Jujutsu Executor

by CrafterofTales

News of an awakened, ancient living curse catches the attention of the Holy Church. Sent as an agent of the Burial Agency, Ciel must determine if the host: Yuuji Itadori is a threat, and exercise her duty as Executor within Jujutsu Sorcerer's territory.

20. Heartfelt Confession, Night Patrol

...They weren't sure how long they were kissing, but neither of them wanted to relent. Their emotions and affections were shared between their hearts. Yuuji slid his hand down across Ciel's back as Ciel held the back of his head and neck, hearing and feeling each other's sighs, until eventually he parted his lips from hers.

His breath against hers, Yuuji held Ciel closely as he took in the sight of her sweet, bashful face. Her turquoise eyes glistening with euphoric tenderness that made his heart skip a beat. The amazement in his eyes trailed down to her lips, and Yuuji dipped into them again, giving her another kiss, and a third one because he felt being greedy. He got a cute little squeak out of her, and he smiled.

At the soft suction of their separation, he pulled her in. Wrapping her arms around Yuuji's neck, Ciel hugged him tightly, her heart beating strongly against him as she hid her red face against his shoulder. She almost couldn't believe herself. She didn't know what or how she should think, but there was only one feeling that leapt in her heart that she couldn't control: happiness.

Yuuji quietly fist-pumped the air with a triumphic look before hugging Ciel again, burying his mouth into her fluffy blue hair and kissed her. "...I really like you."

He spoke to her head as if to really deliver it home. He felt he needed to say that. He needed her to hear him say that. This wasn't some impulse. He was completely head over heels for this girl.

"O-Oh. Mm," Ciel only said, her words slightly muffled against his shoulder. "I... I see... Um... Thank you... I... I really like you too."

Yuuji chuckled in her hair. The rumble in his chest made Ciel blush even more. Hearing her sound so shy, Yuuji liked it. He wanted to tease her, but right now, he just wanted to hold her for a little while longer. He never wanted this stop-

"Hey. You done eating-?" It was the voice of Ieiri. The doctor had opened the door and set one foot into the room before stopping at the scene before her.

Ciel's body instantly locked up in Yuuji's arm, not looking up as if her face was glued to his shoulder.

Yuuji looked behind him, turning his head to see Ieiri without letting go of Ciel. "Oh, yeah. Thanks for bringing the food. Ciel's awake now, by the way."

Ieiri blinked at the two teens embracing each other. "...Oh."

...She retreated and started closing the door slowly.

Ciel broke out of Yuuji's hold and held her hand out for the doctor. "Wait! Wait! Wait! I can explain! He was just-! I was just-!"

"No. No. Don't mind me. Carry on," Ieiri said and idly waved her hand at them, ushering them to continue. "Sorry I interrupted you guys."

"Mm. It's okay." Yuuji said as he casually wrapped his arms around Ciel again, much to the executor's increasing embarrassment that reddened her face even further. "Is Nanami-san and Ijichi-san still around? We should let them know."

"Know about what?" Nanami seemingly popped out of nowhere behind Ieiri, and the executor had to contain her shriek. "..."

He simply stared at the sorcerer and the red-faced executor sitting on the same bed in the room together. Yuuji greeted Nanami with a wave of his hand, in better spirits than what Nanami saw an hour ago. "Yo! Ciel's awake."

"...When I said for you to prove to her. I didn't mean this." Nanami was here earlier and had a chat with Yuuji regarding his goal, among other topics.

Yuuji looked dumbfoundedly at Nanami, "Why do you always think the worst of me-? OW! OW! OW! Why are you pulling my ear?! Are you secretly her dad?!"

Nanami was quick in his approach and dragged the young sorcerer out of bed. Ieiri went to console the red-faced Ciel who tried to cover her embarrassment with her hands, as if the executor was about to cry.

"There. There. We all knew this was bound to happen anyway," Ieiri said, patting the girl's shoulder.

"...Was it really that obvious?"

"Yes," Ieiri was frank with her answer. Behind her, Nanami was busy holding up Yuuji by the collar of his shirt.

"We didn't do anything! I swear!" Yuuji said, alluding the fact that he did kiss Ciel, but he kind of wanted to keep that to himself. Also, it looked like Nanami was two seconds away from slapping him.

"Lies. She wouldn't be reacting like that if that were true," Nanami countered.

"...Um. Is this a bad time?" As if it couldn't get any worse, Ijichi poked his head into the room. Ciel had to fight the urge to scream.

"...Just between us girls," Ieiri said, hunching over to Ciel and whispering with a hand by her mouth. "...How far did you two get?"

"-! Mmmrrgghh!" Ciel's hands curled into fists. Unable to handle her emotions and everyone's prying eyes and presence, she started banging on her knees in frustration. "Enough! Enough! Everyone leave!"

Everyone was surprised by her outburst, the first time they've ever seen her act that way. Ieiri held back a laugh and turned to the men, whistling at them, "Alright. You heard her. Out."

The doctor was quick to usher everyone out of the room. "Huh?! Even me?!" Yuuji asked.

"She just woke up and is under a lot of stress. Give her some breathing room. She'll come around," Ieiri said as she shooed the others away while leaving as well. "Take time to recover Ciel-san. We'll be waiting outside."

"...Thank you," Ciel was too focused on calming her hammering heart and letting her face cool to look back at the doctor.

All of the sorcerers left the room, and they stood outside in the hallway with Ieiri closing the door behind them.

...Just now, she really acted like a teenager, Nanami noted, relieved that at least that hadn't died in her life and experience as executor.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to intrude," Ijichi raised a hand apologetically, though he wished he'd understood what had happened just now. Yuuji rubbed the back of his head and looked to the sorcerer assistant.

"Nah. It's fine." Maybe it was a little too much for so many people to see her at once? Yuuji didn't mean for that to happen.

"Well, now that our executor is awake," Ieiri stated as she started lighting a cigarette, "What's our next move?"

Reminded of why Nanami stopped by, he was the first to answer. "I've received a call from Gojo-san. He's finished with his business and is on his way back to Tokyo as we speak."

"Oh! Sensei is coming back?" Yuuji was pretty happy to hear that. With the strongest sorcerer back in time, he'll be able to help them look out for that patch-face cursed spirit.

"I've informed him of everything that happened tonight, including our... official alliance with the Holy Church - in a manner of speaking."

Yuuji looked at Nanami confused. "Weren't we already doing that with Ciel?"

"Not necessarily," Nanami answered, "Ciel-san explained that she has been acting independently without any direct contact with her organization, apart from any emergencies. In other words, her people weren't aware that she had been cooperating with us until recently. Their members that I've just spoken to, including their deputy minister, they know about you being alive, Itadori-kun. However, they are willing to keep things quiet for now, and only a small number of them are aware of you."

Nanami adjusted his specs, "I was hoping to ask them some questions, but it seemed they have other matters to attend to." Also, there's a limit to how much I can handle that child's rudeness. Where on earth is that boy's parents?

He resumed, "For now, I'll just have to ask Ciel-san and see if she can confirm something for me."

Yuuji's interest piqued. "Like what?"

Nanami regarded the teen for a moment. Ijichi showed discomfort while Ieiri remained calm, holding the lit cigarette in her mouth. Nanami leaned against the wall and crossed his arms. "...We were doing well to keep your survival a secret, Itadori-kun. Someone must have slipped to that group that you were alive this whole time. Either someone spotted you..."

He looked at the young sorcerer, deciding here and now to treat him as one. Thus, no more secrets between them, and no more holding back the worst possible scenario. "Or Ciel-san told them."

Yuuji's eyes widened.

"I will refrain from making any judgments until I ask her myself," Nanami said. "Personally, if she did tell them, I won't hold it against her. I just like to hear her excuse or denial. Whatever her answer may be, I'll accept it. That's all."

Perhaps he's letting himself get too sentimental over his savior and possible traitor, but it was the truth, and Nanami won't be moved from this.

"Huh..." Yuuji only said, still rubbing his head. "...Well, if she did, I'm sure she had a good reason."

The adults looked at Yuuji who smiled slightly. "I'll be with you when you ask her. Until then, I'll keep believing in her."

Ijichi smiled while Ieiri silently huffed good heartedly. Nanami nodded at Yuuji before looking to Ijichi, "You wanted to say something?"

"Huh? Oh! Yes. I received a call from one of our people who's helping the search for the cursed spirit." Ijichi's expression turned sour. "Unfortunately, it's not good news. They looked through the sewers and had every entrance into it blocked, but they were unable to locate the curse."

Yuuji's expression changed and his fist tightened into a stone-crushing grip. Nanami took notice of it before looking back at Ijichi. "The cursed spirit has the ability to change its shape by will. It's likely that he was able to slip through a crack in the wall, or another drain."

"So he escaped..." Yuuji glared at the floor. "...I'm sorry. I let him get away."

Nanami approached the boy and grasped his shoulder firmly. "It was not your fault. Curses are known to be tricky foes. He'll be on guard against us now, and we now know what he's capable of. The next time he shows up, we'll be ready, and we'll exorcise him for good this time."

Yuuji looked back up at the man and nodded resolutely. "Right!"

After this declared affirmation, the door of the infirmary room was opened.

Ciel walked out with a calmer expression. Her nun dress was also fixed, not even a scar left behind (must be magic). She cleared her throat and faced the sorcerers, returning to her usual professionalism. "...Please excuse my earlier behavior. I was a little out of line. I've calmed down now after eating the food Yuuji ordered for me."

Nothing like the power of curry to appease the flustered executor. Yuuji's anger over the discussed cursed spirit swiftly changed the moment he saw Ciel, and he happily walked up to her side. "You okay now?"

Ciel met Yuuji's gaze, and she instantly blushed, looking away. "Y-yes. I'm okay now."

Yuuji smiled and then took hold of Ciel's hands. She blushed deeper at his immediate touch, genuinely at awe over how upfront he is - and in front of everyone else too. "There's something we need to tell you, but first, Nanami-san wants to talk to you."

Ciel's shyness evaporated at Yuuji's gentle but serious tone. She looked over to the adult in the hallways. "What is it?"

"We were met by your associates of the Holy Church, particularly the deputy minister, Mario Gallo Bestino."

Ciel's expression became nulled. Her immediate stoic showed as Nanami said further. "He knows about Itadori-kun. Do you have any idea how?"

"Are you suspecting me, Nanami-san?"

She felt her hands clutched by Yuuji. "That's not what we're doing."

Ciel avoided meeting Yuuji's gaze, though she could feel him staring at her. She had to bury the hint of guilt in her chest to keep hold of her calm expression.

"I don't care if you did or didn't," Nanami said bluntly, and that was enough to have Ciel's mask waver a bit, surprised by what she heard. The man then added, "Whether you told them or someone else found out, it makes no difference to me. I just figured I'd give it a shot and ask you personally."

"You'd be a fool not to consider it, especially with what I am," Ciel said, a bit taken aback by Nanami's untroubled attitude. "If I did tell them, then that would mean I betrayed you and the others."

"Perhaps in hindsight, but we'll still hear you out. Itadori-kun and I are willing to believe in you, and don't try to make yourself out as the bad guy. We'll never fall for that."

Ciel frowned and opened her mouth to rebuke, but she was quickly silenced when Yuuji wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into another tight hug. Her cold exterior crumbled and she felt her heart flutter, her cheeks burning.

"Ciel. It's okay," Yuuji said, full of comfort. "We're not trying to fight you. It doesn't matter to me either, but I'm with you no matter what. If you say you didn't tell them, then I'll defend you. If you did tell them, I'll still defend you."

Ciel's eyes widened at his promise and assurance, clutching the back of his sleeves as she felt his breath brush against her hair.

"I want you to know that we're not instantly gunning for you. If you really had no idea, then I'll say I'm sorry until the break of dawn and buy you curry bread every day. We just want to know if you know something, that's all."

Ciel looked back at the other sorcerers in the room, all of them with looks that held no suspicions, but trust. Ciel had to admit, this was new, almost embarrassing even and she was honestly filled with various conflicting emotions, especially after given the fact that they're already aware of her being an executor.

"...I could never act cool around you people," Ciel said after a small sigh. She patted Yuuji's arms and he stepped back, though he still held her arms just as she was holding his. "...My partner Noel spotted Yuuji-kun when we were investigating Junpei's house. I was able to approach her before she would tell anyone, but at that point, I knew it was only a matter of time before someone else found out. So I approached Mario before I met up with Nanami-san and Ino-san at the sewers. I informed him of everyone's involvement, our intentions, and that I would personally see to Itadori's condition until his execution date arrives. In exchange for this information, he and his people will assist us in not only our investigation of the cursed spirit's whereabouts, but to ensure that Yuuji-kun's status will remain a secret until he is reinstated into Jujutsu High."

"I see," Nanami said. "Very well. I'll accept that."

"...Really?" Ciel asked, looking at the first grade sorcerer questionably.

"There's nothing we can do about it now, and you had to make a call," Nanami only answered. "With all the undead and curses roaming together, it's as you said that it was only a matter of time. At least this way, we won't have to worry too much in keeping Itadori-kun away from certain members of the Church."

Apart from the executor named Noel and her evident hatred against all non-humans. They're going have to make sure Yuuji is never alone with that woman.

"Hm..." Yuuji sounded, rolling his thumb around Ciel's arm. "Is that gonna be okay? I heard from Sensei that the Church and Jujutsu High don't really get along. Also..."

He remembered Gojo telling him how Ciel took responsibility for the deaths of those people as a form of mercy, and he still felt guilt over letting her carry that on her shoulders. "What I did that night at the detention center... It won't be good if they found out, right?"

Ciel frowned as she looked at Yuuji, "That was never your fault. And I wouldn't worry too much about what Mario would think. So long as what comes out of it doesn't become too costly in terms of repairing all the damages, he doesn't really care what Sukuna does."

"Eh? For real?" Yuuji asked. That sounded awfully too dismissive over the lives that were lost because of Sukuna.

"He's more concerned about the Dead Apostle hiding in this city. So he'll be leaving you in Jujutu High's care, and in mine as well."

"But won't that get in the way of your-" Yuuji stopped when Ciel placed both hands on his cheeks. He blushed under her gentle grasps.

"Hush. It's far too late in the evening to be so worried, and considering how long I've cooperated with everyone here, I'd say there's a good chance our alliance with Mario's people won't fall apart. Maybe a little shaky at best, but let's not think about that," Ciel said and held up a finger, her eyes twinkling with mirth. "All you have to do is stand there and look pretty, and I get to have you as my personal eye-candy."

"E-excuse me-?" Yuuji didn't know whether to be flattered or offended. He was then pulled along by Ciel, and was led down the hallway with his hand in hers.

"Now then, if there's nothing else, I like to take Yuuji-kun home and get some proper sleep. If Mario comes by again, tell him that I'll contact him tomorrow."

The adults watched as the two teens left down the hallway. Ijichi was secretly crying into his handkerchief, completely moved by the sight of the young couple before following after them to give them a ride. Ieiri was doing her best to hold back her laugh with the cigarette hanging between her fingers.

"I'm sure Itadori-kun will fill you in the details. If not, I'll come by in the morning," Nanami said, debating if he should just follow them now with how Ciel and Yuuji are holding hands. Well, it's not like I'd care if they do start dating. They're good people.

It's just that he's worried either of them might get carried away, being at the age group that they are in. Not that it was something he'd personally experienced, and often Gojo would tease him endlessly about. No Action-Man! is Gojo's especially favorite insult, and Nanami would unapologetically hit the strongest sorcerer with his hatchet, no matter how futile.

---

"...You know, I'm more than just a pretty face." Yuuji said with a small pout, securing his hold of Ciel's hand.

Ciel teasingly smiled at him. "Maybe. You also have a pretty good physique. I'm honestly jealous of that. Since my body doesn't change, I can't grow any muscles. Then again, with how easily I can carry so many weapons, I might have the physique of the hulk. I wonder how you might see me then?"

"Hmm. I don't really care," Yuuji said and took a step closer to her. He pressed the corner of his lips against her head and Ciel's breath hitched. "You'll always look pretty. You got a great body as it is, so I'd probably take that as a plus."

"H-huh?!" Taken off guard by his comment, Ciel blushed. "O-oh. Really? Hehe."

She clasped her pink cheek with her other hand, a slight bounce in her feet as she walked. As childish as it is, his comment made her very happy. Yuuji grinned at her reaction.

"Oh, that's right. I believe I heard Nanami-san said something about you proving yourself to me?" Ciel then changed topics. She looked up at Yuuji curiously. "What did he mean by that?"

"Oh..." Yuuji moved his head back, rolling his thumb over Ciel's fingers. "He stopped by earlier to check up on us. We talked and..."

---

Yuuji had been sitting beside Ciel's bed ever since he woke up. Nanami soon stopped by to visit, and saw Yuuji in a chair, holding Ciel's hand.

"You should take a break. Get some sleep here," Nanami announced his presence.

Yuuji only stared at Ciel's hand, "...I want to wait until she wakes up."

Nanami did not press further. He simply took his place by the wall at the foot of Ciel's bed and crossed his arms. He looked over to Ciel, seeing her slumbering away.

"Are you going to scold me?" Yuuji asked the adult in the room.

"I don't see why I should, considering all the lives you've saved today."

"That wasn't me. Ciel did all the work. She saved you too. I was too slow to do anything."

"She did save me, but you also broke her out of that domain. If she was left in there any longer... Honestly, I don't want to imagine what could have happened if that cursed spirit laid his hand on her personally."

Yuuji's hand gently gripped around Ciel's. A flare of rage inside the teenager at the mention of patch-face. "...That bastard's name. Junpei called him Mahito. I don't want to give that damn curse the satisfaction of a name, though."

"Noted. We're still looking for that cursed spirit in the sewers, with every pathway blocked and secured," Nanami informed, "For now, leave it to the rest of us and Ciel's people to deal with him."

Yuuji did not answer, but he did calm down as soon as he looked back at Ciel's face. "...There were a lot of people I killed. Did you find their bodies?"

"We did recover some. It seems most of them were turned to ash due to Yumizuka's ability after her death. Ieiri-san will examine the bodies and after that, we'll give them a proper burial."

"...That's good." Those people should at least get the barest respect of their humanity, even at their deaths.

"How are you holding up?" Nanami then asked, looking back at Yuuji.

"...I'm just trying to figure out some things..." Yuuji said. "...Ciel once asked me what I would do if I ever killed anyone. Would I still call myself a sorcerer after that? On any other day, I'd probably say no. I'd feel too guilty, but I'm not sure if I'd just quit after that. If I did... then I'd be leaving you guys to fight your battles alone."

You'd be leaving Ciel to fight alone, Nanami understood Yuuji's words.

"I never wanted to think about actually taking a human life, but I've already passed that border now, and I just kept getting farther and farther away from it. It's scary how numb I'm starting to feel. Like I'm getting used to it..."

"It's called maturing," Nanami said. "Policemen, soldiers, and most definitely sorcerers and executors go through that. It does not mean you are losing your humanity. Some people do end up toeing the line, and many of them end up falling to the point of no return, but you will not be like those people. You, who currently mourn those victims, regardless if you knew them or not."

"I know, and I don't want to call myself a monster, because I'd just be insulting you and Ciel," Yuuji said. "I know she's going to hold herself responsible for what happened with Sacchin, but I don't want her to blame herself. I'm the one who pushed that sword into Sacchin, she just made sure it wouldn't hurt after that."

Yuuji rested his elbows against his knees, his thumb rubbing against Ciel's knuckles. "Ciel tried to keep me out of it. No matter what, she always takes on something that's bigger than she could handle. That's what I'd do. Maybe I'm a hypocrite, and I don't know if I would have been in her way or not, but I didn't want her to struggle by herself. Even if she is immortal, if I just let her get killed, that meant I never had the power to protect her in the first place. And what if she wasn't immortal? Wouldn't that mean, each time she dies, I just kept failing to save her when it matters most?"

The memory of her body lying still in the water continued to haunt him. Her heart gouged through, and her cold, lifeless eyes staring back at him.

"I don't want her to keep worrying about me if it meant risking her own life," Yuuji stated. "I know what it's like to die, and how much it can hurt."

"...Then prove to her that she has nothing to worry about." Nanami only answered, looking ahead of himself. "It might be pointless, though, when it comes to her, who can't help but throw herself into harm's way for others' sake. But that simply means you and I need to catch up, so that she won't have to make that decision. I assume that, despite what's happened tonight, you still intend to help people seek proper deaths."

"..."

"It's not something I recommend, nor do I think it's a believable wish to achieve. Death is supposed to be the final destination of all people, even though no two people will die the same death. Ciel-san, on the other hand, likely has experienced every death imaginable, and so no longer feels any weight towards it - at least, when it comes to herself."

Yuuji's mouth thinned. His heart clenched at hearing that statement. Having seen her embrace every impossible situation with valor but no promise of survival.

"There's fearless, and then there's careless. But I'm sure with you sticking by her, she'll have to be more conscious of her own life. Or at the very least, you'll be able to pull her out of that repetitive role - of giving her life without understanding the value of it."

Yuuji frowned, pressing his thumbs against the back hand of Ciel, wanting her to hear that as well.

Nanami then removed himself from the wall. "That goes for you also. It would be a problem if you were to die. The two of you share the same path, and there's still plenty of room for your growth. There'll be people in the future who will need both of your help."

The man then started for the door to make his leave, "Because Ciel is an Executor, and you, Yuuji Itadori, are a Jujutsu Sorcerer."

---

"...he actually called me a sorcerer. Can you believe that?" Yuuji said smiling. "I was trying to wrap my head around a few things, and he helped me through it. I don't know what it means to give people a proper death anymore, but I'd want to understand it someday. I'm going to get stronger, and that way..."

Ciel saw the resolve in Yuuji's eyes and felt her heart skip when he looked at her. "I won't leave you in a bad spot like what happened last night. I'm going to prove to you that you can rely on me too, and you won't have to take care of everything alone."

"Are you still worrying over me? Really now, I just don't know what else to tell you..." Ciel was honestly annoyed, but she couldn't find it in her heart to be angry with Yuuji. The thought of having others treasure her life, it was a romantic idea but one she was undeserving of, and thus hate. She would have coldly refuted it if not for the fact that she was talking to Yuuji. She knew that, if she were to tell him what her one biggest wish is, he would have no doubt try to do something against that.

I also can't just step away after telling him, he's actually really fast. I feel he'll just catch up to me.

And that's something that's never happened before. Yuuji really is quite the special case. Ciel stopped in front of Yuuji and playfully tapped him on the nose, causing the boy to blink in surprise. "You listen here. What you need to focus on is getting stronger, but only for yourself. You don't need to concern yourself with me. It is my job to keep an eye on you after all."

She looked at him warmly, a hand on her hip while she pointed at Yuuji, "Your safety is my number one priority, and I'm sure the others can agree. As long as I'm in charge of you, I'll be doing my utmost to keep you safe. The one thing you could do is to put my mind at ease by making sure you're alright."

Yuuji's heart fluttered at her sweet words, at the same time though, his mouth flattened into a stubborn line. "No. I'm gonna keep you safe too. If I have to break you out of another domain, or a hundred of them, I'll do it."

"Don't be so stubborn-" Ciel paused when she registered Yuuji's words. "Break me out?"

"You were out cold, so you probably didn't notice anything," Yuuji said before he started to explain. "After that curse trapped you, me and Nanami did everything we could to get you out until I was able to bust in."

"You did-?" Ciel's eyes widened as she tried to search through her memories of entering that cursed spirit's domain. She recalled seeing multiple hands, no doubt representing the stitched curse's ability. She literally stepped into the palm of his hands. He could have transfigured her multiple times, play with her and torture her however he pleases. However, she felt that, rather her body being violated, it was her soul that ended up being invaded, and the shock of being taken back to 'that man's' identity left her feeling overloaded and even shell-shocked.

"Then... you were in that cursed spirit' domain?! Are you insane?! No, more importantly, are you alright?! Did he do something to you?!"

Ciel lets go of Yuuji's hand and started fussing all over his figure, physically checking for any imperfections or unnatural mutations in his body. Yuuji was surprised by her frisking, blushing at the feeling of her palms pressing against his abs.

"You may be immune to his powers, but it could only be to a certain point. Lift up your shirt, I want to check you thoroughly – oh never mind, I'll do it myself!"

"Whoa. Whoa. Whoa!" Yuuji stopped Ciel with a grab around her wrists just as she clutched the bottom edge of his shirt. He's more than happy to show her but he'd preferred if it was somewhere more private. "It's alright. I'm fine. I just got a few patches and stitches after my fight with Sacchin, that's all."

Pulling her hands up, he wrapped his arm around her back and pulled her in. Ciel's hands rested against Yuuji's chest, her face warmed by the feel of his body heat.

"Trust me, I'm not that hurt," Yuuji assured. "I did tell you once that I was pretty tough. It's kind of funny though that you told me not to worry about you, but you're doing just that with me."

"I-It's not the same. My circumstances are unique, and you were only lucky that one time," Ciel argued, unable to help herself press against Yuuji's chest, "I'd rather we don't test your luck any more after that."

Yuuji quietly chuckled, planting a kiss at the top of her head. Her eyes shut tightly to feel it.

"As long as you do the same, I'll be more careful next time, okay?" Yuuji promised.

"…If it helps, Ieiri-san did a thorough examination of Itadori-kun already." Ijichi completely startled the sorcerer and executor.

"Oh! You're still around, Ijichi-san?" Yuuji asked. Ciel felt the need to hide herself in Yuuji's shoulder again.

"Yes. Sorry, I seem to have a bad habit of intruding," Ijichi raised his hand apologetically. "There were no lasting effects or serious injuries that Ieiri-san could uncover. Apart from the wounds left behind by Yumizuka, Itadori-kun will be fine. It's recommended, though, that he should get some rest as soon as he can."

Ciel breathed out, getting over her embarrassment of being caught in Yuuji's embrace once more, "I see. Thank you for clarifying, Ijichi-san."

The man felt proud getting thanks from the executor, and he nodded, "Would you like for me to take you two home now?"

"Yes. That would be for the best," Ciel said, separating herself a bit from Yuuji as they held each other's arms. "But before we go, what are the news about the cursed spirit?"

"We were unable to secure him by the time he escaped into the sewers," Ijichi said, "As of this moment, he is still out there somewhere."

Yuuji rested his chin on top of Ciel's head, his eyes sullen and bitter as he heard this news.

"I see…" Ciel said. There was no emotion in her eyes as she simply took in this information. "I'd like to know everything that happened after I was knocked unconscious."

"I can tell you the first half," Yuuji said. "After I broke into that guy's domain, I tried looking for you, but I didn't see you anywhere at first."

"You didn't?" Ciel paid close to attention Yuuji. He looked up to the ceiling as he tried to recall every detail.

"No. There was this other man just standing there. A lot of other people too, like maybe over a dozen of them?"

Yuuji felt Ciel's figure stiffened, and he looked back at her. He instantly saw that flicker of shock in her eyes before she looked away. "What's wrong?"

Ciel did not respond for a moment. Yuuji simply waited for her as Ijichi watched from the side.

"…Did you see anything else?"

Yuuji wondered about her expression before he thought over her question, "Well… there was this big castle that came out of nowhere. Like huge."

He kind of wondered what a castle like that had anything to do with Mahito's own cursed technique, but it's not like he could understand the mind of that psychopath. "There were a bunch of flowers. A giant moon. Oh, and there was a woman too."

Ijichi observed silently as Ciel avoided meeting his and Yuuji's gaze, taking note of her slight change in mannerism which Ciel can sense. From then on, Yuuji retold everything. From Sukuna's sudden intrusion and injuring Mahito, to the domain breaking completely and the castle showing itself for the whole neighborhood to see. Then finally, Mahito's escape.

"…I wanted to go after that bastard, but I also didn't want to leave you behind, before I could do anything though..."

Ciel looked back up at Yuuji. Her face serious, "What happened?"

"I uh… I kind of pushed my body to its limits… and I passed out."

She glared at Yuuji. "Didn't you just tell me you were fine? And here I thought I was the liar."

"Well, I mean, I'm fine now," Yuuji tried to defend himself. Ciel was not invested to hear it, and she lets go of Yuuji's arms.

"Do not be so reckless next time. If this is the result of you helping me, then you can clearly see why I'm against it." There was ice in Ciel's tone as she regarded Yuuji, "I will not be grateful to you for that."

"Ah-" Yuuji lost his hold of Ciel, the girl slipping out of his grasp with ease. Ijichi winced at that familiar tone in the executor as she turned around.

"You've had a rough day," Ciel said, "so I won't be too hard on you, but this will be the last time I'll have to tell you not to worry about me. You're only loving yourself by doing that."

She walked away then, ignoring the immediate coldness and longing she felt upon leaving Yuuji's hold. Yuuji watched her leave with the clacking sounds of her boots echoing down the hall. He was undeterred, however, and with a persisting look, Yuuji lightly jogged after Ciel.

Ijichi sighed as he, now with much less enthusiasm, trudged after the sorcerer and executor. And here I was hoping for a relaxing drive…

---

Despite Ciel's sour mood, there was chatting throughout the car ride. Ijichi was able to inform both Yuuji and Ciel of everything else that happened while they were unconscious. Apart from their meeting with Mario's people - which Yuuji was shocked to find out that the pervy teacher Noel was actually Ciel's partner this whole time - and Mahito's escape, Jujutsu High and the Holy Church were quick in their cooperation to conceal the truth of what happened at Satozakura High.

All of the rescued students and teachers were relocated to the nearest hospital, with one student in particular suffering from major injuries but nothing life-threatening. The cover-up story for the school's destruction was put together by the Holy Church: a gas leak that consequently rendered everyone inside unconscious during the school assembly, excusing the giant castle as a hallucination due to the gas, and a fault underneath the school was what resulted in the entire building's collapse save for the gym. It'll make headlines, and there may still be some witnesses. Overall, it's been ensured that what happened that night – as far as most people are concerned – was nothing more than an accident that luckily 'avoided' casualties.

In regards to Junpei Yoshino, they've created a story of the Yoshino family moving away due to a series of bullying incidents, an actually true fact much to Yuuji's surprise and sadness. Ciel side-glanced at his once more solemn look before the topic was changed to Satsuki Yumizuka.

Since there were no remains upon Yumizuka's death, and her family remained completely unaware of what became of her, it was decided to keep Yumizuka's public status as missing. The idea that she became yet another statistic in the blood drained murders but was never found will forever fester the minds of Satsuki's family and friends, waiting on the news for her hopeful return that will never be answered. Yuuji peeked over to Ciel and found the girl staring out the window, saying nothing.

Yuuji reached over and slipped his hand under hers, unafraid if she'll keep herself distant and pull away. Ciel's fingers twitched at his hold, and though she internally debated it, she left it be, and he gently squeezed her hand.

Eventually, they arrived at Ciel's apartment. Ciel and Yuuji bid Ijichi a goodnight, and they see the man drive off.

"...Are you sure you want to stay the night here, Yuuji-kun?" Ciel asked, though she was still angry at how much Yuuji pushed himself all for her sake, regardless of how touched she was by his efforts, she couldn't really give him the cold shoulder for long, especially knowing how tragic tonight had been. Something that she's certain no normal person would just recover quickly from.

She looked over her shoulder to address Yuuji, "I was mean to you today."

"Mm. It's fine. It'll take more than that to scare me off." Yuuji said, looking down between them. He was still holding Ciel's hand. Thanks to the gloves he's wearing, he won't have to worry about the despicable curse popping out and ruining the moment. "...And I know you were just trying to protect me."

"Still, I-"

Yuuji grabbed Ciel's other hand, "It's fine, it's fine."

He gently pulled her to face him and leaned his forehead against hers, seeing her look absolutely adorable and abashed by his closeness, "You don't have to worry about that. You had a rough day too."

His eyes softened, and his smile dimmed. "...I'm sorry I yelled at you back then. I was... frustrated. Not with you or Nanami-san. I guess I was just upset at myself that I was sitting around while everyone else was putting their lives on the line. You especially... I was just watching a bunch of movies, while you were fighting to protect the city by yourself."

The image of Ciel having to set herself on fire so to keep going, alone in the dark sewers while in pain... He refused to let her go through that again.

"It's my job, Yuuji-kun. Even though Noel and I do share assignments, there are times where I need to face certain missions alone," Ciel said, feeling her heart trickle with guilt at his expression. She slipped one hand out of Yuuji's grasp, but this time, she placed it over Yuuji's cheek, using a little magic to make sure the cursed king wouldn't pop out. "I should be the one to apologize. I called you weak, when really, it takes someone as strong as you to remain as kind as you are. I just wished you never had to see all those horrors. More often than not, they're bound to happen in our line of work."

"Then we'll face them together, like I said before. One way or another, I'm coming down to hell with you," Yuuji's eyes flickered to Ciel's lips and he went in for another kiss. Ciel was surprised, but then quickly accepted it, closing her eyes blissfully as she rubbed her thumb against Yuuji's cheek until he pulled back.

"Just promise me something," he asked her in a soft voice. "No more secrets, and no more fighting alone. Whether it's with me, Nanami-san, or any one of us, you have to let us go with you. Okay? Don't handle everything by yourself."

"Yuuji-kun..." Ciel started, but seeing as how he wasn't going to move from this no matter what, she could only sigh. "...I can't promise anything, but I might consider it if you promise me the same thing."

"Deal." He gave her one last peck on the lips and started leading her towards the apartment. "Come on. We could watch a movie, if you feel up for it."

"As much as I would like that, I think we should call it a night," Ciel said with a slightly embarrassed smile. "After all the blood today, I really could use a shower."

"Oh. Yeah," Yuuji picked up his shirt and sniffed it. The blood from Satsuki's attack was cleaned off, but he could still smell that hint of iron. "...Me too."

"How about you go first, and I'll set up the futon tonight?" Ciel considered for a moment and then stepped closer. She took a sniff at Yuuji as well, her nose nearly touching his neck as he looked at her curiously. "Thankfully, the curry you ate still makes you smell scrumptious. I'm almost wondering if you should shower."

Yuuji snorted, walking up the stairs of the apartment with Ciel in tow. "Yeah? I'll make some for us tomorrow. I've been wanting to surprise you, but I guess I can give you a little tease."

"At that point, I don't think I'd ever want you to leave," Ciel shared a little laugh, blushing all the way as they re-entered her apartment, now really theirs.

Inside the apartment that was a pleasant sight of simplicity after all the nightmarish close-calls tonight. Yuuji went to shower first while Ciel sets up his futon, moving away the coffee table to make room. Her heartbeat felt so strongly in her chest, she wasn't sure how her face must look like, but she couldn't stop letting herself think back on Yuuji's touch and kisses.

...I'm really a sucker for romance.

Now she just hopes Yuuji doesn't find that out, otherwise, he might use that against her, and Ciel doubts any of her training will keep her from feeling absolutely giddy.

She finished setting up the futon. After staring at it in thought for a moment, she then hears the shower turning off. Yuuji stepped out with new clothes to sleep in. His sleepwear was a little baggier, and he looked relatively refreshed all things considering.

After some thought, Ciel asked him, "Yuuji-kun, would you like to sleep in my bed tonight?"

Yuuji nearly tripped on his barefoot. "Huh?! For real?! Can I?!"

Holy shit, we're speed running through this! He honestly wanted to do a little dance.

Ciel smiled, "Of course. I'll sleep on the futon tonight, and you can have the bed."

"O... Oh..." Yuuji finally understood, his heart calming down. "No. That's okay. You don't have to do that."

"I insist. I think after everything you went through, you deserve a place that's more comfortable than on the floor. I really don't mind at all."

Yuuji walked over to Ciel and sat down with her, "I kind of like sleeping on the futon though. Also, I don't want to kick you out of your own bed."

"Oh? It almost looked like you were going to do a little dance just now," Ciel smirked and stirred a slightly embarrassed look from Yuuji. "And it's not kicking me out if I'm willingly offering it to you."

"I'd feel bad if you slept on the floor though."

"Well how do you think I'd feel if I let you do the same?"

"I'm okay with it though. You should keep the bed."

"No. I've decided. You're going to take my bed, and I'll sleep here for tonight."

"You're being really stubborn about this..."

"Well, you're being just as stubborn as I am."

They had a stare down. Neither one of them willing to give in. Yuuji, eventually, came up with a consensus, "Then... how about we do this...?"

---

The lights within the apartment were turned off, and only the light of the waning moon shone into the room, the silver rays spilling through the glass doors of the back porch. Yuuji and Ciel slept on the floor in separate futons, having come to a compromise, but were now reconsidering themselves. They stared up at the same ceiling while lying on their backs, neither of them close to falling asleep yet.

"Um, you know... Not that I don't see what you're trying to do, this beats the whole purpose of having a bed," Ciel said with a perturbed smile. In all honesty, Ciel would have taken the option of sharing the bed with Yuuji, and was even going to suggest that before Yuuji came up with his ultimatum. He had been really persistent about it too, so she eventually agreed, despite the nonsensical of it. She was also a little too self-conscious of herself, even after showering, but she understood that Yuuji was just trying to be considerate.

"...Yeah."

I'm such a fucking idiot... Yuuji mentally bemoaned. He probably should have just given in to Ciel's offer, especially since it was her bed, but he didn't want her to do that. It might not seem much in hindsight, and his counter-option was just silly at best, but he didn't want her to give up anything if it's for him. She's already done so much at this point. There's no way he's going to take her bed too.

"...Are you falling asleep yet?" Yuuji asked.

"Ah, no, not really..." Although this was a strange position to be in, Ciel oddly felt happy. "I'm... still thinking about our first kiss. Hehe. I don't think I can sleep so easily after that."

"Hah," Yuuji faintly laughed, feeling proud of himself to hear that. He placed his hand over his mouth. "Me too. That was actually my first time kissing anyone."

"Eh?! Really?" Ciel was genuinely surprised to hear that, turning her head to look at him. "I would have thought you'd be the type to go through plenty of dates, with how popular you were at your old school anyhow."

"I wish," Yuuji said, really flattered that Ciel would see him in that light. "There weren't really any girls that were interested in me, and I didn't have anybody that I was kind of interested in. I did notice this one girl, but I didn't do anything about it, and she was moving out of town anyway. We never talked, but we did take one picture together before she left."

"Oh? How tantalizing," Ciel teased, looking at Yuuji with interest. "I'm intrigued now. Do you still have her photo? I'm a little curious to know what she's like."

And she can't help but wonder what type of girl Yuuji liked too. Was she anything like Ciel? Or different? Maybe they'd have similar hair styles and so on.

"Hmm. Let's see..." Yuuji pulled out his phone and searched through his photo gallery. "It's been a long time. I've taken a lot of pics since then..."

After a moment, he found the photo. "Here it is. Her name's Yuko Ozawa."

He then handed the phone over to Ciel and she looked at the screen. "-! Oh!"

Ciel widely blinked at the photo. With the trees in the background, standing beside Yuuji was a round faced girl with clean cut, black short hair. She had a hefty figure, which was the base of Ciel's surprise, and other than that, the girl in the photo looked fairly timid, but otherwise cute-looking.

"O-oh. She, um, she looks really pretty." Ciel said. She was a little surprised by Yuuji's interest, and wondered what that meant for her as she examined Yuko's face. He said that there weren't any girls interested in him, but looking at her... I'm not sure that's entirely true.

Yuuji placed both his hands behind his head, staring up at the ceiling. "Mm. I think so too. A lot of guys in my class called her fat, but I was always impressed with how she eats and writes. She just seemed so elegant, you know?"

"I see..." So he likes elegant ladies. Ciel made note of that as she lifted her blanket, looking at her own body underneath the covers. Hmm. I've got something of a baker's body. I'd hate it if someone else points that out, but if he wouldn't mind that...

Or it was simpler to say that Yuuji just didn't care about appearance. If that's the case, then he really is a treasure. She actually found it unfortunate that such a timid and obviously smitten girl in the photo had to move away. Ciel wondered if Yuuji and Yuko would have started dating if that hadn't happened, though the thought of it did make Ciel slightly jealous.

I'm not much for elegance either. I did grow up in a nice home, but nothing fancy. Although...

Roa certainly had a taste in that sort of decor, but Ciel wasn't sure if she should lean into that vampire's mannerisms, not that she could change it if it had already meshed itself into her personality.

"What about you? Was there anyone you liked?" Yuuji asked, turning his head to face Ciel.

Ciel's feet lurched in her futon, "U-um, well..."

She had to pause for a moment. The weight of having to explain slowly gnawed on her heart, "...There was this one boy."

The girl once known as Elesia grew up normally in the village, though she felt out of place due to looking like her mother. The townspeople were kind to her, and she lived happily, helping out in her father's shop, going to school, and falling in love like normal.

"But it didn't work out." Ciel smiled as she tucked the pain away in her chest. She said nothing more than that.

Whether Yuuji seemed to read the meaning in her answer or not, he didn't push it. "Oh... I'm sorry."

"It's alright. It's just how life is," Ciel said, her eyes lowered. "I doubt he would have liked me anyway, with what I am now."

Or forgive her for that matter.

"Huh... I've always kind of wondered about it, but does your family know?" Yuuji began, looking to Ciel, "That you're a vampire hunter, I mean."

"...No. I think they'd be shocked if they found out," Ciel said, knowing that such a thing would never happen anyhow. Both her parents had been long dead after all, murdered by her own hands. "They'd probably be disgusted with what I've become. Of all the lives I've taken..."

Yuuji removed his hand out from under his head and reached out to Ciel. Ciel looked at his offered hand, and after setting down his phone, she reached out and grasped his fingers.

"I think they'd just be worried about you if anything," Yuuji said, staring at their joined hands, "I don't know them, but from what you told me, they sound like they care about you a lot. If they do have something bad to say, then I'll tell them that you saved a lot of people by doing what you do. If they still don't want to listen, that's their loss."

Ciel breathed out. It certainly sounds like an appealing idea, but the world just isn't as simple as he makes it sound, no matter how much she wished it to. "Even if I do help people, save many lives, I've still killed, regardless if they were monsters or not. For every life I've taken, it's a sin I have to carry with me."

She rubbed her thumb against Yuuji's fingers. "It's why no matter how many times I die, the pain I go through is my penance for every life I've taken."

"...Isn't that just punishing yourself?" Yuuji asked her, his eyes turned serious as he gripped Ciel's hand. "Don't do that. You shouldn't do that. Even if you feel guilty, it won't help anybody if you willingly let yourself get hurt."

He then suddenly lets go of Ciel's hand and removed himself from his futon.

"-? Yuuji-? Eep!"

Yuuji crawled over and lifted Ciel's covers, "I don't know about all the things you've done..."

He made himself comfortable as he pushed his body against Ciel's. The girl's face instantly hot as she felt the warmth through his shirt. He draped the covers over themselves and wrapped his arm around Ciel's figure, hugging her tightly as he rested against her futon. "But I know that a lot of people are able to see their friends and families again tonight, because of you."

Ciel couldn't respond as her face was pressed against Yuuji's chest. She could feel and count every muscle on his torso, and hears the strong beating of his heart. His arm secured itself around her back, feeling the soft fabric of her pink pajamas while Yuuji rested the side of his head against his hand on top of the pillow.

"I couldn't save Ms. Yoshino or Junpei, and I've killed Satsuki, and all those other people." Yuuji rested his chin on top of her head, feeling Ciel's heartbeat racing against him, and noticing its slightest change at the mention of said deaths. "I did wanted to punish myself, but instead, I'll take your advice and figure out how I want to live the rest of my life from here on out."

He could sense her heartbeat calming down somewhat. It felt like listening to a melody as Yuuji felt her warm body, and he closed his eyes. "I'm going to find that bastard, and finish what I set out to do, until then... I won't lose anymore."

Ciel clutched the front of Yuuji's shirt, hearing his declaration filled with unfettered resolve. "...I see. By saying that, you would want me to not lose either. Is that right?"

"Mm. Something like that. I know you don't want to hear it, but I'd want you to try your hardest too. Otherwise... I'd be really sad. At least, until you come back, and I'll instantly run up to you and hug you, and kiss you non-stop." Yuuji gently rubbed her back and planted another kiss at the top of her head. Ciel shivered with unpreventable excitement and pressed herself even closer to him, her soft breaths against his chest.

"...How are you holding up? After what happened with Sacchin, I mean," Yuuji asked.

Ciel's fingers slightly twitched in Yuuji's shirt, gripping it closely. "...Don't worry. I'm alright."

She turned her head and rested her cheek against where his heartbeat lies. "What about you? After what happened with..."

"...I'm okay." Yuuji didn't want to burden Ciel with his grief, so he kept it to himself. He felt Ciel's hand climb up and grab the side of his face, being ushered to look at the girl.

"Don't lie. You're a terrible liar," Ciel said, gently caressing his cheek with her thumb, her eyes carrying gentle remorse. "...I'm sorry I wasn't there sooner."

Yuuji's eyes softened at her words. He pulled her close and they kissed. Ciel was no longer shy as they did so, holding Yuuji as he held her tenderly, sharing their hidden woes and comforting each other. They held each other's breaths for a moment before they parted. "Don't be sorry. I should have waited for you guys."

"It wasn't your fault. You were just trying to help him," Ciel nuzzled her nose against Yuuji's neck, closing her eyes. Her voice grew softer as sleep began to creep closer to her. "That's just how you are. You wouldn't ever wait around if a friend was involved. Even though I didn't want you to put yourself at risk, you ended up making the right call. It sounded like he would have done something regrettable if you hadn't stopped him."

"Still, I left you to deal with Satsuki by yourself..." Yuuji said, his voice lowering to a whisper as he could hear her growing tired. He brought his arm down and around the back of Ciel's neck. "...How was she... when you and her went to school together? Was she... ever a good person?"

Ciel took a moment to consider her answer, "...She was sweet. A little shy, but she could get along with everybody. We were from different grades, but we would always meet whenever I would visit the Junior student's classroom."

She lets out a little yawn, her breath grazing against Yuuji's skin that made him blush a bit. "We would also eat lunch together every day. Me, her, and a few other friends. I could always tell she had a crush on one of them, and I figured I could push them together, but it was also fun just to tease them."

From then on, she would tell all the memories she had of Satsuki. The girl who Ciel always felt she needed to look after. Who she would always enjoy her conversations with. Who Ciel knew had a deeper potential but wanted her to remain content and safe in her everyday school life. All up until Satsuki's inexplicable disappearance, where not so many batted an eye at her disappearance, not even Ciel.

"At first, I didn't think much of it, but when she stopped coming to school after that, I grew a little worried. Rumors began spreading that she ran away from home, so I started looking for her each time I go on patrol, but I could never find her. I've felt she had become another victim of the Dead Apostle I was here to hunt for, only to find out later that it was much worse than I anticipated."

Ciel and Yuuji felt each others hearts beating full of sorrows as they embraced one another.

"She realized then that I was never an ordinary girl and hated me for lying to her and the others. I didn't argue with her, but even then, I thought that I could at least give her a peaceful end. A proper death however unfair it was. I suppose I wasn't as good at killing as I thought I was."

"Ciel..." Hearing her self-deprecatingly mimic the words Satsuki the vampire had uttered, Yuuji held Ciel tighter.

"Even though she had become a vampire, I knew that there was still that innocent girl somewhere deep down, but I was just too far away to ever reach her, and I was too late to ever save her, after all the people she's already killed. The world is unfair, and often a cruel place. Some people who might be good end up getting something they don't deserve, while others who can be seen as evil are rewarded. But there is no such thing as good and evil. I'm sure Nanami-san would agree."

She once more yawned as she said, "Satsuki has done terrible things, and Junpei may have done questionable things as well, but they weren't inherently bad people."

They were victims of circumstances, their hearts murdered by those selfish enough to take advantage of them, and have gone so far neither Junpei or Satsuki saw the light, except in each other.

"It's a shame... I wish I could have invited them... to the Tea Ceremony Room... I'm sure... it would have been a lot of fun..."

Hearing Ciel's soft, lulling voice brought out a yawn from Yuuji. His eyes struggled to stay open.

"With you along, Yuuji-kun... and everyone else... What could have been..."

The image of Yuuji and Ciel sitting and enjoying tea and snacks together, along with Satsuki and Junpei, Megumi and Nobara, Nanami and Ijichi, Gojo and Ieiri, even Shiki and Inui. Everyone gathered in one place. Just enjoying life and not letting themselves be worried by all the problems in the world. A dream, in every way.

"...but all we can do now... is to keep moving forward... For their sake... and for those... who are no longer with us..." Ciel's breathing became steadier as she held Yuuji's shirt, finding comfort in hearing his heartbeat, and feeling grateful at how alive he was. This boy who was nothing but a living miracle of this world, and she was somehow fortunate enough to have him here with her. "But you know... even though the world is unforgiving... I'll do whatever it takes... to keep you safe from it all..."

Yuuji closed his eyes, letting himself be put to sleep by her words. "... I'll do the same for you... I won't let this be a one-way thing... between us..."

"Ha... too bad... I won't let you... carry that burden..."

"I'm not asking... I'll keep you safe... even if it means... eating curry every day..."

"No... I'll protect you..."

"No. I will..."

"No... I..."

"I..."

"..."

"..."

Their breathing was all that was heard in the room, having fallen asleep at the sound of each other's voice, and at the sound of each other's heartbeats. Their living proof of being alive, as they slept under the light of the waning moon in each other's arms.

---

It was later after midnight. Yuuji was peacefully slumbering away, while behind him, Ciel had just finished changing into her executor's uniform. She buttoned up her white collar before looking back at Yuuji's sleeping figure. With a soft, endeared smile, she drew closer to the sorcerer, placed a hand over his head and kissed his forehead. A sleeping spell was casted from her hand, keeping Yuuji asleep until morning, and not notice Ciel's departure.

You are serious about killing that cursed spirit. Ciel pulled back and let herself admire Yuuji's face for a little longer. It's true that he should be dealt with, but I won't let you taint your heart by doing so, nor put yourself in danger by fighting him. Even if it means you getting angry at me for this.

She then stood up and approached the back doors, sliding it open.

"Not everyone gets a second chance in life, Yuuji-kun," Ciel said gently, turning to see the sleeping teen's form one last time, knowing he's too under her spell to even hear her. "I, for one, am given too many chances, but your life is far more important than you realize, and not because of that curse inside you."

She started to close the doors, "I'm sure many people would be devastated if you were to ever die again, no matter how it happens. So at the very least, you should have as peaceful of a life as you deserve."

The doors were closed, and Ciel leapt off the porch, into the city at night.

---

Ciel leapt from building to building, eventually reaching to a quiet neighborhood. She landed on top of a lamppost and overlooked the view of the city miles away.

"It's unlikely the curse will return to his old base. He'll be needing someplace else that can prove to be a convenient and spacious area to trap more humans in," Ciel surmised to herself as she tried to consider all possibilities. "It's much like trying to find a Dead Apostle's lair. A suitable location where humans are easy to access. However, if he's capable of transfiguring humans to smaller proportions, travel won't be that much of a hindrance to him..."

"Wouldn't he also fit into smaller places if he could?"

"That's true, but I would think he'd prefer to move around and experiment as he sees fit, judging by what he's done. And having to keep his body compressed must take strenuous effort- Gah!" Ciel jumped in a startle and immediately looked down.

Yuuji was there underneath the light, wearing his Jujutsu school uniform with its signature red hood. He crouched with his gloved hands by his eyes. His fingers curled into his binoculars to help him focus into the city buildings, as if he could locate the cursed spirit in any of the windows.

"Y-Yuuji-kun!" Ciel said. "W-why are you-?! What are you doing here?!"

Her sleeping spell didn't work? Was he immune to it? Hold on, wouldn't that mean he'd been immune to it this whole time? D-does that mean... does he remember that time then? When she caught him partially awake just as she was...?

"Oh. I followed you out," Yuuji answered simply, standing up straight. "It took me a while to get changed. I was lucky I spotted you in time. You were really fast."

Ciel hopped down from the lamppost. Yuuji kept his innocent look despite Ciel's stern gaze as she approached him, sharing the same light under the lamp. "Go home."

"Hmmm... nah." Yuuji said simply, looking fairly mischievous as he held back a smile. "I feel like stretching my legs tonight. So, here I am."

"You can do that in the morning, provided you wear a disguise," Ciel said, and glared at the teen once more. "I will tell you one last time. Go-"

"Oh! I almost forgot. There was this place me and Ijichi-san wanted to check out," Yuuji said as he started his walk down the sidewalk, completely passing by Ciel and her startled regard at his diversion. "I think it might still be worth a look. Want to come along?"

"I-! Yuuji-kun..." Ciel growled under her breath, conveying clear anger at Yuuji's carefreeness, and watched as he resumed down the sidewalk. "W-wait a second! Yuuji-kun!"

She marched down after the decidedly deaf sorcerer with a huff.

---

Despite all her efforts, Yuuji refused to go back to her apartment. Ciel grew angrier and angrier by each block they passed, until eventually, she was just so angry she refused to speak to him anymore. They walked in silence throughout the neighborhood, and eventually reached the city district. The building lights and lamps continue to lay its glowing hues across the streets. Taxi cars and other vehicles passing by. This truly is a city that never sleeps, no matter how late it was, and yet, the streets themselves have never been emptier.

Nearly every shop was closed and blocked from entering, and although there were a handful of late-night outers at this time of hour, no one paid too much attention to the somewhat oddly dressed pair of teens. The nun looking especially peeved at the boy beside her. Ciel had to resist the urge to smack Yuuji on the head, more times than once in fact, but she wondered if Yuuji would even feel it with how focused he was at looking around the streets of Souya - the neighboring/sister town of Shibuya.

Good grief, he's more stubborn than I am, Ciel silently fumed before looking ahead of her. "...Where exactly is this location you speak of?"

Eventually, she couldn't keep the silence for long. She refused to admit that she was the first to break, when in fact, it would be better to at least understand where Yuuji intended to go.

"Mmm. It's probably close by. I don't remember the streets exactly, but I'm sure it'll hit me when I see them."

How very convenient, Ciel mentally retorted. It was most likely an excuse so to prevent Ciel from going to that place before Yuuji. She'll give it to him. He can be very clever, that or he legitimately doesn't know and he's just using this as an excuse to follow her, or rather, it ended up happening vice versa, which is the main reason for her frustration. I can't simply leave him to wander though. Good grief, he's got such an innocent, handsome face, but he's a lot more troublesome than he appears. I'll have to think up an appropriate punishment for him later...

They walked for about fifteen more minutes of silence, and then Yuuji suddenly stopped. "Oh! Look at that."

Ciel followed Yuuji's gaze. It was the entrance of a mall, completely gated with the lights inside out.

Yuuji hummed to himself in thought. "How do we get in...? I could just break it open, but there might be cameras. Also, what if someone sees us?"

"What exactly are you hoping to find while in there?" Ciel asked. "Even if we can argue that the cursed spirit is hiding inside. It'd be impossible for his transfigured creations to roam around and keep himself hidden with so many people during the day. Jujutsu Sorcerers would have been alerted immediately."

"Maybe... But it probably wouldn't be an issue for Sacchin."

Ciel's eyes widened, and she looked back up at the mall. "...You mean, this is..." Satsuki's lair.

"Yeah. Probably..." Yuuji said, his face clear of any expression before looking back at Ciel. "... Sorry. I should have warned you, but I figured it was better that I'd walked here with you first."

Ciel tapped into her magical senses. "...It's faint, but I do sense traces of cursed energy. Since Yumizuka's death, there might be curses inside."

She looked around the area. There weren't any people on the street at this hour. She then looked back down on the lock of the sealed entranced and knelt down. Yuuji watched curiously as Ciel's hand hovered over the lock. A glow of her hand. They suddenly heard a click, and Ciel easily pulled up the gate.

"Whoa! Nice!" Yuuji applauded. "We're breaking in!... Oh crap, we're breaking in. I won't tell anyone if you don't."

Ciel kept her face neutral as she turned to look at Yuuji. "Yes, well... It's not the first time I've infiltrated a place. Sadly, it seems my reputable Senpai image has been tarnished."

"Nah. You're good. I mean, we all have our secrets," Yuuji said before stepping inside the opened mall. "Oh! What about the cameras? Or the sensors?"

"I've already disabled them," Ciel said, revealing her black key that he was surprised he didn't even notice her pulling out. "I put up a spell so that none of the sensors would be detected by us. It's the first time I had to use it going through the front door, but considering you have a habit of jumping in first and ask questions later..."

"Oh..." Yuuji realized he'd nearly blew their cover just by waltzing into the building, and he gave an embarrassed, sheepish look.

"...I figured I had to set it up before you stepped inside. It seems I was correct." Ciel stabbed the black key into the ground and marched into the dark mall. "...You're going to follow me no matter what, aren't you?"

"Yup! Pretty much," Yuuji said with a happy expression. A swift fire of a black key was shot between his feet, stabbing right into his shadow. "What the-?!"

"In that case, I have no choice but to use brute force to get you to behave," Ciel said with hands on her hips. "Stay put. I won't take too long, and I'll be sure to put up a barrier to keep you safe."

"You...!" His face puffed with frustration as Yuuji reached out for Ciel, but the girl was already walking away.

"Don't bother pulling that sword out," Ciel informed without looking back. "Only I can remove it-"

*SNAP*

She stopped abruptly and turned around to see Yuuji with a broken half piece of the black key.

"Ah." By the look of his face, he didn't mean for that to happen. Holding the handle of the black key. The effect of the weapon was instantly nulled, and Yuuji could move his feet again. A normal, well-bodied human wouldn't have broken this sword so easily. Yuuji, on the other hand...

"...I forgot you're a special case," Ciel commented, sighing. She raised a finger for him. "Listen here, Yuuji-kun. I will not allow you to follow me. You need your rest, or you'll worry the others by pushing yourself like this."

"Yeah? Well how do you think they'll feel if they find out you've been out here looking for patch-face by yourself?" Yuuji countered, putting down the broken black key.

"I've been hunting the undead and killing curses for nearly a month now. This is not new territory for me."

"That was when we thought Noel-san was with you." Yuuji walked up to Ciel. "Now, I'll be the one sticking by you."

"You're never letting this go."

"Definitely not."

They stood a foot away from each, just like what happened at the school, with neither of them backing down. A stubborn refusal to allow the other in venturing potentially dangerous territory, regardless of their pursuit being with and without support.

"...I just don't understand, Yuuji-kun. You know what I'm capable of. You know that I cannot die. I know you said that you want to follow me into hell, but that is not what I want from you. Even if you are determined to continue your path as a Jujutsu Sorcerer, why do you insist on protecting me?"

"Because I owe it to you." Yuuji explained. "Also, I'm not just gonna let someone I like walk by herself at night. That's gonna keep me up for hours."

Ciel had to try her hardest not to let her heart flutter at his concerns. No. Hearing it at all only made her blood boil. Despite this, she kept herself calm and collected, "I don't recall doing you any favors, and don't say it's because I 'saved' your life. I didn't do that for any thanks nor was it out of the kindness of my heart."

It's because you are the vessel of Sukuna, and it would have been too early to let you die now. The reason went unsaid, but it was understood.

Yuuji didn't care though. "I'm still not leaving you alone. Call me clingy, but you're not changing my mind."

"You know what you're doing isn't selfless, it's self-love."

"I don't care. I heard Jujutsu Sorcerers are supposed to be selfish anyway, so I think that fits me just fine." Yuuji reached up and held both sides of her face. He drew his head close.

"Yuuj-mm!" Ciel's eyes briefly widened before shutting them close, feeling the familiar, soft sensation of Yuuji's lips against hers. "Mmm... Mmmm..."

She caved. Losing all hope of sending him away as she clutched the front of his shirt, her stone-cold heart cracked and wanting him to stay, no matter if in mind, she wanted him to keep away for his own sake. Yuuji pulled back, their lips parting, and the way he looked at her made Ciel's heart skip a beat. "-and if it's you. I'm okay with being the most selfish guy in the world. As long as I get to be with you, always."

"...You're such an idiot," Ciel couldn't keep up with her façade, pressing her face against Yuuji's chest to hide her rosy cheeks. "Can't you see I don't want you to get hurt?"

"Mm. I know." He brought his arms down and hugged her around the waist, giving her a kiss on the head. "But I already told you. I'm not letting this be a one-way thing between us. Plus, I may be an idiot, but I think I was pretty smart to like you."

"You shouldn't. That's why you're such an idiot." I'm not worth it. I don't deserve it. Not especially someone as sweet and caring, and absolutely wonderful as you...

Ciel repeatedly bumped her head against his chest. "Idiot... Idiot... You big, sweet idiot."

"Hey, hey, come on. Are you trying to make me cry?" Yuuji teasingly complained, resting his chin over her head. He held her tighter as he had a little smile on his face. "I don't approve of this bullying."

"Yes, well... I'm mean to those I sincerely like," Ciel stated. "...You have to understand that I'm not used to this."

Being treated as something other than an expendable weapon that can be used again and again. Tirelessly, no matter how exhausted deep down. All while someone she truly and immensely cares for is right there beside her that she can hardly keep her focus when that someone is in the midst of danger.

"That's okay. We can take things slow if you want," Yuuji said, not fully grasping Ciel's meaning, but she did not correct him. He pressed his mouth into her blue hair. "Come on. Let's go in together."

"...Stay close to me. No matter what, do not leave my side."

"I won't. I promise."

---

Just as Ciel sensed, there were indeed curses roaming about. Ciel and Yuuji made quick work against all of them. A few black keys fired and scorching a majority of curses from afar, and Yuuji working as their forefront defense, taking out curses that slipped through walls in hopes of delivering a surprise attack.

They resumed down the empty mall. Yuuji turning on the flashlight of his phone and pocketed it halfway in front of his pants for better seeing. Ciel did not appear to need that light assistance, seemingly trained to work efficiently even in the dark. Every store was closed, until eventually they reached another barricaded entrance, with a caution sign informing of its in-progress construction.

"This has to be it," Yuuji said. Ciel unlocked the barricade and Yuuji lifted it up easily.

It looked to have hardly been touched, and as they stepped into the construction sight, they see equipment's lying around. Woods and materials all stacked together.

Yuuji looked around the area thoughtfully, "Hmm. I think I heard it's been almost too long since this part of the mall had been closed down."

"It's possible that, if Yumizuka-chan had been hiding here, she could have hypnotized the workers and prevented them from resuming construction, and keep her base secured," Ciel theorized. "Stay close. We may come across undead."

Yuuji nodded, his mind and heart instantly ready to face that possibility.

As they tread further into what might as well be an abandoned section of the mall, they came across more curses, but no undead. Either Satsuki hadn't perfected turning others into zombies at this point, or she could have preferred not to drink the blood of workers. More than likely, though, she knew better than to expose her position by killing anyone here.

Eventually, Ciel and Yuuji cleared out the remaining curses, and they reached the end of the unfinished mall. They looked through each room, until getting to the last one.

The stench of blood lingered within the room. Ciel stabbed one black key into the floor. The sword glowed, allowing better visibility in the room.

A single mattress and a blanket were set against the wall. A large stain of blood in one corner, as if someone had puked there. Yuuji grimaced at the scene, looking over to the sealed windows, covered in black duct tape.

"This is where she was hiding..."

"Yes. Most likely when she stopped going to school," Ciel said, more stoic as she examined the room. "...There."

She caught Yuuji's attention as she walked towards the bed. He followed close behind, and saw what she was referring too.

A simple brown school bag. Who it belonged to was unquestionable. Ciel knelt down and opened the bag, with Yuuji crouching down with her.

"...Here it is."

Ciel pulled out a cute-looking wallet. Yellow sunflowers all around it. She opened the wallet and was immediately met with the sight of Satsuki Yumizuka's ID card.

"With this..." Ciel began, her voice not spilling an ounce of emotion. "Even without a body... Her family will at least have this..."

Yuuji looked at the wallet in Ciel's hands solemnly.

---

After Ciel purified the area, including cleaning off all the blood, she and Yuuji left the mall, locking everything down the way it was before heading down the vacant street, Satsuki's bag clutched in Ciel's hand. The patch-face cursed spirit was nowhere to be found, but they were at least able to confirm where Satsuki had been hiding all this time.

"...Promise you'll tell us when you find the vampire that turned Satsuki."

Ciel looked to Yuuji at her right. He was deep in thought, but Ciel could hear that subtle anger towards the vampire in question. Something akin to his attitude towards the patch-face curse.

"...If there are any news about his or her whereabouts, I will inform Jujutsu High so that we may secure the location of the vampire. However, after that point, it's strictly within the Holy Church's jurisdiction to fight the Dead Apostle."

"..."

"Even if you may want to kill that vampire, it won't be possible. But no worries, I'll be sure to punish the menace myself."

Ciel said so with a puff of her chest and a light swing of her fist, "I'll give him one good hit in the jaw or two for the both of us. Enough to make his head spin."

Yuuji looked at her proud face upon saying such a threatening, if cartoonish statement, and he snorted, breaking into a slight grin. He knew Ciel was being like this just to keep his spirits up. He really appreciated her doing that.

"Hmm..." Ciel said, looking at the starry night sky. "It's a bit too late to go back home, even on foot. Would you like to spend the night somewhere close by, Yuuji-kun?"

"Mm. Yeah, sure. I don't mind," Yuuji said and he pulled out his phone, checking through his map. "Is there like an inn somewhere around here?"

"There is this one place I have in mind. I'm not so sure if we'll be able to get in..." Ciel said before giving Yuuji an unreadable look, and then she smiled brightly. "But I think it's worth a shot. Just trust me on this."

Yuuji complied with a nod and followed alongside Ciel. After walking for about several minutes, mostly taking in the scenery of the empty streets and all the lights, they eventually reached the place of Ciel's choosing.

"Whoa! This place is big!"

It's not exactly as big as the actually enormous castle Yuuji saw tonight, but it was definitely a structure built like a fort. The hotel towered in front of them like a shining beam of light. Seemingly endless windows with most of them dark, a sign that the occupants were either asleep or the rooms themselves were vacant.

"It looks really fancy too. Can we really spend the night here?" The words Yuuji was really looking for is 'can we afford to stay here?'

Ciel answered chipperly, as if there was no need of such concerns, "The Holy Church can cover most expenses. I for one prefer a simpler home, but I think we should spoil ourselves a bit after all the work we've done tonight."

"Ah..." Yuuji understood then. She was doing this for him. He looked back up at the hotel in debate. While he really appreciated it, he hoped Ciel won't empty out her own wallet for his sake. She really is too good for me.

Before he could think up a response, Ciel grabbed his hand, "However, if what I'm planning works out, we might not have to pay anything. Follow my lead and let me do the talking."

"Oh. Alright," Yuuji was curious to see what Ciel had in mind and walked into the extravagant-looking hotel with her, hand in hand.

The inside was as if everything was made of gold and marble. Yuuji felt nervous just touching the floor with his scuffed shoes. Being in this 'rich' environment after having lived all his life as a simple boy living in an ordinary town in an ordinary house, he felt like a fish out of water. There wasn't anybody in the main lobby, except for one attendant behind the front desk. She stood upright immediately at their approach.

"Good evening! How can I help you?"

"Excuse me. I'm sorry to bother you so late at this time, but I seemed to have misplaced my room key."

Eh? She did? Yuuji was perplexed as he looked up at the brightly lit ceiling. Did she used to stay here? But why wouldn't she just mention that to me?

"-Oh! Ciel-san! Yes! Yes! I remember you. We really appreciate your feedback each time you visit," the woman visibly perked at Ciel, acting as if the girl had been staying at this hotel for some time. She turned to the computer. "You said you lost your room key? Let's see..."

"I made a call earlier and was told I'd have the room reserved as usual. It was-" Ciel gave off a random room number at the top of her head. The clerk searched through her computer, and startled befuddlement traced the woman's expression.

"I'm so sorry, Ciel-san. It seems we've already rented that room out to another." The woman bowed her head repeatedly, "Please forgive us for this mistake. As an apology, we encourage you to accept this other room. We won't make any additional charges throughout your stay here for the night."

"I see... Well, that's that then. I'm also going to be bringing a guest along," Ciel said, referring to Yuuji behind her, "The room will be able to accommodate the both of us yes?"

"Unfortunately, it is a single-person's bedroom..." The attendant's lingered over to Yuuji for a little bit, and then she turned her attention back onto the computer screen, quickly typing on the keyboard. "...This is what I can do for you. For being such a valuable client of ours, I welcome you to accept one of our finest rooms at the top floor of our hotel."

"Huh?! The top?!" Yuuji couldn't help but blurt out.

Even Ciel was surprised, the executor looking rather guilty out of nowhere. "O-oh. You don't have to-"

"I insist. It is no trouble whatsoever. Another client of ours had to cancel at the last minute, so the room is already prepared..." The woman paused before leaning forward slightly in a whisper, "And I'm sure the manager and employees wouldn't mind it either. The entire staff are always appreciative whenever you bring us a basket of goodies, especially those cookies you made yourself. I think they wouldn't mind me bending the rules a little bit if it means keeping you around."

"That's...! Um...!" Ciel didn't know what else to say, knowing that if she said anything contradictory, this charade would fall apart in an instant. "...Thank you..."

With that, the attendant handed Ciel a new room key with a subtle wink as she bowed her head. After that, Ciel and Yuuji began walking towards the elevator.

"You really slept in a hotel like this before?" Yuuji asked, widely impressed as he looked at Ciel curiously.

Ciel gave him a sheepish smile. "Actually... I haven't."

"Huh? But... that lady remembered you."

"Yes... but only because I suggested it to her."

...Yuuji was completely lost as he stared at Ciel. They stopped in front of the elevators. Ciel pressed a button and they waited as the executor began to explain. "It's a spell. A sort of... memory-manipulation spell. I've essentially inserted myself into that woman's memory and tricked her into thinking that I've been a familiar customer and resident of this hotel."

"Memory...Like brainwashing?" Yuuji asked with a wide blink of his eyes.

"Nothing so crude... and not exactly," Ciel said, clearing her throat. "I can't force people into thinking or following my command."

Technically she could, but she would rather not.

"It's sort of like this, if you happen to not like curry - or, dare I say, hate curry, and I tell you that your favorite food is curry, you wouldn't believe me. However, if I suggest that you'll die if you eat curry, then you'll be more inclined to believe me, no matter how unbelievable and downright fictional it sounds," Ciel said like a teacher giving a lecture to a classroom. "This is the power of Suggestion magic."

"Whoa... that's amazing..." Yuuji said, his eyes sparkling with intrigue. "Can everyone at Jujutsu High do that?"

"Not to my knowledge. There may be someone who has memory-manipulation techniques, but Suggestion spells are something that nearly every mage out in the west knows how to do. It's actually one of the most basic spells to learn, an essential even, so to keep their existences and practices as mages a secret. Not everyone in the Church knows how to do this, or are even inclined to do this, since it's believed that magecraft is a heretical practice. I'm just one of the few exceptions who can utilize Suggestion magic at its greatest potential."

"Huh... You're really awesome then," Yuuji said honestly.

Ciel lightly blushed at his comment, smiling. "It's really nothing, and it's not perfect either. Someone with a strong mind would be able to resist it. Or someone who shares the same body as you might be able to tell from a fraudulent memory to a real one..."

The elevator doors then opened. The sorcerer and the executor stepped inside. A golden interior with a reflective surface, and nice patterns that swooped across the edges like ocean waves.

"...Do you remember how we first met?" Ciel asked.

The doors closed and the elevator began its ascension, carrying the two teens up in a smooth ride.

"Yeah. I was taking a train to Tokyo when I heard you running for the doors. I stopped them from closing, and you got on just in time." Yuuji remembered like it happened yesterday, and he smiled. His first look of Ciel's blue hair. Her pretty bright blue eyes. Her very nice hips he tried so hard not to stare at. But more importantly, her smile. She was such a warm person the moment he met her, he knew he liked her the first time he saw her.

"Right, and I still think you shouldn't have done that. I was only pretending to be late and would have made it, you know?" Ciel said. "Anyway, when I tried to... well, say that you and I knew each other, that was me trying to cast suggestion onto you."

"Oh! Really?" Yuuji thought back some more. "Huh. Now that I think about it, I did feel my head itch a bit."

"Ha... Thinking back on it now. I feel bad for trying to deceive you..." Ciel looked away then, her smile dulling. "I pretty much improvised on the spot there, but I never expected you to be so..."

"Hm?" Yuuji looked at Ciel and stepped closer. "So what?"

"Well... nice." Ciel said, feeling a little warm when Yuuji moved closer to her. "Truthfully, I was taken aback. You were the most honest and compassionate person I've ever met, and I was just some strange girl who managed to lie her way into your life."

"I don't mind that." Yuuji wrapped his arm around Ciel's shoulder and gave her a kiss on her reddened cheek, hearing her "eep!" as he did so. "I'm pretty glad you pretended to know me. It made me want to learn more about you, and..."

"And?" Ciel repeated, calming herself down as she heard Yuuji's answer.

"It's kind of embarrassing to say it, but... I thought you were pretty cute when I first saw you." He closed his eyes and pressed his face against the side of her head, feeling Ciel's hair and warm body as her heartbeat quickened. "It was more than that, though. When you grabbed my hand just to see if I was alright... I knew you were a good person. Someone who cared a lot about the people around you. That's probably when I started to fall for you, I guess."

"E-eh?!" Ciel sputtered out, "O-oh... I see."

"How about you?" Yuuji asked, his eyes opening as he pulled back to look at her very flushed look, and he had to fight back a laugh at the sight of it. "When did you started liking me?"

"-?!"

Just then, the elevator doors opened. Ciel immediately slipped out of Yuuji's hold and jumped onto the new floor. "Ahh... I'd rather not say."

The memory of Yuuji's smile with a mouth full of blood his body had cannibalized. His resolve to step out and let himself be killed so to protect Ciel and Megumi. His apology as he tenderly rubbed his thumb against Ciel's cheek and neck. His acceptance of his own fate. His eyes that held so much compassion for the life in front of him, no matter if she was his own murderer.

She had liked him before, but if she had to pick a certain point where she genuinely started to fall for him, it had to be at that moment. When he looked at her with such kindness and sadness in his eyes, over crimes he was never guilty of, she didn't have the heart to pull the trigger.

She gave a cheerful smile to hide the hint of sorrow in her heart. "I'm going to take that secret to my grave. Sorry."

"Ehhh? Come on! I want to know!" Yuuji pressed, following after the girl down the hallway. Ciel merely kept walking, clasping her hands behind her back as she clutched Satsuki's school bag.

Despite Yuuji's persistent method of saying "tell me, tell me," Ciel did not give in, and they eventually reached the very last room at the end of the hallway. Upon unlocking the door and turning on the light, they were instantly met with the sight of luxury. A very large circular room. The kind a celebrity would sleep in. There were potted botanies and flowers. Nice furniture with a large TV. A set of wine bottles and empty glasses on the table in the middle of the room. A small chandelier on the ceiling. A good-sized kitchen by the living room, and a walk-in bedroom with blue curtains pulled back to reveal the two singles bed that were pressed together side by side. At the other side of the room, a single row of light green curtains that were concealing the windows.

"So coooool!" Yuuji eye's sparkled as he removed his shoes by the entrance and ran into the middle of the room. "This is an expensive room! I've never been in anything like this before!"

Ciel, unfortunately, could not share Yuuji's level of enthusiasm, no matter how much she would have liked to. "Y-yes... it is, isn't it?"

"This TV is huge! There's a chandelier! A lot of plants around too, I guess rich people really like those, huh? Holy cow! Look at the bathroom! And there's two of them!"

Yuuji was sprinting through every room available like a kid at a candy store. Ciel nervously tapped her fingers together as she looked across the room, having put down Satsuki's school bag by the entrance. A room like this would probably take a large chunk of the Holy Church's finances, or at least, Ciel thought so.

"WHOA! Ciel! You got to check out this view!" Yuuji had pulled back the curtains and saw for himself the city landscape at night, and its thousands and thousands of lights that left him completely awestruck. Like looking at a sea of stars. "You could see Mount Fuji from here! I think I could see your place too. Hold on! I'm going to take a picture of this."

Ciel walked up and stood beside Yuuji, pulling back the curtains to see for herself as well. "Mmm. It is a nice view."

Yuuji had just pulled out his phone and held it out to take a photo when he noticed Ciel's face. The big smile on his face dropped at once. "What's wrong?"

"Huh? Oh! It's nothing, really," Ciel said, clutching onto the fabric of the curtain. "I'm just... not used to this sort of place. It's a lot more extravagant than I was expecting, that's all."

"Oh. Oh right! You did say you liked something more simple," Yuuji said.

"Yes. But don't let that ruin your fun." There was a laugh in Ciel's smile as she looked back at Yuuji. "Seeing you so excited, it makes me feel happy to see it. You just seemed so down and serious recently, I figured I could surprise you with something like this. I didn't expect it to go this well, but if it keeps you smiling, then it was completely worth it."

Yuuji blushed at hearing her intentions. He rubbed the side of his neck. "Huh... Really? That's really sweet of you."

Ciel was happy to see him like this and pulled back the rest of the curtains. "I will say, I do like the view up here. The receptionist downstairs said all of our expenses are covered, so it looks like we're free to raid the minibar."

"Oh! Nice! That's true!" Yuuji immediately backed away from the windows and walked into the kitchen, finding the minifridge there and pulling it open. "Whoa. There's a lot of alcohol in here... Should I...?"

"Don't do anything irresponsible now, Yuuji-kun," Ciel said, sighing as she sat down on the white couch. The entire city view at her back. "I can't even drink. No matter how I spin it, I'm still a teenager. Then again, I can't really lecture you about ethics after sneaking our way into this room. Good grief, what would everyone at school think of me? They'll probably see me as some no-good delinquent."

"You think so? I think it's pretty awesome you could come up here just by talking your way into it," Yuuji said as he came back with soda cans in hand. He plopped down next to Ciel, instantly amazed and enjoying the soft cushion underneath his rump. "You'd get a lot of respect, especially to me and gramps. I think he would have liked you if he was still around. He probably would have acted tough, but I know you'd win him over easily."

"Really? That's a relief to hear," Ciel said. "Even if that wouldn't be the case, I can be very persistent. Your grandfather had been bedridden for a while, right? I would have liked to take him out for a stroll through the park, or push his wheelchair into the closest ice cream shop and bakery. He'd be at my complete mercy as I treat him to everything."

Yuuji laughed, imagining the scenario of the smiling senpai being completely undeterred by his grumpy grandfather. "He would have loved that, even if he'll lie about it and tell you not to bother him so much. Well, if it's from a cute girl, I don't think he'd complain too much."

He spotted the remote controller on the coffee table in front of him and grabbed it. "Ooh! This place has to have a lot channels. Let's see..."

He turned on the TV. Indeed, there were hundreds if not thousands of movies available to watch. There was even an international selection. "Damn. There's so many to choose. I wonder which one we can-? Oh."

He stopped at one movie: Twilight.

"Oh. I've never seen this movie. Although I have heard of its premise," Ciel commented while sipping her can of soda. "In reality, a vampire and a human falling in love is a recipe for disaster, especially with the vampire's dangerous impulse. He'd be more likely to bite into her neck than kiss it."

"Yeah. That's gotta be what the main conflict is all about," Yuuji said as he read through the movie description. "I've seen a lot of memes about this movie. People either really hate it or love it. I heard the main guy is pretty creepy too."

"Oh yes. I heard about that as well," Ciel said. "It's a shame that the actor had to play the role of this supposed 'love interest'. I personally would have gone for the werewolf, although he'd still be too dangerous. What the movie industry and the books did to him, though, was atrocious, especially to the actor."

"You sound like you'd be Team Jacob. I heard the character's pretty bad too, though. Has a really nasty temper."

"That hardly would have been enough to scare me away," Ciel said with a hand on her hip. "I've fought with plenty of monsters. Him baring his teeth would have been a compliment to me."

"That doesn't sound healthy at all..." Yuuji said, legitimately concerned before he caught on to Ciel's words. "You seem to know a lot about this. Did you read the books?"

"Um. No. I was just..." Ciel realized her slip up, glancing away as she sipped her soda. "I... might have kept tabs on one of the actors."

"Who? The guy who played Jacob?" Yuuji asked. He suddenly gained an epiphany, and he stared at her. "Is he... a celebrity crush?"

"N-No! I-!" Ciel tried to come up with an explanation. "H-he just seemed like an interesting actor. I've only seen a few, or maybe several clips of him in this series, as well as other movies. S-stop smiling! It's not funny!"

She lightly pounded Yuuji's arm in frustration. Yuuji only chuckled. "It's fine! I mean, I got a celebrity crush too. I'm pretty sure everyone does."

"Huh? Really?" Ciel stopped her pounding, her hands rested against Yuuji's arm. "Who?"

"I really like Jennifer Lawrence. I was impressed by her in the movie-" Yuuji started listing off every movie he could think of and has seen the actress in. Ciel was honestly amazed by his memory and smiled teasingly.

"Oh? And is that not just because of how pretty she looks?"

"Doesn't Taylor Lautner take his shirt off in every scene?"

"He's more than just a pretty face and body! He said so himself!"

Ciel didn't like being called out in that rebuttal, and she gently pounded at Yuuji's arm again. Yuuji only laughed at her reaction, and that made Ciel even angrier. She was caught off guard when Yuuji swung his arms around her and pulled her over, bringing her down with him against the seat cushions as she yelped in surprise.

"You get flustered so easily," Yuuji grinned at her angry pout, hugging her figure. "I really like that. It's just so much fun messing with you."

"You...!" Ciel could only glare at the boy full of mischief. Her anger was quick to evaporate the moment she saw his face full of relaxed elation. The burden and sorrow from earlier completely gone. Yuuji's eyes flicker down to her lips for a moment, and he goes in for another kiss.

"-!" No matter what, Ciel could never stop her surprise each time Yuuji kissed her. Her fingers twitched against his arms before slowly closing them, gripping against his sleeves. Her heart fluttering with desire.

"...mmmm..." He breathed. A gentle kiss that slowly deepened with time. His hand trailed down across her back, stopping just behind her waist.

Ciel's face burned as she catered into his embrace, kissing back with as much finesse. "...mmmm..."

They lay there for a while. Completely to themselves as the world finally felt quiet. No monsters. No losses. No worries of the future. Just the two of them, feeling each other's breaths and heartbeats.

*Ba-dump. Ba-dump. Ba-dump. Ba-dump.*

Yuuji was mindfully and emotionally enthralled by the girl in his arms. He opened his eyes slightly and saw her expression. She looked so sweet. Her cheeks pink with delight, holding her breath almost…

His eyes grew a little sad, softening his kiss as he closed his eyes again. Ciel noticed the change and opened her eyes. She brought her hands up and pulled back his head, their lips separating as she held Yuuji's cheeks tenderly.

"What's wrong?" She asked him, panting softly.

"No. It's…" Yuuji started, he thinned his mouth to keep his face neutral, and then puts up a smile. He gives her a peck on the nose. "It's nothing."

He pressed his forehead against hers, completely content to stay like this for as long as they're here. "I'm just really happy. You're an amazing girl…"

Ciel's hands slid to the back of Yuuji's head, and she looked at him directly in the eyes. Yuuji's smile dissipated as he stared back, mesmerized by her light blue gaze.

"That's not it. Tell me," Ciel said. "I wouldn't try avoiding it. I can be very persistent too."

She scratched against his scalps, getting a very good spot. It sends shivers throughout Yuuji's body, and he nearly moaned in pleasure. Damn it. I really do act like a dog…

He closed his eyes and hoped to stall for a little time. But it was no use. Her head scratches were out of this world. His face tightened with his eyes shut closed, stubborn to resist to the very end, until he felt her lips pressed against his. "Mmph!"

Her kiss held far more vigor and sultry intensity. Stealing his breath away. She tugged his hair slightly. Her teeth gently scrap against his bottom lip, and holy shit she's experienced!

Yuuji's eyes nearly rolled to the back of his head. He was about to return the kiss when she pulled back with a distinct suction, and it left him wanting more. This tease...!

"Tell me." Ciel pressed, looking at Yuuji with a cheeky expression. "Or I'll have to be even more mean."

Yuuji frowned at her, his cheeks completely pink before he started considering. His face cooled down quickly as he looked away.

Ciel waited patiently for him to speak. Caressing his cheek with her thumb. After a moment, Yuuji's head drew closer to her. Ciel rested the palm of her hand over his face, seeing that sullen expression he wore.

"...I'm sorry."

Ciel blinked. "Yuuji-kun?"

"I've been trying to work up the courage to tell you that. Properly, this time. For what happened that night."

Ciel registered his words, and it clicked. There could only be that one night he was referring to, and she immediately understood what was troubling the sorcerer. He still feels responsible for what happened at the detention center...

"I'm sorry I wasn't there to keep you guys safe," Yuuji apologized, his face full of somber as he looked back at Ciel. "I've killed. I hurt you, and I almost killed Fushiguro-san. I didn't want to avoid you guys after I came back to life. I just couldn't face either of you until I got stronger first."

His eyes trailed from her cheek down to her neck, and to her shoulder where Sukuna had carved right into her ribs. He remembered every spot that was cut and sliced, the memories of that accursed being, and Sukuna's ceaseless delight of inflicting pain.

Ciel caught his gaze and knew exactly what was going through his head. She opened her mouth to say something but thought against it, closing her lips again. She simply hears him out as he spoke, wanting him to get everything off his chest.

"Back then, I really was trying to come back. After I saw you die, I blacked out, and the next thing I knew, I felt that bastard shoving those people's hearts down my throat."

Ciel grimaced. She looked at Yuuji sorrowfully as she held his face, listening to him closely.

"I was swimming in blood. Drowning in it, but I was still fighting to come back. I heard everything, and when I finally came to, I saw everything he did to you."

He brought his hand up and grasped her face, his shimmering gaze full of remorse. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

He remembered everything. The fight in her limbs that was slowly losing its kick the longer Sukuna held her by the throat. The feel and sounds of her struggle. It felt like Yuuji was the one who did that. He knew better, but he still felt disgusted at himself for letting Ciel go through that pain, and all throughout that ordeal he was shouting: Stop. Stop. Leave her alone. Leave her alone!

He lowered his head and pressed his forehead against her neck and shoulder. Ciel's hands stroked through his pink hair, her gentle blue eyes full of compassion and understanding.

"I like you," Yuuji said. "I really like you. But I know I don't deserve you. I couldn't protect you. I couldn't help anyone that night."

His face relaxed as he felt the soft fabric of the nun dress, and Ciel's comforting head rub. "I also don't really deserve anyone's forgiveness, but I promise that I will get stronger, and I'll make up for what happened."

"You're really going to keep blaming yourself over that." Ciel pressed her lips against his neck. Yuuji hugged her tightly, wanting to give her body every ounce of his apology.

"How could I not?" He was supposed to keep that bastard in check, and because he failed, a lot of people suffered.

"...What happened that night, and I need you to listen carefully, it was not your fault."

She hesitated for a while, and then pressed her mouth further into Yuuji's neck, giving him a kiss that made Yuuji's heart skip a beat. "...The people who help run Jujutsu High, the elders, they bypassed your principal's seal of approval, and intentionally led you and your class to die in that facility."

Ciel felt Yuuji flinch, and she held him tighter. "If they haven't done that, you never would have lost control, and neither Kugisaki-san or Fushiguro-kun would have been injured. Even Gojo was furious with how the elders went behind his back."

"...They wanted us dead?"

"They wanted you dead. The others would have been inconsequential. This is the reality of Jujutsu Society. Their methods are cutthroat, just as the missions many jujutsu sorcerers are assigned to are. Ijichi-san had no power to go against his superiors, and he would have to carry the guilt of sending you three to your doom forever. Seeing you come back must have been a huge relief, and also probably gave him a near heart attack as well."

She made an attempt at a joke. Unfortunately, she only got so much as a "hmph" from Yuuji this time. No enthusiasm, but he wanted to show that he knew she was trying.

"It will most likely not be the elders' only attempt," Ciel continued. "Especially after you are reinstated back into Jujutsu High, revealed to be alive. This is why everyone is trying to keep you hidden. To not only protect you, but to also prepare you. So that what happened at the detention center will never happen again."

"...Still, I-"

"Shhhh," Ciel shushed Yuuji, and she gently pulled his head back. She looked at him with the kindest expression, an adoring smile as she caressed his cheek. "That's enough now. You may be willing to carry all those lost lives in your heart, but I will not allow you to take responsibility over others' actions."

She pulled Yuuji back in, and gave him a deep, slow kiss. Yuuji was surprised briefly before he let himself relaxed, accepting the tender kiss.

Their lips parted, and Ciel, with a hushed voice, said to him, "You probably heard what I said when I thought you were asleep."

"Mm. Yeah. I did," Yuuji answered simply.

"That has not changed. Instead of worrying ourselves over what we can or cannot control, think of all the good deeds you have done, and will do in the future. Think of the goodness you have brought by being here now. You, Yuuji Itadori..."

Yuuji blushed at hearing her sweet, lulling voice saying his name.

"...You have been a wonderful blessing in everyone's lives. You've cracked Nanami-san's hard shell. Give Ijichi-san pleasant company. That goes for Ieiri-san as well, and most certainly Gojo-san, who I think has never been more invested in his job before meeting you, Yuuji-kun. You will continue to be a blessing in everyones' lives. Just as you were brave enough to buy Fushiguro-kun and Kugisaki-san enough time for them to escape, saving their lives, you will help save many more."

A cheerful smile was worn as Ciel finished, "Of course, I don't intend to let you carry all the hard work alone, nor will I ever let you sacrifice yourself again. I'm going to make sure that your life will be a fulfilling one before your time comes. Until then, you'll see just how wonderful it is for you to be alive right now. How strong you are to be standing here right in front of me, Mr. Miracle Sorcerer."

Yuuji was stunned, staring wordlessly at Ciel, and then she pulled him in for another kiss. He closed his eyes, letting himself be taken by her affection. He slipped his hand behind her head, her blue locks of hair in between his fingers, and he sighed into their kiss.

...I'm so grateful I met her...

He moved himself over until he was on top, kissing her over and over. Appreciating her again and again. Ciel's arms wrapped around his neck as Yuuji's arm reached out for the coffee table, grabbing the remote and turned off the TV with it. He then pointed the remote at the chandeliers and - because this is a rich hotel - it turned off with a click of a button as well, and the room became dark.

...I know she's immortal... but when she vanished into that creep's domain, I really thought I was going to lose another friend tonight...

He kissed her lips, her cheek - all places where she'd been harmed by Sukuna. His every touch an apology and admitted indulgence. The magic in Ciel's hands active as she caresses the back of Yuuji's head, ensuring that they would not be interrupted by the cursed king himself. With a deep kiss as they clasped each other's face, the sorcerer and the executor share the same thought.

I'm so glad she's alive.

I'm really happy he's alive.

The gentle blue lighting of the city settled within the hotel room, and the two lovers made out throughout the rest of the night.

---

Morning light spilled into the hotel room through the large windows. In his white t-shirt and black pants, Yuuji snored as his forehead was pressed against Ciel's face. With time, he gradually woke himself up. Slowly opening his eyes and pulling his head back, he was met with the beautiful sight of Ciel and her sleeping face, in his arms as they were both lying on the couch.

He smiled at her. His arm around her stomach as he felt the soft, blue fabric of her nun outfit. Yuuji slowly lifted his gloved hand and gently clasped the side of Ciel's face. The slightest caress of his thumb as he admired her for a moment.

...I have a girlfriend now.

He was absolutely giddy when he thought of this, smiling like a doofus. He rested his forehead against her cheek again.

I should make her breakfast. Ah, but I don't think there's any food here. Maybe I can ask for some ingredients downstairs?

Yuuji spotted a telephone attached to the wall by the kitchen. With careful ease, he removed himself from Ciel, taking his absolute time so not to wake her up. He eventually got off the couch and kept Ciel on it, making sure she wouldn't roll off the edge in her sleep.

He picked up his black jacket on the floor and placed it over Ciel's body to keep her warm. It's kind of exciting dating a nun. Or at least someone who dresses up like one.

Yuuji's mood was at an all time high as he walked his way over to the phone, scratching his head with a yawn escaping his throat. Sukuna didn't seem to be in the mood to chat/curse/ridicule, and Yuuji was glad. He'd preferred not to hear the bastard so early in the morning.

After making a call and giving his request to the hotel staff, hearing the workers happy to oblige, Yuuji then moves over to the large kitchen and thought over what to make for drinks. "Hmm. There's probably something from the minibar. I think I saw an Apple juice and an ice bag in there. I could make us some shaved ice."

Just as Yuuji opened the mini fridge, there were several knocks at the front door.

"Oh! That was fast." This really is a five-star hotel. Yuuji hurried over to the entrance.

"Ye-"

The stern face of Nanami was what greeted him the moment he opened the door.

"-ah."

Yuuji blinked at the man, and before he could say a word.

"What are you doing here?" Nanami curtly questioned him. The tone of his voice sounded like he was prepared to interrogate.

"Nanami-?"

"What are you doing here?" The adult once more repeated, stressing his words.

Behind him, Satoru Gojo stood with his back against the wall, having just returned to Tokyo last night, and was planning to make a surprise visit at Ciel's place only to immediately notice that neither Ciel or Yuuji were home. He made a call to Nanami, and upon his stated obliviousness as to where the pair of love struck teens went, they regrouped and started searching before Gojo was able to track Ciel's outpour of energy flow at the very top of this hotel, where they made quite the impression at the receptionist desk before heading up here.

"Uhhh..." As if realizing that he may or may not have done something wrong, Yuuji took a moment to answer. "We're hunting curses...? And... maybe vampires too-? Whoa! H-hold on!"

Nanami pulled the teen's shirt by his collar and visibly searched with his eyes any noticeable markings around Yuuji's neck. Gojo held a hand over his own mouth. The strongest sorcerer was not laughing. Nope. He was definitely not fighting back a laugh right now.

"...Yuuji-kun?" A gentle yawn was heard inside the hotel room. The two adults took immediate notice as Yuuji forgets his manhandled position by Nanami and looked behind him. Gojo quickly walked closer and looked over Nanami's shoulder.

Ciel rubbed her eyes, stirred awake by Yuuji's abrupt yell. She clutched his uniform over her figure, its trademark red hood telling the adults who this jacket belonged to. "Is everything okay-? Eh? Nanami-san? Gojo-san?"

Nanami looked at the seated nun with the sorcerer's jacket over her, and then he turned to look at Yuuji again.

Yuuji had the most unconvincing look of "I swear we didn't do anything" as he slowly raised his hands in surrendering. "...They gave us the room for free - Ow!"

The assumption that Yuuji and Ciel broke into an extravagant room was the least of Nanami's concerns as the adult slapped the sorcerer on the side of his head.

"Get dressed. We have plenty to discuss today," Nanami informed, letting go of Yuuji. The man retreated back out of the hallway, giving Ciel some privacy although she was by all means clothed.

Gojo approached Yuuji as the teen rubbed his face in complaint. "Eh-? Sensei!"

Gojo grabbed Yuuji's shoulder. Despite his blindfold, Yuuji could tell the man was expressing something close to disapproval.

"I am going to give you the scolding of your life, young man!" Gojo as he proceeded to shake hands, fist bump and gave a thumbs up to Yuuji.

Ciel sighed at seeing Gojo's behavior, deciding to push aside her embarrassment at the men's no doubt immediate assumptions. She carried Yuuji's jacket and walked over to the others.

"Are you really going to lecture us? I didn't think there would be a problem so long as someone stays close to Yuuji-kun." Ciel handed over the jacket to Yuuji, and he gratefully took it back.

"Meh. I don't really care about that. You kids can go off and elope whenever you want," Gojo said with a smile. "Although, I am a little intrigued with what you guys were doing last night - maybe not every detail, but there's something else I want to talk about first."

Gojo then turned his attention to Ciel. "Imagine my surprise when I got a call from Yaga-sensei. You could have reached out to me personally, you know?"

"I don't see the point of that," Ciel only responded, picking up Satsuki's school bag on the side. "As long as my admission gets through, I might as well have it delivered to someone who actually has authority."

"Sheesh. Still cold as always. It's a miracle how you managed to get yourself a boyfriend-"

Ciel unapologetically slammed Satsuki's bag against the unaffected man's body, and after getting on her shoes, she casually walked out into the hallway. "Please refrain from speaking your thoughts out loud. My private life is not for you to bring up. And I don't trust what you have to say about it."

Yuuji finished putting on his shirt and shoes as he looked at the people in the hallway. "An admission? For what?"

Gojo genuinely looked surprised and looked back at Ciel. "You haven't told him yet?"

Ciel stopped by Nanami as she faced down the hallway. "...I was hoping to keep it a surprise. Oh well, I suppose there's no harm telling now."

Yuuji blinked, walking out of the room to follow Ciel. "Tell me what?"

"...Due to recent events, it seems that I should not only pursue the Dead Apostle I'm here for, but I also need to keep a closer eye on the strange gathering of strong curses. Therefore, seeing how curses and the undead are already together in one place, I've decided to make a judgement call. Cooperation with Jujutsu High will not be enough, I'll need to personally involve myself."

She then turned around with a warm smile. "And what better way to do that then to start attending classes? Congratulations, Yuuji-kun. In just about the same time you'll be reinstated, I'll be your new classmate under Gojo-san's tutelage."

"...Huh?" Yuuji stared at Ciel for a moment. Her words slowly registered to him, and the executor resumed her walk down the hall.

"Seeing as how I'm a new student, I might have to start calling you 'Senpai'. I look forward to learning from you and the others, Yuuji-kun."

Gojo looked back at the awestruck boy and gave him a strong pat on Yuuji's shoulder. Yuuji blinked back to his senses, watching the back of the executor grew a little more distant. The back of someone he'll actually see more often of.

With a small smile on his face, Yuuji quickly ran to catch up with Ciel, meeting the girl side-by-side as they head for the elevators together.

"...Is this really fine?" Nanami asked Gojo as he watched Yuuji and Ciel leave. "He's the vessel of Sukuna, and she's sent to be his executioner."

"Let them be," Gojo said, a smile on his face. "The world can be a little too hellish sometimes. They deserve this moment of happiness. Besides, nothing like that would be enough to stop them from liking each other."

Nanami said nothing more, silently agreeing with the man as a hint of his own smile appeared, and both him and the strongest sorcerer followed after the teens. Yuuji's hand naturally clasped onto Ciel's. The blue cross prominent on his white glove as if a seal of their unity.

---

Author's Note: Aaaaaaaaaand done. Here you have it. By far the LONGEST chapter I've ever written. This two-to-one chapter because I did say I would post one more. I did consider posting two-parters and surprise you guys with two, but I also like to end it on 20 chapters. If anyone else still suggest I split this into two, then I'll have to do the same for a few other chapters (maybe, maybe not).

Anyway, now that I've basically finished what's basically Book 1 of Jujutsu Executor, it's now time for me to go into Hiatus. Because man, I really worked to the bone to get this done, it's time I enter my shell and sleep. I once more overestimated how much I wanted to cram into, and ended up writing a novella-size chapter. Well! I hope everyone likes the immense content.

For next chapter, I'm considering if I should continue to build upon the relationship between Ciel and Yuuji, a series of lovey-dovey scenes in the two-month period of Yuuji's "death", maybe a few chapters of these before getting the plot to move along and go right into the next arc of JJK. I would like to keep writing sweet scenes of Ciel and Yuuji, even though it's my first-time writing romance, I'm just so happy for them to find happiness in each other.

I think for any romance scenes, they'll be like OVAs where we see them at the end of the chapter and etc. We'll see. But yeah, we won't get into the next arc immediately. I would like to explore the other characters outside of Ciel and Yuuji, just for you guys to see what's been going on with Megumi and Nobara, but maybe I might plan something different. No promises!

I really hope all of you, new readers or old, will enjoy this 20 chapter fic. Two days after my birthday, and I'm giving you guys a present, while all of you have given me the most amazing reviews, views and support I absolutely love reading.

Please, please, PLEASE let me know what you thought of this chapter. What moment is your favorite. What your thoughts are of each scene. And etc. I just love reading everyone's review so much. I especially love the in-depth, lengthy reviews. I really appreciate them so much. They're all so much fun to read to know what you guys' thoughts are.

Thank you all for reading, and I hope you have a wonderful day. I love you all!