50 stones
Megumi stayed silent for a moment, staring at the floor with a furrowed brow. If he thought about it carefully, he didn't really know that girl, Makima. Taking her to see his sister seemed like an unwise, even dangerous decision, considering they had barely exchanged words. But the thought of Tsumiki haunted him constantly, filling him with a despair he tried to hide. His sister was still in that state, trapped between life and death. What choice did he have? Maybe he should consult Gojo first, he thought, though he wasn't sure how to explain all of this.
"I... I don't know," he finally admitted, his voice heavy with doubt.
Makima tilted her head curiously, as if studying his every word. "You don't know?"
Megumi avoided looking at her directly, fixing his gaze on an indeterminate point on the floor. "It's something very personal and... we didn't exactly get off to a good start in our relationship."
Makima understood. She knew she had been somewhat rude to him, and still was to a lesser extent, but she wasn't going to apologize. "But if I told you that the possibility of your sister coming back is almost certain, would you still refuse?"
Megumi looked up, surprised. "What?"
Makima stared ahead, leaving a brief silence before responding. "My technique involves... let's say breaking the will of certain established parameters. Your mind, for example."
Megumi was startled to hear her share something so intimate about her ability, never imagining she would be so direct.
"Not long ago, I discovered that I can manipulate the curses affecting people. I'm almost one hundred percent sure that if I analyze your sister, I can break or manipulate her condition." Makima stood up and adjusted her tie, her movements slow but precise. "Think about it. If you want, tell Gojo, it doesn't matter... but if I can help her, it won't be free. See you around." With those words, she left him alone, processing what he had just heard.
Makima was heading to her house. It had been a risky move to tell Megumi all that, but if she achieved her goal, it would all be worth it. "I'll ask my father where he keeps the notes of the past inheritors of the Ten Shadows Technique," she thought, smiling as she made her way there.
Megumi waited patiently in the lobby, sitting with his hands clasped as his mind revolved around what he needed to say. When Gojo returned, he greeted him with his usual carefree tone. "Megumi! Ready to go?"
The young man looked up, his serious expression causing Gojo to stop in his tracks. "Gojo..."
Noticing the tension in his voice, the sorcerer shifted his tone to a more attentive one. "Is something wrong? You know you can tell me anything, right?"
Megumi clenched his fists on his knees. "If... if someone could cure Tsumiki... would you allow it?"
The question made Gojo frown, his thoughts beginning to form quickly. "Why that question, Megumi?"
The boy averted his gaze, swallowing hard before speaking. "I want to take her to someone and let them try. I just need your approval... and for you to come with us."
Gojo crossed his arms, his tone adopting a mix of seriousness and curiosity. "Who is this someone?"
Megumi hesitated for a second before answering. "Zenin-san."
Gojo closed his eyes for a moment, processing what he had just heard. He knew. He had been suspecting something for a while. "And what makes you think she can do something about Tsumiki-chan's situation?"
"Because she told me herself," Megumi replied, looking up with a mix of determination and nervousness.
Gojo observed him closely, noting the seriousness in his eyes. Finally, he sighed, adjusting his glasses. "Alright. I'll talk to her."
Although not entirely satisfied, Megumi felt a slight relief upon hearing his response. Now it was just a matter of seeing what Gojo would do with this information.
In an unknown location, a man dressed in a black haori with golden details sat calmly. A girl dressed in a school uniform with long black hair addressed him. "Geto-sama... are you sure about this?"
The mentioned Geto leaned back slightly in his chair, appearing somewhat bored. "Yes... that girl is necessary for what I desire. I doubt she will agree, but if I explain my entire plan, she might cooperate. I've been observing her since she was a kid, and I know her ideals are somewhat twisted. If I manage to sway her to our side... hehe, well, no need to say more."
A girl with blonde hair, lounging on a sofa while looking at her phone, let out an impatient groan. "What do you need her for? I don't get it."
Geto simply smiled, relaxed. "From what I've heard, her technique involves manipulation. It's unclear if that manipulation is limited to beings or also extends to her surroundings, but I have information that she can create waves mimicking bullets from a firearm. She could manipulate space... or maybe not."
The girl frowned, visibly annoyed. "I still don't get why it's necessary to cause such a fuss just for her."
Geto gave her a kind look, filled with patience and a hint of affection. "We must show how far we are willing to go for her. They say she's been getting a bit arrogant in recent years and hates having weak people around who think they are on her level or above. So, if we show that our organization is capable of facing the world, at least she'll hold us in some regard... or see us as idiots." After a pause, he rose from his seat, smoothing out his dark haori with an elegant and determined motion. "But to know better, I plan to meet her." He concluded before leaving the room, leaving the girl alone, lost in her thoughts.
Makima was in her room, reviewing photos her father had sent of some ancient manuscripts. "Mahoraga, huh?" she murmured as she examined the chant required to summon and perform the purification. "No one could tame it... interesting. What kind of ability must it have for no one to have been able to subdue it, even after mastering the previous nine...?" While reflecting, she took notes in a small notebook. "Nullification...? Hmm, I don't think so. If I at least had a drawing of its appearance, I could deduce better."
She clasped her hands together, mimicking the posture required for the summoning. "Would it resist my control if I were the one to summon it?" She carefully jotted down her thoughts, her eyes scanning the information about the Tenth Shadow, only to revisit the ninth. "Now that I think about it, they all follow a pattern..." she murmured with interest. "Each shikigami seems to be better than the previous one, but the last has an ability that counters the next." She bit her thumb thoughtfully. "The ninth, Mourning Tiger... it only says it's a heavy fighter, very strong. What a detailed description," she said sarcastically.
It seemed ironic to her that only one user managed to tame it, though they died fighting a Gojo. "They tamed the ninth, but in their fight with the leader of the Gojo clan, we don't know if they managed to tame the tenth since, obviously, they couldn't leave written evidence to help the next ones... being strong and skilled in combat, would that really be enough against the ultimate shikigami?"
Lost in thought, she suddenly sensed Rika entering the house. "Makimaaa, I'm back! I'll take a bath and make you dinner," she heard her call from the entrance.
Makima sighed, channeling some of her cursed energy into her hand and passing it over the book to make all the written words disappear. She closed the notebook and stored it in a box, ensuring it was hidden. Then, with a calm expression, she walked to the bathroom, intending to bathe with Rika.
Makima slowly stepped into the shower as Rika, diligent as always, began washing her carefully. The movements were precise, almost ritualistic. Then, it was Makima's turn, and she washed Rika with the same routine. During the process, her hands couldn't help but linger slightly longer than necessary, causing Rika to let out a soft moan, though she made no comment.
When they were both relaxed in the bathtub, Makima spoke in a casual tone. "What did you do today?"
Rika, enjoying her mistress's touch, responded with a faint smile. "The usual, ma'am. Although today Shoko-sensei suggested I try asking Gojo for advice. She wants me to find out if I have any dormant technique... you know, because I'm a late bloomer. My cursed energy only manifested when I was eleven."
Makima nodded as she listened, her golden eyes focusing on some undefined point in the water. "Are you happy with your life, Rika?"
The question caught Rika off guard, her eyes widening slightly more than usual. "Y-yes. Of course, I am."
Makima, with unsettling calmness, responded while tracing circles on the water's surface. "Don't get used to it. Always keep in mind that this could end soon."
Rika nodded with a mix of obedience and resignation. She knew her mistress wasn't someone who maintained emotional bonds beyond utility. Makima was here out of convenience and perhaps some obligation. But when the day came that she felt no one could stop her, Rika was sure heads would start to roll
When both were finished, Makima stepped out of the bathtub, got dressed, and, without looking back, went outside to gaze at the stars as she did every night. Rika, on the other hand, began preparing dinner, fully aware that, even though she lived to serve, every day by her side could be her last.