Keigo tosses fitfully in his sleep. He'd gone out looking for you after his shift ended, though he spent hours on the clock as well seeking you out instead of keeping his eyes open for incidents needing his attention down below. He shirked those responsibilities out of concern for you. After rescuing Haru, Keigo thought you'd start to feel maybe a tiny bit better about yourself, but his plan backfired horribly. For whatever reasons unknown, having attention put on you forced you to flee.

The glass of the balcony door slides open. A shadowy figure slips into the room.

"Hey!" Hawks pops up from bed, recognizing your silhouette. "Where the hell have you been? I was looking for you for hours!"

Without replying, you collapse onto the empty cot from exhaustion. Your back muscles feel as if they're on fire. After flying all day without rest, you can barely muster the energy to complain when Keigo puts a hand on your shoulder. "Are you alright? You're shaking! Don't tell me you've been in the air this whole time!"

He pulls you up, wrapping one of your arms around his neck as he scolds you again under his breath. "You could have gotten yourself hurt. When your wings don't rest they get weak. You could plummet and die from fatigue."

You laugh harshly. "That was the plan…"

Not finding any amusement whatsoever in your dark humor, Keigo abandons his gentle approach and flings you face first onto the bed with irritation. "What is your deal?!" He demands. "I thought you would have had enough suicidal ideation for one day after helping someone earlier."

You roll over, glaring at him. "What was that?"

He doubles down, "You heard me. You saved someone in need today, and your first instinct was to run away and immediately push yourself to the point of risk? What the fuck is that about?!"

It takes a second for you to piece it together, but it all makes sense suddenly. "You're angry about me leaving before the press showed up. You wanted me in the papers with you."

He bites back his response, rubbing his chin. A nervous tick. You're right of course. He'd been planning to let you take up some of the hero spotlight to hopefully boost your ego a bit. What was so wrong with that? That kid needed saving, and you still got to feel like you did something that matters. That part isn't a lie. So what if you got a little good publicity from it?

"Why do you want me to look good? Not just the clothes, but my societal perception. Why do you need people to see me as good?" you demand.

"Because most people are when they're given the chance," he states. "Most people dream of helping others in some way or another. That's why people become organ donors, or law enforcement, or social workers–"

"Or heroes," you cut in. "Like you?"

"Exactly."

"You…You don't know the first thing about me. You have no room to–"

He interrupts you, "You're right. So why don't you tell me where you came from? Or better yet what you're running away from? Because I'm very interested in that, but you've continuously given me zero. I'm grasping at straws here trying to cheer you up these past few days, for God's sake!"

"I didn't ask you to be my fucking bluebird of happiness," you snipe.

"You shouldn't have to ask to be happy. I don't know who or what happened to make you feel like all you deserve is to be alone and miserable, but you can't deny yourself every good thing that comes your way. Can you just stop punishing yourself?" Keigo's voice cracks, causing you to meet his gaze again. There are tears in his eyes. Why would he be crying over you?

"Hey, now…Don't do that," you start, but when his hand comes up to hide his face, a lump forms in your throat. "Seriously, cut it out. I promise I'm not worth all that. Please," sitting up you reach with a tentative hand, but stop yourself before touching him.

"See? That's what I mean," he sniffles, looking up. "Why do you feel that way about yourself? Do you have any idea how incredible you are?" Before you can pull back, his fingers graze your cheek. You freeze, barely daring to breathe.

"I hear how you talk when you're alone," Hawks whispers quietly. "I …get the feeling there are things about yourself that you hate, but I don't know why. I think…you're amazing."

"Keigo, you shouldn't be touching me," you warn.

"Why? Are you going to hurt me?" he asks.

"...Not me." Pull away, you silently urge yourself, but remain motionless.

"Then I'm not afraid," Keigo insists, leaning closer. His fingers slip through your hair, cradling your head without pulling you in at all. He's giving you plenty of time to stop him if that's what you want.

Your eyes close, waiting. When nothing happens, you look again. He is studying you carefully, you can feel his thumb brush over the markings on your chin and along your jaw.

He sighs. "If you want a kiss, you're going to have to open up to me. I don't want to kiss a stranger."

Your cheeks burn, caught off guard. You know you shouldn't. If Sukuna decides he wants to hurt Keigo, there's nothing you'd be able to do to prevent it. Your word of power over him means nothing now.

Sensing your dread, your curse addresses you privately, "I won't," he protests.

"Bullshit."

"What's bullshit?" Keigo asks, his brows furrowed in confusion.

Not realizing you were speaking out loud, you turn your face from his touch. He sighs disappointedly, sitting on the bed next to you. "I would have thought by now you'd realize I'm trying to look out for you. I'm not here to judge."

"Why do you care so much? Why me?" you ask.

"Because I found you, and you don't seem to have anyone else. I'm not going to be able to sleep at night if I don't know what's going to happen to you," he confesses.

"You seemed to be sleeping just fine," you laugh weakly, glancing down at the rumpled sheets.

"I was just keeping it warm for when you came back," he sighs. "You need to rest your wings. I can see you're still shaking."

He's right. The tremors in your feathers haven't stopped for a second.

"I bet they hurt, too. You pushed yourself to your limit. Why?"

You shrug, immediately regretting it as you wince and cry out in distress.

"Here, let me." Keigo gingerly helps you out of your jacket, then stoops to remove your boots too. "Lie down. I can massage you."

"No thanks," you reject the offer right away, but lie down anyway, unable to hold yourself upright any longer. You know you should keep your distance, but the throbbing of your back makes you reconsider.

"You can fuck with my wings all you want but keep your hands off of me, got it?"

He looks up at you, considering your words. "Okay. Deal."

There's a light jostle as he sits beside you. "Try to keep them halfway open, that way I don't have to move them too much."

Taking a deep breath, you loosen your wings, straining with discomfort as your back complains from the effort. Fuck, these things are so heavy. How are you ever supposed to get used to them?

There's a tickling sensation as Keigo lightly smoothes his palm over the edge of your wing closest to him. "Try to relax," he encourages as you tremble beneath his hand. His left hand repeats the actions on your opposite side. "Breathe deeply."

You're trying, but something else is happening now. With each downward stroke of his warm hands across your feathers, a pleasant tingle rises up your whole body. The repeated waves continue as his caresses grow stronger, easing your tension little by little. It feels…so unexpectedly good. Your face is hot. You turn away from him before he can see how this is affecting you. Should you stop him? The tiny whimpers coming from you are far from a refusal. You can't prevent the way your body forces you to respond, fingers twisting in the sheets and your back arching up for more of the sweet touch.

"How's that? Better?" Keigo leans in, whispering to you, ignoring your sounds politely. His fingers press into the base of your wings where they meet your back. Your moans deepen. Fuck! That's where all of your pain nests. Your flapping muscles are twitching beneath his fingertips, pulsing as he massages into you carefully here.

It's the best thing you've felt in days. Your back was wrecked after several nights of sitting upright, bound and shackled to one room. You'd lost all hope that you would ever feel something like this ever again. The sensations are so overwhelming, you find yourself choking back sobs.

"What's up? You okay?" he asks, leaning in to get a better look at your face. You bury it in the sheets, but muster a nod. "Do you…want me to keep going?"

No, you think silently.

But your head nods again, and you hum in relief as his hands replace themselves on your wings once more, resuming the same kneading pressure. His palms are so warm. You're shocked at how distinctly you can sense his touch through your feathers. Even the slightest caress sends tremors up your spine. Your shoulders are heaving with restraint. You didn't realize it before, but Keigo's scent is heavily embedded in the sheets from where he was sleeping. He smells so…sweet. It's probably the sunscreen he wears when he flies. There's a light trace of coconut mixed with the salt of sweat and sea air. Hawks must have flown along the coast looking for you before the sun set. It couldn't have been easy work. He told you before that flying over water for long distances was both tiring and treacherous, but he still risked it to possibly find you.

"Don't stop," your voice is hoarse. You're unsure of who made the demand, you or your Curse.

A smile plays across Keigo's lips. "Alright then. How's this?" His fingertips press through the smallest feathers at the shoulder of your wing. A jolt sparks so intensely through you that your legs spasm.

"Oof! Haha, easy now," he chides you. You'd kicked one of your heels into him by accident, sending his weight pressing down onto your back. With his chest against your feathers, his heartbeat pulses through clearly. Does he realize what he's doing to you? He's laughing innocently enough, but…He must be aware of what this feels like?

He leans his head in closer to your ear, barely whispering, "Relax more…And spread them open."

A blush floods your cheeks. He had to know how that sounded! That was a deliberate play on words. You hesitate before opening your wings to their full span. Keigo whistles low in appreciation. "Fuck….."

There's a distinct change in his breathing pattern now. It's hard for him not to react to the sight of you. The muscles of your back stand out with your cursed markings outlining them. He wants to run his hands over those too, taking in the way your body would react in response to the touch…but you told him to focus on your wings only. He can still work with that. You haven't yet come to see your wings as part of yourself. Maybe this will help.

He dips his head, exhaling over the smallest feathers connecting to your shoulders. They bristle in response as he knew they would. You shift but say nothing, unsure of what that oddly pleasant prickling sensation is. It doesn't feel bad, only... Different.

"Your feathers are so fucking gorgeous. You're black as night," Keigo whispers. "Even the sunlight doesn't reveal any refracting colors, and I've looked, believe me. It's like they swallow everything up or something. So beautiful."

They…are? You hadn't stopped to look at yourself, for obvious reasons, but Keigo clearly sees something different in them. The warmth spreading up your back from his physical contact is making your thoughts fuzz together. You weren't supposed to let him touch you…But his hands aren't on you, just on your–

There's a ripple of pleasure that halts your processing when Keigo's fingers open and grip your short feathers firmly.

"Mm!" your face flushes, and your hand barely makes it up in time to stifle your moan.

"It's okay. I know what I'm doing," he speaks directly against your shoulder, letting the stubble of his chin drag over your skin. The same tickling sensations you'd felt moments before cascade up your spine.

"You…You seem like you really need this. Let me keep going, okay?" He pulls again, curling his fingers of both hands into fists. "How does this feel?"

"Ohh, fuck!" Your hands can't contain your scream this time.

"Yeah? Good, I'm glad it feels good, but do you understand why?" he slurs against your shoulder again.

Your head shakes to indicate no.

"Still needing more? Alright then, here we go." He lifts you by your wings, expertly manipulating them open wider. You feel the press of his body flush against your feathers, warm and comforting.

"You have to get it by now, don't you, little fledgling? These wings are you."

A sob breaks your silence, but you accept his words as truth. When your wings ached from overuse, it caused you great discomfort, and now with Keigo stroking and caressing them like this, sending cascading shivers down your entire body…you can't argue with him. They're connected to you enough that even the tiniest feather transfers the movements of Keigo's wandering hands. When he stills, you're astonished to find that you can feel his pulse.

"I…understand." Your voice sounds small, trembling with timid realization.

He eases his grasp, softening his touch and releasing you back down to the bed easily. There's a satisfied hum in the back of his throat, and he wraps his arms tightly around your shoulders. "Good. That's all I wanted to show you. I'll let you go now," he announces as he pulls away completely.

Undoubtedly this was a poor decision on your part. Ryomen begins to react, overstimulated by the sensations you're sharing and more than disappointed at their cessation. You're aware that your nails are slicing into the sheets, but don't dare to release your hold. Those claws might hurt Keigo. You emit a low growl.

"Sorry, what was that?" Hawks startles at the predatory alarm, his own baser instincts taking over.

He jerks back just to be on the safe side. A thought crosses his mind that you mentioned earlier he could get hurt by touching you. What exactly did you mean by that? He watches as you bury your face again and breathe in deeply. Then the markings along your body begin to pulse with crimson flashes. That's …an interesting response

Instantly you switch into defensive tactics. "Keigo…You should leave."

"What? What do you–"

"I mean it! You need to get very far away from me, if you know what's good for you."

"I…I'm not myself right now." you snap, pulling yourself away.

"Well…This room is in my name. Plus it's cold out," he counters. He's more concerned with leaving you alone than being out in the elements. You're not making any sense to him. You switched from one mood to the next like taking off a mask. He knows you need help. He says your name softly, daring to place a hand on your arm. Your skin is burning to the touch. "Hey, do you have a fever or something?"

Pull away…pull away! You're urging both him and yourself while simultaneously leaning back to increase the contact.

"Just tell me what it is you need…I'll try to help however I can," Keigo urges again. You can hear the concern rising in his voice. You need to dull this intensity, it's too much. Sukuna's energy feels as if it's pouring through your skin in waves. He wants Keigo. The same way he wanted Inumaki. And Megumi.

But never Yuji…Maybe because–

"Does the fridge have a mini bar? Can you get me a drink?" You ask suddenly.

Hawks hesitates, wondering if alcohol might be the best thing right now, but it's all you're asking for, and you're in for the night. He gets up to check the mini fridge. As expected, there's a few loose shooters in marked slots to charge his room accordingly. "What's your poison?" he asks.

"I don't care. Whatever's strongest," you mutter.

Now he is really second guessing whether or not he should enable you, but still grabs three of the bottles, intending one for himself. "Here's gin. They don't keep anything good, sorry."

He blinks in surprise when you snatch them, uncap and down all three together. Not one after another, all of them at once.

"Shit," he remarks. Hopefully you won't ask for anymore. That can't be healthy.

"Augh! Gross!" you complain, tossing the empty bottles into the trash can. Your face is still twisted up from the bitter burn. "Gin tastes like soap. How can people enjoy it?"

Amused by your childish reaction, Keigo finds himself laughing. "No one enjoys gin. You're the one who wanted it. Why are you trying to get drunk by the way?"

You shrug again, gratefully they're not nearly as sore as they were earlier though. "Just…drowning my demons. You know?"

He doesn't like that answer one bit. The uneasy smile stiffens grimly. "Did I do something wrong?"

"Not…exactly…" It probably isn't a great idea to tell him how narrowly he might've missed being maimed or worse.

"Look, I know it's none of my business…but if you do need to talk to someone, I can listen?" he offers.

You heave your shoulders and wings in a depressed shrug. "There's a lot I'm too afraid to say. What if you hate me afterward?"

"Heh. Don't worry about that. You're far too interesting for me to hate you. I bet you don't have many enemies."

"Yeah, well, that's a bet you would lose," you mutter darkly.

He rejoins you on the bed, keeping his distance to remain respectful of your current state. "I'd still bet on you."

"Ugh! Why are you being so nice?! Stop it!"

"I refuse. You are in medical need of niceness. Consider yourself lucky that I'm not administering another emergency hug."

The corner of your mouth tugs slightly. He's so corny.

"I'm also an expert in mouth-to-mouth, should you require it," he finishes, blowing any form of polite human decency he was trying to set up purposefully.

"Pffft!" You laugh for real this time. How many times are you going to have to turn down his advances? As playful as they are, he's being obvious. Unless he's just pretending because he sees how it makes you react. His dumb flirting is the only thing making you smile right now.

"So, be honest. Why don't you like me?" he asks.

You frown. "Why do you need me to like you?"

"Oh, I don't need anyone to like me. It just so happens that I rely on others' approval because that's how I value my own worth and I may die without it," he explains.

You're left speechless.

"What? Am I being too open?" He tilts his head.

"No…It's fine." You secretly hope he wasn't telling the truth. You were lying when you said you didn't like him, afterall. He's hard to dislike.

"And you?"

"What?"

He smiles gently, "What's your damage? What demon are you drowning, little fledgling?"

A poor choice of words. The tiny smile you'd been attempting vanishes.

By now the alcohol is taking effect, thank goodness. The merciless pulse of Sukuna's energy has finally begun to ebb. Any port in a storm, as the saying goes. If one of his compulsions arises, it seems as if fixating on a different one can satiate it. For how long though? You don't want to overdo it by drinking constantly, though you're not sure you even can.

"I should get some sleep," you whisper quietly, unable to hide the decline in your mood once again.

"Oh, that's true. You're probably exhausted. Sorry for keeping you up," he sighs. With little more than a wistful glance your way, he gets up from the bed, leaving it for you and your larger wingspan. He takes the cot by the window instead without another word.

Taking three shots hasn't changed your mental state. That disappoints you more than you thought it would.

Hawks awakens to the sound of the mini fridge opening again. Part of him wants to pretend he didn't hear it, to go back to sleep and act like he won't see the additional charges to the room when he checks out. But his apprehension of your physical state has him sitting up and throwing his covers aside. He won't allow you to drink yourself sick on his watch.

Sleepily he rubs his eyes, yawning. "Mnnmhh…Heyy, let's not get into anymore of that. It's too pricey for my budget," he fibs, hoping you won't call him on his bullshit.

You don't budge. He can see the contours of your bare back and the black markings illuminated by the light of the refrigerator. He says your name again causing you to turn around. There's an odd expression on your face that makes you seem different somehow. Keigo freezes, his feathers trembling with evolutionary instinct as they flare to a more intimidating stature.

"Who the hell are you?" he demands.

The thing that looks like you closes the door of the fridge. Hawks spies more empty liquor bottles on the floor of the room between your feet. You raided the mini bar. Dammit! That is actually going to be expensive.

"Lie back down," Hawks hears your voice say, but it doesn't sound right. Your eyes shine in the dark. Instead of their normal color, there is a burning red ember that strikes Hawks to his deepest recesses. He knows he's staring into predatory eyes. "Go back to sleep," it says again.

"Where…where did your wings go?!" Hawks demands.

He's right. Your back is now completely smooth with no trace of feathers in sight. Hawks glances at the bed. A few sparse black feathers lie behind where you'd been resting. Seemingly noticing their absence for the first time too, "you" give a casual glance over "your" shoulder, not showing any visible alarm at the alterations.

"Huh. Looks like I digested Stolas's energy finally…Took long enough. Stubborn buzzard," the odd voice mutters again. It's the same tone as yours, but the inflections are all wrong. As if someone were using you as a puppet.

Reaching behind his back, Hawks takes a primary feather in his grasp. This person feels dangerous. He may have to get physical. The thought of hurting you in the process gives him great pause, otherwise he would have armed himself already.

"Don't do that."

"Do what?" Hawks stills his movement.

The thing using your body points to your face. "This one would be quite upset if you were to do something brash that got you hurt. Let's not be foolish."

"Who are you?" Hawks presses again, all the more convinced he's speaking with a completely different presence.

"My name will be a curse to you. It's best if you don't know it."

"That doesn't make me feel better about you inhabiting my friend here," he counters. "What did you do with them?"

"'Friend,'" Sukuna echoes, a hint of sardonic humor edging his voice. "They don't feel the same about you. In fact, you annoy the both of us."

"That aside, I care about what they're going through. Something tells me you've probably got a lot to do with that, don't you? He draws his feather-sword, flipping the sharp edge up threateningly. "Now answer my question. Where are they?"

"Sleeping." He points to your temple. "Their mind is a storm. They need their rest," Sukuna states plainly. He isn't intimidated by this display. Already knowing this boy to be telling the truth when he said he cared for you, your Curse knows this is only a visual bluff. This human wouldn't dare strike your body.

"I want some answers, dammit," Keigo grits through clenched teeth. "Can you do that much? So I can understand them better."

Your Curse stares down the still trembling human trying to hide the stinking fear rolling off of him in waves. He's unimpressed. Mortals are always making the most foolhardy decisions for meager reasons. They think it gives their life more meaning, but it usually makes them look pathetic. The only factor softening Ryomen's resolve is that Keigo has been kind to you.

He sighs, slumping your shoulders. "I am Ryomen Sukuna…A Curse. I inhabit this person as my vessel."

"Okay, that's a start. Now keep going."

When morning comes, there's more room service being delivered as you're blinking yourself awake. Keigo, preferring to stick to his routine even despite his lack of sleep last night, had already showered and gotten dressed. He doesn't seem like his normal chipper self today.

"Good morning," you rub your eyes and stretch yourself with many satisfying pops. You feel well rested for once, and your back feels so weightless. Hold on a second–

"What the?"

Already hearing your murmurs, Hawks clears his throat. "Your…uh, wings disappeared overnight."

"What? How did that happen?" you ask with more confusion than alarm. Your fingers reach back and touch only smooth skin.

"Your Shikigami was absorbed fully."

Your mind is still fuzzy from waking up. You don't realize what he's said at first. "Ohh…Wait, how do you know about–"

"Because Sukuna told me," Keigo says simply.

Fear roots itself deep. If you had a heartbeat, it would be in your throat. Warily you look up to see his expression. He doesn't look angry, or disgusted, or even alarmed. He looks…nonchalant, and very normal.

"He told me why you don't eat, so I only ordered breakfast for myself today. I figured you wouldn't take offense. Right?"

"R-right…" Why is he behaving this way? Did Sukuna tell him everything? He couldn't have. Keigo isn't acting as if he found out he's sheltering a criminal. Also…It thankfully doesn't look like Sukuna hurt him in any way. That's good at least. You don't wish any ill will on the only one who's been helping you.

"I told you I wouldn't harm him," your Curse grumbles. "I wish you'd believe me."

"Gee, I wonder why I don't trust you?" you think aggressively.

Hawks pours himself a cup of coffee and sits at the table edge. "So you've only been a flier for a few days, huh?" he asks.

Unable to keep up your secrets any longer, you somberly nod.

"That's too bad. I could have taught you lots more flying tips and one-on-one lessons."

He's hinting that he can't now. You're starting to read the room. It's probably time for you to move on again. You've more than overstayed your welcome.

"I'm sorry…"

He looks genuinely puzzled. "For what?"

"For….Stolas…" You confess. The guilt of how you'd earned your wings was your greatest burden you thought you needed to hide from Hawks. Unlike you he'd been born for the skies.

"Ah, the owl demon you ate…Why are you apologizing to me? I didn't know him."

"Still though. He was…"

"Not human, right?" Keigo fills in for you. "If you think I'm going to clutch my pearls over a bird being eaten, demonic or not, I've got news for you: people eat birds. Myself being one of them."

Your cheeks burn with embarrassment. Of course! Idiot! He didn't eat birdseed or sleep on a perch. You'd been blinded by his wings, seeing only your own shame the whole time. Your relief is fleeting of course. The extent of your crimes merely begins with the demise of Stolas.

Saying what you're both already thinking, Keigo offers an apologetic smile. "You…You should probably find somewhere safer to stay."

"Oh. Okay."

"Not because of last night. My job, you see…This is sort of work related."

You're already hunting for your boots, preparing to leave soon. "I'm sure it is."

He sighs. "Okay, fine. If you don't believe me, you can see for yourself." He pulls out his cell phone. His brow knits before he reveals the screen to you.

It's a photo of you from when you were first enrolled at Jujutsu Tech. All students had their picture taken for identification cards to be made and carried on grounds at all times. Yours had been left behind in your room of course. It's an outdated photo without Sukuna's markings to highlight your transformation. Beneath your photo is a wall of text.

A level black warning has been issued by Jujutsu Authorities for a person of interest wanted for two active arson cases under investigation. Suspect last seen outside of Tokyo metro area. All respondents are to use extreme caution and not approach if suspect is seen. Report location coordinates to responding upper management and escalate with utmost haste. Authorized and issued by Jujutsu Administrative Department.

Keigo sighs and takes his phone back. "I'm…Sorry."

Your breathing changes as the initial onset of panic sets in. They know you're in Tokyo. How long before someone reports you? Lots of people have seen you already, but would they recognize you from this photo?

You stumble backwards to sit on the edge of the bed, struggling to maintain your thoughts. You should leave now. No! Wait until night so you have more cover.

"It's okay, try to just keep calm," Keigo suggests weakly. "We can figure this out."

"Keep calm!? How can you say that!?" you scream, not caring how early it is anymore.

In an attempt to silence your outburst, Hawks claps a hand over your mouth with a serious glare. "SHH! Do you want someone to hear you?"

You hold back the urge to bite him, barely. There's a cracking sound behind you, followed by a popping sensation at your shoulder blades. Your wings re-sprout from your back, expanding to their full size and wrapping around the two of you. Your coal black feathers blot out the golden rays of the morning sun. Keigo's face is illuminated by the pulsing crimson glow of your markings rippling eerily across your skin. He removes his hand from your face at once, finding himself frozen.

"Listen to me…These people want me dead. Do you hear me? Dead!" you spit.

He gulps, but nods, listening attentively. Hawks recognizes the presence of your entity that he met last night.

"So…Are you going to turn me in?" You ask carefully, keeping your hand on his shoulder.

"Never," he utters. You can tell he means it too. "I don't feel I have a reason to. I haven't seen you do anything wrong."

"But it's your job–"

"My job is to help people in need. 'People' includes you. I make my own calls regardless of what my management demands," he insists.

Gradually you open your wings, letting him go.

You chew your lower lip, unconvinced. "You were seen with me though…By lots of people."

"I can always say you left before I got the report. Everyone saw you ditch me yesterday." He shrugs and smiles, but it doesn't reach his eyes. He must have been hurt by that.

"Hawks…I'm sorry. I tried warning you that I only cause trouble for the ones who get close to me." You absently touch the small gold chain still around your neck. You still haven't taken it off since Itadori gave it to you. A grim reminder of what you did to him.

Keigo laughs easily. "What are you talking about? You're the most fascinating person I've met in years. Besides, I had such a great time flying with you. I know for a fact that I'll remember it forever. Who knows? Maybe we can fly together again one day."

That thought gives you comfort. You trust him not to betray you, though you don't have much of a choice.

"Well, thanks for…everything," your voice breaks despite you trying to keep it together.

Why are you on the verge of tears? Despite how he grated your nerves with his carelessness and overly flirtatious nature, he understood your boundaries and was overall good company.

"Don't thank me yet. You took off before I could give you the rest of your clothes," he chirps.

"My…what?"

He squeezes your shoulder and briskly steps past you. There's another shopping bag marked La Voliere in gold lettering on the bedside table.

"Raphael had some pants and shirts custom made for you. I added some other things I thought you'd need too. Socks, gloves, Things like that…I'd head south if I were you. There should be sweep teams already heading into town. You should miss them easily if you keep your altitude. I don't think they're looking for you in the air yet for some reason. Try to remember everything I taught you."

You accept the bag gratefully. "Thank you, Hawks. I mean it. You've done more for me than you know."

"So have you, little fledgling. If you ever, you know…get sad or lonely, promise me that you'll fly, okay?"

You swallow hard, wiping away actual tears this time. "I will."

"Unless it's raining," he smiles, leaning forward to press his forehead to yours briefly. "Then just wait out the storm."

With trembling fingers you slide open the balcony door for the last time, resisting the urge to look back as you step onto the railing. The wind gives you the lift you need. With little more than the sound of your boot scraping the iron of the banister, you're gone.

Hawks watches as you disappear into the distance, becoming smaller and smaller.

"Stay safe," he prays quietly.

.

.

.

"Fuck!"

Itadori needs to blow off some steam and fast. It's like no matter what he chooses to do, he's met with a metaphorical door slammed in his face. When he played by the rules of the school, you were taken away with no explanation. Then, thinking he could do better by taking matters into his own hands, he inadvertently made them infinitely worse by giving Sukuna a chance to escape, taking you away once again. This time possibly for good. And what is he supposed to do in the meantime while he waits for another sorcerer to find you and possibly kill you?

"Itadori! Please wait," Nanami shouts from far behind him.

Against his judgment, he holds his progress, allowing the teacher to reach him. "What?" he demands needlessly. Yuji knows why he was followed. He isn't displaying a very good example of level headedness expected of a Jujutsu sorcerer. More importantly, he doesn't care anymore.

"I wanted to talk to you privately about this anyway," Nanami starts off. "This is…all so unprecedented, I'm aware."

"If that's your adult way of saying 'bullshit,' then yeah, I agree with you," the boy spits, taking a page from Kugisaki's book. Something about knowing she was angry too gave him permission to let his own feelings out a bit too much.

Kento Nanami purses his lips, letting Itadori blow off steam. It's not hard to understand why he'd be feeling indignant, and he still hasn't heard the actual bad news.

"Itadori….You should know that the likelihood of you being sent on one of these surveillance missions is very low."

The boy's eyes glower dangerously and he bites back something he might regret saying. It's not Nanami's fault. He shouldn't be surprised, but this still catches him off guard. Yuji should have realized the school would most likely consider him culpable for your escape after he was found.

"So…What do you think my chances are?"

"Itadori-"

"Please, tell me! I'm sick of this school making moves behind our backs! I feel helpless…and I…" He brings his hands to his face, losing his composure.

"And I don't even have Sukuna anymore."

"You…Miss your curse?" Nanami clarifies.

"I miss feeling useful! Like I was contributing to making the world around me better, but instead I decided to be happy for once and fight for someone else and look what happened! Now they're cursed and I'm just…here."

There's a startling pull as Nanami's arms wraps around the boy's shoulders. He shudders with his gentle sobbing, sitting in the shameful silence he'd created. "Itadori, I'm so sorry that's how you feel. You shouldn't crave that punishment, when you never deserved that death sentence to begin with."

"Neither does my friend!" Yuji huffs with new motivation. He doesn't pull away. It's rare that Nanami breaks his professional boundaries. "You said you agree that this is unfair, so what am I supposed to do to redeem myself if I'm not given the opportunity?"

"No one said you wouldn't be," Nanami ends the hug, but keeps a hand on Yuji's shoulder. "Remember, there's going to be an escalation of cursed activity with the energy of Sukuna's fingers loose in the city. We're going to need you to keep that in check, and it's going to mean extra hours and possibly being on call 24/7."

"So…I'll still get to go into Tokyo?" Even if it was for hunting curses, he can always keep an eye out for you.

"Yes. There's no reason for you to be kept off any task force for regular reports." Nanami is wording his instructions very carefully, letting the interpretation be left up to Itadori. He can't willingly tell Itadori that the two jobs are nearly the same. "However..If you are to encounter Sukuna or…your friend, we are ordering you not to engage. You retreat at once to remove yourself from harm. Do you understand?"

So that's the catch. Itadori nods dutifully, but he's already thinking of ways around the rule. He doesn't have to avoid you, he just can't be seen with you.

"Can you promise me that you won't do anything to endanger yourself?" Nanami asks seriously.

"Yeah. Not a problem," Yuji whispers.

"About what happened…That wasn't your fault, Itadori. You couldn't have known Sukuna's intention. You didn't do anything but try to uphold your promise and devour him," Nanami insists.

"Yeah…Thanks, Nanamin. I'll keep that in mind. I think…I should go find Todo before he goes back to the Kyoto school. I need to talk to him."

There's a long pause that troubles the boy at once. "What's wrong? Did he leave already?" he demands?

"No…But there was only one empty room for him to stay in last night," Nanami responds finally.

And just like that, Itadori's indignation returns. He's nearly too stunned for words. "They…they didn't."

"It was too late for him to return home to the Kyoto school," the overtaxed sorcerer begins to explain. But by the time he looks up, he sees he's speaking to no one.

"Damn, that boy is fast," he mutters.

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There's only one place where Megumi wants to be right now, alone in his thoughts with the privacy to reminisce of the scarcely few good memories he made with you. He trudges the dormitory hallway, his heart thudding heavily with each step as he approaches what used to be your dorm room. Too engrossed in his own misery to notice the shadow steps of shoes from between the crack in the door, when he places his hand upon the knob, he cries out in shock when it twists on its own against his palm. The door opens, nearly bowling him over as well.

"Well, good morning, sunshine!" Aoi Todo roars with annoying volume. Making Fushiguro fall back on his ass is an unexpected way for the third year to start his day off, but a good omen nonetheless for him.

"Sorry our playtime got cut so short yesterday. Were you coming by to ask for a rematch? It'd be my-"

"GET THE FUCK OUT OF THEIR ROOM!" In a blind rage, Megumi slams the heel of his shoe into Todo's kneecap.

"Oof! What the–?" Todo began, but he found his face married happily to the floor before he could finish. There's a stab of pain to his lower back as Fushiguro digs in with his elbow, pinpointing a vital kidney shot for no reason other than pure anger.

"FUSHIGUROO!"

Itadori's voice can be heard long before his footsteps come pounding down the hallway. As he rounds the last corner he sees he's already too late to prevent damage control.

"Let him up! I need to talk to him!" Yuji pants, already trying to pry his friend off the larger student.

"What?! Talk to him in hell!" Megumi spits. Literally covering Todo's left eye in saliva as he's pulled loose.

The third year is left sprawled stupidly on the carpet, staring up at the ceiling, and wondering what that had been about. He'd had spats with Fushiguro before, but always outside, and away from anyone who may intervene with good reason. The two were a destructive force pitted against one another regardless of the reason, whether it was for pride or in yesterday's case, protecting you. This time there was nothing but hate in Fushiguro's eyes.

"Come on, please! Let's all talk about this, I only have a few minutes before Nanami-san catches up!"

He throws both boys back into what used to be your room, dragging Todo by his leg as if he were nearly weightless. The latter doesn't resist nearly as much as Megumi though. He's still dumbstruck at being floored so early in the morning.

"I don't want to talk to him!" Fushiguro hisses.

"Then just listen, okay? I know why you're mad. I think it's fucked up too! So let's show them that they can't just erase our friend." Itadori places his hands on either of the boy's shoulders in an attempt to calm him down, easing him to sit at the chair by your old empty desk. A terrible spot. Fushiguro can only stare at your rumpled bed, clenching his fists tightly as his nails slice through his skin. How dare they allow Todo to sleep here when they forced you to sleep in a cage! He can taste blood on his tongue, but he doesn't recall biting himself.

Satisfied enough that Megumi won't kill Todo for now, Yuji helps the older sorcerer to his feet.

"Todo, I need to ask a favor. I know this is coming out of nowhere but I need your help, okay? It can only be you!" He has to work fast to get across how dire this is.

Please, Todo. Don't let me down.

"I need you to promise not to kill Sukuna if you see him. I know when you get back to the sister school they're going to assign you to a task force to track him down and eventually kill him…But you can't do it okay?"

Todo opens his mouth to protest at first, but something stops him: the fire in Itadori's eyes, the tears building back behind the forced smile he's plastering on to hopefully retain his courage.

"His vessel…. You can't hurt them. Please, Todo. You'll be destroying one of the few people I love, a part of me. Do you understand?"

The confession floors Todo, nearly leaving him with his jaw on the floor. How can his best friend be demanding his insubordination like this?! And what's this about him being in love?

Aoi Todo wasn't given any information on his target when Kyoto officials sent him to carry out his duties the day prior. He was told where to go, when to be there, and as far as the what to do portion, that they left up to him to decide. Fushiguro had fought tooth and nail to stop him and succeeded too. Was that the reason why? Fushiguro had discovered the news of Itadori's lover before himself? His best friend? Inexcusable!

There's a knock at the door that makes all three boys turn around. The handle turns and Nanami Kento appraises the room with what looks like genuine surprise to find everything all in one piece. "Is…Is everything alright here?" he asks tentatively, barely willing to believe these are the same boys from yesterday.

Itadori is a stone, refusing to look at either Todo or Fushiguro. He wasn't sure how quiet they were being a moment ago or how long Nanamin could have been close enough to overhear anything.

It's Todo who speaks first. "They were just telling me you let me sleep past breakfast. I take that as a personal offense and I'll be requesting compensation to feed myself on the way home."

Nanami considers this a moment, then dips his head in acquiescence. "Alright. I'll see what can be done."

He takes his leave without another word, satisfied that whatever those three are up to, he certainly didn't want to be any part of it, or worse: be seen being any part of it.

Satoru Gojo enters from the opposite end of the hallway, also lured out by the sounds of a scuffle, though he took the time to get his coffee first before checking to see what it was.

"What was all that commotion about?"

"I think…There may be a coalition within the ranks at last. Or at least camaraderie being formed under having a common enemy." Nanami turns back to indicate the closed door of your old room with a nod of his head. "Anyone who may overhear such treason may be culpable to report it…"

"Good," Gojo replies. "We should definitely make sure no one stumbles over and does so."

Nanami clears his throat pointedly. "I…Didn't mention who the common enemy was."

"You didn't need to."

"It may sound odd, making a complaint like this, but you're not yourself today…Are you Satoru?"

"Is anyone?" Gojo inquires with a laugh. He sips his coffee. It's black today.

"You should be aware…Your student Itadori has some disconcerns about his exorcism."

"What do you mean? He's unhappy?" Satoru had been with Yuji when he woke up. It was like deja vu. He'd been taken to Shoko for an appraisal and general wellness check. With nothing more than oddly fresh, pink scarring on his abdomen, he was deemed healthy and ready to return to duty.

As for his mental state, he just seemed to be in a fog.

"I think he believed his suffering…made him special." Nanami continues. "Like it needed to happen to him so he could somehow make everything up to those around him who were depending on him to do so."

"Oh…"

"We both should keep a close eye on him. It's likely he may try to seek out the remaining fingers of Sukuna. I can't say I understand his feeling of loss, but…"

"No, I think I do," Gojo whispers softly. "Sometimes the craziest things seem sane if it means there's a chance of bringing someone back."

There are regrets he can count on both hands if he wanted to. They replay like a cruel slideshow for him when he sleeps.

"In any case…I think the vessels of Sukuna may harbor a kind of connection, their human emotions aside. Itadori found the holding cell with little problem. It's a secured location he'd lever been made aware of. He was unconscious when he was thrown in as well, as you recall."

"Speaking of…Has Shoko given you any results back from those feathers you found in the cell?"

Gojo shrugs haplessly. "There's not much to be gathered from them. She's a lousy ornithologist."

"You said you detected cursed energy emanating from them, right?"

He pauses before responding. "Yeah, that and…I have a suspicion they're owl feathers."

"Because of your student's shikigami? Wouldn't they have dissipated if something happened to it? I've never seen traces of Megumi's beasts left behind."

"That's the mystery. Something is sustaining Stolas without destroying him. Possibly manipulating his energy. The reasons why are unclear to me."

"You say something, but you probably mean someone…Did Megumi or Itadori have anything helpful to add?" Nanami asks darkly, spelling out what they both already deduce.

"Nothing, but if they're hiding something, we'll find out soon enough. There's no need to add pressure to them. They're only doing what they feel is right. More sorcerers should abide within morality rather than just blind orders. Besides, I think Masamichi has had enough of my theories anyway. I doubt he'd be interested in any unfounded musings right now." Satoru manages a smirk. Of course there's always his ulterior motives. He needs them now more than ever.

He has doubts that Masamichi was surprised at Todo's arrival. Why else would the sorcerer be sent home without reprimand for entering campus grounds during a lockdown? At least it appears that Yuji is conducting his own coup. Good for him. Gojo trusts his judgment. Almost.

He should probably relocate the last fingers of Sukuna on campus. It's only a matter of time before Yuji begins hunting for them.

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Inumaki leaves the meeting room, void of any desire to be social today. More than anything he wishes he could go back to bed, pull the covers up over his head and dream again. He'd been in the middle of a truly wonderful lucid experience before the first light of morning rudely tore it away, leaving him feeling impossibly alone. As needed as it may be, Toge's depression nap will have to wait. Fushiguro's advice from earlier is still on his mind. It probably couldn't hurt to let Shoko give him a check up. As their medic, she'd be the only one who may be able to tell what happened to him. He'll have to keep himself stoic. With every step his dread grows a little more. He feels he already knows what she's going to say about his physical state.

Arriving outside of her office door, Toge knocks twice. His eyes gloss over the plaque on the wall. Shoko Ieiri, Chief of Medical Staff. Her idea of a joke. She's been the only one on campus who qualified as medical staff for as long as he can remember. Unless Gojo stocked the first AID kit in his office, which he never did. Just as well. There are some injuries that kitten bandages just can't fix.

After a moment of silence, the second year knocks again but a little louder this time.

"-Coming, I'm coming!" a voice inside responds, sounding as if she'd been startled awake. Checking the time on his phone, Toge reads ten minutes until 1 pm. Wow, she must be even more hungover than usual.

The door cracks open and the sleepy-eyed yawning face of Shoko greets him with a waving motion for the boy to enter. "Good morning. Sorry I haven't had my coffee yet, but have a seat and I'll be right with you," she drones.

Entering her office, he glances around at the grim surroundings. A corner of Shoko's office is filled with wet specimen jars. A grisly little hobby she'd started after Gojo gifted her a fetal pig after their class graduation. Various embryonic stages of fauna floating in alcohol now decorate the entire back wall of her office. Though she did have a penchant for beautiful things as well. That's why she also displayed her butterfly collection, each one pinned through its thorax and laid flat in little glass boxes. Inumaki shivers the way he always does when he comes here. Shoko's abilities allowed her to sustain life through her reversed cursed technique. The fact that she has an obsession for dead things seems hypocritical.

Inumaki watches as the doctor cracks a raw egg into a shot glass, topping it with worcestershire sauce and a pinch of ginger. She exhales loudly, then tosses the shot down her throat, slamming the glass once it's empty. She complains loudly at her breakfast. "Guuhhh….Hoookay. Ready to do some work now, I think." She sniffs and pats herself down for her stethoscope, checking each pocket before realizing it's hanging around her neck.

"Alright, why are we stopping by today?" she asks while still rubbing her eyes.

Unzipping his collar, Inumaki points with his index finger to his lower lip. "Bonito flakes…"

Shoko leans in, squinting to make her vision stop blurring itself. Fuck, her head hurts. Last night was hell after what Gojo brought her to study. She has to close one eye to focus. "Ah? How boring." She sighs, but leans in to get a better look. "The bleeding stopped hours ago, you shouldn't even need a stitch…Is it a bite?"

"...Salmon Roe." he responds after much too long of a pause. Shoko's brows raise. It's the wrong angle to have been self-inflicted or accidental.

"In my experience, bites usually happen when things are going very right…Or very wrong," she finishes darkly, letting the meaning of her words sink in.

Toge doesn't even blink. He holds his expression expertly neutral. Despite Shoko's unprofessional demeanor, she can be perceptive when she wants to be.

She tucks her hair back with a thoughtful murmur, then disappears to rummage through her cabinet of medications. As he waits, Inumaki turns his attention to Shoko's desktop, littered with loose papers in absolutely no order. There's something black sticking out from beneath the stack. A strange compulsion comes over him. He isn't one to pry or snoop usually, but he can't stop himself from raising the edge of the documents to peer beneath, revealing an inky black feather. He takes it between his fingertips, spinning it around slowly. It's enormous, over twice the length of his hand. There's a strange energy emanating from it.

He replaces the papers as she turns around before she sees him prying. "You have two options. Option one is ten days of antibiotic pills that taste horrible and will make you sick if you go out in the sun. Or you can take a single shot of penicillin, but it's pretty painful and might make you a little sick anyway," she turns back around, holding a pill bottle in one hand and an orange capped syringe in the other. "What'll it be?"

Inumaki points to the syringe. "Mustard leaf."

Shoko replaces the pills. "Whatever you say. It's intramuscular, so it goes in the hip. Believe me, you don't want it anywhere else," she warns.

"Tuna mayo," he nods, holding out his hand.

"Oh. You…don't want me to do it for you? It's not an easy one to do on your own, I promise."

"Tuna," he insists.

She relents, giving him the syringe in a plastic cylinder to keep it intact. "You look a bit…overworked, Inumaki. Have you been resting?"

Again he doesn't say anything, letting the silence speak for itself.

The doctor places a gentle hand on his shoulder. He has to fight the urge to step back from it. "You're low on your cursed energy, aren't you?" She pauses, not wanting to pry too much. If there was a person alive more emotionally elusive than Inumaki, she hadn't met them yet.

"Things are hard right now on campus, but we'll all pull through." She smiles hopefully. "Things are always changing in an instant for people like us. Nothing is ever for certain. That can be comforting and overwhelming at the same time, so we have to maintain our balance."

He nods, pocketing his medication, and turning to exit the room without acknowledging her inspirational speech. He isn't in the mood for motivational coaching. Before he leaves, Shoko calls after him.

"You may benefit from a walk through the garden," she suggests. "Try one of the pears from the memorial tree. They help with balancing cursed energy anyway, so doctor's orders."

The door slams behind Inumaki as he leaves.

Try as he might to find any enjoyment from the multicolored blooms of the sorcerer's garden, there was none for Inumaki to be had. He used to love coming out here, tending to each shrub as it needed through the seasons, whether it was pest control, or bagging them carefully over to preserve their blossoms as long as possible when the weather turned cold. Having a space for beauty and life to exist amidst the chaos that each student had to endure was a necessity for their sanity to remain intact. And now Toge can feel only regret here.

He pulls a pear off a low hanging branch, digging his thumb into the flesh until it bruises. Shoko insisted it would help him replenish his energy, but he can't make himself bring it to his lips. The bitter taste from the last time he ate it still lingers. He can't swallow it again. Instead he cocks his arm back and hurls it away as far as he can throw it. He'll just have to deal with his problem another way.

There's a soft footstep behind him.

"Wow! Nice arm," someone compliments.

Inumaki knows this voice by heart. Spinning around with tears already overflowing once again, he runs to meet his friend at the garden gate.

"YUUTAA!"

In a violently affectionate tackle, he tackles Yuta Okkotsu to the ground with the full brunt of his embrace. "Yuta! Yuta!" He chants, burying his face into his friend's shoulder. The dark haired boy attempts to sit up but is fairly well pinned beneath his former teammate.

"Heh, I missed you too! Gojo called me. I'm so glad he did."

"Tuna mayo-" Cutting off his own profession, Toge presses his lips to Yuta's, sighing with relief when he feels strong warm hands slide around his lower back. Yuta hums against the kiss, his face turning crimson from the surprise onslaught of tenderness. Usually their intimate encounters are kept much more private, but he doesn't dare let his nerves get the better of him. Something tells him Toge needs this. After several more tearful kisses and embarrassed laughs between the two, Yuta pulls the cursed speech user even closer, cupping his cheek and tracing over one of the delicate snake eye patterns lovingly. More tears sting the boy's eyes as he feels Yuta caress the bite on his lip.

"Tuna mayo…"

"Mm. I dreamed of you last night," Yuta whispers, breathing in the familiar scent he loves so dearly.

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To Be Continued…..

Notes:

Be sure to check out the En Fortissimo Playlist I made on Spotify!

Also, I have an illustrator, so if anyone has any requests for scenes they want to see brought to life, let me know!

****you cannot know the joy I feel for the next chapter coming up

For those of you missing Ryomen, fear not! He is returning with full force for chapter 4, :,)******

Coming soon, chapter 4- Playing With The Dead- part 1