More Chapters and fanfics ?
My p@treon: [email protected]/Hemlet (remplace a to @)
+20 chapters already on p@treon!!!
---
She sighed softly, crossing her arms. The bone serpent, which until now had been lazily floating around, suddenly began to slither toward her. Yuki, while keeping an eye on Ryosuke, gently placed a hand on the spirit's head. "This is my shikigami—a familiar. I'm sorry if it scared you."
Ryosuke stepped back, his eyes still locked on the ghostly snake.
Yuki gave him a sympathetic look and smiled. "I really didn't expect one of my nephews to awaken to jujutsu energy. You're a real surprise, Ryosuke."
She placed her hand on Ryosuke's head and, with rare tenderness, ruffled his hair gently. "You must've been really brave to go through all that alone," she said with a warm smile. "It can't have been easy, dealing with this without knowing what was happening."
Ryosuke remained silent, his throat tight with a mix of emotions.
He took a deep breath and finally dared to ask, "So… I'm a sorcerer?"
Yuki slowly nodded, her expression gentle but serious. "It's more complicated than that, Ryosuke. But…"
She paused, watching him with a glimmer of concern in her eyes. "You must've felt and seen strange things these past few weeks, haven't you?"
Ryosuke tensed.
"Yes," he murmured. "I didn't know what it was… but it scared me."
Yuki placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "It's going to be okay. Your dear aunt is going to help you understand and master your powers. And together, we'll make sure those spirits never hurt you again."
Ryosuke looked up at her, searching her eyes for comfort.
A mischievous smile appeared on Yuki's lips. "Oh, come on, lose that gloomy look. You're a Tsukumo, after all, and we're known for being fighters." She ruffled his hair again, this time with affection and pride.
Ryosuke couldn't help but smile faintly.
"Well, enough serious talk for tonight. It's late. We'll talk more tomorrow. For now, let's get some rest, okay?"
Ryosuke nodded quietly.
"Good night, Auntie," he said softly as he walked to his room.
"Good night, Ryosuke," she replied with an enigmatic smile, watching her nephew disappear down the hallway.
As he gently closed the door behind him, Ryosuke lay down on his bed, staring up at the ceiling in the dark.
Then, a small smile formed on his lips.
He let out a quiet laugh. He sat up slightly and held his hands out in front of him.
Even though he had already been sure of it, his confrontation with his aunt was further confirmation.
Ryosuke clenched his fists.
"Alright," he whispered, closing his eyes as his thoughts drifted toward the mysteries ahead. "Tomorrow, I'll really become part of the story."
---
The next morning, Ryosuke and Yuki had arranged to meet deep in the forest, far from prying eyes.
The path they followed wound between the trees, with tall branches forming a natural canopy above their heads. Sunlight filtered through the dense foliage, casting dappled shadows on the moss-covered ground. The songs of birds accompanied their steps as the crisp morning air filled their lungs.
They walked in silence for a while, Ryosuke closely following his aunt. Eventually, Yuki stopped in the middle of a small clearing, perfectly hidden among the trees.
"Here," she said, glancing around. "We can talk freely. No one will disturb us."
Ryosuke nodded. He was about to speak, pretending to voice his doubts and questions, but Yuki abruptly held up a hand to stop him.
Her face, which until then had been calm and smiling, suddenly hardened. Her piercing eyes locked onto him, as if she could see straight through his thoughts.
"Ryosuke," she said in a cold, almost cutting voice. "Are you really going to keep pretending like this? Honestly, it's kind of pathetic coming from you."
Ryosuke blinked, stunned. He hadn't expected that tone from his aunt. "What? I don't—"
Yuki sighed, folding her arms across her chest, looking mildly annoyed. "I get it. It's a lot to take in all at once. Discovering you have powers, that this hidden world exists, all of that. But… to play dumb, even in front of your own aunt? That's insulting."
Ryosuke looked away, uncomfortable. He scratched the back of his head. "Sorry, Auntie…" he murmured. "I guess I got a little carried away." He hesitated for a moment, searching for his words. "This… sudden surge of power—it kind of threw me off."
Yuki stayed silent, her arms still crossed, but her eyes never left him.
Eventually, Ryosuke raised his head and met her gaze. "The truth is… I'm not as clueless as you think. I already know a bit about the world of Jujutsu. I knew even before you told me last night."
Yuki's eyebrows furrowed slightly, a mix of surprise and curiosity in her eyes. "What do you mean?"
Ryosuke took a deep breath. "At first, I thought I was just hallucinating—that I was losing my mind. But little by little, I started realizing it was real. That's when I began searching for answers, trying to understand what was happening to me."
He paused, watching Yuki's reaction. She no longer looked angry, just intrigued. He took that as a sign to continue.
"I didn't know who to talk to. I didn't know if I could trust you—even if you're family. I didn't want to…"
He trailed off, trying to find the right words.
Yuki gave him a small smile, though it was tinged with sadness. "Ryosuke, do you really think I'd see you that way? That your own aunt, who shares the same powers as you, would ever hurt you?"
Ryosuke shrugged, uneasy. "This world… it's so different from anything I've ever known. And I figured… if I couldn't trust my own family, then who could I trust?"
Yuki slowly stepped closer to Ryosuke. When she was right in front of him, she lifted her hand and gently placed it on his head, softly ruffling his brown hair.
"I'm proud of you," she whispered.