A Cursed Blessing

Posted originally on the Archive of Our Own at http://archiveofourown.org/works/49796110.

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Archive Warning: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Category: M/M
Fandoms: 呪術廻戦 | Jujutsu Kaisen (Anime), 呪術廻戦 | Jujutsu Kaisen (Manga)
Relationships: Fushiguro Megumi/Sukuna | Ryoumen Sukuna, Minor or Background
Relationship(s)
Characters: Fushiguro Megumi, Gojo Satoru, Sukuna | Ryoumen Sukuna, Kugisaki
Nobara, Itadori Yuuji, Original Characters, Uraume (Jujutsu Kaisen)
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Reincarnation, Omega Verse, Alpha Sukuna |
Ryoumen Sukuna, Omega Fushiguro Megumi, Memory Loss, Parental
Gojo Satoru, Alpha Gojo Satoru, Alpha Itadori Yuuji, Omega Kugisaki
Nobara, Alpha Zenin Maki, Aged-Up Character(s), Nonbinary Uraume
(Jujutsu Kaisen), They/Them Pronouns for Uraume (Jujutsu Kaisen)
Language: English
Series: Part 1 of Blessings and Curses
Collections: Anonymous
Stats: Published: 2023-09-02 Updated: 2025-01-10 Words: 71,087 Chapters:
47/?
 A Cursed Blessing
by Anonymous

Summary

Ryomen Sukuna wasn't always intent on watching the world burn. Once, he'd been content to
sit and watch it turn on its axis, mate and child at his side.

When both are targeted by jujutsu sorcerers, and his mate is killed protecting their son,
Sukuna decides maybe the world needs to be reminded of exactly how dangerous he is.

He just didn't expect to incarnate centuries later to find his mate staring back at him, no
recollection of what they had once been.

Notes

With Shibuya right around the corner, I was convinced to post this.

I know Jujutsu Tech is a high school, but when I see "Tech" I think college, so everyone is
aged up. The trio is 21-23, Gojo is in his 30s, and Sukuna is still a crusty old curse.
 Prologue

Flowers are trampled underfoot as the lone figure races across the valley. His solitary figure
is just a streak across the landscape; his haste not unfounded. He’d been gone too long. He
should have known. He was growing complacent, and now, now, he was late. Come on, come
on! His lungs burn but he can’t stop. Not now. How long has he been running? Days? Weeks?
He is so close, so close, and yet too far. His legs ache, but if he stops moving now, he will
never be able to reach them in time.

Smoke billows into the sky in the distance, growing darker as he grows closer, a sign of the
danger he’d ignored that had stolen upon their home. Faster, faster! He never should have
gone after the sorcerer. He should have known the Six Eyes was a diversion. Why else would
the man have dodged his attacks, never once trying to return his blows? It was a trick, a cruel
joke played upon him by the jujutsu society that feared him. And he'd been their willing fool.

The shrine comes into sight, a lone figure outside of it. For a moment, he hopes. But the
white hair is not that of his mate. “Uraume!”

“Sukuna-Sama!” The beta turns, eyes wide. Bags lay spilled at their feet. Their arm is burnt,
flesh peeling from muscle and bone. “I went for supplies! I came back and…”

“Where are they?” Sukuna is breathless with fear. He’s in so much pain, a terrible sign.
“Uraume…”

“I tried.” They sob, sinking to their knees. They have failed their master, failed his family, so
spectacularly. “The fire…. I couldn’t…”

Sukuna doesn’t listen. He is a god of fire, of destruction; it won’t hurt him. Not too badly.
Uraume watches as he enters, not daring to hold him back. The smoke inside is thick and
cloying as he picks his way through the burning remains of their home, waving a hand in
front of his face to try to see. “Megumi!” He calls for his mate, desperate. There is no answer.
“Megumi!” A sharp cry catches his attention, forcing him to adjust his course. Their room is
ash, still ablaze with nothing to salvage. A flaming arrow sticking from the crumbling
doorframe tells him this room was attacked first, all exits blocked quickly to prevent escape.
A small body is tucked in the middle of the room, curled over something. “Megumi!” He
cries, four arms turning him over. Half of his body is charred, burned down to the bone.

There is no pulse.

If not for the blackened right half of his body, he would appear asleep, almost peaceful.
Sukune isn't sure what killed him, the smoke or the fire, but either way, there is no life in
what had once been his entire world. Sukuna sobs, picking his omega up carefully. He'd been
right about one thing, Megumi had been protecting something.

What Megumi was cradling was Shuku, their newborn pup, who was crying in fear. The loud
noises and intense heat was too much for his little body, and he couldn't understand what was
going on, just that it was terrifying. “It’s alright, little one. Daddy’s got you.” The curse coos,
trying to calm the pup.

Sukuna rushes them outside, desperate to keep Shuku alive. How much smoke has he
inhaled? Uraume gasps in horror as they emerge. “Megumi-Sama.”

“He’s gone.” Sukuna crashes to his own knees, setting Megumi on the grass. The shrine
behind them collapses from the fire, having just barely stayed standing long enough for
Sukuan to retrieve his trapped family. “He… Uraume, I… mate…” He throws his head back,
howling to the sky how unfair it is that the one thing he loved more than anything in the
world had been so quickly and cruelly torn from him. “They will pay for this.” He hisses
when he has calmed a little, brushing his thumb over the still smooth and unburnt part of
Megumi’s face. “I’ll kill every one of those sorcerer bastards for what they did to my
Megumi.” His sorrow is still overwhelming, but, slowly, it is giving way to righteous fury. He
had done nothing, hiding away in his shrine ever since Megumi had first entered its doors.
Why now did they decide to provoke him?

“Sire…” Uraume glances down at the bundle in their arms. As Sukuna had howled and
mourned, Uraume had pulled the still wailing pup into their arms. Shuku is inconsolable,
whining for his mother.

Sukuna opens his own arms, taking his son into them for safety. Thankfully, his reverse curse
technique heals whatever damage may have been done to his child, ensuring he won't have
two bodies to bury. Sukuna smoothes a thumb over the tiny face, still wet with tears. He’d
once loved how alike they looked, Shuku a mini version of him, claiming they could have
more that looked like Megumi later. Megumi had loved the idea. Now later would never
come. “I know, little one. I know.” Sukuna lowers his head, resting his forehead against his
son’s. “But we must be strong now. Your mother would want us to be strong.”

“Sire, we should bury him.” Uraume whispers, looking at the body.

“No.” Sukuna swallows the lump in his throat. “No, we… we will burn it.”

“Burn…”

“If there is any chance of Megumi reincarnating, I will take it.” Sukuna snarls. It is an old
legend, a complicated ritual. It does not guarantee the soul will ever reincarnate, but it is all
he has. “Until then, I will tear this world to shreds for the crimes it committed against us.”
Shuku grows silent, seemingly in agreement. Uraume is not surprised; Shuku is, after all, the
Prince of Curses.

Sukuna rises to his feet, motioning for Uraume to leave Megumi’s body at the edge of the
shrine. The half burned corpse is dragged toward the blaze, nd Sukuna cradles Shuku in one
of his four arms as he recites the ritual, ordering Uraume around as he does so. They watch as
the shrine burns well into the night, as peace is extinguished by a roaring flame. Uraume
watches as Ryomen Sukuna is reborn, the King of Curses once again reigning in terror. (They
are almost sad. Once they would have thrilled at seeing such a powerful alpha bent on
destruction; now it is a reminder of what has been lost.) His visage is one of myth, of legend,
that had led the sorcerers to attack in the first place. But now, legend spreads of a wronged
alpha, a curse whose love was killed to weaken him, only for it to make him stronger. The
people whispered about him, killing mercilessly and leaving ash in his wake, a child held
close in one of his four arms, unbothered by the bloodshed.

As Shuku grows, he too joins his father in destruction for the crimes against his mother, king
and prince working in tandem. The jujutsu world grows fearful, worried life as they knew it
would be snuffed out. They needed to act, and act they did. Son of Sukuna he may be, but
Shuku didn’t have the years of training of his father. He was easy to capture after a bit of
planning, and Sukuna followed, chasing his son. How Sukuna had laughed, vowing to return
even as he was bound. Both were sealed, Sukuna in his twenty fingers and Shuku as he was,
frozen in time. And so they remained.
Until...
 Chapter 2
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes

Sukuna leaps into the air, snarling at the sorcerer who dared challenge him. Just because his
vessel was a human didn’t mean he was. When he’d woken, feeling the moonlight on his
skin, he’d rejoiced. He was back. The world was much changed if his fifteen seconds of
control was anything to go by, but he could adapt. Changed or no, it still owed him a debt,
one only paid with blood. Once more he could reign terror over this world that owed him
everything. Now if only this idiot would get out of his way, he could find his son, wake him,
and continue his, their, mission. This body wasn't terrible, an alpha at least, but it was shorter
and weaker than he'd like, and he missed his extra limbs. He brings his fist down, the force of
his landing creating a crater in the concrete. With the sorcerer distracted, there was no way he
would have been able to see Sukuna coming for him, even if his companion had called out to
him. (How he had missed the fact there were two jujutsu sorcerers to dispose of speaks to
how inadequate this body is.)

Well, now that was done, he…

Oh hell no.

If this bastard was actually sitting on him, Sukuna was going to…

The dust clears and his bright, red, angry gaze meets concerned green. His heart, if he even
had one after all this time, stops.

No.

There was no way.

And yet…
Blood trickles down his temple, splashing on the broken rubble of the school, each drop
causing Sukuna's anger to rise again. How could he have not seen, not sensed, him?

Megumi

The world tilts on its axis, sending him off balance. Seconds stretch into hours as he takes in
this phantom brought back to life.

You’re not real. He argues with himself, with the universe. He died. You died.

He’s here.

Husband.

Omega .

It had worked. For so long, Sukuna had searched, clinging to the hope the ritual had not only
been performed correctly, but that it had worked. He had chased every rumor, every story to
find an omega that was gone. And now, he sits before him, fear dancing in those green eyes,
and Sukuna almost reaches out to him. It’s alright, sweetheart. Alpha is here. Finally, they
could be together again, a family once they freed Shuku. How thrilled his son would be, to
finally meet his mother.

"And the whipped cream inside is simply exquisite."

And then the white haired bastard has to start speaking, reminding Sukuna that they aren’t
alone and ruining his ideas of a future. He snarls; jujutsu sorcerers truly were a nuisance no
matter the time period. One thing at a time. Best this idiot’s ass, then come get Megumi. He
turns, rising and throwing a punch, only for the man to dodge. This was insanity. He was
stronger than this! He digs his heels in, turning around and leaping forward. The sorcerer
doesn't even look like he's moving. How is that possible?
It’s because you’re distracted. He thinks. Megumi. His heart beats an old rhythm long
forgotten. All he can think of is his omega, the one just inches away, watching. Wounded .
He’d have to fix that. Sukuna reaches out, claws barely missing the sorcerer's jacket. He's
behind him now, the two nearly back to back. "My student is watching," Megumi? "So I'm
going to show off a little."

A sorcerer. Megumi has joined the very people that had killed him. No. Sukuna throws his
elbow back, but the sorcerer disappears, only to take his other arm, elbowing Sukuna in the
face. Knocked back, Sukuna tries to keep his footing. He's unbelievably fast? And Sukuna is
at barely any strength. One finger is just enough for him to incarnate, it is impossible to beat
a sorcerer with training. No, that's not it.

Distracted, Sukuna doesn't see the punch coming. It lands in the middle of his chest, pushing
him across the roof and into the railing. He grits his teeth, annoyed. "You jujutsu sorcerers are
always trouble." He inhales deeply, gathering all the cursed energy he can from this body, and
turns, racing across the top of the building. He missed last time, but he wouldn't miss again.
He just had to make sure Megumi was out of the way.

There is a hole in the roof, separating Sukuna from the main building. There was no way
anyone could survive that. "Though that doesn't mean much to..."

What

The

Fuck

"Seven." The idiot was still alive? "Eight." At least Megumi was fine, looking exhausted, far
too much blood on him for Sukuna to be comfortable, but safe. "Nine. It should be about
time.”
Time? Time for what? Sukuna is barely able to register the words before his heart thuds
painfully in his chest. He feels something clawing at him, crawling its way up his throat. The
boy . He is… suppressing him? Who the hell is this Itadori?

No, no, no! He needed to stay! He had to find Shuku, his son, and get Megumi back.

Megumi !

He glances over, sorrow washing over him as he sees no recognition in those green eyes. My
love. The last thing he sees before being suppressed are the eyes of the man he loves empty of
all emotion except fear.

Sukuna sits in his domain, breathless and hurt, pride wounded from the fight, but heart sore
from a deeper betrayal. Megumi, his lover and mate, reincarnated as he’d once hoped for.
Except he didn’t remember. Shuku was lost to him, sealed somewhere else, and he was
trapped inside this idiot of a boy. Megumi. He curses, destroying everything in his domain
before allowing it to rebuild. He’s found him, finally, but he’s just out of reach.

How could the world be so cruel?

“Now that Sukuna has incarnated, perhaps we could…”

“We are not allowing his son to be loosed upon the world.” The higher ups put their foot
down.

Gojo frowns, thinking. While he was worried what Sukuna incarnating could mean for the
world and jujutsu society specifically, he had seen something on the rooftop that unnerved
him. I was a clear threat, but why would he not even attempt to hurt Megumi? “It’s likely
Sukuna’s plan is to find his son and set him free. If we can make a binding bow with
Shuku…”
“Gojo, the boy is unstable.”

“And why is that? Oh right, you killed his mother." Gojo made his distaste for leaders of the
jujutsu world no secret. While defeating Sukuna had not been and would never be bad,
killing an innocent, an omega, in the process had never sat well with him. "The only reason
Sukuna even rampages was because Jujutsu society acted too soon and killed his mate. He
hadn't been a threat in years. Perhaps giving him Shuku will help. And if Shuku is bound by a
vow, Sukuna won’t…”

“Can you be positive it will work?”

“Of course I am!” He’s not, but what other option did they have?

The higher ups whisper amongst themselves behind their screens, debating the viability of
this option. Gojo already knows what their answer will be. “Very well.” They finally
acquiesce. “You may free him. Once you do, make a binding vow with him and enroll him in
Jujutsu tech as your student. It is the only way to keep an eye on him.”

Gojo grins, tilting his head so his blue eyes stare practically through the screens hiding the
higher ups. “Pleasure doing business gentlemen.”

“Is this wise?” Nanami asks, standing beside Gojo in front of the sarcophagus housing the
Prince of Curses.

“Probably not.” Gojo admits. “But Shuku will be the best defense against his father. Sukuna
is many things, but historically speaking, he’s most definitelyprotective of his son.” It was a
trait he and Sukuna shared, it seemed. Gojo opens the lid, removing the bindings around it, to
reveal a young adult, a teenager really. He was younger than the first years, all of them in
their twenties. Shuku looked to be seventeen or eighteen, aging slower due to his parentage.
Gojo picks at a binding seal, loosening it.
A single red eye cracks open. “Mmm.”

“Hello, Ryomen.” Gojo grins. “We have a proposition for you.” The boy moans again,
zombie like. Gojo sighs, loosening the binding again. They only need Shuku to talk, meaning
he could remain mostly sealed to prevent him from escaping. “We want to make a binding
vow with you.”

“Why should I do that, Six Eyes?” The teen hisses, sounding like his father.

“Because you want freedom. Make a vow with me and you can roam freely on weekends.”

“Just weekends?” He even sounds like a teenager.

“Eh, you’ll have to enroll in Jujutsu tech, so yeah. Weekends when your homework is done.”
Gojo grins, arms folded across his chest. “All you have to do is swear that you will obey my
instructions and do as I say.”

“No deal.” Shuku grimaces. “Too broad. What if you tell me to stay somewhere and then I
die because of it?”

“Fine.” Gojo huffs. “Then you vow to serve the Jujutsu society and go to school. I will be
your sensei, and you exorcize curses for us in exchange for freedom.”

Shuku rolls his eyes. “ Boring.”

“You get to roam free. Maybe find an omega?” Appealing to his alpha nature couldn't hurt.
"So long as you don't hurt any civilians or humans that aren't trying to kill you."

Shuku shudders. “As if. Omegas are dumb. All they do is stay at home and cry and have
babies. I’d rather shoot myself in the skull before I bond with one.”
“Sukuna had an omega.” Gojo points out. Omegas were an integral part of society. Just
because Gojo hadn't mated one...

He cuts off that line of thought quickly.

Shuku goes quiet, looking like a lost kid. Gojo glances over at Nanami, who looks just as
uncomfortable. Like this, Shuku looks like what he is, a lost little kid. “My mom… my mom
was different. He… he was…”

“You never knew him.” Nanami reminds him, which makes Shuku snarl. “Cause you people
killed him!”

“Okay!” Gojo claps his hands together. “New plan! Binding vow: you get to come out of that
thing and be free. In return, you enroll at Jujutsu tech and you exorcise curses with your
fellow first years; no killing humans unless they are trying to kill you or your allies. Deal?”

Shuku shrugs. “That it?”

“We can iron out the details in a minute. Do you want to make the deal?” He holds out his
hand, even if Shuku can’t shake it.

The teen glares at it, then sighs, sagging in his bindings. “Fine. Deal.”

“Great!” Gojo laughs, clapping his hands together. “Then let me be the first to welcome you
to Jujutsu Tech!”

“I hate this fucking thing.” Shuku pulls at his uniform, following Gojo across campus. Being
shackled to the man was annoying, but if he could be clever, maybe he could trick the
sorcerer into allowing him to free his father. He just needed to find a vessel.

“Language.” Gojo laughs. “Now, technically you will physically be the youngest. You’re,
what?, sixteen or seventeen in curse years? The next youngest is Nobara. She’s twenty-one.”

“I don’t care.” Shuku huffs. “I’ll kick her ass.”

With a sigh, Gojo pauses in front of a door, presumably to the classroom. This was worse
than when Megumi was in middle school. “Just… behave.” He turns, hand on the handle.
“Oh!” He pauses before opening it. “And don’t get too excited.”

He opens the door, stepping in with a clap of his hands. “Welcome our last addition to the
first years!”

Shuku steps inside with a grumble, looking lazily over at the gathered crowd. The only
female, he assumes Nobara, regards him with disdain. He’d correct the omega’s attitude later.
The second…

“Shuku?”

He chokes on his breath, eyes wide as the pink haired boy frowns quizzically down at his
cheek where an extra eye and mouth form. “D… dad?”

“ Shuku!”

“Whoa! Hey!” Yuji fights for control, body jerking as Sukuna wrestles it from him.

“Let him!” Gojo interrupts. “Shuku is bound by a vow, he won’t do anything!”

 Comforted Gojo is right there in case something happens, Yuji slumps as Sukuna takes over,
his father straightening and pulling him into a hug. “Oh, my pup. Are you alright?”

“I’m fine.” He says, rolling his eyes as the older alpha grooms him. He may be playing an
annoyed teen, but he’s so relieved his father is here, alive. He glances over Sukuna’s shoulder
at the third and final classmate and goes rigid.

“M… mom?” Shuku held only the blurriest of memories of his mother, but Sukuna had
carried a tiny portrait Uraume had painted when Megumi had been alive on him at all times.
He and Shuku had often fallen asleep looking at it, wishing Megumi was still with them. And
the boy before him…

Sukuna holds him tighter. “Your mother doesn’t remember.” He whispers. “Don’t overwhelm
him.”

Shuku scowls. Of course. Reincarnations hold past lives, memories, but they are locked away
lest they go mad. Only certain circumstances can unlock them. “So fuck him and get my
mother back. I want what was stolen from us.”

“Language. And so do I.” Sukuna seethes. “Patience. I’ll get your mother back soon.” He
pushes back, frowning. “Now what’s this about a binding vow?”

“Are we not going to address the fact that he called me mom?” Nobara asks, clearly assuming
as the female omega that he meant her.

Shuku rolls his eyes. You wish. His gaze slides over to Megumi, looking bored and
uninterested, if not a little uncomfortable. Soon, he promises, you’ll look at me with pride. I
swear to you, I’ll make you proud, mother.

Chapter End Notes

I very specifically did not entertain many of Megumi's thoughts this chapter because I
wanted to focus on Sukuna and Shuku and how Megumi's death affected them. Shuku
especially is a big baby when it comes to his mom.

I will try to make the next chapter Megumi's perspective from Sukuna incarnating to
meeting Shuku, but I cannot wait for the cursed womb.
 Chapter 3
Chapter Summary

Me, looking at Gojo: Alexa, play "I'm a Survivor" by Reba.

Chapter Notes

Short, but this week has been busy. Hopefully next week will be a bit longer.

See the end of the chapter for more notes

This was a mistake.

Honestly, at this point, his whole life was a mistake. At least the Zenin thought so, and he
was starting to think they were right.

Megumi tried not to dwell on what had happened to his “simple mission,” rather focusing on
the dilapidated building in front of him. Nobara and Yuji had disappeared inside a few
minutes ago, a test from Gojo. If he didn’t know any better, Megumi would think Gojo was
trying to set the alpha and omega up.

“Have you visited Tsumuki recently?”

Megumi stiffens, not daring to look at Gojo, who is texting on his phone. He had mentioned
needing to contact Nanami-sensei about "picking up" something. He really hoped it wasn't
more snacks. “Yeah, why?”

Gojo shrugs. “I want to come next time. We can change out her flowers, see if anything has
changed.”
Megumi’s nails bite into the skin of his palm. “You usually don’t come.”

“That’s because I’m usually busy doing whatever the higher ups want me to do.” Gojo looks
up from his phone, and Megumi can feel the older alpha watching him. “I do care about you
two, Megumi.”

“Why, because you never had pups? Because we’re substitutes?” Megumi isn’t sure why he’s
feeling so defensive. He’s felt on edge since Sukuna incarnated in Itadori. Anyone would be
nervous around an ancient evil, the monster in fairytales, but Megumi wasn't supposed to be
just anyone. And yet, when those red eyes had stared into his soul, something deep inside of
him had broken free. He blamed it on being far too close to such a powerful alpha, but Gojo
didn’t elicit such responses.

Probably because he’s your father. He doesn’t voice that opinion.

“You may not be my son by blood, or Tsumuki my daughter, but you are my kids.” Gojo’s
tone doesn’t leave room to argue.

Megumi doesn’t flinch when the curse bursts through the side of the building, nor does he
register the wall out of the old street and back towards the center of Tokyo. He's too busy
turning their conversation over and over in his mind, trying to find whatever hidden message
is inside. There’s something he’s not saying. The thing about living with the world’s strongest
sorcerer was that eventually you learned his tells. Gojo only ever got sentimental when he
perceived either Tsumuki or Megumi himself to be in danger.

Danger, it seems, is the Prince of Curses.

Megumi does his absolute best not to stare, not to show any sign of fear. Shuku is a mini
Sukuna, though now that the King of Curses is trapped in Yuji’s body, they’re practically the
same height. For some reason, though, Shuku is much less intimidating. It may be the
binding vow, but Shuku seems more like a pup than a threat, a thought that has Megumi
recoiling. Shuku has been alive for centuries, a powerful curse in his own right; there is no
way he should give Megumi the impression of needing protection.
 And the way he’d said mom…

Not much was known about Sukuna’s mate; only that they died under mysterious
circumstances and Sukuna went feral. There were no pictures, no descriptions- the omega
was a footnote in history, the only remarkable things about them being their tie to Sukuna and
how their death affected him.

It was sad, really. This person had a whole life outside of the history books, and no one even
cared to remember them; reduced to a stereotypical omega only there to prop up their alpha.

Megumi blinks, feeling the burn of eyes on him, and he turns, finding Shuku staring at him,
ignoring Gojo who is detailing their class schedule. Jujutsu Tech didn’t quite work like a
regular school; sure they were all first years, but they were also technically seniors by age. It
was their first year in the field, however, at least for Yuji and Nobara. Megumi has been
doing this for as long as he could remember.

Shuku blinks slowly at him, sizing him up. What is with this kid? Calling Nobara mom… that
had been weird, and yet, Megumi almost understands. Perhaps Shuku assumed every omega
was his mom, if he couldn’t remember them before they died. Perhaps he thought Megumi,
male though he may be, was mom.

The idea was laughable, not because he couldn’t have kids, but because he couldn’t have
kids. He’d be a terrible mother if his own parents were anything to go by.

He turns away from the young curse, missing the downward twitch of his lips at the assumed
rejection.

Chapter End Notes

Jujutsu Sorcerers rewrote history once Sukuna and Shuku were sealed to completely
leave out the fact they killed Megumi unprompted. They then proceeded to erase all
mention of him except what little they needed to make Sukuna look like the guilty party.
Megumi, please, just give your child a hug.
 Chapter 4
Chapter Summary

A discussion and a mission. Neither go particularly well.

Chapter Notes

I debated waiting until next week to start the Cursed Womb, but I really want to get to
the Sukuna/Megumi fight.

See the end of the chapter for more notes

“You shouldn’t go around insisting every omega you see is your mother.” Shuku scowls at
Gojo, having been separated from the rest of the first years, and his father, to get settled in a
room. He was far too pleased to find out his room was situated between Yuji’s, the name of
the boy who was housing his father he’d discovered, and his mother’s. Squashed between his
parents was perfect for him. “Besides, we don’t call male omegas ‘mothers’ anymore.”

“What?” Shuku frowns. “Why not?”

Gojo shrugs, standing in the doorway of the sparsely furnished room. “It’s preference. Some
thought it was degrading trying to force a more feminine term on all omegas, some only see it
as a secondary title for whichever parent gave birth. Clans like the Zenin perpetuated the use
of the word mother with negative connotations for so long that eventually it became less
popular with male omegas.”

That was… well, Shuku supposed he understood. According to his father, his mother’s clan
treated women and omegas much the same, little more than cattle used to birth more warriors
and sorcerers. If others, like the Zenin, insisted on calling all omegas “mothers” with
negative implications, Shuku couldn’t blame them for wanting to be seen as equal. “I don’t
see why omegas are so looked down on by you humans. They give birth to your offspring,
don’t they?”
Gojo chuckles. “You look down on them.”

“I don’t want one, there’s a difference. I still respect their place in society; whatever they
want to be called. Mother, father- they’re still parents, aren’t they?”

“I suppose.” Gojo muses. “I’ll let you get settled. Don’t wander too far or else I’ll have to
come get you! And I doubt daddy dearest would like that.” He smiles, bright and annoying.
“See you soon, Suku-Jr.”

Shuku rolls his eyes as Gojo closes the door. Sighing, he falls back on the bed, staring up at
the ceiling. Would Megumi rather be called dad in this life? When he got his memories back,
would he even want to treat Shuku like a son? He was older now; Megumi had missed so
much thanks to the sorcerers who killed him. What if he didn’t want Shuku as a son but
rather as a contemporary and colleague? Would he and papa have more kids to try again?
Replace him?

“I can feel you over thinking.”

Shuku sits up, confronted by Itadori. No, not Itadori. “You didn’t form your tattoos.”

“Easier to sneak around.” Sukuna sighs. “What are you thinking about?”

Shuku pouts, eyes downcast. “Mom. Dad? The bastard said male omegas aren’t called ‘mom’
anymore.”

“So I heard.” Sukuna takes a seat on the edge of the bed, opening an arm so Shuku can
burrow into his side. “He will remember. And I promise when he does we will be a family.”

“But what if he doesn’t want me?” Shuku blurts before he can stop himself.
“ That’s what you're worried about?” Sukuna laughs. Shuku scowls, not exactly pleased he’s
being belittled. “Shuku, your mother, Megumi, loved you. I’m certain the moment he
remembers I won’t be able to pry him away from you.”

Well, that was a bit more comforting. “Really?”

“Really. We adored you. He will want to make up for the time he lost.” Sukuna’s mouth is set
in a firm line. “Though it is concerning no one seems to recognize him.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean that while Jujutsu sorcerers didn’t like me, I was a king to some. Carvings, paintings,
statues of me still exist, I know that from the brat’s memories, even if they are few and not
well known. As my omega, Megumi was revered too. So why is there no recognition? Why
does no one seem to think he looks like my omega?” Sukuna scowls, eyes flashing. “I suspect
they’ve destroyed anything that showed his image.”

“They… are you kidding me?” Shuku is scowling now too, and Sukuna is almost tempted to
smile. His son truly is his perfect image. “They got rid of mom? Dad?”

“We will figure out what he wants to be called when we get him to remember. But yes, I
suspect at least the art is gone. It would be incredibly difficult to fully scrub him from history,
especially with his legacy.” Sukuna ruffles Shuku’s hair. “That doesn’t mean they’ve told the
truth.”

“So even he doesn’t know who he really is or what really happened.” Shuku snarls. “That’s
Bull…”

“Language. Your mother is going to kill me if you say that when he’s awake again.” Sukuna
sighs, tugging Shuku back to his side. The younger curse cuddles up to him, yawning. “We
are their villains. They are ours. Megumi will decide what to believe when the time comes. I
don’t care about what anyone else thinks.”
“What about the boy?” Shuku murmurs sleepily. “The one in your head?”

“ Technically I’m in his. And he’s asleep. Apparently, you should be too.”

“You could have gone after mom.” Shuku feels his father move, removing his shoes for him
and tucking him into bed. “He’s down the hall.”

“I have time. I will bring Megumi back to us.” Sukuna promises, kissing Shuku’s forehead.
“But I wanted to check on you first. Get some rest.” Shuku nods, yawning again as he rolls to
his side. “I promise, we will be a family again.”

“I know, papa. I love you.”

“I love you too.” Sukuna says softly, sneaking out and back to “his” room before anyone can
catch him. He takes only a moment to glance down the hall at the room on the end, sighing
wistfully before stepping into Itadori’s room and closing the door.

“This sucks.” Shuku huffs, annoyed, as he follows the rest of the first years deeper into the
penitentiary.

“You didn’t have to come.” Nobara folds her arms across her chest. “Gojo offered to let
you…”

“And miss out? Nah. I’m just saying, this is boring! I thought we were gonna see some
special grades!” He scowls, stopping as Megumi does. What’s wrong, mom?
A quick glance around answers his question. Whatever curse spawned here has cast an innate
domain over this block of the building. It’s almost impressive, but Shuku has seen better.
He’s also seen a lot worse.

Megumi realizes the danger they’re in first. “Where’s the door?”

The four of them turn, Shuku laughing as he sees the door they had just come through is
gone. “Well now, that’s more like it!”

“The… the door is gone?” Itadori stutters.

“How? We just came through there!” Kugisaki points, eyes wide as she looks back at Yuji.

The two panic, and Shuku throws an exasperated look at Megumi. Oddly, the older,
younger?, boy just shakes his head. “It’s fine. The dog remembers the scent of the entrance.”

The dog. The Divine Dog. It is the first of Megumi’s shikigami Shuku is meeting, and while
his mother/father does not remember him, it is a testament to his locked memories that the
dog had immediately asked Shuku for pets upon being summoned.

It gets more now, this time from Itadori and Kugisaki who are relieved they won’t be trapped
here. “Thanks to you, we’ll be able to rescue people and ourselves.”

Shuku, for once, doesn’t want to tell Yuji he’s wrong. Megumi, it seems, has the same
thought. “Let’s keep moving.”

The further they travel into what they now know is a domain, the more cautious Megumi
gets. He isn’t the only one though. Shuku can almost sense Sukuna just under Itadori’s skin,
ready to help if he or Megumi are in trouble.
Yuji shouts, catching their attention. On the other side of the room they just entered are three
bodies, two are contorted eerily around one another while another is ripped in half. Yuji
squats next to the one still partially intact. “Let’s take this body back. It’s that woman’s son.”

Shuku winces. He may not be the most caring or empathetic person, but he had a soft spot for
mothers who loved their kids. That woman outside had been distraught over the thought of
losing her son; even if he wasn’t an upstanding citizen, she would mourn her child’s death.
Shuku glances at Megumi. Would you mourn me, mother?

“We have to find and verify two more.” Megumi yanks Yuji back by his hood, looking
unimpressed. “Leave that body behind.”

“The body will be too awkward and heavy to lug around.” Shuku takes his side. “We can’t
take him.”

“Shut up!” Yuji hisses, clearly not his biggest fan. Shuku couldn’t blame him; he was keeping
his father contained. He wasn’t a fan of Itadori either. “We turned around and the way we
came was gone! We won’t be able to come back for him later!”

“I didn’t say to come back for it! I said to leave it behind!” Megumi yells. “I have no
intention of risking my own life to save someone I had no intention of saving in the first
place!”

Oh, Shuku can see why his father liked Megumi.

Yuji grabs Megumi by his own collar. “No intention of saving? What do you mean?”

“This is a juvenile detention center.” Megumi is scowling, and Shuku wonders if that’s just
his default expression. “Jujutsu sorcerers are granted access to all information about the scene
beforehand.” He nods towards the mangled body. “This Tadashi hit a little girl driving
without a license. It was his second offense. I know you’re stuck on saving lots of people and
leading them to proper deaths, but what are you going to do when someone you saved kills
someone else in the future?”
“Then why did you bother saving me!” Shuku sits back, crossing his arm. Unlike Nobara,
who is fuming beside him, Shuku is thriving on the rage and annoyance swirling around the
two. Shuku had, clearly incorrectly, assumed Megumi would be self righteous and self
sacrificing. While that seemed to be partially true to a point, it was refreshing to see his true
colors.

Shuku had always assumed Megumi was gentler, like a “normal” omega, or at least what
people wanted omegas to be. He had been the reason the King of Curses had stopped
rampaging for a time after all. But he was also the reason Sukuna had started rampaging
again ; Shuku had assumed it was out of revenge despite what Megumi would have wanted.
Now he thinks it was because it was what he would have wanted.

“Cut it out!” Nobara finally speaks up. “What are you two doing? You’re both idiots!”

Shuku senses it first, the cursed energy. He grins, finally realizing the fight he's been
expecting, itching for, is here.

Nobara disappears first, her ranting cut off as she quickly vanishes down a puddle in the
floor. “Kugisaki?” Yuji asks slowly, as if in shock, but Shuku just puts his hands in his
pockets, waiting.

Megumi is floored. He glances around, as if searching for something. For a moment, Shuku
thinks it’s him, but uncaring green eyes sweep past him, widening as he faces the opposite
wall. Shuku turns to see what has his mother so shaken, and he does feel a little bad when he
sees it. His mother’s shikigami were part of him, and losing one was painful in multiple
ways, so Sukuna had told him. Seeing the head of his Divine Dog imbedded in the wall must
be devastating.

“Itadori! Shuku!” Megumi is frantic. “We’re running! We’ll search for Kugisaki la-”

The curse is… well, pathetic to be honest. But its sudden appearance makes both humans
freeze. A special grade, one that could really use a face lift, glances between the two before it
settles on Shuku. He cocks his head, regarding it cooly.
Itadori moves first, grabbing for the cursed tool Gojo had given him. He swings, aiming for
the curse’s neck. The blow lands, but it isn;t the curse that bleeds. Shuku can’t help but laugh
as blood sprays from the stump where Yuji’s hand once was. “Nice try, Itadori! But you have
to be smarter than that!”

Still, he is grateful Yuji demands Megumi run before he can truly get hurt. “Once you’re out,
send me a signal. When you do…” Yuji looks back at the curse, giggling to itself as if this is
all a fun game. It is, but not for it. “I’ll switch with Sukuna.” This game is for them.

“You can’t! Not with one arm against a special grade!”

“Oi! I’m still here.” Megumi gives Shuku a look that says I don't trust you to help.

“I can buy us some time.” Itadori says quietly. “We can buy you some time.”

Shuku nods, eyes still on the special grade. Find the girl. Escape. We will handle this. He
feels his mother disappear from their side, ignorant of the child he leaves behind. Looks like
it’s another father/son outing. Come on, dad.

Shuku grins as Yuji looks over at him. “Are you actually gonna help or not!”

“Let my father out now. Why wait?” He says casually. “He can handle it. We can handle it.”

“Like hell!” Yuji grunts as he’s tossed into the wall, the curse using Shuku as a distraction. It
turns back to him, and Shuku lets the barest hint of his own cursed energy leak out. The
special grade’s grin falters, turning away as if deciding Shuku is too big of a fish to try to
catch.

A smart choice.
 Shuku sighs, looking at his fingernails as he waits for the inevitable. “I’ll wait then.” Yuji,
untried as he is, won’t be able to last long against this curse, and when the time is right, his
father will take control. After all, this would be so much more fun as a family outing.

Chapter End Notes

Sukuna is a good dad, okay? He just isn't the best....

That's Dadjo.
 Chapter 5
Chapter Summary

Shuku about this whole chapter: Date Night

Chapter Notes

Sukufushi fight! Sukufushi fight!

See the end of the chapter for more notes

Shuku is bored. So incredibly bored. “Honestly, Itadori!” He yells as he step through the hole
the curse made when he flung Itadori through it. “You should just let my father…”

“Shut up! Don’t distract….”

Shuku quirks a brow as a strong blast of cursed energy practically melts the other boy. Now
missing both one hand and most of his fingers on the remaining one, he looks truly pathetic.
“Well, when you die, try to stay alive long enough to let him take over, ‘kay?”

He picks at his nails, ignoring Yuji as he struggles against the curse. I wonder if mom is okay?
Do you think he’s safe? I could really go for some sushi right now. Nobara had introduced
him to that little delicacy. He had to admit, he’d miss her if she died. At least she had good
style.

The curse continues to ignore him, focusing on Itadori. It makes sense, Shuku supposed. He
wasn’t currently a threat, and if Itadori was disposed of, taking on Shuku alone would seem
less daunting . What a fool.

The air shifts, a low howl breaking Shuku’s train of thought and making him look up. The
change is immediate, every hair on his body standing on edge. The special grade notices it
too, releasing Itadori’s hand that had been thrown in a punch. Shuku laughs, loud and long
and manic. “Finally!”

Sukuna just sighs, clearly less enthusiastic about being used as some sort of secret weapon.
“What a thoroughly annoying brat. He’s obviously screwing with me.” He moves around the
trembling special grade, paying it no mind. “One moment, I’m thinking. How do I make the
brat regret this?”

“We could escape.” Shuku pipes up. “Figure out things our own way.”

“Need I remind you that someone is in a binding vow with the Six Eyes?” Sukuna raises a
brow, stopping in front of his son. “I raised you better than that.”

“It was the only way to get myself free!”

Sukuna shakes his head, stepping forward and ruffling Shuku's hair. “We will discuss this
later. For now, we have to decide what to do. Obviously, I want to go after Megumi, though
any perceived threat to him would likely make the brat switch back.”

Shuku juts his chin out towards the forgotten curse, looking more and more like it will keel
over at any moment. “We could bring him.”

Sukuna grins. “That’s the curse I raised.” Shuku beams at the praise, watching as his father
motions to the other curse. “Come on. We’re going to go find some kids. Well, I suppose they
are adults, but they're basically infants to us.” Shuku watches as Sukuna heals Itadori’s
fingers, waving them at the curse. “Follow us.”

Unfortunately, the special grade does not listen, but Sukuna senses the attack before it fully
forms. “ Baka.” He turns, pushing Shuku behind him so his body shields his son. “Damn, I
healed this hand too.” He scowls down at what had just been a stump of an arm. “What, you
don’t like walks?” He calls, still looking at his hand. “I suppose cursed spirits are supposed to
stay where they’re born.” Sighing, he shakes the hand out, looking back at the special grade.
“In that case,” he’s across the room before the curse can blink, “you die here.”
“Want help?” Shuku offers.

“Be my guest."

The curse gurgles as it hits the ground, Shuku’s fist creating cracks in the concrete beam they
are standing on. “What’s wrong?” He taunts, pouting a bit. “You aren’t done already are
you?”

The curse grits its teeth, making a strangled noise as it sits up. Better. “ Ganbare, ganbare.”
Sukuna brings his foot down on its face crashing through the beam they had been standing
on. Unfortunately, in their free fall, the special grade manages to grab ahold of Shuku’s foot.
It swings itself around, obviously trying to throw him.

Instead, Sukuna grabs the offending appendage and tears it from its body, pulling his son to
his side. “Even a cursed spirit would miss their arm, right?” He waves it tauntingly, laughing
as the other special grade realizes just how outclassed it is, falling to the ground. Two against
one is certainly unfair, but neither father nor son care. There are more important matters to
attend to.

“Hey, did you know we’re all classified as special grades.” Shuku asks his father, standing
beside him on a piece of rubble.

“Really?” Sukuna glances up. The other “special grade” is pinned into the wall, missing all of
its limbs. Those rest underneath it, also embedded in the concrete. It lets out a shriek, pulling
itself free and wildly trying to regenerate its limbs. It’s almost impressive. “Seems special
grades aren’t quite like they used to be. But do keep going.”

“You really want to keep going?” Shuku grimaces. He’s bored now, tired, so when the curse
does free itself, fully formed, he just scoffs. “This is boring ! It just keeps healing itself.”

“Healing with cursed energy isn’t as hard for curses as it is for humans. Neither you nor this
brat,” he spits out the words as if Yuji will hear him. “Really understand what curses are.”
“Dad, I am a curse .”

“And I have so much still to teach you. This is a good opportunity, so I’ll show you what real
jujutsu is.” Sukuna brings his hands together, eyes closing as he does so. “ Ryōiki Tenkai. ”
The air goes still, a single drop of water can be heard falling into the pool around them. When
Sukuna opens his eyes, the three of them stand in a vast expanse, a shrine gate at Sukuna and
Shuku’s backs. Shuku hasn’t been here often, but every time, he feels cold down to his
bones. “ Fukuma Mizushi. ” His father's domain.

Shuku watches with wide eyes as the curse is cleaved in multiple pieces, well and truly done
for. “I meant to cut it into three pieces.” Sukuna says quietly.

“There are certainly more than three.” Shuku laughs, looking it over. “You’re really weak.”

“And then there’s this.” Sukuna reaches out, pulling a gnarled and twisted finger from the
hole in once special grade’s chest.

“One of your fingers; how did I not catch that?”

As the other curse vanishes in a purple flame, exorcized and defeated, Sukuna regards this
son. “We are both weak from our years of being sealed. Don’t worry; we will return to full
strength soon.”

“Well, that was still fun.” Shuku brushes off his pants. “We should do it again sometime.” He
frowns as his father stuffs the finger in Itadori’s pocket. “You won’t eat it?”

“Now is not the time.” Sukuna sighs, chin tilted up towards the ceiling as his eyes close. “We
should go. The veil won’t hold forever. I’m certain the girl has been retrieved but your
mother will be waiting for the boy.”
Shuku watches as his father stands there, waiting for something to happen. “Uh, dad?”

“If you’re gonna switch out just do it already!” Shuku is shocked by the sudden outburst, but
he isn’t sure what Sukuna is waiting for.

Eventually, Sukuna grins, turning towards Shuku. “He can’t do it.”

Itadori. “He’s contained?” Shuku sounds hopeful. “You’re in control?” Papa. Now all we
need is to collect mother.

“Indeed.” Sukuna chuckles, patting him on the shoulder. “Let’s go find your mother, Shuku.”

Megumi stood waiting out in the rain, staring at the detention center. Yuji would be here
soon, right? He had to be. He’d be fine and come back and they could go see Kugisaki and…

“Sorry, but he's not coming back.”

Megumi stiffens, not wanting to turn as a smothering presence overwhelms him. Shuku
pushes aside a branch from the tree in front of him, grinning. “Seems poor Itadori doesn’t
have what it takes.”

Sukuna chuckles, walking around Megumi and to his son. Shuku holds up a finger, handing it
to his father who takes it and swallows. “Just in case.”

Megumi scowls, adjusting his stance. He’s going to have to fight.

“I thought about what I can do right now.” Sukuna turns, grinning at the boy as he rips
Itadori’s uniform. “So,” Megumi blinks, and suddenly Sukuna’s hand is in Yuuji’s chest,
ripping his heart free from his rib cage. Megumi takes a step back as Sukuna holds the still
beating organ out to him. “I’m taking the brat hostage.”

Shuku laughs as Sukuna tosses Yuuji’s heart into the grass like litter. Megumi can’t shake the
overwhelming feeling of dread pooling in his stomach. He’s doing this to gain control.
Megumi realizes. Squashing his instincts, he crouches into a fighting position. “Itadori is
coming back. Even if it means he’ll die.”

Sukuna laughs. “I know for a fact the brat doesn’t have the guts to kill himself.”

It doesn’t matter now. Sukuna has incarnated, and even without a heart, he stands tall.
Megumi had to do something. Clasping his hands together, he calls Nue from the shadows.
The bird soars to the right as Megumi swings left. Sukuna chuckles, running hands through
his hair before dodging, hands in his pockets. Megumi doesn’t stop, still swinging while
Sukuna dances out of his path.

“Want any help there, dad?” Shuku asks, sitting at the base of the tree.

“I’m fine!” He calls back. Megumi scowls, offended he is not being taken seriously as an
opponent. Shuku knows better.

Can’t interrupt date night.

Shuku watches his parents dance around each other, his mother throwing his entire body into
the fight. His father is much more casual, dodging more than throwing hits, keeping his hands
mostly in his pockets. At least at first. Shuku isn’t surprised, especially when his father
finally manages to catch his mother in his grip, their faces inches from each other. Should I
leave?

He doesn’t have to. Instead of kissing him like Shuku had expected, Sukuna levels a punch at
Fushiguro, forcing him to begin his retreat. How dull. His mother was stronger than this!
Sukuna had told him countless stories of the Ten Shadows user, tamer of Mahoraga. Why
wasn’t Megumi using him? Shuku blamed his upbringing.

Instead of calling forth the Divine General, Megumi instead calls forth Orochi, a large snake
that catches his father in its jaws. As Orochi lifts him into the air, swinging him around so
Nue can attack, Shuku grimaces. It wasn’t that Fushiguro wasn’t impressive, it was that this
wasn’t what Shuku had envisioned.

Clearly he wasn’t the only one. With a wet squelch, Orochi bursts into pieces, Sukuna
dropping to the ground and taking advantage of Megumi’s distraction to grab hold of his
uniform. Shuku catches his father’s eye, noticing he’s grimacing. He didn’t mean to do that.
Mom is gonna be so pissed.

“What did I just say?” Sukuna asks, though not to Shuku. He digs in his heels, flinging
Megumi around and up into the air. “Let’s use the open space!”

“Can you not try to kill my mom?” Shuku hisses. “You already killed his pet snake!”

Sukuns winces. “I thought it would be stronger. I thought Megumi would be…”

“He’s gonna kick your ass when he remembers.” Shuku cuts him off. He rises, following his
father as Sukuna leaps up into the air to follow Megumi (and also get away from his son
berating him). He glances at what once had been Orochi. Poor mother. Shuku muses. Losing
two of your shikigami in one day. If only you’d remember us, father and I could comfort you.
And you could make him pay.

Megumi looks terrible when Shuku finally catches up, waiting on the sidelines as his mother
begins to rise, despite his less than stellar condition. He can feel the power pouring from him,
the determination. His father looks enthralled, in love . “Show me, Fushiguro Megumi!”
Sukuna would win against this weaker version of his mother, Shuku knows that. But it would
be a beautiful fight.

But then, the cursed energy dies, and Shuku cocks his head, watching as Megumi stands
down. “Just so you know, I didn't have any logical reason for saving you back then. Even if it
was dangerous, I couldn’t bear to see a good person like you die.”
He’s trying to recall Yuji. Shuku frowns. Of all the ways to end a fight, this was a coward's
way out.

“I’ve never once regretted saving you.” In another time, another life, was this what Megumi
had thought as he’d died to save his son? Shuku grits his teeth. It doesn’t matter; that life is
gone. This life, this new Megumi, is not speaking to Shuku. He is trying to bring back Yuji,
and Shuku knows that his father would never…

Except he would. Tattoos formed from cursed energy fade, and Shuku is left aghast. He’s
really giving up now? His father is…

Letting mom win. What a gentleman. He chuckles, watching Yuji crash to the ground, dead.

Or not. He can feel a spark of his father still alive inside the boy. Genius.

Shuku looks up from the corpse, finally realizing Megumi is back in a defensive stance,
waiting for him to attack. “I’m not gonna fight you, Fushiguro.” Mom.

“Why should I believe you?”

Shuku shrugs, kicking the body. “Binding vow. Huh, this wasn’t how I thought it would go.”

Megumi finally relaxes, blood trickling down his temple. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Nevermind.” How could he tell his reincarnated and forgetful mother he’d thought this
would end with Megumi’s surrender and his dad finally fucking some sense into his omega?
Not that Shuku would have stuck around for that. “Let’s go.”
 “Yuji…” Megumi protests.

“We can have someone come get him. Now come on. Or would you rather go for round
two?” Shuku asks, and Megumi curses, shoving past him and stomping away. The curse
chuckles, kneeling to lean over the body and whisper to his father. “I certainly hope you
know what you’re doing, papa.”

With one last nudge, he follows Megumi towards the road.

Chapter End Notes

Sukuna as soon as he kills Orochi: Oh, I am in so much trouble.

Also, Megumi telling Yuji why he saved him and Shuku feeling upset because he wants
that approval and love, Megs!

Also also, manga readers, how we feelin'? Because I haven't been good in months.

(My poor anime only coworker is so excited for Shibuya, and I am literally dying. RIP
them and me.)
 Chapter 6
Chapter Summary

A brief interlude and a look at what once was.

Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes

“He’s kicking.”

Sukuna lets Megumi guide his hand over the swell of his stomach, waiting patiently for any
movement. After a few moments of holding his breath, a soft flutter bangs against his palm,
and he grins. “Feisty. Like their mother.”

Megumi chuckles, pressing back into Sukuna. “Stubborn. Like his father.”

“His? Is that right?” Sukuna tucks Megumi under his chin, peering down at him shoulder.
“And how do you know that?”

Megumi shrugs, rubbing the bump with his own hand, brushing against Sukuna’s
occasionally. “Intuition.”

“What if it’s a girl?” The curse questions, brows raised. “What then?”

“Knowing you, it’ll be a boy.” Megumi snarks back. Sukuna was a healthy and strong alpha,
while it was certainly possible for him to sire little she devils, it wouldn’t be a surprise if he
had sons. Megumi was pretty much counting on it.

Sukuna agrees with a soft hum. “And what will we name him if it is a boy? Waret? Byoki?
Kizu? Itami?”
“We are not naming our child ‘pain’!” Megumi huffs, offended.

“But you will be in pain giving birth to him.” Sukuna scowls. It was the one part of this he
didn’t like. The thought of Megumi screaming in agony as he tried to fight off death to bring
life into the world was a horrible price to pay for the miracle that was his pregnant body,
what would be their child. The image of him like that, pale and weak, plagued Sukuna often.
There wasn't much he would be able to do if something went wrong, though Uraume assured
him it wouldn't.

“I like Shuku.”

It’s a quiet admission, whispered against his roiling thoughts. It calms him immediately,
called back to safe domesticity by his omega. Shuku, huh? “I love it.”

Megumi smiles, hand over Sukuna’s as the baby gives another kick. “Shuku. Our son.”

Sukuna rests his head against Megumi’s, only too happy to stay here the rest of the day. It
isn’t as though he has much else to do.

Now that the King of Curses is no longer rampaging across Japan, the people closest to his
shrine view him as some sort of god. That had been Megumi’s doing, the omega feeling the
need to help them after a bad storm a few years prior. Sukuna had been dragged along and
put to work, ordered about by his bossy little mate for weeks until everything was set to rights
once more. His rewards were the people’s favor and Megumi’s pleased expression. Since then,
they’d left him offerings, given thanks to them both, and occasionally asked him to solve
whatever problems arose among them. If he was being honest, he'd missed the reverence and
awe he'd had as the feared Two-Faced Specter. While this worship wasn't born of fear, it felt
better in multiple ways.

“We have received another gift from your most ardent admirers.” Sukuna teases. When the
people had found out about Megumi’s pregnancy, they had celebrated with them. Gifts hadn’t
stopped coming in the seven months since. Uraume was almost always toting baskets of fruit
and cloth and other necessities the village thought the new parents would need. More than
once, Uraume had jokingly commented on how they feared Megumi's second pregnancy and
the onslaught of well-wishes it would bring.

“They are as much yours as they are mine, your majesty.” Megumi laughs. “They are happy
for us.”

“If only everyone could be.” Sukuna grumbles.

Megumi sits up, turning so he can face Sukuna, brows furrowed. The curse steadies him as he
does so, holding him so Megumi doesn’t suddenly tumble over. “The sorcerers? Are they
still…”

“They do not trust me. I suppose I understand that, but have I not proven I mean no harm?”
He scoffs, looking out away from Megumi and towards the open doors of the shrine. The sun
is setting, casting everything in an orange glow. “I fear they will do whatever possible to
keep Shuku from being born.”

Megumi scowls, and while it would normally look rather fierce, it is made less so by his
round stomach. “They will have to kill me first.”

“Do not speak those words into existence.” Sukuna snaps. “I do not doubt they would go so
far. I cannot lose you, Megumi.”

The omega relaxes, suddenly exhausted. It was getting harder for him to muster up the energy
to do anything, much less be as angry and threatening as he once was. He leans into
Sukuna’s embrace, letting himself be repositioned back to how they had been sitting, Sukuna
propping him up as Megumi sits in his lap. “You won’t. I promise.” He yawns, hand sneaking
back to his belly where Shuku rests safely inside. “I’ll always be with you.”

Always seemed more of a wish than a promise. Where was he now? Now that Itadori was
lying dead on a table, where was Megumi? Probably making sure Shuku didn’t cause trouble,
like any good parent would.
 Sukuna would much rather be with them. Instead, here he sat, alone in his domain, waiting
for Itadori to find his way to him. He wouldn’t keep the brat dead, but Sukuna needed
leverage, a vow of his own that would grant him more access to Megumi and Shuku should
he need it.

Until Itadori arrived, Sukuna had decided to lose himself in thought, reminiscing on the past.
Before everything had shattered, they had been happy, right? Doing this, getting Megumi’s
memories back, wouldn’t make the omega hate him, would it?

Well, it would probably earn him a lesson in not accidentally breaking his shikigami. Note to
self: find a way to bring them back. If Uraume was here, they’d know how.

But they weren’t, and Sukuna was alone.

For now, he reminds himself. He was alone for now. But if everything went according to his
(admittedly rushed) plan, he wouldn’t be for much longer.

Chapter End Notes

I cannot wait for y'all to find out how these two idiots met and fell in love.
 Chapter 7
Chapter Summary

With Sukuna currently MIA, Shuku assumes the role of protector for Megumi. That is,
until Gojo decides he's more useful elsewhere.

Chapter Notes

Last week we set up Sukuna for the next arc, this week it's Shuku.

See the end of the chapter for more notes

The second years were even more annoying than the boy that currently housed his father. If
that was even possible. While everyone else was either just learning about Itadori and his
supposed death or actively mourning a friend, Shuku knew his father had a few more tricks
up his sleeve. However, with his father currently out of the picture and no indication of
exactly when he planned to return, Shuku had his own mission to fulfill.

Keeping an eye on Megumi.

If the fight with his father was any indication, Fushiguro was woefully unprepared to face
whatever horrors they would have to defend themselves against before becoming a family
again. In fact, it almost felt as though these sorcerers were actively undermining him. If
Shuku didn’t already know they had effectively scrubbed his mother from their records, he
would suspect them of handicapping and brainwashing him.

As it was, it was far more likely Megumi was just overthinking things. Sukuna had
mentioned Megumi would swing from one extreme to the other, going from incredibly
cautious to absolutely reckless in less time than it took for his father to blink one of his four
eyes. The omega had been quite the handful, especially, Sukuna had claimed, when they had
first met.

“Hey.” Shuku snarls as Gojo nudges him with his foot. “Come with me.”
“What do you want?” Shuku smacks the foot, which has come back for a second hit, away
from him petulantly.

“I have something to show you.” The older man (at least in appearance) says. “It’s
important.”

“No thanks. I’m watching Fushiguro and Kugisaki.” He motions to the field, where Panda,
Maki, and Toge are training the other two first years. Maki had taken one look at Shuku and
grimaced, not inviting him to join. That was fine, Shuku didn’t want to.

If the woman who claimed to be Zenin, just as Megumi technically was, didn't want Shuku to
train for the stupid "friendship fair" or whatever, he wouldn't complain. It was just another
inane way the sorcerers forced their newest recruits to become ruthless and thoughtless
killing machines.

He was a bit curious about the Panda though. It had to be some sort of puppet or doll, right?
The principle loved making the stupid things, so maybe...

“No, you are coming with me.”

“Fuck off.” Shuku hisses. Almost immediately, his chin is grabbed, and his face is turned to
meet one glacial blue eye, the blindfold folded over just enough for him to see it. He has
never been more terrified.

Shuku has heard plenty about the Six Eyed sorcerer who had distracted Sukuna long enough
to allow the other sorcerers to attack their home, killing his mother. Despite Sukuna
ultimately winning the battle, he lost more than he had gained. It had always been a thorn in
Sukuna’s side, the knowledge that he had been so distracted by someone who didn’t matter to
him in the grand scheme of things, and Shuku had been raised with those eyes being the
demon in his childhood nightmares.

They were so much worse up close.

“Whatever business you have with my son…”

“Son?” Shuku blurts out, confused. “Who the hell would fuck you?”

Gojo scoffs, pulling away. “I don’t need to explain myself to you.” Despite his dismissal, he
is clearly shaken, not having meant to reveal that information. Gojo Satoru has a child.

Shuku looks back at the students on the field. Gojo had said son, which meant it had to be
either A. Toge, which would be interesting to say the least, B. Panda, which he had already
established was more likely to be Yaga's "son" than Gojo's, or C…

“Shit, Fushiguro?” That was… Did Sukuna know? Megumi reincarnating as the son of the
man Sukuna blamed for his past life's death was... messy to say the least. Catastrophic was
probably the better term.

“Not by blood.” Gojo admits, which helps a little. “And it isn’t important. I saved him and his
sister from the Zenin, that’s all.” It was certainly not all, not with the way Gojo had so readily
defended him.

Dad is gonna be so pissed.

Shuku rises, brushing off his uniform and following what was apparently his grandfather ,
into the school. No. Nope. So long as Gojo and Megumi were not blood related, Gojo was
not part of this family. He was absolutely not Shuku’s grandfather. “Where are we going?”

He feels incredibly on edge now that this new information has come to light. I mean, come on
. He’s told horror stories all his life about the Six Eyes, and now Gojo Satoru helped raise his
reincarnated… Megumi? This was worse than…
Gojo pauses in front of a door, one that is deep in the basement of Jujutsu Tech. “You speak
of nothing you see.”

Shuku scoffs but agrees. He somewhat has to. Even with all his bluster about not listening to
Gojo, the vow between them forces Shuku to listen. “What, you guys keep dead bodies down
here or something?”

Gojo smirks, unlocking the door and pushing it open. “Or something.”

Shuku frowns, stepping inside but keeping his eyes on Gojo. “What do you…”

“Gojo-sensei!”

Shuku nearly breaks his neck with how fast he turns. Itadori pops up from behind a couch,
eyes bright, but he frowns upon seeing Shuku. “Why is he here?”

“Come now, Yuji.” Gojo closes the door behind them. “On a technicality, you’re his father.”

“Gross.” They both reply in tandem.

“Yes, well,” Gojo claps his hands together. “Surprise! Yuji isn’t dead, and neither is your
dad!” Gojo waggles his fingers, letting out a little “yay!” that doesn’t seem genuine.

Shuku rolls his eyes, stuffing his hands in his pocket. “I knew that. You think my father
doesn’t have a plan? I didn’t doubt for a second that he was fine.” He grimaces at Yuji, still
hiding behind Gojo. “Would have preferred if he wasn’t though.”

“Asshole.”
 “Boys, boys!” Gojo holds up his hands. “Enough. Besides, I brought you both together for a
very special reason.”

“Besides the fact he’s housing my father?”

Gojo hums. “Indeed. You two,” he points between them, “are going out on mission together!”

“What?”

"What!”

Chapter End Notes

Next week we finally meet my little baby Junpei who I love and adore. Play nice with
him, Shuku.
 Chapter 8
Chapter Summary

What kind of woman is your type?

Chapter Notes

I don't know how happy I am with this chapter, but I really needed to write Todo asking
Megumi his type.

See the end of the chapter for more notes

“Couldn’t they put in a few more vending machines?” Nobara groans as she reaches for her
drink.

Megumi regards her cooly, still brooding over Shuku’s disappearance. Gojo-sensei had said
Shuku was getting “remedial training” from Nanami-sensei, so he would be out of sight and
mind for a while. Except he wasn’t. Megumi couldn’t explain why, but ever since he’d first
met the young curse, he got jumpy when he wasn’t around. Is everything okay? Is he okay?
What if he gets hurt?

He shakes his head, trying to clear it from that line of thought. Why did he care anyway?
“They can’t.” He responds to Nobara, trying to distract himself. “There are only so many
workers who can come here.”

“Oi!”

Megumi and Nobara both turn to their right, two figures standing on the other side of the
little breezeway. Nobara doesn’t recognize them. Unfortunately, Megumi does. “What are
you doing here, Zenin-senpai?” He grits his teeth. It wasn’t that he didn’t’ like family
reunions, but…
He hated family reunions.

“Oh, she’s one too?” Nobara asks, not picking up on the air of hostility, not yet anyway.
“They do seem similar. Are they sisters?”

“Twins.” Megumi confirms for the other omega. “Maki is the alpha twin; Mai is a beta.”

“Thanks for the differentiation, Fushiguro-kun.” Mai sneers. She had always hated that Maki
at least had her secondary gender to fall back on while she was relegated to the background.
“Usually you make me sound like Maki.”

Nobara opens her mouth, likely to defend the alpha second-year, but the man beside Mai cuts
her off. “So these are the pinch hitters for Okkotsu and the third years?”

“Sizing up the competition?” Nobara hisses. “Scared?”

Mai scowls. “We came here with the principal because we were worried about you.” Her
scowl turns slowly into a gloat. “Your classmate died, right?” Itadori. “Was that rough? Or
did you think nothing of it?”

As if she cared. “What are you trying to say?”

“It’s okay.” Mai sighs mockingly, jutting her lip into a pout. “Some things are hard to say out
loud, so I’ll say it for you.” She steps forward, hissing. “‘Vessel’ makes it sound nice, but that
just means he was a half-curse monster. Oh, and what about that abomination Gojo-sensei
convinced the higher ups to unseal?”

Shuku. She was talking about Shuku. Rage rises inside of him, unwanted and unprovoked.
Megumi clenches his fists. “ Don’t .”
“Having such tainted, inhuman beings beside you, one brazenly calling himself a jujutsu
sorcerer, must have been revolting, right?” Mai doesn’t respond to his outburst of anger,
something Megumi is grateful for. Why was he even defending Shuku? Didn’t he feel the
same way, that the curse son of Ryomen Sukuna was a threat? So why…. “Aren’t you feeling
better now that he’s dead?”

No. No, he really wasn’t. Sukuna was the problem, not Itadori.

“Mai, don’t bring up such pointless topics.” The man beside her huffs. His name is Todo, if
Megumi remembers correctly. “I’m just here to see if these guys are fit to take Okkotsu’s
place.” He passes Mai, situating himself between her and the Tokyo students. “Fushiguro was
it?” Megumi subtly widens his stance, prepared for things to get ugly. Todo takes a deep
breath, then, in an unnecessarily loud voice, yells, “What kind of woman is your type?”

One second passes.

Two.

Megumi cocks his head in confusion. “What?”

“Depending on your answer, I’ll beat you half to death right here.” What? “And drag
Okkotsu, or at least the third years, out to the exchange event.” Was that really all this was
about? Megumi is… unimpressed, especially as Todo rips his shirt from his body, lowering
himself into a fighting stance. Of course even fellow students don’t see him as a serious
threat. “By the way, my type is a tall woman with a big ass.”

Nobara scoffs at his side, clearly finding him just as insufferable as Megumi does. “Why do I
have to talk about my taste in women with a guy I just met?” Besides, it wasn’t as if he…

“He’s right,” Nobara agrees. “That’s a tall hurdle for an antisocial guy.”
“Be quiet.” He snaps. “This is already confusing. You’ll just make it more complicated.”

“Kyoto, third year, Todo Aoi.” He introduces himself, proving Megumi’s assumption about
who he is correct. “Introduction over. Now we’re friends.”

“I don’t think that’s how that works.”

Todo ignores Nobara's interjection. “Hurry up and answer. If you prefer men, that’s fine too.”

As Todo explains his thoughts about why he asks such an inane question, Megumi actually
considers it. What does he look for in a partner? For a second, an image flashes across his
mind, too short for him to get much from it. But he was so sure he felt arms around him.
Yeah, but no one has three arms, Fushiguro.

“Hey,” he snaps back to attention as Nobara elbows him. “Aren’t these schools four year
schools?”

Why was she asking… “Only third years and under can join the exchange event.” He
assumes that answers her question, since that is what they had been talking about. When she
doesn’t give him a weird look, he supposes he’s guessed correctly.

“Answer me Fushiguro!” Were they still doing this? “What kind of woman is your type?”

As much as he is itching to fight, Nobara is unarmed, and Megumi can’t risk a confrontation.
So, against his better judgment, he answers. “I don’t have a particular preference. As long as
they have an unshakable character, I won’t ask for more.” Especially since three arms is…

“Not a bad answer.” Nobara commends him. “If you would have said ‘big boobs’ or
something, I…”

“Kugisaki.”
“... Oh. Oh! How did I miss that, it’s so obvious.”

“Shut up.”

“I knew it.” Nobara and Megumi turn from their bickering, shocked to find Todo crying.
“You’re boring, Fushiguro.”

Megumi has two seconds to lift his arms in a block before he is being thrown across the
courtyard. “Fushiguro!” Nobara cries out, but Mai quickly wraps her arms around Nobara’s
shoulders to hold her back. “Now, now, little omega. Let the boys play.”

Megumi’s ears are ringing as he brings his hands together. If Todo wants a fight, he can have
one. Even if Todo had taken part in the Night Parade last Christmas Eve and Megumi hadn’t.
Gojo had expressly forbidden it, leaving Megumi alone and away from the school. In a show
of defiance, Megumi had hiked up the mountain back to the dorms, arriving just in time to
watch as Gojo spent his last moments with what had practically been his mate.

He’d gone back home and hadn’t said anything when Gojo returned, even when the annoying
older man had spent the night wrapped around him, pretending he wasn’t crying.

“What is going on here?” Panda, and Toge, seemingly appear out of thin air. “You two aren’t
fighting, are you?”

How had they known? How had they…

Had Gojo known?

Megumi turns back towards Nobara, finding her and Mai now separated by Maki, who is
posturing as if defending her omega. Well that was an interesting development, especially as
Kugisaki, who was adamant that even if she was a female and an omega she didn’t need
 saving, was clinging to her like Mai had threatened her life. Maybe she had, Megumi
wouldn’t put it past her.

“Give Okkotsu a message. ‘You take part too.’” Todo leaves, practically dragging Mai behind
him, before anyone can remind him that Yuuta is out of the country.

“Thanks.” Nobara says, eyes bright as she regards Maki. “How did you all get here so
quickly?”

“We got a text.”

Shuku puts his phone back in his pocket, glancing up towards the mountain in the distance.
“Hopefully that will get you out of trouble.” How his father had known Megumi needed
saving, how he'd been able to get Shuku to hear him ask to send that text, he didn't know.
True love or something like that probably.

“Ryomen! Inside!”

Shuku sighs, annoyed, but he does as he’s told. At least this sorcerer wasn’t a complete idiot.
“Yeah, yeah, I’m comin’.”

Chapter End Notes

Todo: What's your type?

Megumi's subconscious: The King of Curses, next question.

 Chapter 9
Chapter Summary

Shuku meets a sorcerer he actually likes and then realizes why.

Chapter Notes

Yuji voice: NA-NA-MI! NA-NA-MI! NA-NA-NA-NA-NA-NA-MI!

See the end of the chapter for more notes

If there is one good thing about the fact Gojo has pulled Shuku away from Megumi and
forced him into “buddy-buddy” time with Itadori, it’s that Shuku finally meets an adult that
won’t give him a headache. Nanami Kento is a no-nonsense sorcerer that had left to lead a
normal life, only to come back once he realized work was just as shitty as sorcery.

He also held no respect for Gojo Satoru, so he got points for that too.

“So what is this place again?” Shuku kicks the row of red lined seats, three of them covered
in red that decidedly isn’t fabric. The deformed humans had been quite the sight, one he’d
laughed at before Nanami-sensei had given him a look.

“It’s called a movie theater. They play them on that big screen.” Yuji points to the large white
thing taking up one wall of the room. Movies, huh? He’d have to ask about those. Were those
the moving pictures Yuji liked to spend hours watching on that strange box? “Oh, Nanami! I
see them! The cursed energy residuals!”

“Congratulations. You can do the most basic thing.” Shuku claps unenthusiastically, causing
Yuji to scowl. “Most of us can sense them before we even see them. The fact it took you this
long…”
“Enough.” Nanami’s voice interrupts them, and the older sorcerer motions for the two
students to follow him out of the theater.

“Nanami! Couldn’t you give me a bit more praise?” Yuji pouts as he ducks under the yellow
caution tape Nanami holds up for the two of them.

“What are you, a dog?”

“I don’t praise or disparage anyone.” Nanami says before Yuji can yell at Shuku. Again. “I
adhere to facts and judge on that basis.” See? Shuku liked him. Gojo would throw a fit once
he found out about Megumi. Nanami could probably be convinced to help them.

The residuals lead them up to the roof, which is unfortunate as it happens to be raining.
Shuku hated looking like a wet dog. “There wasn’t anything on the surveillance cameras?”

“Right. There was only one young man aside from the victims.” Interesting.

“So one got away? Or was he the one doing it?” Shuku queries. “ Or is he now searching for
the thing that did this as well.”

“All good questions.” Nanami says, turning to glance back at Shuku. “You are being much
more proactive than I thought you would be.”

Shuku shrugs, hands in his pocket. “I’m a little curious to know what could have transfigured
those humans. Other than that, I’m bound by Hoe-jo to behave.”

“Hoe-jo?” Yuji scoffs. “Seriously?”

“What? He is, isn’t he?” Shuku glances at Nanami, whose shoulders have tensed. “It isn’t like
he has a mate.”
Nanami doesn’t answer. “He does?”

“Did.”

Oh. Shuku can’t help but feel a little bad. He has seen how the loss of a mate affects alphas.
His whole life has been him watching Sukuna mourn the loss of his mother, trying and failing
to fill the empty hole in his chest where his heart had once been. Jujutsu society often
claimed the King of Curses was heartless, but Shuku knew better. Sukuna had a heart, it was
just held by Megumi. “I’m sorry.”

“Why? It doesn’t affect me.” Nanami doesn’t sound so sure.

“I’m sure she was your friend too. And an omega death is never good for anyone in the
‘pack.’” Why did Shuku have to explain that to him? Shouldn’t Nanami know that?

“He was also an alpha. One who abandoned Satoru before he died.” Nanami shakes his head.
“I am only telling you this so you do not bring it up. Gojo does not do well when prodded
about him.” He glares down at Shuku and Yuji from over his glasses. “Is that clear?”

“Yes.” They both answer, shrinking in on themselves. Still, it is interesting information. Gojo
Satoru had a mate in another alpha, one who’d abandoned him and then died at a later date.
Shuku winces. He can see why it would be a sensitive topic. Maybe it would be best not to
bring it up.

Despite the small distraction, it isn’t exactly easy to ignore the warbled sounds of another
curse, especially when they’re right in front of you. Shuku wrinkles his nose in disgust while
Yuji offers to take the curse in a one-on-one. Idiot, does he not remember what happened last
time he tried to fight a curse on his own?

“I’ll take this one.” Nanami holds out a hand to stop him. “You take that other one.” Other…
How the hell had Shuku missed that? He could sense the special grade at the detention center
just fine; was he getting rusty? “If you decide you cannot take it on alone, call Shuku. He will
help.”
“I will?” The look Nanami gives him makes him straighten up. “Yes, sensei.”

Nanami mumbles something about not being a teacher, but there are more important matters
to focus on here. “I am an adult, you are both children.”

“Technically, I’m older than you.”

“You are still a child by technicality though. I have a duty to prioritize your life over my
own. Just because you have both faced several life and death situations does not make you
adults.”

Shuku doesn’t really care why Nanami thinks he doesn’t count as an adult. After all, he does
look to be about sixteen, making him younger than Itadori and Kugisaki. “My cursed
technique,” Nanami begins, and Shuku perks up, “allows me to forcibly create a weak point
on any opponent. Seven to three. Striking the point at that ratio when you draw a line along
the target’s length causes a critical hit.”

“That should allow you to deal a lot of damage to higher grade curses that outrank you.”
Shuku calls back. It wasn’t a bad technique, if he was honest.

“If their cursed energy is weak, I can cut them in half with a dull blade.” Shuku had been
wondering about the cursed tool wrapped in spotted fabric. “Are you listening, Itadori-kun?
Shuku certainly is.”

Itadori is, of course, not listening. “You were talking to us?” Shuku rolls his eyes, especially
as even just calling back to Nanami is enough of a distraction for the curse Yuji is taking care
of to throw him into the netting above them.

Yuji lands on his face in front of Shuku, who nudges him with a foot. “Oi! Stop it! Hey,
Nanami! Is it okay to reveal something like that?”
Shuku scoffs before Nanami can answer. “Revealing your technique is fine, especially if it
can mislead your opponent. It increases its effectiveness.”

“Shuku is correct. ‘Revealing one’s hand’ is a pact that can increase the effectiveness of your
technique. For example-” Nanami takes a fighting stance, his cursed energy growing as he
does so. Shuku’s eyes light up in glee, ready to see how this new and interesting technique
works. As the curse approaches on all fours, Nanami takes one swing with his covered blade,
and the curse drops, all its limbs severed.

“That’s all from me.”

“Wow.” Yuji blinks. “Not only is his blade wrapped up, but he used the back of it to slice
right through that thing.”

“Impressive.” Shuku laughs. “But focus on your own fight, brat.”

Yuji frowns, about to ask what he means, before realizing there is another curse that he is
meant to be taking care of. He manages to block the blow aimed at his head just before
impact. It sends him sprawling, and Nanami sighs. “I don’t like you looking away.”

“Shuku is distracting me!” Yuji rises, pointing an accusing finger in his direction.

“Am not!” Shuku sticks his tongue out. “You just suck!”

“Shuku,” he turns towards Nanami, trying not to look guilty. “We should discuss some
things.”

“About this assignment? Gojo already gave me the third degree. Is that how you use that? It’s
what Yuji said when I…”
“Your father,” Nanami certainly doesn’t waste time on pleasantries. “He wants something.
Don’t think I don’t know that.”

Shuku tries to keep his face blank. “You mean his own body? I don't see how that's too much
to ask. You have your own body.”

Nanami doesn’t move, but he does lower his voice so Yuji cannot hear. “My mate happens to
know quite a bit about jujutsu history.”

Hold on. “Wait, you have a…”

“She told me a very interesting story involving your father and an omega that bears an
incredible resemblance to one of Gojo’s other students.” Shuku takes a step back, suddenly
on guard. “Does Megumi remember you’re his son, or is that…”

“How?” Shuku’s voice is shaking. “How… the sorcerers destroyed all evidence of…”

“Not all.” Nanami removes his glasses. “The book is damaged, but Eri was still able to get
the gist. Is Sukuna still trying to destroy this world, or does he just want what was taken from
him?”

Shuku grits his teeth. “Does it matter?”

“It matters because how you answer determines if we help you.”

Help. Nanami wanted to help. “All we want is my mother back." Shuku glances up at him,
not even having to fake the pleading look he gives the older sorcerer. "No, Megumi doesn’t
remember.”

Nanami nods slowly. “Right. Then we will have to be careful about this.” We. Nanami is
going to help.
 “Nanami!” Yuji calls from across the roof. “Did you see that!” The curse he’d been fighting
is lying on the wet roof, bleeding from a rather impressive hole in its chest.

“Not bad.” Shuku admits, pulling out his phone. He opens it, having forgotten Yuji had stolen
it to take ugly pictures. As the camera opens, Nanami grabs the device. “Oi!”

“Look.” He points the phone at the still writhing opponent without limbs. He takes a picture
and turns the image towards Shuku. “Cursed spirits shouldn’t show up in photos.”

“No.” Shuku swallows thickly. Those humans downstairs; they had been transfigured. What
if they hadn’t been the only ones? “They shouldn’t”

Chapter End Notes

NANAMI KNOWS!

Also, how do we think Shuku would have felt about Geto? I think he probably would
have questioned his sanity for being involved with Gojo.
 Chapter 10
Chapter Summary

Shuku's Bonding Time with Uncle Nanami

Chapter Notes

I've been having issues with my computer so this chapter isn't what I thought it would
be. Hopefully I can troubleshoot this weekend and catch back up next week.

See the end of the chapter for more notes

“Why am I here again?” Shuku wrinkles his nose at the dirty sewer, backing away from the
water. “I thought I was supposed to be bonding with Itadori.”

“Itadori has his own role to play. I have a feeling you wouldn’t be a very welcoming sight to
a nervous young man who may or may not be involved with all of this.” Nanami glances to
his left, then slowly to his right. “Besides, you want to talk about Megumi.”

Of course he did. Shuku had millions of questions about this version of his mother. “What’s
he like?”

Nanami snorts, obviously more than a little amused. “You are so dead set on getting him
back, and you don’t even know a thing about him?”

“It isn’t as if I haven’t tried!” Shuku pouts. “He’s… really closed off. And even if I did get
close, Gojo suspects something.”

Nanami doesn’t deny it. “He does. He isn’t sure why, but he knows you and Sukuna have
taken an interest in Megumi. I don’t feel particularly inclined to tell him the reasons.”
“Why?” It’s a fair question. Nanami was the one with all the aces, able to help or hinder all of
the key players. So why was he siding with curses?

“Because Gojo would go ballistic and Itadori would be done for. I don’t care how much he
cares for his students, any threat to Megumi has to be eradicated.”

Shuku snorts. “Geez, I knew he’d helped raise him, but…”

“Gojo has practically adopted Megumi as his pup. Megumi may not admit it, but Gojo is the
closest thing he had to a real father, and that bond is strong in ways we don’t fully
understand. If he knew Megumi had a past life as the mysterious mate of the King of Curses,
I don’t doubt he’d kill Itadori to get rid of the threat.”

“But he isn’t a threat! My father…”

“Is a threat to the higher ups of jujutsu society. What happened the last time he tried to stay
out of the way and not bother them?” Nanami raises a brow, shooting Shuku a look that says
‘use your brain.’

Shuku swallows thickly. “They went after Megumi.”

“And they would again. They would use him to get Sukuna to do whatever they wanted. Gojo
knows that, and he knows the safest option for Megumi is removing Sukuna from the
equation.” Nanami sighs, stepping forward. “Megumi is… quiet. He’s had a lot of things
happen to him. His mother died. So did his father, but only after abandoning him and his
step-sister. She is currently in a coma from a curse; they don’t think she will ever wake up.
He has the Ten Shadows technique, but without that, the Zenin wouldn’t care if he lived or
died. I still don’t think they care. But Gojo does.”

Shuku grimaces. Why had this world given his mother a new life when all it brought was
pain? Well, he supposed it would help drive him into Sukuna’s arms. He was sure his father
wouldn’t complain. “Does he…”
“Enough for now.” Nanami interrupts, clearly done sharing. “We should keep moving.”

The further into the sewers they go, the more it stinks. “Look out!”

Shuku jumps, dodging a blow from a transfigured human, rolling away to land in a crouch.
“Low blow!” He grits his teeth, racing forward.

“Careful!” Nanami calls. “There’s more than one.”

There are. In fact, there are so many that Shuku knows they have to be close to whoever is
really behind this. He sees Nanami take out a curse on his left, and Shuku lunges to stop the
one coming up from behind. Between the two of them, it doesn’t take long to leave a string of
bodies in their wake.

“Come on.” Nanami motions for him to follow. “Keep an eye out. I’m sure there will be
more.” Shuku agrees, fists raised and ready to fight. He wouldn’t normally listen to a human,
but he could listen to Uncle Nanami.

Eventually, Nanami stops before another cross-section, pausing at the edge of the walkway.
Shuku feels it too. “If you plan to come out, please hurry up and do so.”

A shiver run up his spine. Whoever was here, they weren’t friendly. Shuku was used to other
people being unfriendly, but this was….

This was wrong .

“Ah, what a relief. I’d be in trouble if Gojo Satoru was here.” Shuku peaks around Nanami’s
shoulder, grimacing at the curse standing opposite. He looks more human than others he’s
seen, but the patchwork face and dull blue-grey hair makes him look like a walking corpse.
“Ah, but this is interesting.” He cocks his head, his smile unfriendly. “I’d heard the Prince of
Curses was free, but I wasn’t sure I believed it.”

“Kiss my…” Nanami holds out a hand. “Don’t.”

“Yes, yes.” The curse laughs. “Be a good boy and stay out of this. We could be of such help
to each other.”

Somehow Shuku didn’t believe that. Nanami had already actively begun helping try to figure
out how to get his mother back; this curse seemed more likely to tear Megumi to shreds
before willingly handing him over to Sukuna.

“I hate working overtime,” Nanami huffs, “so let’s get this over with.”

Despite warning Shuku from rushing into battle, Nanami is a blur, at his side one second and
gone the next. He blinks, and his new mentor is suddenly backing the curse up one step at a
time. “Hey! You can’t have all the fun!”

The curse laughs, bright and loud, but wrong. “Hey, which do you think came first,
Princeling? The soul or the body?”

“Doesn’t matter.” Shuku answers. “You won’t be around long enough to find out.”

He laughs again, clearly amused. “Cute. Do you think the soul resides in the body? Or does
the body form around the soul? Do you have one, Princeling?”

Shuku grits his teeth. “Hey!” Nanami calls. “He’s distracting you!” He yanks Shuku back by
his collar. “ Listen.”

“The soul,” the curse continues, “always comes first. The body is pulled along by the soul.
My technique is to make contact with and alter the shape of the soul.” He winks, pulling out
 what looks like a shriveled bean. “Idle Transfiguration.”

“Look out!” Nanami throws Shuku to the side, dodging to the left as the curse allows the
transformed human to grow. “Don’t let him touch you!”

“I always keep a stockpile of humans on me. Rather difficult though. Normal people die after
their soul is transfigured.” He grimaces. “I wonder how a sorcerer would hold up.” Those
cold eyes slide over to Shuku. “Or another curse. Do you think because Sukuna’s omega was
human I could transfigure you?”

Nanami rises, clearly more than a little pissed off. He glances at his watching, sighing. “It’s
five-thirty. I started work at ten.”

“Is now the time for this?” Shuku stares down the moaning human, fists clenched. This curse
wants to do that to him. This curse would do that to his mother. Shuku could not let anything
take Megumi away from them. Not again. Not now.

“Of course. I’m getting off at six no matter what.”

Chapter End Notes

Nanami doesn't work overtime because he has a wife at home who he loves. Eri is very
happy about this.
 Chapter 11
Chapter Summary

An interlude with two old FWBs, and another look at Sukuna's past.

Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes

If he felt bad for saddling Nanami with two of the most rowdy and powerful first years
Jujutsu Tech had ever seen, Gojo didn’t look it. In fact, if anyone would have asked, he
would have insisted he’d made the right, and the only, choice. If anyone could handle the
Prince of Curses and Sukuna’s Vessel at the same time, it was Nanami Kento.

Besides, Nanami had said he’d be fine. Eri had practically begged him to let Nanami have
them. “You really trust him with Shuku, darling?” Gojo had asked, brow raised.

“I trusted you with me.” She reminds him, making him groan at the reminder that she had
acted as a middle man before he and Geto had figured everything out. Nanami didn’t hold it
against him too much.

He did still bear a grudge over Gojo bringing it up at the wedding.

Technically, I introduced you.

Technically, Satoru, I met Kento when you and Suguru were taking turns inside an empty
classroom. I’d like to stay mated to the alpha I actually married, thank you very much.

“So, how is Megumi?” He looks up as the woman sits down, pink hair up in a ponytail. “I
haven’t seen him in a while.”
“A brat.” He says, taking the offered drink. Eri had invited him out for lunch with the
promise of drinks, dessert, and gossip. Even after the fall out with the omega, they’d
remained close friends, though not nearly as close as she’d been with Suguru.

“He gets that from you.”

“Does not!” He pouts. “He gets it from his father.”

Eri snorts. “Satoru, we all know you both think of each other as sire and pup. Don’t pretend.”

“I’m not. But the kid looks so much like-” he shudders, wincing at the memory. Eri winces
too. “I’m worried about him.”

“Worried? How so?” Eri glances at the menu, trying to act casual. “Is it an alpha?”

“No. Yes? Technically.” He sighs. “It’s Sukuna.”

Eri chokes on her wine. Coughing, she sets down her glass, looking up at him. “Sukuna?”

“I think he has an interest in Megumi and I cannot for the life of me figure out why.” He
frowns down at his own menu, the words blurring together. “But I can’t shake the feeling that
whatever he’s planning has something to do with my son.”

Eri doesn’t respond. How can she? She knows for a fact Sukuna’s plans do involve Megumi,
just not the way Gojo fears. His actual plan was much worse. But how exactly does one tell
your friend-and-once-lover that his pseudo-son is a reincarnation of the most powerful and
mysterious omega in history, and the curse currently incarnated inside another student really
wants to dick him down?

You don’t, that’s how.

Nanami had informed her that Shuku had readily accepted their help, and had promised under
threat of never having sex again to introduce them soon. She’d have to meet Itadori too, but
right now, she was more interested in Sukuna’s son. WHere everyone else saw a perfect
replica of his father, a menace and future tyrant, Eri knew he was just a scared little boy who
wanted his parents. One was trapped inside the body of a young man, and the other didn’t
remember him.

Shuku was alone for all intents and purposes, and Eri needed him to know he had friends. It
was why, upon piecing together her theory about Megumi, she’d told Nanami he needed to
speak with the curse. Gojo asking him to babysit had worked out perfectly.

“But what about you?” Gojo asks, not realizing she’s spaced out for a few moments. “What’s
new?”

Eri hums, flicking at the little curse clinging to her. “There are whispers about some rogue
curses, powerful ones, that are here in Tokyo. They’re planning something.”

“What?”

Eri flicks at another curse, both happily napping on her shoulders. Sometimes, her technique
was a curse itself. “I don’t know. I don’t even know what they look like. But there’s a group
of them, and one,” she shudders, “even other curses fear him.”

“Careful.” Sukuna adjusts his elbow, helping him aim his arrow at the target. “Steady. And…
release.”

With a thwack, it embeds itself in the sack of grain, Uraume clapping politely. “Well done,
Ryomen-Sama.”
Sukuna grips his shoulder, pulling him into a hug. “My clever little warrior.”

“Dad!” Shuku giggles, still so tiny in his large fists. “Stop it! Too heavy!”

Sukuna presses even more of his weight on his son, making the giggles grow louder. “I’m so
old. Soon you’ll have to keep me upright. What then? Will you leave your poor father all
alone?”

“No!” Shuku yells, pouting. “You’ll have Uraume!”

The white haired curse grins. “Thank you for not forgetting me, Ryomen-Sama. Unlike your
father.”

Sukuna rolls his eyes, reminding them both that he would never forget one of the few people
he could genuinely call a friend. With a pat on his head, Shuku is sent off to play, Sukuna
watching him fondly. “He is a good son.” Uraume says quietly. “Megumi-Sama would be
most proud of you both.”

“Megumi,” Sukuna grits his teeth, tears welling in his eyes, “should still be here. Shuku
should be playing with Kuro and Shiro, with Orochi. He should be able to grow up to spar
with Mahoraga. He…”

“Sukuna.” Uraume forgoes titles, laying a hand on his arm. “He is watching you. I am
certain your omega is watching over you both, waiting for the cycle to restart so he can
return…”

“We need him now, Uraume. What happens if the sorcerers strike again? What happens if
they find us here? What happens if Shuku…” He clenches his fists. “They are closing in. I
need… I need a plan should they find a way to seal me.”

Uraume looks back over at Shuku, chasing a butterfly, then back to the alpha beside them.
“What do you need me to do?”
Chapter End Notes

So, yeah, Eri was in the middle of a Satosugu sandwich for a while solely because your
girl was a horny mess. (We stan.)
 Chapter 12
Chapter Summary

Shuku meets Eri and Gojo has a visitor.

Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes

“Was that it, Grade 1?” The curse’s body morphs into something resembling human, making
Shuku grimace. He was uglier this way. “You did well running around, but now you’re at
your limit?” He cocks his head, gaze turning to Shuku. The fight had been quick, not that it
had been short, but that Shuku had barely had time to think between blows. He had been
driven mostly by instinct, and as good as those were, he was woefully rusty and out of
practice from being sealed for so long. “And you. I expected more from Sukuna’s son.”

He lunges, ready to prove he is not to be underestimated, but Nanami stops him, grabbing
tight to his collar. “Hey!” Shuku protests, but then he realizes Nanami isn’t looking at him.
He’s looking at his watch. It’s six o’clock. Hadn’t Nanami said something about being done
by six?

“Unfortunately,” Nanami tugs Shuku behind him, using his free hand to remove his tie. As he
wraps it around his hand, his cursed energy increases rapidly. Shuku is flabbergasted. What
was he doing? “I’m going into overtime now.”

Overtime? What the hell was overtime? Did the “time” part mean he’d made a time-based
pact? Ugh, what had Uraume said about those? He couldn’t remember. Maybe he should
have paid more attention when he’d been taught the basics of jujutsu, but back then, he’d
finally begun to understand the rage his father felt every day since losing Megumi. Shuku
hadn’t cared about theory. He had wanted to hit.

“Fun!” The curse hops down from its perch, clearly more than ready for round two, and
Shuku takes a fighting stance. His own cursed energy seems a bit lacking now, though if
Nanami has been purposefully holding back, it’s no surprise Shuku can’t keep up. He’d
expended plenty of his own guarding Nanami’s weak spots.
“Shuku.” Nanami whispers. “Stay here.”

His cursed energy output dies immediately. “What?”

Nanami doesn’t answer, focusing back on the more dangerous curse as he begins explaining
his technique. Was this going to be a demonstration? Could Nanami beat this… this… thing?

Instead of heading straight for the curse like Shuku expects, Nanami keeps his distance,
playing yet another game of "tag". The other curse finds this amusing, giving chase without
truly caring if he catches Nanami now or in a few minutes. He seems to think he doesn’t need
to take this seriously. But if Nanami wasn’t being serious, why had he told Shuku to stay put?

Bigger question, why was Shuku obeying? The only person he truly listened to was his
father, and that was because the few times he hadn’t, Uraume had spent weeks patching him
back up.

Nanami comes around a corner far too quickly, fist raised. He punches the wall, breaking it
into pieces and imbuing them with cursed energy. Shit. That was actually pretty impressive.
But the other curse could just…

Slash!

Both Shuku and the curse gape at its leg, severed from its body. A distraction? “We are
retreating for now.” Nanami says to him as the curse collapses. “You should get that leg
healed quickly.” He glances over his shoulder at the still stunned curse. “If you survive, we
should meet again.” He turns back, holding out a hand to Shuku. “Get us out quickly.”

He doesn’t argue, taking hold of Nanami and sprinting away. Still, as they retreat, Shuku
feels uneasy.
We should have ended him now when we had the chance.

“Is Itadori joining us?”

“No.” Nanami answers cooly, removing his jacket. “He has other plans.”

Shuku would normally make a snarky comment there, but he’s too busy staring at the omega
that looks like she could be Itadori’s older and cooler twin. Which, considering he and Itadori
actually look pretty similar, means she could be his twin. “Eri.” She introduces herself,
holding out a hand to him. “And you must be Shuku.”

Eri. So this was Nanami’s mate who had found the one remaining piece of evidence Megumi
was in fact his mother. He liked her already. “And I suppose I have you to thank for agreeing
to help my father and I?”

She laughs, more of a snort really. “Technically, we asked you.” She motions him further
inside, calling to Nanami that dinner is still on the stove. The kitchen smells absolutely
mouthwatering; Nanami standing over the simmering pot on the stove with his sleeves rolled
up. “I figured we should talk a bit before you go telling your father we made promises we
can’t keep.”

Promises they can’t keep? “You said you would help.”

“And we will.” Eri sits him in the living room. “But we don’t exactly have a way to help
yet.”

Oh. “You wanted to make sure I didn’t claim you knew how to get him back.” Shuku
understands. Had he told Sukuna that they did, and then Nanami and Eri failed to deliver,
they would have been subjected to far worse than death. “I can understand that. My father
doesn’t exactly have the best relationship with sorcerers.”
Eri hums, grimacing. “No he doesn't. Can't really blame him. But we are looking, Shuku.
Well, I am. Kento is currently babysitting you.”

“Hey!”

“Eri.” Nanami warns from the kitchen. “Don’t patronize the curse.”

She shrugs, slumping down next to him. “I saw Satoru today. We had lunch.” She says,
though not to him.

“And? What did he have to say?”

She glances uneasily at Shuku, and he knows whatever Gojo had said today during their meal
has to do with him. “He… he thinks Sukuna has a plan, specifically one that involves
Megumi.”

Shuku can’t help it. “Of course he does!” He laughs, tears in his eyes. “I could have told you
that! My father is many things, but subtle is not one of them when it comes to my mother.”

Eri chuckles, clearly thinking the exact same thing. “I don’t think he’s picked up on the why,
but he is nervous. We should tread carefully. You know how he is about Megs.”

Shuku did not know, not really. He suspected, but was it really as serious as Eri seemed to
believe? Nanami answers that question, setting a bowl of some sort of soup with noodles in
front of him. He was used to raw meat and vegetables, but this smelled amazing. “Megumi is
practically Satoru’s pup. You are to Sukuna what Megumi is to Gojo.”

“Oh, shit.” Shuku doesn’t mean to say it out loud. “I knew they were close, but I didn’t
realize… Shit.”
“Which is why Sukuna needs to pump the brakes a bit.” Eri is already eating. “Trust me, I get
the rush. I understand the need to make sure Megumi remembers and can trust you both, but
if we do this wrong, Gojo will not hesitate to kill you. If he sees something as a threat to
Megumi, he will eliminate it.”

“You smell.”

Gojo glances up from his glass, smiling brightly as he sees who has come to visit. “Megs!
Come sit.” He pours another glass of sake, setting it at the seat across from him.

Megumi sighs, clearly tired, further proven by the dark circles under his eyes. “What’s
wrong?” Gojo is immediately on alert; something is causing Megumi to lose sleep.

“Nothing.”

“Megumi…”

The omega rolls his eyes at the alpha, but he answers anyway. “I just… Itadori is dead.”

Gojo tries not to flinch. “It wasn’t your fault.”

“I should have…”

“You were up against Sukuna and his son. It is a miracle you survived. They could have
killed you.” He knows it’s true. He knows those words hold no lie in them, and yet, he feels
as though he is wrong.
 It has been plaguing him ever since the cursed womb. Why didn’t they kill you? What do they
want with you?

He was obviously more than relieved that Megumi was fine; if Sukuna had killed him, Gojo
would have ended the curse himself, only after forcing him to watch Shuku die.

An eye for an eye. A son for a son.

But there was something niggling in the back of his mind, something he was missing.

Something about Megumi that Sukuna saw and he didn’t.

“I’ve also been having… premonitions? No, that isn’t right. Feelings?”

“You have feelings?” Gojo pretends to be shocked.

“Shut up.”

“What type of feelings?” He dodges the blow Megumi throws, refilling their cups.

The younger sorcerer shrugs, lifting his now refilled glass to his lips. “I don’t know. Like I’m
forgetting someone. Someone important.”

Chapter End Notes

Do I think Gojo would actually kill Shuku? Only if Sukuna killed Megumi, which
obviously won't happen.
But I really wanted to show the parallel between two fathers, one supposedly "good" and
one "bad," who would do anything for their sons.
 Chapter 13
Chapter Summary

Shuku makes a friend. :)

Chapter Notes

It was always my intention to make Yuji and Shuku besties. The time has come.

“I just don’t think…”

“Itadori,” Shuku groans, having been listening to the boy rant about the omega he’d spent the
day with for over an hour. “Just say you want to get in his pants and be done with it.”

Yuji goes bright red immediately upon him suggesting that. “I do not! I… you… Why would
you say that? Maybe you want to get in his pants! Which you can’t! Junpei is…”

“I’m not interested in omegas, Itadori. Don’t get your knot in a twist. You can have him.”
Shuku waves Yuji away, rolling his eyes. “Honestly, you all get so defensive over omegas.”

“What, and your dad didn’t get defensive over his omega?”

Shuku glares at him, snarling in warning. “Do not speak about my mother, Itadori, unless you
want your heart ripped out again. I would be glad to do it for you this time.”

“Stop it, both of you.” Nanami whacks Shuku in the back of the head. “I have something i
need to do. Ijichi will be watching you both; try to be nice to him.”
Yuji salutes him, agreeing quickly. “Yes, sensei!”

Nanami turns to Shuku, brows raised. “Yeah, yeah.” The younger-looking alpha grumbles.
“I’ll play nice. Unfortunately, I think he’s growing on me, like a fungus.”

Itadori looks shocked by that, but Shuku has to admit, if he takes his father out of the
equation, Itadori is a big, dumb puppy, and as much as that would usually annoy him to hell
and back, Yuji made it work. “Wait, really?”

“Don’t push it.”

But it’s too late. He’s budged, just an inch, and Yuji is going to take a mile. “Awe, you aren’t
too bad either, Sukuna Junior! Well, except maybe the whole killing thing. Other than that…”

“Oh, heavens above, go back to the omega, it’s better than this.” Shuku groans as Yuji begins
quickly shuffling through the movies available to them. One seems to be about a human that
has become a worm. Interesting, at least they were becoming self-aware.

“You don’t have to act so… so…” Yuji grimaces. “I don’t know, pissy?, all the time. You can
be a normal boy.”

“Need I remind you, Itadori, that I am not a normal boy? I’m a curse.”

“Half-curse. Your mom was human.” Yujo leans forward, elbows on his knees. “What was
she like?”

“He. My mother was a father, or at least, you call some male omegas fathers now, do you
not?” He doesn’t want to talk about this with Itadori. Granted, Shuku does want to talk about
his mother, but just not with the boy currently housing his father. “And he was strong. He
died to protect me.”
“How?”

“It is rude to ask someone questions that they obviously do not want to answer.” He snaps
back. He feels like a cornered dog, willing to bite if it means escaping. Unfortunately, Yuji
doesn’t seem to pick up on that. “Besides, what about yours?”

“Mine?” Yuji frowns. “I never really knew my mom. My dad raised me until he died, and
then my grandfather took care of me. I can’t even remember what she looked like.”

Oh. “We have that in common then. The only reason I knew what Me… my mother looked
like was a portrait my father had. It was one of our most prized possessions.”

“How big was it?”

“Small enough to fit in a pocket. We slept with it close to us, as if he was still there and we
would wake up and it would all have been a bad dream.” Shuku sighs, eyes closing. “I
wonder how different things would have been if he hadn’t been killed.”

Yuji is quiet for a moment, clearly thinking. It must be difficult for him considering he isn’t
that bright. “I thought they didn’t know what killed him.”

Shuku scoffs, disgusted. “Yes, because history is never used as propaganda and is written
wholly unbiased.” He turns, red eyes glaring at Yuji. “Jujutsu sorcerers killed my mother
when they attacked our home unprovoked. They sent the Six Eyes after us to lure my father
away, and then they burnt our home to the ground. My mother shielded me with his body
until my father could rescue me. He sacrificed himself to save my life, and I wonder every
single day if I was worth it.”

The silence between them is deafening. Yuji is gaping at him, whether from the confession or
the truth of what happened to Sukuna’s mate. Shuku is honestly shocked he admitted
something so deeply private to a boy he has only just begun to warm up to. But it’s true;
sometimes he wonders if it would have been better if Megumi had survived instead of him.
Wouldn’t that have been a sight- his grieving parents laying waste to the world side by side.

“You were.” Shuku thinks Itadori had said it, but when the other boy stares back at him in
confusion, he realizes Yuji wouldn’t have said something like that. Instead, he glances down
at Yuji’s hand, where a small mouth sits in a firm line. “Your mother would not have survived
losing you, and I wouldn’t have been able to survive losing you both. Do not think for a
second that your mother regretted saving you.”

Shuku grits his teeth, not wanting to cry in front of Yuji. This wasn’t a conversation to be had
right now, with eyes and ears on them. “Yes, sir.”

“Itadori! Ryomen!” Sukuna vanishes as Ijichi races into the room. “Something has
happened!”
 Chapter 14
Chapter Summary

Shuku realizes that while he is enjoying this new life with much less killing, his father is
not so amenable to change.

Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes

When Nanami had called, yelling about a veil suspiciously placed over the university the
transfigured boys had attended, Shuku had gritted his teeth, knowing they had to have missed
something. What was it about this school that kept drawing a rogue sorcerer to it?

Still, Shuku’s worry over their potential misstep was nothing compared to Itadori. Nanami
had told them to wait, stay where they were, and let him deal with things. Yuji had other
ideas. “You don’t understand!” He’d yelled at Ijichi once Nanami had hung up. “Junpei
attends university there!”

Junpei. The omega Yuji had been mooning over since meeting him barely a few hours ago.
He knew some alphas fell fast and hard for omegas, but he hadn’t expected it to take one
meeting. “I’ll go with him.” Shuku offers, stepping between Itadori and the older man. “I’ll
keep him safe.”

The journey across the city is the longest few minutes of his life. Mostly because Yuji is
muttering under his breath the entire time; Shuku pretends he can’t hear. Please let him be
safe. Please let him be safe. They may have only just met, barely more than strangers, but it
seemed Yuji had formed an attachment.

Shuku wasn’t sure why, but this felt too familiar. Was this what his father had felt seeing the
smoke rising from their home?

Of course, when they finally get to the school, and found the way to the auditorium being
used for an assembly, their fears are proven incorrect. It is far worse than they’d imagined.
They couldn't have expected to find Junpei standing over a pile of bodies, the perpetrator
instead of the victim.

“What are you doing, Junpei?” Yuji yells, voice shaking, though Shuku isn’t sure if it's from
how out of breath he is from running here or the gut punch seeing the sweet boy he’d bonded
with over movies just a handful of hours earlier standing over what was practically a
battlefield. Even if that battle had clearly been one sided.

Junpei’s gaze slides lazily over to him, making Yuji flinch. Shuku too feels cold. He blinks,
trying to block out the similarities between Junpei and Megumi. It isn’t him. Mother is safe.

“Stay out of this.” Junpei says, a veritable aquarium of jellyfish rising behind him. “Jujutsu
sorcerer.” His gaze turns towards Shuku, eyes dull and flat. “I’ve heard about you, Prince of
Curses.”

Shuku stiffens, hands clenched into fists. “Itadori.”

“Junpei, don’t.” Yuji warns, knowing Shuku is willing to let him try to diffuse the situation,
but the other boy doesn’t listen. He lashes out with his jellyfish shikigami, distracting them,
and races out of the auditorium, towards the stairs and an upper level of the building.
Cursing, Yuji has no choice but to give chase.

Shuku remains, checking over the fallen humans. Scoffing at himself, he grimaces down at
the boy Junpei had dropped. “Caring about humans. How pathetic.”

Mother is human. Mother cares.

“Shut up!” He hisses to a quiet room. Now wasn’t the time for introspection. In the past,
hating mortals, killing sorcerers, had been easy. They’d killed his mother and so must be
killed. But now…
Now, Megumi worked to save these people, even if his motives weren’t entirely noble. And
Shuku…

Shuku was a little tired of the bloodshed. He liked spending time with Itadori. He liked
having dinner with Nanami and Eri.

He wanted that with his parents. He wanted family.

Confirming the humans are mostly alright and alive, Shuku chases after Itadori. It’s easy to
follow Junpei’s curse signature, but Shuku feels uneasy about it. It feels tainted, and as he
rounds the corner to find Junpei and Itadori in a stand off, he fears something bad has
happened. But no. They’re fine, talking, and maybe, he was wrong.

Then he hears the footsteps.

The thing that approaches them from the stairs is too familiar, its patchworked face, split in a
wide grin that haunts Shuku’s nightmares. “Who are you?” Yuji asks, glancing between
Junpei and the curse.

They haven’t noticed Shuku.

The curse doesn’t answer. “Nice to meet you.” His smile turns predatory. “Sukuna's vessel.”

Yuji steps back, teeth grit. Shuku takes a step forward, then stops, watching as the curse
reaches out, arm bloating until it is large and deformed, slamming into Yuji and holding him
against the wall. “Mahito-san, wait!” Junpei is on his feet, at the curse’s side in an instant.

How could he have been such an idiot?! That wrongness he’d felt in Junpei, the lack of any
sort of signature when Yuji had returned- this curse, Mahito, was the culprit. And Junpei…

Junpei was collateral.

”Junpei, run!” Yuji writhes under the hand holding him. “I don't know what relationship you
have with him, but right now just run!”

Junpei holds his hands out to him, but he doesn’t move. “Itadori-kun, please calm down.
Mahito-san’s not…”

Shuku watches, unable to break free from his stupor, as the curse steps forward, hand landing
on Junpei’s shoulder. “You know, Junpei, you’ve got a good head on your shoulders. But
sometimes deliberation can lead to worse foolishness than imprudence. You're a stereotypical
case of that!” He leans in, whispering in Junpei’s ear. “You're almost as foolish as those
people you called fools yourself.”

“Get away from him!” Yuji yells, but he is ignored.

The curse’s grin grows wider, feral, and Junpei’s eyes close. “That's why you'll die.” He looks
up, straight at Yuji. “ Idle Transfiguration.”

Shuku watches from the sideline, horrified, as Junpei’s skin bulges, swelling as if water
logged. His skin turns blue, face elongating until a sick, twisted figure stands between him
and the curse. It never gets easier to stomach, seeing these transfigured beings, but watching
the process? Shuku feels sick.

Mahito cackles. “Now, it’s time for round two!” He cackles gleefully, releasing the
transfigured boy.

The hand holding Yuji releases him, and he slides to the ground just as the creature lunges for
him. “Junpei…” His voice cracks as a blue fist meets his face. Move. “Junpei!” Yuji dodges
the next attack, wrapping his arms around that elongated head to hold him still. Move,
Ryomen. “ Get ahold of yourself! I'll heal you right now!”

He can’t, muscles locked up. He’s never felt like this before, lost and confused. He’s killed
countless humans and curses alike, so why is he hesitating now? Why now when his new
friend, because he desperately wants to have friends, is having his heart broken. It cannot end
like this.

“Sukuna.” The word is a whisper, as if Yuji hasn’t yet decided to actually call on the curse for
help. But Shuku knows faced with the other options, letting Junpei continue or killing him,
his father may be their only hope. “ Sukuna!”

The seconds between when Yuji, in desperation, calls out for the curse to help him and
Sukuna actually deigning to appear as a little eye and mouth on his cheek stretch into an
infinity. “What?” His father sounds so bored, so uninterested in the chaos Itadori has been
fighting.

Shuku knows it may be just an affectation, unwilling to show his hand.

Then again, it may not be.

The other curse, Mahito, chuckles, clearly amused at Sukuna’s disinterest. “I’ll do anything!”
Yuji promises, choking on the tears welling up in his eyes. “You can do anything you want
with me! Just heal Junpei like you did when you restored my heart!” It was stupid, foolish,
but right here, right now, with Junpei twisted and transfigured to the point where he is
unrecognizable, it is the only offer his father will entertain. If it means Junpei will be safe,
Shuku knows Yuji will suffer the consequences of making a pact with Sukuna gladly.

“ No.”

Of all the things Sukuna could have said, Shuku hadn’t expected him to refuse . Yuji could
have been forced to help, to return Megumi to them. Instead, he’d rather spite his vessel to
teach him a lesson. “But I…”

“You’d offer up your pride, your future, your everything to try to rely on me.” Sukuna laughs,
loud and unkind. “You can’t save anything .”
Shuku balls his fists, stepping forward, finally finding the will to move. His father’s words
are cruel, and worse, they feel directed at him. He tackles Junpei to the side, holding the
transfigured boy in a tight grip. His reverse curse technique is untried, Uraume had still been
teaching him when he’d been sealed. But he has to try .

“Shuku?” He isn’t sure if it's his father or Itadori calling to him.

“How can you say that?” He asks, wincing as Junpei flails in his grip. It isn’t working. “How
can you say that when you couldn’t save mom?!? When you would have done the same thing
if it had meant he would have lived?!?” Shuku chokes on a sob, the image of two boys, both
with green eyes and black hair, converging in his mind. Junpei isn’t his mother, but all he can
see is a transfigured Megumi. Hadn’t Mahito threatened as much?

“Shuku.” The word is sharp, hard. His father doesn’t appreciate what he’s implying, or that
Shuku is rebelling against him. His perfect son is questioning him.

Shuku doesn’t care. Not when Junpei goes still in his arms, still transfigured, now dead. He’s
failed. He lets go, breathing in sharp, heavy pants. He can’t see beyond the tears spilling over
onto his cheeks, lost and adrift in his own mind.

He doesn’t come back to himself until he feels a hand on his shoulder.

He starts, looking up from the now cold body of what was once Junpei into the comforting
eyes of… “Nanami.” His voice cracks on the last syllable.

“It’s time to go, Shuku.”

He nods, shoulders slumped as Nanami guides him outside. Itadori looks rough, and just as
depressed as he feels. “Itadori, I…”

Yuji shakes his head. “You tried. Thank you for at least…” His lip trembles, and they both
silently agree not to talk about it now. They’re tired, drained, and Shuku feels as though his
 whole world has shattered. He was breaking apart, and he had no clue why.

Why did he care?

Why had he seen Megumi instead of Junpei?

What was wrong with him?

Chapter End Notes

Shuku is finding his humanity and boy is that a wild ride.

Also, here’s a little fun fact for you guys- I have a full Sukufushi family fleshed out for
this fic. Our baby boy Shuku has four younger siblings.

Yuuji- Megumi names him, he’s the sweetest child, but still a menace
Okuri- he and the youngest sibling look like Megumi, he is an absolute BRAT
Chutsu- he, like uncle Nanami, doesn’t really want to be a sorcerer, but work really is
shit
Satoru- Megumi named him too, and unfortunately he takes after his grandpa. He also
tries to dye his hair white, making him look like a skunk most of his life
 Chapter 15
Chapter Summary

Shuku deals with the realization he isn't as strong as he thinks, and while Sukuna isn't
too pleased, someone else is happy to see him.

Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes

Eri sets mugs of hot chocolate in front of both boys, sitting beside Shuku on the couch. Yuji
is curled up in an armchair, and Nanami sits across from him, nursing a coffee. “Are you all
okay, at least?”

“Fine. You already patched Yuji up, and Shuku and I weren’t hurt.”

Shuku glances up from the brown liquid steaming in a mug shaped like a loaf of bread.
“What happened?”

It is Yuji that answers, quietly. “Mahito went after you when Junpei…” He swallows thickly.
“I stepped between you two, and he got me instead. I think… I think when he tried to
transfigure me, he reached Sukuna, and he ran. I followed and Nanami showed up to help.”

“Is he…?”

Yuji shakes his head. “Escaped.”

Shuku looks back at the mug, weighed down by the knowledge he hadn’t done a thing to help
prevent that. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what came over me. I just... I did anything I could
think of, but...”
“Thank you.” Yuji whispers again, voice cracking. “For trying.”

Shuku grits his teeth, trying to hold back tears. “I should have been able to stop it. I should
have saved him. I was too weak, and I just shut down, and I couldn’t…”

Arms wrap around his shoulder, Nanami having moved to his other side, pulling him close.
“You can’t save everyone. It’s a hard lesson to learn in this business, and it is one we all fail
at some point.”

“I couldn’t even save one person. I've been destroying things for so long, maybe I don't know
how.” Shuku sniffles, and Yuji looks away, his own eyes watering. Eri moves to his side,
gathering the pink haired boy into her arms, cooing at him. They sit there like that as their
drinks go cold, Eri and Nanami only moving once both boys have cried themselves to sleep.

“They had a rough day.” Eri says as they close the guest room door. “And you?”

Nanami shrugs. “I don’t know. When I found him, he was just… staring at the body. He
seemed so startled when I reached him, and I wasn’t being quiet.”

Eri hums. “An omega dying in his arms, one with black hair and green eyes?”

“You think he saw Megumi.”

“I know he saw Megumi. It doesn’t help that Sukuna was doing nothing.” Eri looks back at
the closed door, heart broken for the boys inside. “Something is going to happen between
Shuku and his father. I just hope whatever it is, it doesn’t spell disaster for us.”

Going back to the school felt hollow, especially as Yuji was still technically dead. Gojo
wisely doesn’t say anything to them when they arrive, letting them spend that first day back
alone. Well, mostly. Yuji ends up finding Shuku after they’ve changed, sitting beside him.
“He wants to talk to you.”

“About?” Shuku tries not to let the anger he feels towards his father color his voice.

Yuji shrugs. “Not sure. Just know he wants to talk.”

“Well I don't.” Shuku can't help but snap. He immediately feels bad for doing so. He and Yuji
are finally on good terms, he doesn't need to be snippy. “Sorry. I'm not mad at you.”

“Oh, we both know that isn’t true.”

Shuku scowls, rising to his feet and stepping away. “You're right. I lied. I hate you.”

“He was a human omega. A lesson for the boy.” Sukuna calls back. “He served a greater
purpose dead.”

Shuku whirls around, pointing an accusing finger at him. “‘You cant save everyone’, that was
what you said. You accused Itadori of being weak for asking you for help.”

“He was.”

“No!” Shuku scowls. “He was doing what he could to save someone! Maybe, if you would
have thought like that, my mother wouldn't have died!”

Sukuna is on his feet in a second, matching scowl on his face. “Do not question me. I was
tricked, led away by a sorcerer so they could have ample opportunity to attack.”
“I never did question you, not before! Maybe I should have! You spent years killing in my
mother’s name, and now, when Itadori has his own omega dying right before his eyes, you
condemn him to the same fate?” Shuku scoffs. “You are such a hypocrite! Mahito wants to do
that to mom, you know. To me!”

“I won't let him.” Sukuna says it as if his word is law. To him, Shuku supposes it is, but he's
quickly realizing that in this new era, they are woefully unprepared for those who might try
to stop them from reuniting with Megumi.

Shuku shakes his head, disgusted. “I stayed there after he died, vulnerable and weak. You
know why? Because I saw mom. I didn't see Junpei; I saw mom. ”

“Your mother has no part in this.” Sukuna hisses. “Drop it.”

“Mom died protecting me. Mom died because you were a threat. Mom died because the
jujutsu sorcerers wanted to attack you, not him. He was just a casualty for a greater purpose
to them.” Shuku’s eyes are watering. “And so was Junpei to you. You are just like them.”

Sukuna’s jaw clenches. “What did you want me to do, Shuku? I can't be weak. If I bend to
Itadori’s will, then how…”

“He said he would do anything. He could have helped us.” Shuku’s lip trembles. “He’s
Fushiguro’s best friend. You think he couldn’t? Instead, you have an enemy.”

“ We have a…”

“ No.” Shuku shakes his head, backing away from his father. “No, I have a friend who cried
over a dead omega with me. You have a vessel who wants nothing to do with you.” He glares
back over his shoulder. “And I’m not very fond of you right now either.”

*
Megumi feels ever so slightly bad for Nobara. It wasn’t his fault she hadn’t heard they were
hosting the sisterhood event and weren’t leaving Tokyo, but why hadn’t anyone told her?
Why hadn’t Maki told her?

“What did I make all those preparations for then!” Kugisaki yells at Maki, who stands over
her, unfazed.

“No wonder our conversations have been a bit off lately.” Maki muses, still ignoring her
girlfriend berating her.

Panda tries to explain. “It’s held at the school that won the previous year.” Yeah, except last
year, Yuuta was here. Megumi wishes he was here to help this year; he could use someone to
talk to. His unease over Shuku’s over a month long disappearance is grating on his nerves.

Nobara grabs Panda’s fur, pulling him down to her level. “Then don’t go winning, you
idiots!” Maki pulls her away, promising they can go visit Kyoto even if they do win. A cute
little date for her omega.

Megumi shakes his head, wondering how Maki had somehow ended up with Kugisaki. Then
again, he supposed she deserved it, especially after the whole mess with Yuuta.

“Oi!” Maki turns away from Nobara, glancing down the steps. “They’re here.”

Sure enough, seconds later, Mai’s head appears, and the rest of the Kyoto students follow.
“Look,” Mai sneers, “it’s everyone from Tokyo together.” She stops a few feet away, letting
her classmates catch up. “Did you all go out of your way to greet us?” Her eyes roll.
“Disgusting.”

“Okkotsu’s not here?” Todo asks, looking around as if Yuuta will suddenly appear from the
trees. He looks to Megumi, who shrugs as if saying “I tried.” He had, but the other omega
was too busy with his own mission to worry about the sisterhood event.
Momo is busy looking at Nobara, clutching tight to her broom as his fellow first year
demands the Kyoto school hand over… food? Why would they have brought food?
“Nevermind Okkotsu being absent,” a robotic voice answers Todo. “Isn’t having two first
years a major handicap?”

Mechamaru, if Megumi recalls correctly, is the robot’s name. Why was he even allowed to
participate? Wasn’t having a literal robot too big of an advantage? Nobara seems to think so.
“Age is irrelevant to Jujutsu sorcerers.” Noritoshi answers, face turned towards Megumi.
“Especially with Fushiguro-kun.” Well, someone was sucking up to him. “He’s from the
Zenin bloodline, but he’s more talented than the head of the clan.” Mai scoffs, but Megumi
simply ignores her. “Something to say?” Noritoshi asks Mai.

Mai looks away. “Nope.”

“Please calm down you two.” Miwa, clearly the peacekeeper, steps between them.

“Let’s not fight amongst ourselves.” Utahime appears from behind her students, finally
catching up and settling the rising tension between schools. She looks straight at Megumi and
frowns. “Where’s the idiot?”

As if he knew where Gojo was at all times. He didn’t have a tracker on the man!

(Gojo; however, does have a tracker on Megumi’s phone. “For protection,” he had said.
Megumi knows he also uses it to ask Megumi to pick up food if he’s near something Gojo
has been craving.)

Megumi isn’t the one who answers. Panda does that. “Satoru’s late.”

“As if the idiot would ever show up on time.” Maki scoffs.

“No one said idiot referred to Gojo-sensei.” Megumi reminds them, despite also having
immediately assumed that “idiot” meant his adopted father. Who else would it be?

A soft rumbling catches everyone’s attention, and all eyes turn to the cart being rolled along
by the man they had just been talking about. “Sorry for the wait!” Gojo says as he rolls the
dolly to a stop, finally allowing the boy who’s been chasing after him to catch up.

Shuku.

He’s back.

Something in Megumi’s chest unclenches, relieved to see Shuku looks no worse for wear,
even after a month spent with Gojo. As for the box, Megumi doesn’t know what Gojo has
planned, but he doesn’t like the look of things. “I see everyone is together!” Gojo waves to
the Kyoto school. “I was on a business trip overseas, so I will now hand out souvenirs.”

Megumi groans as Gojo reaches down for bright pink dolls that look like mummies.
“Everyone from Kyoto gets a protective charm from a particular tribe.” He does not specify
which tribe. The responses vary, from Miwa looking pleased by the gift, to a stone-faced
Kamo, to Mai who looks like she’s disgusted. “None for you, Utahime!” Gojo says, holding
up his empty hands after gifting the last doll to the blue-haired girl.

“I don’t need one!” She bites back.

Gojo turns back to the Tokyo students, grabbing the handle of his cart. The smile on his face
warns that whatever is inside, it’s probably going to be the opposite of what they want. “And
for everyone from Tokyo,” he pirouettes, “we have this!”

The lid pops open, and out comes…

Megumi feels all blood drain from his face. No.

He was dead. He had watched Sukuna rip his heart from his chest. He had seen him die .

“Hey! OPP!” Yuji strikes a pose, beaming at them. Shuku snorts, hiding his face in his hands.
Had he known this whole time?

Megumi glances at Nobara, realizing she is in shock too, and not in a good way. It seemed
Gojo’s gift has missed the mark. “It’s your dearly departed friend, Itadori Yuji-kun!”

When no one responds favorably, Yuji’s smile fades slightly, looking rather worried. Gojo is
not. He turns the cart, displaying Itadori for the Kyoto school. “This is Sukuna’s vessel,
Itadori Yuji.”

“What is the meaning of this?”

“Principal Gakuganji!” Gojo waves. “Thank goodness, I was worried you might just die from
the shock.”

While the older adults stare each other down, Nobara makes her way to the cart Itadori is still
in. She kicks it, making him nearly fall. “Oi!” Itadori glances at her, and Megumi steps beside
her. “You have something to say?”

Yuji deflates a bit. “S-sorry for keeping quiet about being alive?”

Megumi doesn’t say a word. He doesn’t know what he could say. While Nobara berates
Itadori for making them worry, Megumi approaches Shuku. “Hey.”

The young curse seems shocked Megumi is speaking to him. “Hi.”

“You were.. Gone.” He isn’t sure where he’s going with this.
 “Uh, yeah. Itadori wasn’t dead, so, I was brought in to play nice and make friends.” SHuku
shoves his hands in his pockets, rocking back and forth on his heels.

“Did you?” Why does he care? He shouldn’t, and yet, Megumi wants Shuku to have friends.
He wants him to be his friend.

“Uh yeah? You okay, Fushiguro?” Shuku seems perturbed, worried Megumi doesn’t feel
well. Megumi is concerned too.

He turns back towards Yuji, watching him cower from Nobara’s wrath. “I’m happy you're
back. And safe.” He whispers it, barely audible, as if he can't quite believe what he's
confessing.

Shuku glances at him, clearly shocked. But instead of teasing him, like Megumi assumed the
son of Sukuna would, he just smiles warmly. “Thank you for worrying about me, Fushiguro.”

“Megumi.” He blurts, looking back at the curse. “You can call me Megumi.”

Chapter End Notes

Shuku/Megumi bonding time?

And don't think this is the last time Shuku and Sukuna will argue over Junpei.
 Chapter 16
Chapter Summary

Now that Yuji and Shuku are back, they have to meet everyone else and figure out what
their roles are in the sisterhood event.

Meanwhile, Sukuna is content to watch as his son finally gets to bond with his mother.

Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes

“You know, depending on how you look at it, this could be considered very extreme
bullying.” Yuji says from the corner.

“Sit and stay quiet.” Nobara snaps, still mad. Megumi is… not mad, exactly. Just very
concerned. Not about Yuji, not exactly, but even with Shuku in his sight, Megumi is worried.
Which is even more concerning, because these feelings can only be what omegas feel
towards pups. Gojo has mentioned feeling something similar towards him and Tsumuki, but
Megumi doesn’t even have pseudo-pups like Gojo does.

And if he did, he doubts Shuku would appreciate being thought of as such.

“Come on, he explained his reasons.” Panda cajoles, trying to calm down Kugisaki. “Cut him
some slack.

Yuji turns with wide eyes. “The panda talked!”

“Not important. Yuji,” Maki holds out her hand. “Give me back Slaughter Demon.” When he
doesn’t looking at her in confusion, she sighs. “You borrowed it from Gojo.”

Megumi watches as Yuji’s face filters through multiple emotions in a few seconds, eventually
landing on nervous fear. His eyes drop to his feet, pointing a thumb over his shoulder. “Gojo-
sensei has it.” It is obviously a lie; Megumi remembers it was broken during their battle with
the cursed womb, but he will let Satoru take Maki’s wrath this time.

Shuku will not. “Didn’t you break it?”

“You what?” She seethes, looking from the curse back to Yuji. “You broke my…”

“I was trying to fight a special grade! I promise I didn’t mean to!” Yuji cowers, scooting
away from the irate alpha.

“Maki,” Megumi steps between them. “It really did break while fighting a curse.” He glares
at Shuku. “Don’t cause trouble.”

Shuku scoffs. “Yes, mom.”

Megumi isn’t amused, nor does he really like the fluttering in his chest he gets at the title.

(Shuku’s heart rabbits a bit as well, realizing that besides his slip up the first day, this is the
only time he’s called Megumi “mom” to his face.

It is the first time Megumi has accepted the title.)

“That blindfolded dumbass shouldn’t have given it to you.” Maki hisses. “Fine, so what is the
plan?” Everyone immediately straightens, the conversation taking a more serious tone. “The
group battle format is what we expected, but we have more members now.” She nods towards
Itadori and Shuku. “Should we change strategies even if there isn’t much time to plan?”

“That depends on Yuji.” Panda shrugs, motioning towards their newest teammate. “What can
you do?”
Yuji raises an arm, patting his biceps. “Punch, kick…” He sounds like a stereotypical jock.

“We have enough of that.” Panda sighs in disappointment. Yuji deflates, as if that is all he is
truly good for.

Megumi isn’t so sure that he’s right though. “I don’t know what he’s been doing since he’s
been dead,” he stretches, trying to act nonchalant, “but if everyone from Tokyo and Kyoto
fought him at once, with no cursed energy,” he pauses for just a moment, to let his words
have the right effect. “Itadori would win.”

The second years gape at him, surprised he is not only sticking up for Itadori, but at the
amount of power his recently revived classmate seems to have. The funny thing is, Megumi
thinks Yuji would probably be able to beat them even without Sukuna behind him, helping
even the playing field. Itadori was just that strong. “As for Shuku,” Megumi glances back at
the curse, who straightens. “He’s Ryomen Sukuna’s son. What can’t he do?”

“Reverse cursed healing.” Shuku mumbles under his breath, and Yuji shoots him a mournful
look. Megumi isn't sure what that means, but he plans on asking about it as soon as he can.
Something had happened while those two had been together.

Maki, who doesn’t notice said look, recovers from her shock first, smirking at the pink haired
boy. “Very well then, here’s the plan.”

“Itadori.” Yuji turns, humming at Fushiguro’s question. “You okay?”

He nods, smiling at his friend. He’s missed him these past few months, but he isn’t sure how
to say so without Sukuna getting mad. Sukuna liked Fushiguro just a little too much for Yuji’s
taste. “Yeah. Sounds like I have a big role, but I’ll manage.”
Megumi shakes his head, clearly Yuji has not answered the question Megumi had been
asking. “”I’m not talking about that. Something happened, right?”

Yuji chuckles awkwardly, denying despite everything that absolutely had happened. “No,
nothing happened.”

Megumi doesn’t look convinced. “Okay, something did happen.” He winces, the memory of
Junpei crying in front of him, so broken and alone making him uneasy. But it was fine now.
Everything was fine. “But I really am fine.” He promises, his smile more genuine this time.
“In fact, because of what happened, I don’t want to lose anyone.”

Megumi takes a moment to look him up and down, scrutinizing him as if looking for a lie.
When he doesn’t find one, he shrugs, brushing past him stone faced. “Okay, then.” Yuji
thinks that is the end of the conversation, but as he passes, Megumi confesses, “I don’t really
want to lose either.”

“What do you mean ‘really’? You already got sent rolling around once.” Nobara addresses
Megumi, who leaves Itadori behind to meet up with the rest of the group. Something inside
him, Sukuna most likely, bristles at the insinuation Megumi has been roughed up while they
were gone. But Yuji is more focused on what Megumi had said. I don’t really want to lose
either.

Somehow, Yuji doesn’t think Megumi meant the sisterhood event.

“Fush… Megumi got roughed up?” Shuku looks surprised, but his tone doesn’t match.
Somehow, he had known. What surprises Yuji; however, is Shuku's use of Megumi's name.
And that Megumi doesn't mind.

“Only a bit.” Megumi reassures the curse, hand on his arm. “I’m fine.”

Shuku nods, squeezing Megumi’s own arm back. “Good. I’d hate to have to rough someone
else up for hurting a friend.”
Megumi, in rare form, manages a small smile. “Thanks for the offer. I’ll keep it in mind.”

“Anytime.”

That roiling in his stomach is back, feeling almost like a pleased purr. Sukuna is happy about
something. That was never a good sign.

Still, as Yuji follows everyone into the designated arena, he can’t help but notice how Shuku
sticks to Megumi’s side. Or how Megumi curls his hand in Shuku’s shirt to keep him close.

It almost looks… parental.

“Ryomen Sukuna.” He looks up, bound as he is from head to toe in bindings upon bindings.
They can’t kill him, only contain. He is to be sealed, probably forever. There is little hope for
reincarnation.

But there is hope.

“Do you have any last words?” Tengen asks, clearly ready to bind him.

He scowls, lunging, though he is held back by the ropes binding his arms, neck, and torso.
Honestly, it was almost overkill. “That these won’t be my last. I will be back.”

The sorcerer hums, kneeling before him. “Are you certain? You don’t wish to repent for your
crimes? The deaths you caused?”
 Sukuna snarls. How dare they! How dare they make him apologize when they killed first!
“Their deaths were justified.”

“All of them?”

“You killed my husband, my Megumi. I killed in his name. He is the only one who will judge
me.” Sukuna hisses. This was for him, all for him, didn’t they know that? In killing Megumi,
the sorcerers had condemned the world to fall under Sukuna’s crushing hand.

“And yet,” Tengen sighs, rising. “He is dead. And your son,” Tengen glances to his right,
where Sukuna’s near perfect twin is writhing in his own shackles. “Will be bound just like
you.”

Sukuna rattles his bonds. “And we will be back to avenge him once more.”

Tengen gives an indulgent hum, raising his fist filled with cursed energy. “We shall see.”

It is the last Sukuna knows besides pain, his son’s muffled screams the last thing he hears. But
what is the pain of being sealed inside of his own fingers for a few centuries when Megumi
had to feel his skin peel from his bones as the fires ate him to dust? What is a minor
inconvenience to death? Sukuna feels the pain, but he embraces it. This trial by fire is for
Megumi, his love, his mate, stolen from his arms.

For him, he can endure. For him, he shall incarnate. For him, he will destroy this world.

And, as Sukuna watches Shuku hover near Megumi, and Megumi return his clinginess, he
knows it was all worth it for this.

Chapter End Notes

I will be traveling again next week due to family things, and since the week after that is
Christmas, I'm not sure when the next chapter will be posted. It will at least be before
the new year, so I will see you then.
 Chapter 17
Chapter Summary

Let the Sisterhood Event begin!

Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes

Sometimes, Sukuna really wishes he didn’t have to deal with Itadori. Okay, fine, he always
wished he didn’t have to deal with Itadori. But still, the brat was more perceptive than most
people gave him credit for, which wasn’t saying much because no one thought he was
perceptive.

I don’t really want to lose anyone either.

Megumi most certainly wasn’t talking about the sisterhood event.

Was it wishful thinking to hope he had been referencing Sukuna? Their bond? After all,
Sukuna had rewritten his entire plan for this world around Megumi, ensuring that when he
finally has his own body, he will have his mate once again at his side. Could it be that
Megumi feels that bond, even without knowing exactly what it means?

It didn’t matter. He would find a way to ensure Megumi remembered, and when he did,
Sukuna would take him as his mate just like he once had. Their bonding ceremony could be
in the spring, and perhaps by winter they would be able to give Shuku a sibling.

His interest in the omega hadn’t gone unnoticed. He knew Yuji was wary of the way he
always seemed to lurk in the back of his subconscious whenever Megumi was around. Gojo
too had turned his Six Eyes on him, staring through Yuji and straight to Sukuna, trying to
decipher his plans. They think I want him dead. How foolish. It would be such a waste to kill
him.
Their time apart had only cemented that idea in his mind. Whatever dominion he established
once he was free was only complete with Megumi at his side. Death was not in the cards for
either of them. He couldn’t promise the same for the others, but if Megumi wished for them
to be spared, who was he to deny him?

As the white haired sorcerer yells over the strange device that allows him to be heard
throughout the designated battlefield, Sukuna takes stock of his and Megumi’s compatriots.
Besides the first years, who he has met before, the second years don’t seem too threatening.
A curse doll of a panda, a boy with cursed speech (troubling if not for the amount of damage
stopping Sukuna would take on his own body), and the girl with no cursed energy.

Boring. Useless. Unworthy.

If this is what the sorcerers thought would be the next generation, he was a little concerned
that Megumi wasn’t getting the proper training he needed.

No matter. Sukuna would have plenty of time to correct that as soon as he had gotten rid of
Itadori. After all, it was under his tutelage that Megumi had tamed Mahoraga, a fact that has
been lost to time. As far as the sorcerers know, no one has ever tamed the Divine General.

He did. He will. Soon.

For now, all he had to do was sit and relax, allowing Megumi and Shuku to bond, confident
nothing could possibly go wrong on school grounds with so many teachers watching.

Right?

They were relatively deep into the forest within seconds of the start signal. It was easy going
for the first few minutes, trying to bridge the distance between their side and the Kyoto
school, but at the first cursed spirit, they hit a snag. “Senpai!” Megumi calls out to Maki as
she races forward, ready to exorcize the spider-like creature. His divine dog had sensed
something, alerting him with a sharp bark. “Stop!”

Maki pulls back just in time for Todo to come bursting through the trees, obliterating the
curse. “Great!” He grins widely, taking stock of the group as well as Yuji and Shuku. “You’re
all here! Come at me all together!” Had Todo really gone AWOL and come to face them
alone?

It wasn’t that surprising, and in fact, they’d planned for this. Yuji moves first, leaping into the
air so his knee connects squarely with Todo’s nose. While he’s distracted, the rest of the
Tokyo students scatter around him, moving further into the forest. Megumi turns back,
grabbing Shuku’s collar. He had sensed the boy wouldn’t want to leave Yuji, would want to
stay close to his new friend as well as his father, but Megumi couldn’t let that happen. “Leave
it. Todo isn’t yours to fight. Yuji will be fine.”

Shuku hesitates, clearly annoyed at the order, but it only lasts a moment before he turns and
follows Megumi. Nodding, he turns to Maki, who had followed the two of them, while
Panda, Toge, and Nobara had gone the opposite direction. “He was alone.”

Maki lets out a short laugh. “We were right to swap Yuji into that role. Sorry Shuku.”

“It’s fine, I guess.” Shuku grumbles, clearly still upset he isn’t facing their strongest opponent
head on.

Honestly, Megumi was glad. He didn’t really want Shuku to have to face Todo, not enjoying
the idea of having to patch him up after (ignoring the fact Shoko probably would have done a
better job). “We will run into something else for you to punch soon. Promise.” He coos,
sounding very much like a mothering omega.

Maki gives him a strange look, clearly having heard it too, but Shuku just beams at him, like
a little kid. “Promise?”

“Promise.”
*

When they don’t immediately run into any other Kyoto students, Megumi skids to a stop,
making Shuku nearly run straight into him. The alpha grabs Megumi by the waist, lifting him
off the ground as he stumbles over his own feet. “They’re aiming for Itadori.” Megumi says,
unphased, as Maki rushes past them.

“Which is why we turn around.” Maki rolls her eyes, taking a step just so she can
immediately pivot back the way they came. “But we had to get clear first. Let them think he’s
alone.”

Megumi scoffs, following her. “You could have warned me.”

“Can’t give away all my secrets, Fushiguro. Besides, how else did you think this would play
out?”

He hadn't thought about it, or payed much attention to the new plan. He’d been busy thinking
about what would happen if Shuku met the Kyoto students on the battlefield today. Would the
he end up dead by the end of this for simply being Sukuna’s son? It wasn’t Shuku’s choice,
why should he be punished?

He really can’t afford to be distracted right now, but he can’t help but think this sisterhood
event will end poorly.

“I’ll take Miwa.” Maki whispers, spying the Kyoto group up ahead. They split into two,
much like the Tokyo school had, and Maki follows them through the trees. Miwa sees them
first, barely blocking Maki’s blow. Still, it stops her long enough that he can engage with
Noritoshi without worrying about back up. “Kamo-san,” he asks stone-face. “Are you guys
planning to kill Itadori?”

“And if I said we were?” There is no emotion in his voice.

“You failed then. Itadori wouldn’t go down so fast.” Shuku steps into the clearing, eying the
two pairs. “Shuku!” Megumi calls to him. “Change of plans. Go find Itadori.”

Despite his grumbling earlier, Shuku seems unwilling to let Megumi out of his sight. “But
I…”

“Shuku.” He does his best impression of a scolding omega, and the alpha winces. “Yes,
mom.”

As Shuku disappears, following the sounds of battle, Megumi and Noritoshi separate,
standing a few feet apart, the air charged with tension. “We have no reason to kill him.”

“Yes you do.” Megumi counters. “The higher ups and the three major clans have plenty of
reasons.”

“Such as?”

Megumi looks to where Shuku had disappeared. Such as controlling their most valuable
pawn.

Leading the Kamo heir out of the forest and into one of the school buildings was easier than
Megumi had anticipated. Granted, it could partially be due to his insistence he get an answer
from Megumi about Sukuna and the proposition he’d raised before the curse’s return, but
Megumi didn’t want to talk about that right now.

Before all this mess, Noritoshi had asked if Megumi would be interested in becoming mates.
As a beta heir, he needed someone of a more prominent standing to be at his side, and
Megumi as an omega could do that. He could also have children, but the Kamo heir hadn’t
mentioned that, despite Megumi knowing it was a large part of why he’d been approached.
Not only had Megumi declined his offer, but Gojo too had subbed it. He was sure Noritoshi
was still angry over it.

He dodges another arrow, up the stairs and around a corner, before he turns, letting two of
those arrows narrowly miss him as he spins to face Noritoshi, or at least, the direction in
which his arrows are coming from. Two spin around a corner, headed for his back, only to be
stopped by the long tongues of his frog shikigami.

He glances at the blood on the arrow heads, trying to remember if Noritoshi had told him
anything about his technique. “You can summon more than one shikigami at a time, right?”
Shit, he’d gotten too distracted and let him get close. “Can’t say I appreciate you holding out
on me. Then again, maybe I should expect that.”

Megumi rolls his eyes at the jab. “What about you? That is your last arrow, isn’t it?” He nods
towards the one the Kamo is notching. “No one will help if you pass out from anemia.”

“Don’t worry about me, dear.” Noritoshi sneers. “These are all arrows I prepared ahead of
time.” The arrow goes flying, going wider than Megumi had anticipated. It didn’t hit him at
all, instead landing in the rafters and causing debris to rain down on him. Megumi looks up,
gasping. It is enough of a distraction that by the time he looks back, Noritoshi is in his face.
He barely has time to raise his arms to block. He’s shaking slightly as he lands, but his
opponent just chuckles. “Nice reaction.” One of his eyes opens, the skin around it
immediately bleeding red. “But stay alert.”

Megumi can barely blink before he is on him, striking from the right. Again, Megumi barely
manages to block, sent back into the wall hard enough that his only weapons break in half,
the wood splintering. How had he been too slow? How was Noritoshi so fast? He almost
acted like an alpha. But he couldn’t be, right?

Megumi tosses one of his weapons aside, the one in the worst condition, and runs. He knows
Noritoshi will follow, but if he can keep ahead of him…

Too slow. Noritoshi appears in front of him, and Megumi moves to block once again. His
second weapon splinters further, and he tosses it aside too, moving back to the other end of
the hall to put space between them. “Shikigami users that can fight in such close proximity
are precious. Yet another reason we would be good together.”

“Is now really the time for this?” Megumi huffs.

Noritoshi shrugs. “Is it bad that I’m happy you improved?”

“You don’t need to act so sportsman-like. We aren’t friends.”

“No? I suppose not. But we could be.” He advances. “Face it, Fushiguro. You need me.”

“Not as much as you need me.”

“Someday,” he pauses, just a few feet from Megumi, “you will be one of those supporting the
major clans.” Megumi doesn’t mention that he probably won’t live to see that day. “I intend
to kill Itadori Yuji. And then Ryomen Shuku.”

“On orders? Or to prove you can be just as good as any alpha?” It was a low blow, but
Megumi was tired and angry. He was always tired and angry, but usually he could keep a
leash on himself. Not today, it seemed.

Not when Noritoshi was threatening Shuku.

“As a member of the Kamo clan, I believe it is the right call.” He shrugs. “Freeing this world
from Sukuna and his spawn is just an added bonus. You and I, we are the same.”

Megumi can think of many ways they are not. “No, we’re not.”

“We are.”
 “We’re not. Save that for Maki. I no longer have any connection with the Zenin.” Nor did he
want to. “Besides, I don’t believe I’m right.” No, that wasn’t quite correct. “Rather, I don’t
care if I’m right or wrong. I just… have faith in my own conscience.” That was how he
operated, unlike Itadori. He saved only those his conscience deemed worth saving. Perhaps
that made him a bad person. Perhaps he was just as bad as Sukuna. But if they couldn’t
accept that…

Using one of his frog shikigami as a distraction, Megumi pulls out Max Elephant. He has to
release all other shikigamis first, his elephant using most of his energy, but it works well
enough. Water floods the hall, pushing the Kamo heir out the window into open air. He
releases the elephant, immediately pulling out Nue to hit his fellow student while he’s still
falling.

Nue goes in for a second attack, but Noritoshi pulls out a packet of blood, using it as binding
ropes to drop Nue to the ground. Megumi doesn’t care, releasing the bird as he careens
straight for his not-quite-ex. Not to be outdone, Noritoshi sprints forward, ready to meet him
head on to…

Branches explode from nearby, stretching into the building’s courtyard and forcing both of
them to a stop. On the roof, Megumi spots a familiar figure. “Inumaki-senpai?”

The second year is racing across the tiles, barely stopping to look down at them. Megumi
wants to ask what is going on, but before he can, Inumaki opens his mouth.

“Run away.”

Chapter End Notes

Told you I would be back before 2024 (at least for me).

Sukuna, looks like you aren't the only one after Megumi. Don't worry, I'm sure Shuku
will gnaw the leg off anyone who gets to close to his mom.
 Chapter 18
Chapter Summary

A veil has been dropped over Jujutsu Tech, leaving the students inside with curses they
weren't prepared to fight.

Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes

No, no, no, no!

Gojo didn’t like following orders. At this point, everyone in jujutsu society probably knew
that he was a headstrong alpha who wouldn’t listen to anyone but himself, but they still gave
them to him. He often got around it by technically following orders but doing so his own
way. Then again, sometimes he didn’t even bother. What were they going to do?

But when the seals on the wall had burned red with unfamiliar cursed energy, and Yaga had
told him to protect the students, Gojo knew that was one order he’d follow to the letter.
Partially because it was so vague; he could do so however he wanted.

The other reason was inside the veil he now stood before, seething with anger as his hand
burned. Megumi is in there. Pup isn’t safe.

Of course, he’d protect any and all of his students, no matter when or where or why, but
Megumi…

That was his son in there. His Blessing .

If he's hurt, I swear…

“Hey,” Gojo glances over at Utahime, stepping back in shock when he sees her arm half
buried in the veil. “Why can you not get through while I am able to enter?”

He studies the inky black that has swallowed her arm, then smiles lightly, acting like he isn’t
panicking. “Oh, I get it now.” He shoves his hands in his pockets, trying to ignore the buzzing
he feels just under his skin. “Utahime, Gramps, you go on ahead. This barrier,” he motions to
the veil, “allows all others to go in and out in return for denying Gojo Satoru entry.”

Someone doesn’t want me in there. It is concerning, but it does tell him a few thing about
their attacker. One is that they have intel on them, and the second is that whoever put up this
veil is strong. “Get moving.” He doesn’t look at the Kyoto faculty. “We lose if even one of us
dies.”

As Utahime and Gakuganji head into the sealed off portion of the Tokyo school grounds,
Gojo steps back, scowling at the barrier. At least Yuji is in there too. And if Yuji is there, then
so is Sukuna. Gojo doesn’t like Sukuna. In fact, if there was a way to kill Sukuna and save
Yuji, Gojo would have exorcized him ages ago. But for now, with him out here, at least he
can trust Sukuna will keep Shuku safe.

Gojo isn’t blind. Shuku and Sukuna may not be on good terms, but he will do anything to
protect his son. And since Shuku seems fond of Megumi, Gojo is almost positive that puts
him under Sukuna’s safety umbrella too.

Still, the sooner he gets inside, the better. The only person he can trust to protect Megumi is
himself.

Of all the curses Megumi had been expecting, he supposes a plant variety wouldn’t have been
at the top of his list. Still, the branches that had been chasing them should have been a pretty
clear indicator of exactly what they were facing.

“Why is there a cursed spirit at Jujutsu Tech?” Kamo asks accusingly. As if Megumi has any
idea. “Who does this veil belong too?”
That was the other thing. Seconds after being told to run, a veil had descended across the part
of campus being used for the event. “Probably the curse user working with that cursed spirit.”
If Noritoshi wanted an answer, Megumi would give him the obvious one.

“Do you know something?”

He did, and while he hadn’t planned on mentioning it… “I believe it may be the special grade
that attacked Gojo-sensei.” Because he had been attacked. It had been a while ago, but he
remembered Gojo drawing silly little figures of two curses that had tried to corner him one
night. The alpha was no artist, but Megumi liked to imagine he could sort of figure out what
Gojo was trying to get across after having lived with him for so long. That was his pseudo-
father after all, and the curse standing on the school building certainly looked like one of
those silly drawings.

“Tuna Mayo.” Inumaki holds up his fingers in the shape of a phone, and Megumi nods.
“You’re right. Let’s call Gojo-sensei.”

He can feel Noritoshi staring at the back of his head, clearly curious as to how Megumi had
interpreted Inumaki’s ingredients as instructions. The answer was simple. He’d been around
the beta too long. “How can you understand him?”

“That doesn’t matter right now. Our opponent might use a domain. So we should retreat to
Gojo…”

He feels the disturbance before he sees the hit coming. “Fushiguro!” He turns just in time for
the curse’s hand to miss his face, smashing through his phone.

“Don’t move!” Inumaki calls, locking the cursed spirit into place. It gives them a chance to
attack, and Noritoshi does so immediately. But his blade of blood does no damage, bouncing
off the curse harmlessly. Megumi reaches into his shadows, pulling out a sword as he
summons Nue. The bird crashes down on the curse, distracting it so Megumi can strike. But
when he turns back, the only damage is to its pants.
“Nerdlihc hsiloof, ti pots.” The curse warbles, and Megumi can’t quite understand what it is
saying, not by the sound at least. He clutches his head, confused as the meaning becomes
clear despite its jumbled words.

Stop it, foolish children.

I merely wish to protect this planet. That is all.

“This curse is spouting nonsense!” Kamo calls to him, but Megumi doesn’t look away from
their enemy. “Don’t listen to it!”

“It's on a whole other level from lower grade spirits.” Megumi hisses, tightening his grip on
his sword. He feels dread pooling in his stomach, making him feel as if he could vomit.

The forest, the oceans, and the sky all weep so vehemently, I can no longer stand it. It is
impossible to coexist with humans any longer. The curse looks up to the sky, arm open to it.
They know there are some humans who are kind to the planet, but how much does their
affection even help?

It developed its own language system. Megumi realizes. And if the curse could do that…

All they desire is time.

“Get Inumaki out.” Noritoshi hisses at him, and for once, Megumi is willing to agree with
him. Inumaki has used cursed speech twice now. He may not be able to do so again.

The curse bends, pressing a hand to where its heart would be if it had one. This planet can
shine blue once more, if given a bit of time. Its grip tightens, and the earth shakes as branches
and vines burst forth. Time without humans. Bracketed by a wall of dangerous flora, the curse
bows its head. Please die and become sages.
*

Shuku finds Itadori with Todo, looking far friendlier than he expected. In fact, they aren’t
even fighting. “What’s going on here?”

Todo’s smile falls, scowling at the interloper. “Leave! This is between me and my brother!”

“Brother?” Shuku scoffs. “Please, you two aren’t related.”

“Not by blood, but we are connected!” He insists. Shuku glances at Itadori for answers, but
gets none. “Besides, we were discussing jujutsu.” Turning back to Itadori, discounting Shuku
as a threat, Todo begins his lecture again. “We exist in the world with our entire mind, body,
and soul as one whole. It is a given that everyone forgets about it.”

Shuku isn’t sure what he means. Clearly, he has missed too much to understand. But Itadori
does. “Thanks, Todo.” His cursed energy flares to life, and Shuku can barely even sense his
father in it. Where once Itadori had been drawing on what little power he could steal from
Sukuna, now he had found his own. “I think I get it now.”

“Well, I don’t.” He complains petulantly. Megumi had dismissed him for this?

“You don’t need to.” Todo scoffs, matching Itadori’s fighting stance. “No more words are
needed. This time, I won’t hold back.”

Shuku crouches, ready to help where he can, but Itadori shakes his head. “This is my fight.”

“So what am I supposed to do? Watch?” Shuku grumbles, sitting at the base of a tree.
“Should have stayed with mom.” He pouts, but the two boys don’t hear him. His father would
probably use this as a learning opportunity, and if not him, then Uraume definitely would.
Both boys are clearly on another level from Shuku, whose own technique is unrefined. It is a
strange amalgamation of his parents that transformed into something all his own. He could
 set shadows ablaze, burning his enemies hiding in them. But he’d never been able to use it
correctly.

He focuses on the tree’s shadow at his side, concentrating on it. A small spark flashes in the
grass, then dissipates. “Damn it.” He hisses, trying again. This time, the entire patch blazes to
life, but when he tries to put it out, it just burns brighter. “Damn it!” He rises, stomping on it
to put it out. He had no control over it at all.

The sky above him grows dim, dull, and he wonders if it is growing late already. Shuku turns
his face to the sky, only to find a veil lowering itself across the battlefield. Someone is here,
and their energy doesn’t feel friendly. He glances at the two older boys in the clearing,
focusing on Itadori. “Fushiguro.”

“Shit.” Itadori curses. “Where did you leave them?”

“He and Maki were-” Shuku points west. “But they may have split up. They were fighting
two Kyoto students.” He motions to Todo. “Blue hair girl and dark hair boy.”

“Noritoshi and Miwa.” Todo confirms. “They’ll need our help.”

“Then what are we waiting for?” Shuku motions for them to follow, breaking into a sprint as
he tries to pick up on his mother’s cursed energy. I’m coming, mama. Don’t worry. I promise
I’ll protect you this time.

Chapter End Notes

Sukuna is just as panicked if not more so than his son. Gojo is more panicked than both
of them because he can't get to Megumi.

Megumi, I know it's bad, but don't you dare pull out Mahoraga, yet.
 Chapter 19
Chapter Summary

Megumi isn't having a good day.

Chapter Notes

I wanted this chapter to be longer, but classes started this week, so I've been having to
readjust to not having as much time again.

See the end of the chapter for more notes

All Megumi can hear is the pounding of his heart and the shattering of wood from the curse
behind them. Retreating had been their only option, even if he had wanted to stay and fight.
He couldn’t help anyone if he was dead, and he most certainly would have ended up that way
if he would have stayed.

They reach the stairs up to the second floor of the building they had ducked into when
Noritoshi turns, firing off a blood bolt that cracks against the curse’s skull. He wounded it?
Which, considering nothing they had done to it earlier had hurt it, meant that Noritoshi had
been holding back when fighting Megumi. Sometimes he really hated the stereotypes about
omegas being weak.

“Hurry,” the Kamo brushes past him, taking his arm and pulling him along behind him. “It
will heal quickly.”

Megumi nods, taking his arm back and staying at the back of the group so that Inumaki is in
front. After the three orders he had already used, he couldn’t do too much more before taking
on damage, but he could at least freeze the curse for a few moments if needed. Toge leads
them up another set of stairs, and Megumi realizes he is leading them to the roof. They need
to get outside, where they won’t be confined by walls.
As soon as the fresh air hits Megumi, his hands come together, forming Nue. Their groups
stops, turning to face the curse at it obliterates the door they had just exited through, and Nue
settles at Megumi’s back, bristling with energy. “Inumaki-senpai will stop it.” He brushes a
reassuring hair through the feathers of his shikigami, and understanding thrums between
them. “Don’t worry. Just go.”

With barely a sound, Nue rushes forward to meet their foe, and Inumaki opens his mouth to
freeze the curse in its tracks to give the bird an opening. “Sto-”

Blood. Both in front of him and behind.

Inumaki crashes to his knees, mouth flooded with blood, while Nue screeches as his wing is
punched through. Megumi feels as though he himself has been hit. The curse swings for
Noritoshi first, sensing he is the one operating with the most energy, sending him across the
length of the roof. Megumi barely manages to lunge for him, slowing his speed by digging
his heels into the tiles so they manage to stay on the roof. “You alive, Kamo-san?”

The beta at his feet doesn’t answer, leaving Megumi to face the curse alone. Inumaki wasn’t
even using that powerful of words. And it still destroyed his throat! Which could only mean
one thing. The curse was stronger than they had initially thought.

Faced with fighting it alone or destroying both of them, Megumi knows which he must pick.
Hands shaking, he brings them together, hands balling into fists to…

A hand rests itself on his shoulder. Inumaki shakes his head slightly, never turning from the
curse. He steps between it and Megumi, and dread pools in his stomach. “Inumaki-senpai,
that’s enough!”

Inumaki doesn’t stop though, closing the distance between himself and the curse with
shaking steps. The curse advances on much sturdier legs, but Toge grits his teeth, biting back
blood. “Blast away!”

The curse is swept off of its feet, pushed back into the main building they had exited from.
Inumaki crashes back to his knees, his chin covered in red. He can’t manage another attack.
And unfortunately for them, as Megumi stands watching the dust settle, the curse rises again,
unharmed and angry. A shadow appears over its shoulder, and Megumi reaches into his
shadows once again for a weapon.

You can’t cut me with that dull blade.

It isn’t speaking to him. Maki brings her own sword down on its head, shattering her blade,
but giving Megumi an opening. He doesn’t do much, but he does manage to chop off half of
the vine that has taken the place of eyes. He lands unsteadily next to Maki, two Zenin clan
rejects facing one overpowered curse. At least now they know its eye trees are more sensitive
than the rest of it.

Now this sword, the curse croons as its antenna rebuilds, isn’t so bad.

Maki tosses her broken sword aside, and Megumi kneels to replace his back into the
shadows. As he does so, Maki holds her hand out expectantly, and he obediently pulls
another one of her toys out. “I have an even better one. It feels disgusting to use, though.”

Megumi scoffs. Imagine having to carry it around all the time.

Maki swings Playful Cloud around her once, twice, just to get a feel for it again, then swings
at the curse. It blocks, but even without it causing damage, it sends the curse flying. At least
we are getting somewhere.

“Come on.” Maki calls to him, leaping from the building and racing towards the river the
curse had landed in. “We can’t let it escape.”

Megumi doesn’t hesitate to run after her. He had dispelled Nue as soon as it had been hit, and
as he brings his hands together again, he hopes the bird is okay. He has already lost one
divine dog as well as Orochi, he can’t lose anyone else. “Kon!” His shadows shift and morph
into a much larger form, a combination of his now dead white divine dog and the still
“living” one. He would never be able to have Kuro and Shiro together as two entities again,
but Kon served as some amalgamation of the two, giving him some part of his deceased
shikigami to hold onto.
Totality slams into the curse, ripping gashes into its arm before crouching into an attack
position, awaiting orders. “Maki!” He hisses, pulling his sword out once more and tossing it
to her. She accepts it with a nod, handing Playful Cloud back to him. “I’ll need that back.”

Maki attacks first, swinging his sword in a graceful arc, one that is caught by the curse. Still,
with it distracted, Megumi is able to smash Playful Cloud down into its skull, knocking it off
balance. He lands ankle deep in the river, tossing the weapon back to Maki. She returns the
sword at the same time, and without words, they both go back in for another attack.

The curse gasps, recoiling as both of its eye trees are cut. Megumi shudders, the adrenaline
finally wearing thin. “Please never make me use that three-section staff again.” He groans.
“It’s too hard to use.”

Maki rolls her eyes, head tilted towards him in judgement. “It’s not so bad when you…” She
cuts herself off with a choked gasp, staring at his abdomen. “Megumi!”

He chokes as pain blooms from his chest, looking down to find two branches sprouting from
him. The little berries on the end laugh cruelly up at him. Megumi looks up, about to ask his
upperclassman what this is, but instead, he watches as a branch impales her shoulder. “Maki-
san!”

Damn it! He curses under his breath, watching as the alpha breaks the branch with her staff.
All because I screwed up.

My stroke was aimed for your heart. The curse purrs, clearly amused. What a wonderful
reaction. Maki had dodged that? Jujutsu sorcerers are extraordinarily compassionate. The
curse considers them, still looking perfectly healthy, as its vines regrow. An opening is always
created when their ally is injured.

My fault again. Megumi grits his teeth. Was he doomed to forever be a burden?
Kon appears from behind, angered at the curse’s mistreatment of its master, but before it can
land a blow, Megumi releases the technique. I can’t lose any more. But more than that, it
hurts.

As if sensing his discomfort, the curse looks past Maki, who has taken a protective stance in
front of him, to the omega. You shouldn’t use cursed technique anymore. The bud embedded
in you loves cursed energy. The more you use your technique, the deeper its roots will extend
into your body.

That would explain the pain. “How kind of you to warn me.” Megumi manages a bitter smile
despite the pain. “You’re planning on killing us anyway though.”

The curse cocks its head, considering him. Apparently it works faster when I explain it.

Maki doesn’t care to know why or how the technique works, and instead takes the brief
moment of distraction to attack. The curse has hurt one of her pack mates, after all, and she
can’t let it go unpunished. Unfortunately, the curses dodges, only to swing and hit Maki in the
face. You move well. A vine catches her midair, trapping one of her wrists as well as her neck
in a vice grip. But you are missing the edge you had earlier.

Megumi watches them, the two staring each other down, and makes a dangerous decision.
Wring that cursed energy out. Even if it rips open my stomach! He struggles to his feet,
swaying slightly from blood loss as well as the cursed bud. I’m not like everyone else. I
shoulder the least responsibility. I’m not allowed to fall before anyone else.

His hands are shaking, barely able to hold themselves up. If I can give Maki an opening, then
maybe…

“Megumi, stop!” Maki yells, still staring at the curse. Or, at least, where she knows it is. She
has lost her glasses somewhere, and Megumi isn’t sure she can see it anymore. But why was
she telling him to stop? She is smiling, though it looks more like she is gritting her teeth than
smiling. “Our job is done.”

What? Done? No, they weren’t done! How could they be…
A large splash drenches him as three figures dive into the water, right between Maki and the
plant curse. Megumi coughs as he tries to expel the water in his lungs, rubbing his eyes to
clear them. Todo is holding Maki, Yuji at his side, fist crushing the vine that had connected
them. Shuku is on the other side of the curse, between it and Megumi. He gasps, shoulders
dropping as the tension around him is cut by the relief he feels seeing more allies only to
immediately tense again as he realizes Shuku is now in danger.

“What are you doing here?” He hisses at the young curse. “You shouldn’t be here!”

Shuku glances behind him at Megumi, checking him over, only to freeze when he realizes the
omega is wounded badly. “What did it do to you?” Shuku drops to his knees, helping
Megumi sit up straighter so he can look at the bud.

Megumi hisses in pain. “It… it feeds on cursed energy. I can’t…”

“Then don’t.” Shuku orders. “We will take care of it.”

Todo looks over at Yuji, eyes both fond and determined. “You good to go, my friend?”

Yuji rises to his feet, hands balling into fists, ready to fight as he grunts an affirmative.
“Itadori!” Megumi manages to rasp out, looking past Shuku. “Stop! This isn’t something we
can…” He coughs, blood dripping into the river below.

Shuku chokes, wiping the blood from his chin and pulling him to his feet, making sure to
support him. “Steady. Don’t push yourself, Megumi.”

“Panda.” Todo wades through the water to the shore, handing Maki to their classmate that
Megumi hadn’t noticed earlier. “Take these two and exit the veil. According to Nishimiya,
this is an anti-Gojo Satoru veil.” He glances at Megumi, who gasps, hearing that the veil they
had assumed was meant to keep them in was in fact keeping his father guardian out.
But that still didn’t mean Yuji, Shuku, and Todo could fight this thing alone! “Wait! You
can’t…”

“Fushiguro.” He stumbles to a stop, turning towards Itadori. His friend is looking at him,
smiling slightly. But that isn’t what catches Megumi’s attention. It is the extra red eye,
glaring at the bud still stuck in his stomach. That eye looks from it up to him and then to
Shuku, softening ever so slightly. “It’s okay.”

Megumi grits his teeth, annoyed but understanding that he really can’t be of any help here. It
is time for him to bow out. “If you die again, I’ll kill you myself!”

Yuji nods in understanding, then glances at Shuku. “He wants you to go.”

“I’m staying.”

Yuji shakes his head, frowning. “He said… he said to tell you that he needs you to make sure
the past doesn’t repeat itself. He said you’d know what it meant.”

Megumi certainly doesn’t, but as Shuku’s grip on his waist tightens, he knows the curse does.
“Fine. But next time, I get to fight too.”

Without another word, Shuku picks Megumi up, chasing after Panda. The veil doesn’t stop
them as they exit, and Shuku heads straight for Shoko. He doesn’t leave his side as she works
the bud out of him, even as hours pass and Yuji eventually returns. Gojo, too, comes to check
on him, fawning over him despite the company, but Shuku remains, alert and on guard.
Whatever Sukuna meant clearly had shaken him.

Shuku doesn’t appreciate that his father had fought dirty to get him out of the way. He also
doesn’t appreciate that Sukuna hadn’t even fought. If his father trusts Itadori to handle the
threat, why couldn’t he trust his own son?
He needs you to make sure the past doesn’t repeat itself.

Translation: I need you to make sure your mother is safe.

Shuku huffs, watching Megumi get examined by Shoko. I want you to know I only did this
for mom. He wants to yell. He loved his father more than almost anything else in this world,
but he didn’t like that Sukuna’s plans left him on the outside looking in.

“Megumi!” Shuku groans as Gojo wails as soon as he passes through the door. The older
alpha flings his arms open and around the younger man, squishing him to his body. “Oh my
baby boy! Are you alright?”

“Gojo-sensei.” Megumi tries to pry him off, but Gojo is too strong, checking him over like a
sore would their pup.

“Are you hurt? Is it fixed? Do I need to do something? Anything? Can you…”

Shuku scoffs, snorting at him. “He’s fine. It’s not like he’s your son or anything.” I mean, he
knows Gojo thinks Megumi is, but it’s not like it’s reciprocated. If anything, Megumi seems
just as annoyed with the man as Shuku is most days.

Gojo and Megumi both peer at him, mouths set in firm lines. Shuku doesn’t like that look.
“You… aren’t.” He says again, more firmly, as if begging them to confirm.

“Not… by blood.” Megumi admits. “But… Gojo-sensei has raised me since I was, what,
five?”

Gojo nods, humming as he begins checking Megumi again. “I’m his adopted sire. More
father than his actual sire at this point.” Megumi nods, turning back to Shuku without another
word, merely accepting the title Gojo has given himself.
 “What? But then…. That would make you…” Shuku clenches his jaw, trying to keep from
screaming. Gojo Satoru was Megumi’s chosen sire. Gojo Satoru was his grandfather . He
knew, of course, that Gojo had raised Megumi, knew that he considered himself his father,
but it was a lot easier to pretend Gojo wasn’t part of their family when Megumi didn’t
acknowledge it.

Dear heavens, if Megumi really did think of him as his sire, that meant Gojo Satoru was
Ryomen Sukuna’s father-in-law. Considering his background with the Six Eyed user, that
didn’t bode well.

“That would make me what? Old?” Gojo scoffs. “Megumi, the curse called me old!”

“You are.” Megumi says with no hint of remorse, making Gojo wail dramatically.

Shuku ignores them, too busy trying to rearrange their family tree in his mind. You knew,
remember? You just thought it was Gojo being dramatic. Just wait until Sukuna found out
about this. Shuku doubted his father would be pleased about needing to ask Gojo Satoru for
permission to re-mate his mother, if he asked at all.

“I hate this family.” He whispers, not noticing Megumi looking over at him, a question in his
eyes.

Chapter End Notes

Overprotective papa Sukuna strikes again. I was originally going to have Shuku fight
Hanami, but considering his relationship with his father is strained, Sukuna's
punishment is no fighting. :(
 Chapter 20
Chapter Summary

Sukuna has some important business to tend to. Hopefully Yuji doesn't mind him taking
the body for a spin.

Chapter Notes

We needed some Sukufushi interactions, so this break is brought to you by KFC, the
ultimate break-up destination.

Sukuna was a little impressed with his vessel, he had to admit. As much as he’d wanted to
insist on fighting the curse himself for daring to touch Megumi, he knew there was no way to
do so without serious repercussions. Besides, Megumi had been removed from battle, along
with Shuku, ensuring the two most important things in this world were safe. All Yuji had
needed to do was hold the curse off until the veil could break.

He’d had help, and while Sukuna didn’t find either of the young sorcerers particularly
threatening to him, they made a decent team. Yuji needed the practice anyway if he wanted to
survive. Borrowing Sukuna’s power would only do so much.

He’d waited- watching as the boys had fought, as Gojo had nearly decimated the curse, as
they trudged back to the school buildings- until the moon was high in the night sky, and the
brat was dead to the world. With how exhausted he’d been from battle, it was all too easy to
take control.

Sneaking one door down the hall was even easier, deserted as it was this time of night. The
moon illuminated the sparse room, a sleeping man huddled under blankets. Despite Shoko’s
technique, Megumi had been given a cocktail of drugs to put him to bed and ensure further
healing as he slept. Sukuna wasn’t sure how effective they were, but they seemed to be
working.
With a sigh, Sukuna sits at the edge of the bed, brushing a hand along Megumi’s face. “Why
is it you insist on sacrificing yourself? I can’t have you nearly getting yourself killed before
you remember me again.”

Megumi makes a strange noise, half chirp and half purr. He may be asleep, but some part of
him knows he’s no longer alone. Sukuna chuckles, shaking his head as he focuses on the
omega's body. There are a few residuals of cursed energy there, but Sukuna ferrets them out
easily. He digs his own energy into them, tearing them free only to heal whatever damage
may be done to Megumi before it can cause harm.

It is this quick and effective “healing” that wakes him. He makes an affronted noise, clearly
annoyed at being woken up, and Sukuna freezes, hoping he won’t notice he isn’t Itadori. He
doubts it considering he has been ensuring they look different by marking himself with his
old tattoos. “Mm.” Megumi blinks up at him, eyes hazy. He is either still in pain or delirious
from the drugs. “Oh, it’s you.”

“Me.” Sukuna affirms. “Are you surprised?”

Megumi shrugs. “No. But you don’t usually talk in my dreams. Kinda nice you are now.”

In his dreams? Megumi thinks this is a dream? Definitely a side effect of the medication he’s
been given. “Do you dream of me often, Fushiguro?” He teases, wondering what nightmares
he must have. Is Sukuna some sort of hellish specter that terrorizes him and his friends? At
least he is in them.

Megumi purrs, reaching up to trace the tattoos across his face. “Shouldn’t you know if you’re
part of them?”

Sukuna catches his wrist, bringing his hand to his lips. “Indulge me.”

The omega watches Sukuna press kisses to his knuckles reverently, eyes half-lidded. “You’ve
been in my dreams since I was a child. Got worse when you decided to incarnate. Guess
that’s why you’re talking now.”
His whole life? “What am I doing in your dreams? Besides talking to you now?”

“Watching.” Megumi yawns, and Sukuna smiles down at him. “You always…. Watch….
Like you…. Protect…”

Sukuna nods in affirmation, leaning down to kiss Megumi’s forehead. “And I always shall,
Megumi.”

“Mm. Good.” He smiles, eyes closed. “Feels like I’ve known you all my life.” Megumi
whispers, voice dropping off as sleep claims him again.

Sukuna doesn’t mind, glad whatever Shoko has given him is doing its job. More than, in fact.
It has loosed his inhibitions and given Sukuna insight. Megumi dreams of him, often it
seems, in a protective role. Whether this is memory or merely a lingering fact that his omega
has latched onto, he isn’t sure.

But he does know that at least Megumi can be swayed. He doesn’t need to see Sukuna as a
villain. There is still plenty of time for him to put his newly revised plan in motion without
fear of alienating his mate.

“How did I know you’d end up here.”

Sukuna looks up, scowling at the interloper. “I think it is within my right to check on my
mate, don’t you?”

“Technically, he isn’t your mate.” Shuku huffs. “Not in this life.”

“Something I will remedy shortly.” He cocks his head, regarding his son with curiosity. “Are
you still angry with me?”
“What do you think? You took me out of the fight!” The younger alpha hisses. “I could
have…”

“If I learned anything from the last time you confronted a curse with the brat, it’s that you’ll
get distracted.” Sukuna snaps. “And I only took you so far. I needed you with him just in case
they failed. If that curse had made it beyond the veil its compatriots set up, I needed you to
protect your mother.”

Shuku glances behind his father, looking over Megumi. “He didn’t wake up?”

“He did.” Sukuna hums, motioning Shuku closer. “He thought he was dreaming.”

“Yuji mentioned modern medicines will do that.”

“He said he dreamed of me often. That he has all his life.” Sukuna brushes the hair back off
Megumi’s forehead. The omega makes a disgruntled noise, but leans into his touch. “My
mate, his memories- they are in there somewhere. He is so similar and yet so changed.”

Shuku looks from Megumi up to Sukuna. “Is that a problem?”

“No. I love him as he is, then and now. It is… different, but your mother is no less perfect in
this new age.”

They sit there for a while, huddled on the bed with Megumi beside them. It feels comforting
watching the rise and fall of his chest, to know he was alive. “I’m still mad about Junpei.”

Sukuna sucks in a breath, nodding. “I know. And I told you my reasons. I suppose we must
simply accept we will not see eye to eye on this.”

“You basically killed an omega to teach Yuji a lesson! You don’t get to just shrug it off as…”
“I cannot change it, Shuku. The omega is dead.” Sukuna snaps at him. “But…” He sighs,
looking down at Megumi. “Going forward, I will not act so rashly. It is hard to remember that
while Megumi was a proponent of striking back against affronts to our family, he didn’t
believe in unnecessary casualties.”

Shuku nods once. His father had often quoted his mother as the reason for their rampage, and
Uraume had agreed it was what Megumi would have done if the roles had been reversed. But
things were different now. They didn’t need the bloodshed as they once had, though the cycle
was difficult to break. “I’m still mad.” He repeats, but with less bite than before.

“So you said.” Sukuna takes the olive branch, rising from the bed after ensuring Megumi is
tucked back in. “Come. Let your mother rest.”

Shuku nods, following his father to the door. Both alphas stop, looking back before they exit,
and whisper a short goodnight, even though Megumi won’t respond.

At least not that they hear. But as the door closes, the omega’s brow furrows, sweat beading
on his skin as he whispers into the empty room.

“Sukuna.”
 Chapter 21
Chapter Summary

Megumi knows something isn’t right, but he just can’t tell what.

Chapter Notes

We got some Sukufushi from Sukuna’s POV last chapter, so how about getting a little
from Megumi’s?

See the end of the chapter for more notes

They had started before he even knew exactly who was watching him. Tsumuki always talked
in hushed whispers about her dreams, all of which tended to feature princes and castles and
sometimes her taming a dragon to defend her friends with. Megumi had barely listened, too
jaded even at five to believe in fairytales.

His own dreams were simpler. It was always him, alone in a forest with his shikigami playing
around him. Well, not completely alone.

There was always someone else watching from the shadow, their piercing red gaze spearing
through his small body as if deciding whether or not to attack. He never did, and eventually,
Megumi began to read his gaze in a softer light. This was a friend, a protector, something his
father hadn’t been and never would never be.

He couldn’t see the man clearly at first, because it was a man, but by the time he was eight,
he could make out enough details that he could ask about him. “Was there ever a sorcerer
with four arms?” Whoever, or whatever as the case may be, couldn’t have been a product of
his own imagination; Megumi wasn’t imaginative enough for that. No, whoever his dream
walker was, he had to have been real.

Gojo had choked on his breakfast, hacking and wheezing through an explanation. “He is
dangerous, Megumi. I’m sure these nightmares will pass.”
But Ryomen Sukuna, though he certainly sounded like a nightmare, wasn’t one. Not to him,
not in his dreams. And why would he dream of a man he’d never heard of before asking Gojo
about him if he was dangerous?

Maybe that was what made him dangerous.

When he’d presented as an omega, that first heat had been a haze of desire and lust. In the
midst of the swirl of furious desire, Megumi could have sworn he saw red eyes staring down
at him, protective and possessive. He hadn’t acknowledge it afterwards and had shied away
when Gojo had asked how he felt. Dreaming of the King of Curses devouring him, and not in
the way he was known to devour humans, had to be a sign of an unsound mind. Best to
pretend it hadn’t happened.

As the years dragged on and Megumi got older, the forest shifted and changed with him,
fading to a peaceful valley with even more space for his shikigami to run. Sukuna came too,
getting closer with each passing year.

Now, at almost twenty-three, the alpha was always right beside him, silently watching. Some
nights he’d have his eyes turned toward Kuro and Shiro wrestling in the dirt, together ant
least in his dreams. Others, he’d be completely and unblinkingly focused on Megumi. It was
unnerving, even more so once he actually met the owner of those eyes.

Outside of his dreams, Ryomen Sukuna was a walking nightmare. It didn’t help that his son
had been a royal pain in the ass for half the time Megumi had known him, but Shuku seemed
to be turning a new leaf.

His father; however, was not.

Still, Megumi’s dreams persisted, getting longer and more frequent with each passing night.
Last night, Sukuna had even spoken to him! He’d asked about Megumi’s dreams, appearing
not in a valley or forest, but in a recreation of Megumi’s dorm room at Jujutsu Tech. But
instead of being rough and brusque, he’d been kind and sweet. Megumi had even traced the
tattoos he had across his cheeks and nose, and the alpha had just huffed in amusement. This
was not the Ryomen Sukuna of real life, who would have easily bit his fingers off. This was
the Ryomen Sukuna that he had summoned in the midst of heat, primed to take care of a
weakened Megumi while he returned to full strength.

Hell, his fictional Sukuna had even bid him goodnight, the farewell reaching him even
though he sounded so far away. Megumi had tried calling out to him, but had gotten no
response.

He couldn’t tell Gojo. His adopted sire would tease him for years over his “totally
inappropriate crush.”

Except it wasn’t a crush. It couldn’t be a crush. This was Ryomen Sukuna they were talking
about, scourge of the jujutsu world! He didn’t have romantic feelings for him!

Right?

“Wake up, you big oaf.” Megumi brings his hand down hard against Sukuna’s chest, earning
a muffled groan from the sleeping giant. “Get up.”

“Blessing.” Sukuna rumbles sleepily, the mouth on his stomach yawning. “Too early. Back to
bed.”

Megumi huffs, more than a little annoyed with the alpha. “Not too early. You drank through
half your reserves last night! Now you have to live with the consequences!”

“Loud.” Sukuna grumbles, one of his arms wrapping around Megumi’s waist before rolling
them so that the omega is now on his side, face to face with the King of Curses. “Sleep.”

“Sukuna.” Megumi pouts. “I got sick again this morning.”

A hum reverberates through his chest as Sukuna questions him. “You’ve been getting sick too
often in the mornings for my taste. You mentioned seeing Uraume about it, but refuse to tell
me what is wrong. I cannot help you if you don’t…”

“I’m pregnant.” Megumi cuts him off, biting his lip after rushing to get the words out. He
had asked Uraume about his constant sickness a few days ago, after informing Sukuna he
kept getting sick at all hours of the day. He’d been so worried his mortal body was failing
him, but his dearest friend had reassured him that wasn’t quite the case.

“You are going to have a child.” Uraume had said with the widest grin on their face.
“Ryomen-Sama, you…”

“A child?” Sukuna is completely awake and sober now. He stares at Megumi’s stomach as if
willing it to be bigger, more pronounced. “You are… truly?”

Megumi nods, smiling up at his mate with the purest joy. “Yes, my love. You will be a father.”

“A… Megumi.” The omega is pulled immediately into a fierce kiss, one that steals his breath
away completely. It leaves him gasping for air that he doesn’t want, desperate for Sukuna’s
mouth back on his. “How is it that you always find a way to spoil me?”

“You opened your home to me. You gave me your heart.” Megumi presses his hand over
Sukuna’s chest, feeling the organ beating beneath his skin. “And you keep mine safe inside
your chest.”

Sukuna brushes his own hand over Megumi’s chest, feeling his own heartbeat. “My love, I
will always keep it safe, just as I shall always keep you safe.” He grins, another hand coming
to rest over Megumi’s still flat stomach. “And how I shall always keep our pup safe.”

Megumi wakes from sleep with a splitting headache and tears in his eyes. What had he just
been dreaming about again?
Chapter End Notes

Since everyone has been dying to have Megumi remember, slight spoilers so you all
aren’t totally disappointed- there is a certain point in the manga that I’ve picked to have
be the turning point for him and Sukuna. I won’t say when, but it will still be a while. I
promise it will be worth it.
 Chapter 22
Chapter Notes

Just the start of the next short arc. Shibuya is looming.

Shuku had thought that Jujutsu Tech was a horribly dull place. Wasn’t a school supposed to
be at least somewhat interesting to keep the students interested in learning? His father had
taken him into nature to learn, claiming it to be the greatest teacher, though Uraume had been
a pretty close second.

But Jujutsu Tech, while pretty and surrounded by nature, was so dull. Boring rooms that all
looked the same and stretched on for miles and miles did nothing for him. It felt more prison
than school. Though, if this is what normal, non-jujutsu schools look like, Shuku will learn
not to complain. Jujutsu Tech is a paradise compared to the boring grey brick buildings
surrounding him.

“This is what passes as a school?”

“High-school.” Megumi confirms. “Jujutsu Tech is higher education, a university of sorts,

geared towards learning jujutsu. This is secondary education where you learn a little of
everything.”

“So it’s even worse.” Shuku grimaces, following the omega up the front stairs of the school,
Yuji and Nobara right behind him. “I am glad I don’t have to be here.”

“Technically you’re what? Sixteen?” When he nods, Yuji barks out a laugh. “Hate to break it
to you, but you should be here. This is where kids your age go to learn!”

Shuku snarls, pushing him away, though there is no malice in it. “Shut up! I’m over a
thousand years old, need I remind you!”
“But mentally and physically you’re just a baby.” Yuji pouts. “Widdle baby Shuku.”

“Shut up!” He lunges for Yuji, who grins, ready to take him on.

“Children.” Megumi says dryly, and Shuku stops dead in his tracks, head hung low. “Now
isn’t the time to play.”

“Sorry, Fushiguro.” Yuji rubs the back of his head. “I think we’re all still a little keyed up
from the sisterhood event.”

Despite the Kyoto school being well and truly gone, Shuku still felt the lingering effects of
their visit. First there was Todo, who had claimed Yuji as his brother, only to claim Shuku as
a friend, a slightly less honorable title. Then there was the news that Maki and Mai were
sisters and technically related to him too. He’d known about Maki, but Mai? Just how big
was this family?

His father had never approved of the Zenin clan, in fact, Shuku clearly remembers some of
their bloodiest rampages being on their territory. Your mother was Zenin once. They never
forgave him for deserting. I will never forgive them for what they did to him. Though Maki, it
seemed, would be an exception.

The last thing that had shaken him was his father. Sukuna was subtle, barely noticeable in
Yuji’s body, but Shuku had a sixth sense when it came to his father. He’d been getting bolder,
going to see Megumi at night with little care of anyone seeing him. During the baseball game
(Shuku had learned he quite liked the sport actually), an almost unnoticeable red eye had
stayed locked on Megumi the entire time, only briefly glancing his way every few minutes.

Sukuna was getting restless. He wanted out.

“Oi,” Nobara nudges him, cocking her head to the side. “Look over there.” He follows her
gaze, finding two unimpressive boys loitering in the breezeway. “Some obvious punks. Let’s
beat them up and set them straight.”
“I thought violence was my thing.” He nudges her back, getting a grin from the petite omega.
He was sure she could probably kick their asses, even if the two boys were taller and bulkier.

Nobara takes that as an agreement, dragging him away from the group and toward the
humans. The teens look up as they approach, taking stock of him and Nobara. Yuji too,
apparently, as he races up to his side, eager to be caught up in the fun. Megumi takes his time,
clearly unenthusiastic about their plan.

After a moment, in which they take in the newcomers, the two teens scramble to bow to
them, stumbling over their words. “I-it’s good to see you!”

Huh?

Nobara and Yuji take that to mean that the boys recognize their seniority, and by extension
their superiority, but Shuku isn’t so sure. As the other two preen, Shuku glances to Megumi,
who absolutely refuses to acknowledge the situation. Clearly he didn’t think this was all
because of some “aura” Yuji thought they had. But then what was the reason they were
bowing to them?

“We haven’t seen you since graduation, Fushiguro-san!”

Three sets of eyes turn to look at Megumi, who tries even harder to appear uninterested in the
conversation. “Fushiguro?”

Megumi sighs, gritting his teeth. “I… went here for highschool.”

“What?” Nobara screeches, grabbing his chin and turning it towards her. “What did you do to
make them so scared of you!”
“No! No!” Yuji waves his hands in the air, frantic for answers. “It’ll be quicker to ask them!”
He points to the two boys, glancing at each other as if asking what they had gotten
themselves into.

“He knew our older brothers!” The two boys confirm sheepishly. “They… uh… well, every
delinquent gang member in the area, got beaten up by Fushiguro-san.”

Shuku snorts, far too amused at the idea of a scrappy, younger version of his mother with
bloody knuckles and a scowl on his face taking on men bigger than him and winning.
Though, hadn’t that been exactly what he’d done with Sukuna, except their battle had been
more mental than physical. He can almost see it, Megumi sitting on a throne of his defeated
opponents, lounging lazily in his victory.

No wonder the boys bowed to him. He was already showing the makings of the ruler he had
once been. Sukuna would be pleased.

Indeed, he was very pleased. Sukuna couldn’t stop laughing, loud and bright, in his domain.
It shifted slightly with his mood, a flash of blue sky, the smell of fresh flowers, and the soft
touch of grass underfoot. It nearly looked like home.

Finding out his beautiful mate had not only reincarnated but had kept his fighting personality
had been heaven on earth, but every new piece of information that matched what Sukuna
remembered of Megumi’s past self made him feel elated.

His mate was in there somewhere, just under the surface, waiting to break free.

He waits, watching from the brat’s eyes as his mate quickly takes over the conversation to
remind the group of students that they are here for a reason. It is truly a beautiful thing to
watch him take control as he was meant to.
It is less beautiful to watch him learn that the curse they are hunting is the very one
responsible for his sister’s coma.

Megumi has a sister.

More than that, he has a sister he worries about, that he feels guilty over, and Sukuna cannot
do a thing to help him like this. If he had his own body, he would make Megumi drag him to
her bedside so he could heal her, reverse whatever curse has been put on her, and reunite
them.

He would consider it a wedding present.

I am so sorry, my love. He croons across a broken bond, feeling his message drift into the
aether. Be strong for just a little longer. Alpha will be with you soon.
 Chapter 23
Chapter Summary

Megumi has little faith in himself and his talents. Luckily, there someone who can push
him to become greater, even if it's just by making him mad.

Chapter Notes

Meant to have this done Thursday, but I've been having computer issues, which isn't
great for an online masters program. Oh well. It should be mostly fixed now.

See the end of the chapter for more notes

He’d sent them home. It wasn’t that he didn’t think Itadori, Kugisaki, and Shuku wouldn't be
helpful, but he needed to do this alone. This was the thing that had hurt Tsumuki, meaning he
had a personal stake in this.. As Megumi looks up into the light of the moon, he wonders if
after all this time, he can finally start setting things right.

“You tell us too little about yourself.” Kugisaki scoffs from beside him.

It takes everything in him not to flinch. When had she gotten here? And if she was here, then
that meant…

“You must really be at your wits end if you didn't notice us until now.”

“We’re not saying you have to tell us everything,” Yuuji is at his other side, Shuku just past
him. Had they all really followed him for this long without him noticing? “But at least rely on
us. We’re friends, aren’t we?”

Friends? He supposed he had called Shuku as much, and if Shuku was his friend, then so
were Yuji and Kugisaki. He sighs, eyes downcast. “The curse of Yasohachi Bridge only
appears before its victims.” He begins. “Since Tsumuki can't communicate herself, I have no
idea when she will be killed. So I want to kill it right away.”

“Oh.” Kugisaki yawns. “We get it now.” She turns, stretching as she does so. “You should
have just told us from the start.”

And that is it. All they speak of it. He had briefly told them about his sister, mostly due to
Shuku’s incessant proding about it, but they hadn’t really known anything about her until this
afternoon. And yet, without hesitation, all three of his classmates were ready to follow him,
to help exorcize a curse they knew almost nothing about, just to help him save her.

Friends. Perhaps he’d been without them for too long.

There is a little river, just like Nitta had said when she’d been outlining the plan for this
mission, at the bottom of the ravine below the bridge. Crossing it, a symbol of “crossing
over” would likely be the thing to draw out the curse. He stands at the measly, little creek
edge, looking down at his reflection. “Ready?” Shuku asks, linking their arms together.
“Don’t worry, Fushiguro. We can save her.”

He nods, not daring to open his mouth. He isn’t sure what will come out, but he can’t
embarrass himself now, not before a fight. Silently, and without hesitation, the four of them
step over the water, and when their feet come down, it isn’t with a splash. All around them, a
domain forms- a rocky, cave-like structure with little holes dug into the earth like gophers
live there. A mole-like curse pokes out from one such hole on the ceiling, making a loud
whining noise that hurts his ears. “There it is.” He grunts.

“This one will be rewarding to exorcize.” Kugisaki laughs.

Megumi almost agrees, until he hears something come from behind. The four of them turn,
only to find a hunched, blue curse charging them from behind. Shuku shoves him to the side
before Megumi can even fully register that there is another curse in this domain, keeping him
from getting run over.
“Awe, someone beat me here?” The curse garbles. Its mouth is large and grotesque, with a
second, smaller face right above it.

“Fushiguro, this one isn’t related, is it?” Yuji asks, brushing dirt from his hair.

“No.” He confirms. What the hell was this thing? And more importantly, where did it come
from?

“Then you three focus on that other curse.” Yuji’s cursed energy flows straight to his fists.
“I’ll exorcize this one.”

The curse garbles again, pleased he has grabbed their attention. “Oh, is someone going to
play with me?”

“Itadori.” Shuku steps beside Yuji, brushing dust from his shoulders. “Allow me.”

“Both of you play with that one!” Kugisaki stops the argument Megumi can see brewing
before it can start. “Fushiguro and I will handle this one.”

Nodding, Megumi turns back to the mole-like curse. “Leave the alphas to their fun. Let’s root
this one out.”

Nobara nods back at him, and the two separate. What follows is a high stakes game of whack
a mole, though it isn’t nearly as deadly as Megumi had suspected. This curse isn’t anything
special. In fact, the curse Yuji is fighting is…

There is a disturbance behind him, and Megumi turns to see Kugisaki getting sucked through
the wall. She sees him, wide eyed and hesitant, and points at him as she disappears. “I can
handle it. You just whack the mole.”
Megumi chokes, brain sent spinning. What was that? The mole curse? No, it couldn’t be.
Then what …

Shit. There has to be another curse.

“Kugisaki?” Yuji calls, noticing her sudden disappearance.

The curse he has been fighting grins from his second mouth. “Big brother!” In an instant, it is
rushing at the wall, escaping Yuji and Shuku. ”Me too!” It yells, leaping through the black
hole Kugisaki had disappeared through.

“It disappeared?” Yuji screeches. “What…”

“Go after it.” Megumi orders. “Things in here are easier than expected. Kugisaki may be
battling something far worse out there.”

“I’ll stay…” Shuku offers, but Megumi shakes his head.

“Go.” He insists, glaring at the alpha when he protests. “That is an order, Shuku.”

Shuku glances around the domain, and, deciding it is safer for the omega in here, he nods.
“Yes, mom.”

“Go!” Megumi motions for them to exit, watching as they leave.

Alone, he calls forth Kon to help him exorcize the mole creatures. It is tedious, but not
difficult. In fact, it’s more annoying than anything. Still, if it means protecting, saving,
Tsumuki, he will do anything.
As Kon brings his paw down on the last mole, Megumi breathes a sigh of relief. Finally,
Tsumuki was safe. He didn’t need to fear…

Drip. Drip. Drip.

“Huh?” Megumi looks up, spotting the source of the noise. “Another one?” He really thought
he’d gotten the last of the moles.

He had, he realizes, when the strange cocoon-like hole opens, and out spills a special grade
curse like the one they had fought at the cursed womb. He had been wondering why, after
killing the last mole, the barrier hadn’t dissipated. Because it isn’t over. Of course it wasn’t
that easy.

This curse had been active for years, spawning a myth about it in his old high school and
beyond. But it hadn’t started killing until June.

June.

When Sukuna had incarnated.

When Sukuna’s cursed energy had been released.

Megumi gasps as a powerful surge of cursed energy flies at him, barely able to bring his
sword up in time to block. As he is regaining his bearings, the curse attacks from behind.
Thankfully, Kon is still alert, pulling his master out of the way.

“Nue.” He tries to summon the bird as the curse lunges for him, barely a breath away. No
time, the curse plows into him, and he’s barely able to dispel Kon, keeping him from getting
injured, before he’s slammed into the rock with a sickening crack. This curse is stronger than
the last, making him punch harder. Megumi can feel the exhaustion from killing off the moles
now, having been run ragged just for this curse to pick him off easily.
The stone behind him is stained red from the way his skull had cracked against the rock, and
Megumi groans as he tries to move. The curse giggles madly, clearly thinking he has already
won.

But he hasn't. Megumi knows because he has one last ace up his sleeve. He brings his fists
together, blinking through the blood. “With this treasure, I summon…”

The curse must recognize what he is trying to do, leaping back away from him and taking a
defensive stance. Megumi hesitates, just for a moment, as he regards the curse warily.

What a waste of talent. He hears in his ear, being scoffed at him by the one curse he can’t
stand more than others. Sukuna of his dreams may be nice and sweet, but Sukuna in Yuji’s
body was an asshole.

But he was an asshole with a point.

Megumi grins, throwing his arms up. “Screw it!” Who said his domain had to be perfect?
Who said he had to be perfect? All it took was a slight nudge to trigger change, and that
change was Sukuna for him. The alpha who dared question him and call him wasteful. The
alpha who mocked him in his sleep with a peaceful life of protection.

No one protected Megumi, not in this life. Gojo tried, but even then, with how he was pulled
in so many directions by the higher ups, his parenting had been distant and hands off. If
Megumi wanted something done, he would do it himself.

He would show Sukuna what he was made of. “Ryoiki Tenkai. Kango An’eitei.”

Immediately, the curse’s domain fades to darkness, his shadow garden bubbling up from
below. It is incomplete, imperfect, but Megumi doesn't care. Blood trickles down his skull as
he pushes all his anger at Sukuna, at everyone, for doubting him into his domain.
The curse looks around itself, suddenly panicked. From the shadows come his shikigami,
crawling up the curse to tear it down. They hold it in place as Megumi lunges, barely able to
see through the blood covering him. He summons Nue, multiple of his bird appearing,
cleaving towards the curse with electricity sparking through their feathers. They hit, once,
twice, and Megumi pulls back, letting it focus on them.

With its back to him, Megumi summons Kon, letting the curse blast through his domain in
what appears to be victory. With its arms outstretched, it leaves its chest open and vulnerable,
easy for Kon to punch through.

Megumi lets Kon dissipate once the curse begins to shimmer, disappearing with the rest of
the domain. He slumps to his knees as the finger they were after falls to the ground. Good .
At least he had that.

With adrenaline fading, Megumi can feel the effects of blood loss. His hand is shaking as he
picks up Sukuna’s finger, wondering where the other three students are. As his hand comes in
contact with the cursed finger, he groans, clutching at his head as bright lights flash across his
vision. A blue sky, green grass, his shikigami playing in the valley. He has seen this place
before in his dreams.

“Blessing!” Someone calls. “Come inside.”

He turns, looking for the voice, but can’t see anything, blackness closing in. “I’m here!” He
responds, hoping someone will find him before he is lost to shadow. “I’m here!”

“Blessing!”

“Here! Alpha, I’m…”

“Alpha.” He murmurs, falling victim to his unconsciousness.

*
 Inside of Itadori’s chest, a few miles away, Sukuna shudders as he feels another part of
himself be claimed by a new host. Granted, this won’t be a host in the typical sense, but for
now Megumi is his finger’s protector. “Good.” He mutters, feeling white hot pleasure run
down his spine at the new power he can feel in his omega. “Very good.”

With what little energy he can muster, Sukuna pushes his power towards that piece of him
allowing this part of him, the one locked inside Yuji, to grow weaker. He will reunite with
that finger soon enough, but for now, the extra pieces of him will ward off any other curses
that might find Megumi’s sleeping form and help themselves to a quick snack. Instead, they
will be driven away by the idea that a stronger curse is present.

For now, Megumi will be safe.

Chapter End Notes

Shuku's side of things will be up next week. He's going to be so upset that in listening to
Momgumi, he almost had to deal with his mother dying again.
 Chapter 24
Chapter Summary

Shuku's side of things

Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes

Jumping out of the domain after Itadori brought them back to the river bank where they had
started. Shuku didn’t like that he was following the two other Tokyo students, but Megumi
had ordered him to go, and while there was little weight behind it, unlike an alpha’s (his
father), he couldn’t disobey his mother. So he followed Yuji, and subsequently the curse, out
of the domain, only to find the ugly hunchback’s “big brother” confronting Kugisaki.

His back was to them- an absolutely horrid thing, that seemed to have a face of its own.
“Kugisaki?” Yuji asks, at the same time the curse yells for his brother.

The taller curse with the bad back flinches. “Y-you saw, didn’t you?” The mouth on his back
screeches, and Yuji begins apologizing. What’s worse, so does his “brother,” meaning they
really hadn’t been meant to see… whatever that was. “I’ll kill you!” The curse’s voice pitches
lower, and Shuku scoffs. It turns towards them, leaving his back open to Kugisaki, who
lunges forward to hit him with her hammer.

The curse is sent flying, but it lands nimbly despite the blow. “Then why are you dressed like
that?” Kugisaki yells, grinning madly. This was why Shuku liked her. “Is it the source of that
smell?”

“It gets musty!” The curse defends himself.

“Pitiful.” Shuku huffs. Honestly, Megumi had made him leave for this? The curse turns his
back to them again, hands clasped together. ”Rot Technique. Supreme Art: Wing King.”
From the eyes on its back, red wings form, appearing to be some form of blood art perhaps.
The curse levels a glare at them over its shoulder. “Death by Wasp.”

Blood drips from the faux wings, hitting the ground with a hiss. Oh. Well that made this more
interesting. “Kugisaki! Shuku! Don’t let that blood touch you!”

“Figured that out myself, Itadori.” Shuku elbows him.

“Does he think we’re…” Kugisaki starts to joke, only for a streak of blood to graze her
cheek.

Oh shit, it’s fast.

“Run away with your backs to me.” The blood wings expand, growing larger and larger. Until
they slam sharp needle like protrusions into the ground. Like wasp stingers.

“Time to go!” Itadori says, dragging them away. The wings follow, one catching Kugisaki’s
heel and taking her to the ground. “Keep going! I got her!” Yuji turns, taking a wide turn to
go back and grab Nobara. Shuku doesn’t slow down. He knows Yuji can catch up, having
heard Megumi tell the story of the first time he’d seen Yuji and the speed with which he ran.

His father won’t be present for this fight, he knows that. Stepping out of the domain, he had
felt a discrepancy in power, as if Sukuna’s presence was elsewhere. His other finger. It hadn’t
been hard to guess where. Nor had it been hard to guess why. Something must have happened
to mom. Dad’s with mom. Which means I’m alone.

Technically, he wasn’t alone , but he’d never been in a fight that Sukuna wasn’t also part of,
or at least Uraume. Now, he only had his fellow first years, and while they were tough, they
didn’t have the years of experience Sukuna or Uraume did.

There’s a drop off ahead, and he leaps over the fence down to the road below. Yuji lands
seconds later. Setting Nobara on her feet. “We’re out of range.”
“Well done. You have my compliments.” Kugisaki pats Yuji on the shoulder, looking up at
the fence they had just vaulted.

“Oi.” Yuji pretends to be offended.

“Kidding. Thanks.”

Shuku feels something behind them, approaching quickly, and turns just in time to shove
Kugisaki out of the way before she’s doused in blood by the younger curse. Unfortunately,
Yuji has the same idea, getting covered in it.

Nobara gasps, rushing towards them. “Itador-” She doesn’t finish, her shoulder getting
impaled by a pike of blood.

“Kugisaki!” Yuji yells back. Shit, how had they found them so quickly?

“You don’t need to worry.” The older curse is a few yards down the road, watching them with
amusement. “My younger brother’s blood doesn’t have the same quality as mine. And even
mine won't kill you unless your entire body is bathed in it, though it will hurt like hell.” He
raises his fingers, snapping them together. “This is where our technique starts. Rot technique:
Decay.”

Nobara gasps, and Shuku turns just in time to see what looks like the outline of flowers grow
up her arm and across her face. It would be an interesting tattoo if there weren’t potentially
deadly connotations to it. “My blood, and my brother’s, is absorbed through wounds and
membranes. Then, once any of us activates the technique, it begins to rot you away from the
point of incursion.” He nods to Yuji. “I give you fifteen minutes, young man.” Then he
motions to Nobara. “Ten max for you, young lady. And,” His gaze turns to Shuku, free of
flowers. “You managed to avoid it. A worthy opponent indeed, Prince of Curses.

“So you know who I am.” Shuku shoves his hands in his pockets. “And you still dare to
attempt to hurt me?”
“You are not our target. Neither were they. We just want the finger.”

“That’s my father’s, asshole. If anyone gets to have it, it’s him.”

“Pity.” The curse sighs. “I suppose we will have to fight then. As for your friends,” he
motions to Yuji and Kugisaki. “By morning nothing but bones will remain.”

“So it is poisonous.” Yuji grits his teeth.

The older curse shrugs. “The result is technically a poison, but our technique is purely
'decomposition’.” Nobara grimaces, clutching at her arm, much to the curse’s amusement.
“So, what will you do now? If the suffering is too great,” he raises a hand, as if offering them
a choice, “would you like me to end you now?”

Shuku isn’t impressed, pulling all his energy into his fist. It’s dark out, meaning the shadows
abound. Maybe he can…

Kugisaki chuckling catches him off guard. Is she finding her imminent demise humorous? “A
technique that guarantees victory once it hits.” She looks up, eyes wild. “You two are strong.
Too bad for you, that makes me the worst match for you.” She reaches back, pulling out a
nail from her pack. “Straw Doll: Resonance.” She slams the nail into her arm, and the
technique hits both curses. “Let’s play a game of chicken. You like pain don’t you?”

“Remind me never to get on your bad side.” Shuku huffs, pulling his energy back to his fists.

Nobara moves first, reaching for another nail and hitting her arm again. “Resonance!”

Yuji goes for the smaller curse, punching it in its ugly face. His father was immune to most
poisons, so despite being mostly out of commission, his residuals were helping keep Yuji
from succumbing to the curse technique.
“Kechizu!” The older curse calls out to his younger brother, but Shuku blocks his path. He
reaches out, brushing against the shadows his mother wields so beautifully. The one cast by
the curse erupts into flames, blocking its path and sight, letting Shuku punch through them
and catch him off guard.

“Resonance!” Nobara hits again, and Shuku laughs along with her. These fools thought they
could beat them? How wrong they were. “Release your technique or start crying!” Nobara
mocks them, remaining at a distance. She doesn’t need to be within hitting range to help take
them down.

“That’s nothing!” The older curse is clearly lying, but with the younger one being so
thoroughly pummeled by Yuji, he has to lie in order to appear strong.

“Sure about that?” Shuku asks, stepping back into his path. He reaches out again, but the
shadows evade him this time. Oh well. He still has his fists. He punches up into the curse’s
jaw, and blood splatters across his face.

Behind him, Yuji and Nobara switch places, Nobara going after the weakened younger curse
while Yuji comes to help him. “Woman!” The older curse hollers, trying to bring Kugisaki
back. He’s trying to stall, to let his brother escape, but Nobara doesn’t listen.

“B-brother.” The young curse cries weakly, and instantly, the technique infecting Yuji and
Nobara is gone. It is a weak attempt to stop them from hurting his brother, but it is an attempt
nonetheless. Protecting family by any means is something Shuku can respect.

Unfortunately, this also means those stupid blood wings are back, taking the older curse out
of Shuku’s range. “Wing King.” Yuji follows, leaping into the air after him.

Shuku turns, debating if he should follow Yuji and go after the older curse, or if he should
stay to deal with the younger.
Before he can decide, he’s nearly blinded by two simultaneous black flashes, which leave
him stunned into silence. Kugisaki… and Yuji had…

Shuku watches the older curse get flung back by the impact, landing in the wall beside him
with a sickening crunch. One of his arms is missing, the flesh at the stump charred and
smoking. It was an impressive display, and Shuku had just sat and watched. Clearly, he wasn't
needed.

Why am I even here? Why does Gojo keep sending me on these?

To do the very thing you aren’t. To protect Megumi.

And Shuku had left him.

Confident Yuji and Nobara have everything under control, Shuku melts into the darkness,
retracing his steps, following his father’s cursed signature. He is a fool to have listened to
Megumi. His one role in this plot was to help prevent his mother from leaving them again,
and what did he do? Left him to fend for himself.

Shuku finds Megumi collapsed on the river bank where the domain had once been,
unconscious but alive. “Mother!” He slides to a stop, grabbing at Megumi’s shoulders.
“Mom? Mom! Wake up!”

Megumi groans, but his eyes don’t open. “Pup?” He whispers weakly, and Shuku nearly sobs.

“Yeah, it’s me. Come on, mama, get up!”

He doesn’t, going lax in Shuku’s arms. In fact, the one part of him that is still tense is his
hand, clutching at something so fervently that Shuku has to pry his fingers apart to see what it
is. To see if it’s what he thinks it is.
Dad. The cursed energy of his father is suffocating coming from one small finger. He knew
Sukuna was protecting Megumi, but he hadn’t realized the extent. It had to be a good sign
that Megumi was clinging to it so desperately, right? A sign he at last subconsciously knew.

He called me pup.

“Fushiguro!” Shuku looks up to find Yuji and Nobara, a little worse for wear, behind him,
looking at Megumi’s body panicked.

Megumi moans, green eyes blinking open to look up at Shuku. “Oh, you’re back.”

Thank goodness!” Yuji and Nobara cling to one another. “I was so scared. I thought you were
dead!”

“Could you lower your voices? My head hurts.” Megumi grumbles, sitting up and clutching
at his skull. Remembering a whole lifetime, or trying to at least, will do that to you, mother.

“Don’t go to sleep with Sukuna’s finger in your hand.” Shuku rises to his feet, taking a step
back so Megumi can catch his breath.

“How did you know about that?”

“You have the energy to ask about that?” Nobara answers his question with her own, hands
on her hips. “You wouldn’t believe the two curses we fought! And Shuku left half way
through!”

“You had it handled! I couldn’t leave him here alone!” Shuku motions to Megumi, still
wincing on the ground.

The omega waves his hands, signaling for them to stop arguing. “Just contact Nitta san for
now. We need to get this finger sealed at once.”
Yuji points to himself, eyes wide and innocent. “Should I eat it?”

“It’s not leftovers!” Nobara scoffs, looking disgusted at the thought.

“We don't have a clear idea of how many fingers you can handle.” Megumi says more gently,
holding out the finger. “Don’t eat it, but I will hand it over to you since you have the most
energy.” He pulls it back slightly as Yuji reaches for it. “I’ll say this again- don’t eat it.”

“I got it!” Yuji huffs, reaching for the cursed finger. Shuku knows exactly what’s about to
happen.

He watches, arms folded, as Yuji’s hand meets rotten flesh. His palm parts, sharp fangs
glinting in the moonlight, as a long tongue reaches out, licking through Megumi’s fingers to
grab the finger, swallowing it in one gulp.

Shuku catches the little hitch of breath Megumi has when Sukuna’s tongue makes contact
with his skin, green eyes wide and awestruck. Mom, dad, leave the foreplay in the bedroom.
You’re embarrassing me.

Megumi collects himself first, glaring up at Yuji just in time for Sukuna to attempt a takeover.
Unfortunately, even the power of a horny alpha isn’t enough to overthrow Yuji, who reigns
him back in quickly.

“We just said not to eat it!” Megumi and Nobara yell simultaneously, leaving Yuji offended
that they would assume he’d do so willingly.

“This guy…” Yuji stares down at the offending hand. “He hardly did any work this time too.”

Busy elsewhere. Shuku wants to say, but he remains silent.

 “Come on, humans.” He does his best impersonation of his father, offering his own hand to
Megumi to help him up. The omega sways a bit as he gets to his feet, but Shuku steadies him,
earning a small smile in gratitude. “Let’s go home.”

Chapter End Notes

I hate writing fight scenes, and I think knowing Megumi was out there alone somewhere
would make Shuku jumpy. So he leaves his friends to take care of things because he
trusts them.

Oh, and, by the way...

I hope you're ready for Shibuya.

 Chapter 25
Chapter Summary

A short break before Shibuya. A look at Megumi's memories.

Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes

“He’s perfect.”

“He’d be perfect if he looked like you.”

Megumi scoffs, kicking at Sukuna since his arms were currently full. “Don’t insult our son.
Besides,” Megumi smiles down at the small curse in his arms, his two main eyes closed, but
the extras open, still so curious about this new world around him. “How can he be anything
but perfect when he looks like his papa?”

Sukuna can’t argue with that, letting Megumi win. He had just given birth yesterday, after all,
and was still weak. Uraume and Sukuna had done what they could to heal him afterwards,
but Megumi would be weak for a while, confined to the shrine while he recovered. “How are
you feeling?”

“Tired.” Megumi admits with a little yawn. “But content. I’m glad he’s so healthy. I was
worried something might have happened with how much blood there was.”

“You’re both fine. Everyone is still in one piece.” Sukuna presses a kiss to Megumi’s
forehead, brushing the dark hair off of it. “My hand may be cramping for a while though.”

“Oh shut up. You could heal it if you wanted.” Megumi laughs. He had really done a number
on the alphas hand, squeezing so tightly he could feel his knuckles pop. Sukuna had been with
him when he’d gone into labor, not recognizing the signs immediately. The alpha had insisted
he rest, and Megumi had been rather indignant, having proved he was useful even while
pregnant.

But then his water had broken, and Sukuna had hauled him back to their room, yelling for
Uraume the entire way. It was quick, thank goodness; Shuku had clearly wanted to greet the
world as soon as possible. Megumi had fallen in love the moment Uraume had handed him to
Megumi, still covered in blood and screaming his little lungs hoarse. Minus the tattoos, he
was a little, mini Sukuna.

Sukuna had let mother and son bond while he helped Uraume clean up the blood, but as soon
as he had settled back beside Megumi, Shuku was being handed to him. “He should be
washed. I can’t get up to do so, but..”

“I will.” He promised Megumi, not intending to keep mother and pup separated. Shuku
clearly adored his mother, reaching for Megumi as soon as he was out of his arms, making
soft noises of distress. But as Sukuna had gently bathed him under Uraume’s watchful gaze,
Shuku had opened his eyes, all four of them, and reached for his father. His curious little coo
nearly brought the King of Curses to his knees.

Even now, as Shuku watches Megumi, his hands reach out, grasping for Sukuna, as if to pull
him closer so they can all be together as a family. “Demanding little thing.”

“Like his father.”

“Like his mother.” Sukuna counters with a laughs, kissing the pout off of Megumi’s face.
Shuku watches, grimacing at the tender moment and whining. “Ah, it seems he isn’t fond of
our show of affection.”

“He’s barely a day old, Sukuna. He doesn’t know.”

“Watch,” Sukuna promises. “When Shuku grows up, he’ll absolutely hate seeing his parents
kiss.”
“No,” Megumi laughs, turning to his pup and rubbing their noses together. “You won’t mind,
will you Shuku? My perfect, little boy."

Shuku

Megumi sits up, groaning as he realizes that wasn’t the best idea. His injuries from fighting
the special grade are still healing, and sitting up so quickly had practically scrambled his
brain. He places a hand to his head, waiting for the pounding to stop.

Maybe his head wound could help explain that dream of his.

I was… at a shrine, I think? In the valley. And Sukuna was there. He spoke again, but he was
so… so…

Megumi tries to ignore the clenching of his heart as he recalls how softly Sukuna had held
him, how sweet and sincere his words were. And that kiss…

No. No, it had to be a dream. But what a weird dream.

Baby Shuku? I know he’s technically the baby of our little group, but an actual baby? And
why would he be my pup?

Megumi shudders at the insinuation that he was Shuku’s mother in this scenario. It made
sense- casting Sukuna as the romantic lead meant his son would have to become Megumi’s.
Maybe he should be more worried about the fact that his subconscious had picked Sukuna as
his alpha and mate.

What a weird life that would be.

 If real Sukuna knew about that dream, he’d probably kill Megumi for daring to cast himself
in the role his actual mate had once filled. A mate that Sukuna seemed to still be in love with,
if Shuku was to be believed.

Megumi wasn’t a romantic. He honestly had always assumed he’d never live long enough to
find someone to settle down with, much less love. If he ever did get married, he’d assumed it
would be based on mutual respect and admiration, nothing deep or passionate. And yet
Sukuna holding his lover close despite eons of separation and death’s destructive nature made
Megumi want.

He wanted someone like that. Someone who would love him so completely that even if the
world forgot, he would remain alive in their memory.

He can’t look Yuji in the eye the next day, his dream still a bit too fresh in his mind.

He practically sprints out of the room upon seeing Shuku, especially when he instinctively
gives him a gentle reminder, and Shuku merely rolls his eyes. Whatever you say, mom.

Megumi was blaming that for his dream. It had to be.

What else could it be?

Chapter End Notes

Sir, that is your son, please go hug him.

Sukuna, ever the romantic, did not heal any damage Megumi did to his hand during
childbirth because he thought it was the least he could do. Megumi felt so much more,
Sukuna wanted to at least bear a fraction of it.
 Chapter 26
Chapter Summary

And so it begins….

Chapter Notes

We’ve officially hit season 2 content, which means next week we finally start Shibuya.
What will Shuku do? Does everyone still die? Does the author SAVE someone?

See the end of the chapter for more notes

“I think I’ll go see a movie.” Yuji looks up from his phone, glancing to his right. “What about
you, Kugisaki?”

Nobara doesn’t look back at him. “It’s still early. I’ll probably go shopping.”

“You all have so much energy.” Megumi frowns, already tired from the low level curse
they’d fought earlier. Well, fought was a bit of an overstatement.

“Oi, we aren’t the ones due for a heat soon, Fushiguro.” Nobara mocks, sticking her tongue
out at him. “Gojo-sensei mentioned you’ve been suppressing too long and he’s mandating
one.”

“Gojo-sensei needs to keep his mouth shut.” Megumi hisses back, cheeks pink with
indignation. “Why did you need to know that?”

An arm wraps around his shoulders, making the omega stumble as he’s tugged down towards
the last member of their little group. “Because if you’re gonna be down for the count, the
three of us have to pick up the slack.” Shuku laughs. “Remember a few weeks ago when you
beat a special grade’s ass all on your own, and the three of us had trouble dealing with two?”
Shuku grins, faking his bright smile. In all honesty, he really didn’t want to talk about this
version of his mother going into heat. His father was already irritable about it, pouting over
how he wouldn’t be able to help.

I want to, desperately. But I can’t unless he fully consents, which he will never do until he
remembers.

“Whatever,” Megumi sighs. “I’m going home then.” The quartet stops by the side of Ijichi’s
car, the beta nodding to them all before opening the door for Megumi. He ducks his head to
sit, only for Shuku to nudge him. “I’ll come too. I could use the rest.”

Nobara sticks her lower lip out, saying something about him being the baby of the group, but
Shuku doesn’t listen. He’s more focused on Megumi. As they drive off, leaving Yuji and
Nobara to spend the rest of their day however they like, Shuku glances at Megumi. “How are
you feeling? I know you’re all healed up, but you took quite the beating. Plus, I know my
dad’s aura is… a lot to hold onto.”

He watches the omega carefully, taking in every subtle change. “I’m fine.” Megumi says
curtly, clearly not wanting to talk about it. He’d gotten more distant as the weeks had gone
on, withdrawing from both Yuji and Shuku. “You’re right. It was a lot.”

Had something happened when Megumi had held Sukuna’s finger? Had a part of him shifted
towards his past life, his once mate? Was that why he was pulling away?

It would make sense for Megumi to try to create space to give himself room to think, but it
wouldn’t bode well if that thinking he was doing led him round and round in circles. Or was
it just his upcoming heat? Gojo had mentioned he was due to start any minute at this
point. “You seem relatively normal still. Well, normal for someone who grew up with Gojo as
a sire.” He teases, knowing Megumi will bite back about Gojo being his adoptive sire.

He doesn’t. Megumi just hums, as if he hasn’t heard him, or at least hasn’t registered Shuku’s
words. It was disheartening to say the least. They’d been doing so well, and now Megumi
was distant and moody, keeping Shuku at arm’s length.
Mom, what can I do to make it better?

Ijichi’s phone rings in the front seat and he picks it up without taking his eyes off the road.
“Hello? Oh, yes, they are. Alright, I will.” He hangs up, glancing back at the two boys.
“Kugisaki needs you.”

Discussing Itadori’s love life was not the urgent help Shuku had thought Nobara needed. At
least he had gotten a drink out of it. He scowls down at his straw, trying to ignore the fact that
Itadori housing his father would make any relationship the boy wanted to have an awkward
mess.

Imagine trying to make out just to have running commentary coming from your boyfriend’s
cheek courtesy of his internal demon.

It was for the best the boy stay single.

Not to mention the only person Shuku had seen Itadori show any interest in was dead. He
grimaces, shoving the straw in his mouth and cutting the roof of it. Junpei had deserved so
much better than what he’d gotten. Shuku was still bitter over it, but for now his unsteady
truce with his father held steady.

“Fushiguro.” He nudges the older omega, everyone finally back on school grounds after a
long day. “We were interrupted earlier.”

“There’s nothing more to talk about, Shuku.” He deflects. “You did well today. Go relax.”

“Oi, you’re not getting rid of me that easily!” Shuku jogs to catch up with Megumi, throwing
his now empty drink in the trash. “You’ve been off since the bridge. I know you thought that
exorcizing it would mean your sister would wake up, but maybe she just…”

“Shuku.” His tone is cold, harder than Shuku has ever heard it. If Megumi had been an alpha,
he knows a command would follow. He’s pushed just a little too far. “Drop it. I don’t want to
talk about it. Not to Gojo, not to Yuji, and especially not to you.”

Shuku recoils, whimpering as if struck. Megumi blinks, eyes wide at the noise. His instincts
tell him to comfort the other boy, who he has claimed as a member of his pack, but his
rational mind tell him not to. He already sees Shuku as a pup without an omega caregiver, he
doesn’t need to encourage that side of him. “Shuku, I…”

“I get it.” Shuku sounds so wounded, eyes to the ground. “I’ll see you later, Fushiguro.”

“Shuku!” Megumi sighs as the young alpha retreats, heading towards the dorms as fast as he
can without breaking into a run. “Good job, Fushiguro.” He sighs. He was still bad at the
whole friend thing, unused to the company and companionship. He just hadn’t realized the
learning curve would be so steep.

his heat also wasn’t helping. He always got irritable whenever he was taken off suppressants,
and now that he’d claimed Shuku as his pup, at least in his mind, his body had dialed up the
fervent need for more pups to a thousand.

It isn’t right that pup is alone. He needs more pack. He needs siblings.

Nope. Absolutely not. He was not going to follow that train of thought because it led to
asking Yuji to let Sukuna out so the curse could fuck him into a mattress for a week.
Somehow, Megumi doesn’t think anyone would like that.

It would be fine. It was fine. Halloween was a few days after his heat, and Yuji and Nobara
had plans to go out. Megumi could invite Shuku along and apologize for acting like a bitch.
Certainly nothing major would pop up between now and then.
 Right?

Chapter End Notes

Spoiler/hint for the questions at the beginning of the chapter:

Someone isn’t dying.

Whether that’s good or bad remains to be seen.

 Chapter 27
Chapter Summary

While the three first years not currently in heat make plans for Halloween, they very
quickly realize they shouldn't have bothered.

Chapter Notes

YOU ARE MY SPECIAL

(I'm going to just start writing that in my notes for every chapter.)

See the end of the chapter for more notes

He hasn’t seen Megumi in days. It would be concerning at anny other point in the time
they’ve known each other, but Shuku, despite not knowing exactly where the omega is,
knows what he’s busy doing. It isn’t something he wants to think about too hard.

“Stupid Fushiguro.” Nobara gripes. “Forced to have a heat. We should be planning our
Halloween!”

“Sensei mentioned that we may not get a Halloween.” Yuji frowns. “Curses like that holiday
a bit too much.” He sighs at the prospect of a night spent punching low grade curses instead
of watching horror movies or going out in costume.

“Yeah, and who do you think will get to stay at home, cuddled up under blankets? The guy
who will only be two days out of his heat.” Nobara grumps.

“You sound due for one.” Maki murmurs to her right, cleaning one of her weapons. “You’re
getting irritable.”
“Excuse you?” Nobara screeches, whirling on the alpha.

Maki just shrugs, unperturbed by the incensed omega. “I’ll help you through it, babe. Don’t
worry. And after, we can cuddle all you want. I’ll even get you that disgusting sugar coffee
you like.”

Immediately mollified, Nobara coos at her alpha, curling into her side.

Shuku and Yuji try to pretend they hadn’t just witnessed that. They had both gone through rut
already- Yuji while “dead,” and Shuku when he had woken in this new era. Unfortunately for
his father, and Yuji too, his ruts had been stalled. They’d found that out when he’d been
forced to endure Yuji’s rut without any of the side effects. Shuku had thought his father might
bury himself so deep in Yuji’s subconscious to avoid it that he’d never find his way out again.

That didn’t mean Sukuna’s rut was completely gone. He still felt stirrings of agitation and an
itch to fuck. Then again, that last point may just be close proximity to Megumi. (If so, the
former had to be Yuji's doing.)

It had gotten worse the week before Megumi’s heat, and despite his father firmly stating he
wouldn’t attempt to join the omega, it was clear he wasn’t exactly happy with his current
situation.

Then again, was anyone?

Unlikely, if he was honest, except maybe those curses who had attacked the school this
summer. Shuku purses his lips, worried that they haven’t shown themselves again. It was a
little too quiet for his liking; something big was about to happen, and it wasn’t going to be
good.

He just hoped whatever it was wasn’t too bad.

*
Just after 7 PM on October 31st, 2018, a roughly 400-meter radius veil was lowered,
centered around Tokyu Department Store’s Toyoko Outlet.

Nobara had been right. They weren’t going to get a normal Halloween.

Then again, he’d been right too.

Something big had happened, and unfortunately, Shuku had a sinking feeling it was going to
be bad. Tonight was going to be a night for the history books, but he wasn’t sure if it would
be lauded as a victory or remembered as a massacre.

“It’s a veil that only traps regular people inside.” Ijichi is explaining. Their little band of
sorcerers had been broken up from all those that had been called in to deal with said veil, and
Shuku had immediately latched onto Nanami.

The older alpha hadn’t said a word, but his grip on Shuku had been all anyone had needed to
know the young curse wouldn’t be supervised by anyone else.

Eri had even stopped by, ruffling his hair and making them both promise to remain safe.
Shuku had pushed her hand away, puffing his chest out and letting her know he always was.
She’d laughed, though her smile hadn’t quite reached her eyes. Her threat to Nanami, to
revive him and kill him again if he died, held a more serious note. The couple weren’t big on
PDA, only offering a quick squeeze of their hands, but Shuku had silently vowed to try to
help Nanami keep his promise.

He hoped he could help keep that promise.

“Regular people are only able to enter it. It varies for windows. Sorcerers and assistant
supervisors are able to come and go.”

“And signal?” Nanami asks without hesitating.

“Blocked.” Ijichi confirms. “Please use assistant supervisors, like us, or first exit the veil in
order to communicate.”

“This is becoming awfully troublesome.” Nanami frowns, clearly upset his quiet night in has
been derailed.

The other two on their little team remain quiet. One is a man Shuku has never met before, but
who’d been introduced as Ino Takuma. Takuma hadn’t said anything to Shuku when they’d
been introduced, and Shuku had responded in kind. He wasn’t worried about this man
anyway.

No, his focus was on the omega to his right. Two days out of his heat and Fushiguro Megumi
was ready to walk through a veil into whatever lay behind it. It was stupid, foolish, and was
also the reason Nanami had insisted Megumi be part of his team. He knew Shuku wouldn’t
be able to focus if he didn’t have his eyes on Megumi at all time, ensuring the omega was
safe.

“Fushiguro! Fushiguro!” Takuma whispers, and Shuku can feel his mother roll his eyes. “Did
you know that when adding effects to the barrier of a veil you can basically only apply them
to things with cursed energy?” He sounds so smug about knowing that too, as if this isn’t
common knowledge. “That’s roughly-”

“People, cursed spirits, and cursed objects.” Shuku interjects. “Your point?”

Ino frowns, scoffing at him. “I’m just saying that the loss of cell service is a side effect to the
veil being lowered. You can’t actually integrate the surrounding signal into a veil’s barrier!”
 “Yes.” Megumi interjects before Shuku can, sounding bored and tired. “I knew that.”

“Ino-kun, he’s a talented man.” Nanami reminds him. “Keep the senior act in check.”

“I just thought since he just got out of, you know-”

Shuku snaps at him. “Mind your fucking business.”

“Shuku!” Nanami berates. “Enough, or I’ll send you with Gojo.”

Oh, please. Anything but that! “Apologies, Nanami-sensei.”

“Speaking of,” Megumi shifts awkwardly, and Shuku gets a whiff of sweat and ginger, even
despite all the scent patches and creams slathered over him. He still smells like heat. “What’s
going on with Gojo-sensei?”

Ijichi has the answer to that, and it’s one that sets Shuku’s nerves on edge. “Everyone who
came to the edge of the barrier to escape said the same thing.” They all tense, waiting with
baited breath as if they can’t already guess what his next words will be.

“Bring Gojo Satoru.”

Oh fuck. This is going to be a long night.

Chapter End Notes

RIP Megs going into Shibuya fresh from a heat.

RIP Sukuna inside Yuji knowing his omega is out there fighting fresh off a heat.

RIP Shuku for having to deal with his parents.

RIP Nanami for... well...

 Chapter 28
Chapter Summary

Sukuna's POV of the start of Shibuya.

Chapter Notes

Trying to get all the players set up where they need to be is taking forever. I also haven't
fully decided how I'm going to deal with the switching POVs, so let me know if you'd
prefer alternating chapters or a group of chapters focusing on Yuji/Sukuna and then a
group focusing on Megumi and Shuku.

See the end of the chapter for more notes

Sukuna was getting restless.

Scratch that, he had been restless for weeks now.

Ever since he’d overheard the blinfolded bastard of an alpha (He supposes he needs to start
trying to make nice. Gojo is going to be his father-in-law, after all.) loudly proclaiming it was
past time for Megumi to take a break so he could go through a heat before it became
dangerous to continue suppressing, he’s had an itch under his skin. His mate was going
through a heat. Alone.

Not that it had been uncommon back in the Heian era for an omega to go through heats alone.
It also hadn’t been taboo for them to find a trusted partner for them. It was the only time an
omega of any station could have sex without being judged for it. Alpha ruts weren’t half as
bad, and they didn’t even want to go through those alone.

Fortunately for Sukuna, modern day omegas had other methods of “taking the edge off,” and
since his Megumi was delightfully picky, it seemed he had refused any personal help thus far.
By his next heat, he shouldn’t have to worry about being alone ever again.

They had always been gloriously compatible, each of Megumi’s heats throwing Sukuna
straight into a rut. In fact, their mating had set them off, a rather scandalous piece of news
considering the circumstances around it.

I’ll need space for that now that I know that’s a possibility. Sukuna makes a note for himself.

All of that had kept him on edge for the past week while Megumi was noticeably absent. That
was not why he was on edge now.

No, he was on edge because something had happened, and while he normally wouldn’t care,
Sukuna could tell it was going to be something big, which meant every available sorcerer had
been called in.

Even Megumi, only two days out of heat. If thai were the past, Megumi wouldn’t be allowed
out for two weeks, left at home to be pampered and catered to until they were sure he wasn’t
with child. It rankled his nerves that Megumi was forced to be anywhere remotely dangerous,
chance of a child or no, when he was still weak from a heat.

It didn’t help that the brat was nowhere near his omega, heading in what Sukuna considered
the opposite direction of where they should be.

They were heading to what the white haired woman had called the Meiji Shrine Station. He
wasn’t sure where that was, but it didn’t sound like “where Megumi and Shuku were,” so he
was sulking. At least his pup was perfectly fine and could keep an eye on the omega.

He hated that he had to put that burden on him. Shuku shouldn’t have to be constantly
watching over Megumi, but Sukuna couldn’t take any chances. His mate was reckless, and if
he was anything like Heian Megumi, he’d pull out Mahoraga at any sign of danger, tamed or
no, putting himself in even more danger without thinking things through.
A beautiful idiot.

His beautiful idiot.

“There’s a veil to ordinary people trapped inside.” A woman he’s never seen is saying.
Perhaps he should pay a little attention. “It covers the entire underground subway station, and
within that there’s another veil centered around the platform on B5 that prevents sorcerers
from entering. We believe the cursed spirit or curse user who lowered these veils is located
somewhere between these two.”

Taking on the risk of being outside to help strengthen the barrier was gutsy, but it was exactly
what Sukuna would do. He’s almost impressed the sorcerers thought of such an idea.

“There are transfigured humans between the barriers.”

Yuji and Sukuna both snap to attention at that. Transfigured human?

Fuck.

The brat’s… Junpei is still a bit of a sore subject between him and Shuku, and as much as
Sukuna still stands by his reasons for not saving the boy, he can also recognize how
hypocritical it looks from the outside.

Shuku had been right; he hadn’t been able to save Megumi in a similar way, but Sukuna
hadn’t been right there when his mate had been targeted, lured away by Gojo Satoru’s
ancestor. To Sukuna, this mostly absolved him of guilt, but helping save an omega when he
couldn’t save Megumi would have been the better option.

It was the option he probably should have taken.

Hey, he may be the King of Curses, scourge of the Heian Era, nightmare to sorcerers, but he
wasn’t completely heartless.

His heart was just a bit rusty and unused right now.

“Itadori-kun, which would you prefer? Killing lots of weak, transfigured humans, or
exorcizing one powerful cursed spirit?”

Was that even a question?

Shuku sits, feet over the edge of the roof. He pays the space next to him, telling his father to
sit. It was a rare night that Sukuna had taken over Yuji’s body to spend time with him, and
Shuku didn’t plan on wasting it. “Tell me again.” He says, asking for his favorite bedtime
story.

Sukuna acquiesces, lowering himself to sit beside his son. “It was a few centuries after I’d
become a curse. When I was human, I was consumed by my instincts, not to mate, but to fuck.
So I did. As a curse, it was less intense. I still held all the qualities of an alpha, but they
weren’t as insistent. It was freeing.”

“Dad,” Shuku gives him a side eye. “That’s not what I meant.”

“Hush.” He chuckles. “I’m building up to it.” Shuku settles back in, watching the moon rise
over Jujutsu Tech. “Uraume was the closest thing I had to a companion. But they were a
beta. Alpha/omega pairings with betas were uncommon back then, but not unacceptable.
However, Uraume wasn’t interested in sex and I wasn’t interested in a mate. I offered
protection; they fulfilled the role of caretaker to my shrine. We lived happily.”

“Dad.” He says impatiently.

“And then one day, after years of being content in being mostly alone and untethered, I woke
to the most amazing scent.” Sukuna closes his eyes, breathing deeply, as if he could smell it
now. He couldn’t, not really, but Shuku could almost believe he could. “It woke something
deep inside of me so primal I had to find it. It was confusing; I didn’t want to kill it, and yet it
felt like bloodlust had taken over.”

“And then you found mom.”

“Am I telling the story or you?” Shuku laughs, leaning against his father in his another body.
Sukuna huffs, continuing. “I tore out of the shrine possessed. Uraume claims I looked
unhinged. I followed the scent to the edge of my domain, the one closest the border of the
Zenin clan, and in between the trees I saw a dark shape. It was barely morning, the sun still
rising, and I couldn’t tell what it was, just that I had to find out. So I followed, I gave chase
like a hunting dog going after a hare. When I finally caught up, wore the little thing down, I
had cornered it on a ledge above a ravine. The sun was breaking over the horizon, and it
silhouetted the most gorgeous omega I’d ever seen, beautiful and defiant. He looked at me
like he could already taste my blood under his teeth. I was enraptured.”

Shuku thinks anyone else would find it morbid. His father had hunted his mother to
exhaustion and forced him to take a stand. His mother had wanted him dead. Sukuna made it
sound like magic. “He asked what I wanted; I settled for his name. ‘Zenin Megumi,’ he said,
‘but I prefer just Megumi.’ He told me he’d run from them, forced to marry his cousin in a
fortnight. He’d rather die. I told him that wasn’t necessary. Uraume was aghast when I
brought him home, cradled in my arms.”

“Mom didn’t fight you?”

“Oh, he did. Before I brought him home, I asked him to follow me. He basically told me to eat
shit. I tried to use force; he called forth his divine dogs. That’s when I realized I had to have
him, just not as a mate. I had to protect him from the Zenin. Him drawing blood made me
realize I needed him as a mate.” Gods, his parents were crazy. “When he couldn’t hold his
shadows any more, I picked him up and took him home. I think he assumed he was going to
be killed. He told Uraume he’d heard of me; he thought his family had paid me to capture
him and take him home.”
“But you offered one instead.” Perhaps that was what made the whole thing romantic to
Shuku.

Sukuna hums. “I did. And spent the next two weeks being snapped at. Of course, when
Uraume heard the Zenin were coming to collect him, he panicked and asked for sanctuary.
He said he’d give me anything I wanted.”

“And you asked for his ass.”

“ No, I asked to mate him.”

“So… his ass just permanently.”

“Boy.” Sukuna flicks his head. “Don’t be crass. I asked to mate him, considering nothing less
would dissuade the Zenin from leaving him, and he accepted. We mated that evening and by
the next morning when the Zenin arrived, Uraume had to greet them and turn them away.”

Shuku frowns. “What? Why? You didn’t gloat?”

“Shuku,” Sukuna turns to his son. “Do you want to know how we knew we were meant to be
together, your mother and I?”

“You mean besides your weird kink for fighting?” He snorts.

“Shuku,” Sukuna sounds serious. “Our bonding sent your mother into heat, which triggered
my rut. Before modern science…”

“Dear lord, you’ve researched this.”

“It was a sign of extreme compatibility. To us at the time, it meant two people were destined
for each other. We know now it’s not quite that simple and multiple partners could trigger the
experience, but it made your mother trust me. Apparently, he’d been feeling the same
incessant pull I was, which was why he was so defensive.”

“So, what? You spent a heat together and that’s it? How does this have anything to do with
me?”

“Hardly. And you asked for the story, remember?” Sukuna grins. “Megumi was still snippy
and short with me; he didn’t like being coddled. I didn’t like coddling. Neither of us knew
what we were doing, and the urge to be unmated returned. I didn’t want a shackle, a
weakness. But I had one.”

“Wow.” That was new. “You wanted to unmate mom? Is that possible?”

“Barely. But every time I got close to doing it, I couldn’t.” He glances down at his son. “I
didn’t have a choice. It was beyond instinct at that point. It was beyond anything explainable.
It just… was. We were made for one another, and we couldn’t fight it forever. As my son, I
expect it will be much the same. Don’t fight it.”

Shuku doesn’t like that answer, but he doesn’t focus on that now. “You never told me this
version before.”

“You were young. A more sanitized and simple version worked best.”

He wanted to argue, but really, Sukuna was right. Young Shuku wanted to believe his parents
were magic, a fairytale. “So, when did you and mom actually start liking one another?”

“A year or so later. We just sort of… settled into one another. And one day, we were outside
in the courtyard and Megumi was laughing at his dogs playing with Nue and I thought, ‘gods
above, I love him.’ It was one of the most precious moments I could remember, one I
cherished.”
 “And mom?”

“Finally looked back at me when he was done laughing. I guess he saw how I felt in my eyes.
It made him smile and he… he said it first.”

“Mom said ‘I love you’ first?” Shuku had always assumed it had been his father with how
obsessed with his mother he was.

Sukuna hums, smiling softly. “He did. And I said it right back. We had blissful years together,
five, before he woke me one morning and told me Uraume had been concerned because he
was sick. I was worried. The little minx took forever to tell me he was pregnant.”

Shuku grins. That was me.

“We loved you instantly. We hadn’t even met you and we both would have died for you.”
Yuji’s face grows sad, despondent. “He did die for you.” Shuku whimpers, distraught. Sukuna
shushes him, running a hand through his hair. “Hush. He wouldn’t have done it any other
way. He loved you so much, Shuku.”

“I wish he were here.” He grimaces. “Really here.”

“I know. Soon, I promise.” Sukuna kisses his forehead, turning to watch over the place they
called home for now. The place that held their futures. “I promise.”

Chapter End Notes

I hadn't planned on giving Megumi and Sukuna's history now, but I've had it written
since chapter 1 and I couldn't sit on it anymore.
 Chapter 29
Chapter Summary

Gojo Satoru falls.

Chapter Notes

We haven't talked with Gojo in a minute, so let's see how he's doing.

See the end of the chapter for more notes

He wasn’t sure what he had been expecting. Not this, for sure, but not not this.

That is to say, Gojo Satoru was just as confused, if not more so, as everyone else about what
was happening in Shibuya.

When they’d received the call, when they’d been told everyone was asking for him
specifically, he knew whatever they were walking into was a trap. No matter, he had dealt
with plenty of traps before. The sheer size of the Shibuya trap; however, necessitated all
hands available to help. It meant trusting Shuku to not turn on them. It meant trusting Yuji
could contain Sukuna. It meant letting Megumi help, even when he was weak from a hellish
week.

Part of him, a very paternal part, wonders if the trap laid wasn’t for him, but for his pup. Did
whoever did this want him separated from Megumi so they could take the omega? Did they
want to attack while Megumi was weak so Gojo would be on uneven footing?

He had had a terrible fight, nearly coming to blows with Gakuganji, over Megumi’s
involvement. You always say omegas are just as strong as alphas. Prove it. Let him fight.
That doesn’t mean he can fight two days out of a heat! He will smell too strongly! Other
alphas will see it as some sort of sick invitation!

So you admit he is a liability. Omegas are liabilities.

He very much did not think that. Gojo saw no reason that omegas couldn’t do anything an
alpha could. Granted, they tended to be smaller and leaner, but that just made them harder to
catch. What they lacked in raw strength, they made up for in speed. If Megumi could just get
out of his head, Gojo swore he’d be able to rival his own power one day.

That is, if he ever stopped using Mahoraga as a “big red button.”

“Don’t do anything stupid.” He’d said as they’d gotten ready to leave. Gojo had told Megumi
himself that he was going to join them. While obviously still tired and worn thin, Megumi
hadn’t disagreed. “I want you to check in as soon as all the veils are down.”

Megumi had simply hummed, tilting his head so Gojo could continue slathering scent
blocking cream on him. It wasn’t helping much, but it was at least muting the smell. Gojo
rubbed it directly over the scent glands on his neck, as well as his slightly swollen mating
gland. Megumi rarely trusted anyone to see it uncovered, even fellow omegas, but Gojo
registered as family, and he knew the alpha would never dream of doing anything to him.

Not when it was the worst kept secret in jujutsu history that Gojo Satoru had taken another
alpha as a mate, only for said mate to abandon him a few weeks later after massacring an
entire village. Megumi, who’d been “adopted” soon after, had never said much about it. Not
when Gojo would mysteriously disappear for his ruts, only to come back smelling like
another alpha. He knew, Tsumuki knew, and Gojo knew, but that secret stayed within the
family.

It hadn’t been the time to think about him, then or now, but Satoru was always weak when it
came to Suguru.

He’d left Megumi with Nanami, trusting the other alpha to keep his son safe, and, shockingly,
had felt relieved when he’d realized Shuku would be joining them. Gojo had his suspicions
about the boy, especially surrounding why he’d latched on to Megumi of all omegas, but he
wouldn’t voice them now.

How exactly did one ask if a young alpha, who’d never met his maternal figure, was trying to
form a mother-son bond with the omega he regarded as his son?

How did one ask why?

And how the hell was Gojo supposed to ask if Sukuna knew? That set him even more on
edge, teeth grinding. What was Sukuna’s plan in all of this? What part of those plans
involved Megumi?

He didn’t know. And he really didn’t like not knowing.

It is a relief, then, when he has to set those thoughts aside. The curses he finds in the train
station are familiar, some of them at least. The volcano head one, as well as the vine creature
that had hurt Megumi and the other students during the sisterhood event, are the two he
focuses on. Those are the ones he has personal vendettas against.

It is a challenge working around the innocents in Shibuya station, but he has to avoid mass
casualty. He wouldn’t be Gojo Satoru if he didn’t.

The vine creature falls first, crushed against the walls of the station. He can’t help but feel a
little vindicated in that, killing the thing who’d tried to kill Megumi. With that, he turns to the
volcano, who, like a coward, runs.

He isn’t alone, of course. The incarnated womb, a man who looks as tired of this as Gojo
feels, provides what distraction he can, killing indiscriminately in an attempt to blindside
him. Not that it matters, he knows he can’t save everyone, but he will save who he can.
Besides, just these two won’t be enough to cause mass casualty, right?

Right.
Until he’s blindsided by the train full of transfigured humans and the patchwork curse Yuji
had warned him about. As bodies, and blood, rain down around him, he decides he is done
playing games. If they think he won’t activate his domain just to keep the humans from
certain death, they are wrong.

Activating it for less than a second won’t do anything that can’t be reversed to normal
humans. It gave him more than enough time to stun and kill the transfigured humans. The
special grades could escape, would escape, but those humans still standing would at least be
free of them.

He’s panting by the time he’s done, less than five minutes later. Days like this couldn’t get
much worse.

At least, so he thinks.

Until he sees the box.

He is instantly on guard, especially as the thing opens, revealing a red eye glaring straight
through him. He takes a step back, turning to go, to leave, whatever this thing is behind.

“Hey.”

He pauses, his breath knocked from his chest. That voice. It can’t be.

“Satoru.”

Against his better judgement, Gojo Satoru turns, blue eye widening at the figure behind him.
He looks so… so… real. There is no blood, no death, on him. He even has both arms. But
there is no way the man before him is his mate. Whoever it is, it is not Geto Suguru.
 “Long time no see.” The thing smiles at him, looking so…

No.

It had to be a fake. Some sort of technique! But as he stares and stares and uses his Six Eyes
just to check again, he realizes that this is real .

It takes him barely a minute to come to that conclusion.

It is enough.

Chapter End Notes

RIP Satosugu, you deserved better.

 Chapter 30
Chapter Summary

Gojo is sealed.

Everyone is fucked.

Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes

Shuku cannot believe he is related to this man. Naobito Zenin belches as he finishes another
can of beer, and Shuku wrinkles his nose in disgust. Gojo Satoru may be many things, but
he’s a saint for getting mom out of their clutches.

“So the transfigured human were lying in wait inside the buildings, and now they’ve started
attacking non-sorcerers, huh?” The older man chuckles, as if this whole thing is just a game.

“That’s why we’ve stopped standing by and have started to act.” Nanami at least has kept his
cool, though he doesn’t look particularly pleased to be in this man’s presence either. “There
wasn’t much else we could do. Our response is falling too far behind.” He faces Megumi and
Ino. My biggest concern is…”

Ino begins answering, chest puffed out proudly. “The veil…”

Megumi answers as well, sounding almost bored by the whole thing. “The veil keeping
sorcerers out that lowered at the same time, right?” Shuku attributes his apathy to the sheer
amount of suppressants running through his system. It was hard to care about other things
when your very essence was so tamped down that you didn’t feel like yourself. “It’s been
some time since Gojo-sensei arrived.”Why did they choose now of all times?”

The number of veils had certainly come as a surprise. Not just one, but four veils had been
lowered over Shibuya, all with different purposes. Shuku wasn’t sure what all those purposes
were yet, but they at least knew that one kept non-sorcerers in, another kept sorcerers out, and
a third had something to do with Gojo. Shuku was betting on that veil being used to keep him
trapped somewhere in the tunnels.

“Either something has happened inside, or they needed to wait for this moment as part of
their strategy.”

“They wouldn’t face us without a plan.” Shuku agrees. “So I take it we’re splitting up?”

Nanami nods, placing a hand on his shoulder. “We will focus on the enemies who lowered
the veils.” He turns to Megumi and Ino, guiding Shuku past them. “You two focus on saving
anyone you can.” He calls back to the two other teams as his own steps up to the first barrier.

The veil is cool as they pass through it, making Shuku shiver.

Here we go.

“ Once you’ve confirmed the situation, please exit the veil again, Nitta-san.” Ijichi standas
outside the last veil, watching to ensure no one tries to interfere. “With signal blocked inside,
we will constantly need someone on the outside. I would like you to take on that role.” He
looks up from his phone, where he’d been trying to reach someone, anyone, to figure out
their locations. “We’ll do whatever it takes to establish a communication network using just
the assistant supervisors.”

It was a big ask, but it was possible. “If we mobilize those off duty and a portion of our-”

“Hey!”

So engrossed in his call, he hadn’t heard the man sneaking up behind him. Ijichi gasps,
dropping his phone as pain blooms in his abdomen. He looks down, shocked to find a bloody
sword protruding from his body. How did that…

It withdraws, only to be plunged back through him a second time. He gasps, trying to turn to
see his attacker, but each stab comes faster than the last, and he can barely move without
feeling as though he will collapse.

He collapses anyway, a foot keeping his head crushed to the ground. “Man, bullying the weak
really is the best job for me.” A gleeful voice cackles from above him. “This is what you
want, right?”

A second voice, calm and smooth, answers. “Hai.”

Uraume watches the man in the suit slowly lose his will to fight, humming in thought as he
bleeds out. “Please continue hunting down all the humans in suits outside the veil.”

Those suits were sorcerers, a breed of human so despicable, Uraume almost didn’t dare
dirtying their own hands with their blood. But dirty them they must. Sukuna-sama had
returned, trapped in the body of a foolish boy, and it was Uraume’s duty to return him to his
rightful state. Their second task would be to find Shuku, though it seemed the sorcerers had
done them the favor of waking the boy up.

It would be so good to see them again after all these years. It had not been easy working
under the sorcerer’s noses to maintain Sukuna’s carefully laid out plans, but work they did.
And now, it was time for those plans to come to fruition.

It was time once more to lay waste to the society that had stolen his master’s happiness and
taken their best friend.

Vengeance was going to taste so sweet.

*
“NANAMIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!”

“What the fuck?” Shuku winces. “Is that Itadori?”

“It better not be.” Megumi hisses, showing the first real sign of emotion since they’d entered
the veil. “What is he doing drawing attention to himself?”

“NANAMIN, ARE YOU HERE?”

“That’s definitely Itadori fucking Yuji.” Shuku groans. “Bastard.”

“NANAMI!”

“I think he wants you.” Ino jokes, nudging the older man.

Nanami just sighs, adjusting his course to face towards Yuji’s voice. “Let’s go see what he…”

“GOJO-SENSEI HAS BEEN SEALED!”

Their little quartet goes still, all of them trying to digest what Yuji has just said.

Gojo is… sealed?

Gojo… lost?
Shit.

Shuku immediately looks to Megumi, the omega having yet to recover from the news. While
the rest of them are worried that their trump card is out of play, Megumi has greater stakes in
this. Megumi has just lost his adopted sire. For him, this is deeper than a teacher being
sealed.

His father has been taken from him.

“Why is he shouting that for everyone to hear!” Ino panicks. “Nanami-sensei, we have to..”

“Change of plans.” Nanami brushes past them. “We meet up with Itadori-kun at once. If it’s
true that he’s been sealed-”

“It’s over.” Shuku finishes for him. “We’re fucked. They took out Gojo fucking Satoru.”

It’s easy to follow Yuji’s voice. The man doesn’t shut up.

“NANAMI!”

They find him on the roof of a building, screaming his lungs out.

“NA-NA-MIN! NA-NA-MIN! NA-NA-NA-NA-NA-NA-MIN!”

“Oi.” Megumi approaches him first, but Yuji must not hear. “Oi!”

“NA-NA-”
Megumi scruffs him by the neck, and Yuji goes down hard, but he leaps back up a second
later, a ball of unending energy. “Fushiguro! Nanami! Shuku! Uh…” He stares at Ino.
“And… who are you?”

“You sad Gojo-sensei was sealed.” Megumi doesn’t give anyone time to answer, stepping
between them and Yuji, grabbing onto his friend's shoulders. “What did you mean?”

Yuji pulls a strange looking device from his ear, something Mechamaru had instituted in case
of this very dilemma. It explains everything to them. “Geto-san?” Megumi whispers when it
is finished. “He did this?”

“More accurately, the thing living within Geto Suguru. Shibuya is currently filled with
special grades, the cursed spirits they brought with them, curse users tied to Geto Suguru, and
transfigured humans as well as normal people.”

“A mad house.” Shuku shakes his head. “By the way, who is Geto Suguru?”

Their group goes silent, though Yuji looks just as curious. “He was…” Nanami starts. “He
was… a friend. Once. Long ago.” He clears his throat. “But that isn’t important. What is
important is saving who we can and rescuing Satoru. The fastest way to do that would be
attacking from the tunnels and other stations. But to do that, we need to lift the veil.”

“To do that, we need to split up again.” Shuku quickly corrects, as if it hadn't been clear that
that was what Nanami meant.

The older alpha nods in agreement. “There are several issues only a first grade can handle. I
will step outside and handle those with Ijichi. In the meantime, you four need to do
something about the veil keeping sorcerers out.”

Ino is tasked with finding Maki and Naobito Zenin and asking for their help. He is also
placed in charge, meaning he gives them the orders until Nanami returns.
 How unfortunate.

“Come on, you three!” Ino slaps Itadori and Megumi on the back, but Shuku backs away
before he can touch him. “Let’s tear down that veil before Nanami gets back!”

Chapter End Notes

A few different POVs including my sweet little demonic angel Uraume, who is here to
wreck some shit. You think Sukuna and Shuku are pissed about Megumi's death? They
basically been asleep this entire time! Uraume has had time to plan all the ways they
will enact revenge.

Uraume/Megumi BFF agenda has begun. (Listen, they bonded over Sukuna being a little
shit, I don't make the rules.)

Also, as for who is not dying, I know I said "Happy Birthday, Blessing" was canon to
this fic, but I've since rewritten plot points and made some changes sooooo....

We will see how canon it is when I've finished making up my mind about a few things.
 Chapter 31
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes

Yuji’s fist slams into the barrier with a resounding thud, kicking up a rather harsh breeze that
shoots dust into Shuku’s eyes. “Damn it, Itadori!” He hisses, turning away to clean them out.

“Hm, no good.” Yuji pouts, not caring that he’s temporarily blinded Shuku.

As he blinks the world back into focus, Shuku notes Kon is still going to town on the curse
they’d taken down earlier, tail wagging furiously. What a good boy.

“It’s a rather sturdy veil.” Megumi agrees. “We will have to search for its weak point and put
a hole in it, even if only for a second.”

“Yeah. Can’t get anywhere if we don’t…” Shuku pauses, watching Itadoru jog past them to
roundhouse kick a rather low level curse in the face. “What the fuck?”

“What were you saying?” Itadori asks, perking up like a damn dog. Speaking of dogs, Kon
has abandoned the curse he’d previously been munching on, going for the curse Yuji had just
knocked down. What the fuck?

“He was saying that we need to get inside if we want to be of any help.” Ino finishes Shuku’s
previous statement in answer to Itadori. “This veil keeps sorcerers out. It’s a barrier. Those
are designed to surround and protect you, right? That means whoever lowered this veil is
inside.”

Yuji frowns cocking his head. “But back in Harajuku…”

“Oh!” Ino snaps his fingers, pointing at his junior. “You’re right! Staying outside the veil
instead of surrounding themselves with it increases the risk of being discovered and
defeated.”

“Which raises the strength of the veil.” Shuku grins. He had refused to separate from the
group for Megumi’s sake, even though Ino had initially said Shuku, as a curse and not a
sorcerer, would be able to pass through. He had wanted Shuku to head inside and start
hunting, but no one else had agreed.

In fact, Ino and Megumi had a pretty big argument over it, with Megumi insisting Shuku
remain with him. He couldn’t help but feel just the tiniest bit happy about that. As much as he
was keeping an eye on Fushiguro, his mother was keeping an eye on him too.

“They are completely ignoring the fundamentals of barriers!” Ino pouts, head raised to the
sky. “What a crazy idea! Now we know why it didn’t break from Yuji’s earlier blows.”

“Yeah, that got dirt in my eye!” Shuku punches Yuji in the arm. “Dick.”

“I didn’t mean to!”

“Boys.” Megumi shoots them both a glare. “Enough.” He turns back to Ino, the perfect
representation of a scolding parent returning to their adult conversation. “If that’s the logic,
then the veil’s source should be somewhere that stands out, right?”

Ino nods. “By increasing the risk of discovery, they further increase the strength. At least,
that’s what we are guessing.”

So, somewhere that stood out. That was where they would find a way to break through this
barrier and head further into Shibuya. Almost simultaneously, all four of them turn towards
the Shibuya Central Tower. “I have a feeling I know exactly where they’re hiding.”

*
Shuku has never flown quite like this before. “Hold on.” Megumi says, holding Nue’s
feathers as though he doesn’t fear falling from such a height. Shuku is not so relaxed,
hugging his mother to his chest as though Megumi will be able to fly them away if something
goes wrong. (Technically he can, with Nue, but it’s that very bird that he doesn’t trust.)

Shuku is sure Nue is a very lovely shikigami. He just doesn’t want to be riding on the back of
him. “Are you sure Ino doesn’t need backup?” Shuku queries. “I can always…”

“You stay with us.”

At least he doesn’t have Itadori’s job. At least he isn’t hanging onto a single strand of wire off
the back of Nue. At least he can stay with Megumi and…

“Did he just jump off the building!”

“I didn’t know you had a fear of heights.” Megumi says calmly, unperturbed by whatever the
hell Yuji is doing.

“It isn’t the height I’m worried about, it’s being on a bird that could dissolve into shadow at
any given moment!”

Megumi just shrugs. “I’m offended you’d think I’d drop you.”

Oh. “Sorry, mom.” It slips out before he can attach a more teasing tone to it, but Megumi
doesn’t react negatively. In fact, he doesn’t react at all, making Shuku think he must not have
heard.

(He most certainly had, but Shuku had sounded so small and sad that Megumi’s omega had
hurt for him.)

“Fushiguro!” Yuji yells forms somewhere below. “Dismiss Nue!”

What?

“Wait!”

Too late. The bird dissolves, though thankfully Megumi did so over the roof of a building,
leaving them to roll across it. Shuku has barely five seconds to reorient himself before
Megumi is pulling him to his feet. “We need to get to the street. Now.”

Yuji meets them there, having grabbed a few more low level curses along the way.
“Fushiguro! Shuku!” He tosses the curses to the side, so small that the impact of being
thrown dispels them. “Where is he?”

“Right there.” Megumi nods towards the body in the street. “We didn’t see the moment of
impact, but his body is too clean. Even if he is a sorcerer, he fell from the forty-first floor.”

Shuku steps forward, his fists clenched. It is unfortunate the man had fallen into a circle of
light from a streetlamp. Had he fallen into the shadows, Shuku could have lit him up and they
could have been done with this already. “Get up. No one is fooled by your acting.”

The man doesn’t move for a minute, and Shuku is about to yell at him again, when he
suddenly hears a loud sigh. “Goodness.” The man rolls over, breaking the wires Yuji had
wrapped around him with ease. “You youngsters have no pity for the elderly.”

“We can’t waste time here.” Megumi remiss them, his shadow twisting as Kon rises to the
surface, waiting to be summoned to do his master’s will.

“It won’t take long.” Yuji promises, already pulling his cursed energy into his fists. He strikes
first, Shuku not far behind. The man may be strong, but he can’t hope to survive the two of
them. Especially not as Shuku feels the shadows ripple and respond to Megumi.
Fushiguro also has a cursed tool, one he pulls from its sheath as he enters the fray himself.
Try as he might, Megumi can’t keep pace with them alone, and he lacks he strength of an
alpha, especially considering his current condition. Shuku watches him, throwing punches
without thinking about where they land. “Megumi is slow, sluggish, not that anyone would be
able to tell if they didn’t know him extremely well.

Their opponent huffs, pulling out a knife from behind his back and swinging it at Yuji. It
nicks him and he falls back. The man advances, stabbing at Yuji’s head, but he blocks and
punches, sending the man stepping back into the tongue of one of Megumi’s toads. “Itadori!”
The man gets slammed into a building for hurting Megumi’s friend.

“I’m fine. It’s just a scratch!”

“What promising futures.” All eyes turn to their opponent, no signs of being wounded despite
getting pulverized by the three of them. “It makes it worth killing you.”

“How is he not damaged at all?” Shuku hisses.

“I thought this wouldn’t take long.” Megumi hisses back, glaring at him and Yuji.

They have the common sense not to argue. “No comment.”

"No matter." Shuku cracks his neck, stepping towards the man, who grins widely at his
challenger. "He doesn't stand a chance against all three of us."

Besides, even if he did, Shuku doubted he'd be able to withstand their back up plan. Sukuna
would have plenty of fun playing with any humans that dared hurt his mate and their child.
"Let's end this now."
Chapter End Notes

I was going to have Shuku stay with Ino (like he mentions in this chapter) but I realized
he couldn't because it isn't time to meet grandpa Toji yet!

I also haven't decided if I let Shuku realize who Toji is or not since Megumi doesn't even
know. We shall see. I think it would be funny if he did.

Shuku: Dude, why did your dad attack you?

Megumi: My what?
Shuku: The guy who pushed you through the glass and into the street and then chased
you down? Your actual sire, not Gojo.
Megumi: That was my WHAT?
 Chapter 32
Chapter Summary

It's time to bring down that veil.

And a new player enters the game.

Chapter Notes

What's up, what's good, I had to use my hotspot to upload because my internet is down.

See the end of the chapter for more notes

This was getting to be absurd.

Obviously this man was more than he seemed, but to have barely a scratch when he was
fending off three of them? “Seriously, what is with this guy!” Yuji complains. The three of
them had retreated for now, putting space between them and their opponent. While they were
all a little winded, he seemed perfectly fine. “It’s not even about him being tough at this
point!”

It has to be the result of a technique., Shuku thinks. Damage nullification is the most likely
cause. He glances at Megumi, trying to gauge whether or not he’s come up with a new plan.
They need one desperately.

“Satoru Gojo is here in Shibuya!” Megumi calls out. Was that the new plan? Didn’t seem like
a very good one. “Why don’t you leave those foundations for the veil behind and get out
while you still can!”

Their adversary doesn’t take the bait, laughing at them. “What a lousy bluff!” He calls back.
“‘Gojo has been sealed.’ You were the ones shouting that so loudly.” Megumi and Shuku
glance at Yuji, frowning at him. Way to give us away, idiot. “That’s why we’re out here
having fun, ya know? If Gojo was still active, we’d be sleeping at home.”
“Wow.” Shuku whistles. “Ya know, somehow, after all this time, I still didn’t think he was
that scary.”

“That’s because you’ve seen him cry over dropped ice cream.” Megumi whispers. “But it’s
good to know he can’t beat Gojo-sensei. That means his technique can’t be something like
nullification.”

“Fushiguro.” Yuji pouts up at Megumi from his other side, ignoring their current
conversation. “You suck at lying.” He places a hand on Megumi’s shoulder. “But that’s
okay.”

“You thought it was nullification too?” Shuku asks, ignoring Yuji.

“It was the most obvious answer.”

“That’s okay!” Yuji proclaims, clearly trying to be reassuring.

“Shut up!” Megumi tsks. “I’m fine. Now can we please focus?”

The man across from them cracks his neck. “If you don’t want to fight, then I’ll kill you
now.”

“Bold words to say to Ryomen Sukuna’s son.” Shuku grins. He doesn't usually go around
flaunting that (then again, usually most people already know). This man seems to have been
kept in the dark about it, taking a small step backwards in shock. “I highly doubt my father
would be too pleased to know you attempted to kill me.”

And just like that, he knows the man won’t. It gives them an edge, a small one, but one they
needed.
Megumi folds his hands in the shape of a rabbit, and small pockets of shadow open at his
feet. Fleeing Hares. The shadows expand into one long swath of black from which pour
hundreds of bunnies. One ignores the rest of its brethren, hopping back towards Shuku. He
bends down, picking it up, and it promptly cuddles into his chest. His shikigami recognize
me.

Their opponent is overwhelmed by the rest of the rabbits, trapped in a furry white cell. “Fall
back for now!” Megumi grabs Shuku and Yuji by their collars. “I’ve figured out his
technique.”

“Wait, really?” Shuku and Yuji chorus. “How? What is it?”

“It's inversion. The easiest way to describe it is the harder the hit, the softer the blow. Strong
attacks get weakened. Conversely, weak attacks hit harder. He’s betting on no one figuring
that out.” Megumi releases them both. “So we hit him where it hurts. Softly.”

After Megumi explains the plan in detail, they split up, Yuji taking the left, Shuku the right,
and Megumi the skies. When he releases the rabbits, he’s already dropping down onto their
opponent with Max Elephant to throw him off. Laughing, the man lifts the shikigami off his
shoulders. “What the hell is this?” He laughs. Megumi releases the elephant, barely visible
thanks to the streetlight he’s standing on. Like this, Shuku thinks he looks like an angel of
death.

Everytime I see mom fight, I realize why dad likes him.

“Appearing and disappearing- talk about restless!” The man bellows up at him. “If you’re a
man, be clear and decisive!”

Megumi shrugs, pointing left. “That’s not my role.”

WHAM!
Yuji throws a car directly at their adversary, showing off his power and blocking his line of
sight. It lets Megumi leap from the streetlamp and down onto him, sword catching on his
forearm as the man blocks. He stabs up, and despite Megumi quickly getting out of the way,
Shuku still steps in to distract. He swings, not trying to temper his power.

As Yuji rushes forward, and Megumi turns to swing again, Shuku lets his own fists fill with
energy once more.

Wait.

Wait.

They close in, inches from making contact.

Now.

He pulls back, hitting with as little energy as he can. Blood goes flying. Megumi had been
right.

Inverse. His out of sync attack landed harder than Yuji or I’s attacks. We just have to find the
upper and lower limits.

Strike with a strong attack and a weak attack at the same time.

Once his tempered attack lands, Yuji and Megumi begin to pummel him. Shuku steps back,
his part of the plan done. It is up to Yuji to finish him now. As the other two students also
retreat, the man screams in confusion. “Don’t get cocky over that, you brats!”

Yuji advances, brimming with energy and catching his attention. The man turns, swinging his
knife in a wild arc as the young alpha approaches. He stabs up, but Yuji dodges, taking barely
 a second to release his energy and kill his momentum before punching. The man goes flying
backwards into the railing, finally finished.

“Nice one.” Shuku slaps him on the back. “You’re getting pretty good.”

“He’s right.” Megumi agrees. “You are surprisingly adept at this.”

“Really?” Yuji beams. “Thanks! So, uh, what now?”

“Now.” Megumi says as he collects the remaining two nails that are the only things holding
up those veils keeping them out. “We bring them down.”

Atop the Shibuya Central Tower a man stands, staring out into the streets. It’s quiet up here,
peaceful, except for the sound of the wind howling around him. There is blood staining the
roof behind him. Blood from two sorcerers.

“Well,” he says, cracking his neck. “She did ask me to kill more sorcerers, didn’t she?”

Laughing, Fushiguro Toji looks down at Shibuya.

His new hunting ground.

Chapter End Notes

GRANDPA TOJI IS HERE TO WRECK SHIT!

 Chapter 33
Chapter Notes

I know it's a little late, but work was absolute hell this week and I pulled back to back
twelve hour shifts, so I didn't have the time or energy to write. I'm still not happy with
this chapter, so I may come back and edit it sometime soon.

See the end of the chapter for more notes

“What happened?”

Eri looks up from Ijichi, watching as Nanami approaches with a frown. “Aren’t you supposed
to be with the boys?”

“Yuji, Shuku, and Megumi are together, I’m sure. Shuku will watch Megumi, and Sukuna
will watch them both from Itadori.” He nods to Ijichi. “So, what happened? More
importantly, is he alive?”

Sighing, she rises. “Barely, but yes. It looks like he was stabbed.” Eri regards her husband
warily, as if she can see the phantoms that haunt him as he looks down at his fallen friend.
“This isn’t like what happened with Haibara. Don’t get lost in the past. You haven’t failed
anyone.”

“I’m not.” He promises, hands clenched. “Besides, you of all people should know that getting
irritated at my own failings never has been, and never will be, part of my life. I simply…”

“Confront the evils that force this reality upon us. I am aware.” She flicks a small curse off
her shoulder, only for another to take its place. “Damn pests. They’re everywhere.”

Nanami hums, though he doesn’t seem to really hear. “We need to get him to Shoko.”
“I’ll take him.” Eri offers, reaching down to pick Ijichi up as gently as she can. “A little
help?” A few low level curses floating around rush to help, as if she is some sort of twisted
Disney princess. “Nobara is that way.” She nods her head to the right. “If I’m right, whoever
did this headed towards her and Maki.”

Nodding, Nanami sets off, ready to track down and defend whoever he could. This was
starting to feel like the Night Parade all over again. “Hey!” Eri calls to him, making him stop
and turn towards her. Behind her, the street lamp casts a soft glow, making her look haloed
and ethereal. “Be safe.”

“I will. Make sure nothing surprises you on the way to Shoko. It will be hard to fight with
Ijichi.” He motions to the man in her arms. “Your technique only does so much against
curses.”

She snorts. “Rude. I’ll be fine. Just…” She swallows, glancing deeper into the streets of
Shibuya, towards the epicenter of this catastrophe. “Come back to me alive. I…” Eri falters,
and Nanami quickly steps back towards her. “I love you, Kento. I spent so much time when
we were younger ignoring that, and I can’t lose you now that we finally figured everything
out.”

“You won’t.” He promises, leaning in for a quick kiss. “I love you too.”

Eri nods once, taking a deep breath to steady herself. “Go. Quickly.”

Nanami listens, as he always does, to his wife, and sprints off towards where she had told
him Nobara and Maki were. Eri watches him go, a pit in her stomach, unable to figure out
why she feels such a sense of dread.

Why do I feel like I'm never going to see him again?

*
“Huh?”

Shuku’s sentiments exactly. “Did only one veil come down?”

“The one keeping out sorcerers, right?” Both Yuji and Shuku look to Megumi, the omega’s
cheeks flushed. “Didn’t we just break three of those with Ino-san?”

Megumi swallows, trying to tamp down his annoyance. Not at Yuji or Shuku, just at the
situation. At whoever had done this. “Either all three were used to lower this veil or two were
dummies.”

“What do we think the odds are that two were dummies? So they could keep us distracted?”
It would have been a great idea had it helped them at all. Well, Shuku supposed it technically
had. They had spent time trying to get all three, which could have potential repercussions
depending on what their opponent’s allies were able to do with the extra time they’d been
given.

“It doesn’t matter. Either way, sorcerers can freely act in Shibuya now.” Megumi’s jaw
tightens. “That only leaves the veil trapping Gojo-sensei in, and the veil keeping normal
people in.”

Shuku motions to their fallen adversary, still out cold. “Well we could have asked him, but I
don’t think he’s waking up any time soon.”

Megumi nods in agreement, turning back towards him and Yuji. “You’re right. For now, it’s
best we…” He pauses, looking up, shock and fear flashing across his face. “Ino-san!”

The omega pushes past them in a rush, and both alpha’s turn, confused to see what had
frazzled him so. “Shit!” There is a body falling from Shibuya Central Tower. A body that is
clearly Ino.
As Yuji and Shuku race to catch up to Megumi, he brings his hand together to form Nue,
ordering the bird to soften Ino’s landing. Nue rockets up fast, knocking into the older boy and
sending him flying right into Yuji’s arms. He skids to a stop, holding him as Megumi and
Shuku join him in standing over their companion. “What happened?” Shuku hisses, cursing
at the damage. He’s been beaten badly, blood still trickling from his temple in a steady
stream.

“Megumi looks up at the top of the tower, but he can’t make anything out. “I don’t know.
That’s what worries me.”

“Is he…?” Yuji asks, setting Ino down. Nue alights beside him, and Megumi helps prop Ino
up, kneeling down to check over him. “He can’t be… I mean… right?”

Megumi shakes his head. “He isn’t dead. But he is very badly hurt.”

It’s Yuji’s turn to look up towards the tower, scowling. “I’m going to punch them!”

“Itadori!” Megumi berates. “I understand how you feel, but hold back.”

Yuji looks down at him in shock. “But…”

“What is our highest priority right now?”

Yuji closes his mouth with a snap, still scowling. He looks away again, but slowly, his tension
eases slightly. “Gojo-sensei.”

“Right.” Megumi nods. “The veil was lifted. The people at the top may have already
escaped.” He nods his head towards Ino’s body. “I’ll take Ino-san with me and head outside
the veil for a bit.”

“I’m coming with you.” Shuku steps forward.

“That isn’t…”

“With all due respect, Fushiguro, you just came out of a heat. I know you’re really doped up
on suppressants and shit right now, but you’re still not operating like you normally would.
You need someone with you just in case.”

“Shuku….” Megumi sighs. “I appreciate the sentiment, but I…”

“I’m coming. That’s final.”

He expects Megumi to fight back, but surprisingly, the omega merely nods his consent. Yuji
exhales harshly behind him. “Good. Watch Ino for me.” He says to Megumi, then he turns
towards Shuku. “Take care of Fushiguro.”

“I will.”

Nodding, Yuji heads straight towards where the veil had just been. “I’ll head towards the
station.”

It was the best course of action, and Megumi knew it. It didn’t mean he liked it, though, and
Shuku could tell he really didn’t. “Fine. But…”

“If I die, you’ll kill me, right?” Yuji points finger guns at them, lightening the grim mood just
a fraction. “Don’t worry. I have Mechamaru with me. Even if he has been a bit quiet.”

Megumi rises, nodding his reluctant agreement. “So long as you understand.” Nue rises into
the air, Ino draped across his back. Shuku is a little relieved they don’t have to ride along
with him. “See you later.”
 “Don’t die, Itadori!” Shuku calls back, following Megumi away from the center of
destruction that Yuji is heading into. “Or not only will Megumi kill you, my father will too!”

“I’ll keep that in mind!”

Chapter End Notes

I needed to give Nanami and Eri something considering what they are about to walk
into.

Also as for her technique, Gojo compared it to a Disney princess as a kid. Basically, she
almost always has an innate force around her that soothes curses/draws them to her. It
works to varying degrees depending on the level of curse. Ie. High level curses like
Sukuna will barely feel a thing. Their reaction times will be slower, but only by fractions
of a second. More moderate level curses will hesitate more when fighting her, giving her
more time to strike. Low level curses act like animals in Disney movies and will actually
help her if she wants them to. She almost always has a curse or two on her.
 Chapter 34
Chapter Notes

Some non-canon interactions? Wild.

See the end of the chapter for more notes

“Not another one.” Shoko sighs as they bring Ino into her temporary set up.

“What do you mean another one?” Shuku frowns, only to realize that there is already
someone else there. “Eri?”

“Shuku!” The pinkette quickly pulls him into a hug. “Thank goodness you’re still alright.”

Still confused, Shuku returns her hug. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

“Ijichi.” Shuku pulls back, looking over her shoulder at Megumi, who is standing over a cot.
On it is a bruised and bleeding body, one he hadn’t realized was a still living person. “What
happened?”

“We don’t know.” Eri pulls away, coming to stand at Megumi’s side. “I found him. He’d been
stabbed multiple times; it’s a miracle he’s still breathing.”

Shuku frowns, standing over him as well. Shoko curses, lighting a cigarette. “This was a
trap.”

“We knew it likely was. We just didn’t realize how big.”

“Yuji is headed towards the station.” Megumi interrupts the two women, both on edge. “We
need to meet him.”

“Kento is headed there too.” Eri glances at Shuku. “Watch out for him.”

Megumi snorts. “I think Nanami-sensei can take care of himself.”

Still, it isn’t Megumi she is asking. Eri is looking straight at Shuku, and as much as he wishes
he could say he would, there is the little problem of him needing to stay next to his mother. I
can’t leave him.

Something is wrong; I can feel it.

Well at least that made two of them. “We can meet him at the station. Yuji will be there, I’m
sure we will all meet up eventually.” It was the best he could offer. If he could corral Megumi
into meeting with Nanami and then going to find Yuji, he could keep all three of them
together. That way they’d be stronger and much harder to beat.

Stay with mom. Find Nanami. Then find Yuji, and subsequently dad.

If he could do that, then no matter what came after them, his father would protect their little
group. Even if Sukuna still wasn’t a huge fan of Yuji, he’d never risk his mate, son, and the
human that was helping them.

“Fine.” Megumi acquiesces. “We will go find Nanami first. We were originally a group. Now
that Ino is down for the count, Yuji can join us.”

“Technically he already had.” Shuku reminds him as they turn back towards Shibuya.

“Megumi! Shuku!” Eri calls, still standing over Ijichi. “Be safe. It is better to live to fight
another day than die in vain when we don’t have enough information.”
Shuku was never one to retreat. Back in the Heian era, the destruction he had wrought with
his father and Uraume had been so quick and intense that the sorcerers they’d killed had
barely been able to put up a fight. Ryomen’s did not run.

“Understood.”

But then again, that had been without Megumi beside them. While Shuku was sure Megumi
wasn’t a fan of retreating either, there was something to be said for knowing when one was
outmatched or outnumbered.

Shuku blinks, following Megumi mutely as a horrific realization washes over him.

Is the reason dad never retreated because even if he died, he thought he’d see mom again?

“What is that?” Uraume wrinkles their nose at the bundle Sukuna carries back into the
shrine.

“What I was chasing. The thing I sensed.” He dumps the body onto the floor, letting Uraume
see that it is a young man, an omega. His clothes tell them that he is from a notable clan,
though they cannot tell which one. “Zenin.” Sukuna answers their unasked question.

Uraume wrinkles their nose. The Zenin had a reputation, one that wasn’t nearly as flattering
as they’d like to believe. “Why bring such filth here?”

Clearly it was the wrong thing to say. They can feel Sukuna bristle, and they immediately
bow, apologizing for their impertinence. “He is strong. He wields the Ten Shadows.”
Oh.

Well that did change things.

“Clean him up and find him a room. He will be staying.”

Sukuna walks past them, though he lingers slightly when he comes to the boy, unconscious
and breathing heavily. Clearly the two had fought; Uraume can still see some dried blood on
their master’s face. Not many could land a blow on Ryomen Sukuna, and fewer still would
live to tell the tale. It seemed their Zenin omega was a rare prize indeed.

“Well,” Uraume hums to the body once Sukuna has disappeared. “It seems you have caught
Ryomen-sama’s attention.” They lean down, picking up the boy and carrying him towards the
springs, wrinkling their nose at his smell. No wonder Sukuna had demanded he be bathed. “I
do hope you are worthy of it.”

Uraume will think of this moment, of the first time Sukuna had stepped over the threshold of
the shrine with Megumi clutched tight to his chest, in the months to come. They will
remember it every time the boy hurls a dish at Sukuna’s head and the curse will barely flinch.
They will remember it when Sukuna watches the boy with his shikigami, telling him what he
is doing wrong when he tries to tame them. They will remember it when that first heat comes,
triggering Sukuna’s rut.

They will remember it when the two finally emerge and wonder how they could not have
realized back then that this was to be Sukuna’s mate. It had been so obvious.

They remember it now, standing in the streets of Shibuya, on edge because something is
wrong.

“What is it?”

They wave away their companion, as well as the feeling. “Nothing.”

 They have a job to do. They must find Sukuna and then Shuku. Once the three of them are
reunited, they can deal with whatever this feeling is that crawls up their spine.

“Where is the boy?”

“Headed to the station.”

Uraume hums. They cared very little for what happened to Itadori Yuji, but so long as the boy
had a part of Ryomen Sukuna inside him, Uraume would see that no lasting harm came to
him. “And Ryomen?”

“The kid? With some other sorcerer. Adopted son of Gojo or some shit.”

Ah. Well. Perhaps that was what felt wrong. “No acquaintance of the Six Eyed sorcerer will
be allowed to remain alive should they try to hold my master’s leash. We shall deal with him
soon.”

Chapter End Notes

I haven't decided if I want to write Yuji vs. Choso yet because the focus is on our little
Sukufushi family. Yuji is technically involved by proxy, but part of me wants to skip
stright to when Sukuna takes over. I'm still debating it because that feels like I'm
skipping a lot, but what would you guys prefer?
 Chapter 35
Chapter Notes

I'm only just now realizing that Shibuya is:

1. a lot of fights happening at the same time

2. a lot of standing and talking
3. a lot of things irrelevant to Sukufushi and how I want to portray them in this fic

So each chapter feels, to me, more and more disjointed because I'm trying to account for
everything happening and yet nothing happening all at once.

I can't wait to get to Mahoraga and finally have some good food for you guys.

See the end of the chapter for more notes

Whatever was going on out there, Sukuna felt it could be greatly improved by his presence.

It was obvious the sorcerers were in over their heads, and while he still didn’t like them,
Megumi was one of them in this life (a cruel trick of fate that he just knew was punishment
for bringing back his mate against the natural order of things). Truthfully, so long as Megumi
held any allegiance to these sorcerers, Sukuna’s hands were tied. He would, and could, do
nothing to displease his mate, and if that meant playing nice with his son’s new friends and,
even worse, playing house with Six Eyes, then so be it.

He may be many things, but first and foremost, he was Megumi’s willing slave.

But he couldn’t be said slave if Itadori got himself killed, now could he? That would simply
be… unacceptable.

How worthless.

The other boy, cursed being or no, was more impressive than Itadori, Sukuna could admit.
But Itadori was the one he was stuck with. Even if this challenger had a blood debt against
Yuji for curses he killed ages ago, He couldn’t allow that debt to be repaid.

A life for a life was such a boring concept anyway.

Sukuna liked operating on a large scale.

Take a life precious to him, lose the world in turn.

And while the blood manipulation technique the boy had was interesting, it wasn’t nearly
interesting enough for Sukuna to sit back and watch Itadori’s defeat.

Losing to such riff-raff.

Unacceptable.

Honestly, where the fuck was Nanami?

“This is getting to be absurd. How many places can a man hide in a…”

Shuku has to cut himself off and screech to a halt to avoid running into Megumi. “Oi!
Fushiguro! A warning next…”

“I think I found our missing sensei.”

And Shuku would bet money he was right. The domain is unexpected, but somehow
unsurprising at the same time. “Do you think he’s alone in there? Or are there others?”

Megumi hums. “Eri mentioned something about him going after other sorcerers to team up.
I’d be willing to bet either Nobara or Maki is in there at least.”

Maki, if he recalls correctly, had been with Naobito Zenin. Which meant it would be a family
reunion if she was inside the domain with Nanami. Then again, maybe she was in there and
Nanami wasn’t. “Should we help them?”

“Should we…” Megumi looks back at him, puzzled. “Of course we help them!”

Shrugging, Shuku mumbles an apology. “Listen, I’m still getting used to the whole ‘teaming
up with people I don’t know very well’ thing.”

“You work just fine with Itadori and me.” Megumi points out, already bringing his hands
together to form his own domain. Shuku raises a brow. So that’s how we’re getting in.

“I know you, though. I trust you.”

Megumi glances back at him, and while he doesn’t say anything, Shuku can tell he’s touched
by the sentiment. He’d probably be less touched if he knew the reason Shuku trusted him so
much was because Megumi had already died for him once.

It won’t happen again.

“Get us inside, Fushiguro. I want to kick some ass.”

*
Things weren’t looking good. With Nanami down, as well as Naobito, Maki was their last
line of defense against this curse.

Shit.

Not to undermine her own strength, but if it had been able to so easily knock down two high
level sorcerers with ease, she doubted she’d be able to hold it for long. Still, she wasn’t going
to simply give up. Not here. Not now.

“If you’re gonna call me weak,” She steps towards it, already battered and bruised from their
earlier confrontation. “Then kill me in a single blow.” She spits blood into the sand of the
domain, challenging it. “Octo- bitch.”

She hopes Nobara would have liked that. They’d had plans tonight; plans that would never
happen. She only hopes the omega can forgive her after this.

“Then I’ll devour you,” the curse raises its arm, “just like the other two.”

This was it. This was the end. She tightens her grip on her weapon, knowing the next few
seconds will be painful.

The domain is calm, deceptively so, almost as though they truly are on the beach of a remote
island where nothing matters but relaxing in the sun. Then, the water behind the curse erupts
with black shadow. That’s new.

Except it isn’t. Not really. “Maki-san!”

“Megumi?” What was he…

Something swooshes past her head, landing in the sand beside her. When she looks down, she
finds Playful Cloud stuck into the sand, waiting to be used. You are one hell of a cheeky
underclassman, aren’t you? With a feral grin, she reaches for her new toy, more than ready to
get out of this domain.

Megumi, it seems, has brought his little shadow with him. Not that he didn’t always have
little shadows, his shikigami were fun to play with occasionally, but ever since Gojo-sensei
had woken up the Ryomen bastard, Shuku had been attached to Megumi like a pup. Not that
she was complaining; they could use all the help they could get.

With the curse distracted by the new arrivals, Maki is able to land a hit to the back of its head.
It knocks the curse off balance and into the water between her and Megumi. Now that the
guaranteed-hit effect has been dispelled, they may still have a chance of getting out alive.

Then again, that’s only true for as long as Megumi can maintain his domain. The curse
immediately locks onto the omega as a prime target, sending its own shikigami fish after him.
They screech, jaws open to reveal sharp teeth that could rend and tear, but they don’t get
more than a few feet away before Shuku is punching holes in their heads. “Bitch!” He yells.
“Try me!”

Another figure zooms past Maki and into the water. Nanami. He’s bloody and disheveled, but
he’s alive and kicking ass, so he must be fine.

“The other two?” He asks Megumi, and Maki realizes that they are in fact missing two.
Where is Itadori? Where is Ino?

“Ino-san tapped out.” Oh no, that’s bad. “Itadori is acting on his own.”

Somehow, that was worse.

Nanami doesn’t say that, even if Maki thinks he should. “Shuku and I will protect you. Just
focus on maintaining your domain.”

Which left her to deal with…

 Naobito rushes past her, and Maki, despite not liking the man, feels at least a little relief that
she will have backup. As Naobito crosses right, she goes left, trapping the curse between
them.

It retaliates with more fish, pushing them to opposite sides of the beach. Still, one fish is easy
to handle, and Maki brings Playful Cloud down hard on its head. Naobito too handles his
with ease, even with only one arm.

If they can just keep this up…

“You two!” Nanami yells to them from the water. “Gather ‘round!”

Gather? Well, she wasn’t going to question it.

Almost simultaneously, she and Naobito sprint to the water. Megumi’s frog shikigami act as
stepping stones for them, leading to Megumi’s circle of domain. Let’s get out of here.

A hole opens at Megumi’s feet, their escape from this hellish nightmare. So long as they can
get out before the curse reaches them, they should be…

Hands reach up into the domain, followed by the wide torso of a man.

A man who is smiling as if he’d just won the lottery.

Who the fuck is this guy?

Chapter End Notes

Enter Grandpa Toji. Time to meet the grandkid.
 Chapter 36
Chapter Summary

In which everything goes wrong (for Shuku).

Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes

Shuku has no idea what to make of the new arrival. For one thing, he doesn’t recall ever
seeing this man before, and if the faces of the sorcerers around him are anything to go by,
they don’t know who he is either. For another, no man, excepting his father and Gojo Satoru,
should be able to move as fast as he has.

After the man had broken into the domain, using Megumi’s escape route, Shuku had barely
had time to blink before the wild card had disappeared, only to be at Maki’s side, relieving
her of Playful Cloud. The fuck is this guy doing?

Maki tries to keep a hold of her weapon, but the man simply flings her up and over his head,
never letting go of the cursed tool. Maki, thankfully, lands unharmed, but that still gives their
little group pause. After all, the man has no cursed energy, at least not that they can feel.
Meaning Maki, Maki, had lost a contest of strength.

“Fushiguro-kun?” Nanami whispers, staring at the piece of domain they are standing in.
Shuku knows he’s asking if there is another escape, another chance Megumi can open an exit.
Shuku knows the answer is no.

Megumi is already bent in half, hands on his knees, shaking from exertion. “It’s no good. The
hole is sealed.”

“Worse.” Shuku interjects, looking back at the beach where the octopus man waits. “It just
figured out what we were trying to do.”
Which meant unless their surprise guest could help them in any way, they were well and truly
fucked.

Shuku doesn’t have high hopes. The best he can do is try to keep Nanami and Megumi alive
until Itadori runs across their path and his father comes to help. Even then, he doubts he will
be able to hold out that long looking after two sorcerers. They really needed…

Naobito gasps, choking on air. “T-Toji?” He’s staring directly at the tall, black haired man,
stalking towards the curse on the beach. So, the Zenin does recognize him.

Wait a fucking second.

Shuku’s head whips around to look at the man, taking in his shaggy hair that droops around
his face. And Zenin Naobito knew his name.

With that in mind, Shuku slowly turns back to Megumi, whose hair is still mostly spiked up,
but with the combination of sweat and seawater, has begun to hang limp. He blinks once,
twice, then turns back to the older man, Toji.

Why does that name sound familiar?

He knows he’s read it somewhere. Or maybe he heard it? No, he definitely read it, but where?
And who was he? Zenin Toji would make the most sense since a Zenin was the one to
recognize him, but then where in the family tree…

Fuck, I know exactly where.

Shuku knew for a fact that Megumi’s unusually spiky hair was mostly due to natural bedhead
that he didn’t care to tame, but Gojo, back when Shuku had been trapped with only him and
Itadori, had been all too willing to show embarrassing pictures of baby Megumi. His spiky
hair had matched a younger Gojo’s style, but there had been one, one Gojo had quickly
swiped past, with Megumi’s hair sticking to his forehead.
He’d looked exactly like Toji.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck! I thought grandpa was dead?

The curse on the shore rears back, another shikigami bursting from it and heading straight
towards what Shuku can only assume is his actual grandfather. (He sort of hopes he’s wrong,
but he can’t deny that Toji and Megumi look eerily similar in a way two people who are
unrelated often don’t). He readies himself to step out of Megumi’s domain, to help, but Toji
just pulls Playful Cloud back, and, swinging in a graceful arc, deftly cuts the shikigami in
half.

Water sprays them as the force of his blow sends up a wave, blocking their sight. Shuku
shakes the spray from his hair, trying to peer around the wall of water to see what is
happening. He doesn’t need to, another fountain of water erupting to the right. Toji is on the
move.

They can’t see the fight very well, not with all the water the two are kicking up, but it’s clear
that one of them is getting their ass beat. Shuku sincerely hoped for all of their sakes that it
wasn’t Toji. “Can anyone see what’s happening?” He yells.

“No!” Maki responds. “But considering we aren’t dead yet, I think it’s safe to say whoever he
is, he’s not half bad!”

Megumi’s domain keeps the water from drowning them, even when the curse raises about a
hundred shikigami to deal with one man with no cursed energy. “Should we help!”

“Wait.” Nanami holds out a hand. “Just wait.”

As the water finally begins to settle, they can see two figures on the beach, one lying mostly
prone in the sand and one standing tall. The one in the sand rises, and Shuku can see the
figure has red skin, meaning the fallen opponent was the curse. “He’s actually doing it.”
“Old man,” Maki doesn’t look away from the fight, not that any of them could. It’s
astounding to say the least. “Who is that?”

Well, Shuku wants to say. I’m pretty sure that’s my biological grandfather who I was told was
dead, but I don’t think this is a great time to bring that up.

Naobito’s answer is less interesting. Or, perhaps, more. “A ghost.”

“Fushiguro-kun, can you hold out a little longer?” Nanami asks, finally stepping away from
them.

The omega takes a deep breath, clearly shaking from the strain of maintaining even this little
piece of domain for so long. “Yes.”

“I’ll stay with him.” Shuku volunteers. His own domain is also unfinished, but he can try to
call it forth if Megumi ends up passing out (which he looks ready to do at any second).

“We’re all staying.” Nanami says quietly. “We’re placing our bets on him.”

Said him draws Playful Cloud across itself, creating a reverberating screech that makes
Shuku’s hair stand on end. It sharpens the ends of the cursed tool, making them look much
more lethal than before.

The curse, sensing that Toji is too strong of a foe to take face-to-face, leaps into the air to
avoid him. From across the circle of domain, Naobito moves, headed straight for the curse.
He lands with a foot on its back, pushing it down and into Toji’s attack, which spears the
curse through. Before it can counter-attack, Toji rips a piece of Playful Cloud free, bringing it
down on the curse’s head. In a flurry of movements, Toji continues to beat at the curse until
finally, they are falling.
Except they aren’t falling onto sand.

No, they are falling to the floor of Shibuya station, the domain dispelled. The curse was dead,
exorcised by a man with no cursed energy.

From beside him, Shuku hears retching, and he looks down to see Megumi hacking up blood.
Shit, mom! “Fushiguro!” He kneels beside him, running a hand over his back. “You okay?”

Megumi nods, but he doesn’t answer verbally. That’s fine. Shuku just needs to know Megumi
can still hear and understand him. He can catch his breath and answer later.

Though maybe he should catch his breath now.

Toji still stands over the now disappearing curse, regarding the five of them with cold eyes.
Shuku feels a chill run up his spine. Why was he looking at them like that? Weren’t they all
on the same side? He had just exorcized a curse, why would he…

It happens between one breath and the next.

One moment, Shuku is kneeling beside Megumi, watching Toji with slight trepidation, and
the next, glass is shattering behind him, Toji gone. “What the…” Shuku turns towards the
crash, only to stop short.

Where the fuck is mom?

“Megumi!” Maki is facing the window, looking more than worried.

“Fuck, did he take him out?” How the fuck had he done that so fast? Shuku is on his feet in
seconds, racing towards the window, but before he can get more than a few steps, he feels
something at his back.
Turn around.

Turn around.

There’s another curse behind you.

Against his better judgement, Shuku does turn, spying the volcano head curse Yuji had once
told him about. Shit, fuck, no. Not now!

This curse was even stronger than the one that they had just faced, and now they were not
only down a Megumi, but a Toji as well.

The curse bends over the remains of its compatriot, whispering over him as he disappears. As
the last traces of him vanish, the volcano curse rises, turning towards them. “Now then…”

Like Toji, he moves fast. Between one blink and the next, he has Nanami in his reach, a hand
pressed to his stomach. “First one down.”

What did he…

Fire explodes from his hand, engulfing Nanami. “Nanami-sensei!” Shuku doesn’t think,
racing towards the two of them. The curse disappears from Nanami’s side, but that isn’t what
Shuku is focused on. His technique lit up the shadows hiding his opponent by burning them,
but it could also do the opposite. Shuku slams into Nanami, sending him into the shadow of a
column, hiding him from light. Shuku brings his hands together, pressing them down, and the
flames dispel as the shadows respond, smothering the fire and putting it out. Nanami
collapses in a heap, badly burned but alive.

Breathing heavily, Shuku turns to look for Maki, only to find her burning too. Shit! He leaves
Nanami hidden behind the column, burning his hands as he picks up Maki and flings her
under the stairs. As she enters the shadows, he uses them to douse the flames just like he had
with Nanami.

That’s two. So where…

Naobito is too far gone to save by the time Shuku turns to look for him. The volcano curse
stands opposite, Naobito’s charred corpse between them. “Little Ryomen.” He inclines his
head. “You help these sorcerers instead of fellow curses?”

Shuku breathes out slowly, trying to keep himself from doing something rash. “I’m helping
those who will get my father and I what we want.”

“And you think we won’t do that?”

“Not the way we want it done.”

The other curse opens his mouth to speak, only to close it as a pulse of power runs through
Shibuya. Dad.

“Sukuna.” The curse is gone before Shuku can fully comprehend that Yuji has been laid low
enough that his father could be pulled to the surface. Something must have gone horribly
wrong.

Speaking of wrong…

“Shit!” Shuku curses, headed back to the window to look down on the streets of Shibuya. It is
quiet, the night peaceful and serene.

Megumi is gone.
Chapter End Notes

Shuku: Omg, mom wait for me! *Nanami gets hurt* Lol nevermind, gotta save Uncle
Nanami first.

Listen, let Sukuna have his time alone with Megumi (and Mahoraga).
 Chapter 37
Chapter Summary

Sukuna, wake up! I don't like this. Sukuna, wake up!

Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes

“Let’s hurry, Nanako.” It’s dark in this part of the station, and Mimiko doesn’t want to be
around when the others realize they have Sukuna’s fingers and are feeding them to Itadori.
“The fingers may draw cursed spirits here.”

Nanako agrees, holding up the next decrepit and shriveled finger. “Please come out, Sukuna-
sama.” She whispers as her sisters watch on, clutching at each other.

Footsteps pound down the hall, and the girls barely have time to look up before Jogo rounds
the corner, taking in the scene with wide eyes. “You three! How many fingers did you feed
him?”

“I won’t tell!” Mimiko steps in front of their younger sister, but Nanako doesn’t let her get
much farther, holding her back with one hand.

“Is that so?” Jogo holds up a hands, cursed energy forming in it. “Then die.”

Nanako quickly holds up her phone, but it’s too late. As Jogo’s fire barrels towards them, the
girl at the back of the group grabs the other girls, tugging them to the side. They fall into a
heap, barely avoiding the flames, but safe and alive. “You okay?”

Mimiko nods, checking on Nanako. “Yeah, thank you, Ayumi.”

The girl nods, her long black hair sliding over one of her shoulders. If she wasn’t so sweet,
Mimiko would hate her. The thing that had taken over Geto, that had stolen their father and
used his face, had brought this girl along with him. The two had hated her at first, but once
they had overheard Kenjaku laughing about “making a vessel with all the attributes of Geto
Suguru only to get the real thing,” they had quickly added her to their little family. Another
victim of circumstance, Ayumi hadn’t asked to be born to be a mimic of Geto, and yet here
she was, incomplete since she didn’t even have his technique.

Jogo is standing over Itadori’s body, now decorated with Sukuna’s marks. Clearly the cursed
king is hovering just under the surface, but he refuses to break through. Jogo responds by
unrolling the rest of the fingers, taunting him with the rest of his power. “Wake up, Sukuna.”

If he was going to feed Itadori his fingers, then why get mad at them?

Likely because their intentions hadn’t been the same. The girls had very personal reasons for
wanting Sukuna awake. Ayumi motions for them to stay quiet, and the girls watch as finger
after finger disappear into Itadori’s mouth until all ten are gone. “Why isn’t he waking up?”

Jogo tosses an unamused look over his shoulder, almost unsurprised they are still alive.
“Don’t waste my time.” He raises his arm…

Except it isn’t an arm. In fact, it’s barely more than a stump.

All four pairs of eyes turn to the body sitting on the ground, eyes now open. “I’ll give you
one second.” All over Itadori’s body, wounds heal, closing rapidly as Sukuna repairs his
vessel. Despite having his face smooshed in Jogo’s hand, he looks more menacing than
anything they could have expected. “Move.”

Jogo listens, retreating to where the girls stand, arm already healing. The girls, and Jogo they
suppose, have all been in the presence of Gojo Satoru, and while his presence was
overwhelming, it felt nothing like this.

This felt crushing in its wickedness.

Sukuna brushes himself off, taking his time before turning towards his audience, hands in his
pockets. With each step closer, it grew harder and harder to breathe. Nanako squeezes her
sisters closer, wanting to at least try to protect them if things went badly.

The curse stops a few feet from them, running a hand through his hair, pushing it back and
off his face. “You hold your heads quite highly.”

It’s an observation. It’s an order.

Nanako, Mimiko, and Ayumi fall to their knees, prostrating themselves before him. Jogo
merely takes a knee. Huge mistake.

“Did you believe taking one knee was enough?” Sukuna doesn’t even move, not that they
see. Jogo’s volcano is chopped off, purple blood spewing up from where lava used to bubble.
“The greatest men bow the lowest. Or something like that, right?” Sukuna grins, a feral and
dangerous thing. “I see you value your head quite lightly.”

If the weight of his presence felt suffocating when divided among the four of them, it was
nothing compared to having his attention fully on the three of them. “I’ll deal with you brats
first. You wanted to speak to me, yes?”

Yes.

“I’ll grant you a finger’s worth of audience.”

That isn’t enough!

“Speak!”
It would have to be enough. “B-below us, there is a man in monk’s robes with sutures across
his forehead.” Their father, the man who had died last year, being unfairly used as a puppet.
“P-please kill him!”

She bows lower, begging for the thing above her to listen. “Please free Geto-sama.”

There is silence for a long while. Tears prick at her eyes, remembering all the times she and
Mimiko had spent with their papa. He’d been so gentle with them, catering to their every
whim. He’d even told them about Gojo, which they knew had been painful to relive, when
they asked. He deserved the dignity of death.

“Raise your heads.”

They hesitate, but only for a moment. It’s best not to anger him. They look up, still not daring
to meet red eyes. Is he going to listen to them?

“Geto-sama. Why have I heard that name before?” Sukuna hums, thinking. He knows it has
some thing to do with Megumi, and while he would normally kill these humans for daring to
ask something of him, that name rings a faint bell. “Why do you want him dead? To free
him?”

“G-Geto-sama died last winter, killed by a man he called his only friend. The thing that
resides in his body is not the man who raised us.”

Ah, daughter’s asking for revenge for their father’s death. “And the thing controlling him
killed him?”

“No.” Nanako grits her teeth, hissing like a feral cat. “Gojo Satoru did that.”

Ah. Sukuna remembers where he’d heard that name now. “He was Gojo’s mate.”
Not officially, at least, not according to what he’s been able to pick up from bits and pieces of
conversation. But the two were practically mates until they’d fallen out. And if Geto raised
these girls, and Gojo raised Megumi…

Technically, this made the three girls at his feet Megumi’s sisters.

Great. More humans I can’t kill.

“I do not like being ordered around.” He says finally. “But, seeing as I have an omega to
impress, and killing you three wouldn’t do that, I shall consider your request.” He waves a
hand, shooing them away. “Go. Before I change my mind.”

He can see they want to argue, sees the oldest girl open her mouth to fight him, but her
younger sister grabs her arm, bowing her head. “Yes, Sukuna-sama.” The two other girls drag
their oldest sister away, disappearing into the station. Sukuna doesn’t move until they are out
of sight, trying to form a plan in his head.

I kill the thing controlling the sorcerer. Perhaps there is enough of him left to bring back. If I
can revive Gojo Satoru’s mate, he has no reason to deny my petition to mate with Megumi
again. And if I keep the girls alive, Geto will be happy, making Satoru happy, making
Megumi happy, which will make me happy. Everyone wins.

Convoluted, perhaps, but worth it if it got Megumi a big, happy extended family. Heaven
knows the Zenin weren’t coming near him, except for the obvious exception.

“You’re next, cursed spirit.” He hadn’t forgotten about the other curse, though he had enjoyed
making him wait and squirm like a worm on a hook. “What do you want?”

“I want nothing.”

Huh?
“Our objective, Sukuna, is your complete resurrection.” The curse doesn’t rise, but he does
turn slightly so he can look directly at him. Careful. My generosity is running low. “Currently,
you only have temporary freedom while Itadori struggles to adapt. I’m sure you are the most
aware of that.”

He was. Even now the brat was struggling beneath the weight of the fingers forced upon him.
Sukuna had hours of time if he wanted, and he didn’t particularly feel like wasting them here.
Clearly, Shibuya was a more intense mission than the sorcerers had suspected, and he needed
to find Shuku and Megumi before they got hurt.

“Forge a pact with Itadori Yuji before he returns!” Ah, right. He was supposed to be paying
attention. “A pact to grant you perpetual control over his body! Many of his allies are already
here.” Yes, he knew. His mate and son were part of those allies. “There are plenty of ways
you could do it.”

“No need.” Sukuna certainly doesn’t plan on taking orders from a curse that doesn’t know
how to properly bow to him. Then again, Sukuna doesn’t take orders from anyone except one
person, and he isn’t here at the moment. “I already have my own plans.”

Plans. Yes, stick to the plan. Stop talking and find Shuku!

“But I see you are all desperate too, just like those girls.” He nods to where they had
disappeared. However, unlike the girls, Jogo had no connection to his mate to protect him,
meaning he’d have to prove his worth. “This is your reward for the fingers.” He opens his
arms, gesturing to himself. “Come at me. If you manage to land even a single blow, I’ll work
under you all. With conditions.”

He was a man of his word. If Jogo landed a hit, he’d work against the sorcerers, with the
caveat that Shuku and Megumi remained unharmed. However, he didn’t plan on letting him
get that far. “For starters, how about I slaughter every human in Shibuya? Well,” he pauses,
rubbing his thumb along his lower lip. “Except one.”

It’s, in theory, a good trade, an enticing offer, one Jogo would be a fool to refuse. Except, he
actually wouldn’t be a fool, because if he accepts, he won’t make it out alive. The other curse
 rises to his full height, arm across his chest. “You are true to your word, yes?”

Sukuna grins. Got him. “Oh, but of course I am.”

Chapter End Notes

I was originally going to have the girls die, but then I realized Sukuna kinda sorta knows
about Geto being Megumi's kinda sorta other dad (divorced/separated/it's complicated),
so he can't kill Megumi's unofficial sisters! This poor man wants to be so bloodthirsty
and can't because Gojo and Geto have adoption problems.

Sukuna: Blessing, how many people are you related to?

Megumi, without looking up: Not sure; they kinda just adopt kids as they go.

Gojo, holding a new student by the scruff: Geto darling! Add another chair to the dinner
table.

Also, everyone say hi to Ayumi! She's an OC my friend made for her fic where she's
actually a Satosugu kid, but for this fic I had to tweak her a bit, so she's technically not
related to either of them. She was also made to be the other half to one of our favorite
babies, so I can't wait to have them finally meet in a few chapters!
 Chapter 38
Chapter Summary

Poor Megumi...

Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes

Meanwhile…

Megumi wasn’t exactly sure what had just happened. He’d just been inside, recovering from
holding onto his domain for an extended period of time, surrounded by his fellow sorcerers,
and the next, he’d been flying through the air and out into the streets of Shibuya. He’s
exhausted, all he wants is to go home and curl up in his nest and sleep off what is left of his
heat. At this point, he’d even allow some pack cuddles if it meant getting everyone home
safe.

Except they aren’t safe.

Gojo is sealed, Yuji is missing, and Shuku isn’t in his line of sight.

Oh no, Shuku!

Megumi turns, searching the streets around him for any sign of life, only to find their mystery
helper behind him, still holding onto Playful Cloud. Had he been the one to separate Megumi
from everyone else? If so, why?

Why else would he get you alone?

Megumi does his best to draw himself up to his full height. It isn’t anywhere near as
impressive as someone stronger or bulkier than him, but at least he feels more focused. And
he needs to be focused. This man is incredibly fast, even without cursed energy. It’s like he’s
the perfected version of Maki.

Beating him wouldn’t be easy.

Megumi brings his hands together, ready to call forth his divine dog, but the second the other
man lowers himself into a fighting stance, the sharpened edge of his weapon aimed at
Megumi, every instinct tells him to run. But the feeling isn’t coming from the man across
from him.

Fleeing Hares!

Megumi uses the multitude of rabbits as a distraction as he turns to run. That was Sukuna’s
fingers. What the hell is happening out there?!

If someone had more of Sukuna’s fingers, if they were here in Shibuya, then this plan their
enemies had kept getting more and more complex. Yet, despite the inherent danger Sukuna
brought if he did manage to take over Yuji's body, something inside of him felt… calm. As
though part of him believed Sukuna would fight with them if asked. His instinct to run hadn't
been away. It had been towards.

That’s silly. Why would he…

He doesn’t get a chance to finish his thought. Megumi barely manages to dodge the strike he
sees coming before it hits, his opponent barreling through his shikigami on pure instinct. He
redirects, racing down a side street as his rabbits follow. He needs to put some distance
between them, create obstacles to slow the older man down. With that thought in mind, he
ducks into an abandoned building, clearly under construction. He easily leaps up to the
second floor, barely pausing to look over his shoulder to see where his pursuer is.

Only for him to be right in front of him.

With no energy left to maintain his domain, he is left with one option. Fight. He uses his
momentum, running headlong towards what he can only assume to be an alpha, to throw his
fist, filled with what limited energy he has, at the man. He doesn’t even move, just brings his
forearm up to block. He’s quick, too quick, and each of Megumi’s blows fail to land.

Unlike the omega, newly resurrected Toji does land a hit on the young sorcerer, sending him
careening sideways. His ever loyal shikigami descend on him, eager to defend their master,
but he is unphased. He’s handled worse. Even with the “distraction” the rabbits provide, Toji
can see the little sorcerer dive for his legs, aiming to sweep his feet out from under him. He
drops Playful Cloud, sticking it between them to stop his attack. Nice try, kid.

Props to the boy, he immediately redirects and tries to punch him again, but even with his
quick turn around, Toji had seen it coming. He grabs his arm, holding him in place so he can
smash their heads together. The omega wails, doubling over, only for another rabbit to bound
up his arm, aiming for Toji’s face. Seriously? How many of these bastards are there?

No matter. He grabs one of the rabbit’s legs with his teeth, flinging it to the side at the same
time he tosses the omega away. A surge of more rabbits immediately hides him from view,
and Toji pulls Playful Cloud from the ground, tossing it into the air. With it out of the way, he
stomps once, breaking the foundation and sending the hoard into the air, off balance. He
shifts the debris closest to him, sending it out and into the rabbits, decimating them while
barely breaking a sweat. And he still has enough time to catch his weapon when it eventually
succumbs to gravity and falls back towards him.

With his shikigami severely reduced, Megumi runs. He can’t face this man alone; it’s
basically a death sentence. If he can just get to someone else, Eri or Shoko or Inumaki, they
may be able to take him together. Separating him from Shuku, Maki, Nanami, and Naobito
had been a calculated move. He was the weakest link right now, and that meant he was easy
pickings.

At least since Shoko was close by, he knew he could push his body a little further than
normal. It was the only reason he kept swerving into buildings, leaving traces of himself with
his rabbits, to throw the man off. He even uses Nue and a well timed sprinkler to try to
electrocute the man, though he doubts that will do more than slow him down by a few
seconds.
He’s proven right when a window shatters above him and he has to dodge using his frog
shikigami. He doesn’t particularly like getting yanked around by a long, amphibian tongue,
but desperate times. He chooses to stray down narrower streets, hoping to close off the paths
his opponent can take. With speed on par with Sukuna, all he can focus on is timing. Trying
to follow him by sight alone will get him killed.

If he messes up the timing…

Shit!

While he’d been thinking about not messing up, he’d missed the alpha’s move, and now,
Playful Cloud was inches from his chest. Just as Megumi is praying to whoever will listen
that it doesn’t hurt too much, one of his rabbits gets underfoot, sacrificing itself. The man
topples over, allowing Megumi to grab him. He ignores the pain blooming in his gut, yanking
his sword from the shadows and swinging it towards the man’s head.

Just before he makes contact, the man is gone. So is the staff from his body. The alpha has
retreated to the opposite end of the alley, looking at him with wide eyes. What is he doing?

Toji, meanwhile, fights every instinct he has to remain still. The old woman had given him an
order to kill, and there’s little he can do to ignore it. But he can hold off for a moment at least,
enough time to take in the young man across from him.

He’s bent over, wounded, but still ready to fight, strings of black hair plastered to his
forehead. He knows he’s never seen him, not like this, before, but something in him knows
that he does know him. Please take care of Megumi. He hears a soft, sweet voice say, full of
life even in the midst of death.

He hadn’t cared much about what happened with his kid, but, then again, hadn’t he at least
tried to give him a better life than he would have gotten if he’d been stuck with Toji around?
“Hey, kid.” He’s impressed his voice doesn’t crack. “What’s your name?”

The boy relaxes just slightly, stupidly, in his shock at the odd question. Still, he does answer.
“Fushiguro.”
Fushiguro.

“Not Zenin?” Toji smiles, just slightly, as he raises Playful Cloud. He can’t ignore the order
to kill sorcerers, not in this body. But, he’s already died once, what’s one more. He stabs
himself through the head, barely feeling the pain. “I’m glad.”

Megumi watches him fall, confused and disoriented by the whiplash change in the man’s
demeanor. What had just happened? He’d never had an opponent kill themselves instead of
going after him. It was unheard of!

He takes a hesitant step toward the other man, then breaks into a run. Something inside is
telling him he needs to check on him. Now!

But when he rolls the corpse over, it isn’t the same face. What the hell? He winces, his stab
wound irritated. Well, like he’d said earlier, at least Shoko was close by. He starts heading in
the direction of their make-shift hospital, thinking about whether he really should go to
Shoko first or if he should meet back up with Maki. Maybe they needed help. Maybe they…

Pain bursts across his spine as he’s hit from behind. He turns as he falls, seeing his attacker
isn’t a curse, but another man. He looks rough, clearly having run into a higher grade sorcerer
than Megumi before retreating to find easier prey. And Megumi was easy, wounded as he
was.

As the man smile maniacally down at him, Megumi turns, kicking his legs out from under
him. His attacker yells as he falls, giving Megumi time to get to his own feet and stumble
away. He doesn’t have the energy to put up a good fight. He ha s to get to Shoko now.

He makes it a few streets, his attacker slowly following. He attempts to get close, but
Megumi always manages to evade. It’s a trick he’d learned after Gojo found out some alphas
had been harassing him when he’d newly presented. Keeping his distance was just as
important as being able to hold his own in a fight.
“You’re strong!” His opponent calls, sounding far too happy about his predicament. “Just like
that girl earlier.” Girl? Which one? Nobara? “All beat up and you still aren’t giving me an
opening to get close. Though, with all that blood, don’t think I’ll have to do anything.”

He’s right. Almost as soon as he says it, Megumi’s legs give out. He isn’t going to make it to
Shoko. He isn’t going to make it anywhere. This is it. He thinks. This is his final stand. The
plan he’s been cultivating since running away is taking shape, and while it guarantees his
opponent’s death, it also ensures his own. No matter. Who would miss me anyway?

“In my ten shadows technique,” he begins, “only two demon dogs are granted to the user at
first. The other shikigami aren’t granted to the user until they finish subjugating them.” It was
why he still couldn’t access all of them, why there were only a handful he used. “The user
must continue subjugating each one to increase the shikigami available to them, until they
can finally command all ten shikigami.” He coughs, blood spilling past his lips and onto the
street. “Thing is, this subjugation can be done with multiple people, though this voids it
afterwards, so the ritual is pointless to the sorcerer himself.” Hang on just a bit longer. “Still,
even if it is pointless, there are ways to use it.”

Aloud explosion sounds from somewhere behind him, and while he would normally be
worried about it, his thoughts feel all muddled. Safe. He thinks. Alpha is coming.

“Who is that?” His attacker laughs. “They’re being real flash-”

He cuts himself off, turning back towards Megumi as he senses the start of the ritual.
Megumi has managed to get himself onto his knees, facing the other man. “To continue,
while the shikigami can’t be used without subjugating it, the user can summon them as many
times as necessary for the purpose of subjugating them.” The world gets darker, and he isn’t
sure if it’s blood loss or if it’s the ritual.

“You don’t mean…” Ah, so it isn’t just him.

Megumi brings his fists up, holding one above the other. “In all of history, only one has
managed to subjugate this one.” One? He thinks. I meant none. Who would be able to
subjugate him?
 “Furube Yurayura. ” He pauses, just a moment, to try to remain upright. “Yatsuka-no-Tsurugi
Ikaishinshō Makora.”

He can feel the general awaken behind him, and for a fleeting moment, Megumi wishes he
could apologize to Itadori and Shuku. It seems he won’t be able to meet back up with them
after all. “Oi, you bastard!” He grins, mouth full of blood. Megumi raises his chin, defiant
and proud. “I’ll be dying first.” Mockingly, he adds. “Give it your best.”

SLAM!

He feels Mahoraga’s hand connect, flinging his body into a wall. Then, everything goes
black.

Chapter End Notes

So because I wrote the Toji fight, I will probably not write the Sukuna vs. Jogo fight in
it's entirety. I'll likely start at the end since if I did write it, it would be three back to back
chapters of fighting (Toji vs. Gumi, Jogo Vs. Kuna, Kuna vs. Mahoraga). Instead, I'm
picking the two fights I deem most important to the plot, and I'm writing those.

Come on, you think I wouldn't pick Mahoraga and Kuna? Someone has to defend our
little Gumi.

Devious things coming, hang on to your hats.

 Chapter 39
Chapter Summary

IT'S TIME

He’s loath to admit it, but the little firecracker wasn’t actually all that bad. Granted, he was
nowhere near where he needed to be to defeat him, but at least he could be proud of himself
for lasting this long. It made sense, however, seeing as his goal was one Sukuna could almost
understand. The humans of this age were so oblivious to curses that they held a position of
power over them. He could understand how these curses, especially those with such high
intelligence, could get sick of being relegated to the shadows.

Still, even if he understood, he thought it was stupid. Packs of humans, or packs of curses,
measuring themselves against each other simply made everyone weaker. Sukuna didn’t
measure himself against anyone or anything, and look at him!

If they really wanted to create a new world, one designed specifically to their taste, they
should have just started burning it all down. That drive, that hunger, to reach your end goal
was something they lacked. His own hunger had been fueled by rage and a desire to see the
world that had taken his omega from him punished.

He tells the curse as much, and to his surprise, he doesn’t argue, actually agreeing with
Sukuna’s assessment. “Still, you managed to entertain me for a bit.” It’s a weak attempt at
comforting a dying curse, but Sukuna is nothing if not (slightly) magnanimous. “I fought
humans, sorcerers, and curse spirits a thousand years ago, and you were still one of the better
ones I fought.” He turns slightly, looking Jogo in his eye, a king praising a fallen soldier. “Be
proud. You were strong.”

As the connection fades, Sukuna is thrust back into the carnage around him. There is a
building crumbling behind him, the ground scorched and aflame as if the pits of hell have
risen to the surface. He winces slightly, having gotten lost in the fight and going a bit further
than he’d planned. Really glad Megumi still doesn’t remember, or I’d be relegated to the
outdoors for a month. He’d done it before, back when he was pregnant and hormonal. Sukuna
had accidentally leveled one, one, house, and he’d not been allowed inside for a month.
He feels something, someone, behind him. They don’t attack, simply waiting for him to
acknowledge them. My word, another one? “Who are you?” He doesn’t even do them the
honor of turning to face them.

“I’ve come to welcome you,” their voice is low and melodic, calm despite the chaos around
them. “Sukuna-sama.”

Curiosity peaked, he glances over his shoulder at the kneeling figure, all four eyes widening.
“Uraume!”

“It’s been a long time!” His old friend responds as Sukuna pulls them off their knees and into
a hug. He wouldn’t normally show such signs of affection, but this once he could make an
exception.

Pushing away to look at his most trusted and loyal friend, Sukuna sighs. “Shuku will be
disappointed he didn’t get to see you.”

Uraume nods, though it looks more like a half-bow. “We have been keeping eyes on you
both. I have made many plans for your return. You…”

The air shifts around them, and Sukuna’s head immediately whips towards to the left,
towards another part of Shibuya. “Sukuna-sama.”

“Urgent business.” He says, mouth dry. “I… Uraume, those plans… they’ve changed.”

“Changed?” Their head cocks to the side. “Sukuna-sama, what has happened?”

“I…” He hears it then, the howl of hounds. Even after all this time, Sukuna remembers that
sound, and the ritual it heralded.
Uraume too turns towards it, eyes wide. “Sukuna-sama… That sounds like…”

“Megumi.” He chokes. Omega is in danger. Why else would he summon Mahoraga?

“Megumi…” Uraume chokes on the word, taking a step back. “Is he… Ryomen-sama, has
he…”

“Yes.” He looks back at his servant, eyes wide and panicked. “It worked. The ritual. Uraume,
he…”

“Go to him.” It almost sounds like an order. “I shall… adjust accordingly. Go.”

Sukuna doesn’t waste another second. As he vanishes, racing off to find his omega, Uraume
throws their head back, laughing to the sky. Megumi-sama, you have returned to us.

Shibuya passes by him in a blur, every cell in his body tuned in to where the noise had come
from. Sukuna feels frantic in a way he rarely does, and when he finally turns a corner and
sees Mahoraga bringing his fist down, he doesn’t even think. He yanks the man away, out of
reach, only to realize a second later that it isn’t Megumi looking up at him.

Where…

There is blood at his feet, and as he follows its path, he chokes on his heart. Megumi is
crumpled against a wall, breath shallow and weak. Thanks to the ritual, he’s still alive,
suspended between life and death, but he is too close to the latter for comfort. Still, it makes
saving the interloper, who had been the reason Megumi called Mahoraga out in the first
place, worth it. So long as the ritual was incomplete, Megumi could be saved.

Mahoraga meets Sukuna’s stare, jaw twitching slightly. It recognizes me. It doesn’t know how,
but it knows my essence.
Good.

Dropping the trash he’d picked up, Sukuna presses a hand to Megumi’s chest. His energy
practically jumps from him to Megumi, working to heal what he can. “Don’t die on me.” He
orders imperiously as the heart beneath his hand begins to beat faster. “There are things I
need you to do for me.” Mate me, marry me, give me more children, never leave me again-
it’s a short list, but those are the most pressing desires.

“Um…”

“Silence.” He’d deal with the annoyance later.

He approaches Mahoraga calmly, knowing that while the shikigami may recognize him on
some level, it certainly does not know who he is. Even if it did, he and Mahoraga had never
been on good terms. Megumi had doted on the thing once he’d tamed it, and Mahoraga had
been devoted to his master.

Which meant when Sukuna breathed too hard or ate something Megumi had been saving, the
Divine General had gone to war over it. No matter, this time, he was the one going to battle
for Megumi. For his omega to survive, Sukuna had to win.

Mahoraga strikes first. It always strikes first. Sukuna brings an arm up to block him, eyes
burning with hatred. He moves quickly, getting out from under Mahoraga’s blade and rolling
to the side. “Dismantle.”

Slashes cover the shikigami’s chest, and Sukuna quickly follows with a slashing motion.
Unfortunately, Mahoraga makes the same move, sending both of them flying back as their
hits meet, sending Sukuna into one of those “movie theatre” Yuji loves so much.

Oh, a snack. Well, he did have to get his energy up if he was going to fight Mahoraga, didn’t
he. It didn’t help that Mahoraga had immediately pulled out the Sword of Extermination, his
favorite weapon against Sukuna. Even Megumi had scolded his pet for using it on him so
often. Not that it would ever be able to eliminate him in one go, but Megumi had rather not
have risked it.
Sukuna wouldn’t risk it either.

He slashes Mahoraga again, dropping his soda and popcorn. The shikigami recovers too
quickly, snatching Sukuna up and running him along the side of a building. Oh come one. Not
the face!

He’s tossed across the road into another building, but he stops himself just before he can
smash through it. “You wanna go?” He yells to the shikigami, taunting him. He has to draw
him away from Megumi, so as Mahoraga approaches, Sukuna runs. At the top of the
building, Mahoraga catches up, bringing his fist down. Sukuna leaps out of the way, turning
back to kick the General in the face.

It brings him too close, and he’s once again tossed away, but not before he manages to slash
off Mahoraga’s leg. With a roar, Mahoraga pushes him a few streets away, following close
behind to send him careening down a wall. Sukuna pushes against him with his legs, barely
managing to switch their positions before Mahoraga punches. He meets it with his own fist,
glass shattering around him. Blow for blow, the two battle for dominance, Sukuna finally
winning the upper hand as the building collapses around them.

He wraps Mahoraga around a piece of debris, flinging it into a parking garage. Bad move, as
the shikigami uses said cars as projectiles. Worse move, as Sukuna quickly shoots them right
back, slashing Mahoraga’s face down the center. The shikigami pauses, hand through a green
car, as his head nearly slides in two, only for it to remain in place.

It’s learning. Sukuna grimaces as the wheel behind the General turns once. Fuck.

The next thing he knows, Sukuna is sent flying through the air. He lands inside another
building, this one full of civilians. Fuck! Not that he cared about them, but Megumi would.
“Move!” He orders as Mahoraga catches up, uncaring of who gets in his way. He slashes
wildly, missing Sukuna and instead decimating the rest of the bystanders.

Sukuna dodges beneath his blow, placing a hand to its abdomen. Blood splatters around him,
this time from the shikigami, but it takes even less time for it to recover. The sword is coming
at him again, and he barely has time to form a mouth at his neck before it catches. He bites,
breaking the blade, as he kicks the shikigami up through the ceiling of the floor they are on.

The wheel turns again.

“Would you stop that!” Sukuna points two fingers at the General, flicking them up for
another deep cut. But like with every hit, Mahoraga counters, sending Sukuna out into the
sky and off balance. However, this time he ends up in a construction zone, and SUkuna uses
the opportunity to grab onto a steel hook, pulling it along with him as he approaches
Mahoraga. Subtly, so the shikigami doesn’t notice, he twines the wires attached to it around
Mahoraga, restraining him.

It works for maybe a minute before the shikigami manages to pull it lose, taking the building
down with him. There are screams of panic, and Sukuna moves again, trying to find a less
populated part of the city to fight in. Mahoraga, and indeed Sukuna himself, may not care
about the “unfortunate” casualties, but Megumi…

I hope you appreciate I’m trying here, Blessing.

He unleashes his technique only once he’s back in the sky, high above Shibuya. While it does
hit the top floors of the buildings closest to them, it saves the people on the streets. “Can you
finally see it?” He calls to the shikigami. “Can you finally see my technique?”

Mahoraga is sent spiraling, tumbling through the previously untouched buildings and
bringing them down with him. Oops. Still, it’s better than having him roam free, right?
(Sukuna ignores the fact that Mahoraga would have easily killed that second asshole of a man
and quickly disappeared, not hurting anyone else as the ritual was completed. But it meant
Megumi dying, and he’d already faced a world without him once. Sukuna wouldn’t do it
again.)

As Mahoraga recovers, learning once again from Sukuna’s strategy, he reaches out, fist
closing around the King of Curses. Sukuna stays put, hands coming together to form a
familiar shape. “Ryōiki Tenkai.” The air goes still and time seems to slow as he watches
Mahoraga seal his own fate. “Fukuma Mizushi.”
He limits his domain to 140 meters on the surface of Shibuya. It will be devastating, but it’s
better than trying to continue fighting and allowing more and more carnage the further across
Shibuya they travel.

The world crumbles around him at his command, light and shadow dancing together as his
domain rains hellfire down on Mahoraga. With the shikigami distracted by that. Sukuna pulls
his hands back in the mockery of a boy, stringing his own fire between his fingers. “Fuga.”
He releases, and the explosion rocks Shibuya to its core.

As promised, it is devastating, a whole section of the city gone dark. Sukuna walks out of the
carnage mostly unharmed, back to where Megumi rests safe and sound. The man who he is
going to blame for this whole situation stands shaking at the edge of the destruction,
watching him warily. “What are you looking at?” Sukuna has no time to spare on someone so
insignificant. “Begone.”

He doesn’t spare a glance back at the man as he runs straight to his death. What? He didn’t
really think he could harm Sukuna’s mate and get away with it, did he?

Sukuna feels his hand shake, a sign Itadori is returning to consciousness. “It’s nearly time.”
He sighs, tilting his head down to look at the unconscious omega. “What am I going to do
with you?” Sukuna sighs fondly. He looks so small and pitiful like this, and as angry as
Sukuna is that Megumi’s first instinct was to summon a shikigami he hadn’t tamed,
Mahoraga at that! Will he ever learn?, he’s more concerned about getting him help.

If it’s all he can do with his remaining time in control, it will be time well spent.

“Come now, precious.” He leans down, scooping up Megumi’s limp body and cradling him to
his chest. He’s careful to keep Megumi’s head propped on his shoulder, nose tucked into his
neck close to where his bond mark would be if he was in his own body. “Let’s get you to that
healer of yours.”

Turning away from the wreckage of Shibuya, Sukuna begins heading for the sorcerer’s
makeshift hospital. Megumi moans, stirring slightly in his arms as he’s jostled. Sukuna
pauses, looking down at the omega, brows raised. He watches delicate eyelashes flutter open,
revealing green eyes that are hazy and unfocused, clearly dazed from blood loss, but still so
beautiful.
Said pretty green eyes turn their gaze to him, almost unseeing. “Hey there.” Sukuna says,
testing the waters. He quickly maneuvers them so Megumi can’t see the destruction he’s
caused. He doesn’t need to get yelled at, and Megumi wouldn’t be able to handle even
attempting to fight again.

“S’kuna.” Well at least he recognizes him, though that could also be a bad thing.Sukuna half
expects him to struggle, to summon Mahoraga again. He really doesn’t want to go for round
two.

What he wasn’t expecting was for Megumi to reach up, hand tugging at his neck. “Alpha.”

Blinking, Sukuna remains straight and rigid, not daring to hope as he ignores the tugging on
his nape. “Yeah. I’m an alpha. Thought we’d established that already.” He huffs, trying to
remain the cold, evil curse Megumi thinks him to be. The things I would do for you, Blessing.

Megumi shakes his head, eyes closing as he protests. They are no less dazed when he reopens
them, but there is something sparking in them that Sukuna can’t ignore. “Alpha.” He says
again, clawing at Sukuna. “Mate.”

The curse falters, breath catching. It allows Megumi to pull him closer, lips messily smacking
against whatever part of his face he can reach. Sukuna is stunned, too much so to respond.
Megumi had called him mate . “Blessing?” He asks quietly, almost to himself, as if he speaks
any louder, whatever spell has been cast will be undone.

But it is no spell. Megumi mewls pathetically, wounded he’s not being given what he wants,
and Sukuna responds immediately, pressing his lips against pinker ones, eating up the rest of
Megumi’s sounds. He steals what little breath Megumi has, though the omega doesn’t
complain. It has been far too long since they’ve been like this, and Sukuna is loath to let go.

He remembers. Maybe not everything, but Megumi recognizes Sukuna as mate, as alpha. All
the years of being alone, of being sealed, and the months of being just within sight but always
out of reach had finally culminated in this- a clandestine kiss on the decimated streets of
Shibuya.
The omega faints immediately once they separate, but there’s a small smile on his usually
pouty lips, as if happy and content despite his pain. Sukuna is beaming, the heart he’s
neglected for so long revitalized with one kiss. Megumi remembers. He purrs, leaning in to
nuzzle into the mop of black hair at his chin. “We will get you healed, and after this is over, I
think it’s time we talk.”
 Chapter 40
Chapter Summary

RIP Nanami

Chapter Notes

The chapter I think we have all been dreading.

See the end of the chapter for more notes

It was tranquil. Peaceful.

He could hear the sound of the waves crashing against the shoreline, the sun beating down on
the left side of his body. Then again, that could also just be the burns he’d sustained from
Jogo acting up again. But wasn’t it much better to pretend it was simply the sun on a quiet
beach somewhere in Malaysia?

After this he would have to take Eri on a vacation. They deserved it. Maybe Kuantan. That
would be nice.

His musings are paused when he reaches the bottom of the stairs and a hoard of cursed spirits
and transfigured humans look up at him. They are minor, nothing too hard to beat, but there
are hundreds of them. Nanami sighs, already thinking about that vacation again.

Maybe instead, he’d just retire and build a house somewhere remote. Eri could spend her
days tanning and he could finally catch up on his reading. But first, he had to save Fushiguro.
And Maki. And what about Naobito? What had happened to all of them?

I’m so tired.
The hoard closes in, seeing him as easy prey considering they outnumber him. More’s the
pity as he cuts through their numbers like he’s slicing through paper. He can already see
himself back on that beach, stretching his arms up and out, letting the sun warm him to his
very core.

He’s hit, blinded in his left eye from the burns. It causes him to stumble, dropping to his
knees. As he tries to regain his breath, another punch, again from the left, nearly knocks him
down. Blood drips from his nose, angering him. With a yell, he turns, slicing in a wide arc
that cuts through dozens of his attackers.

Nanami continues to yell, using it to force himself to maintain his energy. Despite his
exhaustion, giving up now means his death. The rest of the weaker curses fall easily, and
when the last body falls, he drops to his knees, fatigue winning out.

Still, it’s no use. There are more curses, bigger ones, rounding the corner, and he has to keep
going. He forces himself to his feet, rushing to meet them head on. He doesn’t see the eyes
following him as he takes hit after hit only to slice through his opponent with no mercy. It is
impressive, despite his weak state.

It is also unfortunate that it ends here.

Mahito approaches, all too pleased that Nanami cannot see in his left eye and can not sense
him thanks to the other curses (and some well placed transfigured humans) acting as
distractions. He had been a lovely opponent, one Mahito was all too eager to finally, finally,
take down. It helped that Itadori would likely come upon them soon. He’d felt Sukuna nearby
only for his energy to vanish suddenly, meaning Yuji was on his way.

When he got here, Nanami would already be at death’s door.

The curse reaches out, eyes bright with glee, to finally touch and…
He blinks, hand now a bloody stump. “Don’t you fucking touch him.” Shuku snarls at Mahito,
puffed up like an angry cat.

When Megumi had disappeared, Shuku had almost gone after him. He had promised to keep
his mother safe, and now he was being targeted by a man that looked like it could be his
grandfather. A man without cursed energy that they had just seen take on a special grade
curse almost single handedly and win. Then he had felt his father’s energy wash over him
again, and he knew Sukuna was out on the hunt for his mate. With his father on their side, no
harm could come to Megumi.

Right?

Right.

With that in mind, he had decided to get Maki and Nanami somewhere safe before meeting
up with his parents. But when he’d turned, Nanami had wandered off, a trail of blood his only
clue as to where he’d gone. Cursing, Shuku had hidden Maki in a broom closet and given
chase.

He had promised Eri he would bring Nanami back to her, and damn it, he was going to!

As much as he had been questioning his choice, honestly, he should have gone after his
mother!, he doesn’t regret it now. Seeing Mahito inches from touching a distracted Nanami,
from touching his soul , had sent him into a defensive state.

Mahito grins at him, that unsettling thing that sends shivers down his spine. “Well, if it isn’t
the tiger cub. Can we chat for a bit?”

Shuku bares his teeth in warning. Nanami has sunk to his knees, taking the moment to rest.
Shuku doubt he has much more in him. He needs to get to Shoko. Movement behind Mahito
draws his gaze for only a second. Yuji is leaning against the wall, also looking roughed up,
and Shuku can’t give away his position. Not now. “Nothing to talk about.”
“Oh, play nice.” The curse laughs. “The sorcerer and I have gone at it a few times now. I just
want another chance at him.”

“Fuck off!” Shuku shouts, fists clenched. He’s ready for a fight, anything to distract him from
the man on the ground. Nanami refuses to be forgotten, though, leaning over to cough up
blood.

Mahito leans over slightly to get a look at him. “Doesn’t seem like he’s going to hold out for
much longer anyway. Why not let him go down fighting?”

Shuku wants to scream at him, but Yuji stumbles forward, the sound of his shoes on the tile
drawing attention. “Nanami….”

“Ah, it seems you have a friend!” Mahito giggles. “Trying to sneak up on me?”

Shuku advances, taking a step forward so Mahito is more closely sandwiched between the
two of them. With Yuji at his back and Shuku at his front, the curse won’t be able to go
anywhere. “We don’t need to sneak up on you to win.”

“Oh, come on.” Mahito’s eyes roll nearly all the way back in his sockets. “We’re both curses
here. We’re on the same side! Humans are so boring if you don’t play with them! Why can’t
we…”

“We are not on the same side.” Shuku lets his fist fill with cursed energy, watching as
Mahito’s brows rise in surprise. “If you think my father would agree with your cause, you are
wrong. His mate, my mother, is human.”

He realizes his mistake a second too late. “Is?”

“Was.” He tries to correct. “I meant…”

Mahito’s grin is feral. “Who is it? Who is she?”

Shuku scoffs. Well at least Mahito thinks it’s a she. “As if I would tell you.”

Before Mahito can respond, Nanami groans, head rising to look back at Shuku. The young
curse swallows, throat tightening as he sees how broken Nanami looks. “Ryomen-kun.” Even
if he looks broken, his voice is soft and comforting. His gaze turns towards Itadori, who
seems to be unable to see anything else besides their teacher. “Itadori-kun.” He smiles, a
sweet and sad thing. “You take it from here.”

He falls. Nanami falls, collapsing to lie as if dead on the floor of the station. Shuku’s heart
leaps in his chest. No, no, no, no, no! Nanami-sensei! Please no!

Mahito is laughing, clearly pleased by this turn of events. “I didn’t even have to do anything!
You both stalled for so long that he died all on his own!” His triumphant and mocking grin
turns into a playful grimace. “Pity I didn’t get to finish him off though.”

Shuku feels himself shake, though with anguish or rage, he isn’t sure. “I’ll fucking kill you,
you punk ass…”

A groan cuts him off. Nanami shifts ever so slightly in pain, and all the air is sucked out of
the room. He’s not dead yet.

“Shuku.” Itadori’s eyes have regained awareness, and they stare straight through Mahito. His
fists are clenched at his side, but Shuku can feel the energy in them. Fuck, he’s mad. “Get
Nanami out of here.”

“But I can…”

“Shuku.” His tone doesn’t leave room for arguing. “Go. I can handle this bitch.”
 Mahito grins, looking between the two as if deciding who to attack first. He turns back to
Itadori, taking his eyes off Shuku. Big mistake. “Can yo-”

Shuku swings, clocking Mahito in the jaw and sending him spinning towards Yuji. It gives
him just enough time to grab Nanami, looping his arm over his own shoulders. and head
towards the stairs, retreating while Yuji prevents Mahito from following. Nanami groans
again, and Shuku winces. “It’s either walk or carry, Nanami-sensei.”

As Mahito yells behind them, clearly trying to give chase, Shuku makes that decision for
him, pulling Nanami off his feet and throwing him over his shoulder. His sensei groans, and
Shuku apologizes as he starts racing for the surface. “I’ll be as quick as I can.” Part of him
doesn’t like that he’s retreating, leaving Yuji to fight alone, but another, larger part, can’t
stand to see Nanami die. Not like this.

I’ll come back. He promises as he sprints out of the underground station and into the night air.
Hold him off a bit longer, Itadori, and I’ll be right back.

Chapter End Notes

So, if you've been reading, you know I said a few people who were meant to die in
Shibuya (ie the girls) were not going to. However, when I said that, I hadn't actually
made the decision to save them yet, but I HAD decided to save someone else.

That's right guys, Nanami lives. I couldn't very well kill Shuku's favorite human (outside
of his mom), now could I?

He definitely didn't come out unscathed, but he's still here. It also means Shuku gets to
go see for himself that Megumi is okay and not dead, so that's a bonus.

We're coming to the conclusion of Shibuya very soon, which means we're going to get to
see a few "new" characters enter the plot.
 Chapter 41
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes

With Nanami out of the way thanks to Shuku, Yuji can focus on Mahito. The curse, rather
upset his favorite sorcerer is being absconded with, tries to follow the young Ryomen, but
Yuji quickly cuts off his route, throwing another punch that knocks him back. Shuku rounds
the corner, disappearing from sight and ensuring Nanami will live to see another day.

Now it’s all up to him.

He’s still on a rather painful high (if it can even be called a high) from seeing Sukuna’s
destruction of the city. Yuji was angry, even more so now that he is once again confronted
with Mahito. This is the curse that took Junpei from him, that almost took Nanami from him,
and since he can’t punish Sukuna, Yuji finds Mahito a worthy substitute for the reasons
previously stated.

He rushes the curse, only to have a wall of transfigured human thrown up between them. Yuji
is barely able to pull back and keep himself from punching through the wall, but only just.
Spikes form along the discolored flesh, and he leaps back as they grow, reaching out for him.
It is a simple matter of shattering them, but Mahito isn’t done. A mouth forms amidst the
rotting flesh, reaching for him just like the spikes had. Yuji manages to reach up, keeping the
maw open so it doesn’t swallow him, but he feels his feet slide along the floor, slick with
blood from the transfigured humans Nanami had fought.

From inside the mouth, Mahito pops out, sticking his tongue out at Yuji. He can barely
register the fact the curse has decided to stay and fight before Mahito punches him, sending
him flying into a column.

Blood pours from a new cut slashing across his face, and Yuji wipes his eyes to prevent his
vision from being obscured. “If only I’d used a little more force, I could’ve stabbed through
your face.” Mahito shakes off the broken shards of the blade he’d conjured on his hand,
Yuji’s blood dripping from its jagged edges.
Rising to his feet, Yuji seethes. He was having a very bad day, and Mahito only ever made it
worse. “How can you possibly toy with countless people’s lives over and over?”

“Would you be satisfied if I counted each one off on my fingers with a look of regret?”
Mahito flexes his hand. “I can start with the next one. Or perhaps I should include that omega
you were so fond of.”

Yuji’s eye twitches. How dare you mock his death!

“I’ll grant you a simple answer since you’re such a simple guy.” His hand flexes,
transforming into a puppet-like image of Junpei. “Itadori Yuji.” The puppet mouth opens,
Mahito’s distorted voice begging him for help before his other hand spears Junpei’s image
through. “You are me.”

Yuji feels his eye twitch. He was nothing like that curse! How dare he insinuate they had
even a passing similarity!

“Quite snapping at everything! It’s just a curse’s nonsense right? However,” Mahito steps
down from his transfigured wall, turning to face Yuji on even ground. “Until you are willing
to accept that, you can’t beat me.”

“You talk a lot.” Watch me. “ Those your dying words?”

Nanami had left him in charge. You take it from here, that was what he had said.

And Itadori would be damned if he let Mahito walk away from this fight. It ended here.

*
Unbeknownst to Itadori, and Shuku as well, Mahito had split himself in two hours earlier.
While part of him remained underground, battling Itadori (a losing battle for now), the
second half wandered the streets of Shibuya, enjoying the night air. This second half had, up
till now, only caught brief glimpses of what the other Mahito was doing. He knew Nanami
had escaped, and he knew the Ryomen son had him, but as much as he wanted to give chase,
Shuku was headed away from him, and the boy was one of the few left mostly unscathed this
late in the night. Going after him was a death wish.

(He did not; however, know about Shuku’s slip up. This Mahito was unaware that Shuku had,
in his defense of his father, told Mahito that Sukuna’s mate was alive. Perhaps, had he know
this, he would have been more willing to race across the city and find Shuku. Sukuna’s mate
would be an excellent bargaining chip.)

Instead, he remained where he was, focused on his other mission. Causing general chaos and
taking down as many sorcerers as he can.

“Did you see that earlier? That was crazy right! I was just wandering around that area not too
long ago, too.”

The woman in front of him doesn’t seem nearly as impressed as she should be. “Patch-face.”
Kugisaki Nobara is alone, which is perfect for what he has planned for her. Nothing too
extreme, just a little maiming, death if he feels particularly generous. “Was it you? Are you
the special-grade that’s been messing with our idiot?”

He supposed it depended on the idiot. Yuji? Absolutely. Shuku? Not so much. Still, he’s
pleasantly surprised he’d enough of a threat that others have been warned against him. Sure it
makes his job a little harder, but he’ll take the recognition! “Aw, jeez. Am I famous?”

Nobara laughs. “Yeah. I heard you ran with your tail between your legs.”

Oh, she’s fun. “I like you.” He feels particularly generous towards her seeing as how she can
clearly take his mocking comments and throw them back with just as much vengeance. “You
seem worth killing.”
“I haven’t had any good chances to shine today,” she pulls out her cursed tool, a hammer that
Mahito figures has something to do with the nails in her other hand. “So I’ll have to settle for
exorcizing a cowardly bug like you.”

Awe. That hurt! And he thought they were friends!

She imbues her cursed energy into the nails as she throws them, all three landing in the sign
right above his head. It’s painfully obvious, making it easy to leap out of the way. Though, as
she approaches quickly, he does have to wonder if the sign was a diversion. It allowed her
time to pull more nails from the pouch at her back and imbue them with energy, as well as
blocking his line of sight so she could close the gap between them.

She leaps up onto the sign, using her foot to press a nail through the metal. Hairpin.

Blood splatters behind him from the wounds in his head, but they don’t do nearly enough
damage for him to worry. “Not bad!” He admits, pulling them from his flesh. “But in general,
that won't work on me.”

Judging on how this woman had opened their interaction, Mahito can guess that she is close
with either Shuku or Yuji. Perhaps both. If that’s the case, then he can easily take her down
and drag her broken body to where his other self is fighting Itadori. Maybe seeing his friend
destroyed nearly beyond recognition will be just the thing he needs to take Itadori Yuji down
once and for all.

“No! No, stop!”

Megumi rolls his eyes, lowering his fists. “What now?” He turns, leveling a glare at the curse
watching from the shade. “I was doing just fine.”
Sukuna clearly disagrees. “Uraume was going to feint left then go for your clearly open right
side. You cannot give your enemies any openings. One mistake could mean your life.”

Glancing back to see if that had truly been Uraume’s intent, Megumi scowls when they nod,
confirming Sukuna’s assessment. “If you would let me use my shikigami…”

“You must first learn to defend yourself in hand-to-hand combat. Only then can you move on
to using your pets.” The curse sighs, dismissing Uraume as he rises. “I don’t want you to use
them as a crutch. If something happens and you lose one, what then? You need to be able to
fight just as good without them as you can with them.” He brushes a hand across Megumi’s
cheek. “You are my mate now. There are plenty who want you dead simply for that very
crime.”

“Being your mate is no crime.” Megumi leans into his touch, preening at it. "How is love a
crime?"

Sukuna huffs out a laugh. “There are plenty who will see it as such. At least love for me.
Which is why I’m teaching you how to properly fight. Heaven knows what the Zenin were
teaching you.”

“Mostly how to lay back and spread my legs like a good omega.”

Sukuna hums, grinning madly. “You certainly know how to do that.” He laughs as Megumi
hits his chest, pouting at him. Sukuna tries to apologize with a kiss, but he’s refused. “Come
now, Blessing. Don’t be mad.” But Megumi just folds his arms, turning his nose up in a way
that looks both petulant and regal. “You know I didn’t mean it like that.” Not one to be
deterred, Sukuna simply takes the opportunity to kiss along Megumi’s more fully exposed
neck. “You are far more than a womb to me, my pretty, strong omega.”

Knowing those aren’t just pretty words, Megumi gives in, weak to his mate. He turns, finally
giving Sukuna his desired kiss. “I know. And I love you too.”

Megumi frowns, brows furrowed in his sleep. Busy with their newly arrived patient, namely
Nanami, and distracted by Shuku explaining the situation in Shibuya, no one hears him
whisper. “Sukuna.”
Chapter End Notes

I wish every day that Junpei could have survived. It's what Yuji deserved.

Listen, we have to get through Shibuya before we address the Megumi/Sukuna situation.
And the Nanami situation too, I guess. But here's a snippet of where those two are at
currently: Megumi is sleeping off his injuries, and Nanami is safe and getting medical
attention.

For now.
 Chapter 42
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes

He has to give the girl credit, she is incredibly feisty. Her nails have the advantage of working
just as well in short range combat as long range, making Mahito have to second guess his
every move. He doubts her nails will do much more damage than they already have, which
was pitiful at best, but he’d rather not waste all of his energy on her.

Mahito retreats to the rooftops after the first hit, using the lights below to blind her to his
attack. Unfortunately, she can follow the sound of his footsteps, which alert her to exactly
where he is and what he plans to do. Nobara dodges his first attack, leaping out of the way
and retreating further down the street. Mahito raises his arm, lengthening it, and allows
several extra hands to sprout from it, each one slamming into the ground with enough force
to break the pavement.

Surely I would have caught her in one, right?

Wrong. A second later, another nail hits him dead on from above. Not only had she escaped
him, but she’d managed to wound him. Again. “Nice!” He calls to her, forming a shield with
his other arm to block the other two nails she sends his way. Once those have been discarded,
he tries his original tactic again. The building shatters around her as he tries to catch her, like
a child chasing after a scared lizard.

She leaps over the building’s balcony, back to street level, where Mahito closes in. Perhaps,
despite her nails being useful at close and long ranges, she preferred distance. Too bad. He
tries to distract her with one hand while reaching for her blind spot with the other, but she
calls his bluff, dodging both and putting more distance between them. She knows to be wary
of both of my hands. That 7:3 sorcerer must have told his little friends about me. No fair.

”You’re no fun!” He pouts, rushing at her. He has a clear shot now, even with her nails
coming at him. The street is relatively empty, though the signs above it are perfect projectiles.
He adds as many arms and hands to his body as he can, taking each sign he can reach in one
and tossing it towards the sorcerer.
She uses her nails to break through the shield he’s created, but he isn’t behind it. Using it as a
distraction, Mahito comes from behind, reaching for her neck. She dodges at the last second,
flipping away from him, but he stubbornly gives chase. As a double, he can’t touch her soul
or transfigure humans like the real Mahito, who is fighting Itadori several streets away, can.
But her own fear of him and what he is supposedly able to do is wearing her down all on its
own.

He can tell it’s working, because while he only just anages to catch her shoulder with one
hand, which he transformed into a ball of spikes, the injury distracts her long enough for him
to claw her arm, ripping both her uniform and her flesh nearly to the bone. “I told you that
won’t work on me.” He giggles. “You know that right?”

“Sometimes you still have to try, despite knowing it’s futile.” She says stoically. Mahito finds
that stupid. Why bother when you know nothing will come of it? It’s not like things will
magically change or…

She’s on the move again, once more on the rooftops above him. “For you!” She calls, before
sending a single nail towards his face. He dodges easily, and the projectile sticks into the
pavement. The force of it; however, makes all the discarded nails from earlier jump up as if
the nail had hit a trampoline instead of a firm road. The woman jumps down towards him, a
strange move considering from above she had a slight advantage.

Hairpin.

With a flick of her wrist and a snap of her fingers, the nails that are still suspended in the air
all turn with deadly accuracy and pierce through him. She… used the old needles from
earlier?

Before he gets the chance to comprehend what had just happened, a foot lands solidly on his
chest, shoving him to the ground. Another nail imbeds itself into his flesh, and Nobara stands
over him with fire in her eyes. Resonance!

Several streets away, under the streets of Shibuya, the real Mahito coughs as he is impaled by
sharp spikes. No, not spikes. Nails.
No way.

No way!

Itadori Yuji wasn’t my only natural enemy?!

“That’s odd.” Nobara addresses him, eyes cold. “I just felt my cursed energy explode far
away from here.” She knows. “The pressure from your cursed energy is also lackluster, and
you could have just taken hold of me earlier, too.” She grins, wide and manic, looking very
un-omegan in a way that even Mahito has to admit is frightening. The weaker gender, my
ass. “You’re some kind of double who can’t use its technique, aren’t you?”

As much as he wants to pout over his secret being found out, this does make their game of cat
and mouse more interesting. He hates when things aren’t interesting. Licking the blood from
his lips, the double pulls the nail in his forehead free. “Correct.”

Bolstered by her assessment of him being correct, Nobara is reenergized, ready for the
second wave of attacks. “Then this is where the real fight begins!”

The Mahito double grins, settling into a defensive position. He stays there for barely a second
before he turns on his heel. “Nope! I’m running!”

He can sense the woman’s confusion, making her take a moment to chase after him. “Hold
on!”

The Mahito double cackles, not holding on at all. After all, he has places to be, things to do…

People to kill.

*
Thanks to Nobara’s unwitting attack on the real Mahito, the curse had slowed down
significantly, allowing Yuji to finally get some good hits in. This one is for Nanami. This one
is for Junpei. This one is also for Junpei. And this one, and this one, and…

Before his next hit lands, Mahito splits into several small egg-like creatures, one of which has
to have the fatal portion of its soul. But which one?

He can’t take too long to decide or they will all get away, leaving him with more problems.

Yuji feels an excess of cursed energy to his left and dives for the lone creature trying to sneak
away. He crushes it against the wall, but nothing happens.

“Ha! You fell for it!” A mostly re-formed Mahito cackles from further down the tunnel.

Shit! Tricked by cursed energy!

He’s on his feet, racing down the long stretch of tunnel after him barely seconds later. He
can’t let Mahito get to the stairs, because those lead up to the surface, and if he gets to the
surface….

A second Mahito leaps down the last few stairs, turning and heading for the one he’d
originally been fighting. Yuji stumbles, barely catching himself from toppling over. What
the..?

The two Mahitos close distance rapidly, which urges Yuji to speed up. If the two touch and
rejoin, Mahito could heal, and then….

But the surprises don’t stop. Instead of rejoining, the two rush past each other, effectively
switching places. The double is now rushing towards him, and the original…
“Itadori?”

Fuck!

“Run, Kugisaki!”

He’s too far. He’s not fast enough.

It all happens in an instant. Barely have the words left his mouth does Mahito reach Nobara,
clasping a hand to her face. He doesn’t do anything else, his momentum propelling him past
her, but Yuji knows.

He knows.

“Hit you dead on!” The double calls back to her right before Yuji punches it into a wall,
rendering it useless.

“You’re in my way!” He doesn’t look to see if the hit was fatal, that’s not important right
now. “Kugisaki!”

She raises a hand to her face, as if sensing something is wrong. Nobara doesn’t move from
where she stands, barely even blinking as Yuji watches her realize that she’s been hit, just not
in the usual way. He calls her name again, and this time, she looks up, straight at him , seeing
him. “Itadori.” She says softly. “Tell everyone for me: life wasn’t so bad.”

No, no no, Kugisaki!

He stumbles to a stop right in front of her just as the veins in her face bulge. A second later,
they erupt. Where Nobara’s left eye once was is now an empty crater staring back at him. Her
body collapses, leaving him shaking and on edge.
 Kugisaki?

Chapter End Notes

RIP Mahito; Maki is going to kill you for hurting her gf.
 Chapter 43
Chapter Notes

So past few weeks haven't been great. Had really bad storms that affected just about
everything, and trying to clean up after that didn't leave me with much time to write.

Also, as much as I love the Shibuya arc, I hate writting fights, and I don't want to write
the Yuji Mahito fight. I was going to, I really was, but I've been trying and had been
stuck on it for ages. So, in an effort to keep this fic moving, I have to skip it.

As for this chapter, I was going to wait because it has a pretty big (unhappy) reveal in it,
but...

I'm entering my Gege era.

See the end of the chapter for more notes

“Hey there.”

“Hey” Shuku says glumly, looking up from Megumi’s still prone body. He’d had to temper
his reaction to seeing his mother comatose, but Eri had been quick to reassure him that
everything was fine. “Shoko and Yaga found him sitting outside. Unconscious.”

“Sitting?” How had he dragged himself all the way to them and then just decided to sit
outside.

“Sitting.” Eri confirms, a knowing look in her eye. “As if placed there for them to see.”

Ah. Now that made more sense. Of course his father wouldn’t want the sorcerers to
immediately know he’d had free reign for a bit, even if they’d find out eventually. It would
raise too many questions about why exactly he’d spent his time in control keeping one of
their own safe.
“I made a mistake.” He whispers, trying to keep Shoko from overhearing. She’s still close by,
but with her focus on Nanami, it was unlikely she’d pay attention to the others still awake
and unharmed. “When I found Mahito, when I got between him and Nanami, I said
something about my mother being human.”

Eri shrugs. “So? That is common knowledge. Everyone is aware Ryomen Sukuna had a
human mate.”

“Had, yes. But I didn’t say had.”

Eri’s mouth opens in surprise, looking from Shuku down to Megumi. “You implied he was
alive.”

Shuku shudders, mind instantly conjuring up images of Megumi in Mahito’s control. “To be
fair, Mahito thinks my mother is a she, but, yes. I said ‘is’ instead of ‘was’ and now…”

“Now someone, one of our enemies, knows.” Eri bites her lip. “I know Sukuna doesn’t want
to rush into anything and potentially risk Megumi slipping into insanity by pushing him to
remember, but we may not have a choice.”

Before Shuku can answer, the omega they’d just been discussing groans, eyes weakly
fluttering open. “Well, good morning!” Eri laughs. “Welcome back to the land of the living.”

“Hi, Eri.” Megumi mumbles, wincing from the lights. “Where am I?”

“Off the playing field. It’s getting rough out there.” As if to prove her pout, the earth shakes,
forcing everyone inside the makeshift hospital to look out towards the rest of Shibuya.
“We’re busy extracting everyone we can find. Shuku, we may need you to go find Yuji and
help with whatever that was.”

He doesn’t want to, but since he’s one of the few still standing, he really has no choice. “If I
must.”
Eri nods. “The Kyoto school arrived not too long ago. They should be acting as emergency
backup, but we need to end this soon, or we won’t have anyone but Itadori, and who knows
how long he can survive.”

Shuku promises to head out into Shibuya again as soon as he ensures Megumi is fine. He’d
already made a few runs back to the station to pick up Maki and Naobito’s corpse. The other
alpha had woken up ages ago, which is partially why he was so worried over Megumi. “You
okay? What happened?”

Megumi sits up, wincing as his head begins to pound. “I’ll be fine. I…” He pauses, frowning.

“Megs?”

“I… don’t know.” Megumi looks up at him, brows knit in confusion. “I don’t remember.”

Shoko and Yaga stand side by side under flickering lamp light. It’s quiet down here, in the
parts of the city that aren’t directly under attack. Shoko is on cigarette number who-knows-
what when Yaga feels something disturb the area around them. He glances down into the
street, gasping as he sees the broken body of one of his students.

“Fushiguro!”

He’d seen something else out of the corner of his eye, a flash of pink, blue, and red that made
him think Itadori had been with him. But if Itadori had been the one to carry him here, why
leave? Could it have been Sukuna he saw instead?

“Shoko!” He doesn’t have the time to think about that right now. The implications are
disturbing if it was the King of Curses who had been interested enough in Megumi to save
him instead of letting him die, but those would mean nothing if the boy died now.

“On it!”

He follows her to the street, standing over the two of them as Shoko kneels beside Megumi
and tilts his head side to side. “Well?”

“He…” she frowns. “I can’t tell. He’s in bad shape, but the worst of it is in his head. It’s
almost like he’s… bleeding, but it doesn’t feel like blood.”

Yaga huffs impatiently. “I don’t care how it feels, Shoko. If he dies, Gojo will unseal himself
to kill us both. Get him stable!”

Nodding, Shoko uses her reversed curse energy to slowly mend the gaping wound she feels in
Megumi’s head. The “blood” feels wrong, more like viscous syrup, and she can’t seem to
shove all of it back where it belongs. It’s as if it’s actively fighting her, begging to flow freely.
Sorry, kid. But your blood needs to stay where it’s supposed to.

Forgoing subtlety, she scoops as much as she can into her metaphorical hands and tosses it
into the almost closed hole in his skull before suturing it closed. Nothing is getting out of that.
“There. Whatever it was, it’s locked up tight now.” With him unlikely to die from head
trauma, Shoko turns her attention to the rest of his body.

Barely hidden in the shadows, Sukuna watches in growing horror as he realizes what Shoko
has done. It wasn‘t blood she had felt and hastily locked away. His reversed energy would
have healed the most harmful damage; a head wound would have been healed already.

Sukuna feels sick. Those were Megumi’s memories she’d just haphazardly thrown away.

And just like that, mere seconds after holding Megumi, his Megumi, in his arms, Sukuna has
lost him again.
He wants to scream, cry, rip Shibuya to shreds as punishment for jujutsu sorcerers taking his
mate from him yet again. But he doesn’t have time. Yuji will regain control any moment, and
Sukuna is powerless to stop him.

Craving any form of vengeance he can get, Sukuna returns to the center of his carnage, the
gaping hole left in the city. It is here he will leave Yuji, to allow him to soak in the chaos and
utter destruction he could bring about. Be sure to take a good long look. He thinks as he
loses his tenuous control over their shared form. This is all your fault, after all.

“What do you mean you don’t remember?” Shuku asks, nose wrinkling. “How do you not
remember getting thrown out of a window by your…” He hesitates, unwilling to admit
Megumi had been attacked by his supposedly dead father. “Attacker?”

Megumi’s eyes narrow as he stares straight ahead, trying to sort through the jumble of
memories. There are flashes of things he’s never seen before, places he’s never been but can
recall so vividly that he knows they must be real. Something had happened tonight, and
someone had made him forget. “I remember that. He stabbed himself. But then…” It’s a blur.
One big blur that he can’t sort through. There are holes in his memory, and the pieces that
rise to fill them are simply wrong.

“But then?” Shuku prompts, hoping for more details.

Megumi can’t give him any. “But then it all becomes a jumble.” He turns, glaring at the
young curse so fiercely that Shuku falls back. “Someone messed with my mind. There are
things, memories, that I don’t recall, but that I know are real. I don’t know where they came
from.” His glare returns to the wall, or more specifically, the window in it, looking out into
Shibuya. “But I know someone who can.”

Shuku hesitates to ask, but his curiosity gets the better of him. “Who?”
 Megumi doesn’t look at him, his scowl deepening. “Your father.”

Shuku blinks, surprised. Did he…? “My….”

“He was there, I know he was. And I want to know why.”

Chapter End Notes

BEFORE YOU GET MAD AT ME

I promise, I did originally have Megumi remember during Shibuya. My first draft
(which I still have written) even has Megumi waking up and running back out to search
for him. However, as mentioned previously, as I was writing, a certain thing happened in
manga that was too perfect for the reveal, meaning it got pushed back.

That being said, I still wanted a nod to my original plan, so I had to find a way to make
Megumi forget again. Sorry Shoko.

Don't worry, Megumi hasn't completely forgotten, he just hasn't as fully remembered as
he should have. Shoko's haphazard "fix" locked away most of his old memories, but also
some of his newer one, leaving a few memories of his past life floating around.

I think of it this way: This fic has three arcs.

1. Megumi doesn't know

2. Megumi knows he's forgetting something, but not what
3. Megumi remembers.

We have entered arc 2, so while he doesn't remember, he is going to start showing signs
of arc 3 Megumi. RIP Sukuna, you have an angry omega wanting answers after you.
Good luck.
 Chapter 44
Chapter Notes

Okay, I’m back. Shibuya is sucking the life out of me, but we’re almost done. Also, at
least this break got me to the end of the manga, so I have a better idea of how I want this
story to progress.

See the end of the chapter for more notes

This wasn’t exactly how he had expected things to end. After what felt like hours, though
was likely only several minutes, of fighting Mahito, Yuji had finally had the curse exactly
where he wanted him. It was over, done, and he would finally get revenge for all those the
curse had hurt. Nanami, Nobara, Junpei- no one else would ever have to be a victim to his
hellish temperament anymore.

At least, that’s what he’d thought before the other man had shown up.

Geto, Mahito had called him, and Yuji remembered what that name meant. Geto was the man
who had sealed Gojo. Geto was the one who had caused all of this. And, somewhere in the
back of his mind, Yuji recognizes the name as one Gojo-sensei had always fallen silent for, as
if it was sacred and terrible at the same time.

Yuji had, like Mahito, assumed that Geto’s presence meant it would be an unfair fight, even if
one of his opponents was badly beaten. Instead, Geto had used his own technique to swallow
and absorb Mahito into his ranks, getting rid of one problem only to create a bigger one.

Thankfully, it seemed he wasn’t the last person left in Shibuya, as Panda and the Kyoto
students had joined him to do what damage they could.

Even if it was obvious the battle was already lost.

“That man has Gojo Satoru and the prison realm, hm?” Noritoshi asks.
“Apparently.” Panda confirms. “I don’t know what he finds so fun about walking around with
that public nuisance.”

“Who is he?”

Yuji looks back at Noritoshi, a little shocked. Sure, he didn't know, but he was still new to
this! He would have thought that someone raised in the Kamo clan, who had supposedly
fought last year against this man, would recognize him.

“The shell is Geto Suguru.” Shell? “I don’t know what’s inside.”

Well that made things a lot more complicated. Yuji really needed a nap and fifty years to try
to figure out what the hell was going on.

Another figure stumbles out of the rubble, hands shaking with anger, and Yuji recognizes the
man who had cornered him in the subway. The blood manipulation user whose brothers he’d
killed. What was he doing here? More importantly, was he still an threat?

It didn’t seem like it, not when his anger was directed at the man at the center of everyone’s
attention. “Looks like you’ve realized it.” Not-Geto says, addressing him as Choso.

“So that’s how it works!” Choso hollars back. “Kamo Noritoshi!”

Huh?

Yuji and Panda both turn to their Noritoshi, who looks just as confused as they are about the
whole thing. “Me?”
“Kamo Noritoshi is one of the many names I’ve had.” Not-Geto/Kamo Noritoshi Two
responds. “Call me whatever you like.”

Bastard, Yuji decides, would be a nice name for whatever that thing was.

Choso isn’t focused on his name, however, stalking forward while yelling at him. “How dare
you! How dare you try to make me kill Itadori! My little brother!”

“Do you have a brother?” Panda whispers to him.

“Not that I’m aware of!”

Before Choso can reach Not-Geto, a… man? Woman? Yuji isn’t sure, slides between them.

“Stand down.” They say calmly. “Don’t keep me waiting any longer.”

Choso does not stand down. “Move it! I’m his older brother!”

“You have an older brother?”

Yuji looks up to find Shuku, panting from having run from outside of the disaster area once
Megumi had insisted he return to help their friends. He was still seething, insistent on the fact
that Sukuna had done something to him. Shuku wasn’t quite sure what had happened, but
he’d have time to ask his father later.

“Shuku!” Yuji stands, and Shuku has to hold him steady when he nearly falls. “No, I have no
idea what he’s talking about! He tried to kill me earlier.”
Shrugging, Shuku looks back at Choso, who has his hands together to summon his technique.
But it isn’t Choso that he focuses on. “Uraume?”

The white haired stranger turns, eyes widening upon seeing Shuku. The distraction is all
Choso needs to fire his blood at them. “Uraume!” Shuku yells, obviously concerned, but the
blood doesn’t hit. Uraume manages to block it, though just barely. “Uraume!” Shuku drops
Yuji’s arms, racing towards them.

“Don’t!” They try to warn, but it’s too late. Choso senses the incoming threat and pounces.
Cursing, Uraume quickly draws cursed energy into their palm. Ice Formation: Frost Calm.

Shuku has clearly seen this technique before, because when Uraume lightly blows across
their palm, he jumps, dodging the ice as it crawls across the ground to trap the rest of them in
ice. He lands only after it has passed, running straight into the stranger’s arms.

Uraume returns the hug, pleased to have been able to see both Sukuna and his son in one
night. “Shuku. It has been too long.”

“Is this the boy?” Kenjaku asks, looking the two over with a discerning gaze. “It is good to
finally meet him.” Shuku doesn’t turn, dread crawling up his spine at the calculating tone. “It
is good, too, to know your mother is alright.”

Uraume tenses, and Shuku turns in their arms to stare at the other curse. “What do you…”

“Ah, you thought I wouldn’t know?” Kenjaku laughs. “When I absorbed Mahito and his
technique, I did get a brief glimpse of your conversation earlier. ‘My mother is,’ hm? So they
are alive.”

“I told him it was a slip of the tongue…”

Kenjaku laughs, shaking his head. The young Ryomen heir was strong, and Kenjaku had no
desire to attack him when he knew Uraume would take his master’s side. Besides, he couldn’t
 risk Sukuna’s wrath. But toying with Shuku was proving to be just as rewarding. “You
wouldn’t be so worried if it was. Don’t worry, I have no need of your mother. Though I
would love to meet them soon. You’ll introduce us, won’t you?”

Shuku shakes his head. “My mother is dead.”

“Was dead. Why else would Sukuna be taking so long to enact his plan? He wouldn’t unless
something had changed. I had been suspecting something had for a while, but I had no proof,
or any idea what for that matter.” He smiles in a way that should be kind but comes across as
demeaning and threatening. “Thank you for giving me such a fine hint.”

Uraume grips tighter to Shuku, warning him not to say anything else. Uraume knows. They
must have seen Sukuna while he had the body.

“All this talk is so boring!” A taunting voice calls, and everyone turns towards the newcomer.
It’s a woman with blonde hair and a strange bug-like creature twisting around her. “Long
time no see, Geto-kun. Could I get your answer to my question back then?” She leans over,
blowing him a mocking kiss. “What kind of woman is your type?”

“Oh gods, not this again.”

Chapter End Notes

Will I come back and edit the last few chapters when I have the time and energy?
Probably, I’m not too happy with them, but if I don’t start posting again, who knows
when this fic will update.
 Chapter 45
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes

“Listen to me.”

It’s hard to pull himself away from the train wreck that is happening in front of him, but
Shuku has no choice, not when Uraume grabs him by the chin and tugs. “Ow! ‘Raume!”

“Listen.” They repeat, hissing the word through their teeth. “We do not have long and there is
much to tell you.”

“What do you mean we don’t have long? Uraume…”

They shake their head sadly. “Your father has plans; plans I have been arranging for him.
Plans that I must now correct since there is an extra player in this game.”

Shuku glances back at the fight happening between the fake Geto and the sorcerers, but
Uraume shakes their head, letting him know that “other player” is Megumi. “What do I do?”

“Watch him.” Uraume says simply, unwilling to say more than necessary with others around.
“Stay with him. It does not matter what happens after tonight, you stay by his side and keep
him safe.”

“He knows.” Shuku lowers his voice, leaning close to keep their conversation private.
“Something happened tonight, and he knows something is missing.”

A faint smile finds its way onto Uraume’s lips. “Then we can only hope it won’t take him
long to remember. All the more reason for you to stay.”
He doesn’t want to, doesn’t like being left out of the plan, but for Megumi’s safety, he will.
“True. He’s got a penchant for trying to sacrifice himself at the drop of a hat.”

“You stay safe too.” Uraume makes him promise. “I want all of us to reunite when this is
over, not just some.”

“Then don’t get yourself killed.” Shuku says with a cocky grin. Uraume scoffs at him, but
presses a kiss to his forehead before pulling away. They disappear into the night, just like the
rest of their enemies, all of them scattering to reconvene somewhere else, leaving the
sorcerers reeling from the devastating losses they’ve suffered.

Megumi sits, stewing over his new/old/potentially forged memories. He wasn’t allowed back
out into Shibuya to fight, and for good reason, but just sitting wasn’t doing him any good. So,
instead, he’d taken up vigil by Nanami, allowing Eri to help Shoko where she could.

Maki was bandaged, burned horribly, but the alpha didn’t seem to care. She was sitting
beside an unconscious, but still alive, Nobara, looking like an angry, sad puppy. “She’ll be
okay.” He offers, though it’s more of an empty wish than a true reassurance. She grunts back
at him, and he knows that’s all he’ll be getting. It's tough, seeing her omega so broken, and he
doesn't want to rub salt into an open wound.

The buzz of sorcerers running back and forth, trying to heal their colleagues and friends is a
nice drone in the background of his thoughts. What happened tonight? And Sukuna… why do
I see him so often in these thoughts? Is this some new plan of his? But then why is he so…
so…

Megumi’s cheeks flush and he pushes down the thought of Sukuna, large and with all four
arms, helping him string a bow. Now was not the time to be thinking about how big his hands
were and how tall he was and how…

“Fushiguro Megumi.”
He turns, surprised to find three girls, all covered by blankets, standing over him. “Can I help
you?”

The blonde snorts. “You can keep your damn sire away from ours.”

“Mimiko. Nanako.” The ravenette shakes her head. “We are on the same side now. If you
want Geto-sama back…”

“Oh, it’s you.” Megumi rolls his eyes. He hadn’t technically met the girls Geto Suguru had
adopted, but he knew about them. It was hard not to when Gojo and Geto had kept contact, as
limited as it was, to spend ruts together. They were arguably his annoying sisters, by mating,
despite this being their first meeting.

The ravenette was new though. “And you are?”

Before she can answer, Shuku stomps his way into the room, followed by the Kyoto students.
“Megumi! You feel any better?”

The girl who had been speaking cocks her head, cheeks flushing. “You are Sukuna’s son.”

Shuku briefly looks up at her before doing a double take. “Uh, yeah. I am. And you are?”

Megumi rolls his eyes at the alpha posturing. Give one a pretty omega, and they lost all brain
function. “These are Geto Suguru’s adopted pups. Well, those two are.”

“I’m Ayumi.” The third girl offers. “Kenjaku… the thing inhabiting Geto-sama, made me in
his image. No relation though.”

“To Geto or Kenjaku?”

“Both. I was an experiment. One he didn’t use any part of himself to make.” She looks down.
“I was the only one who survived.”

“And now she’s with us.” Nanako wraps an arm around her shoulder before glaring at Shuku.
“So don’t get any ideas.”

Shuku snarls, but before the situation can escalate, Nanami groans. “Eri!” Megumi yells,
rising from his chair. “I think he’s waking up!”

Without hesitation, Eri abandoned Shoko, racing to her husband’s side. “Kento? It’s time to
wake up, baby.”

“… turn the light off.”

She laughs. “I can’t do that. Ieri needs it.”

Nanami’s eyes finally crack open. “I feel like shit.”

“You look like it too.” Shuku barks out a laugh. “But that’s better than being dead.”

Nanami closes his eyes again, still annoyed by the light. “I guess.”

With Nanami finally awake, Megumi motions for them to leave the couple alone. The five of
them relocate, the girls forming their own huddle on the other side of the room. Shuku and
Ayumi share one last glance before being pulled apart. “Focus.” Megumi scolds. “Where’s
Itadori?”

“Huh?” Shuku, despite being told to focus, is still watching Ayumi. “What?”
“Itadori!” Megumi hisses. He needed to know his friend was safe. More than that, he needed
to talk to Sukuna. “Where is Itadori?”

Finally turning from his new fascination, Shuku blanches. “Uh, yeah, about that…”

Notice From Jujutsu Headquarters

Geto Suguru’s survival has been confirmed, and he has been sentenced to death again.

Gojo Satoru has been deemed an accomplice in the Shibuya Incident and is thus
permanently exiled from the jujutsu world. Furthermore, removing his seal will be
considered a criminal act.

Yaga Masamichi shall receive the death penalty for inciting Gojo Satoru and Geto
Suguru and causing the Shibuya Incident.

For his assistance in the Shibuya Incident, Ryomen Shuku shall remain enrolled at the
Tokyo branch of Jujutsu Tech as a Grade 1 sorcerer.
 The suspension of Itadori Yuji’s death sentence is revoked and the execution is to be
carried out immediately.

Special grade sorcerer Okkotsu Yuta is appointed Itadori Yuji’s executioner.

Chapter End Notes

And with that, the Shibuya incident comes to a close. Shuku is staying with mom, per
Uraume's (and Sukuna's) instructions. We will see how long that lasts since Megumi is
going to be chasing Itadori down.
 Chapter 46
Chapter Notes

Happy Birthday, Megumi! May you get all the kisses and cuddles you could possibly
want from your two favorite curses!

👀
As for the rest of you, have a new chapter, one to bridge the gap between Shibuya and
what comes next.

It’s so quiet now. With Itadori gone, and subsequently Sukuna, as well as Nobara down for
the count, not to mention his father sealed away, Megumi finds himself alone.

Mostly.

Shuku is here, as well as Nanami and Eri. The girls, Mimiko and Nanako, have been avoiding
him since they were offered shelter. Ayumi, now that they are relatively safe, seems to have
been forgotten. Not that Nanako and Mimiko don’t try to look for her, but she keeps to
herself, only ever speaking to Eri and staring at Shuku from afar.

Maki is… with Nobara in a coma, she hasn’t exactly been social. And as for the other second
years, now that Yuta is back from Africa, ordered back after the mass casualties of Shibuya,
they’ve been spending time with him.

He did see Yuta once, when the other omega had first arrived. “Hey.”

“Hi.” Megumi had said, allowing Yuta the hug he wanted. He and Yuta didn’t spend much
time together, but he was one of the few people Rika didn’t seem to mind. As such, whenever
Yuta needed another omega to talk to, he often went to Megumi.

“I heard you have a shadow now.” He had nodded towards the shade of the building, where
Shuku had been sitting, trying to seem uninterested and failing miserably.
“I have a lot of things.” Megumi had told Yuta of the strange thoughts and memories
suddenly in his head, and the other omega had seemed surprised.

“That…” he’s simply shaken his head, unable to finish his sentence. “I can ask Rika.”

“Don’t bother. The only person who can help me is Sukuna. But thanks for the offer.”

Sukuna. Trapped inside Itadori. Who Yuta was tasked to kill.

Not that he would since Yuta hated being told what to do. The only one who could was Rika;
what was left of her still recognized as Yuta’s alpha. She was insanely jealous most days, but
could be reasoned with if Yuta was in pain. She couldn’t help with heats, which was why
Inumaki usually did. Maki had tried once, before Nobara obviously, and nearly gotten herself
killed.

“I wouldn’t be so sure.” Yuta had said cryptically, refusing to elaborate before heading
towards Shuku. Megumi had watched, tense and ready to step in if things got ugly, but the
two had gotten along fine. Even Rika hadn’t seemed to mind the other curse.

“You’re thinking too loud.” Shuku mumbles as he enters Megumi’s room. Since Shibuya, the
alpha had begun spending more time here. Megumi didn’t mind, not when he’d found Shuku
crying from nightmares over the incident while missing his father. Perhaps he shouldn’t trust
the son of the curse he believed to have tampered with his mind, but the sins of the father
were not that of the son, and Megumi’s omega wasn’t going to let a pup cry without trying to
soothe him.

“You should try it some time.” He shoots back, earning a laugh.

“Maybe I should.” Shuku sinks onto the bed beside him. “What now?”
Sighing, Megumi reaches for the alpha, letting Shuku rest his head on his shoulder. “I wish I
knew.”

Okkotsu Yuta was an interesting character. A man in a strange arrangement with a curse,
alpha and omega devoted to each other, who welded immense power. Much like his mom.

Shuku liked him against all odds.

He liked him more knowing Rika, while somehow both more and less volatile than his father,
could sense what humans could not. And of course relay that information to her omega.

“Rika says Megumi is different.” Those had been Yuta’s first words to him. “She says
something changed in him since last we met.”

Shuku had tried to brush it off, not interested in boy or curse. “He said something happened
to his head…”

“Is it true? Ryomen Sukuna’s mate- is it Megumi?” When Shuku hadn’t answered, blindsided
by the question, Yuta had continued. “That’s Rika’s theory, at least. I think it could be a trick
and he just thinks…”

“Ask Nanami.” Shuku had interrupted, earning a growl from Rika. “He can tell you what you
want.” This was becoming the worst kept secret in Jujutsu Tech.

Placing a hand out to settle the snarling curse, Yuta had regarded him quietly for a few
moments, taking stock of him. “And if I ask Nanami, will he tell me I’m right?”

Smart and bold, even despite his meek appearance on occasion, Okkotsu Yuta was a
wonderful ally to have. “I suppose that depends.”
“On?”

“If you ask him.”

That had made Yuta smile and set Rika at ease. “I guess I’ll have to do that then. See you
around, Prince of Curses. And don’t worry, if Megumi is what Rika thinks he is, I’ll help
keep him safe.”

He ran. The brat ran.

In fairness, even Sukuna can’t do much against the entirety of the jujutsu world from inside
Itadori, and with everyone now called to hunt them down, it made sense to run. That doesn’t
mean he has to like it though.

In all his years, Sukuna has never, never, been apart from Shuku for more than a week.
Barring, of course, the time they’d been sealed, but as neither of them could do or feel
anything during those years, he didn’t count that. This separation from his pup was
unprecedented, and Sukuna ached inside with worry.

More than that, Sukuna was separated from Megumi. Megumi, who despite remembering and
then forgetting, was more tied to him now than ever. They may not be fully bonded, but his
partial awakening had tied them together once more. Sukuna could feel it tugging at him if he
focused; an insistent tugging telling him his omega wanted him and that he was pissed.

As unfortunate as it was that Megumi was upset with him, at least he knew where to come to
get answers. At least he’d be looking for him, and the brat by extension, and when Megumi
finally found them, descending like an angel of death, Sukuna would be ready to welcome
him with open arms and all the answers he wanted.
Just as long as everything went according to plan.
 Chapter 47
Chapter Notes

Me? Updating before a month has passed? Say less.

No Megumi here, but plenty of drama around him.

“Yuji.” Itadori doesn’t look up, still staring at the floor in front of him. “How are your
injuries?”

“I’m good except where I got hit by black flash.” He flexes his hand, watching it move. His
body has felt less and less like his the past few days, and even now he can feel the curse
inside of him just under his skin. “I think that’s because of Sukuna. I can tell that his strength
is growing.”

Choso stops just behind him. “Don’t worry about me. You can return to Jujutsu Tech. I have
to collect Shoso and the others’ remains anyway.”

Ah yes, their “brothers” in a way. “I’m not worried about you.” He says, though it isn’t harsh.
He just knows Choso can, in fact, handle himself. “The problem isn’t whether I want to
return or not.” He flexes his hand again. “Sukuna is plotting something involving Fushiguro.”
As if to prove his point, the curse inside him swells to the surface at Megumi’s name, and
Yuji takes a moment to swallow him back. “Besides, I killed too many people. I can no
longer stay with everyone.”

Glancing back at his new brother, he offers an apologetic grimace. “Are you okay with
everything? I killed your little brothers.”

Choso shrugs. “It’s okay. That was a misunderstanding. And if Eso and Kechizu were in my
place,” he lays a hand on Yuji’s shoulder. “They would say the same thing. It isn’t about
forgiving or not forgiving. Brothers are just… like that.”
Nodding, Yuji rises, taking the steps two at a time. “Let’s go. Right now, we have to take care
of as many cursed spirits as possible.”

Recognizing the conversation is over, Choso nods, following his little brother out into the
streets. They were both partially to blame for the current situation outside, and it only felt
right that they do something about it.

“Impressive as ever, little brother.” Choso calls after they wipe out a few large curses.

“Are you still calling me that?”

Choso shrugs. “I’ll keep calling you that over and over. Try to recollect. After all, your father
had stitches on his forehead, didn’t he?”

Yuji freezes, head whipping around to face Choso. “No.” He swallows. “My mother did.”

Before they can continue the conversation, a noise interrupts them. “Hm. I don’t see Megumi.
Am I the first one here?” Choso closes rank with Yuji, both looking up at the rather weaselly
looking man above them. “Is it possible he’s that slow?” He snorts. “Of course an omega
can’t keep up.” As if realizing he has an audience, the man finally looks down at them,
almost in shock. “What are you two doing? You totally stand out. Don’t you want to run?”

“Run?” Yuji asks, confused. Why would he run from a stranger?

“Haven’t you heard?” The man cocks his head, grinning. “Now that Satoru’s support is gone,
your death sentence is back on.” He shrugs again. “My business is with Megumi. I honestly
don’t care if you live or die, but since I can’t have you scampering around, I’ll break your
legs first.”

Ignoring the threat, Yuji focuses instead on the missing player in this game. “What do you
want with Fushiguro?” He isn’t the only one curious. Sukuna rises again, listening intently
for his answer.
The man’s grin widens. “Haven’t decided yet. Maybe I’ll kill him. Maybe not.” Yuji feels his
arm twitch, Sukuna desperate to take control. “He’s rather useless, but he could certainly be
good Zenin breeding stock. Maybe I’ll welcome him back to the fold and keep him tied to a
bed. We could finally get an alpha worthy of the Ten Shadows out of him.”

Yuji’s body jerks forward, part Sukuna and part his own anger. “What the fuck is wrong with
you?”

“I heard Megumi is looking for you.” Between one second and the next, the man disappears
from where he’d been standing, reappearing between him and Choso. He aims for Yuji first,
grazing him, giving Choso time to block his attack. Yuji recovers quickly, aiming for his ribs,
but the man disappears again, only to settle across the street. “You’re tougher than I thought.
To be honest, I wasn’t expecting much.”

“He’s fast.” Yuji pants.

Choso nods. “Cursed technique, most likely.”

Before any of them can move, a strange and menacing aura settles over them. It almost feels
like Gojo-sensei, but far creepier. Three heads turn skyward, finding yet another interloper
above them. “Hm? You’re not alone.”

Yuta is a little disappointed Itadori isn’t alone. This would have gone a lot smoother if they
could have just had a nice little spar and then a conversation. Ask what Sukuna had done to
his friend and why Itadori was being a dick and running away. (Okay, maybe he wasn’t being
a dick, but Megumi was one of the few people Rika liked, and that made Yuta oddly
protective of him.)

Instead, Zenin Naoya was here, the prick. If Rika didn’t like Maki, then she hated Naoya.
The Zenin as a whole weren’t high on their list of friends (excluding Megumi, but he had
taken the Fushiguro name) considering their stance on genders, secondary and otherwise. To
them, the hierarchy was: alpha males, because they were both male and alpha, no matter the
person; beta males, because at least they were male; alpha females, solely for the fact they
were alphas; beta females, only because they weren’t omegas; omega females, because if
they were weak, at least they were according to the natural order of things; and omega males’
who did a grave disservice to their sex by becoming “weak breeders.”

Yuta and Megumi both were the antithesis of their beliefs, which made them enemies in more
ways than one. This was the last thing he needed today.

“Who are you?” Itadori asks, clearly on the defense thanks to Naoya.

With a sigh, Yuta jumps up, crushing the railing and crumbling the wall beneath his feet. It
provides a little ramp for him to join them and also displays his strength, just in case Naoya
forgot. “Who’s with Itadori?” He nods towards the spiky haired man standing to Yuji’s side.

He doesn’t answer, just scoffs. “So you’re Yuji’s executioner?”

Oh, right. He was, wasn’t he? Not that he’d follow through. As stated before, he hated
following orders. “Wait just a second!” Yuta nearly groans, turning to Naoya. “I’m on your
side!” When have you ever been on my side? “You’re Okkotsu, right?”

Yuta rolls his eyes. Naoya knows damn well who he is. While they’ve never met face-to-face,
they’ve both at least seen one another in passing. But if that was how the alpha wanted to
play… “Who’re you?”

He watches Naoya’s face flush, clearly angry that an omega has the gall to question him, but
after Yuta’s display, he can’t risk having him turn on him. “Zenin Naoya. Maki’s cousin.”
Scum of the earth. “I’m also here to kill Itadori.”

Well wasn’t that just peachy. “Don’t worry, I won’t interfere.” Naoya raises his hands in
surrender. “But in return, even if you do kill Itadori, would you mind refraining from telling
your superiors for a while?” What an odd request. Yuta cocks his head in question, and
Naoya responds accordingly. “He’s bait for someone I want to meet.”
Oh. Oh no. Yuta feels Rika understand at the same moment he does, and it’s a struggle to
keep her down. He can only mean Megumi, meaning Naoya has plans for him, and nothing
good ever comes from Zenin plans. He wants to say no, immediately shoot him down, but
then he takes one more second to think. “Very well.” He says coolly. “I leave the other to
you.”

And with his acquiescence, they move. Naoya goes straight for Choso, blocking his attack on
Yuta. Meanwhile, Yuji darts away, running as fast as he can, but Yuta is only a few steps
behind. Good. He thinks, as the distance between them and Naoya increases. Now Itadori’s
friend can take out the Zenin. And we can have a private chat.
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