You stare hard at the flyer, trying to somehow change the venue through sheer willpower. There's no way your sensei would allow the three of you to continue on this investigation, would he? Would he even have a choice now? Time was a factor of any missing person case. They probably wouldn't want to waste time reorganizing another group.
You shakily hand the lewd advert back to Fushiguro.
"Find anything else in her room?" You ask.
"Nothing looks odd at first glance. Whoever took her did so without any struggle..." He pauses for a moment, looking to make sure Ayako is not paying attention to his next words. "There's residual cursed energy, too. A curse user was here."
You remembered Gojo had told you on the ride over that a curse user is a renegade Jujutsu sorcerer, usually someone with cursed technique abilities who chooses not to use them for good. So there is a physical enemy this time, not a cursed spirit at work.
"I... guess we should ask Gojo what he wants us to do. Right?" You met Megumi's gaze for the first time all morning. He seems as nervous as you are, quickly averting his eyes and excusing himself to step back outside.
"Can you tell us more about your roommate?" Yuji asks, helping Ayako up from the floor to sit on the couch instead.
"She's... my best friend," She manages to choke out between sobs. We both started dancing together years ago at the same club. Then when she got discovered by a talent agency, she insisted they contract me as well. She's always looked out for me so we could live our best life together..." She twiddles with a woven bracelet on her wrist, a friendship token, no doubt. You also note there's a flamingo shaped inkstamp on the back of her hand.
"That's a great friend to have," Itadori comments softly.
"Sounds like she never planned on leaving you behind. We'll do everything we can to find Aikiko. We promise. Right?" He looks up at you, eyes brimming with tears hes fighting to hold back.
You nod, giving him a smile.
"Sure, we will. Now can you tell us what happened at the expo before you left?"
The girl sniffles again, wiping her face with a sleeve. She collects herself with a few more steadying breaths.
"She was fine all night, her usual chipper self... That is, until the last meet and greet. We all assumed she had gotten some gross fan who said something terrible to her, but whenever that happens, they get thrown out. She doesn't normally let things like that get to her, but she was quiet for the rest of the night."
"Did you ask her what was wrong?"
"Well, of course I did. She was weird about it and kept saying she was fine. Even when the other girls weren't around and it was just us, she still wouldn't tell me..."
"Is that what started an argument?" You ask, beginning to piece things together.
Ayako nods slowly, the weight of her guilt is plain on her face.
"And... she wanted to go back the next night, even though it was obvious something had happened. It didn't make any sense to me. And I was afraid she would go looking for trouble on her own. I had finally convinced her not to go. Then... she was just gone," Her voice breaks again.
"Hey..." Fushiguro reappears with a pained expression in his eyes.
"Let's go. We're heading to the expo. Tonight is the last night, so our investigation has to move quickly."
"Alrighty! First and foremost...IDs everyone!" The man at the ticket booth crows. Four cards slide beneath the glass. "Ok, ok, ok, ...oh, and a happy belated birthday to you!" He chirps, speaking to you as he checks them.
"Thanks..." You mutter.
"I didn't know you just had a birthday!" Itadori sounds hurt. "We could have done something for you."
"It was like a week ago, no biggie." You take your card back and he accepts payment for entry from your sensei. Then the attendant stamps the backs of all your hands. It's a tiger.
"Excuse me, can I ask you... about these stamps?" You hold yours up, pointing to it.
"Oh, that just shows you paid to get in."
"I figured... But my friend was here the other day, and she got a flamingo." You try to sound casual and not too nosy.
The man raises his eyebrows and gives you a creepy grin. "Then your friend must be pretty special. Those aren't for general admittance."
You nearly regret asking now because of the way he's staring at you and the annoyed sounds from the patrons behind you. You thank him awkwardly and enter through the front doors.
"Hey, nice thinking back there!" Gojo chirps.
"Thanks." Wasn't he supposed to be the one leading the mission? He hadn't even talked to Ayako earlier, leaving that to his students. Mostly he seemed along for the ride, leaving everything up to the three of you.
Gee, I wonder why, you think to yourself with annoyance.
There were girls everywhere. Obviously. Wearing next to nothing, or less than that, as some even sported various colorful body paint to tease the imagination. Queues of fans winding through velvet rope lines, each waiting their turn to meet the actresses they so loved. Desperate for a handshake and a photograph, and some are less patient than others.
"Hey! You cut in line, jerk," Someone snapped.
"Just take this and keep quiet!" The other fan cried desperately, cramming a wad of cash into the other man's hand, "I have to go to class soon, I can't wait in this line!"
"Umm, I mean... wow," Itadori babbles, face immediately flushing as he looks around with wide eyes.
"Try to stay focused on why we're here, please," Fushiguro gives his friend a tolerant reminder, and a gentle elbow to pull his attention away from a particularly tall woman wearing pink cat ears.
From your subconscious you hear the giddy laughter from Ryomen who was over the moon at how this mission is going.
"And here I was thinking humans were the most boring thing in existence! What an absolute playground of flesh!"
"Ryomen, and I am asking you this with every fiber of my being, please behave here," You beg. "We can do anything you want when we're done, just please don't cause a scene of any kind."
He ignores you. "Look over there! That girl looks familiar right? You know which one..." he tilts your eyes towards a banner with a name that you recognize instantly.
"Holy shit!" You have to hold back from squealing out loud. "Do you think she'd let me take a picture with her?"
"What is it? You see something?" Yuji asks, noticing you perking up.
Frantically you search for anything else you could have been remarking on in that direction, luckily you do spot something.
"Uh! Look! That door back there is marked with the same flamingo Ayako had. Think we should start there?" You point to a back corner of the expo room.
"Oh, good eye. Okay let's see what that's about. Hey! Where's sensei?!" Itadori turns around in alarm. None of you had realized you were suddenly minus one group member.
"Dammit!" Megumi swears.
"I had a feeling we would lose him here. You didn't see how excited he got when I showed him the flyer earlier."
"So we're on our own, and we'll have to find sensei," Itadori pouts. "Lucky him, he's probably gonna get to tour the whole place and meet everybody."
As you make your way to the back, you see a large man blocking the doorway to the flamingo room.
Uh oh.
"Umm, excuse me please? Can we go back there?" You ask politely.
He isn't even looking down at you as he speaks,"Sorry."
"Uh, does that mean no?" You try again.
"Sure does."
You turn back to your partners, shrugging helplessly. "Well, I kinda did all I can."
The man steps aside from the door, opening it for a girl in a tight blue mini skirt and top to enter. On the back of his hand holding the door open, you see a rhino stamped in black, and a pink flamingo on hers as she blows him a kiss on her way through. So that's the only way in... A different stamp.
"Okay, new plan!" You hurry them in the opposite direction with both hands gently pulling their arms at the elbow.
"We're going to look for anyone with one of those flamingo stamps on their hand."
"How will that help us get in?" Fushiguro asks, for the first time he doesn't pull away from your touch. He tolerates you leading the way.
"Have neither of you ever sneaked into a club? You get someone to lick their hand and press it to yours so the ink transfers. Then you get in without paying or getting carded."
"Wow, that's... pretty clever." He remarks, clearly not expecting an idea from you. Ass.
"Okay, so we'll split up, and meet back here in 30 minutes. We'll try your plan to get back there." Yuji gives you a thumbs up. "Try not to get lost. Everyone get each others number, then text if you get a stamp."
You each take off in different directions, you wrack your brain on how exactly you're going to convince someone you don't know to help you.
"Okayy, so who's got one?" You scan the room, checking various hands within view. It seems that almost everyone has tigers like you. There's the rhino, which seems to be on the biggest guys there. Clearly some sort of hired security.
"Heads up, someones checking you out." Ryomen growls suddenly.
"Excuse me! You've got a fresh looking face. Have you ever considered doing any modeling or acting?" A man offers you his business card.
"No. Not interested." You walk past him. He looks dejected but pursues you. Within moments, he bustles up to your side, again offering you a business card.
"Please take this, you have alot of potential. I can tell!"
"Not interested, thanks." You're trying to feel flattered instead of annoyed, but is this what the whole expo is going to be like? Pervs trying to recruit you?
"Please reconsider! With your figure you could easily-" your arm shoots out grabbing the man by his ugly tie and squeezing until he chokes. There is a growl from you.
"Do not appraise my vessel without permission. Your eyes are undeserving. I should pluck them out and eat them." Ryomen threatens.
"I-I'm so sorry! My sincerest apologies! Please, I beg you." The man trembles and sweats nervously, fidgeting and trying to pull away. When his hand comes up to wipe his brow, you see a baboon smeared by his struggling.
"Wait! What's with the stamps? Tell me about them." You address him in your own voice, releasing his tie. He looks perplexed at the sudden change in your tone, but is still subdued enough to answer you at least.
"Scouts and agencies have these," He holds up his hand, pointing to the mark. "It's so we know who we are here. Plus we get a 15% discount on admittance."
"What do the other animals mean?" You press him. It seemed like he could be slightly useful now.
"Tiger means general public, any regular fan here has one. Rhinos are security, or personal guards."
"Guards? People have their own hired muscle here?"
"Fans can get overwhelmed when they meet their idols. The rhinos usually keep the more frantic public away from the talent." He explains.
"The flamingos," You fill in. He nods.
"Thanks, chump." You pat his shoulder and walk past, leaving him very well shaken. Now you know where to find the right kind of person at least. But who would be most likely to give it to you?
"I hope the boys are doing okay." You wonder if they'd made the same connections yet about who to ask.
"Feh, who needs them?" Ryomen scoffs.
"By the way... Thanks back there."
"What with the human potato? Of course, my sweet. I hate lowlifes looking at you, you know that."
"Would you really have eaten his eyes?" You ask hesitantly.
"Eh, probably not. Brown tastes how you'd think it would. Now maybe if they were blue."
That gives you slight pause. Until he adds with questionable mirth,
"Just kidding. Heehee!"
It's so hard to tell if he is.
"Hey, now that the brats are gone... You know who would have that stamp, right?" Ryomen reminds you.
"Hmm? OH!" Giddiness overtakes you and you look for the table you had first seen from the entrance. "I mean...we HAVE to right? It's for the mission and all."
You step into a line of fans, waiting your turn. Your excitement and nervousness grows with each step forward. This booth is for an actress who's name you actually recognized. The thrill of meeting her in person so unexpectedly like this might just be worth the trouble of this mission. There's only one more guy ahead of you now. Your heart pounds, and you vigorously rub your palms on your jacket to hopefully make them less clammy. From ahead, you can hear the current fan chatting with the actress.
"You're so gorgeous and talented! I've been a supportive fan for years now, and I even tell my friends about you so they'll watch your content too!"
It was typical fanboy gushing, the actress looks absolutely bored by it. She is nodding politely, giving a trained perfect smile and signing a photograph for him. He thanks her, and the patron in front of you steps forward now.
Again, a similar spew of devotional following and support, and her empty eyes smile, handshake, and signature. Huh... it's almost as if...
"She doesn't understand them..." You think silently, just as it's your turn to step forward. Then you realize, you haven't prepared anything to say to her. Shit!
"Umm, hello..." you offer your hand awkwardly to her, she takes it, smiling as if you were old friends, giving you the same face she gave everyone ahead of you. When you touch, there's a voice suddenly in your head that you don't recognize, speaking something in another language. After a moment you realize you're actually hearing her thoughts.
"Ahh, best let me try this, dearest." Ryomen takes control of your body, softly covering the actress's hand with your free palm. It's a bold move, and she arches her brows at you inquisitively. The security guy behind her table turns his head in your direction, watching you like a hawk.
"Scusa se me ne sono accorto," Ryomen begins, speaking softly and caressing her skin with your thumb.
"Ma nessuno qui si è presto la briga di parlarti come si deve, bella mia."
She looks surprised, then smiles broadly, "È così noioso! Come possono essere di supporto e non imparare una parola di Italiano anche solo per salutare? È offensivo!" She exclaims the last part, shaking her head.
Her guard makes a move to step toward you, but she glares him back, flicking her wrist at him, a cascade of tiny gold bracelets jangling.
Looking back at you, she gives you a smile that practically melts your insides.
"Uhh, Ryomen? Since you're taking charge and all, help me out?"
He flicks your eyes down to the stamp on her hand. "I lick it right?"
"Yeah, then press the back of your-our hand to it," You correct yourself hastily.
Thankfully, lacking any psychic abilities, the actress is unaware of the curse's actions his spectral tongue caresses her skin from your palm, then he presses your hand to hers casually. He keeps chatting with her in Italian to distract her.
"We've got it," He announces.
"Fantastic job!" You cheer silently for him.
"Vorresti una foto?" She asks you.
"Si! Grazie," He smiles at her. Though instead of a signed picture, she pulls out her phone and comes around the table to take a selfie with you. You pull out your phone to do the same, mometarily losing all thought when she presses her cheek next to yours. She smells like honey and vanilla, and her long hair tickles your skin.
"Ryomen, I just wanna say, anything negative I've ever said or thought about you, I am taking it all back now." You think gratefully.
"Aww, well thank you, I appreciate that. Because I do hear absolutely everything you think."
It feels as if you're floating on air as you walk away, already punching in a text to send the guys.
"Got stamp, newbs. Lol :P
Meet at last spot where we split up."
Maybe you were feeling a little cocky today, and that's okay. You lean back against the wall and waited patiently. It's several minutes before Fushiguro and Itadori return.
"That didn't take very long! So you got it?" Yuji looks at your hand which you extend proudly.
"Huh... It's kinda light," He comments.
"I don't know if it'll transfer a second time."
Shit, really? You had been so excited earlier at getting it that you hadn't noticed. Dummy, how can they get back there with you? Also, how were you going to get back there dressed in your uniform?
"So... plan?" Megumi asks. The uncertainty painted on your face isn't making him feel confident.
"It's... okay. Maybe, the guards will change shift and I can just walk through? I'll pretend like I'm part of the expo and I'm running late and need to get back to change. I'm sure that's gotta be a dressing room."
"What about once you're back there?" Yuji asks with growing concern.
"I'll talk to the other flamingos, I mean performers. Maybe they saw our girl and they'll have some answers. Fushiguro, send me that photo of Aikiko. I'll ask around to anyone who will talk to me."
He sighs and purses his lips tightly in a thin line, but does what you ask. You're thinking on your feet, and he is going to have to trust you.
Itadori shifts nervously. "Are you sure about going alone? Maybe we can find another way in from the outside?"
"I'll be okay. I've got a way to contact if things go south." Looking over his shoulder, you watch another mountain of a man approaching the door. It looks like a shift swap already. Now's your chance.
Fushiguro follows your gaze, and grunts with audible frustration.
"Hey... be safe alright? Don't call attention to yourself, just try to blend in and ask about Aikiko. Recon only."
You're stunned into silence momentarily. This is the first time he's expressing concern for you. He looks away, hiding his eyes now.
"Itadori and I will look for Gojo, and we'll let him know what you're doing. You got my text, right?"
You nod, tucking your phone away.
"Yeah, I'm ready."
Unable to control his overwhelming emotions, Yuji throws his arms around your shoulders. "I know you're brave, but don't be too eager to fight anyone here. Not alone. If you feel like there's trouble, just try to run away."
You give him a sympathetic pat on the back, feeling guilty for causing them both to worry about you so much already. "I'll try not to take longer than a half hour."
"Good luck," Fushiguro calls after you as you turn and hurriedly make your way to the back of the room.
Each step makes your pulse race a little faster. You're going to have to improv your way through. Maybe it would be best to come across as small and helpless?
"Heheh! That's hilarious. You're going to make yourself pathetic enough for him to help you?" Ryomen cackles from your cheek.
"Hey, I've done it before. If Yuji and Megumi hadn't been nearby earlier, I probably could've persuaded the first guy."
You begin rolling the waistline of your skirt under as you walk, shortening it until a breeze hits the backs of your thighs. A handy little trick you'd learned back in high school. The extra material tucked beneath at the top gave the skirt a little flounce too.
"Huh... Not bad," You hear Ryomen comment.
Hmmm... You can do better. As quickly as you can, and without attracting attention, you unbutton your shirt from the bottom, stopping when a fair amount of your tummy is exposed, and tying it in a knot.
"Hey! People are looking at you..." He growls now, more than a little annoyed.
"Good, that's what I need," You smirk as you approach the new doorman. He was bigger than the last one. That didn't bother you though.
"Hiii," You bat your eyes and wave your hand, "I just need to get through, hun."
Inside your head, you hear Ryomen snort derisively. He wasn't impressed.
Maybe the added convincing stares from the patrons around you helped. Or the way you hooked your thumb of your other hand to pull your shortened skirt down even lower. By allowing him a small glance down the valley of your hip, he was too distracted to notice the first tiger stamp. He waves you through.
You stifle a triumphant smile as you walk through, remembering to look casual, like you belong there. The door clicks shut behind you, and you find yourself looking down a hallway of white and blue tile.
There's an open doorway ahead on the left, and the sound of conversation coming from inside. Might as well start there.
As you pause before entering the room, you listen carefully.
"She said she was going to come back, did anyone see her after midnight?"
"She took her roommate home I thought?" A second voice responds.
"Yeah, but after that, I meant. Did anyone hear from her? She didn't make it to the afterparty. " The first girl repeats.
"I haven't heard from her," A third voice offers sadly. "Normally she blows my phone up nonstop. Plus she wouldn't miss an expo day like today, they pay her just for showing up because of the crowd she draws."
A pensive silence follows. It feels awful to be eavesdropping like this, so you knock softly on the open door.
"Excuse me, I'm sorry for the intrusion... Are you talking about Aikiko?"
Three beautifully made up girls turn at the sound of your voice, exchanging pensive glances before the first one addresses you.
"Do... you know where she is?" the girl sitting in the middle asks. She has short brown hair and bright purple eyeshadow.
"No, I don't. Sorry. But her roommate asked us to come ask some questions about the last night she was here."
"Is Ayako not coming either now?" the girl to her right, sporting a straight, black ponytail and red lipstick asks you. "That must mean something... really did happen to Aikiko."
None of them question how you're dressed. You pull up a small bench from a nearby vanity set, sitting across from them. "Did any of you see anything odd during the last meet and greet? I was told it started at 10 pm."
"My table was next to hers." The last girl finally says. She's wearing shiny thigh high boots and an underbust corset. "I saw her the whole time... She was fine until the last guy came through her line. The weirdest ones always stay the latest."
"Did you hear anything he said to her?" you ask, leaning in.
She shook her head. "Sorry. We were too far apart. Security saw she was uncomfortable and escorted him out. He went without causing a scene. I would have forgotten about it honestly... Until nobody heard from her for a whole day."
"This guy who harassed her...What did he look like?"
"Average height, I guess? Dresed in all black. He had long silver hair."
.
.
Exiting the dressing rooms, you make a direct beeline for the front entrance, ignoring the confused doorman who starts to call after you, but remains at his post nonetheless. You pull out your phone and punch in a message to your teammates.
"Got a lead on a patron who harassed the victim before she went missing.
Meet in front, outside the ticket window."
"Hey... your ass is still showing," Ryomen reminds you much too late as you step outside. You frantically smooth your skirt back to it's full length and rebutton your shirt to make yourself more presentable. There was still enough lighting from streetlights outside that anyone could have gotten a cheap thrill if they noticed you.
"Ugh! For fucks sake!" You curse. A noise to your left makes you jump suddenly
"Don't worry, no one saw. I mean, no one but me that is." A voice calls to you from the shadows. "I've been dying to meet you..." He says again in a sweet, smitten voice.
"Who? Me?" Oh, god. A fan from the expo must be mistaking you for someone else. "Actually I'm not one of the... talent."
He laughs, it's a light, playful sound.
"No, silly! I've been waiting for... you. Specifically you. Though, you're much prettier than they told me you were."
A chill runs up your spine. Who's "they," and who was this creeper?
"Was that backhanded remark supposed to be taken as a compliment?"
"Haha! Alright let me try again, please. You're definitely the prettier vessel of Sukuna."
Ryomen approaches him, despite you having no intention to do so, and speaks for himself. "Who the fuck are you? State your business."
"Business? Oh, I'm here to discuss pleasure, my friend. As in, it would be my pleasure to present you with this!" He kneels on the concrete, traditionally kowtowing and dipping his head. He must really trust Ryomen to not crush him under your heel.
You can see in the darkness, uplifted in his palm, sits one of Sukuna's severed fingers.
"Where did you come across that?" You ask.
"My friends and I collect them. And of course, there is more where this came from."
"And you're offering it freely to me?"
"Of course! Forgive me if it seems like I've been stalking you, but I know you're living with the Jujutsu sorcerers. That can't be a good fit for you, am I right?" He glances up through his silvery bangs. It's hard to get a good look at him here in the shadows like this, but already a feeling of dread is filling your gut.
"You know alot about me. Let's have your name now." Ryomen demands.
"Apologies. Where are my manners?" He looks up, meeting your gaze. You inhale sharply at the sight of stitches sewn in a tight line across his face.
"I am Mahito. And I hope we can become good friends."