[Author note:]
Two chapters back to back? sheesh. I sure am spoiling you all, huh?
anyways. See you all in three years when I remember this exists, yeah?
[Author note over.]
The edge of the beach was Tetsuya's preferred training spot. Both because it never got tiring seeing water explode upwards, and because it was a nice view.
Water stretched endlessly before him, the horizon a clean line between sea and sky. No obstacles. No distractions. Just him and the ocean.
He stood barefoot in the sand, wearing nothing but training pants and the blood iron anklets that never left his legs.
And something new.
Gauntlets.
They were heavy things, black material wrapping from his knuckles to just past his elbows.
Said black material was almost like Black scales with grey indentations running along the outer shell where the metal plating met the wraps pressed against his skin. The design was brutal. Functional. Built for impact. Impact, and a very specific thing that took a lot of money to get.
It had taken close to half a year since he specifically ordered them from a curse weapon workshop. Funny how something like this existed for the right price.
They kinda resembled the gauntlets Yuji had worn against Sukuna in the manga, so that was also bonus style points if you asked him.
Tetsuya raised his fists, felt the weight settle, then threw a punch into empty air.
Instantly, two dozen missile fists formed and shot out in under a second, flying through the air, each causing its own little explosion in the water.
Unlike the other user of this cursed technique, Tetsuya had been training it almost daily, thanks to his large reserves.
It was no wonder he could form them so fast.
Just when he started to form a Maximum, his phone buzzed, and Tetsuya let the Cursed energy settle down, as his armored fingers fished out his phone from his pockets.
A Slamsung Omnia, mind you. If you got money, might as well use it right?
Unknown number. He still picked up.
"Zenin-san. I hope I'm not interrupting something."
A voice he recognised. One of his contacts. Low grade curse user turned informant.
"We found something. Special Grade 1 curse this time. Active in the surrounding Hokkaido area."
Tetsuya's grip tightened on the phone.
"Details."
"Victims found with their bodies altered. Reshaped. Limbs extended, bones reinforced, muscle mass increased."
Tetsuya felt his blood freeze. Mahito?! this early?!
"All of them are somehow alive. Some can't move anymore. Too heavy. changed proportions. The curse hasn't killed any of its victims as far as we can tell."
That sent tingles down his spine, as he let a breath he didn't know he was holding.
'That doesn't sound like how Mahito does things. That only means this is a whole different curse. Probably for the best. I don't think I could handle a special grade like Mahito.'
"How much for you to keep tracking it?"
Tetsuya exhaled slowly as he heard the man reply.
"Deal. Keep me informed."
He hung up.
Then made another call.
"It's me. I need a sealing vessel. Capable of containing Special Grade 1 curse energy. Can you get it?"
A pause on the other end.
"...Expensive. But we can get it to your hands in about two we-"
"I don't care. Get it. I'll pay triple." He spoke, interrupting them.
"...Two days, Zenin san."
"One day. I know your workshop must have some at hand. Special occasions like these. One day, and I pay you fourfold."
"....Understood sir."
As Tetsuya ended the call, phone back in his pocket, he stared out at the ocean.
"This might just work." He muttered.
Night had fallen over a quiet coastal neighbourhood in Yokohama.
Beyond the apartment walls, the distant hush of the sea lingered in the air, blending with the occasional passing car. The city felt softer here, far away from the hub of Jujutsu.
Inside a small, modest apartment, the lights were off.
A woman slept soundly in the bedroom, blankets pulled up to her chin, breathing slow and even.
Beside her, in a small futon on the floor, a small boy slept just as peacefully. Small hands curled beneath a pillow, dark hair messy across the fabric.
In the living room, a man sat on the edge of the couch, elbows on his knees, staring at nothing in particular.
He stood slowly, stretching, his strong, muscular body unable to be hidden under his casual clothing, and with a satisfying crack, he rolled his neck.
The man turned towards the bedroom and stood up, likely going for a beer in the fridge.
Then his phone buzzed.
He stopped. Glanced at the screen.
A message. A familiar number, the man didn't exactly want to see.
He opened it.
Job available. Special Grade 1 curse. very high payout. I know you said you'd quit after that incident, but you know. Money has a way of opening many doors.
The man stared at the message for a long moment.
Then he walked to the small balcony, slid the door open quietly, and stepped outside.
The cool night air hit him immediately. He leaned against the railing, pulled out a cigarette, lit it, and dialled the number.
It rang once.
"Toji Fushiguro." A familiar voice. Smooth. Casual. The same man who'd contacted him years ago about the Star Plasma Vessel job.
"Thought I told you I don't do commissions anymore, Shiu." Toji Fushiguro said, voice flat.
"I know, I know. But this one's different. Special Grade 1. Nothing you can't handle of course, but the curse is starting to cause lots of problems for Jujutsu society. Figured you might be interested."
"Not interested."
Toji refused. He might not have exactly stopped smoking, despite the many promises to his wife, but he'd kept the promise of not fighting.
"You sure? you'd be getting forty million yen."
Toji paused mid drag, smoke leaving his mouth.
"...forty million?"
"Yeah. Like I said. The Curse had been very problematic. Unlike normal curses, it seems to like targeting non sorcerers. Maybe because non sorcerers can't fight back at all."
Now that was something.
"If you're asking me, it almost looks like it's avoiding sorcerers entirely."
Toji was silent for a long moment, staring out at the city lights.
Forty million.
That was... a lot.
Even ten million more than that star whatever mission he had almost taken years ago.
Enough to move his family somewhere better, though he was unsure if his wife would even want to. Enough to set his kid up for years. Enough to stop worrying about money for a long, long time.
He took another drag.
"...Fine. Send me the details."
"Already done. Check your phone."
Toji ended the call and saw the file. Location. Target description. Timeline.
He hung up, crushed the cigarette under his heel, and stared at the phone for a moment longer.
"Maybe if I finish quickly, Mio won't find out."
Toji spoke, convincing himself. After all, no man wanted a scolding from his wife.
Then he slipped back inside, quiet as a ghost, and glanced toward the bedroom.
His wife and son were still sleeping peacefully. He laid on the bed and soon enough, Toji drifted off.
The workshop smelled like rust, oil, and something faintly rotten.
Tetsuya stepped inside, boots crunching on debris scattered across the concrete floor.
The space was cluttered. Tools hanging on walls, half finished projects piled in corners, a workbench covered in stains that were definitely not red paint.
And standing in the center of it all, leaning against the bench, was Juzo Kumiya.
Mid-thirties, wiry build, greasy hair tied back, eyes sharp and assessing.
He looked Tetsuya up and down slowly.
Then grinned.
"You'd make a great hanger rack, kid. Nice frame. Good bones."
Tetsuya's expression didn't change.
"You wanted money, didn't you?"
Juzo's grin widened.
"Straight to business. I like that." He flicked ash onto the floor. "Yeah, I want money. What's the job?"
"I need you to work on a cursed spirit. Special Grade 1."
Juzo's grin turned into a frown.
"A cursed spirit?. How boring man..."
"You taking the job or not?"
"But working with cursed spirits ain't no fun! Human bodies are way nicer and make good hangers, you know?"
Tetsuya's hand exited his cloak's pocket, and pulled out a stack of notes, throwing it at Juzo, who's eyes widened at the amount.
"You weren't kidding on the amount huh? Holy shit, I'm rich!"
"That's the payment. Half upfront. You get the other half when we're done."
"Fuck yeah! With that kind of money, I could get a way bigger workshop! Hell, I could get a whole damn building!"
His smile was wide, greedy, and excited.
Excited at the prospect of having more space to store his human creations.
Then it soured slightly.
"Are you sure about the whole cursed spirit thing? I could instead make you a really nice hanger, little man!"
"Just do what I said and you'll get the rest."
"Sheesh! Alright. I can do it. But it's gonna take time. And I'll need the curse intact. No missing pieces. You damage it too much, the whole thing's useless."
Tetsuya turned to leave.
"Oh. And if I don't find you here, I'll burn Tokyo itself finding you if I have to." Tetsuya spoke, putting his hood up, and started disappearing.
Juzo just seemed amused.
"Cool cape. Wonder if the little man could let me borrow it later! I bet it's going to make sneaking up on people much easier!"
Outside, in the cool night air, he pulled out his phone again and called his driver.
'Should I kill him after this? He turns people into tools. Then again, he seems to die anyways in canon.'
Tetsuya exhaled slowly and pocketed the phone.
'I'll decide after the job's done.'
He started walking back toward the nearest train station, hands shoved in his pockets, mind already shifting to the next step.