“Yo.ho.ho.ho.ho,” the zombie laughed casually, “First of all, I want to thank you. Fighting you seems to have allowed me to regain control of my body. The unique power that people outside Wano call Devil Fruit is, after all, very vulnerable to the powerful Ryuu-Ou. But more than this, this shadow will be swallowed by my body and disappear forever.”
'Ryuu-Ou? From the explanation, it sounds like Bushoshoku Haki.'
Maki wanted to ask the figure before her, but she saved it for later. At least, until she got the answer to her main question.
“The name's Shimotsuki Ryuma, great samurai from Wano,” the zombie trailed off, “But back in my past life, I was Sakamoto Ryouma, the great revolutionary who brought down the Bakufu, as well as the strongest Jujutsu Sorcerer from the land of Tosa.”
—OoOoO—
Chapter 28: A Friend From Hometown.
—OoOoO—
Simultaneously, the zombie, who claimed to be the incarnation of Sakamoto Ryouma, drew his katana and sheath. There was no malicious intent or hidden threat, so Maki remained silent and allowed it to happen. However, contrary to her expectations, he threw the sword at her, surprising her slightly, who caught it with a confused expression. There was no explanation, and no words were spoken. In the midst of that confusion, her guts told her to draw that katana.
Unafraid of a trap, Maki drew the katana from its sheath after she plunged her own sword, the Ganesha, into the floor.
A blade with a perfect curve like a beautiful crescent moon. The jet-black metal that reflected her face gave off a strong air of intimidation and dominance, as if it were a living thing that refused to let anyone touch it. However, Maki wasn’t just anyone. She was an apex predator, blessed with extraordinary hunting instincts and a body built for the role of a perfect warrior.
Her sheer willpower alone suppressed the sword's rebellious aura, instantly dominating it. However, something indescribable happened next.
The castle they had fought in earlier seemed to be swallowed up by the unfamiliar landscape. The eerie aura typical of Thriller Bark gave way to a view of a rocky mountaintop with sheer cliffs. The air was thin, and a thick fog obscured visibility. No remains of the castle they had fought in were visible, and only two figures had been dragged into the artificial world.
“I never thought I’d see this sight again," the zombie muttered.
Maki turned to that figure.
"Is this a domain? And what’s the meaning of this? I thought we're good now?"
"Yes, we are," the zombie replied while gazing at the panorama that gave him a sense of nostalgia, "I only gave the sword so that it wouldn't end up in a miserable place like that pirate ship, but who’d have thought that I’d see a sight I’ve never seen before after being reincarnated into this world.”
“You never deployed your domain again?” asked Maki.
"Hahahaha. When I was reborn, I became part of this world and its laws, and my cursed energy disappeared. I became a new person, no longer Sakamoto Ryouma."
The zombie stared up at the sky, feeling a melancholy loneliness and deep longing. Slowly, its rotting flesh began to reassemble, revealing its human form once more. Or rather, the figure Maki had often seen in Japanese history books.
“Really? To me, you look exactly like how history described you,” the girl quipped.
Sakamoto's eyes widened at the words. He couldn't help but blink before a loud laugh erupted from his lips.
“Hahahahahaa!!”
Maki furrowed her brows at that behaviour, but she had no intention of reprimanding him at all.
“I see. So, in the end, even though your destiny has been rewritten, the core of your soul will never change, huh?” The man commented excitedly.
He suddenly grabbed Maki's shoulder, making the girl jump in surprise.
"Although I've lost my cursed energy and can no longer deploy my domain, the innate domain is the unchanging essence of one's soul. That's why this place, my innate domain, will always remain within me. Isn't that right, young Zen'in?" the man continued.
Maki, however, didn't care much for his excitement. She was actually quite disturbed when the man suddenly patted her shoulder enthusiastically, causing her to reflexively step back.
"I don't know, and I don't care. Ain’t like I’ve extensive knowledge of the domain.”
“Huh?” Sakamoto looked at her questioningly, “I understand that not everyone is capable of deploying Domain Expansion, but has the Zen’in Clan become so bad that they don’t even give their younger generation some knowledge about domains?”
“That ain’t the case,” Maki quickly retorted, “I’ve Heavenly Restriction Physically Gifted. All I've learned is the basics of how domains work. Beyond that, it's useless to me."
“Heavenly Restriction… Physically Gifted, huh?”
After saying that, Sakamoto sat down on the rocky ground nonchalantly, causing Maki to raise an eyebrow. But the girl didn't comment. Instead, she sat down cross-legged across from him.
“Cut that crap,” Maki said, her eyes fixed on the historical figure, “If you were reincarnated here, tell me, do you know how to get back?”
"Huh? Why do you want to go back? Life and death are the dictates of fate, and you shouldn't change them, or else there’ll be dire consequences for you."
Maki widened her eyes, but it wasn't an expression of surprise at all, but rather an emotion that suddenly settled within her.
“But I ain’t dead! Even in that world, I ain’t dead or anything!”
It was this strong rebuttal that actually surprised Sakamoto.
"You're not dead?" the man muttered, "Wait, that means, unlike me, who was reincarnated, you were thrown straight into this world?"
Maki nodded at the question, but it only made the other person confused.
“Then, why don’t I feel any cursed energy from you at all?!”
The man raised his voice slightly and jumped right in front of Maki's face, forcing the girl to reflexively pull back with her right hand for support.
“My zombie body may no longer contain my true abilities, but in this innate domain, even with just a fragment of my soul, I should be able to sense your cursed energy.”
It was a reasonable and perfectly natural question. If the girl were a reincarnated human like Sakamoto, her entire destiny should have been rewritten, including her body's information, to adapt to her new world. In other words, she had gained a new life completely different from her old one. However, if she had simply been thrown into another world, as the girl claimed, her destiny might have been similarly rewritten, allowing her to arrive at this unfamiliar world, but her body would remain the same.
Which meant the girl should still have had cursed energy, as it was a characteristic of the people in that world.
"I understand your confusion," Maki said as she adjusted her sitting position, "However, just like the other Heavenly Restrictions, I should still have a tiny amount of cursed energy."
“Yes, that should be the case. But how come I don't feel it at all from you?”
“I ain’t really sure either.”
Maki shrugged her shoulders indifferently.
"I’ve a twin sister, and you could say we're bound by the same fate. Unlike me, she possesses a cursed technique, which, considering its potential alone, is actually quite powerful."
The girl raised her head as if Mai's image was engraved in the clouds.
“However, her cursed energy is mediocre, and her body is a bit weaker than most other sorcerers,” Maki continued in a low voice.
"I see. So, it's the Heavenly Restriction that binds twins, huh? That reminds me of Sukuna's story," the man replied, rubbing his chin.
“Sukuna… had a twin?! That Ryoumen Sukuna?!” Maki couldn’t hide her surprise, “Not even the Nihon Shoki or any other source mentions that Sukuna had a twin!”
The Nihon Shoki was an ancient book written during the Nara Period. It was a historical chronicle that contained various aspects of Japanese history, the imperial family lineage, and the social and political issues of the time, interwoven with mythological tales. Or at least, that was what the layperson knew about the Nihon Shoki.
While most of these assumptions were true, the issues described in the book weren’t mere fairy tales or urban legends. For jujutsu sorcerers, it was a book that recorded important events, including the early spread and organisation of Jujutsu Sorcery by Tengen, and was also the oldest book to warn about Sukuna's threat, which had become a scourge even before the Heian Period began.
"Sukuna is said to have four arms and two faces. We jujutsu sorcerers don't really question it because he's such a prominent figure. However, if you look at it from a different perspective, from a scientific perspective, what’d come to mind if someone possessed those characteristics?"
“Having four arms and two faces. And from a perspective outside of jujutsu….”
Maki pinched her chin with her head lowered as she muttered those words. However, in the next second, her eyes widened, and she stared intently at Sakamoto.
“Siamese twins, right?”
The man nodded slowly.
"Since ancient times, twins have been said to bring bad luck. However, people wouldn't jump to that conclusion without reason," Sakamoto said, leaning forward with his right hand propped up. "Those words have endured through the ages, but lost their context, becoming mere myths and superstitions."
"You're as if saying that Sukuna is the reason why the myth of twins bringing bad luck was born," Maki replied, narrowing her eyes, "Besides, why are we discussing Sukuna in the first place?"
To which, Sakamoto just raised his shoulders and hands casually.
“Because your story intrigued me and reignited my biggest question from when I was a sorcerer,” the man replied nonchalantly.
He then sighed and relaxed with his hands behind him to support his body.
“I was just thinking, if you lost the remnants of your cursed energy when your fate was rewritten, when you were stranded in this world, could it be that Sukuna gained powers after he devoured his twin while in the womb, and that’s the reason why his appearance became like that, and also forced his fate to be rewritten again?” Sakamoto concluded his session with a deduction.
Fate was an unchangeable destiny, or so it should be. However, in some cases, some could escape and transcend fate itself, forcing the world to rewrite their destiny. Zen'in Toji was one such person. He wasn’t only completely free from the curse, but he was also the one who broke the fate that bound Tengen, the Six Eyes, and Star Plasma, leading to the chaos the world was currently experiencing.
Zen'in Maki, whether it was due to cosmic intervention that sent her to another world or to an impossible coincidence on a cosmic scale, the fact that she was no longer on Earth and Zen'in Mai was no longer in the same world as her remained unchanged. In this world, she had no twin sister, and in her home world, she was technically dead. Therefore, the fate that bound them as twins had also vanished.
“Putting that aside,” said the girl with a ponytail, “Do you have any clues or anything to get back to our earth?”
Sakamoto stared at Maki silently for a moment, his eyes fixed on hers, as if he wanted to delve deeper into her amber eyes.
“I don’t know, I never looked into it,” the man said, closing his eyes, “However, I once read something on a stone inscription in Wano, which might have something to do with our world.”
Maki narrowed her eyes at his words.
“Stone inscription… are you referring to the Poneglyphs? Can you read them?”
“Poneglyphs? Is that what outsiders call them?” Sakamoto asked.
However, before Maki could answer, the man preceded her.
“It was a long time ago, and I don’t really remember. However, I’m sure there was something about a sorcery user that accompanied Wano’s early days,” the man took a deep breath and continued, “At first, I just thought it was a metaphor referencing what outsiders call Devil Fruits. After all, that foreign power is also referred to as magic sorcery in Wano.”
Maki gritted her teeth with a furrowed brow when the man didn't answer her question about whether he could read Poneglyphs. However, after hearing the explanation, that emotion disappeared as if it had been just a momentary annoyance unrelated to the main topic.
“So?” asked the girl.
“If the sorcery written on the poneglyph is the Jujutsu Sorcery that we know, that means there was someone before you who was sent to this world without going through reincarnation.”
“Do you know the name of that sorcery user?”
With that question, Maki's breath hitched without her realising it. It was as if she had finally found the information she had been searching for. The answer she found might not be enough to help her return to her home world. However, even the smallest piece of information would be invaluable in her search for a way home.
“The name is…. What was that again?”
Sakamoto stroked his chin slowly, his gaze lifted to the sky as if searching through the corners of a long-lost memory. His brows were slightly furrowed, and his lips were tightly pursed, indicating his mind was working hard to piece together something that had almost come apart. Silence settled between them, filled only by the ticking of time that seemed to slow down. Every passing second weighed on Maki's feelings because she knew that one name would take her search to a new level.
“I think the name is… Tsukumo Yuki.”
—OoOoO—
A giant of truly unbelievable size rampaged through the island-sized ship. He appeared to be attacking indiscriminately, but in reality, his targets were quite clear, the tiny humans trying to take him down.
“How are we supposed to defeat something that big?!” Ussop screamed silently in his hiding place.
Meanwhile, a green-haired boy managed to sneak behind the gigantic creature.
“Santoryuu: Tatsumaki!”
A slash from three swords that created a vortex sliced through the creature's right leg's Achilles tendon. While it wasn't enough to cause its knee to hit the ground, it was enough to distract him.
While that giant zombie glared angrily at Zoro, who had attacked him silently, Sanji jumped from the emergency stairway that Franky had built in a hurry and rose into the sky.
“Collier Shot!”
A kick aimed at the giant's left neck. It was so powerful that the impact generated a visible shockwave.
The right Achilles tendon was severed, and the right side of his upper body was struck with a powerful kick. Breaking the balance on one side and pushing from the other should, in theory, be able to take down a large opponent. However, that enormous giant was in a completely different league. His skin was too tough, making Zoro's slashes too shallow, while his neck muscles were too strong, making Sanji's kick less effective.
“Don't rule me out yet!”
Franky screamed as he fired his machine gun at the giant's face. But of course, while it was enough to buy Zoro and Sanji time to retreat, it didn't do any damage other than further enrage him.
“Mutoryu….”
The giant's voice echoed in the cold air.
“… Tatsumaki!”
A single hand strike sent powerful wind pressure in all directions, sending debris and trees flying. A sword technique that didn’t use a sword, but instead utilised its form to launch an attack.
“That really is your imitation, eh, Marimo?” Sanji muttered.
The blonde boy took cover behind a large building, hoping it wouldn't be blown away by the air pressure. Meanwhile, Zoro stuck his swords in the ground to anchor himself to prevent being swept away by the air current. However, Franky failed to protect himself and was thrown into a building. Luckily, Robin, who wasn't on the front lines, was able to catch him with a net she created with her ability, which was firmly anchored to the ground.
“Thanks, Nico Robin,” Farnky said with a sigh of relief, “But is it okay for you to waste your energy now? We need your giant hand technique as insurance if we can’t open his mouth.”
"No problem," replied Robin briefly.
The black-haired woman lowered her crossed arms in front of her, which automatically caused her technique to be released along with the accompanying Sakura petals.
“I still have plenty of stamina to use, and I have not done anything but walk,” Robin replied, trying to peek out from the gaps in the building.
The one most affected by the attack was Ussop. The long-nosed boy had been scrambling to find the best spot to fire the salt while the giant was off guard. And yet, with the gust of wind destroying the tower he was hiding in, he had to find a new spot to aim at the creature.
“That was insane. Even Zoro wouldn’t exert that kind of pressure,” the boy muttered.
He was lucky to escape the tower before the debris buried him alive. Although his legs were still trembling, he forced himself to drag them as fast as possible to carry out his task.
"If only Maki were here. She can fight and manoeuvre in the air. It would be easier to stuff salt into his mouth with that ability."
Ussop looked back to see the creature's position and quickly scanned the entire area to find the best spot to aim at it.
“Nami, Chopper, and Brook. I hope they find her soon.”
—OoOoO—
Maki could only stare, her eyes wide open as she heard the name. Her pupils trembled violently, as if she was struggling to believe what he had just said.
“Tsukumo… Yuki, you said?” the girl responded haltingly.
To which the man just narrowed his eyes upon seeing the reaction.
“Don't joke around! How could Tsukumo-san have been transported to this world, and thrown so far back in time?!”
Maki wasn't sure how "far" back in the past she was referring to. However, Robin said that Poneglyphs were stone tablets containing a wealth of information about the Void Century, a period approximately eight hundred years ago. In other words, assuming that Tsukumo Yuki, whose name was recorded on the stone, lived during that era wasn't a stretch.
“Do you know that woman?” asked the samurai.
“Of course I know! She’s one of the strongest in my era!” Maki replied quickly and loudly, “If something happened to her and she was thrown into this world, the entire Jujutsu Society would definitely know about her disappearance!”
“But what if she’s just another sorcerer from a different era, who happens to have the same name as Tsukumo Yuki from your era?”
Maki was immediately speechless when the question was thrown at her. Her mouth opened, but snapped shut the next second with her fists clenching. The man wasn't wrong. After all, on what basis had she suddenly concluded that the subject they were discussing was the same person?
“Well, that being said, I don’t have any proof that she’s a different person either,” Sakamoto said casually while shrugging his shoulders, “If you just focus on that point, you won’t get anywhere and will end up getting caught up in unnecessary thoughts.”
Maki frowned, but she didn't give any reply.
“Go to Wano, and see it yourself whether she’s Tsukumo Yuki from your era or not,” the man pointed Maki right in front of his face, “If she’s indeed the person you know, she must have a reason why she wrote her name in history, and maybe that could be your lead to return home.”
Maki widened her eyes at that, but in the next second, her brow furrowed as another question popped into her mind.
“Wait, you say it as if she knew I was in this world and left a special message for me.”
“Why not?” Sakamoto replied quickly, “I’ve never heard of Tsukumo Yuki, not even in the history books. Which means, she came from the distant future, which I assume means you’re from the future too?”
Maki nodded at the question.
“One hundred and fifty-one years from your death, to be exact.”
“Well, hearing that, I’ve something I want to ask, but that's not the point.”
Sakamoto took a deep breath to regain his focus so they wouldn't stray from the main topic.
“You said that as far as you know, nothing happened to Tsukumo Yuki back in our world, right?”
Maki nodded back at the question.
“Which means, there’s a possibility that the reason Tsukumo Yuki was thrown into this world was because of something that happened in the future.”
“That doesn’t… make sense,” Maki objected with some hesitation, “If the cause was something that happened in the future, why was she stranded so far in the past?”
“Who knows? Besides, does being sent to another world sound like it makes sense to you?”
Maki recoiled at the question. If it were her old self, she might have dismissed such a story as nonsense and let it pass in one ear and out the other. However, now that she had experienced it firsthand, she no longer knew the limits of absurdity her brain could handle.
"Keep your mind wide open if you don't want to miss even a single bit of information," the man continued.
Maki clenched her fists tightly, her face downcast, staring at the rocky surface where they were sitting.
“I’ll keep it in mind. I shouldn't judge something unreasonable too easily," the girl raised her head, and her eyes met Sakamoto's, "Then, I still have one more question, and I hope you'll be willing to answer it."
"Tell me, Young Zen'in. I'm all ears."
"That blackened sword of yours has the same presence as several people I’ve met, including those I’ve fought personally.”
With that premise in mind, Maki's eyes momentarily fell on the katana lying before her, the only barrier between her and the man. The moment when Stussy defeated her in battle, forcing her to take a desperate step, and the sight of her grandfather Luffy's punch taking its toll on her, all came flooding back to her.
"The ability you call Ryuu-Ou is very similar to Bushoshoku Haki. Or is it actually the same thing, but with a different name?"
Maki returned her gaze to the samurai. Not wanting to waste any more time, she continued her speech.
"My question is, whatever it's called, is it possible for me to learn it? Or is it something only natives of this world can do?"
“Why would you think that in the first place?” the man replied quickly.
Sakamoto stared at Maki, who remained silent. The girl seemed to have her own hypothesis, but her doubts about the truth kept her from expressing it.
With a sigh, the samurai continued his words.
“If anything, I think your body is built with great perfection to adapt to this world.”
Maki frowned at the statement.
"What do you mean?"
“Well, first of all, what exactly were you looking at when you guessed it was the same power?” asked the veteran samurai.
“That Bushoshoku, Ryuu-Ou, or whatever it is, I believe it’s a power drawn from within the body, most likely something from the soul.”
“So, you can actually see it, huh?”
Maki nodded at that question.
“Well, you’re not wrong at all,” Sakamoto continued, “Although I’m not entirely sure, the reason we’re in my innate domain is most likely because the fragment of my soul that resides in this katana interacted with you.”
“Interacted with me? How?” asked Maki.
To which Sakamoto shrugged his shoulders in response, indicating that he, too, had no idea of that question.
“Maybe it's because you're a young fella from my world?”
That guess wasn't a definitive answer. It might have been the reason, but there could have been something else. Or perhaps it was fate that brought them together in this unexpected situation.
“As I said, if anything, your body is perfectly suited to this world,” the samurai said, crossing his arms over his chest. “Ryuu-Ou, or as outsiders call it Bushoshoku Haki, is a power that comes from the soul. In theory, even people from our world can use it.”
“Then, why aren’t there any records or myths similar to that?” Maki asked.
“I said ‘in theory,’ which means it’s not necessarily practical,” the man quickly corrected himself with a rebuttal, “Every being has a soul. Which means, even people from our world have the aptitude to do it.”
Maki wanted to ask another question immediately. However, she quickly swallowed those words when she saw Sakamoto's mouth opening.
"Ryuu-Ou is a symbol of the freedom of the soul. To use it, your soul must be truly free. In other words, your actions must not betray your true will."
“My actions… mustn’t betray my true will?” Maki muttered.
The girl in the ponytail then clenched her fists, and the muscles in her neck seemed to tense.
“Don’t joke around! Do you think what I’m doing isn’t something I truly want?!”
“Then let me ask you a few things. Why do you want to go home?”
“Of course, it’s because my world is in a critical crisis right now!” Maki retorted in a raised voice, “My friends are fighting tooth and nail over there right now! And you think I can just sit here and relax?”
“And did you think your presence there would change anything? Wasn’t it you who was thrown here, showing that you weren’t competent enough to survive and made some contribution there? To fight that crisis, has it be you in the first place, Young Zen’in? Who do you think you are?”
Maki choked on the fact, her mouth clamped shut. Her body trembled as if she were trying to force out the emotions she felt inside to refute what the man had said. Although it was something she desperately wanted to hear and hated, it was a bitter pill she had to swallow. More than anyone else in the world, she knew that the primary reason she had ended up here was because of her lack of strength.
Seeing the girl's troubled expression, Sakamoto felt sorry for her and sighed.
"You now might have the body and abilities to assert your position there. However, that's not the only problem," the samurai said.
A harsh reality the girl probably didn't want to hear. A bleak future, she might have tried to mask with optimism. Sakamoto didn't want to destroy the hopes that were her only means of survival and progress. However, if she genuinely wanted to reach a higher level, she would have to face the harsh reality that might be thrown at her.
"This question has probably crossed your mind many times. However, you must truly affirm with determination where your resolution stands."
The words that came out of Sakamoto's mouth forced Maki to raise her head, making their eyes meet again.
“With your current abilities, it’ll take you years to reach Wano, and even if you get a piece of information that Tsukkumo Yuki left behind, it might not be the key to getting you home.”
Sakamoto paused for a moment, taking in the bitter expression on the girl's face.
“Even when you somehow pull it off, seeing Tsukkumo Yuki thrown far into the past, time seems to behave very differently when you cross universes.”
“Cut that crap and just say what you wanna say!" Maki interrupted, her inner turmoil shaking her soul.
To which, Sakamoto could only sigh softly.
“What’d you do if you made it home, but there were no more people you know in that world? It wouldn’t be about your world being destroyed by an inevitable conflict, but simply that everything was fine, and fate was running its course, and they were gone due to old age.”
Maki felt a slight shiver run through her body upon hearing those words. However, Sakamoto ignored it and continued.
"Your efforts will be in vain. Your existence will never be relevant to the world. There’ll be no more conflicts for you to get an honourable death, joining those who’ve gone before you in peace. In the end, you’ll be alone in a world where your friends should be, with no one to recognise you and no one to bear witness to any traces of your existence."
The veteran samurai paused, but not to give Maki some space. He simply caught his breath before he finished his long rant.
“In the end, all you can do is stare at graves you don't even know when they were built, alone without anyone to share your memories with.”
Of course, what Sakamoto said wasn't necessarily true, and there was even a chance it would never happen. These were all just hypotheses, the worst possible scenarios that could happen to her. However, for someone to dare to dream big, they must be prepared to face the bitterest fate. Unfortunately, not everyone was ready for that. They set their dreams as high as the sky, but were never ready for the fact that the higher they fly, the more painful the fall.
“Are you ready to take all those risks, Young Zen'in?”
A strong gust of wind blew past the two, sending their hair dancing. The clean, crisp air left a light feeling in their chests, a refreshing chill tingling across their skin. However, in contrast to the peacefulness of the outside world, the girl's innermost being was in turmoil.
“I… honestly… don't know,” Maki muttered hesitantly.
Sakamoto sighed softly.
“It’s fine. You’re still young, and this kind of burden shouldn’t be placed on you,” the samurai said, looking up at the sky. “However, I believe that what you’re going through is a matter of destiny, including your meeting with me.”
Maki lifted her head and stared at the man. The previously doubtful expression on her face was now replaced by a questioning expression.
“What do you mean? Do you wanna comfort me with sweet words?”
“We sorcerers tend to have a hard time believing in the existence of God because of the immense power we’re born with,” he replied without directly answering her question. “However, I’m a devout Shintoist. I believe that the world wasn’t created by mere coincidence on a cosmic scale. Everything that happens has a reason and serves a purpose, whether it be a trivial matter or the greatest purpose.”
Sakamoto brought his clenched right hand forward and raised his index finger in the next second.
“Me being reincarnated into this world is probably a reward for my good karma in contributing as best as I could to bring about the Meiji Restoration.”
The man then raised his middle finger alongside his index finger, indicating the second point he would make.
"But my resurrection as a zombie and being trapped with those pirates was probably due to my bad karma for frequently neglecting my duties as a noble of the Shimotsuki family. However, after meeting you, is that really the case?"
The third finger then rose after the long explanation.
“Then, there’s Tsukumo Yukki, who was thrown far into the past. Unfortunately, I’m not her and will never know what she was thinking,” the man took a deep breath as he raised his pinky finger next to his other three, “However, with your arrival here, and our fateful meeting, to what extent can you attribute it all to coincidence?”
Maki clenched her fists tightly after hearing those hopeful words.
“I….”
However, just as she was about to say something, her mouth clamped shut, her tongue feeling numb. Eventually, Sakamoto just let out a sigh seeing that.
“As I said, Young Zen’in. It’s fine, you still have plenty of time in your life,” the samurai said softly, “If you rush things, everything you’ve worked for might be in vain, and your relevance will have no impact on the world.”
“Then, what should I do?” asked the girl after swallowing all her ego.
"The mind is a reflection of the soul, but if you’re not ready to lose something, don't pretend to be ready to want something. Align your soul not with the best results, but failure will still be a life you have to live."
Sakamoto picked up the sword that lay there, the only thing separating them. He drew it from its sheath, revealing a jet-black blade that reflected his Japanese self.
“You must understand,” the man said as he sheathed the katana, “When you chase your friends there, you’ll also lose your friends here forever. And when those who await your return are gone, all you’ll find is nothingness. You’ve lost everything, both here and there.”
Sakamoto tapped the hilt of that black katana against Maki's shoulder, making the girl's eyes flicker with depression.
"When your mind and soul can align with each other, and given by your keen sight, you’ll naturally be able to draw on the power that is within you,” said Sakamoto to conclude his long speech.
Maki accepted the sword and stared at it for a moment. However, her thoughts seemed to wander elsewhere, leaving her body frozen and unsure how to respond. This, again, irritated the samurai slightly, as her eyes displayed such complex emotions.
"Don't think too much about it. I also said your body is a perfect fit, didn't I? Every living being has a soul, including the people of our world. However, our cursed energy shackles our freedom. And you, Young Zen'in, are the embodiment of freedom, able to escape the cursed destiny."
Hearing this explanation, Maki let out a long, heavy sigh. The heavy feeling weighing on her heart hadn't completely disappeared, but remaining trapped in a vortex of uncertainty wasn't her style.
"Honestly, I still don't understand what I should do. However, even though I can't deny the fear that I might be too late and that my friends there are gone, I’ll continue to move forward on my path."
Sakamoto nodded with a faint smile at the resolution. That's how it should be. While it might seem harsh on the outside, determination wasn't something you could build overnight, especially when the world you've known has been turned upside down, leaving you in a completely unfamiliar place with no one to recognise you.
“I'm glad to hear that, and now it's my turn to ask a question, Young Zen'in.”
Maki raised an eyebrow at the remark.
“Go ahead. But I’ll answer it as long as it’s something I know.”
“Don’t worry, it’s just a simple question from a patriot who loves his country and people more than anyone else," the samurai replied with a lopsided smile, "Seeing as you're stranded in this world, it seems things aren't going well there, eh?”
"If you mean Japan as a whole, well, we're lacking in some areas, but overall, we're one of the best countries in the world. It's just that things might get messy afterwards."
“I see,” Sakamoto nodded slowly, “Can you tell me why?”
"Right now, or at least when I was thrown into this world, there was a large-scale jujutsu terrorism targeting Tokyo.”
“Tokyo?” Sakamoto muttered.
For a moment, Maki wondered why the man looked so confused. Then, she remembered that Sakamoto Ryouma had died a year before the Meiji Restoration. In other words, he didn't know the name of Japan's current capital.
"It was Edo. They changed its name to Tokyo after overthrowing the Bakufu," the girl said.
“Tokyo…. The Eastern Capital, huh? Not bad at all.”
Sakamoto's face lit up with joy upon hearing the news. Not only did he learn that his country was standing strong 151 years after his death, but his struggle to overthrow the Bakufu, which at the time faced fierce opposition from the Jujutsu Association due to its direct involvement in government conflicts, hadn’t been in vain, and his envisioned country had come true.
"Why are you so gleeful? You haven't forgotten that I told you Tokyo is facing the greatest supernatural threat in history, have you?"
Maki's flat words ruined Sakamoto's mood, but he couldn't offer any defence other than a grimace.
"How big a threat were you really facing? If it's 151 years after my death, that means Tengen had already entered her four-hundred-year cycle, right? The heir of the Six Eyes of the Gojo clan should have been reincarnated in your era."
Sakamoto had never encountered a Six Eyes user before, as they weren't born in his era. However, all Jujutsu sorcerers knew of the legend of the Six Eyes' prowess, which was documented in detail in the archives of the Jujutsu Sorcery Temple.
“Well, a Six Eyes user, huh? He’s my mentor, but that’s the problem,” Maki said.
That made Sakamoto frown. However, he remained silent, not intending to interrupt the girl.
"His name’s Gojo Satoru. He's far stronger than any of his predecessors. He's invincible and can't be killed even if you try to kill him while he's asleep."
“And world peace is still threatened even though there are people like that?” Sakamoto asked with a hint of disbelief.
“That’s the problem. When the incident that caused me to be transported to this world occurred, Satoru had already been sealed by a group of special-grade cursed spirits,” the girl replied with a sigh. “Logically, that made no sense. However, reality dictated otherwise, and it only confirmed that our enemies came fully prepared. Or worse, someone was behind this incident.”
Honestly, the story was hard to believe. A group of cursed spirits gathering and working together? Such things had never happened before. However, Sakamoto didn't sense the slightest hint of deceit behind those words. After all, there was no benefit for the young girl in lying.
“I don't know if this was a coincidence or something that was planned by the same person who masterminded the incident.”
Maki's words caught the samurai's attention again.
“Besides the sealing of the strongest sorcerer of this era, my master, Gojo Satoru himself, someone who’s very compatible to be Sukuna's vessel had appeared.”
These words widened Sakamoto's eyes to the point that his pupils trembled.
“What? Sukuna? That Ryoumen Sukuna?”
Maki nodded at the question. However, before she was about to give any words of reply, she noticed a slightly strange phenomenon on his interlocutor's body.
“Huh? You’re burning with that blue fire again?” the girl asked.
Sakamoto looked around at his body. There was no sign of pain or suffering whatsoever, even though his body was being devoured by the blue flames.
“Looks like my time has reached its limit, huh?” the man muttered as he looked down at his body.
Realising what was going to happen next, Sakamoto looked deeply at Maki, ready to utter his final will before he truly left.
“I said to bring my katana so it wouldn’t end up here, but I’ve changed my mind. Or rather, I want to make it clear,” the man said without looking away. “Bring my sword to our world. Bring my soul back to my homeland, Young Zen’in, and use me once more to serve my country, freeing it from the darkness and curse that threatens its peace.”
Maki stared at the katana now in her grasp. No words were spoken, but the way her eyes stared was enough to convey a thousand unspoken words.
“Don't worry,” the girl said as she turned her gaze to Sakamoto, “Your desire to protect your homeland again, just leave it to me.”
Sakamoto smiled broadly for the last time. Just as Maki had a strong desire to return home, he too had dreamed of it during his time as Shimotsuki Ryuma. However, the spinning wheel of karma and predetermined destiny made it impossible for him to fulfil his wish.
“I don’t want those words to be your curse. But thanks, Young Zen'in.”
—OoOoO—
"Maki-chan! Maki-chan! Maki-CHAN!!!"
The girl in the ponytail was startled when a familiar voice shouted at her while shaking her shoulders, making her gasp as if she had just woken up from a dream.
“Nami?” the girl muttered.
"Are you okay?! You've been standing there, staring blankly. Did something happen to you?" the orange-haired girl asked with genuine concern.
However, Maki didn't immediately answer the questions. Her eyes scanned the throne room, finding a body engulfed in blue flames.
“No…, I'm fine.”
Maki then turned her head to look at her, and she just realised that the girl didn't come alone. It seemed that Chopper and the living Skeleton had also come to accompany her, and they also had worried faces like Nami. However, she wasn't so sure if the skeleton could actually make that expression, considering he no longer had flesh and skin on his face.
“More importantly, what are things like outside? And why are you all here?”
Maki turned her head towards the ceiling, as if trying to assess the situation on the island.
“That super giant is fighting Zoro and the others, while Luffy is fighting Moria on the other side of the island?” the ponytail girl muttered.
Nami nodded at the question even though it was probably not directed at her.
“We came here after Brook's shadow returned to his body.”
“And I didn't expect you could defeat him without a scratch," the skeleton chimed in.
Maki stared at the zombie's body, which had been completely burned by the blue fire.
"He's a very formidable figure. If I were to face him alive, I’d definitely lose," the girl took a deep breath, a faint smile appearing on her face. "However, it’ll certainly be an exciting experience to be able to fight with a sword master of his calibre."
Nami was pleased to see the girl still smiling even in this situation. No, she shouldn't even be surprised to see Maki so unfazed. However, now wasn't the time to be grateful for this little reunion.
"Maki-chan, we have a plan to defeat Moria. But before that, we need to get rid of that giant first," Nami said, pointing outside the wall.
"Say no more. Just bring me to the battlefield," Maki replied with great confidence.
The girl then picked up her cutlass sword and the black katana she had dropped right after Sakamoto Ryouma's soul had pulled her into his Innate Domain. She stared at the sheathed katana for a moment before a confident grin spread across her cheeks.
“You’re going to carry that sword? Are you a dual wielder like Zoro now?” Chopper asked.
“Dual-wielding? That’s not bad,” Maki muttered, her gaze shifting to her cutlass, “However, I’ve a different idea. If I could realise what I’ve in mind with Ganesha, that’d be very interesting.”
With that, Maki didn't bother to chat any longer. She immediately carried Nami on her shoulders like a sack of rice, and Chopper immediately jumped on her head.
“I know we’re in a rush, but can’t we take it easy? I’m still not ready to face that giant,” Nami whined.
Which, in turn, made Maki smirk even wider.
“Instructions unclear, and we’ll leave now.”
The girl put her weight on her foot, causing the building's foundation to crack open instantly, forming a crater. And with a violent push, the place where she stood shattered into pieces, dust flying into the air, accompanied by a tremendous boom. And in just a second, Maki's presence had disappeared from sight, leaving Brook alone in the chamber.
“Yohohoho, she's trully fast and strong.”
—To Be Continued—
Author Note: Hello, hello. How are you guys? I hope you all are fine.
Okay, I was actually a bit torn about whether to add Yuki's name or not. After all, it was the original idea, and I didn't want Maki to continue her adventure without any clues. Therefore, to keep her journey relevant to her goal of finding a way home, I finally decided to stick with my original idea.
Also, here Maki is starting to get a glimpse of how to use Bushoshoku. However, I won't make her can it right away. After all, as Ryuma said, the main requirement is that her mind must be completely aligned with her true will. Which, even though she's currently following her true will to find a way home, her mind can't be completely at peace because of the fear that even after she returns, she won't be able to meet her friends, whether because her world is destroyed first or they have already died peacefully.
Well, I think that's all I want to say. I hope you enjoy this chapter. Stay healthy, and see you soon!