Chapter: On The Hill
Summary: With Tengen gone, the world of the curses opens up. Or how Satoru met a whole bunch of new people and proceeded to offend them all.
Rating: T
Warnings: Mentions of canon-typical violence, but that's that.
There's a kind of peace in a ravaged battlefield that Satoru can't find anywhere else.
It's the feeling of a job well-done, but without the obnoxious singing birds of Jujutsu Tech's courtyard or Principal Yaga nagging at him about property damage.
It's the silence of all his enemies being dead, the singing in his blood that proves he is The Strongest, no questions asked.
That much hasn't changed despite the one thousand years that have gone by since he last felt this.
The one thing that is different is that, back then, he would have never felt such with someone by his side.
Satoru is the Strongest, true, but most of his techniques are meant for area damage. Cursed Technique Blue crushes everything in its vicinity. Reverse Cursed Technique Red repels everything in its way, destroying it with its strength. And Hollow Purple… well, that one speaks for itself.
Sure, Satoru has less destructive techniques, but their usage doesn't bring about this kind of peaceful feeling, and neither does his hand-to-hand. They have their own pleasant aftermaths, true, but not this one.
Destruction, the complete obliteration of the enemy, only ever comes about with Blue, Red, or Hollow Purple. And any kind of battle that requires all three of them being used is never with any kind of ally in the vicinity. Zenin Toji learnt that one first hand when Satoru killed him.
But this time, not only is Satoru exhausted, wrung dry after losing control of his whole being and blasting the world to the deepest pits of Hell. This time, there's a warm body against his back, a strong heart beating so close to his ear that he can practically hear it, and short hair tickling his neck.
It's weird. Almost comfortable. Confusing yet relaxing at the same time.
The world ended, but Satoru is still alive. And unbelievably enough, despite losing all he ever knew and loved, Satoru is relieved.
The world ended, and it's alright. Everyone can rest now.
And that includes Satoru and Sukuna too.
… Huh. Maybe that's why this is so comfortable. The guilt that had been choking Satoru's throat is gone, laid to rest like the human world and the friends he left behind.
Satoru may have failed them, one thousand years ago. But they tried their best, and despite the way things ended up like, he won't cheapen their sacrifices by saying I would have fixed it all if I had been there.
He doesn't know how he could have stopped the destruction of the whole world, not when humanity was its driving force. Satoru knew first hand that being the Strongest wasn't enough to change the world – that's why he became a teacher.
But they tried, his friends, coworkers and students. They all tried, they did their best, and Satoru is proud.
The only thing he can do now is remember them, and move on.
Who knows what's going through Sukuna's head, but he feels just as relaxed against Satoru's back. The blood from his missing right side has left a warm stain on Satoru's ruined samue, but his heart still beats strongly.
Maybe the burden he had been carrying is gone too, whatever it was.
Satoru hopes so. After all, he's the one who has to deal with Sukuna's moods.
"Oi. I can hear you thinking back there. Stop it," Sukuna huffs, not moving an inch from his slump against Satoru, who chuckles airily.
"I didn't know you were a mind-reader. What other secrets are you hiding, Sukuna?" he pokes, tilting his head just enough on Sukuna's shoulder that the curse huffs as Satoru's longer locks get in his mouth the next time he speaks.
"Wouldn't you l—Pff! Oh, that was disgusting. You need to get a bath, and preferably drown in there."
Satoru lets out a bark of laughter, feeling as light as if he had lost his whole right side instead.
Nothing remains of the barrier now, and as he looks up again, Satoru thinks the sky looks bluer than ever before.
Of course, the peace can never last – not that he wants it to. It would be terribly boring if it did.
However, a flash of cursed energy that leaves a large figure standing on the nearest 'hill' is most definitely not what Satoru had expected – especially when the figure straightens and Satoru realizes he knows it.
Oh, he's never seen it face-to-face, but the humanoid appearance coupled with the bared teeth and the four wings for eyes are a dead giveaway. Or maybe, it is the pair of black pants coupled with the 'head tail' and the eight-knobbed wheel floating atop it that do it.
"General Mahoraga?" Satoru exclaims in surprise, but it is the voice echoing his that truly startles him.
He tries to tilt his head, as Sukuna does, to meet his eyes, but with their heads on each other's shoulders, it's a lost cause.
"You know Eight-Handled Sword Divergent Sila Divine General Mahoraga?" Sukuna asks, curious, pushing off of Satoru's back and twisting just enough to face him with a lifted eyebrow.
"Never had the pleasure of actually meeting, but yes. Also, how did you learn such a mouthful of a name?" Satoru questions with his own lifted eyebrow, which, thanks to him losing his blindfold in the Prison Realm, is fully visible now.
Sukuna gives him a half-lidded deadpan look.
"That is your question. Really. Why am I not surprised."
Mahoraga chooses that moment to remind them of his presence – by falling onto one knee, hand pressed against his chest and head bowed.
"Sukuna-koutei," Mahoraga calls respectfully with a deep voice that is almost too soft for what Satoru expected.
Also, wait, what?
"Emperor Sukuna?" Satoru repeats, both eyebrows to his hairline now as he turns to Sukuna, who scowls dismissively but doesn't meet his eyes.
"I got bored about two centuries ago and went on a killing spree. Until everyone started bowing. It was no fun then."
"Ah, I see. A hierarchy built on strength," Satoru grins, totally unfazed at that simple explanation.
It's Sukuna, after all. That Mahoraga bows to him is a bit more surprising, though. The tenth of the Ten Shadows Style Shikigami was always famed to be unbeatable.
Then again, King of Curses Ryoumen Sukuna must have come about his title for some reason.
Satoru doesn't even question Mahoraga's sentience, way beyond any actual shikigami. The curses in the city didn't behave like the ones a thousand years ago. Why should Mahoraga?
"Obviously," Sukuna purrs with his own sharp grin, before seven more flashes cover the surrounding area, leaving behind seven more curses.
As Mahoraga, they are all Special Grades.
Well. That's interesting. Here Satoru is, after the fight of his life, injured and exhausted, and surrounded by a semi-circle of eight special grade curses. And his only ally is an equally injured Sukuna – though he's also their supreme leader.
The question is, would that leadership stand, in a world where strength is key? Any of them could probably overpower Sukuna now, let's not start with all eight of them.
"So, this is what Origin looks like. Pathetic, if you ask me," some kind of spindly and slick curse sniffs, tugging on the white gloves covering his three-fingered claws, as if they could keep away the dust.
"Don't be stupid, Dabora. It's obvious whatever happened to Origin was recent. As recent as Sukuna-koutei's visit, I would wager," a second gurgles, bent and skeletal despite the large amount of black tar-like muscle that hides most of its glowing green interior.
"We must agree with Kouhai. Sukuna-koutei's presence dictates destruction be at his hand," a third hums, standing as still as if they were made of stone, serpentine body curled almost comfortably while its six pairs of arms are crossed against their chest, and the three maned canine heads atop their long necks stare at different curses.
"Oh, don't worry, Monban. I haven't forgotten," the fourth sneers, four-fingered hands curling menacingly on her hips, while her literally flaming hair flashes an angry white-blue that does not reflect on her misshapen three—or is that four?—fully black dull eyes.
"Still bitter, even after two centuries, Sakura? You sure are petty," a stout fifth snickers, leaning back into the huge fluffy ball that, a blink later, Satoru realizes is his actual tail, flashing a fanged grin that curls almost past his temples.
"Let's not start another war, Fuwa-ta. Sukuna-koutei-ta's actions may not be obvious to any of us, after all-ta," the sixth purrs, though it sounds disturbingly distorted, coming out of the metallic helmet that covers her tiny head – though, in her defense, the rest of her elongated and six-legged centaur-like body is also covered in shiny armor painted in odd and colorful patterns.
"Well said, Misutaa. Who else but Sukuna-sama would bring a pet to a fight?" the seventh answers with an almost unnatural calm, their white antler-horn thingies curling over their blond hair like a crown, while their almost white blue eyes meet Satoru's curious gaze, their white leathery wings furling to rest on their white clothed back.
"I don't have a pet, Angel," Sukuna scowls, finally standing up thanks to his healed hip, but Satoru notices with confusion that his right side is still missing.
Is he really that injured and tired that he can't heal himself fully, or is this another part of his power game?
"And what are you eight doing here, anyway? Now, of all times…" Sukuna adds, resting one of his remaining hands on his hip while the other hangs lose at his side, unworried.
Satoru shuffles on his spot, still sitting on the ground, to cross his legs in front of him and observe the newcomers curiously.
They have the advantage of numbers, and they're fully rested. But while they don't kneel like Mahoraga, who is standing up once more now that the others have arrived, they all bow more or less respectfully at Sukuna.
Except for the so-called Angel, who despite their coloration, looks exactly like one of the demons from Western religion, what with the horns, leathery wings, hooved feet and arrow-tipped tail. Even Sakura shows some modicum of respect, when she turns away for a moment to avoid meeting Sukuna's eyes, even if it is with a reluctant scowl.
Curiouser and curiouser.
"It is precisely because it is now, Sukuna-koutei," the three-headed Monban answers once their heads straighten from their bow.
"How else could we have linked here, had the barrier not fallen?" the posh Dabora scoffs, hooked nose and downturned lips curling as if he'd just smelt something rotten.
"Which is exactly why we came. The barrier has fallen! All of them!" Fuwa exclaims, pushing off from his tail, which poofs in answer to his excitement.
"If we may, Sukuna-koutei-ta… How have the barriers fallen-ta?" the armored Misutaa asks softly, though the words echo almost too loudly from inside her armor.
"Isn't it obvious?" Sukuna purrs, his own grin looking even sharper than Fuwa's unnaturally large one.
"No, it isn't! How could you bring them down all on your own, after all these centuries?! How did you even enter Origin?!" Sakura explodes, and her tame mess of orange flame-for-hair bursts into hot yellow and white sparks as she scowls.
"And if I may, Sukuna-koutei, how could you destroy a whole colony?" Kouhai asks, tilting its head while its bones glow almost eagerly – and a drop of black 'muscle goop' falls from its cheek.
"You question Sukuna-koutei's power?" Mahoraga rumbles threateningly, tilting his head to glare with non-existent eyes at the other curses.
"We know more than well enough what kind of monster he is," Sakura spits, crossing her arms almost defensively against her chest, her hair simmering to a short red bob, while Kouhai's body bubbles almost expectantly.
"You flatter me, Sakura," Sukuna chuckles, and the fiery curse turns into a sputtering mass of smoke and blue flame.
"Aww. You made her blush. You're such a bad boy, Sukuna," Satoru snickers, resting his cheek on a hand, elbow propped on his knee, and simply pulls out his tongue when Sukuna sends him a deadpan look.
And suddenly, Satoru has the undivided attention of all eight special grades.
Sukuna grins, and Satoru feels a shiver go down his spine.
"The answer to all those questions is the same," Sukuna tells the special grades, standing relaxed despite the predatory curl of his lips and the bloodthirsty glint in his eyes. "Satoru."
… That clever and wonderful bastard.
"Sa… to…ru…?" Dabora sounds out, lips curling even further to show even more of his teeth and gums.
And if that isn't his clue, Satoru doesn't know what is.
Sukuna sure knows how to rattle things.
"Hi!" he calls cheerfully, waving his free hand in a lazy arc.
And then, he delights in all the fallen jaws and the chaos that follows.
"That's—"
"—completely impossible—"
"No one can—"
"—cross the barriers—"
"—special grade—"
"—disrespectful little—"
"—kind of curse could—"
"—Origin was obliterated!"
Satoru laughs. He can't help it; they are all so wrong-footed! Even the most composed ones, like Monban and Misutaa, are scrambling up almost literally in search for answers. Fuwa is an exception, in that he's cackling madly, and Sakura is steaming once more. Angel and Mahoraga may not be as hilarious as the others, but they are also staring wide-eyed at Satoru—Angel—or have their jaws clenched tight—Mahoraga.
Sukuna chuckles, and silence falls again.
"You're mocking us!" Sakura screeches, incensed, but Sukuna simply waves a hand, dismissing her.
"No, I'm not. Satoru, allow me to introduce you to the Yagami," Sukuna answers, and while Satoru blinks at the name—'household god' is not the term that comes to mind when he thinks about special grade curses—he still follows Sukuna's hand as he gestures to the curses. "Fuwafuwa, from Minakami Han'ei."
"Your name is fluffy?" Satoru questions, blinking in surprise, but the furry-tailed curse merely grins again, the gesture still disturbingly large.
"Fuwa to my friends," he chuckles, leaning forward, and when his fur poofs this time, Satoru realizes each and every 'hair' is actually a spine.
"Nice," Satoru whistles, and blinks back to Sukuna when the other clears his throat. "Sorry, you can continue now."
"Han'ei is the northernmost of the colonies, standing where Aomori used to be," he explains, and Satoru stiffens in surprise before the metaphorical lightbulb turns on and he nods. "Next, we have Dabora, from Fukyuu no Tochi, Iwate."
"Oh! Please, please, tell me you still have apple-filled kamome no tamago!" Satoru begs the snotty and lanky curse, who stiffens in surprise at the sudden attention on him – and what Satoru had assumed was a suit actually ruffles up, revealing itself to be feathers.
There are scales under there, too, and suddenly that hooked nose makes a lot more sense.
"… What is an ah-pull?"
Satoru's mouth opens in shock, before he turns begging puppy eyes up at Sukuna.
The bastard merely laughs.
"Ugh, fine. Anko kamome no tamago? Any kind of kamome no tamago?"
"I… don't know…" Dabora speaks hesitatingly, the words barely coming up audibly as he exchanges a flabbergasted look with the other Yagami.
"Moving on," Sukuna chirps, wiping one finger under one of his eyes mockingly as he grins down at Satoru's pout. "From Yukatana-wan, Mahoraga. The inhabited part of the colony is restricted to the bay, but the barrier sits in what was Miyagi."
Satoru tenses, pout disappearing, and when he meets his gaze, Sukuna's eyes tell him that he knows what he's thinking of.
"Sendai?"
"Sendai."
… Well. Satoru is torn now. Part of him wants to visit, but most of him is screaming at him to stay away.
"Have you visited?"
"A couple times," Sukuna answers softly, shrugging his remaining shoulder before he turns to Mahoraga, who nods deeply.
"You are both welcome in Yukatana-wan, Sukuna-koutei, Satoru-kakka," Mahoraga offers, and Satoru can't help but scrunch his nose in distaste.
He's no foreign dignitary, to receive such an honorific. Before he can protest it, though, Sukuna gestures to Misutaa with a knowing grin.
"Misutaa, from Aiansouru, Aichi."
"Is Nagoya Castle still standing? I had a bet going with Shoko about that," Satoru asks, grinning at the armored curse, who hesitates visibly, armor tingling.
"I believe he means the Peace Ruins, Misutaa. Weren't you going to rebuild those, one of these days?" Sukuna helpfully supplies, and the Yagami relaxes visibly at that, nodding deeply.
"Indeed, Sukuna-koutei-ta. The process is slow-going, despite our best efforts-ta. The architecture is… strange-ta."
"So, it is! Hah! I win, Shoko! I told you Nagoya Castle would survive me having a bad day!" Satoru shouts at the sky, grinning like a fool, and when he hears Sukuna facepalm, that only makes him laugh harder.
"Is… he? It? Them? Your… pet, Sukuna-koutei, this Satoru curse… Is it actually alright?" Dabora questions, hesitant, and that immediately clears Satoru's head.
"He's not my pet," Sukuna scowls, while Satoru glares at the feathered curse.
"Yeah, exactly. He's my minder, not my babysitter," Satoru quotes, grinning at Sukuna, who snorts and shakes his head. "Also, I'm a 'he', thank you very much."
"… What's a babysitter?" Sakura asks this time, exchanging a look with her fellow Yagami, before she focuses back on the present. "Whatever! I'm Sakurajima, of the gorgeous Sazansan, the most beautiful and prosperous of all colonies!"
"No, it isn't," all of the Yagami and Sukuna retort at once, deadpan in a way that speaks of old habit.
Satoru blinks, confused, mouth slightly open in a tiny grin, before he looks up at Sukuna.
"Like the volcano?"
"No 'like' to it. She's from Kagoshima."
"Oh!" Satoru exclaims, tapping his fist on his palm, before he rubs his chin in thought. "That makes sense… And now I want to try some karukan manju…"
"Hah! Take that, Dabora! I actually know what those are!" Sakura shouts, pointing at the other Yagami, whose beaked nose scrunches once more in distaste.
"You actually have karukan manju?!"
"Yes, we do!"
And Satoru turns from the gloating Sakura, her hair curling into braids of golden-flecked flame, to see Sukuna sigh.
"Yes, you can."
"Yes!" Satoru exclaims, pumping up a fist, before he reigns in on his glee to face the rest of special grades. "So, what about the rest? Where are they from? Do they have some more sweets I could try?"
"… We shall see," Sukuna answers, rolling his eyes, before he returns to his introductions, with Sakura appeased now that she has become Satoru's 'favorite', despite her first opinion of him. "Kouhai, from Mirror, the Kyoto Jujutsu High area."
And like that, Satoru's smile falls away into a sad grin.
"Ah. I think I know why it would be called that, if this is 'Origin'," he mutters, looking around at the devastated land, before the thought pops into his mind. "Oi, Kouhai, one question!"
"… Is it about food?" the curse asks, sounding almost reluctant, and Satoru frowns while Sukuna lets out a laugh.
"Not everything is about food, you know," Satoru protests, deftly ignoring Sukuna's snort. "No, it's about names, actually. Why are you called 'kouhai'? Are you the team junior?"
Sukuna doubles over, almost wheezing from how hard he's laughing, as Kouhai's tar body bubbles violently, sputters of it flying everywhere, and the other Yagami immediately jump away from it—
"'Kouhai' as in devastation!" the curse roars, spitting a volley of black tar at Satoru—
It splatters all over his Limitless, and the silence that follows is only filled with sizzling as drops of black tar fall to the ground.
"Oh, I see! That makes a lot more sense," Satoru grins, completely unbothered by the mass of acidic tar frozen right in front of his face, or the way Sukuna is slowly putting himself back together, this time wiping actual tears away from his four eyes.
"Ah, thanks for that. I had almost forgotten how amusing it is when you direct your insolence to someone else," Sukuna chuckles, offering Satoru a hand to get back to his feet.
"I was genuinely curious! With how much things have changed, maybe no one had kouhais anymore," Satoru pouts, accepting the hand and stepping away from the tar before he lets Limitless fall gently, allowing the tar to drip harmlessly into a sizzling puddle on the floor. "You just like messing with people."
"Oh, definitely. But let's finish this before night actually falls, shall we?" Sukuna hums, still in a cheerful mood, and doesn't even wait before he waves towards Monban, one of the only few who doesn't have their jaws wide open in shock. "Monban, from Seichi, the old Osaka. And yes, they have takoyaki, okonomiyaki, kitsune udon, butaman… If you want to go on a food tour, we'll go to Seichi."
"Aww, you do care," Satoru mocks, leaning forward to grin teasingly at Sukuna, who stays unfazed in his cheery mood.
"About keeping you quiet? Why, yes, I do."
"We also have rikugyo cakes," Monban supplies after a second to blink their surprise off, and Satoru and Sukuna both perk up. "They have many different fillings, most of them sweet."
"That sounds delicious," Satoru purrs, practically salivating at the thought, even if he doesn't know what a 'land fish' is.
"We delight in their taste. They are a true delicacy of our colony. If Satoru-kakka enjoys sweets, we recommend Sambuku-rikugyo—"
"Nope!"
"Absolutely not!"
Satoru stops, arms crossed into an 'X' in front of his chest, and turns to meet Sukuna's surprised expression with his own.
The Yagami stare, curious and confused. Fuwa starts to laugh.
"So, where's Angel from?" Satoru asks, ignoring the cackling curse and as unfazed as if nothing had happened, nope, not at all.
"Hiroshima," Sukuna asks in the same calm and composed tone, and Satoru nods in understanding, before grinning at the respectful small bow the demon-like curse sends his way.
"What's Hiroshima called nowadays?"
"Hiroshima."
"… Seriously?"
"Seriously."
"Well, at least it will be easy to remember."
"I am glad my colony is memorable enough in your eyes, Satoru-sama," Angel answers with a small smile, pale eyes glinting with something too soft to be mischief.
"Say, why don't you use the same honorifics as the others?" Satoru asks, noticing once more the respectful honorific that is not the dreadful '-kakka' or '-koutei' that the other Yagami seem to prefer.
"I've known Sukuna-sama for eight hundred years. I think we're over that," he explains simply, and Satoru blinks, surprised, before he grins with mischief.
"Aw, Sukuna-kun has a friend!" he chirps – and yelps when Sukuna pokes him right between the ribs, tickling him.
Satoru blames the lack of Infinity on his exhaustion, his recovery technique running at half-mast with his current empty stomach and strained mental capacity.
He needs a nap. Of about a couple days. Right now, preferably.
"I would be honored to be called such. But I am merely a subject of Sukuna-sama's domain, loyally fulfilling my duty to the colony of Hiroshima. I cannot stand at your side, Satoru-sama," Angel rumbles respectfully, bowing their head once more, and Satoru has to blink in surprise.
"There we go again, them calling me your friend," he grumbles under his breath, glaring at Sukuna, who looks more exasperated than angry at this point.
"Right. Now that we're done with that…" Fuwa interrupts, clapping his hands happily before he points at Satoru with a very sharp claw. "Who is he, really? Where did he come from?"
"Is he Origin's Yagami, Sukuna-koutei-ta?" Misutaa asks, her echoing voice drowning whatever Dabora was trying to say.
Satoru blinks, startled, and looks around.
Origin, the old Tokyo Jujutsu Tech, has been obliterated by his hand.
"I think I'm the furthest thing from a household god that I could be," he chuckles under his breath, and feels his grin straining to stay on his face.
Sukuna snorts, resting one hand on his hip once more.
"No, he's not. Everyone, this is Gojo Satoru, Special Grade—"
"Gojo?! The Strongest Vengeful Spirit, that Gojo Satoru?!" Sakura interrupts with a shriek, her flames flaring for a second as her jaw almost drops in shock, and the other Yagami all tense at her words.
"The Unlimited? We thought he was a legend," Monban comments, shifting nervously despite their previous immutability, while Dabora and Fuwa outright fluff in distress.
"An Imaginary God… There are four of us now, aren't there?" Angel muses, grinning almost happily, and that's what finally snaps Satoru out of his shock.
"Well, you aren't exactly wrong…" he grins, deciding to milk this all he can.
Being a Vengeful Spirit is far better in this world than being a human – though part of him wonders what would happen if he told them the truth.
"Don't let it get to your head, you are insufferable enough as it is," Sukuna huffs, deadpan, and Satoru has to laugh.
"Alright, I won't. Being the Strongest is enough for me, I don't need to be called a God on top of it all."
"Aren't those the same in your pea-sized brain?" Sukuna grins, and Satoru sends him a knowing grin.
"Oh? Are you telling me they aren't the same in your brain, King of Curses? Or should I call you Curse Emperor from now on?"
"It did get to your head."
Satoru chuckles, but sobers almost immediately after. There's one more question he wants to ask.
"What are you in this world, anyway? They are Yagami, each with their own colony. You have your colony too, so does that make you a Yagami?" he asks Sukuna, after gesturing briefly to the gaggle of nervous or admiring curses surrounding them.
He's especially ignoring the way Kouhai is glowing brightly, prattling about being the one to threaten 'the Unlimited' so much that he used a technique against it.
He'll show it 'Unlimited' as soon as he's had his nap. No worries there.
"It does," Sukuna answers, grinning knowingly as he too notices Kouhai's boisterous claims. "That will be fun."
"I intend to," Satoru chirps, before he tilts his head once more. "Say, what's our colony called?"
"Our?"
"I live there too. Answer the question."
Sukuna snorts, shaking his head, but meets Satoru's eyes.
"Victory."
JUJU STROLL!
Satoru is already sitting on the porch, a tray with a couple of cups and a teapot filled with human-friendly tea on a tray by his side, when Sukuna finally joins him, clean and well-rested.
Yesterday seems almost like a dream now, more so when he sees Sukuna is intact once more.
"Hey, you got your arms back!" he exclaims with a grin when the curse sits with him, earning himself a snort.
"Of course I did. It's called a power move, Satoru. By refusing to heal my side in front of the Yagami, I showed them I did not fear them."
"They obviously took the message to heart. They didn't try to 'dethrone' you even once," Satoru hums, sipping his tea while Sukuna pours himself a cup.
The sky is clear today, and almost too blue despite the scarf Satoru has wrapped around his eyes once more. So, it's no wonder he finally notices some things the barrier or the weather had kept hidden before.
Like how mountainous the area of Victory actually is. Or how forested. Or that there's a huge mountain with a hole on its side so big that its peak is practically standing on its own. Due to the distance, Satoru is not sure if there is any rock to close the 'circle', or if the arc is actually broken, leaving the peak to truly float in place. There are some 'ribs' poking out of the hole, but even so, the break is quite clean.
"That's Mount Ribcage," Sukuna hums once he notices what Satoru is staring at, and he can't help but snort.
"You curses are so original with the names."
"As if you lot were any better."
"Sure were! What was 'Mount Ribcage' called a thousand years ago?"
"Mount Fuji."
"See? A lot more – Did you just say Mount Fuji?!" Satoru exclaims, shocked out of his teasing when he processes the name, but Sukuna simply smirks and sips from his tea. "What happened? Did it blow up? Did someone blow it up? What kind of colony is there?"
"There's no colony on Mount Fuji, it was left out of them. Unlike this our Mount Kumotori."
"This is Mount Kumotori?! It used to be huge!"
"Battles, mostly. They took their toll on all colonies, changing them a lot," Sukuna explains with a dismissive shrug, and Satoru forces himself to take a deep breath.
"Visiting will be interesting then," he mutters, shaking his shock off, before he frowns back at Mount Fuji, its side gouged so violently as to befit its new name. "What happened to Mount Fuji, then? If it wasn't in a colony…"
"There are many creatures out there that require the colonies to have their Yagami. Also, only the strongest curses are—were able to cross the barriers around the colonies, so the Yagami were the ones to go out there and hunt. There's only so much space in the colonies, so many resources."
"That was a Yagami?"
"Yes," Sukuna answers calmly, finishing his tea and leaning back with a content smile as he curls his hands in the sleeves of his brown-patterned green yukata. "That was a fun day. I hope the Fuji-sama curse manifests again soon. I hadn't had such a good fight in three hundred years."
Satoru blinks, the pieces clicking together at those words, and laughs.
"A curse born of Mount Fuji itself? Count me in!"
AN: So, as promised, the theme behind series and fic names is... Digimon Adventure! Satoru is canonically a fan, and the Curse Adventure pun was too good to pass on.
Originally, this series was meant to be called Butterfly, after Kouji Wada's song, the very first Digimon opening. Which, fun fact, is actually heart-wrenching in Japanese, lyric-wise, and fits terribly well here. But once the series developed, it just didn't make sense anymore to call it just Butterfly, so I decided to go with the rest of the Digimon Adventure songs.
So, Butterfly for the first, and the rest are as follow:
I Wish: First ending
Keep On: Second ending
Brave Heart: Evolution song
On The Hill: Soundrack, from the 'Keep On' CD
And so on. Kudos to those who guessed correctly!
About the Yagami... I had to! Come on, there's a whole world out there, of course there would be more curses around. The Yagami are like what the human Special Grades are in canon: rare and powerful and all the more revered for it all.
So, a bit more about them, for those who are curious:
Sukuna and Mahoraga need no extra information. Neither does Angel (for now).
Fuwa looks a bit like Foxy, from One Piece.
Sakura is more like Shilleka, from the original Etrian Odyssey games, clothes included.
Dabora is the classic butler with the also equally classic large hooked nose.
Kouhai is as it says on the tin (and no, I didn't know his name meant destruction until I randomly ran into it, upon which I just had to).
Misutaa is the six-legged centaur-version of the Black Knight of Arthurian mythos, though I imagine her helmet being more like Hades' in God of War.
Monban is a naga (human torso and arms, snake tail) with three dragon-like heads that look more like those of shishi lions/foo dogs/Chinese guardian lions.
The new guys won't take over the show, but they'll make guest appearances, so more about them later.
Also, for those curious, this Juju Stroll is not set in chronological order. It happens after the next installment and its own Juju Stroll. You'll realize why when we get there.