Chapter 23

Minutes felt like hours.

Nanami stepped up to ensure that everyone was back safe and sound, there have been wounded but thankfully no casualties on their end. Yet the news was reporting of the attack at the high school, then other areas of interest which happened to be curse attacks.

However, one thing troubled him greatly.

"Has anyone seen Sukuna or Chusi?" he asked aloud.

They have been gone since early this morning, leaving around the same time as Satoru and Yua did for their outing, yet that was hours ago. It was now sunset and there have been no sign of either one.

Toji has gone out time and time again for patrols of the area but he has yet to see either one of them. "We better go into the city then," Nanami decreed.

Yet, before they could, Nanami paused. He felt… something was wrong. In fact, he turned to the hospital and saw Satoru coming out of it… but… this wasn't the same Satoru he knew. His blindfold was off, and he was pacing.

He shed no tears, but, the look on his face said it all. "Excuse me a moment." He said to Toji.

Instead, Toji went with him. They approached Satoru who looked to them, and shook his head.

"Yua…"

"Barely," he whispered. "But… our children… Nanami… we would have had triplets… could you believe that?" he said and smiled to him. "Triplets… I had a hard enough time with twins!"

"Are you seriously trying to crack a joke…" Toji said in a lecturing tone, however, Nanami put up his hand to silence him.

"He's not, this is how he processes a tragedy," he explained.

"Yuuji… Suiryu… Shoko… even the old goat! They brought in the old goat to try and… and yet… She wasn't supposed to get hurt! She said she could manage since there was a daemon gate down the street!"

He slid down the wall and stared up into the sky.

"Uh… is this normal?" Toji whispered.

"For him, no." Nanami said. "Normally, death doesn't affect him this way…"

"Wait, where the hell was that Suguru guy?!" Toji demanded. "I thought he should have been here…"

Actually, that was the right question to ask.

Where did Suguru go?

"Don't… don't blame him… Yua… is my wife." Satoru decreed. "He can't be there every time nor should I expect him to be…"

"Satoru…" Nanami began to say.

"My… my children are safe, right?" he asked.

Nanami nodded. "Traumatized, but safe… Rook is taking it hard that he lost some of his schoolmates in the attack. I lost track of Uraume in the confusion, at the same time, your clan came trying to get Shin. Mochi was kidnapped by a sorcerer named Trigun, however, Tanso saved her before he could do any harm to your daughter."

"Whoa, heavy, he's got enough…" Toji warned.

"He need to know or he will go mad wondering about his children." Nanami said bluntly. "Satoru, they are safe and back at home, Tanso is staying there in the mean time,"

Satoru then paused, his eyes widened in shock as he suddenly stared out into empty space. "Where's Sukuna?"

They paused.

"He has yet to return."

Satoru, slowly turned his head to Nanami. His eyes remained wide as if he had seen a ghost. "He hasn't come back yet? You do know Chusi is with him right? And if we were attacked…"

Nanami paused. "Damn it!" he cursed.

"What? Was this all a screw job or something? Distractions so they could get to… OH FUCK!" Toji protested.

"With me, now!" Nanami ordered.