p class="MsoNormal""Maki-senpai it's time to get up," yelled Nobara as she violently slid Maki's door open. Without missing a beat Maki jumped up Wakizashi in hand, swinging it before stopping inches from Nobara's Jugular. "Oh Nobara-san it's you," "Don't Nobara-san me, you almost killed me," yelled Nobara. "I apologize," said Maki bowing her head. "Last time I risk my life making sure you're up for training," gritted Nobara as she stormed off. Maki looked at the time and realized she was almost late for training; she then quickly threw on a light purple hoodie with a pair of black biker shorts. Rushing to the bathroom she only had enough to brush her teeth and wash her face, putting her hair up would have to wait. "I'm lucky I bathe at night," thought Maki as she made her way to the training field. As she arrived, she quickly realized she was not the only one to have a rough morning. Megumi clearly had it rough also with obvious bags under his eyes, and an even snappier attitude than usual. "Ok so," "Actually ill be leading training today," started Maki before she was cut off by Gojo in creative mode. "I don't usually bother training you guys, but with threats becoming increasingly more powerful it's best I prepare you lot," stated Gojo as he lowered himself downward. "So, what kind of training will we be doing today Gojo-senpai," asked Itadori with a goofy look on his face. "Great question Itadori you get full marks, combat synchronicity," yelled Gojo as he pointed at all his dumbfounded students. "Nani," "Bonito Flakes," replied everyone in unison except Inumaki. "Well, you see most of you are great when it comes to fighting powerful enemies, but what if on the off chance you aren't capable of teaming up against a strong enemy and have to face them alone like Megumi here," said Gojo as he walked up placing his arm around Megumi. "So, in conclusion you want us to be able to adapt to a one on one with a powerful enemy so that we can adjust our combat style in regard to any enemy we face," asked Maki a little unsure of her answer. "Precisely Maki-chan full marks," "Please stop,". "The first name called has the role of cursed spirit, time to pair up don't be offended with the role assigned to you, it's based strictly on who your partner is," stated Gojo with goofy smile. "Itadori: Nobara, Inumaki: Panda, Megumi: Maki, begin," stated Gojo as he warped each of them to a separate part of the grounds. "Huh that bastard called me weaker than Fushiguro," "I guess he's not wrong though," thought Maki as she wondered around with her weapons in hand. "All these weapons are a hassle I guess that's the point of this training," said Maki as she stabbed her sword into the ground to free up her left hand. "The forest is the last place I would want to fight Megumi he could easily stay hidden," thought Maki. Suddenly Demon Dog Totality came lunging at her, in response Maki performed a backwards duck in order to dodge the shadow creature, before she could counterattack however Totality was gone. "Megumi is nowhere to be seen, that's bad on my end," thought Maki as she picked up her most useful cursed tool Playful Cloud. Maki then got this odd feeling to look up, to her surprise Nue was flying above her then came crashing down missing her on purpose. "Was it not aiming for me, no wait," thought Maki when she was suddenly jolted by small bursts of lightning. Maki remained strong and hit the bird as hard as she could and sent it flying. It then melted into a shadow, "Gojo was right to pair us up this way, I feel like I'm fighting a special grade alright," thought Maki as she breathed heavy to regain her composure from the attack. Suddenly Maki felt blunt force on her back that sent her flying forward, but she was able to stop herself from going any further by planting her foot. Counterattacking was her best opportunity now, so she took it, and swung playful cloud violently at her unconfirmed attacker. To her dismay the blow was caught by Megumi, "Thanks senpai," said Megumi in a strained tone as he held Playful Cloud forcefully. "Thanks for what," asked Maki through gritted teeth. "For taking the bait," said Megumi with a smirk, Maki was then bombed rushed by Totality who quickly pounced on top of her. With its claws drawn it thrust them toward Maki before stopping inches from her face where it melted into a shadow, Maki was then met by Megumi's hand inviting her up. "That's enough," said Megumi as he reached down to help Maki up. Maki accepted the gesture, but then she pulled Megumi down toward her. His neck was then met by extensive pressure provided by her legs. "This is a triangle choke," thought Megumi as he lay there feeling his consciousness leave him, he couldn't create any shadows to aid him being that he couldn't get his hands together. Maki probably didn't look it, but anyone crazy enough to get caught in her holds were in for it because she always succeeded in terms of technique. Her legs were sweaty, but Megumi felt this provided the opposite effect of traction and thus provided more grip, it was hard to pick up anything while laying on the ground unless he could somehow strong arm her with his arms. He thought about this then the realization hit him that he would have to slam her down on her back, and as strong willed as she was, she wasn't going to let go and he didn't want to hurt his comrade. So, he did the unthinkable he bit the inside of her exposed thigh. "Aghh," moaned Maki as she let Megumi go and rolled backwards. "Did you just…bite me," asked Maki with a blush on her face gasping for air. "Well, you cheated even though I showed mercy you continued to attack so I panicked," shouted Megumi equally as flustered. There was now an awkward air that surrounded them. "Well then you shouldn't have looked down on me, and used Nue's electricity to knock me out," said Maki with an angered expression. "I was showing mercy I didn't want to hurt you," said Megumi with a pained expression on his face. "Why because I can't use curse energy, you think a special grade would show mercy against me," shouted Maki as she paced toward Megumi. "No, but they do play with their food," stated Megumi coldly as he recalled both the special grades that could have easily finished him had that not belittled him. Maki then rushed to pick up Playful Cloud and took a battle stance, "Then show me what its like to face them," stated Maki with enthusiasm. "If you insist senpai," said Fushiguro as he readied his fingers for Domain Expansion. "DOMAIN EXPANSION CHIMERA SHADOW GARDEN," yelled Megumi as the entire scenery began to change into a forest surrounded with black ink on the ground. Maki had heard of the technique, but she herself had never seen one nor been inside of another Domain. Maki did know one thing for sure though this was complete utter defeat, but she wasn't going down without a fight, so she readied her weapon. A group of frogs suddenly latched onto her legs throwing off her balance then the liquid seemed to pull her under, instinctively this caused Maki to hold her breath as darkness began to consume her. Maki then opened her eyes to find that she was back in the normal forest with Megumi sitting down beside her. "How long was I out," asked Maki sitting up. "About three minutes," said Megumi looking over at her. "So, I guess you are strong huh," stated Maki with a smirk on her face as she wiped her glasses off. "Just my type," said Maki as she playfully winked at Megumi, causing him to become red in the face and turn his head from embarrassment. "I guess Gojo senpai wanted us to walk back to the field seeing that he hasn't made his way toward us," said Megumi as he stood slowly, "I would offer my hand, but I don't like being triangle choked," said Megumi bluntly. "Whatever I don't need your help," stated Maki angrily as she pulled herself to her feet. "Divine Dog: Totality," said Megumi wincing, causing the hulking dog to appear, but Maki couldn't help noticing that Megumi winced each time his fingers came into contact with something. "Are you alright," asked a concerned Maki, "I'll be alright," said Megumi sweating, but after looking more closely Maki realized that his fingers seemed to be swelling along with his wrist. "You are not fine," stated Maki as she lightly grabbed Megumi's hands to assess the damage. Maki knew this happened when Megumi caught Playful Cloud in his grasp when she attacked, she didn't like to toot her own horn, but she is a weapons expert there is no way he would come out unscathed from any of her blows. "Nothing seems to be broken, but you need to be examined," said Maki with a worried look on her face, "I can't Ms. Ieiri has today off so I won't be seen until Monday," said Megumi with much less concern than Maki. "Then I'll take responsibility," exclaimed Maki placing her hand on her chest, ""Let us just get back first," said Megumi. Megumi hopped on Totality with Maki following suit soon after, "Hang on," said Megumi, "To what exactly," asked Maki confused, "Me," said Megumi before quickly signaling for Totality to dash back to the field. Maki wrapped her arms around Megumi's stomach to keep from tumbling off the shadow beast, in doing this she quickly realized how toned his muscles truly were especially his abs "They feel just like the washboards the Zenin clan made servants use to wash clothes," thought Maki to herself as she held to Megumi. Maki couldn't help but think about how much her underclassmen surpassed her, "So, I guess you grew big and strong huh," thought Maki to herself as she nuzzled her head against Megumi's back due to exhaustion. Megumi didn't pay this any attention as his main goal was to reach the field and find out if Gojo had any more plans for training today. Once the two arrived they had quickly found out Gojo had no intention of continuing training, "This came out too stacked in the favor of cursed spirits, each of them came out on top," said Gojo with a dopey smile on his face. "What did you expect sensei, did you really think I could face a monster who eats Sukuna's fingers for fun," stated Nobara with disdain in her voice, "Oii I don't eat his fingers for fun," replied Itadori with contempt. "You weren't the only one Inumaki just made me fall asleep," said Panda in his usual peaceful voice, "Bonito Flakes," replied Inumaki. "So, Maki-chan, Megumi-chan how did your battle turn out," asked Gojo, "Megumi was the victor, but I managed to put up a decent fight," replied Maki honestly. "Gojo-senpai why did you put us in such one-sided battles," questioned Megumi, "Because each of you are First Grade now, you shouldn't expect any victory to come easy, the point of this training was for you to find alternatives when it comes to battling opponents out of your league, so that you will understand what it means to adorn the mantle of First Grade," stated Gojo seriously. "Cursed Spirits don't care about fair fights so the faster you can take control of a fight, the better chances of defeating a special grade, that's it for today we will start again tomorrow enjoy your Friday," said Gojo as he walked with his back to his students before disappearing. Afterwards everyone either went to their dorms or took a shower, Maki had just got out of the shower and was on her way back to her dorm room before she was stopped by Megumi patting her on the shoulder. "Oh, it's you Megumi, are you ready for me to care for your injuries," asked Maki, "Yes I was coming to remind you, but I guess you remembered," said Megumi, "Follow me then," said Maki as she led the way to her dorm room./p