Coco: Hey, guys~ I'm back with a new chapter of Smiling Sorcerer. I'm glad to see some people liked the figure chapter, and I hope you enjoy this one as well.

The farther we go along the more Eiji's backstory and curse technique will be explained, so I'm sorry if there is any confusion about Eiji's reactions to certain things. Like, how she smiles even when scared for example, which I've already kind of explained. More of a detailed explanation will come later, which will hopefully clear everything up.

Now, enough of the idle chitchat, huh? Let's get started!

Yuji watched with wide eyes as a powerful burst of power came from Eiji's sword. The energy condensed and made a loud buzzing noise that sounded like a chainsaw as it spun rapidly around the blade. Without hesitation Eiji ran forward and jumped towards the cursed spirit. She brought her weapon down as the cursed spirit brought up its arms and screeched. The supercharged weapon sawed right through its arms while throwing blood and chunks of flesh everywhere. The spirit wailed as its arms hit the floor and blood poured from its wounds.

"Whoa." Yuji said.

Eiji whirled around and went to go for its head next, but its tail whipped around and knocked her off her feet. She went rolling right into Megumi who had almost managed to get to his feet.

"Okay, I thought losing its arm would have fazed it at least a little bit." She said.

She and Megumi then gasped when the creature ran at them full speed and hit them so hard, they broke through the building's wall. They fell onto a walkway where the cursed spirit followed them. Its arms already regenerated. It roared at them as Megumi, who had a large wound above his brow, rolled onto his stomach to try and fight back.

"Dammit," Megumi cursed. "Why can't I think straight?"

The cursed spirit lifted its arms to crush the two first-year jujutsu students, which had Eiji sitting up to try and shield Megumi from another attack. However, the two were saved when Yuji intervened and hit the cursed spirit in the head with both of his fists clasped together.

"He's crazier than me." Eiji commented with a chuckle. "And that's saying something."

"Itadori!" Megumi shouted. "Your only chance is to take those two and run for it!"

Not to mention if that cursed spirit gets sukuna's finger away from Yuji then it was all over. It'd turn into a special grade curse, and Eiji and Megumi definitely weren't cut out to deal with that.

"You guys are in big trouble yourselves!" Yuji pointed out as he dodged the cursed spirit's attempts to grab him.

Though it did manage to slam him into the ground before throwing him up into the air.

"Only a curse can beat a curse!" Megumi shouted. "You cannot defeat this."

Eiji knew Megumi was right, and if Yuji wasn't going to leave, it meant she had to force herself to get up. She couldn't let this boy die trying to protect them. She tried to force herself to stand, but when a sharp pain went through her left ankle, she crumbled back down to the ground. Eiji turned her head seeing a large amount of blood seeping through her white sock.

She mentally cursed before trying to think of another way she could help. Eiji then cupped her hands together quickly before a dark black ball started to form and grow in size in her hands.

"Is that your idea of a pep talk?!" Yuji demanded then dodged another blow. "At this rate, we're all going to die!"

He then managed to get on top of the curse where he snagged a fistful of its hair to swing him around to the other side of the curse.

"If I give up now, I'll end up having this nightmare for weeks!" Yuji said as he kicked the curse in the eye. "Besides, I know what I have to do. I'm living with a rotten curse of my own already."

Yuji tried to continue his attack on the cursed spirit, but was soon knocked to the side, which caused him to lose his grip on Sukuna's finger. Eiji's looked up and paused in gathering her cursed energy as Yuji, who was caught by the cursed spirit, and spirit tried to go for the finger. Yuji managed to catch it between his teeth barely, which had Eiji letting out a sigh of relief.

"You idiot!" Megumi shouted. "Hand it over to me or you'll both be eaten!"

Megumi tried to get up to do something as Eiji continued to gather her cursed energy. She only had one shot. She couldn't get up and fight, so she had to make sure this attack exorcised the cursed spirit. Or at least put it down long enough for them to try and get away with Sukuna's finger. Making sure it didn't devour the finger was their top priority.

Yuji, who couldn't really do anything but plant his feet on the curse's opened both, couldn't do as Megumi demanded. It was taking all his strength just to keep himself from becoming the curse's dinner. Eiji wasn't sure what was going through the boy's head, but when he tossed Sukuna's finger up in the air above him, she figured whatever was on his mind wasn't anything good.

"There's a way I can save everyone!" Yuji said as he looked up at the finger falling back towards him. "I just need to have my own cursed energy, don't I?"

Eiji just stared as she felt as if the blood in her veins froze and her heart stopped. Megumi looked just as shocked as he came to an abrupt stop.

"Don't do it." Megumi said then shouted louder, "Don't do it!"

It was too late though as Yuji swallowed the finger whole after it fell back into his mouth.

'He's going to die,' Eiji thought. 'No human can ingest such a powerful curse and live…unless…'

Eiji's thoughts trailed off as a burst of cursed energy came out of Yuji that completely destroyed the cursed spirit's arms. It roared in pain as Yuji fell to his feet on the walkway. Tattoos started to appear on his body and his nails grew black and long as the cursed spirit charged angrily towards him. Though before it could reach Yuji, the boy lifted his arm and completely shredded apart the cursed spirit with his own cursed energy. What was left of the creature hit the ground and started to fade away as Megumi watched in shock.

The black ball in Eiji's hands dissipated as the clouds moved away from the moon, which allowed it to illuminate the space. Eiji took in Yuji's changed appearance as the boy now had several black tattoos, and another set of eyes underneath his original set. At first no one moved, but then Yuji let out a chuckle. That chuckle was followed by a manic howl of laughter that set Eiji on edge. Her smile widening as Yuji, who didn't even sound like himself, continued his insane cackling.

'He's not Itadori,' Eiji realized. 'It's him…the cursed object reincarnated. Ryomen Sukuna has taken over Itadori's body.'

Said cursed spirit finally calmed down with his laughter as he looked up at the moon with a wide, toothy grin.

"I knew it! The light feels best in the flesh!" He shouted before ripping away Yuji's hoodie. "Cursed flesh is so boring. So, now where are the people? The women?"

He started looking around excitedly before stepping up onto the iron railing along the walkway.

"What a wonderful era to be reawakened!" He said as he spread out his arms. "Women and children are crawling around everywhere like maggots! How marvelous! It'll be a massacre!"

Eiji felt fear build up in her gut as Sukuna let out a bone chilling laugh. Due to the nature of her cursed technique, she could feel his bloodlust and twisted glee from where she sat frozen. However, then something odd happened. Yuji's arm seemed to act against Sukuna and grab hold of his chin forcibly. He even managed to make Sukuna step down from the railing.

"What do you think you're doing with my body?" Yuji asked; the boy seeming to have some sort of control still over his body. "Give it back."

"Hey, wait, how are you doing that?" Sukuna inquired out of confusion.

"Well, it's my body." Yuji retorted.

Eiji then watched in disbelief as Yuji seemed to be somehow suppressing Sukuna. It seemed impossible, but the boy was pulling it off.

"Stay right where you are." Megumi, who snapped out of his stupor, said as he crouched down and readied himself for a fight. "You're no longer human. Under jujutsu jurisdiction, Itadori Yuji, by law I will now exorcise you as a curse!"

Eiji looked at Megumi then back to Yuji as she wondered what to do. It was sure that Yuji was technically no longer human, but he saved them. He took the chance and ate a cursed object just so he could save them. It didn't seem right to kill him. Especially when he seemed to have some kind of control over Sukuna.

"No, really, I'm feeling fine." Yuji said as he held up his hands in a surrendering manner while the tattoos disappeared from his body. "Besides, the three of us are all pretty beat up. Shouldn't we see a doctor?"

Megumi look conflicted as he stared at Yuji who seemed to be back to his normal self.

"Megumi, maybe we should do as Itadori suggests." Eiji said.

Megumi frowned not sure what to do as he stared at the boy who had just saved their lives. However, taking a chance that Sukuna really wasn't a threat as of now, wasn't smart. It'd put more than just his and Eiji's lives in danger. Megumi's hands clenched into fists as his mind churned for some kind of solution.

"What's the situation?" A voice cut through the tension in the air.

All three teen's heads snapped in the direction of the voice, and Eiji looked happily relieved to see their blindfolded teacher had arrived.

"Gojo/Satoru!" Megumi and Eiji exclaimed at the sight of their teacher. "What are you doing here?"

Satoru, who looked in their direction, grinned at both of his students as he raised his hand in greeting.

"Hey," he said casually. "I wasn't planning on showing up, but you two kind of got roughed up, kids. I'll show the second years! Say cheese!"

He then rapidly took photos of the two with his flash on, which caused Eiji to shield her face to hide from the bright light. Megumi ducked away as well, but that didn't stop their teacher from taking several photos.

"I got an earful from the higherups because the special grade cursed object is still missing." Satoru said as he looked down at his phone. "Thought I'd do a little sightseeing and stop by. So did you find it yet?"

Megumi just looked down at the ground as Eiji looked off to the side. Two reactions that had Satoru tilting his head at the pair. Satoru then looked to the Yuji when the boy held up his hand.

"Uh, sorry, but I ate that thing." Yuji said.

Satoru stared at Yuji with a small confused smile on his face for a few seconds before looking to his students.

"Really?" He asked.

"He did/I did." All three teens replied in unison.

Satoru tilted his head and part of his upper body as he took a good look at Yuji. He then stepped closer and got in Yuji's face with a curious expression on his own. He seemed to be looking for something and when he found whatever it was, he gave a laugh.

"Damn, it really did combine with you. That's hilarious." Satoru said as he leaned away. "Anything weird about your body?"

"Nah," Yuji replied. "Seems okay."

If Eiji could give the boy a frown, she would. After all, growing another set of eyes and getting magically tattooed weren't normal things.

"Can you swap with Sukuna at will?" Satoru questioned.

"Sukuna?" Yuji asked.

"The owner of the finger you just swallowed, dude." Eiji told him.

Yuji's eyes lit up in understanding as he thought back to that nasty tasting thing.

"Oh, yeah." Yuji said with a nod. "I think I can do that."

Satoru, who stepped over to the side to do some stretching, seemed pleased to hear this.

"Okay then give us ten seconds." Satoru said. "And change right back into yourself."

"Yeah, but," Yuji sounded worried considering how strong they kept insinuating Sukuna was.

"Don't worry." Satoru said with a grin. "I'm way too strong for him. Megumi! Hold onto this for me."

The boy blinked then quickly reacted to Satoru's bag being tossed at him as he held out his arms. He looked down at the bag as Eiji crawled closer to get a better look herself.

"So, what is this?" Megumi asked.

Eiji was already opening it and looking inside before Satoru could even explain. Not that the white-haired man seemed to mind as his grin widened. Eiji made a happy noise as she pulled out a wrapped package of kikufuku, which had Megumi's eyes widening.

"That's right it's kikufuku from Kikusuian." Satoru said. "It's Sendai's specialty and it's super good. I recommend the zunda and cream flavored."

Megumi looked at Satoru in disbelief as he crouched down to help Eiji, who was having trouble, open the package she had taken from the bag.

'This guy actually went and bought souvenirs while people were out here dying.' Megumi thought. 'Akashi being one of the people in the middle of the fray. Though she doesn't seem to be caring about that now.'

He gave his classmate a look as she was happily trying the zunda and cream flavor mochi that Satoru suggested. The white-haired man seeming happier than her as she enjoyed the sweet treat. He didn't even seem to care that Yuji switched back to Sukuna or maybe he didn't notice.

"It's not a souvenir." He said as Sukuna went to attack. "I'll be eating this on the bullet train ride home. But don't worry, Eiji, your favorite sensei got enough for the both of us~"

"Look out!" Megumi warned as Sukuna was coming right for Satoru.

Satoru didn't listen, however, as he continued to talk more about the kikufuku mochi he had bought.

"Kikufuku is just the best." Satoru said as Sukuna swung at him.

There was then a loud thud and dust and dirt kicked up as Sukuna landed his attack. Megumi instinctively put one arm around Eiji to pull her close as he also brought Satoru's bag closer to his chest. Both students then blinked when seeing Sukuna on his hands and knees before them and looking as confused as they felt. Satoru was just casually sitting on the curse's back as if he hadn't just been attacked.

"I think it's the whipped cream inside that really makes the difference." Satoru added as Sukuna let out an angry shout as took another swing at Satoru.

Of course, the white-haired man easily dodged Sukuna's attack, which angered the curse even more. Sukuna tried again and again to try and land a hit on Satoru, but the man evaded him every time.

"Since my students are watching," Satoru began as he leaned against Sukuna's back. "I'll show off a little, yeah?"

He whispered this in Sukuna's ear, which had the curse whirling around to try and punch Satoru. The sorcerer grabbed Sukuna's arm, and whirled him back around towards him and hit him across the face. Sukuna shoved Satoru away from him and then jumped back to create some distance. However, that did him little good as all Satoru had to do was wave his arm forward and Sukuna was hit with a blast of energy. He landed chest first into some of the railing with a frustrated grin on his face.

"For crying out loud," he said then ran at Satoru. "You jujutsu sorcerers are always such a pain in the ass in any era!"

He threw some kind of dark energy attack at Satoru and his students that destroyed a large chunk of the building behind them. It caused dirt and dust to fly everywhere and Sukuna smirked thinking he finally got them.

"Though time doesn't have much meaning for me." He said then gasped when he saw Satoru and the teens unhurt.

Megumi even sighed seeming done with this entire thing as Eiji was eating her second kikufuku. Not seeming to have a care in the world.

"7, 8, 9, and that should do it." Satoru said.

Sukuna's eyes widened as pulse seemed to go through him. Soon the tattoos faded away and the second set of eyes closed. Yuji blinked looking around once he was back in control.

"Oh, how did it go?" He asked casually.

Megumi couldn't believe how casual this guy was being considering the situation. He literally had an ancient special grade curse living inside his body, and he didn't seem to care.

"Huh, how about that?" Satoru commented casually as he dropped the debris he had been holding with his cursed energy. "You really can control that guy."

"He's kind of annoying though to tell the truth." Yuji said as he lightly smacked his own head. "And I keep hearing his voice."

"That's not all you need to be worrying about." Eiji said. "Get your priorities straight, Itadori."

Megumi looked at Eiji with a deadpanned expression since she was one to talk. She was busy stuffing her face just seconds ago despite the situation.

"You've got mochi on your face," Megumi told her as Satoru walked forward towards Yuji.

Eiji touched her face to try and wipe if off, but she missed the first few times, so Megumi, who gave a sigh, wiped it away for her.

"Hopeless." He muttered as Satoru stopped in front of Yuji.

"She's right," Satoru said. "It's a miracle that's all he's doing to you."

He then tapped Yuji on the forehead and within seconds the kid was out like a light. He fell forward, but Satoru caught him.

"What did you do to him?" Megumi asked.

"I just knocked him out," Satoru said reassuring.

Megumi relaxed when he said that and honestly, Eiji was relieved too. Yuji saved them after all, so she didn't want him to be hurt. Though she knew the boy getting to live much longer was slim.

"If he isn't possessed by Sukuna when he wakes up then he might have potential as a vessel." Satoru said then turned to his student. "Now, I have a question for you both. What do you think we should do with him?"

Megumi looked down in thought, but Eiji had already made up her mind in that second.

"I don't want him to die." Eiji said without hesitation. "He saved us. He wouldn't have even eaten that finger if not trying to help us. Itadori is a good person and doesn't deserve to be executed."

Satoru made no comment at first as he turned to look at Megumi. Waiting for his answer as well.

"Even if he is a vessel, jujutsu regulations demanded that Itadori Yuji be executed." Megumi pointed out. "However, I don't want him to die."

"Personal?" Satoru questioned.

"I suppose," Megumi answered for the both of them. "So, can you save him?"

Satoru didn't answer right away as he looked at his two students. Megumi's expression gave nothing away, but Eiji's was hopeful that he'd say yes. He then chuckled as he lifted Yuji over his shoulder.

"A request from my precious students," Satoru began then gave them a thumbs up. "Leave it to me! Now, let's go home!"

"Kay~" Eiji replied then laughed. "But I can't move, Sensei~"

Megumi sighed at the two idiots because they also seemed to forget about the two students hurt and needing of medical attention in the school building. As Satoru boasted he could probably carry Eiji in his free arm with ease, Megumi pulled out his phone to call for some help to get this mess taken care of.

Eiji let out a laugh as she ran around the grounds of Jujutsu High with a few dolls running behind her. As she ran and played with these new friends of hers, Satoru and Yaga watched her.

"So, she's here now," Satoru said. "What's going to become of her?"

Yaga let out a sigh as he lifted his glances to pinch the bridge of his nose tiredly.

"The higherups are discussing whether or not to place her within one of the three major sorcerer clans." Yaga said. "Probably one with a male heir about her age to betroth her to."

Satoru frowned at that. That was such an archaic way of thinking. He also didn't like how no one was asking Eiji what she wanted. Big decisions were being made for her without anyone asking her how she feels.

"I hear the Kamo Clan's next heir is only a year or two older than her." Yaga said. "However, that would mean moving her probably to the Kyoto school when the time comes for it. The Zen'in clan have expressed interest in her as well. Saying she might be a good match for the Fushiguro Megumi boy that they bought from his father."

Satoru's frown only deepened the more Yaga spoke before he finally stood up from his seat.

"That's not happening." Satoru said. "As if I'd let her go live with either one of those clans. They're full of old geezers who care more about tradition than the future."

"There's nothing we can really do about it," Yaga said. "Akashi is the last of her clan, and while the girl might not be very strong herself, the higherups are determined not to let her clan's inherited cursed technique die out. They'll see that she's chosen a good prospect for her future husband."

Satoru scoffed at the mention of the higherups as he watched Eiji laugh and actually wear a true smile on her face for the first time since he brought her here. The laughter bubbling out between her lips was of true joy, and he knew if she went to live with the Kamo or even worse the Zen'in Clan that she'd never be truly happy like this again.

"Like I said, it's not happening." Satoru said. "I'm keeping her, and I made up my mind about Fushiguro Megumi a long time ago. Neither one of them are going somewhere they don't wish to go. I'll train them hard, so you don't have to worry about that. But whatever happens in their future, they'll get to decide."

Satoru came out of his thoughts as he looked down at Eiji who was still asleep in her bed. Ieiri had already treated her and Megumi, who was at Eiji's doorway along with Yuji, but Eiji was still sleeping away.

"Is she okay?" Yuji asked with a quiet tone, so not to wake Eiji.

Satoru smiled as he leaned down to pull Eiji's covers farther up to her shoulder.

"Yeah," Satoru said as he turned away. "Just sleeping in a bit. I bet she'll be really excited to hear you're joining us, Yuji. She was really worried about you."

Yuji smiled as he looked back to the sleeping Eiji as Satoru stepped out of the room. The white-haired man looked to Megumi who was watching Eiji with a frown on his face. Though his attention went to Satoru when the man patted him on top his head.

"Don't look so worried, Megumi." Satoru said as he moved Yuji and Megumi away from the door to shut it. "She'll be back to bouncing around and annoying you tomorrow. Besides, she needs her rest. Tomorrow, we're heading out! To pick up our fourth and final first year!"

Megumi frowned as he wondered if this new first year would be as bothersome as the two that he was already dealing with. Not to mention the even more bothersome teacher.

"Great," Megumi said sarcastically. "I'm going back to bed then."

"Ah, come on, Fushiguro," Yuji complained. "Show me around the place or something."

Yuji went to follow Megumi, who refused to show him around, as Satoru watched them with a grin. He glanced back at Eiji's dorm where the girl was still inside and sleeping peacefully. He then followed after the boys with his hands stuffed inside his pockets.

'This is going to be an interesting year,' He decided.

Coco: And that's the end of the chapter! I hope you liked it. :D Now, until next time everyone! Remember to stay safe out there and keep being your beautiful selves!