Chapter Text
Yuuji stood stock-still, his body rigid as a statue. His chest barely rose and fell with each labored breath, as if he was trying to extract oxygen from the heavy air. His fist clenched and unclenched, the only visible sign of the turmoil brewing inside him.
The voices echoed in his mind, a cacophony of despair and desperation. The words replayed like a macabre refrain, each one a sharp stab to his heart:
"I don't... I don't want to leave you alone..."
The plea hung in the air, a mournful sigh that seemed to come from the very depths of his soul. Yuuji's eyes felt dry and gritty, as if tears had been etched onto his lids.
"Please understand..."
The words were laced with anguish, a silent appeal to a universe that seemed deaf to his pain.
"This way... I'll find you again..."
The promise was hollow, a desperate attempt to cling to hope in a world that seemed determined to tear them apart.
"Second chance..."
The words hung in the air like a challenge, a cruel reminder of what Yuuji had lost and could never regain.
"Thank you, Yuuji... for being my brother..."
The words were a eulogy, a farewell whispered by a ghostly presence that had vanished into the darkness. Yuuji's eyes felt heavy with grief, as if the weight of his brother's words was crushing him under its oppressive sorrow.
Yuuji's mind reeled, his thoughts fragmented and disjointed. His body quivered with each labored breath, his lips trembling. The world around him was a blur, a hazy mist that refused to clear.
In his dazed and disoriented state, Yuuji's senses were numb to the world around him. His ears, once attuned to the subtlest sounds, were deaf to the approaching footsteps. It wasn't until a hand came crashing down on his shoulders that he was jolted back to reality. The sudden touch sent a jolt of alarm and fear coursing through his veins, his knees trembling.
As he spun around to face the newcomer, his gaze was met with a blurry, indistinct image. The stranger's features were a hazy outline, like a sketch etched in charcoal on a wet canvas. Yuuji's eyes fluttered shut, and then reopened, hoping that the image would sharpen into focus. But it remained indistinct, a vague impression of a face that refused to take shape.
His mind was foggy, unable to grasp the stranger's identity or purpose. The words that might have formed in his mind were lost in the swirling vortex of his thoughts. All he could do was stare, his eyes locked onto the stranger's face like a magnet drawn to steel.
The stranger's voice cut through the heavy silence like a razor, its piercing tone scraping against Yuuji's eardrums. "How did you get in?" the man demanded, his words laced with an air of accusation. The sudden loudness was like a slap to the face, forcing Yuuji to wrinkle his brow in discomfort.
The man's hand tightened its grip on Yuuji's shoulder, the pressure painful. His other hand clenched into a fist, radiating a palpable aura of cursed energy. The air was thick with tension as the stranger loomed over Yuuji, his eyes narrowing into slits.
'A sorcerer...?'
But before either of them could respond, the dam broke within Yuuji. A sob ripped from his throat, and tears streamed down his face like rain. The stranger's eyes widened in shock as Yuuji collapsed to the ground, his body wracked by uncontrollable sobs and half-choked screams. The raw emotion was like a torrent, pouring out of Yuuji's very soul like blood from an open wound.
"Huh?"
Yuuji came back to himself, feeling less heavy. The first sense to come back was touch, he could feel something light and soft wrapped around him, a feeling he hadn't experienced in ages. He felt warm.
As he slowly opened his eyes, he found himself reclining on a plush, white futon, its fluffiness enveloping him like a cloud.
The first thing that caught his attention was the strange man sitting behind a low table, his back straight as he scribbled notes on a piece of paper with a brush. The man's profile was familiar, yet Yuuji couldn't quite place him. His hair was slicked back, revealing a prominent forehead and a sharp jawline. A faint scent of incense wafted from the adjacent room, mingling with the subtle aroma of wood polish and parchment.
To his right, a beautifully crafted wooden sake barrel stood upright on a low shelf, its lacquered surface reflecting the soft light. A few delicate sake cups and a shallow ceramic dish filled with pickled ginger sat on a nearby tray, arranged with precision and care. The air was heavy with the sweet, slightly bitter scent of green tea, which seemed to permeate every corner of the room.
The walls were adorned with minimalist yet elegant scrolls, their delicate calligraphy and watercolor paintings depicting scenes of cherry blossoms, autumn leaves, and serene landscapes. The overall atmosphere was one of quiet contemplation, as if time itself had slowed to a gentle trickle.
As Yuuji's gaze wandered around the room, he noticed a small bonsai tree perched on a wooden stand in the corner, its delicate branches stretching towards the ceiling like wispy fingers. A small ceramic bird perched on the edge of the table nearby seemed to be watching him with an unblinking gaze. The silence was almost palpable, broken only by the soft scratching of the man's brush on paper.
Yuuji's mind struggled to piece together memories of how he had ended up in this strange and peaceful place. As he struggled to sit up, he felt his grogginess slowly dissipate and his eyes met those of the man behind the table, who looked up from his work with an expression that was both curious and distant.
"Umm, hi?," Yuuji struggled to form a smile, the stranger's piercing gaze scrutinized him, leaving him feeling awkward and out of place.
"How are you feeling? " the man asked, his rough, scratchy voice betraying his exhaustion.
Yuuji hesitated before responding, "Good?"
The man's expression turned skeptical. "Then tell me who you are and why you're here."
Yuuji's brow furrowed in confusion. "Here?" He blinked, feeling like he was missing something crucial.
The man's eyebrow shot up, his dark eyes flashing with suspicion. "Don't play dumb, boy. I know what you are."
Yuuji's breath caught in his throat then, memories flooded his mind: the sound of crackling flames, the acrid smell of smoke, the taste of blood and sweat, and his brother's final words. Suddenly, he had found himself away from the battlefield.
He took a deep breath, struggling to compose himself. He couldn't afford to lose control now. With a tingle of pain in his sore neck, he bowed his head. "I'm sorry, sir. I don't know how I ended up here. I apologize for intruding. Could you please tell me where I am?"
Kaito Nakamura gazed at the boy before him, his features inscrutable. The boy looked around 16 or 17 years old and had no idea where he was. It was unlikely that someone had brought him there; if that were the case, Kaito would have sensed a breach in the barrier. He decided to humor the boy. "You're in Myōjō-ji."
Temple of the Night Jewel. Yuuji has never such of such a shrine. His eyes widened as he recalled the man's imposing fist and the cursed energy that had been building inside him. Now, however, he felt nothing – no energy whatsoever. A shiver ran down his spine as he asked, "Are you a jujutsu sorcerer?"
The man winced, as if the question had struck a raw nerve. "No."
He couldn't be a curse; that left only one possibility: "Are you a curse user?"
The man's face contorted in distaste. "That's the idiotic label your kind has given us. I don't appreciate being categorized in such a way."
Yuuji's nervousness was evident as he bit his lip, unsure of what to make of his situation. He had found himself in a peculiar shrine with an enigmatic man, and he felt like an outsider. "I'm Itadori Yuuji," he said, bowing politely.
Kaito Nakamura's expression relaxed, and he greeted Yuuji with a half-hearted smile. "Nice to meet you, Itadori-kun. I'm Kaito Nakamura, the caretaker of this shrine."
Yuuji attempted to smile back, but his unease lingered. The way Nakamura addressed him felt unusual, and he wasn't accustomed to interacting with curse users. Was Nakamura a friend or foe?
Yuuji's tone was laced with gratitude as he thanked Nakamura for his hospitality, despite his uninvited arrival. He gestured to the futon where he lay, acknowledging its comfort and Nakamura's kindness. The latter's generosity seemed excessive, making Yuuji feel even more uncertain about his situation.
Nakamura nodded, his expression unreadable. Yuuji, however, remained agitated, his hands fidgeting nervously as he struggled to process his surroundings. He had a multitude of questions swirling in his mind, and he decided to start with the most innocuous one. "What time is it?" he asked, still trying to sound polite.
"Seven," Nakamura replied curtly, his tone devoid of emotion.
"'Seven'?" Yuuji repeated, his brow furrowed in confusion.
"In the morning," Nakamura replied. "You slept the entire night."
"And what day is today?"
"It's July 5th," Nakamura answered curtly.
"And what year is it?"
Nakamura's eyes widened slightly, and Yuuji quickly added, "Please humor me."
"2005," Nakamura replied, his tone clipped.
Yuuji felt a mix of emotions as he realized his suspicions were confirmed. However, instead of relief, he felt his frustration and unease escalate. "Choso... what did you do?"