Author's Note:
Well folks, it's decided. It's time for the Two-Month Training Arc to conclude... in two parts!
Thank you for sticking around this long. Let's all end this on a high note!
Yuuji skidded across the wooden floor of the dojo, now able to control his footing despite Ciel's efforts to trip him up.
She broke through his guard with a straight, powerful punch, her fist a spear that pierced through his shield. However, Yuuji sidestepped the attack, grabbing hold of Ciel's arm and met her hip by hip.
Don't loosen up. Keep going.
He slipped a foot behind Ciel's leg, but she foresaw his plan of action and threw a knee at his thigh, deflecting his approach and keeping her feet where they are.
Break her stance. Her attacks rely on her footwork, like a launch pad.
The name of that fighting-style finally came to him a while back. Bajiquan. A martial arts that broke through defenses with precision. However, there was a specific direction at the use of Bajiquan, leaving all other sides open for attack. It wouldn't be enough to beat Ciel, but for this sparring match, it was Yuuji's only advantage.
He braced the elbow strike with his palm and slipped his gloved hand over her shoulder. There-!
He latched onto her and kicked at the back of Ciel's heel, using his body weight to push forward and finally throw her off her feet, aiming to slam her back against the floor.
Ciel immediately threw both feet up, and caught Yuuji's head in between her legs. She tightened her hold of his arm and pulled back to lock his shoulder, saving herself from the fall.
Yuuji reacted, bringing one arm up to stop himself from getting choked out. He dropped and rolled across the floor with Ciel until he broke free from her hold.
They went at it for another twenty minutes, exchanging blows and deflecting each other's strikes, until one of them could either pull off a pinning maneuver or give up. Gojo and Nanami were out all morning, providing all the time and space needed to train.
The Goodwill Event was fast approaching. Almost two months since the "death" of Yuuji Itadori, and the murder spree that had run cold. No news of new deaths. It would seem that the "vampire" of Tokyo had vanished into thin air.
Ciel knew it wasn't that simple, but with recent encounters that led to a quiet series of disagreements/accusations between Mario's people and the shaman representatives, she could no longer continue her investigations freely as she saw fit. She's essentially been leashed. Her tether restricting her to only performing her duties following a set of criteria, and so on.
It was a means to alleviate the tension, especially when it was revealed she'd actually gone off to meet a Church exorcist without telling the specifications as to why. Couldn't exactly admit she went to take in vampire blood in secret. And with Roa still a prevalent issue, things were just going to get worse unless Ciel took a step back. It literally had to take a government official to step in between and keep the peace.
Putting it lightly, she'd been demoted, though she was still assigned to continue monitoring Tokyo and the Roa case. Mario appeared apologetic about the breach of Ciel's identity, barring her name. Blunt and rude as he is, he took accountability when it mattered. It'll take some time before anyone would uncover the source of the leak. The idea of there being a mole among their ranks was considered, but Ciel had doubts about that. If there was anyone who could have given up her description, it was more likely to have been forced out of them. And there were far better ways to cripple their operation here than sending a few shamans her direction.
It was impossible for Roa to have known about her already, so he couldn't have sent those men. She considered Mahito, but he seemed more of a "hands-on" combatant, and if he were to send a proxy, it would have been with his transfigured collection instead of humans. The circumstances surrounding Junpei and Satsuki seemed more out of whim than something intentional, though she couldn't be sure without profiling the cursed spirit in greater depth.
It was all possibly just a stunt, really. To shake things up and rattle some nerves. The question is why?
Their elbows and knees knocked together. Ciel's lotus necklace bounced at her swift movement. She attempted a palm strike, but as soon as she stepped forward, Yuuji stopped her foot with his own and blocked her attack with his arms crossed. The split second off balance provided the opening Yuuji needed. He ducked his arm under Ciel's, interlocking his leg under hers and his body spun.
"-!" There was no moment of recovery, and Ciel found her back against the floor. Yuuji placed his knee between her thighs, locking her arm under his, and saw his chance.
He raised his fist, having in mind to stop it in front of Ciel's nose. Got you-!
The unmistakable sound of spinal fracture as the stone crumbled underneath her figure. The pain she exhaled a delicious sound to the king of curses.
"Ah-" Yuuji hesitated. His fist wavered and instinctively unclenched.
Ciel was about to redirect the incoming attack when she immediately noticed Yuuji's pause. She changed tactics and slipped her arm out of Yuuji's hold, taking him by surprise as she yanked him to the side.
"Oof-!" Yuuji banged against the floor. He felt the sting as he laid there, rubbing his head and winced slightly.
"Why did you not follow through?" Ciel was to the point. She clutched Yuuji's hand with his arm held out, not relenting her twist of Yuuji's shoulder until he answered her question. "Hesitating is the worst thing to do in a fight. Lose even a moment of focus could mean your death."
"I know! I know..." Yuuji lets out a sigh. "It's just..."
She waited for him to explain himself.
"...I can't help it..." He grabbed his chin and pulled off a picture-perfect smile. A face like he was Chris Hemsworth as he spoke in a deep voice. "It's hard trying to hit a cute face like yours- Ow! Ow! Okay! Okay!"
His attempt to deflect failed, and Ciel expressed her annoyance by pinching the back of his hand. Honestly, this boy...
"Alright! Alright! I'll tell you!"
At his promise, Ciel lets go of Yuuji's hand, letting his shoulder untwist. He sat up and grabbed his shoulder, rolling it slightly as Ciel knelt down before him.
"Go on," Ciel ushered, no room for objection. "Tell me. What's bothering you?"
Yuuji rubbed his hand, a hurt pout on his face. Despite his puppy-dog eyes, Ciel was firm as she awaited. Her arms crossed.
Yuuji eventually relented, and his face fell somberly. "...I still think about that night, sometimes. At the detention center, I mean."
Ciel's expression softened.
"I haven't forgiven myself for letting that freak hurt you… I know that you, Sensei, and everybody else tell me that it wasn't my fault. I know that."
Yet as much as he knew, the weight of that incident was still carried in his heart. Forever scarred into his being. In his stomach.
"It just comes back to me, whether I'm asleep or awake, and the guilt starts eating its way through me after that."
These days, however, it's been happening solely when he's up and about. They don't happen so often, but they do happen. The nightmares, on the other hand, had completely stopped ever since he's moved in with Ciel.
"...It does hit you when you least expect it, doesn't it?" Ciel said. "The bad memories. You try your best to suppress them however you can. Or even use them as motivation to become stronger. But sometimes, those memories are just too horrible to relive. You end up freezing on the spot."
She looked at him in complete understanding. "It's a normal thing to happen. The guilt of the past may keep you on your toes, but it might also make you stumble. The other side of that coin would be to overdo your efforts, and you just end up becoming reckless. No person is truly invulnerable from an attack towards the psyche. You could say that our greatest enemies, in a world full of monsters and evil, are our own fears and worries, because those are the ones that keep us from ever moving forward."
Yuuji intertwined his fingers and looked down. "...Does it ever get better? How do you manage this?"
"Hmm. I wouldn't say it gets better, but you can learn how to live with it." Ciel offered her hands. "Here. Let me show you."
Yuuji looked back at her curiously. He grasped her hands, gripping her fingers with care.
"There's a technique I know that might help. It somewhat calms the soul if applied to another person. There's at least two ways to do this but... well, let's focus on this method for now."
She doubt even she could handle that other, erm, procedure, unless the situation severely called for it. She worked a bit of it into their nightly cuddle sessions, but nothing that gets too steamy, or past second base. She especially wouldn't want to risk touching Sukuna's soul directly. That wouldn't end well for anyone.
Ciel closed her eyes and took a deep breath. With a slow exhale, she sends through a small trail of magical energy from her fingertips.
"Whoa." Yuuji felt the flow through his hands, his arms, and eventually the rest of his body, a wave of serenity circulated within himself, his guilt numbing.
His mind took him back to that time, when he was being held in comfort under the rain. Hearing the soft-spoken words of the girl in front of him.
"This is a spell I often use whenever I need to stay focus on my missions," Ciel said in an emotionless voice. "It's not something I personally recommend for a jujutsu sorcerer to use. Their abilities are tied to their emotions, whereas this spell completely nullifies them. That being said, it does offer meditative qualities that can help you regain your composure, should the situation prove to be too stressful."
Yuuji looked at her in wonder, swearing that he could see the aroma of her ability fluctuate. The motion of a calm lake.
Is that... Prana...?
Yuuji thought back to Ciel's lessons via pillow-talk, of all the greater in-depth teachings surrounding the world of Magecraft. The World itself being alive. Gaia. Alaya. A bunch of other things he couldn't believe were true. He recalled her mentioning the existence of Magic Circuits, and how they harness life energy, converting into magical energy. Right now, he could perceive those lines - her circuits - all over her exposed skin. It was like seeing the individual strands of a feather from a multitude of wings. The vast power in their stems she managed to hold it all in.
He stared, fixated, and listened as Ciel added, "Once I made myself familiar with this spell, it made things easier for me to... cope, with whatever fleeting thought or feelings that might arise. You won't be thrown off by them as much. It took a while before I learned how to fight even without this spell, but I'm sure you'll grow accustomed to it much quicker."
She opened her eyes then, and the sight of them made Yuuji blink. They were as luminously blue as always, and yet, something about them seemed off. They were not as warm or as gentle as before, more automaton than anything.
"Hopefully, this will be an effective starting point to keeping your cool even under dire circumstances. You might not be able to use this self-hypnosis on yourself, though. Not only because you're still in training."
"Ah..." Yuuji looked down at their hands. "Because prana and cursed energy... they don't go together."
"That's right. There are exceptions to this, however. Who knows? Maybe you're a special case in that area too?" Ciel smiled, the warmth in her eyes returned. "See for yourself. Try to summon even a little hint of cursed energy. Don't worry. I'll make sure neither of us blows up."
Yikes. When she put it that way, it made Yuuji less likely to do it. Still, he was a little curious to see what happens. And he trusted Ciel.
He closed his eyes, taking in a deep breath. His cursed energy began to slowly flicker and swarm his hands.
"Hmmm..." Feeling his magical energy caress against hers, Ciel could tell that, although he was honing it decently enough, Yuuji was still struggling to properly control it. It was something equivalent to a wild fire on a bark, no direction or coordination, to have it be smooth as a candle fire on top of wax. His status as a novice aside, its most likely to due to the fact that he's using Sukuna's magical energy as his base. It's a surprise on its own that he's able to retain it at all, despite her sensing the sorrow behind them.
"...Eh?"
Ciel was taken aback. There was something peculiar she just noticed. The way her prana and his cursed were intermingling with one and another. Swirling like two blue streams meeting, slowly and steadily becoming one. This is...?
"Hah..." The absolute feel of tranquility made Yuuji sigh. He kind of forgot what was supposed to happen. When he opened his eyes again, he saw Ciel's befuddled look. "Hm? Elesia?"
Putting aside just how kissable she looked, she seemed like she just discovered something.
-ZAP-
Like a discharge between electricity, or a line being cut, the opposing elements backed away. Repelled all of a sudden.
Surprised, Ciel lets go of Yuuji's hands, and both their magical energies retreated back into their bodies.
"Whoa! You okay?" Yuuji asked. Although the connection ended abruptly, he felt much better now.
Ciel looked momentarily stunned. "Ah. Um... yes..."
She rested her hands on her lap. "That was... well..."
Yuuji waited for her to answer.
"..." Ciel regained her composure, putting up a smile. "It seemed like your cursed energy and my prana rejected each other after all. What a shame..."
"Oh. Yeah..." Ciel's smile seemed fake to Yuuji. He asked once more, "Are you sure you're okay?"
Ciel nodded. "Yes. It didn't hurt at all. Like opposite sides of magnets, our powers just cancel each other out, despite our own compatibility. Haha."
She got up then and offered her hand. "Let's take a break. I still have some of those cookies you've baked for me. It took a lot of willpower not to finish them, just so I can share them with you."
Yuuji grabbed her hand and was pulled back up to his feet. Bringing themselves close, he casually rested his hand behind her waist. "...Something's bothering you."
Ciel stiffened, straightening her back that was immediately noticed by Yuuji.
"What is it? You can tell me," Yuuji said, inching closer to her. "It's my turn to hear you spill the beans."
Ciel opened her mouth to deflect, but looking into his eyes, she felt herself wavered. She lowered her chin, her eyes directed at his heart. "...Yuuji-kun."
"Yeah?"
"...Do you... really not know anything..." Ciel began, her brows furrowed. "...about your parents-?"
"YO! I'm back!"
Their conversation was disrupted by Gojo's arrival. The man had loudly opened the sliding door and poked his head in, announcing his presence.
The students nearly jumped. Ciel especially caught off guard, apparently distracted enough that she didn't even sense Gojo's approach. Yuuji, while still holding onto Ciel, responded to his teacher. "Oh, hey Sensei (you scared us both this time)."
Gojo just stood there. Able to tell through his blindfold the close proximity of his students as if they were about to kiss. He then slowly closed the door.
"…Sorry. Didn't mean to interrupt. Pretend I'm not here."
…He opened the door slightly, letting himself peek through the crevice. Ciel grumbled at the sight of him, refusing to let herself be embarrassed.
"Where's Nanami-san?" Yuuji asked as he and Ciel separated.
"He got called away for a grade one assignment. Don't worry, he'll be back before you know it." After entering the dojo, Gojo revealed to be carrying a carton box under his arm. "Too bad, though. I was hoping I get to show him this."
He presented the box to Ciel, and the girl accepted it. "For me?"
"Yup! Your new uniform's finally ready. Kept it discreet, so as far as anyone else knows, I felt like being difficult this time."
"And here I thought you're like that on all other days," Ciel chided (Gojo: "Hey, I have feelings"). She sat down on her knees and placed the box in front of her. Lifting the cover, she looked at what was inside. "…Really now, sensei?"
Yuuji peeked over her shoulder. "Whoa. That looks cool."
"Doesn't it? Leaves a strong impression, huh?" Gojo said.
Ciel paid them no mind as she lifted the first half of the uniform. The black overcoat had an embroidery all around it. Golden wings, blue crosses, and several other symbols decorated the fabric, from the chest to the arms. A sole red cross at the back, sprouting wings, and beneath the red cross were three little baby angel heads, along with a text in Hebrew.
"You still use that body paint whenever you go Doomslayer on vampires?" Gojo asked.
"No. It became too tedious after some years (and maybe a little redundant). So I eventually stopped," Ciel answered as she folded the coat.
"This saves you the trouble then!" Gojo said. "'Tedious' is the right word for it. I think I made the tailer cry a little. Didn't expect it to take that much time even when I tried to keep everything hush hush."
"And you're sure they don't suspect anything, even with this?" Ciel questioned, showing off the cross at the front of her uniform.
"I think I gave a pretty good excuse, and if that didn't hold, I just paid extra to keep this quiet," Gojo nonchalantly stated. "I'm sure it's fine. You only need to hold out for a little longer anyway. The two of you have been coming along pretty well. I'd say you're about ready to take on the Goodwill Event together."
"We can't be certain of that." Ciel closed the box and stood up. "I'm sure Nanami-san mentioned it before. There'll be issues that will no doubt arise once we set foot into the school. I don't expect the Kyoto students to attack us directly, but we should prepare for it regardless."
"Won't it break some kind of rules if they do that?" Yuuji asked.
"Hmmm... if someone else witnessed it, maybe," Gojo thoughtfully answered. "There'll be cameras set up to oversee the event. So if something does happen, we'll be able to spot it and call foul. Kyoto knows that if they try anything, it'll mean big trouble for them."
"You'd be a fool if you think cameras alone will be enough to stop them," Ciel spoke from experience, her hands on her hips. "No security is immaculate in a setting like this, where you'll be focused on one or several areas, distracting you of what's really going on behind the scenes."
"I'd call you paranoid, but even Nanami-san agrees with you. Well, that make him paranoid too, but neither of you would be wrong," Gojo conceded as he pulled out a small, piece of metal from his pocket. The school pin in between his fingers. "I'll admit, it was wishful thinking on my part for everybody to just go along with this. That's something I had to face and accept. The stress is high enough as it is for everyone in our community, which makes our problem with Roa all the more delicate..."
He threw the pin over to Ciel and she caught it with ease.
"But! That's not something for you to worry about right now. Whatever happens, I have faith you two will come out on top. You, especially, Yuuji. You're different from the boy who didn't know anything about what we do. That was just a few months ago. Now, you're on a league of your own."
"Osu!" Yuuji pumped his fists resolutely.
Ciel examined the pin in her hand, contemplating Gojo's words before responding. "I would argue you're still too carefree, sensei. But I suppose you have a point."
They've done all they could. All that's left is to apply everything they learn. The culmination of their training that could stand toe to toe with any more surprises awaiting in the future. Be it Dead Apostles, Special Grade Curses, or anything else.
Yuuji's fingers slipped through Ciel's, squeezing her hand in reassurance. "It'll be okay. Fushiguro and Kugisaki will be there too. With all four of us together, we'll look out for each other, and we'll win this for sure."
Seeing the optimism in his eyes, Ciel smiled and squeezed his hand back. Her doubts remained, but she couldn't stay in her melancholy ways with this ray of sunshine next to her. Besides, if they do end up separating, she'll have other ways to keep him safe.
"Now with that out of the way, what say we get something to eat?" Gojo suggested as he abruptly pulled out a familiar blue box. "I know I still have room in my stomach. You got any more of these lying around? I found it sitting in the kitchen so I helped myself to them."
"Gah!"
Yuuji was startled, letting go of Ciel's hand. "Sensei! That's Ciel's!"
How'd his teacher forget? They literally made those sweets together.
Ciel's eyes sharpened. "For your sake, there better at least be one treat left."
"Nah. I finished them all," Gojo answered bluntly, shaking the box in his hand and letting all the crumbs fall out. "Why? Were you saving them?"
Ciel's feet parted. The instant position of a battle-ready stance. Her glare intensified as she raised her clenched fists by her sides, "Apologies, Sensei. But it would seem I'll have to enact judgment onto you. Consider this our training regimen for the day."
There will be no mercy given.
Later, there was a request for repair and clean up due to the inexplicable number of holes in the walls of the warehouse. Furniture being torn to pieces through single-delivered blows. The instigator and the responder of the incident eventually came to a peaceful resolution when a third party offered to bake some more sweets, and curry pizza.
Nanami stopped at the edge of an alleyway, between an apartment building and a convenience store. He subtly adjust his jacket where his hatchet hid under his arm and proceeded into the alley.
From where that man with the ponytail jumped off to, this would be one of the escape routes. There wasn't a lot of curse residue to follow up on. Only by process of elimination did Nanami came here to confirm his suspicions. There was something that had been rubbing him the wrong way ever since his battle with that shaman, although the word "shaman" was a stretch to refer to that criminal.
The assassin seemed somewhat amateurish at best. Quick and cunning on his feet, his actual fighting abilities were subpar. Against a civilian or a sorcerer assistant, he would no doubt come out victorious, but against a truly adept shaman, he'd be bested. Even when that sword had been moving on its own and tried to attack from behind, Nanami easily deflected it, and that was the point when the killer realized he was outmatched before getting his nose broken.
It didn't seem like that weapon was from a cursed technique, which made Nanami wonder if the killer even had one. Or perhaps the assassin's cursed technique did not meet the conditions at the setting they were in. Whatever the circumstances, if the shaman clans did send those men after Ciel, they were really cheap about it.
However, it would be careless of Nanami to disregard just how dangerous those assassins could have been. Hence, he was here to see if he could track the escaped criminal, before anymore innocents would be harmed or killed.
"...Is there something I can help you with?" Nanami asked, stopping at a wall where a deep-cut was embedded, as if by a sword.
"What is it with you guys letting yourself be followed?" Was the response. "It doesn't make you look any cooler. Just say hello, dammit."
The faint stretches of creaking strings. The small figure hopped down from the roof and landed behind Nanami.
"I'd argued appearing from the sky doesn't make it any less showy," Nanami countered as he knelt on one knee, placing his fingers on top the evident scratches on the floor, also deeply cut. "You concealed your presence well enough. I've only noticed after you gotten close, right after I entered here."
"Ah. So I sold myself out, then? Tricky bastard. Here I was hoping I wouldn't get played like a fool again. Well, whatever. It's time we clear the air, anyway."
"Such as?" Nanami inquired, turning his head to look at the boy.
Mario walked up to Nanami's side, eyeing at the marks that were leading deeper into the alleyway. "I know I fucked up. Letting important info slip out of our fingers, and nearly getting our agent's identity compromised. Some of your people must have seen her face by now, but it's a hell of a lot more dangerous if they have a name to go by. Can't exactly be discreet and take Dead Apostles by surprise if they hear us coming a mile away."
"...While it's true that it warrants concern, I don't believe Ciel-san is bothered by it all that much," Nanami said as he stood back up.
"Yeah, no shit. Still ended up getting an earful, though. At least that fat-ass didn't try to kill me the second time, with her puppy-dog "boyfriend" there to watch," Mario said with a cross of his arms. "But I'm not here to show accountability. I'm here because there isn't a single damn sorcerer I trust among your school, nor respect. Your "strongest" is a sheltered rich kid who thinks he's the center of the fucking universe. Beating up folks out of boredom, and teaching kids as a community service. Any talk with him is an aneurism waiting to happen, and I don't see the point chatting with someone who does whatever the hell he wants anyway."
"I agree that Gojo-san tends to grate the nerves of even the most patient people out of all of us," Nanami said. "However, he is useful. And when it comes to trust, there is no one else I trust more... I don't respect him either, but he is trustworthy."
"Ya see? That's the kind of attitude I like. Which is why I'm here talking to you instead of anyone else," Mario said as they started walking across the alleyway together. "His uses aside, I doubt anyone's just going to fess up to that battle-junkie. Unless you got something from that guy you apprehended?"
"Not really. Aside from a description of one of his benefactors, most of what he said was just mad rambling and challenging Gojo-san to no end."
"Figured as much. What sane person would think they could pull off that stunt? Now we got all our ears into the underworld, and I'd say not a lot of people are happy about that. If there's a chance someone in your community has it out for our executor, than I'd rather have someone like you on the inside, keep me updated on what circus show is happening next. I can make it worth your while, and you don't have to keep this from the others either, not that there's anyone else you can really confide to."
"Shouldn't this be a discussion to have with Ciel-san?" Nanami pointed out, not really interested in being an insider for Mario's group. He suspected this is another recruitment ploy, something he always found annoying to deal with in his life.
"Yeah. Sure. Ask the woman who all of Jujutsu Society has it out for. Even if she puts on a disguise, she's got other important shit to work through. Besides, she doesn't necessarily have to answer to me, so I already know what her answer's going to be."
"This is to do with her independency as an executor, I take it?"
"There's that, but we've also got our own agendas. We're better off working separately while exchanging a few tips every once in a while."
"Is there any other agenda aside from hunting monsters that threaten this entire city?" Nanami asked, counting the increasing numbers of scars that decorated the surface all around them.
"If there is, it's none of your damn business, but I get the feeling you already have an idea as to what I'm referring to." Mario didn't hide his surprise as he stopped. "Guess I should have known better than to underestimate you fellas, unless that woman figured it out and told you guys. Not that I can blame her. As much as I can't stand her, there really was no way of keeping this quiet, and it'd be pretty fucking stupid to do so after everything that's happened."
"Then maybe it's best if we end this secrecy between us, so that we would no longer be impeded in the future."
"I can't really promise that. Sucks to say, but there's more at stake here than just the vampires hiding around somewhere. I don't expect you to understand or excuse it, but I got my own thing going on. Doesn't mean I'll be leaving you guys to hang dry if shit gets real. Wanted to make that clear."
'We're not enemies' was his point. Mario looked at the ground then, as did Nanami.
There was a splatter of blood there, effectively turning this place into a crime scene. If the several carvings on the wall wasn't enough indication that a fight happened here, this affirmed it completely.
"I may not know your situation entirely, other than a general grasp of it," Nanami began as he knelt down once more, pulling out a white handkerchief to pick up a sample of the blood. "But if incidents such as what happened in the past happens again, and scenes like this continue to be uncovered, then we will not be standing by and watch as the bodies pile up, regardless of whose interest is at stake here."
He had his sympathies, but he won't let those sympathies supersede his duty.
"Afraid you'd say that, but I get it. At this point, it's hide and seek for us, and we're all the seekers in this. It's only a matter of who finds who," Mario conceded. "You ain't an idealist, but you know it's unrealistic to do nothing, unless someone strongholds you otherwise. No doubt those old fuckers will if it benefits them, even if it'll screw them over in the long run. Offer's still on the table if you're ever thinking of jumping ship."
Seeing that Nanami had this handled, Mario turned back for the entrance. "I also don't need your sympathies, old man. No-nonsense as you are, you're just a big softie deep down. I can see it with how you talk about those two."
The little boy referred to Yuuji and Ciel.
"You should lay off of that, though. Whoever you're compensating by looking after them, isn't here to give you their thanks."
"..."
Nanami made no response as Mario soon took his leave.
"Not a lot going on tonight, huh?" Yuuji asked, sitting like Spider-Man at the corner edge of the roof. His red hood over his head for added flair as he overlooked the streets below.
Ciel stood next to him, her dress flowing in the wind. "Perhaps. We've been very thorough this part of town."
Not even curses remained. Having a partner who could keep up with her made their late-nightly exorcism that much more prompt.
"Want to do another sweep?" Yuuji suggested. The city lights dazzled at the corner of his eyes as he looked up at Ciel.
She considered it, and then gave a nod. "One more roundabout, and we can call it a night."
Despite her latest restriction, nothing was said against her "sightseeing".
They leapt across the rooftops. It was a casual stride for Ciel and Yuuji. For Yuuji, however, it was a thrilling experience. The way his stomach would drop at every large gap he hopped over. He's only ever seen videos of people doing parkour, and he could understand the fun of it now. It was freedom, feeling the harsh breeze while having the girl of his dreams running by his side. He always looked forward to these patrols because of that. Not only for the dates that followed after; visiting trendy restaurants, a trip to Tokyo Tower, karaoke, gift shops, sneaking into more casinos. And so much else.
He wished Junpei could have experienced this. Or maybe Satsuki might have shown him already…
They eventually stopped on top of an office building. Ciel eyed at their surroundings, taking quick note of every detail before affirming her side was clear of any threats. She looked over to Yuuji, seeing him focused onto the streets as he looked for any signs of curses or the dead.
His progress had been truly amazing. The few bumps they overcame in training seemed so far now. It was impressive just how much Yuuji was able to find his sheen. A rare diamond honing his edge.
He was also acting more like his old self again. Her meditation method really did its wonders for him. He had his moments when he smiled and acted casually, but those came from a place of avoidance and detachment, not wanting to burden others while at the same time carrying it all on his shoulders.
There was no forgetting the tragedy and travesty that happened before, only focusing on what's ahead. To look forward as the only way to go.
Ciel watched him for a moment. His baggy clothes that hid his muscular physique ruffled by the wind. His new red scarf tucked underneath his red collar. She might consider offering him to stitch it to his hood.
You've really come a long way... Ciel smiled.
Yuuji soon noticed her staring and called out to her. "What's up? Something on your mind?"
Ciel looked away. "No. It's nothing."
"Heyyy, come on now..." Yuuji hopped away from the ledge and happily skipped towards her. "Oh! I just remembered. Back at the warehouse..."
Ciel's smile dropped.
"You were asking if I knew anything about my parents," Yuuji said. "What brought that up?"
"...No reason. I just find it a little upsetting." Ciel gave an apologetic smile. "I've a bleeding heart for that sort of thing, but I shouldn't have brought up such a sensitive subject. Let's just forget about it."
"I didn't mind. I was just curious," Yuuji assured. He looked over to the skyscrapers in the distance. "The earliest memory I can think back is my dad's face. I remember a warm feeling, so that probably means he was a good guy. I don't remember anything about my mom. I think she had black hair, but that's about it."
Guess this is what they would call childhood amnesia.
"I never asked my grandpa about them either. I just accepted that it was just us two, and that was that."
"I see…" Ciel walked across, clasping her hands behind her back. "My earliest memory with my parents was us sitting in front of the oven, where we watched the dough rise and slowly bake, until they were golden brown. The smell was unforgettable."
Yuuji walked with her, stepping alongside the edge.
"They weren't the only ones I knew. There were also my classmates who I grew up with. The neighbors we would see at church. The friendly shopkeeper. The sweet librarian. I saw them all as a part of my family. Brothers and sisters I adored."
Yuuji looked on sadly as he listened.
"Did you had a lot of friends growing up, Yuuji-kun?"
"Ah. Yeah. There's a lot I made in middle school. I didn't get along with everybody, though. Like this one time, I had a run-in with this group from a rival school. They just jumped me and I had fight them all off. There were like twenty guys or something. It was really unfair."
It sounded like he was exaggerating, but it was all true. He still didn't understand why he was attacked, but he wasn't going to sit around while they pummeled him.
"You've really had an exciting upbringing, haven't you?" Ciel was surprised. "No wonder you're good at fighting. Maybe I should consider you a delinquent, after all."
"Hey! I was the victim here! I wasn't just gonna let them beat me up," Yuuji was appalled by Ciel's mindset. He pouted when he saw her amused smile.
"I'm only kidding," Ciel assured. "That's quite a record, though. Twenty or so students. It's no wonder they called you the Tiger of West Junior High."
Although, he seemed more like a wolf to her. A little more fitting if one asked her.
"Huh. Now that I think about it, that was around the time people started calling me that. It kind of got blown overboard, though. People saying I fought a hundred guys (Rumors sure run wild). I'm only good at fighting because of my grandpa, and from movies I've watched as a kid. It just stuck with me, I guess."
"Your fighting style. It's Taido, yes? It's a very effective martial arts. You've even caught me by surprise on occasion," Ciel commended. So his grandfather taught him how to fight. He certainly sounds like an interesting person...
"Yeah. You still managed to kick my butt, though," Yuuji smirked. "Say... I've been wondering. How'd you know what people called me back home? You really had me convinced you were from Sendai when you brought that up."
"O-Oh. Well, um..." Ciel looked abashed, avoiding eye-contact as she stared at her walking boots. "...When I was assigned to observe you, I had to learn a little bit about you beforehand. There hadn't been much time, but I was able to put together a general profile. Looked to see if you had any social media presence (which was non-existent). Who your colleagues at school were. And so on..."
"Ohhh... You were stalking me?"
"Absolutely not!" Ciel was scandalized. "I was, ahem, doing research. The same way that a police officer would investigate another person. I must say, though, your track record on the fifty-meter dash was really impressive- D-Don't look at me like that. That's all there was to it! I swear, I'm not a creep!"
Yuuji chuckled at Ciel's reaction, and she lightly jabbed at his arm for his tease.
"Anyway... I've had my eye on you after that," she resumed. "I thought you were a little odd. It was astonishing to me... just how upbeat you were."
Those weeks she spent watching from afar, observing the boy as he laughed and chatted amongst friends. That boy who had lived a normal life until that point. That boy who had done nothing wrong, yet no soon thereafter, did he enter hell because of the damned soul he would forever carry until his last breath. And the hell that would await later.
She remembered how much sympathy she felt towards him as she stood on top of a skyscraper, under the prevailing moon. That might have been when it all started. When that feeling became something a little more, despite their few and brief encounters with each other.
"It made me want to look out for you. I think that would have happened even if sensei hadn't asked me to..." Even when it shouldn't have been any of her business.
"Huh..." Yuuji said as they stopped at the corner end of the roof. "...You're really nice, you know that?"
Ciel faintly laughed, throwing a cheerful smile. "Only around you, I most certainly am."
"Nah. You're nice to everyone. Even when you act like you aren't, you're always looking out for people. I'm nothing special, and that's okay. I like that about you."
Taken aback, Ciel couldn't come up with a witty retort. She could only look away, hiding her expression. "...You are mistaken. You are far more special than you realize."
More than he knew.
"Dawww~" Yuuji said with exaggerated bashfulness, and Ciel chuckled more earnestly. Such a goofy soul. She liked that about him.
They stood in silence after that, looking over the city in content.
"-!" Yuuji blinked. He knelt on the edge. "Huh."
Ciel looked at him. "What is it?"
"There's a kid down there."
She followed his line of sight.
A student by the looks of it. Thirteen-years-old at least. For the unfocused, she didn't seem anything special, but what made her stuck out in particular were the subtle details. Her clothes were slightly ragged, as if they haven't been washed in weeks. Her hands clutched the backpack strap over her shoulder, looking wary of her surroundings.
"Is she a runaway?" Yuuji asked. He lifted his gaze by a little. "-! Ciel."
His tone became serious. Ciel had already noticed and her eyes narrowed.
Behind the thirteen-year-old girl was a young man. He wore a baseball cap, so it was difficult to see his face and notice any obvious signs. However, despite the distance between them, it was clear he was following her.
"Dead Apostle or not, that's seriously sketchy," Yuuji said, standing up.
Ciel continued to stare down at the two figures in silence, quietly agreeing.
After getting down from the building, the shaman and the executor tailed after the pair ahead of them.
"What should we do?" Yuuji looked at the people around them. There was still a crowd at this hour. If that guy was a vampire, they couldn't really fight him in front of civilians. Someone could get hurt.
"...We'll keep close, and see where they go." Ciel frowned, a deep contemplative look on her.
"...? What is it?" Yuuji asked her, seeing the intensity in her gaze.
"...I'm not entirely certain, but..."
After a short while, the thirteen-year-old girl arrived at her destination. A construction site with all its equipment still present, in an area absolutely vacant of all pedestrians. The skeleton structure towered overhead, with the first floor having concrete walls already.
On one side of the wall was a door, and the homeless girl opened it.
I think she's leading him.
The girl looked back and pushed the door opened further. The man with the baseball cap followed in after her, shutting the door behind them.
"Okay. Now I'm really lost," Yuuji said as he and Ciel peered around a corner, hiding behind another building. "Do they know each other?"
"...Yuuji-kun." Ciel began, her voice held a quiet edge to it. "I sense multiple people inside."
Yuuji was taken aback. He looked at Ciel.
"Something's very off," Ciel said, her face tightened in questioning. "...For now, we should hurry."
Yuuji quietly climbed through an open window. With the darkness concealing him, he snuck through the empty room. There were pillars and stacked wooden beams everywhere. He rounded behind the materials and went deeper into the room, where he saw a light behind an unfinished wall.
Poking his head around, he found the thirteen-year-old girl again. This time, however, she was accompanied by another. A fifteen-year-old school girl wearing a familiar uniform, though it was too dark to completely tell.
They were seated in chairs. One cellphone was placed at a nearby table with its flashlight on, the other was being held by the thirteen-year-old, hovering its light over her arm, where she had her long sleeve pulled back. A ribbon tightened around her upper arm.
The fifteen-year-old looked on nervously as she held the syringe in her hands. She was inches away from entering the needle into her friend's arm when both the girl's wrists were grabbed. "Huh-?!"
Yuuji's hands quickly clamped over their mouths, stopping their screams. He pulled back one hand and put his finger over his lips. "Sorry. Didn't mean to startle you."
The girls backed away, knocking the chairs over in their haste. Yuuji swiftly took the syringe from the fifteen-year-old's hand and held it away from them.
"What the-?! Who the hell are you?!" The thirteen-year-old demanded.
"Hey, there's no need to yell," Yuuji said, holding the syringe out. "There're better ways to deal with stress than taking drugs. What would your parents say?"
"W-What are you talking about?! That's not what that's for!" She was annoyed by how condensing he sounded, as if he was any older than her.
"Oh. Then what were you doing?" Yuuji asked. "Also, isn't it a little late to be out here by yourselves?"
"You're one to talk! What are you, a high-schooler? I already got enough lecturing from my own mom, I don't need some boy to boss me around too!"
"Um... Aika-chan..." The fifteen-year-old tried to placate her friend, but went unheard.
"I was just asking-" Yuuji stopped when he felt a hand over his shoulder, and he tensed at the strong grip behind it.
"Shouldn't you be off the streets at this hour?" The man with the baseball cap argued. "Don't go calling the kettle black-"
A black key was fired between the man and Yuuji. The blade cuts through the man's sleeve, singing a piece of his flesh.
The man yelled, letting go and retreating at once. Yuuji acted fast and lunged forward. He grabbed the girls around their waists, catching them by surprise as he easily carried them over his shoulders and ran.
He went for the center of the room, trying to round the pillars and reach the nearest exit. However, what he found instead forced him to stop in the middle of the area, and he looked around in shock as he overheard someone shouting.
"Fuck-! It's an executioner!"
Ciel came in, as if dropped from the very sky and landed next to Yuuji. They stood back to back, eyeing at the small crowd that surrounded them.
Yuuji ignored the struggling and demands of the thirteen-year-old girl as he spoke, "Ciel... They're..."
Ciel counted the number of people in the room as she confirmed, "Dead Apostles."
Author's Note:
Get ready for the finale!
Probably won't be a long one. But, eh, I'll make it work.
Looks like I'm introducing some OCs into the mix! For context, the dead apostles you've met here are from the Tsukihime Remake, which you'll only come across in Ciel's route, can you figure out when? (Hint: Noel).
I love the ideas given for Yuuji's development in abilities. I unfortunately never played Fate/Samurai Remnant, but I'll be looking at all of the notes posted in reviews for references.
Thanks so much for your help! It's probably best to deliver them through Private Message since it's a LOT to read through, but I really appreciate the time you take to write it all out for me, a lore-rookie. I could definitely use the guidance.
Right now Yuuji's kind of in a limbo of being "unable" to perform anything to do with prana. You can blame Sukuna for that. But as hinted before, Yuuji will be getting some upgrades as opposed to canon. Look forward to it!
I may have skipped some reviews so if there's anyone with questions, please DM/PM me and I'll be able to answer them to the best of my abilities.
With all that said and done, I'll talk to ya'll next time!
Also, I might delete this story after the next chapter... Kidding! Happy April Fools! Hope everyone had a great Easter!