The Priestesses' Voice | a Jujutsu Kaisen fanfiction

34 [FIN.]

Tokyo Metropolitan Curse Technical College, Tokyo, 2018

"So, you're saying it was definitely one of Sukuna's fingers?" Noriko nodded, sipping her tea as she sat across from Yaga, who furrowed his brows at her report. She'd messaged Ijichi immediately about the lingering energy and residuals at the graveyard and Ijichi had passed it on urgently to Yaga. Yuji sat next to her, looking particularly off in thought. "Then someone has it and it's not us."

"And none of the curses in the immediate area had it either." Noriko hummed. Something was afoot in the world of curses and sorcerers, and she had the sinking feeling that whatever it was - Yuji was at the centre. "After the recent... dent in your inventory, I thought you'd need to know."

"Yes, this is of importance," Yaga stroked his beard, as Yuji balanced curiously between the two. There was a feeling he got sometimes, he could feel it in their gazes, that those around him knew much more then they were letting on - and not just in terms of basic sorcerer knowledge. He expected it of the adults, but Noriko... he couldn't quite place. He knew that she bore a burden similar to his, but she'd never really given the details, nor had she ever expressed any fear or uncertainty about them. He knew she cared about him, but was that enough? Was he just satisfied with that? With her dedication and loyalty to him?

He felt selfish. She was taking on his burden for him, guiding him, caring for him, but why couldn't she let him do the same for her?

Her dark eyelashes fluttered and her sharp eyes met his, feeling his gaze. He could see a hidden intensity and he wished she would just tell him what was on her mind. Turning his attention back to Yaga, he swallowed the lump in his throat.

"Is this something I should know?" Yuji startled them both with the seriousness of his tone and a silence formed.

"Not for now," Yaga sighed, shaking his head in weariness, "something is happening, I'm sure you're both aware, but we're not certain yet. And I don't want to put anything on you students until I know for certain... or I'm forced to."

"But-" Yuji started, but was stopped when a carefully manicured hand reached out to rest on his forearm. Noriko eyed him with that same intensity.

"For now, just focus on improving your skills and knowledge, hopefully this will be resolved soon," he spoke gruffly, trying to not to show his students that he was lying through his teeth. "You're both dismissed for now."

The two got up, bowed to their teacher, and left his office in a bitter quietness.

The quietness continued as they made their way down the hall and out into the courtyard. The same harsh sun blinded them briefly and for once, Yuji wanted to be buried in the shadows where the cursed were - they seemed to be leading him to more answers then everything else.

"He's growing doubtful of you," a mouth appeared in the side of Yuji's face, leering with a tone which betrayed his every intention. Sukuna was trying to push them apart, and Noriko eyed the mouth with hidden distaste as he bared his intentions so clearly. A cold fury burned in her stomach.

"Don't talk about him as if he isn't here," Noriko sighed, reaching out to link arms with Yuji as they two strode across the courtyard in synchrony. The boys eyebrows were pulled into a worried frown as he brought his free hand up to cover the mouth.

"Maybe you should tell him the truth, or maybe you're scared? Of him, perhaps?" Yuji paused, causing Noriko to stop abruptly a pace ahead of him, arms still linked. He didn't let go of her arm as he studied her face carefully. Was she scared of him? Was that why she didn't share anything with him? He couldn't bare the thought that maybe she thought he was a monster.

Their eyes locked, and he felt like he'd forgotten to breathe until hers softened. Her entire face did, eyebrows flattening, mouth pulling up in a gentle smile, that warmth returning to her face, as she focused on him and solely him.

"You're not used to it, are you, Sukuna?" She turned her gaze past him, not addressing the body in front of her, but maybe the aura? Her smile grew into a grin. "You've spent lifetimes just taking the things you want, and crushing anything in your way, but now you can't. And, oh, does it show."

Noriko unlinked her arm with Yuji's, turning to face him square on as she gripped both his forearms.

A static buzzed up his arms and he felt a weight lift from the back of his head, as Shikishi's aura squeezed it's way between the two, wrapping around the curses'. Noriko's eyes twinkled as she felt the priestess energy flare.

"I don't care if Yuji doubts me, I will be in his corner unconditionally, because I know he is a good person and I will fight for him until I physically can't," she almost purred, feeling the two auras tangling around each other. Shikishi was no match for Sukuna, but in that moment, Sukuna was only partially formed and subdued by Yuji's energy, and in that state, with Shikishi's independence over her own energy, she could at least shake him. The energy receded: the static ran down Yuji's arms and returned to Noriko, and the heavy weight in the back of Yuji's kind returned. "Maybe we are overdue for a chat though, right, Yuji?"

"A chat?"

"Well, maybe I should start explaining some things," she smiled, "I want you to know, and if you do, it's up to you to decide whether you want me on your side or not."

"I think I'll want you on my side whatever you tell me."

"Then let's just count this as a gesture of how much I care for you then."

[is this... the end of book one? :0 it is, lol, I'm waiting for season two to finish before I release the second book ;) thanks everyone for sticking with me for so long, I'm looking forward to resuming this series.]