(Third Person POV)
[Present Day, The Zenin Estates]
Maki opened her eyes with a pained gasp, "A-Aaghh!!" She groaned in pain, "W-What?!"
"Hold still." Her Mother was kneeling down next to her, "Don't move, your bandages will rip."
Most of her body was covered in bandages, some of them were stained red. Her entire body was throbbing in pain as a burning sensation coursed throughout it. She was wincing in pure pain, her head was spinning.
Maki reached for her head, "M-Mother....????" She said, "W-Where am I?"
"Home." Her Mother said as she gently wiped her forehead with a wet rag
"Home?!" Maki exclaimed, "What am I doing here?! A-Agh!"
"Do not yell." Her mother said with a stern voice, "You're still not recovered."
"Answer....me...!" She scowled, despite being in pain
"You were brought here." Her mother said, "After the incident with the Special Grade Curse, you were brought back home. Do not look to me, I did not decide this."
Maki covered her left eye, "I.... I remember...." She said softly, "I was in a job with.....I-Itadori.....we encountered two Curses...."
"I know not the details." Her mother said as she had her hand on her shoulder, "But from what I understand, it was a serious battle."
"Where is Itadori?" Maki asked, "I remember that I was caught off guard by the fire curse's attack, the cyclops one."
"Sukuna's Vessel was also injured, but not as badly as you." Her mother said, "He is in the care of the Gojo Clan currently."
Maki looked all the bandages on her body, "How did I.....? I was burned, how did I survive?" She asked, "Everything.....ah...."
"You were healed by Ieri Shoko. Or so I hear." her mother said
"What about the Curses!" Maki tried getting up, "I....I couldn't....the-"
"They are not a concern." a voice said, deep and filled with intensity
Maki felt a shadow cast over her as her mother scooted to the side, closing her eyes and placing her hands on her laps while she was kneeling. Maki looked up to see a tall black-haired man with piercing black eyes. He was wearing a pitch-black kimono with a dark grey haori. Both his arms were crossed, within the kimono, leaving the sleeves loose. His black hair was short and messy, resembling Maki herself in a way. The most striking feature of the man was a deep scar that ran down the left side of his face.
Maki felt the unsettling amount of Cursed Energy emanating from the man, the air feeling heavy in the room.
"K-Kaito....." Maki said, her eyes widened in surprise, "Y-You...."
This was Kaito Zenin, the eldest son of Ogi Zenin and Maki and Mai's older brother.
"Kaito." their mother said with a calm tone, "Maki has not recovered yet, she requires rest."
"I'm fine...." Maki muttered
Kaito stepped forward and got on one knee, gently placing his hand on Maki's shoulder, "How are you feeling?" He said with a calm voice, his eyes showing no sign of emotion, which unsettled Maki, "Your wounds were deep and concerning. When I got there, I was able to-"
"You were there?!" Maki slapped his hand away, "Who asked you to interfere?!"
There was a hint of anger and shame in Maki's voice, almost as if she didn't want to hear what Kaito told her.
"Maki." their mother said, "If Kaito was not present, the situation would have worsened and you would not have survived your wounds."
"Maki's body is special, she would have pulled through." Kaito said with a serious tone, "But I am glad she is okay."
"Show it then...." Maki muttered, "I don't belong here, I need to leave."
"No." Kaito said, "Stay. You need rest."
"Leave me alone, dammit." Maki spat, "I did not ask you to-"
"That is enough, Maki." their Mother snapped, "I will not hear you protest. Rest. Kaito, leave us."
Kaito stood up and turned around, "Very well." He walked towards the sliding door, "I will ensure that Father does not see you, should you not wish to see his face."
Maki was looking down, "S-shut up....." she said, her voice shakily, "Don't act like you care so much...."
Kaito glanced back at her, "Welcome home, sister."
**********
Maki was slowly walking alongside the wall, leaning against it for support, when she was approached by an middled age man holding a sake gourd. Behind her, two servant women were walking slowly, as if to make sure she did not collapse.
"Kehehehe...." he said with a hiccup, "So stubborn, eh? That's why yer my favorite niece."
Maki scowled, "What do you want, geezer?"
Naobito chuckled, standing in front of her, "Maki-chan. You and Mai are now of age, are you not?"
"We're 19, yes." Maki said
Naobito smirked, "If the two of you decide to officially return to the Clan, we'll welcome you with open arms." He said, "We'll arrange some marriages, pull some strings and-"
"No thanks." She said, "I'm not interested in that."
"Hahaha!" Naobito drank from his gourd, "I'm solely trying to secure a future for my nieces, that is all!"
"We're failures in your eyes." Maki said
"Maybe." He said, "But yer proving yerself out there, I can't deny that. I mean, you need a Special Grade Cursed Spirit to take you down? And to top it off, you're not even dead! Hahaha, isn't that something else?! No wonder Gojo has taken a liking to you, your spirit is unshakeable!"
"Tch..." Maki looked down, "That's all you came here to say?"
Naobito sneered, "Give it some thought." He said, "If you come back, things will be good for you."
"Only if Kaito oversees it, right?" Maki asked, "I don't need his help for anything."
"Do not hold a grudge on your brother, he is the only reason you still live." He hiccupped, "But whatever, do as you please."
As he said this, Maki caught a glimpse of something in the corner of her eye. She looked over to see that within a hallway, a sliding door was slightly open. Inside the room, she saw her older brother, Kaito, standing as a voluptuous woman with blonde hair and green highlights, hugging him. She had her finger on his chin, rubbing it as she smiled, having his hand on her ass while she gripped his wrist.
The woman turned to look at Maki, giving her a mocking smirk before reaching over to close the door.
Maki's eye twitched, for some reason, as she saw this, "Naoya..."
"Hm?" Naobito said, "Oh yea, she's back. She was on a job of her own, but now that she's back...."
"She won't leave Kaito alone."