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“Well?”
“Well, that is one hundred percent Fushiguro Megumi, though his curse energy is completely different now,” Shoko said, taking a hit from her cigarette.
Gojo stared at the man in front of him, the one who seemed to be Fushiguro Megumi. Except the Fushiguro Megumi he knew was out on a mission with Yuji and Nobara. Not to mention this Fushiguro was the wrong age. The man had appeared in the middle of the infirmary, startling both Shoko and himself.
Gojo had nearly killed him, seeing as he looked just like Fushiguro Toji, minus the scar on his lap. The last time that man had shown up, he’d lost a friend, and he didn’t intend to lose another. It had taken Fushiguro claiming to be Megumi, holding up his hands placatingly, dodging Gogo’s hits, and calling out for Aunt Shoko to calm him down. Something he hadn’t called her since he was eight. Shoko’s office was still a mess; eh, he'd get Ijichi to clean it up.
“Care to explain the lack of curse energy?”
The older version of Megumi frowned, leaning back in the chair he was sitting on, and went silent. Shoko took another hit from her cigarette, and Gojo grinned.
“Is this payback for all the times I annoyed you as a kid?”
Megumi snorted, rolling his eyes. “As if I’m that petty.”
“You are.”
“Anyways,” Megumi rolled his eyes again, “I was debating on if I should tell you or not. According to my boyfriend time travel movies follow distinct rules-“
“Boyfriend?” Gojo interrupted, a wide smile overtaking his face. “How cute!”
Megumi froze, as he realized his slip up before he relaxed with a shrug, leaning back and crossing his arms. “Don’t act so surprised. I know about the betting pool now.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Gojo said.
“Who won?” Shoko asked at the same time.
Megumi smirked. “That takes all the fun out of it, don’t you think?”
“Wow, you turned out to be just as obnoxious as Gojo, always knew he was a bad influence,” Shoko said.
“Love you too, Shoko.”
“And just as delusional.” She deadpanned, though the slight smile on her face gave her away.
“Gumi-chan, you sure you can’t tell us about the future?” Gojo said. “I’d love to know—”
Megumi shook his head. “I’ve finally found something to live for in the future, and I’d rather not lose it.”
“Ugh, how cheesy.”
“This coming from the man who used to call his “best friend” his one and only," Shoko snorted.
“Moving on,” Gojo huffed. “We can place you in the dorms for the time being—”
“You have a guest room, though, multiple if I remember correctly.”
“Yes, but—”
“I’d rather stay with you, if that’s okay.”
Gojo paused for a second before smiling. “Of course it is. How sweet, Shoko. Megumi wants to stay with his favorite caregiver. Still the same sweetheart underneath all this new muscle.” He cooed, pinching Megumi’s cheek.
The older version of Megumi rolled his eyes, batting Gojo’s hand away. "Don’t make me change my mind. What are you going to tell mini me?”
“The truth, of course. You look too much like yourself, a really buff version of yourself but still like yourself. I don’t see the harm. You won’t be telling us anything vital I’m assuming?” At Megumi’s head shake he continued, “Besides, I can see, residual curse energy fading off you. I’m guessing once it’s gone, you’ll poof away just like you poofed here. Hopefully, my eyesight hasn’t gotten worse in your old age or you’re in for a rude surprise.”
At his last comment, Megumi gave him a small, sad smile, and Gojo suddenly had the distinct impression he wasn’t around anymore. Damn, hopefully, he went out in a blaze of glory.
“But I have the perfect way to introduce them to you.”
After the horrible fiasco of having Yuji pop up from a box to showcase his recursion, you’d think Gojo would know better. At least this time it wasn’t trauma-inducing.
No, this time Megumi would be joining the class during the sparring session and anyone who could beat him or figure out who he was would get a prize of their choosing.
A little silly, but Megumi couldn’t help but go along with it. He’d missed Gojo something fierce in the years since his passing, and he was old enough and confident enough now to admit it. Besides, it would be funny once the truth was revealed. Huh, guess almost getting turned into mush by Sukuna had really mellowed him out. Or maybe he’d just learned to do whatever he wanted instead of trying to please everyone else.
Megumi walked up to the class as they were finishing up a warmup session. At once, all eyes snapped to him, varying in expression from confusion to suspicion.
“Tuna mayo,” Inumaki said, pointing at him.
“Oh, him.” Gojo made a show of turning around. “Oh, this is my good buddy, known him all his life.”
“Okay, that doesn’t really answer the question of who he is,” Kugisaki crossed her arms.
“That’s for you guys to find out,” Gojo said, grinning. “Whoever can beat him in a fight and figure out who he is wins a prize."
“What kind of prize?” Maki asked, leaning against her spear.
Gojo shrugged. “Whatever you want. Within reason, of course.”
“Shopping spree, with your credit card!” Kugisaki squealed, clasping her hands together.
“Sure, why not.”
The scream she let out could’ve been a weapon itself. Megumi rubbed at his ear. Thank God, Kugisaki had mellowed out as they got older, for the most part anyways.
“You are so going down, whoever you are,” Kugisaki shouted.
Megumi bit back a smirk—still just as spirited as ever.
“Salmon roe,” Inumaki said.
“Sheesh, you guys have expensive taste,” Gojo said. “Sure, though. Brand new gaming system whenever a new one comes out. What about the rest of you?”
“A week without you bothering would be nice...actually, I could do with plane tickets,” Maki said.
“Anywhere in particular?” Gojo cooed. “Perhaps a certain place in Africa?”
Maki narrowed her eyes, glaring at him.
Panda let out a shrug. “I’ll figure it out if I win.”
“Megumi-chan, Yuji-kun, I’m sure there has to be something you want.”
Yuji raised his hand in the air, despite this not being a class. God, he was adorable. “Oh, a bigger TV for the common room, please. And let’s all go to Disney Tokyo, please.”
Megumi smiled to himself even now Yuji was still thinking of others choosing prizes that would not only benefit him but his friends too. God, Megumi loved that kid.
“Consider it done.”
In the background, Kugisaki and Yuji started cheering, soon joined by Panda and Inumaki. Only Maki and the younger version of himself were still suspicious. Perks or downsides of being a Zenin, he supposed.
His younger self—Megumi, for the sake of ease—was going to call him Fushiguro, crossed his arms. “I want... we get a guaranteed weekend off every month.”
“Done. Though I’m surprised you don’t just ask for yourself,” Gojo said.
Megumi watched his younger self sneak a glance at Yuji and look away. No doubt Fushiguro had wanted to ask for just him and Yuji to get time off, but that would’ve been way too obvious, although apparently everyone already knew considering the betting pool that was currently going on. And here all this time Megumi thought he’d been subtle.
“Alright, now that terms have been set, who wants to go first?”
Panda let out a shrug. “I’ll go.” Once he got closer, his nose twitched as he sniffed. “You smell like Fushiguro, must be a Zenin.”
Megumi merely raised an eyebrow. Truth be told, he’d forgotten about Panda’s impeccable sense of smell. Still, it’d be interesting to see if he’d jump to the right conclusion.
Fighting the younger versions of his classmates was entertaining, to say the least. He could see the differences in their skills and where they’d eventually catch up. Panda had yet to unlock his third form. Kugisaki was still rushing into things. Inumaki hadn’t figured out he could use his hands with his curse technique. Yuji was all strength, no finesse. Fushiguro was still too self-sacrificing.
The only person who’d come close to beating him had been Maki, and he’d still wiped the floor with her. Which was only a testimony to her future skill level.
“Wow, none of you managed to even get a hit in, except for Maki. Nice job.” Gojo said, giving her a thumbs up, which she ignored.
“You jerk, you knew we wouldn’t be able to win, didn’t you? That’s why you promised us all that stuff, huh?” Kugisaki shouted.
“It’s not my fault you’re all weaker than I thought.” Gojo shrugged. “He wasn’t even using a cursed technique.”
“Do you have a cursed technique?” Maki asked.
“I—”
Gojo cut him off. “But since I’m a nice person, whoever can guess who he is, will still get their reward.”
“Oh, let me through.” Kugisaki shouted, moving to the front to stare at him.
“Obviously Zenin,” Maki sneered. “That much is for certain.”
“Zenin? Oh, like you and Fushiguro?” Yuji shouted out.
“Smells like Fushiguro too.” Panda chimed in.
“What?” Fushiguro looked over at him, mouth falling open as he stared at him.
“Really?”
“Are you Fushiguro’s dad?” Kugisaki said.
“Seriously,” Maki said, “That’s your guess?”
“Oooh, oh, me next!” Yuji said, raising his hand.
“Take your guess, sweetheart.”
Oops. Megumi wasn’t one for nicknames, not the way his boyfriend was. But seeing his boyfriend looking so young and adorable, well, it’d just slipped out. Not that he regretted it. The reactions were entertaining.
Yuji turned bright pink and was now alternating between staring at him and looking away. Megumi, who knew first-hand that Yuji had a very specific type of man, couldn’t help but smirk. He would consider it payback for his younger self. Not that Yuji knew the effect he had on his younger self.
Speaking of his younger self, man, if looks could kill, Megumi would be three feet in the ground. Fushiguro had even slid closer to Yuji, as if to protect him. How cute.
Gojo was holding back laughter. The rest of the students ranged from amused to angry. At least they were good friends.
Yuji still hadn’t said anything, and sure, Megumi could’ve backed off, but where would be the fun in that?
“You still haven’t given your guess, angel.”
Yuji’s face grew pinker. “I was going to say you were Fushiguro’s older brother, but I—”
“Just as obsessed with Fushiguro no matter the age, huh, brat?”
“I’m not obsessed—”
One eye opened under Yuji’s cheek before a drawling voice could be heard. “Idiots, all of you. Ten Shadows... you grew up well.”
“No thanks to you,” Megumi muttered under his breath. He refused to even acknowledge Sukuna, knowing that would piss him off more than anything.
Yuji suppressed Sukuna before he had a chance to continue, “Grew up? Wait, is this Fushiguro?”
“From 15 years into the future.” Gojo said, extending his arms in presentation.
“What?”
“Damn, Fushiguro, you grew up hot.” Kugisaki whispered out loud.
“Shut up!”
Yuji had never really been interested in girls growing up, at least not until he watched X-Men First Class and witnessed the glory that was Jennifer Lawrence, the rest was as they say history. That didn’t mean he couldn’t like people outside his usual type. Ozawa had been nice, she was a great eater with nice handwriting. Yuji had a certain look he appreciated but it wasn’t a requirement. He’d never been a picky person.
All that said, he’d never really thought about the type of guys he might be into—mostly because he’d never thought he’d be into guys at all.
It wasn’t until he was staying with Gojo, while faking his death that he realized he was even attracted to men. Specifically, when Gojo had tossed him up in the air and caught him like he weighed nothing.
Growing up as built as Yuji was, he didn’t get thrown around often, and to his shock, he quite liked it.
The realization hit harder after meeting Todo and Maki—both of them could easily pick him up and throw him around, and it stirred something in him.
Nothing much came of it. Yuji accepted his newfound bisexuality with the same ease he handled everything life threw at him. His type stayed pretty consistent—tall, with a big ass, with an added caveat: strong enough to toss him around. Considering his own muscle mass, that last part was unlikely, but a boy could dream.
And older Fushiguro, he was something straight out of a dream. He was almost as tall as Gojo, and almost as big as Todo.
“Obsessing over the Ten Shadows user again?” Sukuna said.
“What? No.” Yuji said, “Shut up!”
He suppressed Sukuna again, laying his head on the desk. He was not obsessing over Fushiguro, either of them.
“Gojo still isn’t here yet,” Kugisaki huffed. “He has ten minutes left before I go back to bed.”
“He’s probably talking to the older version of Fushiguro.” Yuji said, turning to his spikey haired classmate, “Hey, Fushiguro—”
“No.”
“Aww, you don’t even know what I was gonna say.”
“Something about the older me, and I’d rather not think about that right now.”
“I don’t think you have a choice.” Kugisaki said, pointing at the door.
Yuji looked up as Gojo entered, followed by the older version of Fushiguro. Kugisaki was right; he did grow up hot. It was weird to think about his best friend’s older self, but well facts were facts.
Older Fushiguro made eye contact with him and winked, and Yuji couldn’t help but blush and shyly wave back.
“What’s he doing here?” Younger Fushiguro scowled, crossing his arms.
“Megumi will be joining you on your mission.”
“Why?”
“Why not?” Gojo shrugged. “He’s a competent adult, something you’re always telling me I’m not. So, I figured, why not have him join? Can’t have any complaints there, unless there’s a specific reason you don’t want him to come.”
Fushiguro said nothing, glaring up at the two men.
“Then it’s settled,” Gojo clapped his hands together. “You kiddos have fun.”
“Wait, Fushiguro!”
Both Fushiguros turned to face him, and Yuji froze for a second under the intensity of their gazes. Damn, they had really pretty eyes.
“Give me a break, brat,” Sukuna scowled.
Hearing Sukuna’s snark brought Yuji back to his current objective. “Um, what should I call you? It might get confusing with two Fushiguros.”
“Good point,” Kugisaki said. “I was thinking of calling them Thing 1 and Thing 2.”
“You can call me whatever you prefer, darling,” The older Fushiguro smirked.
Yuji blushed hard, his breath catching after hearing the word ‘darling.’ Fushiguro already had a deep voice, but older Fushiguro’s voice was something else altogether.
“Stop being a creep,” The younger Fushiguro called out.
“We’re the same age.”
“Not in this timeline, you’re not.”
“How about you guys call me Megumi?” The Older Fushiguro shrugged.
“Nah, I’m calling you Thing 2,” Kugisaki said.
“Suit yourself. What about you, sunshine? Going to call me Megumi, or come up with your own special nickname for me?”
“Ah, Megumi’s fine,” Yuji blurted out. It felt weird calling Fushiguro by his first name when it technically wasn’t Fushiguro... but at the same time, it kind of was. His head was starting to hurt.
There was a moment of silence as both Fushiguros stared at him. Kugisaki rolled her eyes, texting on her phone.
“Sorry,” Yuji said, twisting his hands. “That was awkward.”
“No, it’s fine,” Megumi purred, “Sounds just as nice as I thought it would coming from you.”
Yuji flushed again. Who knew Fushiguro would turn out to be such a flirt when he got older? Too bad he probably didn’t mean anything by it.
“Seriously brat.”
Fushiguro was going to kill himself. Well, not himself exactly, the stupidly hot, buff version of himself that had swept Itadori off his feet... seriously Fushiguro was one more flirty remark away from committing suicide or would it count as homicide in this case. Either way Fushiguro was completely done with this whole situation. I mean come why was he wearing a shirt that tight!
He was referring to himself by his last name now, why did older him get to be Megumi. Technically Fushiguro was here first. He was not prepared to deal with how nice his name sounded coming from Itadori’s mouth, and it wasn’t even addressed to him, ok technically it was but not the current him, the future him who was a million times cooler than Fushiguro could ever hope to be.
One minute, Itadori was about to get hit by the curse they were fighting and before Fushiguro could summon Nue to save him, the older version of himself had just picked up Itadori like he weighed nothing, and single handedly exorcise the curse, with a cursed weapon. How the hell was Fushiguro supposed to compete with that?!
“You okay, tiger?”
“Yeah, I’m just how... ah, aren’t I heavy?”
“No one’s ever been able to pick you up and toss you around like that, huh?”
“I-no, yes, Gojo-err.”
Fushiguro made a mental note to add Gojo to his hit list. Itadori was staring up at the older version of himself who still had not put him down, with stars in his eyes.
Itadori was fucking giggling. Itadori never giggled around him, he got chuckles, his laugh that Fushiguro adored, but never a love-struck giggle. Not that Fushiguro cared, that’d be silly.
“You know, since we’ve dealt with the curse, I can give you a piggyback ride to campus,” Megumi offered.
That’s it. Fushiguro was going to kill himself. His actual self this time. If he didn’t exist there would be no older version of him to flirt with Itadori. Maybe a bit dramatic but drastic times called for drastic measures.
“Damn.” Kugisaki said, sliding up to him. “Imagine losing your crush to a hotter version of yourself.”
Fushiguro summoned his frog shikigami and threw her into the lake.
After that fiasco, Itadori was practically glued to the older Megumi’s hip, constantly praising him and asking him to show off.
“You’re so strong, Megumi.”
“Well, I’ve been working out,” he said casually, flexing.
Itadori let out another fucking giggle, practically bouncing on the balls of his feet, “How much can you bench, Megumi?”
“Want to find out?”
God, when did he become such a show-off? The only person he’d willingly show off for was… well, the person he was currently showing off for. Time travel was confusing.
Fushiguro sat in the courtyard under a tree, his eyes trained on the figures across from him. His older self was currently doing pushups with Itadori seated on his back. Fushiguro could totally do that, maybe. What did older him have that he didn’t? Besides the height and giant muscles that filled out t-shirts in way that bordered on obscene.
“Damn, what’s with you?” Kugisaki asked, noticing his glare.
“Nothing.”
“Mmm, sure. Must suck having your crush flirt with a hotter version of yourself. At least you know he finds you attractive.”
“He finds him attractive not me.”
“He is you—or will be, anyway. Once he’s gone, Itadori will come running back to your side.”
“More like he’ll have to settle for what he can’t have.” Fushiguro sighed. “I’m going inside.”
Fushiguro would just like to make it clear, he was not pouting in his room, coming up with ways to kill his older self. That would be pathetic and a little sad. He just needed some alone time.
A knock on his door interrupted his lamenting about Megumi, who really needed to keep his hands to himself. Fushiguro didn’t answer, instead turning up the music in his headphones, hoping whoever it was would get the hint.
They knocked two more times before pausing. Fushiguro was more than ready to go back to wallowing in his self-pity when a sudden ripple in the shadows underneath his bed caught his attention.
The shadows rippled much like water would, stretching to the side, as the older version of him stepped through the shadows.
He could use shadows to teleport now. How unfair was that? Fushiguro thought bitterly. No doubt he’d already shown off to Itadori, the bastard.
Fushiguro summoned his shikigami, burying his face in one of his dog’s necks. Stupid, sexy version of him.
“Wow, I’d forgotten what this place looked like. It’s been a while,” Megumi said, looking around.
“What do you want?” Fushiguro snapped, glaring at him.
“Yuji’s looking for you.”
“Why? He’s got the better version of me all over him.”
“Don’t tell me you’re jealous.”
“I’m not jealous.” Fushiguro scowled, he was totally jealous.
“Can’t believe you’re jealous of yourself.” Megumi chuckled.
“I am not jealous of myself!”
“Right, you’re just hiding in your room, glaring at me for some other reason. You seem to be forgetting that I’m you.”
“Well, if you’re me, you should know that I want to be left alone.”
Fushiguro’s shikigami let out a whimper before bounding over to the older version of him and Fushiguro let out a heavy sigh of defeat. “Great, even my dogs like you better.”
The older Fushiguro chuckled and kneeled down to drag his fingers through the shikigami’s fur. “I’ve missed them.”
Fushiguro blinked. “Missed them? You…you haven’t used any of your shikigami since you came back. Did I lose my curse technique? Is that my future?” He finished, voice small.
“No, I can’t use them anymore,” Megumi said, a voice sad.
“What happened?” Fushiguro asked.
“Life, unfortunately. But don’t worry, we get by,” Fushiguro smirked, waving his hand. A strand of shadows appeared, twisting around his fingers. “I’d tell you more, but if my boyfriend is to be believed, I probably shouldn’t.”
“You have a boyfriend?” Fushiguro seethed; all traces of sympathy gone. He wasn’t a cheater, but to have a boyfriend and still flirt with Itadori… “Then why are you flirting with Itadori?! Do I seriously grow up to become as shitty as my father? I can’t believe you’re a cheater!”
“Is it really cheating if it’s the same person?”
At that, Fushiguro froze, his mind going blank as he tried to process the information he’d just learn. He was dating Itadori in the future? Current Itadori was all over the older version of him, which meant future Itadori must’ve been all over him as well. Just the thought of it made Fushiguro start to blush.
“Don’t act so surprised. We’ve liked him since day one. Todo asked us our type and we all but said Yuji's name.”
Fushiguro scowled, trying to put that embarrassing fact behind him. How was he supposed to know Itadori would come back to life?
“Wait, I thought you couldn’t tell me anything about the future.”
“What if you guys are supposed to get together in the next twenty minutes or so?”
“What?!”
“Just kidding.”
“Asshole.”
“Still, I figured why not. If I’m you and I am, something tells me you needed the reassurance. After Sukuna—”
“Sukuna? What does Sukuna have to do with all this?”
The older him paused, sizing him up. “Ah, what the hell. Either I change the future for the better, or an alternate universe of you gets to avoid some pain, heartache, and suffering. Listen up, Sukuna plans to take over your err our body. If you ever hear Yuji say the words ‘enchain’, run, or knock him out. One or the other. That’s about all I can tell you. On the off chance this really is my past, I’d rather not mess it up. I quite like having a boyfriend to come home to and kiss.”
“Enough.”
“Wow, you are such a prude. He’s your boyfriend too. You’ll kiss him at some point, whenever you decide to make a move.”
“Ugh, how did I turn out…?”
“Amazing,” Megumi grinned, before his expression faltered. “Yuji went through hell to save me and gave me a chance at life. I’d be an idiot not to live it to the fullest.”
“Oh.”
“Anyways if you want to stay here and mope be my guest. Yuji wanted to watch a movie with you, but I’ll tell him you’re feeling sick. I, on the other hand, will be more than happy to cuddle with my future boyfriend in his dark, cozy room. He’s very vocal.”
“Huh?”
“Wow, and I thought Yuji was the slow one. Word of advice, mini me, Yuji likes to be thrown around. You should start working out.” Megumi said, leaving the room.
Fushiguro sat there in shock, his face bright red from the last few words. Thrown around? Sure, Fushiguro had fantasized about it, but-wait? Did older him just say he was going to cuddle with Itadori alone, after flirting with him all day? And what did he mean by vocal?
Fushiguro threw himself onto his bed, his foot tangling with the sheets, sending him crashing to the floor with a loud thump, just as his door opened again. Seriously, was knocking a foreign concept to people?
“Damn, I know you’re salty at Thing 2, but there are much faster ways to hang yourself,” Kugisaki teased.
“Shut up.”
“Though, I suppose if a hot older version of myself picked up Maki and carried her to her room, talking about how much fun they were going to have, I’d try to kill myself too.”
“What?”
“Well, see you later.”
“Wait, Kugisaki, you’re joking, right? Right?! Kugisaki!!”