"Why are you hiding back there?" Yuji was perturbed as he looked back at his class, holding the small blue vase of a few flowers in his hands. He stood in his casual wear instead of his uniform outside a flower shop. "She invited you guys too - except Sensei."

"Just pretend you don't see us. We're here to watch the show unfold," Satoru said from his bench, fixing the newspaper in front of himself and clearly failing to be hidden with his very expensive-looking black polo and white hair that gleamed under the sunlight.

"Flowers on the first date? What are you, desperate?" Half of Nobara's person peeked around a building as she had her phone out, wanting to record the moment like it was a K-Drama she could post for views. "You're half-assing it too with that vest on. I can still see the smudge from here. No wonder she turned you down at first."

"That's a mean thing to say!" Yuji shouted. He just hadn't gotten around doing his laundry yet. Also, this was his best shirt!

Megumi was the only one who didn't play into their games, simply following alongside Yuji. Megumi looked at the flower vase and its two white lilies. "What's that for?"

"The cemetery we went yesterday," Yuji explained. "It's on the way. I figured I stop by and drop this off."

Yuji chose not to elaborate. Megumi had a feeling what his reason was. It was a no brainer that what happened that day would shake anyone up, especially someone who was just introduced to the world of curses and sorcerers. Yet, surprisingly, Yuji seemed to be doing okay, enough to still make jokes about Sensei's extravagant outfit while it was 70 degrees outside. Nobara didn't bother hiding her jealousy over their teacher's lack of sweat in this heat.

Megumi, on the other hand, still had his mind occupied. His confrontation with that wild dog familiar. He dealt with life-threatening situations before. The incident with Sukuna's finger might be his worst one yet - a close call. But there was something particularly deadly about that corpse dog that left him feeling uneasy. The fact that it had enough potency to fry him instantly if not for his teacher there, it had to take a powerful summoner to create that thing. Was the summoner responsible for what happened in the mausoleum too?

Now Ciel was here, which made what happened seem all the more troubling. And with Sukuna's revival, Megumi wondered what was next.

"You really are soft, you know that?" Nobara stated as she jogged up to the group. Yuji was more bemused than offended at her words, and then Nobara switched topics. "It's a little weird that girl wants to see us. If she's after Itadori, should we really meet with her?"

Also, what did it mean for a vampire slayer to be in the city? Should they be worried? After their run in with literal zombies and – apparently – explosive dogs, it's got to be some rogue sorcerer with a necromancy technique, right? Right?

"It'll be fine," Satoru assured, following his students closely behind as he carried the folded newspaper under his arm. "She might just be gathering intel by talking to you guys - see how we're managing Sukuna ourselves."

The timing of it sure was impressive, though, even for Ciel. It hadn't been that long since Yuji ate that cursed finger, and not even a week later she was here on "observation duty." Satoru knew there was more to it, and he had suspicions it was connected to what transpired two days ago.

Around the time he picked up Yuji before dropping him off at the train station, Satoru was called away to look into a "strange matter" involving the death of a few workers at Narita Airport. An unnatural phenomenon that left the victims burnt beyond recognition. There was no evidence of curses involved, so all Satoru did was give his two-cents and left. However, he'd been a little bugged by what he saw ever since, though he ended up pushing it aside to focus on his students.

Now suddenly, a flaming corpse dog showed up and combusted before he could get anything useful out of it. The kind of fire that would have left humans like those workers charred to the middle, where not even the fat remain. This was no coincidence, and Satoru knew Ciel had the answers. She wouldn't be so easily forthcoming, but he was more than willing to play the long game if he had to.

"Or maybe she took a liking to you guys," Satoru reached over and messed Yuji's ruffled pink hair. "She's sort of a recluse when it comes to her job. You must have really impressed her if she's willing to come all this way."

"You think so?" Yuji asked curiously.

"What I want to know is what her skin routine is. How does someone stay sixteen?" Assuming her teacher and Megumi weren't messing with them. It was the way Gojo-sensei phrased it that confused Nobara. What, did that girl stumbled upon the fountain of youth or something? (Because Nobara will make damn sure she'd get Ciel to tell her where it is).

Satoru hummed as he looked up at the sky. "I haven't figured it out myself yet. Doesn't seem like she's doing it on purpose either. Think of it as like being stuck in the same year no matter how many days pass. Her body's frozen in time, like Captain America! Biologically speaking and physically, she's still a teenager. Of course, that doesn't stop her from acting "mature" wherever she goes."

Satoru gave a playful grin. "On the plus side, Megumi's got a chance with her now! You should have seen how he was the first time she was around-"

"Oi..." Megumi sends a dirty look to his teacher. The threat behind his glare enough to ward off curses alone.

"No way! Is it like that, Fushiguro-san?!" Instead of being answered, Yuji was promptly kicked in the shin by Megumi.

After shouting "What the heck!", Yuji's eyes then lowered to the flower vase. "Still, that's kind of depressing, isn't it? It sounds like she can't get close to anyone."

Not being able to grow up and follow friends through graduation. Or be seen as equals amongst peers. Watching as everything and everyone around her changes, while she remained the same. It was like being left behind despite walking the same pace as everyone else.

"Can't imagine how lonely that must feel," Yuji said, a hint of somber in his tone. There was an air of silence over his class. Megumi and Nobara couldn't come up with a response, as if in quiet agreement to this realization.

Satoru was impressed at how quickly Yuji was able to grasp that after only just hearing about it. The man gave a slight smirk as he strode up to Yuji's side. "That's true. On the other hand, you're carrying a cursed soul that's over a thousand years old. Who knows? Maybe that's something the two of you can bond over."

Ciel gently adjusted the bouquet of flowers in her arms, mindful of its petals to not loosen them from their stems. The weather was sunny, with her glasses glinting under the light. Summer was the season when most predators of the night wouldn't dare step out for risk of being turned to cinders, not only from the blazing sun but also the exorcists that hunt those predators.

However, it was also this time when vampires are at their most cunning. And it was this that Ciel must keep an eye out for. If one couldn't go out for their meal, then luring in their prey would do. Recruiters, salesmen, a simple smile of a charming persona. There were many faces a vampire could wear that could lower the guards of those unsuspecting enough to, subconsciously, entrust their lives with, even for a moment.

There were many pitches that would make for a decent cover-up. Job opportunities for the poor. A warm shelter for the homeless. A model agency for the vain. In a city as large as Tokyo, any place would make the perfect trap. Vacant buildings. Subways. Schools. The list was endless. And with so many living here, it's almost impossible to keep track of those who go missing, and dictate if their disappearances was due to personal reasons, criminals, or the work of a dead apostle.

Luckily, Ciel arrived at an early stage, which will give her enough time to prepare and have all her special equipment imported. If not for her connection to Roa, it would have taken much longer, perhaps another year or so, for the Church to pinpoint his location here in Japan. Ciel reasoned it'll be even faster for her to find out who Roa's host currently was. There were multiple families, companies, all those that met Roa's criteria to cross out. A list which she'll need to compile first before she can begin her investigation. She'd given herself an approximate date by which she must locate him. Sometime in the fall, early October at the latest. Any longer, and this city would become a graveyard.

It was regrettable that even at her most efficient and prompt arrival, there will still be victims. It was purely by luck that she came across the first one - the first to be acknowledged by the public. If not for those curses crowding together, lingering in that alleyway, Ciel likely wouldn't have founded the body so quickly.

Even at this quiet time, Ciel's mind was full of work, planning, and future arrangements to be made. For those unfortunate enough to come across Roa and his servants will need as much.

Maybe it would be best to request shaman aid… As soon as she considered it, she thought of Megumi and Yuji, and immediately discarded the idea. No. I cannot let anyone else get involved.

Never mind the potential backlash that would bring. All she was doing here was establishing their respective boundaries, and then be on her way.

And also have a taste of curry.

"Oh! Hey Ciel." Yuji stared wide-eyed as he placed the flower vase by the steps, crouching in front of the mausoleum.

"Hey! Funny running into you here!" The perpetrator of this early encounter popped out with a big grin on his face.

Ciel looked stunned at Satoru's appearance, along with his class standing in the cemetery. She spotted the disgruntled look of Nobara at Satoru's loudness. The clear discomfort of Megumi, grasping the back of his neck as he looked away, realizing his teacher's ploy. Lastly, there was the oblivious spectator Yuji, who was just as surprised to see Ciel here.

Contrary to the thought that Satoru intended this to happen (it really was by chance) it seemed both Yuji and Ciel had the same idea. They came to pay their respects.

Ciel's surprise eventually faded, and it was replaced with narrow-eyed displeasure. Sweating, Yuji nervously bit his lip. She's mad.

Well, there go his chances.

"So how about that crepe, huh?" Satoru, on the other hand, proceeded to not give a shit.

After placing her flowers outside the mausoleum, Ciel was prepared to leave right then and there. However.

I got us some good seats at the cafe. They're having an all you can eat curry special~

Ciel wasn't the least bit moved by Satoru's (tempting) offer. She felt stubborn enough to just keep walking. Ultimately, though, she knew the futility of leaving since he'll simply bug her to no end. Which is why she only made it three steps before she stopped and turned around.

It'd be a waste not to follow through said reservations anyway. If there's one thing Ciel prized, it was being punctual.

So here they were now. Sitting inside a private booth of a fairly popular cafe in Harajuku. They were in the corner of the establishment with a view of the entire cafe, the atmosphere lively, warm and full of scented caffeine.

"It's a new low that you would snoop through your student's phone just to get to me," Ciel admonished coldly as she held the wrapped curry crepe in her hands. "How much have you impersonated him, I wonder?"

"The last bit was all Kugisaki," Satoru threw Nobara under the bus, earning a shocked look from his student. He took a spoonful of the strawberry parfait on his plate. "The rest was Itadori. I told him not to mention I'd be tagging along, or else you wouldn't have shown up!"

The students, teacher, and executor sat at a large round table with plates full of treats on top. Most of the curry delights, pastries, and other desserts were in front of Ciel, who sat alone at one end while the shamans sat at the other. The sight of so many curry in front of Ciel was a little overwhelming, it baffled Yuji.She must have really good metabolism, he thought.

"I wanted to have a serious discussion with your students," Ciel said frankly. "Including you would have made this more tedious than necessary."

She really means business. Nobara kind of respected that, sipping her bubble tea. She was still a little annoyed that this girl pretended to be helpless at the cemetery, though, leaving Nobara and Yuji running around like headless chickens.

"It's gonna come back to me anyway. Might as well skip to it," Satoru said. He slouched back into his seat. "So what brings you to Tokyo? Is your company finally deciding to expand here? You know how the Roman Empire ended, right?"

"I'm here on official Church business." 'Unofficial' for Jujutsu Sorcerers, perhaps. Ciel added unapologetically, "I'm sure you're already aware. What happened at the cemetery was abnormal, and I intend to investigate the root cause of it."

"The Church could have sent any ordinary executor," Satoru pointed out, extending his finger towards her. "Instead, they sent you. It's also convenient timing, what with everything that's been happening lately."

He scooped another spoonful of his parfait. "I haven't told anyone about you yet, not even Yaga-sensei. I figured I'd hear you out first."

"I'm not obligated to tell you anything," Ciel finished her crepe and lifted her cup of green tea. "That being said, there are some things you should know. I'd rather our assignments don't end up interfering with one another, and there isn't much that can stop you if you're really determined to try."

After a sip of her tea, Ciel revealed to the class. "We've received word that a vampire has appeared in this city."

A startled gasp escaped two of Satoru's students.

"Are you serious?" Yuji remembered the horrific scene of the living dead chasing after them and his eyes widened. "Then, what happened at the cemetery was-!"

"Dammit! I came to Tokyo at the worst time!" Nobara grasped her head. So much for late-night shopping. Yuji gave her a deadpanned stare, suspecting she was worried for the wrong reason.

"I'm certain what happened back then was the work of a vampire," Ciel calmly said as she lowered her tea. "It's concerning enough that curses were also present on the scene."

"It is?" Yuji asked, cutting a piece of his chocolate cake slice with a fork.

"Curses and corpses don't usually come together," Satoru explained beside him, holding up his spoon. "It's always one following the other. More often than not, a zombie leaves the scene, and it's curses that show up after."

"The dead were once living people, after all," Ciel followed up. "Due to the resuscitated stimulation within the limbic system of the temporal lobe (Yuji: "the what?") - a.k.a, the brain (Yuji: "oh."), they leave behind an emotional residue. Regrets, sorrow, anger. It's bound to attract or give birth to new curses - what we call wraiths in some cases."

Yuji looked disturbed by that info, as if to say something was still "alive" within those zombies. Guilt started to churn at his gut, but before it would last...

"Of course, that doesn't necessarily mean that these "zombies" - as you call them - are alive in any way," Ciel added, looking rather focused on Yuji as if sensing his unease. "Think of it as like listening to a phone message left by someone who just died. The actual person themselves are long gone. Even if you have all the materials and information, you can't resurrect the soul."

Not unless you're Roa, Ciel kept this fact to herself. She carefully observed Yuji's expression which seemed to soften at her words, though only a little.

"'For what could equal the value of a human soul?'" Satoru stated in a low dramatic tone, quoting an Anime. His voice picked back up playfully. "Something like that. Right?"

"Yes." Rather then get into the complexities of the subject, else they'd be here all day, Ciel nodded at the man. "Putting it this way, the dead don't have souls. Hence why they're so driven to hunt the living. They seek to rob others of their life force. The same can be said about curses."

Yuji's curiosity was piqued as he took a bite of his cake. "So what makes it weird that both show up? Wouldn't it make sense for them to work together?"

"Not that we'd want that to happen," Nobara muttered as she bit into her pink macaron.

"It's not impossible, but it is rare," Ciel answered. "The reason being their targets - or in other words, their victims. If a curse were to show up while the dead was still around, they're more likely to attack each other. This is because humans are their main source of nutrients. It'll be like throwing a rabbit between a wolf and a hyena. Naturally, they're going to fight over it. It doesn't help that curses often attack humans, and the dead are as close to resembling humans as you can get."

She then went for her own slice of cake, carving a small piece from it with her fork. "But instead, it seemed like those dead and curses were co-existing inside that mausoleum. It's an anomaly. I'm not certain if this will be the only time we'll see them gathered, but regardless, if a Dead Apostle is involved, I must investigate it."

"A Dead Apostle..." Yuji uttered the word. First spirits, now vampires. He wondered if werewolves existed too.

"Still doesn't explain you coming across Itadori. Twice now, apparently," Satoru smirked. "Unless a little birdie told you something special about him. I could have arranged a meeting for you guys if you were that interested."

He puts a hand by his mouth and subtly pointed to Yuji. "Just so you know, he totally feels the same way about you." (Yuji: "Did you say something, Sensei?")

Ciel did not react to the humor, and Satoru continued, "The Holy Church's presence isn't as strong here as any other place outside Japan. Can't say I'm surprised they asked you to monitor us. This might just be the opportunity they were looking for."

"I've no interest to intercede your school's authority," Ciel said, finishing her cake. "I'm only here as a courtesy. My priority is to locate the vampire that has taken refuge in Tokyo. Once I eliminate the threat, I'll be leaving Japan."

"How long do you think you'll stay for?" Megumi asked, holding a soft drink in between his hands.

"It's difficult to say," Ciel began. She carefully explained, "I've only just arrived. So far, this vampire has been very elusive. It may take me a while to unearth his or her location."

"Why don't we help each other then?" Yuji immediately offered. He looked at his teacher. "If curses are involved, shouldn't we look into it too?"

He's certainly diligent. The fact that he even suggested it confirmed something for Ciel. This boy was a rookie.

"Hmm..." Satoru hummed in thought, resting his chin over his backhand, his elbow against the table. "Probably, but outside of what happened at the cemetery, I doubt we'll be able to. We're stretched as it is with both work and the limited number of sorcerers we have available. Sure, there's you three, but you've still got a long way to go, like keeping yourself composed under serious pressure."

"Ah..." Nobara and Yuji looked embarrassed, recalling their unrestrained panic at the mausoleum.

"Plus, I doubt Ciel here would be willing to share in the work, am I right?" Satoru addressed Ciel.

After a pause, Ciel answered, "More or less. This is another reason why I wanted to approach your class. I wanted to warn you of a foreign enemy on your turf, and to be mindful of your surroundings should you ever go out at night. Considering your school only specializes in exorcising curses, it'd be problematic if your students were to stumble upon another incident like that mausoleum again."

Next time, she might not be around to help them. Ciel said so as much.

"Sounding a little high and mighty there..." Nobara whispered to Yuji.

"Yeah. Can't argue with that..." Yuji whispered back, side-eyeing with her.

Ciel's ears were sharp, and she cleared her throat. "I'm not demeaning you or your work as shamans. I'm just saying that fighting a vampire is very different from fighting a curse. While I can concede to Gojo-sensei's strength, it would be better if you let me handle this."

"It still surprises me that a vampire like that is around. They've never gone this far out East before." None that Satoru knew.

"It's not uncommon that a vampire would go so far as to traverse seas to find new hunting grounds," Ciel said, already finishing her second slice of cake, which amazed Yuji and Nobara. "Likely, they ran out of "food" in their homeland, and Japan was the next closest destination they could reach."

"That's pretty callous. Calling people "food"," Nobara said with a grimace, it almost made her not want to finish her sweets (almost).

Ciel nodded. "I agree. Unfortunately, that's all vampires ever see humans as. They perceive us as no different from cattle, animals to be killed and eaten."

"Couldn't they look for other stuff to eat - er, drink?" Yuji asked with a frown. "Blood donations are a thing. They don't necessarily have to hurt or kill anyone, right?"

It might sound a little hopeful, especially with all the vampire flicks Yuji's seen. Still, if vampires were real, wouldn't there realistically be alternatives available for them?

Ciel paused for a brief moment. "There is that option. However, not all vampires do so. Not because it's impossible for them, but because it wouldn't be "entertaining" for them."

Her words quietly struck Yuji, leaving him stunned as she continued. "The Dead Apostles are cursed with an immortal body that, in reality, is constantly under threat of breaking down unless they have a means to replenish themselves. They need blood to sustain their own life. However, it's not just about survival."

She closed her eyes. "Having lived long lives, many dead apostles sought ways to satiate their bloodlust. They indulge in their Vampiric Impulses, an innate "curse" that corrodes their existence, until they're nothing more than beasts. They lose any respect for life, and start terrorizing humans for the sport of it. Gorging themselves with the blood of hundreds, if not thousands of victims."

It was a gulp-worthy statement that unnerved Yuji. Even Nobara looked chilled by it.

"This is why you must be careful if you're ever confronted with one, or their servants," Ciel opened her eyes at this conclusion. "The company I work for are experts in this matter. We made it our mission to exterminate these monsters, performing our duties by working in the shadows, all for the sake of preserving humanity - as well in the name of our Lord and God."

She really is a vampire hunter. Like a Holy Crusader for justice, the kind Yuji read about in history or Shonen. He really wanted to help her out now, even if she told them not to. "So those zombies we fought. They were sent by this Dead Apostle?"

"Most likely. Even for an experienced sorcerer, to summon that many dead out of their coffins, it could only be the work of a vampire." Although, to say that the dead apostle "sent" those unfortunate vessels wouldn't be correct. More like they were tucked away. It's possible they were triggered to move after Ciel entered the mausoleum, or Satoru's students had gotten too close.

Or perhaps when curses started inhabiting them… Ciel contemplated.

"I thought vampires make underlings by sucking other people's blood," Nobara pointed out. Yuji eagerly nodded beside her, wondering the same thing. "Are they any different from the ones we see on TV?"

"Somewhat. There is some truth in television. They're weak to sunlight just like in the stories, and it's as you said, they're able to turn others by sucking their blood. There's actually a few extra steps to this. For starters-"

The conversation took a turn as Ciel began to explain the biology and behaviorism of a dead apostle, like holding a tutoring session for the class.

Satoru and Megumi watched from the side, already partially knowledgeable in the subject. Satoru even more so. The teacher gave a little smile as his two newest students seemed invested over the lecture, giving a question or two despite training to hunt down curses specifically.

He couldn't blame them for their curiosity. Ciel also seemed a little pleased to share what she knew. If this keeps up, they might end this on an amicable note. Maybe even keep in touch afterwards.

I wonder if she's here by herself. Satoru took a bite of his light blue macaron. Executors usually come in pairs, and Ciel's normally a lone wolf. If she does have a partner, they probably won't be here until much later.

It didn't surprise him in the least that Ciel was able to bypass their "windows". As an expert infiltrator, inconspicuous was an executor's defining trait, even if that meant having to tediously wait on every import vital to their mission. It's likely she hadn't brought a lot with her, except a suitcase and her hidden black keys. She couldn't afford to turn too many heads.

As soon as the elders realize, they'll want to try forcing her out. In a body bag or otherwise – not that it would matter. Dead Apostle or not, they'll want someone who they could keep tabs on. Just having the Seventh Member of the Burial Agency around would be enough to make anyone feel antsy.

It's best I don't let them know for now. At most, he'll tell Yaga about her. In the meantime...

"-A vampire's favorite victim, for instance, is someone who's been "untouched". A virgin woman is a popular example. The purity in their blood being nutritious enough to last them for quite a while."

"Where's the nearest store that sells turtlenecks? Actually, scratch that, what about neck guards?" Nobara asked abruptly as she looked through her phone.

"You're really freaked out by this." Not that Yuji could blame her.

"You should be concerned too, Yuji-kun," Ciel then stated, reaching for the curry dumplings next. "With your physical capabilities, you would make a pretty good vassal for a dead apostle. A shame you wouldn't be able to taste food like curry or rice the same, though."

"So does it come in all sizes?" Yuji looked over Nobara's phone, oblivious to her annoyance at his peeking. "Whoa! Look at all those patterns."

"You really can find anything in Tokyo!" Nobara was amazed.

Those two sure got along fast, Megumi noted as he sipped his soda. He'd join in but he wasn't all for the tomfoolery his classmates were into.

Ciel stared for a minute, watching the students scrolled through various styles of neck braces on Nobara's phone. "You seemed to not know about this topic that much."

Her observation took Nobara and Yuji by surprise.

"Although your main focus is on curses, this is typically something anyone raised in sorcery should be aware of. Are either of your families from a mage lineage?"

"Ah. Well..." Nobara was the first to answer, scratching under her hair. "My grandma was a sorcerer before she retired. She trained me, but she never really got into anything that wasn't about curses."

Unnecessary, was what Nobara would have imagine her grandma saying. Well, there might have been one instance the old woman made a passing comment. Nobara should have probably pressed more about it.

"I never asked that many questions. Plus, I'm one of the few who ever set foot outside my village." Aside from her dead-beat mom that is. "I hadn't any outside interaction to do with jujutsu sorcery until I met these guys."

Regarding to do with other monsters, Nobara would have been just fine not knowing about them. She probably wouldn't care to know either. If it's nothing to do with curses, or weren't even a problem in Japan, why bother? She only decided to care now because her life had been at stake, and she got swept up in the moment when Yuji started asking about it.

"I see. And you?" Ciel turned the question over to Yuji. His brown eyes lightened as she addressed him. "I understand you only had your grandfather, but are you sure there wasn't anyone else? Aunts, uncles, even cousins?"

Surely there had been someone who checked in on Yuji to oversee his progress and unique condition. Although Ciel was not entirely privy to all the sorcerer clans within Jujutsu Society, she knew enough about their major players.

Theoretically, the only clan who would have the resources and skills to produce a vessel, one that could withstand a corrupted spirit, would be one of the main three. If not at least benefactors, then a less renowned family. An individual like Yuji with his raw talent, it'd be hard to believe he'd come from a normal bloodline.

"No. I don't have any other family like that," Yuji answered simply. "Gramps wasn't a sorcerer either. Not that he told me. I'm pretty sure I would have noticed."

"Your grandfather wasn't a sorcerer?" Ciel frowned.

"Itadori wasn't raised in a world like ours," Megumi was the one to explain. "He came from a normal family and town. He only just started training to be a shaman this week."

What?

"That's..." Ciel cupped her chin and stared thoughtfully. She couldn't find the right word to describe this. Impossible, perhaps? Certainly unusual. "Then, you're a civilian? How did you become involved?"

"It's kind of a wild story," Yuji started vaguely. He pondered where to begin.

"Nothing so complicated. Only an idiot like this guy would find a cursed object on the ground, and the first thing he thought to do was eat it," Nobara said before sipping her drink.

Ciel's eyes sharpened. Her look straightened Yuji's and Nobara's back, jolted by her – scary – expression.

"Please explain."

"Uhhh." Am I in trouble?

Yuji was understandably nervous. Pressured by Ciel's intimidating aura, he began telling the events that led up to his recruitment. From finding the cursed finger, to the incident that happened at his school. The decisive moment when he chose to consume that finger to save his friends and Megumi, leading to Sukuna's reawakening.

"The guy's kind of a hassle," Yuji described Sukuna, remembering the curse's spiel of starting a massacre - specifically women and children. "It doesn't sit right with me that curses like that exist out there. Consuming Sukuna's fingers is something only I can do. I get what that means for me, but if I want people to have a proper death like my grandpa did, then this is something I have to do."

Yuji's words hung in the air, distinguished from the bustling noise of the café. Nobara and Megumi looked impressed by his declaration, and Satoru smiled.

"Yuji-kun."

The only one who seemed displeased by his words was Ciel.

"I'm sorry, but what you said was completely naïve."

The bluntness of her response startled Yuji. He mildly gawked at Ciel, "That's kind of harsh."

"I'm being truthful. Exorcism is nothing to take light of, regardless of your noble intentions." Her impassivity grew colder as Ciel removed her hands from the table, crossing her arms. "While I respect your efforts to fulfill your grandfather's wish, I doubt this is what he meant when he told you to help people. This isn't something ordinary citizens should throw themselves into."

"I mean, I'm not experienced like Fushiguro or Kugisaki, but I can't just ignore the things happening around me," Yuji argued. "I'm not trying to use gramp's wish as an excuse either - not anymore. But-"

"It's not about having experience, or whether you're willing to or not," Ciel sharply cuts through Yuji's response. "What you want to achieve is impossible. The world is not soft on those who carry such ideals, nor will it be softened by them. No amount of training will ever change this. So long as you walk the path of an exorcist, you will always be met with unnatural deaths and disasters. That is the nature of these curses."

"I'm not underestimating curses, believe me," Yuji defended himself, his brows beginning to furrow slightly. "As long as Sukuna's part of the problem, and people are getting hurt because of him, I'll do my part in all this. There's no way I can pretend this has nothing to do with me."

"So you're going to hunt down every single curse out there, is that it? In Japan? The whole world?" Ciel couldn't help but let out a mockery of such a notion. "Even if Sukuna is dealt with, simply dealing with one curse, however powerful, does not guarantee anything. All you're doing is leaving space for another monster to take his place. It could be another curse, a vampire, or even a deranged human being. No matter what you do, there will always be monsters who will deny human beings the right to live their lives and die a peaceful death. You're chasing a dream you will never reach. A dream that will destroy you bit by bit. A dream that entity you're carrying will no doubt spit at your face for."

From the side, Nobara, Megumi, and Satoru watched the argument unfold with tight-lipped expressions. Yuji's classmates, especially, didn't know whether to jump in or not. Regardless if they wanted to, there was no room for them. They could only observe as Ciel and Yuji kept debating, loud enough that even the other customers looked over their shoulders.

"But isn't that what you're fighting for too? If there isn't an end goal to this, doesn't that make what we're doing seem pointless?" Yuji countered, getting an "oh snap!" from Nobara for this. "You couldn't have joined if it didn't mean anything. Why else did you become an exorcist?"

What will you do? The voice of a woman echoed in the back of Ciel's mind. You. Who possessed his knowledge?

"I have my own reasons," Ciel curtly answered, a subtle deflection that refused to elaborate, "It's true that I fight to protect humanity, but I'm also a realist. I'm fully aware that our war against the Dead Apostle is a long one, perhaps endless. As much as I'd like to fantasize a world without monsters, an organization like ours would not have lasted this long if something like that was even remotely possible."

"But it is something you guys think about, right? Look, I know I've just started, but at least if and when I'm executed, it'll mean something. Everyone who would have been hurt by Sukuna would be safe."

Nobara seemed to flinch at that, while Megumi looked deep in thought. Satoru, meanwhile, remained unphased. Although, his smile was certainly gone.

"And what about you? For someone who wants everyone to have a proper death, you certainly have some skewed logic to exclude yourself," Ciel said, a tight closure of her clenched fist she barely managed to hide. "'Dying so to keep a curse from wreaking havoc'. When will that happen, I wonder? Before you turn forty? Before thirty? Depending on how quickly you'll gather those fingers, you might even be executed by the time you're twenty. Do you really think that curse inside you is going to sit still when that happens? Wait patiently for his own execution? Maybe he hopes that after you eat so many of his cursed fingers, your brain will turn into mush, enough for him to take over your body."

"I can keep him contained. I've done it before."

"And what are you going to do if one day, by some misfortune, you lose all control? No one could sustain themselves after consuming so many cursed objects. You wouldn't even be human anymore. Not a half-curse at that. Are you going to rely on your classmates and teacher to put you down like an animal? That hardly sounds like a proper way to go."

"Hey. Take it easy," Nobara at last found her voice. This was getting out of hand now.

Yuji's nostrils flared a little. His curled fists pressed against the table. It honestly didn't sound that great, but he was too proud to stand down now. "That's fine with me! If I can't help it, then I'll leave my fate to these guys. As long as it's me who-"

"That's the thing, while you may not believe this has nothing to do with you, this isn't just about you," Ciel said with a stone cold gaze. "You can say it's about them, about the people you want to help, but what you're not considering is the possibility of there being someone who will end up hurt regardless of what you're trying to do. And in your case, it could very well become fatal."

"Senpai," Megumi tried to interject, but there was no stopping Ciel as she said the following.

"Answer me this. If you suddenly lost control, and if your goal is to prevent innocent people from being killed by curses, then what would you do if you're the reason for their unnatural deaths? Would you still raise your head and call yourself a sorcerer then?"

It was a question that stopped Yuji cold. He tried to think of something. A response or even a denial, but no matter what he could come up with, the answer wouldn't leave him.

Because it's not something he ever wanted to imagine happening. If he did, he knew he'd never be able to forgive himself.

You're a strong a kid. So help others.

No Jujutsu Sorcerer dies without regrets!

I don't want to regret the way that I lived!

If you're the reason for their unnatural deaths.

If he was the reason, would he still call himself a jujutsu sorcerer?

In the end, he couldn't give an answer.

"You haven't thought this through at all," Ciel said. "Nothing in life goes the way we want. The sooner you see that, the less suffering it will bring. But then again, sorcerers are powered by their negative feelings, but I don't believe that's what you had in mind when you've set foot on this path. If you can't understand that, then you shouldn't have to try so hard to kill yourself for others' sake. You're better off letting your teacher and classmates do the work."

Ciel dug into her pockets and firmly placed her payment on the table. She stood up from the booth. "Give up on being a sorcerer. You don't have the capacity for it."

Ciel turned from the table. "This will be the last time we'll speak. I have my duties as executor to answer, so it's best if we don't associate any more after this. It'll only impede my investigations."

"H-Hey!" Nobara stood up, but her call was ignored as Ciel walked away, moving through the crowd and left the cafe. "What's her problem?!"

Just because Ciel saved them didn't mean she gets to walk all over them. As much as Nobara griped on the guy, even she felt bad for Yuji. That blue-haired girl was just plain rude.

I probably should have seen that coming. Satoru looked back at Yuji who had an almost lost look on him. From a third party's perspective, it would seem like he just got dumped on.

He reached over and grasped Yuji's shoulder, successfully getting the boy out of his stupor. "Why don't you guys finish eating? I'm going to take a walk."

"Huh?" Yuji watched his teacher scoot across the seat.

"Feel free to order something else. I'll be back soon." Before anyone would respond, Satoru stood up from the table and headed towards the front door.

"You better not be leaving us with the bill here. I'm putting your name under it!" Nobara warned him, unafraid by the curious and concerned looks of others, especially the employees.

Megumi looked at Yuji for a moment. He then turned to where his teacher went and also began scooting out of his seat. "I'm going too."

His announcement surprised his classmates, and Megumi left without another word. Thinking he and their teacher were trying to pass gas, Nobara slumped back into her seat with a sigh. "Geez. That was rough."

Yuji didn't respond, still silently contemplating to himself.

"I have nothing more to say to you, Gojo-san." Ciel's steps were unyielding as she crossed the sidewalk. Despite this, Satoru easily caught up to her.

"I can tell by your tone that you're angry with me." Satoru inserted his thumbs into his pockets as he walked alongside Ciel. "You really hounded Itadori back there. It's not like he had any other choice."

"No. You simply gave him two choices. Be immediately executed or become a sorcerer. Never mind he's practically an amateur who only just learned the existence of curses and mages a few days ago. He's never even used cursed energy, has he? That's why he has that sword instead."

"It's a work in progress. The kid's an exception, and after seeing how tough he is, you can't expect me not to take him in."

"Yes. And I can only imagine how tightly you must have twisted the arms of your superiors to allow this. He should have been monitored in a secure location, not be sent to the field immediately. Are you so desperate for more students that you would risk the lives of others for your own ambitions?"

"Only if they're someone who has the potential. Like you, for instance."

"If this is another recruitment ploy, my answer remains the same. I have no interest in becoming a sorcerer."

"I figured. Especially when you're in such a bad mood right now."

She didn't even finish her curry. That's how much Ciel was fuming. Satoru looked up at the sky. "I still can't figure out why you hate using your powers so much. You could be a lot stronger than the other executors you're ranked below. Even stronger than some sorcerers I know."

"I only use it under special circumstances and when the situation is extremely dire. But this isn't about me." Ciel stopped at a corner. The traffic light preventing her from crossing yet. "Are you really going to make him into a shaman? You realize that if the situation proves strenuous enough, it could risk freeing that curse. If he was someone you just found, there's no way of knowing what his limitations are."

"True, but I have faith in him. He also has his classmates looking out for him. They've only just met, but I think they'll make a pretty good team." When Satoru saw her unconvinced look, he added, "I'm not gonna throw Yuji to the wolves on his first day, have him fight some bears along the way - although that'd be pretty interesting to see."

He didn't get a chuckle out of that, and Satoru continued, "We'll build his tolerance little by little. Once he knows how to channel cursed energy, we won't have to worry about him losing control."

He gave a little smile. "I also wouldn't mind having someone like you keep a close eye on him. You'll definitely have to now."

Ciel gave an exasperated sigh. "So that was your plan. You truly are a selfish man."

She swore she wouldn't get too involved. To not be sidetracked. But after finding out about this, Ciel really had no choice. A rookie in every sense that's carrying a highly dangerous cursed spirit? It's practically a landmine they were standing next to. Even if the fuse had not been lit, one misstep was all it would take to blow everything to smithereens.

"Not entirely," Satoru said. "I do want to see him grow. This way, Yuji would still have a chance at life. And since the Church put you up to monitoring him out of "divine duty", I figured you were going to do this anyway."

"That doesn't mean I'll be observing him twenty-four hours a day." Ciel may have to observe him longer than planned, but all the same. "I do have other responsibilities."

"Then maybe we should consider working together." Satoru turned his head slightly, seeing Megumi finally reached them. "This is shaman territory. It'll be easier for you if you had our resources to back you up."

"You know that would be impossible," Ciel said. "Interfering with sorcerer business would only incite conflict between our groups. Even in my position, I cannot overstep too far."

"Then it's a good thing you're great at lying your way through everything. Being able to sneak around shouldn't be a problem for you. Besides, you pretty much crossed that line the moment you met Yuji, not to mention saving him and his classmate from those zombies and curses."

Ciel couldn't come to a rebuttal at that counterpoint. Indeed, the boundary between sorcerer and executor had already been trespassed. Now was only a matter of time before the homeowners were made aware of an infiltrator in their midst. Once that happens, heads will bud until both sides bleed.

"Yuji's fate has already been decided," Satoru declared, "But it doesn't have to be that way. He's also kind of grown on me. Even when I offered that he should sit this one out, he's made up his mind. He's pretty stubborn like you and me. It'd be interesting to see how far he goes. Sure, he's got some screws loose, but that's what we look for in jujutsu sorcerers."

The traffic light had already changed, but neither of them moved.

"Hiding him away to be looked at while stuffing him with cursed fingers is no way to live, and I'm sure deep down that's not what you'd want for him either. It's obvious to me that you're starting to care about him too. That's why I don't mind if either of us are there to watch over him, make sure he doesn't get ahead of himself."

He turned from the path. "Of course, there's me who can easily help with the reins, but like you said, I'm not always here. I'm a big enough man to admit when he needs a little help every now and then, and if it means having someone like you around, I'd be happy to turn a blind eye from everything you're doing here."

He patted Megumi's shoulder as Satoru started to walk back. "If you ever change your mind, I'm just a phone call away."

Ciel and Megumi watched as the strongest sorcerer returned to the cafe. The girl turned back to the street corner. "I really don't know how you put up with him for so long."

Megumi walked closer and stood next to Ciel.

"I don't," he answered frankly. "He just has a habit of doing things without other people's consideration. He's not malicious, but he is annoying to deal with."

His expression softened, "He's right about Itadori, though. Whether we want him to or not, that guy is gonna force his way into this. Even when I told that idiot to stay out of it, he didn't listen."

Ciel looked at Megumi as he went on. "I see where you're coming from, Senpai. I wouldn't want Itadori to get involved either. But if it wasn't for him, I'd be dead. Me and his classmates. It might sound like I'm backing him as a favor, but that's not it. The fact is, I don't want him to die."

He inserted his hands into his pockets. "He's a good guy. I'm sure you could tell already. Even when he found out who you really are, he still came to see you. I think you guys would be really good friends if you let it."

Ciel thought over his words as she stared out into the streets. "I may have burned that bridge when I decided to admonish him for his goal."

"I don't think he'd hold it against you. He's pretty simple like that. Even more so with people."

Without a fog in his lenses, Yuji saw others for who they really were.

"Give him a chance," Megumi said. "I know you have your duties as an executor. I only ask if you could give him time."

To prove himself. To live. To prevent others from taking his life.

Perhaps all of the above.

Ciel didn't answer for a moment, giving into deep thought.

"Are you still bothered by what she said?" Nobara asked.

Yuji was slumped over the table, slowly drinking his iced tea through the bent straw between his fingers. Nobara pointed at him with her remaining macaron. "Don't get depressed on me. I'm still trying to enjoy my meal here, you might as well do too."

Yuji took the treat from her hand and bit it. "I'm not depressed. Just thinking."

"That wasn't for you. You owe me another macaron." Nobara decided to get her revenge by snatching a cookie from Yuji's plate.

Yuji let her, still in his pondering. His mind overplayed the things Ciel asked him, and his considered responses that led nowhere. He understood what she was saying, but whether anyone would have told him to or not, he couldn't just sit aside and do nothing.

She didn't have to be so harsh about it, though. He liked her better when she was cheerful and sweet.

"Yo! I'm back," Satoru announced, slipping back into the booth as his students asked where he'd been and about Megumi. "Don't worry about it. Fushiguro will catch up with us later (Nobara: "It's gas, isn't it?") Definitely. So! Who wants to visit Tokyo Tower after this?"

Nobara raised her hand as Yuji, still slumped against the table, raised his, not entirely disheartened to miss out on all the sight seeing. Satoru looked over at Yuji and smiled in mirth.

"Don't take what Ciel-san said too personally," Satoru's words picked up Yuji's head. "She's tough even on her coworkers, but that's just her way of showing she cares. She's like a porcupine. As much as you want to cuddle that cute face of hers, she can be a little prickly." (Nobara: "That sounded suspicious. Don't say it like that again.")

"Mm." Yuji sat up straighter. "To be honest, it did make me wonder. I never really thought that far ahead. Now, I feel like I want to take this even more seriously."

As long as it was him who answered to everything, he'd never want to kill anything that wasn't a curse. If he did, Yuji was certain he'll lose meaning in all of it. In what he was fighting for.

No Jujutsu Sorcerer dies without regret. The words of Yaga echoed in his mind. A foreboding reminder.

"I don't want to quit being a sorcerer," Yuji decided. "I won't sit back while everyone else is risking their lives."

"There you go. That wasn't so hard, was it?" Nobara said as she ate the cookie. Satoru expressed his approval, slipping his hand for Yuji's plate and stole the last cookie for himself. Yuji was surprisingly okay with this, too busy reaffirming himself to really pay attention.

"I look forward to seeing your resolve bear fruit." Satoru took a bite of the cookie. "Just keep on exorcising curses and saving lives. You'll get there eventually."

Yuji nodded, reinvigorated as he adjusted the Slaughter Demon at his back. His eyes shifted over to the mostly empty plates across from him, where Ciel had sat. There were still a few curry dumplings and sweets left. It was a shame he never got to pay for her order like he promised. That's one little regret he'll have to carry with him.

Author's Note: I recently looked under Jujutsu Kaisen TV Tropes Crossover Fanfic tab. Were there always that many fics?! If there were, I can't believe I missed them! Awesome!

I'm pulled back and forth between working on new chapters for this story and my other stories. My mind's all over the place. Just got to do what I can.

Thanks for reading! Look out for any updates. Otherwise, I'll update the changes on Archive of our Own and Spacebattles. Or I might update here anyway. Again, I'm all over the place...

Please leave a review and let me know what you think! PM me for any questions and etc.