Chapter 3

Back at the school…

Kiyoshi felt eyes were on him, consistently on him. Peering about, he wouldn't be able to tell who stared at him so intensely just yet, but he is aware of the attention.

"I got that vibe too,"

Rook came up beside him. "Feels like you are being watched?"

"No shit, and this couldn't happen at a worst time…" he whispered. Kiyoshi lifted the left side of his shirt, Rook took a moment to peer and nodded. "My curse marks are coming back in… I don't know why…" he whispered.

"You might be growing again," Rook replied. "Just keep an eye on them, and if you get them on your wrist or any visible skin, let the girls know, they got makeup."

"I need to see if dad can make me a charm or something. Uncle Suiryu had one to cover up his marks before…"

They conversation ended as they reached gym class. Today was odd as they were doing something different according to the teacher. "The vice principal is insisting on martial art lessons… as odd as that is, but anyways. We are going to have you pair up, we are going to show you some moves and then you train with each other."

Rook's hand went up.

"I'm aware, Gojo. I am pairing you with Itadori. I'll have the Fushiguros spar with one another knowing your skills and talents. However if you have some ideas…"

Rook instantly volunteered as he took over the class. He began to show them moves and explained the principle as well as concept behind them. Kiyoshi realized, this was a martial art Sukuna used often. It was his style as well as form… is Rook trying to perfect it? He didn't know, let alone understood why Rook would go through the trouble.

Then he felt the eyes piercing him once more.

Turning his head just far enough, Kiyoshi saw them lingering. The vice Principal.

However, they glared at Rook with such anger. Their teeth were gritted as they suddenly came to the forefront of the class. "Mr… Gojo is it?"

Rook paused. "I prefer my given name, Rook."

"I could care less coming from you… what form are you using?" they asked bitterly.

"Oh, this is a martial art from the Heian period, its purpose is for…"

"I am aware, but what form are you using?" they demanded once more.

Rook paused oddly, the tone was asking otherwise. They weren't questioning the form itself… the VP was asking, where he learned this. Since everyone has a different style of fighting… no doubt Sukuna's would be unique due to his body structure.

"Just something I picked up, is something wrong?" he asked innocently.

They bit their lower lip. "Change your form, you are unworthy of using it!" they said through gritted teeth. "In fact, sensei… take over, I don't want this one showing any more martial arts!"

"What? Rook is amazing though!"

"Yeah, we learned a lot from him!"

Kiyoshi was surprised to see the students all rally behind Rook, yet, as they did. He felt something… familiar… in fact… Kiyoshi began to realize… he saw this person before. There was a haze that came over the vice Principal, but when it dissipated, Kiyoshi suddenly began to recall them.

He stumbled back a little realizing who it was.

"Uraume…" he muttered.

Yet as the students tried to protest, Kiyoshi turned to Rook and nodded fearfully to him.

"Hey, let's respect what the VP wants, apparently I shouldn't be teaching this… you know, they are right. I'm no teacher!" Rook decreed as he stepped aside.

But the glare he got, not to mention the quick spike in curse energy, although brief… it was there and noticeable.

When the class ended. Kiyoshi turned to Rook. "Dude, you look pale… did something happen?"

Kiyoshi leaned in. "The VP… is Uba's most devoted follower" he whispered. "They… they are the ones who killed a monk that I knew from Sukuna's temple… and made a feast out of him."

"I thought I smelt something familiar on them… they do have a strong Oji scent… but there is a lot of curse and blood mixed in. What do we do?"

"I want to know why they are here, no doubt after me. Since my father was his vessel, right?" he paused. "Not to mention… they were there when Uba was going to make me his new vessel…"

Rook paused to this, he sighed and nodded. Taking out his phone, he was about to text his mother, when suddenly. It was taken from him! "What's this?"

Peering up, he looked into the eyes of the principal.

"My phone, I'm not in class, I am not disrupting the lesson…"

"Prohibited!" He took the phone away with a smirk on his face. Then, his eyes shifted to Kiyoshi. "Ah… Mr.… Itadori… I finally got to see what the fuss was about…"

"I hope I lived up to your expectations…" Kiyoshi replied. "Excuse us…"

They began to leave, yet, once more, noticed no one was in the hallways. "You're an abomination, you know that? Your father has killed thousands and has yet to pay for his crimes!"

He froze.

Kiyoshi clenched his fists as he turned to glare at the principal. Rook, however, turned him back around and kept him moving. "Baiting you, keep going, your eyes turned." He whispered.

They kept going until Rook felt it was safe.

Kiyoshi had to calm himself down, at the same time… the curse marks were leeching back into his skin…

#

The school has made it clear… well… the jujutsu society has made it somewhat clear as to their intentions. They don't take insults lying down, nor defeat despite the fact they were the ones cheating.

On the other hand, why Uraume is here… that worries Kiyoshi the most. They know who he is no doubt about it, and yet… why are they in the school?

When the lessons ended for the day, everyone was silent until they got some distance away from the grounds. "What the actual hell?!" demanded Ankoku.

"I know right!" protested Amaya.

"This is beyond harassment, not to mention the attack we had a while back…"

"What attack, Rook?" asked Mochi.

He explained that he and Hoshi were helping the sumo team when sorcerers came. It was shortly after a group of girls from various clans started to flirt with him. But, when they learned he was a Gojo with no technique, needless to say they ratted them out. Sorcerers came, some even from dad's side of the family due to the bounty out on my head…"

"What?!" demanded the Fushiguro sisters. "Who would dare…"

"Any sorcerer family that doesn't like a particular person… they will put hits out on them." Explained Hoshi. "But that's besides the point here…"

"Yeah, ever since the track and field meet, there has been a change up at the school. Are they really that bent out of shape because we won fairly… sort of?" Rook asked aloud, but it got everyone else to snicker.

"I am more concerned about Uraume," said Kiyoshi. "We should tell our parents, right?"

"What do you think? Are we asking the right questions here? If Uraume is here, there is something they are after, aren't they?"

"They know I have connections to Uba since dad has him reigned in."

"Right, but at the same time, they don't know that, do they? Are they aware of Oji's existence now? Or are they looking for clues to find him?" Rook asked. "If anything, we ought to ask Oji himself. He knows this Uraume better than anyone else, right?"

Kiyoshi was against it.

"Rook, with all due respect, Uba may still have some respect towards Uraume. They are their most loyal follower, and has stayed at his side…"

Everyone else however, appeared unconvinced.

"Kiyoshi… you do know it was Uraume who killed my aunt the first time around when Oji went mad, right? They were the ones who made her into a feast for him… and their unborn child."

Kiyoshi paused, but then nodded. "I doubt Oji is going to be thrilled to see them, after recalling that." Mochi said. "If anything, I think they are observing. They know something is afoot, at the same time… they might be plotting something…"

"We should tell our parents." Kiyoshi stated.

"I think we need to tell Oji first," said Rook.

"Why?!" Kiyoshi protested. "He's not going to care!"

Rook was silent at first, but sighed. "If anyone knows Uraume, it is him, correct? He may know their mindset a little better than our parents. At the same time, I know if auntie catches wind of Uraume, they are going for blood. I don't think now is the time for that either."

Kiyoshi didn't agree to the notion, however, Rook has been very calculating. He thinks things through and usually has ideas no one would consider. But, to ask Sukuna of all people… he feels it is a wrong move on their part.

"We can also speak with Nanami sensei too" said Hoshi.

"Nanami will tell mom, knowing him…" warned Shin. He sighed. "I think I have to go with Rook on this. We can't stress mom out. Dad probably won't do anything. But… there is a reason why they are here… Oji will know better than anyone else."

Kiyoshi sighed. "So be it… I'll ask him since I am having trouble with some of my abilities, in fact. Raynn took a good chunk of power away from me…"

"Oh? What did he take?" asked Rook.

"I rather not talk about it now… then again…" Peering down at his arm. Kiyoshi saw the curse marks coming back in again…