Why?
Trouble.
Shigure glared at him, glaring for a while. "Then sleep with me."
Sukuna was stunned.
I haven't slept with someone with such a good physique before," Shigure said, sounding quite self-righteous. "If you sleep with me, we can forget about the wall thing.
Sukuna looked at him. This man either had something wrong with his brain or was simply too bold. "Do you know who I am?"
I don't know," Shigure said, "but your physique is the best I've ever seen.
Sukuna was silent for three seconds. Then he smiled. "Fine."
That evening, Shigure brought him into the Courtyard. The Courtyard was large but very old, with half of the Wall collapsed and unrepaired. Shigure walked ahead; his bathrobe had been changed into a dry one, his hair was also dried. Golden curly hair draped over his shoulders, his Red Eyes shone brightly under the Moonlight.
"You live alone?" Sukuna asked.
“Yeah,” Shigure said, “I don't like living with Others.”
What about your family?
"They're gone," Shigure said, his tone as flat as if he were saying the Weather was nice today.
Sukuna did not ask again.
Entering the room, Shigure closed the door. He turned around and looked at him. "Take off your clothes."
Sukuna looked at him. "In such a hurry?"
Shigure blushed. "None of your business."
Sukuna laughed and took off his shirt. Shigure stared at his chest, not even blinking his eyes. Then he reached out and touched his abdomen.
Hard," Shigure said, pressing his Finger against it, "Like stone.
Sukuna didn't move, Looking at him.
Shigure felt him for a long while, then looked up at him. "With a body like yours, I wonder if there are many people who want to sleep with you?"
No.
Why?
Because you fear me.
Shigure thought for a moment. "Then I'm not afraid of you."
Why?
Because you are beautiful," Shigure said. "There is nothing to fear for a beautiful person.
Sukuna laughed again. This person was very interesting to talk to.
That evening, they did indeed sleep together. Shigure was very proactive, but his technique was terrible. They bumped teeth while kissing, he held too tight while hugging, while lying on him, he said, "You are so warm."
Sukuna didn't find him annoying. For some reason, he just didn't.
Afterward, they became bed partners. Shigure would come to find him every few days, sometimes during the Daytime, sometimes in the Evening. Once he arrived, they would talk, talking a great deal. He would talk about what he ate today, about how new flowers had grown in the Courtyard, how new vendors had arrived in the village at the foot of the Mountain, selling things that were terrible.
Sukuna listened, occasionally offering a response. Shigure did not care whether he responded or not, continued to speak.
Sometimes, while talking, she would lean in and give him a kiss.
At that time, Sukuna had not yet realized anything. He only felt that this person was not annoying, not hateful, even a little.. interesting. Only later did he understand that it was called love.
But he didn't say it.
Shigure didn't say anything either. They were still like that, meeting, talking, sleeping. Shigure was still as talkative as ever, loving to touch his abdomen, loving to kiss him. Sukuna just kept listening, letting him touch him, letting him kiss him.
Until the final battle.
He had to fight that battle alone. His opponent was incredibly strong, so strong that he wasn't even sure he could win. He called Shigure over and told him that he had something to take care of and would be away for a few days. Shigure looked at him, staring for a long time. "Are you going to a fight?"
Yeah.
Take me.
No.
“Why?”
You are too weak.
Shigure glared at him, his Red Eyes shimmering with moisture. "I am not weak."
Yeah, you're not weak," Sukuna said, "But you'd still better not go.
Shigure wanted to say something more, but Sukuna raised his hand and struck his nape. Shigure's body went limp, collapsing into his arms. He caught him and held him. He was light, soft, warm.
Then he handed Shigure over to Uraume. "Take care of him."
Uraume nodded.
Sukuna turned and walked away. He had won that battle, but he had also died. At the moment of his death, he wondered if that talkative Rabbit would cry. Probably. It would certainly be very noisy if he did.
Later, he became a Cursed Spirit, the King of Curses, his power split into twenty Fingers and then sealed in different places. His consciousness remained, but he could not move. Sometimes he would think of Shigure. He wondered if he was still sulking, wondered if he had found someone new to sleep with, wondered if he.. wondered of him.
A thousand years have passed.
He came out. But he could not find Shigure. Uraume did not know where he was; it was as if Shigure had disappeared from this world.
Until that day, while inside Itadori's body, he saw a Rabbit Demon. Black hair, Red Eyes, possessing both Demon Power and Cursed Energy. He could tell at a glance—this was one of Shigure's kind, his clansman.
So he came.
He sat in the dark space inside Itadori's body and opened his eyes.
In the pile of bones beside him, a small flower had grown at some unknown time. It was white, very small, but very beautiful, just like that person.
Chapter 70
After Tu Bai hung up the phone, he sat on the Sofa for a while.
Second Granduncle. He had met him a few times, the most recent being during the New Year the year before last. The old man was very old; his ears drooped and his eyes were not very good, but his memory was indeed excellent. Tu Bai remembered him telling many stories about old history, such as how much it rained in a certain year and month, or who died in the village in a certain year and month, all told with absolute clarity.
He flipped through his Contact List and found Second Granduncle's Phone. He hesitated for a moment and didn't call. This kind of matter couldn't be explained clearly over a phone call; it was better to ask in person.
He sent a message to Gojo Satoru: [Will you accompany me to the countryside this Weekend? I need to ask your Second Granduncle something.]
Gojo Satoru replied instantly: 【Second Granduncle?】
[My grandfather's younger brother.]
Alright. Saturday?
[Mhm.]
I'll drive. You lead the way.
Tu Bai sent back a Rabbit Nodding emoji. Putting down his Mobile Phone, he leaned against the Sofa and rubbed his temples. The pain started again. This time it was a bit more intense than yesterday; his vision went black for a few seconds, he gripped the Sofa Armrest, waiting for it to pass.
After recovering, he lowered his head and looked at his hands. A faint light still shimmered in his palms, Demon Power and Cursed Energy surged beneath his skin like two intertwined snakes. He gripped his fists, the light vanished.
It cannot go on like this.
---
Early Saturday morning, Gojo Satoru came to pick him up.
When Tu Bai got into the car, he saw a bag of snacks in the passenger seat. He opened it to find rice balls, drinks, a bag of dried carrots.
"Do you think we're going on a spring outing?" Tu Bai placed the snacks on his lap.
The drive will take over two hours," Gojo Satoru said as he started the car. "I'm afraid you'll get hungry.
Tu Bai smiled slightly but said nothing. The car drove out of Tokyo and onto the highway. Outside the window was the scenery of Spring, with the mountains and trees turned green, the fields were filled with a vast, golden expanse of rapeseed blossoms. Tu Bai leaned against the Chair Back, staring blankly outside the window.
"Nervous?" Gojo Satoru asked.
A little," Tu Bai said. "I haven't seen Second Granduncle in many years; if I go to see him suddenly, he will definitely think it's strange.
Just say you missed him.
Tu Bai glanced at him. "Ever since I've been with you, it seems I've become quite the smooth talker."
Gojo Satoru laughed. "What does that have to do with me?"
I learned it from you.
I call it being well-spoken.
Slippery-tongued.
The two of them had been bickering all the way, before they knew it, they had arrived at the destination.
Second Granduncle lives in a small village in the mountains. The village is not large, with only a few dozen households; the houses are all old-style wood houses with gray-tiled rooftops. At the entrance of the village, there is a large camphor tree with a very thick trunk that would take several people to encircle. Several elderly people were sitting under the tree, they all looked up when they saw the car driving in.
Tu Bai told Gojo Satoru to park the car at the village entrance, then got out of the car and walked over himself.
Grandma," he said, crouching down to speak to an old woman with full White Hair, "Is Second Granduncle at home?
The old lady squinted his eyes at him, watching him for a long time. "Are you.. the second son of the Tu Clan?"
Yes, I am Xiao Bai.
Oh, Xiao Bai," the old lady smiled. "You've grown so much. Your Second Granduncle is at home; he should be in the Courtyard sunbathing right now.
Tu Bai thanked the old woman and walked inside with Gojo Satoru. The village was not large; it only took a few minutes of walking to reach Second Granduncle's house. The courtyard was enclosed by bamboo fences, with several vegetables planted inside and a large Gardenia Tree. An Old Man sat in a rattan chair under the tree, eyes closed, as if dozing off.
Tu Bai pushed open the fence gate and walked inside. "Second Granduncle?"
The Old Man did not move.
Tu Bai called out again. "Second Granduncle?"
The Old Man's Ears twitched. He opened his eyes and squinted at Tu Bai. "Who is it?"
“I am Xiao Bai. Tu Bai.”
Xiao Bai.." The Old Man thought for a moment, "Er's son?
Yeah.