Chapter 5
Kagome groaned, her whole body hurt, her ribs in particular. The grade 2 cursed spirit's hand encompassed her torse, making it almost impossible to fight back and even harder to breathe. Not that Kagome thought she'd make it much longer as she stared into its gaping mouth. She wanted to puke; it was hideous with a smell just has nauseating. The curse's tongue snaked over its teeth, showing the dozens of eyes dotting the appendage, and fanning her with its moist breathe. The curse was going to eat her.
Her reiryoku came trickling forth. Taking on so many curses back to back had left her almost completely drained. Kagome only had enough to irritate the curse, and its response was immediate.
Her body was sent hurling into the wall; she could hear a rib snap, and her back cracked, her breath forced from her lungs. She couldn't even scream because of the blood filling her throat.
"Kagome!" This was the fourth time Megumi had said her name, each time with an increasing amount of fear. She looked up to see him running towards her, scooping her into his arms as the curse charged at them.
Their bodies were sent flying, but Megumi held her tightly as they crashed through the wall. He even maneuvered his body so he would be the one to land first. The force at which they hit had her seeing spots, the darkness creeping around the edges of her vision.
She held tightly to her consciousness and summoned her reiryoku again. It pooled within her, starting the healing process. Her cursed energy, she could feel circulating in her muscles, giving her just enough strength to roll them away from the curse that followed them.
It ran, green saliva spewing from its mouth, gnashing its teeth like a wild animal as it was about to descend onto them.
"Damn it!" Megumi struggled to get up. There was blood smeared across his face, Kagome couldn't tell if it were hers or his, but the sounds of grinding bones were enough for her to know they were both in no position to fight. But he tried, his hands trembling and body struggling to hold himself up. "Why can't I think straight?"
Kagome groaned. His body was pinned atop her, pushing painfully against her broken ribs. She had sent Saturo a text demanding backup. He should have been here by now. At this rate, Kagome wasn't sure if she or Megumi would make it; neither one of them was coherent enough to fight, their bodies both on the verge of giving out.
Just as the curse was going to descend upon them, it gave a pain-filled shriek.
Kagome blinked, struggling to stay awake.
"Itadori!" Megumi yelled. "Why can't you understand to take those two and run?!" He struggled to his feet. Even in his broken state, Megumi put himself between her and the curse. And even still, he wanted to keep Yuji from needlessly dying.
"You're in big trouble yourself!" Yuji called back, jumping around the curse, keeping it from attacking them. He jumped along its limps, using its body against itself. He grabbed an arm, twisting it at the elbow. The way Yuji moved was mesmerizing. It was like watching a dancer, his body moving in practiced fluid motions. He was a citizen, and yet he looked like a sorcerer dancing in and out of the curse's attacks.
"Only curses can exorcise other curses! You can't beat it!"
"Is this the time to be saying that?!" There was a smile in Yuji's voice, a teasing tone despite the circumstances. "You're going to die too at this rate!"
Yuji runs up the length of the curse's arm. "If I went home now, I'd be having nightmares for weeks!" He used the curse's hair to swing around it, kicking off its eye. "Besides, I'm living with a rotten curse of my own."
The curse hits Yuji, flinging him and Sukuna's finger into the air. Both Yuji and the curse grabbing at it, only for the curse to grab Yuji, and Yuji catching the finger between his teeth.
"You idiot!" Kagome screamed in a mix of horror and disgust.
"Hand it over to me, or you'll be eaten, too!" Megumi pleaded.
Kagome can do nothing but watch, her body unable to more than sit up with the support of the wall at her back.
Yuji tosses Sukuna's finger into the air. "There is a way to save everyone! I just need some cursed energy, right, Fushiguro?!"
She watched in horrified silence; this boy would either be destroyed by the cursed energy or be forever changed.
"Don't… Don't do it!"
Sukuna's finger is then swallowed with an audible gulp.
The silence was deafening; all Kagome could hear was the pounding of her own heart. The seconds felt excruciatingly long.
1…
2…
3…
The cursed energy was suffocating. It came forth like an explosion, blasting the Grade 2 curse as if it were nothing. The air grew heavy with his presence, filling her lung and consuming her senses. Everything faded away as if it never existed, only him.
His voice came as a rumble, a crazed laugh filling the air; it was frightening. Claws tore at his clothes, baring his chest and arms to the silver glow of the moon. He was covered in black markings, accenting each muscle, limb, and the bone structure of his face. "Ah, I knew it! The light feels best in the flesh!" His cursed energy whipped around wildly. "A cursed spirit's flesh is so boring." Every word came out joyously with a malicious twang. "Where are the people? The women?!" Otherworldly red eyes found her, glowing against moon-kissed skin. "There's one." He descended upon her.
His touch was like fire upon her skin; his hot breath fanned her skin. Everything about him demanded her attention. With each breath, she pulled more of him into her lungs, and each flutter of her lashes drew her deeper into his unwavering crimson stare. He was gentle; his nails grazed the length of her neck, caressing her cheek before grabbing her chin between his finger and thumb. It was demanding, pulling her attention even closer. A clawed finger pulled at her bottom lip, his eyes staring hungrily.
"You're in quite the condition, my dear." His voice sent shivers down her spine, it was possessive, and her body responded instantly. "Let me fix you." Sukuna's cursed energy came pouring into her; she felt as if she were drowning. His power filled her body, muting her own and curling around her soul. It was so warm, and she wanted more; she wanted desperately to surrender herself to him.
And then it was gone. Kagome's body was suddenly cold, a profound emptiness filling her chest.
"Get away from her!" The voice was no longer Sukuna's, the sultry rumble replaced by Yuji's softness.
"Huh?" Sukuna stepped away, his presence slowly leaving her, allowing her to finally breathe.
"What do you think you're doing with my body? Give it back!"
Kagome watched in dazed silence, her body heavy and slow to move.
"How are you able to move?"
"I mean, it's my body."
"He's suppressing me?" Sukuna's eyes fell to her; a look of surprise and urgency colored the crimson depth. The red quickly cooled to a soft fawn brown.
Megumi stepped in front of her blocking her view. "Don't move. You're no longer human." His voice took on a pained tone. "Under Jujutsu regulations, Itadori Yuuji- I will exorcise you as a curse!"
Kagome jumped to her feet, her hand gripping Megumi's shoulder. "You can't!" It came out in a strangled growl, possessiveness bubbling up. She couldn't let him hurt Sukuna.
'Hurt Sukuna?'
She blinked. Why did she care? Kagome shook her head; no, she shouldn't let Yuji get hurt. He saved her, them, from that Grade-2 curse. And maybe she could save him, purify Sukuna from his body.
"Woah! Hold up! I'm feeling fine!" Yuji threw his hands up, the black markings fading from his body. "Besides, we're pretty beat up. Shouldn't we get to a hospital?" He explained calmly.
Megumi stood tense; even Kagome could feel his uncertainty. And Yuji just looked back at them.
"What's the situation?" Kagome jumped. She hadn't even felt him coming; then again, her mind still felt foggy. Turning, she was greeted by their teacher; a sight had never filled her with so much rage. He stood there nonchalantly, a shopping bag under his arm. He looked so unbothered despite the pain he'd put his students through.
"Gojo?" Megumi asked slowly before shock and anger settled in. "What're you doing here?!"
"I wasn't going to come at first-" He approached them lazily, his voice as jovial as usual. He seemed so unfazed by them as he pulled out his phone. "But I got an earful from the higher-ups because the special-grade cursed object's still missing. I agreed to come as long as they also gave me time to see the sights." There was a click followed by the flash of his phone. "Man, you're really messed up. I can't wait to show the second years!"
Her anger came forth with a beastly growl at the back of her throat. "Fuck you!" Her hand was moving before she could think about her actions, the palm of her hand slamming into his face with far more force than she thought was possible. Tears sprung her eyes.
Even behind the blindfold, Kagome could see his surprise, her handprint glowing against his pale skin. "Good, you're not as hurt as I first thought." He said it so quietly that Kagome wasn't sure if she'd heard him right. His hand fell to her shoulder, firm but reassuring. "I promise, I'll listen next time." He walked past her, and Kagome forced herself not to cry.
"So!" Gojo beamed, looking down at Megumi with expecting eyes. "Did ya find it yet?"
Yuji responds instead. "Sorry." He stared dumbly. "I ate it."
Kagome looked back, curious of her teacher and of the boy. She could feel Sukuna, but it was muted.
Then Gojo laughed. "For real?"
"For real." Megumi fell back, his knees giving out. He was completely exhausted.
"Hmm?" Gojo was never one to care about personal space and now was no different as he leaned in to take a closer look at what was seemingly Sukuna's vessel. Kagome herself had only seen it happen once, that human having sadly succumbed to Naraku's possession. This seemed to be different, with Yuji being the dominant one. "Ha! No kidding! They're combined! How does your body feel?"
Kagome stepped up, eyeing the boy curiously. She was equally as curious.
Yuji lifted his arms, staring at his limbs indifferently. "Okay, I guess."
"Can you switch?" Kagome asked quickly, Gojo looked back at her curiously, but he too nodded, looking back at Yuji with increased interest.
"Can you switch with Sukuna?" Gojo reiterated.
"Sukuna?"
"Yeah, the cursed object you ate."
"Oh yeah, I think I can do that."
"Okay, give us ten seconds." Gojo cheered. His excitement was frightening as he stretched. "And then change back into yourself."
"I don't know about this…." Kagome nodded in agreement. She didn't want to face the specter so soon.
"Don't worry!" He grinned. "I'm the strongest Jujutsu Sorcerer!" Kagome wasn't sure who he was trying to reassure: Yuji or her. Gojo tossed his gift bag at Megumi, talking excitedly about the souvenirs, much to Megumi and Kagome's annoyance.
In that time, Yuji's head lulled forward, eyes glazing over. And then red, all Kagome could see was his red irises as they bore into hers. "Hello again!" A fog began to consume her mind, his presence like a drug to her senses. He raised his hand, claws almost touching her face.
Gojo grabbed Sukuna by the wrist, stopping him from touching Kagome. "Excuse me," He jeered. "But shouldn't you be focusing on me?"
Sukuna growled, their body twisting to swipe at Gojo. Gojo used his body against him, putting himself between Kagome and Sukuna. With a single punch, Gojo sent the spirit several feet backward. Gojo offered Kagome a small look over his shoulder, his expression asking without needing to ask if she was alright. Kagome nodded.
With a grin, Gojo took a step towards Sukuna. "I have students watching-" Sukuna charged, and Gojo sidestepped it. "I hope you don't mind if I show off a little!"
The two were a blur, Gojo easily sidestepping the attacks and then attacking.
"For crying out loud, you Jujutsu Sorcerers are always such a pain in the ass in any era! Now, if you don't mind- " He raised a hand, his energy gathering within his black claws. "I have business with my miko!" The attack was swift, a mass of cursed energy that cut through with explosive force.
Gojo stood unfazed, his ever-present grin in place. "Should be about time."
Sukuna staggered momentarily, head lulling forward. The red eyes faded to a gentle fawn brown.
"Oh!" Yuji came to with a start, Sukuna's markings quickly fading from his body."Was everything okay?"
Gojo laughed, the sound making Kagome jump. "What a surprise! You really can control him."
Yuji made an annoyed face, rubbing at his head angrily. "Yeah, but he's kind of annoying." His eyes landed on Kagome, and blush flared across his face as he finished with a lower tone. "I can hear his voice."
Gojo was practically giggling, the man no doubt excited to see something that should have been impossible, or maybe he was planning to use Yuji. Gojo was a mystery to Kagome; at times, he was caring, and others, he was a calculating mastermind who had a plan for everything. "It's a miracle that's the only side-effect." His next move was too fast for Kagome to follow, but she watched as Yuji collapsed into his waiting arms. "If he wakes up and isn't possessed, he might have potential as a vessel."
"Please-" Kagome started but couldn't find the will to finish. Her eyes fell. There was so much going on in her mind; she wasn't sure if she could trust her own thoughts.
Megumi seemed to understand or be on the same page as her. "Even if he is a potential vessel, Jujutsu Regulations demand Yuji Itadori be executed." Kagome visibly cringed; she hated the elders. They were so narrow-minded and old-fashioned in their approach to everything. The elders had even taken to keeping a close eye on her because of her reiryoku. But because other reiryoku users worked in the same circle as Jujutsu Sorcerers, they simply kept an eye on her to make sure she wasn't a spy. "However, I don't want him to die!"
Kagome walked up to Megumi, placing her hand on his shoulder. Even if she couldn't bring herself to voice it, she felt the same.
"Personal?"
"I suppose," he shrugged. "So, can you save him?"
Gojo lifted Yuji onto his shoulder with a soft laugh and confident grin in place. "I'll see what I can do!"
wolfYLady: I am on a roll! I didn't expect to be cranking out chapters this fast, but I am so happy I am. Kagome and Sukuna have finally met, Kagome and Yuji have finally met! YES!
I hope y'all are enjoying the story so far!
Don't forget to REVIEW!