Chapter 20

Suiryu was taken aback by it all.

He had brought Yua to meet the curse wombs and yet the moment she arrived, it appeared they pulled out all the stops. Tea, snacks and a comfy place to sit were offered after the brothers introduced themselves. When she sat down she peered at the nine of them with great curiosity. "Thank you for your hospitality, you didn't have to…" she insisted.

"No, we did," Choso said as he presented her with a tattered book.

Yua paused to it. "Isn't that…"

"The notes of a mad man… the very one who tormented our mother. You kept the originals… well… your ancestor did and passed it down to you, didn't they? Gojo allowed us to read the book to know what had happened, where we came from and… partly why we were created. We pretty much knew already, but at the same time, to know for sure about our origins…" Choso explained.

The brothers all nodded. "Your family… tried to help our mother. We found notes from your ancestor who was trying to keep tabs on Kamo… Kenjaku, but had no idea he was hiding something worst. When they finally found our mother… she was barely alive, I doubt she wanted to be alive after what she went through." Said Sho. "We are more or less grateful either way, your family at least tried, where the sorcerers turned a blind eye to it all."

She nodded, Yua then noticed Junpei oddly enough. "I don't mean to be rude, but he sticks out to me a lot more than you guys do… in fact… he's almost like a half brother isn't he?"

They were stunned, Suiryu was impressed as well that she picked up on that. "Yeah, actually. I was a friend of Yuuji's…" Junpei began to explain.

"Right I remember, you died after being transfigured by Mahito right?"

The room paused.

"How do you know that?" Suiryu asked. "You didn't even know about Junpei until now, but you pegged how he died and who did it!"

She smiled awkwardly. "I got some of your memories too, I mean… if this transfiguration reincarnation thing worked like that, I am sure some of you has rubbed off on me. Just like the brothers here. I can sense a little Yuuji in each of them."

Suiryu paused as he looked over the brothers. She wasn't wrong!

"So this is the power of a Tooru huh?" he snickered.

"Well, I wouldn't say that. My family just has the ability to look beyond what is before them. After all, it's how I got to know you, right?" she asked offhandedly.

Suiryu smirked and nodded to that. "I thought I would introduce you to everyone as best as I could. The brothers are great. Choso has been doing a lot of babysitting when it comes to Yuuji in his dragon state."

"He does seem like a natural nurturer." She said and smiled. "I can tell by his voice and his body language, you're not aggressive unless someone is coming after your family, you are quite level headed. But at the same time you can be blinded by your love for your brothers."

No one moved.

Not a soul did, as Choso himself was rendered silent, his mouth even dropped open a little in shock. "How…"

"She's a Tooru," Suiryu said and sighed. "I am certain the moment she gets to know you, she will know EVERYTHING about you."

He looked over at the brothers, Choso's shocked face vanished, and was replaced with a small grin. "She points out the better aspects of a person than their flaws… rather remarkable considering all others would merely be pointing out my short comings, my brothers and I are part curse." He explained to her.

Yua nodded. "That doesn't matter to me." She said gently. "In fact, I think you nine act more human than humans themselves. Also, a curse wouldn't really care about anyone but themselves. I know there are a few exceptions to this rule, but it's true. You guys are good in my books. Anyone who is willing to look after someone in a time of need without asking for anything in return… it's a rarity now a days."

"I see why little brother was so happy to see you have returned." Choso said.

Yua however looked a little upset on the notion. "He went through hell again because of me." She had to peer away for a moment. "I never wanted Itadori to go through what he did… and yet… how did he do so with a smile on his face?"

"If you find out, let me know," said Suiryu. "I've been around him and still can't figure out how he does half the shit he does."

"No argument," called the brothers. "Seriously, Itadori is someone amazing." Chimed Junpei.

#

Meanwhile…

They walked side by side in silence.

Muta peered over to Miwa but couldn't bring himself to say anything. After all, he had confessed his love for her just before he died. How the hell does he expect someone like her to respond to that? Not to mention, just recently come back from the dead!

She kept looking to him as her face flushed with red. Was there something on her mind too?

"Miwa/Mechamaru…" they said at the same time, but once more fell into silence as they appeared to wish to speak at the same time.

"You first," he said meekly. "I know… you probably have a lot of questions and…" he was quickly silenced as her lips came upon his. He never pulled away, in fact, he pulled her in closer to ensure it lasted longer. When they finally parted, she smiled to him.

"You meant every word, didn't you?" she asked.

He nodded. "I… never thought I would be worthy of you since… I couldn't really do much of anything…"

She nodded. "I should have visited you when you were… when we were… I shouldn't have just spoken to your robot…"

He smirked a little, she appeared flustered, perhaps she remembers the time she offered him a battery instead of a chocolate, despite the suggestion from the other girls. He knew she didn't know any better, but… perhaps that was their way of trying to include him into the conversation.

That, and he really had no way of retaliating against them!

"I meant every word that I said to you… and I don't blame you for not seeing me. I was a miserable bastard…"

Students knew he was in a bad state, but not many knew how bad it really was. His body to frail that the moonlight would even burn his flesh. He had no legs, one arm and was covered in bandages and forced to live in a medicated bath, just to ensure his body could function.

He wondered why no one at the school, not a single teacher, councilman or elder would offer to help him, to try and find a way that he could live a normal life. In the end, it was that which led him to making an agreement with the curse spirits. To obtain a body that worked even if it was for but a moment.

"There is still a lot I need to make up for. Perhaps, this is my opportunity to do so." He said to her gently. "At the same time, I don't really know why I was brought back either. I have more techniques than I did before, and yet…" he paused to it.

Miwa smiled a little more. "Um… would it be okay if… if we get stronger together? I still have much to learn and… I'm not very powerful to begin with…"

"But you are strong." He said. "I know you became a jujutsu sorcerer to provide a better life for your siblings and family. That in itself is can only be accomplished by a strong person. Being a sorcerer is no easy task, as you already know… the world is always against you despite doing what you can to protect it from the unseen threats…"

He paused for a moment. He forced a small smile. "Perhaps that's why…" he whispered.

"What is?"

"Why we have been brought back. If you look at it, we all died in battle. That Toji guy I have no idea who he is or why he's here. But everyone else, if you look at it. Yua sacrificed herself to save Itadori, Nanami died during the Shibuya incident, trying to help those around him… I died before the shit hit the fan on that… Still, we experience different deaths. Perhaps, having lost our lives once already, we know and understand how important it is for no one else to parish in the battle against these curses… losses will happen, but we aren't going to blindly throw those capable in without knowing all the risks."

She nodded. But that cute smile broke out once more.

"I look forward to seeing what you do from now on!" she said, as her arms laced into his. "And I'll be beside you as well, if you will have me?"

His heart was racing in his chest now. Muta stammered over his words but could only bring himself to nod his head.