Chapter Text
In the beginning, there was light. An uncomfortable amount of light. The kind of light you’d only get if it was artificially placed somewhere for maximum visibility.
There were noises everywhere. Beeps, boops, people shouting in a language he couldn’t understand. Where was he? What was that noise?
Right, screaming. That was him. He was screaming, and he wasn’t sure why. It kind of just made sense to scream in that moment? More of a crying thing. Get rid of all these emotions that he couldn’t cope with.
And then he registered his body being jostled around. From what little he could comprehend, there was someone in front of him. A woman? Yeah, a woman. She seemed… what’s the word? Sad? Yeah, sad.
He wasn’t sure what she was saying, but the words imprinted themselves on his memory anyway. One day, he’d understand.
But for now? He just had to bask in the love he was being swarmed with. This could only be his mother, right? Why would such a kind person look sad?
The beeping in the background probably meant something. It was comforting in a way, up until it suddenly stopped. The voices around him were panicked for some reason, but all he could register was falling asleep. He didn’t know where he was, but his mother seemed kind. He hoped he could get more cuddles like this after he woke up again.
***
Evidently, Megumi would not be enjoying the embrace of his mother. Not that day, and not any day after. She was pronounced dead soon after his birth, and his father had made his grand entrance soon after.
Toji Fushiguro.
Megumi didn’t understand much at that moment, but the woman he’d gained a connection with was no longer present in this world. Sure, there was an instinctual bond with his father, but the warmth he’d come to know going cold?
Megumi wept.
***
Growing up was a tall task. You had to learn how to walk, talk, and all kinds of other things. Growing up was doubly awful when you realized this isn’t the first time you’ve done this.
The specifics didn’t matter, but once Megumi realized just where he was, his general existence became far more miserable. A few months into existing, everything had kind of slotted into place.
It’s been a few years now. It turns out a grieving widower isn’t exactly the best parent! Yeah, sure, Toji certainly tried his best… but Megumi was a hater at heart. Call it being selfish, but he thought he at least deserved a stable household.
It’s during one of these days, when Megumi was in a particularly bad mood, that it happened. An event that just may have changed the course of history.
Cursed Energy was born from negative emotions, weren’t they? Whether that was the key or not, a toddler having a temper tantrum seemed to be the spark to ignite it.
His energy surged, and even the man who had none to speak of could pick up on it.
Toji wasn’t a bad man, he just did bad things. Getting his son to hold on until he was done looking through job listings wasn’t worth a death sentence.
Yet, while Megumi could understand many things, the immaturity of this body's age remained. His attention quota wasn’t met, and so, the boy had a tantrum.
From the inky abyss of his shadow, two wolves took shape. White and black. Yin and Yang. As they were more commonly known?
Divine Dogs.
At that moment, both father and son were stunned. The father, for he knew how much the awakening of this technique meant. The son, for he knew of this technique a lifetime ago, yet never expected to see it in action so soon.
In that brief crossroads, Megumi knew a normal child would marvel at their brand new pets. Megumi, however, was not normal. This had not stopped his tantrum, merely postponed it.
And so, the dogs struck.
***
Toji Fushiguro came to a conclusion. One dog in a headlock, the other pressed beneath his foot, and his infant son swinging on his legs. With this technique, he could sell the boy back to the clan and make a hefty sum, couldn’t he?
But should he? That’s definitely not what his wife would have wanted. It’s not even entirely what he wants. It might just be a tantrum now, but is there not a ferocity in his eyes? The potential to become strong? There was no way a son of his would live a normal life, especially with the Ten Shadows at his disposal.
No, Toji knew exactly what he had to do. All he needed to do was make a call.
***
First grade eventually rolled around to little fanfare. In the few years since his technique awakened, there had been two new additions to their household. While they very strictly weren’t dating, his dad had invited an ‘old friend’ from the business to stay with them, along with her daughter.
His logic was that a woman was needed around to help keep the place in order, considering his hands would be full training Megumi. Another kid near his age would also round it all out.
Simply put, Megumi wasn’t exactly opposed, but he still found it odd. His little body couldn’t exactly do heavy training just yet, and school was still important, so Toji made sure to also balance out his education.
While Megumi went to regular school, he was also tasked with studying books on sorcery and anything else Toji could pick up through… persuasive means.
He was still one of the strongest men alive, after all. He was highly sought after, and beating up on some small-time sorcerer and interrogating them for information was quite easy. They believed it would extend their lives, but that clearly wasn’t the case.
In another life, Megumi knew the fate of the world would’ve probably changed soon enough. His dad would go up against the strongest of their generation and lose. He vaguely knew the timeframe, and had considered interfering… but it seemed that wasn’t necessary?
Due to actually raising his son, Toji seemed to have struck up quite a different business venture.
***
“You know, Yaga, they’ve put a hit out on your little vessel.”
Principal Yaga swiftly turned, staring directly at the Sorcerer Killer standing in his window. While he knew he stood no chance, the man still tensed, prepared to fight.
“Easy, easy. The money would be great for me, but, one small problem.”
Toji flippantly waved his phone around, as if he weren’t discussing life and death.
“I’ve got a son. What better place for him to get an education than Jujutsu High? I won’t interfere, as long as you make a place here for him.”
Yaga could only gulp, still tense.
“And why should I take your word?”
Toji’s blade resting against his throat spoke enough for them both.
“I just want my son to reach his full potential. Hell, might even take over the bounty work for me one day. I can handle physical development, but Jujutsu? This is the place to be. Besides, I imagine you’ve got a pretty hefty payroll around here.”
Yaga gulped once more, doing his best to ignore the sword on his neck.
“It’ll be… a pleasure to meet the little one.”
Toji’s malicious grin sealed the deal.
***
And so, that’s how Megumi found himself being taken to Jujutsu High every so often. Naturally, Toji was the one to escort him, a very real deterrent to anyone who should try to attack the pride of his family.
Fortunately, there were also layers to this. The Zenin clan had yet to find out about the awakening of the Ten Shadows. He was free to grow uninterrupted for at least a few more years. If they had it their way, nobody would ever even know his technique.
And so, for another few years, Megumi would be free to develop his energy reserves, live a normal life, bond with his strange family, and play with his shadows away from prying eyes.