Life After Death: The Strength Of Suffering

"Fight me—Agh!" I heard a yell followed by a crash as I woke up and opened my eyes. I looked over to see Sukuna face down in a pile of my dirty laundry. Yawning, I got up from the animal skin I'd been lying on and stretched, then spoke to Sukuna who had already recovered from being thrown.

"When you're done with washing my stuff, you'll find me at the river."

He gave a reluctant nod, and I walked out of my hut, heading toward the river. As I walked, I thought over the past week and the things concerning the kid who had given me his name, which made me snort. 'Brat thinks I should be honored to know his name?'

Originally, I'd planned on selling him, as he'd fetch a hefty price with his oddities, but I'd thought it over and decided it was best to train him. As for why? There was no actual reason.

I sighed as I stripped down by the river to wash myself. 'That clan should send a messenger soon.' I thought with a scowl. I still hadn't received any money, and the only notice I'd received was from a messenger who showed up three days ago. 'If I don't get it by next week, I'll wipe out their clan.'

As I glanced at my reflection in the river, I noted the changes. 'I've changed so much.' I was 6'3 before arriving here, and now I was maybe a little over 6'5. I ran my fingers through my long black locks. 'May have to cut my hair off soon.'

Suddenly, I heard light footsteps approaching and I turned to see Sukuna with a pile of freshly washed clothes in hand.

"I got your fucking clothing!" he yelled.

I snorted and pointed to a spot where he could place the clothes. I gestured to the water. "Get yourself bathed while you're here, kid."

I could see the twitch in his eye, and I smirked. I knew how much he hated being called a kid, and I enjoyed every second of it.

"Fucker." he muttered, but nodded and jumped in, causing a small splash that doused me. As he rose from the water, I gave him a deadpan stare but he only smirked in response.

I sighed and leaned against a nearby rock. Sukuna did the same, and we sat in silence. My thoughts drifted to the changes that had happened since he appeared. While he didn't interact with the other bandits or residents under my protection in the mountains, and they didn't interact with him due to fear of his additional limbs, he also mainly followed me around, either waiting for me to go out and fight or challenging me when I wasn't.

'Kid really needs to learn personal space. Challenging someone who's asleep? Why would anyone sane do that?' The only time he wouldn't challenge me was if I was taking a shit, which made me laugh.

'Imagine losing to someone while they're taking a crap. He would never live that down.'

I snorted, drawing Sukuna's attention.

"What's funny?" he grumbled, glaring at me.

I raised an eyebrow, truly looking at him for the first time. Something I'd noticed over time was that I rarely paid attention to the appearance of others as I normally forgot about them. 'Makes sense I guess, after all they're just mo—'

"I said what's funny, bastard?!" Sukuna interrupted, sending a kick my way.

I blocked it and pushed him back slightly, causing him to fall. As he rose, I raised my hand toward him.

"Calm down, kid. I was just thinking that I don't know much about the brat I've been teaching."

He raised an eyebrow at me, looking at me like I was stupid. I was about to karate chop him when he brought his hands over his head.

"Wait!"

I retracted my hand and sighed. "So properly introduce yourself, kid."

He huffed but nodded, turning to face forward as he sat back down.

"I'm fourteen, and I'm around five shaku and five sun tall. I like eating..."

'Like eating? You ate two whole fucking pigs last night'

"I love fighting. I love getting stronger. That's it. What about you? I don't even know your name."

I hummed, processing his words. 'History was never my strong point, but I think one shaku is around a foot, and a sun is a little over an inch, so he's around 5'5?'

I nodded, then glanced at him. "Well, I'm Sasaki Souta and I'm twenty four—"

Sukuna snorted, cutting me off. I karate-chopped him in the head.

"I'm not old, kid." I heard him mumble "sure." but ignored it and continued.

"I'm around six shaku and five sun, I like fishing and I like being one of the strongest—"

Suddenly Sukuna stood up, glaring at me.

"You're the strongest?!"

I nodded in confusion, then realized why he might be surprised and explained.

"Do you think normal clans and Sorcerer clans would allow thousands of bandits to gather in one place and not do anything about it?"

Sukuna let out an "oh" and sat back down, frowning. "Also if you let me finish, you would've heard me say one of the strongest in the Eastern region."

I sighed and leaned back, patting his head despite his confusion.

"Do you know why I'm called 'Leader of The Eastern Bandits'?"

He shook his head, so I pulled my hand back.

"It's because I watch over almost all the bandits, whether they're small groups or large ones. I make sure they don't start wars, and make sure clans don't fuck with them without reason."

I got up and stretched, helping Sukuna to his feet as he asked me. "What if they start a war? Will you destroy them or help them?"

I smirked as I dried off and dressed in my clean black hakama and kimono.

"Depends. If I like the bandits, I'll try to prevent the war if I can. If I don't like them, I'll let them die."

I tied my hair into a high ponytail and cracked my neck. Sukuna got dressed in his own black hakama and a white kimono with black outlines.

{Pics}

"What happens if a Sorcerer clan attacks either the hideout or a bandit group you like?"

I laughed, sending birds scattering in the air from the sound.

"Do you know of the Kurogami Clan?"

Sukuna frowned, scratching his chin. "I think so. They disappeared a year ago."

I nodded, grinning as I walked back to my hut, knowing the battle ahead would be endless.

"Oh! You destroyed them?"

I turned slightly to face him as we walked, nodding.

"Yeah, and that's what makes me feared by others in the East."

~Scene Change~

I groaned as I read yet another dreaded letter, this one a marriage proposal from a Sorcerer clan I'd never heard of before. Tossing it into the pile with the rest, I looked down at the paper requesting a meeting. 'Sugawara clan? Where have I heard that before?' I shrugged it off and set it aside for later, just as I heard rushing footsteps and the door slam open.

"B-Boss!"

I watched the man, the replacement for the last messenger I'd killed as he struggled to catch his breath. I raised an eyebrow and waited.

"T-There's two Sorcerers from different clans, plus the Umemura clan's son who owes you money!"

I hummed, getting up and walking around the desk toward him. I spoke slowly. "What clans? Any symbols?"

He nodded and stood straighter, still out of breath. "One had a Sakura flower on their white kimono. I believe he's from the Sakurazawa Clan."

I nodded. 'A small Sorcerer clan that are usually watching over temples and shrines. They also don't usually come to Mount Tsukuba though.' I motioned for him to continue.

"The other's the Fuyutsuki clan."

I groaned, rubbing my head. 'Damn ice bastards.' The Fuyutsuki clan wasn't large in number, but they made the most of the cold mountains they lived on while utilizing their ice based techniques. That wasn't the problem, though. 'They shouldn't be here. While the Sakurazawa clan has ties to the area's spiritual significance, the Fuyutsuki clan shouldn't be coming here with the climate the way it is at this time of year.'

I spoke up when he muttered something under his breath. "Speak up, what about the clan owing me money?"

He looked down cold sweat dripping from his cheek and gulped before speaking. "T-the Umemura clan's son, Umemura Kiyoshi, has demanded your presence."

I twitched at that but took a deep breath and sighed, scratching my head. I nodded. "Take me to him. We need to figure out why the Sakurazawa clan's here. I'd rather not make enemies of them."

He nodded, and I followed him. 'After all, they make some damn good sake.'