The bonfire dies out and the other students start bidding one another goodnight. Itadori offers to walk you back to your room, but you weren't planning on turning in for the night just yet.
"Thanks, but...I think I'd like some time outside. I won't be long," you promise him, wincing a bit at how disappointed looks.
"Another time though? We'll hang out soon."
Fushiguro is lingering behind too, leering at you through the charred branches of the smouldering cursed tree. When Itadori walked away, he finally breaks his silence,
"How's your arm?"
As if on cue, it throbbed beneath your uniform sleeve, echoing in a twinge of pain.
"Fine," you say.
"Does it hurt?" he asked insistantly, annoying you. Of course it did, why should he care?
"Yeah. Actually it kinda sucks."
The corner of his mouth tugged in response. Was the jerk smirking? No, he looked...ashamed.
"I'm sorry," you heard him say as the crackling logs crumbled in, sending up a flurry of sparks into the air.
"What are you sorry for exactly?" He wasn't making sense at all. And the way he's walking toward you with that concerned look on his face makes you even more uncertain.
"Show me?" he asks, reaching his palm out politely. You stare dumbfounded, unsure if you understood him. Carefully, you peel back your sleeve up your forearm to show him the wound that he caused. He tsks and frowns, taking your wrist lightly in his hand. His fingertips left your skin humming with the subtle contact. He looks up at you after a minute, for once, his eyes were gentle.
"I wasn't sure..." he begins, taking a pause to remove a slip of paper from his back pocket. Your arm recoils immediately, but it wasn't you who had done that. Ryomen had taken measures to protect you. Was that paper what Fushiguro had hurt you with?
Ryomen makes you step back from the sorcerer as he unfolds the paper fully and held it up for you to see. It's very unremarkable, only a rectangular slip with sweeping calligraphy in black ink.
"This is a sacred sutra. Made from paper of blessed trees that grew over the gravesights of the holiest of monks. The ink is from the wood ashes of the same trees."
"Okay," you remain unimpressed.
"And this purity talisman is only designed to disarm demonic entities like cursed spirits. When I used it, I wasn't sure if it was going to hurt you too. I see now that my first assumption about you being separate from Sukuna as his vessel, the way Itadori is...was wrong. Your possession is different. It's incarnate, isn't it?" his voice is soft, and he returns the sutra to his pocket.
"Incarnate? I don't know what you're asking me."
"When Itadori died, Sukuna gave him the option to be brought back under unspecified conditions. I was wondering if you had done the same to become a vessel of Sukuna."
"Well, no. I guess not. That's not how it happened. We established set rules, he gave me a contract, and I chose to sign it."
Fushiguro looks hurt by your words, and outraged.
"Why would you do that? Did you know who he was?"
"I don't think...I cared." you confess to him, surprising yourself with your own words. It was the first time you had admitted your hopelessness aloud.
Fushiguro exhales sharply, a sound you recognize as harsh disappointment. What was that about? Did he have standards for how you should be living your life? Who did he think he is? You grit your teeth, awaiting his judgemental speech. Instead he asks you,
"What were your terms?"
"What?"
"For your contract. The rules you mentioned. What did the two of you agree upon?" he asks again.
"Uh, well he isn't allowed to kill anyone, I made that the first prerogative. But I do have to go to his innate domain whenever he summons me. I also have to help him gather the rest of his fingers I suppose. He mentioned that."
"All twenty?" Megumi presses, sounding more anxious with each new bit of info you reveal.
"Twenty?" you repeat. What kind of math is he using? Or...is Sukuna's body different from how you had seen it? Could he change his form? Observing your lost, wondering expression, Megumi looses his patience with you.
"Sukuna has four arms...You seriously don't know the first thing about him, and you're basically his new host body that barely has any control over him. You're putting everyone here at risk by that level of carelessness! And not just here, everyone in the world. He's a destructive force that was nearly responsible for the entire ruin of mankind. He is incapable of anything besides violence and only cares for his own sadistic pleasure!"
He's shouting at you now, and you're horrified to realize that your angry tears that had been building up were at last overflowing. Maybe he did have a good point. Everyone here knew of Ryomen, so his infamy was more than just legend.
"Well, it's not like I knew that when I stumbled into his domain only a few weeks ago..." you attempt meekly.
"Believe me, I've had plenty of regrets since it happened. Don't you think I wanted a simpler existence?"
"You don't get that luxury anymore," Fushiguro urges, though his voice less stern than it had been.
"You need to get your ass into gear and learn how to better utilize your situation for humanity's sake. If you don't, there won't be a world left worth saving."
"My, my, all this slanderous talk," Ryomen's mouth speaks from the left side of your face.
"What makes you think you know what my plans are, nosy fucking little priest?"
Megumi recoils at the sight of the curse, immediately looking at you with disdain. Your chest clenches tightly. It stings how suddenly he could switch his feelings toward you, even if it was supposed to be directed at Ryomen.
"Look...I'm sure you're right. But I don't know what you expect me to be able to do about this," you point at Sukuna's mouth, which in turn kisses the tip of your finger innocently. Fushiguro's eyes widen.
"Maybe it was a stupid decision on my part. And reckless."
He looks at you expectantly,
"I'm waiting for a 'but.'"
"Yeah, well...There isn't one, okay?" you slump, letting your eyes drift to the glowing embers, still popping intermittently.
"Maybe I just felt like being reckless and stupid. So I deserve whatever consequences may come from that choice."
This leaves Fushiguro speechless for a minute. It was obvious he was expecting more of an argument from you.
"As true as that may be, does the world deserve to suffer for your recklessness too? Better yet, do you think the rest of us here would allow you to become a problem?"
"And what does that mean exactly?" It sounds like he's trying to intimidate you.
"If I were to alert Yaga Masamichi of your misconduct, don't you think he'd do something about it?" His eyes narrow as he speaks. It was definitely a threat.
"So? What's stopping you then?"
Now he pauses and drops his eyes to the ground.
"Because...I don't want anything happening to you."
Now what was he talking about? Why should he care?
"Remember when you asked me why I called to warn you about the centipede curse?" He looks up at you again finally. There's a softness in his tone that wasn't there before.
You think back, nodding your head. Fushiguro's response back then had been that he didn't think you deserved any trouble.
"I wasn't being completely honest. The truth is...I had been watching you for a while. Only at your work though," he adds hastily.
"What? Spying on me? For how long?"
There's a rush of color to his cheeks and he fidgets, cramming his fists into his pockets. He mutters something you can't make out.
"Huh?"
"I said two months... I was watching you for around two months. I'd eat at the diner where you worked whenever we were in town."
"I don't remember ever seeing you there..." you try recalling any event where you may have served him in the restaurant, but over the year you had been there, the customers' faces tend to blend together.
"Yeah, I never spoke to you. You were usually behind the bar, or in the back. But I'd see you almost every time I went. You worked so much."
You're still unsure why he's telling you this. And what's with his expression? He was behaving as if he had been pining over you...But that couldn't possibly be. He didn't seem like the type.
"So...what was the real reason why you called me?"
"I didn't ... want anything to happen to you," again Megumi drops his eyes, and his face flushes deeper than before.
From the side of your cheek, Ryomen bursts with unbridled laughter.
"Hahahaha! No way! This can't be, it's too easy! The little sorcerer is lovesick on you, my dear. Oh, think of the possibilities. The fun we could have-!"
Your palm slaps over his mouth
"Quiet, you!" Despite being covered, he continues to cackle maniacally behind your hand.
"Fushiguro...He's wrong, isn't he?" you ask him.
He doesn't meet your gaze this time, hiding behind the dark curtain of his bangs. Ryomen continues to cackle, sputtering despite being held back by you. His muffled taunts are building Megumi to a simmering rage. Suddenly he snaps his head up and roars,
"I am so fucking tired of you involving yourself with the ones I care about! What am I to you?! What do you want from me, Sukuna?!"
He pries your hand away from Ryomen,
"Let him speak!" he snaps without looking away from the second mouth on your face.
"You really think every decision I make is to thwart you? That's quite an ego you've got! It's like you said, I'm here for my own pleasure. If I want it, it's mine. And I'll find my ways to get it," Ryomen chuckles again pointedly.
"If my other facets find you irresistible as well, I certainly have no control over that."
In an instant, Ryomen wraps your arm around Fushiguro's waist and pulls him against you tightly. Thw sorcerer struggles for a moment, glaring at you, the actual you, only then does he cease his resistance, breathing heavily still. The blush returns to his cheeks and he clamps his eyes shut.
Megumi...You could now clearly see his confliction, his panic at being this close to you. Because of Sukuna, you reminded yourself, feeling more than a little rebuffed by association. However his resolve was quickly softening against the warmth of your body. He makes a small sound in his throat, like a whine, his lashes squeezing tighter together in an attempt to block you out.
"Don't play so hard to get..." Ryomen coos, murmuring softly against Fushiguro's exposed neck. You're just tall enough for him to reach him from your cheek.
"You were so ready to give in to me before. Be a good boy, and let's see that enthusiasm again?"
There's a wet sucking sound and Megumi's voice breaks. Your hand slips beneath his shirt, cradling the small of his back in your palm. Sukuna was being bold with controlling your body now. There's an audible gasp from Fushiguro and you feel him shiver. His hands shoot forward, readying to push you back, but he's still hesitating, gripping your shoulders while wrestling with his uncertainty.
"Ryomen! Let him go," you address him aloud, too panicked to speak privately.
"Let go!"
"Let me have him." He says simply, as if that was sufficient enough.
"No!" You insist. It was clear Fushiguro was too afraid of the curse within you to make any move. He had gotten too close to you against his better judgement, once again. You weren't about to let Ryomen force himself on your teammate however.
"Subsisto!" you shout with more force than you've ever used before. But instead of releasing his prize, he attempts to bargain with you.
"I let you have the cursed speech user," his tone is bitter coming from inside your head so Megumi doesn't hear.
"So let me have this one!" There's a frantic pitch that seems out of character. What was it about Fushiguro that drove him into a frenzy? And did he seriously think he could tell you what you could do with your body?
"It doesn't work that way! You don't LET me do anything, understand?! You live inside ME! Now SUBSISTO!"
Again you shout aloud, taking control of your body and releasing huffing and panting Megumi.
You take several steps back from him, apologizing and balling your fists. "Ryomen, I don't want you harassing him anymore. Do you fucking understand me?"
"Hoho! Protective of him now? You know I wouldn't have hurt him at all. Not in a bad way at least. Not at first..." he returns to his joking tone that told you he was backing off, albeit begrudgingly.
He wasn't fooling you for one minute with how easily he was seemingly letting Fushiguro go. You'd have to keep a closer watch on him. Your teammate is giving you a second appraising look, taken back by your outburst.
"You're right, Fushiguro. I definitely made a careless error. But...I promise I'll at least try to do better. And make the best of this. I'll get stronger. You'll see." Turning to head back to the dorms, you pause when you hear him call after you.
"Look, I'm...I'm sorry for being so hard on you," he says.
"I've already lost a partner before, and I worry. It's not something I want to go through again. None of us do."
You glance back over your shoulder at him, standing there in the dark, his sad pale face against his black clothes barely outlined by the patch of glowing embers.
"Then I guess I had better work harder," is all you say as you leave.
.
.
You return to your room and sit patiently at the foot of your bed, waiting to hear the sound of Fushiguro's door opening and closing, signaling his turning in. Only when you are certain that he has gone to bed do you sneak back out into the hallway. You tiptoe silently to the corridor that seemingly leeds to nowhere, reach for the handle of a door invisible to the eye, and slip like a shadow into your midnight classroom.
"What dedication you have," Ryomen compliments you. "I'll wager that none of these other students are studying as hard as you are."
You ignore him.
"Ah, come on. Are you still upset?" he prods, wanting any response from you.
"You know I wouldn't have-"
"No, actually don't know what you would have done, Ryomen. Fushiguro was right. I'm putting too much trust in you. I can't...I shouldn't do that." you sulk, taking a seat at a dusty tabletop still cluttered with the books from your previous visit.
"But what choice have you got, sweetheart?" he purrs.
"Gee, how comforting."
"It should be! You and I are intertwined now. If I lied to you, I'd be living with your mistrust forever. So why would I put myself through that?"
"Doesn't seem like something a curse should care about," you point out.
"Speaking of...Why did you disappear earlier? And where did you go?"
"Oh...just needed some alone time. I've grown use to my own solace. I can't always be entertained by you humans."
Liar, you think, knowing he can hear you.
Hypocrite! you add as well.
"Well...maybe I'd like some solace for a while too," you mutter.
"Heh Okay. You certain?" He asks, but sounds mostly indifferent. He was much more worked up earlier for Megumi. So with annoyance you ignore him again, flipping open the nearest book and picking up where you left off at a folded page.
"Well I'll leave you to your studies then, my dear." Then there was heavy silence.
"Ryomen?" you ask aloud.
Nothing.
"Hey...I changed my mind, come back." Again silence.
Good. That had been a test anyway. You wanted an opportunity to have some time alone. You flip to the index of the book in front of you.
Possession- chapter 11
Okay. There's your starting point. You crack your knuckles unnecessarily loud, and flip the pages.
"Most types of possession manifest in much less obvious ways than demonic possession. Spirits operating on the astral plane find it relatively easy to attach themselves to living people, usually without their knowledge, particularly if the individual is weak-willed, hypersensitive, or depressed.
"Instant acute possession is rare, however. It usually takes such spirits quite a long time to gain a high degree of control over their hosts. Signs to look out for are manic depression, hearing voices, substance dependence (particularly alcohol), and compulsive behavior, often sexual in nature.
"Entities stay in limbo, sustaining themselves through addictions and cravings they nurture. They seek out people with similar addictions in order to feed their habits. By latching onto the individual they can experience associated sensations that they crave. Perversion and obsession are spiritual afflictions that keep entities trapped on the astral plane. The most powerful spirits are able to manipulate their hosts in any way they choose."
Well, that wasn't very encouraging, but you notice the next page is labelled "Exorcism."
"Once a parasitic spirit has gained a high level of control over its host, there can only be one cure: an exorcism. The expulsion of unwelcomed presences by means of commands, prayers, religious ritual, and talismans.
"To deal effectively with powerful possessing spirits requires a profound understanding of demonology, and also enormous strength, and spiritual faith."
"Ugh!" You slap your hands flat on the table in exasperation. Of course it would fucking say religion is involved. Not exactly something that you longed to experience again. That part of your life was long gone. Faith hadn't been around in a long time. You glare down at the last paragraph.
"The presence of an exorcist, ordained or not, can drive a spirit into a violent frenzy, creating a dangerous situation for all present, particularly the exorcist."
"Fuck," you whisper.
.
.
You stretch your aching back, wincing at a pain that's accumulated deep in your lumbar.
"Fuck, I should really get some sleep...I've been studying so long..."
"Needing a break yet?" Ryomen's voice gently interrupts your concentration. You blink rapidly to clear your vision. Damn, how long have you been sitting like a shrimp? You straighten your posture and loudly yawn.
"Probably...What time is it?" You wonder outloud, fumbling for your phone to check. Too bad its battery died long ago. Your reflection stares sleepily back at you from your black phone screen, illuminated by the soft glow of Ryomen's light. When had he opened his domain? When had he returned? You hadn't noticed. He must've been keeping quiet on purpose.
"You finished that entire manuscript," he remarks with astonishment as you slap it closed.
"Well done."
"It was interesting. Though I don't know how much I'll actually be able to retain from studying this late. I feel wiped out, like my brain is on autopilot."
"Such a good student," warmth radiates throughout your body, lulling your already exhausted mind.
"Let me take over, I'll get you to bed."
"Alright," you agree, then as an afterthought,
"No funny business."
"Who? Me? Never." He agrees.
One enormous yawn and stretch later, you allow your mind to succumb to Ryomen. Despite Megumi's warning, you still trust him with your body. The gentle rumbling of his voice soothing you to sleep paired with the warmth of his presence is so hypnotic and irresistible.
When he is satisfied that you are sound asleep, Ryomen sits your body upright again, reopening your eyes. Spread before him on the table were multiple references, varying varying on occult subjects. He opens all of them simultaneously, his extra eyes scrutinizing over each one for several minutes. Then he begins tearing out individual pages and stuffing them greedily into his second mouth.
It's hours later before he takes your body to bed like he said he would.
.
.
*****
Wednesday October 6, 2021
Police report 21-20366610
Officer Park responding to alert for missing person.
Kyoung Choi, 26 year old female. Hair- shoulder length, dyed blonde.
Eye color- hazel. Also known as Aikiko. Reported missing by her roommate Ahn Lu. Roommate maintains that Choi went missing from her locked room. Says she has not had contact since the evening of Oct 6.
Officer Park requesting immediate assistance from Jujutsu Tech.
End of report.
*****
"Whoa! Hey, Fushiguro, did you see?!" Itadori is busy pressing his face against the window glass of the car, pointing with excitement.
"Hostess clubs! Real hostess clubs! I've never seen one before," he gushes.
Fushiguro is silent. He has his head tipped into his hand with visable annoyance, already dreading the nature of this mission. Among other aggravations present. Like Gojo being here for once. Your sensei had opted to ride in the front passenger seat, forcing the three of you to the back.
"Cheer up, Megumi! After we do a little investigating of our own, I'll treat us to dinner like I always do."
"I hate how casually you're treating this," the younger sorcerer gripes.
"That's because it'll be no sweat. Besides, I wanted a chance to see our newest addition in action since I missed out last time. I've got nothing but good vibes from tonight," your 'sensei' pipes.
"Minus one missing girl," you remind him with mildly hidden outrage.
"That's fucked up," you whisper low enough to where your "sensei" can't hear you. In your head you put air quotes for his title because he hasn't even been the one assisting with your training since day one.
You are yet again squashed in the middle of the backseat, recoiling your body away from Megumi to avoid any contact. He spent the entire car ride wordlessly staring out the window, offering only clipped single responses to any conversation including him. Itadori is seemingly none the wiser to his friend's poor disposition toward you. He's trying his best to keep the mood light.
"I'm sure she'll turn up," he offers, sounding hopeful.
Your driver announces your arrival, slowing to a stop outside of a gated apartment complex. Single file, you exit the car and wait on the sidewalk as Gojo approaches an officer in uniform standing at the building entrance. Even from a distance, you can see the distress on the man's face. He keeps pointing behind him, indicating to the first floor apartment which is taped off at the doorway with a police barrier.
There's a light touch on your elbow that makes you jump. Itadori gives you a comforting smile.
"It's okay," he chides.
"You really don't have to be nervous with Gojo sensei here with us. Nothing like last time us going to happen."
He thought you were still thinking of your first mission. Not wanting him to know your true concerns, you give him a curt nod and a tight grimace that you hoped looked braver than you felt. Truthfully, your biggest worry is still Fushiguro. For reasons unknown, he still hasn't divulged your theft of Sukuna's finger to the higher ups. He was also still hiding the fact that you didn't maintain complete control as a vessel. He was keeping your secrets for you, but for how long? Until Ryomen made you steal the next finger? Or would he turn you in before then? The growing anxiety of being found out is getting torturous.
"Alright, students! The scene is ready for your investigation. I'll finish the boring stuff out here with the boring police. You should all go check for clues inside." Gojo flashes a thumbs up in your direction, the officer behind him now looking less assured by each passing second.
"Lucky us," you comment, taking the lead as Fushiguro hangs back. You pretend not to notice.
Ducking beneath the crime scene tape, you check out the living room first. A decorative rug spread out along the floor from end to end, covering beautiful creamy marble.
There was also a fireplace, an island bar that looked fully stocked too. At the center of the room was an enormous white leather couch. Damn. What did these girls do for a living?
There's a low whistle behind you,
"Whoa...What a place! I feel underdressed." Yuji steps inside, taking his shoes off respectfully. You frantically kick off your own and rush to toss them beside his. This place must cost more than you cared to imagine. Better to be safe than sorry.
"Which room belongs to the missing girl?" Fushiguro asks, joining you.
"It's the last on the left," an unknown voice makes the three of you nearly leap out of your skin.
"Sorry. I knew you didn't notice me here. But still couldn't make myself say hello." A dark haired girl in a green sweater is sitting on the floor between the island bar and the couch. Looking closer, you can tell her eyes are red from crying.
"Oh. Hi there. Are you..." your voice trails off, unable to complete the thought that was forming.
"Yeah... Aikiko is my roommate. I'm Ahn Lu. You can call me Ayako."
"So, you discovered she was missing?"
"We have a window through the wall we share. We can see into each other's rooms, but the window doesn't open, it's been sealed since before we moved in. I woke up one morning, looked for her...and she was gone. Her door was still locked." A sob shakes her shoulders and she blows her nose into an overused handkerchief. Your heart wrenches in your chest.
"We had just had a stupid arguement too. That's why she locked me out."
"What we're you fighting about?" Yuji inquires gently, pulling a pack of tissues from his pocket and offering them to the crying girl. She accepts them gratefully, giving another heartbreakingly sad smile.
"Stupid shit...She wanted to go back to the convention. I told her one night was enough. She loves parties more than me."
"Did she come home alone on the night she disappeared?" you ask, pulling out a small notepad you had tucked in your pocket.
"Yeah...She had been out most of the night."
"At a convention you said? What kind?"
Now she grows quiet once more. You kneel and place a hand on her shoulder.
"Hey...we're going to do our best to find her. But we need as much information as possible. Help us."
"Is this the convention?" Fushiguro's voice behind you prompts you to turn your head. He's holding a laminated cardstock flyer.
"It was in her room," he explains, handing it to you. It's all black with attractive pink script,
Peach Blossom Expo:
Make Your Dreams a Reality
Oh.
Oh.
Oh...
This is...
Ayako speaks again finally,
"It's a convention... for adult film stars."