Chapter 16

It happened so fast.

Yuuji didn't have time to react as Sukuna took over. He couldn't stop him, and worst still, when his full power was achieved, Yuuji felt first hand how outclassed he was. He fell into the subspace the demon created, he blacked out from the switch, only to awaken trapped. His body was melding into the malevolent shrine Sukuna is known for. His arms and legs trapped, he couldn't break free or budge from where he stood!

He managed to briefly, somehow regain control to get the others to end him. But that was when he felt the strike.

It knocked him and Sukuna into the subspace, which startled the demon. "I haven't finished turning into my true form yet! What the hell is this!" he demanded.

He turned to Yuuji who smiled. "Not getting your way huh?"

But the demon smirked. "It's just a matter of time, it will pass…" then the ground trembled. "What the fuck…"

Once more it shook. Yuuji felt it resonate through the structure he was bounded to, until…

He went flying!

Something smashed the structure in a single strike, freeing him from it! He stumbled but got to his feet once more.

The sight however was just as startling.

They were surrounded in white fire! Everything burned by the touch of it, Sukuna sneered to it all. "I thought for certain I was rid of the likes of you…" he said to the flame. "Still too weak to take form aren't you?"

But there was a concern in his eyes as he turned to Yuuji. He had never seen Sukuna appear concerned before, let alone bothered by this fire that slowly consumed everything around it. "Boy, bond with me!" he ordered. "Bond with me now, and I will accept any and all conditions you may have, just make it quick" he demanded.

Yuuji however kept keeping his distance from him, he could feel the heat of the fire growing around him. "No," he said defiantly. "I refuse to allow you to live in this world a moment longer, and if it means I die, so be it. I won't let you take another life!" he protested.

"This fire is not what it appear to be, are you that stupid?" Sukuna demanded. "You will never survive these flames alone, now, bond with me boy"

Once more he refused, shaking his head. "I rather take my chances with the fire."

Sukuna sneered, just as the flames altered and began to take form. Yuuji turned and froze as he was snapped up into flaming jaws and vanished into it!

"Stupid boy…" he hissed and glared at the blaze. "You think this is done and over with don't you!" he shouted to the blaze, but smiled as it began to spread and draw near. He made a jujutsu symbol with his hands. "This isn't the end, I call for a trial of body and soul!" he shouted as the fire began to consume the demonic sorcerer. But he laughed. "See you in a year… boy," His laughter echoed as he was reduced to ashes…

#

The barrier held up.

Despite the attempts of the elders, it kept up and around Yuuji's body. Gojo appeared to watch with interest as the energy fluxed and changed drastically in a matter of minutes. Then, something began to happen.

The demon energy that made the barrier was pulled in, and then, drawn into the body of Yuuji! He gasped for a moment, yet still he lay on the ground rather quiet.

"KILL HIM" the elder shouted.

Gojo however approached. Playfully he leaned over as the eyes fluttered open. "Are you our Yuuji Itadori?" he asked and nudged him with his foot.

He smiled. "Sensei… I can't move…" he whispered weakly.

"I figured as much, but are you okay?" he asked.

"Yeah… he's not there anymore…"

"What, this is impossible, that has to be Sukuna! KILL HIM!"

However Aoi went over, he peered down at Yuuji and asked. "What kind of women are you into?" much to the cringe of his classmates.

"Tall, big butt… Jennifer Lawrence…" he said.

Aoi nodded his approval, but still appeared concerned. "He has Sukuna's extra arms, but the markings are gone…" he whispered to Gojo.

"Indeed, he does, but this all happened suddenly, let's get him to bed…"

"We are going to finish what was started!" the elder protested.

"You do that and it's divine punishment!" warned Yua. Fushiguro helped her up, she smiled to the elders and said. "I told you… there was a way to help him. The guardian my family protected has been released from my care… and is now under the care of Yuuji Itadori. Anyone who cause harm to him… will be severely punished."

"You cannot prove to us that is the real boy or if it's the demon. He looks like the demon! And you child, speak utter nonsense!"

They turned to try and determine if what laid on the ground was indeed Yuuji, only to find he disappeared. Gojo then suddenly appeared on the other side of the circle with the elders. "I put him to bed," he said proudly. "Let him rest and we go from there."

It wasn't that simple to say the least. No one knew what was real anymore, and they made certain to seal off his room to be safe than sorry…

#

His eyes fluttered open.

Yuuji at first was confused as he looked about and found himself in his room. "Huh?" he muttered to himself, he tried to sit up, but that alone became a task. Yet as he did, he jumped to the sight of the other set of arms that came from his sides! "What the hell!" he said and tried to move them, but they refused to respond. The limbs appeared to be dead and useless. "What… what happened… I thought I… and then…. But that thing…" he tried to make sense of it all, the more he thought about it the greater his head hurt and the fuzzier his memory became. "I don't remember anything…"

But his stomach roared, he needed food.

Mustering his strength, he got himself up off the bed and approached the door. It was locked for an odd reason. Yet with a little strength, it tore off the hinges! "I'll fix it later…" he muttered and wondered his way down to the staff cafeteria.

It was the dead of night, and no one saw him. For a strange reason though, he could see really well in the dark, as if it were board daylight! Either way, food was on his mind.

He wondered in and opened the fridges, inside was a bounty and he began to indulge himself. Everything tasted sweeter, better and more savory in his mind. More and more he shoved into his mouth until finally, he felt satisfied! Clearing away the crumbs he closed the door and turned to find Sensei Gojo there!

"Sensei!" he said in a startled tone. "Sorry… I needed something to eat and I got hungry…"

But he was pulled into his arms!

"You did it," he whispered proudly. "Look at you, you did it!"

"Huh? Sensei… I look like him still!"

He was looked over by his teacher and nodded. "Yes, you do… a little"

"Why?" he asked. "I mean, I don't feel or sense him anymore… but that curse energy… I still feel in me!"

"Oh?" he asked curiously. "Go on…"

"It… it feels like just after I ate the finger for the first time, and then a wave of his power when it came back in full… I still feel that… But it's fading" he explained. "Why?"

Gojo sensei smiled. "You said so yourself, Sukuna is gone, what remains is perhaps reminisce… or even your own curse energy!"

Confusion came over his face. The familiar blank stare that his teacher was use to seeing when he gets confused just made him laugh aloud. "You are our Yuuji!" he said proudly as he put his arm around him. "But I think it's best you rest up, that was a long day and it's not going to be over any time soon, understood?"

He nodded meekly. "Sensei… what happened? I don't remember anything…"

Gojo paused as he considered his words carefully. "Well… it's best I tell you tomorrow, you'll sleep better."

"Okay…" he was helped back to his room and into bed, yet before going to sleep he stared at the lower arms he now possessed. He picked one up and it dropped like a wet towel onto his the mattress. He felt nothing in the limb. "Maybe they can remove these…" he muttered.

The meal was catching up to him. With a massive yawn he stretched himself out and fell asleep.