(A/N: Thank you so much for the reviews TheQueen1615 and RedFistCannon! And to everyone who followed, favorited, and added this story to their alerts as well. I'm so happy to see you all enjoying it. :) For those who haven't caught up in the 2nd season of Jujutsu Kaisen or haven't read the Shibuya Incident Arc, there are MAJOR SPOILERS in this chapter. Just a fair warning since I don't want to ruin any major surprises for those who might not be that far in the series. That being said, if something seems off or I got some facts wrong, don't be afraid to let me know. ^^)
Danuja eyed the man before her with caution. In all sense, she should be happy to see the one known as Suguru Geto. He had been like an older brother figure in her life; training her and guiding her in the proper way to be a true sorcerer before she was even allowed to attend Jujutsu Tech.
And yet...
"Why are you here...?"
Geto chuckled at this and smiled one of his famous enigmatic smiles that Danuja was often used to receiving. For how long she had known the powerful sorcerer, she still felt clueless to what his intentions were; what was truly hidden behind those charismatic smiles of his.
"Is that any way to talk to your beloved teacher? I expected a more heartfelt greeting."
"If you're expecting me to get all weepy and run into yer arms, ya can forget it," Danuja mumbled. "It was bad enough when I didn't hear from you for weeks, sometimes months...But then ya disappeared for an entire year without any contact whatsoever."
"And that was all for your benefit. If the teachers became suspicious of you leaving the grounds far too often, it would have been discovered that you were allied with me," Geto voiced in a matter-of-fact tone, moving to stand beside Danuja. "You would have been put to death, and there would have been nothing I could do for you."
Not looking at the girl, he placed a hand on her head "Although, it seems the school is trying to discreetly wipe you out. You're not even considered a first grade or special grade sorcerer, yet they send you on these solo assignments. For most students, they normally wouldn't be put in situations like this unless the school was in dire straits,"
Feeling a tightness growing in her chest, not from Geto's words, but from the feel of his hand, Danuja distanced herself from the raven-haired male.
"...Gojo sensei and Utahime sensei have spoken up on my behalf, but I guess even the higher ups won't listen to 'em. Not that it matters. Ma body can heal up most major injuries eventually," Danuja said softly. "You helped make sure I'd be able to handle whatever pain came my way after all, didn't ya, Teach...?"
Hiding behind Geto's large pants leg, Danuja peeked out at the small group of people currently residing in the large temple she had been brought to. While most of the adults were looking at her curiously, she noticed that two girls, who looked around her age, were looking at her with narrowed brows.
She wasn't accustomed to the expression, but Danuja could tell they were jealous. That became all too clear when the caramel haired girl spoke up in a clear tone of vexation, "Who is that girl, Geto-san?"
Stepping to the side so he could push the red and gray haired female forward, Suguru said pleasantly, "This is Danuja Ena; the newest addition to our family," He moved over to the twin girls, rubbing affectionately at both of their heads when they each latched onto a leg. "She lost a family member a few weeks ago, so treat her kindly, Nanako-chan. Mimiko-chan."
Not able to help but squeak when a rather tall muscular man with blond hair and light-colored eyes approached her, Danuja did notice that he wasn't looking at her with coldness when he bent down to her level. He still held that same expression of interest he had shown when Geto and her had arrived.
"So she's the one you mentioned. You're right. I can sense a faint curse energy coming off of her."
"She's a cute kid and I do feel for her but are you sure it's wise to keep her around?" a lean and pretty woman with fair colored pink hair pointed out.
"We need a healer in our group and Danuja-chan's reverse cursed technique is quite unique," Geto explained. "Her body is stronger than it appears. Observe."
Danuja didn't register what happened until the pain set in. Geto must have cut her; she just hadn't been able to see when or what he had used to do so. A large gash was across her stomach, and the plain light blue shirt she was in was turning red when her blood soaked through the fabric.
"Geto. What did you-" A tall and slim dark-skinned male, his eyes concealed behind a pair of sunglasses, started to cry out in shock. He stopped his sentence when their leader held up a hand and knelt down in front of the child who had fallen to her knees and had clearly been stunned by what had just occurred.
Lifting her shirt up a little to examine Danuja's stomach, Geto's dark eyes shined when seeing that the gash was already healing. Whispering a comforting word into the watery eyed child's ear, he picked Danuja up to show the others.
"I haven't measured how long certain injuries take to mend, but Danuja-chan's body is capable of healing any injury that's been placed on her. I've gathered this is because of the cursed energy she has flowing through her veins," Geto explained with a smile. He had seen for himself many first and special grade curses able to recover even from the direst of states if they were given enough time. "Not only that, but her technique also allows her to transfer physical injuries back and forth."
"I-I don't understand...?" Danuja said with a small sniffle. The seven-year-old couldn't comprehend why he had hurt her. Hadn't Suguru promised he was going to keep her safe from those who wanted to do similar actions toward her?
Almost as if he could read the young girl's thoughts, Geto's expression softened. "The training I'm planning for you will be painful, I won't deny that. You have my promise. I'm going to make sure you become strong enough to survive. I won't allow anyone in my family to die."
"My training was harsh, but it helped you in the end, wouldn't you agree?"
"...I guess I wouldn't still be here if it hadn't." Danuja replied, her tone emotionless.
Her cell's ring tone going off, she saw that Gojo was trying to reach her. Hesitating in answering-she was scared her teacher would know something was up the moment she opened her mouth-Danuja only did so when Geto sent her a look to go ahead.
"Yo! I was starting to get worried when you wouldn't answer my texts. Hope you weren't just ignoring me? I'm beginning to think Utahime's been a bad influence on you. And you don't want to grow up into a woman like her~!"
"That was just mean. I'm telling her you said that Sensei..."
Satoru only laughed at this. "How are things on your end? Have you dealt with the curse, or do I need to come over there?"
There was that annoying tightening sensation in her chest again. Sometimes, Danuja wished she could be like an actual curse and not feel emotions the way humans did. It would make her life so much easier.
"Ya don't have to worry about that. I already disposed of it. I'm just recuperating right now. The fight took a lot outta me...I'll be back at the school in an hour. Two at the most."
"Scratch that! Meet us here in Ginza. You know, the usual place for sushi. My treat!"
I don't really care for sushi, but I guess I should be happy for the free meal Danuja decided after she hung up.
Gazing over at Geto, she noticed he was leaning against the cracked wall, an amused expression on his pale features.
"Sounds like you have a date with your little classmates. Isn't that nice. I do wonder...Are you certain that remaining at that school is where you're meant to be?"
"What are you goin' on about, Teach?"
"You're right. I had no right abandoning you the way I did. I didn't even allow you to take part in our attack on Kyoto. You deserved to be at my side along with the rest of your family. That's why I've decided you no longer have any reason to remain at that school."
Danuja's eyes went completely wide. There was a time when she would have been overjoyed to hear those words. She might have begun to care about those at the school, no matter how much her heart ached knowing she was truthfully deceiving them...But she often wondered if her place was among them? The one who had killed her father was a student from that school and she had seen the hatred on the few other past students faces when they had caught glimpses of her on the grounds...
And now...
"Stop. Just stop it...! How long are ya going to keep this charade up?!" Danuja shouted, her voice cracking just a little. She balled her hands into tight fists at her sides, refusing to break down. "I know I might talk like an idiot, but I ain't one! Not one completely anyways...I know you're not him. You're not really my teach no matter how much ya might look like him...So who the hell are you?!"
Suguru's thin eyes opened wider as if he too had been taken by surprise. This only lasted for a moment; a wide, almost deranged grin forming across his lips where the male burst out into laughter.
"So you knew? I suppose it would be difficult to deceive a fellow curse. More so the daughter of Leiko."
Danuja scowled and practically hissed out, "I don't know how ya know my momma's name, but you have no right to say it! Especially when you're taking on the form of someone else I cared about...I know Geto-san died. I was told he did..."
If he had let me join in on that day, he wouldn't have succumbed to those injuries of his...
"You're right. You could say I'm borrowing his body. Or should I say his corpse?" Geto noticed the female's face become a mixture of both horror and anger, but he wasn't fazed. He had received similar tedious reactions from the other members of the sorcerer's little 'family'. "My offer still stands. I want you to join me. You try to play human, but admit it, you're far more curse. You understand that you'll never fit in with either sorcerers or non-sorcerers."
"Ya might be right, but there's no way I'd align myself with some body snatcher. I'm leaving..."
"That's a shame. Especially since I used to be well acquainted with your mother. The real Geto was never able to find Leiko, was he?" Seeing the girl stop in her tracks, the cursed spirit smirked. "If she learns your associated with me, I'm sure she'd make her presence known. More so if Sukuna is able to return. She detested the both of us."
He's lying. He has to be lying...Why would my mother have ever been associated with someone like him or Sukuna?
"I even have a suggestion. If you don't want to be in my presence, stay at the school. Make sure Sukuna's vessel survives and devours all of the fingers until Sukuna can regain his full power and completely take over his host's body. Try and gain his favor. Have him warm up to you and make certain that Sukuna ends up joining us."
"I-if you're askin' me to seduce that creepy curse, then you can go jump in the nearest river and drown," Danuja stuttered out, her face turning red. "Actually, maybe I'll just go to the nearest river and do that myself...It'd make more sense than this conversation right now..."
The pseudo-Geto couldn't help but laugh; finding it even more amusing watching Danuja flinch when he playfully ruffled her hair.
"Aren't you an interesting little one. No. Sukuna would rip off your head if he believed you were trying to use him in any manner," Geto claimed. putting his hands into his sleeves. "I suppose I should have been clearer. I meant get closer to his vessel. You're already friends with Yuji Itadori, are you not? Further earning his trust shouldn't be too difficult."
The fake Geto's eyes narrowed in a manner that made the girl before him instinctively shiver. "Become a liability to Itadori. Someone Sukuna can use against him. You're someone who doesn't care if your life is in danger-you're not afraid to die-but Itadori doesn't know that."
Danuja gripped at the front of her shirt with a trembling hand. "That's...We're not really...You want me to help Sukuna take over Itadori's body?! Th-there's no way-!"
"Why? Because you believe he's one of the few people who will accept you completely even once he learns what you are?" Geto addressed with a small scoff. He pointed a finger at his head, giving it a small tap. "Have you forgotten? He's a sorcerer; the people you hate most no matter how much you lie to yourself. You work alongside them, tell yourself you can fit in among them, but deep down you know that is just a fleeting dream. One day they'll kill you...just like they've tried with your mother."
Danuja didn't say anything to this. She didn't want to admit that he was right. Being in Geto's body, whoever this person was, he knew everything about her; the same way Geto had. Years ago, she found herself asking Geto did he hate her? Her teacher and those that followed him wanted to wipe out non-sorcerers so curses would no longer exist. Danuja herself was one of those curses. Did that mean he didn't want her to exist either?
Geto had seemed taken aback, and he had immediately reassured Danuja that no matter if she was part cursed spirit, he cared about her. Once all the 'monkeys' were gone, he would create a new world where they'd no longer have to fight and die meaninglessly. Even if that meant he'd have to kill fellow former comrades to achieve that...The world he envisioned was one Mimiko, Nanako, and her could grow up peacefully within.
One where those close to him would never have to suffer meaningless death's ever again...
When he had held her in his arms, Danuja had wanted to trust Geto. To know that the warmth and safety she felt from Suguru wasn't a sham...
Danuja had loved him; that didn't mean she agreed with Suguru's actions. Sometimes she'd even hear a tiny voice in the back of her head, that sounded strangely like her papa, telling her that Geto was a psychopath and she needed to get far away from him, even if that meant leaving the country. Danuja knew that tiny voice that sounded like her papa was right...Still, she had followed the rogue sorcerer loyally. She wanted to know if his words were true; that he wanted her to live in the peaceful world he envisioned with everyone else.
Then Geto had died. She never got those answers.
Feeling her hand being taken, Danuja slowly blinked down at the paper that had been placed in her palm.
"My number. I'll be in contact with you. Just go about your life as you normally would. Things will work themselves out the way they were meant to be in the end. You'll be seeing your precious mother before you know it,"
Gulping down the lump that had started to form in her throat, Danuja caught the body snatchers attention before he could depart.
"Tell me your name? I...I don't want to call you by his..."
Turning around with a closed eyed smile, the fake Geto said cheerfully, "You may call me Kenjaku."
Peering down at the clock on her cell, Nobara let out a long, aggravated, groan. "How much longer do we have to wait on this girl? I'm starving!"
Itadori had even taken to rolling back and forth on the ground, whining the word "hungry" over and over again. He was earning stares from passerby's, just further irritating Nobara from the unneeded attention he was directing on them.
"Now, now! Classmates should eat together. How else will you bond otherwise?" Gojo lectured with a smile and wag of his finger. "Ena-chan has to take the bullet train over to meet us, so it'll a take her a few hours to arrive."
Megumi shoved his hands in his pockets and brought up, "Still, 3 hours seems longer than necessary. Are you sure she managed to defeat the curse and wasn't lying?"
Gojo let out a small "hmm" at this. He didn't seem all that concerned, which caused Itadori to hop up and mention with a frown, "Do you think something might have happened? We should head over there and check things out if that's the case!"
"Eh?! Can we at least get the food to go then?" Nobara questioned with a small pout. "That Ena girl is seriously going to get an ear full when I see her! I was looking forward to eating my sushi on the-" Sensing a rather ominous aura approaching from behind, a dark smile formed on the orange haired girl's glossy lips. "And now a curse decides to show up...Don't they know not to mess with a girl when she's hungry and upset?"
Not giving the curse time to react, Kugisaki slammed her hammer into the side of the figure's head, causing them to instantly fall face first to the ground.
"Hah! That's what you get for trying...to...sneak...up...on...me..." Nobara's confident expression fell when she realized exactly what she hit.
Yuji was just the one to point it out. Well, more like scream it loud enough to wake the possibly dead person.
"AHHHHHHH! YOU JUST KILLED ENA-CHAN!"
"HOW THE HECK WAS I SUPPOSED TO KNOW IT WAS HER?! SHE FELT LIKE A CURSED SPIRIT!"
Megumi sighed, wondering why he could never have a normal peaceful day?
"That's certainly one way to make a first impression..." Fushiguro turned to Gojo, who was more entertained than a normal adult should be by the current situation as Itadori and Kugisaki ran around in a mad panic. "Shouldn't you be doing something, Sensei?"
Gojo grinned and snapped his fingers. "Ah! You're right! Don't be alarmed, folks! The kids are just putting on a little theater performance. Just go about your business and don't mind the fake pool of blood around that girl's head!"
"That isn't what I meant, but at least the cops won't get involved..." Megumi mumbled while rubbing his temple. It was probably a good thing Gojo was so impressionable. Those who had stopped to observe them had accepted the white-haired male's words without question and moved on.
Letting out a small groan from the sharp pain coming from her head, Danuja slowly blinked. Her vision was blurry, so she wondered if it was raining. She had felt something wet fall on her cheek. Not only that, but Danuja could also feel herself leaning against something sturdy, yet comfortingly warm.
"Poor Ena...You didn't deserve to be taken down like that..."
"H-huh?" Danuja said confused. Her eyes fluttering open and closed rapidly, Danuja noticed Itadori staring down at her with tears in the corner of his eyes. She was concerned about why he was crying, but more than that...
"Hey! She woke up! Thank goodness!" Itadori exclaimed, instantly perking up when his eyes locked with Danuja's now opened ones.
"Seriously?! You scared us to death!" a pretty girl, Danuja assumed was the new transfer student cried out, having placed her hand on Yuji's shoulder as she bent forward with a look of relief. Her features soon grew sterner. "You shouldn't go around sneaking up on people! Especially with a creepy aura hanging over you like that!"
Oh...I was hit in the head, wasn't I? But more than that...a boy's holdin' me in his arms?! A-a boy my age! Wh-what do I do?!
Her entire body heating up, Danuja felt like the entire world was spinning around her and she soon went completely limp.
"Eh? What happened?! She passed out again!"
"What did you do, you idiot?!"
"Why are you yelling at me?! Wait...what's that weird silvery stuff coming out of her mouth...?"
"THAT'S HER SPIRIT! PUSH IT BACK IN BEFORE SHE REALLY DOES DIE!"
"ARE YOU SERIOUS?!"
Slapping his head at the bizarre display of Nobara and Yuji trying to push something, that he was certain only they could see, back inside of Danuja's mouth, Fushiguro muttered, "Was is just me or did Ena seem even gloomier than usual?"
"So you noticed it to. My guess is something must have happened. And knowing Ena-chan, she won't let us know even if it were something serious," Gojo mused while cupping his chin. Clapping his hands to get Itadori and Kugisaki's attention he declared cheerily, "Hurry and wake her up! Otherwise, Fushiguro-kun and I will eat all the sushi without you!"
"Eh?!"
"That's not fair!"
Jabbing his hands in his pockets, Satoru said where only Megumi could hear, "We'll have to keep a closer eye on her. If you notice Ena-chan leaving the grounds more than usual, let me know, would you?"
"Understood."