Restricted in Paradise

Lost in Paradis

Right as he was about to go in to finish off the brat in front of him, his sense of self returned momentarily. He pulled back and distanced himself, staring down the boy for a good while.

"Hey, what's your name?"

The boy who looked eerily similar to him with that grumpy face donned a confused expression but didn't lower his guard. He lowered both his hands, which were balled into fists, ready to fight at a moments notice.

"It's Fushiguro..." He wondered if this was what relief and joy for someone other than himself felt like. He vaguely remembered a beautiful woman eerily similar in appearance to the boy with a gentle smile present on her face. 'Take care of Megumi, okay?' rang through his head. All he could do was stare at the boy in front of him.

Toji Fushiguro, born Zen'in, couldn't help but remember how he had left, trying to escape the responsibility that came with the one blessing his wife left him, Megumi, because he himself had not healed from the scars life forced on him. All he could do was hope to protect Megumi this final time.

"Not Zen'in, huh?" Raising the sharpened end of Playful Cloud, he plunged the weapon into his head. This didn't hurt, it didn't feel wrong. It just felt: right.

"I'm glad."

Knowing that his son had found his way through a path outside the clan made him proud, he also felt his respect and appreciation for Satoru Gojo rise a smidgen, damn cocky brat.

With those final words all that remained was darkness for him.

- - - -

Every mistake, every triumph, every moment with his family flashed through his now fractured mind. Within the dark expanse that surrounded him, a sudden light appeared, forming into a pillar. That pillar then branched out, further and further, until he could no longer perceive it's reach.

His awareness was the first to return, aware of the beautiful sky filled with light. Next was his sense of touch, feeling sand beneath his body, his bare back down to his unmentionables. Next was his sense of smell, though useless, the air itself smelled clean. Too clean. It kept going until he had all five senses needed for basic survival.

'Is this the afterlife? Hell? What is this place?" He couldn't even get in another thought before he noticed his lack of appendages from the knee down. Then the most confusing part came. A small child, dirty blonde hair, blank eyes. She had a bucket near her filth sand as she messed around with the area near his now missing legs.

He tried to speak but nothing came out. He tried to move but none of his muscles would budge. All he could do was watch as she formed leg sculptures with the sand. Time passed, the girl kept working without rest. Nothing prepared Toji to suddenly gain feeling from the sculptures as the runt finished his final leg.

Right as he was ready to demand answers from the weird runt, the night sky was replaced in an instant with a cave ceiling, civilian chatter aimlessly following wherever the winds directed them. No longer was he in that barren land but now surrounded by damaged buildings. Darkness then claimed his vision again.

- - - -

Uri Reiss never knew why this curse was placed upon his family, surrounded by walls and yet not able to use the power he wielded to free those who bore the blood of Ymir. He had decided then to live his days out in peace as he carried this burden. Thirteen years would pass by quickly and then his niece, Frieda would be the next to bear this curse. 'Is this how father felt during the countless times me and Rod pleaded with him to rid the world of titans?" Uri couldn't help but lament the possibility.