Kagome stares hard at the scene in front of her. The small town is bustling with townsfolk and tourist alike. With its simple shops and albeit beautiful spares of nature, she just can't figure out why this town and not Tokyo is full of tourists. Then again, she's never bothered to pay attention to how far away the apartment is from the city. Not that Satoru would let her focus on anything other than him. She huffs. Turns her head in his direction. Satoru's eyes gleam with mischief behind his black shades.
"For someone so insistent on tagging along, you sure don't pay attention." He sticks his bottom lip out.
"You've been talking about ice cream and shortcakes the whole ride here. Which isn't actual breakfast by the way." She rolls her brown eyes and then makes contact with Ijichi. "Ijichi-san, could you please share the details of the mission? I don't trust Satoru to not leave something out."
"Rude!"
"Of course, Kagome-san." Ijichi pulls into an alley parking spot. "There have been reports—rumors of people coming back to life." He takes a breath. "Some can revive their stillborn children and others have reported that zombies are attacking."
"Zombies?" She repeats, though her mind is still stuck on the resurrection of children. His words loop through her mind like a broken record.
"That's creepy," Yuji voices from the passenger's seat. Agreement rumbles from Kagome's chest.
"Eh? People actually fall for something as ridiculous as that?"
"No one thinks rationally when they are grieving," Kagome says. Satoru just shrugs. She tapers it down, but if they were alone, then she'd remind Satoru how no one would believe that she literally fell into his lap from another world. Resurrection isn't that farfetched. "Moving on. Please continue."
"Thank you. We believe that it may be the work of a curse user. The mothers who have sought to bring their child back to life have been reported to have been murdered. Specifically, their faces have been ripped off. Authorities have found them still holding onto their children." He clears his throat. "The zombies have been reported attacking at night and taking chunks out of the victims. Some have been able to get away, only to die in the hospital from their injuries."
"I really should have taken you guys on a different mission," Satoru chimes in. He says it so blase, as though everything is nothing more than a joke. But Kagome sees the way his hands flex against her thighs and how his shoulders stiffen. There are no exaggerated facial expressions to go along with his words.
"What is a curse user? Isn't that what you are?" She steers the subject to the potential suspect.
"Someone that uses their technique to harm other humans. A sorcerer- a proper one, uses their abilities to protect those that can't protect themselves." He grips the door handle and huffs. "Are you going to let us out or not?" Just as quickly as the door unlocks, Satoru is out of the car. Kagome grabs the bow and arrow that he told her not to bring. It's not a matter of not trusting that Satoru is strong—she can feel that he is—but more so that she refuses to be some damsel in distress.
"Gojo-sensei, how are we supposed to find this curse user? There's so many people here," Yuji questions, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Cursed energy leaves a trail." Satoru stops and points down. "Focus. Can you see the footprints? Whoever is behind this, is sloppy to leave a trail like this. Or they want to be found." He resumes following the trail. From her left, Yuji bounces as he walks. Happiness radiates off the pink-haired boy. Kagome smiles as she looks him over. She had forgotten what it was like to go on an adventure. And it's clear just how high Yuji regards Satoru.
They take several turns, weaving in and out of the crowd until they reach a souvenir shop. The dense amount of cursed energy around the area makes her sick. Kagome grips the quiver strap, her hands shake. A chill ices her veins as she resists the urge to purify the area. Satoru holds open the door for them, his face blank. Her own face burns as she refocuses on the problem at hand. It is so not the time to be thinking about how hot he looks when he's serious. As if sensing where her mind is diverging towards, Satoru winks at her. He laughs when she trips over her own feet on the way into the shop.
If it wasn't for the sheer dense amount of cursed energy, she would never suspect that such a bland store could be harboring such a terrible person. The souvenirs looked mediocre at best. Which, now that she thinks about it, could be why the man resorted to such terrible tactics.
"Are you the guy?" Satoru asks, stuffing his hands into his pockets. The man blinks as his mouth opens and closes as if he can't find the correct answer. His dark eyes sink in even more, threatening to melt inside of the surrounding flesh. His haggard appearance is off-putting as if he's the one under a curse. But she doesn't see any curses, so the source must be coming from him. "I'm on a tight schedule. It's a yes or no question," Satoru chides.
"Oh! I'm so glad you are here." The man clasps his hands together in prayer as he walks around the counter. "I've been requesting help for weeks," he says, voice quivering with each step. "I'd feel much better if we do this in the back. You are going to get rid of the curse, right?"
"So, he's not bringing the dead back to life?" Yuji asks as they follow the man to the back. Kagome looks up at Satoru, but he ignores both of them. "I'm so confused," Yuji grumbles to himself. Kagome reaches out and pats his back in reassurance.
The man turns to them. He looks—dare she say—hopeful. The standard black uniform clings to him from the sheer amount of perspiration coming from him. "I am so blessed. So blessed that it is you they sent." He dabs his forehead with his sleeve as he looks at Satoru.
"How are you bringing the dead back?" Satoru rocks on the ball of his feet.
"I-uh. Well, I retrieved their souls. With help," He stammers out, his chest heaves as black splotches break out on his face. His face elongates, as his teeth exchange themselves for fangs. His body stretches, ripping his clothes in the process. Kagome takes a step back. Satoru keeps rocking back and forth, not at all bothered by the sight of the once human transforming into some kind of beast.
There's a shift in the air. Stilted. It's as though all the oxygen is being sucked out of her lungs and stopping short on the tip of her tongue. Something isn't right. Kagome glances at Satoru. If he notices anything, he doesn't say. His gaze and Yuji's seem to be too concerned with the curse in front of them.
She just can't put her finger on it. Something just isn't right. And it's not how easily the curse spits out several barbed legs that twist and curve around one another. Nor is it the way its mouth oozes with some kind of dark mist.
"C'mere." Gojo reaches out, pulling her closer to him. "Yuji, hold on to me." He tucks his glasses into his jacket. "I believe that the special grade you fought had an incomplete domain. I'll show you what a perfect one looks like."
Kagome tunes Satoru out in favor of delving into that churning feeling in her gut. For a brief moment, the nauseous feeling passes as Satoru takes them into his domain. But even within his infinite void, there's still a tug urging her to investigate.
But what exactly?
A ball of red energy forms from the tip of Satoru's finger. It shoots out and exorcises the curse on immediate contact. She blinks as the white fades away and the storage room comes back into focus. Nimble fingers rub her side as Yuji praises Satoru repeatedly.
"That guy was weak. I want you beating curses ten times stronger."
s
"Eh? Ten times!"
Their back and forth are muffled as the hair on her arms stands up. "Something isn't right. There's something else here."
"I don't see anything," Satoru responds. "It's time for sweets, anyway."
"Wait, sensei. What about the zombies?" Yuji sticks his hand up.
"The curse is gone, so we don't need to worry about that." Satoru slips his glasses back on. "Wasn't expecting that guy to give in so easily, though. What a bore."
"That's the problem with humans. So fickle." Kagome's heart drops as they turn towards the sound of the newcomer.
"And you are?" Satoru asks, his voice deceptively cheery.
"No one of importance," the dark-haired demon answers. He tilts his head as he fishes out a mirror from his kimono. Horror seizes Kagome's throat. She can't sense anything from this demon.
Void. Like Kanna.
"You guys need to leave," She says, pulling her bow and an arrow out from the quiver. Satoru barks a laugh.
"You can't be serious?"
"Stay awhile," the demon speaks up. "I require a new curse user since you so rudely exorcised my last one."
"So, you're the one that cursed him?" Satoru spikes his hair. His stance is far too relaxed.
"It's easier that way. I wonder though." He rubs the mirror with affection, his yellow eyes assess them. "Just how far I'd get using you."
"Sensei isn't a curse user! He's a proper sorcerer," Yuji yells, his fists balled at his sides.
"So naïve," the demon mutters, holding the mirror up. Kagome moves to push Satoru out of the way, but the demon is faster. The mirror latches onto Satoru's soul. "How wonderful. Looks like that infinity can't protect you from everything."
The room lights blue from the power of the mirror and Satoru's soul attempting to fight back. His body shakes. Lurches forward and then back. Kagome and Yuji grab a hold of him as his body goes limp. Kagome's face grows hot as she takes in the lifelessness of him. It's not a sight she'd ever prepared herself for. She can barely hear Yuji's wails over the sound of her heart thrumming in her eardrums.
"So much for the strongest," Sukuna remarks. The sound of Yuji repeatedly slapping his face wakes Kagome from her daze. "To be defeated so easily. Ha! You stand no chance, brat. I can't wait to watch you two die slowly."
"You fucking bastard," Kagome screams as she rises up. She picks up the fallen bow and arrow on her way. Notches it. Her brown eyes blink back tears. Her entire body shakes, trying to expel the fury brewing inside of her. "Give him his soul back."
"Cute. But you are in no position to make demands of me, girl." The demon smirks as he looks at his mirror. She releases the arrow, aiming for the mirror. The demon scoffs. Laughs as the sparks emit from the arrow. "You can't possibly think that this will do anything?" He questions.
The arrow pierces. Cracks form in the mirror as the arrow forces its way further in. Pink bursts from the tip. "I'd release his soul if I were you." She notches another arrow. Points it at his head. The demon's dark eyes widen as the mirror shatters. The souls release. Some pass through the walls, some go out towards the ceiling. But the only one she cares about shoots directly towards Satoru's lifeless body.
She shoots the second arrow. The demon quickly fades away. The pressure in the room returns to normal as she drops her bow and falls to her knees at Satoru's side. Yuji regards her with a mixture of happiness and wariness.
"What did you do?" Sukuna questions. She ignores the appearance of a mouth on Yuji's cheek. Satoru still hasn't opened his eyes yet. Kagome brushes the white strands from his forehead as she moves him halfway onto her lap.
"Yuji-kun, would you be able to call for Ijichi-san? I don't think we'll be able to carry him back to the car."
"Y-yeah," he responds, scrambling to his feet. His footsteps get further away. She's thankful for the privacy.
"How are we supposed to get breakfast if you won't wake up?" Her lips wobble from the effort of trying to smile as tears fall freely from her eyes onto his face. "I'll have to tell Yuji-kun about your secret stash in the living room."
Satoru groans. Her breath hitches as she continues to rub his forehead. "I feel like I've been hit by a fucking train." She lifts his glasses up, delighting in the sparkling blue that greets her. "Hi," he whispers as if the moment will be broken.
"You're such an idiot," she scolds, leaning over to brush her lips against his. It's an awkward position, but they make it work. His hands reach out and grip the side of her face, deepening the kiss. "Next time, you listen."
"Mhm. But I'm your idiot." He stretches his legs and pulls her head back down.
"Yeah, I guess you are."
"You guess?" He whines. She kisses him again. Laughing against his lips despite the saltiness of her tears getting in the way.
"Come on, let's go get that breakfast you wanted."
A/N: Thank you guys for reviewing :) I love you all for sticking around. I took inspiration from Kanna and the resurrection doll audio drama(Jujutsu).