#how many people have to self sacrifice? and for what—what is Sukuna even doing this all for?

[lxmelle]

Sukuna’s Choice.

I was truly struck by his stubborn resolve. He really stuck to his guns.

He was adamant he did not and could not live another way - as if anything different than what he had achieved would make him “weak”… maybe he did not know how to, or he had just decided so.

We see that he hated the idea that he was given compassion by Yuji - seeing it as pity from him.

Yuji saw him for what he was - as someone who had opportunity after opportunity to find deeper meaning but cast it away; as someone, who was desperate enough to turn himself into objects - for no other purpose than to prolong a hedonistic existence that sought momentary self-satisfaction for himself, alone.

He saw him as a curse to be given a chance… that maybe nobody ever had before - a chance without any conditions aside from being willing to accept his offer.

And it was pity in the end for Sukuna for rejecting salvation and anything to do with humanity. Even when he was shown so much. Given chances to experience it through the eyes of both Megumi and Yuji.

At the point of death, when given the choice to live with Yuji after his defeat, he preferred to die.

This was aligned with his unchanged view that: loss was no different to death. This was in his conversation with Yorozu.

His resilience only went as far as jujutsu. If he wasn’t the strongest, there was no reason for his life or existence. He boxed himself in. As if fearing what he might discover about his worth & identity beyond the Title.

Some people on X expressed their desire to understand him, asking aloud, was he afraid of death?

I honestly don’t know. My instincts doubt it was fear, but maybe there was a subconscious fear of vulnerability that comes with connection, so I think he didn’t see the value in loving or being loved. As if he accepted that he was just alone in this dog-eat-dog world. Disregarded value in connecting with anyone in any other way aside from jujutsu.

Like those who accepted the “monster” in them, none of them thought anyone will care about their bodies after death (think: Geto who didn’t think his family could care “run away if the mission fails”, Gojo who said who cares about one’s corpse, yet said “I want to mourn Suguru’s body”, Toji who wilfully forgets his children but tells Gojo about Megumi in his dying breath: “do what you want” and kill’s himself when his body information is resurrected, and Yuta who didn’t want Gojo to alone be the monster and volunteers himself: “I’ll do it!” singularly ignoring his friends’ concern for him) — Sukuna didn’t think anyone would mourn him. He left no afterthought for Uraume. Who killed themselves after he died. He didn’t want to care. He was prepared to let Yorozu have all of him if he lost which he equated to death.

Because if you consider (and accept) yourself as important to others, you realise your worth and value too. You may want to live again. Recreate purpose. Find new meaning. New beginnings. Like Megumi did...

Sukuna did not (could not?) even want to entertain the idea of living another way. He’d rather die than open his heart to humanity or compassion.

Funnily enough he was strangely “kind” in his own way. He was so objective in his monstrosity that he saw no nuance. He praised others based on jujutsu alone and how they entertained him. He had the capacity to be “human” but complete rejected it. Rejected any outer purpose...

He did not want to have any reason to live if it wasn’t to prove his strength. He did not want to compromise his own version of personal integrity. Instead of enjoying the taste and texture of human life through emotions and relationships - he ate people and enjoyed that! The absolute monster he chose to become in wielding his strength.

We saw Gege write about so many others, not only limited to the main characters… others like Kamo, Maki, Kusakabe, Higuruma, Choso, Yuta, etc. about meaning, purpose, humanity, sacrifice, & love. How they all tie together. How we change as we let others touch our hearts. How being vulnerable truly connects us.

I’ve written before about how it wasn’t for Gojo to teach Sukuna about love, although he played a big part in what was overall conveyed to him… Love that existed between everyone who identified as human, who fought for their own and collective reasons, against Sukuna. We got to bear witness - see and experience - the myriad of thoughts, emotions and reasons behind so many of their unique stories... it sang about meaning and purpose in sacrifice as well as determination.

What an ode to humanity in the face of a desperate situation.

Because if we think about it, the opposite of antidote of Monstrosity is Humanity. Being willing to love another besides yourself = accepting/wanting belonging, embracing the responsibility of being accountable to someone out of/for their love… all these include a willingness to be vulnerable.

Something Sukuna would never accept.

Sukuna was afraid to be vulnerable. If it wasn’t fear, then he actively rejected it. I suspect it was because he saw it as being weak.

Maybe he never knew love; but through what he lived & learned back in the Heian times up until now, saw its power to transform even a monster who aspired to be like him, so he deemed it worthless. Him and Uraume talked about humanity being the thing that prevented them from reaching their potential, after all.

Why should he change if he was already so strong? What was the purpose of connecting to any other being when he was at the top of the food chain? There was no need to give himself a “weakness” through caring for another.

His survival was the singular proof of his perceived worth.

And that seems like what he clung onto. Instead, he ate the actual humans as if they were flavours, because that was the ultimate rejection of humanity - to consume people as if they were food. To toy with them as if they were passing dishes until the next meal came along.

That’s just my interpretation... My understanding is that he chose death rather than accept the vulnerability that comes with love. Not for Uraume or from Yuji. His heart was solidly, fearfully, shut.

He only recognised skill & praised others for it. His chosen singular flavour.

Many of us thought there could be redemption for Sukuna. I guess it remains to be seen if Sukuna did actually choose to evaporate & die, but assuming he did opt to die, he really didn’t want to face another alternative. Choosing to remain on his path and die as the “Strongest”. I had thought that he’d see humanity from living within Yuji & Megumi - and he did, especially within Yuji’s domain expansion. He saw it and rejected it completely. What he disliked about Yuji & said to him at the end reminds me of what Jung said: we can learn about ourselves through what irritates us.

He praised Yuji for being a fool... but maybe Sukuna was the fool himself.

He played a role all the way through too.

He was the unwavering curse in the face of love / acceptance.

Jujutsu Kaisen is truly story about curses and love. Like two halves of one thing. The many ways a person can live their lives, and how it can make sense/is justifiable to them.

Who was he if he wasn’t revered or feared as the Strongest?

So… He stayed true to himself. He likened himself to a curse in the end. Love, once again, prevails.

Ah, I look forward to having a few reads of the whole series again when it is finished...

…but I’ll honestly be so very sad when it ends.

[kentuckyfriedmegumi]

i wrote an entire analysis on yuji's and megumi's parallels throughout the series

what i think is interesting regarding megumi's and yuji's characters and how they are made to foil each other is that we see from the beginning how their stories are intertwined. from their very first interactions we see them save each other and that sets off a catalyst in how they save each other throughout the series, which is both selfishly and impulsively.

like we see them act without thought, both acting for their own reasons for why they decide to save each other. yuji's selfishness is different than megumi's though, of course. we see him act in selflessness to the point that it becomes selfishness. he WILL sacrifice himself for the greater good, regardless of those around him that care for him, because he thinks that the only thing that matters for his life is that he saves as many people as he can. this comes from the "curse" placed on him by his grandfather.

however, with megumi's selfishness, it comes from his own desire to live by his standards that he's placed on the world in his own twisted view of life due to his upbringing and life as a sorcerer. megumi doesn't think that everyone deserves to live the way that tsumiki and yuji do, and that's why he admires them so much. but this also ties into his self-imagery issues and how he thinks that he doesn't deserve to walk alongside him. this is where his self-destructive ideas come into play where he thinks that everything is fine as long as he can use mahoraga to save the ones he loves because his life doesn't matter as much as others.

we see this foil/parallel (i know this is an oxymoron, but they ultimately have differing beliefs while still acting in a similar fashion) grow between them throughout the series as the save each other and understand the other's struggles. megumi sees that yuji has gone through something after he's revived in chapter 33:

megumi: “itadori, you okay?” yuuji: “well, it’s a big job but i should be fine.” megumi: “no, something happened, didn’t it?” yuuji: “huh, what are you talking about?”

megumi can tell that something has been/is bothering yuuji, even after his insistence that he’s fine at this point, megumi has lost and mourned yuji, while yuji has lost and is mourning junpei.

there's also the classic scene in chapter 63, after yasohachi bridge where they both realize that yuji being alive means that curses are killing more people:

megumi: “don’t tell him.” yuuji: “hey! don’t tell fushiguro. don’t you dare tell him”

this is another instance of them trying to save each other/carry the other's burden as they act as foils. they both feel they are at fault for the deaths and while megumi doesn't regret it ("i never once regretted saving you"), yuji acts in a way that he feels is deserving of his life (in that he wants to "earn" his life because megumi saved him and he doesn't want it to be for nothing)

then of course we get to shibuya and yuji has his moment of giving up and feeling that he is undeserving of living because of the lives sukuna killed. he has his conversation with todo and he is able to pick himself back up, but he still feels like he needs to make up for every life lost. we see the parallel with megumi here in 256 where he tells yuji that he wants to give up. we expect him to get up right away like yuji did back in shibuya, but sukuna cuts them off and megumi doesn't fight back.

then of course their dynamic comes full circle as they both talk in 266, where yuji is able to relate to megumi in his grief and loss and tells megumi that he understands why he's made his decision. what i think is really beautiful about this chapter is that we probably expected the convo to go similar to yuji's with todo, where it's like "i know you're down now, but we must prevail!!" type stuff. but we don't get that with megumi and yuji because they understand each other at a very basic core level. we see yuji give him the choice to live or die as he tells megumi that he accepts him either way.

yuji and megumi are like yin and yang. they have very different motivations, beliefs, and ideals, but they ultimately work together and find harmony in their differences. i think the way that gege has written the two of them and their characters is really cool and it's that very reason why i'm so miffed that we don't get to see a true conclusion to their dynamic as far as this last chapter goes. i would really REALLY like to see a final, good, emotional conversation between the two of them because they deserve it.

[suguwu-gato]

Unpopular opinion but I am LIVING for this new plot reveal. This is an in-character move from Yuta to sacrifice himself in desperation to help his friends at the cost of his own psyche and moral compass. Shoko, while a side character, was an integral part of the Gojo-Geto-Shoko dynamic and NONE of them escaped growing up in jujutsu society unfucked in the head. She starts out a healer, but when we see her first in season 1 she’s eager to dissect Yuji. She is emotionally detached from most situations— she’s had to be, after embalming and/or losing so many friends, starting with Haibara— and we see this first when she meets Geto in Shinjuku. Geto and Gojo are both losing their minds in different ways at that point, so she must stay strong. We see this here again, as she does what she thinks is the only course of action.

Satoru essentially gave the okay at this point to become an organ donor— the organ being his entire self. Shoko is following what Gojo instructed and discussed with Yuta; it’s horrifying but it’s consensual, which is still better than what happened to Geto. Geto’s head being eaten by Rika— the narrative irony of this man who consumed curses to absorb their power having part of his body consumed by a curse in the end, to use the power of the brain that used him? It’s grotesque and ironic but it WORKS NARRATIVELY and provides a satisfying end for him in an incredibly perverse sense. His body being eaten by a curse in order for Satoru’s body to be used just like Geto’s was. Satoru finally realizing that Geto had seen things that were wrong with jujutsu society and that he had died tried to do something about it, Satoru feeling like HE is he one who needs to catch up, when that’s how Geto felt about him. I don’t know why people are so surprised by this development; the entire story of JJK revolves around people’s bodies becoming host to someone else, or being used in that way. Yuji being host to Sukuna. Geto being host to Kenjaku. Mahito using people’s bodies to turn them into weapons. Yuta trying desperately not to hurt people but having Rika within him doing just that. Toji coming back from the dead by inhabiting someone else’s body. Megumi being used by Sukuna, after asking Gojo to spare Yuji even if that meant keeping Sukuna alive. Megumi’s sister. Yuji’s mom. And now of course, Gojo giving his body for what he believes is the best course of action to save his students, even if one of them is sacrificed. This is a theme of Jujutsu Kaisen: bodily autonomy, making sacrifices for others, making decisions in the moment without knowing the consequences and then having to live with them.

I see people complaining because Gojo’s death leaves so many loose ends with his relationships to Megumi, Yuji, etc but that’s the point! That’s what death is. Very rarely do people know when they are about to die, much less have the chance to wrap up everything with all the people they care about. Death is a sudden and unexpected end that leaves holes in people’s hearts and that is exactly how JJK portrays it. I’m horrified by what happened to Gojo and Yuta (and Geto and Megumi and Yuji and… the list goes on) but I’m excited to see where this takes the story. Yuta will probably die, but that leaves Yuji alone as the main character, no longer able to be sidelined, which people have been complaining about for a while. I personally think Yuji will die to revive Megumi and that Megumi will be the lone survivor (and maybe even defeats Sukuna with 10 shadows, in an ironic recap of the Sukuna-Gojo fight), but I also thought it would be Kenjaku that would take Gojo’s body, so I’m sure my theory is wrong! This is a fascinating development and I can’t wait to see what horrible and twisted things result as a result of Yuta’s act of desperation.

[ultfreakme]

Danmei ask, what are your top 5 (or top 7) favorite moments from MDZS? Also, can I ask why you love those 3 (JC, WWX , XXC)?

(Riki, I'm so glad when found out you also love Jiang Cheng. You must know how many haters on his character in tumblr and twitter. Like, I was blocked 4 times by MDZS lover blog, when they knew I love Jiang Cheng.)

I love reading your MDZS/ SVSSS crossover, they're so in character.....And yes, SQQ must love Sukuna and Jogo if he ever read JJK...

Thanks for the ask Anon!!

Top 7 moments:

When we find out the Jiang Cheng sacrificed himself to the Wens to save Wei Wuxian. It was dropped so casually and I had to backtrack and go "wait, wait, WAIT! DISCUSS IT PLEASE!!"

The juniors in the Yi City arc, they were so adorable, I loved reading them putting on a brave face and investigating.

Wei Wuxian murdering the crap out of Wen Chao with his sexy undead ladies. Him and Jiang Cheng together torturing him while Lan Wangji was sent out and it's like, LWJ is confused, shocked, and horrified.

The scene where Wei Wuxian's roasting Jin Guangshan at the conference post-war and everyone's scandalized. I love it when Wei Wuxian gets bitchy.

Jiang Cheng's intro scene in the donghua where he emerges from the shadows of that tree, pushing aside the leaves. That's so hot of him.

Wei Wuxian covered in blood in the second siege of Burial Mounds and Lan Wangji is defending him. That scene's so cool and romantic in all its iterations. The donghua went above and beyond and made it seem like a wedding.

Jiang Cheng giving Zidian to Jin Ling ;_; It hurts me. It's so much worse knowing that MXTX was planning on killing Jin Ling soon after to really hurt Jiang Cheng.

Reasons I like:

Jiang Cheng-

He's so complicated! You can't immediately look at him and say he's the good guy or the bad guy. I personally think he leans more towards the good guy category.

He's the perfect opposite of Wei Wuxian, he's not a genius cultivator like wwx, he had to work for every bit of progress he made. He started off simply wanting to keep his family together and at peace, but the war happened and his priorities shifted. He's duty-bound, he's always fighting and scraping to be recognized but no one ever does. He wanted so bad to help wwx, but duty made it so that he was forced to pick between his sect and wwx. Forever chained, closed off.

He's jealous and vicious and so, so angry. I get it, I understand the worst parts of him and relate to it.

Wei Wuxian-

Again, super complicated as a person. Wronged at every turn. He wanted to do good and protect people, and for that he kept sacrificing himself over and over again with little value given to himself as a person. He's got his sharp edges and cruelty too, and I feel like people often forget that Wei Wuxian's traumas and his lack of self-appreciation and value on himself show in ugly and vicious ways.

His story obviously shows a key message of MDZS, which is that when people sacrifice themselves thinking that they're protecting their loved one, they only hurt them in another way. I understood his desire to do good, protect people, but there's no one to stand at his side. The loneliness and fear that comes with fucking up so bad that no one even tries to hear you out, no one's listening no matter how loud you shout.

Xiao Xingchen:

He's like Wei Wuxian but 100% times worse and more self-sacrificial. Too trusting, too good, and everyone kept taking advantage of that without bothering to guide him or be honest with him. Like legit, no one told him what they were truly thinking.

I love that xxc wants to be a good person, i hate that he was ruined for it. God I really wanted him to have a happy ending because he's just, he's so NICE. In a world filled with betrayal and deceit, xxc wanted to spread goodness. And yet.

AAHHHHHH

I think these characters made me see the point of MDZS in a very clear way, or in a way that impacted me most. So they're my faves.

Being a Jiang Cheng liker is a struggle! I was getting into MDZS even before the donghua started airing, like around 2018 and back then Jiang Cheng hate was so bad. I kept waiting year after year for the hate to go down but it just got worse the more popular MDZS got. The misunderstandings built up too. I got black and got into a million arguments too ;_; We have to stick together!!!

i have so many thoughts about Jiang Cheng specifically because, okay I read and watched everything about 3 years ago, so I don't remember much other than my fav, so I'm always thinking about everything he did.

nbsdhfb SQQ's monster-loving ass would go gaga for Sukuna. Four armed man wrecking people??? Yes sir! (side note; big tall powerful man who is called king who is only nice to his close servant and confidante???? SQH come get your boy!)

[linkspooky]

The Dragon - Megumi and Geto

Geto and Megumi are both the black wolves, the yang in their relationship with Gojo and Yuji respectively. However they are also parallels to one another. Both of them represent the black yang, both are deeply emotional people, and both are also partners and secondary to the strongest sorcerer of their generation. Geto who was the part of the strongest duo along with Gojo, and also Megumi who was the one who saved, and continues to protect Itadori even after he swallowed Sukuna’s finger. They also tend to be associated with serpents (Megumi - Oboro the snake, Geto summons a dragon). More under the cut. 

1. It’s Always the Quiet Ones

Gojo and Yuji are introduced as a teacher and student duo from the start of the manga so their connection between each other is already apparent. Geto and Megumi have never met each other, however, there are already several parallels between them. 

Megumi and Geto are characters who are more concerned with “the right thing to do” rather than saving everyone in front of them. Yuji and Geto are very self involved individuals. They’re more focused on themselves. Yuji and Gojo both have this central goal of becoming the strongest, and for different reasons. Gojo because he’s such a staunch individualist whose goal is to be the best version of himself he can be, and Yuji because he needs that strength in order to save people. 

Gojo and Yuji are people who think about themselves first and foremost. Megumi and Geto are people very concerned with everyone around them. It’s Megumi and Geto who consider the consequences of their actions and how it will affect others. (Teenage Gojo) and Yuji tend to be quite irresponsible with their power. They want to be strong, but they don’t really think about how they want to use that power to impact the world around them. Because they as people are not overly concerned with the world. Yuji only thinks about saving people immediately in front of him, and Gojo mostly thniks about himself. 

It’s that old adage about power and repsonsibility. With great power comes great responsibility. However, the duos Megumi / Yuji and Geto / Gojo are both two halves of the same person. Gojo and Yuji are both the powerhouses of that duo, however it’s Geto and Megumi who are concerned with how to use that power responsibility for others. 

There are several parallels betwen Megumi and Geto. Starting with their Curse Techniques. Megumi and Geto both use summoned entities in order to fight for them while Gojo and Yuji are powerhouses who fight their enemies head on. Megumi and Geto summon powerful creatures to do most of the fighting for them. 

They both seem to be second strongest after their respective partners. Geto is second strongest after Gojo, and Megumi is second strongest after Yuji. However, at the same time it’s implied that both of them intentionally hold themselves back. That their cursed techniques could be used for much more than they are currently capable of. 

A ten shadows loser is capable of overpowering the limitless user with a six eyes. However, it’s implied by Gojo constantly that Megumi is someone who constantly holds himself back, because unlike Gojo his number one priority is not being the strongest. 

Geto at the same time is someone who is made out to be not as strong as Satoru Gojo, but at the same time, it seems someone like Getwo is way better at using his body to his full potential than he is. At the same time Getwo also comments that Geto would have won, if he had not ordered his forces to pull back. Geto lost because he’s more concerned with other people, Geto and Megumi are both people who hold themselves back because they prioritize people over themselves. 

As awful as Geto is. As wrongheaded. As much of a murderer he is. He’s not a selfish person who can sacrifice his family for the sake of his goal. If only he were a little more selfish, if only he loved people a little less, he probably would not have been broken by the world in the same way he did. One more important parallel between the two of them is unlike Gojo and Yuji, Megumi and Geto seem to be really aware of the harshness and unfairness of the world around them and really affected by it. 

Of course, Gojo is aware the Jujutsu world is corrupt too, and he’s affected by it in his own way, but he’s never pushed to a breaking point like Geto was. Gojo simply isn’t as invested in other people as Geto is, it doesn’t make Geto or Gojo better as a person it just makes them different and their priorities different. 

Geto and Megumi’s reflections of the world mirror one another. Their reflections of the world always revolve around the sentiment that the world is fundamentally unfair, no matter how just the two of them try to be. Remember, the key word for both of them is righteousness. They are responsible people who try and obsess over doing the right thing. 

Megumi refers to Jujutsu sorcerers as merely a cog in the system getting grinded down. Which is exactly what we witness happens to Geto. It’s because the fact that Jujutsu Sorcerers are treated as nothing more than disposable cogs in this great wide system, and they’re treated this way even as children that causes Geto to break to the extent that he does, becoming a broken cog. 

Merely doing their duty as a Jujutsu Sorcerer isn’t enough for either of them. Geto begins with believing that what he’s doing he’s doing out of a sense of duty. He begins believing that he’s doing the right thing. They both come to a question of who they are supposed to save as Jujutsu Sorcerers. However, Megumi and Geto both witness a complete innocent suffering. A person that they describe as a good person, a person that they tried to protect, only to fail to protect them and watch that person. For Geto it was Riko, for Megumi it was Tsumiki.

Geto witnessed Rika die just after he promised to protect her as the strongest. Megumi only accepted Gojo’s offer to become a Jujutsu Sorcerer in the future because he thought it would help give him money to take care of Tsumiki. They both try to protect someone, and fail, and it makes their efforts seem pointless. After that point they question what their role in things even is. It left them questioning everything. 

The final parallel between Geto and Megumi is that they’re both reasonable and rational on the surface. They’re both people always seeking a reason in things. It’s Geto of all people who is the person to tell Gojo that they can’t just do whatever they want because they’re powerful, they need responsibility, reason to chain their actions to. Geto becomes Gojo’s tether. Megumi is Yuji’s tether. In a way, both Gojo and Yuji were saved by their respective partners. Geto stopped Gojo from killing so many people, and Megumi saved Yuji at the beginning of the manga allowing him to become a cursed sorcerer rather than being executed right away at the start of the manga. However, at the same time both Megumi and Yuji have these deep and dark emotions unaddresssed that they can’t hold back with reasons. 

Geto and Megumi carry lots of dark emotions and hurt feelings inside of them, and rather than trying to deal with them they tend to repress them in order to keep appearing as the rational and responsible for one. However, on the flip side of things, it means that they both have a tendency to flip. The thing about repressing these very angry, and hurt emotions is that repressing them does not make them go away. It merely causes them to pile up until the weight becomes unbearable and they break. 

Geto and Megumi handle their emotions in the same way, and all of their hurt feelings tend to come from the same place. It’s not that Megumi and Geto hate people. In fact they love people. Megumi and Geto expect people to be much better than theyare. They expect the world to be a good place. ANd, when the world turns out to be not what they expected to be they’re not just disappointed they’re mad. 

Megumi believes in good, compassionate people. He feels the world should be kinder to good people, he believes those people should be allowed a little happiness. He wants to protect people like Yuji and his sister because he sees a goodness in them he can’t see in himself. Megumi, always sees the best in the people he meets, that’s why he’s disappointed when he’s faced with the worst of them. 

The same way that Megumi belives in good people, Geto believes in his connections to his comrades and to other people. Geto goes about it the wrong way entirely, but what he wants from the bottom of his heart is just a world where jujutsu sorcerers don’t have to be killed as teenagers. He, just like Yuji, wants the world to be a better place then it is currently. It’s just Geto has taken radical action to make that chane, whereas Megumi is fighting small battles one fight at a time. 

They’re both characters whose hearts are in the right places. They both have good intentions. However, the unchecked emotions of both characters makes Geto a bomb, and Megumi a land mine waiting to explode. As good as they are, they’re full of dangerous bad feelings. They’re both living embodiments of the phrase “the road to hell is paved with good intentions.” 

Geto represents the dangerous person that Megumi could become, while at the same time his partnership with Gojo shows what Megumi can make of himself if he opens himself to others. Geto decided to leave and try to fix the world on his own. Geto decided to try to hold all that weight on his shoulders until he broke, and then he broke away from Gojo. Geto and Gojo were clearly set up as a duo. They were meant to find balance with one another. However, they just couldn’t be together. They were both too busy trying to save the world alone, they didn’t know how to be together, and didn’t know how to be kids. 

Megumi and Yuji are another strongest duo. Another second to chance to find the balance between each other that Gojo and Geto couldn’t find. Megumi is seriously off balance, and doesn’t know how to balance saving people with his sense of righteousness but that’s what Yuji is for. The two of them have the potential to break part like Gojo and Geto did, but they also have the potential to find true balance in one another. 

[roscgcld]

RYOMEN SUKUNA || pretty little thing

note: am I simping for volume 12 cover sukuna once more? ...yes, and am not afraid to admit that. that man can glare at me and i will apologise for gracing him with my unworthy self lmao. but i do enjoy this entire idea of super mean and evil sukuna and his cutesy lover that can do whatever she wants to him and he wouldn’t stop her - not like he wanted to anyway lmao 

pronouns: she/her

warning: mentions of murder and acts of murder as well, and if you squint a little there is mentions of minors, but it doesn’t play a big role in the story

The small group of sorcerers stood before the towering man, trying not to show the fear on their faces as they tried to look at the glowing red eyes head on. Sukuna was seated on his throne, two of his four arms resting on his while another was propping up his cheek; the other tapping his fingers on the plush fabric of his throne. He hated having his time wasted on useless things, and the socerers before him were starting to wear their welcome too thin.

Sighing tiredly, he tilted his head back, a sign that had the sorcerers tensing up. They knew that body language all too well - if they do not tell him what was the purpose of them coming all the way to him temple, and even daring to walk up to his alter will lead him to murdering them all in cold blood. 

He doesn’t care how important they are in the town, or in jujutsu world either - to him, he is the most important. And everyone else is beneath him.

Well, everyone but one person, that is.

As if the Gods took pity on them, the soft sound of delicate footprints came from somewhere beside the group, causing the group to stop their whispers between one another at the sound of soft footsteps. Within seconds a beautiful woman walked out from the shadows and into the main room of the temple, her kimono trailing behind her delicately. The beautiful crafted garment hung on her frame perfectly; not too tight where it left little to the imagination, yet not too loose to hide her beautiful figure underneath it either. It was clearly crafted by a master craftsman, and the fabrics it was made of show how expensive it must have been.

A hana kanzashi was delicately placed on her perfectly styled hair, a streams of flowers hang off the end of the pin, giving the woman a more mysterious look as the sunlight casted a shadow over half of her face. She gave the sorcerers no more than an uninterested glance, trying not to roll her eyes at the sight of the group of mostly men - the same group of elders in her town that were so willing to sacrifice young girls to the man before them in exchange for peace.

She would know - she was one of those sacrifices, after all. However, the difference between her and the others was that instead of being killed after their purpose was done, Sukuna was now wrapped around her finger tightly. She can’t be too proud of it either; she was equally as obsessed with him as he was with her, so the better word to describe it might be mutual pining.

Sukuna will never admit that though, claiming she is just a foolish woman he likes keeping around for food and a warm body. But if she tries to get up and leave, or if he knows people are even thinking about bringing her harm? The world would suffer through Hell like they’ve never seen before.

Speaking of the man - Sukuna’s ruby red eyes watched as the woman made her way towards him, carefully climbing the steps of his alter like it was her own home; a soft pout resting on her lips as she walks closer to him. He didn’t get the usual burst of annoyance when anyone dared to look at him in eyes, or the anger he’d feel of having someone even daring to take one step towards the direction of his throne. Yet all he felt was amusement as he shifted in his seat ever so slightly; watching how the woman just made her way towards him and sat down in his lap like it was her throne.

Which it was after all, and Sukuna will let her indulge herself in such a luxury. He loves to spoil her, letting her do as she pleases

“Yes, my beautiful flower?” He hums softly as the hand that was once tapping his fingers along his seat reached up, stroking the apple of her cheek delicately as he raised an eyebrow at her. At that moment he didn’t care who was in the room - all that mattered was her. And he has a gut feeling he knows why she is currently sporting that cute pout of hers, her arms crossed over her chest adorably. “You’re taking too long. I got cold.” 

Immediately a low chuckle rumble from somewhere in his chest as his other arm wrapped around her protectively, his tattoos a contrast against the unmasked skin of her bare thigh that was revealed by his simple action of pulling her closer. “We can’t have that now, can we?” He cooed ever so softly, something so foreign and so unheard of coming from a cold hearted killer that it scared the already terrified sorcerers even more. A few of them were even shaking at the sight of the woman, who was a mere girl when she was scarified, now perched in the lap of such a fearsome creature like she was a lazy house cat.

How can such a relation be so natural?

“What a pretty little thing she is, isn’t she?” Sukuna suddenly stated loudly, his ruby red eyes now dull and clearly showing his boredom as he turned to address the sorcerers before him once more. The woman from before just smiles softly as she curls up into his warmth, not caring about the others in the room; quietly purring at the feeling of a large hand stroking along her face delicately. An action that might seem hard for a man his size to achieve, yet he still somehow manages to treat her like fine china beneath his fingertips.

“I should thank you for being blind enough not to keep a beauty like this for yourselves, but it’s because of your blindness that landed her in my lap in the first place.” Sukuna continued into the silent room, the hand that was once cradling his cheek waved in the air lazily; a smirk tugging against his tattooed face. “All the ones you sent before as sacrifices were quite sad little things; blubbering and whining so much that I rather send their heads back to you so you can see just how pathetic they really were.” He sighs in annoyance, his face curling a little as he remembered all the past women he had.

Some were pretty, yes - but there was just something about them that just irked him. He didn’t know what it was; maybe it was their constant crying, or how they try to pretend to be head strong and threaten to kill him in his sleep. He just took what he wanted before slicing their head off just as he climaxes; not really caring for their own pleasure. It’s not his problem if they were satisfied or not.

However, when his little flower came, sniffling with tearful eyes at how she had been yanked away from her loving family; yet eyes curiously staring up at the man that she had heard so many stories about. There was just something in him that lets him know that she was the one. That she was the one that is going to scratch that insatiable itch that he has whenever he is sent a new sacrifice from the town that he is currently residing in. And he was right. “Yet, with that being said, that doesn’t mean I am not growing tired of your antics. Speak now before I make you.”

Immediately a few eyes glanced over at the woman in his lap, as if they were silently begging for her to lend them a hand. Yet this actual caused Sukuna to scowl as he looks over at the group, snapping his fingers to drag their attention back to him. “Who gave you the permission to turn your disgusting gazes at her? She can’t help miserable excuses like you lot anyway.” He scowls, his eyes narrowing in anger at how they thought they even worthy enough cast their dirty eyes on her, as if she would extend the olive branch to them after they’ve done.

Before he can do anything rash, the woman decided to step in, gently placing her warm hand against the exposed part of his chest from underneath the kimono he had worn. The feeling of the familiar touch caused him to sigh softly as he leans back into his throne once more, but he glared at them with the same intensity as before, watching them for a moment longer. “You know what? I think I know what to do with you lot. I mean, I hope you didn’t forget - you did make my little flower cry.” 

Just as he finished saying that, he gave them all a sadistic smile before he swiped his hand in the air leisurely. His other arms immediately wrapped around the woman, turning her face away from the scene before them as the sorcerers all started to be sliced up one by one by invisible blades, the sound of wails and body parts flying about as they landed on the ground in bloody heaps. A few. who watched their fellow comrades be sliced up in horror before they tried to run, turning and running towards the entrance as if they can escape their fate. 

They should know better than to try something so foolish.

“The clean up is going to be a pain, you know.” Y/N sighed softly as she looks up at her lover, knowing that he was shielding her from the horrors he had committed. If she was being honest, she had never seemed to fear how easily he dispose of others - whenever he does kill people, it usually leads to a much more wider and bigger picture at the end of the day. What she can’t stand though, is the mess he tends to leave behind. “The maids just cleaned the rugs too.”

“It’s their job, flower.” He just sighs and shifted her so she was straddling his lap leisurely, letting her hands rest against his warm chest as two of his arms wrapped around her waist. One of them rested against her cheek lovingly, letting her lean into his touch once more whilst his other hand went back to cupping his cheek in his hand. “You can still make it less dramatic, no?” She mumbles softly with a soft giggle, to which Sukuna just rolled his eyes at her comment. 

“Why make killing so dull? I enjoy the flare of dramatics, flower.”

With a fond roll of her eyes she just leans forward to press soft kisses along his face, knowing that he will not push her away; not when his arms tighten their own hold on her. “Whatever you say, my King.” She cooed at him quietly, still placing feather-like kisses against his face as he closes his eyes for a moment. Soon he grew bored of them, and with a firm hand on the back of her head, guiding her face down to his. He presses a passionate kiss against her as she smiles, her hands trailing up his chest before they found themselves wrapped around his neck where they belong.

Maybe it was an obsession, or maybe it really is fate - whatever the reason may be, he’s going to make sure that his little flower is safe and content. Even if it means killing an entire army of people at her command, or tearing out his heart for her if she so much so as asks.

He is her slave, and he doesn’t see a reason to fight against his faith.

© roscgcld — all rights reserved to me, rose, the author and creator of these works. do not repost/translate/claim my work as yours on any platform

[cquiazon]

more OC art, I’ve changed and added some more features, clothes and accessories on her and thought more about her backstory. (The kanji smack dab at the center means “forgiveness” and its literally the meaning of her name and I’ll explain more about it soon.

To sum it up from before

he comes from a mysterious lost line of healers that she herself does not know. Knowledge about it and its history has been so long gone that not even other shamans know about it. It turns out her whole bloodline was once a clan that also not only specialized in fighting cursed spirits but were to serve someone in their lifetime. And by a lifetime I mean that they are to sacrifice and fight with everything they have til they die. This comes from instinct and ability, and is triggered once they “bind” with someone, something, or even a group of people. To bind their clan either makes a pact with someone or have strong feelings and the urge to keep that/those certain individual(s) safe. 

Here's a closer look on her “tattoos”

They were inspired by Sukuna and how he gets new lines each time he reincarnates (Also from that one asshat that got sliced in half from Sukuna’s ability in the Shibuya arc)

The little dashes under her eyes count how many lives she has been in, and the symbol on her forehead is the insignia of her clan. Its inspired by the symbols below, and is what makes the basis of her clan’s principles. Now that brings the question: Why the full moon then you ding dong? 

From her past life which was literally when Sukuna was clapping everyone’s cheeks 1000 years ago, she served the emperor. She was binded to serve the emperor just like the many family members of her clan, however she felt imprisoned. Since he was not in good terms with Sukuna there came a time where Kaiya (her past life also had the same name) had no choice but to fight the King of Curses until she was eventually decapitated at full moon. She has strong morals, even when she didn’t make the best out of her life because of the very people she sought to protect, but in a way the release of death gave her a spark of hope in those short seconds, that perhaps her future self will experience a better life. I liked the concept of how birthmarks represent their past life’s death, so Kaiya has this scar that goes around her neck that she ALWAYS covers with a bandage.

Now on to the present:

You see the connection right? If you’re doing more effort that half-ass reading this because that's understandable. Her mother didn’t bind her to serve the village, because she knew that her daughter deserved something more than this dying old practice. But this was super fun to draw and type about, thank you for reading <3 I’ll try to post more stuff and perhaps little comics of her!

[not-delicious-milk]

yuuji’s wounds in shibuya

it occurred to me today that during the shibuya arc, the wounds that yuuji receives and the location he receives them in are actually pretty significant.

i’m putting it here so nobody asks me about it: nobara also receives significant wounds, but that’s been a running theme tied to what i assume will be a character arc focused on personal appearance as a female jujutsu sorcerer. throughout the story she continually receives wounds to the face, which was excellent foreshadowing for her (probably) near death experience in shibuya, and will serve as setup for future arcs.

i. just a scratch

in their fight against awasake, yuuji receives a gash to the side. when megumi runs over to see if he’s okay, yuuji responds that it’s “just a scratch.” it doesn’t seem to be debilitating, so he’s probably right, but what’s important to note is the continuation of the theme of hiding pain from each other. 

ii. crack

not once, but twice yuuji receives a wound in the exact same place: across his face. once from choso, and once from mahito. that can’t be chalked up to coincidence.

the orientation is reversed, showing how yuuji’s position is reversed but fundamentally, the same.

when fighting choso, he’s fighting someone taking revenge for the murder of his brothers -- yuuji’s murder. morally, it’s the same as yuuji trying to kill mahito in revenge for junpei’s (and nanami’s) death. when fighting mahito, he has to kill transfigured humans, and later admits that he isn’t so different from mahito after all. 

the arrow placement in the second panel here further points out the hypocrisy in yuuji’s conviction -- he has been playing with people’s lives, too. not just through sukuna’s rampage, but also by his own hands. choso and the transfigured humans stick out as prime examples, but there’s also the indirect deaths caused by his consumption of sukuna’s finger. 

the “crack” that appears across his face, in both instances, represents the cracks evident in his conviction, but the wound also splits his face. i don’t have to remind you that the “ryomen” in “ryomen sukuna” means “two-faced.” well before he started resembling sukuna in his fight vs mahito, gege was already showing their similarities. 

yuuji isn’t exactly doing okay right now. he’s running on adrenaline and cognitive dissonance. simultaneously, he believes that he is a murderer who deserves nothing less than death, and that he needs to save as many people as possible to redeem himself. these are conflicting ideals that he’s trying desperately to consolidate, and it’s splitting him in two. 

iii. liver

this is a turning point in yuuji vs choso, shifting the fight firmly in choso’s favor. shortly afterwards, yuuji accepts his impending death and chooses to sacrifice himself to ensure that choso falls here, to save his friends and gojo. 

he fails.

the liver is the site of blood filtration in the body. when blood passes through, toxins are flushed out and it leaves the liver in a purified state. itadori’s injury to the liver is the moment when he clears all distractions from his mind and decides that he will die here fighting choso. 

additionally, the liver has a few interesting symbolic meanings. in greek mythology, it was thought to be the source of passion and emotion, specifically anger and wrath. it is the source of bile in the body; the theory of four humors attributes yellow bile to the liver, and with it a short temper and tendency towards anger. 

in this fight, choso is fighting out of a desire for revenge and immense rage. it’s only fitting that his fatal attack strikes yuuji’s liver, the symbolic source of anger in the body. 

iv. baring his teeth

to bare one’s teeth means to indicate one’s hostility in a threatening way. the term comes from the way wolves bare their teeth when doing the same. 

oh? wolves? where have we seen that before?

this is the moment when yuuji’s overwhelming hostility translates to stalking mahito like prey. and mahito? mahito is terrified. yuuji has asserted his dominance and doesn’t even need to run after mahito, taking a leisurely pace as he moves to kill his enemy. 

it’s significant that the skin on his cheek is what’s damaged, revealing what’s underneath. it suggests that this is only revealing a side of yuuji that’s been here all along, rather than a sudden development. it’s also mahito who pushed him this far, being the one to tear his cheek open. 

in this intimately personal moment, where it’s just yuuji and mahito, yuuji’s innermost thoughts and impulses are shown without a second skin to cover them up. he’s laid bare, and it’s not just his teeth that are exposed. 

this, of course, is immediately ruined by kamo’s arrival. 

v. blood on his hands

in contrast to the injuries that revealed more and more of his innermost self during his fight with mahito, kamo’s -- and kyoto tech’s -- arrival is accompanied by injuries all over his body, completely covering him in blood. every other injury he has sustained is obscured by it, overshadowing it in significance. 

this is significant, because “covered in blood” is exactly how yuuji appears to outside observers. up until now, the only people he’s come across since his breakdown were close friends and mortal enemies, people who know his true self. but now, with the arrival of the proverbial puppet master and members of the greater jujutsu world, yuuji is covered in blood. 

i’ve said it a few times before, but it’s important to note that nobody, nobody has been made fully aware of sukuna’s rampage. kusakabe openly stated his desire to see yuuji executed after seeing that sukuna took over his body and destroyed some buildings. yuuji told todo that sukuna killed a lot of people, but didn’t elaborate on the point, and todo didn’t really seem to grasp the magnitude of what happened.

nobody knows. but yuuji does. he knows and he hates that nobody else does. 

now suddenly in the presence of people who, for the moment, are protecting him and putting trust in him, yuuji is probably only seeing the blood on his hands. and if they’re made aware of what he’s done, the others will only see the blood on his hands, too. he is, figuratively and literally, covered in blood, and not just his own. 

with choso’s appearance and extremely loud declaration of relation to yuuji, further explanation of the situation will undoubtedly be demanded from him, and he’s probably going to confess to what he did with no reason to hide it. the kyoto forces might end up splitting between those protecting yuuji and those trying to take him out now while he’s wounded. 

but that’s only a speculation. for now, all i can do is sit back and marvel at gege’s writing and art, and how it can be interpreted in so many ways even with only 134 chapters at the time of writing this. 

[aion-rsa]

How Jujutsu Kaisen’s Female-Centric Fight Scenes Push Shonen Forward

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For many anime fans, Jujutsu Kaisen shone as the highlight of the Fall 2020/Winter 2021 season. There are many possible reasons for this hype: The series delivered more sought-after supernatural action on the heels of 2019’s breakout hit Demon Slayer. Its darker approach both set Jujutsu Kaisen apart from its predecessor and offered a cathartic escape during a global pandemic. Studio MAPPA adapted Gege Akutami’s original manga with memorable visuals and smooth animation. After all, who can forget the first time Gojo tangled with Sukuna or used his mind-bending domain expansion technique?

But what’s most striking about Jujutsu Kaisen are its fight scenes. Even the show’s detractors will agree that, through clever action cinematography, the series showed us how well-executed sequences can elevate the otherwise simple premise of a boy who gets possessed by a demon. Less remarked upon, however, is how those same fight scenes utilize Jujutsu Kaisen’s female characters.

Jujutsu Kaisen’s portrayal of its female characters has won the series many fans. Episode 17: “Kyoto Sister School Exchange Event – Group Battle 3” drew widespread acclaim with its on-screen acknowledgment of the struggles women face in an overtly sexist society. What went less remarked upon was the backdrop against which those declarations took place.

Longtime shonen fans are familiar with what can be called “the obligatory girl fight.” It’s the match-up between two female characters. Sometimes, they’re the only female characters from the series in question. One variation may feature one-off declarations of throwing away their femininity through a dramatic cutting of hair. Another, sadly more common type uses the opportunity for gratuitous, male-driven fan service.

On its surface, Episode 17 showcases the obligatory girl fight. But in many ways, the explicit examination of the impossible standards that women are held to tells the audience this fight is anything but obligatory. And, even if any doubts remained, we need only look at the actual fights that occurred during the episode: Maki Zenin kicks her opponent off a cliff. Nobara Fugisaki nearly destroys the surrounding forest to take down broom-riding Momo. Mai Zenin, Maki’s twin, defeats Nobara with what could be called a cheap shot: sniping her from a distance while the other girl verged on defeating her opponent.

These observations may seem like small things, but they’re notable when looking at the history of female fighters in shonen series. In generations past, shonen’s female characters often found themselves relegated to support roles. They’re healers and medics. They patch up the other (male) characters’ physical and emotional wounds. Their abilities, despite being often presented as without peer, are used in the most benign and inoffensive of ways. Is she physically the strongest person in the entire series? Perhaps, but she would never hit a person using her full strength. She hits things, not people—even if that person is doing everything in their power to kill her.

Read more

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When Maki kicks Kasumi Miwa off the cliff in Episode 17, she doesn’t hesitate. She presses her advantage. When you fight, you fight to win. And in their line of work, the physical injuries sustained from such a fall are nothing compared to the potential threat from facing and exorcising a cursed spirit. Mai’s attack may be considered cowardly, but the results can’t be denied. She eliminated Nobara from the competition. This isn’t to say that every female character in a shonen series should be bloodthirsty. That defeats the purpose of seeking multidimensional female characters in our media. But if a woman works in a dangerous occupation like that of a jujutsu sorcerer, she must accept the routine necessity of violence.

Unlike other shonen series, we don’t see the female characters grapple with that reality in Jujutsu Kaisen. The women have already come to terms with those expectations. In the case of Maki, the acceptance is crucial. Born with no cursed energy—something most jujutsu sorcerers have—she has no choice but to rely on her physical abilities. And make no mistake, she makes good use of them. She’s allowed to be strong in the same way that series protagonist Yuji is strong. She fights hard. She’s often the first to land a hit on an otherwise untouchable enemy. She can emerge from an encounter unscathed whereas her male ally is not so lucky. Individually, these are small things but together, they add up over time.

Nobara, on the other hand, reminds us that women don’t have to accept the unfair expectations placed upon their gender. In her memorable speech from Episode 17, she proudly states that she loves being strong as much as she loves dressing up and looking pretty. Embodying both may seem like a contradiction for the shonen female heroine, but Nobara is a study in contrasts right down to her signature technique. Her trademark ability involves hammering nails through a straw doll that represents her enemy. What the audience may not realize is that the technique has roots in a traditional Japanese curse ritual where scorned women nail effigies to trees. Nobara isn’t a scorned or rejected woman, however. Instead she’s adopted a process associated with feminine vengeance and transformed it in a brutal attack.

We see Nobara’s technique in action throughout the entire series, but it takes center stage in “Accomplices,” Jujutsu Kaisen’s season 1 finale. During the episode’s climatic battle, Nobara is underestimated by their enemies like many female characters in shonen series before her. And why not? Her partner, Yuji, serves as the host to Sukuna, the King of Curses. He is the more obvious threat. But in a stunning reversal, it’s Nobara who becomes far more dangerous to their enemies. She may not host a demon nor does she have intimidating physical abilities, but she has a quick mind for strategy and an understanding of the sacrifice required for victory. The ensuing action-packed scenes show us a battle where Yuji and Nobara fight as equal partners. Neither is more important or weaker. The girl doesn’t need protecting. She doesn’t need saving. In another shonen series, the fight’s conclusion would highlight Yuji’s protagonist status by giving him the final strike. But even here, the success of Yuji’s punch relies on Nobara’s long-distance attack.

In Season 1, Jujutsu Kaisen gives us fight scenes where women play crucial roles. They weaken and delay opponents to give time for stronger combatants to arrive. More than that, it gives us women who enjoy fighting. They defeat enemies with a self-satisfied smirk on their faces. They smile as they promise to deliver death. In Jujutsu Kaisen, the women aren’t constrained by being nice. They’re allowed to be ugly and brutal. And because of that, their fight scenes show us what female characters can accomplish when they’re allowed to move beyond agonizing over a violent life and instead embrace it as a requirement of their chosen profession.

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Season 1 of Jujutsu Kaisen is currently streaming on Crunchyroll.

The post How Jujutsu Kaisen’s Female-Centric Fight Scenes Push Shonen Forward appeared first on Den of Geek.

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[lxmelle]

If the conditions for happiness and/or satisfaction at the core of each of them are summed up through:

“(I’m jealous, but) I’m happy if you’re happy.” Geto Suguru

“I’m happy if you’re there.” Gojo Satoru

Does it come as a surprise that they’re smiling...?

They needed one another to be happy 🥹

I was reading several options from a few international readers of the series on X and it’s nice that they seem to echo that too - that without the other, they are less happy.

If one is unhappy, the other would be too. They complimented each other in so many ways, including how they loved each other and wanted to be loved**

**i don’t necessarily mean romantic love

Just some blabbering on my thoughts/analysis/views about their love under the cut. Perhaps it’s headcanon more than anything. Read if you wish:

Geto was very giving and it “gave him as much as he gave” when he was able to love someone. He could love anyone, but to be able to love someone like Gojo felt like a privilege. Gojo wanted his love as much as he wanted to give love. It felt balanced and reciprocal.

Gojo enjoyed being indulged; and as someone who could be good at anything he put his mind to - allowing someone to love him was a privilege he gave - he felt loved to be loved in this way. Being loved by Geto who had love for everyone, so exclusively, made him feel even more special.

I also think if they were allowed to progress with a mature relationship, they’d grow together and the way they could love & receive love would begin to overlap & equalise. Especially as they tended to see themselves on the same side / level, they would be more likely to understand one another and receive the love given.

Geto saw the goodness in Gojo that few took the time to see. This purity of love would strike a chord in anyone and resonated in Gojo’s soul - so much so that he “knew in his soul” that Kenjaku in Geto was not his Geto Suguru. Geto had recognised that something changed in Gojo when he awakened, and still, Geto wanted to protect Gojo’s humanity - this was his way of loving him in the twisted world - by leaving. Not pulling him along with him. Gojo would have gone.

Gojo loved by clinging onto his love. “I’ll protect you.”

Geto loved by letting go of his love and going instead. “I’ll save you.”

Gojo saw the self blame and sacrifice in Geto that few took the time to see. He missed the sadness in his eyes and when Geto left, wanted to save him and prevent the jujutsu world from continuing as it was that left people like them alone. This was all he could do after the damage was done, and in the end to kill him was also to give him love.

I’m glad they met again. I hope they can start again at the end.

To add onto what this post opened with…...

The loneliness of absolute strength; one who will teach you about love...

For Sukuna who didn’t know real love: “Love is worthless; I don’t need anyone (/ love) to satisfy me.” It was a direct contrast to the scene in 236.

For Gojo: “If you (love) were there […] I probably would’ve been satisfied.” (Love = Geto)

In jjk 0 we saw this theme:

For Gojo & Geto: “Love is the most twisted curse... curse (love) me a little at the end.”

Geto and Gojo were plagued with loneliness.

The antidote was love.

Love, was in the form of each other.

Because: they taught each other about love.

[lxmelle]

I think it’s safe to say both Gojo and Geto had a problem opening their hearts after they separated. Like an emotional scar they never resolved.

It’s kinda Husband & Wife-coded imho. (Husband&Husband, Wife&Wife, whatever - you get my drift).

Geto at his death asked about his family. He wasn’t concerned about how they’d mourn for him or considered if they’d want him saved, etc. Like the scrolls adorning the back of the temple, he didn’t view himself to be much if he couldn’t be strong - punishment to the weak and foolish.

Gojo upon the lead up to the battle seemed to believe he would win either way (aligned with what he told Megumi) and that wasn’t bothered with his body - but he admittedly did feel annoyed that his longest living friend, Shoko, wasn’t upset on his behalf. (I HC that I think he understood that there was no other person who had love for him like with Geto.)

Spoilers for 261:

Given the circumstances, Shoko also had to do what was necessary to support him, regardless of her feelings towards the request. She has always been respectful of boundaries I think. More avoidant with her feelings (remaining stoic) rather than ambivalent. She is a medic after all... you have to put aside your personal feelings.

To some extent both Gojo and Geto it difficult to regard themselves as worthy of loving and genuine care. People may have cared like Geto’s family etc. but the problem lies in their ability to recognise and reciprocate it. He felt alone and couldn’t smile sincerely in his life. It was easier for him to give love than to receive it.

Gojo had a few students who did, but they perhaps came at a time too late (it was mere months after Geto died?) where he didn’t have the time to actually open up his heart too much in the end... before he was sealed, and then had to make the decision to enter the battle. Fortunately, by that time, he didn’t feel lonely anymore as he said in ch236 after death, but there was certainly a line where he didn’t feel he could be understood by others. He was born too different, perhaps? His pragmatic and callous facade made it difficult for others to get close enough to see the real Gojo Satoru. A part of it was about unparalleled strength. The magnitude of it. It wasn’t something Sukuna understood either, since he never knew love and lost it.

We can see that Gojo held different standards for Geto than he did himself though. In the anime many speculated that he was bringing the bouquet for Geto’s grave (or something similar). He must’ve given his body back to Mikiko and Nanako (or hidden it) because he didn’t have it processed & cremated by Shoko, (which would’ve been completely adhering to the orders of the institution). He also wanted to reclaim it for a proper burial from Kenjaku.

This feels so much like a husband & wife thing.

Widowed Husband goes: “Ah, just toss my ashes in the river.” But will get his wife flowers for her grave, ensure she has a clean gravestone, no weeds growing on her plot, leaves a plate out during anniversaries, etc.

Gojo’s love for Geto is also very Yang-coded (which is inherently more male) where he will cling on unwaveringly and there is something about reverence in how he patiently accepts Geto and tried to fulfil everything he wanted. In this sense, where he is portrayed as a loyal widower, he may surround himself with friends, activities, look after the kids, etc. but he will always honour and cherish his wife until his dying day.

Geto who is Yin-coded loves maternally, self-sacrificially. She will be willing to make sacrifices for the sake of her kin. Even if separated from her husband, she will nurture and build a family around her, uncomplaining. She may appear to cope on the surface, as she is used to her emotional needs being unmet without her partner/Husband, until her own dying day.

This is totally anecdotal of course, but to give myself some credit, I’ve talked intimately with more than my fair share of people in grief to see a pattern (and understand it in a personal level too)... we all grieve differently, love differently, value different things...

This is just my two cents. Any thoughts?

Feel free to comment or reblog with your own take.

[linkspooky]

Yuji vs Megumi: Round 2

The literal inciting incident of the manga is what starts the conflict between Yuji and Megumi. Yuji recklessly chooses to sacrifice himself without thinking of the consequences in an attempt to save Megumi, and Megumi is unable to stop Yuji and thus feels guilty for letting him get possessed by Sukuna. This conflict has continued throughout the manga with both boys wanting to save the other but falling into conflict instead. Chapter 119 analysis of Jujutsu Kaisen under the cut. 

1. Saving People vs. Saving Yuji

There’s always been a large difference in the way both Yuji and Megumi save people. Yuji wants to save everybody regardless of the cirucmstances. Megumi is mindful of the circumstances, and because of that he holds himself back from acting when he can. 

This difference is what leads to the first conflict. Yuji swallows the finger and sacrifices himself, and Megumi isn’t able to stop him in time. Ever since that day the two of them have had two different goals. Yuji wants to selflessly sacrifice his body for everyone after he’s ate all 20 fingers of Sukuna, and Megumi wants to selfishly save Yuji from his predicament because he feels responsible for letting Yuji eat the finger in the first place. 

Yuji believes that eating Sukuna’s fingers is a completely selfless gesture, and that by doing this and eventually choosing to die he will be helping more people. Megumi believes that protecting Yuji is his responsibility and he’ll be saving someone even if it goes against Jujutsu Regulations. They both cling onto a simple, heroic notion of saving people only for it to later get deconstructed for both of them. 

Megumi and Yuji’s first confrntation is in the Fearsome Womb arc. We see that Megumi’s not as altruistic as he appears to be. He sees a crying mother begging to see if her son is alright, and then says that same son isn’t worth saving while he’s alive because he committed a crime in the past. 

This gives us a more complex picture of saving people. Megumi is saying that people he personally deems as bad aren’t worth saving. Megumi doesn’t know if the man was sorry for what he did, or if he was trying to do better. He was simply judging him from black and white standards of bad or good. At this point before his confrontation with Yuji he’s seeing a crimminal, and not a person. Despite the fact that that person has done bad things, they are still a human being with people who care about him, the same way Megumi has loved ones. However, Megumi very, very selectively chooses who he empathizes with and who he sees as human based upon standards of good or bad. He’s lawful. He purposefully tries to hold himself back and obey laws because he craves that kind of order and justice. 

Megumi may not be right to approach saving people in such a black and white manner by dividing them into good and bad, but he does make a point that the act of saving people is messy. Basically, everything you make is a choice. The choice to save someone, or not save someone is also a choice. When you save them, that choice is going to have consequences. You are responsible for the consequences of your actions, both intended and unintended. What Megumi is saying is that the world is messy, and good intentions, or even good actions won’t always result in good results but you’re still responsible regardless.

Megumi very very selectively chooses who to save. He thinks if he’s careful with his choices, he can control the results more. However, the real reasult of his actions is that he’s always holding himself back, as Gojou and Sukuna have both pointed out. Megumi could have fought off a single finger cursed womb but chose not to, because he doesn’t want to take agency for himself.

He’s too afraid of the unintended consequences of his actions that it makes him hesitant to act. Whereas Yuji ignores the unintended consequences of his actions and rushes right in, and makes sloppy mistakes. This is a flaw that the two of them when working together can overcome, but it’s hard for them to work together. 

In the Origin of Obedience Arc which is the first arc where Yuji and Megumi fight together again after Yuji’s “Death”, this idea that who’s to say someone you save won’t kill someone in the future? comes back again. 

Yuji believes his action in consuming the fingers will save people. However, there are both intended and unintended consequences of his actions. Yuji’s choice to eat in the finger has the unintended consequence of triggering other curses elsewhere. People got hurt because of his decision. 

Yuji and Megumi both come to this revelation. However, rather than talk about it they also make a deliberate choice to hide this information from each other in the name of protecting each other from it. This is the only way that Yuji and Megumi know how to protect each other, not with open communication and cooperation, but with lying to each other, and each of them deciding to sacrifice themselves for the sake of the other. 

When Yuji and Megumi confront each other, and are forced to fight they come to personal revelations about themselves and develop their ideas. Megumi realized he wanted to save Yuji because of his own selfishness, he’s not someone who acts entirely lawful in every situation. Yuji realized he was afraid of dying, but wished for Megumi to have a long life. 

The manga isn’t suggesting that Yuji is entirely to blame for the people who get killed by Sukuna and the cursed spirits, it’s just saying the situation is more complex than either Megumi or Yuji thought it was. There will always be both intended and unintended consequences of Yuji’s actions, even if he only has good intentions, and he ahs to grapple with both. However, both Megumi and Yuji chose not to face that fact at this point in time. 

Jujutsu Kaisen is a manga that questions the heroic notions of saving people, and being saved. It is always more complicated, and difficult that it appears to be. Gojou can’t save people even though he’s the strongest. Megumi can’t always follow the rules. Yuji can’t save people with good intentions alone. 

Yuji and Megumi tend to be avoidant of this complicated reality, rather than face it head on. Yuji wants to believe that saving people is a matter of being strong enough. Megumi wants to believe that saving people is a matter of being careful and following rules, and they’re both wrong. They also have difficulty facing each other which is why the next time we see them fight together they can barely cooperate. 

Yuji and Megumi are two people who just want to help each other, but instead they end up just as often fighting against one another. Before Yuji and Megumi decide to split up, they both make a promise. They are not allowed to die. 

Remember Yuji and Megumi are always trying to save each other. That’s what lies at the heart of their conflict, they just have wildly different methods of saving each other. However, we see in the later chapters both Megumi and Yuji break their promise to each other when they’re alone and split up. 

Yuji makes a choice. To die fighting against Choso. 

Once again this has everything in common with his choice to eat the fingers. He thinks his death will help both Gojou-sensei, and his upper classmen. His good intention is to sacrifice himself for the sake of everyone. If he just takes down Choso with him, then he’ll be able to do something good for everybody even with his death. 

However, once again it’s not that simple. Yuji had other choices. He could have run away. Even in the limited choices he had available because Choso got a few lucky shots in and Yuji wasn’t able to overcome him with strength alone he could have tried to survive. His choice was to accept his death, and his attempt at self sacrifice had an unintended consequence. 

Yuji’s unconscious body was fed the fingers. Because Yuji chose to die, he had the unintended consequence of having Sukuna take over his body and rampage. 

Megumi makes the same choice to try to sacrifice himself as well. He even says the same thing to Yuji, an apology for choosing to die first even though he promised he wouldn’t die. 

Once again, Megumi’s intention was to sacrifice himself to defeat a single opponent hoping that this would contribute to helping everybody else. However, not only does this not happen, but Megumi also contributes to Sukuna’s rampage. 

Sukuna went all out and used his Territorial Expansion, because Megumi summoned Mahoraga for him to fight. Megumi chose to sacrifice himself. Yuji chose to sacrifice himself. However, instead of saving others, innocent people were slaughtered by Sukuna. 

They are not entirely responsible for Sukuna’s actions of course, but now at this point of the manga people have died, as a result of Megumi, and Yuji’s actions. 

That’s why Yuji is making such a pained face in the last panel of chapter 119. He knows now what Sukuna said in the origin of obedience arc is true. Him letting Sukuna rampage has killed innocent people at this point. Megumi’s decision to spare Yuji instead of giving him immediate execution has killed innocent people. You ate me... to help, to help many people right? You brat, because of you people will die.