Welcome back; I just returned from my excursion to Scotland and figured I'd write a chapter.
You guys are gonna hate me when I take another Hiatus in September for a Mediterranean trip, but that's a future problem.
Quick Announcement: I wanna give a shoutout to DBlaviken's story, Recipe for Chaos. Same beats as mine, RWBY xJJK, and it's very well made.
He's a good friend of mine, and he deserves more readers than I do, so check out his fic if you have time.
Anyways-
Serious Yapping Warning for this chapter, let's get into it.
Beta Readers: Chris72637, Luxutor, MegaDumbo, and Tupjunk
...
Hundreds of years ago, somewhere in the Grimm Lands
A figure sat along an ornate carpet, surrounded by intricately carved wooden columns lined with ancient symbols of unknown meaning, supporting a thin roof, blocking what little sunlight came down from above on these desolate lands.
He wore a set of white and black robes, with a simple pair of wooden sandals along his feet, and although the man's stance was utterly serene, he gave off a pressure that would buckle even the strongest of minds with ease.
An evening breeze swept through his "mane" of black hair, unnaturally sticking up around him as he passively watched his supposed believers toiling below, ignoring the sounds of gentle footsteps approaching from behind, and as a ghostly white hand reached out toward him-
*SCHWING
In a burst of unseen action, the severed limb splattered along the floor, followed by a pool of blackened ooze trickling from the wound, followed by a simple glance from his two sets of gleaming red eyes.
"Daring woman."
She could only giggle at that, her melodic voice riddled with malice as she raised her stump of an arm toward her pale face as blackened veins pulsated along her flesh, "My-my...always so quick to brutality, even after all I've done for you-"
Her fallen limb soon dissolved into ash, fading away as a new hand regrew to replace it in the blink of an eye, her sweet smile never fading as she leaned closer, whispering-
"Su-ku-na"
She was a being that withstood the tests of time, and even the gods themselves, an undying Curse in her own right, cloaked in a dress of black and red, her tainted white skin glistening in the evening sun, appearing fragile, yet holding a power few could describe-
The Wicked Witch, Salem.
The King of Curses stared off into the distance, his stolen face morphing into a scowl, "All you've done is feed your own miserable desire for comfort and infatuation. It's so unsightly, I might as well puke."
The immortal's smile remained as she approached, sitting down beside this demonic being with an uncanny sense of ease, "Need I remind you...just as easily as I brought you into this world once more, I can end it just the-"
"No, you won't."
Sukuna gave off a demented grin, "Neither of us has lived up to our agreement quite yet, and the penalties for breaking it?"
He let off a slight chuckle, "They're unknown and, without a doubt, severe."
The Witch turned to stare at him for a moment, "You're afraid of them?"
He didn't bother to look back, "You'd be a fool not to take them seriously. So I expect you to live up to your end of our bargain."
"And you can't live up to yours until then?"
"Who knows?"
...
...
The strongest sorcerer to ever exist ran a hand along his chest, his sadistic smile growing, "This body is dying, and if I tried in my current state, there's always the possibility he retains control, and those circumstances don't bode well for either of us, do they?"
She swiped a hand through her white locks, "We went through more than enough candidates even to find one that could house you, and still, you foolishly decided to bite off more than you could chew."
His four eyes sent off a pulse of pressure toward her, "My existence doesn't depend on anyone but myself. I live by my own desires and nothing more, and all the while, you circle around that man as if your unending life depends on it."
The King of Curses raised a hand, lazily slashing at the horizon as his followers below exploded into a haze of gore, followed by a torrent of shrieks and praise in his name, "True strength is the willingness to abandon everything, to do whatever necessary to satiate your endless hunger for more, and only then will you reach the heights you seek, but instead, you toil here in the shadows, when you have more than enough power to bring this world to its knees...you insignificant bug."
Sukuna turned to face the immortal as a wave of Cursed Energy billowed off of him, showing visions of a four-armed being surrounded by miles of dead, "Don't pretend we're equals in this arrangement."
...
...
"Ehehehehehehehe-"
*FWIP
With the swing of a wrist, her laughing came to an abrupt end as her upper torso exploded into blackened gore, her legs briefly falling before catching themselves as she reformed out of nothing, bubbling back into existence without so much as a blemish on her skin.
Salem simply stared at his visage, a maddeningly content smile on her face as she looked into his eyes, "And when will you be ready to act?"
"What happens next doesn't involve me."
She tilted her head, "Hm?"
He raised a hand, pinching his fingers over the setting sun as it slowly fell in the sky, "That Wizard of yours has made a foolish mistake, one that will cost him dearly...I've encountered one of those four women he imbued with his powers, and if my assumptions are right, then it's a matter of time."
The Disgraced One leaned back, feeling his body slacken before reinforcing it with his Energy, "In the near future, a brat with my technique will appear, and before he does, you'll need to get your hands on one of those beings, and when that time comes-"
"Things will fall into motion."
...
In the modern day
*Tick-Tock...Tick-Tock
The clock in Ozpin's office drummed back and forth as it always did, and although words were said over its relentless beat, Yuji could hardly hear a thing.
He was somewhere else, his mind aloof.
A few hours had passed since the incident at the party, and while the moon crossed the night sky, the vessel couldn't help but feel the reality of his world coming down around him.
Before this, he could've played the act of an innocent school kid, but now? He was a known killer, and there was no walking back from it, and that left a hole in his stomach, one he couldn't hope to voice as words, but still-
This is what he was.
A murderer-
A cannibal-
A monster-
A failure-
A Jujutsu Sorcerer.
Souls are tricky business, but unlike what you see on the surface, they're the true innate nature of our beings, whether we like them or not, and Yuji Itadori had just shown his to the entire world.
And that was why-
Even as he stared at Gramps' desk, he didn't see the man in question, but a reflection of his past and a horribly disfigured, armored face, looking back at him as a tail swished back and forth, a voice echoing out.
'How about wishing me a happy birthday...Itadori?'
*Bop
The sorcerer blinked as reality surged back around him, realizing there was a hand on his shoulder. Looking up from his seat, Ironwood stared down at him with a knowing look, "Are you alright, son?"
Yuji opened his mouth to respond but paused for a second, "Y-yeah, sorry, I just-"
"Saw something?"
Itadori glanced around, remembering where he was, with Qrow, Winter, and Ozpin strewn across the room, but soon shook his head, "It's not important...he can't hurt anyone anymore."
From his desk, Ozpin perked up from staring at his empty mug, "I believe we're all aware of what happened to Adam Taurus, but-"
The General shook his head, "That's not what he's talking about, Oz. Let me handle this-"
The Headmaster started to stand, "I can handle this mysel-"
James raised a hand, "With all due respect, You aren't in the armed services and haven't been for several lifetimes. As it stands, I'm the more qualified party-"
"What does the military have to do with this!?"
Ironwood let off a sigh, "What do you think it means? Or are you still deluding yourself into thinking he's a normal boy?"
Qrow slowly stood up from his perch near the liquor cabinet, "Alright, let's not get out of han-"
The Director slammed a palm on his desk, "Then just say it, James, why don't you!? Enlighten us with your wisdom!"
The General swiped a hand through the air, "For God's sake, Oz! He's seen war! I've known him for all of a day, and I can see it in his eyes! How you can't is beyond me!"
...
...
The Director tried to yell something out, but before he could-
"...Why does that matter?"
The two paused their argument, looking to see the vessel, sitting cold as a stone in his seat, with an expression so hardened, it was as if he weren't even human, his eyes nearly lifeless-
"A sorcerer's life is short and full of misery. Why should mine be any different?"
Ozpin just stared at him, his glasses slightly dropping, "Yuji?"
The teen hardly even acknowledged him, seemingly lost in his own world, "Gramps...I'm grateful you're tryna defend me, but I don't deserve it. I'm not gonna lie and say I did it to defend myself or anyone else...that's part of it, but the real reason-"
Yuji looked up, his expression reflecting a year of torment and suffering, more so than any human being could dare experience in a lifetime, and yet, he was still here-
"I just wanted them dead, so I killed 'em."
A chill ran through the room, but the vessel wasn't done, "When I started out as a sorcerer, I thought this was all gonna be like some show or comic book...I'd get cool powers, save people, do the right thing, but that's not how it went, not even close, not-...not after I met him."
Ironwood raised a brow, not losing his demeanor in the slightest, "Met who, exactly? Ryomen?"
"No."
Itadori's hands shook in silent rage as he stared off at a being that no longer existed, "Every time I think about him, I see him standing there, mocking me, and I can't help but think of all the things he's done to the people I cared about-"
"Mahito."
That smile was stuck in his head, never leaving for a second, "I used to think that there was right and wrong with these things. Humans kill Curses because they're evil, but since he was a Curse, he said it was only fair they kill us, too, and he just kept pushing and pushing and pushing. Junpei, Nanami, Nobara, he murdered my friends right in front of me and mutilated one of my brothers, and I-I just couldn't take it anymore."
Yuji took a sharp breath, looking Ironwood in the eyes, "He's gone now, but I know, without a doubt in my mind, that he'll come back someday, and I swore that I was done trying to be right and that I'd do whatever I gotta do to keep my friends safe. Even if he was a different person, even if he had a different face and name...even if he was reborn as an innocent that never hurt a soul-"
"I'd still kill him."
The General blankly stared down at him and, without any doubt, gave a firm nod, "...And that's why you killed Taurus and his followers."
It wasn't a question but a fact in the leader's mind.
He looked over the teen for a moment before reaching out for a handshake, "Good man."
Qrow stared at him in disbelief, "What the fuck did you just say?"
He took a step forward, only for Winter to block his path with a hand, "Watch your tone, Branwen, he's still-"
"I don't give a shit who he is!"
The veteran Huntsman pushed past her, storming toward the general, shoving a finger in his face, "That kid was forced to do something so awful, and you're congratulating him for it!? What the fuck is your problem!?"
Ironwood simply stared at him, "You seem to be forgetting something. All of us would have died if he didn't take action. How do you think your nieces would fare after seeing you get torn to shreds on live television? Because I'll tell you from experience, those fanatics would've eaten you after having their way with the two Schnees in attendance, let alone the global consequences of myself or Ozpin dying in the chaos. We would've had an all-out war if Itadori hadn't stepped in."
"There's a difference between doing what has to happen and praising him for it! Oh, but what a shocker, the guy that's been droolin' for a chance to invade Menagerie is saying this shit! I bet you're happy it went down like this, aren't you!?"
The general clenched a fist, reaching into his jacket as he took a step forward, "I dare you to say that again."
The Huntsman didn't back down, pulling toward his sword, "With pleasure, you fucking warmonger."
"My men are dead; our state-of-the-art assault units used to slaughter them and civilians en masse, and all the while, the White Fang has proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that we haven't taken them seriously enough, and you think I wanted this?"
The leader swiped a hand, "THIS is a PR nightmare! And the whole world is terrified of the person who stopped it! Taurus may be gone, but I can tell you one thing for certain: he won, and we lost."
Qrow hardly reacted, "Yeah, and your solution is gonna be sending a fifteen-year-old to go kill a bunch of them in retaliation, right? I'm sure that'll do wonders for him, and I'm not talking about his image. I can't be the only one in the room hearing the shit that kid is saying, and you're all acting like it's normal!"
With a stomp of her heels, Winter put herself between the two, "Branwen, you're out of line! No one is saying that! But there's a significant list of more pressing concerns to address before we can discuss it."
"Oh, what do you know, Ice Queen? Your sister almost gets killed, and you're too concerned about your job to give a damn! Let's not pretend I saw how uncomfortable you were just sitting next to her while she was having a breakdown!"
She winced a bit, "No, I just understand that we have to keep the interests of the population first! Weiss knows I care, but-"
"But nothing! She's your sister, and she SHOULD come first to you! But ohhhh, military this, military that, try being a decent person for once in your life and see the writing on the wall."
He rolled his eyes, looking toward the vessel, "I get you Atlesians love your data and your numbers, but we're talking about living people here! That kid is seriously screwed up in the head, and you're talking about giving him a job! He needs mental help, not a fucking gun!"
Ironwood scoffed, "Oh please, Huntsmen academies having been training and arming children his age for decades! And if you don't recall, they form the bedrock of our armed forces! You're saying that because you're afraid of what he can do."
*CRACK
The wall crumbled as the former Bandit slammed a hand against its surface, "HE KILLED OVER A HUNDRED PEOPLE! YOU CAN'T JUST DODGE AROUND IT!"
Qrow glanced behind him at Ozpin, who had fallen silent, "You can't be agreeing with their nonsense!"
The Headmaster was silent for a few moments, "...There's simply no good answer to this."
"What are you saying!?"
The Director pinched his glasses, pulling them off as he let off a sigh, "What do you want me to say, Qrow? That murder is abhorrent? It is, but arguing in circles like this will get us nowhere."
He ran a hand along his chin, "People fear what they don't understand, and while that's a given, it'll also draw their curiosity, and once the world realizes the truth of Yuji's connection to Ryomen, it'll only make things worse regardless of what we do...censorship might buy us some time, but I'm sure the White Fang already planned for this-"
Ironwood lowered his hand, using it to adjust his uniform, "We're already seeing a mass increase in digital uploads regarding the myth, and we've yet to determine if any physical prints are being circulated. My people will do what they can, but word will spread regardless."
"Then it's as I thought...this is what Taurus truly wanted, to make the world afraid, and through fear, hate will inevitably flow, and no matter how we address it, someone will suffer the consequences."
Ozpin glanced out his window toward the broken moon as it loomed in the distance, "We need to tackle the issue head-on, though that'll certainly draw claims of bias. If we overreach, some might believe a Faunus genocide may occur, and if we do too little, the humans may think we're allowing this to happen...and right now, all eyes are on Yuji, we'll have to divert attention to-"
"Wait."
"Hm?"
Ozpin looked up, seeing the sorcerer staring him down from his seat, "You should keep them focused on me, Gramps, not away."
...
...
"What?"
Yuji clasped his hands, staring down at the floor in thought, "If you think about it...the most dangerous thing in the world is when a person hates someone weaker than them, 'cause what's gonna stop 'em from doing horrible stuff to them?"
Qrow crossed his arms, "In my experience? Absolutely nothing, except someone stronger telling them not to, and if there's no trust in the Kingdoms, then-"
Winter huffed, "Absolute anarchy, and with populations so intermingled, it could lead to complete chaos on the streets across the board."
Itadori nodded, "Yeah, but right now, they all hate me, so-"
He looked up, a blank expression on his face, "Why don't you just let them?"
Ozpin seemed to realize what he was getting at, putting a hand on his desk, "Absolutely not! I won't let you throw away your future like that!"
Ironwood raised a hand, "At least hear the boy out, Oz. As things stand, we need all options on the table, and you know what's at stake better than I do."
The vessel shrugged, "I mean...it's not like I've ever really been one of you guys, you know?"
The Headmaster shook his head, "This isn't about Huntsmen and-"
"No, that's not what I'm sayin', Gramps...what I mean is, it's not like I'm a person in the way you guys are...I'm-I'm a thing."
"Yuji? What are you talking about?"
The sorcerer awkwardly shifted in his seat, "It's not like I was born to be a human. I mean...none of my siblings were either, just...look, I dunno how to say this to people like you guys, so I'll just come out with it."
He stared down at his veins as he felt every drop of blood moving within, "Sukuna isn't some exception in my family. We're all a bunch of monsters that stick around longer than we should...Choso, my big brother, was a hundred and fifty when we met, and my mom was pushing a thousand years old when she had me-"
Qrow's eyes narrowed, "That's impossible unless you're a family full of people like Oz and Salem, then-"
"Sorcerers can do a lot of things...if you've got the genes for it."
Itadori grimaced, "We aren't like Huntsmen. You guys are heroes...you look cool, people like you, and you actually save the day, but if you're tryna be a sorcerer, it's not even about that. We're just a thin sheet of paper keeping Curses at bay, filled with lunatics crazy enough to risk their lives on the daily, and you gotta do the worst stuff imaginable to keep rising those ranks to get stronger, so in a way, I kinda deserve to be hated, don't I?"
Ozpin stared at him in disbelief, "You're not being fair to yourself; take a second and consider the long-term implications this could have, not only on yourself but others. Yuji-"
"Your friends may never speak to you again if you take the fall for this, and if they stand by your side...they may get dragged down with you."
Itadori leaned back in his seat a bit, "I get it, Gramps, but there's a responsibility that comes with being the strongest. My old Sensei, Gojo Satoru, lived with that painful loneliness his entire life, and it's my turn to do it too."
"Yuji...I-"
The vessel faintly smiled, "I never told you why I became a sorcerer, did I, Gramps? My first day wasn't like this great school of yours, where people get to come and learn where it's safe-"
His eyes looked so tired, "I woke up in chains and got told it was either this or die then and there, and I selfishly chose to keep living because I didn't wanna die alone like my grandfather...there's honestly no stronger curse than love-"
His voice sounded so faint, "I won't pretend what I did was right. I'm a horrible person, but I did it so my friends here could live their lives without their love turning into hate for someone else...it's a horrible feeling that consumes you to your soul, just looking for payback, and even when you get it, you don't feel better, just empty. So, if I gotta go through it so they can be happy for a little while longer, then that's the best I can do for them until I'm gone someday, and it's their turn to suffer for someone else."
Qrow just stared at him, soon running a hand through his messy black hair as he turned to walk off toward the nearest bottle, "God, this entire situation is so fucked. Do you even know what you're getting yourself into, kid? 'Cause I'll tell you, I grew up with a horrible crowd, and I did a lot of things I'm not proud of, and they haunt you for the rest of your life."
*Clink
The cap popped off, hitting the floor before rolling off as he swished it around, "You and I, we might not be on the same page, but you've been good to my nieces, and what you did today...well, you gave me a little more time with them, so I don't wanna see you turn your life into a shitshow like mine, where every time you walk down the street, you can't help but think of someone you wronged, or hate the way people look at you like dirt. It's not a good life, especially for someone young like you."
Yuji took a short breath, giving the man a distant smile, "I get what you're sayin', but honestly? I'm already way past that point. My friends, the people who taught me, even most of my brothers-"
His face became unnaturally still, "They're all dead, and I'm still here. They all took their turns and suffered in a world that's horrible to everyone; why should my life be any different? If I tried backing away from this...if I quit being a sorcerer and just lived like a normal person, then everything they went through would've been for nothing. I just can't do it."
The vessel reached into his jacket, pulling out his scroll, "So, put the blame on me and tell them that I knew this attack was gonna happen, and I didn't tell anyone...and use this as proof."
Ironwood's eyes narrowed as he reached out a hand, "Let me see that."
The screen blipped on, followed by countless names, faces, and identities, "This is...a White Fang registry?"
The General turned to face the teen, "How did you get this?"
Yuji only stared back, "The other day, there was this lady...Khan or something like-"
"Did you say Khan? Sienna Khan was here!?"
Winter tapped along her datapad, "It would explain the security shortages Vale experienced over the past few weeks, General, but at the time, our forces reported it as faulty wiring and outdated systems."
Ironwood huffed, "So either our forces are compromised or incompetent...as if this situation couldn't get any worse, one of the higher-ups in the White Fang can travel as she pleases without repercussions. I can only assume she had some kind of offer for Itadori to take-"
The sorcerer nodded, "Yeah, she tried recruiting me to whatever her group wanted...asked me to try and save that Adam guy and give the info to Gramps, but-"
Ozpin's eyes flickered a bit, "You kept that from us? Why in the world would you do that?"
The sorcerer's expression hardened, "Because you would've tried to stop me."
"Stop you?"
Itadori only shrugged, "The second I heard about what they were planning, I knew that every single one of them needed to die, not get arrested and thrown in jail."
"Did you really think I would've sided against you? After everything you and I have discussed? Why didn't you come to me with this!?"
"'Cause you're too trusting, Gramps."
"...Trusting?"
"I crawled outa the ground, and you just took me in without questioning it...and I bet that you would've tried to say that these people can be fixed, but-"
A pressure emanated from the vessel like a pulse, "Anyone that worships Sukuna deserves to die in the worst ways imaginable."
The Professor stumbled for a second, seeing the severity of the boy's words for himself, realizing just how serious he was about this, "What-"
"What did he do to you?"
Yuji bristled, his eyes slowly beginning to spiral, "Everything."
...
...
Itadori went completely quiet after that, not saying a word, as if a surge of memories haunted his very existence, bringing him to a standstill.
Ironwood took notice, closing the scroll before stowing it away, "I think it would be best if we postpone these talks for another day. We've been through a lot in these last few hours, and some time to digest the events may help to ease tensions."
Qrow raised a hand, "Postpone? Look, I get this is some serious business, but we can't just walk away from the elephant in the room here. How the hell are we gonna tell the kids about any of this? We can't just dump Yuji on them after what happened."
"Then what do you suggest? That we lock the boy in a cell?"
"What the fuck!? NO! I'm just saying it won't be good for anyone if we dump the kid in the middle of it!"
The Huntsman set his bottle down with a thud, "We're grown adults, and we're screaming about this. How do you think a bunch of confused teenagers are gonna react when their killer friend shows up? If you're worried about him having a freakout, imagine how it'll go when they start asking questions he can't answer."
Winter sighed, "As much as I despise to admit it, Branwen has a point, although it'll likely be a far more divisive issue than we're making things out to be."
"Divisive?"
Her blue eyes flashed toward him, "It's as you said, prospective students come from a myriad of backgrounds, some, like yourself, from more...challenging circumstances-"
"Oh, well, thanks for calling me out, I guess."
"It's an example-"
"You're an example."
"I'm not...I refuse to engage with this."
The Schnee raised her fingers one by one, "This could have effects on the entire student body, likely across the board, especially when we consider the upcoming Vytal Celebrations, assuming they're still going to occur, of course."
Ironwood scoffed, adjusting his sleeve, "At this point, if we canceled every upcoming event, it would just make us look weaker than we already appear. I'll make sure it goes through without issue."
She nodded, "If that's the case, then students are inevitably going to pick sides on the issue, and it's going to cause disturbances...I'll have to adjust our security to keep watch for any anti-Faunus activities. A single incident would be a Recipe for Chaos."
Qrow rolled his eyes, "You're dodging around the big question here. Are all of you really okay with just throwing this kid under the bus? I don't care if he's volunteering for it; this isn't something you can just wipe off his record when the heat dies down; it's gonna ruin his chances at anything for the rest of his life!"
The General took a breath, "This isn't about right and wrong, and I think all parties in this room know that sometimes, sacrifices have to be made. Itadori was given a horrible hand, and frankly, even if we were told beforehand, I'm not certain we could've stopped the attack from happening at all...right now, it's about moving forward and keeping things stable."
He let out a huff, "There are so many unknowns, but what has me most concerned is our inability to account for the Maidens-"
Qrow looked to Ozpin, a scowl crossing his face, "You told him?"
The Headmaster looked up from his stupor, "He deserved to know."
"This is a family issue. At least let me try and handle it!"
The General scoffed, "Handle what? Raven Branwen murdered an innocent girl and stole the Spring Maiden for herself. This might as well be a done deal!"
"Raven is fucked up! I understand that, but after everything we've gone through today, why the hell does it matter!? What could one Maiden possibly do that has you so concerned!?"
Ironwood marched across the room, getting in his face, "Because that THING is still under Mountain Glenn, and if even one of them comes near it, there's a chance it could!-"
*CRASH
"JAMES!"
Ozpin's cane slammed across his desk, smashing through his desktop as a clang rang out, "NOT ANOTHER WORD!"
...
...
"You haven't told them?"
The Headmaster glared at him, "As long as things remain as they are, then it's a non-issue. I won't cause a panic for something that isn't a pressing concern."
The leader waved a hand toward Yuji, "That boy's presence is more than enough evidence that things will spiral out of control, and if you don't take action, then I will."
Ironwood steeled his resolve, "Specialist Schnee, mobilize our Ace Operative Unit, parameters, reconnaissance and observation, deployment zone, Ground Zero."
Ozpin shook his head, his frustration going as he heard the Huntress tapping along her equipment, "Enough of this talk, not with the current parties present."
The Director pinched between his eyes, "Yuji, you and I are going to need to have a very long chat at some point, but for now...you're dismissed...I suppose you'll have more to answer for with your teammates, so I suggest you get to it."
The sorcerer didn't waste any time, and with a nod, he slowly stood up, but before he could walk away, the immortal spoke once more, "I'm going to give you time to seriously consider the path you're walking down, because once this information goes public, you can never go back, I just ask that you consider the implications."
...
...
"Got it, Gramps."
And with that, the vessel left, walking off into the night.
...
...
The Headmaster eventually settled into watching him walk along the pathways of Beacon from his office window until he was out of sight, mumbling, "I need to find some way to help that boy."
Ironwood ran a hand along his chin, "That's easier said than done, Oz...we're talking about lasting impacts, but that kid? He's just a ball of tightly wound nerves. If you break one, and the entire thing may come crashing down-"
"Crashing down?"
James nodded, clasping his hands behind his back, "You may not see it the way I do, but let's not fool ourselves. He's not from this time: his people, his friends, the places he lived, they're all gone, and I think, deep down, he knows this and is avoiding it by any means necessary."
The immortal grimaced, "Until today...I simply thought he was resilient-"
"He is, but what's going on in his head is something else entirely. You told me he was energetic and quick to find a positive in any situation, but what we saw happen out there...and the things he just said...I've only heard them from men who have seen the absolute worst in this world."
Ironwood's expression hardened, "That killer, the sort of person that can do the worst with no remorse, haunted by things that don't even exist anymore, that's what he really is, and everything else he shows is simply some form of coping mechanism for an innocence that boy lost some time ago, and if he's from that time, I can only imagine the things he's been through to make him like this."
The Director's eyes shimmered in self-dissapointment, "I don't believe that's all there is to him. Yuji has shown time and again that he's a kind soul, but I can't help but feel that we're about to put him through even more turmoil."
The General shifted in place, feeling his metallic implants painfully move about, "It's an evil world, Oz. I think we both know that."
...
A bit later
Yuji found himself wandering around the outskirts of campus with no particular direction in mind.
He had started on his way back to his dorm but-
The sorcerer knew what was waiting for him, and while he accepted it for what it was, that didn't mean he wanted to hear it, not by a long shot.
Ruby was gonna hate him-
The others would, too, or at the least, understand that he was never really one of them, and this wasn't gonna change, even if he tried to spin it to make him look better...not that he would, but-
Being normal again sure was nice while it lasted, and so-
A five-minute delay turned into ten, then fifteen, and now he wasn't keeping track, finding himself sitting on a bench, alone with his thoughts.
Itadori rubbed his hands over his face, running them through his spiked pink hair, wishing this day could just end alread-
*CRACK
There was a sudden noise as he felt his flesh rippling along his face, followed by a cackling laugh-
"What's wrong, brat? Feeling bad about yourself?"
The vessel's eyes shifted, looking down at a puddle beneath his feet, seeing the all too familiar reflection of another eye open on the left side of his face, with a fang-filled mouth hovering open with a vicious smile.
Yuji only glared, "What do you want?"
The King of Curses gleefully smiled, "I'd enjoy seeing your life in ruins, but it looks like you're doing that just fine without me...but whose fault is that? Pretending you're some innocent child after all we've been through? Maybe Kenjaku really did overcook that little brain of yours after taking your mother's corpse for himself."
Itadori bristled at that, "Be quiet."
Sukuna's red eye flashed into a glare, "For such a failure, you've grown bold. With all this talk of being the strongest, have you forgotten what I said? How I'd tear each and every one of them apart...how I'd savor the flavors of their screams...how long do you really think you can keep this up? How long will you last until I'm free again?"
Itadori eyes glowed yellow in the moonlight as he clasped his hands, staring off into the distance, a scowl growing by the moment, "When did I say you're getting out? 'Cause if I'm remeberin' right-"
"You lost."
"Watch your tone."
"Or what? There's no more fingers for you to use to get out of this, and that stupid vow of ours done and dusted. Face it, this is how it's gonna be for the rest of your miserable little life."
The park bench audibly cracked as the vessel's hands clenched along the wooden frame, making it buckle with his touch, "You'll be stuck inside of me until the day I die, and you'll never get the death you want. It won't be a fight, and you won't have a say. Instead, you'll be right here, trapped in the most boring person of all, never getting that selfish goal of yours, and when it's over-"
*CRACK
Wood clattered along the ground as his fists balled through solid oak, "I'll drag you to hell with me, kicking and screaming, and nothing in the world would make me happier because I fucking hate you."
...
...
"Kehe...heheheheheheh...HEHEHEHEHEHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
The extra mouth along his face stretched and contorted as the Imaginary Demon roared in laughter before coming to a pause, "All your blustering and your life hinges on the opinions of some pathetic school children...I wonder how they will react when they discover what you've done...how you brought about all of this with your decisions, how you've dragged them into your mess because of your fears of dying alone, and how they'll die for it at your hands."
Yuji stood up, his fist instinctively mutating as his nails extended, "That'll never happen! I won't let it!"
"It's quite the long list we've built together...though, it was certainly made using your face...how many died at Shibuya because of you?"
The vessel shivered, "That...that was you!"
"Was it? Or was it because you were too weak to stop me? It wasn't all me; you've sinned more than enough to warrant their hatred, regardless.
...
...
Yuji didn't respond, but his breaths grew faster, becoming rapid as vivid images of his body's actions flickered through his mind.
"Stop it...STOP IT!"
"...Hey, brat. Do you remember when we first met, and you foolishly ate my finger without thinking of the consequences?...Did that awaken something in you to mimic what I've done?"
...
...
"Tell me...how did it taste?"
...
...
"When you ate your own brothers?"
*BOOOOOOM
It was sheer sheer instinct, driven by an embedded rage few could describe, but-
In that moment-
Yuji Itadori had slammed a fist across his face, shattering his nose as his blood splattered along the pavement.
*Drip-drop...drip-drop
Itadori's blood splattered against the puddle below, sending ripples out across its surface as he panted, barring his teeth as he saw that smile flashing back at him-
*BOOM
Another hit and another splatter.
*BOOM
And again.
*BOOM-BOOM-BOOM
...
...
His face was a bloody mess, but even then, all he could feel was a blind rage as he stared through blurry eyes down at the liquid below, and even though the King of Curses had long since receded-
He hated the person that he saw looking back at him.
The sorcerer raised his fist again, and-
"Yuji?"
The vessel paused, his eyes slowly shifting to the side, meeting a familiar pair of blue, "...Weiss?"
How long had she been there?
She looked just as disheveled as before, having changed out of her finery and into her usual clothes, but it didn't do much to hide the haunted expression on her pale face.
The Schnee took a step forward, "What do you think you're doing out-"
She got a better look at him, seeing the splatters along his hands, "Oh my God...what-what did you do to yourself?"
He just stared at her like a deer in headlights, not even sure what to say.
...
...
"You-"
She shook a bit, her shocked stare turning into a glare, "You idiot!"
His expression faltered as the heiress stomped toward him, "huh?"
*CRACK
There was a flash of motion, and his head tilted to the side, and the vessel needed more than a few seconds to register that she had slapped him... hard, but-
Weiss was the one who winced, holding her throbbing hand afterward, and that seemed to snap him out of whatever was going through his head.
A look of concern crossed the vessel's face as he tried to reach out to her, "Oy, are you alright? Seriously, I didn't mean to-"
It just made her angrier, "Stop...just stop! You don't get to play the nice guy after what I just saw you do!"
He came to an abrupt pause, "I-I don't."
She stuck a finger in his face, with him noticing the broken nail and blood trickling down her pale digit, "You think you're the only one who feels awful after what happened? That you just have an excuse to beat the hell out of yourself after all that talk about wanting what's best for us. This is what I catch you doing!?"
*CRACK
She slapped him again, and in the reflection of the moonlight, only then did he realize that she was crying, but still, he caught her wrist after the impact, "Weiss! Just stop for a sec! You're gonna end up hurting yourself!"
"And you aren't!?"
His eyes shifted a bit, "That's...that's different...what I can do, and what you can do are-"
"Don't you dare say it."
"...what?"
She glared up at him, shaking all the while, "Don't you dare remind me of how helpless I am!"
Yuji just stared at her, "I-I never said that you were...Weiss, you know I wouldn't."
...
...
Droplets splashed along the ground as she dropped her head, "...You don't have to say it. Not after they...not after they-...and I-"
The Schnee was nearing a breaking point, "My entire life, those-those animals, have hunted my family down every chance they could, and I had to watch as more and more people I cared about disappeared...and we never even got to find out what happened to them, just...gone, never seen again...and I-"
She clenched a fist, "I hated them for it...it's why I became a Huntress, not just to get away from my family, but because...I was tired of being a victim, just waiting for my turn to die...my father told me that, you know?"
The heiress looked up at him, "He told me that I was one of his spares in case something happened to Winter, and when she ran away, it was all on me, and I just couldn't take it! But even after all this, even after getting into Beacon, I couldn't do a thing to stop it from happening."
The vessel just shook his head, "It's not your fault, Weiss. Don't beat yourself up over things like that...it's not good for you."
"But it's fine if you do it?"
"Huh?"
"Stop pretending I didn't see you pummeling yourself, you inconsiderate jerk...I hated you, Yuji, you know that?"
The Schnee looked away in shame, "You didn't do a thing to deserve it, but I thought the worst because-because-"
The sorcerer's eyes widened as her eyes watered, "I was scared of you."
Itadori's expression dulled a bit, "You should be, after what I-"
"Stop, just let me finish...please?"
He went quiet again, and so, she continued, "Every time I trained, every step forward I took, I felt like I was getting a little bit safer, more capable of stopping someone from hurting my family, and then...I met you...and I felt like an ant. I knew I wouldn't stand a chance if we fought, and that terrified me, and because of it, I treated you like dirt, but you-"
Weiss gave a distant smile, her tear-stained face lightening just a bit, "You just kept trying to win me over, and I thought it was because you were too dumb to take no for an answer, but you were just trying to help because you were worried about me...and now, I'm really worried about you."
Her hands awkwardly twitched for a second, as if she were stumbling through the motions before-
*Pomf
Weiss wrapped her arms around him in an awkward hug, her face against his side, "Please don't do that again."
Yuji's eyes were wide, but the longer he stared at her flowing white hair, the more his guilt bubbled to the surface-
He'd done a lot of selfish things here, and now, he and every person the vessel had met here were tied together, for better or worse.
Itadori needed to do better.
And so, in just the same uncomfortable fashion, he hugged her back, mumbling, "...Sorry."
Weiss let off a huff, "You should be."
...
...
It didn't take long for her to speak again, "If you tell anyone I did this-"
"You'll kill me?"
"...Something like that."
"Gotcha."
...
A few minutes later
Weiss grumbled as she sat beside the sorcerer on the bench, her hand moving like a blur, "Eugh, sit still for two seconds and let me wipe this off!"
Yuji tried to raise a hand, but she slapped it away, "You don't gotta do that. I can just make my blood move with my head-"
She shivered, "Stop reminding me you can do that."
"Why? It's not bad. It just feels like you're peeing your pants, is all."
"How do you know what that feels like?"
He looked to the side, ignoring the question, "No reason... can you just lemme do it?"
"Quit making a fuss about it, and I'll be done sooner!"
A cloth smacked against his face, wiping up the loose trails of blood on his skin as he sputtered, "Why's it already wet?"
"It's a handkerchief, you dolt. Why do you think it's wet?"
He gagged and moved around more, "Ah, come on! That's just gross!"
She punched him in the shoulder, "Oh please! I am not gross! If anything, this is what you get for your blood making me sick!"
"That wasn't even me! And you shouldn't be touchin' the stuff if you know how bad it is for ya!"
The Schnee huffed, pushing harder, "I'll take my chances...you should be grateful I'm doing this."
The vessel stopped fussing, meeting her stare with his own, "I am grateful, Weiss, for real, I am, but you've done a lot for me already-"
"No, I haven't."
His expression softened, "It's my fault you got dragged into that mess at the party...honestly, I don't think I can ever make that up to you."
"I don't want to hear it."
...
...
"...Sorry."
She shook her head, shifting her white locks to the side, "I'm not mad at you, Yuji...what you did-"
Weiss bristled a bit but didn't move from her spot, "The others might not understand it, but...I think you did the right thing, killing them-"
Yuji's face dulled a bit, "It's never the right thing."
The heiress bit her cheek, but slowly nodded, "It isn't, but...I've heard stories about the things those people do, and the world's better off with them not in it, and...I'm sure you have questions about my family name...being on that boy's face-"
"You saw it?"
Weiss paled a bit, "...It was playing on the TV when I got back, but I didn't stay long."
"Is that why you were out here?"
She stopped moving the cloth, leaving her hand where it was as she gave a slow nod, "The same reason as you, I guess. It was just...too much being around the others...but about that guy, Adam, I just want you to know that-"
Itadori shook his head, "You don't gotta explain it to me."
The Schnee tilted her head, but his look remained firm, "You said your dad was a piece of work, right? I'm not gonna put blame on ya for things he did."
...
...
"It's not that easy."
Yuji squinted, "Hm?"
All the while, Weiss shivered a bit, "...Don't take this the wrong way, but, at first...I only talked to you because he told me to. My father wanted to strike some big agreement with Professor Ozpin, and thought I could get to him through you and-"
...
...
She stumbled over her words a bit, "And I-I know how bad that sounds, but I mean it...it's not like that anymore, I-"
Yuji just shrugged, "It's no big deal."
"What do you mean it isn't? Of course it is!"
"I just don't think it's worth worrying about. You're not a bad person, Weiss."
"Stop oversimplifying it! I went along with it!"
The vessel slouched a bit, looking up at the night sky, "If you want me to get mad about it, that's just not gonna happen. I keep things from you guys too, but more than that, I know what it's like to have a rotten family, and it doesn't mean you gotta be like them by default."
The broken moon hung overhead as he spoke, "Out of everyone in my family, the only normal ones are me and Choso...but at the end of the day, my brothers were just victims of my mom."
Her brow furrowed, "Your mom?"
"Can I tell you something? I really don't like talking about my mom, and trust me, I get what you said about being a spare because that's what we were to her...things, or I guess it's better to say we were her experiments."
Images of that stitched-up monster burned into the vessel's vision, but he pushed through it, "She always said that she wanted to be entertained, and when we stopped doing that for her...she abandoned us one by one, calling her own children failures, and my brothers? The ones that got to grow up, it made them angry, and they lashed out at the world, and whenever I think about her, I feel it too."
The sorcerer closed his eyes for a moment, "I get so-so angry for the things she put my family through and for how much she made Choso suffer for all those years, but I can't act on it because I don't wanna end up like her. Evil runs in my family, and I've come to get that more and more this past year, but I won't do it. I won't ruin everything my grandfather did for me by falling into that pit, and that's why I know you aren't like that either. I could just tell that the day we met, so don't pretend like you're a bad person because of your dad. It doesn't work like that."
Weiss gave a sad huff, slumping into her seat, "It's not just my dad, but everything wrong with my family is because of him. He gets what he wants, and if he doesn't? He lashes out...and struck my mother into submission, and now?"
The Schnee raised an invisible glass, "I never see her without a drink in her hand. She'd rather live in her delusions than do anything for herself, and because of that, she's already lost two of her children. I'm just hoping my little brother, Whitley, can see how bad it is before he becomes like my father."
...
...
"If you want-"
She looked up, "Hm?"
Yuji glanced at her from the side, "I can kick your dad's ass."
*Pffft
The Schnee giggled at that to his confusion, "What? I'm bein' serious."
The heiress waved him off, "I know you are, but that's just...such a 'you' thing to say."
Itadori's face burned in embarrassment as he ran a finger along his cheek, "Look, I don't really get the politics and business stuff you're so good at, but no guy should ever treat a girl like that...no one deserves to get hurt like that."
"I know, and one day, I'm hoping my mother can see that too. I just know that in my life, I want to take responsibility for my own decisions. I don't know how all this will affect our schooling or...anything really, but I want to get stronger, and I can do that because you were there for me."
Her pale hand dropped on top of his, giving it a gentle squeeze, "Thank you for what you did, and I won't let you stand alone on this."
The vessel shook his head, "Weiss, you don't owe me-"
"It's not about a debt."
She gave him a slight smile, "I'm doing it because I want to."
...
...
His hand slowly wrapped around hers as neither looked at the other, with the sorcerer only muttering, "...I don't deserve it."
"Neither do I."
"What? Are both of us bad?"
"I suppose we are."
...
Sometime later
The walk back to the dorms was short but all too uncomfortable, with tensions so high, you could practically feel it trickling down your spine.
There weren't many people up and about in the middle of the night, but the few that were, even people the vessel had happily interacted with for weeks on end-
They took one look at him, and their demeanors would change.
Some walked away, others ducked behind doors, and more than a few had expressions that showed beyond a shadow of a doubt that they were terrified of him, and Itadori didn't blame them for it, not one bit.
The vessel kept his eyes forward as they walked through the halls, "...Ruby's probably real upset with me, huh?"
Weiss bit her cheek, glancing down at her moving shoes, "Yeah, she is. I don't think she understands why you did it."
"I hope she never does, and the same goes for the others."
The Schnee spared him a glance, watching as Yuji continued, his expression unreadable, "I used to be a lot like her, you know? Hyped up and real full of energy-"
She raised a brow, "You aren't like that now? You sure about that?"
Itadori shrugged, giving a sad smile, "I used to be worse, always lookin' for something new and exciting to get me going. Before I even knew about Curses and sorcerers, I was part of my old school's Occult Research Club."
"Occult? Like, you were ghost hunting?"
"Sorta. I wasn't sure if I believed in any of it, but things were so boring for me back then. I guess I just wanted somethin' to do. I'm selfish like that."
"I don't think you're using that word right, Yuji."
...
...
"...Can I ask you somethin'? Howdya spend your downtime, Weiss?"
"Hm?"
The snow-themed girl hummed, tilting her head at the question, "I suppose it depends on what I have scheduled. There's studying in the morning, training, breakfast, class prep, I could go on, but why do you ask?"
"Do ya like doing all that stuff?"
"...Not all of it, but it's, well, if I put it in your words, they're things I just have to do."
He shook his head, letting off a quiet laugh, "I just don't got that kinda grit in me. If I'm not interested in what I'm doin', then I usually just don't do it. I was never too good at school, but my coaches always told me I coulda gone pro in some sport...probably make good money too, but-"
Itadori stared up at the ceiling lights as they passed overhead, "I thought it was boring, so I didn't bother...me and my grandfather were dirt poor, and I coulda used my talent to help him out, but I was such a scumbag, I wasted all my time trying to get spooked by ghosts, and it's 'cause of what we did that I met my first Cursed Spirit, and all this started-"
He thought back to that finger wrapped in cloth, the thought sending a pulse through his chest, "I learned that day that some boxes just shouldn't be opened, 'cause once they are, you're not the same anymore...so I'll say it like it is, I hope they all hate me for what I did, and that they never speak to me again."
Weiss just stared at him, "You don't mean that."
"I do."
"Yuji, you can't just-"
She stomped a foot, "You can't just storm into everyone's life and just leave! You haven't even tried to talk to speak to them about it!"
"What is there to talk about?"
He stopped in his tracks, looking her in the eyes, "Weiss, there's nothing either of us can say that'll fix this. It's over."
"What is!?"
Itadori raised a hand, waving it around, "This...the team, the partners, just hangin' out like we're normal people. It's done, and there's no going back to it, and I won't drag you guys down with me."
He looked down for a moment, "I'm gonna leave my team, tell Gramps to give Pyrrha a new partner, and hope that all the backlash misses them."
The Schnee's brow furrowed as she slapped a hand along her thigh, "We just talked about this! You aren't by yourself, I...I'm with you on this."
The sorcerer shook his head, "Don't do this to yourself."
"Do what!?"
For a brief second, he looked so defeated, "Don't dig yourself into a hole with me, not when I won't be... around for much longer. You've got a real life ahead of you, so just throw me under the bus and do better for yourself."
...
...
She took a sharp breath, a hurt look crossing her pale face, "...But I don't want to."
Yuji just shook his head, "We're here-"
Only then did the Schnee realize they were outside her dorm room, with Itadori putting his hand on the doorknob, "They're in there, right?"
Weiss let off a shaky huff, crossing her arms as she looked away, "Yeah...they are."
He raised a hand-
*tap-tap-tap
...
...
With a click, the door swung open, and inside was complete silence, as if all motion had come to a stop with his appearance.
Yuji lingered in the doorway for a moment, seeing team RWBY's room, disheveled as usual but with a much different atmosphere, no longer fun and chaotic but cold and unwelcoming.
Ruby was buried under her blanket, not even facing him.
Yang was sitting by her side, keeping an eye on her little sister.
His own team were there too, but they were the same-
Pyrrha looked at him for a moment, then quickly at something else-
Ren was blankly staring at his scroll, not even using it.
Nora seemed unnaturally calm, looking down at her lap.
Only one person in this room was facing him, though Yuji couldn't say why.
Blake's long black hair was covering her eyes, but even from here, Yuji could feel her glaring at him from her perch along her bed.
Out of everyone here, he knew the least about her, not for his lack of trying, but how she seemed to push him, and everyone else away from anything beyond...any chance at them being friends was done, he knew it, and frankly, it was probably for the best.
The vessel opened his mouth to speak but stumbled, catching himself before trying again, "I...I know you guys probably don't wanna see me right now, so I'll make it quick and get lost...I-"
*Tap
A pair of boots hit the floor, and in a slow, methodical march, they approached him, so calm it was almost unreal-
"...Blake?"
She didn't say a word, coming to a stop right in front of him-
Yuji tilted his head, "Wha-"
*Fwoosh
Her head shot up, revealing her bloodshot yellow eyes as they glared into his, and the next he knew-
*Click
There was a gun in his face, and he was staring right down the barrel.
Across the room, he heard Yang shout something-
"BLAKE WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU'RE-"
*BANG
The fire dust round bounced off his skull like rubber, slightly tilting his head to the side, and after a split second, his brown eyes looked back down at her-
It hadn't done a thing.
That only made her angry.
*BANG...BANG-BANG-BANG-BANG-BANG-BANG
She was screaming, letting her tears fly free as round after round impacted against the vessel at point blank, but they did absolutely nothing to him, and before long-
A blur of red slammed into her, followed by nearly everyone diving at the girl, sending the room into complete chaos for a select few moments.
*CRASH
Pyrrha tackled the black-haired girl to the ground, using her semblance to toss her weapon aside; the invincible girl twisted Blake's arm behind her back, "Have you lost your mind!?"
She tried to reach for her weapon, but Yang dropped onto her loose limbs, locking the quiet teen in place, "Blake, just stop! WHAT IS YOUR PROBLEM!?"
Ren was at the door in the blink of an eye, looking past Itadori and toward Weiss, "No one's out there, right?"
The heiress shook her head, earning a sigh of relief from Lie before he turned to the girl, "You're gonna get kicked out if they find out you shot a gun inside! Let alone at my teammate!"
Nora shot to her feet, running over before grabbing Yuji and Weiss by their sleeves, "Then get in before someone sees this!"
The door soon slammed shut, followed by a burst of rose petals as Ruby appeared out from under her covers, looking the worst out of the bunch as she rapidly paced back and forth, "OhmyGodohmyGodohmyGod, this is so bad!"
She disappeared and reappeared behind her sister, looking down at her teammate, "NO ONE'S HAPPY, BUT YOU CAN'T SHOOT HIM OVER IT; WHAT THE HECK BLAKE!?"
Blake just thrashed around, unable to move, and so her head shot toward the vessel, "You fucking murderer! You-...you killed him! YOU FUCKING MONSTER!"
Yuji blankly looked down at her, not even noticing the stares he was getting, "You're talkin' about Adam, aren't you?"
...
...
He saw her snarl deepen and hardly reacted, "...Yeah, I did, and I don't regret it."
Blake panted, exposing her teeth in a hiss, "You killed one of your own kind, and you don't even care. You really are a fucking race traitor, aren't you?"
"What?"
"Was it fun? Bringing a Schnee, the family that enslaved almost an entire your people to do their labor, to your little dance party!? I BET YOU ENJOYED IT WHEN YOU KILLED ALL OF THEM!"
Yuji squinted, looking around at a complete loss, "What the heck do you mean, my people?"
"You can't be this stupid! NOT AFTER WHAT YOU DID! HOW DO YOU NOT GET IT!?"
"Get what?!"
"YOU'RE A FAUNUS, AND YOU MURDERED YOUR OWN FUCKING KIND TO PROTECT A BUNCH OF HUMANS! NOT JUST THAT, BUT THE ONES WHO DISCRIMINATE AGAINST US THE MOST!"
Yang paused in her tracks, "...us?"
Yuji was so confused, raising a hand, "There's that word again! Someone tell me what that is already!"
...
...
It was a moment of collective confusion.
There was silence for a second before Ren finally looked at him, "What word are you talking about, Yuji?"
"Faunus! Everyone keeps saying it about me, and I dunno what it means!"
He walked around, "First, that Adam guy-"
Blake thrashed more, "Don't you dare say his name!"
"That guy called me a traitor, and now Blake's doing it too! I'm Japanese, so I dunno what the hell you guys are talking about!"
...
...
Weiss looked like she was having a mental collapse, "You...you really don't know what a Faunus is?"
Yang glared at him, "Seriously, Yuji, this isn't the time for you to be screwing around!"
Nora kept staring at him, "...I don't...I don't think he's joking. Yuji doesn't lie about stuff like that, just-"
Pyrrha shook her head, "Sorry, but there's no way Yuji doesn't know what a Faunus is, I mean...he's...wait-"
It was a moment of realization-
"...Has he ever called himself-..."
The redhead turned to look at him "Yuji...what are you? Not where you're from, but...you know-"
The sorcerer was even more confused, "What?"
She was so uncomfortable asking this, "What's...your species?"
"What kinda question is that?"
"Just...please answer it."
Itadori looked around, soon dropping his hands to his sides at a loss, "...I'm human...I think?"
...
...
Ren slapped his hands on his face, "What the fuck is happening right now?"
Yang squinted even more, "You...you for real think you're human?"
Yuji raised a brow, digging through his pocket for his wallet, "What else would I be? Both my parents were humans, too-"
The vessel dug out an old photo his grandfather had given him, flipping it around in his fingers, "See?"
It was an image of a man that looked almost identical to the vessel, with his pink hair combed neatly downward, wearing a fatherly sweater and dark pants, and beside him-
Stood a beautiful woman with dark brown hair, wearing a black blouse and simple jeans, and in her arms was a tiny bundle of cloth, with strands of pink poking out the top, but what caught their attention most-
Were the large scars marks along her forehead and the almost haunting look of glee along her face...as if it were unnatural.
Ruby stared at the photo intently, her silver eyes flashing over the most minute details, "But-but...those stripes, nonono, I mean-"
Yang grumbled, "She means the extra eyes. That's a Faunus thing...but I thought you were a tiger or something?"
The blonde looked toward the vessel with unease, "...You know? Those people with the random animal parts? Born with 'em? Their kids'll have 'em? Ring any bells?"
Yuji pointed a finger at the slits along his face, "The eyes? I wasn't born with these. I grew 'em a year ago-"
Weiss looked him over from the side, "How...how do you just grow an extra set of eyes?"
Oh shit-
He shouldn't have said that.
Itadori looked in all directions before his gaze hit the floor, "...That's none of your business."
Weiss gave him the Schnee stare, "Why do you always do that?"
Itadori tilted his head, "Do what?"
"Every time I question one of the weird things about you...you-you just get all vague and ignore it! I'M SICK OF IT!"
"...You're better off not knowing."
And then there was silence.
...
...
Yang rubbed her forehead, "Oh my God, I'm so confused right now."
Itadori looked around the room, rubbing the back of his head, "So...lemme get this right, those people, with like...the animal parts, they're not human?"
Pyrrha shook her head, "No, Yuji, they aren't."
"...Why?"
"Why what?"
"How come havin' like one extra part means they aren't human? They still look like us and talk like us. Treatin' them different 'cause of that is messed up!"
Blake glared at him from the ground, "You aren't human either, so stop lying about all this to get out of what you did!"
Yuji looked down at her, "I'm not tryna lie or deny it. I killed 'em, but I dunno why you're calling me a traitor when I'm not one of you-"
He pointed a finger down at her, "You're the one with cat ears, Blake, not me."
...
...
Ruby hummed, "...Cat ears?"
Blake was unusually silent, but her thrashing got a lot more frantic.
Ren stuck a hand out, "Okay, this is none of our busin-"
Yuji nodded, "Yeah, they're under her bow. You never saw 'em?"
The second the vessel reached out a hand, Nora tried to jump at him, "Yuji, don't do that!"
*Fwip
The bow was in his hand, and everyone present saw a flutter of motion on top of her head-
Pyrrha's mouth hung open, "Oh-oh my God...did you-"
She turned to her partner, "Yuji, what did you do!?"
The sorcerer raised the bow between his fingers, "Do what? So what if she's got cat ears?"
She waved a hand, "Stop it!"
The invincible girl scrambled to her feet, placatingly holding out a hand, "Blake, I am so...SO sorry that he did that...it's not...oh my gosh-"
Yang got up around the same time, equally in shock as she stared at her partner's head, "Holy shit...I-you...Blake, I had no...it's not like it's a big d-"
*Drip-drop-drip-drop
"-Deal?"
The Faunus raised her head and, with tear-filled eyes, snapped a finger, replacing herself with a darkened shadow that soon dissipated as the original ran off into the night, leaving everyone in stunned silence.
...
Chibi:
Three mismatched figures stood around, one green and Lovecraftian, one muscular and wearing a profane outfit, and the last wearing an ancient robe, their arms stretched out as they held something, going up and down-
Choso smiled, "On the count of three-"
"One-"
"Two-"
"Three-"
All at once, the brothers happily chanted, "We hate Noritoshi Kamo!"
"WOOOOOOO!"
Yuji went flying into the air as his siblings tossed him around, doing random flips, but as he fell back down, the chanting started again-"
There were three figures holding him up and down-
"One-"
"Two-"
"Three-"
*CLAP
A new voice rang out, "Brother!"
Yuji went flying into the air as his siblings looked on in confusion, "Brother?"
Kechizu raised a mutated green arm toward the newcomer, "What's with scar face?"
Choso scoffed, marching toward the tall girl lover, "Tch, a nuisance that thinks he can steal time with my little brother...who invited you?"
Todo flexed a thumbs up, "As Itadori's besto-friendo, Aoi Todo reserves the right to any and all brotherly events involving Yuji Itadori ™️! Including but not limited to-"
He raised a seemingly infinite number of fingers "Playing video games together.
Watching movies or TV shows
Playing sports (basketball, football, soccer, etc.)
Going for bike rides
Building model kits or LEGO sets
Hiking and exploring nature trails
Fishing
Camping
Playing board games and card games
Attending idol girl conventions, which may include the sightseeing of tall girls
Playing musical instruments together
Cooking or baking
Having a BBQ or picnic
Working out at the gym
Going on road trips
Visiting amusement parks
Participating in hobbies (e.g., woodworking, painting, etc.)
Going to the beach
Playing pranks on each other
Going to concerts or live events
Exploring new cities or towns
Attending family gatherings
Gardening or yard work
Fixing or building things around the house
Going to museums or historical sites
Hunting
Stargazing
Visiting arcades or gaming centers
Playing paintball or laser tag
Doing puzzles
Watching and discussing various animated shows about tall girls.
Reading books and discussing them
Practicing martial arts
Volunteering together
Going to the gym
Joining clubs or groups (e.g., car clubs, book clubs, etc.)
Going to the movies
Learning new skills together (e.g., a new language, coding, etc.)
Horseback riding
Swimming
Playing golf or mini-golf
Going bowling
Playing with pets
Attending church or religious activities
Doing DIY projects
Competing in trivia or quiz nights
Visiting zoos or aquariums
Going to the library
Shopping
Attending festivals or fairs
Taking cooking or art classes
Playing tennis or badminton
Flying kites
Visiting farmers' markets
Playing in a band or musical group
Going on photo walks
Attending car shows
Participating in community events
Going ice skating or roller skating
Participating in charity runs or walks
Going to the shooting range
Doing home improvement projects
Exploring caves
Playing frisbee
Having bonfires
Playing darts or pool
Collecting hobbies (e.g., stamps, coins, action figures, etc.)
Building and flying model airplanes or drones
Going to escape rooms
Exploring haunted houses or doing ghost tours
Attending comedy shows
Going skiing or snowboarding
Going sledding
Participating in sports leagues
Writing stories or making videos together
Playing chess or other strategy games
Participating in role-playing games
Having deep conversations
Fixing cars or working on car projects
Playing catch or throwing a football
Learning to dance
Going on photography excursions
Doing magic tricks
Attending workshops or seminars
Watching documentaries
Going rock climbing or bouldering
Doing parkour or free running
Attending art exhibitions
Collecting and reading comic books
Doing meditation or yoga
Going to theme parks
Playing lawn games (e.g., cornhole, bocce ball, etc.)
Visiting planetariums
Brewing beer or making wine
Exploring local eateries and trying new foods
Going on scavenger hunts
Engaging in friendly debates or discussions
Playing trivia games or apps
Doing science experiments
Making and flying paper airplanes
alongside any and all other activities including but not limited to whatever my 500k IQ can conceive of."
Steam came off of Choso's head, "...What?"
Kechizu rolled his nonexistent eyes, "Bro's yapping...maybe he is mom's kid?"
Eso ran a hand along his muscular face, soon looking over his shoulder toward a crowd of onlookers, mostly horrified students, but a few of Itadori's friends, their families, and a certain body-jacker, "Moooom, did you pump out another one!?"
Kenjaku hummed, using her stolen voice, "Who knows? All you kids look the same to me besides my darling baby Yuj-"
*CLUNK
A soda can crashed against her head courtesy of Choso, knocking the scalp off the top of the ancient sorcerer's head as a tentacle stuck out from the top, "YOU INCONSIDERATE BRAT, I LET YOU LIVE, ISN'T THAT ENOUGH LOVE!?"
The half-curse's fist glowed red, "Stay away from my family!"
Kenny huffed, crossing her arms as she watched her kids play around, looking to the side at Yang and Ruby, "Kids these days don't know the meaning of good family, I swear...how are you two dears getting along?"
The blonde grinned, flashing a thumbs up, "Never better! Me and Rubes are still going strong, right, sis?"
She dropped a hand on her head, and the silver-eyed girl began to twitch as visions of an alternate reality spiraled into her mind before-
*CRACK
She slapped Yang's hand aside, "You made me drink tea after I killed myself with it in volume 9! I HATE YOU, WAHHHHHHHHHH!"
As the Scythe user disappeared in a swirl of rose petals, the pun lover curled up into a ball, "I'm not canon Yang, though...I'm a good sister..."
Kenjaku pet the poor girl's head, "Kids these days are so ungrateful for the sacrifices we make...it's not MY fault they were boring..."
Of to the side, Winter looked down at her sister, "...I suppose you'll want to debate my attitude as an elder sibling, yes?"
Weiss tilted her head, "Toward me or to Whitely?"
"...Who?"
...
Alrighty, with all that said and done, I'll catch you guys in the next chapter. Take it easy; cheers.
Discord:
/arPyQ2c6C3