Chapter 24

Back at the domain…

"Tsumiki…" Megumi has been searching for his sister.

Ever since she returned, he has tried to figure out how to approach her, he still feels terrible for what befell upon her, taking responsibility for her death among other things. But, ever since she was brought back, Megumi has yet to really see her.

"TSUMIKI!" he suddenly bellowed out.

"Whoa, Fushiguro, she's with mom"

He paused as Itadori approached him. "What? What do you mean? Lady Tiamat took her away?!"

Yuuji sighed. "She has to learn how to be a dragon, mom wanted to help her out with that since it's a big change. She didn't have time to process this like us, it was the way she came back…" he tried to explain.

"I could have helped her!" he protested. "I am still learning this too, we could have assisted each other…"

"You don't know how." Yuuji was blunt, but his eyes tried to speak softly. "Fushiguro… you are still struggling to maintain yourself. Hell, I don't even think you fully understand what has happened to you…"

"I know well enough," he said bitterly. "The day she came back, I was able to control myself again. I don't need to be lectured…"

"Fushiguro…" Yuuji's voice became a little sterner. "You have yet to accept what has happened to you. You have no idea how to be a dragon, what it means to be one or how to understand your new form. Suiryu even said the last time he saw a shikigami from you was when you sneezed out rabbits!"

"Don't remind me… but I have summoned others, I summoned a serpent a while ago…"

"How long?"

"….."

"Fushiguro…"

"When Toshi was expecting…"

Itadori paused to this and sighed. "That was a while ago… Fushiguro… you need help, let mom help you at least!"

"I DIDN'T ASK FOR THIS!" he snapped.

However, he saw no sympathy from Itadori. Normally his heart is softer to things like this, but now…

"I know you didn't… and I didn't ask for the life that was given me. You told me to stop living in the past, right. Let me return the favor. You and I have been through hell and back again, you and I know suffering and yet… you can't seem to move past it when it befalls upon you. Megumi…"

He paid attention this time since Itadori used his name. "Look… it's harder than I thought… I… I thought being a dragon was easy after seeing how fast you took to it, same with Suiryu…"

"Different circumstance" he said gently. "You dad turned you so you won't be left behind again. At the same time… you have survivor's guilt for what happened between you and your sister."

He paused, Fushiguro stared at Yuuji for the longest time, but found he didn't mince his words. "You think I wouldn't know what that is like?" Yuuji asked of him. "Fushiguro. I live with it every day! I know how many people died because of Sukuna possessing me. I know many more died because of Kenjaku… at the same time. I lived. I lived when I should have been killed for what had happened because Sukuna could possess MY body! It's a pain I know you feel as well but have yet to confront it yourself."

He was silent.

Despite Yuuji being a happy go lucky person most of the time. When the lives of others are destroyed and lost before him, he takes responsibility.

"I think you both are too hard on yourselves."

The paused, behind Megumi stood Suguru Geto. "Mind if I chime in on this?"

Yuuji didn't mind, Megumi didn't want to hear it. "You two of all know what I have done, what I nearly did, and what Kenjaku did through me. Needless to say, I share similarities with you two here. But there is a rather stark difference." He said gently. "The fact is I have accepted what had happened and moved on from it. Both of you seem incapable of doing so."

"What do you mean?" Megumi asked.

Suguru looked to Yuuji. "You… should be happier now than ever before. You have a loving wife and family, children to call your own and not to mention a twin brother who would have your back. Brothers from another mother needless to explain, that would defend you to their last breath. Your friends are something else too, and those are rare to sorcerers. I know. But, you are still struggling, burdening yourself with the past for event beyond your control." He said to Itadori. "I would be in the same position as you, upset by the lives lost. At the same time, ignorance is bliss. I cannot forget the fact that, those I did kill, I didn't regret at the time. You never lost that innocence."

He then turned to Megumi. "You, cannot let yourself be happy. You feel that the burdens of the world are yours to take, you wanted to take those burdens from your sister as well and take care of her as she did you when you were young. At the same time, as you grew, what she considered simple acts, for they had to be done to keep you alive… you saw as love. You loved your sister for how she took care of you, and you wanted to return that to her. Noble, at the same time, you are brother and sister. It's gone beyond the point of caring for her…"

"What of it!" Megumi demanded. "So what? It's not hurting anyone!"

"Zen'in curse…" muttered Suguru. "Your bloodline was like this, for the wrong reasons… then again marrying family is for the wrong reasons. But anyways. You are doing yourself more harm than good if you proceed to court your sister. Even to dragons this is a taboo. You are not broadening your bloodline… you are stunting it."

"Who cares! I don't want kids!" he protested again.

Suguru sighed. "Megumi Fushiguro… despite how you appear right now, I can promise you. Soon, very soon, you are going to lose the ability to control your features. If you struggled before with ears and a tail, it will become a lot worst. You have not gotten your mindset!"

"Fushiguro…" Yuuji began to speak.

"Just… leave me alone! All of you!" he snapped back.

He got some distance between himself and the others. But, just as he considered heading home, he froze. Choso was out with his three sons… the three that took notice of Tsumiki. He growled lowly at this as he found himself confronting the brothers.

Choso instantly came between them.

"Fushiguro…" he said gently.

He growled. "Stay away from Tsumiki!" he said to the three.

Sota paused to this. His brothers as well.

"We merely introduced ourselves to her, we haven't said anything more." Grant said gently. "If we are to pursuit her, we wouldn't have done so on a whim or at the last moment. We're more respectful than that!"

"I don't care! STAY AWAY FROM MY SISTER!" he roared.

Choso sighed aloud to it all. "Megumi Fushiguro… mind your tone!" he snapped back. In fact, Choso was getting worked up, emulating a power… not even Megumi knew he could summon! It was… strong! As if someone is forcing him to the ground and making him stay there!

"You… speak out of line to my sons. I don't tolerate harsh words when they have done no wrong. You love your sister, my sons understand and respect that. They also have sisters and know you are being a good brother in defending her. But, brothers also know when they are out of line with their actions and words."

He felt the pressure release from his back. It startled Megumi as Choso stood there, he did nothing but… that was his aura alone?!

"Father is very strict when it comes to siblings getting along." Sota said in a serious tone. "None of us dare go against him, we outnumber father but no one that he has raised would ever fight against his will or his rules. He's a very fair person."

Megumi stumbled back but sneered at the three. "Leave her alone and find someone else" he hissed lowly. "Or I'll fight you for her"

He only mumbled that under his breath as he turned to leave. But truthfully, there would be no one in this world who would stop him from ensuring his sister's happiness.