Shinji POV
"…and that's how I beat him." I said like I was talking about the weather, dully scratching the back of my head in the middle of me and Uro's living room.
Ryu was lazing on the left side of the couch, idly inspecting the nails on his left hand as a lit cigarette dangled from his lips. He had several scratches and bruises along his skin, and his jacket was torn and burnt in several places. If you were to look past those minor injuries, you would have no idea he had just fought for his life.
Uro, by contrast, was sitting cross-legged and cross-armed with twitching eyes as she stared into my own. Her jaw was clenching and unclenching rapidly, and she looked like she wanted to throttle me.
She was wearing a bright pink tank top, with baggy red sweatpants adorning her legs. She chewed her lip in apparent frustration as she glared at me, and I sighed, '…on second thought, maybe bringing him wasn't so much of a good idea.'
I glanced down at the real source of her irritation, which was the sorcerer sitting on his knees in our living room. Yuta Okkotsu sat seiza next to me as I explained how the fight went between us.
Silence hung after I finished speaking, a veritable veil forming in the room.
Uro was, of course, the first to break it. "So you're saying he—" She pointed at Yuta, "—cut your—" She pointed at me, "—arms off, and nearly killed you, while his pet—" Yuta's eyes snapped to Uro in a glare, "—tried to kill us. AND you want us to accept him as one of us?!"
"Ryu tried to kill us too." I responded plainly, nodding my head at the lazy sorcerer, who waved his hand in acknowledgement.
Uro's face contorted into an admittedly pretty snarl as she pulled herself to her feet and into my personal space while pointing down at Yuta. "He's… He's… A FUJIWARA!"
My face turned exasperated. "How could you possibly—"
"HE ACTS LIKE THEM!" She yelled before taking a breath and composing herself slightly. "I will NOT have him ruin—He will not TAKE—"
"Uro." I interrupted gently, lightly grabbing her wrist. She stopped her angry rant to look at me with confusion and smoldering rage. "You're right." I said, and her eyes snapped open, and I hurriedly followed up, "He will not take or ruin anything."
Her delicate eyebrows furrowed, and she paused, signaling me to continue, "Regardless of whether he is a Fujiwara or not—"
"He is." She interrupted.
"—He will not take anything from you." I continued, ignoring her words. I looked down at Yuta, who was staring at the scene with interest. "Because he can't," I turned my gaze back to her, "I did beat him, didn't I?"
She held my stare for several tense seconds before huffing and walking back to the couch before regaining her seated position. She glared, clearly annoyed, so I decided to further quell her wrath. "Besides, it's not like I'm planning on him joining us permanently."
That caught her interest as it did Ryu's and Yuta's. "I hardly imagine I could have Yuta join our merry little band of outlaws, seeing as how he's a jujutsu sorcerer with a whole life behind him." I watched as Yuta nodded slightly, and I sighed inwardly.
"So I was just going to say we create a line of communication and… trade. You know, for peace between factions." I said, the edges of my lips twitching to rise into a smile.
Yuta's eyes narrowed as he stared at me, so I clarified, "Nothing major, just a line of communication in case you need our help and to share knowledge about Jujutsu." Yuta's eyes opened, as did his mouth to respond, but I had one last clause to tack on first: "…We would naturally want compensation for our help."
It was then that Yuta's gaze dropped into a deadpan stare for several seconds. "…are you always this greedy?" He asked, and I sweatdropped.
I smirked down at him. "Is it wrong to want the best for yourself and the people you care about?" I asked, knowing damn well I was just being greedy.
Yuta's gaze conveyed just how much he believed me, and I sweatdropped again, "…It's not like it's always gonna be money, you know; I mostly just want to know more about jujutsu."
Yuta stared for several seconds before sighing, "…I'm sure we could work something out." He said exasperatedly, and I clapped my hands together.
"Wonderful, let's work those terms out now, shall we?" I asked gleefully, and there was a collective groan from Uro and Ryu.
…assholes.
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It took about an hour, mostly because Yuta was speaking for all of Jujutsu society as an ambassador that no one knew about, and he had to think a lot about what his friends would want.
The most important thing we agreed on, however, was Kenjaku. Yuta wanted my help to kill the Plan Man and stop his… plan from coming to fruition, which I agreed to.
For a price, of course.
The price?
Training, and the promise of digital forms of the majority of Jujutsu High's reading material that will be sent to my phone, which now has a direct line to Yuta's own phone.
The training today consisted of technique-less sparring and a lesson on advanced barriers.
Which was… mildly informative.
Honestly, the best thing I got from it was the sparring, because without pulse perception, Yuta's CQC and sword technique were still miles above my own.
But even greater still was the insight I got into the vibrations coming off Yuta, and Uro and Ryu too, actually. It gave me a rough idea of what they were going to do- nothing major, mostly things like hostile intent and when an attack was coming, but it still vastly increased my perception.
My best guess was that, like the world and everything else in existence, their souls were vibrating too. Nothing like my own; it was just a little different than the world's idle vibrations. And then somehow, my technique acts like a… translation system.
I think it's converting the soul's vibration into pure information, either by resonating my own soul with it for a time or turning it into… sound? I really have no idea.
I sighed with my hands on my knees, sweating and panting profusely after Yuta and my spar. My shirt was torn and bloody in a few places, as were my pants, while Yuta was similarly panting and sweating, but with considerably less damage. The guy's swordsmanship was still a tier above mine, even if my reinforcement was just above his own.
I got to my feet slowly, wiping the sweat from my brow as I opened my mouth to talk. "Anyone tell you you're damn good with a sword?" I asked rhetorically.
Yuta chuckled as he resheathed his sword. "You're not that far behind me, you know? If you weren't using that cleaver and were using a katana, it'd be far more even."
I chuckled, "...Humble too." I whispered under my breath as I tapped my foot against the ground, sending a tiny ripple of ground under my water bottle to my left and detonating a small amount of the ground under it.
The water bottle flipped perfectly into my hand with a firm thunk. I smiled at the control I had over my technique as I squirted some water into my mouth.
Yuta stared at me quizzically. "...I've never understood that."
I swiveled my head in his direction. "Understood what?" I asked in return.
"How you and Gojo-sensei use your cursed techniques so casually." He said with a slight laugh, "I've never been very comfortable with my technique."
I tilted my head in genuine curiosity. "Really? 'Cuz you're damn good with it." I said as I turned my head to where Uro was viciously beating Ryu. I winced. 'Someone is NOT happy with our house guest.'
My attention turned back to Yuta as I heard him chuckle again, "...That's because I was born blessed, but I mean more the feeling of using my technique."
Now I was really confused. "What do you mean? Does it hurt to copy techniques?"
He rubbed the back of his head. "... It actually feels like a puzzle piece clicking in my brain, but the feeling of using my curse feels weird, no matter how much my body enjoys the feeling."
I stared at him dumbly. What the hell was this guy talking about?
Yuta sighed, "It's something I learned while I was studying and training in Africa." His eyes snapped open in realization. "Actually, it's how I learned domain expansion." He said with a finger on his chin as he looked up.
Now that had my full attention, and I stared enraptured at Yuta, who sweatdropped from my intense gaze. "...basically some of the shamans told me that every person is born with a 'curse' that predetermines their life's path, and can be seen from their cursed technique, which is how 'nature' compensates you for the curse you are given." He explained, and I stayed silent, listening to his lecture on the subject.
He rubbed the back of his head again sheepishly. "My curse, from what I've gathered and been told, is 'love', so my technique lets me take on the traits, curses, and 'fates' to add to my own."
My eyes flew open in realization. "I… I never thought of that." I said simply, but the more I considered it, the more it made sense.
Take a look at the two strongest in the series: Gojo and Sukuna. Both of their fates and techniques separated them from the rest of the world through their strength, but the way they did it was completely different.
Gojo created an infinite distance between himself and those below him, and that was also the main curse plaguing his life. Whereas Sukuna was born separated from the world, cursed to be destroyed and carved out by the world.
So his technique lets him further separate himself from the world and 'indulge' in his curse, turning it on itself. Then, as his fate was to be destroyed because of his separation, his curse also gives him an avenue of destruction in 'fuga'.
This also, in turn, explains why he's so good at making binding vows, as he readily separates part of himself for his own gain without a second's hesitation–
Wait, turning on itself?
My head snapped to Yuta. "If that's true, then how did that help you with your domain expansion?" I asked, and as I saw Yuta open his mouth to answer, I quickly asked the other question plaguing my mind: "And how do you think that relates to reverse cursed technique?"
Yuta paused, taken aback. "...Well, for the domain, I found it easier to visualize making a barrier that dragged them into my 'fate' or my curse rather than enforcing my cursed technique on the barrier itself."
He took a second to take a deep breath in before continuing, "...but for Reverse cursed technique…" He scratched the back of his head. "...Do you want an explanation of how I do it mechanically? Or its relationship to my 'curse'?"
"Both," I responded instantly, even if the mechanical explanation may be redundant.
"Well, mechanically, I compress cursed energy in my head until it… merges?" He said sheepishly, "It's kind of an instinctual thing, really." He followed up before answering my second question, "But in relation to my curse…I guess the most I could say is that in the moment I achieved it, all I could think about was how my friends were gonna die, and how it was my fault."
He paused his speech to look down at his hands, "…I cursed Rika, and now because of that, all these amazing people were getting hurt, and I was so… angry at the man who was hurting those I loved because of me and how I had loved them." He scratched the back of his head. "In that moment I realized that this was my curse and that I wouldn't let him hurt the people I loved because I loved them."
I blinked owlishly at him. He sweated and opened his mouth. "Sorry, I'm not the best at explaining things.
My eyebrows leveled, and I looked down with a sigh. "It's fine; you've actually helped more than you know." I stood to my feet, "I'm gonna take a shower and hit the sack. It's been a long day." I called back with a wave.
'Curses are bullshit.'
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I stepped out of the shower and wrapped a towel around my waist. My brain was still agonizing and puzzling over what Yuta had said, the thoughts never far from my mind as I washed myself.
I sighed. Honestly, the whole thing was really a problem for future me. Right now, I am more focused on getting some sleep.
I was walking to my room from the bathroom, feeling the hardwood beneath my feet as I padded along. 'Now what to do about our house guest?' I asked myself, thinking of the passed-out sorcerer on my couch.
I really wanted to send him to Ryu's house, but I don't have enough faith that he could stop Yuta if he tried to escape or—as unlikely as it might be—tried to attack him.
But I was mostly concerned about Uro—
I stopped dead as I walked, 'Speak of the devil…'
An angry pink-haired sorceress stood there with crossed arms, a finger tapping on her arm. She glared at me as her jaw ground, and her lips pressed and unpressed in apparent frustration. "What…" She growled out, "Is HE doing here?!" She finished as her eyes flicked down and some red dotted her cheeks.
'Ah shit.'
"Look, Uro—" I started before she interrupted me and pressed a finger to my chest.
"Don't Uro me—" She began angrily. "Why would you let HIM of all people—a FUJIWARA of all people—stay here with us?!"
"Uro—" I tried, but I was cut off again.
"I told you what THEY did to ME, and you let him into our home?!" She nearly screamed at me, and I stayed silent. "ANSWER ME!" She finally did.
"Uro…" I started, briefly pausing to consider what to say. "What are you afraid of?"
I watched as she nearly blew a gasket on the spot. "Everyone you hate is dead." I interrupted her.
She stopped and blinked rapidly. "They don't have any power or control over you anymore." I continued, taking a deep breath, "Yuta isn't staying; he's not joining. The only reason he is even still alive is so that we can have a mutually beneficial relationship."
I stared straight at her eyes, marveling at her uniquely black sclera. "If you want, I can kill him." I offered, and her eyes widened in shock. "Or while he sleeps, you could decapitate him and kill him before he ever notices." I blinked down at her.
She stopped, completely lost for words. "You know why?" I asked rhetorically, "Because you are strong, and so am I." I took a step closer to her. "The blood that once enslaved you has been diluted over a millennium, but even if it were as pure as the day it enchained you, you are strong enough to have a choice."
She took a half step back, and I took a full step closer. "Don't you get it? Yuta can't, nor has he tried to take away your identity; who YOU are. That's what this is really about, isn't it? That you're afraid he'll stop you from becoming someone?" Her eyes flew open in shock, and her mouth dropped slightly.
"Well, he can't, because you already are a person." Her mouth closed, and I took another breath in as I grabbed her wrist gently. "And you're strong enough that no one can take that from you, so please don't waste the time and energy hating Yuta over something he both can't nor has tried to do."
She stopped, opening and closing her mouth uselessly for a second before I spared her the embarrassment. "Besides, you're crazy if you think I—or Ryu for that matter—would let that happen." I smiled down at her.
She stared at me wide-eyed for several seconds. "I also wanted to—" She stopped herself, taking another breath in. "He's—He's ruining everything." She said angrily, but without screaming.
' What is she talking about?' I thought in confusion, before shaking my head and responding, "Then kill him. Or don't like I said, it's your choice," I said as I started to walk past her. "But whatever you choose, you have my unconditional support."
"…are you planning on leaving me—and Ryu—to join Jujutsu society?" She asked behind me quietly.
I stopped. 'Seriously, how bad are this girl's trust issues?' But a lightbulb flashed in my head, and I got a perfect response. "Oh yeah, I guess I haven't asked yet," I half-turned back to her. "With travel between colonies allowed now, I guess you and Ryu are free to go wherever you want."
"Me, I'm gonna travel all across Japan and fight the strongest cursed spirits and sorcerers, and as per the agreement we made over who got to 100 points first, I would like you—as my one request—to join me." I offered, "You in?"
I turned back just in time to see her face whip to me with a gob-smacked look on her face, and she continued to stare at me open-mouthed for a few seconds.
She recollected herself quickly, her face shifting into a soft smile as she stared at my legs. "…Dumbass, I thought that's what the faction was for." She said quietly.
I smirked. "Nah, you and Ryu are both free to do and go wherever you want, but I want you personally to join me. Be each other's right hand, you know?"
She huffed, shaking her head slightly, "…of course I will." She said while turning, "…what a stupid request." She grumbled as she walked to her own room, but I could hear the smile in her quiet voice.
My mouth split into a grin, "Also next time you want to oggle me you could just ask."
Uro went ram rod straight. "...I am entierly unaware of what you are referring to." She replied before hastily making her exit to her own room.
I scoffed, '…Yeah, I guess that was a stupid requst.' I thought, but in truth, there was no way I was going to risk my closest relationship on some ridiculous request. 'Plus, I have the slight feeling she likes me.' I mean, there was no way she didn't, right?
I sighed as I closed the distance to my door. 'Girls are weird.' I thought as I grabbed the doorknob to my room. I twisted it and walked in, but my mind was still replaying the memory of my conversation with Yuta. 'What's my curse? Shaking? Quaking?' I sighed as I figured there was no way I was going to figure it out while dwelling on it, and instead turned my attention to the ambient vibrations of the world.
It was so peaceful to lose myself in the movement of the world, so easy to let everything go silent and just exist in the moment. I walked forward and fell flat on my bed, my eyes closing in short order.
'What part of this brand new life of mine is a curse?'
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The sun's light broke over the nearly endless expanse of the concrete jungle that was Sendai, the morning wind ruffling my hair as I sat on the edge of the tallest building in the colony. My right leg dangled aimlessly as I sat and contemplated.
'What is my curse? Sure, from nearly the first second I woke up, I've been fighting for my life, but it's not like I've not enjoyed it—or the people I've met along the way… Where would I be without Uro? Without Ryu? Hell without Yuji and Todo, I would probably be nothing but paste.'
I sighed and pulled my body forwards into a free fall off the tower. 'But I'm sure Sukuna doesn't see his fate as a curse—nor his technique.' The wind rushed against my ears, and I closed my eyes as I felt it toss my clothes and brush against my face. 'Instead he reverses his isolation and adores his severance… "amor fati" Love thy fate.'
My eyes snapped open, and space cracked under my feet, and with a thunderous boom I rocketed forwards, the buildings' glass shattering behind me as I catapulted forwards.
My eyes landed on a group of some medium-sized curses that I was guessing were about grade-1 in strength each.
I flew forwards, aerostepping again to level my momentum parallel to the road, pulverizing the road below to steer more efficiently. I blurred in between them faster than any single one of them could even fathom what was happening.
And by simply slamming my fists to my left and right, space cracked, and a wave of pressure rendered each and every one of them into purple blood splatters. The shock wave carved through the air and road in a sphere of destruction around me.
I exhaled a disappointed breath. 'These guys are really weak.'
My eyes found the sky above. 'There's nothing left for me here.' I started my walk back to the house, confident in my new direction. 'It's time to leave Sendai… It's off to Tokyo for me… But should I go to Tokyo No. 1 or No. 2?'
'Why not both? First I'll go to Tokyo No. 2 and see if I can third-party Kashimo and Hakari, then I'll go to No. 1 and see if I can't get a fight going with some more of the sorcerers, or join up with them to—to—what fight Sukuna?' I shook my head. I was way too underprepared as it stood to fight that monster, and I would need at least—and I mean by the very barest of minimum—RCT and a domain expansion, and even then I was not fucking confident at all.
What the actual fuck am I supposed to do about an open barrier that's 200 meters wide?
Die.
I would just die.
And that was before Fuga.
'Wait—I need to stop Sukuna from taking over Megumi. If I have to fight Mahoraga on top of that—'
Yeah fuck that.
I am no Gojo… not yet.
I wasn't blind to my potential, and my talent really was freakishly fast how easy I picked some stuff up—aside from RCT and DE, but those were literally the top of the skill tree aside from open barriers.
Which I could do, just without a domain, which was only useful about half the time. Really, aside from domain clashes, what could they really help with?
But still it was really strange how fast I picked up—
Holy shit.
I think I found it. I think I've found my curse.
A man born without an identity, but with all the knowledge needed to thrive in the world, given a technique that lets him read, produce, and amplify vibrations in a world where every single thing vibrates.
'How could I have been so blind before?'
My curse is resonance.
Resonance with the world.
Resonance with others.
But really.
Resonance with myself.
And like a switch in my head, everything became truly clear, and the world sang to me.
I looked down at my arm, clenched my fist, and pulled the extra trigger I felt in my head.
My arm became enshrouded in black: "Reversal Technique: Armament."
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Author's Note:
Okay, so that took a little longer than I thought lmao.
I kinda sat down to write this and then...
I wrote chapter 5 of Angel.
I'm sorry, that's just so much fun to write, and I see that story as having infinite potential in the future. I plan to drop chapters 1-3 either today or tomorrow for that story and then do either weekly or bi-weekly releases, with potentially a p@treon for early access to ALL my stuff, including where I am in a chapter right now at a higher tier so you can see—but not edit them—as I write them, including all non-published drafts and workshopped ideas and maybe a chat with me for questions if you have them.
If you're interested in that, let me know.
Also, this story will be released weekly on Thursdays from here on out, so there is a consistent schedule.
Now onto the chapter itself, I really wanted to make this one a wind-down chapter that still has great moments, so let me know how it is and if I'm at all rusty lmao.
Also, on the reversal thing and armament, the core of his technique is vibration/molecular movement, so obviously the opposite is stagnation, but since his technique doesn't use heat exchange, the symbolism for his technique would be completely unchanging molecular structures and not ice.
It's also a way to give him armament haki after I've been hinting at his observation through reading others' vibrations.
If any of these explanations don't make sense...
Neither does infinite distance between places or creating infinite cursed energy off a gamble.
Hope you enjoyed it, though, and give me some feedback.
Have a great day!