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Yuuji had never been the same after Shibuya.
Megumi was sure that if he hadn’t found Yuuji, the higher ups would find him first and immediately kill him. Yuuji, in his current state of mind, would have followed through with it, unable to think for himself.
No matter how Yuuji tried to smile and laugh with them, Megumi had seen how Yuuji’s mental health had slowly declined ever since the first day they met when his grandfather died. He would try to cope, he always tried and he sometimes sought refuge from his friends that he and Nobara would give without any questions asked. Or perhaps it had always been bad but he tried to cover it up with his smiles.
Then Shibuya happened and it was too much all at once.
When Megumi found him, Yuuji had been so shell-shocked by all that happened in one night that he had become selectively mute. He was responsive and he could still talk but he was not the same Yuuji anymore. He second guessed everything, became very hesitant and fearful. He wouldn’t eat even when Megumi gives him the food and only does so when Megumi pushes the food to his mouth. Megumi had to tell him what to do and Yuuji had become dependent on him.
Yuuji would sleep clutching a small part of Megumi’s shirt like a life line. When Megumi asked him about it one time, he apologized profusely, saying he didn’t mean to be such a nuisance and almost had a panic attack. Megumi held him until he calmed down and kept reassuring him and Megumi would hold him every time the other went to sleep.
Now, Yuuji wouldn’t be able to rest properly without holding something from Megumi or something Megumi was wearing— his hand, his pinky finger, his sleeve, the edge of his shirt, anything, as long as Yuuji was holding something that was Megumi’s. One time Megumi moved in his sleep and accidentally caused Yuuji’s hold on his shirt to slip and Yuuji jolted awake. Only when he was sure that Megumi wasn’t leaving him was he able to sleep, but even then, it was fitful.
When Megumi would see any sign of discomfort in his sleep, or when Yuuji would suddenly wake from a nightmare, Megumi made sure he was there to soothe him.
They had been on the run since Shibuya and Megumi had been leading them away from anyone the higher ups might send for them.
Despite the barren wasteland that was Shibuya, some parts of Japan were still crowded and he brought Yuuji there, hiding behind the masses, ensuring they were both undetected. Megumi ensured they don’t stay in one place for long, knowing Yuuji’s execution was back in place with Gojo-sensei being sealed. He was probably wanted now too for helping Yuuji but Megumi didn’t care.
Megumi made sure the cap Yuuji was wearing was snug on his head, covering it with the hoodie and a face mask for good measure. He had Yuuji wear colored contacts for additional precaution but Yuuji, having never worn one before, got an eye infection that made his eyes red and irritated. So he settled for dark sunglasses, not liking that he had caused Yuuji discomfort.
He had the same on him. He instructed Yuuji to keep his head down to which the other only nodded. That was one of Yuuji’s usual responses, a nod and a shake of the head so Megumi would keep his questions and instructions simple. Then he would lead Yuuji through the crowds, their hands intertwined.
Megumi would curl a part of his shadow around Yuuji’s wrist, effectively binding their wrists together with his cursed energy. He had been doing this ever since that one time when they got accidentally separated and after hours of frantic searching, Megumi found Yuuji at the outskirts of town, huddled behind a dumpster, wet, shaking, and crying.
When they were separated, Yuuji had panicked and ran, trying to find Megumi. In his haste, Yuuji was hit by a truck he didn’t see coming and had been thrown over the bridge. Thankfully, Yuuji had been able to swim to safety but by then, he had been too exhausted and could only curl in on himself where Megumi found him.
Megumi soothed him, wiping the tears from his eyes and reassuring him that everything was going to be fine. Yuuji still kept apologizing, thinking that it was all his fault. Even as Megumi hauled him to the safest motel he could find, got him out of his wet clothes, bathed him, and put him in fresh clothes, Yuuji was still apologizing to him. Thankfully, Yuuji only got a bruised hip and mild concussion from the hit. Yuuji would be limping a bit but he would make a full recovery. They’ll just have to take it slow so he doesn’t exhaust Yuuji.
“Shh, it’s fine, Yuuji,” Megumi soothed. They were in bed now, Megumi having his arms around the other, Yuuji’s shaking hands clutching at his shirt as his life line. He was not crying anymore but the occasional sob was still there. “It’s not your fault. None of what happened is your fault. I’m sorry I let you go. I won’t let you go anymore. I promise.”
Megumi kissed Yuuji’s forehead, the other’s eyes drooping from fatigue. It was clear he was trying to fight it but his exhaustion eventually won out. Megumi didn’t let go of him. When he whimpered in his sleep because of his nightmares, Megumi only held him close, whispering reassurances in his ear.
They spent a few more days at that motel to ensure Yuuji recuperates. Thankfully, he didn’t catch a cold for how long he was in his wet clothes. When Yuuji was asleep one afternoon, Megumi left quickly for a supply run, leaving his demon dog to guard Yuuji in his absence. While at the conbini, he found a white dog keychain and decided to buy it on a whim.
When he came back, Yuuji was still asleep and his demon dog was now curled protectively around Yuuji who was peacefully asleep. When they ate dinner that night, Yuuji lightened up when Megumi brought him something new to eat, not just the usual bread. And when Megumi gave Yuuji the keychain, after weeks of running, he finally saw Yuuji smile again.
“Thank you, Megumi,” Yuuji had said in a near whisper as he cradled the keychain in his hand. Yuuji slept easier that night.
A few days after that, as they were just about to leave the town they were at, Okkotsu-senpai found them.
Megumi had immediately put himself between Yuuji and Okkotsu-senpai, covering the other with his body. They don’t know if the older man was here on the higher ups’ orders and even if he wasn’t, Megumi wasn’t sure if he could be trusted, especially with Yuuji.
But Okkotsu-senpai ensured them he was not there to harm them and that he was actually relieved to see them after weeks of searching. Okkotsu-senpai told them he had been tasked by Gojo-sensei to take care of the first years, especially Yuuji, should anything happen to him.
It would also seem that Gojo-sensei had foreseen that something would happen because he left a few instructions to Okkotsu-senpai for the first years. Gojo-sensei had left them money under an anonymous account they could use and a few properties he had especially purchased as a safe house. One of these safe houses had been where Yuuji had stayed while he was ‘dead’. Gojo-sensei had also ensured none of the higher ups knew about it. Megumi doubts anyone else knows except for who Gojo-sensei really trusted.
“Each safe house should be fully stocked and equipped,” Okkotsu-senpai explained. “There is also a curtain in each that would prevent anyone who isn’t allowed to enter so it should be safe. But I suggest not staying in one place for too long just in case, especially here in the city. Gojo-sensei did say there is one place in the north that you can stay for an immeasurable amount of time so long as you both stay in the curtain.”
Megumi nodded. “But what about you and the other second years?”
“We have the same instructions but it’s better if we don’t stay in one place together,” senpai said. “Our combined cursed energies could attract unwanted people. Toge and the others are already together and I’ll meet with them when I can. Gojo-sensei had recommended the safe house in the north especially for Itadori-kun.”
Megumi nodded. “I agree it would be the best place. But we may be staying in other safe houses between here and there just in case. I don’t want to tire Yuuji too much.”
Megumi glanced at Yuuji who had been sitting at the edge of the bed, petting one of Megumi’s rabbits on his lap. Okkotsu-senpai did the same.
“Gojo-sensei will be sad to see him like this. How is he?” Okkotsu-senpai asked.
“He’s still not the same Yuuji I used to know but he’s better than he was a few weeks ago so there’s progress. I’ll take care of him.”
Okkotsu-senpai nodded. “When you make your way north, I’ll wreck havoc somewhere to redirect the sorcerers and non-sorcerers that were hired to find you. When I find a way to unseal Gojo-sensei, I’ll let you know.”
Megumi nodded again.
This was a big reprieve for Megumi, knowing he was not fighting alone and knowing Gojo-sensei was still helping them even when he had been incapacitated. That night, Megumi bundled Yuuji up in the warmest hoodie the other boy had and rode the fastest train to the safe house. They had to stay in one other safe house but it was only a short stay and they were finally in a final train to the safe house Gojo-sensei recommended.
A gasp from Yuuji jerked Megumi awake and he was immediately on alert, hands ready to call out his shikigami. Megumi sensed nothing after a short moment of feeling his surroundings but kept his guards up just in case until he heard another gasp from Yuuji did he finally turn to the other boy and felt his breath stop.
With his hood still secured on his head, Yuuji was pushing his hands and face against the glass window, excitement shining in his eyes and the widest smile on his face.
This looked like how Yuuji was before Shibuya, the same excitement Yuuji exuded for just about anything, and for a short moment, Megumi felt the ache of missing that Yuuji.
Then Yuuji turned to him, same excited eyes, same wide grin, a finger pointed at the window.
“Umi!” he declared, louder than a whisper but not quite his usual volume, but for this Yuuji, this is the loudest he had been.
“The place we’re going to has a beach front,” Megumi informed.
Yuuji’s eyes widened and shone with even more excitement and Megumi can’t help the smile that formed on his face.
“If you’re good, I can let you play on the beach.”
Yuuji nodded excitedly, clutching on Megumi’s arm and sighing happily, leaning on Megumi’s side and resting his head on the other’s shoulder.
“Thank you, Megumi,” Yuuji whispered.
Megumi turned his head to kiss the other’s head over the hoodie, one hand intertwining with Yuuji’s.
It’s not going to be a quick process but Megumi will always be there for Yuuji. And he will ensure the other is safe and secure in his embrace.