Chapter Twenty Three: The Ghost of the Zennin

Maki walked through the wooden corridors of the Zennin clan compound, her footsteps echoing softly on the polished floors. The faint creak of the aged wood accompanied her every step, a subtle reminder of the oppressive weight of tradition that hung over the Zennin household. The lanterns lining the walls flickered with a dim light, casting long, eerie shadows that seemed to dance with the movements of the night.

She was angry. No, she was beyond angry. The Zennin clan had always ill-treated women, considering them as nothing more than tools or breeding stock. Maki and her twin sister, Mai, had borne the brunt of this misogyny. Their father and the other clan members had never seen them as equals, always belittling their achievements and dismissing their potential. Maki, with her Heavenly Restriction, was seen as an even greater disappointment. A woman without cursed energy was worthless in their eyes.

Maki's fists clenched at her sides as she recalled the countless humiliations and the harsh words that had been hurled at them. They had been told repeatedly that their only worth lay in serving the men of the clan. But Maki had refused to bow down, had refused to accept her so-called place. And now, she was going to make them pay for every insult, every slight.

She reached the meeting room and shoved the doors open with a loud bang. The room was filled with the senior members of the Zennin clan, their conversations coming to an abrupt halt as they turned to face her. At the center of the room stood Naoya, her cousin, and the most arrogant of them all. He was wearing a ridiculous green spandex suit and had his hair cut in a ludicrous bowl shape.

"What are you now?" Maki laughed, her voice dripping with scorn. "A freak? A clown?"

Naoya ignored her taunt, his lips curling into a smirk. "Are you here to submit, Maki-chan?"

"The fuck?" Maki spat, her eyes blazing with fury.

"Oooh, quite straightforward, I see," Naoya sneered. "Unfortunately, I don't like scarred women in my harem. I prefer soft-skinned girls, like Mai-chan."

That did it. Maki's vision turned red with rage, and she lunged at Naoya. But before she could reach him, strong hands grabbed her by the waist and neck, lifting her off the ground effortlessly.

"Fucking father!" Maki snarled, thrashing against the iron grip.

Her father, wearing identical attire to Naoya, looked down at her with cold, disdainful eyes. "You're such a disappointment, Maki. You should be humbled."

"Fuck off!" Maki spat, struggling even harder.

Her father's grip tightened. "I'll humble you, even if it means you die."

Maki's eyes widened slightly at that. "The dungeon…"

The dungeon of the Zennin clan was a place of horror, a subterranean pit where those who displeased the clan were thrown to be forgotten. It was a place teeming with cursed spirits, a hellish labyrinth where the weak were devoured and the strong were broken.

Her father, along with a few guards, began dragging her toward the dungeon. Maki kicked and punched, her movements wild and desperate. Despite her incredible physical strength, she was no Toji Fushiguro. The guards were too many, too strong.

Naoya watched the scene unfold with a sadistic smile on his face, his eyes gleaming with amusement.

Suddenly, from the shadows of the corridor, Mai appeared, her face pale and tear-streaked. "Please, let her go! Don't do this!"

Maki's heart ached at the sight of her sister begging. "Mai, don't! Don't beg these monsters!"

But Mai continued to plead. Naoya's smile faded into irritation. "Fine. Throw them both into the dungeon."

The guards tightened their grip on Maki and seized Mai as well. They were dragged, kicking and screaming, toward the abyss.

Just before they were about to be thrown in, a cold, masculine voice spoke. "Huh? I thought family was important. One should always look after them."

Everyone reacted instantly, turning to face the source of the voice. Their eyes widened in shock and fear as they saw the man standing there.

It was the man who had supposedly killed Satoru Gojo.

The Ghost of the Zennin.

"T-Toji Fu-Fushiguro..." Naoya stammered, taking a step back.

"Huh? Oh, yeah, that's me." Toji smiled like a predator. "And what's with those green spandex and bowl haircuts? You guys cosplaying or something?"

Maki's mind raced as she recalled the man from Shibuya. The man who had taken her Playful Cloud and slaughtered a Special Grade Cursed Spirit like it was nothing. Why was he here?

"But... how?" the old man of the clan said, his voice trembling. "You were… dead…"

Toji shrugged, a pair of amethyst eyes flashing in his mind. A voice echoed in his ears.

'Kotoamatsukami: Family is important, one should always look after them.'

Toji replied, "Yeah, a brat with white hair and fancy eyes. Know him?"

"Satoru Gojo?" Naoya gritted his teeth.

"Maybe his son."

"Tenodakune Gojo?" the old man suggested.

"Woah, what a long-ass name." Toji chuckled.

One of the guards, oblivious to the danger, charged at Toji. Naoya tried to warn him. "Wait…!"

But the man had already attacked. Toji frowned and kicked the guard like a football, sending him flying into the dungeon. The man's screams echoed as cursed spirits swarmed him.

The remaining Zennin clan members gasped, their fear palpable. Toji looked at them, his expression bored. "Why are they being punished?"

Naoya's face twisted in anger. "It's none of your business."

"Who are you, again?" Toji flexed his muscles.

"Naoya Zennin."

"Oh, so you're family," Toji smiled. "Good for you." He then looked at the old man. "Why are you punishing them?"

Maki's father, trembling with fear, managed to speak. "They should know their place."

"Oh. And what is their place?" Toji questioned, his tone mocking.

"Where women should be."

"Hmm, I'm listening."

"Beneath us."

"Okay, old man. I get it." Toji chuckled. "You suck at parenting."

"Says the guy who sold—" The old man's sentence was cut off as Toji's punch sent him flying into the dungeon.

"Old man! If you're still as good as before, then I hope you'll live down there." Toji yelled.

A scream echoed from the depths.

"...or maybe not."

Toji turned to Naoya, his expression serious. "I'm taking the girls with me. I need someone to look after my daughter. She's in a rebellious phase."

Naoya's face twisted in fury. "I won't let you."

Toji sighed. "I don't want to hurt you, Naoya."

Naoya, fueled by rage and pride, attacked. His cursed energy flared as he activated his technique. His movements became a blur, each strike aimed with lethal precision. But Toji moved with effortless grace, dodging and deflecting each blow.

Naoya's attacks grew more desperate, more frenzied. He wanted to prove he was not a nobody, that he was as strong as Toji. But Toji barely seemed to notice, his expression one of mild boredom.

Toji glanced at his wristwatch. "The drug I gave her should wear off now. Tsumiko must be yelling again. Gotta clean her poop. Damn, that bitch still wets her bed. Maybe I should buy an adult diaper? But I have no money… hey, brats," he looked at the horrified girls. "Where do you get adult diapers?"

"Uh…" Mai, the not-scarred one, stammered. "A departmental store? Or a pharmacy?"

"Hmm, you seem quite knowledgeable." Toji mused. "How about you look after a cousin of yours? She's a bit aggressive because I killed her bug buddies and tied her to bed all day with shackles and won't let her marry some delinquent. Deal?"

Mai nodded dumbly.

Naoya, seeing an opening, lunged at Toji. Toji let out an exasperated sigh. "I don't have time for this shit."

With a swift, brutal motion, Toji grabbed Naoya by the throat and slammed him into the ground. Naoya gasped, his vision blurring. Toji's expression was one of pure annoyance as he knocked Naoya out with a single punch.

Toji turned to the girls. "Come on, let's go."

Maki, still seething with anger and suspicion, crossed her arms. "I'm not going anywhere."

Toji shrugged. "Don't blame me when they wake up and try to 'humble' you. She's going, right?"

Mai nodded furiously.

"Good."

Maki remained skeptical, her eyes narrowing. "I'll go, but…"

"What?" Toji said, clearly annoyed.

"You gotta teach me about your Heavenly Restriction."

"Fine," Toji sighed. "But you're looking after Tsumiko."

"Tsumiko?" Mai said, shocked. "Like Tsumiko Fushiguro?"

Toji shrugged. "Yeah."

"That's Megumi's sister," Maki narrowed her eyes. "So you are their 'bastard' father?"

"Yeah," Toji looked hopeful. "You've seen my other girl? Name's Megumi."

Mai blinked. Maki blinked.

"Megumi is a boy..."

"Oh, come to think of it, she looked and sounded quite masculine. So… a trans?"

The twins facepalmed.

"What?" Toji grinned.

TBC

Author Note: The Shinjuku Showdown will begin, but before that, I want to add a few more chapters. I have some ideas, but I want to see what you want to read. If your suggestions matches mine, then I'll write it.

Till next time!