Chapter Text
Following someone across a city you don’t even know for about an hour was not Subaru's definition of fun. At first maybe especially because he had those cool wolves and could see the monsters (cursed spirits apparently). But after such a long time of walking around in what Subaru could only assume in circles, your feet start to hurt and the previous excitement starts to die down.
“Are we there yet?” Subaru asked for the umpteenth time, sluggishly following Fushiguro.
“No,” the annoyed sorcerer responded.
“Do you even know where we’re going?” Subaru groaned dramatically. “It just seems like we’ve going in circles.”
“This certain cursed object is hard to find because of how much energy it produces, so it’s difficult to point down.” Fushiguro remarked.
“Yeah well that sounds like a lode of bull,” Subaru grumbled under his breath.
They walked for a good while, Subaru complaining silently all the while. A certain street seemed to catch Fushiguro's attention though, suddenly and without warning he turned around. Sluggishly Subaru followed. Looking up at the sky Subaru noted that It seemed later in the day from when he first met Fushigoru, probably to the point where school kids would start getting out. Dang how much time has passed of him walking with a complete stranger?
“It’s nearby,” Fushiguro stated before looking out the corner of his eye at Subaru. “Do you recognize these streets at all?”
“No..?” Subaru replied confused. Was he supposed to know where they are? It makes sense, I guess, who expects a random teenager to be in a completely different town then where they live, Subaru thought. Before grimacing slightly, how will he explain that!
Thankfully it seemed like Fushiguro didn’t care, “alright just stay close.” He nodded
They continued straight, walking past multiple hole in the wall restaurants all with their own weird monsters. God Subaru was so hungry, okay but not the time, must focus on the mission first! They continue before reaching a school, West Junior High, boring, why is the mission in such a place?
“We’re here, I can feel the curse object, it’s close,” Fushiguro said, before casually walking into the school.
“Wait!” Subaru whisper-yelled, grabbing Fushiguro's arm, “we can’t just walk into a random school! What if we get caught!”
“It’s fine,” Fushiguro said, continuing to walk through the school entrance. Looking back and forth making sure no one was here and when the coast was clear Subaru ran after Fushiguro.
They continued to walk through the school and the students gave them odd looks but thankfully nothing happened. Stopping at a rugby field, Fushiguro blocked Subaru's path.
“Look out,” Fushiguro said quietly. Dropping his hand down. A blueish monster came out of the ground and up the goal pole. It was bigger than most of the creatures Subarus had seen.
“Woah, it's so big! Does that mean it’s super strong,” Subaru beamed, “but of course your demon wolves can defeat them easily.. right?” He laughed nervously. Fushiguro just hummed, much to Subaru horror.
“There must be a dead body buried here.”
“You can’t just say that!” Subaru screeched and jumped back.
The duo walked for a little more until they heard a big commotion, this seemed to catch Fushiguro's attention so they started heading in that direction. Subaru paced behind grumbling on how they shouldn’t be here. Finally they stopped at a bigger field, as expected a big group of students had gathered, supposedly to watch a teacher and a student have.. a throwing contest? Man this school was weird.
“So uh I can throw it however I want?” A pink haired guy asked. Was this the main character! Much better then Sasuke rip off, Subaru gave Fushiguro the side eye.
Suddenly the field got quiet, Subaru turned his attention back to the main character. The ball was dented on the side of a metal goal. Subaru gaped, was he for real? That's definitely the protagonist here!
“I wonder if he’s like Zen’in,” the first year hummed. Subaru snapped his head to look at Fushiguro, does that mean there are other super powerful people like the main character here! Maybe he can become one, man the future is looking bright!
The main character seemed to finish up chatting with his friends and was running towards the duo. He passed silently and quickly, man how could a person be so fast, he’s really living up to his main character status. Subaru turned his attention back to Fushiguro, who oddly enough had a shell shocked look on his face. Before Subaru could ask what was wrong the sorcerer was rushing after the pink haired guy.
“Hey wait!” Fushiguro yelled out, “how can one guy be so fast?” He cursed at the now far away main character. Subaru wasn’t far behind Fushiguro.
“what happened? What was that?” He asked in between breaths.
“I felt a cursed object’s presence on him.” Fushiguro said seriously.
“Wait so like the odd box, the thing we’ve been running around in circles for is on the main character!” Subaru concluded happily. “This is cool, it's like watching an anime in real life!”
“What..? Main character?” Fushiguro looked disappointed. “Come on, let’s just chase after him.”
“Aye aye captain!” Subaru earned an annoyed look from Fushiguro.
Quickly they rushed after the main character, Fushiguro, taking the lead. But oh boy was he fast, and as quickly as they ran after him they lost him. Fushiguro huffed in annoyance, the weird box was oddly important to him for some reason. Like yes he knew that it was part of Fushigorus mission but he was overly desperate despite it being such a bland looking thing. Maybe it was worth a lot of money? Ohh now Subaru wants to get his hands on it. but the main character was long gone now, Subaru smiled awkwardly, this could be bad.
“Is there anything you can do to track him,” Subaru quipped trying to seem more optimistic than he was, what if he fails this mission and decides he doesn’t want to help Subaru out anymore! Okay let’s try and prevent that Subaru.
“Yeah my demon dogs should be able to track his scent,” Fushiguro affirmed, Subaru let out a sigh of relief, good no failing missions today! He followed Fushiguro to a less populated area and watched as the demon wolf spawned out of nowhere.
The white wolf gave him a curious look but listened to his master when he told him to find the main character. Now they were walking down the street, the wolf’s nose was low on the ground and they were actually getting somewhere. Why couldn’t they just use the wolf in the first place? It seemed to know what it was doing. Whatever Subarus is not smart enough to think about that right now.
Currently he just wants answers.
“So who are you taking me to anyways?” Subaru asked. Earning a puzzled look from Fushiguro. “You said you’d take me to someone but never said who…” the younger paused.
Fushiguro didn’t say anything.
“Wait, are you kidnapping me!” The younger jumped back ready to flee if necessary, hopefully it didn’t come to that though, no way he could outrun that mangy mutt!
“You think of that now..?” Fushiguro still had that appalled look on his face. The wolf on the other hand was pawing the ground giving them an annoyed look.
“You didn’t say no!” Subaru got ready to bolt.
“No! I’m not kidnapping you.” The sorcerer assured firmly. “I’m just taking you to Gojo Satoru.”
“Uh,” now Subaru looked confused, “am I supposed to know who that is?”
Fushiguro got an odd look on his face before it snapped back into his normal bored expression. “Right, you're new to this.”
“Don’t say it like that!”
“Gojo-sensei is the strongest and my teacher, he should be able to help you out.” He sighed.
“Oh okay that’s good.” Subaru smiled.
“Though I don’t think teaching a twelve year old is his specialty.” Fushiguro hummed.
Subaru gasped.
“I am not twelve!” He screeched, “I’m thirteen! Technically, almost, already, fourteen! Don’t call me a child.”
Fushiguro got that same dumb odd look on his face.
“Don’t look at me like that!” Subaru barked offended.
“You sure act twelve.” Fushiguro mumbled.
“Don’t say that!” Subaru jumped back with a shocked expression on his face. Subaru turned around and slightly puffed out his cheeks. He’s thirteen not twelve, how dare he, he’ll currently pay for this! On the other hand the wolf seemed to have enough of their bickering letting out an impatient bark. Fushiguro looked back, sighing again, before sending his wolf back to track the scent.
They walked side to side for a good while, the sun was starting to set now and they still haven’t found the pink haired boy. Subaru was about ready to give up but he needed to find this Gojo-sensei so he kept his complaints to himself. On the other hand Fushiguro looked impatient and a little nervous. This box seemed to mean a lot to him.
Finally the wolf stopped at a hospital barking in confirmation, this was where the main character was. Definitely. Fushiguro desummoned the white wolf and walked in, Subaru not far behind. Thankfully they didn’t need to go scouring the whole hospital because the man of the hour was just sitting in the waiting room. The younger boy turned to Fushiguro to take the lead, but the sorcerer stood in his place.
Awkwardly Subaru turned his attention back to the main character, he was talking with a nurse about something or other. The sorcerer next to him took a deep breath before walking forward.
“Itadori Yuji,” Fushiguro said with a dark look on his face. “I’m Fushiguro Megumi from jujitsu high, and I’d like a word with you now.”
Subaru stepped back, he seemed more serious than normal, well actually he always seemed serious but like Fushiguro seemed more so now. The main character, Itadori, Suabru sighed, looked bewildered but followed after Fushiguro with no complaint. Wait, how did he even know his name? Probably not the time to ask
“Uh, I’m in morning right now,” Itadori clarified, confused, for a moment the pink haired boy turned his attention to Subaru. Aw man now Subaru felt bad. He stiffly smiled. Shuffling more behind Fushiguro for support.
“I understand but this can’t wait,” Fushiguro emphasized. “The cursed object you possess is very dangerous, I need you to hand it over.”
Itadori looked even more confused, “I’m sorry, cursed object?” The pink haired teenager turned to look at Subaru for clarification. Something unfortunately Subaru couldn’t give.
Fushiguro sighed and pulled out his phone “this,” the same picture of the box and the oddly wrapped up cylinder was most likely being shown. Hopefully he has it so Subaru could just go. Subaru scared his arm nervously
“Oh! Yeah that,” Itadori chuckled lightly, “Yeah I found that, it was in some odd house thing.” He recounted leaning up against the couch behind him. Fushiguro's face twisted into some emotion Subaru couldn’t quite place, well whatever, it’s not Subaru's problem.
“Yeah and do you have it!” Subaru said with a little too much enthusiasm, earning a side eye from Fushiguro. The middle schooler was tempted to stick his tongue out, but not the time, he needed to focus on getting the cursed object and meet this Gojo guy!
But of course it wasn’t that easy. “Nah, my friends were totally into it, so I gave it to them” Itadori continued, “what’s dangerous about it?” He asked before anyone else could say anything.
Fushiguro's face still had that weird look on it, but he pushed it away to sigh and to explain what the hell was going on. He gave Subaru a side glance so the brown haired teen listened to his explanation as well. “Every year there are more than ten thousand unexplained deaths and missing persons, and most of those are the result of curses.”
“Woah so those things are really dangerous, huh, I thought I was just being dramatic.”
Fushiguro gave him another side eye.
“Hey! Don’t look at me like that!”
“And you’ve seen these curses..?” Itadori asked skeptically, leaning against the hospital couch.
Fushiguro turned his attention back on the pink haired boy, “I don’t care if you believe me or not, the fact is they exist.”
He sighed, “just listen, large pools of energy form in places like schools, hospitals and so on. Anger, regret, sadness, shame all pile up leading to curses and that’s why most schools keep them as a protective talisman.”
“If it protects us shouldn’t we be grateful for it?” Itadori raised his hand. And Subaru hummed in agreement even if the thought of a random voodoo curse thing being so close was kinda creepy.
“Just let me finish,” Fushiguro grumbled, sending both Itadori and Subaru an annoyed look. “A cursed object needs to be incredibly evil to send lesser evil away.” That seemed to shut them up. “But over time the protection weakens, leading it to attract cursed spirits, so please hand it over” he concluded.
Itadori sighed, "I already told you I don’t have it. But I guess you could have the box.” He threw the wooden object towards Fushiguro who caught it. Quickly he opened to see the plush red inside without the oddly wrapped cylinder. Subaru snuck up behind him, finely getting a good look at the thing they’ve been running around a random city for.
“Jeez it sure has an odd vibe,” Subaru cited before he gave Itadori a perplexed look. “You saw this and decided it was a good idea to pick it up?”
Itadori just gave a cheeky smile. Man, main characters they can get away with anything. Including that stupid smirk! Sigh calm down Subaru.
“Okay so.. if they're born from human emotions then aren’t good curses made from love or something,” Subaru asked with a confident look on his face.
“Huh?” Fushiguro just looked dumbfounded.
“You know, like good curses! Ones that help people instead of attack them,” Subaru stumbled over his words and quickly looked over to Itadori for help… he looked just as dumbfounded. Ugh he’s no help.
“your dogs! They’re curses right normal people can see them!”,
“What logic is that?”
“Wait, if normal people can’t see them why bother desummoning them?” Subaru hummed.
“No, they're not curses,” Fushiguro replied, seemingly done with this whole thing. “And I desummoned him because he tends to destroy anything he touches, it’s pretty hard to explain why something is floating.” He sighed.
“I feel left out,” Itadori muttered.
“Wait so if these curses are as dangerous as you say you need good curses to kill them!” Subaru said proudly.
“What? No? Did you listen to a word I said? Also My demon dogs aren't curses.” Fushiguro said deadpanned.
“Dang I was totally off!” He whined.
Fushiguro groaned before quickly turning to Itadori “and what are your friends planning with the finger?” He sounded worried, like the most worried Subarus heard him so far, so maybe it would be best to ask what he meant by finger later.
“Uh, I don’t know?” He hummed thoughtfully, “probably open it,” Fushiguro's face twisted into horror for a moment before switching away back to his normal bored expression, this time with a creepy edge.
“Where are they,” he choked out, his hands clenched tightly.
This didn’t go unnoticed by the pink haired guy, “uh at the school,” he sounded confused. “Why, are they in danger?”
Fushiguro sucked in air, his teeth bared, “Yeah, well they should be fine,” he said weakly. The main character didn’t seem to relax, swiftly Itadori turned his attention to the twisted look of concern (and some confusion) on Subaru's face.
“Well we have to help them,” he said firmly, a look of determination spread on his face.
“Why do you believe us?” Subaru asked, it seemed as if the pink haired guy’s attitude completely switched. It made things easier for the duo but it still was confusing on why Itadori believed them so easily. Hell if Subaru was in his shoes he wouldn’t believe a word he said, even now it was pretty hard to wrap his head around. Even if Subaru sees the cursed spirits.
“Hm, you don’t seem like the type to lie,” he hummed still with that determined fire in his eyes.
“Alright, well we should be off,” Fushiguro sighed tensely. Turning his attention to Subaru. Did he want Subaru to come? huh?!
“What, me!” He yelped “When did I come into this conversation?”
He jumped back. “I thought I was just supposed to keep an eye on the MC so he doesn’t run away!” He looked around desperately, before striking a pose for some reason. It would help totally
“MC?”
Subaru didn’t seem to hear him. “I’m totally useless in a fight! I couldn’t even defeat those grade 5s!” He yipped, creeping away.
“Grade 4 their are no grade 5,” Fushiguro stated matter-of-factly.
“Same difference!”
“Hmm it would be irresponsible of me to bring someone so weak onto a battlefield,” Fushiguro hummed tapping his chin, “but then again I don’t want to look for you after either.”
“I heard that!”
“Uh, can I come with you guys?” Itadori asked, raising his hand..
“No, it would be irresponsible of me to bring a non-sorcerer there.” Fushiguro replied ignoring the small “what about me!” From Subaru.
But it seemed that Itadori didn’t like that answer. “They’re my friends. I gave them that finger, I should be the one to save them from it.” He smiled sadly.
“Woah! Real protagonist behavior!” Subaru beamed, “I can’t let myself be a coward, I have to help too!”
Fushiguro gave him a mean side eye.
“Grr, stop looking at me like that!” Subaru yelled.
“Come on now, time to waste, we have to get down to that school.” Fushiguro announced.
“Don't ignore me!”