27

"

.

"Did you plan this?"

Geto Suguru wishes he could say that he's offended by this question. But in all honesty, it's completely understandable. If he were the one in Shiki's shoes at this particular moment, he too would be wondering the exact same thing… although he probably wouldn't come out and ask it so bluntly.

In some ways, the girl's straightforwardness reminds him of Satoru. Both of them share the same uncaring disregard for the standard song and dance of polite civility that is the established backbone of social interactions.

"Do you think I'm behind everything that happened?" Suguru serenely counters with a question of his own. Before he provides any sort of explanation for his presence, he's genuinely curious to know what Shiki thinks of the situation, and what sort of opinion she currently regards him with.

The white-haired girl shrugs. A casual movement, but one that must tug painfully at her injuries. Even so, there's not so much as a flicker of discomfort that reveals itself on her face.

(That's… unsurprising. Nonetheless, the observation still raises a brief flicker of something decidedly dark inside his chest.)

"I used to think that you weren't the type to go around killing non-sorcerer civilians, yet here we are."

… Hah, she's certainly not pulling any punches, is she?

But for all the unsubtle bite behind her words, he can't help but notice a distinct lack of any abhorrence. There's none of the usual horror or disgust that he can see in her countenance, none of the 'how could you possibly do this' sort of reaction that Suguru has grown accustomed to receiving over the years. In this regard, Shiki's reaction is decidedly indifferent. Her answer is less a condemnation of his actions, and more just a simple explanation of her perspective: Shiki doesn't know what to expect from Suguru. So, she doesn't expect anything.

It's quite refreshing, in a way.

… Yes. He can definitely work with this.

"To answer your question –no, I'm not directly responsible, although I won't lie to you and say that I'm completely uninvolved," Suguru tells the girl candidly. "Suda received a tip-off a while back about a cursed spirit that might be a useful addition to my collection sealed away in these parts. So, she made arrangements for the bindings to be… loosened, you could say. Cursed spirits with Special Grade potential don't exactly grow on trees. You and Utahime getting wrapped up in this was unexpected, however."

"I see." It's hard to tell whether or not she truly believes him. For all her many similarities to Satoru, Shiki herself could be a surprisingly difficult girl to read. "Then, you were watching?"

There's nothing accusatory in her tone. Suguru doesn't know whether to be relieved by it, or disappointed.

"It was an impressive fight. Quite spectacular, really," he responds. Setting aside all the complications of their current situation –it was. Certainly, there were several points during the altercation that raised more than a few questions in his mind regarding the particulars of her cursed technique, but none of it changed the fact that Shiki had fought and won against a Special Grade cursed spirit, essentially single-handedly. She was only… twelve years old? Only a year older than Mimiko and Nanako, and already powerful enough to fight a Special Grade on even grounds and exorcise it.

She'd even used Black Flash. The rare phenomenon that few sorcerers were ever able to achieve in their lifetimes, and none were able to use at will; when cursed energy turned black after being applied within one-millionth of a second to a physical strike, causing a distortion in place that greatly enhanced the power of the overall attack. Shiki's Black Flash had obliterated that cursed spirit in an instant.

Furthermore, achieving Black Flash allowed a sorcerer to gain a better understanding of their own cursed energy. From here on out, she would only grow ever closer to her cousin's level of power.

Suguru doesn't know about Satoru, but he can easily admit that Gojo Shiki is much more powerful than he himself was at the same age.

… Then again, the signs of her budding potential had been obvious ages ago. That much was undeniable. It was the predominating reason why the Gojo Clan had moved so swiftly to claim custody of her in the first place. And Shiki did not disappoint, this unassuming little girl with cursed blue eyes and a downright terrifying talent for sorcery on par with Satoru.

From the moment she had killed that land god for Nanami, her future as a sorcerer was all but cemented. Suguru had known this, years ago.

But… children shouldn't be forced to become weapons. No one deserved to be thrown headfirst into the endless battle against eldritch curses born from the dark negativity of monkeys. Their craven cowardice, their despicable hatred. Fear. Ignorant, worthless monkeys, the source of so much suffering in this world–!

Something needs to change.

"Do you have any questions for me?" These past few years, Suguru had been constantly traveling. Searching out allies, to aid him in his cause. But powerful, like-minded sorcerers were a rarity, unfortunately. If Suguru wanted to be able to go toe-to-toe against Satoru and emerge victorious against his closest friend –against Satoru, who was unable to abandon the role of the Honored One upholding 'order' in their world– then he needed…

Suguru needed more than just strength in numbers. He needed something that could truly give him an edge.

At the same time…

Another corner of his mind screams at him, screaming that he's a hypocrite, looking at a little girl and only seeing opportunity. That kind of raw talent, combined with sheer, overwhelming power? Shiki would be a force to be reckoned with in the future. If Suguru had that sort of power on his side…

…

But, the last thing that Suguru wants is to lose sight of his goals.

'Create a world of sorcerers, so that no cursed spirits will be born.'

The whole point behind the plan to eliminate all non-sorcerers from humanity is so that sorcerers won't have to suffer anymore. To be forced into fighting cursed spirits. If he gives into cold, ruthless practicality to use Shiki like a sharp-edged weapon, then… doesn't that make him exactly the same as them? How would his actions be any different from those of the Gojo Clan, who'd snatched an innocent, unknowing child out of her hospital bed, straight out of a coma?

"I'm curious," Suguru blinks out of his thoughts, when Shiki's voice sounds next to him again. The girl tilts her head, "What were you planning to tell Satoru-niichan, if the cursed spirit had killed me?"

"What?" Suguru nearly trips over his own two feet. What kind of question is that?

Shiki raises an eyebrow at him, as if he's the odd one between the two of them. Which is most emphatically not the case here!

Mentally, Suguru flounders. "You think I would watch you die?"

"Why not?"

… There are so many things wrong with that response that Suguru doesn't even know where to start. He's beginning to regret the added stipulation of 'seeing her safely back into the hands of the jujutsu administration staff' that he'd included in their binding vow. Even if it was necessary, for the girl's peace of mind–

He's getting off-track again.

"I wouldn't have allowed you to die." Suguru valiantly resists the urge to pinch the bridge of his nose, already sensing an incoming headache. "… I realize that Satoru and I aren't on the best terms right now, and I'm considered a criminal according to current jujutsu regulations. But that doesn't mean I'd stand aside and watch you die."

"But you and Satoru-niichan are standing on opposing sides now. Because you left." The words are accusatory, even though her voice remains calm and undisturbed. "If you refuse to turn back, then you'll be enemies. And in that case, I would only be an obstacle to you, wouldn't I? … I won't abandon Satoru-niichan."

Unlike you. Suguru hears the unspoken words loud and clear.

He sighs tiredly.

"I'm not your enemy, Shiki." That would be the monkeys responsible for the creation of cursed spirits in this world, but he can see that he's going to have a hard time getting through to her. At the same time, though, it's heartwarming to see that the bulk of Shiki's resistance towards him comes from her loyalty to Satoru, rather than any ideological beliefs or convictions.

I want to pave the way forward to a world where sorcerers will fight for and protect each other, instead of worthless monkeys.

Clearly, Suguru's vision isn't such an impossibility. Despite Shiki's misconceptions, her goals weren't entirely incompatible with his own, even if she herself seemed to be unaware of it.

"The reason why I didn't interfere in your fight," he says, "Is because you had things under control. If the fight had truly taken a turn for the worse, then I swear I would've intervened on your behalf. That should not be in doubt, Shiki. Regardless, it wasn't necessary for me or anyone else to step in."

"… 'Anyone else?'"

"I wasn't the only spectator," the man shrugs. "Speaking of, when did you draw the attention of hojutsu users? They're quite a secretive, secluded group. Despite my efforts, I haven't been able to track down–"

Suguru pauses. Shiki's head had snapped up at the mention of hojutsu, the most reaction she'd shown to any of his words so far. But why would–?

"A hojutsu user? You're certain?" she presses.

"Yes. Quite a skilled practitioner, too, we briefly exchanged blows over an initial misunderstanding, and he had some interesting tricks up his sleeves." The odd man that Suguru had encountered upon arriving at this mountain was a strong individual whom he'd tentatively marked as a potential candidate for recruitment. But given Shiki's decidedly strange reaction…

The girl clicks her tongue, "His name?"

Suguru shakes his head. "Apologies, but I can't share that with you. He shared his name with me in confidence."

"Was it 'Araya Souren?'"

"…" There's no good way to respond to this question. But his brief hesitation betrays him even without a direct answer; Shiki merely nods in confirmation, then turns away.

"Araya is involved in Jihei-san's death," she says flatly.

Ah. That… explains things a little more, then. Suguru hadn't personally been very familiar with the man, but he knew that Gojo Jihei was one of Shiki's caretakers assigned to her by the Gojo Clan. One of the few who genuinely cared for her well-being.

Mentally, he winces. "My condolences for your loss."

"You intend to recruit him for your cause?"

Yes, that was his intention. The man had proven himself to be quite skilled during their exchange earlier, and he hadn't seemed entirely opposed to Suguru's viewpoints. But perhaps… "A little more investigation first would be prudent, I think."

"I hope you know what you're doing, Geto-san."

"Your vote of confidence is appreciated," he responds dryly. The girl's tone makes it clear how very confident in his judgment she is not, but that's unsurprising. It's probably a good thing that Suda is walking a slight way behind them while carrying Utahime; Suda is rather protective of him, and prone to overreacting to any perceived slights, even though she has her heart in the right place. She understands and supports his goals, because she too knows that this world they live in needs to change.

Shiki, on the other hand… only time would tell if the girl would be more open to seeing reason someday.

Regardless of what she or Satoru thought, Suguru hadn't abandoned them. But the path that the jujutsu world had set itself on was one that only led to a dead end, filled with bloody corpses. It was only natural to seek out an alternative, wasn't it?

If the path forward must be covered in blood, then let it at least be the blood of those filthy monkeys, instead of sorcerers suffering silently and dying for them in the shadows.

.

.

"Satoru-sama, this can't continue. The Gojo Clan will tear itself apart if you do not step in and put a stop to this madness!"

Oh really, now? Satoru plasters on a too-wide smile to his face, inwardly relishing the way the elder's face blanches at his expression.

Cowards, the whole lot of them.

"I have no idea what you're talking about," he lies, perfectly calm and composed.

Old Daisaku, on the other hand, looks about ready to cry. "At this rate, the clan's entire reconnaissance divisions will be gutted. You've already found the ones responsible for intercepting Jihei's last message from the Kamo Clan!"

Satoru snorts. Nah, they're not getting off so easily. "You think I don't know a scapegoat when I see one? Maybe next time you should think twice before pulling something like this behind my back. Obviously I can't be bothered to stick my nose into each and every plot you and the other elders have going on, but even I have my limits."

"We haven't–"

The two of them pause in the middle of their conversation when the doors to the room slide open. Unusual, that; generally the servants know better than to interrupt a conversation between the clan head and one of the clan elders. Must be either a time-sensitive or an important missive, then.

Satoru takes the papers to briefly scan through it–

… incident in XX village, seals were sabotaged…

… assisting sorcerer Gojo Shiki called in…

… cursed spirit evolved to Special Grade…

–and pauses.

Special Grade? Shiki? Didn't she say that she was heading out to exorcise a Grade Two curse this morning?

Satoru starts from the beginning of the page again, this time paying closer attention to the contents written within.

"Satoru-sama–"

He holds up a hand, cutting off the uneasy elder without a single glance in the decrepit fossil's direction. "Not now, Daisaku, this is more important."

Special Grade cursed spirit. His cute little cousin had killed a Special Grade, again. And this time, it was a cursed spirit that was unquestionably Special Grade.

Satoru smiles, letting out a small, breathless laughter. Black Flash, too? Shiki gave the best surprises.

"Satoru-sama…?"

Finished reading the report, Satoru easily tosses it over to the bewildered elder sitting across from him; Daisaku fumbles with the scattered papers. "Here, have a look at it yourself."

Part of him is undeniably giddy at the news. Finally, finally! He'd never doubted his little cousin's ability to match up against Special Grade curses someday, although admittedly he hadn't expected that day to come so soon. Hmm. He'd definitely have to check in with her once she's back. Despite his unwavering confidence in her potential, there were… a few oddities that required following up on, easily discernible even though the black and white print of a paper report.

But still, Satoru is proud of her.

Daisaku lowers the report numbly with shaky fingers. "This is… Shiki is really…?"

The balance of power within the Gojo Clan would undoubtedly be shifting in Satoru's favor, yet again. Everyone knew that Shiki stood firmly on his side; this child with the very real potential to kill Special Grade curses on her own in the future. But potential was just that: potential. No matter how tangible it was, mere potential meant nothing if it was not realized.

Oh, Shiki was still far from realizing her full potential, of course, but the fact of the matter was… she had killed a Special Grade curse. Single-handedly, even.

She hadn't even enrolled as a student in either of the jujutsu schools yet!

Not to mention, her use of Black Flash. With this, Shiki had broken his own record as the youngest sorcerer to ever achieve Black Flash by an entire year, and Satoru can't help but be delighted by it. That would certainly shut up the mouthier naysayers in the clan for a while, hah!

"Anything else you wanted to say?" Satoru asks Daisaku smugly. The elder still looks shell-shocked and reeling from the news.

Daisaku swallows roughly. "… The Gojo Clan is truly blessed in this generation."

Satoru rolls his eyes. Figures that would be his reaction, what was he expecting?

… But in a way, he supposes that's true. Cursed eyes are rare, and there hasn't been any recorded instance of powerful cursed techniques accompanying equally powerful cursed eyes in the Gojo Clan's history aside from the lauded Limitless and Six Eyes. The last instance of cursed eyes in the lineage had been… something… something about analyzing cursed objects? Hack job psychometry? And, if he's remembering correctly, there hadn't been anything about any cursed technique that went alongside it, either.

Completely unlike what little Shiki had going on here.

"By the way, I'm not going to rescind the order to uncover traitors," he informs Daisaku, forcibly returning their conversation to the earlier topic they'd been discussing, before news of Shiki's latest achievement had derailed them. For one, the Gojo Clan could do with some shaking up, and it's past time to clean house, so to speak. They don't need a repeat of what happened with Jihei. Secondly–

All of the Three Great Families have their ways of discreetly and not-so-discreetly keeping tabs on each other. Satoru doesn't believe for a single instant that the Kamo clan head isn't aware of what's going on in the Gojo Clan right now; it's not like he's been particularly subtle with 'rooting out traitors' in the first place. Old Kamo will be satisfied that he managed to divert Satoru's attention from the Kamo Clan by insinuating that there's trouble at home, unaware that Satoru still is still keeping an eye on him.

Bleh, he hates this sort of annoying byplay. Give him a Special Grade cursed spirit any day; at least you can always kill those without all kinds of headache-inducing repercussions popping up like mushrooms in the aftermath.

"Satoru-sama…" Daisaku has a tired look on his face. Resigned and hopeless, but nonetheless the man forges doggedly onward. "The clan–"

"Consists of more than just you elders and your factions," Satoru interrupts, cutting off the man's words with a careless wave of his hand. "The clan will be just fine even without you."

Daisaku sighs heavily. "You do yourself and Shiki no favors like this, alienating us."

"Look, neither of us care about the elders' games," Satoru says bluntly. "If you want us to play along with you, then at least have the decency to give us incentive to do so instead of, oh, I don't know. Killing people who we'd very much prefer to remain alive, for starters?"

"… Jihei shouldn't have died." Daisaku's voice is low and subdued. Huh, so he really does care despite the differences they had with each other; fancy that. How unfortunate that it's too little too late. "If I bring you the heads of whoever agreed to collaborate and enable the Kamo Clan's trespasses, then will you rescind your order?"

Satoru regards the wizened old man for a long moment, just enough for him to become visibly uneasy beneath his gaze, then turns aside. "I suppose I could consider it. But you of all people should know that words mean nothing when they aren't accompanied by any actions, Daisaku."

The elder sucks in a sharp breath, then bows, low and deep. "I will endeavor not to disappoint, then, Satoru-sama."

A brief silence falls across the room.

"… There's something else that I must ask you," Daisaku finally says at length. "Please be honest with me. Shiki… her cursed technique isn't really 'Fragility,' is it?"

"Took you long enough to finally ask," Satoru responds, amused. "What do you think?"

"I've suspected for quite some time now, but…" the elder shakes his head. "Is she aware of it herself? But if she was, then why wouldn't she say anything about it?"

"Gee, I wonder why Shiki is reluctant to share anything about her abilities with the clan?" The white-haired young man's voice is sandpaper-dry. "Can you really blame her? I mean, I certainly wouldn't."

Daisaku puts a hand to his forehead. "… I believe we may have made a minor miscalculation somewhere. She wasn't supposed to turn out like this."

"Just like how I wasn't supposed to turn out the way I did, either?" At that, the elder stiffens; Satoru laughs. "Yeah, I thought so."

He's under no illusions that his upbringing with the Gojo Clan was anything close to approaching normal. Gojo Satoru hadn't been normal since the day he was born. Six Eyes and Limitless –he'd been born with the weight of his clan on his shoulders, with the burden of the entire jujutsu world soon to follow.

You're the honored one, they'd said to him, from the moment he could walk. It's your duty, your responsibility. You're the only one with the power to do this, Satoru. You have to. You must.

… Say that enough times to a kid, and they'll definitely internalize it. But Satoru isn't the type to shy away from a task just because it's difficult.

Shiki was rather like him, in that respect.

Shiki…

Satoru lets out an explosive exhale after the elder takes his leave, leaning back in his seat. Curiosity had blurred into affection somewhere along the lines, and there's no denying that he's genuinely fond of his cousin, this cute little girl who liked stabbing things way too much. It's certainly not what he'd expected their relationship to turn out to be, when he'd first met her.

… Cursed eyes, and a powerful cursed technique. An entire sorcery clan breathing down their necks, and the jujutsu world looking to them to become the untouchable pillars upholding their society.

Hurry up and grow up already.

I wish you could stay as a child forever.

The two sentiments are conflicting, but they're both true. Satoru won't lie and say that Shiki doesn't factor into his plans for the future at all, because she does –plays a fairly important role in it, actually– but at the same time, he genuinely cares about her. Which is more than what the rest of his clan could say, except for maybe Kiyohira and Yuzuki.

And even then, no one understands, which is honestly isolating in a way Satoru hadn't even really realized before Shiki came along.

…

He won't leave her to stumble through everything on her own. That's a promise.

.

.

Fushiguro Tsumiki had promised herself that she would smile and do her best to take care of her little brother, when their parents disappeared. Megumi was a lovable kid, despite the seemingly-standoffish exterior, and he was genuinely kind and cared for her in return. How could Tsumiki possibly not love him?

There was no denying that he was a quiet boy, though, sullen and withdrawn compared to his classmates. Other children tended to avoid him, and the behavior even extended to some adults that they interacted with. Tsumiki had never thought too much of it, but–

Most people are unsettled in the presence of cursed energy.

Can you really say that you haven't noticed Megumi-san's cursed energy affecting any non-sorcerers around him?

Shiki's explanation on the potential effects of cursed energy on non-sorcerers during Obon that year had been very enlightening. Horrifying, too, in the implications of what Tsumiki had overlooked.

Ever since then, she's been doing her best to learn more about this world of sorcery and curses that her little brother found himself dumped headfirst into. Even though Tsumiki was unable to see curses herself and had no aptitude for using cursed energy, she still wanted to know, if only to understand her little brother and support him emotionally.

… Shiki could also use the support, even though Tsumiki is sure that the older girl would just give her a bewildered look of complete confusion if she ever put it in those terms.

The first time Tsumiki had met Gojo Shiki was in the courtyard of the Gojo estate, back when Gojo Satoru had found her and Megumi and proceeded to bring them back to his home. She remembers almost forgetting how to breathe, for a brief moment. The white-haired girl sitting on the engawa with a scroll on her lap looked more like a beautiful porcelain doll than another human being, beneath the dappled sunlight.

Then, the girl lifted her gaze, looking up with those luminous, faintly iridescent dark blue eyes. Inhuman blue eyes, just like Gojo-san.

Except the way they'd interacted with each other was very, very human.

Unlike Gojo-san, who was full of smiles and forever overly-familiar with anyone and everyone, Shiki was polite and reserved. To the point where Tsumiki had honestly doubted that she even liked her and Megumi in the beginning. Yuzuki-kun was the one who'd stepped in and clarified for her that no, Shiki didn't hold any prejudices against either of them, the girl was really Just That Bad at interacting with others.

… Considering that Shiki's only other friend aside from them was Panda, a literal panda, it hadn't taken long before Tsumiki understood the gist of what Yuzuki-kun was referring to.

But beneath the cold exterior, Shiki was surprisingly nice. She didn't mind explaining things to Tsumiki, whenever she found herself confused over some strange detail of the jujutsu world that she now lived in. Shiki didn't mind being ordered about in the kitchen, and always helped Tsumiki clean things up afterwards.

She could also be thoughtlessly terrifying sometimes, though.

Tsumiki would never forget the first time she saw Shiki stepping through the doorway in a kimono drenched in blood, and the older girl hadn't seemed to be affected by it at all –nothing beyond an 'oh, this is dirty, it needs to be properly laundered' reaction.

That was also the first time Tsumiki realized that there was more to sorcery than just 'exorcising curses.' Or rather, that 'exorcising curses' meant fighting, with a very real chance of death.

(Dead. Jihei-san is dead, and he'll never be coming back–!)

"Isn't it scary?" Tsumiki had asked her friend once, then given up after receiving a blank, uncomprehending look in response.

As expected, the right person to ask this sort of question to was Yuzuki-kun. "Fighting cursed spirits is scary, yes. It's not just about having the right skills and the right talent –you also need the right mindset. Shiki is… uniquely suited for being a sorcerer, just as Satoru-sama is."

Tsumiki thinks about Shiki covered head to toe in blood, and shivers.

… Despite her fear and apprehension, part of her wishes that she, too, could be a sorcerer. Because then she'd be able to help Shiki –she'd be able to help Megumi, who's headed directly into the dangerous life of a sorcerer just as Shiki is. But another much more practical part of Tsumiki recognizes and acknowledges that she'd probably make a terrible combatant of any sort. It's probably for the best that things are the way they currently are.

Even though it makes her feel acutely helpless whenever she sees Shiki coming back from her missions with blood on her sleeves, or when Megumi comes back and uncharacteristically, wordlessly latches onto her with a tight hug. The only things that Tsumiki can do are to smile for her friend and hug her brother back, but it feels so… lacking. Like she should be doing something more, except she's also fully aware that there's nothing that she can do.

"You do more for them by just being there than you think, Tsumiki-chan."

She shakes her head with a self-deprecating smile, "It doesn't feel that way, Yuzuki-kun."

The older boy hums lightly, but the thoughtful sound suddenly breaks off into a sharp cough. Tsumiki hurriedly hands him a handkerchief, then reaches over and pours a warm cup of water.

"You do more than you think," the boy repeats firmly, once he's thanked her and caught his breath again. "You remind them that there's more to the life of a sorcerer than just exorcising curses. And that's important."

Tsumiki nods silently, even though she remains doubtful.

Yuzuki-kun is perceptive enough to catch that, though, if the look that he gives her is any indication of things.

"Don't sell yourself short," he says gently. "Shiki and Megumi… neither of them are very close to many people. Most sorcerers tend not to be; they learn to guard their hearts carefully, and for good reason. But a sorcerer who is unable to form any meaningful connections with others is dangerous. Both to themselves, and to others around them."

Tsumiki frowns. "You're exaggerating, they're not that bad!"

The older boy inclines his head. "Megumi, perhaps. Shiki-san… struggles more, in this respect."

What does that mean? Tsumiki tilts her head in confusion, but Yuzuki-kun doesn't seem keen on explaining it. Instead, he reaches over and tousles her hair.

"Be her friend, Tsumiki-chan," he says. "Trust me, Shiki needs someone like you by her side."

.

.

The first time Gojo Yuzuki met Gojo Shiki, it had taken less than five minutes in her presence for him to realize Oh, there's something off about this girl.

It wasn't overtly obvious at a glance, but neither was it something particularly subtle. Shiki-san made zero effort to hide it, anyways, much as Satoru-sama did.

Both of them approached the world from a rather different perspective than most people. Not so entirely disparate that it was utterly incomprehensible, but jarringly incompatible nonetheless. It made them highly effective sorcerers, to be sure, but when it came to interacting with other people… that was where the problems started.

When Shiki came to him querying why her uncle could possibly be worried about her that one time, Yuzuki had found himself abruptly worried for the girl's mentality.

… Somehow, they'd ended up developing a pattern over the years; Shiki would come to him with any interpersonal questions that she had, and Yuzuki would patiently answer them one by one. Some of the answers to her questions were obvious, to the point where it was hard to believe that anyone could have trouble understanding it in the first place –and yet, undeniably, it was something that Shiki struggled with, for all her genius when it came to sorcery-related skills.

Not what he'd expected, when they'd first encountered each other at Isao's funeral so long ago.

At the time, he hadn't been surprised to see her in attendance. Isao had died protecting her, so it was only natural that the blessed child would come to pay her respects. What was surprising was her subsequent decision to attend Suzurigi Hideo's funeral afterwards, too.

Yuzuki had started paying attention to her, after that. Had even followed along, wanting to get a better measure of the girl, and he hadn't been disappointed.

There's a reason why the Suzurigi family so staunchly supports Gojo Shiki despite Hideo's death, alongside several other vassal families. He's never been quite certain if she did it on purpose, but with the sole exception of Suzurigi Hideo, not a single accompanying assistant to any of Shiki's missions ever found themselves exposed to any undue danger.

Which was a rarity.

Most sorcerers only cared for exorcising cursed spirits, and collateral damage was only an inevitability. While they usually didn't go out of their way to actively place the assisting staff in danger, the unfortunate truth of the matter was that accidents tended to happen on missions. Even despite barriers and other precautions, exorcisms were still highly-hazardous assignments. It was largely up to the assisting staff to account for their own safety, instead of relying on sorcerers whose primary objective would be fighting curses.

Yuzuki had been confused, initially. For something that wasn't done on purpose, Shiki seemed to look out for her supporting staff a little too consistently for it to be purely coincidental. But for something that was done purposefully –it didn't fit in with what he understood about her.

Because similar to Satoru-sama, Shiki lacked a very basic sense of human empathy. This wasn't an insult; merely the truth. Trifling things like pain and suffering that was enough to leave others in shuddering tears didn't move her in the least. Not to say that she was heartless, because she wasn't, but… Yuzuki suspects that Shiki doesn't understand how utterly ruthless she can be sometimes. And, perhaps most frighteningly of all, it doesn't even register as callousness in her mind.

In the end, Yuzuki can only chalk it down to something like responsibility. Shiki might not feel sympathy for others or relate emotionally to them, but somehow she views herself as being responsible for the people around her, to a certain extent.

The supervisors assigned to her on her missions. Tsumiki-chan and Megumi-kun. Yuzuki himself, even.

… Aside from personality, it's probably the most notable difference between her and Satoru-sama. Neither of them particularly care very much for the Gojo Clan as a whole, which is a clear failing on the elders' parts. But unlike Satoru-sama, who views the clan itself as secondary to his own goals and nothing more, Shiki has shown that she will make a deliberate effort to ensure the welfare of those around her, even if she disagrees with the elders in charge.

Privately, Yuzuki thinks that just this fact alone makes Shiki more suited towards being clan heir than Satoru-sama ever was. It's not about the power –although she certainly has that in spades, a girl whose cursed energy comes second only to Gojo Satoru– it's about the mentality and disposition. Shiki might not actually care about the Gojo Clan, but so long as she viewed the general welfare of the clan as her 'responsibility,' there's no doubt in Yuzuki's mind that she would make a highly effective heir.

If she ever decided to claim the currently-vacant position, that is. Which… wasn't looking very likely to happen anytime soon.

… If she'd accepted the position of clan heir, would the Kamo Clan have been so brazen as to make a move on Jihei-san?

What happened to Jihei-san was truly a tragedy. Moreover, it was suspicious. Yuzuki is certain that the recent uproar in the clan instigated by Satoru-sama was merely part of their plots to root out the culprits behind Jihei-san's death, but… even so, there are still so many points that don't make sense.

Was it truly the Kamos who wanted Jihei-san dead? But for what purpose? Surely they'd be aware that it would obviously anger Satoru-sama and Shiki-san. Bearing that in mind… then, it meant that the Kamo Clan somehow prioritized silencing Jihei-san over crossing the two most powerful sorcerers of the Gojo Clan.

But Jihei-san had only been investigating a curse user, hadn't he? … Had he inadvertently stumbled across some sensitive secret of the Kamo Clan, in his search? But what could possibly be worth–?

A sharp set of wet, wracking coughs tear themselves out from his throat.

Yuzuki hunches over his bed, gasping for breath. Trembling, he raises a shaky hand to his lips –and his fingertips come away stained with blood.

… Unsurprising. He supposes that the only bright side to this situation was that this hadn't happened while Fushiguro Tsumiki had been visiting him earlier.

"Mrowrr?"

"What are you doing here?" he startles, surprised. A small white cat clambers out of the folds of his blankets and rubs itself against him, meowing. Yuzuki carefully moves his bloodstained hand out of the way. "Did you escape from Tsumiki-chan again? You know that you're not supposed to do that."

The cat ignores his gentle scolding, turning itself in a circle on his lap, then curling up with a yawn.

… Mi-chan had been Jihei-san's pet cat. Tsumiki-chan's, now, since the younger girl had tearfully latched onto the small feline in wake of Jihei-san's passing.

Tsumiki-chan… she was not the only person to feel useless.

Yuzuki absently runs a hand through the small cat's fur, receiving a contented purr in response. It eases some anxious knot building inside his chest, and the boy sucks in a slow, careful breath.

… Standing next to someone like Gojo Shiki, anyone would feel inferior. Megumi-kun is clearly made of some pretty stern stuff; he's surprised that training with Shiki hadn't thoroughly demoralized the kid already, Ten Shadows or not.

But then again, what does Yuzuki know about training? Isao had secretly shown him a few tricks with Fluctuation in the past, but Yuzuki's body was weak, to the point where any sort of strenuous activity could be easily life-threatening. This fragile body of his was supported solely by medicines and his own cursed energy. It would be a miracle if he lived to see his twenties.

Just once, I want to be able to walk freely beneath the sunlight with everyone.

Prior to encountering Shiki… Yuzuki had been friendless. Who wanted to be friends with a boy that everyone knew was sick and dying?

But Shiki hadn't minded. She hadn't seemed to think anything of approaching a boy so obviously marked for death. Out of all the children born in the Gojo Clan, it was Yuzuki who had her confidence, who she went to whenever she encountered problems with interpersonal relations.

She trusted him.

So, Yuzuki would answer that trust unwaveringly, until the day he died.

Because that's what friends are supposed to do, right?

.

.

"The plan failed."

"I gathered as much, when I received reports that the Gojo girl exorcised a Special Grade cursed spirit."

Kamo Matsuhime's voice is cold, icy. Her displeasure is obvious, but the man standing in front of her doesn't so much as even flinch.

The blatant disrespect galls, but Matsuhime knows how to hide her claws and bide her time until the moment is right to enact punishment. She can be patient. Very, very patient, indeed.

The woman lets out a soft 'hmph' and turns to the side. Her fox shikigami trails her heels, flicking its tail as it prowls along the length of the floor. "So? Did you get anything useful out of it, at least?"

"Yes," the man inclines his head ever so slightly, instead of executing a proper bow –another mark against him. If it weren't for her husband's favor, Matsuhime would've made certain that this servant knew his proper place: At her feet, groveling and obedient.

But for now, she'll settle for him delivering the rest of his report.

"Tell me your observations," she commands.

"Gojo Shiki's cursed technique is most assuredly not just 'cutting things,'" the dark-haired man responds. "The Special Grade cursed spirit that was born was… unusually weak, for a Special Grade born from a cursed womb. It was intelligent, but it did not display any new or strengthened abilities. In fact, it even appeared to have lost the ability to create clones of itself as it was capable of as a cursed womb. A cursed spirit should have superior regenerative abilities, but it was unable to reattach the lower half of its body when Gojo severed it."

"Unusually weak…" Matsuhime mutters to herself. How interesting. "Earlier, you said that the girl left the cursed womb half-dead, before it managed to evolve into a Special Grade?"

"That is correct."

Then… it was possible that the Gojo girl had destroyed some integral part of the cursed spirit, when it was only a cursed womb. Something that crippled its abilities as a Special Grade. Something that prevented the regeneration of a cursed spirit.

The Gojo Clan could be as cagey about their blessed child's capabilities as they liked, but Matsuhime would get to the bottom of things. Preferably before those unusual abilities became openly known, because then that had the potential to get… problematic, if she was to properly proceed with her own plans.

But it was necessary.

Every day, Nobutomo's position within the Kamo Clan grew ever more precarious. Support for that Kamo Noritoshi was growing by the day. Matsuhime would only allow a filthy bastard child to attain the clan heir position that rightfully belonged to her son over her dead body.

So what if Noritoshi had Blood Manipulation? If Nobutomo developed a heretofore unseen cursed technique, a powerful one that had somehow escaped notice of the clan's divination methods…

The Gojo girl should've quietly agreed to become Nobutomo's bride a long time ago. Then, Matsuhime wouldn't have needed to resort to something as crude as this. It was unfortunate how things turned out in the end, but Matsuhime is a mother before she is the Kamo Clan Lady. When it comes to her beloved son… there are no lines that she would not cross, for the sake of his happiness and his future.

Gojo Shiki would become her son's stepping stone. There was no doubt about that, in Matsuhime's mind. It would be difficult, but it was the unfortunate truth of the matter that she was the most suitable candidate. The only candidate, according to Araya, who was the only one capable of performing the forbidden procedure to change Nobutomo's fate.

But Matsuhime has never been one to back down from a challenge. It was how she'd attained the position of Clan Lady in the first place, toppling her rivals one by one until she was the best of the remaining candidates. Kikuhime was the only clever one, swiftly accepting the courtship of a handsome young Gojo man while the others dared to challenge Matsuhime's claim. It's why dear Kikuhime is Matsuhime's favorite –and sole remaining– sister.

Matsuhime knows better than anyone else that any victory not won with one's own hands is an empty, hollow one.

She might not be conventionally powerful, in terms of sorcery, but there's more to 'power' than cursed techniques and cursed energy. It's a pity that sorcerers always seem to have a harder time than most remembering that.

All the advantage to Matsuhime, then, and she was not above making use of it. For Nobutomo's sake, she would seize victory again. By any means necessary.

"You know your orders," she says neutrally. "We're running out of opportunities, that Gojo spy's death already has them on edge. Don't fail me again, Araya."

"… Of course not, Lady Matsuhime."

.

.

Iori Utahime wakes up with a soft, pained groan.

"You're finally up. How do you feel?"

… Shoko?

Utahime blinks as she instinctively turns towards the sound of that familiar voice. Or tries to, at least; just the simple act of turning her head sends a sharp jolt of pain rippling across her face, and she doesn't–

The memories suddenly come flooding back to her, hitting her like a sledgehammer.

Visiting a village tucked away in the mountains. Encountering a bug-like cursed spirit, a highly destructive Grade One curse that could bend the earth to its will. Desperately fighting it, attempting to save the unfortunate bystanders, leading it to an uninhabited area–

Being trapped in a barrier–

Then, that cursed spirit nearly cut off her head–

Utahime gasps.

"Shiki!" She remembers. Oh gods, she remembers, Shiki had shown up right as Utahime was about to get herself eaten, and then– and then–!

"Calm down," Shoko's level voice pulls her out of her panic. "Utahime, everything is fine. Shiki is perfectly fine, and so are you. In fact, you're the one whose injuries are worse off, although I do have a few questions about… well, that can wait for later, I suppose."

The younger woman sits down by her bedside, setting down her clipboard. Ieiri Shoko reaches out, hands glowing faintly with reverse cursed energy. A cooling sensation spreads throughout Utahime's body near-instantly at her touch.

"I'm going to keep you under observation for a few days, but you should be able to make a full recovery," Shoko says, after a beat. "It's a good thing that you got here when you did. Any later, and the poison would've settled too deeply into your body for the scarring to be removed. We'd be looking at permanent disfigurement, in that case."

Permanent disfigurement. A cold chill runs down Utahime's spine at the thought. All sorcerers bear a variety of scars across their body from fighting curses –unless you were Gojo Satoru, who was untouchable– and it's not as if Utahime doesn't have her own scars already. But the thought of something so prominently scarred across her face, it's… it rattles something inside her and leaves her feeling shaken, even as she lets out a soft sigh of relief.

"How is Shiki doing?"

"Her poisoning was a lot less severe than yours, since she was able to keep the worst of it at bay with her own cursed energy. Whoever looked over the two of you before you came into my hands staunched the bleeding on her leg, but prioritized treating you."

Utahime stares blankly, "What?"

"… So you don't know anything about it, then." Shoko sighs, a tired sound. "I certainly hope that it doesn't mean what I think it does, especially given that Shiki isn't saying anything."

"I… I'm not sure what you mean. I recall… I recall Shiki exorcising the curse." That's right. The twelve year old girl had exorcised a Special Grade curse, the most powerful cursed spirit that Utahime had seen to date. And Shiki had killed it!

The rumors comparing little Shiki to that insufferable cousin of hers… clearly, they were not unfounded. But Utahime had known all of this a long time ago.

There's part of her that feels… worthless. Unspeakably guilty, too, for getting Shiki dragged into a fight that she had no business fighting, even though the girl had won in the end. The entire time, Shiki had been prioritizing Utahime while fighting the cursed spirit, even when it was to her own detriment. Utahime is grateful, and there's no helping the surge of affection that she feels, even though it's marred by guilt.

"… Iori-sensei?"

Both women turn around, Shoko with a disapproving sound rising in her throat. "You should be resting, Shiki."

"Sorry, Shoko-san," the white-haired girl standing in the doorway apologizes. "I thought I heard Iori-sensei's voice."

Shoko huffs out an amused little laugh. "Yeah, she's awake. Your Iori-sensei is going to be just fine."

Utahime stares. Relief seeps through her, almost enough to make her dizzy. Hearing about it from Shoko is one thing, but it's another thing entirely to see for herself with her own two eyes that her student is alright.

… Shiki is certainly looking a little ragged, though. Despite the change of clothing into a clean yukata, there are still hints of bandage wrappings clearly visible beneath the hem of her sleeves. Utahime's all-too-visceral memory of seeing a hole torn through the girl's leg isn't exactly helping things, either. That was the sort of injury that would've been debilitating to the average sorcerer, and yet it was something that Shiki didn't even flinch at.

Utahime doesn't know how to feel about it.

Watching Shiki fight that curse had been… completely different from watching her cousin fight. For one, the girl didn't possess Limitless, so she didn't exactly have Gojo's untouchable, effortless grace. But there was no denying that she was graceful. As Shiki's dance instructor, Utahime was already well aware of this particular talent. To be honest, she'd been aware of it ever since seeing her dance during Obon that year –Utahime doesn't think she'll ever forget that breathtaking sight, a young girl twirling between the flames while thousands of motes of golden lights drifted upwards into the nighttime sky.

Shiki's fighting was much like her dancing.

The way she moved, the way she swung her sword –Shiki made it seem like art instead of battle, and if it weren't for the cursed spirit present, her movements almost could've been mistaken for dancing instead.

It was beautiful.

… Beautiful, and utterly terrifying.

"I'm glad you're alright, Iori-sensei," the girl says. Then, to Utahime's shock, steps forward and bows deeply, "I apologize for the mistakes I made that allowed the curse to reach Special Grade and put you at risk."

Something inside Utahime's heart clenches and twists. "Don't apologize, Shiki. You have nothing to apologize for. I should be thanking you for saving me. If anything, it was my fault for getting you involved in this."

The look on the girl's face indicates that she's clearly disbelieving of Utahime's heartfelt words. "You're not the one at fault, Iori-sensei."

"Hmm. So you know who is to blame for this, then?"

Shiki pauses and gives Shoko a little side-eye. "… I'm under a binding vow not to disclose this information."

Wait, a binding vow? When?

"You agreed not to disclose any identities, not to refrain from divulging any information you obtained," Shoko shrugs. "Well, it's none of my concern. You'll probably get an earful about it from Gojo, anyways, once he finally manages to get down to the school here."

"I already got an earful about it from Kiyohira-sensei," the girl sighs, sounding severely put-out.

"He'd be correct. Binding vows aren't things to undertake so easily."

"I know, but I wasn't exactly left with very many options at the time," Shiki shakes her head.

… What happened, after Utahime lost consciousness? She remembered Shiki killing the Special Grade, and then there was a cave-in… and…

Shoko notices her confusion.

"Ah, let's get you caught up to speed, Utahime. Maybe you can help us sort out some other points of confusion, too. So –how much do you remember?"

.

.

…

.