Chapter 37
Shin knew Oji was right.
The guy from the food court has been following them.
All the while, Shin did some research of his own using his cellphone. Trigun is an American jujutsu sorcerer and yet he is using his power as a gig for easy money. But if that's the case, why is he in Japan?
He didn't like the way he acted around Mochi, the guy was in his early thirties too and yet, he was hitting on his sister as if it was okay to do so.
NOT on his watch!
At the same time, he never realized how protective Oji was. He didn't hesitate to defend Mochi, despite having no curse energy, he could give a damn and still beat the snot out of the guy. Perhaps they have been winning him over? Anyway, he and his siblings know better than to push it or even continue to talk about it. Repetitive conversations are annoying to Sukuna.
"Oh, this… and this… this one too…"
Sadly though, the three were on the outside looking in. None were permitted in the liquor store. Shin cringed though as it appeared that Oji now had two small shopping carts full of booze!
"How are we going to get this home?" Rook whispered discreetly.
"Actually, I was told to test this on behalf of Mechamaru sensei." Shin reached into his pocket and took out a small device that looked like the face of one of the many curse corpses Mechamaru makes. "Apparently he has been working on a portable storage device, specially for the sorcerers with no curse energy. Right now this one is holding all the clothing we got."
"Here's hoping it works on booze…" Rook muttered.
The booze was paid for, and before Shin could test out the tool given to him. Oji takes out of his own out! Apparently, he's testing it as well and used it to store all but one bottle of wine into the storage device.
"Why not…" Rook began to ask. But, he saw the look on the face of Oji…
That wine might not be for drinking…
They made their way out of the store, Shin found they were taking a side street that barely had any people about. Yet, when he looked, there was soon no one around. Oji stopped and sighed. "If you are going to come out of your rock, do it now, worm!" he shouted.
He appeared.
Trigun had appeared out of a side alley, healed up and was making a strange face at the sight of Mochi. "Hey… how much for the girl?" he asked.
"PLEASE!" Rook begged Oji.
But he refused.
Instead, he set the wine bottle to the side, and confronted the blond bastard. "How much you got?"
Shin paused.
Why is he entertaining the notion?!
No… wait… he isn't…
Rook was even smirking now. "Ooo this is gonna be good isn't it?" he whispered.
"Either way, Mochi, are you okay? Do you want to stand behind us?" Shin asked gently.
She refused to, she kept her eye on Sukuna who stared down Trigun.
Trigun was smirking as he approached. "Well, she's young, preteen, I take she is pure… right?"
He didn't…
"You will not be getting a test drive to determine if she is or isn't… quite frankly, I am a little curious. I know sorcerers…"
Trigun bucked back. "Oh? You could tell?"
"Sorcerers have stink lines to me, and you've been stinking up the place since I encountered you…"
"STINK LINES?!"
"So either way, it doesn't matter if I know or not, the fact remains is that you are stalking my family here… I don't appreciate that, and I don't give a shit to what your grade is either…"
Trigun paused. He snorted a laugh. "Are you for real?" he demanded. "For that matter, how are you even related to these kids? You're obviously not a Gojo…"
"Thank the gods on that…" Oji muttered as Shin and the others snickered.
"You're no Tooru either… and yet you're their uncle?"
"Does it even matter at this point? Look, the so called beating you got in the mall was nothing compared to what I can do now…"
"Oh? Really? Me too! In fact, show me old man!"
The infamous grin of Sukuna appeared to spread over his face. "Oh… I was so HOPING you would say that! Rook! Watch me!" he ordered.
Rook got in a little closer. Trigun was getting his technique ready when suddenly…
SNAP!
He was struck in the face and yet… Oji didn't move.
Rook's eyes widened. "Whoa…"
"That's the snapback…"
"WHAT THE HELL DID YOU DO!?" Trigun shouted as he held his bloodied nose. "You didn't even move!"
"You're point?" Oji asked bluntly, but then turned back to Rook. "Now this one I think you are going to love, it's the 'stop hitting yourself' method…"
Shin wanted to see this so badly! However, since it wasn't curse energy, he couldn't quite see what was happening.
But Trigun was getting pissed. He began to surge and started to take aim at Oji. Shin could follow Trigun's energy but… that was when he saw the 'technique' in play. Every time Trigun goes for a strike, Oji would block it, turn the limb and snap the strike back. Making Trigun hit himself! It was so fast. Shin could barely see it.
Rook on the other hand was deeply inspired.
"What are you hitting yourself, stop hitting yourself, why are you hitting yourself…"
Sukuna went on like this for five minutes.
No matter what he tried, Trigun couldn't land a hit!
"To think, Oji has no curse energy too…" whispered Mochi.
"But look at Rook, he's so happy right now, he has something new to learn." Shin whispered back.
Rook was amazed by all of this. Despite Trigun trying to use curse energy, by the time he is ready to unleash it, Sukuna turns the limb and breaks his focus. Curse energy does need some focus in order to circulate the body, no doubt Sukuna was watching him, timing him as to how fast it takes for the energy to course through Trigun and then… breaking the flow.
It was rather pathetic to see, no matter what Trigun attempted to do, or tried to strike back, Sukuna sent it back to him without much effort. "That… is SO COOL!" Rook proclaimed. "Please, teach me this!"
"In two days, I don't know how drunk I am going to be tonight or how it will affect me tomorrow."
"You'll be in bed all day," Shin called. "Dad takes one shot and he's down."
"Oh? Good to know, so I need to chug before passing out… nice!"
For some reason, Shin figured Oji was looking forward to getting drunk for some reason, but, who can say for certain?
Trigun on the other hand…
"ENOUGH OF THIS, FACE ME LIKE A SORCERER!" he demanded and surged once more.
Sukuna looked him over. "Not interested… Shin?" he asked.
Shin was about to step forward until Mochi's arm blocked him. "No… let me," she insisted.
He obliged and stepped back. Rook was stunned, Oji smiled. As she approached, he whispered into her ear. She gave but a nod before glaring at Trigun.
The bastard was grinning like a fool!
"Oooo, OH! This is perfect! Let's make it interesting!" Trigun decreed. "You beat me, you can name your price. I beat you… you become my wife!"
"Oh great here we go…" Oji muttered and sighed aloud. "I want you boys to pay attention to this, since whenever you have daughters of your own, this will happen often!" he warned. "And if you happen to gain any more sisters in the meantime…"
"I'll name my price now. You leave me and everyone in my family alone, don't come near me, don't even look in my direction!" she decreed. "When this is over, I want you out of my sight."
He snickered. "But of course, now then, we will go by whoever lands the first strike? Sounds fair?"
"I agree…"
"It starts now!"
He sent curse energy to his fists and then, struck the earth hard. The ground crumbled under the pressure, Mochi was teetering a little when Trigun suddenly dashed and came before her. He was within inches of striking her when suddenly, a wall of fire stopped him.
Trigun was able to pull back in the nick of time, however, he singed his knuckles.
"FIRE?! YOU'RE A GOJO BUT YOU CAN USE FIRE!?" he demanded.
"Shut up and fight!" Mochi snapped back. With the wave of her arms, she unleashed two massive fireballs. But those began to take form.
'Here come the kittens…' Shin thought.
Yet as they took form, they were no longer kittens.
As if forged from precious metals, the cats she formed were gold and red tigers that took on a true and physical form!
They circled her protectively, and yet, their eyes were on Trigun. "What… what the hell is this?! FIRE SHIKIGAMI?!" he demanded.
"You're stupid for a sorcerer." Came out of Sukuna. "You challenge those without knowing their true power, you pick a fight with someone who you may not fully understand let alone are aware of their TRUE strength. Lastly, if we told you, it would be a LOT less fun to watch you suffer." He gave an evil grin shortly after that.
"Do you forfeit?" Mochi asked.
Trigun smirked. "Your cats got nothing on me…" He took out two guns. "I didn't want to have to use these, but, even if you are wounded, you'll still be a good ride…"
SMASH!
Shin jumped, so did Rook!
Trigun was belted in the face with a wine bottle!
"Where…" Shin peered at the ground, Mochi must have picked that up when no one was looking… didn't she? Or did Oji sneak it into her hand without anyone seeing him do so? Either way, he was smoked by a wine bottle!
"Game set and match." Oji decreed. "THAT'S why I left it out, it was a cheap bottle anyway. Let's go"
They left Trigun lying in the streets, no one really cared what became of him.