Ten Shadows in the Heian Era

"Kyaaaa~! Save meee~!" I dramatically exclaim as I run away from a small gaggle of giggling children while waving my arms in their air, even as I slow my pace enough that they can catch up to me.

It turns out that Curses don't have any respect for other people's schedules, so there being an event coming up hasn't changed the fact that I still need to do my job.

It is a little bit less fun now, though. Ever since we kind of beat Michizane, Sukuna and I are officially The Strongest, and with that, we are no longer getting sent on missions together.

We've just been spending more of our free time outside of missions together to make up for it. He might be unwilling to admit that we are friends, but he is not ashamed to admit that he enjoys our conversations, especially since we mostly talk about Cursed Energy.

It is, after all, our most shared interest.

"Got you!" One of the children yells before leaping onto my back, and I make sure that they don't get hurt as I fall to the floor.

"Noooo~!" I exclaim as the rest of the children pile on top of me until I really wouldn't be able to move as a normal human.

The laughter of the children as they triumphantly hold me down is like a balm on my soul, filling me with warmth on the inside and leaving me incapable of hiding my smile.

"Now you gotta do another trick!" One of the kids shouts, full of excitement that is mirrored by the rest, who all start shouting over one another into one indistinguishable noise as they each start begging or demanding that I show them another magic trick.

The adults of this village were about as wary of me as any other Non-Sorcerer that I've met on mission, but at the very least they seemed willing to consider the idea that I might not be scum of the earth.

My assumption is that an actually friendly Sorcerer passed by this village at some point, since they seem both aware that they should generally be weary of Sorcerers, but without being completely prejudice.

The children however, are naturally just innocent and full of curiosity. Their parents wore pinched expressions when the kids first came up to me, but I think they're a bit more relaxed now that they've seen that I'm not going to do anything fucked up.

I just like kids. It feels weird for me to think that, because as a man who lived in the modern era one thousand years from now, that statement is just super skeevy to hear.

Alas, it's not like there's another way I can express my feelings without sounding to my own ears like a criminal.

They're so innocent and cute, their pure joy is contagious.

"Okay okay~!" I call out to the pile-on. "You have bested me~! I have no choice but to show you my super secret, special and magical spell~!"

The kids all cheer, and it takes a moment for them to realise they need to get off of me before I can show them. One of the kids in particular refuses to let go of my back, so I simply reach up behind me and grab him, effortlessly pulling them off of my back and around to my front so that I can hold them on my hip like I vaguely remember parents doing in my last life.

Looking at the kid I'm holding, gaze full of innocent guile, I boop him on the nose with a smile and settle him down on his feet, after which he immediately latches onto my leg.

Aaaaahhh~, I mentally whine to myself, I'm starting to want kidsss~.

I feel as if my paternal instincts have awoken, but I'm only fifteen, which is way too young for me, even if it's not egregiously young these days. Besides, I'm still exploring, and I don't want to be a deadbeat dad.

Shaking my head clear of these thoughts, I grin down at the kids and start waving my hands around dramatically, strategically using Kon's inherited Illusion Technique to make various special effects as I do so, to which they 'ooh' and 'aah' appropriately.

From the corner of my eye, I see a number of men and especially women standing in the near distance and watching. I especially take note of one woman clutching nervously at her arm while staring more intensely than the rest. I'm pretty sure I can guess which one of the kids is hers just from the similar looks.

She notices me noticing her, but I just send her a wink and focus back on the kids.

"Prepare yourselves for the ultimate ability~!" I yell out to them while upping the light show a little bit, making them all gasp and or lean forward excitedly as I finish the build-up with a powerful declaration. "A spell to create a field of flowers!"

As I finish my words, I bring my hands down and slam them into the floor, the lightshow coming with and dispersing across the ground as I do so. At the same time, I activate the script I'd already written on the floor.

The next thing they know, a massive field of beautiful, multicoloured flowers spring into existence in full bloom all around us, petals flying around and filling the air, making for a truly majestic sight.

I designed this spell myself after taking inspiration from the way Michizane grew a tree. Sukuna and I were talking about it, and it made me laugh how different we are. Because thinking about a Technique to manipulate flora, my first thought was using it to grow flowers, while Sukuna's first thought was to turn the grass into knives.

Either way, this has quickly become one of my favourite spells. Both because it is a beautiful sight when used and also because, my eyes drift to the kids and their wide-eyed looks of wonder, the reaction it brings out in others is even more beautiful.

From there, most of the kids start running around through the flowers, playing with each other in a way that only kids can do.

I feel warm.

My head tilts back, and I close my eyes and bask in the warm rays of the sun for a moment, laughter filling my ears.

When my eyes open, I find them turning towards the sun, my Cursed Energy removing the need to squint at the glare, and I must have been really relaxed at that moment, because the next words that left my mouth did so without any conscious thought on my part.

"I wonder if a God can even have children with a human like me?"

The moment my words register in my own mind, I find myself feeling slightly embarrassed and look away, even if there's no way that the actual Chief God of the entire Realm, Amaterasu, actually heard me... Right?

Desperate for something else to think about, I return my attention to my immediate surroundings. It's not like I'm all that shy or someone easily flustered, it's just that I spoke without thinking that's really leaving me embarrassed.

Either way, my attention is soon brought back down to Earth when I see that the clingy boy is sitting by himself, only a few steps away from me, and watching the other children play as if he had been excluded.

I think I get the feeling though. I doubt he has actually been excluded, he's probably just the type to overthink things and assume no one wants him around just because they haven't explicitly said that they did, when in truth, the others likely just expected him to follow.

Or I could be completely wrong, I'm not psychic.

Moving over, the kid notices me as I sit down in front of him and sends me a nervous smile that I return with a what I hope is a warm and comforting one.

His shoulders relax a little, so I assume I found some success there.

"Do you want to play with the others?" I ask him while idly picking at the flowers in front of me.

He startles a little bit and then turns his big baby eyes to the other kids, and I can practically feel the longing in his gaze.

Then he turns back and just completely lies to my face.

"N-no," he says, lying in that way that children lie when they think that it is the answer they are supposed to give.

"I see," I hum, not calling him out on it directly. He's already nervous, I don't want to make him any more uncomfortable. "Well, I can understand wanting rest your legs for a moment."

I'm not exactly an expert at dealing with kids. But unlike anybody in this time, I have the benefit of having attended public schooling in my last life. Which means that I have had meaningful interactions with hundreds of kids, most of whom had some complaint or other about their parents.

Which means I have a long list of things not to do at the very least. In this situation, I judge that bringing any kind of light to his shyness would be a bad move, so I decide to spin my words differently.

"You know, believe it or not, but I used to be really really scared of people," I lie, poorly, but he's a kid so he can't tell. Either way, I can tell that I have his attention, and I keep picking at the flowers as I continue, "I used to think that everyone hated me, because they never told me that they didn't and they always left me alone. But then a friend helped me realise that I was actually being left alone because they thought that I wanted to be alone, even though I didn't. It is funny, but people cannot know what you are feeling unless you tell them. So I did, I told them I wanted to play and have fun, and then we did. It was so silly, and I was pretty embarrassed to admit it, but that embarrassment was worth it, to me, because I got to play with my friends again."

I sense a couple of presences approaching us and rise from my seat into a crouch, looking the kid in his eyes as I hold up the crown of flowers I had been making and place it on his head.

"I have to go now. Thank you for keeping me company, but you can go play with them now. I'm sure that they are missing your company." I pat the kid on the head as I rise properly, turning to face the approaching pair.

One of them I was expecting, the chief of the village, a middle-aged man with a solid build and short black hair that is starting to grey. However, I wasn't expecting the woman next to him, though I do easily recognise her as the one who was anxiously watching me before.

She has long black hair set loose, slightly pudgy cheeks, a clear sign of the prosperity of the village, and is wearing the same simple, poor quality clothes that all villagers seem to wear, the same kind of material quality as my scarf.

I walk to meet them halfway, and the chief quickly greets me with a bow, though the woman seems to be lost in her thoughts and seemingly doesn't notice.

"Buddha-sama," he starts, making me sigh internally. "It is beginning."

I nod at his words, which is about when he notices the lady not paying attention, and I see panic briefly flash on his face when he glances back at me, but my smile seems to reassure him that I'm not going to suddenly take offence.

Being a normal commoner born before the modern era in my memory must have been so anxiety inducing. You just need to say the wrong thing, or do the wrong thing to someone of higher standing and your entire life and livelihood could come to an end.

It's sad. I do wish the weak did not have to live in fear like that, but I can't realistically think of a way to 'fix' the issue. It is simply a part of human nature. I even have an extra one thousand years of history to point to as proof.

"Ayano-san," the chief speaks again before I can even respond, nudging the woman by his side. "You are being disrespectful to Budd-"

He is cut off when Ayano's head abruptly snaps to my own as she speaks over the chief. "Kentako is playing," she all but whispers, making me turn back to see that the kid I was talking to, Kentako, I assume, is indeed playing with the other kids, running and laughing and having a whale of a time. "Thank you for talking to him. He hasn't smiled so much in..." She trails off.

The woman goes to bow, but I quickly place a hand on her shoulder to stop her. I can more or less understand the situation. A mother's love is a powerful thing, she is probably just emotional because she has been forced to see her son suffer loneliness for however long without knowing how to help.

Still, "You needn't thank me, Ayano-san. Happiness is infectious you know? I merely selfishly wanted to make them smile so that they could infect me, so if you really want to thank me, then just smile. That is enough."

And she does, smile that is. It is a little tumultuous and full of emotion, like she is holding herself back from crying. I don't presume to know exactly what her situation is, and I don't pry. I feel like whatever was troubling her has passed now, that's all I really need to know here.

"You are too kind, Buddha-sama," the Chief says, making me sigh internally once again. "If you are willing to continue to extend your kindness, we should move to Mina-san's side post-haste."

I don't correct him though. When lacking in information, people tend to assume whatever they want to think. If he wants to think that I am a Monk and not a Sorcerer, then that's his prerogative.

I don't really care either way, honestly. Whatever makes them more comfortable.

"Right you are, Chief-dono," I agree with a nod and turn to walk back to the village, knowing that the Chief would prefer to walk a step behind me.

I obviously would prefer he treat me like an equal, but I'm not going to force my opinions on him when he is clearly uncomfortable around me. Demanding him treat me as a peer would just do more harm than good.

The crowd of adults watches as the Chief and I get closer, Ayano having chosen to stay behind to watch the kids.

One of the women falls into step with us as we walk. She looks almost identical to Ayano, as they are sisters, except that she is very clearly better put together.

"Ayane-san," I greet with a nod and a smile that is reciprocated. "How is she?"

"Mina-san is doing well, but she is about to enter labour, so I imagine that her calm will soon come to an end."

I give a polite laugh at her words, understanding the truth behind them.

My mission today was just to get rid of a Grade One Cursed Spirit that kept spawning a great number of Grade Two Curses, but I finished that pretty much immediately.

I copied what I saw Michizane do with the lightning using Nue, making a single bolt shatter into hundreds of tiny bolts that each would hone in on any source of Cursed Energy, kind of like how a lightning rod functions.

That did mean that the bolts honed in on me as well, since I possess Cursed Energy, but whatever, it worked out in the end.

So that was quick and easy, but then when I was leaving I encountered a man in the forest who was apparently searching for a specific type of medicinal herb, so I helped him find and collect some and then offered healing for whoever needed it, since he wouldn't have been out so deep into the wild unless it was urgent.

I still made sure we picked herbs first because I won't be here forever, so it would be best if they have them for when I'm gone.

Then the man took me to his home, where he lives with his family, deep and isolated in the forest. They were a homely bunch, and the father, as well as the son whom was sick, are both blacksmiths, so they offered me a sword as thanks.

It isn't a very high quality sword, and it would probably break if I swung it without using Cursed Energy to enhance it, but it is still a gift given out of gratitude, so I will treasure it regardless.

Then I found out that the son got ill because he was staying up all night forging a futokorogatana for his sister, a small dagger designed to be held within the folds of a kimono and generally held by the ladies of Samurai families so that they can kill themselves if they get captured in order to avoid being shamed.

I don't really like that, but again, I am not going to try and force my opinions on an entire culture.

Apparently, a Samurai took a liking to his sister and got her pregnant. They're set to get married once he gets back from some assignment or other. The only reason she's still in the village is because she is heavily pregnant, so they decided it would be better to have the child first before moving in with the Samurai's family, lest she risk having to give birth on the road.

With that information, I decided to visit the village, because I know that the mortality rate for new-borns in this day and age is pretty high, so I figured that with Reverse Cursed Energy I could prevent such a fate.

Which brought me here to this village, where, after a brief chat with the Chief, I ended up playing with the kids, as she would be going into labour soon.

That time is now.

"You're quite good with children," Ayane notes as we approach the building, a tone of compliment to the words. "Do you have many younger siblings?"

"No, I am an only child. Though, I did have an older brother, once. I just like how easily children smile." In my previous life to be exact. I haven't really thought about him in a while. I generally just don't think of my previous life much at all, only really when I experience culture shock at things I find odd in this time.

"I am sorry for your loss," Ayane says, noting my use of the past tense.

"It is fine," I wave her off. "It was a long time ago, I have moved on."

"That is good then. Grief weighs us down."

"Indeed it does."

The rest of the walk is in silence until we reach Mina's family home and Ayane, who I can only assume is the closest thing this village has to a midwife, leads me in, while the Chief stays outside.

Typically, a man is not supposed to see a woman during birth, culturally. Though, I'm pretty sure that, at least with the nobles, women often give birth with a crowd behind a thin curtain. Nobles are weird like that.

Well, I suppose it's not entirely out of weirdness in this world.

After all, the Spirit World and the Material World come closest together during times of life and death, as well as the full moon and probably eclipses too.

So nobles tend to have a bunch of Monks and Onmyōji present during pregnancies in order to ward off the malevolent Spirits and Miko, Shrine Maidens to become vessels for Spirits in order to properly commune and disperse them. Which is why it's even acceptable that I be present.

Though, these people aren't nobles, so they're less anal about following rules and traditions in the first place. Out in the boonies, what matters first and foremost will always be survival, not tradition.

Which is why no one complains as Ayane leads me into the room where Mina is. The woman in question is squatting upright, dressed in a loose robe and holding onto a shimenawa rope tied to the ceiling.

It's a little odd to me, since in my mind the image of giving birth involves laying on your back with the legs held up in stirrups, not this. Still, I don't stare, obviously. It would be very rude to do so.

Instead, I glance about the room, taking in the two other women present, making three with Ayane. They're the ones that will actually be tending to the birth, I am just here to ward of spirits and for the sake of after care.

It's not like I could heal the woman during the birth, that would be... Not a great idea. After all, the.. 'Wound' does need to remain open for a bit. Ah, I feel so awkward right now.

I give the women all a polite nod of the head before heading to the wall behind Mina and sitting down and closing my eyes. A part of me is honestly tempted to sit down facing the wall, but again, that would also be rude. Maybe.

Okay, I really don't know what I'm supposed to do in this situation or how I'm supposed to act. It's not like I've been trained for this, and I feel so damn awkward right now.

Especially as time passes and the labour actually starts properly, alongside the agonised screaming of Mina. I just want to dig a hole and hide in it.

I am a very curious person, but there are some things that even I am fine with not knowing. Though, maybe I'll be more willing to pay proper attention when it's my own child?

I doubt I'd feel as awkward then.

Thankfully, as the pregnancy progresses, my poor attempts at meditating through it is interrupted when I feel a number of Spirits brushing against my senses.

I don't move my body, but I do open my metaphorical third eye to look at the hungry ghosts, and quickly figure that I likely won't need to do anything. 

The Spirits aren't really intelligent, but they aren't stupid either. The birth is attracting their attention, but they won't get closer, or rather, they can't get closer, it's a matter of survival to them.

They aren't even really properly manifested Cursed Spirits, so their strength is around that of a Grade Four, and since they don't have any kind of physical bodies, I am capable of killing them without even using any techniques.

Just my Cursed Energy alone would be enough to disperse them, to crush and grind them down into nothing. So all that they can really do is hover around the building, staring hungrily at Mina but knowing that my presence will crush them if they get any closer.

Still, at least they are good for something, as I can spend my attention studying them instead of focusing on literally anything else right now.

I might have forgotten how long birth takes though. It's probably because I've seen some of my deer give birth, and that whole thing lasted like twenty minutes. Just popped the little guy out.

Human labour lasts more like ten hours. So it eventually reached the point that I got so bored that I figured out how to make tendrils out of pure Cursed Energy Manipulation that I then used to capture a few hungry ghosts.

From there, I probably spent a few hours just mapping out their bodies with my Cursed Energy, both the outside form and the internals. Quite a few of them died in my experiments, but the others aren't intelligent enough to take that as a warning to run away.

I ended up losing myself to the experiments, eventually even attempting to recreate the Spirits with my own Cursed Energy by just copying their makeup, to mixed results.

Instead of making Spirits, I just ended up making Shikigami, though it's not like the difference is particularly large. The only thing that really separates the two is that a Shikigami is a servant, under the control of another's will.

Which is nice and all, but I could already make Shikigami, even if every Shikigami I've tried to summon without my Technique has turned out horrendously weak, likely as a result of some kind of Vow imbedded into my Technique.

What I was trying to do here was to make an actual, untethered Spirit. One that is not bound to me in any way. Not for any particular reason, like thinking such a creation would be useful. I just want to see if I can create independent life.

Eventually however, I am finally broken out of my meditation by a great commotion. The pained screaming has disappeared, but in its place is a whole lot of panicked shouting from multiple voices, including Ayane, who is calling for my attention specifically.

My eyes snap open and I take in the situation as quickly as possible. Ayane is in front of me, getting my attention, while the other two women are in front of Mina.

There's plenty of blood on the floor, which I choose not to think about, and a baby is being held in one of the woman's hands, while the other is steadying Mina who is also reaching for the baby, though too tired to make much of an effort.

As for the baby, it is rather blue and its head is lolled to the side, unmoving, with what I think is a bit of a cut umbilical chord on its neck.

Ah, I think, already moving, That's not good.

Frankly speaking, it would simply be too depressing to witness a miscarriage, and I'm trying to stop crying so much, because Sukuna keeps making fun of me every time I do.

In other words, I refuse to allow today to be a day of mourning.

One quick step brings me across the entire room and next to the baby, which I quickly snatch from the woman holding it, ignoring any protests as I flip my Cursed Energy into Positive and all but drown the baby in it.

It, rather, his skin rapidly regains its pallor, and even though it's actually super difficult to do, I push some normal Cursed Energy inside of his body, specifically into his lungs, so that the violent energy can destroy any amniotic liquids or whatever that is in there.

It's challenging because using Negative Energy and Positive Energy at the same time, on the same body, is a massive fucking pain in the ass, but time is of the essence here.

In short order, the baby is in perfect physical health, yet I notice that it is still not breathing, nor is its heart beating.

With my Cursed Energy practically suffusing the boy, I can very clearly tell that it is already dead. His soul has already left his body.

But fuck that.

Since when has death been something that has stopped me?

"Generous Deer," I intone, not actually summoning it, since there is limited space in here and it's pretty big. Instead, I simply bring its own Positive Energy out through my body and into the world.

Generous Deer is so much better than me at matters of pure Positive Energy that the entire room is engulfed in it, healing and revitalising all four woman present, especially the mother.

But I focus my attention on the baby and watch as the void I felt in his soul starts to spark with life until it abruptly blooms back into place, like a tiny fire lit in his little baby heart.

I hadn't actually had the chance to confirm it before, but I did have the feeling. Ever since Inumaki killed me, when I was in that dark void between life and death, I have felt a change in Generous Deer.

I don't really know what happened or how, but what I did think, and now know to be true, is that unlike myself, Generous Deer can heal the Soul.

A wet cough is heard, followed by a high pitched cry, and a palpable wave of relief washes through the room. I don't waste any time turning to the new mother and holding out her baby boy, whom she accepts gratefully, crying with so many emotions overwhelming her.

"Thank you thank you thank you thank you," Mina repeats, curling up as she hugs her baby close.

I smile at the sight, feeling warm just from the pure, motherly love radiating off of Mina. It's quite a beautiful sight, yet, instead of properly enjoying it, all I can think of is how much more beautiful it would be if it were my own child being born into the world.

Man, I'm too young to be having these thoughts.

Glancing down at my hands, I grimace at the gross mix of fluids covering them.

"Well, I am going to go and clean myself," I softly inform the women present, not wanting to disturb Mina, who doesn't seem to have heard me anyway.

Two stay with Mina but Ayane follows me out, and I quickly step off of the road and out of the way before using Max Elephant to summon forth enough water to wash my hands clean, doing the same for Ayane a moment later.

It's only then that I look up and realise that night has fallen at some point.

"Thank you, Buddha-sama," Ayane says, gaining my attention to see her bow, "For everything you have done."

"It's fine, it's fine," I wave her off. "I should probably head off though, I am already late, I don't think I am going to get yelled at, but I am sure Takiyasha-san is going to glare at me at least, maybe even click her tongue."

My classmates and I spar fairly frequently, but I am also late fairly frequently, because I keep getting distracted, so they're pretty used to it by now. At least enough so that Takiyasha doesn't waste her breath scolding me anymore.

"Are you sure?" Ayane asks, looking rather torn. "It is already late, we would be more than happy to provide lodging for the night."

"Don't worry, I will be fine," I refute. I do appreciate the offer, but... Wait a minute, is there actually a reason to refuse? Not really. I've already sent a Butterfly to inform them of my success in regards to my mission.

"But if you insist," I continue, "How could I refuse?"

Ayane lights up at that, which in turn makes me smile.

"In that case, please come with me. My daughter should have a meal prepared for us, then you can sleep in our spare room."

"I will be in your care, then," I respond with a slight bow.

Nothing else overly exciting happens. I meet some of Ayane's family, we eat and then go to bed. In the morning I am treated to another meal, and then it is time for me to leave.

However, before I can even make it to the edge of the village, a ragged, frantic looking woman stops in front of me, and I don't fail to notice the look of pity on Ayane's face at her appearance.

"Buddha-sama, is it true that you can bring the dead back to life?" She asks, her tone as frantic as her appearance, and she continues talking before I can even begin to answer. "Please bring my Tochiro back to me!"

Ah.

"I am sorry," I say, my voice sombre. "That is not something that I have the ability to do."

The almost broken look on her face makes my chest feel tight, and when she falls to her knees, crying with eyes full of resignation and grief, I crouch down with her, and place a comforting hand on her shoulder.

With my other hand, I rotate my wrist and trace a perfect circle on the ground, before using my Cursed Energy Manipulation alone to write out a quick script, like I saw Michizane do, and a moment later, a small portion of the earth forms into a crater about the size of my hand.

The displaced earth rises up into a cylindrical shape that compresses and transforms into pure stone and then changes some more until it resembles the head of a smiling baby, made to look as happy as I could make it, with its body covered with a cloak except for a small parting at the front to show the statue's hands in prayer.

I pick up the little statue and hold it out to the woman, speaking softly to her as I do so. "We only truly die when we are forgotten. Do not let grief hold you down forever."

The woman accepts the statue with a barely whispered thank you, and I give her shoulder one more pat before standing and continuing my walk, a small smile on my face.

I think it's pretty beautiful that she still has such strong feelings of love for her child even after they have presumably passed a while ago now. There is beauty even in tragedy.

There are no more distractions, and we shortly arrive at the edge of the village. It is quite the affair, with a lot of the village gathered around to see me off, which is honestly rather heart-warming, but also a little bit excessive.

Which is why then the Chief steps forward, no doubt ready to make some great proclamation, if I had to guess from the looks of the others present, I stop him by speaking first.

"I will be going now, Chief-dono," I say before raising my hand in a two fingered wave, "Later."

The Chief is visibly stunned by my brief goodbye, which makes me snicker as I turn around and walk away, waving my hand over my shoulder at the hastily returned goodbyes.

I just don't like excessive partings. If the last memory I have of someone is a tearful goodbye, then I feel like it will make me forget the previous memories.

Besides, it would be embarrassing if we meet again after having such over the top goodbyes. Better to keep it simple.

///

Sukuna

///

Sitting on a rock overlooking a small valley, Sukuna rests his elbow on a knee and his chin in his hand as he watches the Sorcerers below fight the Curse.

He was sent in response to an emergency request for aide. Some Grade One Sorcerer and his two Grade Two students encountered a Special Grade Curse that they thought was only Grade One.

The only reason they even managed to inform anyone of the danger they are in is because the Grade One learnt how to use Narauko's Black Butterfly Technique.

Still, he doesn't really feel like saving them.

The Curse isn't even that strong for a Special Grade. It barely qualifies.

So boring.

Besides, he wants to see what Techniques are being used.

"I'm not saving them," he says, purely out of habit. But then he glances to the side and remembers that he is alone.

Scowling slightly, he turns his attention back to the fight, and a moment later, he witnesses as the Curse is cut in half by the Grade One getting a lucky strike in.

However, before the weaklings below can celebrate, the Grade One Sorcerer's head abruptly pops like a melon, and his eyes are drawn back to the two halves of the Curse in time to watch as they both regenerate into fully-formed, identical bodies.

The only difference is that now, they are both twice as powerful as they were in one body.

Interesting, Sukuna thinks with a growing smile, rising to his feet now that the Curse has garnered enough interest in him for him to want to act.

"What do you think its limits.. are..." His words trail off and he glances to his side again, once more finding nothing but empty air.

There is no one for him to talk to. Narauko got send on a mission the other day and still hasn't gotten back yet. Probably got distracted by something pointless.

He is alone.

///

A/N: He~llo! Dear readers!

Just felt like Narauko should do something wholesome. Only really wanted to do the scene with the flower crown, but whatever lol. If anyone can figure out what legend Narauko is accidentally becoming, then you will earn nothing, but you'll make me happy :P

Also, what do you think of the little Sukuna pov? I kinda want to limit pov's from his perspective, cuz I feel like it's better if we don't know exactly what he is thinking from his own perspective, but I feel like little snaps are good :3

Still 5 only ahead on patreon cuz I didn't write for like a week :P