blade to the earth, forcing them to their feet once more and rushing into the old building.

"We got to get out of here!"

"Where the hell do we…"

They froze, Suiryu didn't follow them inside, as well, when they tried to open the door, their hands were stopped inches before it, as if a barrier has gone up!

They rushed to the second floor of the old building. One managed to peer out the window as Suiryu peered up, a twisted smile came over his face as his hands formed a mudra. "Domain Expansion…"

#

The news was all over it.

"Today a building that was slated to be demolished in three days, has suddenly collapsed! We have word that there was no one inside at the time, but police are treating this as a suspicious event. No one saw how it happened, let alone the building fall which is strange…"

The TV turned off.

Suiryu sat there, covered in blood before he took a deep sigh. "Not as satisfying as it was before…" He took a stiff drink of Sake as he pondered it all. Why did someone come after Junpei like that? Him of all people?

But the strangest part of it all, was how pissed off he became. Despite calling the curse wombs, brothers, Suiryu hasn't really had that connection with them, at least, he didn't think he did. He thought calling them a brother was just a way of getting them to accept what he says or to help them train. Yet, the moment Junpei was harmed… he was enraged. It took everything he had not to accidentally unleash his power at the press conference. He meant every word that he would find them and destroy them.

But now, this happened and he wasn't satisfied to know it ended so fast. "What to do now…" he muttered. This was a planned attack; he couldn't image the elders doing such a thing… at least not yet. But there is something coming, he could feel it in his bones.

"At least one matter is resolved for now. Junpei will be well again in a week or so…" Yet before he could relax, he felt it.

"Since when the hell do you ever come to me?"

He heard a startled gasp. "Since when the hell could you sense me!?" he peered to his left and saw Kitsune standing there. "How… never mind it's of no matter right now. I have been given word from my brothers… the divine users are coming to challenge for Yuuji."

"Challenge?" he muttered. "On what grounds!?"

"He was not in the proper mindset to choose a guardian." She said. The look of anger only grew on her face. "They have the right to challenge for guardianship, for the choice was made when he was an infant and not of a sound mind…"

"What the fuck!" he protested. "Why are they pulling this shit now?!"

"Perhaps they were part of the attack on Junpei, but I cannot be certain. For now, Suiryu, prepare." She said, but then a moment of pause came over her. "Keep an eye on young master too, he used some of his own strength today to heal Junpei, his power is growing. Perhaps he will have a moment of clarity…"

"Wait, what the hell is…" he paused as he noticed her gone. "Of course you would leave…" he finished his drink. Checking his watch it was getting late, and ever since the attack, Choso insists that Yuuji not sleep alone. Well, he hasn't been lately either. Especially when he get stuck in the middle of the night.

Suiryu ventured to his brother's room. He saw Yuuji setting up the bed and then stare at him, he sighed aloud to it all. This was getting frustrating for him. "Hey, I ain't going to hold this against you later. You do know that right?"

He said nothing, merely peered away embarrassed. Suiryu got himself situated and comfortable first and then Yuuji cuddles in. He smirked as usually Yuuji passes out quickly, he must feel safe around him to do so.