Chapter Text
[Name] had always been a light sleeper. She had been born with cursed energy after all; she could see and hear all the creepy things that came out after dark. It only got worse as she got older, especially after enrolling in Tokyo Jujutsu High. Between the attacks on her classmates and the school and increased curse activity, she was lucky if she could sleep more than a few hours at a time.
Normally she could settle again after giving her heart time to stop racing and maybe a sip of water. Tonight, though, was different. She wasn't awakened by a bad dream or a random noise, but by the unbearably sticky heat trapped under her comforter. Sweat made even her thin sleepwear feel stifling, her sheets twisting around her as she shifted.
"Too hot," she mumbled, struggling to free her arms from the blanket. What happened? It was chilly when she went to sleep; did she set the heat too high? And why couldn't she get out from under her blanket? It felt like it was pinned under something, conforming to her front and the back of her legs as she laid on her side. "Ugh, why?"
She finally cracked her eyes open, irritated at whatever was keeping her from sleep. White... Something that glowed in the moonlight slanting across her pillow took up the lower half of her field of vision. She blinked blearily, thinking that maybe it was sleep making her eyes go funny, but that only made the image clearer.
Ears. A pair of lupine ears protruded from a head of white hair. They twitched as she shifted her eyes down, the soft edge of one flicking against her chin. [Name]'s breath caught as she looked down at the peacefully sleeping face of a girl who could be about her age. Even as [Name] shifted back to try and get a better look at her, the girl mumbled wordlessly and cuddled closer over the blankets.
"Uhhhhhh," [Name] uttered, trying to back away from the stranger in her bed. Was she still asleep after all? She certainly felt awake, but didn't you usually in dreams anyway? Well, regardless, she was still roasting alive under the covers so going back to sleep inside the possible dream was not an option. The girl radiated warmth, made worse by the way she snuggled up to [Name]. "Let me just..."
She wriggled backwards, fighting the tight wrap of her blankets for any sort of leverage. She kicked harder, determined to free herself and figure out this puzzle. Her heel caught against something amid her struggles, digging hard into it's firm side, and whatever it was groaned in discomfort.
[Name] froze. She often layered pillows and plushies on her bed, but none of them were capable of making that sound. None of them drove the temperature up or were heavy enough to trap the blankets under their weight. And none of them moved against her foot with the unmistakable rise and fall of breath. She turned her head towards the foot of the bed, gulping audibly in trepidation.
The creature shifted with a low grumble, sitting up from where it had been curled beside her legs. It was difficult to make out in the darkness, but a vaguely humanoid figure sat facing away from her. A pair of fuzzy ears jutted from inky black hair, swiveling slightly as the creature took in its surroundings, alert like a sentry. It seemed to feel her eyes on it and turned to look at her over its shoulder. [Name] stared and the creature shrouded in shadow stared back.
Luminous yellow eyes glowed in the dark, studying her with an unnerving intelligence. They narrowed gleefully when they saw her awake and something thumped against the mattress behind it. The thing shifted its weight and a clawed hand reached out of the shadows to rest on her knee. The creature let out a shuddering breath and [Name] caught a flash of something from about where its mouth should be. Fangs.
She couldn't help the way she screamed.
~~~
It had been a remarkably shitty day for Megumi.
What was supposed to be an easy assignment turned into an hours long wild goose chase. The curse had dodged him at every opportunity, more interested in "playing" than fighting. At one point, he almost had it cornered with the help of his shikigami. But apparently that was "against the rules" and he got a penalty. Megumi wasn't entirely sure what that meant, only that the curse bit him and his shikigami disappeared.
He hadn't been able to summon any of them since. To make matters worse, the curse got away, vaguely taunting, "you'll get them back when you've earned them!"
He hated that he had to leave the curse at large, but he was a liability without his cursed technique. So frustrating! All his progress and he was kneecapped by a single bug bite. He would have stayed to try and work it out, but Gojo told him to come back and let Shoko take a look in the morning.
Megumi had only just gotten back to campus. He was pissed off and badly in need of a shower, but mostly he just wanted to fall face first into bed and put an end to this wretched day. With any luck, he'd be able to get his technique back tomorrow with enough time to go and get that damn curse once and for all.
Of course he wouldn't be so lucky.
He didn't think twice when he heard the scream come from down the hall. From her room. He barely hesitated when the door did not open to him; he broke in with a swift kick by the lock. And when he saw her on the floor sprawled under a strange wolf boy...
He saw red.
Megumi put his hands together in a sign, any sign really, the first that came to mind, but nothing happened. No familiar rush of cursed energy, no shikigami, not even the pool of shadows holding his stash of weapons. He was on his own. Damn it.
"GET AWAY FROM HER!" he shouted.
The wolf boy's head snapped up, eyes shining eerily in the light slanting in from the hallway. He recoiled at the loud noise, ears pinning flat to his skull, a low whine escaping from his chest. The boy seemed uncertain, looking down at [Name] and then back up at Megumi, before he retreated into the darkness.
[Name] wasted no time in putting distance between her and the two wolves, scrambling backwards across the floor. Megumi met her halfway, reaching for her as he kept his eyes on the two creatures in front of them.
"Are you hurt?" he asked urgently, kneeling beside her with his hands anchored protectively on her shoulders.
"I-I'm okay," she said, sounding shaken as she reached up to squeeze one of his hands. "But, Fushiguro, there's something weird about them."
"Weird how?" He guided her to stand, watching the wolves for signs of hostility. The wolf boy was barely more than a pair of eyes and an ominous shape in the shadows, but the girl had not moved from her spot on the bed. Like the boy, her ears were flat on her head and she kept her head angled down. She did not make eye contact but it seemed like she was waiting for something.
"I... I don't think they're here to hurt me," [Name] said uncertainly. "I think they were... guarding me."
"Guarding-" Megumi narrowed his eyes. Now that the panic had passed, he was able to pick up the pieces. Twin wolf hybrids, a black one and a white one. How the boy had obeyed his command immediately. The way they looked at him now, not in fear but with deference. "No... You gotta be kidding me."
"Fushiguro?" [Name] asked, her eyes catching his profile. "You wanna share with the class? I'm a little lost here."
Megumi sighed and moved to turn on the light. Seeing the two wolves clearly confirmed his suspicions. They wore simple garb made for movement, form fitting compression tanks and soft hakama pants in their respective colors. They were identical in build except for the slightest softness around the white wolf's cheeks. But the most conclusive evidence was the distinctive red markings on their foreheads, the same ones his Divine Dogs had prior to the white one's death.
"Divine Dogs," he called tiredly. Both of them perked up immediately, their ears standing at attention. Damn curse, it had to be laughing at him wherever it was. "Come."
The white wolf slipped off the bed and padded right up to Megumi without hesitation. She glanced curiously over at her twin, who still lingered at the foot of the bed. Some silent communication passed between them, her gesturing with her eyes in Megumi's direction. The black wolf wrinkled his nose, his ears still dropped uncertainly but he moved at her encouragement. He came forward to stand beside the white wolf, his posture small and he wouldn't look in [Name]'s direction.
[Name] watched it all with her mouth agape. "Whaaaaat is happening?"
Megumi sighed heavily, his cheeks blooming red. He knew what he would do with his dogs normally, but like this? Ugh... So awkward.
"Whatever happens next," he muttered to [Name], "Itadori and Kugisaki NEVER hear about it. Got it?"
"Okay?" she agreed, still puzzled. "But what are you-"
Before he could talk himself out of it, Megumi reached up and placed his hands on each wolf's head. The lupine creatures both stilled, their complete attention on Megumi's hands resting on the side of their head. Then, like the effort cost him something, he began to very gently pat their heads.
"I..." He huffed in exasperation, but he made an effort to be sincere. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to yell at you. You're both... You're both good dogs."
Movement behind the wolf boy caught [Name]'s attention. A fluffy black tail hung low behind him, swaying traitorously before going still again. It seemed like he wanted to enjoy the affection but something was still bothering him.
Then, he glanced at her. It was only for a second, a look that skittered away the moment he made eye contact, but it told her enough.
Megumi noticed too.
He dropped his hands and propped them on his hips. "Go on," he said, nodding his head towards [Name]. "It's okay."
The wolf boy ducked his head, seeming unsure of what to do. But after another firm point from Megumi, he turned towards her. He gave her a pathetic look, his ears drooping as he hunched down, a very doglike posture of submission. An apology.
[Name] sighed. Of course she forgave him, it wasn't his fault she didn't recognize him. The problem was that now she understood why Megumi had gotten so awkward about patting the Dogs' heads. Normally she'd call him the Handsomest Boy and rain kisses all over his little wolf face. It felt... different when they were human like this. Not to mention she could feel Megumi watching from just beside her. She wasn't sure what he was thinking at all.
She took a breath and carefully reached for the wolf's face, giving him plenty of time to decide whether he accepted the gesture or not. To her relief, he settled his face between her palms easily, still looking at her with those remorseful yellow eyes. Her heart melted at his puppy dog expression.
"I'm not mad at you," she cooed, brushing her thumbs over his cheeks. "You were just guarding me, my handsome boy." She smiled when his ears perked up and his tail wagged. "C'mere."
She tugged his face closer so she could pepper kisses over his forehead. This was her Good Boy, the one who cuddled up to her when Megumi wasn't looking and who tore cursed spirits apart limb from limb. The best little murder pup. Honestly, she missed when he was sweet like this. Megumi didn't bring him out as much in his Totality form unless it was for active combat and she hadn't had the guts to try giving him head pats.
Speaking of Megumi, he cleared his throat uncomfortably.
[Name] pulled away from the love fest, crinkling her nose when the wolf boy snuck in a lick at her cheek. Megumi looked back at her with an exasperated expression. Fair... That was a little much. She really hoped this change wasn't permanent.
"So," she said, "you know what's going on or is this a weird Zenin once in a blue moon thing?"
Megumi sighed, running his hand through his hair. "I got cursed. The spirit said it was taking my technique from me but didn't elaborate. 'I'll get them back when I've earned them' or something like that. I couldn't tell you why they're human though."
The white wolf, apparently jealous of all the attention her twin was getting, nudged at [Name]'s shoulder. Distractedly, [Name] ruffled the girl's hair, rubbing the spot behind her soft white ears. "Probably just to fuck with you. My question though," her eyes dropped to the wolf girl in front of her, "why is she here now?"
Megumi followed [Name]'s gaze, considering the white wolf. Then his eyes widened and he dragged his hand over his face. "Damn it, the curse reset my technique! That's what it meant by earn them. The Divine Dogs were the first Shikigami I learned to summon. I have to go through and subjugate them all again."
"Oh." [Name] paused, then her mouth dropped open. "Oh... Uh, do you think the process will look different now that they're people?"
"I don't even know." He could feel the prospects of a good night's rest slipping between his fingers. He wouldn't put it past this cursed spirit to have a time limit on top of the current bullshit, but mostly he was concerned by the idea of humanized shikigami running loose somewhere. The sooner he found them all, the better. "Probably, given that these two are still human. I never actually had to subjugate them."
"Then..." She gestured awkwardly, both hands busy with scratching wolf hybrid ears. "Now might be a good time to try? While they're calm."
Megumi sighed heavily. Random ass cursed spirit bullshit. Somehow he blamed Gojo for this.
"Divine Dogs."
A white and black head ducked out from under [Name]'s hands, eyes bright and ears perked attentively. She smiled and moved to stand by Megumi again, letting him be their main focus.
He rubbed the back of his neck. He'd never had to ask before. Subjugation was clinical, purely submission by force and strategy. Asking was personal. Consent. His ears burned as he spoke steadily, "will you accept me as your master? Follow me as my shikigami?"
The white wolf smiled brightly, her tongue peeking out from between her canines as she made a pleased sound in her throat. She took a step forward before she stopped abruptly, a sudden realization dawning on her face. She whined and looked back towards her twin, who had an unreadable expression on his face.
"What's wrong?" Megumi asked, looking from one to the other. "You... Don't want to?"
The wolves exchanged looks, a silent conversation passing between them. Whatever the conclusion was, the wolf boy looked away, his gaze cast guiltily towards the wall. The white wolf whined again and stepped back to her twin, nudging her head against his shoulder.
"I..." Megumi shook his head. "I don't know what I'm supposed to do with that. Is that a no?"
"I think," [Name] said quietly, "it's a 'not yet.'"
"Not yet?" Megumi turned to her, his brow furrowed. "But why?"
[Name] pressed her lips together, watching the wolves thoughtfully. "We're assuming they go back to normal when they accept, right?" She didn't need to look to know he was nodding along with her. "Well, normal for them is just one big wolf now. So I assume that she would like... reabsorb into him or something."
Megumi exhaled softly, understanding but still frustrated. He didn't have time to be gentle. Being a sorcerer didn't allow for it. "I can't just leave them like this."
"Yeah, but Fushiguro... Look at them." The wolf girl had her hand curled around her twin's fingers and he had clenched his jaw tightly. "I get that they're shikigami, tools for your technique. But they're human right now. They have feelings like you and me."
Megumi looked at her, his mouth a firm line. He looked like he wanted to say something, but he held it back.
"It looks like they want to, they know they have to, but," [Name] smiled sadly, "they need some time to say goodbye."
Against his will, Megumi's thoughts strayed to his sister. If he had the chance to have Tsumiki back, even if it was for just a couple of hours, would he take it? Obviously, yes. He would be fucking awkward and probably wouldn't say much other than sorry to her, but he would take any time that she was awake and hopefully smiling that he could get.
"Okay," he relented. "They can stay like this. For now." He sighed tiredly. "Honestly they're probably the least of my worries."
"Right," [Name] said with a nod. "We still need to find the others."
"We?" Megumi raised a brow at [Name] in her teddy bear pjs. "I got this. You can go back to sleep."
[Name] scoffed. "Yeah, and leave you alone to emotionally wrangle a bunch of half human, half animal shikigami? You, Mr. Sociable? No, I don't think so. Besides, they," she pointed to the wolf twins, "made it my problem too. I'm coming with, whether you like it or not."
Megumi narrowed his eyes, both for the slight and in hopes that she'd back off. He'd embarrassed himself enough with the Divine Dogs and there was no telling how ridiculous the night was about to get. But... She did have a point. He was observant, capable of being social when he wanted to be, but he wasn't the most sensitive when it came to people. He also wasn't sure why the Dogs had shown up in her room instead of near him and he didn't want to risk the possibility of the other creatures appearing without him present.
Damn it. Damn that curse.
"Fine. Just... Put some real clothes on. It's cold out there."
She smiled like the cat that got the cream and grabbed a hoodie from the back of her desk chair.
"So," her voice was muffled as she pulled the sweater over her head, "who should we look for first?"
"Nue," Megumi decided after some thought. "We'll go in order. Simpler that way."
"Okay," she paused to pull her hair free from inside the hoodie. "So if I were a giant man bird thing with electric powers, where would I go?"
Then, as if in answer to her question, the power went out.