Chapter 10

Back at the domain…

Suguru found her waiting.

Lady Tiamat bore the biggest grin she could muster and explain that he arrived just in time. "Perfect, I have everything you need!" she said proudly. "I also noticed your little session this morning with Yua and Satoru, how are they?" she asked.

In the morning, Suguru had Yua and Satoru place their hand on his back or his chest to channel their energy into him. From there he diverted the power into the dragon cores he possessed, but one practically took everything for itself. More will be needed and yet the process of it all was unexpectedly draining.

"They are recovering from this morning, I never knew these souls needed so much energy… but, I am concerned… Sukuna's fading…" he said.

"Then take a seat, let's get started."

He nodded and found a spot on the ground, from there, Suguru closed his eyes and went into the soul domain. The two dragon souls were shining a little brighter, yet… they were gathering around Sukuna's orb oddly. "He's gotten worst?" Suguru asked as he took the orb into his hands.

Before, there was a dull light that came off of Sukuna's soul, but that light has quickly faded and diminished since yesterday. "Okay, now this energy Lady Tiamat spoke of…" Suguru muttered. Then, the domain lit up.

He froze as hundreds of small orbs suddenly appeared, they were gathering around him but moving closer and closer to Sukuna. "Are you here to help?" he asked.

The small orbs began to pulse with light.

Suguru nodded as he lifted Sukuna's soul up. "Then please, help me save him."

The orbs were pulled into Sukuna's soul, none of them hesitated or refused this drag towards him. In mere seconds, he absorbed everything around him.

"I wonder where Lady Tiamat got those from…"

#

Within Sukuna's soul…

The process was far more excruciating than he thought. Being wrenched away like that… he had no idea how much his survival depended on those two beasts… but now… he felt that strength weaken. He didn't know why he was losing such strength, but a part of him began to wonder if perhaps this was how he was meant to die.

'Not in a blaze of glory or in a great battle… I'm meant to die pathetically… seems right…' he had thought to himself.

He didn't know how much time had passed, but he felt himself grow weaker as it did. His body shrank, as he regressed back into that of a child… this is what remains of his soul no less. Before long, he felt as if the world itself was closing down to him. If he were to die in such a manner, he would accept it.

'I wasn't meant to be anyways…'

He soon began to think of his childhood, how everything was nothing more than a confusing blur. As this world has become so once again. He couldn't make sense of it, understand how or what he was alive and yet, he was so upset, frustrated that he couldn't get his eyes to see properly, or any of his senses to work.

"Whoa, slow it down, you are going to hurt yourself!"

.

.

.

.

.

That voice…

"You are trying to push yourself again, aren't you Ryomen? Your mother would be ever so crossed with me if I let you get hurt…"

He doesn't remember those words being spoken to him before. "Is… someone there?" he was able to speak, but very weakly.

"OH! There he is! That's my boy! Come now! Open your eyes!"

"It's hard…"

"I know it's hard, but it will only be harder if you don't try and regret it. Come now, look at me, Ryomen… look at me…"

He found his eyes were blurred, but as he blinked, they started to clear. He saw a figure before him. "That's it Ryomen, you're almost there, open your eyes for me,"

He tried time and time again, until finally, he blinked and saw the person before him. Yet… Why was he being held like a toddler?!

But, that thought slipped his mind since the one holding him…

"Father Tooru?" he whispered.

The man who helped raised him, the blind bastard as sorcerers had called him. Yet, as he looked into his face, he saw Father Tooru could see him properly. He was no longer blind.

As such, Sukuna shied away!

"I always knew you looked like this, don't you get shy on me now!" he laughed.

"Is he awake?"

"Ryomen woke up?"

"There he is!"

He was getting confused now… he did die didn't he!?

"I'm dead, aren't I?" he asked bluntly. "Should have known…"

"What? What makes you think you're dead?" Father Tooru demanded, only to get strange looks from the family. "Oh right, THAT… well… I could understand the confusion over that. But rest assured, Ryomen, you are not dead… you were coming close since your soul was made through… unconventional means."

'My soul…' he thought.

"Which is why we're here!"

Besides father Tooru was one of the many cousins within the family, in fact, there were two hundred Toorus here… and he knew them all for he grew up with them. "Why are you here? Where are we?" he asked.

Father Tooru took a seat and placed him on his lap. "Well, you see, a new soul is very delicate as well as it can also be corrupted rather easily too. We understand that now… I only wished we could have noticed it sooner to help you…" Father Tooru explained. "However, we're here to fix that. We're going to help you here and now!" he said proudly. "After all, a soul needs experience to grow. Think of how a human's soul will be reborn time and time again. Lessons and talents that transcend time itself. As well, a soul needs to be fed."

Instantly he froze.

Sukuna peered at those around him who smiled warmly at the notion, but, he refused. Shaking his head to it all he pushed himself out from Father Tooru's lap and tried to distance himself. "NO!" he shouted. "I've taken… too much from you… all of you… I should be suffering for what I did!"

No one bared him ill will.

Father Tooru only smiled to him and said. "How could a remarkable, little boy say such a thing… when he had to learn everything by scratch? You weren't even given the simple basics of what it means to be human… and yet you tried to learn. You did learn, but you were also very easy to corrupt since you didn't have that knowledge yet."

He froze to this.

"Ryomen… your soul is a new soul. Those of this world reincarnate over and over again, memories and habits, knowledge and basic understanding are born in all humans and sorcerers. Those are engrained into them… you never had such an opportunity, your souls has never experienced that before." That came out of an uncle. Mother Tooru's brother if he is not mistaken.

"I killed you, a lot of you… the clan… those who are not part of it… those who are human… those who got in my way…"

"That won't happen again," Father Tooru said gently. "Come here Ryomen, let's talk." He tried to cox him back to his side, but, Sukuna couldn't bring himself to do so.

"What will happen? Am… am I going to have to absorb you?" he asked.

"Yes," Father Tooru said. "But we volunteered, for you see, our phoenix clause has altered so we can do this. Besides, we're not going to be destroyed if that's what you are worried about. We become part of you, and I think you of all should know… you can't get rid of us that easily."

They bore these proud grins, believing in the notion that they will live on as part of him… and yet…

"Why go through the trouble?" he asked.

"It's no trouble for family, you have a son now. Don't you?" one cousin asked. She snickered at the notion. "Oh I don't envy you, especially with Chusi. She has a taste for motherhood now…" she teased.

He still didn't think this was right.

"Ryomen, there is something else you need to know. You will not remember when you wake again and become whole, but, we are doing this to help Yua as well. Remember what I said earlier about the phoenix clause?" Father Tooru asked.

His eyes widened as he turned to the family, they all nodded to him. "But, there are rules we have to follow. The family cannot approach Yua and tell her flat out that they are family, if they do, those who have yet to return, will not return. Second, those who bare lineage to Lady Tiamat, or close to her… cannot see what has happened. Some family members have taken over sorcerers from the culling games you participated in with Yua. But many more have since joined them. But, if anyone who is linked to Lady Tiamat be it family or dragon… they won't see the souls of the Toorus within."

He paused to consider all of this.

"Can Yua see the souls?"

They shook their heads. "Part of the contract Lady Tiamat's uncle altered."

He started to see where they were going with this. "When you become part of me… I'll be able to see them?" he asked.

"In theory yes," explained Father Tooru. "It may take some time to do so, but I believe you will be able to see them."

"Why will it take time?"

"Assimilating into a soul is no easy task. Even when we join you, it will take time for things to settle in and become whole. You won't be in danger, but, it will take some time." Father Tooru explained. "Ryomen… We won't let you fall again. I promise you."

He took a seat on the ground for a moment, he wondered if this was the right thing to do. Was he being tested right now? He sighed. "If that is your desire, I won't stop you… and… thank you" he managed to say.

Father Tooru smiled warmly to him and turned to the others. "Everyone ready?" he asked.

They nodded to him. The Toorus organized themselves, with Father Tooru being at the front. From there, two people on either side would put a hand on his shoulder, then those behind them would do the same until everyone was connected in this way. "Ryomen, come…" Father Tooru said gently.

He sighed.

Taking a deep breath, Ryomen Sukuna approached. He doesn't remember much, but, he does remember Father Tooru picking him up in his arms… and then, there was a flash of light…