Chereads / Jujutsu Kaisen: The Sorceress of Control / Chapter 28 - Chapter 28: Devotion

Chapter 28 - Chapter 28: Devotion

50 stones, 1 extra chapter. Here is the extra chapter

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The days had passed slowly, and Rika continued her training, striving to improve, but she still hadn't perfected it. Despite her progress, she couldn't help but feel frustrated; her body was at its limit, but her mind was still struggling to find the right rhythm. From the house, she watched Makima, who was practicing her fighting style with a training dummy in the front yard. Every punch, every move, was executed with surgical precision. However, despite Makima's skill, something about her deeply unsettled Rika.

Rika still didn't understand the real reason why they were there. She knew that both she and the others were being controlled, they couldn't move freely, and any attempt to escape or rebel would be useless. Makima, that enigmatic figure who now seemed so imposing, had killed her own mother because she hated feeling controlled by others. Yet there they were, trapped under the watch of someone who, paradoxically, seemed more afraid of the power they represented than of what they might do.

The dull thuds of Makima's blows against the dummy mixed with the sound of the wind rustling the leaves of the trees. Rika couldn't take her eyes off her. What was she really doing? Why was she still there? Makima had proven to be someone who wouldn't be easily manipulated, and yet, she was there, confined like the others. The irony of the situation was not lost on her.

Rika watched her in silence, trying to unravel the mystery behind her actions. Makima struck the dummy with a force and speed that Rika had never seen. Each impact resonated in the air, and her technique was flawless. She seemed completely focused, as if her only goal at that moment was to perfect every one of her movements. However, as she watched, one question lingered in Rika's mind: What was she really doing there? What was Makima planning? Although she tried not to think too much about it, the reality was unavoidable: they were under someone else's control, and leaving without permission was unthinkable.

Makima, despite everything, moved with an unsettling naturalness. At that moment, as she was striking the dummy, she suddenly stopped. She slowly turned her head, as if she had sensed Rika's gaze on her. Their eyes met through the window, and Rika's heart skipped a beat. Makima approached with calculated steps, crossing the threshold of the house with that characteristic calm that always unsettled Rika. Not knowing exactly how to react, Rika hurriedly stood up and grabbed a towel and a bottle of water, anticipating that Makima would need them after her training.

But what happened next took her completely by surprise. Before she could offer the towel, Makima leaped through the open window with feline agility, landing right in front of her. Without giving her time to react, she pinned her to the ground with unexpected speed. In a matter of seconds, Makima was on top of Rika, completely immobilizing her.

"Don't misunderstand my actions, Rika," Makima said in a low, authoritative tone. Her golden eyes glowed with a disturbing intensity as she kept her body firmly on top of Rika. "If I'm here, it's because it suits me. I know I can't control everything yet... that's why we're here: to figure out how to control the uncontrollable. Don't waste your brain cells trying to make sense of what I do. Use them instead to think about how you can better serve your master."

Makima's words echoed in Rika's mind. How could she respond to that? Her mind was clouded, unable to process what she had just heard. Then, suddenly, without warning, Makima kissed her. The contact was firm, direct, but it also had a strange mix of control and possession. Rika remained still, completely stunned. It wasn't like she could oppose it; any resistance would be futile. But the kiss... what did it really mean?

Makima, after a few seconds that felt like an eternity, pulled back, though she still remained sitting on top of Rika. She brought a hand to her chin, as if analyzing something carefully, staring distractedly at the ceiling. "Mmmh, I didn't feel everything the internet said about this," she murmured to herself, seemingly dissatisfied with the results. Then, without further ado, she stood up with the same calmness that had characterized her from the start and headed towards the refrigerator.

Rika remained lying on the floor, trying to collect herself and process what had just happened. The kiss... Why did she kiss her? It was confusing. Of course it was. Even though they had slept naked together on other occasions, and Makima hadn't hesitated to touch her intimately, she had never kissed her before. This was... different.

Her mind kept spinning, trying to make sense of what had happened. What had just changed?

Rika sat on a bed in the infirmary, her right arm throbbing intensely. The bruise on her skin had turned a deep purple, clear evidence of the brutal blow she had received. It wasn't just any injury. Being hit by a metal bar that appeared out of nowhere, summoned by Makima, wasn't something easily forgotten. Rika's breathing was labored, not just from the physical pain, but from what that training had meant to her. Each of Makima's strikes was a lesson, a reminder of how far she was from achieving the power she so desired.

After waiting for a while, the infirmary door opened, and a woman in a white coat appeared. Her brown hair fell in loose strands around her face, and her eyes, of the same color, observed her with an air of professionalism. "You can come in," she said in a calm but direct voice.

Rika got up from the bed and followed the doctor to a small cubicle. Shoko Ieri, the woman in charge of the infirmary, was known for her mastery of reverse cursed energy, and Rika couldn't help but feel a mix of nerves and fascination being in her presence. After observing the bruise on her arm, Shoko inspected it closely, frowning slightly.

"This seems caused by cursed energy," Shoko commented as she ran a finger over the wound, feeling the trace of residual energy. She looked up at Rika. "How did you get this?"

"Makima-sama," Rika replied without hesitation. "During our training."

Shoko nodded, her expression neutral, though in her mind she was already considering the possibility that these girls might be using some kind of cursed weapon. Without more words, she placed her hand over the bruise and channeled a soft flow of reverse cursed energy. The relief was immediate. Rika felt the pain subside, like a cold and comforting wave washing away the burning from the blow. Her arm began to relax, and her breathing, tense until that moment, eased.

Rika watched in awe. Although she had read about reverse technique in the Zenin clan's library, she had never seen something so incredible up close. Cursed energy could be so destructive, but seeing how it could also heal... that was something that had captured her full attention. While Shoko worked, Rika couldn't help but ask with excitement in her voice. "Is that reverse cursed energy?"

Shoko, still focused on healing the wound, simply nodded.

Rika felt as if she were facing a revelation. "I read about this... in the Zenin clan library. Is it possible that I could do the same?"

Shoko momentarily paused her work and looked at her, surprised by the question. "I don't know," she said honestly. "Very few can use reverse techniques to heal. Gojo is one of them, but healing others is rarer. In fact, I'm the only one who can do it."

Rika's face lit up. "Could you teach me?"

The question hung heavily in the air, and for the first time, Shoko felt a palpable discomfort. The intensity in Rika's eyes, combined with that absolute conviction that she would succeed, made the doctor hesitate. Although she knew that distrusting these young girls might seem foolish, something in her instinct told her not to rush. Especially because she hadn't yet had the chance to speak with Gojo about them.

Shoko remained silent, searching for the right words. "I'm not good at teaching," she finally said, averting her gaze, hoping that would end the conversation.

Rika, with clenched fists, didn't look away from Shoko as she tried to find a way to discourage her. "It doesn't matter," Rika insisted firmly, her tone almost defiant. "I'm willing to learn. Just tell me how to start."

Shoko felt a small bead of sweat form on her forehead. The determination in the girl's eyes was unwavering. She knew that saying a simple "no" wouldn't work, and that a direct rejection would probably only push her further. She discreetly wiped her forehead and tried to soften her tone. "Look," Shoko began, trying to stay calm, "this isn't something you can learn overnight. It's complicated. It requires much more than just practice..."

Rika interrupted her, her eyes shining with fierce intensity. "I don't care how long it takes. If Makima-sama trusts me, I can't fail. I'll do whatever it takes to master it. Even if it means dedicating myself to it completely."

Shoko couldn't help but hesitate. Could she really teach something so dangerous to someone so devoted to Makima? She wasn't sure of Rika's true intentions, but she knew that behind that fervor, there was a worrying shadow. Finally, she stood up from her seat, taking a small pause. "Let me think about it, okay? It's not something I can teach you lightly. I need to be sure you understand what it means to use reverse cursed energy."

Rika nodded, though her expression made it clear she wasn't entirely satisfied. But she knew that, for now, pushing further would only make things worse. She could be patient... as long as she got what she wanted in the end.

The sunset was beginning to paint the infirmary in a warm golden hue. Shoko, exhausted after a long day, was putting her things away and searching for a cigarette to relax when a soft noise pulled her out of her thoughts. At the back of the room, behind some drawn curtains, something stirred.

With a resigned sigh, Shoko walked toward the bed and pulled back the curtains, revealing Satoru Gojo lying in an exaggerated pose, as if he were the center of attention. His legs were stretched out, one hand behind his head, while the other toyed with a pair of sunglasses.

"What are you doing here?" Shoko asked, crossing her arms.

Gojo smiled with a playful expression. "Nurse, I'm feeling terribly unwell. Could you check on me? I'm at death's door," he said, his tone clearly theatrical.

Shoko stared at him without reacting, then turned toward the door, intent on ignoring his joke.

"Hey, it was a joke! Don't leave," Gojo complained as he agilely got up from the bed and walked toward her. He sat down in a nearby chair, now more serious.

Shoko lit a cigarette and looked him in the eyes, exhaling a puff of smoke. "I knew you came for something more than just to annoy me," she calmly remarked.

Gojo smiled again, but this time his tone was more relaxed. "You're right. I wanted to talk to you about the new girls: the red-haired Zenin, Makima, and that Rika girl who follows her everywhere."

Shoko frowned as she exhaled another puff of smoke. "I was actually going to ask you about them. Especially Makima. I've seen her walking and training with Rika, and her control over that girl is... concerning. Makima isn't like any other Zenin. Rika has potential, but her blind devotion to Makima could be dangerous."

Gojo leaned back in the chair, fiddling with his sunglasses. "Makima, huh? She's dangerous. But it's not just her power that makes her dangerous. It's the way she manipulates others that worries me."

Shoko put out her cigarette, watching Gojo with a mixture of weariness and seriousness. "Rika asked me to teach her reverse cursed technique. I can't fully trust them, but... what unsettles me the most is Makima's absolute control over Rika. If either of them strays from our priorities, it could become a problem."

Gojo let out a soft laugh. "Yeah, Rika would do anything for Makima, even die. That level of devotion makes her even more dangerous. But also interesting, don't you think?"

Shoko looked at him seriously. "And what do you think of Makima? Do you see her as a threat?"

Gojo shrugged, his carefree smile still in place. "Like I said, Makima is dangerous, sure. But she's also a challenge. I like that kind of challenge. If she becomes a problem, I'll take care of it."

Shoko sighed, though her gaze remained filled with concern. "Don't underestimate her, Gojo. That girl has more going on than she shows."

Gojo nodded, adjusting his sunglasses as he stood up. "I know, Shoko. I know. But for now, things are under control."

As he left the infirmary, the sun had fully set, leaving the room in dim light. Shoko, still deep in thought, lit another cigarette, wondering how much longer things would remain under control with them around.