Chapter 43

Kitsune had gone back to the soul space, but felt something was terribly wrong. "Are you okay?" she called to hallow of the cherry blossom tree.

But there was a fanatic pace.

The dweller of the tree was walking about anxiously. "Master… master what's wrong? Why are you upset?" she asked.

Only growls came from it, it hissed and snarled towards her. She was quite startled as Kitsune slowly backed up. "Master… this isn't like you… are you hurt? Has the boy done something wrong in your eyes?" she asked.

A deafening roar erupted!

The tree lost all its blossoms from such a sound. Kitsune however was worried, for her master has never acted like this before. "Master… please tell me what is wrong so I can fix it… are you worried that it's happening soon? I assure you, the boy is quite strong. I wouldn't train him if I didn't believe he could win!"

She tried to see its reaction, but instead she was met with the intense glare of three glowing eyes. "What has you so upset…" she whispered…

Kitsune was nearly brought to tears but left shortly after. She appeared in Yuuji's room, Itadori sound asleep for the day, he has yet to waken for anything. Despite what she just witnessed, looking down at the young man settled her for an odd reason. "Such a burden on a youth…" she muttered. Unable to stop herself, her hand skimmed over the top of his head, as she affectionately stroked his hair. "Tomorrow we will work hard and get you ready. We won't have that much time, and I hope Gojo is teaching you what you need to learn from him…"

She then sighed aloud. "I pray my master is okay… something is troubling him, and I hope it's not you…"

He moaned a little as he turned over in the bed. Kitsune smiled and left him to rest.

#

It was the crack of dawn.

Yuuji sat up in bed as he stretched himself out, he was use to seeing four arms stretched and work out the night stiffness. But this morning, he was starving! His stomach roared, demanding a feast. "Damn, I thought I ate well yesterday…" he muttered.

Venturing to the dorm kitchen, he peered into the fridge but found it full of food! No one's name was on it, so he helped himself, and would make extras for his friends today.

Eggs, rice, meat and veggies were all on the menu. He mixed them all together into a nice rice dish for the day, it would be just enough to get him started. When the others woke, they froze to him standing at the stove. "Morning…" he said as he swallowed down his mouthful. Using his lower arms, he got them a bowl and served them. "help yourselves I made lots, and if it was your food, sorry. I'll replace it."

Nobara was stunned. Fushiguro was too. "You feeling okay? You were out all day yesterday." He asked.

"Huh? I was asleep all day?" he asked curiously.

"Like a log," Nobara said as she ate her breakfast. "Damn this is good!"

"Thanks… but I was really asleep all day?" he asked once more.

They nodded. "You must be working really hard huh?"

Yuuji only laughed it off. "It's not that big of a deal…"

"You should also take time for yourself, you don't have to be so serious all the time!" Nobara demanded. "Would it kill you to take a break every few days to recover from your training? You're making us look bad!"

He froze from her outburst, only to see Fushiguro smirk. "What the hell has gotten into you?" he said.

"What do you mean? You and I both know he is working hard!"

"Still, to go out on a rant like that?"

Yuuji even laughed aloud to it all. "Thanks Nobara, but I do have to keep going. I don't have a lot of time, and I won't let that bastard win!" he stated. "Besides, I have great friends helping and supporting me through this… I can manage the training just fine, since I got something worth fighting for."

His friends fell silent, Nobara cleared a tear from her eyes as Fushiguro turned away. "You're embarrassing…" he muttered.

Yuuji smiled it off. "I better get started for today, later!" he rushed outside, it was piss pouring rain today, but, rain or shine, he has to improve his abilities. "Perhaps I will do some alone training today…" Using his four hands, he made a hand gesture. "Personal domain," he muttered.

The black orb went up and encased around him. Yuuji was on a different battlefield, one he and Gojo sensei used. He sat for a moment trying to figure out what THIS lesson was. For nearly a month, he and sensei would battle, but there was a catch. "You cannot throw a strike until you have accumulated enough curse energy from this domain"

It didn't make sense.

He wouldn't have had time to let his own energy out, yet at the same time maintaining a domain like this. So where would the curse energy come from… unless…

His eyes widened and sparkled. "I GOT IT!" he announced in victory. "I know the lesson!"

He became determined now, lowering the barrier he was about to run out and find Sensei Gojo and ask for another spar session. Yet when he did, the found the elders standing there with great confusion until he came out of the odd, black bubble.

They were startled.

Yuuji however gave then a playful wave as he rushed off. "SENSEI! I NEED YOUR HELP!" he shouted.

#

That night.

Instant.

Yuuji healed his arm instantly.

Kitsune was going at him harder today, take off his arms and then half a leg for good measures, yet as the limbs came off. Yuuji already started the regrowth process. It would become second nature to him soon enough as the limb comes off, another takes it's place.

In a matter of two hours, Yuuji regrew all four arms at least two hundred times. His legs, fifty eight. Kitsune was stunned but very pleased with his work. "You deserve a reward…" she insisted.

With a wave of her fan, she brought him to a familiar place. "Are we at the temple with the locked door?" he asked.

She nodded. "These, dear boy, are gifts and offerings for a spirit… we have their permission to eat, I have brought you here many times before to take your fill, and tonight, I invite you to do the same."

So this never was a dream either.

He did walk through the doors of the temple with ease and eat what was on the table. He graciously gave thanks for it, but at the same time, offered Kitsune her own plate. "Please, help yourself as well," he insisted.

She graciously accepted.

The two ate in silence for the most part, until Yuuji asked. "Am I seriously improving? I feel as if I haven't made any progress…"

"If that were the case, I wouldn't have continued to train you," she said in a matter of fact tone. "In fact, I would have long since abandoned you and tried to search for another way to end Sukuna…"

"Wow…" Yuuji muttered as he went for another mouthful. "You think I can do it?"

Kitsune finished her meal. "Young master, I have begun to see things, I never through I would see. The innovation you have, the ability to look at all angles and see from a different perspective is nothing less than amazing." She said. "You sir, are as cunning as a fox,"

He smiled to her comment. "Coming from you, that's a very high compliment!" he laughed.

She nodded to him. "The things you have envisioned for your battle to come, truly are inspiring. I had worried you wouldn't understand the lessons I was to impose upon you. But you have figured it out, I didn't think someone like yourself was capable of thinking out a solution."

He snickered once more. "I get that more often than you think!" he laughed.

"Still, it was wrong of me to underestimate one so young… you have done very well and have impressed me."

"Thank you Kitsune…" he said meekly.

They finished the meal. Yet, Yuuji found himself drawn to the walls once more. "Kitsune… whose spirit are they worshiping here?" he asked.

She smiled. "This is the guardian spirit of the temple, they are identified to humans as dragons," she explained. "In fact, as strange as it is for me to remember such a thing Sukuna was almost looked upon as being such a creature…"

Yuuji shuttered. "I rather be on the good side of dragons…" he said offhandedly. "So, they really exist?"

"They do, but have become extremely rare. Many have died throughout the years. Many were hunted down, others, the of lack of energy to sustain themselves, some must even rely on a vessel to survive. But those too are rare for even a dragon to find."

Yuuji nodded, but felt oddly warmth in such a place like this. He even bowed to the walls. "To whoever owns this shrine, thank you for sharing with us,"

When he turned back to Kitsune, she appeared to be on the brink of tears.