Chapter 17

It was strange.

As Yuuji slept, he kept hearing the sound of purifying bells. He has heard them before at the shrines his grandfather use to take him to, the Kagura-suzu that the temple maidens would shake to scare off the evil spirits of the temple and purify the alter. He kept hearing them in his sleep, and each time he did, his body fell into a relaxed state. His mind a blur as a comfortable numbness came over him. Perhaps he was just over thinking it too. He has been through a lot in the past twenty-four hours. His ears may just be playing tricks on him

He woke the next morning, the only problem was he was bounded to the bed in thick rope covered in talismans. "Eh…" he said with a sigh. "This again…"

Yet as he lay there he tired to peer in front of him but froze at the sight. Sitting on his chest was a white fox with red markings! "Huh?" he said in confusion. "UH SOMEONE… LITTLE HELP?" he called.

No one answered him, he sighed aloud. "Great, I am going to get mauled or rabies now… Look, do whatever the hell you are here to do okay…" he muttered.

The fox continued to stare at him curiously, until it raised a single paw.

He braced for the scratch, but suddenly, felt the bonds sever. The ropes that tied him to the bed… were cut clean! "Wait… you did that?!" yet the creature was gone. "Weird… but then again, I shouldn't be too surprised by this should I?" he said to himself.

He sat up in bed just as his door opened. "We have bounded him in rope and talismans, all of them are high grade…" then froze. Principal Yaga stared at him as the elders froze to see the 'demon vessel' sitting up in bed.

"Hi…" he said meekly and waved. "Or…" He reached for the lower limp arm and used it to wave hi to be funny.

No one laughed.

"How did you…"

"Oh… the rope? That wasn't me,"

"Gojo…"

"Wasn't him either. It was weird, there was a fox in my room!" Yuuji explained. But no one believed him of course. Despite his innocent tone of voice, no one took him seriously he was who he said he is. After all, the extra arms were not helping the situation to say the least.

"Bind him up again and bring him to the room!" one elder ordered.

Yaga sighed and complied. He took the severed rope and used it to bound Yuuji once more by the hands. He tied both sets behind his back as he led him out of the room. "Principal… what's going to happen to me?" he whispered.

But he said nothing.

Perhaps he knew, or maybe he didn't. Yuuji was in the dark to it all.

#

He sat in the center, surrounded by a purifying circle and kept in the rope bonds. The elders stared at him with great malice to say the least, but there was a strange look in their eyes too. "Had it been Sukuna, he would have slaughtered us all in our sleep, instead, he broke free that night only to raid the facility kitchen…" said one.

"Indeed, but the fact he broke free from the talismans that covered his door…" said another.

Back and forth they bickered and wondered, Yuuji was getting tired of it all. "Uh… I hate to ask… but can I get something to eat?" he requested gently.

The elders paused. "You are on trial right now, boy. Food should be the last thing on your mind!"

"Yeah, but, I don't know how long you are going to argue this… I didn't eat at all yesterday… I ate what I could last night, but now… I'm hungry… please?" he asked again.

"I'll bring him something," sighed Principal Yaga.

He used one of his cursed dolls to fetch some food, the same doll was used to feed him gently as they continued the debate.

It was strange though, every time he ate, he could smell something just as good. It was savory and sweet all at once, yet he was eating an unagi rice bowl.

He finished the meal rather quickly, and it was four bowls worth of food. However the smell didn't leave the room, he tried to pin point it, but then realized it came off the curse doll. 'Why does that smell good? Do I even really want to know the answer to that…' he thought.

"BOY!"

He jumped. The elders were staring at him oddly now. "Tell us, what do you sense inside yourself now?" one asked and held up a strange pendent.

He paused, Itadori then meditated, trying to see if there were any aspects of this demon within his body. But there was nothing, not even the subspace where he resided. "I feel no presence of him." He said meekly. "It's like he got up and vanished… but left his stuff here…"

The other who held up the pended nodded. "He's not lying."

"Stuff?" one elder demanded.

"Well… look at me," he said gently and then gave a short smile. "You think I want to wake up looking like this? I mean, what am I now?" he asked.

"He has no use of the lower arms, however, I noticed the marks on him are gone and not entrenched into his skin. Does anyone else see that…"

"Then why does he have Sukuna's curse energy? It's weak, I know, but still, it resides in him." Stated Yoshinobu.

The room fell into a state of muttering.

Then Yuuji felt someone lean on him oddly. "Well, I am surprised no one has noticed that before."

"Sensei!" he cheered.

"Damn it Gojo!"

He stepped out in front of the elders and explained. "You just don't care to admit that Yua was right about something!" he stated. "Now, I do know one thing. He needs to pay his respects to her before she passes on. So I am going to borrow him, you keep talking about nothing and until you decide something reasonable… We'll return!"

It was like a flash.

Yuuji gasped as his sensei did such an amazing feat in a few seconds. His ropes were already taken off as they stood in the medical ward. Yuuji paused as he almost felt he couldn't bring himself to go in. However, Sensei Gojo helped him along and pushed him into the room.

He froze.

Yua Tooru was gasping for air, her body fell into a state of decay, making her appear old, weak and malnourished. "Sensei Tooru…" he whispered.

It brought a smile to her lips. "You give… me the honor… to be called Sensei… wow…" she said weakly.

He took a closer look at her, but wondered why the center of her forehead was dented in oddly. "Sensei… thank you for what you did… Although… I don't really know what it did…" he said and smiled.

With what strength she had, she grabbed his lower demonic right arm. "Yuuji Itadori…" she said. "I… placed and… even greater burden… on you… than before…" she paused to gasp for air. "Your sensei… will guide you… it will be scary at… at… first…" she said and began losing her breath.

"Please, say no more." Yuuji begged. "As long as I am rid of Sukuna, I don't care what is ahead of me. I am still alive to face it!" he said with great passion.

She smiled once more. "Thank the divine I found you…" she whispered.

Her hand slipped away from his. Her eyes suddenly closed, the heart monitor went flat as Yuuji was brought to tears. "Good-bye Sensei Tooru."