If but when (What about who?)

by RayvenRamen

Summary:

What if Megumi summoned Mahoraga at the Juvenile Detention Centre?

Chapter 1: Gamble

“We need to expand the evacuation area to ten kilometres.”

He leaned over the black sedan. Megumi’s voice stayed ordinary. If things really did go south, then they had to be well-equipped for the worst-case scenario to play out. It’d be easier dealing with the consequences without having to worry about the locale or anyone else nearby.  

“What about you?”

“I’ll stay. I’m going to wait for Itadori.”

“Understood. Alright let me get Kugisaki to the hospital. Then I’ll come back here for you.”  

“No. You wouldn’t be of much use in this situation.”

Ijichi held back a badly supressed wince as his knuckles whitened around the steering wheel  

“To really help, you could have them send us a sorcerer who is grade 1 or higher.” Straightening back up his jaw ticked, and eyes shut firmly “If one was around.”

“I’ll do my best, later.”

He listened to the window roll up and car poignantly pull away with water battering against the rough tyres

He stood on the side of the road for a moment turning and uncrossing his arms, gazing at the disappearing car down the road before focusing his thoughts back onto his current circumstances. He turned eyeing the building in the distance down the pathway. An empty weighted sense of feeling hung loose in his chest.

Even if this goes south, and the worst-case scenario happens…

I don’t want him to die

Gojo, can you save him?

It’ll be my responsibility to ensure he’s dead.  

Time ticked and his heart thumped in his chest. His blue eyes lightly scanned over his surroundings. The rain poured down in beautiful gloomy cascades. He liked the rain, he like the feelings of water, but right now he didn’t exert any energy on any sense apart from the energy he spent observing the building. Anytime now

He breathed consciously his hearts thumping eventually subsiding into muted ambience, the cold wind harshly grinded against the flesh on his neck like a guillotine waiting to drop.

He focused and he saw it before he felt it. A pulsing shift in atmosphere. He blinked before leaning forward.

The innate domain is closed off. The special grade is dead

He watched closely. Holding his breath half-way through his throat. An impending sense of doom subtly hanging in the air.

Now we just need Itadori to return safely

It took a moment.

And then a muffled piercing sense of cursed energy enveloped his body and coiled around his chest, his heart sprang forward like he was riding a rollercoaster. His breath escapes tightly before getting tangled up in his windpipe. There wasn’t any mistake in the presence behind him. And it wasn’t Itadori.

“Yeah sorry, but he isn’t going to be coming back.” An amused, unfamiliar voice taunted mixed with soft footsteps walking out to the side.

“Huh?” He paused a muted buzz vibrated in his head. He didn’t move, surely, he was mistaken.

“Theres no reason to be scared. I’m in such a good mood right now. Let’s just chat for a bit.” The vibrations of his voice reached Megumis ear canal.

“The kid really had it comin’, for just using me without making any kind of a deal.” When the figure walked out from the side of his peripheral into the focus of his central vision. He absorbed the body language, the hand in his pockets. It was too brazen, too predicted to be him. Sure, it was his body, but the markings and hair diminished any doubt that had been poorly built up in his head. “And now it feels like he’s having some trouble switching back.” He explained briefly in a confirmatory tone. All four of his eyes lazily stared back at Megumi in foreshadowed delight.

He watched as his hands grasped onto his top tightly with calculated class. “But then no matter what he did…This would’ve ended up the same.”

Megumi’s blue eyes stayed firm and scrutinizing as his hands tore off the top garments and dragged it down discarding it onto the wet cold cement stone. An eery sense of weariness and déjà vu hit him softly. And his heart stayed in a steady yet unstable feeling rhythm. Anxiety and dread bit into the back of his neck.

His clawed hand twitched as he raised it in front of him, the nails sharp enough to carve and cut stone “So…I’ve been thinking about all the different ways I can do this!”

His heart stopped momentarily as he stared in a confounded state of concern. The second his hand stabbed through his chest and blood spilled out mixing with the rain tumbling down Itadoris flesh Megumi felt alarms blare off throughout his body as though they were evacuation sirens. A husky voice laughed lowly as the blood trailed out of his mouth, the patter akin to roots under a tree.

“What the f- What are you doing!?”

If the bleeding was like a dam being broken before. The blood that gushed as he pulled his hand out was like a red river tsunami staining Itadoris skin, flesh and the ground in carnage. A gaping hole goaded the middle of a once intact chest. Megumi blinked several times, encase this was a hallucination, a fabrication of his worst nightmares and that it would be gone when he opened his eyes again. It didn’t.

“I’m taking this brat hostage.” Itadoris heart pulsed rapidly, as if it was a fish taken out of water.  

“What do you mean?” his words were coated and concealed with a layer of horror

“It’s simple. I can live without this, but that ain’t true for your punk friend.”

He stared at him, his eyes never once averting as the vital organ was discarded to the side and thrown onto the grass.

“Switching out with me, means he’d die.”

Megumi clenched his jaw watching as he delved into Itadoris pockets withdrawing a rotting item filled with cursed energy and bringing it up to his face.

“Oh and also… for good measure.” The voice played around as Sukuna swallowed it down with a single gulp.  

Sukuna’s finger. That special grade cursed spirit in there must’ve swallowed it.

“And with that… I’m as free as a bird.” He took notice of the overt twitch in his hand before it stiffened into a display of unconcealed malice.

“And now you can be frightened. Because I’m about to kill you, just for the hell of it.” 

He stood there unmoving. A subtle hint of amusement trickled in Megumi’s jaw never once displaying itself.

His heart steadied looking down at the ground “And just like that… our positions are now reversed.”

He heard the ticking once more and a faint memory of girl unconscious on a bed of withering flowers. The only thing granted to all equally is an unfair reality

 And it seems I don’t have another option.

He pushed his right foot backward and holding out his hands. “You don’t get it. But I do… Itadori is coming back. Even if that implies, he’ll be dead. That’s just who he is.”

“You give him too much credit. He’s just more tough and a lot denser than other human beings. You should’ve seen him a minute ago, he was scared out of hi mind and about to lose it. Prattling on about his regrets and all that other nonsense. So it’s obvious the guy doesn’t have the courage to kill himself.” 

His left hand has been restored. He recalled to earlier events when Itadori lost his hand. Healing, he can use reverse cursed techniques. And Sukuna is an incarnate. Even if he can live without a heart, it should still be damaging to him. I’ll just have to ensure he heals that heart before Itadori returns. I’ll just have to convince him he can’t beat me without a heart in his body.

The matter is if I can do that… I froze up when that other special grade was in front of me.

Megumi paused.

It doesn’t matter if I can’t do it. I have to do it.

Crossing his thumbs his shadows manifested a birdlike figure behind him. And he ran out to the side.

“Oh, it feels so good to be back outside. Let’s use all this open space!” He heard Sukuna, but he didn’t listen.

Megumi attacked first. Yet it was fruitless. Sukuna danced around him with perfect step and beat. Matching him rhythm for rhythm. He barely managed to land a subtle blow which Sukuna didn’t even seem to notice as he pranced backward. “How interesting… You can use your shikigami, but you still come at me yourself.”

It didn’t make much of a difference whether it was Megumi, Orochi or Nue coming at him. He walked right around them. And his daunting words weren’t helping Megumi either. 

And it didn’t take long for him to work past Orochi and reach Megumi again. Grabbing a fistful of his jacket

“Now what did I say?”

.

..

“Let’s use the open space!” Was all he heard before it was covered up with the echoes of trees collapsing around him as he blew threw them like a bowling bowl.

It was one assault after the other as he tore through solar panels and roofs and buildings as a whole, meeting with every structure one by one before Nue caught him.  

It’s not even a matter of jujutsu; his power and agility are on a different level. He thought muffled as his blurred figure showed up in his vision once again.

“That’s a nice technique there!”

He blew down an uncounted number of stories, the fall eased and softened by protective feathered wings. He closed his eyes, sitting under a flopped auburn wing. Now what? I used up one of my shikigami to escape that innate domain. My white demon dog and Orochi are both destroyed. And Nue is at his limit. I should release him before he gets destroyed too. Megumi smoothed a pressed hand over the shikigami’s head.  

He lifted his hand as the shadows swallowed Nue down into there safe sanctuary.

“I get it now; you use the shadows to create your shikigami.”

It makes no difference if he knows that now

“So? What’s it to you?”

He watched Sukuna as well as he could through the throbbing pain throughout his body. He seemed to be thinking about something.

“There’s just one thing I don’t get. Why did you run back then? Kind of a waste of your talents.”

Megumi sat there unmoved for a moment. The hell did that mean.

“Ah, whatever. Either way that certainly won’t be enough to fix this.” He said gesturing to the hole with his thumb

So, he finally figured it out

“Risking your life for meaningless shit, this punk isn’t worth the effort.”

He breathed out deeply, raising himself on uneven legs. He felt resigned, annoyed. And in pain. He thought about Tsumiki, about why he was here. How he was here. And the father who gave no care in the world to him, to his gender even and sold him off to the Zenin clan. And the man who ensured he could choose to pave his own path and write his own destiny rather than living like a slave to another’s will.  

A nostalgic sense of bitterness entered his throat and infested his heart.

He didn’t save Itadori and get his sentence suspended for this half-assed effort, this isn’t how he’s going to let Itadoris life be wasted. And his own principals. He’s not a hero, he’s a sorcerer. He owes this to Tsumiki. And himself. Anyhow, it's his responsibility to ensure Sukuna is dead.

“Sukuna.” He said flatly. As he spat out blood and wiped his mouth

The man in front of him watched. Eyes narrowing by a millimetre to prove his attentiveness to Megumi’s words. “Earlier you spoke of a deal.” He lifted his eyes and looked at him. “Make one with me.”

“You aren’t my vessel.”

“No. I don’t have to be.”

“What could you possibly offer me?”

He blinked and raised his arms. That familiar burn and sting of cursed energy surged through his body like an uncontrolled wildfire.  

“Restore his heart via a pact with me, or I kill you.”

Sukunas smile wavered. Caught off guard, confused for a moment. Before returning back to its usual expression, backed with a hint of smug mockery.

 “You kill me? You ran from one of my fingers. Buying yourself time isn’t going to help you.”

Megumi stayed unchanging. Curse energy ready for the command any second now.

“I can kill you, Sukuna. I can kill both of us.”

He stares eyes indiscernible

“You can either restore his heart and benefit off a deal with me. Or you can risk waiting for another vessel for who knows how many years after I murder us both.”

Sukunas gaze scrutinized him once again. Bit by bit, Megumi increased his cursed energy output.

“You said Itadori didn’t have the guts to kill himself. I do. And you have 10 seconds.”

“I don’t appreciate being put against a rock and a hard place.”  

“Then make up your mind.”  

.

..

…

….

……

………

“Sacred Treasure Secret Swing, Swing and Ring Eight Grip.”

Chapter 2: Settle Down

Summary:

This chapter is relatively calm.

“Sacred Treasure Secret Swing, Swing and Ring Eight Grip…-”

“Let’s talk.” Sukuna says slyly

Megumi trails his sentence off and pauses before slowly easing his cursed energy but not releasing the technique completely. “You actually believe me.”

“You’re fascinating Fushiguro Megumi. I also believe we can both be beneficial to one another. But of course, that depends on the conditions. And you.”  

Megumi looks at him blankly “Fix his heart.”

“In due time. You proposed this. You need to follow through with the procedure.”

Megumi didn’t waver. His stance still tight and a stoic look marred his face. He scrutinized Sukuna who glances over Megumi. He looked as if he was in thought of something.

“What do you want, make your conditions.”

“Your life.”

Megumi tightened his fists eyes loosening, before increasing the cursed energy that was still radiating off his skin and swelling under the skin and his flesh.

Sukuna watched part amused “You, jujutsu sorcerers take everything at face value.” 

“Don’t make generic statements that leave a lot of interpretation to the receiver if you want the real meaning of your words to get across.” Megumi stated flatly. Cautious.

“It’s simple really. I have two conditions. The first one is that in the case of you facing imminent harm you will subject yourself to my will and my defence.” 

“No.”

Sukuna tilts his head forward

“Either way I cannot make that pact. I’m not your vessel to let you switch out in anytime I face a life-threatening circumstance.” Megumi knew this, the pacts and conditions Sukuna could make with Megumi were limited. He couldn’t make a pact to switch control for certain amounts of time or take over his body.

“When you agree to that pact Itadori won’t be able to stop me from switching out, because it’s a geas imposed upon me in mutual interest.”

“I’m not stupid. That condition leaves a lot of grey area.”  

“Fine then. In the moment I switch out I promise not to cause bodily injury or kill anyone who isn’t involved in harming you. Is that reassurance enough to address your concerns?”

He paused and waited for a moment. “And Itadori?"

Sukuna seemed exasperated. "What about the punk?"

"Include him in the vow. Especially."

A knowing look before he resigned "Agreed."

A steel weighed silence descended the air once again. "And the second condition?"

“You can’t let anyone know of this.”

He thought for a moment. Sukuna’s first condition made no sense. What would he want if he didn’t wish to kill someone. And more importantly why would he care about any danger posed to Megumi? Was it for the sake of having leverage over him in the pact, so the chances of Megumi breaking it would be higher? He even agreed to especially include Itadori in the pact, there was no wiggle room for him. What did he gain out of this. The last condition wasn’t something out of the ordinary or at the very least he was expecting it. Or something of the sort.

“Time is ticking Fushiguro Megumi.”

The tables were flipped again.

“I don’t like being put against a rock and a hard place.”

“Make up your mind then.”

.

..

…

……

………  

………….

He withdrew his hands and straightened his spine and posture looking him square in the eyes “I accept your two conditions, if you heal Itadori”

Sukuna simply smirked before nodding. Itadoris chest. A flash before the flesh mended itself like a tree growing a branch back in fast motion.

The wind blew a firm and sharp caress gently swaying Megumi’s hair off to the side as he observed the very flesh, he saw tore open earlier restore just as easily as it was pierced. He also noted when Sukuna looked back at Megumi his marking, tattoos whatever they were slowly faded like that night they had met eachother, the slits under his eyes shutting. And when Megumi was sure there wasn’t a trace of Sukuna left, the body stumbled forward and fell onto the wet ground.

“Itadori.” Megumi called out before reaching his side. “Are you- How are you feeling.”

Megumi watched him.

“Sukuna- You, what was that?”

His gaze loosened before he got up. “That isn’t the priority rig-”

“You’re hurt.” It took Megumi another moment to register what Itadori said. Then his mind became aware of the broken bones, lacerations, bleedings and probably more ailments his body housed at this time. He winced as he was no longer distracted, and the pain really settled deep within his physique.

“Then don’t sit there, let’s return to Jujutsu high and get examined over.” Megumi said walking to the side of the pavement and going to reach into his pocket for his phone. But what he took out was a bent and cracked screen, surprised it didn’t fall out his pocket. Sighing he turned to face Itadori. “Do you have your phone?”

“Yeah uh.” Itadori removed his cell and pressed the power button. “It’s dead.”

Impeccable timing, wonderful. Megumi turned his head towards the ground rubbing his scalp in order to get his vision from swimming and blacking out. “Fushiguro, I think you should-”

“I’m fine. Let me give a sign out. Or else Ijichi will go straight to the detention centre. And we’re not there.”

Holding out his hand separating his fingers into pairs and covering his left palm with his right hand. But when nothing happens, he pauses momentarily. Right, the white demon dog had been destroyed. When he did it again black fur emerged from the darkness. Sitting behind him. He turned looking down. His shikigami knew what to do from the users’ thoughts. And so, he howled.

“I don’t think you should be using cursed techniques.”

Megumi’s wounds deeply pulsed as he nodded. “Just a few more minutes. Ijichi should be able to hear demon dogs’ howl.”

They were silent for a moment as Itadori stared at himself specifically at his chest that was drenched in rainwater. In response Megumi removed his jacket and handing it to him. “Wear it, it’s cold.”

“Hey Fushiguro?”

Megumi looked at him, glancing from the side.

“Thank you- for saving me again.” He looked uncomfortable.

Megumi didn’t respond as Itadori took his jacket. He didn’t ask about Sukuna. And Megumi didn’t bring it up, and if the pact really was formed, he couldn’t ever.

•  

Upon returning to Jujutsu High, the rain had eventually stopped but the clouds were still gloomy and dark the atmosphere heavy and every breath Megumi took felt like his lungs were shrivelled up into blocks of black coal.

Megumi and Itadori both bee-lined to the medical wing with Ijichi right behind them.

He sat down and laid on the bed and cringed when he heard the crinkle of white paper covering. God, he hated hospitals. The antiseptic and flashing bright white lights looming over him. He felt Shoko’s touch as a buzzing of warm energy passed through him. Fixing the worst of his injuries. The blood, the broken bones, lacerations, sprains…... His concussion. 

“It was supposed to be a simple rescue mission, right?” Shoko said, her under eyes stained with purple eye bags taking in Megumi’s state. Despite being right next to his ear. Her voice felt light years away, vibrating through his ears.

He averted his gaze to Shoko following her “It was an accident.” He settled on a vague answer, that was utter bullshit. He knew why they were dispatched “…... Kugisaki?”

“Healing. Her injuries weren’t so dire. She should be sleeping in her dorm room right now.”

Megumi faintly nodded

“Gojo will be back, soon, I’m sure. After he receives the news of the mission, did you message him?”

“My phone broke.”

“How come?”

He didn’t respond before speaking up. “Collateral damage.”

 After Shoko had finished, he hopped down from the table. The pain had subsided and transformed into heavy exhaustion. He didn’t know if that was a side effect from Shoko’s technique or just the fact Megumi was always severely injured. 

Itadori approached the table removing Megumi’s jacket and handing it back to him before taking his place.

“You’re Sukunas vessel.”

“Yeah uh, who are you?”

“Shoko Ieri. She’s the best reverse cursed technique user, in the case of any injuries she’s the one you’ll usually see.” She would’ve also been the one enjoying your autopsy if you were dead right now. Megumi left his thoughts unspoken, closing his eyes and stretching to alleviate some of his weariness.  

“I’ll see you back at the dorms?” Itadori asked

He stared at Itadori for a beat. Right, normally he would leave after his work was done and not waste time waiting for him to finish. It was safe, its okay.

“Yeah.” He turned and walked out the infirmary. The lack of lighting relieving some pressure in his cranium.

•  

Upon entering his room, the urge to fall into his bed as he was increased tenfold, but he discarded the blood-stained jacket into the laundry hamper tucked neatly in the corner of his dorm. And changed out of the wet and soiled garments and entered the shower.

When he emerged, he dried his hair thoroughly and shut his room curtains and gathered himself into the familiar confines of his bed and blanket. It didn’t take long for him to slip into a familiar sleep and deep slumber.

•  

When he opened his eyes again, he was met with the sight of his familiar bedroom ceiling. Propping himself up on his elbow he looked around and moved some hair out of his face. God it was hot in the room.

Feeling dehydrated he slid off his bed and slipped on his slippers. Entering the bathroom to wash his face he rubbed his eyes. He felt a hollow vibration of subtle pain course through his bones before it settled down. He opened his dorm room door and walked down the hallway past Itadoris room and Kugisakis, he paused when he heard the water faucet running then continued down.

When he entered the kitchen, he was expecting to see the lights off and area relatively vacant. But instead, he was met with the sight of dim lights on and pink hair leaned over the stove.

He entered the kitchen quietly observing him before stopping behind him leaning against the side of the counter. “What are you making?”

Itadori jolted and turned towards Megumi, smiling. “Fushiguro, feeling better?” he asked with a genuine hint of concern.

Megumi nodded. “Why are you cooking in the middle of the night?”

“Oh uh, I heard Kugisaki awake in her bedroom earlier. She seemed hungry so I’m making us some rice bowls. I’m nearly done you can have mine.”

“No, I’m fine.” Megumi cut him off curtly. Itadoris conscience and foregoing personality never once surprised him. “I’ll have fruit instead, pass me the knife.”

Itadori grabbed a medium sized knife from the knife rack and handed it to Megumi who grabbed an apple and a bowl settling down on one of the barstools and began peeling.   

After Megumi finished his peeling, he bit into the peeled apple. His gaze staring at the back of Itadoris neck. Does Sukuna talk to him? What did he usually say? How was he like? Had they spoken after what happened at the Detention Centre?

Itadori had prepared two bowls as he sat down on the chabudai further into the dining room. “Come let’s sit together. I’ll go get Kugisaki.” 

Itadori paused momentarily. “Are you sure you don’t want? I can even make you noodles or meatballs if you aren’t in the mood for a rice bowl.”

“I’m sure.” And when Itadori nodded walking down Megumi spoke up “Itadori.” He said catching the other boy’s attention “Don’t get consumed by this guilt you feel. Use that emotion to fuel yourself to get stronger, don’t waste it.”

Itadori blinks once and then twice. “Wow, Fushiguro, you suck at this. But that actually makes me feel better.”

“Go get Kugisaki the food is getting cold.” 

•  

The three of them ate together, in calm melancholic conversation. Megumi was the first to call it a night returning to his bedroom.

The next morning the three of them were summoned to make official statements of what happened at the Juvenile Detention Centre given the mis-ranking of a special grade cursed spirit. Each one questioned separately as per protocol. Megumi went last as he nerves wracked.

“The finger. Where is it now?” Yaga asked him

“Itadori ate it.”

Yaga paused and waited a beat before continuing

“Itadori made his statement saying Sukuna was the one swallowing it.”  

“That is what I meant.”

“Fushiguro be more diligent in your answers. It can raise unsolicited suspicion on you.”

He nodded as a response.

“During the time Yuji Itadori lost control over Sukuna. What exactly happened, what did he say? What did he do?”

Megumi blinked, thinking calmly. Should he lie or should he come clean about Sukunas attempted murder?

“He explained something to do with pacts and deals. How Itadori using him without making one was a fault in his part. And… he ripped out Itadoris heart.”

Yaga nods “What did he do after ripping out Itadoris heart?”

“He explained he could live without it. And Itadori couldn’t. He swallowed his finger and then tried to kill me.”

“Tried to?”

“He toyed around, played. And when Itadori was about to switch back to life he fixed his heart.”   

“Why?”

“I think this question is for Itadori. I’m as lost as you in regards to Sukunas motives.” Megumi explained with mild confusion

“Itadori claims to have little to no recollection of the events that transpired after and during Sukuna’s control.”

That caught his attention. Was Itadori lying? Or was that a cop out for something else Megumi didn’t know? Or maybe he was giving Megumi an out because of the pact. Narrowing his eyes “That’s not surprising. Even for me its still like fragmented memories.”

•  

All three of them were free after a few more minutes. Walking down they each sat on a block of stair cement.

“That was annoying. How’d it go with you two?” Kugisaki spoke first

Itadori sighed leaning back on his palms “You got it easy. You were unconscious or absent for majority of the incident.”

“Yeah still, it’s no fun being left in the dark.” She eyed the closed slits on Itadoris upper cheeks. “So, is he like…quiet? I mean he did just kind of kill you the other day.”

Megumi glanced at Itadori who stretched. “He hasn’t spoken much to be honest. He’s pretty quiet which is even more unnerving. I’d rather him go back to swearing and launching death threats. At least so I know he’s not plotting something.”

“Can he hear us right now?” Kugisaki turns looking at Megumi

He nodded in response. “Yeah. It works the other way round too. If Sukuna is the one in control Itadori could feel all his senses.”

“So, he really tore your heart out huh.” Kugisaki drawled  

“Yeah.”

It was quiet for a moment. As he observed the twitch in her hand.

“It’s hot.” Itadori said

“You’re wearing a hoodie.”

“It wasn’t my choice. Gojo had put in the request for me. You know, speaking of. Where is he anyway?”

“He’ll most likely be back today. He must’ve been informed the brief version of what went down. It wasn’t all that serious so there wasn’t any reason for him to leave his mission and drop in on us.”

Another bout of silence descended on them. As Megumi rubbed a hand on his scalp. He could feel a migraine slowly creep up behind his neck. He tried not to dwindle too much on Sukuna, trying to focus on the present. He poked the bandage on his cheek before dropping his hand back onto his lap

“Jeez, you’re looking even more tired than usual Megumi. Slacking off then?”

He sighed with a short groan. “What’s up Zenin?”

“I told you to not call me by my last name.”

“Maki Maki!” her attention was divided when the large figure behind the statue beckoned her attention.

“I’m talking here, don’t interrupt me.”

“Are you serious right now? Do you not listen to anything!? Don’t you know why they’re so worn out?”

“No? Am I supposed to?”

“Their mission went south yesterday! The rescue mission turned out to be a special grade cursed spirit! They almost died yesterday! One of them technically did die!”

Megumi watched from afar with strained understanding as they bantered around amongst each other.

“Who are they?” Itadori asked first.

“The second years. Our upperclassmen. Zenin is the best cursed tool wielder of all students. That’s Inumaki. The cursed speech user. He can only speak ingredients of rice balls. And that’s Panda.”

Megumi stretched before lifting himself up. “There is also one more. His name is Okkotsu, but he is currently overseas. And the only upperclassman I genuinely respect.”

“Panda?” Kugisaki asked “Is he just… a panda?”

“Sorry to hit you with this, especially since you’re all in a time of rest and recovery but… we’d like you three to participate in the Kyoto Sister School Exchange Event.”

“Exchange event?” Itadori piped up first

“What is that?” Kugisaki said looking at him.

“It’s a get-together with our sister school in Kyoto. But isn’t that event for second- and third-year students?”

“The idiot third years got themselves suspended so, you three are in.” 

“What do we do at the event? Sports? I’m great at shotput.” Itadori says.

“Or smash bros. I’m great at the Wii version.” 

Megumi tuned out the rest of the explanation before doing a time track. The event would be hosted in a little less than 2 months. That was soon. A little too soon.

“We’re in. But if I decide this exchange event is pointless and we’re better of doing missions I’m quitting instantly.”

“Me too.” He added. Then they both stared at Itadori.

“Uh… Me… too?”

•  

That evening they all spent the time together. Training, talking. Getting know one another. Particularly Itadori. And the throwing around. Megumi was saved from the worst of it as Itadori ran after Kugisakis flying body.

At night they were all worn out. Exhausted beyond work. The training session hadn’t been too extreme today with them still recovering and the fact it was only the first training session.

Megumi woke again at the dead of night. And finding himself unable to sleep again he walked around the campus. His black demon dog not short of pursuit behind him. He eventually found his legs giving up and sitting down. It was almost tranquil as he sat atop of the grass section before the training field. He was tired but not exhausted enough to crave the company of his mattress and blanket. He observed silently as black fur pranced around the field aimlessly with a foreign sense of misstep. He wasn’t the only one un-accustomed to not having his white hair. He remembered when the two of them played around together. Observing them made him feel almost a sense of normalcy.

His gaze softened before he looked up, it was a partial moon tonight. Yet it was bright enough to mildly illuminate the field. A soft brush of August wind flitted across Megumi’s face. He felt light. A deep tunnel burrowed inside him. His heart. He laid back against the grass. Lifting his hands he tried not to think and just bask in the peace he seldom found in his life.

"You were in your room before, I swear." Behind him, a familiar voice and cool chilling gaze firmly grazed his senses.

"I was about an hour ago."  He said tilting his head back to look at the blindfold looming over his face obstructing his view of the starry night sky.

"What are you doing here so late?”

"I could be asking you that.” He said flatly

Gojo didn’t dignify him with a response before taking small steps and sitting next to Megumi. Bag was round his arm with his hand stuffed securely in his pocket

"Staying?”

"Do you not want me to?” 

Megumi shrugs staring back up at the sky

“How’re you feeling Megumi?”

“Fine, recovering. It’s not that bad.”

Gojo stared at him. Sure, he couldn’t see his eyes, but he knew they were watching him. They always were.

“I read your statements. They seemed pretty vague.” 

“I can’t remember the events too vividly. It’s not something most people like to remember.”

“Yeah.”

Megumi cleared his throat.

“You could’ve died.”

“We all could’ve. We were lucky the domain wasn’t complete.”

“I was talking about Sukuna specifically.”

He paused. “Yeah, well. It worked out in the end didn’t it.”

This time it was Gojo who didn’t respond.

Staring up at the moon he watched from his peripheral Gojo removing a box from the bag and settling it down onto Megumi’s lap. He arched a questioning brow to him.

“What is it?” He said picking it up unwrapping it.

“Shoko told me you broke your phone. I got you a new one on my way back.”

“She tells you too much sometimes.”

“Maybe, but more importantly. How do you feel about the exchange event?”

Megumi took a moment to breathe. “It’s in two months. That should be enough to improve adequately.”

“It’ll be fun. I enjoyed the exchange event when I was a student.”

Megumi let out a huff laying back down onto the grass staring at the night sky. It was endless, no matter how long he stared at it, he couldn’t fathom how deep it ran. He could say the same thing when he looked at Gojo, who had removed his blindfold and put on his sunglasses laying down next to Megumi.

“The mission wasn’t an accident.”

Megumi paused at that. “I know, they’ll have to try harder.”

He did hear that Gojo had gotten into a mild riot with the higher-ups regarding their dispatchment on a dangerous and cold case. 

A rare wind on a summer’s night buzzed past them.

“Megumi, you know you can rely on me, right?”

He had heard this statement from him so many times prior to this. “I know.”

Notes:

I'm so happy with the Hits. The author of one of my favourite Gojo and Megumi fic gave me Kudos.

Chapter 3: Training And?

Summary:

Little late sorry about that

“Before he gets targeted again, I’d like to give Yuji some basic hands-on training to defend himself.” Footsteps reverberate through the halls of the medical wing as Gojo walked side by side of Shoko.

“What’s the rush? We’ve got a lot of time. The higher ups are aware of the fact that he survived the special grade. They won’t be so reckless in trying something so soon, however it’d be best he sat out the exchange event.”

“Actually, I need to have him ready in time for the exchange event.”

Shoko directed her central vision to Gojo. “Any reason?”

“Easy. I won’t make him miss out on the events designed for young people. Not just him, but anyone.”   

•  

“Megumi you’re late.” Maki looks over her shoulder at him.

“What does it matter to you?” He addressed her curtly before zipping up his old tracksuit.

He waited for a moment and another before prompting himself to ask.

“As a sorcerer, who would you like to save?”

“Why would I care about that?”

He scoffed and averted his gaze. “Why did I ask you?”

“What!?” Maki said looking ticked off at Megumi.

“Fushiguro!” He averted his gaze to the display on the field and listened to Kugisaki’s exasperated yell.

“What are you doing conducting interview questions! Trade places with me I’m so sick and tired of these ugly school uniforms let me go out and buy some cute tracksuits!”

He sighed as Panda flung Kugisaki’s body towards Inumaki “What are those two doing?”

“Both of you are weak in close combat.” Maki says before twirling her staff. “First try and land a hit, then we’ll talk.”

He looked at Maki before nodding and speaking up again. “Where’s Itadori?”

“Satoru took him out earlier. Must be something important.”

•  

“You’re right on the accord cursed tool are useful in close combat. But considering my technique it’s much safer to keep my hands free.”

He pauses before looking up at Maki’s form under the tree. “Zenin, you carry more then one. How do you do it?”

“I make panda carry it for me.”

Why did I ask again?

Panda speaks up “However there are jujutsu sorcerers that use cursed spirits to store them. They’re rare and you almost never see them since it takes a lot of time to tame them.”  

“Let me know if you find one.” Maki said.

Megumi redirected his gaze onto the ground.

“There’s just one thing I don’t get. Why did you run back then? Kind of a waste of your talents.”

 Sukuna’s burning voice bounced around in his head. What was he implying? It would be fruitless trying to gouge any meaning behind Sukuna’s actions all things considered…. But was he implying that I could exorcise one of his own fingers?

He stares at the shadow his hovering hand created. Gently placing the fingertips on the ground, he breathes out. And the first joint of his finger submerged itself in the darkness.

“Tuna, Tuna.” Inumaki said pointing at Megumi.

“Zenin. I think we’re good.”

•  

Later that night the second and first years ate dinner in their communal living area. The message had gone out to both Itadori and Gojo. Yet neither one had shown up yet or messaged back.

“God, I think I have permanent brain damage.” Nobara said rubbing her scalp “At least I was able to buy a new tracksuit.” 

“You both need to build up your durability if you want to have a lasting chance against some of the Kyoto students.” Panda said sitting down on the floor next to Megumi who leaned back on the comfort of his palms. His head was also sore.

“I’ll have less of a fighting chance with a skull fracture.”  

“Tuna with mayo.” Inumaki said from where he was standing in the kitchen with Maki

Megumi nods “Gojo has a meeting with Yaga and I’m guessing Itadori is busy, so he hasn’t looked at his phone yet.”

Kugisaki looks at Megumi across the floor with a questioning and sceptical look on her face. “Can you actually understand him when he talks like that?”

“It takes some time getting used to, but you’ll get the hang of it.”

“Fushiguro must have a sharp intuition then. You’ve only been a Jujutsu High 2 months longer than I have.”

“Actu-” 

The discussion was cut short with a knock and a tall figure opening the door and stepping aside to let salmon hair in.

“Good evening, hope we aren’t late for dinner.” Gojo sung as he removed his shoes and stepped in

“About time you two showed up.” Kugisaki said

“What are you guys having. It smells great!” Itadori asked excited

“Inumaki made some rice bowls.” Maki replies curtly taking her bowl from Inumaki and sitting down on the floor with Panda, Megumi and Nobara.

“No way! I love rice bowls.” Itadori said approaching Inumaki 

“Kelp.” Inumaki averted his gaze to Itadori pushing a bowl towards him.

“Huh?”

“He’s saying it’s for you.” Megumi cut in

“Do you actually understand him?” Itadori didn’t meet Megumi’s gaze, hesitant.

“That’s what I’m saying!” Kugisaki added looking at Itadori

As the 2^nd years spoke with the new two additions Megumi watched Gojo stretch and descended on the floor next to him in front of the large chabudai. Inumaki picked up the rest of the rice bowls and set it on the table.

“Why’d the meeting take so long?” Megumi asked Gojo separating his two chopsticks.

Gojo looked at him “Just the usual yearly stuff with the Goodwill Event around the corner. Speaking of how was training you two?”

Kugisaki held her head and stares at Gojo which prompted him to snicker a little.

“Hey, what was that for!” Itadori said holding his rice bowl as Kugisaki kicked him under the table and tried to steal some food from his bowl.

“You don’t deserve this meal! You spent the entire day skipping out on training!”

“Hey, I was watching movies!” Kugisaki and the 2^nd years stared at him with a question mark basically floating on top of their heads.

“Okay never mind, it’s a long story.” Itadori said taking another bite.

The rest of the time they ate in relative peace. Megumi needed it with the migraine brewing in the centre of his scalp. After dinner was done Gojo cleared the table with him and Itadori.

“Oh, and just before I forget.” Gojo said addressing the room as a whole taking out a crumpled-up paper from his pocket. Unfolding it and holding it up.

 

“These are the unregistered special grades that attacked me and Yuji on the way here. They’re coherent and seem to be working with a curse user.

Kugisaki stared at him dumbfounded. “Did he really just say that so casually.” She said looking at Maki

“You get used to it at one point.” Maki responded flatly

Megumi blinked ignoring Gojo’s nonchalance. Two unregistered sentient curse spirits? Why would they attack Gojo out of the blue? That can’t be plain circumstance.

“Anyhow my precious students. Good night, sweet dreams!” Gojo pockets the paper and waves them goodnight.

•  

The next morning, they were all back on the field for training. Itadori was once again gone, assuming Gojo had more stuff with him. And by the time the sun was up in the sky blazing down on them and the cicadas were singing. Maki had sent them both- Kugisaki and Megumi on errand runs.  

He heard a prolonged yet subtle groan from Kugisaki before she spoke up annoyed “Man, couldn’t they put in a few more vending machines?” She said bending down to pick up her cold soda suited for the summer day.

“No, they won’t, there only so many workers allowed to come onto campus.”

“I’m getting really tired of these rules.” She said popping the lid open and the liquid fizzed.

Megumi looked at her in response.

“So, where’s Itadori?”

“Probably off with Gojo again. Given what’s happened I’m guessing he’s taking more precautions regarding Itadori.”

Kugisaki only huffed out as a response drinking her soda. Before looking at him. “You aren’t hot in that?”

He averted his gaze “You’re wearing a tracksuit too.”

“Yeah, but mines very light and I have a camisole on under. Yours looks layered and heavy.”

“I use it during winter as well, there’s no point in buying two separate tracksuits. The heat isn’t so unbearable.”

“Your funeral. Don’t want anything to drink?”

Megumi responded with a shake of his head. He prompted to turn around before he heard footsteps behind them. Turning his face and body back towards the right side of open space in front of the shade he saw two figures. A tall muscular guy and a shorter but more familiar figure to the side of him.

“Mai Zenin? Why’re you here?”

Kugisaki blinked before looking at him “Oh another one? Well, they do look alike. Sisters?”

Megumi nodded shortly “Yeah. Twins.”

“Don’t call me a twin Fushiguro. You make it sound like Maki was my equal… You ought to just call me Mai.”

He gave no response at the digging bait she threw. Just then the guy started.

“So, these two are subs for Okkotsu and the third years.”  

“We were worried about you, so we tagged along with the principal. We heard about your dispatchment to the special grade case, it must’ve been rough… to witness something so cruel when you’ve just begun your time as a jujutsu sorcerer, it would demotivate and scare many sorcerers out of this field… or maybe it wasn’t so unordinary for you.”

Megumi raised a brow as Kugisaki scoffed “What’s your point?”

 “Hey, it’s alright some things are hard to put it in words so let me help. A special grade curse spirit shouldn’t be so alarming for you, since your classmate is well- calling him a vessel makes it sound nice, in truth he’s a half curse monster, having such a tainted inhuman being beside you should be enough to keep you on your toes… no wonder you handled it so well. Speaking of where is he?”

Megumi’s jaw flexed and this time a subtle reaction was given. Kugisaki rolled her eyes and averted her hard stare.  

“Mai… why must you always stir things up. I’m only here for one thing.” The figure expressed exasperation treading forward towards the both of them. “To see if these two are fitting replacements for Okkotsu.”  He discarded his jacket off to the side as Megumi stood watching him. “That’s all I wanna know.”

Megumi scoffed.

“Fushiguro was it?” he asked without waiting for a response.

“What type of woman’s your type!”

.

..

Huh? Megumi tilted his head in confusion staring at the guy in front of him. Who efficiently grabbed the top part of his shirt. Almost the way Sukuna did.

“If I don’t like your answer I might beat you to death right here. And after that drag out Okkotsu or at least the third years to the event suspended or not!” He ripped it to shreds with no care in the world for the lingering pieces of fabric.

“Oh, and by the way… my typa woman is a tall one with a big, gorgeous ass!”

Megumi deadpans and stares at him, a little lost and a little more irritated.

“Why would I wanna discuss my taste in women with a guy I met a few minutes back?”

The figure made a questioning expression.

“That’s true this guy’s seriously anti-social got no people skills whatsoever.”  

“Your words aren’t helping this situation they’re making it more lost so stop talking.” He flatly stated

“Kyoto Third Year Aoi Todou. Introduction over. Now we’re friends, so hurry up and answer the question. If you prefer men that’s fine too.”  

Megumi blinked as “Todou” went on with his rant of whatever he was preaching. Where had he heard that name before? He could swear he’s seen it somewhere on paper or heard it from someone…

“If my last exchange event only ends up boring me…”

“Last? Isn’t Jujutsu Tech a 4-year school?”

“The events just for Third Years and under.” He clarifies.

“Oh.”

He pointed a bent accusatory “I’m already cutting you too much slack by only offering to beat you half to death. Now answer me Fushiguro. What type of women’s your type!”  

He was getting annoyed by this. “What is this a comedy act?”

He paused for a moment before looking over his shoulder. She’s unarmed. It’s best to play along with this to avoid any direct confrontation.

When he blinked to think for an answer Tsumiki’s words rang in his head.

“Not forgiving people isn’t such a bad thing. It just goes along with your kindness.”

“I don’t…really have a type. As long as their character is unshakable there isn’t anything else I can ask for.”

“That’s not a bad answer.” Kugisaki blinked and said, “If you had said something like big boobs I would have had to kill you.”

He almost scoffed. “Shut up.”

“I knew it…” Megumi opened his eyes facing forward… were those…tears? “You really are boring Fushiguro…”

He felt it coming, he could even say he saw the change of gear and shift in wind. But by the time he was slammed out under the sun all he could manage was to cross his arms to partially shield himself.

He let out a huff of breath lifting his upper body off the ground.

“I knew it as soon as I saw you Fushiguro…I could tell you’d turn out to be a boring guy. But then again you should never judge a guy by his looks. So, I went out of my way to ask you that question… and you just trampled on my kindness.” He watched as Todou wiped his tears and sniffled.

“Your head looks like a pineapple and you’re about as smart as one too.” Wait a minute. Todou? That Todou, the one who defended against last years unprecedented jujutsu terror attack by the curse user Getou during the night parade of 100 demons, and when the parade came to Kyoto, he exorcised a special grade, and five first-grade cursed spirits by himself. That Todou? Still there are some non-special grade sorcerers capable of exorcising a special grade.

“There’s just one thing I don’t get. Why did you run back then? Kind of a waste of your talents.”

Megumi blinked away the unwelcomed memory and voice that echoed inside his cranium. Rising up to his feet....

But what’s really shocking is…

“I heard you don’t use cursed techniques.”

“Huh, Oh yeah. That rumours false. I used it against the special grade.”

He doesn’t use them against first grades. Is he a monster?

“That’s good to know.” Megumi twitched his hand. No, it’d be best to stay defensive. They’ve got time before the exchange event, but going on the offensive and not holding back would only give the opponent a glimpse of his fighting style.

“Nue, plus Gama. Bottomless well.”   

I’m up against a hard-core close-range fighter. I’ll keep my distance and restrain him.

This time he didn’t see it. He felt it.  

He’s fast, so he wasn’t at his full speed earlier.

He felt ruthless and digging hands around his torso

“You’re flimsy and shallow…. Both your body.” His feet lost contact with the secure ground as he was bent backwards.

“And your taste in women!”

He grunted as he felt his head collide and make intense impact with the earth. His fight or flight response blocked out the pain as he looked up to see a figure blocking the sun and descend towards him. Closely dodging the second impact he backed away only to be met with another assault to the head.  

He barely had time to block the present attack with his hands before another one came in.  

Damn his power is insane.

His lower face and jaw were gripped by a callous hand pressing him into the wooden structure behind.  

“Just you wait. I’m not finished with you!”

He wasn’t finished. Because Megumi bore the brunt of being blasted through several structures. Again

When he was out in the open air. He couldn’t make out the words Todou let out as his head numbed from the relentless forces it just dealt with.

But he did manage to push Todou back away via his shikigami to catch an opening and a fucking breather from the insistent attacks he was facing.

He didn’t cushion his landing as gravity pulled him back onto the ground and his side collided with the hard floor. He did hear Todou’s ridiculous words this time.

“Are you even trying to fight?”

Megumi felt a tick in his jaw as his fight and flight instinct dialled up to the former instead of the ladder.

“Why did you run back then?”

.

..

“Kind of a waste of your talents.”

Fuck this.

He turned to face him “You’re acting so proud when I’ve been so modest. But if fine then, if you insist.”

“Then, I’ll show you.”

•  

He didn’t show him.  

He did show up to the medical wing with blood cascading down his head like rain drops with a concerned Inumaki and guilty Panda behind him. But within a few minutes he felt significantly better and all that resided was the annoyance in his head and exhaustion. Shoko’s technique was truly one of a kind.

It seems Kugisaki had also gotten into an altercation with Mai that escalated before Maki intervened. He had heard a very detailed outburst of Kugisakis tantrum regarding her brand-new tracksuit having holes in it.

That evening the rest of them took training easier on them. Particularly Megumi. On a normal day he’d feel offended at their pity or sympathy, but right now he was counting his blessings where he could find them.

“Hey guys!” A semi-familiar voice called out from the field half running down the steps that descended to the field where Megumi held one of Maki’s many polearms.  

Itadori must’ve felt the lack of energy the two of his classmates possessed because his enigmatic face fell softly.

“What’s up?”

There was stretch of silence as the 2^nd years stretched and sighed.

“We’re going to get revenge on those Kyoto bastards at that exchange event that’s what.” Kugisaki said with a burning sense of fire in her voice, as she punched her palm as an indication.

“Yeah, but what happened. Is training seriously this rigorous?”

“You try getting tossed all the way to the moon and see how energetic you’ll be.” Kugisaki states flatly.

“Speaking of. Hand me back slaughter demon Itadori.”  

“Huh?”

“Satoru loaned you slaughter demon, right?”

A couple gears shifted in Itadoris head before a subtle amount of colour leeched from his face. “Uh-”

“Helloooo! Slacking off already?”  Gojo waves from above the stairs

The students averted their gaze to Gojo’s descending figure.

“Why’s he back, doesn’t he have things to do?” Kugisaki prodded.

“He is a teacher. So this is his job.” Itadori said “And he said he had a meeting with the principal.”

“Huh? The principals should be having a meeting with each other right now.” Maki addressed

Megumi handed the pole arm back to Maki and stretched before raising himself onto his two feet.  

“Yuji, Megumi. I’ve got something for you come.”

He turned his head to look at Gojo, pausing a moment before walking up to him as Yuji practically jogged.

“What is it?”

“I’ve got a mission for you both.”

Megumi blinked. Mission this early? And Itadori?

 “It’s supervised by a grade 1 sorcerer.” Gojo clarified looking at Itadori. “We should hone your skills as much as we possible can be the event starts right?”

“Well, if you say so. What is it?” Itadori rubs the back of his head

“You’ll find out by tomorrow. I’ll send the details to Megumi.”

Itadori nodded before sending a slightly dubious glance at Megumi before turning around to join the banter taking place behind them three.

“A mission this early?”

“It’s nothing severe or anything of the magnitude like the detention centre. Yuji could do with the experience. Plus, if things go bad Nanami’s there.”

“Well, what about me?”

Gojo looked at Megumi “What about you?”

“Why am I going? I don’t need the experience.”

“You’ll be Itadoris support. And you’re experienced Megumi but you still could do with more field work as well, hone your own perception. Under supervision.” Gojo’s response didn’t clear up Megumi’s suspicions, but he didn’t press further continuing the conversation.

Megumi sigh as he stretched his shoulder muscle “So, what is it?”

“3 kids were found dead at a movie theatre. It’s a more difficult case, but with Nanami’s lead it’ll be an effective learning experience.”

Megumi thinks for a moment. He’s never really done field work under supervision. And Itadori has been acting stranger lately. Could it be because of Sukuna or is it something else? Megumi didn't linger on the thought for too long encase he gave something away by his facial expressions.

“This is more of an introduction on the basics and how to apply them for Yuji, to prepare him for the exchange event. You'll be more like a observer really. He’s a fast learner.”

To that Megumi just nodded and turned away from Gojo facing the rest of the students. The wind blew across giving him a soothing balm against the merciless summer heat.  

Notes:

Okay so the reason why Gojo did send Megumi with Itadori is similar to the reason he sent Yuuta with Inumaki on a mission in JJK0. He saw that Yuji wasn't acting at ease with Megumi after the Detention Centre so hence why.

Chapter 4: Damn it

Summary:

Wowzers

“So, why’re you sending us out on a mission so early again?”  Itadori asks walking side by side to Gojo with Megumi trailing behind them both. They were on the further side of the campus near the infirmary.

“As a learning experience. Think of it as a field training lesson of sorts. It could be a major boost for you.” Gojo says flatly, smile never wavering

“So, why’s Fushiguro here?”

“As an observer, also because he’s got more experience in handling you.” At that Itadoris smile flattened slightly looking down as he walked forward.

“We won’t be alone.” Megumi added

“Don’t worry the sorcerer supervising you both is an old friend of mine. He’s skilled.”

The doors both opened, and Megumi caught the familiar blonde hair in his vision and the matching beige jacket with slacks, the figure turned at the sound and faced them. Megumi pauses behind to the side of Itadori

“Yuji, meet Kento Nanami! Suit-turned-sorcerer.”

“Don’t call me that Gojo.” Nanami said with an undercurrent of exhaustion.

“You’re lucky this time round Yuji. Most sorcerers don’t fit into the criteria of intellect but since Kento once worked for a corporation he fits into that category. Oh, did I forget to mention he’s also a 1^st grade sorcerer?”

Itadori spared a lingering glance at Nanami’s eyes.

“That’s not the worst thing you’ve said about me.” He sighed pushing his glasses up

“A desk worker? Why’d you join a field like Jujutsu then?”

“We should greet each other first.” Nanami said bowing slightly “Nice to meet you Itadori.”

“Oh yeah, sorry. Nice to meet you too.” He responded in kind. Megumi looked at them walking in between Gojo and Nanami. 

“As a student I studied at your school. Over the years I wasted there I learnt one thing. Jujutsu Sorcery sucks.” His last sentence came out harsh, Megumi looked at Nanami. Well considering whatever’s been going on lately, Megumi can’t bring himself to disagree.

“But when I went to work for a simple 9-5 company. I learnt that having to working for a living sucks too.”

Megumi sighed tuning out the rest of the conversation. Thinking about the report Gojo had sent him earlier that day. It was a relatively ambiguous case; he didn’t want to make an assumption or over-analyse anything when he hasn’t even seen the sight yet.  

“But I have no respect for him!”

Megumi almost smiled as he was disturbed from his thoughts.

“I may hate the way the higher-ups do things but I believe in structure and discipline. And this conversation is dragging on. My point is I don’t acknowledge you as a jujutsu sorcerer. However I hope you’ll make yourself useful aside for just being a vessel for the time bomb Sukuna.”

“I’m here to get stronger, because right now I’m frankly weak and useless. Or else I’ll miss the point of why I’m even doing this in the first place. And with that, I’m certain I’ll be able to win over your boundaries and earn your respect in due time.”

“I don’t give a damn about that.”

“Alright I get the point man!”

Megumi nods vaguely at Gojo before walking up to Nanami’s side.

“Fushiguro-kun.” He greeted with a familiar sense of acknowledgement

“Nanami-san.”

“Any reason in particular Gojo may have set you up with me?”

“That seems to be the question of the day.”

•  

The three of them entered the cinema room. Megumi did a once over on the three seats tainted with the sight of blood and the sensation of cursed residuals. Leaving the two to their own conversation he redirected his gaze towards the residuals walking up the exit pathway. He crouched down and stared at the floor.

To that Itadori turned his head and looked at Megumi

“Fushiguro are you…”

He was promptly disturbed by Nanami who pointed at the stains.

“These are the residuals of cursed energy.”

Itadori looked between them if they were speaking a foreign language.

“Residuals are the trails of evidence a cursed technique. They’re much more subtle than spirits.” Nanami adds to ease Itadoris confusion.

“I can’t see anything. Is that a technique your using? Cause I can’t-”

“You can’t see it because you’re waiting for it to naturally come into your vision like a cursed spirit. That’s not the case with residuals. Try looking closer, concentrate your focus on these parts.” Megumi gestured standing up right.

It took a moment or two, but he cracked a smile.

“I can see it!”

“That’s a given, a sorcerer should be able to sense it before they resort to their vision.” Nanami walks past Megumi’s shoulder nodding before he walked forward and bent down to avoid the tape. Itadori grumbled.

“I can’t seem to link up with this guy.” Itadori says strained.

“Nanami’s a lot more coordinated then Gojo. You’ll be fine as long as you keep up.” He puts his hands in his pockets before following Nanami.

Itadori blinked and rubbed his head, unease descending again “Alright if you say so.” Itadori walked fast to catch up to Nanami.

Megumi hung back walking at a slower pace as they walked up the flights of stairs talking and discussing things about the case. He watched the stains of residuals reach up the stairs. 

“So, there wasn’t anything weird on the surveillance cameras, right?”

Megumi came out of his short-lived trance, quickening his steps to be on equal footing with Nanami if not ahead.

“Right, there was only another boy aside from the victims.”

Megumi had seen the footage, Gojo had taken the liberty of sending everything to Megumi.

“Then it was a cursed spirit?”

“Most probably yes.” Nanami said

The sound of thunder rumbling echoes through the stairwell as they approached the entrance to the terrace. Two umbrellas under in a bucket.

“The possibility of the boy being the killer isn’t out of the question.” Megumi added, turning around to gauge Itadoris reaction to the information. He’s a good person, but would he be willing to kill someone if he was put on the spot? Probably not, if we consider his determination to save the inmates at the detention centre.

Itadori attempted to offer the umbrella to Megumi but pulled back. Nanami in his stead opened his and put it between Megumi and himself, Megumi in return nodded as a gesture of thanks and walked out unshielded from the rain. He needed his hands free encase something happened.

“What Fushiguro-kun says is correct, however-”

Megumi sensed it against the cold of the rain, the tiny burn of cursed energy infiltrated his sense at a moderate amount. Turning to see a distorted figure crawling under the shade over the chairs. 

“L-l-l-l-lunchbox!”

He breathed out before lifting his hand, he made Orochi’s hand signal but when his shadows flickered the realisation settled softly. Right, he could only appear as a totality now.

As he changed the hand signal Nanami put his hand on Megumi’s wrist stopping the hand signal with a slight shake of his head. Gojo’s words rang in his head

“You’ll be more of an observer really.”

Ah right. With a nod of his head, he stepped back, averting his gaze to behind Itadori

“I’ll take care of this one. Itadori, I want to see if you can handle that one.”

“If either of you decide you’re in over your head, give me a shout.”

“Why are you so set on the fact I’ll fail? Give me a chance.”

“That’s not the point. I’m an adult and both of you are children. I have a duty to prioritise you over me.”

Megumi sighed internally. Always with tha-

“I’d rather you continue underestimating me then treat me like a kid.”

Megumi blinked at Itadori

•  

Nanami’s ramblings continued as he evaluated Itadori. Whereas Megumi stayed immobile for the most part. It made a sense of restlessness seep into his limbs. The most he did was dodge or parry the curse, he shielded his eyes from the rain.

“Are you listening Itadori?”

“HUH, that was for me!?”

The distraction caused him to be flung onto the home run button. Megumi felt an abstract sense of sympathy as he watched Itadori descend and fall onto the ground. It faded as quickly as it had come.

“Can he reveal his technique to an opponent like that?” He asks a little alarmed

“It doesn’t matter; in the best cases it works to your advantage.” Megumi added jumping away from another attack of the white curse, skidding to a stop next to Itadori.

“Take it as a gambling tactic. Revealing your hand can actually boost the efficiency and effectiveness of applying your technique.” Megumi explained

“I don’t gamble, isn’t it illegal in Japan anyway?”

Megumi looked at Itadori. Who looked away and seemed awkward again “Not quite.”

“Let me show him.” Nanami added, widening his stance and tilting his blade outward as his cursed energy flared around him.

It wasn’t that Megumi hadn’t seen Nanami in action, but every time he did, he was impressed. As Nanami ended on the opposite side Megumi observed the cut of four legs and the cursed spirit being immobilised sinking onto the floor in a spray of blood.

“That force was purely generated by him.” Megumi says to Itadori who was watching over his shoulder

“Damn. He used the blunt side of that wrapped thing.”  He said distracted staring at Nanami who wiped his blade.

During Itadoris momentary distraction Megumi blocked an attack using his shadows as a intermediate as Itadori turned his attention back to what happened. From the force Megumi staggered back before jumping and skidding away from the curse on the wet concrete next to Nanami. Itadori missed a punch and backed away from it.

“Sorry, reflex.” He said addressing Nanami. This wasn’t his test, it was Itadoris.  

Nanami nodded before speaking “Itadori, don’t turn your back on your opponent.”

“Then stop distracting me!”

Itadori turned back towards the opponent analysing before bringing forth his own cursed energy. Nanami watched him.

Megumi blinked and rose on his feet doing the same, more casually then Nanami.

The moment he rushed forward, and his fist made contact with flesh, to the prolonged moment his cursed energy came forward and did the same.

Divergent fist. Now he realised why Gojo paired Itadori with Nanami despite their clashing personalities

The gears spun in Nanami’s head as Megumi’s vision focused on his peripheral. The curse laid in a pile of its own blood; its arms stained alongside its-

He did a double take. Its arm hadn’t dissolved yet, its watch. It had a watch.

“Sorry about that. Let me-”

“Nanami, Itadori wait!”

Itadori stopped his inevitable attack and Nanami paused looking at Megumi who approached the carcass with his phone, before showing it to Nanami.

Who also did a double take.

“What’s going on?” They both looked at Itadori, Nanami opened his mouth, but Megumi cut in instead

“Curses don’t show up in surveillance cameras or photos.” Megumi said approaching Itadori.

“Yeah, so?”

“So, the point is…” He held up his phone for Itadori “These can’t be curses.”

•  

“They’re not, they’re human. Or at least they were.”  Shoko said over the phone. Nanami hands Itadori a towel then Megumi “Both of these ones are similar to the two bodies from the theatre. It’s highly likely that a cursed technique-”

Altered the shape of the body.

“Forcibly altered the shape of the body.”  Figures Megumi thinks

“Fushiguro or I would’ve noticed from the get-go if that was it. Those two were filled with cursed energy just like a cursed spirit.”  

“You’ll have to ask the culprit to explain it to you. However, there is evidence of their brain stems being tampered with, to create confusion and impair their consciousness. If their technique can do that then there is a possibility, they can influence the victim to use cursed energy. The brains relation to cursed energy is still a mystery to us.”

“Oh, and also, is Itadori listening?” Shoko asked

“He’s here.” Megumi said when Itadori didn’t respond.

“I think you should understand this much. These guys died from the shock of what happened to their bodies, not because of you. So don’t get the wrong idea.”

“Yeah, I get it thank you.”

When Nanami ended the call, he continued.

“I still feel pretty crap about it. And whatever this curse is, it’s revolting.”

Nanami sighed and Megumi leaned against the couch not sitting down drying his hair from the rain. The lack of a smile and liveliness from Itadori felt foreign to him.

“The residuals was most probably a bluff.” Nanami added standing up “To lure us in. Our perpetrator is skilled, seems we’re going to have to invest more energy then originally anticipated. So, let’s go all out.”

Itadori smiled up at Nanami. “Yeah!”

“That includes you as well Fushiguro-kun, the circumstances have changed so you don’t have to observe now, your assistance may be required.”  

He nodded standing up on both legs.

“Yeah, I got it.”

•  

“I organized the reports and made a map of recent unregistered residuals, unnatural deaths, and disappearances. This should help us narrow down and pinpoint the killer’s retreat to some extent.”

“Are we going after him now?” Itadori said raising himself from the table of the small classroom they were in.   

“No, because we don’t know the exact location.” Megumi moves his eyes from the map to Nanami’s face for a sign of bluffing, Itadori could catch. He knows

“And while I handle the search of these places. I want you to handle a different matter Itadori.” He pinned a semi-familiar phoro on the board. The boy from the theatre.

“His name is Junpei Yoshino, he was the boy in the cinema with the 3 other victims. We determined that he goes to the same high school as the victims. But his reactions and the way he carried himself throughout the footage, it’s unlikely he’s a curse user or the person we’re after. But if he’s related to the victims in any manner, it changes things.”  

“Curse user?”

“A rogue jujutsu sorcerer operating outside the ethics and authority of a normal one.”  Megumi answers.

“Ijichi will be overseeing you and Fushiguro-kun while I deal with this matter. I want you three to handle the investigation.”

They both nod as Itadori exits the room with enthusiasm, Ijichi behind him. Megumi gives him a look before turning back in the room where Nanami leaned against the wall.

“You don’t think using 2 sorcerers and an assistant is overkill for a boy for all we could know just be a normal high school boy who can see curses?”

“The possibility of him being a 2^nd grade is still present. However slim the chance is. We should be prepared. And having you keep an eye on Itadori would ease some of my concerns.”

“So, you can catch the offender?”

Nanami didn’t respond

“You know the exact location.”

“Yes of course. The culprit could’ve left the scene without any traces of evidence. If I’m right, it would seem we’re being lured in once again.”

“Then let me come with you as back-up in case things do go south. This mission is to evaluate Itadori in the field, you can’t do that if I’m also there.”  

“Gojo assigned you to this mission alongside Itadori for a reason when the easy thing would be to send Itadori alone. And it’s not because of me.”

“You said the situation changed. I’m not support- an observer anymore.”

Nanami sighs “I’ve weighed the risk; I simply made the safest choice Fushiguro-kun. And you after all still are a child.”

Megumi’s jaw ticked. If Itadori hated being perceived a child Megumi heaved at the thought.

Megumi nodded and turned around. Pausing

“However, this is not to say to follow the other two, you are permitted to conduct your own evaluation of the case.”

He nodded again. And Itadori walked in.

“Oh, and hey, teacher.”

“I forgot to tell you.”

“You be careful.”

•  

“Hey there he is!” Itadori moved forward and pointed at the figure in front of the car. Megumi sat in the passenger seat next to Ijichi. “But he isn’t in uniform?”

“It looks like he hasn’t been attending school for quite some time.”

“Technically we’re bunking school too.” Itadori said slightly weary.

“I’d say this more like an excursion so no, not really .” Ijichi states.

“Anyway. What do we do now?” Itadori asks

Ijichi braked to a halt. “We’re using that.” He gestured to the thing in Megumi’s lap.

“Isn’t that a curse?”  

“A fly head, it’s a low-level cursed spirit that doesn’t qualify as grade 4.” Megumi explains turning his gaze to look at Itadori.

“When there’s no one around we’ll release this on him.”

“What?”

“Then one of four things will happen, one if he’s a normal person who can’t see curses, you’ll please save him. Two if he can see the curse but can’t deal with it, you will again, please save him, after we question him about the theatre incident. Three if he exorcises the fly head with jujutsu, we’ll immediately restrain him.”

“Restrain him how?”

“That’s my job.” Megumi responds. Itadori nodded.

“If it’s a misunderstanding we’ll apologise afterwards.” Ijichi adds.

“But if the fourth circumstance happens…”

“What’s the fourth circumstance?” Itadori asks again

“If Junpei Yoshino has equal potential to a 2^nd grade sorcerer then we’ll have to retreat to Nanami. Worst case Fushiguro will handle things.”

“I think I could handle a 2^nd grade.”

“Not in this case.” Ijichi says  

“Huh?”

“A 2^nd grade cursed spirit is 2^nd grade level, a 2nd grade jujutsu sorcerer or curse user is around the level of a 1^st grade cursed spirit.” Megumi explains.

“Fushiguro is a second grade. God, Why the hell does no one tell me these things?”  

Because Gojo’s in charge of you

Megumi opened the door first. “From here we’ll walk.”

•  

He doesn’t know how it got out of control. But it did. And Itadori ran. And Megumi knew trying to keep up with Itadori on pure physical prowess was as stupid as trying to snatch a cursed tool from Zenin’s grip. 

“Me and Itadori could’ve had this handled.” He said flatly watching Ijichi panic.

“I’m going. In case the fourth or third scenario does happen.” Is all he says before sprinting down the same path Itadori had taken.

“Wait no- not you too!”

•  

Megumi observed quietly from the opposite corner. When he arrived Itadori had slammed his head against the pole. And if he read him correctly, he also deduced the fact that Junpei in fact could perceive the curse. After introducing himself to Itadori he had ran away with the other persons pants. And Megumi took this as an opening or an opportunity to approach Junpei. Probably not the most ideal situation, but he worked with what he got.

“What was that about?”

“I’ve got the same question.”

The boy in front of him blinked before turning around to promptly see Megumi behind him. His eyes did a once over lingering on his uniform. Specifically, his button near his collar.

“Your uniform-”

“I’m a classmate of his.”  Megumi answered hands in his pocket approaching Junpei but keeping enough of a safe distance.

“Never heard of it. Private?”

“You could say that.”

A small bout of silence descended as Junpei seemed a little uneased. “You some kind of transfer student?”

“It’s a specialised school. Small classes.”

“Do all your students run away with strangers’ pants?”

“He does. To get people he wants to talk with alone.”  

“He could’ve just dragged me away.”

“I suppose, but it wouldn’t have gotten him away from the front of your home.”

“Huh?”

“You hate that guy.”

Junpei stares at him, a little confused and mostly alarmed by Megumi’s statement.

“I’m just guessing.”  

“Hey.”

Megumi turned his shoulders to see Itadori walking towards them.  

Junpei seemed a bit more at unease, but he responded politely nonetheless “Thank you for that.”

“It’s not biggie. But, how about we take a walk?” He said with a warm and welcoming smile walking ahead, Megumi tilting his head to Junpei to prompt him to walk with them.  

He wonders what Nanami’s doing.

•  

“Did the ground just shake?”

Megumi nodded. “Yeah, it did.” He lifted his foot up looking down, his intuition wasn’t exactly sending him signals that were green. He raised his head before looking back at Itadori.

“Damn it, Ijichi’s not answering.” Itadori said staring down at his phone annoyed, before looking at Megumi who was holding the fly head in his hand. Or at least trying to. “Can you see if you can reach him?”

“Can’t, left my phone in the car.”

“Huh? Why are you always yelling at me for my lack of survival skills then!?”

Megumi stared at him deadpanning, subtly hinting at the boy sitting on the stairs behind them both. Itadori walked closer to Megumi.

“Should we even be talking to him?”

“He hasn’t done anything yet. Innocent until proven guilty.” Megumi said, focusing on his peripheral vision. He was staring at their uniforms again. Particularly the button. He went into deep thought as Itadori looked defeated.

“Okay, I don’t care anymore. I’m just asking!” He watched him turn around to face Junpei.

“You were in the theatre the day three boys got killed.” He began “Did you see anything? Like this?” Itadori points at the fly head.

“Nothing. To be honest, I only started seeing those things recently.”

His intuition wasn’t really sending him green signals again.

“Well, then.” He looked at Megumi. “I’ve got nothing to ask you.” He approached the stairs sitting down

Really that’s what he’s been panicking about for the past couple hours? He could’ve asked that before and saved them the hassle.

“If you don’t mind, can you wait for the other guy to show up? He’s kind of our supervisor.” He said pointing to Megumi and him.

“Yeah, I don’t see why not.”

Megumi watched them two interact and speak about a movie series, he sat up 2 steps watching Itadori casually mingle with Junpei, a light sense of ease that he hasn’t spoken to Megumi with in a while.

“Oh wait, you need my number. Here. Go ahead.” He looked up to see him offering Junpei his phone.

“Why are you always yelling at me for my lack of survival skills then!?”

Oh gee I wonder why.

He should stop this and interfere. But. Junpei hasn’t proven to be anything other than a coincidence so far. It shouldn’t be harmful to indulge, if only casually. And Itadori probably craves for a sense of normalcy of his previous life before Sukuna.

Sukuna.

Pact

Juvenile Detention Centre

Megumi groans at the yet again unwelcome reminder of the guillotine looming over his head waiting to fall and cut his head off, not in the literal sense and Junpei turned around to look at him.

“You alright?”

Before Megumi could respond he was interrupted.

“Junpei, there you are! What are you doing here…”- He turned around to be met with the sight of a light skinned woman with short dark hair just like the boys.

“Mom?”

“Are these two your friends?”

“Oh uh- actually we just met.”

“Yeah, but we have lots in common! Well, both of us do!”

“Really? Well, I hope you guys become fast friends.” Megumi stood up as well, his thoughts scattering with Junpei’s cutting tone.

“Mom, you promised you’d stop smoking.”

“Right, sorry. I did promise to stop smoking in front of you.” She put out her cigarette and walked down the steps.

“What are your friends names?”

“I’m Yuji Itadori. And that’s Fushiguro. Oh and, you look kinda out of place with green onions.” 

“Really? I don’t wanna be a green onions type of woman.”

Junpei looked as lost as he did. They made eye contact with each other, a light flicker of understanding passing through them at the same time.

“You guys should join us for dinner.”

“What- no, stop bothering him.”

“Are you saying my cooking is a bother?”

“Uh actually-”

They were cut off with a sound of rumbling coming from Itadoris stomach. Megumi almost face palmed. 

•  

“This isn’t the best idea.” Megumi said as they walked behind the highschooler and his mother.

“Huh why not?”

“We met him a couple hours ago. You barely know him. And he was spotted at the scene of a curse-related incident.”

“Yeah, but he didn’t do anything. He just happened to be there.”

“That’s not something we can afford to overlook. People don’t “just happen” to be around cursed accidents. Not without a reason.”

“He seems like a normal boy who can see these things, he was probably a coincidence. Maybe he’s just isolated.”

“That could be true. But isolation makes people easy targets, especially for curses who feed from negative emotions. You’ve seen how they work.”

“Still… I don’t think Junpei would hurt anyone.”

“It’s not about what you think. It’s about what he’s capable of under the wrong influence. If he really is involved with the culprit, this could escalate fast.”

“He’s not acting weird. Just quiet. You’re reading too much into it.”

“You definitely are.”

“Hm?”

“Acting weird. Around me at least.”

Itadori didn’t dignify him with a response and Megumi didn’t press anymore then he already did.

“Why’re you coming along?”

“Because I’m a grade 2 sorcerer. Meaning I’m technically responsible for you right now.”

•  

The dinner buzzed with life, filled with the sounds of clinking chopsticks, soft laughter, and overlapping conversation. Junpei’s mom had a natural way of drawing people in, light, talkative, effortlessly warm, or that could’ve been the beer. Yuji was halfway through a dramatic retelling of something embarrassing from his childhood, and she was nearly choking on her food from laughing so hard. Junpei groaned, trying to hide his face behind his glass.

Megumi sat across from them, his posture straight, hands resting neatly near his plate. His eyes moved carefully from face to face, taking it all in, watching more than speaking. He didn’t laugh, not out loud, but a quiet agreeing scoff escaped him when Junpei muttered something under his breath that only he seemed to catch, which caused Junpei to look at him with another bit of understanding. His guard was still up, instinctively so, but the tension in his shoulders had eased, and he wasn’t watching the door or reading into anyone’s behaviour anymore.

Even if he wasn’t quite ready to join in fully, there was something grounding in the scene—the simplicity of it. Yuji’s unfiltered joy, Junpei’s hesitant ease, the motherly warmth from a woman who saw them as just kids, not sorcerers. For a moment, Megumi allowed himself to sit in the noise, not just outside of it. Not relaxed. But present.

After the dinner, Junpei’s mother had fallen asleep as he draped the blanket over her.

Itadori reignited the conversation as Megumi leaned against the counter sipping on a soda can “Your mothers cool and nice.”

“Yeah, she is. Hey, what about yours. What are your moms like?” Megumi zoomed in on Itadori

“Well, I never really got to know her… but I do have faint memories of my father. Fortunately I had my grandpa.”

Junpei watched with an indescribable expression “Oh.”

Then they both turned their gazes to Megumi.

His story was similar to Itadoris. He couldn’t remember her, maybe memories of laughter and a stern tone-

No, that was Tsumiki.

“I never got to know mine either.” Or his father. But he didn’t get into any intricacies.

Just then Itadoris phone started to vibrate. “Oh sorry, I have to take this call.” He said walking slightly away.

It was probably Ijichi again.

“So, how long have you known each other?”

Megumi looked at Junpei. “Me and Itadori?”

“Yeah.”

“June.”

“Wow, that’s not that far back.”

“Yeah.” Felt like an eternity and yesterday from today and that fateful night they both met.

A beat passed and another bout of silence overcame them. Unlike Itadori Megumi’s relationships had a lot of silence pressed into them. It’s why his friendship all formed from convenience not choice.

"Funny how people always say the quiet is boring."

"Depends on what they’re used to." He replied

"Some people don’t know what to do with quiet. Makes them nervous."

"Or guilty." He added, dropping subconscious bait. He wasn’t 100% eased up despite how things were progressing

"Yeah. Like silence gives you time to remember things you were trying to forget."

"Some people fill the silence, so they don’t have to sit with themselves." Gojo flashed through his head, then Itadori

"Others just disappear into it."

"Neither is better. Just... different kinds of tired."

"You sound like someone who’s spent a lot of time figuring that out."

"Observation, not experience." He stated dryly

"Sure." Junpei replied with half a grin.

“Two hours from now, got it.”

Megumi turned his head to look at him, Itadori turned to look at Megumi too. Two hours?

“Itadori, Fushiguro?”

They both turned to face Junpei.

“You’re both Jujutsu sorcerers, right?”

“Yeah.” Itadori answered swift and flatly, then a hint of uncertainty crossed his expression. But they’d crossed that line a while back. There wasn’t any point in prolonging it.

“Have you… ever killed someone?”

Megumi felt taken back by the bluntness of his question. Not caught off guard or suspicious per se…. but still.

Have you ever killed someone?

He looked at Itadori and looked at the slits under his eyes. Then back at Junpei, whose back was facing them.

“No.” They both responded at the same time.

“But some day you’ll have to fight bad sorcerers. What will you do then?” Megumi looked over at Itadori again.

“Bad or not. I wouldn’t want to kill them.” He thinks of the two transfigured humans Itadori recoiled cause of.

“Why not though? They’re bad people.” Megumi blinked at looked at Junpei.

“Killing someone… it blurs the line a lot. And the option of killing just makes itself present in my life at every turn. And then I could start taking the people I hold dear for granted. And… I don’t know.”

Megumi scrutinised Junpei’s face.

“You two carry on with the movie. I’ll head down to the convenience store.”

•  

When they entered Ijichi’s car after. Itadori was exhausted and Megumi had a migraine from the movie, or it could’ve been the unease settling in his stomach. When he retrieved his missing phone from the cars seat pocket, it was 20%. And several missed calls from Nanami.

“It’s alright, I explained the situation to him.”

He just nodded as Itadori dozed off in the seat next to him. Sighing he felt the weight of the day in his lungs. Well, the probability of Junpei being negatively affiliated with the case are slim.

•  

When Megumi received the news. He was watching Junpei’s house.

Nagi Yoshino had be murdered by a cursed spirit. Her body was found covered by a blanket in her bedroom, her body torso below had been missing and covered by cold packs. Small flashes of the following night went past in his head. Damn.

He couldn’t muster up more then a bit of sympathy. It was tragic but it wasn’t anything unusual, he had seen countless types of cases like this, one dinner and a familiar connection didn’t change anything.

No cursed energy. Civilian. Targeted only by proximity, by bad luck, or something worse.

He stood still for a moment, letting the silence stretch. It wasn’t shock. Just space to absorb the information without emotional noise.

“The bigger question is Junpei.” he said at last. “This will escalate his instability.”

 

There was no judgment in his voice. Just observation. A thread of cause and effect being followed to its next logical conclusion. Another life lost. Another person pulled deeper into the world they were never supposed to see.

He didn’t offer condolences even in his head. But he adjusted his strategy, re-evaluated risk, made space for grief without expressing it outright.

Because the dead didn’t need mourning as much as the living needed protection.

He sat on a rooftop right outside Junpei’s school. His black demon dog perched beside him. He had received several notifications from Nanami to monitor Junpei, the same orders were sent out to Itadori.

He closed his phone and set it back in his pocket breathing out. Itadori.

The transfigured were humans. Nanami understood from the get-go Itadoris nature towards murder. So, it’s not a surprise he’d tell Itadori to sit this one out.

Demon dog started to bark, and Megumi felt it in his spine as he sat up. Staring at the school, blinking as if his eyes were deceiving him.

A veil was descending.

•  

Slim but not zero. Slim but not impossible.

He was able to enter the veil right before it had touched the ground. Not knowing its circumstances and rules, he wasn’t going to take that risk. Especially since the veil blocked out phone signal. Meaning he had a reliable excuse to ignore Nanami’s messages and calls that were going to come through.

He ran, a eery sense of déjà vu also hit him again. It kinda reminded him of the night he met Itadori.

He sprinted across the halls the tiled floor.

And then-

He doesn’t know what it was but a sharp thing most likely sharp enough to cut his head off pierced through the wall and Megumi bent down skidding under it and pausing the opposite side. He stopped and looked at what it was. Who it was.

The pale arm retracted back and tall figure emerged from the hole in the wall.

“Oh man, I was hoping that’d work. Imagine how cool it would’ve been?”

This cursed energy… it’s him. His memory flashes to the two transfigured humans and the description Nanami had provided them. Patchwork face. The one who manipulates souls. If I get touched, it’s over. A sinister laugh bounces off the cracked walls. Mahito steps into view, barefoot, smiling like a child with a new toy.

"You're not the one I wanted to see, but hey, I'll take a sorcerer where I can get one." He raises a hand, and with a sickening snap, his fingers rearrange themselves into claws.

“You’re the one behind the veil.”

“Huh? Come on I’ve done so many things and that’s what you define me as? The veil?” He protested like a child.

Megumi didn’t entertain him before opening up the shadows behind him and grabbing the black sword from inside it.

“Oh? Straight to the point. Yet your different.”

He took a stance. “But-”

He reacted quick enough, for his hand to meet the blade instead of his chest. “Will that save you?”

Megumi swiftly managed to cut his hand off and jump away and skids to the other side.

“"Okay, your definitely not a beginner. Your reactions are clean, like someone who’s been training for a while. But you haven’t used anything specialised yet, you’ve got a cursed technique, haven’t you?"

This cursed spirit gave Nanami a run for his money. It’s stronger than he definitely is, and the enclosed environment isn’t a good place for his technique or skill set and it’s an even worse match-up against a lethal close-range technique like his. Then again exorcising it isn’t his priority. Junpei is, if he can find a means of distraction…which is what is technique is good for.

He sprung forward this time via a jump and dropped down able to send it out the glass window onto the open space. He jumped out and landed on his feet dropping his sword momentarily.

“Oh? Wanted to get some fresh air, did you? Unless it’s your technique.”

He spread his fingers into pairs and covered his hand with his palm and the shadows contorted behind him and spread open vastly like a black ocean.

Demon Dog. Totality!

A large figure covered with Black and white fur emerged from the shadows with a growling demeanour. He backed up and rested a hand on the dog’s muzzle. He didn’t have to say it aloud for it to understand.  

“Shikigami user? And you’re that adept in close combat?” Mahito chided.

Demon Dog lunged at the figure in front. Mahito distorts his body, trying to dodge the first strike from the beast, but it’s too fast. Demon Dog slams its massive body against him, sending Mahito sprawling across the ground. The impact alone is enough to send shockwaves through the alley, and Mahito feels the weight of the shikigami’s power press down on him. He quickly recovers, contorting himself into a twisted, grotesque shape, but he’s still on the back foot. The Demon Dog is relentless, its attacks are precise, and its speed is terrifying for something that size.

Mahito went forward and grabbed onto its chest but when a flicker of cursed energy occurred and nothing happened, he was once again tossed aside.

“No soul? That’s cheating! It’s like fighting a shadow.”

Exactly.

No wonder he was playing it so defensively. He knew Mahito’s technique couldn’t touch them.

As Mahito parried and attacked Totality Megumi couldn’t use any other shikigami while Totality was out. It was a gamble Megumi risked taking. That also meant he couldn’t use Nue as a shortcut to the hall.

He ran up the stairs past hallways when he heard the crack and blast and familiar dark and salmon hair. Junpei, Itadori. And a bright Neon shikigami. They were on top of the shed. Megumi didn’t have cursed energy left to use but he did have a sword. And he knew how a shikigami user thinks. He jumped down and blocked the attacks from the jellyfish Shikigami as Itadori landed on the shed.

“Fushiguro!”

“You too?” His voice came out bitter.

“What the hell are you doing?” Megumi said bitter.

“Why are you two getting in my way? Stay out of it.”

“I don’t understand a single thing you’re saying. You can come up with whatever excuse you want. But the truth of the matter is you’re convincing yourself what you’re doing is right.” Itadori said before he lunged forward. Junpei had managed to shield himself partially with the jellyfish shikigami to an extent.

“What’s the point of saving indiscriminately Itadori!? You overestimate the value of a life!”

Save. Indiscriminately. Life. Value. Tsumiki

Megumi lunged forward this time, he imbued a burst of cursed energy evading the jellyfish as he went to immobilise Junpei. Who had managed to once again shield himself using his shikigami, but didn’t escape unscathed. Responding to him “You sound like someone who's trying to justify giving up on yourself.”

“People lie; people hurt each other. My mom died for nothing. So, tell me, how do you decide who’s worth it?”

"I don’t save people because I think life is precious. I save them according to my conscious. And if you think that choice is meaningless… then you’ve already given up.

"And maybe you're right. There are lives that aren’t worth saving. But people die so easily in this world… if we don't try to save them, even the ones we think deserve it, then what's left?” He called out to him. Junpei staggered for a bit as both Megumi and Itadori continued to defensively attack him.

As Itadori landed a blow that blew him into the hall of a building.

“And I don’t need to justify it to anyone—especially not someone who’s already decided nothing matters.”

“I don’t know why you’re doing this Junpei!” Itadori said landing. “But if you’re doing this for a good reason. Think! Is it worth throwing away your life for?”

“The human heart is a delusion!? Could you say that to her!?”

Megumi watched Itadori backing up a bit. It was more personal to him then it must’ve been for him.

He heard sniffling. “People don’t have hearts.”

“That’s-”

“They don’t!”

“Otherwise…. Otherwise, that would mean that those people cursed me and my mom with those hearts! That would be… too much for me.”

He saw the summoning of the Shikigami.

“Itadori!” He blocked one tendril with his cursed tool but the other one pierced through his flesh.  

“Why didn’t you dodge it…”

God what the hell was going on right now?

The shikigami disappeared. And Itadori approached him, Megumi tried to stop him with a hand on the shoulder to which he was brushed off.

“Junpei, join Jujutsu High, you’d like it. There are crazy-strong teachers and reliable friends. Like Fushiguro.” Megumi looked down at him. He was about to kill him with no dilemmas but, this was a more preferred outcome…..

“If we worked together, we could find who cursed your mom. Then we can avenge her together!”

Junpei looked at Itadori, he thought. He considered it but when Megumi thought he’d hear the answer he heard footstep coming down the stairway. Itadori looked up at the figure standing at the top. Megumi squinted. Wait a minute Demon Dog totality-

He imbued a burst of cursed energy evading the jellyfish as he went to immobilise Junpei.  He had unintentionally released the technique mid battle

“You should focus on one thing rather than multi-task sorcerer; it’s not your strong suit.” Mahito said before he raised his arm that pushed Megumi straight out the building and into the other side.

•  

God damn. He said shaking his head as he lied in the middle of collapsed dark rubble. Again.

What was…-

School, Veil, Patchwork face, Itadori, Junpei.

Right.

He groaned before he made it out of his way from the rubble. He rubbed his head blood inevitably there. And more ailments in other parts. But that wasn’t his centre of attention what was, was the open area he saw. Itadori was fighting Mahito. He sighed before he crossed his thumbs and jumped down grabbing onto Nue as he landed next to Itadori. Who was filled with holes.

“You jujutsu sorcerers are just relentless aren’t you.” Mahito said as Megumi came back.

“Fushiguro, are yo”-

“I’m fine. Junpei?”

Itadori didn’t respond, but his cursed energy flared. That was enough a response for him. He stood up straight and looked at Mahito on the floor against a glass wall.

Itadori slammed his fist into the ground.

Megumi took the liberty of attacking first or rather using Nue from behind. And Itadori did the next part. As Nue wings fanned the dust particles in the air away he looked up to find-

“Itadori!” There were three sharp cylindrical like shapes pierced through his body.

He tried to act first, but his cursed energy gave out on his and Nue flickered into the dark. Using Demon Dog Totality alongside imbuing cursed energy actively into a cursed tool had drained his energy, not to mention the sympathy he felt for Junpei didn’t help fuel him as much as it fuelled Itadori. As he could see evidently from what was going on. A slight trance a slight distraction that Mahito gave was enough for Itadori

Itadori skid to a stop beside Megumi before giving him a concerned look-over. “Fushigur-”

“Behind you!” Megumi went to push Itadori away from the new form the thing had adopted but he didn’t get a chance to. It was pushed back as a familiar figure stood in front of them.  

“Nanami?” Itadori asked.

“Don’t turn your back on your opponent. However, I’ll lecture you later. Just tell me the situation.”

“2 died. I.. failed to save them.”

“I want to hear about your physical condition.”

“Full of holes, but I’m okay.”

“That’s not fine.” Nanami said, before turning his gaze to Megumi who was on the other side.

“I’m good.” He cracked a finger

“It seems I’ve been too lenient on your independent movement during this mission Fushiguro-kun. You didn’t receive any of the messages.”

“I was already in the veil.”

Nanami paused momentarily.

“The students are alive and well in the school gym.” Itadori added.

“My my, so you’re alive and well. Mr 7:3. Good to see both of us survived. Shall we share a little hug? In celebration for our reunion.” Megumi noticed the blood drop from his nose. His head was fuzzy, but he noticed it. He couldn’t piece together the implications.

“Why is his nose bleeding?”

“I smashed his face in?”

“When?”

“During the start of the fight.”

“Did his hands touch you?”

“Mm-hmm.”

“My attacks won’t work on him.” Megumi looked at Nanami. Huh?

“Huh? What- wait why not!?”

“I’ll explain it later when I lecture you. Both of you.”

He has time, meaning he’ll do what it takes. “I’ll create an opening-”

“You can’t you’re at your physical limit anymore and the death count will increase to three.”

“I can’t-”

“Itadori and I will handle this. Observe, dodge. Like Gojo said at the start.”

Megumi clenched his jaw.

“Understand?”

“Yes.”

•  

What shapes this guy started to take he couldn’t keep up. At a certain point it became a child trying to stab him that he used his blade to stop.

“Look he’s running from them. I knew he couldn’t kill humans!”

Megumi averted his gaze from the daze he was into where Itadori was, he was right. Itadori was practically a sitting duck. So, Megumi couldn’t be. He threw his blade, was the outcome ideal? No, but it was preferred to what could’ve happened.

The blood smeared, some on Itadori as he lifted himself up and looked down at Megumi who gave him a hard stare. Itadori rejoined with Nanami and continued their relentless attacks on the curse. Megumi stood to the side. Observing

Just then-

He saw shadowed hands grasp onto Nanami and push away Itadori. Megumi could only dodge so many times in his condition before he fell straight into the trap. Into the domain.

He fell on the floor next to Nanami’s standing figure.

He looked up.

“Self-Embodiment of Perfection.”

Doesn’t look very perfected to me

“No.”

Was that Nanami? Cause its more of a shit situation.

“Shit.”

There we go.

“Fushiguro-kun.”

He stood up on uneasy feet. Domain Expansion is the pinnacle of Jujutsu Sorcery. It’s a technique where a sorcerer creates a separate, sealed space infused with their innate domain, essentially their personal territory where their cursed technique is guaranteed to hit. Within that space, their abilities are amplified, and escape is nearly impossible without a counter-domain or a higher level of cursed energy.

 Take this Domain, Self-Embodiment of Perfection. When he activates it, you’re pulled into a space where you’re in direct contact with his soul. That’s what makes it so lethal. Normally, his Idle Transfiguration needs physical contact to manipulate your body by reshaping your soul. But inside his domain, that limitation is erased. Just being there means your soul is already exposed to him. That’s why Nanami, who’s ridiculously tough, even he knows he doesn’t stand a chance once he was caught in it.

That’s the danger of a Domain Expansion: it turns a fight into a guaranteed execution if you’re unprepared.

Fortunately for Megumi he was born with a trump card, a loaded gun that’s pointed at his head.

The only way to survive something like this is to either counter it with your own Domain... or, be like him and Itadori, have something inside you that Mahito can’t mess with.

A sudden bout of cursed energy surged forward as he held out his arms and hands in fists.

Nanami turned towards him and Mahito stared at him with a brand-new sense of confusion “Fushiguro-kun you can-”

“Sacred treasure, secret swing. Swing and ring. Rin-”

.

..

…

……

He didn’t even get a chance to finish the sentence before cracks akin to glass started to form in his auditory sense and the dark revolting area cracked and splintered like a glass falling off a table. He then saw red gushing out in streams. As the figure in front of them kneeled and blood streamed out of his body like Itadoris blood streamed out of his during the Detention Centre…

Detention Centre. 

When Megumi looked up again it had inflated and when Itadori punched it, it blew out like a birthday balloon, with no feedback. No explosion.

Nanami was swift, he moved quickly towards the drain it was using as an escape. Megumi’s vision burned and swam that cursed energy he surged up his body to allegedly summon his trump card worsened his current ailments.

Striking the drain. Nanami used his phone. “Shit. Ino, the core has escaped into the sewers again. Yeah, please scour everything from my current location to the southeast. Even you could exorcise him in this condition!”

Nanami turned around addressing him, or Megumi thinks he did. Megumis gaze was focused on Itadori he crouched next to his bleeding body

“Itadori! Itadori!” Nanami approached them both

Megumi shook his impairment and rushed forward towards the drain as Nanami come to stay with him “Stay with Itadori! he’s badly hurt. I’ll go after it!”  

“No.” Nanami firmly said turning his head towards Megumi. “Get back immediately I will not have you down there unsupervised and hurt in these conditions.”

“He's down there hurt with no backup” Megumi gestured to the drain in a hurry. “He’s weak a grade 2 could exorcise him. Now is the time”- Megumi didn’t look back as he ran to the drain.

“Fushiguro!”

He stopped hovering above the fall of the drain and tightly shut his eyes to avoid seeing the darkness. To resist the urge to ignore and jump.

God damn it.

Notes:

I love Nanami and Yujis relationship. But this is around Megumi so I couldn't go deep into them. Cant wait to write the next chapter fr real.

Chapter 5: Suspectible

Summary:

Alright in chapter 3 when Megumi goes to the deceased persons mother. I deleted that, because I do believe Megumi doing that in canon was heavily influenced by the fact Itadori was dead. Itadori isn't dead in this story so I would believe he'd give the name to to Itadori because he believed Itadori should do it.

“I thought I told you take rest. Itadori-kun.”

“Fushiguro?”

“He’s okay.”

“You going lecture me?”

“No, you’ve had enough of a hard time recently.”

A thick shroud of silence befell them in heavy contemplation.

“I killed people today. Nanami. And I know that death is inevitable but the ones I encounter. I would’ve liked them to reach a natural death. And I still like to think that’s true. But even after I’ve taken someone’s life. Isn’t that hypocritical? What does it mean to die… naturally.”

“I don’t know. We can think good people deserve to die naturally whereas the wicked deserve punishment. But humans aren’t inherently… good nor evil.”  

When Itadoris grip tightened on the handrail. Nanami closes his eyes breathing out.

“Death is inevitable, for all of us. The only difference is the circumstance and path. Spending your life mulling over ensuring everyone you cross paths with dies “naturally” will burn you out. In my opinion it’d be an exercise in futility. I wouldn’t personally recommend it. But even despite my own personal opinions. You’ll follow what you believe is right. If the past few days have anything to show for it.”

Itadoris conflicted gaze raised from the coal-coloured body bags lifted on the platforms below, to Nanami.

“Jujutsu is a messy profession but saving someone and sometimes that is the reason most sorcerer stay in this profession. However, no one can save everyone, please don’t die by your ideals. Because now you are a Jujutsu Sorcerer. Itadori-kun.”

“And this conversation is dragging on. My point is I don’t acknowledge you as a jujutsu sorcerer.”

On the way out Nanami meets Megumi’s gaze, and ailing face. 

“Fushiguro.”  

His response was a nod as his gaze flitted between Nanami and Itadori. Nanami gave a slight nod. Letting Megumi enter as he simultaneously exited the morgue and/or safehouse

“You healing, okay?” Itadori broke the silence before Megumi could stand still

“Yeah, you?”

“Could be worse.” 

“Has been worse.” 

“Did you get a lecture from Nanami?”

“No, did you?”

“No.”

A thick frothy foam of uncomfortable silence fell between them.

“He was going to accept my offer.”

Megumi’s gaze stayed lowered trailing over the edges of the body bags. Less then he had seen before certainly.

“To join Jujutsu High. And then patch face just-”

“He would’ve died either way. That curse had no intention of letting him live.”    

“And his mother…”

“Collateral damage or misfortunate circumstance. It tastes bitter in the mouth but it’s the reality of this profession. Irrelevant people get looped into this chaos all the time. She was just a coincidence.”

After another bout of uneasy tension crawled over them

“Junpei’s social life circumstances made him perfect bait to be exploited. The curse saw an opening and exploited him. It’s what they do, it’s in their nature to take advantage of negative emotions in all and any forms. It has nothing to do with you. Don’t get pulled down by guilt.” Megumi nods and turns leaving Itadori in the grasp of his own turmoil. He had said what information of substance he had.

•  

“The curse was sliced before Yuji had entered the domain?” Nanami statement had fractured Gojo’s prior humorous banter

“If my judgment is correct.”

Gojo leaned back looking up at the ceiling.

“Perhaps it has something to do with Fushiguro-kun”

“That’s the only plausible explanation. Yet at the same time it makes no inherent sense.”  

“What are you thinking?”

“I’m not. I think we should divert our focus for now onto other matters. I’ll look further into this after the exchange event and festivities have ended.”

“Irresponsible as ever, although on lighter related matters, I think Itadori-kun could use that mindset right now.”

“By the way, that wasn’t what I had in mind when I said “harder.” Gojo rubbed his eye through the patch. “Did you tell Yuji about the “finger we found at Yos-”

“No, he would’ve felt unnecessarily responsible.”

“You’re the man.”

“However, I am guessing Fushiguro has a vague idea.”

“His ideas are always vague.” Gojo said was a flat expression and distant voice.  “Where’s the finger?” He said altering the topic

“I submitted it to the higher-ups. Had it been you Itadori-kun would’ve consumed it by now.”

“Gojo-sensei!!!”

Both averted their attention from the conversation to the raucous sound of hurried footsteps against wood.

“Hey Nanami’s, here too. So, when are we leaving for the exchange event?”  

“In a bit. Being late to the exchange event we’re hosting sends a statement don’t you think?” Gojo snapped his fingers

“Don’t you think Utahime-sensei has enough to deal with without your depraved punctuality skills?” Megumi said emerging with a more controlled pace standing next to Nanami’s arm rest.

“It’ll all be fine. In fact, I’m sure the Kyoto students would be thrilled to see you!”

“Can’t say the same for Gakuganji.” Nanami said subtly at a tone Megumi heard.

Megumi rubbed his eyes, bereft of sleep and rest, thinking back to Mai’s warm and consoling statement of Itadori earlier in the past two months. Oh, and the migraines Megumi had emerging days afterward due to Todou.

•  

“Sorry we’re late.” Gojo addressed the repartee between the Tokyo and Kyoto students. Megumi and Itadori trailing behind Gojo’s wide stance. Noticing Utahime’s irked expression.

“Everyone from Kyoto from my last trip gets this tribal souvenir for protection.”

“Sorry Utahime. None for you!”

“I don’t want one!”

The commotion spread out between the Kyoto classmates as Gojo engaged with the principal. Megumi’s gaze caught the pointed body language of one of the other Kyoto students. Kamo

He raised a brow at the subtle nod of acknowledgement he received from the student. Both his gaze and mind lingered, and for the briefest moment Megumi could’ve sworn Kamo would’ve glanced at Itadori if his eyes were open.

•  

It was the break between the early morning and the event which was taking place in the evening.

Megumi was walking with Maki and Inumaki when he left for the restroom and emerged to find Gojo leaning against the wall with a slight wave looking pointedly at Megumi.

“Shouldn’t you be with the other teachers preparing for the event in the afternoon?” Megumi questioned mildly approaching him with a hand in the pocket.

“And give the old geezer an easy time? Besides when have I ever followed rules and routines.”  

“I suppose not.”

“How was the mission.” Gojo said following as Megumi began walking out the shaded structure into the sun again.

“Did Nanami not give you the rundown?”

“I’m open minded, I like getting all perspectives of a story.”

“It was what it was. Nothing you knew, you know how these things usually end.”

“With your head wrapped in bandages? Anytime I leave you alone from now I think I’ll lock you in a full-face helmet for precautionary measure.”

“Maybe. But that’s not what you’re here to say.”

“What am I here to say?”

“I don’t know, your mouth hasn’t been running as much since Juvenile Detention.”

“Nanami informed me in several instances that you went against direct orders, that jeopardised you.”

“I was doing my job.”

“That’s not your job. That’s the whole point of a supervised field mission for you kids. Exposure with the guard-rail. In case things go south there is someone to guide.”

“Initially that’s what it meant. But I wasn’t like Itadori back then. I’m a 2^nd grade sorcerer. I’m partially responsible for Itadori.”

“And when you were injured. And the curse had retreated to the sewers.”

“I still stand by my opinion that I should’ve gone after it. Now it’s out there with full autonomy.”

Gojo looked at Megumi for a brief moment.

“We have a mole.”

“Excuse me?”

“The special grade cursed spirits that attacked me weren’t only sentient they gave impressions of possessing some information about me. I’m guessing someone in either school is in the cahoots with a cursed user or spirit.”

Megumi stared directly at Gojo.  

“And the second condition?”

“You can’t let anyone know of this.”

“Anyone in particular you suspect?”

“Not really. I was asking you to keep a closer eye on the students from Kyoto.”

“You think the traitor is a student?”

“I don’t want to. But it’s a likely possibility.”

Megumi nodded once again. 

“Anything else?”

“You, okay?”

Megumi raised a brow confused by the sudden question

“You feel more evasive lately.”

“And the second condition?”  “Y o u   c a n t   let anyone know of this.”

 “I wouldn’t lie to you.”

“I know. I can tell when you’re lying after 9 years of knowing you.”

Is it lying if you never asked?

“Of course.”

Megumi nodded and turned to leave.

“And Megumi.”

He turned slightly to meet Gojo’s blindfolded face.

“Win.”

•  

Rubbing his eyes to be rid of the headache festering in the back of his skull he approached the salmon haired figure a few metres in front of him.

“Itadori.”

“Yeah.”

“You alright?”

“Yeah, well I was kinda expecting them to leave you behind. But I can handle the responsibility.”

“Not that.”

Itadori looked a little taken aback

“Not that either, not exactly.” Junpei was a topic best left in the air for now, just so it wouldn’t impact Itadoris performance.

“What’re you talking about?”

Megumi stared at Itadori blankly, a flat expression.

“Damn I really thought you’d let it go by now.”

“So, did I. It’s been months and we’ve both grown since. Considering recent events, don’t let this guilt corrode you. We aren’t heroes. We’re sorcerers.” Megumi nodded once walking ahead of Itadori

“You’re right, I really don’t want to lose.” Megumi didn’t respond as the camaraderie of the students enveloped his senses.  

•  

“Somethings not right.” Megumi spoke up eventually breathing out after a slight pet to demon dog. “It’s weird.”

“Something is weird.” Panda agreed. “The entire Kyoto team is moving around the area where we broke off with Yuji.”

Before Maki spoke up Megumi interjected. “The grade 2 can’t be there either, unless its cunning demon dog would’ve caught whiff of it.”

“What are you suggesting Fushiguro?”  Maki said turning to look at him

“They’re clearly planning to kill Itadori. It’s the only plausible explanation.”

“WHAT!?” Nobara said through the speaker.

“Megumi does have a point. I wouldn’t put it past Gakuganji to issue an order.” Panda explained

“Are the Kyoto students really so boneheaded to take orders on whim.”

“Nobara we also have to look at things from their perspective. You both have spent time together, we’ve just had the chance to get to know him, however they-”

“We don’t have time to try and find some sense in their nonsense. I’m going back.” Megumi said turning around.

“Hold on.” Maki said firmly.

“Hurry up.”

•  

 “Why the hell are you trying to kill Itadori?” Megumi said acrimoniously holding his tonfa against the wood of Kamos bow.

“Why would we try to kill Itadori?”

“Do you really want me to answer that question?”

Silence echoed between the grind of wood against wood and Megumi’s glowering gaze. Eventually they broke apart from eachother, space put between them.

“I have no reason to kill him.”

“The major 3 clans, and higher ups. Want me to keep going?”

“If you must.” He said with a smile and arrow in his hand.

•  

There were traces of blood on the arrow Megumi’s frog had caught, looking down at it, it was exactly as he had expected. Putting blood on the nip of the arrowhead allowed Kamo’s arrows to defy the laws of physics.

“I know you can summon more than just one type of shikigami. I’m not flattered by your clear hesitation.”

Demon dogs helping Inumaki with the curses currently.

“You blabber but you’re on your last arrow. Disclaimer but I’m not helping you if you collapse from Anaemia.”

Blood manipulation. The ability to manipulate anything that comes in contact with his blood. Definitely fitting for someone who comes from a family who worship blood lines.

“You don’t have to worry about me. These are prepared in advance.”

He watched as Kamo shot the roof and chunks of wood fell down obscuring his vision. Megumi had a brief second to think before he jumped up and flipped away from the clear point of attack, before Kamo could make contact.

“Nice reflexes.”

The floor was shattered. Is it just Megumi or did his holistic ability just get better. Unless he was holding back earlier

“Don’t get distracted yet.” Kamo said as his eye opened. And he went for Megumi again, who barely moved out the way yet again. Something was definitely wrong with the way he was moving.

“I can control components of blood beyond form or motion. Temperature, pulse rate, blood composition, number of red blood cells, etc.”

Oh

“You’re high. Is that why you’re blabbering.”

“Good but why use such layman term.”

It was back and forth for what seemed like forever. Megumi put all his energy into defence and evading Kamo’s strikes. In such an enclosed space moving was a hassle especially from a guy who was doping.

Eventually Megumi discarded both his tonfa aside. Despite his recent training with cursed weapons. He much preferred moving with free hands.

“Discarding your weapon? Aren’t you a little confident for someone who’s a first year.”

Megumi raised a brow.

“However physical age is irrelevant when it comes to sorcerers. Especially you. Shikigami users who can adapt this well to close combat are diamonds. I’m glad to see you’ve improved.”

“Is it just me or are you familiar with everyone else in this creepy manner.”

“I’m sympathetic, our situations are so similar. So, you should know that you were right. I do intend to kill Itadori.”

“I didn’t need you to tell me that, I already knew. I’m assuming Gakuganji put you up to it.”

“No, as the heir to the Kamo clan I made the decision I felt was right. You of all people should understand.”

“Should I now?”

“We are the same.”

“The hell we are.” In a less formal setting, maybe when Mei Mei’s crows weren’t around Megumi would’ve hurled and retched at the mere prospect of such a horrifying reality

“We-”

“Look, save these conversations for someone who cares. Like Maki. I have no ties to the Zenin clan whatsoever. And quite frankly I don’t think I’m right.”

“W-”

“I meant I don’t give a damn whether I’m right or not. I follow what I think is right.”

He saw a smiling girl with warm features and then he saw a blissfully ignorant boy. Yeah, it really doesn’t make a difference to him.

“And if I haven’t made myself clear. Let us whole heartedly curse each other.”

•  

What the fuck?

“Why is there a cursed spirit here? And whose curtain is that?”

“I don’t know and that doesn’t seem like a major priority right now.” The curtain must’ve come from the curse user working with that cursed spirit.
“However, I can go out on a limb and guess that’s the special grade that attacked Gojo-sensei a while back.” Even from Gojo’s ridiculous drawing the similarities were apparent.

“Tuna Mayo.”

“Yeah, let me call Gojo-sensei.”

“Do you actually understand when he says things like that.”

“Why are you so obsessed with unimportant, irrelevant details?” Megumi said sliding down to Gojo’s contact and calling him. “I’m guessing we should re-”

Before his sentence was complete the curse had moved, and his phone was shattered.

Damn it, that was brand new.

•  

“Its branches are its weak points.” Megumi said standing next to Maki holding his sword.

“That blade isn’t so bad now.”

“Yeah, well I’ve got something even better.” Megumi extended his ankle letting the shadow grow from his silhouette, the three sectioned weapon to emerge out of it.

“However, using this weapon feels disgusting.”

Disgusting or not the way Maki moved with the weapon was in sync and it was a matter of moments before it made impact and the curse has been flung straight through the forest into the river bank.

“Demon dog!”

Megumi sprinted through the woods, letting the Shikigami handle itself temporarily.

Maki attacked the spirit with her sword as Megumi came up next with the staff. Both of them skidding back and tossing the respective weapons back at each other.

“I never want to touch that thing again. It’s so unnecessarily hard.”

“I wouldn’t put it that way. Once you get used to it, it’s not that bad.”

“Is that right?”  

Demon Dog sprinted and ran up behind the curse prompting it to turn to defend itself. A large chunk of the arm and elbow were gone as Megumi and Maki went in for another opening attack.

This time Megumi aimed for the eyes and dodged the vines as Maki slammed it with playful cloud throwing it further back of the riverbank.

Alright, if this keeps up, they have a chance of holding out.

Megumi swiped at the cut he got on his bicep from the vines. He didn’t think the vines contained any toxin or poison, so he was safe for now. Moving forward he had to be more cautious  

“That cut looks deep.”

“It’s superficial. It could be way worse.”

“Want to have another go at playful cloud?” Maki said twisting the staff in her hands

“No I’m good.” They both stood side by side breathing a little heavy, but they were alive and uninjured for the most part.

It coughed once, twice. The third sound was a thud landing in between both of them. A field of flowers that sprung up, a sweet floral aroma invading their senses. For a moment or two Megumi felt hazy, however short the distraction was it was enough when Megumi gained his senses back. Because a vine was straight through Maki’s shoulder.

“Even distracted you had the reflex to move. I was aiming for the heart.”

The curse pulled out the vine of her shoulder as suddenly as a lightning bolt and twisted it around Makis torso yanking her towards itself.  

Demon Dog! Wait. The technique had been dispelled. That flower must’ve been a technique to engage the victim in a trance.

“Maki!”

Fuck, if he hadn’t been distracted. This wouldn’t have happened.

He breathed out holding his hands out, not lingering on the subtle burn of the cut on his bicep. His hand signal wasn’t for demon dog no. It was strong but it wasn’t going to singlehandedly take on that curse by itself with no aid. And Megumi couldn’t help Maki in his current state.

Curling his fingers inwards holding out his forearm. He breathed out.

Before he saw a faint whisp of a smile on Maki’s face. And that was before he saw the splash of water and two figures. One right in front of the curse and the other one holding maki in his hands.  

Todou and Itadori.

“Stop, Itadori that’s not the kind of-!”

“Panda. Take her and Megumi and leave the curtain. The veil only blocks Gojo from coming in and out. Others should be able to move freely.”

“You guys aren’t going to be able to beat that thing, even you.” Megumi said cursed energy brewing inside his core. Spreading through to his arm and wrists. And eventually when it covered his fingers that’s when his surroundings flickered. For a brief moment he wasn’t in Jujutsu High. He wasn’t standing in the riverbanks water

He was standing in the red water of an eerily creepy domain; the top was covered with rib like bones. When he looked up there was an armada of skulls and bones leading up to the top step. Where he was met with the sight of……. Sukuna.

He released the tension in his fingers and breathed in sharply, tensed. His cursed energy dispelled as he looked directly at the unfortunately familiar figure.

Who said nothing and stared down at him smiling.

Megumi stared for a minute unblinking. Unsure of what to say or what to do. It was only a matter of time until the unsettling atmosphere shifted, and he was back in the riverbank. His arms by his side instead of outward.

He stared at Itadori, then to Todou and then to Maki’s unconscious form in Pandas arms. Swallowing to produce some moisture in his mouth, his jaw tensed.

“I’ll go with Maki and Panda.”

 

Notes:

This fic is just an IF of things, more then one part yes. I might change things up but for now it's just if this.