Chapter 1

He remembered his final moment well.

Nanami, too tired to carry on, wounded beyond repair and just… tried of it all. He had been on auto pilot ever since he took a frontal assault by the volcano curse. Half of his body was burned. Nanami was in constant agony, yet, what kept him going was the fact that the transfigured people before him… were in worst pain that he was.

He pushed on, he had to, and yet, all the while, he thought of what he had wanted to go, go on a nice vacation, read books on the sea shore on a tropical island and just being away from the hustle and bustle of both human and sorcery worlds.

Yet, the moment he was stopped.

The moment that hand came on to his chest and who it belonged to, Nanami knew, there was only one path before him.

"You look tried…"

The grin of the curse almost forced him to smile back, it was that obvious, one doesn't have to read his soul to see that. But then, he heard the voice.

"NANAMI!"

He turned far enough to see Itadori, attempting to run to his aid. But… those scuff marks on the boy, not to mention what he could feel outside, what has happened… no doubt Itadori is going through such pain himself, but is pushing forward because of those in need.

He went against his instinct to tell Itadori to run. He would have nowhere to go, no one to turn to after all of this. If anything, he has to encourage him.

The last thing he could recall was telling Itadori.

"You got it from here…"

He never saw the strike, in fact, the moment it happened. He fell back but was caught!

"WHOA! Hold up there, you just got here!"

In his confusion, Nanami peered about himself, but was on a tropical island! "What… where…"

"I… didn't think you would get here so fast…"

To his right, he froze. His best friend in high school stood at his side and still smiled just as brightly as he did before.

Yu Haibara.

"Have…"

"I've been waiting here for you, but still… I didn't think you would get here so fast…" he said and scratched the back of his head a little nervously. "Besides that, it's good to see you."

It took him a moment, but, Nanami realized this was his afterlife.

Haibara has been waiting for him and setting things up. It was his dream to just lounge on the beach, reading his books, but there was something odd about it. It took him no time to read his novels, and yet, when he picked up the same book. His mind couldn't quite recall the contents of it, and he was rereading what he wanted to but still go the same enjoyment as if he picked up the book for the first time.

"You can read the same thing over and over again and not be sick of it. OR you don't have to have that happen, and you can reread your book recalling everything. But you will appreciate it better."

He smiled and nodded to it all.

To him, all the right with the world… until HE came.

#

It was like a dream.

Sitting on the beach, the sun out in full. Not too hot, not too cold with a stack of books at his side. Peering down, his hand gently grazed over the covers. "I've read them all… I never thought I would get through every last one of them," he said with a content sigh.

His eyes closed for the time being as he heard the waves lap up against the shore.

"Hey Nanami" Haibara called. He turned to his left and smiled, his former classmate Yu Haibara took a seat next to him. Nanami smiled to him as he was given a drink. The two sat there, peering out over the water until Yu said. "Ever think about what happened after?" he said offhandedly.

He nodded. "I worried for everyone during the incident… more so for Itadori. He was just a child and yet, thrown into this so suddenly… without much training either. It's remarkable he made it that far."

"Not to mention being shackled with Sukuna… I would never want to be put into his shoes like that. Poor kid… part of the reason why you returned being a sorcerer isn't it?"

"He reminded me a lot of you." Nanami confessed. "His heart is in the right place, but it will be broken as time goes on again and again. It's endless suffering being a sorcerer. You try and save as many people as you can, and yet, there are always going to be those you don't reach in time. Itadori learned that the hard way with a child his age. As well, his heart broke when he learned about the creatures he killed… were transfigured children… My God," he said with a sigh as the drink was set off to the side. "How can anyone live a life like that?"

"Well… you did,"

He paused to consider it. "I never really lived for myself." He confessed. "It was either be a sorcerer, or work myself to death to retire early and with a lot of money. Neither one paid out as you can see…"

Haibara nodded, but then, he peered off to the side oddly. "Hey, no one else comes here right?" he asked.

"Correct, why bring that up?"

He points to someone in the distance, they were approaching them oddly enough. Nanami peered and saw for himself, yet snapped to his feet instantly. Haibara stood at the ready until the figure became visible to them. His guard was up, and yet, he felt utterly helpless.

Sukuna stood before him!

"Sukuna? That's Sukuna isn't it!?" panicked Haibara.

Nanami tried to remain calm, there was something odd about this demon sorcerer. His eyes, the look on his face… it almost appeared as if he were desperate. As well, he appeared far more like Itadori than from what the texts have stated of him. "Please," Sukuna said as gently as he could, his hand extended to Nanami. "Please, come back with me."

He froze. "Come back?" he demanded. "Who the hell are you?"

The strange person froze. Upon closer inspection, Nanami concluded this wasn't quite Sukuna. He was young, he did indeed looked just like Itadori, yet oddly different. Yet the way he spoke just now, his voice was too deep to be him. Yet if it were Sukuna, he would have died before even catching a glimpse of this person.

He suddenly moved, Nanami on guard until he froze as this stranger suddenly went on the ground before him, prostrating himself! "Please, return with me!" he begged once more. "I need help, all the help I can get and I can bring back four. Please, for Yuuji's sake!"

This, startled him. "Itadori… is still alive?" he asked curiously.

"Yes, my brother is still alive, but please I need help!" he said once more desperately. Slowly he looked up to him, his eyes were getting teary as he explained. "I have no power to help him anymore. I don't even know how I ended up here or wherever the hell I am! But please, if you can return with me, help me! I have… I have Yuuji's memories of you… you taught him well… he learned a lot from you and I know you are strong to help us."

He didn't trust this stranger the least bit, until, he felt Haibara's hand come on to his shoulder. "Kento…" he said gently. "I think he wants you to return to the land of the living."

He paused to the statement. "Is this true? Is that what you are asking me?"

The stranger nodded.

"That sort of jujutsu is impossible unless one has not been dead for that long… I've been gone for some time now, my body destroyed beyond any repair. How can you make such an offer?" he demanded.

"I… I don't know… but we have brought back the dead before. I know it can be done, the curse wombs were given new life thanks to Yuuji and I. We can do this, but I don't know who will bring you to life once more. But please, my brother is in danger, so are his friends…"

"Why did you call Itadori your brother?"

He sat himself up, but kept low to the ground. "I am not his brother by any stretch of the imagination… I've just been blessed with the notion that he calls me such a thing since I was given a cloned body of his… my name is Suiryu, I came from Sukuna via purification and was left in the care of Yuuji Itadori by the great being that possessed him after Sukuna's defeat. Ryujin," he explained. "I have no right to ask this of you, nor will I make you return with me. But, please, consider what I am requesting."

He was stunned, Suiryu wasn't acting like the demon sorcerer. But he had a lot of Itadori's tendencies by the looks of it. "Return to life, and do what?" Nanami asked.

"Be the elders the students need,"

He froze, so did Haibara. She came up behind Suiryu suddenly but her hand rested gently on his shoulder. "We are to become the new elders and teach the next generation of their curse ability, however, we are going to do things FAR different than before. For that, we need someone level headed and understand the way things work isn't always fair, but we can change it to make it so. Kento Nanami… Will you return with us? I am going too,"

"Isn't she…"

"She is," Nanami whispered to Yu. He looked to her, before his eyes shifted to Suiryu who looked up at him pleading.

My God, he looked like Itadori just now.

"We're in trouble, the jujutsu council and elders are determined to erase everyone who no longer believe their words or follow their orders. We are just about to get the others who managed to escape to our location, but they were followed. There are sorcerers there who are able to cancel out curse abilities, as well… Yuuji and I can't fight this battle. I lost my power, Yuuji is rendered helpless…"

"It's a long story," the woman explained.

"So it seems… what about Gojo?"

"He can only do so much, he cannot save everyone by his strength alone… please, return with me?" Suiryu asked again.

Nanami paused as he peered over the water, he is where he has always wanted to be, and now, they are asking him to give it all away again. "If I refuse?" he asked.

"You will remain here, I will continue to try and find others if I can… I don't know how much strength I have left to do this… Let alone how I am doing this…" Suiryu said offhandedly.

Nanami froze as he wanted to refuse, and yet, he felt Haibara push him! He turned as his old friend smiled and gave him the thumbs up. "If anyone is going to led the next generation it's gotta have you in it! You always were the kind that looked out for those younger than you. Kento… this is going to be here when your time comes once more, but this time… I think you are going to be a lot stronger than before and do a lot more good too. You get to see Itadori again, you liked that kid."

He wanted to argue the notion, and yet, he couldn't bring himself to do it. He kept looking down at Suiryu… he had that same look on his face as Itadori did when something bothered him and he couldn't do anything to stop it. He then turned to the woman lingering by. "You're…"

"Yua Tooru, yes," she said gently and smiled to him. "I'll be going back with you,"

He was stunned, Tooru was a name rarely spoken among the elders let alone Jujutsu sorcerers. The family itself lived in secret, but at the same time, they were greatly feared. Like the sorcerer killer back in the day, except her family was able to hide their curse energy. The women were tasked with keeping themselves fit and strong in order to house a special protector of their family, they were considered the stronger jujutsu users among their clan. The men, protected the women, at the same time, some of the family members went on to become assassins of sorcerers themselves.

"Miss Tooru, what waits for you back in the land of the living?" asked Haibara.

She smiled. "Life… I never really lived when I was alive, at the same time…" her eyes gazed down at Suiryu. "I know I am needed, I cannot ignore a plea for help. Especially from an Itadori," she said.

Suiryu was stunned as he turned to Yua. "You're coming back… just to help me?" he asked.

She smiled and nodded. "I know it takes a lot of courage to ask for assistance. You in particular, but Suiryu, you've come such a long way since I have known you. And you should be proud of that, but I will be returning to make certain you and the others have proper back up and training. We need to change this world of jujutsu, we have the drive to do it, and now we will have the power to make it so," she said with great determination.

"Sounds amazing…" Haibara said.

"Did you…" Suiryu was about to ask Haibara, but was instantly waved off.

"Nope, I am not the one to go back. I'm not the least bit strong enough. I'll just keep Nanami's seat warm for his return,"

"What makes you think I am going to accept this?" Nanami snapped back. "I've died a sorcerer. Why would I want to go back to that dead end job?" he demanded.

No one spoke, until Yua did. "Because, it's no longer a job." She said rather bluntly. "Going back isn't for the greater good of yourself, but those around you. Just as a sorcerer is, we sacrificed what we want in life and now in death, to ensure those who can look up to us, can do so with pride and without fear. We need to be the change we want in this world. But also remember this. Despite how young he was, Itadori was willing to die so Sukuna would be taken from this world. What does that say about him? What does that say about us now?" she asked.

Nanami froze. Suiryu was rendered silent to her words but appeared amazed by them. He sighed aloud before he turned to Haibara who gave him the thumbs up. "Be sure to bring back new books when your time comes!" he insisted.

Nanami sighed aloud as he peered down at Suiryu. "How many more do you need after me?" he asked.

Suiryu paused. "I think two…" he said.

"Very well then, don't make me regret this…"