Chapter Text
Days went by as his guard weakened, subconsciously growing closer to the sorcerers.
Kugisaki was… hit and miss. After she finally got over her spat over him knocking her shopping over once upon a time—accidentally, he might add—and Sukuna’s less-than-polite introduction to the class, she was definitely on the fence about him. But she, despite her definite dislike for Sukuna, warmed up to him a bit; her attitude grated on his nerves sometimes, but that passion. It reminded him of someone that his memories couldn’t quite reach.
Junpei. Junpei was fun; their lengthy chats about movies, about their theories, things that were not important in the grand scheme of things, yet in this moment seemed like the most important thing in the world, as warmth that Yuuji hadn’t felt in a long time coursed through his veins. People that understood him, as much as they could.
And then there was Fushiguro. Gojo had put their rooms next to each other, something about the boy being anti-social, yet the shadow user gave him the chills. His blue eyes seemed to be searching him whenever they crossed paths, as though he was trying to decipher a puzzle. The Zenin was too insightful for his own good, especially when he briefly asked questions about his own family. A question that Itadori couldn’t answer truthfully.
So when they were sent on a mission, the cursed womb ended up being a special grade. He knew he had messed up.
He couldn’t move, freezing in the face of danger, the cold hands of Megumi pulling him backwards away from the gaping maw of the creature before him.
“You dumbass!” Kugisaki shrieked, sending a multitude of nails enveloped in cursed energy towards the curse, watching in abject horror as they harmlessly bounced off the monster. The creature’s mouth twisted into a smile as it edged towards the four of them.
With a quick hand sign, a creature of the deep surfaced, roaring as luminescent tentacles coated with poison jabbed at the curse. Junpei stood panting, sweating as he attempted to hold the beast off, Fushiguro’s demon dogs attacking the curse in tandem with equal ferocity.
Yuuji’s skin peeled back, an eye surveying its surroundings in barely concealed mirth. “Looks like you’ve gotten yourself into trouble again, brat.”
He fought the urge to argue with the King of Curses, a retort playing on his lips as he met the eyes of the Ten Shadows user, boring into his skull, questions playing on the raven-haired sorcerer's lips yet never spoken.
“Fushiguro-”
He was silenced as a shriek echoed through the apartment block, Junpei’s body shaking in fear as he watched his shikigami collapse, looking like a gelatinous mess as it pathetically flopped on the floor.
"Junpei, are you?”
“I’m fine." His knees buckling as Yuuji instinctively dove for him. Not wanting to risk the other dying for their plan, that’s the reason why he jumped, the reason why a sinking bout of anxiety bubbled in his chest as Junpei slumped in his arms. Right.
He turned to look for Fushiguro, only to see the boy shudder, gasping for air, a sick crunch echoing in his ears. The special grade slammed Fushiguro’s shikigami into the wall.
Itadori couldn’t help the wave of fear that coursed through his body, not for him, but for the others. “Junpei! Kugisaki! RUN! ”
“And leave you here,” she sneered, wiping away a faint trail of blood from her cheek. “Nah, we aren’t that selfish.”
While he didn’t have an extreme emotional attachment to Kugisaki, he didn't want her to die. And Junpei's existence had made his mission a fraction easier; the building tension and anxiety that bubbled over beneath his happy-go-lucky facade was quelled. Mundane activities such as talking about films and games made his time here at Jujutsu Tech all that more bearable.
“Listen to me, it will kill you. You need to run.”
“And why should I take orders from you, candyfloss?”
He bit back a growl. “Because you will die. I’ll let Sukuna out for a few seconds so you can escape.”
“And who's to say he won’t come after us, after?" Megumi raised a brow, wiping sweat from his brow, as he instinctively summoned yet another creature of the shadows.
“I’ll.” Amber eyes searched the area, ignoring the crunch of Megumi’s snake-like as it crumpled to the floor, the thud echoing through his head as he searched for something to placate the other. “I’ll put in a binding vow.”
“Covering what?” He stepped forward, gaze never leaving the other, navy eyes tightening, like the other was suppressing tears.
“I’ll guarantee you guys safety, and we'll change back after a minute.”
“And what if he doesn’t agree?”
“He will.”
Silence stretched through the incomplete domain, the inhuman shriek of the curse bringing them to an answer.
Fushiguro wiped the sweat from his brow, glaring at the vessel. “Fine.”
Nobara shot the pinkette a glare. “Don’t die on us!”
“Be safe.” Junpei spoke meekly, drained of energy as Megumi scowled, supporting the other over his shoulder.
“I don’t know what your plan is, but don’t bring us back down to three, alright?”
Yuuji smirked; that was as close to expressing worry that the raven-haired sorcerer would give him.
“Sure.” He smiled, watching as they disappeared out of sight.
They finally left.
A sigh escaped him, eyeing up the special grade curse before them, its unpredictable nature unnerving him. At least with Sukuna, he usually knew what to expect.
“Yeah.” He spoke out loud; it wasn't like anyone was going to see him talking to Sukuna anyway. You ready?
He could feel the bloodlust as it pulsated just beneath the surface.
“Yes. Now let me out. It's my turn.”
He felt his consciousness slip, the inky tendrils of exhaustion pulling at the sides of his vision. Plunging into the cold depths of the internal domain. Sukuna could easily take care of this one.