45. Inumaki's Curse
It was as if time has stopped for Maguro and Maguro alone. Time, on the real-world side, was merely seconds into the appearance of the Fire Wolf.
"Maguro?" Gojo called, realizing Maguro has sort of just closed her eyes and sank into a deep thought. The golden aura flowed around her gradually brightens. Gojo summed to himself that she must have sunk into some sort of trance, or a dimension perhaps. Golden glow is a rarity, and this colour is usually associated with a godly guardian. Could it be possible that she…
"Maguro-chan?" he called again. "Are you okay?"
The Strongest Jujutsu Sorcerer raised one hand to shake Maguro awake, but before his hand could reach her, red orange flames erupted from around Maguro, throwing him back in surprise.
It wasn't the type of flame that feels hot to the touch, but more towards an aura.
Divine aura.
Gojo gritted his teeth. If they realize what possibility she could be to the school…
Riko…Gojo thought of the name long buried in his memories. His classmate, the Star of the school. He wouldn't ever wish for any of his students to have a fate like that. It was a cruel fate, and they don't deserve that.
"T-This is-" Utahime started, her eyes widened in shock at the flames emitted around the student. It wasn't a normal flame either – this flame had a gleam- no, more like a sheen of golden hue to it. Golden hue is always associated with the old Gods or Guardians. But how has she got it? To obtain it, there is always a price that the humans could never pay up, hence they ended up with various kinds of strong curses like Sukuna, a by-product of human's wishes to the Gods gone awry.
"Akihiko," she said quietly, but Utahime and Gojo heard it clear as day.
Akihiko the Bright Prince, the very name of the Nine Tailed Fire Wolf God that everyone in the Jujutsu world has been scrambling to find and own.
A majestic tailed white wolf leaped out of Maguro's shadow. There it is – the legend in the eyes of every jujutsu sorcerer's dreams. The four white tails with its tips appearing as if it were dipped in molten lava flares up around its back, and at that number of tails, it shows just how far Maguro has progressed with obtaining and mastering her family's technique.
The Fire Wolf God's tail grows and appear according to their master's progress in powers. They only will follow and appear to those who can and will be inheriting various techniques, and for this legendary beast to appear to Maguro at that young age shows that she can and will grow even stronger than she is right now.
For the Fire Wolf God to appear in the human plane for the first time in so many years in its four tailed form, shows how far Maguro has come from the untimely demise of the Tsukigami clan. Thou a long way to the wolf's full nine-tailed form four – at her age – Is very good already.
Very good.
"So this is the guardian to the last heir of Tsukigami clan?" Kyoto's Principal croaked, eyes widely staring at the guardian's overflowing godly aura. Surely it was fire, but it was a fire that cannot harm a human being. For Tsukigami Maguro to be able to call forth such a godly beast simply proves that still water runs deep.
There's more to the girl than what she is right now.
Maguro blinked, and realizes she is back to the real world's plane, oblivious to the greedy stares from the Kyoto's instructor and principal towards her newly called forth guardian.
Toge, she quietly thought out, calling out the whitehaired boy while the other hand lightly rests upon the Fire Wolf's head. Toge-kun, where are you?
She looked up at the curtain. He couldn't have not heard her calling him. Their connection was strong enough. Unless this veil must have blocked all communications from going in or out of the veiled space. Akihiko made a small sound that jolted Maguro from whatever that she is trying to focus on. One look at the wolf, and she understood.
They need to go now.
Scrambling up Akihiko's broad wide back, Maguro buried her hands amidst its furry neck and hold on to dear life.
"Find Toge-kun," Maguro whispered. With one giant leap, they both disappeared into the darkened veil.
Inumaki ran with Fushiguro and the Kyoto's third year student, Noritoshi Kamo, avoiding the Special Grade Cursed Spirit's tree roots attack. No doubt on its immense powers. Inumaki has even started to feel a strain on his throat, and it wasn't even a strong cursed command he gave out back there.
Proves just how far a difference and power the Special Grade carries compared to them students, and even when there are two of them Semi-Grade One jujutsu sorcerer here, all they could do is to avoid its attacks and run.
Run until they can find their friends to regroup and reinforce their attacks.
But when they finally reached the rooftop, Inumaki felt- no. He knew. His cursed speech's limit is up. It wasn't just the thundering pain that is a sign. A metallic taste came surging up from that back of his throat. He felt his vocal cord starts to bleed as the blood seeps down his throat.
The familiar feeling of wanting to gag upon tasting the strong metallic taste of blood washed upon him.
"Inumaki-senpai will stop it," he heard Fushiguro said. No, he thought to himself. Not now. He's at his limit. He wouldn't be able to stop Hanami. He held out a hand to stop Fushiguro, his other hand holding onto his collar in hopes to ease the pain flaring up in his throat. No, Fushiguro, wait.
Fushiguro couldn't hear him. "Don't worry, just go!"
No, Inumaki thought out. Fushiguro, no!
He couldn't hear him. No one else could hear him. The weight of his cursed speech now thrums painfully in his throat. It's been thrumming for a while now since the first time he used it on Hanami. He had known then that Hanami is just too much for any of them to handle. They should have just run and not stop.
Frustrated with his inability to be able to speak normally in times of desperate situation, he thought of Maguro.
Lovely little thing his Maguro is. He liked her so much that he wanted to be with her all the time. Hell, even during the competition, he thought about her, and talks to her just to lessen the worry he felt seeping from her through their connection. He had been able to call out to her then, but only up until this unknown dark veil comes down.
He thanked the spirits she wasn't allowed to join the competition. She would have been exposed to the dangers here. He'd trade anything for her to be safe.
The shiki Fushiguro releases flew straight towards Hanami. Furrowing his brows in pain, Inumaki tries to pull up another cursed command with all his might to stop the Special Grade Spirit's next attack on the shiki.
But the moment he opens his mouth, blood spews out of his throat.
And the shiki is stricken down.
The command's power was too great towards Hanami, a Special Grade Cursed Spirit. He felt his vocal cord closes in and crushes underneath the cursed powers he uses for Hanami's command. Kneeling down heavily on the rooftop, Inumaki spews blood from his open mouth.
No, no! Inumaki thought out, watching in horror as the hot blood that spills onto the tiled roof from his mouth flows steadily in a stream of red. His heart welled with guilt for not being able to hold on for another while. Fushiguro trusted him. Kamo trusted him. And he failed them.
I can't fall here, Inumaki frowned hard, desperately trying to hold on for a while more and gathers his cursed energy in his stomach. Not now. Maguro. I have Maguro to return to. I promised her. She'll cry if any of us failed to return.
I promised her that we'll all return soon…
As Kamo got blasted away, Fushiguro manages to catch the Kyoto's Third Year before he flew off the roof. Inumaki shakily stood up and takes a deep breath with great difficulty.
At the least, Fushiguro must be safe. He must, so he can go get help.
For the sake of everyone, Inumaki shakily breathes in as he endures the extreme pain in his throat.
With one trembling hand, he places it down on Fushiguro's broad shoulder before the Tokyo First Year could unleash his spell.
"Shake," (Let me do this) Inumaki said raspingly, stepping forward to face the Special Grade Cursed Spirit. One last spell, and we'll all get out of this.
