fics I read

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"I'm finally done!"

Shiki looks up from her books at the sound of Tsumiki's cheerful voice breaking through the companionable silence in the living room. The younger girl stretches, arms reaching high over her head as she turns with a pleased smile.

"Sometimes I think you're really lucky since you don't have to suffer through homework like this," Tsumiki laughs, although her teasing expression fades in the next moment. "But… you always do a lot of self-studying on your own, right? And that's on top of the other work that you need to deal with…"

Shiki blinks, not quite seeing where her friend is intending on going with this. She tilts her head questioningly.

Tsumiki sighs, then smiles at her. Her next words come out bright and upbeat, "I hope you'll enjoy your time at the jujutsu school and make lots of new friends!"

"Thank you," Shiki responds. She's fifteen years old now –finally old enough to begin attending one of the jujutsu schools. Tsumiki has been very excited about it for some reason, even though there are still a few months remaining before the start of the school year when Shiki officially becomes a student.

"Aren't you excited?" Tsumiki sets down her pencil atop her notebooks, and turns around towards Shiki in full. "I mean, I complain about homework sometimes, but you get to learn lots of new things in classes. And meet lots of new people! Isn't that something to look forward to?"

Perhaps. Shiki has never actually attended school due to her unique circumstances, and… admittedly, part of her does look forward to it. Shiki recalls the memory of when she'd exorcised a cursed spirit and encountered a sighted boy when she'd been dispatched to a school, of seeing other children her age engage in various extracurricular activities together and–

It's not like Shiki longs to join them; there had been zero desire whatsoever on her part to involve herself with them. But she's… curious.

Curious. Yes, that's probably the best way to put things. The students that she'd seen were normal people living normal lives, and it's difficult for Shiki to imagine herself among them. After all, it's been a long time since Shiki herself was normal.

But it's not such a bad thing. Being normal, that is. Shiki finds herself automatically staring at Tsumiki, and carefully shifts her gaze aside before Tsumiki catches on. She doesn't want to unnerve the other girl.

"Yes. I'm looking forward to it." Shiki thinks of the easygoing interactions between Satoru-niichan and Shoko-san. Of the trust that he still shares with Geto-san even now, even despite the other man's betrayal, and she can't help but wonder.

"You should make lots of new friends! And then you can tell me all about them. Or maybe even introduce them to me sometime!" Tsumiki cheers.

"… I'll try," Shiki says. She's self-aware enough to realize that her personality isn't exactly friendly, but it's nice that Tsumiki evidently has confidence in her friend-making skills. Shiki certainly doesn't. "But I don't know about 'lots.' On average, there's five to ten students total in a school, so there's… around one to three students in a single year, more or less?"

Tsumiki nearly slips and falls off of her chair. "Wait, what?"

"There aren't very many sorcerers to begin with," Shiki shrugs. "Most clan sorcerers are also trained internally. Those who attend one of the jujutsu schools generally fall under one of three categories: Those who have no other means of attaining instruction, those under observation of the administration, or those that the clans wish to put forth in the spotlight."

Tsumiki's lip scrunches slightly in visible confusion. "Okay, I… think I get the first thing. That includes people who are scouted, right? So like, people from normal backgrounds who don't know anything about jujutsu. They don't have any sorcerer relatives or other connections to reach out to for assistance, and jujutsu school will teach them what they need to know. But I'm not really sure what you mean by the other two categories…"

According to the explanation that Shiki had received–

"The jujutsu administration itself is closely tied with the schools," she explains to her friend. "As a result, it means that everyone is always aware of what happens in the schools. Sometimes there are sorcerers with dangerous abilities or unique circumstances that the administration wishes to keep close and watch with a careful eye; if they're young enough, then they might be invited to enroll as a student."

"Ah," Tsumiki makes a thoughtful sound. "So… like Panda?"

"… Something like that." Tsumiki isn't wrong, although Shiki is pretty sure that Panda –who's scheduled to enroll as an official student next year in the Tokyo school– is likely only able to enroll due to his connection to Yaga Masamichi. His father, who's also the principal of the Tokyo school. Regardless, granting admission to a student who wasn't human couldn't have been an easy arrangement to wrangle out of the administration.

"What about the last category you mentioned?" Tsumiki asks. "Something about… clans putting people in the spotlight?"

Shiki nods. "If a clan sends their children to the school, then the children in question would be viewed as representative of their clan. So if they perform well, it would be a benefit to the clan's reputation."

More than just reputation, it was also a show of power. A way to flaunt the clan's strength. The Gojo Clan had been very pleased to send Gojo Satoru to one of the jujutsu schools, and Shiki… was in a somewhat similar situation, for the most part.

She might be female, and the daughter of a minor branch family. A far cry from Satoru-niichan, who'd been the Honored One and heir to his clan. But at their core, sorcery clans exalt strength, which means that Shiki's eyes and cursed technique are not so easily overlooked. And that in turn means that there's attention on her –and not just from the Gojo Clan.

The Kamo Clan, for example. Araya Souren.

Shiki represses a small frown.

"I see, that makes sense," Tsumiki's voice breaks through her thoughts. "Well… even despite this sort of thing going on, I hope you'll be able to make some good friends while you're at the school."

Shiki blinks, confused. "Why are you emphasizing this?"

"Huh?" Tsumiki blinks back at her, equally confused.

"… This emphasis on 'making friends,'" Shiki clarifies herself. This isn't the first time that Tsumiki has brought up this topic to her. Shiki doesn't understand the importance that Tsumiki places on it, because it's not something that Shiki needs. She's perfectly satisfied with the friends that she already has, but… clearly Tsumiki believes otherwise.

Why?

Does it come down to a fundamental difference in their personalities? Unlike Tsumiki, who's open-hearted and free with her smiles, forever full of good cheer even towards complete strangers… the same cannot be said for Shiki. Tsumiki is kind and considerate towards strangers and passing acquaintances in a way that's hard to fathom in Shiki's eyes. Why does she care?

Shiki doesn't think she'll ever really understand what goes on in Tsumiki's mind.

… She's aware that she's not 'normal.' When Shiki goes on missions, she doesn't really feel anything upon witnessing violent deaths or traumatic injuries caused by a cursed spirit's rampage. She doesn't experience any of that distinctly uncomfortable sense of something missing, not like when Jihei-san died. There'snone of that faint pulse of anxiety that she'd experienced when Kiyohira-sensei had been grievously injured at Araya's hand –or even a pale fraction of it.

Shiki realizes that this sort of reaction isn't right. But it's only a thought that registers logically in her mind, instead of something that she feels in her heart.

But that's not the case for most people, is it? People like Tsumiki. Ken-jichan. Maybe even Geto-san, once upon a time.

Kiyohira-sensei is no different. Shiki has seen the hard light in her teacher's eyes before, on occasions when they arrived just a touch too late to prevent further casualties on a mission. She knows the way that he grits his teeth, the way that his hands clasp down over the hilt of his sword. The vicious edge to his movement when he draws his blade…

…

Shiki understands responsibility, not compassion.

So, it's hard to relate to what others are thinking, sometimes. Yuzuki-san is a godsend with how he's able to explain things to her, but even Yuzuki-san can't explain everything.

"Shiki," Tsumiki reaches out towards her. There's something almost sad in the younger girl's expression for a moment, but it disappears swiftly beneath the warm smile that spreads over her lips fondly. "You deserve to have more friends by your side."

The words are firm, steadfast.

They also don't make sense.

"I don't need more friends," Shiki says. What's wrong with the friends that she already has? "Also, I don't think 'deserving' is even something that–"

"No, you do," Tsumiki interrupts in disagreement. "It's a good thing to have more friends! To have people you can talk to and confide in, or just laugh and have fun with."

Shiki still isn't seeing the point here, "I have you, don't I?"

Tsumiki. Megumi. Yuzuki-san, and Panda. Friends are important, and Shiki has friends, so it's not–

"More than just me! And more than just Megumi, Yuzuki, and Panda," the dark-haired girl huffs. "You need to broaden your social circle!"

"… Why?"

"Because meeting new friends lets you interact with more people, and you'll get to encounter new things and new ideas. It'll be good for you!" And here, Tsumiki's voice softens. "You're a good person, and I want more people to know that."

A… good person. Shiki?

Although, she supposes that it's entirely in-character for Tsumiki to go ahead and say something like that so thoughtlessly. Tsumiki is probably the gentlest, kindest individual that Shiki knows, and she's someone who always looks on the bright side of things.

Fushiguro Tsumiki, who calls Shiki her friend.

Between the two of them, it had been Tsumiki who'd swallowed down her nervousness and approached Shiki with small overtures of friendship all those years ago, again and again with unfailing determination. On Shiki's part, it hadn't been anything more than an obligation in the beginning, looking out for the Fushiguro siblings at her cousin's behest. It was Tsumiki who'd done the brunt of the work in turning their relationship into friendship, and… it's hard for Shiki to pin down when this change had occurred, precisely.

But that's unimportant, in the end.

Tsumiki is Shiki's friend. That's all there really is to say on the matter.

"How about this," Tsumiki puts her hands on her hips mock-authoritatively. "Your goal is… to make at least three new friends in jujutsu school this year! And after you succeed, then… um. I'll make senbei from scratch again! Just for you."

Shiki still doesn't really understand why Tsumiki is so particularly insistent about 'making new friends.' But clearly it's important to her, and… Shiki knows that Tsumiki has her best interests in mind. Because Tsumiki is someone who cares about other people, in a way that's difficult for Shiki to relate to.

"Are you trying to bribe me?"

"Is it working?" Tsumiki flashes her a bright grin, shameless and unrepentant.

Shiki sighs. There's only one response that she can give here, really. "… I want nori senbei. And kuromame senbei."

"Of course!" Tsumiki's smile widens in victory. "That's a promise, then."

Shiki shakes her head.

.

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The new school year starts in April, which is still a few months out from now. Shiki will be attending the school in Tokyo, just like Ken-jichan and Satoru-niichan.

I hope you'll make lots of new friends!

… Shiki doesn't know about lots, but hopefully she wouldn't end up disappointing Tsumiki.

School is… something that she looks forward to. The question of friends aside, Shiki can readily admit that she's curious about what it will be like.

Tokyo Prefectural Jujutsu High School.

There are multiple reasons for choosing the Tokyo school over the Kyoto one. Shiki had reconsidered things briefly when Iori-sensei had accepted a teaching post in the Kyoto school, but… Tokyo would be the best choice for her. She likes Iori-sensei, but it's a well-known fact that the conservative faction of the administration has historically had its roots in Kyoto. If the higher ups in charge over there are anything like the conservative elders that Shiki has encountered in the Gojo Clan, then she'd probably be better off staying as far away from them as possible in the interest of preemptively curbing any homicidal tendencies before the urge arises.

Yaga Masamichi is the principal of the Tokyo school. A neutral figure, for the most part –although Shiki suspects that a major reason why he doesn't actively push for changes as Satoru-niichan does is related to the fact that he had previously been imprisoned and trialed for 'unsanctioned' experimentation with cursed corpse dolls. Therefore, it's important that Yaga-san treads carefully, lest he draw undue ire from those who would still rather see him dead and harvest his secrets from his corpse, rather than keep him around as a useful resource.

How wasteful.

Shiki will never understand the way some people think.

Another reason why it might be important for Yaga-san to be cautious… would be to protect Panda. Shiki still remembers how she'd met her friend. Yaga-san's trial had been reopened in the aftermath of the incident involving the Star Plasma Vessel, as a political play from the higher ups who clearly had too much time on their hands. Under the circumstances, Satoru-niichan had decided that it would be safer to put Shiki next to Panda while he and the others were preoccupied dealing with Yaga-san's trial, in case any of the higher ups got ideas into their heads to get… opportunistic.

Her cousin's foresight had proven to be for the best. Someone had barged in intending to take Panda into custody while the trial had still been going on, and if Shiki hadn't been present with Panda at the time, things might've gotten a little messy.

And dangerous, for Panda.

Come to think of it, isn't that something else to look forward to? Panda will be at the Tokyo school since he lives there. Once Shiki starts attending as a student, she'll be able to see him on a far more consistent basis, instead of only dropping by to visit on sporadic occasions interspersed irregularly in-between her work. It would be nice to see him more often.

Out of her friends, Panda is the one whom Shiki understands the least. Which is only natural, as Shiki has lived together with Yuzuki-san and the Fushiguro siblings for years, back in the Gojo estate. And she still lives with Tsumiki and Megumi, even now.

It's not just a lack of familiarity, although there's no disputing the fact that Panda is the friend that Shiki has spent the least amount of time with, simply due to their circumstances. Because more than just not spending as much time with each other, it's…

… somewhat similar to how Shiki has trouble understanding Tsumiki, actually.

Panda is empathetic in a way that's foreign to Shiki. He's not kind the way Tsumiki is, but he's still thoughtful and considerate in his own way. And he means well –Shiki doesn't think she's ever seen Panda bear ill will towards anyone, nor is he someone prone to holding grudges. Panda's easygoing temperament is cheerful and positive, one that is not easily offended by any perceived slights.

In Yuzuki-san's words, "It's hard to imagine that this is the sort of personality born from a cursed corpse."

A cursed corpse –an inanimate object possessed by a curse and commanded by a sorcerer. It's something that's a cross between a cursed tool and a shikigami, under the current classification system. No one knows how Yaga Masamichi had managed to create a cursed puppet that manifested its own ego, its own sense of self and consciousness that developed morality and logical, rational thinking. A doll that was almost human.

If Satoru-niichan hadn't intervened with the weight of the Gojo Clan behind him, Yaga-san might very well have been branded a heretic and condemned as a dangerous curse user years ago. Possibly even sentenced to execution, depending on how fearfully the higher ups had reacted to the news.

And people have the gall to call Shiki murderous. Hmph!

She sighs.

Although Yaga-san had been Satoru-niichan's teacher while her cousin was a student at the Tokyo school, Shiki isn't too familiar with the man on a personal level. She's friends with Panda, yes, and Panda is Yaga-san's 'son,' but there haven't been very many occasions where she's interacted with Yaga-san personally, so she doesn't have a clear sense of his character.

But Satoru-niichan trusts him, and Panda quite clearly cherishes his father. For this alone, Shiki is inclined to think well of Yaga Masamichi.

… So it should be safe to presume that Yaga-san wasn't the type of person to deliberately engage in political ploys and mind games. Shiki didn't get the impression of a conniving elder from him, and if he was that type of person, there was no way that Satoru-niichan would regard his old teacher the way he does. Or even Panda, for that matter.

That much, Shiki is confident in.

"Ojou-sama?"

She mentally shakes her head, setting aside her wandering thoughts for now as Choki calls for her. It's one thing to muse over what her school experience might include, but another thing entirely if she allows such thoughts to distract her while she's on a mission.

They seem to have finally arrived. Shiki looks out the window of the car, and tilts her head –there are distinct ripples of agitated cursed energy that she can sense emanating from the run-down building in front of them. The cursed spirit must be active right now, then. If that's the case, then it would be best to begin moving immediately.

With a few last instructions for Choki, Shiki takes her sword and steps towards her current assignment.

The decrepit building is run-down and worn. There's a noisy creak beneath her hand as she pushes open the rusted door and enters inside.

A stronger ripple of cursed energy pulses through the air.

Instinct has her immediately slipping a knife into her hand and slashing upwards. A bat-like cursed spirit shrieks, an ear-splitting wail, even as it writhes and falls to the ground in two wet thunks. But it's not the only one lying in ambush; there's a glittering dark cloud of them, warbling and hissing with distorted voices as they bear down upon her in a thundering, sharp-fanged storm–

Grade Fours, Shiki deduces at a glance. Going by their lines, some of which shone crimson red while others gleamed a corrosive blue-purple, and what she sensed from the cursed energy in the air… illusionary copies would be her best guess. Corporeal illusions, though, which was interesting. There's quite a number of them swarming here, which means that cutting them down one by one would make for tedious work. Especially when they're not even the cursed spirit that Shiki was called in to exorcise, because she distinctly remembers Choki saying something about a Grade Two, borderline Grade One cursed spirit whose tracks had been discovered in the area…

Well, no matter.

Sharp fangs and jagged wings batter futilely against the shield of her lapse technique. Shiki hefts Kuji Kanesada in her grip, and unsheathes her sword.

Kuji is a beautiful katana, polished steel bright even through the dark gloom. There's a distinct weight that presses down in the air when Shiki draws the blade out of its lacquered sheath and swings it in a wide arc.

Strictly speaking, Kuji Kanesada is a Grade One cursed tool. There's no technique imbued into the blade, so it ranks lower than Special Grade cursed tools. But in terms of the quality of the blade itself, of the pressure of cursed energy that it can withstand, it doesn't lose to any Special Grade cursed tool.

It's also five hundred years old, with five hundred years' worth of history behind it. A cursed tool that was wielded through the ages by numerous sorcerers before her, tempered in battle and honed specifically as a weapon meant to kill.

There is significance in such a thing. There's a reason why it had been passed down as an heirloom in Jihei-san's family, despite only being officially categorized as a Grade One cursed tool.

Shiki lowers her sword and glances around herself. The downed forms of the bat-like cursed spirits litter the ground in dark specks… and in far less numbers than they'd been in moments prior, now that the illusions have been dispelled. Kuji might not be a weapon that possesses a technique, but the cursed energy and death that clings to the clear, beautiful blade is enough to shred through many things –subpar illusions included.

It's part of the reason why Kiyohira-sensei was adamant that Shiki didn't unsheathe Kuji inside the house, in consideration of the protective warding and seals that tended to be on the fragile side.

Shiki glances up at the faint pinprick of something –a sensation that's a light tickle along her skin, rather than the distinct pressure indicative of true danger– and finds her target. Or rather, her target has clearly found her, but there's not much of a difference in this instance here. Shiki bounces lightly on her feet, shifting her weight and–

–pauses, then darts back a few steps to avoid a clawed hand coming down on her, instead of directly closing the gap between them.

The cursed spirit has a hostage. A black-haired girl who appears to be badly injured, with blood trickling down in red rivulets on her body. A civilian victim? The girl is caught in the cursed spirit's grip, her body caught in its claws while her head is precariously held between two sharp talons. Fear shines a wild light in her eyes, but more than that, there's also grim determination.

"Run!" she screams at Shiki. The girl's voice is hoarse, and chokes on a shaky sob as she gasps a shuddering breath. A shuddering breath that breaks into a short scream when the cursed spirit cackles and tightens its claws on her. Wide bat wings unfurl from its back, sweeping out and knocking down quite a few nearby pillars in its vicinity.

There's a faint tremor that Shiki can feel in her surroundings. Red lines fracture and multiply along the dilapidated walls. This probably doesn't indicate anything good for the structural integrity of this place.

"You need to run! A sword won't do anything against this thing!" Despite her battered state, the hostage girl still seems to have a healthy set of lungs on her. She'll probably be fine, then. "This thing has got to be a Grade Two curse! Run and get help! We need at least a Grade Two sorcerer to exorcise this monster–!"

Ah, so she wasn't a complete civilian, then, judging by how easily she spoke of 'Grade Two' and 'sorcerers.' A Window, then, perhaps? It more or less matches with the cursed energy that Shiki senses from her; decently powerful for a civilian, and somewhere around the level of an average Window.

Her composure could use some work, though; fear and panic in a dangerous situation would help no one, least of all herself.

"It's alright," Shiki serenely reassures the other girl, who does not seem very reassured despite the words.

"Are you crazy?" The girl struggles wildly, uselessly. "Listen, you need to–!"

The cursed spirit cackles gleefully and sweeps its wings out again. Secure in its belief of safety, holding a hostage in its hands the way it does. Sharp winds and jagged bits of debris both real and illusionary are flung mercilessly in Shiki's direction. With the room as narrow as it is, there's not much space to safely avoid the attack–

But there's no need for Shiki to dodge. The cursed spirit just dug its own grave here, with all the dust and debris that it had blown up to provide a perfect cover for Shiki's movements.

One, two.

The tip of her sword slices through the darkness, first cutting through the cursed spirit's hand to secure the hostage, then piercing into its torso. Shiki ignores the screaming, the swipe of clawed hands that don't even manage to leave a scratch on her kimono. Her eyes focus on the glimmering red lines that she sees in front of her, and she raises her blade and cuts.

… Then reaches out and grabs the hostage girl, before she collides with the ground in her fall and aggravates her injuries. The cursed spirit screeches in its death throes, a sound that hangs in the air as a haunting echo as its body gradually dissolves into dust-like particles.

"You… you exorcised it?" There's a note of something almost disbelieving in the girl's dazed voice.

Shiki doesn't see the point in answering such an obvious question that's not much of an actual question at all, and instead readjusts her hold on the girl so it's easier to carry her out of this building that looks like it's on the verge of imminent collapse. She's taller than Shiki, so it's a little awkward to maneuver around her like this.

"… It's dead," the girl mutters, in a tone that's blank with shock as Shiki single-handedly drags her towards the exit. "It's… it's really… dead…?"

"Choki!" Shiki raises her voice as soon as they emerge into the sunlight. Her assistant is waiting for her outside, as reliable as always. Choki glances up and immediately rushes over, taking the injured girl off of Shiki's hands and relieving her of the burden.

Shiki takes a moment to check her kimono. No rips or tears, no bloodstains –good. She's rather pleased with the refined results of her lapse technique.

"Ojou-sama," Choki bows his head towards her in greeting. "This girl, might I ask what–?"

"Probably an unlucky Window." That, or an assistant manager in-training who'd clearly gotten in over her head, judging from how young she was. She didn't look like she was all that much older than Shiki–

"Window–? No, what are you talking about?!" Something undeniably fierce underscores the girl's words, as she suddenly snaps out of her dazed state, jerking in Choki's arms. Much to her own detriment, as the sharp movement ends up causing her to let out a pained hiss through her teeth.

"You shouldn't be moving around," Choki tells her reasonably, except it's clear that she isn't listening to him. "You'll worsen your injuries that way. It's alright, you're safe now."

"That's not what I–" the girl cuts herself off in the middle of her words with a frustrated sound. "I'm not a Window, I'm a sorcerer!"

Huh, really?

Shiki blinks. "You are?"

The not-Window girl narrows her eyes at her. "Of course I am!"

Choki coughs lightly, clearing his throat.

"If I may," he says mildly, although Shiki catches a faint thread of displeasure in his measured tone, "My lady did not intend any offense, and she saved your life, young miss. Some respect towards the blessed child of the Gojo Clan would not be amiss."

It's clear that the girl is taken aback at those words. There's a flurry of emotions that flit across her face expressively –shock, anger, shame– but they pass by far too quickly for Shiki to make any sense of it.

"Y-you mean…" The girl swallows roughly. "You're that…?"

Shiki turns away, losing interest. "Choki, I'll leave the rest in your hands."

"As you command, ojou-sama," he answers her.

"H-hey, hold on! I-I–!"

Shiki wonders if this incident would convince the girl to give up on the life of a sorcerer. Going by her lively, spirited attitude… probably not. But it didn't look like she possessed a cursed technique, nor were her cursed energy reserves anything substantial. If she continued on like this, it was highly likely that she would only end up as another statistic on the list of casualties.

… It wasn't any of Shiki's business, though, what this girl chose in the future. Shiki's regard for her only extends as far as ensuring that this girl doesn't die on the mission that Shiki was assigned to.

Although, that does bring up new questions. This girl claimed to be a sorcerer, so what was another sorcerer doing on Shiki's mission? Furthermore, it was unlikely that she was ranked any higher than Grade Four, and this was a Grade Two cursed spirit that Shiki had been called to exorcise. A Grade Two cursed spirit that was suspected to be borderline Grade One, complete with additional cursed spirits and illusionary henchmen at its disposal. The swarm that had descended upon Shiki at the beginning wasn't something that was within the skill set of a Grade Four sorcerer to deal with.

So why was this girl here? An unlucky coincidence, or had she deliberately sought out a cursed spirit that could've easily killed her? That would've killed her, if it didn't enjoy tormenting its victims too much to give them the mercy of a quick death?

Shiki thinks about it for a moment, then shrugs disinterestedly. It's not something she's particularly concerned about, and if there really was anything to this, then Choki would follow up on it later. There are other problems that Shiki needs to focus on.

Such as the more immediately relevant question of… how does one make friends in school?

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…

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