Chapter 31

Within Suiryu…

He didn't know how it happened, one moment, he was in control, the next, he was trapped in the shallow waters of Sukuna's domain. The memories are just returning now. Sukuna… Sukuna has been trying to take over him ever since he came to reside in his body. "WHY WON'T YOU LET GO!" Sukuna shouted as time and time again, he plunged Suiryu into the water. He held him under in hope he would give up from the torture, he's been non-stop and yet, despite this, he has remained in control of his body.

It's why he is forgetting things, why Sukuna's tone slips out of his mouth every so often. And yet, despite it all. He can't control him completely yet. "Why… won't… you… let… GO!" he shouted.

He was released for the moment. Suiryu came up for air, regaining his composure before smirking. "Ryujin… tortured me when I came to be this… he did so day in and out… ensuring my resolve was strong, preparing me in case this ever happened!" he snapped back and snickered. "You're fighting with yourself and losing… pathetic of you isn't it? And I was what? A mere speck?"

"SHUT UP!"

In the innate domain, it felt as if time wore on. Days, months even years felt like they have passed as Suiryu continued to fight. Sukuna grew more desperate. Suiryu found he could no longer stand, In fact, he was thrown into the red walls of the domain and from there, his flesh has begun to meld into it! He couldn't over power this, no matter how hard he tried, and yet, Sukuna appeared just as frustrated. "You shouldn't be this strong…" he growled at him. "You were the weakest part of me, how can you be so resilient!"

Suiryu smirked. "I have something worth living for. Which is a lot more than what you can say isn't it?"

And yet, he is trapped, he has no idea how to break free. It is as if Sukuna's soul is trying to reclaim him. "No matter what, even if you survive, I will be certain you never see the light of day again…" he paused, an euphoric look came over him. "Ah… I have it now… I have control…" the smile grew on his lips. "And just so you know, the moment I am free and slaughter all you care about around you. I will keep the orange haired girl alive… since I am going to have you watch as I devour her!"

"Nobara… NO!" he protested.

"Then try and stop me!" Sukuna vanished as he took control of his body. Suiryu had the strength to encourage Nobara to use the technique he taught her in case of an emergency. She is able to manipulate her own curse energy around the nail and also around her heart. "It's like teleportation if you think about it, however it's making a gate. The nail is the key, and the moment it strikes this point, it passes through you harmlessly. This is just an emergency use idea. I don't recommend you doing this all the time for this can fail." He explained to her.

She didn't know what to make of it, and yet, she trained with him day in and out on the notion, and used himself as a guinea pig to ensure it won't harm her. She had perfected it, but to make certain it doesn't misfire when she needs to use it most, she didn't use the technique until now.

He was so proud of her when she used it without flaw, but he cringed as he saw his heart get ripped from his chest and thrown towards her. He couldn't let that stop him now, he can survive without a heart, after all, the bastard who possesses him did. But now, he has to regain control, somehow!

#

Suiryu had been struggling ever since, but it's become far more difficult to do so. His arms, have vanished into the walls, his back was melding and slowly, he was sinking deeper and deeper into Sukuna's soul…

"I can't let him… I WON'T go back!" he protested. "I… I can't go back…" he whispered. "Please… someone… anyone!" he begged.

But there was silence. No one else was here. Suiryu felt disheartened, he was on his own with no one to help him…

"So, this is HIS domain huh?"

Suiryu froze to the voice, peering up, he saw a strange woman lingering before him! "Who are you?"

She smiled to him oddly enough. "Tooru," she said.

He paused. "Tooru? You're related to Yua?"

"Well, more along the lines that she is related to me… so… this is Sukuna's domain? Needs work if you ask me, not to mention a good cleaning… why does he have all these cow skulls everywhere?" she muttered and kicked one carelessly to the side. But then, she turned and looked to him oddly. This Tooru woman was very similar to Yua, she was slightly taller and stronger in appearance. Yet, just by looking into her eyes, Suiryu knew she was someone he could trust… as oddly as that was for him to believe.

She came in closer, inspecting him from top to bottom before stating. "So, is where it ends?" she asked oddly enough, her eyes casted down his chest as she saw it dangling off his neck, the dragon fang given to him by Yua. "To think that it would come to this …"

"What do you mean? For that matter, how did you get in here?"

She smirked and stared at the fang. "The Toorus are closer to all of this… even the bastard himself than what most people think. I never met him, but I have heard through those who have come after me of him. But back to the matter at hand, how I am here. All who have worn that before you are connected to Ryujin through that fang, for we all wore it, me… I'm the one who started it."

He shook his head in confusion. "If that's so, why are you here?"

She smiled to him, her hand took hold of the fang gently as she toyed with it in her fingers. "Waiting, for the right moment. Part of a binding vow I had with Ryujin." She explained. "But, that all depends on what happens next. I saw you send the signal. Is there someone out there who can do that?" she asked curiously.

He didn't know anymore. Gojo was out on a mission of his own, no one was strong or fast enough to contend with Sukuna, no unless Yuuji…

The domain suddenly shook.

Suiryu froze as the pile of cow skulls began to tremble. "What…"

Another tremor, this time, far stronger than the one before it!

Tooru smiled. "Ah, it appears someone got your message… wanna see what's happening?" Her free hand came over his brow, Suiryu suddenly was able to see the outside world, if his heart was still in his chest, it would have been beating with excitement by now.

"Yuuji…" he whispered with a smile on his face.

#

Sukuna just had to wait, this barrier, despite the durability of it, wouldn't last. Whoever created it did so brashly, despite the fact he himself couldn't break it, made him all the more curious as to what energy it was and who forged such a thing.

Those around him were anticipating a fight, in his mind he already decided who would die first. 'I have no use for that Fushiguro brat, then those abomination curse wombs will be next, and whoever gets here… ah, it appears more are coming…'

"NOBARA!"

"MIKA!"

The second years arrived but froze at the sight. He grinned towards them. "Oh good, more prey!"

"Suiryu…" Mika whispered.

"It's not him… wait… where's Itadori?"

Sukuna paused, peering about he lost track of the brat who was no bigger than an infant. "Probably scared shitless, it matters not, it's not like he could have done anything…"

He flinched.

Sukuna felt a strike to his right shoulder, right between the cuff. "What… Six eyes is here!?" he demanded.

Then he felt another hard jab, this time to his left side!

"Who on earth…"

Jab, jab, jab!

The strikes were hard and yet nothing serious. Still, whoever is doing this… but then he remembered the last act of that speck. The areas on the body, where he was pointing, Sukuna was being struck where he had pointed!

"That bastard… I should have destroyed him than try to absorb it!"

He couldn't see who struck him, and yet, he found it strange. His eyes see everything! There isn't anything faster than what he can perceive, but then, he caught a glimpse, something moving fast but just out of eyesight. "Show yourself you bastard!" he demanded.

Jab, jab, jab!

He was struck again, all the points have been hit but the one between his forehead. That was the final point…

Sukuna was on his guard, he then sensed the movement and avoided the final strike, when his attacker finally revealed himself. A moment of pause came over both of them.

"Brat?!" he demanded.

The boy, his former vessel stood at his normal height, yet the look on him… his eyes were different, his movements were more thought out and precise… This isn't the same boy he contended with before. "What… have you really managed to accomplish such a thing?"

He's not impressed usually by the antics of a child. Yet before him, this boy has reached farther than any other who sought such power. "You really are trying to do such a thing aren't you? You're cultivating to become a dragon!"

The brat gave off a defiant roar, he still can't speak but it was amusing to see him attempt to look intimidating with not teeth in his mouth! Sukuna smirked to it all, it was humorous to say the least.

"YUUJI! GET OUT OF THERE!" shouted one of the curse wombs.

But he stood his ground and poised to fight. "You think you can hit me now brat? I know you can move fast now, I merely have to ensure you never strike me again… can you even finish what you have started?"

The brat suddenly vanished.

"Knowing you… you would come from behind like this!" Sukuna turned on his heels, he grabbed the brat by the throat and smirked. "Too predictable…" but then paused. He smiled… this one… has teeth! "What?!"

"So close, but not quite… You got it from here, Itadori," he didn't see the hand that pierced through this clone, a shadow clone no less! How did he summon such a thing!?

He felt the strike between his brow, Sukuna stumbled back, but paused. Nothing happened!

He inspected himself but then cackled aloud to it all. "Hehe! It was for nothing! That insignificant speck wasted his strength for NOTHING! HAHAHA! Oh… and look…"

The brat teetered. His eyes rolled back as he collapsed to the ground, slowly, he began to shrink until he was back to the form of an infant. "The icing on the cake, he's too weak to fight back… and you can't get in can you?" Sukuna snickered to those outside of the barrier.

He reached down, grabbing his former vessel by the throat. "How easy it will be to crush you… and I can do so single handedly…"

"LET HIM GO! YUUJI!" shouted Fushiguro.

"Don't worry, once he's dead, you can join him!" Sukuna said with glee. "Now then brat, as much as I would rather watch you suffer. I cannot let this opportunity escape me. I'll crush you before all who you hold dear, and then… they will die!"

His grip began to tighten, the brat chirp aloud and yet somehow endured. His small frame was that enduring?

Sukuna however, began to feel something was wrong though. In his own body, a surge began to course through him.

It didn't feel right…

Peering down, Sukuna realized parts of his body became aflame in light blue fire. He couldn't believe it. "No… Impossible… You cannot be here!" he protested.

The flame continued to spread until it burst out! The barrier broke, and all who stood around him were caught up in the torrent of the flame. He barely kept his eyes open as he watched those around him drop to the ground. Unharmed and yet unable to stay on their feet.

Sukuna felt himself all victim to the fire as well…