Chapter 21

"Open up… ahhh"

"Stop it Satoru…"

Gojo thought it would be funny to feed Yua, then again, he's been treating her like a toddler doing so! "Here comes the airplane…"

"For gods sake, you immature jackass, let her eat with dignity" Sukuna growled.

Gojo paused as he saw him glaring. It didn't help that Chusi was also glaring at him. "Really, she married you?"

"I question that every day, granted, he is strong, but not in the head at times."

"HEY!" Gojo protested. He turned back to Yua but found she was gone!

Peering up, she was in the arms of Suiryu. "Seriously? Your own wife?" he muttered. "Please excuse me, I am going to make sure Yua has a proper meal… and is fed properly" he said and took her from the table.

"I was feeding her!" Gojo protested.

"You really are insane aren't you?" Chusi asked curiously. "Still… odd… Hmm…" she pondered for a moment. "Let's see…" she suddenly reached over and grabbed Gojo's arm. He felt something but then she pulled back and merely nodded her head. "Ah, the limitless technique from one of the three great families… I never though I would obtain that…"

"Obtain?" Gojo whispered.

"Part of her curse technique. But that's all I am going to say… it's more fun when you see it in action," teased Sukuna.

Gojo paused but didn't push it any farther. Instead, he observed Chusi for a while. Noticing the curse energy around her was changing, before she wasn't absorbing or creating her own. But now she did ever since her hand came upon his arm. He's never seen anything like it before.

"Are you done staring?" she asked.

"You can tell that I was through the blindfold?"

"It's not that hard to not notice." She muttered. "I'll answer your questions later, but right now I am really enjoying this meal…" she took her time savoring today's lunch. Junpei was in the kitchen today with some of the students who wanted to get their skills up. But as she ate, she paused. "How come you haven't cooked yet?" she asked of Sukuna.

Gojo paused, but then smirked. "You… cook!?" he snickered.

"What part of my technique didn't you understand?" Sukuna snapped back. "Dismantle, cleaver, they are methods in cutting and preparing meats and other ingredients…" he muttered. "Never really saw it like that, but…" yet paused once more. "And I have cooked! I made your dinners a few times, remember!"

"You're a fantastic cook!" Chusi replied. "I know, since I had come of it when you and I were together… best beef short ribs I could ever eat."

Gojo snickered now. "So we should let you in the kitchen every so often then too huh? About time you earn your keep."

"I'm being kept as a PET!" he snapped back at him.

"A pet that does amazing tricks… and apparently can cook."

"Satoru is it?" Chizu asked. "Why not leave it be for the moment, Ryomen has been through a lot."

He paused but smirked. "HE has been through a lot? I don't doubt that, but HIS actions have caused so much DEATH that it can't be overlooked."

Sukuna was silent. "He's not wrong," he said meekly to her.

"Ryomen… it… wasn't… YOU" she snapped back. "Quite frankly I don't think Satoru understand what you go through on a regular bases either. You ought to be more open minded." She scolded him.

Gojo, sat there in confusion. "I am the most opened minded sorcerer there was back at the school. I made sure Itadori wasn't killed after becoming YOUR vessel" he said and directed the last part of his comment towards Sukuna.

"Once more, he's not wrong," Sukuna said with a tired sigh. "Perhaps it's best to not speak of this any more…"

"Oh, we're not done talking about this, I ASSURE you" Gojo said and grinned. "Your soon to be wife ought to know what you have done, before she makes any sort of commitment…"

SLAM.

He jumped as Chusi slammed her chopsticks on the table, it was loud enough to silence the communal eating area. "Satoru Gojo," she said in a calm and yet, angry voice. "I know everything he has done since my death. I saw him devour my brother when he became corrupted. And remember how one becomes such a thing. He was cursed to become one. Second, I am more than aware that one of his legions, the moment he finished off my brother, struck me in the back of my head and prepared me into a feast for him. He ate every inch of my body without hesitation and picked the bones clean. Third, I wasn't the only Tooru he did that too, all those who had come after me, those who had encountered him. They were consumed. I am MORE than aware of that. My family is as well. There is no need to add salt on to the wounds of a man who is already bleeding out!" she snapped back.

Gojo froze. "If you know, then why…"

"Because my family knew who he was before this happened to him!" she snapped back at him. "I pray it never happens to you, for the first person you would turn on is Yua. Corrupt sorcerers always go after those who made their lives bearable, those who cared for them, since they no longer needed that connection, nor that kinship. When I was dead, I have spoken with those who had died at his hands. Many did so gladly, for they… we never cursed him upon our deaths. We died for something, to keep that little bit of him that we knew alive."

"By being eaten by him?" Gojo asked without doubt in his voice.

"Yes," she said. "When we are killed, and we don't curse him, we connected to that aspect of him that still remained. Despite becoming what he turned into, there is always that little bit of you that remains, that wants to remember their human life for it is what keeps you in the mortal world. We used our power to protect that side of him…"

"Look how well that worked out…"

"How do you think I came to be?"

Behind him, Gojo saw Suiryu as he gently placed Yua back down next to him. "She's not lying."

Sukuna however had already gotten up and left the table. Chizu was quick to follow him. "Ryomen, wait!" she called and gave chase.

Yua glared at Gojo. "What the hell did you say?"

He shrugged his shoulders to it all. "Just the truth."

Suiryu even rolled his eyes. "Mom always told me to look beyond a situation, you ought to do the same. I don't like this any more than you do, but the fact remains is this. What was spoken, wasn't a lie. When I came from a mere speck, I had been protected by curse energy from the Tooru family, it was how I came to be, Satoru. Besides, how could anyone see me as nothing more than Sukuna from that? If anything, what I was when I became flesh and blood, was how he was before becoming insane."

Suddenly, Gojo paused. "For real?" he asked.

Yua sighed and nodded. "Yeah," she whispered. "I'm starting to realize that too…" She fell oddly silent to it all. "Gojo… for now… at least until I recover… just… leave him be." She said reluctantly.

Gojo wanted to protest, but sighed aloud. But once she recovers, all bets are off!