Chapter 2 is here.

Took longer than expected but I fell behind on the schedule.

Still sticking to more slow pace slice of life type of interactions.

September 27th, 2018

7:55 AM

He was finally back.

After 8 long months away from the place Yuuta had learned to call home, to say he felt relief would be an understatement.

A part of him certainly had come to enjoy Kenya and the different opportunities it brought to a foreign sorcerer, it could never touch this place.

He had been standing still for a minute now, taking in the image hoping to ingrain it in his head.

One foot planted in front of the other he started towards the classroom that current students should be in. Gojo hadn't informed him of the schedule so for all he knew they could be on missions or an entirely different room.

A moment flashed in his mind.

Even if it probably wasn't the room they were in at the moment he wanted to visit the place it had all started, the classroom where all 3 of his closest companions had been just seconds away from killing him the day they first met.

'Ha, what a journey it's been'.

Yuuta also had to say he was curious about the other first year. He had met and talked to Megumi Fushiguro a number of times but the other two first years were a mystery to him. What didn't escape was the unavoidable news that shook the jujutsu world so violently.

Ryomen Sukuna.

Shockingly he had never even heard the name until his foreign travels. Why was that? He made it almost a year into his Jujutsu studies and he never even heard the name of the strongest sorcerer in history. Gojo could probably beat him though.

He remembered asking Miguel about Sukuna, and he too was shocked that Yuuta had never heard of the famed "king of curses". And while Miguel had not known anything about the abilities of the sorcerer he did know some of the history, and it was quite the gruesome one. Sukuna truly was a vile creature. Through some means however he had split his soul into his 20 fingers and over the past several hundred years he had managed to live on.

To think a human was capable of caging such a horrific monster, whoever the vessel was had to be quite the remarkable person.

Ah, the classroom is just around the corner. Picking up the pace a little he scurried towards the sliding door. A couple away from it hear the sounds of chatter. The conversation they were having died quickly the closer he came to the door, even after all the training he still had no success in reeling in his own cursed energy.

Classroom 10 minutes prior…

"Students please have a seat while we wait for our esteemed company and long lost prodigy" Gojo exclaimed trying to add as much flair as possible striking a dramatic pose every other word.

The entire class didn't give him or his words a second thought though. They were so absorbed in their own discussion that they didn't even notice that the classroom had been prepped with 7 desks; two seats missing for Yuuji and Yuuta.

'If only they paid attention, they should know by now I do everything with a reason' The strongest sorcerer alive thought. His Six Eyes could already tell that Yuuta was outside the building just off the way the cursed energy in the room seemed to fizzle and meander. Like the ripples in a pond. At some point he just decided to quiet down and wait for Yuuta to close in on their classroom. He had chosen this one specifically for nostalgia. It felt almost too easy of a choice to make. Maki, Toge, and Panda seemed to have caught on as well. While he waited he might as well listen in on the conversation his precious pupils were having.

"Panda tell Nobara how I totally wiped the floor with Yuuta every time we sparred"

"C'mon Maki you know I think you're crazy strong but this is a special grade sorcerer, no way he would just get demolished like you say. It sounds pathetic" Nobara tried to reason

"Well Kugisaki, you see-"

"Nevermind Megumi answer instead"

Said person was trying his hardest to avoid the conversation, but the universe had it out for him today.

"Well. from the few matches I had observed it did seem fairly one sided, but most of those came in the first 3 months Okkotsu had been at the school. I doubt Zen'in would've kept sparring with him if it was one sided". He answered in what he hoped was the most inoffensive way possible.

"Tuna Mayo"

"Yeah Toge, what made Yuuta special grade in the first place was Rika, so I really don't know when or how he became a special grade again" Panda elaborated.

"Who's Rika?" Nobara quizzically responded, as far as she knew there were only 4 second years including Okkotsu at Tokyo Jujutsu high.

"Well to be honest, we really don't know that much but we do know that she was a girl Yuuta knew a long time ago. At some point she died but couldn't pass on because she loved Yuuta too much." Panda again provided.

"What does that mean?"

"Rika was turned into a curse, and a very strong one too. She would just always be following Yuuta, like his shadow. At first it was kinda unnerving but she seemed to settle down the more comfortable Yuuta got around us" The Cursed corpse again informed.

"Wow. that's…some pretty heavy stuff"

"10 months ago, Yuuta defended the school from a dangerous threat but in order to do so he had to make a vow with Rika to leave with her to the afterlife or something like that. I don't really know how, maybe she changed her mind but Yuuta was still able to live on. Unfortunately he was sent to train abroad."

In the moment the second years had sullen expressions, remembering how they had failed to protect Yuuta from the eye of Suguru Geto. Maki herself looked out the window at nothing in particular.

She had thought about that day a lot. Her conversation with Yuuta, his encouraging words, but mostly her crippling defeat. Her leg had been torn off and she was forced to cling to life in a pool of her own blood. She was rendered completely helpless, if there was one feeling in the world Maki despised it would be helpless. Reminding her of the time she spent in the Zen'in compound, a time when she had little control over her own life and was powerless. She promised herself she would never feel like that again. Endless training and conditioning of her body along with her innate physicality made her feel as if she was in peak form. Yet, She couldn't help but compare herself with the other more gifted students. Yuuta and Megumi had such outstanding talent, their teacher had recognized it too, from the very beginning. Contrasted with her who had almost no cursed energy, scorned by her own family. Yet Gojo had apparently seen potential in her as well.

Flashback…

Maki furiously swung her spear at the training dummy. It immediately was flung across the room due to her immense strength. Under usual circumstances she would never waste her time on a stupid dummy. But today she was especially furious.

She was assigned a normal mission, it was supposed to be easy. Toge was also there because it was a grade 3 mission but because of her family she was stuck at grade 4.

Simply put, she was useless. The curses turned out to be surprisingly strong, grade 2 with their own techniques. They had the ability to make their shape an almost liquid like shape. Any attempt to land a hard blow on the curse would force it into using its technique. She had to rely entirely on Toge as well because she had misplaced her curse tool when the building collapsed. She could easily throttle the curses with her own bare hands but she wasn't fast enough, the curses would just use their techniques to always avoid her lethal blows.
By the time she had found her spear the curses had long since been dealt with and the abandoned hospital cleared out. Not much conversation was made in the car, Toge could probably see the anger she had towards herself and decided not to comment on it.

So that's how she ended up here. Flinging a 50 pound dummy back and forth across the room like it was nothing. After a particularly hard throw and now a particularly noticeable dent in the goal post of the soccer field she had decided that she had done enough. So she made her way to steps where she sat down flatly to brood more.

"Phew, quite a wreck you made there" came an annoying voice she had gotten tired of hearing far too quickly.

"Yeah I guess, shove it and leave" Maki's tight voice came out.

Satoru Gojo looked blankly at her. She didn't look at him. 'Proud as always' he thought with a chuckle.

"I'm your teacher you know you can talk to me about these types of frustrations"

"You've taught me jack"

"Hehe well I guess you could probably say that but I'm still the strongest so I can always help" He offered back.

'What the hell, might as well,' Maki thought with a defeated expression.

"I felt so damn weak today. Those damn curses, they were not strong at all by my own strength didn't mean shit. I couldn't land any solid blows. And I was stupid enough to forget my own cursed tool." She sounded like she was at a loss, it showed on her own face well.

Gojo wasn't exactly good at feelings on this kind of matter, he was the strongest so he couldn't truly relate to this weakness. However, it made him remember the one man who made him realize that despite his strength he was still mortal.

"Y'know, you have your own great potential as a sorcerer too. You possess a skill set and certain attributes that nobody else seems to have". The more he thought about it, the more the connections lined up between the young Maki and a different long dead Zen'in of the past. It didn't seem like their cases were one to one though; Toji Fushiguro had absolutely no cursed energy whereas Maki still held a sliver of it within her. Yet, their monstrous raw strength with little to no cursed energy couldn't be a coincidence, especially since they were related by blood. He wondered 'could Maki ever reach those heights?'

"What are you talking about, I have no ability connected to jujutsu whatsoever, my ability has been culminated through my own physicality" she responded.

"The path laid out for you is different from the one most other sorcerers take in order to reach their peaks. If I'm honest, your case is incredibly rare and I'm not sure how you can become the best version of yourself. I once fought a guy with no cursed energy, the first time we fought I barely made it out with my life."

'What?' Maki had now whirled around to look at him. She was shocked and looked awestruck. A rare look on a girl who prided herself in being composed and in control.

"Well It was nice talking to you Maki but I gotta take my lunch break now, don't keep wrecking the field" and with that he then teleported away.

"Wait you damn idiot who-" she tried to get in but failed.

'I wanted to hear about that', the one time in her first year at this school the teacher actually tried to teach her; he just said some mysterious shit and then left.

'When I get to that level, the one he was referring to I am going to be the one to beat him within an inch of his life'

End Flashback…

She would keep pushing past her limits. A promise was made to herself to grow faster and stronger. Whoever the guy Gojo had referred to earlier, she would reach that level and then surpass it. And when that had finally happened she would stick it to those dumbass Zen'in.

"Truly Panda thank you for being the one to finally answering my question, UNLIKE SOMEONE ELSE" Nobara exclaimed the second part harshly as she turned towards Megumi who simply ignored her.

"Aw its no issue Kugisaki I mean really Maki could've-"

Silence…

Everyone went quiet. A smirk formed on Gojo's lips. The whole class's attention switched right to the walls of the classroom. Yuuta's immense cursed energy washed over the place as he drew closer to the classroom.

'I had almost forgot how much of a presence he had' the 4 students who had met him prior thought.

"I-I'm guessing that's him," Nobara said aloud to no one in particular.

"Yup" Gojo answered.

The silence grew unnerving, a tension building up to the crescendo of the door siding open to reveal the young prodigy of Tokyo Jujutsu High.

"Uh, Hi everyone"

There stood Yuuta Okkotsu. His classmates took the first second take in his different appearance, which was really just his different haircut and his few extra inches on his height.

Megumi himself was the first to respond, "Hello Okkotsu it's good to see you again"

"Good to see you as well Fushiguro"

Next up were Inumaki and Panda who both stood up out of their chairs to greet Yuuta with a fistbump, exchanging lighthearted words.

Nobara and Maki were the only two left who had not greeted him. Nobara was having a short circuit in her own brain as she studiously and harshly graded his appearance. 'Meh hair, noticeable eye bags, he definitely slouches when he sits, probably only speaks when spoken to. Maybe he had a cute face if you looked at it generally, but this can't be the guy whose name was enough to fluster Maki' She tried to logic in her own mind. If she was honest her expectations were definitely not met.

On the other hand Maki herself was trying to act as natural as possible. She didn't trust herself to act calm if she got up to greet him, especially if Panda was going to keep acting like an ass. Yuuta had definitely matured, she could already tell he was the same softy but there was more confidence in his stance and his walk even if it was subtle. In her own thoughts she didn't see Yuuta take the open seat behind her.

"It's good to see you again Maki" he said with that big stupid smile of his.

"Yeah, i'm glad to see you too" she smiled back and then added "I hope you kept your promise to me"

"Of course"

Yuuta then turned to the right to look at the first year he was unfamiliar with, "Hello, im Yuuta Okkotsu, it's nice to mice you".

"Nobara Kugisaki"

The two exchanged formal handshakes.

"I'm very glad to see my second years finally back together, if only we could have the third years here with us." The blindfolded sorcerer exclaimed, "Well now that we are all here I think we shouldn't waste anymore time and get right to the important stuff"

The students were surprised by their teacher's now semi-serious tone. Usually he would make loud expressive comments and gestures, which were probably to entertain himself more than the students.

"I'm guessing we are all aware that in a week's time we will be participating in our annual sister school exchange event with our partner school in Kyoto. This is a serious opportunity for young aspiring sorcerers to prove themselves and demonstrate their ability."
"A great performance could lead to a direct staff-student evaluation. Meaning a chance at promotion. This is all stuff you guys already know so I don't want to bore you with all the details" The strongest finished.

'Wait this is news to me' Nobara thought to herself.

The Gojo clan head continued on however, "So let's kick Kyoto's ass again just like last year."

"Um, Gojo, if we have a special grade on our team doesn't that make it a bit, y'know, unfair?" The auburn haired first year asked, no doubt the question on everyone's mind.

"I'm glad you asked Kugisaki. Unfortunately, poor Yuuta will be forced to spectate the event from inside with the school staff with the big kids".

This made sense to everyone present, all of them nodding their heads at the statement.

Somehow Gojo's expression turned even more serious, this was very unusual for him. All the students there knew that their teacher hardly ever broke character or dropped his over the top attitude, so to see him do it so quickly was quite unnerving.

"What I actually want to talk to you all about is an entirely different matter. There is something going on in the Jujutsu world that you have not been told about, something that you won't be hearing for at least another week. At the moment it's not something you should concern yourself with but it is information I think young promising sorcerers like you all deserve to know."

Now the students were very uncomfortable. What could this information possibly be?

"A couple days ago there was a slight…altercation between one of my nephews and the Zen'in clan"

Maki's expression soured, she could already tell where this was going. In her younger days she had seen some very vicious arguments between the Gojo Clan and the Zen'in. Megum as well understood the situation as Gojo had talked to him before about the deep seeded hatred the clans had for each other.

"I don't think most of you are aware of this but the Zen'in and Gojo do not like each other, They have been at each other's necks for a little over 500 years. The other day this moronic kid in my clan decided to challenge a Zen'in to a duel", a small exhale came out, "thankfully it would seem he came to his senses and backed out of the fight he definitely would not win. However,...This has been viewed as a sign of weakness by the Zen'in."

"Sensei what does that mean?" Yuuta asks, his voice uncertain.

Megumi looked over at Maki attempting to read her expression, to see if she understood the weight of what Gojo was saying. He might be related to them by blood but he had no experience of their traditions and innerworkings, on the other hand Maki had a front row seat to the clan's own drama for the first dozen a couple years of her life. Although, when he looked over her he only saw the same confusion that was on everyone else's face, albeit with a more pinched face.

"Hmmmmm, what it means is…up in the air"

"Huh?"

"Well to simplify it, the most it could change is the balance of power between the clans. Most of you are aware that there are 3 main families of the Jujutsu world. Significant decisions in the world of sorcery are made by those of elite status, being a part of these chosen families would usually grant you this status or at least give you a head start in attaining it". Gojo then looked at his students to make sure they were all following along.

Nobara looked completely lost, but that was ok Megumi would probably get it through to her later. The rest of them seemed to be understanding so he continued.

"I am the current head of the Gojo clan and also the strongest, making me the most influential sorcerer in the world. However the rest of my family is another matter entirely, lets just say that when compared to me they are rather…unremarkable"

"I think I get it" Panda spoke up, "You are the clan, everyone knows the Gojo clan is blessed with the possibility of passing on the Limitless cursed technique and six eyes of every couple generations."

"Indeed, but when the reputation of one of the supposed 3 honored families is carried on the back of their clan head and reputation they no longer seem quite as honored"

Then it clicked inside the two Zen'ins mind. They were wondering where their teacher was taking the conversation. They understood why he was providing the class so much background for what he described as a small incident.

"The Zen'in" Megumi started.

"They are appealing to remove the Gojo from the 3 great families entirely" Maki finished.

"Look who caught on fast," Gojo murmured with a smile.

"Yeah that's about the gist of it. I wanted to let you kids know because the ruling on this decision could have a major influence on the jujutsu world. Fear not, your strong and fearless teacher will not disturb your studies" the special grade sorcerer finished.

"Tch shut up idiot" The cursed tool user bit out.

"I think I've kept you all here long enough, so head on out and train for that exchange event. Remember I'm counting on you all to win"

Later…

The students walked together in the halls of the school, making their way back to the field. Megumi was re-explaining Gojo info dump to Nobara, Panda and Inumaki were debating who could run a mile faster between them and Yuuta and Maki were catching up on the happenings of each other's lives.

"So Fushiguro, if Gojo's family is removed from the big super family club what exactly would that mean?" Nobara asked her fellow first year student.

"If they were removed the power that they once held politically would be gone, this would leave a large power vacuum."

Okkotsu's ears perked up at that, "Wait Maki, Fushiguro, wouldn't that mean the power left behind would go to the other 2 families?"

Maki turned towards Yuuta, mouth slightly parted in realization of his words. The only members of the clan that maintained an elite status were the men, especially if one was born with a cursed technique. Imagining the Zen'in with even more political power was sickening. It didn't matter though, the clan will fall at her hands if it's the last thing she did.

"Maki? Maki are you alright" Yuuta asked the sorceress walking next to him.

"Just fine Yuuta, The clans will seize power the first chance they get through whatever means are necessary, they just see this as another opportunity to climb their way up the latter"

"I'm sure Zen'in is right" Megumi offered, "That Zen'in in particular are famous for its variety of latent cursed technique ability and potential. They seem like a 'might makes right' kind of family to my understanding"

"You have no idea Megumi", it was supposed to come out as an exasperated sigh but sounded more like an annoyed groan. This is why she avoided talking about her family.

As the group continued walking Megumi couldn't help but to further contemplate the situation. If the Gojo clan really got removed from the 3 great families wouldn't it lead to a direct confrontation between the two remaining clans. It just didn't add up. It all seemed too coordinated, he was told that sparks had been flying for generations between the clans but for it to suddenly boil over now, something definitely wasn't right.

The students finally made it to the track and field. The 3 previous pairs split off into their own groups.

Megumi and Nobara discussed possible ways to work together with their cursed techniques at the event, Panda and Inumaki set to begin their race, which left Maki to challenge Yuuta to a quick spar to see if he had grown at all in the 9 months he had been away and learn if he kept his promise.

"I hope you learned some new things Yuuta, I would hate to be disappointed. '' Maki started with a confident look on her face, Honey eyes blazing with her innate competitive fire.

"Of course Maki"

They both readied their stances. Maki with a long training staff in hand, Yuuta with the wooden sword-stick in his. After a couple of decisive steps around each other, attempting to size their opponent up, Yuuta decided to make the first move towards Maki with a quick strike aimed towards her neck. Maki smiled, she liked that he actually had the guts to come at her now with full force, mind and body acting as one. He was far quicker than before, however with the cursed energy baseline handicap added to all their matches he likely was moving far slower than he could be. Meaning Maki with her superhuman reflexes, strength, and speed still held a noticeable advantage over Yuuta. Even with the limited cursed energy he could channel into his body his strikes still landed hard against the staff.

The challenge she was waiting for had arrived. Yuuta himself realized specifically how much faster Maki had gotten, she was already so agile and nimble when he fought her last. How had she gotten so much quicker? Hitting her at this pace would be impossible, she was able to perfectly weave and parry all his attacks. He supposed he shouldn't be surprised, she dedicated herself towards becoming the best sorceress she could be.

Yuuta himself knew he was very fast as well but it seemed at times like Maki had a natural instinct, guiding her to the perfect counter.

The spar continued for another 10 minutes, neither of them growing tired whatsoever with neither of them having landed a significant blow. This changed when Maki rushed at him quickly, feinting at his chest with a thrusted of her staff forwards trying to knock him off balance only for her to quickly sweep under his legs with one of her own which caused him to release a yelp as he stumbled and fell.

Having been knocked flat on his ass by Maki for probably the hundredth time he could only chuckle softly. He got up to retrieve his white sorcerer coat which he had laid out before the match.

"Amazing as always Maki, I hope I kept my promise"

"Thanks but I know you could've easily won that if you had used your cursed energy. Nevertheless I think you did an excellent job. Footwork is a lot better, balance is great, and didn't let me get too comfortable either"

Yuuta, not used to receiving compliments especially from Maki herself, flushed a little. "Don't sell yourself short Maki, It may have seemed like the match could've gone either way but the whole time I was trying to adjust to your tempo and speed. You should recognize your own ability."

"Tch, shut it. Always such a softy"

With Megumi and Nobara…

"If you used the Divine dogs as a distraction I could Use…."

Megumi zoned out of the conversation for what had to be the 4th or 5th time. He was a deep cognitive thinker so he couldn't but to go over every detail that Gojo had brought up today. Today started out so differently awaiting the arrival of Okkotsu but now his attention was on the Politics of the Jujutsu world.

He would definitely pull Zen'in aside later to talk to her about this. With the Exchange event around the corner and now this, if he kept on thinking so much he would probably give himself a stroke.

"Kugisaki, sorry. I wasn't really listening. Starting to get the feeling of a bad headache so I'm going to the vending machine to get some water."

"No it's fine honestly, I feel like I could use something to drink as well."

They got up and headed for the small structure with 3 separate vending machines and two benches underneath the shade the building provided.

As Megumi uncapped the newly purchased bottle and eagerly felt the cold liquid numbing his overworked mind his relief would be interrupted by a deep rough voice.

"So these are the first years of Tokyo Jujutsu High, I have to say I'm a little disappointed. They appear to be kind of boring" came from a voice that belonged to a very tall and large man. The voice somehow walked a fine line between disgust and severe melancholy.

Megumi and Nobara simply stared at the man utterly baffled.

"I think you confused them Todo, even with their small first year minds they understand that all you talk is nonsense". This voice belonged to a different person, A young woman with short dark green hair and a similar appearance to that of Tokyo's own Maki Zen'in.

"I wouldn't expect you to understand Mai, these topics are very complicated and require a fine palette to truly appreciate its depths' ' The large man responded back in a calm manner.

"Uh i'm sorry…but…who are you guys?" Nobara questioned having lost the will to listen any further.

This got the attention of a man who swiftly turned to face the first years, "My name is Aoi Todo, a student for Kyoto Jujutsu highschool. I'm looking for Yuuta Okkotsu, however I'm always interested in scoping out the new first years. So tell me, what are your names?"

Despite the confusion Megumi and Nobara shared at the situation they had found themselves in they returned the favor.

"I'm Megumi Fushiguro"

"And I'm Nobara Kugisaki"

The student named Todo then smiled, turning his gaze specifically towards Megumi. "I've heard some interesting thing about you, So I want to see if you really are interesting"

A long drawn out pause…

"Megumi Fushiguro, what type of girls do you like? Depending on your answer I'll beat you half to death."

Hope you Enjoyed it.

Next chapter: Todo & Clan drama

As always leave any reviews if you have any whether they are positive or negative.