Life After Death: The Strength Of Suffering

~Sukuna POV~

"Sukuna, is this true?"

I scoffed at the words, looking at how much softer the man before me had become. 'He was right, how truly dis-'

"I asked you a question, boy. Is it true?"

Crossing my arms, I replied. "It is. They were a useless b-"

My words were cut off as a hand grabbed my face. I peered past it, locking eyes with the man who made me suppress a shiver. 'It's not all gone, it's only-'

Before I could finish my thoughts, he tightened his grip around my face and lifted me off the ground, speaking in a calm stern tone.

"I am Sasaki Souta, Eastern Bandit Leader, and this is my territory in which you have started a fight-"

My eyes widened as I realized what was happening. I raised my four arms but before I could call forth my Cursed Energy, I felt his own energy flood my system, blocking mine entirely.

"You have massacred a clan that is both an ally of mine and the Umemura Clan. You have murdered innocents without justification and I hereby declare that I will have the government carry out their duties on a Sorcerer."

I tried kicking him, but he didn't even budge. Instead, he turned to the old Sorcerer who had been watching.

"As you are one of its last Elders, when do you wish for his punishment to be handed out?"

I glared at the old Sorcerer, who glared back before turning to Sasaki and responding. "I want it to be done as soon as possible."

Sasaki nodded, and the last thing I remember was the purple eyes of the one I would surpass.

~Scene Change / Sasaki POV~

"Do you really have to go? Can't it be done close by?"

I looked down at Kaede who had just finished tying my obi and was now gazing up at me with worry. Sighing, I bent down slightly resting our foreheads together and closing my eyes as I responded. "If it were any other brat, I'd hand him over to a random government official and wash my hands of it. But it's not just any brat... this one is far stronger than you think."

I felt her hands travel up my neck, past my chin and behind my ears as she spoke quietly. "You'll be so far away from me."

I hummed in response before raising my head and opening my eyes. Her hands fell to my bare chest and I grabbed her kimono, pulling her closer. "Depending on how quickly the Imperial Faction and the Sorcerer Elders sort out Sukuna's punishment, the sooner I'll return home. When I do, we can do whatever you want for a day." 

She gave a small nod and I let go of her, walking to the door while throwing a purple kimono over my shoulders. Just before I headed out, I heard her voice.

"Dear—"

I turned my head slightly toward her.

"Return home safe."

I smirked and resumed my pace. "Kaede, I'm strong as fuck—"

I dodged a flying book that zoomed past me.

"No swearing!"

I laughed as I closed the door behind me. Outside I saw the horses, with Takahiro on one and a knocked out tied up Sukuna on the other. We didn't speak until I mounted my horse and we began our trek to where Kyoto would one day be. 'Pretty sure Kyoto will be there anyway. Huh… I'll be long dead before I see a phone again.'

Shrugging at the thought, I heard Takahiro speak with a slumped head.

"A small part of me thought you'd take your student's side—" He gestured to Sukuna behind me. "Yet those worries vanished, along with a sense of gratitude for seeing this through. Thank you."

I looked ahead on the path and responded. "No need to thank me. You and your clan have done much for me and this is just a small way to repay a fraction of it."

I paused for a moment before sighing and continuing. "Though, I should've seen there was something wrong with Sukuna. I might've been able to prevent your clan's demise."

Takahiro hummed before shaking his head. "Perhaps, but one can never truly know another's nature when their own is so similar."

I raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean by that?"

He explained, "When I first met you Sasaki-san, I thought you were an evil person. And while that perception has shifted to one of a lesser evil, you've also found something to care for and love. That makes you something your student doesn't have."

I blinked before looking up at the blue sky. "Do you blame me?"

I received no immediate response. Looking over at the old Sorcerer, I saw him tighten his grip on the reins of his horse. He sighed and then spoke.

"A part of me blames you, but I am wiser and older than that part. So no, I do not choose to blame you. You could not have known he would do something like that."

I hummed and nodded before looking ahead once more. We sat in silence for the rest of the journey.

~Scene Change~

Heian-kyō.

It was a place that, if I remembered correctly would one day become Kyoto.

It was also a place I was banned from entering due to my strained relationship with those in the Imperial Faction.

Sighing, Takahiro and I jumped off our horses. I slung the still unconscious Sukuna over my shoulder and began walking along the outskirts of Heian-kyō. Our destination was a compound run by the higher ups in the Sorcerer world and people who absolutely hated my guts and had tried everything in their power to have me killed, but somehow, it never worked. 'Poor me, never met them face to face yet they hate me...'

Snorting at the thought and shaking my head, I noticed Takahiro glance over at me as we arrived at the compound. Dozens of Sorcerers stood guard watching me like hawks. I responded with a roll of my eyes. One of them, an older male stepped forward and greeted us curtly, then held his arms out to me.

"Sasaki-san, please hand the Cursed Child over to us. We will make—"

I grabbed one of his arms and smiled, responding. "I've been asked to oversee this brat's punishment and will be keeping an eye on him until it's dealt with. Do you have a problem with that?"

He opened his mouth to respond, but I snapped his wrist. Instead of screaming, he let out a pained whine. The other Sorcerers reacted and I felt the surge of Cursed Energy, as well as Sukuna beginning to wake up due to the commotion.

Rolling my eyes, I raised my hand and pinched the back of the Sorcerer's neck, putting him into a deeper sleep just as I heard a shout from beyond the gates.

"Enough!"

Raising an eyebrow, I watched as the gates opened revealing a group of Taoists walking toward us.

"You must be Sasaki Souta, Sakurazawa Takahiro and the other one to be Sukuna… Correct?"

I nodded casually, and one of them approached the downed Sorcerer healing his wrist before turning to address us.

"We have it all ready. Follow us."

I looked over at Takahiro, who was eyeing Sukuna on my shoulder. He then looked at me and nodded, to which I responded with a nod of my own.

'Time to start, I guess.'

~Scene Change~

Normally, when one murdered hundreds of innocent people, execution was the expected punishment. However, due to my relationship with Sukuna and Takahiro seeing it as an easy escape, it was decided that Sukuna would instead be marked as a sinner and sentenced to thirty years in The Sealed Exile Hall, a place that housed Sorcerers who were to serve their time in isolated cells, with their Cursed Energy sealed off by talismans for whatever time was deemed necessary.

Currently, I was holding an unconscious and freshly marked Sukuna through the quiet halls of this prison. We soon arrived at a free cell that I was told he would be staying in. I stared at the small cell for a moment before throwing his body inside and slamming the door shut, causing seals to activate just as Sukuna's eyes snapped open, locking onto me.

"You..." he growled as he stood, trying to hide a wince from the black markings on his torso, arms, and head, still in the process of healing from the Taoists techniques. Sighing, I spoke as he adjusted to the pain.

"You will be served meals once a day."

I turned and started walking away, having nothing else to say to him. But he roared in anger.

"You are a liar!"

I stopped and turned my head, listening to his words.

"You said connections should be severed, but here you are, creating and preserving connections! You have grown weak—"

I snorted, cutting him off and turned slightly more to meet his eyes.

"Sukuna, you will forever be weaker than me."

With those words, I turned and continued walking, ignoring the sounds of him yelling strings of curses.