Cruel World

So sorry for the lack of chapter yesterday. Three releases today to make up for it!

Maybe stones?

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"Frank Langley, a Curse User from Vermont committed the murder of the principal of Tokyo Jujutsu High last night. The body of Ayumu was found dead in his office burnt to a crisp, the signs of cursed energy left behind were hidden showing vast skill and control as well as the power to take down the principal. Do not engage if you see him on a mission. Report him straight to me… that is all." The new principal Yaga said, his voice heavy with sorry and laced with rage as he read the words given to him by the council.

Staring from the back of the hall Atlas couldn't do anything, he didn't know what to feel. Frank was now being framed for the death of Ayumu. His unconscious body was with Atlas at the time, he knew that the man had not been able to do it himself.

The effects of Kenjaku's actions were starting to show. Not only had Toji completely left the Society but now Frank was being framed as one of the worst curse users and being hunted.

Everything was orchestrated to drive a wedge between the society and Atlas, and it was working. If his connection to Frank was found out then he would immediately be labeled as a curse user himself. And he was sure that Kenjaku if needed would reveal that connection to everyone himself.

He was a puppet to this entire scheme.

Atlas had underestimated Kenjaku… he thought that as long as he stayed mostly under the radar and didn't change anything massive then events would happen as they did. But why would they? His existence and his connection with Geto and Gojo changed everything… everything was influenced by him because he had the power to make a difference.

And he was already connected to Kenjaku from the beginning, there was no way that he could have stayed out of sight like he wanted to.

He was a fool.

Seeing the gathered students start to move he pulled himself from his thoughts. In the entire school, there were only 12 students. 11 were here right now as 1 of the 2 fourth years was dealing with a dangerous spirit overseas.

Cracking his neck Atlas stood up as well but just as he was about to leave the remaining fourth-year approached him and started to say. "Atlas! I wish to talk to you. We have met before when you attacked the special grade spirit at the mall. Killing it in a single strike despite not being part of the mission or a registered sorcerer which was a blatant disrespect of the rules of the society and-"

"Make this quick buzz cut," Atlas said, his voice cutting the older boys off as he glared towards the man before him. His eyes narrowed in annoyance as his tone dropped.

Pausing for a moment as he was interrupted the older boy's back stiffened in shock. He never expected any of his juniors to show such disrespect for their seniors. It was appalling. Just as he was about to reprimand Atlas once again he was cut off before his mouth even fully opened.

"You know what forget it. Your clearly not going to say anything useful." Atlas scoffed as he turned and walked away. Walking out of the hall they were all gathered in.

Most of the students stared in shock, the fourth-year Minori was the only special-grade student apart from Atlas currently. His technique was shocking and almost unblockable, combine that with his skill and his absolute obedience to authority and the Higher-Ups were happy to make him special grade.

Mouth still hanging open Minori suddenly clapped his hands together as he said, "I'll have to show some respect towards authority-" But before he could even finish the sentence Atlas appeared before him. Stepping out of folding space as his hand shot towards Minori's neck.

Not being able to move in time the older boy's eyes widened as he felt warm blood start to run down to his collar. He didn't move, he knew that if he did he might die.

"I said, you don't have anything useful to say. So I am going. Goodbye." With those words, Atlas pulled his hand away leaving a faint cut on Minori's neck as he turned around and started to walk away again. This time no one interrupted him. Letting him walk into the distance.

---

Staring at the fading back of Atlas the first years stood around at the edge of the hall. Watching the other students leave as Marcus a third year went over and started to help Minori with a nervous look on his face, asking if he was alright.

Turning to Gojo, Geto said. "What has him in such a bad mood?" His voice was confused, he knew Atlas was never this emotional but something must have been annoying him because he attacked without mercy which wasn't like him. He was more likely to make a dismissive comment.

"I don't know," Gojo replied honestly. Wondering what was happening with their mentor. Shaking his head he turned to his classmates and said. "Let's get away from all of these weaklings that can't even take one attack. I want to get back to training. Maybe I'll hunt down this Langley." His voice carrying.

Walking after their friend, Geto and Ieiri followed without saying anything. Geto just shook his head at his friend's comment about the weak again, it was becoming a drone in the back of his head at this point.

At least he was able to see eye to eye on some things with his classmate. Ever since they got their ass handed to them by Atlas after they got his cigarette Gojo had started to spar with him and it had been amazing progress for the both of them.

Looking once more at Atlas' back he remembered the boy coming into his room last night, the night the murder happened. Covered in ash and wounds. Atlas knew something and he was hiding it, it was clearly affecting him. Wondering if he should tell the principal he just shook his head. He trusted Atlas, maybe he shouldn't right now, but it probably wasn't as simple as he thought it was.

Nothing was ever simple.

---

Staring up at the sky Atlas ignored the voice of Gojo despite wanting to go and punch the kid's teeth in. He didn't know the situation or he likely wouldn't be saying that. It wasn't something to take to heart… god he was a bit emotional right now.

Getting a good distance away from the hall he couldn't fight the nagging feeling in the back of his mind any longer and teleported home to check on his old man.

Walking out and into the living room Atlas saw that the couch was empty. That was the first thing he noticed as he started to feel panic kick in. Where was Frank?

Looking around the house Atlas couldn't feel a trace of cursed energy, Frank had purposefully hidden himself. He didn't leave any way to be followed.

Gritting his teeth Atlas started to make assumptions but put them to the back of his mind knowing that he couldn't jump to any conclusions right now.

Staring at the empty couch Atlas wondered where Frank might have gone but only one place came to mind. A place that he only ever spent time with Atlas and wouldn't let anyone else into. The old apartment building that they used to live in.

Shaking his head Atlas teleported nearby before staring up at the crumbling old building. The worn concrete and the rusting rebar were somewhat… comforting.

Following the path he used to take every time he needed to climb up the building, he started to weave his way slowly between floors. He thought about climbing up here on another plane but didn't want to scare Frank when he emerged or make the man defensive.

Following the path he soon found himself looking out at the place the used to stay, the 'living room' table tucked up against a wall and the fire put crackling away slowly as golden light flickered across the walls. Frank was clearly here.

The fire was made just how the old man liked it.

Looking out and to the 'balcony' room. A room without a wall that looked out over the ruined industrial zone he saw Frank sitting there staring blankly over the large sprawling buildings. His shoulders hung like they were carrying a weight that had become too much.

A burden they didn't want to carry anymore.

Walking over slowly Frank turned around. His sunken eyes sat on large bags of tired wrinkles. His eyes were shocked when he saw Atlas.

Fearing the worst Atlas said, "Frank? Do you… do you remember me?" his voice careful. Carrying sadness as he saw the fear in the man he called a father.

"Yes… yes, I remember you Hoshi… I remember what you did to everyone. I remember the day we came here. I remember the memories that I had forgotten…" His voice caught as he looked up at Atlas, tears started to run down his face and between his wrinkles, flowing between the folds of his old worn skin.

Shaking his head Atlas was so confused, that wasn't what he was expecting to follow the yes. The relief that had started to fill him turned into a gnawing worry that dug at his stomach.

"I… I don't understand? I didn't do anything to anyone?" His voice caught as he tried to approach Frank but the old man backed away, shuffling across the floor until his back hit one of the walls to the right of the room. He was sitting on the ledge that dropped down into the industrial district.

"Stay away! Don't come near me! Did you come to finish the job? Were my friends not enough for you!?" He spoke, his voice shaking with fear as the temperature started to climb but it stuttered as if Frank didn't know how to use his energy properly anymore.

Hearing those words Atlas froze he was unable to move a single step. As if a spear had been pierced through his heart he didn't know how to react. What was happening? Had Kenjaku created false memories and ruined Frank, violating his mind with his technique?

Although something. Some nagging worry at the back of his mind told him that the memories were not all false.

He didn't know who Hoshi was, after all, all he had were snippets of memories. But they were telling people he could see spirits and then going to the asylum that wasn't actually a real asylum so why was he brought there? Unless those memories were made up too.

When fighting someone that could play with minds what was real and what was not? Everything had to be doubted… Shaking his head Atlas could only watch with a broken heart the man that cowered against the wall. This wasn't Frank…

Starting to feel his eyes water Atlas said, "It's okay Frank, I promise it's okay. I'm sorry for everything, whatever he did to you I will fix it. I promise, I promise I will fix it all okay? I'm so, so sorry." Atlas spoke, his voice catching as he felt his throat tighten.

The words came out strained and broken.

It was heartbreaking watching Frank like this.

Shaking his head Frank didn't say anything as he pressed his back further into the concrete before looking over the ledge as if debating whether or not to jump.

Looking back at Atlas the boy's eyes widened as he dashed forward and swung his hand down grabbing the ankle of Frank who just threw himself over the ledge and towards a plummetting death.

Cursing he felt his shoulder jolt as he held tightly onto the ankle of Frank as he felt his hand start to sear and burn. Pushing positive energy into he let the wounds heal as he shook his head and started to try and pull Frank up but the man was making it harder to do so with how he flailed and grabbed onto everything he could, trying to pull himself out of Atlas' grasp.

"NO! Just let me go! Why must you keep me alive? Are you going to torture me too!? I won't say anything, I won't!" His voice rose as he tried to pull himself from Atlas' grasp. But he was old, and his cursed energy was clearly messed up. Without too much more struggle Atlas pulled the old man back onto the floor and with a heavy heart pinned him down and knocked him out.

Dragging him over to the corner of the room Atlas leaned him against the wall and as his eyes started to cloud with tears he leaned back against another wall across from Frank and just stared at him. His heart was breaking seeing the man like this. It was too cruel. It would have been easier if Kenjaku had just killed him. This was cruel. This was so terribly cruel.

Staring at the shell of his former father Atlas tried to take deep breaths. His heart ached with each beat. What could he do? He clearly couldn't leave Frank alone… and trapping the man somewhere was no way for the old man to spend the rest of his life even if it meant that he was safe from himself.

He didn't know what to do.

After a while, Atlas took a deeper breath. Steeling his heart. Steeling his mind. Letting the training he faced in the monastery come to use. It was funny, as a soldier he had seen horrors yet curses made the deaths he saw seem tame. In this world, he thought he would be free but he had willingly let the shackles of friendship chain him and now he didn't know how to lose them.

He had always wanted a dad…

And now he was suffering for it.

Laughing at how bitter this all was he couldn't help but look over the industrial district as he felt tears start to roll down his cheek.

Surely he would be called weak for crying, but right now. He couldn't help it.

This world was just too cruel, and the man he was facing was even crueller. He knew how to break someone, and he was succeeding at what he wanted to do… slowly. He would wear Atlas down, he knew that is what Kenjaku wanted to do.

Walking over to Frank he knew that the man was well and truly unconscious. Tying him up gently with some old chain and bent rebar as he knew Frank could probably just break or burn rope even in his weakened state.

Making sure he was secure Atlas couldn't help but feel emotions start to rise up again as he saw what he had to do. Hopefully, he would be back before Frank woke up.

Teleporting back to the school he went and found Yaga, he needed to know if there was a way for them to just keep Frank a prisoner or if they would execute him. Knowing how this world worked he knew that it was probably going to be the latter but if he convinced them that Frank was under the control of someone else they might… just might. Be willing to keep him alive and safe until he could force Kenjaku to fix whatever he did.

With a plan in mind, Atlas hardened himself as he approached Yaga in the old principal's office.