"By the sweat of your face you will eat bread until you return to the ground, for from it you were taken. For you are dust, and to dust you shall return."

–Genesis 3:19

Notes:

TW for attempted sexual assault

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With the sun long set by the time Yuta and Megumi return to the Jujutsu campus, both boys are settled once again in pensive silence. Hours of patrolling, interviewing and a few eventual encounters with any minor low level curses was nothing they couldn't take care of on their own, but the gnawing at Yuta's stomach only grew as he was listening to Fushiguro make his end of day report over the phone. Nine streets were cleared safely, three more that reported suspicious activity required further investigation. Of those three, only one had been a false alarm. He omitted their stop at the department store of course, and even made Yuta go so far as to throw away his shopping bag and stow his purchase within his uniform jacket out of sight before they were picked up.

More secrets. But why? Yuta thinks bitterly to himself. He follows behind his partner through the towering gates of the campus entrance.

When the owner of La Volière had returned to find them waiting to question him, he was polite but more than a little visibly flustered. At first Raphael feigned understanding them, refusing to speak anything besides his own native French. Not one to be easily deterred, Fushiguro used an app downloaded to his phone to assist with translations.

Raphael insisted the black feather on his wall was nothing but "un cadeau d'un ami", a gift from a friend. When asked who gave it to him and where they'd gotten it, he was reluctant to disclose. It took a while, but after realizing his interrogation wouldn't end until he confessed a name, Raphael finally gave them one. As they were taking their leave Yuta heard Fushiguro request to take the feather with them. The shopkeeper refused the request with indignation, showing his thinning patience and holding the door open to escort them out. Fushiguro finished the rest of his shift with an oddly out of place smile on his face that Yuta found himself staring at with puzzlement. He hadn't known the shadow user for very long, not even a year, and thus far he'd only observed him to be standoffish and even moody when approached at times. What was with the sudden interest in birds and feathers all of a sudden? A new hobby perhaps? Shrugging his aching shoulders wearily, the special grade sorcerer can only chalk up today's events to Megumi's secretive nature.

At least now their work day is finally over. It's past curfew but both boys enter the dormitory building and make their way to the kitchen. Mealtimes are no longer social gatherings. The new "eat what you can, when you can" policy usually leaves Yuta picking through the fridge for leftovers. He wasn't the best cook, not having had much opportunity to learn on his own, but Inumaki always left pre-made food for him so he wouldn't have to. Tonight it's the other half of his tonkatsu. Yuta is much too famished to wait to heat it up, and devours it cold, still standing in front of the fridge with the door wide open. Once he's full, he mutters his goodnight to his teammate as he shoves the rest of the leftovers back into the fridge. He'll save the rest for breakfast so he can spend more time in bed.

Fushiguro, deciding he feels like cooking, rummages through the pantry for ingredients.

"Have a good night. Don't forget what we talked about," he reminds Yuta as he's departing to his room.

Weakly, the boy responds with a muted confirmation, still unsure why he's sworn his compliance with zero explanation. As he leaves he can hear Fushiguro humming to himself as he washes rice in the sink. Something has his spirits up at least. Maybe it's a good sign?

As Yuta draws nearer to Inumaki's room, he watches as it steadily opens. Toge always keeps a lookout for when his boyfriend returns, even in the dead of night. That soft, sleepy smile warms Yuta from the inside and he presses a kiss to his lover's forehead.

"Hi, how was your day?"

"Salmon," the boy yawns as he wraps his arms around Yuta securely.

"Tuna mayo…"

"Yeah, I'm always better once I'm back here with you too," Yuta agrees.

Inumaki had been given curse duty, just as Yuta has been doing. Once every blue moon the boys are blessed to be paired together for a mission. Those days were still busy, but even the occasional brushing of their hands as they walked together gently reminded Yuta that they could have serene moments outside of duty. Brief flashes of normalcy are all that held them together most days.

"Thanks for dinner. I got something for you," Yuta reaches into his white uniform jacket and removes the shirt he'd purchased earlier. There was a decent selection to choose from at the boutique, but he eventually decided on a light blue linen short sleeve with tiny purple flowers covering every inch. It was no coincidence they were the same shade as Inumaki's eyes.

Toge traces his fingers over each of the white pearl buttons with a glow of soft adoration on his face.

"Tuna mayo," he breathes, leaning into the brunette's arms.

"I'm glad you like it," Yuta smiles.

"Yutaa," the light-haired boy draws out his name meaningfully, already pushing on his boyfriend's shoulders to guide him back onto the bed. Toge had been twisting beneath his sheets with rising need for the last hour while waiting for him to come home, ready to devour him as soon as he stepped through the door.

Yuta's lips are met with soft, open kisses to dissolve the stress of his day. He barely has the energy for what Toge wants, but he's too impossible to resist. Inumaki's breathy sighs are rising in his throat, utterly capturing Yuta's attention. Fuck, he's already hard even though he's exhausted from work. His hips roll upward, guiding Inumaki's legs open to receive him through their clothes.

"My good boy. I missed you so much today. Couldn't stop thinking of you," he murmurs into pale silver hair. He breathes in deeply, letting the scent of his boyfriend cloud his mind.

"Take off your pants," Toge whispers, utilizing his cursed speech.

Right away, Yuta's hands are complying, unzipping and removing them at his partner's behest. He'd never deny Inumaki's request, even without his ability. He wants nothing more than to meet every desire asked of him. No matter how tired he is, there's always a reserve of energy saved specifically for their love-making. The sounds coming from Yuta are needy and breathless as soft hands slide beneath his shirt to caress his chest, playfully tugging his nipples. At the same time, he feels Inumaki pressing open-mouthed kisses down his stomach, dragging a curious tongue over his sensitive hip bones deliberately. He knows where Yuta's weak spots are and suckles loudly to make him squirm with embarrassment. Lewd noises always made him twitch and blush. It was a fun game to play, making suggestive sounds to communicate what Inumaki wanted instead of relying on cursed speech. Under any circumstance his mouth is always his greatest weapon.

There's a slight tug as Yuta's boxers are pulled lower to free his erection. He exclaims faintly as it brushes Inumaki's marked cheek. When he's enveloped by warmth, an involuntary moan fills the silent room, forcing him to muffle himself behind a hand.

Toge unleashes his own sounds, vocalizing his enjoyment with his mouth opening wider.

"Aaahhh…"

Oh, fuck!

There's only faint light filtering in from beneath the doorway, but it's enough for Yuta to make out Inumaki's obscene expression. He knows he's doing it purposefully, teasing him. There's a drip of saliva down his shaft spurring him to buck forward. He's trying to resist but ultimately failing. Inumaki's gaze is pinpointed on his, beckoning and smiling at their corners. God, how Yuta loves those deep, hypnotic eyes.

Without much warning, his body arcs, both feet locking around Toge's back as his climax overtakes him. He berates himself for not saying anything beforehand, but only hears a triumphant chuckle from down below signaling he'd played right into Inumaki's hands. That must have been exactly what he wanted. With a sigh, he guides the boy back up to lie on top of him. Their hearts beat rhythmically together, slowing to a steady cadence as the minutes tick by. The only sounds are the gentle satisfied sighs passing between them, expressing their peace in the refuge they've found together. Yuta's hands slide over Inumaki's back as he whispers into his ear.

"I love you, Toge."

"Mmm,"

The boy croons, squirming on his chest with happiness. He sits up and kisses Yuta's lips with butterfly softness, delivering another cascade of delicate sound vibrations.

"I need to clean up. Join me," Yuta groggily mutters and takes the other boy's hand in his.

"Bonito flakes," Toge whispers, gingerly slipping out of his grip.

"No? Okay. It is pretty late. I'll be quick," he promises, pecking his boyfriend on the cheek. He begrudgingly gets up, but leaves the bathroom door open.

As the sound of water reaches his ears, Inumaki wraps himself up in his blankets once more. Sighing heavily, a somber expression passes over his face. Showering with Yuta would be so wonderful, if only it didn't bring back darker memories for him.

He hears humming amidst the gentle patter of the shower stream, and Inumaki covers his head with a pillow to block out the sound. Without meaning to, he traces his tongue over the tiny pink scar on his lower lip.

…

A light jostling rouses Itadori. When did he fall asleep? Shit, is it time to go to work again already? He rubs his eyes. When they open again,instead of Gojo sensei's face, he recognizes Megumi in the dim lighting. Weird. It almost looks as if he's smiling.

"Hey, I made you something to eat."

Leaning down, Fushiguro presses his lips to Yuji's cheek.

Humming pleasantly, the sleepy boy sits up and yawns. Eating dinner in bed while barely awake is almost routine for them now. Fushiguro always tries to make sure they stay fed. Yuji's depression often makes him forget to feed himself more than once a day. He's lucky if he remembers to grab anything before leaving campus by sunrise, sometimes running on only a few meager hours of sleep.

"Thanks for the food."

He stuffs his face hungrily. Exhaustion had overtaken him before he could make his way to the kitchen tonight. He notices Fushiguro is staring at him, still with an odd smile on his face.

"What is it?" Yuji asks.

With his eyes lighting up excitedly, Fushiguro barely allows his voice above a whisper.

"I saw something today."

"Something…? You mean–?!" He has to clap a hand over his own mouth to stifle his volume.

Fushiguro smiles again. "I believe I've found someone who had contact with them. I got a phone number for him from a shop owner in Tokyo."

Yuji shoves the food to the side, clasping hands with his teammate.

"You're sure? How?"

Fushiguro opens his phone, showing the photos he snapped of your feather. "It's their's. No mistaking it. Yuta was with me but I don't think he suspects anything."

"Hopefully he doesn't…"

Itadori stares at the phone screen, zooming in on the black feather to see as much detail as he possibly can. So far, they're the only ones who know about your transformation. Every other sorcerer has been looking for you on the ground. It's been difficult keeping his eyes away from the sky in search of your silhouette when he's out on his own patrols under supervision. He doesn't want to give away what may be your only advantage to stay hidden from danger.

"I'm going to call Keigo Takami first thing in the morning. I want to get a read on him in person if possible. He may have valuable information for finding them," Fushiguro continues, lacing their fingers together.

"We're getting closer. I can feel it."

Itadori allows himself to smile and pulls Megumi in for an embrace.

"So can I."

As the two kiss, a glimmer of hope begins to grow between them, with a single word in their unified consciousness: soon.

It's Megumi who yields first this time, parting his lips in invitation. His hands slip around his partner's neck as he smiles uncontrollably. The reluctance of not wanting to get their spirits up just to be disappointed or worse is slowly falling away, easing the boys' movements. Yuji breaks their contact momentarily to remove his shirt, immediately reaching again for Megumi to keep him close.

"Thank you," he murmurs in between kisses, not realizing he'd said it aloud. He hadn't recognized how badly he needed good news until now. It felt as if his sanity had been hanging on by a single thread for months. He longed for reassurance, if only to feel like he wasn't wasting his time.

He lifts Megumi onto his lap, wrapping both legs around his waist. Overcome by this sudden burst of joy, he playfully throws the shadow user onto his back, pinning his shoulders and laughing out loud with him for what feels like the first time in an eternity. Tolerating his partner's goofiness, Fushiguro can't fight his own triumphant grin spreading from ear to ear. With his fingers ruffling through soft pink hair, he hums against Yuji's cheek. The excitement of getting any word on you is going to make it difficult for either of them to sleep tonight.

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The "grand tour," as you called it, takes much longer than expected. Partly because it's been so long since you've had anyone to talk to, but also because Junpei is moving very slowly behind you. His joints are stiff and slow to respond. It's also hard to focus on what you're saying as he's getting over the miracle of just being in his own body again.

"There's no neighborhoods, apartments, or houses out here. We're on the borderlands of a national forest, so it's just us here. This place doesn't look like much from the outside, it used to be a church," you explain while holding open a large door leading down a flight of stairs.

It takes an eternity but you patiently wait for Junpei to follow you into what was once a grand chapel. The years have not been kind to the architecture. There's holes and spray-paint on every wall, along with old beer cans littering along with cigarette butts strewn on the floor for a most desolate look. Most of the stained glass windows have been busted, leaving a smattering of shards that Junpei has to carefully step around with his bare feet. It's hard enough to keep up with you without a minefield to navigate.

Seeing his predicament you stride back to his side and scoop him up unceremoniously.

"Sorry. We can get you some real clothes and shoes soon, okay? I need to clean this whole place up eventually, but I never get around to it."

The stunned boy in your arms doesn't comment on your bad housekeeping, but turns his face away. It's only when you ease him back onto his feet at the end of the aisle that he recalls being carried by you before. There's a stirring in his chest, but when he puts a hand against where his heart would be, he feels nothing. Trying not to betray his panic right away, he presses two fingers beneath his jaw to find his pulse. He waits. And waits.

Sensing his growing alarm, you offer a somber smile.

"You're going to notice some… differences with your new body. I'm sorry it isn't perfect, but you're much better off than when I found you."

"Am I…still dead?" he asks, fearing the worst already.

"Not all dead," you chide. "Your soul is alive, but your body… I made you from–Well, dirt to be truthful. It's not entirely a bad thing. You won't feel pain from any common human injuries, or hunger either."

"Will I feel…anything?" he asks, his voice tinged with hopelessness.

"Of course you will!"

Placing your hands on his shoulders, you wait for him to meet your gaze.

"You can feel sad, like you're feeling now. That's proof you're alive, right?"

"I…guess so?"

"And you can feel happiness and pleasure too. Do whatever you'd like. Anything you ever wanted to do in your old life that you didn't get to do. Now you have the chance to experience it all without the burdens of society, because…You get the idea, right?"

Because I'm dead…

The irony was almost laughable. Junpei had begged to come back, but what life could he have possibly hoped for? He couldn't exactly pick up where he'd left off. He had to take whatever opportunity he was given. This one last chance at his life is more than anyone could ever hope for. Besides, it's either this or back to the Pit.

Junpei peers back at you, the stranger in all black, still smudged head to toe with graveyard dirt. You watch as he swallows hard. He must be apprehensive of you. Of course he would be, you're just a random person he's just met who dug his naked body up in a graveyard. He's going to need more reassurance that he's actually safe. But after that…He could prove to be a perfect companion. Afterall what harm can your Curse cause to a boy who's already dead?

"Don't worry. You and I are going to have so much fun together, Junpei. But first we should get you cleaned up. Come with me."

He follows you through another set of double doors, barely clinging to their hinges. The back of the church had been converted to living quarters for the clergy members at one point. Fortunately for you, the property still had a functioning old fashioned pump well. It took a little manual labor, and hours of cleaning years worth of gunk piled up in the pipes over the years, but you'd gotten it working again eventually. There was no way you were going to live here without being able to shower properly in this dump.

"It's from the '60's or something, but the shower actually works," you explain as you pull back a heavy cloth you'd fastened over a rod. The original plastic curtain had dry rotted and been discarded during your initial clean-up of the place.

"There aren't any towels, but you can use the other side of the curtain to dry yourself off, or step outside and air dry if you like. Don't worry, no one will see you here. The property is enclosed. Sorry, there's no heater so it's always cold, but it's clean at least. It came out black when I first got here." Reaching for the faucet handle, you twist the line open and let the water flow freely.

You roll up your sleeves while leaning over the edge of the nearly antique tub. Freezing water splashes your skin, washing away the remaining dirt still under your nails and up your arms.

Junpei is still staring in silence. This all feels oddly casual, like he's spending the night at a friend's house for a weekend. He scans the room, taking in the tiles all cracked and stained with age. From his peripheral, he catches a movement. A pale-looking waif with deep sad eyes: his reflection staring back at him from a tarnished mirror. Taking a step closer, Junpei inspects himself with apprehension. It's been a long time since he's seen his face. It's barely recognizable to him. His hand comes up, combing through his hair without much precision to correct how it's laying. The lighting from outside is muted by a tiny window allowing only a little illumination to stream in. Junpei pauses. His fingers push his bangs away again, allowing him to see the smooth skin underneath.

"Huh?"

No scars.

Noticing him staring at his reflection, you can't help but smile at the wonder in his eyes. He must be relieved to be back in his normal body.

"Junpei? Are you alright?"

"Y-yeah…Never better," he drops his bangs and brushes them back into place awkwardly.

"I'll shower later when we get back. I'll bring you something clean to change into after you're done."

Junpei then shyly realizes the clothes he's been wearing this whole time must be yours, and he's probably ruined them with how dirty he is. Regretfully he takes off the shirt, grimacing as he sees the excess stains left behind. His body is filthy. Dried mud crumbles from his skin as he brushes himself off, which only makes another mess at his bare feet. He can't help but wonder now…did you see all of him earlier? He recalls being fully naked at one point, but was that even real? Everything feels like a dream, but then where did all this dirt come from? He doesn't want to imagine a stranger having to dress him, but it seems as if that's what happened.

You linger in the doorway a bit longer as Junpei timidly approaches the tub. He glances back, looking so unsure. It only makes you feel guilty.

He's pitiful. Skinny little thing. Sukuna comments from the caverns of your mind.

Shut up! And stop looking at him, you creep!

You're the one staring, so how can I help it? he points out.

You shake your head, pulling your attention away.

"Where are you going?" Junpei asks with just a hint of alarm.

"You don't need an audience. I'll be outside. Okay? When you're done I'll take you to get some real clothes."

You close the door behind you, leaving your guest to his freezing shower and reminding yourself that he won't be bothered by it in his current body. It still makes you feel like a bad host though. The poor guy certainly deserves more than cold water and secondhand clothes. Once you're satisfied you've found something he can wear to Raphael's, you set a shirt and a pair of pants outside the bathroom door then step outside to wait.

Experiencing the simple task of taking a shower again, even one so humble as this, is such a shock that it makes Junpei weep openly. He's grateful to be alone, trying his best to keep quiet so you don't overhear him. Moving slowly, he takes his time reevaluating his physical state, checking every part of himself to really believe he's alright. It takes several minutes for him to be satisfied but only slightly more at ease. Sniffling, he shuts off the water and reaches for the curtain to dry off, wrapping himself up tightly. The chill from the unheated water doesn't sink in the way it should. He's aware of the discomfort, but it doesn't bother him in a physical way really. Everything is numb. At first he thought he was due to shock, but he soon learns that his hands bring little sensation to his skin either, even when he digs in with the crescents of his nails.

Remembering what you said about leaving something for him to wear outside the door, he checks and reaches for the clothes when he's sure you're out of sight. Still no shoes, but that's alright so long as he avoids the rooms with broken windows. Once adequately covered, he checks his reflection again in the mirror, swiping his wet bangs to the side to inspect his face. He nearly expected his old scars to reappear after washing the rest of the dirt away, but they haven't.

"What the hell is going on…"

Everything feels strange to him. It's surreal, like any moment he'll snap out of this delirium and find himself back in the darkness once more. He turns on the faucet at the sink, cringing when the water that flows out is a dark color for the first few seconds before finally clarifying. He splashes his face to clear his thoughts, but without the bite of the cold water on his skin to snap him out of it, his inner turmoil remains.

He works up his courage and finally exits the bathroom, venturing out into the dark hallway. He's sure he heard your footsteps going to the right down the hall. Not knowing where else to go, he heads in that direction. There are deep gouges scraped into the walls as well as more graffiti and beer cans and bottles strewn on the floor, but it looks as if something had swept through the dust, clearing a pathway for him to follow without any broken glass to cut his feet. You'd left the backdoor open slightly, allowing a small puddle of moonlight to spill across the ancient tile. He pushes it open further and steps outside.

There's no sign of you anywhere at first, but he's too nervous to call for you. Tall grass blows lazily in the wind, and there's a creaking groan from all sides around him as Junpei notices he's surrounded by trees. With clouds sliding over the moon, the atmosphere is quiet and serene. Junpei inhales deeply, kneeling to sit. He allows his fingers to slide through the grass blades to ground himself. He inhales in the cool night air, filling his chest completely, counting his breaths. He holds his hands over his chest, feeling the rising swell, but still no heartbeat as the minutes creep past. A twinge of pain grows beneath his palms. With a shudder he lays his head on his raised knee and begins to cry.

A glowing flash of light buzzes by: a firefly. Sniffling, he follows its path in the air, watching as it flits into a nearby shrub flashing with even more of the tiny living lanterns. The blinking lights are familiar and comforting. As a child Junpei used to chase fireflies with his cousins when his mother took him to visit the countryside. He extends a finger toward one of the insects, allowing it to land on him. It blinks in slow yellow pulses, then opens its wings to take flight again. As he follows its path across the sky, his eyes lose their focus, staring past to the heavens above. The stars are bright between the drifting clouds. Their names flash through Junpei's mind absently as he isolates them.

Cepheus…

Altair….

Vega…

"Huh?" Shaking his head, Junpei blinks rapidly.

What the hell was that? He was never very good at astronomy, only ever learning two by sight unassisted, Ursa Major and Minor. He only recognized the most simple constellations most people learn as a child. Still staring, eyes growing wide with shock as more stars come into view, Again the names echo through in his thoughts, piling onto one another until the sounds become a jumble of meaningless latin.

His hands are shaking. Vigorously he rubs his arms to steady himself, then realizes his skin is stone cold. He should have warmed up from his freezing shower by now. Right? Or…maybe not. He may not need body heat anymore. With his nerves coming undone he gazes back up haplessly to the stars.

"What the fuck is wrong with me?"

A shadow much darker than the night sky passes over him suddenly. He startles, rising to his feet. What was that?! A bird? No, impossible, it was much too large. But the sound of flapping tells him otherwise.

You drop from the inky black sky silently, landing just in front of the startled boy who promptly stumbles backward. Greeting him with a curt wave, you ignore the shocked expression on his face.

"What's up?"

His eyes are on your wings. His finger points shakily as he struggles to understand what he's seeing. "I– You…What on earth? What are those?!"

You grimace tightly. He must not have noticed them earlier in the graveyard before passing out. Maybe one day it'll be easier to explain them.

"It's kind of a long and depressing story. I don't really like talking about them."

"Oh. I-I'm sorry!?" He tries to sound apologetic, but it comes out more outraged. Junpei definitely doesn't want to upset you with more personal questions, but how else can he learn about you? How can he know whether or not he can trust you?

You cast your eyes skyward, admiring the view. The trees around the property form a natural clearing.

"It's a nice night. The stars are almost always visible from here," you note.

Turning back to him, you smile.

"Do you know any stars?"

He doesn't answer right away. It's a complicated question for him right now. Luckily you don't wait for him to respond, but continue.

"They're one of the few constant things in humans' lives. They live so much longer than any mortal can. A hundred of our lifetimes is only a day to them, if even that…."

You point up, indicating a row of stars that formed a shape like an arrow's head. "Do you know that one? Come closer and look where I'm looking."

He's shy to step toward you. He notices the way you spoke about humans as if you aren't one. It makes him uneasy. But if you meant him harm, you wouldn't have resurrected him, would you?

"Come on, there's a cloud coming. Hurry, before it's covered!" you urge him.

He approaches you with small, nervous steps, making sure to keep an arm's length away from you. He stares up where your finger indicates the "arrow head" formation.

"Well? What do you think it is?"

He doesn't have to think, he already somehow knows.

"Aquila."

"Very good. And its neighbor to the east?" Your finger moves slightly to the next constellation.

"Cygnus."

"Last one, okay? The constellation beneath both of them. Tell me the name of the brightest star in the center, Junpei." You watch him carefully, noticing that he's tearing up.

"Antares…" he croaks, then meets your gaze, his eyes full of wonder. He still sounds terrified when he speaks.

"Are…are you doing this? Putting the names in my head?"

Instead of answering him, you reach behind him, plucking a sprig of green leaves from a nearby tree that had dozens of sprouts overtaking its portion of the yard.

"How about this? Do you know what this is?"

"I–What? Why does it matter?" he wipes his eyes in frustration.

"I promise, it's important. Tell me what this is."

Giving it another brief look, he sighs. "It's…An elm?"

"Uh-huh…And what's special about it? Come on. Look closely." You stuff the leaves into his palm, letting him feel their texture.

"It's Slippery Elm… medicine?" Junpei asks out loud as the thoughts again form on their own.

"Medicine for what?" Your theory is nearly concluded by now, but you still want to hear him say it.

Rubbing the twig of the branch between his fingers, his nails slip into the soft bark.

"Inflammation," he mutters.

"Correct. Excellent job," you praise him, though he doesn't miss the sad tone in your voice.

Again he looks helplessly to you.

"What's happening to me? How do I know all of this?"

"Don't worry. It's nothing bad. You're just… Let's say you're alot more like me than I thought you would be. It's a surprise to me too. It must have to do with the Reverse Transfiguration I had to do to reshape your soul."

You're not making any sense. What do you mean? How is he like you? That word you used…Transfiguration. Another swell of uneasiness rises up within him. His skin crawls with the memory of that word being hissed across his brain like a poisonous gas. He takes a step away from you.

You politely ignore the distance he's trying to create, giving him space by ambling over to the stone ledge of an ancient well you'd cleared of overgrowth. It's as good of a time as any to bear your soul to him. At least a little bit more anyway. He's bound to learn sooner or later.

"I have certain abilities…As you've noticed. Nevermind how I got them. When I brought you back, I had to infuse you with my cursed energy to reanimate your soul and restore its shape."

Cursed energy.

An icy fist of fear locks itself around the boy's throat. That phrase you used is more than familiar to him. With good reason. It had been one of Mahito's first lessons. But what did you mean when you said that your energy is fused with him?

He stares down at the black bands around his wrist. In a small frightened voice, Junpei whispers your name.

"Am I….human?"

Regarding him evenly, you ask, "Do you feel human?"

"I-I don't know," he confesses. How is a human supposed to feel in comparison to anything else?

"Then you have your answer. Welcome to the club." You try to muster a weak laugh, but it sounds bitter.

You know his inner turmoil already. The loss of your humanity is not something you've forgotten.

"That being said, Junpei, there are some things I'll have to teach you. Unfortunately, I have a few enemies, and if your energy mirrors mine, they'll be coming after you too. So it's my responsibility to make sure you can defend yourself from them."

"What? Why would someone be after you?" His suspicions are only growing with every word.

"Because…..I'm not exactly a good person," you admit.

It's an understatement, and you know it.

All the boy can do is stare, appraising you from head to toe as if you may transform before his very eyes.

"You don't have to stay with me if you don't want to be here, Junpei. I'm not holding you prisoner. This is just the safest place for both of us for now. I created a veil that acts as a barrier to conceal our energy, but it doesn't lock you in. You're free to leave whenever you would like to go."

Your confession leaves him little to decipher, but he has a hard time believing that an evil person would bring back a stranger from the dead. And you weren't even expecting anything in return for your kindness to him. It seemed as if you've been here a long time on your own. He knows he has nowhere else to go. No family to speak of….No friends to try to check up with.

He has nothing. No one.

You place a hand on his shoulder in an attempt to comfort him. He flinches slightly, you move so quietly that he didn't notice you'd snuck up on him.

"Like I said, I'm willing to help you as much as you need. If you want to stay, you're welcome here. The place is huge. We could go days without seeing one another. Though you'll need some real clothes regardless of your decision, so why don't we take care of that first?"

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Junpei hates heights and the dark, so flying at night causes him physical distress the entire way into the city. He has to keep his eyes clenched as tightly shut as possible, only making tiny fearful cries.

"Th-this sucks!" he whimpers.

"We're almost there. Sorry, my driver's license expired," you joke as you tighten your hold around him to hopefully offer more comfort.

"Don't you ever fly during the day?"

"I try not to. I don't like alot of attention…"

He doesn't press the matter further, choosing instead to tuck his head under your chin and imagine himself somewhere safely on the ground. Flying like this feels horribly unsafe despite how securely you're holding him.

It's still dark by the time you begin your descent onto the roof of La Voliere. In another few hours, the sun will rise. You'll have to hurry. Junpei clings to your neck, hiding from the nauseating view of the concrete rushing up at him.

"It's alright, I've got you," you remind him as you feel the pinch of his fingers.

Your wings fold in. With a yelp from your passenger, you drop to the roof, flaring your feathers open to land easily. You set Junpei down with an enormously grateful sigh from him. He's already dreading the flight back to the church. He watches as your wings retract out of sight, vanishing into thin splits in your skin like non-bleeding wounds.

"Does it hurt when they go back inside?" he asks.

You shake your head. "No. They're pretty light now. It feels more or less like my muscles are popping on their own. It used to suck lugging them around when my back was weaker."

The two of you make your way down the scaffolding of the side of the building, approaching the front entrance. You bend over and peer into the lens of a tiny security camera built into the doorbell and press the buzzer, holding down much longer than any other patron would.

Of course Raphael isn't here yet, it's still much too early. The camera is linked to his phone. The poor man must have been in the depths of sleep because he answers with great annoyance, not looking at his phone screen to see who's at his boutique.

"Mon dieu! Qui effectue une livraison à cette heure? Laissez-le juste en arrière, je serai là dans-"

"C'est moi," you cut off his rant. That's all you need to say.

He cuts himself short, recognizing your voice and becoming quite meek in an instant.

"Ah–! Quelle erreur stupide j'ai faite. S'il vous plaît, je vous demande pardon."

You barely need to explain yourself, only ever coming to him for one thing.

"J'ai besoin de vêtements."

"Bien sûr. Je suis honoré de vous aider. S'il vous plaît, accordez une demi-heure à votre serviteur."

There's a click as he disconnects promptly.

You can't help feeling a little smug at how he changed his tune so easily despite how early it is. You're Raphael's most exclusive customer afterall even though he never makes you pay. You have a good idea why.

As you wait, Sukuna voices his complaint where only you can hear him.

"You're going out of your way for this scrawny human you've rescued. What exactly are we going to do with him?"

You respond silently, "What do you mean 'we?' I told you he's off limits and I meant it. You got that, you leech?"

He growls with indignation. "My question stands. What's your plan with the little ghoul?"

You cast your eyes over to Junpei, who is cautiously staring up and down the empty street, both arms wrapped around him. The sleeves of the shirt he's wearing are clenched tightly in his fingers.

"He's free to do as he likes, but he'll need a place to stay. He's welcome with us while he's adjusting."

"What a wonderful life worth living. An undead dirt boy. He's sure to be grateful," your Curse snorts.

"It'll be a vast improvement for both me and him. I can't wait to have an intelligent conversation again," you shoot right back.

Raphael arrives in twenty-five minutes, no doubt trying to make up for the egregious error of raising his voice to you. Smiling and dipping his head respectfully, he avoids your gaze as he always does.

"Excusez-moi de ne pas être plus rapide."

You wait patiently for him to unlock the door.

"No worries. I know it's an ungodly hour."

As Raphael welcomes you inside, he realizes you've brought another customer with you. He frowns at the boy's bare feet, but says nothing. He sweeps his arm to you, inviting you to make your selections. "S'il vous plaît, aidez-vous à tout ce dont vous avez besoin."

"Merci," you thank him as you begin perusing through the stacks, looking for something suitable for Junpei to wear. He always lets you take whatever you need, no questions asked. He could be too terrified of you to ask for payment. Or maybe he charges everything to Keigo's account. At least he never bothers you while you shop, but chooses instead to stand at the front of the store keeping a watchful eye toward the streetlights.

There's a few cotton blends that should be easy enough to keep clean, darker colors are best for the same purpose. He'll need a heavy coat for flying with you. Oh, and shoes. You call over your shoulder to Raphael.

"Chaussures."

He vanishes into the back room, presumably stuffed with racks of shoes he didn't have the space for up front. After several minutes he returns with a stack of five different shoeboxes for Junpei to begin trying on.

You notice Raphael keeps clasping his hands and fidgeting in place. You can tell something is wrong.

"Problème?" you ask.

Seeming reluctant to speak, Raphael cautiously whispers.

"Quelqu'un est arrivé hier. Ils posaient des questions étranges."

Somebody came in yesterday. They were asking odd questions.

Your breath catches in your throat. "What kind of questions?"

Instead of answering he instead walks to the register, reaching for a business card that had been tucked underneath. He hands it to you.

Your stomach drops the instant you take the card, already fearing the worst, then you read the bold typeface words: Jujutsu Technical Institute.

"Merde," you swear under your breath.

Again Raphael fidgets. He knows this can't be good news.

After Junpei selects a pair of shoes, you take your haul to the register where Raphael begins bagging the items without even bothering to scan anything.

As you thank him and turn to leave. You stop in your tracks, staring at the exit in disbelief.

"Motherfucker. That mother fucker!"

Plain as day, framed in gold plating, one of your black feathers sits plainly displayed. Of course Jujutsu sorcerers would stop here to ask about you. Someone had given Raphael evidence that you'd been there! You have a feeling you know exactly who that someone is too. You'll have to take this up with him personally. Reaching for the frame, you take it off the wall and leer back at Raphael.

Sensing the change in your distemper, the flustered shopkeeper gulps.

Raising the glass, you utter a single word. "Keigo?"

He nods. You growl and cram the frame into your shopping bag to take with you. Raphael looks distressed, but says nothing in protest.

Junpei tentatively asks, "Is something wrong?"

Not wanting to raise concern, you muster a tight smile. "Oh, nothing you should worry about. I just need to have a word with…an old acquaintance of mine."

With shopping done, you turn back down the alley to the fire escape. Handing the shopping bag to Junpei, you begin your ascent to the roof.

"You'll need to hang on to this so I can hold you."

"Oh, o-okay. Sorry to make you keep carrying me." There's a strange fluttering in his stomach. He isn't used to being held or even touched in any way that wasn't painful.

Your wings begin to re-grow. You're just about to reach out to take Junpei in your arms when an ear-splitting scream pierces the night.

"What was that?" Junpei turns in alarm. It sounded like it came from only a few streets over.

Frowning, you pluck the boy up from the rooftop as you flap to gain altitude.

"Let's check it out."

Kicking off the side of the ledge, you propel yourself into the night with the boy's arms tightly around your neck. He whimpers the entire way with the shopping bag smushed to his chest. Gratefully this is a much shorter flight so he doesn't have to wait long to be set down once more.

"Keep quiet," you advise, already striding to look over the side of the building you'd landed on.

You can make out the body of someone lying motionless on the ground. No one else is in sight so you make your descent swiftly, opting to leap down instead of taking the side stairs. Your wings soften your landing. Steadily you approach the victim who appears to be an older man, noting there's a puddle of blood forming beneath him. The way his hands are pulled up to his neck isn't a good sign. You kneel to check closer. His throat has been slit.

"Hey, can you hear me? Don't try to talk, but blink if you can hear me."

His eyelids flutter, then blink. A sound comes from his throat, but you're not sure if it was deliberate. There's blood seeping from between his fingers. Despite the pressure he's applying, the wound is too deep to clot on its own. You reach forward, prying his hand loose.

"Let me see."

He's reluctant to let go but eventually he relents, letting you appraise the damage. It's grim, and medic services probably won't make it on time.

"Hold still." You direct him, focussing energy to your hand. Sealing up a wound, even one as critical as this one, is a simple task. With the contact to his flesh, the events leading up to his near demise replay for you.

A gang of men, all in hooded coats to obscure their faces. One grabbed him as he was leaving the ATM nearby, demanding his money. Unfortunately the amount the victim had withdrawn wasn't enough to satisfy them. They'd forced him to hand over his other valuables, then cut him so he wouldn't be a witness to police. He must've screamed before they got the blade in. There's no talking to him now.

Once his injury is mended, his eyes become less frantic and much heavier. He's lost alot of blood. There's a payphone closeby for you to call toll free for medical service fortunately. You dial the number.

"What is your location and emergency?" the voice on the line asks.

"There's been a mugging. A man needs assistance with heavy blood loss. I've stabilized him, but he's blacking out. Transfusions will be needed."

"Stabilized him how? May I get your name? Hello? Hello?"

You leave the receiver off the hook, walking away without telling the operator anything else. They'll be able to trace the call from the public location and find the victim. In the meantime the perpetrators are still at large. If they're this quick with attempted murder, they're only ramping up their nightly events. You look up, catching Junpei peering down over the edge of the rooftop at you. He'd been enraptured watching you work on the victim. He's never met someone with a healing ability before.

You weren't expecting to run into trouble while with your new acquaintance. Junpei's bound to learn your true nature sooner or later, but he may not be up to being part of a fight just yet if it was unavoidable. Launching yourself back up into the air, you flap to maintain your place in front of him.

"I'm making a slight detour. I want to catch the ones who did this and make sure they pay. You can come along or I can leave you here. What's it gonna be?"

Junpei glances back down at the man still lying helpless on the pavement. There'd been many instances in his old life where he ended up similarly.

"Is he…"

"He's fine. Help is already on the way," you reassure him.

His face takes a serious expression, hands gripping the ledge as he nods.

"Let's go."

Despite how sure he sounded, Junpei exclaims when you snatch him from the rooftop, easily lifting him into your arms. He's still too terrified to try looking down, so he chooses instead to keep his eyes focussed on you to remain calm. Luckily you don't have to fly very far this time.

The sound of multiple voices piling onto one another reaches you as you get closer. Finally you're able to pinpoint where it's coming from. There's an alley between two squat looking buildings down below. The street is familiar, you've flown by before. It's a problem area because of the nearby bars that attract attention. It was correct of you to assume the gang hadn't finished with their twisted entertainment for the night. This time it's a girl they've got cornered in a dead end. Judging by the way she's dressed, she must have been on her way home from one of the nightclubs along the strip. There's a pair of high heels clenched in her fists, a sign that she may have been either drinking or running away from them. One of the men has her by the wrist, trying to pull her away from the wall she's clinging to.

"I told you jerks to get lost! My boyfriend is coming to pick me up and he'll be here any minute!"

she screeches at them. A lie most likely, and they weren't buying it.

The guy handling her only laughs, easily batting away her attempts to hit him with her shoes. "Then he can join the party. Don't be a bitch about this and we won't take long."

Originally you'd planned on leaving Junpei in a safe spot while you dealt with the dirty work, but seeing those hands grabbing and pulling her against her will only ignites your rage. There's no time to think. You adjust your hold on your passenger, grabbing around his waist and shoulders to brace him for impact.

"Heels out Junpei!"

He doesn't even question you, seemingly reading your mind and knowing what you wanted him to do. He's happy to deliver both heels of his new shoes into the back of the creep closest to the girl. The impact sends the jerk flying into the opposite wall of the alley. Your grip around Junpei lessens, and you deposit him safely to the ground. Your wings flare open to force the rest of the gang away from the girl, who opens her mouth to scream again when she sees your face.

"Aaaaahhh!"

Patiently ignoring her innate fear response, you direct Junpei.

"Stay here with her. Keep her safe. Got it?"

"G-got it!" He's shaken, but takes his place protectively in front of her. In an attempt to calm her down, he speaks gently, checking to make sure she isn't physically hurt.

"Are you alright, miss?"

"What the–? What is that thing?!" she demands.

"Are those fucking wings?!" one of the men exclaims.

"What the actual hell?!"

One of the men who sounds as if he may have an actual brain chimes in.

"Is it Hawks? It's gotta be! I told you we were in the wrong district for this kind of shit, dude! Let's bail!"

"Chill. Those heroes are all fucking pacifists at heart. They'd rather call the cops than get their hands dirty."

"Besides there's only two of them. Haha! Let's take 'em!" another one agrees.

It's a terrible night for them to be so mistaken. Here's your time to shine. Your arms open wide, clawed fingertips cracking loudly in anticipation.

"Sukuna, have all the fun you want with this scum."

"With great pleasure," he rumbles, already taking control of your body. He's going to enjoy this immensely.

These are the only times you willingly surrender yourself to his possession. A hell of a compromise, but it works to your advantage in these cases. Cleaning up the trash of the city as you encounter it is your own version of community service in a way, and it looks like you've got your work cut out for you tonight. A year ago you wouldn't have stood a chance if you encountered even one of these men alone in the dark. But you aren't alone anymore.

Sukuna moves your body with lightning quickness, rushing the nearest thug and backhanding him through the wall behind him. Bits of brick crumble around his body and he slumps without a sound. He doesn't stand back up. The remaining members of the gang back away from you cautiously now, not at all ready to try their luck with you after seeing that.

Even Junpei holds a hand over his own mouth as he watches a steady trickle of blood begin to flow from between the injured man's lips. You'd barely swatted the guy and he crumpled like paper. Were you…going to do that to the rest of them? Should he even care? They were going to do something awful to the girl cowering behind him, so it's a good thing you're here to protect her, right? Junpei reasons it's what he would have wanted back when he'd been backed into a corner.

Sukuna chuckles with your voice, it resonates low and deep. You haven't sounded like your old self in a very long time.

"So? What do you think? What do these dogs merit?" he asks you, already knowing your answer.

He wants to hear you say it, to admit your lurid thoughts and most primal urges of violence upon a target that you find truly deserving. It resonates within your Curse's black soul to hear you speak those words.

You don't care about the sick satisfaction he'll receive from this. These disgusting humans won't live to see another dawn. Your eyes burn from within as you direct your orders to him.

Your entire body vibrates with Sukuna's excitement, cursed energy spilling off of you in waves.

"Come now, you cowards. I thought you were looking for entertainment?" Sukuna taunts as he stretches your wings to their full size, shielding both Junpei and the girl out of view. Hopefully they'll be ready to make their escape when the chance presents itself. Counting them in the dark, you identify eight men. You haven't fought this many humans before, but it scarcely concerns you. Even a hundred non-sorcerer humans couldn't hold a candle to you.

The girl tentatively grabs onto Junpei's arm, startling him. She points a finger at your back.

"Wh-who is that?"

She looks even more scared than he is. Trying to muster a comforting smile, he attempts to reassure her.

"A…friend. Don't worry, you're safe now. Everything is going to be–"

Before he can say "fine" a guttural scream cuts him off. Then comes the wet tearing sound of a limb being pulled from its socket. Sukuna had caught the elbow of one of the thugs who'd gotten ballsy enough to attempt throwing a swing at you, detaching the arm entirely.

"Too easy!" your Curse crows, throwing your head back with a wicked laugh.

You toss the arm back to the man who gapes at it in open-mouthed horror. He falls to the ground in shock, looking to his comrades for assistance. They refuse to come near you, instead they regroup, choosing to cower together in the center of the path.

"Just fuck off and leave us alone!" one of them shouts, sounding nearly on the verge of hysteria.

"Oh? Like you were leaving her alone?" You speak from a place of pure anger. You know what type of men they are. The rot of their wasted souls smells like the decay of a corpse. More than that, you can hear the screams of their memories piercing through clearly. Their victims and their laughter.

This isn't their first offense, but it would be their last.

Sukuna's markings on your skin pulse with crimson energy. Every muscle in your body feels as if it's on fire.

"You've been judged unworthy of the gift of life. Your time is now forfeit."

Your claws flex, cracking the joints in preparation.

"You may sit still and await your punishment, or try to evade me and buy yourself a few more precious seconds. It really makes no difference to me how gently you wish to go. I'm sure you'll understand…"

Faster than any of them can blink, you're in their ranks, standing in the center of their pitiful circle.

"How the hell-?!"

"That thing's not human! Did you see how fast it was?"

Ignoring them, you continue.

"I do wonder…In the face of your death, do men like you feel anything for what you've done?"

Again one of them grows bold enough to try a weapon against you, pulling a boxcutter from his pocket. His arm slashes and it sinks through your coat and into your bicep. You don't even flinch, barely giving it a second glance.

"I suppose that's a no then. Very well. You can be the first."

You snatch his neck in an iron grip, making his eyes bulge in their sockets. His nails sink into your wrist in a weak attempt to pull your hand away. Both of his feet kick uselessly as you lift him off the ground. With a single powerful beat from your wings, you gain liftoff and carry the man up with you into the air. Panic takes hold of him at once when he realizes his peril. He tries screaming for help, but your thumb crushes his windpipe with minimal effort. It crunches like a twig.

Then you simply let go.

There's a chorus of screams from the men down below as his body plummets, legs kicking in circles as he twists in midair. When he hits the concrete, his skull cracks and he bursts open on one side. Only his fingers move with the residual twitching of his dying nerve endings.

This is more than enough to make the rest of the gang lose their fighting spirit. Like the cowards they are, they turn tail and run. Fools. As if you'd let them get off so easily. Within seconds you've cut them off before they can exit the alley. No mere human is faster than you on the ground or in the air. Your patience is growing thin however.

Your feet touchdown, street lights behind you casting your shadow upon the group, pitching them deeper in darkness. Bringing your hands together, Sukuna's energy focusses and builds within your fingertips. Sparks leap between your talons, forming a red pulsing fireball.

"Heads up," you smirk, throwing it directly at them.

The light disperses when it touches down, only taking seconds to ignite them all simultaneously.

Junpei forces himself to look away, unable to look on as they burn alive. The flames are too hot to allow them to scream, but the shriek of the girl behind him is deafening. As soon as the flames die down, Junpei grabs the girl by her hand pulling her toward the now cleared alleyway.

"Come on!"

She doesn't argue, keeping in stride with him until a figure staggers into view from the shadows. The first man who'd been knocked unconscious by Junpei is finally back on his feet again. He glares hatefully at the boy standing between him and the girl.

"You trying to be some kind of a hero, kid?" he sneers while pressing the button of a switchblade.

"N-no! I–" Putting up his hands to deflect the attack, Junpei catches the blade through the center of his palm. When the absence of pain registers with him at last, the boy's anger takes hold. His hand closes over the man's fist, locking him in place. He shoves the girl toward the exit route.

"Run for it!" he yells.

The thug's head snaps to follow her movements as he tries to follow her, but even with the knife piercing through his hand, Junpei refuses to let go. He blocks the man's progress with his entire body weight thrown against him shoulder to shoulder.

Running for her life, the girl speeds past you, hastily calling her sincere thanks over her shoulder. You don't watch her leave. Your eyes are glued to Junpei. Captivated by his spirited show of courage, you have to admire the boy's efforts, but he'll need some help with this.

You take a step forward, but Sukuna's voice stops you.

"Why not see what he can do? He isn't helpless, you know."

Hesitating, you find yourself genuinely curious. Against your better judgment, you linger back and prepare to step in if you need to.

"Fuck off kid!" the thug shouts.

"YOU fuck off!" Junpei screams back in his face just as loudly.

There are tears in his eyes and his whole body is trembling, but he doesn't back down. With unfamiliar strength he somehow forces himself to take a step forward, shoving the brute against the brick. His non-injured hand pulls back, and Junpei throws a punch for the first time in his life. A red glowing light snakes up his arm, emanating from the two black bands at his wrist. When his fist connects to the man's gut, his body catches fire, flashing then disintegrating into ash before Junpei's eyes. Only the knife remains stuck through his palm. He shakes it loose, yelping when it clatters to the ground.

"Wow. That was really impressive, Junpei," you congratulate him with some light applause as you approach him.

He's still staring at the smoking remains of what used to be the gang member, breathing heavily and shaking his head.

"How…How did I do that?"

"You tapped into Sukuna's cursed energy through your anger. You wanted to keep that girl safe, and you did. Great job."

He's still staring down at his hands as you recover the shopping bag he'd dropped, giving it to him to hold one more time. Barely registering that you're lifting him up and taking to the sky once again, Junpei rests his head against your chest.

During the flight, he forgets to keep his eyes closed, choosing instead to keep his focus on you.

.

.

.

To Be Continued…

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