Chapter 47

The next morning…

"Everyone feeling okay?"

Yua held a bit of a town meeting with those living in the domain. Everyone had the same feast last night and now, she was checking and making certain everyone was okay from it.

Apparently, no one got sick, everyone kept their food down and no one was worst for wear. So the meat didn't harm or alter anyone the least bit… thank goodness.

"Okay, if anyone feels sick or ever a little off later on, tell me at once!" she ordered.

They nodded and went on their way.

Yet, as everyone disburse, Chusi approached Yua. "Mind if we talk, sister?" she asked gently.

"Please don't force a second husband on me…"

Chusi laughed at the notion. "Oh, I won't. Not until he's properly trained." Yua paused to that but decided to ignore it. "It's rather important, since the children and I were spied upon when we went out for ice cream last week…"

Last week…

"Why are you just telling me this now?!" she demanded.

"It wasn't that important, and I think those stalking us were after you… since you and I look rather similar…"

She nodded to that, Yua also hasn't really been out of the domain since her limbs regrew. So if they see Chusi, they are going to assume she is her.

"Did they try anything?"

She shook her head. "I think they were merely observing us for the time being. I take it the council is still after Tooru blood huh?"

Yua didn't answer, it's not just the council, it's Kenjaku pulling the strings behind the scenes. The main puppeteer is the cause of all this.

Chusi smiled to her. "Well, at least it will give me something to do around here. I won't mind going to see for myself what this council is made of…"

"Provoke them?! Are you nuts?!" Yua demanded. "You want to…"

"At ease sister, since it appears they have mistaken me for you. After all, the resemblance is uncanny!" she said and bore a devious grin.

She didn't care to admit it, but Chusi does look a lot like her, but there are differences between them. Since after all, no one has called her Chusi… except for Sukuna when he lost his memories.

"I just curious to see who is after what, the sooner I get to the bottom of it, the better our counter offense will be. Besides, I need to see this world a little better…"

"I do suggest you bring someone with you."

"Megumi… let me borrow him."

Fushiguro? Why him?

"Let's ask if he is busy first, and go from there…"

"I already asked him, he's coming with me and will show me around!" she decreed.

"Then why…"

Chusi merely smiled, perhaps looking for a reaction? Either or, she just waved her off. "Go ahead and just keep us posted,"

Her smile grew as she went on her way, Yua saw Megumi approach her and they left the domain then and there. Still, why did she want him to escort her? She would have suggested Nanami over young Fushiguro.

Also, she has yet to see Suguru.

In fact, she rarely sees him now a days!

"I wonder what she meant about training my so called second husband?" Yua muttered to herself.

"You are not considering it are you?!" she jumped as Gojo came from behind her.

"What? No!" she protested. "It was odd though that Chusi has dropped it rather suddenly."

"Well, since she has, I am going to do something I haven't done in ages… tease Uba!"

Yua, glared at him. "Satoru, we have three children to look after, we are also babysitting Yuuji's kids, I am obligated to help Nobara as well since Suiryu is tending to Yuko… has the thought crossed your mind that I might need some help?!" she snapped at him.

Gojo… froze.

"Oh… it's just that you never asked me to stay and help…"

"Is that really necessary for me to do? Let alone ask from my husband?"

He began to turn red. "Uh… point taken…"

She sighed. "Help me with the kids, take Yuuji's crew today if you don't mind. I need to speak with our kids about what happened recently… apparently Chusi and the children were followed last week getting ice cream."

Satoru was serious and nodded. "Okay, I'll go see Yuuji's tykes. Where are they?"

#

Elsewhere

His time has come.

The training session with Sukuna was about to begin, and yet, Suguru found it odd that he would bring up the hit on Chusi once more. The King of Curses was truly impressed by his ability to go toe to toe with his wife.

"Besides, if you knew Chusi as well as I do, what you did was remarkable in a short amount of time. She may still be a little rusty, but she made sure you earned that. Back in the day, there were men who wanted to marry her. She agreed if they could land a single strike on her. Only one did." He explained.

"But you said…"

"I struck her by accident. Felt terrible and was told I had to 'take responsibility' and marry her."

Suguru froze to this. Was that another Tooru tradition? Is he going to have to fight Yua to be her husband?

"The only other who did such a thing did so when her back was turned, she had no curse energy and wasn't aware how far they would go to appease me. I doubt anyone will ever strike her like that again, but back to the point. You understand why Chusi is like this? Her tough exterior isn't for show but protection. In my time before madness, sorcerers would come from all over Japan for a Tooru bride. Despite the fact they were not listened to, respected or considered to be on par with them. The reason why was, whoever married a Tooru would guarantee to have their technique passed to the next generation. As well, that technique would evolve and become stronger than what has been cultivated to that point." He paused and glared at him.

Suguru felt his four eyes inspect him, piercing him like Chusi's gaze.

"So, do you understand the reasoning for this? Do you know why she is training you? To make you stronger?" Sukuna asked.

"It's to make certain, no one uses Yua for their greed… you don't think…"

"I don't think, I know." Sukuna snapped back. "Satoru Gojo, married Yua Tooru… out respect for her family." He said bluntly. "I will give six eyes credit here. He kept a promise he made from his childhood, to Yua's older brother."

"How did you know…"

"Chusi, she was made from Yua, and has gained some memories, as well, she had read a small journal that Yua's brother, Shin Tooru wrote when he was young. He always kept track of every sorcerer he encountered as a child. Satoru's name was in the book and he wrote what they spoke of. Her brother kept details of everyone who came through their house, be it friend or foe. For the sake and safety of his sister."

Suguru settled as he listened to Sukuna speak. It was true that he knew a lot about the Tooru family, even more than what Yua is aware of. "Yua is a name reserved in the Tooru family for the strongest women. The only other to gain such a name was Mother Tooru of my time. Her name was Yua as well."

"She's someone remarkable, isn't she?"

Sukuna forced a smirk. "How do I explain this… When I came to be once more, still insane mind you. I had half a mind to hold back the moment I sensed her in this world. However, what made me go through with my attack was how weak her energy output was. I know when a Tooru is concealing their power on purpose. This wasn't done so. Thus, I went for it. Needless to explain how that turned out."

He forced a smile and nodded. "But now, you want to protect her?"

Sukuna went quite.

It caught Suguru off guard a little.

"Remembering what was done for me in the past, is a painful reminder of what I had, what was taken away… and what I destroyed." He said bluntly. "Let me put it like this. If I was born to bring about mass destruction to this world, and yet given another path to take and could have taken it… I feel rather cheated."

Suguru listened. He never realized how open Sukuna was about his past, but just now, he sounds… bitter that it was taken from him.

"If… you had stayed with the Tooru family, you think you would have been happier than what you became?" Suguru asked.

He shrugged his shoulders. "That's not for me to say at this point, for I don't know what would have happened to me if I didn't accept Kenjaku's offer. I can only live with the regret of it." He paused. "Had I been as powerful had I not gone mad? I can't say for certain, since all sorcerers have to be a little insane in order to maintain their curse energy. It does make me consider though…"

Suguru nodded.

"Now, the training you and I will be doing. As you are more than aware, I caused the destruction of the Tooru family. I didn't kill everyone the same way either, nor was I the only one hunting them. Our training is simply going to be preventative measure. I am going to explain to you scenarios, you are going to tell me how you would counter them, then, we put that theory into practice."

It… made sense to him.

"Yua can't depend on Satoru being there all the time…" he muttered.

"That's what Chusi has been trying to tell six eyes. As well, he's a target too, what makes him think those after him, won't go after his wife? That's the basic strategy one would use against Gojo, but at the same time, Yua is not weak either."

He noticed that, in fact, Yua has six eyes herself but cannot use it as well as Satoru. At the same time, she tends to use a technique for a while, only to abandon it later on…

"What are you thinking?" Sukuna asked of him, it was strange to hear him speak in a gentle tone than his up stuck one.

"The fact that Yua has many techniques to her, but I find she will use it for a short while before abandoning it. She also hasn't had her limbs for a while, so she should be training. But she focuses more on those around her than herself…"

He peered at Sukuna who nodded to it all. "Toorus rather look after those around them before tending to themselves… I believe many were trying to save me when I was killing them…"

Suguru nodded. But then realized something. "Has Yua unleashed a domain? Then again, I think she tried to mimic yours…"

There came an odd pause on Sukuna. Not one of shock, but, consideration.

"I wouldn't put it pass her to mimic my domain, at the same time, it would be possible considering those who returned through transfiguration reincarnation. But that's near impossible for the other three to accomplish on their own."

"You… aren't surprised Yua could mimic your domain?" Suguru asked, had he been in Sukuna's shoes, he would have been slightly impressed and pissed off. Everyone knows Sukuna considers his domain perfect, as well, an art piece in his mind. To have someone mimic it, or even create Malevolent shrine would be insulting to him.

However, he smirked. "My domain…" he said and sighed. "The Toorus helped me with that."

Suguru froze.

"Was it always… like that?"

"Of course it was! It IS called Malevolent shrine for a reason!" he protested. "Mother Tooru named it,"

Suguru… froze a little. "She… she what?"

Sukuna snickered. "I created it when I was just a boy, my power was stabilizing thanks to Mother Tooru. When I first made the domain, it was merely the shrine but it had no barrier. She happed to have wondered in, but the strange thing was this. The domain attacks automatically, I never saw her enter and she was never struck…"

His mouth hung open.

"Wait, wait, wait, back up here…"

"Truthfully, I am just as perplexed as you… she never told me how she did it either." He appeared to pout at that, and yet… how was that possible?

They were silent until Suguru sighed aloud. "Well, since I am going to be doing this… please teach me everything," he said with great sincerity. "If I am to help out and protect Yua… just… guide me as to how"

Sukuna smirked at him. "You're not bad, Shellboy. Let's get started,"