The moment we stepped fully inside, the doors closed behind us with a dull, final sound that echoed far louder than it should have, and as my eyes adjusted to the dim interior, I finally understood why this place felt suffocating even before a single word had been spoken.
The place was like a graveyard. Almost haunted.
The only difference might be that the supposed skeletons here refused to die. I can't help but chuckle internally as I looked around.
The room was large.
And yet it felt cramped by the presences of the sheets—paper screens—which were arranged in a semi-circle ahead of us, each one tall enough to completely obscure the person sitting behind it, and though I could not see their faces, I could feel them, their presence layered one over another like a wall, easily more than ten of them seated in silence.
And there those elders, too afraid to even show their faces to us. I also noticed something strange. The cursed energy felt wrong here. As if the place was under some sort of barrier. What its purpose was I was uncertain, but it was needless to say that a high level of jujutsu was guarding this place.
I remained beside Yaga. It quickly became clear that, for now, I didn't exist to them, by the way they didn't even recognize my presence.
"Masamichi Yaga," one of the elders began, his voice old yet sharp, echoing slightly through the room. "You stand before us at a cause of you have both failed and are accursed."
Another voice followed immediately after, overlapping without pause. "The events of Shibuya have shaken the very foundation of jujutsu society."
"And yet," a third added, colder than the rest, "you and Satoru Gojo were responsible for oversight."
I felt my jaw tighten slightly.
Responsible? How come they were responsible? If anything, they prevented the situation from going out of control.
Yes, Gojo was sealed up in the majority of the Shibuya arc, but he still took down one special grade curse before going out. And Yaga might not be a frontline combatant; however, he was mostly controlling the overall situation in Shibuya.
So, what I mean to say is that calling either of them responsible for what happened in Shibuya was folly.
"With no evidence," Yaga replied calmly, though I could hear the restraint in his voice. "You assign blame."
"That is not for you to decide," another elder snapped back.
The pressure in the room shifted, subtle but suffocating, as voices began to pile over one another, accusations layered in tones that carried neither doubt nor hesitation, as if the conclusion had already been decided long before we ever walked in.
Which was most likely the case by the way they were hell-bent on shifting all the blame onto both Gojo and Yaga.
I glanced at Yaga, wondering what the old man would do, only to find he stood firm. No outburst of emotion or heated response.
I wondered whether this man was too used to this that it no longer mattered to him, or that he was enduring since he knew there was no other way when it came to these old foggies.
"The elder council has decided," one elder stated, "due to his crime, Satoru Gojo has been declared as a curse user, and any attempt to unseal him will now be considered a criminal act."
For a moment, even I went still, blinking my eyes in disbelief.
Either this man has balls made of iron or he thinks that because we can't see his face, Gojo won't target him once he comes out of that prism realm.
I dare you to say that again in front of a camera and I'll declare you the bravest and the stupidest f*ck out there.
"…You would criminalize saving your strongest asset," Yaga said slowly. It was evident that the man was just as pissed as I think he was, perhaps more than that.
"Satoru Gojo is our best bet to stop whatever is going on inside those barriers, especially the man who took over Geto Suguru's body and caused all this," Yaga replied with heat.
"We would prevent further chaos," another voice replied coldly.
And how are you planning on doing that exactly? Coughing your teeth out or farting at his face?
It was a strange situation; both their attitude and anger should have angered me, but instead it sounded funny. Like watching a joker talk to himself.
Yaga wished to say something, mostly argue back at these completely biased and corrupt rules they had passed, however, he remained silent, knowing fully well that it wouldn't achieve anything in the end.
That moment he knew that he can't rely on the higher-ups for the upcoming danger. He actually always knew, everyone knew, but this finally gave him the push he needed to work against their order.
Consequences be damned.
The final topic surfaced.
"Now," one of them continued, "we will address a matter of particular interest."
I blinked, wondering what more there was for them to ruin.
"Your creation."
Yaga frowned slightly, already having a hint where this conversation would head next.
"Explain," the elder demanded, "how you were able to produce a self-sustaining cursed puppet such as Panda."
Self-sustaining cursed puppet? I blinked my eyes again, recalling something rather obscure about the anime in which it was stated that Panda wasn't like a normal puppet.
Not that it needed to be said, it was clear to anyone, but what really was important was his existence itself.
For a cursed puppet to form thoughts of his own, work, move, and generate cursed energy of his own was unique. Something akin to pretty much giving life to an inanimate object.
An impossible feat which Yaga was able to pull off, and none were able to replicate that.
'So… that's what they are after. They called Yaga here, dumped all that blame onto him to get a moral high ground until they can force him to tell his secret.'
Yaga didn't respond immediately, though. It was clear that this wasn't the first time they forced him to tell his secret; however, this might as well be the first time they were going this far since Satoru Gojo was no longer there to act as a deterrent.
"You have effectively created life," another voice added, sharper now. "A technique of such significance cannot remain in the hands of a single individual."
I was slowly starting to get why Maki called them parasites now.
"I cannot explain it," Yaga said finally, his tone steady. "It was a coincidence. I can't replicate the technique, even if I wished to."
Silence. For the first time, those muttering annoying oldies actually quieted down, only for barely.
"A coincidence?" one elder repeated.
"Yes," Yaga replied. "It occurred once. I have not been able to replicate it."
That was what Yaga told everyone every time someone asked him. But it's unlikely they will take it, even if it were to be the real answer.
"You expect us to believe that?" another voice pressed.
"It is the truth."
"That is unacceptable."
The tone shifted again, this time far less restrained, as multiple voices began speaking over each other, some cold, some sharp, some openly threatening, all pushing from different angles, their words blending into a relentless wave directed entirely at him.
"Hand over your research."
"You will cooperate."
"This is not a request."
I felt my irritation building. They were like buzzing bees, never stopping. And what the hell with this attitude, do they think they can do anything they want?
Yaga didn't respond; he just heard all the threats with unspoken rage, but a single look at his tightly clenched knuckles turning white was enough to tell that the man was boiling from inside.
"haha… hahahahah…. HAHAHAHA".
I laughed. Finally couldn't take their bullshit.
It slipped out before I could stop it.
Just wondering how this same group of old bones would have been docile kittens if only instead of Yaga, Gojo was standing here. It was really funny how they only show their authority to selective people.
So I laughed.
Enough that the entire room went still.
"…What is amusing?" one of them asked, their voice carrying a dangerous edge now.
I lifted my head slightly, still trying to handle the chuckles leaving out of my mouth, meeting the blank wall of paper screens with the shadow of the man sitting behind it as if I could see through the paper.
"Do I really have to spell it out to you, old man? Of course I'm laughing at you all," I replied with chuckles and an elevating mood. What can I say, facing real danger just makes you that tad bit more daring that you don't fear these baseless threats anymore.
It makes a warrior out of you.
Yaga shifted slightly beside me. "Yami—"
"Don't Yami me, you old man, these old foggies here are spinning tales after tales and you're just listening quietly. You don't get to 'Yami' me," I cut in, my voice sharper now.
"Seriously though, this is ridiculous. What kind of elder council is this? Better rename yourselves as legitimate Jujutsu Yakuza at this point. At least then the name will match the actions."
That got their attention.
"You… Do you have any idea who you're speaking to, you insolent boy!" another elder chided, voice rising.
I exhaled, shaking my head slightly. "At first I thought I was in a room full of powerful elders," I said, "at least that was the first impression, yes, but that quickly turned into a group of thugs ganging up on one guy and trying to pressure him into handing over something he clearly doesn't want to give."
I let out a short breath.
"And you expect me not to laugh?"
"WHAT A JOKE!"
Silence. All of them went silent.
"You dare—" one of the elders growled.
"Oh, I dare," I interrupted, my tone flat now.
"Insolence. Yaga, what is the meaning of this?" another shouted, voice even higher.
Yaga stepped forward slightly. "That's enough—"
But I wasn't stopping. I came this far, what's the point in saving them any face? Rip it off, that's what they are worth. And I was quite enjoying it, to be honest.
I ignored Yaga completely and continued, my irritation finally boiling over from their haughty attitude and demands like we owed them money.
"And who gives a flying fck about what you guys want? Fck your rules. I'm getting Satoru Gojo out of that damn prism myself if that's the last thing I do.
Stop me if you can. You bunch of parasites taking credit for sorcerers who flow their blood on the front lines against curses."
That struck something. I even saw some of them trembling behind those papers.
Voices rose immediately.
"You insolent—"
"Know your place—"
"You stand before—"
"I stand before a bunch of old foggies hiding behind paper walls, too afraid to show their real faces. If you bunch of can worms have courage, come out and let me record you while you repeat what you tell about Gojo.
But I know you won't, because your old asses will twerk the moment someone really strong tries to defy you, don't you!" I snapped back, my voice cutting through theirs.
That seemed to do it.
The atmosphere shifted sharply, hostility flooding the room as the attention that had been on Yaga finally turned fully toward me.
"…This is the boy," one of them said slowly. "The one from Shibuya."
"So, my reputation has already started to precede me. Good to know," I grinned, just to infuriate them more.
They turned to Yaga, ignoring me before I gave them a stroke.
"Then speak," another demanded. "Explain your actions in Shibuya."
"And do not lie," a third added coldly. "Or you will be declared a curse user."
I scoffed.
I could be doing anything besides explaining what happened in Shibuya, but Yaga shushed me up, rather forcefully, if I may add, and started talking, almost everything which I experienced, at least the part which I told him.
Murmurs and disbelief followed. Anyone would question how a newly awakened sorcerer matched up against special grades and even survived the king of curses.
"That is impossible," one elder stated. "No newly awakened sorcerer can combat special grade curses."
"I did, it's your problem if you can't even comprehend it," I scoffed. I knew there was a lot of luck behind me not dying there, but a little bit of boasting is fine, right!
"Then prove it," another snapped. "State your technique."
"Suck my c*ck and I'll consider it," I said without hesitation.
Silence. Like they didn't even register what happened.
"What?"
"Oh… did those things not exist in your time, old man? I don't pity you."
"SILENCE!" The old man seemed like he would cough up his balls right then.
"Listen, boy, you'll tell us what your technique is or—"
Even before he completed that threat, I shouted back, "I'm not telling you," I repeated, my tone colder now. "That's not something you get to demand."
The reaction was immediate.
Voices rose again, louder, sharper, filled with anger and authority as they attempted to crush that refusal under sheer pressure.
"You will comply—"
"You do not have the right—"
"We can have you detained—"
And that—
That was it.
"Enough!" I snapped, my voice finally rising as the frustration I had been holding back since Shibuya broke through, adding cursed energy behind that shout to make it more dominating.
The room went still again.
"You sit here," I continued, my chest rising and falling slightly, "talking like you run everything, like you decide everything, but when it actually mattered—when people were dying—you weren't there."
My gaze hardened.
"Yaga was," I said, gesturing beside me. "The others were. The ones out there bleeding, fighting, surviving. They were…"
I stepped forward slightly.
"They're the backbone of jujutsu, the ones who risk their lives day in and day out to keep everyone safe from curses and curse users," I continued, my voice steady but burning now. "Not you. You guys are just parasites."
"F*cking replaceable worms," I shouted, and believe me, I felt like a weight was lifted off my chest.
What you know, cursing someone to their face feels f*cking amazing. I'm doing this more often from now on. Rage bait freaking rocks.
"You dare insult us—"
"Oh, didn't like my words, did ya? Make a package of it and shove it right up your…."
"Cough*cough." Yaga felt like his heart was about to come out alongside those coughs.
He remembered telling this boy to let him do the speaking. And he goes directly into insulting the council members.
But if only someone might have noticed that smirk threatening to break onto his mouth, they would have known just how satisfied he was right now.
'Satoru would have liked him…'
As for the old foggies, it seems my last comment was the breaking point for them.
"Detain him," one of them ordered coldly.
I moved instantly. My hands came together.
Fingers aligning.
A familiar shape forming.
"Try it," I said, my voice dropping into something far quieter, far more dangerous, as cursed energy rotated around me like a storm.
"And let's see firsthand how I survived Shibuya."
The air shifted and tension spiked immediately.
Everyone paused, they knew what that hand sign meant.
"You're bluffing; there is no way you can open a domain."
"Haha… ask those special grades who I killed. They would tend to argue." A big smile appeared on my face.
I myself wasn't sure why, maybe just happy to get another chance to open my domain.
"You wouldn't," one of the old foggies stated, though uncertain.
"Hahah… well, ain't we about to find that out?"
I grinned, a real big honest-to-fault grin.
"DOMAIN EXPANSION…"
xXx
A/N : Ah, I had fun writing this one, MC might come out like a young master here but I just wished to explained how much irritation is bottled up inside him and he is ready to release them onto anyone misfortunate enough to bare his brunt.
Of course, he is a bit childish as well, teenager remember.
Would appreciate stones if you can spare any. Thank you.
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