SOUL

Yurei's body laid absolutely motionless as it floated above the surface of red waters. She creaked her eyes open a little and looked up, seeing a strange structure above her head that resembled a giant rib cage that encased them. It didn't take long after that though for her to realize where she was.

"You have got to be kidding me," she grumbled and floated up out of the water, snapping her fingers and immediately evaporating the red stains off her dress. "I thought I said your presence irritated me, and next thing I know you pull my consciousness into your territory?" She coldly glanced over her shoulder and met Sukuna's red eyes, staring down at her on a throne made entirely of horned animal skulls.

Sukuna pressed his hand against the side of his face and sighed, already noticing that she was in a bad mood. "What's with the cold gaze. It's been far too long since we've talked one on one like this…not since you suddenly decided to stop fighting back and went on to conceal your presence instead."

Yurei turned her lips up and scowled. "Well, isn't that just tragic…that I enjoyed the peace more than I did the fights. It was nice while it lasted, but like a plague…of course you came back," she sneered. "I'm leaving if you're just going to complain about what happened in the past." She only was able to turn her shoulder away when he suddenly brought up a question that felt more like a jab with a sharp knife.

"Why is your host still alive?" he asked, or more like demanded.

Yurei frowned and looked back at him. "Ah, I had a feeling that question was going to come up again."

"In the past…none of your other hosts were able to stay alive after you slit their throats and took over their bodies," he brought up, eyes and voice darkening with every word he spoke.

"Ah, but…it's not like it was impossible to begin with. The chances of someone surviving my possession have always been a one in a million chance." She paused for a moment. "No. Actually…a one in a billion chance. Juri survived…only because she got lucky."

Sukuna scoffed and didn't like that she was dancing around the question. He knew she was only doing it though to try and irritate him. "You must've been terribly disappointed."

"I was terribly confused," she corrected sharply.

"But why did you stay inside that body? You could have easily taken a new one and been through with that non-sorcerer." He waited for her answer but was somewhat taken back when a wide and wicked grin befell to her face.

"It's because I can't," she said as slyly as a snake.

Sukuna blinked. "What did you say?"

Yurei's grin continued to stick to her lips and sour the gentle nature of her elegant features. "Did you not hear me? I said I can't separate myself from Juri. When I took control of her body, my soul slipped inside the empty space that once held her own, but once I restored the body…it miraculously restored Juri's as well. Our souls ended up becoming bound together, unable to be pulled apart."

"You're stuck." In a single moment, it was like every sound within the void had stopped with just those two words.

"I can't stop a host body from aging naturally. So I usually have to find a new one before it dies, but I can't this time." She stared right into Sukuna's eyes and watched as his expression changed, morphing to a realization that had actually left him nearly speechless.

"So…this means…"

"This is my last era in this world. Once Juri's life comes to an end…so will mine." She couldn't help it now. Her body was quivering with joy and laughter was bubbling up from her throat. "So enjoy your eternity…but this time by yourself!" she mocked, watching the boiling anger rise up in his eyes with glee.

"I've had enough. Hurry up and get out." He growled and lifted his hand. He made a quick motion and banished Yurei from his territory by sinking her body below the water.

"Yurei? Yurei? Are you really asleep?" Juri pulled her fresh bouquet of blue hydrangeas close to her chest and crouched down in front of the couch. Yurei was laying across it with her eyes closed and seemingly fast asleep. She wasn't even aware that Juri and Gojo had come home.

"I didn't think she actually slept," Gojo pointed out while walking up beside Juri. He took the flowers from her arms and headed back into the hallway to put them in the vase. "It's pretty rare for her to look this defenseless."

"I've seen her this way…a couple times," Juri said slowly. "But it's rare for me too."

"You gonna wake her up?"

Juri shook her head. "No. I think I'm just gonna sit here with her for a bit," she said and took a seat beside her on the couch. "You go on ahead to bed. I'm sure I'll be in shortly."

Gojo shrugged. "If you say so." He walked past the couch and ruffled Juri's hair on the way by. "Don't stay too long," he said before disappearing into the bedroom.

Juri smiled slightly and looked back to Yurei who slept soundly beside her. She smoothed out her white hair and ran her hand across her cold face. "When you're like this…it really does make me forget that you're a Cursed Spirit," she muttered to try and not wake her up. Juri reached across the couch and pulled a blanket over Yurei's body. "Even if you're used to the cold…being warm every once in a while is nice too. Isn't that right, Yurei?"

Author's Note:

I was feeling good this week and decided to post two chapters for White Spell. This chapter may be small but it gives insight into Juri and Yurei's situation. The next chapter though will be bigger, and it should be out either on Thursday or Friday.