Chapter Text
Bright white light swallow him up.Flashing in blue, red and purple. It blind him not like any other in a miniscule time that feels forever.As a sensation of what only he can describe to that a shaking of his soul reverberate through his being.A sense of being displaced with his body and soul strung apart make him reflexively dig in his metaphorical claws so his soul didn’t slip off from his body. It’s gone as fast as it come.
Then there’s a rushing air on his ears and sharp cry of shouts— afraid and terrified that had him open his eyes in a record speed.It’s a sounds that Yuuji knows too well because it was—
Satoru
His eyes fleet to look at the source. Where he immediately see not just Satoru—sucked breath and pinpoint pupil but Uraume—shuttered eyes and pearly tears while Ryou—curled fist and clenched teeth indeed dropped off on the atmosphere hundreds if not thousands meters from the earth at an accelerated speed too.
The sky was sunny with blue and white in the background as Yuuji quickly took out a protective cursed tool. Imbuing it with his cursed energy and tossing it where his three kids are.To let it unfurl and make a protective sphere that guaranteed their safety.
Because yes for whatever reason, he and the kids are freefalling on the air.
With a crash and cracked ground, Yuuji landed on his feet. Not minding the way his bones hit the ground and make an impact as he lock his eyes to the bubble that contain his kid.
Sensing that there’s no risk of plummeting to death, the sphere pop and disappear as soon as it touch the ground.Yuuji really grateful that his past self buy the blessed (Technically cursed but whatever) thing.
“Yuuji !”
“Yuuji !”
“Yuuji !”
Three voice call out to him in unison.Stumbling and hurried steps as the three of them make their way to him.
Shortly hands gripping him, seeking form of assurance from the incident that just happened.Mainly Ryou and Uraume because Satoru choose to just straight up climb him like a jungle gym and clinging to his front with the stickiness that put barnacles to shame.
Patting the back of ten years old with cloud white hair, he look down at the scowling pinkette who glare at Satoru form and the plum eyed kid who seems holding themselves back from shuffling and fidgeting.
“Get off from the old man, rat!“ Ryou as lively as ever try tugging off Satoru. Key word ; try. It has the opposite effect from what he intended because Satoru tighten his hold further and shove his head to rest it in the crook of Yuuji neck like a baby seeks comfort.
If it were any possible the frown on Ryou face went deeper looking like he wants strangling the crystalline blue eyed kid on Yuuji. Which is probably the case because it happen from time to time between Ryou and Satoru. Beating each other to a pulp is one of their past time no matter the reason. Though funnily enough they can act as if they were the bestest friends when terrorizing the local people in area or just because they can.
“Tsk.Its your fault that we’re here!" The four armed boy click his tongue and remark. Letting go of his hold on Satoru in rare show of peace. Instead choosing to cross all of his arms across his body.
“Satoru?” Yuuji lightly call the name of the boy clinging to him with a questioning tone. A palpable raised eyebrow can be heard from his voice even with the hood of his outfit casting a shadow to his face.
Uraume quiet as ever look around their surrounding with a touch of caution and analytic eyes.Paying attention to the unfolding interrogation with half a mind while cataloguing the area. From the crater to the fallen trees and the way the air feel ancient. Familiar even.
“You fucking snitch—I’m not the only one! You were there too!And I didn’t see you complaining Sukuna!“ Satoru still stuck on Yuuji whip his head to look and point a finger at Ryou. Ryou who huff and puff like the matter was beneath him dignify Satoru with a simple answer.
“Well i’m not the one who did a random techniques from a shady book!” He didn’t deny the truth that he just stood with curiosity as Satoru perform the technique that make them end up here instead of preventing it.
Now Yuuji has choices to make.One, scold his childrens and lecture them of what a dangerous thing they just did and telling them to never do that again right here right now (Which he knows that it’s only effective fifty percent at most). Two, figuring out where they are and scold them later in the privacy of their home.
Obviously he choose option two.
“Haah…We talk about this later when we figure out where we are and get home” Sighing he ruffles both Satoru and Ryou hair, the latter grumbling as he did so while the former happily lean in to the affection. Offering two of his kids that didn’t cling on him to hold his hands while one comfortably scamper from his front side to his behind in a piggyback position.
It’s been twenty minutes since then but nothing particular happened. The only thing they encounter is a small grade curses and the occasional sightseeing of animals. It’s safe to say that the boys growing bored with nothing to entertain them.While Uraume didn’t have that much problem by collecting plants they think is useful (Yuuji know it’s mostly herbs for cooking and medicinal purpose.But sometimes he can’t help to be reminded of Megumi and his love for flowers)
The only adult in the group didn’t mind the relative peace and very much like to continue their journey to be so.But it seem thinking about peace alone seems jinxed his luck as his ears pick up the sound of running and curse gurgling.
Lo and behold. A person, glaringly scuffed up,looking like he’s been through hell and back what’s with blood splattered all over himself somehow managed to sprint up where Yuuji and the kids are. With what appear to be a pack of first grade curse chasing him. Which in turn makes the boys pounce on the opportunity to release energy and violence before he can even say anything.
Ryou and Satoru didn’t waste time letting out their technique free. Slashes and blast raining down onto the curses in display of savage move. All while Yuuji and Uraume content watching it on a safe distance.
He didn’t worry much about his boys as he know that they’re more than capable of killing off the curses. So he divert his attention to the stranger that gapes—slack jawed as he watch two ten years old kid absolutely decimate monster that kill many ordinary man.
The man seems to be around his forthy with scars and stubble decorating his face. Having wavy hair that ends on his nape and tied in low ponytail with a simple string. Though what catch his interest is the traditional garment he wear and the lone katana that he hold.
Yuuji feel like he’s looking at an actor from historic movies.
“How are you feeling? “ He ask, ignoring the loud wicked cackles in the background (It’s hard to tell whether it’s Satoru or Ryou voice or it’s both)
The man blink.
Then he spoke what seems to be japanese and at the same time not.
Before he can formulate his thoughts a voice answer with the same language that has Yuuji brain freeze.Smooth without any stutter, flowing naturally and easily as it was breathing.
Uraume—bless their soul saving him from an embarrassing attempt to replicate the unfamiliar japanese as they take over the conversation with the man from Yuuji hand.
It’s fascinating watching Uraume conversing with this stranger despite he himself not understanding a lick of it. Probably it has to do with the parental pride he feels whenever his kids remind him that they’re a genius at almost everything than he is.
Ah..is this how you feel sensei?
Not for the first time he ask the questions without an answer thrown back at him.
“Yuu-chan~ I’m hungry “ The melodic boyish voice of one and only Satoru said as he dramatically rubbing his stomach in hunger. Slumping his shoulder and putting a pitiful expression even with his eyes covered in ribbon blindfold.
That’s quick
“What do you want to eat then?” The deceptively looking eighty three years old ask.Not far from them is Ryou,wearing his usual face of downturned lips. His sharp eyes lidded with boredom as he walk towards where Yuuji and Satoru is.
His eyes flicking from Satoru and Yuuji to Uraume and the stranger having a conversation.
“Meat” The crimson eyed kid state as always with the same answer.
“Cake! “ And then there’s Satoru. Sweet toothed sugar loving Satoru who have more desserts in his diet if he weren’t monitored.
“You can’t eat cake as your meals, kid” He chide the child lightly even as he plan to buy some of it for the kid. It’s not like Yuuji banning Satoru from eating cakes but he just gonna make sure that it was balanced by eating real food.
“Yuuji-san” Ah it seems they’re done gathering information. Taking a quick look at the man, the semi immortal adult see that the stranger is in a better condition than his first impression make him to be.
“Kogu-san has kindly informed me that we are currently in a forest near heian-kyo” Uraume speak in the familiar japanese that Yuuji understand. Thankfully.
Heian-kyo
The word strangely familiar to him but he just can’t put where he heard it before. His question unexpectedly got answered by Ryou.
“The ancient name of Kyoto?” The boy ask raising an eyebrow in interest.
“Yes it is” Came the cool reply from Uraume as they walk.
“Does this mean we’re time travelled?” Satoru casually question as if this is a perfectly normal conclusion a person can have.
“It…appears so” Yuuji didn’t know how they’re so calm (Maybe not considering the way they're trailed off midway) when they confirming that yes they all somehow stuck in the past thousands years ago.
Of course Yuuji familiar with the concept of time travel. From manga, movies and indulgent thoughts of what-if whenever grief and regret seems louder to him than any other times he can handle. But that is.All of it is a concept.
But now that he experience it he didn’t know how to feel about it.
And it’s not like it’s a far fetched idea given that to what he knows of alien, the crossroads and the ritual of harmony. But—
Thousands years ago. Heian era. Golden age of jujutsu and the king of curse—
His eyes found it way to one of his kid. Specifically with the four arms and four eyes. Cherry blossom hair pushed back as his head held high.
Shit—
“Kogu-san said he’s agree to show and accompany us to the nearest establishment as a thank you for saving his life” Apparently the younger kid already planning the next course of action the moment they drew a picture of what kind of situation they’re in.
Uraume look at him that tell enough sign that they seek approval for their idea.
Yuuji want to say no. His mind already make a millions scenario of this situation can go wrong by simply saying yes.With most of it with his kids end up dead, hurt, tortured dead—
But it’s not like they can stay in this forest forever.
So he swallowed up the lump in his throat and say otherwise all while praying for the best.
“That’s a good idea. Let’s do that” He forces his mouth to say even as uncertainty threatening to overwhelm him.