Kento

I held up my hands, though prudently still holding my cursed energy there, "I'm trying my damndest. Are you here to finish the job?"

"No," The boy's smile turned a dour face into an adorable one. "Well, yes. But you have nothing to fear. Except from that scarf." Yuta chuckled softly without much facial movement. This kid was a damn natural. "Could you strike at me, please? Push us into the station. The cameras are disabled in there." He took a step, his katana sweeping low, and Tori yelped. "You too Ma'am. I think we have some things to discuss."

"Just don't cut me with that thing," Tori grumped. She'd already seen enough for tonight, and our work wasn't even close to done yet.

"That is the plan," the teen said softly. "Both of you come at me."

I took a long step forward, striking with an open handed chop at his face. I was a stupid move for fighting someone with a sword like his katana, but it was an obvious move. He thought so too, jumping back with quick feet and then backing slowly. Tori raised her hands balled for punching, and had this been a real fight, she'd be the most crazy woman in Japan. Or the bravest.

Okkatsu's katana flickered like a snake's tongue, and I pushed forward with a laugh, aiming a slap at the naked steel. In the right circumstances, that move might deflect a blade, but in reality it was a really great way to lose an arm. He tucked in his arm, his sword held low but ready. I'd heard that Maki trained him, but she didn't do this good of work in just a half-year. He had trained off on his own. His feet moved more, scraping on the interchange between the street and the station.

I continued 'pressuring' Okkotsu. He blocked every kick, punch, and strike with a calmness born of long hours of practice. Tori really knew nothing of fighting. She gasped and shouted every time Yuta parried or put in an off-centered strike of his own. He backed steadily until the streetlights cut and all that was left was the uncertain glow of Shibuya's emergency lights. In the dimness I saw Rio's form, and Yuta must have felt him; he turned on fast feet, holding his katana high and ready.

"I'd love to watch you two fight," I pulled off the scarf and stuffed it in my pocket. "But he's with us."

Rio grinned, "I haven't fought a swordsman in a long time. A very long time. I'd welcome it, but I'm afraid we may need you."

Yuta's smile reappeared as he sheathed his sword, "I thought that the rumors were false. I stayed with a couple members of the Ainu Sorcerers, and they said that the Japanese are too gullible. I see that they were right about our myths being reality. Although after meeting the vessel for Sukuna…" He bowed, and Rio returned the gesture, "I'm Okkotsu Yuta."

"My name is Rio. All Tengu are of the same family." He gave the teen a respectful nod, "Finally, someone with sense."

"You've met Itadori?" I barged in roughly, "He's well? Did you see Fushiguro, too? Gojo?"

"Itadoi is fine. He and his rider had some trouble," Yuta gave me a sidelong glance, and I nodded, I knew about Itadori's problems. "Hopefully I'll be able to help him more. Gojo-sensei is most assuredly NOT alright, but nothing can be done about that yet. Fushiguro is good now. He and Itadori are off taking care of some clan business. I'll meet up with them soon. Which brings me to what I need to tell you. You must leave. In a couple of days Tokyo will be a bad place to be a Sorcerer."

"What?" Tori rounded on him and I followed with a "Why?"

Yuta groaned, "Ma'am, I can't involve you or this Tengu in our problems. Nanami-sensei, though you're obviously alive, I think you should find a good counterfeiter and leave Japan. Start over in a nice place with lots of sun and exterminate curses on the weekend. Those places exist, and…" Yuta looked uncomfortable, "I'm young, I know, but sometimes I feel like I know things. If you stay here, I don't think you can die well."

That sounded ominous, but deep in my gut I felt like he was right. This teenager was wise far beyond his years. I might have been right about so much in my youth, I just trod the wrong path. Could my road forward be full of delicious foods, sunny beaches, and stacks of well-read books? Maybe even love? I turned to look at Tori, and she was looking at me with such sadness. I wanted to wipe that emotion out of her eyes and kiss her until she smiled.

"Be that as it may, I am here to not die at all, but to see if I can find any of my things." Tori's eyes hardened, and I wondered for a moment if I hurt her by not asking those questions out loud. Was our strange connection enough for her to sense my wish?

"You won't." Yuta said it with a tone of finality. "Your apartment has been cleaned and your family notified. All personal effects found after Halloween are over at the school." He gestured, and though Shibuya was always a nice clean station, there wasn't even an errant gum wrapper on the ground.

"The place looks like a war zone outside!" Tori wedged into the conversation, "Is that for the public benefit? What good can it be to cause fear?"

"I agree, but that is not your or my decision. The correct people know a little of what happened, and with the curses wandering around and the hatred and fear surrounding what happened here making new ones bloom…" Yuta shook his head, "It is safer for people and sorcerers if no one is left to create even more."

I lifted a hand, staring at the place where my blunt knife would rest. Who was I kidding? There was really nothing here for me now. My harness was gone with my shirt. I didn't even have a name I could use anymore. I lifted my eyes to alleviate the stinging that almost made tears fall. I would not cry over not being a Sorcerer. I took a breath to steady myself. Okkatsu was totally right.

"Did you find out who was behind this?" I asked, I wanted to know who to blame when I had time to feel sorry for myself.

"Geto's stink is everywhere." Yuta gave a disdainful sniff, "I was sure I killed that guy. I'll be positive this time."

"Then I guess we're done here. If Nanami's things aren't here, if there's not even any evidence to find?" Tori waited for Yuta to nod, "Fine. Then I can heal Kento's hands and we can leave."

Yuta raised his brows, "You can perform a reversed curse technique?"

"Reverse curse? I have no idea. Nanami-sensei can tell you how much I loathe that word now. Can Rio and I heal when we work together? Yes."

"Tandem healing? I've never seen that before."

"You're young." Tori lifted her chin, "You don't know everything yet."

I spoke up, "No, it shouldn't be possible."

"Listen to your elders, children. Not everything you've heard of is real, not all of it is fake either. Some things, just because you learned one way, doesn't mean that it isn't possible to do them another. I learned to do this when I learned how to do a half-dozen things you Sorcerers teach your children is impossible." Rio beckoned, "Tori?"

She joined him, and I felt her energy shift into a different pattern. I thought I had felt something like that on the train, I just thought it was the difference between using cursed energy and making it do something. Yuta was watching them intently as Tori held her hand out toward me.

I put my battered hands in hers and she smiled, "Don't pass out on me this time."

"No promises," I smiled. She was definitely having an effect on me now. Feeling her energy soothing the muscles and bones in my hands from the work I'd done earlier was like taking a wonderfully fast acting drug. I was glad for the dimness of the station, I could feel a blush climbing my cheeks.

"Now that is cool," Yuta said as I drew my hands back and Tori leaned on Rio. Rio wrapped a protective arm around her and she thanked him quietly. "Rio does the healing with your energy. You need to learn to do that on your own, Ma'am."

"It's Tori," she said with a huff, straightening and moving away from Rio. "You can heal, too?"

"I can. Rio, I must apologize. As I said, I'm young, so I reacted rashly. Ma'am," he shook his head, "Sorry. Tori. I do know the truth of Rio's words. I'll try to keep a more open mind. You'd think after showing people what I can do, that I'd know better than anyone that what seems impossible is just another word for forgotten or untried."

"I heard that you've used clan-specific techniques. I didn't believe it."

"All it takes is a little bit of thinking, usually." Yuta's dark eyes studied mine, "For instance, after working with Inumaki I put a lot of thought into what he can do, which is truly fascinating. It's been a useful ability."

I blinked, glad my glasses at least partially hid my reaction, "You can use cursed speech?"

He nodded, "It's only a seal. I wish I could save Inumaki, but his seal is not removable. I am truly proud to be his friend. In a lot of ways, he's stronger than I'll ever be."

I severely doubted that, "So I put the fangs on myself and bam, I can stop a curse in its tracks?"

"I put it on a megaphone. And practiced for days figuring out how strong of language I can use and my range. I wouldn't recommend just trying it out, Sensei." His face was closed in thought, "I'm not sure if repeated use of the snake and fangs wouldn't begin to stick after a while. It's a powerful seal."

"I suppose we are done here. Getting back to the car will be a joy. Can you come with us?"

"No, but perhaps I can help a little bit more. Rika-chan?" Yuta addressed the air, making a curse that I'd only had described to me loom over him like an evil cloud. "Thank you, Rika-chan. Could you give me that cleaver I found in Africa?" A low hum that seemed to vibrate my teeth answered him, and the curse reached inside itself and pulled a wicked cleaver free from a dark slash in space-time. This kid was talented to the absolute maximum.

The weapon, for this tool was surely not made for anything mundane, gleamed in the half-light of the emergency lighting. Its handle came complete with brass knuckles and a thick butt. The metal of the cleaver was beautifully etched Damascus steel. Someone had made this with a lot of both love and hate in his or her heart. It was nothing like my beloved blunt-knife, but when life hands you an apple you learn not to ask for persimmons.

"This is probably the closest thing I have to what I remember of your particular weapon, Nanami-sensei." I took the knife and admired it from all sides. "I'll forget about you now, but you need to leave this place. I'm sorry about Gojo-sensei." His coal-dark eyes were limned with tears, "I will figure out how to rescue him."

"Thank you, Yuta." I hefted my new weapon, "For the blade, advice, and the promise. When you see him again, tell him I died well."

"I will." He transferred his gaze to Tori, "Take care, Ma'am." His eyes were smiling now as he looked between us, "Good luck."

The curse turned toward her too, and we could all understand her this time; the voice and attitude were definitely female, "You have no chance, old lady."

"Rika!" The curse disappeared with what I'd call an embarrassed poof, "Though we work together now, she still gets jealous. Sorry for that. She can obviously tell that I'm a little attracted to you."

"There's such a thing as too much truth," Tori replied slowly. "It was good to meet you. Let Rika know I'm out of your league." I snorted and Tori gave Yuta another big grin, "It was nice to meet you, Yuta-kun. I wish I could talk to you some more, but I suppose this is goodbye."

He waved, turned on his heel, and loped away, his katana thumping his back with every step.

AN/ The Ainu are an indigenous people. There's a fascinating anime with them in it called Golden Kamuy. Highly recommended! They're also mentioned in JJK so why not in my story? If things go well, they'll come up again. My Beta seems to have disappeared, probably into a mire of life.