Chapter 29

They must have talked for hours.

Sukuna… never felt more at peace in a sense as Ryoto told him what he could recall, what happened and why things may have occurred. There also happened to be tarts, how he got these, Sukuna didn't bother to ask. "So the binding vow… it's compete?" Sukuna asked offhandedly.

Ryoto nodded. "Yuuji Itadori and Suiryu are blood brothers. Yuuji is my reincarnation. Suiryu came from that speck of goodness you possessed, they are brothers now are they not?"

He sighed and nodded. "Indeed, pains in my ass…" he muttered.

He snickered but then took notice. "Those cuffs on your wrists…"

Sukuna peered down at them and nodded. "Bounded me to your last living descendant, so if anything happens to her… I go with her." He said. "Strange, out of all the sorcerers that I have encountered, all who have wanted me to suffer and die… Yua never expressed that."

Ryoto appeared taken aback a little. "Wait, Yua? I have a descendent worthy of such a name? That was my mother's name!" he said in utter amazement. "What's she like?"

Sukuna paused to consider his answer. "Yua… reminds me a lot of your mother. She's tough but oddly fair, there a playfulness to her that reminds me of you. She looks like Chusi more and more each day… However, she is always looking out for others. She even looks out over me, why… I think mother Tooru is giving her pointers. She even told me that… no wonder I haven't been able to get anything past her…"

Ryoto smirked, but then, became serious. "Is that Kenjaku bastard still alive?"

"Unfortunately," Sukuna muttered. "Why did I believe him?"

"Desperation," Ryoto said. "You wanted to protect the family at any cost, but the cost was a price not even you knew let alone one you could afford. We were always a pain in his ass, no matter the shell he took."

He snickered to that, but, fell silent once more.

"I can't pay back what I took," Sukuna said. "How do I even begin?"

"Well, I think there are a few lives you can knock off that debt. My descendant, Shin is it? He wouldn't be alive if it hadn't been for you. Toshi Kamo and his family… another life saved… little steps at a time, even if they are small, they are still steps forward."

"How can you not be furious with me? Had I been you, I would have kicked my ass!" he protested. "I… I ate Chusi… and the child she carried… it was mine wasn't it?" he asked.

Ryoto nodded to him. "Yes, at the same time. I could see various paths had she given birth. None of them were good when you fell into madness, since sis never survived when you did in such a state..."

"Had I not?" he asked innocently enough.

Ryoto smirked. "That, I cannot reveal." He said. "Since you have yet to see or know of a world where you didn't fall for Kenjaku's lie."

"I still think you ought to kick my ass for everything I did…"

Ryoto snickered. "I have been tempted, but also, seeing through this one's eyes, I have seen what you have gone through. I think they are doing far worst than whatever I could think of to punish you. Besides, now you got my little sister. She is DETERMINED that you never fall on that path again, just so you know. Mother has given her many pointers in the after life. She took EVERY lesson to heart."

Suddenly a chill went through him.

"I'll be mindful…"

"Ryomen… what do you want to do?"

The question echoed in his head, bringing him back to the time he and Ryoto were young and 'ran away' for the first time. Ryoto asked him the same question then when he was small.

'What do I want to do? I want to be a sorcerer! I want to be as powerful as Mother Tooru. NO ONE messes with her and everyone respects her too!' he decreed.

'Me too, let's do that! We'll become the strongest right?'

"Ryomen?"

He snapped out of it. "I don't know," he said truthfully. "What do I want to do? What do I make of myself? I won't ever be the same as I once was… on both occasions." He muttered the last part. Yet, Ryoto heard him clearly.

"You can teach, you do know that. And I think you would be spectacular teacher as well. But then again, it needs to be something YOU want to do. We never told you what to make of yourself, let alone what you should become. That's not our choice to make."

Sukuna sighed as he began to drink straight out of the sake bottle. "I'll think of something, right now. I'm a pet."

Ryoto snickered before he burst out laughing. "Yeah, you are… but you have been a good pet."

"Shut up!"

"I still have high hopes for you, Ryomen. I just hope you won't let what happened in the past affect you changing for the better in the future. Besides, my sister cannot wait to spend some time with you."

He sighed and nodded. "Why would she want to be with me? I ate her… our child… How…"

"You weren't you," Ryoto said. "Also, there is something about a Tooru that you should know… but I can't tell you… mom would kill me."

"What?"

"Our time is nearly up."

Sukuna shook his head. "What do you mean?"

"We've been in this cave for nearly a whole day. I only have 24 hours, and I can feel the time is coming to an end. Ryomen, just promise me one thing…"

He gulped his pride and nodded. "What is it?"

"Try, and live for yourself. Be who we remember you to be, and also… good luck with little sis. As the humans say, fool me once shame on you, fool me twice… you'll regret it."

...

"I don't think that's the expression…"

"No, but this is the one I am sticking with. Sis is going to keep you in line from this moment on, so… good luck with that. This maybe a curse you inflicted upon yourself. Love is the most twisted one of all…"

"Ryoto…"

Yet there was a flash.

The cave lit up and then, the light vanished.

The brat was now sitting in Ryoto's spot, but he was awake and appeared very coherent.

"What did you hear?" Sukuna demanded of him.

He turned to him. "Nothing… but why does my mouth have a dirt taste in it?"

It was rather amusing to see, the brat kept trying to get the taste out of his mouth… it was funnier still that he ate some stew to think that would do the trick.

"UGH! You were eating that!" The brat shouted. "That's the dirt taste… wait… why WERE you eating it if it taste like that?!"

He couldn't help but chuckle; in fact, Sukuna went one farther and got another bowl for himself and ate it before the brat! He looked disgusted and weirded out by his actions. "Sometimes, the worst tasting food brings the best memories…" he said in a reminiscing tone.

The brat was curious, despite not liking the stew… he ate more of it. "Huh… you know, it has good texture… it needs spice…" he said offhandedly. He tucked the bowl to the side before standing.

"I am going back… how long have you been in here?"

"The whole day, Ryoto and I were here all day… just… remembering."

"Oookay…" The brat said in an uncertain tone. "Just… be home by…" he peered outside. "By lunch." And took his leave.

He waited to make sure the brat was out of earshot. Sukuna peered back and finished off the stew, but he muttered under his breath. "Thanks brat…"