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"Whoa! I have never been to a mall this huge... Hey, Kugisaki, you see that thing over there?!"
"Vending machines for sandwiches exist? Ha... how on Earth have I not heard of them before?"
The loud chatter of the 'country folks' (as Nobara often referred to the two of them) seemed to have been unable to die down, ever since the four sorcerers set their foot in the mall. They started shouting about every second shop window that their eyes settled on, and kept nagging Gojo about buying things. Things they absolutely had no need for and according to Megumi, were a waste of time to even talk about. Who would even want to buy a cat-shaped stone that had an unmistakably fake gem hanging in its neck? Definitely only these two idiots.
The fact that Gojo was the one accompanying them as an adult and supervisor didn't help at all. He was just as easily swayed by sweet and sparkly things as two-third of his class. And here he was, acting as the one functioning brain cell of the group and stopping them from spending all their savings on candy and plushies. This wasn't exactly how he imagined spending his afternoon. After all, Yuuji promised to come over to his room later and teach him how to play poker. He kept pestering Megumi about it for the past two weeks - always saying how good he would be at keeping a straight face - and he gave in finally.
The young Fushiguro was annoyed and did absolutely nothing to hide it. He had even rolled his eyes on Gojo - something he hasn't done in years - when the older started questioning and teasing him about his foul mood. Perhaps it was just the fact that their plans got cancelled because of the old man announcing they must leave for the mall as soon as possible. That idea seemed the most logical, so he ignored the strange ache in his chest and continued his act of unbothered boredom.
"Can we buy a sandwich at least? Please please please sensei~" chimed in Nobara, her hands already set together in a praying manner. "We haven't bought anything because Megumi is such a miserly li-"
"It's not my fault your tastes are this unrefined" Megumi scoffed.
There was a small, repressed sound of laughter coming from Yuuji's direction. Megumi's eyes settled on the boy who was walking next to him, getting lost in the way his lips curled upward into a smile and how his eyes became small crescents from giggling. He didn't even notice that he has been staring at him for a long while and that they have walked about ten steps since his gaze first landed on Yuuji... until they locked eyes. The speed that Fushiguro turned his head forward again was inhumane to say at least.
"Unrefined?" Nobara was still at it. "As if I would take someone's word for taste whose name is..."
Before she could even finish, the tallest man of the group - Gojo Satoru himself - placed a finger over her lips to effectively silence the rest of her sentence. His first name has always been a sensitive topic for Megumi, and the teacher didn't want to risk these kids breaking into a serious fight in the middle of a mall full of human witnesses. He would get such a long and painful lecture from the principal if that happened.
"Now now, guys, we don't need any fights happening here" he added in a light tone, throwing a warning glance at the duo who were still barking at each other like puppies. "I promised to take you somewhere super cool, did I not? It'd be such a shame if we had to go back to the College and read technical information from books all evening just because you guys couldn't stop arguing~"
Although the tone of his words wasn't alarming at all, the meaning behind them definitely could be taken as a threat. And perhaps it was aimed to be. Megumi sighed and averted his eyes to the floor and Nobara huffed, raising her chin a little in the other direction. The fact that they were walking next to each other the whole time didn't quite help either.
They were walking in total silence now, save for Yuuji's occasional questions directed to their teacher, who gladly answered everything for him. Thankfully, after passing a few more shops with even more glittery windows and walking past an indoors fountain (Yuuji did squirm a bit here, taking hold of Fushiguro's arm to show him how cool the water looked while being splashed around by some automatised system), the group's little walk came to a halt.
They stopped right in front of a large, black entrance, that had 'Laser Tag' sprayed on it with some highlighter-yellow paint. Gojo's lips curled into a satisfied smirk when he noticed how all his little students stopped whatever they have busied themselves with in the past minutes of awkward silence and now were staring at the door with a curious shine in their eyes. Yuuji's mouth was hanging open in surprise - he probably forgot to close it the moment he noticed the place they have arrived to. It was the black-haired boy who first awoke from the daze of wonder and elbowed Itadori in the side to let him know how foolish he looked.
"What are we doing here, sensei?" queried Nobara after she has examined all the interesting bits on the door.
"Isn't it obvious? We are here to play!"
The charming smile that the teacher flashed to them made Megumi want to roll his eyes again. Seriously, this man... The respect he held for him was enormous, but his actions at times did make him wonder if there were some loose screws in his head. Contrary to him, who chose not to voice his thoughts on the situation, Yuuji and Nobara's chatter has risen once again. He needn't even look to know his classmates were probably turning starry-eyed after hearing the magic words.
"For real? Whoa- sensei is the best!" Yuuji added, voice filled with excitement he didn't even try to hide.
"This makes up for all the classes started 8 minutes late"
"What are you guys waiting for? Go on in!" Gojo instructed before making a wide movement with his arm, opening the door for his students.
The two covered in some pink fog from the promise of laser tagging immediately launched onto the opportunity. The girl of steel was the first to reach the entrance, and upon doing so, tore the door open and hurried right in. Yuuji followed suit, disappearing when the heavy-looking doors closed once again. Megumi took a step forward as well, attempting to follow the example of his classmates, but was stopped by a heavy hand on his shoulder. A chill ran down his spine when he met Gojo's bright blue eyes above the line of his sunglasses. He held the man's piercing gaze for a while, not backing up from whatever imaginary war they were fighting.
"What's with that face?" Gojo asked, voice not serious - he never appeared to be serious after all - but losing that playful tone he had used earlier.
On another occasion, he would have politely declined any accusation Gojo threw at him and fix the man with his usual cold glare, but now... he felt rather hurt by the fact that their teacher noticed his poor mood without even trying too hard. Was he this obvious?
"Nothing" he said coolly, shaking the hand off his shoulder by stepping in the door's direction once again.
"You know, Megumi... lots of things can happen in dark places like these. It wouldn't hurt to be a bit bold for once"
These were the last words he heard before the door slammed shut behind him and he was face to face with his two absolutely thrilled classmates. Nobara was clutching four tickets in her right already, dangling them proudly in front of the freshly arrived Megumi, while Yuuji was rambling about teams and tactics like an overly excited puppy. The way his eyes sparkled up when he spoke made Fushiguro's throat tighten in some unfamiliar, but not quite unwelcome way.
Sometimes he wondered if Gojo Satoru's eyes were capable of staring right into one's very soul and see their true feelings.
Yuuji was the first of the four to finish changing and putting up all the equipment. After Gojo entered the scene as well, they discussed the teams. Nobara was strongly against being with Megumi, as the two of them had still been eyeing each other with undisguised disdain. Both Yuuji and their teacher found this rather odd, as most of the friction happening in their little team was between the two boys. Nobara mostly stayed out of trouble, except if she had been insulted in some way and dragged into a quarrellous state - like now. Then, there was absolutely nothing stopping her from turning into a fury and light the entire country on fire. Except for the shopping malls. Knowing her, she would keep those.
Gojo-sensei ordered them to bring a change of black clothes with them when they were still at the college, and it was clear why now. Since he didn't own too many dark coloured tops aside from his school uniform, he had to borrow one from his next-door neighbour, who was known for having an endless supply of black items. Since their height difference was minimal, the loose T-shirt he received fit him perfectly. He had his doubts in the beginning because their builds were quite different - but Megumi seemed to have had the same thoughts because he opted for a more comfortable design rather than a fitting one.
Thinking of shirts now, he has never seen Megumi in anything other than items that covered up the whole of his frame, hiding away most of his skin and absolutely swallowing the boy up. Sometimes he let his mind wander and imagine him... God! What was he even thinking? Is this really the end? Has he finally turned into a hopeless pervert? They were friends. Pals. Bros. Nothing more. Although there were moments he could have sworn he caught Fushiguro staring at him, he told himself that was just what his mind wanted him to believe and nothing more.
If Megumi were to find out about Yuuji thinking about him in such an... improper way, he would be so good as dead and their friendship ruined. So no, Itadori considered this a 'phase' and strongly believed that it was just his hormones playing a cruel game with him.
"Oh, you are done already?"
Talk of the devil. When Yuuji gazed sideways to where he heard the words from, he was met with a sight that caused his jaw to drop. Of course, he was quick to close it this time. There would have been nothing more embarrassing than having been found out in such a ridiculous way. He could feel his cheeks flush the moment Megumi walked past him, bringing with him the fresh scent of cinnamon, oh so distinctive of him. Yuuji has grown used to the way a small cloud of sweet smell always surrounded him as if it were etched to his skin. Not like he minded it in the first place - it was perhaps the first thing he noticed about the sorcerer when they first met.
But this wasn't the reason his mouth fell agape the moment Megumi walked in. Oh no, not at all. The culprit for that was the over-sized T-shirt he was wearing. It clearly wasn't his size and was close to falling off one of his shoulders. It was bound to happen any moment with the smallest of movements, and Yuuji was unsure whether he should have considered that a curse or a blessing from heaven. The shirt also happened to leave the boy's neck bare and out on the open.
One couldn't really blame Yuuji for not being able to look away from the skin white as freshly fallen snow and smooth like an angel's touch. It was truly... a captivating sight.
After some time spent with inspecting the guns provided for them, the gentle, sapphire gaze of the other settled on him and Yuuji's blush deepened in colour. He has been caught red-handed, in the middle of ooggling the other's neck. But instead of the disgusting look, he was expecting, Megumi gave him a small smile and turned back to trying out all the functions on the laser weapon.
Did he just imagine that...? The light-haired boy's mind was a complete mess, his thoughts jumbled and erratic. He couldn't place together with the Megumi who was having a cat and dog argument with Nobara earlier and this one, who smiled at him while staring into his eyes after catching him staring.
"Yoo- The greatest amazon of history is back to bless you, mortals, with her presence" announced Kugisaki, who just walked into the waiting room as well, dressed in full black as well.
"Is that a leather jacket?" asked Megumi, suppressed laughter evident in his tone.
To this, the brunette just gave him an annoyed look.
"Is that Gojo sensei's T-shirt?"
Upon hearing this, Itadori's mind went blank. As if someone pushed the wrong button in his brain and accidentally caused a blackout in his mind.
"He was the one who offered it!"
"Indeed I did" joined in the new voice.
None of them heard the door open or close when Gojo entered, but at this point, none of them was surprised by it. The only thing predictable about this man was that he was unpredictable and they learnt this early on.
"Megumi left the clothes he had prepared at home and I just happen to wear black with black all the time so we made it work" explained Gojo further. "Now, let's get down to business, shall we? Weapons ready?"
They all nodded in unison, which made the taller man smile slightly. He opened the door, revealing the arena and let the kids step in one by one, before entering himself as well. The arena was something of a labyrinth, full of hiding spots, some extra decoration like bushes and... was that a car Yuuji just spotted about ten metres away? The lighting was ultraviolet, so the only things visible were the things sprayed on the walls with light paint. And their shoelaces of course.
The dynamic duo of country folks weren't the only ones this was a completely new experience for. Megumi also seemed to be in a bit of a shock by the sight, so this must have been a first for him too - noted Itadori. The only one keeping his cool was their almighty teacher.
"About the teams... Yuuji, you are going to be with me. We are the defence. Megumi and Nobara, you guys are the offence"
"But you-" Megumi started, but didn't even get to finish.
"So that's been decided!" the grin that spread on the teacher's face was way too evil for someone supposedly fighting for humanity's sake. He nodded towards the offence team and clapped his hands a little. "Just like I said at home, no cursed techniques are allowed! If I catch any of you using cursed energy I will also have to return the favour by using mine. Come on we don't have all day~ Get going, then we will start in thirty seconds"
The last words and the time limit that had been established caused Nobara and Megumi to settle aside all their differences and after a small 5 second long, silent discussion, they scrabbled away into different directions. They had to get to their base, secure it, charge their weapons with ammo and health and then proceed to come up with an offence strategy that could defeat a power duo like Yuuji and Gojo sensei. He noticed from the corner of his eyes, how the latter just leant to the wall as if he were already fully aware of what would happen and when the other group would strike.
"Are you scared?"
The question caught Yuuji, whose mind was still filled with the elegant curl of Fushiguro's neck, off guard.
"Not really. I mean you are here... and their teamwork might be slacking because of the arguments earlier so... we should be fine?"
This earned a burst of hearty laughter from Gojo. Unlike the other team, they could converse and make noise freely, since their base had been apparent from the start. It was not too far away from the spot where they discussed the teams earlier, just behind the wall with a huge kanji of "death" spray-painted on it.
He wasn't lying though - there was no need for him to be anxious. Life and death situations were nothing uncommon during their missions, embedded so much in his daily routine by now that he didn't care. And although this was a new situation, these were the classmates whose fighting styles he had already become well-acquainted with.
"Trust me, those two will instantly bury the hatchet if they find a common enemy. Why do you think I put them on the same team, hm~?" the question was rhetorical and a breath later the taller man continued. "If Nobara spots you, she will attack you straight away. Due to the nature of her cursed technique, her aim will most likely be excellent. She is quite stubborn for a lady so if you run, expect her to chase you. Megumi on the other hand..."
The sentence was interrupted by the muffled sound of something heavy falling in the distance, a painful yelp, then some hushed cursing. Yuuji sent his teacher a questioning look, but the only explanation he was given in return was a shrug and a smile.
"Where were we? Oh right, Megumi. He is definitely in his element in an environment like this. Look out for corners and shady spots if you go venture outside the base. He probably already had a plan for how to defeat us. And as for what we will d-"
It seemed like the whole universe was against Gojo finishing his sentences that day. There was a sound of light-toned laughter - Nobara! - coming from the right, then the unmistakable tone signing 'death'. Whenever the sensors that had been attached to their vests have been hit by an enemy's laser, a sound would play from their guns, signing that they have been shot. After that, they had ten seconds where they were basically dead - couldn't shoot but couldn't get shot either.
Yuuji's eyes widened in panic after hearing the telltale sound, glancing down on his weapon. It wasn't he, who got shot, his life was still full. So then...
"Gojo sensei!" he called out, voice raised and laced with a bit too much worry.
"Seems like she got me. Run to the right, I will deal with this here. Go!"
The instructions were clear and understandable. He had to leave so that at least one of them survives unharmed and has a chance of taking down the attackers. Without so much as a last glance, he sprinted out from behind their cover and launched himself right into the dark labyrinth of walls.
He continued running until he was far enough from the base to consider slowing down and looking around safe. Just as Gojo said, Nobara had sharp eyes and an exceptional aim, so he had to make sure he was completely out of reach. No matter where he looked, he was met with the same darkness and all the walls were painted the same shade of purple by the special lighting.
It was also quiet. Unsettlingly so. Pupils fully blown already, somehow accustomed to the gloom, Yuuji began stalking forward in the direction of what seemed like an opening. The arena wasn't that huge, but the number of little corners, hiding spots, turns, dead ends and so on it held made it seem endless. And a dangerous. Being chased out of their hiding spot wouldn't have been enough, he was now totally and entirely lost. He was somewhat aware where the sensei and Nobara were duelling (there was some occasional shuffling, running and the sound of laser bullets fired), but he had absolutely no idea where the enemy he was supposed to track down and defeat was.
Although he came here with the mindset of a predator, he now felt like a stupid little prey, not being able to do anything else other than await its tragic fate. Fushiguro could be lurking behind any wall, hiding in the most impossible spots and blending in with the shadows like he always did. He was no match for a hunter as experienced as Megumi.
But giving up wasn't his style.
He took a swift turn to the left - leading him right to the open space - and crouched down behind what seemed to be a carcass of a car. He had no idea how did an ancient design like this one even get in here as decoration, but the idea was nice and he was thankful for the wonderful cover it provided him with. He stayed there for a while, waiting. Even his breathing became slight and controlled while trying to stay as quiet as possible.
Great efforts have been put into staying silent and invisible, just listen and hear every little noise made around him. Yet... there was absolutely nothing he could pick out. Was Megumi even around here? Or perhaps they have been fooled into believing that only Kugisaki would attack their base and the offence team had directed all their forced to defeat Gojo. This thought left a sour taste in his mouth and made him uneasy, but just as he was about to get up from his hiding spot...
He noticed a bit of movement from the corner of his eye. Clutching his weapon even closer to his chest, he turned with the speed of light, shooting in the direction. Missed. Of course. A small gasp caught his ears, coming right behind the wall that was now in front of him. Yuuji knew where that wall lead. It was a dead-end with one way in and no way out. He passed that place while searching for the perfect hiding spot not too long ago. The grin that appeared on his face wasn't one you would expect to see from Yuuji in his right state of mind. There was something unnaturally crazed about it. Perhaps the curse hiding inside him has been rubbing off on him, who knows.
The way he stood up and stalked to the wall was full of confidence now. He was sure of himself because he definitely had the upper hand now.
"That's a dead-end, Megumi. It's game over" he said, chucking a little bit.
No reply. So he wasn't giving up this easily. But after all, that was expected from someone as prideful as him.
He gripped the handle of his gun with a bit more force, and after slowly counting to three in his mind, he rounded the wall, aiming right into the dead-end where he supposed he would find his classmate. He imagined him in one of the corners, face twisted in annoyance over the situation and gun pointed right at Itadori, aim perfect. Perhaps he would have succeeded with shooting Megum first if that were the case, since the ace of surprise was on his side.
What he didn't expect was to be grabbed and yanked forward by his shirt, until he was about two centimetres away from the black-haired boy. His eyes immediately focused on the other's face, and the expression he found there made him forget to shoot or even try to push him away. This Megumi wasn't annoyed, nor did he seem frightened. No, the look on his face was apparent - even in such poor lighting. He stared at Yuuji with determination, his eyes wide as if he had also been shocked by his own actions. Or his thoughts of what was to come? Yuuji shall never know, because in the next moment, a pair of lips were pushed against his.
There was a moment of shock.
And then another.
Itadori Yuuji's brain was experiencing a complete meltdown.
But unlike him, Megumi seemed to be able to get over the confusion of the first moments. His lips... oh so warm and soft, began moving on Yuuji's. There was something shy in the was he kissed the other as if he was still figuring out what he wanted. He sucked on Yuuji's lower lip - something that woke the light-haired from his earlier daze. His mind was still unable to function properly, so he just let his body take the lead and told his instincts to guide him through this.
He wrapped his arms around Megumi's waist, pulling him close with one effective motion until their bodies were flushed together. He felt arms encircle his neck - the other's way of clinging to him, of desperately trying to make this moment last longer. And to make it last longer; no, forever, was something Itadori was willing to give to him.
He kissed back, a bit clumsily at first - not really knowing what to do with those lips of his - but as they continued to let their mouth, their bodies and their whole being melt into each other, both of them eased into it. There was a sharp pain stab of pain in his lower lips, to which he pulled away a bit.
"Did you just-"
"Oh shut up"
Megumi silenced him with another kiss, this time though a bit different. He felt something soft as the other licked into his mouth. Oh. His tongue. Yuuji let him have his way, sucking on lips and exploring his mouth for a while, but when Megumi seemed to retreat and attempted to pull away, he flipped their situation. He pushed Fuhiguro to the wall, only pulling away for a moment so he could hear the sweet gasp that escaped him when his back met with the harsh surface of the wall.
It was Yuuji who leant into the kiss first now, with fire, want and so much need. He kissed Megumi as if his life depended on it, grabbing onto that damned T-shirt. There was a sparkle between them every time their mouths parted only to reunite again seconds later. All that pent up tension, everything they have bee surpassing until now has now overflown and flooded the entirety of their souls. It filled them with emotions they couldn't decipher, and perhaps they didn't even want to at that moment.
"You taste so sweet" Yuuji panted onto the milky skin of Megumi's neck. He has pulled away again a while ago and now had his face buried in the place between his classmate's neck and shoulder. "Like cinnamon. Its so addicting, god... I wish I could just kiss you forever"
There was no response from the other. When Yuuji looked up at him, he couldn't help but smile. The almighty and bossy Fushiguro was a panting mess, cheeks aflame, lips shiny from spit and red from how long they have been munched on by Itadori.
"This shirt is the one to blame for everything. It makes me go crazy. Makes me want to..."
There was a short pause as he leant down and kissed the unblemished skin in front of him. He felt Megumi shiver in his arms like an embarrassed little maiden. Oh god, the only thing he wished for at that moment was to bite, to mark and to claim. But he didn't want to do anything without making sure the one receiving these future bruises was okay with it.
"Makes you want to what?" asked the taller, voice still a bit weak and airy.
"To mark you all up. To make sure everyone knows to keep their hands off of you when they see you exit in this goddamn T-shirt" he chuckled.
"Please..."
That and a small now was all Yuuji needed for confirmation before he latched onto his neck. He started with peppering tender butterfly kisses all over the places he loved. These included under his jaw, the side of his neck, that very special place near his exposed collarbone (he sure said his thanks to the shirt once again) and on the shoulder. Then, hearing Megumi practically fall apart from his actions - small sounds of pleasure escaping his parted lips every time Yuuji's lips touched his skin - he couldn't hold back anymore. He sucked on the skin, biting gently at some places. This made the boy practically wither in his arms, trying his best to keep quiet by biting onto one of his fingers. The small sounds that came from him, Yuuji drank up with pleasure.
When he was all done, he leant back a bit further now to examine his art. Magnificent, truly a gift from the heavens. He got lost in the sight of the heaving, blushing and probably very much riled up Megumi, and even forgot they were in the middle of a laser tag game. He just gazed into the sapphire eyes he adored so much, trying to process what just happened between them. They kissed. And he gave him hickeys... love marks that were now darkening on his skin with every passing second.
"Ahw- you have been shot"
The sound of his gun - one that has been handing on his belt the entire time - stirred him awake and pushed all the pink mist away from his eyes. He has been shot. A gentle touch of something hard proved this point even further. Megumi has shot him. The same person who has been trying to catch his breath and get himself together in his arms a minute ago was now smirking at him. His eyes promised challenge, shining as playfully as ever.
"Catch me if you can" he whispered onto the shell of Yuuji's ear, hot breath hitting his skin in puffs. Although he was hiding it well, it was obvious that Fushiguro was quite out of breath as well.
He pushed the shocked Itadori away with ease and disappeared behind the wall after turning right. And perhaps that was the moment Itadori Yuuji fell in love.
Later, when they stepped out of the arena, finally reunited with Gojo and Nobara, Megumi stormed right into the changing room, desperately trying to cover the right side of his neck with his hand. Of course, all of them noticed anyways. Especially since he later had the nerve to ask Kugisaki to lend him her scarf. The only one she had at the moment was bright pink with a flower print on it. But even then, the sulking boy snatched it right out of her hands and wrapped it up around his neck with the speed of light.
The sight of him dressed in all black with a hilarious-looking scarf around his neck brought Nobara to tears.
Gojo took his sweet time tormenting Fushiguro about this on their way home, practically going on and on about how lovely he looks with this style and how he would give half his leg to see what was the mystery under the cloth.
Itadori didn't mention a thing about it, but they all knew anyways. That was the reason why absolutely nobody questioned them when later through the night, they excused themselves from dinner (with a 5-minute delay because Megumi refused to be that shameless) and disappeared into the gardens of the college, only to appear completely dishevelled.