Nehze

I write JJK fanfic. If you like what I do, consider leaving a kudos, a comment, or reblog, or follow. Anything is welcome and appreciated.

[nehze]

"Vuyh!", Aky looks around but only sees black.

"Yes, yes, your little friend.", Vania says while leaning closer, her grin wide. "I took care of it.", a shiver shakes Vania's whisper.

Aky makes a finger gun. Barely perceptible traces of cursed energy accumulate at rhe tip.

Vania's face turns straight.

Before Aky can release the energy, a hand wraps around her neck. She chokes.

"I did not kill it, not yet. If you want the little pest to continue existing, I suggest you cooperate.", Vania's breath brushes against the girl's face.

Aky's body softens in her grip. She lowers her head, and the cursed energy fades.

"Good girl.", Vania let's go with a smirk curling her lips.

Aky's knees thud on the stone. The sound echoes through the chamber.

"Time for some rules.", Vania starts pacing back and forth. "You are allowed to roam, but try to escape and your chakram goes bye-bye.", she side eyes the girl.

"...", Aky's gaze drops lower.

"Try and sneak out... I will know, do not even think about it.", the girl feels warm breath down her neck.

Vania makes not a sound as she moves through the room. "Try and fight your way out? I will make you regret living.", she whispers.

Aky's hands find each other in the dark. She fidgets, not even a sob escaping her, but a tear wells up in her eye.

"Bravo!", Vel's clapping breaks through the silence.

Vania gathers the pieces of Vuyh off the ground. "You are free to explore.", she turns her back.

[nehze]

"What did you see?", Gojo gets up, his hands coming down on the table in a half attempt at a slam.

"...Nothing.", Sen's breath leaves his lips later than usual.

"We can try again.", Li's voice comes through. His skin turns slightly paler as cursed energy Revitalizes the body.

Gojo sits down again, his expression strained and gaze focused but distant.

Sen poises himself again and focuses.

Piffle leans low. His palms send yet another wave of vibrations, more intense than before.

The faint tremors go past the school grounds, past trees, and deep in the forest, the dirt, the rock.

"There are... empty spots.", Sen's brows furrow into a deep frown.

"What do you mean by that?", Sukuna nods upwards.

"Crank that output, boy!", Gojo's gaze shoots up.

Piffle nods, and the vibrations grow until the kitchen visibly shudders. A bit of blood drips out of his ears.

"They're going down... like tunnels.", Sen's eyelids squeeze harder.

Piffle breaks into panting, the trickle of blood falling onto the floor.

[nehze]

"You can leave them with me. I will take it from here.", Vania flaps her hand.

"I want to observe, to see you in action, if I may.", Vel's eyes close slowly with the smile creeping up her face.

"As you wish, master.", Aku bows and leaves without a second thought.

"Suit yourself, beloved.", Vania turns around. "Wakey wakey.", her legs crouch down while she lifts Aky up by her hair.

"Are you sure that you do not want me to restore your arm?", Vel asks.

"No, it is already halfway toward the elbow.", Vania glances over her shoulder.

"I admire your resilience.", Vel's lips slowly straighten.

Vania's teeth clamp down on the girl's hair. A loud slap echoes through the chamber, and keeps on echoing.

"Eeekk!", Aky jolts with a squeal.

"Took you long enough.", Vania says, her voice muffled by the vice-like bite. She spits the hair out of her mouth and runs laps with her hand around it.

[nehze]

Gojo's hands cover his face as he slumps on the chair. The whole kitchen drops into an ocean of silence that no one seems to dare break.

"...I've got an idea.", Piffle lifts his head.

Some heads turn, but not many.

"Sen, you've got sharp senses, right?", Piffle asks.

"Indeed.", The veteran gives him a steady nod.

"I doubt it'll work, but I can try to send out sound vibrations. You could feel them and map out the area, see if anyone is hiding nearby.", a faint shiny glints in Piffle's eyes.

Gojo's cheeks swell and push out a lengthy exhale. "It's worth a shot.", his hands slide down his face at a snail's pace.

"Let's begin if everyone is ready.", Sen slows down his breathing.

"It's only us, gramps!", Piffle's cursed energy hums a steady thrum that makes the walls sound as if whispering.

"...", the room goes quiet, at least the living part of it.

A frown wrinkles Sen's eyebrows.

Piffle lets out a groan, his teeth gritting under the vibrations. His whole body looks as if it's moving from side to side like a glitch.

The sound stops.

"Did you see anything?", Piffle's frame slowly settles into a stable image.

[nehze]

The tunnels.

"That was quick.", Vania remarks as a rift opens.

"It took way too long because of your friend here.", Aku points behind him.

"KYYAAAAA!!!", Aky screams and passes out on the beast's arm.

Vuyh cuts through the air with a deafening sound.

Vania's face twists into a grimace as she catches the sharp edge in her grip. The metal shatters like glass, leaving the intact part to clatter to the rock below.

"Take them to a chamber, beloved. Aku, you stay here, I need to speak with you.", Vania narrows her eyes.

Vel gives her a smile before she cradles Aky in her grip. She spins her finger and Vuyh floats off the ground after her

"What gives you the right to hate on my beloved?", Vania's step echoes like a bomb through the pitch black corridor.

"...", Exequious orbits around Aku almost mechanically.

"That's what I thought. Go and apologize. Chop chop!", she flaps her only hand.

Vel enters a chamber shaped like a cube yet as spacious as a coliseum. She lays the Aky down on the cool rock, and Vuyh collapses beside her.

"Please forgive my impudence earlier, I shouldn't have doubted your judgment.", Aku's voice comes from behind her.

"You are humerous.", Vel gives him an empty smile.

"And you're a freak.", Aku growls.

"What was that?", Vania steps from behind the beast.

"Nothing,", Vel's head tilts to meet her gaze with a smile that reaches her closed eyes.

[nehze]

"Someone's been here...", Sen perks his head up.

The room pauses into silent blinks and varying glances.

"Where's Aky?", Sen stands up.

"She went to throw up. Probably in the bathroom.", Gojo shrugs.

Sen walks around the table and walks like a penguin, but with the speed of a cheetah. ("The bathroom door is open. Did she leave?"), he stops just outside.

("No... this isn't right, I would've sensed her... unless she dissappeared?"), Sen's eyebrows furrow. He lets out a silent gasp, his head jolting up. "Aky has been kidnapped!", he rushes back.

A clone drops a plate on the ground, causing it to shatter.

Sukuna lounges on his chair with a pair of hands behind his head.

Piffle's ears begin to vibrate visibly.

The students stay quiet, a frown dragging Yuji's face down while Nobara's straight expression twists into a scowl.

Electricity crackles like sparks around Qwin's body.

Gojo spits out his sake. "WHAT!?", he nearly flips the table over as he jumps to his feet.

"Easy there! I'm still waiting for my steak!", Sukuna growls.

"I can't hear anything unusual.", Piffle's eyes are sharp, unlike usual.

"Because that woman is at hand, the one who toyed with us back then.", Sen breathes out a room crushing sigh.

"I'll turn her to ash!", Qwin stands up.

"What are you doing waiting?! Let's go find her!", Gojo rips his blindfold off, his eyes wide and pupils dilated.

"I'm afraid... there's nothing we can do.", Sen looks up at him, for the first time his face like that of a puppy.

[nehze]

"My core is nearly depleted.", Vel crosses her arms the moment her feet touch solid ground.

"Womp womp, we have a task to complete. How much time did you buy us?", Aku makes a low growl.

"Time is ticking, don't waste it.", Vel winks.

The two push the door open.

Gojo is frozen with his mouth wide and hands raised.

Qwin's glass stills near his lips.

Sukuna's arms are all crossed under a sneer.

Dalv's fork is so close yet so far from his mouth.

Sen's eyes stay barely open.

Piffle, or the Piffles, are all around the kitchen.

The students stand in the corner.

"Why not just kill them?", Aku asks as Exequious whips the air.

"Because my dearest didn't say so. I can still end you even with just 10% of my core.", Vel points at the locked rings around the glassy center where the number 30 glows before being replaced by 29.

Aku lets out a throaty snarl. They go to the nearest door and he opens it.

"That won't do, it's inappropriate. You have to knock first.", Vel grips the handle, keeping it just barely cracked.

"Ggghhhh...", Aku shoots her a glare and pushes the door open anyway.

"Are you an animal or what?! Why didn't you knock?", Vel's shout is closer to that of a mother scolding her child.

"Do you want us to fail?", Aku's hand reaches in and wraps around both Aky and Vuyh. "Hurry up and transport us out, woman!", Aku's muscles tighten all over his frame. Exequious coils like a snake and lunges.

"Mm, ten seconds. Let's wait it out for the funsies!", Vel giggles as her digits brush the whip sword away.

"I'll rip your head off!", Aku foments.

"But what will Vania think... Hmm, I wonder.", Vel's index finger rises to tap her chin while her gaze turns the other way.

Aku's head twitches so violently that it looks as if his neck broke.

"3... 2... 1.", Vel's fingers snap them away.

[nehze]

The other three Aths gather the student's plates, and Vuyh gathers together before shrinking to its chakram form. It drifts around the corner in a hurry.

"Here's the butter.", a clone scowls.

"Don't throw it at me, moron!", the one holding the pan catches it. Butter squeaks between his fingers as he clenches his fist.

"I'll get the steak...", a different clone wobbles toward the fridge like a penguin.

"Do you have any preferences or something?", an Ath asks with his arms crossed.

"I guess it's fine as long as it isn't chewy.", Nobara shrugs.

"Medium rare it is.", another Ath drags him by the arm.

"Just get it done.", Megumi's eyes close under a heavy sigh.

"What he said.", Sukuna sneers.

"Don't rush or you will mess up.", Sen walks up to the clones

"Will you shut up already?!", plates hit the sink as they're dropped from up high.

"Yeah, you should be grateful, we could've refused altogether.", an Ath pours sake in Qwin's glass says.

Meanwhile, the chakram taps the bathroom door while letting out a faint hum.

"Come in... Vuyh...", Aky's mumble manages to squeeze past the door.

The Cadescing Ether shrinks and flattens, slipping through the gap between the wood and tiles.

Outside, insects go silent, the winds stops as if it never blew, some trees go still at an angle, and the world halts.

[nehze]

The clones disappear, letting them taste the food.

"This is really good.", Dalv immediately spins the fork inside of the noodles again. He savors the spicy flavor.

"It is... a bit too spicy for my taste.", Sen slowly settles the chopsticks down.

"What is this? Are we eating food or dessert?!", Sukuna breaks his in half. The sweet tinge has a hard time pushing down his throat.

"Typical unrefined tastes worthy of a brute like you.", Qwin lets out a barely audible snarl.

"As if you're one to talk. You caveman are taller than me!", Sukuna slams the table.

"Calm down, gang, let's not make a mess. If you don't like it, just grab a drink. Personally I think that it blends flavors masterfully. Look, even my students...", Gojo turns to look over his chair.

Aky jumps out of her seat and rushes off.

"It's... alright.", Nobara forces a smile.

"It's too bitter.", Megumi shakes his head.

"I've eaten worse.", Yuji glances at Sukuna with narrowed eyes.

"No worries, it's a unique dish after all, and not everyone likes unique.", Piffle sits down.

"Ath, clone yourself again and have them cook some steak.", Os says.

"Yeah, yeah, whatever.", Ath's voice comes through before nine more Piffle lookalikes appear. "Pour some sake while you're at it.", Piffle signals to some of them.

The Aths snarl, click their tongues, and roll their eyes, but they comply.

[nehze]

"You can sit there, class. Our table is for adults.", Gojo points to a toddler table with tiny seats.

"Aky is an adult.", Aky pouts while Vuyh floats away and morphs into proper furniture.

Everyone ends up taking their seat.

Outside, the Sun slowly drops below the horizon.

"So, what are we eating?", Dalv's eyes follow Piffle and Sen as they settle the plates and utensils.

"Family speciality! I tweaked it a bit, though.", Piffle gives him a bright smile. "We did.", Zo immediately twists his expression into a scowl.

"But what are the ingredients?", the blindfold pools around Gojo's neck under his pull. He side eyes Sukuna.

"Don't look at me, I just watched.", the king lifts twk arms up while the others remain crossed.

"Sure...", Qwin narrows his eyes until they're as sharp as a hawk's.

"It looks like regular noodles to me. The smell is definitely striking.", Sen sniffs lightly. "I am guessing there are quite a variety of condiments involved.", he notices a slightly bitter aroma above the others.

"I'll serve the kids, gramps, you can settle down.", Piffle nine identical clones appear to deliver the rest of the plates along with glasses and a bottle of sake.

"Enjoy.", Os steps in to bow.

[nehze]

"Catch!", Piffle tosses a duck egg carton at Sukuna.

"Are you out of your mind, brat! You could've broke them!", the king growls.

"But he didn't, now did he?", Ath crosses his arms.

"Crack them and mix with a fork.", Os' voice comes through like a calm yet unyielding command.

"I'll watch the noodles; make sure we don't overdo.", Li lets out a laugh that stretches for a bit too long.

Just a few meters away, Dalv opens the door to bump into someone.

"Where to?", Sen takes a step back.

"Thank god, I couldn't stand Gojo for a second more.", Dalv breathes relieved.

"Let's check on the chefs.", Qwin tries to squeeze past him.

"Since when is fuse so calm?", Dalv hops aside.

"I've always been calm.", Qwin shoots him a scowl.

"Long story.", Sen sighs.

"Right...", Dalv glances at Qwin.

After a few minutes, the stove stops.

"Diner's ready!", Piffle's voice jumps to the pitch of a megaphone.

Qwin and Sukuna hurry to take the chairs at the table ends. It's not long until the others arrive while Sen and Piffle make preparations.

[nehze]

In the kitchen.

The cursed energies flowing through Piffle overlap and become one.

Li launches the vegetables before nine more Aths appear.

Tiny, white, transparent threads wrap around the vegetables from Zo's fingertips. The bits get launched from the slashing force.

Some of the clones gather the slices from the air while a few throw seasoning on them before throwing them back in the air. The clones poof into smoke, leaving Os with the wok, which is filled with greens and soy sauce, in hand in the stove.

"Three seconds...", Sukuna mumbles.

Outside.

"This was surprisingly quick. Nice work, Qwin.", Sen pats the back of his leg.

("It looks just like back then, father..."), Qwin looks around with parted lips.

"We should add some furniture inside. What do you say?", Sen's hands drift behind his back.

"Tomorrow.", a faint smile crosses Qwin's lips.

Yuji's room.

"Come on gang, one more!", Gojo raises his hands.

"No.", Megumi shakes his head.

"Let's go to my room, Aky.", Nobara storms out holding the girl's hand.

"No! You won ten games in a row, TEN!", Yuji's voice cracks.

"Um, actually, 14 games.", Gojo stands up with a smirk on his face.

"I'm going out for some fresh air.", Dalv stretches.

[nehze]

Sen and Qwin spend the day building a tree house. Sukuna and Piffle return with groceries and get to cooking while Gojo and Dalv spend time with the students.

"I'll chop the trees, son, you can think about the blueprint in the meantime.", Sen says before heading off towards a trunk.

"I already know how I want it to turn out, pops.", a smirk curls Qwin's lips.

"Just call me Sen.", the veteran man stops.

"Right, gramps.", Qwin nods.

"...", Sen stays still in the silence. His head shifts slightly and he keeps moving.

In the improvised kitchen with cabinets made of glued together wall pieces and a counter made from a slab of solid rock.

"I'll cut the vegetables, you just boil the water.", Sukuna dumps a bag full of greens.

"I don't think so four-arms.", Ath shakes his head. "We're taking the lead.", Os straightens his posture. "I'll chop the whole kitchen up!", Zo immediately ruins it by hunching forward. "Just... please get along.", Li wipes the sweat off his forehead.

"...", Sukuna's eyes narrow. His mouth opens partially as he leans his head forward with a quick shake.

"Don't worry, I'll make sure things go smoothly.", Piffle raises his hands.

"Be my guest.", Sukuna lets out a low growl. He steps back and points at the counter with all hands.

Just down the hallway, multiple voices get muffled through the walls.

"Uno!", Gojo shouts as he slams down a card.

Nobara scowls, her hand reaching out to draw a card.

Aky tries to growl, but it comes out more like the grumble of a pup. She draws a card.

"Red.", Dalv puts down a +4. His eyes bounce between the others.

"Yellow, trust.", Megumi keeps his gaze fixed on Gojo while his fingers press down the card over the stack.

"Blue. Wrap it up, unc.", Yuji adds a +4. He tilts his head toward the pack.

Gojo leans forward and pulls his blindfold down. "Nah, I'd win.", he turns his card around, a blue +2.

[nehze]

Qwin returns to the office. "Let's build a tree house.", he wears the faintest of smiles on his lips.

"A... tree house?", Gojo pulls his blindfold down.

Qwin gives him a deadly side eye.

"Very well, son.", Sen stands up and walks toward him.

"...", Gojo's mouth hangs open. His eyes squint despite his brows being raised, trying to discern if the two actually left.

Meanwhile.

"The incursion was pleasant.", Vania says as they find themselves back in the tunnels.

"Very pleasant...", Aku makes a low growl.

"But we did not even get to relax.", Vel crosses her arms.

"Verily.", Vania nods.

"You make even me cower, master.", Aku narrows his eyes.

"There is work to do. We could not afford more free time.", Vania turns to face them.

"And what would that be?", a pout puffs up Vel's lips.

"Aku, tonight you are to secure Aky, that anomaly, and bring her here. Dearest, you are to accompany him and ensure a smooth operation.", Vania's pierces through the both of them.

Aku leans into a deep bow while Vel's core hums, the rings spinning faster.

[nehze]

Qwin bursts into tears. His cursed energy spikes and electrocutes itself, erupting outward in a violent burst.

The heat starts melting the mother who barely lets out a scream of agony before her vocal cords melt.

The father rushes out, tripping on his own feet at the sight, but he doesn't falter.

The heat gets weaker.

"Quinn!", the father shouts while running toward him.

Qwin doesn't hear, the sound drowned out by his cries. He channels a Flame Levin in his hand and plunges it into the pool of molten clothes and flesh.

The lightning pierces through the earth like butter.

The heat dissipates in the atmosphere and Qwin looks up to spot his father. He collapses to his knees, his gaze laying on the light burn patches all over his skin.

The father hugs him tightly while the dirt cracks slightly beneath their feet. "What hap-", an eruption cuts him off.

Orange streaks like serpents run through the yard, splitting it into chunks that fly into the sky.

[nehze]

The mother follows Qwin outside and up into the tree with a lazy jog.

"How do you want to decorate the house?", she looks around.

"I don't know... I would've liked for it to be bigger, bu-", Qwin's attention snaps toward her.

"It's fine, I can just call some professionals. They'll make the best tree house you've seen.", the mother gives him a smile.

"But me and dad worked so hard for it, they can't ruin what we've built.", Qwin fidgets with his hands.

"That's alright, they can just build another one. It doesn't mean this one has to go.", the mother closes her eyes to hide the twitch in them.

"But this one won't be used if there's a better variant!", Qwin whines.

"Then what do you propose, dear?", the mother clears her throat.

"I don't know, you're the one always coming up with ideas... just work your magic like a-", a slap cuts through the tree house like a gunshot.

"`Do your magic`?! You brat! Always 'Mom do this!', 'Mom I want that!', 'Mooooom!', you spoiled prick!", the mother moves her hand away, leaving behind a red print on his cheek.

[nehze]

"How's the game going, honey?", the mother strides into the room.

"I just finished it!", Qwin jumps out of his chair.

"I'm so proud of you! How about we go work on decorating the tree house? Your father is still busy.", the mother tilts her head with a smile.

"Alright, but mom, can you change my name?", Qwin looks up at her with puppy eyes.

"Why? Your name is already beautiful.", she grabs his hand.

"But there was a man in my game and he's so cool! He killed immortal dragons, mom!, and his flaming sword was amazing!", Qwin tugs at her sleeve.

"...What was his name?", the mother asks.

"Gwyn!", a bright smile crosses Qwin's lips.

"How about this... Qwin. Combine Gwyn with Quinn and you get Qwin.", she presses a hand against her chin as she thinks.

"Qwin?", he tilts his head, eyebrows furrowed.

"Q-W-I-N, Qwin. It's pronounced the same way as your name.", she responds.

"Ahhh! I love it! Alright, let's go to the tree house!", Qwin pulls his hand free and runs off.

("It won't last for long..."), the mother shakes her head as a sigh drifts through the room.