Chapter 10

The next two weeks at Jujutsu Tech flew by in a whirlwind of lectures, training exercises, and small missions for the group of first years. Each day brought new challenges and opportunities for growth.

During the lectures, Gojo would impart his vast knowledge of curses and important jujutsu techniques to the small class, captivating them with his boundless energy and charisma. But it was during the training exercises that the true magic happened.

The exercises were rigorous, but the students were all up to the challenge. Gojo had designed them with each student's strengths and weaknesses in mind, and it showed. He could spot a budding jujutsu prodigy from a mile away, and Gojo took great pride in nurturing their talents. The students were all working at their peak performance, each pushing themselves to improve.

Kagome was one such prodigy. She had a natural affinity for shikigami, talismans, and Hanten Jutsushiki, due partly to her being a duel-wielder of reiryoku and juryoku. And Gojo spent extra time honing her skills in these areas. Megumi, on the other hand, had a powerful curse technique but struggled with hand-to-hand combat. So Gojo paired her up with Nobara, who had a knack for using her hammer and nails to devastating effect.

Meanwhile, Yuji was slated to be a powerhouse, at least with the right training. He excelled in all areas requiring his boundless physical prowess. However, he was slow to harness his juryoku, which was still a new concept. Gojo had a hard time pinning down Yuji's preferred fighting style, mostly because Yuji was such a loose canon that he was quick to adapt to his surroundings. But that didn't stop him from challenging Yuji to push himself harder and try new techniques.

The two weeks had also allowed the first years to bond. Kagome and Nobara became close; they could often be found chatting about the latest fashion and pop culture trends. Yuji and Megumi also became close, motivating each other to continue pushing themselves.

Despite all the friendships to bloom, the one between Kagome and Yuji was the most interesting.

Kagome and Yuji were both hesitant toward one another. The potential for friendship was there, but they each approached it with caution.

Kagome, likely unsure due to Sukuna's interest in her, vacillated between seeking out his company and keeping her distance. Yuji, for his part, was happy to befriend Kagome, but he didn't want to come on too strong and risk scaring her off.

Despite the tentative nature of their friendship, there were moments when it flourished. When Kagome opened up to Yuji about her love of reading, he lit up with enthusiasm and shared some of his favorite tv adaptations with her. And when Yuji revealed his passion for cooking, Kagome was eager to offer him help in the kitchen.

As they spent more time together, the bond between Kagome and Yuji grew stronger. Kagome realized that Yuji was kind, supportive, and truly cared about her well-being. And Yuji came to see Kagome as someone he could rely on, even in his moments of vulnerability.

As Gojo stood at the back of his classroom, he couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions as he watched his students diligently studying and practicing their jujutsu skills. It filled him with happiness to see how much they had grown and learned under his guidance, but at the same time, it also made him feel despondent.

For Gojo, watching his students was like a constant reminder of his own past. A time when he, too, was just a young jujutsu sorcerer, full of hope and ambition. Back then, he had made friends with his fellow sorcerers. Still, those relationships had ultimately crumbled under the strain of the duties and sacrifices they were expected to fulfill.

The elders had placed so many restraints on them, making it nearly impossible for them to form genuine connections with each other, fueling any distrust that could be exploited between and because of the three families. But despite all that, Gojo still held onto the hope that things could be different for his students. He wanted to show them that being a jujutsu sorcerer didn't have to mean continuous sacrifices.

As he watched them practice, he couldn't help but feel proud of each of them. They were strong, dedicated, and full of potential. And maybe, just maybe, with his guidance, they could forge the kind of world that he never could as a young jujutsu sorcerer.

Gojo took a deep breath, feeling the weight of his responsibility as their teacher. He knew it wouldn't be easy, but he was determined to guide his students down a different path. One free of the politics and corruption passed down from the elders.

With that thought in mind, Gojo stepped forward, ready to continue teaching and molding his students into the best sorcerers they could be.

~o.O~O.o~

Kagome breathed in the crisp evening air as she walked up the steps toward the Torii gates of her family's shrine. Her heart swelled with joy as she heard the footsteps of her friends following behind her. It felt like the weight of the world had been lifted from her shoulders as she took two steps at a time, practically skipping up the steps.

The golden light from the setting sun bathed everything in a warm glow, making it feel even more magical than usual. Kagome turned around and flashed a grin at her friends, feeling the excitement bubble up inside of her.

Behind her was Gojo, Megumi, Nobara, Yuji, and even Kiyotaka- it would be rude not to invite him after he drove everyone here after the mission.

"Why are we here?" Nobara asked.

"Mrs. Higurashi invited us for dinner," Megumi informed them plainly, although there was an almost unnoticeable pep in his step. Even if he never said it, Kagome knew he enjoyed coming to the shrine, where her brother would ask to see his shikigami, showing particular attention to Megumi's divine dogs.

"I can't wait to see what Miyumi is cooking!" Gojo beamed, his grin spread wide across his face. Kagome could practically see his thoughts; he was mostly interested in the dessert.

Kagome took a deep breath and stopped at the top of the stairs, her heart racing as she gazed out at the familiar sight before her. The shrine stood tall and proud, a beacon of peace and tranquility amidst the bustling chaos of the city. And just to the right, she saw the sacred tree that had been her haven for so many years, and just beyond it, the well house that had transported her back and forth in time.

A sense of bittersweet nostalgia washed over her, filling her heart with a melancholic longing for the past. She closed her eyes and breathed in the familiar scents of the shrine, feeling the gentle breeze brush against her cheeks and the warmth of the sun on her skin. Memories flooded back to her in a dizzying rush - the feel of the wind in her hair as she ran through the forests of the Sengoku era, the sound of Inuyasha's rare laughter as they bantered and fought side by side, the warmth of her family's embrace as they welcomed her home.

And yet, it felt like a lifetime ago. So much has happened between then and now that Kagome sometimes forgot it hadn't even been a year since her last leap through the well.

"Kagome!"

Pulled from her mussing, Kagome was pulled back to the present, and just in time to catch her brother. "Sota!" She laughed as she used his momentum to spin them around.

He laughed as she set him down; he looked behind to see the three new additions to her usual group.

"Who are they, Kagome?"

"They're my classmates: Nobara Kugisaki and Yuji Itadori. And that is Kiyotaka Ijichi, the assistant director at Tokyo Jujutsu High."

"Oh," He stepped away and offered the group a bow in greeting. "My name is Sota Higurashi. Welcome to Higurashi Shrine."

Kagome beamed at her brother, who, after his small greeting, rushed to Megumi, asking to see the divine dogs.

Next, they were greeted by Kagome's grandfather; though he now leaned heavily on his cane, that didn't stop him from immediately showing everyone on a tour of the shrine at a rushed pace. Of the three newcomers, as Gojo and Megumi had already been given a tour, Yuji was the most open about his excitement, eagerly asking questions with stars in his eyes. Yuji's enthusiasm was infectious, and he was asking question after question about the history and significance of the shrine. Kagome smiled as she watched him eagerly soak up every piece of information that was shared with him.

Nobara looked around with thinly veiled interest, whereas Kiyotaka looked on with appreciation. The Jujutsu High School and the shrine shared a lot of architectural similarities. As the others were then led to her family home, located at the back of the shrine grounds, Kagome stayed back, staring at the Goshinboku.

Kagome felt a rush of emotions as she gazed at the ancient tree. It was older than the shrine itself, and she took comfort in the spiritual power emanating from its roots. She was so absorbed in her thoughts that she didn't notice Yuji standing next to her until he spoke.

"Wow, this tree is amazing! It's like a giant guarding the shrine. You can feel it everywhere."

Kagome smiled. "Yes, it's a very important symbol for my family. It's said to have been blessed by the gods themselves."

Yuji nodded, looking up at the branches that seemed to stretch toward the sky. "I can feel its power like it's alive somehow. Do you think it's possible for a tree to have a soul?"

Kagome thought about this for a moment before responding. "Well, I suppose anything is possible in this world. There are demon trees, and many people believe that all things have a soul, even objects like trees or rocks."

Yuji cocked his head to the side. "Demons? You mean cursed spirits?"

Kagome shook her head. "I mean literal demons, the ones from folktales; they exist. Cursed spirits and demons share a lot of similarities; the big difference I know of is that youkai are born, and Jurei are created from the ills and fears of humans; the other is the power in which they use. Demons use youki which is the opposite of reiryoku, and cursed spirits use juryoku just like Jujutsu sorcerers." She gave him a smile. "And of Tree youkai, I've met two."

She turned toward the house.

"You are quite interesting, my miko."

Kagome's eyes snapped back to Yuji. His hand covering his neck, from his cheek, a ruby blood-red eye opened, glinting dangerously in the sunset. Yuji looked annoyed and embarrassed, making Kagome lose her anger.

Extending her hand, Kagome offered Yuji a smile. "Come, I'm sure my mom could use some help in the kitchen."

wolfYLady: I hope everyone enjoyed the filler chapter; it's about the get dark soon. I switch between terms, so I made a list of the words I use and their meaning.

Jurei: Cursed Spirits

Noroi: Curses

Juryoku: Cursed Energy/Power

Hanten Jutsushiki: Reverse Curse Technique

Jujutsu-shi: Jujutsu Sorcerers

Youkai: Demon

Youki: Demonic Energy/Power

Daiyōkai: Great Demon

Reiryoku: Spiritual Energy/Power