Jujutsu Kaisen: Azure

Azure stumbled through the dimly lit alley.

"hah... hah..."

His breath coming in ragged gasps. His black hair, damp with sweat, clung to his forehead as he darted past trash cans and abandoned boxes.

The echo of mocking laughter reverberated off the walls, each cruel comment searing into his already heavy heart. His purple eyes, sharp and defiant, betrayed nothing but the storm within.

"Where is this dumb ass?!"

"Find him!"

Azure was fifteen, a teenager burdened with solitude and an unforgiving past. Ever since his parents had died in a tragic accident three years ago, Azure had retreated into a shell of silence.

The pain of their loss had hardened him, making him a target for bullies who relished tormenting someone so isolated and different.

His tan skin and unusual appearance only added fuel to their relentless cruelty.

Today, the bullies have been particularly vicious. Their taunts had cut through him more deeply than usual, and he had fled, desperate for any escape.

The unfamiliar weight of their derision pushed him to run faster, pushing him past his physical limits.

In his panicked flight, Azure had stumbled into an overgrown, dilapidated part of town he had never noticed before.

"What is this...?" He asked to himself as he kept running.

The entrance to an abandoned underground lair lay hidden behind a rusted gate, partially obscured by tangled vines and debris.

Without a second thought, he ducked through the gate and descended into the darkness, hoping to find refuge from his pursuers.

The air inside was cool and musty, carrying an ancient, almost forgotten scent. The narrow tunnel before him seemed to stretch on forever, twisting and turning like a labyrinth. He hesitated for a moment, the noise of his pursuers fading away. and then ventured further into the depths.

"Where am I...?" He said lowly as he kept walking not knowing where he was headed.

The darkness pressed in around him, a palpable entity that seemed to wrap itself around his shivering form. Every footstep echoed ominously, each sound amplifying his sense of isolation.

As he ventured deeper, the oppressive darkness seemed to lift slightly, revealing a faint eerie glow up ahead.

"Ah... Light..." Azure said as he followed the path.

He stumbled into a vast underground chamber, that was dimly lit, the oppressive weight of the darkness giving way to a more serene but equally unsettling ambiance.

The room was vast and barren, save for a pedestal in the center. On the pedestal rested a single, glowing stone. Its light was soft, pulsing rhythmically in hues of black and purple that seemed to dance in harmony.

Azure's eyes were drawn to the stone as if by an unseen force. He took hesitant steps toward it, his heart pounding with a mix of trepidation and curiosity. 

The glow of the stone grew brighter with each step he took, bathing the room in a mesmerizing, almost hypnotic light.

As he approached, the sensation of being pulled grew stronger. It was as though the stone was calling to him, resonating with something deep within his soul.

Azure's hand trembled as he reached out, his fingers brushing the smooth, cool surface of the stone. A wave of warmth surged through him, mingling with a strange tingling sensation that spread from his fingertips to the rest of his body.

The moment his hand made full contact with the stone, the chamber was engulfed in a blinding flash of light. 

Azure staggered back, his vision swimming as a searing pain radiated through his entire body.

"Urgh..!!!" He yelled in pain.

The stone cracked open, and from within, a small dragon emerged. Its scales shimmered with a dark, iridescent sheen, and its purple eyes the same as Azure glowed with a fierce intelligence.

*RAAGGHH

The dragon's roar was both terrifying and awe-inspiring, a deep, resonant sound that seemed to vibrate through Azure's bones.

He watched in a daze as the dragon flew towards him, its tiny body coiling around him.

A wave of intense, agonizing heat surged through Azure as the dragon merged with him.

"Argghh!! it hurts...!!!" He roared as he fell to his knees unable to withstand the pain.

The merging process was excruciating–– his body felt as though it was being torn apart and reforged simultaneously.

Azure's screams echoed through the chamber, mingling with the dragon's roar. His world spun violently, the pain overwhelming his senses.

The sensation of the dragon integrating with him was both foreign and intimate as if it were becoming an inseparable part of him.

As the pain subsided, Azure collapsed to the floor, his vision darkening at the edges. He felt an overpowering sense of emptiness and exhaustion as the world around him faded away.

*********

*Hours Later

Azure woke up, he found himself in a dimly lit room, his body bound to a sturdy wooden chair.

"What the–?!" He exclaimed as he struggled to move.

The air was thick with the scent of incense and his surroundings were cluttered with numerous talismans and wards.

The room seemed to pulse with an eerie energy, and the shadows danced menacingly along the walls.

In front of him sat a man with striking white hair and a blindfold covering his eyes–– Gojo Satoru. The man's calm demeanor was in stark contrast to the chaotic scene around them.

Azure's heart raced as he took in the sight, his mind still reeling from the recent ordeal.

Gojo's voice was smooth and composed, breaking the silence.

"Mornin'!!" he smiled

"Wh–who are you...?" Azure asked in confusion.

"Satoru Gojo. I teach first years at Jujutsu High," He smiled.

"Jujutsu... What... What am I doing here..?!"

"You... became a vessel for the one and only Disaster Class Curse... Meaning you will be executed..!" Gojo smiled.

"Huh..."

"Why...?!" Azure exclaimed.

"That's what the higher-ups have decided..." Gojo replied.

Gojo nodded, his expression sympathetic. "It's not about choice. The higher-ups in the Jujutsu Society are always wary of curses, that can tip the balance of power. the curse is one of those extremely few curses—a spirit so strong that if left unchecked, it could cause catastrophic damage. They see you as a potential threat because of your connection to Kuro."

"But the Disaster Class curse has integrated with your soul. That means it's not just a curse residing within you; it's part of you now. If the higher-ups were to execute you, there's no guarantee that Kuro wouldn't survive the process and become a rogue spirit. A rogue Kuro, fueled by the anger and pain of losing its host, will probably destroy the world," Gojo smiled.

Azure swallowed hard, the gravity of Gojo's words weighed heavily on Azure. He realized that he was not just a vessel but a linchpin in a delicate balance of power. His very existence was now a point of contention among the Jujutsu higher-ups.

"Then... wh.. what do I do?" Azure asked shakily.

"That's where my proposal came in... 'Why not teach him to control it so he can become another powerful figure to fear the other curses, allowing the Jujutsu Society to become stronger,' The higher-ups agreed. So now you have only one option. learn to control your power and become the strongest sorcerer after me," Gojo smiled.

"You're the strongest...?" Azure asked in surprise.

"Of course! Don't I look it...?" Gojo laughed.

Azure kept quiet blankly staring at him.

"Hey..." Gojo said feeling offended.