Bits and Pieces (Jujutsu Kaisen AU)

Chapter 1-4

Afterlife: Shika

"Train you?" I questioned, looking at the woman who had asked such an absurd thing.

It was five in the morning. Toji and I were on the roof training when Juri came to speak to us. Juri lightly bowed her head as she clasped her hands in front of her. She had clearly given this a lot of thought.

"There's someone I want to protect. Someone who I don't think will be safe when they get here." Juri frowned, not looking up to meet our confused and intense gazes.

I looked at Juri before glancing back at Toji. He was doing his simple stretching as he looked at me. His expression mimicked that of a subtle shrug. I looked at Juri, crossing my arms.

"It won't be easy. You have no technique, no cursed energy, and no skills. You'll be training harder than Toji and I combined." I stated firmly.

Juri stood up straight, clearly willing to take one's whatever responsibility she needed in order to be strong enough to protect another.

"I understand." She replied.

Non-sorcerers were so easy to get rid of. They were weak compared to sorcerers, compared to curses, compared to anything. I didn't like getting them involved when I was alive. I stuck by that rule in the afterlife. But those eyes. The look in Juri's eyes was determined, unwavering. It fueled the fire in my own heart to train to keep up with her or at least be above her to still keep training her.

"So, uh... you two will train me?" Juri asked.

Toji lightly smiled as he stood by my side. I glanced up at him before swinging my head back at Juri.

"Yeah. Why not." I spoke.

Juri brightly smiled. "Thank you. You won't regret it."

"Don't thank me." I stated. "Ever."

Juri looked at me confused, and Toji just chuckled. Juri ended up training with us from then on. She was up before we were. She was in bed after we were. Couldn't say I saw her get much sleep. She had no technique. therefore, she used a cursed tool, which Toji trained her on how to use. I taught her how to fight in hand-to-hand combat, and she worked on her stamina and speed entirely on her own. Over time, she developed some cursed energy. Enough that she could strengthen her attacks and block others. Seeing her improve caused even Yu to be jealous of her growing strength, and he ended up training with us nearly five years into Juri's training.

Her determination spread like wildfire, even making Toji want to train more, and he was already in the top ten. Juri encouraged me, too, but I still had other matters to attend to. Around September, going on ten years that Juri had arrived in the afterlife, I was in my room sitting in my office drinking tea as I read one of the life books. I never told Yu that I had checked out Suguru's book as well as Satoru's after getting my request from Otoha and Riho. I will return them soon. I already knew all that I should. They were rather easy to read. They drifted apart and took their own paths. I could imagine that'd meet again or something, but I had no idea when that was.

I closed Suguru's book and stretched with a yawn. I took another sip of my tea as it was at the perfect temperature. I got to my feet, grabbing both the books and heading down the stairs. It was around seven in the morning. Toji, Yu and Juri were on the roof training. Riko was asleep and..

"Morning, miss Shika." Kuroi said as I arrived at the second floor.

And kuroi was making breakfast like she always did. I looked at her as she was in the kitchen making food for everyone.

"Will you join us for breakfast?" Kuroi asked.

I shurgged. "Don't think so. Just cut me out as always."