One Year Later
One Year Later
Shien sat in the back of the car, head resting on Mei Mei's lap as she fed him chocolate-covered strawberries. The mission had taken all of five minutes—a Grade One curse in Nagoya that had been reduced to ash before Mei Mei had even finished drawing the curtain.
"The Kamo clan is pushing for new regulations on Special Grade recommendations," Mei Mei said, selecting another strawberry. "They want a minimum age requirement of sixteen."
"Let me guess," Shien said. "They're trying to delay my promotion."
"Obviously. They've realized you're inevitable, so they're buying time." Mei Mei's fingers traced idle patterns through his hair. "The Gojo clan is opposed, naturally. Gojo Satoru finds the whole thing hilarious."
"And the Zenin?"
"The elders support you completely. Naoya's faction has essentially collapsed since the Gojo incident. You're the heir in all but name now."
Shien made a noncommittal sound. He still didn't particularly care about the position, but Mei Mei had a point about political power having its uses.
"The higher-ups are very satisfied with you," Mei Mei continued. "Perfect mission success rate, constantly growing power. They believe you're loyal to them. Having a possible counter to Gojo Satoru is something they cannot pass up on."
Shien scoffed. "I'm strong and getting stronger. But I'm no fool. I remember Gojo laughing as I threw punches strong enough to level mountains. If he went all out, I wouldn't last a minute. I wouldn't be able to hit him unless I used my domain, and with the Six Eyes, he'd see it coming and teleport before I even completed it. Not to mention he probably has a domain of his own. Domain battles favor the one with the more refined domain."
"The truth doesn't matter," Mei Mei said calmly. "What matters is that they believe you can counter him. That belief gives you leverage. They'll do their best to placate any demands you might have. With Gojo being a menace to their authority, Geto being a curse user, and Yuki being... let's say 'unreliable,' you're all they have at their disposal."
"They're desperate," Shien observed.
"Exactly. The balance of power has shifted dramatically. The Three Great Clans used to control jujutsu society through collective strength. Now? Individual power trumps everything." Mei Mei selected another strawberry. "Gojo Satoru alone invalidates the entire Zenin military advantage. He could wipe out your whole clan in an afternoon if he wanted to."
"He could," Shien agreed quietly.
"But he won't, because he's not interested in politics. He just wants to do what he wants, teach his students, and irritate the higher-ups." Mei Mei smiled slightly. "Which is why they're terrified of him. Power without accountability is their worst nightmare."
"And they think I'll be accountable?"
"They think you're young enough to be influenced. Molded. That you'll play by their rules in exchange for recognition and resources." Mei Mei's smile widened. "They're wrong, of course. But it's useful to let them believe it."
Shien considered that.
"Why hasn't Geto been dealt with?" Shien asked. "He's a curse user now. The higher-ups should want him dead."
Mei Mei's expression turned serious. "Because Geto Suguru has swallowed thousands of cursed spirits over the years. Special Grades, Grade Ones, countless others. His technique stores them all inside him, and he can release them at will."
Shien's eyes widened slightly. "So if he dies—"
"They all get released at once. Thousands of curses flooding whatever area his body is in." Mei Mei let that sink in. "Only Gojo is strong enough to kill Geto and handle the aftermath. But Gojo won't kill his best friend. They were partners, brothers in all but blood. The higher-ups know this."
"So Geto is effectively untouchable."
"Exactly. No one dares kill him because of Gojo, and Gojo won't do it himself." Mei Mei paused. "It's a stalemate. Geto continues collecting Special Grade curses, growing stronger, and the higher-ups can do nothing but watch and hope he doesn't decide to attack them directly. The number of Special Grade curses has increased in recent years—some attribute it to your birth. Geto is the one consuming them. He's useful in the short term, but in the long term..."
"Politics," Shien muttered.
"Politics," Mei Mei agreed. "Which is why you need to play the game smartly. Make the higher-ups depend on you. Let them think you're their weapon against Gojo. Take their resources, their missions. Build your power base."
"Until I'm actually strong enough to not need them anymore," Shien finished.
"No matter how strong you are, you're still one sorcerer. That's why Gojo is stuck in a stalemate—he has no one else to help enforce his vision." Mei Mei smiled. "You're still young, Shien. You have the resources of the Zenin clan and all the power that comes with it. Combined with your own strength, you'll be able to enact your will on this society."
"And then?"
"Then you do whatever you want." Mei Mei said it simply, like it was the most obvious thing in the world. "That's what real power means. The freedom to choose."
From the driver's seat, Hayato's voice came nervously. "Shien-sama, we've... we've arrived at the compound."
Shien scowled at the interruption.
Hayato visibly shivered, hands tightening on the steering wheel. "My apologies, Shien-sama. I didn't mean to—"
"It's fine," Shien said, sitting up reluctantly.
Mei Mei leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek, her lips soft and warm. "Think about what I said. And remember—you're already stronger than most sorcerers will ever be. You just need time to grow into your full potential."
Shien touched his cheek where she'd kissed him, feeling his face heat. "Same time next week?"
Mei Mei replied with a knowing smile.
Shien returned to his quarters after another grueling training session in the mountains. His domain expansion had improved significantly over the past year—he'd reduced the cursed energy cost, increased the efficiency, refined the control. But even now, he could only manifest Lotus Pyre Mandala three times per day before exhaustion set in.
And each use locked his cursed technique for thirty minutes, the cost of each subsequent expansion increasing exponentially as his binding vow restricted him to fifty percent cursed energy output during normal hours.
Still. Three times was enough for most situations.
He'd kept the domain secret, as planned. Only Mei Mei knew, bound by her vow. Everyone else—Naobito, the clan, even Gojo—remained ignorant.
Good, Shien thought. Let them underestimate me. I'll need every trump card I can get to defeat that monster.
His Reverse Cursed Technique had also improved dramatically. He'd practiced relentlessly, every single day for a year. The Kukuru unit had become his unwitting test subjects—he'd train with them brutally, pushing them past their limits, then heal their injuries afterward.
They thought he was kind. A benevolent master who cared about their wellbeing.
Shien had never corrected that misunderstanding. Let them believe what they wanted. Their loyalty was useful, and their gratitude made them easier to command.
Besides, he needed the practice. Healing flesh and bone was simple now. Healing souls—that was the next challenge. And until he could do that, he had no hope of separating Maki and Mai's conjoined souls.
Speaking of Maki...
She'd stopped training with him months ago. Told him she was tired of him "holding back" and that she wanted to train with people who'd actually push her.
Shien had let her go without argument, though privately he thought she was wasting her time.
Maki was strong—physically, she was easily three times stronger than a grown man despite being eleven years old. Her speed, her reflexes, her technique—all excellent.
But she had no cursed energy. No way to perceive curses clearly. No way to defend against cursed techniques.
Any Grade Two curse or higher would kill her.
Shien knew this with absolute certainty. And he couldn't bring himself to tell her, because he knew how much it would hurt her pride. How it would crush the determination that burned in her eyes every time she picked up a weapon.
So he said nothing and let her train herself. He pitied her as much as he respected her.
Mai, at least, was more realistic. She'd accepted Shien's offer to teach her the basics—simple domain, barrier techniques, fundamental curse energy manipulation. She'd never be a frontline fighter, but at least she'd be able to survive.
Shien collapsed onto his bed, exhausted from the day's training. He picked up a controller, intending to play video games until dinner, when his enhanced hearing caught something.
A scream.
Female. Young. Coming from the training yard.
Mai, Shien realized instantly.
He was moving before conscious thought caught up, cursed energy flooding his system as he sprinted toward the yard.
The training yard came into view, and rage flooded through Shien's veins like acid.
Naoya stood at the center, foot planted firmly on Maki's head, pressing her face into the dirt. Blood streaked from her nose and split lip, staining the ground beneath her. Mai crouched nearby, tears streaming down her face as she tried desperately to shield her sister, her small hands pushing uselessly against Naoya's leg.
Seeing Mai cry over Maki's body, trying to shield her from Naoya.
Something primal and possessive roared to life in Shien's chest.
Bastard, his mind snarled. Bastard was touching his things.
He'd bullied Maki all the time, but that was his right. She belonged to him. They both did. And Naoya putting his hands on what was Shien's—
Unacceptable.
"Naoya."
Everyone froze.
Shien stood at the entrance to the yard, what little cursed energy he had left radiating off him in waves. Every member of the Kukuru unit present immediately dropped to their knees, heads bowed.
Naoya's expression shifted from cruel satisfaction to something more guarded. "Shien-kun. I was just—"
"Teaching them a lesson?" Shien's voice was deceptively calm, almost sweet. "How very brave of you, nii-san. Fighting little girls. Very impressive."
The false sweetness in his tone made it sound worse than any insult.
Naoya's face twisted with loathing, but he removed his foot from Maki's head. "They need to learn respect."
"So do you. It would seem I am a very good teacher, as it happens." Shien walked forward slowly, deliberately.
For a moment, it looked like Naoya might argue. His cursed energy flared, pride warring with self-preservation.
Then he saw Shien's eyes and made the smart choice.
He turned to leave.
Shien watched him go for a few steps, then called out: "That's right, nii-san. Keep walking, bitch."
Naoya's shoulders tensed, but he kept moving.
Shien turned to Maki, who was pushing herself upright despite the blood leaking from her split lip. Her expression was defiant and stubborn, refusing to show weakness even now.
"You shouldn't train here," Shien started. "It's not—"
"I was fine," Maki snapped, wiping blood from her lip. "I didn't need your help."
Stubborn idiot, Shien thought.
His danger instinct screamed.
Shien reinforced his body with what little cursed energy he had left on pure reflex, flooding power into his skull and spine just as something massive connected with the back of his head.
Reality distorted.
Black Flash.