Chapter 2

They spoke outside.

Yuuji peered over at Ijichi curiously. "Are you scared to talk?" he whispered.

He was taken aback by the question. "No! Not at all!" he insisted. "I just… didn't think you would ever return to the schools… not after what had happened… not after…" he shook his head. "I didn't know… you became that…"

He sighed and nodded his head to it all. "I did." Yuuji said. "But after what they did to Yua…"

Ijichi nodded. "How is she?"

"Lost her children in the attack, three. Sensei was upset, at the same time… we made quick work out of who was responsible."

There was no look of shock on the face of Ijichi. He nodded in understanding. After all, Satoru Gojo is his friend. "If you are wondering about the school, I had the same reservations you did about it. We've been here for a while now. Nitta, Kusakabe and I… we were wondering what was happening, since all other connections to the council became severed very suddenly."

He went on to explain that they were followed and nearly attacked here, but one of the teachers in fact he calls himself the principal took care of the matter himself. "They were leery of us, but they gave us a chance, in all honesty, Itadori… I have never felt safer"

This was rather surprising.

"So this council, the elders are nothing like who were in charge before?"

"Not in the least bit," Ijichi explained. "They are taking into factor talents, to see if they can go beyond that talent and grow it. It's rather remarkable to see first hand. They have brought students in from all over Japan, they don't care about bloodline or anything like that. Some have sub par abilities, but, they were still welcomed."

'That sounds like the same method Yua used…' Yuuji thought to himself.

"Everything is built and made to protect the students and faculties. The facilities are some of the best I have seen, and the fact is they have made a stadium!"

"Stadium?"

"There have been some troubles with a few students who have the bloodline sickness as the teachers call it. To them, because they are from a strong family, they believe they can run the school…" he suddenly smiled. "Satoru would have LOVED this… the stadium was made so students can experience one on one battles, they also solve grudges."

Yuuji paused. "They allow the students to fight?"

"Within reason and permission. They have to get approval from two teachers. Both sides make their case for a battle, if it is accepted, the principal brings them to the arena on the weekend, there they fight until one winner is declared. It's not to the death either. They have made curse tools that prevent that…" The more he spoke, the more his eyes sparkled. Ijichi is not normally like this, but this place… must have allowed him to relax a little.

"Kiyoshi wants to come here… Yuko is considering sending the twins…" he said offhandedly.

Ijichi froze. "That's wonderful!"

"So this isn't a trap?"

"No, it's not. The people here… Itadori… I may not have done much for you in the past, but for once, let me put your thoughts at ease." His hand came gently on his shoulder. Yuuji was taken aback as Ijichi said. "Your children will not experience any of the treatment you endured coming here."

He froze to this.

It was right from his heart, the God honest truth.

He nodded on the notion. "Let's go rejoin the tour then…"

#

The met up again at the stadium.

Yuuji hates to admit it but he was impressed with this. The placed was dark and oval in shape, but it reminded him of a domain. There was a wide area to fight in, and above, stadium seating. "Wow…" he muttered.

"The best part is this thing can run on curse energy!" Reggie explained. "When the battle occurs, the strikes that miss are absorbed into the walls and floor, there is a barrier in place so that no one in the audience can get hurt…"

It was something alright… almost a dragon slayer like design.

As Yuuji took it all in, he wondered out on to the stadium floor. The floors reacted and surged ever so slightly.

The stadium lit up and shined brightly.

"Whoa… that's a power up…" Reggie said offhandedly. "This will also absorb residual energy… but damn, you had quite a bit lingering off of you, Itadori."

He only smiled.

"Dad! Dad! Can we go here?" Wasuke asked.

"Please dad!" pleaded Towa.

He was stunned but turned to Yuko and her father. They were smiling and nodding their heads. "We're enrolling Ai if she has talent here too. Kiyoshi is signed up"

Kiyoshi?!

Yuuji looked to his son with disbelief. He smiled proudly and nodded his head. "They have a special skip program. So I can graduate in a year if I have the smarts for it."

"Pray you get that from your mother and not me."

The room laughed aloud to this, and yet, it was all too good to be true.

"Mr. Itadori…" Reggie said aloud and suddenly made a contract then and there. He presented it to him and Yuuji looked it over.

"What is this?"

"Contract" he said bluntly. "Before you is a promise made by this school that your children are safe. If an emergency occurs, their safety is our main priority. We are to inform you if anything happens to your children, and even if their technique alters and grows stronger. We will never put your child in harms way, we will never force your child into battle. But this little bit at the end was inspired by your wife."

At the bottom of the paper, it was nearly the same words Ijichi spoke to him just a short while ago. 'Your children will never experience any of the treatment Yuuji Itadori endured when under the former council'.

This surprised him, Reggie was rather serious and nodded his head. "There are those in this world who would love nothing more than to have people suffer since they believe they deserve to suffer… not here and that's a bunch of bull," Reggie decreed. "Your wife told us some of the things that have happened to you… honestly man, I have NO idea how you are still standing before me here and now. But I can only assume you are a lot tougher than you look"

There is so much more to this, Yuuji only wished he could tell them.

"So, if you trust us, Mr. Itadori, please sign the contract."

He peered it over once more. 'It's good' he heard a gentle voice come into his ear.

Just over his shoulder. Higuruma was looking over the contract, he confirmed there was nothing fishy about it, and this jujutsu is made to be a promise on the children for their safety.

"How interesting that they are going this far… they appear to know what they are doing huh?" Yuuji whispered.

"It's trust," Higuruma replied. "They know the damage that has been done by the council before them. They understand the work and the lack of appeal that others may have towards them. This is their way of earning the trust of those around them… they are good people."

"You can tell?" Yuuji whispered.

"Oh yes, I cannot say anything but I can tell… Itadori… your children are in very safe hands."

After hearing that, Yuuji signed the paper.

Reggie signed it as well and had Yuko and the children as well. When it was all said and done, he smiled to everyone. "Welcome to the new Kyoto school!"