Event Report: Satozakura High
Written by Kiyotaka Ijichi
...After the death of Satsuki Yumizuka, the Burial Agency Agent and First Grade Sorcerer Kento Nanami confronted the Special Grade Cursed Spirit.
In the ensuing conflict, the cursed spirit was able to unleash a Domain Expansion and entrapped the executor.
Due to the Domain Sphere's newly bred state, Kento Nanami was able to break through, resulting in the unleashing phenomenon...
"-Ciel! Ciel!"
Yuuji's fists banged ceaselessly on top of the domain sphere. His hands that could break through stone was doing nothing to the sphere's sturdy, black exterior. "Can you hear me?! Ciel!"
Why? Why her? Why didn't that curse try to get Yuuji too? Why wasn't Yuuji fast enough? Why did Ciel have to always be the one to sacrifice herself?
On ground, Nanami continuously attempted to cut through the domain's shell several times, but it was no use. The only effective method to break in was the use of another Domain Expansion, or an exceptionally strong attack. Even with Nanami's cursed technique, in his state that was running on low-fuel, he wasn't making the slightest scratch. However, regardless of his own exhaustion, the man refused to give up.
If I can just mark a weak point in one spot, focus all of my cursed energy into it, I might be able to force the domain to collapse and break Ciel out.
He had no way to know for sure what that curse's domain was capable of, but it's not hard to believe that it'll have something to do with the cursed spirit's technique. To transfigure the human body, and within this domain that's a one-hundred percent guarantee hit, would Ciel's immortality be able to preserve her shape? Or will that curse continuously try to morph her into something inhuman? What would be preferable? An instant death, torture, or a permanently scarred body.
Shamans really are shit. Nanami didn't bother to clarify if he was referring to himself or others. Sometimes, you have to force your comrades to accept sacrificing their lives for others. But you give your life too easily, Ciel.
Nanami then honed his technique into one particular spot of the domain, ready to be at this for hours on empty if he must. Your immortality does not, in any way, make you an exception from the rest of us. You should not have to endure every pain alone. You...
If Ciel hadn't knocked Nanami away, he would have been caught instead. A child protecting an adult's life, when it should have been the other way around. As if her own life was meaningless. As if her own life didn't matter. As if her own life was not worth saving. She couldn't have just been bored with her immortality, and Nanami knew that wasn't it. It was the sort of decision one would make when they had no drive to live at all.
One day, you'll see just how much of a murderer she is... That was Satsuki's warning about Ciel, as if she seen it herself.
I don't know what you did that made you feel deserving of punishment and death, but...
Nanami heard the endless calls of Ciel's name from above the sphere. The sounds of punching. Yuuji's fists willing to bleed and break so long as he can save the girl trapped inside.
There is something for you to live for. Once I break you out, I'll reprimand all of us, including myself. Nanami pressed the point of his hatchet against the sphere. It's the least I can do for failing to look after you as your senior.
His body was swarmed with whatever remaining cursed energy he had left. So don't you give up on us, Ciel.
The heavy weight behind Yuuji's punches shook the young sorcerer's whole body, like hitting a gong that refused to bend. He did not give up, however. Yuuji didn't care about his exhaustion or injuries. His sweat mixing in with the blood and wounds on his shoulders, a stinging sensation there that didn't bother him in the least. All he cared about was getting Ciel out. He won't let her suffer. He won't let her have the same fate as Nagi, Junpei, and Satsuki. He won't. He won't!
"Tch! What a letdown."
From Yuuji's cheek, the cursed king Sukuna made himself known. There was disappointment in his glare. Having lost something that had been worth his interest. "I was hoping she'd entertain me for a little while longer. Ah well, she'd been holding herself back for too long. It just goes to show her own weakness."
Had the executor fought seriously from the very beginning, let herself forget her self-imposed restrictions and concerns for the people inside the school, as well as the brat he was imprisoned in and the grade one sorcerer, she could have ended this on her own terms. Well, there's still a chance Ciel might be alive, considering her immortality. Sukuna will just have to wait and see just how tough she really is, depending how she'll come out of this.
"Shut up!" Yuuji shouted. He brought his hands together and raised them over his head. "Don't you dare call her weak!"
His hands were flickered with the smallest dose of cursed energy, pushing his power to the absolute limit no matter how drained he was of it, and Yuuji slammed both fists against the domain's shell. At the same time, Nanami delivered a hard strike with his hatchet against the sphere, and a shockwave came from both blows that shook the air.
There was a crack in the sphere. Hope jumped in Yuuji's chest, and he raised his fists again.
*crack*
The surface suddenly weakened under his knees, and he sank slightly, loosing his concentration for a split moment. "-?!"
*crack*
*crack*
*crack*
Several cracks started to form around the sphere. Cracks that were not added by Yuuji or Nanami. There was a sudden breeze through the openings, and it nearly blew them back.
*BA-DUMP*
An unprecedented energy hit their senses, and white specks flew out from the cracks. Yuuji blinked at the soft sensation of their existence, petals that grazed his face harmlessly. Flowers?
Nanami took a single step back, his expression of determination changed to a surprised one. What is that? This magical energy...
It was strong. An incredibly foreign sensation. Was it Ciel? The cursed spirit? The domain itself?
"Itadori-kun," Nanami began cautiously, calling up to the teen. "Get down. Something's-"
Yuuji raised his fist again. He didn't question about the strange pulse. His mind was only set on one thing.
"Wait! Don't-!"
Yuuji punched into the sphere, and he was able to break through. His body fell into the domain, and he was assaulted by a swarm of white flower petals. It clouded his vision, unable to let him see what was below, and he simply fell.
He eventually felt the ground underneath him. A field of white flowers that scattered at his hard landing. Yuuji knelt in quick recovery, spitting out the petals that got caught in his mouth before he looked to the side.
"Ci-!...el?" Her name trailed off as Yuuji spotted the figure beside him.
It was someone he did not recognize, facing away from him as he stood on the same flower field as him. The figure wore a black coat and pants, almost like a priest's uniform. With pale black hair tied into a wavy ponytail. He didn't seem to notice Yuuji at all, his absolute attention at somewhere else.
Who is that?
Yuuji snapped himself out of his stupor and stood up readily, looking to where Mahito sat to fight the curse.
"-? Huh?"
He found the cursed spirit facing away from him as well, and Yuuji looked up to the scene.
"Eh?" Both Yuuji's and Sukuna's eyes widened at what was before them.
Flower petals rained all around them. The giant full moon hung in the night sky, and in front of the moon was a castle.
The castle was enormous, as tall as mount Fuji itself, perhaps even bigger. It stretched for miles and far into the horizon, like it could overcome an entire city. Its blue crystal walls shone brilliantly under the light of the full moon. Tall bars and pillars spiraled around it, like an intricate birdcage to house a civilization of royals.
It was like they stepped into another world entirely. An inexplicable existence of beauty, like they were looking at a piece of the blue, blue glass moon.
Yuuji didn't notice Nanami landing right beside him, and the man regarded the scenery before them in equal stunned measure. "This... is a domain?"
Nanami looked at their surroundings. There were giant pillar-bridges all around them, leading towards the castle and all across the field.
"-?!"
They were not alone. Apart from the cursed spirit, and the stranger by Yuuji, multiple people surround them, around sixteen men or so. All of them of different race and age, as if they come from every part of the world. Nanami didn't understand what he was looking at, he didn't understand the mechanism of this domain, or rather...
"No. This isn't a domain."
Yuuji blinked back to focus, the slits under his eyes closed. He looked at Nanami. "It's... not?"
"I can't really explain it, but..." Nanami's eyes narrowed, "This feels more like... a memory."
And judging by the cursed spirit's reaction, it wasn't intentional at all. There were several questions Nanami had, but only one was important to him and Yuuji: where was Ciel?
"What is this...?" Mahito said. His earlier battle lust had instantly vanished the moment his domain touched the soul of that girl, and this is what was revealed. He turned his attention back to the strangers standing on the flower field. "They're all the same person...?"
It was unlike anything Mahito had ever seen. An aged soul that had known powerful, various knowledge. A variety of it like he was in a massive library. So many identities, so many different lives, and yet all of it came under the same name.
Roa.
That was the name of that executor's soul. Roa.
Who's Roa...?
Mahito turned his attention elsewhere. "Who is that?"
Nanami and Yuuji spotted Mahito's averted gaze, and they followed his line of sight.
"-?! What is this?" Yuuji quietly uttered, seeing a lone figure meander across the field.
Her long, golden hair blew in the breeze as white petals danced around her frame. A beautiful young woman in a white dress. An emotionless expression on her flawless face, like a living marble statue. Her eyes were a captivating red, taking in the scenery as if it was her only silent joy in life.
Everything about her. Her mannerisms. Her appearance. It was like they were looking at a princess. A vampire.
Yuuji's attention flickered back to the man standing close to him. The dark-haired man was staring right at the blonde woman, completely mesmerized. It was the same for all the other sixteen souls, including Nanami and Mahito.
There was a single petal that flew past in front of Yuuji's eyes. In that instant, the man vanished, and standing in his place was Ciel.
"-! Ciel!" Yuuji ran up to the girl, catching Nanami's attention and surprise by Ciel's sudden reappearance.
Yuuji grabbed Ciel's shoulder. The slightest nudge at her figure and the girl started to lean. Yuuji reacted quickly and caught her body just before it fell onto the field. "H-Hey!"
Her eyes were closed as if she was asleep. Yuuji immediately checked her for any injuries, but there was none he could find, having been restored after their fight with Satsuki.
"Ciel?! Hey!" Yuuji gently held Ciel's face, turning her head slightly to see her better. She was unconscious. Whatever that cursed spirit did, it knocked her out completely, but she was alright. Immortal or not, that was all Yuuji cared about.
Mahito finally broke his gaze away from the blonde woman and turned to the sorcerers. Specifically, the executor in the vessel's arms, and he stood up slowly.
That girl... She's going to be a problem.
He's honestly wondering if Geto, Jogo, Hanami, or Dagon would be enough to fight her, with all that power she had hiding all along.
I have to-
Mahito's shoulder was suddenly sliced, and blood spurted out from the instant wound of two gashes.
Nanami and Yuuji quickly looked back at Mahito and were shocked to see who was standing behind the cursed spirit. Mahito fell onto the flower field, his bleeding wounds staining the white petals in red.
"I told you there wouldn't be a second time."
Sukuna stood beside the fallen Mahito's body with a raise of his hand. "But I'll let you off easy, since you've just shown me something truly magnificent."
Yuuji quickly picked up Ciel and carried her bridal style. Nanami stood in front of them with his hatchet held ready. So that's how it is...
At the appearance of Sukuna who had Yuuji's face, but with his pink hair pulled back and a white robe draped around the King of Curse's figure, Nanami was able to generally grasp where they were. We're in patch-face's domain, he's revealing everyone's soul, including Yuuji's and Ciel's.
But the fact that Sukuna was here, and yet he was only a part of this entire domain that didn't crumble the moment Mahito fell, it could only mean that this scene - this memory, was what Ciel's soul showed. Nanami side-glanced at the unconscious executor who was held protectively by Yuuji.
Gojo... Just who is this girl?
"Ahh..." Sukuna looked up at the massive castle, as if admiring an art piece. "There really is nothing like embracing the light of the moon."
He briefly regarded the lone blonde woman on the field before turning back for the sorcerers.
Yuuji tensed at Sukuna's gaze, and he held Ciel even closer.
"You sure picked one hell of a woman, brat. I'll actually commend you for having taste," the King of Curses said with a smile on his face.
Rage and disgust resurfaced in Yuuji's heart as he heard the damnable cursed king's low chuckle. Nanami felt a sense of unease at Sukuna's regard, and the adult utilized his cursed energy to its greatest feat, to the point where it didn't matter how much pain it brought him.
The King of Curses looked back up at the castle. Remember what I said before...
The sky above them started to crack further. The domain was beginning to lose hold of its structure.
Everything you ever want and own, they belong to me now.
He made up his mind. He won't let anyone else have her. Sukuna grasped his own face, a genuine look of excitement in his usually cold eyes as he widely and insanely smiled. "I'm going to enjoy this era immensely."
The sky broke apart, and the interior of the domain was unleashed.
"-The curtain fell?" Ijichi repeated as he held the phone against his ear. "Isn't that a good thing? That means the cursed spirit has been defeated- huh? What was that? You want me to make another one immediately?"
He stopped his car by a hill that overlooked the neighborhood. "O-of course. I'll get right on it. But, if I may ask, why the urgency...?"
Ijichi blinked as he listened through his phone. "Eh? Look out the window?"
He did so. Moving his body to see over the passenger's seat.
And what he saw nearly made his eyes bulge out of his skull. "What in the world...?"
So that was what that strange sense of energy he felt a minute ago. He'll definitely have to put in a request for a vacation after tonight.
Under the dark night sky, a large monument of what appeared to be a castle stood on top of the neighborhood. There were broken edges around it, implying that it was just one section of some grander structure, and despite its existence, the neighborhood remained standing, as if it was only an illusion.
"Um, sir... I understand the scope of... how this looks, but... you know that I can't build a curtain that big, right?... Hello?"
He shrieked when he heard someone tapped the driver's window of his car, and he quickly turned to it.
"Yo! Mind lowering your window for me?" A scruffy looking man with fuzzy brown hair, wearing a black suit over an orange shirt. With a lazy gaze, he spoke to Ijichi through the glass.
Ijichi gathered his bearings and did as he was asked. At least, by a few centimeters. "Um. Yes? Can I help you?"
"You barely lowered it..." The man seemed offended by such obvious mistrust, then again, he was just some stranger in the night without any introduction. "I'm with the Church."
He showed a small silver cross emblem on his suit, giving truth to his claim and identity. "Just letting you know our people finally arrived to lend some assistance. Although, by the looks of it, our plans are gonna have to change."
He looked over Ijichi's car pointedly, apparently not as fazed as Ijichi by what he saw. "That's gonna be a tough one to cover up... ah well, we'll just use the old 'gas leak' excuse, that always works. Don't ask me how. Oh, also we brought that second grade sorcerer along. What was his name again? Ino?"
"WHAT THE HELL IS THAT?!"
Ijichi once more jumped in his seat. He turned to look through the back of his car, and spotted Ino staring in absolute disbelief at the castle, standing front of a black car with the door open as if he had just jumped out. A man in a grey suit and long white hair stood beside Ino, completely calm at the scene over the neighborhood.
Are people of the Holy Church just numb to this sort of thing? Ijichi wished he could have that same level of composure.
"We'll help you clean up the mess here," the man in the black suit said. "Name's Yuugo Ando by the way. That over there is Karius Berlusconi. With how many undead and curses are hanging out, it looks like your group and mine will be working together for a while."
"I-I see. I suppose that's only natural. Oh, I'm Kiyotaka Ijichi, by the way."
Ijichi jumped a third time when Ando's hand slapped against the hood of the car. "Great! Now that we got introductions out of the way, we better get a move on."
He started to walk for the vehicle behind Ijichi's before suddenly stopping, "Oh, and I'd hurry if I were you. You'd want to make sure your 'secret' doesn't come out. The kind that I'm sure plenty of your superiors would like to give it another shot at killing again."
Ijichi's hold of the steering wheel tightened, hearing the implication of Ando's words. "...Apologies. I'm afraid I don't understand you."
"Only a small number of us know about that 'secret weapon' of yours," Ando merely said as if he didn't hear Ijichi. "I also know that you, your coworkers Satoru Gojo, Kento Nanami, Shoko Ieiri, and your Principal Masamichi Yaga, are doing their best to hide him. Don't worry, we're not gonna spill the beans and tattle on you, and it's not like I'm threatening you or anything. Truth is, this kind of benefits my organization, although the politics of it all gets really tiring..."
Ando sighed as he scratched his head. "Even if you can't cover up that whole thing, I'm sure it'll be helpful to hide someone who's supposed to be dead. Anyway, I've kept you here long enough. We'll just pass off Ino to you and meet you down there."
With a flippant wave, Ando continued his walk. "If our agent is right about you and your friends, I'd say this is going to be an interesting relationship."
Agent... Ijichi's brows scrunched together, looking into his rearview mirror, and watching Ando talk to his associate as well as Ino. Does he mean... Ciel-san? Did she...?
Yuuji cradled Ciel's unconscious form and stood by Nanami as they stared up in amazement at the castle entrance that surrounded the block. The walls of Mahito's domain had broken apart, and the castle's existence tore through the curtain, exposing itself to the entire neighborhood, and the waning moon high up in the night sky.
Nanami glanced down on the ground. The wasteland of Satsuki's making was seemingly replenished with new life. White lily-flowers spread across the yard. He moved his foot against the flowers. They were undisturbed by his shoe, his existence slipping through the flower's illusion.
A residue of the domain's effects, Nanami concluded. Otherwise, this entire area would have been flattened, including us.
Yuuji looked over to the fallen curse. Sukuna was gone, disappeared along with Mahito's domain, and all that remained was the patch-face curse in a severely injured state.
They could kill him. Right here. Right now. With that 0.1 second of understanding, it took Yuuji a couple of more seconds to gently place Ciel down on the ground. Wait here. I'll protect you this time.
He then dashed for the cursed spirit. The teen sprinting past Nanami as the adult held his hatchet in front of Ciel's body, on guard.
Mahito was sweating and bleeding heavily. He was spent. The use of a Domain Expansion took an even greater toll on Mahito, and he didn't even get a single hit on the executor. Despite how much he's learned, this was kind of an embarrassing position. He couldn't even move his body.
No choice then...
The last of his transfigured soul shot up in his throat, having the chance to summon it when Yuuji was putting down Ciel, and Mahito bit into the cursed soul.
What I said before... I was wrong. Because of you...
It was the first result of his experiment when he wanted to see just how many souls he could fit into one. It didn't have a lot of lives, so he didn't think he needed to use it, but it'll have just enough cursed energy for him to move.
I should also stop thinking, and act on instinct.
The inspiration and muse of his remaining work. Mahito sincerely hoped to see her again. This time as a fellow cursed spirit in the new Age of Curses.
I truly am grateful to have met you, Sacchin.
With the use of his slightly revived cursed energy, Mahito's body was enlarged. Turning into an air-balloon of a sort, his last act of survival.
Yuuji did not flinch at the sudden change in Mahito's body. He did not think, he only and ever only acted. At this range, there was no need for tactics. A single, powerful hit will do, as his fist was once more raged with the last remaining ounce of cursed energy.
Divergent Fist!The black-blue fuse of his power swarmed his fist, and he punched into the fat body of Mahito.
*POP*
The cursed spirit's body scattered like pieces of a popped balloon. Yuuji was baffled. Just then, that didn't feel like a real impact. It felt... way too empty.
He heard squirming behind him. His heart dropped and he turned around, spotting Mahito's wriggly, small form squirming through a drain on the ground. The cursed spirit's distorted voice happily spoke to him. "Bye bye Itadori~!"
NO! Yuuji rushed for the cursed spirit. Nanami was already ahead of him, raising his hatchet.
"Next time~" Mahito's grinning mouth hung back as the rest of his body slipped through the drain. "I will kill that girl."
That stopped Yuuji cold, and he immediately looked over to Ciel. He spotted a lingering balloon fabric of Mahito's body floating towards her.
A twisted face and squiggly limbs plopped out from the fabric, reaching for Ciel in a maddened, goblin-like utterance, wanting to consume and defile her.
As it floated close, the cursed fabric was immediately struck by Yuuji's fist. Abandoning his focus on Mahito, Yuuji threw his body over Ciel's, looking at the lingering soul-infused fabrics around them. That bastard still had some in him-!
Nanami slammed his hatchet into the drain, but he was too late to hit the curse. He sliced open the drain regardless and pulled out his phone quickly. "Ino-"
"Nanami! Do you see that castle?!"
"Yes, I'm currently underneath it. Please send reinforcements into the sewers. Satsuki Yumizuka is dead. The cursed spirit has fled underground."
Yuuji killed the last of the cursed fabrics, his heart ached at their incomprehensible suffering before delivering them a mercy kill. He then went back for Ciel and slid his arms around her back, lifting her off the ground slowly. "Gh...!"
He couldn't kill Mahito. Damn it. He had that curse in front of him. But now's not the time to focus on that. He had to get Ciel to Doctor Ieiri, and...
Huh...?
His body suddenly lost momentum, and he dropped onto the flower field.
Nanami turned for Yuuji. He heard from Ino of the arrival of Ciel's people, which means it's not only best that Nanami and Yuuji were to go after Mahito, but to have Yuuji avoid the Holy Church's attention. Since Ciel's people are arriving, they should be able to take care of her. As much as he wanted to bring her to Ieiri himself, Nanami knew they couldn't afford to let Mahito get too far. That dangerous cursed spirit had to be exorcised.
His plan was put to an end when he sees Yuuji on the ground with Ciel. "-! Itadori!"
Yuuji struggled, but his body wouldn't move. Pushed past his limits of expending so much of himself. His arms uselessly held around Ciel's figure, seeing her unconscious face that was oblivious to the world around her. Get up! Get up! Get up! I have to help her! I have to help her...!
He heard Nanami's rushed footsteps stop beside them, calling out Yuuji's name that he couldn't hear anymore, and the last thing that Yuuji saw was a white petal landing on the Ciel's face. Ciel...
He passed out, holding the unconscious girl in his arms.
"Haa... haa..." Mahito breathed out heavily as he sat within the tunnel of the sewers, finally able to stop the bleeding after some physical shifting and adjusting of himself. His body was completely spent of everything. It was the first time he was ever pushed like this. It was... exhilarating.
Sadly, I couldn't kill that grade one sorcerer or that executor...
If Sukuna hadn't cut down Mahito... well, in all honestly, Mahito wasn't even sure what he could have done to that girl's soul. That living abomination of everything in existence. It was honestly baffling. He never thought such a thing would actually be possible. An immortal soul.
When she suddenly took that grade one sorcerer's place, Mahito will admit, he hadn't expected her to do that. He wanted to protect himself by summoning a Domain sphere and avoid the direct impact of her exorcism rite. He would have liked to do something similar to Sacchin's, but he felt it inside himself that he just didn't have the capacity or enough cursed energy to do so. Satsuki Yumizuka was a rare gem amongst rare gems after all.
Using a domain sphere, on the other hand, also allowed Mahito to separate and trap his target. He wanted to use the first grade sorcerer as not only a hostage, but also his next victim to transfigure and torment the vessel with. He thought he got something even better when that girl was actually selfless enough to take that first grade sorcerer's place. He could twist her body in any way he wanted to, and have Yuuji suffer the sight of what remained of her.
But then the unexpected happened. The moment that girl entered his domain, the moment his hand touched her existence - her soul, he was suddenly met with an entirely different person. In place of that girl, it was some man. A priest with glasses. Mahito was confused when he read the contents of the executor's soul, and it just got weirder from there. It was the first time he had been completely lost at what he was seeing.
To start with, that girl knew more magic than she allowed herself to show. He suspected it, but it was definitely more than what he thought. Spells that could have wiped out Mahito and the whole school if she had wanted to. Then there was the sudden appearance of that priest, and not the only one. There were several faces that came from that girl's soul. Seventeen people in total. All of them a variety of personalities, her soul having lived through all those lives, and yet only one identity shone through.
Roa.
Was that her true identity? Something didn't seem right though, and before Mahito could read her soul further, it suddenly bloomed, and they were transported onto that flower field. That giant castle straight out of a fantasy film. A piece of a memory buried deep within her soul. He didn't know what he was looking at, something that was beyond his understanding as a curse, and he imagined it was beyond sorcerers' as well. All he knew was that girl's hidden potential and power, regardless of how exhausted she was of it, was enough to overwhelm the many hands of his domain, knocking her unconscious likely due to the shock of it all. He guessed that whatever that place was, it wasn't really a good memory for her.
Then there was that secret layer he was able to briefly uncover. That girl's soul had known blood. A lot of blood. Had she been a vampire once? Did the vessel know about it?
"Darn... I wanted to break his soul some more..." Mahito complained, stretching out his arms that were sore from all the beatings. "Should I tell him? It probably wouldn't be as much fun, though. I really wanted to kill her in front him. But..."
But the biggest bummer of them all, a fourth known fact he had uncovered from that girl's soul. Having read it clear as day. He saw her truest desire.
"That girl... She wants to die."
Apparently, even if Mahito could kill her, it would have been a blessing for that executor. A release of her immortality.
"...That's no fun at all."
He wanted both Yuuji and that executor to suffer, but if she wanted to die, then it'll be like she's the one breaking that sorcerer's soul instead of Mahito. He wanted to be the one to do that.
"Hmmm..." Mahito hummed to himself in thought. "As long as the body remains alive, I can kill the soul as many times as I want..."
He reached out for the ceiling. A sense of purpose in his chest. "Now... how can I kill both their souls? More importantly..."
How can he kill that executor? If she was immortal, then it would be impossible for Mahito to transfigure her, and her soul was too abnormal for even him to do something about it. It was a puzzle through and through. I'd better find Geto and tell him what happened. As soon as my body recovers a bit, I'll-
His thoughts stopped when he heard footsteps heading towards him. He turned to the source, looking into the darkness of the tunnel. Someone found me already? No. Hold on...
The footsteps sounded calm. Nothing that seemed as if they were on the hunt for the dangerous cursed spirit. Curious to see for himself, as well as too exhausted to move unless forced to, Mahito waited until the figure came closer into the light, and the person revealed themselves.
"Amazing! Amazing! You were absolutely incredible out there!"
Greeting him with the most cheerful voice, a woman with long brown hair and twin tails that reminded Mahito of Satsuki. A white lab coat around her orange attire. She leaned towards the cursed spirit, exposing more of her bust with her red and black bra seen, and that slight hint of insanity in her amber eyes. "Ah! But you look pretty beaten up. Want me to help you? I might not have treated curses before, but for you, I'll make it a special occasion. Nothing like trying out new things and learning from them, right?"
Yuuji's eyes snapped open, greeted by the ceiling light of a medical ward. His body sprung up from bed, ignoring the painful aches in his muscles. What happened? Where...?
He felt his face, touching the bandage over his cheek before looking down at himself. He was out of his jujutsu sorcerer's uniform and wore a simple black t-shirt and brown pants, the blood he'd been coated in completely wiped off. He looked at his surroundings, finding himself in what looked like an infirmary. Are they at Ieiri's place?
Yuuji then looked to his left. "-! Ciel!"
He saw Ciel lying on a bed of her own, still motionless and her eyes closed. Yuuji got up quickly and went to her side in an instant. It felt like several knives were jabbing themselves into his legs, but it didn't do anything to deter his movement. "Ciel?! Hey!"
He grasped her arms and then her face, looking all across her figure. She still wore her nun outfit with her dress torn, exposing her bare leg. He sees her chest rise and fall, breathing softly.
Yuuji had to force himself to calm down, his eyes softened with worry. He had no idea how long he'd been out, but it gnawed at him that Ciel couldn't wake up even when he called her several times now. Just what happened in that domain? What did that bastard Mahito do to her?
Face riddled with guilt, he removed his hands from her face and sat down at the edge of her bed, never taking his eyes off of her. "...Please tell me you're okay."
Yuuji's fingers slipped under hers, pressing his thumb against them. He wanted to hold her hand tightly, but the damn cursed being inside him would probably try to bite her if he did so.
"Please..." Yuuji said once more, his face wavering. "You have to tell me if you're okay or not."
This wasn't supposed to happen again. He shouldn't have let Ciel be lying still like this, like what happened at the detention center, all for the sake of someone else she just wanted to save and protect.
"I know I can't do a lot, except punch my way through everything," Yuuji said, his eyes lowering to Ciel's hand. "But... at the very least..."
He wanted to be there for her. He wanted to do something for her. Dammit. I'm not only weak. I'm useless...!
He balled one hand into a fist against his knee, while his other hand still tenderly held Ciel's.
"...I'm sorry..." Yuuji's eyes turned somber. "I know that Sacchin used to be your friend. I wish... it didn't have to end like that. I just couldn't let her keep hurting you anymore."
And it was obvious to him now how much Satsuki had been suffering up until this point. He couldn't forgive her for all the horrors she's done, and he hated her for them. But he couldn't forget that expression, that flickering light of a gentle soul, right before she burned away completely.
The vampire who had turned her that way... they have to be found. Yuuji had to make sure they pay for what they did to Satsuki.
"I couldn't keep my promise to Junpei. I couldn't do anything right that night. I couldn't even keep you safe."
He scooted closer to Ciel. "Wake up soon. I really..."
I want to hear your voice. I want to see you up and smiling again. All the fun times they had together. His happiest moments in just this month alone. He wanted to repay that, no matter what. Even if...
I don't care if you'll be the one to execute me. I just want you to be alright.
The door behind him opened. Ieiri walked in with a clipboard in hand, and she spotted Yuuji sitting at Ciel's bed.
"Oh. You're awake," Ieiri said nonchalant, closing the door behind her. "Nice work. You were only out for a couple of hours."
"Ieiri-san," Yuuji turned to face the doctor and stood up from Ciel's bed. "How's Ciel? Is she okay?"
You're asking that when you're a lot more banged up than she is, Ieiri thought as she walked into the room, one hand in her coat pocket. "She's fine. She had all her energy pushed out when that cursed spirit trapped her in his domain. She lost consciousness due to exhaustion. Give her some time and she'll wake up on her own."
Yuuji let out a breath of relief, looking back at Ciel. "...What about the people in the gym?"
"They're alright. It was a close call with that whole building almost falling apart, but we were able to get everyone out in time."
At least I didn't mess that up… Yuuji thought. The weight in his heart easing somewhat, knowing that not anymore innocent people ended up dying. But he still failed to kill that patch-face curse. He failed to avenge Junpei, and everyone else who was killed by that freak.
His eyes widened in sudden recollection. "Ah! That's right! There was this giant castle too!"
"Oh yeah, it's gone now. Faded away into flower petals. It sounded pretty romantic," Ieiri said humorously. "No one was hurt by it. It was just an illusion."
"O-oh. That's good then..." Hearing that, Yuuji sat back down at the edge of Ciel's bed.
Ieiri approached him and leaned to check the bandage on his face. "How do you feel? I heard you got a face full of cursed blood that should have melted you on the spot."
"I'm fine. It was nothing." It may have felt like Yuuji jumped into a pool of lava, but he didn't let that stop him.
"Hm. If you say so," Ieiri knew Yuuji was just trying to downplay it, but she could also tell that the kid was tough as iron. She'll just have to keep checking up on him ever so often. "I did what I could to close those wounds on your shoulders, but it looks like there was some lingering cursed energy residue from that vampire. Kind of took a hit to my ego that I couldn't heal something. I just stitched it and patched it over, but there'll be some scarring after."
"That's fine. Thanks for doing that," Yuuji said. Ieiri paid close attention to his gaze that remained attentive to the sleeping executor on the bed.
"Ah. I almost forgot," the doctor said, pulling out something from her pocket. "Ijichi-san dropped these off for you."
Yuuji looked back at Ieiri. Surprised to see what she held, he reached out and grabbed the pair of gloves with the blue crosses on their backs.
"Nanami-san will stop by later to see how you're doing," Ieiri added before turning back for the door. "In the meantime, keep an eye on her for me. It's a busy night, and Ciel-san's people decided to make themselves right at home around here. Stay out of sight until one of us come and get you, alright?"
Yuuji looked at the pair of gloves in his hands sadly, nodding, "Yeah. I will."
As much as he wanted to go out and see for himself all the damages and casualties he failed to prevent and avert, he needed to be here for Ciel. He won't leave her until she wakes up.
"You did good tonight," Ieiri said as she opened the door. "You saved a lot of people and gave that cursed spirit a run for his money."
"…I didn't do a lot," Yuuji said as he looked back at Ciel. "She did."
"Yeah? We'll see what she says when she wakes up." With that, Ieiri closed the door and left the sorcerer alone with the slumbering executor inside the room. That boy is seriously in love…
Nanami looked over the morgue full of dead cursed corpses. Some of them recovered from the debris, while others having already turned to ash. He looked back at the sound of approaching footsteps, seeing Ieiri walking up to him.
"How are they?" He asked.
"Itadori's awake now. He'll keep close to Ciel until she wakes up (kind of like a watchdog, heh). I'll have somebody send some food for them later."
Ieiri sighed as she rested her arms against the railing, looking over the morgue. "It's gonna be another long night."
Nanami regarded the scene of bodies once more. "Yes. But that's the life of Jujutsu Sorcerers."
He then turned his heels, "Excuse me. I have a meeting I need to attend to."
"Yeah, sure, leave me to deal with all this," Ieiri said sarcastically, waving at the grade one sorcerer. "Make sure to keep your back against the wall."
I don't see why that's necessary, Nanami thought to himself as he walked out of the morgue and down the hall. As far as I know, there should only be one executor waiting there.
After a few minutes, he met with Ijichi by a certain door, and together, they entered the room.
"You sure took your time. Guess your back is starting to get to you, huh? Jujutsu Sorcerer."
Greeting him with a mouth full of callous and disrespect was a child, sitting lax on a sofa with three adults around him. He looked to be twelve to fourteen years of age. Fair skin with light blonde hair and blue-green eyes. He wore a red sweater with a black hoodie, white shorts, and shoes to match with. The three adults with him were - as addressed by Ijichi - Yuugo Ando, Karius Berlusconi, and a young woman who Nanami had heard to be Ciel's partner, Noel.
Nanami blinked behind his cracked specs, and he looked back at Ijichi.
"E-Erm. This is Mario Gallo Bestino, sir..." Ijichi understood Nanami's silent inquiry, and he had to confirm it vocally. Ijichi himself was just as shocked when he met Mario. "A deputy minister of the Church, and overseer of all their agents in Tokyo."
Seriously? Nanami turned back to look at the blonde boy again. Ciel's superior is a child?
As if he couldn't dislike the Church anymore than he already did.
"What? Were you expecting some old geezer who could barely keep his cane still?" Mario's words were full of bite as he crossed his arms. "I don't really have a lot of time to spare, so let's just cut to the chase before you croak, got it?"
There was an instant flare of Nanami's temper that popped an angry vein at the side of his temple. Ijichi trembled beside Nanami, feeling the man's anger from where he stood.
"...Very well." Nanami had a hard time believing that this little boy really was in charge of all the Church activities in Tokyo. Acting as a representative for another, however, that's a different story. Either way, I don't like his attitude, but if what Ijichi-san said is true that he and his group are already aware of Itadori-kun, then I need to tread carefully.
"I've already got people scouting every entrance of the sewers where you lost that cursed spirit, not that it should have been any of our business," Mario said. "We were only in the area to deal with the vampire, and since she's already dead, we're just cleaning up the mess that your people wouldn't be able to take care of. We might even kill that curse as a bonus for you, even if it'll just show how shit you sorcerers are."
"That's true," Nanami won't even bother to deny that statement. "I won't deny that Jujutsu Sorcerers are indeed, undeniably shit. We die too often and there's too little of us to count that we're simply spread too thin to actually make any real difference. Not to mention glorifying our personal sacrifices for a thankless job that you may not even get the chance to see the end results of."
Well, calling it a thankless job is not exactly true. Nanami thought back on his last trip at his favorite bakery, where he exorcised a Fly Head curse from draining the Bakery woman's energy, and although she didn't see at all what he did, she nonetheless thanked him immensely.
There was a brief silence, and then Ando, Karius, and Noel flinched when they heard Mario's sudden burst of laughter. It was unknown if Mario's laughter carried an ominous meaning behind it, or that they've rarely, if at all, heard him laugh like this. "Holy shit! There's actually a realist like you working with this group."
A sly smile drew Mario's lips. "What a waste that someone like you is in this dying profession. You could make it far in our ranks, but you're probably better off not joining us."
"Agreed. I don't really see the point of me moving from one company to another when they're relatively led by the same type of people. Also, I'm not religious," Nanami said.
"Heh. By the 'same type of people', you mean old folks who would rather let someone else die than give up their seats." Coming to a complete understanding, Mario leaned back against the couch. "You don't even have to be religious to join us. Anyone who can say a prayer can be called a saint, if you're lucky enough to not get burned as a heretic first. God isn't that picky even if you were trash since birth, or trash later in life."
His smile dropped. Mario regarded Nanami with a new look. "I had an idea that you were sent by the school just to keep tabs on us. See if you can get anything out of it, but I can tell just by looking at you..."
The boy stared into Nanami's eyes as if he was reading his thoughts. Nanami did not relent under the pressure of Mario's gaze, simply holding eye-contact.
"...You're not the type of person who'd bother himself with stupid shit like that," Mario smirked, as if having decided something about Nanami. "Alright. I'm satisfied. I came just to see what type of people you were, and unlike chicken feet over there-"
"Ch-Chicken feet..." Ijichi wanted to crumble to the ground, lowering his head defeatedly. Ando sighed and sent Ijichi a sympathetic look.
"-You actually got guts," Mario said. "We'll be working together from here on out, and help you clear out all the remaining undead. In the meantime, you deal with the curses, and maybe we'll switch from time to time."
Mario then stood up. "You'll be hearing from me. Don't bother giving me your number, I'll have ways to contact you. Oh, and by the way, I know about Sukuna's vessel being alive."
Ijichi visibly flinched while Nanami remained cool-headed, staring at the boy without a hint of reveal in his stone-cold expression.
"An informant of ours told us that his death that night was intended by your superiors, but that ended up nearly backfiring," Mario stated with a clear sounding 'ch' in his tone. "Those stupid fuckers who sent newbies to deal with that 'rescue' mission couldn't bother to come up with a contingency plan. If it wasn't for that executor being there, and I'm not talking about this useless bitch-"
"Eh?! Bitch?!" Noel said, confounded at the sudden insult that was sent her way. Ijichi once more was startled by Mario's harsh tone. Ando and Klarius on the other hand looked to not only be used to it, but even seemed like they agreed with Mario.
This boy really has no filter, Nanami noted, although he personally doesn't think a child should be allowed to insult an adult so casually like that.
Mario continued without pause, "-then it would have been a hell of a lot messier. I'm sure you're already aware of the risks, keeping that monster alive and around."
Ijichi grimaced as he lowered his eyes, uncomfortable of the inhuman regard of Yuuji.
Mario pocketed his hands, "Me, personally, I don't really give a shit about him."
Nanami and Ijichi were surprised by this, and the boy continued. "You can keep him around and see how long it takes before he blows up again, but I can see the logic in wanting to hold onto him longer, so you can get rid of that piece of shit cursed spirit inside him fully. Just make sure he doesn't take up too much of our agent's time. We still have a Dead Apostle to look for."
They don't intend to kill Itadori-kun themselves? Nanami thought. No, it's more like they just agree with our mindset, and will make their move once Itadori-kun swallows all of Sukuna's fingers.
Though, at the rate that Yuuji is going. His unfiltered kindness... Nanami can't really say he's willing to just stand aside and let Yuuji actually be executed. How he intends to save that boy, however, he had no idea. Still, I refuse to let him be put down like an animal.
Yuuji deserved as much of a proper death as those he desired others to have, however impossible, and self-destructive that wish is.
"These guys and I, along with the executor you have with you, are the only ones who know about the vessel being alive. And we'll keep it that way, so that those stupid old fuckers don't try anything again," Mario informed. "I'm not sure why that woman wants to personally keep tabs on him, but hey, if the "walking-casket" goes berserk again, she might be able to put him down for good this time."
Having enough of this boy's jab, Nanami spoke, "I would prefer it if you cease referring Itadori-kun in that manner."
The room went quiet. Nanami, however, didn't back down. "He is not simply a vessel, or a dead man walking."
He remembered the difficulty and remaining strength it took for Nanami to carry Yuuji and Ciel. The boy, even in his unconscious state, refusing to let go of the girl in his arms.
"...He's a Jujutsu Sorcerer." Saying his peace, Nanami stared back down at the boy across the room. Ijichi stood beside Nanami with equal resolve in his gaze, no longer letting himself be afraid if it was for Yuuji's sake.
"Huh? What do you mean by that?"
The one to respond was not Mario, but Noel. She frowned at the two shamans in the room. "You can't be serious. You're not actually seeing that monster as one of your own, are you?"
"He is not a monster," Nanami calmly retorted. "He's simply someone who wants to help others. Frankly, the fact that he could keep hold of his humanity, despite what he is, is a miracle of its own. That, or it's a testament to his true character. One that I'm starting to believe we should all follow as an example of."
"Don't give me that crap," Noel stated bitterly, placing a hand on her hip. "Listen here, if you're treating that thing as a human being, if you're actually trying to protect him..."
It was then that the weapon she had hidden behind her figure made itself fully known. Nanami and Ijichi were already aware of the polearm the moment they've entered the room, and mostly the reason why Ijichi was so fidgety, but the sorcerers remained calm even at the face of the executor's clear hostility.
"Then I can't forgive those who would willingly work with monsters-!"
A strong electrical current surged through Noel's body, and the woman was quickly silenced. Her body convulsed and buzzed with painful shocks that had her cry out and collapse onto the floor.
Completely caught off guard, Ijichi jumped back while Nanami stood firm, though he was just as surprised. The only ones who appeared to be completely calm was Ando, Klarius, and Mario.
The child looked down on the woman on the floor, clearly unhappy. "Sorry. This disgusting pig just doesn't know when to shut up, and I told her to keep her mouth zipped before coming here. Like she had anything worth saying."
Ijichi gulped at such terrible behavior, his anger towards the woman swiftly changed to concern, downright terrified as Noel was somehow being tasered, but from what?
The shocks in Noel's system finally ceased, and the woman laid on the floor twitching.
"I call things as I see it. If you got a problem with that, take it up to your bosses," Mario said, raising his gaze back up at the grade one sorcerer. "I also don't care about that idealist shit. Playing hero is fine and all, but he should know his fucking place, especially if he actually wants to go through his execution."
The boy then faced away, "I'll stop by again when Ciel's awake. Hey, Ando."
The man flinched at being referred to, looking down at the boy unenthusiastically.
"I'm hungry. Let's get some cake, with lots of cheese and strawberries. You're paying by the way."
"Huh? Why me? Aren't you rich- OW!" Ando picked up his leg in pain when Mario kicked it.
"You're not getting paid to ask dumb questions. Let's go."
"Alright alright..." Ando relented, putting down his leg as he followed after Mario. "I can't believe I'm stuck babysitting..."
"You should do well to take your job seriously, Ando-san," the man named Karius finally spoke, as if having been a mere observer - despite his perpetually closed eyes - of the entire meeting until now. "Like how you should always be doing?"
"Not tonight, Karius..." Ando rubbed his head tiredly, and then waved at the other men in the room. "I'll be seeing you guys then. Later, Ijichi."
"O-oh, right. Have a good night, Ando-san," Ijichi politely bowed his head, delivering a look of sympathy to the man who appreciated it. The sorcerer assistant watched as they left the room before turning back to the woman on the floor. "Um, are you alright, miss?"
He goes over to help the woman up. However, his hand was slapped away by Noel. The executor managed to pick herself up with her polearm. The weapon acting as her support while she tried to get her legs to work again.
"S-Stay away! I don't want to touch someone whose friends with monsters..." With painful exertion, Noel pathetically dragged herself out of the room, not wanting to stay another second with the 'monster-sympathizing' sorcerers.
Nanami stared out through the doorway, seeing not one of the Church people waiting for their supposed co-worker to catch up. ...This is the sort of people Ciel has to work with?
Ciel stood in a garden of eternity, staring at the blue-coated luminesce of her environment. White-lily moon flowers all around her, and before her was the Millennium Castle.
This memory that was scarred into her heart the moment she first had a dream of it. Permanently marked into her soul a long time ago, the moment it was touched by that wretched vampire. She died while his soul was living inside her, but her body was special. Because of that, she came back. Resurrected within the Holy Church's residence, where she was tortured with endless deaths to cease her ungodly existence.
But no matter what they did to her, no matter what killed her, nothing could keep her from reviving. Whether it was slicing her head off. Separating her organs from her body. Burning her to ashes. Drowning her until she stopped moving. Over, and over, and over again. Even the Seventh Holy Scripture could not put her out of her misery. From there, it was no longer a botched execution after a botched execution, but a science experiment to see what else she couldn't die from.
For as long as her soul was known to the World as Roa, so does her existence live through his. His memories, and most of all... his sins. Her sins. For as long as he was alive, the girl once known as Elesia cannot die.
Ciel looked up impassively at the giant moon overhead, feeling sick in her stomach at the sight of it. Here, in this land separated from the rest of the earth, this castle that once housed a family of the most powerful beings on the planet. This was where it all began.
Her eyes then turned to the lone figure walking across the field of flowers. The Princess of the True Ancestors. Her beauty and grace like the silver moon. This silent, killing machine known only to kill others like her. There was no emotion or humanity in this lustrous creature. No intent, regard, or even notice of the person who stared at her.
Just a glance. That was all it took. For the man known as Roa to lose all sanity and acted out of slight, not understanding the true nature of his feelings when he came across the woman in white.
Just a single glance was enough to set off a chain of events. The catalyst of all the depravity, monstrosity, and bloodshed committed by the man named Roa, where he would jump from host, after host, after host. First settling in, and then emerging with a hunger for innocent lives. Killing everyone around him, razing an entire town to the ground, until the white princess herself would find him and kill him, and the cycle would begin anew.
"Maybe it's unfair for me to judge you," Ciel referred to the memory of the woman in white, knowing the pointlessness of it, but regardless, she wanted to speak. "Even so... I still can't help but blame you."
Although, she doubted that this emotionless weapon would care about anything Ciel had to say.
Ciel's light blue eyes rose up to the bright full moon one last time.
I wonder how much he'd hate me if he ever found out?
She closed her eyes as if to look away from that painful possibility. In the end... I have no right to stand by him...
The world around her began to fade away. Consciousness slowly returned to her as she subconsciously uttered, "Yuuji...kun..."
She could bear being hated by everyone. But she couldn't bear it if he hated her. Even if he should. Even if she would want him to... It was almost too painful to imagine. That boy who had been whittling down her guard and cold heart with just a smile.
"I'm here."
Her eyes slowly opened to regard the ever-looming moon.
And what stared back at her was the sun itself.
Yuuji looked at her with wide brown eyes. The ceiling light shining behind him. He greeted her with a serious expression, as if he'd been waiting forever. "Welcome back."
"...eh?" Ciel quietly said. Her eyes adjusted to the light as she moved her arm up to rub her face. Her wrist, however, was stopped by what felt like Yuuji's arm. "...Eh?"
Her mind started to register her surroundings, including who was on top of her. "Eh? Eh?!"
Yuuji's body hovered right on top of hers. His hands pressed against the mattress, with Ciel's head in between them, and her hips between his knees. "Y-Y-Yuuji-kun?! W-What are you-?! This is-!"
Ciel felt her heartbeat quickened. Heat rising to her cheeks as she grasped onto Yuuji's wrists.
"Sorry. I saw you moving, and I got a little excited," Yuuji answered in a simple fashion, like he just bumped into her by the shoulder on accident. "Are you hungry? You were kind of out for a while. Ieiri-san brought food for us in case you woke up. I already finished mine but there's still a takeout box for you."
"I-! That's-!" That's all fine and dandy but does Yuuji not realize how this looks on the outside? Is he an idiot? What if someone comes in? They'll absolutely misunderstand this! And that wasn't even the worst of it - well it's debatable, but it's most certainly not the only issue here!
They were only a few inches apart, and yet Ciel could feel Yuuji's body heat. His breath that carried a hint of food. His well-built figure hanging over her form. His sorcerer uniform replaced with a simple short-sleeve t-shirt and she could see all of his defining muscles. She didn't even have a blanket on, and oh good Lord her dress was torn from Satsuki's attack. She just remembered. Her leg was bare. And with him being so close, it was doing something to her that she just wanted to stuff that feeling somewhere deep in the back of a closet.
"N-Never mind that! There's something more important we need to address here!"
Yuuji's brows rose. "You sure? It's curry."
Ciel froze.
"By the way, I lend them your points card for the food," Yuuji confessed casually. "I had it with me and forgot to give it back to you so I figured I could use it. I kind of hoped the food would be enough to wake you. Did it work?"
Ciel flinched and stared back at Yuuji. An unreasonable flare of anger in her. "W-What do you take me for?! Some woman who's obsessed with curry?! Are you calling me a curry-head?!"
"You don't want it?"
"Of course I do! That's not the point!"
Unable to clearly explain her frustration and flustered self, Ciel lets go of Yuuji's wrists and gently bumped her clenched fists against his chest repeatedly. "First of all, that card was not a gift! I only let you borrow it once! I did not say you could use it willy-nilly!"
She shut her eyes closed and lightly pounded Yuuji's chest as a way to deal with her embarrassment. "Give it back! Give me my points back you thief!"
Yuuji's eyes glistened with mirth, sucking in his lips before he couldn't hold it back anymore. He started to laugh. A good-hearted, genuine laugh, the kind that seemed to bid away all the horrors of tonight. He held a gloved hand over his mouth so he wouldn't spit at her, showing the blue-crossed gloves Ciel gave him.
Her heart fluttered at the sight of him wearing her gloves, and the sound of his laughter, but stubbornly, she kept her face angry. "What are you laughing about, thief."
She firmly pressed her clenched fists against Yuuji's chest, demanding him to speak.
"Sorry-! Sorry. I..." Calming down, Yuuji took a deep breath and puts his hand back on the mattress. Ciel's breath stilled at his affectionate gaze, smiling down at her. "I'm just really glad to see you awake. It wasn't long, but I was really worried. Nanami-san and Ijichi-san were too. You really gave us a hell of a scare, so it's good to see you this energetic."
His face turned serious then, "Are you okay? Ieiri-san said that you fell unconscious after that bastard got you in his domain. What happened in there?"
The embarrassment left Ciel's chest as she heard Yuuji's question, and she slowly began to recall.
That's right... I was...
She remembered her split second decision to save Nanami, and upon being sealed within that cursed spirit's domain. She had a brief understanding of its nature, standing in the literal palm of that spirit's hand, but she couldn't move. The moment she was caught in that domain sphere, it was like several lives flashed before her eyes, and she passed out.
Yuuji pulled back as Ciel sat up quickly. "The cursed spirit. Was he-?"
She faced Yuuji who stood just a head taller than her even as they were sitting on the same bed. Yuuji's face strained. "...He got away."
Ciel frowned. Washing away her feelings, her mind was set straight, and she started to move herself out of bed.
Yuuji, however, grasped her arms and stopped her from going. "Wait. You need to rest up first."
"I'm immortal, Yuuji-kun. I'm fine now," Ciel told him, annoyed at how often she had to remind him of this again and again.
"What about your powers?" Yuuji challenged her, holding her firmly with the press of his thumbs.
"I don't need them to exorcise that spirit," Ciel only answered. Having slept for what felt like over a few hours, her powers should have somewhat recovered by now. Even so, she can't let herself completely rely on them, not mentioning the horrible memories that came with her magic anyway.
She grabbed Yuuji's arms, "Release me. I need to find that cursed spirit."
"If you're going, then I'm coming with you," Yuuji stated.
Ciel was not amused by his statement, looking at the bandage over his face. "You are in no condition to do so. Immunity or not, you need your rest and I'm sure Nanami-san would agree."
"He wouldn't let you go unless you see Ieiri-san first."
"There is no time for that. As we speak, that cursed spirit could be collecting more humans and turning them into curses."
"You think I don't know that? I want to find him as much as you do. I had him right in front of me."
Yuuji's gripped Ciel's sleeves. "I want him gone. Whatever it takes, I'm going to kill that bastard, and if you're hunting him down, I'm-"
Yuuji stopped when Ciel grabbed his face. Her soft hands slightly caressed his cheeks as she held his head.
"...You just said kill." Ciel's stoic mask evaporated, and her eyes was filled with confusion, a semblance of her concern. "Yuuji-kun. Just what did that spirit do to you? What happened before I showed up?"
Yuuji's mouth tightened, holding back the frustration and anger inside him, the weight of sorrow and shame. He lowered his gaze, relaxing his grip and held her arms gently. "...He killed Junpei in front of me."
Ciel's eyes widened, and her mind flashed back to when she saw that mutated corpse in the school hallway. "...You saw it happen."
Yuuji's expression fell. "...Junpei and I were fighting. He was the one who poisoned and knocked out everyone in the gym. He did it... because he wanted to save Sacchin..."
Yuuji told Ciel everything. The executor listened to him patiently, shocked to hear the details of the events, and there was a pinch in her heart at seeing Yuuji's sad expression, his shame over failing to save Junpei.
"...I killed people today, Ciel." As if realizing his own hands were covered in the filth of his crimes, he lets go of Ciel. Ciel, however, did not release Yuuji. "It wasn't Sukuna. It was me. It was like everything I said up until that point was a big fat lie, and I wanted to kill that curse. Not exorcise him."
"Yuuji-kun..." Ciel spoke softly. Yuuji didn't have the courage to look at her in the eyes again.
"I even killed your friend...!" His shoulders trembled slightly, his fingers clenching into fists to keep himself composed. "I know she was a monster, but... she was just like those people. They were all humans once. All of them turned into monsters, and I... I couldn't help any of them."
All he could do was put them out of their misery, by killing them himself.
"People die every day. But I thought that, at the very least, I could help them die peacefully. Even if I couldn't erase the blood that's already on my hands, I could do that much for them. Make up for what happened that night, and make sure it never happens again. But now..."
He just looked so lost and defeated, Ciel's couldn't keep her face composed at the sight of it.
"Now that I pulled the trigger, I don't understand what I want anymore. I don't know what a proper death is anymore. If I just keep going, saying I want everyone to live their life to the fullest, all while I've killed people, I'll just be some huge hypocrite with a meaningless goal."
Even when it's beyond his control, even when he's in control, but is forced to take a life... Ciel thought to herself, looking at Yuuji as if she was looking into a mirror. He still feels responsible for every life he's taken...
"You asked me before what I'd do if I was the reason for people's unnatural deaths," Yuuji suddenly said, surprising Ciel by his memory. "I didn't have an answer before, but... I think I do now. If I'm responsible for any innocent life I've taken, I'll accept my crimes and face my punishment for them."
"Yuuji-"
"Sacchin was right," Yuuji said in solemn acceptance, "I'm just a murderer. I'm no sorcerer, and I'll gladly face my execution accepting that."
Ciel threw herself in front of Yuuji. She quickly wrapped her arms around his neck. Surprised, Yuuji held up one hand for her back. His other hand pressed against the mattress to keep his balance.
"...Please don't say such a thing."
Ciel fought back the tears in her eyes as she pressed her face against Yuuji's shoulders. "I only said that because I wanted you to quit being a sorcerer. I was just worried, no... I was afraid for you."
Yuuji gently pressed his hand against Ciel's back, listening to her.
"I didn't want you to know what it was like to hunt down monsters. I didn't want you to risk your life and see all the pain that came out of it."
She clenched the back of his shirt. "Because... after meeting you... I knew that you were just too good of a person to deserve that kind of life."
Yuuji flinched at Ciel's words, hearing the soft sincerity in her voice. He slid his hand down across her back and wrapped his arm around her waist. His other arm moved behind her shoulders, hugging her closely.
"Believe me when I say that you're no murderer..." Ciel said this with absolute certainty. "That stitched cursed spirit is the real murderer here. You, you don't enjoy the pain you inflict. You never even want to inflict pain, except when it's for the sake of others."
Yuuji's expression wavered, pressing the side of his chin against her head.
"And do not take responsibility for what that thing inside you did. You were never at fault for that. There are only two monsters in this room, and you are not one of them."
Yuuji frowned hearing that. He looked at her blue hair. "What do you mean by that?"
"...It's as I said," Ciel only stated. "I know what I'm talking about. A real monster wouldn't think twice about killing an innocent person. You are nothing like that."
Yuuji pushed her back, holding her by the shoulders. "Ciel. You're not a monster."
He looked into Ciel's eyes, seeing the gloss in them. His expression read for her to take back the implication of her words. "Do you honestly believe that?"
Ciel frowned, "Don't change the subject. We're not talking about me."
"We are now," Yuuji declared. "Do you believe that?"
"...I don't just believe it. It's the truth," Ciel answered stoically. "So my words hold validation. I was trained to be a heartless, killing machine who does nothing but hunt down vampires."
The image of the white princess flashed through Ciel's mind.
"If I was ordered to kill an innocent person for the sake of my assignment, I'd follow it without question."
Her eyes lowered sadly to Yuuji's chest, and she placed her hand there. Yuuji's eyes widened slightly.
"No matter who that person is," Ciel went on. "No matter if he was a good person, a fellow classmate, or if they had family and friends who loved them, I would not hesitate to take that person's life if I felt I was right to do so. I even killed a dear friend knowing she was another victim!"
"Ciel-"
"You had to have remembered everything that night at the detention center. You heard everything I said, didn't you?"
Yuuji's mind flashed back to when Ciel had Sukuna pinned, and everything she told to the curse.
"I was going to betray you. I was willing to stomp all over your feelings and disregard your humanity, just so that I could kill you."
She removed her hand from his heart. The very life she had robbed him of and felt so undeserving to hold. "Who else but a monster could do that to another human being?"
Yuuji pulled Ciel back in. His arms held around her figure firmly. "…You weren't wrong to do that. You had to stop that guy even if it meant taking me down too."
"But you never wanted to die!" Ciel argued, gripping the front of Yuuji's shirt. "You saw what I was capable of when I healed Fushiguro-san. The moment you came back, I could have healed your heart. I could have tried anything to save you, but I willingly let you die!"
Her voice heightened at the disgust of her own action. "Even though you're back, that still doesn't change anything. I'm still going to execute you. Even after living with you, knowing how sweet you are, and how much you value human life… Can't you see that I'm just a selfish murderer who never once considered your feelings? You should never compare yourself to someone like that. You are nowhere near as bad."
"…After what happened to those people, I don't think I would have wanted to live after that."
Ciel flinched at Yuuji's heartbreaking statement.
"I don't blame you, and I'm sorry, I never asked you how you're doing after what happened with Sacchin. You did what you had to. But saying that you never thought about how I felt, that's a lie. You wouldn't have tried to console me while I was dying if that were true."
Yuuji rested his chin on top of Ciel's head. "You're no murderer either. You try so hard to protect everyone. You even helped a loser like me find peace, after I..."
His voice dulled. The warmth of Ciel's body took him back to that night, in his dying breath when he was held compassionately by the girl who he let get hurt so much.
"You didn't have to do that, but you did anyway. Because that's just the kind of person you are, Ciel. An amazing person. The sweetest girl I've ever met. Even if you don't believe it, I'll just keep telling you, again and again, until you do."
Ciel blushed at Yuuji's comment. She pressed her head further against his chest. "…Do you hear yourself? You're willing to forgive your own murderer."
"I never thought of you as someone who killed me. You've saved me more times than I could count," Yuuji closed his eyes and hugged Ciel tighter, feeling her heartbeat pounding against his. "If you want to keep calling yourself a murderer, then I'll keep calling myself one too. We're on the same boat, and I won't let you carry all that guilt by yourself."
Ciel gripped his shirt again. "That's different. Tonight, you made the decision to kill, to put those humans out of their misery, to spare Satsuki of her torturous existence. It might not change for what it is..."
A murder. Through and through.
"...But I'm just as responsible for Sacchin's death. If you still wish to hold yourself accountable, then don't be too hard on yourself over it. We all carry sins one way or another, some worse than others, some that people aren't even able to atone for."
She spoke with the utmost belief, emanating from the bottom of her heart. "But you can atone for your sins, Yuuji-kun. Not by being a sorcerer, but by helping others however impossible. That's just who you are. Right now, you have no confidence in your actions, but believe me when I say that you have made a difference tonight. You saved those people, that's undeniable. You've even put yourself out there for my sake, even though I still ought to scold you for doing that."
"Hmph," Yuuji breathed out with a little smile, turning his head down slightly and feeling Ciel's hair in the corner of his lips. Ciel heard his amused huff and smiled slightly.
"I'm not saying it to be kind or nice, or anything like that. I'm just saying it because I want to. For now, if you don't know what it is you want to do, then just think about how you intend to live from now on. It's only going to get harder from here on out, and thinking about it too hard might cause your brain to pop."
"Hehe..." Yuuji couldn't help but laugh, and he felt Ciel silent chuckle against his chest. Yuuji turned his head some more and smelled the fragrance in her hair. Man, it is impressive how, no matter how much tonight happened, he could still smell the curry spice from her.
"Even if you're injured," Ciel looked down at his shoulder, putting her hands there where she could feel the bandages under his shirt. "And that injury leaves a mark, the proof of sin, you can still patch it up. The sin will still be there as a scar, but you will get better at carrying it. I know you can do it, and I'll be sure to help you through it too. That'll be my atonement in the meantime, that way, you won't feel like you're doing it alone."
...God, I so don't deserve her, Yuuji pressed his mouth against her head, closing his eyes as he just felt her existence there with him. He held the back of her head with his gloved hand. "...Thank you."
The guilt remained in his heart, but he did feel a little bit better. It doesn't change anything over what he's done, but... if he could follow that advice of seeking atonement, then there's only one thing he wanted to do from here on out.
Ciel was a little surprised by the feeling of Yuuji's mouth on her head. She buried her face in his shoulder, hiding her flushed expression until Yuuji gently pushed her back to see her.
"A-Ah! Wait! I'm not-!" Ciel grasped both sides of her brimming red cheeks, looking away to shield her face somehow.
Yuuji chuckled and slipped his gloved hands underneath hers, feeling the heat of her face intensify. "You're okay. Don't worry so much. You'll always look great to me."
He looked deeply into her bright blue eyes as he conveyed his truth. Ciel's breath hitched, seeing Yuuji's relaxed expression that found comfort in her, and only her alone. Her heart skipped a beat, and her lips parted in a trance.
Yuuji's smile dimmed as his gaze lingered with Ciel's a little longer. His eyes flickering to her parted pink lips, and he leaned closer.
I don't know what a proper death is anymore...
"Is it okay if I...?" Yuuji looked back up at Ciel and said his request. Ciel's eyes widened. Her blue eyes flickering up and down across Yuuji's face.
But until I do...
"I..." Ciel's mind was on overdrive. She didn't know what to say. There was conflict and panic in her gaze, but there was already an instant answer inside her chest as she stared at Yuuji's lips. Her heart raced as her fingers trailed to the back of Yuuji's neck. "...Yes. Mmph!"
I won't lose anymore.
Yuuji's lips softly pressed against Ciel's. A gentle, sweet kiss as he closed his eyes. For a moment, Ciel was stunned. She felt the warmth of his hands clasp around her face. Her cheeks at their reddest yet as she tasted the breath of curry in his mouth. Her body slightly trembled for a bit before she let herself relax, and closing her eyes as well, she leaned into the kiss.
And I won't let you fight your battles alone.
Yuuji's hands trail down from her face to her shoulders, and then to her back, sighing into the kiss as Ciel returned it. He'd been wanting to do this for so long, and now that he has, he didn't want to let go. The weight of his grievances and internal struggle lessened as Yuuji felt Ciel's fingers slide up and across the back of his head, combing through his hair. The lovely feel of her touch had him deepened their kiss.
If it's you... Yuuji opened his eyes slightly to see Ciel's blissful expression, hearing her release a soft noise in her breath that made him blush a little, and he closed his eyes again to savor this moment. I don't mind getting killed again. I'll happily give you my life any day...
"...Heh. That brat actually went for it."
Sukuna sat leisurely on his throne of skulls in the midst of the blood lake, grinning slightly. "Fine by me. As long as that woman stays close by..."
He dragged his hand down across his mouth and held his chin, pressing the tip of his thumb against his bottom lip. "I'll leave those two alone. Just for tonight."
Author's Note: well, it's decided, I'm gonna try to push one more chapter (not this week cause I'm exhausted and I got homework), and then hiatus. Finally! I've been waiting for this moment and the amount of giddiness I felt once they finally kissed. It's my first ever writing a kiss scene too! Let me know what you guys think.
That's all for today, I hope ya'll had a good 4th of July, and have an even better weekend, take care!
Son of Cain: Oh! I didn't realize that was a mistranslation! I'll delete Ieiri's line then, thank you!