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Midnight at Yasohachi Bridge
Liam's car screeched to a halt as he reached the desolate bridge, the cold night air wrapping around him like a warning. The glow of the moon cast eerie shadows, stretching long and unnatural against the cracked pavement. The faint sound of running water echoed from below.
Without hesitation, he threw the door open, his polished shoes crunching against the gravel as he stepped out. His sharp eyes immediately scanned the area.
Then, he saw them.
Two motionless figures lay below, illuminated by the dim, flickering light from a distant streetlamp.
His heart clenched.
"Shit—!"
He didn't waste time climbing down. Instead, he jumped, landing smoothly despite the height. His movements were fluid, efficient, the product of years spent honing his body to perfection.
Kneeling beside Tsumiki and her friend, he pressed his fingers against their necks. Their pulses were steady, but—
A faint, sickly aura clung to them like a parasite.
They had already been cursed.
Liam's jaw tightened. His fingers curled into fists as he fought the boiling anger surging within him.
"Damn it."
A deep breath. Stay calm.
He straightened and raised a hand, summoning the titan of destruction itself.
A deafening thud shook the ground as Mahoraga emerged from Liam's shadow, its monstrous form towering over the unconscious girls. The beast's eight arms tensed, its bandaged face motionless, awaiting orders.
Liam's voice was calm, but his tone carried an edge of steel.
"Watch over them."
Mahoraga nodded—a silent, obedient guardian.
But Liam's focus had already shifted. His gaze snapped to the far side of the stream, where the air distorted, thick with malevolent energy.
The Cursed Spirit's lair.
Liam didn't wait for it to fully manifest.
His presence alone shattered the air around him, his Cursed Energy roaring to life. He crossed the stream in one fluid step, entering the spirit's barrier.
What awaited him was nothing impressive.
A half-formed, egg-shaped abomination, pulsating weakly in the darkness. Its grotesque form twitched, trying to gain control over itself.
Liam clicked his tongue. "Pathetic."
He raised a hand, fingers snapping.
A pulse of pure devastation erupted—
"Blue."
The barrier collapsed in an instant, the spirit obliterated before it could even scream. Its disfigured corpse crumpled to the ground. A small object rolled free—a severed finger.
Liam bent down, plucking it from the dirt. The lingering malice radiating from the decayed appendage made his stomach churn.
A Sukuna finger.
Just as he turned to leave—
A voice sliced through the silence.
"That belongs to me, you know."
Liam froze.
Slowly, he turned his gaze towards the woman standing under the moonlight.
She was striking—not in the way of a delicate beauty, but in the eerie, inhuman way that made the hair on his arms rise.
Her dark red hair gleamed under the dim light, cascading in soft waves over her shoulders. Her eyes, a haunting shade of gold, locked onto his with unnerving confidence. She wore a simple, elegant blouse and a long skirt, the image of a refined woman—except for the sinister aura oozing from her being.
Liam exhaled sharply, his lips curling into a smirk.
"Kaori Itadori."
The woman's golden eyes narrowed ever so slightly.
"Ah… so you know who I am."
Liam's smirk widened. "I know what you are, Kenjaku."
That made her pause.
For the first time, a flicker of genuine surprise crossed her face. "Interesting… No one in this era should know that name."
Liam took a lazy step forward, tilting his head slightly. "Kenjaku, the ancient parasite… Noritoshi Kamo, the disgrace of the Kamo Clan… and now? Yuji Itadori's dear, sweet mother."
A slow, eerie smile spread across Kaori's lips.
"You're well-informed."
Liam's smirk vanished in an instant. His eyes turned cold.
"I don't need information to tell the difference between a real mother and a monster wearing her skin."
Kenjaku chuckled, unfazed. "Tell me, Liam… are you also an ancient sorcerer like myself?"
Liam scoffed. "Don't insult me."
Kenjaku's eyes gleamed with amusement. "So you're something else entirely, huh?"
Liam's fingers tightened around the Sukuna finger.
"Let's get to the point," he said flatly. "You want this, don't you?" He lifted the finger slightly.
Kenjaku nodded. "Hand it over, and I'll be on my way."
Liam smirked. "Sure. If you swear on a Binding Vow to never touch anyone from my family—directly or indirectly."
Kenjaku's expression darkened.
He sighed dramatically, rubbing his chin. "Hmm… that's quite a difficult request. You see, I have plans that span across generations. Promises like that tend to… complicate things."
Liam's gaze sharpened.
Kenjaku chuckled. "You must really care about them. Megumi. Tsumiki. The little sister of yours. Oh, and Maki and Mai…" His smirk widened. "You've been busy, haven't you?"
Liam's Cursed Energy spiked. The air crackled, an invisible pressure crashing onto the ground.
Kenjaku let out a low whistle. "Oh? You're angry?"
Liam smiled, but his eyes burned with killing intent.
"Mess with my family again…" His voice was deathly quiet.
"…And I will tear you apart.**
Kenjaku stared at him for a moment. Then, he shifted his gaze to the towering Mahoraga standing guard behind Liam.
His smirk faltered.
Subduing that beast was no small feat.
Kenjaku's mind worked quickly. He weighed his chances—not favorable.
So, he took a step back. "I'll pass for now."
Liam arched a brow. "Coward."
Kenjaku merely smiled. "Tactical retreat. But don't worry, Liam Nakamura… I'll see you again."
With that, he vanished into the night.
Liam exhaled sharply, his shoulders relaxing only slightly.
He turned back, gathering Tsumiki and her friend in his arms.
"Mahoraga," he commanded, voice steady. "Return."
The massive beast sank into his shadow, disappearing.
With the girls secured, he climbed into his car and drove off, leaving Yasohachi Bridge behind.
Tonight, he had dealt with the problem early.
But something told him…
This was only the beginning.
When Liam arrived home, he handed the girls over to Aiko, instructing her to let them rest.
The scolding could wait until morning.
For now, he had something else to deal with.
Liam stepped into his secured room, placing the Sukuna finger in a sealed box, alongside another.
He reinforced the barriers, ensuring no Cursed Energy leaked.
Only then, exhausted beyond belief, did he finally step into a hot shower.
As the water cascaded down his tense body, he let out a tired sigh.
What a goddamn day.
Then, without another thought, he collapsed onto his bed.
Sleep claimed him instantly.
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