Kiyotaka sat on some stairs as Choso walked over to him, saying, "Kiyo. Were you able to heal up properly?"
"It's fine. I was new to using the Reverse Cursed Technique back then, but now I think I understand how it works better."
Kiyotaka said this as he thought, 'Sukuna's gotten stronger', while remembering how Sukuna had healed Megumi and his words.
[Don't die yet. There are still things I need you to do for me.]
Choso looked at him and said, "Don't worry about me. You can return to Jujutsu High, you know. I'd like to retrieve the remains of Shoso and the others, too."
Kiyotaka sighed and said, "Gojo-Sensei is sealed, so that won't work out well for me. In the best case, I'll be taken prisoner. In the worst case, I'd be executed right after. But there are still things I need to do. For Gojo-Sensei, who wanted me to experience my youth."
Choso looked to Kiyotaka, thinking, 'If only I had...'
Kiyotaka sighed and said, "Then there's the fact that Sukuna likely has something planned regarding Fushiguro. Keeping my distance is the most logical option."
Kiyotaka stood up and turned to Choso, asking, "Are you alright with all of this? I killed Esso after all."
"It's fine. That was an accident. Esso would have done the same in my position. Forgiving you or not doesn't matter. That's what it means to be siblings."
Choso said this as Kiyotaka looked to him and said, "I see. Siblings. It's not a bad feeling."
Kiyotaka turned and asked, "And what of Junpei and Kugisaki?"
"Yoshino Junpei is dead, and Kugisaki Nobara... I won't forgive her, but... it was my fault for not seeing through that scum and getting my siblings dragged into this mess."
Choso said this while thinking of "Noritoshi kamo" in anger.
"Our parent truly is the worst."
Kiyotaka said this as he began walking down the stairs, and Choso asked, "What about your father?"
"I wasn't aware that he had a Cursed Technique. As for his characters, he's probably not as bad as our parent, but it feels as if he's made it his life's mission to prove me wrong in that perspective."
Choso looked to him, asking, "In what way?"
"The White Room. An institution to raise children to be perfect for the goal of mass-producing excellent people. From the moment I've walked, I've been forced to learn or die."
Chosos's eyes widened in anger, thinking, 'How dare that man!'
He gritted his teeth and clenched his fists, thinking, 'How... how long did I leave my brother alone like this? And then I... sealed the man who protected him. I lead my brothers into a slaughter.'
Choso looked to Kiyotaka and said, "Kiyo, I... I'm sorry. I made things worse by..."
Kiyotaka looked to Choso and said, "It's fine. We still have a chance to make everything right. I have no intentions of failing again."
Kiyotaka sighed and said, "As for our fight..." while tapping at the scar across his nosebridge and then pointing to the black line across Choso's nosebridge and saying, "At least we're a matching pair now."
Choso's eyes widened before smiling and saying, "I'm happy that we are."
Kiyotaka looked up and said, "I've been alone for most of my life, but ever since leaving the White Room, I've met many people. Perhaps I didn't spend enough time trying to form a genuine connection. Perhaps I wasn't open and genuine enough to do so. Perhaps I've just been cursing myself to loneliness."
Kiyotaka turned to Choso and said, "Thank you for not leaving me on my own."
Choso smiled and said, "It's fine, Kiyo."
Kiyotaka thought about it and said, "Right now, things are too chaotic. Once things settle down, maybe we can find a way to retrieve the Death Womb Paintings."
Choso smiled and said, "I think you're right."
Kiyotaka walked towards the door of the building and said, "Let's go. For now, let's exorcise as many Cursed Spirits as we can."
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Kiyotaka stood on the bridge as he took a breath and then clapped his hands as Curses burst out of the water towards him. Kiyotaka began running on the bridge, thinking, 'Lure more of them.'
One side of the Bridge started lifting up and cracking as he ran up, thinking, 'They're getting all riled up.'
He jumped up to see a Cursed Spirit that was similar to a flying squirrel as he slammed his fist into it, killing it and then jumping off its body, landing on top of another Cursed Spirit. He hit his hand on its head and chanted, "Command", as the air between his hand and the Cursed Spirit vibrated to incredible speeds as he melted the Curse's skin and reached into its head, and its eyes lost their light and fell into a building, dying as Kiyotaka took out his hand, swinging it to get rid of the blood.
A Humanoid Curse with one eye raced toward him as Kiyotaka ran, thinking, 'Keep following me.'
A horde of Curses chased after him as he ran towards a tunnel. As he came out the other side, he shouted, "Choso!" as a Piercing Blood pierced through all of their heads in a straight line.
A huge Curse ran towards Choso as Kiyotaka slammed his fist into it. It's skin melted, and Kiyotaka chanted, "Shift", as his staff appeared in his hand, piercing through the Curse's body omnidirectionally as it died, and Kiyotaka was drenched in its purple blood.
Choso looked at him and thought, 'How terrifying. His control over Cursed Energy is incredible. His physical power and output already far surpass mine. In my little brother, I see someone who will rival Satoru Gojo one day. No... maybe even surpass him. He truly is a Jujutsu Masterpiece.'
Choso looked to him and said, "You're incredible as always, little brother."
"Choso. Someone's here."
Kiyotaka said this as Choso's eyes sharpened and their gazes shifted to a man standing on a railing above them in traditional robes and with blond hair and an egotistical smirk. Naoya Zenin.
Naoya looked to them and said, "Megumi-kun ain't here? Am I the first to arrive? Is that really possible? He's way too slow."
"Zenin Naoya, huh?"
Naoya smiled and said, "Oh? You know me? That's good."
Kiyotaka sighed and said, "I've made sure to familiarise myself with Jujutsu Society. You're the next head of the Zenin Clan, right?"
Naoya soaked in recognition and said, "That's right. Good job Kiyotaka-kun."
Naoya looked to them and asked, "What are you two doing out here anyway? You're sticking out too much."
Kiyotaka sighed and said, "Exorcising Cursed Spirits. I'm a Jujutsu Sorcerer, and that's my job."
Naoya scoffed and said, "That's kinda stupid of you, isn't it?" as he laughed.
Kiyotaka looked to him and asked, "What's your business with Fushiguro?"
"I need him to die. Though it'd be great for me if he'd write a few lines before he goes."
Naoya answered simply, as Kiyotaka thought, 'He must be looking for me, and Naoya wants to use me as bait. I guess he doesn't understand the difference in strength between us so he thinks he can take me alive.'
Suddenly, Naoya appeared next to Kiyotaka and slammed his fist into Kiyotaka, who looked surprised, thinking, 'He's fast! Wait no. Something is off. There's a spike in his Cursed Energy as if he were activating a Technique.'
Kiyotaka, however, took a breath and struck at Naoya, who dodged the attack as Choso ran in, only to also be dodged as Naoya unleashed a barrage of punches at Choso, slicking back his hair as he did so.
However, that was the end of it. Kiyotaka grabbed his arm as Naoya looked shocked, thinking, 'He caught me?!!'
Kiyotaka looked to him and said, "I've already figured it out. After all, your speed felt strange. 24 frames per second, right?"
Naoya looked to him in shock, thinking, 'He figured out my technique after only seeing it used twice?!!'
Kiyotaka kicked him as Naoya fell to the ground and looked up at Kiyotaka, thinking, 'This guy. I can't see any Cursed Energy. Does he even... have any?'
Naoya's eyes widened in awe as he thought, 'He's... just like Toji-kun.'
Naoya smiled as he got up, dusting his clothes off and thinking, 'You're one of the ones that I'll stand beside. You, Satoru and Toji-Kun.'
Kiyotaka looked to him, thinking, 'He's smiling in admiration? Isn't that level of admiration for me after only just meeting me a tad bit unhealthy? Strange. Is he gay?'
Choso glared, saying, "What the hell are you smiling about after attacking us?"
Naoya sighed and said, "My apologies. I'll be taking this more seriously from here on out", and he got into a stance, thinking, 'What will it be like to fight someone of his calibre? I guess I'll need to crank up the speed a bit more.'
Suddenly, a wave of Cursed Energy hit the three of them. It was simply a pressure of Cursed Energy, and the person exuding stood on a building above them.
Kiyotaka felt the wave hit him as he thought, 'Who in the world could have this much Cursed Energy?! This feeling is even creepier than Gojo-Sensei!'
Okkotsu Yuta stood there on the building, saying, "Huh? You're not alone", as he took off his bag that had his sword in it.
Kiyotaka looked to him and asked, "Who are you?"
Choso looked concerned, thinking, 'Whoever he is, his goal is...'
Yuta took out his sword and asked, "What are each of you to Ayanokoji-kun?"
Choso followed Yuta's jump from the building, thinking, 'So you are here to execute Kiyo.'
As Yuta landed, he broke that part of the walkway with his landing, and Naoya held up his hands saying, "Hold up. I'm on your side."
Naoya smirked and asked, "You're Okkotsu-kun, yeah?"
Kiyotaka's eyes widened, thinking, 'Okkotsu? Okkotsu Yuta? The Special Grade trained by Gojo-Sensei?'
Kiyotaka's eyes sharpened, thinking, 'Not good. that look in his eyes. He's really trying to kill me' as he remembered Gojo's words.
[You'd die in just a few seconds of fighting him.]
Kiyotaka sighed, thinking, 'I've grown stronger, so I think I might be able to give him a good fight now, but winning doesn't feel realistic. Especially considering the monstrous amount of Cursed Energy he has. Even more than Gojo-Sensei.'
Yuta looked to Naoya and asked, "And you are?"
Naoya answered, "Zenin Naoya. I'm Maki-chan's cousin, and I've been told to kill Ayanokoji-kun, like you were."
Choso looked to Kiyotaka and said, "We're running, Kiyo."
Kiyotaka shook his head and said, "As if we'd make it to the next street before he catches us."
Choso clicked his tongue, and Naoya went on saying, "Could you let me have a try at it first?"
Yuta looked to Naoya and said, "No can do. You'll have to settle for the other one if he's going to interfere."
Kiyotaka looked to Choso and said, "Naoya creates 24 frames of movement per second. Adjust to that and try to get out with a win. Once you do that, come and help me."
Choso nodded and said, "Got it."
Naoya sighed and said, "Fine. But in return, once you've killed Ayanokoji-kun, could you hold off on reporting it for a bit? I want to use him as bait so I can see someone", while thinking, 'It's not like you'd lose to Okkotsu anyway, right? You're someone whom I'll stand beside, along with Satoru and Toji-kun.'
Kiyotaka looked to Naoya and thought, 'From that expression, I think you're immensely overestimating me right now.'
Naoya sighed, thinking, 'I shoulda kept quiet about Megumi-kun. That gave me shivers.'
Yuta looked to Naoya and said, "Fine by me."
Choso looked to Kiyotaka and said, "That black-haired one. Okkotsu. He seems like the same type as Satoru Gojo."
Choso prepared a Piercing Blood and said, "We'll meet at our spot from yesterday."
Kiyotaka nodded and said, "Don't die... Ni-san."
Choso looked ecstatic, shouting, "Kiyo!!!" in happiness.
"I'm heading off."
Kiyotaka said this as he began running, as Yuta chased after him, and a piercing Blood fired at Naoya, who dodged.
Yuta looked to Kiyotaka, thinking, 'He's fast. I'd planned to crush him when he broke into a run, but he didn't even give me a chance.'
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Choso stood there as Naoya smiled and said, "I was watching earlier. That's blood manipulation, isn't it? Maybe the Kamo Clan decided to keep Ayanokoji alive as a possible new successor? I can understand that, though."
Choso clicked his tongue and said, "My brothers and I have nothing to do with that clan."
Naoya raised his eyebrow and said, "Borhter? That's weird. The only thing you two have in common is your nose bridges. You with that black marking and him with that scar."
Naoya shrugged and said, "Well, whatever."
Naoya showed a confident smirk and then said, "Blood Manipulation isn't that scary, though, aside from Piercing Blood. And producing Piercing Blood takes Convergence. There's a long build-up. I don't need to say any more, do I? It's checkmate. You're gonna die."
Choso glared and said, You're the one who'll die. Did you think you could go after my little brother and leave here alive?" while thinking, 'He makes 24 movements per second. Kiyo told me to adjust to that timing, but I do things instinctually. So it might be a bit difficult for me.'
Choso smiled as Naoya asked, "What's with that smirk?"
"As the Older Brother, I'll have to give it my all."
Choso said this as Naoya sighed, thinking, 'He knows how my Technique works, so I'll have to be a bit careful, but just a bit.'
Naoya rushed in, bypassing Choso's defences and slamming his fists into him over and over again as Choso thought, 'He's too fast' as Naoya kept ramping up the speed as his fists connected with Choso's abdomen and then face.
Suddenly, Choso felt himself get frozen in place as he thought, 'I understand he's moving in 24 frames, but how do I use that to my advantage? I have no chance to use Convergence,' as the final hit sent him through a pillar and to the other side.
Naoya smiled and said, "You're persistent. Seriously, what are you?"
Choso stood there and said, "An older brother. To nine other siblings"
Choso took a stance and chanted, "Flowing Red Scale: Stack!" as he took a breath and readied himself.
Naoya sighed and said, "That ain't an answer. I was asking about your toughness and that Technique."
Naoya suddenly disappeared as he rushed in, punching Choso's face, who thought, 'He creates 24 movements, which means... he has to plan them out in advance!'
Naoya stabbed Choso and then took out his blade when Choso thought, 'Ugh! No. This is good!' as he chanted, "Supernova!" as he let out a stream of blood that burst out of that wound like a shotgun shell as Naoya's eyes widened and he felt cuts littering his body.
Naoya jumped back, thinking, 'What the? I've never seen someone from the Kamo Clan use something like that.'
Choso got into a stance, thinking, 'He's poisoned. I just have to keep him moving, and the poison will do its thing. I could stall for time but I need to get back to Kiyo quickly.'
Choso smiled, thinking, 'Kiyotaka has given me everything I need. Now I just need to do my job.'
Choso looked to Choso and thought, 'This guy is using Flowing Red Scale in his external eye muscles to boost his kinetic vision. I see. That scatter spray move is dangerous. I'll have to watch out for it next time.'
Naoya cleaned the blade and said, "That wasn't too bad. I guess you can qualify as a brother to that guy, but maybe being a younger brother would suit you better. After all, he's stronger than you."
Choso clicked his tongue and said, "Being the older brother isn't about being stronger."
Naoya laughed at this as he sheathed his weapon and said, "Let's find out how well you fare against me while distracted with staunching your bleeding."
Choso looked at him and said, "You came well prepared."
Naoya smiled and said, "Keep it a secret. Honestly, I think it's lame. A sorcerer walking around with a weapon? Feels strange if you can't win without it. A surprising number of people share this idea."
Naoya smiled and said, "My own elder brothers are pathetic, carrying them around. Yet they think they have any right to complain about Toji-Kun."
Choso looked to him and asked, "You hate them, don't you? Your brothers?"
"I do. Older Brothers that are less competent than a younger brother serve no purpose. If you're Kiyotaka-kun's older brother, then you're the same in that regard. Them and you. You all deserve to be hanged."
Choso sighed and said, "I've caused a lot of problems for him, but I'm going to spend the time I have from here on out making it up to him. For his sake. I'm sure he learned a few things from me. That's what's important about being an Older Brother. You're probably the same. You might be who you are now thanks to those older brothers of yours."
Naoya looked disgusted, saying, "Huh? Did you just say something super disgusting? I'm grossed out."
Choso glared at him, blood dripping from his wound and said, "Competent or not, Older Brothers serve as an example to their younger brothers. If I go down the wrong path, then my younger brothers can just avoid that path. And if I go down the proper path, my little brothers can follow after me."
He said this while thinking, 'I went down the wrong path and dragged our brothers down that path, but at the very least, you avoided that path, Kiyotaka. From here on out, I'll serve as a better example. To our siblings. To you.'
Choso looked to Naoya and asked, "What would you do if you were strong because your older brothers were weak?"
Naoya glared as Choso went on saying, "You asked me why I'm so tough? I'll tell you."
Naoya noticed the amount of blood pooling and disappeared from sight as Choso went on saying, "I never had an example. I had to make many, many, many mistakes, and I'm still making them. Yet I will continue to walk in front of my Older Brothers. That's why I'm strong!"
A huge wave of blood gushed out as Naoya began running wawy form it, thinking, 'What's he going on about? How's he still alive after bleeding so much?'
The Death Womb Paintings are a mix of Curse and Human. They possess the unique ability to convert Cursed Energy into Blood. Until their Cursed Energy dries up, they cannot die from blood loss.
Suddenly, Naoya felt something off as he fell to the ground, thinking, 'I was poisoned? But how?"
He stared as the wave crashed into him, sending him flying as Choso's Piercing Blood hit him, and the waves pinned him to the wall as he fell to the floor thinking, 'Damn it. What is this bullshit?'
He lay there in a pool of his own blood and Choso's as he coughed in pain, thinking, 'No! No! No! How could I lose to this loser? This can't be happening! I'm supposed to stand next to those three!'
Naoya thought of Toji, Gojo and Kiyotaka.
Choso stepped towards Naoya but then took a breath and said, "The poison will kill you in five minutes, so there's nothing else I need to do at this point. Regret your actions against my younger brother and in your final moments apologise to your older brothers so that your souls may at the very least find peace."
Choso began running off towards Kiyotaka and Yuta's fight, thinking, 'I'm coming, Kiyotaka. I'll be there soon. Just make sure you don't die!'
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To Be Continued
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