6 Itadori

March 2002

"Grandma, when are we going?"

As soon as she returned from school, Yoshi shouted with enthusiasm. Today is the day, she will meet her uncle after a long time. However, to her surprise, there he was, her uncle.

"Uncle Itadori!!" She jumped into his arms.

"You grown up, Yoshi. You are taller" Wasuke Itadori, a man in his late 40's, with short stature and spiky greyish-pink hair, gently held Yoshi.

"Where's Jin?"

"I have something for you" Wasuke avoided the question and continued "Here's my birthday present, I'm sorry I couldn't come."

Wasuke presented a doll, which Yoshi liked but she considered her uncle's presence a gift itself. Despite this, Wasuke immediately said

"Okay, I must go"

"What? But you just came. You won't stay with me? You used to take me to the zoo! I want to go there with you! Why can't we go now? If you are scared of grandma. Then, I will ask her, she likes me very much and listens to me."

Wasuke knowing how determined Yoshi can be explained patiently "Yoshi, Your brother Jin is a father now, I should take care of his son too. You don't want your nephew to be left alone, do you?"

"Nephew?"

"Hahaha, Yes, I will show him to you someday, his name is Yuji. For now, I can't leave the kid alone."

"Mm, Brother Jin got married? But he never told me"

"Okay, I have to go"

"Yes, You can't leave the baby alone. Okay Uncle but you have to promise me to show him"

"I promise" Wasuke Itadori smiled as he left the mansion bidding farewell to his niece. Outside the mansion, Kairi waited to escort him personally.

Kairi is surprised by how things turned out. She expected the man to be excited about showing his grandson to her granddaughter but he declined and came here himself.

"I'm curious, You love Yoshi, I can tell that much but, why don't you introduce your grandson to her? I'm asking this as a grandparent"

Wasuke sighed "I would love to but I don't trust the mother of my grandson. She's caring towards her child but I don't want to risk if she does something to Yoshi"

"Mother of your Grandson? That's an oddly specific way to address your Daughter-In-law"

"She's already dead, I already saw it with my own eyes but, She came back and I may not be like you but I believe my instincts. whatever that thing is, It's not my Daughter-in-law. Yet, It gave birth to my grandson and is still with us. I feel she's extremely dangerous"

'Oh? A reversed cursed technique or a rare Innate technique related to revival? It's possible as I did sense cursed energy from the mother in the divination. So, she must be a retired sorceress with her level of control over cursed energy'

This situation may sound dangerous generally. But for Kairi, she could understand the fear Wasuke has, Humans tend to fear something they don't understand. The world of curses and sorcery isn't meant for normal humans in the first place.

"My daughter-in-law, your sister is capable of jujutsu. So, your daughter-in-law might be in the same case, it's not uncommon for sorcerers who choose to retire from the world of curses"

"That's why Kaori scares me. She's nothing like my sister."

Yoshi's mother, Wasuke Itadori's sister is a new shadow style user and frankly speaking, isn't talented or anything. She doesn't have any innate cursed technique. So, Kairi thought it was only natural for Wasuke to fear Kaori, who used a unique innate technique or a reversed cursed technique.

"I apologize, It is inappropriate to discuss such matters like this. But, I want Yoshi to be safe here with you than come to me. If she still asks about me, you can call me. I will come here personally"

Kairi raised a question "Then, what about your grandchild?"

"regardless of my opinions, Yuji needs both parents in his life. Kaori is dangerous, I still stand by that but I saw she and Jin care about Yuji a lot"

Kairi initially disliked Wasuke for his prejudice against sorcerers even if she understood why. Now, she holds a high degree of respect for him.

"I will notify you if she ever wants to meet you again"

***

March 2003

For a year, nothing happened. Well, that is true for everyone except Yoshi who is worked up so hard with just books, books, and even more books. Her practice related to jujutsu is dialed down to zero.

She had to meditate in the morning which became a favorite part of her routine. Then, begins her torture. School. After coming home from school, her grandmother would teach her calligraphy, History, literature, and her school subjects.

Due to Yoshi's hard-working nature and her focus, she's able to learn most of the things that are taught to her at a good pace. Seeing that Yoshi can grasp higher level information as she matured into childhood. Kairi deemed Yoshi to be ready to learn even deeper information about the world of curses and her family lineage.

However, the day Kairi wanted to teach Yoshi. She received a phone call from a person after a long time.

Kairi immediately called Yoshi and took her to Itadori's Residency.

"Grandma, why are we here?" Yoshi asked seeing her uncle's home. It's been years since she has come here, since last year, it's only her uncle meeting her in the estate occasionally.

"Yoshi, your brother Jin and his wife died. You know about Yuji right? Can you take care of him while Uncle will do the funeral rites?"

Yoshi just nodded her head, hearing the death of her brother is painful for her but she could barely remember his face these days and she's never met his wife. What she's more worried about is how her uncle will feel as she can understand from her own experience.

The Itadori residency barely had any people, Wasuke and Kairi talked to each other and Yoshi was left with Yuji Itadori. They left to do the ceremonial rites while Yoshi took care of Yuji during this time. The ninjas are secretly guarding from the outside.

Yuji curiously looked at Yoshi as she held him in her lap. For her, this is the first time meeting him, all this time. She only ever heard about him.

"Mama~"

Yuji called out to her. Yoshi held Yuji and played with him "I'm not Mama~, I'm Yoshi~"

Yuuji being a one-year-old baby called out to her, "Mama" and giggled while closing his eyes. Seeing such a cute reaction, Yoshi played with him "I'm Yoshi mama"

Yuuji as if understanding exclaimed "Otchi!"

Yoshi immediately fell in love with Yuuji at that moment. She played with him till afternoon when Wasuke and Kairi returned after the ceremonial rites. Wasuke Itadori is quite depressed as he lost his son, the tragedy of losing his wife, sister and now his son weighed heavily on him. Seeing Yuji and Yoshi playing together, there is a faint smile but, his heart remains heavy.

(A.N- I guess suffering runs in Itadori's blood)

Kairi took Yoshi back to their estate. While they were driving back to their estate, Yoshi who still remembered the sad face of Wasuke asked her grandma.

"Grandma, Uncle looks sad, can't we take Yuji to our home? I think Uncle needs rest"

"No, He needs Yuji now. Besides, I'm worried about you Yoshi. I heard you like Jin a lot"

"I'm...sad that he died but I can't remember much about him nowadays. Grandma.. Am I a bad girl?"

"Crying doesn't equate to grieving, Yoshi. Some people grieve silently" Kairi shared her wisdom noticing that Yoshi was feeling quite down.