Your shift ends after what feels like an eternity. You hang up your apron and grab your to-go order before heading out the door.
"I really must insist again that we put this where it belongs, and that's the garbage," Ryomen takes control of your hand, holding your potato skins over a trash can at the street corner.
"Hey! Don't you dare! This is my free meal for working my shift." You argue, jerking your snack back to protect it.
"Oh, I have no doubt that it was free," he continued. There was no pleasing this guy.
"What about those peaches? Can't we stop and get some more? Or do you only eat trash?"
"Fine, if that's going to make you happy finally. You made my shift alot longer by complaining all day." You state. He complained about standing still, and about having to move shipment. Then he complained about doing dishes. And tending bar. Then mopping, and more dishes.
"It was 8 hours of hell in one place. Why the fuck do humans trap themselves willingly in misery? For money? That they invented? ASININE." He declares.
"I didn't design capitalism, I'm just a victim of it," you state in defense.
The streetlamps burned along the roadside, lining the avenue signs brightly. You turn down the street to Mrs. Hama's house. Theres no one in sight as you approach the back wall and the lowest branches peaking over the edge.
"Just a few," you remind Sukuna as he reaches with your hand to begin picking. Instead of taking one from the tree, his mouth opens in your palm and he bites into the first one within grasp.
"Don't eat here, I don't want to get caught!" you hiss.
"They're just soooooo good. How did a wretched human grow fruit so sweet?" He marveled as he chewed. You take a few peaches with you, stuffing them into your coat pockets.
"This era is wretched with how humanity has degenerated. What do you call those hideous things over there stuck in the grass?" He directs your eyes to a neighboring house across the street.
"Those are lawn flamingos," you smile. "They're not hideous, they're cute." Ryomen only scoffs and swallows, licking his lips noisily.
There is a slamming sound that calls your attention back to the flamingo yard. Was that a car hood closing? A lump forms in your throat when you recognize the vehicle that's parked in that driveway. The crumpled front end of a beat up truck is just visable to you in the dark. The solo red cherry of a cigarette end glows. He was looking right at you.
Panic grips you suddenly, you want to run and keep running, but Sukuna keeps your feet planted firm.
"That's him, isn't it?" Ryomen asks you.
"The lowlife who pursued you."
You don't reply, but you don't need to. You watch the memory of that same truck speeding toward you, high beams blinding.
"Let's have a word..." he suggests.
"Oh, please no!" you object, but he is already striding towards the man you've dubbed only as Asshole.
Asshole looks delighted to see you.
"Well, isn't this a surprise! Pretty thing like you crossing my own path. Are you finally warming up to me, sweetheart? Did ya drop by for a playdate?" His greeting makes you feel disgusting, but you're more distracted by another emotion welling up inside you and concerning you immensely: Sukuna's unbridled joy. Oh, no.
"Maybe. Why don't you come find out?" Sukuna taunts him in your voice.
You frantically direct your thoughts to him, "What are you going to do?" you ask.
"That will be up to you," Ryomen replies simply.
Asshole was stumbling down his porch steps toward you. As he came closer, you see a strange cloud outlining his body
You begin to hear something so faint, you swear you are imagining it. The sound of screaming.
"What's going on? What's that aura?" you ask Sukuna.
"That's the heaviness of their conscience. This human has a dirty past. You're seeing cursed energy for the first time." He explains.
"So...cursed energy is..."
"The accumulation of pain and suffering a person has endured or caused," he finishes.
Now the screams you are hearing make your blood run cold.
The man sways on his feet, rubbing his chin. No doubt trying to figure out a way to get you inside the house.
"Aren't you going to invite us in?" Ryomen asks in your voice sweetly. He spreads a smile across your face and tucks your hair behind your ear. "You're being rude keeping us waiting. Now, invite us in."
The man nods without speaking, obviously too pleased that you're speaking to him to question what you mean by "us." You want to scream when Sukuna takes a step forward.
"What are you doing?" You demand.
"Look at this human, if you can still call him that. Listen to those screams. Each one is someone he's hurt. Maybe some of those were added after you saw him last. He planned on adding you to that chorus, too."
You don't want to believe Sukuna's words, but one glance at this man's eyes told you that everything he was saying was true. You peered into their void. There was nothing staring back at you.
You walk past him and stand by his front door, patiently waiting for him to let you in. He trips his way back up the steps, tossing his cigarette and pushing the door open wide for you. You stand motionless until he slurs, "Come on in."
You expect filth when you walk in. Maybe you thought there would be evidence of his debauchery lying around in plain sight. You are oddly disappointed to find the inside of the house looking relatively normal. In fact, it's nicer than your place. Wood flooring, and freshly painted walls. There was a futon folded upright in front of the television set. He was watching a singing contest. Again, average. This could be anyone's house.
You are nearly second guessing your first assumptions when Ryomen interrupts your thoughts.
"He's locking the door..." he doesn't sound concerned by it though, so you remain calm. For now.
"What's your name?" Ryomen asks in your voice. Not that you thought he actually cared.
"It's Lee. What about you?"
"Oh, that's not important to you is it? I can tell you don't care about names."
"Wanna drink?" Lee waves his hand to a bar at the center of the room.
"More than you know," Sukuna eagerly strides to see what choices are available. He couldn't possibly be serious about drinking with this creep, could he?
"Don't worry. I will keep you safe," he reminds you lovingly. You feel your smile broaden when your fingers close around a bottle.
"Uh...you say that, but that's 80 proof. That's ridiculous! There's no way I can drink that."
Ryomen heaves your shoulders in a sigh. "Remember who you're talking to." He cracks the seal and takes a drink straight from the bottle.
"Geez, babe. You really like to party, don't you?" There was genuine astonishment in Lee's tone. Ryomen turns back around to face him.
"Isn't that what we're doing here?" He shrugs your shoulders, removing your coat and letting it fall to the floor. You doubt you look particularly alluring still in your work uniform. Lee's eyes are staring at you in a way that fills you with dread. But not Sukuna. He found this punk pathetic.
"So...How many people have you killed?" Ryomen asks him.
Lee looks disturbed by the question. He laughs nervously.
"What? Haha what are you talking about?"
"Did you lose count? It wouldnt surprise me, seeing how much you have to drink to live with yourself. There's gotta be some serious damage forming inside you from that. Now think hard. How many people have you killed?" Ryomen taunts him, taking another pull from the bottle. You are pleased when it barely burns your throat going down.
Lee glares hard at you, trying to decide what move to make next...then he answers you.
"Seven..."
Your gut twists. You know the only reason he would reveal that. He didnt think you would be leaving. You listen again for the cries emitting from that swirling pool of darkness within him. You try to distinguish them apart to count them...
"No, that's not true, is it?" Sukuna continues.
"There's more than that. Don't think you can lie to me."
Your eyes narrow fiercely, and heat courses through your body. Sukuna's cursed energy, you recognize it. Your face must be changing as well, because Lee suddenly looks a little freaked out.
"Did...you always have tattoos?"
"Let's try to focus here," Sukuna reminds him. "Who else?"
Lee must not feel like being docile anymore. He charges you suddenly, shouting with rage,
"I dont have to tell you! Shut up!"
You dodge him with a last minute side step thanks to Sukuna's speed. Lee crashes headfirst into his bar, sending bottles smashing to the floor. He groans and rolls to his side, clutching his head in both hands. His eyes are full off hate when he meets your gaze again.
"This isn't how it goes! You're not supposed to do that!" He roars.
Ryomen laughs harshly with mock amusement,
"Oh, forgive me for not rehearsing for my role tonight. I'm not much of a victim."
He extends your arm over him, still holding the bottle of liquor. It splatters over Lee's enraged face.
You stare in disbelief, watching yourself like you're on a movie screen and you're a part of the audience. This version of yourself is so confident and domineering. You find your enjoyment growing from watching this punk crawl on the floor. It isn't until you feel Ryomen closing your fingers around something cold to the touch that you stop yourself. It's a lighter.
"Wait! We aren't going to really burn him are we?" You ask.
Ryomen steadies your hand, holding the flame so you are both staring into it.
"What do you think would be a more fitting punishment for what he's done?" He asks out loud, not caring if Lee overhears your conversation.
"I...dont want to punish him..." you stumble over your words, unsure if you mean them.
"Then why are we here?" He purrs.
You stare into the solo flame dancing before you, unsure of the answer to that question. You hadn't exactly formed a plan, you were leaving everything to Sukuna because...
Because you think this punk deserves it.
"Who was the eighth person you killed?" Ryomen repeats his question again, lifting one of your feet to step on Lee's fingers.
When the two of you touch, an image flashes through your head. You see an old woman washing dishes at a sink, humming softly to herself as she works. You watch with horror as two hands slowly start reaching for her from behind. Lee's hands, you realize. The perspective makes it look like you're the one grabbing her, using your height to your advantage to shove her head beneath the suds and-
Ryomen removes your foot from Lee's hand when tears flow down your cheeks. He still retains his control over your body, but he does not hide your emotions that are boiling though.
"You...what kind of a man kills his own grandmother?" You speak for yourself behind clenched teeth.
Lee's face is indifferent when he speaks,
"...I just wanted to see how it felt..." he says simply. His eyes are still empty.
Then you release the lighter.
.
Your hand clutches your suitcase nervously.
The gate around Jujutsu Tech had to be at least 5 meters high. You stood anxiously, looking through the bars waiting for someone to come let you in. Gojo had told you to come as soon as possible and yet here he was keeping you waiting for at least half an hour now. The long bus ride through the mountains hadn't exactly been relaxing. No one else was headed to such a rural stop, so you had listened to music until Ryomen's complaints grew too much to ignore. He wasn't a fan of your playlist. After nearly 3 hours, the driver woke you from your slumber.
"You getting off here or what?"
they demanded. You muttered your thanks as you tripped your way down the steps with your baggage.
There were several smaller buildings around the main dormatory, at least, that's what you were assuming it had to be. The campus was enormous.
"This place smells of sorcery," Ryomen commented.
"It stinks."
"Well it's kind of our only option now..." you grumble.
Things had not gone well when you had mentioned the possibility of attending this school to your partner...In fact, they had kicked you out.
"If there's someone else, just say there's someone else! You dont have to bullshit me about a made up school." They had snapped at you.
Despite your insistence that this was just an idea, nothing concrete you had decided on, they could not be convinced that this wasn't an attempt to ditch them.
"You get home later, you barely talk to me anymore, and the other night I came home to your clothes on the floor in the living room, the WINDOW open, and you already naked in bed. And you say there's no one else? Do you think I'm stupid? And you didn't even come home at all last night!"
You're almost shocked they would notice. They're correct though. After last night, you had spent the night wandering the streets aimlessly in a daze. It wasn't until you noticed the sun rising that you returned home finally. Nothing felt real to you anymore.
They didn't give you any chance to explain yourself at all. What were you supposed to say? Their accusations about cheating weren't exactly baseless...
Guilt ate at you relentlessly as you had packed your few precious belongings and muttered a half-hearted goodbye without meeting their gaze. It was definitely better for you to leave now. Leave the house, leave the relationship. Leave town. The things you saw last night left you in a shocked state of disbelief. So much was happening to you all at once. You feel lost amid the chaos.
"Are you seriously upset about leaving?" Ryomen asked you.
"You were miserable there."
"I know...but, I guess sometimes misery can be comfortable." You replied.
You place your suitcase on the ground and take a seat next to it.
Checking your phone again, you look at the time and huff. Maybe you should call Gojo again?
"Hey, you there," someone calls to you, from behind the gate you realize. Turning around, you see someone dressed in all black. You almost assume it's Gojo until you see their face. He has dark black hair and light green eyes.
"Um, hi? I was told to come here by-"
"Satoru Gojo. Yes, I know. He's unavailable right now. Work called him away. I had a feeling he might have told you to come and forgot to tell anyone, so I've been checking out here every hour for you. Come on in." He keys in a code and the gate swings open wide.
"Welcome to Jujutsu Tech. We've been waiting for you."
His words are kind, but his face never changes its soft, somber expression. He has the bedside manner of a funeral director, you think to yourself. He dips his head in a polite bow,
"My name is Megumi Fushiguro. It's very nice to meet you in person."
Why would he say 'in person?' You bow in return, stating your name, and "It's very nice to meet you, too."
"The principal will want to meet with you eventually to evaluate you. I can take your things to your room in the meantime."
Before you can object, Fushiguro takes your bag from you. His hand feels warm when it brushes against yours, and your eyes avert from his immediately. He hoists your suitcase over his shoulder, and you follow him.
Rather than taking in the surroundings of your new home, you find yourself staring at him instead.
.
.
The interior of the dormatory is breathtaking. The ceilings are impressively high and each room is decorated tastefully. You make your way to the student wing.
"This will be your room down here on the right. Fortunately there's enough space here that we don't have to have roommates. Curfew is normally at 10 pm unless we're doing training exercises, or if there's any work to be done. Breakfast is at 8 am, lunch is at 12, and dinner at 8. I'll come by to help you find your way to the dining wing for your first day here. Until then please make yourself at home." He opens your door for you, setting your suitcase down next to the generously sized bed.
"I need to go announce your arrival, but if you need anything, just tell us. We want you to feel comfortable here." Fushiguro turns to leave, closing the door behind him.
A thought suddenly strikes you, and you pull out your phone. Checking your recent calls, you find the number that had called to warn you about the curse outside your house. You hit dial...
From behind your door, you can hear the faintest sound of a ringtone.