Chapter Text
He kept talking about the woman he loves. He talked about how beautiful she was to him, how strong she was and how wise and kind she was. The only person that reminded Sayuri of the girl he was talking about was her aunt Rin.
She didn't mind this conversation, to be honest. A few minutes ago she was all alone in the dark, she was in pain but now someone was beside her. All the pain was starting to vanish, or maybe she was just ignoring them and more focused on what he was saying. He is there for her right now. He held her hand and caressed her head. He talked about things Sayuri never understood yet found interesting. He said those assuring words that she would be alright. And so time flew by as he kept talking about the things he likes, the woman and about how Sayuri would be alright.
"Oh well, can't stay here forever," He says after letting go of the half curse's hand that he was holding the entire time. "Don't tell anyone about this." He continued. "Wait, what's your name?" She asks. He didn't know what to say. Even though she couldn't see, she knew he was hesitant for some reason. "I'm sorry but I can't tell you that. But you will get to know me soon and until that day you can wait." He concluded.
Soon Sayuri felt his presence fading away, the comfort she felt fading away along with him. She couldn't think about anything but him. But she knew he wasn't someone she should be thinking about because keeping someone as a memory will only hurt, at least that's what she felt when he talked about the women he kept dear in heart and mind.
Sayuri didn't know how much time had passed by, but it was most likely still night time because of how quiet the place was. It was quiet enough for the girl to hear her breathing. Sleep finally took over her as a few minutes passed by not thinking about the things that happened right now, she fell asleep.
────── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ──────
"Sayuri, are you feeling alright now?" said a voice in a calm tone. Sayuri recognised the voice as Rin's. She wanted to respond but couldn't. She was still in a little bit of pain. It had reduced overnight, especially while talking to that stranger. She wanted to tell Rin about the strange person she met at night but remembered she isn't supposed to. So she stayed silent instead. Rin was worried now and told Sayuri to have her pills and get more rest.
And so days passed and after a week Sayuri finally felt normal. There wasn't any pain and she could see again.
She thanked those who helped take care of her and went to her aunt Rin and Mamiko. Rin was happy to see Sayuri was alright now and so was Mamiko but she didn't show it. "Well then, are you going back to Sukuna?" Rin asked worriedly. At the name of the curse Mamiko suddenly became silent and vigilant. The sisters did not want their niece to leave them and go to that wicked curse. But they knew it was Sayuri's choice in the end, and she always chose the painful path.
She thanked Rin once again without responding to the question and left. She didn't know what to do or say when she would meet her father and Uraume again after such a long time. She didn't know whether or not she should tell them about the mysterious person she met the first night.
She went to meet her father and upon seeing him, he lashed out on her with Uraume not being able to do anything to defend the poor child. “How dare you sneak behind my back and meet with those stupid sorcerers. All you do is bring shame to me!” Even though Sukuna knew what she had been doing behind his back the whole time, he scolded her today. He knew what she was doing, but today he realised just how weak his daughter was and that the Tenshi clan would only bring her down. He knew this had to end once and for all and to strengthen her, he needed to take away something from her that would lead her to have the will to fight. “The Tenshi clan is to be erased by tomorrow.” Was all he said before leaving the girl with wide eyes and fear.
For the first time Sayuri felt fear. She was going to lose the only family she had. She never felt that close to any of them, but after what her father had just declared, a sudden feeling took over her. She had to stop him but she knew she couldn’t do it. So she decided to run away. She starts running back to the Tenshi clan ignoring Uruame’s shouting, telling her to come back.
Once she reaches the area, she bursts open the doors and goes in search of someone she could ask for help. She finds her grandfather busy in his prayers. “Grandfather!” she shouts which catches the attention of the old man. “Sayuri, what’re you doing here?” He asked worriedly, getting up from his place. “Father, he wants to kill all of you. You all must run away this instant!” she tries to explain. Seeing the terrified expression on his granddaughter’s face for the first time, he knew he had to trust her words. “Sayuri, go find your aunts and grandmother and tell them to meet me in the main room.” He says in a serious tone. He walks away with his brows furrowed, leaving the panicking girl to herself. She had no time to think and knew she had to inform the others, and so like her grandfather had said, she ran towards the others trying to find them.
She spotted Mamiko sparring with someone in the training grounds. It was someone she didn’t know. She couldn’t take the risk and expose herself to the people within the family that grandfather doesn’t trust. But luckily, Mamiko spotted Sayuri’s pink and black hair from around the corner. She dismisses the person she was with and walks towards the girl who is trying her best to hide. “Sayuri, why are you here again?” Mamiko asks, looking down at the girl. That’s when she noticed. The fear. The girl that never showed any emotion nor reacted to anything, for the first time, showed fear on her face. “Sayuri?” She asks again. “My father, he plans to destroy the Tenshi clan.” Mamiko’s eyes widened. “I told grandfather, and he told me to bring you, Rin and grandmother to the main room.” Her breathing was getting uneven now.
“I- I’m sorry, this is probably my fault. If I never entered this place you-” Sayuri was cut off by Mamiko smacking her head slightly. “You better shut up right now and do what my father has asked you to do. I’m headed towards the main room.” Mamiko started walking away from her too. “And if I ever hear you spout nonsense like that ever again, I’ll make sure your next training session is worse than Sukuna’s.” Mamiko was out of sight now. Sayuri touched the part of her head that just got smacked by her aunt. She shook off the thought and was on her way to find the remaining two.
And as if the gods heard her thoughts, she saw Rin and her grandmother were talking to each other, sitting on a bench and enjoying sweets with no one around. Unfortunately, she had to ruin the peaceful environment. She walked up towards the two and told them the same words she spoke to Mamiko. The two were in utter shock. Rin seemed worried whereas her grandmother was angered. Her grandmother resembled Mamiko a lot, definitely an angry mother-daughter duo. Both even looked the same, except the colour of their hair.
Her grandmother was well known in the jujutsu world for being the most ruthless woman. And of course, the most expensive one too. Her grandfather didn’t mind it at all for he always showered her with whatever she wanted. Her grandfather, being the head of their clan, was always the one with the most power. He was strong, smart and brave. The two of them made a true power duo. Both had expensive taste and both of them were ready to fight to death.
The three of them headed towards the main room and noticed Mamiko and Sayuri’s grandfather already discussing. “First thing first is that we make sure everyone leaves the compound.” Her grandfather says as the other three enter the room. Rin closes the door so no one could hear them. “But the problem is, Sukuna would definitely hunt us down.” He pauses and looks at Sayuri, she was just sitting there and listening. “We are no match against him.” He sighs. It’s either they all die then and there, or they die, being hunted, they die while running away. Both the options were the worst of all possibilities. But there wasn’t any choice left. It was a suicide plan now.
“Mother, is there really nothing we can do?” Rin asks her mother who had a poker face. She didn’t know what everyone was thinking. They all were strong and capable and ready to face death if it means dying in honour, but Rin? No. She wasn’t one of them. She always felt disappointed in herself for not being able to live up to her family’s expectations, but they always accepted her nonetheless. She was scared, she didn’t want to die. She wanted to live a normal life, but the ones above played with her fate, they twisted it, and now she realises that she can never live her dream.
Her mother never replied to her question, the silence itself was an answer. Tears began to spill from Rin’s eyes, tears that were formed due to fear of death. Sayuri, the girl who never responded to someone else’s emotions, was moved by her aunt’s. Rin was the only one she ever truly felt close to, and seeing her cry made even the coldest heart of Sayuri’s to melt. “I suppose this is it.” Mamiko sighs. “We’ll fight Sukuna till our last breath and hopefully, the others will be able to escape.” Mamiko stood up. She walked out of the room without looking back but Sayuri had noticed, Mamiko’s eyes were a little shaken. Of course they were, there was no human who did not fear death after all.
All of them stood up except for Rin. She was still in shock at what was happening. “Pull yourself together child.” Her mother’s strict voice straightens her up. “Death will come to us no matter what we do.” Her mother leaves and so does her father. She was left alone with Sayuri. “Sayuri, you will live right?” Her aunt asks her with a frail voice, but a little hope in her eyes. That’s when Sayuri realised, her clan was going to be extinct, but she would be an exception. Now comes guilt, a negative emotion. She would live and would have to remind herself about how weak she was not being able to help her clan at all. “Please, as long as you live, promise me you won’t forget us.” Rin pleads. Sayuri could understand what her aunt meant, Rin didn’t want to be forgotten, no one does.
“I promise.”
Rin holds Sayuri’s little hands and they both proceed to leave the room. As they kept walking, Rin’s hold on Sayuri kept hardening. But Sayuri couldn't feel anything. She was too busy thinking about her father, about her mistakes. She remembered Mamiko’s words, but how could she not blame herself. Who else was there to blame? To be the only Tenshi surviving felt sick, Sayuri felt nauseous thinking about it. How could she tell her only family that even if they do escape, her father won’t stop until every one of them is proclaimed dead. He will never stop. That’s what made Sayuri nervous for the first time.
As they walked and walked, Rin’s grip on the little girl’s hand was loosening. “Sayuri, you should leave this place,” She finally let go of her hand. “Now. You must run far away, don’t let Sukuna find you.” Rin seemed serious. Sayuri would say yes, if it wasn’t for the fact that she knew she would never be able to escape her father. The half curse just nodded. Rin left her behind. And now Sayuri was standing there in the middle of the hallway, all alone.
She wished the hand that held her the other night would hold her again. Sayuri could still feel the warmth she had felt when the stranger held her hand. Back then she wasn’t alone, but now she was left all alone, staring at the hall in front of her. She knew she had to get away from this place like Rin had told her to, but she couldn’t. She stayed. As she started walking she saw a lot of people running outside of the compound in a hurry. The news must’ve spread.
Some were panicking while some were calm. Some were weak while some were strong. The people were so busy running away that they didn’t notice the little girl standing in the midst of the crowd. They couldn’t care less. Mamiko who was talking to her father, front he corner of her eye, noticed the little girl standing in between all the people with a blank face.
“Sayuri?” Mamiko walks towards the girl and bends down to her level. “Rin told me that she told you to leave this place.” The little girl didn’t reply and just looked Mamiko in the eyes. “Why are you still here, in the middle of all these people? Do you know what would happen if they recognised you?!” She stood up and held Sayuri’s hand, dragging her away from everyone before they could notice. “I can’t go.” Sayuri’s soft voice hadn’t reached Mamiko’s ears in the midst of everyone’s panicking sounds. Sayru stopped, not letting Mamiko drag her away. They were away from the people now, at a safe distance.
“I can’t go.” She says again and this time Mamiko hears it. The anger in her face is quite clear. “What are you saying?” She let go of the hand. “You want to die?!” Mamiko was basically shouting at Sayuri now but she wasn’t phased at all. “He won’t kill me.” Sayuri looked down at her feet. “And I don’t want to go, please.”
“And then what? You get to watch us die?” The screaming of people got louder. Mamiko looked at the direction and saw it. He was here. Sukuna had arrived. Sayuri turned her head to the same direction when she noticed her aunt had gotten silent. And then she saw, her father’s anger was unleashed. Why did he come earlier than he said he would? He was supposed to arrive tomorrow. No. He wanted the clan erased by tomorrow. “Sayuri, you need to leave, now!” Mamiko shouts at her before running towards the battlefield.
There was fire everywhere now. It was all red. The screams got louder and the sounds of buildings falling apart could be heard from a far distance. Her father had taken away her only comfort. Even though she was far away, she could see the twisted joy in her father’s face. She couldn’t take her eyes off that face, the one that enjoyed other people’s pain. Her feet moved on their own and she was now headed towards where her father was causing havoc.
On her way, her feet were covered in blood and dirt from all the bodies around her. Men, women, children and even babies. None were spared. Each and every one of them were either slowly dying or already dead. The sight made her feel nauseous. As she walked further, her nightmares were turning into her reality.
There she saw, her grandfather and grandmother, dead. Were they actually dead? What was happening? Where were Rin and Mamiko? The thoughts clouded her rationality and she ran towards the already dead elderly couple. Looking at all the bruises she understood that they didn’t go down without a fight. Suddenly she felt an immense presence in front of her. When she looked up she saw her father, with a stern face. “This is all your fault, child.” Was all he said before he turned around. Behind him was an injured Mamiko protecting her elder sister Rin. “No! Please, don’t, please, spare them. Please.” Sayuri pleaded, she pleaded until her voice began to break. But he didn’t care, why would he?
Mamiko stood up, still wanting to fight, while her elder sister tried her best to heal the younger one’s wounds. As Mamiko was about to attack, Sukuna cut her into pieces. Her eyes were still wide open. Rin screamed. The fire got bigger. Blood was everywhere. It was all too much for little Sayuri. She looked at Rin who was too scared to even move. Sayuri stood up and ran towards her aunt before Sukuna could reach her, but unfortunately, she wasn’t fast enough. Again, in front of her eyes, Sukuna murdered her last hope in cold blood. Sayuri saw the little words of ‘I’m sorry’ being mouthed by her aunt before she died. And now her nightmares came true. She was surrounded with everyone’s dead bodies, everything was ruined, and she was all alone again.