Chapter 42

In the bathroom.

'There was one thing I never admitted… indoor plumbing is amazing…' Sukuna thought as he was in the process of relieving himself.

But then, he felt his skin crawl.

Something wasn't right.

Then, some blond asshole came up beside him, smiled and was using the facility right next to him.

"Isn't there an unwritten rule that you don't take the piss stall right next to another guy?" he asked bluntly.

The man forced a laugh. "Since when do you care? Are you self-conscious or something?"

'He speaks Japanese fluently, yet his accent is different, another tongue… should have known…' he thought.

"Knowing your curiosity, you would dare to peek… after all, you tend to be lacking down there over half the time aren't you?"

This… caught the blond off guard.

"Are you going to continue to play this game or are you going to come out and say it? You are aware that I know who you really are, and yet, I find I am unable to speak it. How is this happening? WHY is this happening?"

Sukuna snickered. "And you think I am going to tell you?"

Kenjaku smirked. "I think you will, after all, you didn't come alone. I am targeting Yua and yet, she sits out in the open… in fact… my former shell is seated with her… curious still, not even you can raise the dead, and yet he lives… perhaps I can reclaim that one for later use…"

He shrugged it off. "No, I can't, at the same time, as I said before. I won't explain a thing to you. Besides, the odds are not in your favor right now."

Kenjaku snickered to him. "Is that a threat? I do admit, you don't look like you. That must be some vessel you obtained…"

Sukuna finished up, he turned and smirked to Kenjaku, purposely patting his shoulders before cleaning his hands.

"WELL IT WAS GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN YOU OLD BASTARD! SUCH A SHAME THAT YOU NEVER DID GET OVER YOUR THING FOR USING LITTLE BOYS! BETTER LUCK AT THE NEXT RESTAURANT HUH?" Sukuna shouted aloud.

His voice echoed in the bathroom, he knows people heard him since it was rather silent outside. He washed his hands and smirked to Kenjaku once more. "You're lucky I am in a good mood. You'll at least be watched closely when you leave the bathroom… And one other thing… if I ever see you around here again… I will kill you. Unless someone beats me to it."

"You think the Tooru is going to be much of a threat to me? Yua is nothing!" he protested.

"Keep telling yourself that,"

He left, the moment he got out of the bathroom, he went to the table and nudged his head. They left then and there but he quickly explained what was happening.

"He's here, isn't he?!" Chusi demanded.

"He is, but I don't think he is going to do anything right now."

"Why? He had opportunity…" Shellboy protested.

"Too much risk, as well, he already has a plan in place."

Shellboy paused, Chusi too. "Ryo?" she whispered.

"I know the bastard well enough, if he has a plan in place, he will do everything to ensure that plan goes smoothly, at the same time, he's aware of me… but doesn't understand why I am like this. In other words…"

"You've become a wild card to him." Shellboy said.

"Yeah, but he's aware of you… but he also assumes Chusi is Yua. At the moment we will use that to our advantage."

It's strange; he's starting to feel like his old self again with less of the Six Eye's influence. That or if there is a serious situation, he can snap himself back into thinking more rationally.

"Are you… okay?" Shellboy asked offhandedly.

"Indeed, let's keep going before he plans something."

They used the daemon gate to get to the other side of town. Shellboy was as vigilant as ever, he continued to take notes on various things and yet, this still seemed fishy to Sukuna.

"Any other advice?" Shellboy asked. "I have a lot from Chusi, but not much from you." He said and bore a rather cheeky grin.

Perhaps he assumed he didn't have any advice.

Sukuna turned to him, looked Shellboy dead in the eyes and said. "A king… will always have the back of his queen."

Shellboy… froze.

Chusi was on the brink of tears before throwing her arms around him. And yet, he watched as Shellboy dedicated a single page to his words of wisdom. "I never thought something like that would come out of you…"

"Me either," he muttered.

They got snacks here and there, and yet, by the afternoon, he was done. "I'm board of all this!" he decreed. "When are we…"

Something caught his eye.

Just out of the corner of it, Sukuna saw it in the window.

But… it can't be it, can it?

"Ryo?" Chusi asked but she too fell silent the moment her eyes came upon it.

Shellboy was near by. He appeared confused. "What is it? You look… stunned."

Sukuna said nothing as he bolted into the store. He stood before the display window and stared at the robe that lingered in it.

It's not possible, that CANNOT be here!

"Can I help you?" came a gentle voice of a young man.

He turned and glared at him. "Where did you get this!" he demanded.

The youth bucked back a little in shock by his tone. "I made it," he said gently. "It's a pattern I had…"

"Bullshit it is!"

"Hey, what's wrong?" Shellboy asked.

"Suguru… that design, belonged to my mother," Chusi whispered. "The robe itself, it's a deep blue with gold dragons embedded in the fabric. It looks like an emperor's robe right?" she asked.

He nodded to her.

"It's the same color and design my mother was working on before she died. It was to be his wedding robe."

"Sir, I assure you, I didn't take this pattern from anyone…"

"Wait a moment… You're with that damn divine user!"

Sukuna suddenly remembered his face, he approached him and glared into his eyes. "Yeah… Archie or something like that? You're the one that made the clothing from last time!"

He smiled. "Indeed, I am. But I assure you. I didn't steal that pattern. In fact, would you like to try it on?"

Suspicious.

Sukuna peered at him oddly. "For what?"

"Just to see, I mean you enjoyed the other clothing I made. Miss, I even have something for you to try on as well!"

"Ooo, dress up!" Shellboy snickered.

Chusi snickered. "I could play for a little bit… Ryo?"

She gave him 'the eyes'.

Those sparkling, can't resist her request eyes.

Damn it.

He sighed in defeat and nodded.

Archie smiled as he took the robe off the display window and gave it to Sukuna. "Try it on!" he said with great cheer. "I think that will fit you, Miss, come this way. And sir, you as well. You're not getting out of this!"

Archie took them to the dressing rooms. Sukuna kept peering at the robe oddly, it does look like the one Mother Tooru was working on for him but never finished. He felt strange to try it on.

However, the thing fit perfectly. Just how he likes it with the extra space in the arm sleeves. In fact, it was made like a women's kimono but broader in the shoulders for himself. "How does this fit me so well?" he wondered. His hands went into the sleeves until he felt something.

Paper?

Why was there paper in here?

He took it out, but, it was tattered, old and appeared very well aged. "What is…" he turned it over, but froze.

This writing…

"How… this is impossible! ARCHIE!" he roared.

"Not now!" he called back.

Sukuna got out of the change room but found the hall… shifted. It wasn't the same as before! "If you don't want to get lost, go back in the change room!" Archie called out once more.

He was reluctant, yet did as he was told.

Sukuna went back into the room… only to find his street clothing gone! 'Something is going on…' he thought.

With time to kill, he took a seat and then, stared at the note. He didn't dare to read it at first, but he knew the handwriting on the front of it, his name… it was Mother Tooru's style and this was left for him.

With care, he opened the letter.

'My dear Ryomen.

I have always looked forward to this day, to see and know that you will be happy. Our family cannot wait to welcome you into the clan and we will ensure that you and Chusi live happily ever after. However, you know that this isn't just our task alone to accomplish. As a Tooru, you protect the hopes and dreams of the clan, you protect those that are you kin be it blood or not. And I know you will be a wonderful edition. You have seen struggles, heartbreaks and victories. You know there are defeats, sadness and hope, just promise, you won't ever forget these.

I love you

Mother Tooru.

As well… I expect lots of grandchildren!'

His hand… trembled.

Mother Tooru… had such expectations of him, and he failed all of them. He was the King of Curses and for what? Power was everything and people meant nothing to him. If that was the case, why was he never happy unless he was fighting to the death? But, the Toorus… as powerful as they were, never had such emptiness in them. They knew they were powerful and yet, they never dwell upon it, flaunted their power or forced their ideas upon anyone despite the ability to do so.

They were always far happier than others he had come across, even in his madness. Perhaps part of his madness was wondering why they were content with what they had, and yet…

Plink…

Plink…

He paused, as the paper below him suddenly got wet.

He was shedding tears over this… and yet… why? "Why does this feel strange?"

He cleared away the tears and tried to settle himself. "Damn mortal emotions…" he muttered.

"Okay, you can come out now!" Archie called.

Sukuna sighed as he walked out of the change room.

The problem was, he wasn't in a hallway. Instead, he was staring down a procession, those of the domain were all dressed and watching him. "What the hell is going on!" he demanded.

The knockoff approached, and yet, why was he dressed in such odd robes… those robes are only worn for high statues people who are getting… married…

The Knockoff smiled wickedly. "Just fulfilling YOUR favor." He said rather proudly.

"WHAT FAVOR?!" he demanded.

Snap.

His fingers snapped as the brat came out of nowhere with his cellphone. Sukuna froze as he saw his drunk self claiming his favor from Suiryu. "I want a wedding worthy of a Tooru!" stuck out the most in his mind.

He froze stiff.

In fact, Sukuna felt as if the air were knocked out of his lungs.

"So this…"

"Is your wedding day," the knockoff decreed. "Granted, since the Heian time didn't really have anything for weddings and they were a bore, I made certain this one would be worthy of a Tooru, with a slight modern twist, so… take your place!" he pointed to the front of this elaborate set up. It was all outside and yet, everything was contained and it appeared as if they were within a shrine!

Nervously Sukuna made his way to the front of this, yet he peered at everyone. They were going to make a fool out of him weren't they? Yet, at the front, he saw Yua.

He turned to her and asked. "Are they serious about this?" he demanded.

She smiled and pointed to her husband… who was dressed for the occasion as well despite his altered appearance. If this was a joke, would he have bothered to get something custom made like that for a prank?

The answer is yes in his mind either way.

"This isn't a prank," she said gently.

"Huh?"

"I know that look on your face, it's the same as Satoru when he is on edge. You are right now, distrusting of everything around you. But, I assure you. You are here to be wed, since after all… THEY are officiating it."

He turned to the alter.

Lady Tiamat stood before him, with an elegant white dress on. She smiled warmly to him and waved him towards the alter.

Sukuna began to sweat nervously…