Chapter 28
Gojo was beside himself.
He held on to Yua as if his life depended on it. She only whispers the words of her attacker's last words, but nothing more. She's limp in his arms, her face pale white as she appeared spaced out from it all.
Gojo has been blaming himself ever since. He got distracted, at the same time, Yua doesn't use curse energy when she is pregnant. Did the council know that?
They must have to do an attack on such a scale.
"Satoru?"
Peering up, he saw Suguru peer in. "Not now," he merely whispered.
Geto didn't leave. Instead, he pulled up a chair and took a seat. Gojo lay in bed with Yua, holding on to her closely. Geto peered over to her, he… looked sad for them. "The treatment is going well just so you know. Every day I see improvement." he said with great sincerity. But there was no reaction out of Satoru. "If there is anything more…" he stopped himself.
Satoru didn't realize he was crying.
His blindfold was off, and yet the tears, they refused to stop. "Satoru…"
"Why… WHY!" he demanded. "We… didn't do anything wrong…"
His words suddenly struck a cord with Geto, he froze, only to shed a tear or two himself. "Just like what the girls said… Mimiko and Nanako…" he shook his head. "We're no better, aren't we?"
Gojo knew what he was getting at, but at the same time, he didn't care if Suguru was having his moment of clarity. "No better?" Gojo whispered. "Of course we're no better. Suguru, look at us!" he snapped at him. "All… Yua and her family ever wanted was for everyone to have a chance to live, to have a fulfilling life even if they themselves didn't obtain it. I agree with some of your ideas, from what you had before… at the same time, what does it solve? Nothing. We're in no better state than what we were before, we're not gaining anything more, nothing improves our lives."
"The elders send their regards." Weakly came out of Yua, she turned herself enough to hide her face into Satoru's chest. He braced her closely to him.
"I could go… and kill every last one of them, and yet, what would it solve? You and I both know the elders don't put all their eggs in one basket. Right now, I have no doubt they are hiding themselves, fearful that I am going to strike back against them… I want to… SO BADLY to do so… but I am not leaving Yua like this."
"What if I do it for you?"
Gojo paused as he stared his former best friend in the eyes, but that look he possessed… he meant it.
"Not just him…"
Peering towards the door, Toji stood at the ready with twenty of his best and strongest students. "We can make it real quick, in and out, no one will know." He insisted. "Six Eyes… point and shoot!"
"Also, Choso and his brothers are waiting to see what you decide. They wish to assist in the matter." Suguru explained. "We've been… planning something ever since this happened. Yet, Lady Tiamat told us to hold off. Even Sukuna since the council would expect retaliation. However, at the moment, this is working in our favor since as Sukuna said, we didn't strike back right away. They think our system of order has broken down into nothing… we've merely been biding our time…"
He thought about it. "I need time to consider my options. At the moment, the elders are in hiding. They won't be at the school, finding them… I want to be the one that does so. But… at the same time…" he hesitated. "When a grand scale attack occurs, the elders and those of the top ring go into hiding for nearly a year…"
Nothing would please Satoru more than to go and hunt down not just the bastards, but everyone who answers their calls to arms… their orders without hesitation or regards to their target. But there are too many to hunt down, they have spread themselves across Japan after the incident. Knowing payback was coming.
They could only bide their time.
"I'm not going anywhere until Yua is better… I went as far as trading with Sukuna… by tomorrow, what we were when Chusi switched us before… I'll be again."
It took Suguru by surprise. "What? Why?!"
"So I can tend to her better and make certain that she feel safe. I'll have four arms to do it." He meant every word of it.
Suguru sighed aloud. "Well then, I guess I'll stick around too…"
Toji sneered. "So… no strike?" he asked.
"Apparently not right now…" Suguru said gently.
"Sensei…"
"What Mikey?"
One of his students showed him his cellphone. Toji froze as he took the phone away and stared into the screen. "Hey… Six eyes… someone beat you to it!"
Gojo was stunned, he peered up as the phone revealed breaking news. Three massive tremors have been felt all over Japan, the strongest coming from Kyoto and Tokyo. "Three guesses where the wonder twins went too." But paused. "Wait, they said three massive tremors right?" he muttered.
"There are only two Itadoris." Suguru said offhandedly. "… you don't think?" he asked.
Gojo paused to the notion… did… Sukuna just go with them?
#
It was suppose to be a normal evening at the school in Kyoto.
However the paperwork was catching up to them. The police investigation, government interference, the dragon slayers… it was getting too much to juggle all at once considering what they are suppose to be doing.
But, one knows you never go against Kenjaku, since he can be anyone at any time! Even now according to the council and the new elders that no one knows his current appearance.
Matters have worsen in recent days, not only has the Japanese government been demanding answers from the jujutsu society on recent events, someone else has gained their ear.
Sadly, this young sorcerer happened to be there when the whole thing happened. He was brought as a note taker. Yet, when they went into the meeting room. There were others who sat with the government representatives. What startled the young sorcerer in question was this.
Those two men should be dead.
Kento Nanami, announced dead at the Shibuya incident years and years ago. Kokichi "Mechamaru" Muta sat next to him… he died from a curse attack, his body is buried at the school… and yet…
"Gentlemen, please, sit."
It was strange, the tension in the room could be cut with a knife, and yet, the young sorcerer wondered… why were his superiors trembling right now? In the room there was one special grade, 4 first grade and 12 second grade… why are they so scared?
"We have been in contact with this group of sorcerers that you have claimed have abandoned their duties as sorcerers and betrayed the elders, is that what really happened?"
There was silence.
No one could bring themselves to speak, partly, they are pissed off that a monkey is questioning their reasoning!
"With all due respect, I don't think it matters what they have said to you. Information can be confirmed and denied easily. But our actions speak for ourselves." Kento Nanami said in a calm yet firm voice. "We have proven and shown the results of our work, despite the fact we are not coordinating let alone cooperating with the council on the matter, we still take our jobs seriously. Not many can exorcise a curse besides us."
"Wait just a minute, you are going to take his word for it!" the special grade sorcerer protested.
"Koya!"
"No, let me finish, you need to understand gentlemen, you speak with puppets! The two men before you they died many years ago during what we call the Shibuya incident! They are dead! And yet, how can you stand before me claiming to be Kento Nanami and Kokichi Muta!"
The two men didn't appear startled by the accusation. "Sorcerers have abilities to return through… various methods. We don't deny that during the Shibuya incident we were killed." Nanami said.
"In fact, if the council likes and our friends here, we can tell them exactly how we died! How we came back… that's another story." Muta explained
Koya peered at the government officials, expecting them to say something…
"We know and read the reports about it, despite the fact you two were killed and medical examiner's report indicated so. We are still open to hear what needs to be said, we have been observing BOTH sides and we found that those who didn't answer the council… gave better results."
"Sir…" Koya said in a seething tone. "They betrayed us!"
"We were not part of that incident," Nanami said calmly. "Therefore our word can be taken at that. We have spoken about areas were we are indeed lacking, but we have also made a counter proposal as to what we need to do in order to improve ourselves as such."
"What is this? High school? In case you people forgot, you have NO WAY of fighting curses WITHOUT us. Are you seriously going to rely on traitors and those who SHOULD be dead with the lives of the people of Japan?" Koya demanded.
The government officials paused to this and sighed. "We will reconvene in a few months time to see what need and can be done. For the time being, continue to protect the people of Japan…"
That day left a rotten taste in everyone's mouth.
Kenjaku has been informed, but he insisted that there was something on the way, that was a while ago, perhaps another attack on the Tooru clan was in place, but he had other take care of it.
Either way.
Today was suppose to be quite, just gathering paper work, writing reports and preparing to counter strike those who dared to betray the society of Jujutsu. Oddly enough, the elders have gone deep into hiding since the attack on Tooru. "If they didn't counter then and there, why would they now?" the young clerk muttered.
Lee was only a third grade sorcerer, rarely used out in the field but he has been getting more field work since there have been… a lack of sorcerers. The council has been deciding on what to do, since they don't take anyone in who doesn't have a reputation.
Oddly enough, there have been some in the past few years that they had been interested in but never acted on. The school is as stubborn as always, they either have to be recommended by a trusted and powerful sorcerer, or they have to have the blood of the three great families flowing in their veins.
They haven't had any new students in two years.
Not to mention, the students they did receive… barely any survived their first year, and vanished the second.
Kyoto has had some but, Tokyo, not so much. Lee sighed to this as he continued his work until… something felt odd.
He peered out the window and froze. "Isn't… isn't that the demon vessel to Sukuna?" he whispered.
"What?!" he jumped not realizing there was someone lingering in the same hall. His superior, Koya paused and peered out the window. He snorted a laugh. "He has a death wish!"
Before either man could make a move, someone rushed out. In fact, he knew the demon vessel and was trying to speak with him. "What the hell is that useless Ijichi doing?"
Not just him either. Ijichi, Nitta and Kusakabe were rushing out to him, they seem stunned to something.
"They look spooked." Lee whispered.
"Not as spooked as that demon vessel will be after this…" Koya smirked as he rushed outside with his best men. If they take the head of Sukuna's vessel, it's instant prestige!
Lee wanted a closer look himself.
He rushed outside and saw those who had confronted the demon vessel earlier, moved behind him. His superior and his comrades were confronting him still.
"Is this a joke?!" Koya demanded. "There is what… ONE of you! Do you think your Satoru Gojo or Ryomen Sukuna?!"
Lee made his way to the back and asked. "What's going on?"
"Basically the demon vessel is saying surrender or die."
Lee froze.
He has read everything about Yuuji Itadori. He doesn't like killing people nor would do so out of cold blood, and yet… peering pass the masses, there was this blank look in his eyes. It didn't matter what would be said, he intends on doing what he came here to do…
But… what is it?
No sorcerer alive unless they are Satoru Gojo or Sukuna would dare come to a school that has various sorcerers within who are capable of handling a special grade with ease due to numbers.
"Last warning, move… or die where you stand! I won't let ANY OF YOU come after Yua again!"
Wait, this is retaliation? Why is the demon vessel here and not Satoru Gojo?
"Tsk, YOU? You don't even have curse energy anymore!" Koya laughed. "Boys, do him in!"
Itadori began to smolder and smoke. When he started to, everyone suddenly backed up, farther and farther away from him as the smoke continued to grow and billow out of his body… it went up too, black soot began to fill the grounds before them… until massive demonic eyes came out from the shadow, the smoke cleared and the school froze in fear that day.
For staring down at them was a dragon… who didn't appear willing to listen to reason anymore.
His mouth began to open, fire gathered within the back of his throat.
Lee only remembered a bright light coming over his eyes…
