A/N: Warnings of self harm so if you are sensitive to that or swearing I would recommend to not read this. Other than that I hope you enjoy it as much as I have been enjoying to write it. Also I can push out longer chapters faster because I feel more in control with less characters and it is less of mess than other anime/manga to write about. Also I just love the MaixYuuji pairing, Maiji for life!

It was late at night when Mai was getting back to her room. It felt so empty without Maki taking up space in the room next to hers. Although it had been not even a day since she left, departing from Yuuji took all the strength he gave her away and she fell back into sadness.

"Why must nothing go right?" she thought sadly to herself.

It was her crying because she remembered she will still have to go and become a jujutsu sorcerer, her sister was still gone. Mai sniffled and then saw a ray of light, a boy she recognized very well was standing right in front of her.

"That's right, at least there was still one good thing to come from my shitty life…" she smiled thinking about the moment she spent today with him "But still...he is not a jujutsu sorcerer and once I leave I might never see him again…"

She couldn't bear those cursed thoughts plaguing her mind. Why must it be whenever something good happens to her, an outside force has to always come and take it away? She despised every second training to be a jujutsu sorcerer, she was even too stupid to not know any techniques to defend herself from some random street thugs. She was just some weak failure to her family and nothing more.

All Mai had seen was red, it was like routine was she was doing, it just made her feel good and forget about all the bad times. She walked over to her drawers which contained her toiletries. It was after shuffling through it that she found a razor and sadly smiled.

"I guess if he saw me doing this he might be disappointed in me…" Mai quickly thought about the consequences of taking such an action "Well it is not like he could ever catch me, I'll just always wear my sleeves long like I always do and he will never have to find out."

Mai didn't want to lie to her friend, but she just couldn't bring herself to tell him about this part of her. The more she thought about it with that blade in her hand, how would he react? He would probably just treat her like some freak and call her ugly.

That fear strengthened her resolve and as she pressed the blade to her skin and cut, she felt relief, perhaps it was the sensation that she always loved. It never was wrong to her and comforted her, the pain was so numbing, she had done this most nights whenever a day was particularly difficult and she just wished she could die and disappear from the world. The cuts were the closest things to death she could get without dying. Mai would never admit it to anyone but deep down she knew she was a coward too scared to die and end it all. Even with how much she hated herself and others for her own weakness and the way they act, she still held onto a hope that one day somebody would save her from this nightmare. She wished it to be Yuuji, perhaps he was her hope.

With that, Mai ended up passing out on her bed with tears in her eyes and blood dripping down her arms thinking about a certain boy.

It was the next day in the early morning with Yuuji's alarm clock going off. The birds were outside chirping

"Alright I get it alarm clock-sama you win again this morning," Yuuji exasperated out loud.

Yuuji looked at his phone and saw a new text, it didn't specify who so he clicked it in curiosity.

"Are you up yet?" -Mai

Yuuji rubbed his eyes and decided to respond, it looked like it was sent about five minutes ago.

"Yeah I just woke up, sry for the l8 response. Would you like for me to show you around more today?" -Yuuji

Yuuji was currently thinking about what he was going to do. He was thinking along the lines of first walk around in the park and talk, then visit some other places maybe even the carnival, the visit a restaurant.

"I think I will pick one of my favorite restaurants, it seems we have similar tastes when it comes to food after all." Yuuji thought to himself in a muse.

Then Yuuji started to put on his shoes when he heard a text from his phone.

"That sounds like fun, count me in!" -Mai

Yuuji smiled at that and responded saying he would be there soon and headed out the door in a hurry.

It was a Saturday morning in Tokyo and was starting to turn to noon. Yuuji made his way to the old will statue and stared at it. He remembered yesterday and was hoping for a day just as great as when he met Mai.

As he neared the Zen'in compound, he noticed how beautiful the decor was, there were pink sakura trees all along the walkway. It gave him a traditional feel of when he used to go on field trips to old temples and such, this was what it looked like but a lot more well kept.

As he traversed he eventually came to the front entrance of the large and intimidating compound and knocked.

"Uh hello? My name is Yuuji Itadori and I'm here to pick up Mai-chan," at first nobody answered but about five seconds later he could hear some footsteps coming towards him behind the door and the door opened.

"Sorry for not being here quicker Yuuji-kun," Mai panted out seemingly from running here in a hurry to answer the door.

Yuuji just brushed it off because it wasn't like he was waiting for a long time.

"Oh don't worry about being on time with me Mai-chan, I just got here," Yuuji said "Do you get in trouble or something if you don't answer the door immediately?"

Yuuji was thinking along the lines of this Zen'in family being super strict and uptight. It was weird because Mai seemed to be the opposite and somebody he could really talk to.

However it was in Mai's mind that she thought he wouldn't show up, she had known he said he would be here but she keeps doubting him. She is mentally slapping herself with how stupid she thinks he perceives her as.

"Yeah that usually is the case, but as long as I am on time then nothing will happen," Mai hated lying but she couldn't bring herself to be honest if that meant he would think badly of her. She didn't want her friendship to end because of a mistake she overlooked.

Yuuji gave a nice and wide smile and ran a little bit in front of her and motioned her to follow.

"That's stinks Mai-chan, do you think you could make up being late for me by racing me to the park?" Yuuji teased and started to run(not his inhuman sprint that can break records but one that Mai could keep up with).

"Wait for me!" Mai completely forgot about what she was just worrying for and started to run after her friend.

As the two ran after each other, occasionally passing the other and avoiding the people here and there, they made their way down to the streets of Tokyo towards the park. Some had mistaken the two for a couple, others got angry at them running so recklessly on the sidewalk. One thing was for certain, as the cool breeze blew the two ran with it until they eventually made it to the park with Mai beating Yuuji by a hair (Didn't expect that did you? Neither did I LOL).

"Hfff-I hfffff-beat hfffff-you," Mai got out winded with an arm on a nearby wall for support and point a finger in the air in victory.

"Haha is that your victory pose Mai-chan?" Yuuji barley sounded winded to which seemed to make Mai pout.

"You jerk you were going easy on me weren't you?" Mai whined in her chibi form hitting a sheepish looking Yuuji.

"Yo Yuuji! What's going on?"

Mai and Yuuji looked to the direction of the voice and there were two figures. The voice came from a tall boy her age with short dark hair with some of it that stands up in the back, thick rectangle eyebrows, and thick lips. wears a dark long sleeved school uniform with large buttons, dark colored pants, and light colored shoes. He also wore a dark long sleeved school uniform with large buttons, dark colored pants, and light colored shoes. The second figure was a girl also her age with dark colored hair that extended below her ears, thin eyebrows, and wore glasses. She also wore a light colored vest over a light colored long sleeve shirt and a diagonal stripped tie. As well as wearing a dark colored skirt, with light colored socks, and light colored shoes.

These two people were his high school friends in the Occult research club, he sometimes saw them here and there but he usually kept to himself most the time though. Mai had also decided to hide a little behind Yuuji as she didn't trust them fully yet just because they knew Yuuji's name.

"Yo Iguchi, Sasaki, I am visiting the park with my friend Mai-chan here," Yuuji said with a smirk introducing her "Mai this big oaf is Iguchi and the girl is Sasaki. They are my friends from school and the small Occult club we have recently created."

Mai seemed a bit confused at what the club exactly was. She knew that she had received education through public means so she did not know the culture of the majority of kids her age. Nevertheless she got out from behind Yuuji recognizing the people to be friendly and greeted them.

"It is nice to meet the friends of my savior," Mai said respectfully while bowing to the two and received shocked looks from the two "Any friend of Yuuji is a friend of mine."

"Savior? What does she mean Yuuji-kun?" Sasaki asked out of jealousy and curiosity.

"Wow Yuuji I can't you became a savior during your time away during suspension," Iguchi chided.

Yuuji brushed them off, while he would admit the after events were happy, he would always be there to help someone in need.

"It really was no big deal guys, you two already know I'd risk my neck to save even you two from danger," Yuuji stated as a matter of fact "If I wasn't like that I wouldn't have gotten suspended but I also wouldn't have met Mai-chan."

Mai perked up hearing Yuuji was happy to meet her. But suspension? Mai was confused as it was another foreign thing she didn't ever learn about. So she spoke up.

"What is this 'suspension' you speak of?" Mai asked confused but Iguchi decided to speak up.

"Hmmm, you don't know what suspension is?" Iguchi received a nod "Must be home schooled then, right?"

Iguchi wasn't a mind reader but he was smart. Yuuji looked on and chuckled at him being his usually smart detective self.

Sasaki then spoke up to continue to answer Mai's question.

"Suspension is when a student is not permitted to go in the school for an allotted amount of time," Sasaki explained then pointed at Yuuji "Yuuji got suspended for defending a kid who was being bullied. He got blamed for the incident that he himself stopped, the actual perpetrator manipulated his way out the situation with the kid unable to tell his side of story with the condition he was in at the hospital. But we believe Yuuji because he is our lovable idiot who would never harm someone without good reason."

Yuuji softened at this with Iguchi and Sasaki gives him fist bumps. "Thanks guys, I know you said it before this but to hear it again just makes me so happy."

Mai in her head was sad she couldn't fathom such a thing. "How could such injustice be done to someone so gentle and kind? I feel so sad to think such a thing for a friend of mine."

Yes, Mai was especially caring for those close to her and when she heard Yuuji had been dishonored by such a lie, it hurt her too. The other three looked onto her for her response but she was quiet and thinking with a shadow over her eyes and then she spoke.

"It must have hurt Yuuji I'm so sorry…" Mai said softly, the three then understood her a lot better. She considered him to be a close enough friend to feel sad for when he was treated in such a way.

Yuuji looked at her and put on an arm on her shoulder which she looked up to.

"I'm happy that you are sad for me, it means a lot more then you could think," Yuuji said softly with the jealous girl and tall boy observing "But we came here to have fun, right? Now with these two here we will have TWICE the fun!"

The four then laughed and walked together with Mai sticking close to Yuuji and vice versa. Mai almost fell in the water a few times which the other three were careful to make sure it stopped almost happening almost frequently oddly enough. Then saw the pond koi fish, with the mixes of white and red. Mai said Yuuji was like a koi fish when he saved her, because the curiosity of the fish represented continuing to satiate their curiosity even if there was a possibility of danger. But Yuuji took it as she thought he had the brain capacity of a fish which he was teased with similar phrases before. All in all the four of them parted was when it hit the evening and it was dinner time.

"Those friends of yours were very kind Yuuji-kun," Mai said smiling at Yuuji, thankful for the experience to meet more kindhearted people.

"I'm sure they consider you a friend too Mai-chan," Yuuji said with confidence.

"R-Really?" Mai asked which got a nod of affirmation from Yuuji.

The evening was turning dark with the lights of the shops lighting up the district. There were so many shops that it would be intimidating for anyone new, especially Mai. At this point though Mai was starting to understand this part of Tokyo a lot better and not feel scared as long as she had Yuuji with her.

"It seems it is time for dinner time, are you hungry Mai-chan?" Yuuji asked the girl next to him.

In response Mai's stomach growled as if to answer and she blushed in response.

"It seems stomach-sama says it is time to eat," Yuuji joked with Mai protesting with a furry of playful light taps in response. "Have no fear! I know the perfect place, how does ramen sound to you?"

Mai's eye's lit up, she loved Ramen when she was ever cooked it by her family. It was probably her favorite food up to date, it was as if he could read her mind!

Yuuji noticed her look and thought she must have loved ramen, good thing the place he is thinking of is the cheapest and best ramen in all of Tokyo. The best part was how hidden the place was so only the few lucky went there to eat the heavenly meal.

"Well just by your look I can tell you love ramen," Yuuji giggled and grabbed her hand "I'll get you to the best ramen joint in all of Tokyo, try and keep up!"

Yuuji teased the last part and then started to drag her to their destination. Not trying to be outdone with their hands still together, she ran ahead and started dragging him to which they kept going back and forth. Occasionally Yuuji would point in a direction to where to go next and eventually they made it to a restaurant hidden in the shadows. It was called 'Senku Ishigami Ramen!' the logo was a crazy looking scientist with wild hair to which Yuuji looked up and laughed.

"Looks like we have made it to the best ramen joint in all of Tokyo 'Senku Ishigami Ramen!'" Yuuji said swiftly with Mai still recovering from their second race of the day. She wondered how he had so much stamina to run so fast yet not be winded at at all!

"Jus-huffff give hfffff me a sec," Mai huffed out in exhaustion.

After which the two headed into the restaurant and saw how simple and traditional it was. It had its own sense of humble beauty that made one feel like at home. There was nice red furnishings on the seats to be complimented by the brown oak tables and checkered table cloth. There was also a bar which people could eat and order right then and there by where the chefs prepared the food.

"Wow it feels so nice in here, you picked a perfect place Yuuji-kun," Mai said "Where did you find such a great place? I don't think I could find it unless you showed me."

"Oh yeah when my gramps was in the hospital these guys provided me food when my gramps couldn't be there, they are old friends of gramps and go way back. Thankfully he is out of the hospital and all better now." Yuuji said thankful to his past not being terrible to him.

Mai thought it was nice what they did. She was meeting such kind people, first Yuuji, then his friends, now she hears about these people feeding a young Yuuji. But why was it only Maki and her father who treated her kindly? Perhaps that was just the circumstances she was born into, but those same circumstances led her to this moment.

"That is great to hear Yuuji-kun!" Mai happily said.

The restaurant was not very full so they picked a window booth. Yuuji ordered the pork ramen while Mai ordered beef ramen. Mai wanted to keep it simple pork ramen because she loved pork and to simplify the complicated last two days that were great but some contrast could do her some good. Yuuji ordered a simple beef ramen because he was a simple one way man, if he can smash a boulder with his fist then he won't go the detour route if he could.

They talked about their hobbies, what kind of people they have encountered, etc. all until the food came with steam. The two were a little disappointed that it had interrupted their conversation but was even happier to see their food was ready to be eaten.

"Wow this smells absolutely great!" Mai moaned.

"Yup! They never miss the bullseye with their quality," Yuuji quipped.

"Itadakimasu!" they said in unison and dug in.

They were chowing down too much to talk with how hungry they had been. They both heard loud voices come from the entrance of the restaurant. The restaurant was relatively small so one could see it when somebody walked in the restaurant. A boy and girl walked through the doorway, the girl the same age as Yuuji and Mai while the other looked a couple of years older. The boy dressed in a nice business suite while the girl wore a deep red dress that had cut pretty high.

"Well look who it is? If it isn't the loser himself, Yuuji Itadori!" the girl called from the entrance.

Mai glared at the girl for calling Yuuji a loser, she would show her not to mess with her friend! Just as she was going to say something she saw Yuuji had a shadow over his eyes and grabbed her arm.

"Trust me it isn't worth it to stoop to that level Mai-chan," Yuuji sighed "If we just ignore her then hopefully she will just go away."

Mai wondered who she was exactly and why she was so rude to Yuuji. Also she wondered why Yuuji was hesitant and more on the side to just back down and not deal with people like her. But either way she wasn't just gonna let her friend be called a loser right in front of her.

By the time she looked back at the people at the entrance they had been bold enough to walk up to the booth and were staring down at the two. Mai couldn't bring herself to say anything, they reminded her too much of those in the Zen'in family that looked down on her.

"What do you think you are doing this skank Yuuji? Have you already moved on after I dumped your sorry ass?" the girl sneered while the boy mockingly laughed.

Yuuji was trying his best not to cause a scene but the moment they brought Mai into their business was the moment Yuuji was upset. He was unsure what this feeling in him was but it gave him the strength to stand up to these people.

"You know you should just leave Makota with your mutt on his leash before things get ugly," Yuuji glared daggers but this only angered the woman further "the moment you involved Mai told me that you have not changed but only gotten worse. You cheat on me yet tell people you broke up with me. I am glad I never got far with a devil like you. I was willing to maybe hear you out in case you changed but it became clear you have not."

With that Yuuji stood up dragging Mai along with him while leaving money on the counter to pay for his food. One could still see two stunned patrons standing in front of a booth with two finished bowls of ramen.

"Sorry about that, it seems that somebody just had to ruin our day," Yuuji apologized.

Mai was still in-taking and processing the information she had heard. She felt pity and wished she could be there for him like he was for her.

"Would you...like to talk about it? It sounds to me like a large burden you have to carry," Mai said sympathetically.

Yuuji was surprised but then happy she said that. Just to have someone to talk to and vent was nice when it came to things like that.

"She was so sweet when we first met and got together," Yuuji stared off "over the months it kept getting worse and worse, I suspected there were times where she tended to lie and I let it slide like a fool. After six months I try to give her a surprise for our six month anniversary and I find her in bed with the other guy saw her with. I was an idiot and she played me for attention and now shows up now and then just to harass me. I held onto the hope that the her I when we met wasn't just a facade but today when she insulted you, it went too far."

Yuuji had silent tears as they stood in across from each other under the streetlight. Mai closed in and hugged him to comfort him just like he had done for her the day before.

"There there Yuuji-kun, I promise to stay with you," Mai whispered to her friend.

Yuuji looked into her eyes with tears rushing down his face and could only help but sob further by how great a friend she was. Mai is here for him in this moment just like the day before, he wished this could last forever.

The two then started to head back to the Zen'in compound hand in hand, the sound of silence comforting in the ease of the night.

The pair reached the old will statue and sighed.

"Today sure was fun and interesting Mai-chan," Yuuji said happily "If it is alright with you I'd like to do this more with you."

Mai was happy to hear that, then she remembered that she will be going to a school in a month in Kyoto to learn about jujutsu sorcery. Of course she couldn't just tell a normal civilian about such a thing as one of the things her father stressed is to not involve civilians in the crossfire of the world of curses.

"There is something I need to tell you Yuuji-kun," Mai started nervously "In one month I am going to be attending a school in Kyoto to specialize in the craft of my family, so I will be not in Tokyo until I don't know when. Until then I want to make the most of my time with my b-best friend."

Yuuji was sad to hear she had to leave in a month and it would be the eventual departure of his friend. But to hear that she only has one month was plenty of time to make memories, he would just have to cram it all in a short amount of time.

"You can bet on it that I will help you spend your last month here and make it the best ever!" Yuuji proclaimed "There is even the end of fall festival before the month ends!"

Yuuji was already up and happy, content to look at the brighter side of the news instead of gloating on the sad parts. Mai admired him for how he could take the worst news or incident and flip it on its head.

"I'm so happy to hear you kids having fun," a man boomed from the shadows "It seems I underestimated the strength of youth."

Yuuji and Mai recognized that voice which Yuuji was happy to here.

"Yo gramps!" Wasuke's grandfather came from out the shadows with Mai's father "I never knew you knew Mai-chan's father."

Mai was just as confused, but was quickly piecing it together. If the two knew each other there was a high chance that Yuuji's grandfather was involved with the world of jujutsu sorcery.

"Yes Yuuji we indeed know each other," Wasuke started "You two should come inside, there is stuff I must tell you Yuuji which involves you. I need to tell you this before I die, so don't think you can get out of it so easy, there won't be a better chance."

Naobito nodded as well, clearly knowing what that of which Wasuke was speaking of. Yuuji was surprised to hear his grandfather acting so serious, it wasn't usually like him to speak seriously so he was intent on hearing them out.

Knowing the two had no choice they followed their parental figures into the compound. It was night and Yuuji's first time in the Zen'in compound and it was downright astonishing.

"Wow, this place is so beautiful Mai-chan I can't believe you live here," Yuuji observed "It is so unbelievable I'd think I was in the world of 'Rurouni Kenshin.'"

"I think I remember reading that traditional Manga when I was younger," Mai reminisced "Now I think about it, this place represents the traditional part of Japan that are stubborn enough to not modernize."

They both laughed at knowing how stubborn the Japanese is with protecting their culture. The older gentlemen were still quietly leading Mai and Yuuji, quietly listening in to the conversation. The four were led into the meeting area for the Zen'in family. Mai and Yuuji sat next to each other with Wasuke opposite to Yuuji and Mai opposite to Naobito.

"I will be blunt with you Yuuji," Wasuke started "this world is not all as it seems or appears to be. This world is filled with the building up of human emotions this eventually creates what are called curses. Naobito and his family of the Zen'in clan is what one calls a jujutsu sorcerer, but they are just a part of the whole community and do not make up it with their existence alone. Our family, the Itadori family, is or rather was made up of curse users including myself. The thing that jujutsu sorcerers do is exorcise these curses, what do you think jujutsu and curse users get along Yuuji?"

Yuuji thought about his question. What his gramps said contradicted what he told him.

"Well gramps if we are supposed to be curse users and the jujutsu sorcerers are Mai and Naobito, wouldn't that mean it is friendly?" Mai didn't blame his answer because he was ignorant to the jujutsu world. But that still didn't answer her own wonder of why or how her father was in good terms with a curse user, would this mean she wouldn't be able to see him again she pondered.

"Very observant answer Yuuji, but this is where the bit of information I left out comes into play," Yuuji pouted at knowing he got the answer wrong "Curse users have hated jujutsu sorcerers for generations, however our family was an exception. This was because the curse users worked hand in hand with the curses they used, it is a lot more philosophical than anything. Our family exterminated the world of curse users and eventually all but myself died from these countless battles. While we killed other curse users, the sorcerers helped us but it was never enough. I have retired and raised you to live a safer life than we ever had."

Yuuji was processing the information but was still confused, how come he had been so strong? It was still a mystery to him. Mai though was shocked, she had once heard from her sister that there was one family of curse users that allied themselves with the jujutsu sorcerers.

"We decided to tell you this because you got well acquainted with my daughter," Naobito said sternly "I knew it the moment I heard your last name and the strength you possessed that you were of the same family. Mai is going to a jujutsu sorcerer school in a months time, I hope you two spend lots of time together before she goes as she won't have time to ever chat."

Yuuji wasn't sure what to say, he thought maybe she could visit every now and then but the way Naobito put it didn't seem that way. At least he was kind enough to lay it out flat with him.

"I wish for you to live a normal life Yuuji," Wasuke said sadly "I don't want you to end up meeting the same fate as the rest of our family. You should never have to worry about curses like we had."

Yuuji wasn't sure what he wanted to say but knew one thing.

"Is being a jujutsu sorcerer dangerous?" He asked quietly "I don't want Mai-chan to die…"

The older men looked sympathetically at the young boy while the girl sadly smiled.

"I will not lie to you Yuuji when I say this," Naobito started "there is a lot of people who die in the line of work. But there are always the few people like myself who have survived over the years with out strength to hold onto life."

Yuuji then smiled and said, "Then I know Mai-chan won't die because I believe in her strength!"

Mai joyed at him believing in her, she knew she would have to say goodbye in a month but they would always be friends.

"It is good to see you back and up in arms Yuuji," Wasuke stated "I will wait for you to say goodbye to your friend and we can walk home together."

Naobito followed Wasuke as the two walked out the room.

"Jujutsu sorcerer, eh?" Yuuji teased.

"Thank you for everything Yuuji-kun," Mai said bowing at him but Yuuji just pulled her up.

"Stop with the bowing you are starting to freak me out," Yuuji rubbed the back of his head sheepishly "Besides, we still have an entire month left until you leave for your fancy school."

Yuuji got on a knee and grabbed Mai's hand with his two hands, putting it in front of hand.

"I still have yet to thank you," Mai was confused "Meeting you brought an unbelievable change in my life and attitude. Without you, I would be walking around bored as all heck."

Mai smiled as he stood up and they embraced each other and said goodnight. Then Yuuji met up with his grandfather outside the entrance. Yuuji and Wasuke said goodbye to Naobito and headed on back to their cozy home.

A/N: Alright that wraps it up for chapter 2! I hope you guys enjoyed the read, I plan it being perhaps a longer fanfic. Tell me what you think and leave a review, feedback always helps me tell what you guys like or dislike. I am enjoying writing this so I will continue at a pace enjoyable. I always find myself impatient because I want to do a time skip, but only where it is appropriate. I also know that developing the two relationship and starting slowly is a lot more satisfying to read than instant gratification. That's how I feel with reading so I thought you guys would enjoy a longer fic, not some choppy half detailed fanfic. I believe the phrase is that one must write how they would like to read it.