BOUND; jujutsu kaisen

Chapter Two

CHAPTER TWO . . .
. . . THE JUJUTSU SOCIETY !

She'd ask, and he'd answer. With time, flowers withered as the wind blew stronger by the week. They, however, remain constant. Within their bubble of understanding, came silent communication. Miran openly admitted things out of the blue whenever Toji picked her up from school. It'd be a new story each day, alongside other strange facts.

"Spiders know our routine, that's why we can't see them."

"Our eyes can go blind at any time."

"The brain flashes memories when we die to find something that could save us."

As he stated, Miran was an odd kid. She always surprised him with something new, it could stretch from a morbid fact (much to his dismay) to a simple comment that would rewire his brain.

"You're better than the last one."

He'd respond to her quips in a grumble or huff, but still listening. She slowly began to unravel, telling him things that even Emi didn't know, forcing him to swear on "Sailor Moon!" (Her favorite character).

Her voice wavered when speaking, the pin-straight curtain dropping over her face, "I didn't fall, I was pushed..." Her hands would rub at her knees, covered in colorful bandages. Weeks turned into months and he noticed her bruised wrist, scrapped knees, and elbows, masking it all in a smile. She was always kind like her sister, polite and gentle just as Emi raised her to be.

Knowing that her well-being was being abused, he cracked often around the school (With Emi knowing). He'd give glares at the parents when it was picked up, snide comments at the staff, drifting toward back-handed threats. Over time kids grew too scared to mess with her, parents and staff as well, leaving her with small scars and healing bruises. He wasn't saved, his parents were a part of the acts meant to kill him.

She'll be saved, at least before she can understand why.

Toji remembered his curiosity about cruelty, pleading and groveling on the reasons why they despised him. In actuality it was so simple, he felt stupid to not see it:

Difference

Toji hoped he spared her of that realization, those questions that tore him apart— because at the very least, she'll ask him years later, when those memories become distant thoughts. And like always, he'll answer.

However, sometimes his pride won't let him admit when he has no answers. For months now, the questions on Miran's 'abilities' have become so foreign to him. There'd be a new revelation on her abilities, curses following her, near enamored and happy in her presence, yet dying immediately when in contact, bubbling up until there's nothing left. She told him they spoke to her, fizzing with excitement, happily dying by her.

Does he have any idea what this is— Nope.

Will he admit it— Nope.

Which led him to the front gate of his past, a place he swore to never enter again. Ultimately, the place that had all his answers, to figure out who the heck is the kid related to. Just after school, he took a shortcut down to the estate, making up an excuse for Emi when he went to pick Miran up.

She held onto his pant leg, following his wide stride.

They stepped up the long stairs into a heavy and dim domain, The Zen'in clan.

Hell itself, he'd call it.

The estate is still the same as he left it, a cold, dark abyss, waiting to capture anyone who treads inside. It reeked of violence and death, soulless, Toji hasn't stepped into this zone in almost two and a half years. He took in a sharp breath before entering the gate.