Chapter 24

Earlier…

It was a nice, peaceful walk.

Granted, not even Sukuna realized that he would enjoy something like this and yet… he peered down at Chusi who was grinning from ear to ear, clenching on his right arm like a devoted lover. "Come on, you are looking desperate" he muttered to her.

She giggled it off and slipped her hand into his. "Is it strange you don't have someone with you to babysit?" she asked.

"Tsk, I have a babysitter… you!" he said defiantly.

She giggled to that.

"By the way… you were gone all day yesterday… where did you go?" she asked in a hinting tone.

He was rather silent about it, however, yesterday… he called in a favor. Lady Tiamat happened to be around, she was asking her brats for some help when she noticed him lingering in wait.

She dismissed the two before approaching, she was curious. "And what brings you to me?" she asked gently.

He sighed. "This child that is to come… I wish to redeem a favor that is owed to me."

She looked curious. "If you don't want this child, you cannot have it wished away as a favor." She said.

But he shook his head. "No, but, promise me, when the time comes. This child is born safe and sound permitted there is no danger to that child or to Chusi!" he decreed. "That… is my favor."

She was taken aback by it, but a smile came over her. "I can agreed to that, in fact. I will offer you a blessing for your child if you do one favor for me… bring me Suguru if you don't mind?"

He paused oddly. "You'll give my child a blessing… if I bring you Shellboy?" he asked in disbelief. But he shrugged his shoulders to it all. "So be it, I agree."

He did what was asked of him. Since then, he hasn't seen Shellboy.

"Ryo?"

He shook his head. "I was helping Lady Tiamat with something," he said, but didn't mention what it was. "Besides, it's not important."

Chusi merely smiled to him.

They were having a date of sorts, and yet. Sukuna felt there was something wrong. "Are you okay?" she asked.

They were just having a meal when he paused, something from the corner of his left eye was caught but…

"If you think we're being stalked, I assure you, there are no sorcerers. I don't sense any" she said confidently.

His mind was at ease, but, he refused it ignore his warrior instinct. "Let's stay in crowded areas today… okay?" he asked of her.

Chusi agreed.

They finished their meal before venturing back outside. But, things were strange.

The streets didn't have as many humans walking about as before. In fact…

"Is it just me, or does it appear people are being moved out of the area?" he asked of her.

She looked about and nodded.

Police officers were escorting people away from the street they stood on.

His senses went into overdrive.

Sukuna could pick up on subtle smells, despite the amount of humans in the streets, he could pick out what belongs and what doesn't. "Leather" he whispered.

"Ryo?" she whispered.

"Dragon slayers" he said below his breath.

Chusi paused. "Why would they be after us?"

He knew he killed those who tried to take out the brat, knockoff and the boy. There was no way they would know it was him who did such a thing…

He took in the smell once more. "Brain fluid…"

Chusi froze. "Kenjaku? But, he's a sorcerer, I should…"

"Swapped bodies, he is probably in another that hides curse energy… a divine user" he explained.

He wasn't taking such risks, Sukuna began to move Chusi out of the streets. They have to get back to the domain. Yet, before he could sense a daemon gate. Sukuna… felt a pain in his heart.

"AH!" he froze and grabbed on to the wall as his heart ached and began to beat rapidly.

"Ryo! Come on, let's go here!" Chusi held him up but brought him into an alleyway to hide and recover. But his heart wouldn't settle.

"Something is wrong… Yua! Something has happened to Yua!"

"Too late for that… and besides, I thought this was Yua Tooru?"

He endured the pain in his chest as he got to his feet. Sukuna stood before Chusi as he stared down a man with blond hair and English accent. He smirked. "Despite calling you a creep in a public bathroom… you have yet to change shells"

He smirked. "Ryomen Sukuna…" he said fearlessly. "That's right, I can say your name now. I have connections when I swapped into this body. Granted, a little too foreign for my taste but it does the job well enough" Kenjaku said with a grin. "So, you know Yua has been attacked… she's not the only one having a bit of a hard time… that bastard of the Kamo clan for one… he's about to power the next generation of weapons, they are turning him to a fine, curse powder as we speak…"

Toshi? He went after Toshi too!?

"Then there's the high school where the six eyes sent his children and the demon vessel… I did warn Uraume not to harm them since I have use for them still. However, they are rather upset to know that you have been here this whole time and never told them! How shameful…"

So, that pain in his chest… that was Toshi wasn't it? However, Sukuna felt oddly throughout his body, no doubt it the pain Yua is going through now.

"So, now then, it's come to this." Kenjaku peered pass him and stared at Chusi. "I think she is a little defective, don't you?"

He was about to protest until…

"Oh, not at all, if anything. I can prepare the master's favorite meal once more…" Sukuna's blood ran cold as he turned and saw Uraume standing at the entrance of the alleyway. They bore such a proud smile to him. "Master, why did you lie to me? I don't mind the least bit, you can make it up to me by allowing me to serve you once more."

He sneered. "Your services are no longer required"

However, Uraume's smile didn't vanish. "Now, now master. You don't think rationally when you are hungry… for that matter. You are not acting like yourself at all, but we can fix that. Rather easily" they said with great sincerity.

Then he saw movement, Kenjaku came from behind and took aim for Chusi, however, he turned her just in time and took the strike himself.

Right into his heart.

"RYOMEN!" Chusi roared as he dropped to his knees. Kenjaku kept the blade where it was and refused to let Sukuna remove it.

"Come on, binding vow with me, just like before. Pledge to me that you will return to your old ways, and I vow to you, I will let you burn the world as you see fit! Come now, accept it!" his hand extended to him. Sukuna glared down at it before shoving Kenjaku away, yet the dagger remained stuck in his chest.

"I… refuse," he said before collapsing.

No one moved.

#

"Ryomen…" Chusi whispered.

Kenjaku was smiling. "Ah, I knew that wasn't a waste…" he said with great satisfaction. "By the way, Tooru, you're not the only one connected to a dragon… in fact, this one has been very kind to me and assisting with this plan. He distracted the demon ones so I could work unhindered… and now, that dagger… well… let's say it will help jog old memories for him!"

Why…

Chusi froze fearfully, she had only done so once before in her life, and that was when Sukuna had turned evil. She didn't know how to process this, she didn't know how to fight back… why would she feel like this and now of all times!?

"Now, Kenjaku?" she turned sharply, Uraume was approaching her with ill intent in their eyes. "I can make her into a feast for the master…"

"I think you should wait, after all, he would appreciate your cooking far more if he is forced to eat his meals raw… don't you agree? Distance makes the heart grow fonder!" Kenjaku said with a big smile on his face.

He snapped his fingers.

Five sorcerers came into the alleyway, blocking her path of escape. "Ensure she doesn't leave… and make certain she is the first person he sees when he comes to. Ryomen Sukuna is going to be hungry…" Kenjaku decreed.

She merely watched as Kenjaku and Uraume left… she didn't do a thing to stop them… she couldn't bring herself to fight.

The men blocking her, they were legions of Sukuna's as well. Awaiting their master's return with eager eyes.

"He's going to eat her in one bite!" one snickered.

"Two at the most!" laughed another.

She turned to yell at them, but the moment she did… the five sorcerers… were torn to shreds.

She sensed no curse energy from that.

But… if she sensed no…

Chusi tried to call upon her technique, there was no curse energy to summon. "That only happens if…" Chusi froze, but slowly, she turned.

In the alleyway, his eyes glowed a sinister red. Over his body, thick, black curse marks. Sukuna's appearance altered to when he had curse energy…

Meaning, he has his power back!

Chusi trembled as his eyes locked on to her. She stumbled back as he started to stalk Chusi slowly in the alleyway. "Ryomen… do… do you remember me?"