Chapter 13

Back at the domain…

A satisfying yawn came out of him. Suguru was living his best life right now and he knew perfectly why. The deed was done, he's now having the next brood but at the moment…

"Satoru, hungry" he said bluntly.

Satoru snapped out of bed, he was in a dead sleep but has since woken up and was at the ready. "Oh? Hungry? What would you like? We're out of noodles just so you know…"

"Did you let Yua know?"

A blank look came over his face. Suguru figures he hasn't been telling Yua what has been used up and having her learn the hard way as to what they are low on in the house. "So, what does Suguru mama what?"

"Don't… call me that"

Satoru smirked as he stood up, got dressed and then grabbed a paper and pen. "So, what's the order for this morning?"

Suguru was craving some take out food. So he listed off various things he wanted, from different places. Satoru wrote everything down and was gone in a flash. When he was, Suguru sighed. "Finally!"

He sat himself up and dressed for the day. By the time he reached the bottom steps towards the kitchen, he found Yua about to leave. "I feel like I haven't seen you in ages!"

Instantly she stopped herself, but peered about. "Satoru…"

"Gone to get me what I craved… so… is this official or?" he asked in an uncertain tone.

"Well, considering how clingy Satoru has been with you, he's bending over backwards and ensuring you're fed…" she said offhandedly and yet, shook her head to it all. "He wasn't this hands on with me… seriously… what the hell do you have that I don't!"

Suguru lost it in laughter, Yua followed suit as they both snickered to the situation before them. "Oh I don't even know either… at the same time, perhaps this was something he had wanted from the get go."

"I do think that's the 'no shit Sherlock' answer here. Still… I am starting to see that you really did have his heart first before me…" her voice trailed off.

Suguru knew that tone and sighed to her. "I felt the same way about Satoru at one point, but then, my ideals got in the way… and I paid for trying to see them through. I think it was your knock back to reality that made me see things from another perspective, you respect the fact that I don't like a majority of humans…"

"Not many do,"

He forced a smile. "Yeah… and yet…" he paused and shook his head. "I think I know why Chusi wanted me to be with you, and it wasn't just to help you with Satoru… it was because I needed you to keep me grounded. You're an intellect that I have respect for, at the same time the way you care for everyone here… you try and make time for them too… I admire that."

She smiled and hugged him, yet, as she did. Yua's hug suddenly got lighter. "Huh?" she muttered.

"Something wrong?"

She embraced him again, stepping back. Yua looked him over curiously. "I think so…" she said in a serious tone. "Suguru… you should have grown out by now right? You're about two weeks into the first month gestation phase right? Toshi was double his size by that time… you haven't changed yet since I last hugged you."

He paused to this. "So… I'm not…"

"That's the thing… you are. I can sense it, I smell it… but… you haven't gotten any bigger. And I know you would eat until everyone is happy, but… this doesn't feel right."

He was concerned about this, he felt the same way and question Satoru about it. His answer was. 'We'll just have you eat more!' but despite that, he hasn't put on the weight needed.

They sensed Satoru returning. Yua excused herself to see if she can get Calypso to come over. By the time she left, Satoru returned with enough take out for ten people! "I got food!" he cheered.

Suguru smiled and nodded. "Let's eat then"

#

It would be shortly after the meal, a gentle knock came to the door and Calypso let herself in. "Good afternoon, I came to check on uncle" she said gently.

Satoru was defensive, growling aggressively.

"Satoru, chill!" Suguru insisted.

When he peered back he found Calypso taking notes already. "Aggressive towards females… not normal…" she jotted down.

By the time she finished writing, Satoru snapped out of it. He appeared confused by it all and wondered what he was doing. "Aunt Yua filled me in on what is happening, may I?" she asked.

Suguru nodded. He left the kitchen table and went into the living room. Calypso laid out the futon and had Suguru rest on top of it. From there, she did an inspection.

"This should be fine, I mean, I have been taking care of him. Right, Suguru? I have taken good care of you!" Satoru was worried that he was messing up again. He understood his concern and yet the way Calypso was peering at him, something was wrong.

"I sense you are carrying young ones, and yet… it is as aunt Yua said. They are not growing properly. They are obtaining enough food to live, but not enough to mature…"

His heart sank.

"I'm eating! I have been trying to eat more than I can but…"

"Uncle, this has to be part of the curse that was inflicted on uncle Satoru. Grandmother's uncle must have known between the two of you, the weakness that could happen if you obtain and tended to the young… he knew uncle Suguru would be the most nurturing… so he is ensuring you fail." She explained.

"That explains that curse smell at his middrift…"

The room paused.

Rook stood in the doorway, dripping with blood and appeared rather haggard!

"Rook?!" Satoru demanded.

"Trust me the other guys look worst, and one's riding the Rook bowel through hell right now. But Pops… there is a powerful curse at your midsection, I can smell it if I focus on it. If I am not, I detect nothing."

Still, the room froze.

Calypso even tried as she took a sniff near Suguru's stomach. She was utterly confused. "I… don't smell it." She said.

"None of us do" said Satoru as he turned to Rook once more.

He nodded his head. "To me it smells like that time dad ate expired kimchi… no one had a good night and we slept outside."

"HEY!"

The room snorted a laugh, that was something they promised not to say aloud unless needed. Suguru assumed Rook just wanted to get it out of his system. "Anyways, to me, curses have different smells. Those that manifest from curse energy and become physical beings have a different scent than that of a powerful strike or blast with the same energy. But this… the worst are rancid to me and this is up there in stench." He decreed. "This was purposely inflected upon Pops here to ensure failure. But as Oji said, when a curse is inflicted there has to be a counter to it."

The room paused.

"Since when the hell did you get as good at figuring stuff out as Sukuna?!" Satoru demanded.

His son paused, but shrugged his shoulders. "Dunno" he said. "Excuse me, I need a shower…" he left to clean up… looks like there some blood that needs to be cleaned later as well… and yet Calypso smiled as she was able to lift such a mess off the ground and expel it instantly!

Suguru looked to her with an impressed appearance. "Oh this is nothing, one of the basics we are taught as children." She insisted. "However, Rook is right about this, it's a curse. I am going to call the masters on this."