"Told you so." I remarked to Kaede as we—I looked down from my vantage point at Amanai, her maid guard, and the two young Sorcerers.
'Does the kid even blink?'
From the moment I arrived to confirm the two high school Sorcerers were sticking around the girl, the Gojo kid had located me and started staring. While his black haired friend seemed confused about why his companion was staring at a building, I could feel that weird gaze on me.
"Doesn't he remind you of him?"
My frown deepened at Kaede's words.
'Sukuna...'
I wasn't sure if her words were good or not. While the Gojo kid didn't give off the same feeling Sukuna did, it still wasn't a pleasant thought if the white haired brat had even a fraction of Sukuna's personality.
'I shouldn't have turned away from the kid.'
Among the many regrets I'd developed since being unsealed, finding out Sukuna was now regarded as the King of Curses was one of the biggest.
"He was scared, Ryou."
I grunted at her words and turned from the building to officially head home.
'Doesn't matter anymore.'
-
"Please come again!"
Exiting the store with my bag of food, I walked along the footpath, taking in the normal sight of people busying themselves with their lives.
'Wonder if I could've turned out like them if I hadn't killed anyone?'
I snorted bitterly.
Could've, Would've, Should've.
Turning the corner, I saw my apartment building in sight—tall, plain and forgettable.
"Could use some color."
I grunted before sidestepping a young kid on a skateboard who whizzed by and slightly clipped my leg.
"S-Sorry!"
I withheld a sigh at the boy's yell and kept walking until I arrived at the building.
"You should rest tonight."
I hummed at Kaede's words.
"That was the plan."
I ignored the few people nearby who looked at me weirdly for talking to myself. As I entered the building and walked past the broken elevator—thanks to some nerds who busted it—I started the trek up the stairs.
"Sukuna..."
I frowned at the illusion using Kaede's voice.
"There's a chance the Gojo child could end up like Sukuna..."
I grunted as I used the railing to aid my balance.
"There's always a chance of something happening."
"The Sorcerers knew where Amanai-chan would be."
I rolled my eyes and was about to retort.
"It's strange, Ryou... Why would a child so important be so unprotected?"
I felt my mouth tug into a deeper frown.
"Wouldn't it be because she wants to live a normal life before merging with Tengen?"
Even though I said that, it didn't feel right. Even if there were Sorcerers who allowed the girl to enjoy a taste of normalcy, they wouldn't let her go unguarded the moment any sort of danger came knocking
'Not more than she's probably seen anyway.'
I sighed as I reached the final step.
Sukuna.
The Gojo kid.
The girl.
The way Cursed Energy seemed to weigh heavier on my shoulders today.
I gave a deep exhale as I pushed open the door.
'Doesn't matter anymore.' I reminded myself again as I took off my shoes.
But even as I walked further into my place, a feeling of discomfort lingered. My mind wandered to a face I'd never forget, no matter how many years went by.
'Hana-kozō... Why did you betray me?'
~??? POV~
"Are you sure these reports are true?!"
Shaking under the weight of the gazes bearing down on me, I nodded.
"Yes, Elders! I personally saw the man in question tear through a group of Second Grade Sorcerers easily!"
My legs gave out under me as their stares intensified.
"Are you absolutely certain this man had... this type of Cursed Energy?"
A different, more coarse voice echoed across the room.
I bowed quickly.
"Yes, sir! It..."
I shivered at the memory—our team slaughtered while I hid beneath a growing pile of corpses.
"I can clearly remember how h-his Cursed Energy felt... like it was corrupting the very atmosphere. When he used his techniques, it surged from him like a storm..."
I raised my head slightly, voice betraying the terror still clinging to my bones.
"I could pinpoint him from a crowd even if he were trying to mask it."
They went silent.
For a moment, I thought I'd said the wrong thing—that I'd pay for it with my life.
But then I focused, straining to hear the hushed voices whispering beyond the silence.
"...Records..."
"What... he..."
"...must..."
"...Tengen-sama..."
'Who is that old man to make the Elders so worried?!'
"Boy."
I flinched at the sudden voice.
"Yes, Elders!" I bowed deeper.
"You may leave now. Send him out."
I let out a deep sigh of relief.
~̷̙̓?̴̦́?̶̗̀̊?̸̤͎̏̚ ̴͎͑̕P̴͍̹̾́͌O̷̪̐͆̈́V̸̪͖̊͝~̶̡̀
'Soon.. So very soon my friend.'