Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

—- 

BANG!

A slam resonated through Fushigiro’s room, startling him awake. 

5:10 AM his clock read. 

“Secrets secrets, are no fun. Secrets secrets, hurt someone.” Gojo’s voice barreled through his room. 

“What the hell?” Megumi yelled, startled awake. Seeing Gojo he groaned. 

“Yeah. What the hell,” Gojo scoffed. “What the hell happened last night?!” he asked, exasperated. 

“N- Nothing!” Megumi said defensively, as a reflex. 

Till he remembered that there very much was stuff that happened last night. 

“Nothing? A freaked out Itadori at my door at fuck-ass AM rambling about a fight and you passing out in the kitchen and you say its nothing?” Gojo said, throwing his arms out to the side. 

“It wasn't a fight.” Megumi quipped. He didn't think it was a fight. 

“Well,” He thought “I don't know what that was”

“ AHA !” Gojo yelled and pointed. “ADMITTANCE!” 

Megumi just stared at him. Gojo was congratulated himself. 

“What are you on, old man?” He groaned, grabbing his pillow and throwing it at his teacher. It bounced off infinity to the floor. Fushigiro pushed himself up. 

“Right now? Nothing.” He replied smart-assed, messing with his blindfold. “And I’m glad youre admitting this. The first step is always acceptance.” 

Fushigiro rolled his eyes. 

“What happened with Yuuji last night?” Megumi asked, the first name slipping out without him even realizing it. 

“Well, Yuuji- ” He started, emphasizing his name. Megumi realized his slip-up and felt his ears start to burn red with embarrassment. 

“Came to my door at fuck-ass-AM like I said, rambling about how you passed out in the kitchen and had been acting weird.” Megumi listened. 

—-

As a man who has very little time to sleep, Satoru Gojo valued his rest. It was precious to him, every second of it. 

He fuzzily woke, glancing around his room trying to find what it was that had woken him. 

A light nervous knocking rapped on his door. It was Yuuji. Confused and concerned, he sat up, grabbed his sunglasses, and opened it up. A half naked Yuuji went red and backed up, hands shaking and eyes watery. 

“Uhm. I’m sorry if this is a bad time.” He gulped, seeing how tired and slightly annoyed Gojo was. “But I need help with Fushigiro.” 

“What now?” He asked, a little irritated. Wrongfully so, he knew, but he had just fallen asleep. “Don’t you have a mission with Toge and Maki tomorrow? Why are you up?”

“He passed out in the kitchen.” Yuuji answered. That snapped Gojo out of it. 

“Is he still there?” He asked, urgency in his voice. Yuuji nodded, starting to run back. Gojo followed, and seconds later they were skidding into the kitchen, where Yuuji had laid Megumi on his side and put a clean dish towel under his head for support. 

“I’m kind of panicking, I didn't know what to do- he looked sick- God why did I turn around?” He squeaked, fingers lacing into his hair. 

Gojo’s hands didn’t hesitate to touch Megumi, feeling his pulse, tapping his face, his pupils. 

“Yuuji this is important, what happened before he fell?” Gojo said, calmly taking Itadori’s hands from his hair, and putting them into Megumi’s to try and calm him down and keep him from hurting himself.  

He was taking slow deep breaths to get Yuuji to follow- who did, and regained his composure before speaking again. 

“I came out here ‘cause I had a nightmare- and then he said my name- but like my first name, and then he was really weird and started saying all this stuff and that he needed me, and like leaning really heavily on the counter and giggling and shit and I snapped at him-” 

He paused to take a breath, Gojo nodding and listening, one hand on on Megumi’s back. 

“And then he just fell, he was making tea and the mug shattered, I cleaned up his hand and the pieces.” 

Gojo noticed the bandages carefully wrapped around Megumi’s hand, he also noticed how lightly Yuuji was holding that hand in comparison to the other, which was still tightly enclosed in Yuuji’s own. 

“He called me Yuuji again-” Itadori’s voice cracked. “And then he said he didn't mean to, and that he didn't mean a lot of things lately.” 

Gojo was putting the pieces together, Megumi’s migraine meds- the shakiness- the loopy-ness- this was his migraine that had started earlier. 

Clearly his meds werent working. He'd talk to Shoko about picking up something stronger. 

“If he didn't mean to call me Yuuji, what else didn't he mean? When he’d reach for me? Cuddle me? When he said he needed me? I don’t know.” Yuuji continued. 

Gojo’s heart sunk. 

“Satoru ”

The memory of a voice faded as quickly as it came- a stain from a memory he couldn't shake. 

“He touched my scar-” His voice broke. “And I asked why and he just said he had been thinking about it.” 

Gojo watched as Yuuji let go of Megumi’s good hand and subconsciously traced the outline of the scar on his chest. 

He remembered that time very well. 

The tears, the hours, the pain, the fights- 

It was Tsumiki all over again, but this curse couldn't have been exorcized. 

Watching your friend die- that’s non reversible. Or it shouldn't have been. 

He remembered the time after Megumi had found out Yuuji really was alive just as vividly. How angry Fushigiro had been. 

“I asked what was happening and he said nothing.” Yuuji whispered, scared anything louder would crack and shatter and he would start crying all over again. “Nothing.” 

A silent tear fell down Yuuji’s face. Gojo looked him in his eyes, to which Yuuji put on a smile and wiped his tear, sniffing. 

“I left, and he called for me, but he never said anything.” 

Gojo looked down at Megumi, his face pale and sweaty, eyebrows knit together in pain. 

“I just wanted him to say something to me.” Yuuji admits. 

Gojo nodded. He understood. 

“So I really did leave.” Yuuji choked. “And I heard a bang, came back and saw this. And now were here.” He said. 

Gojo nodded. 

“Is he ok?” He asked, nervously. Gojo nodded. 

“If something was terribly wrong I promise I’d be more urgent than this.” He said, reassuring Yuuji. 

Yuuji nodded, wiping at his face. He looked down at Fushigiro, gazing at the knot in his brow, his slightly flushed face that gave him a look as if he was blushing. His lips were slightly parted, his hair in his face. 

He looked pretty. Tired, in pain, pale, but pretty. Yuuji found himself subconsciously lightly stroking Fushigiro’s palm with his thumb. 

Gojo's brows raised under his blindfold. The gentle intimacy made him smile. 

Yuuji was a good kid, and Megumi was his kid. He loved them both. The mutual care and respect that the two boys had for each other had been instant. Gojo smiled to himself, proud that his students were an incredible team. Whatever was going on would work out. 

He knew Megumi too. He knew he loved Yuuji. He didn’t know he loved Yuuji though. He stared at Fushigiro, he had seen this kid through so much. 

He had taken care of his migraines since he was little, after his technique finished developing he grew out of them, only occasionally getting one if he started to slack on taking care of himself. 

Thats why after Yuuji’s death, everything fell apart. 

He remembered that night, holding a sobbing Fushigiro, clinging onto him like a child again. 

He remembered the night that he found out Yuuji had been alive too, which was almost worse. 

Fushigiro had actually wanted to hurt Gojo. 

“How could you do that to me? Why couldn't I have known Gojo?” 

Gojo winced at the memory. 

Looking at Yuuji, who had stopped panicking and was just staring at Megumi, Gojo sighed. 

They were both alive, they both cared. He saw the reason he wanted to be a teacher right in front of him. The only reason he stayed involved with the school- with Jujutsu politics. 

Nobody should be allowed to take youth from the young. 

“Come on, kid.” He said. Itadori nodded, and the two helped Megumi sit up, where he groggily opened his eyes for a few seconds before they fluttered back to the back of his head and closed again. 

Considering Gojo was almost too tall to help Itadori without Megumi being too sideways was near impossible, Yuuji put Megumi on his back piggyback style, and they three walked back to Fushigiro’s room. Megumi had nuzzled his head in Yuuji’s neck as they walked. 

His breathing had evened out, his brow was relaxed and he just looked tired. Gojo got the door, and helped him off of Yuuji’s back and into bed. 

They took off his shoes, and got him under the covers. Yuuji sat on the edge if his bed, looking serious. 

“What's the face for?” Gojo asked, setting Megumi’s meds next to his bed. 

“I think im gonna talk to him.” He said. Gojo nodded. He understood that meant alone. 

He ruffled Yuuji’s hair. 

“Take care of yourself, Yuuji. You got a big day tomorrow.” He said.  Yuuji nodded. Gojo left, and sighed behind the door. 

Love was the most twisted curse of all. 

—- 

Megumi could fill in the dots from there- waking up to Yuuji telling him;

“I need you to see me. Talk to me when you're ready.” 

Gojo still in the doorway, smirked, seeing Megumi’s face shift at the memory. 

“What’d he wind up saying to you?” He asked curiously. 

“He said he wants me to talk to him when I’m ready.” He said. He’d rather keep the other stuff to himself. 

Megumi’s chest ached. He wanted to see Yuuji- to talk to him. He needed to apologize and explain everything, he needed Yuuji to see him. He was so guilty, it made him nauseous. 

Yuuji cared for him and all he did was push him away. Yuuji had taken care of him multiple times with migraines and gotten to explanation, no thank you, and no apology. 

“I need to talk to him.” He said, urgently. Gojo crossed his arms. 

“You better hurry and catch him- He's got a big mission with Maki and Toge.” Gojo said. 

Fushigiro got up, wincing at his palm. It was so carefully bandaged. 

“Since when was he going on a mission today?” He demanded. 

“Since four days ago” was the answer. 

“Where is he?” He asked. 

“Woah there cassanova- probaby out front at this point.” Gojo said. He didn’t get an answer as Megumi sprinted out of his door, through the halls of Jujutsu High. 

“WATCH IT!” An annoyed Nobara snapped as Fushigiro tore past her, to which then she cooled her tone. 

“What's going on?” She asked, taking off after him. “You never run unless you have to, lazy ass.” 

Fushigiro glared at her, still running. 

“I gotta talk to Yuuji.” He explained, not slowing down. 

“Itadori? Why?” She said, marking how he had used his first name. 

Clocked that. 

She smiled mischievously. 

“Ah I see. Is this ‘cause hes going on that special grade mission?” She grinned. 

“It’s a speical grade?” He asked, picking up his pace. 

“Yeah- jesus dude slow down- That's why all three are going.” She explained, “It’s just one they got it.” 

He tore around the corner, the entrance of Jujutsu tech was right in front of him. 

And he saw Ijichi’s car pull out of the driveway. He saw Yuuji through the window, smiling, he had probably just made a joke or Toge had done something stupid. 

“FUCK” He exclaimed, skidding to a stop. Nobara followed. 

“What the hell was that, Fushigiro?” She said, shoving his shoulder lightly. 

“I had to talk to Yuuji.” He said, hand on his forehead. He rubbed at his eyes annoyed. 

“ God , I’m so fucking bad at this.” He sighed, defeated. 

Nobara sensed there was a little more to this than originally let on. 

Fushigiro cursed again. 

“Calm down Fushigiro- what the hell is going on.” Nobara flicked his forehead. 

Fushigiro looked her in the eye, and she giggled. 

“I see how it is.” She teased. Megumi’s face burned a hot pink. 

“N-no!” He stuttered, waving his hands in front of him. “It’s not like that- I-” 

Nobara looked at him quizzically. 

“We fought.” He said. “Well- it wasn't a fight.” He clarified. 

“Uh huh.” Nobara said in disbelief, planting her hands on her hips.

“It wasn't!” He said insistantly. 

“Wasn’t a fight? that left you guys not speaking for almost a week, leaving ME to handle a sad Itadori alone. Who- by the way- is even more yappy than before. We all knew something was going on- we were just waiting for you two idiots to figure it out on your own.” 

Megumi stared at her- slack jawed. 

“Why do you think no one told you about the mission?”

He was speechless, he had nothing to say. 

“Close your mouth, you’ll catch flies.” She barked, walking past back to the school. 

“W-Wait! Kugisaki!” 

She turned around, Megumi flustered behind her. 

“Can you help me?” 

She smiled again. 

—- 

“This isn't what I expected.” He admitted. 

“Deal with it.” Kugisaki said. He rolled his eyes. 

They sat in her dorm on her bed, facemasks on, candle burning. 

“This is the proper way to speak about these things.” She insisted. 

“Fine.” He huffed. She waited for him to speak again. 

“Go on.” She urged with a wave of her hand. 

“Well I don’t know where to start!” He said. 

“Stop wrinkling your eyebrows you're gonna crack your mask.” She said, smoothing it back out with her thumb. 

“Why do you need to talk to Itadodi?” She asked, sitting back. 

“I need to apologize.” He said, looking away. 

“Apologize? Why?” She asked. 

“I brought up his death.” 

Kugisaki just kinda looked at him for a second, before her gaze drifted to her desk, framed photo of the three of them. 

“Why?” She asked. 

Megumi looked nervous. 

“You don’t want to tell me.” She said, looking back at him. “Why?” 

“It's complicated.” 

“Life's complicated.”

Fushigiro huffed. He opened his mouth to say something, then closed it. 

“You ask why a lot.” He growled, annoyed at Nobara’s stubbornness. He wondered if he was just as annoying with his stubbornness. 

“You're bad at giving answers.”

Fushigiro just glared in response. 

“I’m your friend, Fushigiro.” Her voice didn’t stumble over the word “friend” he noticed. 

“I know, I know.” He said. “It's just hard.”

“I understand.” 

There were a few pauses, awkward silences. 

“I was loopy off of medication I take for chronic migraines, like what happened the other day in the city. But that had been worse than normal, apparently I used to get them like that when I was little but it hadn't happened since then.” 

Kugisaki stared. He couldn't read her face. 

“How long have you had them?” She asked. 

“They started with my cursed technique, they went away for awhile but-” 

“They came back after Yuuji died?” She guessed. Megumi nodded. 

“I see.” 

“You know he thought you were dying right.” She said. “Like I’d never seen him that freaked out.” 

Megumi just stared. 

“What do I even say?” He asked, exasperated. 

“Tell him why, that’s what he wants to know- right?” 

Megumi nodded. 

“Well there you go bozo!” She smiled. “Now come on, I have cucumbers for your eyes.”

—- 

Although unwilling to admit it, he had a good time. 

At around 11:40 he walked back to his dorm.

What was he going to say? How was he going to explain it all? 

The thoughts raced through his mind. 

Maybe he’d just be honest, the whole story from the very beginning. 

No, that's a bad idea. That's too much. 

God. He wished he could talk to Yuuji. He had full confidence he was ok, but special grade is a big deal. But thats why all three went. Still, he just wished Yuuji was there. 

He’d feel better if Yuuji was there. 

It was nearing a quarter after 12 am, so Fushigiro decided it'd be a good time to get to sleep. 

—-

When he woke up the next morning, the first thing he did was check his phone. 

Nothing from Yuuji, Maki, or Toge . He noted. 

He wandered into class a few minutes before it started, and sat down. Nobara waltzed in a few moments later. 

“Did Itadori get back last night?” He asked instantly. 

Setting her things down, she flopped down dramatically. 

“Not yet- why? Did he say he was?” She asked. 

“I still haven't talked to him.” He said.

“Still?”

“I’d rather it be in person.” He explained. 

“If you wanna drag it out for yourself go ahead.” She rolled her eyes. “It’s special grade and those are usually overnight, I think you're just paranoid.” 

She tried to be reassuring, but Megumi just seemed the same level of peeved. 

A couple more minutes passed, and Gojo still hadn't shown. 

“I’m gonna text him.” He said. Nobara sat up, her interest piqued. 

“Gojo, not Itadori.” He said. Nobara pouted. 

“ Where r u old man, classes started?”

He put his phone down. 

“Anything?” Nobara asked

“It's been two seconds.” Megumi groans. 

“It’s Gojo.” She said. He rolled his eyes and checked- unfortunately she was right.

“mission miss-assigned, everyone ok, finishing job, will be back later tonight, work on HTH combat or something while you wait”

He read it out loud, but left out the hand to hand combat part. He was too anxious for that. 

“Wow, hope they're ok.” She said, standing and grabbing her bags. 

“I’m gonna grab some snacks from the vending machine, you down?” She asked, pointing over her shoulder. 

Megumi just sat and stared ahead for a few seconds, before shaking it and snapping back into reality.

“Oh, sorry, you go ahead I’m just gonna go back to my room I think.” was his reply. 

She stuck her tongue out and ruffled his hair, before leaving.

“You use your brain too much, but never the right way.” She sighed, before she left the door. 

“Take care of yourself Fushigiro.” She added with a soft smile behind her. 

He watched the classroom door close. 

God. Why the hell did he feel like this. 

And why does everyone around him keep insinuating there was a deeper meaning for all of his feelings? 

Yuuji was his friend. It was normal- they were friends. 

But why did it hurt to be friends?

 Why was that not enough? 

“thats selfish” Fushigiro’s mind berated. 

Fushigiro didn't even know what he wanted, and it hurt to try and think about. 

Going back to his room, he flopped on his bed. 

He thought about Yuuji. 

He took a walk. 

Thought of Yuuji. 

Tried sparring with Yaga’s cursed dolls. 

He imagined Yuuji. 

He couldn't stop, he was everywhere.

Yuuji. 

Yuuji. 

He played with the word on his tongue. It fit well in his mouth. Airily, Fushigiro spaced off.

“Yuuji, Yuuji, Yuuji, Yuuji” he muttered to himself. 

Memories flooded his mind, good and bad. God, why did he have to be so difficult and dumb? Why was he like this? 

Yuuji’s name tickled his tongue, it just felt right. The way his lips slightly puckered during the “ooo”. sound of his name made Megumi shiver. 

Chills went up his spine, God what was this feeling. 

He wanted Yuuji so bad. He wanted to reach out and touch him, touch his scar, his face, his lips. 

lips?!

Megumi shook the thought from his head.  

God he wished the day was over quicker. 

He wanted Yuuji. 

Hours passed, and all he could think about was Yuuji. 

Yuuji. Yuuji. Yuuji. 

Anxiety was plaguing him as the day kept going. Time kept passing and still nothing. 

Gojo had said they'd be back later that night. He had so much time to spare- but he couldn't handle it. 

What if…?

He got up, and peeked his head out of his bedroom door. When he knew nobody was there, he slipped out and into Yuuji’s room. 

Sure, he had been in Itadori’s room countless times. But the view was always different, he was always re arranging, or getting new things, or adding a new poster to his wall. 

“God, why am I here?” He thought, cringing internally at how insane he was feeling. He sat on Yuuji’s bed. From that angle, he could see something under Yuuji’s desk. 

His curiosity getting the better of him, he went over, and carefully moved it out, opening it gently as to not disturb things too much. 

His heart swelled and broke a little, pictures of all of them together, their trio, just Fushigiro and Kugisaki, Gojo sensei, the second years, so many photos. 

Flipping them over, he found notes scribbled on all of them. 

“Today we went to the beach, it was cold so we were all still in jackets. I think the moments like these are what I’m going to miss the most. I always had fun with you guys, you made my short cursed life better. I wouldn't have had the strength I did if it wasn't for you, and now that I’m go-”

He quickly put the letter face down. 

His heart raced, what the fuck was he doing? This was so invasive. 

But…

Was Yuuji going to kill himself???

He scrambled through the other photos, they all had similar writings on the back. Some adressed to groups, others to individuals, 

His hands hovered over a picture of himself, that he hadn't known had been taken. He was smiling, and the photo was slightly blurry like the photographer had been laughing. 

He flipped to the back- 

Dear Megumi,

He stopped reading. Dumping the box out he scrambled for something else, an envelope labeled;

After my execution

Heart racing, Megumi shoved everything back into the box and threw it under his desk, and sprinted back to his room. 

Climbing into his bed he backed into the corner against the wall, staring forward. 

Yuuji was going to have to die again anyways. 

Time is finite. 

And love is a curse. 

. 

At around 1:15 there was a thump next door. Itadori’s room. He shot up in his bed.

Yuuji was home. 

Fushigiro checked himself- what was he doing??? 

He just got back from a mission, an over night miss-assigned special grade, of course he wouldn't want to see Fushigiro right now. He just had to calm down and get his shit together. He’d see Yuuji in the morning. 

But then a slightly louder thump against their shared wall jolted him. 

What was that?

Should he check on Yuuji? Was he only thinking that as an excuse to go over?

After some silence, he laid back down. He tried closing his eyes, actually getting some sleep- but he couldn't. 

He just stared forward. 

There was another bump, and he couldn’t take it. If anything he’d complain about the noise, but he knew why he wanted to go over.

He knocked. 

There was shuffling, a little bump, and then the door creaked open a crack. Itadori was leaning, glaringly tired, smiling in the doorway. The door was only open a crack. 

“Oh, Fushigiro!” He sounded happy to see him. “Listen- love to chat-” 

That was sarcastic

Itadori ducked behind the door for a moment, closing it. Megumi heard a grunt behind the door. Itadori’s head popped out again, his face looking somewhat constipated. 

“Really?” Fushigiro asked surprised, tilting his head. “You’d love to chat.” He deadpanned. 

Yuuji nods. 

“Yeah, but now might not be the best time.” Yuuji smiled and winced. He nodded behind Fushigiro, hinting at him to get lost. His eyebrows were too pinched. 

He was hurt, and hiding it. 

That pissed him off.

“Hypocrite.” Megumi said, pushing past Itadori and entering his room. 

“Hey!-” Itadori said, in a weak attempt to push Fushigiro back out, but he failed. 

“I’m ready to talk.” He said, remembering earlier when he had been there. 

But he wasn't backing down now- he had to tell Itadori. He had to get it out. But first- 

“Now what’d you do to yourself on the mission?” He asked, turning around to look at Yuuji. 

He was leaning on the doorframe still, all weight on his right leg, his left he held off the ground. He was wearing his yellow hoodie, and black shorts, showing Fushigiro the dark purple shade that Itadori’s knee had taken. His kneecap was about an inch below his right, and slightly crooked. 

“I- Itadori!” He exclaimed. Yuuji smiled. 

“Ok, I know it  looks bad.” He started, putting his hands out defensively, hopping to keep his weight off his bad knee. 

“It is bad, dumbass.” Fushigiro said, 

“Really- it isn’t I swear.” He tried defending himself, but Fushigiro was already over and hooking his arm under Yuuji’s and bringing him over to the bed. 

“Did you not see Shoko?” He asked. Yuuji shook his head.

“None of us did, she's at the pharmacy, Gojo said she'd be back tomorrow at some point.” He sighed, letting Megumi help him down onto his bed. “Toge lost a lot of blood from his throat, but he's ok till Shoko comes back, Maki needed stitches on her leg but we did those there, but she'll be ok too.” 

“And what about you?” Fushigiro asked. 

“I dislocated my knee.” He sighed, smiling. 

“Want me to set it?” Fushigiro offered. Itadori shook his head. Yuuji looked awkward for a moment before admitting, 

“I just kind of want to be alone right now if I’m honest- Fushigiro.” 

Megumi stared. oh. 

Well, he couldn't blame him. He’d be a hypocrite if he thought otherwise. 

The fact that he said Fushigiro really started to eat away at his chest. 

Then a spark lit there instead. 

“Are you gonna set it yourself or just stay and wait for Shoko?” He asked. Yuuji just shrugged.

“I was gonna ice it.” 

“That’s all?” Megumi asked. Yuuji nodded. 

“You're gonna sit here with a dislocated knee and ice because you want to be alone.” He clarified. Yuuji just stared. 

“I guess.” 

“That's stupid.” He said. “And I don't care.” He said. 

“Excuse me?” Yuuji asked, genuinely confused. 

“You didn't leave when I asked so this is what you get.” He said, crossing his arms. 

Yuuji stared. 

“And I’m ready to talk.” He waited, baiting Yuuji into speaking. When he didn’t, he took it as a challenge.

“As much as you complain about me being stubborn, you forget how stubborn I am.” He huffed. 

He grabbed a wash cloth, and went to the bathroom, running it under hot water and creating a warm compress. He peeked his eyes out from the bathroom. 

He felt guilty, was he overstepping? 

Yuuji had covered his eyes with his hands, right knee bent, his left leg still extended out. It was obvious he was in pain and probably wanted to be left alone. 

Fortunately for him and unfortunately for Yuuji, he had picked up on some of those trolls him and Inunaki had done. 

He came out holding the warm compress, coming up next to him. He laid it out around where the most joint swelling was, letting the muscles relax. 

Yuuji didn't seem that against it, removing his hands from his face. He still seemed annoyed. 

“Do you really want me to leave?” Fushigiro asked. 

Before Yuuji could protest, he leaned down, cupping Yuuji’s dislocated kneecap in the web of his palm, and his other hand stabilizing his leg by his thigh. 

“No no no no no-” Yuuji panicked, before Megumi pushed in one quick motion, Itadori’s kneecap popping back into place with a snap. 

“Fuck!” He screamed. 

“I’m so sorry.” Megumi winced as Yuuji groaned in pain. He grabbed an ice pack from the freezer, wrapping a towel around it first as to not hurt his skin. 

“Fuck you.” Yuuji said, wincing. 

“Well you told me not to leave- so no take backs.” He retorted, smiling at the fact he got Yuuji to say “no” to his question. 

Yuuji sighed, defeated. 

“Can you at least grab some tylenol? I have some in my drawer in the bathroom.” He muttered. 

Fushigiro smiled, nodding. 

“Of course.”

Sitting down in Yuuji’s bathroom, he riffled through his drawers. 

Aha. 

He had a drawer with medical supplies and pill bottles. He found the tylenol behind a bottle of rubbing alcohol.

He picked it up to move it, but the lid popped open, and some spilled on his hands and shirt. 

Cursing and muttering to himself, he winced at the sting in his eyes from it. 

Shaking his head he stood up, blinking the sting out of his eyes the best he could, only slight residuals sticking around. 

“Here.” He said, sitting next to Yuuji on his bed. 

He took them gratefully, sighing again. 

“Are you really ready to talk, Fushigiro?” He asked. 

Being taken so quickly up by taking care of Yuuji, he had almost completely forgotten. 

“Yes.”

Yuuji opened his eyes, and sat up a bit more. 

“I’m listening.” 

“I had a migraine the other day.” He started. When he realized Yuuji wasn't going to speak till he was finished, he continued. 

“But it wasn't the first time. I actually get them a lot. They started when my cursed technique first started to develop. They were bad- that's what the medication was.” 

he noticed Yuuji’s eyebrows raise. 

“But it hasn't been working lately. And they make me loopy, and say stupid things I know I shouldn't. But when I think of them- I can't help it.”

“I’ve been getting them again since you died.” He added. Yuuji’s expression darkened slightly, embarrassment lingering. 

“I care about you Yuuji, and I want you to know, I wanted you to, but I was nervous and selfish.”

His voice wavered slightly. He didn't appreciate how that light had assaulted his eyes that much. 

“I hid them from you because I was embarrassed. But that caused damage- and a lot of it. But then every opportunity I wanted to, a migraine came along. And I cant think of anything else except them when they're happening.” 

The pressure from holding back tears was building behind his eyes, the smell of the rubbing alcohol from earlier wafted its way back into his nose, making his eyes water. He felt around his mouth with his tongue, almost able to taste the burn of the rubbing alcohol. 

“I care about you, I want to make sure you're ok, you're my friend .” His voice broke on “friend”, throat cracking. 

He coughed into sobs. He waved off Yuuji’s hand  that tried to reach out for his shoulder. 

“But I’m not ok.” He added. “And I needed you. But you had every right to be mad, I was a dickhead, and I’m sorry, Yuuji.” He sniffled. 

Yuuji, now completely sat up, just pulled Fushigiro directly into a hug with him. 

And Megumi blanked. Completely and totally blanked. 

His mind was empty, a flash of light, and in a moment he found himself clinging to Yuuji for dear life, head in the crook of Yuuji’s neck- Yuuji’s arms wrapped so tightly around him he had to focus on keeping air in his lungs so he wouldn't deflate completely. 

“I need you too, Megumi.” Yuuji said, falling backwards into his bed, pulling Megumi down on top of him. Both boys embraced each other, tears slipping out of their eyes, neither one wanting the other to know. 

They laid like that for hours, both falling asleep. 

Megumi awoke with a hiccup. He sat up, and the world took a second to follow. 

He wavered while he sat, trying to blink away the double vision and stinging eyes. 

Wait. No. 

This was an aura. 

He shook Yuuji. 

“Yuuj-” He slurred. Yuuji woke up, bleary and confused, but quickly sat up when he saw Fushigiro sitting up. 

“What's going on, Megs?” He asked, cupping his face. Megumi almost flinched at the nickname, but it felt warm. 

“Remember the migraines?” He sighed out, leaning into Yuuji’s palm. 

“Is this a migraine?” He asked. 

“It’s an aura.” 

“What’s that?” Yuuji asked, confusion dancing in his voice. He was worried, Megumi looked pale. 

“It’s a pre migraine.” He explained. Yuuji nodded along. “I need my meds.” 

“Where are they?” Yuuji asked. 

“My room- by the ~ hiccup~ bathroom door.” Yuuji nodded. 

“I’ll be back as soon as I can, I promise.” He said, rubbing his shoulder before slowly getting up, wincing in pain at his still- very hurt- knee. 

He couldn't make it two feet before falling back, and leaning on his desk. 

“Megumi I’m so sorry, I can't walk, can I call someone?” He pleaded. Megumi saw the tears in his eyes, his pale complexion wiped in pain of all colors. 

“Nobara.” He said. Yuuji nodded, pulling out his phone. 

A few rings later she picked up. 

“What do you want pickle brain?” Her voice ran through the phone. 

“Come to my room please, we need help- fast.” He said. 

“What the fuck did you do?” She asked, Yuuji heard her shuffling through the phone. 

“Nothing but it's an emergency- like seriously.” He said, grunting in pain as he shifted, hissing and wincing as his knee burned and ached. Megumi laid back down in bed, just staring straight forward. 

Yuuji heard her pick up the pace. 

“Stop by Fushigiro’s room, grab the bottle by the bathroom door.” He instructed. He heard her get to his room next door. 

“I found it.” She said. 

The phone hung up, and he heard a knock at the door. 

“Just come in.” He said. She did, looking around confused. Her eyes widened at the massive black bruise on Yuuji’s knee. 

“Wha-” She started. 

“Help me over to Megumi.” He interrupted her abruptly. It was only then she noticed him, laying on the bed. She hooked her arm under Yuuji and brought him over to him. 

“Megs, can you sit up?” He asked. Nobara watched the gentle intimacy of it all. Yuuji tried to keep a painless balance while helping Megumi sit up, his eyes wide and blinking, shaking his head. 

He seemed to snap out of whatever he was in, after Yuuji opened his mouth, placing two pills on Megumi’s tongue, and pouring a little bit of water in his mouth, closing his jaw, and gently tipping it back, assisting Megumi in swallowing his pills. 

A few seconds later, he blinked and his eyes seemed to focus. 

“I’m sorry.” He apologized. 

“No don’t” Yuuji said. “Don't do that right now.” He said. “You're letting me help, thank you.” 

Megumi just gulped, eyes watering. 

“Thank you.” He stuttered. 

“Yeah.” Yuuji smiled. “What else do you need?” He asked. 

Nobara cleared her throat. 

“What's going on here, boys?” She asked. 

“N-Nothing!” they both stuttered in unison. She rolled her eyes and shook her head. 

“Are you okay, Fushigiro?” She asked. 

“I’m getting a migraine.” He explained. 

“ah.” She hummed. “Are you gonna be ok?” She asked. 

“Yeah. I just need to sleep.” He explained. 

She looked again at the scene before her. Megumi gently sat up, held partially by an injured Itadori, more worry for the other written on his brow than for his own neglected injury. This was intimate and personal. 

Megumi had spoken up about his migraine. 

“Do you boys need anything?” She asked. Yuuji shook his head. 

“I’ve got it from here.” He smiled. “Thank you, Kugisaki.” 

She smiled, and sighed. 

“Yeah.” She said. “Take care, boys.” 

She got up, and peeked through the door behind her as she left, smiling at the intimacy before her. 

When the door shut, he leaned closer to Megumi. 

“Are you sure you're ok, bud?” He asked, stroking his hair. Megumi nodded, leaning into Itadori’s hand. 

“I feel queasy.” He admitted. 

“Do you think you're going to throw up?” Yuuji asked, panic in his voice, already shifting to get up and haul ass to the bathroom if need be. 

Megumi said nothing, but sat up further on his own, leaning on shaky arms, forcing himself to almost off the bed. 

Suddenly, a random strength out of nowhere came to him, and he bolted into Yuuji’s bathroom, kneeling in front of his toilet, and dry heaved into the toilet. 

After a few painful but fruitless gags, Yuuji stumbled in, linping over, face white, and sitting on the tub next to the toilet. 

He put a hand on Megumi’s back. 

“ You're okay, you're okay.” He whispered, reassuringly. Megumi’s gags turned fruitful, as he heaved and some stomach acid came up, along with very undigested migraine medication. 

“I can't Yuuji.” He whimpered. 

“No, no you can bro, I promise.” He said, holding Megumi’s hair off his brow. “You’re ok, man.” 

“It hurts.” He hiccuped, and winced. “Can you call Gojo?” He asked. Yuuji nodded, scared. 

Was it that bad?

He dialed Gojo’s number, and he picked up on the second ring. 

“What do you need, Yuuji-kun?” He asked

“Megumi's having a migraine and he asked for you. He threw up his meds, can you come? Maybe bring Shoko?” He explained and asked. 

“I’m on my way, kiddo, I’ll be there in five, Shoko’s almost back at Jujutsu high, I’ll tell her go straight there.” He said. Yuuji agreed, and hung up.

“He’s on his way, Megs.” He said. Megumi nodded into his hand before bending back over the toilet, heaving his empty stomach. 

Yuuji’s hands shook with anxiety, his adrenaline rush crashing. His chest ached, his knee throbbed, and his throat had a pump in it big enough to make him feel like he was choking. Tears started to slip out of his eyes. 

Megumi was shaking as well under Yuuji's equally shaky palm. Pain radiated through his mind. It escalated so rapidly. 

The next moment he knew, Gojo was whispering “Gumi.” And taking over for Yuuji. 

“Are you ok Gumi?” He asked. 

“No.” Fushigiro whimpered. 

“What about you, Yuuji-kun?” He asked. Yuuji winced. 

“I’m fine.” 

“Shoko’s almost back, she’s bringing you more medicine Gumi, it's a better prescription.” Megumi nodded along. 

“And Shoko can take care of your knee too-” He added. Yuuji nodded. 

After a pitiful few minutes of gags, whimpers, crying, and comforting whispers, Shoko knocked on the door frame. 

“Oh my.” She said, kneeling down. She had a bottle of gatorade in her hands as well. 

“Fushigiro, can you take these please?” She asked. 

He sat back for a moment, letting himself be given the medicine, and instantly zoning out, eyes transfixed forward. 

“That was quick.” Gojo commented. 

“It's a heavily stronger dose of a more intense medication. He’ll need to take this daily for a few weeks, then bi weekly, weekly, then every other week. It should prevent them instead of just take as needed.” 

“Is he gonna be ok?” Yuuji chimed in. 

“Woah there buddy.” Shoko said, kneeing Gojo in the side trying to move past him to get to Itadori. 

“You did quite a doozy there.” She said, starting RTC on his knee. Instantly his brow loosened, the pain starting to relieve from his knee already. 

“And yes, both of you will be ok. You both just need rest.” 

A few more minutes passed, and Gojo and Shoko helped both boys into Yuuji’s room again. 

“Do you want to go back to your room, Megs?” Gojo asked. He shook his head. 

“I don’t mind.” Yuuji added. Both boys laid in the bed. Yuuji was more awake, Megumi’s eyes kept fluttering shut. 

He pulled the dark haired boy onto his chest, wrapping his arms around him. 

“I got you.” He whispered. 

Gojo and Shoko shared a look, and Gojo dropped his jaw. Shoko punched him in the arm. 

“You both should be good in the morning. Megumi might sleep for awhile though.” She said. Yuuji nodded. 

The adults left, Gojo kissing Megumi’s head before he left, shutting the door gently behind him. 

After it closed, Megumi used the last bit of his strength to stay awake to look into Yuuji’s eyes. 

“I love you, Yuuji.” He said. “You’re my best friend.” His eyes drifted closed, and his head fell. His breath evened out, and Yuuji closed his eyes. 

“You too, Megumi.” He sighed. 

—-