It didn't take much longer for them to finish. Whether that was because Ino knew I was waiting around in the cold dark or because they were almost done anyway, I was glad.
"Alright guys. I'll lock the place up," Ino announced, and the others picked up the final lot of boxes, and trotted over to the elevator. Ino waited for them to leave before deliberately kicking one of the boxes he'd been carrying close to the door frame. He fished out a key and locked the door before looking up, "Good bye, Nanami. Check in on me from hell, alright?" He walked away without any more commentary, disappearing around the corner.
I dropped from my perch as soon as the van they'd loaded drove off into the night. I flipped open the box, and felt an immediate surge of friendship for Ino. He'd put my spare glasses right on top. Since it was as dark as the underside of a shadow, I pocketed them. I pawed through the rest, and pulled out a suit jacket. Just one. I reluctantly put the jacket on since it was better than nothing. November being what it was, I'd need something else. I doubted that Ino's cash would cover that, especially since I was definitely going to buy a burner cell. I had the creeping feeling that even though I was going to look for my things, they were long gone. Either burned to slag or taken afterward.
I fit the box top back together, hefted it, and left my apartment behind. There was literally nothing here for me any more. I felt a pall of sadness descend, and let it settle around me; a comfortable sort of emotional armor that I could brood in. Besides, this way I wouldn't leave behind angry energy that might turn into a curse and hurt someone. I knew my sadness like a lover. Though she was loathsome, she knew me too, and together we'd made it through a lot of bad times.
With a slight slump to disguise my height in case anyone was watching, I walked back to where I'd left the motorcycle. I only had one place I could go now, and only one person I could ask for help. Rio was not going to like this, but Tori needed to learn more about herself. I started the bike and rode to a convenience store so I could get a burner cell, a set of bungee cords, and a hot cup of coffee. The ride back to Chiba was going to take some time.
Tori
After learning about the fallout of Halloween, I had been wondering what was going to happen to me. My job was in Tokyo, right in the evacuation-zone. I had waited for Nanami to get dressed before grabbing my phone and making a couple of calls.
My supervisor said that since I was too far out to make it back without getting on public transport, which was now impossible, that when the state of emergency was over I should come in for my regular shift. More than enough of my workmates lived within the zone, therefore they were fine. I was immediately relieved. More so when I'd been told how easy they had weathered the disaster.
He had no more idea what had really happened, giving me the same half-baked terrorist story I'd already heard. The Jujutsu Sorcerers must have some serious secret clout. I thanked him just in time for Nanami to leave.
After giving him my train pass and contact info, I figured he'd walk out of my life forever. When he'd left, I couldn't stand the thought of never seeing him again, so I closed the door without checking to see if he'd look back. If he had, this would be so much more complicated. If not, well, that came with its own complications. I didn't honestly think he'd call me back either. At best, after this whole thing blew over, I expected a parcel with Dad's shirt and my pass.
I could feel Rio's relief; mixed as it was with my own disappointment. I couldn't explain it, but I felt like we'd connected past the fact that we'd woken up snuggled close. I turned out my lights and went back to sleep. I would just have to weather the disaster and forced time off alone. Maybe I'd go get a couple drinks tonight.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
Loud knocking coupled with my phone buzzing woke me in a state of panic. This was a secure building so the banging was only slightly problematic, even at 2am. My phone ringing anytime I was off work - and at night - was a big concern. My parents lived alone in Nagano, and with this travel freak-out, if something happened to them, it would take precious time to figure out how to get there.
"Moshi, moshi?"
"Hey." Nanami's voice came over, "That's me knocking, do you mind if I impose on you for a day or two?"
"Oh! Sure, sure. I…," I blushed, if I told him what an idiot I was already being by admitting that I was hoping he'd come back… "Ah, right. Give me a sec." I hung up and beamed at nothing. I wondered for a second if I could ask him to sleep the rest of the night with me, but the intensifying heat in my cheeks and ears told me I shouldn't. I quickly wound the yukata that he'd worn around myself, tying the stays and belt as I jogged to open the door.
He greeted me with a weary grimace that turned into the most tiny smile, "It definitely looks better on you."
I ran a thumb over the collar, "Do you think so? I bought it for myself, after all." I moved away from the door, and Kento came in with a packing box. "What's with the box? Not that I mind, but if you had your own place to stay..?"
He sighed, letting the box drop with a loud bang. My neighbors were going to kill me. He went into the kitchen thumping into a chair with another groan, "I did. Some associates were cleaning it out. I didn't like how it looked, so I caught a friend, and had a chat with him. He told me that I should stay dead. That means that the fallout over Halloween was much worse than I expected. My friend must have been caught. The student in my care..?" He shook his head, and I could almost feel the sad energy pooling around him.
"I'm sorry. I wish there was something I could do."
"I could use your help. Yours and Rio's." I opened my mouth, but he lifted his eyes and hand, "Hear me out."
I could feel Rio rousing, though he'd definitely been in a state of sleep. I seated myself, "Alright. Tell me how you think we can help."
"Firstly, why I'm asking. I need to go there and see what happened. There'll be others like me in the area if there's an actual problem, and if I'm very lucky they'll be friendly." He put his cell on the table, "I admit that the plan is a little hasty and malformed, but I would like my things back. At least my weapon."
"You had a weapon when I saw you. It must have dropped."
"Dropped? Rio said you found me in the state I was in."
I carefully kept my face neutral, but had he known me better he would have seen the panic in my eyes. "Yes. Of course, I only meant that I remember seeing it when I started chest compressions. I have never seen one like that before. By the time we'd healed you all three of us were in no state to clean up after ourselves. I slung you over my shoulder and dragged you here."
"That makes sense," Nanami sighed. "Do you have to report to work?"
"Nope. Due to the incident, until the government announces the all clear and the trains run again, I am at your disposal."
"Will you help?" Nanami sat up straighter, "It's risky, and we'll be breaking the law. I don't even know if it will be worth it."
I wavered for a long second, "I will. I want to learn about myself." Rio felt still in my mind, but he wasn't demanding that I reconsider or outright refuse. Maybe he had been paying closer attention to my moods than I thought.
"Look, I'm freezing, and you were obviously sleeping. Let's get some rest. Your couch still comes with the offer of a quilt?"
I couldn't help the grin and soft snort, "Yeah. My mother and I made it while we had a stint in a sewing club. She was always trying to get me to learn new things. She was not comfortable with my abilities."
"Our moms don't want us to be hurt. Mine was the same."
"Did she know? When you were a kid? Did you?"
Nanami stood and shook his head, pulling off his suit jacket to fold it over my kitchen chair, "I knew I was different. But I thought I was crazy. I was walking down the street after school one afternoon when I accidently bumped into the most strange guy. When I saw him, he nearly glowed with power. He was insane." He laughed then, "In all respects. He said that he was glad he bumped into me. And I couldn't believe that he could even see me. He was wearing these kooky blackout glasses, and I couldn't see into them."
Elegant hands emptied his pockets, pulling out a couple of yen notes and coins. A pair of odd sunglasses with another small smile, "He told me I wasn't seeing things. That I could use my abilities for good. That appealed to me. My parents were boring. At the time, I didn't want to be like them." He shook his head, looking at me again, "I've since reevaluated my choices a few times. Being a Jujutsu Sorcerer was never rainbows and kittens. They do good, though. I had a hard time figuring out my path."
"Where is that friend now? I assume he's a friend?"
He snorted, "Yeah, Gojo is my friend. He was in charge at Shibuya." His face sobered all at once, "I can only surmise that he's dead, too. Though I can't accept that yet. Not until I see the body. He was…" His eyes glinted, "Gojo is the best of us."
My tears welled though I didn't know this Gojo person, "I'm sorry. Let me get that quilt."
"Okay." He unbuttoned Dad's jersey, and I stopped to watch him, "Didn't you see most of me already?"
"Doesn't mean I..," I squeaked, I'd been staring. I walked away quickly to the sound of his quiet chuckle. I love that sound. I have always thought that the sound of a man's laugh was sexy, but from Kento, it ruffled through my body, touching things that a sound shouldn't. What was he doing to me? Was it because he and I shared a talent? Or was it deeper than that? What exactly had happened between us on that filthy concrete floor?
"You're a part of him now." Rio said, "The healing you performed. When it's like that, bringing someone back from the brink, you'll leave a bit of you with him. Like a coffee stain on a perfectly clean mug."
I pulled down my quilt and thought about what Rio had said. I had healed people with my abilities before, but it had been small, especially considering what I'd done to Kento. Instead of making things more clear I was feeling muddled. Like my soul had been stirred recklessly and then left alone to bubble as it would. I just hoped that if I were to just let it cook it won't stink up the house.
"I'll be more careful around him then." I assured Rio. "You'll help when we go back?"
"To keep you safe, yes. Just call me as you did before." I could practically feel him debating with himself, "Tori, Jujutsu sorcerers are not good people. Nanami seems nice enough, but he carries trouble on his back as sure as a crow flies. By doing this thing, even if that's the end, he'll try to use you up. Don't doubt it."
I nodded, hugging my quilt close, allowing Rio's objection to percolate through my mind as I went back out to Kento. He was wearing a t-shirt that fit him too well. He looked up as I came in, and I gave him a tired smile that he returned with a nod.
"You can take the couch. Though I call this my summer quilt, it's mostly because it's this crazy yellow. It's warm. I've got an alarm set for eight."
He stood to accept it, "Thanks, Tori. I mean it; thanks for healing me, giving me a place to stay, and breakfast, too."
"I'll make something else when we get up then. Good night, Kento."
His eyes were steady on mine when he nodded again. Something passed between us, and I was pretty sure he felt it too. Tonight we'd do something dangerous together. I just hoped that the both of us make it through another trip to Shibuya. I could feel his dark eyes on me while I collected Dad's jersey, turned out the lights, and went back to bed.
AN/ Action! Next time on the Reversed Curse! Stay tuned!
And for being back to cover my back, Thanks to Mosevic! This promise is for you, bud.
