Chapter 26

Monday

Everyone appeared to be refreshed for school.

Suguru was about to see the kids off when he took Mochi off to the side. "Everything okay now?" he asked gently of her.

She smiled… she smiles like her mother. But when her eyes open… that grin became like her father's! "I'm just fine now, Pops! Thank you." She said and gave him a gentle kiss on his cheek. They had their lunches packed and were ready to go.

Rook however paused. "Oh, Pops, I might be late tonight. I promised to help out the sumo team, tomorrow the wrestling team…" apparently, he has booked himself to help the other clubs.

He understood. "Do you want me to delay dinner then?"

"Nah, it's okay. Besides, those guys are going to owe me one, so we'll see."

"I'll be sure to make extras just in case you work yourself ragged. Everyone, have a wonderful day… Rook, try not to beat them up too much."

"No promises!" he decreed.

The children met up with Kiyoshi and the Fushiguros before vanishing. Suguru shook his head to it all. It was amazing to what a weekend could accomplish.

Rook and Toji had figured out a way to see auras of humans trapped in curses… for some reason, Toji allowed himself to be eaten by a few curses so Rook could try and sense him within. It took four tries until he was able to pick up on the notion. How and why Toji didn't mind doing such a thing… then again. Suguru remembered how he lost his rainbow dragon to him…

With the kids seen to, Suguru did some light cleaning before going out to see what could be done today. As of late, he has been helping Toshi with the sake. After all, Toshi is a father, he wants to get home to his kids.

Today however, it sounded like he had plans.

"I am taking the children out for ice cream later. I have yet to do so… I cannot miss such an opportunity!" he decreed.

Suguru smirked and nodded. "You got to make those core memories with them when they are young!" he laughed.

Toshi smiled and nodded. "So, any word on you and Yua?"

He froze. Suguru peered up and saw a rather cheeky grin come over the once, noble sorcerer. "You've been around Sukuna too long!" he protested. "Besides, I am not going to force the issue. I have no right to, as well. Why does Yua NEED a second husband! No one has told me THAT reason yet…"

"I think if it has been spoke, it is for a good reason. After all, Chusi saw it. Apparently Sukuna saw it too. Anyone else telling you?" he asked.

He refused to speak of Lady Tiamat trying to convince him. After all, if he mentioned her name, it maybe a done deal in his mind. But, he kept silent.

"I may not completely understand Chusi's methods, however, she has been on the mark with many others. Her technique is the soul after all, is it not?"

"Don't remind me…" he muttered. "Look, I am just trying to figure out what to do with myself. It's not easy to reinvent everything from scratch!"

Toshi… glared at him oddly.

"Ah, point taken…" Suguru had to admit, despite his dilemma, it's nothing compared to what Toshi has gone through.

"Well, we got everyone separated, aged and bottled. We will make the deadline for our latest shipment. Thanks for your help."

"No problem. I'll come by later to get a bottle for myself if that's fine with you?"

Toshi agreed, he even offered him two bottles for his efforts!

He then went around the domain. But paused as he saw Yuuji with his two youngest children with the gorilla of a sorcerer Todo.

"They grow up fast, brother. I remembered when they were as small as their sister!"

"Dad… is he REALLY our uncle?" came out of Wasuke.

Yuuji was about to speak when Todo did.

"Of course! Your father and I go way back! We won our high school baseball championship!"

"That never happened," said Yuuji.

"He helped me heal from a broken heart when I had my first crush"

"Never happened," Yuuji said once more.

"We would always read the new manga on the rooftop of the school at the end of the day…"

"We didn't go to the same school."

Despite everything Todo said, Yuuji stated it never happened, since it didn't. After all, Todo is Yuuji's senior by almost four years.

So what Itadori is saying is true, but, why is Todo so adamant that it happened?

Either way, Suguru forced a little laugh after noticing such a thing. Itadori sure has his hands full!

He was quick to move alone but take everything in.

"Why are you doing Yua's patrols?"

He paused for a moment, behind him, Megumi lingered.

"This is her patrol route? Honestly, I didn't even notice." He was truthful on that too!

Megumi said nothing and yet, he found he had company as he walked around. They didn't speak. Suguru knows better than to force a topic with Fushiguro. But it wasn't long before he started to speak on his own.

"Thanks… for the outing…" he said offhandedly. "I feel a little better today. I got rid of the ears at least but…" he peered behind him as the tail remained.

"Little steps, it's all you can do." Suguru explained. "Trust me, you have it easier. Need I remind you how I got stuck in a toilet?"

It forced a small smile on him, but it was quick to fade. "But this… this is nothing like working on a technique." He said bluntly. "It's as if someone ripped you out of your body and put you in a new one!"

"I have SOME experience on that…" Suguru said offhandedly.

"Being ripped from your body, no kidding…"

"I know I shouldn't say anything, since, I can't imagine what you are going through. At the same time, I can't help but be jealous of you."

"What's there to be jealous of?" Megumi asked. "How could you…"

"Because, you are becoming something greater than I could have imagined… not to mention, I have little doubt that Yua is going to be joining you soon enough right? It would be foolish if she is overlooked." Yet, after uttering those words, he paused oddly. "Strange, if I were lady Tiamat, I would have turned her first… why wasn't she?"

Megumi paused as well, he thought it over himself before agreeing with him. "It's as if the order is opposite. I think Sukuna was going…" he paused. Megumi shuttered. He turned away on the notion.

"Ah, now this… THIS I can assist you with, that is you want my help… we've both been possessed by madmen working together haven't we?"

He was quite, and yet, a nod came from Megumi!

"Can we talk somewhere but here?"

Suguru nodded. "Let's head to the mountains, no one is really out there, we can talk freely if you wish."

Megumi surprisingly, took him up on the offer.