The outcome of the fight between Yuji and Okkotsu was just as predictable. Okkotsu was an out-and-out monster with his immeasurable amounts of curse energy, Copy technique and Rika by his side.
Yuji was no match, no matter how much he struggled, ultimately he fell at the hands of Okkotsu.
Choso, still locked in battle with Naoya, saw this in horror, he did want to help his brother but that didn't come to be the case since Naoya was there, he was already injured, and Okkotsu was too strong. A few moments later, Choso also collapsed, defeated.
Naoya smirked. "Well, that was quick. You really are something, Okkotsu Yuta, A special grade indeed."
Okkotsu nodded, his expression unreadable. "I'll take them with me."
Naoya waved a hand dismissively. "Fine. Like I said, just don't report Itadori's death just yet. Give me some time before you do that."
With that, Okkotsu left after nodding at him, carrying both Yuji and Choso. But what Naoya didn't know was that this had been Okkotsu's plan from the start.
In a quiet place away from there, Yuji gasped as he suddenly jolted awake. His heart, which had stopped, was beating again. His breathing was shaky as he looked up at Okkotsu, confused.
"I... I'm not dead ?" Yuji whispered.
"Hahah, yes you are not, sorry for that but I had no other option," Okkotsu smiled seeing Yuji all fine. "The higher-ups forced me into a Binding Vow. They wouldn't trust me otherwise. If I didn't actually stop your heart, they would've known I was lying."
Yuji didn't get it, strong though he was, he wasn't the sharpest knife out there, took him some time to understand what Okkotsu was trying to say.
Okkotsu smiled slightly. "Gojo-sensei once saved me, just like he saved you. He once came to me to ask for help if there came a situation when he wasn't there anymore. I thought he was joking like usual but didn't expect a situation like this to really come."
Choso stirred beside them, groaning. "Damn… You really had me fooled," he muttered, rubbing his head.
Before they could talk further, footsteps approached. It was Megumi.
He looked down at Yuji and sighed. "You're coming back to Jujutsu Tech."
"Hello, Okkotsu Senpai, long time no see..." Megumi said at first to Yuji and then shifted his attention to Okkotsu.
Yuji shook his head. "No. I can't. Not after everything that happened. I almost—"
"Enough." Megumi's voice was firm. "You're a Jujutsu Sorcerer. You don't get to run away from this. Besides the fact that you are moulding over nothing, as none died all thanks to Yuta, you need to understand this Itadori... we are not heroes, we can't save everyone, and people died that's how it is supposed to be. All we can do is try our best to save as many as we can, we are Jujutsu Sorcerers, not some wanna-be heroes put this in your mind..." Megumi said with a stern tone.
He knew what Yuji was experiencing but right now wasn't the time to worry about that, they needed any help they could find right now.
Yuji contemplated the matter to himself, honestly, he didn't want to get closer to that many people especially his friends when he wasn't sure when he could lose control to Sukuna...
"Also… I need your help." However, that's when Megumi broke his chain of thoughts.
Yuji hesitated. "My help?"
Megumi's expression darkened. "Tsumiki is in danger. Kenjaku's culling games are soon gonna start and she will be dragged inside it, we need to do something before she..." Megumi stopped mid-way...
There was silence. Then, Yuji exhaled, looking down at his hands. Slowly, he stood up.
"Alright," he said. "Let's go."
"Yuji." Choso on the side reacted.
"Yeah, who's this ?"
"hmm, for no,w he's my brother..."
---
[Tokyo Jujutsu Tech]
"Meeting Tengen, Learning About the Culling Games and find a way to bring out Gojo sensei..."
After returning to Jujutsu Tech, Yuji, Megumi, Okkotsu, and Choso met up with Maki and Shoko.
Maki leaned against the wall, arms crossed. "Before anything, did anyone find where is Yuta..." Maki asked with a slight hesitation and irritation. Hesistation becuase it was not clear whether he was alive or not and irritation because if he was then Maki would make sure he wouldn't be for playing hide and seek at times like this.
But then she notices Okkotsu looking at her and she wave her hand with a grumble. "Not you, I am talking about Hiro... where is Hiro ?"
"Hmm, No idea. We got no clue even many of the lower agents try to find him. Since he had no curse energy signature its almost like looking for an invisible person for jujutsu sorcerers..."
"Sigh, if he really is alive then he better have a good excuse when he's back. He had yet to explain his disappearance before Shibuya..." Maki grumble.
"And what if he ..." Shoko interjected seeing Maki not even considering that he could be dead.
Maki at this shut up, her face distorted with a strange expression.
"Nah, he'll come back. You were there in Shibuya that's why you are saying this. You should have seen him. He was straight out of a Shonen Jump Manga." Megumi seeing Maki's face immediately said.
"Yes, of course... and besides of Satoru idiot, he might be the strongest. He won't go down that easily." Shoko said, with a smile. She too has seen Yuta's reverse healing, it was almost as strong as her or maybe stronger. It gonna be hard to kill the like of Hiro, she knew it.
"Yeah..." Maki to nodded.
"We need to find Tengen," Megumi finally said bringing back the topic to real matters. "Kenjaku's been planning something for a long time, and we need answers."
Shoko sighed, rubbing her temples. "That old geezer doesn't like meeting people. Good luck with that."
"That's the problem," Okkotsu admitted. "We don't know where she is. She's probably hidden herself. There are hundreds of doors in the Tomb of the Star Corridor, only one will lead to her and others.... it gonna be really hard to find her."
Choso, who had been quiet, suddenly spoke up. "About that, I might be able to help."
Everyone turned to him.
"My brothers… the other Cursed Womb Paintings. Their remains were placed close to Tengen's location. I can sense them. If we follow that, we might find her."
Megumi nodded slowly. "That's convenient... good then let's do that."
After gathering supplies, the group—Yuji, Megumi, Okkotsu, Maki, Choso, and Yuki Tsukumo—set out.
xxx
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