Chapter 14

Junpei walked slowly back through the woods towards the campgrounds. All the while he stared at Suiryu. "Why does your voice sound so familiar to me?" he asked.

Suiryu sighed aloud. "That, I'll explain to you and the others. It's best they all hear it at once instead of me explaining it over and over again…"

The voice sent a chill down his spine, he knows he had heard it once before, briefly but he has heard it, along side the damn curse that killed him. When they arrived, Junpei froze at the sight of the others. They were talking among themselves until they took notice of him.

All of them were strange looking, and bore similar marks to each other that oozed blood. "BROTHER!" they cheered.

It was a mad dash towards him, Junpei froze until Sho stepped in front of him. "At ease, he's not too certain of us yet, give him space and time," the others paused and nodded to Sho's words.

"Ah, he is defiantly the older brother" Suiryu said and nodded his approval.

They slowly backed down, Sho stepped to the side but Choso came forward. "We understand that you are not the same brother we had before… that's okay. And… we respect that you wish to be called Junpei from this moment on. We will honor your request little one."

He gave a gracious nod to them as Suiryu called for them to gather around him. They all took a seat on the ground as he stood before them. "Now, I think before we continue, you need to know something about me." He explained. His eyes shifted to Yuuji. "He was known as the demon vessel to Sukuna, but that entity has since been evicted. He is possessed by another but it's of no concern to us…"

"Wait, he's possessed… Yuuji was…"

"Still is but by something a lot more reasonable." Suiryu explained, he paused as his sights turned to Junpei. "Now, why I sound so familiar to you. The demon sorcerer who did possess him… was where I came from… Since after all… I was part of the bastard." Suiryu took off an odd necklace. From there, his curse marks appeared before their eyes.

"Sukuna…" Eso whispered.

"Yeah, I ain't proud of that either,"

"Wait, you came from Sukuna?" asked Choso. "Then why aren't you like him?"

Once more his eyes shifted to Yuuji who was passed out. "Sukuna's defeat was by purification. Rendering him to ash, but the only way it could be done was if he had a small bit of goodness within his soul. You're looking at it,"

The brothers muttered among themselves. "I was no bigger than a grain of sand, and yet entrusted to Yuuji for care, just as you were. So we are brothers in that aspect."

Junpei appeared to struggle as he tried to understand the explanation, but didn't it to say the least. "Wait, how did we…"

"Your soul lingered in the school where you were killed." Suiryu stated. "I was able to gather your essence, and then bring you to a being that could ready your soul for a rebirth. This was the use of an unused jujutsu created and yet abandoned by Sukuna himself. However, I wished to see if it had value, as well… we do need all the help we can get."

"I've been meaning to question this, what exactly are we to help you with?" Sho demanded. "I will not risk the lives of my family for a cause we do not believe in!"

"Rightfully so," Suiryu replied. He then told them of Sukuna's fifth hand, five sorcerers who have probably reached his level by now. They have been growing in strength and one is amassing an army by making cursed objects with his own fingers and feeding them to the creatures to make them stronger. "Their army would consist of over 500,000 strong if my calculations are correct. The problem is, the sorcerers I am training, could handle a few at the most on their own… we're vastly out numbered and thus why I turn to you for help."

"What makes you think we're strong enough to?" Junpei asked. "I died against a special grade curse, he transfigured me into a monster…"

"Brother…" he heard Eso whisper.

Suiryu however bared no sympathy for him. "Even so, you are not the same you were before. And if you allow me, I wish to train you all on your curse abilities, since you are brothers, this connects you all in a sense. I wish to see if my theory is correct and then, we can have you all fight as one… those who stand against you will never know what hit them!" he decreed.

They appeared interested, but others remain skeptical. "We were used once before," Choso said. "I won't be used again. My brothers died once before too," he said.

Eso agreed. "We went up against jujutsu sorcerers before… it didn't end well. For that matter, I don't understand why I was brought back to life?" He paused oddly as his gazed shifted to Yuuji. "I died by his hands…"

"It was a misunderstanding brother!" Choso insisted.

Suiryu smirked. "The reasons for your rebirths are not well known to me either. But there must be a reason. Perhaps there was potential in you, and perhaps even virtuousness, for you offered mercy to the sorcerer who confronted you along with Yuuji. Giving her the chance to walk away from a fight, despite the fact she was duty bound to stop you no matter what. No curse I know would have done that. As well, if we only brought a few of you back, you would have wanted your brothers at your side. Family shouldn't be separated."

Eso turned to Choso who turned back to him. "I wish to speak with my siblings without your presence." Choso announced.

Suiryu nodded as he respected their choice. "Very well, I am going to depart and get some supplies, please, speak among yourselves about this." With that, he ran off, but wondered if they would cooperate…

#

Choso waited for him to be gone, when he felt safe to speak, he turned to his brothers. At first, he admired how they were all together, finally as a family, the way they should be. But still, this event is replaying in his mind from what occurred the last time. He stood from the ground before his siblings. "I wish to tell you what happened the last time we were given a 'choice' in a sense" he said.

He explained to those who weren't given a body before of the events, how they would be promised to live in a new world freely as long as they helped the cause at hand. "We fell for the lie of the curses, I feel this is the same lie,"

They looked to each other with great uncertainty, however Choso paused as he saw Eso deep in thought. "Younger brother… I didn't listen to you the last time, and it got you and the youngest killed… I wish I had back then. I want to do so now. Your intuition was the best on the matter. What say you?"

All eyes turned to Eso. He appeared to think it through but sighed aloud. "I don't believe we are being used this time, this is a sincere request for help." He said. "I don't quite know what is in it for us, but, at the same time. We were brought back for this reason. I worry though for the consequences if we refuse. I doubt the fight would even be in our favor considering who we would be going against…"

Choso nodded in agreement as he turned back to Yuuji who was still passed out. "I have memories of him, I fought him and he me… he also was the one who helped take you and little brother down, but he too was tricked like we were." Choso paused. "Eso. With that in mind, and I wish to respect your opinion on the matter. Is there a reason why we should help him when he caused your death the last time?"

Eso went oddly silent. He sighed aloud when he said. "He saw my face the moment little Kechizu was killed." He paused as a tear trickled down his cheek. "He saw me mourn him… and for a moment, I saw him mourn with me… he felt sad for what he did since he knew he was my brother. He even said he was sorry just before he took my life."

There was a pause, even Junpei was affected by the story.

"Yuuji also saved my life once before in battle, when I recognized him as a brother…" Choso paused oddly, then turned to Junpei. "Little one…" he said gently. He jumped when he was called. "What do you think?"

He looked to their faces, Junpei was rather shy but then looked to Yuuji. "I knew Yuuji for a short while… but, in that time, he became a friend to me when I had none. Even after I betrayed him and took the word of a curse over his, he still wanted to help me, he wanted to help avenge my human mother. I was led to believe it was another who caused her death, when in reality, it was Mahito…"

Choso froze, as did Eso.

"He was the one who gave us our bodies the last time," Eso whispered. "He was part of the curses who told us to fight for their cause, and yet… when we did, they didn't do anything to help us when we were in need!"

"He killed me once before, I won't let him do it again," Junpei said. He sighed aloud as he looked to the brothers. "I may not know you well, and you don't know me either, but… Yuuji is a friend who would drop everything to help you. I rather have him at my side than to be fighting against him."

Choso paused to his words, but he nodded in agreement. "He's a strong brother to have…"

"But we are going to fight a war we know nothing about?" demanded Sho.

"Yes, that is the situation…"

"If it wasn't serious, he wouldn't ask for our help," said Junpei. "I will say this, even if none of you wish to go to war, I will, to support Yuuji. I owe it to him, at the very least to answer his request!" he stated.

There came a look among them, even Eso smiled to the decree. "If little brother wishes to fight this battle, then so shall I."

"I will as well," Choso stated. "Yuuji does defend those who are close to him, he fights with such passion to keep them safe… I will do the same!"

They began to agree with the notion, but Junpei stopped their call to arms. "Wait, you can't agree to fight in a war you don't believe in!" he protested. "I owe it to Yuuji, you don't!"

"No, but you are our sibling, and we are your seniors. It's our job to keep you safe!" Sho stated. "Besides, you speak such truth, and perhaps… a little battle will do us all good. We've been cooped up for over 100 years, it's about time we see what we can do!"

The brothers turned to each other and gave a nod in agreement.

Just as Suiryu returned…

#

Is arms were full of food and supplies. Suiryu was quick to place them away before he rejoined the brothers. "Am I safe to assume a decision has been made?" he asked.

The eldest stood up. Sho's arms crossed, but then his glare came upon Suiryu. "We're not fodder are we?" he demanded.

Suiryu smirked before he began to laugh. His laugh… Junpei was startled by it, since he remembered that too. It was an evil one that could send a chill down his spine! But he settled himself. "Oh, I needed that… no," Suiryu said as he calmed himself down. "When this was all happening, I ensured brother ate nothing but special grade curses to guarantee your bodies were made of the same material. Also take into factor, Yuuji, who has absorbed all of Sukuna's power for himself. It will boost yours quite a bit…"

"What does Yuuji eating curses have to do with us?" Junpei asked.

The wicked smile came over Suiryu once more. "Because, you came from him. Transfiguration reincarnation was a curse ability Sukuna developed but abandoned due to what was needed and how the process occurred. The bastard was a vain fool to say the least. Yuuji took in your souls, from there he ate nothing but curses and used their bodies to construct yours inside of him. When there was enough material, you were rejected out and took form."

It was a fancy way of saying Yuuji was cursed pregnant in Junpei's mind.

He shuttered at the thought, but the others were stunned. "He did that for us?" asked Choso.

"Yes, well… he didn't know he was doing this, so it's going to be quite a surprise when he wakes up." He snickered. "Besides that, this is where you will be living for the time being. I will train you all up on your abilities, from there, we will go to war."

They appeared to be on board for it, Suiryu dismissed the brothers and insisted that they pick out rooms for themselves. Some changes would be needed for the bigger ones but it will happen in due time.

The only one who didn't leave just yet was Junpei, he tried to figure out why he was brought back. Why he was there in the first place. "You need the most help out of them all." He heard Suiryu state.

"I know…"

"Not for what you think either," Suiryu said, his eyes bore down at him oddly. "You are too scared to face the world now for what had happened to you, you are terrified of transfiguration…"

He was startled by his words, he knew that… just by speaking with him? "How…"

"Doesn't matter how, what matters is this. I cannot have weakness when we go to war."

Junpei wanted to speak, but was unable to. "You need a lot of help," he said bluntly. "And the training I am going to put you through is going to be hell,"

Junpei paused. "Training… you're really going to train me?" he asked.

"Yes, you fail to see how important you are to the others. And at the moment, you are the weak link. I cannot afford to have this in battle, so I will be focused more on you than the others."

Junpei appeared startled. "What… what makes you say I am weak?" he asked.

Suiryu sighed, he approached and grabbed Junpei's arm. Suddenly, the arm began to change, transfiguration was happening! "AH… AH… AHHHHHHH!" he shrieked.

The scream brought his brothers out instantly. "Little one!" Eso called, but saw the transfiguration. His glare came upon Suiryu as he went for a punch, but it was easily caught. The sound barrier broke from the strike, but Suiryu didn't even flinch from the powerful blow!

"That's why," Suiryu stated as he turned his arm back to normal.

Junpei collapsed to the ground as he clenched the arm that was transfigured.

"What are you doing to him?" Eso demanded.

"I am merely showing him his faults… he was transfigured by a special grade curse before his last death, it haunts him still. Which is why I am going to help him confront his fear. It will not be easy, but it must be done." He said sternly.

Eso however glared at Suiryu before he turned to Junpei his look instantly softened as he peered into Junpei's eyes. "Little one, you do not have to do this if you don't want to, I'll keep you safe, I promise!" he vowed.

Despite his well intentions, Junpei didn't feel all that more safe around Eso. Especially when they wear so little and looked more like a male stripper than anything else!

But Junpei looked back at Yuuji and then shook his head to Eso. "I have to learn to protect myself, thank you for your offer though." He said gently.

But his glare refused to lower as he turned to Suiryu once more. "You will not be too rough with him, understood!" he warned.

Suiryu nodded. "I will start slow, but I will increase his training when necessary."

Eso slowly backed off as he had to call off the others. Suiryu turned back to Junpei. "What did you notice there?"

He peered over as he saw the others slowly leave, but they kept looking back at him. "They… would drop everything to help me…" he whispered. "I… I didn't realize they were truly that close to each other."

"Now, you are part of that connection. If something happens to you in battle, and there will be one. I cannot have them break formation to save you out of concern. Understood?"

Junpei nodded. "I understand," he said meekly.

"I will keep my word though, we start small. Tomorrow, I will transfigure your hand, you are going to turn it back… or repel me all together. We will continue this until you do either or, then we will do an arm… then the other arm… then legs… then I will transfigure your whole body"

Junpei was scared of it all. "BUT, that is if you allow it to happen. You need to build up a resistance to it, and it can be done. Power is one thing. A strong soul is another. It needs to be unbreakable!"

"What will happen… if I am able to repel a transfiguration?" he asked.

Suiryu smirked. "You won't be afraid of it anymore, and then, when that is done… I will properly train you on your curse ability. Your brothers all are unique but share certain traits, we need to figure out what yours is since you have a little bit of their former younger brother in you, but at the same time, I don't know what transfiguration reincarnation does. That's going to be half the fun," his smile wasn't very reassuring in his mind.

He felt more determined than before, Junpei then nodded in agreement to it all. "Okay," he said. "I'll work hard to become stronger and not be a burden!" he vowed.

"Good, now, go pick out a room. We're going to be here a while…" Suiryu paused as he heard a phone go off. He sighed and approached Yuuji as it was his phone going off in his pocket. The moment he took it from him and saw the number he sneered.

"Fuck," he muttered.

"What is it?"

"His sensei is calling to check up on him. I told him and the school we were doing special training, just the two of us… shit, he's out like a light…" Suiryu sighed aloud, he turned to Junpei and said. "Don't tell him this…" he reached over and gently touched Yuuji's arms. From there, it appeared Suiryu was taking Yuuji's form from the neck up, and Yuuji was taking his…