Chapter 33

Yuuji was staring down a baby Megumi. Toji had spotted him and Suiryu earlier and introduced 'his son' to them rather proudly. "Shit man, you weren't even rendered that small…" Suiryu whispered.

"I know, this must be serious." Yuuji whispered back.

After the introduction, Toji paused as Rook approached with Ryoto who oddly enough wore only a bathrobe. "That's a first," Suiryu said aloud.

"It's the only thing I have that fits right now…" Ryoto explained but fell silent, he sighed aloud and said. "Mom… told me to speak with you about my father… nothing good I assume and yet… here we are"

The two nodded. "Indeed, we don't have anything good to say about him. At the same time…" Suiryu's voice trailed off as he peered at Yuuji.

Yuuji sighed. "I don't have anything good to say really, after all. He made me suffer…"

"I am so sorry…"

"Shut it" scolded Rook. "Your dad's actions are not your actions. If that had been the case, you think anyone here would take me seriously considering my old man?" he demanded.

It was a fair point. Yuuji forced a smile and nodded to that. "He's not wrong…" yet before he could continue, Toji was showing Megumi off to Rook!

"Dude, we know he's a baby and he is freaking cute right now" Rook said.

"He's showing him off because he trusts you, it's his insurance for it anything happens to him, he wants to make certain Fushiguro is looked after" Suiryu explained, yet things took a twist.

Toji approached Ryoto!

He showed Megumi to him, Ryoto froze to this but merely nodded and smiled to the little dragon. "Huh… color me surprised…" Suiryu muttered. "Toji trusts you…"

With introductions over, he moved on with Megumi, but now the real challenge. Yuuji knew that look on his face, he had that many times over when possessed BY Sukuna. "Guys, leave this to me please"

Suiryu was stunned but nodded. "Sure, Rook, let's excuse ourselves."

When they were given privacy, Ryoto looked to him with such a sad and pathetic look. "Yuuji…"

"Don't ever feel you are responsible." He began to say. "You already know the worst of your father, so I don't have to explain anything more about it. At the same time, you need to understand something as well. I hate to admit this myself, but he truly is trying his best to change himself."

Ryoto shook his head. "He shouldn't be given such a chance!" he protested. "He has done so many vile things!"

"He has, at the same time, his actions have caused us pain and suffering… and yet, because of him, we are the way we are now." Yuuji told him that time was reset by Yua Tooru, his aunt, at the same time, his mother, Lady Tiamat gave a helping hand to that. "Despite all he has done, my mom was rather thrilled to learn and see Yua spare Sukuna his life. I thought for sure she would have killed him. But, I believe Yua knew she owed him a chance."

"What do you mean? Auntie should have been furious. I mean she was the last Tooru wasn't she?"

"Yes, she was, until Shin came along… and he nearly didn't survive. Shin is alive because of your father."

Ryoto was confused until Yuuji explained, Sukuna was the one who helped Yua give birth to Shin. Shin was born blue. Had Sukuna not interfered, Shin may have died that day. "He… saved Shin?"

"That was BEFORE he offered his life to Yua." Yuuji explained. "I don't like your father, however I also won't hinder him in trying to be a better person. He has made improvements, but he lacks in a lot of areas. But I will say this, he has tried to help even when those around him don't want it. He is rather good at saying what he wants to say even if no one is listening, but his words get through. They do because they mean something, he is either warning or hinting to the cause or solution if someone has such a thing."

"Look, that's fine and all, but the fact is…"

"He's Ryomen Sukuna, I know" Yuuji said gently. "If you want to take solace in one thing and one thing alone. Know this, when he learned you were coming into this world… he was terrified. After you were born he asked a favor of my mother, but ended up being a favor from me, to bless his child so they will never become anything like him. I think I did a good job," Yuuji said proudly.

"I blessed you with traits from everyone here in the domain, even from me as well. You value the life and lives of those around you, they are not pawns or throw aways that you don't have to concern yourself with. You take notice and are cautious with your power. Not many are, and with your abilities, forget about it!" he laughed.

"Not funny," Ryoto warned.

"Sorry… but you see that. Even that right now. Had your been your father, he would have laughed aloud and agreed, he wouldn't be cautious, to him if you are caught up in his attack it's your own fault! You… you're careful about it."

"I barely tapped into my curse energy…"

"For good reason too, not doubt with it surging now. You need to control it, your father will help, at the same time…" Yuuji paused and saw Ryoto flesh alter. "It appears your body is adapting already. You have techniques embedded in your flesh through these marks, like your dad. They contain techniques.

"Is… that what those marks are?"

"Curse marks…" Yuuji went one farther and revealed his. Ryoto was stunned.

"You too?!"

"From your father, I was his vessel after all for a short while. After a trial of body and soul I sort of absorbed his power… and ate a lot of curses too…"

"I'm sorry what…"

"Anyways" Yuuji continued on. "The fact is this, you have the right mind to know how to control yourself, and now you just need time to control your power. You need your father now more than ever before. And let me explain one last thing, I heard this from Yua. You just saw Megumi right? As a baby dragon?"

"Who hasn't at this point."

"Well, Megumi has been struggling with his dragon state, he's been rendered and infant because his soul is refusing his body, and if he continued to resist, he would kill himself. None of us were aware but my mom… and your father. Megumi has refused to listen to Sukuna for a good reason since… he possessed him to, so, he is trying to make amends, he has tried countless times to speak with Megumi on what is happening to him, trying to warn him… needless to say how that went."

Ryoto peered at him oddly. "The fact remains, he was willing to risk great harm, Megumi is a dragon now even if he isn't a fully realized one, he had the power to take your father's life. He knew it and still risked it to try and help him. I am trying to see Sukuna in a different light since I am aware he is trying… at the same time, I cannot full trust him either."

Ryoto was silent for a moment, however he nodded. "I just don't understand why he named me after the first person he devoured."

"Because, that person was your uncle… and he cared for them like a brother. When he wasn't insane, I was told they were like siblings. Yet, when he fell into madness, connections didn't matter. The Toorus to him were an enemy since he was told such a lie… at the same time, your uncle made certain to bring your father back from the brink, since after all… I was his reincarnation."

He froze to this, Ryoto stared at him in disbelief, but Yuuji nodded and laughed. "If you really want your mind blown, so was your mother. Except… she was part of Nobara…"

"Too much… too soon there!" Ryoto said in disbelief. "Damn…"

"Do you feel okay?"

"My head hurts from all of this…"

"It will for a while, mine still does from past events…" Yuuji said and laughed.